Greenlings: What is biodiesel?
What is biodiesel? In short, biodiesel is a fuel that’s suitable for use in diesel engines that is not based on petroleum. Biodiesel is often made from plant sources. It’s also possible to mix biodiesel with petroleum-based diesel fuel in any ratio. Since most any engine designed to run on diesel fuel can use biodiesel, it would seem that this biofuel could displace a great deal of fuel pumped from the ground. In some cases, it is possible to run diesel engines on straight vegetable oil (often referred to as SVO or WVO), but SVO isn’t the same as biodiesel. There is a bunch of complex chemistry that goes into producing biodiesel from many different sources, and it all has to do with the transesterification of fats and oils. Excuse me? Transester-huh? Yeah, it’s about as complicated as it sounds, but the really short version of the story is that alcohol (methanol, ethanol etc.) is used to modify the chemical makeup of the original oil. Now that we’ve identified what biodiesel is and isn’t, let’s discuss why you should care and whether you can use it in your own vehicle. Car Blog Greenon. Gallery: Austin Alt Car: Biofuel Hummer Continue reading Greenlings: What is biodiesel? Auto Blog: Biodiesel , AutoblogGreen Exclusive , Green Daily Greenlings: What is biodiesel? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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Greenlings: What is biodiesel?
Design and engineering complete on Gordon Murray’s T25 city car
According to a report on Autocar , Gordon Murray has received interest from over a dozen international companies that are interested in setting up franchises to sell the innovative T25 city car . Interestingly, very few of the interested parties are actual established automakers. That’s a good thing according to Murray, who says, “Our theories and processes are ideal for investors with a clean slate who are getting into cars for the first time.” Design and engineering work on the T25 is apparently now finished. Selected companies will create iStream factories that are set up to assemble the little cars and are supposed to be one-fifth the size of conventional auto factories. The same basic platform, complete with a gas-powered three-cylinder powerplant driving the rear wheels, will be able to accommodate such diverse vehicles as a passenger car, a pickup truck and an MPV. Click here to see a few shots of the T25 shrouded in a black cloak. See more shots of the T25 after the jump. Gallery: Gordon Murray T.25 teaser shots [Source: Autocar ] Continue reading Design and engineering complete on Gordon Murray’s T25 city car Auto Blog: Manufacturing/Plants , Lightweight , UK Design and engineering complete on Gordon Murray’s T25 city car originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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Design and engineering complete on Gordon Murray’s T25 city car
2009 Jetta TDI Cup to run on B5 biodiesel
Click the Jettas for a high res gallery from VIRginia International Raceway Volkswagen’s Jetta TDI Cup series will be returning to the racetracks of North America at the end of April with 30 diesel-powered sedans in the hands of young up and coming drivers. For this year’s sophomore season Volkswagen will be filling the tanks of the Jettas with B5 biodiesel. Houston, Texas-based Hyperfuels will be supplying the 5 percent biofuel blend for the cars which will consume about two tankfuls of fuel over the course of 10 races. The Syndiesel supplied by Hyperfuels has a 10 year shelf life addressing one of the biggest issues with some biodiesels, the tendency to go rancid after a period of time in storage. Volkswagen has approved B5 for use in all regular production diesel VW and Audi models. Just as it did last year, the Jetta TDI cup kicks off at VIRginia International Raceway April 24-26. Gallery: First Jetta TDI Cup race [Source: Volkswagen] Continue reading 2009 Jetta TDI Cup to run on B5 biodiesel Auto Blog: Biodiesel , Diesel , Volkswagen , Racing 2009 Jetta TDI Cup to run on B5 biodiesel originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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2009 Jetta TDI Cup to run on B5 biodiesel
Carlos Ghosn: We’re testing the EV this year
Renault is betting big on electric cars, or at least that’s the image they’re out peddling everywhere. During a press conference this week in Paris, Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn announced that the French marque will begin testing pure electric cars this year. Specifically, he said that (translated from the French), “the conditions for electric cars to exist have finally been met,” and added: “We’re testing an EV model this year. It’s able to run for 160 km (100 miles), even with the A/C and the radio at full blast.” No further details were given. Is this the model for Renault’s partnership with Better Place ? Is it the model they promised to build for France ? Once pure electric vehicles are available, Renault predicts domestic French demand for them could reach about 400,000 cars in 2016; that’s roughly 20 percent of the market. [Source: Le Blog Auto ] Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Nissan , Renault , Better Place Carlos Ghosn: We’re testing the EV this year originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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Carlos Ghosn: We’re testing the EV this year
Next gen GM hybrid pickups to get 50% better towing, Voltec possible
click for a high res gallery of GM’s hybrid pickups General Motors is currently in the midst of launching its hybrid full-size pickup trucks and our man Jeremy is in San Antonio this week to try them out. One thing about the auto industry is that as soon as you get one product out the door, you’re already working on the next generation. Such is the case with GM’s two-mode hybrids which are due for a second generation in about 4 years. Mike Levine over at PickupTrucks.com has been talking to GM about where they are going for the next generation models. While the trucks launching right now have pretty decent towing power at 6,100 lbs for the RWD version (5,900 for the 4WD), big truck buyers want more. GM’s truck vehicle line executive, Gary White, told Mike that the next-gen models would have 50 percent better towing power in addition to greater efficiency. Perhaps more interesting is where GM is going with the hybrid architecture itself. While a next generation two-mode system will definitely be developed, White told Levine that something like the Volt’s Voltec (formerly E-flex ) system is on the table for the trucks. The trucks certainly have room between the frame rails for plenty of batteries, and electric motors that provide enough torque for 9,000 lbs of towing capacity are pretty straightforward. Such a system would also eliminate the limiting factor with the current two-mode, which is the planetary gear-sets. However, a truck would need a very large range extender to maintain that towing capacity beyond the plug-in battery range when the vehicle gets into charge sustaining mode. It’s certainly an interesting idea. We’ll be watching to see what happens. Gallery: 2009 GM hybrid pickups Photos Copyright (C)2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc. [Source: PickupTrucks .com] Auto Blog: Hybrid , Chevrolet , GM , GMC Next gen GM hybrid pickups to get 50% better towing, Voltec possible originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 08:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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Next gen GM hybrid pickups to get 50% better towing, Voltec possible
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