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Report: Feds probing Prius' unintended acceleration incident, no new recall issued
Filed under: Hybrid, Toyota 
The fall-out of yesterday's ToyotaPrius unintended acceleration incident in California - a car got up to speeds of over 90 miles per hour in a 20-minute event - now includes an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA has dispatched two investigators to look into what happened, while Toyota is sending three technicians. The car was towed to a Toyota dealership today after being held overnight by the California Highway Patrol. One new bit of information reported by the AP is that the car had "a little hiccup" with the accelerator a few weeks ago. The driver claims that the floormats were not a cause of either acceleration.
We certainly don't think that this incident is like a new OJ moment for hybrids or green cars, but we can only imagine the discussion inside of Toyota HQ about the rumors and hype surrounding the troubles. Earlier today, for example, we heard that the second-gen Priuses had been recalled. This hasn't happened (yet), and Toyota is working on a fix for the thousands of hybrids included in the 4.36 million vehicles recalled last November. How yesterday's incident fits into the picture remains to be seen.
[Source: AP]
 Report: Feds probing Prius' unintended acceleration incident, no new recall issued originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Do it for
the kids us: vote in Treehugger's 2010 Readers' Choice Awards
Filed under: Green Culture, Green Daily  2011 Chevrolet Volt - click above for high-res image gallery
2010 might only be a few months old (wait, it's already a few months old?!?), but Treehugger is ready to declare the best of the year with their 2010 Readers' Choice Awards. In the Cars & Transportation category, there are some interesting possibilities, like the Best Upcoming Electric Car (choices include: the NissanLeaf, the Mitsubishi i MiEV, the Tesla Model S, the ChevroletVolt or the FordFocus EV). We have a more difficult time deciding who is the Best Agent of Change:
- Steven Chu (Secretary of Energy)
- Elon Musk (CEO of Tesla Motors, chairman of SolarCity)
- Carlos Ghosn (CEO of Nissan and Renault)
- Steve Fambro (Aptera)
We think Chu is certainly making a difference with the DOE loans, but Ghosn (a recipient) is putting words into action. Thoughts?
Oh, and there's a Best Transportation Website category, too. AutoblogGreen is in the running, along with Green Car Congress, HybridCars.com, Gas2.0 and EcoModder. We're not too proud to beg, so please go vote for us! See all the categories here.
[Source: Treehugger]Do it for the kids us: vote in Treehugger's 2010 Readers' Choice Awards originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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KAIST's On Line Electric Vehicle draws energy from the road, now in use in S. Korea
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Asia 
In September, the Korea Advanced Institute of Technology (KAIST) demonstrated the technical concept for the On Line Electric Vehicle (OLEV) using individual cars (which were really kind of cute - see them here). Today, the KAIST launched an actual prototype electric train that draws energy through non-contact magnetic charging from power strips embedded in the road. The train, with three cars, is now in use at an amusement park in Gwacheon, south of Seoul. The power strips are only required in 400 meters of the 2.2-kilometer (1.4-mile) route, or about 18-20 percent of the total distance. KAIST will build a larger system in Seoul for buses if the technology in the train proves successful.
Why is all this important? Because, by drawing energy from the road as it moves along, the train can use a battery that is only 20 percent as large and powerful as would otherwise be required. There's a serious cost reduction as well - with the cost shifted to installing the power strips into the road. Overall, the total cost for electric vehicles is about a third of what standalone electric vehicles cost. KAIST president Suh Nam-Pyo had high praise for the technology:
The potential for application (of this technology to public transport systems) is limitless. I dare say this is one of the most significant technical gains in the 21st century.
Thanks to Roy B. for the tip!
[Source: Physorg]KAIST's On Line Electric Vehicle draws energy from the road, now in use in S. Korea originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Ballard gets $6.2M in DOE funding for non-automotive fuel cells
Filed under: Hydrogen Ballard fuel cell forklift - Click above for a high-res image gallery
Ballard Material Products has received the bulk of $6.2 million in Department of Energy funding for research work into fuel cell materials aimed at cutting the cost and improving durability of the electro-chemical energy generators. Ballard Material Products is the U.S.-based subsidiary of Ballard Power Systems. Ballard will be looking at the causes of material degradation in fuel cells and ways to reduce or eliminate it.
While a fuel cell stack itself has no moving parts (aside from the pumps and compressors feeding and scavenging it) the coatings on the plates do get damaged during use by reactions with impurities in the hydrogen. Water collecting and freezing within the stack can also cause damage. Computer modeling of the gas and water flows may lead to new designs that help to improve the efficiency and durability of stacks. Ballard's work will be targeted at non-automotive applications such as stationary power generation and material handling systems.
[Source: Ballard Power Systems]Continue reading Ballard gets $6.2M in DOE funding for non-automotive fuel cells Ballard gets $6.2M in DOE funding for non-automotive fuel cells originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Owning an Electric Car prepares and enlightens
Filed under: Etc., EV/Plug-in, UK 
 Ever wonder what it is really like to own an electric car? Before rushing out to buy that new Nissan Leaf or Mitsubishi i MiEV (orwhathaveyou) it might be a good idea to know what to expect. And what better way to learn about the advantages and drawbacks of living with a battery-powered vehicle than to read a book written by someone who not only has a couple, but who has spoken with many other owners about the experience as well as manufacturers. Owning an Electric Car by Michael Boxwell is that book.
In just under 200 pages, Mr. Boxwell covers everything from dealing with range fixation to exactly how "green" an electric is when it's charged from a coal-powered grid. You can also learn which new vehicles are coming to market or what to look for when if your potential purchase is previously owned. To get a sneak peek at the first chapter, learn a bit about the electric vehicles and even ask him a question directly, check out the book's website. Bonus video of the author conducting an environmental efficiency test with his two electrics awaits you after the break.
[Source: Owning an Electric Car]Continue reading Owning an Electric Car prepares and enlightens Owning an Electric Car prepares and enlightens originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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AT&T agrees to buy at least two Ford Transit Connect Electric vans
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Ford 
Ford Transit Connect Electric - Click above for high-res image gallery
The all-electric FordTransit Connect Electric utility van became available for ordering during the recent Chicago Auto Show and Azure Dynamics, the company in charge of converting and selling the trucks, has announced that AT&T will be the vehicle's "Lead Customer" with an order for two units.
AT&T announced about a year ago that it would spend up to $565 million to introduce 15,000 alternative fuel vehicles to the company's fleet over the next decade, starting with CNG vehicles. AT&T's first electric vehicle, a Smith Electric Vehicles Newton, joined the fleet last November. For the run-down on the Transit Connect Electric, including our first drive report, read this.
[Source: Azure Dynamics]Continue reading AT&T agrees to buy at least two Ford Transit Connect Electric vans AT&T agrees to buy at least two Ford Transit Connect Electric vans originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Turbocharging helps grow CNG vehicle market in Europe
Filed under: Natural Gas, Europe/EU 
Fiat Qubo Natural Power - Click above for high-res image gallery
Vehicles running on compressed natural gas (CNG) have been gaining in popularity in Europe in recent years, largely because of the reduced operating costs. Natural gas is much less expensive in Europe than either gasoline or diesel fuel. It also has an advantage over the liquid fuels in that it burns cleaner with almost no particulates.
One downside to CNG is that, like ethanol, it has a lower energy content than gas or diesel which tends to hamper the range and increase consumption. American owners of the Honda Civic GX are familiar with the range limitations. Also like ethanol, it has a higher octane rating; CNG is rated at 130.
Manufacturers are now designing and tuning engines specifically to optimize them for CNG use. Many of the newer CNG engines, like those from Volkswagen, are turbocharged. By running higher boost levels and using direct injection, the engines can get more of the energy out of the fuel, allowing down-sizing, better efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions. In addition, European-market CNG vehicles are typically bi-fuel, retaining their gasoline fuel systems. This allows drivers to keep going even when there isn't a CNG filling station nearby.
So far, the only significant interest in CNG in the U.S. has been for commercial and transit uses where the vehicles operate out of central depots where they can be filled up.
[Source: Ward's Auto World]Turbocharging helps grow CNG vehicle market in Europe originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Second-gen Prius involved in unintended acceleration incident in CA *UPDATE
Filed under: Hybrid, Toyota 
Amid all of its other problems recently, Toyota is trying to figure out what, exactly, is wrong with the brakes on the Prius. An incident on the San Diego County freeway makes it look like the second-generation Prius might (repeat, might) be involved in the unintended acceleration issue that has affected other Toyota brand vehicles. At this early stage and without much information, no one can say for sure what happened, but James Sikes, the driver, claims:
I pushed the gas pedal to pass a car and it did something kind of funny... it jumped and it just stuck there. As it was going, I was trying the brakes...it wasn't stopping, it wasn't doing anything and it just kept speeding up.
The car got all the way up to 94 miles per hour before a combination of emergency braking, pushing the brake pedal all the way down and a steep incline allowed Sikes to turn the car off and coast to a stop with the assistance of a California Highway Patrol officer.
Sikes said he recently took his second-gen Prius to the dealer, but was told it wasn't on the recall list (which is true, although the third-gen is). He told the local news that he's taking his car to the dealer again and won't drive it any more until he gets some answers about what happened. Toyota has sent a field technical specialist to investigate. You can watch a local news report on the incident here. Thanks to Tohe for the tip!
*UPDATE:NHTSA is also investigating.
[Source: AP]
Second-gen Prius involved in unintended acceleration incident in CA *UPDATE originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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eBay find of the Day: all-electric 1966 Chevrolet Corvair Corsa conversion
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Daily 
It's not an original Electrovair, but it is a 1966 Chevrolet Corvair Corsa that was converted to
all-electric drive and it is currently up for auction on eBay. We're not sure what the performance specs for this car are, but it looks good, thanks to fresh marina blue paint, a new interior and replated bumpers, among other visual enhancements.
Under the hood, the car has a 144V AC 24 conversion kit made by Electroauto. That kit alone costs around $10,000, without batteries. The car for sale has 18 eight-volt lead acit batteries "mounted as low as possible for good balance." We don't know how far or fast the car can go (the seller is worryingly quiet about these numbers), but Electroauto says its conversions can often reach 90 miles per hour and have a range of 50 miles (depending, of course, on duty cycle, configuration and battery pack).
Whatever the car's final cost might be, the seller if offering to take $1,500 off if you don't want the Hurst wheels with redline tires and opt for stock rally wheels. The seller also says the car has just 200 miles on it, which we take to mean since the conversion. The car is located in Fullerton, CA, but we can pretty easily imagine parking it in our garage (and upgrading those cells!). With about a day left in the auction, the bids are up to $10,900. The Buy It Now prices of $39,000 remains unused. Thanks to Dutch for the tip!
[Source: eBay]eBay find of the Day: all-electric 1966 Chevrolet Corvair Corsa conversion originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Report: Nissan has 56,000 pre-orders for all-electric Leaf
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan  Nissan Leaf - Click above for high-res image gallery
According to BusinessWeek, Renault-Nissan's CEO Carlos Ghosn said recently that his company has 56,000 orders for the Leaf in the United States. The car will be available late this year, and Ghosn said that real mass production will start in 2012, when the alliance plans to have capacity to 500,000 electronic vehicles in Japan, Europe and the United States. Ghosn, who is totally bullish on electric vehicles, told BW that:
Frankly, I mean so far there is no competition. Let's be serious. It's not because someone is coming with a prototype and one car that this is competition. The question is how much capacity are you building.
We know that Nissan is pushing hard to get electric vehicles onto the road and that people are excited for the Leaf, but we can't help but wonder if something got lost in translation somewhere with that 56,000 pre-order number. Just a month ago, Nissan announced that 50,000 people had signed up to be on the reservation list and that pre-orders would not start until April. That list allows people to move to the head of the line when it comes time to order the Leaf, but it's not an official intent form.
[Source: BusinessWeek via Treehugger]
Report: Nissan has 56,000 pre-orders for all-electric Leaf originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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