Greener Green Grass

Friday, November 5, 2010

Gas 2.0

The Chevy Volt’s New Clothes
Where Does High-Speed Rail Go From Here?
EICMA 2010: Rise of the Electric Vehicles

Posted: 05 Nov 2010 01:20 PM PDT

Yesterday I talked about how Toyota was tarting up the Prius in a fancy body kit to give Prius owners a chance to “personalize” their cars. Whether or not they succeeded is yet to be seen, though in terms of adding any actual performance, the Prius PLUS fails.

Not to be discouraged, Chevy has introduced their own tarted up version of the Chevy Volt. Called the “Z-Spec”, this is only a concept now, though GM is considering building it for production. So should they?

GM has actually built three concept cars for the 2010 SEMA show under the “Z-Spec” moniker. Besides the Volt, the Cruze and upcoming Spark microcar are also dressed to impress.

The Volt Z-Spec is a looks-only package, starting with a custom “Icy White” paint job. The front and rear fascia, tail lights, lower rocker panels, graphics package, 19″ aluminum wheels and blacked out grille with a “Chevy bar” just about do it for exterior modifications. On the inside, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with the Z-Spec logo takes center stage (along with Z-Spec floor mats). Leather-trimmed Recaro seats and “racing-style” pedals round out this package, which has a decidedly “sporty” flair.

Aside from the lower look and bigger wheels…this package doesn’t make all that much difference to the Volt’s looks. Just kinda “meh”.

What say you though? Did GM score a hit, or miss big time with this concept package for the Volt?

Source: Green Car Advisor

Where Does High-Speed Rail Go From Here?

Posted: 05 Nov 2010 11:59 AM PDT

Some states (including my home of Connecticut) are still counting the ballots, but overall the voters have spoken; out with the old bums, and in with some new ones. It is being called a major “repudiation” of the Obama Adminstration as Republicans gain control of the House, while Democrats maintain their grip on the Senate.

That’s about as much as I care to know about what happened on Tuesday. The question that is nagging me is, once January rolls around and new elected officials are sworn in, what happens to the grandiose plans for high-speed rail?

Republicans have been voted into office on a promise to cut back government spending. This isn’t the first time they made this promise, as this was the same promise they made during Reagan’s first term in office as well as during the “Republican Revolution” of 1994. Still, despite years of decadent spending, they might actually be serious this time. In my humble opinion, the government could use a fair bit of trimming…but not at the expense of our future.

Many Republicans decry high-speed rail as expensive and unnecessary while at the same time screaming about jobs. Maybe some of these guys will change their minds and realize the benefits of rail. Maybe they really will return the money granted to them by the government as Republican John Kasich, governor-elect of Ohio, promises. This is short-sighted though because he is giving back money that could create thousands of jobs, many of them permanent. Many of the great infrastructure accomplishments both here and abroad were accomplished during tight times, as a means to create jobs and better the future. I truly believe the country is on the way to recovery, now is not the time to pull the plug on government spending that will directly benefits hundreds of thousands of train riders, as well as drivers who have fewer people to compete with for highway space.

Just look around the world. We are one of the only developed countries in the world without a real high-speed rail system. I’m not advocating we become more like Europe in every way, but when even China, is investing billions into this technology, do we really want sit back and say that now is the time to tighten the purse strings?

Our government is, for the first time in a decade, pretty well divided between left and right. There is plenty of fat to trim from the government without dumping plans for high-speed rail, the bums on both sides of the aisle just have to get together and make some hard decisions.

Like that will ever happen.

Source: The Transport Politic

EICMA 2010: Rise of the Electric Vehicles

Posted: 05 Nov 2010 10:24 AM PDT

Brammo Raggaze, as lovely in Italy as they are in California

EICMA is one of the world's largest motorcycle trade shows. Held in Milan each fall, motorcycle manufacturers release new models either here or at EICMA's competitor, Intermot. The two shows compete for exclusives, so while TTXGP and Mavizen were only present at Intermot, Brammo was present at EICMA. Brammo was in the American Pavilion around the corner from my client ScooterGirls and a short walk from the more famous American brand, Harley Davidson. However, taking over a larger corner of the hall than last year was "The Green Planet" which was dominated by electric-assisted bicycles and full electric scooters.

I like the classic look of the Harbin pedal-assist bicycles, but it's funny they're from the Netherlands, where there are practically no hills. When I asked the Harbin sales rep why they only had pedal-assisted bicycles and not ones with actual throttles, he explained that in the EU, electric bicycles with throttles (and higher top speeds) are considered mopeds and require a moped license.

XO Urban Transformer. No, it’s not broken, it’s just resting.

There was a broad range of electric scooters on display throughout the show, despite the fact that Italy currently has no EV subsidies. The pricing ranged in interesting ways, with one as low as €2,000 and another priced at €3,500 plus €50/month to rent the battery! The XO Urban Transformer folds up into a massive box you and a friend can carry around, and wheel the battery off separately. Not exactly practical, especially when there's ample free scooter parking in every European city.

XO Urban Transformer disguised as a scooter.

The cheaper scooter was the etropolis which is a subsidiary of SiG Solar, a German company in the business of making and installing solar panels. They explained to me that they felt it made sense to develop an EV for their customers to plug into their solar carports. Makes sense to me, especially when it's seen as a nice bonus to go with that pricey solar array you just bought.

Also entertaining was the Elmoto which I dubbed the "Mini-Enertia" because it looks so much like a Brammo Enertia. I took one for a spin around the indoor test track they'd set up for electric bikes, and it was a blast. It had a tighter turning radius than most bicycles I've ridden! The test track was plenty big for having fun, and I felt like I should go for another round, as I watched a rather staid Italian businessman take the etropolis around and around like he was Valentino Rossi on race day!

EICMA’s EV Test Track Paddock.

I debated with an Italian about how the Chevy Volt plays into range anxiety. I said it should be pure electric, he said he wanted one anyway, so he'd have one car for both city and long road trips. Because scootering is such a dominant mode of transport in European cities, they're likely to adopt electric more quickly than in the US where we still quake in fear of running out of juice on the way to Whole Foods. Next… more photos of cool electric scooters you won’t see in the US anytime soon. Except maybe at Hollywood Electrics.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Gas 2.0

Toyota Debuts Prius PLUS Performance Package

Posted: 04 Nov 2010 11:53 AM PDT

The Toyota Prius is the exact opposite of a performance car. Slow, fuel efficient, and with all the handling of a cabbage wagon. It wasn’t designed as a performance car, though that hasn’t stopped the Prius faithful from customizing their eggs in all sorts of ways, from wheels to body kits. The Prius is just like any other car in that regards; people will modify them any way they can.

Looking to capitalize on the ever-expanding Personalized Prius market, Toyota’s in-house tuning department has unveiled the TRD Prius PLUS Performance Package. So is the Prius no a real performer?

In a word, no.

TRD, which stands for Toyota Racing Development, has a knack for tuning up vehicles like the Tundra and what not to make them sportier, faster, and cooler-looking. At SEMA 2010, TRD lifted the veil on the PLUS Performance Package for the Prius, which is little more than a body kit and a tweaked suspension for the Prius.

This isn’t the first Prius bodykit I have seen, though for you MPG-obsessed the PLUS package maintains the Prius’s 0.25 drag coefficient. It also maintains the same weight. The only real “sporty” improvement is the addition of a sway bar and better-tuned suspension system, which lowers the car but doesn’t make it any faster. But the Prius was never about speed (though making it a bit quicker wouldn’t hurt.) While performance is unimpressive, I think this kit improves the looks of this humble hybrid a wee bit.

An improvement for you guys, or could you care less?

Source: Green Car Advisor

VW Planning Sporty Hybrid For New Jetta

Posted: 04 Nov 2010 10:12 AM PDT

Hey ya’ll, sorry about the lack of updates. I have been moving into my new apartment, leaving little-to-no time for writing. I am finally settled though, and ready to get back into the action with a car that has been on my mind for a few weeks now.

Actually, it has been the song “Another Day, Another Dollar”, for the 2011 VW Jetta, a car I never cared for until now. Why? Well beyond the sharp new looks, VW is going to give the new Jetta a sporty hybrid system that boosts performance and fuel economy.

This is exactly what Volkswagen needs to do for hybrids. Yes I know, there is the Honda CR-Z, but in terms of both fuel economy and performance, the Honda falls short. VW has an opportunity to make hybrids seem fun by taking the Jetta (hopefully a turbo-diesel) and adding a hybrid system that can boost power on the fly when needed, or just hang back and add a few MPG’s to your driving, though we might not get booth. Michael Hinz, project manager of the new Jetta, said “"Are hybrids really fuel efficient? Not really, as you are adding more weight. Yes, we could do a power hybrid. We're certainly not going to do both. You must decide to go with one or the other." Way to crap on my party, Hinz.

The VW New Compact Coupe concept from earlier this year

Yet I hold out hope that VW will figure out a way to boost MPG’s and power with a hybrid system. VW already previewed such a system earlier this year with the New Compact Coupe, which debuted almost a year ago at the Detroit Auto Show. The twin-charged 1.4 liter engine made 148 horsepower and 177 ft-lbs of torque initially, but an electric motor integrated into the gearbox can boost power to 175 horsepower and 280 ft-lbs of torque. That is a lot of torque for such a tiny engine (for comparison, the 2011 Mustang 3.7 liter V6 makes 280 ft-lbs of torque and displaces 2.5 times more volume.)

I have never really considered driving a VW until the new Jetta. Between the sharp new looks, low entry-price, and the possibility of a sporty-hybrid, I’ve got a lot to look forward to from the Dub.

Source: AutoCar

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Gas 2.0

Ford Will Employ Electric Tractors At Assembly Plant

Posted: 02 Nov 2010 06:43 PM PDT

How does one really judge a car’s “green” credentials? Are gas guzzling muscle cars built here in America greener than an electric car with parts that come from around the world? Probably not. But when it comes down to the manufacturing process, building a car that runs on electricity isn’t enough. You’ve got to green the building process to in every way possible.

So how much of an impact can an electric yard tractor make?

Lest you think I mean the kind you mow with, these tractors are Balqon XE-20 zero-emission yard tractors. The 124 kWhr battery can haul up to 90,000 pounds for 50 miles. Perfect for moving around loads of unfinished chassis’s and thousands of tires. Hell, why not just throw a few full size trucks on the trailer?

You can move a helluva lot of weight with the 230 volt, 200 horsepower engine, though the top speed is limited to just 25 mph. It would be a fun race up to 25 though. Unloaded, these suckers can go over 90 miles on a charge, and Bolqon had developed a charging system that lets four of them get juiced at once. All in all, pretty impressive (though I wish it went faster, but that’d probably be too tempting to goof around with for the drivers.)

Under an agreement with Balqon, who is in cahoots with T & K Logistics, Ford will lease 10 30-ton electric yard tractor. T & K already provides Ford with logistic services. These tractors will be tried out at the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan. A few facts about the Michigan Assembly Plant.

It used to make full-size Ford vehicles like the Expedition and F-Series
Ford has converted it to make the next-generation Focus, including a battery-electric version
The Wayne Stamping & Assembly plant next door, also owned by Ford, is powered by landfill gas.

Starting to see a pattern here? Ford is probably testing the tractors out to see how much money they save, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see more of these turning up at other plants.

Source: Green Car Congress | Balqon

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Gas 2.0

Nissan Will Make Three More Electric Vehicles For The U.S.

Posted: 02 Nov 2010 11:23 AM PDT

As electric cars begin to roll out of factories, every car company is taking a different stance. Some are sitting on the sidelines, watching what will happen, others are placing safe bets with hybrid cars. Nissan, however, seems ready to charge full-speed ahead with electric vehicles, even though the only people to drive the Leaf so far are a handful of journalists.

Nissan plans to build three more electric cars for the U.S. in addition to the Leaf. So what do they have planned?

To me, Nissan has long been an understated car maker. I’ve owned a Nissan, and it was a great car. Everybody I know who has owned a Nissan still owns a Nissan. So I can dig longevity on any vehicle, though in terms of excitement they haven’t really been known to set the world on fire, at least not until they announced the Leaf. 90% of Leaf costumers are new to the Nissan brand though, so hopefully that longevity carries into their electric vehicles as well.

Electric cars are still a risky business proposition though right now, as one or two summers of low gas-prices could be enough to convince a lot people that we really don’t need electric cars quite yet. They also carry a price premium, and if today’s elections go a certain way, all of the tax incentives for electric vehicles might not be long for this world. The initial response has been great, but it is sustained interest that will really pave the way for electric cars.

So what, says Nissan. After the Leaf gets rolling, Nissan has an electric Infiniti, a small electric van, and an electrified urban car ready to roll out in the next four years. They truly believe there will be a market for a wide variety of electric vehicles, and soon. I am down with a luxury Leaf and an electric van (which should be a hit with business owners), but I am not sure about an urban electric car. City folk tend to do less driving anyway, and unless they can price such a car to be competitive with cheap runabouts like the Ford Fiesta or Toyota Yaris, that might be a car they have a tough time selling. Maybe not though.

I still want to see a major automaker undertake an affordable electric sports car though. Nissan has a very strong sports car heritage, so i will be a little disappointed if another major car maker beats them to the punch. And no, the Tesla Roadster does not count as “affordable.”

Source: Detroit News