flex-fuel
Kia Motors has plans for hybrids, EVs and fuel cells in the coming years
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Hyundai, Kia
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Kia is not a brand most people think of as being on the cutting edge of alternative drivetrain technology, especially in the U.S. market. Here they are mostly thought of as a purveyor of inexpensive, decent but not outstanding cars. However we can’t forget that Kia is a part of Hyundai and that brand has consistently ranked in the top three in CAFE rankings for the last several years, along with Toyota and Honda. That’s without even having a hybrid, diesel or flex-fuel vehicle in the lineup. Together Hyundai and Kia have several R&D facilities in South Korea including one that is dedicated to green technology. Kia has been testing prototype hybrid vehicles in Korea for several years and will launch its first production model there in the new Spectra in 2009. The Spectra will use a mild hybrid system similar to Honda’s IMA along with an engine fueled on liquid propane. The hybrid hardware will migrate to the next-generation Optima for the U.S. the following year. Rather than a dedicated hybrid, Kia plans to go straight to a dedicated EV around 2013. Beyond that, Kia and Hyundai are actively developing fuel cell technology in-house. Kia plans to start a low volume production fleet test in 2010 with a fuel cell-powered version of the Borrego SUV.
[Source: Green Car Advisor]
Kia Motors has plans for hybrids, EVs and fuel cells in the coming years originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: honda, toyota, flex-fuel, fuel cell
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SEMA 2008: Making Green Cool Zone trucks
Filed under: Biodiesel, Diesel, Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, Vegetable Oil, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, SEMA Show
We are so used to huge trucks with outlandish paint jobs at SEMA, that we barely noticed these monstrosities in one corner of the upper level of the South Hall. But then we spotted the “Making Green Cool Zone” banner hanging over them and decided to take a closer look. Along with the dozen or so cars and bikes on display there were some seriously non-green-looking trucks. Their carbon footprints might be small, but godalmighty were they huge.
There was an enormous 2006 Chevy Dually done up by eXtreme-Biodiesel to showcase their 4-hour, 40-gallon portable Extreme Green Machines that make biodiesel just about anywhere they want to. The truck itself gets 25 mpg, which might not seem too impressive until you read that the turbodiesel engine pumps out 1,000 hp and 1,200 ft. lbs. of torque.
Dino Fuel Alternatives (DFA) was also on hand with not one, but two veggie oil trucks. They had a Vegistroke Ford, which we already know is one fast truck, having won the Thundertruck drags with a time of 15.81 seconds, but they also claim it gets 144 mpg. DFA’s Vegistroke system has been available for any PowerStroke motor, but the company just finished its new VegiRam system for the Cummins diesel engine also. It was displayed in a VegiRam Dodge dually painted up like a NASCAR Craftsman truck series competitor.
Johnathan Goodwin had another super-efficient Hummer in Vegas, this one an H1 model with E85, Biodiesel, and water boy stickers on it. We already told you about the other Hummer H1 at SEMA that has been converted by Zero South with tracks to do a South Pole run next year. Right now it’s a rolling education center with video screens facing in so passengers can see project presentations. Wild Gator Racing brought out a specially-prepped E85 Chevy Silverado that looked trail-ready.
Then we saw our favorite vehicle of the day, Baby. It’s an old Japanese fire truck that was converted to run on natural oils and has become an ambassador for alternative fuels and environmental issues as it made its way around the world. Baby was featured in the award-winning documentary Oil + Water, and is now on the Kavu Elements Nature Propelled educational tour. Besides being able to run on just about any kind of oil, Baby also uses vehicle motion, sun, wind and water to store and use energy so the team can run off the grid when parked. The whole thing opens up too, with sleeping areas and a stage for movie showings, concerts and presentations. Very, very cool. See it in the gallery below (of just click here).
Gallery: SEMA 2008: Green trucks
Photos copyright (C)2008 Frank Filipponio/Weblogs, Inc.
SEMA 2008: Making Green Cool Zone trucks originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: flex-fuel, ford, ethanol
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SEMA 2008: Toyota Yaris Tailback runs on CNG
Filed under: Flex-Fuel, Toyota, SEMA Show, Natural Gas
Toyota has brought a really, really green concept with it to the SEMA Show that’s currently taking place in Las Vegas. That first bit of green comes courtesy of a compressed natural gas conversion that allows the driver to switch from gasoline to CNG for the otherwise stock four cylinder engine via a button. It wouldn’t be a proper SEMA concept without a ton of modifications, and so the storage tank for the natural gas is housed in the rear and appears when the modified rear tailgate is opened with its automated electric motor.
Other greenery includes the can’t-miss-it Sherwin Williams green paint with metallic flakes and bronze accents. Besides its CNG system, the Yaris Tailback gets custom suicide rear doors and a custom wide body kit, necessary to cover the ridiculously wide 19×9 front and 19×11 rear wheels. Inside is custom upholstery and an audio/video system provided by Pioneer. Full press release after the break.
Gallery: SEMA 2008: Toyota Yaris Tailback
[Source: Toyota]
Continue reading SEMA 2008: Toyota Yaris Tailback runs on CNG
SEMA 2008: Toyota Yaris Tailback runs on CNG originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: audi, flex-fuel, toyota
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Saab 9-4X possibly another victim of GM cash crunch
Filed under: Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, Saab
It looks like the cash flow crunch down at the Ren Cen has claimed another product victim. This time it’s the Saab 9-4X that looks like it will see a delay of up to a year before it’s launched. The new Saab crossover debuted as a concept at this year’s Detroit Auto Show and had been scheduled to launch in the fall of 2009. The Saab shares its platform with the Cadillac SRX that will debut at Detroit in January and go on into production in May. In concept form, the Saab used a direct injected and turbocharged 2.0L four cylinder that’s optimized for operation on E85. The production version will likely use something similar. While the concept didn’t use a hybrid drive system, and GM hasn’t given any indication in that direction, the production version could potentially use the two-mode hybrid transaxle that will debut shortly in the similarly-sized Saturn Vue. The premium-priced Saab could prove to be a more viable platform for selling the pricey two-mode system.
Gallery: Detroit 2008: Saab 9-4X BioPower live reveal
[Source: Left Lane News]
Saab 9-4X possibly another victim of GM cash crunch originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: gm, flex-fuel, saab, ethanol
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Another eco option for Brazilians: Citroën Xsara Picasso Eco
Filed under: Flex-Fuel, Hybrid, Citroen, South/Latin America
It seems that it’s not just Europeans who are getting green (or blue) labels for virtually every model of the road. We recently reported that Volkswagen has taken the BlueMotion badge to Brazil and that the Smart fortwo is being put on sale there. Well, it looks like Citroën has had the same idea and has unveiled a new model for the Brazilian market: the Xsara Picasso compact minivan, which is going to get the green label of “Eco” (not Airdream as in Europe). What’s the Xsara Picasso got going for it? A flex-fuel engine, like the Brazilian BlueMotions, but mated to a Stop/Start system. A good side benefit of the Start/Stop system is that flex-fuel models won’t need an additional gasoline reservoir for cold starts. Citroën claims that the latter system itself cuts fuel use by 8 percent, which “adds to the benefits of using ethanol at the pump.”
[Source: Citroën Brazil via Le Blog Auto]
Another eco option for Brazilians: Citroën Xsara Picasso Eco originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 19:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: ethanol, flex-fuel
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AutoblogGreen for 10.31.08
Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green
Whatever it looks like on the outside (like it?) the hybrid versions of the new 2010 Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan should get 38 mpg, and that’s always attractive. Speaking of which, how ’bout that Hilary Swank and her BMW Hydrogen 7? If you’re curious about how a fuel cell vehicle drives, we can tell you all about it.
- First Drive: Daimler F-Cell, Hyundai FCEV, Toyota FCHV and GM HydroGen4
- Tesla Roadster goes to the drags, does a 12.7 second quarter mile
- Volt will have a driver-activated “pedestrian-friendly alert”
- Tech Analysis: 2010 Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan powertrains, 38 mpg hybrid!
- New mileage record for the Peugeot 308: 69.15 mpg
- NICE Car Co opens outlet in Europe’s newest, biggest mall
- What gas are you going to choose for your next car?
- VIDEO: 2009 Zero X electric motorcycle: stronger, faster
- Hilary Swank smiles for a BMW Hydrogen 7
- Yamaha patents flex-fuel motorcycle
- More on Ford’s SmartGauge cluster for the Fusion/Milan hybrids w/VIDEO
- BlueMotion arrives in Brazil and gets local (ethanol) flavor
- First look: 2010 Lexus RX450h, RX350
- Ford thinks there’s a great future for I-4 engine offerings in the “New Frugality”
- Rendered Speculation: New Audi city car
- Smart due in Brazil’s urban centers in April 2009
- Azure Dynamics signs deal with Ford dealerships for hybrid trucks
AutoblogGreen for 10.31.08 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 05:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: toyota, lexus, bmw, audi, gm
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Yamaha patents flex-fuel motorcycle
Filed under: Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, On Two Wheels
Flex-fuel automobiles are nothing new. In fact, there are over 7-million flexible-fuel vehicles already on the roads in America, and it’s not at all uncommon to see gas stations that offer E85. All vehicles sold in the United States must be able to accept a minimum of 10 percent ethanol, but some modifications are required to run at higher percentages, including the use of different rubber tubes and seals along with some reprogramming of the engine’s computer. At this point, there are no motorcycles or scooters that are certified to run on fuel with ethanol concentrations as high as 85 percent, but Yamaha has recently filed a patent for just such a machine. Since there isn’t any production machine as of yet, details on the Yamaha system remain sketchy, with Motorcycle News in the UK suggesting that there is a secondary fuel tank on-board to hold the ethanol. This shouldn’t really be necessary if the bike is equipped with sensors to detect the alcohol content of the fuel. On the other hand, if Yamaha were planning to use the ethanol as an injection to control engine knock and emissions, a second tank would be necessary. We look forward to seeing what the Tuning Fork company has in store for its flex-fuel two-wheelers.
[Source: Motorcycle News]
Yamaha patents flex-fuel motorcycle originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: ethanol, flex-fuel
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BlueMotion arrives in Brazil and gets local (ethanol) flavor
Filed under: Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, Volkswagen, South/Latin America
As you know, blue is the new green, at least marketing-wise. Therefore, Volkswagen has decided to offer the BlueMotion badge in Brazil, albeit adapted to the homegrown fuel from the South American continent: the Brazilian BlueMotion bagde vehicles will be powered by ethanol. BlueMotion will be an option for the Fox (pictured above), Gol and Polo models. Not much information has been released yet, although the models are currently being shown at the São Paulo Motor Show. We know that the Brazilian Polo BlueMotion will be powered by a flex-fuel 1.6-liter engine mated to a new gearbox with longer gear ratios. As usual, some additional tweaks are included in the pack, such as a closed front grille and underside, lowered suspension and low-rolling resistance tires mated to 14-inch wheels. The Polo is expected to be on sale by the end of the year but the BlueMotion versions of the Gol and the Fox probably won’t be ready until later in 2009
[Source: Autoblog en Español]
BlueMotion arrives in Brazil and gets local (ethanol) flavor originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: ethanol, flex-fuel
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Tech Analysis: 2010 Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan powertrains, 38 mpg hybrid!
Filed under: Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, Hybrid, MPG, Ford, Mercury, LA Auto Show
The long-awaited redesign of the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan is almost upon us and we got our first look at the new powertrains this week in Dearborn. As expected, increased fuel efficiency has been the number one priority for Ford’s engineers, followed by power and refinement. In the conventional models, the sedans have picked up the redesigned engines that we first saw last spring in the 2009 Escape and Mariner compact SUVs. We did learn some new information about efficiency improvements to the 2.5L four cylinder and the 3.0L V6 that Ford hadn’t revealed previously.
Even more importantly, the sedans will now be available with a hybrid powertrain for the first time. While the 2.5L engine in the hybrid is shared with the Escape, the electrical part of the system is almost entirely new. The whole system has been designed in-house by Ford and if what we were told pans out, this mid-size sedan will be the most fuel efficient car in the segment on the road in the U.S. One thing the Ford staff emphasized during the briefing was the company’s emphasis on affordable fuel efficiency. VP of Global Powertrains, Barb Samardzich, told the assembled media that “we don’t want our sustainability strategy to be public affairs exercise.” In reviewing the company’s plans for the coming decade, Samardzich focused on affordable technologies that can be applied to almost all cars in the near term. That means that over the next five years, almost all Fords will have transmissions with at least six gears and well over half of the company’s North American products will have EcoBoost engines. Read on to find out more about what Ford has in mind for the Fusion and Milan in 2009.
[Source: Ford]
Continue reading Tech Analysis: 2010 Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan powertrains, 38 mpg hybrid!
Tech Analysis: 2010 Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan powertrains, 38 mpg hybrid! originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 10:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: gm, flex-fuel, ethanol, ford
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New information on the electric Ford F-150 Hi-Pa coming to SEMA
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Flex-Fuel, Hybrid, Ford, SEMA Show
When it comes to all things pickup truck related, Mike Levine is the go-to guy. Mike has been continuing to investigate the back story on the PML F-150 Hi-Pa that will making its debut at the SEMA Show next week. It turns out that PML didn’t build this truck single-handedly. They teamed up with DST Industries and Ford on the project. The V8 powertrain has been completely stripped out in favor of the electric drive system. According the PML the motors are good for over 150 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque… each! That’s over 600 hp cumulative and 2,000 lb-ft of torque at the wheels. PML’s wheel motors pull electrons for drive from a 40 kWh lithium ion battery pack that sits under the rear part of the cab and the bed where the gas tank normally sits. The motors, of course, also provide regenerative braking capability although the hydraulic friction brakes are also retained.
The truck is currently electric only which means it has a range of only 75-100 miles. Early next year, PML is planning to add an engine and generator to transform it into a series hybrid. The company wants to use an existing emissions-certified engine, preferably a flex-fuel example. PML CEO Craig Knight told Mike that there are no current production plans for the Hi-Pa F-150 although it could be built by 2011. Mike tells ABG that PML doesn’t plan to build motors but would rather license the designs to a tier 1 supplier that will work with automakers.
Gallery: PML Hi-Pa F-150
[Source: PickupTrucks.com]
New information on the electric Ford F-150 Hi-Pa coming to SEMA originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: flex-fuel, ford
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