Ford Asks Congress for $9B Stand- By Line of Credit; Commercial BEV by 2010, BEV Sedan by 2011
2 December 2008
 |
| Overview of Ford’s technology sustainability plan. Click to enlarge. |
Ford Motor Company this morning submitted to Congress a business plan detailing a pathway to profitability and requested a “stand-by” line of credit in the amount of up to $9 billion at Government borrowing rates, for a 10-year term, with TARP conditions, in case the current economic crisis worsens or there is a bankruptcy of a major competitor. (TARP is the $700-billion Troubled Assets Relief Program for the financial sector.)
Ford said it will accelerate the transformation of its North American automotive business through aggressive restructuring actions and the introduction of more fuel-efficient vehicles—including a broader range of hybrid-electric vehicles and the introduction of advanced plug-in hybrids and full electric vehicles.
More...
| Comments (8)
| TrackBack (0)
European Parliament and Council Reach Agreement on Automotive CO2 Regulations
2 December 2008
Following a series of meetings between Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and the French Presidency of the Council, the two sides have informally agreed upon the details of future targets on CO2 emissions from cars. The compromise identifies a longer-term reduction target; allows phased-in implementation of the shorter-term target; and reduces proposed penalties against carmakers that exceed the limits.
The informal compromise is based on the Commission’s proposed target of an average of 120g of CO2/km for new passenger cars (M1 category) by 2012, compared to the current levels of 160 g/km. A target of 130g/km is to be reached by improvements in vehicle motor technology; the subsequent 10g/km reduction is to come from other technological improvements and by an increased use of sustainable
biofuels. Key elements of the compromise include:
More...
| Comments (1)
| TrackBack (0)
Delphi Direct Acting Piezo Injector Debuts on the Mercedes C250 CDI
1 December 2008
 |
| Delphi Direct Acting Diesel Common Rail System includes (clockwise from top left): DFI3 Piezo Injectors with Common Rail, Series 9 Modular Fuel Filter, DCM4 Light Duty Controller, and DFP3 High Pressure Pump. Click to enlarge. |
Delphi Corporation’s new Direct Acting Piezo injector (earlier post) is making its debut in the new Direct Acting Diesel Common Rail System on the new Mercedes C250 CDI. In the new system, the injector needle is directly activated by a piezo ceramic actuator, removing the hydraulic circuit and its associated lag and energy consumption.
The piezo ceramic actuator directly operates the needle valve of the injector for initial lifts, such as those obtained in pilot injections, and a motion amplifier is used to help complete the lift for large injections. This enables the injector to spray fuel into the combustion chamber faster, with much improved spray momentum and accuracy, at higher pressures (up to 2,000 bar).
More...
| Comments (3)
| TrackBack (0)
Fiat Extends Bravo Range with New 2.0L Diesel
1 December 2008
 |
| The Bravo 2.0 Multijet. Click to enlarge. |
Fiat has extended its Bravo range with a new 165 bhp (123 kW) 2.0 Multijet with DPF (particulate filter), type-approved to Euro 5 standards. The new diesel is derived from the 1.9 Multijet and offers benefits over its predecessor in performance (+ 18% torque at a lower rpm and +10% power output); emissions; and fuel consumption (-5.4%) over a combined cycle.
The increase in cylinder capacity between the two engine versions was achieved by increasing the bore from 82 mm to 83 mm. The compression ratio was also reduced from 17.5:1 to 16.5:1, enabling a reduction in NOx levels. Compared to the 1.9 Multijet, the 165 bhp engine uses a new type of low voltage spark plugs that allow starting with minimum preheating times.
More...
| Comments (7)
| TrackBack (0)
EU to Exceed Criteria Air Pollutant Limit Partly Due to Growth in Road Transport
1 December 2008
 |
| Sum of EU Member State aggregated projections compared with EU-27 emission ceilings defined in Annex I and Annex II of the NECD. Source: EEA Click to enlarge. |
Despite significant emission reductions in recent years, only 11 EU Member States expect to remain within their emission limits for all four air pollutants set by the EU National Emission Ceilings Directive (NEC Directive), according to a report by the European Environment Agency (EEA). The limit on NOx remains the most difficult to meet. This is partly due to the fact that demand for road transport has grown faster than anticipated.
The NEC Directive status report by the EEA presents country-specific and EU-wide information for the four pollutants covered by the directive: sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) and ammonia (NH3). Preliminary results were reported in May this year.
More...
| Comments (4)
| TrackBack (0)
Michelin to Commercialize Electric Active Wheel Technology
1 December 2008
 |
| Michelin’s Active Wheel integrates brake disk, electric motor and suspension motor. Click to enlarge. |
Michelin’s Active Wheel, an in-wheel system comprising a brake, 30 kW (40 hp) electric traction motor and electric suspension motor system, will be used in the Heuliez-produced WILL electric vehicle (battery or fuel cell), due to be available to fleet owners in 2010. The WILL grew out of a concept developed by Heuliez and Michelin and features networked services innovated by Orange.
Michelin has shown earlier versions of the Active Wheel in concepts before, such as the Michelin/PSI Concept HY-LIGHT Fuel Cell Vehicle shown at the 2004 Challenge Bibendum in Shanghai. (Earlier post.) The two-wheel motor WILL is its first application in a series production-intent vehicle. The partners showed the WILL at the Paris Motor show in October. Venturi Automobiles also showed an application of the Active Wheel in the premier of its four-wheel motor Volage.
More...
| Comments (30)
| TrackBack (0)
New Global Survey Finds Consumers Want Government Action on Climate Change; Decreasing Willingness to Take Personal Action
30 November 2008
 |
| Percentage of respondents ranking climate change higher than global economy. Click to enlarge. |
The results of a new global survey released by the HSBC Climate Partnership show that consumers want governments to stop haggling on carbon concessions and act. The Climate Confidence Monitor 2008 surveyed 12,000 people across 12 markets and found that 43% of those surveyed chose climate change ahead of global economic stability when asked about their top three concerns, despite the survey taking place in the midst of the financial market turmoil in September-October 2008.
In a clear call for resolution to the debate on emission targets, 77% of people surveyed worldwide want to see their government cutting carbon by their national “fair share” or more to allow less developed economies to grow.
More...
| Comments (22)
| TrackBack (0)
Europe Closing in on 6% Lower Carbon Road Fuel Standard by 2020
30 November 2008
Europe is moving closer to finalizing a new fuel quality law which will require fuel suppliers to cut full life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions from road fuels by 6% between 2010 and 2020.
ENDS (Environmental Data Services) reports that the cuts are expected to come from production efficiency improvements and a switch to biofuels and other cleaner fuels. Biofuel sustainability criteria will be added to the new law once they have been agreed in separate negotiations relating to the new Renewable Energy Directive.
More...
| Comments (2)
| TrackBack (0)
Evaluation of Shared Low-Speed Link to Public Transit Finds Demand Higher Among Day Users Than Commuters
29 November 2008
Researchers from the Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Davis have published an evaluation of the results of the 16-month EasyConnect field test in the San Francisco Bay area. EasyConnect was launched in August 2005 to test and evaluate the potential for a shared-use low-speed mode vehicle service at bridging the “last mile” from a public transit station to the workplace. The program used electric bicycles, non-motorized bicycles, and Segway Human Transporters (HTs). (Earlier post.)
Although in concept the program was more focused on commuters, the results of the analysis found higher demand among day users (e.g., for lunch, errands, and business meetings) than among commuters (i.e., getting from the public transit station to work and back). The electric bicycle had the highest low-speed mode share (68%) relative to the conventional bicycle or the Segway HT for commute travel; for day use, however, the Segway had the highest share (52%).
More...
| Comments (9)
| TrackBack (0)
Report: Climate Change Puts Forests and People At Risk; Adaptation Required to Avert Crisis
29 November 2008
|
| Examples of measures for forest adaptation. Click to enlarge. |
Unless immediate action is taken, climate change could have a devastating effect on the world’s forests and the nearly 1 billion people who depend on them for their livelihoods, according to a team of scientists from the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR).
In their report—Facing an Uncertain Future: How Forests and People can Adapt to Climate Change—released in conjunction with the UNFCCC Conference of Parties meeting in Poznán, Poland, the CIFOR researchers call for the implementation of adaptation measures to reduce the vulnerability of the forests and forest-dependent communities that will experience an unprecedented combination of climate change-associated disturbances like flooding, drought, wildfire, and other environmental challenges in the next 100 years.
More...
| Comments (12)
| TrackBack (0)
Germany Aiming for 1M EVs and PHEVs by 2020
28 November 2008
 |
| Battery costs are the largest hurdle for a successful market for electric vehicles, according to a VW presentation at the conference. Click to enlarge. |
The German federal government wants to take strong measures towards electric and hybrid
vehicles in the next ten years, with the goal of putting one million electric (EV) and plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) vehicles onto Germany’s roads by 2020. Germany currently has a car parc totalling about 46.1 million vehicles, according to figures published by the European Automobile Manufacturers’s Association (ACEA), with a total vehicle fleet of around 49.7 million as of 2006.
The plan, announced during a German national strategy conference on electric mobility (Nationale Strategiekonferenz Elektromobilität) held in Berlin earlier this week, was drafted jointly by the departments of Economics, Transport, Environment, and Education & Research. It will be finalized and put into legislation early next year.
More...
| Comments (39)
| TrackBack (0)
