NRC new engines and hybrids most promising for the next 15 years

EcoBoost is the first step towards hybrid pickup trucks?

In the next 15 years conventional spark-ignition internal combustion piston engine continues to dominate the American auto industry, according to the National Council for Resource (NRC). Fortunately, a "significant" number of new technologies, such as the reduction of friction, downsizing, improved thermal management, Turbo, etc., can be combined to reduce fuel consumption by nearly 30 percent, without reducing the security, performance or utility.

Also diesel and hybrid technologies provide further improvements, but more upfront cost.

According to the NRC, achieving a 30 percent increase in fuel economy over the next 15 years using conventional engines, adding an average of $ 2,200 to the cost of a new vehicle. Furthermore, such technologies offer opportunities for incremental improvement, making such improvements more financially feasible for car manufacturers according to the NRC.

In the same period, new diesel engines can reduce fuel consumption by 37 percent, at a cost of $ 5,900 per vehicle, while hybrid cars a 43 percent improvement for $ 6,000.

Additionally, it is important to note that these are averages. Of course, the additional cost of the hybrid technology, for example, are less for smaller vehicles and more for larger vehicles.

There are also numerous hybrid species. Consequently, mild hybrid technologies to add to some vehicles might make more sense than full hybrid technologies, particularly in the short term, as some profit is better than no profit.

The NRC also notes that plug-in hybrids will also be sold in this time, but additional costs will they become less feasible than conventional hybrids. Also, electric cars will also be sold, but battery technologies is not expected to improve enough over the next 15 years, according to the NRC, for battery-electric systems very viable.

In short, it seems like the NRC study to suggest that there is not a one size fits all type of solution for the car industry. At the end of the day, steady, incremental improvements in fuel efficiency should focus the mid-term of the auto industry and policy makers, at least until battery technologies are significantly improved. So, maybe technologies such as Ecoboost and mild hybrids are the first steps towards full hybrid and plug-in pick-up trucks. And, since the last 15 years or more before perhaps plug-in trucks viable technologies such as, for example, Ecoboost are just that much more important in the meantime.

I think you will not only be a marathon runner over night.

Perhaps most importantly, the car industry should be judged more by what they are today with regard to better fuel economy do, not what they could do tomorrow.

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Ford Cancels Minivan Plans in Favor of More Hybrids

The car, called the C-Max, Ford's first hybrid-only model in North America, in the same way that the Toyota Prius, a hybrid is offered.

In addition, Ford said that the intention to triple its production capacity for hybrid and electric cars in North America so that the more than 100,000 of them annually in 2013 could build. The increase will add 220 jobs in Michigan, said Ford.

James d. Farley Jr., Ford's group vice president for global marketing, sales and service, said that the automaker was planning for a future in which fuel efficiency remained a high priority for the consumer.

"Customers have really changed in the last 120 days," Mr. Farley told reporters on a transmission company North of Detroit. "People are so focused on fuel economy."

Ford officials said the C-Max hatchback presented a stronger business case than the gasoline-powered, seven-passenger Grand C-Max that the intention to import from Europe. Ford C-Max hatchbacks and minivans in Europe, in petrol and diesel varieties, now sells and said demand for the five-passenger version there was this year doubled.

The C-Max now scheduled to go on sale in the United States will be built in suburban Detroit, next to the similarly sized Focus compact car, which is now available with a traditional engine and a battery-powered car to start later this year will be sold.

Instead of fighting for a share of the small but somewhat resurgent minivan market, Ford is using the C-Max to take aim at Prius and the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid built by General Motors.

Aaron Bragman, an analyst with the research firm IHS Automotive, said automakers more emphasis on hybrids were forced by more stringent federal mileage, known as Corporate average fuel economy, or CAFE.

"These engines must be ubiquitous in order to meet the new CAFE regulations become," said Mr. Bragman.

Ford declined to provide detailed specifications about the C-Max, but Mr Bragman said he expected the plug-in version, called the Energi, conveniently compare with the Volt, which G.M. late last year. The C-Max Energi will operate in a similar way as the Volt by allowing users to connect to a power outlet or high-voltage charging station. It will run first solely on battery power before you petrol.

Mr. Farley said the C-Max Energi would be "fully competitive" with the volts and 500 miles on a full charge and tank of gas would travel. The Volt has a combined range of about 379 miles, including 35 km on battery alone, according to the Environmental Protection Agency label.

Mr. Farley wouldn't give a range only-battery for the C-Max, that space for three passengers in the back seat. The Volt will fit only two passengers because the battery sticks out where the middle seat would be.

Mr Bragman said that was probably the Ford C-Max for significantly less than the Volt sell because the use of a lot of common parts. The Volt is a sticker price of about $ 41,000, before a federal tax credit of $ 7,500.

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U.s. Government hybrids and et seq. of to car fleet

Saul Loeb/Agence France-PressePresident Obama, with the Chevrolet Volt in July. The White House announced the purchase of 101 volt on Tuesday.

As part of its efforts to create the Federal fleet greener and a million hybrid and electric vehicles on the road by 2015, the Obama administration took a relatively small step Tuesday by purchasing 101 Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrids, as well as 15 et seq. of battery-powered.

The White House also announced that the Federal agencies to use "medium-sized or small sedans" expected instead of the fleshy black s.u.v. of associated with Federal Executive fleets.

According to the General Services Administration, which administers the Federal fleet, the pure electric Nissan leaf and think city are also now approved for Federal acquisition, with other models to follow. Ten of the new cars will Leafs, accompanied by five think. Michael Robertson, Chief of staff on the G.S.A., said that the cars would be delivered to fleets by early next year.

President Obama has ordered that, by 2015, all new light commercial vehicles rented or bought by federal agencies must be "alternative fueled," a broad category with battery-electric, hybrids, natural gas and biofuels cars. So-called flex-fuel vehicles running on E85 ethanol fuel are included in the designation and federal officials said that the Administration measures to ensure that they would take to actually be run on ethanol instead of gasoline.

The presidential memorandum on Tuesday issued Federal fleet performance deadlines for agencies and went on to say that "as soon as possible," the alternative fuel vehicles is located close to the fueling stations.

E.V. charging stations service Government vehicles will be installed in five cities: Detroit, Los Angeles, Washington, San Diego and San Francisco.

Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on environmental quality, said that the Federal Government, which is the largest car park in the United States, with approximately 600,000 cars and trucks, "example." The Administration says that it is in the past year, the number of hybrid cars and trucks in its fleet has doubled.

Mr. Obama memo called for "medium-sized or small sedans" in executive fleets "except where larger sedans are essential for the agency mission." Agency heads may exempt vehicles for a number of purposes, including law enforcement, emergency response or military applications.

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Study – hybrids and plug-ins reduce CO2 on life of vehicles

Batteries are green

Over the years, many have suggested that the battery powered cars don't really are green because it takes more energy to such vehicles to produce and this is their reduced tailpipe emissions counters.

For years, has Hybridcarblog disagree, citing a number of studies these dirty assertion in contradiction. And there is now a new study in support of the greenness of hybrid and plug-in vehicles.

According to Ricardo, while hybrids and plug-ins higher CO2 emissions during production cause still, they offer a lower carbon footprint throughout the cycle of life of these vehicles.

The study shows, there is still much room for improvement, and cites the increasing use of renewable energy in the production of hybrids and plug-ins. Nevertheless, the idea that battery-powered vehicles dirtier than conventional vehicles just not supported by science.

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U.S. Government Adds Hybrids and E.V.'s to Car Fleet

Saul Loeb/Agence France-PressePresident Obama, with the Chevrolet Volt in July. The White House announced its purchase of 101 Volts on Tuesday.

As part of its effort to make the federal fleet greener and put a million hybrid and electric vehicles on the road by 2015, the Obama administration took a relatively small step Tuesday by purchasing 101 Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrids, as well as 15 battery-powered E.V.’s.

The White House also announced that it expected federal agencies to use “midsize or smaller sedans” in lieu of the beefy black S.U.V.’s commonly associated with federal executive fleets.

According to the General Services Administration, which manages the federal vehicle fleet, the purely electric Nissan Leaf and Think City also are now approved for federal purchase, with other models to follow. Ten of the new cars will be Leafs, joined by five Thinks. Michael Robertson, chief of staff at the G.S.A., said the cars would be delivered to fleets by early next year.

President Obama has ordered that by 2015 all new light-duty vehicles either leased or purchased by federal agencies must be “alternative fueled,” a broad category that includes battery electrics, hybrids, natural gas and biofuel cars. So-called flex-fuel vehicles that run on E85 ethanol fuel are included in the designation, and federal officials said that the administration would take steps to ensure that they actually run on ethanol instead of gasoline.

The presidential memorandum on federal fleet performance issued Tuesday included deadlines for agencies and went on to say that “as soon as practicable,” the alternative-fuel vehicles should be located close to fueling stations.

E.V. charging stations to service government vehicles will be installed in five cities: Detroit, Los Angeles, Washington, San Diego and San Francisco.

Nancy Sutley, chairwoman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, said that the federal government, which operates the largest vehicle fleet in the United States, with about 600,000 cars and trucks, has to “lead by example.” The administration says that over the past year, it has doubled the number of hybrid cars and trucks in its fleet.

Mr. Obama’s memo called for “midsize or smaller sedans” in executive fleets “except where larger sedans are essential to the agency mission.” Agency heads can exempt vehicles for a number of purposes, including law enforcement, emergency response or military applications.

Should We Wait and Build Hydrogen Cars Instead of Making Expensive Electric Hybrids?

It is simply amazing all the money going into hybrids and all-electric vehicle research these days, but there are some significant hurdles to cross if we are going to make all this work and keep the costs down for consumers. Plus, we have to deal with all those old batteries in our landfills, and whereas, some will be able to get recycled, they will not last forever, and those casings will be discarded along with the toxic waste in and around them.

Not more than a month ago, I was discussing this with an overseas acquaintance who lives near a Volvo Plant in Europe. They too were interested in "other-than-fossil-fuel" run vehicles. Such as all-electric, hybrids running bio-diesel, and the future of hydrogen cell powered transportation. "I think Hydrogen can be a very good thing when it gets going, however by the time hydrogen fuel hits the market, is there not a big chance that batteries and solar cell tech is also ready then?"

Meaning, cars can run all-electric and keep the batteries charged and topped off with the sun. Okay so, right, then why do it at all? That is to say why make 30 million electric cars, get stuck with all those less-than-efficient batteries in landfills with all that light and heavy metal pollution seeping in ground water, when you can wait until they are viable, and you have those problems figured out? Besides by then Hydrogen tech will be viable, so invest in research, not subsidies, or tax credits to buy stuff that is not good enough yet?

Are you beginning to see the relevant arguments against such technologies, forgetting about the most important challenge - cost to the consumers, and thus, perhaps like you, my acquaintance asks; "and if so, what is best to choose? The US already has infrastructure for hydrogen, but not so many other countries I guess?" Referring of course to the reality that most US homes are piped for natural gas, which has lots of hydrogen atoms to separate out for hydrogen fuel.

Also, within 5-10 years we will have a low energy electrolysis technique and one can separate water H20 - two hydrogen atoms, release the oxygen into the atmosphere. If a country doesn't have fresh water it's not a viable place to live anyway, or they have desalination happening to serve those populations. Now then, I don't wish to trash anyone's vision for our future, but we risk killing everyone's dream if we don't act prudently.

Plus, very soon we will have conquered another hurdle for hydrogen fuel and that is we will have carbon nano-tubes and other materials for the hydrogen fuel tanks for our future flying cars.

Indeed, I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.







Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes writing 22,700 articles was a lot of work - because all the letters on his keyboard are now worn off.

U.S. Government Adds Hybrids and E.V.'s to Car Fleet

President Obama, with the Chevrolet Volt in July. The White House announced its purchase of 101 Volts on Tuesday.

As part of its effort to make the federal fleet greener and put a million hybrid and electric vehicles on the road by 2015, the Obama administration took a relatively small step Tuesday by purchasing 101 Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrids, as well as 15 battery-powered E.V.’s.

The White House also announced that it expected federal agencies to use “midsize or smaller sedans” in lieu of the beefy black S.U.V.’s commonly associated with federal executive fleets.

According to the General Services Administration, which manages the federal vehicle fleet, the purely electric Nissan Leaf and Think City also are now approved for federal purchase, with other models to follow. Ten of the new cars will be Leafs, joined by five Thinks. Michael Robertson, chief of staff at the G.S.A., said the cars would be delivered to fleets by early next year.

President Obama has ordered that by 2015 all new light-duty vehicles either leased or purchased by federal agencies must be “alternative fueled,” a broad category that includes battery electrics, hybrids, natural gas and biofuel cars. So-called flex-fuel vehicles that run on E85 ethanol fuel are included in the designation, and federal officials said that the administration would take steps to ensure that they actually run on ethanol instead of gasoline.

The presidential memorandum on federal fleet performance issued Tuesday included deadlines for agencies and went on to say that “as soon as practicable,” the alternative-fuel vehicles should be located close to fueling stations.

E.V. charging stations to service government vehicles will be installed in five cities: Detroit, Los Angeles, Washington, San Diego and San Francisco.

Nancy Sutley, chairwoman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, said that the federal government, which operates the largest vehicle fleet in the United States, with about 600,000 cars and trucks, has to “lead by example.” The administration says that over the past year, it has doubled the number of hybrid cars and trucks in its fleet.

Mr. Obama’s memo called for “midsize or smaller sedans” in executive fleets “except where larger sedans are essential to the agency mission.” Agency heads can exempt vehicles for a number of purposes, including law enforcement, emergency response or military applications.

View the original article here