Clean Fleet Reporthybrid & electric cars smart charged with renewable energy
Meeting the Energy and Climate Challenge by Dr. Steven Chu
“The U.S. innovation machine is the greatest in the world,” said Energy Secretary Steven Chu as he spoke at Stanford on March 7. He outlined the potential for breakthroughs in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and in batteries. He outlined a new Industrial Revolution as he presented solutions for the latest climate risks.
Ford Transit Connect Electric Test Drive
Fleet managers of utilities, universities, and city delivery will be evaluating this new battery-electric truck. As I turn and accelerate on the busy city street, the vehicle is silent. I cannot even hear the electric motor. Zero to 60 in 11 seconds is nothing to brag about, but the acceleration was adequate on the level street. By partnering with Azure and JCS, Ford will be one of the first to delivery commercial freeway-speed electric vehicles in the United States.
Ford’s U.S. Market Share Now Bigger than Toyota
Ford outsold Toyota in February in the United States. Ford’s monthly sales were up 43 percent over February 2009, while Toyota sales dropped 9 percent. Ford’s growing success comes at a time when Toyota is recalling millions of vehicles, and suspending sales of key models, due to accelerator pedal problems. More customers now feel safer in a Ford, Mercury, or Lincoln than in a Toyota or Lexus. Toyota commands four of the top 10 positions of Clean Fleet’s 2010 Hybrids with Best Mileage, but Ford plans on …
Fuel from Algae – Challenges do not Stop Big Bucks
Yes, biodiesel and other transportation fuels can be made from algae, but after decades of effort the fuel is still expensive and only made in lab-scale quantities. There are many obstacles to replacing petroleum with algal fuel in this decade, yet hundreds of millions are being invested in algal fuel companies such as Sapphire Energy, Aurora BioFuels, BARD, Solix, GreenFuel, and Solazyme. From Boeing to BP, from DARPA to DOE, and from Arch Venture Partners to Bill Gates, serious money is betting that algae will someday be …
Will Google Charge your Electric Cars?
Google finally won FERC approval to be an electric utility. Now that they are making billions delivering web ads, do they want to make added billions selling electricity? Quite possibly. The U.S. total grid load is about 417 GW. If all U.S. cars will converted to V2G plug-ins with an average of 15 kWh per vehicle, they would provide 2,865 GW. A U.S. fleet of electric vehicles could provide 7X entire electricity needed in U.S.
USPS may buy 20,000 Hybrid and Electric Vehicles
Most of the 220,000 U.S. Postal Service vehicles only travel 20 to 25 miles per day making them a good match with the range of an electric vehicle. Hundreds of stops make hybrids and electrics ideal for capturing braking energy and regenerating the batteries. A bill is now being debated in Congress, the American Electric Vehicle Manufacturing Act, that would enable the USPS to have 20,000 vehicles with electric drive systems, including 2,000 pure battery-electric.
Big Oil Fights Big Ag
Americans are spending 20 percent of their income on transportation. Big Oil and Big Ag are fighting for their share of that money by trying to control the EPA and pass new legislation. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized a rule to implement the long-term renewable fuels standard of 36 billion gallons by 2022 established by Congress. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has proposed a rule on the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) that would provide financing to increase the conversion of biomass to bioenergy.
Nissan Tennessee Plant Capacity = 150,000 Electric Cars per Year
Nissan’s Tennessee assembly plant will have the capacity to build 150,000 Nissan LEAF electric cars per year, and 200,000 lithium-ion battery packs per year. Plant productin starts in 2012. Nissan is serious about being the first to put 10,000 electric cars on the U.S. highways, then continuing to build electric car market share leadership. The lithium packs could also be used in future Nissan hybrids. DOE Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced the $1.4 billion loan agreement with Nissan North America.
2010 Cars with the Lowest Carbon Footprint
The cars with the lowest carbon footprint all save by using half the fuel of most cars. The Toyota Prius continues to the United States in fuel economy and lowest lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions. This perennial favorite midsize 4-door hatchback delivers 50 miles per gallon (mpg) and is lowest on the list with 3.7 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent for the EPA annual driving cycle. The 2010 Clean Fleet Report of Lowest GHG includes many hybrids, one SUV, and one car that runs on CNG.
Ten Reasons for drop in Car Ownership
In the United States, we embarrassingly have more vehicles than people with driver’s licenses. AAA estimates that it costs $8,000 per year for each car owned, which creates a financial burden on cash-strapped Americans. To the rescue are 10 positive trends that helped Americans scrap 14 million cars in 2009, while only buying 10.5 million new ones. Ownership is declining because of 10 factors including urban density, transit, employer programs, and intermodal intelligence.
Top 10 Electric Car Makers for 2010 and 2011
By 2011 year end, competition will be intense for electric car United States leadership. Tesla has the early lead in freeway-speed electric cars, but Nissan has big commitments for major U.S. cities. Toyota and GM will fight for plug-in hybrid early market share. Ford will have multiple electric car and plug-in hybrid offerings. European and Asian competitors will enter the fray. Don’t count out the good old United States “can do” entrepreneurs with exciting innovation and venture capital backing.
2010 Hybrid Cars for Best Mileage and Lowest Carbon Footprint
Hybrids are in demand now that oil prices have doubled since March. Some 2010 hybrids have double the MPG of others. The third generation 2010 Toyota Prius tops the list with the best fuel economy and lowest carbon footprint in the United States. Honda, Ford, Nissan, Lexus, and Chevrolet also made the Top 10 list.
