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March 2008

The Clean Energy Scam

By Michael Grunwald, Time Magazine (3/27/08) Advocates are always careful to point out that biofuels are only part of the solution to global warming, that the world also needs more energy-efficient lightbulbs and homes and factories and lifestyles. And the world does need all those things. But the world is still going to be fighting an uphill battle until it realizes that right now, biofuels aren't part of the solution at all. They're part of the problem. Time Magazine Front Cover Story

UC San Diego Saves Millions with Realtime Management

By John Addison (3/26/08). Like all great universities, the University of California at San Diego, must either spend millions for car parking or spend millions for improved transportation. Using transportation demand management, UC San Diego is spending millions less in both areas. 27,500 students attend the university. “We encourage commuters to use alternate forms of transportation,” said Brian d’Autremont, TPS director. “Approximately 43 percent of UC San Diego commuters use some form of alternative transportation, including, bikes, buses, trains and vanpools.” Clean Fleet Article

French Post Plans 500 Electric Delivery Vehicles

(3/26/08) With frequent stops for regenerative braking and limited miles, postal delivery is ideal for electric vehicles. Venturi Automobiles and PSA Peugeot Citroën are partnering to supply electric vans based on the Citroën Berlingo First / Peugeot Partner Origin in response to a tender from the French Post Office, La Poste. Issued in April 2007, the international tender from La Poste initially involves the supply of a small number of test vehicles. Following a six-month trial period, during which the vehicles will be thoroughly tested, La Poste will select the supplier of 500 mail delivery vans. Green Car Congress

Oil Consumption Peaks for World’s #3 Consumer

By John Addison (3/17/08). “Only the USA and China consume more oil than California,” observes Jim Boyd, CEC. With oil prices soaring, California must reduce its dependency on oil to sustain prosperity and achieve energy security. As 38 million Californians deploy a range of solutions to reducing oil usage, the world will learn valuable lessons. In 2006, California consumption of gasoline peaked. In California, more people are driving fewer miles; importantly, fewer solo miles. More efficient vehicles are being used, often benefiting from hybrid-electric drive systems. As an alternative to oil, there is a growing use of biofuel, natural gas, hydrogen and renewable electricity. Clean Fleet Article

Subaru EV to Charge in 15-minutes

(3/17/08) The new Subaru R1e can recharge in a regular wall outlet up to 80 percent capacity in 15 minutes. The vehicle reaches speeds of 65 miles and hour and has a range of 50 miles, with a charge cost of $2. Subaru will partner with New York Power Authority (NYPA) to evaluate the company's R1e electric vehicle. The R1e comes with an NEC lithium ion battery that eliminates charge memory loss, allowing partial charges and quick charges that do not decrease battery life. The NYPA partnership will be kicked-off at the New York International Auto Show this week. Green Car Congress

10.3 Billion Transit Trips in USA is New Record

(3/10/08) The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) announced today that Americans took 10.3 billion trips on public transportation in 2007, the highest level in 50 years. Light rail systems showed major increases: New Orleans (128.6%); Denver (66.2 %); Saint Louis (27.0%); Philadelphia (26.2%); Kenosha (18.5 %); the state of New Jersey (14.7%); and Memphis (11.3%). Commuter rail systems with the large ridership gains: Nashville (257.9%); Santa Fe (96.6%); Harrisburg (41.3%); Seattle (27.4%); Oakland (14.2%); Dallas/Fort Worth (12.1%); Stockton (11.9%). APTA

FedEx’s Absolutely, Positively, Cleaner Fleet

By John Addison (3/4/08). With oil topping $100 per barrel, FedEx is also investing in hybrid, alt-fuel, and electric vehicles. FedEx hybrids have accumulated more than 1,000,000 miles in revenue service.100 diesel hybrids are in service globally, primarily in the U.S; 75 more hybrids will be added in 2008. The hybrids are an excellent investment with a 42% improvement in fuel economy. Clean Fleet Exclusive

TH!NK Delivers New EVs and Partners with A123

(3/11/08) The TH!NK City now offers a choice of three battery packs: a 28 k Wh Zebra sodium nickel chloride pack, a 26 kWh Li-ion pack from Enerdel and a 19 kWh Li-ion pack from A123Systems.' Customers can buy their own Th!nk City electric cars for about $30,000. The battery will be leased separately for about $300 per month. Think is delivering its first cars in Norway, with international sales to follow later in the year. GE is investing in TH!NK and A123. Green Car Congress

GM plans volume hybrids by 2010 with Hitachi Lithium-ion

(3/4/08) GM plans on a high-volume system to debut in North America in 2010, and then expand globally. Hitachi to supply new lithium-ion batteries. The cost-effective technology to improve fuel economy by up to 20 percent. This technology is showcased in the Saab 9-X BioPower Hybrid concept car which demonstrates 48 mpg. GM will introduce 16 new hybrid vehicles over the next four years. GM News

February 2008

Heavy-Duty Vehicle Trends for 2008

By John Addison (2/8/08). Most oil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from transportation are not from passenger vehicles; they are from the heavy-duty vehicles, ships, and planes that move all our goods, serve public transit, and provide the infrastructure that keeps cities running. Heavy-duty operators have often been years ahead of passenger vehicle owners in using advanced technology to do more with less fuel. Article describes use of hybrids, plug-in hybrids, idle-off, natural gas, hydrogen fuel cells, energy security and green supply chains. Heavy-Duty Cleen Fleet Report

Corn Ethanol and Soy & Palm Biodiesel Damage - New Study

(2/8/08 A new study from The Nature Conservancy and the University of Minnesota published in Science finds that many biofuels — seen by many as a potentially low-carbon energy source — actually emit more greenhouse gases than the fossil fuels they aim to replace. Instead of lowering greenhouse gases, a new lifecycle study shows corn ethanol doubling greenhouse gases in comparison to gasoline. Lifecycle analysis shows that biodiesel from soy and palm may create 17 to 420 times more carbon dioxide than the fossil fuels they replace." Nature Conservancy

Toyota's New Plug-in Hybrid Concept Car Debuts

(2/8/08) Toyota 1/X Plug-In Concept makes its North American Debut at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show. The hybrid powertrain in the ultra-lightweight 1/X combines a home-rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack with a 500cc flexible-fuel engine in a system that is 1/4th of the total weight of the Prius powertrain. The result is a vehicle with the possibility of traveling more than 600 miles on a small four-gallon tank of fuel and achieving acceleration performance equivalent to that of the Prius. Green Car Congress

Hyundai i-Blue Fuel Cell Vehicle with 370 Mile Range

(2/6/08) The i-Blue concept vehicle is designed to be an electric vehicle. It is powered by a 100 kW electric engine and fuel cell stack. Fueled with compressed hydrogen (700 bar) stored in a 115-liter tank, i-Blue is capable of running more than 370 miles per refueling and achieves a maximum speed of more than 100 miles per hour. i-Blue Newswire

January 2008

Smart Grids and Electric Vehicles

By John Addison (1/28/08). Several early models of passenger vehicles have enough energy stored in advanced batteries to power several homes for hours. Hybrid electric buses and heavy trucks could power many homes or a school or a hospital in an emergency. Recent announcements demonstrate that electric utilities and some auto makers want to make V2G a reality. The Smart Grid Consortium, established in December 2007 by Xcel Energy, will select a community of approximately 100,000 residents to become a Smart Grid City using V2G. The Renault-Nissan Alliance and Project Better Place have signed a MOU to create a mass-market for electric vehicles in Israel. Clean Fleet Report

Small Task-Oriented Vehicle (STOV) Market to reach $5.5 Billion by 2012

(1/11/08) Electric vehicles will continue to gain market share in the light duty utility and personal transportation segments reaching nearly 300,000 vehicles. In a comprehensive analysis of trends and latest developments in the small, task-oriented vehicle (STOV) market, International Market Solutions, LLC, finds strong gains in major non-fleet markets for NEV and projects sales grow from $3.2 billion today to $5.5 billion in 2012. IMS Report

Super Mileage Four-Door Sedans

By John Addison (1/17/08). Fuel economy was on display at the Detroit Auto Show and the North American International Auto Show. $100 per barrel oil and new CAFÉ standards have made improved fuel economy mandatory for auto makers. Most popular with individuals and fleets is the four-door sedan. Over the next three years, there will be a number of affordable offerings with fuel economy from 40 miles per gallon, to infinite miles per gallon. Announcements include $30,000 plug-in hybrids and diesel hybrids. Cleen Fleet Report

Eaton Introduces its First Commercial Hybrid Power System in China

(1/14/08) Eaton Corporation this month formally introduced its first commercially-available hybrid power system in China with Beiqi Foton Bus Company, deploying the hybrid system in 30 city buses for Guangzhou Yiqi Bus.Beiqi Foton Bus Company and Eaton delivered the 30 hybrid diesel-electric transit buses to Guangzhou Yiqi Bus. Guangzhou Yiqi operates approximately half of the transit buses in Guangzhou, a city of 12 million people in China’s Guangdong province. Eaton USA hybrid customers include FedEx and UPS, and in Europe DAF Trucks and Daimler Trucks. Eaton plans to commercialize its parallel hybrid hydraulic technology, called the Eaton HLA system, in 2008 in refuse trucks, and other applications will follow. Eaton is also working with the US EPA and other partners to develop a series hybrid hydraulic drivetrain that has demonstrated 50-70% better fuel economy in a package delivery vehicle. Green Car Congress

Oil Exceeds $100 Per Barrel

(1/3/08) The surging price of oil, from just over $10 a barrel a decade ago to $100 yesterday, is altering the wealth and influence of nations and industries around the world. These power shifts will only widen if prices keep climbing, as many analysts predict. Costly oil already is forcing sweeping changes in the airline and auto sectors. It is intensifying the politics of climate change and adding urgency to the search both for fresh sources of crude and for oil alternatives once deemed fringe. The Wall Street Journal