Daimler Green Car Advisor Blog on Edmunds' Inside Line

November 19, 2009

Production of Smart ForTwo ED Battery Electric Vehicle Gets Underway in France

Production of the Smart ForTwo ED plug-in electric vehicle began this week at Daimler AG's factory in Hambach, France, the automaker reported today.

The first 1,000 of the zero-emissions ForTwo EDs (electric drives) will be provided to customers participating in various mobility projects in major cities in Europe and the U.S. in order to generate broad feedback on electric driving under everyday conditions.

That said, the current, second-generation ForTwo ED equipped with the most modern lithium-ion battery pack won't be available to the general public until 2012. At that time, it will be produced as a regular part of the Smart product portfolio and be sold through the Smart sales network.

The Smart brand has taken a pioneering role in electric mobility since 2007. Back then, 100 ForTwo EDs of the first generation went into practical customer operation under everyday conditions of city traffic in London.

Feedback from that project was very positive and a year later Daimler introduced the second-generation ForTwo ED with a more advanced electric drive and a better lithium-ion battery pack.

As for the Hambach plant, it was inaugurated in 1997 and a year later began building Smart ForTwos. By September 2008, more than 1 million ForTwos had been manufactured at the plant.

Today, the ForTwo is present in 41 countries. Most of the ForTwos are sold in Germany, Italy and the U.S., and those markets are expected to be big ones for the electric version.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett November 19, 2009, 8:40 AM
Categories:: Batteries, Daimler, Emissions, Plug-ins and Electric, Smart
Technorati Tags:: All-Electric

November 18, 2009

Mazda Wins Innovation Award for Its Stop-Start System But Reason Why Isn't Clear

Mazda Motor Corp. was honored today with the 2009 Technology of the Year award from a non-profit coalition of Japan-based automotive critics and journalists for the automaker's i-stop idling stop-start system, which is a little perplexing.

A stop-start system automatically shuts down and restarts an automobile's internal combustion engine to reduce the amount of time the engine spends idling, thereby improving fuel economy. The technology isn't new. Daimler, Fiat, Toyota and other automakers have been putting it in some of its vehicles for a while.

So why exactly did the 2009 Automotive Researchers' and Journalists' Conference of Japan decide to recognize Madza's stop-start system now? It's a good question, one we've put to spokesmen for the conference and the automaker.

After waiting four hours for a response, we went ahead and posted this piece; we'll update if and when an explanation is offered.

In a statement issued to the media, Mazda wrote that its i-stop system is fitted to direct injection engines and uses combustion energy to restart the engine in just 0.35 seconds, about half the time necessary for most other competing systems. This might be why Mazda received the award, but it wasn't stated.

The i-stop system also suppresses noise and vibration as the engine shuts down and restarts, ensuring that drivers experience a natural driving feel with no sense of discomfort. Most other stop-start systems do that as well.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (3); Scott Doggett November 18, 2009, 12:06 PM
Categories:: Daimler, Fiat, Mazda, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: 2009 Automotive Researchers' and Journalists' Conference of Japan

November 17, 2009

Daimler Gets German Gant to Develop Mercedes-Benz Electric Delivery Vans

Anticipating a payoff in cleaner city air and a lowering of national CO2 emissions, the German environmental ministry is awarding automaker Daimler a grant of up to 9 million euros ($13.46 million) to subsidize development of an all-electric version of its Sprinter commercial van.

Up to 50 of the electric vans will be produced by the Mercedes-Benz Van unit and delivered to customers in environmentally sensitive inner city areas for real-world testing.

Because they travel relatively short distances and spend a lot of time idling while cargo is being unloaded and delivered, commercial vans are an ideal platform for electrification.

They benefit from electric drive systems' powerful torque; don't suffer from the need to be recharged after 50-80 miles of driving and improve both air and environmental noise quality with their zero emissions, near-silent motors.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell November 17, 2009, 9:18 AM
Categories:: Daimler, Mercedes-Benz, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: Electric Delivery Vans

November 16, 2009

Daimler to Begin Smart Sharing Test Program in Austin

Automaker Hopes To Rekindle Interest in Smart Cars With Short-Term Rentals

Austin, Texas, a university city with a wide and deep green streak, has been selected as home for a pilot project that Germany's Daimler hopes will reignite interest in its Smart Car.

Called car2go, the program will enable members to reserve a Smart ForTwo, use it for as long - or little- as needed an then park it and walk away - or return it to a designated drop off location in the city - so that other uses can pick it up.

It's a manufacturer-sponsored version of the short-term car sharing programs pioneered by ZipCar and a few others.

Car2go members pay by the minute and can reserve cars on-line of via telephone or can drop into a rental station and pick one up on the spur of the moment, Daimler says. Members are screened and given special radio frequency (RF) cards that unlock the cars and allow them to be driven. Use fees are automatically deducted from a credit card or checking account.

Daimler, which is holding a Web conference Tuesday to explain the program, launched car2go in Germany last year and charges the equivalent of 19 cents a minute, up to $73.40 for a full day.

U.S. pricing hasn't been announced.

Sales of the Smart - which are handled through a separate company, Penske Automotive Group - have fallen dramatically since the tiny car's explosive launch last year. From a high of 2.700 cars in May, 2008, monthly Smart sales dropped to just 661 in October.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); John O'Dell November 16, 2009, 5:19 PM
Categories:: Daimler, Smart
Technorati Tags:: Austin

Daimler Debuts Third-Generation Mercedes-Benz Fuel-Cell-Hybrid Bus for Testing

Daimler today debuted its third-generation Mercedes-Benz Citaro fuel-cell-hybrid bus at the site in Hamburg, Germany, where 10 of the buses enter service next year.

In addition, the Hamburger Hochbahn public-transport company will take delivery of 20 Mercedes-Benz B-class fuel-cell cars starting next year.

The buses will take part in large-scale fleet trials scheduled to take place in Hamburg and other European cities as part of a follow-up to real-world hydrogen-vehicle testing in the the European Union from 2003 to the present.

Vehicles participation in the testing "performed outstandingly," Daimler said in a press release distributed Monday, adding that their total operating time exceeded 140,000 hours and the buses covered a total of more than 1.35 million miles.

Daimler said that due to improved fuel-cell components and hybridization with lithium-ion batteries, the latest version of the Citaro fuel-cell-hybrid bus consumes almost 50 percent less hydrogen than the preceding generation.

The operating range of the fuel-cell bus is 155 miles and the fuel-cell drive system is also practically maintenance-free and has a long operating life.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett November 16, 2009, 11:23 AM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Daimler, Emissions, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Mercedes-Benz
Technorati Tags:: Alternate Fuel

November 13, 2009

Daimler Announces Tentative Plan to Launch Series of Luxury Compact Cars in U.S.

Daimler AG is considering launching a series of small Mercedes-Benz cars in the U.S. in a bid to tap Americans' growing interest in downsized models that offer upscale features and finishes, the German automaker's chief executive said.

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The Mercedes-Benz A-Class, right, gets 50 MPG but isn't available in the U.S.
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Under its tentative plan, Mercedes would import by 2012 at least one of four next-generation compact models it will start selling in Europe in late 2011, Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal (subscription required).

These diminutive Mercedes would go head to head with an expanding field of premium small cars in the U.S., including the A3 from Volkswagen AG's Audi unit and BMW AG's 1 series and Mini Cooper.

Unlike traditional compacts these cars can be costly; the Mini goes for as much as $34,000 depending on options.

Daimler's tentative move comes as buyers in Europe and the U.S. are increasingly redefining what they want in a luxury car. The severe economic downturn has driven even affluent consumers toward smaller and more understated models with higher fuel efficiency.

U.S. sales of large sport-utility vehicles such as the Chevrolet Suburban have plunged, while sales of tiny but stylish subcompacts such as the Honda Motor Co. Fit have grown, the Journal reported.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett November 13, 2009, 7:02 AM
Categories:: Audi, BMW, Daimler, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Honda
Technorati Tags:: Audi A3

October 12, 2009

Hydrogen Cars Getting Closer, More Affordable; Lack of Fuel Network Threatens

U.S. Trails Asia, Europe in Providing Hydrogen Fueling Infrastructure, Automakers Warn

Automakers aiming to meet California's revised Zero Emission Vehicles mandate requirements have pushed the fuel-cell electric car much closer to reality than many realize, according to a report by Bloomberg news service.

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Rendering of advanced fuel station near Los Angeles International Airport touts hydrogen as the fuel of tomorrow.
Automakers say that without more such stations, that vision won't be realized.
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Not only is the technology almost ready for prime time, reporter Alan Ohnsman found that automakers such as Toyota, Daimler, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Renault, Nissan and General Motors now believe they can bring fuel cell vehicles to market by 2015 with price premium of just $3,600 over the average price of a comparable midsized gasoline model.

But the technology and price breakthroughs won't mean much if the U.S. government's infrastructure priorities aren't altered to include encouragement of a hydrogen fueling system

If the U.S. doesn't get moving, it will fall behind Europe and Asia - where governments are actively promoting hydrogen fueling - in the race to replace oil as a motor vehicle fuel, GM and others warn.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell October 12, 2009, 10:23 AM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Daimler, Fuel Cell, General Motors, Honda, Hydrogen, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Renault, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars

October 8, 2009

Daimler Says Smart EV on Schedule for 2012 Launch, Will Be Built in France

Move over, Mini-E, Daimler reconfirmed this morning that it will begin "large-scale production" of the Smart Fortwo EV in 2012 and will begin ramping up with limited production of a series of 1,000 test cars next month.

The automaker is backing that promise - which we initially reported in August - with a multi-million euro investment in outfitting the Smart plant in Hambach, France, for production of the electric drive models, which will be sold in the U.S. and Europe.

The French government will provide tax credits and other incentives.

Daimler said that the first 1,000 electric Smarts would be delivered, beginning at the end of this year, to customers in Europe and the U.S. - typically commercial and government fleets - in order to obtain "feedback from use under everyday conditions."

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Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche, appearing with French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Hambach plant.
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The automaker has been testing electric Smarts in limited programs in London and German since 2007 and earlier this year introduced a second-generation version of the car, with a battery pack developed and manufactured by California EV-maker Tesla Motors.
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The lithium-ion battery pack is mounted between the car's rear wheels and provides juice to run a 40-horsepower electric motor than kicks out 92 lb.-ft. of torque. That give the two-seat Smart rather snail-pace acceleration of 0-37 in 6.5 seconds, with top speed of 62 miles an hour, but it's designed as a commuter car for crowded cities, not a racer for California freeways.

Range, according to Smart, is about 70 miles on a charge, and a depleted battery can be fully recharged overnight from a standard 220-volt outlet.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell October 8, 2009, 12:52 PM
Categories:: Daimler, Plug-ins and Electric, Smart
Technorati Tags:: Electric Smart

October 5, 2009

Daimler's Zetsche Betting on Fuel Cells, With Battery-Electrics, Hybrids For Interim

Daimler chief Dieter Zetsche says he's still is betting on a hydrogen future for the automobile.

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Mercedes B-Class fuel cell cars are being used in long-term road tests in Europe and U.S.

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But in a round-table interview with reporters form a variety of media including (subscription only) Automotive News during the recent Frankfurt Auto Show, Zetsche said that hybrids and battery-electric cars will be long-term interim technologies until hydrogen fuel cell cars and hydrogen fueling technology are ready for market.

Daimler is investing heavily in both electric and fuel cell technologies, he said, and has banded together with other German automakers to boost hydrogen fueling technology.

Asked if Daimler would consider four-cylinder engines for its Mercedes-Benz cars as U.S. fuel economy regulations tighten, Zetsche said that he wouldn't rule out the option .

He also said, according to an interview transcript posted today by Automotive News, that he sees a continued weak U.S. market for luxury cars for several years and that the Chinese market is likely to step in to gill the void.

Fuel efficiency for luxury cars is becoming a necessity rather than an afterthought, Zetsche said, adding that he is convinced that many customers continue to want a comfortable and spacious car but "would not like to be called callous by their neighbor because the fuel consumption is astronomic."

Daimler - indeed, the entire auto industry,- is at the "tipping point now" for electric cars, he said, pointing out that hydrogen fuel cell cars use all-electric drivetrains.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell October 5, 2009, 2:55 PM
Categories:: Batteries, Daimler, Fuel Cell, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Mercedes-Benz, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: Daimler

September 30, 2009

Detroit Diesel Seeks Federal and California OKs for its BlueTec-Equipped Engines

Bye-bye to that old diesel smoke-and-choke?

Federal and California standards for heavy duty diesels call for near-zero emissions of particulates and NOx in 2010 and beyond - the strictest big-rig exhaust regulations in the world.

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Freightliner Cascadia tractor uses both types of engines Detroit Diesel hopes to certify for 2010 emissions standards.

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They apply to all diesel truck engines built next year and beyond, and almost every truck and engine manufacturer has vowed to meet the standards.

We don't write a lot about trucks, but when we're talking 450-horsepower and 1,600 ft.-lb. of torque...how could we resist?

Besides, big rigs are big polluters, and anything that helps clean up the air quality mess caused by our transportation systems is worth noting.

The most recent to move forward is Detroit Diesel, which said today it has filed applications for federal EPA and California Air Resources Board certification for two of its most fuel-efficient engines, equipped with BlueTec emissions control systems.

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Hauler: 14.8-liter DD15 engine from Detroit Diesel offers 350-450 horespower and 1,350-1,650 ft.-lb. of torque and, with new exhaust treatment, company says, almost no nasty emissions.

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The company, owned by Dailmer, has been testing the Daimler-developed BluTec system for more than 25 million miles of on-road driving and says that EPA and CARB certification would mean a "paradigm-changing product for our customers."

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell September 30, 2009, 5:45 PM
Categories:: Daimler, Diesel, Emissions
Technorati Tags:: BlueTec

September 17, 2009

2009 Frankfurt Auto Show: Mercedes Officially Unveils New B-Class F-Cell EV

Mercedes-Benz officially unveiled a new B-class hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle at the Frankfurt Motor Show this week, but it is by no means the German automaker's first.

More than 4 years ago, at the March 2005 Geneva Motor Show, DaimlerChrysler debuted a B-Class F-Cell that looks almost identical to the one pictured here.

Back then, the zero-emissions model featured an electric motor powered by a fuel cell that put out more than 100 kilowatts -- or 35 kilowatts more than its predecessor.

The last-generation B-Class F-Cell had a range of nearly 250 miles, due to reduced fuel consumption and greater hydrogen storage capacity. Earlier versions had a range of around 150 miles.

If you're thinking Mercedes is spending years improving this technology, you'd be right.

As we reported last month, Mercedes is now sufficiently satisfied with the current version that the automaker will be launching a small fleet of them for real-world testing in the U.S. and Europe.

The cars use an on-board fuel cell stack to convert hydrogen and oxygen to electricity that powers an electric drive system. The cars in the small fleet will deliver a range of up to 250 miles with a top speed of 105 mph.

Fuel consumption is the equivalent of 3.3 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers on the European drive cycle.

In U.S. terms, that would be around 71 miles per gallon of diesel or about 64 miles per kilogram of hydrogen.

As we previously reported, the F-Cell's electric system delivers the equivalent of 136 horsepower and 214 pound-feet of torque. Mercedes says it has performance characteristics equal to and "in some cases far better than" those of a B-Class with a 2.0-liter gas engine.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett September 17, 2009, 12:58 PM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Daimler, Emissions, Fuel Cell, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Hydrogen
Technorati Tags:: Daimler

September 10, 2009

Mercedes Adds 2 Diesel BlueEFF. AMG Models to GLK Family; U.S. Market Maybes

Daimler AG has added a pair of BlueEFFICIENCY AMG models fitted with four-cyliner diesel engines to its growing family of Mercedes-Benz GLK sport utility vehicles, and the automaker hints one or both may come to the U.S.

The greener of the two is the rear-wheel-drive 2010 GLK 220 CDI with the familiar 170-horsepower four-banger achieving between 36.8 and 39.2 miles per gallon depending on options, the automaker said in a statement today. That model's claimed carbon-emission figures range from 158 to 168 grams per kilometer.

The all-wheel-drive 2010 GLK 250 CDI 4MATIC features a 204-hp engine producing 368 pound-feet of torque. Daimler claims it is the most powerful four-cylinder diesel engine in the SUV world. It achieves a claimed 35.1 mpg and emits 176 grams of CO2 per kilometer.

As far as acceleration, the RWD GLK 220 reportedly reaches 60 miles an hour in 8.5 seconds and has a top speed of 122 mph, while the AWD GLK 250 completes the sprint in 7.9 seconds and can reach 129 mph.

While not discussing whether it intends to export either model to North America, Daimler made the point of stating that in addition to meeting the EU5 emissions standard, both models have "the potential to fulfil the EU6 limits as well as the BIN 5 requirements in the USA."

We hope the German automaker will provide additional details at the Frankfurt Motor Show, which takes place next week.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett September 10, 2009, 12:25 PM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Daimler, Diesel, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Mercedes-Benz
Technorati Tags:: 2010 2010 GLK 220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY AMG

September 9, 2009

Mercedes-Benz to Unveil Vision S 500 Plug-in Hybrid Concept Next Week

Mercedes-Benz is expected to debut a Vision S 500 plug-in hybrid concept at next week's Frankfurt Motor Show, looking much like the one pictured here.

Although company spokesmen won't discuss it publicly yet, we've been told the concept will feature a V6 gasoline engine connected to a lithium-ion battery that has a storage capacity of more than 10 kilowatt hours.

That's enough to enable the car to go about 19 miles on electricity only before an onboard gas-powered engine-generator kicks in to feed juice to the lithium battery.

Acceleration is said to be 5 and half seconds from a standstill to 60 miles an hour. Mileage is said to be 73.5 mph, but it wasn't at all clear how that number was reached.

We expect to learn a lot more about this concept next week.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett September 9, 2009, 5:15 PM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Batteries, Daimler, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Mercedes-Benz, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: Frankfurt Motor Show

9 Major Automakers Sign Letter Agreeing to Develop and Launch Fuel-Cell Vehicles

Perhaps motivated by U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu's proposal last May to slash more than $100 million in federal funding for hydrogen-vehicle research, nine major automakers today issued a joint statement announcing that they had signed a letter of understanding to develop and launch fuel-cell electric vehicles.

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A trio of Ford FCEVs get pumped up.
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FCEVs use an on-board fuel cell stack to convert hydrogen and oxygen to electricity that powers an electric drive system.

Today's announcement came one day after Chu said in an interview that he will no longer seek to eliminate federal funding for the R&D of hydrogen cars, but instead will work with lawmakers to ensure the money is "invested wisely."

The automakers' announcement states that they "strongly anticipate that from 2015 onwards a quite significant number of electric vehicles with fuel cell could be commercialized. This number is aimed at a few hundred thousand units over life cycle on a worldwide basis."

It continued: "As every vehicle manufacturer will implement its own specific production and commercial strategies as well as timelines, commercialization of electric vehicles with fuel cells may occur earlier than in the above-mentioned expected year."

Beyond those statements, the announcement -- signed by Daimler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Renault, Nissan and Toyota -- offered little more information regarding the automakers' plans.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett September 9, 2009, 12:04 PM
Categories:: Daimler, Emissions, Energy Companies, Ford, Fuel Cell, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Honda, Hydrogen, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: California Air Resource Board

August 20, 2009

Smart ForTwo ED to Enter Production This Fall Using 2nd-Generation Electric Drive

Second-generation all-electric Smart ForTwo ED minicars will start rolling off a production line this November at the factory in Hambach, France, parent company Daimler AG announced today.

Daimler says that unlike its predecessor, the second-edition zero-emissions Smart ForTwo ED (pictured) is fitted with an innovative and highly efficient lithium-ion battery housed in a space-saving position between the axles. That "means that space is not compromised in any way in the intelligent two-seater vehicle," the company said.

That's a big deal, Daimler and Smart salespeople are fond of saying, because one of the major selling points of the vehicle is its size. At only 98.4 inches long, the vehicle is shorter than the width of most curbside parking spaces, allowing two or three ForTwos to park in a space intended for a single car.

What they usually don't mention is that this type of parking has been banned in Munich, amongst other European cities, and such parking in parallel-designated spaces is illegal in most American jurisdictions. But the vehicle's size often permits the car to be parked in legal parking spaces in which few other models could fit.

A 30-kilowatt (40-horsepower) electric motor is housed at the rear of the new ForTwo ED and provides "for good acceleration and high agility" with 88.5 pound-feet of torque that's immediately available.

By good acceleration the company means 0-60 kilometers per hour in 6.5 seconds, which equates to a respectable 0-36 miles per hour in the same amount of time. A 0-60 mph time was not available.

Daimler says the ForTwo ED can be charged at "any normal household socket" and says that in Germany, a full battery charge costs approximately $3 and is sufficient for a range of about 69 miles from the Tesla Motors-sourced 14-kilowatt lithium-ion battery.

It was unclear, and no Daimler was immediately available to confirm, if by "normal household socket" the automaker meant 110-volt outlet (standard in the U.S.) or 220-volt outlet (standard in Europe).

The availability of the new ForTwo ED will initially be limited to leased customers in Berlin and other cities in Europe as well as some American cities for real-world testing in tough everyday conditions. Daimler says that from 2012, the ForTwo ED "will be available to anyone interested."

In related news, the American-spec 2009 Smart ForTwo today achieved the "strongest roof" rating among competing minicars in tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett August 20, 2009, 1:03 PM
Categories:: Batteries, Daimler, Emissions, Plug-ins and Electric, Smart, Tesla
Technorati Tags:: Daimler

August 18, 2009

Tesla Motors to Move HQ and Powertrain Plant to Palo Alto, Passes on NUMMI

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

Tesla Motors announced today that Tesla Motors will develop and manufacture electric vehicle components in a renovated building (pictured) in the Stanford Research Park in Palo Alto, California.Tesla, the only automaker that is producing and selling highway-capable electric vehicles in North America, will lease an 350,000-square-foot building on a 23-acre parcel less than 3 miles from Stanford University.
The automaker said the new facility will supply all-electric powertrains to Tesla and to other automakers, greatly accelerating the availability of mass-market EVs.

Tesla will also move its corporate headquarters from nearby San Carlos to the site later this year. Roughly 350 employees will work in Palo Alto initially, with space for up to 650 people at the facility.

JB-Straubel-@-Tesla-Motors.jpg In an interview with Green Car Advisor, Tesla Chief Technology Officer JB Straubel (left) said selection of the site was based on various factors, among the most important being convenience for existing employees and access to future ones.

He said the location "will give us great access to top engineering and technical talent, and it's also a very central location for all of our existing employees so that we don't have to risk losing some employees just because of moving our headquarters and our operations."

He said the new site will be where Tesla performs powertrain research and development, not automobile assembly. He clarified some reports that suggested Tesla's next model - the Model S sedan - would be built there, stating "We're not going to built the sedan vehicle here. That'll be a separate facility."

"This is more focused on electrical engineering and mechanical engineering rather than something you would traditionally think of as industrial processes," said Straubel, who earned a bachelor's degree in energy systems engineering and a master's in energy engineering from Stanford.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett August 18, 2009, 5:08 PM
Categories:: Batteries, Daimler, Emissions, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, Plug-ins and Electric, Tesla
Technorati Tags:: Electric Cars

August 7, 2009

Hybrid Bus-Builder Daimler Says Orders Strong for its Diesel-Electric Model

Daimler Buses North America says it has received the initial order in an agreement to supply up to 500 diesel-electric hybrid transit buses to the Seattle, Wash., area's public transportation agency.

The first year order is for 93 of the Orion VII buses, with deliveries to begin in mid-2010.

Daimler Buses, located in Greensboro, N.C., said it also has received an order for 80 of the hybrid buses from the city of Ottawa, Canada's transit agency.

The buses are 40 feet long and seat up to 44 passengers. They use a series hybrid system in which a 5.9-liter Cummins V6 clean diesel engine generates power for an electric motor that propels the bus.

The orders bring to 2,900 the number of hybrid transit buses Daimler Buses North America has supplied or is building for customers, a volume that, the company, says makes it the world's largest provider of hybrid buses.

Now, if they could just get rid of the diesels, clean as they are, and go all electric.

(Click on illustration to enlarge.)

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); John O'Dell August 7, 2009, 3:54 PM
Categories:: Daimler, Diesel, Hybrid
Technorati Tags:: Daimler Bus

July 29, 2009

Concession on U.S. Fuel Rules To Spare BMW, Mercedes but Harm GM and Ford

German luxury automakers including BMW and Mercedes-Benz are close to benefiting from a U.S. concession that will allow them and a few other foreign makers to keep selling cars that emit more greenhouse gases than those made by mass-market rivals such as Ford, General Motors and Toyota.

So reports the Wall Street Journal today in an article (subscription required) that points out better than most how recent U.S. legislation benefits foreign automakers and harms domestic ones.

Under a provision of a plan to curb greenhouse-gas emissions, the Obama administration has proposed to set less stringent standards for carmakers that sell fewer than 400,000 vehicles a year in the U.S. That target defines the major German brands as well as a few smaller Asian manufacturers such as Suzuki Motor Corp. and Mitsubishi Motors Corp.

The easier targets are expected to apply to a limited portion of a carmaker's sales volume, and last for about four years -- unless the government grants an extension.

In effect, the "German provision" would make it easier for Mercedes to keep selling cars like its $147,000, 12-cylinder S600 sedan (pictured), rated at 13 miles per gallon, while GM or Toyota would be required to meet tougher mileage standards with smaller, more efficient cars, the Journal notes.

The rules are expected to be formally proposed later this year by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation to enforce the administration's mandate that makers boost the average fuel efficiency of their fleets to 35.5 miles mpg by 2016.

A spokesman for GM -- now majority-owned by the federal government -- said the Obama administration's proposal "creates fewer concerns" than California's policy because it is expected to exempt only a quarter of each qualifying auto maker's fleet, rather than all vehicles sold by those companies. It also would be in effect for only four years, compared with seven under the California program.

Other industry experts and some former government policymakers take a more critical view of the administration's plan.

David Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research at the University of Michigan, said the provision would hand "a distinct competitive advantage" to German and other exempted companies that compete with the major U.S. and Japanese brands in the U.S.

Daniel Becker, director of the Washington-based Safe Climate Campaign, which advocates tougher regulation of automotive fuel economy and greenhouse-gas emissions, said BMW and Mercedes "should be required to meet the same standards as General Motors and Ford."

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (3); Scott Doggett July 29, 2009, 12:58 PM
Categories:: BMW, Daimler, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Legislation, Mercedes-Benz
Technorati Tags:: BMW

July 23, 2009

Fuel Economy: BMW, Mercedes-Benz Developing Three-Cylinder Engines

As soon as Ford started promoting its upcoming four-cylinder EcoBoost engine earlier this week, pundits started quibbling over the marketability of Lincolns with 4-bangers.

Well, how 'bout a Mercedes-Benz or a BMW with a 3- banger?

In the never-ending search for more fuel efficiency, both German automakers are working on three-cylinder gasoline engines for their small and, possibly, medium-size passenger vehicles.

Both companies are motivated by Europe's strict new CO2 limits, which can be met most rapidly by decreasing fuel consumption.

In an interview with Britain's Autocar magazine, a Mercedes-Benz spokesman said the company has a 1.2-liter, turbocharged, three-cylinder engine that cranks out 168 horsepower and up to 185 lb-ft of torque, "enough to drive a mid-size car like the C-class very well."

It also delivers a 6 percent fuel economy improvement over a small four-cylinder engine with the same performance characteristics.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); John O'Dell July 23, 2009, 7:00 AM
Categories:: BMW, Daimler, Mercedes-Benz, Smart
Technorati Tags:: Engine Downsizing

July 16, 2009

Under The Skin: Inside View of Mercedes-Benz AMG All-Electric SLS eDrive

Beauty, in this case, is deeper than the skin.

Daimler AG released this see-though illustration of its 2015 Mercedes AMG SLS eDrive this morning, to show off its powerful battery-electric powertrain, featuring individual electric wheel-motors. (Click on illustration or photo-below-to enlarge.)

The gull-wing Mercedes AMG electric car (Daimler calls it a "swing wing") has upward rising doors strongly reminiscent of the famed 1954 300 SL, but that's the only retro touch in the car, which will use a modified version of the standard SLS rear-wheel drive platform.

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An early SLS prototype undergoes winter testing.

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The 98-kilowatt motors at each well produce 133 horsepower each, 532 horsepower combined, and can kick out 649 lb-ft of torque.

Daimler says the system will give the car a 0-100 mpg acceleration time in the neighborhood of 4 seconds.

A rechargeable 400-volt, 48 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack co-developed by Daimler and Germany's Evonik will store enough energy - augmented by juice captured from regenerative braking - to give the big two-seater a range estimated at 90-110 miles.

As of now the car is price-less, but one will be announced - a pretty hefty one, we imagine - as the 2015 launch date nears.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell July 16, 2009, 10:09 AM
Categories:: Daimler, Mercedes-Benz, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: Mercedes-Benz Electric Car

July 13, 2009

Arab Group That Invests Oil Money Buys 40 Percent of Daimler's Stake in Tesla

UPDATE: Adds remarks from Tesla .

Abu Dhabi-based Aabar Investments has purchased 40 percent of Daimler AG's stake in electric-car start-up Tesla Motors, with the aim of launching a joint venture, Aabar and Daimler said today.

In May, Daimler acquired an equity interest of just under 10 percent in Tesla, San Carlos, California, automaker of the all-electric Roadster, several of which are pictured here.

Tesla is one of the biggest players in the burgeoning electric-car sector, while Aabar is viewed as a spearhead investor for the emirate of Abu Dhabi in non-energy assets.

"This investment allows Daimler and Aabar to leverage their shared interest in the development of low-CO2 drive systems," the companies said in a statement.

In March, Aabar purchased a 9.1 percent stake in Daimler, saying then it would pursue joint strategic projects.

Tesla spokeswoman Rachel Konrad, reached late today as she arrived in New York for a store opening in Manhattan Tuesday, said, "Aabar is already a major investor in Daimler, so we welcome their investment in Tesla.

"This investment is consistent with the announcements made by Daimler and Aabar earlier on their intention to jointly work on strategic initiatives, including the development of electric vehicles."

In other words, Tesla's principals discussed Aabar before they finalized the Daimler deal, and today's development was not expected to change the strategic work that's being done now and planned for the future between Tesla and Daimler.

Aabar is an investment company controlled by the International Petroleum Investment Company, which is wholly owned by the Government of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

IPIC is one of the investment vehicles used by the Abu Dhabi government to invest oil income. Abu Dhabi pumps most of the oil produced by the United Arab Emirates, the world's third-largest oil exporter.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett July 13, 2009, 4:17 PM
Categories:: Daimler, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Plug-ins and Electric, Tesla
Technorati Tags:: Aabar

June 23, 2009

Daimler Says Smart Fortwo EV Will Be Available for Sale in the U.K. Early Next Year

Daimler announced today that it will begin selling all-electric Smart ForTwos in the United Kingdom next year at a cost of about $22,400 - or about the cost of a Toyota Prius or Honda Insight hybrid.

The price includes government tax incentives for zero-emissions vehicles.

Daimler, which has been real-world testing the battery-powered two-seater in London, Rome, Paris and other European cities, said the vehicle will enter "small series production, with cars coming to the U.K. in early 2010."

The exact number of available Smart ForTwo EDs - as they call them, with "ED" standing for electric drive - was not disclosed. Daimler said the vehicle will feature a 40-horsepower electric motor that'll draw its juice from a lithium-ion battery.

The German automaker also said the car can reach 30 miles per hour in 6.5 seconds, has a top speed of 60 mph and a range of about 70 miles per charge, with mileage varying with driving habits, cargo weight and environmental factors.

A full recharge using a normal plug and outlet requires up to eight hours. While the Smart ForTwo ED burns no climate-changing fossil fuels, it should be noted that the vehicles are only as clean as the source of the electricity they use.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett June 23, 2009, 9:09 AM
Categories:: Daimler, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Plug-ins and Electric, Smart
Technorati Tags:: Daimler

June 12, 2009

H2 Minus $ is an Equation Hydrogen Car Backers Say is Wrong Answer for Proposed Energy Department Budget

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Like every other alternative fuel, hydrogen has its fans and foes, its pluses and minuses, its ups and, recently, its downs.

After being the favored ground transportation fuel of the future for most of the last eight years as the Bush administration pushed development of hydrogen fuel cells for automotive use, nature's most abundant - albeit hard to isolate - element has been cast aside by the Obama administration.

The new president's Nobel-winning energy secretary, Steven Chu, has proposed in his 2010 departmental budget to eliminate funding for automotive hydrogen programs - that's $100 million - and instead to focus hydrogen research on fuel cells to generate power for homes, businesses and other stationary power users.

For transportation, his choice of fuel research programs to back is no surprise, he's long been a supporter of biofuels and electric cars.

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Honda says its FCX Clarity (below, right) is production-ready, lacking only a fueling infrastructure and lower-priced components that can only come with increased production of such cars.
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That's got the hydrogen car crowd - and we confess to a great fondness for fuel cell vehicles ourselves - up in arms and questioning the validity of Chu's apparent decision to "pick winners" by concentrating DOE research finding on biofuels and battery-electric, or plug-in, cars while announcing that his team doesn't see any short-term chance for hydrogen to emerge as a widely available and used fuel.

But Chu, powerful as he is sitting atop the nation's official energy policy agency and operating with the endorsement and backing of the president, isn't all-powerful. He has to answer to Congress, and Congress is subject to lobbying.

So the pressure politics have begun.

Short-Sighted?

With DOE budget hearings about to start, the chairman of the Senate's energy and Water Appropriations Committee - the committee that sits in judgment over the energy Department budget - has come out swinging.

A fan of hydrogen, Sen. Byron Dorgan recently called the DOE's budget recommendation to eliminate automotive hydrogen research funding "a very short-sighted recommendation." Hydrogen and fuel cells "are part of this country's future," said the North Dakota Democrat.

Backing Dorgan in support of restoring at lest some hydrogen programs funding for automotive research are automakers with huge investments in the technology.

They include Toyota and Honda, no slouches when it comes to making informed choices about technologies, as well as Daimler and our own General Motors Corp.

(We say "our own" because as part of the taxpaying public, we now share ownership of the faltering car company with the rest of America.)

Unlikely Allies

GM, in case you've been living in a cave or up in space for the past few weeks, is in bankruptcy now and the government, as its majority owner, has a rather big stake in the company's survival and future success.

Granted, GM hasn't been all that great at picking the proper trends and technologies as it looked to the future.

But this time the General is on the same team as Toyota and Honda rather than turning up its nose and sniffing that the Japanese car companies don't know what they are talking about.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); John O'Dell June 12, 2009, 5:15 AM
Categories:: Biofuels, Daimler, Ford, Fuel Cell, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Opinion, Plug-ins and Electric, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: DOE Budget

June 10, 2009

Green Aid: Daimler Donates Diesel-Electric Hybrid to Detroit Charity

Here's an idea for hybrid truck makers looking to get their companies' names and products in the news: Support a charity by donating one of your vehicles, then news blogs with a soft spot for good deeds (even if done with a little bit of an ulterior motive) will write you up.

That's what we're doing with Daimler Trucks North America's donation of one of its Class 7 Freightliner hybrid trucks (left) to Detroit's Forgotten Harves t mobile food rescue organization.

The truck, outfitted wth a refrigerated cargo box donated by Johnson Refrigerated Truck Bodies of Rice Lake, Wisc., is a 31,000-pound, '09 Freightliner diesel-electrict hybrid; the first hybrid in Forgotten Harvest's 21-truck fleet.

Forgotten Harvest collects usable food that would otherwise be thrown away by restaurants, grocery stores and caterers and delivers it to homeless shelters and other social services agencies that feed the hungry.

Susan Goodell, executive director of the program, said the hybrid truck will enable the group to collect as much as 850,000 pounds of additional fresh food each year, with a 30-40 percent fuel savings for that one truck versus a conventional diesel Class 7 truck with a diesel-powered refrigeration unit.

"It will not only improve our operating efficiency by keeping fuel costs down, it will also allow us to direct more donated dollars to distributing food in a way that protects the environment," she said.

And how could we not write about that?

John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell June 10, 2009, 3:15 PM
Categories:: Daimler, Diesel, Hybrid
Technorati Tags:: Daimler Hybrid Truck

June 8, 2009

Daimler Debuts Mercedes-Benz Citaro FuelCELL Diesel-Electric Hybrid City Bus

Daimler is presenting its new Mercedes-Benz Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid city bus to a conference of public transport authorities in Vienna all of this week.

The fuel-cell hybrid bus is the first vehicle in Daimler's new generation of fuel-cell buses. According to its maker, the bus combines the environmental advantages of the diesel-electric Citaro G BlueTec Hybrid with those of the hydrogen-powered Citaro fuel cell buses, which have delivered impressive performance in fleet tests.

The Mercedes-Benz Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid runs without emitting any pollutants and is virtually silent, making it ideal for use in highly congested inner-cities and urban areas.

Daimler is the No. 1 busmaker by volume worldwide. If any company is positioned to revolutionize that market, it's Daimler. And clearly the compnay is attempting to do just that.

The Mercedes-Benz Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid was developed within the framework of Daimler's global commercial vehicle initiative to use clean, efficient drive systems and alternative fuels to make zero-emission commercial vehicles a reality.

The fuel-cell systems used are identical with those installed in the Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL passenger car, for which small-lot production will begin later this year. Several components were also borrowed from the B-Class F-CELL, with developers mutually benefiting from their respective test results.

Daimler will produce a small batch of about 30 vehicles of this new generation of fuel-cell buses and offer them to European mass transit companies.

Beginning in fall, Daimler will be conducting extensive, large-scale testing of the Mercedes-Benz Citaro FuelCell Hybrid bus in a number of European cities.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett June 8, 2009, 6:15 PM
Categories:: Daimler, Diesel, Emissions, Fuel Cell, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Mass Transit, Mercedes-Benz
Technorati Tags:: Daimler

June 2, 2009

Tesla Chairman Says His Company, Daimler to Launch Two Affordable EVs Soon; He Also Says Next-Generation Roadster Will Have Four Seats and Optional AWD

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

Tesla Motors and partner Daimler AG plan to launch two plug-in electric vehicles in the near future. And Tesla on its own will be replacing the current-generation Roadster -- its first car -- with a larger, four-seat sports car in 2013, company chairman, product architect and CEO Elon Musk said in a freewheeling e-mail exchange Monday night with Green Car Advisor.

Tesla and Daimler, working as partners, will come out with not one but two new plug-in electric vehicles in the next few years, starting with the already announced Smart EV roadster (pictured) late this year, followed by another affordable, zero-emissions electric vehicle. That second EV has never before been discussed publicly.

Additionally, Tesla will independently replace the current two-seat Roadster with a larger, four-seat sports car sometime in 2013, Musk said, adding that that vehicle will be available in hardtop and convertible models, and with rear-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive.

With regard to the Smart EV, Musk disclosed that Tesla and Daimler "have been working on an 'everyman' car for over one and a half years. It is the Smart EV and the first of those vehicles will be on the road by the end of this year."

Final pricing on the battery-electric Smart car "is up to Daimler, but I know that this car will cost a lot less than $30,000 once it achieves mass production. The reason we originally started working with Daimler was because we saw this as the fastest path to putting affordable electric cars on the road," Musk said in the interview by e-mail.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett June 2, 2009, 2:01 AM
Categories:: Batteries, Daimler, Emissions, Plug-ins and Electric, Smart, Tesla
Technorati Tags:: Daimler AG

May 27, 2009

Schwarzenegger: Calif. Committed to H2 Future Regardless of Washington Politics

AS-May-27,-2009.jpg By Scott Doggett, Contributor

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger joined the 2009 Hydrogen Road Tour today at Stop 6 of a 9-day, 28-stop, 1,700-mile road trip, telling a group of reporters at the site of the state's first integrated (H2 and gasoline) station that California remains committed to a future where hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles replace gassy rides regardless of what Washington does.

Speaking at a Shell station in West Los Angeles, Schwarzenegger reminded reporters that the California Air Resources Board, which sets vehicle-emissions standards for the state, recently passed a low-carbon fuel standard - the world's first such standard.

It will, he said, ensure that the cleanest fuels, including hydrogen, will always have a strong market in California.

"And the reason why this is so important is that on the federal level, they [politicians] make decisions based on where the oil price is. That means that sometimes the federal government, when the oil price goes up, they go in the direction of renewable energy and alternate fuels. And when the oil price goes down, they abandon those policies," the "Governator" said, his back to a row of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles made by Daimler, Honda, Toyota, KIA, Volkswagen and Nissan.

"Well we don't do that here in California. We only march in one direction and that is forward. And we're not going to slow down. In 2010, we will have seven new hydrogen refueling stations in California and we will invest another $40 million over the next two years in hydrogen stations."

The governor reminded the automotive press that 20 percent of the new vehicles sold in the United States are sold in California, which is home to 25 million cars and trucks. (Those vehicles, not incidentally, consume 50 million gallons of gasoline and diesel a day and produce 40 percent of the state's greenhouse gases.)

As a result of California's vehicle market share, and that fact that Washington often follows the state's lead regarding tailpipe-emissions regulations, automakers can count on there being a large market for hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles and companies considering investments in an H2-refueling infrastructure can rest assured there will be vehicles requiring the fuel, he said.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); Scott Doggett May 27, 2009, 2:13 PM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Biofuels, Daimler, Diesel, Emissions, Energy Companies, Fuel Cell, General Motors, Honda, Hydrogen, Kia, Legislation, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: Biofuels

May 19, 2009

Daimler and Tesla Motors Announce Strategic Partnership To Make Electric Cars

The German Auto Giant Acquires a 10 Percent Equity Stake in the California EV Maker

D-&-T-emblems.jpg By Scott Doggett, Contributor

Daimler AG, parent company of Mercedes-Benz, inventor of the gasoline-powered automobile, and Tesla Motors, the California newbie that remains the only automaker currently producing highway-capable battery-electric cars, announced today that they will partner to manufacture electric vehicles.

As part of the agreement, Daimler has acquired a 10 percent equity stake in the San Carlos, California-based EV maker.

The deal provides Daimler with advanced lithium batteries, a seat on Tesla's board of directors and the know-how needed to bring an electric car to market "at the highest possible speed," Thomas Weber, a member of the board of Daimler AG, said at a news conference at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart today.

In exchange, Tesla will receive "a double-digit million sum," Weber said, and the parts and engineering expertise it needs to mass produce its second plug-in battery-electric vehicle, the Model S sedan. Tesla's $109,000 Roadster is the only highway-capable production plug-in battery-electric vehicle on the market.

"Tesla brings expertise in the battery-electric front," Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the news conference, which was carried live via Webcast. "Daimler brings expertise in everything else. This will be a very productive relationship where both Tesla and Daimler benefit."

The announcement comes as the Obama administration is due to propose stricter fuel-economy standards in a bid to reduce automotive greenhouse-gas emissions.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett May 19, 2009, 6:17 AM
Categories:: Batteries, Daimler, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Mercedes-Benz, Plug-ins and Electric, Tesla
Technorati Tags:: Electric Car

May 5, 2009

Volkswagen Playing 'Truth Or Dare' To Market Its Diesel Vehicles

Today's diesel-powered automobiles aren't your father's diesel-powered automobiles.

That's one of the core messages Volkswagen Group of America Inc. hopes to deliver in a new (and sufficiently quirky, given the company's advertising heritage) marking effort that includes a website where light-footed VW owners are boasting about extreme mileage accomplishments.

The pro-diesel push comes at the same time as a new "Meet the Volkswagens" ad campaign that pairs Max, the restored black VW Beetle that speaks with a German accent, with "Bus," an immaculately restored white and red 1968 Microbus (whose voice is supplied by actor Thomas Haden Church).

VW has a simple message in each instance: its autos are fuel-efficient, green and safe vehicles that won't break the household budget. And, to ensure that the message has a chance of being heard, VW plans to keep its 2009 advertising budget at the same level it was in 2008.

That is a serious commitment given that VW reportedly raised last year's spend by 45.7 percent over the 2007 level. The Nielsen Company reports that the overall automotive sector cut overall 2008 advertising spending by 15.5 percent to just over $10 billion.

VW's U.S. marketing chief, Tim Ellis, told USAToday that "When we invest in marketing, things happen. We think it's important to stick to our roots and stick to our value message. We're getting a higher percentage of the dwindling marketplace. And when this crazy situation comes straight side up again, we'll be positioned to increase our share even further."

VW isn't escaping the auto industry carnage. The Herndon, Va.-based company saw April sales tumble by 16.1 percent to 16,289 vehicles. Full year sales for 2008 declined by 3.2 percent to 223,128.

The automobile industry's global slump underscores the bold nature of VW's American gambit. Last year it announced plans for a $1 billion production plant in Chattanooga, Tenn. that will produce 150,000 vehicles annually - 30 percent of which will be powered by VW's TDI (turbo direct injection) engines.

On top of that, VW has boldly set a U.S. sales goal of one million vehicles by 2018.

To reach its lofty sales goal VW knows that it must persuade Americans (the emphasis is on younger consumers) that diesels aren't the clunky, smoky and noisy engines of yesteryear.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (3); Greg Johnson May 5, 2009, 1:21 PM
Categories:: Daimler, Diesel, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Honda, Plug-ins and Electric, Transportation Alternatives, Volkswagen, Volvo
Technorati Tags:: BMW

April 8, 2009

Mercedes Officially Introduces S400 Hybrid With Lithium-Ion Battery

Mercedes-Benz has officially introduced the S400 Hybrid (right), which is being billed as "the first series-production Mercedes-Benz passenger car with hybrid drive and the world's first car with a lithium-ion battery."

If that's too much verbiage, Mercedes also describes its upscale hybrid that will appear in dealer showrooms in August as "the most economic luxury car with a gasoline engine."

Here are some of the pertinent numbers released earlier today by Mercedes, which is part of Daimler AG. A few have been tweaked since Thomas Weber, head of R&D for Mercedes, talked to Green Car Advisor about the S400 during the 2008 New York International Auto Show.

The S400 Hybrid's estimated combined fuel consumption is 29 mpg, which Mercedes describes as "a 30 percent increase over the S550." (Mercedes' earlier estimate was 29.7 mpg.)

The S400 Hybrid has a 3.5 liter, V6 gasoline engine that develops 275 horsepower. An electric motor generates an additional 20 hp. (Mercedes' earlier estimate had been 299 hp.) The gas engine and electric motor have a combined maximum torque of 284 lb-ft.

Mercedes promises that the S400 will go from zero to 62 miles per hour in 7.3 seconds and reach an electronically limited top speed of 155 miles per hour.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Greg Johnson April 8, 2009, 10:28 AM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Batteries, Daimler, Fuel Cell, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Mercedes-Benz
Technorati Tags:: Battery

March 23, 2009

Abu Dhabi Investor Is Now Daimler's Biggest Shareholder With 9.1% Stake

Germany's Daimler, parent of Mercedes-Benz, has sold nearly $3 billion worth of its shares to an Abu Dhabi investment firm. The stock sale will generate badly needed cash for the struggling automaker and turn Aabar Investments into Daimler's largest shareholder with a 9.1 percent stake.

At the top of the list of things they'll be using the new capital for: Electric vehicles that will reduce carbon-dioxide emissions.

In another era, the deal would have been a shocker. But not at a time when two of this country's Big Three automakers are seeking a government bailout.

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Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche

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Struggling Daimler, which has been battered by slow sales in the luxury sector, lost the equivalent of $2.1 billion during the fourth quarter of 2008.

In addition to a badly needed capital infusion, Daimler Chief Executive Officer Dieter Zetsche welcomes a powerful boardroom ally who can help to ward off any potential -- and unwanted -- takeover bids by outsiders.

That powerful presence would be Khadem Al Qubaisi, chairman of Aabar Investments. Here's a bit of what he had to say during media interviews earlier today: "The best time to invest is when people panic. We're buying a high-quality asset here" as a long-term investment.

Michelle Krebs has more at Edmunds AutoObserver.

Greg Johnson, Contributor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Greg Johnson March 23, 2009, 9:32 AM
Categories:: Daimler
Technorati Tags:: Daimler AG

March 18, 2009

Daimler to Build Hybrid R&D Center in Michigan

Daimler AG says that its Mercedes-Benz Hybrid LLC subsidiary will build a research and development near Ann Arbor, Mich. that will focus on conventional and alternative propulsion systems.

Government officials in Michigan said that the project will include a $9.9 million investment and create 223 direct jobs and an estimated 231 indirect jobs.

The Michigan Economic Growth Authority earlier this week won Daimler's decision to locate the center in Michigan by approving a $7.5 million,10-year tax credit for the 65,000-square-foot R&D facility Government agencies in Ann Arbor are expected to consider abatement of local taxes on the R&D center as part of the incentive package.

Officials in Michigan said that Daimler opted for Michigan over a competing bid from Greenville, S.C.

What led Daimler to choose Ann Arbor?

"It was the Detroit workforce," a Daimler spokesman told The Detroit News, a reference to the thousands of skilled but jobless auto industry workers in the area.

Daimler has until June 15 to select a specific site for the facility and has said an Ann Arbor locale depends of local tax breaks.

As our sister blog Edmunds AutoObserver reports, the German automaker already is working in the Detroit area, in cooperation with General Motors and BMW, on the two-mode hybrid technology already used in GM's full-size SUVs and pickups and slatled to be offered in upscoming BMW and Mercedes-Benz SUVs.

The new center likely would be dedicated to hybrid systems for Daimler's Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and, possibly, for its large commercial trucks as well.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell March 18, 2009, 2:41 PM
Categories:: BMW, Daimler, Fuels & Technologies, General Motors, Hybrid, Mercedes-Benz
Technorati Tags:: Daimler Hybrid Research Center

February 3, 2009

ACEEE Dubs Honda Civic GX Greenest Car For 6th Year; Prius In Second Place

GM Gets Three Models on 'Greenest' List and Tops 'Meanest' Ranking With Hummer H2

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

In an anticlimactic repeat, Honda's natural-gas burning Civic GX topped the annual "greenest vehicles" of the year listing being published this morning by the non-profit American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

It is the 12th year the Washington-based environmental and economic lobbying group has published its Green Book Online, which ranks passenger cars and light trucks for overall environmental impact.

Although the list for the 2009 model year contained no big surprises, it was marked by the reappearance of General Motors Corp., with trio of small cars among the dozen "greenest" vehicles in the market - the Chevrolet Cobalt compact and its Pontiac G5 twin placed eighth overall and the Chevrolet Aveo subcompact finished10th.

The GM cars, which were rated highly for their fuel economy, knocked Ford's Focus off the "greenest" list after its appearance there last year as the only domestic car in the top twelve.

The Ford didn't get a lower score - but the average scores in the top 12 were higher this year than last.

Evolution, Not Revolution

Generally, the 2009 list was marked by continued improvements in the fuel economy and reduced greenhouse gas emissions of scores of vehicles rather than by stellar performances from just one or two models.

Manufacturers are fine-tuning their engines and transmissions, improving materials, and adding emission control technologies, said ACEEE transportation program director Therese Langer.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); John O'Dell February 3, 2009, 5:00 AM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Chevrolet, Daimler, Diesel, Emissions, Flex-Fuel, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Green Vehicles, Honda, Hummer, Hybrid, Lamborghini, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Natural Gas, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Pontiac, Smart, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: ACEEE Green Book Online

January 13, 2009

Tesla Announces Deal to Supply Daimler With Battery Packs for 1,000 Smart EDs

UPDATE: Clarifies that deal is limited to battery packs and chargers; electric motors not included.

Tesla Motors announced today that it has agreed to sell 1,000 lithium-ion battery packs and chargers to Daimler AG for use in Smart EDs, the plug-in purely electric-powered version of the Smart ForTwo.

The nonexclusive supply agreement with the giant German automotive company could run into orders for tens of thousands of battery packs and chargers, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said during a speech at the Detroit Auto Show.

As we reported in August, Daimler AG, parent of Smart, Mercedes-Benz, Maybach and other automakers, had picked Tesla to provide batteries for a 150-car test fleet of Smart EDs (as in electric drives).

We also reported in August that Daimler planned to eventually expand the test fleet to 1,000 cars. It would appear the Tesla-Daimler deal is specific to those cars.

Tesla, located in San Carlos, California, began delivering its first model -- the Roadster, a $109,000 battery-powered sports car -- last year and is readying a less-expensive sedan in its efforts to become the first profitable maker of highway-capable electric vehicles.

Daimler, which began selling gasoline-powered Smart ForTwos in the United States last year, has announced plans to introduce the electric variant to America this year.

Scott Doggett, Contributor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett January 13, 2009, 11:11 AM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Batteries, Daimler, Emissions, Plug-ins and Electric, Tesla
Technorati Tags:: Daimler

Tesla Motors Announces It Is Selling Its Electric Powertrain to Daimler AG

Tesla Motors today confirmed rumors that it has reached a deal with Daimler AG to sell its all-electric powertrain to the German automaker.

Company spokeswoman Rachel Konrad said Tesla CEO Elon Musk was conducting an interview this morning with the Bloomberg News service when he received a message on his Blackberry informing him that Daimler had approved his request to announce the deal during his keynote address later today at the Detroit auto show.

Tesla, the Silicon Valley maker of the only highway-capable electric vehicle currently sold in the United States, had previously reported that it has a positive cash flow selling the powertrain that it puts in its plug-in-electric, zero-emissions Roadster, but until now Tesla has not identified the buyer.

In addition to the Daimler deal, Konrad said "we're also trying to finalize deals with another major automaker." No word yet on which automaker that is.

Bloomberg reporter Alan Ohnsman has just filed a story that provides some of the details regarding the Tesla-Daimler deal that were not available to Konrad when we spoke with her.

While Konrad had specified electric drivetrain, the Bloomberg piece only mentions battery packs. Specifically, it states that Tesla will supply battery packs for plug-in versions of Daimler's Smart vehicles. We are seeking clarification.

The first order will be for 1,000 power packs this year and next, Bloomberg reported, and Daimler spokeswoman Julia Engelhardt confirmed the contract, without elaborating.

"Assuming it works out well and we meet our cost and performance targets, the expectation would be that this is something that would be sold in tens of thousands of units per year," Musk reportedly said. "It would be a mass market, affordable car."

Tesla began delivering its first automobiles -- its $109,000 Roadster -- last year and is readying a less-expensive sedan in its efforts to become the first profitable maker of electric vehicles.

Daimler, which produces cars and trucks under subsidiaries Maybach, Smart, Mercedes-Benz and other companies, launched U.S. sales of gasoline-powered Smart ForTwo cars in 2008 and plans to introduce an electric model this year.

Fox Business Network reported last June that Tesla had "inked a technology deal" with Daimler, citing an interview with Musk. The CEO was not forthcoming with specifics, and very soon after stopping discussing it. In retrospect, it appears Daimler had asked him to do so.

Scott Doggett, Contributor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); Scott Doggett January 13, 2009, 8:48 AM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Batteries, Daimler, Emissions, Plug-ins and Electric, Tesla
Technorati Tags:: Daimler

January 9, 2009

Detroit Auto Show Forecast: Gloomy, But With Flurries of Green

(Note: Article updated after initial posting to include Lexus hybrid)

The upcoming North American International Auto Show in snowy Detroit - media preview days begin Sunday and the show opens to the public on Jan. 17 - is likely to be a pretty glum affair, what with the auto industry imploding and the prospect of many people really being interested in buying a new car right now ranking right up there with being interested in having wisdom teeth pulled sans anesthesia.

But carmakers are trying, and what most are trying hardest with is fuel efficiency and alternatives to the thirsty, greenhouse-gas spewing cars and trucks of the past.

Oh, there will be speedsters and factory-built hot rods on display at the show - Ford Motor Co., for example, will unveil the 540-horsepower 2010 Shelby GT500 Mustang and Audi will be showing a 525-horsepower, V10-version of its exotic R8 sports car.

But most attention will be focused on advanced technology cars such as the 2010 Prius hybrid (right) and the battery-electric city car concept that Toyota will show, Honda's Prius-fighting 2009 Insight hybrid and concepts such as the all-electric, plug-in hybrid and fuel -cell electric trio, collectively called Concept Zero, that Mercedes-Benz will unveil.

Beyond the cars, the show's media preview will spotlight industry executives who will be delivering news about their companies' green futures.

Most notably, Toyota is expected to outline its hybrid and electric-vehicle strategies for the next few years and Ford is expected to discuss its plans for a stable of future EVs, starting with a commercial truck it plans to launch in 2010.

Green Car Advsior, along with Edmunds Auto Observer, Edmunds Inside Line and Edmunds.com, will be covering the show 's media days and bringing you timely reports, but we thought we'd also offer a preview today of the major green vehicles that will be displayed and discussed.

Green Preview

So, by manufacturer, here they are:

Audi
Volkswagen's upscale stablemate is expected to announce plans for its upcoming U.S. diesel lineup. So far, the company has said it will launch a 3-liter diesel version of its Q7 SUV (right) later this year and has broached the possibility of a diesel A4. We'll know more after Audi's Sunday afternoon press conference.

BMW
The pride of Bavaria will discuss the X5 and 3-Series diesels it plans to bring to the U.S., perhaps supplying us with some performance and fuel economy numbers as well as a marketing time-line.

Chevrolet
Nothing big here, unless the General decides to announce the upcoming Volt plug-in hybrid's pricing and/or the battery suppliers.

The Chevy vehicle that gets officially introduced at the show is the redesigned 2010 Equinox crossover (right), which will come with a new six-speed automatic and a fuel-efficient, direct-injection four-banger expected to deliver 182 horsepower (almost as much as the '08 model's base V6) and highway fuel economy of 30 miles per gallon.

Chrysler
The company has three brands that it has tied together for car show purposes with a trio of concept electric vehicles.

Chrysler EV trio - 300.JPG Those to be displayed in Detroit are further refined versions of the Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep EVs originally unveiled last September and first shown publicly at the Los Angeles International Auto Show in November.

By brand, they are the Chrysler EV, an extended-range electric version of the town and Country minivan; the Jeep EV, a gas-electric Wrangler; and the Dodge EV, a Lotus-based, bumblebee-striped battery-electric sports car that would look great in the garage next to an electric Tesla Roadster.

Chrysler has said that it will bring one of the cars to market in 2010, but hasn't said which or in what kind of numbers. Maybe that's what we'll hear at the show.

Fisker
The nascent plug-in-hybrid company headed by, and named for, noted auto designer Henrik Fisker (BMW, Aston Martin, Fisker Coachbuild), will show the production version of it first proposed vehicle, the Fisker Karma sports sedan (right) that it unveiled to great interest at last year's Detroit show. Fisker also will unveil a new version - a convertible, we suspect - caled the Karma S.

Like the Chevy Volt, the Karma uses an on-board internal combustion engine to generate power to keep its electric motors turning the wheels.

Ford
We expect a discussion of the company's electric vehicle strategy, perhaps with a teaser glimpse or two of potential future offerings and a look at the commercial truck the company has said it will launch in 2010.

Honda
The news here will be the unveiling of the production version 2009 Insight hybrid (right) , a sub $20,000, five-seater Honda hopes will finally, finally, pump its hybrid sales up into Prius territory.

We're expected to hear a lot of technical detail and, perhaps, even a firmer price for the car, which looks in pictures a bit like the Prius it's designed to battle.

Lexus
Toyota's luxury unit will reveal its first stand-alone hybrid model, a small car that is based off the upcoming 2010 Prius.

Although it is not unusual - its pretty common, even - for photos of new models to leak out before their official unveiling, the best we've been able to come up with for the new Lexus hybrid is this rendering (left) published in a Japanese auto magazine a few months ago.

Mercedes-Benz
The covers will come off a trio of EV concepts from Daimler's luxe brand. All use the same swoopy, sport wagon-ish body (below right) - a design that also shows where Mercedes is heading with the compact B-Class replacement due in 2010 and, perhaps, headed for the U.S.

The so-called Concept Zero family consists of the E-Cell, a battery-electric with a range of about 60 miles; the E-Cell Plus, a plug-in hybrid that uses a 3-cylinder gas engine-generator to extend the range of its batteries when the initial charge is depleted (think Chevy Volt), and the F-Cell, which uses a hydrogen fuel-cell to produce electricity on-board by combining hydrogen and oxygen in the fuel-cell stack. Range is about 125 miles. Mercedes says the E-Cell Plus can go almost 400 miles on an overnight battery charge and a tank of gas.

Toyota
The company whose name has become synonymous with 'hybrid" is introducing the redesigned 2010 Prius at the show, but photos of the car leaked out weeks ago and you've got to believe that anyone who's interested has already seen it. What will be news, of course, are the specifications and performance numbers.

The other biggie on the product front from Toyota will be the unveiling of a concept electric vehicle, probably called the FT-EV if the company's previous auto show naming practices prevail (that would stand for "future technology-electric vehicle").

The car, believed to be built on a current Toyota subcompact chassis, is the company's effort to give us a look at what a Toyota-built battery-electric EV for short-range urban driving might look like if the company does, as it has said it would, put an EV into its retail fleet in 2012.

Not The End

And, of course - Detroit being Detroit - there likely will be a surprise or two. So consider this list a starter, not a definitive catalog.

China's BYD, for instance, will be there with the plug-in-hybrid (left) it launched in its home market a few weeks ago, beating the big boys like GM and Toyota to the punch by a matter of, oh, a year or two. Who knows what the company - whose name is an acronym for Build Your Dreams and whose future is being backed by investment whiz Warren Buffett - will do next? We might find out as the Detroit show rolls along.

We'll be back when media days begin on Sunday to keep you up-to-date.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (3); John O'Dell January 9, 2009, 3:00 AM
Categories:: Audi, Auto Shows, BMW, BYD, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Daimler, Dodge, Emissions, Fisker, Ford, Fuel Cell, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Green Vehicles, Honda, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Jeep, Mercedes-Benz, Plug-ins and Electric, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Detroit Auto Show

January 5, 2009

Daimler Says It Intends To Take on Bosch, Other Suppliers on Batteries for EVs

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

It would appear that Daimler not only views electrification of the automobile as the key to sustainable mobility, but it also views the shift from gasoline- and diesel-powered cars and trucks to electric vehicles as an opportunity for the Stuttgart automaker to compete head on with major automotive parts suppliers.

In an interview today with the German newspaper Handelsblatt, Chief Executive Thomas Weber (pictured) said Daimler -- parent company of Mercedes-Benz and Smart -- intends to compete directly with German automotive parts supplier Robert Bosch and other companies in selling high-performance lithium-ion batteries to third parties.

Weber's comments follow the joint announcement last month by Daimler and German chemical, energy and real estate company Evonik Industries that the two companies had partnered to develop lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and hybrids, with the first publicized target for the new batteries being the Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueHybrid due out this year.

Daimler and Evonik made that announcement less than a week after Mercedes-Benz disclosed plans to unveil a trio of BlueZero electric-drive concept vehicles at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, which starts next Monday, and Daimler's announcement to expand its test program of electric-drive Smart Fortwos from London and Berlin to the Italian cities of Rome, Milan and Pisa.

According to industry forecasts, the market size for high-performance lithium-ion batteries will exceed $13 billion within the next decade. Clearly, Daimler and Evonik Industries want a chunk of that market, as do Toyota, Volkswagen and Renault-Nissan, all of which have recently partnered with battery-makers.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett January 5, 2009, 3:28 PM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Batteries, Daimler, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault, Smart, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: BlueZero

December 17, 2008

European Union Lawmakers Approve Watered-Down Carbon-Dioxide Limits

European carmakers must cut emissions of global-warming gases from new vehicles by 18 percent within the next six years, the European Parliament agreed Wednesday after a long battle between environmentalists and automakers that ultimately resulted in greatly watered-down legislation.

In accordance with the 27-nation pact, carbon-dioxide emissions from new cars will be cut to 130 grams per kilometer in a phased approach starting in 2012 and with full compliance by 2015.

Under the phase-in, 65 percent of Europe's new-car fleet must meet the target in 2012; 75 percent in 2013, 80 percent in 2014 and 100 percent beginning in 2015.

To meet the 130 grams per kilometer average, the EU will give carmakers individual targets based on the weight of their cars. The targets range from 122 grams per kilometer for Fiat and 137 grams per kilometer for BMW and Daimler.

Car companies that miss their targets will face fines that were slashed nearly in half under intense lobbying by the automakers.

The European Commission, which originates EU laws, had envisaged the full cuts to carbon dioxide by 2012 and a CO2 target of 120 grams per kilometer on average. But Germany fought hard for BMW and Mercedes-Benz, which will now be able to produce their biggest, luxury gas-guzzlers until 2014, protecting jobs and export earnings.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett December 17, 2008, 11:39 AM
Categories:: BMW, Daimler, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Legislation, Mercedes-Benz, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: Carbon Dioxide

December 16, 2008

Daimler, Evonik Industries Team to Produce Lithium-Ion Batteries for EVs, Hybrids

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

German automotive giant Daimler of Stuttgart and chemical, energy and real estate company Evonik Industries of Essen have partnered to develop advanced lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and hybrids, with the first publicized target for the new batteries being the Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueHybrid due out next year.

The German companies made the announcement Monday -- less than a week after Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler, disclosed plans to unveil a trio of BlueZero electric-drive concept vehicles at next month's 2009 Detroit Auto Show. Presumably the new batteries will make their way into whatever production models arise from the concepts.

Daimler officials have often stated that electrification of the automobile is the key to sustainable mobility. To that end, Daimler engineers have registered more than 600 patents associated with battery-powered vehicles over the past three decades, of which 230 were in the field of lithium-ion technology.

For its part, Evonik Industries has invested $110 million in battery technology in recent years. The outcome, according to Evonik Industries and Daimler: "Production-ready high-technology battery cells that are superior to competitor products in several key areas."

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett December 16, 2008, 11:34 AM
Categories:: Batteries, Daimler, Emissions, Energy Companies, Fuel Cell, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault, Smart, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: Battery

December 15, 2008

Daimler, Utility To Test 100 Electric Smart Fortwos and 400 Charging Stations in Italy

German automotive giant Daimler announced today that it will expand its "e-mobility" electric-drive test program to three Italian cities.

Daimler, which earlier this year launched a major electric vehicle test program in London and recently announced plans to expand it to Berlin (pictured) next year, reached an agreement with Italy's largest electric company to test electric-drive Smart Fortwos in Rome, Milan and Pisa.

The agreement calls for a total of 100 Fortwo EDs (electric drives) and 400 charging stations to be deployed in the three cities in 2010. Smart will be responsible for supplying and maintaining the electric vehicles and Enel, the power company, will be on the hook for the development, implementation and operation of the charging stations as well as the central control system.

Why, you ask, were Rome, Milan and Pisa selected over, say, your favorite Italian cites of Palermo, Venice and Naples? Good question. Daimler, which in addition to Smart is also parent to Mercedes-Benz, says the cities were selected because they represent the diverse lifestyles and living arrangements that characterize Italy today.

The electricity used to supply the EVs will be certified by Renewable Energy Certificate System, an international system involving 25 European countries that was established to finance the development of renewable energy resources, such as water, the sun, wind and geothermal resources. Already, 1.3 million customers have already signed up for this type of plan, provided by Enel on the free market.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett December 15, 2008, 11:40 AM
Categories:: Daimler, Emissions, Energy Companies, Mercedes-Benz, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: Daimler

December 9, 2008

Daimler Delivers 232 Natural Gas Trucks to Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach

It was a veritable green Christmas at the nation's largest port complex Tuesday as Daimler Trucks North America delivered 232 new natural-gas fueled tractors to be used in the Clean Truck Programs at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

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Natural-gas trucks such as this Sterling model from Daimler are beginning to replace diesel trucks at nation's busiest port complex.

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California Cartage, a privately owned trucking company that specializes in short-haul trucking from the ports, took delivery of 132 of the liquid natural gas tractors from Daimler's Sterling Truck Co. subsidiary. The trucks will be leased to the company's contract drivers.

An additional 100 trucks were delivered directly to the port operating authorities to be leased by carriers and independent owner-operators who do business with the ports and want to upgrade their fleets with the clean-burning LNG trucks.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); John O'Dell December 9, 2008, 1:16 PM
Categories:: Daimler, Emissions, Fuels & Technologies, Natural Gas
Technorati Tags:: Clean Truck Program

Mercedes Reportedly Planning Electric A- and B-Class Models for 2012

No big surprise here, but a German news magazine is reporting that Mercedes-Benz plans to begin building battery-electric versions of its A- and B-Class subcompacts in 2012,

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A-Class could be new EV from Mercedes.
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The Mercedes-Benz electric cars are to follow the Smart EV, which Mercedes owner Daimler already is testing in England and Germany.

Mercedes doesn't sell the A- or B-Class internal combustion models in the the U.S. but is contemplating bringing them over, so we might be in line for an electric version as well.

The magazine, WirtschaftsWoche, cited Mercedes' internal planning documents as sourcing or its A- and B-Class report, according to a morning industry analysis briefing from economics and business consulting firm Global Insight.

Actually, Daimler already has said it plans to test Mercedes-brand EVs. The magazine report provides the models and the timeline for entering the retail market.

The magazine also is reporting that Daimler has pushed back the retail launch date for the Smart EV to early 2012 from 2010, a delay that could signal problems with lithium-ion battery development or concern over the availability of an electric vehicle charging infrastructure, according to the Global Insight analysis.

Perhaps the crew at Mercedes should talk to the people at Better Place, which appears to be moving ahead full steam on its plans to install EV charging stations anywhere it can find a willing partner.

(We took our info from the Global Insight briefing, but you can click here for a computer-translated version of the magazine article, or, if you read German, for the original.)

John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell December 9, 2008, 7:59 AM
Categories:: Daimler, Mercedes-Benz, Plug-ins and Electric, Smart
Technorati Tags:: EVs

October 23, 2008

Chrysler to Discontinue Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen Hybrids, Shutter Plant; Move Not Seen As Indicator of a Hybrid Collapse Amid Industry's Financial Turmoil

By Scott Doggett and John O'Dell

The Chrysler Aspen (right) and Dodge Durango (below) full-size hybrid sport utility vehicles have become the first green vehicle casualties in the wake of the automotive industry's declining fortunes.

Chrysler announced today that it will close the Delaware plant where the SUVs and their nonhybrid namesakes are made and discontinue the models.

The Auburn Hills, Michigan, automaker won't move their production anywhere else when the plant closes at year's end, Chrysler spokesman Scott Brown told Green Car Advisor, despite the fact the hybrids entered full-scale production on Aug. 22, barely two months ago.

"Even though we got significant orders for the hybrids, it doesn't make sense to keep the plant open for just them," he said.

The death of the two Chrysler hybrids isn't going to cause much mourning in environmental circles, said Jim Kliesch, senior engineer for the clean vehicles program at the Union of Concerned Scientists.

By using the hybrid system with the notoriously thirsty 5.7 liter "HEMI" V8 engine, Chrysler didn't produce significantly efficient hybrid SUVs, he said. The big engine helped make the Aspen and Durango 'utes very expensive as well.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); Scott Doggett October 23, 2008, 12:34 PM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Chrysler, Daimler, Dodge, Emissions, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Hybrid
Technorati Tags:: 2009 Chrysler Aspen Hybrid

Chrysler to Close Plant, Discontinue Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen Hybrids

BREAKING NEWS -- DETAILED VERSION TO FOLLOW

Less than a year after unveiling the Chrysler Aspen (right ) and Dodge Durango (below ) full-size hybrid SUVs and only two months into their full-scale production, Chrysler confirmed today that it will discontinue the models with the just-announced closing of the Delaware plant where they are made.

"The demand for our full-size SUVs has really dropped off this year," Chrysler spokesman Scott Brown told Green Car Advisor. "Even though we got significant orders for the hybrids, it doesn't make sense to keep the plant open for just the hybrids."

The SUVs are Chrysler's first-production hybrid vehicles. The Durango and Aspen models, which employ the same two-mode hybrid system found in General Motors' full-size SUVs, are sticker priced at $45,340 and $45,570, respectively.

Chrysler wouldn't say how many of the hybrid SUVs it had planned to build at the plant in Newark.

Both models made their international debuts at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show last November.

Today's announcement coincided a report from Daimler AG, which owns a 19.9 percent share of privately-held Chrysler, that the U.S. automaker suffered a $772.5 million second-quarter loss due to slowing U.S. sales and a market shift to small cars.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett October 23, 2008, 10:34 AM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Chrysler, Daimler, Dodge, Emissions, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Hybrid
Technorati Tags:: 2009 Chrysler Aspen Hybrid

October 21, 2008

Daimler to Launch Vehicle-on-Demand Pilot Program in Germany Using Smart Cars

Daimler AG announced today that on Friday it will launch car2go, a pilot vehicle-on-demand program consisting of a 50-car fleet of Smart ForTwos that initially will be limited Daimler employees but eventually offered to the general public.

Convenience will be key to the program, which will commence in the southern German city of Ulm, where car2go will be tested in real-life conditions, Daimler said in a statement.

Following a one-off registration process, the Smarts can be hired spontaneously wherever a customer finds a free Smart, or pre-booked and used for as long as desired, at a cost of 19 cents a minute.

If all goes according to plan, available vehicles could be located quickly and easily via the Internet or a telephone.

The concept aims to ensure that a reliable vehicle is available at any time, "just a few minutes walk away."

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett October 21, 2008, 7:36 AM
Categories:: Daimler, MINI, Smart, Transportation Alternatives, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: Car2go

Gee Whizz: Without Urea, Most New Clean Diesels (You Guessed It) Won't Go

The question of just how automakers bringing diesels with urea-based anti-NOx exhaust systems into the U.S. would guarantee that the emissions-cleaning chemical would not be allowed to run dry was a sticking point for months in negotiations between federal regulators and carmakers.

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New 2009 Mercedes-Benz diesel SUVs use urea system to knock down NOx emissions.
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Well, now we know: The vehicles won't start if the urea tank is allowed to run too low.

We would love to make a joke here, but the industry trade journal Automotive News (subscription only) beat us to it Monday, with one of the best double-entendre headlines we've seen (or read) in years: "Urea must flow or new diesels won't go."

You know, of course, that the urea we're talking about isn't the kind produced by too many beers at a ball game, but a type of chemical ammonia that's synthesized from natural gas (and we'll spare you any attempt at a bodily functions joke here).

It is carried in large tanks on board the trio of Mercedes-Benz diesel SUVs -- the GL320, ML320 and R320 (above, right) that hit dealer showrooms at the beginning of the month and is periodically injected into a special "selective catalyst reduction" or SCR exhaust catalyst, where it combines with the emissions of toxic NOx, or nitrogen oxide, breaking it down into harmless water vapor and inert nitrogen.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (4); John O'Dell October 21, 2008, 3:01 AM
Categories:: BMW, Daimler, Diesel, Emissions, Fuels & Technologies, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: AdBlue

October 9, 2008

French Automakers, Utility to Collaborate on National Recharging Network for EVs

Electricite de France, Europe's largest utility, and French automakers PSA Peugeot Citroen and Renault today agreed to work together to develop a nationwide recharging network for electric cars.

The deal follows the announcement last month that Daimler and German utility RWE plan to build a network of electric-car recharging stations in Berlin.

The venture with Paris-based EDF calls for a business plan to set up outlets in France for recharging electric vehicles, or EVs, by 2011.

Renault and its Japanese affiliate, Nissan, have pledged to introduce EVs in the U.S. by 2010 and in Israel and Denmark by 2011. Renault also plans to introduce its first mass-market EVs domestically in 2012.

The project with EDF, which was announced at the Paris Auto Show today, will be open to other automakers, Renault spokeswoman Rochelle Chimenes said. Battery leasing and battery-exchange stations are being considered, she said.

Peugeot said in a statement today that its pact with EDF will cover EVs and rechargeable hybrids, building on plans the manufacturer announced in June to develop electric powertrains with Mitsubishi.

EDF and Toyota announced a partnership 13 months ago to evaluate rechargeable hybrids and charging infrastructure in Europe.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, speaking at the car show today, said France plans to provide $550 million in research funding for low-emissions vehicle technologies. He also said a $6,827 bonus on purchases of cars generating less than 60 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer, introduced in January, will remain in place until at least 2012 or until a subsidy for the 100,000th vehicle has been given.

Shai Agassi, the CEO and founder of Better Place, an American company that aims to reduce global dependency on oil through the creation of a worldwide electric-vehicle infrastructure, welcomed Sarkozy's comments.

He said his company "applauds and supports the efforts being made in France to extend the feebate policy to 2012, deploy zero emissions public car fleets, and improve battery technology. We accept President Sarkozy's challenge to develop the necessary infrastructure supporting standardized electric vehicles in France, and around the world."

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett October 9, 2008, 10:49 AM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Daimler, Emissions, Energy Companies, Fuel Economy, Mitsubishi, Peugeot, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault
Technorati Tags:: Better Place

October 3, 2008

Daimler Sees Electric Future For Smart and Mercedes-Benz Brands

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

German automotive giant Daimler says it has seen the future, and it is green and uses batteries.

The company, which last month launched a major electric car and charging station program in Berlin and has been testing electric Smart cars in London for almost a year, unveiled the newest generation of Smart EVs (or EDs - for electric drive) Thursday at the Paris Motor Show.

The tiny Smart, in production since 1998, is an attempt to help make individual transportation environmentally sound and sustainable and the quiet and emission-free ED versions, the company says, could be the answer.

Speeches at major auto shows are usually grandiose and full of promises, and Daimler Chairman Dieter Zetsche's was no exception as he talked of the future he sees for his company and the auto industry:

As people continue moving out of the suburbs and into cities to be closer to work and to cut their fuel bills, "the future will see an ever-increasing proportion of traffic on the roads in urban centers," Zetsche said.

"Zero-emission electric cars could shape the image of environmentally aware cities because zero local emission motoring is no longer science fiction - and also when seen as a whole emissions will be further reduced as the proportion of 'green' electricity increases. The future of mobility is green. We invented the car - and we will do it again!"

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell October 3, 2008, 3:02 AM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Batteries, Daimler, Fuels & Technologies, Mercedes-Benz, Plug-ins and Electric, Smart
Technorati Tags:: Daimler

September 18, 2008

Automakers Must Collaborate On Global EV, CO2 Standards, Say Top Engineers

With global economies stalled, auto sales - and profits - in the tank and pressure mounting daily for new automotive technologies to improve fuel economy and slash CO2 emissions, automakers the world over are finding themselves in a massive R&D investment bind.

To help relieve pressure on their collective pocketbooks, Germany's two top luxury-car makers suggest, the major players in the auto industry need to be working together on development of electric vehicle standards.
Speaking at a global auto engineers gathering, Thomas Weber, research chief at Daimler, and Klaus Draeger (right), BMW 's head of development, called for universal common standards that would enable carmakers to avoid duplicating R&D efforts.

Agreement on common power management and charging criteria, for example, would end the need for each automaker to invent its own components and systems - a situation that resulted in two competing and incompatible electric car charging systems in California when EVs first appeared in the 1990s.

In their presentations at the engineering summit, reported by the industry trade journal Automotive News , Weber and Draeger said that common standards would mean that automakers and technology developers would share the burden of staggering development costs.

Weber (left) also called for standard auto emissions rules, pointing out that there now are different requirements in the U.S., Asia and Europe.

That forces automakers to develop different emissions systems and powertrain configurations for each region. "We need to say this is nonsense," Weber said.

For their part, Daimler - parent of Mercedes-Benz and Smart - and BMW, parent of BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce -- are widely expected to begin a collaboration of their own later this year.

Originally intended to help with development of small cars - the new hot product now that fuel prices and energy security have become major issues worldwide - the joint effort could involve electric vehicle R&D as well, analysts at Global Insight suggest.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell September 18, 2008, 5:00 AM
Categories:: BMW, Daimler, Emissions, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: Auto Industry Collaboration

September 12, 2008

A Comprehensive Look at U.S. Tax Incentives for Buyers of Fuel-Efficient Vehicles

Some blogs are reporting today that the U.S. government is now offering tax incentives for five diesel models, three from Mercedes-Benz and two from Volkswagen.

We brought you that information weeks ago, when it had just come out of the oven, so to speak.

But in case you missed it, here it is again, in a wrap-up of all the fuel-efficient vehicles that are now eligible for U.S. tax credits.

Just click on the charts below for easily readable charts of what's available.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett September 12, 2008, 12:26 PM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Daimler, Diesel, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Legislation, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Natural Gas, Saturn, Toyota, Volkswagen

BMW Executive Confirms Automaker Is Developing 4-Cylinder Turbo Diesel Engine; In Strange Twist, He Says U.S. Delivery Will Hinge on Outcome of Presidential Race

BMW's North American President Jim O'Donnell, in a videotaped interview with Business Week , has confirmed rumors that the Bavarian automaker is developing a new 4-cylinder motor, one that's diesel-powered, turbocharged and will outperform the current 6-cylinder N52 engine (right) , which debuted in 2004 inside the BMW E63 630Ci.

In the interview, O'Donnell (below) said:

"We are working on a new, 4-cylinder engine that will deliver stronger performance in terms of acceleration than the current 6-cylinder, that will deliver lower emissions and will give you better fuel economy; so it's a win, win, win situation. So this will be a high-tech 4-cylinder engine, obviously turbocharged. We can't really confirm or deny when it is going to come into the U.S. -- if it's going to come into the U.S. -- until after the [presidential] election and the government makes it clear what is going to be the platform that manufacturers have got to work to."

Jim-O'Donnell.jpg We're not sure what to make of that last sentence, because if what he's saying about the engine is true, it shouldn't have trouble meeting America's fuel-economy standards.

Or is he saying BMW will have this hot new engine, but won't export it to the U.S. unless John McCain is elected president? Or unless Barack Obama wins the contest? Why would that be? The videotape ends with "got to work to"; if he explained himself moments later, whatever he said got left on the cutting-room floor, so to speak.

Or perhaps we've got it all wrong. Perhaps his comments were primarily intended to take some of the attention away from Mercedes' announcement earlier this week that it will launch a new generation of super-efficient diesel engines later this year, starting with a 2.2-liter four-cylinder "BlueEfficiency" powerplant.

Mercedes' turbocharged engine has a 7.0-second acceleration time from zero to 62 miles per hour, a top sped of 155 mph and yet gets a claimed 45 miles per gallon on the European test cycle; it'll be substantially less under the EPA test in the U.S. Still, that engine has people talking, certainly more than O'Donnell likes.

So, is this a case of German luxury rivals now competing for downsized-engine primacy? Could be, given that smaller engines are going to be the norm not only in Europe but in the U.S. and Canada as well as governments on both sides of the Atlantic require better fuel efficiency and fewer greenhouse-gas emissions from domestic and foreign automakers alike.

Scott Doggett, Contributor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); Scott Doggett September 12, 2008, 12:05 AM
Categories:: BMW, Daimler, Diesel, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Mercedes-Benz

September 11, 2008

Mercedes-Benz Embracing Hybrids In a Big Way

Pressed to lower its cars' carbon dioxide emissions and to give consumers more fuel-efficient vehicles, luxury car maker Daimler says it anticipates that gas- or diesel-electric hybrids could account for one in fiive of its Mercedes-Benz unit's cars and SUVs by 2015.

Beginning with an S-Class hybrid (right) next year, Daimler plans to roll out at least one hybrid vehicle a year, Susanne Klauser, a spokeswoman for the German carmaker told Bloomberg News today.

German auto companies, heavily invested in advanced diesel technology, have been slow to jump on the hybrid bandwagon and still argue that putting two powertrains in one car is a costly and inefficient way to go green.

But there's no arguing with success and Daimler, BMW, Volkswagen and Porsche all have watched Toyota Motor Co.'s Prius shoot to the top of the best-seller lists in recent years, as consumers have become convinced that hybrids are one of the best ways to cut fuel consumption.

Daimler hasn't abandoned other green technologies, however, and recently showed Green Car Advisor a spate of projects including an advanced fuel-cell electric car and an improved clean-emissions gasoline engine that delivers diesel-like torque and fuel economy.

John O'Dell,Senior Editor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell September 11, 2008, 12:56 PM
Categories:: BMW, Daimler, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Fuels & Technologies, Hybrid, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: Daimler

September 8, 2008

Mitsubishi Said to Join Daimler, RWE Test of Li-Ion Charging Infrastructure in Berlin

Last week we reported that Daimler Group and German utility RWE launched a joint project that calls for RWE to develop, install and operate 500 charging stations in Berlin and Daimler to provide more than 100 electric cars from Mercedes-Benz and Smart that will use the stations.

The idea is to study the performance of the cars in daily, real-world driving, and to study the efficacy of the charging infrastructure provided by RWE. Ideally, the charging stations should work with all electric vehicles.

Today, the German newspaper Handelsblatt reported that RWE intends to allow Mitsubishi Motors access to the network of recharging stations when Daimler's one-year exclusive agreement with the utility expires.

Mitsubishi has a suitable vehicle for the Berlin project in the form of the i-MiEV (Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle), which will be named I-EV in the German market.

All of the vehicles provided by Daimler and Mitsubishi will be powered by lithium-ion batteries. The project represents the first large-scale rollout of lithium-ion battery-powered electric passenger cars in Europe.

One hundred Smart electric vehicles are currently being field tested in Britain, but all of them are fitted with the heavier, bulkier and less capable nickel-metal hydride batteries.

As previously reported, Daimler has said it plans to produce 10,000 electric-powered Smart cars by 2012.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett September 8, 2008, 1:37 PM
Categories:: Batteries, Daimler, Fuel Economy, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Plug-ins and Electric, Smart
Technorati Tags:: Berlin

September 5, 2008

Daimler-RWE Program Starts Today, Features Lithium Smarts, 500 Charging Stations

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

Daimler Group and German utility RWE today launched E-Mobility Berlin, the world's largest joint project for electric cars.

The initiative covers all components required for the efficient use of battery-powered electric vehicles, from innovative drive technology through to customer-friendly infrastructure.

Daimler will provide more than 100 electric cars from Mercedes-Benz and Smart as well as a vehicle service.

RWE will handle the development, installation and operation of a charging infrastructure that will include 500 charging stations, the supply of electricity and central control of the system.

The payment system takes the form of an exchange of data between an in-car communication system and computerized charging station.

The newest generation of Smart ED (electric drive) and electric-battery driven vehicles from Mercedes-Benz will come in use with the project.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett September 5, 2008, 9:56 AM
Categories:: Batteries, Daimler, Fuel Economy, Mercedes-Benz, Plug-ins and Electric

September 4, 2008

Smart Says Cobasys Hampering Work on ForTwo EV Fitted With Li-Ion Batteries

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The accuracy of this story is disputed by Cobasys. Please click here for further information posted on Oct. 17.
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In early June we reported that General Motors won't sell as many hybrid cars as it had hoped this year due to 9,000 defective batteries supplied by Cobasys.

Now the Michigan-based battery maker is being blamed for holding up the release of electric Smart ForTwos fitted with advanced lithium-ion battery packs.

Smart had hoped to bring to market ForTwos packing lithium-ion batteries by the end of 2009.

But Klaus Badenhausen, the automaker's chief engineer, told Edmunds.com's Inside Line today that problems it is having with Cobasys have stymied Smart's lithium-ion battery plans.

As we've reported, Cobasys' parent companies are in a dispute over who should assume costs incurred by their troublesome child.

Indeed, GM wasn't the only automaker to be burned by Cobasys. Early last month, Mercedes-Benz sued Cobasys and its parent companies, claiming the battery maker wasn't delivering the battery packs it agreed to build for Mercedes' ML450 Hybrid.

As a result the German automaker might have to delay the launch of its planned hybrid SUV.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett September 4, 2008, 4:39 PM
Categories:: Batteries, Daimler, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, Plug-ins and Electric, Smart, Tesla
Technorati Tags:: Cobasys

September 2, 2008

Daimler Releases More Photos of Electric Smarts but Withholds Plans for U.S. Market

Daimler Group hasn't yet announced whether it will offer electric Smart ForTwos in the U.S., but that doesn't stop the German automaker from shoveling photos of the cute little plug-ins into the email boxes of autowriters across America.

Here are three that arrived today. We post them because we're certain some of our readers are already yearning for their own Smart ED -- for electric drive, as they are called in Europe -- even one in neon green.

Daimler currently has a first-generation fleet of 100 all-electric Smart cars being tested in England, and this little bugger is likely part of the herd. Also under study are public chargers, including the one pictured here.

As we reported recently, Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche has announced that Mercedes-Benz will begin selling an all-electric version of its Smart car in Europe in 2010.

Scott Doggett, Contributor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); Scott Doggett September 2, 2008, 4:20 PM
Categories:: Batteries, Daimler, Fuel Economy, Mercedes-Benz, Plug-ins and Electric, Smart

Chrysler Testing Green Vehicles, Says Progress 'Substantial' Toward Electrification

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Chrysler co-president Jim Press, the carmaker's self-described "demand" man charged with developing a product line people actually want to buy, says that despite its image, the company isn't stuck in the performance-car track and is well on the way to launching a full slate of "green" vehicles.

In addition to gas-electric hybrid models of the Chrysler Aspen (left) and Dodge Durango SUVs just hitting dealer showrooms and a hybrid Dodge Ram pickup due next year, Chrysler engineers are testing a trio of hybrid and all-electric models with componments that are "near" market-ready, Press said.

Speaking to a group of automotive journalists and industry insiders in Los Angeles today, Press -- former head of Toyota's ultra-successful U.S. sales and marketing operation -- said that while a slimmed-down Chrysler will not abandon the Hemi V8s, hulking trucks and off-road vehicles it is known for, it is also looking at ways to boost fuel economy and, eventually, offer plug-in hybrid and battery-electric versions of many of its models.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell September 2, 2008, 2:35 PM
Categories:: Batteries, Chrysler, Daimler, Dodge, Fuel Cell, Fuels & Technologies, Hydrogen, Jeep, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: Chrysler Green Vehicles

August 29, 2008

Daimler Taps Tesla Motors to Provide Batteries for Test Fleet of Electric Smart Cars

The Financial Times Germany reported today that Daimler has picked U.S. electric carmaker Tesla Motors to provide batteries for a 150-car test fleet of battery-powered Smart cars.

The Smart EVs, which will be made in England and sent to Berlin and other cities for testing, will contain lithium-ion batteries capable of propelling the cars 90 miles between charges.

The article also reports that Daimler has teamed with RWE, a major German utility, to install 500 charging stations throughout the German capital. Daimler will eventually expand the test fleet to 1,000 cars, the newspaper said.

Daimler did not immediately return calls seeking confirmation. Tesla's Darryl Siry declined to comment on the story at this time, but Tesla is no stranger to electric Smart cars.

We reported back in March that the company had a battery-powered Smart at its facility and speculated then that Tesla might have been angling for a conversion deal with the San Fransicsco-area Smart dealer.

Daimler chief executive Dieter Zetsche told another German newspaper recently that Mercedes-Benz will release an all-electric version of its Smart car in 2010.

Zetsche declined to discuss vehicle price, in part because Daimler has not decided yet whether or not to manufacture the electric motors itself.

Daimler currently has a first-generation fleet of 100 all-electric Smart cars being tested in London.

Scott Doggett, Contributor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett August 29, 2008, 11:39 AM
Categories:: Batteries, Daimler, Energy Companies, Fuel Economy, Mercedes-Benz, Plug-ins and Electric, Tesla
Technorati Tags:: Daimler

August 28, 2008

Daimler Opening Global Hybrid Research Center in Japan

Looking to boost the fuel efficiency of its commercial trucks (left), auto giant Daimler's truck division has opened a hybrid research center in Japan, where it owns a big chunk of truck maker Mitsubishi Fuso.

The new Daimler Global Hybrid Center will be located on Mitsubishi Fuso's campus in Kawasaki, the company said.

Mitsubishi has developed diesel-electric hybrid systems for city buses and light commercial trucks and Daimler wants to harness that expertise to its own Teutonic engineering prowess, according to industry analysts at economic consultant Global Insight

The aim is to come up with systems that can be applied to the range of commercial vehicles it manufacturers in its Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner, Sterling, Western Star and Mitsubishi Fuso subsidiaries.

And if some of that technology happens to trickle down into the company's Mercedes-Benz and Smart passenger car divisions, well, so much the better.

John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell August 28, 2008, 3:41 PM
Categories:: Daimler, Fuels & Technologies, Hybrid, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi
Technorati Tags:: Daimler Trucks

August 25, 2008

Hydrogen Car Tour's Promoters Hope Finish Line Is Just the Start

As the nine cars crossed the Hydrogen Road Tour "finish line" Saturday in the shadow of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, promoters of the 13-day, 31-city event piped in Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger" - theme song of "Rocky III" -as many in the audience of about 150 people waved mini checkered flags.

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Daimler's A-Class mercedes-Benz fuel cell car on display at Road Tour finale.

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The image they hoped to convey, of course, was the hydrogen, like actor Sylvester Stallone's fictional fighter, Rocky, is a winner.

It remains to be seen, though, whether the hydrogen fuel-cell technology promoted by the tour has a chance of knocking gas-electric hybrids out of contention as the dominant alternative to fossil fuel-powered engines.

General Motors, Honda, Toyota and Nissan were among automakers showing off their hydrogen fuel-cell cars by featuring them in the tour, which began in Portland, Maine, on Aug. 11 and ended Saturday at the California Science Center in Los Angeles.The tour was backed by the U.S. Energy and Transportation departments, the National Hydrogen Association and the California Fuel Cell Partnership.

Fully fueled, such cars, which produce electricity through an electro-chemical process in the fuel cell stack and limit tailpipe emissions to mere drops of water, have traveling ranges that vary from 100 miles for Daimler's Mercedes-Benz F-Cell to about 270 miles for Honda's FCX Clarity.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); John O'Dell August 25, 2008, 2:30 AM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, BMW, Daimler, Ford, Fuel Cell, Fuels & Technologies, General Motors, Green Vehicles, Honda, Hydrogen, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Electric Cars

August 15, 2008

Feds, Automakers Renew Vow To Make Hydrogen the Fuel of the Future

In case you've been wondering, major automakers and the lame-duck Bush Administration have reaffirmed their joint commitment to hydrogen fuel and to getting fuel-cell electric and other hydrogen-using vehicles into the retail market by 2018.

The happy group renewed its vows during a hydrogen technology showcase Thursday in Washington.

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A pair of Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell electric Vehicles are shown in rendering of a hydrogen fuel station being installed near los Angeles International Airport.

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"With continued investment, hydrogen holds the potential to help fundamentally change the way we power our vehicles and reduce greenhouse gas emissions," Bud Albright, an Energy Department undersecretary, said in remarks delivered during the public showcase.

The Energy Department, Transportation Department, nine automakers with prototype hydrogen-using vehicles and a number of fuel companies and other hydrogen advocates are in the midst of a cross-country tour to promote hydrogen as the logical successor to oil for fueling cars and trucks.

The manufacturers in "Hydrogen Road Tour '08" are BMW, Daimler, Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp., Honda Motor Co., Hyundai-Kia, Nissan Motor Co., Toyota Motor Co. and Volkswagen AG.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); John O'Dell August 15, 2008, 4:49 PM
Categories:: BMW, Daimler, Ford, Fuel Cell, Fuels & Technologies, General Motors, Honda, Hydrogen, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: Electric Vehicles

August 11, 2008

Business Is Brisk at Nation's First Rental Car Company That Loans Only Hybrids

With established rent-a-car companies reporting that they are having trouble meeting customer demand for fuel-efficient vehicles, a Southern California company has begun renting nothing but hybrid vehicles.

Business has been brisk at Eqocar in Burbank since it opened its doors three months ago, General Manager Nick Hamed told Green Car Advisor today. Hamed said Eqocar, which rents only hybrid vehicles, is in talks to open four more rental-car centers, all in California.

Eventually, the company would like to expand nationwide, Hamed said.

Eqocar has a fleet of 45 hybrids, which include the Toyota Prius, Camry and Highlander hybrids, Ford Escape Hybrid, Lexus LS600h L, GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe hybrids, and the Nissan Altima hybrid. Daily rates range from $59 for the Prius to $650 for the LS600h L.

There are plans to add the extended-range plug-in electric Chevrolet Volt, hybrid versions of the Smart Fortwo, Chrysler Aspen, Cadillac Escalade, and Porsche Cayenne and Panamera, as well as the Tesla and Fisker plug-in sports cars and the bubbled-faced three-wheel Aptera to the rental fleet, Hamed said.

The Aptera is reminiscent of vehicles appearing in The Jetsons, a futuristic cartoon series produced during 1962 and '63.

Scott Doggett, Contributor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett August 11, 2008, 2:42 PM
Categories:: Aptera, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Daimler, Emissions, Fisker, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Lexus, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Porsche, Smart, Tesla, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Camry Hybrid

Daimler Announces Plans to Produce 10,000 Electric Vehicles by 2012

In March we brought you news that Green Car Advisor had spied a pair of electric-powered Smart Fortwos in California and that Smart USA President David Schembri hoped to begin testing a small fleet of Smart EVs here in America sometime next year.

Today we can report that Daimler Group, which owns Smart, is aiming to produce 10,000 electric vehicles by 2012.

"By 2010 we will be very close to series production and aim to start with limited numbers in the hundreds," Thomas Weber, Daimler's director for research and development, said in Stuttgart Saturday. "Our aim is to cover costs by 2010. By 2012 we would be producing around 10,000 units."

Weber said "the next phase in electric car production is equipping the Smart microcars with lithium-ion batteries, with Smart two-seaters and the Mercedes A series coming onto the market the following year."

Daimler research shows that for most European customers 80 percent of their mobility requirement was under 31 miles a day. Weber said Smart electric cars can go 60 miles between charges.

The most promising market is seen as Europe, where environmental concerns are widespread. Weber said Daimler was planning further tests on top of those currently running since last year in London.

"Berlin is very interested, and Paris and Rome would also be possible," he said, but he made no mention of Smart or Mercedes EVs coming to the U.S., and calls placed to Daimler regarding the subject were not promptly returned.

Scott Doggett, Contributor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett August 11, 2008, 1:24 PM
Categories:: Batteries, Daimler, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Mercedes-Benz, Plug-ins and Electric, Smart
Technorati Tags:: Daimler

Hydrogen Road Tour Begins Today: Good Luck Finding Fuel

Honda's FCX Clarity fuel-cell electric car (right) is one of 10 vehicles traveling 'cross country in Hydrogen Road Tour '08.

Ever wonder what a hydrogen fuel cell really looks like, or how a fuel-cell electric vehicle handles? Itching to try that hydrogen-burning BMW 7-Series that so far has been piloted publicly only by high profile business, entertainment and political people?

(Article modified at 6:45 a.m, Pacific Daylight Time)

Your chance of laying eyes, or hands, on a vehicle using what many still believe will be the fuel of the future increases beginning today as a coalition of hydrogen backers launch a 13-day, 18-state, 31-city, cross-country tour to boost interest in hydrogen vehicles.

We wish them well. And we hope everyone who has a chance stops by, takes a look - or a drive - and becomes a hydrogen missionary.

But there's a sad note to what is being billed as the "Hydrogen Road Tour '08."

At times, ~~Mostly,~~ the vehicles will be trucked rather than driven to locations very near their various destinations on diesel or gasoline-burning commercial carriers. After being off-loaded, they'll be driven under their own power just a few short miles to the venues.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (9); John O'Dell August 11, 2008, 2:45 AM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, BMW, Daimler, Fuels & Technologies, General Motors, Honda, Hydrogen, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: California Fuel Cell Partnershp

August 6, 2008

Mercedes Alleges Troubled Battery Supplier May Delay Production of ML450 Hybrid

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Inc. has sued Cobasys LLC and its parent companies, claiming the battery maker isn't delivering the battery packs it agreed to build for Mercedes' ML450 Hybrid (right) and as a result the German automaker might have to delay the launch of its planned hybrid SUV.

In a lawsuit filed last week in a U.S. District Court, Mercedes-Benz said it had scheduled the production launch of its new hybrid vehicle for June 2009, and that it had a contract with Cobasys in which that company agreed to supply 100 percent of the batteries for the ML450 and would do so "in due time."

The automaker also alleges that based on the contract, its engineers began working closely with Cobasys personnel to refine the specifications for the battery pack and Mercedes-Benz and its affiliates paid Cobasys approximately $6 million in connection with the development of the battery pack.

But according to the lawsuit, Cobasys notified Mercedes-Benz many months later that its owners -- Chevron Technology Venture LLC. and Ovionic Battery Company Inc. -- "had reached an impasse as to how to fund Cobasys."

As a result, Cobasys said it would not sign a purchase order Mercedes-Benz had presented for the battery packs months after Cobasys representatives signed the initial contract with the automaker.

The suit also says that Mercedes-Benz "understands that a buyer for Cobasys has now been located, and that a sale of Cobasys is now imminent."

Cobasys builds batteries for General Motors' mild hybrid sedans and, in June, GM officials said the American automaker was nearing a deal to buy Cobasys. However, no agreement has been announced.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett August 6, 2008, 10:04 AM
Categories:: Batteries, Courts, Daimler, Emissions, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Hybrid, Mercedes-Benz
Technorati Tags:: Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid

July 30, 2008

Honeywell to Provide Turbochargers for Ford's Initial EcoBoost Engines

Honeywell International has been selected by Ford Motor Co. to develop turbochargers for the first of its EcoBoost engines , which will initially appear in next year's 2010 Lincoln MKS.

The new turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 engine will perform like a large V-8, but will deliver the fuel economy of a V-6, Honeywell announced today.

To help bring the new engine to market, Honeywell says it leveraged the latest advances in turbine design and materials to optimise the performance and ensure the reliability of its gasoline turbo technology.

The twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 will deliver upwards of 340-plus pound-feet of torque across a wide engine range - 2,000-5,000 rpm - versus 270 to 310 pound-feet of torque for a conventional naturally aspirated 4.6-liter V-8 over the same speed range.

Honeywell expects the global turbocharger segment to grow from 30 percent of the overall automotive market to more than 38 percent by 2013 as automakers look to boost engines to help increase fuel-efficiency and reduce exhaust emissions without sacrificing performance.

Honeywell provides turbochargers to many automakers, including BMW, Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Volkswagen.

Scott Doggett, Contributor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); Scott Doggett July 30, 2008, 2:21 PM
Categories:: BMW, Chrysler, Daimler, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: BMW

July 22, 2008

Public Invited to Test Drive Newest Green Machines at Inaugural Event

Right, BMW 7 Hydrogen on NÃ¼rburgring racetrack. The car or one like it will be available for test drives.

The Detroit area is famous for the Woodward Dream Cruise, a summertime showcase of thousands of hotrods, muscle cars and other exotics.

Now in an effort to improve Motown's gas-guzzling image, a new group has organized what they call Nextcruise, which will actually give the public an opportunity to drive what many see as the next generation of vehicles - hybrids, fuel cell, clean-diesel, plug-in electric and other green machines.

The low-emissions, fuel-efficient vehicles will be available for free 15-minute drives on a first-come, first-served basis in Pleasant Ridge, just outside Detroit, in mid-August.

The event will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 16, and from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17, at Memorial Park, 23925 Woodward Avenue, Pleasant Ridge 48069-1199.

Nine automakers have agreed to provide green vehicles and green-car-technology demonstrations for event to date. They are: General Motors, Chrysler, Ford, Nissan, Toyota, Volkswagen, Audi, Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett July 22, 2008, 3:44 PM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Audi, Auto Shows, BMW, Biofuels, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Daimler, Diesel, Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, Ford, Fuel Cell, Fuel Economy, Fuels & Technologies, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Toyota, Volkswagen

Acura, Smart, Chevy Models Top List of Healthiest Cars Tested by Ecology Center

Soy foam in the seats the Ford F-150 pickups and Lincoln Navigator SUVs. Locally farmed hemp , "ethically produced" woolen fabric and floor mats made of sisal in the Lotus Eco Elise.

Some automakers are increasingly going to great lengths to make the interiors of some of their models if not environmentally friendly, at least a bit wholesome.

But others, well...

Early today the Ecology Center of Ann Arbor, Michigan, posted its second-annual consumer guide to toxic chemicals in cars and children's car seats at www.HealthyCar.org.

More than two hundred 2008- and 2009-model-year vehicles and more than 60 children's car seats were tested for unhealthy chemicals that seep in gaseous form from the steering wheel, dashboard, armrests, seats and carpet.

The "new-car smell," as the gases are commonly called, mingle with the air occupants breathe and have been linked to allergies, birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity and cancer.

The Ecology Center reported that Mazda, General Motors and Nissan improved since last year's findings, with GM showing the greatest gains of the domestic automakers, with an average vehicle ranking improvement of 27 percent.

The list of the 10 best and 10 worst vehicles as picked by the Center appears in the chart above.

Average child-car-seat scores improved 28 percent overall. The list of 10 best and worst car seats for 2008 as picked by the Center appears at left. Click on the chart for a better look.

For more information, go to www.HealthyCar.org.

Below are the three worst 2008-model-year vehicles by interior pollution, according to the Center (click on each to enlarge). From left to right: Mitsubishi Eclipse, Suzuki Reno and Volkswagen New Beetle.

Below are are the three best vehicles by interior pollution, according to the Center (click on each to enlarge). From left to right: Acura RXD, Chevrolet Cobalt and Smart Passion Cabriolet.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett July 22, 2008, 12:21 AM
Categories:: Acura, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Daimler, Dodge, Emissions, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hummer, Hyundai, Jeep, Kia, Lexus, MINI, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, Pontiac, Porsche, Renault, Saab, Smart, Subaru, Suzuki, Think, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo

July 18, 2008

EPA Supplies Fuel-Economy Estimates for Hybrid Variants of '09 Silverado, Sierra

Right, the 2009 Chevy Silverado Hybrid.
Below, the 2009 GMC Sierra Hybrid.

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

The Environmental Protection Agency has posted the official mileage numbers for the new two-mode hybrid variants of the 2009-model-year Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra full-size pickup trucks offered in limited availability starting late this fall.

The rear-wheel-drive models achieved 21 miles per gallon city, 22 mpg highway and 21 mpg combined while the 4-wheel-drive models achieved 20/20/20 mpg. The open bed crew-cab hybrid trucks scored the identical numbers as their 2009 full-body SUV siblings.

However, the conventional model with the same 6-liter V8 only manages 14 mpg city and 19 highway in RWD running on premium-grade gasoline, and only 13 mpg city and 19 highway in RWD running on regular. The EPA did not provide combined estimates for the 2008 models.

The hybrids are outfitted with an advanced two-mode powertrain developed by BMW, DaimlerChrysler and General Motors.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett July 18, 2008, 11:30 PM
Categories:: BMW, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Daimler, Emissions, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Hybrid

July 17, 2008

That New Car Smell Might Kill You

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

That's our sensational headline for 2008, but there's more than a smidgen of truth in it.

Last year Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Ecology Center released the first-ever consumer guide to toxic chemicals in cars and child car seats -- and what they reported was sickening.

The odor you inhale when you slide into a new car? It might very well be bromine, chlorine, lead, other harmful chemicals or a witches' brew of them. They've been linked to birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity, premature births and, no doubt, cancer.

If you think the government protects you against such things, think again. Some of the vehicles on the road today are veritable toxic dumps on wheels. And many drivers are exposed to these chemicals through inhalation and contact with dust every day.

In case you missed last year's report, Ecology Center found the most toxic vehicles were the Nissan Versa, Chevy Aveo, Scion xB 5dr and the Kia Rio. The least toxic vehicles were the Chevy Cobalt, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Honda Odyssey and the Volvo V50.

Next Tuesday -- July 22 -- Ecology Center will release its second annual consumer guide to toxic chemicals in cars and child car seats, and if you're thinking of buying a new car anytime soon, you'll want to check it out. The guide will be posted at www.healthycar.org a little after midnight on the 22nd.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); Scott Doggett July 17, 2008, 1:39 PM
Categories:: Acura, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Daimler, Dodge, Emissions, Fiat, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jeep, Kia, Legislation, Lexus, MINI, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opinion, Pontiac, Porsche, Renault, Saab, Smart, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo

All Mercedes Cars to be Turbocharged by 2010; Full Hybrid to Join S Class Next Year

Right, Daimler R&D's Thomas Weber.

Mercedes-Benz will introduce turbocharged engines across its entire lineup in the next two-and-a-half years.

"All our vehicles will have turbocharged engines in series production by the end of 2010 at the latest," Thomas Weber, Daimler board member responsible for research and development, told Automotive News Europe at a press event in Dusseldorf, Germany, today.

Forthcoming legislation in Europe and the U.S. is forcing automakers to reduce auto emissions.

Demand for turbochargers is growing, because they offer a proven and relatively inexpensive way to reduce fuel consumption. With the addition of a turbocharger, Daimler will be able to install smaller, lighter and more fuel-efficient engines without sacrificing performance.

Under current proposals, the European Commission will ask the German automaker to cut its average fleet emissions from 178 grams per kilometer to 138 g/km by 2012. The commission will fine automakers that fail to meet the targets.

Improving the efficiency of its existing engines is the first part of Daimler's strategy to reduce carbon-dioxide emission levels across its fleet. Weber said the medium-term step would be to introduce more hybrid technology. The S class -- Mercedes' flagship sedan -- will be offered as a full hybrid vehicle starting in 2009.

Weber also said that zero-emission driving is the German automaker's long-term goal. To get there, the automaker plans to use technology such as fuel cells and electric-powered vehicles. A full-electric version of the Fortwo from Mercedes sister brand Smart goes into production in 2010.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (3); Scott Doggett July 17, 2008, 8:30 AM
Categories:: Daimler, Emissions, Fuel Cell, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Mercedes-Benz, Smart

First International Plug-In Hybrid Convention to Be Held in California July 21-24

The first-ever international conference dedicated exclusively to plug-in electric hybrid technology will be held in California's Silicon Valley next week.

"Plug-In 2008: A Short Drive to Tomorrow" takes place July 21-24 in San Jose. The event is open to anyone and on-site registration is available.

Admission isn't cheap, with full access to the conference starting at $250 for students with ID, but everyone who's anyone in the PHEV world will be there. Among the attendees:

Senior representatives from the automakers, high-tech component manufacturers, electric utilities, state and federal government.
Exhibitors who will showcase the latest innovations associated with PHEVs and supporting electricity infrastructure.
Scientists who will share current technical research on PHEVs in areas including batteries, powertrains and vehicle to home technology.
Analysts who will discuss the business case for PHEVs, including potential adoption scenarios, customer segments and profit potential.
Policymakers who will explain how regulations impact PHEVs and the electricity grid, and how future rules may accelerate PHEV adoption.
Clean-tech entrepreneurs who will outline their ideas to expand the PHEV market with new technologies for vehicles and communication systems.

For more, check out the agenda.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett July 17, 2008, 7:55 AM
Categories:: Batteries, Chevrolet, Daimler, Emissions, Fisker, Ford, Fuel Economy, Fuels & Technologies, General Motors, Honda, Legislation, MINI, Manufacturers, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Smart, Tesla, Toyota

July 12, 2008

A Little Knowledge of Transmissions Can Save You Big Bucks at the Pump

All images click to enlarge.

By Robert E. Calem, Contributor

Choosing a fuel-efficient automobile was a whole lot simpler 30 years ago, the last time the U.S. was in the throes of a gasoline price crisis. It was often as simple as buying a small vehicle with a manual transmission.

Today, with gas prices soaring to new record highs almost weekly, finding fuel economy means navigating an almost bewildering selection of vehicles. Even enormous SUVs can qualify if they come equipped with gasoline-electric hybrid drive systems.

Behind this tremendous hike in choices -- to a fairly significant extent, experts say -- has been a concomitant increase in the variety of transmissions.

Whereas in the 1970s there were only four- and five-speed manual transmissions and three- and four-speed automatic transmissions, now there are six-speed manual, six-, seven- and eight-speed automatic, six- and seven-speed "dual-clutch" automatic-manual, and continuously variable transmissions.

The result: more efficient engine operation and higher fuel economy in every car, whether it's a high-performance Porsche Carrera or a modest Volkswagen Jetta.

But there are important differences among these sophisticated transmissions, including in how much they contribute to better fuel efficiency. Knowing those differences may help you the next time you're in the market for a new car.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); Scott Doggett July 12, 2008, 12:53 AM
Categories:: Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Daimler, Ford, Fuels & Technologies, General Motors, Honda, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche, Smart, Subaru

July 11, 2008

2009 Smart Fortwo in Europe To Get Standard Micro-Hybrid With Gas Engine

Beginning this October Smart will make its micro-hybrid-drive system standard equipment on European Fortwos fitted with the 61- or 71-horsepower gas engines, parent company Daimler AG said in a statement today.

The system has been available as an option with the 71-horsepower engine since 2007.

Smart claims the auto start-stop reduces combined city/highway fuel consumption by eight percent. But Smart owners who drive mainly in dense urban areas can see savings of up to 20 percent, the automaker claims.

The setup shuts off the engine whenever the driver is braking and the vehicle speed drops below 5 miles per hour. It automatically starts the engine when the brake is released.

Diesel-powered Smarts also get an upgraded closed particulate filter for 2009 that removes even more of the soot from the exhaust. All Smarts are also getting interior upgrades, including new gauges for the new model year.

U.S.-bound Smarts will likely contain the interior changes, but Daimler AG is not saying whether America-bound Fortwos will experience the powertrain upgrades.

Scott Doggett, Contributor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); Scott Doggett July 11, 2008, 9:53 AM
Categories:: Daimler, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Smart

July 7, 2008

New Markets, New Powertrains Await Smart Fortwo as the Cult Microcar Turns 10

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

In an uncharacteristic display of German engineering, Daimler AG announced today that its Smart Fortwo fuel-efficient microcar celebrated its 10th birthday not today or even this week, but rather during the middle of last week.

We could understand it if the German automaker had announced it would be celebrating the diminutive two-seater's birthday a day or even a week early -- because the pint-size car that makes the Mini Cooper seem big has always been ahead of its time.

Developed in the early 1990s at the Mercedes-Benz design studio in Irvine, California, the first Fortwos to roll off the assembly line in Hambach, France, on July 2, 1998, sported colorful body panels made of recycled plastic and a steel frame coated with a powder paint that was significantly less harmful on the environment than conventional painting processes.

Instead of engine placement in the front or rear, the Fortwo carries its engine directly beneath its passengers, preserving storage space while also giving additional height to the seats.

Daimler Chairman Dieter Zetsche put it nicely today when, in the official celebratory statement, he said that the Smart Fortwo "is a clever solution and fun to drive. Had we not invented it 10 years ago, we would have to do so now."

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett July 7, 2008, 7:03 PM
Categories:: Batteries, China, Daimler, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Mercedes-Benz, Plug-ins and Electric

July 1, 2008

Automakers Say Federal Fuel Economy Rules Could Leave 82,000 Unemployed

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

A lobbying group for 10 major automakers including Detroit's Big Three, Toyota and Daimler urged federal regulators today to dramatically water down its proposal to hike fuel efficiency standards or run the risk of costing 82,000 autoworkers their jobs and the U.S. economy tens of billions of dollars.

In a thousand-page document filed today by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the automakers condemned the April 22 proposal by the U.S. Transportation Department that would boost fuel economy requirements to a fleetwide average of 31.6 miles per gallon by the 2015 model year.

That average includes 35.7 mpg for passenger cars and 28.6 mpg for light trucks. The nation's new passenger cars currently are required to meet a fleet average of 27.5 mpg, while the light-truck fleet - generally encompassing port utility vehicles, pickup trucks and vans - must hit a target average of 22.5 mpg.

"This goes beyond what is technologically feasible and economically practical," the automakers said. "It would require manufacturers to expend resources at a pace that is excessive given the fact that the auto industry is already under economic stress."

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); Scott Doggett July 1, 2008, 1:31 PM
Categories:: BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Courts, Daimler, Dodge, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, Fuels & Technologies, General Motors, Legislation, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Toyota, Volkswagen

Mercedes Plans Electric A-Class for 2010; Tesla Said to Supply Batteries

Above, a gas-powered A-Class Mercedes. Daimler says an electric version of the small family car is planned.

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

Mercedes-Benz is planning to launch an electric version of the A-class small family car in 2010, according to press reports.

The four-door hatchback will have lithium-ion batteries and be produced at an initial rate of between 500 and 1,000 cars year, the German weekly Automobilwoche reported Monday. Production should climb quickly, however.

In an interview with German business daily, WirtschaftsWoche, Thomas Weber, a Mercedes-Benz board member responsible for research and vehicle development, let it be known that the company is building what was originally meant to be the fuel cell-powered A-Class model as an all-electric model.

In the Automobilwoche report, an unidentified senior manager at Mercedes-Benz said that the A-class is an ideal candidate because its "sandwich" construction means the basic layout of the vehicle does not have to be changed much. The car was developed to accommodate a fuel cell and therefore has a double floor that can fit the cell, the manager said. This space can instead be used for the lithium-ion batteries.

In a separate article, Automobilwoche reported that U.S. electric-car maker Tesla Motors is expected to supply the lithium-ion batteries. The magazine didn't reveal the sources for its story and Tesla spokeswoman Colette Niazmand wouldn't comment on the subject when Green Car Advisor inquired today.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); Scott Doggett July 1, 2008, 10:22 AM
Categories:: Batteries, Daimler, Emissions, Fuel Cell, Fuel Economy, Hydrogen, Mercedes-Benz, Plug-ins and Electric, Tesla

June 20, 2008

Mercedes Plannning an EV for 2010, Zetsche Says

S-Class already is slated for a hybrid powertrain. Is all-electric version next?

Mercedes Benz hopes to enter the electric car race with a luxury Mercedes EV as soon as 2010, Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche said in a newspaper interview in Germany.

In a report circulated today by Thompson Financial and Reuters news service, Zetsche is quoted as telling the newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that Daimler plans "an electric Smart for 2010 and for the same year a Mercedes model as well."

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell June 20, 2008, 4:40 PM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Batteries, Daimler, Fuel Cell, Hybrid, Mercedes-Benz, Plug-ins and Electric

June 15, 2008

Honda Begins Clarity Production, Unveils First Leases

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

True to its word, Honda Motor Co. began production of its long-awaited FCX Clarity fuel-cell electric sedan this evening (Monday morning in Japan) and said that it would begin putting the strikingly sculpted vehicles into the hands of carefully selected customers early next month.

The first of the cars, which produce electricity from hydrogen gas and oxygen and emit only water vapor from their tailpipes, will go to Hollywood producer ("Little Miss Sunshine") Ron Yerxa, who traveled to Japan to attend the ceremony at Honda's new fuel-cell vehicle assembly facility at its advanced R&D campus in Tochigi, about 100 miles north of Tokyo.

Honda introduced the production model of the garnet-red car at the 2007 Los Angeles International Auto Show in November and said at the time that it would launch a three-year Clarity leasing program this summer.

Yerxa and other lessees – there will be about 200 in Southern California and Japan by the end of 2011 – will pay $600 a month and will be required to provide considerable feed-back to Honda about their experiences with the vehicle.

Closer But No Cigar

"This is an important day in the history of fuel-cell vehicle technology and a monumental step closer to the day when fuel cell cars will be part of the mainstream," John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda, said in a statement.

"Our customers and dealers share in our vision for a cleaner and more sustainable transportation future, and share in our challenge to embrace a new generation of automotive technology that we think will carry the auto industry and its customers into the future."

While fuel cell cars represent the auto industry's best effort so far to free the motor vehicle from its dependence on oil and to avoid some of the perceived pitfalls of using rechargeable batteries to store power for electric cars, the technology is not without problems.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell June 15, 2008, 9:30 PM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Batteries, Chrysler, Daimler, Ford, Fuel Cell, General Motors, Honda, Hydrogen, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Toyota, Volkswagen

June 13, 2008

Technology Defines Mercedes-Benz' Road to the Future, From DiesOtto Engine to Fuel Cell EVs

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

HUELVA, Spain -- I've been sitting in Mercedes-Benz' exotic F-700 â€“ facing backward in the research car's multi-position rear seat and watching the engine-power display on a 20-inch flat-screen monitor as driver Peter Lehmen slowly takes us around the track at Circuito Monteblanco.

Weâ€™re at this track, 30 miles east of Seville, for an event Mercedes calls "the Road to the Future."

In fact, it's a demonstration of a number of technologies the German luxury-car maker has been showing off around the globe for many months. The neatest stuff, of course, is years away from being production-ready.

A display with the same name at last September's Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany featured 19 clean and green Mercedes-Benz vehicles including the F-700 research car.

My interests are several, starting with the DiesOtto engine that powers the F-700 â€“ a gasoline engine that works much like a diesel, providing low emissions, substantial fuel economy and power in a pretty small package.

Mercedes has promised to fill us in on advances made since the prototype engine was unveiled at the Frankfurt show.

The automaker also has gathered experts to talk about the whole range of its green car efforts, including clean diesels, fuel cell vehicles, battery-electric cars and the company's breakthrough development that will let it be the first to put a lithium-ion battery pack into a production hybrid car when the S-400 BlueHybrid is introduced next year.

Turbo, Torque, Thrift

But let's get to the DiesOtto, Mercedes' name for an engine that uses the technology everyone else calls homogeneous charge combustion ignition, or HCCI. Other big players working hard on an HCCI engines are General Motors Corp., Volkswagen and Honda Motor Co.

Mercedes has opted to pair the relatively small 1.8-liter, four-cylinder with a small electric motor for extra assist, making the F-700 a hybrid. A dual-stage turbocharger that works at both low and high engine speeds helps keep things exciting.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell June 13, 2008, 5:25 PM
Categories:: Batteries, Daimler, Fuel Cell, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Mercedes-Benz, Plug-ins and Electric

June 12, 2008

Tesla Chairman Says EV Maker Has Deal With Daimler

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

Fledgling electric sports car maker Tesla Motors "has inked a technology deal" with giant German automaker Daimler, Fox Business Network reports on its Website, citing an interview with Tesla Chairman Elon Musk.

"Has inked a technology deal" is a bit much, unless Musk, in a videotaped interview with FBN reporter Liz Claman posted Wednesday, said something to her off-camera. Here's their on-camera exchange as regards the purported deal:

Claman: "Have you been approached for your technologies â€¦ by a General Motors or Ford or Daimler?"

Musk: "Yes. Absolutely. In fact we have a deal right now with Daimler. It's still a bit in the early stages, but we're in discussions with Daimler. It's still at the early stages, but we're in discussions with Daimler and we have a small deal that could perhaps lead to a very big deal."

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett June 12, 2008, 5:38 PM
Categories:: Batteries, Daimler, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Plug-ins and Electric, Tesla

May 16, 2008

UPS Places Record Order For Hybrid and CNG Trucks

United Parcel Service has ordered 200 hybrid electric trucks and 300 compressed natural gas vehicles from Daimler as it seeks to make its delivery fleet more fuel-efficient.

Daimler said the order represents the largest ever placed for "green" commercial vehicles. Retail value of the trucks has been estimated at $50 million.The chassis will be supplied by Daimler's Freightllner subsidary, the hybrid systems by Eaton Corp.

In addition to helping UPS "green" its fleet and cut its fuel bills, use of the trucks throughout the U.S...

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell May 16, 2008, 3:05 AM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Daimler, Hybrid, Natural Gas

May 1, 2008

A New Gorilla in Plug-in Market? Magna Enters Race

Plug-in hybrids are seen by many, including Magna, as the next great frontier.

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Another entry in the plug-in hybrid race, this time from a competitor with really powerful potential.

Magna International , the top-tier Canadian auto parts maker, says it will roll out a plug-in car late next year or in 2010.

So as not to foul relationships with the major automakers that it already supplies with scores of parts, Magna says it won't sell a competing plug-in but will sell them the bits and pieces needed to make their own.

In markets where its customers don't sell cars, though, Magna intends to field a complete plug-in under its own brand.

The company, which reported $26.1 billion in sales and a $663 million net profit last year, is serious about becoming a car maker.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell May 1, 2008, 12:22 PM
Categories:: Chrysler, Daimler, Fisker, Ford, General Motors, Hybrid, Plug-ins and Electric, Saab, Tesla, Toyota, Volvo

March 25, 2008

Mercedes-Benz Talks Batteries, Hybrid and EV Plans

By Robert E. Calem, Contributor New York -- Mercedes-Benz is preparing to transform its flagship S-Class sedan into an "economy" car offering gas mileage comparable to that of the Honda Accord, and that will be only the beginning of the car's fuel consumption makeover, the company promises.

The key change: incorporating a new lithium-ion battery that Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler AG has been developing since the early 1990s.

Due largely to technology advances achieved in the last six years, Mercedes-Benz engineers say, the battery is now ready for mass production and will be used first in the S400 BlueHybrid , a new gasoline-electric S-Class sedan slated to go on sale after the summer of 2009.

The following year, the battery is to be used in a diesel-electric hybrid version, the S300 BlueTec Hybrid, and after 2010 in the more powerful S400 BlueTec Hybrid.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell March 25, 2008, 5:55 PM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Batteries, Daimler, Fuel Cell, Fuel Economy, Hybrid

Despite Competition, Honda Not Sold on Lithium Ion

Lithium-ion battery packs being tested at Argonne National Laboratory.

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Toyota, General Motors, Mitsubishi and Mercedes-Benz all say they'll have electric cars with lithium-ion batteries on the road at or near the end of the decade.

Because they can pack more power into a smaller and lighter package than the nickel-metal-hydride batteries that today's hybrids use, lithium-ion batteries are generally considered the only way to go as EV and hybrid technology pushes into the future.

But over at Honda Motor Co., chief Executive Takeo Fukui is suggesting that charging ahead slowly is the best way to go when assessing the battery portion of that technology.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell March 25, 2008, 1:48 PM
Categories:: Batteries, Daimler, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Mitsubishi, Plug-ins and Electric, Tesla, Toyota

March 20, 2008

Smart Fortwo EV Test Coming to the U.S.

Smart is testing electric models in England and could start in U.S. next year.

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

We spied an electric Smart Fortwo prototype that we weren't supposed to see while on a visit recently to the Tesla Motors facility up in Northern California.

We don't know if this means that Tesla is angling for a contract to convert gas Smarts to EVs for a local dealer who wants to get a jump on the crowd, or was showing Smart engineers a prototype being developed for the automaker itself.

But we do know now that Smart USA hopes to begin testing a small fleet of Smart EVs here sometime next year.

That's because Smart USA President David Schembri said so in a New York Auto Show interview with TheCarConnection.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); John O'Dell March 20, 2008, 11:03 AM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Batteries, Daimler, Plug-ins and Electric

March 10, 2008

Daimler To Share "Breakthrough" Battery Technology

Daimler's new generation lithium-ion battery pack -- the one that will power the German automaker's upcoming 2009 Mercedes-Benz S400 mild hybrid -- apparently will be shared by development partner BMW and sold to other interested car companies as well.

The battery pack, which Daimler has described as a "breakthrough" that resolves potential overheating and durability problems that can occur with lithium-ion batteries used in automotive applications, is being supplied by German auto parts maker Continental, assembled from battery cells made by a joint venture of Wisconsin-based Johnson Controls and French battery maker Saft.

German automotive magazine Automobilwoche reports that Continental's agreement with Daimler allows it to market similar battery assemblies to other automakers.

Continental is a potential suplier of batteries for the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric car, scheduled to go into production by the end of 2010.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell March 10, 2008, 3:40 PM
Categories:: BMW, Batteries, Chevrolet, Daimler, General Motors, Hybrid, Plug-ins and Electric

March 7, 2008

Carmakers Split on Fuel-Cell Future

THIS....Chevrolet Volt typifies battery-electric cars GM's Lutz wants to promote.

Or THIS.....Honda FCX Clarity uses hydrogen fuel-cell electric drive system.

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

The schizophrenic nature of auto industry in an increasingly green market was perhaps never more evident than this past week, as major carmakers split on the future of fuel-cell vehicles.

Larry Burns, vice president of research and development for GM, kicked things off Monday on a positive note for fuel-cell fans, talking up the importance of company's Project Driveway. That's GM's just-initiated 30-month test program involving 100 Chevrolet Equinox Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Electric Vehicles being driven by consumers in Los Angeles, New York City and Washington, D.C.

Ready for Prime Time

"We just coauthored a paper with Shell that makes a compelling case that the hydrogen infrastructure is real, it's viable, it can be done affordably and safely," Burns told reporters covering an alternative energy conference in New York.

"So the next step here as we learn from these hundred Equinox Fuel Cells will be getting into the thousands. We see that happening within the 2011-2012 timeframe. And then once we get to thousands we need to get to hundreds of thousands and millions. We think that within the next decade that is within our grasp."

So far, so good.

But only hours later, GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz was reading from a different page.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (4); John O'Dell March 7, 2008, 6:54 PM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, BMW, Batteries, Daimler, Fuel Cell, General Motors, Honda, Hydrogen, Plug-ins and Electric, Toyota

February 29, 2008

Daimler Claims Lithium Ion Battery Breakthrough

German automaker Daimler said Friday it has become the first car company to adapt lithium-ion battery technology for a production car and will use the new batteries in the upcoming S400 BlueHybrid in 2009.

Keeping things cool for reliability has been an ongoing concern with developers of lightweight, high-energy lithium ion batteries for hybrid cars.

Daimler says its engineers have integrated the battery into the car's climate control system to ensure that its is always operating at 60-95 degrees Fahrenheit (15-35 degrees Celsius) "to provide long life and maximum performance.'

The company said it has obtained 25 patents on its battery technology.

And signaling a possible intent to market the technology to others, Daimler calls it, in grandiose marketing language, "groundbreaking key technology that is going to be a decisive factor for the future success of the automotive industry."

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); John O'Dell February 29, 2008, 1:50 PM
Categories:: Batteries, Daimler, Hybrid

February 11, 2008

Daimler's DiesOtto Wins French Environmental Prize

Mereceds-Benz' prototype "DiesOtto" engine has been awarded the Environmental Grand Prize at the 23rd Festival Automobile International in Paris.

The engine, first shown by Mercedes parent, Daimler, at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show, combines the horsepower and cleaner emissions of a gasoline engine with the low-end torque and fuel economy of a diesel.

The concept "provides an important basis for the future of the internal combustion engine" and "demonstrates the great innovative strength of the automobile industry," the prize jury said.

The DiesOtto technology includes direct fuel injection, turbocharging, a variable compression ratio and homogeneous charge compression ignition similar to that of a diesel. The ignition, which takes place deep in the engine cylinders under high compression, assures a cleaner and more complete fuel burn than the conventional gasoline engine's spark-ignition at the top of each cylinder.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); John O'Dell February 11, 2008, 3:00 PM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Daimler, Diesel, Emissions, Fuel Economy, General Motors
Technorati Tags:: Paris Auto Show

February 1, 2008

New Battery Factory Could Power EV Production

Johnson Controls-Saft plant in France is dedicated to advanced auto batteries.

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

Battery makers Johnson Controls of Milwaukee, and Saft Advanced Power Solutions of Bagnolet, France, have opened the world's first factory dedicated to advanced lithium-ion batteries for electric cars and next-generation hybrid vehicles.

The $22 million joint venture plant in Nersac, France, will supply General Motors, Chrysler and Daimlerâ€™s Mercedes-Benz cars division, according to a report in the Financial Times.

Aaron Bragman, a research analyst for Global Insight in Detroit, told Green Car Advisor that the plant represents "a significant step forward" in getting production lithium-ion batteries on the market in an automotive application.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell February 1, 2008, 5:15 PM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Batteries, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Daimler, General Motors, Hybrid, Plug-ins and Electric

January 3, 2008

$30.3 Million Fine Gives CAFE Fine Crown to Mercedes

Mercedes-Benz is counting on its new clean diesel engines to help boost sales in a U.S. market suddenly consumed by fuel economy concerns.

But the German luxury carmaker could get another big benefit from diesel sales here: the increased mileage diesel cars and trucks deliver could save it millions of dollars a year in the fines it regularly pays for exceeding the federal CAFE (corporate average fuel economy) standard.

For 2006, the most recent figures available, Mercedes – through its then-parent DaimlerChrysler -- paid a record $30.3 million in CAFE fines, according to data posted recently by the National Highway Traffic Safety Agency.

As we reported previously, the record for the highest annual fine had been held by BWW of North America, which paid $27.9 million in 2001 (breaking its own record of $27.3 million set in 2000).

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); John O'Dell January 3, 2008, 6:40 AM
Categories:: BMW, Chrysler, Daimler, Legislation, Porsche, Volkswagen, Volvo

November 13, 2007

A Green Preview of the LA Auto Show

Production version of Honda FCX concept (above) will be unveiled at the LA Show

Although environmental transportation isn't a central theme of this year's Los Angeles auto show, there's still a touch of green to be found among the displays at the LA Convention Center.

Green used to be a big thing for the West Coast's premier auto show, but that was before environmental issues became part of just about every auto show on the calendar.

From Detroit to Tokyo, these days they all have a green component, ranging from the unveiling of concepts that explore things like plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and the hydrogen future to the introduction of production models that give us the newest in gas-electric hybrids and alternative fuels such as diesel and ethanol.

In LA this year, events will include an announcement Thursday morning of the Green Car of the Year award winner. Nominees for the award, sponsored by the Green Car Journal magazine, all are hybrids this year, and three are from General Motors: The Chevrolet Malibu sedan, Saturn Aura sedan and Tahoe SUV hybrids. The other finalists are the Mazda Tribute SUV hybrid and the Nissan Altima sedan hybrid.

As the 2007 show prepares to open its doors this week, for a two-day media preview Wednesday and Thursday and to the general public Friday evening for a 10-day run, here's a look at what to expect.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); John O'Dell November 13, 2007, 2:54 PM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Daimler, Diesel, Ford, Fuel Cell, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Porsche, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo

November 8, 2007

Ballard Sells Automotive Fuel-Cell Unit to Ford, Daimler

Ballard Power Systems says it has agreed to sell its automotive fuel cell operations to Ford Motor Co. and Daimler AG in an all-stock deal.

But the Canadian fuel cell pioneer isn't getting completely out of the business.

The deal, outlined on Ballard's web site, calls for Ford and Daimler to form a new company, Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation, that will be based at Ballard's facility in British Columbia. And Ballard will pump $60 million in the new business in return for a 19.1 percent stake.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell November 8, 2007, 3:36 PM
Categories:: Daimler, Ford, Fuel Cell, Hydrogen

November 6, 2007

Ballard in Talks To Shed Automotive Fuel-Cell Unit

Fuel-cell developer Ballard Power Systems has confirmed reports that it is negotiating the sale of its automotive operations to partners Ford Motor Co. and Daimler AG.

The news shows that while major car companies still believe in hydrogen fuel cells, the day they are available in the cars and trucks at our local new car dealerships is still a long way down the road.

Vancouver, B.C.-based Ballard cites "the lengthy projected time line to commercialization and the high cost of development" as major reasons for trying to sell the automotive side of its business.

That means Ballard thinks it's just too tough for an independent power business to keep footing the bills.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell November 6, 2007, 11:32 AM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Daimler, Ford, Fuel Cell, Hydrogen

October 8, 2007

Fuel-Cell Vehicles Get Facetime at Speed Festival

A weekend devoted to worship of fuel-swilling, carbon-spewing muscle cars wouldn't seem the ideal place to preach the gospel of clean transportation, but the California Fuel Cell Partnership pitched its tent just inside the entry gates to the Coronado Speed Festival this past weekend -- and got a lot of action.

Almost 1,500 people attending the two-day festival on Coronado Island in San Diego Bay dropped by the partnership's stand to take a drive in one of the eight fuel-cell electric vehicles on hand.

“It’s actually a smart thing to do,” Hyundai spokesman Kevin Oates said of the decision to force-feed fuel cells to the speed crowd. “It lets us reach out to the trend-setters. These are people who are dedicated auto enthusiasts, and they can influence the industry,” he said of festival-goers.

“They’re auto enthusiasts,” he said, “so they’re enthusiastic about their muscle cars and racecars, but they’re also very open to the idea of the fuel cell as a door to the future of the auto.”

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); John O'Dell October 8, 2007, 1:01 AM
Categories:: Daimler, Ford, Fuel Cell, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Toyota, Transportation Alternatives, Volkswagen

September 30, 2007

U.S. Fuel Economy Unchanged, Buyers Still Like Trucks

EPA fuel economy ratings for individual models are posted on price stickers

Americaâ€™s passenger vehicle fleet, still top-heavy with light trucks and large sport utility vehicles, turned in an average fuel economy of 20.2 miles per gallon for 2007 models, unimproved from 2006, according to a new report by the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

That the numbers didnâ€™t change despite soaring fuel prices and a nationwide push for greater fuel economy to help reduce our dependence on imported oil reflects both the slow pace at which automakers can adopt improved technologies and the reluctance of U.S. car buyers to give up the kinds of vehicles theyâ€™ve been buying for years.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); John O'Dell September 30, 2007, 11:51 PM
Categories:: Chrysler, Daimler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Toyota

September 27, 2007

CAFE Fines No Deterent To Some Luxury Brands

BMW and Mercedes-Benz are neck and neck in paying fines for violating U.S. fuel economy standards. Each of the German luxury carmakers has paid more than $200 million in fines since 1983.

There’s CAFE, the corporate average fuel economy requirement that most major automakers try to meet each year, and then there are CAFE fines.

CAFE works at least a little—the National Academy of Sciences found that it cut oil consumption in 2002 by 2.8 million barrels a day and suggests that overall savings can be measured in billions of barrels. But the fines, which have not been raised in a decade, don’t seem to be having much impact in the fuel economy drive, especially on German carmakers.

In 2005, the last year for which the data is available, BMW, DaimlerChrysler—mostly its Mercedes-Benz unit -- Volkswagen, Porsche, Ferrari, Maserati and Spyker all paid CAFE fines — the total was $25.2 million. DaimlerChrysler, at $16.9 million, BMW, at $3 million, and VW, at $1.1 million, accounted for 90 percent.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); John O'Dell September 27, 2007, 3:00 AM
Categories:: BMW, Daimler, Legislation, Porsche, Volkswagen