Kia Green Car Advisor Blog on Edmunds' Inside Line

November 2, 2009

Hyundai Mobis, LG Chem Finalize Lithium-Ion Battery Joint Venture

Batteries, batteries, batteries. That's looking like the name of the game these days.

Automakers have shown they can build decent conventional hybrids, and are about to show how well they can do on all-electric and extended-range, gas-electric hybrids - but the wall they all run into is how far their cars and trucks can go before the electrons run out.

That's in the batteries, and with few exceptions (Nissan and Hyundai come to mind) automakers don't make batteries. They may assemble the individual cells into battery packs designed for their specific vehicles, but it is at the level of the cell - and the chemistry incorporated into that cell - that the ability of a battery to store and release energy is controlled.

So its good to see so much activity in the battery development world.

Latest is in South Korea, where Hyundai Mobis and LG Chem have announced a joint venture agreement to produce lithium-ion batteries for hybrids. The $34-million venture is scheduled to start producing in the second half next year, with a goal of building batteries for as any as 200,000 vehicles a year.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell November 2, 2009, 1:41 PM
Categories:: Batteries, Hybrid, Hyundai, Kia, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: EVs

October 28, 2009

Hyundai-Kia, Korean State Power Co. to Collaborate on EV and Charging System

A little birdie tells us that Hyundai has signed an agreement with Korea's state-run power company to develop an electric car and charging system that will be ready for sale in Korea by 2011.

The car itself will be done by Hyundai and its Kia subsidiary, with Korean Electric Power Co. working on the EV battery charger.

Hyundai may already have the car well-in hand. It showed a prototype city EV, the i10 Electric (right), at the Frankfurt auto show earlier this year.

The car used a 16 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack and promiosed a top speed of 80 mpgh and a range of up to 100 miles on a single charge.

The memo calls for the first charger and a prototype Hyundai EV to be ready in just 10 months - August 2010 - with the car and charger to be ready to go on sale sometime in 2011.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell October 28, 2009, 1:28 PM
Categories:: Energy Companies, Hyundai, Kia, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: EV

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.

----------

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.
----------

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

September 22, 2009

Latest 2010 Cars in U.S. 6.6% Greener Than 2009 Models, Website Reports

Environmental car data released by a new automotive Website today shows that the latest 2010 range of new cars available in the U.S. is 6.6 percent greener than the 2009 model-year range.

The data supplied by WhatGreenCar also demonstrate that the shift to green is gaining pace. To date, this year's 6.6 percent reduction is more than three times last year's improvement of 2.1 percent.

Comparing model year 2009 cars with the latest model year 2010 line-up, 10 volume automakers are now offering a new model range above the average improvement of 6.6 percent.

The top 10 manufacturers achieving this are: Chevrolet (20.3 percent improvement), General Motors (15.3 percent), Mercedes-Benz (13.6 percent), Lexus (13.2 percent), Mercury (11.6 percent), Kia (11.0 percent), Ford (10.4 percent), Acura (8.0 percent), Volkswagen (8.0 percent) and Suzuki (7.7 percent).

The tables below are self-explanatory, and can be enlarged by clicking on them.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett September 22, 2009, 12:09 PM
Categories:: Acura, Chevrolet, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Kia, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Mercury, Suzuki, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: Acura

September 14, 2009

2009 Frankfurt Auto Show: Greenest Car Show Begins Previews Tuesday

Hyundai Motors' ix-Metro Hybrid city car is one of several dozen 'green' cars and concepts debuting at Frankfurt show.

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

This week's Frankfurt Auto Show promises to be the greenest major auto show to date - a showcase for fuel efficiency improvements and alternative powertrains that are coming to the forefront as the mainstream auto industry finally begins coming to grips with the need to begin weaning itself - and us - from petroleum.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell September 14, 2009, 1:49 AM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Audi, Auto Shows, BMW, Citroen, Diesel, Fiat, Ford, Fuel Cell, General Motors, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Hyundai, Kia, Lexus, MINI, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, Peugeot, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show

September 9, 2009

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.

----------
A trio of Ford FCEVs get pumped up.
----------

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 13, 2009

Honda Insight, Toyota Prius Hybrids Named 'Top Safety Picks' by Insurance Group

The Honda Insight and Toyota Prius hybrids received "top safety pick" labels from the non-profit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, bolstering sales prospects for two of the industry's most fuel-efficient vehicles.

----------
Right, the Honda Insight dummy's position in relation to the steering wheel and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that his survival space was maintained well.
----------

Today's designations for the 2010 Insight and Prius along with the non-hybrid Kia Soul mean about a third of the small cars tested by the non-profit insurance group carry its highest rating.

Vehicles with that label have posted "good" scores in front, side and rear crash tests. Top safety picks also must have electronic stability control.

"The latest results show that consumers who want good fuel economy can also get a high level of safety," said institute spokesman Russ Rader. "Because there are so many small cars that test well, there's no reason to settle for a small car with less-than-stellar safety ratings."

The insurance group's side test simulates a collision with an SUV or pickup truck moving at 31 mph. The frontal trials mimic 40 mph offset crashes with vehicles of the same weight as the test car. The institute also simulates a stationary vehicle's being rear-ended by a vehicle going 20 mph.

Today's top-safety-pick designations for the Prius, Insight and Soul put the number of top-rated small cars at 10, out of the 27 the group has tested. Other small cars with the rating are the 2009 Subaru Impreza, 2009 Scion xB, four-door 2009 Honda Civic, 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer, 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit, 2010 Toyota Corolla and two-door 2009 Ford Focus.

In April, the insurance group said the Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit and Smart ForTwo minicars performed poorly in frontal crash tests with mid-sized vehicles. Upon impact, the three cars all collapsed into the space around the driver dummy.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (3); Scott Doggett August 13, 2009, 5:10 PM
Categories:: Honda, Hybrid, Kia, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer

July 15, 2009

Kia Begins Selling Its First Hybrid, an LPG-Electric Version of the Forte Sedan

Only days after Hyundai began selling its first hybrid vehicle , fellow South Korean automaker Kia started selling its first hybrid (pictured ).

Both automakers have now joined the ranks of hybrid-vehicle producers, but only they have done so with cars that are fueled by liquefied petroleum gas and electricity. Most mass produced hybrid vehicles today use a combination of gasoline and electricity.

Seoul-based Kia aims to sell 2,000 Forte LPG-electric hybrids domestically this year, the company said today, adding that sales may rise to 5,000 of the cars in 2010.

The timing for both South Korean automakers to introduce hybrid vehicles is excellent, as fuel-efficient cars and trucks have been gaining popularity amid a global economic slowdown.

The Forte hybrid, equipped with a 1.6-liter engine, can travel 42 miles on one gallon of LPG. LPG costs less than half of gasoline in South Korea, hence the reason Kia and Hyundai chose to go the LPG-electric route with their initial hybrids.

The Forte hybrid, which is based on Kia's gasoline-fueled Forte meets California's Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle standard, according to the company - a sign that it intends to sell the model in America, although the automaker was mum on that topic. The model starts at $16,000.

Kia plans to introduce a gasoline-electric hybrid midsize sedan in 2011 and to develop a plug-in hybrid vehicle by 2013, company officials said.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett July 15, 2009, 10:58 AM
Categories:: Emissions, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Hyundai, Kia, LPG
Technorati Tags:: Electric

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 18, 2009

Are Automakers Finally Seeing the Light? Will Government and Greens See it Too?

Auto Industry Lines Up To Praise National Program Idea, Now the Hard Work Begins

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

The auto industry, tired of being seen as the bad guy whenever fuel economy and emissions regulation is on the table, is wasting no time lining up in support of tomorrow's White House announcement on development of a national carbon emissions and fuel efficiency program.

A cynic might think this doesn't bode well for the ultimate result of the rulemaking process that President Obama will outline at a press conference in Washington Tuesday morning: That the auto industry figures it has enough clout left to wring the life out of any effort to significantly improve fuel economy.

But we think it simply shows that an industry on life support and dependent on government largess here and overseas has finally read the writing on the wall and realizes that this is as good as it is ever going to get and that if it doesn't play ball it will have no say in the rules it eventually will have to live by.

Automakers also have been caught in a trap of their own making. They've been fighting California, the national leader in establishing greenhouse gas controls on motor vehicles, insisting that individual states shouldn't be able to set carbon emissions rules and that a national standard is needed.

Now the Obama administration has stepped to the table and said, as the president is wont to: "Okay, let's develop a national rule."

To oppose that would be political suicide.

In that vein, the two lobbying groups representing almost every car maker that does business in the U.S. have jumped on board and are voicing support for the so-called National Program for Autos.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell May 18, 2009, 6:00 PM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, BMW, Chrysler, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Land Rover, Legislation, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opinion, Plug-ins and Electric, Porsche, Renault, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: National CAFE Plan

May 7, 2009

Energy Department Slashes Hydrogen Transportation Funding in Proposed Budget

(Note: Updated 5 p.m. 5/7/09 to include link to Hydrogen and Fuel Cell groups' joint statement.)

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

In a huge blow to backers of fuel-cell electric vehicles, the nation's top energy official said today he sees little promise of the technology becoming a significant player in the nation's transportation system within the next two decades.

----------
Honda's FCX Clarity, now being tested in Southern California, uses a hydrogen fuel cell to provide electric power.
----------

As a result, Energy Secretary Stephen Chu is proposing that more than $100 million be cut from the Energy Department hydrogen program in the 2010 budget the administration is submitting to Congress.

The proposed budget slashes hydrogen fuel cell spending by 59 percent to just $68 million and focuses on programs for stationary power generation rather than for transportation.

"We asked ourselves, 'Is it likely in the next 10 or 15, 20 years that we will covert to a hydrogen car economy?' The answer, we felt, was 'no,'" Chu said in a briefing today.

The National Hydrogen Association and the U.S. Fuel Cell Coalition quickly issued a joint statement criticizing the program cuts.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (4); John O'Dell May 7, 2009, 3:49 PM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, Fuel Cell, General Motors, Honda, Hydrogen, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: 2010 Energy Department Budget

March 27, 2009

Hyundai's Blue-Will Hybrid Concept; Confirmed: It IS a Plug-In

hyundaihnd4blue3.500.jpg

On the heels of sister company Kia Motors' hybrid announcement, South Korean's Hyundai Motor said this week it will show off a plug-in hybrid concept, the Blue-Will, at the upcoming Seoul Auto Show.

A car that looks nicer going that arriving, the Blue-Wlll - with a grille that looks like a cetacean's baleen-baring, plankton-gulping grin - might better have been called the Blue Whale.

It will get a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder, direct-injected gasoline engine and continuously variable transmission, augmented by a 100 kilowatt electric motor fed by a lithium-polymer battery pack.

Hyundai didn't provide any further details and, in fact, in its official press release doesn't identify the concept as a plug-in with rechargeable batteries. This has led to lots of confusion on the blog-o-sphere, with a number of postings referring to it as a plug-in and others calling it a conventional hybrid.

hyundaihnd4blue2.500.jpg

So before we got caught having to file a correction, we checked with Hyundai's U.S. headquarters and spokesman Chris Hosford tracked down a photo caption he received from Korea that other day. It clearly labels the Blue-Will as a "plug-in hybrid," Hosford said.

That's a technology the lithium-polymer battery chemistry ought to lend itself to as it makes for lighter battery cells so more can be packed aboard for increased energy storage and travel range without a range-robbing weight penalty.

That same lithium-polymer battery chemistry, developed by Korean battery maker LG Chem, is to be used in the Hyundai Elantra LPI (liquefied petroleum, injected) Hybrid, which is slated to go on sale in July, and on Kia's just-announced Forte LPI Hybrid, which follows with an August launch. Neither are plug-ins.

The Blue-Will concept also gets roof-mounted solar panels that are supposed to help extend the battery's range, although most such installations are better suited for powering air conditioners or ventilation fans and don't produce sufficient juice to help much with propulsion.

John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell March 27, 2009, 2:19 PM
Categories:: Batteries, Hybrid, Hyundai, Kia, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: Hybrids

March 25, 2009

Hyundai Motor Co. Introduces All-Electric Car for South Korean Market

Hyundai Motor Co. has been green with envy over the success that competitors Toyota and Honda have had in marketing their fuel-efficient cars to consumers.

South Korea's largest automaker has been playing catch-up as it develops a fleet that eventually will include a mix of conventional and plug-in hybrids, advanced-technology gasoline internal combustion engines and fuel-cell electric vehicles.

And, on Monday, Hyundai unveiled plans to expand that fleet with an all-electric, rechargeable car with a range of about 40 miles (62 kilometers).

"We cannot eliminate any technology. We have to keep them all," Hyundai Vice Chairman Lee Hyun Soon told the Bloomberg news service during an interview on Monday in Hwaseong, near Seoul.

"If your commuting distance is short, maybe you can justify using an electric vehicle," said Lee, who serves as research chief for Hyundai and its Kia Motors Corp. affiliate.

Lee did not say when the battery car will go on sale or which markets initially will be targeted.

Upcoming Kia and Hyundai hybrids, as well as the planned Hyundai electric vehicle, will use lithium batteries manufactured by LG Chem Ltd., South Korea's largest chemical company. LG Chem also is supplying lithium-ion batteries for GM's Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, which will go on the market in 2010.

Kia on Tuesday introduced its Kia Forte hybrid, which will be the world's first hybrid-liquefied petroleum gas car when it goes on sale in Korea later this year.

Greg Johnson, Contributor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Greg Johnson March 25, 2009, 1:44 PM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Chevrolet, Fuel Cell, Hybrid, Hyundai, Kia, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: Hyundai Electric Vehicle

March 24, 2009

Despite Economy, Kia Sticks to Schedule With Summer Launch of First Hybrid

Sticking to an ambitious green car plan we told you about late last year, Kia Motors is entering the hybrid arena with a mild-hybrid version of its recently introduced Forte sedan (right) , a replacement for the Spectra.

The Kia Forte Hybrid, aimed at the South Korean automaker's home market, is slated to go on sale later this summer.

It combines a 1.6-liter liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) engine with a small electric motor-generator, a continuously variable transmission and what the company says will be the world's first lithium-polymer battery pack.

The gel-based batteries are smaller, lighter and easier to package than solid-cell lithium batteries. South Korea's LG Chem, which recently won the contract to provide lithium-ion batteries for the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid due from General Motors Corp. in late 2010, will provide Kia's batteries.

The automaker said the Forte Hybrid should achieve fuel economy of 41 miles per gallon of liquefied petroleum gas.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell March 24, 2009, 9:34 AM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Batteries, Hybrid, Hyundai, Kia
Technorati Tags:: Kia Forte Hybrid

November 20, 2008

2008 LA Auto Show: Kia's Fuel-Efficient, Low-Priced Soul Makes N. American Debut

Kia Motors America today announced the North American debut of the all-new Soul five-passenger vehicle at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show.

The 2010 model will achieve combined fuel economy at or above 30 miles per gallon, have a starting price in the teens and go on sale across the U.S. in spring 2009, Kia spokeswoman Beverly Braga said.

"To get it in the 20s ($20,000 or more), it would have to be loaded with every available option," she said, highlighting the affordability of the boxy, sportwagen intended for "young and young-at-heart buyers."

Soul's 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission and produces 120 horsepower. A 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is available with either the five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. The latter engine produces approximately 140 horsepower, and is available for the Soul+, Soul! and Soul Sport trims.

Fuel economy for both engines is estimated at 30 or more mpg combined. Designed in Southern California, Soul originally debuted as a concept vehicle at Detroit's North American International Auto Show in 2006.

The production version remains true to the concept, with an angled window line, rounded nose, large flared back headlamps and chrome grille. The beltline rises from the front wheel arch to create a gentle wedge shape and continues under and around the rear side window.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett November 20, 2008, 4:16 PM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Kia
Technorati Tags:: 2010 Kia Soul

November 19, 2008

2008 LA Auto Show: Hyundai Gets Blue About Green With New Fuel Efficiency Plan

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Hyundai Motor Co., itching for the same level of respect U.S. consumers give fuel-economy leaders Toyota and Honda, is beginning to roll out a broad family of efficient new green cars aimed at making it the nation's gas mileage leader by 2015.

Borrowing a page from German's Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen, Hyundai has chose to make its green cars Blue -calling its fuel-efficiency initiative the Hyundai Blue Drive.

----------
Cutaway shows architecture for Hyundai's Blue Drive hybrid system, with flat, rear-mounted battery pack and 4-cylinder gas engine and electric motor drivingfron wheels.
----------

The South Korean carmaker, which previously had pledged to have a U.S. retail fleet with average fuel economy of 35 miles per gallon five years before that standard will be mandated, said in a press conference at the Los Angeles Auto Show today that it will achieve the goal with a mix of conventional and plug-in hybrids, advanced-technology gasoline internal combustion engines and, in select states, fuel-cell electric vehicles.

As a first step, Hyundai officials said, the company will introduce fuel-efficient "Blue" editions of its gasoline-fueled Accent and Elantra compacts in 2009.

The cars will use low rolling-resistance tires, aerodynamic bodywork, higher gearing and specially tuned engines to achieve better mileage and lower tailpipe emissions that present models of the same cars.

A similar "Blue Motion" line was launched by Volkswagen in 2006. Mercedes-Benz followed with its "Blue Efficiency" effort early this year.

Hyundai Hybrid

The Blues will be followed in 2010 by a gasoline-electric hybrid model of the Sonata midsize sedan (below, left) designed expressly for the North American market.

2009.hyundai.sonata.20212832-396x249.jpg Hyundai said its "full hybrid" Sonata - capable of a limited amount of all-electric travel - is jumping past the lithium-ion battery technology that American, Europe and Japanese automakers are racing to perfect and instead says it will go with a lithium polymer technology for its various battery-dependent models.

Plug-in versions that use larger, grid-rechargeable battery packs for longer all-electric range, will follow at an unspecified pace, company executives said.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell November 19, 2008, 1:55 PM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Fuel Cell, Green Vehicles, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Hyundai, Kia, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: Hyundai Blue Drive Program

2008 LA Auto Show: Kia Unveils Borrego Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Prototype

Kia Motors Corp.'s $105-million fuel cell electric vehicle program took a major technological step forward today with the global unveiling of the Borrego FCEV prototype at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

----------
Right and below, the Borrego FCEV prototype is fitted with Kia's fourth-generation fuel-cell powerplant.
----------

The Borrego FCEV contains Kia's fourth-generation fuel-cell powerplant, which like those before it produces electricity from hydrogen and oxygen in an on-board electro-chemical process.

But the latest generation achieves 154 horsepower--or 47 more ponies than generation 3 for a 44 percent power boost.

Other improvements include an all-new 450-volt Supercapacitor to lift performance, a greatly extended driving range, and sub-freezing starting capability for cold-weather operation.

The Borrego FCEV's powerplant, located under the center floor, propels the vehicle to a top speed of 100 miles per hour while boasting a claimed best-in-class system efficiency of 62 percent.

Despite a dry weight of 4,960 pounds, the Borrego FCEV can reach 60 miles per hour in a reasonable 12.8 seconds. And, with its 202-liter hydrogen storage tank, the crossover has a range of about 426 miles--or 176 more miles than Gen 3.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); Scott Doggett November 19, 2008, 3:01 AM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Auto Shows, Emissions, Fuel Cell, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Kia
Technorati Tags:: Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle

November 10, 2008

Kia Motors' Ambitious Green Plans Include Plug-In Hybird and Fuel Cell Vehicles

By James Riswick, Edmunds.com

Kia Motors is making gradual progress towards a greener future, although commercialization of its technologies remains a few years off.

----------
Kia Sportage FCEV is carmaker's third-generation fuel-cell electric vehicle.
----------

At the heart of the company's environmentally friendly initiative is an R&D facility, located near Seoul, created to develop green technologies for Kia and its parent company, Hyundai Motor.

I journeyed late last month to South Korea to sample Kia's latest green prototypes at another Hyundai-Kia R&D facility, located in Namyang and home to a full proving ground.

Kia presently has two generations of its hybrid technology in prototype vehicles: the original, a Kia Rio Hybrid, and the second a Kia C'eed Hybrid based on the popular Kia five-door hatchback solid in Europe.

Both vehicles showcase a Honda-style "mild" hybrid powertrain featuring auto engine stop, regenerative braking and electric boost when accelerating. They cannot accelerate solely under electric power, as can vehicles with "full" hybrid systems such as Toyota's.

The first Kia hybrid will show up in 2009 in the next-generation Spectra for the Korean market.

It will use a battery-electric system as described above, coupled to an internal combustion engine fuelled by liquid propane, which is readily available throughout the domestic market.

The first Kia hybrid for the U.S. will arrive in 2010 as a part of the completely redesigned 2011 Kia Optima lineup. It is uncertain how much the company's hybrid technology will evolve by then, but whatever technological advancements emerge will be shared with the Hyundai Sonata.

Kia officials say the company will not be producing a dedicated hybrid model, as they view hybrid technology as only a temporary step in the evolution of alternative powerplants for the personal auto.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell November 10, 2008, 3:01 AM
Categories:: Fuel Cell, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Kia, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: Kia Kuel Cell electric Vehicle

September 19, 2008

U.S. Fuel Economy Up Sightly In 2008 As Consumers Shift To Smaller Cars

Thanks largely to the rapid and sudden shift to smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles in the U.S. - a shift driven by soaring fuel prices - industrywide fuel economy for new cars and trucks sold this year is expected to top 20.8 miles per gallon, the federal Environmental Protection Agency said today.

The new "real-word" figure from the EPA marks the fourth consecutive year fuel economy has risen since a gradual 16-year decline that began with the rise of the full-size truck and SUV markets in 1988 and ended in 2004 as Asian automakers began rapidly increasing their share of the U.S. market with vehicles that were markedly more efficient than domestic models.

In a preliminary report released today, the EPA said it is estimating the average adjusted fuel economy for the light vehicle - or passenger - fleet this year will be at least 20.8 mpg, up 0.7% or two-tenths of a gallon, from last year.

That's still 1.2 miles per gallon, or 5.4 percent, below the all-time high of 22 mpg set in 1987.

For cars alone, the preliminary average is 24.1 miles per gallon, while the truck average is 18.1 mpg.

The agency said, though, that it expects final figures, to be released late this year, to show even higher averages for cars, trucks and the combined total.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (3); John O'Dell September 19, 2008, 4:27 PM
Categories:: Audi, Chrysler, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: 2008 EPA Fuel Economy Ratings

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.

----------

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.

----------

"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

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

July 22, 2008

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 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

July 16, 2008

Survey Finds American Consumers Are Hot for Hybrids but Cooling on Ethanol

While most automakers have shifted production to focus on smaller vehicles, nearly 70 percent of consumers want the companies to invest more in existing and emerging powertrain technologies, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Alternative Powertrain Study released today.

Now in its third year, the Alternative Powertrain Study examines the reasons why consumers consider or avoid alternative powertrain vehicles, such as gas-electric hybrid, flex fuel and clean diesel models.

The study includes the Automotive Environmental Index, which rates the 2008-model-year vehicles on the basis of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data to fuel economy and greenhouse-gas emissions, as well as expert input from J.D. Power & Associates.

The study found that more than 80 percent of the 4,000 consumers polled believe the U.S. is currently facing an energy crisis. Only 18 percent of these respondents believe the issue can be addressed by building small, fuel-efficient vehicle.

Thirty percent believe automakers should continue to produce a comparable vehicle lineup with a focus on gas-electric hybrid, clean diesel and flexible-fuel vehicles, while another 39 percent believe carmakers should focus on developing fuel cell and all-electric vehicles.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett July 16, 2008, 3:32 PM
Categories:: Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Emissions, Ethanol, Fiat, Flex-Fuel, Ford, Fuel Cell, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Hyundai, Kia, Lexus, MINI, Mitsubishi, Natural Gas, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Pontiac, Smart, Solar, Toyota

June 25, 2008

Hybrids Don't Shine in True Cost To Own Study

Chevy Aveo tops ownership cost study. Civic hybrid and other gas-electric vehicles don't fare well because of hybrid premium in initial purtchase price.

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

If saving money is your thing, and in these rugged economic times who isn't into that, then Chevrolet, Honda, Toyota and Nissan all have cars for you.

But they aren't hybrids

Previous studies using Edmunds' True Market Value calculations have shown that the so-called hybrid premium makes it difficult for the fuel-efficient cars and SUVs to save enough on fuel to earn back the higher price automakers charge for the advanced technology packed into a gas-electric powertrain.

Now a new Edmunds.com True Cost to Own study finds that even with their sometimes hefty federal tax credits, hybrids slip well down into the pack when long-term ownership costs are considered.

The Civic Hybrid is No. 14 in the TCO rankings being released today, while the nation's best-selling hybrid, Toyota's Prius, doesn't even make the top 25. It finished 34th overall, although it is in second place among hybrids.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (10); John O'Dell June 25, 2008, 3:01 AM
Categories:: Chevrolet, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, Honda, Hybrid, Hyundai, Kia, Lexus, Mazda, Nissan, Suzuki, Tax Incentives, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Cost to Own Hybrid

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

May 27, 2008

As the Market Turns: Kia Returning to Small Car Roots

After dabbling in minivan-SUV territory, South Korea's Kia Motor Co. is getting back to small cars â€“ a good strategy given that's the direction the entire U.S. automaker is heading as fuel prices ratchet ever upward.

At a media event n Seoul last week, Kia CEO Kim Dong-Jin told reporters that the company has been neglecting the small car market, but no more.

"With fuel prices the way they are, we are going back to the mainstream of the business," he said, adding that the company's new U.S. assembly plant in Georgia, once scheduled to build pickup trucks, will be used for small cars when it opens for business late next year. The plant also will assemble the Kia Sorento, a midsize crossover-utility vehicle.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell May 27, 2008, 2:02 PM
Categories:: Fuel Economy, Hyundai, Kia