Geely McCar hides electric trike inside its hybrid or EV body {w/video}— Autoblog Green

Geely McCar– Click above to watch videoafter the jump

At the 2011 Shanghai Motor Show, Chinese automaker Geely displayed a concept vehicle called McCar. Apparently, McCar stands for"magic car"– or something like that.

The subcompact vehicle can accommodate four people and– are you ready for this?– one three-wheeled, foldable battery-powered scooter. Geely says that the electrified trike will come in handy in China's congested cities where traffic jams can stop four-wheeled vehicles in their tracks. Because who wants to walk?

Designed to be equipped with either a hybrid or fully electric powertrain (using a 12-kWh battery pack), Geely says that the McCar has a driving range of 93 miles and a top speed of 52 miles per hour when outfitted with the electric-only setup. In hybrid form, range hits 404 miles and max speed rises to 81 mph.

Hit the jumpto watch Geely's subtitled promo video detailing the innovative design that allows the McCar to hide an electric trike inside.

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Study: 85% of U.S. consumers willing to buy a plug-in vehicle when ...— Autoblog Green

Plug-in vehicles are just starting to drizzle into the market, but many U.S. consumers are champing at the bit to buy them. So says E Source, a"dynamic"research and advisory firm, which recently analyzed data from the Nielsen Energy Survey and supposedly discovered that 85 percent of U.S. consumers would purchase a battery-powered vehicle either right away (3 percent), when their current automobile needs replacement (57 percent) or when electric vehicle technology is proven and becomes mainstream (25 percent).

Under the headline numbers, though, E Source found that not all plug-ins are the same. Consumers"strongly prefer"(58 percent) plug-in hybrid vehicles like theChevrolet Volt. Pure EVs, like theNissan Leaf, are only preferred by a mere eight percent. Bill LeBlanc, senior advisor at E Source, says that the statistics show"a substantial willingness for drivers to move to plug-in electric vehicles, but only if the manufacturers can provide the easy extended range of travel that Americans are used to."

E Source's analysis also suggests that liberals are more inclined to desire electric vehicles than conservatives (seehere). LeBlanc adds that:

We see that all ages and all political mindsets like the plug-in hybrid vehicles equally. But when it comes to the all-electric car, it appears to be seen as more of a"green"purchase, rather than as a practical upgrade to a more-efficient vehicle.

The E Source study examined other variables, including home ownership, type of home, household size, annual income, gender, age, marital status and ethnicity. We'd suggest that these findings be taken with a grain of salt.

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Chevy Volt hate comes on strong, but Bob Lutz strikes back hard— Autoblog Green

2011 Chevy Volt– Click above for high-res image gallery

Is there any car out there that draws more political fire than theChevy Volt? Sure, people rag on theNissan Leaffor its limited range and on a bunch of cars– theMurano CrossCabriolet, theAcuraZDX, theJuke– for their styling, but the Volt really seems to have a special ability to get people's claws out. It's almost like they'veforgotten all abouttheToyota Prius. The main issues are the alternative powertrain and the political effects of the feds bailing outGeneral Motorsand issuing plug-in vehicle rebates.

Take, for example, a recent article onRed Statetitled,"The Chevy Volt: designed for Democratic bureaucrats."Writer Moe Lane attacks the car for being"a glorified hybrid,"saying that"the effective gas mileage is somewhere around 27 mpg."That's almost a reasonable argument, especially when compared to some of the vitriol directed at the Volt from people likeRush Limbaugh. Whatever the politicians say, at least one retired member of the U.S. Navy, Vice Admiral Dennis McGinn, is willing to go out on a limb and say:"'Clean' Cars are Patriotic."Still, over onHot Air, the reasoning goes:

Feel like buying a Chevy Volt? Probably not, thanks to the steep price tag; the car retails north of $40,000, a high price for a subcompact four-seater. What you may not know is that you're already buying Volts, thanks to {the $7,500} tax credit.

Enter our old friend Bob Lutz, who has a new book coming out on June 9. Titled"Car Guys vs Bean Counters: The Battle for the Soul of American Business,"the book"puts the Volt birthers and their tinfoil-hat-wearing fellow travelers in their place,"writesMotor Trend. MT also quotes Lutz as writing:

Animosity towards the Obama administration is so intense among the right-wing talk-show hosts that any vulnerability, however tenuous, must be attacked and blamed on 'socialist influence', with no regard to truth or to the damage these reckless claims can make to GM, an American corporation, to the dedicated and hard-driving members of the Volt team, and to a now-misinformed public that may be steered away from a transportation solution that would fill their needs perfectly.

Apparently, Lutz doesn't spare those on the left of the political spectrum, but he's really peeved at the right-wing bloviators:"To all the doubters, opponents, critics and skeptics... {including} Glenn Beck, I say: 'Eat your hearts out. Volt is the future'."

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J.D. Power: Outlook for"green"vehicles to remain limited in foreseeable future— Autoblog Green

BMW EfficientDynamics i8 supercar in Abu Dhabi

Growth of the green vehicle segment will be limited by costs and functionality, according to J.D. Power and Associates'"2011 US Green Automotive Study."With a rapid increase in the number of vehicles that feature alternative powertrains, automakers will be vying over a limited amount of consumers who are willing to pay a premium to"drive green,"according to the report.

J.D. Powers' study examines the attitudes of U.S. consumers toward four alternative powertrain technologies: hybrid; clean diesel; plug-in hybrid; and battery electric vehicles. The study tried to gauge consumer consideration rates for these types of vehicles and, according to the report, the percentage of those surveyed who either"probably would"or"definitely would"consider each of the four powertrains when buying their next automobile breaks down like this:

• Hybrid electric vehicles: 51 percent
• Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles: 37 percent
• Diesel-engined vehicles: 31 percent
• Battery electric vehicles: 26 percent

By the end of 2016, a whopping 159 hybrid and electric vehicle models will be available for purchase in the U.S., says J.D. Power. However, the report suggests that hybrid and electric vehicles will still account for less than 10 percent of the U.S.' total automotive sales through 2016.

Executive director of global vehicle research at J.D. Power and Associates, Mike VanNieuwkuyk, sums up what's likely to hold back the adoption of"green"vehicles, stating:

Hybrid electric vehicles have been available in the automotive market for more than 10 years, and consumer awareness and understanding of them has grown during that time. As concerns about the functionality and performance of hybrid vehicles have abated, vehicle price has become more prevalent as the primary purchase impediment. Without a tax credit to offset the price premium, consumers must absorb all of this additional cost. Furthermore, aggressive government subsidies are unlikely to be sustainable over the long term. Ultimately, the true cost of the technology needs to come down substantially.

Recapping that wordy quote: it's a vehicle's price tag that will either lure buyers in or drive them away. Sounds familiar.

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In most U.S. markets, arrival of plug-in vehicles still months (years?) away— Autoblog Green

Ford Focus Electric– Click above for high-res image gallery

The number of plug-in vehicles rolling out of dealer showrooms and down U.S. streets every month will soon number in the thousands. Yet, for the vast majority of residents of this country, fulfilling the dream of owning aChevrolet Volt,Nissan Leaf,Ford Focus Electricor most any other plug-in is still months– perhaps even years– away. Take, for example, Tampa Bay, FL. In early April, theTampa Tribunereported on the plug-in autos available in Florida's third largest city. Here's a breakdown of the newspaper's report.

Nissan Leaf: Florida dealers likely won't have any Leafs for nearly a year, asNissanis currently only delivering the electric hatchbacks to the early rollout states of California, Oregon, Arizona, Washington State, Tennessee, Texas and Hawaii.

Chevrolet Volt:General Motorssays that Florida dealers might receive Volts this fall, but realistically, bulk deliveries to Florida will likely begin in early 2012.

Ford Focus Electric:– The electrifiedFocus is headed to 19 markets in late 2011and Orlando, FL is on the list. Tampa is not.

Tesla Motors: The electric automaker operates a store in Miami, FL that currently sells the $100,000-plusRoadster. Miami is nearly 300 miles south of Tampa.

Fisker Automotive: Tampa-based Elder Automotive Group is currently taking deposits for the$95,900-plusFisker Karma. Deliveries should commence in June.

Suncoast Electric Vehiclesin St. Petersburg, FL is selling the low-speed Wheego Whip and the first highway-capable$32,995 Wheego LiFewasdelivered on Earth Day.

So, unless Tampa residents have deep pockets and can afford to buy a Roadster, they'll most likely have to wait to own a plug-in car. Is Tampa's situation significantly different from your city or town? Let us hear about it by dropping a note in the comment below.

Gallery:Ford Focus Electric

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Unmodified Nissan Leaf entered in Pikes Peak Hill Climb {w/videos}— Autoblog Green

2011 Nissan Leaf– Click above for high-res image gallery

"With electric automobiles popping up like dandelions across the landscape of American driving, it's no surprise that they will be part of the field at the 89th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 26."

So says the press release you'll find waiting for your prying eyes after the break. While it's true that we're not exactly surprised that an electric car will make its way up to the top of the historic hill– there was, after all, a dedicated electric vehicle class for 2010– we are a little curious whether a completely stockNissan Leafhas any chance of dethroningcurrent EV Hill Climb record holder Ikuo Hanawa of Japan.

Certainly, driverChad Hordknows what he's doing, as he currently pilots an off-road racing truck in the TORC series. In any case, we'll find out soon enough if the Leaf's 110 horsepower and 90-mile-per-hour top speed has the stuff to hang with the purpose-built EV racers; Hanawa will again contest the championship in his Concept two-wheel drive 2010 Custom Summit HER-02.

Oh, and about that dandelion thing... those are generally unwanted guests of those who actually care about keeping a lush carpet of green in their yards. Maybe not the way lovers of automotive greenery want to think of their rides, eh? Check out the complete press releaseafter the breakfor all the details, and spend a few minutes watching Hanawa's record-setting HER-02 do its thing on the Peak.

Gallery:2010 Nissan LEAF

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Is the VW Bora (Jetta) Protect the world's most fuel-efficient armored sedan?— Autoblog Green

TheVolkswagenBora Protect could possibly be the world's most fuel-efficient, factory-built armored sedan. Powered by the automaker's turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and paired to VW's six-speed dual-clutch gearbox, the Protect version of the Bora (called theJettain the U.S.) has all the makings of a fuel-efficient four-door, but hundreds of pounds of tank-like armor probably increases its appetite for gasoline rather dramatically.

The bullet-blocking Bora features Kevlar and Aramid mats in the door panels, bullet-resistant polycarbonate windows and run-flat rubber to make shooting out the tires a real challenge. The $70,000 (U.S.) Bora Protect is designed to keep drivers and occupants safe in Mexico, as that's where the armored Bora is sold. Why Mexico? Well, um, that's open to opinion. However, we'd venture to guess that the Bora Protect is often used to safely carve through streets ravaged by theMexican Drug War.

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API: U.S. demand for gas surges in March— Autoblog Green

Steadily rising fuel costs during the first three months of 2011 have had virtually no impact on total U.S. petroleum deliveries, says the American Petroleum Institute (API). First-quarter deliveries rose by 5.5 percent, compared to the same period in 2010. For March, deliveries surged by 7.3 percent over the same month in 2010, hitting a whopping 20.5 million barrels per day. API chief economist John Felmy said in a statement that the culprit here is the rebounding economy:

Strong deliveries continue to indicate growth in the economy. The increase is consistent with expansion in the manufacturing sector reported by the government, although that was relatively modest. The increase is especially significant given the potentially depressing effect of rising prices on fuel demand and amid some prognostications that forward growth in the economy may be more modest than hoped.

The petroleum increase made its way to our pumps. During the first quarter of 2011, gasoline deliveries jumped by 4.1 percent, compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, U.S. refinery production of gasoline rose by 4.9 percent in March, compared to February, leading to record highs in both the month of March and the first quarter of 2011.

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Video: dAlH2Orean, the aluminum can-powered RC car— Autoblog Green

dAlH2Orean aluminum powered R/C car - Click above to watch videoafter the jump

If you're having a hard time pronouncing this new R/C car's name, thinkBack to the Future. A two-man professor and student team created the dAlH2Orean, pronounced, yes,"delorean,"as an homage to the classic film. According to the creators,professorXavier Salueña and studentAleix Llovet, this is the first R/C car to run on aluminum sodacan rings and sodium hydroxide. It's not a Mr. Fusion, but it is one step closer than we had before.

How does it work? When combined with water, aluminum reacts with sodium hydroxide and gives off hydrogen. The hydrogen then passes through a vinegar filter which removes traces of hydroxides. A second filter containing silica gel removes moisture from the hydrogen which then goes into a fuel-cell stack to generate electricity. This electricity is then used to power a small electric motor.

The dAlH2Orean has a top speed of 30km/h (18.6mph) and can run for a very respectable 40 minutes on one tank. This R/C car is only part of a larger project dubbed 'Alumini' where the creators hope to build a 5-60 hp microcar using this technology. We highly recommend you check out the video of this R/C car in actionafter the break.

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Countdown to Earth Day: Regenerative braking 102— Autoblog Green

When isregenerative brakingnot regenerative braking? Pretty much all the time, it turns out.

Take theToyota Prius, which has what's called blended braking, which implies that both the friction brake (which all standard cars use to slow down) and the motor work together to reduce speed. In reality, though, you don't often use the friction brake in a Prius. Instead, the computer controlling this process is saying"we're still below my maximum friction brake threshold. I'm going to increase the regenerative effort to match the same level you're feeling on the pedal. As soon as you exceed that threshold, you want to stop faster than I can regenerate power, now I'm going to apply the friction brakes."Thus, any energy (heat) generated by the Prius' friction brakes does not go into the battery pack. (More details availablehere.)

That's how Sheldon Brown, executive program manager for the Toyota Technical Center, explained things to AutoblogGreen recently. We were talking about the prototype version of theRAV4 EV, which has some pretty serious brake grab when you release your foot from the accelerator. It doesn't feel anything like driving a Prius, and Brown said this was done entirely on purpose.

Continue reading Regenerative braking 102...

Gallery:Toyota RAV4 EV: Quick Spin

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How Ford's use of Ecolon has cut its oil consumption by 430,000 gallons— Autoblog Green

Did you know the carpet underfoot in homes often ends up in strange places? Well, thanks toFord's drive to use sustainable materials in its vehicles, some old carpet is landing in an usual spot– the cylinder head covers on vehicles like theMustang,Fusion,F-150andEscape.

Wellman Engineering Resins' EcoLon material, a nylon resin made from 100 percent recycled carpet, makes its way over to automotive supplier Dana for injection into molds to make the cylinder head covers for Ford. In order to repurpose the nylon, Wellman grinds used carpeting into fiber and recaptures the material through a patented process.

Ford's use of EcoLon has, according to the automaker, saved more than 4.1 million pounds of carpet from piling up at landfills and has slashed its consumption of oil by 430,000 gallons. The cylinder head covers are but one example of Ford's use of eco-friendly materials in its vehicles. Other products includesoy-foam seats,recycled yarns on seat coversanddiscarded blue jeans for sound-dampening material

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LA, China team up for plug-in car data sharing— Autoblog Green

At the beginning of this year, Los Angeles and Shanghai became part of an electric vehicle data sharing agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy and China's Ministry of Science and Technology. The information to be shared is related to electric vehicle (EV) usage such as where drivers take their vehicles and what their charging patterns are. The goal of the partnership is to grow the EV industries in both countries.

The EV Project, run by San Francisco-based ECOtality using grant money from the DOE, will be the source of the data the U.S. will share with China. The EV Project will be monitoring 15,000 chargers scattered throughout 18 cities (including Los Angeles) in both public places and the garages ofLeafandVoltowners who have agreed to the confidential data collection. Colin Read, an ECOtality VP, told Alysha Webb of ofPlugin Cars,"If we can share lessons learned and key takeaways, that is the type of information we want to make public so this can take off on a worldwide basis."The DOE will publish on its website a summary of the EV Project's results.

The U.S. has a big head start over China by having two high-volume electrics for sale now, while China is currently seeingdismal EV sales. This could make it difficult (at least initially) to ensure there is a balance in the data sharing and both countries benefit equally in the partnership.

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Report: Think facing financial diffuclties; Valmet halts production of City EV— Autoblog Green

Think City EV– Click above for high-res image gallery

Withtwo smallrecallsin recent months anda long history of financial trouble, it probably shouldn't surprise us that the Norwegian electric car companyThinkis in trouble again. A year after Norwegian electric automakerThinksecured substantial investments, it's reportedly facing financial issues again, writes the Norwegian business newspaper,Finansavisen. Production of the electric Think has apparently been halted atValmet Automotivein Finland and 35 employees were let go over the last couple of weeks. James Andrew of Think Europe says that,"It is true that production is temporarily halted,"but claims that the stoppage is due to"imbalances in the sharing"of Valmet Automotive's production capacity. A U.S. spokesperson told AutoblogGreen (read the full statement after the jump):

We have asked Valmet to temporarily stop production in Finland, while we rebalance our parts inventory in Europe. The stoppage in Finland has had little effect on our U.S. business. We have continued to receive gliders from Finland, and are continuing to ship vehicles to customers.

TheFinansavisensays that a shortage in parts for the Think City is only half the problem. The Norwegian newspaper claims that the automaker's funds are running dry. Luis Salem, Think's vice president of global marketing, responded to the paper's claims, stating,"With regard to the economic situation we are in a startup phase, and we are always looking for new financial sources."With competition in the plug-in vehicle segment heating up, 2011 sales of the Think City have reportedly reached only 60 units in Norway.

Gallery:Think City in Detroit

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With pump prices soaring, Moody's upgrades outlook of oil/gas sector to"positive"— Autoblog Green

Moody's Investors Services, a credit rating agency that performs international financial research and analysis on commercial and government entities, has boosted its outlook for the global integrated oil and gas sectors from"stable"to"positive."In a report released on April 5th, the credit rating agency cited the idea that soaring oil prices will"remain strong well into 2012"as one of the factors that contributed to the ratings change. Moody's report states:

The recent spread of political unrest across the Middle East and North Africa has pushed crude prices even higher, as markets started incorporating a higher political-risk premium, which is unlikely to unwind in the short term.

Soaring prices have spawneda drilling boomand the number of oil rigs in North America has reached the highest level in nearly 25 years, according to Moody's. With pump pricesexceeding $4 per gallon in some parts of the U.S.(andeven more elsewhere), Moody's says that consumer restraint could curtail oil demand, but adds that"we see little risk of this becoming significant over the near term."

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FEV to show ultra-efficient, Euro 6-compliant 1.6-liter diesel engine at SAE World Congress— Autoblog Green

Advanced powertrain developerFEV, Inc., will show off its High Efficiency Combustion System (HECS) diesel engine at the 2011SAE World Congress. The HECS engine features advanced and conventional technologies to achieve low CO2 emissions and a 17-percent reduction in fuel consumption, while meeting Euro 6 emissions standards without an exhaust gas aftertreatment system.

FEV's second-generation HECS system has been adapted to a downsized 1.6L four-cylinder diesel engine. It's designed to offer specific power output of more than 100 kW/L (136 horsepower per liter). To achieve this level of power, FEV engineers designed a cylinder head that incorporates a unique variable valve lift system and equipped the engine with two-stage turbocharging. FEV's HECS system supposedly improves the gas exchange and significantly lowers charge temperatures, which leads to leaner air-fuel ratios and"ultra-low"CO2 emissions.

FEV's HECS diesel engine will be on display from April 12–14 at the Cobo Center in Detroit, MI.

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First details on Audi's ActiveE-fighting A3 e-tron— Autoblog Green

Audi A3 e-tron– Click above for high-res image gallery

Audiis ready to take itse-tronvehicle strategy on the road, and one of its first all-electric offerings will come in the form of theA3.

Based on Audi's entry-level hatchback, the A3 e-tron packs an electric motor under the hood which sends power from the rear- and mid-mounted battery packs to the front wheels. Output is rated at 100 kW (just over 130 horsepower) and 199 pound-feet of torque, with the 26.5 kWh lithium-ion batteries providing a range of around 90 miles. The electric A3's performance figures to be far from enthralling, requiring 11 seconds to hit 60 mph and topping out at just 90 mph, but with a 400-volt rapid charger, getting juiced up can take as little as four hours– or as long as nine with a standard 110-volt outlet.

Other modifications include a new gauge cluster, a low consumption HVAC system and a heated windshield, but when the A3 e-tron is set to hit the market is still up in the air. TheR8-based flaghipwill supposedly go on sale sometime in 2013, but if Audi wants to get in on the EV action sooner– much likeBMWis doing with itsActiveE 1 Series– the A3 could be a worthy stop-gap until in the interim.

Gallery:Audi A3 etron

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