As Treehugger reported, Volkswagen plans to sell 300,000 electric vehicles a year by 2018, which would translate to 3% of all sales. VW’s hybrid ambitions could lead it to overtake Toyota as the world’s largest automaker within eight years.

Key details of Volkswagen’s strategy include introducing the company’s first hybrid electric vehicle the Toureg 2010, and in 2013 three EVs, likely to be versions of the Jetta, Golf, and the Up. Here’s Treehugger:

“A notable aspect of VW’s approach is that it’s banking on offering the EV as an option on already available and recognizable models as it has done with TDI diesel options. Instead of developing all new models to channel new tech into, as with, say, the Prius or Volt, VW seems intent on phasing new tech into an already familiar cars…”

But some bigger questions remain, namely in VW’s ambitious growth projections. Even though sales of hybrids have been rising and governments are beginning to offer incentives in their production and purchase, the New York Times reports that billions are needed by automakers to invest in what is still an uncertain future and technology. Ironic but maybe true, the NYT suggests:

“The best thing that could happen to electric-car development might be a recovery in the market for conventional gasoline and diesel autos. That would give the big car makers more money to invest in research.”

text taken from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/02/volkswagen-electric-vehic_n_482557.html

Best Buy parking lots are ideal for EV charging. (Flickr/NCReedplayer)

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• Invest in clean, renewable energy:

  To achieve our goal of generating 25 percent of our energy from renewable sources by 2025, we will make unprecedented investments in clean, renewable energy – solar, wind, biofuels, and geothermal power.

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text taken from : http://www.barackobama.com/issues/newenergy/index.php

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SAN JOSE, California (AFP) – Stealth start-up Bloom Energy on Wednesday publicly unveiled an innovative fuel cell that promises to deliver affordable, clean energy to even remote corners of the world.

Compact Bloom Servers built with energy cells made from silicon — a plentiful element found in sand — made their formal debut in an eBay building here partially powered by the energy source.

“Bloom fuel cell technology has the potential to revolutionize the energy industry,” California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said while introducing Bloom founder K.R. Sridhar.

“He is someone shaping the future of energy not just for California but for the world,” Schwarzenegger said.

A high-powered audience gathered for the event included Google co-founder Larry Page, eBay chief executive John Donahoe and former US secretaries of state George Shultz and Colin Powell.

“The core of our technology simply is sand,” Sridhar said pulling a black cloth off a clear glass container of sand and then holding up a greeting-card sized cell made from the material.

“It is available in plenty… and it has the scientific property that enabled us to make a fuel cell,” he said.

Fuel cell technology dates back to the mid 1800s, but Bloom eliminated the need for expensive metals such as platinum.

Bloom servers work with a variety of fuels, meaning users can freely switch to whatever is locally available or most affordable, according to Sridhar.

“Basically, if it has a hydrogen or a carbon in it, or both, the cell is capable of using it as fuel,” Bloom marketing vice president Stu Aaron told AFP.

“We have run it in the lab on vodka, although we don’t recommend that. There are better uses for vodka.”

The fuel cells use electrochemical reactions instead of combustion. Liquid or gas fuels go into the cell and electricity comes out, according to Aaron.

Fuel and air pass over opposite sides of cells, which trigger oxygen ions to combine with the fuel to produce electricity, heat, water and an oxide based on the chemicals in the mix.

In the case of natural gas, propane or bio-gases with hydrogen, the oxide by-product is water. The cells reuse heat and water to sustain the process.

If the cells were operating on oil, gasified coal or other fossil fuels a byproduct would be carbon dioxide, but in amounts two-thirds less than given off by burning, according to Bloom.

“In Africa it could be ethanol from switch grass; in California it could be cow manure,” Aaron said. “The beauty of the technology is that it can be deployed anywhere and use the local resources that are most economical and clean.”

The servers, nicknamed “Bloom boxes,” have been secretly tested by a group of major corporations including eBay, Wal-Mart, and Coca Cola.

Google was Bloom’s first customer, buying four servers that it installed at its campus in Mountain View, California.

“I’m a big supporter of this,” Page said during an on-stage chat with renowned Silicon Valley venture capitalist John Doerr of Kleiner Perkins Caulfield & Byers, a major backer of Bloom.

“I’d love to see us have a whole data center running on this at some point when they are ready,” Page said.

Bloom servers capable of pumping out 100 kilowatts of electricity each cost 700,000 to 800,000 dollars but the price is expected to plummet as production ramps up and efficiencies of scale are achieved.

Sridhar predicted it will take about a decade for the technology to get to the point where it can be used in homes.

He hefted a brick-sized fuel cell in one hand, saying it could power a standard light bulb but will soon be able to satisfy the electricity needs of a typical US home.

Electricity generated by Bloom servers — refrigerator-sized metal boxes housing stacks of fuel cells — costs about nine cents per kilowatt/hour as opposed to the 14 or 15 cents typically charged here by utilities.

The cost of the servers is recovered in three to five years by energy savings, according to Sridhar. The servers are guaranteed for 10 years. Sridhar would not disclose the lifespans of the fuel cells.

Colin Powell, a Bloom board member and retired general, said the servers could be a boon to the military, which has grown increasingly energy-dependent as technology infuses the tools of war.

“This is a breakthrough,” Powell said. “Sooner or later it is going to be in homes all across America. Think what it will ultimately do for humankind.”

Text provided by: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100225/ts_alt_afp/usitcompanyinternetenergybloom

Honda Motor Co. on Thursday rolled out the CR-Z, the world’s first hybrid sports car.

Environmental sport: Honda Motor Co. President Takanobu Ito unveils the world’s first hybrid sports car, the CR-Z, at a news conference in Tokyo on Thursday. KYODO PHOTO

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The car, which will hit domestic showrooms Friday ahead of its global launch, comes with an electric motor equivalent to 1.5 liters and a 2.0-liter gasoline engine for acceleration. Its fuel efficiency is rated at 25 km per liter, compared with about 12 for similar gas-powered Honda models.

Honda said its domestic sales target for the CR-Z is 1,000 units per month, and that prices will start at ¥2.268 million for the four-seater and ¥2.498 million for the upgraded model.

The new hybrid will also be eligible for the government’s “green car” tax breaks.

President Takanobu Ito said at a press event in Tokyo that he hopes Honda’s latest offering will attract more people to the pleasures of driving.

Noting the global importance of promoting the expansion of hybrid cars, Ito said he believes the CR-Z hybrid will “exceed customers’ expectations” because it is fun to drive and environment-friendly.

text from  http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nb20100226a4.html

BMW Megacity

BMW is working on a small electric car that could launch in 2012. The Megacity is a low-slung three-door four-seat hatchback coupe. The car is smaller than the Honda Fit, and will have a projected range of 100 miles. The BMW Megacity, which could be sold either as a BMW or Mini, is not much more than a concept at this stage, but pressure on BMW to meet California’s zero emissions vehicle requirements might bring the car to life—albeit in small numbers.

text from  http://www.hybridcars.com/electric-car

Nissan is calling its new electric car—the Nissan Leaf—the “world’s first affordable, zero-emission car.” And they could be right.

Unveiled on Aug. 2, 2009, the Leaf is a medium-size all-electric hatchback that seats five adults and has a range of 100 miles. Pricing was not announced (although the company previously hinted at a price around $30,000.) Nissan’s press release offered a few additional details:

• The Nissan Leaf will go on sale in late 2010.
• Nissan Leaf is powered by laminated compact lithium-ion batteries, which generate power output of over 90kW, while its electric motor delivers 80kW/280Nm.
• Driving range is expected to be 100 miles between full charges. Nissan Leaf can be charged up to 80 percent of its full capacity in just under 30 minutes with a quick charger. Charging at home through a 200V outlet is estimated to take approximately eight hours.
• Nissan Leaf’s frontal styling is characterized by a sharp, upright V-shaped design featuring long, up-slanting light-emitting diode (LED) headlights that employ a blue internal reflective design. The headlights are designed to cleverly split and redirect airflow away from the door mirrors, thus reducing wind noise and drag. And, the headlights consume just 10 percent of the electricity of conventional lamps.
• Nissan Leaf employs an exclusive advanced IT system. Connected to a global data center, the system can provide support, information, and entertainment for drivers 24 hours a day. The dash-mounted monitor displays Nissan Leaf’s remaining power – or “reachable area” – in addition to showing a selection of nearby charging stations. Another state-of-the-art feature is the ability to use mobile phones to turn on air-conditioning and set charging functions – even when Nissan LEAF is powered down. An on-board remote-controlled timer can also be pre-programmed to recharge batteries.

Reaction

Nissan’s unveiling of the Leaf, while short on details, was enough to give a jolt to green car fans on the web. No longer an amorphous concept, Nissan’s electric car can now be stacked up against other plug-in cars and hybrids for its look and feel, features, and likely cost. The reviews from the blogosphere—usually an irreverent crowd—were mixed.

The Nissan Leaf’s closest comparable future all-electric car is the Ford Focus EV. The two vehicles are remarkably similar in size and capabilities. Both vehicles are expected to offer 100 miles in driving range. The Nissan Leaf’s lithium ion battery pack has a capacity of 24 kilowatt hours, while the Focus EV holds 23 kilowatt hours of energy. Both vehicles will carry five passengers and measure 175 inches in length, while the Nissan Leaf has a longer wheelbase by about three inches.

Although the Nissan Leaf, due in late 2010, is expected to beat the Ford Focus EV to the market by about one year, it’s likely that the Leaf’s first customers will predominantly be fleets. In other words, the two vehicles will become available roughly in the same timeframe. Official pricing has not been released for either vehicle, but both are expected in the $30,000 range.

The distinguishing characteristic could be design—pitting the established look of the Ford Focus against the purpose-built Nissan Leaf. (Ford has not confirmed if the Focus EV will differ from the conventional Focus.) When we spoke last November with Mark Perry, Nissan’s director of product planning, he said, “We want to make sure [the design] is iconic, as something different, unique and futuristic. But not in a Blade Runner, George Jetson kind of way.” That was not the impression many blog commenters had.

Richard S posted this comment on HybridCars.com: “Pretty ugly. If the Focus EV looks anything close to the current Focus, then Nissan’s gonna have a rough time.” An anonymous visitor wrote: “This thing looks like something that came out of a cleaning lab. Kind of makes me think this thing is going to start selling me cleaning products.”

Comments from other sites offered a number of colorful descriptions, including “the offspring of a Smurf and a the Pillsbury Dough Boy,” and “a Nissan Murano meets a catfish,” and “what would happen if a Mazda3 and a Toyota Matrix had a baby.”

Sean, posting on AutoBlog.com, explained the Prius-like front slope by writing, “I personally like the design, the front is the aerodynamic shape but the back end is more unique, not the typical teardrop.” Writing on GM-Volt.com, a fan site dedicated to the Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid, Don C wrote: “The design seems pleasant enough. I like it subjectively. Plus the design more or less tells you what the car is. It says ‘I’m a little guy with cool tech suitable for driving locally’.” Don C believes would be a mistake to make the car look “like a super car.”

Competition

The Nissan Leaf will be arriving almost exactly when the Chevy Volt is introduced in late 2010—although it appears that the Volt will be priced $10,000 or more above the Nissan Leaf and Ford Focus EV. Although more expensive, the Chevy Volt is a plug-in hybrid offering a driving range equal of beyond most gas-powered cars, while the Nissan Leaf, Ford Focus EV, and other electric cars will be limited to approximately 100 miles in range. The new plug-in cars will also be competing against conventional hybrids, like the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight, which are priced in the low- to mid-$20,000s. Toyota and Honda are both expected to introduce compact or sub-compact hybrids that could be priced even lower.

When all these choices become available, consumers interested in cutting-edge fuel-efficient technologies will have to make sense of the new automotive landscape—balancing considerations for driving range, price, fuel efficiency, drivetrain technologies, and design.

Additional information about the Nissan Leaf is available at http://www.nissan-zeroemission.com.

Text provided by: http://www.hybridcars.com/vehicle/nissan-leaf.html