AutoblogGreen

GM's hybrid transmission plant goes solar

This sounds like it must have been a really easy decision for General Motors: Install a brand new solar array which will provide 1.2-megawatts of power - enough to cut its electricity bill by 20-percent per year beginning in 2009 - for free. We wish somebody would make an offer like that to us. Unfortunately, our homes don't quite have the 300,000 square feet of roof space necessary to hold the 8,700 solar panels. Although the General already has two warehouses with solar roof installations, the White Marsh plant is the first factory to be so equipped. SunEdison will put up the panels and make money by selling the electricity that GM doesn't use.

What's especially cool about this particular story is that the White Mash plant in Maryland is where the Allison transmissions are built, including the 2-Mode unit used in the Chevy Tahoe/GMC Yukon twins, Cadillac Escalade hybrid SUVs and soon for the 2-Mode-equipped hybrid full-size trucks. Also of note is the fact that all the waste heat from the factory is reused and it reached landfill-free status in 2007.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Earlier this year at the Detroit Auto Show, EcoMotors showed off a small diesel powerplant which used the boxer or pancake style of horizontally opposed cylinders. The small company believes that its engine design can provide the power of a much larger engine while retaining the fuel savings of a small one. As always, we make no recommendations on what companies, if any, to invest in. So far, the company has received its funding from Vinod Khosla, a venture capitalist from Silicon Valley. Now, though, EcoMotors has apparently outgrown their surroundings and the seven-person company is in need of more staff, larger offices and a manufacturing facility. For this reason, the company is now hoping to get some tax breaks from the city of Troy in Michigan.

According to recent reports, the small outfit has plans for its diesel engine to power a sedan by 2010 with a goal of reaching 100 miles per gallon. Interestingly, EcoMotors is headed by John Coletti who was once the director of Ford's Special Vehicles Team. Thanks for the tip, Rob!

[Source: Hometown Life]

An eagle-eyed reader was minding his own business when he happened to spot a Volkswagen Scirocco in San Francisco, which is interesting in itself because the revived model is not available in the United States. Even more interesting was the fact that the car prominently displayed a TDI badge on its flanks, meaning that there is an oil-burner underhood. So, what does all of this mean? Probably nothing. As we mentioned when we wrote about a recent Volvo C30 diesel which was spotted in Arizona, many manufacturers, including those originally from Europe, choose to test their fleet of cars in the hot climate of the Southwestern U.S. Note that the Scirocco picture plainly shows that the car is registered with Arizona license plates. So, as much as we would love to see Volkswagen bring its sporty hatchback over to our shores -- and especially with the TDI engine option -- this particular car isn't really proof of such. We can still dream, though. Thanks for the tip, Jerry!

We've been keeping tabs on the Formula Zero racing series since we first heard about it in 2006. Using hydrogen to generate electricity which then powers electric motors to propel these small Formula 1-esque cars around a track, there will be no emissions coming from the vehicles taking part in this race. The first leg of the inaugural 2008 Championship this year will be taking place on August 22 in Rotterdam in The Netherlands. Really, the timing of this event could not possibly be better as the entire world is looking for ways to reduce its oil consumption and even the pinnacle of road racing, Formula 1, is looking to lower its environmental impact.

Six teams are taking part including the U.S.-based team from Lawrence Technical University in Michigan with their Element One and the U.K.- based team from The Imperial College of London. We'll be naturally keeping an eye out for the results. Stay tuned.

[Source: Formula Zero]

Click above for more images of the Trident Iceni

A biodiesel-powered supercar with an all-stainless steel chassis, composite bodywork and beautiful curves? Are we in heaven? Nope, just the UK. We've seen this car before, but Trident Performance Vehicles has upped the ante on eco-friendly supercars with its latest Iceni. Now powered by a Duramax turbo diesel engine with 550 horsepower at 3800 rpm and a gut-wrenching 950 ft-lbs. of torque at just 1800 rpm, the Iceni is reportedly capable of achieving well over 200 miles per hour. No need to go that fast? That's alright, the Iceni is quite the quarter mile king too, launching itself to sixty in just 3.7 seconds and surely tripping the lights at an equally astronomical figure. Fuel mileage is about 57 miles per gallon U.S.

Trident says that any blend of biodiesel is just fine with them and will not void your warranty. Of course, that would assume that you could actually purchase one of these fine specimens, which is currently not the case as the company is currently hoping for some additional funding. If they do make it to market, expect a £75,000 hit to your wallet (that's roughly US$140,000).


[Source: Trident Performance Vehicles]

Click above for more shots of the Homeless Utility Vehicle

Before moving out West, I lived near Detroit -- the car capitol of the United States for sure, but also home to many people without homes. Stephen M. Mills surely noticed this issue as well as he attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. For his final project in school, Mills created what he refers to as a Homeless Utility Vehicle, basically a small shelter on wheels with just enough space to fit a person inside to protect them from the elements. Of course, it gets pretty darn chilly in Michigan in the winter months. Before actually constructing the shelter, Mills went for two weeks without shaving or taking care of his hair, slept for a night in a small trailer and on the floor of his apartment. These experiences influenced the design of his HUV.

The vehicle itself is human powered and is constructed of plywood, black vinyl and clear vinyl. The wheels appear to come from a small cycle or cart. Mills tested the HUV a bit in Ann Arbor and was happy with the results. We wonder if the HUV could incorporate a simple pedal system as this would likely greatly increase its usability and could even allow for use beyond just homeless persons. Comments?


[Sources: The Detroit News, Homeless Vehicle]

Click on the image above to enlarge

When Ford released pictures of the redesigned Ka that will be used in the upcoming action flick Quantum of Solace, the automaker neglected to mention that the car would be powered by hydrogen. From the press release:

The 'Quantum of Solace' Ka is unique with metallic gold paint and an exclusive exterior graphics and interior trim combination.

Yeah, we see the paint and graphics... but take a close look at the pictures of the car, as seen above, which will be driven by actress Olga Kurylenko as she plays Camille, a friend of our good buddy Mr. Bond - James Bond, and you'll notice that the front of the gold-colored Ka is emblazoned with stickers proclaiming that it's running on hydrogen. Interesting, eh? Additionally, on the sides of the vehicle are stickers which say "Greener Planet," whatever that means. Perhaps Ford will come clean (ha ha, get it?) and let us in on what all of this means - or doesn't mean - before the Ka makes its official debut October 2 in Paris.

[Source: Carscoop]

Click above for more images of Top Gear's crashed G-Wiz

Top Gear has never been kind to the G-Wiz, that electric Quadricycle that's only available across the pond in Europe. In this video, Jeremy Clarkson - star of the U.K. Top Gear shows - definitively proves that a table is a better, faster and safer mode of transportation. But, that's not the only time that Top Gear has tested the G-Wiz's safety. In this video, Top Gear tested the electric vehicle's crashworthiness by smashing one head-first into a concrete barrier at 40 miles per hour. Considering that the G-Wiz is not required to meet safety regulations - it is not intended to be driven at high speeds - the results are rather predictable, but a bit scary nonetheless. After the test, it seems that the wrecked G-Wiz EV was ignominiously left for dead at the Top Gear offices in the U.K. Anybody interested in picking up a slightly used, though still currently registered, G-Wiz can check the eBay auction here. Proceeds go to the Children in Need charity.


[Sources: eBay, Top Gear]

Click above for more images of the Aptera Typ1 e

Gasoline prices in the United States are helping push along the development of many new vehicles such as the Volt from General Motors. Such game-changing vehicles as the Volt and the original Toyota Prius demand a huge amount of research and, even more importantly, money before they are able to get out of the most basic of planning stages. What's more, these hybrid or electric vehicles are often sold at a substantial loss for a number of years before they ever are able to turn any sort of profit. It's not surprising, then, that smaller manufacturers such as Aptera and Can-Am are beginning to appear on the scene which look to offer an alternative to run-of-the-mill hybrids by introducing three-wheeled vehicles.

We'll delve a bit into the three-wheelers which are already available and look into what makes them legal - or not - after the break. We'll also discuss what could take place in the near future as Washington takes notice of the three-wheeled trends.

Nearly a year ago, we first laid eyes on a hydrogen-powered moped from the Shanghai Pearl Hydrogen Power Source Technology Company. Although the machine had, um... questionable aesthetics, we were impressed by its 60-mile range at 15 miles per hour and relatively low $2,600 price tag. According to a report on Shanghai Daily, 30 of the hydrogen-fed units have already been exported. By 2011, the Chinese manufacturer hopes to be building 1,000 units per year for sale both in China and abroad. Considering that many electric two-wheelers already cost more than the hydrogen-powered ebike from Shanghai, there could be a real market for these vehicles, though the hydrogen fueling infrastructure is most definitely still in its infancy.

Other brands, such as Suzuki and Intelligent Energy, have plans to introduce hydrogen-powered fuel cell cycles of their own. Both the Crosscage and ENV, though, would surely cost significantly more than their Chinese counterparts.

[Source: Shangai Daily via Faster and Faster]