Plug-In Hybrid Development Consortium

Consortium Member A123 to Supply Li Ion Batteries for Volt

2007-06-07T15:33:00.000-06:00

GM awards two contracts to supply Lithium Ion batteries for the new Chevy Volt. One contract goes to A123 Systems partnered with Continental Automotive Systems and the other to Compact Power Inc (CPI). The two companies are acting as the battery systems integrators for this program. Continental will be using lithium ion cells provided by A123 Systems while Compact Power is using LG Chem cells. CPI is the North American subsidiary of South Korea’s LG Chem. During the course of the one year contracts the two integrators will supplying complete energy storage systems including thermal and charge management for the production development of vehicles based on the new E-Flex platform that is the basis of the Volt. Read Article

New York Taxis Going Hybrid

2007-05-23T07:07:00.000-06:00

New York City's fleet of yellow cabs will be entirely hybrid within five years, and all of its vehicles for hire will be required to meet new emissions and mileage standards by next year, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced today.
Today, there are just 375 fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles among the 13,000 taxis rolling on city streets. That number will increase to 1,000 by October 2008 and will grow by about 20 percent each year until 2012, when every yellow cab will be a hybrid.
Read article

Chevrolet Volt production model coming in 2010

2007-05-09T17:30:00.000-06:00

GM has set the target date for the production of an all-electric plug-in hybrid car for 2010, said Bob Lutz, Vice Chairman,GM yesterday at the Geneva Motor Show. It was reported in early February that GM will get some help from it’s European division, Opel, to help build a production version of the Chevrolet Volt.

Lutz stated one of the major obstacles faceing the production of the Chevrolet Volt was whether lithium-ion batteries can be developed to power it. But now he’s saying that working production version of the Volt concept will be ready by the end of 2007.
Source: Reuters [tags]Cars, Car, Auto, Automobile, Vehicles, Technology, Auto News, News, GM, Chevrolet, hybrid

EPA Approves California's Zero Emissions Vehicle Program Setting Stage for Plug-Ins

2007-04-22T20:42:00.000-06:00

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has allowed California's Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) regulations to take effect by approving a waiver in late December. Under the Clean Air Act, California is the only state allowed to set regulations for automobile emissions that are more restrictive than federal law, but other states are allowed to adopt the California regulations. Those vehicles will be powered by fuel cells or batteries, but the ZEV regulations also emphasize near-zero-emissions technologies, including hybrid electric vehicles and Partial Zero Emissions Vehicles (PZEVs). See Article. Read CARB Press Release

GM Pledges Commitment to Energy Diversity with E-Flex Family

2007-04-22T20:03:00.000-06:00

According to General Motors Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner, the company's multi-tiered energy diversity strategy includes accelerated development of electrically driven vehicles, intensified efforts to replace petroleum-based fuels, and enchanced efficiency of gasoline and diesel powertrains. Download Article ->GM_eFlex.pdf

Commute to Work All Week without a Drop of Gas with Chevy Volt "Plug-In"

2007-04-12T10:39:00.000-06:00

Introducing a new kind of electric vehicle — Chevy Volt (a plug-in concept car). It’s unlike any previous EV (electric vehicle) or hybrid vehicle, thanks to its innovative rechargeable electric drive system and range-extending onboard generator. It can be configured to run on electricity, gasoline, E85 or biodiesel.
Read More

Chevy Volt Plug-in Featured on NPR's Science Friday with Ira Flatow

2007-04-12T11:55:00.000-06:00

GM's environmentally-friendly concept cars, including the Chevy Volt--a plug-in concept car that runs on electricity and gas or a gas/ethanol blend
Listen to Radio Story

NPR : Will Green Cars Make It to the Street?

2007-04-12T10:04:00.000-06:00

NPR's Talk of the Nation , January 12, 2007. "This week at the annual cavalcade of cars that is the North American Auto show in the motor city, there were also some green options, including a new electric concept car from GM called the Volt. Bill Moore, editor and publisher of EVWOrld.com, a publication focusing on electric vehicle technology, talks about the viability of the newest electric autos."

GM Aims to Debut a "Volt Style" Car by 2010

2007-03-19T10:45:00.000-06:00

General Motors Corp. hopes to begin producing an all-electric car by 2010 that uses technology unveiled in January in its Chevrolet Volt concept car. Vice Chairman Bob Lutz gives the project a 90% chance of actually happening. But he joins other OEMs in cautioning that success and timing will hinge upon the development of low-cost lithium-ion batteries.
The Volt runs on electricity stored in batteries that could be recharged by an onboard engine-generator, fuel cell or by being plugged into the nation’s power grid.
Source: AutoBeat 3/07/07

Consortium Member A123 Featured in NY Times Article-New Batteries for PHEVs

2007-03-14T10:44:00.000-06:00

A123Systems, a start-up in Watertown, Mass., says it has created a powerful, safe, long-lived battery. If the cell fulfills the ambitions of its maker, that softer sound will be the future of automobiles. read the article in the NY Times .

Consortium Members Awarded PHEV Conversion Contracts

2007-03-12T16:29:00.000-06:00

District directors Friday awarded contracts to Quantum Technologies Inc. of Irvine and Hymotion of Toronto, Canada, to prepare a plug-in test fleet.

Quantum, which also develops hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles and hydrogen storage systems, received $2 million to buy and convert 20 of Ford Motor Co.'s Escape gasoline-electric hybrid SUVs. The Escapes will use batteries from Advanced Lithium Power Inc., a Vancouver, Canada, company in which Quantum is a 20% stakeholder. see article

Chevy's Volt Creates Big Buzz at Auto Show

2007-03-02T11:57:00.000-07:00

The big hybrid buzz from this year's Detroit Auto Show was the Chevy Volt, a series hybrid concept from General Motors. The Volt concept promises all-electric, gas-free driving for 40 miles, extended driving range up to 600 mile, and use of a so-called "eflex" system to allow a full range of fuel sources, including gasoline, hydrogen, and biofuels. The Volt would put much greater emphasis on the electric part of the gas-electric combination than today's hybrid offerings.

The Chevy Volt concept announcement, like GM's recent announcement about producing a plug-in hybrid version of the Saturn Vue Green Line, is earning praise from environmentalists and advocates of electric cars and plug-in hybrids. But some, such as Walter McManus of the University of Michigan, see subterfuge.

I ran into Bob Lutz, GM’s product guru, and asked him about the key questions regarding the Volt. “I think we can get the batteries relatively soon that will demonstrate the proof of concept to where we can put people in the car and demonstrate it to the press and make it do all the things we say it's going to do,” said Lutz.

Likelihood of delivering the Volt: "Let me put it this way, we would not be doing this, if we weren't confident that it could be done." -read full article at HybridCars.com

Consortium Gives Advocacy Award to Japan TV Celebrity

2006-10-24T16:01:00.000-06:00

Yokohama, Japan – Oct , 2006 – The Japan Automobile Research Institute, and the Electric Vehicle Symposium announced today, that Mr. & Mrs Dave Spector will attend the 22nd Electric Vehicle Symposium on October 25, 2006 to receive the Hybrid Consortium’s Hybrid Vehicle Advocacy Award at the opening reception.

Mr. Spector will also attend the Electric Vehicle Symposium’s Ride and Drive event to test drive one of the new hybrid electric cars at 16:30. Following his test drive, the Hybrid Consortium, in association with the Japan Automotive Research Institute (JARI) and the Electric Vehicle Symposium, will present Mr. And Mrs. Spector with the Hybrid Consortium’s Hybrid Vehicle Advocacy Award at the Symposium’s Opening Reception at 18:00.

The Hybrid Vehicle Advocacy Award is presented to outstanding individuals and organizations whose support has a positive impact on Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle development.

Read Press Release

A123 Energizes President Bush with Li-Ion Batteries

2007-02-26T16:28:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON -- President Bush peered under the hood of an all-electric sport utility truck parked at the White House Friday to stress that his goal of reducing gasoline use by 20 percent over the next decade is realistic.

"I firmly believe that the goal I laid out _ that Americans will use 20 percent less gasoline over the next 10 years _ is going to be achieved, and here's living proof of how we're going to get there," Bush said on the South Lawn after examining the SUV and a car that had a battery tucked in its trunk.

The hybrid car that Bush inspected had a high-power lithium-ion battery made by A123 Systems of Watertown, Mass. It can power the car for about 40 miles and recharge in five hours.
Read Full Article from Washington Post

Gore's climate-policy speech today at NYU: a carbon freeze and a carbon tax proposed

2006-09-19T12:47:00.000-06:00

Al Gore took the stage at the New York University Law School early this afternoon to deliver what was billed in press releases as a "major policy address on global warming."

Major it was -- in terms of the media turnout, anyway. There were nearly a half-dozen cameras rolling and most major publications represented.

With the exception of a mention at the outset of new evidence of rapidly melting polar ice caps, this speech was all about solutions -- one of which was the promise of "flex-fuel, plug-in hybrid vehicles," which can run on gasoline, biofuels, and electricity; and a decentralized electricity grid with smaller generators located closer to points of use.

For more details on Gore's vision for climate solutions...

President Bush is preparing an astonishing U-turn on global warming

2006-09-19T12:45:00.000-06:00

President Bush is preparing an astonishing U-turn on global warming,
senior Washington sources say.

After years of trying to sabotage agreements to tackle climate change
he is drawing up plans to control emissions of carbon dioxide and
rapidly boost the use of renewable energy sources.

AES, Global Power Company Joins Plug-In Hybrid Consortium

2006-09-14T12:09:00.000-06:00

Ed Kjaer, co-founder of the Consortium and Director of Electric Transportation, for Southern California Edison welcomes AES. "We are pleased to welcome AES to the Consortium," said Kjaer. "The global strength of AES and the example of their innovative leadership in the power industry are valuable additions to this organization and will help accelerate PHEV development and public support.

Plug-In Hybrid "Sprinter" Van by DaimlerChrysler

2006-08-23T09:28:00.000-06:00

DaimlerChrysler has been working on a Plug-In Hybrid "Sprinter" van for quite a while (see article). This concept makes a lot of sense, because delivery vans frequently circulate around town and are often subject to stop and go traffic. In spring DaimlerChrysler officially announced to be the first car manufacturer to effectively produce Plug-In Hybrids, intended for fleet use (see article). To recharge the batteries overnight, these vehicles are equipped with programmable, compact and lightweight 3.3 kW NLG5 on-board chargers from BRUSA Elektronik AG.

Battery life cycle 8000 DOD 100% or more

2006-08-22T15:40:00.000-06:00

ENAX /Daiken anounced last week that they have been testing their power type battery for the last 2 yeas. It was developped three years ago in year 2003 with Daiken. They have moved 10 tons TRAM in December 2004 using 18KWh battery, and 33 tons train in June 2006 using their 60KWh Power type battey.

According to ENAX, they have tested their Power type battery under 100% DOD for 2000 cycles so far, and it still retains 95% of its original capacity. By calculation, it will retain 80% of its capacity after 100% DOD, 8000 cylcles.

Solomon Sets Hearing for Patent Infringement by Toyota

2006-08-22T11:07:00.000-06:00

TARPON SPRINGS, FL. April 28, 2006 — Solomon Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB:SOLM) announced today that the US International Trade Commission (ITC) has scheduled the hearing on the patent infringement complaint brought by Solomon against Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:TM) , and certain of its affiliates, for October 30 through November 3, 2006. The ITC acts as an administrative investigative body to determine, among other things, whether or not goods imported into the United States infringe U.S. patents. The scheduled hearing at the ITC is roughly equivalent to the fact finding function of a trial in a judicial court. See Article

Bush: U.S. progress on better plug-in hybrids speeds along

2006-08-10T14:30:00.000-06:00

WASHINGTON -- The United States is making good progress on plug-in hybrid battery technology that would allow drivers to travel 40 miles without using any gasoline, President Bush said Thursday.

"We're working on battery technologies," Bush said in Washington at a speech to the National Association of Manufacturers. "They say we're pretty close to a breakthrough in a battery where you can drive the first 40 miles on a battery, and your car doesn't look like a golf cart."

see article

Electro Energy Joins Plug-In Hybrid Development Consortium

2006-07-28T13:17:00.000-06:00

DANBURY, CT--Jul 28, 2006 -- Electro Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:EEEI), a developer and manufacturer of advanced rechargeable batteries, announced today that it has joined the Plug-In Hybrid Development Consortium. Read Press Release

Tesla Motors' Performance Electric Car

2006-08-09T13:14:00.000-06:00

Tesla Motors is set to bring the all-electric Tesla Roadster to market. "The electric-powered Tesla Roadster boasts the equivalent of 135 mpg and a range of 250 miles on a single charge, a combination heretofore unseen in a mass-produced electric vehicle. Its extended range is due to its state-of-the-art lithium-ion Energy Storage System. The Tesla Roadster is capable of accelerating from 0-60 mph in about four seconds." Read the Article at Motor Trend.

Toyota plans plug-in car

2006-07-21T12:20:00.000-06:00

Toyota Motor North America Inc. president Jim Press said Tuesday the Japanese automaker plans to pursue a plug-in hybrid vehicle, touting the long-term potential of gas-electric hybrids on America's highways

U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium Selects Maxwell Technologies to Develop Ultracapacitor-Based Energy Storage Module for Autos

2006-03-09T13:10:00.000-07:00

SAN DIEGO, March 9-- Maxwell Technologies, Inc.
announced today that it has received approval from the United
States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) to commence development of a
compact, low-cost, high-performance, 48-volt ultracapacitor-based electrical
energy storage module for applications in passenger vehicles. Read the Press Release