EV Digest 6538

Topics covered in this issue include:

  1) EVLN(GM is outside its EV comfort zone)
        by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
  2) EVLN(Enova Delivers Hybrid Vans to Verizon)
        by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
  3) EVLN(Prius slams into mini-mart & causes fire)
        by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
  4) EVLN(Youssef's Los Gatos Green vehicle store: nEVs, pEVs & more)
        by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
  5) EVLN(Chinese draft regulations toward EV production)
        by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
  6) EVLN(totally rad Citroen 6wheel Cruise Crosser hybrid)
        by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
  7) EVLN(Hummer nEV, ? 50-mile range ?)
        by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
  8) EVLN(Tesla's li-ion PTC & CID protection)
        by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
  9) EVLN(German Carmakers Hybrid Market Efforts)-Long
        by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
 10) EVLN(Nationss 1st Hybrid School Buses in Florida)
        by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
 11) EVLN(Reva is the highest selling electric car in the world)-long
        by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
 12) EVLN(100MPG Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technology a Reality Now)
        by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(GM is outside its EV comfort zone)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://today.reuters.com/news/articleinvesting.aspx?view=CN&storyID=2007-03-06T120736Z_01_N06417262_RTRIDST_0_AUTOSHOW-GM-VOLT-URGENT.XML&rpc=66&type=qcna
GENEVA, March 6 (Reuters) - General Motors Corp has set a target
for production of an all-electric car in 2010, GM's product chief
and Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said on Tuesday.

Lutz said the major uncertainty facing the Chevrolet Volt, a
concept vehicle GM unveiled in January, was whether lithium-ion
batteries can be developed to power it. A running Volt prototype
is expected by the end of 2007, he said.

"We have set an internal target of production in 2010. Whether we
can make that or not, this is still kind of an unpredictable
program for us," Lutz told reporters on the sidelines of the
Geneva auto show.

He added: "We're sort of outside our comfort zone."

GM detailed its broad plans for the all-electric Volt at the
Detroit auto show, but the world's No. 1 automaker declined then
to disclose a production timeline.
[...]
© Reuters 2007. All rights reserved.
-






Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter

' ____
~/__|o\__
'@----- @'---(=
. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere


 
____________________________________________________________________________________
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--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Enova Delivers Hybrid Vans to Verizon)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://digital50.com/news/items/BW/2001/07/14/20070306005383/enova-delivers-hybrid-vans-to-verizon-north-americas-2nd-largest-fleet-operator.html
Enova Delivers Hybrid Vans to Verizon, North America's 2nd
Largest Fleet Operator

TORRANCE, Calif.-(Business Wire)-March 7, 2007 - Enova Systems,
an early stage production company in an emerging industry and a
leading developer of proprietary electric, hybrid and fuel cell
digital power management systems, announced today it has
designed, integrated and delivered thirteen (13) GMC 2500 service
vans with Enova's unique Post-Transmission Parallel Hybrid Drive
System to Verizon. Verizon owns the 2nd largest vehicle fleet in
North America, estimated at 58,000 vehicles, behind only UPS in
total fleet vehicles in service. Enova fully designed and
integrated its Post-Transmission 120 kW Hybrid Drive system into
the vehicles for use in Verizon's fleet. Verizon formally
announced the project from its Hyattsville, Maryland, work center
on March 6, 2007.

"To work with the nation's 2nd largest fleet owner is a
significant step for our company and the entire hybrid electric
drive system industry. We are pleased that Verizon has
acknowledged us as a leader in the hybrid technology market. Our
Post-Transmission Technology offers Verizon both future
production and retrofit capability and we are excited to begin a
long-term and successful alliance with them," stated Mike Staran,
Enova's Executive Vice President.

Enova's Post-Transmission System is one in which the Electric
Drive System is integrated behind the Transmission and is
designed to be installed as a "drop in," fully integrated turnkey
fashion into an OEM production line, or retrofitted in post
vehicle production in a modular, "as-needed" basis. Enova's
Post-Transmission System has proven to be a non-invasive system
that has required little to no modifications to chassis, body,
Instrument Panel, etc. In addition, the system does not intrude
on, or require any alteration to, the calibration of Engine
Control/Communication systems, thus avoiding any emissions
certification issues. Enova's system monitors but does not impact
anything that exists within the existing engine. The Charge
Sustaining System utilizes relatively small batteries which are
maintained within specified range of State of Charge (SOC) over
the entire drive cycle. Battery charge is maintained by the
on-board equipment and is not normally recharged from the grid
except as needed for cell balancing. Depending on the route, fuel
economy, in miles per gall

Enova's unique Post-Transmission System offers customers a
non-invasive solution to enter the Hybrid Vehicle Market in
either the retrofit or new vehicle segment. The Post-Transmission
System is comprised of a proprietary AC induction electric motor,
controller and energy management system, and is designed and
engineered as a total production ready solution.

About Enova Systems, Inc.
Enova Systems is a leading supplier of efficient, environmentally
friendly digital power components and systems products. The
Company's core competencies are focused on the development and
commercialization of power management and conversion systems for
mobile and stationary applications. Enova applies unique
"enabling technologies" in the areas of alternative energy
propulsion systems for light- and heavy-duty vehicles as well as
power conditioning and management systems for distributed
generation systems. The Company develops, designs and produces
drive systems and related components for electric,
hybrid-electric and fuel cell powered vehicles. For further
information, contact Enova Systems directly, or visit its Web
site at http://www.enovasystems.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements [...]
American Digital Networks, All Rights Reserved 2000-2007

===

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2007/03/07/039391.html

-





Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter

' ____
~/__|o\__
'@----- @'---(=
. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere


 
____________________________________________________________________________________
Finding fabulous fares is fun.  
Let Yahoo! FareChase search your favorite travel sites to find flight and hotel 
bargains.
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--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Prius slams into mini-mart & causes fire)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_030607WABhybridcaraccidentJM.2646476e.html
Hybrid car crashes into Tacoma mini-mart
05:25 PM PST on Tuesday, March 6, 2007  KING5.com Staff

[Miraculous escape for driver, clerk

http://www.king5.com/sharedcontent/VideoPlayer/makeASX.php?title=www.king5.com/ki_030607priuscrash.wmv&adurl=adcontent/king/KeyBankSaveDayIO385704.wmv
Out-of-control Prius slams into mini-mart   March 6th, 2007

A hybrid car going somewhere between 30-60 mph blasted a hole
into the side of a mini-mart store and gas station Tuesday
afternoon, narrowly missing a clerk and sparking a fire. Paul
Aker reports.]

TACOMA, Wash. - A hybrid car going somewhere between 30-60 mph
blasted a hole into the side of a mini-mart store and gas station
Tuesday afternoon, narrowly missing a clerk and sparking a fire.

The accident occurred at the Hosmer Food Store and 76 gas station
in the 8400 block of S. Hosmer.

The driver, Art Robinson of DuPont, told KING 5 News that he just
purchased the used 2005 Toyota Prius this morning only after he
was absolutely sure it was safe to drive. Two different dealers
gave it a clean bill of health - one even certified it.

KING
A 2005 Toyota Prius Hybrid car crashed into a Tacoma mini-mart
and gas station, March 6, 2007.  So what happened next surprised
not only Robinson, but literally rocked the neighborhood.

The car began to act strangely.  He was taking it back to the
dealership when suddenly the car began accelerating even though
he applied the brakes and the emergency brake.

"I could not stop the car.  Because of its design I couldn't
shift into neutral," Robinson said.

"It happened so fast I didn't have time to be scared then,"
Robinson said. "I'm scared now."

The car headed straight for the gas station where Linda Kinard
was putting away groceries.

"There was just an explosion," Kinard said. "To me it sounded
like a bomb and things were just flying all over."

Art Smith was pumping gas when the car went flying by him.

"I was at the gas pump and I heard this 'whooshing' go by me and
the next thing I know, this car's in the building and at first I
was shocked, of course. I didn't know what to think."

When he finally figured out what happened he ran to the
Robinson's side.

"I said you need to get out of there, that's a hybrid car," Smith
said.

The caught on fire. Surveillance video from across the street
shows a huge column of black smoke. That was trouble because
Kinard was stuck behind a counter.

"It was very scary," Kinard said.

Art spotted her and helped her get out ahead of the fire. So
while a new car owner's maiden voyage went down in flames, at
least no one went with it.

"You can replace a car, you can replace a building, you can't
replace a person ever," Smith said, patting Robinson's shoulder
consolingly.

After the fire department put out the fire, they got back too,
saying they were concerned about someone being electrocuted
because of the car's high voltage system and all of the water
they'd poured on the blaze.

They had to call a team of Toyota experts to help them get the
car out of the building.

As for Robinson, he says he's going to try to make the dealership
replace the car.

© 2007 KING-TV
-






Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter

' ____
~/__|o\__
'@----- @'---(=
. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere


 
____________________________________________________________________________________
Bored stiff? Loosen up... 
Download and play hundreds of games for free on Yahoo! Games.
http://games.yahoo.com/games/front

--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Youssef's Los Gatos Green vehicle store: nEVs, pEVs & more)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://origin.mercurynews.com/valley/ci_5371994
Green vehicle store headed for downtown Los Gatos
By Jason Sweeney  MediaNews  03/06/2007 10:35:46 PM PST

Ehab and Heidi Youssef are frustrated with the way the world is
going and want to do something about it. So they've decided to
open a business.

"We want to make electric vehicles and alternative fuel vehicles
widely available and affordable," Ehab Youssef said at the Feb.
28 meeting of the Los Gatos Planning Commission. He was asking
the commission to approve a conditional-use permit that would
allow the couple to open an electric vehicle store in downtown
Los Gatos. The commission unanimously approved the permit.

The store, called Green Vehicles, is set to open at 33 N. Santa
Cruz Ave. Green Vehicles will specialize in the sale of electric
cars, electric scooters, electric bicycles, "flex-fuel" vehicles
that can run on alternative fuels and various solar-powered
products, such as lighting and heating systems. In addition, the
store will host workshops about the benefits of electric
vehicles.

The Youssefs are Los Gatos residents with children in Los Gatos
schools. Ehab Youssef said his wife's decision spawned the idea
to open Green Vehicles. "It evolved from a frustration with
current events," he said. "My wife decided to go out and purchase
an electric car to drive."

That led to the couple deciding to take it one step further. "We
decided to open a business," he said.

Their reasons? The high cost of gasoline, the effects of fossil
fuel emissions on the environment, the war in Iraq and the lack
of education surrounding the availability of alternative
transportation vehicles, Youssef said.  Green Vehicles will offer
customers the opportunity to test-drive three electric vehicles
during store hours. Educational classes and workshops will occur
up to three times a week with a maximum of six students. The
workshops will attempt to educate the community about the harmful
environmental effects of fossil fuels. "We also want to make sure
that the national security threats of dealing with foreign oil
are known to our community," Youssef said.

Youssef said he would offer the classes and workshops free to
customers, but hasn't yet decided if he would charge a fee for
non-customers. "This is really more than a simple car
dealership," he explained. "First and foremost, it's about
education. It's about providing the community with a
transportation mode that allows us to help the environment."

"It's a unique store," Commissioner John Bourgeois said. "I think
it will bring a diversity of retail to the downtown. It is a nice
complement to the Bentley and Lamborghini dealerships on either
end. I think it reflects a growing environmental concern in our
community."

Copyright 2007 San Jose Mercury News

===

http://losgatosobserver.com/los-gatos/Article.php?article_id=0223
Electric Vehicle Store Planned
Planning Commission approves  By Alastair Dallas 03/07/07 6:28a

The Green Vehicles store, planned for 33 N. Santa Cruz Ave.,
received unanimous Planning Commission approval Feb. 28. The
store will sell electric scooters and bikes, flex-fuel vehicles,
and various solar-powered devices in addition to electric cars.

The store is the brainchild of Los Gatans Ehab and Heidi Youssef,
who want to encourage the use of alternative fuels.
-





Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter

' ____
~/__|o\__
'@----- @'---(=
. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere



 
____________________________________________________________________________________
Need Mail bonding?
Go to the Yahoo! Mail Q&A for great tips from Yahoo! Answers users.
http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=list&sid=396546091

--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Chinese draft regulations toward EV production)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://english.people.com.cn/200703/08/eng20070308_355314.html
China to promote "green" autos

The Chinese government will frame regulations on the production
of autos fuelled by alternative energies to encourage research
and produce of environmentally-friendly "green" vehicles.

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) published
on its website on Wednesday a draft regulation on managing the
production of alternative energy vehicles and called for
suggestions and comments.

The term alternative energy vehicles refers to hybrid-electric
vehicles, battery electric vehicles (including vehicles on solar
energy), [...] etc.

The draft regulation defines three levels of alternative energy
auto technology.

Prototypes will only be allowed to operate in approved areas, and
more sophisticated products will be allowed to be produced in
batches for sale in approved areas.

Only the most sophisticated products will enjoy the same
production, sale, and use status as regular autos, the draft
states.

Firms need to obtain permission from the NDRC before beginning
production, and the NDRC will have its say in determining the
level of sophistication of the alternative energy technologies
used, according to the draft.

Conventional auto fuels commonly used in China are gasoline,
diesel oil, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), ethanol
gas, and dimethyl ether (DME).

Source: Xinhua
Copyright by People's Daily Online, all rights reserved

===

http://www.autoindustry.co.uk/news/09-03-07
Chinese Development Commission consults on planned alternative
fuel vehicle regulations   9th March 2007

The Chinese government is to frame new regulations on the
production of alternative fuel vehicles to foster their
successful development domestically. The country’s National
Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) published on its website
on 7 March a draft regulation on managing the production of
alternative energy vehicles and called for suggestions and
comments concerning hybrid-electric vehicles, battery electric
vehicles (including vehicles on solar energy), [...] , etc.

Prototypes will only be allowed to operate in approved areas, and
series production of ‘more sophisticated’ products will be
allowed for sale in approved areas. Only the most ‘sophisticated’
products will enjoy the same production, sale, and use status as
conventional vehicles.

Firms need to obtain permission from the NDRC before beginning
alternative fuel vehicle production, and the NDRC will have its
say in determining the level of sophistication of the alternative
energy technologies used, according to the draft.

Source: Xinhua agency/People’s Daily, 9 March)
-





Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter

' ____
~/__|o\__
'@----- @'---(=
. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere


 
____________________________________________________________________________________
Don't pick lemons.
See all the new 2007 cars at Yahoo! Autos.
http://autos.yahoo.com/new_cars.html 

--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(totally rad Citroen 6wheel Cruise Crosser hybrid)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://cars.ign.com/articles/770/770895p1.html
Citroen Cruise Crosser Concept
The French Outlander gets ready to tackle the Sahara -
hybrid-style.  by Justin Kaehler

March 6, 2007 - Citroen - the company that gave us the
breakdancing C4 transformer - has really dropped the ball with
its latest concept. It's not the design that is lacking anything;
Citroen's latest concept vehicle is a six-wheeled Sahara-crossing
truck from the future, which of course means that it's totally
rad. No, Citroen dropped the ball when it came time to name this
orange beast. We guess that this concept cost Citroen so much
money, the multinational French conglomerate couldn't afford an
English dictionary. At least that's what we think. There's no
other reason that a concept should be saddled with the
bad-even-for-Engrish name of Cruise Crosser.

The unfortunately-named Cruise Crosser was built to allude to
Citroen's past, as the French company was the first to take a
half-track vehicle across the Sahara desert back in 1922. It's
unlikely that this concept will ever see such harsh conditions,
but with its six wheels and three axles, it can probably handle
whatever nature can throw at it.

...Or so we think. We don't know the full details of what 
mechanical bits lie underneath the Cruise Crosser. We do know
that Citroen built this truck in tandem with students from the
Espera Sbarro School. We also know that the Cruise Crosser is
based on Citroen's "luxury SUV", the C-Crosser, which is actually
just a Mitsubishi Outlander with a French nose job.

[
http://carsmedia.ign.com/cars/image/article/770/770895/citroen-cruise-crosser-concept-20070306051011874.jpg
]

As you can well guess, the C-Crosser and Cruise Crosser are
pretty similar from the B-pillar forward. Moving back, you can
also see that the rear hatch was chopped and the back was
extended to turn this French Mitsubishi into a six-wheeled
pick-up. What you can't see is the bed-mounted third row
leather-wrapped seats. Rather than make occupants try to crawl
past the leather-lined second row, Citroen put some side steps
between the back wheels to make it easier for third row
passengers to climb right in.

Again, no exact drivetrain specifics have been given, but Citroen
says that the Cruise Crosser is powered by a hybrid diesel
powerplant. Though not stated explicitly, it sounds as if the
front and second-row wheels (i.e. the "normal" wheels) are
powered by the diesel engine while the rear-most third row gets
electric power. We do know that the electric motors rest under
the "bed" of the Cruise Crosser, and we also know that they "kick
in" when the terrain gets a bit tough. Citroen also says that the
Cruise Crosser can also be driven using this third axle alone,
meaning that it can be driven as a "zero emission" electric
vehicle for short distances.

The Cruise Crosser is one of those concepts that will never make
it to production, but we may see Citroen (and likely Mitsubishi)
take this hybrid concept and apply it to its C-Crosser (and
Outlander). We won't be seeing any six-wheeled vehicles on the
road any time soon, but it's a sure bet that we'll see future
Citroen/Mitsubishi CUVs run a gas-engine front / electric motor
rear-drive set up.

If you want to see the C-Crosser base in person, go out and find
an Outlander and stick a chevron on the front. If you want to see
more of the Cruise Crosser, be sure to check out our Media Page.
-





Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter

' ____
~/__|o\__
'@----- @'---(=
. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere


 
____________________________________________________________________________________
Now that's room service!  Choose from over 150,000 hotels
in 45,000 destinations on Yahoo! Travel to find your fit.
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EVLN(Hummer nEV, ? 50-mile range ?)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.zwire.com/site/tab6.cfm?newsid=18052408&BRD=855&PAG=461&dept_id=515250&rfi=6
Not quite a Hummer ...   03/08/2007

[Photo by Thang T. Nguyen

http://images.zwire.com/local/Z/ZWIRE855/zwire/images/2007/03/story/20070307_184949_2_story.jpg
]

Kirkland is now the owner of a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle
(NEV), a speed-limited battery/electric vehicle (usually 25 miles
per hour) restricted by law to operation on streets with speed
limits not exceeding 35 mph.

The new NEV is a zero emissions vehicle, has a 50-mile range, and
is plugged in overnight to re-charge its batteries at a cost of
about 40 cents per charge.

The NEV will be used by the water division's meter reader who
records data from Kirkland's 11,315 water customers every two
months as well as repairing or replacing meters. The NEV replaces
a traditional gasoline fueled pickup truck.

"We are excited to promote clean air in Kirkland's
neighborhoods," said Daryl Grigsby, Kirkland's Public Works
director, "and a zero emissions NEV is a perfect fit for this
task."

The Kirkland City Council introduced the vehicle via a ribbon
cutting Feb. 6, in front of City Hall.

For additional information contact Daryl Grigsby at
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Copyright © Pacific Publishing Company. All Rights Reserved.
-





Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter

' ____
~/__|o\__
'@----- @'---(=
. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere


 
____________________________________________________________________________________
Food fight? Enjoy some healthy debate 
in the Yahoo! Answers Food & Drink Q&A.
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--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Tesla's li-ion PTC & CID protection)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.edn.com/blog/1470000147/post/430007443.html
Electric car: Tesla's use of PTC and CID protection in its
lithium ion battery pack   Thursday, March 8, 2007

I'm familiar with the Tesla – a high-performance (0-60 in 4 secs)
sportscar that just happens to be an electric vehicle -- from an
article in Wired magazine. So I knew that the car's designers
relied on existing lithium ion technology rather than spending
all their R&D cash trying for the Holy Grail of auto batteries.

What hadn't registered was that the car's battery pack relies on
the self-same 18650 cells – all 6,800 of them -- that power
consumer cell phones and laptops. And sure enough, just like cell
phone battery packs, each lithium ion cell in the Tesla has its
own positive temperature coefficient (PTC) current limiting
device acting as a fuse.

In addition, (and this is all from a white paper, "The Tesla
Roadster Battery System") each cell has an internal current
interrupt device (CID) that senses excessive internal pressure
within the cell – if the pressure gets too high, the CID breaks
and electrically disconnects the cell. High internal pressure
within a cell is generally caused by over-temperature or other
failures that then result in over-temperature, so over-pressure
sensing can result in a sort of early-warning system for
over-heating and consequent thermal runaway.

What is the makeup of this CID? I have no idea, but I'd sure like
to find out.

===

http://www.teslamotors.com/media/white_papers/TeslaRoadsterBatterySystem.pdf

-





Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter

' ____
~/__|o\__
'@----- @'---(=
. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere


 
____________________________________________________________________________________
The fish are biting. 
Get more visitors on your site using Yahoo! Search Marketing.
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EVLN(German Carmakers Hybrid Market Efforts)-Long
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2376832,00.html
Auto Industry | 08.03.2007
German Carmakers Rev Up Effort to Enter Hybrid Market

Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:  The market for
hybrids is growing -- so where are the German cars?

Amid increasing consumer awareness of global warming and other
environmental issues, German carmakers have had to fight off
growing criticism about their apparent lack of will to build
environmentally friendly cars.

Energy-efficient cars have long been the talk of the automotive
industry. But while they have been working on improving the
mileage that can be gotten out of regular petrol- and
diesel-burning engines, German carmakers have yet to produce a
hybrid -- a car that combines an electric motor and battery with
standard combustion engine in order to cut fuel consumption.

In fact, Germany trails the world's automakers in terms of
environmental developments, according to the German Auto Club
(VCD) consumer group. The country only has one entry -- VW's Polo
Blue Motion -- in the list of the ten most environmentally
friendly cars.  Japan leads the pack with its two hybrid cars,
the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic, the group said.

Now, just ahead of the 77th International Motor Show in Geneva,
it seems high-end German manufacturers are clamoring to get on
the eco-car bandwagon anywhere they can.

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der
Bildunterschrift:  A Toyota Hybrid X concept car presented in
Geneva

Volkswagen presented its super-efficient, ultra-low emission Blue
Motion line, and VW and Porsche have announced they are working
together on a line of eco-friendly cars to come out by 2008. BMW
and Chrysler, meanwhile, announced plans to team up to develop a
"mild hybrid" transmission system for rear-wheel-drive premium
cars. Even full hybrids might be on the horizon.

Emissions battle
"We hadn't expected this to become such an emotionally charged
issue," said  VW CEO Martin Winterkorn, explaining to Der Spiegel
magazine why his company was so late to get into the eco-car
market. He noted that Audi had tried to bring a hybrid car to
market in the 1990s, but it was a flop; the market wasn't yet
ripe.

But the tide has definitely turned, and some observers wonder if
the current German effort is too little, too late.

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der
Bildunterschrift:  Toyota Prius -- engine of the future?

After all, in recent weeks the industry has spent much of its
energy loudly battling the EU over its plan to regulate car
emissions. The severe CO2 emissions reduction would have
endangered all the best-sellers in the German fleet.

In the end, the EU called for increased use of bio-fuels and
cleaner fossil fuels -- but revised its regulation standards to
give the heavy, fast, gas-guzzling German cars more breathing
room.

And until now, the German auto industry had openly dismissed
hybrids as a passing fad.  But their evident popularity, along
with increasing concerns about global warming, seem to have
carmakers rethinking earlier assumptions.

Hybrids' success
Japanese carmaker Toyota, which rolled out its gas-saving Prius
hybrid nine years ago, has been cashing in on that move ever
since. And the outlook is good in an otherwise stagnant market.

"Over the next few years we plan to double our hybrid vehicle
offering, anticipating annual sales of over one million hybrid
vehicles by early in the next decade," Toyota Europe VP Tierry
Dombreval told reporters in Geneva.

Meanwhile, other European and US manufacturers have made inroads
in creating an eco-friendly image for thesmelves, beating Germany
to the punch.

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der
Bildunterschrift:  Style counts, and small cars are more fuel
efficient

In September, Citroën and Peugeot introduced eco-cars of their
own. Saab's plan for a cabriolet hybrid that can run on pure
ethanol as well as classic petrol wowed critics at the Paris Auto
Show in September. And US carmaker Ford is promising an expansion
of similar "flexifuel" technology, allowing the use of cleaner
vegetable based bio-fuels across a whole model range by next
year.

Will Germany's relative silence on the subject give consumers the
impression that Toyota and other companies care more about the
environment than VW, Mercedes, Audi, Porsche et al? Critics think
so. And they warn that the German car industry may soon be
kicking itself for missed a window of market opportunity.

Push for diesel
But VW's Winterkorn, who used to lead Audi, dismisses this
criticism.

"For years we've been investing billions to reduce fuel
consumption with direct-injection diesel and gasoline engines. We
reduced weight at Audi with aluminium bodies and at VW with
lightweight steel, to name a few examples," he told Der Spiegel.

So far, the Germans have put most of their environmental energy
into developing cleaner diesel fuels and engines. Their hopes
were to spark a diesel revolution.

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der
Bildunterschrift:  VW's Martin Winterkorn

"Whoever comes out on top in terms of diesel technology is in the
best position when it comes to C02 emissions," said Bernd
Gottschalk, head of the German Automobile Manufacturers
Association.

But the push has been largely ignored in the world's largest car
market, the US, where essentially only large trucks tend to pump
diesel. And critics note that while diesel engines produce less
carbon dioxide, they contribute more harmful nitrates to the
environment. Hybrids, on the other hand, produce less CO2 and
less nitrates as well.

According to Gottschalk, the fact that German manufacturers have
presented plans for more fuel-efficient, low-emission cars in
Geneva "proves that we didn't just start developing
environmentally friendly cars today, and that we aren't only
interested in the premium car segment."

Jennifer Abramsohn
-





Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter

' ____
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. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
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EVLN(Nations’s 1st Hybrid School Buses in Florida)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=28719
Nations’s First Hybrid Schools Buses Will Roll in Florida
(WebWire) 3/8/2007 9:43:50 AM

BRADENTON, Fla. - The School District of Manatee County in
Bradenton, Fla., will become the first school district in the
country to receive hybrid school buses through the Plug-In Hybrid
Electric School Bus Project. Manatee School District’s two hybrid
school buses are part of the 19 hybrid buses awarded nationwide
by Advanced Energy, a non-profit corporation that initiated a
buyer’s consortium of school districts, state energy agencies and
student transportation providers.

The hybrid school buses, manufactured by the leading school bus
manufacturer IC Corporation and hybrid drivetrain manufacturer
Enova Systems, provide 70-100 percent better fuel economy and a
90 percent reduction in diesel engine emissions. Officials from
the School District of Manatee County will be presented with the
revolutionary new buses during a press conference at Braden River
High School at 10 a.m. Eastern time on Friday, March 9.

"We are proud to be pioneers in this exciting new area of
transportation technology which will help us field a more fuel
efficient bus fleet that produces less harmful emissions," said
Roger Dearing, Manatee School District Superintendent. "This
provides a powerful example to our students and community about
the need to take positive action when it comes to addressing our
nation’s energy and environmental challenges."

While the exterior of the school bus looks the same, it is
powered with innovative new technology. The hybrid school bus
project features Enova’s Charge Depleting System (or "Plug In"),
which was extensively tested and evaluated at IC Corporation’s
research and technology facility in Fort Wayne, Ind. With an
overnight charge, this system utilizes a larger battery based on
advanced battery chemistry that provides stored energy intended
to be drawn down over the driving cycle, thus optimizing fuel
economy. Depending on the route, fuel economy is expected to
improve by 70-100 percent. The hybrid system can also reduce
emissions by up to 90 percent.

This project provides operational benefits to school districts,
while also providing the reduced emissions desired by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and a valuable return on
investment to school boards,” said Ewan Pritchard, P.E., Advanced
Energy’s hybrid program manager.

The initial powertrain for the hybrid school bus will couple an
International® VT365 V8 diesel engine with the 25/80-kilowatt
hybrid-electric powertrain, incorporating a transmission,
batteries and an electric motor. The system is based on a
parallel architecture, allowing the system to utilize both diesel
and electric power in a highly efficient manner.

Enova’s unique Post Transmission System offers a non-invasive
solution to enter the hybrid vehicle market in either the
retrofit or new vehicle segment,” said Mike Staran, Enova’s
Executive Vice President. “The system is comprised of a
proprietary AC induction electric motor, controller and energy
management system and is designed and engineered as a total
production ready solution.”

The hybrid school buses are also outfitted with a proprietary GPS
system called AWARETM Vehicle Intelligence that allows school
officials to track the exact location and performance of the
school bus via a password-protected site on the Internet.

IC Corporation’s hybrid school bus revolutionizes the school bus
industry,” said Michael Cancelliere, vice president and general
manager of IC Corporation. “Improving fuel efficiency and
reducing emissions helps school districts and the environment. IC
Corporation is committed to environmental leadership and
delivering value to our customers.”

Later this, year other school districts around the country will
be receiving the remaining 17 IC Corporation hybrid school buses
awarded in Advanced Energy’s bid.
-






Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter

' ____
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'@----- @'---(=
. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere


 
____________________________________________________________________________________
Be a PS3 game guru.
Get your game face on with the latest PS3 news and previews at Yahoo! Games.
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EVLN(Reva is the highest selling electric car in the world)-long
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://news.techwhack.com/5389/reva-electric-car-2/
Reva Electric Car is the highest selling electric car in the
world  8th Mar 2007  By Rajesh @ 7:05 pm

Not many people know but there is an automaker in India which
manufactures a pure electric car named Reva. The company has just
managed to create a record of sort.

There are around 700 Reva cars running on the streets of London
and this is a record for the highest number of electric vehicles
functioning in any city across the world.

The company is expected to deliver more cars to the city and this
number would increase to around 1000 units in the next couple of
months.

Overall, Reva manufacturers have sold 1800 cars in the markets
out which around 1000 have been sold here in India itself.

The company does not get much support from the government which
results in a higher price tag on the car but they still manage to
sell its standard EV model with DC motor for £7000 in the UK. In
India, the car is priced similarly to the Maruti 800/Alto car.

Chetan Kumaar Maini, deputy chairman, RECC spoke about their
product: “Even Asian countries have started taking up the
encouragement of EVs. For instance, the Japanese government has
announced a $2,600 subsidy for the end user for buying a REVA.
Similar initiatives are also being taken up by China.”

Copyright: TechWhack

===

http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?autono=276981&leftnm=1&subLeft=0&chkFlg=
Reva is highest selling electric car in the world
Archana Mohan / Ahmedabad March 08, 2007

The Bangalore-based Reva Electric Car has created a record: Over
700 of its cars are running on the streets of London, the highest
number of electric vehicles functioning in any city across the
world.

The company, which last year became the highest selling on-road
electric vehicle globally, is all set to touch the 1000 car mark
in London following its upcoming consignments in the next 4-6
months.

Currently, the company has around 1800 cars on road, of which
1000 cars are in India while the others are in London and other
parts of the UK.

Over 2,000 colour choices, customised options for individual
buyers along with innovations such as climate control seats and
animal prints have sent demand soaring by 20 per cent this year
in the island nation.

Around 40-50 cars have also been taken up by the UK Post and by
those dealing in vehicles for the physically challenged.

Low-cost range has evolved as another major benefit in the
manufacturer’s kitty. While Reva sells its standard EV model with
DC motor for £7000 in the UK, its competitors such as Smart are
priced much higher. Smart is priced at £20,000.

The electric car maker, which sells electric vehicles (EVs) in
the UK under the name G-Wiz, has seen its sales soar in the
recent times in Europe on account of subsidies and benefits
offered to encourage EVs. In the UK, which has become the largest
market for Reva after India, owners of EVs are now exempt from
paying parking fees, congestion taxes, sales and road tax.

The French government has also introduced free parking for EVs,
low road tax and 100 per cent depreciation for corporates. EVs
are also being encouraged to be used as rental cars in public.
Further, no taxes are imposed on electricity used for charging
the EVs. The Italian city of Torino has decided to allow only EVs
on Sundays.

Even Asian countries have started taking up the encouragement of
EVs. For instance, the Japanese government has announced a $2,600
subsidy for the end user for buying a REVA. Similar initiatives
are also being taken up by China,” said Chetan Kumaar Maini,
deputy chairman, RECC.

Owing to increase in demand from domestic and export markets, the
company has decided to ramp up its production from 6000 units per
annum at its Bangalore plant to 35,000 units per annum in 18
months.

Funding for the expansion and other research and development
projects undertaken by the company, which include a hydrogen fuel
cell car, a regular four-seater and hardtop convertible among
others, will be undertaken courtesy $20 million from Global
Environment Fund (GEF) and Draper Fisher Jurveston (DFJ) in
December 2006.

The company has taken up exports in a big way by starting
trial-runs in various countries including Norway, Spain, Greece
and Cyprus among others.

We are using the medium of auto shows to showcase the car and its
variants at potential markets and will be entering Norway, Spain
and Greece in the next three-four months,” added Maini.

Business Standard Ltd. Copyright  [EMAIL PROTECTED]
-






Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter

' ____
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'@----- @'---(=
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. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere


 
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Food fight? Enjoy some healthy debate 
in the Yahoo! Answers Food & Drink Q&A.
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EVLN(100MPG Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technology a Reality Now)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.fuerteventuradigital.com/noticias/News/2007/03/09/205136.asp
9 Marzo, 2007
100MPG Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technology a Reality Now

Menomonee Falls, WI (PRWeb) March 9, 2007 -- D&H Global
Enterprise, LLC., announces a new electric power propulsion
system that delivers higher performing and more reliable Hybrid
Electric Vehicles (HEV) with reduced complexity, resulting in
lower manufacturing and ownership costs.

The current HEV power propulsion systems on the market utilize
many complex and costly electronic circuits for monitoring
sensors and control platforms, and are efficient only at
relatively low speeds. There is a need for HEV performance
equivalent to regular gasoline vehicles, but with better mileage.
In response, D&H Global Enterprise presents three patent-pending
products, the PMRM™, the PMVCU, and the Power Electronic Unit.

The PMRM™ is a new technology in electric motor/generators that
is neither an induction motor or any current motor type in the
market. It operates at a very high efficiency, with a wide
constant torque to speed ratio, develops a high torque to weight
ratio, and generates clean electricity with low space harmonics.
An additional benefit is it does not require complicated control
circuits to function.

"We are very excited about bringing this technology to the
public. Large SUV type HEV's using this system, will consume, for
example, 40+ MPG on the highway and 50+ MPG in the city, with the
same power and torque performance as similar sized gasoline
vehicles. A small sedan sized vehicle can achieve over 100MPG,"
said Senior Company Member, Debbie Hamedi. Hassan Hamedi, another
Senior Member, added "The PMRM™ can revolutionize the HEV
industry."

"A car can reach the speed of 130mph before dropping of the
torque occurs," said Dr. Al Aawar.

A smart control platform (PMVCU) has been developed by D&H Global
Enterprise, LLC., to monitor and improve the performance of the
HEV. Fuzzy Logic based algorithms are used to control the power
management between the ICE and the EGS in the HEV. D&H Global
Enterprise, LLC's, PMVCU operates at optimum performance and
achieves smooth operation of both ICE and EGS, which reflects in
the increase in the lifetime of the vehicle.

An advancement over existing technology, the Power Electronic
Unit generates very low time harmonics, with a low switching
frequency, resulting in a flat efficiency above 90% for the whole
load range. The three products used together in Hybrid Electric
Vehicles reduce gasoline usage, maintenance required, and the
overall initial cost of the manufactured vehicle. The result is a
more affordable, capable, and robust Hybrid Electric Vehicle that
reduces greenhouse gas emissions even further.

About D&H Global Enterprise, LLC., (http://www.dhglobalentllc.com):

D&H Global Enterprise LLC is an environmentally conscientious
engineering and research company working to push the boundaries
of engineering to a whole new level. D&H Global Enterprise LLC.,
views itself as a bridge between current and future technologies.
Our goal is to achieve the best in each product we design and
develop.
-





Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter

' ____
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. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere


 
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Now that's room service!  Choose from over 150,000 hotels
in 45,000 destinations on Yahoo! Travel to find your fit.
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