In Search of the Factory Equipped Hyper Miler

Wired Magazine online has a great article about where fuel efficiency will come from. The Federal government is seeking a 34.1 mpg fleetwide CAFE standard for vehicles sold in the US market.  Wired reports that the National Academy of Science asked 12 engineers, scientists and industry certified smart people to examine commercially available technologies and their impact on fuel economy.

This report is titled "Assessment of Technologies for Improving Light Duty Vehicle Fuel Economy"  and is for sale via the link shown.  The website will allow you to skim the document though.  Of course that's not assuming Wikipedia or some other site won't have it posted for free sometime soon (I can't wait to see).

What did they come up with? Fuel efficiency has a high capital cost.

But of course doesn't all new technology?

What else did they conclude? That VW TDI's kick the crap out of hybrids (okay I exaggerate their findings).  They comment that Hybrids cost around $9000 more per vehicle for a 50% fuel savings and Diesel cost around half that for a savings for 35% so therefore more miles and a longer engine life for less money.

Something I can't see mentioned is the energy impact of these technologies before their life on the road.  I would like to start seeing the energy cost of construction of these various technologies.  No luck there yet though.  Guess only the new fuels are held to this standard while the technologies that harness or precede new fuels aren't judged under this category.

Other note.  The Wikipedia post on CAFE standards is worth checking out.

GM Supports the Expansion of E85 Pumps

GM has recently become a champion for ethanol in the US. Not just a positive PR when its useful type supporter of biofuels but a full on advocate. Most recently I just saw a news report from Bloomberg where GM and the National Governor's Association will work together to get an expansion of available E85 pumps throughout 15 US states.

This is more than just talk from GM its actual market development. They aren't just developing E85 flex fuel vehicles they are also making lower cost and domestically made ethanol a real option for consumers attracted to their vehicles.

Automobile X-Prize Update

Wired online has a great update of the Auto X-Prize.

It went from 12 to 66 entrants.

Entrants origins number 9 countries.

There are two classes of vehicles :

Mainstream Class - with 4 wheel/4 passenger/and standard options expected in a modern vehicle.

Alternative Class - with an open allowance which includes the sexy Tesla roadster (shown right).

The vehicles will prove their mettle in a series of long distance races (nothing makes product development fun like a competition).

Its long but worth the read. Take a look at the future of design. You just know the large auto manufacturers are looking over their shoulders. Not so much because of the threat but just to see what outsiders can do.

Major Automakers Back Away from Fuel Cell's

Check it out.... GM and Toyota dismiss Fuel Cell's as viable.

Yep, that's what I thought. Go hybrid powertrains, electric technology, and of course my favorite - Clean Diesel. The far off mystical new fuel is exactly what it is billed as. Far off and mystical.

NOTE: Yes I am totally biased against fuel cells as a viable on-road power train. I personally see fuel cells as a bad idea for on-road vehicles. They just don't make logical sense to me when the real technology required for fuel cells to work is a superior electric power train. I do think fuel cells hold a great deal of promise for commercial and industrial facility use.

The Diesel Hybrid Cometh - Go VW!

I was blown away to see it. Now I just prey it sees the US market. Check it out at Wired Magazine's blog.

VW is bringing on a TDI electric hybrid power train to challenge Toyota's dominance. This vehicle will be seen at the Geneva Auto Show later this week so I would expect the chatter to cross over into the mainstream after the show.

Claiming a 69.9 mpg, if this vehicle delivers as promise it will be big for us B99 lovers. Its clean enough to meet both EU and California tailpipe standards so a new era might be approaching. The Toyota Prius emits 104/kg of CO2 compared to this diesel which kicks out 89/kg. This is the future of diesel we all have been expecting.

If this touches down and out performs the mileage of gasoline/electric hybrids its only a matter of time before clean diesel becomes a standard option in smaller sedans. Now lets just make sure it doesn't take a nose dive due to uneducated technology biases.

GM Responds to USA Today on E85

I was really surprised to see this. GM officially defending ethanol as an extension of their product line.

It looks like the engineers over at GM are looking differently at fuel. In fact on the GM website there is a blog post where a GM official representative points to Brazil as a model for potential ethanol availability.

GM came out in response to a USA Today report that E85 was inferior to all other motor fuels including gasoline. As reported in USA Today:

Graham's team calculated the individual and societal costs and benefits of conventional gasoline vehicles, gasoline-electric hybrids, high-tech diesels and flex-fuel vehicles burning E85 full time. Conclusion: Unless gasoline prices, averaging $3.10 a gallon now, rise above $4 and average $3.50 or more the next few years, or ethanol prices drop a lot, diesel's the best overall solution; E85's the worst.

On Firday, GM stood by the premise of ethanol as a viable substitute/blend-stock to petroleum gasoline. What excites me is the fact that GM is siding behind ethanol as a long term fuel. This is the first I have ever seen a major manufacturer actual come to defense of a biofuel beyond making PR laps whenever oil prices rise.

I saw it first at DomesticFuel.com and followed it over to GM's own page.

“We believe ethanol as a renewable fuel is the best near-term alternative to oil as a transportation fuel and replacing gasoline with ethanol positively contributes to lowering greenhouse gas emissions,” said GM Chief Economist Mustafa Mohatarem in the statement. “You cannot take a snapshot in time and define a mature market.”

This snapshot being a reference to where ethanol can go as a fuel technology. Where the "next generation" ethanol technologies will drive future energy prices (downward) and the performance of vehicle engines able to use the higher octane cleaner fuel (upward).

And again another excerpt from Reuters on the same subject:

"By 2012, it will be easier to say which GM vehicles are not E85-capable than to list which ones are FlexFuel," said Beth Lowery, GM vice president of Environment, Energy and Safety Policy. "And we are just as committed to helping build the infrastructure for E85."

For more on GM's E85 Flex Fuel Vehcile support check out their official E85 website: Live Green Go Yellow.

Motorhead Messiah - Super Diesel Hacker

In that fine tradition of American inventor he hacks, mods, and wholesale upgrades huge monster vehicles into 100+ mpg technical wonders. In this month's Fastcompany they showcase H2's with aftermarket hybrids, turbine jet power trains, and hydrogen horse power.

In short. Just the idea that this guy exists is exciting to any energy geek.

The article leaves me with many questions and of course a few doubts but I'm captivated. For an eternity I have heard stories of the 100 mpg mods that never made it into the mainstream. The stories of high school science teachers who have invented super engines purchased and buried by GM and Ford. Those American super geniuses kept from their well deserved spoils of ingenuity.

This is the first time I have ever seen an actual face and name. More to the point, this is the first time I have ever seen a real person presented to back up the claim. Just makes you want to take a vacation to Missouri.

Chrysler Promotes Diesel with the NBB

First I've ever seen. An Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) working hand and hand to promote every day use of small diesels for personal use. There was also an actual hint that Chrysler wouldn't just approve B20 but brag about it.

Saw it in the NAFTC eNews letter. According to the article Chrysler in a sign of support for biodiesel extended a discount to National Biodiesel Board (NBB) members on the Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel and the Dodge Ram with the Cummins Turbo Diesel.

We'll know if Chrysler is serious if we see small sedan diesels start penetrating the US market. By the way just to mention it. In these cases usually the only reason a OEM doesn't embrace biodiesel wholeheartedly is the issue of consistent specification of biodiesel products.

In Europe the specifications (their equivalent of ASTM) is much higher developed and the feedstocks are more consistent. In the US we have a much more distributed producer base of biodiesel with a significantly more complex flow of feedstocks that are ultimately refined into biodiesel. As ASTM and "Quality Assurance" standards become more robust and accepted across the US these issues will drop away.

There is also concern from the OEM's that biodiesel's "oxidative stability" could create problems with low tolerance high pressure fuel systems. Oxidative stability being a fancy word for biodiesel biodegrades and breaks down easier than petroleum. This not being a real issue unless you store the vehicle for prolonged amounts of time.

Biodiesel as a fuel has millions of miles and thousands of vehicles operating for years as a track record over the last decade in the US (let alone a longer one in Europe approved up to B100). Its about time that the auto manufacturers embraced the opportunity of actually giving customers the choices they have always wanted. A domestic, renewable and low carbon fuel option. Especially considering that most customers have just been doing it regardless.

!!!EPA Approval for E85 Conversion Kit!!!

The below email was just forwarded to me by the cutting edge Angelique Dodaro of Cascade Sierra Solutions. More about the Flex Fuel Vehicle conversion kit here.

From: Harrow, Gerry [mailto:Gerry_Harrow(AT)nrel.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2007 5:33 PM
Subject: EPA Approves Vehicle Conversion to FFV

Good news! The EPA has approved the first flex-fuel vehicle conversions capable of running on E85. You may have seen a recent announcement by Flex Fuel US that was picked up by several media outlets. The Flex Fuel US website (http://flexfuelus.com/) has posted both the press release and the approval certificate from the EPA.

It’s important to note that consistent with the EPA certification process, this certificate is issued for specific converted vehicles that have been tested. The certificate lists the specific vehicles as follows: 2006 Ford Crown Victoria Police, 2006 Ford Crown Victoria Taxi, and 2006 Lincoln Town Car Airport Livery vehicles with the 4.6L engine (not the Mercury Grand Marquis).

As discussed in the AFDC Technical Bulletin on FFV Conversions:
“EPA does have a process by which manufacturers of conversion systems or "kits" can obtain a Certificate of Conformity for converted vehicles. In recent years, manufacturers of natural gas and propane conversions have used this process to certify several vehicles for operation on these fuels. This process certifies the converted vehicle—not the conversion system by itself.”

For more information, see the AFDC Technical bulletin at http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/technology_bulletin_0807.html. Also, we will be reviewing the Motorweek clip on conversions and will pass on any additional information that you need to know.

Gerry

Gerry Harrow
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
1617 Cole Blvd, MS1633
Golden, CO 80401-3393
303.275.4670
gerry_harrow(AT)nrel.gov