Toyota is now showing up to the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle party. In Japan, the company will start leasing its FCHV-adv to Japan’s Ministry of the Environment and other governmental agencies. The leases, which will start in September, will cost a little over $7,500 per month.
While it may seem like a Japan-only hydrogen vehicle is a few steps behind Toyota’s rival Honda (Honda’s FCX Clarity sedan has been leased internationally since earlier this month,) Toyota seems to bring something new to the fuel cell car world. The FCX Clarity is only leased to Southern California not only because it is the only place with any kind of hydrogen refueling infrastructure, but also most likely because most hydrogen fuel cell cars do not work in cold temperatures. Toyota’s FCHV-adv has the ability to work in 22 degrees below zero Fahrenheit.
So why is a Japan-only fuel cell making news? Because just like the Prius, Toyota tests its products at home before it releases them to the world.
Last April Audi said that they would not be producing an electric car in the near future. Well plans have changed according to Car Magazine. Audi has unofficially said it will sell an electric version of the VW Up as soon as it becomes available. Possible release estimate being late 2010.
Hopeful Audi doesn’t scrap this idea like it has so many others in the past (think back to the Q5 and Q7 hybrid programs). Audi may make a plan B since Volkswagen has has product delays with the Up. After all, it is not even clear yet whether the Up will be rear or front-engined; since the concept had the engine in the back, but the latest news is that production versions will adopt a more conventional layout. Chances are that whether it be an Audi or a VW badge there will be an electric Up in the near future.
General Motors is lifting its skirt higher to show off a little more Volt. The latest pictures released today show off a tiny bit more of the gas-electric hybrid than what we saw in the Good Morning America interview earlier this week. This is a good move on GM’s part to keep all the blogs buzzing about the car. After all, this is the Volt’s second entry this week, and all we see is a little more of the body.
The Volt undoubtedly is the make or break car for General Motors. If it is successful with the new sedan, the Volt can put them at the forefront of technology. But if the car fails to live up to the promise of 40 miles on an overnight (around six hours) battery charge, then it may feel a large backlash from the media that has been following the car.
Good Morning America gets a closer look at the new Chevrolet Volt, including a preview of the production car’s looks and the interior design. A lot of rumors have been going around about the Volt and its ambitious timetable, and this report shows that GM’s own people are really feeling the crunch.
Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO), Japan’s largest utility, plans to set up as many as 200 recharging stations for electric cars around the Japanese capital next year. TEPCO has developed a charging device that would allow electric cars to travel 25-miles on a 5-minute charge and 37-miles on a 10-minute charge. Mitsubishi as well as Subaru dealers have agreed to place stations on their property, as well as Aeon, a supermarket chain. Continued plans will include car parks, convenience stores, banks and post offices. TEPCO aims to have 1000 charging stations in place in the next three years
Because the Tesla Roadster just doesn’t have the classic look you want, Speed’s Supercars Exposed takes a look at HST Cobra EVX - an electric version of a Shelby Cobra replica. As an added bonus, professional drift driver, Lisa Klassen takes it for a drive.
Q: How do you get more people to pay attention to your alternative fuel car? A: Star power.
BMW sold the first hydrogen powered 7-Series to Will Ferrell, General Motors got a photo with any person of note willing to suffer time in the little EV1, and now the second delivery Honda FCX Clarity hydrogen powered car went to Jamie Lee Curtis.
Honda can be proud of the car without star power. The FCX Clarity uses hydrogen to generate power to the electric motor. The only byproducts are heat and water. It goes about 280 miles on one tank and gets the equivalent of 74 miles per gallon.
But if Honda feels that it needs celebrities to get people to take notice of the car, then remember to make sure they sell the car for you. "I really wasn’t expecting it to be so luxurious," said Curtis. "It’s luxurious, luxurious, luxurious! I love the interior layout, design and access to controls. It is user-friendly and very modern." Sell it Jamie, sell it.
If you can’t get you hands on a Tesla Roadster, there may be a new option — an electric Saturn Sky. Advanced Mechanical Products (AMP) out of Ohio has plans to convert 300 Skys. AMP says the cars can travel roughly 150 miles on a single charge, go 0 to 60 in under six seconds, and can reach a top speed of 90 MPH. The cost of the conversion and vehicle comes to around $50,000.
Did you know the Tesla Roadster and this electric Sky are very distant cousins? The Tesla was based on the Lotus Elise, which was also the basis for the Opel Speedster/Vauxhall VX220. A front-engined concept was developed for the VX220, and that became the basis for the Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky.<
If rumors are correct, Fiat and BMW may be joining forces to create a new small car platform. In fact, the BMW Isetta and Fiat Topolino might be born as twins, with their own distinctive styling cues of course. The cars will be rivaling the Volkswagen Up! and Toyota iQ. Both cars will be economical on fuel and meet ever increasing emission requirements both in the US and European countries. There is further talk of making fully electric versions of both models.
The Fiat Topolino will be sold in Europe exclusively, while the rear-engined BMW Isetta will most likely come to the states by 2011 or 2012. The release date will correspond with California’s laws that would require major car manufacturers to produce a certain amount of zero emission vehicles.<
A British chemical company, Ineos, has found a way to alleviate prices at the pump by converting ordinary household trash into ethanol. The process involves burning the trash to produce gas, then feeding the gas to bacteria which in turn produce ethanol. They purify the ethanol into fuel to be used in cars. Claims are that 100 gallons of fuel can be made from one metric ton of dry waste. Ineos plans for commercial quantities to be produced within two years.
“In North America and Europe we will see around 10 percent or more of petrol (gasoline) being replaced with [ethanol],” said Peter Williams, Bio chief executive officer. “Our technology will make a major contribution to reducing greenhouse gases and the world’s need for fossil fuels.” The heat that is recovered during the gasification and fermentation processes will be used to produce electricity.
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