2nd Green Revolution

Yesterday’s post about the Chinese automaker BYD’s announcement at the Detroit auto show begs the question about the future of the automobile. What does the coming decade hold in store for the automobile? Share your thoughts by answering the following poll:

(polls)

- Eric Wilson

NPR mentioned on the air that the Toyota Prius’s plug-in version of their popular gasoline-electric hybrid will be available in 2011. The New York Times reported today that Japanese car company “planned a widespread release of its plug-in hybrid car in 2011.” According to the story, Toyota is planning an increased roll out due to the pressure the Chevy’s Volt has brought to bear on the industry. Toyota had anticipated moving toward an expanded gasoline-hybrid line, instead of the plug-in hybrid. Read the rest of this entry »

On Monday, General Motors (GM) filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Several questions exist as to the future of the company and their various product lines. National Public Radio’s All Things Considered host Robert Siegel interviewed CEO Fritz Anderson about the company’s direction given the bankruptcy proceedings. Among the topics for discussion was the future of GM’s Chevy Volt, they plug-in electric hybrid which may be the salvation of the company going forward. Mr. Siegel mentions that some liken the Volt to the iPod, claiming that it will single-handedly turn the company around. Mr. Henderson disputes the notion that one product will be responsible for GM’s recovery.

In the interview, Mr. Henderson stated that the cost of the Chevy Volt remains undetermined. He acknowledges that it is a first generation vehicle and will subsequently bear the brunt of some of the associated research and development costs. Read the rest of this entry »

For the first time in 19 years, the U.S. government is increasing the Corporate Average Fuel Economy  known as the CAFE standard. According to NPR, the average fuel efficiency of American vehicles declined from 1990 to 2005, due to an increase in SUVs, which are not covered by CAFE standards. President Obama’s plan calls for a fuel efficiency of 35 miles per gallon by 2016 for cars and light trucks, roughly 20% higher than today’s requirements of 27.5 mpg.

The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration oversees the regulation. According to their website, the CAFE standard “is the sales weighted average fuel economy, expressed in miles per gallon (mpg), of a manufacturer’s fleet of passenger cars or light trucks. . . . Fuel economy is defined as the average mileage traveled by an automobile per gallon of gasoline (or equivalent amount of other fuel) consumed as measured . . . by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).” The site explains that CAFE originated as a result of

The “Energy Policy Conservation Act,” enacted into law by Congress in 1975, added Title V, “Improving Automotive Efficiency,” to the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act and established CAFE standards for passenger cars and light trucks. The Act was passed in response to the 1973-74 Arab oil embargo. The near-term goal was to double new car fuel economy by model year 1985.

In addition to increased fuel efficiency standards, American Public Radio’s Marketplace reports that President Obama will also call for the first national fuel emissions limits for cars and light trucks. Read the rest of this entry »

NPR reported yesterday morning that the Ford Motor Company will retool one of its Detroit area plants that had manufactured trucks to build a hybrid version of its Ford Focus. According to the Detroit News, the move is expected to save 3,200 jobs and “could lead to the creation of 1,500 new jobs during the next five years.” As mentioned Tuesday in a post on the hybrid Fusion, Ford is in the best fiscal position among Detroit’s Big Three automotive companies. Costs for the project range from $400 to 550 million (US). In order to assist the plant conversion, “State authorities approved more than $159 million in tax credits for Ford on Tuesday, and the City of Wayne has authorized more than $15 million in property tax abatements.” By providing these tax credits, the state of Michigan helps to clear the way for smaller, more fuel-efficient cars. An article from Reuters states that the plant will also manufacture battery powered vehicles (in all likelihood extended range vehicles; plug-in hybrids), which will be produced at the plant in coming years. “Ford Motor Co. on Wednesday unveiled a $550 million investment to convert an SUV plant near Detroit to build a new generation of Focus small cars next year and a battery-electric Focus in 2011.” Read the rest of this entry »

Part 1: In the first part of a ten part series, NPR provided some background information on the nation’s electric grid. It is largely unchanged since the days of Thomas Edison, contains 5.5 million miles of wires (130 million meters) connecting houses and business to the grid)and generates 950GW of electricity at peak usage (more than 50 times the energy produced by the Three Gorges Dam in China, the world’s largest hydroelectric project). One of the major problems facing the grid is the fact that electricity cannot be stored. The amount generated must always equal the amount used. Coal, gas and nuclear provide a consistent, reliable source of energy to generate electricity. The smart grid will allow for seamless integration of electricity from intermittent renewable sources. Xcel Energy’s $100 million (US) smart grid pilot program (SmartGridCity in Boulder, Colorado) includes batteries in people’s residences to store the energy produced by wind and solar. These batteries can store energy until needed at peak usage, reducing the utilities’ need for “firing up an expensive generator.” The batteries are provided by Xcel Energy and Grid Point, whose mission is “to make the Smart Grid a reality by aligning the interests of electric utilities, consumers and the environment.”

Click on the map above for an interactive tour of the electric grid

Part 2: In the second part of the series, NPR reporter Christopher Joyce looked at solutions for the influx of renewable energy. Read the rest of this entry »

Following up on the previous post, there is more evidence that the automobile industry is truly poised to have a revolution of its own. While 100 mpg vehicles may not be too far off in the future, 50mpg vehicles can be purchased today. Or this spring, that is. Toyota’s 2010 Prius will go on sale in a few months boasting 50 miles a gallon in the city and 49 on the highway. Several technical improvements have allowed for the increase in fuel efficiency. More details can be found on the NY Times “Wheels” blog.

2010 Prius on Display at the Detroit Auto Show

Though taking a severe beating in the recession, those car companies that manage to survive the downturn will be poised for major growth when the economy recovers. All the major car makers are shifting resources and focus (forcefully by the government or on their own) toward producing plug-ins, hybrids, and more efficient cars that save people money and yet also have a certain cache. With the effects of this recession likely to linger on for years, especially consumers new found sense of conservation and personal financial responsibility, the market for cars like the Prius and the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid (41mpg city) will be deeply competitive. For all the good they can do for reducing oil consumption, one of the most appealing features of hybrids is the cost savings over time. This will be a particularly important seling point once gasoline prices begin to rise again.

- Justin Manger

Tuesday night, President Obama laid out his vision for renewable energy in a speech to a joint session of Congress. He said, “[w]e know the country that harnesses the power of clean, renewable energy will lead the 21st century.” Among projects awaiting funding is Fort ZED, short for “zero energy district”, in Fort Collins, Colorado. The town of Fort Collins and Colorado State University have entered into a partnership referred to as “UniverCity“. This joint venture aims to be a “zero energy district“. All energy needed for the town and school will be produced within a 50 mi (80km) radius by new renewable energy projects. In addition, plug-in hybrids will compose a significant portion of the vehicle fleet in order to reduce the need for fossil fuels. Lastly, energy efficiency upgrades will complete the transition to a zero energy district. Fort ZED backers estimate the price tag to fully implement the initiative at $200 million.

UniverCity Collaborative from Univercity Connections on Vimeo.

Fort ZED will make use of a smart grid. This system will constantly monitor supply and “balance it with its demand in the most efficient way possible.” Local NPR affliate KUNC, out of Greeley, Colorado, has a three minute and a half minute audio clip of an interview with Northern Colorado business editor Tom Hacker detailing the project.

- Eric Wilson

NPR reported yesterday from the Washington DC car show on a number of high tech innovations planned by the big three automakers. With the advent of Chevrolet’s plug-in hybrid Volt due to enter production in late 2010, Ford Motor Company has pinned their electric vehicle hopes on a battery powered version of the Focus scheduled for 2011. The range for the Chevy Volt is 40 miles on the initial charge.

Plug-in hybrids, also known as extended range vehicles, have a gas-assist engine that acts like a traditional hybrid, charging the car while decelerating and braking. Although the price of the Volt has not been determined, estimates place the MSRP (manufactured suggested retail price) between $30,000-50,000. GM has to subsidize the cost of the vehicle as it is not expected to make money for several years due to the extensive cost of research and development.

While Ford has exhibited a plug-in version of the Escape at car shows this season, there are plans to produce an all-electric prototype under the Focus family of cars. Fully recharging the electric version of the Ford Focus takes up to 12 hours (at 110 Volts) but only costs $1-1.50, depending on electric rates.  Given the 100 mile range of the electric motor powered Focus, the equivalent cost to fill up a standard gasoline-powered Focus would be around $6 with current gas prices at $2/gallon and an estimated mpg of 35. Homeowners can plug in to an outlet at home. However, without a series of public charging stations electric cars and plug-in hybrids are less attractive for apartment dwellers. In addition, the cost of the battery in Ford’s plug-in version of the Focus has been placed somewhere in the tens of thousands of dollars according to Joss Dillon, engineer at Ford. For the consumer though, cost per mile driven is 2-3 cents as compared to 6-7 cents based on gasoline at $2 per gallon. With the greening of the grid, this becomes a much more efficient option than traditional gas powered engines. Cars plugged in at night will draw energy from the grid during off-peak hours, which reduces the need for coal-fired base load power.

- Eric Wilson

Dan Neil, car reviewer for the Los Angeles Times, wrote an article about the Honda FCX Clarity which landed on the front page of today’s Business section. Titled, “Honda FCX Clarity has everything but a future”, Neil proceeds to praise the styling, innovation and feel of the car, while claiming that the energy and capital intensive car does not have a place in the future of transportation. There are several advancements that he cites as useful, including the fuel cell’s potential in other applications, as well as the interior’s “petroleum free resins and bio-based fabrics.” Neil’s energy argument centers around the notion that the production of H₂ gas consumes approximately four times as much electricity (often generated from nonrenewable resources such as natural gas) as the all-electric Tesla Roadster. Read the rest of this entry »