Two hybrids fitted with plug-in conversion kits caught on fire this summer. One from Hybrids Plus, and one from CarCals. The Green Motorist brought up the safety concerns of conversion kits – not just DIY but ones installed by reputable companies. Felix Kramer, founder of CalCars stopped by and left some comments.

The truth is that many cars catch fire every year and sometimes you can’t figure out the reason why. The CalCars conversion incident was traced back to a component that failed and the battery pack caught on fire, but the Hybrids Plus conversion hasn’t been figured out. They think it may be a wiring issue, but there’s a chance it didn’t have to do with the conversion kit at all.

Given the number of these things on the road, and given the number without any failures, I don’t see this as a problem sweeping the industry (yet). It’s important that we are looking at these from a critical standpoint though and not just patting the back of progress. Hopefully, major automakers have put a significant amount of their budgets into safety precautions and admittedly this has been part of the battery issue, but it’s not the only one and – for me – at this time, I think of these incidents more as flukes than sign of a chronic problem.

Sources: The Green Motorist, CalCars

Post from: EveryJoe

Cautions over Plug-in Conversions

 “If customers aren’t buying them, we’re not making them,” Ted Miller, Ford’s senior manager of energy storage, said in an interview yesterday.

This whole article ticked me off. Excuses, excuses. And none of them really make sense.

I have the feeling that Ford is just holding out to see when (not if) their F-150s start selling again. These articles keep saying the market is adjusting away from interest in trucks to smaller cars … completely missing that it’s because they cost less to run. Make trucks that cost less to run, and they’ll see a surge in interest again.

For now, Ford says, they aren’t going to put money into developing plug-in hybrids. They want to see if the cars are successful for other people first.

Ford’s logic is that many people park on the street or don’t have a garage, and no access to plug-ins. If we all jumped on that train of thought, no company – no human – would ever make anything new. With a major transportation method changing, other things will have to change, too. It’s like saying we shouldn’t put public charging stations in place because we don’t currently have any vehicles that can use them.

And it goes around and around.

Oh, but here they are dangling that carrot again. The hybrid Fusion. The hybrid Milan. They can’t focus on plug-ins because they’re busy developing regular hybrids. How can other companies pull this off, but Ford – the world’s 3rd leading automaker – not have the resources for that? I’m all for being frugal but that doesn’t make sense.

Then again, who knows? Maybe they are developing something monumental and in a few months, when I have a chance to test drive the Fusion, I will eat my words. One can only hope!

Source: Bloomberg

[Image: Ford]

Post from: EveryJoe

Ford Takes Backseat on Plug-in R&D

***

The North American Concept Awards have been held for six years, and look over the wide variety of concept vehicles from the auto show season.

Despite a fresh new face for Jaguar, an “Holdy” but a goody from GM and a swank and sporty new look for jeep drivers, the Chevy Volt took the honors as both the 2007 Specialty Concept Vehicle of the Year and the Most Significant Concept Vehicle of 2007.

Well, I should hope so (said in my most Rachel Lynd-ish manner possible.) NOW will companies focus less 600HP throwbacks to days gone by and think about our futures? Do people really expect the Volt not to sell? Maybe they know something we don’t??

Source: South East Auto Media

Post from: EveryJoe

Volt “Most Significant Concept Vehicle of 2007″

Hybridfest 2008
Saturday, July 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, July 20 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Located at Alliant Energy Center, Madison, Wisconsin

You’ll be able to catch plug-ins, electrics, biodiesel, hydrogen and other alternative autos, as well as listen to the experts speak on how to save gas with everyday vehicles. Then there’s the Hybridfest MPG Challenge where drivers do their best to stretch their mileage.

Speakers include:
Felix Kramer, Cal-Cars
Mike Granoff, Project Better Place
Jo-Ann Yantzis, Clean Energy
Francis Vogel, Wisconsin Clean Cities
Wayne Gerdes, CleanMPG
Peter Kozan, MPG Challenge Winner
Michael Sefton, Diesels 101

Hybridfest 2008 is presented as part of Dane County Fair. Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for children 6 to 11, parking and admission for younger children is free. Visit the Hybridfest website for more information.

* Don’t forget to comment to win a free Rand McNally road atlas … now Earth-Friendlier!*

Post from: EveryJoe

Hybridfest 2008 – Madison, Wisc.

Batteries Beyond Lithium Ion

After developing nickel hydride batteries, and then lithium-ion batteries (to be used in plug-in hybrids in 2010) the automaker looks to their old partner Matsushita Electric Industrial to create a “next generation” battery. Details were sparse, but they’re setting up shop by the end of the summer.

When it comes to works in progress, I try to stay very neutral. You never know if a plan is going to lose footing or hold, but these companies have a history of success working together.

Every Toyota a Hybrid, New Hybrid-Only Model

Katsuaki Watanabe made several other claims during his news conference. Two exciting announcements were the decision to take the entire Toyota line hybrid (which we all know could change at any time between now and intended completion date, 2029).

More importantly, Toyota has plans to unveil a new hybrid-only model at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. So far, the only cars currently fitting this mold are the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius. If Toyota is successful in making a functional auto with a unique design, they could be launching their second major win.

Ethanol from Yard Waste

Last, but certainly not least, Toyota is investing in research for making ethanol from cellulose (grass clippings, wood chips, etc). It’s not as exciting as ethanol from garbage, but better than using up topsoil to grow crops to convert into fuel.

Source: Forbes

[Image: Newscom]

Post from: EveryJoe

Toyota to Unveil New Hybrid in Detroit, 2009

Ernie Brookins has perfected what could be the next best thing since plug-in hybrids by introducing a hybrid conversion with batteries that charge while the gas engine is running.

Brookins Air/.Hydralic Drive Systems (BAHDS) piston-driven torque converter/transmission is said to deliver twice a vehicle’s mpg AND can be installed in autos already on the road.

This almost sounds too good to be true, and I cannot wait to see the outcome after the first prototypes have been fully tested.

Brookins has a long history in making transmissions for race cars, holds various patents and hopefully has stumbled onto a way of saving a significant amount of gas while running electric cars on clean energy.
Sources: WDay News
Powertrain Industry News

Post from: EveryJoe

Brookins Charge-as-you-go Hybrid Conversion = Clean Electrics!

Fisker is forging ahead with development of their electric sports car despite recent legal troubles with Tesla Motors.  In Southern California, three prototypes of the Karma are currently being tested, with initial orders expected to deliver by the end of 2009.

Specs? Up to 125 mph in “sport” mode, in electric only (what the company is calling “stealth”) up to 95 mph. Initial battery testing gives hope of the lithium-ion battery packs lasting 10 years or longer.

According to Fisker, you should be able to fill your tank ONCE per year … if you recharge every night, and drive in stealth mode the rest of the time. The Karma purportedly can go 50 miles on electric power, only.

If you want one, you’ll have to get in line. Like the pricey Tesla Roadster, the $80,000 Karma has already received hundreds of advanced orders.

[Source: Fisker Automotive]

Post from: EveryJoe

Fisker Forges Ahead

Here are my favorites:

#10 West Philly Hybrid EVX
http://www.EVXTeam.org

This program just blows me away. Started by Simon Hauger, a high school math and physics teacher, the mechanical engineering program at West Philadelphia High School has seen mind-blowing results from their former projects. The group won Tour de Sol, and now their eyes are on the X Prize with diesel and gas hybrid versions of the Toyota Corolla which should provide the market with a viable plug-in for under $25,000.

#4 Phoenix SUT
http://www.phoenixmotorcars.com

With the initial production schedule ready to roll out within the month, the Phoenix Sports Utility Truck seats a reasonable amount of people for today’s truck consumers, goes up to 95 mph with a 100+ mile range per charge and the batters can charge in 10 minutes using an upgraded charger.

#2 Tesla Whitestar
http://www.teslamotors.com

Yep, the car all the hubbub is about. While they haven’t released any information on their design, they already have electric cars in production. Popular cars that have received excellent feedback.

That isn’t to say I don’t like any of the other competing companies. I just think these have the best chance of producing a car at a reasonable price that will connect with the most consumers.

Who do you like?

Post from: EveryJoe

Top 10 X Prize Hopefuls

Working models called “XH-150 SUVs” – modified Saturn Vue hybrids – debuted at the Detroit Auto Show in January. A few days ago, AFS (along with Ricardo plc) introduced a model for corporations – Extreme Fleet. Developers say it could save businesses 75% on fuel expenses.

The program appears to be targeting government fleets – police departments, federal groups, and some private operations.

It’s unclear at this point whether their moniker will be shortened to XF.

[Image: AFS Trinity Power]

Post from: EveryJoe

AFS Trinity’s Extreme Hybrid (XH) Aimed for Fleets

Plug-In 2008 will be held at the San José McEnery Convention Center, and will host company execs, engineers, scientists, energy and renewable energy spokespersons, in addition to other experts, to discuss how plug-in hybrids will impact our lives.

You can find a conference schedule here. A list of exhibitors can be found here, including A123Systems,  and CalCars. Unfortunately it isn’t cheap, and it’s not meant for the public to come and go as they please. To get in the door, expect to pay at least $250 (cost for students with ID).

Post from: EveryJoe

Get Ready for Plug-In 2008 in Sunny San José!