Wednesday, August 30, 2006

World's Fastest PHEV


The PML Mini

The World's Fastest Plug In

Here is the story in the Energy Blog and the Green Car Congress

"The Mini QED is a demonstration vehicle that showcases the Quad Electric Drive, a four wheel motor in wheel drive, plug-in electric vehicle, developed by PML Flightlink and its partner Synergy Innovations and unveiled at the British Motor Show.

The QED has an all-electric range of 200-250 miles (333-417 km) and has a total range of about 932 miles (1,500 km). The car accelerates from 0-60 mph in less than 5 seconds. Two vehicles have been produced to demonstrate what can be achieved using the companies in-wheel motor technology.

The PML eWheel permanent magnet wheel motor is designed to be rugged and flexible.

Based on 5 years of evolution, the eWheel offers exceptional efficiency, coupled with a high power to weight ratio that makes it the ideal solution for battery powered equipment.

Extensive attention to detail has been placed in the bearing, sealing and weather proofing arrangements to provide the eWheel with enough build quality to withstand arduous environments.

The design features include rugged oversized taper roller bearings, fully waterproof to IP 65, high torque overload rating for fast acceleration, over-temperature thermistors fitted and smooth 12 step commutation for smooth high power performance" more

The use of in-wheel motors may be an important design strategy in developing Plug In Hybrids that are smart, efficient, economical, and fast.

One major manufacturer has already made the decision to employ them.

Tokyo, May 11, 2005 — "Mitsubishi Motors has chosen to center its development of next-generation electric vehicle technology on in-wheel motors and on lithium-ion batteries that the company has been working on for several years. Currently working on a test vehicle that utilizes these technologies, which it has dubbed the Mitsubishi In-wheel motor Electric Vehicle (MIEV) concept, the company also envisages their application to hybrid electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles."

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Friday, August 18, 2006

AE Signs Accord



AFS TRINITY SIGNS ACCORD WITH AUSTIN ENERGY
The Auto Channel
August 17, 2006

"An accord that was signed this week in Seattle and Austin should put Americans one step closer to seeing the 250 MPG AFS Trinity Power Corp (AFST) Extreme Hybrid ™ car on the road," according to AFS Trinity CEO Edward W. Furia.

The AFST/Austin Energy (AE) memorandum of understanding sets the stage for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) to be put into the participating fleets of Plug-in Partners (PIP) consortium of utilities and municipalities.

Although many hurdles still need to be surmounted before the first Extreme Hybrid™ rolls into a PIP participant fleet, "we took a big step today," said Roger Duncan, the Deputy General Manager of Austin Energy which is the founding participant of PIP.

Duncan said, "The deal we signed today gives PIP participants the opportunity to be among the first to order AFS Trinity Extreme Hybrid™ vehicles. PIP's job is to encourage our members to lease these vehicles.

"AFS Trinity's job is to complete development of the prototype and involve an automotive OEM as a development partner. All of these things must be accomplished for the agreement to work."

Duncan said that PIP regards this agreement as one of the most important developments to date in the plug-in hybrid field. The AFS Trinity technology is expected to permit PHEV cars and SUVs to have the same acceleration and highway speed performance in all-electric mode (when zero fuel is used) as when they are operated as conventional hybrids.

In essence, for the first 40 miles that are driven, the XH™ is expected to have all of the benefits of a fully electric vehicle—zero fuel consumption and zero emissions but with performance equal to a conventional vehicle. (more)

About Austin Energy & Plug-in Partners

Launched by the city of Austin, Texas, and its municipally-owned and operated electric utility, Austin Energy, Plug-in Partners' goal is to demonstrate to automakers that a market exists for plug-in hybrid vehicles by recruiting partners in local governments, national security organizations, utilities and civic and environmental groups.

The hope is that with sufficient public interest and demand, carmakers, who have been reluctant to invest in the technology, will respond with viable, affordable products, from cars to delivery vans.

Since its launch in January 2006, most of the 50 largest U.S. cities, other municipalities, many States, Councils of Governments (COGs) and over 200 of the nation's electric utilities have become participants in Plug-in Partners.

These organizations are expected to issue thousands of purchase orders to lease or buy the first PHEVs for their fleets. The US Conference of Mayors and other national municipal, security, civic and environmental organizations have endorsed the PIP initiative.

For more information, see http://www.pluginpartners.com


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Friday, August 04, 2006

Governor Pataki On Board


This story comes from the Energy Blog.

New York to Convert 600 Hybrids to PHEVs

New York Governor George E. Pataki and Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno today announced a new $10 million State program to convert vehicles in the State fleet to plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and plans for the construction of a state-of-the-art alternative fuel research laboratory at the Saratoga Technology + Energy Park (STEP).

The $10 million PHEV program will encourage the development and deployment of these vehicles, which can achieve a fuel economy of up to 100 miles per gallon. The 600 hybrid vehicles in the State fleet will be retrofitted to be PHEVs. Once the State’s hybrid vehicles have been converted to PHEVs, the program will be made available to private vehicle owners through a competitive process.

This year, New York State has taken significant steps to reduce our dependence on imported energy, and we will continue to promote cutting-edge research and technology that will build a brighter energy future here in the Empire State,” Governor Pataki said. “This new vehicle testing laboratory and our investments in plug-in hybrids are critical to this effort, and will help spur the innovation necessary to transition away from a petroleum-based transportation sector."

Plug-in hybrid vehicles can be plugged into the electric grid – such as a normal 120 volt household outlet - to boost mileage. This will allow the vehicles to operate on emissions-free battery power, reducing the amount of fuel utilized and significantly decreasing the release of harmful pollutants, including greenhouse gases. Since the utility grid has lower demand during overnight hours, the recharging of plug-ins would not add to the peak load.

In addition, the Governor announced that Electrovaya, a Canadian high-tech battery manufacturing firm, plans to expand Canadian operations into 5,000 square feet of manufacturing space at STEP, with additional expansion planned. The company’s lithium-ion batteries can be used in a variety of products and applications.

The New York State Alternative Fuel Vehicle Research Laboratory, the first of its kind in the nation, will develop scientific data to formulate new programs to conserve energy, diversify our energy supplies, decrease our dependence on imported fuels, and protect our environment. The facility will conduct testing for advanced and emerging technologies such as fuel cell propulsion systems, alternative fuels, and greenhouse gas reduction technologies.

Special focus will be on test systems to quantify all emissions from diesel buses and trucks, which will help to develop advanced control and retrofit technologies for these vehicles.

This year, Governor Pataki proposed an energy independence plan designed to reduce our State’s dependence on imported energy, promote greater use of clean, renewable fuels, and spur additional research and development into clean and alternative energy sources.

Besides the initiatives described above, programs proposed by the Governor and approved by the State Legislature were:

* The elimination of all State taxes on renewable automobile fuels, including ethanol (E85), biodiesel, and compressed natural gas (CNG), hydrogen, and other renewable fuels, providing a savings of approximately 40 cents/gallon for consumers.

* A $10 million competitive grant program, administered by NYSERDA, for private sector gasoline companies to install renewable fuel pumps for E85, biodiesel, CNG, or other renewable fuels. It is estimated that the program will support the installation and operation of between 400 and 600 renewable fuel pumps at private stations across the State. The New York State Thruway Authority is already moving forward with its program to install renewable fuel pumps at all 27 Thruway travel plazas.

* The expansion of the State’s Empire Zones program to provide tax benefits to clean energy companies regardless of where they are located in New York State. These tax incentives will be available to qualifying companies engaged in research, development, or manufacturing of energy-efficient or renewable energy technologies or products.

* A $5 million competitive grant program, administered by NYSERDA, for start-up companies that are developing or deploying the next generation of vehicle batteries, propulsions systems, and lightweight vehicle parts and components.

* The elimination of "exclusivity contracts" between fuel providers and retail service stations, which only allow the service stations to sell specific brands of fuel. In most cases, these brands do not include renewable fuels. Since the “exclusivity” contracts prohibit service stations from obtaining renewable fuels like ethanol (E85) from other sources, these fuels are not available for sale to consumers.

* Tax credits to cover up to 50 percent of the cost of purchasing alternative fuel vehicle refueling equipment that would be used by facilities selling E85, biodiesel, CNG, hydrogen, natural gas, liquefied or petroleum gas.

* A $5 million competitive grant program, administered by NYSERDA, for the development of hydrogen fueling stations across New York and the conversion of existing internal combustion vehicles to be able to operate using hydrogen fuel.

Thanks to Green Car Congress for the tip.

Taken from the press release, New York Governor's Office, August 2, 2006


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