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This is amazing and probably speaks volumes about the culture there, but in this PR (I assume) statement it is all about the harm to VW. Nobody else. Not harm to the customer. Not the air-breathing public. Not those afflicted with respiratory issues. So what would happen if there was no harm to VW? Promotions?
VW CEO Winterkorn resigns over crisis; “further personnel consequences” coming; Exec. Committee filing criminal complaint
Volkswagen Group CEO Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn resigned today, taking upon himself responsibility for the emissions cheating scandal that has quickly engulfed the company. In a statement, the Executive Committee of Volkswagen AG’s Supervisory Board noted that Dr. Winterkorn had no knowledge o...
Woops! My bad. That's actually a 3 mpg advantage over the competing Chevy. Looking better . . . .
Ford wins 3rd annual Altair Enlighten Award for lightweighting of F-150
Ford Motor Company was the winner of the 3rd annual Altair Enlighten Award for its use of various lightweight materials to minimize weight of the 2015 Ford F-150. The Enlighten Award is the automotive industry’s first award program created specifically to acknowledge innovation in vehicle weigh...
Ford put a lot of money and effort into the new 150 but the end result is only a 1 mpg (fueleconomy.gov)advantage over the more orthodox (all steel, V-8) Chevy Silverado. GM can be very clever when it needs to be.
Ford wins 3rd annual Altair Enlighten Award for lightweighting of F-150
Ford Motor Company was the winner of the 3rd annual Altair Enlighten Award for its use of various lightweight materials to minimize weight of the 2015 Ford F-150. The Enlighten Award is the automotive industry’s first award program created specifically to acknowledge innovation in vehicle weigh...
Good article Michael but unfortunately you hit upon my pet peeve. Because you can count them it should be " . . . many fewer shale companies around" and not "a lot less."
Opinion: Oil Price War May Benefit both US Shale and Saudi Arabia
by Michael McDonald on Oilprice.com Even as financial commentators on CNBC are starting to come around to the idea of a bottom in oil prices, the key question for US oil producers remains one of timing. How long will the oil price slump last? Is this a relatively short term event like 2008, or a...
Interesting and not very surprising. But doesn't this merely point out the difference between competitive commercial (profit motive) and non-competitive personal (many other motivations depending on the individual)activities? There are tremendous pressures to take fuel costs out of the bottom line of a commercial airline.
In choosing personal transportation (at least in the USA) fuel economy is just one factor out of many that go into a purchase decision, if it is considered at all. We now live in world where there is a growing choice of cars that get > 33.8 mpg and which are available at all market levels. We would all be driving these except for the fact that there are alternatives available which are cheaper, or more luxurious or more satisfying to drive at each and every price point.
And diesel and hybrid technologies still exact a significant premium over conventional models, the cost of which may never realistically pay for itself in terms of fuel saved. Prius comes closest to making the argument for Hybrid technology but the line still suffers if you are allowed to compare it with conventional cars of the same size class, overall finish, and performance (other than mpg). And now that conventional cars are improving with this respect the cost premium is becoming even less justifiable. Mind you, I am glad hybrids and clean diesels exist and sure I wish the green curve was heading downward, but the fact is that the curve represents the decisions of millions of people armed with more knowledge and choices they've ever had before. Get the economy in shape and there is no need to crush the clunkers, but then you just get more inefficient cars in such an environment. No thanks if crushing clunkers means owners of older SUVs get to take advantage of the program and I'm stuck with my '99 Honda Civic. Pass a law electrifying all cars and now it becomes a world where owners of rare earth mines rule. Or make cars very expensive to own and operate through tax disincentives and risk killing an industry which is nearly happening to all car producers in Europe except for those doing business in the USA. There are no easy answers assuming there is a problem.
Making driving less energy-intensive than flying
Energy intensities of flying (blue) and driving (green), 1970-2010. Data: Sivak, UMTRI-2014-2. Click to enlarge. Currently, the energy intensity (BTU per person mile) of driving is 57% greater than that of flying, according to a new analysis by Dr. Michael Sivak, Director, Sustainable World...
That 3 cyclinder engine is going to be the base Mini Cooper power plant (turbo charged) for next year's brand new models.
BMW unveils production i8 plug-in hybrid; 94 mpg; on sale in US in 2014 priced from $135,925
The BMW i8 goes on sale in the US in 2014. Click to enlarge. BMW unveiled the BMW i8 2+2 plug-in hybrid sports car (earlier post) today at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. The i8—the first plug-in hybrid vehicle from the BMW Group—will have a manufacturer’s suggest retail price of $135,925 (i...
Can't condemn Audi/Volkswagen for wanting to expand their niche in the American market. But beware of the Diesel/Petrol ownership cost comparisons suggested here. The choice is between the mundane to awful petrol mpg performances typical (until quite recently) of German cars sold in the US and their not surprisingly high-achieving diesel counterparts.
Audi banking on Gen 2 3.0L TDI diesel for US sales; calls for a “fair shot” for diesel (update w/ rally results)
Audi's Gen 2 3.0L TDI. Click to enlarge. Audi of America introduced four new TDI clean diesel models for the US market this year—the Audi A8, A7, A6, Q5—along with an updated Q7 TDI, all equipped with a second-generation 3.0L V6 TDI diesel engine. (Earlier post.) This week in Washington, the...
This is great! The other part of the story of course should be reducing/eliminating the incentives pushing truckers to go beyond posted speed limits!
Cummins/Peterbilt SuperTruck shows 54% improvement in fuel economy, 61% improvement in freight efficiency
The new SuperTruck achieved a 54% increase in fuel economy. Click to enlarge. Cummins Inc. and Peterbilt Motors Company, a division of PACCAR, released test results showing their demonstration SuperTruck tractor-trailer achieved a 54% increase in fuel economy, averaging nearly 10 mpg US (23...
I'm not a fan of big government but I was a bit surprised to learn that the EPA does not actually perform the mileage tests that it backs but rather leaves it to the most interested party, the car maker, to do so. First Hyundai. Now Ford? Who's next? Perhaps we should all begin using Consumer Reports numbers!
OpinionAn open letter to Ford from a customer
I thought my 2013 C-MAX would be a Prius Killer? NOT! As a returning Ford buyer I feel deceived. I want to support US companies and US jobs. What was Ford thinking when they published 47/47/47 estimates? Based on the advertised EPA estimates, I would have been OK with low 40’s...but 28-33 mpg i...
Interetingly, given the numbers presented here and the census data for 1970 and 2010, in forty years the per capita fuel usage rate in the US stayed at about 1,500 Liters. Wow-talk about stasis!
Study finds that increased vehicle travel and decreased occupancy have undercut the impact of improving fuel economy over last 40 years
A new study by Dr. Michael Sivak, Director, Sustainable Worldwide Transportation, University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI), has found that from 1970-2010, an increase in vehicle distance travelled in the US, coupled with a decrease in the number of occupants in the vehic...
"As a consequence of the changes in vehicle fuel economy, vehicle distance travelled, and vehicle load, the total amount of fuel used increased by 53% (from 303 to 463 billion liters)."
But keep in mind that the US population increased by a similar percentage (52%)during the 1970-2010 period (see US census data). If average driving distances have indeed increased and user occupancy decreased, those factors have actually probably been totally made up for by increases in efficiency. What remains is more fuel being used to move around many more people.
Study finds that increased vehicle travel and decreased occupancy have undercut the impact of improving fuel economy over last 40 years
A new study by Dr. Michael Sivak, Director, Sustainable Worldwide Transportation, University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI), has found that from 1970-2010, an increase in vehicle distance travelled in the US, coupled with a decrease in the number of occupants in the vehic...
Does any one else see how insanely complicated this design is (to say nothing of its predecessor)for what it has to do? Wouldn't a spring-loaded flap work just as well? If this is how automakers approach design issues no wonder cars and trucks are so heavy.Geesh!
New Corvette marks GM’s first use of heat-activated shape memory alloy to replace heavier motorized part
Corvette’s new shape memory alloy wire replaces a heavier motorized part. Click to enlarge. As one of a number of advances to reduce its weight (90 lbs/41 kg lighter than its predecessor), the redesigned seventh-generation Chevrolet Corvette is the first vehicle to use a GM-developed lightwe...
The power densities of these engines are best described as archaic. 10-12 HP/Litre?! Are these engine designs pre-war, like pre WWI? I like the idea of reducing weight in just about any context but this doesn't seem to be completely thought out.
Frost & Sullivan consultant suggests European EV success will require radical lightweighting plus enabling legislation
The 400 kg (curbweight) Aixam quadricycle, with a 400cc two-cylinder diesel, is an example of the size and weight needed in future city vehicles, Meilhan suggests. Click to enlarge. Significant vehicle weight reduction and an accompanying change of enabling regulations and norms is the way ...
ToppaTom:
Actually, if that was sarcasm, it was pretty subtle. Sounded to me like you were making a statement of fact.
Opel introducing new 1.6L SIDI engine with start-stop system; 3 new engine generations over next 12 months part of major turnaround plan
Opel’s first new engine for a revamped portfolio is a turbocharged 1598 cc, four-cylinder gasoline unit with direct injection and Start/Stop. Click to enlarge. Opel is fundamentally renewing its engine range over the next 12 months with the launch of three completely new gasoline and diesel...
This is all good to keep in the back of our heads, but until gas prices recover I don't think any firm is going to want to get into this without massive government incentives. Since August of last year wholesale gas prices have dropped 50% to about $2/mmbtu(Inside FERCs gas market report) and continues to head south. Unless this changes, this should also put the brakes on the gas drilling bonanza.
US and Japan successfully complete Arctic field trial of gas hydrate production technology using CO2-methane exchange within structure
Conceptual rendering of CO2 – CH4 exchange methodology for the production of natural gas from hydrates. Source: NETL. Click to enlarge. US Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced the completion of a successful test of technology in the North Slope of Alaska that was able to safely extract a s...
This is really too bad - good looking car too. One wonders if this might be too European a car to be a Chevy. Would of been a nice SAAB. Oh well, more NA market share for Volkswagen/Audi.
Chevrolet Cruze station wagon to debut in Geneva; not for North America
The Chevrolet Cruze station wagon, the third variant of Chevrolet’s most-popular car, will make its global premiere at the 82nd International Geneva Motor Show in March. The station wagon complements the Cruze sedan and hatchback, which together have combined sales of more than 1 million vehicl...
Just visited friends in PA who are both very knowledgeable about shale gas and are very excited about its economic prospects for the state - lots of good paying jobs and all that. I asked them how long they expect the gas to last. Answer: about 25 years. As these are both very intelligent people I was really surprised by how deeply they've accepted the "boom and bust" view. And here I was hoping that we'd all learn something from the current economic situation we got ourselves into.
USGS boosts assessment of recoverable natural gas in Marcellus Shale by 42x from 2002; now 84 trillion cubic feet
Map of the Appalachian Basin Province showing the three Marcellus Shale assessment units. 96% of the estimated resource resides within the Interior Marcellus AU. Source: USGS. Click to enlarge. The Marcellus Shale contains about 84.198 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of undiscovered, technically r...
Yes, this is all nice, but what did the exercise actually achieve? That self selected drivers already interested in electric vehicles, who received a subsidized lease, who were given a 200+ HP car, and were able to give the car back in only a year were pleased with the experience. Given this experiment’s design, the cars would have had to have been unmitigated disasters to have received failing grades. Duh. Let's see how the Leaf and Volt do.
BMW Group releases results of UK-supported EV trial
The BMW Group released the data from the MINI E field trial in the UK. (Earlier post.) With 62 members of the public and 76 pool users running the battery-powered hatchbacks over two six-month periods, the Government-supported trial is the most in-depth of its kind in the UK to publish its findi...
and what's with comparing the Cruze (a compact car) to mid size cars (hybrid or otherwise)? It's crap like that that will continue to turn me off to GM.
Sheesh!
Chevrolet Cruze Eco achieves EPA-rated 42 mpg on highway (updated table)
The non-hybrid 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco delivers an EPA-estimated 42 mpg on the highway (manual transmission models), with city fuel economy of 28 mpg. Cruze Eco’s highway fuel economy beats non-hybrid segment competitors—including 23% greater highway fuel economy than the Honda Civic—as well as...
Seems like a daft idea. Love to know the power/weight ratio of this thing. Seems fairly space inneficient too judging from the pic. Except for a very narrow military requirement of low noise (on pure electric power) I can't see this as at all viable.
EADS Concept Diesel-Electric Hybrid Helicopter Features EcoMotors OPOC Engines; Up to 50% Less Fuel Consumption Than Conventional Twin-Turbine Helicopter
The hybrid helicopter concept. Click to enlarge. EADS Innovation Works is presenting a concept helicopter with a diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system at the ILA Berlin Airshow 2010, 8-13 June. The diesel-electric hybrid concept is one of the projects grouped under the name of eCO2avia b...
and seat coverings made from discarded animal skins.
yuk!
Lear Announces New Seating System with 25lb Weight Savings; ECO Fabrics from 100% Recycled Plastic Bottles and Polyester Yarn
The Evolution Seat. Click to enlarge. Lear has developed a technologically advanced seating system it calls The Evolution Seat that integrates seven patented technologies that reduce seat weight up to 25 pounds (11.3 kg) compared to conventional seats without sacrificing strength and safety....
"Unlike the engines on most transport aircraft that take in the high-speed, undisturbed air flow, the D-series engines take in slower moving air that is present in the wake of the fuselage. Known as the Boundary Layer Ingestion (BLI), this technique allows the engines to use less fuel for the same amount of thrust, although the design has several practical drawbacks, such as creating more engine stress."
How can this be good design? I recall that just such a situation presented huge challenges for the designers of the B-36 which I think was only solved by adding lots of heavy structure. From what I see, these designs will turn out to be tons over-weight. And there is a good reason why high-altitude transport aircraft are shaped like tubes: least structural weight to contain the cabin pressure. Cut the tube and now you have to add structure. Only shape more efficient is a sphere. Appears this design study was way too focused on aerodynamics to the point of missing other issues that will easily cancel any gains expected.
MIT-Led Team Designs Two Airplanes That Would Use 70% Less Fuel Than Current Models
An MIT-led team has designed an airplane that is estimated to use 70% less fuel than current planes while also reducing noise and emission of NOx. The design was one of two that the team, led by faculty from the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, presented to NASA last month as part of ...
"E85 biofuel has a very high octane rating of 105 but a lower energy content compared to gasoline that requires a 30% increase in the engine fuel flow rate. This necessitated a complete review of the fuel system to identify and, if required, replace components deemed to be insufficiently resistant to the properties of ethanol."
So I take it this thing now gets 30% lower mpg? The question is why did Bentley even bother? Was it to attract the half dozen or so individuals who would only buy a Bentley if it ran on E85? Very odd.
Bentley to Introduce New FlexFuel Supersports Convertible at Geneva Show
The Supersports Convertible. Click to enlarge. Bentley will introduce its new FlexFuel capable Supersports Convertible at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. The Supersports Convertible, with the same 621 bhp (463 kW) twin-turbocharged W12 engine as the Coupé version introduced in 2009, is the fa...
It is brave of Ford to take the turbo-charger mainstream. Seems awfully ambitious if the goal also is, though not mentioned here, to get the same durability as the V-6s and naturally aspirated I-4s these engines will replace. Car companies that have built their reputation on durability (Honda, Toyota, Nissan) have tended to shy away from turbo-chargers or have reserved them for very specialized markets (ie. Subaru). Should prove interesting and I think I'll wait to see what happens before I buy one of these.
MY2011 Ford Edge Features First North American Application of 2.0L EcoBoost, Two Ti-VCT Engines
The 2.0-liter EcoBoost I-4 Ti-VCT. Click to enlarge. Ford is unveiling the refreshed 2011 Edge at the Chicago Auto Show. An all-new powertrain lineup includes North America’s first application of Ford’s global 2.0-liter EcoBoost I-4 engine (earlier post), plus the new 3.5-liter Ti-VCT (Twin I...
$74 Million for a car company?!! Hummer for only $150 million! Ford sold Volvo for $2 Billion. No wonder GM needs all that taxpayer cash! I know that no company is getting rich divesting itself these days but man, talk about your fire sales!
Saab Spyker to Consider Small 9-1 Line In Future, But Not Envisioned Now
Spyker Cars has provided further strategic and financial details regarding its acquisition of Saab Automobile AB from GM. (Earlier post.) Under Saab’s Business Plan, drawn up by Saab management over the past ten months, and fully supported by Spyker, Saab will be a stand-alone niche manufacturer...
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