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Wow! Sounds awesome, but pricey. I'm eager for riding reviews.
Harley-Davidson 2020 LiveWire electric motorcycle available for pre-order at $29,799; 2 new electric concepts
At CES 2019, Harley-Davidson announced pricing and pre-order availability for LiveWire, its first electric production motorcycle. (Earlier post.) The 2020 LiveWire is now available for US dealer pre-order at h-d.com/LiveWire with an MSRP of $29,799. Deliveries are expected this fall; select glob...
This is a smart strategy. Different, appropriate technologies used where they have the most advantage. There is no one solution but many different ones.
UPS to invest $100M more in compressed natural gas, CNG vehicles and related infrastructure
UPS plans to build an additional 12 compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling stations and add 380 new CNG tractors to its growing alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet. The CNG fueling stations and vehicle purchases totaling $100 million are part of UPS’ ongoing commitment to diversify its...
Why doesn't Chevy offer a Malibu with Volt drivetrain (much bigger battery for all-electric driving)?
Good question ! I don't have a good answer. They should. They should also offer a CUV-based Volt. It's the OBVIOUS next step. It is a mystery why they haven't. It's the hot sales area and others are clearly catching up with GM's technology lead while they dither.
2016 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid to start at $28,645; 47 mpg combined
The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid LT (earlier post) will be available this spring with a starting price of $28,645. With an all-new, hybrid powertrain that uses a slightly modified drive unit and electric motors used in the 2016 Chevrolet Volt, the Malibu Hybrid offers a GM-estimated 48 mpg city,...
DaveR,
Malibu Hybrid and Volt are optimized differently, for different driving needs. Simple as that . Volt goes 53 miles all-electric before using any gas. 42 miles combined mpg on gas.
If you need more room, don't have a plug at home, do LOTS more highway driving get a Malibu Hybrid. Otherwise, a Volt maybe for you. YMMV.
2016 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid to start at $28,645; 47 mpg combined
The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid LT (earlier post) will be available this spring with a starting price of $28,645. With an all-new, hybrid powertrain that uses a slightly modified drive unit and electric motors used in the 2016 Chevrolet Volt, the Malibu Hybrid offers a GM-estimated 48 mpg city,...
Nothing to see here....Move along !
VW uncovers irregularities in type-approval CO2 levels affecting about 800K vehicles as part of diesel investigation
The Volkswagen Group announced today that during the course of its internal investigation into the diesel emission cheating issue, it uncovered “irregularities” when determining type-approval CO2 levels. Based on present knowledge, around 800,000 vehicles from the Volkswagen Group could be affec...
Who knew conventional refrigeration units had this bad of emissions? Sort of like gas lawn mowers... Sounds like an innovative, no emissions solution. I am guessing fleet use first due to the need to store and dispense liquid air or nitrogen which is probably not available at the average truck stop like diesel fuel.
Dearman and Hubbard Products form technology partnership for zero-emission transport refrigeration
Dearman, the developer of the liquid air Dearman Engine—an innovative heat engine that uses liquid air (or liquid nitrogen) as a “fuel” and emits cold air as exhaust(earlier post)—has formed a technology partnership with Hubbard Products, Europe’s leading designer, manufacturer and supplier of c...
Who else in VW management had prior knowledge? Past chairmen perhaps? Nobody who follows VW believes that anything significant (especially this deliberate, planned and widespread) happens without full knowledge and backing of the most senior management.
This is only the beginning.
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...
Who else in VW management had prior knowledge? Past chairmen perhaps? Nobody who follows VW believes that anything significant (especially this deliberate, planned and widespread) happens without full knowledge and backing of the most senior management.
This is only the beginning.
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...
Oh the humanity !
This isn't a case of accidentally inserting a fudge factor. It is a cynical, deliberate deception....most likely fully sanctioned by VW upper management.
Aging hippies and europhiles are stunned. A german automobile company lying? Now if it was GM, they would say, we could understand and even expect it !
Teutonic hubris strikes again !
Background on the 2.0L diesel engines at the core of the Volkswagen emissions testing debacle
Last Friday, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (ARB) charged that Volkswagen (Jetta, Beetle, Golf, Passat) and Audi (A3) passenger cars equipped with 2.0-liter diesels in the US have used a software defeat device to cheat on the results of NOx testin...
I don't think conservatives were mentioned, just political parties. Which seems unnecessary....
2015 Harris Poll finds 48% of US car owners would consider hybrid for new car, same as in 2013; plug-in consideration up 2 points
A new Harris Poll of 2,225 US adults (aged 18 and older) has found that 48% of American car owners (or anticipated owners) say they’d consider a traditional hybrid the next time they’re in the market for a new vehicle—a result identical to 2013 findings. Harris recorded lower consideration level...
An interesting way to convert natural gas to liquids and remove the need to cryogenically liquefy and store or compress NG to use it as a transportation fuel.
I assume even though it is a bioconversion it would not truly be a biofuel since it uses a fossil fuel as a starting material? So, no subsidies?
Using less imported oil and exporting fewer dollars is a good thing. I hope it scales up.
Synbio company Intrexon and Dominion partner to commercialize bioconversion of natural gas to isobutanol in Marcellus and Utica Basins
Intrexon Energy Partners (IEP), a joint venture of synthetic biology company Intrexon Corporation and external investors (earlier post), and Dominion Energy, a subsidiary of Dominion Resources, have entered into an agreement to explore the potential for commercial-scale biological conversion of ...
I am for all the above and continued technology development. BEV, PHEV, EREV, strong hybrids, open fuel standards (E85, Methanol), NG, fuel cells - all contribute to less oil and C02. Cellulosic ethanol, increased efficiency corn ethanol, ethanol from cane sugar, sugar beets and sorghum, methanol from NG and MSW and biomass. The future is bright. Combined with electrification these technologies all can contribute. There is no silver bullet.
Study: even with high LDV electrification, low-carbon biofuels will be necessary to meet 80% GHG reduction target; “daunting” policy implications
A study by researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Michigan State University colleague has concluded that even with a relatively high rate of electrification of the US light-duty fleet (40% of vehicle miles traveled and 26% by fuel), an 80% reduction in greenhouse gases by 205...
Plenty of MSW just rotting away in landfills. Jet fuel would be a great alternative. Congratulations Fulcrum and United.
United Airlines invests $30M in Fulcrum BioEnergy; renewable jet fuel offtake agreement, potential joint development of production
United Airlines made a $30-million equity investment in US-based Fulcrum BioEnergy, Inc., the developer of a process for converting municipal solid waste into low-cost sustainable aviation biofuel. (Earlier post.) The investment is so far the largest single investment by a US airline in alternat...
Ahah! The new Cruze 1.4L is essentially the Opel engine design previously announced. Built in the USA and Mexico for the USA market.
Chevrolet introduces new Cruze; new 1.4L EcoTec turbo; new 1.6L diesel coming to US in 2017
Chevrolet introduced the all-new 2016 Cruze—larger, lighter, and more efficient than its predecessor. The new Cruze will be offered in more than 40 global markets and goes on sale first in North America in early 2016. A new, standard 1.4L turbocharged direct injection engine (for North America) ...
Either Prius or Leaf reduce oil consumption and that is what matters to me. They both work. If I had to choose between just these two models it wouldn't be on CO2 considerations. It would be range needed, whether or not I could home charge, etc....
Researchers find Nissan LEAF creates less CO2 than Toyota Prius hybrid in west US and Texas, but more in N. Midwest
Regionally specific lifecycle CO2 emissions per mile traveled for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in the US can vary widely based on grid emission factors (i.e., the “carbon footprint” of electricity production and use), according to a new study by r...
With the continuous, incremental improvements in cell performance I would be worried that by 2030 when the supply of PEV batteries reaches "critical mass" there may not be a market for earlier generation, used, degraded cells. The 2030 battery performance may be so good and the price so cheap that people may say "why bother?"
Utilities would get a 10 or more year guarantee from new batteries at a low cost vs. maybe 10 years from a questionable re-used cell.
Imagine all those perfectly usable CRT monitors that were thrown out in the trash when cheap flat screen monitors became mainstream....
NREL: battery second use offsets EV expense, improves grid stability; recommendations
PEV battery life cycle with second use. Source: NREL. Click to enlarge. Researchers at the US Department of Energy (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are identifying battery second use (B2U) strategies capable of offsetting vehicle expenses while improving utility grid stabil...
Sounds like lots of improvements including fuel efficiency.
Just curious, is this new Chevy 1.4L Ecotec the same as the recently announced GM Opel 1.4L? The hp rating is just slightly higher at 153 vs. 148 for the Opel. I would guess so...
The new Ecotec engines are stated to run on regular unleaded gasoline. Is that E10 or E15? What about E85? If not, why not? I would think a new engine in a high volume model like the Cruze would be a great place to deploy the FFV technology, not just pickups and SUVs.
Chevrolet introduces new Cruze; new 1.4L EcoTec turbo; new 1.6L diesel coming to US in 2017
Chevrolet introduced the all-new 2016 Cruze—larger, lighter, and more efficient than its predecessor. The new Cruze will be offered in more than 40 global markets and goes on sale first in North America in early 2016. A new, standard 1.4L turbocharged direct injection engine (for North America) ...
Which 90 countries are they to be introduced into first? I only see mention of Thailand and Japan. What about timing for the U.S., Europe?
Toyota unveils new diesels with advanced thermal insulation combustion; 15% more fuel efficient, 25% more torque; 44% thermal efficiency
2.8-liter 1GD-FTV direct-injection turbo diesel engine. Click to enlarge. Toyota has introduced a new line of turbodiesel engines with more torque, greater efficiency and lower emissions. The new GD engines feature Toyota’s next-generation advanced thermal insulation diesel combustion to re...
The chart says it all. Good job GM engineers ! From bottom of class to top of class in curb weight from so many sources (powertrain, structures, even seats!) is impressive.
Reducing the weight of the 2016 Malibu
Chevrolet’s new 2016 Malibu, engineered to offer more efficiency, connectivity and advanced safety features, and featuring the option of a new full-hybrid powertrain (earlier post), is also nearly 300 pounds (136 kg) lighter than the current model. The 3,100 lb (1,406 kg) Malibu has the mid-s...
Let's hope GM brings these Opel engines to the U.S. to replace the current U.S. Cruze and Sonic engines. They sound like a step up in power, efficiency and NVH.
GM to premiere new efficient 1.4L turbo at Frankfurt IAA
GM will premiere the new 1.4 ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo and in the new Opel Astra at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt (IAA) in September. The four-cylinder turbocharged unit with central direct fuel injection will be available in two outputs, 92 kW/125 hp and 110 kW/150 hp. The ne...
Sounds good. Full speed ahead !
National Marine Manufacturers Association endorses use of isobutanol in marine fuel market
The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) has identified biobutanol as a suitable and safe alternative biofuel to ethanol. The research and subsequent resolution to move forward formally with butanol as an industry-wide biofuel alternative comes as the industry focuses on addressing t...
Congratulations Tesla.
-Attractive design and price points for the launch products in a product line.
-Modular and expandable.
-Until the gigafactory is producing them they won't be making many of them anyway.
-Tesla star power is bringing tons of free, positive publicity to a behind the scenes technology.
-It will only get cheaper from here as competition, scale and technology improvements lower the cost, add improvements.
-Works now for high cost areas (Hawaii, California, etc...) with high cost power and subsidies for grid batteries.
-American designed and assembled, made with American materials (at least in the first gigafactory).
So, it doesn't work for everybody right now...it does for some and that is great!
Tesla launches line of Li-ion stationary storage systems for homes and businesses: POWERWALL and POWERPACK
Multiple POWERWALL units may be combined. Click to enlarge. As widely expected, Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled the company’s new product line: scalable stationary battery systems for homes, businesses and beyond. Available for immediate order on the Tesla Web site (teslaenergy.com or teslamoto...
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