teamcar headline

Lotus Receive the 2008 Dewar Trophy for Technical Excellence

2009-06-28T15:14:00.000+08:00

The Royal Automobile Club has named Group Lotus plc as the recipients of the historic Dewar Trophy for 2008. The Dewar Trophy is awarded for an outstanding British technical achievement in the automotive field and the Dewar Trophy Technical Sub-Committee unanimously agreed that Lotus should be recognized for the company's development of its Versatile Vehicle Architecture (VVA) chassis technology.

Lotus Versatile Vehicle Architecture (VVA) has been developed to exploit the benefits of producing at low to medium volumes but for niche markets. Engineering a bespoke low-volume platform is an expensive, time-consuming solution, whilst sharing a mainstream chassis normally results in compromises in performance and design. VVA exploits Lotus Engineering's expertise in Aluminium, steel and composite body engineering, joining techniques, and vehicle systems integration. This innovation technology offers a fast-to-market, cost-efficiency, approach without the compromises that stems from conventional “platform sharing”.

The Lotus Evora enters the sports car market as currently the world's only mid-engined 2+2. Powered by a Lotus-tuned 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 280PS, and weighing just 1350kg (prototye specification), the Evora promises breathtaking performance and uses a low volume application of Lotus Versatile Vehicle Architecture.

Camry Hybrid Press Preview in THAI!

2009-06-02T12:23:00.001+08:00

MyTeamCar - Toyota have previewed the Toyota Camry Hybrid that will be assembled in Thailand. The Thai-assembled Camry Hybrid will be the first Camry Hybrid to be based on the Aurion-based Camry body. Currently the Camry Hybrid sold in countries such as the US are based on the JDM Camry, which to me looks more funky and sporty, somewhat like an overgrown Altis.
As the Camry sold in Thailand and the rest of the ASEAN region are based on the Australian Toyota Aurion, it only makes sense that Toyota bases the Thai Camry Hybrid on the Aurion body. The Thai assembled Toyota Camry Hybrid features its own front grille and rear tail lamp design as well as a front bumper that looks similiar to the one found on the facelifted Toyota Camry, but with some differences in the fog lamp area.

The Australian-assembled Camry Hybrid will likely continue to be based on the JDM Camry body, as indicated by the Toyota HC-CV Hybrid Camry Concept displayed at the 2009 Melbourne Auto Show.

Toyota Motor Thailand president Mitsuhiro Sonoda says the Camry Hybrid will be priced quite closely to exiting petrol-powered Camry models in Thailand, predicting a premium of not more than 100,000 Thai baht. This is because the Camry Hybrid is subject to an excise duty of only 10% instead of 35% in Thailand.

Since a top of the line Camry 2.4 can go for over 1.7 million Thai baht (it starts from about 1.5 million for the cheaper 2.4G), the Camry Hybrid would likely be priced at about 1.8 million Thai baht. I don’t think he was referring to the 3.5Q which retails for nearly 3 million Thai Baht.

The warranty for the Toyota Camry Hybrid will also be extended to 5 years or 150,000km, which is longer than the regular 3 year warranty that you get with Toyota cars there. This is to help ease public acceptance of the relatively new technology which many fear will be expensive to maintain once the warranty period ends. Toyota has also partnered with insurance firms there to offer the same premiums as the regular models despite the Camry hybrid having more expensive parts.

Under the US car’s hood is the 2.4 liter Atkinson cycle 2AZ-FXE engine producing 147 horsepower at 6,000rpm and 187Nm of torque at 4,400rpm, paired to a 30kW (40 horses) electric motor with 270Nm of torque. These two are combined and send power to the front wheels via an E-CVT transmission. The Thai Camry Hybrid should use something similiar.

Source: Paultan.org

Urban Trasportation - Concept Vehicle

2009-05-09T16:54:00.000+08:00

MyTeamCar - General Motors and Segway have teamed up to develop a two-wheeled, electrically powered, two-seat prototype vehicle that will include a lithium-ion battery and dual electric wheel motors. This vehicle could change the way we move around in cities.

The Project P.U.M.A. (Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility) prototype, 300 lb (136 kg) zero-emissions vehicle has a top speed of 35 mph (56kph) and is powered by two electric wheel motors. The control system is based on the original Segway with dynamic balancing and drive-by-wire for acceleration, steering, and braking. It also features vehicle-to-vehicle communications, digital smart energy management and a dockable user interface that allows off-board connectivity.

"Project P.U.M.A. represents a unique solution to moving about and interacting in cities, where more than half of the world's people live," says Larry Burns, GM vice president of research and development and strategic planning.

The prototype combines several technologies from GM and Segway, including an electric drive system and batteries, dynamic stabilization, all-electronic acceleration, vehicle-to-vehicle communications, digital smart energy management, a dockable user interface that allows off-board connectivity, and autonomous driving and parking. The onboard connectivity technology allows vehicles to talk to each other to avoid crashes and to drive themselves, according to GM.

"Imagine small, nimble electric vehicles that know where other moving objects are and avoid running into them," says Burns. "Now, connect those vehicles in an Internet-like web and you can greatly enhance the ability of people to move through cities, find places to park and connect to their social and business networks."

Burns says Project P.U.M.A. vehicles could run about one-fourth to one-third of today's cost of owning and operating a car.

"This is what P.U.M.A. is capable of delivering," says Burns. "Imagine moving about cities in a vehicle fashioned to your taste, that's fun to drive and ride in, that safely takes you where you want to go and connects you to friends and family, while using clean, renewable energy, producing zero tailpipe emissions and without the stress of traffic jams."

According to GM, the P.U.M.A. won't be commercially available until at least 2012. Cost estimates are not yet available.

China Overtakes Germany, US in '08 Auto Output

2009-04-24T11:25:00.001+08:00

Shanghai, April 23, 2009: (Gasgoo.com) German auto industry's latest figures show that China overtook Germany and the U.S. last year to have produced the world's biggest number of automobiles, xinhuanet.com reported today.

China became the world's largest car-producer in 2008, with a world market share of 17.2%, outranking Germany (14.7%) and the US (14.6%), the German association of car manufacturers VDMA revealed earlier this week. China's auto output hit 9.42 million units in 2008, up only 6% year on year, the slowest growth in recent years.

In profit, German companies had an 8% increase, the US a loss of 10%, while Chinese carmakers achieved a 30% rise. The sales slump in the U.S. and Europe also highlights the China market, where new cars sales in March reached a record of 1.11 million units thanks to the government's auto stimulus measures.

Recent car sales in China have been boosted by a slew of incentives introduced since the beginning of this year. Taxes have been halved to 5% for cars with engines of 1.6 liters or less. The Chinese government is also subsidizing the purchase of alternative energy vehicles.

While managing to borrow and assimilate the latest global auto-making technologies and expertise, Chinese carmakers have been speeding up the development and production of their own-brand vehicles to grab more shares of the domestic market from their western partners.

European, American and Japanese auto companies, such as Volkswagen, Peugeot Citroen, General Motors, and Toyota Motor, were still competing very much for a market share in China, although the profit outlook was increasingly shrinking.

Sources: autonews.gasgoo.com

Proton Exora to go the export route !

2009-04-19T15:52:00.001+08:00

MyTeamCar - Malaysian national automaker Proton, which has launched its first seven-seater multipurpose vehicle, is pinning hopes on the long-awaited model to spur sales and boost exports amid a global economic slump.

The new Exora model marks a turning point in Proton's product range, which previously focused only on passenger cars, and could be used as a platform to develop other high-end commercial variants, said managing director Syed Zainal Abidin.

Proton believes there will be "overwhelming response" for the 1.6l engine vehicle due to its competitive pricing below RM76,000 - the cheapest in the market - and improved features, he said.

The automaker has received 2,500 bookings ahead of its official launch, he said.

"Despite the current (economic) situation, we believe there will be good spinoffs ... it will help to stimulate a lot of interest not only for the company but for the whole industry," he told The Associated Press at a recent media preview.

Syed Zainal said the Exora will make its debut in Indonesia in July and in Thailand by the year-end, before being exported to the Middle East next year.

"This is a starting point about the way we want to go forward," he said.

"We set our sight very clear that the domestic (market) cannot be our champion. Every car that we produce must cater for exports ... our survival goes beyond the shores of Malaysia."

Proton, which returned to the black in the fiscal year ended Mar 2008, is hoping the Exora will help to sustain its profitability as the economic downturn hits demand globally.

Proton's exports remain minimal and sales are largely derived in Malaysia, Southeast Asia's biggest passenger car market. New vehicle sales in the domestic market fell 4.8% in February from a year earlier, the fifth straight month of decline.

Despite the weak market, Proton aims to sell 2,500 units a month as the vehicle offers value for money with dual airbag, auto cruise, leather seats, DVD player, a navigational system and bluetooth connectivity, he said.

Proton is also working on different prototypes including a pickup model and taxi vehicle based on the Exora platform, he said.

MIMB Investment Bank said Proton appeared to have learnt from past mistakes by improving on interior finishing and the quality of the exterior.

The vehicle's debut also coincides with a government-backed auto scrapping system, in which owners can trade-in vehicles over 10 years old to get a RM5,000 rebate for any Proton new car from this month.

sources from The Star

New parking system takes the hard work out of parallel parking By FORD

2009-03-26T17:30:00.001+08:00

In these difficult times for the U.S. motor industry, Ford is evidently hoping that it can win back customers with technology that could take some of the stress out of getting behind the wheel. The company's new Active Park Assist system automatically maneuvers a vehicle into even the tightest parking space.

Parallel parking on a crowded city street is no easy task. Take it from me: the streets of Boston make the "friendly bumper bump" a common affair (and I admit, I've been a perpetrator as often as I've been a victim). To simplify the task, many newer vehicles are equipped with an optional electronic parking assist system--something that my 2002 Honda Civic unfortunately does not have. The two most common systems use an array of sensors on the bumper to trigger a beep when you get too close to an object, and video cameras that send pictures to a navigation screen in the dashboard. Some of the pictures even suggest a steering direction.

Ford's Active Park Assist is similar to a Toyota feature called Intelligent Parking Assist that was first available on the 2007 Lexus LX, but in Toyota's system, the driver still has to identify the exact parking spot using a navigation screen, as well as operate the brake.

Source: TechnologyReview.com

BMW Reveals Plans to Build Compact Hybrid Cars

2009-03-21T10:59:00.001+08:00

MyTeamCar - Bavarian auto maker BMW has revealed its plans to produce a compact or small sized hybrid vehicle via BMW’s Chairman Norbert Reithofer at BMW Group’s Annual Accounts Press Conference. This project, which is called the Megacity Vehicle project, is part of BMW’s Project-i.

According to the chairman, “This vehicle will be the first of a range of near-zero emission vehicles. Customers will have the choice between a fully electric drive and a high-efficiency combustion engine. Large-scale production could start in the first half of the next decade. With the Megacity Vehicle project, we are also pursuing a radical approach toward establishing a truly sustainable value chain-from development to production and sales.”

We not sure if there would be two types of vehicles (fully electric or with a high-efficient combustion engine), or the chairman is actually referring to one particular hybrid that would offer both. Reithofer also went to mention that this vehicle will not carry another badge, meaning it should be sold either as a MINI or a BMW. The first vehicle which is part of the Project-i is the MINI E, that is currently performing customer testing via public leasing trials. Can recent reports regarding BMW’s plans to co-produce platforms for small sized vehicles with Fiat have anything to do with this?

China's Chery delays joint venture with Fiat

2009-03-20T11:12:00.000+08:00

China's largest independent carmaker, Chery Automobile Co, said Thursday it had postponed a joint venture with Italian industrial conglomerate Fiat due to the economic crisis.

The two companies signed an agreement in 2007 to set up an auto manufacturing joint venture in Wuhu city in eastern China's Anhui province.

"We are still in talks for the project. But given the current economic situation and conditions in the domestic auto market... there will be some delay," Jin Yibo, a Chery spokesman told AFP.

The venture was to produce and distribute Fiat and Alfa Romeo models as well as Chery's vehicles. Production of 175,000 vehicles a year had been targeted to begin this year.

No new timetable had been set for the joint venture's launch, Jin said.

The company, known for its low-cost cars, on Thursday expanded its product line by unveiling its first mid- to high-end sedan, which will be priced between 200,000-300,000 yuan (29,300-44,000 dollars).

The new upscale car, Riich G6, marks a step towards Chery's goal of becoming a global car company, it said in a statement.

Chery was China's biggest automobile exporter last year, accounting for more than a quarter of the country's car exports. Chery shipped 135,000 units abroad last year, up 12.6 percent from 2007, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

The Digital Car: Cool Automotive Accessories

2009-02-28T11:10:00.000+08:00

The average person spends nearly an hour a day driving to and from work, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. So-called "extreme commuters" spend four hours or more -- that's the equivalent of spending over a month per year sitting in a car.

Long commute times are one factor driving the demand for technology-based accessories, and accessory manufacturers are tapping into that demand as the industry moves toward fully digital cars.

Estimated factory-to-dealer sales of in-vehicle technologies are expected to reach US$9.6 billion in 2007, according to the Consumer Electronics Association, and car technologies are among those drawing extra attention at this week's International CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas.

From slick gadgets to cockpit electronics and beyond, the in-vehicle technology market has something to offer not only the soccer mom who drives a just a few miles per day, but also the road warrior who spends many hours on the highways each week.

By Jennifer LeClaire
TechNewsWorld

World’s First 15 Series Tyre was launched by Kumho

2009-02-06T13:54:00.002+08:00

Kumho is launching the world’s first ultra low profile 15 Series tyre at the 2008 SEMA (Speciality Equipment Market Association) Show in Las Vegas this week (November 4-7).

The 385/15ZR22 size ECSTA SPT KU31 has been developed as a conversion option for such exotic sports cars as the Ferrari F430, Dodge Viper, and Corvette Z06.

The company has used cutting-edge computer simulation technology to optimise the sidewall structure, thereby preventing the formation of standing waves or ripples in the contact patch – a problem that can occur with the build up of heat at high speeds.

The new tyre also benefits from a semi run flat capability, ensuring it remains firmly fixed to the rim even after a puncture or general loss of pressure.

“The world’s first 15 Series tyre is a perfect example of what we have achieved through our ongoing commitment to research and development,” said Sae-chul Oh, Kumho’s President and CEO. “This is one of many innovations by our company which include aroma, coloured smoke and X-speed tyres. We will maintain our position at the cutting edge of tyre technology as we race towards our goal of becoming one of the world’s top five tyre makers.”

How Hybrid Cars Work

2009-01-03T12:41:00.004+08:00

Hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) combine the benefits of gasoline engines and electric motors and can be configured to obtain different objectives, such as improved fuel economy, increased power, or additional auxiliary power for electronic devices and power tools.

Some of the advanced technologies typically used by hybrids include:-

-Regenerative Braking. The electric motor applies resistance to the drivetrain causing the wheels to slow down. In return, the energy from the wheels turns the motor, which functions as a generator, converting energy normally wasted during coasting and braking into electricity, which is stored in a battery until needed by the electric motor.

-Electric Motor Drive/Assist. The electric motor provides additional power to assist the engine in accelerating, passing, or hill climbing. This allows a smaller, more efficient engine to be used. In some vehicles, the motor alone provides power for low-speed driving conditions where internal combustion engines are least efficient.

-Automatic Start/Shutoff. Automatically shuts off the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop and restarts it when the accelerator is pressed. This prevents wasted energy from idling.

source: fueleconomy.gov

New technology to convert waste into petroleum

2009-01-02T11:29:00.001+08:00

BANGALORE: A small-time Mumbai-based company claimed to have developed a technology to convert waste into petroleum fuels in a cost-effective manner and is set to commercialise it, already bagging an overseas customer.

Mumbai-based Sustainable Technologies & Environmetal Projects Pvt Ltd (STEPS), which has eight engineers and three scientists working for it, has come out with a caged catalyst unit for conversion of waste into petroleum fuels.

The technology is one of the gold winners of the Lockheed Martin India Innovation Growth Programme, which focuses on commercialisation of innovative Indian technologies.

The unit developed by the one-year-old company converts hydrocarbon-based materials, including plastics, auto fluff, bio-medical waste, slaughterhouse waste, animal fats, petroleum sludge, sewage, grass, organic matter and petroleum byproducts into liquid, gas and solid fuels.

STEPS director Raghavendra Rao T said that the company had just signed an agreement with Australian firm B100 Biofuels under which the latter would use the technology for conversion of agriculture waste.

"B100 Biofuels plan to set up very large biodiesel plants in the Far-East region. They are looking at this technology for conversion of agriculture waste, particularly waste coming from palm oil mills and agricultural fields," Rao said.

"They would like to convert the waste either into methane gas or liquid fuels so that they can power electrical needs to run the plant and also meet other social needs."

Rao said the company is in discussion with five-six overseas companies to clinch similar deals. "We see huge market."

According to him, prototypes of this technology has been tested in Far-East, Europe and India.

Source: www.economictimes.indiatimes.com

New Mazda Biante Minivans for Japan

2008-12-19T18:42:00.001+08:00

Hiroshima, Dec 17, 2008 - (JCN Newswire) - Mazda Motor Corporation has announced the sales launch of limited edition and special edition versions of its mid-size, tall 'high-roof' Biante minivan for the Japanese market. The 'Biante 20S Limited' and 'Biante 20CS Limited' models come specially equipped with popular features, while the 'Biante 20 NAVI Special' limited edition adds a highly functional GPS navigation system. These new models go on sale today at all Mazda, Mazda Anfini and Mazda Autozam dealerships throughout Japan.

The special edition 'Biante 20S Limited' is based on the best-selling 20S grade and is equipped with popular features such as dual power sliding doors and Mazda's advanced keyless entry and start system. The 'Biante 20CS Limited' is based on the 20CS grade. It features discharge headlights for improved nighttime visibility and 'cleanable seats' that are upholstered with easy-wipe fabric to help prevent stains.

The 'Biante 20 NAVI Special' limited edition offers special equipment at a smart price. It has a parking assist system with multiple cameras to help the driver and Mazda's G-BOOK Alpha-compatible HDD navigation system with a voice-control function. Production will be limited to 800 units nationwide.

Main features of the special and limited edition Biante models

- 20S Limited -

Base model
Biante 20S, with a choice of a front-wheel-drive (FWD) model with five-speed automatic transmission or a four-wheel-drive (4WD) model with four-speed automatic transmission, both powered by the 2.0-liter direct injection DOHC engine.
Special equipment
- Dual power sliding doors
- Advanced keyless entry and start system (with answer-back function)
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel

- 20CS Limited -

Base model
Biante 20CS, with a choice of a front-wheel-drive (FWD) model with five-speed automatic transmission or a four-wheel-drive (4WD) model with four-speed automatic transmission, both powered by the 2.0-liter direct injection DOHC engine.

Special equipment
- Discharge headlights (with auto-leveling function on low beam)
- Cleanable seats
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel

- Biante 20 NAVI Special - (production limited to 800 units)

Base model
Biante 20S Limited, with a choice of a front-wheel-drive (FWD) model with five-speed automatic transmission or a four-wheel-drive (4WD) model with four-speed automatic transmission, both powered by the 2.0-liter direct injection DOHC engine.*
Special equipment
Mazda G-BOOK Alpha-compatible voice controlled HDD navigation system
Includes the following functions:
- Parking assist (front, side and rear guide monitors)
- DVD and CD player with AM/FM radio
- Analog television tuner and printed antenna
- Bluetooth(R) hands-free system
- Steering-wheel mounted audio system control switches
- Six speakers
Body colors
A choice of three exterior body colors is available: Crystal White Pearl Mica, Brilliant Black and Lilac Silver Metallic.

* Some equipment on the 20S Limited grade - dual power sliding doors, advanced keyless entry and start system, 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels and rear roof spoiler - is not included on the 20 NAVI Special.

Big Revolutionized of Hyundai Sedan, seven-seat Kia ute

2008-12-12T10:11:00.001+08:00

Korea go large: Hyundai and Kia show no fear of future fuel-economy standards or $3-per-gallon gasoline in the United States, instead pushing up market and up in size with two new V8-powered models revealed at the Detroit show.

Hyundai's latest offering is the Genesis sports sedan, aimed at premium-segment buyers with mid-level wallets. When the Genesis bows this summer, a top-trim model will sport 375 hp from a 4.6-liter V8 engine. The rear-drive sedan also will offer a laundry list of luxury content, such as adaptive HID headlights, radar-based cruise control and a full complement of safety features, from electronic active front headrests and stability control to eight airbags.

Hyundai would not reveal exact pricing but said the sedan would start in "BMW 3 Series territory," or somewhere in the low-$30,000s range.

Meanwhile, Kia unveiled its Borrego, the first foray by Hyundai's sister company into the midsize-sport/utility-vehicle market--and the world of V8 engines.

As traditional SUVs such as the Ford Explorer (with which one Kia executive compared the Borrego) are planning to move to unit body construction, the seven-passenger Borrego uses a body-on-frame architecture. With an optional 4.6-liter V8 cranking out more than 300 hp, the Borrego will have a class-leading tow rating in excess of 7500 pounds, Kia said. Kia also said it will make diesel power available, if not initially, at some point during the vehicle's first model run.

A 600-watt Infinity sound system with auxiliary USB audio input jacks tops the standard-equipment list, while options include a DVD-based navigation system, a rear camera and power-adjustable pedals. The Borrego should begin popping up in Kia showrooms this summer.

As conclusion, the move to V8 power doesn't mean the Koreans are out of touch with the U.S. market, company officials said. Adding bigger engines was planned long before the current fuel-economy rules were suggested. Also, neither company expects that V8s will make up a large percentage of the overall product mix.

Source: http://www.autoweek.com

New Perodua Coming Soon

2008-12-10T11:22:00.000+08:00

Hawaii Endorses Plan for Electric Cars

2008-12-09T10:24:00.000+08:00

The State of Hawaii and the Hawaiian Electric Company on Tuesday endorsed an effort to build an alternative transportation system based on electric vehicles with swappable batteries and an “intelligent” battery recharging network.

The plan, the brainchild of the former Silicon Valley software executive Shai Agassi, is an effort to overcome the major hurdles to electric cars — slow battery recharging and limited availability.

By using existing electric car technologies, coupled with an Internet-connected web of tens of thousands of recharging stations, he thinks his company, Better Place L.L.C. of Palo Alto, Calif., will make all-electric vehicles feasible.

Mr. Agassi has succeeded in assembling a growing consortium of national governments, regional planning organizations and one major car company. Tuesday’s announcement follows earlier endorsements from Israel, Denmark, Australia, Renault-Nissan and a coalition of Northern California localities supporting the idea leading to the deployment of an electric vehicle with a range of greater than 100 miles, beginning at the end of 2010 in Israel. The company plans test deployments of vehicles in 2009 and broad commercial sales in 2012.

Mr. Agassi has raised $200 million in private financing for his idea. In October, he obtained a commitment from the Macquarie Capital Group to raise an additional $1 billion for an Australian project.

On Tuesday, he said that he was optimistic about his project despite the dismal investment and credit markets because his network could provide investors with an annuity. Users of his recharging network would subscribe to the service, paying for access and for the miles they drive.

Given the downturn in the mortgage market, he said that investors are looking for new classes of assets that will provide dependable revenue streams over many years. “I believe the new asset class is batteries,” he said. “When you have a driver in a car using a battery, nobody is going to cut their subscription and stop driving.”

Mr. Agassi has argued that even if oil prices continued to decline, his electric recharging network — which ideally would use renewable energy sources like solar and wind — could provide competitively priced energy for a new class of vehicles.
He supposes that his network idea will be appropriate first for “island” economies that typically have significantly higher energy costs, and then will become more cost-competitive as it is scaled up.

“We always knew Hawaii would be the perfect model,” he said in a telephone interview. “The typical driving plan is low and leisurely, and people are smiling.”

Hawaii is a relatively small market with high energy costs. The state has about 1.2 million cars and replaces 70,000 to 120,000 vehicles annually.

Drivers on the islands also rarely make trips of more than 100 miles, meaning there will be less need for his proposed battery recharging stations. Part of Mr. Agassi’s model depends on quick-change service stations to swap batteries for drivers who need to use their cars before they have completely recharged their batteries.

Peter Rosegg, a spokesman for the Hawaiian Electric Company, said that Better Place would become a major customer for electricity and was also planning to invest in renewable energy sources that would be connected to the electric grid.

“It’s going to be a nonexclusive agreement, but so far they’re the only one that has shown up,” Mr. Rosegg said.

In late November, the mayors of San Francisco and other major Bay Area cities endorsed the Better Place network to help create an electric recharging network by 2012. The company estimates that it will cost $1 billion to build a charging network in the Bay Area that may create as many as half a million charging stations.

Despite challenges, the Better Place model is promising, said Daniel M. Kammen, a professor in the Energy and Resources Group at the University of California, Berkeley. It could appeal to owners of fleets of vehicles and to early adopter customers who are willing to work through the difficulties that will inevitably accompany a new transportation system. “It has a lot of promising features,” he said.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/

If Oil Price Keeps Increasing

2008-12-01T11:16:00.002+08:00

The Barn...

2008-11-20T10:49:00.000+08:00

A New York man wanted to use his retirement funds wisely,
has decided to buy a home and a few acres of land in Portugal .

The modest farmhouse had been vacant for 15 years;
the owner and wife both had died,
and there were no heirs.

The estate was being sold to pay back taxes.
There had been several lookers, but the large barn had steel doors,
and they had been welded shut.
No one wanted to go to the extra expense to see what was in the barn,
and it wasn't complimentary to the property anyway...
so, no one made an offer on the place.

The New York gentleman bought it as is,
paying just over half of the property's worth; moved in,
and set about to access the barn...
curiosity was killing him.

So, he and his wife bought a generator and a couple of grinders...
and cut thru the welds.
What was in the barn...?

The Barn

The doors were welded shut, but a grinder took care of that.

A warehouse full of vintage high performance cars!!!

Aston Martin?

Opel GT, Lotus Elan FHC, Lotus Super Seven Series IV, Lotus Elan DHC.

Porsche 356, Austin Healey Sprite MkII, Volvo PV 544, Ford Y.

Giulietta Sprint, Giulia Sprint Speciale (SS), Nash Metropolitan.

Alfa Giulietta, Lotus Europa, another Lotus Elan FHC, Matra Djet.

Lancia Flaminia CoupÃ

Abarth 1300 Scorpione

American (inspired) design

Interior of Alfa Romeo

Lancia Flaminia CoupÃ, Peugeot 504 cabriolet & 404 cabriolet.

Mini, Alfa 1900 Super Sprint, Balilla.

Formula racers, Chryslers, Mercedes, Austin A30.

Total value of all vehicles over 35 Million! Amazing!!!!!

The man and his wife had full title to the complete lot of vehicles.
They're having a great retirement!

Honda's ASIMO

2008-11-05T14:04:00.007+08:00

Honda's first humanoid robot, ASIMO (Advanced Step In Innovative Mobility), will be paying Malaysia a visit in November to showcase its latest abilities, such as running, gripping objects and recognizing humans.

The new generation ASMO with new technologies bringing it to a higher level of mobility that 'will enable ASIMO to function in human society'. It now has more advanced walking technology, wider arm operating parameters, is easier to operate and more agile. 'Born' on Octorber 31,2000, ASIMO stands at 1.3 metres tall and weighs 54kg.

"ASIMO is the result fo the vision of Honda engineers and Honda's Challenging Spirit. After 22 years of research and development, ASIMO can now recognise objects, comprehend and respond to voice commands and even identif faces,' said Honda Malaysia MD and CEO, Atsushi Fujimoto.

In conjuction with the visit, Honda Malaysia is organising the 'ASIMO Inspiring Dreams Contest' from 13th Octorber to 2nd November. The contest requires contestants to tell how ASIMO inspires them and their dreams for ASIMO in the future. Log on to www.honda.com.my/asimo and answer two simple questions to win limited edition ASIMO merchandise. Winnders will also be invited to a special ASIMO preview, whereby one lucky winner will have te oppurtunity of a lifetime to be served by ASIMO.

Green Earth Technologies Solves Environmental Car Wash Dilemma

2008-10-17T12:00:00.001+08:00

STAMFORD, Conn., Oct 16, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Green Earth Technologies (Pink Sheets:GETG), a consumer goods manufacturer producing "G"-Branded superior performing totally green products, wants to help consumers wash their cars without polluting the earth. Recently, the Department of Ecology in the state of Washington banned washing cars in driveways where runoff can enter storm drains and pollute water. Green Earth Technologies' car cleaner products can solve this problem and help sustain this neighborhood weekend ritual and high school community service activity without harming the environment. G-WASH(TM) Heavy Duty Hydrophobic Car Wash is a green alternative for ordinary and heavy duty cleaning jobs. It is not a soap or a detergent or a petroleum solvent, but a blend of natural plant-based products, making it safe to wash your car in your street or driveway. G-WASH(TM) is ultimate biodegradable receiving the ASTM Standard's highest available ranking.

"Green Earth Technologies is committed to releasing environmentally responsible products that will help American consumers continue their everyday routines without harming the environment," said Jeff Marshall, President and CEO of Green Earth Technologies. "Our line of automotive appearance products including G-WASH(TM), G-WHEEL(TM), G-GLASS(TM) and G-TIRE(TM) address the need for car wash alternatives in the state of Washington as well as across the nation. It is our mission to work with state and local officials to end car wash bans and instead embrace green automotive products."

Consumers looking to clean their vehicle while helping to protect the environment can purchase Green Earth Technologies' 5-Pack Car Care Kit. The kit includes the 4oz. G-Wash Heavy-Duty Hydrophobic Car Wash, 4oz. G-Glass Organic Glass Cleaner, 4oz. G-Wheel Brake Dust Removing Wheel Cleaner, 4oz. G-Tire Ultimate Tire Shine, 4oz. G-Wheel Brake Dust Shield and a Green Earth Technologies license plate. The 5-Pack Car Care Kit is currently available on Amazon.com.

Article From:
http://www.marketwatch.com/

Puzzling local interest in Proton

2008-09-18T14:28:00.001+08:00

teamcar - ASK any research analyst in town about Proton Holdings Bhd and everyone is likely to agree that the national carmaker needs a foreign partner to help it ride out the current slump.

But in recent months, several local automotive companies have made public their interest to take over Proton. DRB-HICOM Bhd, which is run by Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary, Naza Group, owned by Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin SM Amin and the Mofaz Group, a car distributor.
Initially, some were confused. Could Proton be rescued by a Malaysian company?

Analysts had scenarios to take into account both a local and a foreign partner, allowing them to co-exist at different levels of the group.

To follow the often cited Perodua model, a local partner could be at the holding level while a technical partner could control the manufacturing arm.

Last week, speculation reached fever pitch when DRB-HICOM held a Press conference. Group executive adviser for automotive operations, Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Omar, said he was called to the Cabinet committee on the automotive industry, to talk about the firm's bid.

DRB-HICOM has made a bid for a third of Proton and it is 100 per cent sure of its chances.
Naza wants to buy all of Khazanah Nasional Bhd's shares in Proton. At Friday's closing price, that 43 per cent block is worth some RM1.4 billion.

Should the Government sell its shares in Proton to local firms? A more pressing question is that can they turn around Proton?

"Proton needs good exports and it has to be fast in rolling out new models. Can DRB-HICOM help do that?" asks Rosnani Rasul from TA Securities.

Conversion of Carbohydrate And Sugar Into Petroleum

2008-09-17T10:17:00.004+08:00

teamcar - Following independent paths of investigation, two research teams are announcing this month that they have successfully converted sugar-potentially derived from agricultural waste and non-food plants-into gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and a range of other valuable chemicals.

Chemical engineer Randy Cortright and his colleagues at Virent Energy Systems of Madison, Wisc., a National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research awardee, and researchers led by NSF-supported chemical engineer James Dumesic of the University of Wisconsin at Madison are now announcing that sugars and carbohydrates can be processed like petroleum into the full suite of products that drive the fuel, pharmaceutical and chemical industries.

The process Virent discovered in early 2006, and announced at the Growing the Bioeconomy conference sponsored by Iowa State University on Sept. 9, 2008, is the subject of patent applications published last week.

That announcement was followed this month by the publication of a separate discovery of the same process in the Dumesic laboratory. Dumesic and his colleagues announce their findings in the Sept. 18, 2008 online ScienceExpress, to be followed in print in the Oct. 18, 2008, issue of Science.

The key to the breakthrough is a process developed by both Dumesic and Cortright called aqueous phase reforming. In passing a watery slurry of plant-derived sugar and carbohydrates over a series of catalysts-materials that speed up reactions without sacrificing themselves in the process-carbon-rich organic molecules split apart into component elements that recombine to form many of the chemicals that are extracted from non-renewable petroleum.

According to Dumesic, a key feature of the approach is that between the sugar or starch starter materials and the hydrocarbon end products, the chemicals go through an intermediate stage as an organic liquid composed of functional compounds.

"The intermediate compounds retain 95 percent of the energy of the biomass but only about 40 percent of the mass, and can be upgraded into different types of transportation fuels, such as gasoline, jet and diesel fuels," said Dumesic. "Importantly, the formation of this functional intermediate oil does not require the need for an external source of hydrogen," he added, since hydrogen comes from the slurry itself.

As part of a suite of second generation biofuel alternatives, green gasoline approaches like aqueous phase reforming are generating interest across the academic and industrial communities because they yield a product that is compatible with existing infrastructure, closer than many other alternatives in their net energy yield, and most importantly, can be crafted from plants grown in marginal soils, like switchgrass, or from agricultural waste.

While several years of further development will be needed to refine the process and scale it for production, the promise of gasoline and other petrochemicals from renewable plants has led to broad industrial interest.

Virent's process, called BioForming, is allowing the company to address one of the key goals of NSF's SBIR program, commercialization, and a broader NSF target, American competitiveness. A recent alliance with one of the world's largest energy companies aims to bring these alternative fuels to market, and investment from major automotive and agricultural companies from around the world are broadening the company's impact.

Related site:
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2008/09/two-independent.html#more

Toyota Launches Re-branded Genuine Motor Oil

2008-09-10T11:59:00.002+08:00

teamcar - Unlike European carmakers that rely on off the shelf motor oil, Japanese manufacturers are known for coming up with their own unique formulation, just perfect for their engines. Toyota first introduced their own brand genuine motor oil in 1989 with just two grades, the TGMO SG 20W-50 for petrol engines and the TGMO CD-40 for all the Toyota diesel engine vehicles.

Over the years there has been changed and improvements made to the TGMO in order to suit the new developed engines by Toyota and to meet the expectations of the market. Today, there are five different grades of the TGMO in our product line-up – it ranges from the fully synthetics, minerals and diesel grades, all developed specially for Toyota vehicles for better fuel efficiency and the ease of driving experience.

They have also come up with new fully synthetic formulation called the TGMO SM/CF that replaces the SL/CF fully synthetic mix. The new packaging design comes with a new bottle and cap design for both the 4-litre and the 1-litre packages.

The TGMO bottles also come with new colors; the gold bottle is for the other variants. Security features are also being improved to prevent counterfeit and recycling of the bottles. On the bottle cap there is an embossed Toyota logo and another logo on the foil seals underneath. A part from that, the Toyota Genuine Parts logo is also being embossed at the base of the bottle.

The new TGMO will be available at all UMW Toyota Service Branches, 3S Dealers as well as authorized parts dealers. In conjunction with the new branding of the TGMO, the company we will be running a three-month campaign starting from September till November, in line with the holiday season.

Sourced by: Malaysian Motor Trader 10th Sept 2008

Japanese Firms Developing Carbon Fibre for Mass Production Cards

2008-08-20T12:07:00.000+08:00

Carbon fibre is usually considered as exotic material used for really expensive cars or in racing machines where cost is less important than weight saving. However, as the world faces record oil prices, pressure for more economical cars are increasing and one of the best ways to make more fuel-efficient cars is by making then lighter.

Since most people are used to the current size of cars that they are using, manufacturers will not be able to introduce smaller cars in the name of fuel economy, so the race is on for lighter building materials. Aluminum is already used extensively now focused on carbon fibre as the automotive construction of the future.

During last year 2007, Tokyo Motor Show, a few Japanese carmakers showed off their all-carbon fibre car construction and indicated a certain eagerness to explore the possibility of a mass-produced model. Recently, Today Industries, the biggest carbon fibre producer in Japan and Mitsubishi Rayon announced a close cooperation with Honda and Nissan to produce a new kind of low-cost carbon fibre.

According to the Japanese media, the Government will provide USD20 million in funding over the next five years of the project and the goal is to mass produce the material by the mid 2010s and reduce vehicle weight by 40 per cent compared to current models.

Exhaust Electricity For Efficiency Gains

2008-08-13T10:17:00.000+08:00

Thermo electrics produce electricity when they are heated and what better way to use them on a car than by applying them to the hot bits of the engine, like the exhaust.

Since the internal combustion engine uses around 30 per cent of the energy burnt for the powering the car, the rest goes to waste therefore the potential for recovery is great.

Researchers at the Ohio State University and California Institute of Technology claim to have developed a way of improving fuel efficiency by 10 per cent through the use of thermoelectric materials. They claim that the material would be ready between five to ten years and can cost as little as USD 10 per car of produced in a large enough quantity. If the material produces enough electricity from exhaust heat, we may see future cars that do not need to have heavy alternators weighting it down and dragging the engine.

Thermo electrics are already in use in compact refrigerators. Just as heat can help produce electricity, the material can also absorb heat when electric current runs through it.