Cellulosic Biofuel Still A Bit of a Damp Squib
By Martin SchwoererMay 15, 2008 - 516 Views
The First Ever Second-Generation Biofuel Plant established in Saxony, Germany opened April. As we reported previously, a German/Dutch joint venture named Choren claims they'll soon be converting wood scraps into 13k tons per year of "SunDiesel." The list of claims for this venture is long: 90 percent fewer CO2 emissions than conventional diesel, less dependence on oil imports and less disturbance to world food markets than conventional biodiesel. Meanwhile… Autobild (print edition) says complex production processes means it will cost about one Euro to produce a liter of SunDiesel. Choren responded to the news by pointing-out that their first plant is not "optimized for low production costs." What else, then? never mind. Choren is busy talking-up its large-scale plant, set to begin production in 2013 in Brandenburg, Germany. That new factory would/should/could produce around 200k tons/year of SunDiesel, at a cheaper price. That's enough fuel to satisfy 0.6 percent of Germany's demand for diesel.
Posted in Bio-fuels | Green | Diesel | News Blog | 7 comments 
Buy a Chrysler, Get $2.99 A Gallon Gas for 3 Years
By Frank WilliamsMay 5, 2008 - 3,243 Views
Desperate times lead to desperate measures, and Chrysler is about as desperate as they come. Or is that deceptive? First, the facts as we know then: ChryCo's just announced a new sales incentive program in "response to direct customer feedback citing the prospect of rising gas prices as a top concern." So now, anyone buying a "new and unused" Chrysler product in the U.S. can enroll in the "Let's Refuel America" promotion. They'll receive a gas card that lowers their price for gas to $2.99/gallon for three years. Participating customers will receive a card (with a PIN number) for deployment "at an eligible gas station." The card's good for regular gas, E85 or diesel fuel. After fueling is complete, the customer's personal credit card is billed at the rate of $2.99/gallon. The promotion runs until June 2, 2008. There's more fine print, but here's the big kahuna: Chrysler buyers get the card in lieu of "other incentives." Do the math, compare gas cash saved over three years vs. money not saved by discount, and, as the bard once said, "things are not always what they seem; milk can masquerade as cream." Anyone want to make any guesses on how much this deal will end-up costing Chryslerberus? Oh, and don't forget depreciation. Once ChryCo files for C11 the cards will be worthless. Of course, at that point, trade-in values won't be anything to write home about either…
Posted in E85 | Marketing | Sales | Diesel | News Blog | 33 comments
New Prius Hybrid Engine “Cheaper than a modern diesel”
By Paul NiedermeyerApril 30, 2008 - 3,190 Views
After all the fuss and negativity (I'm looking at you, Justin) about the upcoming new Prius gaining three to four inches (still shorter than a Corolla) and some additional power, the really big news was left off the table. According to Auto, Motor Und Sport (paper version), Toyota has achieved its most important goals for the gen3 Prius: a 50 percent reduction of the hybrid components' weight and cost. In the words of a Toyota manager: "Our hybrid will then be cheaper than a modern diesel." Given that the new Prius will have a substantially more powerful electric motor and battery range than the last gen, this is impressive stuff. Despite Volt vaporware, or perhaps because of it (thanks Bob!), it looks like ToMoCo's gas - electric sedan is set to continue its domination of the American hybrid market. Last month, in a VERY down market, Prius sales rose 7.7 percent to 20,635 units.
Posted in Green | Diesel | Hybrid | Fuel Economy | News Blog | 35 comments
Diesel Depreciation Déjà Vu
By Sajeev Mehta- 3,338 Views
Torque and towing aside, I am a diesel skeptic. These Interstate soot-belchers are on par with the jerk that pulls his finger and farts in a crowded room, laughing at everyone in his wake. And now that the good oil is far north of $4 a gallon, I feel truly vindicated. Or not. That's because my girlfriend needs a new whip, and her ultra-clean 2006 Jetta TDI took a serious depreciation hit. Not buying it? Neither is Carmax, to the tune of $2125 less than KBB's trade in value, over $2800 less than Edmunds. The No-haggle Superstore's appraisal said it all in two words, the "market conditions" are a changing. Sure, this ain't no Carter-era diesel Cutlass, but Jettas aimed at enviro-friendly gas savers just met the cruel reality of history repeating itself.
Posted in Diesel | News Blog | 49 comments
VW Reveals Blue TDI For North America
By Edward NiedermeyerApril 25, 2008 - 5,828 Views
VW recently released details of its forthcoming North American-market diesel engine, known as Blue TDI, at the Viennese Auto Symposium. The common-rail turbodiesel boasts the latest and greatest in clean-diesel technologies, like a particulate filter and a maintenance-free NOX catalytic converter. Of particular note: the first-ever application of both high- and low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation systems on a diesel engine. VW says all the new-fangled diesel wizardry delivers a 90 percent reduction in acid rain-causing NOX emissions while delivering 140 hp and 320 nm of torque. Oh yeah, and meeting Euro 5 as well as U.S. 50-state, Bin 5 tier 2 emissions standards. Look for the Blue TDI as an option on US Jettas starting this summer.
Posted in Future Vehicles | Green | Diesel | Fuel Economy | News Blog | 31 comments
VW Diesel Hybrid Kaput; Golf VI Details Revealed
By Paul NiedermeyerApril 22, 2008 - 6,076 Views
At the Geneva Auto Show, VW showed off its 70mpg diesel-hybrid Golf Concept. The German automaker promised that "the model wouldn't just stay a show car". According to the in-depth preview of the Golf VI in the March 27 issue of Auto, Motor und Sport (print edition only), the "forward-looking diesel-hybrid is already a thing of the past." The culprit (once again): it's too expensive. "Eventually" there will be a hybrid Golf, but it will be a gasser, using the 1.4 TSI engine. In the shorter term, VW will rely on further engine downsizing and an optional start-stop system to meet efficiency targets. The Golf VI, which hits European streets this fall, will never see the USA anyway (except in GTI form, perhaps). In a contrast to the platform-globalization programs of the most other big manufacturers, VW is developing lower-cost replacements for the Rabbit and Passat to be produced in their future US plant. The current Passat costs $4k more than the (Camcord) competition, according to VW. Look to a return of twist-beam rear axles.
Posted in Green | Future Vehicles | Overseas | Diesel | Fuel Economy | Hybrid | News Blog | 14 comments
First Ever Second-Generation Biofuel Plant Opens in Germany
By Edward NiedermeyerApril 17, 2008 - 1,944 Views
Find something bad to say about biofuels, and its defenders will likely simply point to second-generation biofuels as the way forward. The problem has been that nobody has actually been commercially producing a second-generation biofuel based on biomass instead of food-grade grains and oils. Until now, that is. Auto Motor und Sport reports that Choren, a joint venture of Shell, Daimler and Volkswagen, has opened the worlds first biomass-to-liquid (BTL) fuel plant in Freiberg, Germany. It will be a few months before the first drops of BTL diesel hit the market, but once production ramps up the plant will pump out 4.75m gallons of the fuel every year. Choren's BTL process involves relatively dry (10-15 percent moisture) biomass which is gasified under high heat and then liquified (biofuel wonks can check out more details at Green Car Congress), extracting a diesel fuel. The Institute for Energy and Environmental Research in Heidelberg reckons that although the BTL fuel is net beneficial when compared to Soy or Rapeseed-based biodiesel, there are emerging technologies which could better utilize the biomass used in the BTL process. The German Minister of Industry likewise warns that while production costs are low when making small batches using straw and forest waste, further research is needed to better understand the impacts of broad proliferation of the biofuel. At least it won't raise the price of beer!
Posted in Bio-fuels | Diesel | News Blog | 6 comments
Chrysler’s DSG Transmission Debuts… Internationally
By Justin BerkowitzApril 14, 2008 - 7,270 Views
That's right, today Chrysler sent out a press release announcing the introduction of its six-speed dual clutch transmission (a la VW's DSG), developed jointly with Getrag. Chrysler reports that it will "provide consumers with a fuel economy improvement and CO2 emissions reduction by 6%." The new cog swapper's going in the Avenger, Sebring and Journey in international markets, initially paired with a 2.0-liter diesel engine. Wait a second… we don't have that 2.0-liter oil burner in the United States. Does "international markets" mean "places that aren't North America?" Why yes, it does! Chrysler's biggest and most important market is not getting the dual clutch transmission from the git-go. But don't kvetch. Were you really considering buying a Sebring anyway? I didn't think so.
Posted in Future Vehicles | Diesel | News Blog | 23 comments
Fiat Goes Hybrid, Entry Level
By Edward Niedermeyer- 2,339 Views
MotorAuthority has it on good, um, authority that Fiat will be offering gas and diesel-electric hybrid drivetrains by 2011. Research on the powerplants is still in the early stages, says Fiat Powertrain Technologies honcho Alfredo Altavilla, and the 2011 timetable could still be delayed if the development team runs into problems. The engines are said to be a 0.9 liter two-cylinder gas-hybrid with a dual-clutch transmission, and a larger 2.3 liter diesel-hybrid four-banger. European emissions standards are clearly the motivating factor here, and the tiny gas burner is expected to weigh in at 90g of CO2 per km driven, well below 2012 European Commission standards. With Fiat jumping on the greentech bandwagon, there's only one other major industry trend that the Italian giant has yet to announce its approach to: the demand boom from the developing world. And just like that, Paul Tan reports that Fiat is planning a new entry-level world car to be released by 2010. There's speculation that it may not be branded as a Fiat (no word on whether the boffins think an entry-level car would hurt the brand, or visa-versa) but the Torino firm could pull out the old Uno or Palio badges too. With its close ties to India's Tata Motors, Fiat could be placed to compete in the nosebleed market. We'll be watching.
Posted in Green | Diesel | Hybrid | News Blog | 2 comments
J.D. Power Survey: Diesels and Hybrids to Increase Market Share
By Frank WilliamsApril 7, 2008 - 2,866 Views
Audi may be right on target with their plans to import diesels . A study by J.D Power (via the Detroit News ) shows diesels and gas-electric hybrids will have 17 percent of the U.S. market by 2015. Surprisingly, Power thinks diesels will outsell hybrids because of the higher cost of admission to the hybrid club; they predict by 2015 hybrids will increase to seven percent of the market (from the current 2.2 percent) while diesel vehicles will make up ten percent. Sales of four-cylinder gas engines are also expected to rise sharply as the automakers scramble to meet the new 35mpg CAFE standard. They don't think hydrogen fuel cells and pure electric cars will have much impact as they won't be available in any significant numbers during the years covered by the study. But what about E85? The proportion of vehicles available that can run on corn squeezin's will nearly double but few of them will be using it because it still won't be available in most places. That won't matter to the manufacturers, though, if the new CAFE standards have the ethanol loophole the current one does.
Posted in Electric Vehicles | Bio-fuels | E85 | Future Vehicles | Green | Fuel Economy | Hybrid | Diesel | News Blog | 5 comments
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