Tesla Confirms Model S Plug-in Hybrid Sedan

Earlier this month, Tesla confirmed that it has started work on a second model, the follow up to the long-awaited electric-powered Roadster. The car, a family-sized four-door sedan previously known as "Whitstar" in rumors now has a name: Model S.

Although Tesla is best known for its work with electric cars, the new Model S will be dramatically different than the vehicle that preceded it. The key differentiator is, new sedan won't be a pure electric vehicle using battery power alone. Instead, Tesla is opting to make it a plug-in hybrid, which will feature a standard internal combustion engine (most likely gasoline-powered) as a method of recharging its lithium-ion batteries, much like the Chevrolet Volt.

Tesla also confirmed a couple of the Model S' key specifications, such as that it would have a range of 224 miles, and that it will sell for $60,000. Though Tesla hasn't confirmed when the car will be produced, it is expected to arrive in late 2010, and will be assembled in the state of California.

California isn't exactly known for producing automobiles, but Tesla opted to build the Model S in the Golden State due to a tax rebate, which would allow Tesla to obtain a tax exemption when purchasing equipment for building electric vehicles. This is expected to save Tesla millions, and is sure to come in handy for further research and development.

source: http://car-reviews.automobile.com/news/tesla-confirms-model-s-plug-in-hybrid-sedan/5872/

Mitsubishi plans plant to meet battery demand

The race for lithium ion batteries is heating up, with Mitsubishi Motors saying it will build a plant to meet an expected fivefold increase in demand.

The factory will open after April 2009 and have an initial output of 200,000 battery cells a year, or enough for 2,000 cars. Mitsubishi will ramp up capacity to equip 10,000 vehicles "shortly afterward," amid higher hopes for its i MiEV electric vehicle, the company said in a statement.

Mitsubishi's new factory will be operated by Lithium Energy Japan, a joint venture with GS Yuasa and Mitsubishi. It will be in the western prefecture of Shiga.

Plans had called for GS Yuasa to make the batteries at an existing plant in Kyoto, with annual output for 1,000 vehicles. But the partners decided that a bigger plant was needed to meet growing demand.

The four-passenger i MiEV, which runs on lithium ion batteries, goes on sale in Japan next summer. The car also will be tested in California this year to evaluate a U.S. launch.

The zero-emissions i MiEV is the centerpiece of Mitsubishi's effort to leapfrog Japanese rivals in the green car race. Lithium ion batteries are seen as the key because they are lighter and more powerful than the current nickel-metal hydride batteries used in hybrid vehicles.

Rivals also are developing lithium ion batteries. Nissan has a venture with NEC and plans to start production next year. Toyota is teaming with Matsushita Electric Industrial on its own battery technology.


source: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-10019206-48.html

M&M is working on electric car bigger than Reva

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) is working on an electric car that will be bigger than the Reva brand, said a senior company official. The four-seater, under development, will hit the market by 2010.

Reva sells at a base price of Rs 3.5 lakh in Bangalore and Rs 2.9 lakh onwards in New Delhi. In the European market, the car sells for 12,000 to 13,000 euros. The M&M electric car would costlier. It will run on lead acid battery initially and on nickel metal hydride later, sources said.

M&M plans to launch the product in India and then take it abroad. This is contrary to the plans of Tata Motors, which is working on an electric car project for Norway and plans to launch the product there by the end of this fiscal and then make it available in other markets.

"We plan to launch the product in the country first and mature in the segment before venturing into foreign markets. We want to be prepared for the market and don't want to be caught unawares," said the official.

Once a technology is developed, it can be used across platforms, he said. Currently, M&M has an electric three-wheeler called Bijlee, and is working on an electric version on its three-wheeler Alfa.

Recently, at the M&M annual general meeting, Keshub Mahindra, group chairman, said that the company has "ushered in the three-wheeler electric vehicles and is currently developing electric options for several other models."

When quizzed on the same, Pawan Goenka, president, automotive sector, M&M Ltd, had said, "There is better pay-back on three-wheelers." He, however, did not rule out the possibility of using the technology in other products.

However, in a country with a huge shortage of power, the success of such vehicles is questionable. "Electric cars are not as economical as compared to CNG vehicles, since the latter is readily available at gas stations now. The way out is to develop low-carbon electricity technology, for which the auto companies are looking at tying up with energy companies," said an analyst from Datamonitor.

Cross-subsidy from various state governments will help in the creation of infrastructure such as charging stations and will generate more interest among buyers, said Reva Electric Car Company chairman, Chetan Kumaar Maini, recently. The company, which has sold around 2,600 units till now, expects to reach its target of 6,000 units this year.

Lithium-ion batteries can make electric vehicles more attractive. These batteries have high specific energy of 80-200 Wh/kg compared to nickel metal hydride and lead acid batteries of 60-120 Wh/kg and 30-50 Wh/kg, respectively, and hence conserve energy better than traditional batteries.

Worldwide, auto majors like General Motors and Toyota have a presence in hybrid electric vehicles. Hyundai has plans to launch hybrid electric vehicles in India.

source: http://in.news.yahoo.com/241/20080819/1264/tbs-m-m-is-working-on-electric-car-bigge.html

Solar Efficiency Record Broken

When it comes to eeking another fraction of a percentage point of power out of a solar panel, we're pretty good at not paying attention. I mean, what's the difference between 40.7% and 40.8% anyway?

Generally these efficiency gains aren't all that important to the future of the solar economy. Yes, it's a new world record, but the photovoltaic modules that are most economical are only like 20% efficient. They're better because they're cheaper...and these record-breaking panels are NEVER cheap.

But this one is worth talking about.

Scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado eeked that extra fraction of a percent out using a few very interesting techniques. Highly efficient solar cells have to split light into segments and then capture each hunk of wavelengths separately. This lets the panel be efficient across a wide spectrum.

This new chip uses an entirely different system to split the wavelengths (gallium indium arsenide and gallium indium phosphide...if you're curious.) The result is a much thinner and lighter solar cell that could even possibly be flexible.

The chips is also optimally efficient under concentrated sunlight. Concentrated sunlight is preferable because large areas of light can be concentrated on small areas of photovoltaic material. And since the PV material (especially this ultra-efficient stuff) is extremely expensive, using less per unit of sunlight captured is way better.

In short, this isn't just another tiny bump in efficiency, it's an entirely new solar cell, and one that could be very useful not just for satellites, but also for utility scale solar. Though, to be fair, the path to the commercial market is always pretty arduous for these new solar technologies.

source: http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/2013/

Honda has high hopes for new lower-cost hybrid

TRAVERSE CITY, Michigan (AFP) — Honda Motor expects a strong response to a lower-cost, five-door hybrid vehicle it will launch globally in April, a senior executive said Wednesday.

"We're targeting sales of 100,000 units of this new vehicle in North America," said Dick Colliver, executive vice president in charge of sales and marketing for American Honda Motor Co.

Honda will produce 200,000 units of the new hatchback in Japan. It will be launched on Earth Day, April 22.

Colliver would not disclose the vehicle's anticipated fuel economy or price but said it would be smaller and less expensive than Honda's Civic hybrid and rival Toyota's top-selling Prius.

But while Honda is expanding its production of hybrids, it considers fuel cell vehicles to be the cars of the future, Colliver said.

"For the long term, we continue to see the development of fuel cell vehicles as the ultimate solution," Colliver told a conference sponsored by the Center for Automotive Research in Traverse City, Michigan.

"While this technology is more than a decade away from the mass market, we know it works because we've been advancing it in the real world with real customers."

The first all-new FCX Clarity - a four door sedan which gets the equivalent of 74 miles per gallon, or nearly three times the efficiency of a standard gasoline car - was delivered to a customer in Los Angeles several weeks ago. Honda has been testing fuel cell vehicles with US customers for more than three years.

One of the biggest challenges to expanding the availability of hydrogen fuel-cell powered vehicles is the lack of infrastructure to deliver the fuel to customers, Colliver told reporters following his presentation.

"We know directionally if we can develop the infrastructure to support that car and we can get the volume out of it, it's a true direction we can go for new fuel efficiency as well as reducing greenhouse gasses," Colliver said.

source: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iVDCRvMC1PAj5bHq-U370LuGsmbg