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In about three years, the new EcoBoost 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine from Ford Motor Co. will enter global production. But according to an insider source familiar with the engine, there is still no timetable for a US version.

The source added that it isn’t happening yet for North America. The source added that the subject is certainly being discussed but there’s still no vehicle planned for it yet. There are talks for the next-generation Ka, a front-drive car that is even smaller than the 2011 Fiesta, to make it to the US market.

The Ka is currently being sold in Europe. The three-cylinder engine and the Ford Start concept are displayed at the 2010 Beijing auto show. But at the show, there was no mention of the timetable for this engine.

The Start, a stylish two-passenger concept, has exterior body panels that are made from deformable, pre-colored recyclable materials. On the other hand, the interior panels are made of natural sisal fiber. During the unveiling in the Beijing show, Ford revealed that its horsepower and torque are similar to what a normally aspirated 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine could produce.

The exact ratings were not provided however. The 1.0-liter engine will utilize a cast iron block, cast aluminum cylinder head and cast aluminum sump. A 10:1 compression ratio is anticipated. Ford stated that the engine is intended for small vehicles like the Start concept.

[Via: Autonews]

The rumored extended range electric crossover we saw revealed in General Motors’ design patent drawings is now a reality. The Chevrolet Volt MPV5 concept will make its debut tomorrow at the Beijing Motor Show, and just as we suspected from seeing Volt design chief Bob Boniface’s name on the patent, this five-passenger crossover rides on the same Voltec architecture as the Volt.

The new Chevrolet concept integrates design elements from the Volt, including the headlight, taillamps and grille, with a five-door hatch body style very similar to the larger Orlando and a length about four inches longer than the current HHR.

Propulsion comes from the same 150 horsepower engine and 16 kilowatt-hour battery used in the Volt. However, its larger frontal area and increased drag mean that this one only has a 32-mile electric range as opposed to the Volt’s 40 miles. The Crossover has full seating for five and 30.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the seats. The dashboard appears to be lifted directly from the Volt, including the dual LCD displays. We wouldn’t be at all surprised to see this as the second Voltec product in the GM North American lineup. If built, this would likely be classed as a light truck and do wonders for GM’s CAFE numbers on that side of the business.

[Via: GreenAutoblog]

More than 2,100 exhibitors from 16 countries will attend the 11th Beijing International Auto Show that starts on April 23. The event will feature the latest designs for alternative-energy cars, according to People’s Daily.

The 200,000 square-meter exhibition area will showcase 990 cars, of which 89 will have their world premiere. Stiff competition will come from Volkswagen, BMW, Porsche, Ford, General Motors and other global automakers. Over 700,000 visitors are expected to arrive at the event. On display would be 95 new alternative-energy cars, accounting for almost 10% of the total number of participating vehicles, the largest number in the show’s history. Toyota will bring in its new new-energy vehicles such as the FT-E V, which features the lithium-ion battery; the FCH V, using the high-performance fuel cell “Toyota FCStack,” and the new Prius, powered by lithium-ion battery and using external plug-in rechargeable hybrid technology. BMW will be introducing the hybrid 7 Series and X6. Audi will display its new hybrid Audi A8, a four-wheel drive e-tron electric sports car and the A1 e-tron electric cars. BYD will have the F3DM electric car and e6 prepared. Chery will also be showing off the pure electric QQ. FAW Group will introduce two electric bionic concept cars: the E-wing and E-coo. Soueast Motors will promote its Delica electric vehicles.

[Via: Autonews - sub. required]

From the racetrack to the road, this might be the story of the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid race car that was unveiled back in March at the Geneva Motor Show.

And this is not just another rumor, as the spies caught a prototype near Nurburgring, in Germany, that had a number of telltale signs that under its body it is not an ordinary 911. Regarding the 911 GT3 Hybrid R, this race car already showed that it can write a page of history, as it scored a podium finish in its second appearance in the Nurburgring Endurance Series. Regarding its engine, the car uses a newly-developed 480 hp 4.0-liter flat-six engine but also two electric motors (60 kW each) featured on the front axle. It is expected that the road version car will carry the same technology becoming one of the fastest Porsche cars but also the most fuel-efficient then it will hit the dealerships in 2012.

[Via: 4WheelsNews]

 

Hyundai and Kia announced that they will offer stop-start technology as a fuel-saving feature on many North American vehicles within 2 years.

“Start-stop will be a key part of our development activity in the next two product cycles,” in 2012 and 2016, said Timothy White, Hyundai-Kia’s senior powertrain manager. The new technology is expected to provide a 3% increase in fuel economy. As you may know already Stop-start engine technology is being adopted by more automakers in order to improve their fuel economy as well as to meet tougher requirements. Ford will also offer similar technology on 20 percent of its global nameplates by 2014. Regarding Hyundai, they already revealed the 2011 Sonata Hybrid which represents the first step in producing hybrid vehicles. Kia is already working on a hybrid version of the 2011 Magentis, as it announced this at the New York Auto Show.  

[Via: Autospies]

The media previews for the 2010 Beijing Motor Show are happening at the end of this week and, assuming a certain Icelandic volcano doesn’t upset the atmosphere further, we expect to be on hand. One of the possible debuts is a new Chevrolet-badged MPV concept. What makes this vehicle particularly interesting is that it may be propelled by the same Voltec extended range EV powertrain used in the Volt.

On the design patent that was issued last week, one of the credits is given to Bob Boniface, the design manager that led the development of the original Volt concept as well as the production Volt and Opel Ampera. The association with Boniface as well as some of the design details imply that this new vehicle will be an ER-EV. The shape of the headlamps and tail-lamps as well as other elements of the front fascia seem to be lifted directly from the Volt. A very similar looking vehicle appeared briefly in a GM video released last summer alongside the production Chevrolet Orlando and featured the same blocked off grille used on the Volt. This vehicle is smaller than the Orlando and would likely be a roomier five-seat alternative to the Volt.

[Source: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, via GM Inside News]

We’ve been hearing the rumors for over a year, and it’s now looking increasingly likely that Toyota is getting ready to launch a new hybrid minivan that will wear the Prius nameplate. If true, this would be the first completely new vehicle added to the Prius stable, where it would join the well-known hatchback sometime in 2011.

According to Reuters (which is citing the Japanese Nikkei), this new Prius hybrid minivan may very well be the first such vehicle from Toyota equipped with an in-house developed lithium ion battery pack. The three-row vehicle, which we can only presume would also have sliding doors, would potentially seat up to seven people, expanding Toyota’s hybrid technology further into the family-use market.

No other details are available other than the notion that Toyota would like to keep the price close to that of standard minivans currently on the market. Stay tuned for more as we hear it.

[Via: Autoblog Green]

This is the first clear look that have been released of the production version of the electric Renault Fluence saloon. This car, which will go on sale in in Europe this year and in the UK in 2011, is based on the Megane saloon.

It boasts a theoretical range of 99 miles, a top speed of 84mph and 167lb ft of torque. The Fluence saloon will be joined in the electric vehicle lineup by an electric Kangoo van, which will go on sale sometime in the first six months of 2011. This van will have the same capacity as the standard Kangoo, which has a theoretical range of 99 miles, top speed of 81mph and 167lb ft of torque. Renault is already accepting expressions of interest. Renault has plans to lease both vehicles, but it has yet to disclose if it will offer these vans for sale too.

According to our sources from Lexus, it appears that the petrol versions of the GS range the GS 300 and GS 460 will no longer be produced and the customers who want one will have to choose the remaining GS 450h. This decision came after Lexus registered poor sales of the petrol versions of the GS. For those who don’t know, the Lexus GS 450h is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine but also by an electric motor and has a total output of 345 hp. The price tag will remain the same, €67,000.

By the end of the year, Ford Motor Co. is expected to expand its EcoBoost fuel-saving technology to three additional engines.

We’ll know more soon this Tuesday at the SAE World Congress in Detroit from Barb Samardzich, Ford’s vice president of powertrain engineering, who is slated to provide more details about EcoBoost production plans. To reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, the technology combines direct fuel injection, variable cam timing and turbocharging. In a statement, Samardzich said that Ford intends to truly make a difference by focusing on sustainable technology solutions that can be used for millions of cars. She will also be talking about Ford’s plans to offer a start/stop engine feature on as many as 20% of Ford’s global nameplates by 2014. Ford said that the feature is seen to lower fuel consumption and emissions by about 5%, depending on conditions. Ford’s next three EcoBoost engines will be: (1) a 1.6-liter four-cylinder that will be offered in the European version of the C-Max compact minivan; (2) a 2.0-liter four-cylinder for the next-generation Ford Explorer and Edge; and (3) a 3.5-liter V-6 for rear-drive F-150 applications. Information on hp and torque has yet to be released but Ford asserts that the engine has the power and towing capability of a V-8.

Before the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid debuts late this year, General Motors Co. is doubling the size of its battery lab located in the Technical Center in Warren, Mich.

In a statement, GM said that the facility will expand from 30,000 square feet to 63,000 square feet, increasing its space to develop chargers, build batteries for trials and run tests. The new space will begin to be built later this month and it is scheduled to end this summer. The lab, which opened in January 2009, is part of GM’s commitment to build batteries for the Volt in a plant south of Detroit. The lithium ion cells used in the batteries are from South Korean supplier LG Chem.

[Via: 4WheelsNews]

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BMW’s next-generation Mini and the front-wheel-drive cars planned for 2014 are expected to already use this recently unveiled hydrogen hybrid drivetrain.

This system merges a conventional front-drive powertrain with a hydrogen fuel cell, electricity-storing supercapacitors and an electrically driven rear axle. So far, BMW engineers have produced functioning prototypes based on 1-series hatchbacks converted to front-wheel drive. They assert that the “fuel cell hybrid technology” has a design that enables a vehicle to travel emissions-free in city centers. Regular petrol-electric hybrids are incapable of this feat. This drivetrain will fit into the current Mini Clubman, which means that it’s likely to be included as an option for the front-wheel-drive BMW and Mini models that are at least four meters long. However, the top BMW officials have yet to approve the fuel-cell hybrid. The carmaker wants to make sure that the vehicles will generate enough sales to ensure financial viability. BMW has yet to decide if it will offer hydrogen fuel pumps in most large cities.

[Via: autocar]

Volkswagen just introduced an all-new version of the Touareg, but that vehicle’s Audi relative, the Q7 SUV, is still a couple of years away from a full redesign. In the meantime, Audi is launching a full revamp of the powertrain lineup at the Leipzig Motor Show. The Q7 probably won’t get a hybrid powertrain until the next-generation model debuts, but all Q7s will get a new eight-speed automatic transmission and a range of boosted and direct-injected engines for 2011.

On the gasoline side there is no longer a V8 version of the Q7. Instead, two versions of the supercharged 3.0-liter V6 that debuted in the S4 will do duty. The S4’s 333-horsepower unit is an optional upgrade to a 272-hp base model. In Europe – and increasingly here in the United States – diesel is the preferred engine for the Q7. Europeans can again choose from two diesels, a 3.0-liter V6 or 4.2-liter V8, although both have had a major going over.

The V6 TDI is still rated at 240 hp but most of the engine has been revamped for a 19 percent reduction in fuel consumption. The base version with only a particulate filter is now rated at 31.8 miles per gallon (U.S.) on the European combined cycle. The so-called clean diesel version with the urea injection system that meets U.S. emissions standards is rated at 28 mpg (U.S.) We’ve seen numbers of up to 30 mpg on the highway and 25 mpg combined with the current V6 TDI Q7, so this number shouldn’t be too out of reach.

For those that crave a seriously fast but still comparatively efficient SUV, the 4.2-liter V8 TDI gets an improved 2,000 BAR injection system. This 590 pound-foot monster accelerates the Q7 to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds and gets a combined EU rating of 25.6 mpg.

An Audi USA spokesman tells ABG that the 2011 Q7 V6 TDI will retain its 225 hp / 406 lb-ft rating and will launch with the new eight-speed in September. The gasoline V6 TFSI will also be available here in both 272 and 333 hp flavors beginning in November 2010.

As soon as you leave the U.S. you will observe some funny things. You will also notice that diesel cars are more popular in other countries. The diesel engine, which in the U.S. is generally thought of in connection with large tractor-trailer trucks, is one of the most wanted automobile engines on other continents.

There really hasn’t been any significant increase in the number of diesel cars available on the US market since last year.  While common in Europe, stricter emissions requirements in some states and the recent temporary bout of high priced diesel fuel here has most car manufacturers hesitant to invest the money for what has only shown to be a small segment of the market so far in the United States.

A new generation of clean diesel cars, light trucks and SUVs is now available and offer consumers a new choice in fuel-efficient and low-emissions technology. Clean diesel is a proven technology that is clean, quiet and fun to drive. In the next year, over a dozen new diesel options choices will be available for car consumers in every state; including California, delivering up to 40 percent better real-world fuel economy, 20 percent fewer CO2 emissions and unparalleled performance and long-term value.

5. Audi A3 TDI

On paper, the Audi A3 TDI is an exercise in futility. The model shares platform bits with a Golf Rabbit. It’s smaller than a Jetta Sportwagen. It carries a lofty price premium; the diesel-powered A3 “boasts” the same engine that can be had across the street at the Vee-Dub for thousands less. It’s not as fast, sporty or capacious as the rear wheel-drive BMW 335d. By any rational measure, the A3 TDI is an answer to a question that few Americans even thought about asking. Which is why it’s better to judge the A3 TDI “in the flesh.”

MSRP: $30,800

MPG: 30 City / 42 Hwy

  4. Mercedes-Benz ML320 BlueTEC

So what’s the big deal about the Mercedes-Benz ML320 Bluetec? Simple: Its clean-burning 3.0-liter V6 (shared with the GL320 and R320) is the first diesel-fueled engine (other than Dodge’s heavy-duty truck diesels) to pass the stringent 2010 EPA emissions requirements for 50-state certification. While diesels are a fixture in European-market vehicles, the U.S. government has long been leery of the high particulate emissions endemic to these engines. Thanks to Bluetec, stateside Mercedes buyers can enjoy all the benefits of diesel, including superior fuel economy and a reputation for durability, with the full blessing of Uncle Sam.

MSRP: $48,600

MPG: 18 City / 24 Hwy

  3. VW Jetta TDI

The new era of clean diesel in America was officially ushered in by the new VW Jetta TDi went on sale in 2009. Powered by a 2.0-liter four-banger that produces 140 hp and 236 lb.-ft. of torque, it is the first automobile to meet the world’s most stringent emission control standards, California’s Tier II, Bin 5.

More luxurious and larger than the four prior generations, the new Volkswagen Jetta packs enough upscale features to appeal to upwardly mobile Golf and Jetta owners, while drawing new buyers into the fold.

MSRP: $21,900

MPG: 30 City / 41 Hwy

  2. BMW 335d

The BMW 3 Series is poised to remain America’s best-selling luxury car, and for good reason – it’s an honest-to-goodness driver’s car that’s nonetheless comfortable and stylish enough to appeal to a wide range of consumers.

Drive a BMW 335d and you don’t attract a second glance. Aside from one changed letter in the badge on the trunk, there is nothing to distinguish the BMW 3 Series diesel from the multitudes of 3 Series BMWs on the road. But while the 335d does not make a visual statement, it does say a lot about its driver. It says, "I want excellent fuel economy, and I don’t want to sacrifice performance to get it." In the 335d, perhaps more so than any other car on the road, you get both.

MSRP: $33,150 – $51,200

MPG: 23 City / 36 Hwy

  1. VW Golf TDI

The VW Golf, formerly named the Rabbit, is a great performer with plenty of standard features and a comfortable interior. Though it’s very appealing, its high price undermines its strengths.

This sporty hatchback has been around since 1974. The most recent generation was launched as the Rabbit in 2007, but Volkswagen will revert back to the Golf name for 2010. The name change comes with a handful of mechanical and stylistic changes, including a new fuel-efficient 140-horsepower diesel engine.

MSRP: $17,620 – $23,860

MPG: 30 City / 42 Hwy

As global automakers work out implementation timing for new fuel-efficient powertrain technologies such as gasoline direct-injection (GDI), twin-scroll turbochargers, and full-hybrid powertrains, Hyundai announced that the all-new 2011 Hyundai Sonata is the first vehicle in the industry to offer all three technologies with the new Sonata 2.0T (turbo) and Sonata Hybrid joining the hot-selling GDI-equipped Sonata in Hyundai showrooms later this year.

At the New York Auto Show, Hyundai unveiled its 2011 Sonata Hybrid, changing the game in hybrids with unique approaches in hybrid powertrain design, battery technology and vehicle appearance. The Sonata Hybrid is Hyundai’s first hybrid in the U.S. market.

"The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is the new kid on the block, but it’s not a follower," says John Krafcik, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America. "Its full parallel hybrid configuration and breakthough lithium polymer batteries offer a new take on traditional hybrid design, while its unique design sets it apart from the mid-size hybrid pack."

The Hyundai-developed Hybrid Blue Drive architecture is a full parallel hybrid drive system, which can operate on an electric motor, gasoline internal combustion engine, and a combination of the two depending on driving conditions and driver demands. Hyundai’s proprietary full parallel architecture differs from the power split technology used by most competitors, allowing significant efficiency advantages at higher speeds. Hyundai Hybrid Blue Drive is the first and only system using lithium polymer battery technology – leapfrogging competitive in-market nickel-metal hydride and lithium-ion applications. Lithium polymer offers the benefits of lithium-ion, a technology used in laptops and cell phones, but adds robustness, power-density and package flexibility, making it ideal for automotive applications. Hyundai Hybrid Blue Drive also is unique in its use of the company’s own highly efficient, compact new 6-speed transmission, modified with hybrid starter-generator, electric motor, and low-friction oil pump, which together allow the elimination of the traditional torque converter.

Hyundai Hybrid Blue Drive is a new addition to a full suite of eco-focused products and technologies that Hyundai offers in its goal to be the auto industry’s global eco-leader. According to the EPA, Hyundai has led the U.S. industry in fuel economy for 2008 and 2009, and is currently the only automaker with average fleet fuel economy of more than 30 miles per gallon.

"Hyundai applies advanced technologies to vehicles to provide the best solutions for the everyday driver," said Krafcik. "Unlike traditional hybrids that trade off highway fuel economy for higher city ratings, the Sonata Hybrid delivers best-in-class highway fuel economy, while still delivering about a 40 percent improvement in city fuel economy compared to a Sonata equipped with the Theta II GDI engine. We think this is a better balanced approach for the majority of car buyers."

Performance

Sonata Hybrid’s projected best-in-class highway fuel economy of 39 mpg offers significant benefit to hybrid owners with highway commutes, while also offering outstanding city fuel economy of 37 mpg. Government studies have shown that the typical U.S. driver operates in a highway mode 57 percent of the time. Hyundai’s approach to deliver class-leading fuel economy in highway mode provides a unique solution in the mid-size sedan hybrid market, and differentiates Sonata Hybrid from the likes of Toyota Camry Hybrid and Ford Fusion Hybrid. Sonata Hybrid delivers typical hybrid fuel economy gains in the city like its competitors, but also gives owners outstanding fuel economy on the highway, where these competitors fall short.

Sonata Hybrid delivers class-leading electric-vehicle operation at steady-state speeds of up to 62 miles per hour. Gasoline engine engagement depends on state of charge, acceleration and vehicle speed. Its two propulsion units develop a total output of 209 horsepower at 6,000 rpm, exceeding all mid-size competitors, and 195 lb-ft of torque. The weight-efficient architecture of the new Sonata platform, combined with the lightweight lithium polymer battery pack, make the Sonata Hybrid the lightest vehicle in the segment, at just 3,457 pounds, 263 pounds lighter than the Fusion Hybrid. Combined with Sonata’s best-in-class horsepower rating, Sonata Hybrid has a significant advantage in power-to-weight ratio, a key enabler of both performance and efficiency.

Hyundai’s proprietary parallel hybrid drive system is the heart of the Sonata Hybrid. The competition uses a power split system with a planetary-geared Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). This is where the Sonata Hybrid gains a key advantage. Competing hybrid models use electric motors that have to power a planetary gear set. By utilizing a full parallel drive system, Sonata Hybrid uses the power from the electric motor more efficiently to directly control the vehicle, allowing it to be operated at much higher speeds than the competition in EV-only mode. This technology is also a key enabler of Sonata Hybrid’s best-in-class highway fuel economy.

Hyundai’s Hybrid Blue Drive Architecture

Hyundai’s Hybrid Blue Drive is a proprietary parallel hybrid drive system that runs on the already fuel-efficient 2.4-liter Theta II engine (169 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 156 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm) mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission and a 30kW (151 lb-ft) electric motor for maximum fuel economy. Hyundai’s Hybrid Blue Drive has an all-electric mode and a parallel drive mode. This means the wheels are turned by power coming directly from the gasoline engine, or the electric motor, or both together, as conditions demand. This parallel hybrid drive architecture will serve as the foundation for future hybrid drive vehicles to be developed by Hyundai.

In the Hyundai Hybrid Blue Drive system, the Theta II with multi-port fuel injection (MPI) operates on an Atkinson Cycle. Atkinson Cycle is a type of internal combustion engine strategy designed to dramatically increase fuel efficiency through changes in compression and power strokes in the four stroke engine. It is typically only used in hybrid systems where the high-torque electric motor boosts low-end power, which is traded off for internal combustion engine efficiency. By combining the electric motor and the Atkinson Cycle engine, the Hybrid Blue Drive system delivers best-in-class highway hybrid efficiency.

To further improve fuel economy, all of the Theta II major driveline and cooling system components have been optimized to reduce friction, while the crankcase has been filled with low friction oil. Hybrid Power Control (HPC) management software automatically shuts off the engine when the vehicle comes to a halt, cutting emissions to zero. When pressure is reapplied to the accelerator pedal, the Hybrid Starter Generator (HSG) automatically restarts the engine. This control strategy assures that maximum efficiency is achieved during gentle acceleration and greater power is immediately available during full acceleration. During deceleration, braking regeneration comes into play. Sonata Hybrid also features ’smart brake’ technology in which braking input over-rides accelerator pedal input.

The high-tech, all-aluminum, 16-valve engine also features Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) on both camshafts and newly developed engine components to reduce friction. This optimized Theta II engine achieves 10 percent better fuel consumption over a conventional Theta II engine.

Hyundai Hybrid Blue Drive uses the company’s proprietary 6-speed automatic transmission rather than a conventional hybrid’s CVT. Hyundai’s strategy involves an adaptation of the modular 6-speed transmission, replacing the torque converter with an electric motor and high-efficiency oil pump. This technique uses a traditional step-shift 6-speed transmission rather than a CVT to provide a more traditional shift feel that is preferred by customers and sometimes artificially replicated in CVT applications. This saves on cost, making the Hyundai Hybrid Blue Drive system a better value. It is a more robust and elegantly simple solution to a complicated engineering challenge.

Fuel efficiency improvements are evident throughout Sonata Hybrid. For example, the top three gear ratios in the transmission have been extended to ensure the engine runs at lower RPMs, the electric motor-assisted steering system reduces demands on the engine, and low resistance tires further optimize fuel economy.

Hybrid Blue Drive is made up of the following major components:

1. An efficient 30kW electric motor delivering 151 lb-ft of torque
2. A regenerative braking system
3. An integrated starter generator that enables the engine to turn off at stops and restart automatically under acceleration
4. A breakthrough lithium polymer battery package, with 5.3 Ah of capacity at 270 volts
5. A fuel-efficient Theta II 2.4-liter engine
6. 6-speed automatic transmission with an improved efficiency electric oil pump
7. Weight-efficient architecture coupled with a low drag coefficient (.25 Cd target)
8. Electric air conditioning compressor
9. Hybrid power control unit

Lithium Polymer Battery Technology

Sonata’s hybrid system stores its electrical charge in a 270V lithium polymer rechargeable battery (5.3Ah/270V) that surpasses existing nickel-metal hydride and pending lithium-ion applications. Lithium polymer batteries are more durable and space-efficient than other hybrid batteries. They are also more weight-efficient. The Sonata Hybrid’s battery pack weighs just 95.9 pounds versus the Camry Hybrid’s 123.9 pounds. The compact battery pack resides in the forward portion of the trunk to maximize cargo space.

Lithium Polymer Batteries vs. Nickel-Metal Hydride Batteries

Compared with nickel-metal hydride batteries, lithium polymer batteries deliver the same power with 20-30 percent less weight, 40 percent less volume and 10 percent greater efficiency over the nickel-metal hydride batteries found in today’s hybrids. Lithium polymer batteries offer 1.7 times more energy density than nickel-metal hydride batteries, allowing Hyundai engineers to devote less space and weight to the battery pack. Lithium polymer batteries hold their charge 1.25 times longer. Lithium polymer batteries also are more resistant to changes in temperature, which improves cycle life. Additionally, lithium polymer’s self-discharge rate is less than a third of a nickel-metal hydride battery.

Lithium Polymer Batteries vs. Lithium-ion Batteries

Lithium-polymer has significant advantages over lithium-ion, including higher energy density and lower manufacturing costs. Lithium polymer is more resistant to physical damage and can handle more charge-discharge cycles before storage capacity begins to degrade. Lithium polymer technology also offers significant advantages in thermal robustness and safety.

A key difference between traditional lithium ion batteries and Hyundai’s lithium polymer battery solution is the overall packaging of the cell – the anode, the cathode, the electrolyte, and the encasement material. Traditional lithium-ion batteries, like those found in laptops, use what’s known as the 18650 cell format. In this format, each mass-produced cell is 18 mm. in diameter and 65 mm. tall, which is a bit larger than a ‘AA’ battery. Each of these small metal cylinders is filled with a liquid electrolyte that facilitates the movement of lithium ions across anode and cathode, creating the battery current.

Traditional lithium-ion batteries are easy to handle, withstand mild internal pressures, and have been around in various forms since 1991. That means a manufacturing infrastructure is in place, and economies of scale are reasonably high. However, they do have several disadvantages. For example, their cylindrical shape reduces packaging efficiency and they are surprisingly complicated to manufacture since they have so many small parts. These small parts make them robust to thermal fluctuations and add significant cost and weight to the overall battery system. Cell-to-cell consistency also is extremely critical in a vehicle battery package, since the pack is only as robust as its weakest cell. Traditional lithium-ion batteries have considerable cell-to-cell variation, while Hyundai’s lithium polymer batteries deliver outstanding cell-to-cell consistency.

Lithium polymer technology uses a completely different approach. Rather than using a liquid electrolyte, which requires a robust metal casing, lithium polymer batteries use a polymer gel as the electrolyte, which allows the use of a thinner and lighter aluminum-walled encasement, or pouch. Inside each lithium polymer cell, the cathode, separator, and anode are laminated together, enabling much simpler and more reliable manufacturing. This allows the battery pack to be about 20 percent smaller than a lithium-ion battery pack, making it much easier to change the cell footprint to fit the nooks and crannies of available vehicle space.

Hyundai and its battery supplier, LG Chem, have spent hundreds of hours testing the Hyundai Hybrid Blue Drive lithium polymer battery system. This testing has proven that Hyundai’s lithium polymer technology has greater thermal and mechanical stability than existing systems, meaning better safety and performance.

Another key engineering challenge for Hyundai Hybrid Blue Drive has been assuring maintenance-free battery operation over the vehicle’s life – at least 10 years, and 150,000 miles – in all weather conditions. Heat is the enemy of battery cycle life. Hyundai’s thermal imaging testing shows how much cooler a lithium polymer battery is compared to today’s nickel-metal hydride battery or a conventional lithium-ion battery. Consumers will notice these advantages in improved useful life and lower maintenance costs.

Fluidic Sculpture Design Adds a Unique Eco Flair

Hyundai designers have taken Sonata’s fluidic sculpture design language a bit further with Sonata Hybrid, making it even more aerodynamic. The goal was a modern, eco-friendly design, with ‘at-a-glance’ differentiation from the non-hybrid Sonata models.

Unique exterior design elements:

• Headlights and taillights
• Aerodynamic bumper fascias
• Aerodynamic rocker panels
• Bold hexagonal grille
• Eco-spoke wheels
• Air dam and aero side sills
• Hybrid Blue Drive badging
• Exclusive hybrid paint color

Interior refinements:

• Supervision cluster with eco-display options
• Unique interior color choice
• Unique seat patterns

The Sonata Hybrid also offers drivers a way to be more engaged in fuel-efficient driving thanks to Hyundai’s Hybrid Technology Display. The Hybrid Technology Display is featured on a 4.2-inch LCD screen located between the odometer and tachometer, or is visible on the optional seven-inch navigation screen. It features the following information:

Driving mode

• Energy flow within the vehicle
• Engine and motor movement
• Fuel level
• Battery power levels and charge status
• Electric vehicle mode indicator
• Average and instant mpg

 

Last week Tesla Motors filed an update to its original S-1 documents. The S-1 filing is a requirement as the company moves closer to its initial public offering (IPO). The update contained an abundance of new information such as the report regarding the current Roadster production continuing into 2012 as well as additional financial funding information. Something else was found in the filing worthy of mention. It appears Tesla, in light of the recent Toyota unintended acceleration problems, is equipping vehicles with anti-unintended acceleration software.

As the filing states, Tesla has programmed code into the vehicle that can greatly reduce the chance of an unintended acceleration. The software fixes consist of complex algorithms that basically cut off electricity if the vehicle is shifted to neutral or the key is turned from the on position. As the company said of the software changes,

We stop the flow of electricity to our motor when the car is placed in neutral or the key is rotated from the "on" position. We also stop the flow of electricity to the motor during normal vehicle operation when the brake pedal is depressed for more than two seconds.

Note to future car buyers: next time you hit the dealerships in search of a new car, it’s not a bad idea to check the build sheet and make sure the vehicle you’re interested in has that anti-unintended acceleration software upgrade already installed.

[Via:Green Autoblog]

The numbers are in for Mach sales and hybrids have fared well compared to last year. Hybrid automakers can’t heave a sigh of relief quite yet, because sales have fallen short of the overall industry rise compared to a year ago. The numbers show that hybrid sales are up 18 percent from last March, while light vehicle sales rose 25 percent. Hybrid sales were also below expectations. It’s likely that strong incentives for traditional cars and a rebounding economy drove buyers towards conventionally powered vehicles.

Hybrids accounted for 22,400 units in March, an improvement over 19,000 units a year ago. Big sellers this March included the Toyota Prius, which saw a 32 percent increase over last March, and the Honda Insight, which tripled sales compared to a year ago. The biggest losers include the Honda Civic hybrid which fell off some 80 percent. The Prius now holds 53 percent of the hybrid market, but the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids are gaining ground by accounting for 3,000 units in March. Hybrids as a whole accounted for 2.1 percent of the entire car market. Whew?

[Via: Green Car Advisor]

According to the latest reports from Automotive News, it appears that Daimler executives are considering making the flagship S-Class a hybrid-only lineup.

According to the same sources, Daimler is considering the same change even for the high-performance AMG models, offering no models with only internal-combustion engines. The switch is reported to take place with the next-generation S-Class, which will make its European debut in 2013 while in the North America will come a year later. The German manufacturer informed only a handful of Mercedes-Benz dealers which will meet this week with Joachim Schmidt, sales and marketing chief at Mercedes-Benz Cars, at The Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Ga. where Mercedes-Benz is a sponsor.

Tommy Baker, chairman of the Mercedes-Benz dealer board and a Charleston, S.C., Mercedes dealer, said: “The most important thing in the American market — regardless of hybrid, lithium or electric cars — is that we Americans are different than any market and we are going to want those gasoline engines.”

In conclusion, for the S-Class buyers, the goal is not gas mileage. Apparently, the new switch will help Mercedes-Benz to reach strict European CO2 emissions standards and tougher corporate average fuel economy standards in the United States by mid-decade.

Mercedes-Benz now sells only a mild hybrid model, the S400 Hybrid in the United States and it is priced at $88,825, including destination. It uses an electric motor teamed with a 3.5-liter V-6 gasoline engine and it has 30% better fuel economy comparing it to the S550.

Dealers say that the costs of the hybrid models of the S550 and S600 powered by its mighty V12 engine would go too far. For example, the S65 AMG costs $202,025, including freight, and it is purchased for its performances, not fuel economy.

[Via: AutomotiveNews]

Last Wednesday at the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant, the first pre-production Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid rolled off the line, according to a statement from General Motors Co.

But don’t expect to see these pre-production versions at the dealerships as they won’t be sold there and will instead be used as test cases, which ensure that the quality targets by the Volt engineering team will be met. In the next few months, workers will be producing more pre-production Volts. The manufacturing engineers would then be examining these vehicles as the plant prepares to produce retail models. The Volt has a range of up to 40 miles on battery power. The Volt will go on sale in November and for the first year, GM expects to sell up to 11,000 units

Hyundai Motor Co. listed the advantages that the 2011 Sonata Hybrid, its first US hybrid, has over its rivals from Toyota Motor Corp. and Ford Motor Co. Hyundai would like to emphasize the edge of its model when it comes to cost and performance.

Scheduled to be available this year, the 2011 Sonata Hybrid utilizes a system that’s lighter than those in hybrid versions of Toyota’s Camry or Ford’s Fusion. At the New York Auto Show, John Krafcik, CEO of Hyundai’s U.S. unit, said that the new Sonata is capable of better acceleration.

Lee Ki Sang, a senior vice president of Seoul-based Hyundai and head of its hybrid program, disclosed that the lithium-polymer battery is about 20% lighter. Lee also shares that overall, this model has much lower cost throughout the system.

What Hyundai would like to promote is that it has the highest average miles per gallon under U.S. rules. Hyundai wants to appeal to buyers who are concerned that gasoline prices would go back to the levels that they were in 2008.

With that in mind, Hyundai made sure that its vehicles are very fuel-efficient and that these cars have improved fuel engines.

The US government has long been urging carmakers to improve corporate average fuel economy to 35 mpg. Krafcik claims that the Sonata Hybrid will average 38 mpg in combined city and highway driving. Hyundai has yet to announce pricing or a sales target for the new model.