US Hybrid Sales Picking Up

By Anthony Fontanelle

With the increasing price of gasoline and the awareness to the growing threat of global warming growing, more and more automakers are developing eco-friendly vehicles. Unlike in the past when green vehicles are only developed and not mass produced, automakers today are marketing hybrid vehicles. The demand for these hybrid vehicles is increasing according to a study conducted by R.L. Polk & Co. The report showed that for the first seven months of the year, new hybrid sales increased by 49 percent on the United States.

According to the study, the increase in hybrid vehicle sales in the country is fueled by the demand for fuel efficient cars in the Midwest. R.L. Polk & Co reported that of all the fifty states, Oklahoma has the largest increase in new hybrid vehicle sales. The auto information and marketing company reported further that 143 percent more hybrid vehicles were sold in the state of Oklahoma for the first seven months of 2007 compared to the same period last year. The state of Hawaii though declined to provide hybrid sales data for the study.

Overall, the study reported that from January to July this year, 215,997 new hybrid vehicles were sold in the United States auto market. For the same period, the number of these green vehicles sold totaled 144,721. This increase is surely good news to environmentalists who are lobbying for automakers to revamp their lineup to include more environment friendly vehicles such as hybrids.

This study will also be additional ammo for groups calling for more models of green vehicles. The fact that the demand for green vehicles is sharply increasing means they can lobby automakers to create more green cars. On the part of automakers, this will show them that the demand for hybrid is increasing and if they want to capitalize on this trend, they should develop more hybrid vehicles. The increase in hybrid sales also means that wholesale auto parts for such vehicles will also increase.

In the Midwest region, R.L. Polk & Co. reported that sales for the first seven months of 2007 is 57 percent higher than hybrid sales figure for the same period last year. The iconic Toyota Prius and the Toyota Camry Hybrid are the best selling hybrid vehicles in the region according to the report. In the Western region of the United States, new hybrid sales increased by 52 percent from January to July this year. In the Northeast, sales increased by 49 percent. And in the South, sales jumped by 42 percent.

Lonnie Miller, the director of industry analysis for R.L. Polk said that hybrid vehicle sales are one bright spot in the United States auto industry. While demand for new vehicles is down as a whole, hybrid sales are still going up. In fact, Miller expects that more than 300,000 units of hybrid vehicles will be sold this year in the country to compose more than 2 percent of the total vehicle sales in the country. Last year, R.L. Polk reported that 254,545 hybrid vehicles were sold.

Jay Leno To Drive Hydrogen Powered Car

By Anthony Fontanelle

Automakers are coming up with more and more green vehicles. Toyota started it all with the hybrid Prius and other automakers are quick to follow. According to experts, while hybrid vehicles definitely have its advantages, it is not the ideal car for the future when it comes to the reduction of carbon footprint. The use of hydrogen as fuel is considered by many as the perfect solution to reduce the damage done by vehicles to the environment.

Honda came up with the FCX. The said vehicle runs on hydrogen and is now being tested in the United States by select fleet and individuals. Honda though is not the only automaker which has developed a vehicle that is fueled by hydrogen. German automaker BMW has also developed the Hydrogen 7 - a hydrogen-powered luxury sedan. Several units of this vehicle are already being tested in the country. The German automaker gave keys of the Hydrogen 7 to several celebrities including Will Ferrell. The newest celebrity to be given a key to the Hydrogen 7 is The Tonight Show host Jay Leno.

The comedian has been known to be an automotive enthusiast who knows how to work on cars. Giving him a key to the Hydrogen 7 will give BMW a boost if the comedian/auto enthusiast came up with favorable review of the hydrogen powered car.

"As an avid car enthusiast I'm always interested in the future of automotive technology," says Leno. "With the BMW Hydrogen 7 I can experience all the fun and great features of a performance car, yet know that I'm being environmentally friendly at the same time! I look forward to driving the Hydrogen 7 and learning more about hydrogen as a fuel for our future."

Leno owns a garage which can be considered a green one. That is because the celebrity uses a giant steam engine to provide energy for the consumption of his garage. He said that just because his garage is full of old cars, it cannot be an eco-friendly one. Although he owns vehicles which have been designed decades ago when the threat of global warming was unheard of, Leno uses technologies which can offset the emissions of such classic cars.

The BMW Hydrogen 7, contrary to what others think, is not a concept car like the Chevy Volt, Opel Flextreme, or the Volvo ReCharge. It is a production model and has undergone through the entire Production Development Process. Although it is a production model, the car is not yet for sale. Even with that fact, the development of a production version of a car that produces water vapor as its only emission is a milestone in the current drive to come up with solutions geared towards reducing the threat of global warming.

As far as reliability of the Hydrogen 7 is concerned, it is said to be as reliable as an Isuzu Trooper radiator. With BMW's expertise in engineering and resources, the Hydrogen 7 is not surprisingly a clean car with the performance to boot. And since it is a luxury car, it is filled with technological amenities that one can usually find in any BMW car.

VW, German Society For Nature Conservation NABU Join Frankfurt Auto Show

By Anthony Fontanelle

Volkswagen AG and the German Society for Nature Conservation NABU joined up for the first time at the International Auto Show (IAA) in Frankfurt. This is an effort to protect both the climate and the environment.

This year’s Frankfurt Auto Show, the world’s largest, is putting emphasis on the protection of the environment due to the alarming global warming issues. Moreover, it is only coherent to present the long-standing successful partnership between Europe’s biggest auto manufacturer and Germany’s largest environmental organization to a public interested in vehicles and the environment.

“Protecting the environment has become a global challenge. Wherever we look - design, climate technology or packaging, sensor technology and architecture, material development, micro- and nano-technology – researchers and developers take their lead from nature, just as we do in the automotive industry. In this sense, biodiversity also has an economic value. That is one reason why our cooperation with NABU is so important for Volkswagen,” said Stephan Grühsem, the Head of Group Communications, commenting on the automaker’s commitment.

The Wolfsburg, Germany-based automaker and NABU were already organizing free fuel saving training sessions throughout their territory. This is done well before the present climate protection debate got underway. During sessions, a team of professional trainers teach driving license holders how to drive their vehicles the modern and efficient way. It is possible to save up to 25 percent fuel without slowing down drive times, good news for the climate and the household budget, Auto Racing Daily reported. Furthermore, the mobility dialog discussion platform has become a firm feature of the political events calendar.

“Not all that glitters at auto shows is worth its weight in environmental gold, but we believe that Volkswagen’s high-efficiency models are a big step in the right direction,” Miller said. “They demonstrate that climate-friendly cars can be found in almost every vehicle class without considerable additional cost."

For quite a while now, it is not only wolves that are crossing borders to re-migrate to Germany – the NABU “Willkommen Wolf!” information campaign is also drawing global awareness. “Our aim is to rectify the stereotype image of the big bad wolf, and to show that wolves and humans can coexist peacefully. Volkswagen has given valuable support to this information initiative,” said Leif Miller, NABU director.

The BlueMotion series, which now includes nine models, is one focus of Volkswagen’s presence at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The Polo BlueMotion with carbon dioxide emissions of a mere 99 grams per kilometer introduced the series a year ago.

The Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion is Europe's most economical five-seat product line that offers the equivalent of 60 miles per gallon. The key to its fuel efficiency is the optimization of an already economical package. Also, incorporation of longer ratio gears in the standard five-speed manual transmission, lower rolling resistance 165/70 R14 tires, and application-specific light weight alloy wheels, all contribute to an enhanced mileage.

The lightweight body structure has improved aerodynamics at the same time boost its efficiency. The vehicle also uses refined auto parts like the Volkswagen tie rod end, radiator, filter, engine, brakes, and more. The Polo BlueMotion provides consumers the "fun to drive" element inherent in the DNA of Volkswagen without compromising safety and functionality.

The Polo BlueMotion is the first model to be introduced under the automaker’s BlueMotion sustainability initiative aimed at producing low-emissions and fuel efficient vehicles at reasonable prices.

Automakers Focus On Mileage, Increased Profits

By Anthony Fontanelle

At this year’s International Auto Show, auto giants unveiled vehicles that mirror the industry’s color – GREEN. Green for environment-friendly vehicles. Also, green for profitability.

Automakers introduced improved fuel efficiency and engines that run on hydrogen or batteries. The goal is to enhance mileage and respond to the increasing global warming concerns. At present, improving gas mileage is one of the hot issues tackled by the lawmakers. Moreover, it is expected that the industry should comply with the stricter standards after the passage of such legislation.

Another focus of the automakers is to return to profitability. After the debilitating sales doldrums, who would not strive to be back into the black? Amid the strong European and global economies, most of the auto giants have posted sales declines. This is why they are making the most of every effort to push their company into profitability.

Whether it's the threat of government regulation on both sides of the Atlantic or growing consumer interest, auto companies have given the show an environmentally conscious flavor, even when it comes to larger vehicles such as BMW's X6 SUV-car crossover, reported International Herald Tribune.

"We're not just talking about cutting CO2 emissions, we're doing it," said BMW Chief Executive Officer Norbert Reithofer, after the Bavarian automaker unveiled the X6, a ‘sport activity’ vehicle with a hybrid engine that will be on sale in 2009. "This isn't just a quick, halfhearted effort. We've been leading the way for years. We got an early start and it's not at all the case that we're being pushed into this by politicians."

For other auto giants, the notion is taking root deeper into future planning and execution. General Motors Corp. Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said that the American automaker aims to develop an entire line of electric cars that could share parts used by gasoline-powered counterparts.

GM head honcho said that the Detroit-based automaker would likely have its E-Flex platform serve as a base for future development. The system, used in its just-debuted Flextreme concept car, has a small diesel engine generator to charge a lithium-ion battery pack.

GM hybrids such as the Saturn Vue, Saturn Aura and the Chevrolet Malibu are expected to reach 10,000 sales by the end of the year and will continue to play a crucial function in the automaker’s growth. The Saturn window motors could be pulling some positive shopping energy.
Ford Motor Co., meanwhile, said that it will have three models with lower CO2 emissions available in Europe by the end of 2008. The Dearborn-based automaker is working on diesel versions of the Focus, Mondeo and a new subcompact with innovative technology to lessen emissions. All three vehicles will carry the ECOnetic badge of the automaker.

Renault SA Vice President Michel Gornet, however, said that consumers have a limited appetite for paying extra for environmentally friendly technology. "The consciousness is there," he said. "Renault is focusing on designing more environmentally efficient engines across all its models.”
Nissan Vice President Carlos Tavares said that the automaker is not concentrating on any specific environmental system. "We won't bet the future of the company on a single technology," he said.

In the midst of the environmental drive, automakers also touted improved sales. According to the report, DaimlerChrysler AG CEO Dieter Zetsche said that the chance of a fatter shareholder dividend was better than before. Audi AG, on the other hand, said that it hopes to sell a record 950,000 cars this year and also hopes to beat last year's net profit. Additionally, Porsche AG said that its sales increased 3.4 percent during its recently ended fiscal year, pushed up by rising demand for its luxury cars.

Why Choose a 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid?

By Evander Klum

In response to the current call for ecological awareness, Honda the producer of quality Honda seat belt has introduced in Canada its 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid. Despite of the slight change in performance and looks the Civic Hybrid has gained a solid market in Canada and this is due to the new body design as well as the much improve safety features added to the hybrid badge.

The Honda City in Victoria is the country’s largest seller of Honda Civic Hybrids and Tim Dakin, General Manager has cited a couple of factors. He said, “Honda has built the Civic Hybrid for our North American roads so certainly it can operate anywhere and in difficult conditions. Yet our type of climate encourages more people to try it. Also, living on the West Coast, we are apt to understand a hybrid better based on our ecological awareness.”

The Honda Civic Hybrid runs on a well balanced equation of power delivered by a CVT 1.3 liter, four-cylinder engine and battery pack with a self-sufficient Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system.

The Civic Hybrid makes use of a system of collecting and then redirecting power to charge its battery like for instance when braking, friction is created and then the energy derived from such operation is transferred and as the vehicle slows down, it then utilizes the valves to reduce speed of the vehicle. The tech filters in turn close off to trap all energy.

At the heart of the Civic Hybrid are bright orange cables, which serve as the veins keeps the engine running. The sealed off trunk space at the back of the car that contains the battery pack confirms that the Civic is a hybrid. Same with the one-of-a-kind, light-weight, 15-inch aluminum alloy wheels that are designed to improve aerodynamics. To differentiate the Hybrid Civic from the regular Civic, the aerial is centered on the roof above the rear window.

And since the Civic Hybrid makes use of a battery there is no need to rev the engine since the battery already acts as the starter. There are two readouts on the instrumentation panel, one side indicates the battery charge level while the other side is a split gauge that highlights Assist and Charge.

During acceleration the battery assists the gas motor for extra power and then after sustained momentum is established or when the vehicle slows down the battery pack is then regenerated.
In addition, for temporary stops at traffic lights the Honda Civic Hybrid automatically shuts off to enhance fuel and emission conservation. The sensors found on the brake, triggers the shut down that why it is advised that once you lift your foot off the brake, immediately restart the car.

For more information on the Honda Civic Hybrid here is a list of its specifications sourced from www.honda.com:

Engineering Engine Type: In-Line 4-Cylinder Engine Block/Cylinder Head: Aluminum-Alloy Displacement (cc): 1339 Horsepower @ rpm: 110 @ 6000 Torque (lb.-ft. @ rpm): 123 @ 1000-2500 Redline (rpm): 6300 Bore and Stroke (mm): 73 x 80 Compression Ratio: 10.8:1 Valve Train: 8-Valve SOHC i-VTEC® Multi-Point Fuel Injection: Standard Drive-by-Wire™ Throttle System: Standard Front-Wheel Drive: Standard CARB Emissions Rating: AT-PZEV Direct Ignition System with Immobilizer: Standard 100,000-Miles-or-More Tune-Up Interval*: Standard

Electric Motor / Generator Permanent Magnet Motor: Standard Power Output: 20 hp / 76 lb.-ft. Motor Width (mm): 70

Electric Power Storage Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) Battery: Standard Output (Volts): 158 Rated Capacity: 5.5 Ah

Transmissions Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT): Standard

Green Buses To Hit Montreal

By Anthony Fontanelle

Montreal will go green as it paved the way for new hybrid buses en route for next year. Canada’s second most-visited city will introduce first hybrid electric-diesel transit buses in early 2008. The project will be backed by higher levels of government.

The Montreal Transit Corp.'s board of directors recently approved a financing deal with the federal and Quebec governments that will launch a $5.6 million-worth project.

The province will foot half the cost of the eight hybrid buses that are to be road-tested throughout 2008, using some of the money it receives on Montreal's behalf from a cut of the federal gasoline tax, MTC treasurer Luc Tremblay said.

The buses, made by Nova Bus of St. Eustache, will emit far less greenhouse gases because they are powered by a blend of electric power and a diesel engine, MTC executive director Yves Devin said.

“The MTC will pump biodiesel - fuel made with some organic material - into the hybrids to further curb pollution emissions,” Devin added. “The agency wants to see how they work this winter before buying more.”

The hybrid buses will be equipped with a diesel engine and an electric transmission box, which acts as transmission, generator and electric motor. Batteries, which are stored on the bus's roof, recharge when the vehicle brakes.

Although the price tag on a hybrid bus is $700,000 - $200,000 more than on a standard, low-floor MTC bus - there will be savings on gasoline and parts because the hybrids' engines and brakes will get less wear, Devin said. Their start date is being negotiated with Nova Bus, he added.

According to Autos Canada, the MTC will test hybrids on 66 The Boulevard, 80 Park Ave., 103 Monkland Ave., 105 Sherbrooke St., 162 Westminster Ave., 165 Cte des Neiges Rd., 166 Queen Mary Rd., and 535 Park Ave./Cte des Neiges Rd.

The routes are on busy thoroughfares and have frequent stops - ideal for the hybrid bus, Nova Bus spokesperson Nadine Bernard said. "The more stop-and-go you do, the more energy gets stored in the batteries," Bernard added.

As the bus accelerates when leaving a stop, electric power predominates, she said. At high speeds, the diesel engine takes over. In between, the bus is powered by a blend of both.
Hybrid buses use 19 to 28 per cent less fuel than a regular bus, said Serge Carignan, the MTC's director of studies and development. The MTC's 1,600 buses burn 45 million litres of fuel a year.
MTC vice-chairperson Marvin Rotrand, a city councillor, said that he is so convinced of the benefits of hybrid vehicles, he wants the city to oblige the taxi industry to switch, too. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has ordered his city's 13,000 taxis to operate on hybrid engines by 2012, the report added.

"We'd love that," said Daniel Di Massimo, the director of development for Montreal-based Diamond Taxi, the largest cab company in the province. “But unlike New York and elsewhere, taxi firms in Quebec don't supply cars,” he said. “Drivers here own their vehicles, and requiring all of them to buy hybrids "would cause a revolt."

But Di Massimo predicted cabbies will come around to hybrids with time as they realize the potential cost savings.

According to watchers in the industry, with the rise of green vehicles in Canada, it is not impossible that the territories roads will be filled with green machines in the near future. Auto parts such as the brake booster Canada, engines tailpipes, and the like are now being enhanced to cater to the mileage regulations and respond to environment concerns.