The Energy Blog

DesignLine Orders 150 Capstone Turbines for HEV Buses

Capstone Turbine Corporation (NASDAQ: CPST), announced that it has received a 150 unit order for C30 Capstone MicroTurbines(R) to be deployed in ECOSaver IV hybrid electric buses manufactured by DesignLine International. This is the largest order to date for Capstone products in a Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) application.

Hybrid electric buses equipped with Capstone microturbines, have been operating in various parts of the world for approximately 10 years. DesignLine buses are constructed with advanced extruded aluminum technology making them lightweight and very strong. The end result is the most fuel efficient vehicle available. In recent product demonstrations the ECOSaver IV hybrid buses equipped capstone turbines have seen up to a 100% improvement in fuel economy over a traditional diesel bus which equates to fuel savings of up to 6,000 gallons per year according to DesignLine.

The bus has a serial drive, running on batteries all the time, the turbine being only used to charge the batteries  The buses are also equipped with regenerative braking. In urban driving the buses get about seven miles per gallon. The buses were tested by the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority for two month beginning in October 2007.

Standard nominal specification are: Top speed: 62 mph, Max gradient: 15%, Max Power: 250 KW, Max Torque: 2500 NM which may change depending on configuration selected.

Most GM Vehicles will be Hybrids by 2020

Via the Detroit News: General Motors vice chairman Bob Lutz said on May 19 that GM would have produce 80 percent of its vehicles as some type of hybrid by 2020 in order to meet new tougher fuel economy standards.

"Ultimately by 2020, we figure that 80 percent of vehicles are going to require some sort of level of hybridization. We cannot get to 35 miles per gallon with anything resembling the current product portfolio with conventional technology."

Bob Lutz General Motors vice chairman

Automakers must average a combined 35 miles per gallon by 2020 for passenger cars and light trucks, a 40 percent increase, in order to meet the first increases in the requirements, GM would build about one-third of its vehicles as hybrids by 2015 -- when new fuel economy standards "really start to bite."

By the end of 2008, GM will have eight hybrids. That includes some "mild" cheaper hybrids that get a smaller fuel economy increase than so-called "full" hybrids.

Lutz said earlier that building so many hybrids will add $6,000 to $7,000 to the cost of an average vehicle and that most -- if not all -- V-8 engines will disappear.

GM will use Lithium-ion Batteries with its "Mild" Hybrid Drivetrains

The Wall Street Journal reports that GM will announce an upgrade of its "mild" powertrain, the "Belt Alternator Starter," (BAS) drivetrain that is used on hybrids such as the Saturn Aura and Chevrolet Malibu at the Geneva Motor Show.

The new system, "BAS-plus," will use lithium-ion batteries supplied by Japan's Hitachi Ltd. The upgrade to lithium-ion batteries will allow the new hybrid system to produce "limited electric drive" during the "extremely fuel-consumptive phase of initial acceleration."

The system will increase mileage "better than the 12% to 15% benefit" of GM's current BAS system.

Mr. Lutz, GM Vice Chairman, stressed that the system is less expensive than other electric-only driving hybrid systems and therefore more cost-effective for consumers.

Wal-Mart in Discussion on Possibility of Selling HEVs and PHEVs

(Bloomberg) -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Chief Executive Officer H. Lee Scott said he held talks with automakers on the possibility of selling gasoline-electric hybrid cars and plug-in automobiles at the retailer's stores.

" Maybe there isn't room for Wal-Mart in this right now, but something tells me that there may be some role for us in the future."

-- H. Lee Scott

Don't hold your breath until this happens, but it would revolutionize how cars are sold, their pricing and bring these cars to the attention of the general public.

GM Forms New Organization for Hybrids, Plug-ins and Advanced Batteries

General Motors has formed a new engineering organization especially dedicated to implementing hybrid and extended- range electric vehicles (E-REV) and advanced battery technology. The global team will be led by Robert Kruse, executive director of vehicle engineering for hybrids, electric vehicle and batteries.

"The future of automotive transportation will be based on electrification of our vehicles," "By having a vehicle engineering team in place and focused on delivering the technical aspects of hybrids and E-REVs, we can accelerate these programs and get them into production quickly and efficiently."

-- Jim Queen, GM group vice president of Global Engineering

GM's newest vehicle engineering team will develop vehicles using a variety of propulsion systems including gas-electric hybrids and GM's innovative E-Flex architecture. Vehicles that will be engineered by this team include the production E-REVs based on E-Flex architectures; Chevrolet Tahoe and Silverado 2 Mode; Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid; Saturn Vue 2 Mode Plug-in; Saturn Vue and Aura Hybrid; GMC Yukon and Sierra 2 Mode; and the Cadillac Escalade 2 Mode.

This should be great news for the affected technologies.  GM seems to be recognizing the importance of these technologies.  The Volt is not mentioned, I believe they already have a separate organization for it. It uses a different and hopefully more advanced technology, which is quite far along in development. It seems they want some common design elements in the mentioned vehicles.  I hope this is a step foreword and not just a bureaucracy for the sake of the media.

1052 Daimler Orion VII Hybrid Buses Ordered

Daimler Buses North America has announced that it received orders totaling 1,052 for Orion VII Next Generation diesel-electric hybrid transit buses, 850 for the MTA New York City Transit, and 202 for the City of Ottawa’s OC Transpo, for delivery into 2010.

This order will bring the MTA's diesel-electric hybrid bus fleet to almost 1,700 units, making it the largest diesel-electric hybrid fleet in the world, accounting for almost 50 percent of MTA's entire fleet.

With already 1,100 diesel-electric hybrid transit buses on the road, 460 pending deliveries and these new orders, Orion has received over 2,600 orders since the launch of the Orion hybrid bus in 2003.

The Orion VII transit buses are powered by BAE Systems' HybriDrive(R) propulsion system. The series power train consists of the following:

• A 6-cylinder, 6-liter, 194 kW (260 hp) Cummins diesel, running at nearly constant speed.
• A 120 kW generator producing electric power for the batteries.
• A single 186 kW (250 hp) electric motor drives the vehicle and regenerates energy during braking. 
• A 32 kWh A123 lithium-ion battery pack, in the majority of buses, supply power during acceleration and hill climbing as well as storing energy from regenerative braking.

International Truck and Engine First Company to Enter Hybrid Commercial Truck Production

International Truck and Engine Corporation, a Navistar company (OTC: NAVZ), announced that it is the first company to enter line production of hybrid commercial trucks, the International(R) DuraStar(TM) Hybrid, a diesel hybrid electric medium-duty truck that provides customers with improved fuel efficiency and reduced engine emissions.

The International DuraStar Hybrid diesel hybrid electric truck has the proven capability to provide dramatic fuel savings from 30-40 percent on a standard in-city pickup and delivery applications. The fuel efficiency can increase to more than 60 percent in utility-type applications when the engine can be shut off, but electric power still operates the vehicle. Diesel emissions are completely eliminated when the hybrid truck operates equipment (like overhead utility booms) solely on the truck's battery power, instead of allowing the engine to idle.

In 2006, International built and delivered 24 developmental hybrid units to 14 major utility companies across North America with overwhelmingly positive results.

“These units are now successfully operating giving us confidence in the quality and reliability of our new hybrid electric product,” said Jim Williams, Director of Sales & Distribution, New Products, International Truck and Engine.

The key challenge facing the trucking industry is the high initial cost to bring the hybrid technology to market. As International builds scale, hybrid truck prices are expected to decrease dramatically, similar to price reduction in computer technology and home electronics equipment over the years. Many customers have also been working to secure government funding to help offset the cost of the new technology. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 can provide tax credits of up to $12,000 per unit.

Honda Aims to Produce New Hybrid Design

From an article in the Sept 3 edition of Newsweek:

(Honda) is working on a new high-profile hybrid—a Prius fighter that analysts expect will have the highest mileage on the road when it arrives in 2009. Code-named the "Global Small Hybrid," Honda's new gas-electric model won't be a version of anything else in its lineup. Instead, Honda execs say it will be a five-passenger, small family car priced under $22,000. This time Honda won't make the mistake of wrapping its hybrid in the sheet metal of its everyday cars: instead, analysts expect the new Honda will have the larva styling the Prius pioneered—which now embodies the green-car look. Honda will also outdo the $23,000, 60mpg Prius on price and mileage in hopes of attracting 100,000 buyers a year—three times what the hybrid Civic sells.

GM's First True Hybrid: GMC Yukon

The 8/24 San Jose Mercury News reported on their test drive of the GMC Yukon 2-mode hybrid, a full-size sport-utility with as many as eight seats, the capability to tow a boat, that delivers a fuel-economy gain and can run on pure electricity.

The Yukon is claimed to get 25% greater overall fuel economy and 40% greater in city driving than the standard 2008 Yukon with a 5.3-liter V-8, that is rated at 14 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway (new EPA MPG rating system, which lower MPG estimates for most vehicles). The hybrid is equipped with a 6.0 liter V-8 for better low-end torque.

The gas engine stops when you come to a stop. If you don't gun the engine, you can accelerate to about 30 mph before the gas engine kicks in.

GM May Make 60,000 `Volt' Electric Cars in First Year

Jeff Green of Bloomberg reported that General Motors Corp. may build as many as 60,000 of its Volt electric cars for their inaugural year on the market, four times the sales of Toyota Motor Corp.'s hybrid Prius on its U.S. debut, people with knowledge of GM's plans said.

Production at that level may allow GM to sell the plug-in Volt for less than $30,000, said the people, who didn't want to be identified because the plans are confidential.

GM product chief Bob Lutz has said he wants to sell the first Volt by late 2010, and expects to have prototypes ready for testing early next year.

Read complete Bloomberg article

See previous post on Volt.

Natural Gas Civic Beats Prius

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - Honda’s natural gas Civic GX, which debuted in 2006 in California but is now becoming available in other parts of the country, just may be the cleanest mainstream car on the road. At least the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) thinks so. The nonprofit group . . . put the Civic GX at the top of its 2007 environmentally friendly car list, edging out Toyota’s hybrid Prius.

The natural gas-fueled Civic scored slightly better than the Prius on fuel economy and reduced emissions in ACEEE’s battery of tests. It also scored better in terms of the pollution generated in the manufacturing processes. . . . continued

The lack of fueling stations and limited range (220 miles) are the main disadvantages of the Civic.

Toyota Hybrids Set Sales Record

Three dollar a gallon gasoline helped Toyota Prius sales to jump 185 percent over sales last May.  Just over 24,000 Priuses were sold in May putting the car into ninth place, breaking into the the top ten sellers for the first time.

Prius sales helped Toyota post a U.S. sales gain of 14.1 percent in May compared to the same month last year. It sold 269,023 vehicles, topping its previous monthly record of 242,675 set in March.

Nearly 15 percent of Toyota’s sales were hybrids, which has the company convinced that their appeal has moved beyond buyers wishing to make a statement about global warming. Toyota's calendar-year-to-date hybrid sales totaled 119,154 units, an increase of 75 percent over the same period last year. In May, Toyota posted sales of 36,101 hybrid vehicles, up 102 percent over last May.

Source: Toyota press release

Toyota to Reduce Price Differential and Use Li-ion Battery in Hybrids

According to Reuters Toyota Motor Corp. expects to cut costs for hybrid cars enough to be able to make as much money on them as it does on conventional gasoline cars by around 2010, a top executive said on Thursday.

Masatami Takimoto, executive vice president in charge of powertrain development, said cost-cutting efforts on the system's motor, battery and inverter were bearing fruit, and the cost structure would improve drastically by the time Toyota reaches its sales goal of one million hybrids annually in 2010 or soon after.

Industry watchers expect the current Prius to be remodeled late next year or in early 2009, using a lithium-ion battery for the first time. Takimoto declined to confirm the speculation, but added that Toyota's lithium-ion battery, under development with Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. was technically ready to be mounted on hybrid cars "any time."

Enova Delivers Hybrid Vans to Verizon

Enova Systems Inc. (AMEX: ENA) announced on March 7 that it has designed, integrated and delivered thirteen (13) GMC 2500 service vans with Enova's Post-Transmission Parallel Hybrid Drive System to Verizon. Verizon owns the 2nd largest vehicle fleet in North America, estimated at 58,000 vehicles, behind only UPS in total fleet vehicles in service. Enova fully designed and integrated its Post-Transmission 120 kW Hybrid Drive system into the vehicles for use in Verizon's fleet. Verizon Is first major company to retrofit vans with hybrid power.

Enova's Post-Transmission System is one in which the Electric Drive System is integrated behind the Transmission and is designed to be installed as a "drop in," fully integrated turnkey fashion into an OEM production line, or retrofitted in post vehicle production in a modular, "as-needed" basis. The system is comprised of a proprietary AC induction electric motor, controller and energy management system, and is designed and engineered as a total production ready solution.The Charge Sustaining System utilizes relatively small batteries which are maintained within specified range of State of Charge (SOC) over the entire drive cycle.

Depending on the route, fuel economy, in miles per gallon (mpg) improvement, is from 30% to 55% or better for the Post-Transmission Charge Sustaining System. Emission improvements vary with the pollutant being measured and has shown up to a 90% improvement at times on Particulate Matter based on load and operating condition dependent.

The Need for Both Biofuels and Battery Based Vehicles

Based on the response to this mornings post on the governments cellulosic ethanol program, I think some of you may have misunderstood the reasoning behind The Energy Blog supporting this cellulosic ethanol program and some of the basic causes and remedies of The Energy Revolution. Our most pressing energy problem is our decreasing supplies of increasingly expensive oil for the transportation industries. The high use of petroleum products for transportation is one of the primary causes of global warming (the other being coal fired power plants, which will not be discussed in this post), fortunately the solution to the problem of increased use of petroleum products also decreases the emissions of global warming gases.

This is not a short term problem, but one that has taken years to develop and will take years to solve. The timing is hard to pin down. I believe we have passed the peak production of inexpensive sweet crude oil. Each year we are now using larger quantities of expensive (either to harvest and/or refine) oil, whether it be sour oil, very deep offshore oil, heavy oil or perhaps eventually shale oil. At some time, as prices of oil go up, market forces will cause the use of oil to decrease. This would require changes in lifestyle, some of which would be beneficial, as there is much waste and some of which could reduce the the standard of living that we have become used to. More use of mass transportation and driving more efficient vehicles are certainly required. 

Hybrid Taxis Would Slash Smog

Taxis To Go Hybrid
Jennifer Koh, Red Herring, February 21, 2007

The Cleantech Venture Network said Wednesday it is working to convert taxis to hybrids, in a move that it says could save $50 billion in fuel costs over a decade and slash smog in cities. ... North America has 196,000 taxis, which drive an average of 10 times more than regular passenger cars. “They are the largest contributors  to smog in our cities,” said Jim Harris, a managing partner for the Cleantech Innovation Institute. ... Switching cabs to hybrids will save cab drivers an average of $1,200 to $1,500 per month on fuel, he said.

Toyota to Use Lithium-Ion Batteries in Third Generation Hybrids

Toyota's Bid for a Better Battery

Business Week Online, March 5, 2007

CEO Watanabe confirms that Toyota will develop new lithium-ion batteries for its third-generation hybrids ...In an interview with BusinessWeek on Feb. 16, Chief Executive Katsuaki Watanabe confirmed that Toyota's third-generation hybrid cars, due out in late 2008 or early 2009, will use lithium-ion batteries. Lighter and more powerful than the current nickel metal hydride packs, the new batteries will help make for more fuel-efficient hybrids. ... "We can develop the battery in time," he says. ... "We are now aiming at reducing, by half, both size and cost of the third-generation hybrid system," says Watanabe.

Hybrid Altima Gets 56% Greater Mileage than Gasoline Model

Nissan Begins Selling the Altima Hybrid in Eight States
EERE Network News, February 14, 2007 (3rd item)

The Nissan Altima Hybrid is the first hybrid vehicle built in the United States by a Japanese automaker. Credit: Nissan

Nissan began selling its first hybrid vehicle, the 2007 Altima Hybrid, in late January. The vehicle is assembled in Tennessee and is available in the eight states that have adopted California emissions regulations: California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price for the Altima Hybrid is $24,400, and it also qualifies for a federal tax credit of $2,350. The hybrid vehicle is estimated to achieve 42 miles per gallon (mpg) in city driving and 36 mpg on the highway, for a combined fuel economy rating of 39 mpg.

Volt Uses Plastics to Make it Lighter, Greener & Safer

Ecomagination™ Technology to Help Drivers Skip the Pump
GE Press Release

GE Plastics’ differentiated technologies helped reduce the Volt weight and optimize its fuel efficiency so that drivers can now skip the pump to extend their mileage and increase savings.

GE fuel saving technologies showcased on the Chevy Volt include:

• Roof made with Lexan™ GLX resins and Exatec™ Coating Technology
• Rear Deck Lid and Fixed Side Glazing made with Lexan™ GLX resins and Exatec™ Coating Technology
• Doors and Hood made with Xenoy™ iQ High Performance ThermoPlastic Composites (HPPC)
• Global energy absorber and hybrid rear energy absorbers with Xenoy iQ resins
• Steering Wheel and Instrument Panel with integrated airbag chute made with Lexan™ EXL resins
• Front Fenders made with Noryl GTX™ resins
• Wire Coating made with Flexible Noryl™ resins

These plastic materials allow for less fuel consumption, fewer carbon dioxide emissions, and improved overall performance.

“GM’s commitment to improving fuel economy, reducing vehicle emissions, and developing electrically-driven vehicles is facilitated with GE Plastics’ weight-reduction technologies on the Chevrolet Volt concept car.  We were able to take mass out of the Volt in order to optimize its overall efficiency,” said General Motors’ vice president of Global Program Management, Jon Lauckner. “Through the independent auditor, GreenOrder, we were also able to see clear positive environmental results from working with GE Plastics,” said Lauckner.

CitiBus Hybrid Distribution Network Set UP

Azure Dynamics Corporation (TSX: AZD & LSE: ADC) a developer of hybrid electric and electric powertrains for commercial vehicles, has announced with its shuttle bus partner StarTrans, a business division of Supreme Corporation (AMEX: STS), that it has signed nine bus distributors across North America for the marketing and sales of the CitiBus Hybrid Senator HD (“CitiBus”) hybrid electric shuttle buses.

Azure estimates that approximately 70% of the targeted shuttle bus market in the US and Canada is covered by this distributor network.

"More than 10,000 shuttle buses are sold each year in North America and with federal and state funded subsidization programs available in the U.S. for shuttle bus operators that adopt environmentally cleaner hybrid solutions, this sector represents a compelling opportunity for both Azure and StarTrans,” said Campbell Deacon, CEO of Azure Dynamics.

GM Unveils Volt Plug-in Hybrid

The new Chevrolet Volt, which was unveiled Sunday at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, is a new type of plug-in hybrid. The four passenger Volt runs exclusively on battery power, but a gas-fueled engine charges the battery which powers the drive motor. The batteries can also be charged by plugging in to a 110 V power source. 

"Today's vehicles were designed around mechanical propulsion systems that use petroleum as their primary source of fuel." said Jon Lauckner, GM vice president of Global Program Management. "Tomorrow's vehicles need to be developed around a new propulsion architecture with electricity in mind. The Volt is the first vehicle designed around GM's E-flex System."

The vehicle on display at the auto show is a concept car, but GM intends to develop a production version.

Toyota to Pursue Diesel Hybrid

An article in Edmunds reports that following Toyota's announcement that it will buy a 5.9 percent stake in Isuzu, the companies announced that they will pursue a joint diesel development strategy.

"In the Toyota/Isuzu partnership, Isuzu will take the lead in the areas of research and development for diesel engine production and for emissions-control technologies, while Toyota will concentrate on environmental technologies, including basic engine and other technologies and other technologies related to alternative fuels," said Steven Curtis, media and investor relations national manager for Toyota.

If that sounds like Toyota will integrate a diesel engine into its Synergy hybrid drivetrain, you are right, according to Jim Press, president of Toyota Motor North America.

Hybrid Sailboat

A French catamaran offers a different approach to power and propulsion

The novel part of the Lagoon 440 is its propulsion system—it’s a diesel-electric hybrid. Twin electric motors, one mounted in each hull, power the boat. They turn the props at 900 to 1,100 rpm at cruise, an ideal speed for efficiency in this size range. Energy for the motors comes from a 22-kW diesel genset which charges a massive storage bank equivalent to twelve 8D-size batteries. (The extra weight of the batteries is compensated for by the lack of two heavy diesel engines mounted near the sterns and by the ability to mount the battery weight closer to the center of the boat.) The batteries are wired in series to give 144 volts. It’s similar to the system in a hybrid car, the genset starts automatically when the batteries need recharging. This happens at 50 percent to 80 percent discharge and is adjustable.

Agencies line up for plug-in cars, (CNET News.com)

State and local governments are launching programs to see if it's possible to convert their hybrid cars and trucks into plug-in cars. ... The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority recently solicited contract bids for nine plug-ins, said Ray Hull, an official at the agency. If the trial succeeds, the state will try to convert the 535 hybrids it owns into plug-ins. ....

A good article summerizing the status of plug-in vehicles.

Ford to unveil two new environmentally-friendly SUVs at this year's L.A. Auto Show
(Daily TECH)

At this year's L.A. Auto Show, Ford is expected to show two eco-friendly SUVs -- one of which will be soon available for the public to purchase. Later this week, Ford will unveil a second generation Escape Hybrid, shown left, and a fuel cell-powered Explorer, shown below. ....

Ford to Showcase Fuel Cell Powered Explorer
(Ford press release)

Ford will unveil an all-new fuel cell powered Explorer that features a center-mounted hydrogen tank that delivers more miles on a single fill-up than any other fuel cell vehicle today, while maintaining ample space for six passengers and cargo. It can travel 350 miles on a single fill-up, more than any fuel cell vehicle on the road. ....

Toyota May Produce Line of Hybrids

Bloomberg reported that Toyota may turn the Prius into a separate line of vehicles.  The company is trying to triple its sale of hybrids. Prius-based models might include a wagon and a smaller car, said Jim Lentz, executive vice president of the company's U.S. sales unit.

Toyota plans to sell a million hybrids a year worldwide by early in the next decade.  The U.S. accounts for over half of those sales and more than one model would be required to meet that goal. Last year they sold 235,000 hybrids worldwide, about four times as many as Honda Motor Co., which ranks second in hybrid sales.

A smaller " 'city car' based on the Prius would have even higher fuel efficiency and would fit with a trend toward people moving into inner-city lofts" said Lentz. "People also want to see more utility on the vehicle, so you could imagine something that's a little more utility or crossover-based.''

The only question is where is the plug-in Prius.

Enova to Use Valance Batteries in Hybrid Electric Bus

Enova Systems (AMEX: ENA) a supplier of  Hybrid Electric powered systems, has ordered Saphion^® phosphate batteries from Valence Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: VLNC).  Enova Systems, in collaboration with IC Corporation, the nation’s largest school bus manufacturer, recently won a bid with Advanced Energy, a Raleigh, N.C.-based nonprofit corporation, to provide up to 21 hybrid school buses to 11 states. The hybrid school bus is expected to attain a 100 percent increase in fuel efficiency, which becomes even more essential with rising fuel costs affecting the school districts.

The hybrid drive system recovers kinetic energy during regenerative braking; charging the batteries while the bus is slowing down. This ability to charge the batteries provides additional power for acceleration, making school busses ideal candidates for hybrid technology because of the frequent stops and starts they perform along their daily routes.

“We selected Valence’s Saphion^® phosphate batteries for their inherent safety, which addresses the limitations of traditional lithium-ion chemistries particularly in large batteries like those needed for hybrid vehicles,” said John Dexter, Director of Operations and Planning, Enova Systems. “In addition to safety, Saphion technology delivers the power and energy that these buses demand.”

GE to Head Fuel Cell Hybrid Bus Development

GE (NYSE: GE) has announced a $13 million research partnership with the Federal Transit Administration, Ballard Power Systems and A123 Systems to develop a lightweight, battery dominant zero emissions hybrid fuel cell bus. The research will be led by GE’s Global Research Center in Niskayuna, NY.

"Advancements in hybrid propulsion systems and battery chemistry offer tremendous promise for enabling cleaner, more affordable transportation alternatives that will reduce reliance on fossil fuels and promote a cleaner, healthier environment," said Mark Little, Senior Vice President and Director of GE Global Research. "At Global Research, we will be leveraging nearly three decades of experience in hybrid systems and battery chemistry research to help pave the way to commercialization."

Cost of Hybrids Coming Down

In a cost-cutting race between Honda and Toyota, the cost premium for hybrid vehicles is expected to be reduced substantially in the next three years.

The Financial Times reported that Toyota said that its new target would trim the cost premium for hybrids to about $1,900 in the next three years. The new hybrid technology, which will be used in the next-generation Prius, will be about half the size and weight of the current system.

In July, Honda said it expected to cut the cost premium of its hybrid system to about $1,700 per vehicle by 2009.

Source: Finacial Times via Inside Line.

Ford Teaming with Azure to Develop Hybrid Trucks

Azure Dynamics Corporation (TSX: AZD) a developer of hybrid electric and electric powertrains for commercial and military vehicles, on Oct. 5 announced it has signed an agreement with Ford Motor Company to enable Azure to develop a hybrid electric powertrain for Ford's E-series commercial platform.

Azure is responsible for the development of the parallel hybrid electric gasoline system that will be applied to Ford's E-series commercial vehicles. Azure will be the Vehicle Modifier and will complete the hybrid modification on the E-350 and E-450 commercial chassis. Ford, as the OEM of the incomplete commercial vehicles, will provide Azure with assistance to facilitate the development of the hybrid electric powertrain.

JCI Sees Lower Battery Costs, More Hybrids

A Reuters article reported that a Johnson Controls Inc. (NYSE: JCI) executive said that over the next decade, hybrid engines could be put into 5 to 8 percent of new cars built worldwide.

Key to increasing hybrids' share of the market will be lowering their cost, said Gregg Sherrill, group vice president and general manager of power solutions at Johnson at the Reuters Autos Summit in Detroit. He said the hybrid battery systems his company sells to car makers cost from $800 to $1,600, compared with $25 to $30 for a traditional car battery.

"This is a fairly high cost right now because the economies of scale are not there," Sherrill said. "It's the matter of getting through this phase of the initial interest, initial hype, to gain sufficient volume where we can succeed through economies of scale in driving the costs down."

EnerDel Installs Production Line

EnerDel, a subsidiary of Ener1,Inc (OTC BB: ENEI.OB) in which Delphi holds a minority interest, has announced that it has installed its first mass production line for lithium ion (Li-Ion) battery electrodes at the company's Indiana facility. EnerDel is developing a Li-ion battery solution that they claim will improve the performance, fuel efficiency and cost of Hybrid Electric Vehicles. EnerDel expects to succeed at being the first company to cost-competitively mass-produce a Li-ion battery in the United States.  With this capability EnerDel can now demonstrate its production approach and expertise to automotive companies and OEMs, as well as begin their required qualification process to mass produce batteries for their future HEV models.

EnerDel is now testing manufactured prototypes of battery cells and related manufacturing equipment.

The new production line is capable of producing the electrode equivalent of 5,000 Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) batteries (25KW) per month.  EnerDel's production line includes two Hirano Tecseed Coaters, because, from a quality control standpoint, it is vital to have two coating lines to allow the coating of anodes and cathodes separately to avoid any contamination.

Hydraulic Hybrid Update

BusinessWeekOnline, Sept. 18, 2006, has a rather skeptical article about hydraulic hybrids as described in a previous post.  Eaton and the Environmental Protection Agency teamed up with United Parcel Service to put hydraulic delivery trucks on the road. In tests, the prototypes get upwards of 50% better fuel economy.

Inventor Tom Kasmer has failed to connect with a big carmaker so far, but his hybrid approach, known as a hydristor, has attracted interest from Bobcat Co., a construction equipment maker.

Trucks may be where the technology is most worthwhile may really prove its value. Eaton's has developed a system for garbage trucks with which they could make up to nine stops in a row running on stored hydraulic power alone.

A GM spokesman dismissed the fuel savings and said that such systems were prone to hydraulic fluid leaks and they are very noisy.

Two Mode Hybrids

The Technology Review reports that Toyota may have the lead in hybrid vehicles but General Motors, DaimlerChrysler, and BMW have joined forces to develop transmission technology that could beat Toyota's system by applying mechanical engineering to catch up.

Toyota's transmission enables hybrids to start in all-electric mode, leaving the engine off during the low-speed, high-torque regime where mechanical power from the engine is least efficient. The engine comes on only when the driver requests more power than the electric motors can provide or to recharge the vehicle's battery.

Engineers at GM, DaimlerChrysler, and BMW are developing a new transmission system that delivers EV-mode operation just like Toyota. The transmission adds one more feature: the system can also take the electric side of the drivetrain out of the loop and run in engine-only mode. Their two-mode hybrid transmission, patented in 1999 by GM and currently used in its hybrid buses, swaps out the motors with a set of fixed gears, locking the engine to the driveshaft

Hybrids Aid Japanese Takeover

Autopia reported that in July, Toyota passed Ford for the number two spot, while Honda outsold DaimlerChrysler for the first time ever.

Sales of the Ford F-series pickup fell 43.5 percent last month, and the Explorer SUV were down more than 50 percent during July, according to The New York Times.

Toyota hybrids and small cars lead its passenger division to its best July ever. Toyota sold 5,023 of the Camry Hybrids and 10,137 of the Yaris subcompact (outselling the staple Ford Taurus, which dropped by one-third) . The Prius hybrid posted July sales of 11,114, an increase of 19.3 percent over the previous year.  ... read entire article

It looks like gasoline prices are really having an effect.  How long before Toyota will be the world's largest automaker. It will take years, if ever, for US automakers to catch up.

Mitsubishi Hybrid Truck with Li-ion Batteries

Mitsubishi Fuso has developed a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) which offers improved fuel economy and lower emissions than conventional vehicles while still providing rugged reliability for day-to-day work.

The new truck combines a small, clean-burning diesel engine, an ultra-slim electric motor/generator and advanced lithium-ion batteries in a drive train that also includes a high-efficiency automated mechanical transmission. The result is a medium-duty truck that achieves up to 30% better fuel economy in delivery applications and also produces significantly less emissions than its standard diesel-only model.

RE: The False Hope of Biofuels

The Sunday, July 2, edition of the Washington Post had a column titled "The False Hope of Biofuels" which had the basic premise that biofuels could only supply half of our transportation fuel needs by 2025 and that food supplies would be compromised if it did so.  I don't think that any responsible person has argued that we could supply more than 30% of our current transportation fuel requirements, rather a diversity of fuels and conservation methods, featuring plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, will be required to provide relief from our increasingly expensive oil supplies.

In the most authoritative report on this subject "Biomass as Feedstock for a Bioenergy and Bioproducts Industry: The Technical Feasibility of a Billion-Ton Annual Supply", an ORNL study determined that enough fuel could be produced from biomass to meet more than one-third of our current demand for transportation fuels in the U.S. by 2030. As far as the arguments about land usage, the land necessary for producing the biofuels includes currently unused marginal land on which switchgrass or similar crops could be grown, land that is currently idle, and cellulose products produced from forestry wastes and the like, that do not require any additional land usage, as well as a fraction of the land currently devoted to the production of food, which is currently used to produce food for export or to produce food that is bought by the government to subsidise farmers. This study did not include the very significant amount of fuel that could be made from municiple solid waste, or methane from landfills and animal wastes (manure).

The answer to our increasingly expensive fuels is a diversified utilization of several technologies, not just biofuels.  The combination of biofuels; vehicles that use less fuels, such as energy efficient hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs): those made by Toyota, the Honda Insight and Civic and the Ford Escape Escalade; more importantly plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs); all electric vehicles (EVs); fuels made by coal liquefaction; vehicles running on CNG; our remaining domestic supplies of oil; and gains in efficiency made possible by more widespread use of mass transportation are more than sufficient to supply our transportation needs for the foreseeable future, even after allowing for population growth and land needed for growing food crops.

Diesel Hydraulic Delivery Truck Unveiled

The Environmental Protection Agency recently unveiled a hybrid diesel UPS delivery van that combines a high-efficiency diesel engine with a hydraulic propulsion system, which replaces the vehicle's conventional drivetrain and transmission. Such a vehicle could reduce the fuel costs of package delivery services like UPS by as much as 70 percent and cut harmful emissions.

In laboratory testing, the hybrid achieved a 60 percent to 70 percent improvement in fuel economy and a reduction of more than 40 percent in emissions, versus current UPS trucks. The EPA and UPS plan to conduct real-world testing this year.

A hydraulic hybrid has several advantages. One is that it can accept and deliver huge amounts of energy quickly, which batteries cannot. And its storage ability does not degrade over time, which is a fact of life with batteries available today. Generally speaking, though, hydraulic systems do not store as much total energy as an electrical battery does, because the storage tanks are bulky.

A hydraulic hybrid is more specialized than the gasoline-electric hybrids sold today. It works better on heavier vehicles, and in stop-and-go traffic; backers say the ideal vehicle for this system is a garbage truck, but that it could work well in vehicles as small as S.U.V.'s.

Toyota Looks to Hybrids, Detroit Pushes Ethanol

A Reuters article highlighted the differences between the policies of U.S. automakers and Toyota as to their approach to making vehicles more efficient and reduce energy independence.  Toyota has already invested in hybrid technology and while U.S. automakers also are starting to make hybrids their emphasis is on alternatively fueled vehicles and fuel cell vehicles. 

I don't see either of these strategies as attacking the problem head on.  Some hybrids, like the Prius, are significant energy savers, but most improve mileage marginally.  Only the hybrids with large energy savings come close to saving the consumer any money due to the large incremental cost of the hybrid.  Toyota currently makes 6 hybrid models with a 7th to be introduced next year. Toyota could produce 1 million hybrids a year in the next decade, which is still a small share of the auto market.

More Fuel Efficint Hybrid Cars to be Available

With the onset of high gas prices, the interest in fuel efficient hybrids should increase.  All of the listed cars are not so fuel efficient but the 2007 Honda Fit and the 2008 Toyota Prius are definetly worth your attention.  The Hybrid Car Newsletter, May 6, has a lot of news about hybrids that are going to be introduced In the next 18 months.

Both Honda and Hyundi will be introducing subcompact models in 2007. 

Honda will release a hybrid version of the Honda Fit subcompact. Honda introduced the conventional Fit subcompact hatchback to the U.S. market in April 2006. According to a HybridCar.com article an industry insider has confirmed that Honda will release a hybrid version of the Honda Fit subcompact. More excitement was stirred when Edmunds's Inside Line suggested that the Honda Fit Hybrid could mean an 80-mpg car selling for under $12,000. The Nihon Keizai Shumbum report said that Honda is targeting fuel economy for the Fit hybrid in the 60-mpg range. As a subcompact, the Fit is cute and small—but has over 90 cubic feet of passenger volume (only slightly less than the midsize Accord) and 21.3 cubic feet of cargo capacity, nearly as much room behind the rear seats as a Honda Element. The 60/40-split folding rear seats even allow the Fit to do some minor hauling.

The hybrid version. according to the HybridCars.com interview, will utilize a 1.0-liter engine.HybridCars.com quoted this from an anonymous source:

"If you take the measurement from the wheel hub to the wheel hub of the Fit and the Insight, they are the same to the millimeter. The Fit is going to get the Insight engine. It's already a proven powertrain. It will probably get fuel economy in the low to mid-50s."

In a referenced article, Hyundi is going to be a serious contender in this market by introducing a 1.4 liter Accent with a 1.4 liter, 90 hp continuously variable valve-timing engine and a 16 hp electric motor; increasing the milage 40% from the current 32 mpg. A similar Kia Rio model will also be introduced.  They are developing their own design (control system) for their hybrids.  "Hybrids are the next-generation growth engine. We plan to shift our R&D focus from fuel cells to hybrids," said Hyundai Chairman Chung Mong-koo.

The Hyundai Accent is likely to face off against a Honda Fit hybrid subcompact. Both cars will sell in the $15,000 range, but the Honda Fit—based on the current buzz—will approach 60 mpg, while the Accent is slated for about 45 mpg.

Biofuels, Batteries and Power Plants

I must say that I agree with most of what U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman's said in remarks as reported in the referenced article, but they were too short, as mine are usually, to really reflect viewpoint. Our research dollars spent for biofuels and batteries may be in the right direction, but not enough is being spent soon enough and much too much is being spent on hydrogen. I believe that government spending for batteries and biofuels is a pittance and is worth it if it reduces the time until implementation by the smallest amount.  I also think we should reduce all subsidies for ethanol production as soon as possible by tying them to the price of gasoline. Corn ethanol subsidies should be phased out  as soon as cellulosic ethanol is commercial. Congress needs to appropriate the money for the cellulosic ethanol demonstration plants! I am glad to see that batteries are moving to the forefront, but they are so close to commercialization that I don't know how much government research can be justified.  We will need more power plants powered by either coal or nuclear. I prefer coal with sequestration because they can be built faster and the nuclear waste problem is reduced, but a parallel building program may be required.  No mention was made of conservation.  The greatest amount of conservation occurs with electric vehicles getting their energy from advanced power plants operating at above 60% efficiency. The government has sheparded this development much faster than industry ever would have.  Changes in lifestyle and better building insulation standards are very important also. The most immediate impact would be to raise vehicle efficiency standards immediately! But no matter how much conservation is used we will require more power plants. Renewable energy, although important, is not the subject of this discussion because there is no way it can significantly impact our power production in the next 10 years.

He was quoted that he's "surprised" that oil price increases haven't had a greater impact on the U.S. economy and that he is  "worried" that the economy will suffer if oil prices stay above current levels. He further stated that "we are going to reach a limit and we will see a real impact of increased oil prices on our economy. Whether its $95 or something north of that I don't know. I can tell you I'm worried about anything above the current levels."

He went on to say that the administrations policy to increase research dollars for bio-fuels, hybrid battery technology and hydrogen fuel has the country on the right track. "But this country has been decades in getting itself into the fix we're in now. And it'll be a significant number of years working our way out of it."

He also called for the approval of the Yucca Mountain project to dispose of our nuclear waste. "This country doesn't need four (nuclear power) plants. We need 14 or we need 24." In order to support this kind of construction "will require Yucca Mountain be built."  Bodman said demand for electricity in the U.S. will increase 50% over the next 20-25 years and "the only thing I see meeting that is nuclear power."

US Energy Secretary:Oil Prices Eventually Will Impact Economy, Terry Kosdrosky, Dow Jones Newswire, April 6, 2006

Technorati tags: biofuels, batteries, nuclear, electric power, ethanol, coal, energy, technology

Honda May Market Hybrid Fit

Honda plans to sell a hybrid version of its Fit subcompact model globally as early as the business year starting in April 2007, the Nihon Keizai business daily reported on Wednesday.

According to a Reuters story the Fit would sell for $11,780 only $1,715 more than the gasoline version.  Honda is developing a smaller motor and battery to reduce the hybrid's cost and weight, the Nihon Keizai said. The hybrid unit would have a one-liter engine the paper said.

Honda has refused to confirm the story.

Technorati tags: vehicles, hybrid vehicles, energy, technology

Brown Will Become More Green

UPS announced on February 17 that it would purchase 50 new-generation hybrid delivery trucks in two sizes from International Truck and Engine and Freightliner LLC.

The trucks will feature lithium ion batteries that are capable of faster re-charging and have a longer life than batteries used in previous generations of HEV’s. The first of the 50 HEV’s will be deployed in Dallas this June. The UPS alternative fuel fleet - at 1,500 vehicles one of the largest in the United States - currently includes trucks powered by compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, propane, electricity and hydrogen.

UPS will also purchase 4,100 low-emission conventional vehicles in 2006.  UPS anticipates reducing fuel consumption by 40,000+ gallons per year on the HEV's, and 1.5 million gallons per year on the conventional vehicles. The conventional vehicles should achieve a 15 percent improvement in fuel economy.

This is one of the largest purchases of vehicles using lithium ion batteries.  I wonder whose batteries are being used. No post on Green Car Congress on this announcement to give me any clues.  I really think half of the reason for this post was so I could use the headline.

Technorati tags: vehicles, hybrid vehicles, energy, technology

MY06 PRIUS FLEET AVAILABILITY

I couldn't help but passing on this notice, via Green Car Congress, from Toyota about sales of the Prius to fleets.

Due to Toyota’s exceptionally low retail dealer days supply position and an anticipated increase in future retail Prius demand stimulated by the recent passage of the Federal Highway Bill (retail tax credits & HOV lane eligibility), Toyota Motor Sales, USA Inc. is not in a position to accept MY06 Prius fleet production orders specific to government & rental fleets. This regrettable but necessary action is being taken as a result of the company’s need to address the extreme shortage of Prius availability at the dealer retail level.  Toyota Dealers are advised to suspend all MY06 Prius fleet sales solicitation and cancel all existing order agreements until further notice.  Toyota Motor Sales, USA Inc. will restore Prius fleet availability to government & rental fleets once production volumes are sufficient to meet both retail and fleet order demand.

That's the greatest commentary on the public's reaction to high gasoline prices that I have seen.

Demand has grown to the point where Toyota plans to raise annual production of hybrids to 400,000 vehicles next year from 300,000 this year.  When is Detroit going to catch on.

More blogs about hybrid vehicles, vehicles, energy

More HEV Vans for Purolator

Purolator has ordered an additional 115 diesel-electric hybrid vehicles from Azure Dynamics Corporation, the largest order of it kind in the delivery industry.  Purolator has already accumulated more than 20,000 km's (12,000 miles) of in-service mileage after four months of evaluation with the 10 vans received for testing.  Pre-production testing has shown that the HEVs are capable of eliminating up to 50 per cent of greenhouse gasses currently emitted with conventional gasoline/diesel delivery vehicles as well as significant reductions in fossil fuel emissions.  Deliveries of the first vehicles will commence in 2006. If these vehicles continues to live up to expectations, then as Purolator replenishes its fleet each year, the company intends to add up to 400 HEV vehicles to its fleet annually.

Purolator’s HEVs are equipped with a hybrid series configuration, which uses the internal combustion engine combined with a generator to supply electricity for the battery pack and electric motor. There is no mechanical connection between the internal combustion engine power unit and the wheels. All motive power is transferred electrically to one or more electric traction motors that drive the wheels.

Azure has a demonstration agreement with Zebra, manufacturer of high temperature sodium-nickel-chloride batteries, which have power densities on the order of 100 W/kg.  Under the agreement they developed an electric van for display and demonstration purposes.  The vehicle was to be available as either a utility delivery van or a passenger minibus.  No information was given if these are the batteries being used in these vehicles.

Update 11:00 pm 9/17/05 - Non-withstanding the above agreement, the Green Car Congress Post on this subject accurately reported that NiMh batteries produced by Cobasys are being used in the Purolator HEVs.  The Cobasys press release is reference below.

Resources:

"Purolator to take delivery of 115 Azure hybrid electric vehicles", Purolator press release, 9/16/05
Azure Dynamics, Vancouver, Canada
Zebra Battery made by Beta R&D Ltd, Derby, England

"Azure Dynamics Selects Cobasys NiMHax 336-70 Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries for Hybrid Electric Vehicles", Cobasys press release, 10/1/04

Technocrati tags: Hybrid cars, Batteries, Energy, Renewable, Alternative energy

Is There a Hybrid in Your Future?

Lots of news about hybrids in the past few days:

• Volkswagen AG, Audi AG and Porsche AG form alliance to develop hybrid engines
• BMW AG joined General Motors Corp. and DaimlerChrysler AG in a similar partnership
• PSA Peugeot-Citroen also wants to develop hybrid technology
• Audi unveiled their first gas-electric hybrid vehicle
• DaimlerChrysler also said it will release its first hybrid Mercedes

See complete story on above items here

Despite the recent announcements (above) Hyundai Motor Co. said that it will continue on its own, aiming to reach an annual production of 300,000 hybrid cars by 2010.

Toyota Says It May Make All Its Vehicles Gas-Electric, Toyota aims to cut production costs and halve the $5,000 price premium on such vehicles.

It seems to be more than a passing fad.  At a $2,500 premium, hybrids probably could be economically justified based on fuel cost savings.  But what is there to justify if all the cars are hybrids?   While they are making all these announcements, how about a plug-in hybrid?

Hybrid Bus Sales Booming

High gas prices are affecting buses too, and Hawaii is taking note.  Hawaii has the highest energy prices in the US and hybrids provide great efficiency as well as reducing pollution.  Last year they purchased ten General Motors hybrid diesel electric buses, now they're planning to bring dozens more of them to Honolulu.  The buses are getting even better mileage than they anticipated.

The buses have a 75-passenger capacity, offer 90 percent cleaner emissions than conventional diesel buses and can accelerate 50 percent faster.  The buses, at $749,000 each, are about $150,000 more than regular buses, but the fuel savings justify the cost.

Hawaii is not the first place to use hybrid buses.  New York City Transit, starting their program in 2000, currently has 180 hybrid diesel electric buses in operation and will have 325 buses on the street by the end of 2005.  The hybrids are the Orion VII (Orion Bus Industries of Mississauga, Ontario) diesel hybrid electric buses. The buses feature BAE SYSTEMS' HybriDrive™ propulsion system and Cummins' ISB5.9 liter engine.  NYCT is purchasing a total of 325 Orion VIIs for delivery in 2004 and 2005.

Hybrids are not the only way NYC is reducing pollution. Since 2000 all of the NYC buses have run on low sulfur fuel to  reduce emissions.  More than 2550 diesel engines have been equipped with particulate filters which reduce particulate emissions by as much as 95%.  NYC Transit currently operates more than 400 CNG buses and will have 481 in service by the end of 2005.

Resources:

"City plans to bring in more hybrid buses" , KHON2, 9/8/05
"City unveils new hybrid buses", Stability.com, 10/22/04
The clean fuel bus program, NYC Transit and the Environment

More Hybrid Vehicles

On May 27, Purolater Courier Ltd of Canada announced that it had introduced ten hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and one hydrogen fuel cell electric (FC-HEV) into its fleet in Toronto.  An additional 20 HEVs will be introduced shortly in other metropolitan areas.  If these vehicles live up to expectations the company plans to add up to 100 to its fleet annually. They emphasized the reduction in emissions from the vehicles. The HEVs are expected to eliminate up to 50% of emissions compared to its current vehicles.

The FC-HEV is one of the first put into service in Canada (or any where else?),  It is hydrogen fueled and Purolater is developing a hydrogen generation and refueling system. It will generate hydrogen from water using renewable energy, such as wind power.  The Canadian government highly subsidized the FC-HEV.

Azure Dynamics Corporation made the powertrains and according to their website it has a memo of understanding with Purolator to supply up to 3,000 powertrains.

This sounds great! How about converting our postal fleet to vehicles of this type.

Technocrati tag: hybrid electric vehicles

About Hybrid Cars

Hybrid cars are selling better than expected, to the dismay of American car makers.  A hybrid is similar to a conventional car except that its drive train has been modified to have both an internal combustion engine (ICE) which drives the front wheels and one or two electric motors, powered by batteries, that drive the rear wheels. 

Plug-in hybrids are hybrids that can be plugged into an electrical outlet while the batteries charged, would be even more economical and not use nearly as much liquid fuels as the hybrids that are now available.  Plug-in conversion kits are starting to become available, but at a fairly hefty cost. 

Battery technology is always of concern when powering a car that is partially powered with batteries, especially when they are constantly being charged and discharged.  Batteries on hybrid cars are usually guaranteed for 100,000 miles, although the expected life is said to be greater than 150,000 miles. Toyota, the largest producer of hybrids, has stated that they have not had a single claim on their batteries. 

The biggest disadvantage of a hybrid car is its initial cost, which is about $3000-$5000 (US) more than the conventional version of the car.

Proven Technology for the Next 20 Years

With oil probably peaking in less than 20 years, if not five years, the more I think we need an alternative to the emphasis being placed on the hydrogen economy.  Demonstrated and emerging technology as listed below likely to be the dominant technologies in the next thirty years.  None of these technologies alone can get us there but together but in some combination they make sense.

• The hybrid is here and can be ramped up as fast as anything.
• Diesel technology can be used now, and should be, as lower sulfur fuels are brought to market in 2005-2006. They will reduce the environmental impact of diesels significantly.  What we need is more models to choose from as there are very few.
• Electric cars and plug-in hybrids for commuting and shopping will be more attractive, with greater range, as gasoline prices go up and battery technology gets better as it is starting to.
• Unconventional oil is already starting to ramp up and will continue as oil companies cannot meet the demand.
• Ethanol production is already significant with 3.4 billion gallons produced in the US in 2004.
• Production costs for biodiesel can be reduced by using newer technologies.
• The Fischer-Tropsh process can be used to produce both ethanol and diesel in larger quantities, at lower cost, than current biofuel producers.  It can handle a much wider variety of feedstocks, like switchgrass, corn stover, wood chips, willows and poplars which are less costly.
• Coal liquefaction is a proven technology and could supply all of our needs, but not in the required time period.
• We can increase our electrical production from renewables like wind and solar systems.
• More rapid development of unconventional oil in Canada and Venezula.