BMW mulling a "green" supercar?

U.K. pub Autocar has the rumor mill spinning like that big money wheel on "The Price Is Right." You know what? We'll bite, 'cause this one's juicy.

In the October 29 issue, Autocar says that BMW wants a lightweight 2-seat supercar that also doubles as a green performance showcase, according to an unnamed "company official." Power could come from a variant of the automaker's excellent direct-injected 3.0L turbo inline-six, which would be further augmented by Efficient Dynamics features such as a stop/start system and brake energy regeneration (both of which are already available on a variety of European-market BMWs). Maybe even F1-style KERS, too.

The idea is to deliver performance to rival Europe's top sports cars, while keeping emissions and fuel consumption on par with a mainstream sedan. If BMW were to style this theoretical supercar like the recent M1 Homage design study (shown above), all the better.

Source: http://green.yahoo.com/blog/forecastearth/159/bmw-mulling-a-green-supercar.html

Will Electric Vehicles Be the Next 'It' Cars?

Although the Japanese automaker does plan to embrace hybrid technology, it's banking on plug-in electric vehicles as the next big thing.

Nissan recently announced it will introduce an affordable, all-electric vehicle by 2010 that will roll out globally by 2012. Its success depends largely on battery technology still under development, as well as convincing consumers that most of their daily driving needs can be met by small electric vehicles that can't drive as far or as fast as gas-powered cars.

Beating its Own Drum, Electrically
Nissan will make hybrid versions of existing cars rather than design a model specifically as a hybrid only, as Toyota has done with its Prius and as Honda will do with its recently announced Insight. That decision allows Nissan to put more effort into developing electric vehicles. "The goal of the electric vehicle is to allow people who drive to work, the vast majority of people who drive to work, to get there and back on one charge," says Darryll Harrison, a Nissan spokesperson. "We're definitely confident that the EV you'll see in 2010 will be an EV that will allow you to do that."

Nissan did not disclose how far it expects the new electric vehicle will go on a single charge. Chevrolet is aiming for a 40-mile electric-only range for its Volt plug-in hybrid. But the Volt will have a small combustion engine on board that will act as a generator to replenish the batteries and extend the driving range.

Other major carmakers are rushing to get alternative-fuel vehicles on the road as well. Ford, Fuji (which owns Subaru), Mitsubishi and Toyota have all begun work on battery-powered and next-generation hybrid vehicles.

"The holy grail continues to be the battery technology," said John Viera, Ford's sustainable business strategies director at a recent sustainability forum in New York. "That's the thing that is making electric vehicles cost-prohibitive."

Even so, Ford sees battery technology as taking precedence over hydrogen for mass-produced alternative-fuel vehicles, Viera said.


Electric wheels in Motion
To give the press and the public a preview at its plans, Nissan unveiled two concept cars last month in Tokyo: one powered only by electricity, another powered with hybrid technology. Both use advanced lithium-ion batteries produced by Nissan and NEC Corp. under their joint venture, Automotive Energy Supply Corporation.

The batteries are more reliable, safer and less expensive than conventional nickel metal-hydride batteries, Nissan says. They also provide twice the power and take up less space than conventional batteries.

"With the change in fuel prices, my thought is that there is a paradigm shift going on," he says. "Americans are certainly opening up to alternatives if it means a cleaner environment and ultimately saving some money on gas."

A Cloudy Crystal Ball
Neither of the vehicles Nissan recently unveiled in Tokyo are representative of the final products, but they hint at what's to come.

"This news about our development of EV and hybrid was really more about the technology than the vehicles that held them," Harrison says. "Both cars were just mules for the technology."

Nissan showcased its electric-only technology in a boxy small car called the Cube. It uses a battery-powered 80-kilowatt motor and inverter to drive the front wheels. The system's compact lithium-ion batteries sit under the floor to preserve cabin space.



Source; http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/647/Will-Electric-Vehicles-Be-the-Next-It-Cars-

Cars That Make You Look Smart

You give your new boss a ride to a conference -- and impress her, not just with your leather seats, but with a European nameplate that shows your tendency to look beyond the obvious and make interesting choices.

You bypass the gas pump, smiling at the fools filling up, and revel in the electric whine of your hybrid.

These are all experiences you might expect from the upscale Toyota or the BMW you'll have to wait to buy after a decade on the job market.

If you're willing to look beyond the obvious candidates, you can find a car with a level of prestige, practicality and personality way beyond the monthly payment that keeps you in it -- a car that sets you apart.

Here are a few choices that'll help show how smart you are.

Ford Focus
In a crowd of unexciting small cars, the Focus stands out by offering a suite of high-tech features that some cars twice as expensive don't even come close to offering. The key is Ford's Microsoft-based SYNC infotainment system. It controls your iPod, your cell phone and any other Bluetooth-capable device with voice commands. Imagine sending text messages safely while you drive, without ever taking your eyes off the road. Even the Mercedes S-Class doesn't do that yet.

Nissan Altima Hybrid
It's nearly impossible to find a Prius or a Civic Hybrid these days, and the few you do find in showrooms are selling for well over their sticker prices. But did you know Nissan offered the Altima Hybrid? No one else seems to know, either -- which is why these are almost affordable right now. Sure, a hybrid is a little more expensive, but think of the gas you won't have to buy. Then add this: Toyota and Honda hybrids are no longer eligible for federal tax credits. They've sold so many cars that the tax break no longer applies.

Ford Escape Hybrid
This is the same story as the Nissan, only better. In fact, the Ford Escape Hybrid is available at even lower prices, still qualifies for the tax credit, nets almost the same mileage and offers much more cargo space. Plus, it's presidential candidate-approved -- even Barack Obama bought one.

Volvo C30
The C30 is upscale and sporty enough to compete with BMWs and Acuras, but can be purchased for less than some Civic models. Its turbocharged engine nets up to 28 mpg on the highway and scoots from 0 to 60 in under 7 seconds -- outstanding at this price point. Plus, it looks cool with deep shoulder lines and an unusual all-glass rear hatch. The interior features a ribbon-thin floating console and unusual T-Tech upholstery that looks like a wetsuit. In a sea of look-alike Japanese compacts, why not drive a quirky European hatchback with a thoughtful Swedish design?

Smart Fortwo
Want to look really smart? Consider buying a car that's ahead of its time. As gas prices rise and Americans re-evaluate our relationship with fuel, tiny city cars like the Smart Fortwo are a sign of what's to come. The Smart is so small it can be parked nose-in to the curb in a parallel spot. Plus, its Tridion safety cage earned it solid crash test scores...and it's cute. Oh, it's also one of the least expensive cars on the market, and with its thrifty three-cylinder engine, one of the cheapest to own. You'll certainly look smart with change in your wallet. But don't delay, because you'll have to sign up for a waiting list to get one.

Toyota Tacoma
Want to really impress people with an unusual choice? Go for utilitarian brawn and practicality all at once. Everyone who doesn't have a truck needs a friend with a truck. And even in a world of hyper-expensive gas, Toyota's smallest truck makes some sense. The Tacoma's 25 mpg highway rating isn't far from what some small cars get. Plus, its interior is often described as "car-like" and it's the safest small truck on the road.

MINI Cooper
MINIs are BMWs with go-kart-like handling, cute looks that turn heads, and a price tag less than some models of the Nissan Sentra and Pontiac G5. Oh, yes, and it bests nearly everything else on the road in terms of gas mileage with its 29 mpg combined fuel economy. What would you rather drive?


Source: http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/635/Cars-That-Make-You-Look-Smart

GM debuts the Chevy Volt

DETROIT (CNNMoney.com) -- General Motors unveiled the Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle on Tuesday, allowing outsiders their first full look at the car GM says will go on sale in 2010.

"The Volt symbolizes GM's commitment to the future," said Rick Wagoner, the company's chairman and CEO.

The Volt will be driven by electricity stored in a large T-shaped lithium-ion battery pack running the length of the car. After charging for several hours, the Volt will be able to run for up to about 40 miles without using gasoline.

GM did not announce pricing for the car, which will have the equivalent of about 150 horsepower and a top speed of 100 mph, the automaker said.

To charge the batteries, drivers will plug a cord into one of the ports just ahead of the driver's side mirror. The cord can then be attached to an ordinary home electrical outlet.

The car will cost "less than purchasing a cup of your favorite coffee" to recharge, and use less electricity annually than a refrigerator. The Volt should cost less than 2 cents per mile to drive on electricity, GM said, compared to 12 cents a mile on gasoline at a price of $3.60 a gallon.

Source: http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/648/gm-debuts-the-chevy-volt/

How Tiny Life Could Power the Future

Editor's Note: Each Wednesday LiveScience examines the viability of emerging energy technologies - the power of the future.

Hydrogen is the cleanest and most abundant fuel there is, but extracting it from water or organic material is currently not a very efficient process. Scientists are therefore studying certain bacteria that exhale hydrogen as part of their normal metabolism.

"The production of hydrogen by microorganisms is intimately linked to their cellular processes, which must be understood to optimize bioenergy yields," said Amy VanFossen of North Carolina State University.

Of particular interest are microbes that thrive in hot temperatures, near the boiling point of water. VanFossen and her colleagues carried out a detailed DNA study of one of these thermophilic (heat-loving) bacteria called Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus, which was first found in a hot spring in New Zealand.

The results, presented last week at the American Chemical Society meeting in Philadelphia, indicate which genes allow C. saccharolyticus to eat plant material, referred to as biomass, and expel hydrogen in the process.



Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20080827/sc_livescience/howtinylifecouldpowerthefuture

Experiment Boosts Hopes for Space Solar Power

WASHINGTON — A former NASA scientist has used radio waves to transmit solar power a distance of 92 miles (148 km) between two Hawaiian islands, an achievement that he says proves the technology exists to beam solar power from satellites back to Earth.

John C. Mankins demonstrated the solar power transmission for the Discovery Channel, which paid for the four month experiment and will broadcast the results Friday at 9 p.m. EDT. His vision is to transmit solar power collected by orbiting satellites as large as 1,102 pounds (500 kg) to lake-sized receiver stations on Earth.

Mankins, who worked at NASA for 25 years and managed the agency's space-based solar program before it was disbanded, transmitted 20 watts of power between the two islands in May. The receivers, however, were so small that less than one one-thousandth of a percent of the power was received, Mankins said.


Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20080912/sc_space/experimentboostshopesforspacesolarpower;_ylt=Ag6CIbBDwJgN1FHZVw5.Ckj737YB

How Satellites Could Power the Future

Placing solar panels in space above both night and clouds was first considered 40 years ago. But the estimated cost was, in a word, astronomical.

The idea, however, has seen a resurgence, thanks to rising oil prices and advances in solar technology. A report from U.S. Defense Department found that space-based solar is technically feasible and economically viable.

To help prove the point, the Air Force Academy recently announced plans for a small demonstration satellite that would beam down a meager, but still significant, 0.1 watts of solar power.

"Our vision is to build the world's first-ever space-based solar power system to light a single bulb on Earth and in so doing light the path for business to follow," said Col. Michael "Coyote" Smith of the Air Force.

The type of transmission beam is still not decided, but the project may benefit from separate research in Japan that has been studying the two most likely technologies: microwaves and lasers.




source: http://www.livescience.com/environment/080618-pf-space-solar.html