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LA Auto Show Design Challenge entrants reveal Youthmobile 2030 designs

This year's iteration of the annual Design Challenge at the LA Auto Show asks the question: How will a new generation of drivers age 16-23 – raised with cell phones, web cams and online communities – emotionally connect to the automobile in 2030? We don't know the answer either, but at least six designers from some of the world's top automakers decided to give it a go with their own ideas. if you thought the Aptera was futuristic, check these out. First up are the eSpira and eOra from Audi, which are controlled by thought and ... Read more →

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Coming Soon to an Automobile Near You: Plastic engines? Jeremy Korzeniewski

Automakers and consumers alike all want lighter cars. "Adding lightness" has a lot of desirable effects, most notably in overall fuel efficiency and performance. While numerous efforts have been made ...

REPORT: Bolivia will make its own lithium-ion batteries by 2018 Sebastian Blanco

Asia and Michigan, watch out. It's a long-term goal, but Bolivia is looking to capitalize on its large in-ground lithium supply by producing li-ion batteries by 2018. While lithium might not ever be ...

Fanciful rendering of Audi Avatar shows what ultralights could be like in 2032 Sebastian Blanco

There are a lot of fanciful renderings out there that try to imagine what kind of vehicles we'll be driving in the coming decades. The renderings from Yanko Design are some of the strangest, ...

REPORT: Generation Y will "redefine" automotive market, trends green and big Jeremy Korzeniewski

Were you born somewhere between 1976 and the early 1990s? Are you the child of a so-called Baby Boomer? If so, you, like me, are a member of Generation Y. So, what does that mean? Well, nothing ...

Magnetic Air Car "does not violate the laws of energy conservation or the basic principles of thermodynamics" 1 month ago on Autoblog Green

When a news article about a new car starts with this line – "Vehicle currently in development requires no fuel, no external charging" – it makes us worry. We're not exactly big fans of vaporware made of unobtanium. So, it is with skepticism that we read about a new compressed air car ...

Google algorithms tweaking electric car-smart grid communication 1 month ago on Autoblog Green

Google's interest in everything everywhere things green has apparently been deeper than we knew. The solar car ports, the $2.75 million investment in companies (like Aptera) and the whole RechargeIT program are old news. What's thus far been under the radar is that Google is working on software ...

EcoCAR, Year Two starts in Boston; student engineers cleaning up the Saturn Vue 1 month ago on Autoblog Green

GM may have discarded the Saturn brand in the company's bankruptcy, but there are still at least 150 young engineers working hard to turn a Saturn Vue into the most efficient vehicle possible. The engineers are all students from 17 universities who are participating in the EcoCAR challenge, the ...

EcoSafe Inflator could put a little saltwater in your airbag 1 month ago on Autoblog Green

Turns out, pretty much any part of a car can get a green makeover. ARC Automotive Inc., for example, has figured out a way to make an airbag inflator that use saltwater brine (and a small pyrotechnic charge) to deploy an airbag instead of the larger charges that other pyrotechnic inflators use. ...

REPORT: Tesla Model S was designed with battery swaps in mind 1 month ago on Autoblog Green

Recently-resigned Tesla Motors engineering chief Michael Donoughe revealed an interesting tidbit of information on his way out the door. Speaking to Green Car Advisor, Donoughe said that the Model S has been designed to accommodate fast (sub-five minutes) battery swaps. While a quick battery ...

Dyson Racing debuts ethanol-biobutanol blend at Petit Le Mans 1 month ago on Autoblog Green

When we spoke with American Le Mans Series CEO Scott Atherton at the Detroit Auto Show last January he revealed that discussions were being held between the series and parties interested in racing with a new fuel. At the time he declined to reveal the nature of the fuel but expected to announce ...

Tokyo Preview: Honda unveils U3-X personal mobility device 1 month ago on Autoblog Green

We've seen our fair share of personal mobility devices over the past few years -- from the ill-received Segway to Toyota's i-Real. Now, Honda's joining the minimalist motoring set with its own limb-atrophying U3-X. Using technology originally developed for ASIMO the robot, the "U" in U3-X ...

Freescale developing new integrated circuit sensor for emissions reduction 1 month ago on Autoblog Green

Over the last thirty years, automakers have managed to eliminate roughly 99 percent of noxious emissions from the tailpipes of new cars. One of the keys to make that possible has been closed loop control of fuel systems. What this means is that sensors are used in a variety of locations, including ...

Unseen benefit: Underwriters Laboratories working on standards for electric car batteries 1 month ago on Autoblog Green

While no one will mandate that the new Underwriters Laboratories 2580 standard be applied to all advanced electric vehicle batteries, the fact that there will soon be a UL listing for "large batteries in electric vehicles" is a good thing. UL's unsurprising focus on the standard will be to "help ...

This plug-in vehicle shoots for the moon (rover) 1 month ago on Autoblog Green

With no time on its hands for promotional appearances at glitzy European autoshows, one of America's most advanced electric vehicles has been busy being put through its paces on the torturous terrain found at Black Point Lava Flow in Arizona. The Lunar Electric Rover (LER) has spent the last ...

Cross-country algae-fuel caravan arrives in D.C. 1 month ago on Autoblog Green

The cross-country tour featuring the FUEL movie bus and the Algaeus (the Prius running on algae biofuel) and other green vehicles has made it to Washington, D.C. After leaving San Francisco last week, the caravan made stops in Nevada, Michigan and Pennsylvania, among other places. Third Planet ...

smartUSA names Coulomb preferred charging station supplier 1 month ago on Autoblog Green

It may not have a starring role alongside the latest electrics from Renault at the Frankfort Motor Show this week like its bigger Better Place competitor, but Coulomb Technologies with its ChargePoint Network is happy to inform the world it's getting a good dose of Teutonic love itself, thank ...

Frankfurt 2009: Renault goes Twizy (with Zoe and Fluence and Kangoo) 1 month ago on Autoblog Green

The more we see of Renault's all-electric line-up that is on display at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the more we want to hang out at company cocktail parties. Something delicious and potent must be on tap there. From the elegant and unexpected lines of the Zoe (above, note the recycle logo) to the ...

Burger King employs MotionPower to produce electricity from drive-thru 1 month ago on Autoblog Green

In the future, fetching your burgers and fries via the drive-thru might mean helping the store you're patronizing keep the lights on. In more ways than one. Over the Labor Day weekend, a Burger King in Hillside, New Jersey tried out the MotionPower energy harvester from New Energy Technologies ...

Patent application reveals possible cylinder deactivation tech for Honda motorcycles 1 month ago on Autoblog Green

Honda is pulling out all the stops with its upcoming VFR1200 motorcycle in an effort to make the machine into a proper technological tour de force. In addition to a brand new dual clutch gearbox – the first of its kind for the two-wheeled market – the World's Largest motorcycle maker ...

REPORT: Koenigsegg developing pneumatic engine technology and hydraulic hybrid powertrains 1 month ago on Autoblog Green

Ever since Koenigsegg emerged as the chosen buyer for fellow Swedish automaker Saab, rumors of a number of eco-friendly automobiles from the two automakers have been making the rounds. In addition to a production version of Koenigsegg's electric Quant concept from this year's Geneva Motor Show, ...

Ford finds buyer for Wixom plant, will be used as renewable energy park 1 month ago on Autoblog Green

It's official. Negotiations are reportedly complete and Ford's abandoned plant in Wixom, Michigan, is getting a new lease on life. The factory originally opened way back in 1957 during the glory years of the American automotive industry and it encompasses a massive 320 acres (4.7 million ...

Honda to launch first-ever dual clutch gearbox for motorcycles with new VFR 1 month ago on Autoblog Green

When Honda's upcoming VFR1200 hits the American and European markets in 2010, the new sports tourer will be equipped with the first dual clutch transmission designed for the two-wheeled market. Like the highly-regarded DSG transmissions from Volkswagen and Audi, two separate clutches inside the ...

USPS study shows V2G could speed internal investment return 1 month ago on Autoblog Green

We haven't heard anything about the 250 electric Chrysler Town and Country mini-vans joining the United States Postal Service (USPS) fleet since the Earth Day announcement but that doesn't mean sleet, snow or gloom of night has kept the mail peoples from considering the benefits that electric ...

What are the promises and pitfalls of carbon fiber? 2 months ago on Autoblog Green

For the last century or so, cars and trucks have predominantly been formed from one material in particular: steel. It's not hard to see why – steel is relatively inexpensive, highly abundant and easy to form into somewhat complex shapes that can be repaired with mostly basic tools. ...

REPORT: China not hoarding rare earth metals, just wants them to be used in Inner Mongolia 2 months ago on Autoblog Green

Reports of the death of rare earth metals might have been greatly exaggerated. While it remains true that China mines almost all (i.e., more than 95 percent) of the rare earth minerals that are taken out of the earth, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that recent news saying that China may ...

Korean electric car gets a charge - an induction charge - from the road 2 months ago on Autoblog Green

Using solar roads for power generation is an idea that is being tested by the U.S. DOE. Over in Korea, tests involving a road giving up some power are underway. Instead of sucking up sunlight, the prototype roads send energy upwards to small electric vehicles through touchless magnetic induction ...

U.S. military considering Moller Skycar in Afghanistan? 2 months ago on Autoblog Green

What are the chances that American soldiers will soon be ditching their High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles – better known as the HMMWV, Humvee or just the Hummer – for flying Skycars from Moller? Well, let's just say we're not holding our breath. Still, there's apparently at ...

Venture capitalists looking for wins from advanced battery start-ups, methanol fuel cells 2 months ago on Autoblog Green

Even in a down economy, millions of dollars are flowing into start-up companies working on advanced batteries for plug-in vehicles and methanol fuel cells. Three companies operating in the less-sexy side of the new automotive industry – Seeo, CFX and Oorja Protonics – have all raised ...

XP Vehicles refused DOE loan, invites you to take action! 2 months ago on Autoblog Green

When last we left the company behind the inflatable car concept, we were questioning whether or not they are full of hot air. Now, with the recent loan refusal from the Department of Energy's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing program (ATVMP), it appears we aren't alone in our ...

Japanese companies plan to start recycling used automotive lithium ion batteries 2 months ago on Autoblog Green

According to a report from the Nikkei in Japan (via Hybrid Cars), Nippon Mining & Metals Co. and GS Yuasa Corp. are each planning to begin collecting used lithium ion batteries from hybrid and electric cars to be recycled. Apparently, it's not exactly a straightforward process to extract and ...

Solar Roadways get prototype funding from DOT 2 months ago on Autoblog Green

Tarmac 2.0 has just taken its first baby-step. The solar road technology that promises to produce clean electricity, replace power transmission and information infrastructure, requires no plowing and lights up to provide navigational and safety information is about to go from the drawing board ...

REPORT: public demonstrations of EESTOR's sectretive EESU next month? 2 months ago on Autoblog Green

Last month, we got a glimpse inside EEStor's ultracapacitor progress thanks to a leaked audio clip – admittedly, possibly on purpose – of someone interviewing EEStor CEO Dick Weir. At that time, Weir said that the EESU packs would be coming soon and promised demonstrations for 2010. ...

Better Place to trial battery-swapping taxis in Tokyo 2 months ago on Autoblog Green

When Better Place wanted to demonstrate how their battery switching station would operate they chose Yokohama Japan as the backdrop and now the land of the rising sun is returning some of that love. The electric vehicle infrastructure company has received an "award" to carry out a pilot project ...

Toyota, University of Tohoku improve lithium-ion batteries ten-fold (in the lab) 2 months ago on Autoblog Green

2009 Toyota FT-EV Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery Toyota and the University of Tohoku have announced the development of a new technology that is able to boost the capacity of lithium-ion batteries. What's this new improvement all about? Current lithium-ion batteries are usually ...

One Gallon Challenge vehicles on the way to Boston 2 months ago on Autoblog Green

The One Gallon Challenge kicked off this morning in Greenfield, Massachusetts and AutoblogGreen reader Peter L. sent in a short report and some pictures from the scene: Attached are some pix from the start of the One Gallon Challenge this morning. No results yet, since they are still on the ...

When economies of scale don't work: could OPEC model lead lithium producers to keep prices high? 2 months ago on Autoblog Green

If there's one repeated refrain we hear about the high price of advanced lithium batteries that are needed for the mass adoption of pure electric cars, it's that economies of scale will one day make the packs reasonably affordable. This seems a likely scenario, but is it inevitable? A paragraph in a ...

Want waste from zoo animals powering your car? New butanol process could make it happen 2 months ago on Autoblog Green

Butanol is the oft-ignored orphan of the biofuel world, but it's getting some attention down south. Scientists in New Orleans think that waste from zoo animals might be just the ticket to making the fuel for automobile use. Researchers form Tulane University aren't looking to turn the animal ...

Coulomb Technologies will legally "sell" energy for electric cars by not selling energy at all 2 months ago on Autoblog Green

Without looking at the law in every jurisdiction, we can say with some certainty that It is illegal to sell electricity in the U.S. unless you're a utility company. Originally intended to keep shady landlords from overcharging tenants for power, this law creates a bit of a problem for companies, ...

Why did the U.S. grant $2.4 billion for batteries? Independence 2 months ago on Autoblog Green

The trick to dominating technology in the new automotive reality – the one that won't be based on liquid fuels, especially not petroleum – lies in the batteries. We've already heard the phrase "the Saudi Arabia of plug-in cars" bandied about and some national security folks are ...

Enginer claims to have $2,000, 2kWh plug-in Prius conversion kit ready 2 months ago on Autoblog Green

We'll start with the numbers: $1,995 will get you a 2 kWh plug-in battery pack for your second-generation Toyota Prius; $2,995 will get you a 4 kWh pack (the installation feel and the $95 delivery charge are extra). For your two or three grand, you can reach "the holy grail of achieving 100 ...

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