Autoblog Green http://www.autobloggreen.com Autoblog Green http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog Green http://www.autobloggreen.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid and Dan RothThe podcast by the people who obsessively cover the auto industry.<![CDATA[Six UK teens rushed to hospital after drinking ethanol]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/16/six-uk-teens-rushed-to-hospital-after-drinking-ethanol/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/16/six-uk-teens-rushed-to-hospital-after-drinking-ethanol/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/16/six-uk-teens-rushed-to-hospital-after-drinking-ethanol/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ethanol can be used in ICE engines, can be made from renewable resources and, depending on whether it's been denatured or not, can technically be drunk. John McCain's 2007 joke aside, this is a bad idea. Physics Forums lists a few reasons why. Nonetheless, six teenagers in the UK thought that an episode of the BBC1 drama Waterloo Road portrayed a good idea when a young female character drank ethanol. So, sadly, the five girls and one boy (all either 14 or 15) copied the fictional character's action. They were then taken to the hospital, where it was discovered that none of them will suffer any long-term effects, according to UPI. Call it a "lucky break."

No one would want to ever drink ethanol once it's been mixed with gasoline (the smell! the taste!), but if you don't talk to your kids about ethanol, who will?

UPDATE: And again...

[Source: UPI, Telegraph]
Photo by ˙Cаvin 〄. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.

Six UK teens rushed to hospital after drinking ethanol originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drinking ethanolDrinkingEthanolethanolteenagerteenagersteensMon, 16 Nov 2009 19:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Dacia launches ethanol-fueled version of Logan MCV]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/11/dacia-launches-ethanol-fueled-version-of-logan-mcv/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/11/dacia-launches-ethanol-fueled-version-of-logan-mcv/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/11/dacia-launches-ethanol-fueled-version-of-logan-mcv/#commentsFiled under: ,

Dacia Logan MCV - click above for high-res image gallery

Renault's low-cost, Romania-based brand, Dacia, has introduced a new flex-fuel version of its Logan MCV people mover. The E85-capable wagon uses a 105 hp version of the Renault 1.6-liter four cylinder. With French tax incentives, the Logan starts at a rather miserly €11,200, a very moderate price in Europe. When the "field to wheel" emissions are factored in, the CO2 emissions of the Logan MCV amount to just 116 g/km although this obviously depends greatly on the feedstock source used for the ethanol production. Nonetheless, the Logan qualifies for Dacia's eco2 badging for low emissions vehicles.

The Logan MCV is available with either a five- or seven-seat configuration and running on ethanol boosts output to 105 hp from the 90 hp of the gas-only version. The Logan is now available for order in France.


Gallery: Dacia Logan MCV Hi-Flex


[Source: Renault]

Continue reading Dacia launches ethanol-fueled version of Logan MCV

Dacia launches ethanol-fueled version of Logan MCV originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daciadacia logandacia logan ethanoldacia logan mcv ethanoldacia-loganDaciaLoganDaciaLoganEthanolDaciaLoganMcvEthanolrenaultWed, 11 Nov 2009 08:04:00 EST<![CDATA[China turns to methanol for flex-fuel cars]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/10/china-turns-to-methanol-for-flex-fuel-cars/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/10/china-turns-to-methanol-for-flex-fuel-cars/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/10/china-turns-to-methanol-for-flex-fuel-cars/#commentsFiled under: ,


Methanol is an unusual alcohol. For one thing, it can be used in fuel cells instead of hydrogen. It is also used by homebrewers to make biodiesel. Alternatively, it can be used in internal combustion engines instead of gasoline (see: drag racing). In China, methanol has just been approved by the ministry for standards for use as a motor vehicle fuel. Like ethanol in the U.S., China now permits the chemical to be added to pure gasoline so that it makes up to 85 percent of the mixture. The U.S. has E85, China has M85. It's possible to make methanol from natural gas, wood, and coal. The downside? Methanol is less efficient than either gasoline or ethanol. For example, a car that gets 10 l/100 km (23.5 mpg) using gasoline would get 12.5 l / 100 km (18 mpg) on ethanol and 15 l / 100 km (15.5 mpg) on methanol.

Green Car Advisor notes that one of the first automakers to prepare a powertrain that can burn methanol is Geely, which makes some of the cheapest cars in the world.

[Source: Green Car Advisor]

China turns to methanol for flex-fuel cars originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinamethanolmethanol chinamethanol ethanolmethanol fuel cellMethanolChinaMethanolEthanolMethanolFuelCellTue, 10 Nov 2009 18:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Not Done Yet: Hummer H3, H3T get biofuel capability, new colors for 2010]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/06/not-done-yet-hummer-h3-h3t-get-biofuel-capability-new-colors/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/06/not-done-yet-hummer-h3-h3t-get-biofuel-capability-new-colors/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/06/not-done-yet-hummer-h3-h3t-get-biofuel-capability-new-colors/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2010 Hummer H3 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Can a Hummer be green? The brand that most obviously represents American excess in the minds of environmentalists - though Hummer's vehicles aren't actually any worse than any other large SUV - has seemingly been fighting off its negative stigma since shortly after the introduction of the larger-than-life H2. Part of the brand's hopeful transformation includes giving each model a flex-fuel variant, and the latest application of that principle is seen on the 2010 H3 and H3T.

Interestingly, the engine that gets the E85 capability is the largest and most powerful option: the 5.3-liter V8 as fitted to the top-level Alpha series and not the slightly more fuel efficient inline-five. In any case, anyone who ticks the V8 box on the options list will be blessed with 300 horsepower, 320 lb-ft of torque and the ability to pump ethanol into the tank if he or she should so desire.

Not green enough for you? Baby steps, people... Hummer CEO James Taylor (no, not that James Taylor) promises bigger eco steps in the near future, saying, "This is just the first step in Hummer's evolution to offer responsible, yet highly capable all-terrain vehicles. Future models will be lighter, more efficient and will continue to offer the best blend of off-road capability and on-road performance."

In related news, the 2010 Hummer H3 and H3T will be offered with three new premium exterior colors for 2010: Red Rock Metallic, Silver Stone Metallic, and Canyon Metallic. Huh, no green? Each of the three new hues can be seen in our photo gallery below. Enjoy!



[Source: Hummer]

Continue reading Not Done Yet: Hummer H3, H3T get biofuel capability, new colors for 2010

Not Done Yet: Hummer H3, H3T get biofuel capability, new colors for 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 hummer h32010 hummer h3t2010HummerH32010HummerH3tflex fuelflex fuel h3flex fuel hummerflex-fuelflex-fuel h3flex-fuel hummerFlex-fuelH3Flex-fuelHummerFlexFuelFlexFuelH3FlexFuelHummerh3h3thummerhummer h3hummer h3tHummerH3HummerH3tFri, 06 Nov 2009 15:02:00 EST<![CDATA[BP prepares output of new biofuels - algae diesel and butanol - starting in 2010]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/05/bp-prepares-output-of-new-biofuels-algae-diesel-and-butanol/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/05/bp-prepares-output-of-new-biofuels-algae-diesel-and-butanol/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/05/bp-prepares-output-of-new-biofuels-algae-diesel-and-butanol/#commentsFiled under:

BP could become the first major energy company to start commercial scale production of cellulosic ethanol in 2010 if all goes according to plan. BP has been partnering with Verenium Corporation to commercialize the latter company's process for breaking down cellulose into sugars.

Verenium has been running a demonstration plant in Louisiana that can produce 1.4 million gallons of ethanol annually. The Verenium process relies on enzymes to break down the cellulose, allowing it to be converted to alcohol, and the company claims almost complete conversion. The new plant will use grasses as a feedstock.

BP is also actively involved in a number of other biofuel projects including algae diesel and butanol. BP is planning to start biobutanol production at a British plant using wheat straw in the 2012/13 time frame. Butanol is seen as an important biofuel because its energy content is closer to gasoline than ethanol and it can be used in most existing engines without modification. The oil giant hopes to have demonstration butanol production running next at a UK facility.

[Source: Reuters]

BP prepares output of new biofuels - algae diesel and butanol - starting in 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biobutanolbpbp vereniumBpVereniumbutanolcellulosecellulosiccellulosic ethanolcellulosic-ethanolCellulosicEthanolVereniumThu, 05 Nov 2009 08:50:00 EST<![CDATA[5 mpg = green in NASCAR]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/30/5-mpg-green-in-nascar/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/30/5-mpg-green-in-nascar/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/30/5-mpg-green-in-nascar/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



NASCAR has already gone solar and wants to help you (not themselves) use less fuel, but the cold hard reality is that those ovals are being made in cars that get around five miles per gallon. Not exactly hybrid SUV territory there. So, to reduce the amount of fossil fuels used in each race, race organizers are looking to maybe - maybe - using alternative fuels in the some of the cars.

Before NASCAR gets that ca-razy, though, there are other ways the series might use fewer resources, but at least NASCAR's first director of green innovation, Mike Lynch, makes it clear that, "We're not attempting to take any high ground. [...] This is a pragmatic approach to green, and what we're doing now is just the beginning."

Part of the problem is that NASCAR fans don't want to give up what they've become accustomed to. Lee White, president of Toyota Racing Development, told USAToday that, "Doubling fuel mileage means half the horsepower, and putting fans in the stands requires a show." Driver Sam Hornish, Jr. added, "No one is going to come watch us run battery-powered cars. I don't see anyone making enough electric power to go 200 mph."

Driver Brian Vickers is also more than willing to take the let's-all-do-something-but-you-go-first approach, said that, "Do our cars need to be more fuel efficient? Absolutely. But I think as a whole there's a lot bigger low-hanging fruit we can go after as a sport. There are a lot of fans that come to these races, and there's a lot we don't recycle that we could."

Some of that low-hanging fruit is carbon offsets, maybe replacing carburetors with fuel injection and Coke's race-side display that "highlight(s) its recycling businesses and has placed more than 2,600 recycling bins at a dozen tracks that have collected more than 65,000 pounds of recyclable material." When you have such a history of going in circles, maybe progress isn't your forte.

[Source: USAToday via Domestic Fuel]
Photo by pocketwiley. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.

5 mpg = green in NASCAR originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biofuelnascarnascar mpgNascarMpgFri, 30 Oct 2009 19:49:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: Argonne National Lab developing Omnivorous Engine]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/21/video-argonne-national-lab-developing-omnivorous-engine/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/21/video-argonne-national-lab-developing-omnivorous-engine/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/21/video-argonne-national-lab-developing-omnivorous-engine/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Click above to watch the video after the break

Gasoline, ethanol, methanol, butanol, natural gas... there are a ton of choices when deciding on what fuel is best suited for automotive use, and each of them offer at least some reason to recommend them over another. Which to choose? Here's a better question: What if you didn't have to choose just one fuel?

That's the goal of the so-called omnivorous engine. Not long ago, Lotus Engineering made headlines at the Geneva Motor Show when it showed off its flex-fuel Omnivore engine concept, and now word comes from the Argonne National Lab that it, too, is working on such a powerplant.

While there are already some engines capable of running on multiple spark ignited fuels, it's not an easy task to get one single powerplant to run with optimal efficiently on such a diverse range of products. In the case of Argonne's Omnivorous Engine, a sophisticated computer keeps track of what's being fed into the engine, and things like valve timing, fuel injection metering and compression ratio can be adjusted on the fly. Click past the break to watch a video introducing the project.

[Source: Green Car Advisor]

Continue reading VIDEO: Argonne National Lab developing Omnivorous Engine

VIDEO: Argonne National Lab developing Omnivorous Engine originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>argonneargonne national labargonne national laboratoryArgonne-National-LaboratoryArgonneNationalLabArgonneNationalLaboratoryflex-fuelflex-fuel engineFlex-fuelEngineomnivoreomnivore engineOmnivoreEngineomnivorous engineOmnivorousEngineWed, 21 Oct 2009 12:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Lists? Yeah, electric vehicles get on lists. Hopeful, hopeful lists]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/19/lists-yeah-electric-vehicles-get-on-lists/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/19/lists-yeah-electric-vehicles-get-on-lists/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/19/lists-yeah-electric-vehicles-get-on-lists/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Tesla Roadster - Click above for high-res image gallery

Here are five technologies that "could change everything":

  • Advanced car batteries
  • Carbon capture and storage
  • Space-based solar power
  • Utility storage
  • Next-generation biofuels

This is the list culled by the Wall Street Journal, and we note that plug-in vehicles benefit/are tied to four of those five items. All five if you include things like the E85-capable range extender in the plug-in Chevy Volt.

Meanwhile, over at the Seattle Times, Tesla was named one of eight companies that are changing the world. Other companies on the list are working on technical, gadget-y advances (laser broadband streaming data at 1.25 gigabytes a second) and eco-advances (green building materials) and more.

What we take away from these lists is that people have a lot of hope that technology will save us. Somehow, someday. Just wait until a better widget comes along, then all will be well.

[Source: Seattle Times, Wall Street Journal]

Lists? Yeah, electric vehicles get on lists. Hopeful, hopeful lists originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biofuelbiofuelsplug in vehicleplug in vehiclesplug-inplug-in hybridplug-in vehicleplug-in vehiclesPlug-inHybridPlug-inVehiclePlug-inVehiclesPlugInVehiclePlugInVehiclestesla motorsTeslaMotorsMon, 19 Oct 2009 17:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Ethanol will get you free parking at Vikings games, sort of]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/19/ethanol-will-get-you-free-parking-at-vikings-games-sort-of/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/19/ethanol-will-get-you-free-parking-at-vikings-games-sort-of/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/19/ethanol-will-get-you-free-parking-at-vikings-games-sort-of/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Here's the problem with flex-fuel vehicles. Also known at E85-capable, flexfuel rides can burn straight gasoline or a gasoline/ethanol blend that is up to 85 percent ethanol. But, since they don't need ethanol, the reality is that most people fill up with petroleum pure and call it a day (in most of the U.S., ethanol isn't all that easy to find, although it's easier now than ever before). The latest numbers available from the U.S. government say that that about 300,000 E85-capable vehicles actually used E85 in America in 2006, out of the five million E85-capable vehicles on the road.

This brings us to the Minnesota Vikings and a new deal the team has struck with the American Lung Association in Minnesota: free prime parking for ethanol cars. The thing is, even though the ALA wants to promote using E85 because it burns cleaner than gasoline, there's no way to prove what fuel is in the tank. So, even though the press release is titled "Use E85? The Minnesota Vikings and the American Lung Association in Minnesota Have a Free Parking Spot for You," what the team is really rewarding here is buying a flex-fuel vehicle, not actually using ethanol. Still, the first 25 people who pull up in a flex-fuel ride will get to use the premium parking spots near the Dome without paying the $40. More details after the jump.

[Source: American Lung Association in Minnesota]

Continue reading Ethanol will get you free parking at Vikings games, sort of

Ethanol will get you free parking at Vikings games, sort of originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e85ethanolflex-fuelflex-fuel vehicleFlex-fuelVehicleflexfuelminnesotaminnesota vikingsMinnesotaVikingsMon, 19 Oct 2009 12:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Kansas newspapers calls for end to ethanol subsidy]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/19/kansas-newspapers-calls-for-end-to-ethanol-subsidy/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/19/kansas-newspapers-calls-for-end-to-ethanol-subsidy/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/19/kansas-newspapers-calls-for-end-to-ethanol-subsidy/#commentsFiled under: ,



It's no secret that ethanol is a controversial fuel. There are numerous arguments against the use of corn-derived alcohol as a fuel, both economic and environmental. The federal and some state governments have been subsidizing corn ethanol production for many years, but the 2007 energy bill mandated a huge increase in production of both corn and cellulosic ethanol.

The subsidies were intended to be a carrot to stimulate production, but with production now mandated, the subsidies now seem redundant, at least according to the editorial board of the Kansas City Star. The paper is calling for the repeal of the corn ethanol subsidies which seem to do little more than line the pockets of big corn producers and processors. Eliminating the 45 cent per gallon credit would also pave the way for cheaper sugar can ethanol to come in from Brazil. There should also be more rigorous study of the effects of corn ethanol production including water and land use.

[Source: Kansas City Star]

Kansas newspapers calls for end to ethanol subsidy originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ethanolethanol productionethanol subsidiesEthanolProductionEthanolSubsidiesMon, 19 Oct 2009 08:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Coskata's new Lighthouse cellulosic ethanol plant, in depth]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/16/coskatas-new-lighthouse-cellulosic-ethanol-plant-in-depth/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/16/coskatas-new-lighthouse-cellulosic-ethanol-plant-in-depth/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/16/coskatas-new-lighthouse-cellulosic-ethanol-plant-in-depth/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Coskata Lighthouse Cellulosic Ethanol Plant - Click above for high-res image gallery

Coskata's newly-opened semi-commercial flex ethanol facility in Madison, Pennsylvania is as small as it can possibly be. Co-located at a Westinghouse facility that also in some fashion uses nuclear energy, the Lighthouse project, as it's called, is running 24/7 to turn wood chips into ethanol. It's also intended to show off just how far Coskata has come since emerging from stealth mode almost two years ago. Oh, and the plant can also be scaled up to fit the needs of cellulosic ethanol producers from coast to coast.

The Lighthouse plant follows the Horizon integrated processing plant that started in 2008 in Warrenville, Illinois and precedes the Flagship plant that is due for 2012 at a location somewhere in the Southeast U.S. that will be announced later. The location for the Flagship plant has been selected, but Coskata will not specify where it is exactly until it can talk more specifically about the financing arrangements involved for the 55-million-gallon-per-year plant that will use forest residue and other woody biomass. Coskata says the Flagship will be "the first commercially-viable, feedstock-flexible ethanol facility." Coskata has not taken any government money to date, but they may apply for DOE loan guarantees for the Flagship plant. Coskata will not expand the Madison Lighthouse facility. In fact, they're only located there as a guest and will leave when the contract is up. The facility is modular and will actually be dismantled and trucked to the Flagship location in the future.

What might this plant offer, both for partner GM and for the U.S.'s biofuel needs? Find out after the jump.

Gallery: Coskata Lighthouse Cellulosic Ethanol Plant


Photos copyright (C)2009 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Coskata's new Lighthouse cellulosic ethanol plant, in depth

Coskata's new Lighthouse cellulosic ethanol plant, in depth originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alter NRGAlterNrgcellulosic ethanolCellulosicEthanolcoskatacoskata ethanolcoskata flagshipcoskata gmcoskata horizoncoskata lighthouseCoskataEthanolCoskataFlagshipCoskataGmCoskataHorizonCoskataLighthouseethanolfeaturedgm ethanolGmEthanolmadison paMadisonPapennsylvaniaFri, 16 Oct 2009 19:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Does a corn-ethanol vehicle beat the Tesla Roadster in lifetime CO<sub>2</sub> emissions?]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/16/does-a-corn-ethanol-vehicle-beat-the-tesla-roadster-in-lifetime/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/16/does-a-corn-ethanol-vehicle-beat-the-tesla-roadster-in-lifetime/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/16/does-a-corn-ethanol-vehicle-beat-the-tesla-roadster-in-lifetime/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2010 Tesla Roadster Sport - Click above for high-res image gallery

What does it take for a car to "beat" the Tesla Roadster? With a 0-60 time that blows away almost anything else on four wheels, there aren't many vehicles that are faster. With an all-electric drivetrain, the car sits at the absolute pinnacle (along with every other EV) for lowest tailpipe emissions. But is it possible that a vehicle that burns corn-based ethanol (or gasoline!) can beat the Roadster on overall CO2 emissions?

This is the claim from the unbiased folks at Biofuels Digest, who crunched theoretical numbers like this:
  • The Tesla gets its juice from a power plant that is burning coal, which means it has 2.095 pounds of CO2 per kWh and can go 3.12 miles per kWh.
  • The theoretical corn-ethanol E85-burning vehicle puts out CO2 according to the GREET model (Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Transportation) for lifecycle emissions and is operating at the proposed new CAFE standards.

Over the vehicles' lifetimes (of 145,000 miles), Biofuels Digest says, the E85 vehicle creates 30 percent fewer CO2 emissions, and the Roadster will even put out 21 percent more CO2 than a car that uses straight gasoline (we tried to dig into the GREET model to see how deep the well-to-wheels model tracks CO2 generation, but didn't see how crop and oil production is specifically handled here. Since GREET has been in development since 1999, we're going to assume the system takes these factors into account). Biofuels Digest uses government data - from the EIA, DOT, Argonne National Lab, etc. - and Tesla's numbers to come to their conclusion. You can find a chart produced by Biofuels Digest after the jump.

At first glance, this reminds us of the Prius vs. Hummer debacle, but we're open to further investigation. Got an opinion?

Gallery: First Drive: Tesla Roadster Sport


[Source: Biofuels Digest via Domestic Fuel]

Continue reading Does a corn-ethanol vehicle beat the Tesla Roadster in lifetime CO2 emissions?

Does a corn-ethanol vehicle beat the Tesla Roadster in lifetime CO2 emissions? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredtelsa motorsTelsaMotorsteslatesla co2tesla corn ethanoltesla e85tesla ethanoltesla roadsterTeslaCo2TeslaCornEthanolTeslaE85TeslaEthanolTeslaRoadsterFri, 16 Oct 2009 14:59:00 EST<![CDATA[CleanFlex Power System finds a way to burn ethanol in diesel engines]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/16/cleanflex-power-system-finds-a-way-to-burn-ethanol-in-diesel-eng/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/16/cleanflex-power-system-finds-a-way-to-burn-ethanol-in-diesel-eng/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/16/cleanflex-power-system-finds-a-way-to-burn-ethanol-in-diesel-eng/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Diesel engines like to burn diesel fuel. Most, especially older ones, will also run just fine on biodiesel. But ethanol? You can't put ethanol in a diesel engine, right? According to National Corn Growers Association chairman and Nebraska corn farmer Bob Dickey, there actually is a way to mix ethanol into a diesel cycle right at the point of combustion, resulting in a diesel engine that runs cooler and is more efficient.

Called CleanFlex Power System, the unusual process was developed as a way to burn more ethanol in the U.S. Currently, CleanFlex is being tested in a stationary John Deere power system, and Dickey says it's working well. In addition to the diesel fuel (which could also be biodiesel), the ethanol used in CleanFlex is cut to 60 percent with water (called EM60). You can hear Dickey talk about the system over at Domestic Fuel.

[Source: Domestic Fuel]

CleanFlex Power System finds a way to burn ethanol in diesel engines originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biodieselbiodiesel ethanol blendBiodieselEthanolBlendbob dickeyBobDickeydomestic fuelDomesticFuelem60ethanolron prestonRonPrestonFri, 16 Oct 2009 10:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Coskata opens doors to first semi-commercial flex ethanol facility]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/15/coskata-opens-the-doors-to-first-semi-commercial-flex-ethanol-fa/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/15/coskata-opens-the-doors-to-first-semi-commercial-flex-ethanol-fa/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/15/coskata-opens-the-doors-to-first-semi-commercial-flex-ethanol-fa/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Coskata caught our attention back in January 2008 with the announcement that GM would take an equity stake in the cellulosic ethanol producer in an effort to bring the biofuel to market at a cost of just $1 a gallon. Since then, things haven't gone quite as smoothly as Coskata executives might have hoped and deadlines have been missed, but the company is hoping that today's unveiling of a semi-commercial flex ethanol facility will show things are back on track.

Coskata says that its new plant, located in Madison, Pennsylvania (finally!), proves that the make-ethanol-from-almost-anything process, which uses proprietary microorganisms and patented bioreactors, can be successfully scaled up from promising results in the lab. Using plasma torches that are based on technology that was developed by GM and Westinghouse in the early eighties, the Coskata process heats biomass materials to over 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit, converting it into a gas that the microorganisms then use to produce ethanol. The Madison plant, which cost a reported $25 million, "will serve as a showcase for the world's first commercially-viable flex ethanol process," the company said in a statement.

The headline numbers, which we've heard before, are that Coskata can make ethanol that "reduce(s) greenhouse gasses by as much as 96% over conventional gasoline, while using less than half the water that it takes to get a gallon of gasoline" and "produce(s) non grain-based ethanol that is as much as 7 times as energy positive as the fossil fuel used in the process." GM remains involved with the program, and will use the ethanol made in Madison to test flex-fuel vehicles back in Milford, Michigan.

Up next for Coskata: building a full-scale plant and licensing the technology to "project developers, project financiers and strategic partners."

[Source: Coskata]

Continue reading Coskata opens doors to first semi-commercial flex ethanol facility

Coskata opens doors to first semi-commercial flex ethanol facility originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It was big news when the Obama Administration updated CAFE requirements in May to a new and higher national MPG standard of 42 mpg for cars (26 mpg for light trucks) by 2016. The higher standards will start increasing with 2011 model year vehicles. But what is CAFE? And how do these new numbers - before the raise, cars needed to average 27.5 mpg and trucks 24 mpg - change what will be available in dealerships in the coming decade?

Let's start with the official government wording. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is in charge of establishing CAFE standards, so let's use their definition:

Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) is the sales weighted average fuel economy, expressed in miles per gallon (mpg), of a manufacturer's fleet of passenger cars or light trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 8,500 lbs. or less, manufactured for sale in the United States, for any given model year. Fuel economy is defined as the average mileage traveled by an automobile per gallon of gasoline (or equivalent amount of other fuel) consumed as measured in accordance with the testing and evaluation protocol set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Clear as mud? We break it down after the jump.

[Image: Tim Boyle/Getty]

Continue reading What is CAFE?

What is CAFE? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cafecafe mileagecafe mpgcafe standardsCafeMileageCafeMpgCafeStandardsdotfaeturedgreenlingsnhtsaNHTSA CAFE rulesNhtsaCafeRulesMon, 12 Oct 2009 19:57:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: Bentley to delay flex-fuel capability for 2010 Continental Supersports]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/06/report-bentley-to-delay-flex-fuel-capability-for-2010-continent/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/06/report-bentley-to-delay-flex-fuel-capability-for-2010-continent/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/06/report-bentley-to-delay-flex-fuel-capability-for-2010-continent/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Bentley Continental Supersports - Click above for high-res image gallery

While the environmental merits of any 621 horsepower, twelve-cylinder behemoth that's capable of traveling at speeds of up to 204 miles per hour are, at the very least, debatable, Bentley hasn't exactly been shy about touting the green angle of its upcoming 2010 Continental Supersports.

Add one more black mark to the car's eco credibility now that word comes from Green Car Advisor that U.S. laws and "engineering challenges" - including the fitment of hardened valve seats in Bentley's W12 engine - mean that the first 200 Supersports imported to the United States won't actually be flex-fuel capable.

Ah well, somehow we doubt that buyers willing to plonk down the $267,000 it takes to park a twin-turbocharged Continental Supersports in their driveway will be all that concerned with pumping ethanol in the tank.



[Source: Green Car Advisor]

REPORT: Bentley to delay flex-fuel capability for 2010 Continental Supersports originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When it comes to sugar and cars, there's a type of cellulosic ethanol made from sugarcane, much of which is produced in Brazil. However, researchers at Brigham Young University (BYU) have developed a catalyst that breaks glucose molecules in such a way that electrons, and therefore electricity, can be obtained. This research means there is the possibility of a "sweet" type of fuel cell. The catalyst was obtained from a herbicide that helps break the sugar down and liberates electrons. The process has a 29 percent conversion rate, meaning that 7 of the 24 available electrons per glucose molecule are transferred. According to BYU, the process could be good enough to power cars using cheaper components than hydrogen fuel cells: sugar and this herbicide aren't expensive at all and are surely quite earth-friendly. Hat tip to Ray!

[Source: BYU]

BYU research hints at a possibility of a fuel cell powered by sugar originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>byucatalystherbicidesugarMon, 05 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dyson Racing debuts ethanol-biobutanol blend at Petit Le Mans]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/27/dyson-racing-debuts-ethanol-biobutanol-blend-at-petit-le-mans/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/27/dyson-racing-debuts-ethanol-biobutanol-blend-at-petit-le-mans/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/27/dyson-racing-debuts-ethanol-biobutanol-blend-at-petit-le-mans/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Dyson Racing B09/96 running at Mid-Ohio - click above for high res image gallery

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 something during the 2009 season. We're now down to the second-to-last-race of 2009 and a fourth fuel has finally arrived.

Dyson Racing's LMP2 #16 Lola-Mazda is running unclassified at this weekend's Petiti Le Mans because its fuel tank will be filled with a blend of biobutanol and ethanol. This is the first use of butanol in an ALMS car. Dyson has been working with its primary sponsor, BP, and engine supplier Mazda to develop the new fuel which is currently produced from sugar cane but can also be produced from cellulosic sources. Butanol has several advantages over ethanol including higher energy density allowing mileage and power closer to gasoline. Because it doesn't have the same tendency to absorb water that causes corrosion, it can be blended with gasoline in higher concentrations without modifying the engines. Hopefully in 2010 we'll see cars running for points fueled by butanol all season long.

Gallery: Dyson Racing Mazda-Lola at Mid-Ohio


[Source: American Le Mans Series]
All photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Dyson Racing debuts ethanol-biobutanol blend at Petit Le Mans

Dyson Racing debuts ethanol-biobutanol blend at Petit Le Mans originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 27 Sep 2009 08:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>almsamerican le mansamerican le mans ser...american le mans seriesamerican le mans series green challengeamerican lemans seriesAmericanLeMansAmericanLeMansSer...AmericanLeMansSeriesAmericanLeMansSeriesGreenChallengebiobutanolbutanolbutanolfueldysondyson racingdyson racing lola mazdaDysonRacingDysonRacingLolaMazdaethanolethanol-butanol blendEthanol-butanolBlendfalselola-mazdapetit le mansPetitLeMansSun, 27 Sep 2009 08:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Top Ten "green" cars that met their fate during Cash for Clunkers]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/25/top-ten-green-cars-that-met-their-fate-during-cash-for-clunker/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/25/top-ten-green-cars-that-met-their-fate-during-cash-for-clunker/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/25/top-ten-green-cars-that-met-their-fate-during-cash-for-clunker/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



One rule that all clunked cars needed to adhere to was a maximum rating of 18 MPG from the federal government, right? What wasn't required was that the clunked car be considered dirty. After all, it's pretty clear that CNG vehicles burn clean, but that didn't stop 232 of them from meeting their sodium silicate solution-induced death.

We looked through the official, but as of yet unverified, list (PDF) of trade-in cars that were clunked using the Car Allowance Rebate System (Cash for Clunkers) and found that the aforementioned CNG vehicles, 1,779 flex-fuel vehicles and 24 LPG vehicles found their way to the recycler thanks to CARS. Which alternative-fuel models were most dumped? Which single hybrid took a dive? Click above for our top ten and check out the full list after the jump.

Photo by dno1967. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.

Continue reading Top Ten "green" cars that met their fate during Cash for Clunkers

Top Ten "green" cars that met their fate during Cash for Clunkers originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi A4 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Audi's big green reveal from the Frankfurt Motor Show is undoubtedly the e-Tron electric supercar - especially considering the recent comments about electric cars and diesels made by Audi North America President Johan de Nysschen. But there's another type of fuel/energy that Audi drivers in Germany can now use to move their four-ringed vehicles around: ethanol. Audi has never been a particularly strong proponent of the biofuel, but the A4 and A4 Avant 2.0 TFSI flexible fuel models are not the first to get the ethanol treatment.

The flex-fuel engine is a modified version of the standard 2.0 TFSI with Audi valvelift and start-stop system and both engines have the same torque (236.02 lb-ft between 1,500 and 4,200 rpm) and horsepower (180) outputs. A new A4 running on E85 will get 26 mpg (U.S.) on the European cycle, while the A4 Avant gets just 25.5 mpg (U.S.). Super unleaded petro-gasoline turns these numbers into 36.7 and 35.6 mpg (U.S.), respectively. Germany currently has around 300 E85 stations.

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Audi A4 Avant


Photos Copyright (C)2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Frankfurt 2009: Audi A4 and A4 Avant go biofuel in Germany

Frankfurt 2009: Audi A4 and A4 Avant go biofuel in Germany originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a4 avantA4Avantaudiaudi a4audi a4 avantaudi ethanolAudiA4AudiA4AvantAudiEthanolfalseTue, 15 Sep 2009 10:57:00 EST