Autoblog Green

SEAT starts installing solar panels on Martorell factory roof

Xavier Navarro — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:52:00 EST

Filed under: Manufacturing/Plants, Solar, Europe/EU, SEAT

As we announced, SEAT is trying to maximize the possibilities of the sunny Mediterranean climate for its factory in Martorell, near Barcelona, Spain. SEAT's plan is ambitious, and could allow the plant to be able to function almost off the grid. The factory will use 320,000 m² of solar panels on the roof, the equivalent of 10 MW of electric power. Annually, the plant could generate 13 million kWh. That's enough to power 3,000 homes and will save up to 6,200 metric tons of CO₂. The first project will start working next year, and will be Spain's second largest photovoltaic installation. Now let's see if solar power can be used for the Brisa and Duna models

[Source: SEAT]

SEAT starts installing solar panels on Martorell factory roof originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AirRay concept scoops the competition with four turbines, solar panels and V2G

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:59:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Solar, Green Daily

Fans of the normal-car-as-EV style of the Coda Sedan, you've been warned. What we have here is the AirRay, a totally unusual vehicle that (theoretically, at least) uses solar, wind and plug-in power to decrease gasoline consumption. It's also a little bit crazy.

The giant air scoops on the hood and rear of this car are used to power the air turbines - three in front, one in back - that generate energy for some sort of unspecified battery system. Said battery can also be charged using a plug, and the whole apparatus is Vehicle to Grid (V2G) capable. On the roof, a "solar honeycomb-membrane panel" sucks up rays for additional power.

The AirRay is the product of EarthSure Renewable Energy Corp., which bills itself as "an American corporation innovating technologies to produce energy in a clean and affordable way." What are they all about? Well, "Our goal is to offer a cost-effective way for all businesses to use Green Energy, regardless of size or industry. We are on the cutting edge of compliance with America's Green Initiatives as they relate to the energy and environmental provisions in the Stimulus Plan. Sounds like this car will be ready ... never, but there's a video of the rendering in action after the jump. Thanks to Sean J. for the tip!

[Source: AirRay]

Continue reading AirRay concept scoops the competition with four turbines, solar panels and V2G

AirRay concept scoops the competition with four turbines, solar panels and V2G originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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STUDY: Lots of local, green electricity possible for most of the U.S.

Sebastian Blanco — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:59:00 EST

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, Hydrogen, Solar, Green Daily, USA

One of the reasons that a vehicle powered by something other than gasoline is such a popular idea in the U.S. is that it helps us become less reliant on other countries for our transportation needs. To this end, biofuels and electric vehicles offer great potential to use local sources of energy in our vehicles. To get a handle on how much green electricity - wind, geothermal, solar, etc. - is available in the U.S., the Insitute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) has conducted a study on renewable energy potential and came away with some amazing figures. The Energy Self-Reliant States study found that 31 states have the potential to produce more renewable energy in-state than they currently use and that another ten could make more than 75 of the amount. The state with the worst potential, Kentucky, could still meet 24 percent of its electricity needs using renewable energy.

The big problem with all of this potential is the cost of setting up the renewable energy production devices. Solar panels are not cheap, and wind farms have their own opponents. While no one expects Texas, for example, to make 533 percent more energy than it needs using renewable sources, ILSR shows that it's at least possible, and that should give hope to EV proponents (no more coal-powered grid!) and hydrogen vehicle fans (electrolyze water with green energy!) alike. Download the PDF of the study and see for yourself.

[Source: ISLR via Treehugger]

STUDY: Lots of local, green electricity possible for most of the U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell prepares for plug-ins with solar-powered parking lot

Domenick Yoney — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:02:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., EV/Plug-in, Solar, USA

Dell has just completed construction of a Solar Grove from Envision Solar that not only produces carbon-free energy for their corporate headquarters in Round Rock, Texas but can also provide power to parked plug-in vehicles. Connected to the eleven "trees" are two CleanCharge stations which utilize Coulomb Technologies ChargePoints to provide at least part of the answer to that frequent postulation, "Aren't electric cars just really burning coal?"

Capable of producing 131,000 kWh a year, the 110.62 kW array is composed of 516 individual solar panels that should shelter 56 cars from the sun. We can only imagine the positive impact if every large parking lot had similar capabilities. Envision is strategically partnered with Coulomb Technologies, battery maker Axion Power International and aluminum structure builder SAPA to produce the CleanCharge stations. Hit the jump for the official press release as well as a video explaining the concept and featuring the CEOs of the companies involved.

[Source: Envision Solar via Jetson Green]

Continue reading Dell prepares for plug-ins with solar-powered parking lot

Dell prepares for plug-ins with solar-powered parking lot originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SunPods make solar electric vehicle charging quick and easy (to install)

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:56:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Solar

While solar panels are not yet efficient enough to plop down on an electric vehicle's roof and charge as you go, the idea of powering an EV with the sun is tremendously appealing. A new system called SP-300 EV Plug-N-Go by SunPods is currently being used in San Jose to collect the sun's rays for use in plug-in vehicles. SunPods are "world's first transportable, modular, integrated solar powered electric vehicle charging station, ready to power up on delivery." What this means is that solar charging is now towable, and companies could offer totally emission-free EV power on demand, without major installation issues.

The City of San Jose, where the SunPods are made, is testing one SP-300 EV Plug-N-Go unit. The device connects to the grid and could be used by utilities to get solar power when there's no vehicle attached. The SunPod also has a battery to store solar power when there is no demand for it. If needed, the SP-300 can also power the EV from the grid. SunPods president and co-founder Dan Jaeger said in a statement that, "It just didn't make sense for us to power electric cars with electricity produced by burning coal and other carbon based fuels and make a positive environmental difference. All you are doing is trading gasoline for coal, not a good idea." While he's right that solar > coal to charge an EV, the inherent efficiency of an electric car over an ICE vehicle does mean that there is a strong argument to be made for trading gasoline for coal (as an interim step, at the very least).

This isn't the first trailer-based electric vehicle idea we've seen, but it is up and running today, which is more than we can say for NuTech.

[Source: SunPods via Autopia]

Continue reading SunPods make solar electric vehicle charging quick and easy (to install)

SunPods make solar electric vehicle charging quick and easy (to install) originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Solar electric BMW Lovos concept makes Chris Bangle look drab

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Solar, BMW

BMW Lovos Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

It must be fun to be a car designer. Unless, of course, your name becomes synonymous with a specific styling trend that very few seem to appreciate... but we digress. It definitely seems that 24-year-old Pforzheim University graduate Anne Forschner had a good time coming up with her BMW Lovos concept, which can alternatively look either like a frightened porcupine or svelte salmon, depending on its needs at the time.

The exterior of the Lovos - which stands for Lifestyle of Voluntary Simplicity - concept is theoretically constructed from just one fully exchangeable part that recurs 260 times. Each exterior piece is covered in solar photovoltaic cells and can hinge on a substructure underneath to follow the sun or act as individual airbrakes. We can only assume the concept would be powered by electricity.

See the concept in all its glory in our gallery below and check out the rest of the story (in Russian or translated) at cardesign.ru. Thanks for the tip, Greg!

[Source: cardesign.ru]

Solar electric BMW Lovos concept makes Chris Bangle look drab originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SolarCity announces sun-powered electric vehicle charging network

Sebastian Blanco — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:04:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Solar

Electric vehicle drivers in sunny California can now look forward to getting some solar-powered juice for their rides. SolarCity and Rabobank are partnering up to install a series of EV quick-charging locations along Highway 101 between San Francisco and Los Angeles, one of which is already solar-powered. Four chargers have been installed - and are in operation - in Salinas, Atascadero, Santa Maria and San Luis Obispo. A fifth charger will be up and running in Goleta by the middle of October. The Santa Maria station is powered by a 30kW solar array. The units are all High-Power Connector fast chargers that provide 240V, 70 amps and can fully recharge a Tesla Roadster in about three-and-a-half hours. Currently, the charging stations will only connect to a Roadster, but SolarCity plans to retrofit these chargers to fit all EVs in the near future.

This is just the beginning of a solar EV charging network that SolarCity and Rabobank want to install in the area. SolarCity owns and operates four of the charging stations in the current network (all installed at Rabobank locations); the San Luis Obispo location is owned by the city and is located at a parking garage.

There's a reason SolarCity is so interested in making it easier for Roadsters to get from SF to LA. SolarCity is Tesla Motor's preferred solar partner and Tesla CEO Elon Musk provided the principal financing for SolarCity.

Gallery: Solarcity Rabobank Charging Network

[Source: SolarCity]

Continue reading SolarCity announces sun-powered electric vehicle charging network

SolarCity announces sun-powered electric vehicle charging network originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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STUDY: U.S. subsidises fossil fuels 2.5 times more than renewables

Sebastian Blanco — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 19:06:00 EST

Filed under: Solar, Legislation and Policy, Green Daily, USA

Listen to the messages coming out of Washington, D.C. and you'd think we're spending all our available money on clean and green technologies, things like algae biofuels, cleaner cars and advanced batteries. Turns out, this isn't remotely true. According to a new study that reviewed fossil fuel and energy subsidies for Fiscal Years 2002-2008 was just released by the Environmental Law Institute and discovered that the U.S. spends about two-and-a-half times as much on fossil fuels (mostly aiding foreign oil production) than it does on renewable energy. Fossil fuels were given about $72 billion during the seven years, while renewable fuels got just $29 billion. The money the U.S. spends on renewables isn't all that great, either. Of the $29 billion, $16.8 billion went to producing corn-based ethanol. Just two tax credits - the Foreign Tax Credit and the Credit for Production of Nonconventional Fuels - account for about $30 billion. The ELI writes that, "The Foreign Tax Credit applies to the overseas production of oil through an obscure provision of the U.S. Tax Code, which allows energy companies to claim a tax credit for payments that would normally receive less-beneficial treatment under the tax code."

It seems to us that taking some government money out of subsidizing fossil fuels would have a doubling impact on getting to a greener economy: petroleum products would get more expensive (a good thing to more to cleaner cars) and money would be freed up for cleaner technologies.

You can download a PDF of the report, titled "Estimating U.S. Government Subsidies to Energy Sources: 2002-2008." For purposes of the study, fossil fuels included petroleum and its byproducts, natural gas, and coal products; renewable fuels included wind, solar, biofuels and biomass, hydropower, and geothermal energy production. Nuclear was not included in either definition.

[Source: Environmental Law Institute]
Photo by Kenneth Hynek. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.

STUDY: U.S. subsidises fossil fuels 2.5 times more than renewables originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 19 Sep 2009 19:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Frankfurt Preview: Peugeot mixes car with scooter to create the BB1 Concept

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:39:00 EST

Filed under: Solar, Peugeot, Frankfurt Motor Show

Peugeot BB1 Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

If a scooter is too small, dangerous and uncovered for your tastes but you'd still like to have as minimal an impact on your surroundings as possible, Peugeot has just the concept car for you. Called the BB1, the French automaker says of its Frankfurt Motor Show-bound machine, "Its mother is a scooter. Its father is a car."

So, the unholy offspring of a mini two-wheeler and a city car would look something like a cartoon car that's straining to stop before smashing into a brick wall. Good to know. One thing is for certain: you won't mistake the Peugeot BB1 for anything else on the road. With its exaggerated forward-pitched stance and solar cell-covered glass bubble roof, this is one concept that stands apart from the rest of the crowd. As for what powers the BB1... well, we have no idea. Could be electric, gasoline or hybrid.

Amazingly, Peugeot has found a way to cram four human beings inside the BB1, and those occupants gain access to the cabin via a pair of reverse-hinged doors with mini roll-down windows. Driving the diminutive machine would surely be an experience, and the controls are more akin to those from a motorcycle than a car. See for yourself in our gallery below, and stay tuned for more details as the doors in Frankfurt officially swing open in the morning.

[Source: World Car Fans]

Frankfurt Preview: Peugeot mixes car with scooter to create the BB1 Concept originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Frankfurt 2009: Volkswagen calls E-Up! Concept "Beetle of the 21st Century"

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Solar, Volkswagen, Frankfurt Motor Show

Volkswagen E-Up! Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Volkswagen promises to release the "Beetle of the 21st Century" by 2013. Those are some of the biggest shoes in the history of the automobile to fill, and VW plans to do just that with a new car based on the New Small Family architecture that was introduced on the original Up! concept that's been floating around for the last few years.

Naturally, like any future-spec concept that's looking to alter the vehicular landscape, the E-Up! will be powered by electrons. The car is small - under 10.5 feet (3.19 meters) in length - and will seat four occupants in a 3+1 arrangement. Top speed is listed at just under 85 miles per hour (135 km/h) and the run to 60 mph will take about 11 seconds while the city-centric zero to 30 mph is dispatched in just 3.5 seconds.

That performance is surely buoyed by the E-Up!'s low weight of about 2,400 pounds (1,085 kilometers) - 530 pounds of which is accounted for by the 18 kWh lithium ion battery pack. That's enough juice to provide a range of about 80 miles (130 kilometers), which VW believes is sufficient for urban use. Depending on the outlet used to charge the EV, a battery pack replenished to 80% takes as little as an hour.

VW is quick to point out that its E-Up! is not a retro design like its own New Beetle. Instead, the car used Volkswagen's latest design languages and draws inspiration from current models like the Polo and Golf. Details like diamond-cut head lamps and C-shaped fog lights join the solar roof that provides a working ventilation system without draining the battery to add to the car's futuristic feel. Click on past the break for the complete press release and check out our gallery of images below.

Continue reading Frankfurt 2009: Volkswagen calls E-Up! Concept "Beetle of the 21st Century"

Frankfurt 2009: Volkswagen calls E-Up! Concept "Beetle of the 21st Century" originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Frankfurt Preview: Toyota unleashes the goods on Auris HSD Concept

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:55:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Solar, Toyota, Frankfurt Motor Show

Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

We've already received a sneak peek at some early images of the Toyota Auris HSD concept, but Toyota was woefully tight-lipped about disclosing on any actual details at that time. No longer, as the Japanese automaker has just dropped all the pertinents and a bunch of new images of its upcoming hybrid ahead of the car's official debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

As we noted, there are solar panels installed on the Auris HSD's roof that Toyota says are a further development of the solar-powered ventilation system which debuted on the 2010 Prius. Additional solar panels on the car's dashboard develop enough juice to recharge mobile phones and portable electronics using built-in charging trays.

As expected, the Auris HSD is powered by a 1.8-liter four cylinder engine mated to Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive technology as used in the Prius. Toyota expects the run to 60 mph to take about 10 seconds and carbon emissions to be below 100 grams per kilometer. LED lights join a slew of aerodynamic tweaks that reportedly drop the car's drag coefficient to .28 round out the exterior features unique to the concept.

Inside, blue Gaucholino leather joins a pearl white console to offer a unique showcar appearance. We're not sure how many of these touches will make it into production (which is scheduled to begin next year at Toyota's Burnaston factory in England with sales scheduled to start during the second half of 2010), but we'd like to see the mobile chargers make the leap. Click past the break for the official press release and be sure to check out our updated gallery below.

Gallery: Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid concept

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Frankfurt Preview: Toyota unleashes the goods on Auris HSD Concept

Frankfurt Preview: Toyota unleashes the goods on Auris HSD Concept originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford finds buyer for Wixom plant, will be used as renewable energy park

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:48:00 EST

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Manufacturing/Plants, Solar, Ford, Green Daily, USA

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 square-feet). By the fall of 2011, the Wixom plant won't really have much to do with cars, becoming instead the largest renewable energy park in the United States.

Two companies plan to invest $725 million into renovating the former Ford factory. Clairvoyant Energy of Santa Barbara, California will relocate its headquarters and produce solar panels in Wixom. Xtreme Power of Austin, Texas plans to build large-scale batteries to store power for the electric grid and from wind farms.

The promise of over 4,000 new jobs in Michigan was enough to garner a series of large tax breaks from the state and millions of dollars worth of grants from the federal government. For its part, Ford seems quite pleased with the direction its idled plant will take. Says executive chairman Bill Ford:

This is very much in line with a core principle we hold at Ford... I can't imagine a better way to use this facility for our children and our grandchildren. We're going to put this plant and the skilled workers of Michigan back to work.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Ford finds buyer for Wixom plant, will be used as renewable energy park originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Frankfurt Preview: Toyota Auris HSD concept leaks ahead of debut

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 08:06:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Solar, Toyota, Frankfurt Motor Show

Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Toyota will be bringing a number of concept vehicles to the Frankfurt Motor Show next week, including a plug-in version of its Prius hybrid that uses a lithium ion battery pack in lieu of the standard model's nickel metal hydride unit. While that car is understandably generating the most press, the Japanese automaker also plans to debut the Auris HSD Full Hybrid concept in Germany, and it also deserves our attention.

While Toyota is officially calling this car a concept, its widely expected that the car is nearly ready for production. The final version of the Auris Hybrid will be assembled in Toyota's Burnaston, Derbyshire plant starting in the middle of next year, and it will go on sale shortly thereafter. This car shares much of its underpinnings with the Lexus HS 250h and will likely be equipped with a 1.8-liter four cylinder powerplant mated up with the automaker's Hybrid Synergy Drive.

Expect a few extras appropriate for concept car duty when the Auris HSD is officially unveiled next week, including what appears to be a show car-spec interior and full solar roof. See for yourself in the gallery of leaked images below.

Gallery: Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid concept

[Source: 4WheelsNews]

Frankfurt Preview: Toyota Auris HSD concept leaks ahead of debut originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 08:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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El(ectric) Camino takes to the road in Wisconsin

Sebastian Blanco — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Culture, Solar, Chevrolet

For the last month, Tom Leitschuh has been cruising around Racine, Wisconsin in a 1981 Chevrolet El Camino without a single worry about his emissions or the price of gas. The reason is that his El Camino has been converted to all electric power and he generates electricity using wind and solar panels at home. This means he doesn't care what the utility rates are, either. Sounds good, doesn't it?

Leitschuh bought the car on eBay and spent a total of $30,000 on the project. A local electric parts company, Quick Cable, donated some pieces as well. The El-ectric Camino uses 46 lithium ferrite batteries, which Leitschuh says are "the safest batteries in the world, and they'll work down to zero degrees." These electron carriers give him a 200-mile range (if he drives carefully) and go about 100 miles on an average driving cycle. All sorts of details on the conversion itself - including a failed motor, how to pack in the four dozen (almost) batteries and Leitschuh's simple economic reasons for swapping gas for electronc - are available here.

[Source: Journal Times, Quick Cable]

El(ectric) Camino takes to the road in Wisconsin originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Former Ford factory in Wixom could be used by alternative energy companies

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Manufacturing/Plants, Solar, Ford, Green Daily

A former Ford plant in Wixom, Michigan may get another lease on life now that a Senate committee has paved the way forward with a series of tax credits to two alternative energy companies interested in utilizing the factory space. The plant has been closed since 2007. Clairvoyant Energy of Santa Barbara, California wants to relocate its headquarters and produce solar panels in Wixom, while Xtreme Power of Austin, Texas plans to build large-scale batteries to store power for the electric grid and from wind farms.

Combined, the two companies promise to invest $725 million into the project and create 4,300 direct jobs as a result of their operations in Michigan. To make the deal work, though, both Clairvoyant Energy and Xtreme Power say they require a comprehensive set of incentives. One thing we can say for certain is that there's plenty of manufacturing space and available workers in and around the Motor City.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Former Ford factory in Wixom could be used by alternative energy companies originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Future tense: How a solar-hydrogen economy could provide us with all the energy we need

Sebastian Blanco — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:43:00 EST

Filed under: Hydrogen, Solar, Green Daily

Honda FCX Clarity - Click above for high-res gallery

What one energy source has the ability to - in the long term - supply the people of the world with all of the energy they need in an reliable and renewable manner? According to Derek Abbott, professor of electrical engineering at the University of Adelaide in Australia, there is only one possible answer: solar-hydrogen.

Solar-hydrogen means using solar power to generate electricity and then using the electricity to electrolyze water to generate hydrogen when necessary - for example, to run automobiles on hydrogen power. Abbott believes that solar-hydrogen could one day produce about 70 percent of the world's energy requirements, and he's done some math over on PhysOrg that he says proves him right. The short version: the solar energy that hits the earth (and is not reflected or absorbed by clouds) is "more than 5,000 times our present global energy consumption."

Aside from the sustainability angle, solar-hydrogen beats all other energy sources on economic grounds, Abott believes. His preferred method of capturing the energy of the sun is solar thermal collectors. Here's how he thinks it'll work in the coming decades:

Governments should begin by setting up sizable solar farms that supplement existing grid electricity and provide enough hydrogen to power buses. Enthusiasts will then buy hydrogen cars, retrofit existing cars, and refuel at bus depots. Then things will grow from there. You gotta start somewhere.

Abbott's other reasons for choosing H₂ over battery-powered electrics include: fewer chemicals and toxic waste due to lack of batteries and that "gasoline combustion engines can be retrofitted to run on hydrogen, and the car manufacturing industry has infrastructure tailored to combustion technology." Hmm, maybe he should read Greenlings.

[Source: PhysOrg]

Future tense: How a solar-hydrogen economy could provide us with all the energy we need originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan and Showa Shell partner to test solar quick charge system

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:02:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Solar, Nissan

2010 Nissan Leaf EV - Click above for high-res image gallery

Nissan is preparing to make a major push, starting next year, with its new LEAF EV and the ability to quick charge it is one of the primary selling points. However, doing 480V charging on a wide scale is problematic. First of all, there are almost no such charging stations in existence today. Secondly, the presence of public charging stations pulling down high voltage current like that would put a significant load on the grid.

In an effort to address these potential problems proactively, Nissan is partnering with Showa Shell to test that company's latest solar photovoltaic panels in conjunction with the automaker's lithium ion batteries. Although few details are available, it appears that the companies will evaluate quick charging systems that use solar energy to charge a bank of automotive-grade batteries. The batteries would then be used to charge cars. If it is effective, the system would reduce the load required from the grid, eliminating one of the concerns of electric vehicles while also making the use of solar more practical.

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Nissan and Showa Shell partner to test solar quick charge system

Nissan and Showa Shell partner to test solar quick charge system originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota: Prius solar sunroof much more popular than expected

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:01:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Manufacturing/Plants, Solar, Toyota, USA

2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery

The undeniable success of the 2010 Prius surely has Toyota breathing a sigh of relief. Still, even good news sometimes comes with a caveat, and that's reportedly true of the Japanese automaker's latest fuel sipper. According to Wards Auto, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. President Jim Lentz expects that the automaker will sell about 140,000 Prius hybrids here in the States, which falls well short of the 180,000 units sold in 2007.

It seems Toyota could likely sell considerably more Prius hybrids if it could make them fast enough, but as has been reported, battery constraints are holding up production. Another item that Toyota is having trouble supplying enough of is reportedly the solar sunroof option. Toyota had expected that between two and three percent of all Prius hybrids would be equipped with the sun-soaking option. In reality, Lentz reports "demand has been running closer to 12%."

Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius

[Source: Wards Auto via All About Prius]

Toyota: Prius solar sunroof much more popular than expected originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NASCAR to build huge solar plant at Pocono raceway

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Solar, Racing

The only green typically associated with NASCAR is the cubic dollars spent every year by fans on tickets and merchandise and what the automakers spend to support their teams. On the technology side, this is a series that still uses carburetors and only recently switched to unleaded gas. However, NASCAR has decided to take a tentative step into the future.

Over the past weekend while NASCAR was running at Pocono Speedway in Pennsylvania, officials held a ground breaking ceremony for what is expected to be the largest solar power facility at a sports venue in the world. A 25-acre plot across the road from the track will be home to about 40,000 photovoltaic panels by next spring. The plant will be able to supply most of the tracks power needs going forward and significantly reduce operating expenses. The total cost is expected to be about $15-17 million. Now about those fuel injected or hybridized engines...

[Source: New York Times]

NASCAR to build huge solar plant at Pocono raceway originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota uses 18-foot solar flowers to market 2010 Prius, offers free electricity, wifi

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:55:00 EST

Filed under: Green Culture, Hybrid, Solar, Toyota, Green Daily, USA

Toyota Solar Flowers - Click above for high-res image gallery

As part of Toyota's strange but seemingly effective marketing campaign for the new 2010 Prius hybrid, the Japanese automaker has rolled out a bunch of 18-foot tall solar flowers to various urban centers all around the United States, starting with Boston's Prudential Plaza. Next up: New York, followed by Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

According to Toyota, these so-called solar flowers represent the Prius theme of "Harmony between Man, Nature, and Machine." Apparently, they achieve this by providing seating for up to ten people and by featuring laptop and cell phone recharging stations and access to free wireless internet service. Understandably, there's not quite enough juice from the petal-shaped solar panels to provide all the necessary energy for those ten people, so we're guessing there are some high-powered batteries involved in there somewhere.

Gallery: Toyota Solar Flowers

[Source: Toyota]

Toyota uses 18-foot solar flowers to market 2010 Prius, offers free electricity, wifi originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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