Hybrid Porsche 911 GT3 Race car

Porsche unveiled its latest race car just before its first planned appearance at the Geneva auto show. The car is being used as an R& D platform for a possible future return to the 24 Hours of Lemans. The 911 GT3 RSR R hybrid uses an electro mechanical flywheel ,mounted on the passenger side floor ,that uses kinetic energy created by braking to provide electrical energy to a pair of 60 kilowatt(80 hp) electric motors.  The electric motors are mounted in the front axle assembly, making the Porsche all wheel drive.

The 160 hp combined rear motors work in conjunction with the 480 hp 4.0 liter flat six driving the rear wheels.  The motors give a maximum 8 second burst of power to help propel the car off corners or for overtaking. Although this concept may sound strange to some people, the power at the wheels is additive. At 640 hp combined, this should be one fast race Porsche.

Porsche plans to run the R Hybrid at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring on May 15-16,2010. 

Source: Autoweek.

Electric Cars For Sale

Cheap Toyota Prius For Sale

Chevrolet Volt - 230 mpg - Cutaway

Chevrolet Volt - Plug in 2009

I even make an appearance in the video. See if you can see me.

Chevrolet Volt - 230 mpg

Heres one to Chevrolet, GM, and the Volt. 230 mpg. The Volt is scheduled for domestic launch in 2010, and the mileage and range guidance reflects new guidelines for electric cars set by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The volt with a 230 mpg city driving rating dwarfs all other current offerings by major vehicle manufacturers. The Volt when released will be priced at around $40,000, but the buyers will be eligible for a $7500 tax credit.



Source : Wall Street Journal

Nissan Leaf Sales to Start in 2010 in Five Markets

PRESS RELEASE:

NISSAN SUPPORTS ELECTRIC VEHICLE & INFRASTRUCTURE DEPLOYMENT PROJECT

Dept. of Energy Grant Helps Ready Markets for Zero Emissions

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (Aug. 5, 2009) – The U.S. Department of Energy today announced a grant for the largest deployment of electric vehicles (EVs) and charging infrastructure ever undertaken. Nissan is supporting the lead grant applicant, Electric Transportation Engineering Corp. (eTec), by pledging to make available up to 1,000 Nissan LEAF zero-emission electric vehicles in each of five major markets. Nissan, through the Renault-Nissan Alliance, is committed to being a global leader in zero-emission vehicles.

The $99.8 million grant to eTec, which will be matched by regional project participants for a project valued at approximately $199.6 million, is for installation of approximately 2,500 charging stations in each of the selected markets – Tennessee, Oregon, San Diego, Seattle and the Phoenix/Tucson region. The project also involves the deployment of up to 1,000 Nissan LEAF zero-emission vehicles in each market.

The project will collect and analyse data characterising vehicle use in diverse topographies and climate conditions, evaluate the effectiveness of charging infrastructure, and conduct trials of various revenue systems for commercial and public charging infrastructure. To test and analyse electric vehicle usage and charging patterns in a simulated, mature charging environment, the deployment of charging infrastructure will target major population areas.

"Nissan appreciates the support of the Department of Energy in helping jumpstart the electrification of the transportation sector," said Scott Becker vice president, Legal and General Counsel, Nissan North America. "This is a major step in promoting zero-emission mobility in the United States. Nissan is looking forward to partnering with eTec to help make electric cars a reality and to help establish the charging networks in key markets."

"This project will enhance America's leadership role in clean electric transportation and exemplifies the Department of Energy's strategic foresight and commitment to improving our environment, economy and energy independence," said Jonathan Read, president and CEO, ECOtality, parent company of eTec. "By developing a rich charge infrastructure in each market, this project will enable a successful consumer experience among early EV adopters and increase market demand for electric transportation."

Nissan on Aug. 2 introduced the Nissan LEAF, the world's first affordable, zero-emission car. Designed specifically for a lithium-ion battery-powered chassis, Nissan LEAF is a medium-size hatchback that comfortably seats five adults and has a range of 100 miles to satisfy real-world consumer requirements. The Nissan LEAF will launch in the United States in late 2010. U.S. production will begin in late 2012 at Nissan's manufacturing facility in Smyrna, Tenn.

The Renault-Nissan Alliance has begun zero-emissions vehicle initiatives in Kanagawa Prefecture and Yokohama in Japan, as well as in Israel, Denmark, Portugal, Monaco, the UK, France, Switzerland, Ireland, China and Hong Kong. In the United States, the Alliance is exploring ways to promote zero-emission mobility and the development of an EV infrastructure in the State of Tennessee, the State of Oregon, Sonoma County and San Diego in California, Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz., Seattle, and Raleigh, N.C.

Nissan Leaf Electric Zero Emissions Car Video

Nissan unveiled the Nissan LEAF, the worlds first affordable, zero-emission car. Designed specifically for a lithium-ion battery-powered chassis, Nissan LEAF is a medium-size hatchback that comfortably seats five adults and has a range of more than 160km (100 miles) to satisfy real-world consumer requirements.
Slated for launch in late 2010 in Japan, the United States, and Europe, Nissan LEAF ushers in a new era of mobility the zero-emission era. The car is the embodiment of Nissans radical, transformative vision for the future and the culmination of decades of investment and research.
Nissan LEAF is powered by laminated compact lithium-ion batteries, which generate power output of over 90kW, while its electric motor delivers 80kW/280Nm. This ensures a highly responsive, fun-to-drive experience that is in keeping with what consumers have come to expect from traditional, gasoline-powered automobiles.

Unlike internal-combustion engine (ICE) equipped vehicles, Nissan LEAFs power train has no tail pipe, and thus no emission of CO2 or other greenhouse gases. A combination of Nissan LEAFs regenerative braking system and innovative lithium-ion battery packs enables the car to deliver a driving range of more than 160km (100 miles) on one full charge*. (*US LA4 mode)

Nissan Leaf electric vehicle coming to the U.S. in 2010

Autoweek posted up some specs and information on the new Nissan Leaf all electric vehicle.

The Leaf seats five and measures 175 inches long--about the same size as a Versa sedan. It uses an 80-kilowatt AC electric motor and draws from a laminated lithium-ion battery pack--the same type of batteries used by cellular telephones and laptop computers. Nissan says the Leaf will have a driving range of 100 miles.

I see the biggest problem being the 100 mile range with the car. A charging station at home and at work will give you enough range.

Using a direct-current quick charger, Nissan says the Leaf's battery pack can be recharged up to 80 percent in less than 30 minutes. Recharging at home, with 200-volt AC service, will take less than 8 hours.

The rumored price is said to be in the $30,000 mile range. How many people want a strictly commuting car, will remain to be seen.

LAMBORGHINI ANNOUNCES NEW, AMBITIOUS PROGRAMS FOR REDUCING CO2

LAMBORGHINI ANNOUNCES NEW, AMBITIOUS PROGRAMS
FOR REDUCING CO2

• 35 million Euros investments

• The construction of a large photovoltaic plant, combined with an energy-
saving project, will achieve a 30% reduction in the factory’s CO2
emissions by 2010

• Modifications to vehicles will result in a 35% reduction in CO2
emissions by 2015

Sant’Agata Bolognese, 7 June 2009 – Automobili Lamborghini announces its
intention to complete its program of environmental sustainability in record time by
presenting new plans which will enable the company:

• to achieve a 30% reduction, by the year 2010, in the CO2 emissions produced
by its factory
• to achieve a 35% reduction, by the year 2015, in the CO2 emissions
produced by its vehicles

The plans for reducing emissions will thus involve two areas: modifications to the
Lamborghini factory in Sant’Agata Bolognese, and development in vehicle design.

To redefine its industrial processes in accordance with its policy of environmental
sustainability, Lamborghini has just begun a project to complete installation of a large
photovoltaic system by the end of 2009.

The roof-top plant will produce 1,582 Megawatt hour (MWh) of “green” energy per
year, which translates into a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions (-
1,067,820 Kg/year) by 2010.

The photovoltaic systems will have a total installed power rating of
1,4 Megawatts and will extend over 17,000 m2 throughout the entire industrial area.
The new system will be built by Sinergia Sistemi S.p.A.

At the same time, an equally important energy conservation project involving
insulating the production facility’s whole roof, improving lighting and heating and
introducing destratification systems for heated air will be completed, thus resulting in
a 10% energy usage reduction by 2010.

These projects represent the next step in a program that began last year with the
opening of the new Lamborghini
Logistics Center. The Center has already contributed to diminishing the impact
caused by heavy truck traffic on the roads between Anzola and Sant’Agata Bolognese.
It is calculated that this facility has achieved a reduction of emissions by over 75 kg
per annum, and nitrogen oxide by over 750 kg (Sources: Standard Euro 3).

In April 2009 Lamborghini obtained the UNI EN ISO 14001 certificate, meeting
the international environmental standards. It is also the first firm in the Italian
automotive sector to be close to registering for the EMAS environment certificate,
having successfully completed the program: EMAS regulations are set by the
European Union to support organisations in their effort to evaluate and improve
their own environmental efficiency.

These recent achievements support Lamborghini’s commitment to protecting the
environment in which it operates, and its desire to make all stakeholders aware of
its actions in a transparent manner.

With regard to Lamborghini vehicles, the CO2 reduction plan aims for an additional
35% decrease in emissions by the year 2015.

The program reached its first milestone with the Gallardo LP 560-4. Introduced
last year, the new car’s technical advancements resulted in an 18% reduction in CO2
emissions.

At this point, Research & Development activities will continue in the following
directions:

- decreasing vehicle mass
- improving combustion
- reducing friction
- Start-and-Stop systems
- hybrid drive train solutions
- biofuels

Lamborghini’s commitment and its sense of social responsibility regarding the
environment is evidenced by the numbers and by the sheer size of the investments
that are planned. 35 million Euros will be appropriated over the next five years for
this purpose.

Stephan Winkelmann, the President and CEO of Lamborghini, has said, “Despite
the difficult situation in today’s global economy, Lamborghini is committed to its
policy of environmental management, since we are well aware of the great
opportunities that derive from it. We have an objective to reduce CO2 emissions to
the greatest possible degree. We have also set compulsory annual goals that are part
of an integrated approach both considering the automobile as an element which is
more considerate of the environment, in terms of emissions and the use of
resources, to the accomplishment of a series of corresponding measures such as
modifications to our factory. This is an important action for Lamborghini and a
central opportunity for our long term corporate and product development.”

European Parliamentarian Guido Sacconi, President of the European Commission
on Climate Change, recently paid a visit to Lamborghini headquarters in Sant’Agata.
At that time, he said that, “The commitment shown by Lamborghini with its efforts
to reduce environmental impact and develop vehicles with less polluting
technologies confirm the company’s goal of following the right path toward
complying with the directives of the European Union. To safeguard the DNA,
history and technology of niche car manufacturers on a European level, a series of
exceptions have been passed for manufactures of ’specialty’ vehicles (with fewer
than 10,000 new cars made per year) who run their own production facilities and
design centres, even though they are part of a group of associated producers. This is
the exact situation in which Lamborghini finds itself. We have been particularly
satisfied with the actions it has taken thus far, because they illustrate this company’s
desire to embrace a new industrial vision which combines competitiveness and
performance with social responsibility.”

Partner companies:

Located in Casalecchio di Reno, Sinergia Sistemi S.p.A. is a leader on the Italian
market of services that help companies save energy. The company specializes in
energy certification of buildings and the construction of large systems that take
advantage of renewable energy sources. Sinergia Sistemi also acts as an E.S.Co.
(Energy Service Company) that finances the plant systems and energy
requalification projects it offers to its customers, in a relationship of total Energy
Management.

The finalized project was built from a design based on a preliminary study carried
out by the CENER National Center for Renewable Forms of Energy of Spain. This
study involved a broad evaluation of the feasibility and size of the project.