Energy Grants Back Plug-In Cars, Ethanol By Sholnn Freeman Washington Post Staff Writer Wednesday, January 24, 2007; Page D03 The Department of Energy announced yesterday $17 million in grants to support the development of battery technology for plug-in hybrid vehicles and ethanol, two areas in the energy debate where officials in Washington and Detroit are closely aligned. The money will be offered as two grants, one for $14 million for the plug-in technology and the other for $3 million for ethanol. The money for battery development is intended to improve the technology's performance. The $3 million in ethanol grants will support engineering advances to improve how flex-fuel engines use the E85 blend… Foreign automakers are stepping up complaints that U.S. government policy is unfairly backing ethanol and plug-ins at the expense of diesels and traditional gas-electric hybrids, such as the Toyota Prius. Toyota is pushing to continue federal incentives for the cars. Diesel-engine makers and European automakers such as BMW and DaimlerChrysler are asking for more federal support for diesel technology http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/23/AR2007012300870.html Ford Edge plug-in hybrid concept does 41mpg Mobilemag.com – USA. That HySeries Drive concept that was making the rounds at the Detroit Auto Show has been unleashed on the public in the form of the Ford Edge, launching the venerable American automaker firmly into the plug-in electric market. The new vehicle, running on a flexible powertrain, can guarantee up to 41mpg with no emissions. The innovative HySeries Drive uses a combination of gas engine, diesel engine, and fuel cell to achieve that rather remarkable mpg figure, which increases to 80 if you don't top 50 miles a day and, in the best cases, 400 miles between fill-ups. New Battery to last 10 times as long - available this year Slippery Brick - Portland,OR,USA A company named EEStor is claiming that it is close to commercially manufacturing a battery that will last 10 times longer than standard electrochemical batteries. If fact the company’s goal is to completely replace standard batteries anywhere they are currently found from cell phones to cars. EEStor is claiming specifically that their new battery will store ten times more power and cost half as much as current lead-acid batteries. Lead-acid batteries are currently used in most automobiles. EEStor also claims it batteries will operate in conditions ranging from -4 below 0 to almost 150 degrees above zero. Not quite good enough for much of the northern United States in winter, but good enough for the southern parts of the country. The company claims they have produced a battery capacitor hybrid that will outperform most known battery types, including lithium-ion, without any of the toxic byproducts of tradition batteries. The battery is a composition of barium-titanate powders that allows for ultra dense, cheap and rapidly chargeable power. Meeting analyzes future of plug-in hybrids A round table discussion raised hopes of the state of Minnesota and the University joining forces to become a leader in plug-in hybrid automobile technology. The University's Center for Transportation Studies, the Initiative for Renewable Energy and Environment, the Humphrey Institute State and Local Policy Program and the Center for Diesel Research held a round table discussion at the Continuing Education and Conference Center on the St. Paul campus Jan. 18 about Minnesota's stake in plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). The University has the strength to analyze the economics of PHEVs, mechanical engineering professor David Kittelson said. This will lead to understanding what incentives businesses need to mass-produce the cars. "Universities can do fundamental research," Kittelson said. The University could also research intelligent plug-in hybrid vehicles, he said, such as vehicles with GPS on board that prepare for the road ahead. These vehicles would, for example, anticipate a hill and build a sufficient battery charge for the climb. Dr. James Eberhardt of the Department of Energy said a PHEV is similar to a gas-electric hybrid, but a PHEV can run on only electricity for about 20 to 60 miles. The PHEV's battery is recharged through an electrical outlet. Lynn Hinkle, co-chairwoman of the legislative task force on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, said Minnesota is open for "green business." Plug-in hybrids are important because they are energy efficient, contribute to better air quality and could bring economic development to Minnesota, he said. Hinkle said the task force is moving toward recommending incentives for using green technology. http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2007/01/22/70402 Ford mulls plug-in hybrid vehicle CNNMoney.com – USA DEARBORN, Mich. (Reuters) -- Ford Motor Co. is considering the development of plug-in hybrid vehicles in an effort to provide alternate energy sources, the director of the automaker's hybrid program said on Tuesday.Speaking at the Automotive News World Congress in Dearborn, Michigan, Nancy Gioia said the automaker is considering adding plug-ins products, but the biggest challenge in development is battery technology. "The biggest barrier is the battery," Gioia said. Plug-in hybrids use a battery as the main source of energy and can be recharged at electrical outlets. Battery technology is key to the next generation of hybrid vehicles as automakers seek ways to lower the cost of batteries and increase their power and storage capacity. http://money.cnn.com/2007/01/16/news/companies/ford_plugins.reut/?postversion=2007011619 AUTOSHOW - Honda Mulling Plug-Ins, Sees US Sales Rise DETROIT - Honda Motor Co Ltd said on Sunday it is targeting a US sales increase of 3 percent in 2007 and is considering developing a plug-in electric hybrid vehicle to add to its lineup. Honda, which saw sales rise 3.5 percent last year, expects higher demand for its Civic mid-size sedan, Fit compact car and CR-V sports utility vehicle to boost sales in 2007, President and Chief Executive Takeo Fukui told reporters on the sidelines of the North American International Auto Show. ..The company is also looking into the development of plug-in hybrids but battery technology remains a significant barrier to successful development, Motoatsu Shiraishi, president of Honda Research and Development, told Reuters at the auto show. "We are studying what kind of conditions would enable a plug-in," Shiraishi said, adding that the two major challenges to introducing a hybrid is the current battery capacity, which has to improve significantly, and speed of recharging it. Plug- in hybrids, a favorite among many environmentalists, are capable of being charged with a standard electric outlet. Honda rival Toyota Motor Co is the leader in gas-electric hybrids. General Motors also announced a "concept car" at the show on Sunday called the Volt, which it says could be on the road in two or three years and run almost entirely on electricity. Battery technology is key to the next generation of hybrid vehicles as automakers seek ways to lower the cost of batteries and increase their power and storage capacity. GM said the Volt will be outfitted with new lithium-ion battery packs, which hold a charge longer than the nickel metal hydride batteries now used widely in automobiles. http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/39708/story.htm All the Technology Needed for 100 M.P.G. (Batteries Not Included) WHEN General Motors unwraps the Chevrolet Volt for the press today at the North American International Auto Show, it will be revealing much more than the latest fantasy from its styling studios. Beyond its striking coupelike lines, the Volt is also a declaration of G.M.’s intent to mass- produce a new type of hybrid-electric vehicle, one that can drive up to 40 miles on batteries alone and recharge itself with an onboard generator — or by plugging into a standard 110-volt household outlet. The Volt is also less than it appears. The batteries to make it roadworthy do not yet exist, a shortcoming G.M. acknowledges. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/07/automobiles/autoshow/07VOLT.html?_r=2&ref=automobiles &oref=slogin&oref=slogin GM plans to develop new battery that will boost hybrid SUV mileage By DINESH RAMDE ASSOCIATED PRESS1/6/2007 DETROIT - General Motors Corp. announced it will team up with two automotive and battery manufacturers to develop a lithium-ion battery that would let sport utility vehicles get 70 miles per gallon. One manufacturer is Johnson Controls-Saft Advanced Power Solutions LLC, a joint venture between automotive-systems manufacturer Johnson Controls Inc. headquartered in Milwaukee and Paris-based Saft SA, which makes high-performance industrial batteries. GM's other partnership is with Cobasys, a joint venture between California-based Chevron Corp. and Energy Conversion Devices Inc. of Rochester Hills, Mich. Cobasys, based in Orion Township, Mich., will work with A123Systems, a technology group in Massachusetts. GM currently produces the Saturn Vue Green Line, a hybrid SUV that gets 27 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway, company spokesman Brian Corbett said. The SUV's next generation, a so-called plug-in model, is expected to replace its current nickel-metal hydride battery with a lithium-ion battery, which would allow the vehicle to rely more heavily on electric power than on gasoline-based energy. "Based on simulation results, when the (lithium-ion) battery is fully charged, you'll be able to achieve 70 miles per gallon in short stop-and-go trips," Corbett said. http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20070106/1053440.asp Cobasys and A123Systems Announce Partnership to Develop Lithium Ion Hybrid Electric Vehicle Battery Systems ORION, Mich.