• Fuel Cell Vehicle JV Under Debate Between Daimler and Toyota: FT Deutschland have reported that Daimler and Toyota are discussing a joint development of fuel cells for electric vehicles.  ‘There is strong interest in sharing development costs’ via a joint venture, a source close to Daimler told the Financial Times Deutschland. It would be the first major cooperative project for the two groups, the newspaper added.  Daimler has already invested more than one billion euros (S$1.75 billion) in fuel cell technology since 1994, two years after Toyota began exploring it.

• Fuel cell developer Trenergi Corp. has raised more than half of a seed round of $1 million in debt, according to a regulatory filing and the company’s president. The Hopkinton-based company, now about a year old, is aiming to develop fuel cells that would generate electricity for residences while producing heat and hot water as a free byproduct. The technology is intended to save an average of approximately 28 percent of energy cost, said company president Charles Myers.

• The Chevy Volt is being spotted on the streets of Metro-Detroit gearing up for its official launch.

• Ford is investing $135 million to bring battery pack and hybrid vehicle transmission production to metro Detroit. The work is currently done in Mexico and Japan.

Don’t get us wrong, we at Green Car Magazine really like the Tesla roadster, but up until now have questioned Tesla’s ability to become an actual car company.  They have a great engine and drive train design, the body style of the roadster is fabulous, but they had no idea how complicated it is to manufacture quality cars on a consistent basis.  Elon Musk, their CEO ,was of the opinion that the rest of the automotive world were, well basically idiots, and he was going to revolutionize the industry.  He didn’t seem to grasp that developing a piece of software and bringing it to market and developing a car and mass producing it, are two very different things.   The partnership with Toyota indicates that he has finally seen the light on what his and his engineering teams’ shortcomings were.  This is very good news for Tesla.  Toyota will help them learn how to manufacture.  Let’s hope that Toyota goes back to the basics of their production system when working with Tesla, as their famous production system seems to have failed them in the last decade.

This partnership is also a brilliant move for Toyota.  They will have access to Tesla’s technology, something that would have cost them far more to develop in-house.  They will be able to tap into the incredible software knowledge at Tesla as it is clear that Toyota suffers from several programming “bugs” in its vehicles (acceleration in some, stalling in others- the rust problems in the trucks made in Texas, is alas, not a software problem).  They also get to unload the giant NUMMI plant in California, closed when Toyota and GM’s joint venture in that plant (the reason the plant was built) ended. 

We have to admit, we got a chuckle out of several things in the press releases from Tesla regarding these developments but found the following statements “it (NUMMI factory)  is one of the largest, most advanced and cleanest automotive production plants in the world… it is capable of producing half a million vehicles per year or approximately 1 percent of total worldwide car production. The award-winning plant was the birthplace of the vaunted Toyota Production System, a widely copied system that lead to dramatic quality improvements and unprecedented manufacturing flexibility and worker satisfaction”.   Yup, its big but the plant was capable of building that many vehicles with 3 shifts of production and the equipment and tooling belonging to GM and Toyota for the vehicles produced there.    The fact that they brag about how advanced the plant is shows their naivety regarding the rest of the industry around the world.  We don’t know what they are referring to when they say “clean”, is that someone sweeping  the floors or lack of contaminants in their paint process,  because this plant was protested often by the local community due to their emissions.  Lastly, we are pretty sure that the “Toyota production system” was developed in Japan starting after WWII and improved continuously.  As mentioned before, the Toyota production system didn’t keep Toyota out the troubles they are now in, so I think I would tone down the rhetoric about it a little. 
It is clear that both of these companies “egos”  have gotten them into trouble in the past, let’s hope that they can put them aside and learn from each other.  The future will truly be bright for both if they can!  On a side note to Tesla for its future press releases, in this country we call the place where you make cars “plants” not ”factories”.  Please contact us if youwould like to learn other car manufacturing terminology. 

Here is a link to Tesla’s  press releases so you can read them yourself.

NUMMI plant: looks like a lot of car plants- nice flowers though!

The CH stands for compact hybrid as in compact class and it’s a concept that can best be defined by comparing it with the mid-size class Prius. The FT-CH captures the spirit and functionality of a car that thrives in the inner-city environment; sized right to be nimble, responsive and maneuverable.

Jim Lentz, TMS president said;

“Within the next 10 to 20 years, we will not only reach peak oil we will enter a period where demand for all liquid fuels will exceed supply. A century after the invention of the automobile, we must re-invent it with powertrains that significantly reduce or eliminate the use of conventional petroleum fuels. One of many alternatives is through what is commonly called the electrification of the automobile. By far, the single most successful example of this has been the gas-electric hybrid.”

  “It’s a package Toyota dealers and customers have been asking for,” added Lentz.

 The FT-CH was styled at Toyota’s European Design and Development (ED²) center in Nice, France. Compared to Prius, it is 22 inches shorter in overall length, yet loses less than an inch in overall width. In spite of its compact external dimensions, FT-CH was designed for maximum passenger comfort and interior roominess, with an imaginative sense of style.

 ED² designers looked to capture the vivid, high-energy appeal of what has come to be called the 8-bit generation. Popularized in the early 80’s, 8-bit microprocessor technology dominated the budding home video game industry. Today, 8-bit is considered a specific retro-style that is embraced by such things as 8-bit genre music and 8-bit inspired art.

The direct reference to the 8-bit generation is meant to be fun and innovative, colorful and stylish, with strong appeal to young buyers. Lighter in weight and even more fuel efficient than Prius, the concept specifically targets a lower price point than Prius, thus appealing to a younger, less-affluent buyer demographic.

 Pointing to how Prius has become a universal icon for hybrid technology, Lentz confirmed that TMS is developing a Prius family “marketing strategy” for North America that will take full advantage of the Prius brand equity.

“The strategy is still taking shape and obviously it will require additional models to qualify as a family,” said Lentz. “Among others, the FT-CH is a concept that we are considering.”

In the early 2010s, Toyota plans to sell a million hybrids per year globally, a majority of those in North America. To accomplish this, Toyota will launch eight all new hybrid models over the next few years. These will not include next generation versions of current hybrids; instead, they will be all new dedicated hybrid vehicles, or all new hybrid versions of existing gas engine models.

The heart of hybrid technology is its battery. Since the early 90’s, during the early stages of first-generation Prius development, Toyota has been committed to in-house R&D of advanced nickel-metal hydride batteries. Through three generations of Prius and a total of seven full-hybrid models, it has systematically reduced size, weight and cost while improving energy density, quality and reliability.

 Toyota’s joint venture partnership with Panasonic has been a key element of its success in the advancement of hybrid technology. Later this year, Panasonic EV Energy (PEVE) will have three separate, fully operational production facilities with a combined capacity of more than one million units per year.

  Toyota’s latest model, the Toyota FCHV-advanced began its own national demonstration program late last year. Over the course of the three year program, more than 100 vehicles will be placed in an effort to demonstrate the technology’s performance, reliability and practicality in everyday use.

Recently field tested in southern California by two national laboratories at the request of the U.S. Department of Energy, the FCHV-advanced confirmed an estimated single-tank fuel range of 431 miles. In combined city and highway driving from Santa Monica to San Diego the FCHV-adv logged an estimated 68 miles per kilogram of hydrogen, the rough equivalent of 68 miles per gallon. That range is equivalent to a Highlander hybrid at more than double the MPG with zero emissions other than water vapor.

 The flowers are at The Americana October 3 – 18 as part of the launch of the 2010 Toyota Prius and they bring to life the theme: “Harmony Between Man, Nature and Machine.” The campaign emphasizes the balance the Prius helps strike between the needs of man and nature.

Los Angeles bus riders also will discover solar ventilation bus shelters spread throughout the Glendale area as another part of the “Harmony Installation” campaign. The special shelters feature solar panels on the roof that help run fans and circulate air within the shelter. This experience is designed to demonstrate Prius’ available Solar Powered Ventilation System, which uses a fan to draw outside air into the cabin to reduce cabin temperature when the car is parked in direct sunlight.

“The Prius is an icon, representing what’s possible for the future,” said Tim Morrison, corporate manager of marketing communications for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. “The Harmony Installation and solar flowers traveling the country are a great representation of the Prius’ eco-friendly technologies and optimistic spirit. It’s exciting to see how the public has really embraced both the displays and the vehicle.”

 Los Angeles is the final stop in the six-city tour of the “Harmony Installations.”

The Algaeus represents a tangible peek into the very near future. Sapphire Energy provided the fuel, containing a mixture of hydrocarbons refined directly from algae-based Green Crude and extracted through Sapphire’s proprietary process. The vehicle is based on a 2008 Toyota Prius that has been given an added battery pack, a plug and an advanced energy management system. The Algaeus got an average of 147 mpg city in PHEV (plug in electric hybrid) mode and 52mpg highway in hybrid mode on the cross country tour.

“America has the opportunity to usher in a new, prosperous Green Age, by moving from ‘black’ to ‘green’ crude, while bettering the environment and solidifying energy security,” describes Jason Pyle, Sapphire Energy CEO. “We have all that we need at home to produce fuels from algae at a commercial scale in just a few years. The Algaeus is an example of a better solution that is domestically produced and climate friendly.”

Sponsored by the Veggie Van Organization, the cross-country trip celebrates the nationwide premiere of FUEL, the movie opening in theatres this week and aims to inspire green energy solution thinking, such as the Algaeus. “I thank Sapphire Energy for the incredible technology and trust they’ve placed in our hands to take this vehicle across the country with what is, today, perhaps the most advanced fuel on planet earth,” says Josh Tickell, creator of the Veggie Van Organization and director of the movie FUEL. “We’ve been petroleum dependent for 150 years and something has to change. We can sustain every human being with this kind of new technology.”

Sappire Energy

The algae-based fuel performed flawlessly. Josh Tickell and FUEL Producer, Rebecca Harrell, were behind the wheel for the entire 10-day trip and reported back that the algae fuel blend provided a fun and reliable driving experience. “It flew up the mountain passes in Utah and Wyoming, was fast on the straight-aways, and zipped around cities with gusto,” said Tickell. The duo recorded no loss in engine power, speed or acceleration with the small engine easily producing up to 20 kW of power.

On the tour, the Algaeus was greeted by thousands of constituents and dozens of high-ranking elected officials as it dotted across the nation, pulling into Washington, DC, September 17. A Capitol Hill press conference was held by Congressman Steve Israel (D-NY), co-chair of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, members of Congress, and celebrities Carol King and James Kyson Lee (NBC’s “Heroes”), as they emphasized the absolute urgency of driving green innovation. “The advanced energy technology to revolutionize the auto industry and end our dependence on foreign oil is there,” said Congressman Israel. “Now it is time for us to put it into action.” Congressman Jay Inslee (D-WA), a proponent for energy change, furthered the charge, “We must keep working to fully commercialize these technologies to ensure they are produced here in the US, so Americans and American workers see the full benefit.”

After New York, the Algaeus travels on a college educational tour with an interactive classroom retrofit “Green Energy Bus,” the Veggie Van Organization and the FUEL team. The benefits of algae will be highlighted in many on-campus screening events showcasing the thought provoking, Sundance award winning film, FUEL. Sapphire Energy and its partners hope to reach the leaders of tomorrow, inspiring students to do their part to support renewable fuel.

About Sapphire Energy:

San Diego-based Sapphire Energy is pioneering an entirely new industry – Green Crude Production – with the potential to profoundly change America’s energy and petrochemical landscape for the better. Sapphire’s products and processes in this category differ significantly from other forms of biofuel because they are made solely from photosynthetic microorganisms, using sunlight and CO2 as their feedstock; are not dependent on food crops or valuable farmland; do not use potable water; do not result in biodiesel or ethanol; enhance and replace petroleum-based products; and are low carbon, renewable and scalable. Finally, Green Crude can be refined into the three most important liquid fuels used by our society: gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. The fuels meet ASTM standards and are compatible with the existing petroleum infrastructure, from refinement through distribution and the retail supply chain.