While General Motors and Nissan will both introduce plug-in cars next year, and Ford will follow in 2011, Toyota does not plan to bring an all-electric car to market until 2012. Yesterday, The New York Times declared, “Toyota has fallen behind in the race for the all-electric car.” San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, an electric car advocate, said earlier this year that Prius-style hybrids are “yesterday’s technology.” And Toyota competitors are touting plug-in cars they claim will get the equivalent of 200 or 300 miles to the gallon—putting the Prius’s 50 mpg to shame.

Earlier this year, Toyota announced plans to launch an urban commuter pure-electric car by 2012, a year or two behind its competition. The company showed the Toyota FT-EV - with a driving range of 50 miles, at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, but has not confirmed the design, market or price of its upcoming electric car.

One might expect this criticism to spark Toyota to accelerate its plans for electric cars or a plug-in hybrid. But Toyota’s planners are showing more steely concentration than a Buckingham Palace guard taunted by tourists.

“Our hair is never on fire. We’re not looking around at the latest PR articles, and saying oh my gosh, we have to change our plans because somebody said this or that,” explained Doug Coleman, US-based Prius product manager at Toyota. “We’re pacing ourselves in a way that we think that we can be competitive in a few years time for a market that makes sense for both us and the customer.” Jana Hartline, Toyota’s environmental communication manager, added, “Our outlook has never been to be the first to market. We want to be the best to market.”

While GM, Ford, and Nissan—and newcomers like Tesla, Fisker, and Coda—busily generate buzz for their grid-connected vehicles, Toyota has been nearly silent about electric cars. In an exclusive interview with HybridCars.com, we asked Coleman and Hartline to explain Toyota’s position on plug-in hybrids and electric cars.

Turn Down the Noise

To understand Toyota’s approach to plug-in cars, imagine that Toyota’s product planners are listening to three radio broadcasts at the same time. The first program blasts a frenzied chorus of voices from the automotive press, political circles, electric car and clean energy enthusiast groups, and the blogosphere—clamoring for electric cars NOW. This broadcast is the loudest, but Toyota mutters and hits mute (much like you and I would were we listening to Terry Jacks singing “Seasons in the Sun,” circa 1973).

“It’s very easy to construct a story that says Toyota is falling behind by looking for people who are advocates for a certain technology,” said Coleman. “We’re listening to all perspectives, but we’re making our own judgments based upon our own data and our own forecasts.” Depending on your view, Toyota is either turning a deaf ear to early influencers, or putting the pressure of an unrepresentative group in proper perspective. “In terms of the overall population—300 million people in the US—there’s a very small portion of the population that wants to leapfrog [to electric cars] and says hybrid is yesterday’s technology,” said Coleman.

Empa and the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) have, in cooperation with industrial partners, developed a hydrogen powered municipal street cleaning vehicle

Empa and the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) have, together with Bucher Schoerling, Proton Motor, BRUSA Elektronik AG und Messer Schweiz, developed a hydrogen powered municipal street cleaning vehicle which was presented to the public on 14th May 2009 in Basel. The vehicle is named the “Bucher CityCat H2″ and is the first municipal utility vehicle in the world powered by fuel cell technology. For the next 18 months it will be tested in everyday usage.

Fuel cells are considered to be clean energy sources well-suited for our future mobility needs. They convert hydrogen directly into electrical current, which is then used to drive a vehicle’s electric motor. The great advantage is that no pollutants are emitted in the vehicle’s exhaust, just water vapor produced by the chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen in the fuel cell. When such vehicles are used in sensitive areas such as pedestrian precincts, railway station halls or even in enclosed structures such as exhibition halls, air pollution is reduced significantly compared to conventional vehicles, which are generally powered by diesel engines.

Project creates a window of opportunity for hydrogen technology
“Our aim is to take fuel cell technology from the laboratory onto the street”, explains Project Leader Christian Bach, Head of Empa’s Internal Combustion Engines Laboratory. In addition, the project scientists want to test the operational characteristics and ageing behavior of the new technology under typical, everyday conditions of use. But it doesn’t stop there. Beyond these obvious aims, the project, called «hy.muve» («hydrogen-driven municipal vehicle») also serves as a research platform for socio-economic studies in which questions regarding the acceptance of hydrogen technology, its market introduction and its cost effectiveness will be investigated.

Because of their low power operational cycles, municipal vehicles are particularly well-suited for these kinds of drives and can be used to good effect in areas where the refueling infrastructure is limited. “They therefore offer an important window of opportunity for introducing other hydrogen powered vehicles onto the market,” according to Bach.

Significantly less pollution emitted
Computer simulations made at Empa show that the amount of energy consumed can be halved by using fuel cell drives instead of conventional diesel engines. This means that CO2 emissions can be reduced by some 40%, even when using conventional hydrogen production techniques based on natural gas. The project is financed by the ETH Domain’s Competence Centre for Energy and Mobility (CCEM), the Swiss Federal Office for Energy (SFOE), the various project partners and pilot regions where the vehicle will be tested.

Empa. Hydrogen Powered Municipal Vehicle Being Tested In Everyday Use. ScienceDaily

IBN Scientists Convert Carbon Dioxide into Methanol

Scientists at the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) have succeeded in unlocking the potential of carbon dioxide – a common greenhouse gas – by converting it into a more useful product. Using organocatalysts, the IBN researchers activated carbon dioxide in a mild and non-toxic process to produce methanol, a widely used industrial feedstock and clean-burning biofuel.

IBN scientists have made carbon dioxide react by using N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), a novel organocatalyst. In contrast to heavy metal catalysts that contain toxic and unstable components, NHCs are stable, even in the presence of oxygen. Hence, the reaction with NHCs and carbon dioxide can take place under mild conditions in dry air. IBN’s research shows that only a small amount of NHC is required to induce carbon dioxide activity in a reaction. “NHCs have shown tremendous potential for activating and fixing carbon dioxide. Our work can contribute towards transforming excess carbon dioxide in the environment into useful products such as methanol,” shared Ms Siti Nurhanna Riduan, IBN Senior Lab Officer, who is also pursuing her Ph.D. at IBN under the Scientific Staff Development Award.

Hydrosilane, a combination of silica and hydrogen, is added to the NHC-activated carbon dioxide, and the product of this reaction is transformed into methanol by adding water through hydrolysis. Dr Yugen Zhang, IBN Team Leader and Principal Research Scientist, explains, “Hydrosilane provides hydrogen, which bonds with carbon dioxide in a reduction reaction. This carbon dioxide reduction is efficiently catalyzed by NHCs even at room temperature. Methanol can be easily obtained from the product of the carbon dioxide reaction. Our previous research on NHCs has demonstrated their multiple applications as powerful antioxidants to fight degenerative diseases,2 and as effective catalysts to transform sugars into an alternative energy source.3 We have now shown that NHCs can also be applied successfully to the conversion of carbon dioxide into methanol, helping to unleash the potential of this highly abundant gas.”

Previous attempts to reduce carbon dioxide to more useful products have required more energy input and a much longer reaction time. They also require transition metal catalysts, which are both unstable in oxygen and expensive. Ongoing research at IBN aims to find cheap alternatives for the hydrosilane reagent so that the production of methanol can be even more cost-effective for mass industrial production.

“At IBN, we are innovating effective methods of generating clean energy using green chemistry and nanotechnology. In the face of environmental pollution, global warming and increasing demands on diminishing fossil fuel resources, we hope to provide a viable alternative energy option for industry, and effective sequestration and conversion of carbon dioxide.” said Professor Jackie Y. Ying, IBN Executive Director.

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Electric cars have several advantages over petrol, and some that you might not expect.

They develop maximum torque instantly, meaning a keenly spec’d battery-powered vehicle like WrightSpeed’s X1 can accelerate faster than a Porsche.

And an electric car’s batteries (up to 250kg worth) typically sit under the floor pan, meaning a lower centre of gravity. That is, it can take corners better.

Plus, there are no carbon emissions, no clutch to burn out, no need to change the oil, and, of course, no need to visit a petrol station.

Now Tesla Motors has added another reason: instant access to Google Maps and Google Street View.

The latter feature is thanks to Mr Brin and Mr Page, who stepped in to save the struggling US company, whose founder Ian Wright bailed to found the aforementioned WrightSpeed. (It could be noted that our heroes don’t always invest in such environmentally-friendly kit.)

Tesla has just unveiled its Model S – a name deliberately chosen to echo the Model T.

It will cost around $US57,000, or $US49,000 after various greenie tax credits (about twice as much Mitstubishi’s considerably naffer MiEV, currently on a PR tour of New Zealand), pull 0 to 60mph in six seconds, and have a maximum speed of 209km/hour.

With a range up to 300 miles and 45-minute QuickCharge, the $49,900 Model S can carry five adults and two children in quiet comfort – and you can charge it from any outlet, without ever stopping for gas. World’s first mass-produced electric vehicle offers performance, efficiency and unrivaled utility, making it the only car you’ll ever need.

• 300 mile range
• 45 minute QuickCharge
• 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds
• Seats 7 people
• More Cargo space than station wagons
• 2X as efficient as hybrids
• 17 inch infotainment touchscreen

There will also be a 17-inch LCD display feed by a 3G cellular connection – which is where the live Google Maps feed comes in.

Actually, although billionaires Mr Brin and Mr Page have put money into the project, Tesla is still seeking a $US450 million loan from the US Department of Energy under a law Congress passed in 2007 that provided $US25 billion for developing electric vehicles (no money has been dished out yet). Tesla is also angling for a second, $US250 million loan under a separate government clean energy initiative.

If that loan comes through, expect mass production in around two years.

Tesla Motors is now taking orders for the Model S through its website, plus a previously announced, $US109,000 Roadster model (below), which the company says already has a waiting list of 1000 customers.

National Business Review NZ – Chris Keall

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There was a time when the Alaskans used to be very skeptical about anything sounding like environmentally friendly or alternative fuels but the outlook is changing rapidly with people realizing that producing nonpolluting energy is much cheaper than extracting oil, and this is the primary reason why they are considering the alternatives. Compared to wind energy it costs more to run power generators with diesel. Another factor that makes alternative energy sources a viable option is that most of the oil produced in Alaska is sold outside of the state. Yet another factor that makes the Alaskans more sensitive and receptive towards environmentally friendly fuels now is most of the impact of global warming is being borne by regions like Alaska.

Northern Power Systems Turbines at Toksook Bay

The icy winds of Alaska are now rotating windmills to bring warmth to people’s homes.

The importance being given to alternative energy sources can be gauged from the fact that the State government last year pledged $300,000,000 for the next five years in the form of grants to utilities, independent power producers or local governments, for producing clean energy for a population of only 670,000 residents.

“Oil used to be cheap and convenient,” said Steve Haagenson, appointed last year by Governor Palin as statewide energy coordinator. “Today, it’s just convenient.”

Alaska is already generating 24% of its electricity from renewable sources. Ms. Palin announced last month that the state will be producing 50% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2025. She is well aware of the fact that the sudden plunge in oil prices is a temporary phase. “Today’s current low oil prices should not lull Alaskans into a false sense of security, as if these low prices are going to last,” she said.

It was the Kotzebue Electric Association in northwest Alaska that first demonstrated the value of utility-scale wind power in Alaska back in 1997. 9 more rural communities have added turbines since then, and more than a dozen projects are in the pipeline.

Northern Power Systems, a small turbine manufacturer in Barre, Vt., has capitalized on Alaska’s new interest in wind. According to a state review finalized in 2008 wind power was technically and most likely economically feasible in more than 100 Alaska villages, says Martina Dabo, who oversees wind power programs at the Alaska Energy Authority, a public corporation whose primary objective is to reduce the amount of money spent on generating power.

Hence Northern Power Systems initially designed its 100-kilowatt turbine for operation at the South Pole, not a huge market. “We said, ‘Hey, there’s a market in Alaska – let’s go after it,’ ” said Brett Pingree, the company’s vice president for sales.

And now Northern Power is working on turbines in 8 Alaskan villages, including Toksook Bay, and is working on projects in 45 others.

Alaska has an extremely inhospitable terrain and it is often very difficult to work on development projects in the state. Still, there is a great potential for developing vast and diverse renewable sources of energy, compared to other states in America. According to Roger Bedard of the Electric Power Research Institute, Alaska has more than half the country’s ocean wave energy resources and more than 90 percent of its river current and tidal resources.
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