My Perfect Automobile » Alternative Fuels

Shell Eco-Marathon Winner: 3,587 MPG

Larry Bell — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:01:28 +0000

Shell Eco-Marathon winner Universite Laval

Universite Laval captured first place in the seventh annual Shell Eco-Marathon Americas fuel-efficiency contest. The Quebec team won with their gasoline-powered car that achieved an astounding 3,587 mpg at the Houston, Tex., venue. The Canadian students have dominated the Americas contest for most of the past half-decade. In fact, the 2012 winner, Indiana’s Mater Dei High School team, came in second in this year’s event. The 2013 Shell Eco-Marathon Americas saw 131 teams and vehicles competing, representing the U.S., Brazil, Canada, Mexico and Guatemala.

Shell Eco-Marathon: Video

For an inside look at the event and to see how some of the competitors prepare for it, watch the video clip above. One of the marathon’s organizers noted that each passing year sees more sophisticated and reliable vehicles. Student teams work on their entries for an entire academic year in some cases, hoping to win the grand prize. Though the lengthy, strict regulations about car specs apply to all entrants equally, somehow the vehicles look as though they are unrelated, so diverse is the lineup. Many past winners and competitors in the Shell Eco-Marathon have gone on to success as auto engineers and designers.

Shell Eco-Marathon

Students must design, build and drive their own cars in the event, each competitor hoping to have the most energy-efficient vehicle. The marathon is conducted in three separate locations around the world. Numerous entrants have built cars that are able to travel more than 1,500 miles on one liter of fuel. Participants can use any type of fuel, with a typical year’s field boasting cars that run on solar energy, diesel, gasoline and electricity. The worldwide event is open to high school and college students. Besides the Americas contest, Shell Eco-Marathon takes place in Asia and Europe.

For more information about the Shell Eco-Marathon, see the event’s official website:
http://www.shell.com/ecomarathon

Larry Bell

Larry Bell + is My Perfect Automobile’s Genius Author, but we call him ‘The Expert‘. Here is his full Blog: My Perfect Automobile. Larry lives in San Jose, CA and is also the Expert Author. Larry is a lover of the Automobile as well and shares a passion for Concept, Hybrid and Electric Cars…

Geneva Motor Show Goes Eco

Larry Bell — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 12:42:41 +0000

Geneva Motor Show (Pictured: 950-hp LaFerrari hybrid supercar)

The 2013 Geneva Motor Show hosts an historic lineup of green cars, ranging from million-dollar models like the LaFerrari hybrid and the McLaren P1 concept to fuel-sippers like Volkswagen’s XL1 and the electric Audi A3 e-tron. The PALExpo is packed with green luxury cars, eco micro vehicles, hybrids, air cars, natural gas delivery vans, and all the latest in that growing segment known as green transport. Anyone who thinks hybrids are boring would be silenced by the LaFerrari, which tops out at a police-chase worthy 220 mph, aided along by more than 950 horsepower. What some call the world’s only wingless jet, LaFerrari flies from zip to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds.

Geneva Motor Show: Video

Once nothing more than a starry-eyed executive’s dream, the Volkswagen XL1 on display at the Geneva Motor Show is a wonder to behold. Offering more than 250 mpg, the ultra-lightweight, odd-looking car is one of the hits of this year’s event. Volkswagen spokespersons admit that the XL1 is the future for the German automaker’s green vehicles. With doors that look like something from a science fiction film, and a body style that echoes some of the best 1980s concept cars, XL1 is all at once nostalgic and futuristic. The short video clip below discusses the car and its impact on the marketplace. As the narrator sagely notes, XL1 might not be the sexiest car at the Geneva event, but it could very well be the most important model in the bunch.

Geneva Motor Show

For details about the 83rd Geneva International Motor Show, see the event’s official website, below. The show’s organizers are updating the site 24 hours per day, and offer longer-form stories on some of the unique models on display. The news section carries a complete listing of the show’s concept cars like the Kia Provo, Toyota’s i-Road, the stunning Spyker B6 Venetor and the Giugiaro Parcour. It is addictive reading, so don’t say we didn’t warn you!

http://www.salon-auto.ch/en/index.php

Larry Bell

Hyundai Hydrogen Tucson Ready to Go

Larry Bell — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 16:10:43 +0000

Hyundai Tucson hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle

Korean automaker Hyundai announced this week that it would mass-produce its Tucson ix SUV as a hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle. Production is to begin immediately, the company said. Hyundai intends to make and sell at least 1,000 of the vehicles within the next two years. The fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) can travel 370 miles on a single tank of fuel. Because of its ability to convert hydrogen directly into electricity, there are no emissions except water vapor. By the time it reaches the retail market, the hydrogen Tucson is expected to carry a price tag in the $50,000 range.

Hyundai Hydrogen Tucson: Video

Enjoy some silent footage of the Hyundai fuel cell ix35 in action, as it swooshes down country roads and past scenic villages. If you didn’t know better, you might think it is just another car out for a Sunday drive. In fact, Hyundai has been working on hydrogen fuel-cell propulsion for several years. The vehicle in the clip was the company’s third-generation fuel-cell car, and boasted a 360-mile range, a top speed of 100 mph, and an impressive 0-to-62 mph time of 12.8 seconds. The only emissions are water vapor, and the FCEV, as such cars are called, does not slow down for extremely cold temperatures. The Japanese automaker did extensive testing of the cars in four European nations. Now that Hyundai is ready to sell FCEVs to the public, they will no longer have to use the word ‘concept’ on auto show display stands.

Hyundai Hydrogen Tucson

Later this year Hyundai will send more than a dozen of the FCEVs to Denmark and a pair to Sweden for use by government fleets in those countries. Experts in the field of hydrogen power say that Hyundai’s engineers are well ahead of other automakers who aspire to create hydrogen-powered cars. GM and Daimler-Benz are two companies who already have FCEV technology in development.

For more about Hyundai’s other vehicles see the Korean automaker’s official corporate website:
http://www.hyundaiusa.com

Larry Bell

Audi G-tron is a CNG-Gasoline Bi-Fuel

Larry Bell — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 22:44:52 +0000

Audi A3 Sportback G-tron

Boasting a range of over 800 miles, Audi’s new A3 Sportback G-tron will be able to run on compressed natural gas or gasoline. A true bi-fuel vehicle, the G-tron will make its official debut at next week’s Geneva Auto Show. No announcement has been made about whether the car will be sold in the U.S., though a late 2013 rollout is expected for the European market.

Audi G-tron: Video

In the video clip below, you will find some walk-around photos of Audi’s newest alternative-fuel vehicle, the A3 Sportback G-tron, which is actually a bi-fuel car that runs on compressed natural gas and gasoline. What cannot be seen in the video is the position of the CNG tanks. They are underneath the rear cargo area, and each holds just over 15 pounds of natural gas. Combined with the 560 miles of range from the conventional gasoline engine, the CNG range of 250 miles yields a total vehicle range of over 800 miles.

Audi G-tron

Audi had to tweak the vehicle’s fuel injection system, as well as its 1.4-liter engine, in order to make everything work properly. So far, the automaker has not indicated how many of the new bi-fuel vehicles it plans to build. Exact launch date and price are two other question marks for the time being.

One factor that might play against the release of a U.S. version is the lack of CNG infrastructure, though corporate fleets and municipalities have been adding to their CNG inventory quite rapidly over the past five years. Audi’s new bi-fuel car reaches a top speed of 118 mph and requires only 11 seconds to go from zero to 62 mph. Unlike the Honda Civic Natural Gas, the A3 G-tron is able to run solely on gasoline. The Civic Natural Gas runs exclusively on CNG fuel.

For more about Audi vehicles, see the automaker’s official corporate website:
http://audiusa.com

Larry Bell

Steam is King of Classic Cars for Sale

Larry Bell — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 14:27:39 +0000

Classic cars for sale (Pictured: A classic steam racer)

Steam-powered vehicles are showing up on the UK classics circuit more often these days. Of note is the recent appearance of the legendary Whistling Billy, a steam racer from 1905 that has just emerged from a six-year restoration. Sadly, for those who would like to purchase Whistling Billy, the vintage racer is not among the many UK classic cars for sale.

Classic Cars for Sale: Video

To view the clip below, from the Victorian Chapter of the Thunderbird Owners’ Club of Australia, one might get the impression that Aussies are bigger fans of American classic cars than Americans are. Judge for yourself, and enjoy the array of classic and custom rides from the club’s recent extravaganza at the Lilydale show grounds. Remember, this is Australia! Feast your eyes on vintage, mint-condition Chevys, Mustangs, and Plymouths to die for, each of showroom quality and decked out in auto-show finery. Classic cars for sale are one thing, but vintage gems are quite another. In fact, most of these cars are not for sale. They are all in perfect working order, but spend most of their lives on display at classic events.

Classic Cars for Sale

For more information about classic cars, classic cars for sale, and just plain awesome-looking vintage rides, visit the website of the Classic Car Club of America (link below). One of the largest organizations of its kind in the world, CCCA opened its doors in 1952, and since then has been helping those who collect, preserve, and drive some of the most beautiful old vehicles in existence. The club publishes The Classic Car magazine, hosts numerous events, and makes every effort to rekindle the spirit of the golden age of classic cars, 1919-1948. Contact the club if you want to get involved with their events, know more about the CCCA museum, or read about their definition of what an authentic classic car is.
http://www.classiccarclub.org/

Larry Bell

Volkswagen CNG Car Unveiled

Larry Bell — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 02:35:55 +0000

Volkswagen Eco Up!

Volkswagen’s new tribrid Eco Up! runs on bio-methane, gasoline, and compressed natural gas (CNG). The car has just made its debut in Europe but will not be headed for U.S. showrooms, according to an official spokesperson for VW. In equivalent dollar price, it would sell for about $16,915 if it were an American offering. The car’s 1.0-liter, 3-cylinder engine features a top speed of 104 mph and 67 horsepower. Volkswagen already offers a half-dozen CNG cars in the European market.

Volkswagen CNG Car: Video

For some all-around photos of the newest alt-fuel offering from Volkswagen, see the video link below. In addition to the clear, revealing photos of the car, a few mechanical cutaway shots give a good view of what is under the hood. Some call the car a tribrid because it can run on three separate types of fuel. In reality, 99 percent of future owners of the Eco Up! will likely be using either the natural gas or gasoline capabilities of the vehicle.

Volkswagen CNG Car

If you are ready to race, the Eco Up! will take you from zero to sixty mph in 15.8 seconds, so just make sure you are racing against another Eco Up! owner. Seriously, because a driver can fill both the gasoline and CNG tanks at the same time, the car has an impressive overall range of 373 miles (236 from the CNG and 137 on gasoline). In whatever of its three modes, the car emits very little carbon, and is eligible for generous tax rebates in its home market of Germany. Even though VW will not be selling the car in the U.S., several other manufacturers are exploring the idea of mass-produced CNG vehicles for the American consumer market.

For more about all the vehicles that Volkswagen makes, see the company’s official corporate website:
http://www.vw.com

Larry Bell

LA Auto Show: Green, Clean, and Lean

Larry Bell — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 14:35:50 +0000

LA Auto Show: Toyota Avalon Hybrid will be in attendance

Spokespersons for the LA Auto Show have announced that this year’s media Ride and Drive will feature more than 24 vehicles from a dozen automakers. Each of the models will contain advanced technological systems and hybrid, electric, clean diesel, or extremely efficient combustion drivetrains. The technological wizardry on display will include radar detection systems, blind spot monitoring, crash avoidance, and drivetrain adaptive cruise control. The media drive event will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 29.

LA Auto Show: Video

Toyota will be a major presence at the LA Auto Show this year, and as usual will be showing off some new hybrid models. For a close-up view and nice walk-around of the 2013 Avalon hybrid, have a look at the video clip above. The heated, ventilated front seats are not something you would expect to find, but then again, this new Avalon hybrid is wonderfully appointed with extras. Toyota has obviously done a complete redesign of their flagship car’s hybrid version, tossed in a total 200-horsepower rating, as well as an impressive 40/39 mpg. The fuel efficiency alone is enough to recommend the car, but the company’s proprietary Entune audio and Star Safety system makes the offering complete. Star Safety monitors stability, traction, brakes, and stop-start features to name just a few of its wondrous powers.

LA Auto Show

A short list of the cars available at the Ride & Drive includes:
Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Smart EV, Toyota’s RAV4, Mercedes-Benz GL 350 BlueTEC, Honda Civic sedan, Honda Fit EV, Fisker Karma, Fiat 500e, Chevy Volt, Acura ILX Hybrid, Toyota Prius Plug-in, Toyota Avalon hybrid, Volkswagen Jetta hybrid, VW Beetle TDI, and the VW Passat TDI with renewable diesel.

For all the latest news about the LA Auto Show, see the event’s official website:
http://www. laautoshow.com

Larry Bell

Chevy Bi-Fuel Production Begins

Larry Bell — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 14:30:33 +0000

Chevy bi-fuel truck

GM announced this week that production has begun for its much-anticipated bi-fuel Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks. The production facility, located in Ft. Wayne, Ind., will make both vehicles, which boast a range of 650 miles. The Sierra 2500 HD offers both a long and regular bed configuration, extended cab, and a choice of 2- or 4-wheel-drive. The bi-fuel package costs $11,000. The trucks feature a 100,000-mile, 5-year powertrain warranty, as well as a 3-year, 36,000-mile standard warranty. GM will be selling the bi-fuel vehicles to fleets and individual retail buyers. In the past, many CNG and bi-fuel vehicles were only offered to fleets.

Chevy Bi-Fuel: Video

If you are a bi-fuel enthusiast, the following video clip is for you. It features an official GM engineer discussing, ever so briefly, the new CNG bi-fuel pickup truck. With a total range of 650 miles, the 2013 GMC and Chevy bi-fuel truck offers all the advantages of a large truck as well as the clean-burning, low-cost advantages of a compressed natural gas vehicle. As the narrator explains, the truck also comes in an extended cab version. For drivers in the Midwest, CNG makes lots of sense because of its availability in many residential areas as well as on literally thousands of farm properties. The driver can choose whichever fuel is most convenient for any given trip.

Chevy Bi-Fuel

In fact, Chevy has sold several bi-fuel, CNG cars in the past, but only in limited geographic areas, and primarily, though not exclusively, to city and corporate fleets. Now that consumers are demanding better mileage and alternative fuel options, GM decided to sell the new trucks directly to the public. Many private homes that use natural gas as a power source can used as fueling points for the vehicles.

For more about all the vehicles that Chevy makes, see the company’s official corporate website:
http://www.chevrolet.com

Larry Bell

Corvette Diesel Car Turns Heads

Larry Bell — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 16:52:04 +0000

Corvette diesel racer

A Corvette known as the Corvegge, and which can run on vegetable oil, is one of the odder entries to compete in the 24 Hours of LeMons racing series. The events feature vehicles which cost no more than $500 and includes some of the strangest, most creative designs in all of racing. The Corvegge boasts 77 horsepower from an Olds 350 diesel engine that has been adapted and reworked for endurance, the name of the game in the LeMons series.

Highlights from 24 Hours of LeMons

Just what kind of driver can sustain the rigorous challenges that the road presents during the spectacular 24 Hours of LeMons races? For an answer to that question, watch the highlights of some dangerous encounters in the short film below. The LeMons event, unlike LeMans, is based on low budgets, raw nerves, and truly questionable vehicles. Follow the driving teams during a race from 2010 and, thanks to dash-mounted cameras, you will feel like you were there. And then, you will be glad you weren’t. This is the only race in the world where some of the cars actually look better after they crash. You be the judge.

Corvette Diesel

The LeMons racing series is restricted to cars that are track-prepped for less than $500, and at least once per year the LeMons circuit hosts a 24-hour endurance contest. Thankfully, series organizers have exempted the cost of safety equipment, brakes, wheels, and tires from the $500 total.

To find out more about the race, or if you want to fill out an entry for your team (!), visit the official website of the 24 Hours of LeMons racing series. Once there, you can also browse the gallery of past and present competitive vehicles.

http://www.24hoursoflemons.com/

For more about the legendary Chevrolet Corvette, the standard kind, see Chevy’s dedicated website for the car:
www.chevrolet.com/Corvette

Larry Bell

LA Auto Show Greener Than Ever

Larry Bell — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 10:27:47 +0000

LA Auto Show: Honda Fit EV made its debut at 2011 LA show

This year’s LA Auto Show, which is open to the public from Nov. 30 to Dec. 9, looks to have the largest green vehicle contingent in its history. Hybrids, EVs, natural gas cars, and clean diesel vehicles will populate the heavily attended show by the dozens. And it is not just the alternative fuels that will be making green waves in LA, but the ultra-efficient gas-misers as well. By many measures, consumer interest in such cars has risen more than 50 percent this past year, and shows no signs of letting up.

LA Auto Show: Video

Have a look at the following video for a quick summary of last year’s LA event. Each year, the LA Auto Show gets larger and larger, and has slowly built a reputation in the industry as being ‘the’ place to present new or concept alternative fuel vehicles. Many of the cars you see everyday had their debut at this event, and it continues to give the larger international shows a run for their money. Los Angeles has a long history of car culture, and the state is considered by many to be the cradle of green transportation. California was among the first areas on earth to provide special lanes for green vehicles.

LA Auto Show

In all, there will be more than 50 green cars on display at the 2012 LA Auto Show, many available for test drives. Audi, to cite one of many examples, is using this year’s event to break some major news about its clean diesel lineup, while Fiat will pull back the curtain on the all-new Fiat 500e electric car. Not to be left out, Ford will show its C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid, Focus Electric, and Fusion Energi plug-in. For fans of green vehicles, the LA Auto Show is a must-see as 2012 comes to a close.

For all the details about the upcoming LA Auto Show, see the event’s official website:
http://www.laautoshow.com

Larry Bell

Use Solar Power to Charge Your Hybrid or EV

Larry Bell — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 19:41:18 +0000

Solar power: Fisker Karma’s roof features solar panels

Last week’s SxSW Eco conference in Austin, Tex., featured a new online tool that helps car owners calculate the cost savings of building home solar stations to power their electric and hybrid vehicles. The app provides a detailed, yearly cost breakdown for people who want to know the line-by-line expenses related to an investment in solar panels. It even takes into account loan amounts and interest rates connected to financing a solar collection station, right down to monthly payments, installation costs, and service charges.

Solar Power: Video

Adding a solar station onto your home is one thing, but keep in mind that some vehicles already feature supplementary solar cells. One of the most well known is the Fisker Karma, a hybrid-electric car that has solar panels in its roof. The following video clip shows how the roof collects the sun’s energy and converts it into usable electricity to power the car’s climate control systems. Standard in all Fisker Karmas, the glass roof is the largest such device offered on any production car.

Solar Power

The key to the new app is finding out how much money you can save by going solar and buying an electric or hybrid car. Creators of the software say it is the best way to find out if you can afford to power your EV or hybrid from a set of your own solar panels. Car owners who go solar no longer need to worry about the fluctuating cost of grid electricity, because they are making their own.

For more about solar panels and how they work, see the following information link, which goes into detail about all the uses and applications of solar energy. Automakers are even incorporating solar panels into their vehicles (see video, above), and industry is increasingly using supplemental solar power systems to create auxiliary electricity for factories, assembly plants, and office buildings.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_panel

http://www.fiskerautomotive.com

Larry Bell

Fastest Hybrid Ever: 1000 mph

Larry Bell — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 00:12:05 +0000

Fastest hybrid: Bloodhound SSC rocket test

The team working on the world’s fastest hybrid rocket car announced this week that a recent test firing went off without a hitch. The next step is to attempt a record-breaking run at the 1000 mph mark, something no car has ever achieved. Britain’s Bloodhound SSC team used a hardened aircraft shell at a local airport to do the test firing. Technically a hybrid car, since it runs on a combination of solid synthetic rubber fuel and liquid high-test peroxide oxidizer, the Hound features a Formula 1 V8 as its ignition setup. Many of the rocket car’s innovative components are safety related. In fact, its hybrid fuel system is much safer than any type of standard rocket propellant.

Fastest Hybrid: Video

In the fascinating video clip below, you will see the Bloodhound hybrid rocket car in action. Unlike the Chevy Volt, Hyundai Sonata hybrid, and other more convention vehicles, this hybrid has a speedometer that shows 1,200 mph as the max speed, features an ejection seat, and a ‘stage 1 rocket’ readout on the dashboard. Some nice inside the cockpit shots give a feel for what it might be like to drive the Hound. Notice the ‘mach 1’ notation on the speedometer, which again is not a standard feature of the Prius, Volt, or Sonata.

Fastest Hybrid

Alas, we owners of regular cars will have to wait until next October to witness the Hound’s run for the record. Amazingly, the rocket does not even kick in until the Hound reaches the 230 mph mark. From there, the world’s fastest hybrid takes only 42 seconds to hit the 1000 mph milestone. The attempt will take place in October 2013 at South Africa’s Hakskeen Pan dry lake bed. Check in regularly to MyPerfectAutomobile.com for updates, and a countdown to the record-breaking event. A few more rocket tests are scheduled between now and the big day.

For loads of information about the Bloodhound SSC hybrid rocket car, see the project’s official website:
http://www.bloodhoundssc.com/

Larry Bell