Volvo V60 PHEV

This may not sound like a big deal at first. What, another hybrid? But, this is much bigger than that. The Volvo V60 PHEV is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle that runs not only on battery power but on clean diesel fuel as well. I’m getting all green with excitement, now.

According to Volvo the V60 PHEV Diesel has 3 different temperaments of operation:

• “In Pure the car runs only on its electric motor as much as possible. If the battery has been recharged using electricity from a renewable source, the driving range is up to 50 km with zero emissions of carbon dioxide. Battery range varies with terrain, climate and driving style.
• “Hybrid is the default mode whenever the car is started. The diesel engine and electric motor interact to provide the optimal balance between driving pleasure and low environmental impact. Emissions of CO2 (EU Combined) are 49 g/km, corresponding to diesel fuel consumption of 1.9 l/100 km. The car’s total range is up to 1200 km.
• “In Power the technology is optimized to give the car the best possible performance. The diesel engine and electric motor have a combined power output 215 + 70 horsepower and maximum torque of 440 + 200 Nm. The electric motor’s lightning-quick torque delivery contributes to the car’s 0 to 100 km/h acceleration time of 6.9 seconds.”

General Motors has found out a pleasant surprise with their Volt PHEV and that is that most drivers on a daily basis (like to work) travel less than 30 miles a day. This means no liquid fuel is consumed as the vehicle will run on all-electric power (now don’t get me started however, on why Volt sales are down).

The other game changer is that the Volvo V60 PHEV is a clean diesel beast. For the past 3 years diesel cars have not been anything like the black smoke belching diesel cars, trucks, buses or trains of the past. In fact, they have been the antithesis of these.

In fact, oil companies have cleaned up diesel fuel and carmakers have implemented new technology such as special fluids to clean the exhaust of diesel cars or catalytic solutions in order to achieve less emissions than most gasoline-burning cars.

So the Volvo V60 PHEV combines the best of both technologies: plug-in hybrid batteries plus clean diesel engines to create a very green car indeed. Now, if we can just get the American public to buy into the idea that both PHEV’s and clean diesel engines are worthy of buying, then we would all breathe a little easier for years to come. Literally, breathe a little easier.

The VW XL1 Super Efficient Vehicle (SEV) was on display recently at the Qatar Motor Show. The VW XL1 uses a two-cylinder diesel engine and plug-in hybrid electric motor plus aerodynamic design to gain an amazing 313 mpg. Yes, it’s only a two-seater but the XL1 has the makers of the SmartForTwo drooling right now.

After the XL1 is plugged in and fully charged, the vehicle can run 35 miles on all electric mode before the common rail diesel TDI engine kicks in. The body of the VW XL1 reminds me somewhat of the Honda Insight hybrid or the GM EV1 when it first rolled out.

Using Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer to reduce the weight of the parts in the vehicle, the VW XL1 comes in at a svelte 1751 lbs. For many years the VW Bug was known as the economy car with good gas mileage.

Then in years 2,000 – 2010, Toyota and Honda took this honor away from VW. Now with a new decade ahead, VW has slapped down the gauntlet setting the bar extremely high for the other automakers.

But, apparently competition is good in this department because Audi has now vowed that by 2020 they will be the leading worldwide seller of electric vehicles. This is pretty big talk from the German automaker.

But it’s not all talk. Audi has developed its own e-tron electric vehicle department along with a new electric drive testing center in Germany at the Ingolstadt headquarters. Audi will be introducing standard hybrid vehicles over the next couple of years including the Q5 and A8 (hybrid plus 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder).

At the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show Audi showed off its R8-based e-tron supercar that wowed the crowd. By willing itself to become the leader in EVs, HEVs and PHEVs in the premium car division, Audi has set the bar very high and emissions very low.

The microturbine APU (auxiliary power unit) will serve as a range extender for a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or battery electric vehicle. The timeline for proof of concept is six months. The microturbine APU must help the vehicle achieve PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) standards for air pollution as it works part-time over the driving cycle.

The APU must also be able to produce 10 – 20 kW of continuous power, be able to operate on a variety of liquid fuels and must demonstrate better than 25-percent efficiency. The microturbine APU must create minimal noise and include controls for start up and shutdown on demand.

The point of the microturbine APU is to recharge the batteries as needed to extend the range of the vehicle. The device must be developed beyond the paper study or computer analysis stage in order to be considered.

The company is taking a request for proposal from entrepreneurs, inventors, small and large companies as well as academic researchers right now. So, if you have such an invention and would like for a Fortune 100 to commercialize it, now is the time to submit your proposal.

The Chevrolet Voltage forum is already starting to pickup steam with invited members from the Project Driveway (hydrogen fuel cell) group invited to participate. It looks like anyone can join, however, and put their two cents in with regard to the development of the Chevy Volt before it rolls out in 2010.

According to one of the members of the GM Fuel Cell Team, “The Volt uses GM’s new electric propulsion system called Voltec that allows the car to travel up to 40 miles on electricity alone without using gas or producing tailpipe emissions. When the Volt’s battery is depleted of energy, a small Flex-fuel-powered engine generator seamlessly operates to extend the range of the vehicle for about 300 additional miles.

“Because nearly 80 percent of Americans commute less than 40 miles a day, they’d be able to travel on electricity alone. And with the extended range afforded by the onboard generator, if the need arises, Volt drivers will be able to travel well beyond 40 miles without the fear of being stranded by a depleted battery. The Volt is a game-changing vehicle and a glimpse into what the future of transportation holds.”

In the Chevrolet Voltage forum there are already some lively discussions about cities and states that are plug-in ready, why GM is choosing lithium ion over EEStor batteries, the Cadillac Converj, recharging scenarios, the Volt in racing and even having a Project Driveway-like program for the Chevy Volt.

The Chevrolet Voltage social media website is in a way like a large focus group. Consumers can voice their opinions and have an impact and even interact directly with GM employees about a new type of car that hasn’t hit the market. Perhaps, with the bankruptcy and restructuring GM is finally getting it right this time.

The Fisker Karma combines gas-sipping plug-in hybrid green technology with sports car performance. The Karma can travel the first 50 miles on all battery power alone before the engine kicks in to recharge the lithium ion battery pack.

Rated at around 100 mpg, the Fisker Karma can also accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in around 5.8 seconds with a total rating of 403 hp. Just try this with a Prius.

The Fisker Karma is a 4-seat hardtop convertible and was debuted at Santana Row in San Jose. It is expected to sell well to Silicon Valley residents with a price tag of around $88,000.

One of the reasons to rollout the Karma first in San Jose is that there is already an electric vehicle recharging infrastructure already in place. Many garages and streetlight poles already have ChargePoint stations attached.

“DUECO Inc., in conjunction with Odyne and Vanair Manufacturing, is the FIRST to offer a Plug-In Hybrid Underground Utility Vehicle (HUUV). With enough power for plastic pipe fusing, the truck’s hybrid drive system powers an air compressor, exportable power, and an auxiliary climate control system.

“The Vanair 125 / 185 CFM underdeck air compressor is a common piece of equipment used by utility companies to operate pneumatic tools, such as pavement breakers, tampers and mole tools. ‘By powering the Vanair compressor through a large battery system we eliminate engine idle, as well as, the need for a tow-behind compressor at a jobsite,’ states DUECO Executive Vice President Joseph Dalum. The HUUV is also equipped with a compressor automatic shut down device that automatically starts and stops the compressor based on demand. This element substantially increases battery life and decreases needless compressor operation.

“At the end of a workday, the HUUV plugs into a charging station where the batteries recharge during off-peak hours. The truck can also recharge at any point, while idling or driving, with the conventional diesel engine. The unit is complete with regenerative braking and launch assist to provide additional fuel efficiency, emission enhancements, extended brake life. These additional PHEV features offer greater benefits than just an idle reduction system.

“DUECO Inc. and Odyne have previously unveiled the industry’s FIRST Plug-in Hybrid medium-duty aerial lift, heavy-duty tandem axle aerial lift and digger derrick.

“Specializing in the final stage manufacturing of aerial lifts, digger derricks, cranes, and custom bodies, DUECO can also provide trailers, mini-diggers, cable placers, parts, and service. Family owned and operated for more than 50 years, DUECO’s philosophy of teamwork, integrity, and open communication with customers and employees help ensure high quality equipment at the best value.”

There you have it, a first, a one of a kind. PHEV’s are the future and not only make sense for cars but also make sense for large work trucks and many other kinds of vehicles as well.

So, PHEV ’09 is taking place in Montreal, Quebec, Canada September 28 to 30, 2009. The conference will heavily feature PHEV’s with a few EV’s thrown in for good measure. This plug-in hybrid electric vehicle conference will be of particular interest to those planning to operate PHEV’s in extreme temperatures such as Canada’s far northern regions.

The private sector as well as the military will be interested in how these vehicles perform in extreme conditions. The PHEV ’09 conference also talks about “Electric drive vehicles are also considered for use in remote communities, the military and the lunar space rover program.”

So, plug in, tune in and attend this large turn out for those interested in PHEV’s and the implications of reducing our reliance of foreign fossil fuels even in areas with tough summer and winter conditions.

Southern California Edison is the local electric company that is heavily invested into solar energy and piloting electric cars. They happen to be my utility company as well. While President Obama was at the Edison Electric Vehicle Technical Center he described more details about his $2.4 billion competitive grant program for electric vehicles.

President Obama talked about how Germany is leading the world in solar power and how Spain in leading the world in wind power and how the U. S. lags both of these smaller nations. Even in electric vehicles, most of the batteries produced are now made in Asia.

But, President Obama is a believer in electric cars, plug-ins and hybrids. Within the last two years the President switched his family from an all gasoline powered vehicle to a Ford SUV hybrid. President Obama says he wants to put 1 million plug-in hybrid vehicles on the road by 2015 and consumers who buy these vehicles will get a $7,500 tax credit.

If one were to be pun-minded one could say that he electrified the crowd with this speech.

Compare this to the Chevy Volt that rolls out in 2010 that promises only the first 40 miles will be battery powered. The Chery S18 will use iron-phosphate lithium-ion batteries that can be charged from a household 220v outlet in as little as four hours and quick charged in 30 minutes to 80-percent capacity.

The top speed of the Chery S18 will be around 75 mph, so it won’t be a speed burner. The rollout date of this Chinese plug-in hybrid has yet to be announced. In December 2008, I had talked about the first Chinese plug-in hybrid to be unveiled, the BYD F3 DM.

This PHEV has already rolled out in Shenzhen, China with the blessing of investor Warren Buffet and efforts to bring this car onto U. S. soil is now underway. The Chinese government is heavily subsidizing both the Chery S18 and BYD F3 DM as it plans to have 60,000 such vehicles in Chinese cities by 2012.

With the major U. S. automakers failing right now, the Chinese carmakers have a golden opportunity to go green and make enormous headway in the world marketplace. Cleaning up their own house is the first order of business, however, as automobiles account for 50-percent of the Chinese oil consumption.