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.

But, where does this leave those who want to convert their plug-ins now? For instance, say you already have a Prius getting around 50 mpg but would like to upgrade right now to a plug-in Prius at get over 100 mpg. This may not be possible if the CARB agenda is carried out.

I’ve talked in the past about the Prius conversion kit from A123 Systems called the HyMotion. This system comes with a 3-year warranty, far less than the 10-year warranty that CARB is seeking. Then there are Prius plug-in hybrid systems like those from Jungle Motors that come with a 1-year warranty that also has no chance of passing CARBs consumer protection rules.

But, CARB does not stand for consumer protection. It stands for California Air Resources Board. The idea behind this government agency is protecting the air quality of the state’s residents. Why they have decided to mettle in the free market now is anyone’s guess.

If a number of small California businesses have to go under because they have been regulated out of business, the consumer still does have some options. One option is to wait until the large automakers come out with their vehicles. Another is the do-it-yourself approach supported by CalCars.org. And, yet another approach is to go all-electric and build your own.

Next week CARB is set to impose some heavy handed regulations in regard to plug-in hybrid vehicles that may put some of the small startup companies out of business. One such company is 3Prong Power that creates aftermarket plug-in hybrid systems for Toyota Prius vehicles.

The system integrates a bank of batteries in the trunk of the Prius with the rest of the vehicle allowing it to run on all electric power until the vehicle hits 34 mph when the gasoline engine kicks in. The plug-in capabilities of the vehicle also allow the Prius to get between 100 mpg and 150 mpg.

CARB is concerned about two issues, one related to air quality and the other related to consumer satisfaction. The air quality issue involves cold starts for the converted plug-in cars. The small startup plug-in hybrid aftermarket manufacturers already have a workaround for this problem, but not the $125,000 in testing that CARB may require.

The second issue involves the warranty on the batteries put into these vehicles. Note these batteries are in addition to the Prius batteries that are already installed and under warranty. Also note that this has nothing to do with air quality as it is a consumer satisfaction issue.

If CARB passes these mandates there will be little that the small startup companies can do except shut their doors. And, then we’ll all have to wait until 2010, when GM and Toyota bring their official plug-ins to marketplace without competition from the smaller companies.

The BYD F3 DM also one-ups the Chevy Volt already in one way as its driver can travel the first 60 miles on all battery power alone (as opposed to the Volt’s promised 40 mile all battery range). The BYD F3 DM takes seven hours to charge from an ordinary household outlet, but China has stated they are planning on building public “quick charge” outlets that can recharge plug-in hybrids to 50-percent capacity in just 10 minutes.

Once the battery is exhausted a small 1.0 liter gasoline engine kicks in to recharge the 100 lithium ion pack. The plug-in hybrid is capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 10.5 seconds and has a top speed of 100 mph.

One of the challenges for the BYD F3 DM in China is the fact that many potential drivers live in tall buildings in major cities without a way to charge their cars from electrical outlets. This may make the BYD F3 DM more suitable for U. S. drivers when it rolls out in 2010, a timeframe the will compete head-on with the Chevy Volt and Prius plug in.

The fuel and cost savings for the BYD F3 DM is significant since it will cost around $1.40 in electricity to drive the car its first 60 miles. BYD expects to sell upwards of 10,000 of the F3 DM plug-ins over 2009 for around $22,000 apiece. Since Warren Buffet is a major investor in BYD Auto, one can expect many U. S. hurdles to be paved before the rollout here. And, if this weren’t good enough, watch out for the BYD E6 all electric car rolling out the following year.