GM Confident New Technology Will Improve Fuel Consumption by 15 Percent

GM Ventures is confident that the Dynamic Skip Fire (DSF) system developed by Silicon Valley-based startup Tula Technology will result in a “revolutionary new fuel economy technology” for gasoline engine-powered GM vehicles.

New DI Gasoline Engines Said to Emit 1,000 Times More Harmful Particles than Older Ones

Automakers say that downsizing is the only way to go in order to comply with ever stricter fuel emissions regulations. This is true when it comes to CO2 emissions, but it looks like there are far more poisonous gases that the new-generation of turbocharged engines with direct injection emit into the air we breathe.

According to a study by independent technical research institute TÜV Nord, new-generation petrol engines typically release around 1,000 times more harmful particles, including carcinogens, than traditional designs, and 10 times more than new diesel engines.

This is shocking information, to say the least, especially since carmakers claim that gasoline direct injection petrol engines have helped them dramatically reduce emissions.

The study, which was seen by the Financial Times, refers to particles classified by the World Health Organization as harmful, including carcinogens, substances that are believed to cause cancer.

The explanation for this is that new-generation gasoline engines operate with higher pressure in their cylinders to reduce emissions, but in doing so, they produce larger numbers of the particles. European regulations require filters that stop particle emissions to be fitted to all new diesel cars, but there is no similar condition for gasoline engines. A diesel particulate filter costs as little as €50 ($68).

According to EU research, air pollution is directly responsible for 406,000 deaths each year, causing causes more than 100 million lost days of work – that translates into losses for the EU economy of more than €330 billion ($448 billion).

Whether we like it or not, cars are the largest source of air pollution in European cities – but a significant part of that pollution can be eliminated if solutions to limit emissions of particles were applied to new-generation gasoline engines as well.

By Dan Mihalascu

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EU Finalizes Revised New Luxury Manufacturer-Centric Emissions Limits; Approval Pending

Surprise, surprise, the European Union, the one that appeared to buckle under Germany’s immense corporate interest pressure not to enforce strict emissions laws by the year first specified will be going forward with the half-assed version of the original plan that as a Reuters report says "delays 100 percent implementation of a limit of 95 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre (CO2/km) for all new cars until 2021 from a previous deadline of 2020."

The big luxury car manufacturers, the ones that do most of the tailpipe emitting, were the ones that expressly asked for more leniency. The same report reminds us that the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, whose party “received money (donations) from BMW,” persuaded everybody that she was safeguarding jobs.

That she may very well be doing, but it’s an indirect and happy coincidental side effect, while the air of dishonesty and corporate intrigue and interest above all is thick, if you ask me.

The final decision regarding the matter at hand, though, will be taken on Friday, when the deal will be “presented to a meeting of EU diplomats… with a view to getting their agreement,” according to Arunas Vinciunas, ambassador for Lithuania, which holds the rotating EU presidency.

It would then have to be ratified with all of the member states’ governments and the European Parliament, before finally becoming law.

By Andrei Nedelea

VIDEO

Japanese Team Drives Kei EV Van for 807 Miles on One Charge Setting World Record

While cramming many batteries into the back of a regular vehicle and turning it into a long-range electric vehicle seems like a straightforward enough thing to do, we have no doubt that many try it, but we only end up hearing about a small percentage of them – the ones who actually achieve noteworthy results.

With a 64 year-old Dakar rally winner on board, the first one in Japan's history, a local team has officially made itself worthy of media attention, after having covered 1,300 km (807 miles) aboard a Suzuki Every kei van, that was probably filled full of batteries in the back, and only charging it up once beforehand.

Apparently, Suzuki did sell an electric version of the Every, but its quoted range was nowhere near what was achieved today, hinting at extensive yet unspecified modifications done to it for the staged drive around the village of Ogata, in the Akita Prefecture.

Regardless, the attempt dwarfed the previous one by almost 300 km (186 miles) and landed the participants a chance at a Guinness world record. However, it probably won't last long, and we’re now looking forward to seeing the next, better vehicle, the one that will break the 2,000 km (1,242 mile) barrier.

By Andrei Nedelea

Story References: Japantimes via Green.Autoblog

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Mercedes-Benz Petitions EPA to Consider Fuel-Saving Tech for Improved Ratings

Mercedes-Benz is petitioning the Environmental Protection Agency or EPA to start awarding what are being called “Off-Cycle Credits,” that would be added to a car’s overall efficiency score on account of any additional fuel-saving tech it might come fitted with, according to Automotive News.

As the EPA itself states, “Off-Cycle technologies achieve CO2 reductions that are not reflected in the current test procedures,” and “might include solar panels on hybrids, engine start-stop or active aerodynamics,” concluding that “for model-years 2014 and later, EPA is finalizing a pre-approved list of technologies and credit values. Further, manufacturers will be able to apply for off-cycle technology credits beyond those listed (…) if they present sufficient data to the EPA.”

Actively shutting grilles also count, even though they weren’t directly mentioned – utilization of such tech is on the rise, and not necessarily in the more expensive cars (like Mercedes); Ford, Chrysler and GM are trying it too.

The Germans have no choice but to stop the tradition of having to pay fines for not always meeting efficiency goals. Shockingly, they “paid 27 such fines to the U.S. government from the 1985 to 2011 model years totaling $349 million, records show; the rest of the auto industry paid a combined $495 million over that span.”

Now, new standards are in place, and paying fine after fine is not an acceptable way to move forward. Still, we, and according to our source, “environmental groups” too, are skeptical of the likelihood of actual palpable success in the case of this program, but right now, it’s too early to tell which way it will all go down.

By Andrei Nedelea

VIDEO

This Ford Fusion Energi Features Interior Fabrics Made of...Coke Bottles [w/Videos]

Ford has unveiled a Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid research vehicle that uses fabric made using Coca-Cola’s PlantBottle Technology for seat cushions, seat backs, head restraints, door panel inserts and headliners. The car will be on display starting next week at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Coca-Cola says fabric made using this technology consists of up to 30 percent plant-based materials and shows the potential for renewable materials to help replace petroleum and other fossil fuels traditionally used for PET fabric.

Using Coca-Cola’s expertise, Ford has been able to produce the first-ever fiber that can be woven into durable, automotive-grade PET fabric from PlantBottle material.

The two companies say the research vehicle marks the first time PlantBottle Technology is applied beyond packaging, with the two corporations aiming to develop new products produced from renewable materials.

Both Coca-Cola and Ford use PET, a durable, lightweight plastic also known as polyethylene terephthalate, in a variety of products including plastic bottles, fabrics and carpets. Ford says that if all its U.S. models used PlantBottle interior fabrics, nearly 4 million pounds of petroleum-derived materials would be eliminated, saving the equivalent of 295,000 gallons of gasoline and 6,000 barrels of oil.

Ford already uses renewable materials for its Fusion sedans, from sound-absorbing denim material equivalent to more than two average-sized pairs of blue jeans in the car’s carpet liner, to material equivalent to 38.9 clear-plastic 16-ounce recycled bottles in select cloth-seat Fusion models and the equivalent of about 31,250 soybeans in the foam found in Fusion seat cushions. 

By Dan Mihalascu

PHOTO GALLERY

VIDEO

Canadian Team Looking to Crowd-Fund 3D Printed Car for Coast to Coast Trip

There are many approaches to the future, but highly likely, problem of overcrowding roads and the inherent nonrenewability of oil. The Canadian URBEE project proposes one that uses 3D printing technologies, and a kind of homemade hybrid system that mates a small ethanol-fueled engine to two electric motors for extreme efficiency.

No exact figures are given, but the URBEE 2, the second prototype they’ve built, does reach a top speed of 110 km/h o 69 mph. However, we can still call it extremely efficient, though, because of the creators’ stated plan to cross the United States from east (New York) to west (San Francisco) using just 10 gallons of fuel, or 38 liters.

If they succeed, the trip, which Google calculated would take them 44 days (at least), will make history because it will be the mark the first time such a vehicle has undertaken such a feat.

It won’t happen now, but it’s planned to commence in around two years’ time, with the help of the crowds. There’s definite promise here – a lot more than that hoverboard project we featured a while back, that’s for certain.

Do make sure to scroll down and click play on the first of the videos posted below – project leader Jim Kor will fill in any of the blanks you may still have.

By Andrei Nedelea

PHOTO GALLERY

VIDEO