Electric Vehicles Enter Local Resource Debate

The impact of electric and hybrid electric vehicles on two different resource areas are being studied. The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) has announced that it intends to conduct a study to determine the effect of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles on the state’s power grid. In addition, the MPSC will study the possibility that EVs and HEVs could provide additional power during peak usage times. The MPSC will use actual EVs and HEVs, when available, and hopes to measure their impact on utility companies and regional electric cooperatives. The group will submit annual reports on the status of the state’s power grid as it relates to electric vehicle use, starting in 2009.

Scientists at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, TN, have modeled the impact of EVs and PHEVs on the electrical grid, using demand times of 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM for EV-charging, and the assumption that 25 percent of vehicles on the road by 2020 will be electric or electric hybrids. Under such a scenario, the model predicted that the grid would be strained by demands for electricity earlier in the evening, requiring the construction of 160 new electrical plants. Power companies would be better able to handle the EV demand if owners charged their vehicles overnight. Under these constraints, only eight additional power plants would be required. The model also predicted capacity problems directly related to the use of electric vehicles by 2030, if additional improvements are not made to power plants before that time.

The Ford Motor Company and Southern California Edison are currently conducting tests on a small fleet of Ford’s prototype PHEVs there. That effort is also looking at battery ownership issues and residual value for EV/PHEV batteries. Since car batteries currently have no residual value, no model exists for assigning value to an EV/PHEV battery.

The question of resource consumption isn’t limited to the impact of electric and hybrid electric vehicles on the power plants. A study scheduled to appear in the June 2008 issue of the ACS’ Environmental Science and Technology indicates that EVs and HEVs consume as much as three times the amount of water that vehicles with conventional internal combustion engines do. The technologies could make the vehicles in highly populated, water-poor areas more expensive to operate and maintain and could have a significant impact on an area’s water resources. The study stops short of suggesting a pull-back from the technology, but instead supports the idea that regional water resource planning issues must be addressed if EVs and HEVs are widely adopted by the public.

Photo Credit: Kenn Kiser

GM’s 2nd-Gen Mild Hybrid Powertrain

GM has indicated that it is ready to release the second generation of its mild-hybrid powertrain. The new system is still a belt-alternator-starter (BAS)-based system, but is smaller and replaces the nickel-metal hydride battery with a Li-ion cell. The company has been locked in a well-publicized Li-ion battle with Toyota, in its effort to bring an all-electric Li-ion-powered vehicle to market. Both companies had been hoping to have Li-ion models available for the 2009 model year, but each has recently announced that Li-ion based vehicles will be introduced in 2010 instead.

GM’s second-generation mild-hybrid system is smaller and contains a more powerful motor, works with gasoline, flex-fuel and diesel engines, and can be easily adapted for rear-wheel drive vehicles, allowing the company to introduce the system a wider variety of its entry-level vehicles, including those in the Saturn and Chevrolet lines. Saab is also using the GM power train for its 9-X BioHybrid concept vehicle.

According to the company, the improved powertrain system will deliver an increase in fuel economy of 20 percent over its conventional internal combustion engines. GM Chairman Rick Waggoner said that the powertrain will be available in GM’s 2010 hybrid vehicles and the company expects to produce at least 100,000 units annually. Waggoner indicated that the affordability of the technology, which promises significant reductions in both gasoline consumption and carbon emissions, is based on the company’s sales volume and expects prices to drop if the hybrid models are widely embraced.

GM offers two separate hybrid power systems. The mild hybrid system, which is being replaced, is currently available in the Malibu and the Saturn Aura and Vue hybrid models. The mild hybrid system is not as efficient as the two-mode hybrid system, currently used in the company’s larger hybrid Tahoe, Yukon and Escalade models.

VW Hybrid Hits 70+ MPG

Volkswagen introduced its new Golf TDI Hybrid vehicle at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show. The vehicle’s power train features a 1.2L diesel-electric engine and 7-speed transmission. The Golf TDI uses its 220-V electric motor to move the vehicle at low speeds, and uses the diesel engine to augment the electric motor when accelerating and passing at highway speeds. The vehicle can also run in all-electric mode or all-electric mode. The front-wheel drive Golf TDI Hybrid also offers regenerative braking capabilities and start/stop intelligence.

VW has not indicated whether or not they intend to take the vehicle into production, but some analysts believe that a diesel-electric hybrid would not fare well in the North American market. More likely, VW would sell a gasoline-electric hybrid based on the concept shown at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show. Diesel engines are more popular in Europe and cost less to produce there.

At the same show, VW also introduced a natural-gas powered Passat Variant and Estate TSI EcoFuel vehicles, with a planned release date sometime later in 2008. The natural-gas powered cars consume about 5.2 kg of natural gas per 100 kilometers, equivalent to 45 miles per gallon using a conventional combustion engine.

The Passat Estate TSI EcoFuel, which exceeds the Euro 5 standards for mileage and generates lower CO2 emissions, has dual fuel tanks that offer a combined range of 490 miles between refueling, and a special computer controls the switch between fuel tanks. The turbocharged direct injection 1.4L TSI engine in the Passat Variant/Passat Estate TSI EcoFuel can also run on gasoline and supplies 150-hp. The vehicles can achieve 100 kph (62 mph) in 9.7 seconds and have a top speed of 130 mph. Volkswagen has not yet announced a price for the vehicle, but based on the technology included, analysts expect it to enter the market at about USD$25,000.

Automakers Moving To All-Hybrid Vehicle Lines

Both Toyota and Chrysler have indicated that they plan to elevate the status of hybrid vehicles in their product development cycles. Last May, Toyota announced its plans to redesign all of its product lines to incorporate hybrid technologies. Following suit, Chrysler president Jim Press announced last week that the company would use hybrid technology in every model in the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep lines.

The timetable for this kind of changeover isn’t entirely clear, but Toyota plans to wait until the 2020’s, when battery technology catches up to the power demands placed on contemporary vehicles. Likewise, Chrysler has not announced a timetable for its phase-out of gasoline-only engines.

At last week’s 2008 Geneva Motor Show, Toyota president Katsuaki Watanabe said that the company’s goal is to develop technologies that limit their impact on the environment and specified that the company’s plans included the development of hybrid gasoline engines only.

At the North American International Auto Show, the company announced that it would offer a diesel engine in the 2010 Tundra and Sequoia models, raising hopes that its Hybrid Synergy Drive system would be modified to work with a diesel engine. According to Watanabe, diesel-electric hybrids don’t provide a large enough increase in efficiency to justify joining the two premium technologies.

European manufacturers have introduced several diesel-electric concept cars at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show. Volkswagen created significant buzz with its 71-mph diesel-electric Golf, and also introduced a natural-gas powered Passat Variant alternative fuel vehicle.

Despite the competitive pressure, manufacturers believe they can achieve better fuel economy and carbon emissions using gasoline-hybrid engines. Currently, no production gas-electric hybrid can achieve mileage comparable to the Golf, but manufacturers are working hard to expand the mpg of their production vehicles, in the face of looming regulations on mileage and emissions. Last year, New York City became the first metropolitan area to apply minimum mileage and maximum carbon emission standards for the city’s taxicab fleet, effectively requiring cab companies to use hybrid vehicle technology.

Toyota To Form Battery R & D Unit

Toyota is reportedly working on the next-generation of hybrid batteries, which will enable a vehicle to travel 50 miles on a single charge. The new technology could be based on a zinc-air formulation, but Toyota has not confirmed this research direction yet. Zinc-air batteries are currently used to power very small devices, like hearing aids.

Toyota hopes to have the new battery ready for production by 2020. That time line coincides with the company’s goal of having a hybrid vehicle in each of its model lines.

Continued improvement in battery technology is part of the company’s strategy to retain its position as an automotive hybrid technology leader. To direct its research and development, the company will form a new battery technology group later in 2008.

As an intermediate step, Toyota has announced that it plans to incorporate Li-ion batteries in its hybrid vehicles in 2009 or 2010. Currently, Toyota uses nickel-metal hydride batteries in its electric hybrid vehicles. The charge-carrying capacity of Li-ion batteries is much greater, however the Li-ion technology has been dogged by safety issues, including overheating and catastrophic failures.

None of the automakers that plan to use Li-ion cells has successfully addressed the issue of battery ownership and replacement costs. Mercedes-Benz announced that it will become the first auto manufacturer to use Li-ion batteries in a production vehicle. The company did not specifically address battery ownership in its announcement.

The new M-B S400 diesel-electric hybrid will feature a Li-ion battery pack that is integrated into the vehicle’s climate control system to keep the batteries operating in a temperature range between 60° F and 95°F. Uncontrolled rises in temperature are though to encourage the breakdown of a barrier membrane within a Li-ion cell, which results in catastrophic failure and may also lead to battery explosions. The issue of Li-ion safety is leading manufacturers to develop new technologies designed to improve the operational safety of the cells without substantially increasing the cost.

Saab Intros 9-X BioHybrid

Saab’s 9-X BioHybrid concept vehicle was voted “Best Concept” at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show. The 9-X BioHybrid borrows its outward design from the Aero X and 9-X concept vehicles, but the inner workings of the 9-X BioHybrid have been updated and extended to appeal to a younger buying audience.

The 9-X BioHybrid features a 1.4L, four-cylinder gas-electric hybrid power train with an intercooled turbocharger and a six-speed manual transmission. The hybrid system is a GM-built electric motor/generator with a Li-ion battery pack. The hybrid system incorporates regenerative braking and a roof-mounted solar cell to charge the batteries. The battery pack provides additional torque to the vehicle for acceleration and passing, supplemental power for the vehicle’s accessories, and powers a fuel cutoff/restart system to limit idling and reduce CO2 emissions.

The engine is designed to run on gasoline or E85. When operating on gasoline, the 9-X BioHybrid can achieve a fuel economy of 57.6 mpg. Using E85, the car’s average mileage per gallon drops to 44.1. T

The 9-X BioHybrid also packs several interesting safety features, including Lane Departure Warning, which alerts the driver when the car drifts out of a marked lane. The 9-X BioHybrid also incorporates front- and rear-cameras that detect oncoming traffic and automatically dim the headlights. The rear cameras deliver visual assistance when the vehicle is in reverse gear. Both camera systems are also tied into the Lane Departure Warning system.

Saab has indicated that it will most likely put the 9-X BioHybrid into production sometime after 2010. Saab is considering it as a potential for the North American market, which has typically been cool to premium hatchback models. The production model will not likely be called the 9-X BioHybrid, however. Instead, the company is more likely to market the vehicle as the 9-1. Additionally, the new model is expected to carry entry-level pricing.

Hydrogen Research Pays Off

Researchers from UCLA have determined the mechanism that causes sodium alanate to release hydrogen at low temperatures in the presence of titanium. The low-temperature release was first described in 1997, but no one could sufficiently explain the role of titanium in the process.

By simulating the molecular dynamics of the reaction, the researchers discovered that aluminum diffusion is the limiter to how much hydrogen can be released. The addition of titanium facilitates the diffusion and therefore allows hydrogen to be released at lower temperatures.

The method used by the researchers may help facilitate the development of a practical hydrogen production and storage system for fuel cells and other hydrogen-powered devices. According to the researchers, sodium alanate does not generate enough hydrogen to provide a practical fuel source, but the method used to explain its behavior may lead researchers to superior materials and catalysts.

In a separate development, Gunze, Ltd., has announced the creation of a solid electrolyte hydrogen sensor that can be used at room temperature. Current catalytic hydrogen sensors must be heated to a temperature of 300° C because they detect the amount of heat generated by hydrogen combustion.

The new sensor detects the concentration of hydrogen ions that are freed by the action of the electrolyte and a platinum catalyst, eliminating the need for combustion measurements. In addition, the new sensor consumes less power and offers a faster response time than conventional catalytic hydrogen sensors.

The new sensor, which runs on a 12V battery, could be integrated into fuel cell vehicles, stationary fuel cells and hydrogen stations within two to three years. Its ultra-low power consumption means that the sensor can operate even on dry cells. The company is tentatively aiming to bring the sensor to market for less than $950 per unit. The development is interesting because a single fuel cell vehicle requires four sensors, which add substantially to the overall cost of the vehicle.

Onboard Dehydrogenation Reactor

A research team working for Hrein Energy in Japan has succeeded in powering a vehicle with hydrogen extracted from organic hydride. The team developed a prototype on-board dehydrogenation reactor and used it in a driving test with a modified Nissan March. The team consisted of personnel from Hrein, Futaba Industrial Co., Ito Racing Service Co Ltd, and a professor emeritus from Hokkaido University.

The on-board processor uses waste heat from the catalytic converter to isolate hydrogen from organic hydride. The free hydrogen was then mixed with intake air and used to power the vehicle’s 1.2L gasoline-hydrogen hybrid engine. The hydrogen constituted as much as 5 percent of the vehicle’s intake air. Even with a small volume increase of hydrogen in the intake air, the vehicle’s mileage rating increased by about 30 percent, due in large part because the combustibility of hydrogen exceeds that of gasoline.

The on-board processor creates free hydrogen and toluene, an aromatic hydrocarbon commonly used as an industrial solvent and in paint thinners. It is also used as an octane booster in gasoline and a fuel for high-performance racing engines.

Dehydrogenation reactors are typically large, but Hrein Energy has downsized this prototype to fit on an automobile. The reactor requires extremely high temperatures - 300° C - to operate. The operating temperature is achievable, but it creates a large energy loss. This is mitigated by the use of waste heat from the catalytic converter.

The size of the prototype reactor is an issue. While it is small enough to fit on a car, it’s too small to produce a useful amount of hydrogen for long-term operations. Hrein Energy’s ultimate goal is to use the technology to power fuel-cell vehicles, but waste heat production from fuel-cell vehicles is too low to provide proper temperature for the dehydrogenation reactor to work properly. As a supplemental device, however, it can increase the efficiency of a gasoline engine substantially.

Hrein Energy’s next step is to develop a prototype system for a 1.5L commercial vehicle in time for the G8 Summit in Hokkaido in the summer of 2008. The company is also looking at other methods of generating and storing hydrogen as organic hydride.

New York Limos To Go Hybrid By 2009

Pending a successful vote by the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC), New York City will require that all private-hire limousines must increase their fuel efficiency levels to 25 mpg by 2009 and 30 mpg by 2010. Approximately 10,000 “black cars” are on the road today.

Late last year, the TLC voted to require all yellow taxis licensed after October 1, 2008 to meet higher fuel efficiency standards. Yellow taxis currently on the road are not required to meet the fuel efficiency standards until 2012.

To meet the 25/30-mpg requirements, the vehicles must use hybrid engine technologies. Black cars with conventional engines average 12-15 mpg in city driving conditions. The new standards are designed to reduce the vehicles’ CO2 emissions, which currently account for about 2 percent of the city’s overall CO2 emissions. The new regulations for private-hire limousines also mandate a phased retirement cycle for existing vehicles that do not meet the new fuel efficiency standards. The retirement plan calls for most black cars currently in operation to be off the road by 2013.

The black cars are predominantly Lincoln Town Cars. Commercially produced vehicles that currently meet the new NYC private-hire standard are the Toyota Camry and Highlander hybrids, the Nissan Altima hybrid, and the Mercury Mariner hybrid. The Lexus Rx400h, the Ford Escape hybrid and the Toyota Prius may also meet the fuel economy standards.

In addition to reducing CO2 emissions, the regulations are expected to cut gasoline costs for the vehicles by about 50%. Currently, vehicle owners spend about $10,000 annually on fuel for their black cars.

To ease the cost of purchasing replacement vehicles, the city is working with banks to offer special financing to drivers. Two major car dealers in the city have also offered special financing packages to drivers who are ready to turn in their older vehicles for hybrids.

Diesel Electric Hybrids Are Catching Attention

Within the last month, VW and BMW have both announced diesel-electric hybrid vehicles. Not to be outdone, Mercedes Benz is putting out a diesel-electric hybrid concept of its own. The Vision GLK BLUETEC Hybrid is based on the soon-to-be available GLK compact SUV, shown off in Detroit at the North American International Auto Show in January.

The body styling is a bit rough on the eyes, but the 2.2L 4-cylinder mild hybrid diesel electric can boost its MPG to 40 on US roads. The vehicle can hit the 62-mph mark in just 7.3 seconds. The hybrid technology at work in the Vision GLK hybrid was developed jointly with BMW, so the performances of the Vision GLK and the Vision EfficientDynamics concept are similar.

The design makes efficient use of the hybrid module, which sits between the common-rail direct injection (CDI) engine and the automatic transmission. The electric motor can support the ICE during acceleration by adding up to 160 nm of additional torque. The ICE engine is switched off when the car idles. The transition between ICE and electric motor is unnoticeable to the driver, and the ICE can be turned back on within milliseconds. The vehicle also makes use of regenerative braking, capturing energy and storing it in on-board lithium-ion batteries.

Mercedes Benz plans to launch the first Li-ion powered hybrid vehicle, announcing last week that it had secured patents on a method of cooling Li-ion batteries with the vehicle’s climate control system. Mercedes Benz says that by using the vehicle’s climate control system, it can keep the battery temperatures between 60° F and 95° F, extending the life of the battery and improving its performance.

The Vision GLK won’t be the first Mercedes Benz hybrid to get the Li-ion batteries. The company has announced that distinction will go to the S400 BlueHybrid expected in dealer showrooms in 2009. The S400 BlueHybrid, a diesel electric announced at the 2007 Frankfort Auto Show, will sport a 3.5L V6 that delivers 30 MPG.

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