This 'tiny'could be the city car of the future

The other ultra-compact car I promised you from the frankfurt show is another concept(no prizes for guessing the colour of this green car!): the Volkswagen up! Measuring just 3.45m it is only a staggering 47cm longer than the other contender for car of the show, the Toyota iQ, covered in yesterday's post. This two- or three-cylinder rear engined highly efficient car should yield 70 mpg and will help to meet the growing European demand (up 20% on last year according to Toyota) for small cars.VW are hopeful that, when the up! goes into production in 2009, it will claim in due course the same iconic status as the Beetle or the Golf.

With cabin space seating four adults, the up! concept has a touch sensitive screen which will enable the driver to access through hand movements certain information on the weather,in-car entertainment and vehicle controls.A second head-up screen will provide critical information on the cars's systems together with instant read-outs of CO2 levels being emiited. VW are looking for this car to be around for a long time.

So with Fiat also unveiling a radical two-cylinder 900cc engine which will only emit an amazing 69g of CO2 emissions, the leading carmakers are taking very seriously the
challenge to meet regulations and a market which consider level of CO2 emissions to be as important as fuel consumption.So the big sellers of the future will be small.

We will continue to watch these imminent products or similar.Over the next week or so, it will be back to production cars and some news on motorsport.

Think white and small for this green concept

At the eco-obsessed Frankfurt show,white was the colour for most of the exciting concept cars exhibited.Arguably one of the cars of the show was the Toyota iQ concept.
Yes,this ultra-compact was white! Designed by Toyota's European design studio as an efficient urban driving machine with style, and space for three adults and a child, the iQ at a mere 2.98m in length will thrive on the challenge of tight road spaces.This car will offer a lifestyle statement for the eco-conscious ,with both functionality and low CO2 emissions.This is certainly one to watch for the future.

Tomorrow,I'll show you the other concept contender for car of the show...and yes the colour is white!

Going electric rather than gas at the Frankfurt car show

So another show ends.Was there anything new? Well,of course there was,but most of it had been previewed.The main story could be said to be electric,or more precisely,the development of electric battery technology.This will govern the future for low emission electric cars.

The Frankfurt Motor Show played host to many manufacturers who were trialling or promoting electric cars demonstrating ,in this era of ever rising oil prices and the need to combat the rate of global climate change, their commitment to invest in environmentally-friendly vehicles.Of course the stick is the possibility of the European Commission regulating an even lower CO2 emissions target than 120g/km.

The steepling price of oil at $80+ a barrel makes the electric car ,with its currently expensive battery, a more commercial proposition for the carmaker.

Taking a current production car upgrade,the Toyota Prius uses new nickel-metal hydride batteries.Such is progress,incoming are the much vaunted lithium-ion batteries producing almost twice the power.But they are still mainly at concept because of cost (and some teething problems - batteries have overheated causing fires).There is the Elettrica which is making its first appearance in the UK. More costly than the G-Wiz,this Italian built car will deliver 70 miles of motoring on a charge at a top speed of 45 mph.

Also on show were the Chevrolet Volt and Volvo Recharge reported previously in these pages, and the Nissan Mixim,another concept, but described by the Sunday Times as "powered by compact lithium-ion batteries ,and is all-wheel drive as it has one electric motor per axle.It may only have been driven to the stand at low speed ..., but Nissan predicts it could have a top speed of 112mph, a range of 90-125 miles between recharges, and a charging time as short as 20-40 minutes." Nissan expect to have electric cars using technology like that on the Mixim by 2010.

BMW weighed in with the Concept X6, with ActiveHybrid,which has been driven on electric power alone,or with combustion engine, or a combination of both.Another exciting prospect for the future was the appearance (see picture above)of the C-Cactus by Citroen.So named because it does not drink much,this car can produce a 97 mpg performance.Using half the number of parts of a conventional car,the C-Cactus also uses a significant number of recycled or recyclable materials.Michelin tyres on 21" wheels contribute to reduced road friction to boost fuel efficiency.

A great show. Much promise for more and stylish green production cars in the near future.

So just how many people can you get into a Mini at a stretch?


Old joke it maybe. The answer is a few more than you could in 1967.

BMW have worked on the Mini,a successful retro revival,and with the market call for a low emission car with room have come-up with a stretched version with inspiration from the 1960s Morris Mini Traveller,Austin Mini Countryman and Mini Clubman Estate. There are three engine variants for this latest Mini Clubman. Of these ,the Cooper D emits just 109 g/km of CO2 ,and delivers a combined fuel consumtion of 68.9 mph.There are many recent improvements which combine to produce this more acceptable sub 120g/km car, including Brake Energy Regeneration,Auto Start-Stop and Gear Shift Point indicator.

This car is based on a concept brought to the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show, and as a car in commercial production available to buy in the UK from 10th November 2007,it will be a star at this year's show. The Cooper D will retail at around £15K. The arrival of the Mini Clubman will help further sales growth which for the Mini range is up nearly 14% year on year for 2007 according to Andy Hearn, MINI UK General Manager.

New plug-in hybrid concept to be unveiled by Volvo at Frankfurt

A specially designed Volvo C30, The Recharge Concept, is expected to wow visitors to the Frankfurt Motor Show.

On August 5th I covered the the emergence of a number of flexifuels from Volvo including the C30. The recharge C30 is claimed to be 66 percent lower in CO2 emissions than the best hybrids available today ,and will be good for the equivalent of 124 mpg for a full charge over a 93 mile drive.

Essentially, the C30 has an electric motor at each wheel ,a lithium-polymer battery in the boot and a 1.6-litre flexifuel engine providing power to a generator which takes over if the battery is exhausted. Magnus Jonsson, Volvo's Vice President of Research & Development comments that with the Volvo Recharge Concept " a person driving less than 60 miles per day will rarely need to visit a filling station."

So is this a stodgy performing car compromised by its green features? Not a bit of it!
The concept retains the sporty look and drive of the C30 ,with acceleration of 0-62 mph in 9 seconds and a top speed speed of 100 mph. Just plug-in for three hours and go (a one hour charge will take you 30 miles).Lower running costs and lower emissions combine in this groundbreaking car.

The principal feature is the combustion engine as backup which only kicks-in to power the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) of the battery becomes unable to provide the energy for normal driving performance.Apparently the APU is so powerful it can supply a whole house with an electricity supply.It could act as an emergency standby generator.

As with many groundbreaking low emission cars tyres are an important component.And for the C30 Recharge Concept Michelin's specially designed high energy efficient tyres have been employed.

Energy generated in braking is given to the battery, in this truly all-wheel drive car - each wheel is controlled individually.

Flexifuels are designed to operate on E85 ethanol a renewable fuel emitting up to 80% less ~CO2 emissions than petrol - if ethanol is not available then petrol can be used in the same tank.

More exciting news to follow from the Frankfurt Motor Show being held this week.

Conventional combustion engined cars are under some pressure, now!

Peugeot 308 Hybrid The Next Generation

Today's post continues my earlier report (August 30th-Peugeot Putting On the Environmental Style).With the unveiling at next week's Frankfurt Motor Show of the
new 308 hybrid HDi, Peugeot signals its strategy and ambition for 2010-2015.The carmaker is determined to consolidate its leadership in the manufacture of environmentally fiendly cars by 2010.By 2015,it plans to be the most competitive carmaker in Europe.

In this way,Peugeot,like Toyota see the green route is the way to the top.Peugeot is determined to reverse its unsatisfactory profit margins and to improve quality and service.

Back to the 308,the demonstrator model to be unleashed at the Frankfurt Motor Show has impressive green credentials.A diesel,rather than a petrol engine,hybrid power train is used to squeeze out a combined cycle consumption of 83 mpg with emissions of only 90g/km of CO2.

The new 308 to be launched in 2010,has a 110 bhp 1.6 HDi DPFS diesel engine coupled with a 22 bhp electric motor . Its performance is 38% better than an equivalent 308 diesel HDi model. Now that is an improvement!

The engine is also designed to operate in Zero Emission Mode (ZEV) on urban roads.
This will meet a future Euro V directive.On open roads and motorways, diesel will power the car;at low speeds and when starting ,the electric motor alone will operate.

Another aspect I like with the new 308 is the use of Michelin's Energy Saver tyres to reduce rolling resistance.The promoting and continuing development of performance enhancing tyre technology is one of the crucial elements in the satisfactory achievement of low consumption driving.

Roll on the Frankfurt Motor Show!This runs from the 13th -23rd of this month.
I hope to bring you some news and pictures from this showcase event for new concepts and production cars.

Global carmakers serve-up a mixed bag of greens

Today ,the Financial Times reports that last year European carmakers stalled in their bid to cut CO2 emissions.A Brussels based environmental campaign group claims that new vehicle emissions in the European fleets fell by only 0.2.per cent.This is the lowest recorded annual rate of reduction.Emissions fell to 160 g/km, a country mile from a target of 140 g/km set for the end of next year. The European Commission has announced that it will legislate for emissions not to exceed 120g/km by 2012. A worrying trend is that in Spain and Austria carbon dioxide emissions increased last year.

Now,if financial success is the driver for pursuing the green route ,Toyota have made a very strong case. In the years since 2000, its hybrid sales in Europe have topped an accumulative 100,000 units.Toyota and Lexus currently have four different hybrid vehicles(with Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive and the Lexus Hybrid Drive) in their offerings for the European market. The mass-produced Toyota Prius, for example, is the best selling sub-120 g/km car.So what about profitability ,with all this massive commitment to low emission cars? It is reported at the end of the its last financial year, Toyota made record profits of $14billion.In the same period ,General Motors and Chrysler in total made losses of about the same amount.

This is truly a mixed bag of greens.But I would back Toyota's charge up the green route to become sustainable number one in carmaking. Already dominating the green car market Toyota (the Sunday Times reports) will be showing its latest petrol-electric car, the Hybrid X, at the Bangkok Motor Show this month.More on this exciting development soon.


Copyright (c) 2007 CFM (Services) Limited.All rights reserved

If this Green Project breaks down you can always Eat the Car!

First-up this month is a 'veggie' development with a difference.Not for the Eco 1, the glitzy and big spending showground that is the Frankfurt Motor Show to be held next week. But this cereal story will probably run and run.The Eco 1 car is truly environmentally friendly, in the low emission class.

It can be said to be truly home-grown.Apart from the chassis, which has to have the strength of steel ( a recyclable material) most other parts of this 150 mph racing car are sourced from nature's crops:fuel from wheat and barley,tyres from potatoes,plastic body parts from plants,brakepads from crushed cashew nutshells.So we have a car made virtually of edible or recyclable material and using energy from biofuels.

This car pictured above is 95 percent biogradable, and the pioneering work to produce it could provide many of the solutions in the future development of both greener racing and mass production motor cars.

If you want to see more details of the Eco1 ,built at the Warwick Manufacturing Group, a department of Warwick University ,you can go to the WMG site. Already WMG,a centre of engineering excellence, is seriously talking to people who may be interested in helping develop the exciting technology for these low-emission cars.

Given WMG's progress to date with this cutting edge project,I feel I can now probably safely say that I will not have to eat my car!

Peugeot Putting on the Environmental Style

Not long ago green motoring was understood to mean driving in cars without style.At Peugeot they believe this is no longer the case and point to their latest model of the 207 as the case in point.A stylish family five-door car,the Peugeot 207 1.6 HDi 90S is not compromised by its environmental credentials. Fuel consumption at a combined 62 mpg,5 star Euro NCAP safety rating, and CO2 emissions of 120 g/km work to place the 207 competitively in band B of the government's VED bracket (£35 per year).

So we have a car of decent family size,stylish exterior and interior,with air conditioning, delivering economic running costs,road tax,income tax (for certain company car drivers) and congestion charge savings.

What is more this car is available now at just a little over £12,000.

The 207 makes it 16 models, producing sub-120 g/km CO2 emissions that Peugeot currently has on offer in the 107,206 and 207 ranges; and another range ,the 308, will follow next month.

Green without compromise on style and performance seems clearly to be the message from Peugeot.

You will find further details on these and other new green cars out at the Green-Car-Guide

Ford's Own Bonneville Flyer on Hydrogen

Last week,Ford Motor Co. notched up a speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.

The Fusion Hydrogen 999 reached 207.297 miles per hour on August 15.The success of this venture in part shows the immense pressure that carmakers are under to produce low emission cars for commercial production.Although some two or three years away for the passenger production car , the Bonneville success pointed to a viable development for passenger-car powertrains. We will watch these devolopments in fuel cell technology with interest over the next years.

And what do we have here? Another member of the sub 120 club.

This is a car (shown above) that you will see introduced in 2008. It debuts at the Frankfurt Motor Show on 11th September.With a 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine ,the Volvo C30'Efficiency' will deliver a fuel consumption of 57.6 mpg and emissions below 120 g/km.

Volvo will be revealing its future plans for hybrids at the Frankfurt Show. We will bring news of this to you.

The New Energy Efficient Honda Hybrid Rally Car Due To Debut At Chatsworth Rally Show

If you have an interest in motorsport and low emission cars, you will regularly find someting to interest you in these pages.

I am pleased to share with you news of Lancashire-based Oaktec's unveiling this weekend of the new Honda Civic Hybrid at Silverstone.This new car has been produced by the Oaktec development project which also developed the Honda Insight,the first hybrid winner of the F1000 class A championship in 2006.

Oaktec, a development project supported by the Energy Efficient Motorsport programme (EEMS) and regional development agencies,sees great environmentally responsible motorsport potential for the Honda Hybrid. The latest hybrid,though bigger and heavier than the Insight, retains the CVT transmission,and the 1338cc 4 cylinder engine with 20kw booster electric motor/generator.

Oaktec partner and co-driver Bill Meeson says"Once the car is up and running we will continue to explore the use of bio-fuels to further add to the car's green credentials."

Immediate plans for the new Honda include a public debut around a special rally stage at Chatsworth at the end of September, and a competitive rally run-out before the yearend.Next year, the car may compete in endurance races.

For more details of this exciting low emission car development...

The Oaktec team is always on the look-out for much needed funding to continue its excellent and most worthwhile work.If your company is looking for a high profile and very worthwhile green project to support with sponsorship you should contact Paul Clarke at the Green-Car-Guide

BlueMotion to Join the Sub-120g/km CO2 Green Car Club

Soon to be joining the ranks of the growing number of environmentally-friendly cars coming-in at under 120g/km CO2 is the Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion.Due to be shown at
the Frankfurt car show next week,this is the most economical Golf with a fuel consumption of 62.8 mph ,and 119 g/km CO2 reduced from 135g/km for the current model.This enhanced fuel efficiency delivers over 1200km (745 miles)from one Golf tank of fuel (55 litres).

The Golf BlueMotion will be available in Germany by the year end.Customers in the UK will have to wait a little longer,for a launch early in 2008.

It is expected that the price will be only marginally more than the current model,and with the better fuel consumption this extra cost will very quickly be recouped.

This model follows the Polo BlueMotion highlighted by low emission cars (Tuesday,27th march,2007

For more details on the Golf...




Copyright (c) 2006-2007 M P Ryan and CFM(Services) Limited. All rights reserved.

GM's Alternative Energy Drive On A Charge With The Volt

The Financial Times today reports that General Motors aims to launch its Chevy Volt electric car by 2010. The challenge is both to perfect the performance of the lithium-ion battery based on a nano phosphate technology, and produce a production model of the Volt which "needs to be affordable to the buyer of a normal-sized car,"says Frank Weber, the carmaker's chief engineer.

low emission cars reported previously on the development of the Volt concept car (January 8,2007) . At the time, it was said that "with the proposed Chevy (or Vauxhall) ,GM have a sporty car with power and promise.This one won't stall on a hill. It has a 1-litre , 3 cylinder petrol engine on board ,but only to recharge the battery."

If the technological challenge with the special battery is solved as expected - GM plan to start testing batteries in October- a solution on cost,in order to price the car within the reach of its target market, being considered by GM is to allow buyers to rent the vehicle's battery.

The FT says that Mr Weber estimates an average Volt owner would,with battery rental,pay similar monthly running costs to that for a traditional petrol-driven family saloon i.e the Chevy Malibu.

Bob Lutz, GM's Vice-President, is reported to have said that a second design of the concept saloon model ( to that shown in January) would be unveiled at the Frankfurt car show next month. We'll keep an eye out for this one,and bring you details as soon as we have them.

You can always keep upto date with this development and all other upcoming items of breaking news by subscribing for updates.Simply leave,without any obligation or cost,your email address (top right of screen).You can unsubscribe at any time without fuss.

Audi Comes Clean With Its Sub-200g/km Emission Luxury Saloon

With the new generation Audi 8 range comes the claim of 'cleanest' luxury saloon. The new 2008 MY Audi2.8-litre V6 FSI petrol model emits 199g/km (the new Lexus LS600 hybrid coughs 219g/km-but it is a 5 litre costing from £81k). Prices for the Audi 8 range from just under £50k to £81k.

Benefits include

• economy boost and emission reduction made possible through direct fuel injection and Audi valvelift technology
• 210 OPS at 5,500rpm,280Nm at 3,000rpm,0-62mph in 8.0 seconds,top speed 147mph,combined mpg 34.0, CO2 100g/km
• enhancements to styling,equipment,ride and handling characteristics
• optional extras include new driver assistance systems using radar technology e.g. lane assist warns driver of unintentional departure from driving lane

• lowest-in-class rolling, road and ambient noise levels claimed

This looks a beauty! Still a whopping CO2 rate but given its size there is environmental consideration. It just shows the technological improvements that are still being squeezed out of the petrol driven cars.
For more details to gaze in awe at ...

Volvo powers-up its range of bioethanol flexifuels

New flexifuel models will soon join the 125PS 1.8F which is currently available in the Volvo C30,S40,and V50.As it continues its long standing commitment to environmental care, Volvo is adding two new engines and models to its FlexiFuel range with the all new Volvo V70 estate and Volvo S80 executive saloon.These will be powered by a two-litre FlexiFuel unit and will be available here later this year.In 2008, there will be a five-cylinder 2.5-litre turbocharged engine.

A senior spokesman for Volvo says,"FlexiFuel has considerable potential in larger models, too."

Fredrik Arp,Volvo Cars President,believes that no single fuel can replace petrol and diesel by itself."Our Flexifuel programme is an important part of our strategy to contribute to sustainable personal mobility."

With five Flexifuel models available, Volvo are to offer the broadest bio-ethanol range in the UK.

DfT Acts On Co2

Today sees the launch of the ActOnCO2 government (Department for Transport) website designed to give car buyers on-line data on the lowest CO2 emission cars available on the market.This site at
www.dft.gov.uk/ActOnCO2 provides a listing of the lowest CO2 rated cars in each of the What Car? defined categories provided.This is tied into a colour-coded new car labelling scheme introduced in July 2005.The message being reinforced is low emissions equals low cost motoring, as a general rule.The information provided is in easily read tabular form for each car category ,and is derived from easy drop-down lists.You have to know what you are looking-for in type of car.It is not the most visually appealing presentation.

Sources of easily accessed information to cut down CO2 emissions are always to be welcomed, whether people will flock to use this particular facility only time will tell.There is a danger of information overload today, and as with all communications it is not always what is said that is paramount but what is actually heard by the target audience.

Overall,the site promotes sensible new car buying combined with a drive for smarter motoring - Smarter Driving Tips

Toyota's hybrid races into history

Back to the cutting-edge of racing cars!Last month, I reported to you(June 12th) the historical first bio-fuelled car win in a major British motorsport championship by the Aston Martin DBRS9.Following fast on the heels of my earlier report comes word of the Denso Toyota Supra HV-R which made history ,the weekend before,by winning the Tokashi 24-Hour race.With this feat,the Toyota became the first hybrid to win a competition.

Last year ,Toyota entered its first hybrid for the Tokashi.The Lexus GS450h made a creditable 17th place in the race.Based on the Supra GT raced in Japan's Supra GT events,this year's Toyota entrant took first spot.The Toyota engineers see such races as a development test bed for their production cars- the Toyota Prius uses a hybrid system- to achieve a lighter more efficient product.

Helping the Supra HV-R's hybrid system along were two technological advances.Firstly, instead of rechargeable batteries, a quick-charging capacitor system was incorporated.This was reckoned to be better suited to the repeated acceleration and deceleration necesssary under race conditions.Secondly,two electric in-wheel(front) motors, and one rear axle-mounted electric motor, enabled greater recovery of energy on deceleration and braking at high speeds.

The frequent technological advances which will continue to feed back into the production of cars for sale to the general public are extraordinary and exciting for future greener motorists.

Paul and Dom talk green cars on the One Show

Today I follow the theme of last Wednesday's post.Paul Clarke, founder of the Green-Car-Guide, took the opportunity on the BBC1 The One Show to talk to Dom,one of the show's team, about the relative mileage performances of three types of green car available to buy in the UK.To view this tv video segment,you should click here to go to
Green-Car-Guide.com

When Dom used less gas than Dim in the tv fuel CO2t challenge

Always good to see a general interest tv programme (BBC1 ,The One Show, 7 pm this evening) giving a slot over to fuel efficiency and low emission cars. Especially when that programme has as a guest, green car expert Green-Car-Guide's Paul Clarke.
First up in the programme we saw 'twin' brothers, Dom Littlewood (real) and Dim Littlewood (false character).

In identical cars doing the same distances, Dom (the sensible one) demonstrated how to drive efficiently - no heavy loads, no speeding, and so on. Dim showed how it should not be done - not checking out competitive petrol prices, driving with side windows open, speeding, driving with heavy boot loads,and so on. Dom proved over his dim brother that his expenditure on fuel was half that of his brother's. Good tips for all for saving money by greener driving .

Now in his turn,Paul explained to Dom the mileage benefits to be gained out of three green cars. First up was a hybrid (60 mpg),second the electric car (600 mpg), and third the bio-power car which can run on bio-ethanol (33 mpg). All three had good credentials as low emitters, but in terms of other features buyers look for in a car there were differences of cost to purchase and what one might call style features. One drawback of the bio-power is the lack of ethanol refuelling pumps in the country, but this is expected to change with demand. Still the message was well received. Dom eventually accepted that a flashy gas guzzler sport car was not for him and chose instead a ...bike? Presumably, because the economy would be greater depending on how far his little pumping legs would take him. 'til next time,then. Happy motoring.

You May Soon Be Able To ZAP!Your CO2 Car Emissions

Last week or two, we have been looking at the currently available, and therefore in production, sub-120 g/kms. So for a moment, lets go back from the sublime to the 'cor blime'(or is it?) and look across the 'pond' at what is coming round the corner in the world of the electric car.

ZAP! (above image from ZAP! site) is constructing the ZAP-X electric SUV possibly to come out in US at the end of 2008.Simultaneously,Zap are working on a sedan derivative of the ZAP-X. This version is expected to achieve a top speed of 100 mph and 100 miles on one charge.The intriguing aspect is the target price:$30,000. The SUV's price is still to be agreed.If,it goes into production (there are many sceptical on likely price-see below)this will be no mere run-about.At 350 miles to the charge - 10 minutes to top-up- the ZAP-X is expected to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds, its 644 bhp delivering a top speed of 155 mph from its all-wheel hub motors.By any stretch, this is a high performance crossover electric car.Its credentials were enhanced when Zap enlisted the talents of Lotus Engineering to produce the lightweight aluminium body design and strong chassis. Will it work commercially and deliver- we'll have to wait and see. Pretty though!

Accordiing to CNET News,Ian Wright at Wrightspeed,a motor startup, is building his own dream electric machines.He has decided,though, to concentrate his energies on concepts for super cars likely to cost above $100,000 . His X1 prototype will only ever be a concept from which to develop future production cars. In his view, say CNET News," You can't make cheap electric cars.You can now make good cars,but not cheap ones."

The price debate rages around the lithium-ion batteries essential to the electric car.Again ,let's wait and see if Zap have done their sums right when they take to the road with the SUV (and the sedan?)as a product for sale.

If you wish to follow the story why not go to the ZAP! site for further details.

Copyright (c) 2006-2007 M P Ryan and CFM(Services) Limited. All Rights reserved.