About a year ago, Maxwell Technologies told the world about the Chinese government using its ultracapacitors in various official vehicles. Another July brings another announcement, and so we learn that the city of Milan, Italy will soon be using Maxwell's ultracap modules in its hybrid and electric buses. The 125-volt BOOSTCAP ultracapacitor modules will store energy from the bus' brakes and then spit it back out for torque assist when the driver steps on the accelerator. Overhead electric lines or a diesel generator will supply the rest of the energy needed to move the public transit vehicles. Milan has ordered 70 buses from Vossloh Kiepe and Van Hool and will soon take deliver of the first 15. More details after the break.

[Source: Maxwell Technologies Inc.]

Topia Corp. has been showing off their lightweight electric car at the booth of Marubeni Information Systems Co Ltd at the 19th Design Engineering & Manufacturing Solutions Expo (DMS). Ok, maybe "car" is a little strong. This little one seater looks to have much more in common with that enclosed mobility scooter from Australia, the Rainrider. In any case, don't look for the "HUVO" to be having its way with streets or sidewalks near you any time soon. Its purpose seems to be to showcase the ability of its creators to design and build prototypes quickly using the lightest of materials and the geekiest of technologies and, at that, we think it succeeds where others fail.

Consider that this ovoid wonder weighs only 150kg (330 lbs) despite its high-tensile steel plate frame. According to Topia president and CEO, Hideki Sasaki, "If a vehicle of the same size as HUVO is made with existing technologies, it would weigh about 300kg (660 lbs)". They accomplish this feat by using aluminum alloys, carbon fiber reinforced plastic, and ABS resin. The windshield is polycarbonate instead of glass. The actual building techniques are also impressive. The company designed and built its own press molds and utilized equipment ranging from lasers to a rapid prototyping system. The only thing lacking in this concept is the concept of "sexy".

[Source: Tech-On via Engadget]

Making fuel from waste is just brilliant. Up in Edmonton, Canada, a company called Enerkem is ready to set up the world's first industrial scale municipal waste-to-ethanol facility. Hopefullly, the implementation will be as brilliant as the idea.

Enerkem and its partner GreenField Ethanol and the city of Edmonton have agreed to a 25-year partnership whereby the government will spend $70m on a facility that will be capable of making 36m liters of biofuels each year. The governments of the city and Alberta will chip in $20m and the city will spend the other $50m on a related processing facility and research facility.

You can get the press release of this announcement here. Canada is also considering wheat-to-ethanol plants.

[Source: Enerkem Inc.]

The two major U.S. presidential candidates, Barrack Obama and John McCain, have both expressed an interest in investing Federal money into green automotive technology. Although both men have differing ideas about what may be the best way to move forward, it's becoming clear that green automotive technology will be a point for debate as the election nears. This week, Obama visited with leading members of the Detroit automotive scene, including Rick Wagoner from General Motors and Alan Mulally from Ford, both of whom seemed pleased with how the dialogue went. When asked by Obama what he, as President, could do to help the ailing auto industry in the U.S., Wagoner responded by suggesting that the government contribute funds into the research and development of emerging technologies, such as automotive batteries. Maybe more than $30m, perhaps?

Assuming that the cost for new eco-friendly technology will be passed on to the consumer, Wagoner also suggested that the government make it easier to get into a new green car, which has been done to good effect with hybrid vehicles already. Obama, for his part, said he saw "surprising consensus" among the automotive industry representatives, so we'd imagine similar suggestions were heard all around.

Update: Fixed Rick Wagoner's name, thanks!

[Sources: The Detroit News, Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Bloomfield Hills, MI-based Sequest LLC is contemplating building a pilot algae biodiesel plant in Holland (on Michigan's west side). Holland has a number of attributes that make it a good location for this particular project. Sequest wants the plant to use waste water for growing the algae and carbon-dioxide to feed it. A coal-fired power plant is in close proximity to the local water treatment plant. Michigan State University also has a research lab nearby.

The intention is to pipe the CO₂ from the power plant through the waste water but it must be separated from other pollutants, like mercury. MSU, which has tremendous expertise in agricultural research, is expected to provide assistance with developing new strains of algae that would be more amenable to the biofuel production. The state of Michigan is currently in the process of passing legislation that would provide $18 million for biofuel projects including $7 million for the Holland algae plant.

[Source: MLive.com]

John McCain's (R) call for a $300 million prize for better automotive battery is still making waves. The latest to raise a voice are the people who are already offering some prize money for cleaner cars: the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE. Of course, the AXP is a much smaller prize purse ($10m) and is for an entire car and production plans. Don Foley, the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE's executive director, has issued the following statement (read the entire release after the break):

We commend Senator McCain for recognizing that great innovations can arise from the spirit of competition. But creating a new battery is only part of a broader challenge to solve our country's energy crisis and dependence on foreign oil. We must also look seriously at developing new vehicles, especially those that are production capable. There's no single path to energy independence; we need to explore many different technologies, fuels and vehicles before the American public can determine the most practical, environmentally-friendly and energy conscious solution for the future. We commend all public and private sector efforts to bring attention to these issues, including those by our title sponsor Progressive, and we look forward to being a part of the solution.

So, it's not really a put down - the AXP wouldn't dare - but it does bolster the general criticisms that have been issued in response to McCain's idea that it just isn't well thought out. Democrats Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi, for example, have both criticized McCain's proposal.

[Source: X PRIZE Foundation]

John McCain's (R) plan to give the advanced hybrid battery industry a boost sounds promising. I mean, a $300m prize to the company that can deliver a better, cheaper battery? What's not to like? Well, plenty, apparently.

After House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D) criticized McCain's idea yesterday, Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama explained his own objections to the prize money. As reported by the Detroit News, Obama and other Dems said the "game show" strategy wouldn't be strong enough to push automakers to produce the really high-mpg vehicles that are needed (although, the News points out, Obama does support cash prizes in the cellulosic ethanol realm). Obama said it was his across-the-board plan that would do the trick.

Other criticisms that have come into the ABG mailbox include the claim that McCain's plan is "poorly thought out." McCain's aides admit that more details need to be worked out. One alternative would be to not hold the money back until a particular battery can be built, but to offer tax rebates on PHEVs and BEVs that are on the road today, or very close to it.

Photo by transplanted mountaineer Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.

[Source: The Detroit News via Autoblog]

Of the ridiculous number of vehicles currently on the road worldwide, the vast majority of them are not brand new models. Considering the fact that the biggest increases in fuel efficiency, safety and emissions have taken place in the last few years, the legacy vehicles still on the road are a big concern. While it is easy to suggest that we remove these vehicles and replace them with newer models, this is not always practical, so some are suggesting that these vehicles be equipped with retrofit technology in an effort to save fuel and reduce emissions. One such technology could be tire pressure monitoring, as under-inflated tires make a big dent in overall vehicle efficiency.

While the idea of adding technology to older cars may make sense, the realities of making the change are rather difficult. The European Commission's Directorate General Enterprise and Industry head Philippe Jean suggests that it is much easier to regulate new vehicles rather than old. What's more, all EU member states would need to agree on whatever regulations are suggested, which would likely prove rather difficult. In other words, don't hold your breath.

[Source: Automotive News Europe - sub. req'd]

Perhaps someday families will go on vacation in their electric-powered RVs to the coast of Delaware. Once there, parents will look out upon the water and say, "Kids, this is where offshore wind power came to the U.S." The kids won't listen - they'll be too busy with their hydrogen-powered toy cars (still the only affordable hydrogen vehicles) to care. Still, the parents will like arms and smile and think back to June 2008.

Why? Because yesterday, BlueWater Wind and Delmarva Power signed a deal to create North America's first offshore wind farm. Nothing is set in stone yet (there are backout clauses in the contract) but the $800m deal could power 50,000 homes - and their EVs - using 70 windmills off of Rehoboth Beach by 2012. According to ABG reader GoodCheer, who sent a tip in before anything was officially announced and seems to have the goods, these are the details:

-Delmarva Power will buy all production up to 200 MW @ 0.0968 / kW-h
-Farm size will be determined based on how many other customers BlueWater can drum up, up to a maximum of 600MW.
-Location will be 11.7-17.9 miles offshore, ENE of Rehoboth, DE.
-Proposed structure is monopile driven into the sand/gravel bottom (prehistoric flood-plane of the Delaware River), 30 m in.
-Turbine supplier TBD.

There's more at Delaware Online.

[Source: Delaware Online, GoodCheer]

The company called Air Products, which deals in atmospheric gases and related matters, announced last week that it was awarded two patents (#7,311,993 and #7,348,103, and both called "Polyfluorinated Boron Cluster Anions for Lithium Electrolytes) for lithium-ion batteries. The patents involve Air Products' fluorinated electrolyte salts called Stabilife, which the company claimed in a statement "have been formulated to stand up to the difficult conditions expected from next generation portable power applications as well as hybrid electric vehicles" when used in li-ion batteries. Stabilife apparently boosts the lithium electrolytes and an Air Products VP said the patents mean Air Products will play a role in developing materials for next-gen hybrid vehicles. We can only assume the PHEVs will be affected as well. Chemistry fans will want to read the press release after the jump for details on the "poly- fluorinated borane cluster anions" and more.

Ford C-Max

A better transmission can help reduce fuel use by improving the efficiency of the transfer of energy from the movement of the engine to the wheels. Whether in dual clutch or continuously variable forms, improved transmissions are one way engineers are bumping up vehicles' MPG numbers. Ford has been adding more six-speed trannies to its lineup, and the company's UK versions of the Focus and C-MAX will soon get a new automatic transmission that Ford claims is as efficient as a manual. This "PowerShift" lightweight tranny eliminates a lot of the traditional subsystems and is electronically-controlled (see here for more details about the PowerShift in Volvo vehicles). Ford claims PowerShift is also more fun to drive, as the transitions between gears happens faster than a human can do with a manual system. Be that as it may, check out these numbers: all Ford Focuses with PowerShift get just over 40mpg (U.S.) while the similarly-equipped C-MAX vehicles get just under 40. More details after the jump.

With so many auto-makers throwing their hats into the electric car ring, cleanly producing electricity cheaply becomes even more important. While the oft-touted nuclear solution seems to be getting a lot more expensive, solar is set to get a lot cheaper. Days after IBM announced it is moving into the thin-film solar power arena, Nanosolar CEO, Martin Roscheisen, remembered his own CIGS solar power company had achieved a remarkable milestone recently and shared some impressive video of the worlds first 1 GW production tool on his blog.

The 1GW CIGS coating machine cost $1.65 million and currently spits out solar goodness at a rate of 100 feet-per-minute. That's about 20 times faster than the high-vacuum process with a machine about 10 times cheaper. Roscheisen claims that, in principle, they could speed it up to 2000 feet-per-minute and says the coating should be even better. Since the target price point for Nanosolar panels has often been mentioned as $1 per watt., we say, "Crank those puppies out!". Check out the video after the jump.

One of the hurdles in the way of the widespread adoption of electric vehicles is the ability to pull into a fuel station for a quick fill-up. A "multi-million" dollar injection from Chrysalix Energy Venture Capital could very well give Dutch company Epyon just what it needs to leap over that obstacle. The company claims their technology can charge lithium ion batteries in as little as five to fifteen minutes instead of the hours it typically takes now. How do they do it? By using "state-of-the-art power conversion techniques and intelligent control systems" combined with high-power lithium ion and supercapacitor storage. The needs of each cell within the battery are evaluated and met through communication between the charger and battery management system (BMS). Also, by incorporating an energy reservoir into its system, Epyon avoids the predicament of overloading the grid with extreme demand spikes.

You won't see an Epyon station on the side of the road tomorrow though. The first thing they need to do is build some installation demonstration units and partner up with an appropriate battery company. The company, a spin-off of the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, plans on concentrating their initial installations in large commercial facilities such as airports or other industrial environments. Let's just hope the technology doesn't take too long to trickle down to personal vehicles since this is the kind of energy-charging solution that American electric vehicle manufacturers would seem to prefer.

[Source: Clean Break / Earth2Tech]

The biggest name in shopping malls in Japan is set to install electric vehicle charging spots in its parking lots after entering negotiations with car-makers Mitsubishi and Fuji Heavy Industries, builders of the iMiEV and R1e, respectively. Starting with the Lakeland mall currently under construction in Koshigaya, Saitama Prefecture, Aeon will add to its list of environmental programs by giving EV drivers the opportunity to juice up while they are doing their shopping. According to reports, the charging equipment to be used will have the ability to fill batteries much quicker than the plug at Japanese homes, taking only an hour to do the job rather than the more typical 7-14 hours.This equipment sounds to us like something Nissan might be interested in looking into as it explores EV charging infrastructure in Japan.

[Source: Green Car Congress]

While Nissan/Renault has been very helpful to Project Better Place in Israel by offering to supply electric cars that will work with their recharging and battery swapping service, its cooperation with PBP may not be extending to its homeland of Japan. Not only has Nissan undertaken its own investigation to decide what business model is best suited for the island nation (Like the "Project," they are looking closely at the battery-lease model as a way to keep the initial vehicle purchase price low), its already begun putting together a consortium of companies to deal with everything from batteries to real estate.

Nissan, as well as Mitsubishi and Subaru, are also participants in a project sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. This electric vehicle promotional effort, said to continue until 2015, will involve charging station testing, examine different insurance models, and attempt to get the public on-board.

Though there was talk of Project Better Place making a go of it in Japan, facing competition from its partner on their home turf will probably persuade them to concentrate their expansion efforts on some other island. Click the "read" link for more details.

[Source: Globes]