Autoblog

Click on the image to view high-res shots of the Mercedes F700 concept

Massive amounts of money are being spent in the alternative energy sector of the automotive industry. Last year, Daimler spent $6 billion in research and development and another $2.7 billion on environmental protection. Expect those already rather large sums to increase in the coming years. Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche says that the company will "increase these budgets even more and by 2010 we'll invest $21 billion in research and development." Daimler has invested heavily in hydrogen technology and holds twenty-five patents protecting new battery technology for automobile use. Further development will continue to cost a large chunk of change.

Of particular interest is the fact that Daimler intends "to offer at least one model in each of the Mercedes-Benz core model series that is a leader in fuel consumption," according to Zetsche. Despite looming legislation that will require more fuel efficient vehicles, Mercedes-Benz plans on continuing to offer vehicles that will meet the size, performance and luxury demands prospective buyers have come to expect from the premium German marque. Otherwise, it won't be $21 billion well spent.


[Source: The Car Connection]

Efficiency is a large stumbling block if you're looking for a way to replace gasoline. It's pretty hard to better such an exceptional fuel, and several alternatives show promise but are nagged by inefficiencies or cost, and usually both. Nanotech to the rescue; it may soon be possible to produce your own hydrogen at home cheaply and easily, and NiMH batteries and fuel cells also stand to become less expensive and offer much better performance. With claims like that, QuantumSphere might well be selling fairy dust, but the Portland, Oregon-based company has developed a nanoparticle coating that may end up being the key to making alternative fuels actually viable.

QuantumSphere's catalytic nanoparticle coatings have 1,000 times the surface area of traditional materials, which means that more catalytic action can be housed in the same space. It's the the highly reactive nature of the coatings that allows cheap home electrolysis, also boding well for replacing precious metals like platinum in fuel cells with a coated piece of stainless steel. QuantumSphere's president Kevin Maloney claims that his company's technology makes electrolysers so efficient that they can supply hydrogen on demand while driving. The technology will roll out later this year in a battery that uses a coated cathode for a five-fold increase in energy density, which translates into a 320-percent power gain over alkaline cells. If things go QuantumSphere's way, we won't be paying $100,000 for the Tesla Roadster in a few years, and it will have an even better range than already promised.

[Source: Automotive Design Line]

With Cameron Diaz now officially set to ride in the BMW Hydrogen 7 to the 2008 Oscar Awards, more unofficial details are coming out that BMW is planning to launch a Hybrid 7 Series in the next 2-3 years. We have blogged about hybrid BMW models before. In fact, just last April, we spoke about a Hybrid 5 Series model possibly in the works. Now, rumor has it that the flagship 7 Series will get the eco-friendly powerplant first.

Likely a joint venture between BMW, General Motors, and Mercedes-Benz, the new powerplant will be a "mild" hybrid system. This type of hybrid recovers energy from braking (aka "regenerative braking") to be stored and used to supplement the internal combustion engine. The Hybrid 7 Series will have to ultimately rely on gasoline for propulsion, as this type of hybrid is not able to run in pure electric mode like the Porsche Cayenne Hybrid.

With the news of BMW's twin-turbo diesel hybrid X5 fresh on our minds, it seems 2008 is turning out to be a green year for the German automaker.

[Source: Just-Auto, subs. req'd]

click above for more live high-res images of the Cadillac Provoq Concept

We've already covered Cadillac's Provoq E-Flex fuel-cell vehicle during its first public appearance at the Consumer Electronics Show last week, but GM also rolled it across the stage here in Detroit. There were no additional technical details or hints towards production plans (either for the E-Flex powertrain or the BRX crossover that this design represents), but we at least got to spend a few minutes up close and personal with the concept to snap some shots of the whiter-than-the-pure-driven-snow interior. Also note the chromed cowl vent. Oh, and the Provoq wears what has to be the skinniest tires we've seen on a concept car in recent memory.

click above for more high-res images of the Chrysler ecoVoyager Concept

One of three Pentastar concepts powered by some combination of cutting-edge technology, the Chrysler ecoVoyager continues the automaker's fascination with art-deco by resurrecting the Stout Scarab. Doing away with a conventional powertrain and installing a 45kW fuel cell allows the 268-horsepower electric motor to spin the wheels for 300 miles before refueling. The Li-Ion batteries give the concept a theoretical range of 40 miles before the fuel cell is called upon, and regenerative braking recovers some energy for the batteries, too.

The skateboard nature of the chassis and power systems allows for a very roomy cabin and low center of gravity, which aids handling. Weighing in at a modest 2,750 pounds, the ecoVoyager doesn't have a problem performing like the cars we know and love, either. 0-60 is dispatched in 8.8 seconds, and Chrysler's claiming a 12.9 second quarter mile, which we find astounding to the point of disbelief. A 13-second quarter mile seems too fleet, even for the eyeball-flattening torque delivery of electric motors. Nuts and bolts aside, Chrysler outfitted the ecoVoyager's interior to keep occupants connected, entertained, fed and watered. There's even dual strips of sunroof that don't look at all like toaster slots. The goal was to create the earth-bound experience that a Gulfstream jet offers in the air. The powertrain of the ecoVoyager certainly outpaces the mere jet-age ideas of a G5.

A little over a year ago, Alan Mulally's time was spent managing Boeing, and here in LA just 14 months later he's the keynote speaker for at an international auto show. He's a year older, and he also knows a heck of a lot more about cars than he did when he took the helm at Ford Motor Company. In that time, Ford has begun on reversing its massive losses, a new contract with the UAW has been ratified, and new products like the MKS introduced today are on the verge of production.

Much of Mulally's keynote speech focused on the green initiatives that Ford is undertaking, and we've attached the above video clip with the meat of Ford CEO's message. Click play above to check it out.

In the mid-size sedan segment, there are few more benign engines than those that power the otherwise terrific Ford Fusion. That assessment may not be entirely true after Boeing has developed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) powered by an internal combustion engine of the Ford variety. While the article doesn't specify which Fusion engine is being used, we'd guess it's the 2.3L Duratec four-cylinder. Ford's Research and Advanced Engineering created the UAV's means of propulsion, which utilizes a multi-stage turbo unit powered by hydrogen fuel. A car engine was used because it has more modern materials than older aircraft engine designs, and they tend to perform well at high altitudes where turbocharging is involved. The Boeing concept performed well during three days of testing at a simulated 65,000 feet, and the ultimate goal is for the UAV to perform for seven days at a time. It seems Ford CEO Alan Mulally still hasn't scratched his aircraft itch after 37 years on the job at Boeing.

Thanks for the tip, Bill!

[Source: Defense Tech]

click image to enlarge

Since we've already gone ahead and shown you the Biplane, one of Suzuki's two new concept bikes set to make their debut at the Tokyo Motor Show, we figured it would only be right to show you the other one. The Suzuki Crosscage has already been featured on AutoblogGreen for its use of a fuel cell from Intelligent Energy and its battery electric propulsion system, so we'll instead focus on the actual design of the bike here. From the looks of it, the hydrogen tank is carried right at the center of the bike, which should be a boon for safety considering that the hydrogen would be stored at very high pressures. One of the most striking features of this bike has got to be the front fork. Single-sided swingarms are rather common these days on high-performance bikes, but single-sided forks have not yet hit the masses. To stiffen things up where the fork tubes meet, Suzuki appears to have added a strengthening linkage of some sort. While bicyclists may think of the Cannondale Lefty fork when gazing at this design, this fork is likely (and hopefully!) much more robust. While we're not expecting to see the Biplane make it to production status, the Crosscage as pictured here seems even less likely. Perhaps certain design elements will see the light of day on future production models, but as cool as this concept may be, hydrogen fueling stations around every corner are still a very long way off. Kudos to Suzuki though for being willing to look outside the box when designing these two concept machines.

[Source: Suzuki]

Technically this Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle made the 560km journey on four tanks of hydrogen, as that's how many high pressure pods are hidden away under the Toyota Kluger's rear seats. But the big news is that this car, and a back up sibling, managed to drive 350 miles from the hydrogen fueling station by the Osaka Prefectural Government Office to Toyota's Mega Web theme park in Toyota without needing to stop for more, err, gas. The car even had 30-percent of its fuel left -- running its A/C the entire time -- which mathematically gives it a 480-mile range. That's double the range of most current fuel-cell vehicles.

Thanks to improvements to the car's fuel cells and the management system that controls the hybrid's charging and discharging, the FCHVs used today are 25% more efficient than their predecessors, which have been roaming Japan's streets since 2001 undergoing testing. New stronger tanks that can hold hydrogen at twice the pressure of the old ones also helped the car reach such an impressive range.

Click the pics above for a gallery of high-res images of the Hyundai i-Blue Concept.

Hyundai, like practically every other automaker in Frankfurt, is showing off its green-wares. The i-Blue is the poster-child for the automaker's environmentally focused future, with a 100 kW motor powered by a fuel cell. Developed by Hyundai's Design and Technical Center in Chiba, Japan, the i-Blue's platform shares the concept's name, and will likely underpin future D-segment crossovers with a 2+2 seating arrangement.

The styling is certainly futuristic, with expansive front fenders, a dramatic fascia, heavily sculpted sides and a rear spoiler that culminates in a sharp point and houses a reversing camera. Inside, it's all flowing shapes, all the time, with plenty of space for its occupants and technology that only Data could wrap his head around.

All the details are available in Hyundai's press release after the jump, and we've assembled a gallery of live and press pics for your viewing pleasure.