All About Alternate Fuel Vehicles (AFV)

by Monica Perin, Reporter, Houston Business Journal, Jan 23, 2008
Source: Bizjournals.com
http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2008/01/21/daily36.html

ExxonMobil Chemical’s new battery film technology has enabled a Canadian firm to roll out a new generation of all-electric vehicles.  Toronto-based Electrovaya today launched its zero emission low speed vehicle, the Maya-300, which incorporates ExxonMobil’s battery separator films to enhance the power, safety and reliability of the vehicles’ lithium-ion batteries.

“ExxonMobil’s film technologies allow lithium-ion batteries to meet hybrid and electric vehicle requirements, helping to make vehicles like the Maya-300 pelighter and more efficient.” said Jim Harris, senior vice president of Houston-based ExxonMobil Chemical.  Much of the work on the battery technology was carried out at ExxonMobil’s Baytown Technology Center, said spokeswoman Susan Kattelus.
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Jan 23, 2008 /THE CANADIAN PRESS
Source: Thestar.com
http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/296641

Battery maker Electrovaya Inc. (TSX: EFL) plans to build a small, low-speed commuter car powered by its proprietary lithium ion polymer power pack technology.  The zero-emission Maya-300 is said to offer a range of 190 kilometres with a top speed of 55 kilometres per hour – “ideal for fleet operators in cities, universities and parks as well as the many households with a second or third vehicle for urban driving within a local neighbourhood,” the company said Wednesday.
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Tyler Hamilton, Energy Reporter
Source:; Toronto Star /Jan 7, 2008
http://www.thestar.com/columnists/article/291514

Matthew Stevens and Christopher Mendes began working with each other in 2004, part of a University of Waterloo team trying to design the vehicle of the future.  Their team, in fact, was the only Canadian one in a 17-university North American competition sponsored by General Motors and the U.S. Department of Energy. Called Challenge X, the three-year competition pitted some of the brightest young minds on the continent against each other in a search for the most energy-efficient vehicle design.
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Graeme Fletcher, For CanWest News Service /December 06, 2007
Source: Driving.ca
http://autos.canada.com/news/story.html?
id=35bcf8f5-4009-4db1-8c44-aa30bde4d9aa

Look at the Kia Sportage Fuel Cell and it could be just another SUV. Turn the ignition key, however, and the difference is deafening.  Aside from the slight whirring from the various fans needed to cool and feed the fuel cell, there is nothing but silence. It just sits there waiting for someone to prod the accelerator pedal.  Prod it, though, and the Sportage takes off with a burst of energy only an electric-powered car can produce — the electric motor’s peak power is developed at the first rev. On the test loop the Sportage FC tackled some fairly serious hills without missing a beat.
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Source: FuelCellToday.com / Nov. 23, 2007
http://www.fuelcelltoday.com/online/news/articles/
2007-11/ISRO-and-Tata-team-to-develop-hy

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and India’s largest automobile manufacturer Tata Motors are working towards the launch next year of a fuel cell vehicle, it has been reported.  According to the Hindu, the prototype fuel cell vehicle would make use of ISRO’s rocket technology, be fuelled by hydrogen and would have hydrogen storage and regulatory and control systems.

“Hydrogen and atmospheric oxygen will combine together in the fuel cell and electricity will be produced,” confirmed G Madhavan Nair, chairman of the ISRO and secretary at the Department of Space, in the publication.

Mr Nair went on to say that an agreement concerning the pilot project had been signed and that work had already started.  The aim of the project is to test the viability of using hydrogen as a fuel for vehicles.

“We are working with Tata to see how the best prototype model can be put on road by next year,” Mr Nair continued.  “Hydrogen-powered and the storage and handling etc, we will take care from whatever we know; and the Tatas are good at making best cars,” he explained.

Oviedo, Florida, December 7, 2007
Source: Environmental News Service ENS
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/dec2007/2007-12-07-091.asp

Florida’s second hydrogen vehicle fueling station was opened with a ceremony today in the city of Oviedo, about 10 miles northeast of Orlando, where the state’s first hydrogen station opened in May.  Florida Department of Environmental Protection, DEP, Secretary Michael Sole joined executives from Ford Motor Company, BP America, Inc., Progress Energy Florida and the United States Department of Energy to officially open the new fueling station.
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Sacramento, CA., Nov 28, 2007
Source: AutoSpectator.com /Chrysler LLC
http://www.autospectator.com/cars/chrysler-llc/
0035393-chrysler-llc-joins-california-fuel-cell-partnership

Chrysler is the newest member of the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP)—the 34th member of the public-private partnership.  “Of the fuel sources on the table for long-term future use in transportation, hydrogen holds the greatest promise,” said Mark Chernoby, Vice President – Advance Vehicle Engineering, Chrysler LLC. “Collaborations such as the California Fuel Cell Partnership will help engineers develop solutions for this technology at an accelerated rate.”
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02 Dec 2007
Source: CarJunky.com
http://news.carjunky.com/alternative_fuel_vehicles/honda-fcx-clarity-fuel-cell-vehicle-cdfh130.shtml

Honda motors unveiled the Honda FCX Clarity Fuel-Cell Vehicle at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November, 2007. In announcing the new Honda FCX Clarity, Honda also stated that the new vehicle will be available in limited quantities for a three-year lease starting in the summer of 2008, but will only be available to people who live in Southern California for refueling reasons. Collision insurance and maintenance will all be covered by the three-year $600/month lease.
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by Mike Hanley, Dec 12, 2007 /Source: KickingTyres
http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2007/12/equinox-fuel-ce.html

Even though hydrogen fuel cell vehicles may be a long way from appearing in a showroom near you, they are already starting to populate America’s roads thanks to test programs from manufacturers like Honda and Chevrolet. Chevrolet’s effort, called Project Driveway, aims to place about 100 Chevrolet Equinox fuel cell SUVs in the hands of ordinary drivers for extended loans. I recently had the chance to take a short drive around La Jolla, Calif., in the Equinox fuel cell, and I came away impressed.
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by Kouji Kariatsumari, Nikkei Electronics /Dec 10, 2007
Source: TechOn.com
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20071210/143925/

Toyota Motor Corp held a lecture titled “Development of Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle-Cruising Range” at EVS23. The lecture was focused on Toyota’s efforts to improve the cruising range of its FCHV fuel cell vehicle.  The fuel efficiency of the 2005 model FCHV based on the 10-15 Japanese test cycle is 103km/kg. Compared with the result of the test cycle, the fuel efficiency during the actual driving is reportedly degraded by about 30% to about 70km/kg due to the influence of the variation in driving pattern and electric components such as air conditioner.  As a result, the 2005 FCHV only drives about 220km on one hydrogen charge.
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