All About Alternate Fuel Vehicles (AFV)

April 28, 2007
Source: CCNews
http://www.ccnmag.com/news.php?id=5143

Norwegian scientists have drawn up a league table of alternative fuels for cars. Their analysis is based on a well-to-wheel approach that takes into account manufacturing, energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and local and regional pollutants. Bottom of the table, unsurprisingly, are petrol vehicles, but coming in a close second last are hybrid vehicles that can run on compressed natural gas or petrol. Top of their league are fuel cell powered vehicles using hydrogen gas obtained from natural gas methane.
(more…)

Author: Fuel Cell Today / 27 April 2007
www.fuelcelltoday.com

Linde Gas and BOC Gases, the North American affiliates of The Linde Group, will be demonstrating their hydrogen energy expertise at Hydrogen & Fuel Cells 2007, (HFC), Canada’s premier hydrogen and fuel cell event which begins Sunday, April 29 in Vancouver.
(more…)

Adfero /30 April 2007
Source: Fuel Cell Today  www.fuelcelltoday.com

Hydrogen-powered fuel cell cars should be available to the public by 2015, a General Motors (GM) representative has said.  Speaking to the Canadian Press (CP), Todd Goldstein, an engineer at GM’s fuel cell centre in California, said that although many technological hurdles had been overcome, several issues still remained to be resolved before fuel cell cars were ready for the showroom.
(more…)

by OJ Fagbire, 29 April 2007
Source: H2Daily.com
http://www.h2daily.com/news/cheaper-hydrogen-cars-on-the-way-20070429-308-50.html

The University of Melbourne, in association with Ford and Haskell Australia, aim to develop a highly efficient and low-cost hydrogen combustion engine and fuel tank. The 3m dollar project is being partially funded by the government of Australia which has pitched in 1.2million. Project leader Dr Michael Brear (Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Melbourne) explains that the goal is to make hydrogen “a real alternative to fuels that emit carbon dioxide”.
(more…)

April 24, 2007
Source: People’s Daily Online
http://english.people.com.cn/200704/24/eng20070424_369209.html

At least that’s the philosophy behind a decision by Beijing transport authorities to replace more than 2,500 aging air-choking buses with new-generation clean people movers before next year’s Olympic Games.   Feng Xingfu, deputy general manager of Beijing Public Transport Holdings Ltd, said 2,810 environmentally friendly vehicles would be purchased, and at least 80 percent of the buses would come fitted with diesel engines that meet the European IV standard for emissions.

Beijing transport authorities will also add another 160 electric-powered trolleybuses to the new green fleet.  Another 300 buses that run on compressed natural gas will be rolled out, bringing their total number to 4,000, Feng said.
(more…)

By JENN KLEIN - Staff Writer, April 22, 2007
Source: ChicoER
http://www.chicoer.com/newshome/ci_5724959

For anyone who’s never driven an electric car before, driving them can be a whole new experience.  Around Chico four electric cars are in the hands of the city of Chico. With no large motor to rattle and rumble, the cars are so quiet it’s hard to know the ignition is on until the pedal’s pushed. While much slower than their larger-gas-using counterparts — they only go up to 25 or 30 mph — the wide open doors and maneuverability of the cars make the cars feel quite zippy. But while seemingly a novelty, these electric cars are part of the city’s efforts to commit to the environment and saving taxpayer dollars.
(more…)

Author: RP news wires
Source: http://www.reliableplant.com/

Electric car pioneer ZAP has received an order for $79 million from a Chicago-based start-up, The Electric Vehicle Company. The Electric Vehicle Company (EVC) was founded with the goal of promoting economical non-polluting electric transportation. EVC is being funded by two hedge funds, Diversified Equity Funding L.P. and Diversified Strategies Fund LLC, which both have an investment interest in ZAP. EVC will focus on sales of electric vehicles to municipalities, distributors, university campuses, auto and recreational dealers, foreign countries and the military.
(more…)

April 23, 2007
source: J Sainbury company news
http://www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/index.asp?PageID=424&subsection=&Year=2007&NewsID=893

* 20% of online delivery van fleet to be electric by September 2008
* Fleet will save 45 tonnes of CO2 emissions in first year
* Pledge to deliver 100% of online shopping in electric vans by 2010

In the biggest UK conversion of its kind, Sainsbury’s announces today that it will be the first major UK retailer to convert a fifth (20%) of its online delivery fleet to green electric vehicles.   The trial of the “Little green van” - which is a carbon friendly battery powered van - proved so successful that the supermarket has placed a bulk order and aims to roll out the green vans across the UK in the next 3 years.  By September 2008, 20% of the supermarket’s online deliveries will be made using electric vans, saving 45 tonnes of CO2 emissions in the first year, and delivering grocery shopping to 50,000 *customers.
(more…)

Source: BBC News, April 17, 2007
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6564935.stm

The French postal service, La Poste, plans to order 10,000 electric delivery vehicles, which it says are far more economical than normal cars or vans.  The state-run service is inviting tenders from European manufacturers for the first batch of 500.
(more…)

April 24, 2007
Source: Transport News Network
http://www.tnn.co.uk/Manufacturers/plonearticle.2007-04-25.9335848987

Smith Electric Vehicles, the world’s leading manufacturer of road-going zero emission commercial vehicles, today (APR 24th) unveils its latest world-beating model.

Edison utilises Smith’s latest battery and power train technology, housed in the instantly-recognisable Ford Transit shell. Edison is capable of 50mph and a range of up to 150 miles on one battery charge, while still providing up to 1,500kg of payload. It is the only zero emission vehicle with a GVW of under 3.5t to offer these performance capabilities.
(more…)