All About Alternate Fuel Vehicles (AFV)

17 August 2007
Source: ETA.co.uk
http://www.eta.co.uk/news/newsview.asp?n=859

General Motors, one of the world’s largest car manufacturers, yesterday announced that they would be reassigning 500 industry experts in a bid to make environmentally-friendly hydrogen fuel cell technology consumer-ready as soon as possible.  Fuel cells are felt by many to be the most sustainable and environmentally-friendly option for the cars of the future - the cells produce the energy on which to run a vehicle through an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, that produces electricity and water.
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New Fuel Systems Inc. to Highlight ZAP Electric Vehicles During 2010 Winter Olympics in British Columbia
Santa Rosa, CA & Vancouver, British Columbia, August 21, 2007
Source: ZAP press release /CNW
http://www.cnw.ca/fr/releases/archive/August2007/21/c8707.html

Electric Vehicle pioneer ZAP (OTCBB:ZAAP) and New Fuel Systems Inc. today announced they have signed a distribution agreement for Canada, sparked in part by Canada’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gases under the Kyoto Protocol.  Under the agreement, New Fuel Systems Inc. has agreed to the initial purchase of $1 million ($1,000,000) worth of ZAP electric vehicles, including ZAP electric cars, trucks, mopeds, scooters and other electric vehicles. New Fuel Systems plans to open retail locations throughout Canada and showcase
electric transportation during the 2010 Winter Olympics being planned for Whistler, British Columbia.
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20 August 2007
Source: Fuel Cell Today
http://www.fuelcelltoday.com/FuelCellToday/IndustryInformation/
IndustryInformationExternal/NewsDisplayArticle/0,1602,9597,00.html

The 2007 Innovative Energy Technology Developer of the Year Award in the Asia Pacific region has been presented to Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies.  This award acknowledges the efforts of the Horizon team and recognizes the success of the company’s strategy in bringing fuel cell products to market. Founded in 2003 in Singapore, Horizon currently has most of its operations based in Shanghai. The company aims to develop practical and economically viable fuel cell power modules for a broad range of potential applications.
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Aug. 20, 2007, The Associated Press
Source: Houston Chronicle
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/5068529.html

City vehicles are getting a little greener.  By mid-September, three cars and two pickup trucks powered by hydrogen will be added to the White Plains’ fleet. The vehicles will hit the road after Shell Oil completes a hydrogen fuel plant at a city-owned garage.
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August 21, 2007
Source: PhysOrg.com
http://www.physorg.com/news106920683.html
A small pellet of solid ammonia borane (240 mg) as shown is capable of storing relatively large quantities of hydrogen (0.5 liter) in a very small volume. Credit: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Hydrogen may prove to be the fuel of the future in powering the effi cient, eco-friendly fuel cell vehicles of tomorrow. Developing a method to safely store, dispense and easily “refuel” the vehicle’s storage material with hydrogen has baffl ed researchers for years. However, a new and attractive storage medium being developed by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory scientists may provide the “power of pellets” to fuel future transportation needs.  The Department of Energy’s Chemical Hydrogen Storage Center of Excellence is investigating a hydrogen storage medium that holds promise in meeting long-term targets for transportation use. As part of the center, PNNL scientists are using solid ammonia borane, or AB, compressed into small pellets to serve as a hydrogen storage material.
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Ford becomes the world’s first automaker to set a land speed record for a production-based fuel cell powered car

Source: Businessweek.com
http://www.businessweek.com/autos/content/aug2007/bw20070821_746926.htm?

After a year of construction and ten years of research, the fuel-cell powered Ford Fusion 999 has scorched across the Salt Flats of Utah at the Bonneville Speed Week, clocking an incredible 207.297 miles per hour and giving Ford the mantle of the world’s first automaker to set a land speed record for a production-based fuel cell powered car. Powered entirely by hydrogen fuel cells, the collaboration with Ballard, Roush and Ohio State University represents another significant step toward commercially viable hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
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Orlando, FL, July 24, 2007
Source: Business Wire press release
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070724005099

* Latest Miles LSV Will Be Most Powerful All-Electric Truck on the Market
* Cost to Drive Is Comparable to a Gas Vehicle That Gets 125+ mpg
* Pre-Orders Available at FedFleet Expo for October ‘07 Delivery

Miles Electric Vehicles, maker of an advanced line of low-speed all-electric cars and trucks, will debut its new zero emissions, all-electric ZX40ST truck today at the FedFleet Exposition in Orlando, July 24-26. The new open-air work truck will be the most powerful all-electric truck on the market and cost a fraction to drive and maintain compared to a gas-powered vehicle. A prototype chassis of the ZX40ST will be on display at the FedFleet Expo, where Miles Electric Vehicles representatives will be taking pre-orders in advance of the truck’s planned October ’07 delivery.
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Source: Autoserviceworld.com / August 15, 2007
http://www.autoserviceworld.com/issues/ISArticle.asp?id=72469&issue=08152007

Azure Dynamics Corporation a developer of hybrid-electric and electric powertrains for commercial fleet vehicles, today announced that Purolator Courier Ltd., Canada’s largest courier company, has altered and increased its existing purchase order for Azure hybrid delivery vans.  “Purolator is leading the way to less fuel consumption and substantial emissions reductions through the adoption of cleaner hybrid-electric technologies for its fleet vehicles.
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By Steven Macleod
Etobicoke, Ont. / August 10, 2007
http://www.ctl.ca/issues/ISArticle.asp?id=72345&issue=08102007

The Ontario government revealed three new initiatives to encourage commuters and businesses to reduce greenhouse gases, the latest step in the government’s climate change plan.  “Thousands of Ontario drivers are already going green - we want to encourage even more to do the same,” said Transport Minister Donna Cansfield. “By rewarding drivers and businesses who switch to clean fuel-efficient vehicles, we can reduce pollution and help put Ontario companies at the forefront of green innovation.”
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By Rick Popely, Chicago Tribune staff reporter, August 19, 2007
Source: Chicago Tribune
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-sun_volt_0819aug19,0,2768663.story

General Motors Corp. has a recent history of promising more than it can deliver when it comes to electric cars. So it’s no wonder many remain skeptical that the Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in hybrid that could make GM a technology leader, will ever make it to showrooms.  But GM insists it will build the Volt and that it’s just a question of whether the battery technology will be ready in time to meet its 2010 production target.
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