Ecotricity to attempt electric land speed record

Dale Vince is to attempt to break the current British electric land speed record of 137mph in February in his racing car dubbed Nemesis.

According to The Times, Dale Vince is Britain’s richest green entrepreneur, worth £58 million after he launched Ecotricity, an energy provider which invests profits into wind turbines.

Nemesis, developed by Formula One engineers, cost £400,000 to build. In tests so far, it can reach 60mph in less than four seconds. It can run 150 miles between charges and can be powered in one hour from a high charge or eight hours from the mains supply. Dubbed the ‘first wind-powered car’, Nemesis has been run on purely wind-generated electricity.

Vince told the newspaper he is confident he will break the land speed record set in August 2000 by Don Wales.

Every Londoner Within a Mile of EV Charging by 2015

London mayor Boris Johnson launched a new plan called the Electric Vehicle Delivery Plan for London that will allow all Londoners to be within one mile of an electric vehicle charging station in five years.

The plan calls for the installation of 25,000 charging points at public, residential and commercial spaces by 2015 in order to encourage the addition of 100,000 EVs within the city ASAP. The city government is doing their part by committing to add 1,000 EVs to the Greater London Authority fleet over five years.

This is another aggressive move by the city to clean up their transportation. The city successfully instituted congestion pricing in 2003, added hybrid double-decker buses, converted the Scotland Yard fleet to hybrids and air-powered vehicles and is testing state of the art fuel-efficiency technology.

With its track history, I have little doubt the city will meet its EV goals and can only hope that their ambition will rub off on the rest of the world's major cities (and small cities, and suburbs...).



Map of London

Audi confirm 2011 Q5 Hybrid

Audi has confirmed that it will bring a hybrid Q5 model to market in 2011, the first mass-market hybrid vehicle for the German brand. Audi will offer a hybrid version of its Q5 premium SUV in the US starting in late 2010, says Wolfgang Hatz, head of powertrain development for the Volkswagen group.

If the car is a success in the US, Audi said it may launch it in Europe.

In an interview, Hatz said Audi must offer a hybrid model to compete with rival vehicles that already offer the technology, such as the Lexus RX 400h. The BMW X6 will be offered as a hybrid late this year, and Mercedes-Benz plans to roll out a hybrid in each of its major models starting with the S400 hybrid this year.

Opinion is split on whether Audi will use nickel metal hydride or lithium ion batteries in the Q5 Hybrid. However odds are high that the powertrain will be similar to the 3.0 litre V6 petrol engine and 300Nm electric assistance motor used by the upcoming 2011 Porsche Cayenne hybrid, 2010 Porsche Panamera hybrid and 2010 VW Touareg hybrid.

Up until now, Audi has resolutely stuck to clean diesel technology as its answer to emissions reduction.

It remains to be seen whether the automaker will follow up the Q5 Hybrid with more petrol-electric models. Some commentators postulate that the petrol-electric Audi is less about reducing CO2 and more about profiting in the hybrid-friendly US market.

Audi, like its compatriot Mercedes-Benz, favours all-electric powertrains as its long-term answer to reducing environmental impact. The company has revealed that it intends to launch a battery-electric version of its R8 supercar by late 2012, with the technology to eventually work its way down the Audi range.

For now though, the company is keen to demonstrate what it can do with petrol-electric technology. The Audi Q5 Hybrid is due to be officially unveiled in late 2010, most likely at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Revell 2010-first half year releases

These three slot cars will be released by Revell in the first half of 2010.

85-4829 Lola T-70 MKII #98 Parnelli Jones
85-4836 Ford Fairlane #29 Dick Hutcherson
85-4838 McLaren M6A #5 Dennis Hulme

NSR Sunoco Porsche 917

Updated with new pix of the cars:



These news NSR Porsche 917K's in Sunoco colors can be won! If you enter organize or enter a local NSR National Qualifier race in the US or Canada. NSR has made only 140 of these special cars. They're serial numbered and clubs having an NSR qualifier will be able to purchase 3 of these cars are a discounted price. They will be award also to the top 3 finishers at the NSR National Final race at Great Traditions in Philly in March 2010. If you'd like to host an NSR race you can contact Great Traditions to set up a regional race by calling (267)250-1735.

Ford Plans to Start Electric-Car Tests in Germany Next Month

Ford Motor Co. will start a two-year test program of electric Focus compact cars and Transit vans in Germany on Jan. 4 as the U.S. company prepares to introduce battery-powered models as early as next year.

The 25 vehicles will be driven under normal traffic conditions in Cologne, where Ford’s European division is based, said Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer, director of the Center for Automotive Research at Germany’s University of Duisburg-Essen, which is overseeing the 15 million-euro ($22 million) study.

The drivers will include researchers and customers selected by Ford, Dudenhoeffer said today in a telephone interview. Data from the models will be monitored on computers that can simulate testing of more than 10,000 vehicles, he said.

Bernd Meier, a spokesman for Ford in Cologne, said the study is the automaker’s first in mainland Europe. The company is already trying out battery-powered vehicles in London, Meier said.

Ford, the first U.S. automaker to offer a hybrid model, said on Dec. 8 that it may spend $300 million to $500 million on factories in its home state of Michigan to build electric vehicles and batteries. The Dearborn-based company has a target of rolling out an electric-powered version of the Transit Connect commercial van next year, followed by an electric Focus in 2011.

Local utility RheinEnergie AG will supply vehicle-charging stations for the test, which is being financed by the German government’s economic-stimulus package, Dudenhoeffer said.

New Distributor for Avant Slot

Scaleracing LLC is now distributing Avant Slot in North America. See this link to see the details and available inventory. See the price list at this link.

Toyota Develops Solar Charging Station for Electric Vehicles

Toyota Industries Corp has developed a solar charging station for plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHVs) and electric vehicles (EVs). The municipal government of Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture plans to build 21 such stations at 11 locations such as the municipal office and branch offices. Full operation of the stations will begin in April, with 20 Prius Plug-In Hybrids.

The station is grid connected, and also captures power generated by the 1.9 kW solar panel in an 8.4 kWh storage battery, for subsequent use in charging. Maximum output using grid power is 202VAC/3.2kW. Self-sustained operation using solar power from the battery pack has a maximum output of 101VAC/1.5 kVA.

Excess solar power can be used for facilities in the system, or sold to a utility company. TIC envisions that the station can also provide power to electrical equipment in a disaster.

TIC developed the EVSE (electric vehicle supply equipment), which now has a communication function and the maximum 200V/16A/3.2kW output.

TIC has been involved with the development of charging systems for electric vehicles such as charging stands and onboard chargers since the 1990s. TIC launched its current EVSE stands in July 2009. (Earlier post.)

At the 41st Tokyo Motor Show (24 Oct - 4 Nov 2009), TIC displayed newly developed charging stands with communication devices. In addition to the basic functions of the standard charging system, the newly developed stations allow user authentication using IC card technology, and enable the collection of data such as usage conditions of the charging service and amount of power used.

During the press briefing at the show, TIC said that it aimed to increase charging functionality to respond to the needs of the charging infrastructure by developing systems that support electronic billing, and solar charging stations incorporating solar power generation to further reduce the environmental impact.

It is also concurrently, developing smaller onboard chargers with higher efficiency to meet the growing demand for plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles.

TIC has directly a number of components to the Prius, starting with the first generation system, including converters, inverters, and car air conditioning compressors.

China unveils 'world's fastest train link'

China on Saturday unveiled what it billed as the fastest rail link in the world -- a train connecting the modern cities of Guangzhou and Wuhan at an average speed of 350 kilometres (217 miles) an hour.

The super-high-speed train reduces the 1,069 kilometre journey to a three hour ride and cuts the previous journey time by more than seven and a half hours, the official Xinhua news agency said.

Work on the project began in 2005 as part of plans to expand a high-speed network aimed at eventually linking Guangzhou, a business hub in southern China near Hong Kong, with the capital Beijing, Xinhua added.

"The train can go 394.2 kilometres per hour, it's the fastest train in operation in the world," Zhang Shuguang, head of the transport bureau at the railways ministry, told Xinhua.

Test runs for the service began earlier in December and the link officially went into service when the first scheduled train left the eastern metropolis of Wuhan on Saturday.

By comparison, the average for high-speed trains in Japan was 243 kilometres per hour while in France it was 277 kilometres per hour, said Xu Fangliang, general engineer in charge of designing the link, according to Xinhua.

Beijing has an ambitious rail development programme aimed at increasing the national network from the current 86,000 kilometres to 120,000 kilometres, making it the most extensive rail system outside the United States.

China unveiled its first high-speed line at the time of the Beijing Olympics in 2008 -- a service linking the capital with the port city of Tianjin.

In September, officials said they planned to build 42 high-speed lines by 2012 in a massive system overhaul as part of efforts to spur economic growth amid the global downturn.

The network uses technology developed in co-operation with foreign firms such as Siemens, Bombardier and Alstom.

Need a racing fix? Check out LeMans radio

Well, I'm already going through feeling the lack of racing on TV. If you're in the same boat, check out LeMans Radio for a "fix".

http://radiolemans.com/
The latest MP3 to listen to.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas.....Feliz Navidad, Frohe Weihnachten!

Those that might be offended by a woman's bare breast should not click on this video... just a head's up for those that might be offended.

Ford reports 67 percent increase in hybrid sales

In November of this year, overall hybrid sales were up 21 percent, and most manufacturers did better with hybrids than they did in the same month of 2008. Toyota moved 14,473 hybrids, up 16.3 percent from the previous year. Honda sold 1,646, which was a 57.8 gain. Nissan found new homes for 503 Altimas, which was nonetheless a 42.5 percent increase.

Ford was behind only Toyota in hybrid sales, with 2,361 units, up 73.5 percent. Overall, Ford, Lincoln and Mercury sales were down (0.2 percent).

Despite the industry problems, Ford is crowing about its hybrid sales. It sold 31,000 of them through November, beating its previous high in 2007. For the year, Ford’s hybrid sales were up 67 percent, a development it credits to the successful launch of the midsized Fusion and Milan Hybrid twins (41 mpg city/36 highway).

Ford sales analyst George Pipas claims that it is making more “conquest” sales, luring customers from other brands (mostly Toyota and Honda). These shoppers, he said, want fuel-efficient cars and the hybrids, Pipas said, lure “a whole community of customers who might have otherwise never visited a Ford showroom.”

Green concern remains a major factor in hybrid purchase decisions. Bill Casselberry of San Angelo, Texas (who happens to be 91) says he traded in his 2006 Camry on a 2010 Fusion Hybrid because “I’m concerned about all the greenhouse gases we’re putting into the air, and I wanted to do my part to reduce the negative effect on our atmosphere. If we don’t do something now, future generations are not going to have a world to live in.”

Black & Veatch, an engineering, consulting and construction company, has 22 Escape Hybrids, and they didn’t buy them to save money on gas (though that’s a welcome benefit). “Our company is always looking at ways to reduce our carbon footprint,” said Rod Cramer, fleet manager at the company. “The Escape Hybrids also play a major role in showing our employees and clients how serious our commitment is to the environment that we all share.”

Flying Lizard Motorsport to race Daytona 24!!!

December 24, 2009 - Sonoma, California - Flying Lizard Motorsports announced today that The Racer's Group (TRG) will enter a TRG/Flying Lizard Porsche in GT at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the season-opener for the Grand-Am Road Racing Series. In the ShoreTel-sponsored No. 66 Porsche GT3 Cup Car, Joerg Bergmeister and Patrick Long will join Johannes van Overbeek and Seth Neiman for the 24-hour endurance race to be held on January 30-31, 2009.

Bergmeister has won three times at the Rolex 24: in GT in 2009 (with Patrick Long), in GT and overall in 2003, and in GT in 2002, all with TRG. He was also the Grand-Am Daytona Prototype champion in 2006 (with Krohn Racing). Bergmeister and Long are Porsche factory drivers and will be co-drivers in the Flying Lizard No. 45 Porsche for the 2010 ALMS season. With Flying Lizard, the duo won the 2009 ALMS GT2 drivers' championship. van Overbeek, who drove with the Lizards from 2004-2009 in the ALMS, has competed seven times at the Rolex 24. Notably, in 2007 he finished third with TRG, in 2004 took the pole and second in GT (and third overall) with Seth Neiman and Mike Rockenfeller in the Flying Lizard No. 74 Porsche and finished third in GT and overall in 2003.

All four drivers will participate in the test January 8-10 at Daytona. The No. 66 will be managed by TRG, with some Lizards at the helm including Thomas Blam (chief strategist in the ALMS), Craig Watkins (chief engineer) and Tommy Sadler (crew chief and co-technical director).

Seth Neiman commented, "I've always loved the 24 Hours of Daytona, but given our other commitments, it just hasn't been practical to run here. Working with our Porsche cousins at TRG we have an opportunity to field a very strong entry. TRG has had consistent success in Grand-Am and I'm confident that they will deliver a solid program. Joerg, Patrick and Johannes have a lot of combined experience here and of course, have shown that they excel in long races. And having Thomas, Craig and Tommy there will bring the familiarity of the Lizard team to the effort."

News used with permission from Flying Lizard Motor Sport.

New Sloting Plus wheels-"Gold Artic"

From Sloting Plus:
Here are our new Artic GOLD wheel anodized in gold colour as his name say it !
Always in Al-Mg alloy and with M2,5 screw ...
References are :
SLPL 46015 Artic GOLD wheel 15 x 8 mm
SLPL 46016 Artic GOLD wheel 15,9 x 8,5 mm
SLPL 46017 Artic GOLD wheel 16,9 x 8,5 mm

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Sloting Plus !

Schumacher returns to F1!!!!!!

http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2009/12/10303.html
See this link to read the interview where Michael Schumacher answers questions about his return to Formula 1 competing for the newly-formed Mercedes GP team.

From the interview:
Q: Michael, welcome back to Formula One. Your signature on the contract has hardly dried - can you say something about the content of your contract?
Michael Schumacher: Yep, the deal was done only hours ago. Regarding the driving, the time frame is three years. There was never any intention to do a one-off. There will be an option after that to be brand ambassador for Mercedes, which would make sense in a way.

Caterpillar Ships First AC electric drive Bulldozer

Caterpillar today presented the keys of the first innovative AC electric drive track-type tractor in the industry to long-time customer, TJ Lambrecht. The revolutionary electric drive system developed for track-type tractors gives the D7E an unmatched combination of power, sustainability, control and maneuverability.

"Our customers are being challenged to do their work more efficiently with less impact on the environment," said Caterpillar Group President, Doug Oberhelman. "The D7E demonstrates Caterpillar's commitment to the industry with a machine that does more work and consumes less fuel and parts, providing customers with lower owning and operating costs." Oberhelman was recently named Caterpillar Vice Chairman effective January 1, 2010.

TJ Lambrecht, headquartered in Joliet, Illinois, is one of the most recognized heavy, civil, and earthmoving contractors in the country, with one of the largest and most current fleets of Caterpillar equipment.

"Caterpillar has been a great partner over the years, and we have a solid relationship with our dealers," said Dan Klingberg, President, TJ Lambrecht. "Case in point was the opportunity to demo the D7E at our O'Hare Modernization Project jobsite this past summer. We think it's going to help us mitigate fluctuations in fuel prices, as well as address the growing scope of emissions regulations. Our whole organization is very excited about it."

The Cat C9.3 ACERT(TM) diesel engine, rated at 235 net horsepower (175 kW) in the D7E, drives a powerful electrical generator that produces AC (alternating current). Current flows through special armored cables and military-grade connectors to a solid-state inverter, then to the propulsion module. Within the propulsion module are two heavy-duty electric motors (using AC current) that drive through common gearing into the differential steering system. Power from the steering system is transferred via axles to mechanical, double-reduction final drives to provide smooth, infinitely variable driving force to the tracks. The engine in the D7E is entirely beltless, eliminating the need for belt maintenance and replacement.

Headquartered in Elmhurst, Illinois, Caterpillar Dealer, Patten Industries, was instrumental in the sale of the D7E.

"This revolutionary design consumes fewer resources over its working life than any other track-type tractor in its class. All major components are engineered to be rebuilt or reused in the future," said Patten Executive General Manager, Larry O'Neill. "Our customers are looking for these kinds of solutions, and we're pleased to provide them with a competitive edge."

New Slot It parts... tons of them.

Many, many new Slot It parts.

CS10t-60, McLaren F1 GTR chassis EVO 6 (ver.2)


CS12t-60, Audi R8C Reloaded chassis EVO 6 (ver.2)


CS14t-60, Nissan R390 GT1 chassis EVO 6 (ver.2)


CH60, Anglewinder 0,5mm Offset Motor Mount EVO 6
Please refer to the technical description.


CS15il, Mazda 787B Lexan cockpit


MN09c, Flat6-20k close can – Front shaft length: 7,3mm
The standard Flat6 now comes in closed can format, to avoid magnetic
traction as much as possible. We have listened to popular request from
racers. This is the motor used in the Spanish Slot.it series.


PA43-Pl, Plastic Ø16,5x8 light wheels, dark gray (4x), 0.76g
The Slot.it plastic wheels are known for being perfectly round. These
wheels, 16.5 mm in diameter, are no exception with a concentric
better than 0.05mm.


PA47, Set of spacers for hubs and bushings 0,1/0,25mm
PA47 provides 34 spacers and two spacing tools in one single set. The
spacers come in two different thickness: 0.10 and 0.25mm. A marking on
the set indicates the thickness of the parts.
The 'large' spacers match the dimension of the Slot.it hubs, while the
'small' spacers are designed to match the side wall of the Slot.it's
spherical bushing.
The bone shaped tool is a measuring device (for 0.10mm and 0.25mm of
space) enabling the users to leave the correct amount of play while
assembling the axles.


PT29, F22 compound, slick F1, 20x12 tires (4x) for PA20
The F22 compound is a favorite among racers. Now available in F1 size,
a perfect match for Slot.it's F1 rims.



CH46, Ferrari F40 updated cockpit
For all F40 with 1st generation cockpit.


CH55, Medium springs for CH47 (8x)
The EVO6 motor mount and the spring suspensions are a perfect couple -
CH55a are the springs which are already mounted in the CH47 spring
suspension kit. CH55b is the stiffer version.
Note that there is an error in the code: CH55 is CH55B. So:
CH55a, Soft springs for CH47 (8x)

CH55b, Medium springs for CH47 (8x)


CH56, Spherical bushings (6x)
New code which will replace the CH14 (2x spherical bushing). Packing
more bushings we have reduced the price and saved a lot of packaging.


MN11h-1, Flat6 R-22k open can – Front shaft length: 7,3mm
This is the shorter shaft length of the MN11h motor. Why did we reduce
the shaft length? Because when used in inline fashion (to replace for
example a Boxer motor), the long shaft would interfere with the bottom
of the crown's slot. The shorter shaft motor, which will become the only
available length, can be used in angled and inline motor mounts.

PT30, F15 compound, slick, 20x11,4 tires (4x) for GT
PT31, F22 compound, slick, 20x11,4 tires (4x) for GT
New, larger version of the F15 and F22 compound tyres.

CH51, Metric screw 2,2x8mm, brass, small head (10x)
CH52, Metric screw 2,2x8mm, brass, big head (10x)
CH53, Metric screw 2,2x5,3mm, brass, small head (10x)
CH54, Metric screw 2,2x5,3mm, brass, big head (10x)
These metric screws come with different head size and length, to
perfectly tune the amount of plat between body, chassis and motor mount.

World's First Fuel Cell Ship sails into Copenhagen

A bright orange North Sea supply ship from Norway dubbed "Viking Lady" is the first ship in history to employ a fuel cell.

The global trade of manufactured goods between Asia and the West has exploded in resent years with shipping now accounts for 90% of global trade by volume and in international waters ship emissions remains one of the least regulated parts of our global transportation system.

The fuel used in ships is waste oil, basically what is left over after the crude oil refining process. It is the same as asphalt and is so thick that when cold it can be walked upon . It's the cheapest and most polluting fuel available and the world's 90,000 ships chew through an astonishing 7.29 million barrels of it each day, or more than 84% of all exported oil production from Saudi Arabia, the worlds largest oil exporter.

Shipping is by far the biggest transport polluter in the world. There are 760 million cars in the world today emitting approx 78,599 tons of Sulphur Oxides (SOx) annually. The world's 90,000 vessels burn approx 370 million tons of fuel per year emitting 20 million tons of Sulphur Oxides. That equates to 260 times more Sulphur Oxides being emitted by ships than the worlds entire car fleet. One large ship alone can generate approx 5,200 tonnes of sulphur oxide pollution in a year, meaning that 15 of the largest ships now emit as much SOx as the worlds 760 million cars.

Ships can reduce emmissions while increasing profits, after all, fuel costs for a tanker ship are fully 41 percent of its total operating costs. The 5,900 metric ton Viking Lady owned by Norwegian shipping company Eidesvik has a 320-kilowatt molten carbonate fuel cell installed that operates on liquefied natural gas (and can be reconfigured, if necessary, to run on methanol).

Storage tanks for the hydrogen and carbon dioxide that gets the fuel cell started press up against the stern of the 92.2 meter-long ship (in case of explosion) as do the machines to regasify the fuel. The fuel cell operates at 650 degrees Celsius.

Liquefied natural gas is cheaper than diesel and there are as many as 15 such fueling stations along the Norwegian coast. The Viking Lady gases up once a week and the ship's 220 cubic meter tank can hold roughly 90 metric tons of liquefied natural gas at a time.

The $12 million fuel cell from MTU is only in the testing phase, which will continue until mid-2010, and is not responsible for driving any of the four electric motors or propellers. Onboard combustion turbines directly burn LNG to supply electricity to the propulsion system.

CITROËN BERLINGO First Electric “Powered by Venturi" for La Poste

VENTURI AUTOMOBILES and CITROËN have won the european tender launched by La Poste (french postal services) with their Berlingo First Electric. To provide its postmen with electric vehicles, and following several months of tests held under real conditions, La Poste will have 250 Berlingo First Electric “Powered by Venturi”.

With the Berlingo First Electric “Powered by Venturi”, CITROËN is one of the first manufacturers to commercialise an entirely electric vehicle. “This decision reflects the strategy adopted by the Citroën brand, deliberately oriented towards concrete proposals for sustainable mobility, which will soon be completed by the arrival of the CITROËN C-ZERO,” declared Frédéric BANZET, General Director of Automobiles CITROËN.

A spin-off from the fuel-based version, the Berlingo First Electric offers a charging capacity of 500 kg and charging volume of 3 m3. The electric power train is fully integrated beneath the hood at the front of the vehicle.

Fitted with a three-phase asynchronous engine with maximum power of 42 kW, the Berlingo First Electric offers a range of 100 km and a top speed of 110 km/hr. 80% recharging takes 5 hours. These characteristics make it ideal for users of captive fleets, for whom these features are particularly well-suited.

Delivery of vehicles for La Poste will be made in 2010.

Gildo Pallanca Pastor, President of Venturi Automobiles, is proud to have carried off this european tender : “Our innovation policy in electric vehicles, introduced about ten years ago, now gives us a real edge. Winning this international competition alongside the Groupe PSA Peugeot Citroën is a fine reward which reflects the development of our rapidly growing company.”

Slot MiniAuto 63

SLOT MINIAUTO 63 – JANUARY

Slot MiniAuto magazine in January highlights on his Cover the new Williams FW07 of FlySlot Cars. The new 1992's Monaco G.P. Scalextric set and an unprecedented collection of all the Alpine A442 / 3, which ran at Le Mans, are also actors on the cover, and Spain's victory in the Xlot NWC. In the interview, Le Mans Miniatures reveals, exclusively for SMA, all his catalog for this 2010. Along with this magazine is given a free CD with all the official Fly Car Model Historic reference. Inside, you can also read the track test of the Ninco Megane Trophy, Nissan GT-R GT500 of Carrera and the Alfa Romeo Giulia WGEA from AutoArt.


SLOT MINIAUTO 63 – ENERO

La revista Slot MiniAuto del mes de enero destaca en su portada el nuevo Williams FW07 de FlySlot Cars. El nuevo set G.P. de Mónaco del 1992 de Superslot y una inédita colección de todos los Alpine A442/3 que corrieron en Le Mans, son también protagonistas de la portada, así como el triunfo de España en la NWC. En la entrevista, Le Mans Miniatures nos desvela en exclusiva todo su catálogo del 2010.
Junto a esta revista se entrega gratuitamente un CD con todo el Histórico de referencias oficial de Fly Car Model.
En el interior se pueden leer también las pruebas del Megane Trophy de Ninco, Nissan GT-R GT500 de Carrera y del Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm de AutoArt.


(Más información en www.revistasprofesionales.com)

Siemens to reduce battery recharging times to 6 minutes

The EDISON consortium, a Denmark-based collaborative aimed at developing an intelligent infrastructure that will make possible the large scale adoption of electric vehicles powered by sustainable energy, includes the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and its Risø-DTU research center, as well as Denmark’s Dong Energy and Østkraft power utilities, the Eurisco research and development center, and IBM. In the EDISON project, various working groups are responsible for developing all the technologies needed for electromobility.

Siemens is mainly responsible for fast-charge and battery replacement systems. "Siemens’ portfolio already contains many components that we are now adapting and reprogramming," says Sven Holthusen, who is responsible for the EDISON project at Siemens’ Energy Sector.

A major obstacle to electromobility is the length of battery recharging times. With this in mind, Holthusen and his colleagues are working on a fast-charge function that operates with much higher voltages and currents—initially with 400 V and 63 A. This provides a 43.5 kw rapid charging connection that would allow fast charges of around 20 minutes. Holthusen’s approach is considered to be realistic since 400v/63A is already a common standard for industrial 3 phase installations and many European households already have a 400-V connection in the basement or other storage areas for electric ranges and other devices.

"We go a great deal further in our tests, however, in order to determine what’s possible," says Holthusen. More specifically, he wants to raise charging power to as much as 300 kW so that batteries can be recharged in six minutes. Electrics would then be on a par with conventional vehicles. Lithium-ion batteries with such fast charging capability are expected to be ready for market launch in the near future. However, new battery technologies will have to be developed if a car is to be charged in as little as three minutes.

Radio Shack Motors for 1/43 and small 1/32

These three Radio Shack motors are the same size as the SCX 1/43 motor (a Scalextric standard FC-130 motor is shown for size comparison). The small Radio Shack motors will fit in 1/43 cars, and may be used in very small 1/32 cars, including narrow F1 racers from the mid 1960's with full drivers. The FF-030 size is the same in cross section as the familiar F-050 "slim can" motors made for BWA, Scalextric, etc. Shaft is 1.5mm diameter. An oilite bearing is fitted on the metal can end, while the other end of the shaft appears to run in a plastic bearing molded in the end bell.

The three "Rat Shack" motors are in packages labeled 6 volt, 7.5 volt, and 9 volt. Performance specs on the packaging indicate the following:
6v motor 17,000 RPM +/- 15%, 8 gcm minimum stall torque
7.5v motor 20,000 RPM +/-12%, 21 gcm min. stall torque
9v motor 24,000 RPM +/- 12%, 26 gcm min. stall torque

RPM tests with a tachometer showed all motors revving within their stated variability band, at their given voltage:
6v motor: 16,283 RPM at 6v
7.5v motor: 20,458 RPM at 7.5v
9v motor: 23,558 RPM at 9v

Torque was assessed at a uniform 4.07 volts, showing they all have about the same torque:
6v motor: 15.7 gcm at stall at 4.07v
7.5v motor: 14.3 gcm at stall at 4.07v
9v motor: 16.4 gcm at stall at 4.07v

When converted to their rated voltage, we find that all exceed their rated torque:
6v motor: 23 gcm at 6v (8 gram minimum stated on the package)
7.5v motor: 26 gcm at 7.5v (21 gcm minimum)
9v motor: 36 gcm at 9v (26 gcm minimum)

And finally, the moment of truth. What will they do on 12 volts, a more or less standard voltage for slot cars? Torque was extrapolated upward from the 4.07 test voltage, and RPM was directly read when the motors were given a full 12v:
6v motor: 29,326 RPM/12v, 46 gcm stall torque/12v
7.5v motor: 31,674 RPM/12v, 42 gcm stall torque/12v
9v motor: 29,849 RPM/12v, 48 gcm stall torque/12v

It appears that all three motors are the same, given the natural performance variation of very small DC motors of this type. Even though they are labeled at three different performance levels, and three different voltages, I could not detect any meaningful, significant differences between the motors.

The SCX Compact 1/43 motor is rated 22,000 RPM/12v, 33 gcm torque/12v. No tests of the SCX Compact have been conducted, but it looks like the Radio Shack motors may make your little slot cars go faster.

Kepler Motion supercar AWD 800 hp hybrid 0-60 in 2.5 sec

Kepler Motors, founded by World Speed Record Holder Russ Wicks, will unveil its MOTION supercar at this year's Dubai International Motor Show.

The MOTION features all-wheel drive Dual Powertrain Technology (DPT) which provides a combined 800 hp. Power comes from a 550 hp, modified Ford EcoBoost twin-turbo 3.5 liter V6 driving the rear wheels acting independently of a 250 hp electric motor driving the front wheels.

This unique AWD system launches the MOTION to 60 mph under 2.5 seconds with a top speed over 200 mph.

Toyota Supra HV-R GT hybrid coming to Le Mans

Autocar.co.uk are speculating about a 'return' of Toyota's hybrid Supra HV-R GT racer as part of an assault on the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Without quoting any sources, Autocar speculate that the car - or at least, the hybrid tech that powered it - is still alive, but that Toyota may not announce any official programme until 2012 at the earliest.

We reported in June 2009 on speculation Toyota may be considering a Le Mans return and we suggested the odds of that happening increased substantially in early November the moment Toyota announced their withdrawal from Formula One.

This isn't much of a news story by Autocar but we thought it worth repeating here to add more speculative fuel to the fire. New Hybrid rules at Le Mans in 2010 have the potential to make the 24 hour endurance race a technology showcase for Hybrid / EV technology.

Magna launch $7.2M research facility for lightweight composite electric vehicle parts

A joint partnership between Canada's biggest auto supplier and the federal government will result in a new $7.2-million research facility with the goal of developing lighter-weight, more environmentally friendly auto parts.

The partnership between Magna International Inc. and the National Research Council of Canada announced Friday will create a research centre at an existing Magna facility in Concord, north of Toronto.

Federal Industry Minister Tony Clement said the facility will help create jobs and make Canada's auto parts industry more competitive internationally.

"This ability to build the world's lightest, most durable cars - vehicles that will also be affordable to average Canadians - well, I don't have to tell you how worthy this goal is or how exciting this goal is," Clement said at a news conference.

"I'm passionate about the fact that this NRC-Magna partnership creates the right conditions for a breakthrough in next-generation automotive technology."

The goal of the facility is to give smaller parts companies access to cutting-edge technologies to develop safer, cheaper, environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient auto parts.

"Companies will be able to use the centre to develop their own products using the best technology and talent to support their work," Clement said.

"So in this way, the NRC-Magna partnership will improve Canada's automotive research capacity and, indeed, strengthen Canadian innovation generally."

The centre will bring together auto parts companies as well as NRC researchers from the industrial materials, biotechnology and aerospace sectors to develop auto parts technology using lightweight, composite materials.

"Automotive suppliers and original equipment manufacturers that lead the industry in innovation and productivity know that vehicles of the future will need more composite content in order to provide the fuel economy, utility and safety that consumers demand," said Bob Brownlee, president of Magna Exteriors and Interiors, a subsidy of Magna International that owns the facility in Concord.

"The Magna-NRC Composite Centre of Excellence will help reinforce Magna's position as a supplier of lightweight, cost-effective composite solutions to the global automotive market."

The new facility is expected to open next summer, although project work will begin immediately.

Composite technology brings together different materials, such as thermoplatics, to create strong but lightweight auto parts which help to reduce the mass and increase the fuel-efficiency of vehicles.

Magna is Canada's biggest auto parts company and employs approximately 72,000 people worldwide. It recently tried to acquire a portion of General Motors' European division, Opel, but the automaker scuttled its plans to sell the unit after deciding it could restructure Opel on its own for less money than it would have had to spend under the deal with Magna.

After the Opel deal fell through, Magna said it would turn its attention back to its parts operations, which include 242 manufacturing plants and 86 product development, engineering and sales centres in 25 countries.

Bill looks to invest $2 Billion in electric vehicles for US Postal Service

The U.S. Postal Service would become the guinea pig for testing 20,000 electric vehicles under House legislation introduced Dec. 17.

If approved, the bill would help the Postal Service green its large mail delivery fleet and jumpstart the nation's electric vehicle industry, said Rep. José Serrano, D-N.Y., who introduced the legislation along with five cosponsors.

The bill would provide up to $2 billion for an Energy Department program in which vehicle manufacturers would compete for grants to build electric vehicles for testing by the Postal Service.

USPS has the largest fleet in the world with 220,000 vehicles that consume 121 Million gallons of fuel costing $1.3 Billion annually. Due to the low average speed of these delivery vehicles they achieve only 10.4 MPG. A shift to EVs is expected to reduce the fuel bill by 66%, leading to an annual saving of $860 Million.

"Our nation must become a leader in green technologies and leveraging the enormous assets of the USPS provides us with a direct route toward that goal," said Serrano, who chairs the House Appropriations subcommittee that oversees the Postal Service.

The Postal Service maintains the largest civilian vehicle fleet in the world with about 221,000 vehicles. Although the Postal Service has been purchasing alternative fuel vehicles and testing some electric drive vehicles, it has held off on replacing the bulk of its petroleum-powered fleet until one technology emerges as the leading replacement.

The bill won immediate support from the American Postal Workers Union, the U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

"It will be good for the Postal Service, good for the environment and good for the economy," APWU President William Burrus said.

Volvo builds C30 electric test fleet

At the Detroit Motor Show, Volvo Cars is presenting a complete battery electric Volvo C30 with a range of 150 km. The next step forward is to build a test fleet of at least 50 electric Volvo C30s, which will be used in real-life traffic from 2011.

Volvo presented a driveable electric car prototype in September 2009. The C30 now being shown in Detroit takes the company one step further in the development process. It features both a complete interior and full instrumentation, as well as enhanced battery packaging.

"The first prototype helped us identify the main technological challenges, such as battery packaging and safety issues. We have addressed these challenges without compromising the C30's cool and fun-to-drive personality. I am very happy with the result. The electric C30 in Detroit is a much more complete product," says Lennart Stegland, Director of Volvo Cars Special Vehicles.

The next step in 2010 is a factory-built series of test cars. Selected users will drive the test fleet during a two-year trial period in order to provide Volvo Cars with valuable experience. Not just technical but also behavioural. The Swedish Energy Agency is supporting the project by contributing SEK 150 million towards its funding.




Valuable field data

A pure electric car has different characteristics compared to a car with an internal combustion engine. Now Volvo's experts will have the opportunity to study how users handle these differences. "Our test fleet data will be valuable in Volvo Cars' development of electric cars. It will also provide crucial input for the infrastructure planners and help define which services are needed to make rechargeable cars the most attractive choice in the future," says Lennart Stegland.

New instruments and graphics

The electric C30 looks like a regular Volvo C30 and it offers the very same safety, comfort and roominess as the standard car. The most obvious difference inside the car is the new instruments facing the driver. The gauges and graphics are somewhat different to those in a conventional Volvo. The cool and user-friendly combined instrument shows in principle only road speed and energy consumption. However, it also integrates a number of new symbols such as a gauge for battery charge status and other relevant information for this type of vehicle.

The driving experience is also different to that in a conventional car. The electric C30 has no gears and the motor's power is delivered seamlessly, with full power available immediately. "Sailing along virtually without a sound is a very special experience. The power is there instantaneously. We need to spend a lot of time verifying a transmission system that is both comfortable and safe for the driver to handle and at the same time utilizes the battery's capacity optimally at different speeds," says Lennart Stegland.




Like a regular C30 - all the fun but with no emissions

An electric motor uses about one-fourth as much energy as an engine running on fossil fuels. This superior energy efficiency suggests that interest in electric cars will increase as fuel prices rise and demands for low CO2 emissions become increasingly stringent.

The Volvo C30 shown in Detroit is powered by Lithium-Ion batteries that can be recharged via either a regular household power socket or special roadside charging stations. Charging the battery fully takes about eight hours, If the car is recharged with renewable electricity, CO2 emissions could be almost zero in the well-to-wheel perspective.

Top speed with a fully charged battery pack is about 130 km/h (81 mph). Acceleration from 0 to 60 mph takes less than 11 seconds. The car's range is up to 150 km (94 miles). This covers the daily transport needs of more than 90 percent of all motorists in Europe.



As safe as all other Volvos

The electric motor is fitted under the bonnet while the batteries (24 kWh) are installed in the propshaft tunnel and in the space normally occupied by the fuel tank, outside the passenger compartment and away from the deformations zones.

"What is more, they are well encapsulated and the structure around them has been reinforced. Electric cars represent yet another interesting challenge in our dedication to building the world's safest cars. An electrically powered Volvo must be as safe as all other new Volvos. And the very same standards also apply to ownership, driving and protection in the event of an accident," says Thomas Broberg, Senior Safety Advisor at Volvo Cars.

Market prospects for electric power

When it comes to electric-only cars, there are several factors that determine their appeal in the future. "The consumers must feel that this type of car is attractive both to drive and own. That is why electric cars have to be as comfortable and safe and offer the same sort of performance as cars with other power sources," says Paul Gustavsson, Director of Electrification Strategy at Volvo Cars. He continues: "We believe in this technology and our field test aims to demonstrate that electric cars have considerable market potential. However, offering an attractive car is not enough. What is also needed initially is a system of subsidies to make the electric car's expensive battery technology financially viable for the car buyers. We hope that the authorities and the rest of the society will follow Volvo Cars in our "Drive Towards Zero" - Volvo Cars' journey towards zero emissions."

Technical specification Electric C30

Car model:
Volvo C30 – full four seater
Main engine:
Electric engine 40/82KW
Power output:
Electric engine 82kW, 111 bhp
Acceleration 0-100 km/h (0-60 mph):
10.5 seconds
Charging duration:
Charging via standard power socket, 230 V, 16 ampere: < 8 hours
Range on electric power:
150 km (NEDC cycle)
Battery energy content:
24 kWh nominal energy, of which 22.7 kWh used to power the car
Battery weight:
280 kg
Carbon dioxide emissions (tailpipe):
none