Hybrids

12 November 2009 -- Louisville, Kentucky – Open the December issue of Popular Science and you’ll find that the GE Hybrid Water Heater, with its advanced technology, pulls energy savings out of thin air. The innovative water heater has won a Best of What’s New award in the Home Technology category. This is the fourth time GE’s innovative products have won a Popular Science Best of What’s New award for Home Technology.    » read more »

October 27, 2009 -- Wilmington, DE -- As part of the of the Administration’s commitment to jumpstarting the production of fuel efficient vehicles in America, Vice President Joe Biden today announced Fisker Automotive is re-opening a shuttered former GM factory in Wilmington, Delaware, to produce long-range, plug-in, electric hybrid vehicles. The Wilmington assembly plant was selected by Fisker Automotive for its primary global production facility based on its size, production capacity; and access to shipping ports, rail lines and skilled workforce.    » read more »

Introduces Forty New Hybrid Buses to the Area

October 19, 2009 -- Philadelphia, PA – Today, Congressman Joe Sestak (PA-07) took part in announcing the procurement of 40 new hybrid buses by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA).    » read more »

Ford Motor Company’s year-to-date hybrid sales are 73 percent higher than the same period in 2008, fueled by the introduction of hybrid versions of the 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan

DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 14, 2009 – Ford Motor Company’s hybrid vehicle sales have risen 73 percent this year in sharp contrast to a 14-percent decline in hybrid sales across the industry.

The fuel economy and durability of hybrid versions of Ford Fusion and Escape, Mercury Milan and Mariner also are winning over large numbers of conquest customers, many of whom are previous import owners. Through September, Ford has sold 26,016 hybrid vehicles, up 73 percent versus the same period in 2008, according to figures from Autodata Inc.    » read more »

October 14, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded the region that includes New Jersey, New York, and Puerto Rico (EPA Region 2) with $1.2 million from the economic recovery package to reduce diesel emissions, boost job creation, and promote a healthy environment.

Under the management of the not for profit organization, CALSTART, the trucks belonging to three previously identified fleets operating within New York, New Jersey, and Puerto Rico will be replaced with new advance technology hybrid trucks to improve regional air quality.    » read more »

Nearly $40 Million, Including $11.8 Million Saved by Higgins, Will Support Green Public Transportation in WNY

October 13, 2009 -- Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) and representatives from the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) announced 91 new, clean, energy efficient buses will hit the streets of Western New York over the next 15 months thanks to $39,711,371 in federal funding.

“This significant investment in Western New York’s public transportation network will replacing older, less efficient buses, reduce costs, decrease our use of fossil fuel and reduce emissions leading to a better, cleaner community,” said Congressman Higgins.    » read more »

October 1, 2009 -- WASHINGTON — With the purchase of five compressed natural gas buses and 35 hybrid buses, the U.S. General Services Administration has successfully completed one of the Administration’s key initiatives to green the federal fleet through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“We’re proud to have completed this program under such an aggressive schedule,” said GSA Acting Administrator Paul F. Prouty. “By investing in more fuel-efficient federal vehicles, we’re contributing to the nation’s economic recovery while realizing significant long-term savings for both the taxpayer and the environment.”    » read more »

NREL-developed methodology shows promise for estimating real-world energy use

September 28, 2009 -- The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently joined forces with researchers from Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) to take the lead in developing and testing a new method for predicting the real-world fuel and electricity consumption of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).

After examining data on the only PHEV currently available in large numbers, the NREL-developed method shows promise for reasonably predicting the PHEV’s average fuel and electricity use.    » read more »

Schumer, Gillibrand: It is Critical That We Invest in Environmentally Friendly Transportation to Reduce Both Pollution and our Reliance on Foreign Fossil Fuel

September 30, 2009 -- U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that a $10,315,033 U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) grant has been allocated to the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority. The grant will be used to purchase hybrid buses in Buffalo to improve the city's public transit and reduce its environmental impact.    » read more »

Green Taxis Act Would Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions by More Than 296,000 Tons in NYC – the Equivalent of Taking 35,000 Cars off the Road

September 30, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – After losing the battle in federal court in late 2008, New York City, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle and other major cities across the country would be able to create an all hybrid taxi cab fleet under legislation that will be introduced Thursday by U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) in the Senate and Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) in the House of Representatives.    » read more »

August 5, 2009 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter today congratulated Frederick-based UQM Technologies for securing a $45.1 million Recovery Act grant to advance the research and production of the company's electric and hybrid-electric vehicle propulsion systems.

UQM (NYSE Amex: UQM) was the only Colorado company to land any of the $2.4 billion in competitive grants awarded today by the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the Recovery Act's Advanced Battery Manufacturing Initiative. The awards are going to 48 companies and research institutions working on the manufacturing and deployment of electric vehicles, batteries and components.

"Congratulations to UQM Technologies," Gov. Ritter said. "All of Colorado is proud of the company's tremendous accomplishment.    » read more »

FCHV-adv achieves 431 mile estimated range

TORRANCE, Calif., August 6, 2009 - Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., (TMS) announced today the results of a recent collaborative fuel cell hybrid vehicle range and fuel economy field evaluation. The Toyota Highlander Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle – Advanced (FCHV-adv) achieved an estimated range of 431 miles on a single full tank of compressed hydrogen gas, and an average fuel economy of 68.3 miles/kg (approximate mpg equivalent) during a day-long trip down the southern California coast.    » read more »

Plug-in hybrid model debuts in 2011

2009-08-06 -- TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - General Motors' plug-in hybrid technology will be introduced in a new Buick crossover vehicle in 2011, Tom Stephens, GM vice chairman of product development, announced here today during the Management Briefing Seminars.

The yet-to-be-named Buick crossover will launch in late 2010 offering a family of fuel-efficient direct-injected gasoline engines, followed in 2011 by the plug-in hybrid model.

"Buick has always been at the forefront of new technology, so it is only fitting that the brand should debut our new plug-in hybrid technology in a beautiful new crossover," said Stephens. "This will firmly put Buick, and GM, front and center in the advanced technology game."

A new Buick for a new customer    » read more »

June 17, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Dick Lugar announced that EnerDel has been selected to receive one of seven cost-shared research awards from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Awardees will use the funds for the development of advanced batteries for electric drive vehicles. The total DOE investment for these projects is up to $10.96 million over three years, subject to annual appropriations.

EnerDel Inc., which is based out of Indianapolis, Indiana, has been selected for negotiation of an award for up to $3.3 million for a project to develop a chemical shuttle agent that will eliminate the danger of overcharging lithium-ion batteries developed for plug in hybrid electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles and electric vehicles.    » read more »

June 18, 2008 Torrance, CA - With the introduction of the third generation Prius, hybrid-electric vehicles have now been on the road for more than 10 years. They’ve received much attention for offering substantial fuel savings and fewer emissions then their traditional counterparts. But questions remain. What is a hybrid? How do hybrids work?    » read more »