GM's HydroGen Minivan

The GM Hydrogen4 minivan is the next generation fuel cell vehicle from General Motors that one-ups the Hydrogen3 minivan. The GM Hydrogen4 was rolled out in Germany as part of the company's Project Driveway program.

The GM Hydrogen4 uses a 440-cell fuel cell stack, 73 Kw electric motor and has three carbon fiber hydrogen tanks that help propel the vehicle to a range of around 200 miles. The GM Hydrogen4 has a top speed of around 100 mph. The GM Hydrogen4 is also based upon the Opel Zafira like the Hydrogen3 vehicle.

General Motor's HydroGen3 vehicle is the last general fuel cell vehicle that marked yet another milestone for GM in regards to pursuing a lineup of greener vehicles. The GM HydroGen3 is an environmentally friendly fuel cell minivan that has been used by FedEx as a delivery vehicle for real world testing trials. 

According to Raymond Grigg Chairman and CEO of the Japan division of General Motors, "To really prove that fuel cell vehicles are equal to or better than conventional, internal combustion vehicles, you need to operate them under tough, every-day conditions. Our fuel cell technology has advanced to the point where it's important to involve a real heavy-duty commercial user in our research and development activities. We expect to learn a lot by having FedEx Express put our HydroGen3 to the test on their daily delivery runs on the streets of Tokyo. This is how you truly prove durability and dependability."

The HydroGen3 is designed based on the Opel Zafira MPV. Packed with more power then HydroGen1, and the latest of the HydroGen series, GM HygroGen3 has a simpler start up procedure and a more compact fuel cell stack. Not exactly a racecar (though it did participate in the Monte Carlo Rally), the HydroGen 3 accelerates from 0 - 60 mph in approximately 16 seconds. It has a top speed of 100 mph, which is respectable enough. The GM HydroGen 3 is powered by a 60 kW / 82 PS three-phase asynchronous motor. GM is testing both liquid hydrogen and compressed hydrogen storage systems with the HydroGen3.

The GM Hydrogen 3 has the same 5-seating capacity as the Opel Zafira and has participated in various demonstration projects around the world including Berlin, Germany. Two of the breakthroughs for the HydroGen3 has been the elimination of a buffer battery found in early versions to deal with peak electrical usage and a method for humidifying the fuel cell stack. 

Here are some facts about the HydroGen3:

# Five seat, front wheel drive
# Fuel cell propulsion system packed       as a single unit

The fuel cell propulsion system has:
# 200 individual fuel cells wired in a series
# Self humidifying stack
# Continuous output : 94 kilowatts

The liquid hydrogen storage system of the GM HydroGen3 is equipped with:
# Vacuum insulated stainless steel  tank
# Capacity: 4.6 kilograms of liquefied hydrogen (temperatures of minus 253 degrees C )
# Driving range : 250 miles

Compressed 700 hydrogen tanks have the following features:
# Two carbon composite tanks
# Service pressure: 10,000 psi
# Capacity: 3.1 kilograms of compressed hydrogen
# Driving range: 270km (170 miles)

The GM HydrogeGen3 was the first hydrogen fuel cell vehicle certified by the Japanese government for operation on regular roads. Another joint venture GM has for the GM HydroGen3 is with Shell. It's two year program is being conducted in Washington DC giving the Members of Congress the chance to test drive the fuel cell vehicles. The US Postal Service also is using the GM HygroGen3 mini-van to deliver mail in and around the Washington DC area.

Nine Tips to conserve your Gasoline/Fuel Consumption (Increase your fuel economy)

1. Slow Down
One of the best ways to save on gas is to reduce your speed. According to the DOE, every 5 mph you drive over 60 mph represents a 7 percent decrease in fuel economy.

2. Check Your Tire Pressure
Under-inflated tires have more rolling resistance, which causes you to burn more fuel to keep the car moving. Refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual, the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (if equipped), or the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) label on or near the driver’s side door. Properly inflated tires may improve your fuel economy by up to 3.3 percent.

3. Accelerate With Care
Fast acceleration wastes fuel. Accelerate modestly so the transmission can shift up into the higher gears more efficiently. Rapid acceleration and braking can lower your gas mileage by up to 33 percent on the highway and up to 5 percent during city driving.

4. Drive A Consistent Speed
Follow the lead of trucks and keep a consistent speed. Constant slowing down and speeding up reduces fuel economy. Consider using cruise control when appropriate.

5. Avoid Excessive Idling
Idling your vehicle gets 0 miles per gallon.

6. Stick With Stock
New wheels and tires may look cool, but if they’re not the same as the OEM specifications, they could create more resistance, thereby reducing fuel economy.

7. Clean Out Your Car
Carrying around extra baggage — or anything that you don’t need for that trip — only adds extra weight to your car and impacts fuel economy. For example, depending on your vehicle’s weight, an extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could decrease your MPG by up to two percent.

8. Plan Your Trips Better
Consider grouping your trips instead of making several trips to accomplish your daily tasks. Several short trips may use twice as much fuel as a single, longer trip that covers the same distance.

9. Use The Proper Maintenance Fluids and Replacement Parts
Always use the engine oil, replacement parts and any other fluids that the manufacturer recommends. Change your oil at the recommended intervals and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for all routine maintenance.

Chrysler's Hydrogen Concept - ecoVoyager

The Chrysler ecoVoyager fuel cell concept vehicle was unveiled at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show on January 14. The four-passenger, four-door hydrogen concept Chrysler ecoVoyager embodies bold design coupled with the latest advances in fuel cell and hybrid technologies.

The ecology-minded zero emissions ecoVoyager uses a 45 kw fuel cell stack and 268 hp (200 kw) electric motor plus "Range-extended Electric Vehicle technology" to deliver the vehicle 300 miles before refueling. According to Chrysler, the ecoVoyager is able to travel the first 40 miles on the 16 kw lithium-ion battery pack alone before needing an assist from the fuel cell stack and 10,000 psi hydrogen tanks.

The Chrysler ecoVoyager also uses regenerative braking to recharge the battery pack that is situated, along with the fuel cell powertrain, below in the skateboard chassis design. This design leaves a roomy interior for driver and passengers alike.

The Chrysler ecoVoyager is no wuss, either as it can motivate from 0 - 60 mph less than 8 seconds with a top speed of 115 mph. Chrysler is also boasting that the ecoVoyager can run the quarter mile in just 12.9 seconds, but seeing is believing on this statistic, so we'll just have to wait and see if the automaker can put its money where its mouth is at.

The Chrysler ecoVoyager features panoramic glass for increased visibility and includes a twin sunroof. The engineers of the Chrysler ecoVoyager moved the front wheels forward in the concept car to increase the passenger legroom.

The interior features gauges the driver can see over the steering wheel rather than through it, three camera images of the world outside the vehicle, and the rear seat passengers can enjoy a movie without disturbing the driver because of direct sound technology. Each of the four bucket seats in the ecoVoyager is contoured for personalized comfort.

The Chrysler ecoVoyager is just as the name sounds. It's a glimpse of an ecologically-minded car for family road trips and other adventures in the future.

Windows 7 Release Date Announced

Microsoft plans on releasing Windows 7 (apparently in the next few months), and this new version will replace their previous operating system: Windows Vista. 

The developers promise Windows 7 will be simpler to use, and more functional, with less of what you don't need and more of what you do. 

Microsoft announced that it will make available an upgrade option in order for partners to be able to offer their customers the ability to buy a Windows Vista-based PC, and then just install Windows 7 when it’s ready. 

The release date for Windows 7 has been confirmed as October 22, 2009. In addition, Windows Server 2008 R2 will also be available at around the same time. 

Microsoft says it has been working closely with partners to ensure their mutual customers can enjoy all the benefits of Windows 7 once it is released. 

On June 3, 2009, Microsoft’s OEM Division Corporate Vice President Steve Guggenheimer, expresed the company's confidence in their new Windows 7 version. He announced this at a keynote address at Computex 2009 in Taipei. 

“What we’re doing with Windows will continue to improve people’s lives so that that technology enables them to communicate better, make tasks simpler and new things possible,” he says. “Our partners in the hardware space, our competitors in software — the entire industry is doing incredible things.” said Mr. Guggenheimer. 

As an example, he reffered to the evolution of the small notebook PC's (also known as Netbooks) that are mainly designed to offer customers the ability for simplified internet connectivity. He went on to say: “A year ago when these smaller PCs first came onto the scene, many in the space were saying consumers wouldn’t want or need these devices to be full-featured,” he says. “In fact, the exact opposite turned out to be true. 

Consumers really do want small notebook PCs to work like their laptops and desktops. Windows provides a familiar and easy-to-use experience that consumers want and demand from these devices.” He also went on to say that Laptop pc sales are expected to rise and even surpass Desktop pc sales in the near future, with consumers increasingly demanding connectivity on the go.

Bluetooth 3.0 + HR now up to 7 times faster

For the past 11 years, Bluetooth technology has played a very significant role in the way we transfer data between our electronic devices, and now Bluetooth technology will be getting an even faster version.

The new Bluetooth 3.0 + HS is said to have transfer speeds of approximately 24Mbps. That is up from the current 3Mbps for the 2.0 + EDR version, which means the new version will be approximately 7 times faster than the current version. 

This is likely to open up a whole new range of applications for the nifty little device. As might be assumed, computer and mobile manufacturers are already showing interest, but that's not all: The device is also attracting attention from television manufacturers.

Bluetooth 3.0 + HS will not only boast an increased transfer rate, but it will also run on a more energy efficient system, thus saving mobile devices power that have the device installed. One could call this an evolution of sorts. Imagine your mobile device, whether it be a laptop or a mobile phone transferring data files like photos and music up to 7 times faster, yet using less power. That's efficiency.

It is estimated that Bluetooth 3.0 + HR should be available within about a year, so we should see the device making its way onto the market during, or just after, the 1st quarter of 2010.

It seems that Bluetooth technology is one of those technologies that are likely here to stay, given its worldwide use.

Bluetooth is widely used in electronic and mobile devices such as mobile phones and laptops, and gives the user the ability to wirelessly transfer large files such as music or media between two compatable devices without the need to connect the devices with a cable or connecting wire. 

Honda Civic to achieve 50 MPG with Hybrid Technology

At four or more bucks a gallon at the pump, 50 mpg fuel economy looks pretty good, indeed. This was reinforced recently during an extended road test of a 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid, which illustrated that high fuel economy is worth changing a few habits. In the past, Green Car editors have managed in excess of 50 mpg in the Honda Civic Hybrid by practicing conservative driving. That magic mileage number is achieved if you're willing to really pay attention to your driving style and maintain highway driving speeds in the 60-65 mph range. Push speeds higher or drive more aggressively and your mileage will vary.

In 2007, the Civic Hybrid had an EPA fuel economy rating of 49 mpg in the city and 51 mpg on the highway using EPA's old testing procedure. For 2008, the more aggressive federal tests lowered the EPA mileage rating to 40 mpg city and 45 mpg highway. The new tests are designed to reflect "real-world" mileage, but tend to dumb down obtainable fuel economy for those willing to practice high-mileage driving habits. Our experience bears this out as more aggressive driving in the Civic Hybrid dropped our mileage down in the low 40 mpg range. That was running 75+ mph on the highway to keep with the flow of traffic over the rolling terrain of California's Central Coast.

Introduced to the North American market in 1973, the Honda Civic has grown from a diminutive $2,200 economy car weighing just 1,500 pounds to a comfortable five passenger vehicle that's a true jack-of-all-trades. Over the past 35 years, the Civic has become the commuter car by which all others are judged. The current eighth generation Civic is comfortable, confident, and capable.

The 2008 model is a very refined package that's great for around-town errands and comfortable for extended trips. The Civic Hybrid is a right-sized sedan that is equally at home in the city as it is on a scenic country two lane road. Ride and handling quality are pleasant enough, too, with Honda striking a balance that meets expectations for this class of vehicle. Just don't expect luxury car plushness or sports car level road feel.

The Civic Hybrid is powered by Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) parallel full gas-electric hybrid powertrain. The gasoline engine is a 1.3-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder producing 110 horsepower and 123 lbs-ft of torque. Electric assist is provided by a 20 hp, permanent magnet electric motor powering through Honda's continuously variable automatic transmission. The combination is enough to propel the Civic Hybrid from 0-60 mph in 11.3 seconds when you're in a hurry. Auto stop-start shuts the gas engine down when the car is at rest out on the road, but unlike other full-hybrids, IMA doesn't deliver a noticeable electric-only driving mode. The Civic Hybrid is one of the cleanest cars on the road and achieves an Advanced Technology-Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) rating from the EPA.

At the aforementioned $4.00 a gallon gasoline, the difference between 40 mpg and 50 mpg is worth the effort. Topping off the Civic Hybrid's 12.3 gallon tank can now cost upwards of 40 bucks. At 40 mpg you can travel 492 miles before running out of gas; at 50 mpg that no-reserve range increases to 615 miles, covering an additional 123 miles on the same gas and saving $9.84. Our personal best in the mileage department with the Honda Civic Hybrid is a 51.4 mpg tank under nearly ideal conditions. Seasoned Civic Hybrid drivers passionate about high fuel economy assert better mileage yet.

Toyota Unveils Third-Generation Prius; 50 MPG and much More

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), USA, unveiled the third-generation Prius hybrid vehicle at the 2009 North American International Auto show. The new version of the world’s top-selling hybrid vehicle (more than one million sold in 44 countries) offers better mileage ratings and enhanced performance, as well as new design features.

The first-generation Prius, which was EPA rated at 41 mpg US combined city/highway, was replaced by the current model, which is EPA rated at 46 mpg US, combined. Using a combination of technologies, fuel efficiency was increased to an estimated 50 mpg US combined for the new Prius.

Hybrid components like the inverter, motor, and generator are now smaller and lighter. An exhaust heat recovery system, exhaust gas recirculation, and an electric water pump contribute to a more efficient hybrid system with a net horsepower rating of 134.

The battery module carries over from the tried-and-true technology from the current Prius. Engineers applied enhancements throughout the entire vehicle to achieve 50 miles-per-gallon, more consistent efficiency in real-world driving, and further reductions in CO₂ emissions.

Electric power consumption has been reduced through the use of a more efficient air conditioning system and new, optional LED head lamps. Internal tests show that Prius’ zero-to-sixty acceleration time has dropped from the previous generation’s mid 10-second range to 9.8 seconds, making it comparable to that of an average mid-size sedan with a 2.4-liter engine. This is in response to customer expectations for better every-day performance. In short, the entire Prius package has been made more efficient from overall power consumption to output.

—Bob Carter, Toyota Division Group Vice President and General Manager

The new Prius also features what Toyota is calling a “Solar Moonroof”. A small array of photovoltaic cells automatically powers a ventilation system on hot days. The system allows fresh air to circulate into the vehicle, cooling down the cabin so that the air conditioning doesn’t have to work as hard, thereby conserving power.

A larger and more powerful 1.8-liter Atkinson-cycle, four-cylinder engine powers the new Prius. The larger engine helps improve highway mileage. By making more torque, the new engine can run at lower average rpm on the highway. When operating at lower rpm, the new engine uses less fuel. Mileage is especially improved in cold-start conditions and at higher speeds.

Use of an electric water pump and a new exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system also contribute to the engine’s efficiency. The 1.8-liter Prius engine is the first Toyota power plant that requires no belts under the hood for better fuel economy and less potential maintenance.

The patented Hybrid Synergy Drive system in the 2010 Prius is 90% newly-developed with significant improvements over previous models:

• The transaxle is lighter in weight and reduces torque losses by as much as 20% compared to the previous model.

• The inverter, which converts direct current to alternating current, has a new direct cooling system to reduce size and weight.

• Taken together, the inverter, motor and transaxle are smaller and 20% lighter.

• A newly developed electronically controlled regenerative braking system has been adopted, with control logic optimized to enhance regeneration.

  Preliminary 2010 Prius Powertrain Specs
  Engine	1.8L I-4 with VVT-i
  Engine power [hp (kW)]	98 (73)
  Torque [lb-ft (Nm)]	105 (142)
  Motor power [hp (kW)]	80 (60)
  Motor torque [lb-ft (Nm)]	153 (207)
  Net power [hp (kW)]	134 (100)
  Emission rating	SULEV (w/ AT-PZEV)
  Battery pack	NiMH
  Est. combined fuel economy	50 mpg US

The new Prius will offer three alternative driving modes. EV-Drive Mode allows driving on battery power alone at low speeds for about a mile, if conditions permit. There is also a Power Mode, which increases sensitivity to throttle input for a sportier feel, and an Eco Mode, which helps the driver achieve the best mileage.

Dimensionally, the new Prius has the same wheelbase as the current generation. Overall length is slightly increased by 0.6 inches, in part by moving the front cowl forward. Designers preserved the triangle form of the current model, but made alterations to the overall profile, pillar position and angle. The overall height of the Prius is the same, but the roof profile is altered by moving the top of the roof 3.9 inches to the rear. This emphasizes the wedge shape, and also allows for enhanced rear headroom and improved aerodynamics.

The new Prius received more wind tunnel hours of testing than any other Toyota vehicle yet. By focusing on the shape of the body, underfloor, wheelhouse liner and shape of the wheels, the designers of the new Prius were able to reduce the coefficient of drag (Cd) value to 0.25, compared to 0.26 for the previous model. The airflow under the car was studied extensively. Engineers made changes to the shape of the fender liner, front surface of the underfloor, and added a fin at the rear floor cover to increase linear stability.

The next-generation Prius is built on a new platform, which enables improved handling stability, quieter operation, and collision safety. The suspension consists of front struts and a rear intermediate beam design, as before, but handling stability is advanced by improving the stabilizer layout, higher caster angle and tuning the bushing characteristics. Disc brakes are now used on all four corners, replacing the front disc/rear drum brakes in the current model.

Weight was saved through use of aluminum in the hood, rear hatch, front suspension axle and brake caliper and super high-tensile steel in the rocker inner, center pillar, and roof reinforcement. To meet customer expectations for everyday performance, zero-to-60 acceleration has been improved to 9.8 seconds, more than a second faster, in internal testing.

Better-performing sound insulation, working with improved vibration damping, has been installed in various locations to reduce road noise.

Toyota will use plant-derived, carbon-neutral plastics in the 2010 Prius. The newly-developed plastics, known as “ecological plastic,” will be used in the seat cushion foam, cowl side trim, inner and outer scuff plates, and deck trim cover. Ecological plastic emits less CO₂ during a product lifecycle (from manufacturing to disposal) than plastic made solely from petroleum; it also helps reduce petroleum use.

Sales of the 2010 Prius will start simultaneously in both the US and Japan in late spring, followed shortly by Canada and other countries. Toyota forecasts first full calendar year sales in the US will be around 180,000 units.

We expect a large portion of this volume to come from current Prius owners. That’s because more than 90 percent say they will buy another Prius.

               —Bob Carter, Toyota Division Group Vice President and General Manager

More links

http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/minisite/newprius/#/3rd-generation-improvements/

http://www.toyota.com/prius-hybrid/demos.html

http://www.greencarcongress.com/

SE W995 Released : Ready, Set, Play

Convergence is the buzzword and the Cyber-shot Walkman affair-turned-marriage is busy producing offspring. And hey, the young Sony Ericsson W995 sure makes the first-born W902 look like a helpless orphan.

Easily the best equipped feature phone of the house, Sony Ericsson W995, still more popular as Hikaru, packs in all there is to find at the top of the company portfolio. The full set of connectivity options, the biggest screen on a Sony Ericsson feature phone to date, GPS, Wi-Fi and the great user interface make a sweet enough package on their own.

But in the case of W995 they're just the perfect background for the unprecedented blend of music and imaging. The Cyber-shot line is graciously lending its 8 megapixel triumph, while the music dowry includes the latest Walkman 4.0 player, with all the bare Walkman necessities such as Shake control and SensMe. And there's more to make it even sweeter. We called it a marriage and Sony Ericsson have taken due care of the wedding presents. We don't know what else to call the kickstand and the on-board 3.5 mm audio jack.

So Sony Ericsson W995 has it all, doesn't it? Now let's see if it gives it all.