As the government hammers out how it will rate the fuel efficiency of hybrid-electric and all-electric vehicles, an Israeli company wants to make sure the U.S. gets it right.

The Environmental Protection Agency has a draft proposal for computing an efficiency rating using a “miles per gallon” scale but is not close to issuing a final ruling. It would be a rating buyers could use to compare various vehicles.

ETV Motors, a company that specializes in self-charging hybrid-electric propulsion systems for cars, has suggested in a letter to the EPA that the government consider a new multiple standard. CEO Dror Ben-David says ETV advocates a three-pronged rating for fuel efficiency: one number to show how far the car can go on a single plug-in battery charge, a second number to show how energy intensive the battery is, and a third for how much gasoline it consumes to drive a generator or the wheels when the battery runs out. Ben-David says the U.S. decision is important. “Most of the world looks at the United States as the standard provider and will adopt what the U.S. is doing.”

Even though no plug-in electric vehicles have yet hit the market in significant numbers, debate has begun over efficiency claims. Using an EPA draft proposal, General Motors has forecast that its plug-in Chevrolet Volt electric car will be rated at 230 mpg (it will go 40 miles per plug-in charge before the gas engine comes on to generate electricity), though the EPA cannot confirm that. Nissan, using different numbers from the Department of Energy, claims its Leaf plug-in car, an all-electric with no engine to burn gas, will get the equivalent of 367 mpg.

Says Ben-David, “A single number is not good enough. … It might be a bit misleading.”

Jim Kliesch, a senior engineer for the Union of Concerned Scientists, says there are a variety of other ways the government could set a standard to cover plug-in electrics, but no option is simple.

He says they could measure the car’s greenhouse gas emissions, a number that goes up when a vehicle consumes more gasoline or other fossil fuel. But that rating would also need to include how much carbon dioxide is emitted by power plants that generate electricity to recharge the car’s battery when it is plugged in.

And using an mpg rating formula may be misleading, Kliesch says, because people may not get that efficiency in the real world, depending on their usage patterns and how much or how little the onboard “range-extender” engine is needed.

“It’s really critical that the test procedure that’s decided on accurately reflects what people are going to experience,” he says. “Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done.”

Source: USA Today

Israel declared a “green tax revolution” on Monday, proposing a new customs levy on large vehicles and a rebate for junking older gas-guzzling models.

Israeli Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said he hoped his plan would persuade Israelis to switch to hybrid cars while earning the state up to 400 million shekels ($100 million) a year.

“We are introducing a green tax revolution,” Steinitz said.

The plan would be implemented over the next decade and must first be approved by parliament’s finance committee, which was likely to do so in the coming weeks, Environmental Affairs Minister Gilad Erdan told reporters, alongside Steinitz.

Israel’s conflict with Palestinians has long overshadowed environmental concerns. But high levels of carbon emissions from a growing fleet of private and commercial vehicles has begun to eat into the country’s gross domestic product, Erdan said.

He said up to 2 percent of Israel’s GDP of 714 billion shekels in 2008 was lost to the costs of automobile pollution, including illness, damage to buildings and other infrastructure.

Due to the recession, Israel is expected to post a budget deficit of 6 percent of GDP in 2009.

The government’s plan to cut state spending was rejected by labor unions so new ways to increase revenues are being sought to keep the deficit under control.

The government has already raised fuel taxes and increased the value added tax (VAT) to 16.5 percent from 15.5.

Critics said the new tax plan, which would raise the base tax on new vehicles from 75 percent to 92 percent, then offer discounts for cars with better gas emissions standards, may actually increase the prices of many smaller cars.

Steinitz said purchase taxes would be slashed to just 30 percent for hybrid vehicles, and that the bulk of most tax increases would be borne by purchasers of larger, luxury automobiles or SUVs.

Erdan said the policy also meant to educate the Israeli public “to get used to opting for consumer items that do less damage to the environment.”

The government would also try to encourage Israelis to get rid of thousands of older vehicles clogging the roads — about 70,000 are at about 20 years and older — by paying 3,000 shekels ($750 shekels) apiece to junk them, Erdan said.

SOURCE: Reuters

The British Army has recently taken delivery of 50 “green cars” as part of its long-term plans to reduce the amount of CO2 emissions produced by its vehicles.

The deal, brokered by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) through its leasing partners Lex and VT Group, concerns 50 Toyota hybrid vehicles, which switch automatically between petrol engine and electric motor, depending on driving conditions.

The cars produce 104g/km of CO2, compared to the 154g/km emissions produced by the vehicles they are replacing.

The Army is working towards a government target to ensure all cars procured between 2007 and 2011 produce on average less than 130g/km of CO2.

The Army has also ordered another 1,250 vehicles, which are due by the end of the year, emitting 119g/km of CO2.

Brigadier Mark Armstrong, who leads the Army’s sustainable development projects, said that with the delivery of hybrid vehicles, the Army was already ahead of schedule in terms of emission targets set for 2011.

It is expected that with further deals to come before 2011, CO2 emissions will be well below the 130g/km target.

SOURCE: Leasing Life

Chrysler is seeking up to $224 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to support rapid development of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The automaker plans to provide a demonstration fleet of PHEVs based on the Dodge Ram 1500 pickup and the Chrysler Town & Country minivan.

Last month, Chrysler said it would supply the U.S. Postal Service with a fleet of 165 Town & Country EV cargo minivans.

Its latest effort involves two DOE programs, called the Transportation Electrification Initiative and the Electric Drive Vehicle Battery and Component Manufacturing Initiative, which are designed to speed up the development and manufacturing of PHEVs and EVs. If approved, the DOE would provide up to $224 million, with Chrysler matching the federal funds.

Chrysler said it would construct an $83 million “electrification technology and manufacturing center” in Michigan as part of the initiative. The center would be operational by 2010 and would be designed to build more than 20,000 EVs each year.

Chrysler also would build a demonstration fleet that would include 100 Dodge Ram PHEV pickups, 100 Town & Country PHEVs and the previously mentioned Town & Country EVs.

Through April, sales of the full-size Ram pickup were down 31 percent from a year ago, while sales of the Town & Country were down 37 percent.

SOURCE: Edmunds

Hybrid-electric vehicles are showing up more often on the nation’s roads. And, in case of a crash, emergency workers first on the scene could face a new type of hazard.

When a firefighter uses the “Jaws of Life,” a car can be opened up like a tin can. Because hybrid cars have high voltage cables running through them, that could be dangerous for first responders at a crash scene.

An instructor at Mott Community Colleges automotive technology department is teaching firefighters how to safely handle those situations.

“The battery cable’s coming in from the side,” explained Matt Roda.  “This is the stuff you don’t want to touch.”

Roda showed several Mid-Michigan firefighters how to disconnect the electric system on a Chevy Tahoe Hybrid.

“There’s one system for GM and a different system for Honda,” said one firefighter.  “That’s where our worry is. We’re looking at things that are different with every single vehicle.”

They all have disconnects, but the location is going to be the issue.  A hybrid can have as much as 300 volts of power. If a firefighter should cut the wrong cable, the result could be severe burns or even death.

By giving firefighters a primer on hybrid technology, Roda hopes to prevent injuries to firefighters and crash victims.

“These cars are safe,” Roda said.  “They can extract occupants without putting themselves or occupants in danger with just a few precautions.”

Firefighters taking the class agree.

“We need to know how to disconnect the battery and make the patient safe and also our firefighters safe out there,” said Mt. Morris Assistant Fire Chief Damon Tobia.

It’s believed no firefighter has ever received an electric shock while rescuing a victim from a hybrid crash. Everyone wants to keep that record going.

SOURCE and Video: ABC Local

The Minnesota Army National Guard has an eco-friendly mission—they’re the first in the National Guard and the first military department in the state to go ‘green’ on the road.

On Thursday, Sgt. Major David Eustice took a ride on a new 2010 Ford Fusion parked outside of the recruitment headquarters in Roseville.

He’s in one of 23 new hybrids the Minnesota Army National Guard bought in the past few weeks.

“We love them. It’s a great vehicle. We were concerned how it would work, but it’s a great vehicle, gas mileage is fantastic,” Eustice said.

These two cars may look the same, but their older fleet vehicles only got about 23 miles to the gallon, whereas the new hybrid gets 40.

“We made a conscious decision using tax payer money to put money into technology rather than buying more gas,” Eustice explained.

The hybrid costs $3,000 more than what they used to pay. But since the new cars don’t need as much gas, they’ll break even in three years.

Eustice tells 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS they were concerned about their dependence on foreign energy and allowing fewer pollutants in the air—their new hybrids will reduce carbon emissions by 7.5 percent.

The Minnesota Army National Guard say they’re proud to set an example for all military and government agencies.

SOURCE: KSTP

There has been a lot of confusion regarding the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid auto tax credit. Ford vehicles which use hybrid technologies including Ford Fusion, Escape, Mercury Milan, and Mercury Mariner all qualify for a $1,700 auto tax credit. The tax benefit will also depend on your individual tax circumstances.

The original government incentive was $7,500, which dropped down to $3,400 if you purchased the Fusion before April 1, 2009. Today the tax incentive is $1,700, but you may want to consult with your tax advisor or the IRS to confirm the amount of credit that you can claim. The auto credits are phasing out this year, but there might be additional IRS incentives in the future.

Here’s how the whole thing works today regarding these benefits and how much you really get back. If you make your purchase before October 1, 2009, you will receive a $1,700 tax credit. However, this is where the confusion begins.

If you purchase the Fusion before April 1, 2010, your tax credit will be $850. After that date, there are no auto tax credits from the IRS. Purchasing your Hybrid within the allotted timetable is key to qualify for the tax credit.

Some auto Web sites are still promoting a $7,500 tax credit. This is outdated information relating to a credit that already expired. Again, to maximum your full credit, you should talk directly with the IRS or your tax advisor.

SOURCE: NewsOxy

The California Air Resources Board is scheduled to again take up the issue of regulating hybrids today, May 28, in Sacramento. The air board told its staff to go back to the drawing board after small businesses that convert Toyota Priuses to plug-in hybrids said that proposed regulations would put them out of business. However, the staff’s new proposed regulations would still effectively bankrupt small companies.

The new rules would allow small companies to sell up to ten conversion kits before having to undergo extensive emissions testing, which can cost up $200,000. But Daniel Sherwood, president of 3Prong Power of Berkeley, says that the new rules will bankrupt him and other similar companies because they can’t make enough money from selling just ten conversions to finance the tests. “It effectively adds $20,000 to the cost of each of those first ten conversions,” he said.

Currently, 3 Prong Power sells conversions, including installation, for about $6,700. As a result, if Sherwood’s company tried to pass the $20,000 emissions tests costs on to his customers, no one would buy them. After the conversion, a Prius becomes an electric-only vehicle when driving around town and can get more than 100 miles per gallon, thereby significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Sherwood wants the air board to change the rules to allow small companies to sell up to 100 kits before having to undergo the expensive tests. That way, the cost of the tests will be about $2,000 per conversion – still a high price, but possibly doable. “CARB should be supporting California’s plug-in hybrid conversion companies, not squashing us,” he said.

SOURCE: East Bay Express

The states sales tax exemption for most hybrid cars will end in a few months.

The sales tax exemption for cars with highway mileage of at least 40 miles per gallon took effect Jan. 1, but was repealed during this year’s legislative session. The exemption ends Aug. 1.

Hybrid vehicles will still be exempt from the separate 0.3 percent motor vehicle sales tax until Jan. 1, 2011. New cars that run on fuels such as natural gas, propane, hydrogen or electricity will continue to be exempt from all sales taxes through Dec. 31, 2010.

President Barack Obama may be the only investor willing and able to keep General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC alive, but his biggest endorsement at today’s announcement on fuel economy went to Ford Motor Co.

At the end of a Rose Garden ceremony unveiling new mileage standards, Obama stepped back from the podium, then threw in an impromptu plug for his hybrid Escape sport utility vehicle.

“By the way, I just want to mention, I think I still have my Ford parked in Chicago,” Obama said. “It’s a Ford hybrid, it runs great, you guys should take a look.”

Ford Chief Executive Alan Mulally, standing next to the president, pumped his fists in the air as the crowd laughed.

As he turned to leave again — perhaps realizing there were executives from nine other automakers standing behind him, including GM and Chrysler — Obama threw in one more aside.

“But there are also some outstanding hybrids and energy-independent cars represented up here, so I didn’t want to just advertise for one,” he said.

Chrysler Chief Executive Bob Nardelli and GM Chief Executive Fritz Henderson ducked out of the White House after the ceremony. Henderson headed back to the Treasury Department next door for meetings with Obama’s auto industry task force, which will decide in the coming days whether to push GM into bankruptcy.

SOURCE: FreeP

Auto tax incentives for Hybrid cars and electric vehicles are being phased out later in 2009. However, there could be new tax credits for these eco-friendly cars. The whole purpose of these tax deductions is to reduce the amount of carbon emissions, which provide cleaner air quality.

The tax incentives started with the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which replaces the clean-fuel burning deduction with a tax credit. A tax credit is subtracted directly from the total amount of federal tax owed, thus reducing or even eliminating the taxpayer’s tax obligation. The tax credit for hybrid vehicles applies to electric vehicles purchased or placed in service on or after January 1, 2006.

The credit is only available to the original purchaser of a new qualifying vehicle. If a qualifying vehicle is leased to a consumer, the leasing company may claim the credit. The Hybrid vehicle must also have a drive train powered by both an internal combustion engine and a rechargeable battery.

This is a list of some of the models, which qualify, including the amount for the tax credit:

• Chrysler Aspen Hybrid – $2,200
• Dodge Durango Hybrid – $2,200
• Ford Escape Hybrid 2WD – $3,000
• Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD – $1,950
• Mazda Tribute Hybrid 2WD – $3,000
• Mazda Tribute Hybrid 4WD – $1,950
• Mercury Mariner Hybrid 2WD – $3,000
• Mercury Mariner Hybrid 4WD – $1,950
• Nissan Altima Hybrid – $2,350

This is not a complete list and there might be another wave of tax credits for all-electric vehicles. Most automakers, including Ford, General Motors, Honda, and Toyota are already building new prototypes. These prototypes will enter the market in late 2010, 2011, and 2012.

Critics of the Energy Policy Act and the recent tax credits say the government should do more to help convert gasoline powered automobiles to Hybrid and electric solutions. For example, the government is already phasing out the tax credits during the economic recession. The critics feel that the tax credits should be extended for at least another 24 months.

The tax credits started with a $7,500 deduction which actually helped the new Hybrids gain respect and awareness. However, consumers can still save fuel costs as most of the new Hybrids can travel up to 50 miles without using a single drop of gasoline. As gas prices rise, drivers can switch the vehicle from gas to electric power for shorter travel rides.

Around 20 hybrid-electric drive buses have entered service on routes around London and are recording unprecedented levels of carbon efficiency.

The state-of-the-art red double-deckers have achieved the best results for fuel consumption and CO2 emissions ever recorded from bus fleets – an unprecedented 10mpg.

Revolve Technologies, an Essex-based leading engine development and engineering services provider, helped support Northern Ireland-based Wrightbus on the major hybrid drive performance and optimisation programme, which includes the Gemini 2 HEV double decker.
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At the heart of the Wrightbus hybrid system is a standard 2.4 litre Diesel engine – as used in the Ford Transit. With the base engine operating as a generator, Revolve engineers have been able to predict load and speed changes in advance, thus allowing greater freedom with injection strategies and EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) rates.

Drawing on their knowledge of the engine EMS system, engineers have also been able to utilise some of the existing vehicle based strategies to carry out functions which otherwise would have required significant software changes. This, coupled with a unique CAN interface module, has allowed the full integration of the engine and its controller into the overall hybrid control system – and at a relatively low cost.

Paul Turner, Revolve’s Technical Director of Product Development, said, “Having the engine control as a fully integrated part of the hybrid system is a major advantage – and, coupled with a unique calibration, we have been able to achieve exceptional improvements in fuel consumption. The Wrightbus programme involves optimising Series Hybrid Drive systems through a detailed analysis of generator load patterns.

“As a result of this analysis, we have been able to recalibrate the engine to operate at its peak performance throughout the drive cycle, by using smart charging and load control technology. Overall engine performance is significantly improved when compared with normal applications.”

Revolve Technologies’ Executive Chairman, Andrew Williams says, “The Wrightbus hybrid programme gives further insight into the depth, scope and capability which we offer this important and growing area of the market.

“It is also an excellent working in practice example of the formal technical partnership between Revolve Technologies and Ford Component Sales (FCS) and highlights Revolve’s rapidly expanding hybrid and alternative fuels activity.”

The company is currently involved with projects from small capacity, lightweight units through to heavy commercial, marine and industrial applications.”

SOURCE:  Green Wire

A fleet of Vauxhall Vectras owned by the British Army has been replaced by the more eco-friendly Toyota Prius.

The vehicles, which use both petrol and an electric motor, were recently collected from a Bolton-based dealership.

Director of Infrastructure Brigadier Mark Armstrong said that vehicles belonging to the armed forces are changed over on a constant basis.

‘When we change our vehicles we are looking for value for money but also having in mind those targets the Government has set us on sustainable operations,’ he remarked.

Brigadier Armstrong added that HQ Land Forces was now ahead of schedule in terms of meeting green targets set by the government.

By 2011, all vehicles used by the army from 2007 must substantially reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide.

Next month sees the first ever Armed Forces Day taking place.

Held on June 27th, the event will commemorate members of the armed forces and will see celebrations organised in cities including Manchester, Plymouth, Nottingham and Edinburgh.

SOURCE: GET

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson came to West Philadelphia High School’s auto garage today to see first hand the award-winning cars a group of teenage students are producing.

The school’s Electric Vehicle X-Prize teams are building hybrids that can go from zero to sixty in less than 4 seconds and get 100 miles per gallon. They have already beat companies like Toyota and Honda by building the world’s first hybrid supercar.

Now they’re poised to be a top contender for the X Competition next spring which carries a $10 million prize.

“There’s so much to gain for urban youth and people around the world jumping on the green economy,” said sophomore Azeem Hill. “So many people need jobs.”

The EVX team started 11 years ago as an after-school program. The students have a budget of about $200,000. The big question is, how are they beating companies with millions at their disposal?

“It’s the fact that we’re not a big established company and not complicated,” said senior Eric Yates. “But we’re showing the world that if you understand the basics, look what kids in inner city Philadelphia – and youth all over – can do.”

These humble kids say they’re just trying to drive the market forward and open doors for inner city workers. EPA Administrator Jackson had nothing but good things to say.

“The president has said the green economy has to touch everyone,” she said during her visit today. “This is a great example of the administrators, teachers and sponsors knowing what is needed, and putting kids on the right track.”

SOURCE and VIDEO: ABC Local