Posts tagged hybrid vehicles
Petroleum Savings if all Passenger Vehicles in U.S. were Hybrids or EVs!
Nov 23rd
A month ago, I was asked the question: “What would be the impact on petroleum usage if all cars (passenger vehicles) in the U.S. energy efficient, such as Toyota’s Prius?” This discussion is all about how to derive a sound answer to this question.
The Toyota Prius is a four-door hatchback gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle with a 1.8-liter gasoline engine that produces 98 horsepower and 105 pound-feet of torque that’s used in conjunction with two electric motors and a special planetary gear set that functions as a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Total system power is 134 hp. According to Toyota, the 2012 Prius (standard model) has an EPA rating of 51 City / 48 Hwy, combined fuel economy estimate of 50 mpg – “which is tops in the hybrid game.” It is a 5-passenger car with a curb weight of 3,042 lb. (1,380 kg).
The analysis took into consideration U.S. passenger cars only. It excluded the 101 million other highway vehicles registered in the U.S. The analysis was review by a reputable independent 3rd consultant in New Jersey. The consultant’s comments were:
“I’ve done similar research and calculations within the last few months. I’m not crazy about the assumption – ‘straight line’ allocation of gasoline consumption. Motorcycles, for example, probably consume a very small amount of gasoline per vehicle per year compare to passenger cars and SUV’s. Nonetheless, even if you toss in SUV’s and tweak the ‘straight line’ assumption you might only get to 15-20% savings; so on an order of magnitude basis I’m in agreement.”
The analysis goes as follows:
In closing, at first glance a 19% gross savings in petroleum consumption was considered somewhat low. If electric passenger cars, SUVs, motorcycles and other personal vehicles are taken into consideration, the savings becomes obviously much higher. The same goes with trucks and other vehicles, which at this time maybe under development for some level of hybridization and electrification. Also, this analysis includes U.S. only, as other countries possible do the same, global petroleum consumption will be cut even further.
One item not included in the analysis is the source of imported petroleum. In a previous discussion “Economists’ View – Fossil Fuels Pose Major Threats to the U.S. Economy,” I summarized an April 2011 EIA report on the makeup of U.S. oil imports by country of origin.
The report showed:
• 61.1% from Non OPEC countries
• 38.9% from OPEC Countries
• 22.6% from Canada
• 14.7% from all Persian Gulf countries
• 9.6% from Saudi Arabia
• 9.3% from Mexico
• 8.0% from Algeria
• 6.1% from Russia
• 4.5% from Iraq
• 4.4 from Colombia
• 4.0% from Algeria
From this perspective, a 19% reduction in petroleum consumption would potentially render all oil imports from Persian Gulf counties unnecessary, politics aside.
A final comment relates to the economic cost of replacing all 100% gasoline burning passenger vehicles to hybrids or even more expense EVs. Considering the purchase price of a Prius is about $25,000 (on the low side), the cost to replace 137 million passenger cars is about $3.4 trillion (less any trade deductions). By any measure, this is not a paltry number. Economics, financial stability and time will tell.
To the extent that all U.S. passenger cars would be powered by some level of electricity, one thing is certain that at the end of the day the environment and the citizens of the U.S. would become the ultimate beneficiaries. The question is what will the U.S. and the rest of the world do?
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author Dr. Barry Stevens, an accomplished business developer and entrepreneur in technology-driven enterprises. He is the founder of TBD America Inc., a technology business development group. In this role, he is responsible for leading technology driven enterprises through ideation, development and commercialization. To read his other discussions, please visit: http://barryonenergy.wordpress.com
Lugar Renewable Energy Forum at IUPUI: Vehicle Electrification ‘Born and Raised’ in Indiana
Jun 28th
While gas prices skyrocket to alarming levels and dependence on foreign oil grows even riskier in today’s increasingly-tumultuous global political environment, vehicle electrification is garnering increasing amounts of attention as an attractive alternative to its fossil fuel-burning counterpart.
And in Indiana, vehicle electrification is a thing of the past—as well as the future.
Recently, the Lugar Forum on Electric and Hybrid Vehicles at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) brought together top experts from business, government and academia for an in-depth exploration of the most pressing issues – past, present and future – related to electric and hybrid vehicles.
Perhaps the most significant invention of automotive history, according to forum speaker Dr. William Wylam, President of International Energy LLC, was a starting, lighting and ignition (SLI) system, which allowed motorists to generate electricity, store electrical energy and use the energy for multiple purposes wherever they went. This technology not only allowed cars to become ubiquitous and drivable by anyone, but also began to lay the groundwork for today’s hybrid and electric vehicle (HEV) industry.
Since the SLI was introduced by Indiana’s Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company (DELCO) in the early 1900s, Hoosier businesses have literally been leading the charge in electric vehicle advancements ever since.
Pioneering companies from Allison Transmission, who over the past century has built a strong portfolio of technologies and products that are driving today’s HEV industry, to younger veterans like Cummins and Navistar and newer businesses such as Ener1 and Think, provided a fascinating collection of insights on the pertinent issues of today’s marketplace.
Across the board, the overarching themes that emerged from the conference were the need to decrease cost and improve charging infrastructure while encouraging business adaptation/system integration of HEV technologies. And, as is clearly evident with the current U.S. Administration’s push to promote and support vehicle electrification on American soil, the government plays an integral role in businesses’ ability to accomplish these goals.
Edwin Owens of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) noted that America’s foreign oil dependence is primarily driven by the transportation sector – to the tune of $1 billion per day. And, because electricity production in the U.S. uses almost no petroleum, every mile traveled on electricity eliminates the equivalent amount of oil consumption. Vehicle electrification, therefore, will be essential to cutting oil imports by one third by 2025.
As a result, the DOE is promoting this cause through battery R&D, electric grid infrastructure, vehicle deployment and other policy initiatives. In fact, through the Recovery Act funding in Indiana alone, the government has already invested $296 million in advanced vehicles. And, in addition to federal support of Indiana’s hybrid and electric vehicle industry, a number of state and local groups are instrumental to the advancement and bringing-to-market of these technologies throughout Indiana, the Midwest and the United States.
Two of these key players – the Energy Systems Network (ESN) and the Greater Indiana Clean Cities Coalition – are maximizing on the tremendous potential contained in Indiana, the “Crossroads of America,” and are fostering partnerships throughout the state to make vehicle electrification a reality. To date, shares Paul Mitchell, President and CEO of ESN, Indianapolis has been ranked as the most “Plug-in Ready City,” Indiana was the first state to deploy EVs into its fleet operations, and it is on track to meet Phase 1 of its goal to get 100 EVs deployed by Q2 2011, representing one of the highest concentration of EVs on the road in the nation.
The final piece in the electric and hybrid vehicle puzzle, as acknowledged by the brightest minds in the field, is academia. The Forum’s host organizations, the Richard G. Lugar Center for Renewable Energy and the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology on IUPUI’s campus, are bringing together the best resources to conduct groundbreaking research on fuel cells, advanced battery technology, plug-in and hybrid electric vehicles and policy and societal issues, among others. This research, in addition to collaborative initiatives such as the Renewable Energy Forum Series, are key to powering the continual advancement of electric and hybrid vehicles and developing the next wave of leaders who will drive this industry into the future.
Richard G. Lugar Center for Renewable Energy, Purdue School of Engineering and Technology, IUPUI. For more information and to view presentations about the industry from participating speakers, visit http://lugarenergycenter.iupui.edu/forum.
Greenwashing: Electric Cars & Innovation Stalled
Jun 23rd
Electric cars seem like the socially conscious, feel-good investment among environmentally friendly consumers. In corporate boardrooms, the innovation seemed well liked indeed.
What’s not to like? Cars like the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt reportedly can drive for a day or more on a full electric charge. The Toyota Prius reduces a tank full of exhaust to the whir of a hybrid electric/ gas engine.
The numbers are astonishing. The Nissan Leaf is considered the most fuel efficient vehicle in the U.S., tallying 106 mpg on the highway, and 92 in the city. The Volt gets 95/90. The Smart fortwo electric drive gets 94/79. Compared with the 16-cylinder, eight liter Bugatti Veyron, which chugs one gallon for every eight miles, the electrics and hybrids are downright stingy.
Manufacturers are riding the hype to strong brand awareness. Nissan’s international brand appeal accelerated at 17% – more than that of any other automotive brand, notes Millward Brown Optimor-devised’s “BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands” . Analysis attributed the growth of Nissan’s brand awareness to the debut of the Leaf. After all, it had been named both European Car of the Year and World Car of the Year, both for 2011.
Turn back the leaf – or look behind the hard-to-find recharge stations – and you’ll find deeper questions about electric cars. Prices are high, charging stations remain scarce, re-charge cost is unknown, batteries are expensive to replace – and environmentally costly to dispose of.
The real question to ask: Is society being “greenwashed” into accepting electric cars? Like whitewashing, greenwashing is the process of covering up a questionable product’s failings in the cloak of environmental friendliness. Buying products made of recycled packaging; ethanol-enhanced gasoline or an electric car is a good first step toward environmentally friendly consumer practices.
Just know the whole story. Consider “range anxiety.” This new mental issue plagues owners of electric cars. Owners wonder how long their vehicles will last on a charge. In Europe, a variety of facilities have been built (or are under consideration) to charge vehicles away from home.
To that end, the availability of a charge remains a persistent challenge to full consumer acceptance. In Europe, charging stations are comparatively more easily available than in the U.S.
The key issue for any concerned consumer is: Where’s the power coming from? Most electricity in the U.S. comes from nuclear facilities or power plants that burn coal or fossil fuels. If an electric car consumes electricity from a charging station itself fueled by a power plant that uses fossil fuel, isn’t the car essentially consuming fossil fuels?
What are the “true green” alternatives for today’s electric cars? Solar panels on the roof of homes, feeding power directly to the charging station are one option? Another could be solar panels incorporated into the roof or body of the vehicle itself. Or wind powered recharging stations? We’d first need widespread use of wind farms to bring that solution to bear.
Apparently, American consumers aren’t buying it. Sales figures remain soft, leading some to surmise that these vehicles are slow to turn the corner toward broad acceptance.
More than innovation will be needed to charge life into the electric car. One only hopes that from the boardroom to the garage to the neighborhood charging station, solutions emerge that shift these vehicles into the next gear.
Written by Robert Brands, veteran corporate executive and author of Robert’s rules of Innovation.
Governor Schwarzenegger Passes Energy Storage Bill, Assembly Bill 2514
Oct 1st
An energy storage bill becomes law in California, new studies being conducted in Oklahoma to determine the impact of smart grid technologies on a company’s electric consumption habits and Verizon adds 260 hybrid vehicles to its New Jersey fleet.
State Energy Policy Passing Faster Than Federal Legislation
Jul 5th
Marilyn Brown, Energy Policy Professor at Georgia Tech, compares the progress of federal and state energy incentives and regulations and provides a road map for developing additional legislation. She discusses that while states are moving faster to adopt incentives and regulations, the federal government is beginning to gain momentum by working to pass national legislation that will provide the right framework for the United States to become more responsible about energy consumption.
Alternative Fuel & Vehicle Institute Helping Businesses Lower Dependence On Foreign Oil
Jun 30th
Annalloyd Thomason, Executive Director of the Alternative Fuel & Vehicle Institute provides takeaways from this year’s AFVI Conference and discusses importance of educating companies with large fleets about the different alternative vehicle options.
Electric Vehicle Owners And Advocates
Jun 22nd
Stephen Taylor and David Kennington of the EV Club of the South are avid Electric Vehicle supporters. Steve Oppenheimer speaks with the two of them about the evolution of electric vehicles and get a first hand look at some different makes and models of EV vehicles that they own.
Containment Dome Reaches Oil Spill Site & LA Becoming Electric Vehicle Headquarters
May 6th
The operation to lower the containment dome over the oil leak has begun, GE to help build the world’s largest biogas project based on cow manure, and Los Angeles becoming the new headquarters for electric vehicle start-ups.
Chavez Says China To Loan Venezuela $20 Billion, DER 04/19/10
Apr 19th
The Daily Energy Report for Monday April 19, 2010 discusses the US EIA estimates increased natural gas production for 2010, Venezuelan President announces that China will loan his country $20 Billion and General Motors doubles its battery lab.
Are Electric Vehicles For Real? DER 03/30/10
Mar 30th
The Daily Energy Report interviews Nancy Gioia, Director of Global Electrification for Ford Motor Company. We discuss the viability of electric and hybrid vehicles and what strategies Ford is taking to dominate the market.
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