June 8, 2008
Space Shuttle Crew Tests BMW Hydrogen Vehicle
Munich -- The Space Shuttle crew is getting a taste of the future of mobility at BMW. The astronauts, who normally head into space propelled by hydrogen, have adopted the role of earthbound passengers to experience the world's first hydrogen-powered saloon, the BMW Hydrogen 7.
It is an obvious move considering that NASA was already using the American fleet of these vehicles for test purposes at Cape Canaveral in autumn 2007. Commander Stephen Frick takes stock of his impressions: "It's impressive to see hydrogen functioning so smoothly in cars as well. What I find most striking is that a car running on hydrogen performs just as well as a petrol-driven model."
Continue reading"Space Shuttle Crew Tests BMW Hydrogen Vehicle"
Posted by Frank at 12:36 PM
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May 29, 2008
GM Announces California Public Policy Partners for Fuel Cell Project
DETROIT - As a further demonstration of its commitment to fuel cell technology, General Motors handed the keys to four Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell vehicles to a group of key government partners who are participating in Chevrolet's Project Driveway - the largest-ever market test of fuel cell-electric vehicles.
More than 100 electric vehicles, powered by hydrogen fuel cells, are being placed in the hands of drivers in New York, California and Washington, DC. Selected drivers include general public, media, influencers, celebrities, business and public policy partners.
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Posted by Frank at 10:46 AM
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May 28, 2008
DOE Takes Delivery of A Chevy Equinox Electric Vehicle Powered by a Hydrogen Fuel Cell
WASHINGTON, D.C. - With the addition of a Chevy Equinox fuel cell electric vehicle to its fleet of alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today joined the team of pioneers - from regular families to media, celebrities and businesses - helping to make fuel cell vehicles a reality.
For the next six months, DOE employees will use the Chevy Equinox electric vehicle to conduct day-to-day business while sharing real-world performance data.
Continue reading"DOE Takes Delivery of A Chevy Equinox Electric Vehicle Powered by a Hydrogen Fuel Cell"
Posted by Frank at 6:17 AM
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May 22, 2008
U.S. DOE and GM Select 17 College Teams For "EcoCAR" Competition
Washington - The U.S. Department of Energy, General Motors and Natural Resources Canada today announced the 17 teams selected to participate in EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge, a collegiate vehicle engineering competition set to begin in the Fall of 2008.
EcoCAR will challenge university engineering students across North America to re-engineer a Saturn VUE to achieve improved fuel economy and reduced green house gas emissions, while retaining the vehicle's performance and consumer appeal.
Continue reading"U.S. DOE and GM Select 17 College Teams For "EcoCAR" Competition"
Posted by Frank at 2:26 AM
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Challenge X Crosses the Finish Line
By Beth Lowery, Vice President, GM Environment, Energy & Safety Policy
Today I had the privilege of waving the checkered flag at the final Challenge X finish line.
The Mississippi State University Challenge X team with its Chevrolet Equinox
This is the second time in my life that I’ve been an official at an important race. Two years ago, I was the Official Starter at the GM FlexFuel 250 at Daytona International Speedway, which opened the 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.
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Posted by Frank at 1:24 AM
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May 21, 2008
Honda Expanding FCX Clarity Leasing Program
TORRANCE, Calif. -- Honda plans to deliver about 200 FCX Clarity hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles to customers in the first three years of production, with leases beginning in July, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today.
The lease program marks the world's first large-scale retail initiative for fuel cell vehicle technology, and Honda has begun the process of identifying customers from a group of over 50,000 individuals who have expressed interest in the FCX Clarity on the company's website.
Continue reading"Honda Expanding FCX Clarity Leasing Program"
Posted by Frank at 1:36 PM
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EcoCAR: The Next Competition from DOE and GM
EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge is a new national collegiate competition series that kicks off in the Fall of 2008.
Sponsored by the DOE and GM as well as Natural Resources Canada and others, EcoCAR will challenge university engineering students across North America to design and build advanced propulsion solutions that are based on the vehicle categories from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) regulations.
Continue reading"EcoCAR: The Next Competition from DOE and GM"
Posted by Frank at 12:35 PM
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Mississippi State Students Win GM and DOE Challenge X 2008 Competition
Washington, D.C. -- Mississippi State University, for the second consecutive year, has earned top honors in General Motors and the U.S. Department of Energy's Challenge X student engineering competition.
Over the past nine months, the 2008 Challenge X: Crossover to Sustainability competition challenged 17 university teams from the U.S. and Canada to reengineer a Chevrolet Equinox that employs advanced powertrain technologies.
Continue reading"Mississippi State Students Win GM and DOE Challenge X 2008 Competition"
Posted by Frank at 12:34 PM
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GM Partners with Discovery Channel on Planet Green
New York, N.Y. General Motors and Discovery Communications today unveiled a multifaceted GM advertising sponsorship of Planet Green, the first and only 24-hour eco-lifestyle network coming to 50 million homes beginning June 4.
For GM, the partnership includes premier sponsorship of the network's landmark series "Greensburg," various vehicle and program integrations, short-form content and an online component.
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Posted by Frank at 12:21 PM
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May 16, 2008
General Motors Powertrain Europe opens doors for Tech Show
Turin/Italy -- GM Powertrain Europe’s comprehensive Tech Show provides answers about how cars will be propelled in the future.
As part of the global GM Powertrain organization, GM Powertrain Europe has global responsibility for small diesel engines, diesel control systems, small gasoline engines and manual transmissions. Its footprint encompasses 15 facilities in 7 European countries, employing 9,000 people and producing on average more than 17,000 engines and transmissions per day.
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Posted by Frank at 8:28 AM
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May 13, 2008
GM Hosts Collegiate Advanced Tech Vehicles
Culminating four years of competition General Motors and the U.S. Department of Energy will host a finish line ceremony and press conference featuring vehicles from the collegiate engineering competition Challenge X: Crossover to Sustainable Mobility.
The event marks the end of the Challenge X competition and concludes a 350-mile road rally from New York City to Washington, D.C. Following the press conference, select vehicles will be available for brief ride and drive opportunities.
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Posted by Frank at 2:38 AM
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May 12, 2008
2008 Fuel Economy Guide Available for Download
The EPA has issued a comprehensive PDF guide to fuel economy of all 2008 vehicles, which you can download by right-clicking here.
In today's gas market, buyers are more sensitive than ever about buying cars that get good mileage, and more important, they want the government ratings to be as accurate as possible -- nobody wants to buy a vehicle that gets 10% worse mileage in the real world than the sticker rating.
To address this situation, the EPA has started using an updated test to assign more accurate MPG ratings to new vehicles, and you can learn about that by watching the video in this post.
Posted by Frank at 3:04 PM
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May 10, 2008
Survey: Quest for Fuel Efficiency Changing Americans' Car Consciousness
Detroit, Mich. – With rising gas prices, today’s car buyers admit fuel efficiency and diversity is not just a necessity, it’s also fashion forward.
If Americans had to choose between driving a car that was beautiful on the outside vs. one that was “greener” on the inside, nearly eight in 10 Americans (79 percent) who plan to buy or lease a car within the next two years would choose the greener car.
Continue reading"Survey: Quest for Fuel Efficiency Changing Americans' Car Consciousness"
Posted by Frank at 5:35 AM
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Student Teams Show Off "Green" Vehicles at New Jersey Ride and Drive
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and General Motors (GM) will host a behind-the-scenes opportunity to see the vehicles from the collegiate engineering competition Challenge X: Crossover to Sustainable Mobility in action.
The event is May 15, at Old Bridge Township Motorsports Park and is a stop on a road rally from New Jersey to Washington, D.C. Seventeen Chevrolet Equinoxes have been re-engineered by student teams using a range of cutting-edge clean vehicle technologies such as hybrid, plug-in or fuel cell propulsion systems.
Continue reading"Student Teams Show Off "Green" Vehicles at New Jersey Ride and Drive"
Posted by Frank at 5:03 AM
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May 2, 2008
GM Enlists D.C. Drivers to Test Hydrogen Vehicles
WASHINGTON, D.C. - At the Shell station on Benning Road Northeast, General Motors President and Chief Operating Officer, Fritz Henderson, presented the keys to the area's first motorists to be selected to test drive away in advanced technology hydrogen fuel cell powered Chevrolet Equinox electric vehicles.
Identified at the 2008 Washington Auto Show, Tom Albert of Alexandria, Va., and Nick Williams of Washington D.C., will join drivers from Southern California and the New York metropolitan area in GM's "Project Driveway" -- the world's largest fleet of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and first comprehensive market test of this innovative technology.
Continue reading"GM Enlists D.C. Drivers to Test Hydrogen Vehicles"
Posted by Frank at 6:20 AM
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