Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel has inaugurated the "first refinery of second generation" biofuels in Freiberg. The plant, owned by Choren, which partners with car companies VW and Daimler and the Shell oil company, produces BTL (biomass-to-liquid) fuel from any kind of biomass, such as wood chips, straw, weeds or leftover milk rejected by the agrofood industry.
The plans is to have the plant produce 18 million liters of Choren's Carbo-V (a type of biodiesel). Choren's Carbo-V is obtained through a sophisticated 3-step process (gasification, gas treatment and hydrocracking) which transforms any kind of biomass into a biodiesel-like fuel ready to be used in diesel vehicles without further modification. If successful, Choren will spend 1 billion euros in a bigger plant to produce 200,000 million liters of BTL fuel per year.
Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche is bullish on the adoption of diesel in the United States. At the ECO:nomics conference, Zetsche told the Wall Street Journal that Daimler is very happy with its diesel accomplishments over the last two years (see video below the fold). According to Zetsche, in the states where they are currently available, Daimler's diesel SUVs are showing twenty percent take rates and diesel cars are showing twelve percent take rates. Zetsche is confident Daimler will see the same share when diesel is offered in all 50 states. While very popular in Europe (where around half the cars are oil burners), diesel has yet to take hold in America, where only 3.5 percent of new car sales are diesels.
In the video, Zetsche was also asked about the public's unwillingness to pay for higher fuel economy. Zetsche said he thinks the public is only willing to pay for fuel saving technology that can be paid back in a short time, three to four years at the most. On the economy, Zetsche said the slowdown has not had much impact on Daimler's business so far. This means that Daimler customers are not jumping on the subway, at least not the ones that sell real estate, he joked.
The A-1 looks like a competent subcompact and rumors are that it's going to be sold under the Dodge brand in places like Mexico. Nevertheless, it is Chery's partnership with Austrian company AVL that will be bringing the technology to make this car meet the Euro IV standards, something the environment should appreciate. You know, if it were a sentient being that could appreciate things.
The A-1 is powered by a 1.3-liter, 4-cyl, 83 HP engine. There are some official pics in the gallery below and you can find more shots of the newest model by our colleages at Autoblog in Chinese here.
Once upon a time Zap had a dream to import the Smart ForTwo to the U.S. market. Unfortunately for Zap, that plan didn't work out and Smart's parent Daimler ultimately did a deal with Roger Penske to be the U.S. distributor for Smart. Zap decided not to take this lying down and ultimately filed a lawsuit in 2005 against Daimler (then DaimlerChrysler) alleging the German company interfered with their business (need more background? click here). So far Zap has had no success in U.S. courts, with both a trial court and appeals court ruling they had no jurisdiction over Daimler in the case. Undaunted, Zap is now going to the California Supreme Court hoping to get them to reverse the previous rulings. Zap hopes for a ruling in about three months.
We have covered already what jatropha is: a promising crop which can be cultivated on barren land that does not compete with food production and from which you can obtain oil (with a quality similar to rapeseed) to make biodiesel. A lot of research is being done on making jathropa a viable source for biofuels.
Three important companies have teamed up to see how good this plant can be. Daimler will investigate how this type of biodiesel affects engines, ADM has expertise in biodiesel production and Bayer CropScience will investigate how this plant can be grown and will develop herbicides, insecticides and fungicides for it. Are three minds better than one here?
Deutsche Welle English has a great video on YouTube called Made in Germany | Top Secret: Experimental Vehicles that includes a look at a DaimlerChrysler hybrid engine still in development. Fire your corporate spies top American automakers and just watch this video above that includes passing a key card locked door with a "no cameras" warning symbol before entering the DaimlerChrysler lab. After making sure the voltage is off, they go inches away from the hybrid engine, take close up shots and the staff just starts talking about it. All the reporter gets is that it's four cylinders before you see them really start to back off on giving out any details.
The video above also includes the design of the cork interior to the vehicle which became the F-700, the DaimlerChrysler concept limo with DaimlerChrysler DiesOtto enging. The video is a little dated because it was uploaded by Deutsche Welle in September 2007 and the F700 was shown at 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show. With Detroit Auto Show coming up, I thought it was still very interesting to see how a car made it from sketch to car show floor. The video above is part 2 of 4 and you can watch remaining videos below. Enjoy!
Daimler's CEO Dieter Zetsche said that the proposed CO2 emission limits for 2012 (120 g/km) are "unattainable". He also stated that politicians don't realise how difficult that limit will be to reach because the cars that will be on sale in 2012 are " actually at the end of their development cycle and can't be substantially changed. In order to achieve that limit, it should have been set up before, but that's something politicians don't want to listen to".
Despite these words, he said that Daimler AG is actually committed to protect the environment and reduce carbon emissions, although he sees hydrogen as the sole real future option for pollution-free motoring. Remarkably, he also stated that with just one percent of the world's hydrogen production, one million fuel-cell vehicles could be powered per year. He also announced that the company is working on Li-Ion batteries, although he believes that "buyers don't really want electric cars" (he should read AutoblogGreen readers' comments to change his mind).
Zetsche also spoke about Daimler's expectations for the U.S. sales of the Smart (which could lead to profits at Smart for the first time in 10 years), a new CUV based on the C-Class and new more compact supercharged powertrains to reduce fuel consumption.
This can be called a case of greenwashing or simply an honest declaration of good intentions. The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), has issued a formal declaration supporting and encouraging the UN-sponsored ministerial talks on climate change in Bali, Indonesia. The letter is signed by the members' CEOs.
In the ACEA's press release (which you can find after the jump), the group describes their efforts to make more efficient cars and hopes for a collaboration with legislators to create policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The CEOs clearly ask for policies that encourage the purchase of cars with "carbon-lowering technologies," advanced technologies and sustainable alternative fuels. The also say that they spend a lot of money on technology (20 billion EUR), so they also ask for R&D support.
The ACEA was founded in 1991 and represents the interests of the thirteen European car, truck and bus makers: BMW, DAF, Daimler, Fiat, Ford, GM, MAN, Porsche, PSA, Renault, Scania, Volkswagen and Volvo
German car manufacturers BMW, Daimler and Porsche have won quite an unsympathetic award: Worst European Lobbyists of the year, right after the German Atomic Energy Forum.
These automakers' campaign was awarded "excellent" (say it in a high-irony voice) to press for "the delay and dilution" of the introduction of lower CO2 emission limits. They were voted in by almost one-third of the 6,700 voters for the award. The original draft of the EU Commission stated that new cars should lower their average CO2 grams per kilometer from 160 to 120. The manufacturers and their associations claimed that it was going to be runious for their industry, which would lose thousands of jobs, so they got Ms. Angela Merkel's help to raise the limit to 130 g/km, with exceptions for certain classes.
The video above shows a group of Belgian environmentalists (I couldn't get their name from the video or user) giving flowers to the winners, whose offices aren't far from the European Union headquarters in Brussels.
If new CO2 emissions limits do get enacted in the EU soon, the French and Italian automakers will be in the best position to meet them soonest. A new study of the largest automakers emissions in 2005 and 2006 showed that PSA/Peugeot-Citroen led the way last year with an average of only 142 g/km for their fleet followed by Fiat and Renault at 144 and 147 respectively. DaimlerChrysler was at the opposite end of the scale actually increasing emissions by 2.8 percent to 188 g/km which might be related to the 4.1 percent increase in their average vehicle weight. BMW was the next worst at 184 g/km, which is at least was an improvement of 2.5 percent. Volkswagen also increased slightly although they are still at 166 g/km.
Transport and Environment, an environmental group based in Brusses, launched a report last Thursay showing that the average CO2 emissions from new cars made by German manufacturers rose in 2006, while French and Italian automakers actually cut emissions from their vehicles. In numbers: new German cars pollute 0.6 percent more than in 2005 while French and Italians reduced exhaust gases by 1.6 percent.
What these figures show is the big divergence between makers: German automakers have bigger cars, usually in the premium segments, while other European manufacturers have specialized in smaller, more efficient vehicles. For instance, Renault and Fiat used to have large sedans but haven't built them for a while because at that price, buyers were choosing a "premium" German brand. Citroën/Peugeot still makes big sedans, but they aren't star-sellers outside France for the same reason.
That being said, remember that the European Parliament is discussing legislation, due in December, to require average CO2 emissions under 120 g/km. Carmakers will be required to achieve 130 g/km with engine technology alone, while the use of biofuels will help lower that figure to the desired 120. Current targets, established by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, are 140 g/km for 2008.
For many years, Zap! and DaimlerChrysler have been in and out of court over a large order of Smart cars (see this USA Today article from March 2006 for a bit of history). Basically, in 2005, Zap ordered a $1 billion batch of Smart cars but ran into trouble when it actually tried to get their hands on them and sell them. This week, that court battle continued when the Court of Appeal for the State of California heard oral arguments in a lawsuit brought by Zap! against DaimlerChrysler, Smart GMBH and Smart Chairman Ulrich Walker. As our tipster Domenick says, "This could get interesting." Zap! has issued a press release about the court proceedings, and says we should have a decision in the case, which revolves around which jurisdiction should actually hear Zap!'s case, in the next 90 days. Smart itself will begin selling the Smart ForTwo in the U.S. in January.
Here's how Zap! describes the current legal situation:
In the preceding year and a half, the defendants have engaged in activity that inadvertently proves the truth of those initial allegations made against them by ZAP. ZAP's initial complaint alleged that the defendants engaged in unlawful actions in order to eliminate ZAP as a competitor in the California market. Since the trial court dismissal on jurisdictional grounds, defendants have proven their true intentions to bring the Smart ForTwo to California and to eliminate any competition standing in its way. (there's more after the break)
Read more about Zap!'s Americanized Smart car here. We'll keep an eye out for the court's decision when it comes down. Alternately, we'll wait for Domenick to tip us. :)
Daimler-Benz's branch for buses and industrial trucks (Daimler Trucks and Daimler Buses) has introduced 16 new buses and trucks with different driving systems and "greener" fuels. This introduction follows the manufacturer's guidelines to reducing emissions and fuel consumption. These vehicles belong to all the group's brands: Freightliner, Mitsubishi Fuso, Mercedes-Benz, Orion and Thomas Built Buses. The vehicles were introduced at Mercedes-Benz museum in Stuttgart (Germany).
As part of the display, the company highlighted new hybrid technologies. Daimler considers them a keystone for reducing fuel consumption by 30 percent. At the same time, emissions can be reduced by about the same amount. Thus far, Daimler hybrid sales have been noticeable: 1,500 Orion buses, more than 100 Freighliner trucks, and 200 Fuso trucks and cars. The company has also sold more than 1,500 Mercedes CNG (Compressd Natural Gas) buses and trucks.
Andreas Renschler, board member of Daimler, said that these trucks are an important step for the company to offer even greener vehicles. He also announced that the new hybrid powertrains will be introduced in new models and regions. Such is the case of Freightliner, which is expected to build 1,500 hybrid M2 trucks, and Thomas Built, which is launching a hybrid school bus before the end of 2007. Finally, a second generation of the Mitsubishi Fuso Aero Star Eco will appear in three years time, while the first Mercedes-Benz Atego BlueTec vehicles are going to be sold next year in Germany, France and the Czech Republic.
Ballard says they have finalized the rumored deal to sell their auto fuel cell unit, called Burnaby, which includes 113 employees (20 percent of the company's workforce). Ballard will sell the unit to Ford and Daimler for a swap of 34.3 million Ballard shares, worth $168 million and a new company will be formed. As we mentioned earlier today, the new auto fuel cell company will be owned 50.1 percent owned by Daimler, 30 percent by Ford and 19.9 percent by Ballard. Ford and Daimler will invest $60 million in the company with another $60 million investment from Ballard.
In the video above, Ballard president and CEO John Sheridan talks about shifting Ballard's focus from fuel cell for cars to back-up electricity systems, residential co-generation power supply and forklifts. Sheridan says fuel cells for cars are far out in the future and will cost a lot. In the video John is asked "does this mean the fuel cell vehicle dream is over?" John says "no, not at all. The fuel cell dream is very much alive and I think it's going to be a key part of all our futures." John continues, saying again that it's going to take a lot of money and time, like 8 to 12 years.
Daimler AG and Ford Motor Company today announced the creation of a new company called Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation (AFCC) devoted to the development of fuel cells. The new company also includes a third partner, Ballard Power Systems. The majority stakeholder of the company is Daimler (50.1 percent), followed by FoMoCo (30 percent) and Ballard (19.9 percent).
Both car companies firmly believe that fuel cells remain the most viable solutions to produce a zero-emission vehicle and they're aiming to make it a reliable and affordable technology for creating energy. Ballard's interest in this partnership is relieving its focus from the automotive fuel cell and emphasize their future efforts on the marketing of non-automotive fuel cell applications.
The press release also mentions near-term intentions of mass producing fuel cell vehicles. Daimler introduced its first fuel cell car in 1994 and currently has more than 100 vehicles on the road with this technology. On the other hand, Ford is testing 30 Focus in seven cities.
Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche is bullish on the adoption of diesel in the United States. At the ECO:nomics conference, Zetsche told the Wall Street Journal that Daimler is very happy with its diesel accomplishments over the last two years (see video below the fold). According to Zetsche, in the states where they are currently available, Daimler's diesel SUVs are showing twenty percent take rates and diesel cars are showing twelve percent take rates. Zetsche is confident Daimler will see the same share when diesel is offered in all 50 states. While very popular in Europe (where around half the cars are oil burners), diesel has yet to take hold in America, where only 
We have covered already what jatropha is: a promising crop which can be cultivated on barren land that does not compete with food production and from which you can obtain oil (with a quality similar to rapeseed) to make biodiesel. A lot of research is being done on making jathropa a viable source for biofuels.
The video above also includes the design of the cork interior to the vehicle which became the F-700, the DaimlerChrysler concept limo with 
_thumbnail.jpg "Beijing 2008: BYD e6")
