General Electric has been building hybrids for many years. Its Evolution Series of locomotives are some of the most efficient currently on the market, and the giant company has plans for a replacement model using its own batteries soon. Also planned by GE is a move into the large truck market, where diesel hybrids are expected to become increasingly popular in the coming years. With all of this research and development already done for hybrid systems and the growing interest in the technology in the auto realm, Chrysler is looking to tap into some of that knowledge for an upcoming project for a "dual-battery energy storage system."

Though we're not entirely sure what this technology entails, we just reported that GE and Chrysler have gotten a bit of funding from the Department of Energy for further developments of the system. Considering the deep pockets that GE has, Chrysler seems wise to partner up with them, and the auto company already has ties to the energy conglomerate, as current Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli has served as a GE executive in the past. We anxious to see what "good things" this tie-in can bring to life.

[Sources: Automotive News, DOE]

Just as I thought I was recovering from the shock of the new Th!nk Ox concept announcement, today's press release from GE made me feel like I was caught up in a Ronco commercial, "But wait, there's more!" No, GE is not getting into Super Bass o' Matics. It sights are set on no less than the "global electrification of transportation". Toward this noble and glorious end they have announced a $4 million investment in Th!nk Global.

GE knows that good battery tech will be an integral part of the success of its transportation market objectives and its taking a decidedly synergistic approach. From the ongoing Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIRC) they disclosed that not only will A123Systems, producer of the patented Nanophosphate(TM) lithium-ion batteries, be able to draw on the research and technology development expertise of GE Global Research in Niskayuna, New York, but GE will sink a further $20 million to become the company's largest single investor.

$24 million may seem like a lot to you or I but it is still only part of the $100 million financial commitment GE has made to different companies in the past 18 months through its ecomagination(SM) initiative. For more on all the in and outs of the initiative and GE's investment arrangements check out the press release after the jump.

Al Gore made a guest appearance on the TV show "30 Rock" as part of NBC's Green Week. The story in the episode included Gore being told GE is making a "trash-powered car" and Alec Baldwin telling David Schwimmer to either get on board or he will wake up on that island with Phil Donahue and the "electric car." Sound like good TV? You can watch the entire thing in the video above.

[Source: Brightcove]

With all of our eco-conscious viewers who are concerned with the environment, I am sure that a few of you have some questions regarding GE's green technologies. Consider that GE makes jet engines and locomotives, along with a huge number of other products which cover the gamut of most everything each of us use each day. So, their CEO, Jeff Immelt, must have some interesting views regarding "the greening of America". If you have a question you'd like to ask him, why not go ahead and do it? According to this YouTube video, said GE CEO will be answering questions submitted by YouTube users on ecomagination.com at 5 pm ET / 2 pm PT on Thursday, May 24.

[Source: YouTube via Ecorazzi]

Click on the image for a gallery of high-res images of Hyundai's recyclable QarmaQ concept.

Click here to see Autoblog's much larger gallery.

We reported on Hyundai's recyclable QarmaQ concept back in mid-February. Now that the Geneva Motor Show is under way, Hyundai have released full details of the vehicle which was co-developed with GE Plastics. The QarmaQ Advanced Technology Demonstration Vehicle (aka 'concept') packs in 30 different environmentally progressive technologies which we will see more of as Hyundai selectively incorporates them into its new models between 2008 - 2014. The QarmaQ is said to be lighter, stronger and more economical than any current production CUV in its class. The extensive use of advanced composites and plastics also means that it also offers significant recycling advantages both in construction and eventual disassembly.

Saving weight was a key factor in the design of the vehicle with the most obvious example being the wrap-around windscreen. The GE Lexan material windscreen uses polycarbonate glazing materials and reduces weight by up to 50 percent compared to glass while simultaneously allowing bolder shapes to be formed. The tailgate also breaks new ground by being made as a one-piece component structure incorporating even the tail light assemblies through advanced bonding techniques to achieve higher integral strength matched with lower weight and simplified vehicle assembly.

Powering the plastic marvel is a Euro5 emission compliant advanced 2-litre diesel engine incorporating high pressure fuel injection and fine fuel spray atomization for higher torque and better power output. A Catalyzed Particulate Filter system dramatically reduces regulated emissions including NOx and particulate matter making the QarmaQ one of the cleanest diesels yet.

Analysis: Ok, I've got to say it - what is with that name? Supposedly "QarmaQ" is derived from traditional Inuit dwellings, constructed from earth, whalebone and animal skins. Whatever. Seriously, will someone please let me name Hyundai's concepts so that we can keep their engineers busy with things they're good at?

Apart from that though, I'm totally impressed with this effort which sounds like it has a lot in common with the advanced composite technologies used in the Chevy Volt concept. Thanks to extensive use of advanced materials, the QarmaQ is 60 kg / 132 lbs lighter than a comparable vehicle made with traditional materials which would cut annual greenhouse gas emissions by more than 200 kg.



Full press release after the jump including details of the QarmaQ's pedestrian safety technology.

Related:

• Geneva Preview: Hyundai's "environmentally friendly" CUV
• The Chevy Volt Concept: the inside story on its super-lightweight construction
• Geneva Preview: Hyundai's i30 and HED 4 concept CUV

[Source: Hyundai]

(Editor's note: to read the rest of Derrick's NextFest coverage, click here)



Overall, Wired's NextFest certainly wasn't the Paris Motor Show, nor was it meant to be. Instead, it was a gathering of new technologies in many different fields. On the positive side, I'd say that if there was any underlying theme other than new technologies, it would had to have been environmental reponsibility or sustainable green culture. Not every exhibit was focused on eco-friendliness, but a large portion of them were. I'd say close to one-third of the exhibits had something environmentally friendly to show which involved nearly half of the floor space (primarily due to the sheer size of GM's and GE's exhibits). What was great to see was that automotive and energy exhibits seemed to lead the way in environmental research and development.

Earlier, I gave focus to GM's portfolio of green machines, the fastest electric car in the world (which was built by Ohio State), Virginia Tech's Challenge X-leading E85-electric hybrid Equinox, Xof1's solar car aimed at breaking the world distance record, Carl Vogel's electric Harley, and Wheelsurf's mono-wheel, cycle-like recreational contraption. However, in this wrap-up, I'd like to at least mention a handful of other advanced vehicles that were present at NextFest: Noland's Bionic Dolphin, Newtsub's Deepworker 2000, General Electric's clean diesel train, AdRide bicycles and last but not least Paul Allen's SpaceShipOne.

Make the jump to keep reading. There are more pictures back there, too.

Ask any pragmatic member of the automotive community when we might see a hydrogen-powered vehicles (fuel cell or internal-combustion engine), and the answer will probably range from "several years" to "several decades". General Electric looks to be trying to push that towards the lower end of the range with a prototype electrolysis device that promises low-cost hydrogen.

GE has replaced certain expensive metal components in the electrolysis process with Noryl, an inexpensive thermoplastic (although not by the standards of the resin world!). We're guessing that this is Noryl GTX, which was developed for use in electrostatic paint processes and thus is electrically conductive by means of embedded carbon fibers. By doing so, the cost of hydrogen may potentially plummet from $8/kilogram to $3/kilogram, or what is said to be in the same realm as current gasoline prices (presumably, this still doesn't include the costs of storing the hydrogen in a practical "fuel tank").

As the saying goes - what should come quickly usually takes a lot longer than anyone thinks, and what looks to be way out on the horizon often appears much more quickly than anyone expects. The category that hydrogen happens to fall into remains to be seen.

[Source: Popular Mechanics]