Coca-Cola and its bottlers are increasing the number of hybrid vehicles they use in their sales and delivery fleets. By the end of this year, Coke's sales fleet of 800 vehicles will contain 550 hybrids (as of now, it has 325), and by the end of next year the entire fleet should be hybridized. The Atlanta-based soft drink giant's green fleet includes the Toyota Prius, Camry Hybrid, and Highlander Hybrid along with the Ford Escape Hybrid. Similarly, both Coca-Cola Enterprises and Coca-Cola Consolidated, the company's #1 and #2 bottlers respectively, are following suit with plans to add more hybrid cars and SUVs through next year. Coca-Cola Enterprises also operates 120 diesel-electric hybrid trucks in its larger 20,000-vehicle delivery fleet. According to a representative quoted in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, fuel prices are a huge concern for Coke, and the hybrids are less costly to operate. The biggest impact is likely to be made as Coke's bottlers leverage hybrid trucks for deliveries. Coca-Cola Enterprises' pilot fleet showed that the hybrid trucks' emissions and fuel consumption are a third lower than their traditionally-powered counterparts. With fuel prices on a steady climb, that kind of savings gets the attention of the decision-makers in the boardroom.
Click the new Mercedes diesel for a high res gallery
Sure, diesels are already widely available all over the world. One reason is that diesel engines are simply more efficient than gasoline engines. Consider the fact that a diesel engine is capable of running on biodiesel and green-minded drivers can make a strong argument in diesel's favor. Perhaps what is most important, though, is that diesel vehicles would require no major changes to the current energy infrastructure, meaning that diesel-powered vehicles could be one of the simplest possible ways to reduce the amount of oil that the world consumes. Holding them back, though, are costly exhaust after-treatment technologies that are needed to put the clean into clean diesel. Since these systems are less expensive than some of the rest of the items on our list, diesel engines fall right in the middle of the pack.
Mercedes-Benz CEO Dieter Zetsche told Motor Trend this week that increased cost was not going to be an issue for his company to meet new fuel economy standards. Obviously getting improved efficiency out of powertrains would make them more expensive as they have to meet U.S. CAFE and European CO2 emissions limits. However, while U.S. executives like Bob Lutz are talking about adding $5,000 or more to the price to meet 35mpg standards, Zetsche looks at it differently. The use of clean diesels, HCCI DiesOtto engines, hybrids and fuel cells will raise prices. The higher initial purchase price will be offset for customers through reduced operating costs. According to Zetsche, if the cost premium can be recovered through fuel savings in the first 3-4 years of driving than customers will be satisfied. Mercedes also intends to protect their ten percent profit margins through increased efficiencies in other areas of the vehicle. That probably means that Mercedes owners will give up some features for improved efficiency. Of course for a premium brand like Mercedes, it's a lot easier to talk about protecting margins than it is for mainstream brands like GM and Ford. Being largely rid of the burden of Chrysler probably doesn't hurt either. Finally Zetsche says an S-Class diesel hybrid will debut in two years with DiesOtto engines about 3-5 years out.
Peugeot may well be the first team to run a hybrid vehicle at Le Mans and it looks like it will be a diesel, too. New Peugeot CEO recently told the French paper L'Equipe that a diesel-hybrid prototype is currently under development and that it may make some trial runs as soon as this June at Le Mans. Collin also said the car would begin racing in 2009. Peugeot Sport team manager Serge Saulnier, however, is being a little more cautious, acknowledging that a diesel hybrid is in the works. However, Saulnier would not confirm when the car would appear in public. Peugeot has already shown several diesel hybrid concepts based on production 307s and 308s and has acknowledged that they are planning to introduce such a powertrain in the next few years. Toyota may also be making a return to Le Mans as soon as 2010 possibly with a gas-electric hybrid. Let's just hope they bring some of these cars over to the American Le Mans Series and really spice things up.
If you read our previous update regarding the Aptera, you already know that the company is now taking deposits on their futuristic three-wheeled machine. I was able to get in contact with Steve Fambro, the man behind the Aptera, and I'll share some design and technical details in this post. With production of the Aptera expected to start in October, there are still some details that must remain confidential. But, the good news is that you are likely to get more information here than you've gotten anywhere else up to this point. Steve believes that aerodynamics will start to shape our vehicles in the future much more than they do now. Many who see the Aptera believe it looks much like an airplane, and this is no coincidence -- it's because the shape has been honed by the wind. So, in a way, Steve believes that the introduction of the Aptera marks a jump into the future of automotive design in more ways than just the alternative powertrain.
For the details on this exciting alternative to your mainstream automotive market, click past the break!
The world's second-largest truck company, Volvo AB, has agreed to buy Nissan Diesel Motor Co. for $1.1 billion in a bid to gain a greater foothold in the booming Asian market. Asia has been a weak spot for Volvo thus far, comprising just seven percent of its sales in 2006. By buying Japan's fourth largest truck producer, Volvo should be able to establish a far more secure position through Nissan's regional brand name and production capabilities.
Shares were up slightly in Volvo and hugely in Nissan Diesel indicating the market's largely positive acceptance of the news. The purchase will also give Volvo access to technology Nissan Diesel has developed to reduce engine emissions, a fact that is likely to gain importance as more countries implement stringent clean air legislation. Other synergies are likely to follow with Nissan Diesel having said that it should be able to bring down purchasing costs by as much as 20 percent per annum by joint purchasing parts with Volvo. On the drawing board for the combined companies is a jointly developed diesel-electric hybrid powertrain and research into alternative fuels including ethanol.
Analysis: This type of consolidation is increasingly likely over the coming years as the cost of R&D on next-generation powertrain technologies increases. Good to see plans to bring more diesel-electric hybrid trucks to market.
Volvo Trucks, which has full control of the Mack Trucks brand in North America and Renault Trucks in Europe, will be showing off an example of their hybrid diesel–electric D7 engine and I-SAM (Integrated Starter, Alternator Motor) drivetrain system at the Commercial Vehicle Show to be held in Birmingham, U.K. in late April.
The D7 engine and I-SAM have been developed in-house by Volvo and is a parallel hybrid system where the diesel engine and electric motors can work independently of each other. Thanks to efficient interaction between the two power sources, a smaller diesel engine can be used without compromising on performance. Incorporating regenerative breaking, the system is also highly efficient in stop-start urban environments where tests results have indicated that fuel savings of up to 35 are possible. Other features of the system are significant reductions in emissions and noise levels.
Also on display at the Volvo stand will be the recently-launched 540 hp / 402 kW version of the new Volvo FH16 truck as well as examples of the new FL and FE ranges, making their first appearance at the CV Show.
Analysis: 35 percent is a massive fuel saving around urban centres where the reduction in emissions will also be really appreciated. We first covered the D7 back in August last year and its good to see it's now on the market. I want to see government agencies as a start mandating use of hybrid trucks for their own fleets to send a positive message to the market.
Click on the image for a gallery of high-res images of the Volvo C30 concept.
German auto website, Autobild, is reporting that Volvo is working on a plug-in diesel-electric hybrid with a similar powertrain design to the Chevy Volt concept unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show in early January. Like GM's E-Flex platform, the C30 will be driven by electric motors which run off a battery pack with a range of 50 to 60 kilometres. Once the batteries run down, a diesel engine fires up to run a generator which in turn recharges the batteries. Additionally, the C30 will have plug-in capabilities for overnight charging.
Currently under development in Volvo's California development centre, the hybrid C30 is to be presented Autumn this year at the Challenge Bibendum international sustainable mobility event in Shanghai.
Diesel is renowned for its fuel efficiency when running at a constant rate, hence diesel vehicle's great fuel economy on the highway. Utilising a diesel engine as a range-extended for the on-board battery pack should yield exceptional diesel fuel efficiency as well as near-zero emissions for shorter trips which utilise the batteries only.
Analysis: This development appears to encompass all the excitement of the innovative E-Flex plug-in electric platform, matched with the practicality of a highly efficient diesel engine. Plus, while the C30 is still a concept car, it looks closer to production than the radical Volt. Volvo and Ford might steal GM's thunder yet.
Hot on the heals of the announcement that Wal-Mart is researching dual-mode, diesel-electric drivetrains in its massive truck fleet is the news that Volvo Group has proven its I-SAM hybrid truck technology. Volvo Group, in partnership with the US Air Force has shown that its I-SAM (Integrated Starter Alternator Motor) technology can deliver fuel savings of up to 35 percent, depending on application and driving conditions in heavy-duty applications.
Volvo's Mack Trucks has received four contracts from the US Air Force to develop hybrid-powered trucks, a number of which will be built in 2007. Customer field testing and eventual production is scheduled for 2008 through 2009 with a potential heavy-duty hybrids market of around 300,000 vehicles waiting for the technology's arrival. Volvo's heavy-duty hybrid trucks pair a traditional diesel engine with an electric motor via a Volvo I-Shift automated mechanical transmission. The electric motor can generate around 160hp / 119 kW and works in conjunction with a power/electronics box; an energy storage box; and a powertrain control unit to provide instant torque, which helps improve efficiency.
When most people think of hybrid vehicles, the Prius, or other similar petrol-electric passenger vehicles come to mind. But there is another hybrid revolution under way in the stop-start world of transit buses; hybrid diesel-electrics. Around 20 percent of all transit buses are now hybrid diesel-electric models. In comparison to hybrids making up just 1.5 percent of U.S. car and light-truck sales.
DaimlerChrysler's Orion brand has the lion's share of the market with almost 60 percent of hybrid diesel-electric city bus sales into North America and offers 30-foot, 35-foot and 40-foot Orion VII models that meet all 2007 EPA standards. The installed base of hybrid buses in North America is expected to grow by over 70 percent in the next year alone.
Hybrid diesel-electric technology really makes sense for city buses considering that the average speed of transit buses in New York is just 7mph. All the stopping and starting allows the regenerative breaking to keep the batteries running for longer and the lowered emissions is a boon in modern, smoggy cities. Greenhouse gas emissions are 30 percent lower on hybrid diesel-electric Orion buses in comparison to their diesel-only variants. The recent introduction of ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) is another important factor that really helps make these vehicles very city friendly.
Other advantages of hybrid diesel-electric technology are that engine noise is lowered, engine wear and tear is reduced, there is no roll-back on hills and acceleration is smoother and quicker.
Auto Express is reporting that Citroen has introduced a working prototype of a consumer diesel-electric hybrid vehicle in the form of a converted Berlingo called the Efficient-C. This unique drive train is presumably what French Prime Minister David Mendibourne had in mind when he pledged to support the concept, though, Auto Express states it is the outcome of a collaborative British government-funded project that includes PSA Peugeot Citroen, Ricardo and QinetiQ.
The Berlingo Efficient-C's 92 bhp 1.6-liter turbodiesel and electric motor achieve a combined 75 mpg as well as a 30 percent improvement in CO2 emissions over a comparable diesel-only drive train as it emits just 99 g/km. In comparison, Toyota's Prius spews 104 g/km of CO2.
Auto Express predicts that Europeans should see the drive train hit the market in the next-generation C4 in 2010. As for the infamous dual-impact premium that has driven other automakers away from developing the concept, Citroen estimates that the Efficient-C adds £3,000 to the price of a standard Berlingo, but hopes that by the time it's ready for release the cost of the technology will wither to about 50 percent of that.
Coca-Cola and its bottlers are increasing the number of hybrid vehicles they use in their sales and delivery fleets. By the end of this year, Coke's sales fleet of 800 vehicles will contain 550 hybrids (as of now, it has 325), and by the end of next year the entire fleet should be hybridized. The Atlanta-based soft drink giant's green fleet includes the Toyota Prius, Camry Hybrid, and Highlander Hybrid along with the Ford Escape Hybrid. Similarly, both Coca-Cola Enterprises and Coca-Cola Consolidated, the company's #1 and #2 bottlers respectively, are following suit with plans to add more hybrid cars and SUVs through next year. Coca-Cola Enterprises also operates 120 diesel-electric hybrid trucks in its larger 20,000-vehicle delivery fleet. According to a representative quoted in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, fuel prices are a huge concern for Coke, and the hybrids are less costly to operate. The biggest impact is likely to be made as Coke's bottlers leverage hybrid trucks for deliveries. Coca-Cola Enterprises' pilot fleet showed that the hybrid trucks' emissions and fuel consumption are a third lower than their traditionally-powered counterparts. With fuel prices on a steady climb, that kind of savings gets the attention of the decision-makers in the boardroom. 
