Volkswagen Shows the Future of Clean Vehicles at Sustainability Summit by Anthony Fontanelle

At the Designing Sustainable Mobility Summit, Volkswagen showcased their lineup of clean cars. The summit is being held at the Art Center College of Design which is located in Southern California. The conference facilitates the sharing of ideas of transportation experts and designers on the development of technology that will make future car designs friendlier to the environment.

At the said event Volkswagen of America offers those in attendance the chance to experience the present technology being developed by the car manufacturer. Among the cars that attendees will have the chance to drive is a car that runs on biodiesel or a combination of biodiesel and ultra low sulfur diesel fuel. A car that runs on hydrogen will also be present along with those cars that are equipped with highly efficient gasoline engines.

The car maker's goal in letting the participants of the summit drive the said cars is to emphasize that the use of alternative fuel is not just applicable in theory. Volkswagen aims to show that the technology is already present and it is working already. It is just a matter of time before cars such as the ones showcased will start rolling out of their assembly plants for use of the anticipating public. "It's important to demonstrate that raising the bar in such important areas as fuel efficiency and emission reduction isn't just accomplished with exotic or future-oriented technologies," Ron Cogan said. Cogan is the editor and publisher of the Green Car Journal, the host of the summit's ride-and-drive segment. "Volkswagen's demonstration of its clean diesel and twin charger engines provides real-world examples of environmentally positive technologies that are opening on highways today," he further adds.

During the event, Volkswagen will be offering their Touareg V-10 TDI engine which runs on B5 biodiesel. The fuel is a mixture of conventional ultra low sulfur diesel fuel and biodiesel. The combination provides power for the engine while releasing only a small amount of harmful gas in its exhaust. In connection with the development of Volkswagen of their vehicles that run on biodiesel, they are offering an extended warranty to further promote the use of biodiesel. Their effort to produce vehicles which run on alternative fuel helps in the preservation of the world's fossil fuel reserves. The Touareg will be available for the summit's attendees to drive on public roads. Such would be done so as to show how well a car running on alternative fuel performs.

Also present in the event and available for participants to drive is Volkswagen's highly efficient twin charger engine that is currently being developed by the car maker. The powerplant provides great power packed in a relatively small engine. The high level of power being produced by the engine is due to its use of a supercharger and a turbocharger system. The engine's supercharger aids the engine during low rpm ratings while the turbocharger kicks in at mid-range revs per minute and higher. The said engine is already being used in Europe and has received much praise for its gas mileage rating. The car manufacturer is considering introducing the engine in the United States market. The engine's performance can also be complemented with high quality parts like EBC Redstuff brake pads.

Volkswagen's Touran HyMotion hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicle will also be showcased. The Touran is a concrete example of Volkswagen's dedication in the development of zero emission vehicles. For almost ten years now, the car maker has exerted efforts in the development of practical hydrogen fuel cells that can be used for mass produced vehicles. The Touran uses high-temperature fuel cells that are compact, light and very durable. The development of such hydrogen fuel cells can cut down the manufacturing cost which will make mass production possible and practical.

About the Author

Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive.buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.

Europe's Largest Automaker Joins Designing Sustainable Mobility Summit by Natalie Anderson

In the news: US subsidiary of Volkswagen is giving a high profile to vehicles with lower environmental impact at the Designing Sustainable Mobility Summit held at the Art Center College of Design in Southern California. At the summit designers and other transportation experts from various countries will share their ideas on how to make future mobility more environmentally attuned.

In connection with this objective, Volkswagen has offered attendees and Art Center students the chance to experience driving VW models that are equipped with only the top-of-the-line Volkswagen parts like the popular Volkswagen ignition coil and have engines specially designed to run on biodiesel, ultra low sulfur diesel and hydrogen. These VW models have highly efficient gasoline engines that are perfect for cruising on public roads.

By allowing participants of the Summit to drive some of the very technologies that they are pursuing makes it more meaningful and at the same time boosts awareness on the importance of environmentally friendly vehicles.

According to Ron Cogan editor and publisher of the Green Car Journal which is hosting the Summit's ride and drive, "It's important to demonstrate that raising the bar in such important areas as fuel efficiency and emissions reduction isn't just accomplished with exotic or future-oriented technologies. Volkswagen's demonstrating of its clean diesel and twin charger engines provide real-world examples of environmentally positive technologies that are operating on highways today."

For the Summit's ride and drive, Europe largest automaker is fielding a Touareg V10 TDI running on B5 biodiesel which is a mixture of conventional ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel and renewable biodiesel. Diesel fuel that includes a mix of biodiesel burns cleaner and help displace fossil fuel use which contributes to energy diversity. Volkswagen has also extended its warranty protection to its models operating on B5 biodiesel to encourage more customers to use a cleaner fuel.

In addition an advance preview of the twin charger gasoline engine Jetta which is still in development is also being offered. The Jetta's TSI engine would provide higher power output derived from a smaller displacement engine and at the same time achieve greater fuel efficiency and lower emissions. The TSI is famous in Europe and now being considered for distribution in the US. The TSI also makes use of a supercharger to give its engine that extra boost at lower rpms while its exhaust driven turbocharger provides mid-range rpms or higher.

Also presented at the Summit was Volkswagen's Touran HyMotion hydrogen fuel cell vehicle that does not only embodies the automaker's interest in zero-emission fuel but also showcases the company's breakthrough high temperature fuel cell. The zero-emission fuel is the result of a decade long hydrogen vehicle development that produces a more compact, lighter, and more durable fuel cell system. This technology is expected to make fuel cell powertrains more economical making mass production in the future possible.

The environmentally adept vehicles and activities that Volkswagen is sponsoring simply show the company's commitment in protecting and preserving nature. And because of the company's dedication in pursuing a "greener and safer" world, Volkswagen of America was named the "Industry's most environmentally friendly automaker" by the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Alternative Powertrain Study.

Volkswagen has also received the EU Commission's European Business Award for the Environment for its innovative SiCon recycling process.

About the Author

Growing up with three brothers, Natalie Anderson became exposed early to the world of automobiles. This 29-year-old account manager now dreams of having her very own top-of-the-line vintage car.

DaimlerChrysler's Commitment to Alternative Fuels Outlined by Anthony Fontanelle

Joining the throng of car makers dedicated to help ease the world's dependence on fossil fuels is DaimlerChrysler, the largest truck manufacturer in the world. At the National Biodiesel Board Annual Conference, Deb Morrissett, the Vice President of Regulatory Affairs for the said company, persuades the growing biodiesel industry to carry on their commitment to develop a natural standard for B20 as car makers are focusing their attention on developing and producing vehicles that will use run on alternative fuels.
The challenge to create a national specification for biodiesel is issued by Morrissett while stating that doing so would speed up the adoption of biodiesel. He further added that doing so would also help in the harnessing and directing the diverse research and investment efforts put into the development of such alternative fuel. He said that biodiesel should have a national fuel specification just like other fuels. "I'm looking forward to the time when anyone can fuel up with B20, but we're not there yet," he also added.
Morrissett also encouraged the industry to stay tuned for the company is intending to build on their diesel engine leadership for the coming future. They would do this with help from their partners like Cummins. As a sign of the company's dedication to produce vehicles that will run on more environment friendly fuel, they have unveiled their Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 vehicles which come equipped with a 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel engine. This engine can run on B5 and B20 biodiesel. The said vehicles will become available in the market in March this year. The two trucks already meet emission standards that will be implemented in 2010 and this simply shows the company's dedication to make their trucks not only to be high performance vehicles but are also safe just like EBC brake pads.
The company's dedication to lessen the dependence on fossil fuel does not end in their use of efficient and clean diesel engines but they are also one of the car manufacturers which are developing the use of alternative fuels on their vehicles. A concrete example of this is the usage of B5 fuel of their Jeep Liberty and Jeep Grand Cherokee models. Both vehicles are approved for regular use of the B5 biodiesel fuel. Furthermore, their 2007 Dodge Ram can run on B20 biodiesel fuel and can be used for commercial, government, and military fleets.
Their support for the alternative fuel industry does not end there either. The company is planning to develop and produce cars that would be equipped with efficient gasoline engines, hybrid cars, flex-fuel vehicles which can run on gasoline as well as alternative fuel like bio-ethanol, electric vehicles and a test fleet of more than 100 fuel cell powered vehicles.
Their commitment to produce flexi-fuel vehicles will see them producing 250,000 units of the said vehicle which can run on E85 fuel - a fuel that is a mixture of gasoline and bio-ethanol. The 85 in the E85 stands for the percentage of bio-ethanol in the fuel which means that the E85 is 85 percent bio-ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. The flexi-fuel vehicles that DaimlerChrysler will produce can also run on conventional gasoline efficiently. The company aims to double the production of their FFV fleet to 500,000 units in 2008.
During the conference, Loren Beard, manager of Fuel Legislation, Regulation and Policy, along with Scott Schramm, Manager of Regulatory and Technical Affairs, also tackled engine warranty issues, OEM experience with alternative fuels and how to deal with new regulations. The National Biodiesel Board Conference was held last February 5 in San Antonio, Texas.
About the Author
Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.

Partnership Aims to Produce 1 Million Gallons of Biodiesel by Anthony Fontanelle

Following the recently released study by Emerging Markets Online about the major role that biodiesel will play in the future, two companies have formed a partnership to produce a million gallons of biodiesel in Washington State. Imperium Renewables, one of the largest producers of biodiesel has formed a partnership with Natural Selection Farms to produce biodiesel from canola oil which is produced by the agricultural farm. The deal saw the biggest purchase agreement for canola oil produced in the Washington State. The partnership also increased the involvement of the agricultural sector of the state with the increasing market of alternative fuels and biodiesel specifically.
The partnership comes hot on the heels of the release of the case study undertaken by Emerging Markets Online. The study revealed that the US has the fastest growing production and consumption rate of biodiesel. The collaboration between the Natural Selection Farms and the biodiesel producer is one of the reasons why the US market is set to overtake the European Union as the world's leader in the production of such alternative fuel. As of today, there are seventy major plants that produce biodiesel including those owned by Imperium Renewables. The target 1 million gallons of biodiesel will help increase the number of retail sites which have now tripled from 2005's numbers.
Imperium Renewables founder and president, John Plaza, stated that the partnership "demonstrates the incredible opportunity for our state's agricultural industry to benefit from the increasing demand for biodiesel within the state as well as nationally". He even further adds, "We've always said that we'd be the state's biggest customer for Washington State produced canola oil, and today we are." The biodiesel producer hopes that the partnership will start the establishment of a new market for the Washington State farmers and the state's biodiesel consumers. The deal will increase the jobs available and revenues for the state and, at the same time, move the state towards energy independence.
The agricultural sector will greatly benefit from the deal since including canola on the crop base makes perfect sense. Canola can be used as a rotational crop with wheat. The effect of canola on wheat yield is very positive and this is reflected and shown on studies that found out that wheat yields increase when it follows a planting of canola. The plants can be harvested early, meaning that other short-season crops can be planted or the land can be used for livestock grazing which further fertilizes the ground. The plant also requires relatively small amount of water which means that maintaining the crops will not require taking water supply from other crops.
The result of the deal leads to more advances in the development of alternative fuels in the US. The exponential growth of the market for biodiesel is akin to a speeding car equipped with a high-powered diesel engine that will need a lot of stopping power from brake components from EBC Active Brakes Direct. Biodiesel after all has become the fuel of choice for a growing number of diesel engines that are more energy efficient, provides lots of power, and produces lesser emissions and noise. The alternative fuel can be produced from oils derived from farm crops such as canola and can be utilized by a conventional diesel engine. The fuel is clean burning which has a lower emission of carbon dioxide than petroleum-based diesel with a difference of up to 78 percent.
The biodiesel produced by Imperium Renewables can be used either in its pure form or in a blended form where it is mixed with petroleum diesel and meets the ASTM D-6751 specifications.
About the Author
Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.

Biofuel to Play a Major Role In The Future by Anthony Fontanelle

With the fast depletion of our fossil fuel reserves, different industries are experimenting and developing ways to provide better alternative to petroleum based fuels. The automotive industry is one of the major components in the campaign to develop cleaner burning fuel that comes from renewable source of energy.
Volvo is one car manufacturer that has come to help answer the call for the use of alternative fuels. Their recent investment on Chemrec has shown their dedication to the development of process to extract fuels that can be used on vehicles from biomass. This move on the part of the Swedish company is being mirrored not only by other car manufacturers but also of different countries around the globe. The recently released comprehensive study by the Emerging Markets Online group entitled "Biodiesel 2020: A Global Market Study" shows that different countries are exerting effort in thee development of alternative fuels specifically biodiesel. The efforts put into the development of the alternative fuel coupled with the ever increasing demand for such fuels in the market shows that there is great hope for long-term development in the biofuels segment. The market for the biodiesel around the world is expected to grow exponentially in the next ten years as stated in the case study conducted by the energy intelligence agency. The expected surge on the demand for biofuel is in consonance with the current effort of car manufacturers to produce cars that will run on alternative fuels.
Currently, Europe is the largest consumer and producer of biodiesel, but thanks to the improving reputation of diesel engines in the US, the country is now producing biodiesel at a faster rate than the European Union and is poised to overtake Europe in the next few years.
But the strongest potential in the production and consumption of biodiesel is Brazil which is expected to overtake both the US and the European Union by the year 2015. Other countries like India and Chine also posses great potential in the biofuel segment, thanks to their government's drive to pose new alternative fuel policies to help in the preservation of the environment. Another reason for these countries potential to be great producers of biofuels is that diesel engines are far more popular in those regions as it is in the US.
But trend shows that US is now the fastest growing consumer of biodiesel, thanks to the efforts put in by car manufacturers to make their diesel engine produce significantly lesser noise and emissions than the previously employed diesel engines which gave diesel engines a bad reputation in the US. Today, seventy major biodiesel plants are supplying the country its biofuel demand but these plants are barely keeping up with the need hence over fifty more of such plants are being constructed, and these newer plants will produce biodiesel in a much larger quantity. Last year alone, the number of retail sites for biodiesel jumped to 950 from 2005's 300 retail sites. The more than 300 per cent increase in the number of such retail sites shows the increasing appetite of the American car industry for such fuels.
If the current trend in the development of facilities that will produce large quantities of biodiesel does not change, Brazil will become the largest producer of such alternative fuels. Another country that will gain in the production of biodiesel is China. If the country meets their projected target, they will surely become the world's largest consumer of biofuels, as sure as you can find high performance brake parts at Active Brakes Direct. This expected rise of Brazil and China in the biofuel segment is projected through 2020.
About the Author
Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.

Make Money In The Stock Market With Biodiesel by Rose Lindy

Those of use who like to play in the stock market are always looking for new and exciting investment opportunities. Many people have their niche that they like to stick with for investment purposes, but here are others of us who will go for hot new opportunities and enjoy the fun of find them. If you like to try new opportunities or if you are looking for ways to diversify your portfolio you should take a look at biodiesel stock.
Listen, I know the stock market is an intimidating thing for those of you who are not familiar with it. We have all heard the miracle stories and the horror stories of people gaining and losing money so quickly it makes your head spin. It seems so out of control and your money is in the hands of people you do not know for them to do what they will, it can be scary. But a lot of people swear by fuel stocks, especially alternative fuel stocks. Of particular interest is biodiesel fuel.
Before you buy any biodiesel stock be sure to do due diligence and research potential companies that are offering stock. There are not that many so this should not be an overwhelming task for you. If you are working with a financial planner who has you in the stock market you should talk to them about biodiesel stock. On your own you can find companies and relevant information on the Internet. Go to their website and read it through, do not just browse. Review their annual reports and look for the trends have been in their biodiesel stock. This way you can see if the investors are making money.
If you are new to the stock market and decide to invest in biodiesel stock you should also invest in something else to diversify your money. That way if the alternative fuel market ebs and flows you will be secure in knowing that not everything you have is tied up in that one segment of the marketplace.
One thing is for sure and that is alternative fuels are here to stay. That is why I am such a strong proponent of investing in this type of stock. It is something the whole world is interested in because of the cost of oil. Biodiesel stock really will be a winner, in my opinion that is why I have already invested in that area.
About the Author
Go to Lee's site, http://biodieselfuelalternative.com/ for more information on biodiesel fuel.

A Call For More Alternative Fuel Vehicles In The US by Glady Reign

Gasoline prices have fallen. Hence, automakers have to entertain alternative fuel vehicles to provide more options to consumers. This is especially true to automakers that are relying greatly on non-gasoline vehicles.
General Motors Corp. Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner said, "With the price of oil at its lowest level in 19 months, we run the risk of reverting back to our traditional energy policy. That is, relying heavily on the lowest-cost energy available on world markets, including imported oil, without providing adequate support for developing alternative sources." He also added, "I hope oil prices stay low, but I also hope that our nation stays committed to energy security through energy diversity." The statement of Wagoner came after the revelation of the University of Michigan study that focused on auto executives' and other experts' comments on gasoline prices and government fuel economy standards.
At the annual automotive event, an auto supplier executive called for imposing a steep tax on gasoline to help fund the transition to alternative energy sources, especially hydrogen. Alternative fuel, also called alternate fuel, is any substance or material that can be used as fuel other than fossil fuels and other conventional fuels. It also pertains to renewable source of energy.
The essence of alternative fuel is to store energy in a stable form that can be easily transported from the place of production to the end user. The latter is then able to consume the fuel at will. The demand for alternative fuels is triggered by ecological concerns. In 2000, about 8 million vehicles ran on this type of fuel.
Alternative fuels include biodiesel, ethanol, butanol, chemically stored electricity like batteries and fuel cells, hydrogen, methane, vegetable oil, biomass, natural gas, wood and peanut oil. Types of alternative fuels include gasoline type biofuels like butanol, E85 with 85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent gasoline blend, P-series fuels and hydrogen internal combustion. To boost the performance of the engine, car systems are modified. Toyota parts and accessories are modified to complement the fuel used by the vehicles. Volvo tie rods and other car parts are also engineered to specifically entertain the new technology.
At the North American International Auto Show, GM is showing off a concept plug-in hybrid named the Volt. It can travel 40 miles on battery power alone. In its totality, Volt offers a bold and quality statement. Chevrolet wants to prove that beauty and efficiency combined in one car.
Detroit's Big 3 have been urging the Bush administration to help their efforts in developing alternative fuels like biodiesel and E85, an ethanol-based fuel. The Big 3 also seek aid in the production of batteries to power vehicles. It can be recalled that the top executives of the Big 3 met with Bush in November last year to discuss alternative energy plans however; they got no promises from the president.
Meanwhile, the Bush administration sought authority to raise fuel economy requirements for passenger cars. This was opposed by the Big 3. "One of the things that government has to do to really promote energy diversity is proactively support the development of alternative fuel technology," Wagoner said. "And incentivize consumers through tax credits, fuel subsidies and so on to adopt these exciting new technologies."
According to a recent survey conducted by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, respondents predicted that fuel prices and fuel economy standards will rise substantially in coming years. It was also anticipated that gas prices will average slightly more than $4 a gallon by 2015 and just over $5 a gallon by 2020. Respondents are composed of automakers, suppliers and other experts.
The study also found that Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards for cars are expected to amplify to 33 mpg in 2015 and 38 mpg in 2020 which is a 38 per cent jump from today's 27.5 mpg standard. For trucks, CAFE standards are predicted to rise to 27 mpg in 2015 and 31 mpg in 2020, a 44 per cent increase from 21.6 mpg today. "Our research reveals surprising agreement among all stakeholders in the automobile industry that fuel prices are on a steep upward trajectory," said U-M researcher Bruce Belzowski.
"If we're ever going to get there, we better start. That much I agree with," said Don Altermatt, senior manager of diesel engineering for DaimlerChrysler AG regarding the proposal to boost alternative fuel sources. "Is there a need for a national energy policy? Absolutely," added Nancy Gioia, director of sustainable mobility technologies and hybrid vehicle programs at Ford. "We have not got the kind of collaboration yet that we need."
About the Author
Glady Reign is a 32 year old is a consultant for an automotive firm based in Detroit, Mi. she is a native of the Motor City and grew up around cars hence her expertise in the automotive field.

Alternative Fuels Snatch Auto Industry's Limelight by Glady Reign

With the alarming environmental concerns and the aim of preserving a greener tomorrow, automakers are triggered to build more environment-friendly automobiles. In fact, part of the fast-rising vehicles today is powered by alternative fuels. In a short span of time, these vehicles have swiftly stolen the limelight of the industry.
Alternative fuel, also known as non-conventional fuels, is any material or substance that can be used as a fuel, other than fossil fuels, or conventional fuels of petroleum, coal, propane, and natural gas. The term usually refers to a source of which energy is renewable. Its main function is to store energy in a form that is stable and can be easily transported from the place of production to the end user. Alternative fuels include biodiesel, butanol, ethanol, chemically stored electricity like batteries and fuel cells, hydrogen, methane, natural gas, biomass, wood, wood gas, vegetable oil, and peanut oil.
One of the vehicles using such alternative fuels is the Volvo Multi-Fuel. Said vehicle is optimized to run on five different fuels so there is a need to upgrade on Volvo performance parts. The Volvo Multi-Fuel, based on the Volvo V70, is powered by a 2.0-liter five-cylinder turbocharged engine that will run on hythane (10 per cent hydrogen and 90 per cent methane), biomethane, natural gas (CNG), bioethanol E85 (85 per cent bioethanol and 15 per cent gasoline) and gasoline.
Aside from the fact that it runs on 5 different engines, another notable facet of the Volvo Multi-Fuel is its relatively consistent performance not considering the fuel used. Volvo claims that the turbocharged engine of the vehicle is producing about 200 horsepower. It is sufficient to power up the wagon. The vehicle runs exceptionally clean. In fact, when pure renewable fuels such as hyrdrogen, biomethane or bioethanol are used, very little fossil carbon dioxide is emitted.
Hythane, E85 bioethanol and CNG biomethane are extra-clean fuels. This is main reason why the vehicle has surpassed all existing emissions regulations imposed in any market at the present time. Furthermore, it would also qualify for the upcoming EuroV emissions regulations. The mentioned fuels also have the advantage of being carbon neutral. It means that the amount of carbon emitted when the fuel is burned is equivalent to the amount acquired by the crops used to make the fuel.
When changing between fuels, the driver only has to choose between gaseous or liquid fuel and the engine management system will adjust to optimize performance for the fuel. The Multi-Fuel has separate fuel tanks for gaseous fuels that include hythane, biomethane and CNG; and liquid fuel like E85 and gasoline.
"The whole car is optimized for high performance, driving on any of the five different fuels," said Mats Moren, project leader engine at Volvo Car Corporation. "It is a step towards a hydrogen-powered society. Perhaps we can develop the system even further, to run on a higher blend in the future."
Volvo is known for its commitment to lead automotive milestones. As a fact, it has been associated with remarkable safety and ninety-degree bodywork. At this point in time, the automaker has already established a name that embodies style, quality, cutting-edge design - and superb green technology.
Aside from Volvo, renowned automakers like Daimler Chrysler are producing entry vehicles that use alternative fuels. The latest entry so far is the E320 CDI BlUETEC that runs on a biomass-to-liquid (BtL) fuel known as SunDiesel. Said fuel can be used as the lone fuel or as an additive. "We believe BtL fuels can make an important contribution to our energy supply," explained Prof. Dr. Herbert Kohler, vice president of the Research Body and Powertrain and also chief environmental officer of DaimlerChrysler AG. "They can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and with their good carbon dioxide audit they can also help make mobility more environmentally compatible."
The Mercedes-Benz E200 NGT and the smart four two cng were also entered, both running on CNG. The E 200 NGT reduces CO2 emissions by over 20 per cent and with a power output of 163 horsepower from the 1.8-liter engine. It is the most powerful CNG passenger car currently in production. The driver can decide whether to use CNG or gasoline using buttons on the steering wheel, and an electronic control unit ensures a smooth transition from one power source to the other. Fuel consumption is 39 mpg with CNG and 26 mpg with premium unleaded.
Ford's green vehicles include Focus C-MAX H2 ICE is powered by a prototype hydrogen internal combustion engine. The engine is a 2.3-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine that produces 110 horsepower. According to Ford the Focus C-MAX H2 ICE has a driving range of about 120 miles with the fuel capacity of 2.75 kg of hydrogen.
General Motors newest entry is Saab 9-5 BioPower, which runs on either bioethanol or gasoline. The BioPower is not only environment-friendly; it also but delivers more power and performance than the gasoline-only version. The vehicle can switch between bioethanol and gasoline without any adjustment by the driver.
The Q7 TDI, powered by 3.0-liter direct-injection with impressive fuel economy of 22 mpg, is Audi's latest green SUV pride. For the recently held Challenge Bibendum, the Q7 TDI was fueled with Synfuel produced by Shell. It is manufactured from natural gas, biomass or coal to decrease the environmental impact by reducing exhaust emissions.
About the Author
Glady Reign is a 32 year old is a consultant for an automotive firm based in Detroit, Mi. she is a native of the motor city and grew up around cars hence her expertise in the automotive field.

Alternative Car Fuel by Rolf Rasmusson

Alternative Car Fuel
Back in the year of 2000 alternative fuel was being used by at least eight million vehicles through-out the world. The increasing popularity of vehicle energy sources has ground by leaps and bounds. Our need for research in this vital area is paramount. The term alternative fuel refers to a source of energy which is renewable.
The main purpose of fuel of course is to store energy in a form that is stable and can be easily transported from the place of production to the end user- us and our vehicles. Almost all fuels are chemical fuels, that store l potential energy that we use. We the end user are then able to consume the fuel at will, and release energy, usually in the form of heat for a variety of applications, such as powering an engine, or heating a building and so forth.
Many of the well known alternative fuels include biodiesel, ethanol, butanol, chemically stored electricity (batteries and fuel cells), hydrogen, methane, natural gas, wood, wood gas, vegetable oil, biomass, and peanut oil.
Much concern is that of sustaining our high usage coming from both enviromental ,economic and geopolitical considerations. Much more care needs to take place in order for us to sustain our needs while developing the other available resources at various phases of developement. We can confidentally move forward with a level of positive expectation. Patience is the most critical aspect of the developement process.
A great deal of research, discussion, and in depth work clearly points out to us that we need to take on this growing shortage problem. No longer can we simply state that we have an issue that eventually needs to be dealt with. It's here now and we need to act. By the years 2010 to 2020 we'll see many pressures brought forth for new energy resources as we continue to deplete our resources. Since the majority of major energy resources are in the middle east the on going unrest can be further intensified with these on going pressures.
There's no longer any debate or questions regarding the need for the developement of alternative car fuel.
About the Author
Alternative fuel needs are growing by leaps and bounds