Report: Revived Toyota MR2 hybrid could challenge Honda CR-Z
Honda may not have the hybrid sports coupe market to itself for long if a report out of Japan has any merit. One of Japan’s top car magazines, Best Car, is reporting that Toyota is planning to bring forth a hybrid sports car in the near future as a direct challenger to the new Honda. Unlike the front wheel drive Honda, the renderings produced by the magazine indicate that the sporting hybrid would be mid-engined like the now discontinued MR2.
Such a layout would would imply the likelihood of a significantly higher performance level than what we expect from the CR-Z, although Honda has yet to say just what to expect from its coupe. A hybrid sportster like this would might also be a good first non-plug application for new lithium ion batteries. If such a car does become a reality from Toyota, it would certainly be in line with Akio Toyoda’s stated intent of getting more passion into his namesake brand. It would also make an interesting counterpoint to the upcoming FT-86 being developed with Subaru. Who said hybrids had to be boring?
[Source: Best Car via CarScoop]
Autoblog Green
Mazda2 to be basis of electric vehicle test fleet
Until now, Mazda’s most notable alternative fuel programs have been the hydrogen-powered Wankel rotaries currently being used in an RX-8 test fleet. The “Zoom-Zoom” automaker has acknowledged plans to build new hybrid-powered vehicles in the coming years, but to date has avoided the battery electric vehicle arena.
That is about to change thanks to a newly-announced partnership with Itochu Corporation and Tsukuba City. Mazda and Itochu will convert three Demios (known as the Mazda2 outside of Japan) to plug-in battery power. Besides just testing the electric drives, the program will also test car sharing services using the EVs as well as using renewable energy to charge the vehicles. The program will also evaluate battery reuse programs that put used EV energy systems into use in fixed applications. The test program will launch in March 2010.
Autoblog Green
To Wrap Around That New Battery Technology, Cheaper Lighter Cars From Carbon Fiber
Tennessee’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory is getting $34.7 million to find ways to make cars lighter by improving carbon fiber manufacturing and processing. Though used in race cars and high-performance “supercars,” current carbon fiber composites cost too much for mass market vehicles.
Lightweight, strong carbon fiber will raise fuel efficiency, whether that fuel of the future is the natural biogas that you’ll surely one day tap from the compost in your backyard; or biodiesel (made from drought-resistant weeds of course), or the electrons off your shiny new solar roof.
The new Carbon Fiber Technology Center will try new feedstocks and new ways to create them, with the idea of reducing the cost of carbon fiber to under $5 a pound. Currently it is between $10 and $20 per pound.
CleanTechnica
EV Batteries Could Be Used To Boost Nation’s Energy Grid
Most of us have been in this situation before; you’re up late cranking away at some work project or homework assignment as thunder and lightning dance outside your window, shaking the whole house. Then the power goes out. All your work is gone, as is your time, and you’re left with frustration and darkness until the power goes back on.
Yet imagine if power outages were a thing of the past? Electric cars could provide the answer, as well as a boost to the U.S. power grid. The U.S. Department of Energy is lending funds to several automakers, including Detroit Electric and Chrysler, in a bid to promote these technologies.
Gas 2.0
South Carolina To Lead US With $98 Million World-Class Wind Center
In its largest single award ever; Clemson University has received a $45 million grant from the Department of Energy (and an additional $53 million in matching funds) to construct and operate a large-scale facility that will test wind energy drive train components at the research campus. This places one of the most important sites for US wind energy research and development in South Carolina.
The funds will develop a high-tech facility at the campus to test the next generation of wind turbines in the US. Now that state-of-the-art turbine sizes have increased with each new turbine, existing drive train testing facilities have become obsolete.
The five-year DOE grant will pay to help develop large-scale turbines that don’t yet exist in the United States, according to Clemson officials. The facility will be able to test advanced drive train systems for wind turbines in the 5 to 15 MW range.
CleanTechnica
Mainland Chinese automakers look to Taiwan for EV expertise
More electric car news from Taiwan. Two Chinese automakers are ready to develop and sell electric cars there. Chery, for instance, has announced the creation of an R&D center in the upcoming “Green Energy Intelligent Vehicle Innovation Park (EV Park)” in central Taiwan. This would give Chery access to Taiwan’s EV technology. Geely Auto has announced sales in Taiwan of the electric version of the Panda model (pictured above) thanks to Yulon Motor Co, which would develop the EV with lithium-ion batteries. The model, to be ready for 2011, will be sold under Yulon Motor’s Tobe brand.
[Source: Gasgoo and Gasgoo]
Autoblog Green
First Carbon-Neutral “Army Brats” in USA to Grow up Solar Powered by Tucson Sunshine
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base outside Tucson is putting 6 megawatts of solar on their new Soaring Heights Communities, a groundbreaking private housing development that will get 75% of its power from the Tucson sun, famous for shining 350 days a year.
The largest solar community in the US; with 81,000 solar panels about evenly split between ground-mount and roof mount - could be ready for military families to move-in as early as December.
Kids growing up on the base will be pretty much carbon neutral, unlike most American kids.
CleanTechnica
![Report: Revived Toyota MR2 hybrid could challenge Honda CR-Z
Honda may not have the hybrid sports coupe market to itself for long if a report out of Japan has any merit. One of Japan’s top car magazines, Best Car, is reporting that Toyota is planning to bring forth a hybrid sports car in the near future as a direct challenger to the new Honda. Unlike the front wheel drive Honda, the renderings produced by the magazine indicate that the sporting hybrid would be mid-engined like the now discontinued MR2. Such a layout would would imply the likelihood of a significantly higher performance level than what we expect from the CR-Z, although Honda has yet to say just what to expect from its coupe. A hybrid sportster like this would might also be a good first non-plug application for new lithium ion batteries. If such a car does become a reality from Toyota, it would certainly be in line with Akio Toyoda’s stated intent of getting more passion into his namesake brand. It would also make an interesting counterpoint to the upcoming FT-86 being developed with Subaru. Who said hybrids had to be boring? [Source: Best Car via CarScoop]
Autoblog Green](http://23.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ktt1mwc0jN1qzip52o1_500.jpg)
![To Wrap Around That New Battery Technology, Cheaper Lighter Cars From Carbon Fiber
Tennessee’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory is getting $34.7 million to find ways to make cars lighter by improving carbon fiber manufacturing and processing. Though used in race cars and high-performance “supercars,” current carbon fiber composites cost too much for mass market vehicles.
]]>Lightweight, strong carbon fiber will raise fuel efficiency, whether that fuel of the future is the natural biogas that you’ll surely one day tap from the compost in your backyard; or biodiesel (made from drought-resistant weeds of course), or the electrons off your shiny new solar roof.
The new Carbon Fiber Technology Center will try new feedstocks and new ways to create them, with the idea of reducing the cost of carbon fiber to under $5 a pound. Currently it is between $10 and $20 per pound.
CleanTechnica](http://17.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ktt1krreeV1qzip52o1_500.jpg)
![South Carolina To Lead US With $98 Million World-Class Wind Center
In its largest single award ever; Clemson University has received a $45 million grant from the Department of Energy (and an additional $53 million in matching funds) to construct and operate a large-scale facility that will test wind energy drive train components at the research campus. This places one of the most important sites for US wind energy research and development in South Carolina.
]]>The funds will develop a high-tech facility at the campus to test the next generation of wind turbines in the US. Now that state-of-the-art turbine sizes have increased with each new turbine, existing drive train testing facilities have become obsolete.
The five-year DOE grant will pay to help develop large-scale turbines that don’t yet exist in the United States, according to Clemson officials. The facility will be able to test advanced drive train systems for wind turbines in the 5 to 15 MW range.
CleanTechnica](http://22.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ktt1hjohN21qzip52o1_500.jpg)
![Mainland Chinese automakers look to Taiwan for EV expertise
More electric car news from Taiwan. Two Chinese automakers are ready to develop and sell electric cars there. Chery, for instance, has announced the creation of an R&D center in the upcoming “Green Energy Intelligent Vehicle Innovation Park (EV Park)” in central Taiwan. This would give Chery access to Taiwan’s EV technology. Geely Auto has announced sales in Taiwan of the electric version of the Panda model (pictured above) thanks to Yulon Motor Co, which would develop the EV with lithium-ion batteries. The model, to be ready for 2011, will be sold under Yulon Motor’s Tobe brand. [Source: Gasgoo and Gasgoo]
Autoblog Green](http://16.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ktt1faNVRg1qzip52o1_500.jpg)
![First Carbon-Neutral “Army Brats” in USA to Grow up Solar Powered by Tucson Sunshine
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base outside Tucson is putting 6 megawatts of solar on their new Soaring Heights Communities, a groundbreaking private housing development that will get 75% of its power from the Tucson sun, famous for shining 350 days a year.
The largest solar community in the US; with 81,000 solar panels about evenly split between ground-mount and roof mount - could be ready for military families to move-in as early as December.
]]>Kids growing up on the base will be pretty much carbon neutral, unlike most American kids.
CleanTechnica](http://5.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ktt1ebJK7H1qzip52o1_500.jpg)
