Colorado company readies next step for algae 'biocrude'
Solix Biofuels, of Fort Collins, said on Monday that it had raised $15.5 million in capital and would begin with a five-acre plot to produce “biocrude.’’ > more
Ethanol pipeline taking shape in Florida
A $40 million ethanol pipeline will push the fuel 106 miles from Tampa to Orlando and remove up to 40 trucks a day from local highways. > more
GM begins testing FCVs in Japan
General Motors' Japan division will begin testing its hydrogen fuel cell version of the Chevrolet Equinox on Japanese roads, the Japan Times reports. > more
Range Fuels names Aldous CEO
A former Shell EVP has joined the Colorado-based cellulosic ethanol company. > more
Boston Globe examines Mascoma process
What does it take to brew a tank of biofuel? At the Mascoma Corp. lab, the recipe might include a dash of enzymes from termite guts, elephant stomach mixed with yeast, a load of pulverized switch grass or paper sludge, and a few days of fermentation. > more
New algae species looks promising for biodiesel
Researchers at Khon Kaen University (in Thailand) have discovered a small species of green algae with commerical potential for biodiesel production. > more
Florida commuter train to run on biodiesel
Pompano Beach's Tri-Rail commuter trains will run on biodiesel fuel, the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority announced. The goal is to operate the trains on a 99 percent biodiesel blend, when available. > more
Poet opens Marion, Ohio plant
With capacity of 65 million gallons a year, Poet Ethanol Products has opened a new plant in Marion, Ohio - the company's third in the state. > more
Feds: No loans for ethanol industry
The USDA has said there is no bail-out for ethanol. Instead, it said any rural business, including ethanol plants, are eligible to receive up to $25 million in loan guarantees as long as they meet certain financial requirements. > more
GM's E-Flex design manager discusses the production Chevy Volt
by Scott Anderson
The production Chevrolet Volt set to launch in 2010 will be a hatchback, and will be roomier and rounder than the show car, the vehicle's design leader tells Green Fuels Forecast.
Speaking at the Center for Automotive Research's Management Briefing Seminar here, Bob Boniface, the director of design for the E-Flex vehicles including the Chevrolet Volt, revealed teaser photos of the all-electric drive vehicle - including one of the front quarter and headlights/running lamps, and another of the rear deck.
"The front end of the car became quite a bit rounder, all in the effort to keep the air attached to the surface of the car, because air that stays attached to a surface of the car is smooth air," said Boniface, who also directs the E-Flex studio.
E-Flex cars like the Volt are electrically driven, with a small internal combustion engine engaging only when the battery's state of charge drops below certain levels. The plug-in vehicle is being designed to operate for 40 miles on electric drive before requiring the assistance of the 1.4L four cylinder range extending engine.
But Boniface said engineers never had the opportunity to test the concept Volt in a wind tunnel, and when they did, it was clear the drag co-efficient on the concept would compromise the vehicle's electric range goal. As a result, the production model is more aerodynamic than the design concept revealed 19 months ago at the Detroit Auto Show.
Watch Boniface's presentation and wind testing below:
"In order to ensure this ability to drive for 40 miles electricity alone, we had to spend a lot of time in the wind tunnel to improve the shape of the car to ensure it delivered on that promise of 40 miles," he said.
One of the keys to achieving the range target for an electrically driven car is to maximize the amount of kinetic energy that can be recovered through regenerative braking. A high drag body will dissipate kinetic energy moving through the air. Reducing the effort required to move through the air lets more of the effort to slow the vehicle be directed to the motor to recharge the battery.
"But I think (observers) will still recognize it as the Volt. ... It's still a very sporty car, very efficient, very compact and I think people are going to like it," he added.
In addition to the more rounded the front corners, designers added a slight lip to the rear spoiler and altered the execution of the side mirror design.
Integration of the Volt's 400lb battery, which runs the length of the center tunnel, hasn't cut into occupant space. In fact, the vehicle is more roomy than the show car, Bonafice said.
"I'm happy to say that we were able to package that battery in the car to the point that when you sit in the car, people ask 'where is the battery?' You don't see it," he said.
Interior appointments include a touch sensitive LCD screen, which will provide navigation and electric drive information. Below that are touch sensitive buttons on the center stack controls and an LCD for a gauge cluster.
"(It's) very technical, very modern. I think people who are used to this level of modernity in their portable handheld devices are really going to appreciate the Volt," he says.
Boniface lead the design team on the hydrogen fuel cell Chevy Sequel study and was previously with Chrysler where he helped design the 300C and the Jeep Liberty.
Now restoring his third vintage Alfa Romeo, Boniface serves as the "head coach" of the Volt's design team. Asked what what colors future Volt owners will have to chose from, Boniface demurred - revealing only one.
"I will say it is available in black, and it looks fantastic in black."
