“A path that can unite America …”

Plug-in-Hybrid-Electric-Vehicles (PHEVs) offer “a path that can unite America,” according to David Sandalow, in his opening talk today to the Google/Brookings Institution two-day conference Plug-In Electric Vehicles 2008: What Role for Washington?

Oil prices are at record highs. The overwhelming dependence of our cars and trucks on oil strains family budgets, threatens our national security and contributes to global warming. Plug-in electric vehicles have the potential to significantly reduce the United States’ dependence on oil. Yet can this potential be realized? If so, how? Is there a national interest in putting millions of plug-in vehicles on the road soon? How should policymakers in Washington, D.C., respond?

Energy COOL: PHEBs proving out …

Okay, I am a big (BIG) fan of PHESBs: Plug-in Hybrid Electric School Buses. With all the (welcome) focus on PHECs (Plug-In Electric Cars) like the Volt, Prius, and others, the real potential for some gamechanging through fleets of large fleets seem to be falling by the wayside. In fact, school buses offer some quite serious opportunities for breakthrough benefits and merit serious attention. Happily, we are seeing some serious news advancing the possibility of actually seizing these benefits.

Recent test results show that the IC Bus PHEBs, using hybrid-drive systems from Enova Systems, “can improve fuel efficiency by more than 70 percent compared to standard diesel-powered school buses.” In addition to the fuel economy savings, other benefits include:

Over 40% reduction in CO2

Over 30% reduction in Particulate Matter

Over 20% reduction in NOx

Lutz Can Be Such a Putz …

General Motors’ Vice-Chairman Bob Lutz truly does not seem to enjoy being called out when he says absurdities.  There was a recent brouhaha over his  calling Global Warming a “total crock of s–t” in a meeting with reporters.  As the man seemingly converted, the driving force behind the Chevy Volt (a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) that could, quite literally, change the nation), some of his discussion, some of his focus seems determined to undermined the public support of developments in the PHEV world.

GM’s Lutz: Global Warming “total crock of S–t!”

Should anyone wonder why General Motors is in such trouble?

When a senior leader (Bob Lutz, Vice Chairman) states that Global Warming is a “total crock of S–t,” might GM shareholders wonder what his core intellectual capacity is?

1. Really, should a Corporate leader be spouting off on the record like that?
2. If he is so fundamentally ignorant about a scientific issue (and willing to spout off on it!), what does that say about his basic competence to judge any issue before him?

Seriously.  Doesn’t it make you wonder?

Energy COOL: An affordable PHEV? Available soon?

AFS Trinity, a leading company in flywheel and other power storage systems, has just announced a 150 mile per gallon plug-in-hybrid variant of a Saturn VUE.  

“Extreme Hybrids™ don’t need high priced technology and don’t require new or expensive fuels, such as hydrogen, which, according to Argonne National Labs, will cost twice as much as gasoline at the pump and require installation of an infrastructure costing half a trillion dollars. The Extreme Hybrid™ is not a concept,” [AFS Trinity CEO] Furia said, “but a practical alternative that relies on cheap electricity from America’s vast existing energy infrastructure—the electric power grid.” 

We are talking an application of technology placed on top of an existing McSUV hybrid and achievement of significant results, reportedly in a path that will be quite affordable in the mass market application.

Energy COOL: Breaking news on the automotive front?

To be clear, there is NO Silver Bullet solution to our energy woes, to peak oil, to Global Warming.  

There are, however, approaches that, when combined together, can have a major impact on the challenges before us, that offer a path for rapidly changing our hurtling path toward catastrophic climate change, toward a prosperous, climate-friendly society.

Here are several Energy COOL developments that could, combined, foster a faster move to Energize America:

• New Plug-In Hybrid announcement coming’
• Algae biofuel advances

Energy COOL: Shared Electric Cars

Since diving into the deep end when it comes to energy issues, almost every day sees new fascinating concepts, approaches, and technologies.  Fascinating … exciting … even hope inspiring at times.  And, as well, as the passion builds, so many of these are truly Energy COOL.

One of the first Energy COOLs focused on bike-sharing programs as Paris looked to enter the game with Vélib. Less than a year in, the judgment on Vélib:  Roaring Success.  And, Paris is launching into a new venture:  Voiturelib’ (free car).

The Automobiles-en-Libre-Service will

start with 2,000 electric-powered vehicles that subscribers can drive off without booking at dozens of sites 24 hours a day and then leave anywhere in the city.

Energy COOL: Solar Busing Down Under

Adelaide, Australia, has become the home for an-all electric city bus, the Tindo.  The icing on the cake: the Tindo (aboriginal word for sun) will get its electricity from a $AU550,000 solar PV system on Adelaide’s central bus station.  Even better: rides are free as part of Adelaide’s public transport system.

Israel on the fast track to an electric car future?

Project Better Place is an initiative “to make scalable electric transportation a reality on a global scale and reduce the world’s dependency on oil.” That is a strategic concept that is truly meriting applause.  Shai Agassi, former executive at SAP AG, is the sparking energy behind PBP, who “has an audacious idea—some may call it foolhardy—to change they way electric cars are sold and maintained.” 

The basic concept:  his company will own the batteries and rent them out to car owners.  Driving on the road and need a recharge? Stop in at a charging center, take a few moments to exchange batteries (and take a pee), and get back on the road again.

Shai has some $200 million in investments that say that he can make this vision a reality.

The latest news: Project Better Place is targeting 100,000 electric vehicles in Israel, within the next two years.   The likely builder:  Renault.  A key benefit in the marketplace: Israel to make electric car production tax fee. (As to that last, considering that Israel charges an 84 percent purchase tax on gas cars and 30 percent on hybrids, that no-tax situation provides a real advantage.) 

Hat tip to AutoBlogGreen.

PHEBs: Plugging in that School Bus for an Energy Smart Future

Hybrids are too often thought of simply in terms of personal vehicles.

They are also penetrating the big vehicle market space. Consider the average delivery truck and all its starts/stops. There is a lot of energy to capture there, which is why UPS is pursuing hybrids. And, as per Walmart and its hybrid trucks, they are hitting the semi-trailer world. There are also efforts to apply hybrids to trash trucks and offer the opportunity to silence those squealing brakes at 5:45 am. Ann Arbor, Michigan, has started to get hybrid buses as is London.  And, well, now they’re coming to a school system (maybe) near you.