Puegeot's diesel-hybrid Le Mans racer  

AutoBlogGreen has a look at the new Puegeot dhybrid diesel racing car - Peugeot shows new 908 HY diesel-hybrid Le Mans racer!.

In the current world of big time international endurance racing, two cars stand head and shoulders above the rest, the Audi R10 TDI and the Peugeot 908 HDi. Put these two Le Mans Prototype class 1 cars, both powered by 5.5L turbo diesel V12s, on a wide open track and nothing can run with them. With Formula 1 introducing hybrid kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS) in 2009 and the American Le Mans Series introducing a Green Challenge award, Peugeot has decided to take the next step with its program.

The French manufacturer is using the last race of the 2008 Le Mans Series at Sliverstone to unveil a demonstrator called the 908 HY which may foreshadow the next generation of its Le Mans challenger. The 908 HY adds a 60 kW electric motor, a set of lithium ion battery packs and corresponding power electronics. The diesel hybrid system will allow the car to operate in electric-only mode in the pits, and get a power boost on the track thanks to recaptured kinetic energy.

After Gutenberg reports that Toyota is trialling a plug-in hybrid in the UK - EDF Energy and Toyota launch UK trials of Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle.

EDF Energy and Toyota have teamed up to road trial the first Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle (PHV) introduced by a car manufacturer to the UK. Toyota's right-hand drive PHV will make its on-the-road debut as part of EDF Energy's company fleet and will be tested by employees under every-day driving conditions.

The results are expected to play a pivotal role in the development of Toyota's PHV technology, which represents a further improvement on Toyota's hybrid technology.

After Gutenberg is also celebrating the arrival of some electric motorcycles - Finally! Electric Motorcycles from Honda and Yamaha.



JCWinnie also has a post at The Energy Collective, on the rollout in Berlin of EV charging points - Berlin soon to have 100+ EVs, 500 Charging Points

Daimler is joining forces with RWE, one of the largest energy providers, to create a network of electric cars and charging stations in Berlin. According to a Daimler press release via EVWorld Newswire, “the payment system takes the form of the exchange of data between a special in-car communication system and the intelligent charging point.” ...

An important innovation of the “e-mobility Berlin” project is the lithium-ion battery developed specifically for the use in these cars. Compared to conventional batteries, the large format, advanced lithium battery pack and battery management system initially developed for the Ultra-Low Carbon Car Challenge project by Lithium Technology Corporation, together with Zytek and I+ME, provides a greater range and a shorter charging time.

More controversial is the V2G (Vehicle 2 Grid) potential. When electric vehicles are connected to charging stations and local demand to the network is high, then electricity from the on-board lithium-ion packs could be fed back into the network. With communication already in place between the cars and the network operator, at the very least charging of the vehicles could be slowed or stopped when demand for electricity is highest.

Cleantech.com reports that Maxwell Technologies has signed a deal to provide ultracapacitors for use in electric lift trucks - Maxwell Tech, Plug Power in fuel cell deal.

Plug Power will use Maxwell's ultracapacitors in its line of GenDrive fuel cells for electric lift trucks.

San Diego-based Maxwell Technologies said today that it signed a deal to supply its Boostcap ultracapacitors to Latham, N.Y.'s Plug Power. Maxwell said Plug Power will use the ultracapacitors in its line of GenDrive fuel cell power units.

Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed. The ultracapacitors are scheduled to be delivered during the third and fourth quarters.

"Integrating Maxwell's ultracapacitors into our fuel cell systems enhances the value of our GenDrive product for our customers," said Andy Marsh, president and CEO of Plug Power. "Ultracapacitors' burst power capabilities for lifting, as well as regenerative braking for energy recuperation and longer operating life make them an ideal complement to hydrogen fuel cells in this application."

EETimes reports that Maxwell are also selling ultracapacitors for use in energy storage in wind farms - Ultracapacitor to supply backup power in wind turbine system.

Boosting its expansion in the growing wind energy industry, Maxwell Technologies Inc. has announced that LTi REEnergy GmbH (LTi), a producer of electromechanical wind turbine blade pitch control systems, has selected Maxwell's BOOSTCAP ultracapacitors to supply backup power for LTi's PitchMaster blade pitch control system.

The LTi PitchMaster system will incorporate multi-cell BOOSTCAP ultracapacitor modules based on Maxwell's BCAP0350 "D cell" product. The ultracapacitors supply backup power for orderly system shutdown in the event of a main system power failure.

LTi chose the ultracapacitors over batteries for backup power for several reasons: longer operating life, lower maintenance requirements and higher reliability operation in harsh climates. The company said the BOOSTCAP products have demonstrated reliability over the temperature range of -40°C to 65°C.