Israeli researchers develop small, lightweight hydrogen storage tech
Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Hydrogen, Europe/EU, Middle East
Just a few days ago, we told you about Germany’s commitment of $2 billion for the construction of at least 1,000 hydrogen refueling stations. A month ago, we learned about London’s decision to build a network of hydrogen filling stations in time for the 2012 Olympics. But, outside of California’s Hydrogen Highway, we don’t hear too much about the progress of hydrogen infrastructure and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles here in the U.S. Don’t worry; this story is no different.
Researchers in Israel say they’ve come up with a very novel way of storing hydrogen. Gone are the bulky, super-insulated tanks that can keep coffee hot for 28 days. The Israeli team has figured out a way to pack hydrogen into glass filaments that, once completed, will be slightly thicker than a human hair. The glass hairs, or “capillaries,” are then bundled into a glass tube, 370 at a time, forming a “capillary array,” about the width of a drinking straw. The scientists say that 11,000 of these arrays will fuel a car for 240 miles. Not bad considering they’ll also take up less than half the space and weight of a conventional hydrogen storage tank. “We have shown new materials that can store more hydrogen than any other system,” says Dan Eliezer, chief scientist of C.En Ltd., the company based in Geneva, Switzerland, where the Israelis are developing their invention.
The hydrogen array system was unveiled in Berlin at the German Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, known by the awesome acronym “BAM.” No word on if any automakers are interested in the technology or developing similar technology of their own. So far, the only major financial backers are Italian-based Generali Insurance, which has invested $10 Million in the project. Read the full article here.
[Source: MSNBC | Image: spacepleb - C.C. License 2.0]
Israeli researchers develop small, lightweight hydrogen storage tech originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 24 Apr 2010 17:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
A Gran (Coupe) Affair: Surprises from BMW Design Night
BMW Design Night in Beijing took place Friday evening as the grand finale of the first press day of Auto China in Beijing. And what a grand finale it was. Not only was it the world premiere of BMW’s Gran Coupe concept, but it was also an interesting and educational look at how BMW approaches design.
The event took place at the opulent Park Hyatt Hotel in the Chaoyang District of Beijing. Local and international media, gathered with BMW engineers, designers and board members under the soaring ceilings of the Hyattâs moodily styled ballroom.
BMW’s development chief (and member of the board) Dr. Klaus Draeger kicked off the evening with some insight into how important design is to BMW. “Design is access to the customer,” said Draeger, before describing how over 10,000 engineers work hand-in-hand with 300 designers at BMW Groupâs headquarters in Munich.
Schumacher reportedly getting new chassis for Spanish GP
Filed under: Motorsports, Mercedes-Benz, Racing
Critics have given Michael Schumacher a hard time all season so far over what can charitably be characterized as lackluster performance. Leading figures at the Mercedes-Benz GP team, however, have magnanimously attributed the problems to their car. But if his young teammate Nico Rosberg is currently second in the championship, having reached the podium twice so far this season (doubling his record from four seasons at Williams), then how can you blame the car?
The answer may be coming as soon as May 9, when the circus heads to Barcelona for the Spanish Grand Prix. According to reports, Mercedes will give Schumacher a new chassis design to try out at the Catalunya circuit. If the new car suits Schumi better than the current one, they’ll presumably have him run it for the remainder of the season. But given Rosberg’s performance in the current chassis, the smart money would be on Nico continuing with the existing machinery, meaning that the team could – in a Formula One rarity – wind up running two different cars in a bid to defend the championships it won last year under the Brawn GP banner.
[Source: Autocar]
Schumacher reportedly getting new chassis for Spanish GP originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 24 Apr 2010 10:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Hyundai Genesis sedan gets the police package getup
Filed under: Sedan, Hyundai, Police/Emergency, South Korea
This is interesting. As you cop-car fans well know, Ford recently introduced an all new Police Interceptor. After centuries decades of sticking with the body-on-frame, RWD Panther-platform Crown Victoria, Ford made the decision to go with the unit-bodied, front- or all-wheel drive Taurus chassis. They’ve beefed the full-size family hauler up to Herculean stature (claiming that it can withstand a 70 mph rear-end collision!) and by all accounts it should do just fine in the high speed pursuit biz. Still, to many officers and fans of the cars they drive, police cruisers should be driven via the rear wheels.
That said, check out this Hyundai. A Genesis sedan to be specific, all done up in Korean police livery. Looks good, no? Especially with the blue and red lights poking out from the grill. If you’re wondering, the Genesis sedan has either a 3.8-liter V6 or a more muscular 4.6-liter “Tau” V8 up front. Both motors propel the rear wheels. For police duty, we’ll go ahead and assume that Hyundai went with the more potent Tau option, as South Korean coppers will no doubt make use of the 375 horsepower and 333 pound-feet of torque (slight asterisk – that’s on premium fuel. Should you opt for regular gas, the V8 makes “just” 368 hp and 324 lb-ft of torque).
True, like the Taurus, the Genesis sedan is still a unit body, meaning that officers in pursuit won’t be able to drive over curbs at 50 mph without twisting the kimchi out of the structure. However, given the Genesis sedan’s better than average handling characteristics, they should have little trouble driving around said curb, and thereby bringing the perp to justice that much more quickly. No word on a super-pursuit Genesis Coupe-based cop car. Tip of the confession-extracting sap hat to Nathan!
[Source: Chosun]
Hyundai Genesis sedan gets the police package getup originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 24 Apr 2010 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Report: GOP argues GM loan payoff just a TARP money shuffle
Filed under: Government/Legal, GM, Earnings/Financials
While General Motors is busy making marketing hay from its early payoff of $5.8 billion in loans, Senator Chuck Grassley and House Representative Darrell Issa aren’t buying it. “It looks like GM merely used one source of TARP funds to repay another,” said Grassley of General Motors financial moves. Grassley has asked for justification of the creative money-shuffling from Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.
Meanwhile, Representative Issa is looking at the new fuel economy standards that went into effect last month. Documents about the negotiations leading up to the 35.5 mpg standard have been requested from GM, Ford and Chrysler, as well as Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Suzuki, Volkswagen and BMW. Issa contends that the standard only passed because GM and Chrysler were put in a hammerlock and forced to agree in exchange for bailouts.
[Source: Detroit Free Press]
Report: GOP argues GM loan payoff just a TARP money shuffle originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 24 Apr 2010 13:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Volkswagen Vento – The Polo sedan
India’s leading automobile magazine AutocarIndia has scooped the name of Volkswagen Polo sedan – “Vento”. Vento means wind in Italian and Portuguese language. The Polo sedan has been caught while testing in India and we has posted the spy pictrures of it in earlier post.
The Vento (codenamed: VW251) is built on the Polo platform. Both Polo and Vento are similar up to the B pillar with little changes in the grill and lights. The Vento has 50 mm of longer wheelbase which gives more space at the rear. Keeping Honda City as the benchmark, the engineers at VW has designed rear seat accommodation to be more comfortable. Boot space is in the segment level of 500 liters.
The Vento is expected to be launched in July this year and will come in both Petrol and Diesel engines. Both the engines are 1.6 liter and produce same power of around 105 bhp with diesel engine having 25.5kgm of torque and the petrol one with 15.8kgm.
VW will price the Vento between Rs 7-9 lakh when it will be launched in July 2010. With a perfect blend of performance, luxury and economy it could give a run for the money for its competitors, especially the Honda City. Since City has no diesel option, Vento diesel could be a undisputed leader in the segment for a long time.
Beijing 2010: 2011 BMW 535Li ready for chauffeur duty
Filed under: Sedan, China, BMW, Beijing Motor Show, Luxury
2011 BMW 535Li – Click above for high-res image gallery
The Audi A8 L W12 isn’t the only long-wheelbase saloon to debut at this year’s Beijing Motor Show. BMW has a stretched version of the all-new 2011 5 Series that’ll be built and sold exclusively in China. The limo-like Fiver is a full 5.5 inches longer than the standard 5 Series sedan, all of which accounts for additional rear legroom. New rear seat amenities like an entertainment system, adjustable sunblinds and a folding table are on hand, as well.
Spec-wise, the long-wheelbase BMW 5 Series isn’t much different than the models sold in other markets. Three six-cylinder engines are available and eight-speed automatic transmissions are standard across the board. It may not be as over-the-top as Herr Audi, but we’d gladly go for a ride in the back of this upscale Bimmer any day.
Gallery: Beijing 2010: 2011 BMW 535Li
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