Hybrid Technology

Joint venture planned to start in September 2008 with company to be headquartered in Korea

Stuttgart, June 16, 2008 – Robert Bosch GmbH and the Korean company Samsung SDI Co. Ltd. have decided to set up a joint venture to develop, manufacture, and sell lithium-ion batteries. It is planned that the joint venture, which is to be named "SB LiMotive Co. Ltd." and to be headquartered in Korea, will start operations in September 2008. The shareholding of Robert Bosch GmbH will be 50 percent and that of Samsung SDI Co. Ltd. 50 percent – both companies will be equally represented on the board of management and on the board of directors. The foundation of the joint venture is still subject to approval by antitrust authorities.

June 2008 -- During 2007, the FIA agreed that kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS) had relevance to Formula 1. Road car electrical systems were probably thought the obvious solution, however mechanical high speed flywheel systems are giving the teams some choice. Xtrac are key to the design, development and integration of the CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission), into a mechanical flywheel KERS, initially for F1 but also for Sportscar and ultimately for mainstream automotive use.

Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS)

June 2008 -- Transmission technology specialist Xtrac says the flywheel kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS) currently being developed for Formula One could be applied to road vehicles in a number of ways.

By providing an additional boost of power, the F1 technology is particularly relevant to the trend to fit cars with smaller engines in pursuit of better fuel efficiency and lower CO2 output. The technical challenge with engine downsizing is compensating for the loss of engine torque and driveability, which could be restored by applying flywheel technology. It is also possible that a mechanical KERS system could be used as a range extender in a battery electric hybrid vehicle or even to power vehicle auxiliaries.

LOS ANGELES – The new, 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid delivers greatly improved fuel economy while maintaining the capabilities and amenities expected of a full-size, V-8-powered SUV. This seemingly incompatible duality is enabled by GM’s patented 2-Mode Hybrid system.

2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid

* The 2-Mode Hybrid system uses a new, electrically variable transmission (EVT) that offers the best of both worlds: fuel economy and real SUV capability. The two modes consist of a continuously variable operation, for low-load driving situations and a fixed-gear operation, for high-load conditions such as towing or highway driving.

Dynamic partnership between the Volkswagen Group and Sanyo

Wolfsburg, 28 May 2008 - Agreement has been reached on a co-operation which sees Volkswagen joining forces with Sanyo, one of the world’s leading developers of rechargeable batteries, to work on new and extremely efficient high-performance storage systems based on lithium-ion technology.

The Ohio State University awarded third place for its power-split hybrid electric vehicle

Washington, D.C., 2008-05-21 - Mississippi State University, for the second consecutive year, has earned top honors in General Motors (GM) and the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Challenge X student engineering competition. Over the past nine months, the 2008 Challenge X: Crossover to Sustainability competition challenged 17 university teams from the U.S. and Canada to reengineer a Chevrolet Equinox that employs advanced powertrain technologies.

May 20, 2008 -- The DOE Hydrogen Program has released a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) in support of the H-Prize (Section 654 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007). Through the H-Prize, DOE will competitively award cash prizes to advance the research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of hydrogen energy technologies.

LONDON, May 21, 2008 -- Honda is to launch an accessible hybrid car to allow more people around the world to adopt cleaner motoring technology and significantly reduce global car emissions. Going on sale early next year, Honda expects to sell 200,000 units globally of the new car annually.

The company will further accelerate hybrid sales by introducing a sporty hybrid based on its Honda CR-Z, Honda Civic Hybrid and the addition of a Honda Jazz Hybrid model. With all four of these models, Honda expects combined annual sales of its hybrid models to reach 500,000 units.

Reduction in component size and manufacturing costs to improve hybrid affordability

05/20/2008, TORRANCE, Calif. -- Honda today announced additional details regarding its new small hybrid scheduled for introduction in early 2009, as part of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. CEO Takeo Fukui's mid-year address. An official name and full product details will be announced later this year.

TOKYO, May 19, 2008 – Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., and the government of Kanagawa Prefecture today announced they have agreed to conduct a feasibility study of a full-scale electric vehicle project in Kanagawa starting in 2010. The joint-study will explore various opportunities including establishment of a local electricity-charging network and offer appropriate incentives.

12.0 billion yen investment to mass produce advanced lithium-ion batteries

TOKYO, May 19, 2008 – Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., NEC Corporation, and its subsidiary NEC TOKIN Corporation, today announced that its joint-venture company – Automotive Energy Supply Corporation (AESC) – has begun full operations. AESC’s start of operation follows the announcement of the joint-venture in April 2007.

AESC will focus on the development and mass production of advanced lithium-ion batteries for a wide range of automotive applications from hybrids, electric vehicles to fuel-cell vehicles. NEC and NEC TOKIN bring their expertise in cell-technology and electrode production, while Nissan will contribute from its long experience in real-world vehicle application.

Istanbul is 89th City to Receive Fuel-Saving, Low-Emissions Hybrid Trams and Buses

DETROIT, Mich., 2008-05-15 -- An order by Istanbul Transportation Authority for 50 Metrobus trams equipped with the GM-Allison hybrid system will make the Turkish city home to Europe's largest fleet of efficient diesel-electric hybrid trams by next year.

The first of the 50 trams, built by Dutch bus company Advance Public Transport Systems BV (APTS), was recently delivered. The remainder of the order will be fulfilled this year and in 2009.

FREDERICK, COLORADO, MAY 12, 2008 -- UQM TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (AMEX:UQM), a developer of alternative energy technologies, announced today that the ZeroTruck™, an all-electric zero emission medium duty truck powered by a UQM® PowerPhase™ electric propulsion system is making its industry debut at the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute’s 2008 Alternative Fuels & Vehicles National Conference and Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, May 11th through May 14th.

First-time volume production of hybrid modules in Europe

May 2008 -- On May 07, 2008, ZF's CEO Hans-Georg Härter and the Federal Minister of Economics and Technology, Michael Glos, officially inaugurated Germany's first production location for the industrial production of hybrid drive modules. Currently, release samples are being produced in a new production hall at the ZF Sachs location in Schweinfurt.

ZF Hybrid Drive Module: Pioneer: Europe-wide, ZF is the first supplier to produce hybrid modules in volume production. The electric motors developed for use in the driveline feature a capacity of 10 to 100kW, depending on the application and customer request. (Photo: ZF)

Highlights:

FREDERICK, COLORADO, MAY 7, 2008 -- UQM TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (AMEX:UQM), a developer of alternative energy technologies, announced today that it has introduced and is taking orders for a new 125 kW (168 horsepower) peak power UQM® proprietary permanent magnet propulsion system. The new propulsion system is suitable for high performance automotive applications including all-electric, plug-in hybrid, and series hybrid vehicles.

2008-04-22 -- GM statement on NHTSA proposed 2011-2015 Fuel Economy (CAFE) targets: "GM intends to meet the tough, new national CAFE standards of 35 mpg for cars and trucks combined by 2020, a dramatic increase of 40 percent. NHTSA’s proposed rule lays out the first set of standards toward this target. GM will work with NHTSA throughout its rulemaking process on the yearly targets and the sensible mechanisms needed to meet this challenge.”

Chevy Volt Concept Car: GM is significantly expanding its development work on electrically driven vehicles like the Chevy Volt and fuel cell vehicles.

Background

Really hip: Twin motors double driving fun and are more eco-friendly

Hanover, March 14, 2008 – Alicia Silverstone drives one, Cameron Diaz, Leonardo di Caprio, Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford do too: Hybrid vehicles are all the rage. And of course California's environmentally-conscious governor Arnold Schwarzenegger also has one of these cars equipped with both an electric motor and a gasoline engine. But the hybrid vehicle is a star not only in Hollywood. Ever more hybrid cars are being registered in Germany as well.

Mar 14, 2008 -- Together with electricity provider Vattenfall, Saab Automobile, ETC and the Swedish state, Volvo Car Corporation is launching a joint broad-based research venture to develop spearhead technology in the area of plug-in hybrid cars. Sweden will be the arena for the field tests.

Volvo ReCharge Concept

"I see this project as a positive further development of sustainable personal transport. We have a unique opportunity to take the lead when it comes to innovations for advanced green-car technology", says Fredrik Arp, President and CEO of Volvo Car Corporation.

2008-03-04, GENEVA - As another key element in its overall global strategy to improve fuel economy and reduce oil consumption and CO2 emissions, General Motors Chairman Rick Wagoner announced today that GM will introduce a second-generation version of the GM Hybrid System with a new, more powerful lithium-ion battery.

Highlights:
- High-volume system will debut in North America in 2010, and then expand globally
- Hitachi to supply new lithium-ion battery
- Cost-effective technology to improve fuel economy by up to 20 percent

GM Forum Geneva: Important milestone on the road toward zero-emissions mobility

Geneva, 2008-03-03 -- At major motor shows like Frankfurt, Paris or Geneva, General Motors traditionally presents the future of individual mobility on a dedicated stand. The focus of the GM Forum at the Geneva Motor Show 2008 is on the GM HydroGen4, incorporating the fourth generation of GM’s fuel cell technology.