Detroit Auto Show - A Power Trip With Green Detours

joe1347 · Jan 12, 2008

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/13/automobiles/autoshow/13SHOW.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&ref=automobiles

The auto industry in America faces a historic transformation. The playing field changed last Dec. 19, when President Bush signed a federal law mandating a 40 percent improvement in fuel economy by 2020. Later, 16 state governments and several environmental groups sued the federal government for the right to enact tougher emissions laws. And the year ended with new vehicle sales at the lowest level since 1998, amid shrinking demand for Detroitâ€™s bread-and-butter models.
So, what significant new model introductions are Detroitâ€™s Big Three showcasing here? Essentially, it seems, even more of the same-old, same-old.

. . .

So where is that next generation of vehicles capable of meeting those federal mandates, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and pioneering uses of alternative forms of propulsion? They seem to exist, for the most part, still somewhere over the rainbow and in television commercials.
Sales of the second-generation Toyota Prius hybrid, a relatively old model due for replacement before long, nonetheless soared 70 percent last year, with more than 180,000 sales in the United States alone. But Detroit automakers still have no equivalent vehicle -though they have had since 1999 to develop one.
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Looks like the NY Times is just as disgusted with Detroit as the rest of us.

Michgal007 · Jan 12, 2008

Anyone going to the show?

john1701a · Jan 12, 2008

But Detroit automakers still have no equivalent vehicle -though they have had since 1999 to develop one.
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1993 is when Detroit began hybrid development, via the PNGV program.

1997 is when Toyota delivered the first hybrid to consumers.

There's no excuse for not having mentioned either of those dates.
.

joe1347 · Jan 13, 2008

john1701a said: ↑

1993 is when Detroit began hybrid development, via the PNGV program.

1997 is when Toyota delivered the first hybrid to consumers.

There's no excuse for not having mentioned either of those dates.
.
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VICE PRESIDENT GORE LAUDS AUTOMAKERS FOR WORK TO PRODUCE HIGHER-EFFICIENCY VEHICLES

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Vice PresidentFor Immediate Release March 30, 2000

VICE PRESIDENT GORE LAUDS AUTOMAKERS FOR WORK TO PRODUCE HIGHER-EFFICIENCY VEHICLES Washington, DC -- Vice President Gore today applauded a major milestone in the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles -- the unveiling of three concept cars demonstrating the technical feasibility of creating cars capable of getting 80 miles per gallon -- and welcomed new commitments by automakers to begin marketing increased fuel efficiency vehicles that incorporate these technologies in three to four years.

PNGV, launched by the Vice President in 1993, is a unique research collaboration between federal agencies and USCAR, a consortium representing DaimlerChrysler, Ford, and General Motors. The partnership's goal is to produce a "production prototype" by 2004 of a full sized car that will get three times the mileage of today's models with no sacrifice in safety performance, affordability or compliance with emission standards.
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Science 18 January 2002:
Vol. 295. no. 5554, pp. 426 - 427

News of the Week
TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH:
Bush Trades Hybrid for Hydrogen Model
David Malakoff and Robert F. Service
Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham announced last week that he is junking the Clinton Administration's effort to build superefficient cars (PNGV) in favor of building vehicles powered by pollution-free hydrogen fuel cells. Abraham released no budget details of the new program, but analysts say most of the old program's research efforts will continue. The deadlines for getting a car on the road, however, have been pushed way back.
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Interesting progression of events associated with the PNGV. Thanks for pointing out the program. It looks like PNGV started off with great fanfare in 1993, made some progress, and then was killed off not too long after Bush was elected. I guess that Toyota must have missed the US Government press releases indicating that Hydrogen fuel cell cars were the better technology path and mistakenly decided to start making lots of 50mpg Prius's.

joe1347 · Jan 18, 2008

Feds Pledge $30 Million To Rev Up Development of Plug-in Hybrids
Date posted: 01-18-2008

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=124411

DETROIT â€” The federal government used the setting of the 2008 Detroit Auto Show on Thursday to announce it is funneling $30 million into the push to bring plug-in hybrid vehicles to your driveway.

The U.S. Department of Energy says it is seeking "projects that will find solutions to improving battery performance so vehicles can deliver up to 40 miles of electric range without recharging." It laid out a timetable that aims to make plug-in hybrids "cost-competitive by 2014 and ready for commercialization by 2016."

According to the DOE, "a 40-mile electric range without recharging would include most daily round-trip commutes, and satisfies 70 percent of the average daily travel in the United States."

The DOE said it is expected to provide up to $7 million in 2008 for the program, with the remaining $23 million available in fiscal 2009 and 2010.
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Wow. $7 million in 2008. Looks like the PNGV program is back in a big way.

FL_Prius_Driver · Jan 18, 2008

Depressing. The DOE comes along to "find solutions to improving battery performance". Why didn't I think of that?

Detroit Auto Show - A Power Trip With Green Detours

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