Category Archives: Green Cars

Environment and Auto Industry, Latest improvements to reduce green house gases.

29Jul 2011

Ford ( NYSE:F) News: Ford Explorer delivers a class-leading EPA rating of 28 mpg on the highway

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2011 Ford Explorer
2011 Ford Explorer

2011 Ford Explorer

July 29, 2011, DEARBORN, Mich., (Coal Geology):  The completely reinvented Ford Explorer powered by EcoBoost® delivers a class-leading EPA rating of 28 mpg on the highway, besting Honda Pilot by more than 20 percent and Toyota Highlander by 12 percent

The hot-selling Ford Explorer – the 2011 North American Truck of the Year – has already doubled 2010 Explorer model year sales volume, with Ford seeing the strongest customer preference for well-equipped, range-topping models

EcoBoost engine technology combines turbocharging and direct fuel injection on smaller engines to provide customers the power they want with the fuel efficiency they need

Ford’s hot-selling Explorer is now the most fuel-efficient seven-passenger SUV on the market, delivering an EPA-certified 28 mpg on the highway with an all-new 2.0-liter EcoBoost® engine. This is the first application of this advanced engine in North America.

“Today’s SUV buyers place a high priority on miles per gallon, so Explorer has expanded its portfolio of fuel-efficient engines with an all-new EcoBoost offering,” said Amy Marentic, Ford group marketing manager. “SUV buyers deserve economy with their capability, so Explorer now offers best-in-class V6 and four-cylinder fuel efficiency.”

Building on Explorer’s current class-leading V6 fuel efficiency, the addition of EcoBoost power and a 28 mpg highway rating now puts Explorer over the top. On the highway, Explorer now beats Honda Pilot and Jeep Grand Cherokee by 5 mpg, Chevrolet Traverse by 4 mpg and Toyota Highlander by 3 mpg.

Delivering best-in-class fuel efficiency in both V6 and EcoBoost variants, the full-size, three-row Explorer with EcoBoost even delivers better highway fuel efficiency than the compact Subaru Impreza (1 mpg better), while matching the most efficient gas-powered BMW 3-Series.

Now launching in the Explorer, this advanced EcoBoost four-cylinder engine provides the optimum balance between fuel efficiency and responsive power, delivering 240 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and a generous 270 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,000 rpm.

Ford’s new 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine combines gasoline direct injection and turbocharging with smaller overall displacement, delivering comparable power to a standard V6 engine while delivering the fuel efficiency of a four-cylinder engine. Ford holds more than 125 patents on its EcoBoost engine technology.

EcoBoost is a global Ford strategy to provide affordable fuel efficiency for millions of drivers while also delivering the power they desire. EcoBoost will be offered on 90 percent of Ford nameplates by 2013.

The combination of superior fuel efficiency and ample responsiveness is enabled by direct gasoline injection and twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT). Efficiency is further enhanced through employment of low-friction 5W-GF5 motor oil, a variable-displacement air conditioning compressor, electric power-assisted steering (EPAS) and a unique 6F35 six-speed automatic transmission developed to reduce friction and increase efficiency.

The Explorer with its standard V6 delivers up to 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway to lead the full-size V6 SUV segment in fuel efficiency. The Explorer with EcoBoost continues this class-leading fuel efficiency momentum.

Explorer fuel efficiency also benefits from a smooth vehicle shape and careful aerodynamic detailing like optimization of the front air dam and rear liftgate spoiler lip, as well as lightweight components such as an aluminum hood.

In the first six months of 2011, Explorer sales totaled 65,823 vehicles. This figure exceeds the full-year 2010 total of 60,687 Explorers. More than half of early buyers of the redesigned 2011 Explorer cited fuel efficiency as a primary motivation in their purchase decision. Moreover, the majority of customers are choosing better-equipped XLT and Limited series models.

The 2012 Explorer is assembled at Ford’s Chicago Assembly Plant.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 166,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com .

SOURCE Ford Motor Company

CONTACT: Angie Kozleski, +1-313-323-1984, akozlesk@ford.com, Said Deep, +1-313-594-0942, sdeep@ford.com

Web Site: http://www.ford.com

29Jul 2011

Stock Alert: GM (NYSE: GM) Ventures Invests in Solar Power Developer Sunlogics

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July 29, 2011, DETROIT, (Coal Geology) –General Motors Ventures LLC announced today an equity investment of $7.5 million in Sunlogics PLC, a vertically integrated global solar energy systems provider specializing in solar project development and installation. The investment will create 310 jobs.

GM also signed commercial agreements with Sunlogics for the installation of solar charging canopies at Chevrolet dealerships and GM facilities, as well as a power purchase agreement to install large-scale solar arrays at GM facilities and purchase the energy they produce.

Sunlogics will use some of the funding to establish its corporate headquarters and open a manufacturing facility in suburban Detroit, and to set up a manufacturing facility in Ontario. The facility in Southeast Michigan will create 200 jobs and the Canadian facility will support 110 jobs.

“Global solar energy use is predicted to more than double by 2016, so we believe that investing in renewable energy is a smart and strategic business decision,” said Jon Lauckner, president of GM Ventures. “And the Chevrolet solar charging canopy project complements our electrification strategy that started with the Chevrolet Volt by helping our cars live up to their fullest green potential.”

Sunlogics’ management has experience developing and operating solar commercial installations in Canada, the United States, and Europe. Sunlogics PLC has a strategic relationship with Sunlogics Power Fund Management Inc. and with other entities to own and operate solar projects developed by Sunlogics PLC.

“The investment in Sunlogics allows GM to strategically partner with a leading solar developer and operator that can help GM drive the use of solar, specifically large-scale solar installations at our facilities,” Lauckner said. “Sunlogics was the ideal choice because it is a vertically integrated company that has a global footprint.”

Said Michael Matvieshen, CEO Sunlogics: “GM’s solar expansion and financial commitment provides a firm foundation for the growth of Sunlogics’ business worldwide and will bring more sustainable green energy to GM operations.”

“The partnership provides a new level of opportunity to the larger scale industrial solar projects Sunlogics designs, manufactures and constructs,” Matvieshen said. “We are looking forward to further assisting our customers in reducing their carbon footprint with sustainable renewable energy.”

As part of today’s announcement, General Motors committed to double its solar energy output globally by the end of 2015.

“Our GM facilities currently house 30 megawatts of solar power, and we are committing today to double that capacity to 60 megawatts over the next few years, which is equivalent to powering 10,000 homes annually,” said Mike Robinson, GM vice president of Energy, Environment & Safety Policy. “Not only does renewable energy make good business sense, it helps us continue to reduce the impact our facilities have on the environment.”

GM is the auto industry’s leading user of renewable energy. It has three of the largest automotive rooftop solar power installations in the United States and the world’s largest rooftop solar installation at its car assembly plant in Zaragoza, Spain. Additionally, GM has started construction on a new solar field at its Detroit-Hamtramck facility and completed construction on a solar array on top of its Baltimore Operations facility.

About General Motors Ventures

General Motors Ventures LLC is a subsidiary designed to help the company identify and develop innovative technologies in the automotive/transportation sector. GM Ventures has been funded with an initial investment of $100 million, and is exploring equity investments in a number of auto-related technologies and business models. More information can be found at www.gmventures.com.

About Sunlogics

Sunlogics PLC is a vertically-integrated global solar energy systems provider specializing in solar project development and installation. Sunlogics has a strategic partnership with Sunlogics Power Management Fund Inc. (SLMU:US) and with other entities for the purpose of owning and operating solar projects developed by Sunlogics PLC. The scope of the company’s current projects and operations reach to the nations of the world including Canada, United States, Europe and China. More information can be found at www.sunlogics.com/welcome-to-sunlogics.

SOURCE General Motors

NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional media information visit http://media.gm.com.
CONTACT: Kelly Cusinato, GM Ventures Communications, +1-313-402-4871 (cell), kelly.cusinato@gm.com, or Sharon Basel, GM Energy & Environment Communications, +1-313-378-6647 (cell), sharon.basel@gm.com, or Patrick Finucane, for Sunlogics PLC, +1-604-619-6678 (office), patrick@mckeeconsult.com

Web Site: http://www.gmventures.com

29Jul 2011

Honda to Launch New Civic at IAA Frankfurt Motor Show

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July 29, 2011, LONDON, (Coal Geology): Honda will launch the new Civic at the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Developed specifically for the European market, the Civic will be offered exclusively as a five-door hatchback and will compete in the C-segment. It will reach European showrooms in early 2012.
In the build-up to the reveal of the new Civic, Honda is releasing a series of short form films detailing its development. The first of these focuses on ride & handling.

NEW HONDA CIVIC: RIDE & HANDLING – TWO GENERATIONS AHEAD
The ride and handling of the new Honda Civic has been developed in Europe. Working closely with European colleagues and external experts, the Japanese development team analysed the current Civic’s performance. This led to a focus on improving the ride quality of the new Civic, while retaining the sporty handling of the current model.
Honda’s engineers were conscious that European roads are some of the most varied in the world, mixing fast highways with poorly surfaced country lanes. Initial testing was carried out at the Research and Development facilities in Japan, before the development team transferred to Europe to finalise the car.
“Every time we visited Europe during the development of the car, we achieved significant improvements in the ride and handling, tuning the car for the local demands,” says Kazuo Sunaoshi, Development Leader – Chassis. “The new Civic is not just an evolution. In terms of ride quality, we have taken a major step forwards, equivalent to two generations of development.”
The new Civic retains the largest cabin space within the C-segment by utilising the compact torsion beam rear suspension from the current Civic. To further improve body control and stability at high speeds, the wall thickness of the torsion beam and the diameter of the stabiliser bar have been increased. In addition, overall ride comfort and handling have been developed through the introduction of new fluid-filled compliance bushings to the rear suspension system.
Find out more by watching the new Civic Ride & Handling film release. The film is hosted on an interactive media player where all the films will be shown and automatically updated.

Tom Hains – Honda Motor Europe Ltd. +44(0)1753-590-590, (tom.hains@honda-eu.com)

29Jul 2011

Solar-powered electric charging stations for Chevrolet Volts coming to North America

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Chevrolet Volt
Chevrolet Volt

Chevrolet Volt

July 29, 2011, DETROIT, (Coal Geology): Chevrolet is harnessing the power of the sun to install solar-powered electric charging stations for its Volts at dealerships in North America. The Green Zone initiative will generate electricity equivalent to 12 full vehicle charges per day and excess electricity created will help supplement the dealership’s power needs.

“The Chevrolet Green Zone will provide our U.S. dealers with added flexibility when it comes to charging their vehicles, while also reinforcing GM’s commitment to renewable energy projects,” said Chris Perry, vice president, Global Chevrolet Marketing and Strategy.

American Chevrolet in Modesto, Calif., and Al Serra Auto Plaza in Grand Blanc, Mich., are the first U.S. dealerships to complete their solar charging capability by installing Green Zones on their property.

“The question isn’t whether to install a solar canopy, it’s where and how many,” said Joe Serra, president of Serra Automotive. “It’s a win for us because the electricity generated will help reduce operating costs, and it’s a win for the environment since solar power helps reduce our carbon footprint.”

Each canopy generates enough electricity for up to 4,500 charges per vehicle annually. The proof of concept for the Green Zone project is housed at the Detroit Hamtramck assembly plant, manufacturing home of the Volt.

“The beauty of this program is that there is no capital cost required from the dealership,” said Dave Halvorson, president of American Chevrolet in Modesto. “Not only do we generate the solar energy to increase our reliance on renewable electricity, but the Green Zone is a billboard of our commitment to the environment.”

The Chevy Green Zone Initiative is part of GM Ventures’ recent announcement to invest $7.5 million in Sunlogics, a solar panel manufacturing and development company that will supply the panels and install the dealer charging stations. Both American Chevrolet and Al Serra Chevrolet partnered with Sunlogics for installation of their Green Zones.

“Just one of these canopies provides enough renewable energy to power two to three homes per year, or more than 25 percent of a dealership’s energy consumption,” said Perry. “Collectively, that will be a lot of power we are putting back into the grid.”

As part of the GM Ventures investment announcement in Sunlogics, General Motors committed to double its solar output globally – from 30 megawatts to 60 megawatts by 2015. The company derives 1.4 percent of its U.S. energy consumption from renewable resources.

GM is the leading user of renewable energy in automotive manufacturing. It has three of the largest automotive rooftop solar power installations in the United States, and the world’s largest rooftop solar installation at its car assembly plant in Zaragoza, Spain. Additionally, GM has started construction on a new solar field at its Detroit-Hamtramck facility and completed construction on a solar array on top of its Baltimore Operations facility.

About Chevrolet

Founded in Detroit in 1911, Chevrolet celebrates its centennial as a global automotive brand with annual sales of about 4.25 million vehicles in more than 120 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. The Chevrolet portfolio includes iconic performance cars such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long-lasting pickups and SUVs such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers such as Spark, Cruze, Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers “gas-friendly to gas-free” solutions including Cruze Eco and Volt. Cruze Eco offers 42 mpg highway while Volt offers 35 miles of electric, gasoline-free driving and an additional 344 miles of extended range. Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com

About Sunlogics

Sunlogics PLC is a vertically-integrated global solar energy systems provider specializing in solar project development and installation.  Sunlogics has a strategic partnership with Sunlogics Power Management Fund Inc (SLMU:US) and with other entities for the purpose of owning and operating solar projects developed by Sunlogics PLC. The scope of the company’s current projects and operations reach to the nations of the world including Canada, United States, Europe and China. More information can be found at www.sunlogics.com.

SOURCE General Motors

NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional media information visit http://media.gm.com.
CONTACT: Sharon Basel, GM Communications, Energy & Environment, sharon.basel@gm.com, +1-313-378-6647 (cell), or Rob Peterson, Chevrolet Volt Communications, robert.d.peterson@gm.com, +1-313-402-6326 (cell)

Web Site: http://media.gm.com