Ford's all-new diesel engine, code-named "Scorpion," in part is a tribute to the noisy, 1980s hair band that brought the world "Rock You Like A Hurricane." But when you hear the hum of the 6.7-liter diesel V-8 Power Stroke engine, slated to go into Ford's 2011 Super Duty pickup line, it will produce much softer music to your ears.

"Years ago, our customers gave us a lot of feedback," explains Scott DeRaad, Scorpion's noise-vibration-harshness engineer. "They would go through a drive-through window and would have to shut off their truck just to order a cheeseburger."

Scorpion nearly silences the typical diesel clangs and rattles without quashing fuel economy or power. It achieves gasoline-like rhythm with 30,000-psi, common-rail injectors that can send out up to five pulses of fuel per piston cycle. At idle, two "pilot" preinjections followed by a main burst of energy emit less sound than a diesel's traditional big bang.

The noise pollution that other diesels crank out "just doesn't sound modern," adds DeRaad. "That sounds like some sort of farm utility. We want it to sound like a performance engine, so we knocked the clatter out."

--Tudor Van Hampton

BMW will debut its plug-in hybrid, the Vision EfficientDynamics Concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show, which takes place September 15-27 this year.

BMW designed the concept is a plug-in hybrid with a three-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that delivers the performance of the BMW M as well as dramatically low fuel consumption. BMW claims a 0-62 in 4.8 seconds.

Fuel economy is higher than some of the smaller vehicles now on sale; it scored 62.6 mpg (U.S.) on the E.U. combined test cycle. The engine is supplemented by two electric motors, one positioned in between the diesel engine and the DCT transmission outputs 33 horsepower (HP) and a second motor outputs 80 HP and acts on the front axle. Extra horsepower is available for short periods on both motors. Overall system output is 356 HP; peak torque is 590 lb-ft.

The vehicle has a 1.5-liter turbo diesel paired with a six-speed double-clutch transmission (DCT) derived from the M3 and Z4 transmissions. DCT allows the driver to shift gears with no interruption of power.

The concept is able to run about 31 miles on electricity alone and using fuel in 6.6-gallon tank the car can run another 400 miles. Electrical energy consumption is comparable to the Volt and employs regenerative braking to recharge batteries. Based on European standards of 220 Volt, 16 amps, BMW estimates the time needed to recharge the system is 2 ½ hours.

The concept, which weighs 3,076 pounds, uses aluminum and light-sensitive polycarbonate to reduce weight and LED lighting to reduce energy consumption. BMW is experimenting with other systems to save energy like a radar sensor for active cruise control that would preemptively switch off the engine and trigger regenerative braking if traffic is slowing down.

--Kate McLeod

September 3, 2009 -- Cars are not the only vehicles on the road that are going hybrid. New York City is testing out a new type of hybrid bus powered by a diesel turbine and electric motor. So far, it is the only bus in New York that meets U.S. diesel-emission standards for 2010 without the need for any exhaust aftertreatment.

"The bus is revolutionary," says Joseph Smith, senior vice president of MTA New York City Transit. "It has no starter, no transmission, no water pump and no engine radiator." The turbine comes with a 12-year warranty and requires no oil changes.

Here's how it works: A turbine replaces the typical piston engine that powers most of New York's 4,600-bus fleet. It runs a generator that charges up lithium-ion batteries, which in turn power the wheels. The diesel-electric drive also can take advantage of regenerative braking, much like an automotive hybrid.

Made by DesignLine International USA or Charlotte, N.C., the bus is super-quiet, says MTA. It is the first of eight buses scheduled for 90-day trial in the harsh streets of the Big Apple.

--Tudor Van Hampton

September 1, 2009 --- About 700,000 taxpayers benefited from the Clunker program, which kept trying to end and finally succeeded on August 25th at 8 pm. The U.S. Transportation Department says that applications submitted by the deadline would amount to $2.88 billion just under the $3 billion budget. This does not include reapplications of rejected filings that dealers are allowed to submit after the deadline. It doesn't include administrative costs either and staffing has been increased sixfold to about 2,000. Dealers are still struggling to get paid.

Edmunds.com analysts said that in May and June, the average fuel efficiency of recently purchased new cars was 21.8 miles per gallon. That average jumped to 23.2 mpg when the Clunker program launched, a 6.1 percent improvement. New vehicles from the Clunker program now average of 24.3 mpg.

The average fuel efficiency of trade-ins had been 20.0 mpg prior to the Clunker program; that number has dropped 9.0 percent to 18.3. The average clunker trade-in got 16.1 mpg. Thirty-nine percent of all recent trade-ins qualified as clunkers.

--Kate McLeod

If you want to make big changes on this planet, sometimes you have to start out small. Daimler has done just that, by giving the diminutive 2010 smart fortwo cdi (that's common-rail diesel injection) a 21% power upgrade, for a low-emission vehicle that already touts itself as the "carbon champion" among all other internal-combustion cars. Reports also indicate that it may bring the smart cdi to the States, where the subcompact is offered in a gas-only version.

The retooled, three-cylinder diesel also produces 18% more torque. But high costs for the extra emissions equipment needed to meet U.S. tailpipe standards may make an import here prohibitive, as most automakers are already skittish about unleashing clean diesels. U.S. car companies, which tend to scrape by financially on small cars, are even more uncertain how new carbon regulations, due 2016, will fare for these engineering-intensive machines.

Daimler hints, however, that the sporty smart's tailpipe may get by in other countries without such extra treatment as "wet" urea injection. If that's true, the 2010 smart fortwo cdi's fuel efficiency of about 69 combined mpg--though rated by Euro standards and not yet adjusted for American driving--is impressive. Priced in Europe at just under $17,000, it beats a hybrid car price-wise and mileage-wise in a time when electrics are getting all the glory.

--Tudor Van Hampton

August 25, 2009 --- Ford announced on August 18 that they are testing the first vehicle-to-electric grid wireless communications and control systems. Ford has partnered with many utility companies around the country to develop a system that allows the vehicle operator to decide when to recharge, for how long and at what rate.

Using the navigation system in your vehicle, you input what rate of charge you will accept from your utility--strictly offpeak for example or--down the line--when the system is using wind or solar power. You may plug your vehicle in when you get home, but the charging won't start until the rate kicks in. It's called a smart meter. You can also input how long you want the charge to be or you can ask for the vehicle to be fully charged by the time you leave for work in the morning.

Not all utilities are on board as yet. So what happens when you leave your hometown and travel crosscountry? Greg Frenette, manager of Ford's Battery Electric Vehicle Applications says, "most utilities understand where the smart meter is headed and understand the need to make the capability consistent throughout the country.

"You need solutions from Maine to Florida to California and the time is now to initiate that discussion and dialogue so that we are ready to execute."

--Kate McLeod

August 20, 2009 -- General Motors' announcement that its soon-to-be Volt plug-in-hybrid will fetch 230 miles per gallon is a real head-scratcher that has left many wondering what exactly a "gallon" of electricity is worth.

As more alternative-fueled cars and trucks enter the scene, how buyers compare them is bound to become more complicated. For commuters who only drive 40 miles or less every day and have a place to plug in their car at night, the Volt will never need to switch into gas-engine mode. Similarly, Nissan's forthcoming Leaf promises to get 367 mpg, yet the all-electric car doesn't even have a gas tank. How can this make sense?

One expert suggests to USA Today fuel economy should be rated in cost per mile, not miles per gallon. Others say that electrics should be rated at kilowatt-hours per 100 miles. Volt's rating is based on a proposed U.S. federal government formula, which considers the price of grid electricity and places weighted scores on electrics to compute cost. In this scenario, fueling up the Volt would cost about 3¢ per mile, not counting total cost of ownership, which includes purchase price, taxes, insurance, maintenance and the like. Published reports hint that the Volt will cost about $40,000 to buy.

--Tudor Van Hampton

The short answer is, no. 230 mpg isn't that literal. If I got in my car in New York City and drove straight to the Saratoga Race Track (223 miles) in my Volt, the amount of gasoline consumed would be more than one gallon.

MPG is confusing.

The EPA is trying to create a new measure for electric vehicles because the old measures don't work. They are figuring into their methodology how consumers use their vehicles over a period of time. Some drivers go less than 40 miles round trip per day. They use battery only and could conceivably drive their vehicle for months without using any gasoline. So the 230-mpg that General Motors is talking about is a real world rather than a single trip.

"The intention in announcing this figure as a MPG figure is to force people to rethink the potential and capability of electric vehicles," says Rob Peterson, public relations, General Motors "People will understand the cost per mile equation," he continues, "as pure electric could cost three cents per mile and gasoline 10-12 cents per mile." In the meantime beware inflated mileage figures. Putting that figure out probably isn't one of GM's best ideas.

--Kate McLeod

Normally, we wouldn't advise such things. But researchers at the University of Wisconsin are working on a way to burn high concentrations of gasoline in a diesel engine, which could cut oil consumption and harmful emissions in a big way.

Taking advantage of gasoline's clean burn and diesel's efficiency, it works by using an onboard computer to control a precise injection of gas and diesel fuel to make combustion possible. "You can think of the diesel spray as a collection of liquid spark plugs, essentially, that ignite the gasoline," says Rolf Reitz, a professor and mechanical engineer at UW-Madison. Timing is critical, as normally, the two fuels will not burn together.

Tested in a heavy-duty Caterpillar diesel engine, Rietz's "blended" fuel lowers consumption by 20%. The downside: Two fuels means you would have to fill up two tanks. Reitz points out, however, that many of today's clean diesels have a urea tank, and his engine would not need the urea.Normally, we wouldn't advise such things. But researchers at the University of Wisconsin are working on a way to burn high concentrations of gasoline in a diesel engine, which could cut oil consumption and harmful emissions in a big way.

Taking advantage of gasoline's clean burn and diesel's efficiency, it works by using an onboard computer to control a precise injection of gas and diesel fuel to make combustion possible. "You can think of the diesel spray as a collection of liquid spark plugs, essentially, that ignite the gasoline," says Rolf Reitz, a professor and mechanical engineer at UW-Madison. Timing is critical, as normally, the two fuels will not burn together.

Tested in a heavy-duty Caterpillar diesel engine, Rietz's "blended" fuel lowers consumption by 20%. The downside: Two fuels means you would have to fill up two tanks. Reitz points out, however, that many of today's clean diesels have a urea tank, and his engine would not need the urea.

--Tudor Van Hampton

August 11, 2009 -- Nissan unveiled what it calls the first affordable zero-emission car on August 2, 2009. The vehicle is a medium size hatchback powered by lithium-ion batteries that has a range of 100 miles. Nissan will launch the Leaf in the United States as well as Europe and Japan in fourth quarter 2010.

Nissan promises to make this the first EV designed to be friendly to the wallet as well as environment. One has to wonder how Nissan will accomplish that especially since Mitsubishi's i-MIEV has been priced at the equivalent of $45-50,000 in Japan. And the all-electric Tesla costs north of $90,000. The batteries make these vehicles expensive. So how does Nissan make this coming EV affordable unless they are pre-calculating local, regional and national tax breaks around the world.

Nissan says there is enough power generated byod laminated compact lithium-ion batteries that the LEAF will meet the expectations of consumers who are getting out of gasoline-powered automobiles.

Nissan has a 60-year history of battery testing in their vehicles including six-years in Norway in the world's most northerly settlement where their Prairie EV was used by arctic researchers.
One thing you'll notice missing when the LEAF comes out: a tailpipe. Since there are no emissions, it won't be needed.

--Kate McLeod

BMW is bowing out of Formula One at the end of the 2009 racing season. The resources used for Formula One are going to be put toward the development of new drive technologies and sustainability projects.

The current BMW Sauber F1 team, which debuted in the 2006 wound up fifth in the constructor's championship. In 2007, the German-Swiss team came in second after McLaren-Mercedes' exclusion from the points standings. In the 2008 season, BMW Sauber placed third in the quest for the world championship. Polish-born Robert Kubica achieved the first and hitherto only GP victory in Canada on June 8, 2008. So far, the BMW Sauber F1 Team has taken one pole position (Kubica in Bahrain in 2008) and 16 podium finishes. The BMW Sauber F1 Team occupies the eighth spot in the manufacturer's standings in the season now underway.

BMW continues to be involved in other motorsports series, including the American LeMans, which emphasizes green technologies in its racing.

--Kate McLeod

Get ready to hear a lot more about an unfamiliar name--Mahindra.

Mahindra started out in the late 1940s building Jeeps for India under a contract with Willys, and it is now one of the world's largest producers of agricultural tractors. After a few false starts, India-based Mahindra says it now plans to roll out two small pickups powered by a four-cylinder, 2.2L clean diesel early next year.

They may not be full-sized trucks, but Mahindra thinks they will offer big performance not yet available in this size pickup. With Detroit automakers putting their small-diesel truck plans on hold for economic reasons, Mahindra's workhorse may make American buyers think twice about sizing up to get into a diesel pickup when they can just as easily size down.

More than 300 dealers have already signed up to sell the two and four-door pickups, which will come with a base price in the low $20,000s. How well will loyal, domestic truck buyers take to a foreign outsider? If the reaction is similar to the chilly reception of the latest-generation Toyota Tundra, it could be a bloodbath for Mahindra.

Then again, a compact, diesel pickup is what manufacturers call a "white space," since no other competitor exists. Rising oil prices--if gas and diesel remain close in parity--could work in Mahindra's favor, as it promises more efficiency over a gas pickup with 30 mpgs on highway. Starting to sound like a lot of what-ifs? The lineup is scheduled to grow into a sport-utility vehicle next year, though plans for a diesel hybrid have been shelved for the time-being.

--Tudor Van Hampton

The elimination of the conventional spare tire is slowly becoming an industry standard. Losing the weight of a spare tire, about 25 pounds, has several advantages. It creates more trunk space. In 4WD vehicles it eliminates the problem of having those vehicles mechanisms encroach into spare well space.

The weight savings may have some long-term positive impact on fuel consumption, says Bridgestone, and it's one less tire/wheel that has to be disposed of at the end of its life. Bridgestone offers run flats that can run 50 miles if you have a breakdown. Temporary mobility kits, which consist mostly of a small compressor with a sealant material, can be used in the vast majority of situations to get you to a service location.

Michelin agrees there is an industry trend away from the spare tire, but that consumers still want one in their vehicle. "We don't see them going away completely until there's a fundamental shift in consumer thinking," says Lynne Slovick, spokesperson for Michelin.
Consumers still favor a spare tire in their vehicle." Ford spokesperson Jason Mase agrees. "Consumers still have an expectation that they are going to have a spare so Ford is not following the standard."

--Kate McLeod

In case you are wondering when the new diesel Jetta will stop bogarting the green lane, it's well-deserved attention: A new survey by IntelliChoice.com says the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI delivers the lowest cost of ownership of any other diesel or hybrid-powered car on the market.

"The survey this year once again supports what we have long argued--that most hybrid vehicles and now clean diesel vehicles offer superior value to standard models," says James Bell, editor of IntelliChoice.com. He went on to say that the Obama Administration's new fuel-economy and carbon standards puts more spotlight on green cars, and that it should consider promoting diesels by lowering taxes on fuel, similar as to what's done in Europe.

IntelliChoice's study concludes that clean diesel has the potential to be a "game-changer" among green cars and trucks. It reviewed 39 gas-electric hybrid and 12 clean-diesel models available in the U.S. and pitted them against their gasoline counterparts. Of those, 35 delivered a lower cost of ownership in their first five years. The analysis takes into account taxes, fuel, insurance and other costs associated with owning a new automobile.

VW's turbodiesel Jetta took the top slot with a total savings of $6,210 over the gas version. In second place was the Toyota Prius, saving $4,930 over five years. It was compared to the Toyota Camry because it is the next comparable non-hybrid (there is no gas Prius). "Clean diesel cars like the VW Jetta TDI and Mercedes Benz E320 perform even better than hybrids in saving thousands of dollars in costs and recouping their purchase premium," adds Bell. "Make no mistake that clean diesel cars are now mainstream."

--Tudor Van Hampton

Because of their bankruptcies GM and Chrysler got $0 from this Government pocket. Ford gets $5.9 billion; Nissan gets $1.6 billion and little California-based Tesla is to get $465 million from the Department of Energy's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing program. The loans were announced by the Obama administration on June 23rd.

To be fair, GM and Chrysler are getting plenty from the Government's other pocket. GM has been promised $50 billion in all.

As for this handout, Ford is to retool plants in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky and Missouri for electric power plants and improvements to the internal combustion engine. They will also convert two truck plants into car plants. Nissan will use funds to retool its Smyrna, Tenn., facility to build electric cars by late 2012 and build an advanced battery manufacturing plant.

Tesla plans to build its Model S, late in 2011, a seven passenger family sedan that purportedly will get up to 300 miles per charge. They say the S will cost $49,900 after a $7,500 federal tax credit. The loans will also go to build a plant that aimed at supplying electric powertrains to other automakers.

--Kate McLeod