EREN Network News

January 10, 2001

News and Events

• General Motors to Produce Hybrid Electric SUVs by 2004
• BAE to Supply 200 Hybrid Electric Buses to New York City
• GM, Toyota, ExxonMobil Focusing on New Fuel for Fuel Cells
• Prius and Insight Lose Out to PT Cruiser – or do they?
• California to Spend $250 Million on Energy Efficiency
• DOE Provides $10.9 Million for Energy Efficiency Research

• International Centre for Hydropower

• DOE Sites Provide Energy Rankings and Historic Trends

News and Events

General Motors to Produce Hybrid Electric SUVs by 2004
General Motors Corporation (GM) has developed a hybrid gasoline-electric drive system that the company says will be included in a sport utility vehicle (SUV) by 2004. The "ParadiGM" system combines a V-6 or an four-cylinder engine with a pair of electric motors and a battery pack. The 3.6-liter V-6 version of the hybrid drive system, which will be offered first, combines 220 horsepower from the engine with another 32 horsepower from the electric motors. The hybrid drive will achieve about 20 percent better fuel economy than comparable non-hybrid models. According to GM, the drive system provides a platform that will allow the company to sell a portfolio of hybrid vehicles, including cars, trucks and commercial vehicles. The new drive system was announced this week at the North American International Auto Show, now being held in Detroit, Michigan.

GM also announced that it has developed a "parallel" hybrid electric drive for use in buses and heavy trucks. GM is already producing a "series" hybrid electric drive for buses and trucks, which uses an engine to charge the batteries for an electric motor that propels the bus. The parallel approach uses a combination of the engine and the motor, both of which directly propel the bus. The new system, which has been successfully integrated into a 40-foot Gillig Phantom transit bus and a GMC C7500 "TopKick" truck, will be less expensive and will achieve about 60 percent better fuel economy than a conventional diesel-fueled bus. See both GM announcements by scrolling down the page.

To learn more about hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), see the "What is an HEV?" page on DOE's Office of Transportation Technologies Web site.

BAE to Supply 200 Hybrid Electric Buses to New York City
BAE SYSTEMS Controls announced in late December that it will supply the propulsion systems for 200 new hybrid-electric buses for the New York City Transit (NYCT) system. BAE SYSTEMS will provide its HybriDrive systems for Orion Bus Industries, which will assemble the buses. Currently, NYCT operates 10 buses that use the HybriDrive system, and they have logged more than 200,000 miles of service. See the press release on the BAE SYSTEMS Web site.

GM, Toyota, ExxonMobil Focusing on New Fuel for Fuel Cells
GM and Toyota Motor Corporation announced on Monday that their collaboration to develop clean vehicles, which began last year, has yielded progress in the arena of fuel cells. The companies have agreed that hydrogen is the ultimate fuel for fuel-cell vehicles in the long run, but until then, the companies are focusing on an unspecified "clean hydrocarbon fuel, which has properties similar to gasoline." The companies have also teamed up with ExxonMobil for their continued research in fuels, fuel processors, and fuel infrastructure needs. See the GM press release.

Prius and Insight Lose Out to PT Cruiser – or do they?
Unlike recent years, this year's North American International Auto Show is lacking in fuel-efficient concept cars. But the show held a potential gold star for hybrid vehicles, as both the Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius were among the top three contenders for the North American Car of the Year award. In the end, though, brassy retro style won out over high-tech achievements, as Chrysler's PT Cruiser took the award. For some bragging from the winner, see the DaimlerChrysler press release.

If you feel like demanding a recount, you might want to visit the newly expanded "Tailpipe Tally" Web site from Environmental Defense. The site allows you to make head- to-head comparisons of up to four vehicles in terms of fuel economy and emissions. Compared against the PT Cruiser, the Prius and Insight win in all categories. Try it yourself on the Tailpipe Tally Web site.

California to Spend $250 Million on Energy Efficiency
Governor Gray Davis of California announced in his State of the State Address on Monday that California plans to spend $250 million on energy efficiency this year. The Governor proposed cash incentives for replacing inefficient refrigerators, washers and air conditioners with more efficient models. He also proposed a comprehensive campaign to create energy smart schools, homes, workplaces and communities. "By reducing our electricity demand — by even a small amount — we can reduce the price, avoid shortages, and lower energy bills," said Governor Davis. See the Governor's January 8th press release by selecting "Press Releases."

A continuing power crisis had driven several California electric utilities to the brink of bankruptcy, a dire situation that also threatens the economic health of their creditors, including large banks and several suppliers of power from geothermal energy. DOE Secretary Bill Richardson met yesterday with Governor Davis about the power crisis. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman James Hoecker and U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers were also expected at the meeting. At press time, no outcome from that meeting had been announced. For a sample of the news that has been generated by California utilities, see the recent press releases from Edison International — parent company of Southern California Edison.

See also the highlighted "rating action" on the home page of Moody's Investors Service.

DOE Provides $10.9 Million for Energy Efficiency Research
DOE announced yesterday that it has selected 13 firms to perform scientific research for energy-efficient power generation, industrial and buildings systems, and transportation. The total grant amount is $10.9 million. The research topics run the gamut from compact heat pumps using microtechnology to improved superconducting tapes. See the DOE press release.

Site News

International Centre for Hydropower
This Norway-based center is an international association of companies and organizations that are active in all aspects of hydropower generation and supply. The site provides industry news, a newsletter archive, and details about the Centre's upcoming conferences.

For this and other recent additions to the EREN Web site, see http://www.eren.doe.gov/new/whats-new.html.

Energy Facts and Tips

DOE Sites Provide Energy Rankings and Historic Trends
If you're looking for some "top ten" lists relating to energy, ranging from oil producers to energy costs, try out the new "Energy Data Rankings" Web page, provided by DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA). Did you know that in 1997, Hawaii residents paid the most for energy, and Louisiana residents paid the least? Or that in 1999, Norway actually supplied more oil to the United States than Kuwait? Learn these facts and more at EIA's Energy Data Rankings Web page.

A much more comprehensive collection of data has been compiled into EIA's Historic Data Web page. The data sets presented here run the gamut from solar power to motor vehicle mileage, and some of the information dates back to 1949. Did you know that alternative fuel use in the United States has increased more than 60 percent since 1992? Or that the U.S. production of solar cells increased by a factor of seven between 1982 and 1998? See the EIA's Historic Data Web page.

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