The continued rise in gasoline prices as well as tighter rules on vehicle emissions are reviving automakers’ interests in alternative fuels specifically compressed natural gas or CNG. Toyota revealed plans to expand its line of alternatively-powered cars aside from the Prius by unveiling a new Camry Hybrid that will run on compressed natural gas rather than gasoline.

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General Motors officially unveiled its much-anticipated production version of the Chevrolet Volt, its extended-range electric vehicle, just in time to kick off its next 100 years. The automaker is celebrating its one hundredth year this year. “Revealing the production version of the Chevy Volt is a great way to open our second century,” said Rick Wagoner, GM Chairman and CEO. “The Volt is symbolic of GM’s strong commitment to the future … just the kind of technology innovation that our industry needs to respond to today’s and tomorrow’s energy and environmental challenges.”

The Chevrolet Volt production version is redesigned from the original concept revealed at the 2007 North American International Auto Show. The new Volt now features a sleeker and more aerodynamically efficient design with rounded and flush front fascia, tapered corners and grille, sharp edges and streamlined spoiler as well as an aggressive rake on the windshield and back glass. Design elements from the original concept still endure such as the closed front grille, athletic stance, rear design graphics, outside rearview mirrors and more.

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Electricity, not hydrogen, gasoline or ethanol, will fuel the cars of the future, says Ford Motor Co.’s global product development chief, Derrick Kuzak. He stressed that he was speaking as an engineer and was not commenting specifically on Ford’s future product plans. He also said that Ford will continue to develop these alternatives. He also said that the electrification of the vehicle is the ultimate solution.

Kuzak argued that alternative fuels such as hydrogen fuel cells face several technological hurdles and will required the construction of an entirely new energy structure, which he believes is not likely or practical. On the other hand, an electric car would be able to utilize the existing power grid. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles use an electric only drive train that is powered by the fuel cell to generate electricity.

Via The Auto Channel

The groundbreaking BMW Hydrogen 7, the first hydrogen-powered luxury sedan will join other hydrogen-powered cars in the 2008 Hydrogen Road Tour. The tour will take the convoy of environment-friendly cars across the country from Portland, Maine to Santa Monica, California. The goal of the tour is to call on congressional leaders to support the creation of nationwide hydrogen fuelling station infrastructure.

The BMW Hydrogen 7 stores liquid hydrogen to power its internal combustion engine, the only car on the tour to have this functionality. Since hydrogen produces zero emissions, it is one of the cleanest energy sources available. In fact, the Hydrogen 7’s tailpipe emission is water vapor, which recent studies confirm to be safe enough to drink as it is well within the limits set by the US Environmental Protection Agency for safe drinking water standards.

The tour will also include a mono-fuel version of the BMW Hydrogen 7 that features a V12 internal combustion engine which runs exclusively on hydrogen. The mono-fuel Hydrogen 7 was created to demonstrate the zero CO2 and low emissions potential and feasibility of a dedicated hydrogen internal combustion engine. The Hydrogen 7 mono-fuel doesn’t only produce close to zero emission; it actually helped clean the air.

The 2008 Hydrogen Road Tour will run from August 11 to 23 and is in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Energy, the California Fuel Cell Partnership and the National Hydrogen Association. In addition to BMW, participants include Daimler, GM, Honda, Hyundai-Kia, Nissan, Toyota, and VW. Also part of this broad coalition are hydrogen fuel providers Linde, BMW’s hydrogen fuel partner for the Tour, and Air Products.

Via The Auto Channel

The University of California – Davis has initiated a research and technology demonstration facility dubbed the Biogas Energy Project which aims to turn tons of leftover and table scrap into clean and renewable energy for use in households and automobiles. Initially, the facility will process over eight tons of leftovers weekly sourced from premier restaurants around San Francisco. If all goes well, the project will eventually process about eight tons of leftover daily. Every ton of leftovers can produce enough energy to power 10 average California households in one day.

The Biogas Energy Project will demonstrate the technology developed by Ruihong Zhang (pictured), a UC Davis professor of biological and agricultural. Called the “anaerobic phased solids digester” has now been licensed and adapted for commercial use by Onsite Power Systems. This public-private alliance aims to reduce the amount of organic mater in landfills and convert them to clean energy.

The technology will produce two clean energy gases – hydrogen and methane which can be used to produce electricity and heat or to propel cars, trucks and buses.

The numbers of auto owners and users have been soaring to appalling degrees nowadays which in turn accounts for the increasing global demand for energy. However greater demand usually commands greater price and that is the burden that consumers must bear.

According to the special energy report recently published by the Standard and Poor, a division of McGraw-Hill Companies which is one of the world providers of financial and investment report, research and evaluation, the burden of higher oil prices can be bearable but not pleasant especially on the part of the consumers who belong to the industries that calls for greater energy supply. On the other hand, higher prices can prompt the people to use less energy and spark up the drive of energy suppliers to look for a variety of oil substitutes hence, the expansion of energy sources and supply.

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As part of its efforts to help curb global warming and dependence on foreign oil imports, Japan is planning to adopt a new policy requiring all new cars to run on 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline by the year 2010. The country’s Environment Ministry is already studying the cost and implementation. Japan is one of the top contributors to air pollution. The country also imports almost all of its oil and is ardently looking for alternative fuel sources.

Japan aims to have all cars on its roads running on flexible-fuel technology by 2030. As of now, the number of cars running on ethanol-gasoline mix is still insignificant, although Japan allows ethanol mixtures of up to 3%. To help start up the market, the environment ministry will start large-scale production of ethanol fuel in the sugarcane-rich island of Miyako. The plan is to use the ethanol for the island’s 20,000 cars over the course of three years.

However, there are some hindrances that have to be hurdled. First, ethanol fuel is more expensive than gasoline. Second, the planned 10% ethanol mix does not comply with the standards met by flex-fuel vehicles from U.S. automakers, which can run on 85% ethanol blends.

Memorial Day is traditionally the start of the summer driving season. This year millions of Americans will find themselves on the highways and freeways heading for the country’s top tourist destinations and looking forward to a fun-filled vacation with family and friends. However, nothing can spoil the fun much worse than a car conking out in the middle of nowhere because it ran out of gas. AAA is expecting that thousands of commuters will be stranded on America’s roads because of low fuel levels or empty tanks.

AAA also warned about the potential hazards of running a vehicle low on gas. Apparently, this is not only an inconvenience; it can also cause damage in your car’s fuel and engine systems. For instance, when running a vehicle that is already extremely low on gasoline, the sediments that collect at the bottom of the fuel tank may begin to clog the fuel pump pickup, fuel filter and fuel injector leading to costly damages.

Many motorists try to lower their expenditures by driving their vehicles until the fuel tank is almost empty. This practice will actually cost you more on replacements and repair later on. AAA recommends that car owners have their vehicles regularly checked as well as always maintain at least a quarter tank of fuel.

A survey by Consumer Reports’ National Research Center revealed that gasoline prices are a major factor that new car buyers consider. In fact, thirty-seven percent of consumers are looking to replace their current vehicles with more fuel-efficient vehicles such as hybrids. Among those who are considering buying a new car to replace their old one, half says they are looking at gasoline/electric hybrids while 38% are thinking of purchasing a flex-fuel or diesel vehicle.

Most of the respondents are also considering downsizing their vehicles. Half are planning to replace their cars with a smaller one; about a fifth is considering a small SUV or family sedan, while fewer than one in 20 are considering a luxury sedan or large SUV. When it comes to accepting the skyrocketing fuel prices, 70 percent says they have accepted the $3/gallon price while 50 percent are ready to pay $4/gallon. “High gas prices are not just an inconvenience anymore,” explained Robert Gentile, director of Consumer Reports’ Auto Price Services. “They are forcing people to reconsider what and how they drive, even the way they live their lives.”

Source: Consumer Reports

More people are now expressing interest and looking for information about alternative fuel sources as gas prices across the U.S. continues to soar. Car owners are scouring the internet to research about alternative fuel choices such as ethanol and bio-diesel. In fact, internet searches for the keyword ‘ethanol’ rose by 212% this month compared to last year, according to Hitwise, a top online competitive intelligence service. Searches for the term ‘biodiesel’ also grew by 100% in the same period. The government site FuelEconomy.gov as well as the respective websites of the American Coalition for Ethanol and the US DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy website also experienced big jumps in site visits compared to the previous month.