Akerson appeared before the House Oversight Government Reform Committee on January 25th to testify about GM’s response to failed NHTSA tests by the Volt. A trio of Volt batteries started on fire following June 2011 crash tests. The NHTSA did not open their investigation into the matter until November 2011. This committee issued a report that questioned the relationship between the Obama administration and GM given the federal government’s 26% stake in the automaker. Akerson responded by noting that the NHTSA tests for the Volts in question did not reflect realistic driving conditions. He also stated that Volt researchers and drivers have traveled more than 25 million miles in real-world conditions without incident.

Another phase of Akerson’s efforts to boost the Volt is a media blitz that heads off criticism by traditionalists and small-government advocates. GM published a letter from Mr. Akerson in newspapers throughout the United States including the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. This letter indicated that the Chevy Volt is not only safe but represents an economic boost to Detroit that makes America competitive in the auto industry. The automaker also plans a series of commercials to change the narrative created by the House investigation.

GM’s efforts to protect its signature hybrid collide with an immovable partisan force during a highly contentious election season. The House Oversight Government Reform Committee called their January 25th hearing “Volt Vehicle Fire: What Did NHSA Know and When Did They Know It?” This title alone shows the bile heaped on GM and advancements in vehicle technology by House Republicans. Mr. Akerson and GM have become a symbol for government excess as well as hyped-up technology by conservatives. Americans must look beyond these simplistic conclusions and see that the Chevy Volt has performed well on the road in the past year. An ignorance of the Volt’s on-the-road record would snuff out homegrown green vehicles that can create jobs, reduce emissions and wean America off fossil fuels.

The Plug-in Car Grant currently offers discounts on 10 vehicle models including the Nissan LEAF, Tata Vista and Citroen CZero. The Department for Transport notes that 1,052 qualifying vehicles were purchased in the United Kingdom though only 892 grant applications had been approved. This disparity comes from the delay between a manufacturer’s application for reimbursement and government approval.  The first round of qualifying vans should be approved by the end of January after a month-long application process. The addition of vans to the Plug-in Car Grant should help families, small businesses and government agencies save significantly on their green vehicle investments.

Manufacturers of plug-in vans must meet rigorous criteria for their models to qualify for the Plug-in Car Grant. Current standards require qualifying vehicles to travel up to 70 miles per charge with a top speed of 60 miles per hour. The Department for Transport requires manufacturers to provide at least a 60,000-mile warranty as well as a five-year battery warranty to protect consumers. Qualifying vans must also meet British and international vehicle safety standards including whole-vehicle crash tests. These criteria not only save consumers from lemons but protect the government’s substantial investment in this market.

The British government has invested $614 million in advancing low-emissions vehicles throughout the country. This investment includes $460 million for incentives like the Plug-in Car Grant, $123 million on advanced vehicle research and development and $46 million for EV charger installation. The Department for Transport notes that the United Kingdom features more than 2,500 plug-in stations including 765 funded during the recent Plugged-in Places project. These stations should be joined by 4,000 charging stations purchased by businesses through the end of this year. The Plug-in Car Grant is a worthwhile program that could become unique as European, American and Asian governments begin to cut back on national budgets.

The Plugless Power charging system is categorized as a Level 2 inductive charging system. This system will be installed in Nissan LEAFs and Chevy Volts used by corporate partners ranging from manufacturers to electrical companies. Each participant in the Plugless Power road trials will keep a driving diary that provides feedback about the system’s functionality. Drivers are expected to respond regarding charging speed, connectivity issues and technical problems encountered over about eight months of operation. Evatran also wants driver feedback about potential improvements in system operation that could be incorporated in upcoming production runs.

The benefits of Plugless Power start with the minimal infrastructure required for vehicle charging. The receiver and charger are almost entirely hidden from the naked eye. Drivers will not experience significant increases in vehicle weight as the receiver only weights about ten pounds. Evatran estimates that the transfer efficiency rate is about 90%, a strong estimate considering the current limitations on wireless charging. The most important benefit to consumers is the simplicity of Plugless Power, which requires only that a driver parks above the charger.

Evatran was created in 2009 by MTC Transformers to develop EV charging units for fleet operators and homeowners. This MTC subsidiary is currently working with Yazaki North America to market Plugless Power to car dealers throughout the United States. This marketing effort would allow automakers to package charging units and vehicles, potentially reducing upfront costs for customers. Evatran and Yazaki would connect dealerships with certified technicians to reduce overlapping services. These efforts to push Plugless Power systems into the public eye shows that EV charging infrastructure should evolve quickly beyond the standard plug and socket.

Magna International worked with partner company Stronach Group to convert the Equinox into a roadworthy EV. Engineers from the Magna E-Car Systems team worked with GM’s Canadian Engineering Centre in Ontario to install drive systems in Equinox frames. This work resulted in a vehicle that is powered by a 105kW electric motor as well as a 33kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Magna E-Car also incorporated wiring, monitors and onboard charging units in the test fleet developed by Magna and Stronach design teams.

The traditional Chevy Equinox SUV achieves a fuel economy rating of 32 miles per gallon. Magna and GM did not release details about estimated performance for the converted models but the equivalent rate should be significantly higher. Each fleet vehicle will be monitored throughout the testing process for fuel consumption, vehicle range and motor performance. Ontario offers a good setting for EV testing as the Equinoxes will be put through humid summers, cold winters and precipitation throughout the year.

GM needs this project along with global R&D efforts to bear fruit in the near future to offset recent concerns about vehicle safety. The automaker came under fire late last month when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducted crash testing on the Chevy Volt. Officials with NHTSA noted that the test vehicle’s battery started on fire nearly a month after testing. This incident has not translated to safety concerns among the vehicle’s early adopters based on early findings by GM. The greater concern is that GM could experience bad publicity as critics of green vehicle technology latch onto the NHTSA story. The success of the Equinox EV road test would show that GM is capable of developing a broad spectrum of clean vehicles that meet consumer needs.

The HOV program encourages carpooling by offering a special lane for vehicles with more than two passengers. The California DOT operates 1,400 miles of HOV lanes largely focused in high-traffic areas like Los Angeles and San Francisco. This program offers 40,000 HOV stickers for California residents though this figure should increase as additional hybrids and EVs hit the market. The 2012 Chevy Volt qualified for the HOV program based on improvements to emissions controls compared to the inaugural model. General Motors noted that engineers added multiple layers of air injection and a new catalytic convert to decrease carbon emissions.

Owners of the 2012 Chevy Volt could qualify for tax credits and rebates totaling $9,500 thanks to changes in state transportation policies. The 2012 Chevy Volt qualifies for the California Enhanced, Advanced Technology label based on fuel economy and emissions. This label allows Volt owners to apply for the California Clean Vehicle Rebate Program. This state-issued rebate has a maximum cap of $2,500 per applicant, which would help defray the cost of ownership. Californians can also qualify for federal tax credits up to $7,500 per household when purchasing the 2012 Volt.

The state of California offers a template for reducing the costs of green vehicle ownership while eliminating bureaucratic barriers to entry. Expansion of the HOV sticker program allows families and businesses with clean vehicles to speed up their commutes. This statewide focus on HOV lanes and vehicle rebates should be layered on the infrastructure developments initiated at the local level. Drivers from San Diego to the Bay Area should be able to use HOV lanes, public charging units and free street parking if they invest in green vehicle technology. The 2012 Chevy Volt could become the baseline vehicle for states coast to coast as they emulate California’s efforts to promote clean vehicles.

Boston-based XL Hybrids recently announced plans for a pilot program that would test the company’s hybrid retrofit system. This manufacturer of fuel-efficient hybrid systems will work with British company Ashwoods Automotive to retrofit vans for American fleet customers. XL Hybrids is focusing on the popular GM 2500 van series including the GMC Savana and Chevy Express during the trials. These vehicles were selected based on their popularity among corporate fleets that form XL’s core audience.

The XL Hybrids System features a 2kWh lithium-ion battery as well as a 40kW electric motor. This retrofit kit uses a hybrid control unit that allows easy connection to a vehicle’s existing drive system. Representatives from XL Hybrids notes that the kit works seamlessly with the GM 2500’s 4.8-liter engine. XL’s design team optimized the system for urban fleet including parcel delivery companies, florists and couriers. Fleet operators can expect reductions of at least 20% in fuel consumption as well as carbon dioxide emissions based on XL estimates.

The benefits of the XL Hybrids System do not end with the obvious environmental impacts.  A retrofitted vehicle can achieve a reduction in fuel costs ranging from $1,500 to $2,500 per year. XL Hybrids notes that fuel savings offsets the upfront costs of vehicle conversion in three years based on the $8,000 kit cost. An important benefit of the XL Hybrids System is easy installation with an estimated installation time of less than 24 hours. These advantages ensure that fleet operators will carefully watch for results from the pilot program.

The partnership between XL Hybrids and Ashwoods Automotive leverage millions in public funding for improvements in hybrid retrofitting. XL Hybrids is using $3.8 million in funds from venture capitalists and the Massachusetts Green Energy Fund to stage the road tests. Ashwoods Automotive has received $15 million from the UK Technology Strategy Board for initiatives like the EcoDrive Transit van. The goal of the XL Hybrids pilot program is to achieve 25,000 miles within the first year of operation. Results from road tests conducted by corporate fleets could streamline XL’s retrofit design while increasing attention to the hybrid retrofit market. Ashwoods and XL Hybrids are certainly interested in increasing their client base but corporate fleets must become greener to decrease dependence on fossil fuels over the next generation.

Representatives of Chevy spent the past week announcing initiatives that push the automaker ahead in the green vehicle market. The Spark EV developed after years of global trials appears ready for the market in 2013. This all-electric vehicle takes the next step beyond the range-extended Volt without sacrificing the company’s commitment to safety and power. Chevy also announced plans to test the Electric Networked-Vehicle (EN-V) in China with the potential for global testing. Chevy has clearly not taken a victory lap after the Volt’s release as they redouble their efforts to keep competitors on their heels.

The 2013 Chevy Spark EV features a lithium-ion battery pack by A123 Systems using nanophosphate chemistry. Designers at Chevy used results from global EV tests to develop the Spark EV including the Cruze EV trial in Korea, the Sail EV trial in China and the Beat EV trial in India. This city EV focuses on the commuting needs of urban residents who have predictable travel patterns and require high fuel efficiency. Chevy noted that the Spark EV will likely be released in these demo markets along with the United States by summer 2013. The focus of early deliveries in North America should mimic the Nissan LEAF EV pattern by starting in major markets like California and New York.

Chevy is already looking beyond the 2013 Spark EV by moving the EN-V from the laboratory to the streets. The Chevy EN-V uses GPS, wireless communications and traffic sensors to provide driving assistance in a variety of road conditions. This concept first appeared at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo with the promise of 25-mile battery range necessary for short trips. The Tianjin Eco-City Investment and Development Co. agreed in April to test the EN-V using existing infrastructure and communications systems. Chevy noted last week that the Tianjin pilot program should be followed in the next two years by demo programs throughout Asia, Europe and North America.

The progression of Chevy’s vehicle fleet from the Volt to the EN-V is heartening for advocates of greener transportation. The Chevy Volt keeps one foot in the automotive past with a gas generator while stepping forward into the EV market. Chevy’s foray into all-electric city cars with the Spark EV opens new markets for the automaker while reducing the fleet’s overall emissions. The EN-V takes the all-electric system from the Spark and adds wireless connectivity necessary for 21st century transportation. Chevy seems ready to zoom past the competition by bringing hybrids and EVs to the market while other automakers take their time with prototypes.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has garnered attention over the past year for participating in EV trials and demos. Massachusetts has been targeted by Nissan, BMW and Chevrolet for EV rollouts over the next five years. Coulomb Technologies has supplied $500,000 from a U.S. Department of Energy grant to the state for charger installation and maintenance. The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources announced plans last week to add 143 charging stations in 25 communities throughout the state. Adding public chargers for government buildings and parking lots should help state residents adopt plug-in vehicles more readily over the next decade.

The state’s Department of Energy Resources holds $384,000 acquired during a 2007 settlement with an Ohio power plant sued for breaking federal environmental laws. State officials noted that these funds will be used to purchase all 143 stations. Communities and transit officials can apply to the state for financial assistance in cases where installation costs are high. Each community covers the cost for delivering electricity to stations with the option to develop billing mechanisms with local utilities. This subsidization of charging stations should help cash-strapped communities push forward with plug-in vehicle adoption.

Communities selected for new charging stations include several towns designated as “green communities” by state government. The Office of Environmental Management and Affairs provides funding to 74 communities that promote sustainable energy and transportation. The Town of Chelmsford is scheduled to receive two charging stations by 2012. These stations will be located at the town’s fire station and Adams Library, which are located near heavily traveled roads. Another target is the Town of Tyngsborough, a community of 11,292 located in eastern Massachusetts. Town officials are positioning their two chargers in the Department of Public Works parking lot and the Old Town Hall. These locations were selected to serve commuters traveling along Route 3.

Massachusetts will also install 48 charging stations near Logan International Airport and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) facilities. Plug-in vehicle drivers will be able to access stations at garages and surface lots throughout the Logan Airport property. The MBTA also plans installation of charging stations in frequently used lots near Boston. An expansion of charging infrastructure beyond downtown Boston is critical if automakers hope to reach early adopters facing long daily commutes.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison Hybrid Vehicle Team has developed a reputation for innovation in recent years. This student-led team within the College of Engineering has participated in the EcoCAR Competition, the ChallengeX Competition and the Future Truck Challenge. Students and engineering faculty have gone beyond the usual sedans and coupes in these competitions, opting instead for the Saturn VUE and Chevy Equinox. The UW-Madison Engine Research Center is currently working with the team to test Reactivity Controlled Compression Ignition (RCCI) engines developed in campus laboratories.

Professor Rolf Reitz and fellow mechanical engineering professors developed the RCCI to reduce emissions while increasing engine efficiency. The RCCI engine operates with dual fuels including diesel, gasoline, biodiesel and ethanol. Reitz developed the RCCI technology to mix both fuels before multiple injections timed to reduce fuel waste. This engine design achieves an estimated 53% increase in fuel efficiency during computer simulations while drastically reducing nitrogen oxide levels. Hybrid Vehicle Team advisor Glenn Bower noted that an RCCI engine used in the team’s specially designed vehicles could cut overall emissions by 75%.

Reitz will work with the Hybrid Vehicle Team to convert two of the team’s competition vehicles to operate with RCCI engines. The Saturn VUE hybrid called the eMOOve should be converted in time for demonstrations in 2012. Undergraduate and graduate students are also working on converting the hybrid-electric MOOVADA Chevy Equinox by 2013. The timetable for converting these vehicles covers more than 24 months due to precise specifications for the RCCI. This technology uses more than 1,000 different speeds and injection loads to achieve maximum efficiency.

The Hybrid Vehicle Team will discuss the RCCI overhaul as well as future competition plans at upcoming appearances at the Dane County Green Drive Expo and Wisconsin State Fair. This experiment in internal combustion engine efficiency should benefit from the school’s innovative research tools and resources. Reitz’s RCCI design combined with current efficiencies in the eMOOVe and MOOVADA could show the public the future of the traditional gas engine. Reitz, Bower and others involved in the RCCI project note that the biggest problem facing this project is the absence of dual-fuel pumps. A vehicle with an RCCI engine needs to be refueled by a pump that transfers both fuels at the same time. This limitation should be seen as an opportunity by energy companies and universities to develop fueling equipment for this emerging technology.

New York City made news earlier this summer by announcing the Nissan NV200 as the City’s Taxi of Tomorrow. This vehicle could be produced as an all-electric vehicle in the near future, joining six Nissan LEAFs in the city’s increasingly low-emissions taxi fleet. Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced recently a commitment to purchase 70 electric vehicles for nine city agencies by the end of 2012. The city has also initiated Drive Electric NYC, an online resource for city residents interested in electric vehicles.

The Bloomberg administration noted that the city is ordering 70 EVs including 50 Chevy Volts, 10 Ford Transit Connects and 10 Navistar E-Stars. These EVs join a fleet of 360 electric vehicles used for personnel transportation, parking enforcement and maintenance routes. Agencies receiving EVs from this latest order include the New York Police Department and Fire Department, the Department of Sanitation and the Department of Environmental Protection. The New York Police Department in particular will augment its fleet of scooters and golf carts used for non-emergency situations with Chevy Volt squad cars.

The city’s adoption of EVs is accompanied by a broader educational effort funded largely by state and federal grants. Administrators commissioned a survey from McKinsey & Company to assess the familiarity of residents with electric vehicles. This survey found that only 30% of New York residents claimed familiarity with the benefits of electric vehicles. McKinsey & Company did provide a silver lining as 21% of respondents were interested in EVs when learning basic facts about these vehicles. Drive Electric NYC was developed to increase awareness of electric vehicles among city residents. This website is a clearinghouse of information on the economic and environmental benefits of EVs. Visitors to Drive Electric NYC also discover a comprehensive map of public EV chargers and cost calculators for green vehicles.

Mayor Bloomberg and city officials have leveraged relationships with local, regional and national players in the EV market to turn New York into a haven for green vehicles. The city has committed to the Northeast Regional Electric Vehicle Partnership with Boston and Philadelphia to create a regional EV corridor. Funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and the New York State Power Authority offset costs for Drive Electric NYC, EV adoption and the installation of public chargers. Bloomberg’s announcement at the Department of Sanitation included representatives from the Environmental Defense Fund, Coulomb Technologies and General Motors. New York City is quickly developing into the leading municipality for EV adoption and infrastructure in North America due to these partnerships.