The Jetta Hybrid combines components from the Touareg Hybrid SUV with advancements that increase fuel efficiency. The hybrid drive system features an 110kW diesel engine, a 20kW electric motor along with a seven-speed transmission. Volkswagen noted that the Jetta Hybrid can travel up to 43 miles per hour for a distance of 1.2 miles using only electric power. This all-electric mode leverages brake energy stored in the 1.1kWh lithium-ion battery. Performance metrics include a fuel economy rating of 45 miles per gallon and a 0-60 MPH time of less than nine seconds. These metrics should appease traditional Volkswagen fans while nudging the automaker further into the green vehicle market.

The E-Bugster uses an 85kW electric motor and a 28.3 kWh lithium-ion battery to achieve a range of 110 miles per charge. Volkswagen kept the Blue-e-Motion drive system under 80 kilograms to balance curb weight with fuel economy. This all-electric concept can hit 60 MPH from a dead stop in 10.9 seconds. Drivers can use 120-volt home outlets for standard charging and quick chargers for full recharges in about 35 minutes. The Combined Charging System developed with Audi, BMW, Daimler and Porsche allows a motorist to recharge at almost any station on the market today.

Volkswagen generated plenty of buzz in Detroit for the Jetta Hybrid and the E-Bugster. The Jetta Hybrid represents a short-term measure to attract Volkswagen enthusiasts concerned about rising fuel prices. This model maintains the popular styling of the traditional version while reducing fuel consumption significantly. Industry experts and casual observers alike were impressed by the E-Bugster’s potential as a rival to the Nissan LEAF. Volkswagen threw down the gauntlet to fellow automakers by focusing on smaller details like compatibility between plug-in units and charging stations.

The VW Cross Coupe is an all-wheel hybrid powered by a gas engine and two electric motors. The front axle houses a 40kW motor while the rear axle features an 85kW motor. These motors can work in conjunction with the 110kW TSI engine to achieve a maximum output of 195kW. VW designed the electric motors to work as generators when the vehicle’s brakes are used, thus replenishing the 9.8kWh lithium-ion battery pack while in motion. Drivers can activate all-electric mode from their central consoles to travel up to 28 miles without using any gasoline.

Performance metrics for the VW Cross Coupe concept would allow competitiveness with traditional SUVs presently on the market. This concept vehicle could hit 60 miles per hour from a dead stop in about seven seconds. The top speed for the plug-in drive system is 125 miles per hour though a single motor can reach 75 MPH. Representatives from VW claim that the Cross Coupe can achieve a fuel economy rating of 87.1 miles per gallon based on lab tests. The total range for this concept SUV is 531 miles with a gas tank that can last up to 506 miles without all-electric drive.

The MQB vehicle matrix focuses on versatile drive modes and smaller vehicle frames. Drivers of the Cross Coupe can opt for all-electric City drive, hybrid Sport drive and all-wheel Offroad drive with the push of a button. The Cross Coupe fits between the Golf and the Tiguan in terms of length and width. Engineers at VW also reduced vehicle drag and curb weight compared to other SUVs to achieve better range. VW might be slow to unveil eco-friendly vehicles compared to European and Japanese automakers but the MQB matrix could be mobilized to great effect in the next five years.

VW touted remote operation as the core technology of the eT! van. The eT! allows the driver to control the van remotely from the passenger side while keeping an eye on the delivery route. Drivers can command their delivery vans to follow along as they walk their routes. Another feature is the return feature where a driver who has walked a route can command the van to drive to his location. These commands were developed to address common problems in the field including limited street parking and divided attention on the road.

Additional features of the VW eT! includes an innovative sliding door as well as the next generation of wheel hub motors. The electronic sliding door is easier to access from the driver’s side, thus eliminating steps from the driver’s seat to customer doors. VW designed a sliding door with an extended track that accommodates large packages. This feature in particular could be incorporated into future versions of VW vans dedicated to disabled passengers and transit operations. The wheel hub motors generate sufficient power for the average delivery driver to complete routes without diminished performance.

The eT! van presents solutions for the problems of vehicle emissions, fuel costs and the complexities of urban delivery routes. VW hopes that an innovative all-electric drive train as well as vehicle commands offset logistical problems for the continent’s major parcel firms. Post offices and parcel companies are natural customers for all-electric vehicles due to the necessity for vehicle range and low fuel costs. The VW Design Center should stay resolute in building on these innovations despite short-term resistance from traditionalists as well as difficult economic circumstances.

The European Federation for Transport and Environment (T&E) has published reports the past six years detailing emissions reductions in the European auto industry. The latest report entitled 2011 Cars & CO2 Report: How Clean Are Europe’s Cars? concludes that automakers in Europe have trimmed carbon emissions by 3.7% compared to 2009 models. The winner in terms of emissions reductions was Volvo Cars with a fleet reduction of 9% from 2009 to 2010. T&E focuses on tailpipe emissions and carbon footprint measured in real-world situations without factoring weight into their analysis.

2011 Cars & CO2 Report analyzed leading automakers by percentage reduction, average emissions and proximity to EU emissions targets. Volvo’s 9% reduction topped the chart with a handful of automakers falling in a range from 2% to 6%. T&E found that Mazda and Honda actually saw increases in their fleet emissions from the 2009 model year. The average vehicle emissions list was led by Fiat (126g/km), Toyota (129g/km) and Peugeot (131g/km). EU emissions standards require average emissions of 130 g/km for each company’s fleet by 2015 with slight variations based on vehicle weight. The report found that Toyota had nearly achieved the 2015 emissions goal last year while Volvo was among the furthest from their goal with an 8% gap to fill.

The success of Volvo Cars in the past year emerged from a focus on clean diesel technology popular among European consumers. The automaker’s V50 DRIVe achieved an emissions level of 99g/km and the V70 DRIVe 119g/km through efficient drive systems. Volvo is currently working on more substantial hybrids and all-electric vehicles though the DRIVe line is Volvo’s strategy for the foreseeable future. The T&E report is likely celebrated within Volvo’s research and management teams though the results show that Volvo had a long way to go before 2010.

T&E’s research seems positive on the whole though the details are disconcerting for automakers that must meet EU guidelines by 2015. Toyota, Peugeot and Fiat represent the only automakers in Europe of the top 15 companies within 5% of the 2015 EU emissions standard. Automakers have pushed hybrid, diesel and alt-fuel vehicles to the fore in the past two years. The questions that remain are whether automakers can introduce more efficient vehicles by 2015 and how emissions can be cut quickly in poor economic circumstances. European corporations and governments may need to invest heavily in eco-friendly vehicles over the next four years to push automakers to expedite green vehicle technology.

Volkswagen recently announced a December 2011 release for the company’s diminutive up! minicar. The automaker has developed three versions of this four-seat vehicle including the budget-friendly take up!, the family-sized move up! and the upscale high up!. Customers can expect an initial production round with fuel-efficient gas engines followed by an up! line powered by compressed natural gas (CNG). The primary goal with this multi-tiered release is to build buzz in Europe for minicars as well as CNG drive systems currently under development by VW.

The gasoline-powered up! features a 44kW, three-cylinder gas engine as well as VW’s BlueMotion Technology. Customers will also discover a more powerful 55kW engine in the high up!. VW estimates a 56 mile per gallon rating for the up! based on EPA standards. Engineers at VW have improved upon features of BlueMotion Technology including tires with lower resistance and fine-tuned transmissions. The up! line also incorporates start-stop technology that reduces gas wasted while the engine idles and kicks into gear from full stops.

The CNG-powered up! line does not have a firm release date though VW will likely release this model early in 2012. VW followed a similar template to the traditional up! by using a 50kW CNG engine that can keep up with the standard engine. The vehicle’s range was not announced in the press release though VW used BlueMotion Technology in conjunction with the CNG engine. This drive system should achieve a significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions compared to the standard up!. VW also hinted at development of an all-electric up! minicar that could be ready for production by 2013.

The VW up! could become more noteworthy for the City Emergency Braking system than the CNG drive system. VW’s City Emergency Braking system features a series of sensors initiated when the vehicle travels faster than 19 miles per hour. These sensors detect possible obstructions on the road including vehicles, barriers and pedestrians. This advanced braking system alerts drivers to these obstructions and provides automatic braking to avoid impact. The City Emergency Braking system should offset concerns about minicars by European and American consumers. VW’s up! series might be among the smallest vehicles on the market but this innovative braking system could be replicated throughout the industry.

The 2010 Silvretta E-Auto Rally last July featured 24 plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles competing on a 104-mile course. This inaugural event finished with a last-second victory by the Audi R8 e-tron. Organizers of the 2011 Silvretta E-Auto Rally on July 7-9th expanded the course as well as the field. The 2011 field featured 36 vehicles such as the Tesla Roadster 2.5, the Peugeot Ion and the Opel Ampera. Notable entrants in this year’s race included Daimler’s seven cars, the Windreich E-Type Series IV and the Brusa plug-in hybrid.

Daimler took advantage of EV advancements in its Mercedes-Benz and smart subsidiaries to dominate the Silvretta field. The German automaker showcased the B-Class F-Cell fresh off a round-the-world demo tour covering 14 countries. The SLS AMG E-Cell slated for sale in 2013 used a 392kW electric drive system to surmount the mountains of Montafon Valley in Austria. Daimler put the smart fortwo electric drive through the paces, representing the company’s most recognizable entrant. The A-Class E-CELL by Mercedes-Benz was demonstrated publicly for the first time during the 2011 Silvretta E-Auto Rally. This vanguard of Daimler vehicles shows the automaker’s recent commitment to green vehicle technology.

Utilities like Brusa and Windreich AG had strong showings during the race through Austria’s hilly passes. Brusa Electronik AG developed a plug-in hybrid version of the VW Golf. This converted Golf used a 150kW electric motor to achieve a per-charge range of 62 miles. Developers at Windreich AG used the Jaguar E-Type Series IV as the body for an electric racer. The utility added a 150kW motor and lithium-ion batteries for 120 miles of range per charge.

The street course used for the 2011 Silvretta E-Auto Rally started in Austria’s Montafon Valley. This 186-mile course cut through the Vorarlberg and Tyrol Provinces. Drivers experienced an altitude change of 3.4 miles from start to finish with some stretches featuring gradients up to 14%. The Austrian utility Illwerke VKW provided infrastructure for the event, which allowed racers to recharge sufficiently to complete the race. Illwerke VKW, Daimler and other participants showed that green vehicles have gone beyond city streets to more challenging terrain. The 2011 Silvretta E-Auto Rally continues a European tradition of road races that will only get greener by the year.

German automakers are flocking toward carbon fiber rather than steel in producing green vehicles over the next decade. The latest automaker to adopt the material for vehicle body construction is BMW, which recently announced a $100 million investment in a carbon fiber plant. This lightweight material has been used for years by cycle manufacturers and Formula One race teams looking to gain an edge on the competition. BMW’s long-term investment in carbon fiber will not only reduce vehicle weight across the fleet but push competitors to develop lighter vehicles.

Representatives from BMW announced plans to expand a nearly completed carbon fiber plant in Moses Lake, Washington. This central Washington location will start production of carbon fiber this fall with an annual capacity of 1,500 tons. These materials would be shipped to BMW’s processing plants in Germany where carbon fiber would be shaped into vehicle frames. BMW is adopting carbon frames for the i3 battery-electric car and the i8 hybrid sports car prior to their 2013 releases.

BMW joins Daimler and Audi in turning the German auto industry into a leader in carbon fiber use. Daimler is working with Japanese firm Toray to build a carbon fiber plant in Esslingen, Germany by fall 2012. This plant would focus initially on vehicle frames for the SL Roadster, a luxury vehicle priced from $102,600. Audi is consulting with Voith GmbH on converting existing facilities with carbon fiber machinery. Voith’s hardware would help Audi produce the R8 sports car and the RS3 compact car in greater quantities for European consumers.

The common bond among these automakers is SGL Carbon SE, which specializes in developing carbon fiber machinery. SGL Carbon SE is among a handful of firms worldwide that have conducted research into carbon fiber necessary to help automakers. BMW’s announcement encouraged major shareholder Susanne Klatten to invest heavily in SGL Carbon SE. Volkswagen and Daimler have invested in the firm recently with Volkswagen buying nearly 10% of available stock. Audi’s partner Voith has invested enough to become SGL’s third largest investor.

This rush into carbon fiber is occurring despite the incredible costs of the material at present. Carbon fiber costs nearly 20 times more per pound than steel. Automakers like BMW are concerned that eco-friendly drive systems will have little impact on fuel economy due to heavy steel frames and batteries. A carbon fiber frame is 50% lighter than a steel frame while reducing emissions during production. Lingering issues like longer production times and difficulties shaping carbon fiber will remain in the early stages of development. BMW, Audi, Volkswagen and other investors in carbon fiber should help improve production processes while creating greater demand for this lightweight material.

The development of industry standards for plug-in vehicle charging has taken a step forward with the development of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance. This organization was established in March 2000 to develop home charging systems that provide Internet and smart energy access through broadband power lines. These lines would allow homeowners and businesses to eliminate redundant lines that add to construction costs while simplifying grid maintenance. The HomePlug Powerline Alliance features more than 65 participants including General Electric, Cisco and Duke Energy. Germany’s five leading automakers joined the mix during a press conference last week.

Audi, BMW, Daimler, Porsche and Volkswagen created the Coordination Office Charging Interface as a unified front for this partnership. German automakers are focused on the HomePlug GP specification that allows plug-in chargers, home electronics and climate control systems to work simultaneously on broadband lines. This layout is built using HomePlug’s AV and IEEE 1901 technologies tested for maximum safety. HomePlug Powerline Alliance works with partner manufacturers to create appliances, electronic hardware and charging units compatible with HomePlug GP. The Coordination Office Charging Interface will no doubt develop educational tools that create a vision of a “smart home” involving plug-in cars developed by German automakers.

Collaboration between HomePlug and German automakers fits into Germany’s commitment to electric vehicle adoption. The German federal government noted recently that only 2,500 electric vehicles were registered in the nation by December 2010. This figure would balloon to one million EVs by 2020 based on a federal initiative involving domestic automakers. German legislators doubled incentives for EV development and adoption in recent initiatives. As financial boosts to the nascent EV market are increased, German automakers and utilities want to reduce barriers to daily use for the typical consumer.

The HomePlug GP specification would reduce concerns about the mechanics of charging plug-in vehicles. Skeptics have stated that adding millions of plug-in vehicles worldwide would strain overtaxed electrical grids. These naysayers would also contend that increased energy consumption from computers, televisions and other electronics would increase emissions at power plants that offset the benefits of EVs. The HomePlug Powerline Alliance streamlines power consumption in the typical home by combining connectivity and power transmission along the same lines. This streamlined system reduces wasted energy and expensive remodeling projects that are problematic for residential and commercial property owners. The commitment of German automakers to HomePlug means that the primary barriers to plug-in adoption remain cost and supply.

Volkswagen has seen competing automakers BMW and Mercedes-Benz develop car-sharing programs using fuel-efficient vehicles. BMW is currently operating the DriveNow program in Munich alongside Sixt AG using MINI and 1 Series cars. Mercedes-Benz uses 200 Smart cars to serve more than 15,000 Car2Go subscribers living in Austin, Texas. These schemes are comparable to the Zipcar subscription model used in major cities throughout the United States. The Volkswagen Group announced the Quicar program last week that would help the automaker keep up with the competition.

The city of Hanover, Germany will work with Volkswagen to test the Quicar model. Volkswagen has slated 200 VW Golf BlueMotions as the first wave of rental vehicles available to subscribers in Hanover. The VW Golf BlueMotion is an ideal vehicle for the Quicar program with a fuel economy rating of 62 miles per gallon achieved with a start-stop system and regenerative braking. Representatives from Volkswagen noted that the Golf BlueMotion could be joined by the Beetle and the Caddy if Quicar is successful.

The Quicar subscription model resembles the Zipcar model in terms of efficiency and simplicity. Subscribers can consult with certified agents at businesses throughout Hanover to learn more about Quicar. The registration process can take place at kiosks within these businesses or via the Internet using mobile phones and personal computers. Quicar participants need only book the nearest available vehicle using the program’s online service up to five minutes before pickup.  Each user receives an access card that must be held up to a sensor on the driver’s door to access the cockpit. The check-in process takes only seconds as subscribers need to enter their reservation PIN before the ignition is unlocked.

Volkswagen and Hanover officials have committed to 50 Quicar locations throughout the city from the start. These pick-up locations will be located at major intersections and popular businesses to attract the most subscribers. This collection of pick-up locations could increase to 100 with high demand. Quicar drivers need only return their vehicles to one of these locations to complete their journey. The price schedule for Quicar was not released though Volkswagen will likely use hourly and daily rates to meet subscriber needs. Volkswagen went beyond the basics in customizing the VW Golf BlueMotions with sound systems, GPS and digital music storage. The proliferation of car-sharing programs in Europe and North America should create competitive pricing as well as a reduction in traffic congestion.

The Rio State Government has worked recently to prepare Rio de Janeiro for the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics. These preparations include creation of the Rio Sustainable Transport initiative, a public-private partnership designed to reduce emissions by using eco-friendly vehicles. State officials consulted with regional firms like Robert Bosch Latin America, MAN Latin America and Gas Natural Fenosa to produce a public transit vehicle that achieves lower emissions. The Volksbus prototype presented by Governor Sergio Cabral of Rio de Janeiro balances current use of diesel fuel with the ability to switch over to compressed natural gas (CNG).

MAN Latin America and Robert Bosch Latin America indicated that the Volksbus will be tested over the next two years ahead of the 2014 World Cup. This hybrid bus features a six-cylinder diesel engine, CNG reserves as well as an electronically powered fuel injection system to facilitate efficient operation. MAN Latin America proudly noted that the dual-fuel system was the first produced in Brazil. The Volksbus hybrid reduces emissions of particulate matter by 80% and carbon dioxide by 20% compared to the standard Volksbus. These emissions figures are achieved thanks to Bosch’s fuel injection system, which allows the vehicle to operate using a balance of 90% CNG and 10% diesel.

This multi-year testing process allows the Rio State Government and private partners to anticipate maintenance, infrastructure and financial needs. Gas Natural Fenosa has pledged to fuel the Volksbus during the trial phase with a tentative commitment to fueling CNG buses during the World Cup and Summer Olympics. MAN Latin America will work with COPPE/UFRJ and state officials to observe the vehicle’s performance prior to implementation in 2014. This observation period should extend beyond mileage and maintenance schedules to the limitations of CNG vehicles in Rio de Janeiro. The upcoming Volksbus trial could push Rio to become a leader in CNG infrastructure through government grants and private sector investment.

The pressure of hosting two major sporting events in the span of two years could transform Brazil’s approach to public transportation. Rio de Janeiro has added subways and trains in recent years but the bus remains a primary form of transportation for Brazilians. Investment in CNG fueling stations, subsidies for natural gas providers and development of CNG vehicles could reduce emissions as Brazil continues to grow into a world power. The trial run of a Volksbus CNG prototype might not seem to change much but Brazil’s role as an emerging economy means the opportunity for experimentation with sustainable transit.