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Posted by Samuel (in Chile)

On Saturday, the first “Big Blue March” took place here in Chile. After a few problem with the stage (a big truck), we started the parade with a DJ playing music, and a front line of kids dressed up in those very popular deep sea costumes.

The national and local media really loved it and they spent a lot of time taking pictures of the kids, with a huge crowd of people behind them. We also had a small truck with the big inflatable whale called “Flo”.

Continue reading Chilean Sea of People for the ocean and whales…

Posted by Dave (in New York)

Well here it is folks – what with Japan buying votes from the likes of landlocked Laos, things were looking edgy – but the anti-whaling countries have rallied, and are now in the majority!

Download the chart » (pdf)

Take Action: Join the Big Blue March and support the whales »

Further reading on Japan’s vote buying:
Japan’s vote buying
Financial Grants and Votes for Whaling
The Solomon Islands and Iceland – two pro-whaling nations, now bedfellows?

Filed under: Diesel, Volkswagen

SEAT (which belongs to the VW group) is launching a new model for the upcoming Barcelona Motor Show from 7 to 17 June. This model is a soft-offroader version of their Altea model, the sporty clone of the Volkswagen Golf Plus. In addition of generous plastic cladding, it has higher suspension and AWD via a Haldex-type arrangement with a hydro-mechanical connection and electronic control. Under normal use, power is fully transferred to the front wheels, with up to 50 percent being distributed to the rear wheels when needed.

Two engine options will be available upon launch: a 200HP 2.0 TFSI engine (gasoline) and a 170HP 2.0 TDI (diesel). The company announces very impressive figures for the diesel: 0-100 km/h (60mph) in 8.7 seconds and up 6.8 l/100km (35 MPG). This diesel engine is used by all VW’s brands in Europe. The press release does not include any other information about other motoring options, although the standard Altea versions can be equipped with full array of TDI engines. It also remains unknown whether SEAT will get any of the possible hybrid powertrains that VW is working on.

The concept of an off-roader MPV is not new in the European markets. Renault launched the Scénic RX4 in 1999 trying to get a piece of the SUV craze that affected Europe almost the same way affected the US. Nevertheless, when AWD and sufficient space are needed, this model makes sense.

No information was provided on bringing this model outside Europe, although SEAT currently sells in México and some rumours have spread about a possible launch in the US in 2009.

Check the original story and plenty of pictures posted at Autoblog Spanish and the full press release after the jump.

[Source: Autoblog Spanish]
Martorell, 21-05-2007

NEW SEAT ALTEA FREETRACK

The family adventurer

• The Spanish car maker’s first all-road car
• Four-wheel drive, 200 hp petrol and 170 hp diesel engines
• Rear seat multimedia system fitted as standard

At the upcoming Barcelona Motor Show from 7 to 17 June, SEAT will be presenting its first all-road vehicle – the Altea freetrack. After unveiling the prototype version in Geneva, which hinted at the new model’s silhouette, the definitive version can be seen in Barcelona and goes on sale this summer.

With this model, SEAT is making its debut in the SUV segment, an area of the market which has grown considerably in recent years. The new Altea freetrack is one of the few compact monospace cars on the market featuring clear off-road styling, as well as engines that deliver up to 200 hp. This factor proves the dynamic character of SEAT’s new all-road model, whose slogan “auto emoción” works just as well on- as well as off-road.
Exclusive off-road looks

Based on the Altea XL, the visual enhancements on the new freetrack include protective moulding below the waistline, as well as the specific plastic front and rear bumpers. These elements lend a rugged and robust image to the new model while also protecting the body when driving off-road.

The exterior stands out with new, exclusive design 17-inch wheels and larger diameter tyres. The Altea freetrack also has 40 mm more ground clearance than the Altea XL, making it easier for the new model to tackle any kind of terrain.

Top Level Performance
The Altea freetrack is available with four-wheel drive via a Haldex-type arrangement with a hydro-mechanical connection and electronic control, to ensure that the tractive force is distributed permanently in a progressive and precise manner. Under normal use, power is fully transferred to the front wheels, with up to 50% being distributed to the rear wheels when the need arises.

One of the most outstanding features of the new Altea freetrack is its engine range, with performance levels that make the new SEAT model the market’s most dynamic family-sized SUV. A 200 hp 2.0 TFSI petrol and a 170 hp 2.0 TDI diesel engine are responsible for taking the Altea freetrack over all types of terrain.

The 2.0 TFSI engine enables the newcomer to reach a top speed of 214 km/h, with 0 to 100 km/h taking just 7.5 seconds – yet it can still average fuel consumption of 9.4 litres. On the other hand, the freetrack 2.0 TDI reaches a top speed of 204 km/h, accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.7 seconds and consumes an average of 6.8 litres for every 100 km of driving.

Besides these performance figures, the new Altea freetrack matches the Altea XL in terms of impressive interior space and generous load capacity. With its 593 litre boot, the freetrack can carry everything needed for the entire family’s hobbies and leisure activities.

The rear seats are exceptionally roomy and flexible, as they can slide back by up to 16 centimetres for added legroom while still allowing more than enough boot space.

Multimedia system as standard
The Altea freetrack will be sold with just one trim level featuring a complete set of standard equipment.
The most outstanding feature is a new multimedia system, which comprises a 7-inch TFT screen hinged on the ceiling and an RCA connection that allows connection to a DVD player, videogames, laptops and even MP3 players. This way the sound is transmitted over the car’s own sound system.

The Altea freetrack also features new rear window shades as standard, that are hidden inside the doors when not in use, leaving the view unobstructed for rear seat passengers.

Further standard-fit elements on the Altea freetrack include dual climatise control, rain sensor wipers, light sensor, parking sensors, cruise control, trip computer, plus CD MP3 radio and steering wheel mounted controls, among others. Safety highlights include standard ESP (Electronic Stability Control), six airbags, EPS electro-mechanical steering and tyre pressure warning.

Designed, developed and manufactured in Spain
The new Altea freetrack has been wholly designed and developed at the SEAT Technical Centre in Martorell, where over 1,000 highly qualified staff work daily to develop new models.

It will be exclusively made at the SEAT facilities in Martorell, one of Europe’s most modern and most flexible automotive factories, where the Ibiza, Córdoba, Altea, Altea XL, Toledo and León models are also produced.

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Filed under: Diesel, Hybrid, Mercedes Benz

At the UITP public transit conference in Helsinki Finland Mercedes Benz has announced plans to introduce a new hybrid version of their Citaro bus later this year. Unlike the GM Two-Mode system now used on several hundred North American buses the new Mercedes configuration is a series hybrid with wheel motors. The articulated buses will use four wheel motors at the center and rear axles that will be powered by roof-mounted lithium ion batteries. The four motors have a combined output of 320kW.

The standard 12L diesel has been replaced by a smaller 4.8L unit which is sufficient to keep the batteries charged since it doesn’t have the deal with transient loads of acceleration. The smaller engine cuts about 550kg from the weight of the powertrain and the elimination of the transmission also contributes to a net weight penalty of only 1 tonne for the hybrid bus. The engine in the Citaro will only run when the batteries need charging which will also be supplemented by regenerative braking from the motors.

The hybrid Citaro bus is expected to cut diesel consumption twenty to thirty percent annually. Pilot operation of the series hybrid should start early in 2008 with full production starting in 2009. More information is in the press release after the jump.

[Source: DaimlerChrysler]
DaimlerChrysler announces new Mercedes-Benz hybrid bus

* Mercedes-Benz Citaro with hybrid drive in pilot operation in 2008

* 20 to 30 percent reduction in diesel consumption and CO2 emissions

* More than 1,000 DaimlerChrysler hybrid buses operating in America and Japan

* Almost 40 years of hybrid-drive bus experience from Mercedes-Benz

Stuttgart/Helsinki , May 21, 2007
DaimlerChrysler will unveil the first prototype of the diesel-electric hybrid Mercedes-Benz Citaro to the general public in the course of this year, the company announced at the occasion of the UITP world congress for public transportation in Helsinki. This prototype embodies highly sophisticated diesel-electric series hybrid technology which will allow emission-free operation in battery-only mode. The system will be installed in a Citaro G articulated bus. This configuration is currently worldwide unique. Following the unveiling of the prototype in the second half of 2007, pilot operation will begin early next year. The series production is scheduled for 2009.

Andreas Renschler, the DaimlerChrysler Board of Management Member responsible for the Truck Group and Buses: “With diesel-electric hybrid vehicles from Orion in North America, Mercedes-Benz in Europe and Mitsubishi Fuso in Asia, DaimlerChrysler does not only have the longest, but also the most extensive experience with alternative drive systems for commercial vehicles. Therefore the new hybrid drive Citaro is an important step towards cost efficient and zero-emission driving.” Renschler emphasized, however, that the complex hybrid technology still requires start-up financing even though it supplies up to 30% fuel efficiency: “In order to make these technologies, that are up to one third more expensive than conventional drivetrain concepts, profitable for both customers and manufacturers, we need political and public support, e.g. by subisidies or public-private partnerships.”

Rather than providing continuous driving power, the diesel engine in the Citaro series hybrid operates as a generator to produce electrical power as and when required. The electrical power is stored in maintenance-free lithium-ion batteries mounted on the roof of the Citaro. They are charged not only by the diesel generator but also by energy recuperation from braking.

The actual drive power to the wheels of the Citaro hybrid is provided by four electric wheel hub motors on the centre and rear axles of the vehicle. The total wheel hub motor output of 320 kW is ample for an articulated bus even under strenuous operating conditions.

When drawing into, standing at and accelerating away from bus stops, the hybrid bus can operate in electric-only mode, which is not only virtually emission-free but also much quieter.

A big advantage of the clever series hybrid technology used in the Citaro is downsizing: instead of the large 12-litre six-in-line engine normally used in the articulated model, the hybrid bus is fitted with a compact unit with a displacement of 4.8 litres. This reduces the weight of the engine from approximately 1,000 kg to approximately 450 kg.

Since the diesel engine of the Citaro hybrid does not drive the vehicle directly, it is not required to produce peak outputs and is therefore able to operate very economically and with low environmental impact over a narrow rpm range at or close to its peak efficiency. The torque curve of the hybrid-bus engine is therefore tailored to frequent steady-state operation, for optimal emissions performance and fuel efficiency.

The hybrid-drive Citaro is able to dispense with a conventional automatic transmission. This results in improved efficiency and weight savings. The downsizing of the drivetrain components means that the weight penalty of the Citaro hybrid bus over a conventional diesel-powered articulated bus is only around one tonne.

A close look at the hybrid-drive Citaro reveals it to be a logical step on the way to a fuel-cell-powered urban regular-service bus of the future. For example, the hybrid-drive Citaro already features a suitable electric drive unit, along with an energy store in the form of batteries. In principle, the diesel engine would simply need to be replaced by fuel cells. These are relatively minor changes from the design and manufacturing point of view, but they would allow the bus to operate with virtually zero emissions in urban areas. This Zero-Emission Vehicle would emit no particulates, nitrogen oxides or CO2, and would also be very quiet in operation.

DaimlerChrysler has more extensive, and longer, experience with hybrid buses than any other manufacturer in the world. Daimler-Benz AG presented the world’s very first hybrid bus at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1969. It was based on an eleven-metre urban regular-service version of the Mercedes-Benz OE 302.

The Orion-brand buses built by DaimlerChrysler’s North American bus subsidiary are already well past the trial stage. Since 2003, Orion has won contracts to supply numerous US and Canadian cities, from New York to San Francisco, with a total of some 1,500 Orion VII Hybrid low–floor urban regular-service buses, around 1,000 of which are already on the road. On top of this, there are also options on a further 525 vehicles. This makes Orion the world market leader in hybrid buses.

The Orion VII Hybrid was developed by Orion in association with US partners BAE Systems and is a series hybrid vehicle. The diesel engine operates continuously, powering a generator which in turn powers the electric motor. No provision has been made for recharging the Orion from an electric power outlet. Tests revealed that the Orion is approximately 25% more fuel-efficient than a diesel powered competitor vehicle.

Likewise active in the field of series hybrid-drive urban buses is DaimlerChrysler’s Japanese commercial vehicle subsidiary Fuso, with the low-floor Aero-Star model. A number of these first standard-production Japanese hybrid buses have already gone into regular-service operation. Testing was already under way in Japan at the time of the 2002 Football World Cup.

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Filed under: Etc., MPG, Legislation and Policy

Perhaps we’re talking about moving the goal posts here, but BusinessWeek has an article out today that figures the breaking point for getting American consumers to change their car shopping and lifestyle habits is, drumroll, $4 a gallon. I’m sure no one was predicting that precise line ten years ago when average prices were around $1.20 a gallon and SUVs were flying out the door. Perhaps at that time the economists thought $2.50 would be the point of no return, but that’s come and gone and here we are. I’m not saying BusinessWeek is wrong, I’m just saying this type of predicting the future might look silly in hindsight. Or maybe not. I certainly don’t know. Then again, I don’t know why anyone would buy a family vehicle with an EPA rating of <15mpg in the first place.

So, what do the analysts this is coming down the pike if $4-per-gallon is the new reality, whether that’s driven by high crude prices or a gasoline tax increase? Well, “many experts and politicians believe the demand for smaller vehicles would drive the average fuel economy in the U.S. to 35 mpg inside of 10 years, up from 24 mpg today.” So, that would solve, partially, the Senate panel’s request. When gas prices went up in Europe (due to taxes), “consumers quickly moved to smaller vehicles. In response, General Motors (GM), Ford (F), Toyota (TM) and the rest have been selling smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles there than they sell in the U.S for the past decade.” writes BusinessWeek’s David Kiley. It wouldn’t be exactly surprising if the same thing were to happen here. But who can predict?

[Source: BusinessWeek]

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Filed under: Biodiesel, Emerging Technologies, Carbon Offset

Finding a way to reduce the cost of effectively and cheaply producing fuels from biomass waste is what some consider something of a “holy grail” when it comes to biofuels. If there was a fuel that was cheaper than petroleum-based fuel that people could put in their tanks which would not have any negative effects on their vehicle, people would buy it, regardless of whether they care about the environment. Researchers at the University of Georgia are working on just such a fuel. In their early tests, they have shown that a new, as yet unnamed, fuel can be used in standard diesel engines, or in a blend with other biodiesels or petroleum diesels. The team of researchers is using small wood pellets which are heated up in the absence of oxygen to create an oil and a charcoal product, both of which could possibly have a positive economic impact. If that were the case, the team of researchers say that this new fuel could actually be carbon negative, which is a third possible benefit to this new fuel source. Good stuff indeed from those Bulldogs!

[Source: University of Georgia]

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Posted by Stephanie (in Germany)

We’re at the end of a long road of collecting dead cetaceans around Europe. We’ve met a lot of scientists with grief in their voices from years of dealing with the issue of dolphins as bycatch from fishing. Our demonstration in Berlin – where we displayed 17 dead whales and dolphins – was strong and successful one. Journalists called asking with disbelieving voices: “Every two minute a whale? That can’t be…”

17 whales die as bycatch every half an hour, worldwide. We pointed out the big threats cetaceans face these days. First we were a bit disappointed that the police didn’t allow us to show more, but in the end, each whale told its own story. The little porpoise-calf missing part of his face due to a collision with a ships propeller, the white-sided dolphin with a chopped tail – done by a fisherman to make him sink – the porpoise with bad net marks, but still having a friendly expression in his face, almost amazed.

Continue reading 17 dead whales and dolphins in Berlin…

While politicians and bureaucrats talk, activists in Germany presented evidence of environmental crime at the Brandenburg Gate.

They set out 17 dead whales and dolphins, which were collected in the last weeks along European coasts. Why 17? It’s the number of dolphins and whales that die every 30 minutes all year round in our oceans, mainly due to bycatch.

This grisly fact underscores the need for four things:

-New thinking in fishery policy in order to minimize bycatch

-A network of protected areas for our oceans

-The International Whaling Commission meeting next week in Alaska needs to deal with all threats to all species of whales and dolphins. In some cases, even governments which support whale conservation at the IWC turn a blind eye to whale deaths being caused by their own policies.

–Maintenance of the moratorium on commercial whaling to counter the wider environmental pressure on these animals and our seas.

Want to make a statement with people all over the world? Wear a blue t-shirt and join the Big Blue March this Sunday, May 27th!!!

Posted by Page (in Amsterdam)

Top photo: a wounded mother humpback whale in the Port of Sacramento. Bottom photo: The mother whale and her baby surface. (Click both photos to enlarge, and for source.)

Although Sacramento, California is landlocked, back in 1963, construction on a deep-water channel between San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento River was completed, creating the Port of Sacramento. The port is a busy industrial area, with a railcar terminal, facilities to export rice and other grains, and deal with cargo such as fertilizer and cement.

All in all, it’s not a natural – or healthy – place for humpback whales. However, a mother humpback whale and her baby have manage to swim up the 90 mile long channel and into the port area. They have been in the port since about May 16, 2007. Biologists are trying to figure out how to get the whales out, for obvious reasons, not the least of which is:

The 14m female has a long and deep wound on her back in front of her dorsal fin that appeared to have occurred when she surfaced underneath a boat, said Frances Gulland, the Sausalito-based Marine Mammal Centre veterinarian who inspected the animals.

The whale’s 7m calf had a more severe wound on its right flank that may have been inflicted when the animal surfaced alongside its mother.

“The calf’s wound could have a long-term impact on that animal,” said Ms Gulland.

[Note: more current articles specify that a boat propeller probably caused the wounds.]

Biologists are trying to use recorded whale songs to lure the whales back to the ocean. You can see from this map that it’s not an easy or short journey.

Continue reading Meanwhile, in California… [updated!]…

Posted by Dave (in Ireland)

Yet another pro-whale country has joined the IWC – Greece has appeared as fully signed up to the International Whaling Commission, and will be voting FOR the whales! Greece, like Peru, Cyprus, Slovenia, Croatia, Costa Rica and Ecuador and Nicaragua, is coming to the IWC meeting to ensure that Japan and its vote-bought friends to have a tougher time undermining the ban on commercial whaling at the meeting in Anchorage.

More news as it happens!

List of International Whaling Commission members »

IWC news or additions »