Archive for hybrid vehicles
Electric vehicles to be tested by Toronto as part of the FleetWise initiative
Posted by: | CommentsWe’re especially pleased to read that Chevrolet have jumped in with both feet in joining the Toronto Atmospheric Fund (TAF) by supporting the project in making the Greater Toronto Area’s (GTA) automobile fleet as environmentally friendly as possible. Chevrolet are providing test drives for the new electric Chevrolet Volt to vehicle fleet managers throughout the GTA.
It’s an exciting step in the right direction as company vehicles (or fleets) make up a remarkably high number of all vehicles on the road and initiatives such as this can make major inroads for alternate fuel vehicles to change the driving landscape. Julia Langer, TAF’s Chief Executive Officer explains:
“Plug-in electric vehicles offer a tremendous opportunity for commercial vehicle fleet operators in the GTA to dramatically reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. By taking a leadership position and committing to green their fleets, our EV300 partners are enabling Toronto to benefit from the superior environmental performance of plug-in vehicles like the Chevrolet Volt.”
The Volt is receiving encouraging reviews and importantly the extended range of the vehicle makes it the one of the first mass produced cars that will provide a viable alternative for fleet operations. The Volt is powered by a 16-kWh lithium-ion battery pack and electric drive unit that offers electric range between 40 and 80 km in addition to the traditional 1.4L gasoline-powered engine extends the range up to an additional 500 km on a full tank of fuel by operating the vehicle’s electric drive system until the car is recharged. For local fleet use its realistic to say most of the distance driven will be via the battery but the flexibility provided means vehicles being ‘stranded’ is not a concern.
It is expected that Chevrolet Canada will be looking to assess and develop numerous fleet partnerships throughout the country as cities, municipalities and businesses seek to implement more ambitious carbon emission reduction programs while understanding the need for service vehicles is not likely to change. With many more electric vehicles scheduled to be added to the marker in the next 24 months fleet testing and sales could become an important proving ground for these vehicles.
The Toronto Atmospheric Fund (TAF) has for two decades been an advocate for changes in climate, air pollution and energy use in Toronto. They have helped Toronto save millions on energy costs whilst encouraging environmental awareness throughout healthier communities. You can learn more about them here and the FleetWise program here which aims to drive the adoption rate of electric vehicles upward throughout the city.
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Tags: carbon emission, carbon emissions, Chevrolet Canada, chevrolet volt, chevy volt, eco friendly toronto, electrc vehicles, electric cars, electric vehicle fleet, EV300, fleetwise, fleetwise program, fleetwise toronto, GTA initiatives, hybrid vehicles, lithium-ion battery, sustainable practices, TAF, Toronto Atmospheric Fund, toronto environmental issues, toronto fleet vehiclesAmazon.com submit patent for eco-shipping choices
Posted by: | CommentsIf you’ve ever purchased a book, a CD, a DVD or one of the numerous other products offered on Amazon.com chances are you shopped with them due to their selection and rapid shipping guarantees. In just 15 years Amazon have become the largest online retailer on the planet and as such they ship more items per year than many small countries. Naturally packaging and shipping materials are of great importance to the internet giant and there is now news that an eco-friendly choice of shipping may soon be available as part of the checkout process.
The exact details are still pending but Amazon have announced that a new patent has been granted to them which will allow for more environmentally friendly electronic transactions overall. What that will entail is still to be determined by expectations are that both the type of packaging used in the method of transport to get your purchase to you may eventually be determined by the customer. There is a sting in the tail however as choosing eco-friendly delivery could result in slightly slower shipping. This leads to the question of whether customers would select slower shipping if they knew that a more environmentally option was being used to forward the goods?
The reality is this may be a few years in the future, particularly if the option to have packages delivered exclusively via hybrid vehicles is put on the table. It’s probably more likely that Amazon will switch to the most eco-friendly packaging in the marketplace as a first stage, the implementation of such a change could be achieved in the near future and generate a tangible impact upon launch. Like many eco-friendly alternatives the company will need to balance economic reality with such a transition in their services. A company as large as Amazon is certainly a position to manufacture its own shipping materials not only from selected raw materials such as their own replaceable tree farms, but can have the products made in a plant that supplies Amazon exclusively such is their buying power. That manufacturing facility could in turn be state-of-the-art in terms of energy efficiency .The registered patent allows Amazon to initiate a process that enables customers to choose the type of packaging, the amount of packaging and potentially the delivery method when the order is placed. Another option includes the potential for a customer to calculate the carbon footprint of the actual order an in turn be able to purchase carbon offsets.
I’m sure when Amazon was constructed the overall plan for eco-shipping it will be greeted with much media fanfare and customer reaction, I for one sincerely hope that what they look to accomplish will become normal practice for all companies involved with shipping massive amounts of products per day. Unofficial conservative estimates target daily Amazon sales in the region of 250 to 300,000 transactions each day, that equates to at least 91 million shipments per year, the impact of rethinking the way they ship things would be just staggeringly beneficial.
Tags: Add new tag, amazon eco shipping, amazon.com, Amazon.com shipping, eco friendly packaging, eco-friendly shipping materials, eco-shipping, hybrid vehicles, online retailers, online shipping, online shopping, planet forward, recyclable materials, recyclable packages, recyclable packaging, recyclable shipping material, recycle, sales per day amazon, shipping methods2010 AltCar Expo this weekend was the largest yet
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2010 AltCar Expo sponsors
As much as I enjoy learning and writing about what I hope will be the next generation of personal transport, the actual appearance and ability to see and test out alternate fuel cars, electric vehicles and some of the more independent ideas on the fringes of the market is not as easy as perhaps it should be. That all changed this weekend however if you happened to be in Southern California as the Santa Monica Exposition Centre hosted the 2010 “AltCar Expo” on Friday and Saturday, October 1 and 2 for enthusiasts or those just wanting to learn more about alternate fuel vehicles. The event offered free admission and the best collection of both the car models earmarked for mainstream production and those from more unique sources.
The Expo offered far more than a chance to see the vehicles in person but also a detailed demonstration of the technologies at work and a host of guest speakers who are leaders in the technology which hopefully will continue to change the landscape of motoring in the years ahead. The list of exhibitors ranged from giants like Toyota and General Motors to the makers of limited-edition one seater commuter vehicles designed for a short charge and a short journey. There were also a host of companies that provide the technology behind alternate fuel, companies that will convert a gas powered car to electric, and different coalitions for public transport and for fleet transport being converted to hybrid technology.
In total more than 20 alternative fuel vehicles were on display but unlike most auto shows here you could do more than just look and touch, as there was a registration program which allows visitors to actually drive the cars. This is the fifth year of the Expo and was forecast be by far the largest, Christine Dzilvelis producer of the AltCar Expo explains:
“Interest in alternative technologies is intense and has remained intense despite the fluctuating prices of gasoline. There’s just this momentum with this technology that’s pushing forward, even more so because of the economy.”
The choice of Southern California for hosting the event makes perfect sense also as no single regional market has better supported the existing crop of hybrid vehicles already on the market. Strict environmental controls and regulations coupled with California’s recent history of experiencing all of the pitfalls of pollution from automobile traffic makes the state an ideal proving ground for many of the emerging technologies on display. A range of seminars, question-and-answer sessions and exhibitions will run concurrently at the Expo Center and review the immediate future of the industry and the full range of advanced automotive technologies. Information centres will provide additional knowledge on electrics, hybrids, fuel cells, natural gas, propane and biofuels. Options existed to to test electric motorcycles, bicycle hybrids and gather information from various environmental bodies, solar and wind companies and much more.
If visiting the Expo didn’t involve a 720 mile round trip I’d have been there myself, hopefully some of you were able to get along and if you did please write to the blog and share your thoughts. To learn much more about the 2010 AltCar Expo please visit their official website. Hopefully I can make it along to next years event.
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