The rise in fuel costs is finally forcing people to get creative with their alternative fuel ideas. Scientists have been warning that some day the cheap petroleum that fuels most nations would run out and alternatives would be necessary. However, most of us are wait-and-see personalities who do not react to such warnings until we have to. As gas prices threaten to hit $4 per gallon in the US, and are well past that in other nations, some of the most viable solutions are coming form The Little Men of industry. Check out the videos to follow and see what some of the alternatives to Big Oil that are right under your noses.

Volkswagen announces that their BlueTDI technology is now ready for the North American market, but is America still unprepared to embrace a diesel car?

The announcement came from VW at the International Vienna Motor Symposium in Austria. The clean burning diesel trumps its own 2006 TDI model in fuel savings by 12%. The reworked 2.0 liter diesel will bring 60mpg to the market while still being 50-state legal. VW had already been approved for Europe by meeting or exceeding their 2009 Euro-5 standards. Now that the VW BlueTDI engine has passed the EPA’s Bin 5/LEV 2 Emissions rules it will now be permitted to stamp its passport for a voyage across the Atlantic.

The new BlueTDI Jetta arrives on the North American shores pushing 138-hp and 236-ft lbs of torque; both superior improvements in performance over the 2006 model. The last TDI engine for the VW sold in 2006 had 100-hp and 170-ft lbs of torque. As the 2006 model sold for about $24-26,ooo in the US when new, what will the mark-up be on the new BlueTDI? Reports say that the diesel engine will be a scant $2,000 over the MSRP of its gasoline brother.
…Photos and Fuel Mileage comparison after the leap…

Mega Mover dump trucks have been used in open pit mining as a means to save money; larger trucks require fewer trips with larger loads and reduced fuel costs. As fuel prices continue to climb GE (General Electric), with additional funding from the US Department of Energy, has been working to include hybrid technology in these mega movers. As many of the huge mining trucks already have diesel generators and electric motors as their motive power adding regeneration technology and rugged battery packs would seem the only hurdle.

Testing of the hybrid system has already been conducted and the project to date has had favorable results. Tim Richter, from GE’s Hybrid Systems division, indicated in his blog about the Off-Highway Vehicle, mega dump truck test that the next step is to determine how to best utilize the batteries of stored energy and to determine the length of service that can be expected from the batteries.

As the regenerative breaking electricity is stored in the batteries of the vehicle determining the best application for the energy during operation will be the next objective. Whether the power is reserved for increased boost for powering the truck up steep grades or for increased torque from a standing start, or both, will require more testing.

They will also need to test the types of batteries available under the harsh conditions found in open pit mining. Effects from the jostling along rough terrain, the impact of loads dumped into the working truck, and the dust and mud that can be found under mining conditions will all require further research.

The costs related to a hybrid system are always a concern, but with fuel prices ever increasing the fuel savings found in hybrid vehicles is gaining favor. What the exact savings will be with the hybrid system in these mega trucks is not specified. The Chevy Tahoe 3-Mode Hybrid System resulted in a 50% increase in fuel mileage and earned it the 2007 Green Car of the Year award at the LA Auto Show. GE’s target output and fuel savings for the hybrid project is not mentioned, but if they can achieve a similar result it would seem a safe bet that the technology will be implemented with haste to help battle the costs of rising fuel.

Source[GE Global Research Blog via EcoGeek]

In a recent news release from Solazyme and as reported at this years Worldwide Energy and Trade Show yesterday, their algae-derived biodiesel has passed its Department of Defense cold weather testing. To demonstrate the performance and readiness of their product an unmodified Ford F-450 diesel was driven by former Director of the CIA, James Woolsey, to the conference fueled by Solazyme’s biodiesel.

Testing of Solazyme’s biodiesel was ordered by the Department of Defense and performed by the Southwest Research Institute (SWRI). Their conclusion proved that Solazyme’s product performed much better than any other biodiesel that has been tested in cold climates. That is good news for a military force with bases all over the world in all climates who is under a directive to substantially decrease its own dependency on foreign petroleum. Not only is the Algae BioDiesel usable in the F-450, but also in all military diesel fueled engines and can also be converted into Jet Fuel.

…Check out Solazyme’s video after the leap…

After much hype and great patience by some diesel cars and SUV’s are starting to creep into the US market. The BMW Efficient Dynamics diesel fleet of two (the 335d sedan and X5 XDrive35d) is preparing for its American release later this year, but ahead of their dealership debut and post their Detroit Auto Show unveiling BMW took the 335d for a drive. Taking to the streets and highways between San Francisco and Los Angeles BMW puts the wheel into the hands of some willing test subjects.

The new diesels are designed to run cleaner, faster and yet still with the fuel efficiency that those lovers of diesel prefer. The BMW 335d is expected to have fuel ratings of 25 city and 33 highway, while the X5 XDrive35d Crossover will have 19 city and 25 highway. Both vehicles are powered by the 3.0 liter 6-cylinder BMW diesel pumping out 265-hp and 425-ft lbs. of torque. Drivers from the following video were quick to point out the cars punch of torque at take-off.
Check out the video on the following page to see for yourself.

There are many alternative fuels and fuel sources that are all vying to become the next gas giant. Some people champion turning corn or sugar cane or other cellulostic crops into ethanol. Some diesel owners are happy to scrape used vegetable oil to run as fuel in their car. Some government officials and industry leaders would still like to see coal and oil sand converted into gasoline as a means of supplanting foreign oil dependency. However, with each of the above alternatives there are significant hurdles.

In most cellulostic ethanol production a strain is placed on the food crops that are being used that have resulted in higher prices for products like corn. Free, used vegetable oil used in older diesels is a great free alternative fuel if you do not have to drive very far or fast. Vegetable oil does not produce the same horsepower/torque as fossil fuel diesel and can turn an 80-hp Mercedes into a real slow dog. And those who tout the vast supply of coal and oil sand of North America as the next great fuel supply forget that part of the reason we are pushing alternative fuels is to reduce our CO2 output. Unless all car manufacturers can convert their products to PZEV (Partial Zero Emissions Vehicles) coal-to-fuel and oil sand does not improve our situation.

As a result and after much reading and consideration we see Algae BioFuel, in a closed water system, may be the best alternative we have going right now. Currently there are two means of Algae production that are heading into mass production in the coming months.

After some complaints of Nissan’s current Maxima model too closely resembling their upper level Infiniti G35 sedan the designers at Nissan have given the 2009 Maxima a distinctive look all its own. The new Nissan Maxima is set to prevail its new skin at this months New York Auto Show.

For some of us the Nissan Maxima was once a pinnacle four-door sedan that embodied sophistication and class, but that seems long ago now. The 2004-08 body style of the Maxima does not possess the same distinction the bestows upon the onlooker what it once meant to be a Maxima. Maybe the 2009 Nissan Maxima can restore that imbalance.

The new Maxima, by appearance only, appears to fit in with the current sedan trends, but yet still is not a copy-cat of what the others are doing. There are still hints of the G35 and there are touches of the Lexus IS 250/350, but beyond those nuances the 2009 Nissan Maxima might just step out of the cookie cutter and back into some prominence.      …Photo Gallery and engine details to follow link…

While most industry executives are tossing hybrid systems and electric motors at their engineers to squeeze into their cars Audi’s sports minded leaders must have said, “I think we can fit four more cylinders on that engine!”
Coming to the Geneva Auto Show later this week will be Audi’s introduction of the all new Q7 V12 TDI Quattro in all its might and gloss. If there was room to squeeze an “R” or and “S” schematically in the name Audi should have done it, because they have done everything else to this sports flavored SUV. You are looking at a 500-hp 6.0 liter V12 that will be chewing up the pavement with 758-ft.lbs of torque. If zero-to-sixty is your thing the Audi Q7 V12 puts that in a the sportscar range of 5.5 seconds. This is no average soccer parents SUV. However, at just under 20 mpg and with special emissions controls the Q7 already meets the next level of fuel standards.

The flash and dash on the Audi Q7 V12 TDI is not limited to the performance sector as the interior comes with all the leather trimmings and aluminum stripping a buyer could want. With black leather along the dash, the tops of the doors and roof of the Q7 and leather on the seats the occupants are literally folded up in a cocoon of leather opulence. However, this cocoon comes with a glass roof view that opens up the skyline to cloud watchers (driver excluded).     …Press Release and Photo Gallery to follow…

The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has released its 11th annual Top 10 listing of the Meanest and Greenest vehicles for 2008. Basing their rankings on results derived from what ACEEE calls a “Green Score”, “a singular measure that incorporates unhealthy tailpipe emissions, fuel consumption, and the emissions of gases that cause global warming.” Coming out on top of 2008’s Green list for the second year in a row is the limited production Honda Civic GX. Running on natural gas, which burns cleaners than gasoline, and averaging 39 mpg the Honda Civic GX is surely clean, but virtually impossible to buy.

Running the dubious honor of being #1 as 2008’s Meanest car is the VW Touareg. With fuel ratings at or below 20 mpg from all 3 engine variants (the diesel is rated at 20 mpg highway), yet still in the mid-to-high teens, there would seem meaner vehicles on the market. Part of what brought down the score for the VW Touareg would be its diesel engine’s emissions results. With higher nitrogen oxides and particulate matter being emitted from the tailpipe the VW Touareg TDI is a top ranked polluter according to ACEEE.    …Full Top 10 Lists and Press Release after the link…

Bob Lutz wants to hear if you can smell-ell-ell-ell-ell… what the Vice Chairman is Cooking!

Can you hear me now? …How about now? Is this better? Can you hear me Now?

Please feel free to leave your own caption in the comments section. This photo is just too amusing to leave alone.

There are few executives out there that are masters of the sound bite. The one’s that are prove to be so because they are speaking their minds and have minds that are filled with their own opinions, own judgements and own thoughts. Like those other masters of the sound bit Bob Lutz is not out to convince you he is right by talking to you. He is not there to hold your hand and lead you to his conclusion. He is there to build cars and meet new challenges. It is just to our curious benefit that he takes time out of his GM schedule to share his hardened, unyielding sound bites.

So follow us through the link and let us check in on some of the latest from Bob Lutz (quotes provided to us via FrontBurner):