Motor Authority - blog Tag: Biofuels

Bentley may best be known for its hedonistic land yachts that can cost as much as a house, but lately the automaker has become increasingly recognized for its environmental efforts. Bentley has already laid out a three-stage plan to reduce emissions of its fleet by 15%, launch new powertrains that deliver a 40% improvement in fuel economy, and introduce flex-fuel models to help deliver a fleet-wide carbon-dioxide emissions average of 120g/km--all by 2012--but now the team at Crewe are going a step further.

According to a new report, Bentley is already working on a powertrain that will reduce CO2 emissions by 40%--and it’s likely to be...

Bentley may best be known for its hedonistic land yachts that can cost as much as a house, but lately the automaker has become increasingly recognized for its environmental efforts. Bentley has already laid out a three-stage plan to reduce emissions of its fleet by 15%, launch new powertrains that deliver a 40% improvement in fuel economy, and introduce flex-fuel models to help deliver a fleet-wide carbon-dioxide emissions average of 120g/km--all by 2012--but now the team at Crewe are going a step further. According to a new report, Bentley is already working on a powertrain that will reduce CO2 emissions by 40%--and it’s likely to be a hybrid. It’s set to be launched in 2011, most likely in the next-generation Continental range. The new powertrain could even center on a V-6 powerplant with forced induction. Earlier this year Bentley Chairman and CEO Franz-Josef Paefgen said a “twin-turbo V-6 might be an appropriate engine" when describing future plans for the Continental range, even revealing that downsizing the car to something as small as the Audi A5 platform could be a possibility. Not much else is known apart from the fact that it will also be biofuel capable. Bentley eventually plans to have all of its models biofuel capable by 2012 but so far only the recently revealed Continental Supersports (pictured) meets the challenge. As for alternatives such as hydrogen fuel cells and diesels, Bentley says the lack of popularity of such vehicles in North America means we’re not going to be seeing them any time soon. [AutoExpress] Read More

Hybrid and electric cars are often criticized for the fact that they still use electricity generated by fossil fuels, and often environmental groups will advocate the use of biomass-powered cars, such as ethanol vehicles, as opposed to the electrics.

Now, however, a study run by Stanford biology professor Chris Field and published in Science magazine has revealed that burning trees or switchgrass in powerplants in order to create electricity is significantly more efficient than using the equivalent amount of biomass that could be harvested from the switchgrass fields directly in flex-fuel vehicles.

The study found that electricity... Hybrid and electric cars are often criticized for the fact that they still use electricity generated by fossil fuels, and often environmental groups will advocate the use of biomass-powered cars, such as ethanol vehicles, as opposed to the electrics. Now, however, a study run by Stanford biology professor Chris Field and published in Science magazine has revealed that burning trees or switchgrass in powerplants in order to create electricity is significantly more efficient than using the equivalent amount of biomass that could be harvested from the switchgrass fields directly in flex-fuel vehicles. The study found that electricity generated from burning one acre of trees or switchgrass allows a small electric SUV to travel around 14,000 miles, while an acre of biomass used to create ethanol allowed the same vehicle to only travel around 9,000 miles. While we may think of fuel efficiency mostly in terms of 'miles per gallon' these days, global food shortages and efficiency requirements are pushing us to also think in terms of 'miles per acre'. For the time being, electric powered cars are significantly more efficient in terms of the energy they use compared to ethanol powered internal combustion engines, making them more efficient in terms of how much land is required to facilitate power needs. Despite the obvious efficiency advantage of electricity over ethanol, biomass for fuel does have some of its own advantages, including the fact that many electric vehicles are significantly more expensive than their ethanol-drinking internal-combustion counterparts. On top of this, ethanol refueling takes the same amount of time as current petrol systems, while electricity can take significantly longer. Read More

Bentley's flex-fuel Continental Supersports recently broke ground as the first ethanol-burner from the brand, and this week the car took a step closer to arriving in showrooms as the first production models have started undergoing real-world testing. Having debuted in concept form at March’s Geneva Motor Show, the new Continental Supersports is scheduled to go on sale early next year as the carmaker’s most powerful and fastest production model ever.

It won’t be the most expensive Bentley - that honor falls to the Arnage - and the Azure is also more expensive, but a $267,000 base price tag for the Continental Supersports... Bentley's flex-fuel Continental Supersports recently broke ground as the first ethanol-burner from the brand, and this week the car took a step closer to arriving in showrooms as the first production models have started undergoing real-world testing. Having debuted in concept form at March’s Geneva Motor Show, the new Continental Supersports is scheduled to go on sale early next year as the carmaker’s most powerful and fastest production model ever. It won’t be the most expensive Bentley - that honor falls to the Arnage - and the Azure is also more expensive, but a $267,000 base price tag for the Continental Supersports will put it about 33% above the Continental GT Speed's starting price of $203,600. Add on top the $3,700 gas guzzler tax (it's still a big, powerful, gasoline-capable car) and the $2,595 delivery fee and you're nudging up against $275,000. Bentley says the price is fully in line with the car's nature, and notes that many features that are standard on the Supersports are pricey options on the rest of the lineup. Delivering 621hp (463kW), the latest addition to the Continental GT range is capable of accelerating from 0-60mph in just 3.7 seconds and reaching a top speed of 204mph - despite its hefty 4,939lb (2,235kg) curb weight. Peak torque stands at 590lb-ft (800Nm). The 'Supersports' name is inspired by the original two-seater 3.0L Supersports model introduced in 1925, itself an evolution of the 3.0L Speed. The original Supersports was the first production Bentley to reach 100mph and was also recognized at the time for its race-inspired technologies. For more on the Supersports at the recent Geneva event, check out our debut story here.Bentley Continental Supersports2010 Bentley Continental Supersports spied in production trim Read More

As the U.S. struggles to bootstrap itself out of one of the worst economies in decades, the federal government continues its spending spree, earmarking $787 million to biofuels. The goal is ostensibly to meet a target set by former President George Bush of 36 billion gallons of biofuel in the national gasoline supply by 2022.

The money will go to industry companies to provide 'relief' from the current market contraction. That may not be enough, however, with industry chiefs also seeking government-backed loans.

President Obama pitched the deal with his typically positive message. "We must invest in a clean energy economy that will lead to... As the U.S. struggles to bootstrap itself out of one of the worst economies in decades, the federal government continues its spending spree, earmarking $787 million to biofuels. The goal is ostensibly to meet a target set by former President George Bush of 36 billion gallons of biofuel in the national gasoline supply by 2022. The money will go to industry companies to provide 'relief' from the current market contraction. That may not be enough, however, with industry chiefs also seeking government-backed loans. President Obama pitched the deal with his typically positive message. "We must invest in a clean energy economy that will lead to new jobs, new businesses and reduce our dependence on foreign oil," said the President. "The steps I am announcing today help bring us closer to that goal." "If we are to be a leader in the 21st century global economy, then we must lead the world in clean energy technology. Through American ingenuity and determination, we can and will succeed." Of the $787 million to be spent, $480 million will go to smaller-production bio-refineries including pilot and demonstration-scale units. Full-scale commercial bio-refineries will get $176.5 million, and another $130 million will go to fund research in to biofuels and their production, according to the Detroit News. The goal of increasing the amount of biofuels blended with the national petro-fuel supply is aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. When compared directly to each other, biofuels do release fewer harmful pollutants as a result of combustion. However, critics of biofuels such as ethanol would stress the production process and the resources necessary to grow, harvest, process and refine the crops are in the end a great net cause of greenhouse gases. Read More

Bentley's flex-fuel Continental Supersports recently broke ground as the first ethanol-burner from the brand, and with this week's announcement of the price of the car, its cash-burning abilities are known too. Taking its slot as the most powerful and fastest Bentley ever, the Supersports is also the most expensive Continental ever.

It's not the most expensive Bentley - that honor falls to the Arnage - and the Azure is also more expensive. But the $267,000 base price tag of the Continental Supersports puts it about 33% above the Continental GT Speed's starting price of $203,600. Add on top the $3,700 gas guzzler tax (it's still a big,... Bentley's flex-fuel Continental Supersports recently broke ground as the first ethanol-burner from the brand, and with this week's announcement of the price of the car, its cash-burning abilities are known too. Taking its slot as the most powerful and fastest Bentley ever, the Supersports is also the most expensive Continental ever. It's not the most expensive Bentley - that honor falls to the Arnage - and the Azure is also more expensive. But the $267,000 base price tag of the Continental Supersports puts it about 33% above the Continental GT Speed's starting price of $203,600. Add on top the $3,700 gas guzzler tax (it's still a big, powerful, gasoline-capable car) and the $2,595 delivery fee and you're nudging up against $275,000. Bentley says the price is fully in line with the car's nature, and notes that many features that are standard on the Supersports are pricey options on the rest of the lineup. Carbon ceramic brakes ($16,500) and about a 'half dozen options' are included in the Supersports purchase price, reports Edmunds but the details on the options and prices won't be disclosed for a while yet. Delivering 621hp (463kW), the latest addition to the Continental GT range is capable of accelerating from 0-60mph in just 3.7 seconds and reaching a top speed of 204mph - despite its hefty 4,939lb (2,235kg) curb weight. Peak torque stands at 590lb-ft (800Nm). The 'Supersports' name is inspired by the original two-seater 3.0L Supersports model introduced in 1925, itself an evolution of the 3.0L Speed. The original Supersports was the first production Bentley to reach 100mph and was also recognized at the time for its race-inspired technologies. For more on the Supersports and its features, check out our debut story here.Bentley Continental Supersports Read More

Ethanol is a hot topic among biofuels advocates - and opponents - and green-car fiends alike, but it has a long tradition as a performance fuel as well. Lexmaul taps into that tradition with their latest Vectra, converting the car to E85 flex-fuel capability for extra performance.

The CO2 savings doesn't hurt in carbon-conscious Europe either, but with up to 270hp (201kW) and 243lb-ft (330Nm) of torque on tap, you're not thinking 'green' you're thinking 'fun'. That's a big improvement over the stock Vectra's 175hp (130kW) as well.

The conversion kit is included in Lexmaul's 'Stage 1' program for the Vectra, while a 'Stage 2' kit adds an... Ethanol is a hot topic among biofuels advocates - and opponents - and green-car fiends alike, but it has a long tradition as a performance fuel as well. Lexmaul taps into that tradition with their latest Vectra, converting the car to E85 flex-fuel capability for extra performance. The CO2 savings doesn't hurt in carbon-conscious Europe either, but with up to 270hp (201kW) and 243lb-ft (330Nm) of torque on tap, you're not thinking 'green' you're thinking 'fun'. That's a big improvement over the stock Vectra's 175hp (130kW) as well. The conversion kit is included in Lexmaul's 'Stage 1' program for the Vectra, while a 'Stage 2' kit adds an improved exhaust to the mix. Also included in the Stage 1 outfit is a custom body kit and Lexmaul branding inside and out. A trick button-press feature tells the computer to switch from E85 to regular petrol and back, optimizing fuel maps for the right go juice. Without this adaptation, the system could fall victim to the OEM-type flex-fuel system, which has to run a compromise map for all fuels, often decreasing performance and efficiency with petrol, E85, or in some cases, both. The flex-fuel conversion kit costs just 899 ($1166), so it's not going to break the bank, though the limited availability of E85 might make it a bit of a doomed proposition in many parts of the world - especially Europe.Lexmaul Opel Vectra flex-fuel conversion Read More