India's Tata ramps up electric, fuel cell efforts

India's Tata Motors is thinking about the future

In 2008, India's Tata Motors will launch a mild hybrid version of the Indica, followed by a full-electric version for the European market in 2009 (more).

Additionally, the Economic Times is reporting that Tata Motors and ISRO Space Agency will partner to develop fuel cell hydrogen vehicles.

"We know how to handle Hydrogen," said G Madhavan Nair, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation. "It is going to be the fuel for the next generation. Even in India, there are a number of plans where hydrogen is coming as a byproduct which is not being utilised properly. So, if we can collect it and serve it, it can become a good source (of fuel) for automobiles."

India: What does the high cost of hybrids mean?

Will cost twice as much in India as in Japan?

When it comes to both foreign oil dependency and global warming, India and China are becoming key players. With huge populations quickly becoming interested in automobiles, oil shortages and carbon emissions are on the precipice of astronomical increases.

So, just sell them hybrid cars, right?

That's what Honda is going to do with its Civic hybrid in India, for example. Unfortunately, because of Indian tariffs on imports, a Honda Civic hybrid will cost twice as much in India as in Japan.

In a country where many automakers are racing to the $3,000 car, how can $43,000 hybrid vehicles be expected to compete in the mind's of the masses?

When it comes to the dangers of foreign oil dependency and the amount of CO2 emissions in the world today - 'you ain't seen nothing yet'!

Air hybrid in India?

Tata to develop new kind of hybrid for India

A $9000 hybrid that runs on a combination of compressed air and electricity is being considered for the Indian auto market according to Technologue. Sure its a small city car that only has a range of 60 - 90 miles, but it runs on air, rather than a dirty fuel, which could be important in such a huge country.

The idea of a compressed air hybrid might be too full of hot air to ever become reality, but it is interesting to watch the revolution going on in the automotive world. Experimentation. Thinking outside of the box. No one took the Toyota Prius and hybrid cars seriously a decade ago, now every major automaker is developing some form of a hybrid.

So, maybe the MDI air car is just one innovation away from the becoming India's version of the Prius.

Are the Big 3 truly committed to America?

Is China more important than America to U.S. automakers?

GM has a significant and growing footprint in China. Obviously, China is an important market for any automaker thinking about the future. Nonetheless, could the Chinese market become even more important than the American market for U.S. automakers?

Even more alarming, in the very near future, could it become more cost-effective for U.S. automakers to completely outsource automobile manufacturing to China?

While that idea sounds a bit crazy today, the fact that Chrysler is going to partner with Chery to sell Chinese vehicles in America proves the reality of such a possibility.

Will America soon not only be dependent upon foreign oil, but on foreign-built gas-guzzlers?

Thus, it seems obvious that America's auto manufacturing future rests upon next-generation technologies, such as hybrid cars, plug-in hybrids, electric vehicles and fuel cells.

Ultimately, America cannot compete with the world's supply of cheap labor. Only skilled, technologically advanced labor has a chance.

Ironically, we are already importing many of these skilled laborers from China and India - almost funding their advanced education before they return home. How long can this go on before it's too late?

How a $3000.00 Indian car could destroy America?

What if Tata sold a couple hundred million cars in India?

If you've been following the automotive news lately, then you've been hearing a lot about Nissan's quest to build a "people's car", a $3,000.00 automobile for India's growing, aspiring middle class. While emerging markets, especially Indian and China, appear to a large extent to be the future for automakers, can the world survive this future?

"India just can't cope with this kind of pace of expansion," said Anumita Roychowdhury, associate director at the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment.

"It's just not sustainable, whether from an environmental point of view or in terms of congestion." (more)

India? What about America?

What if by 2020, America is even more dependent upon foreign oil, as are an additional 50 million Indians and Chinese? How about 100 million more? How about coupling this with ever-increasing tensions in the Persian Gulf, Venezuela and Nigeria. What will the cost of foreign oil dependency be then?

Ford's Mulally wants to fight global warming

Let's get this sucka on the road then!

I think Ford CEO Alan Mulally has the potential to turn Ford around. First, Mulally is an efficiency aficionado. Second, he has proven himself at Boeing. Third, he wants to fight global warming, even telling reporters that he believes humans are responsible for the "vast majority" of global warming.

Whether he's correct or not regarding global warming, Mulally at least appears cognizant of the fact the fuel efficiency is going to determine the success of automakers selling vehicles in the U.S. - foreign oil dependency isn't going anywhere even if science proves the sun is causing global warming. Perhaps, some U.S. auto manufacturers might choose to focus on selling sub-$5000.00 cars in China and India, but it appears that Ford is prepared to try to sell fuel efficient vehicles in the U.S..

So, c'mon Mr. Mulally, let's see a few new hybrid vehicles, such as the Ford Reflex hybrid pictured above. Enough talking, time for a little walking. Show the world and the rest of Detroit that Ford ain't dead yet. Besides America could truly use some real leadership coming out of Michigan - apart from the Pistons and Red Wings.

Hybrid notes from the Geneva Auto Show

Will this be the first Saab hybrid?

Without doubt the hottest hybrid news coming out of Geneva has been the Hybrid X concept. Unfortunately, much of the rest of Geneva's hybrid news isn't really new.

For example, Saab announced a future hybrid vehicle, though its plans are still sketchy. At NAIAS, Saab displayed the Biopower 9-3 flex-fuel hybrid, so the possibility of a Saab hybrid isn't really news. In addition, Mercedes reconfirmed plans to offer its first hybrid in 2009, but it did not clarify which model will be a hybrid nor whether the hybrid would be a full hybrid or a mild hybrid.

There was; however, one other interesting piece of news regarding hybrid cars coming out of Geneva: TATA, the Indian automaker, is seeking a hybrid partnership. Considering that India will drive much of the automotive market in the future, this is very interesting news.

U.S. will need 50 percent more energy by 2030?

I just watched a commercial claiming that the U.S. will need 50 percent more energy by 2030. Now, this commercial was created by the gas and oil industry, so maybe the numbers were inflated a bit; however, what if they were not? Even if the real number is only 25 percent more that's still a huge number.

I think I'm starting to see the Admiral's perspective that a 20 percent drop in U.S. gasoline consumption in the next decade is nearly impossible. It seems he's right, unless we make drastic, revolutionary changes. In reality, as the Admiral stated, the U.S. will be lucky just to maintain current levels of consumption.

Consequently, I'm really starting to believe that a gas tax is absolutely necessary. Again, that's a gas tax whose revenue goes completely into tax credits for the consumers of hybrid cars and other clean energy technologies. The point is, America's energy habits HAVE to change and it will be far better for Americans if we prepare for the change, rather than wait until we have no choice but to change.

Another scary thing. If U.S. energy consumption is going to skyrocket in the next two decades, imagine what consumption in China and India is going to be like.

The real problem with Al Gore: Global warming, Japan and hybrid cars

Just as Al Gore is beating the drum on global warming and inciting his treehugging supporters into a frenzy, almost every government in the world is spending less money to fight global warming according to the NYTimes.

For example, U.S. spending into global warming research and development is half what it was just 25 years ago, but it isn't just the U.S.

"Internationally, government energy research trends are little different from those in the United States. Japan is the only economic power that increased research spending in recent decades, with growth focused on efficiency and solar technology, according to the International Energy Agency."

Ironically, many energy experts expect total energy use to increase by some 50 percent in less than 20 years, with most of this increase coming from China and India. If we can't get control of energy consumption now, how are we going to do better in the next 2 decades when issues such as Kyoto don't even include these countries?

This should be cause for serious concern if you believe Gore. If the world is almost past the point of no return, yet energy consumption is still rapidly increasing, isn't Gore's battle already over?

I say Mr. Gore is simply telling the wrong story. Mr. Gore is a politician at heart, rather than an activist, and in the back of his mind, I think, Gore is simply posturing for another run at the Presidency. Global warming, Gore believes, might just be his ticket back to the big white house, and I say he's right, but he's also missing the point and his opportunity.

(Full Story)

$2.00 Gas: The Calm Before the Storm?

There is a very good chance that by Thanksgiving, gas prices could land near $2.50. If things go real well, we might even see $2.00 gas. (more)

Is this a good thing? Ironically, I say it's a better thing for oil companies, than for consumers - at least in the long run.

Over the last several decades, whenever gas prices recede, gas consumption increases. Will this time be any different? As gas prices drop, so to will interest in hybrid cars, in ethanol, in clean diesel, etc. - so to will America's interest in ending foreign oil dependency.

Let's face it, most Americans are living paycheck-to-paycheck. Can we really blame them for taking the cheaper path?

Of course, is it really cheaper? Even cheap gasoline prices in America still lead to huge profits in the hands of governments that not only HATE America, but that fund terrorism against America. Then there is the cost of enforcement. How much does our military presence in the Gulf cost - even when we aren't fighting wars in Iraq? Wouldn't a foreign-oil dependency-ending technological revolution be cheaper than this enforcement?

Of course, there is nothing like the status quo!

Thus, will Detroit finally step up to the plate and, regardless of gasoline prices, strive for the end of foreign oil dependency?

Unfortunately, I doubt it. Like many Americans, Detroit is going to do whatever is most profitable - at least in the short term.

Still, $2.00 gas won't last. There will be hurricanes in the Gulf again - maybe not this year, maybe not next year, but soon. China and India will keep exponentially increasing their oil demand, and Middle East tensions will get much worse before they truly improve.

The world now believes that oil is one of America's biggest Achille's Heals. While alternative fuels such as ethanol can help, only advanced automotive technologies can save America in the long run.

Will America have the wisdom and the vision to prepare for the future, or will we fall into our fat, lazy, apathetic and complacent ways? The next surge in gasoline prices might not just destroy the American auto industry, but the American economy as well.

As consumers, as citizens, we must make sure that we keep pressure on automakers and on government officials. Inevitably, few issues in our lives will have greater impact on our lives than foreign oil dependency. We can either let this addiction turn into a bigger crisis, or we can turn it into a revolutionary opportunity.

Which side are you on?

Hybrids and the Third World

Many skeptics of hybrid cars often complain that hybrids are too expensive. While I agree that they are too expensive today, so too was my laptop computer just a couple of years ago. Not only was my laptop too expensive back then, but also my desktop, my cell phone, my PDA, my iPOD, etc., etc., back then. Inevitably, even hybrid technology - like these devices - will become much cheaper. Consequently, I firmly believe that so called Third World emerging markets, such as China and India, will soon desire clean vehicle technologies, such as hybrids, as well. These countries are already suffering ridiculous levels of pollution and millions of new automobiles will only exacerbate that problem. Ultimately, hybrid vehicles might even make more sense in these countries than in America. Of course, I'm biased in favor of hybrids, so, for an alternative opinion, check out the article Hybrids in the Third World?

Time to Declare War on Foreign Oil Dependency?

I think America is at War, a war that most Americans refuse to acknowledge, and the fight for independence from foreign oil dependency is shaping up to be the most important war America has ever fought.

Former CIA Director R. James Woolsey has become a huge advocate for ending America's foreign oil dependency, and he is very outspoken about the dangers of America's oil addiction.

"If you want to see who's paying for all that [extremism and terrorism], next time you pull in to fill up, turn the rearview mirror a little bit so you can look at yourself for a minute as you get out with your credit card," Woolsey said during a meeting with reporters and editors of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Yet, Americans don't really think about that - to our direct connection to extremism and terrorism - instead we think about how expensive is $3.00 oil. Sadly, $3.00 oil is nothing compared to what could happen.

Aside from the problems in Iran, Nigeria, Venezuela, aside from hurricanes, aside from rapidly growing oil demand in China and India, an attack on Saudi oil refineries could have an even greater impact on gasoline prices.

How bad?

Today oil is at $70.00 per barrel, but if Saudi oil refineries were damaged - not destroyed - oil could easily climb to over $150.00 per barrel. Add intensified problems with Iran, or another major hurricane and who knows how high oil prices could climb.

What would a year of $7.00 gasoline do for the American economy? How high would $7.00 gas push the cost of groceries and other commodities? How would $7.00 gas help your commute?

What We Can Do

Fighting this war isn't a battle between ethanol versus biodiesel, or clean diesel cars versus hybrid cars. All of these technologies and alternative fuels MUST be utilized. Conservation MUST be utilized.

While politicians can blame one another, and citizens can blame politicians, automakers and the drivers of gas-guzzlers, blame will not win the war. While many in Congress blame other members, or the President, how many members regularly drive a hybrid car, fill up with ethanol or biodiesel, or maybe even walk a little more? Not very many according to recent reports. What about citizens?

Ultimately, little can be done in the short term to fix gas prices or to reduce foreign oil dependency. Today, average citizens must try to conserve, buy hybrid cars, use ethanol where available, or give bio-diesel a try. Moreover, we have to think about the future. We must make Congress and the President create more tax incentives for clean automobiles and clean fuels, not for Hummers and for oil companies.

Finally, we need to let automakers and politicians know that if they can't, or won't, help us fight this war, we'll find alternatives to them.

Join our campaign to make Congress Act.

First small riceburners, then hybrid cars

Hybrids will prove America wrong, again

I remember my parents picking me up from grade school one afternoon in the late '70's. Across the street from school, my father noticed my teacher's new Honda Civic. He laughed and said, "Who would ever want to drive a small riceburner like that? Honda is a motorcycle company, not a car company."

Well, needless to say, the rest is history. Not only did Honda do well selling cars no one "would ever want to drive", but so too did Toyota and Nissan. Just a few decades later, these 'riceburners' have knocked the American auto industry against the ropes and a TKO is very possible.

My father was a Union machinist and back in the '70's buying such a vehicle, regardless of how reliable it was or much gas it saved, was simply un-American. And it wasn't just my father, but most of America that felt that way.

Many Americans still feel that way today, which is why I think so many Americans are SO against hybrid cars. If hybrids take over much the same way riceburners did, it might just spell doom for American automakers.

According a Detroit News poll, the majority of Detroit-area readers don't believe hybrid vehicles will be around long. (See the Poll)

I say, get your head out of the sand. Don't make the same mistake twice.

The days of cheap oil appear to be over, and there probably isn't a windfall tax that can do anything to change that. A windfall tax can't stop problems in Iran or Nigeria. A windfall tax can't stop a billion new drivers from China and India.

The world has changed. Fuel efficiency and pollution will be the key drivers of not just automotive technology, but of all technology. In fact, clean and green technology is not only possible, as the Toyota Prius hybrid car so beautifully demonstrates, but it is destined to improve greatly, while getting significantly cheaper.

$3.00 gas is only the beginning, the beginning of the hybrid car revolution. Flex fuel hybrids, diesel hybrids, gasoline hybrids, hydrogen hybrids, and fuel cell hybrids - hybrids are THE future.

Hybrid cars: Why Toyota is the Most Important Automaker in the World

I was reading an article this morning, Honda sees hybrid owners buying fuel cell cars, and it struck me how Toyota has become the most important automaker in the world.

It turns out Honda is looking to the drivers of its hybrid cars to drive Honda Fuel Cell Vehicles.

"Honda has a rough idea of who its first fuel-cell customers will be, people trading in their gasoline-electric hybrid cars," states this AP article.

"We already hear of people saying, 'gee I like my hybrid but what's next. I want to go beyond gasoline'," says Steve Ellis, manager of fuel-cell marketing for American Honda Motor Co.

Yet, Ellis also notes that, "fuel-cell cars will make up only a fraction of the auto market for two or more decades."

While it's great that Honda is looking beyond hybrid vehicles, is the status quo of the world's fleet of automobiles good enough for the next two or three decades?

What happens when millions and millions of new drivers from China and India demand more oil in the next decade? What happens if Iran cuts oil production to the West? What happens if 10 years of increased, severe hurricane activity batters oil refineries in the Gulf of Mexico? What happens if global warming is actually much more serious than believed?

Even worse, what happens if the 'hydrogen economy' is found to result in some unintended consequence that actually makes gasoline still a better a solution?

How Green is Green Enough?

Sure Honda is the greenest automaker in the world, but none of the world's automakers are green enough, and that's why Toyota is so important.

Toyota's aggressive push into hybrid cars has made the public realize that much better automobiles - in terms of fuel economy and pollution - are available now, not in decades.

Yet, the best thing about hybrids is that hybrid technology offers much more potential than is currently offered. For example, hybrid technology could be added to flex-fuel vehicles, to diesel vehicles, to bio-diesel vehicles, to hydrogen vehicles, etc. Moreover, more and more research will lead to significantly better hybrid batteries. Consequently, 100 mpg hybrid vehicles could easily be less than a decade away.

100 mpg vehicles aren't worth striving for along the way to fuel cell vehicles in today's world? The status quo is simply good enough for another few decades?

Inevitably, when America experiences sustained gas prices of more than $3.00 per gallon combined with the constant threat of gas spikes of more than $5.00 per gallon, automakers won't - at least those that want to survive - have any choice but to build as many hybrids as possible.

Thanks to Toyota, Americans and the world will know, automakers can do better, much better.

Imagine a billion new car drivers!!!!!!!!!!!

"Imagine a rapidly growing economy in which billions of increasingly affluent citizens cannot wait to buy their first car and take to the freedom of the open road. No, this isn't a multinational auto executive's fantasy: it is the reality of China and India." (BusinessWeek)

Man, won't that be great for GM? They can get rid of all their expensive American labor and just build cars in Asia for this boom and export the rest back to America - at least they will still be an American company. That's all that really matters, right?

O.K., all kidding aside, where will all the extra oil come from?

I know, I know. Suddenly, we'll all be driving fuel cell vehicles, so this won't matter, right?

I knew there was a reason why new technology, such as hybrid cars, is silly. Now I can go back to gas-guzzling in peace. PHEWWWW!

China: The number one reason for hybrid cars

As I was watching CNBC today, one segment included an interview of the CEO of Ramada Hotels who was explaining why his company was going to experience huge growth in the future; new hotels in China.

The CEO explained that China was going through the same infrastructure changes that the U.S. went through in the 50's and 60's. Today, he went on, it isn't easy to drive from city to city or from town to town to city in China - highways and freeways just aren't that common.

That; however, is going to change quickly as miles and miles and miles of highways and freeways will soon connect China, the way highways and freeways now connect America.

If you build it, they will come

Why have highways and freeways if no one drives? Of course in the 40's and 50's in America, no one needed a car either. Thus, it isn't just hotels that are going to explode in China as the country becomes more connected, but automobile sales as well. In fact, the potential of the automobile in China is far greater than what America will ever achieve.

So, where will the fuel come from?

The advancement of hybrid cars and other alternative technologies simply cannot advance fast enough. Quite simply, there isn't enough oil to fuel China's development.

While new reports show that gasoline prices are the highest since November, and 30 cents higher than the same time last year, gas prices are going to go much higher. Even without increased oil demand from China, or India, gas prices in America have no where to go but up.

The days of cheap gas are over.

But that is only the beginning. In 10 years Chinese demand will have grown so significantly, that oil will not meet the energy needs of the world.

How expensive will gas be then?

We must act now. Join the hybrid car revolution!

Why hybrid vehicles are ESSENTIAL to America

No, it isn't foreign oil dependency and supporting terrorism, although issues such as Iran will inevitably push gas prices much higher. No it isn't pollution, or even global warming, it isn't even Kartrina or limited oil refineries.

The reason hybrid cars have become so important to America is manufacturing.

There is a great article, China, India seen setting stage for environment-friendly world, which notes that "Energy guzzlers China and India are often blamed for some of the world's environmental problems, but a new study says the two most populous nations may well set the stage for a clean and green Earth."

Further the article states, "The two countries are mastering energy-efficient technologies, implementing cheap and environmentally-responsible transportation systems".

Yet, America is still hyping muscle cars and SUVs to generate buzz for the future at the North American International Auto Show. Fancier, bling-bling gas-guzzling vehicles have no future in India and China, perhaps not even in America.

The only chance America has to sell products to these countries is to sell them the best, most energy efficient technology, at reasonable costs. America, and American automakers, will never have cheaper labor to compete with China and India. Therefore, America MUST have the most efficient and intelligent labor and corporations.

Within 10 years, not only will gas be significantly more expensive around the world, American automobiles will be expensive and obsolete compared to foreign made vehicles, unless they offer extreme fuel efficiency, top engineering and reasonable prices.

Waiting for fuel cell vehicles, which will almost certainly be hybrids anyway, is the surest path to failure for American automakers. Making America the most fuel efficient fleet in the world is an absolute necessity for American auto manufacturers. Plus, wouldn't ending pollution and foreign oil dependency be pretty cool too?

Syriana, Kyoto and Hybrid Cars

So, the Montreal climate conference resulted in a 150 Nation agreement for further meetings that won't include the U.S. (more). The Bush administration won't sign onto the Kyoto Protocol because of fears that mandatory emissions cutbacks could have a negative effect on the U.S. economy.

While I support the Kyoto Protocol, I think Bush does have a point about the economy, but I think he has an even greater point when he demands that Kyoto must include India and China. Nonetheless, in the midst of ever more global warming evidence, I think serious action is required, and Kyoto might be a good step because it gets the U.S. to stop talking about global warming and to start doing something about it.

So, what is Bush's answer to global warming, technology.

While I agree with Bush, I don't agree with his process for bringing forth such technology. The Bush future is the hydrogen economy, which I believe in, but I also believe we can't wait for it. We must start taking action NOW.

Ironically, one of the main contributors to global warming is also one of the main contributors to terrorism - oil dependency. Yet, even after 9/11, after Iraq, after Katrina, the U.S. is still taking little action to really change America's dependency on oil.

If Bush believes in technology, then why doesn't he seek oil independence the same way Kennedy sought the moon in the '60s?

The technology just isn't there yet?

Baloney!!!!!

While many criticize hybrid cars for their costs and for their failure to meet EPA fuel efficiency ratings, the truth is, if every American drove a Toyota Prius hybrid today, we would end foreign oil dependency today.

But the best part of hybrid cars isn't what they can do today, but what they can do tomorrow if we invest. Experimental hybrid cars demonstrate that the technology to drastically reduce America's oil consumption exists right now, and it really isn't that expensive. In fact it is incredibly less expensive and incredibly more feasible than hydrogen vehicles.

Is it more expensive than conventional vehicles, yes, and that is why the government needs to get involved. Still how expensive is the war on terror, or the costs of pollution and global warming?

Recently, Bill Ford lobbied the government to provide more tax incentives to help Detroit reduce foreign oil dependency and to regain its sense of automotive innovation.

The government has said it isn't interested.

Isn't this exactly what Bush was talking about when it comes to better alternatives to Kyoto? But it isn't just Kyoto, its the war on terrorism as well.

"I'm involved in this because most of the world's oil reserves are owned by countries that finance people that want to kill us, that finance radical Islam," Anne Korin, co-director of the Washington, D.C.-based Institute for the Analysis of Global Security.

While Mrs. Korin doesn't believe in global warming, she is joining with global warming activists and using the movie Syriana to bring attention to the dangers of America's oil dependence (more).

Yet, GM is set to roll out model after model of gas-guzzling SUVs and neither Ford nor GM seem to know how to be profitable in a fuel efficient world.

What better opportunity for the government to get involved? This isn't about interfering with free markets, it's about protecting the people from the proven dangers of terrorism, while also protecting the environment and the 'possible' dangers of global warming. If global warming isn't a national security issue, terrorism certainly is.

And, speaking of the economy, if America is the fuel efficient, greenhouse reducing technology leader of the world, what could be better for the economy?

India and hybrid cars

I just came across an interesting article, Indian team to visit China for oil talks which states, "An Indian delegation will head to China next week to explore ways to cooperate in acquiring foreign energy assets to meet the soaring fuel needs of their fast-growing economies.."

No big deal, right? Except, for the fact that India is predicting that its demand for oil will quadruple in the next 20 years. Since India imports 70% of its oil, it will need more and more oil from the same places that America needs oil, which will only lead to higher oil prices.

When are Americans going to wake up? Yes, oil has been cheap, but the costs are going to rise dramatically and threaten the economy, yet technology - that which made America great - provides answers.

Hybrid cars, such as the Toyota Prius hybrid demonstrate the fuel efficiency abilities of hybrid technology. Hybrid SUVs, such as the Toyota Highlander hybrid and the Ford Escape hybrid, demonstrate that the technology can be utilized beyond small vehicles.

Some argue today's hybrids aren't fuel efficient enough. While a valid point, the potential of hybrid technology has barely been tapped.

With India and China cooperating to meet their exponentially growing foreign oil, America must embrace technology that offers solutions today, not in two decades. By then, the damage will already have been done.

The race to end foreign oil dependency is even greater than the race to the moon. JFK, where are you?