Mitsubishi Motors Corporation and Hydro-Québec announced an unprecedented collaboration that will put up to 50 zero-emission all-electric i-MiEV passenger cars on the streets of Montreal, in the largest Canadian project ever fielded to integrate, test, and evaluate all-electric vehicles on urban streets under real-world conditions.

Announced also at the Montreal International Auto Show, the pilot program will expose fleet drivers from Boucherville, Hydro Québec, and other approved companies to the Mitsubishi i-MiEV all electric city car, in both fall and winter urban conditions.

"We are very proud to be leading the way to a greener and more sustainable future by developing environment-friendly vehicles, fuelled by clean, renewable energy,” said Koji Soga, president and CEO of MMSCAN. “Mitsubishi Motors is a leader in electric car development and the i-MiEV represents the pinnacle of our green technologies. In the same sense, Hydro-Québec and the City of Boucherville are demonstrating their environmental leadership by participating in this unique initiative."

Hydro-Québec President and CEO Thierry Vandal said that the project is a vital element in the company’s commitment to environmental stewardship. "Hydro-Québec is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by playing a key role in the electrification of transportation. This trial is designed to study the vehicles' charging behaviour, driving experience as well as overall driver satisfaction. It will also allow Hydro-Québec to evaluate the challenges involved in integrating electric vehicles into its grid."

"This is a truly exciting project for the City of Boucherville," said Boucherville Mayor Jean Martel. "We look forward to participating alongside our leading local businesses to help Hydro-Québec and Mitsubishi gather meaningful data."

Newspress

Following years of being ahead in the electric vehicle (EV) world, Citroen has now partnered with Mitsubishi to launch the C-ZERO electric car, which makes its world show premiere at the Brussels Motor Show this week.

Unlike most of the EVs currently available, the C-ZERO is a proper four-seat zero-emission electric car (as opposed to a quadricycle). Bigger than the G-Wiz, and with more room than the two-seater MINI E, the C-ZERO shares the same chassis and body as the Mitsubishi i-car. (Sister PSA company Peugeot are badging the same car as the ‘iOn’.)

C-ZERO’s permanent magnet synchronous motor is powered by a latest-generation lithium-ion battery system and delivers 47kW or 64bhp from 3,000 to 6,000rpm. Maximum torque of 180Nm is available from 0 to 2,000rpm. The batteries can either be charged by plugging the supply cord into a 220-volt socket or, alternatively, C-ZERO can be charged using a 400-volt supply for an 80% charge in 30 minutes.

Despite measuring just 3.48m long, C-ZERO offers a spacious and comfortable cabin interior with four real seats and a 166 litre boot. On the road, C-ZERO has a top speed of 80mph, acceleration from 0-62mph in 15 seconds and a range of around 80 miles over a standard combined cycle. C-ZERO’s 9m turning circle and nimble handling also make it easy to navigate through city traffic.

However, zero-emission motoring does come at a cost – on top of car purchase, the first lithium-ion battery pack is expected to be leased for several hundred pounds per month. That said, fuel costs are less than 2p per mile, road tax is nil, and the car will qualify for the 100% discount from the London Congestion Charge.

C-ZERO is set for launch in the last quarter of 2010 and prospective customers can request an exclusive test-drive prior to placing a pre-order at www.c-zero.citroen.com.

Newspress

The 88th European Motor Show in Brussels is open to the public until 24th January 2010.

With 26 vehicles on display, Citroen’s show stand will feature almost all of its passenger car range, including the new C3 - which goes on sale in the UK on 15th January - and the forthcoming DS3, as well as the Company’s chic REVOLTE city car concept, which made its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2009.

'A hydrogen station in every home' is a futuristic vision that is about to become reality this week as Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies unveils what could be its biggest breakthrough to date: a small home hydrogen refueling and storage solution that could begin our transition to a hydrogen-based economy.

In addition to making many new fuel cell products possible, the refueling device enables a lower cost, scalable, and consumer-centric hydrogen supply model which eliminates the dependence on large-scale fueling infrastructure investments. Horizon's game-changer innovation can unlock the age-old dilemma over which comes first: clean cars, or clean fuels.

"We no longer need to rely on nationwide networks of hydrogen fueling stations to enable large-scale fuel cell commercialization," comments Taras Wankewycz, one of the company's founders. "Horizon is initiating a transition that places consumers in the driving seat. Thanks to our innovation each household can gradually become a major part of tomorrow's hydrogen fuel supply infrastructure."

Named HYDROFILL, the world's first personal hydrogen station designed by Horizon will be unveiled at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The small desktop device simply plugs into the AC, a solar panel or a small wind turbine, automatically extracts hydrogen from its water tank and stores it in a solid form in small refillable cartridges.

The cartridges contain metallic alloys (called hydrides) that absorb hydrogen into their crystalline structure, and release it back at low pressures, removing concerns about storing hydrogen at high pressure. This storage method also creates the highest volumetric energy density of any form of hydrogen storage, even higher than liquid hydrogen. Unlike conventional batteries, these cartridges carry more energy capacity, are cheaper, and do not contain any environmentally-harmful heavy metals.

Horizon believes the HYDROFILL is the first step towards private refueling of new generations of fuel cell electric vehicles. Fuel cell technology can greatly improve the features and usability of many battery or engine-powered devices, and create the possibility for lower cost electric cars that drive longer distances and recharge instantly.

Instead of starting with more complex automotive developments, Horizon's founders decided to start enabling devices that require less power, such as various portable and consumer applications. In 2006 and as a way to start nursing society through the infancy of the hydrogen economy, Horizon introduced solar hydrogen powered toy cars that quickly became the world's largest volume-produced commercial fuel cell products. Today the company sells its fuel cells through various retail channels in over 60 countries, reduced the cost of fuel cells to marketable levels, and has developed practical ways for all to store and refuel hydrogen.

Horizon's next phase starts now with the market introduction of a complete line of portable consumer electronic devices that address much larger markets. The first of these products include a micro-fuel cell power supply called MINIPAK, which extends the off-grid runtimes of small electronic devices including cell phones, lighting products, and many USB powered devices.

Horizon will also present an upgraded version of its larger portable off-grid DC power supply system called HYDROPAK. While these and other products will start entering the market in 2010, Horizon is already developing larger-size refueling systems that will enable anything from garden equipment to transportation.

Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies