Engineering @ Business

ELECTRIC VEHICLE CRASH SIMULATION

2009-12-26T18:37:00.000+08:00

Finite Element Model
Simulations of an electric vehicle, with varying material properties, colliding with a rigid barrier at 30 mph was performed with DYNA3D. Approximately 10,000 thin 2-D shell elements were utilized in the electric vehicle simulations as shown in Figure 1. Symmetric boundary condition was utilized about the x-y plane. Again, this was done to reduce computational time. To reduce computational time even further and since the goal of the simulations was to compare the performance of main structural members of an electric vehicle made of composite with those of steel and aluminum, components such as the engine, batteries, and seats were not modeled, but instead they were replaced by rigid blocks that would simulate the inertia of these components. An estimated components weight of 1,400 lb. was evenly distributed about the front, middle and back end of the electric vehicle. A passenger's torso was also modeled as a solid block weighing 100 lb. and placed in the driver's seat. The passenger's torso would be used to gauge the deceleration that would be incurred by a rider in the electric vehicle. This deceleration experienced by the passenger should not exceed 60 g (Standard No. 204) during the crash event [1]. The EV modeled was approximately 10 feet long, 5 feet wide and 4.5 feet tall.

Four simulations were runned. Table 1 summarizes the material properties used in the four simulations. The first simulation involved an all steel electric vehicle. The chassis and body structure, as shown in Figure 2, was modeled with structural steel properties while the other substructural members such as the bumper front fender, hood and doors were modeled with a lower grade of steel typical of a steel used for the body panels. The chassis and body structure consisted of rectangular and square cross sectioned beams. The steel chassis structure thickness was set at 0.2 cm while the body and panel thickness were respectively 0.15 cm and 0.1 cm. The next simulation modeled was an aluminum electric vehicle. Its chassis and body structure was modeled with aluminum alloy 7075 properties whereas the other substructural members were modeled with aluminum alloy 6061 properties. Its chassis thickness was set at 0.35 cm thickness and the body structure and substructure thickness were respectively 0.25 and 0.2 cm. The increase in thickness for the aluminum were done to satisfy load and deflection requirements for the electric vehicles. The third simulation involved a carbon/epoxy chassis and body structure modeled with substructures (hood, bumper, doors etc.) made of SMC composites. The composite chassis thickness was set to 0.4 cm thickness with the body structure and substructure having thickness of 0.25 and 0.2 cm. The increased thickness as compared to the steel model was again due to load and deflection requirements. The last model consisted of a carbon/epoxy chassis and body structure with glass/epoxy substructure and an SMC bumper. The thickness of the fourth model were left the same as the first composite model. For the composite models, a trigger was placed on the front rail structure, as shown in Figure 3, in order to promote stable collapse of the composite tube as demonstrated by Thornton [2]. A (0/90) laminate was utilized for the carbon/epoxy structures since this lay-up would provide the highest level of energy absorption, also reported by Thornton [2]. In addition to this, the front rail, which was 1 foot long, was also tapered in four sections. The first section near the trigger, had a thickness of 0.2 cm, in the second section the thickness was increased to 0.25 cm followed by a thickness of 0.3 cm in the third section and 0.4 cm in the last section that connects the front rail to the rest of the chassis. This was also done to promote stable collapse and has been demonstrated to be an effective method in increasing the energy absorption through dynamic sled testing of composite front rail structures [3]. It should be noted that the relative density for the composite EV structure were all above the critical value reported by Thornton [2]. Similar failure models used in the bumper study were utilized for the EV crash study as well.

Results and Discussion
Figure 4 displays the deformation on the steel EV after the crash event. A plastic hinge is formed on the front fenders of the vehicle while the bumper completely collapses. Shown in Figure 5, the front end of the chassis near the joint location is plastically bent downwards and the structure buckles near the front cross rail member. No damage is seen around the body structure. The steel EV crash behavior was as expected. The front end of a vehicle is designed to be structurally less stiff than the area around the passenger compartment so that in the event of a collision the front end serves as a sacrificial structure to dissipate the kinetic energy of the crash. As shown in Figure 5, the front chassis structure bends downward towards the main chassis structure. This bend is inherently the weak area that in the crash event will plastically bend to dissipate crash energy so that a minimum amount of this energy is transferred to the passenger compartment and the occupants.

The aluminum EV, behaves similar to the steel EV as shown in Figure 6. There is again a pronounced hinge formation in the front fender, though less pronounced, and a collapse of the bumper. The front end of the chassis (see Figure 7), does not show the dramatic buckling and hinge formation as the steel EV. In satisfying the load and displacement requirements for the EV, the aluminum EV structures thickness had to be increased. This in turn made the aluminum EV inherently stronger than the steel EV to crash loads so that less plastic deformation would be expected. The passenger compartment area is again intact. The aluminum EV with the same thickness as the steel EV did not perform well.

For the composite EV modeled with SMC substructures, as shown in Figure 8, the bumper also is collapsed inwards while the front fenders shows high buckling. A view of the chassis/body structure in Figure 9 shows that the front chassis structure as well as the passenger area entirely intact. No plastic deformation, as seen in the steel and aluminum chassis, can be seen. The stable progressive crushing, which was aimed for, can clearly be seen at the front end of the chassis as there is a high concentration of failed elements. The failed elements represent the disintegration of the composite which marks the stable collapse mode of carbon tubes. The composite EV with Glass/Epoxy substructures showed a similar behavior as seen in Figure 10 and Figure 11. The chassis/body structures is again entirely intact with no visible signs of plastic deformation.

It should be mentioned that a crash trigger mechanism at the front end of the chassis as well as a tapered front rail structure before the first cross-bar were necessary for a successful use of composite material in the EV structure.

The velocity profiles are summarized in Figures 12, 13, 14 and 15. Both composite model's velocity profile display some dips. This effect can be attributed to the tapered front rail utilized in these models. During the crash event, as the front rail crushes and reaches a new section there would be some jerk in the motion of the EV since in principle the crush event would reach a section of the rail which is slightly stronger iii than the previous section. This would also induce higher crush loads on the front rails. The steel and aluminum EVs did not display these dips since the front rail had a uniform thickness. The steel EV reached 0 m/s at about 70 milliseconds while the aluminum EV reached that at 40 milliseconds and the composite EV at around 45 milliseconds for both composite models. The lower time to reach 0 m/s, for the aluminum and composite EVs, can again be attributed to a higher strength due to a larger thickness that would enable the structure to handle higher crash loads, and this in turn leads to higher levels of deceleration of the vehicle. All models had some minimal level of residual velocity (since the velocity profiles all dip below 0) which represents the EV ricocheting off the rigid barrier.

Rigid body deceleration profiles are summarized in Figures 16, 17, 18, and 19. The maximum deceleration was experienced by the composite EV modeled with SMC substructures. A deceleration of 900 m/s2 was attained by this model. The composite EV modeled with glass/epoxy substructures reached a maximum deceleration of 750 m/s2. The aluminum EV also had a maximum deceleration of about 750 m/s2. The steel EV had the lowest maximum deceleration at 550 m/s2. The various level of deceleration experienced by the EV can again be attributed to various structural strength. Higher structural strength leads to higher crush loads to induce buckling in the steel and aluminum structure and cause crushing in the composite structures. For both the steel and aluminum EV, this maximum deceleration was attained early in the crash event whereas for both composite models this maximum deceleration occurred near the end of the crash event. This, again, can be attributed to the structural strength of the front rails due to a tapered design. As the crash phenomenon reached the front rails, in the aluminum and steel EVs, a higher crash load would be needed to start buckling, so that a higher deceleration is reached. This would show up as the sharp dip on the deceleration profile for the aluminum and steel EVs. After buckling around the front rail structure occurs, the structure would not be able to hold a high crush load so that the deceleration would be reduced as shown in the deceleration profiles (Figures 16, 17, 18, and 19). For the composite EVs, in which the strength increases along the length of the front rail, because of the tapering effect, a low crush load would be induced as the crash reached the tip of the front rail. As the crash reaches a thicker section in the front rail a higher crash load is needed to start crushing of the rails followed by a decrease in deceleration after crushing of the current section starts. This would continue until the highest crash load would be experienced at the thick end of the front rail where the strength is the highest. Therefore, for the composite EV, because of the tapering, the highest deceleration would be expected near the end of the crash event. The dips in the deceleration profile, Figures 18 and 19, corresponds to the crushing of different regions of the front rails in terms of its thickness.

The profiles of the deceleration experienced by the modeled passenger are shown in Figures 20, 21, 22 and 23. For the aluminum EV, the modeled passenger experienced the highest deceleration which was 650 m/s2 this was followed by the steel EV with a maximum deceleration of 400 m/s2. Both composite EVs had a maximum deceleration of about 260 m/s2. Maximum allowable deceleration experienced by a passenger should not exceed 60g or about 590 m/s2 [1]. All EV models satisfied this criterion with the exception of the aluminum EV.

Both composite EVs also showed relatively smooth deceleration profile. It is believed that the design of the front rail with the trigger mechanism and tapered section contributed to this phenomenon since it would produce stable progressive crushing of the tubes. However, for the steel and aluminum EV, there was a sharp dip in deceleration near the end of the crash event. This dip would correspond to the transfer of moment after the front structure of the steel and aluminum EV buckled so that the crash load is transferred onto the body structure, the stiffest area of the EV.

The kinetic energy profiles of the EVs are shown in Figures 24. All the kinetic energy profiles have the same gradual decrease of kinetic energy. Also, all of the models had some residual kinetic energy left (which is the ricocheting off the rigid barrier). From examining these profiles, it can be determined that the steel EV absorbed about 62 kJ of crash energy, the aluminum EV absorbed 55 kJ of crash energy while the composite EVs absorbed about 47 kJ of crash energy.

A structural weight comparison of the four EV models, as shown in Figure 25, has the composite EV with SMC substructures being the lightest at 86.34 kg followed by the composite EV with E-glass/epoxy substructures at 91.64 kg. The steel EV structure was the heaviest at 208.65 kg and the aluminum the second heaviest at 127.71 kg. Percentage wise, the composite EV structural weight was about 30 percent lighter than the aluminum and about 60 percent lighter than the steel structural members.

In terms of specific energy absorption, as shown in Figure 26, the composite EV structure had the highest values. About 0.57 kJ/kg was obtained for the composite with SMC substructure model while the composite with E-glass/epoxy substructure model had a value of about 0.53 kJ/kg. The steel and aluminum structures had a value of 0.30 kJ/kg and 0.43 kJ/kg, respectively.

The simulations have shown that all the models, including the composite EV, was able to absorb the energy of a 30 mph head on collision. All models were fairly intact and there was no damage to the passenger compartment areas. Also, the deceleration of the passenger model did not exceed 60 g for any of the models with the exception of the aluminum EV which had a higher passenger deceleration compared with standard values.

Based on the simulations, it has been shown that a full composite structured EV vehicle can survive a 30 mph crash without catastrophically failing. It was also shown that a trigger mechanism coupled with a tapered front rail, for the composite models, provided stable progressive crushing and this in turn kept decelerations to the passenger, in the composite model, minimal. These simulations showed that the composite structures with appropriate design can provide lighter vehicle weight, smoother deceleration and higher specific energy absorption compared with steel and aluminum structures used in EVs.

Click here to view all the EV figures.

Clicke here to view all the EV simulations.

Lithium iron phosphate battery

2009-11-21T09:00:00.000+08:00

The lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery (also designated "LFP") is a type of rechargeable battery, specifically a lithium ion battery, which uses LiFePO4 as a cathode material.

Contents [hide]
1 History
2 Advantages and disadvantages
3 Specifications
4 Safety
5 Usage
6 Manufacturers
7 External links
8 References
9 See also

History
LiFePO4 was discovered by John Goodenough's research group at the University of Texas in 1996[1],[2] as a cathode material for rechargeable lithium batteries. Because of its low cost, non-toxicity, the high abundance of iron, its excellent thermal stability, safety characteristics, good electrochemical performance, and high specific capacity (170 mA·h/g) it gained some market acceptance.[3][4]

The key barrier to commercialization was its intrinsically low electrical conductivity. This problem, however, was then overcome partly by reducing the particle size and effectively coating the LiFePO4 particles with conductive materials such as carbon, and partly by employing the doping[3] approaches developed by Yet-Ming Chiang and his coworkers at MIT using cations of materials such as aluminum, niobium, and zirconium. It was later shown that most of the conductivity improvement was due to the presence of nanoscopic carbon originating from organic precursors.[5] Products using the carbonized and doped nanophosphate materials developed by Chiang are now in high volume mass production by A123Systems and other companies[citation needed], and are used in industrial products by major corporations including Black and Decker's DeWalt brand, General Motors' Chevrolet Volt, Daimler, Cessna and BAE Systems.

Most lithium-ion batteries (Li-ion) used in consumer electronics products are lithium cobalt oxide batteries (LiCoO2). Other varieties of lithium-ion batteries include lithium-manganese oxide (LiMn2O4) and lithium-nickel oxide (LiNiO2). The batteries are named after the material used for their cathodes; the anodes are generally made of carbon and a wide variety of electrolytes are used.

[edit] Advantages and disadvantages
The LiFePO4 battery uses a lithium-ion-derived chemistry and shares many of its advantages and disadvantages with other lithium ion battery chemistries. The key advantages for LiFePO4 when compared with LiCoO2 are improved safety through higher resistance to thermal runaway, longer cycle and calendar life, higher current or peak-power rating, and use of iron and phosphate which have lower environmental impact than cobalt. Cost may be a major difference as well, but, that cannot be verified until the cells are more widely used in the marketplace[citation needed].

LFP batteries have some drawbacks:

The specific energy (energy/volume) of a new LFP battery is somewhat lower than that of a new LiCoO2 battery. Battery manufacturers across the world are currently working to find ways to maximize the energy storage performance and reduce size & weight.[6]
Brand new LFP's have been found to fail prematurely if they are "deep cycled" (discharged below 33% level) too early. A break-in period of 20 charging cycles is currently recommended by some distributors.[citation needed]
Rapid charging will shorten lithium-ion battery (including LFP) life-span when compared to traditional trickle charging.[citation needed]
Many brands of LFP's have a low discharge rate compared with Lead-Acid or LiCoO2. Since discharge rate is a percentage of battery capacity this can be overcome by using a larger battery (more Amp-Hours).
While LiFePO4 cells have lower voltage and energy density than normal, LiCoO2 Li-ion cells, this disadvantage is offset over time by the slower rate of capacity loss (aka greater calendar-life) of LiFePO4 when compared with other lithium-ion battery chemistries (such as LiCoO2 "cobalt" or LiMn2O4 "manganese spinel" based Lithium-ion polymer batteries or Lithium-ion batteries).[7][8] For example:

After one year of use, a LiFePO4 cell typically has approximately the same energy density as a normal, LiCoO2 Li-ion cell.
Beyond one year of use, a LiFePO4 cell is likely to have higher energy density than a normal, LiCoO2 Li-ion cell due to the differences in their respective calendar-lives.

Specifications
Cell voltage = Min. discharge voltage = 2.8V. Working voltage = 3.0V to 3.3V. Max. charge voltage = 3.6V.
Volumetric Energy density = 220 Wh/L
Gravimetric Energy Density = 90+ Wh/kg [1]
100% DOD cycle life = 2,000-7,000 (Number of cycles to 80% of original capacity)

Cathode Composition (weight)
90% C-LiFePO4, grade Phos-Dev-12
5% Carbon EBN-10-10 (Superior Graphite)
5% PVDF
Cell Configuration
Carbon-Coated Aluminum current collector 15
1.54 cm2 cathode
Electrolyte: EC-DMC 1-1 [[LiClO4]] 1M
Anode: Metallic lithium
Experimental conditions:
Room temperature
Voltage limits: 2.5 – 4.2V
Charge: C/4 up to 4.2V, then potentiostatic at 4.2V until I

Safety
LiFePO4 is an intrinsically safer cathode material than LiCoO2 and manganese spinel. The Fe-P-O bond is stronger than the Co-O bond, so that when abused, (short-circuited, overheated, etc.) the oxygen atoms are much harder to remove. This stabilization of the redox energies also helps fast ion migration. Only under extreme heating (generally over 800 °C) does breakdown occur and this bond stability greatly reduces the risk of thermal runaway when compared with LiCoO2.

As lithium migrates out of the cathode in a LiCoO2 cell, the CoO2 undergoes non-linear expansion that affects the structural integrity of the cell. The fully lithiated and unlithiated states of LiFePO4 are structurally similar which means that LiFePO4 cells are more structurally stable than LiCoO2 cells.

No lithium remains in the cathode of a fully charged LiFePO4 cell — in a LiCoO2 cell, approximately 50% remains in the cathode. LiFePO4 is highly resilient during oxygen loss, which typically results in an exothermic reaction in other lithium cells.

Usage
LFP batteries were featured on the November 5, 2008 episode of Prototype This!. They were used as the power source for a hexapod (walking) vehicle. Lithium Technology Corp. announced in May 2007, that they had developed a new Lithium Iron Phosphate battery with cells large enough for use in hybrid cars, claiming they are "the largest cells of their kind in the world."[9]. While they may be large enough for such uses, there remain limitations to the use of this particular Lithium battery technology which may make their use contraindicated. See Advantage and Disadvantages above for details.

Thundersky LiFePO4 batteries have become the most popular lithium-ion batteries used in hobbyist electric vehicle (EV) conversions since they are relatively inexpensive and easily obtainable from retail sources.

This battery is used in the electric cars made by Aptera [10] and QUICC

This type of battery technology is used on the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) project

Electric bicycle conversion kits distributed by E-BikeKit.com include lithium iron phosphate battery technology[13].

Killacycle, the worlds fastest electric motorcycle, uses lithium iron phosphate batteries.

Segway Personal Transporters advanced from a 10 mile range to a 24 mile range with Valence Lithium Phosphate technology.[citation needed]

OLPC batteries are manufactured by BYD Company of Shenzhen, China, the world's largest producer of Li-ion batteries. BYD, also a car manufacturer, plans to use its Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries to power its PHEV, the F3DM and F6DM (Dual Mode), which will be the first commercial dual-mode electric car in the world. It plans to mass produce the cars in 2009.[14]

LFP batteries are gaining popularity now in the world of hobby-grade R/C, due to the benefits over the ever-popular LiPo batteries. They can be recharged much faster and for more cycles, are not prone to catching fire or exploding while recharging, and are more robust than the LiPo type.

Chinese EV is on the move! Check this out..BYD F6DM

2009-11-21T07:59:00.004+08:00

BYD F6DM (BYD: Build Your Dreams)Plug-in Hybrids.

Manufacturer BYD Auto
Production 2009
Class Electric MPV
Body style(s) 5-door hatchback
Engine(s) one or two permanent magnet synchronous motors
Wheelbase 2,830 mm (111.4 in)
Length 4,554 mm (179.3 in)
Width 1,822 mm (71.7 in)
Height 1,630 mm (64.2 in)
Curb weight 2,020 kg (4,453 lb)
Fuel capacity 48 or 72 kW·h (Li-ion Fe battery)
Electric range 400 km (250 mi)

Specifications
Electric power consumption: less than 18kWh/62 miles (100 km)
0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) acceleration in < 8 seconds
Top speed 100 mph (160 km/h)
Normal charge: 220V/10A household electric power socket
Quick charge: 50% capacity in 10 minutes
Range: 249 miles (400 km), the longest range of its kind in the world
[1]

BYD’s "Fe" lithium iron phosphate battery, which powers the e6, represents one of the company’s core technologies. All chemical substances used in the battery can be recycled. There are four different power combinations planned for the e6: 101 hp (75Kw), 101+54 hp (75+40Kw), 215 hp (160Kw) and 215+54 hp (160+40 kW).[2] The two-motor options use front and rear engines, making the car all-wheel drive.

A range of 400 km and consumption of 18kWh per 100 km implies a 72 kWh battery pack, which will be the largest in any production electric car. BYD mentioned a smaller 48 kWh battery pack for the e6[3] at its debut at the 2009 North American International Auto Show.

[edit] Interior
The e6 features the latest body/frame-integral construction, with the battery pack well-protected in a specially designed safety cell that's fully integrated into the vehicle.

The 5-passenger e6 will be marketed as a family-oriented crossover vehicle. The high-tech e6 boasts the exterior dimensions of a typical American family vehicle, with ample interior space that provides substantial legroom and headroom for passengers, plus a generous luggage compartment.

[edit] Price
The e6 will be available in the United States in 2010 at a price just over $40,000. [4]

VW L1

2009-11-21T06:42:00.010+08:00

ディーゼルハイブリッドとエアロダイナミクスデザインによって、欧州複合モード燃費で72.46km/Lを叩き出すVWのスーパー低燃費ハイブリッドカー。 L1のボディはCFRP（炭素繊維強化プラスチック）のモノコック構造で、車重はわずか380kg。全長は3813mmとフォックスとほぼ同サイズだが、徹底的な空力追及により幅は日本の軽自動車より30cm近くスリムな1200mm、全高も1143mmとスポーツカー並みに抑えられ、Cd値は0.195をマークする。乗車定員は前後1座ずつの2名仕様だ。

エンジンとモーターと7速DSGはリアに搭載。アイドルストップや回生も行うパラレル型のフルハイブリッド方式をとる。エンジンは新型ゴルフ・ブルーモーションに搭載される新設計の1.6TDIユニットの気筒数を半分にした、2気筒800cの0.8TDIユニット。最高出力＝27ps、最大トルク＝100Nmで、スポーツモードでは最高出力が39psに引き上げられる。

モーターは14psを発生し、必要に応じてエンジンをアシストするほか、短距離であればモーターのみの走行も可能。この際の動力切り離しはトヨタ方式のような遊星ギアではなく、クラッチを使う。バッテリーはリチウムイオン。

L1コンセプトは0-100km/h加速が14.3秒、最高速度は160km/hに到達する。また、燃料タンクは10リッターと小型ながら、理論上の航続距離は670kmとかなりのもの。タイヤは専用設計のミシュラン・エナジーセイバー（前95/60R16、後115/70R16）を履く。

2002年に発表され、当時の取締役会会長だったDrピエヒがステアリングを握った1リッターで100km走るコンセプトカーの「VW L1」は市販予定はなかったが、今回のL1コンセプトは最終的に量産を視野に入れているというのも凄い。

三菱 i-MiEV、英国に上陸

2009-11-21T06:17:00.001+08:00

英国三菱は16日、『i-MiEV』の量産モデル25台が、英国へ上陸したと発表した。

『i-MiEV』は2009年7月、日本での販売をスタート。すでに2009年生産分の1400台は完売しており、2010年の生産分に関しても、900台の受注を獲得している。

リアに置かれるモーターは最大出力64ps、最大トルク18.4kgm。2次電池は蓄電容量16kWｈのリチウムイオンバッテリーで、床下にレイアウト。最高速は130km/h、最大航続距離は160kmを確保した。充電は約6時間で完了。英国三菱によると、1回の充電にかかる費用は、96ペンス（約145円）程度だという。

英国に上陸した25台は、12月12日からウエストミッドランドにおいて、政府やコベントリー大学などが共同で行うEVの実証実験で使用。1年間に渡って、EVの実用性が確かめられる。

三菱は2010年10月から、i-MiEVの左ハンドル仕様車の生産を開始。2010年末には、プジョーとシトロエン版も含めて、欧州主要国へデリバリーされる予定である。

レスポンス森脇稔

スマート EV、量産第1号車がラインオフ

2009-11-21T06:14:00.001+08:00

ダイムラーは19日、スマート『フォーツー』のEV仕様、『フォーツーed』(エレクトロニック・ドライブ)の生産を、フランス・アムバッハ工場で開始した発表した。まずは先行量産車として、1000台を生産する。

ダイムラーは2008年9月、スマートブランドの誕生10周年記念式典を実施し、現行フォーツーのEV仕様を初公開。ダイムラーは2006年、初代フォーツーをベースにしたEVを100台試作し、英国ロンドンで実用化に向けた実証実験を行ってきた。2代目フォーツーがベースのEVは、バッテリーをニッケル水素からリチウムイオンに変更し、さらに実用性が引き上げられた。

リアに置かれるモーターは、最大出力41ps、最大トルク12.2kgm。リアアクスルにレイアウトする2次電池は、提携関係にある米国テスラモータースから供給を受けるリチウムイオンバッテリーで、蓄電容量は14kWhだ。

充電は家庭用の220Vコンセントから行い、5割程度の充電なら約3時間、ひと晩あればフル充電が完了。フル充電時の最大航続距離は約115kmを確保している。ダイムラーの試算によると、電気代が安い夜間に充電すれば、100km走行当たりの電気代は2ユーロ（約265円）で済むという。

パフォーマンスに関しては、0-60km/h加速6.5秒と、ガソリン仕様のフォーツーと同等の加速性能を実現。最高速はリミッターにより、100km/hに制限されるが、シティコミューターとして必要十分な性能を持つ。

今回、フランス・アムバッハ工場では、フォーツーedの先行量産車1000台の生産をスタート。この1000台は、年末からドイツ・ベルリンで行われるEVの大規模実証実験、「eモビリティ」で活用される。そして、2012年、フォーツーedの本格量産体制に入り、欧州や米国の主要都市へ投入される。

スマートブランドの販売＆マーケティング担当のMarc Langenbrinck氏は、「フォーツーedは、理想的なシティコミューターとなり得る」と自信を見せている。

レスポンス森脇稔

EV 555.6Km/charge!

2009-11-19T16:48:00.011+08:00

　電気自動車による途中無充電での560kmに及ぶ走行は、10月27日に米国Tesla Motorsの打ち立てた途中無充電航続距離501kmを抜く世界新記録となるため、すでにギネスに申請していると言う。

　世界記録に挑戦する一方で、副題の「そんなに走ってどうするの」について、日本EVクラブの舘内端代表は、「EVにはこれほどの航続距離が必要とは限りません。適切な航続距離があると思うのです」とコメント。このチャレンジにより、電気自動車の航続距離はどの程度が適切なのかを議論するためのひとつの材料にしたいとのこと。

　旅のスケジュールは、11月17日3時に東京日本橋を出発し、同日15時～16時に大阪日本橋に到着する予定。このチャレンジの終了後、EVの航続距離を考えるシンポジウムを開催する予定。

出発　2009年11月17日(火)　午前3時　東京日本橋
到着　2009年11月17日(火)　午後3時～4時　大阪日本橋
走行車両：ミラEV　（日本EVクラブ製作）
ベース車両：ダイハツ・ミラバン
モーター：ＤＣブラシレス同期型
定格出力：14kW
最高出力：35 kW　　　　
電池：三洋電機　リチウムイオン
総電圧：240.5 V　　　　　　
総電力量：74 kWh
タイヤ：TOYO TIRES ECO WALKER(エコ・ウォーカー)
定員：2名

協賛　東洋ゴム工業株式会社　株式会社トーヨータイヤジャパン
協力　三洋電機株式会社
主催・企画・運営　日本ＥＶクラブ

このブログの読者になる（チェック）

2009-11-19 07:10:53
東京～大阪間560ｋｍ＝EV無充電走行　日本EVクラブ
テーマ：ブログ

＜電気自動車、関連の話題＞

電気自動車ニュース：リンク先より一部、抜粋+編集
日本EVクラブ、東京～大阪間EV無充電走行にチャレンジ
世界記録を超える560kmに挑戦！
2009-11-17 19:29:59
いやあ、、無事に終わりました。

記録＝555.6ｋｍ・・・ギネス世界新に申請！！
走行時間は約13時間半。　※＠41.2ｋｍ/ｈ相当
これで達成記録をギネスに申請できます。
途中、冷や汗をかくようなトラブルもなく、ケガもなく、ほんとによかったよかったです。
※2009年11月17日：3時に東京・日本橋を出発
大阪・日本橋ゴールは17日：15時半頃
日本EVクラブは11月16日、自作の電気自動車による走行イベント「東京～大阪途中無充電ミラEVの旅そんなに走ってどうするの」の出発式を行った。

このチャレンジは、東京日本橋から大阪日本橋までのおよそ560kmを、日本EVクラブがコンバートしたダイハツ「ミラバン」のEV（電気自動車）で、途中で1度も充電することなく走り抜くもの。

無充電の旅に使用するクルマ（ミラEV）は、普通の軽自動車（ダイハツ・ミラバン）
のエンジンを降ろして、代わりにモーター、コントローラー、
電池を搭載したコンバートEV（電気自動車）です。

電池は三洋電機のリチウムイオン電池で、パソコンなどに使っているタイプと同じものです。
■車種・変速機・駆動方式
ベース車両ダイハツ・ミラ・バン
変速機５速MT
駆動方式前２輪駆動
■寸法・重量・定員
全長×全幅×全高 3395×1475×1530mm
ホイールベース 2490mm
トレッド　前/後 1320/1310mm
車両重量 860kg 　最大積載量 200kg
乗車定員 2名
モーター
種類ＤＣブラシレス同期型
定格出力 14kW 　最高出力 35kW
電池：メーカー三洋電機
種類リチウムイオン　型式 UR18650F
本数 8320本
※　電池はノートパソコン等に用いる汎用のもの
総電圧V 240.5V 　総電力量 74kWh
タイヤ：メーカー東洋ゴム
ブランド TOYO TIRES ECO WALKER(エコ・ウォーカー)
サイズ 165/50R15

日本EVクラブ
http://www.jevc.gr.jp/
ニュースリリース
http://www.jevc.gr.jp/news.php?id=70
東京～大阪途中無充電ミラEVの旅
http://www.jevc.gr.jp/no-charge/
東洋ゴム
http://www.toyo-rubber.co.jp/
三洋電機
http://jp.sanyo.com/

一定期間経過後の出願内容は審査中でも公開される

2009-07-31T07:28:00.000+08:00

自分の発明を出願したことで，少しずつ特許に興味を持ち始めた樋口くん。ある日，休憩室でコーヒーを飲んでいた時に，隣のテーブルにいた上木課長と景山先輩の会話が耳に入ってきました。「前の開発プロジェクトで出願した景山の出願って，どうなった？」「あれは確か審査中です。もう公開されていると思いますが」――。ここまで聞いていて樋口くんはワケが分からなくなってしまいました。審査中ということは，まだ特許は取得できていないはず。それなのに出願の内容は公開されてしまうの？

結論からいいますと，出願の内容は，出願の取り下げなどをしない限り，特許権が認められても認められなくても最終的に公開されます。「そんなのは当たり前だろう」とベテラン技術者の方には怒られてしまうかもしれませんが，知らない人も（樋口くんのような若手技術者を中心に）意外と少なくありません。さらに，出願の内容が公開されることによって，設計・開発時に気を付けねばならないこともあります。
1年6カ月後に一律で公開
　あらためていうまでもありませんが，特許を取得した場合には，その内容が公開されます。具体的には，特許庁において特許権の「設定登録」＊1が行われた後，特許庁から発行される「特許掲載公報」（単に「特許公報」とも）によって公開されます。
＊1　設定登録　特許庁の審査官に特許性が認められた（いわゆる特許査定）後，所定の料金を特許庁に払うことによって正式な特許権として登録されること。逆に，特許査定を受けても料金を払わなければ特許権は発生しない。
　この特許掲載公報とは別に，出願から1年6カ月が経過した時点で，出願の内容を載せた公報が特許庁から一律に発行されます。この公報を「公開特許公報」といいます。通常，出願から特許として認められた上で特許権の設定登録がされるまでには何年もかかり，出願の審査をしている間に1年6カ月ぐらいはすぐに過ぎてしまいます。このため，特別な場合を除いて，出願すれば特許が取得できていない状態で公開されると考えて問題ないでしょう。このような制度を「出願公開制度」といいます。なお，特許庁の実際の運用上，特許掲載公報や公開特許公報は，およそ1週間の頻度でまとめて発行されています。
　従って，景山先輩の出願も樋口くんの出願も，審査中であろうがお構いなしに出願日から1年6カ月が経過したら公開されます。話の流れからいって，景山先輩が出願したのは1年6カ月以上前なのでしょう。樋口くんも将来，上木課長に「どうなった？」と聞かれたときに，出願日から1年6カ月が経過しているかどうかを思い出した上で答えると，「コイツは，分かっているな」と思ってもらえるかもしれません。
自分の出願が原因で拒絶も？
　この出願公開制度があることで，設計者として気を付けなければならないことがあります。すなわち，開発初期の段階で（樋口くんのように）製品の大まかな構造に関する発明を出願した後，ある程度開発が進んだ段階でもう少し実際の製品に近い構造に関する発明も出願するとします。その際，開発初期段階の出願内容が出願公開制度によって公開特許公報で公開されていた場合，そのことによって新たな出願が拒絶される恐れもあるということです。もちろん，後発の出願内容が先発の出願内容に比べて進歩性＊2があれば問題ありませんが，そうでない場合は拒絶されるかもしれないということです。「自分の出願で拒絶されるなんて殺生な！」と思う人もいるかもしれませんが，いったん世の中に公開された以上は自分の発明であろうが他人の発明であろうが，出願に特許権を与えるかどうかを判断する過程において進歩性の比較対象となります。
＊2　進歩性　特許性を判断する際の，出願時点で公開されている発明に基づいて当該技術分野の当業者が容易に思い付けたかどうかという判断基準。今回の例では，先発の出願内容に基づいて後発の出願内容を容易に思い付けると判断されたら出願は拒絶される。
　この問題は，開発に何年もかかるような製品で特に注意が必要となります。開発初期段階で出願を検討する場合，発明の斬新さや完成度を考慮した上で，すぐに出願して早期の出願日を確保するのか（早期の出願日の重要性に関しては，先願主義について説明した前回を参照），それともすぐには出願せず発明の完成度を高めていくのかを決めることになります。また，開発初期段階で出願した場合，その後の出願は最初の出願の内容が公開される1年6カ月以内に行うと，前述の問題を回避できます。
他社動向の調査に使える
　以上のように，発明者の立場で出願公開制度に起因する注意事項を述べてきましたが，逆に出願公開制度を積極的に利用することも可能です。すなわち，特許出願は常に最新の技術について行われることを考慮すれば，公開特許公報は（1年6カ月のタイムラグがあるものの）他社の最新技術がぎっしりと詰まった貴重な技術文献と考えられます。実際，特許に対する意識が高い企業では，自分たちが手掛ける製品に関する最新の公開特許公報を手に入れ，部署内の技術者同士で回覧したり，他社の特許技術の検討会を定期的に開催したりしています。技術分野によっては，外国企業や研究機関の公開公報も定期的にチェックするなど世界規模で開発動向を調査する場合もあるようです。
　こうした調査によって，他社製品の分解・解析だけでは分からない技術の内容を理解したり，他社製品の販売前の開発動向を把握したり，他社の発明から新たなヒントや着眼点などを得て自分たちの開発に役立てたりすることが可能になります。また，自分たちが考案したと思っていた発明について，既に他社が出願を行っており，その出願が審査中であることを発見した場合，早期に開発方針を軌道修正できます。
　公開特許公報に関する調査は，一人で行うにはかなり大変な作業ですが，知的財産部に協力を得られる場合がありますし，社外の調査会社に頼むという方法もありますので，自分の所属している部署全体の特許に対する意識が高まれば十分に実行可能です。周りのメンバーが公開特許公報の利用価値についてあまり認識していないようでしたら，あなたが積極的に提案してみてはいかがでしょうか。

三菱自動車が電気自動車「i-MiEV」を発売、2009年7月下旬に納入開始

2009-06-07T06:59:00.003+08:00

三菱自動車は電気自動車「i-MiEV」を発売し、2009年7月下旬から納入を開始すると発表した。初めは事業者（フリートユーザー）向けにリース販売する。価格は459万9000円で、139万円分の補助金を差し引くと320万9000円になる。

　販売目標台数は、2009年度で1400台を見込む。現在、リチウムエナジージャパンによる2次電池の生産台数の拡大を急いでおり、電池の生産増を受けて、i-MiEVの生産台数の増につなげる。
　「次の100年を走る、先駆けとなるクルマとして開発した」（開発責任者でMiEV事業統括室長の橋本徹氏）。2010年4月には一般個人向けの販売を開始する計画で、2009年7月下旬に受注を開始する予定。
　軽自動車「i」をベースに開発した。全長3395×全幅1475×全高1610mm、ホイールベースが2550mm。全高が10mm増えた以外はiと同じ。車両重量は1100kgで、iの2輪駆動車と比べて200kg増えた。
　モータの最高出力は47kW、最大トルクは180N･m。Liイオン2次電池と電池パックは、リチウムエナジージャパン製で、床下に平面状に配置した。衝突時に安全を確保するために、井桁状のフレームを用意し、フレームの上に電池パックを配置して床下に組み付けた。電池電圧は330V、電池容量は16kWh。1回の満充電での走行距離は160km。電力消費率は125Wh/km（10・15モード）。一般社団法人の次世代自動車振興センターによる139万円の補助金を利用できる。

外国人受け入れポイント制を

2009-05-31T07:17:00.004+08:00

外国からの優秀な人材の受け入れを進める方策を検討している政府の有識者会議は、研究の実績や日本語の能力などをポイントで評価し、一定のポイントを上回る人に、永住権の取得までの年数を短くするなどの優遇措置を導入するよう求める報告書をまとめました。

それによりますと、少子高齢化が進む中で日本が国際的な競争力を維持するためには、専門的な技術や知識を持つ外国人を積極的に受け入れる必要があるとして、国家戦略として取り組むべきだとしています。そのために職歴や研究実績、それに資格や日本語の能力などをポイントで評価し、一定のポイントを上回る外国人には、最も早い人で５年で永住権を取得できるようにするなどの優遇措置を与える「ポイント制」を導入するよう求めています。また留学生に対する支援を強化し、就労を支援するための相談員の配置や、奨学金制度を活用した生活支援をすべきだとしています。そのうえでこうした政策を円滑に進めるために政府内に推進組織を設けて、各省庁が一体となって取り組む体制を整備するとともに、各省庁に目標や期限を定めた行動計画を取りまとめるよう求めています。

Summary:
Japan government is considering to release the right of permenant residence (PR) to a foreigner in a shorter number of year from original 10 years to 5 years. In order to shorten the number of years to the acquisition of the right of permanent residence, a foreigner must be with professional technology and knowledge positively and with Japanese ability.

A qualification or Japanese ability with a point to miss it and demand it from a foreigner exceeding a constant point to introduce "point system" giving a courtesy to be able to acquire right of permanent residence with the earliest person by 5 years.

Honda City Hood design and engine layout

2009-01-09T21:14:00.002+08:00

Toyota recalls more than 120,000 cars in China

2008-12-26T23:21:00.000+08:00

BEIJING (AP) - Toyota Motor Corp. has issued a recall for more than 120,000 cars in China to fix a problem that could result in loss of steering control, China's quality watchdog said Thursday in the latest piece of bad news for the Japanese automaker.

Tianjin FAW Toyota Motor Co., a joint venture between Toyota and China's FAW Group, will recall 121,930 vehicles beginning Friday, according to a notice on the Web site of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.

The notice said the recalled models include Crown and Reiz luxury sedans produced between 2005 and 2006, and Lexus cars produced between 2004 and 2006.

The agency said that manufacturing defects could cause the electric power steering systems to fail.

It was not clear if the same models would be recalled in other countries. Toyota officials in Japan could not immediately be reached for comment late on Thursday.

Toyota will contact owners of the affected vehicles, conduct checks and replace defective parts without charge, the Chinese agency said.

The notice did not say if any accidents have resulted from the defects.

The recall announcement was the latest in a string of bad news for Japan's No. 1 automaker. On Monday, the company said it was sinking into its first operating loss in seven decades. Then Wednesday, Toyota reported that global vehicles sales had plunged 21.8 percent in November - its biggest drop in eight years.-AP

Japan auto production marks worst drop since 1967

2008-12-26T23:20:00.000+08:00

TOKYO (AP) - Japan's production of cars, trucks and buses marked its steepest drop in at least four decades in November, an industry group said Thursday, as the fallout from the U.S. slowdown crimped auto demand.

Vehicle production in Japan, home to Toyota Motor Corp. and other major automakers, plunged 20.4 percent in November compared to the same month a year ago to 854,171 vehicles, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said.

That marked the second straight month of on-year declines and the percentage slide was the biggest since the group began compiling such data in 1967, it said.

Production of passenger cars in Japan decreased 20.3 percent in November from the previous year to 737,797 vehicles, while production of trucks here declined 20.9 percent for the month to 106,170.

Japanese automakers, which also include Honda Motor Co., Nissan Motor Co. and several other manufacturers, have been hammered by the dwindling of demand in the U.S., the world's biggest auto market.

But signs are growing the fallout is so serious domestic sales are getting drastically damaged as well.

Auto executives have expressed dismay at the fall in Japanese sales, which have worsened in the last two months.

Japanese plants are being idled to reduce production, and thousands of assembly line workers have lost their jobs in recent weeks.

"Even if we are doing our utmost, the global crisis is coming at us like a tidal wave,'' Teruyuki Minoura, president of Daihatsu Motor Co., a Toyota affiliate, told reporters Thursday.

Earlier this month, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said it expected demand in Japan will dive next year to its lowest in about three decades.

Sales of new autos are expected to stand at 4.86 million in 2009, down 4.9 percent from what it's projecting for this year at 5.11 million, the group said.

New vehicle sales in Japan have never dipped below the 5 million mark since 1980.

They reached 7.78 million in 1990, during this nation's heyday "bubble'' economy.

Vehicle sales in Japan stood at about 5.02 million in 1980, and at 4.31 million in 1975.

Toyota Executive Vice President Akio Toyoda apologized for the public concern that Japan's top automaker has set off by forecasting its first operating loss in seven decades for the fiscal year ending March 2009.

"The overall world economy is said to be facing its worst crisis in 100 years,'' he told reporters.

But Toyoda brushed off questions about a recent Japanese media report that he may be promoted to president soon, and instead insisted on talking about a new car he said he hoped would appeal to women.

"This car is for housewives, moms and women. In hard times like these, it's best if women are full of life and happiness,'' he said.-AP

Opportunity in crisis for EPF

2008-11-24T19:06:00.001+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR: The word crisis connotes danger and opportunity in mandarin. A market swarmed by sellers has given the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) the opportunity to be aggressively buying into stocks that appear to have been oversold and are fundamentally strong.

The statutory fund had been raising its stake in a number of blue chips, including plantation stocks, from Oct 28 to Nov 10.

Notably, it emerged as a substantial shareholder in Kulim (M) Bhd after buying a total of 15.78 million shares between Nov 6 and 11 in the open market, giving it a 5.12% direct stake in the plantation company.

The fund raised its shareholding in Tenaga Nasional Bhd to 635.14 million shares after buying a total of 14.56 million shares between Oct 28 and Nov 4, raising its stake to 14.65%.

Sime Darby Bhd, whose shares had been seeing a selling spree lately following the fall in crude palm oil price, saw EPF acquiring 10.31 million shares and lifting its stake to 935.04 million shares or 15.56%.

EPF took up a total of 9.58 million shares in IOI Corporation Bhd between Nov 3 and 10 via portfolio managers. It now has a total of 758.32 million shares or 12.86% stake in the plantation firm.

Among other counters, EPF was also a net buyer in AirAsia Bhd, Gamuda Bhd, TM International Bhd (TMI), Public Bank Bhd, YTL Corporation Bhd and YTL Power International Bhd.

Analysts said investors wanting to follow EPF’s lead in the market needed to have the appropriate risk appetite, the willingness and financial capabilities to stay invested for at least the next two years in order to reap the upside potential.

Jupiter Securities Sdn Bhd head of research Pong Teng Siew said EPF’s buying into the current bleeding stock market gave an extra bit of assurance to investors to put their money into the local stock market.

Nonetheless, while the stocks may be relatively cheaper now, he said “we are buying into next year’s earnings and we don’t know what will happen next year in view of the US economic downturn.”

Pong also warned of a huge correlation between the Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI) and the Dow Jones industrial average, as the local index had been moving almost in tandem with the Dow recently.

Nevertheless, Pong said he was hopeful that the local index would be able to disengage from the Dow based on the performance of the KLCI last Friday.

The index closed 1.56 points higher at 866.88 last Friday but is down 492.97 points, or 36.25%, from 1,359.85 a year earlier.

住友スリーエム，超小型プロジェクターを発売

2008-11-16T20:19:00.003+08:00

住友スリーエムは，外形寸法が115mm×50mm×22mmとポケットに収まるほど小さいプロジェクター「MPro110」を2008年11月25日から販売する（同社の紹介ページ）。数名による小規模な会議，出張先でのプレゼンテーション，家族や友人とデジタル・カメラやビデオ・カメラの映像を手軽に楽しむ用途を想定している。価格はオープン価格で，同社が開設している「3Mオンラインストア」で購入する場合，5万3800円（税抜き・送料込み）となる。こうした超小型プロジェクターの開発は加速しているが，製品として販売する例はまだ少ない。

　重さは約160gである。内蔵する3.7V，電池容量1050mAhのLiイオン2次電池で最大1時間程度，動作する。表示素子にLCOSを採用し，画素数は640×480画素。光源は1万時間の耐久性を備えたLEDを採用する。投影距離が1.8mで，48インチ相当の映像を出力できる。なお，冷却用のファンは搭載していない。

危険少ない接着ブリッジ (Glue type fixed partial denture)

2008-11-12T19:47:00.002+08:00

虫歯や歯周病で歯を失う。１本や２本なら、ブリッジという方法が最も広く使われている。

　なくなった歯の両隣の歯を支えにして、橋を渡すように入れる。入れ歯よりもかみやすく、人工の歯の土台を埋め込むインプラント（人工歯根）より簡便で安価だ。

　しかし、この方法には大きな欠点がある。しっかりと支えるため、両側の歯は表面のエナメル質を取り除き、４０～７５％削り込まなければならない。

　「東京クリニック丸の内オアゾｍｃ」の歯科医長、安田登さん（６３）は「エナメル質を削り、象牙（ぞうげ）質を露出させると、歯は弱くなり、そこから新たに虫歯ができて、歯を失う原因になります」と語る。

　この危険を冒さずにブリッジをつけることはできないか。安田さんが２０年来、取り組んできたのが、「接着ブリッジ」だ。ブリッジを固定するために削るのは、表面のエナメル質の範囲内にとどめ、象牙質は守る。かぶせて固定するのではなく、セメントの接着力で強度を維持する。

　「強力な接着剤の開発で、それが可能になりました」と安田さん。今年３月まで、生命保険会社の診療所に勤務しながら、接着技術を専門に東京医科歯科大の臨床教授も務めてきた。

虫歯で右下の奥歯を失った坂上晴美さん（４０）はまさに、従来型ブリッジの問題を経験した。以前、別の歯科医院で、なくした歯にブリッジをかけたが、支えにしていた歯が虫歯で傷んでしまった。２００２年に保険会社の診療所で、安田さんの治療を受け、失われた歯２本分を両側で支える接着ブリッジをつけ直した。

　岡村郁代さん（５１）も同じ年に、右下の奥から２番目の歯を虫歯で失ったために接着ブリッジをかけた。２人とも、５年がたったが、違和感もなく使っている。

　接着を専門にする大阪大歯学部教授の矢谷博文さんは「接着ブリッジは、従来型より外れやすいと言われていますが、歯をあまり削っていないので、再治療すれば問題はありません。歯にやさしい治療法です」と話す。

　安田さんは、接着ブリッジで歯を守る治療を広めるため、歯科医を対象に研修会を開き、参加者らと結成したＮＰＯ法人「歯と口の健康を守ろう会」で啓発活動も行っている。

　安田さんは「歯は一度削ってしまうと、元には戻せません。できるだけ歯を生かしながら治療をすることが大切だと思います」と話している。

　ＮＰＯ法人「歯と口の健康を守ろう会」　ホームページ（http://www.t-oralhealth.org/）には、接着技術に関する安田さんの研修会に参加した歯科医の一覧が掲載されている。

Running on fumes: GM could soon run out of cash

2008-11-09T10:24:00.000+08:00

DETROIT (AP) -- The American auto industry is running on fumes. General Motors, the nation's largest automaker, warned Friday that it may run out of money by the end of the year after piling up billions in third-quarter losses and burning through cash at an alarming rate. Ford sustained heavy losses, too.

The situation is so severe, GM has suspended talks to acquire Chrysler and is appealing to the government for help as the slumping economy drags cars sales to their lowest level in a quarter century.

GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner said the company will "take every action" possible to avoid bankruptcy.

"We're convinced that the consequences of bankruptcy would be dire," he said, adding that the company would use every source of potential funding. "We need to find a way to get through this, and that's really our focus," he said.

GM also planned more job cuts, including another 5,500 salaried and factory workers. But company officials cautioned that those measures alone would not be enough and that federal aid is essential.

Ford saw its cash supply decline rapidly and announced its own job cuts Friday. But it's in better shape because the company borrowed billions of dollars in 2007 by mortgaging its factories. The Dearborn-based manufacturer said it had enough cash to make it through 2009.

Friday's events called into question the future of Detroit's three automakers and heightened pressure on the government to take action.

President-elect Barack Obama on Friday indicated that help may be on the way. At a Chicago news conference, he said Congress must pass an economic stimulus measure either before or just after he takes office in January, and he mentioned aid for the auto industry.

Top executives of General Motors, Ford, Chrysler LLC and the president of the UAW met with Congressional leaders Thursday to discuss some $50 billion more in loans, participants said. The loans would include $25 billion to help the companies withstand the weak economy and another $25 billion for future. The money would be in addition to the $25 billion in loans that Congress passed in September to help retool auto plants to build more fuel-efficient vehicles.

IHS Global Insight analyst George Magliano said the cash problems reported by GM and Ford were worse than experts had thought. And that raised the risk of bankruptcy.

"It's close," he said about the possibility of one of the U.S. automakers filing for Chapter 11 protection. "Up until now, we knew the cash numbers were tough, but we didn't know how bad."

Companies that run out of cash generally can sell assets, cut costs or file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to keep creditors at bay while they reorganize.

GM had said previously it could fall short of cash needed to operate in the first few months of next year, and Ford has said it has about seven months of money, Magliano noted.

If GM files for bankruptcy, Fitch Ratings analyst Mark Oline said there is "a very high risk" that it would pull in Ford and Chrysler, too, because GM probably would be forced to discount vehicles deeply to generate cash for creditors, and other automakers would be forced to follow.

GM said it lost $2.5 billion in the third quarter, but more important, it spent $6.9 billion more than it took in - nearly double the spending rate of the second quarter.

The news came just hours after Ford announced it had lost $129 million for the quarter. The company burned through $7.7 billion in cash, but said it could keep going through 2009. Ford also said it would cut another 2,260 white-collar workers in North America.

GM called off talks with Chrysler to concentrate on its own business.

Privately held Chrysler wouldn't comment on GM's remarks, but said it remains focused on returning to profitability. It also said it will continue to "explore multiple strategic alliances or partnerships."

GM's cuts included the indefinite layoff of about 3,600 workers beginning early next year as it slows production at 10 assembly plants to match anticipated weaker sales.

"We are cutting to the bone," said Fritz Henderson, GM's president and chief operating officer. "What we want to try to do is size the business for this kind of volume level ... and frankly, put us in much better shape when the industry improves."

GM reported a net loss of $4.45 per share during the quarter, compared with a record-setting loss of $39 billion, or $68.85 per share, a year earlier. Its automotive operations saw an adjusted loss of $2.8 billion.

Revenue fell to $37.9 billion from $43.7 billion.

The results exceeded Wall Street estimates. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters predicted a loss of $3.70 per share on sales of $39.4 billion.

The company announced it would bolster its cash reserves by $5 billion by the end of next year through reduction of sales promotions and further production cuts in the first quarter.

GM will cut capital spending to $4.8 billion from $7.2 billion and delay several vehicle models. But GM said it will continue funding for the Chevrolet Volt electric car and the Chevrolet Cruze, a small fuel-efficient model. Both are due out in 2010.

GM also suspended its matching contribution for employee 401k plans, and suspended tuition reimbursement. In addition, salaried employees will not receive incentive pay next year for their work in 2008, GM said.

GM, which has about 123,000 employees in North America, will also cut another 1,900 salaried jobs on top of the 5,100 announced last summer.

But the cuts and delays may not be enough to keep the company's cash supply from falling dangerously low.

"GM's estimated liquidity during the remainder of 2008 will approach the minimum amount necessary to operate its business," the company said in a news release.

And the company's cash shortage in the first two quarters of 2009 could fall significantly short of the minimum amount unless industry conditions improve or GM gets government funding, GM said.

GM shares fell 44 cents, or 9.2 percent, to $4.36 in Friday trading. Ford shares rose 4 cents, or 2 percent, to $2.02.

Automakers struggle to survive past mistakes - Is a GOOD lesson learn from these US Automakers

2008-11-09T09:56:00.003+08:00

DETROIT (AP) -- At Ford Motor Co. they called it "Blue," a team set up around the year 2000 to design an array of small, fuel-efficient cars to compete with the Japanese. It didn't get far because no one could figure out how to make money on low-priced compacts with Ford's high labor costs.

Besides, the automaker was racking up billions in profits by selling pickups and sport utility vehicles. Times were good and gas was cheap.

"Blue" is only a small blip in automotive history, but it tells a big part of the story about why Detroit automakers are in a mess so critical they could be only months away from bankruptcy.

Democratic leaders in Congress asked the Bush administration on Saturday to provide more aid to the struggling auto industry, which is bleeding cash and jobs as sales have dropped to their lowest level in a quarter-century.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said in a letter to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson that the administration should consider expanding the $700 billion bailout to include car companies.

Critics say leaders over the years at Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp. and what is now Chrysler LLC were slow to take on unions, failed to invest enough in new products, ceded the car market to the Japanese and were ill-prepared for the inevitable rise in gas prices that would make their trucks and SUVs obsolete.

"There's been 30 years of denial," said Noel Tichy, a University of Michigan business professor and author who ran General Electric Co.'s leadership program from 1985-87 and once worked as a consultant for Ford. "They did not make themselves competitive. They didn't deal with the union issues, the cost structures long ago, everything that makes a successful company."

Industry representatives, however, say their critics are simplistic, giving them no credit for huge progress this decade in cutting costs, raising productivity, and building competitive cars while handling multiple government regulations and a powerful labor union.

"In the last five years, there's been more restructuring done in the automotive business than any other business in the history of the United States," said Tony Cervone, a GM vice president of communications.

Whatever the reasons, the Detroit Three are closer to collapse than ever, and likely won't make it without billions in government loans.

On Friday, GM posted a $2.5 billion third-quarter loss and ominously said it could run out of money before the end of the year. The company spent $6.9 billion more than it took in for the quarter and reported that it had $16.2 billion in cash available at the end of September.

Ford reported a $129 million loss but said it burned up $7.7 billion in cash for the period. It had $18.9 billion on hand as of Sept. 30. Its chief financial officer says he's confident Ford will make it through 2009, but that's because the company took out a huge loan last year.

Industry analysts believe Chrysler, now a private company that does not have to open its books, is as bad off as GM as U.S. sales continue to plummet because of tight credit and lack of consumer confidence due to the economy.

To survive, automakers are pressing Washington for $50 billion in low-interest loans on top of $25 billion already approved to build more fuel-efficient vehicles. The $25 billion, though, is gummed up in Energy Department regulations and may not be available until next year.

The industry's path to cliff's edge is a complex one that even critics say is intertwined with government fuel economy and safety regulations and the United Auto Workers union.

The demise started in the 80s when Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. mastered building reliable and efficient cars while the Detroit Three lagged behind.

As GM, Ford and Chrysler saw their market share start to slip, the 90s arrived and high profits returned as Americans snapped up pickup trucks and SUVs.

As Honda and Toyota took over the small and mid-size car markets, Ford, GM and Chrysler put most of their resources into trucks and SUVs, which brought in billions in profits that covered growing health care, pension and labor costs.

"In a market-based economy when you have to try to be profitable, you go where the money is," said David Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor.

When times were good, the automakers did not take on the UAW, which the companies say drove up their labor costs to $30 per hour more than Japanese companies paid their workers. The figure includes pension and health care costs for hundreds of thousands of retirees.

When GM pushed for changes in 1998, the union went on strike at two key Flint, Mich., parts plants, shutting down the company and costing it about $2 billion in profits.

"They were making money and the union had a monopoly," Cole said. "They'd shut them down. That's why they had some very lengthy strikes that were very painful."

But when the SUV and truck market started to fade in the mid-2000s, executives realized their business model would no longer work and began globalizing their vehicles, streamlining manufacturing processes and developing new and better cars.

The UAW, realizing that the companies were in trouble, agreed to a landmark new contract last year that nearly eliminated the labor cost difference between the Detroit Three and the Japanese, shifting retiree health care costs to a union-administered trust fund.

But just as the cost cuts started to take hold and new products were rolling out, gas prices rose rapidly to around $4 per gallon and Wall Street collapsed, virtually eliminating credit which 60 percent of car buyers need.

"A lot of things sort of coalesced simultaneously," said Tom Libby, senior director of industry analysis for J.D. Power and Associates.

Automakers have all said bankruptcy is not an option because people would not buy cars from a company that might not exist in a few years. But if the car companies run out of money and can't pay the bills, bankruptcy could be forced on them, according to industry analysts.

GM's statements that it may run out of cash this year or next likely will have an effect on sales, Libby said.

"It doesn't help, and they know that," he said.

The current crisis, Cervone says, is not unique to the domestics. Honda and Toyota, he says, also have seen huge sales drops in the U.S. in recent months.

If Detroit gets federal help, the companies that do survive should become profitable next year, Cole said, if the credit market thaws out.

Cole says there's no way at this point the Detroit automakers can survive without federal aid. But if they get it, the ones that do survive should become profitable again next year if the credit markets thaw out.

"They'll get out of it," says Libby. "They've got to do what they've got to do. They're backed up against the wall."

Comments:
As you all might be knew that the US Automakers alwasys ignored Oil price and be competitive with other automaker especially Japanese and Korean for the past decades. As a result, now these Giant US automakers had felt hard to recover from recent economy crisis. It is difficult to find a good solution where the company policy should go ahead for. Making Small fuel economy cars but less profit margin also it is hard to compete with Japanese, on the other hand to continue with their way to do business, they already knew that no future had seen due to high gasoline price and will continue to get higher and higher soon.

Even if Toyota and Honda themselves now had already facing profit reduction issues. In other words the US's economy might be hard to be recovered in the next few years.

Good luck US and everybody on earth.
Mr. Barack Obama might be the most luckies person on earth but he might be the most unluckiest guys on earth who has to face such a WORST economy situation in US and the world. EVERYONE is watching how he acts soon.

電動自転車のように手軽に」，ホンダが体重を支持する歩行アシストで動作デモ

2008-11-07T20:05:00.005+08:00

Honda has just unveiled a new device to help fatigued walkers. It works by supporting the person’s body weight to reduce stress, particularly on the knees, and can even assist in stair climbing. The device is designed for people who stand for long periods of time in factories or who make deliveries where long walks make up a significant proportion of their day.
It’s rather like bicycling. You mount the contraption and the system’s computer, motor, gears, battery, and sensors all work together to help you move your legs.
Honda plans to put a prototype into an assembly line factory to test it. The company has invested in mobility research as the potential market for an aging population is huge.

ホンダは，利用者の体重の一部を支え，脚にかかる負担を軽減する「体重支持型歩行アシスト」を試作，動作デモをはじめて披露した（発表資料）（図1）。歩行や階段の昇降，中腰になるなど，脚の筋肉や関節に負担のかかる作業での利用を想定する。「電動アシスト自転車のように手軽に使えるようにしたい」（同社）という。

　試作品は主にシートとフレーム，専用の靴で構成する（図2）。利用時は靴を履き，シートを両手で持ち上げて装着すれば，動作準備は完了する。左右それぞれにある計2個のモータによって，靴とシートの間にあるフレームのひざの部分を曲げたり，伸ばしたりして体重の一部を支える。支持する力は常に利用者の重心付近に向かうように設計している（図3）。

　さまざまな動作中に利用者の体重の一部を支える。ひざの屈伸に応じて支持する力を調整しており，階段を上ったり，中腰になると支持する力が強まるなど，状況によって支える体重が異なる（図4，5，6）。具体的には，立っている場合は，両足で計3kgほど，しゃがんだ場合は同9～10kgほどの体重分だけ補助するという。靴に内蔵された複数個の圧力センサなどで支持する力を制御する。さらに圧力センサによって左右のバランスを測定し，左足と右足に向かう力を配分する。例えば，片足で立った状態ならば，支持する力は片足だけになる。

　試作品を装着したまま，飛び跳ねたり，走ったりすることはできない。また，利用者の体重すべてをあずけて，シートに座り込むような使い方もできない。安全面では，脚を曲げたとき，ひざ裏部分に指を挟まないようにしたり，過剰な負担がアシスト機にかかった場合は，アシスト機の一部が壊れるようになっている。

　適合する身長は設定した身長に対して±5cmである。例えばMサイズの場合で設定身長は約170cmとする。重さは靴とバッテリー・パックを含み6.5kgほど。バッテリー・パックにはLiイオン2次電池を採用しており，アシスト機の太ももの裏部分に複数個搭載している。一回の充電で稼働時間は約2時間とする。

　ホンダは実用化や目標価格に関して明言していない。具体的な用途や市場を本格的に探るのもこれから。まずは，産業分野での利用を想定し，2008年11月から同社の埼玉県狭山市にある製作所で従業員が装着し，有効性を検証する予定である（図7）。同社は検証を通じて課題を探り，改善を図っていく考え。作業者の疲労軽減だけでなく，集中力低下の防止も期待できるとする。

Asian currencies fast losing against US dollar

2008-10-29T19:57:00.003+08:00

PETALING JAYA: Asian currencies, except Japan’s yen, have seen continued selldown, losing rapidly against the US dollar, as export-dependent Asia is perceived to be more vulnerable in a global recession, economists said.

RAM Holdings Bhd group chief economist Dr Yeah Kim Leng said the rise of the greenback was because it was seen as a safe haven compared with other Asian currencies.

And coupled with factors such as de-leveraging and a pull-back by institutional funds, the demand for the US dollar spiked, he said.

Nevertheless, Yeah observed that the current currency movements were against the norm.

The appreciation of the US dollar against the ringgit, for example, was “contrary to market behaviour” as the widening interest rate gap between the two countries should have provided support for the ringgit, he told StarBiz.

The present currency values were “a paradox of the global financial volatility,” Yeah said, adding that regional currency rates were expected to reverse in favour of the region’s currencies in the mid- to long-term when the volatility ends.

He warned that the “undue volatility of Asian currencies” would have a major impact on the real economy as it would destabilise trade and investment flows.

“The weak currency condition is worsened by the plunge in equity and commodity markets as they dampened the growth prospects of emerging economies,” he said.

Asian countries would have to step up fiscal stimulus measures to mitigate the possibility of a sharp export slowdown as demand from Western countries fell, Yeah advised.

UOB Singapore economist Ho Woei Chen agreed that investors were placing higher risk premiums on Asian economies, citing Singapore as a possible candidate to fall into a recession next year.

The Indonesian economy was also seen as vulnerable, with the rupiah plunging more than 10% during intra-day trade yesterday before settling at 3% lower, she noted.

Singular Asset Management Sdn Bhd managing director Teoh Kok Lin pointed out that the US dollar itself was “a carry trade currency”, given that many investors had borrowed in US dollars on expectation of weaker dollar in the next five years.

“As markets fall and investors sell off their assets, the need to repay US dollar loans also raises the demand for the currency,” he pointed out.

Meanwhile, the yen has bucked the trend of its regional peers mainly due to unwinding of carry trades as investors cut risky positions in high-yielding currencies.

CIMB Research chief economist Lee Heng Guie said the stronger yen was not a reflection of the prevailing weak economic fundamentals in Japan and if the rapid rise were left unchecked, it could worsen the already sluggish Japanese economy.

“A coordinated intervention by major global central banks to stem the excessive yen volatility is warranted,” he said.

Yesterday, the yen weakened against the greenback in anticipation of intervention by the Japanese central bank.

Aseambankers head of retail research Lee Cheng Hooi said the large trading band of 92 to 96 yen yesterday against the greenback was an indication of the unwinding in carry trades.

But with the Dow Jones futures and European markets “trying to rebound” ahead of the two-day Federal Open Market Committee meeting that began yesterday, the present volatility could diminish soon, he reckoned.

19-09-2008: Puncak Niaga in RM320m call option exercise

2008-09-20T09:30:00.001+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR: Puncak Niaga Holdings Bhd (PNHB) is re-acquiring its divested stake of 1.75 million shares in Puncak Niaga (M) Sdn Bhd (PNSB) via a RM320.25 million call option exercise.

Puncak Niaga said it was exercising the call option on the 17.5% stake in PNSB based on its agreement with Arena Tekad Sdn Bhd (ATSB) on Dec 19, 2006, turning PNSB into a wholly owned subsidiary.

“The exercise of the call option... will enable Puncak Niaga to re-consolidate the performance of PNSB (specifically the divestment stake) into its consolidated financial statements, which will in turn enhance PNHB’s financial performance,” Puncak Niaga said in a filing to Bursa Malaysia Securities yesterday.

According to Puncak Niaga, as the exercise price did not exceed 5% of the divestment consideration, shareholders’ approval was not required as the company had secured the mandate during its EGM on Dec 11, 2006.

Puncak Niaga also identified risk factors that could impact the interests of its shareholders.

“Based on the audited balance sheet of PNSB as at Dec 31, 2007, the reacquisition of PNSB will give rise to a proforma goodwill of approximately RM95 million. As goodwill is subject to impairment test, the future profit and net assets of the group may be adversely impacted should the future revenues generated by PNSB deteriorate,” the company cautioned.

On the impact on future earnings, Puncak Niaga said that there was no “absolute assurance that PNSB’s future performance will continue to grow”.

“High inflation rate and adverse global economy may hamper the future performance of PNSB,” the company added.

Commenting on the exercise price, Puncak Niaga said it was arrived at based on the prevailing market value mutually determined and agreed between ATSB and PNHB on Sept 18, 2006.

Puncak Niaga said that it did not expect the call option exercise to cause any material impact on its share capital, earnings and return on equity, dividends, substantial shareholders’ shareholdings and net assets.

ATSB acted as a special purpose vehicle to facilitate Puncak Niaga’s capital repayment exercise.

In October 2006, Puncak Niaga entered into a conditional share sale agreement with ATSB to divest the 17.5% stake for RM306.25 million as part of the capital repayment exercise it was undertaking at the time.

The divestment was completed on Dec 19, 2006, when both companies entered into the call option agreement. Puncak Niaga completed its capital repayment exercise in March last year.

日本語上手なら入国・滞在で優遇　外務省方針

2008-05-01T20:49:00.001+08:00

日本に長期滞在する外国人の入国、在留の条件に日本語能力を反映させることを検討してきた外務省は、日本語の能力が高ければ在留期間を延ばすなど優遇する、との基本方針を固めた。能力が低いことを理由に従来より門戸を狭めることはしない。高村外相が１日午後、発表した。

　優遇策により、長期在留希望者の日本語学習熱が高まる効果を狙う。少子化が進むなかで、高い知識や技能を持つ外国人の受け入れが進んでいくことへの期待もある。

　具体的には、一定の日本語能力がある外国人の在留期間を、現行の３年から最長で５年に延ばす。また業務経験年数や学歴の要件も緩和する。当面は、通訳や翻訳者、国際線の客室乗務員など、主に日本語を使う専門的な職種を対象とする方針だ。

　高村外相は１月に外国人の日本語能力と入国・滞在条件を結びつける考えを表明。日本語ができれば職場や地域社会にとけ込みやすくなるとして「生活の質を高めるために大切だ」と指摘した。その後、外務、法務両省が具体策を検討してきた。

　一方、日本語がまったく話せなくても、これまで通り入国を認める。検討していた入国後の日本語学習の義務化は見送るが、学習の機会を増やす環境整備を進める。政府関係者は「日本語能力を条件に外国人を締め出す規制強化ではない」と強調する。

　今後は文部科学省や厚生労働省とも協議し、入管法を改正したうえで、来年度からの実施を目指す。日本語能力の判定には国際交流基金の「日本語能力試験」などを利用する方針だ。

　日本で原則９０日以上滞在する外国人登録者数は年々増加している。法務省によると０６年末現在で約２０８万５千人で、総人口の約１．６％を占める。（塚本和人）

Gas prices expected to top 160 yen

2008-05-01T09:21:00.001+08:00

After the ruling coalition has its way in the Diet, the average retail price of regular gasoline is expected to top 160 yen per liter by the end of May, industry officials said.

That price would exceed the level on March 31, when the "temporary" surcharge expired.

The ruling coalition is expected to reinstate the surcharge on Thursday, a day after it plans to railroad a bill in a second vote in the Lower House to revive the higher tax rate.

In addition, petroleum companies, citing rising crude oil prices, will raise wholesale prices by 3.7 to 7 yen per liter in May.

Industry officials said the nationwide average retail price will rise to about 160 yen toward the end of May, up from 130.6 yen on April 21.

On March 31, the price was 152.9 yen. On that day, the surcharge of 25.1 yen per liter expired after a bill to extend the measure was blocked by the opposition-controlled Upper House.

The price in May would also exceed 155.5 yen set in December, the highest level since the Oil Information Center started a weekly price survey in 1990.

However, the gasoline price is not expected to rise to about 160 yen immediately.

The gasoline tax is levied when the fuel is shipped from refineries of petroleum companies.

Many gas stations are expected to pass on only the rise in wholesale prices to consumers until they run out of inventories from April shipments, which are free from the surcharge.

Still, some retailers may raise prices soon, particularly those eager to recoup losses suffered when they lowered retail prices amid price competition after the surcharge expired.

Nagoya-based Usami Kohyu Corp., which runs about 420 gas stations nationwide, said it will raise gasoline prices by about 30 yen per liter on Thursday.

Observers said rival gas stations may follow suit, pushing up retail price levels.

Nippon Oil Corp., the nation's top oil refiner and distributor, said Monday it will raise wholesale prices of oil products in May by 3.7 yen per liter from the previous month.

Showa Shell Sekiyu KK and Idemitsu Kosan Co. announced plans to raise their wholesale prices by 5.2 yen and 7 yen, respectively. Japan Energy Corp. is also planning an increase by several yen.

Petroleum companies, expecting many consumers to fill up their tanks before the surcharge is revived, have increased supplies to gas stations to meet the demand.(IHT/Asahi: April 30,2008)

Windows XP going off market in June: What it means

2008-04-30T07:22:00.000+08:00

Microsoft originally announced over a year ago that Windows XP would be going off the market in January 2008. XP was later given a brief stay of execution, to June 30, 2008. That deadline is fast approaching, which has led to much panicking from people who aren't quite sure what XP's "going off market" means, exactly.

People are still as confused as ever. So let's take a stab at clarifying, once again, what's going to happen by answering some frequently asked questions about XP's imminent disappearance.

Will Windows XP really no longer be on sale after June 30? Sorry for the double negative, but no. All this means is that Microsoft will stop selling the OS. Finding a computer with XP preinstalled will likely be very difficult, as well. However, you'll still be able to find copies for the foreseeable future, and likely the unforeseeable one, too. See for yourself: You can find copies of just about any Microsoft product, including ancient versions of Windows and even MS-DOS, by simply searching online. But hang on to your current copy of Windows XP. You may need it down the road if you don't want to move to Vista.

Will I be forced to upgrade to Vista soon? No. But it will get harder and harder not to, especially since new software and peripherals are likely to stop working with XP. That could take years.

Will my XP machine stop working in June? No, but Microsoft will stop releasing non-security software updates to the masses on April 14, 2009. But let's be clear: XP will continue to "work" even after this point.

Will Microsoft shut off product activation for XP after June? No, that would be crazy. While no one has said this will happen, it's conceivable that Windows could shut down product activation for XP at some point. But that would only happen after XP reaches its end-of-support term (when all support plans expire). The good news for you: That happens on April 8, 2014, which should be plenty of time to get the kinks worked out of Vista-or switch to a Mac, Linux, or anything else. Bottom line: Your copy of XP will work, totally legally, for at least six more years.

What about this exception for Windows XP Home Edition I hear about? Doesn't apply to you. Microsoft will continue to sell XP to makers of ultra-cheap laptops like the Asus Eee PC until 2010 because they just can't run Vista. But it is not going to make XP Home Edition available as installable software to end-users.

What about after 2014? Well, that's unclear. But it's possible XP will stop being installable at that point. Microsoft's official policy is that these dates have "no affect [sic] on how long you can use a product," which may imply product activation will work forever. However, two things come to mind:

1) Even the most die-hard XP enthusiast will probably be ready to upgrade at that point (as XP will be nearly 15 years old, and your PC will be dead by then, I'm sure).

2) Even if Microsoft shuts off product activation, the hacker community will certainly make dozens of tools to let you continue using XP with abandon. Fret not.

Can I install XP on a PC that has Vista already on it? Yes. You can delete any partition with any OS on it (and reformat it) during the installation of XP. If you're feeling brave, you can even run both OSes at the same time by setting up a dual-boot machine.

Whew! Does that clear everything up? Feel free to continue sending your queries and adding your comments below.

Note: This post was originally created in April 2007 and updated with new and changed information in April 2008.

Is now the time to buy consumer electronics?

2008-04-30T07:03:00.003+08:00

They say there's no time like the present, and according to Richard Glikes, executive director of the Home Theater Specialists of America, that goes doubly so for buying electronic gadgetry. The reason? Blame it on China.

Given the state of the U.S. economy, spending your disposable income on high-tech toys may not seem like the best investment in 2008. But if you've already decided to purchase a TV or a new phone, you might be inclined to wait for prices to go down.

That might be a long wait, says Glikes. China is the production center for the vast majority of consumer electronics, and the heyday of cheap labor there may be rapidly coming to a close. For starters, blame the Olympics: In order to clear the air of pollution, many factories are shutting down in June, which could put a damper on the supply of many products. Also, China is tiptoeing towards better relationships with its workers: New labor and worker protection laws have pushed labor costs up 15 percent. The price of many components and metals used in making electronics is also going up.

Perhaps the biggest culprit of all: The falling U.S. dollar. The poor old greenback just doesn't go as far as it used to. Most notably it is falling against the euro, but it's also fallen considerably against the Chinese yuan, about 10 percent in the last year. In other words, if paid in dollars, Chinese companies now earn 10 percent less than they did a year ago due solely to the falling exchange rate. One can imagine that doesn't sit well with them.

In other words: Current prices may simply not be sustainable, and thus price increases may soon be on tap in order to shore up profits. Sure enough, prices are already going up for some LCD products. At the manufacturer level, says Glikes, prices in China are already up from 8 to 20 percent, and U.S. retail prices are soon to follow.

Get ready for a bumpy 2008.

More perspective on the data from TWICE.

Least Expensive Vehicles to Own

2008-04-26T06:55:00.004+08:00

I found this interesting article from Forbes Auto, if you have time please read it:

The cost of owning a vehicle goes beyond the purchase price. Expenses like insurance and maintenance can add up.

To attain absolute rock bottom ownership costs — which still tally more than $30,000 over five years, even for a $10,000 car — a vehicle must be spartan. It must be small and lightweight to maximize fuel economy. And it should skimp on features, so that maintenance and repair costs stay low.

But most of all, it must start life with a sticker price well below even the most affordable luxury cars. A low purchase price holds down insurance premiums, taxes and fees, financing costs, and, especially, depreciation.

That’s why the priciest car on our list of the Top 10 Least Expensive Cars to Own is the tenth ranked Honda Civic DX, which starts at just $15,010.

Our ranking is based on data from Vincentric, a Bloomfield Hills, Mich.-based research company specializing in automotive cost analysis. Vincentric calculates five-year ownership expenses by estimating cumulative losses from depreciation, interest and opportunity costs, maintenance and repairs, taxes and fees, fuel, and insurance. See the end of this story for an explanation of each expense.

The vehicles on our list are relatively inexpensive, but their value is rising in the current economy, especially as gasoline prices climb. Autodata, which tracks sales for the auto industry, reports that overall vehicle sales dropped 8 percent in the first quarter of 2008. But the small-car segment actually grew by 3 percent during that down period.

If small-car demand continues to grow, ownership costs could decrease even more: Higher prices for economical used cars will keep new-vehicle depreciation in check.

“It's always a matter of supply and demand,” says David Wurster, Vincentric's president. “As people want more of these vehicles, they vote up their price.”

A good resale value is critical to total ownership cost because depreciation is the greatest single part of the total. Cars with lower depreciation rates (higher resale values) will require lower total ownership expenses than peers in the same price group or model segment. Six models on our list incur higher fuel expenses, but only because depreciation takes fewer dollars from budget-priced cars to begin with.

“Depreciation is the one cost that most people forget about,” says John Paul, manager of public affairs for AAA of Southern New England. “They look at all the other costs, but they forget how much a car is going to depreciate, even over the first year.”

To gauge deprecation rates when shopping for a new car, Paul suggests researching used-car prices for models on your list. Comparing used prices to the prices of new models shows approximately how much each vehicle depreciates.

“Sometimes the cheapest car isn't always the best deal, especially when it comes time to trade it in,” Paul says.

A company’s reputation can also indicate how well a vehicle holds its value.

“The vehicles with very good reputations for quality are going to continue to do best,” Vincentric’s Wurster says. “That's why you see Toyotas and Hondas doing well year after year. They have good reputations.”

Indeed, the two Hondas on our list depreciate much less than most other models in the top 10. The Honda Fit makes the No. 2 spot on the strength of its low, 58 percent depreciation rate over five years. With a 62 percent depreciation rate, the Honda Civic DX sneaks onto the list at No. 10, even though it has a high starting price compared to other models in the ranking.

That's not accidental. Recognizing the allure of low depreciation, Honda pursues a strategy aimed at maintaining high resale rates.

“It's a very long-term outlook of protecting the brand by protecting resale value,” says Honda spokesperson Chris Naughton.

The pillars of that program include striving for high quality and durability so its models will remain desirable even after they rack up lots of miles. Honda avoids building more cars than it can sell and adjusts its factory output to match consumer demand, Naughton says. It also avoids selling to car-rental and commercial fleets. Both strategies prevent over-supplying the market, which depresses used-car prices. Balancing supply with demand also negates the need for sales incentives, which reduce used-car values by reducing new-car values.

“We avoid at all costs being put in the position of stress merchandising,” Naughton says.

Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia each have one vehicle in the ranking — the Hyundai Accent places fifth and the Kia Rio seventh. But the brands aren’t as well regarded as Honda or Toyota, which likely contributes to their high depreciation rates — 77 percent for the Accent and 78 percent for the Rio.

Another Korean-made vehicle, the American-branded Chevrolet Aveo5, made the third spot on the list and also has a high depreciation rate, at 73 percent. The Dodge Caliber SE, in sixth place, and Chevrolet Cobalt LS, in eighth, are the only other domestic models in the ranking.

Five of the least-expensive-to-own vehicles hail from Japan, including the top-ranked Toyota Yaris Liftback, which carries a five-year predicted cost of ownership of $30,820.

Models with attractive low depreciation rates exist in all vehicle categories. But if being frugal takes priority above all other automotive concerns, consider one of the 10 vehicles on this list. In the slideshow you’ll find individual model descriptions along with Vincentric’s projected total cost of ownership after five years, including a breakdown of the six components that make up that total.

All are 2008 base models. The manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) and ownership costs shown with each model apply only to the most basic version of the vehicle. That usually means it has a five-speed manual transmission. If you add equipment or move up trim levels, ownership costs typically increase accordingly.

Cost estimates are based on prices from March 2008. Interest expenses assume a five- year loan at current rates, with a 15 percent down payment. Opportunity costs consider what owners would have earned if car expenses were placed into certificates of deposit instead. Insurance costs are for a typical driver under age 65 with a clean record. Depreciation assumes the vehicle is disposed of in a private party transaction. To compute fuel costs, Vincentric used a five-month weighted pump-price average. Each model's five-year cost of fuel is calculated by using EPA fuel-economy ratings as published in the agency's 2008 Fuel Economy Guide.

Gasoline price without TAX (25Yen) is only 120 yen / liter start from today

2008-04-01T09:11:00.001+08:00

Proton recalls 34,000 Savvy cars

2008-03-31T20:47:00.001+08:00

PETALING JAYA: Proton is recalling its Savvy cars over a possible problem with regards to the car’s rear-wheel bearing.

The company said a recent inspection has brought to its attention that water could get into the bearing, which could lead to a malfunction.

“The safety and satisfaction of our customers is a primary concern. As a precautionary measure, we are recalling all Savvy’s for inspection and repair,” Proton managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed said in a press statement.

The recall will affect a total of 34,000 cars. All Savvy owners are advised to take their cars to the nearest Proton Edar or EON service branch for an inspection.

Proton said it would conduct the necessary checks and replacements at no cost to the customer.

They can also call Proton i-Care at 1-300-880-888 for further info.

Delloyd ventures into bus manufacturing in Indonesia

2008-03-07T10:25:00.002+08:00

According to today's news from the Edgedaily.com, Delloyd has decided to ventures bus manufacturing business in Indonesia.

Here is the news:
========================================================

KUALA LUMPUR: Tier-One auto parts vendor Delloyd Ventures Bhd is venturing into Indonesia by acquiring a local company that manufactures buses and bus chasis.

The company announced yesterday that it would acquire a 51% stake in PT Asian Auto International (PTAAI) for RM1.79 million cash.

PTAAI, a bus manufacturer, has a contract worth RM14 million awarded by the Indonesian authority to manufacture and supply a fleet of high-floored CNG buses named “Kodomo” for use in Jakarta.

Other than the Indonesian market, Delloyd said it hoped to supply the buses to other countries in the Asean region.

On home ground, Delloyd manufactures a variety of auto components and accessories that are supplied to manufacturers such as Proton, Perodua as well as Toyota, Nissan and Suzuki.

The company is also in the oil palm plantation business.
=====================================================================================
Congratulations to Delloyd.

18-12-2007: Maybank2u now accessible via MSN, Windows Live

2007-12-19T10:27:00.000+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR: Malayan Banking Bhd is forming an alliance with Microsoft by expanding its digital advertising initiatives across Microsoft MSN and Windows Live platforms next year to provide higher accessibility and reach to its target consumers.

A key part of the alliance includes the development of Agent-M, which is a Windows Live agent serving as a customer service agent to Maybank customers. Customers can chat with Agent-M to find out about Maybank’s products and services, locate Maybank ATMs and branches, e-mail their enquiries and participate in surveys.

Agent-M is the first Windows Live agent in Asia to serve the financial sector. Maybank customers can add Agent-M at m.m2u@maybank.com.my as how one would add a friend on Windows Live Messenger.

“Our objective is to integrate and improve accessibility of Maybank2u services to Malaysian internet users through various MSN and Windows Live platforms such as MSN Malaysia Portal, Windows Live Hotmail and Windows Live Messenger,” Maybank’s vice president and head of virtual banking Ahmad Shareza Abdul Rahman said.

Speaking at a media briefing here yesterday, he said the alliance was a combination of the strengths of Malaysia’s leading bank and the world’s leading consumer portal.

“Broadening our relationship with Microsoft will enable us to deliver targeted messages to consumers across a diverse online network,” he added. Maybank2U has over 3.8 million registered users and a daily average of 118,000 users. Its monthly transactions average more than 24 million.

Shareza said its main objectives were to attract and retain customers as well as save cost for Maybank. He expected a 30% to 40% increase of its online user base per year.

Microsoft’s Online Services Group (Southeast Asia) general manager Grant Watts said: “Windows Live Messenger, with more than a million users sending 27 million messages everyday (on desktop and mobile devices), clearly offers organisations significant opportunity to connect with consumers every day.”

MSN and Windows Live community in Malaysia currently stands at 7.4 million. There are over one million Windows Live Messenger users in Malaysia.

18-12-2007: Maybank targets more smartphone users for e-banking

2007-12-19T10:25:00.000+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR: Malayan Banking Bhd wants more smartphone users to carry out e-banking transactions with the bank, said vice president and head of virtual banking, Ahmad Shareza Abdul Rahman.

The bank is now carrying out research to ensure the usability and security of e-banking using smartphones.

Ahmad said testing and research so far had shown that consumers could use their smartphones to perform transactions but it was not fully certified or fully supported by Maybank. Areas to be researched included the usability, ensuring transactions happen, and security elements as well, he said.

One of the phone models being tested by Maybank is the Dopod series of PDA phones.

“In certain models, it (e-banking on Maybank2u.com) works, and in certain models it does not,” he said, adding that work on the backend and website were needed to achieve compatibility.

However, mobile banking would not surpass online banking due to limitations in space. “You are just working with a small screen and a (certain) speed of transaction. It is good for certain transactions and it may not be good for others. It will not replace, it will just complement,” he added.

Speaking at the official opening of Maybank Bandar Utama branch, Ahmad said the ability to do online banking on a smartphone would also not render its current Mobile Financial Services and M2U Mobile obsolete as not everyone could afford a smartphone.

The Maybank Bandar Utama branch, which features a lifestyle theme and is the first to house a Gloria Jeans Coffee outlet in addition to banking facilities, is the Maybank’s 421st branch.

Maybank head of consumer banking Spencer Lee said another two such branches would be introduced in the Klang Valley within the next six months. The outlet offers retail shoppers the services of a full fledged bank branch, private banking services, a credit card centre, electronic banking channels and Internet banking services.

“The centre serves high net worth customers in the neighbourhood and offers differentiated services for this segment as well as attracts new customers among the mass affluent community to enjoy the personalised and exclusive services available,” he said.

Lee said Maybank planned to set up another four private banking centres and would bolster its current network of over 3,800 ATMs, self-service terminals as well as phone banking, Internet and mobile financial services.

GERMANY: Karmann loses out to Magna Steyr

2007-12-18T16:54:00.000+08:00

GERMANY: Karmann loses out to Magna Steyr

5 December 2007 Source: just-auto.com editorial team

The assembly outsourcing contract that Karmann had been hoping to win was the BMW Mini SUV. This will be built by Magna_Steyr in Austria, dashing hopes that jobs at Karmann could be saved.

A BMW spokesperson told dpa-AFX that the contracted had been awarded to Magna Steyr, and that the company had been in talks with both Karmann and Magna.
BMW is expected to confirm details of the contract later today.
The Karmann works council had advised all workers that management was negotiating for a major vehicle assembly contract that could last for up to five years. The Mini SUV, codenamed Colorado, is expected to be produced from 2010 at a rate of 40,000 vehicles a year.
Magna Steyr has core expertise in four-wheel drive vehicle assembly. Karmann's specialist area is cabriolets.
Karmann announced 1,770 job cuts last month, with further job losses if it did not win a major new vehicle assembly contract.
Article tags: Magna Steyr, BMW, MINI, outsourcing

GERMANY: Mini SAV to be built by Magna Steyr

5 December 2007 Source: just-auto.com editorial team

The new Mini Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) will be built by Magna_Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik in Graz, Austria. It had been widely predicted that Magna would win the outsourced Mini SAV.
The vehicle concept, devised by Mini Design and BMW Group engineers, has been entrusted to Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik for series development and for later production.
By outsourcing production of the Mini SAV, BMW Group is able to increase flexibility within its own production network. This allows the lead plant for Mini production in Oxford to fully direct its mid-term capacity of 260,000 units on the Mini, Mini Convertible and Mini Clubman.
Frank-Peter Arndt, Head of Production and Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, explains the advantages: "By using Magna Steyr for production, we are able to give our own Production Network some breathing space to respond fully to market needs. This solution will also allow us to bring the Mini SAV to the market as quickly as possible."
Speaking about the new contract, Siegfried Wolf, co-CEO of Magna_International, sees this as a "huge recognition of the work that Magna Steyr has achieved so far through its partnership with BMW Group. Above all, I'm delighted for our employees, as this will allow us to set another milestone in our long-running and successful cooperation with BMW Group. As we have done before, we will work on this vehicle programme with our fullest commitment to ensure that we meet BMW Group's high expectations."
BMW Group will design the supply contracts with the suppliers whilst Magna will be responsible for call-offs during series production.
See also: GERMANY: Karmann loses out to Magna Steyr

Germany's Karmann Cutting 1,800 JobsManufacturing.Net - October 01, 2007

2007-12-18T16:12:00.000+08:00

Germany's Karmann Cutting 1,800 JobsManufacturing.Net - October 01, 2007
BERLIN (AP) — Germany's Karmann, which assembles convertibles for major auto manufacturers and makes convertible rooftops, will cut 1,800 jobs, or about a quarter of its work force, because of a decline in orders.

The cuts announced Monday will come at factories in Rheine and the company headquarters in Osnabrueck.

Karmann customers include Chrysler LLC, DaimlerChrysler AG's Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen AG's Audi, Renault SA and Nissan Motor Co.

Part of the drop in orders comes with Audi's decision to begin assembling the A4 convertible itself, while the company is also losing a Chrysler Crossfire contract in 2008 and for the Mercedes CLK in 2009.

Karmann employs some 7,000 people at six locations worldwide.

Make your own EV using Batteries power

2007-11-05T09:16:00.000+08:00

Making an EV car is actually not as hard as you thought.
By using batteries power, an EV model can drive a person. Let's see the model above which was made by a student at Japan. Interest isn't it?

If you have the same thought why not start doing it now. You could be one of the EV inventor in future. Just do it!

New Batteries or Motors?

2007-09-08T07:50:00.001+08:00

Electric Car - Xebra

2007-09-08T07:38:00.000+08:00

A supercapacitor that may have batteries beat

2007-09-07T07:58:00.000+08:00

Millions of inventions pass quietly through the US patent office each year. Patent No. 7,033,406 did, too, until energy insiders spotted six words in the filing that sounded like a death knell for the internal combustion engine.

An Austin-based startup called EEStor promised "technologies for replacement of electrochemical batteries," meaning a motorist could plug in a car for five minutes and drive 500 miles roundtrip between Dallas and Houston without gasoline.

By contrast, some plug-in hybrids on the horizon would require motorists to charge their cars in a wall outlet overnight and promise only 50 miles of gasoline-free commute. And the popular hybrids on the road today still depend heavily on fossil fuels.

"It's a paradigm shift," said Ian Clifford, chief executive of Toronto-based ZENN Motor Co, which has licensed EEStor's invention. "The Achilles' heel to the electric car industry has been energy storage. By all rights, this would make internal combustion engines unnecessary."

Clifford's company bought rights to EEStor's technology in August 2005 and expects EEStor to start shipping the battery replacement later this year for use in ZENN (Zero Emissions, No Noise) Motor's short-range, low-speed vehicles.

The technology also could help invigorate the renewable-energy sector by providing efficient, lightning-fast storage for solar power, or, on a small scale, a flash-charge for cell phones and laptops.

Skeptics, though, fear the claims stretch the bounds of existing technology to the point of alchemy.

"We've been trying to make this type of thing for 20 years and no one has been able to do it," said Robert Hebner, director of the University of Texas Center for Electromechanics. "Depending on who you believe, they're at or beyond the limit of what is possible."

EEStor's secret ingredient is a material sandwiched between thousands of wafer-thin metal sheets, like a series of foil-and-paper gum wrappers stacked on top of each other. Charged particles stick to the metal sheets and move quickly across EEStor's proprietary material.

The result is an ultracapacitor, a battery-like device that stores and releases energy quickly.

Batteries rely on chemical reactions to store energy but can take hours to charge and release energy. The simplest capacitors found in computers and radios hold less energy but can charge or discharge instantly. Ultracapacitors take the best of both, stacking capacitors to increase capacity while maintaining the speed of simple capacitors.

Hebner said vehicles require bursts of energy to accelerate, a task better suited for capacitors than batteries.

"The idea of getting rid of the batteries and putting in capacitors is to get more power back and get it back faster," Hebner said.

But he said nothing close to EEStor's claim exists today.

For years, EEStor has tried to fly beneath the radar in the competitive industry for alternative energy, content with a phone-book listing and a handful of cryptic press releases.

Yet the speculation and skepticism have continued, fueled by the company's original assertion of making batteries obsolete - a claim that still resonates loudly for a company that rarely speaks, including declining an interview with The Associated Press.

The deal with ZENN Motor and a US$3mil investment by the venture capital group Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, which made big-payoff early bets on companies like Google Inc and Amazon.com Inc, hint that EEStor may be on the edge of a breakthrough technology, a "game changer" as Clifford put it.

ZENN Motor's public reports show that it so far has invested US$3.8mil in and has promised another US$1.2mil if the ultracapacitor company meets a third-party testing standard and then delivers a product.

Clifford said his company consulted experts and did a "tremendous amount of due diligence" on EEStor's innovation.

EEStor's founders have a track record. Richard D. Weir and Carl Nelson worked on disk-storage technology at IBM Corp in the 1990s before forming EEStor in 2001. The two have acquired dozens of patents over two decades.

Neil Dikeman of Jane Capital Partners, an investor in clean technologies, said the nearly US$7mil investment in EEStor pales compared with other energy storage endeavors, where investment has averaged US$50mil to US$100mil.

Yet curiosity is unusually high, Dikeman said, thanks to the investment by a prominent venture capital group and EEStor's secretive nature.

"The EEStor claims are around a process that would be quite revolutionary if they can make it work," Dikeman said.

Previous attempts to improve ultracapacitors have focused on improving the metal sheets by increasing the surface area where charges can attach.

EEStor is instead creating better nonconductive material for use between the metal sheets, using a chemical compound called barium titanate. The question is whether the company can mass-produce it.

ZENN Motor pays EEStor for passing milestones in the production process, and chemical researchers say the strength and functionality of this material is the only thing standing between EEStor and the holy grail of energy-storage technology.

Joseph Perry and the other researchers he oversees at Georgia Tech have used the same material to double the amount of energy a capacitor can hold. Perry says EEstor seems to be claiming an improvement of more than 400-fold, yet increasing a capacitor's retention ability often results in decreased strength of the materials.

"They're not saying a lot about how they're making these things," Perry said. "With these materials (described in the patent), that is a challenging process to carry out in a defect-free fashion."

Perry is not alone in his doubts. An ultracapacitor industry leader, Maxwell Technologies Inc, has kept a wary eye on EEStor's claims and offers a laundry list of things that could go wrong.

Among other things, the ultracapacitors described in EEStor's patent operate at extremely high voltage, 10 times greater than those Maxwell manufactures, and won't work with regular wall outlets, said Maxwell spokesman Mike Sund.

He said capacitors could crack while bouncing down the road, or slowly discharge after a dayslong stint in the airport parking lot, leaving the driver stranded.

Until EEStor produces a final product, Perry said he joins energy professionals and enthusiasts alike in waiting to see if the company can own up to its six-word promise and banish the battery to recycling bins around the world.

"I am skeptical but I'd be very happy to be proved wrong," Perry said. - AP

Fuelless Heater: No Fuel, No gas, No wood, No Green House Gasses

2006-12-04T20:40:00.000+08:00

Believed it or not?

Directory:Cavitation Heaters

Cavitation heaters are claimed to heat fluids with greater efficiency than other methods. Some claim more energy output than input. The most common method used is to rotate a cylinder inside the fluid to produce bubbles, which generate heat as they collapse.

Comments:
Very interesting, we can try it at home if it works fine. Free Green Energy why not?

New ceramic battery may replace gas engines by 2008. Charge in 5 minutes, Drive 500 miles?

2006-11-08T16:39:00.000+08:00

Good news:
Gentlemen, stop your engines
EEStor's new automotive power source could eliminate the need for the combustion engine - and for oil.

SAN FRANCISCO (Business 2.0 Magazine) -- The Disruptor: EEStor

The Innovation: A ceramic power source for electric cars that could blow away the combustion engine.

The Disrupted: Oil companies and carmakers that don't climb aboard
Forget hybrids and hydrogen-powered vehicles. EEStor, a stealth company in Cedar Park, Texas, is working on an "energy storage" device that could finally give the internal combustion engine a run for its money -- and begin saving us from our oil addiction. "To call it a battery discredits it," says Ian Clifford, the CEO of Toronto-based electric car company Feel Good Cars, which plans to incorporate EEStor's technology in vehicles by 2008.

EEStor's device is not technically a battery because no chemicals are involved. In fact, it contains no hazardous materials whatsoever. Yet it acts like a battery in that it stores electricity. If it works as it's supposed to, it will charge up in five minutes and provide enough energy to drive 500 miles on about $9 worth of electricity. At today's gas prices, covering that distance can cost $60 or more; the EEStor device would power a car for the equivalent of about 45 cents a gallon.
And we mean power a car. "A four-passenger sedan will drive like a Ferrari," Clifford predicts. In contrast, his first electric car, the Zenn, which debuted in August and is powered by a more conventional battery, can't go much faster than a moped and takes hours to charge.

The cost of the engine itself depends on how much energy it can store; an EEStor-powered engine with a range roughly equivalent to that of a gasoline-powered car would cost about $5,200. That's a slight premium over the cost of the gas engine and the other parts the device would replace -- the gas tank, exhaust system, and drivetrain. But getting rid of the need to buy gas should more than make up for the extra cost of an EEStor-powered car.
EEStor is tight-lipped about its device and how it manages to pack such a punch. According to a patent issued in April, the device is made of a ceramic powder coated with aluminum oxide and glass. A bank of these ceramic batteries could be used at "electrical energy stations" where people on the road could charge up.

EEStor is backed by VC firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, and the company's founders are engineers Richard Weir and Carl Nelson. CEO Weir, a former IBM-er, won't comment, but his son, Tom, an EEStor VP, acknowledges, "That is pretty much why we are here today, to compete with the internal combustion engine." He also hints that his engine technology is not just for the small passenger vehicles that Clifford is aiming at, but could easily replace the 300-horsepower brutes in today's SUVs. That would make it appealing to automakers like GM (Charts) and Ford (Charts), who are seeing sales of their gas-guzzling SUVs and pickup trucks begin to tank because of exorbitant fuel prices.

CNN and Business 2.0 look at ways to improve technology in terms of engine and fuel efficiency. (September 20)
Play video

"In the wake of rising gasoline costs there have been plenty of alternatives seen on the horizon. Including Hybrids, Biofuels, fuel cells and battery powered all electric cars. CNN has recently posted a story about a company (EEStor) that plans on offering Ultra-Capacitor storage products. The claim being that you charge the ultra-capacitor in 5 minutes, with approximately 9$ (~$.45 a gallon) of electricity and then drive 500 miles."

Patent no. US2004071944 Electrical-energy-storage unit (EESU) utilizing ceramic and integrated-circuit technologies for replacement of electrochemical batteries

Abstract of US2004071944
An electrical-energy-storage unit (EESU) has as a basis material a high-permittivity composition-modified barium titanate ceramic powder. This powder is double coated with the first coating being aluminum oxide and the second coating calcium magnesium aluminosilicate glass. The components of the EESU are manufactured with the use of classical ceramic fabrication techniques which include screen printing alternating multilayers of nickel electrodes and high-permittivitiy composition-modified barium titanate powder, sintering to a closed-pore porous body, followed by hot-isostatic pressing to a void-free body. The components are configured into a multilayer array with the use of a solder-bump technique as the enabling technology so as to provide a parallel configuration of components that has the capability to store electrical energy in the range of 52 kW.h. The total weight of an EESU with this range of electrical energy storage is about 336 pounds.

Comments:
If this product is exist now, I can convert my Combustion Engine to Electric car directly.

Water Power - use of HHO (Aquygen Gas) from H2O

2006-10-17T21:51:00.000+08:00

Patent no.:
WO2005076767 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR THE CONVERSION OF WATER INTO A NEW GASEOUS AND COMBUSTIBLE FORM AND THE COMBUSTIBLE GAS FORMED THEREBY

Abstract of WO2005076767
An electrolyzer which decomposes distilled water into a new fuel composed of hydrogen, oxygen and their molecular and magnecular bonds, called HHO. The electrolyzer can be used to provide the new combustible gas as an additive to combustion engine fuels or in flame or other generating equipment such as torches and welders. The new combustible gas is comprised of clusters of hydrogen and oxygen atoms structured according to a general formula HmOn wherein m and n have null or positive integer values with the exception that m and n can not be 0 at the same time, and wherein said combustible gas has a varying energy content depending on its use.

Inventers: KLEIN DENNIS J (US); SANTILLI RUGGERO MARIA (US)

Comments: Do you believed that water can be used to cut metal and replace as fossil oil on vehicle? Watch the video above from Youtube. The H2O 1500 Aquygen™ Gas Generator can be purchased for $6995. You can convert your car into hybrid with minor modification. Check this out too -> http://hytechapps.com/aquygen/hhos

Energy By Motion (EBM) - Green Electric Generator

2006-10-12T21:50:00.000+08:00

EBM machines now going commercial harness a free magnetic phenomena to produce clean, abundant energy. On Saturday Oct. 14, 2006 from 3:00 to 3:55 pm Pacific, Professor Szabo will be interviewed live by Sterling D. Allan.

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY -- After twenty years of behind-the-scenes research and development and prototype testing and refinement, Prof. Leslie Szabo is now ready to launch his product for sale commercially.

"The self-reliant EBM plant uses its own self-generated electromagnetic fuel. This technology is non-nuclear, 100 % environment friendly with zero emissions."

"We are routinely producing with our EBM Power Plants several kilowatts well over unity without any pollution and emissions whatsoever!"

"One of these 10-megawatt units will heat 280 houses and air-condition them, plus you have cheap power, guaranteed at six cents." [1] (http://www.steorn.net/forum/comments.php?DiscussionID=19331&page=1#Item_0)

Being environment-friendly, this technology has several other very important additional features as follows:
1) The average 1 kilowatt-hour electric power costs 75 % to 80 % of most local tariff rates at 65 % load factor (appx. 5,700 hours use per annum); The pay-back period of invested capital is less than 4 years!

2) The power plant can be commissioned within a very short time after the order is placed.

3) The average turn-key-cost of the EBM Power Plants is less than 2,000 USD/kW depending
upon the MW size of the plant; This includes fuel for 40 years!

4) With the inexpensive and clean EBM electric power, and heat energy, the production of hydrogen for fuel cells is highly competitive or the production of nitrogen for fertilizer, or desalination of sea water can be economically implemented. With the torque produced by EBM Units, large ships or locomotives can be directly driven!

Szabo is now apparently being recommended for a Nobel prize for this work. (Ref.)
Official Website: http://www.gammamanager.com/

Patent pending: WO9318570 - "ASYMMETRICAL ELECTRO-MECHANICAL DEVICE a.k.a. CDCII" - Publication date: 1993-09-16l; Inventor: SZABO LESLIE I (HU); Applicant: ELECTRO ERG LTD (HU)

Comments:
The technology is protected by patents WO9318570 awarded in sixteen countries, including the United States, and patents have been filed in 42 countries that represent about 80% of the Gross Domestic Product of the globe.

The cost of energy production is estimated in the range of between two and six cents per kilowatt-hour, which is competitive with wholesale grid prices for electricity. Szabo confides, however, that that price could be much lower, but is strategically being kept high so as to not make the technology disruptive.

Are you interest to buy one of these Generator and sell back to Malaysia? I am really interested on this one. Not sure the unit price yet.

LS Associates' RM5m car trading project in Malaysia (2007)

2006-10-09T21:13:00.000+08:00

LS Associates' RM5m car trading project

LS Associates (SEA) Sdn Bhd is introducing a convergence concept in car trading with the launch of its RM5 million Projek KARS, its chairman Tan Sri Adzmi Abdul Wahab said.

“Convergence is a concept where there’s one place for cars, support services, financing and insurance trading and marketing, which can be done in one location,” he told reporters at the Projek KARS launching ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 9.

Adzmi said the 31-acre Projek KARS, which will began phase one of operation in December, would have 10,000 sales bays, buyer meets seller bays and 1,200 car parks.

“We will also provide space for accessories stalls, a hypermarket, a factory outlet, a JPJ office and a Puspakom centre,” he said, adding that Project KARS would be fully operational by April 2007.

Adzmi said there were also acreage set aside for new car dealers to set up shops in the area.

He said he was already in talks with various parties concerning moving into Projek KARS area but did not elaborate.

Adzmi said the revenue generator for the project would come from property rental, car showroom, used car bays rental and transaction fees.

To a question on the soft car market, Adzmi said he hoped by the time the project was ready, the market would have recovered.

“Because of the NAP, new car prices went down, which affected the used car market.”

“By next year, the market will get better what with a 5% projected growth in national economy and customers getting used to the new car prices.”

“Hopefully, there will be no big changes in the automotive policy by then, he added.

Bernama
LS Associates: Mega Auto Mart Operational By Next April

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- LS Associates (SEA) Sdn Bhd expects its mega auto mart, KARS, to be operational by April 2007, says its managing director, Tan Sri Adzmi Abdul Wahab.

He said KARS would be developed on 31 acres of prime land in the city and the first phase of the project would start by December.

"KARS was born from the realisation of a dream to sell multi-brand cars in one central convenient location through the convergence concept.

"This will allow buyers and sellers to gather in one area to browse various marques and help in decision-making," he said at the KARS' groundbreaking ceremony, here Monday.

Entrepreneur Development and Cooperative Development Deputy Minister, Datuk Khamsiyah Yeop, officiated at the ceremony.

Adzmi said the company has invested RM5 million in the project.

He said KARS, located at 888 Jalan Cochrane, would allocate 236,000 sq ft for new cars, 46,000 sq ft for help-to-sell, 75,000 sq ft for used cars, 65,000 sq ft for buyer-meets-seller and 22,000 sq ft for auctions.

"KARS will have 10,000 sales bays for those wishing to sell and buy cars," he said.

He said KARS would also allocate about 6.63 acres for factory outlet shopping, a hypermart, a night market boulevard and more than 100,000 sq ft for food court and al-fresco dining.

At the same function, LS Associates also signed memorandum of understanding with Takaful Ikhlas Sdn Bhd where the latter would provide IKHLAS Motor Takaful for KARS' clients.

Comments:
This concept is very similar to Auto-City at Prai.
I always has interest on Cars trading business, can this kind of project be success in Malaysia? What is your opinion?

Proposed Business Plan For The Production Of Electric Power From Magnetic Tapes

2006-09-18T20:28:00.000+08:00

Proposed Business PlanFor TheProduction Of Electric Power From Magnetic Tapes
Innovation / Product Name: Portable Power Supplies (PPS) By Basil Dimitropoulos

Reply To Peak Oil Supply
Electricity Generation By Magnetic Tapes
Entirely eco-friendly energy source, based on the Magnetic Data Storage Technology

Monday, September 18, 2006
ATHENS - GREECE, -- An individual person called Basil Dimitropoulos, who is a graduate Electrical Engineer with specialization in Magnetic Recording Applications, has long announced that he developed a project that concerns Electric Power Production From Magnetic Tapes. This electromotive system affects directly the Global Home Appliances Industry and Transportation Industry, resulting in portable and mobile power supplies for Household Devices and Electric Vehicles. It is an Entirely Environment-Friendly energy product of very low cost.

Currently, he has focused his attention on the Changing Of The Energy Trends about the Post-Oil Age, in accordance with the expected Legal Settlement between the fuels industry and the Rest of Us.

LOW CRUDE OIL PRICES are subject to legal negotiations between the OPEC and oil-importing nations. Continue

We are ABSOLUTELY LEGAL to tell OPEC that the Global Economy Does Not Need The Oil.

It is NOT needed ANY engineering degree, in order for anyone to spread the word out: EnergyNews.gr - Electric Power Generation By Magnetic Tapes.

How it works? Production Of Electric Power From Magnetic Tapes
PORTABLE POWER SUPPLIES (PPS)

Q&A

Comments:
I found an interesting website today, its called PPS Portable Power Supplies. If you have time please read through the article, Not sure it is true or not? Let's discuss it later.

NEW BATTERY TECHNOLOGY - Power Technology, Inc.

2006-09-11T20:39:00.000+08:00

NEW BATTERY TECHNOLOGY - Power Technology, Inc. Has Developed Breakthrough Technology For A Power Current Collector Structure That Can Be Used To Build Superior Batteries With These Advantages:

Smaller Sizes, Less Weight, Increased Energy Density, Less Lead, More Environment Friendly, Faster Recharge Capabilities and Longer Life.

Power Technology batteries have a unique internal structure and electrochemistry. These features give the Power Battery significant advantages compared to conventional batteries, such as the common lead-acid automobile battery.

It is our mission to create environmentally friendly, inexpensive power sources for use by industry and individuals, including the creation of the ultimate battery, characterized by higher energy capacity, lighter weight, and minimal lead content - for a range of automotive, aerospace, power storage and other industrial and personal applications.

More: Batteries:Power_Technology,_Inc.#Official_Website

Comments:
I think it is something that we have been looking for. This will helps a lot on the success of Electric Vehicle (EV). If the price is the same or a bit lower than conventional battery, for such that it will become a highly demanded product soon.

Off-shore 5M Wind Turbine Premier - the Largest ever

2006-08-30T21:30:00.000+08:00

REpower Systems' five-megawatt turbine, the largest ever off-shore, is piled to the seabed at a record depth of 44 meters.

HAMBURG/NIGG, GERMANY -- For the first time, a five-megawatt wind turbine by REpower Systems AG (Prime Standard, WKN 617703) has been set up for the first time on the open sea. The first of a total of two turbines for the "Beatrice" demonstrator wind farm has just been set up on a lattice-like jacket structure, piled to the seabed at a depth of 44 metres in the Scottish North Sea, in the Moray Firth.

Never before have wind turbines been set up in water this deep. Furthermore, it is currently the biggest turbine offshore. Prior to the installation, a floating crane barge carried the turbine with more than 900 tonnes on its hooks, 25 kilometres on the open sea from the port of Nigg. It is there that the two 5M wind turbines are shortly to be linked to the grid connection of the "Beatrice Alpha" oil rig and then commissioned.

The countdown has been running since July: the 5M nacelles, which were built in Bremerhaven, have been transported by cargo ship to the Scottish port of Nigg. One after the other, each of the 59 metre-high towers, nacelles and rotors for the turbines were assembled there. Parallel to this, the jacket structures were anchored with piles to the seabed. After the completion of the first 5M, it was necessary to wait for favourable weather conditions to minimise risks with the first installation in the North Sea.
Source

Press Release by RePower.de, Aug. 24, 2006

More details:
http://www.repower.de/index.php?id=369&L=1

Comment:
Have you ever seen such kind of Wind Mill before? Amazing isn't it?.....Engineering and Business.

The Power-Generating Shock Absorber (PGSA) - For Automotive

2006-08-29T20:48:00.000+08:00

Emhart/Tech Briefs Contest Winners 2005 - Entry Power Generating Shock Absorber

Description:
Electric and electric-gas hybrid vehicles will soon become the norm on our roads. With these new vehicles comes the opportunity to collect previously lost energy in a vehicle whose suspension is constantly in motion. A conventional automotive shock absorber dampens suspension movement to produce a controlled action that keeps the tire firmly on the road. This is done by converting the kinetic energy into heat energy, which is then absorbed by the shock’s oil. The Power-Generating Shock Absorber (PGSA) converts this kinetic energy into electricity instead of heat through the use of a Linear Motion Electromagnetic System (LMES). The LMES uses a dense permanent magnet stack embedded in the main piston, a switchable series of stator coil windings, a rectifier, and an electronic control system to manage the varying electrical output and dampening load. The electricity generated by each PGSA can then be combined with electricity from other power generation systems (e.g. regenerative braking) and stored in the vehicle’s batteries. (Read all scource )

Electromagnetic linear generator and shock absorber
Patent no. US2003034697 (US6,952,060)

More: Power-Generating_Shock_Absorber

Comment:
Imagine your Shock Absorber can generate electricity, we can use these energy to reduce the load on Engine. This sound good for EV (Electric Vehicle) I will recommend this product to OEM soon. I think the product is not cheap too.

Recycling Liquid Wastes and Crude Oil into --> MagneGas™ and MagneHydrogen™

2006-08-28T21:38:00.000+08:00

ALARMING ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS CAUSED BY FOSSIL FUELS, HYDROGEN, AND FUEL CELLS

According to official data released by the U. S. Department of Energy (see, e.g., http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/international/energy.html), by ignoring the world-wide consumption of natural gas and coal, we consume nowadays about

74 million barrels of crude oil per day, which correspond to the consumption of about four trillion gallons of gasoline per day.(1.1) http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/topworldtables3_4.html

Such a large consumption is due to the average daily use in our planet of about 500,000,000 cars, 1,000,000 trucks, 100,000 planes plus an unidentifiable number of additional vehicles of military, agricultural, industrial and other nature.

The primary environmental problems caused by the above disproportionate combustion of fossil fuels per day are the following:

1) The largest emission in our atmosphere of highly carcinogenic and toxic substances. This problem is known by experts, but rarely presented to the public in its true light, namely, that fossil fuel combustion exhaust are one of the primary origin of the widespread increase of cancer in our societies. In fact, a moment of reflection can soon identify the fact that we inhale on a daily basis carcinogenic substances from fossil gasoline exhaust in an amount which is much greater than the ingestion of carcinogenic substances contained in food, a ratio technically quantifiable in the ratio of 10,000 to 1, or the daily emission in our atmosphere of about seven millions tons of carcinogenic substances per day. The terms "hydrocarbon emission" or "atmospheric pollution" are euphemisms for very toxic breathing.

Any person seriously interested in the environment can request from analytic laboratories the measurement of the pollutants existing in the atmosphere of densely populated urban areas, and the identification of carcinogenic components (click here for the chemical analysis of gasoline exhaust). Only by avoiding political talks and conducting scientific measurements the carcinogenic nature of the combustion exhaust of fossil fuel can appear in its full sinister light. (Continue click here: http://www.magnegas.com/technology/part1.htm)

More information: Santilli_magnecule_MagneGas_fuel/

Patents:
Patent Numbers US2003106787 (6, 926,872), US2002004022 (6,673,322); US2003133855 (6,663,752); 6,540,966; and 6,183,604.

Comments:
If you have time, I would suggest you to read through this article. What is the solution? Click on the title above to find out more about MagneGAS. You can be their partner too click here -> http://www.magnegas.com/invest.htm

The Magenn Power Air Rotor System (MARS)

2006-08-27T19:11:00.000+08:00

Floating Wind Generators

The Magenn Power Air Rotor System (MARS) is an innovative lighter-than-air tethered device that rotates about a horizontal axis in response to wind, efficiently generating clean renewable electrical energy at a lower cost than all competing systems.

Electrical power generated at the floating Air Rotor is transferred down the tether to ground level equipment. Depending on size of the Air Rotor, power is sent to users ranging from campers to large power grids. Helium (an inert non-flammable lighter-than-air gas) sustains the Air Rotor which ascends to an altitude for best winds. No towers or heavy foundations are necessary and sizes range from small "backpack" models to large megawatt generating devices.

Due to design simplicity, low capital & operating costs, and higher efficiency, MARS represents a paradigm shift from the standard wind turbines of today. Magenn Power will start a projected billion-dollar business through sales and licensing of its wind generators. Our first step is the development of a 4 KW prototype which the company will demonstrate in the latter part of 2006.

Magenn_Floating_Wind_Generators/

Comment:
Have you ever seen such kind of Giant Air Balloon power generator before?
Find out more click on the title. or PowerPoint presentation

The Motionless Electromagnetic Generator (MEG)

2006-08-24T21:42:00.000+08:00

The MEG has produced up to 100 times more power than was input, by extracting free energy from the vacuum. The MEG has been independently constructed, and its overunity performance independently replicated, by other researchers. US Patent awarded March 26, 2002. Invented by Tom Bearden and four colleagues.

Patent no. US6362718B1

Abstract of US6362718
An electromagnetic generator without moving parts includes a permanent magnet and a magnetic core including first and second magnetic paths. A first input coil and a first output coil extend around portions of the first magnetic path, while a second input coil and a second output coil extend around portions of the second magnetic path. The input coils are alternatively pulsed to provide induced current pulses in the output coils.

Driving electrical current through each of the input coils reduces a level of flux from the permanent magnet within the magnet path around which the input coil extends. In an alternative embodiment of an electromagnetic generator, the magnetic core includes annular spaced-apart plates, with posts and permanent magnets extending in an alternating fashion between the plates. An output coil extends around each of these posts. Input coils extending around portions of the plates are pulsed to cause the induction of current within the output coils.

“. . . maybe, just maybe . . . March 26, 2002 will be the date I put in my diary as the day the world changed—forever.”
Nick CookThe Hunt for Zero PointU.S. Edition, 2002
Who is he?

Comment:
This patent was filed in Year 2002 and I haven't seen any products had been produced or marketed yet. Just wondering, why nobody interested it?

Free energy does exist?? Find out more from STEORN

2006-08-22T22:23:00.000+08:00

We have developed a technology that produces free, clean and constant energy.
This means never having to recharge your phone, never having to refuel your car. A world with an infinite supply of clean energy for all.

Our technology has been independently validated by engineers and scientists - always off the record, always proven to work.

Steorn’s technology appears to violate the ‘Principle of the Conservation of Energy’, considered by many to be the most fundamental principle in our current understanding of the universe. This principle is stated simply as ‘energy can neither be created nor destroyed, it can only change form’.

Steorn is making three claims for its technology:

1) The technology has a coefficient of performance greater than 100%.
2) The operation of the technology (i.e. the creation of energy) is not derived from the degradation of its component parts.
3) There is no identifiable environmental source of the energy (as might be witnessed by a cooling of ambient air temperature).

The sum of these claims is that our technology creates free energy.
Irish Energy miracle 'a joke' (The Age; Australia; Aug. 20)

Remarks: One of the basic principles of physics is that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, it can only change form.
The energy isn't being converted from any other source such as the energy within the magnet. It's literally created. Once the technology operates, it provides a constant stream of clean energy."
More info.: Steorn_Free_Energy

Patent no. WO2006035419

Updated on 25th of Aug 2006
Updated on 26th of Aug 2006
Updated on 11th of Sept 2006 VIDEOS: Steorn free energy Sky News Interview

Comment:
I have registered my Email address to this company, wish to know the results soon. If you too have interest to know, please click --> http://www.steorn.net/ - Official website to get register.

Honda's New patent of Heat exchangers of multiple cylinder internal combustion engine

2006-08-22T21:03:00.000+08:00

Honda has received a patent on an exhaust heat exchanger that harnesses the heat energy from the exhaust through a thermal exchange, which can then be converted into electrical energy through a thermal electric process or to drive a turbine/generator.

Abstract of US2003188728 (US7055315)
First heat exchangers (H4, H3, H2) are disposed within an exhaust port (18), within a pre-catalytic device (34), and on the downstream of a main catalytic device (35); the exhaust port (18), the pre-catalytic device (34), and the main catalytic device (35) being provided in each exhaust passage (33) of a multicylinder internal combustion engine. These first heat exchangers (H4, H3, H2) are independently provided for each of the exhaust passages (33), and a second heat exchanger (H1) is disposed in a section where these exhaust passages (33) are combined. Since the first heat exchangers (H4, H3, H2) are disposed on the upstream side of the exhaust passage (33), high heat exchange efficiency can be obtained by high temperature exhaust gas, and, moreover, the occurrence of exhaust interference can be avoided, thereby preventing any decrease in the output of the internal combustion engine. Furthermore, since the second heat exchanger (H1) is disposed in the section where the exhaust passages (33) are combined, the exhaust gas in which pulsations have disappeared as a result of the flows being combined can be made to act on the second heat exchanger (H1), thereby enhancing the heat exchange efficiency.

Patent no. US2003188728 (US7055315) 9th OCT 2003

Comment:
Do you know that, Honda has a patent of Transforming Exhaust Heat energy into electricity to increase engine efficiency? Wow what a good idea. Using this device we can generate electricity to reduce alternator load and indirecty reduce engine load. Actually as you may aware that, Air-con did put up load to engine and by removing it, for sure it will help to increase engine performance. Don't know when can I see the first production car with this technology from Honda.

Rotary Air Engine - By ENGINEAIR (Zero emission)

2006-08-20T10:32:00.000+08:00

Engineair Pty Ltd, established on 9 September 2000, with the objective to perform research and development on an innovative air motor design, invented and first tried by Di Pietro in 1997. In the first 2 years the company focused on developing prototype models to test the concept and understand the performance characteristics. During this period additional prototypes were tested, showing improving performance, power to weight ratio and air consumption. The current development status shows performance and efficiency to be superior over state of the art air motor technology.

Based on these results the company is now entering commercialisation of its technology.

Engineair operates from modern dedicated facilities in Brooklyn, close to Melbourne City. Facilities with an area of 1100 sqm office and workshop area include state of the art test and performance measurement systems.

How it works?

Business:
For more information contact:
Engineair Pty Ltd, Angelo Di Pietro Telephone 03 9318 0011 Fax 03 9318 0088,
E-mail: angelodipietro@engineair.com.au or
Melbourne Market Authority, David Traficante Telephone: 03 9258 6161 Fax: 9687 4001.
E-mail: david.traficante@melbournemarkets.com.au

More information- Technical

Malaysian Scientist claims to have cracked water-fuel secret

2006-08-16T19:58:00.000+08:00

JOHOR BARU: A car that runs on water and petrol? That would be a breakthrough technology in these times of escalating fuel prices. And one man says it can be done.

Dr Halim Mohd Ali, 40, claims he can reduce fuel consumption by half with the Hydrogen Fuel Technology (HFT) or hydroxene.

Dr Halim, director of Hydrogen Fuel Technology (M) Sdn Bhd, said hydroxene uses water as a complementary fuel.

More info.: http://www.waterpoweredcar.com/hydrobooster.html

POWERING AHEAD: LM Star Autoworld president Abdul Uza Sheikh Mohamad (right) and Dr Halim speaking to reporters on the hydroxene technology in Johor Baru yesterday. Water molecules are split into hydrogen and oxygen through high compression nano-technology before being pumped into the fuel line, he said.

“The new fuel mixture of petrol or diesel, hydrogen and oxygen is then injected into the engine where combustion takes place,” he said at the launch of hybrid cars by LM Star Autoworld Sdn Bhd here.

Dr Halim, who has a research centre in Putrajaya, said that he first patented hydroxene four years ago and would be re-filing the patent in the next two months.

He said that although he has received offers to sell the technology, some offers amounting to US$26mil (RM95.7mil), he had no intention of letting foreign parties get hold of it.

As simple as it sounds, Dr Halim is quick to add that the technology is difficult to copy, as it has a “secret recipe” which very few people know about.

“There are only 12 people in the world who know how hydroxene works and even then they only know 70% of the technology,” he said, adding that the core aspects of the technology remained with him.

Dr Halim, who has a doctorate in Physics from Birmingham University, said over RM12mil had been spent on hydroxene research and development in the last four years.

About 40% of the funding came from overseas, including Europe and the United States.

Dr Halim said the technology had been tested on some 200 Proton cars, as well as on a vehicle used by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Source

Comment:
Anybody knows the patent no.?

Device for conversion of centrifugal force to linear force and motion

2006-08-10T20:53:00.000+08:00

What is CIP engine?
CIP is means "Cook Inertial Porpulsion"
It is not a new idea, in fact this invention had been filed for long time since 16th Dec 1980.

A device to employ centrifugal force for use as linear motion utilizing a pair of counter rotating arms about a common axle. One arm contains a mass splitable and transferable to the other arm and back again at one hundred and eighty degree intervals. The device may include a surface travel system or two of such devices may be employed in tandem for any mode of travel.

US patent no.US4238968

CIP Principle:
CIP Principle as explained by the inventor of the CIP Engine, Robert Cook.
Simplified Explanation of the CIP principle with animation by Victor Cook.

Comment:
What a great idea! Interested to know more, click on the title, watch the animation and try to read the patent.
Enjoy!

THERE IS NO PLAN "B" :- For current Oil crisis or Oil Peak?

2006-08-08T20:13:00.000+08:00

“The oil crisis is very, very near. World War III has started.It has already affected every single citizen of the Middle East.Soon, it will spill over to affect every citizen of the world.”Ali Samsam Bakhtiari, Vice President of the National Iranian Oil Company

Click here: Oil Crisis
Oil and Gas news

Global Crude Oil production chart until Mar 2006

Comments:

I came across an interesting article which related to Oil crisis or world oil peak issue. I was confused too why there is no PLAN B besides using oil as world's main energy resources. I guess only the greedy business man and politician can tell us the truth.

If you wish to know more about Oil crisis, please read the article above you will have a better understanding of current oil crisis. (It's a long story.....)

UFO: Anti-gravity machine?? Antigravity Machine Patent Draws Physicists' Ire

2006-08-07T20:06:00.000+08:00

Topic: Volfson, U.S. Patent 6,960,975 "Space vehicle propelled by the pressure of inflationary vacuum state". November 1, 2005.

A perpetual-motion machine may defy the laws of physics, but an Indiana inventor recently succeeded in having one patented.

On November 1 Boris Volfson of Huntington, Indiana, received U.S. Patent 6,960,975 for his design of an antigravity space vehicle. Read The claims.

Volfson's craft is theoretically powered by a superconductor shield that changes the space-time continuum in such a way that it defies gravity. The design effectively creates a perpetual-motion machine, which physicists consider an impossible device.

Journalist Philip Ball reported on the newly patented craft in the current issue of the science journal Nature.

Robert Park, a consultant with the American Physical Society in Washington, D.C., warns that such dubious patents aren't limited to the antigravity concept.

"I might hear a complaint about a particular patent, and then I look into it," he explained. "More often than not it's a screwball patent. It's an old problem, but it has gotten worse in the last few years. The workload of the patent office has gone up enormously."

Some people might consider patents on unworkable products to be relatively harmless. Park, a physics professor at the University of Maryland at College Park, disagrees.

"The problem, of course, is that this deceives a lot of investors," he said. "You can't go out and find investors for a new invention until you can come up with a patent to show that if you put all this money into a concept, somebody else can't steal the idea.

"[Approving these kind of patents can] make it easier for scam artists to con people if they can get patents for screwball ideas."

Source
Source 2

In November 2005, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) granted Boris Volfson, a United States of America inventor, U.S. Patent 6,960,975 (PDF) for an anti-gravity device. According to Robert Park, Volfson's device amounts to a perpetual motion machine, defying the theories of physics.[2] [3] [4] It contains magnets and electromagnets of the superconductive type. The power plant has a reaction motor.

"Antigravity"
Wallace, U.S. Patent 3,626,605 "Method and apparatus for generating secondary gravitational force field". December 14, 1971.
Wallace, U.S. Patent 3,626,606 "Method and apparatus for generating a dynamic force field". December 14, 1971.
Wallace, U.S. Patent 3,823,570 "Heat pump". July 16, 1974.
Taylor, U.S. Patent 5,197,279 "Electromagnetic energy propulsion engine". March 30, 1993.
Brainard, et al., U.S. Patent 6,353,311 "Universal particle flux pressure converter". March 5, 2002.
Torr, et al., U.S. Patent 6,891,712 "Field converter". May 10, 2005.
Volfson, U.S. Patent 6,960,975 "Space vehicle propelled by the pressure of inflationary vacuum state". November 1, 2005.

Comments:
Do you believed that, the US patent department (USPTO) has accepted or approved a patent so-called a UFO machine U.S. Patent 6,960,975 (Date: 1st of Nov 2005)?
Refer to above information, what does it means? If it is true, Maybe we all can buy one of these UFO machine in future. If not, maybe it is just a dream machine eventually. Sometime I think is hard to know whether it is a new Invention or just a Dream. What do you think?
More story of Anti-gravity

A $100 laptop??

2006-08-02T22:44:00.000+08:00

Hundred Dollar Laptop Computer??

One Laptop per Child (OLPC) is a non-profit association dedicated to research to develop a $100 laptop—a technology that could revolutionize how we educate the world's children. This initiative was launched by faculty members at the MIT Media Lab. It was first announced by Lab co-founder Nicholas Negroponte, now chairman of OLPC, at the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland in January 2005.

The MIT Media Lab's research initiative revolutionizes how the world's children are educated by working with local ministries of education to distribute one laptop per child. The biggest hurdle was designing a genuinely useful computer that could feasibly be built for $100. At the same time, because the computer will be used by children in a wide variety of environments, the device needed to be very robust and able to operate off the grid with a hand-cranked on-board generator. The laptops will have wireless broadband that, among other things, allows them to work as a mesh network to create an ad hoc, local-area network. Because the system will be distributed throughout the world, its aesthetic is culturally neutral while appealing to children from five to fifteen. The design has been a huge public relations hit, and several partners have come on board. Red Hat will produce software, Taiwan's Quanta will manufacture the machines and AMD will supply the processors. The first 5 million units will be shipped to China, Brazil, India, Argentina, Egypt, Nigeria and Thailand by the end of the year.

Wish to contact them:
http://laptop.org/
or Email mailto:Emailinfo@laptop.org

Fuel Cell car: The GM Hy-wire (Top Gear video)

2006-08-02T21:42:00.000+08:00

Hy-Wire isn't like any car you've ever seen before. The name has a double meaning. That's "hy" for its hydrogen-powered fuel cells. The second half of the name means this high-tech prototype uses a videogame style controller, rather than mechanical controls, for steering, braking and accelerating. A drivable version of the General Motors Autonomy, first shown last January, Hy-wire also features an interchangeable body. In this case, a spacious four-door sedan, but it'd be easy to swap that for a sports car or SUV body.

GM claims Hy-wire could completely revolutionize automotive design and manufacturing. The question is when. Several Japanese automakers plan to begin limited sales of the first fuel cell vehicles later this year. GM officials insist the challenge isn't to be first to market, but to be first to produce a fuel cell vehicle with the range, price and performance of a conventional automobile, at a cost consumers are willing to pay. That means a car like Hy-wire likely won't reach showrooms 'til sometime closer to 2010.

More information
Watch how Fuel Cells Works - Video

Watch the video from TOP GEAR.
Youtube

By 2010? So, What are your waiting for? Shall we shift to Fuel Cell car soon?

PERMANENT MAGNET DRIVEN ELECTRIC GENERATOR - Free Energy

2006-07-31T20:40:00.000+08:00

The invention, a Solid State Electric Generator, is the first in a series of Magnetic Power Modules™ that will produce electric power with no moving parts and no need for fuel.

The initial application followed the successful construction of a prototype over a year and-a-half ago. The provisional application covering this invention was filed January 21, 2005. It became a public document on July 27, 2006.

Patent applications are routinely published 18 months after filing, unless there is no intent to apply outside of the U.S.
This application claims priority to Provisional Application 60/645,674 filed Jan. 21, 2005, entitled PERMANENT MAGNET DRIVEN ELECTRIC GENERATOR

Figure 1 from Patent Application US 2006/0163971 (PDF) Pending

The first product will be Demonstration Devices that sit on a desk and generate small amounts of electricity. No batteries required. According to MPI's projection, by the end of 2007 modules that can be combined to power a home will be in production by licensed manufacturers.

Later, scaled-up Modules will be able to power cars. The first automotive application will involve eliminating the need to recharge a "plug-in" hybrid automobile. This is a logical step in the Company's plan for the ultimate replacement of fuel burning engines. Automobile manufacturers who become licensees can look to future electric cars that require no external recharge.

http://magneticpowerinc.com/

Business:
Latest great invention or technology news to you all!!!
Great news!!!, according to this invention electric can be generated without moving parts or fuel which means we can have free energy soon. We can have electric powered car with FREE energy soon.

Business: ToChou-Cha (杜仲茶)

2006-07-30T20:49:00.000+08:00

What is ToChou-Cha?
The photos above are ToChou Tree, very tall and the leaf is very big about the size of your face.
Here is some history and background of ToChou-Cha, sorry only in Chinese.

杜仲茶是以在中国中、西南部山上生长的杜仲树为原料制成。由于杜仲具有利尿的作用，所以适合作减肥之用；而且它对浮肿、肌肤粗糙、暗疮、便秘等也有疗效。杜仲亦可促进血液循环顺畅，提高新陈代谢，达至改善体质，令服用者不易变胖的功效。饮用者可将之视为果汁的代替品，随时饮用，分量不限。

Chinese News:
杜仲是传统名贵中药，而用其嫩芽制作成茶叶是一种保健茶，常饮此茶有益于健康长寿。

　　近年来，开化县杜仲茶研究所发挥本县杜仲资源的优势，采用优质杜仲嫩芽，以传统的制茶工艺结合现代“龙顶”茶叶加工技术，研制出茶感醇香，并保留了杜仲叶各种营养、功效成分的纯天然杜仲保健茶。

　　杜仲茶一经推出，就受到了广大消费者的喜爱。开化县工商局早在2002年就为开化两家生产加工杜仲茶的企业，通过国家注册了“健林”、“杜康”商标，为杜仲茶出口国外打下了坚实的基础。很快，杜仲茶得到了欧洲贸易效率委员会（ETEC，欧洲中国农产品采购）的确认，产品热销国外市场。

　　据统计，开化县目前已拥有杜仲林6410亩，可年产杜仲茶百吨以上，杜仲茶已成为开化农民增收的又一条途径。

今年开化县已有1500公斤杜仲茶飘洋过海，销往日本、马来西亚、台湾等地20多家茶叶经销商。

Links:
Chinese website
Japanese website
http://www.tochu-cha.com/

Business:
This tea is getting popular in Japan recently. I knew it through TV on last Saturday, it's not a commercial story or advertisment but is a Doctor health news. They had done some testing on Human body and experiment, the result is very good and surprised. For example: if you drink this tea 3 times a day (500ml each time) and continue for 2 weeks it can burn your body extra fats about 50%. Some of them have been taken it for years and they all looks very young. There was an old lady age 54 year old but looks like 40. Nobody believed that she was already 54. Amazing isn't it?

I am looking forward to find any opportunity to bring this tea from Malaysia or China and sell to Japan. Or Bring this made in Japan ToChou Tea to Malaysia or other countries, but the price will be much higher. Do you have any connection?

Car runs on Water: Powered by JOE CELL technology

2006-07-27T20:52:00.000+08:00

Do you believed that, water can be used to run a car?

I know it's neither a latest invention nor a new technology, It was already known for long time (since 1992) but I am wondering whether you guys knows about it. If this works I believed, one day the water will be replaced Fossil oil to run our autos. Sound interesting?

Some tips for DIY too.
Find out more about it: http://www.joecell.com.au/
How it works: http://www.thejoecell.com/

More information click here
And
Many Videos from Youtube

There are some video clips on these website, so don't missed it.

Smokers Pole

2006-07-26T21:20:00.000+08:00

Smokers Pole is a steel cylinder for the disposal of cigarette butts. It aims to solve problems involved with littering of cigarette butts.

The Smokers Pole aims to solve three of the biggest problems involved with littering of cigarette butts and they are:
1 - encouraging individuals to extinguish butts in receptacles to contain waste and to reduce the environmental impact of littered cigarette butts.
2 - cleaning out of cigarette containers or receptacles in public spaces.
3 - and extinguishing of fire embers
Source

patent no. WO2005044698

Business:
I always prefer to do business which related to environment, I think this Smokerspoles products will helps to solve cigarette litter problem. Besides selling the poles, they also provide the cleaning service work, where the cigarette butts will be collcected by a special machines (like a vaccum cleaner) or trunks (see the photo) which designed by this company. Another advantage of this product is, we can earned extra money through advertising. (If you look carefully, this pole can insert promotion papers in it)

Check out the Alfresco Products Price List (You can rent or buy it)

May this business interest you? We can discuss the pros and cons of it first.

Environpole.pdf

New printer produces 3D objects on demand

2006-07-25T21:11:00.000+08:00

Imagine a machine which accepts CAD drawings, then produces a three dimensional prototype within a few hours for $100 - it now exists. The successful implementation of the technology points the way to this technology eventually finding its way into local bureau which produce while-you-wait samples as a service, and eventually to the home where designs could be downloaded from the internet and manifested at whim.

American Z Corporation now has several models of 3D printers that produce physical prototypes quickly, easily, and inexpensively from computer-aided design (CAD) and other digital data.

In the same way that conventional desktop printers provide computer users with a paper output of their documents, Z Corp.'s 3D printers provide 3D CAD users a physical prototype of real world objects such as a mobile phone, an engine manifold, or a camera.

The process operates in a remarkably similar fashion to the ink-jet printer, building layer upon layer of powder and a bonding agent which creates the object, and it can even be done in full colour.

Though only available for a short time, the machines have already found their way into the world's best known R&D studios - Sony, Fisher-Price, Adidas, Canon, Kodak, NASA, Harley Davidson, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, BMW, Porsche, Ford, DaimlerChrysler, Harvard, MIT and Yale.At the bottom end of the market, the most recent entry-level rapid prototyping system from Zcorp sells for around US$25,000 providing customers with an all-purpose solution for their modeling needs.

The ZPrinter System completes the Z Corp. 3D Printer product line, which includes the Z406 Full Color 3D Printer and the Z810 Large Format 3D Printer. Z Corporation offers a range of materials to support its 3D Printers, including the new ZCast powder, used to create molds for metal casting on the Z Corp. 3D Printing Systems.

Z Corp.'s revolutionary ZCast technology addresses the needs of the metal casting industry and end users who seek to rapidly produce metal prototype parts. The ZCast technology involves printing metal casting molds directly from digital data. The process drastically reduces the time it takes to produce a casting from weeks to days. In addition to the ZCast process, the Z Corp. technology can be used to create patterns for the sand casting or investment casting of metal parts.

www.zcorp.com

Business:
I am not sure whether you guys knows about RP (Rapid Prototype) products. I had some experiences of using such kind of high tech machine before, reasons: it is quick and cheapest way to make a Design prototypes for presentation use. Recently, the RP machines technologies has been improving very well, where you will spend less money and output quality is a lot better than before, moreover it also can be printed with colors nowadays.

What do you think if we buy one of these machines and run a prototype making business company? Tell me your opinions.

The O'Connor Hush Turbine - Wind energy

2006-07-24T22:08:00.000+08:00

The O'Connor Hush Turbine was wind tunnel tested for energy output by RMIT University (School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering) in September 2005. You can view the wind tunnel test Energy Output table on our website.

The 1m turbine is expected to be available for Australian households and businesses in the price range of $6,000 to $7,000. As a comparison, some solar options can cost around 75% of this price, but only generate around 1/60th of the power (around 100 watts versus up to 6,000 watts). That makes your investment much more effective.

What are the benefits?
Contact Details

Business:
Due to crude oil rocket high price issues, many of us might rethink of using it or finding alternative way to save our hard earned money now. How?? Yes, there are many ways to get Green and Free Energy, like Solar, wind, waves, Hidrogen, .....etc. One of the Free Energy that we can consider is "WIND Energy", where the investment is lower than Solar and can be used for longer duration especially at night time (Of course it depends on windy conditions).

Recently, I found a new type of generator on the internet its called "O'Connor Hush TURBINE". Turbine?? Yes it looks like the JET engine but the size is much small, which is only 1m height (Smallest one). The selling point is it generate "Low noise" and generate energy even at low wind condition compare to conventional type. The selling price is around US$6k to 7k each. (About RM24k to 28k) It is expensive for the beginning but for long run you might had saved more especially when we use Electric Car or many home appliances in future.

What do you think about this business? We can be the dealers.

The world’s smallest hydrogen car (Only cost US$80)

2006-07-24T20:09:00.000+08:00

Horizon has created a unique, patented miniature fuel cell car and hydrogen refueling station. For the first time, hydrogen is produced externally, can be fueled into an on-board storage tank. Once the car's hydrogen tank is full, the refueling station can be disconnected from the car, and the car can run on its own hydrogen fuel cell system on board, with the simple flip of a switch. The car measures only 16cm X 7cm, making this the smallest fuel cell car in the world. Recently nominated for the Intel Environment award in Silicon Valley's Tech Museum, Horizon's miniature car is about to spread a positive message to a wide audience of children and adults around the world.

News source
Related news: BMW Hidrogen toys car

Business:
Hey are you kidding? Fuel Cell car sold only US$80??!!
Yes, no kidding man. This Toy FC car is already sold online we can order it now.

Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies Pte Ltd.
4th floor, Block 39, #2041 Jianshiajiang Road
200333, Shanghai

Tel: (+86) 21 5270 9082
Fax: (+86) 21 5270 5064

Contact email: info@horizonfuelcell.com

Water Powered Bike from Australia

2006-07-23T20:26:00.000+08:00

Believed it or Not!
"Simply put, Bios Fuel splits the Water Molecule to produce Fuel."

Australian inventor, Steve Ryan, has apparently devised a method of using water used as fuel directly, in contrast to using water as a source of Hydrogen, which then serves as the combustable fuel.

About BiosFuel:
Bios Fuel is a Registered Trade mark of Bios Societe Corporation Limited
(A Private Registered Company, In Wellington, New Zealand)

Bios Fuel is involved in bringing about the eventual goal of free energy to the population of this planet we call Earth through Research & Development.

Simply Explained, Bios Fuel splits the Water Molecule to produce Fuel.

You may say, there is nothing new about this phenomenon, we agree as Farraday discovered this process in the late 1700’s & yet progress has been limited to a few individuals and the perception of the limitation of Physics and the application towards this Energy.

Bios Fuel has taken what has been known in the art as Hydrogen & refined the process & delivery of this art.

http://www.biosmeanslife.com/
How_it_Works

Video

Business:
Did you see that, I mean the video and the demonstration, using Water to run a bike? I am still wondering how he did it.
Hidrogen can be splited by some chemical and it was a sceret. Mmmm....if it is true I think it will be a good business to me. Anyone out there knows about this technology? Share with me please.

RevoPower Wheel

2006-07-21T20:55:00.000+08:00

The Wheel is brand new patented technology, incorporating the engine and gear train entirely within the front wheel.

It can be installed on most existing bicycles around the world. You simply replace your existing wheel!

200 mpg; 12 lbs of added weight; 20 mph top speed; very quiet operation; low emissions.

The Wheel stops when you stop, eliminating idling and emissions caused by idling. Automatically engages when engine is running. Motor started by user pedaling.

RevoPowerWheel How it Works?

Patent no. US2005167171

Business: (By year 2007)
RevoPower is currently evaluating potential dealers to make up a worldwide dealer network. The following are the minimum criteria for becoming a RevoPower dealer:

• Must currently have, or plan to have, a retail establishment in a populous area;

• Must have, or have access to, competent technical staff for installation, service and
warranty work;

• Must be willing to commit to a minimum of between 50 and 100 units annually, in
quarterly shipments, depending upon geographic location;

The Wheel is set to become a phenomenon. If you meet the criteria, and would like to be part of the revolution, simply fill out the form below and send it to us. We will contact you to discuss your interest and capabilities.

Early dealer commitments will be supported with additional rebates and excellent deals for cooperative advertising.

PPMT Motor

2006-07-21T20:32:00.000+08:00

Compared to conventional electromagnetic technology PPMT devices are:

Smaller
Lighter
Run cooler
More energy efficient

"PPMT is the biggest leap in motor and generator design logic in more than a hundred years."
Director:Hilden-Brand_Electromagnet_Motor

Parallel Path Magnetic Technology (PPMT) is a basic magnetic force control technology that is applicable to almost every industry or product that requires mechanical motion. PPMT in various forms can produce either linier or rotary motion, which in most cases, results in higher power efficiency and a lighter/smaller package than conventional technology would allow. PPMT is applicable to shaft-motors, hub-motors, rotary actuators, linear actuators, latches, clamps, and generators.

How it works: PPMT Technology.pdf

Robot car (DARPA Grand Challenge)

2006-07-21T20:20:00.000+08:00

"Thanks to the DARPA Grand Challenge, it's easier to foresee a day when driverless cars and trucks may not only spare soldiers in battle, but also civilians on the highways."

Do you believed that, one day we might not need to drive a car, let's the robot do the job for you.
Find out more.....

http://www.darpa.mil/grandchallenge05/gcorg/index.html

Welcome to my Blog!

2006-07-20T21:00:00.000+08:00

Welcome to this blog:

Little ADVISORY: With any technology, you take a high risk to invest significant time or money unless (1) independent testing has thoroughly corroborated the technology, (2) the group involved has intellectual rights to the technology, and (3) the group has the ability to make a success of the endeavor.

Remember:

All truth passes through three stages:
First, it is ridiculed;
Second, it is violently opposed; and
Third, it is accepted as self-evident.
-- Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860)

"When you're one step ahead
of the crowd you're a genius.
When you're two steps ahead,
you're a crackpot."
-- Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, (Feb. 1998)