In our second  “Test Drive the Future” installment,  Matt McClory, Senior Engineer from Toyota introduces us to the Toyota FCHV-adv at the Alt Car Expo in Santa Monica, which got over 430 miles on a single tank of hydrogen.

In addition to advanced fuel cell technology, the vehicle has an advanced AC system based on Co2 for more efficiency.

Safety and standards are important, particularly when it comes to fueling these advanced vehicles.

This month, the California Fuel Cell Partnership unveiled a new campaign titled, “Test Drive the Future with Matt Kelly,” a series of monthly installments on the non-profit’s YouTube channel highlighting virtual test drive’s of hydrogen powered vehicles.

In the first installment, Dave Barthmuss, GM’s Western Region Communications director, introduced me to the Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell Vehicle.

In our walkaround of the vehicle, we discuss the Apollo astronauts, Tang, and drinking the water vapor from the vehicle exhaust.

Tasty!

Designed to go as fast in reverse as it is going forward!

Twice the mileage of a gasoline powered car.  Sign up at Project Driveway!

During Plug In 2009 in Long Beach Calif., I was introduced to the REV™ 300 ACX electric vehicle,  an OEM Ford Escape vehicle with its internal combustion engine and related drive and fuel components completely removed.

Based in Vancouver, BC, REV stands for Rapid Electric Vehicles, and founder/CEO Jay Giraud states there is no re-engineering performed on the vehicle - its original driving characteristics are completely intact.

Instead, high-performance lithium battery packs, a high-performance electric motor and related charging components are installed. The end result is a vehicle that retains almost exactly the same weight, with faster acceleration, increased horsepower and torque, a lower center of gravity, improved safety systems and improved weight distribution.

“REV is a fully integrated fleet technology solutions provider,” says Giraud.  He adds, “We offer a completely decentralized and scalable business model that’s transforming transportation.  This is the complete solution for electrifying fleets and is recycling at it’s highest form.”

Later in 2009, REV will offer training for fleet customers to self-service their vehicles.

The company will also offer the REV Ford Ranger all electric battery-electric vehicle and an all electric Ford F-Series truck in 2010.  The internal combustion engine is completely removed and the vehicle’s new electric motor and regenerative braking can recharge the batteries, or they can be recharged by any external power source, at 110V or 220V of power.

During Hybridfest Green Drive Expo in Madison, Wisc., I had the opportunity to speak with Jeff Peters of Green Plan-It.

Helping guide their neighbors to a greener future, Green Plan-It’s mission is to provide green retail and renewable energy efficiency products.

Their full line up of products include:

• Eco Make-up
• Pro Labs Test Kits
• Organic Gardening Supplies
• Indoor Growing Systems
• Rain Barrels
• Four Elements Herbals
• Freeplay Gadgets
• Earthrugs
• Skoy Cloths
• Pest Control Solutions
• Rechargeable Batteries

And their energy efficiency products include:

• Solar Photovoltaic
• Solar Thermal
• Wind Turbines
• Sun-Domes
• Lighting Fixtures
• Lighting Upgrades
• Energy Audits
• Energy Saving Ideas
• On Demand Water Heaters
• Solar Thermal & Water Heating
• Eco-plumbing

I was especially impressed by their eco-stapler and their sun-dome lighting fixture, which can bring natural sunlight to even the darkest basement.  And while Green Plan-It is in Baraboo, WI, they are online and global in their mail order delivery!

Fellow Examiner Richard Krueger is a hypermiler.

What is hypermiling you ask?  It’s method of increasing your car’s gas mileage by making skillful changes in the way you drive, allowing you to save gas and thereby have an easier time withstanding the rising oil and gas prices.

Richard is so well versed in these techniques, he is often sought out by major OEM’s who want real time feedback on the mileage possibilities of their cars, having driven a Yukon hybrid once in a Detroit winter weather storm and still managed 38mpg in a vehicle rated at 20mpg.

In his Ford Escape hybrid, Richard has one his class for the past three years during the MPG Challenge, part of the 2009 Hybridfest Green Drive Expo in Madison, Wisc.

During Hybridfest Green Drive Expo in Madison, Wisc., I met Jack Chen of Automation Tech, Inc.  Located in Warren, Mich., Automation Tech is the exclusive US distributor of the Enginer Prius PHEV conversion kit with Lithium Phosphate battery, manufactured in Shanghai, China.

As exclusive distributors, Jack’s mission is to bring affordable hybrid conversion kits to the masses. With prices starting from $999 for the DIY kit with no batteries, to $2,995 for the 4kWh kit with a 20 mile all electric range, his conversion kits are can dramatically improve fuel efficiency to 100 mpg and save 520 gallons of gasoline per year.

The first PHEV Conversion Kit for both Prius Gen 1 & Gen 2 Vehicles, the proprietary technology is designed for simplicity–they don’t hack into the computer and force the battery into electric mode, instead they focus on supplementing and charging the battery stack, resulting in only 5 wires integrated into the car and an installation time of 2-3 hours.

Look for Automation Tech and Enginer in booth #515 during the Plug-In ‘09 conference at the Long Beach Convention Center, August 10-13 in Long Beach, Calif.

As operators of heavy duty engines search for alternatives to dirty diesel, Jeffrey Bach and his team invite them to get fired up!

He and his company, Fire Em Up, are makers of the Diesel Magnum, a propane substitution system for diesel engines, providing dramatic reductions in harmful emissions, as well as substantial reductions in fuel expense, by increasing the efficiency of the combustion process.

Supplying alternative fuel products for both diesel and gasoline powered equipment, the company’s goal is to make a global impact on the environment, with green technologies, utilizing clean burning propane and natural gas.

During Hybridfest Green Drive Expo, I spoke with John Dolan, sales consultant at smart Motors in Madison, Wisc.

John was quite knowledgeable about the new 2010 Toyota Prius, which I had until then as yet to be introduced to.

The new 3g Prius combines including integrated fog lamps and underbody covers for improved drag coefficient (Cd), technology and safety features like intelligent parking, lane keep assist and a pre-collison safety system, plus interior and extrior elements like a solar roof, UV reduction glass and eco plastics, to achieve an estimated 51/48 mpg!

During Hybridfest Green Drive Expo in Madison, Wisc., I had the opportunity to meet Lucy Zweep of Ozee Cars, distributors of Neighborhood Electric Vehicles or NEV’s.

NEV’s are a category invented by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association. Here’s what you need to know:

Speed: They don’t go smokin’ fast, but they’re not golf carts, either. The “true” Neighborhood Electric Vehicles go at least 19 mph and no faster than 25 mph. They are designed to travel in “neighborhoods” or streets posted 35 mph or lower.

Street Legal: It’s okay to drive on 35mph posted or less streets, at least, in most states. Check with our local municipality for the ordinance they have in place regarding the Neighborhood Electric Vehicles.

Safety:  A true NEV, must adhere Federal Safety requirements. NEV’S are safer than a bicycle, moped, horse and buggy, or motorcycle, all of which share the roads with NEV’S.

Charging: They plug into a standard 110v outlet (like the one where you plug in your toaster, for example). Generally it takes 6-8 hours to recharge them, depending on how drained the batteries are.

Operating Costs: It costs from 1 penny a mile to operate them, depending on the price of electricity per kilowatt-hour in your neck of the woods.

Purchase Price:  The average NEV will start at around $8,000 and can be customized with several options for each individual

Financing: E-loans has volunteered to provide auto loans, even if your credit is a little…eccentric, for Neighborhood Electric Vehicles.

Tax Incentives: There may be a tax credit or incentive depending on where you live. Check with your accountant for any incentives or credits you may receive from purchasing a NEV.

Products offered by Ozee include the California-based Vantage 7-passenger minivan, the Columbia Par Car, golf/estate vehicles and EZ Ride E-bikes!

As automakers begin making battery-electric vehicles (BEV’s) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, (PHEV’s) more and more public utility companies are examining the infrastructure needs required to charge them.

During Hybridfest Green Drive Expo in Madison, Wisc., I spoke with Laura Williams, market development manager for Madison Gas & Electric, Dane County’s public utlity providing about 140,000 residents with electricity and natural gas.

The challenges for the utility are different than say that of Los Angeles as it’s power is more impacted by coal than in the west, and as a result, the company is very forward looking as it works to preserve and protect the environment while providing affordable, reliable energy for it’s consumers.  In 2008 alone, MGE increased its wind energy capacity from 11 megawatts to 87.

Another area they are interested in is smart charging, and MGE has partnered with Couloumb Technologies and Carbon Day to develop the EV public charging infrastructure, deploying five ChargePoint™ Networked Charging Stations around the city.