Say your '73 Porsche 911, which you bought brand-new, failed to pass the Washington smog test 17 years later. Would you break out the wrenches and make it pass... or would you convert it to electric power? Exactly! And that's what the owner of this 1973 Porsche 911T did, installing electric motor, batteries, the works. We may have to dock some PCH points here for the good grammar and detailed description (and where's the official eBay CAPS LOCK style?), especially since the seller has a big website full of info on the project, but don't worry- the hell is still there! See, the electric 911 stopped running after 357 miles, and it's been sitting since 1999. The seller straight-up says "This was an electric car. To be one again, a lot of work is needed." There's corrosion from battery-acid leakage. The brakes are garbooned. There's all the stuff you'd normally have to deal with on a car that's been sitting in a damp climate for a decade. But still, electric 911! Imagine getting this thing geared up for some Tesla-hunting!

Could a fully restored, turn-key electric car really be considered a project? You bet... as long as it's a British Leyland product. I don't care how many components you replace, the spirit of Joe Lucas will always come along for the ride in this electric 1980 Triumph Spitfire. The Spitfire is a popular subject for electric-drive conversion; it's small, light, sporty, and the fact that nobody in his or her right mind wants one makes Spitfire deals quite cheap. This one has a 120-volt motor and ten 135AH batteries, and the seller claims it will do 75 MPH. Range? Who knows? The seller says it's at least 35 miles. We suggest ditching all that lo-po gear and building it up to White Zombie standards... well, once you've fixed all the stuff that will break just getting into your garage. Thanks to BZR for the tip!

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... and, if the power of the Escort proves too formidable, maybe I
could find one of these for next year's LeMons.

This was in Silverlake, between the worksite for the racecar and my house. At first glance it seems like a cartoon car made flesh (or fiberglass). Upon closer inspection, it seems to be like an American Reliant Robin, but smaller, flimsier, and electricer. Made in Long Beach, CA! I'm guessing somewhere from the late 60s-early 70s. Lots of off-the shelf parts (trailer/jeep taillights, golf cart bits, maybe even shopping cart hardware.)

Anyway, seems like fun to me.

How much lower? That's a silly question to ask considering how GM seems to keep mixing the messages themselves. An $18,000 price point difference makes for a mighty different business case though, especially considering gas will only be available with live organ exchange by 2010. [Translated from German: FAZ.net]

First of all, we have a hard time getting really enthusiastic about a veggie-oil-powered Mercedes-Benz diesel, because that's what 99.9% of veggie-oil-burnin' types are running- if you're going to go to the trouble of converting your vehicle to burn weird fuel, at least start with a weird vehicle! In fact, we think the best approach is to get a car that never came with a diesel option from the factory. For example, you could buy this 1986 Mazda RX-7 with Chevette diesel engine, which has been bid up to just over 300 bucks at this point. Yes, a Chevette diesel-powered RX-7, folks! Does it get any better than that? It starts up and moves under its own power, but "Feels like it needs struts on all four corners," so you'll have to figure on fixing the suspension before you get started putting a 200-gallon heated bacon grease tank in the back. Oh yeah, the Isuzu diesel used in the Chevette managed only 51 horsepower, so you'll either need to add turbocharging or get used to driving a car that takes several miles of acceleration to reach highway speed. Thanks to JRHMobile for the tip!

There's nothing wrong with using a factory diesel vehicle as the basis for your veggie-oil conversion, as long as you choose something more unusual than a Mercedes-Benz or even Peugeot (you Yurpeans have more diesel options, of course, so we suggest you head to an ex-Warsaw Pact nation and locate a Zaporozhets fitted with a Bulgarian diesel tractor engine). We tried and failed to find an example of the super-elusive Ford Tempo Diesel, but we've got the next best thing: this 1985 Mercury Lynx diesel (go here if the ad disappears). Have you ever seen a diesel Lynx? Of course not... which makes the $1,100 price tag seem like quite a steal for such a rare machine. It "runs good," though there's what sounds like a front main seal leak, the battery is "not very good," and it has "some rust and dents." Horsepower rating? 52! So while you're converting your Lynx to run on falafel oil, you'll probably want to add some turbocharging gear.

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There's no law that says you have to run dinosaur juice in your diesel; vegetable oil or animal fat works just fine! Oh sure, some worrywarts will tell you that you need to use some kind of witches' brew of methanol, lye, and who-knows-what-all and make actual biodiesel, but that's only if you want to run the stuff in an unmodified diesel engine. However, this is Hell, where nothing is unmodified! Not only that, most of the cars in Hell are French... like, say, this '79 Peugeot 504 diesel, which can be purchased in running condition for only $1,500. Put in a bunch of filters and fuel heaters and start making friends with the manager of your local donut shop, because you're breaking free of the oil companies' stranglehold! We suggest adding turbocharging and intercooling, because there's no reason you need to be slow while you're saving the planet, right?

A veggie-oil diesel looks pretty good on the greenhouse-gas balance sheet, all right (assuming you're using played-out cooking oil as fuel; once you start pouring fresh veggie oil into the tank you get into a maddening internal debate about how much carbon was generated making the oil), but it still spews out all manner of icky particulates in the exhaust- which is hell on folks with asthma- not to mention lots of unpleasant nitrogen compounds due to the high compression and combustion temperatures inside a diesel. But there's an alternative, you green-minded Hell Project demon, you: electric power! How about a full-hybrid vehicle, in which a small internal-combustion engine charges the batteries of an electric drive system, just like a railroad locomotive? You can optimize the ICE engine with fuel-delivery and camshaft trickery so's it runs at optimal efficiency, and plug the car into household current (or, greener still, solar panels on your roof, thus relieving you of the maddening internal debate about the "remote polluting" effect of electrical generation via nonrenewable resources) so the generator hardly need run at all! Of course, you wouldn't want to drive some glorified golf cart or you wouldn't be reading this site, so we've found just the car for you: this '74 Austin Marina, already converted to a full-hybrid powertrain! Yes, it's a British car with an aircraft starter motor and a 7HP gasoline engine running a generator (we'd suggest a propane conversion on the engine, for seriously low smog output). Hmm... British... electric... Malaise Era... what could go wrong? The car is in pretty nice shape, so you might not have to spend more than many months a week or so chasing super-rare Austin parts for it, and best of all is the price: only 600 bucks!

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We're not at all up on the industrial and ecological impact of ammonia as a fuel, but it is interesting. Just think, if this had taken off, we wouldn't be troubled hippy-owned grease burners smelling of French fries, instead we'd all have watery eyes from the prodigious stench of ammonia. [Youtube]

The plant location in question is in Madison, PA, and when complete will be capable of producing 40,000 gallons of ethanol annually. Consider this as just the start for Coskata, as they have even bigger plants planned for 2011. Color us unimpressed at this point, as 40,000 gallons is about enough to get a flexfuel Suburban to the Trader Joe's and back. [CNET]

Why the heck didn't Jaguar put truck beds on their cars straight from the factory? Take the XJ-S, for instance: V12 torque, comfy leather interior, beautiful lines- in short, everything you want in a cartruck! Obviously, it falls to the Jaguar owner to deal with this shortcoming. Those of you who have been planning to build your own XJ-Schero can save many months of hard work by starting with this Rancheroized 1990 Jaguar XJ-S as the basis of your project. For some inexplicable reason, this car failed to sell for the chump-change price of two grand, and that means the seller is likely ready to deal! The seller, clearly unaware of the naming convention for cartrucks, has named this '90 XJ-S a "Jagmino," but the inclusion of a free '85 parts car makes up for the incorrect name. Yes, you get two Jags for the price of one here! There's no fuel tank, no back window, and no bed floor, and of course you get some funky E-Type carburetors to make things more interesting. Those minor headaches will be nothing compared to the pride you'll feel cruising your V12 Jagchero around town, however- a few repairs, some fabrication... how hard can it be? Thanks to BZR (who already has a PCH Tipster T-shirt) for the tip!

We like a V12 cartruck, that's for sure! But what if the future really will be about the electric car? You won't want to be caught driving weenie plastic bubblecars, and of course nobody is going to be able to afford the Tesla. No, if the electric-car future really happens, the Jalopnik-Approved™ approach will be something more along the lines of what Plasma Boy has done with his electric Datsun 1200. That's right, a drag racer that burns electrons! Of course, a rear-engined/rear-drive machine gives you better traction off the line, but that doesn't mean your high-voltage machine needs to be a VW or even a Porsche. Leave those machines to the conformists, because you'll be blasting out of the lights in this electric 1968 Renault 10 (go here if the ad disappears), which is available for just $1,500. What we have here is a 40-year-old French car with a 28-year-old electric conversion that's been sitting for decades, so you have to figure on at least a few hours of tinkering before it's ready to be used as an environmentally friendly daily driver. The daily-driver stage will be a temporary way station on your way to taking on Plasma Boy at the strip, however, and that means you'll need to get busy beefing up the chassis to handle the mighty torque of a monster electric motor and the weight of batteries. Hey, maybe rust isn't even a major factor here! Thanks, plus a half-credit towards a PCH Tipster T-shirt, to LTDScott.

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Here's what the giant railroad concern has to say, about their engagement with National Alternative Fuel Autos Month, which is April :

"Union Pacific Railroad is the largest automotive carrier west of the Mississippi River," said Julie Krehbiel, vice president and general manager - Autos at Union Pacific. "During National Alternative Fuel Autos Month we want to drive awareness of Union Pacific's role in delivering greener vehicles and fuel to market."

Drive awareness? Sounds more like coat-tailing to us, or at best shameless flack opportunism. Hey, bully for Union Pacific if they're picking up business as energy-usage consciousness evolves in the USA. Just don't make it sound like there's some sort of higher ecological ethic at play. Still, we'll look forward to further releases during National Organic Avocado Month and on Take Your Compost Pile to Work Week. [Union Pacific]

Oh, yes, the same damn thing happened at the Rolls-Royce press conference at the Detroit Auto Show. A highly competent looking man of British descent stood up and said things, not new things, but things that were full of confidence and self-assurance. With BBC-caliber diction. Nice.

Bentley has three vehicles here in the City That Never Sleeps but would probably be perfectly happy to sleep in a Bentley, if the opportunity arose. We saw the GT Speed, the friskily monikered Continental Flying Spur, which ought to fly with a V12 under its aubergine hood, and the Bentley Broadlands cou-pay, in opalescent pearl. Yes, they are all gloriously beautiful and sumptuously appointed.

However, according the company, beauty plus brawn does not necessarily satisfy all the needs of the finicky Bentley customer. No, the members of that elevated tax bracket (or lack thereof, Monaco Bentley owners!) want an alternative-fuel strategy from the brand. And the brand does not intend to disappoint.

"The consequences of climate change cannot be ignored," intoned Stuart McCullough, Bentley board member and master of sales and marketing.

I'll break it down for you and see if it makes sense. Seventeen lousy pages—how long can it take?

We promise there are no tricks of photography, no tricks, this is a real picture and two grown men are in the Smera. You can look for pixels yourself with this full size image. Guess that explains the funny shape of the lower seat cushion. We thought the press release was in error when it said two passengers. So now we have a two seat, all electric, four wheeled, leaning micro car that will get to 62 MPH in 8 seconds, top out at 80 MPH, and run for 93 miles. This just keeps getting better and better. We actually kind of want to give one a spin now.

...is capable of 80 MPH and goes for a range of up to 93 miles. Best of all, it leans into turns just like a motorcycle so we're assuming driving it has got to be a riot. The little car is powered by two 20 BHP electric motors feeding off of lithium ion batteries capable of a rechage by way of standard domestic power outlet. The quoted 0-100 KPH time is 8 seconds, which for a super economy car is fantastic. That even beats the Fiat 500 Abarth from the starting tree. Disc brakes on all four do the stopping and the car is equipped with a safety cage and seat belts in case things get out of hand. The car is a proof of concept at this point and the whole company seems to be owned by the Moulene family, who fill the posts of president to technical manager. Planned production for 2009 is 250 units but we've got no clue on price

BMW VISION EFFICIENTDYNAMICS AT THE 78TH INTERNATIONAL GENEVA MOTOR SHOW

Character:
• World premiere of the concept car BMW Vision EfficientDynamics,
showing a further stage in the BMW EfficientDynamics development strategy. The first time a 4-cylinder diesel engine has been combined with BMW ActiveHybrid Technology in a large Sports Activity Vehicle.
• The concept study based on a BMW X5 - even as a serial production model extremely efficient and dynamic - shows the unique potential
of technology developed as part of the BMW EfficientDynamics programme. It combines BMW's superior diesel expertise with the innovative BMW ActiveHybrid Technology. A further increase in efficiency
is achieved by means of BMW EfficientDynamics measures in the environment of the combustion engine by optimising energy flow and aerodynamics.
• By intelligently combining a combustion engine and a generator as part
of a Mild Hybrid concept, dynamic performance and efficiency are increased to an equal degree. With the extensive deployment of measures which are in some cases ready for serial production and were in some cases specially developed for this study, there is maximum utilisation of the potential of BMW EfficientDynamics for the reduction of fuel consumption and CO2 emission levels up to the limits of what is feasible within the
BMW X5 vehicle segment. At the same time, the study clearly shows that any additional increase in efficiency over and above the highly efficient BMW vehicles already available today can only be achieved by means of
an exponential increase in effort and expense.
• With an average fuel consumption of 6.5 litres per 100 kilometres in the
EU test cycle and a CO2 emission level of 172 grams per kilometre,
BMW Vision EfficientDynamics is by far the most efficient vehicle of its
size in the competitive environment of the BMW X models. The significant reduction of fuel consumption and exhaust emission levels is realised having to forego BMW's characteristic driving dynamics. In addition to acceleration (0-100 km/h in 8.9 seconds), comfort and versatility are also at the level of a large SAV - but in conjunction with the fuel consumption and CO2 emission levels of conventional vehicles in the compact class.
Technology:
• The 2.0 litre 4-cylinder diesel engine with Variable Twin Turbo, common
rail injection of the third generation and all-aluminium crankcase
housing delivers 150 kW/204 bhp and generates a maximum torque of 400 Nm between 2,000 and 2,250 rpm. It is the first diesel in the
world with a specific power output of over 100 bhp per litre of capacity.
• BMW ActiveHybrid is based on a modular principle which allows
the integration of the best possible components in differing concepts, according to the "Best of Hybrid" strategy. The components used in
the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics study - Mild Hybrid and 4-cylinder diesel - harmonise just as perfectly as the combination of Full Hybrid and the 8-cylinder petrol engine in the BMW Concept X6 ActiveHybrid.
• The innovative hybrid system of the concept study BMW Vision EfficientDynamics reflects the most sophisticated stage of development of intelligent energy management in the vehicle to date. In the Mild Hybrid concept, the generator contributes to vehicle acceleration with 15 kW and
a maximum torque of 210 Nm. The total output of the vehicle is 165 kW.
The hybrid technology thus increases the dynamic potential of the
4-cylinder diesel engine in way which is in keeping with the character of the BMW X5, as well as enabling the combination of a small engine with
a large vehicle in the first place. What is more, the generator produces electricity to supply the power consumers in the vehicle by means of
Brake Energy Regeneration. This minimises the direct conversion of fuel into electrical energy and maximises the drive torque available for conversion into driving dynamics.
• Power generation: the compact generator, integrated in the crankcase housing, replaces a conventional generator powered directly by the engine. Electrical energy is produced by Brake Energy Regeneration with a unique degree of efficiency without impairing the drive torque of the engine. The high-power electronic system - for the first time flange-mounted directly onto the gearbox - allows a compact design which has never been possible before, as well as a sound arrangement of the hybrid components.
• Battery: a high-performance, package-appropriate lithium-ion battery integrated in the luggage compartment supplies the vehicle electrical system. Its high storage capacity enables optimum exploitation of the potential provided by Brake Energy Regeneration.
• Use of electrical power: due to the higher level of electrical power output available, additional vehicle functions can be powered purely electrically. The Auto Start/Stop Function for avoiding idling phases of the combustion engine is available virtually all the time and without any loss of comfort in conjunction with ActiveHybrid Technology.
• The hybrid module is based on a technology which was conceived as
part of the hybrid co-operation between BMW and Daimler. The hybrid co-operation successfully develops components for hybrid drives including high-power electronic systems and high-volt batteries. Here, the specific BMW design of the hybrid drive systems is ensured.
• The concept car BMW Vision EfficientDynamics is fitted with a novel,
highly efficient 8-speed automatic transmission developed jointly by
BMW and ZF Getriebe GmbH. Presented here for the first time and ready for serial production use, this 8-speed automatic transmission makes
an additional contribution to reducing fuel consumption and exhaust emissions with its direct connection to the engine and minimised torque-converter slip. The further increased shift dynamics and direct-find function for moving into the selected driving position promote a dynamic driving response. Power transmission is effected via the intelligent all-wheel
drive system BMW xDrive, i.e. fully variably between the front and rear axle.
• In the concept car BMW Vision EfficientDynamics there is also a solar
roof which acts as an additional energy source for the vehicle power supply which is independent of the engine. High-power solar cells covering
a surface area of some 1.0 square metres generate a maximum energy
of one kilowatt hour for consumers inside and outside the vehicle. This enables pre-heating of the gear oil, thereby shortening the inefficient warm-up phase. What is more, direct energy supply is possible during standstill
for ventilation or for operating a cool box, audio equipment, a mobile phone charger or for charging the vehicle battery, for example. This optimised
the availability and use of electrical energy in a way which is CO2-neutral.

Exterior design:
• BMW Vision EfficientDynamics is based visually and technologically
on the BMW X5. The BMW ActiveHybrid components are integrated in the vehicle in a way which is appropriate to the overall package. The generator and high-power electronic system are integrated in the transmission casing and thus invisible from the outside. A specially designed load compartment recess reflects the compact design of the lithium-ion battery.
• An innovative rim design opens up additional potential in the optimi-
sation of aerodynamics. The aero wheels of the concept car BMW Vision EfficientDynamics make an additional contribution to reducing fuel consumption, for example by requiring one kilowatt less of propulsion power at a speed of 160 km/h. The aerodynamic shaping of the spokes reduces rim ventilation. This has a positive impact on the aerodynamic properties of the vehicle.

Eventually the team is looking into a long-term strategy that would involve creation of a truly and completely sustainable system. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the process as well, so take a gander at the press release below and see if you can figure out all of the eggheady scientific jargon.

ATLANTA (February 11, 2008) —Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a strategy to capture, store and eventually recycle carbon from vehicles to prevent the pollutant from finding its way from a car tailpipe into the atmosphere. Georgia Tech researchers envision a zero emission car, and a transportation system completely free of fossil fuels.

Technologies to capture carbon dioxide emissions from large-scale sources such as power plants have recently gained some impressive scientific ground, but nearly two-thirds of global carbon emissions are created by much smaller polluters — automobiles, transportation vehicles and distributed industrial power generation applications (e.g., diesel power generators).

The Georgia Tech team's goal is to create a sustainable transportation system that uses a liquid fuel and traps the carbon emission in the vehicle for later processing at a fueling station. The carbon would then be shuttled back to a processing plant where it could be transformed into liquid fuel. Currently, Georgia Tech researchers are developing a fuel processing device to separate the carbon and store it in the vehicle in liquid form.

The research was published in Energy Conversion and Management . The research was funded by NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense NDSEG Fellowship Program and Georgia Tech's CEO (Creating Energy Options) Program.

"Presently, we have an unsustainable carbon-based economy with several severe limitations, including a limited supply of fossil fuels, high cost and carbon dioxide pollution," said Andrei Fedorov, associate professor in the Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech and a lead researcher on the project. "We wanted to create a practical and sustainable energy strategy for automobiles that could solve each of those limitations, eventually using renewable energy sources and in an environmentally conscious way."

Little research has been done to explore carbon capture from vehicles, but the Georgia Tech team outlines an economically feasible strategy for processing fossil or synthetic, carbon-containing liquid fuels that allows for the capture and recycling of carbon at the point of emission. In the long term, this strategy would enable the development of a sustainable transportation system with no carbon emission.

Georgia Tech's near-future strategy involves capturing carbon emissions from conventional (fossil) liquid hydrocarbon-fueled vehicles with an onboard fuel processor designed to separate the hydrogen in the fuel from the carbon. Hydrogen is then used to power the vehicle, while the carbon is stored on board the vehicle in a liquid form until it is disposed at a refueling station. It is then transported to a centralized site to be sequestered in a permanent location currently under investigation by scientists, such as geological formations, under the oceans or in solid carbonate form.

In the long-term strategy, the carbon dioxide will be recycled forming a closed-loop system, involving synthesis of high energy density liquid fuel suitable for the transportation sector.

Georgia Tech settled on a hydrogen-fueled vehicle for its carbon capture plan because pure hydrogen produces no carbon emissions when it is used as a fuel to power the vehicle. The fuel processor produces the hydrogen on-board the vehicle from the hydrocarbon fuel without introducing air into the process, resulting in an enriched carbon byproduct that can be captured with minimal energetic penalty. Traditional combustion systems, including current gasoline-powered automobiles, have a combustion process that combines fuel and air — leaving the carbon dioxide emissions highly diluted and very difficult to capture.

"We had to look for a system that never dilutes fuel with air because once the CO2 is diluted, it is not practical to capture it on vehicles or other small systems," said David Damm, PhD candidate in the School of Mechanical Engineering, the lead author on the paper and Fedorov's collaborator on the project.

The Georgia Tech team compared the proposed system with other systems that are currently being considered, focusing on the logistic and economic challenges of adopting them on a global scale. In particular, electric vehicles could be part of a long-term solution to carbon emissions, but the team raised concerns about the limits of battery technology, including capacity and charging time.

The hydrogen economy presents yet another possible solution to carbon emissions but also yet another roadblock — infrastructure. While liquid-based hydrogen carriers could be conveniently transported and stored using existing fuel infrastructure, the distribution of gaseous hydrogen would require the creation of a new and costly infrastructure of pipelines, tanks and filling stations.

The Georgia Tech team has already created a fuel processor, called CO2/H2 Active Membrane Piston (CHAMP) reactor, capable of efficiently producing hydrogen and separating and liquefying CO2 from a liquid hydrocarbon or synthetic fuel used by an internal combustion engine or fuel cell. After the carbon dioxide is separated from the hydrogen, it can then be stored in liquefied state on-board the vehicle. The liquid state provides a much more stable and dense form of carbon, which is easy to store and transport.

The Georgia Tech paper also details the subsequent long-term strategy to create a truly sustainable system, including moving past carbon sequestration and into a method to recycle the captured carbon back into fuel. Once captured on-board the vehicle, the liquid carbon dioxide is deposited back at the fueling station and piped back to a facility where it is converted into a synthetic liquid fuel to complete the cycle.

Now that the Georgia Tech team has come up with a proposed system and device to produce hydrogen and, at the same time, capture carbon emissions, the greatest remaining challenge to a truly carbon-free transportation system will be developing a method for making a synthetic liquid fuel from just CO2 and water using renewable energy sources, Fedorov said. The team is exploring a few ideas in this area, he added.

Many of you are probably thinking you'd go with a Mercedes-Benz turbodiesel for your bacon-grease-powered machine, and others would suggest a big ol' Detroit truck. Nuh-uh... those thangs ain't available in Hell! Besides, they're boring, and you're a trendsetting stylemaster- that's why you need this 1983 Peugeot 505 Turbodiesel! Now, before you go clutching your head in both hands and moaning about French cars and their totally undeserved rep for reliability problems and part-obtainment woes, just take a look at this car. See how nice it looks? Why, the interior looks great, and the body is straight (well, the parts we can see in the photos, anyway). Any car this well-preserved is probably in tip-top mechanical condition, and a diesel with 177,000 miles is just getting started! And man, just $1500? Sold! So, you rig up a heated tank in the back to keep the bacon grease liquid, add some big filters, and tell Big Oil to kiss your Peugeot-drivin' ass!

Have any Americans ever seen, or even heard of a turbodiesel Toyota Camry? No? Well there ya go- simply by peeling 1500 frogskins off your roll, you could have this 1985 Camry Turbodiesel, thus becoming the only person in your time zone to have one. And the mid-80s Camrys actually have some character, unlike the soporific appliances they became later, so you won't suffer from Camry Ennui as you roar past all the stranded dinosaur-juice machines with your tank full of hemp oil (and your head full of another hemp product). The good news about this car is that everything other than engine-related stuff is easy to find in the junkyard (and Toyota quality as well). The bad news is... well, where the hell you gonna find Toyota diesel engine parts? Yes, Europeans, you got plenty of 'em over there... but this car's in California! The seller says the timing belt needs replacing, the injector timing is bad, and the turbo might be bad (probable translation: engine is on its last legs). But hey, nobody needs to know about it if you go swap in a Mercedes turbodiesel engine, do they? That should be, oh, about a one-weekend project, right?

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This spy update is a little different than most. It's not so much about WHAT was photographed; it's more about WHERE it was photographed. While trolling the roads around General Motors' Milford (Michigan) Proving Grounds looking for GM prototypes, we were stunned to see a BMW 7-series prototype approaching us—about one mile from GM's track entrance. We pulled over just in time to snap a series of shots as the new 7-series rolled by, followed by a Mini Cooper apparently serving as a chase car. We had to wait about thirty seconds for traffic to clear enough to permit a U-turn to investigate further, and the delay cost another photo of the 7-series actually entering the GM's Proving Ground entrance. As we rolled up to the light outside the track entrance, the big Bimmer was just disappearing from view as it headed deep into GM territory.

It's a strange sight, indeed, to see another manufacturer's still-secret prototype entering another automaker's test facility. The incongruity can only be explained by one thing: the Global Hybrid Cooperation. The GHC is the Hybrid development program being conducted jointly by Mercedes, BMW and General Motors. This new two-mode Hybrid system was first unveiled on GM's GMT900 sport-utility vehicles, but will soon be adapted for use on the Saturn Vue, as well as for use on light-duty passenger cars—like this new 7-series, for example. BMW's development guru, Burkhard Goschel, explained the reason for the cooperative thusly: "The creation of a shared technology platform for hybrid drives will allow us to more quickly integrate the best technologies on the market." Industry sources suggest that the GHC is the most cost-effective, time-efficient method to play catch-up with the likes of Lexus, Toyota, and Honda, that have been focusing on Hybrids much longer.

DaimlerChrysler and BMW representatives were reportedly on hand for the late-April preview of the two-mode Hybrid system on the GMT900 SUVs, and fielded some questions on their participation in this joint Hybrid program. But when it came time to talk specifics about what BMW vehicles would get the two-mode Hybrid system, conversation ceased, and no details would be provided. This 7-series prototype's visit to the GM Proving Grounds appears to have answered that question without the need for any corporate disclosure. GM will be building the Hybrid transmissions systems for Mercedes and BMW at GM's Baltimore transmission plant, which may have necessitated this 7's visit onto GM Territory. Whether development of the 7-series Hybrid is far enough along to be offered at the launch of the rest of the new 7-series' lineup is not known, but it's development is now clearly under way.

First up is this electrified '89 Ford Escort. It may not look like much, but this car was converted by Sandia National Laboratories, of nuclear weapons fame. Yes, atomic scientists were involved here, so we figure this Escort probably has an experimental superconducting motor that belts out at least 1,000 horses, not to mention its own liquid-sodium-cooled breeder reactor in the back supplying the electrons. Well, maybe not; all the seller tells us is the short-and-to-the-point statement "needs work." For $499, that description covers all you need to know. But just imagine this thing packed to the rafters with all the surplus NiMH laptop batteries you can find in bulk, feeding 880 volts to an electric motor the size of a 55-gallon drum... through the front wheels. Look out!

If you're willing to pay a bit more (top bid is $1035 at the time of this writing), you could go French with your Tesla-whuppin' electric machine. That's right, here's your chance to purchase an actual 1980 Lectric Leopard! Based on the Renault Le Car, the Leopard has achieved cult status among electric car aficionados, so right there you'd have a network of folks to share your pain give you helpful tips as you wrench on your new silent ride. This one needs new batteries and has no paperwork, but don't let that deter you from dropping an atomic bid on it ASAP! Think of the shocked bystanders at the dragstrip when you show up with your Lectric Leopard stuffed with thousands of fire-prone lithium ion cordless-tool batteries and proceed to torque-steer your way to glory!

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ML 450 HYBRID: first German two-mode petrol hybrid SUV on the market

Mercedes-Benz will also be presenting the ML 450 HYBRID, due to be launched on the market in 2009 as the most economical two-mode petrol hybrid SUV worldwide. Its innovative two-mode hybrid system enables electric driving and satisfies the highest comfort demands. With a combined system output of 250 kW/340 hp and a combined maximum torque of 480 Nm, the ML 450 HYBRID consumes just 7.7 litres per 100 kilometres - equivalent to CO2 emissions of 185 g/km.

Product highlights at this year's International Motor Show in Frankfurt also include the new C-Class Estate, which combines functionality with stylish design and hallmark Mercedes refinement. Mercedes-Benz will also be exhibiting various C-Class BLUETEC versions — with and without hybrid — which are due to be launched successively.

All-New 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid Debuts at Major League Baseball's All-Star Game

Malibu Hybrid production begins in October, available at dealerships soon after

SAN FRANCISCO - The all-new 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid will join baseball's other stars as it makes its world debut in the All-Star Fan Zone today. The Malibu Hybrid's appearance continues through the last out of one of MLB's highlights of the year.

Thanks to an affordable hybrid powertrain option, the all-new 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid not only will be the most refined new midsize sedan in the neighborhood, but one of the most fuel-efficient, as well. Powered by the GM Hybrid System, the first-ever Malibu Hybrid delivers an EPA rating of 24 mpg city and 32 mpg highway - a two-mpg increase over the non-hybrid four-cylinder model - and will be Chevrolet value-priced, offering customers an affordable hybrid choice.

"The beauty of the Chevy Malibu Hybrid is that customers don't have to choose between a stylish, expressive, fuel-saving sedan full of standard content and the gasoline that goes in the tank," said Chevrolet General Manager Ed Peper. "The Malibu Hybrid's winning package of uncompromising design and fuel economy will help us assert leadership in the midsize sedan segment and meet the needs of Chevy customers."

Production of the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid is scheduled to begin in October, with vehicles arriving in dealerships shortly thereafter. The system will be available as a powertrain option on the base LS model, which also features Electric Power Steering, Automatic Climate Control and the StabiliTrak electronic stability control system.

The GM Hybrid system featured on the Malibu Hybrid saves fuel by using sophisticated controls and software, as well as a unique, 36-volt electric motor/generator mated to GM Powertrain's 2.4L Ecotec VVT four-cylinder engine and Hydra-Matic 4T45 four-speed transmission. The GM Hybrid system maintains the vehicle's sporty feel and seamlessly reduces fuel consumption by:

* Shutting off the engine when the vehicle is stopped, to minimize idling
* Restarting the engine promptly when the brake pedal is released
* Enabling early fuel shut-off during vehicle deceleration
* Capturing vehicle kinetic energy during deceleration through regenerative braking to charge the advanced nickel metal hydride battery
* Performing intelligent battery charging when it is most efficient

The GM Hybrid system provides additional power, when required, during launch from the electric motor/generator. At wide-open throttle, such as during a passing maneuver, the system enhances acceleration by using the motor/generator to bolster the gasoline engine and achieve maximum power.

The GM Hybrid system also is designed to automatically maintain full accessory functionality - including climate control - when the vehicle is stopped, so that hybrid operation is seamless to the driver and passengers. The Malibu Hybrid delivers an appropriate balance of fuel economy and cabin comfort with an air conditioning system with two selectable modes. The Hybrid A/C mode favors more fuel-efficient performance by limiting the draw on the hybrid powertrain, while the normal mode provides maximum passenger comfort in hot climates and enhances defogging performance.

Malibu Hybrid models make a statement away from the gas pump, too, thanks to specific exterior appointments such as 16-inch low rolling resistance tires and unique hybrid badging. Inside, a special gauge cluster provides information and feedback about the hybrid powertrain's operation.

The 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid is covered by GM's five-year / 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, the most comprehensive in the industry. In addition, the Malibu Hybrid's advanced nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery pack is covered by an eight-year / 100,000-mile warranty.

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader for 76 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 280,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries. In 2006, nearly 9.1 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.

First pizza prices go up, and now tequila is next to feel the price pressure caused by the trendy demand for ethanol vehicle fuels. A doubling of corn prices has made cultivation of the agave plant (source of Sammy Hagar's favorite drink) less profitable than corn, prompting agave farmers in Mexico to abandon their erstwhile crop and strike it rich on the yellow stuff. What's next, beer? – Murilee Martin

Mexican farmers replace tequila plant with corn [Christian Science Monitor]

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Corn Demand Up, Pizza Prices Skyrocket [internal]

Imagine a four-liter normally aspirated V8 that makes 1,000 horsepower and gets good mileage? According to the Italian NEVIS (New Exhaust Valve & Intake System) Engine Company LTD., this sort of engine will soon be a reality. Complete with innovations such as donut-shaped pistons, the ability to run on any fuel you like (gasoline, diesel, bio, meth, hydrogen) and the Trekkie sounding Bortone Cycle, NEVIS's product should extend the life of the ICE for many decades to come. The killer app is the already mentioned Bortone Cycle that allows a power stroke for every 120 degrees of crankshaft rotation. Which means that for every power stroke your