SKODA power plant to reduce CO2 emissions by a quarter

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

SKODA power plant to reduce CO2 emissions by a quarter

SKODA power plant to reduce CO2 emissions by a quarter
We Are Players by Stephen Brooks
SKODA has started producing a test fleet of Octavia Green E lines

Posted: 30 Aug 2011 07:42 PM PDT

SKODA wants to reduce the CO2 emissions from the thermal power plant SkoEnergo by one quarter until the year 2015. The reduction is to be achieved primarily through the utilization of biomass. In 2015, about one third of the total power generated shall come from renewable energies. The power plant of the SKODA subsidiary SkoEnergo was put into operation in 2000. It produces power for the vehicle production at the headquarters of the manufacturer and serves as the thermal power plant for the city of Mlada Boleslav.

Emissions from the Mlada Boleslav power plant to be lowered by 130,000 metric tons of CO2 per year by 2015
An important contribution within the framework of the sustainability strategy of the manufacturer
One third of the power to be generated from biomass

The annual power generation by SkoEnergo amounts to 420,000 MWh. Even today, 50,000 MWh of that amount is already generated through the incineration of biomass. Until the year 2015, the amount of power generated from biomass should increase to 140,000 MWh. One third of the generated power should then be provided by renewable sources.

Michael Oeljeklaus, the SKODA board member for production and logistics as well as the chairman of the supervisory board of SkoEnergo, underlines the important contribution of this measure toward the sustainability strategy of the car manufacturer: “In order to evaluate the environmental friendliness of a vehicle, one must take its entire lifecycle into consideration. In doing so, an environmentally friendly production is of extraordinary importance. We have already achieved significant improvements with the construction of the power plant in 2000. Now, SkoEnergo wants to take another giant step in the next four years and reduce CO2 emissions by a total of 25 percent until 2015. This is a central measure within the framework of our sustainability policy and shows how determined SKODA pushes its efforts in environmental protection,” said Oeljeklaus.

Miroslav Zdansky, the commercial manager of SkoEnergo, adds: “Our company is steadily reducing CO2 emissions. Biomass has already been used since the year 2005 and to date has proven to be very effective. The savings amount to about 50,000 metric tons of CO2 per year compared to the traditional energy generation through the incineration of coal and gas. With the measures being implemented until 2015, we can increase the annual savings up to 130,000 metric tons of CO2.”

Whereas classic coal-fired power plants release 750,000 metric tons of CO2 into the air in the production of the same amount of energy, SkoEnergo’s modern facility was able to reduce CO2 emissions to 520,000 metric tons. Until 2015, emissions are to decrease to 390,000 metric tons.

- Skoda

Audi providing 27,000 square meters for photovoltaic power plant

SKODA power plant to reduce CO2 emissions by a quarter

We Are Players by Stephen Brooks

Posted: 30 Aug 2011 07:03 AM PDT

ONEIGHTURBO

We Are Players by Stephen Brooks

A short film from the recent Scene Media x Players BBQ held at Meguiars HQ in the UK .. fantastic afternoon with some cool cars, cool people and good food!

Music – DJ Fresh : Louder

scene-media.com
facebook.com/players
meguiars.co.uk

glidetrack.com
stephenbrooksfilms.com

Only Air by Stephen Brooks

We Are Players by Stephen Brooks

SKODA has started producing a test fleet of Octavia Green E lines

Posted: 29 Aug 2011 07:55 PM PDT

ONEIGHTURBO

SKODA has started producing a test fleet of Octavia Green E lines

SKODA Auto has started producing a test fleet of ten Octavia Green E Lines. In cooperation with contractors, the vehicles will be used to gather information regarding the actual usability, reliability and safety of electromobiles. SKODA’s first-ever vehicle with a 100% electric drive, the Octavia Green E Line pursues the brand’s strategy focused on environmentally friendly operation of passenger cars.

SKODA has launched production of an electromobile test fleet
Ten electromobiles in total to be used for gaining experience in ordinary traffic
The testing is to be done in cooperation with contractors

The first Octavia Green E Lines are going to appear on the road this year in autumn. Drivers will recognize it by design marks and new safety feature – sound generator that simulates sound of engine up to the speed of 40 km/h). Experts believe that electromobiles will play an increasingly important role in reducing CO2 emissions. In close cooperation with the Volkswagen Group, SKODA wants to play a leading role in this process. That is why information gathered in ordinary traffic is seen as an important input for further research & development in this area.

Electric drive is an integral part of the package of drive technologies that SKODA offers across its model portfolio in its quest to reduce emission and consumption levels and increase effectiveness. Whether it is downsizing applied throughout the engine portfolio or sophisticated technologies used in the second-generation GreenLine models such as the start-stop system, energy recovery and now the electric drive, the key driver is always the same, i.e. the brand’s intention to offer vehicles that are as environmentally friendly and as safe as possible. In pursuit of this philosophy, SKODA is going to offer its customers the first plug-in hybrid vehicle in the future.

SKODA Auto BOD Member for Technological Development Dr. Eckhard Scholz says: “Emission-free mobility is one of our key goals for the future, and my opinion is that electromobiles are the right answer to the increasingly stringent emission limits and the need to develop the automotive industry sustainably. Our strength lies in a combination of our highly competent and qualified technological development staff and the Volkswagen Group’s extensive know-how, and I believe that it is exactly this combination that will enable us to develop an electromobile to be seen as a real step forward.”

The Green E Line is based on the Skoda Octavia Combi. With its modular floor design, this series-production car is considered the ideal option in terms of arranging the battery, the electronic control units and the electric engine with a constant power of 60 kW and max. power of 85 kW. In developing this car, SKODA used some of the existing VW Group modules, too. Available right after the start (as is typical of this type of drive), the maximum torque of 270 Nm gives the car enough power for a sharp pull-out and a good amount of agility and responsiveness, which the driver will appreciate mainly when accelerating in busy city traffic. The Octavia Green E Line accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just twelve seconds, and its maximum speed is limited to 135 km/h. The electricity for the Octavia Green E Line is supplied by a modern ion-lithium battery (26.5 kWh) with a range-per-charge of 150 kilometers that is made up of 180 lithium-ion cells, weighs about 315 kilograms and recovers energy as the driver brakes with the engine.

- Skoda

Skoda Auto present the Octavia LPG and Octavia Combi LPG

SKODA has started producing a test fleet of Octavia Green E lines

Inline Performance Magazine

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Inline Performance Magazine

IPM Accepts Tim Lincecum’s Redbull Ultimate Challenge

Posted: 29 Aug 2011 10:00 PM PDT

Hey, what’s going on everyone? It’s been a while since I updated my little section here and thought I’d let you know that the IPM team has recently accepted Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants’ Ultimate pitching challenge sponsored by Redbull. Wow, that was a mouth full.

Anyways, the rules are pretty simple: duplicate Tim Lincecum’s unique pitching style, or impress him with yours. So, here are my entry, Graham’s and Paul’s. Enjoy.

The most accurate pitches actually came from Graham. You heard him in the video, he can throw.

Be sure to head on over to on.fb.me/TimUltimate to cast your vote. Some of those kids have cannons for arms!

You can also submit your own, just make sure they are under one minute. Entries are accepted until September 16th and voting begins the day following.

Stay tuned for more updates, and be sure to order your copy of the 2011 print edition of Inline Performance Magazine HERE at the pre-order price until supplies last.

If you like this post then please consider subscribing to our full feed RSS or receive new posts by Email.

Official: The new Volkswagen up!

Posted: 22 Aug 2011 07:00 AM PDT

ONEIGHTURBO

Official: The new Volkswagen up!

Gallery after the jump!

Four years after the first up! concept was revealed, Volkswagen will bring the up! to the European masses. Due to U.S buyers need for large vehicles with excessive storage, VW has no immediate plans to bring it stateside. The production model will come in three “budget” trims; the take up! is the entry-level car, move up! the comfort-oriented one and high up! the top version. Two launch models will be available based on the high up!; the up! black and the up! white.

Two new 1-liter engine versions, City Emergency Braking, Portable Infotainment Device (PID) and a great interior design will make this urban vehicle standout. Look for it to hit European roads in December.

up! debuts as first car in its class with City Emergency Braking

Volkswagen has redrawn the map of the small car world. The goal: to develop a small car with charisma, a small car with maximum space on a minimal footprint, a small car with the most fuel-efficient engines or an electric drive, a small car with intuitive infotainment and operating systems, a small car with the safety of a large car. The result is the new up! It measures a short 3.54 meters and is a specialist for everyday urban living that was thought through to the last detail. This car – like the larger Polo and the even larger Golf – will appeal to people of all ages and mobility wishes.

Affordable for everyone. In launching the up!, Volkswagen is not only putting a new car in motion; it is also redefining the parameters of customization and financing. This means that along with clearly delineated equipment lines on the up!, new features will be offered such as up! boxes – e.g. box sets for shopping, long trips or for children on board. The up! will have an infotainment system that owners can tailor to their personal profiles using apps. And because a small car needs to be affordable, a new financing model known as AutoCredit2 that is exclusively tailored to up! buyers will offer greater financial freedom thanks to its flexible configuration options. And for many people, this will make the goal of driving a safe and economical new car more attainable than ever. Like the Beetle back in the 1950s, one could say that the up! is once again “democratizing” car driving.

Launch in December. The up! will first be launched in the European market. It all starts in December. There are 3 versions for different budgets and needs: take up! is the entry-level car, move up! the comfort-oriented one and high up! the top version. Directly at the car’s market launch, there will also be 2 independent models based on the high up!: the up! black and the up! white.

Official: The new Volkswagen up!

New generation of engines

4.2 l/100 km with petrol engine. Debuting in the up! is a new generation of three-cylinder petrol engines. They output 44 kW / 60 PS and 55 kW / 75 PS. Combined fuel consumption as a BlueMotion Technology version (including a Stop/Start system): 4.2 l/100 km (60 PS) and 4.3 l/100 km (75 PS). Both of these 1.0-litre engines emit less than the 100 g/km CO2 limit. A natural gas engine with 50 kW / 68 PS with the same basic configuration will follow. Its combined fuel consumption of 3.2 kg/100 km (natural gas) is equivalent to a CO2 value of 86 g/km; as a BlueMotion Technology version the natural-gas powered up! even attains a low CO2 value of 79 g/km. There are also definite plans for an up! with an electric drive for the year 2013.

First small car with City Emergency Braking

Stops automatically. An important new safety technology system is the optional City Emergency Braking. It is automatically active at speeds under 30 km/h, and it uses a laser sensor to detect the risk of an imminent collision. Depending on the vehicle’s speed and the driving situation, City Emergency Braking can reduce accident severity by initiating automatic brake interventions – and possibly even avoid a crash. So far, the up! is the only vehicle in the segment to be offered with an emergency braking function for city driving.

Dimensions and styling for the world’s metropolitan areas

Extremely long wheelbase. With its noted 3.54 metre length and 1.64 metre width, the up! is one of the smallest four-seat cars. The Volkswagen is 1.48 meters tall. Its overall length consists of conspicuously short body overhangs and a very long wheelbase (2.42 meters) – a body layout that fully utilizes the space available in the new design. Klaus Bischoff, Head of Design for the Volkswagen Brand says: “If the goal is to maximize space, the ideal form for a small car would be a rectangular box. In the up! we were able to sculpt such a box with a clean and powerful design that does not lose sight of space utilization.” The front end of the up! reveals much about the car’s character. Klaus Bischoff: “The face is unmistakably that of a genuine Volkswagen, but with a very independent personality. Naturally, the familiar styling characteristics of our brand face can also be found on the up! – the emphasis of horizontal elements and the connection of the grille and headlights to form a band, the accents created by small angles and the characteristic light signature of the headlights. But more than on any of the other models, the up! definitely shows a smile. The up! is simply appealing, and it appeals in a simple way!”

Official: The new Volkswagen up!

Uncompromisingly good use of interior space

Small giant. Space utilization in the car is exceptionally good, because of its wheelbase – one of the longest in the segment – combined with an engine that is mounted well forward. Although the driver, front passenger and 2 rear passengers are traveling in a small car, it is by no means a cramped vehicle. On the contrary. Consider the boot: 251 liters are significantly more than is typical in the vehicle class of the up! When the rear seat is fully folded, cargo space even increases to 951 liters. These two values show that in its interior the up! will be a giant among small cars.

An interior design that is fun

Lots of interior color. Essentially, the up! interior has a very clean and well-organized layout. The new Volkswagen also offers numerous clever and detailed solutions, fun styling and a level of quality that will enhance the market segment. Especially high-end is the Dash Pad, an instrument pad extending crosswise in front of the driver and front passenger. Depending on the equipment line, either decor paint or one of the 5 body colors is used in the interior.

up! boxes – small things that make a big difference

The developers of the up! asked themselves whether everyday living with the car could be structured in a simpler and friendlier way. Their answer was a decisive yes! Because it is often the small things that make a big difference. And that is how the idea of the up! boxes came about. Small, lightweight boxes for a wide variety of situations and needs. Take the “kid box”, for example, that was designed for parents with small children; it includes a bag for the thousand small items that are essential with small children; and of course a toy to cuddle with and a lunch box for the obligatory snacks. Other up! boxes will be called the “city box” and the “travel box”. And their names are their agendas.

Official: The new Volkswagen up!

maps + more – the Portable Infotainment Device (PID)

Mobile Information. For the first time in a Volkswagen, the maps + more system is now being offered, a mobile Portable Infotainment Device (PID). In the economically priced up!, this is a system that is equally economical and was developed to organize the navigation, telephone, information and entertainment areas. In cooperation with Navigon, one of the world’s leading suppliers of navigation systems, a special solution was tailored to the up! which is affordable for all buyers – maps + more. The user simply snaps the PID into place above the centre console. Unlike many other similar systems of this type, maps + more melds with the car’s network of systems much better: navigation, telephone and infotainment can now be controlled and viewed via the PID touchscreen, and the touchscreen can also be used to view important vehicle information, such as the visual display of the ParkPilot (controls the car’s distance to the next vehicle). Apps specially developed for the up! also let users extend maps + more to meet their specific needs.

Note:
Features and technical data apply to models offered in Germany. They may differ in other countries. All fuel economy and driving performance data are forecast values as of August 2011.