Corsa Motorsports Creates Hybrid Le Mans Racer, Goes Quietly Into That Green Night

According to FOXNews, the American Le Mans Series has teamed up with the Environmental Protection Agency to create the “Green Challenge”, a harbinger of the apocalypse intended to promote the use of alternative fuel technologies. In addition to overall performance, participants in Le Mans will also be ranked by the amount of energy their vehicles use and the size of their subsequent carbon footprint.

Reigning LMP1 champs like Audi R10 are already powered by enviro-friendly diesel or ethanol-converted engines, but Corsa Motorsports is changing the game entirely with their Zytek LMP1 hybrid racer.

Developed jointly with hybrid part supplier and racing engineer, Zytek Group, the Zytek LMP1 hybrid racer is capable of reaching speeds well over 200mph and is technically classified as a serial hybrid. Powered dually by gasoline and electric engines, the Zytek LMP1 features a lithium ion battery-powered 50-hp electric motor that is directly connected to a 4.5L V8 gasoline engine, configured to run on the E10 ethanol/gasoline blend of fuel. Entered to compete in Le Man’s top LMP1 prototype division, the Zytek LMP1 is scheduled to make its preliminary debut October 2 at the Petit Le Mans event at Road Atlanta.

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Company to Produce High Performance Lithium Ion Batteries Just for Cars

The new LEV lithium ion battery in a Mitsubishi iMiEV

Most of the lithium ion batteries used in electric cars today are custom made or put together from batteries meant for some other use. Starting in the first half of 2009, the Japanese company Lithium Energy Japan will be producing new rechargeable high performance lithium ion batteries built specifically for automobiles. The company, which is co-owned by Mitsubishi motors, is building a new manufacturing plant in central Japan.

These batteries will have an improved cell-structure and new electrode materials designed to improve the energy and power density, and give them ten times the capacity of the batteries currently in hybrid electric vehicles. The plant will be able to manufacture 200,000 of the lithium ion batteries a year, each having an output of 3.7 volts each and weighing almost 4 pounds. It will be the first facility to produce lithium ion batteries on a large scale just for cars.

Mitsubishi plans for their new i MiEV (i Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle) to be completely powered by the specially produced lithium ion batteries. They plan on introducing the i MiEV to the market by 2010.

Here’s the “Corporate Message” from Lithium Energy Japan’s website:

“Lithium Energy Japan” is a new company devoted to the development, manufacture and sale of large lithium-ion batteries. GS Yuasa joined forces with Mitsubishi Corporation and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation to establish “Lithium Energy Japan” in December of 2007.

Developing environmentally-friendly EVs to contribute to greenhouse gas (CO2) reduction.

The key to the development of EVs is efficient, compact, and high-performance lithium-ion batteries. The potential uses of such batteries are not limited solely to EVs; they could be used throughout cities to help usher in a new, environmentally-friendly society. And realizing this ‘New Society’ is the goal of “Lithium Energy Japan” as it takes the lead worldwide in achieving mass production of large lithium-ion batteries. “Lithium Energy Japan” makes sure its research and development are always one step ahead, that its selection of products and production capacity is continually expanding, and that it remains a constant contributor to the expansion of the lithium-ion battery market.

Our mission is to use the lithium-ion battery in creating a ‘New Society’ where environmentally-friendly automobiles are widespread, such as EVs and plug-in hybrids, railways, and next-generation transportation which relies on energy regeneration systems and new energy systems, like solar and wind-power.

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RideLusts Top 5 Fuel Efficient Cars You Cannot Have… Yet!

There are a number of concept cars being proposed by the various auto manufacturers and each comes with its own set of fuel efficiency promises. While it is never wise to take all of their promises to heart it IS okay to look forward to the potential that they promise. So with our eyes on a better tomorrow we have compiled a list of RideLusts Top 5 Fuel Efficient Cars You Cannot Have…  Yet!

Number 5:
The Tesla Roadster makes our list at Number 5 as a light, all-electric, plug-in roadster that may allow your gas card to collect some dust in a drawer or to sit so long in your wallet it sticks to the leather. (more…)

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