Porsche to Unveil Its First Production Hybrid

Porsche will introduce the next-generation Cayenne sport utility vehicle, including a hybrid gas-electric version, to the North American market on March 31 during a press conference at the New York International Automobile Show.

Led by a highly advanced hybrid model, the new Porsche Cayenne sport-utility vehicle delivers improved performance while using less fuel and producing fewer emissions throughout the entire model lineup.

The North American Cayenne model range will include four models: the 2011 Cayenne, Cayenne S, Cayenne Turbo and the Cayenne S Hybrid. The S and Turbo models go on sale in July, with the Cayenne and Cayenne S Hybrid in dealer showrooms this fall.

All the new Cayenne models embody the Porsche Intelligent Performance philosophy, the evolution of vehicles sportier than their predecessors, yet more fuel and emissions efficient.

"Porsche Intelligent Performance philosophy is more than a slogan. It is nothing less than Porsche keeping pace with the modern automotive landscape by dramatically lowering emissions, becoming greener and saving fuel," explained Detlev von Platen, Porsche Cars North America President and CEO. "We will we accomplish this through technology and innovative ideas, just as we have throughout our history, and show that Porsche's high performance and efficiency are not contradictory terms."

Cayenne's dynamic new design offers less weight and more room

The Cayenne's new exterior leaves no doubt it is part of the Porsche family. Its sporting character is evident from all angles, and its Porsche shape and highlights are more distinct than before. From a dimensions standpoint, it is 1.9 inches longer than its predecessor, and its wheelbase adds 1.6 inches, ensuring extra interior space and greater versatility. Still, despite its larger exterior, this next-generation Cayenne looks even more compact and dynamic.

Thanks to a special combination of materials as well as changes in the overall vehicle concept, such as a new all-wheel drive system, weight has been reduced on all models. Despite a higher standard of safety features, the Cayenne S, for example, is almost 400 lbs lighter, which not only improves fuel consumption and lowers emissions, but also boosts performance, agility, and handling.

Inside, the luxurious interior features a high center console that, like the Panamera, rises up at an incline to meet the dashboard center stack and a touch-screen infotainment interface. Porsche's traditional set of five round instruments in the driver's gauge cluster includes a high-resolution circular TFT screen to the right of the tachometer. It can be used to change radio stations, vehicle settings, access the navigation system or view the map. Rear-seat comfort is improved, as well. The bench slides fore-and-aft by 6.3 inches, while the backrest can be adjusted.

The advanced Cayenne S Hybrid

The high-tech Cayenne S Hybrid that is debuting at the New York show next week features a highly sophisticated parallel full hybrid system. With a combined power output of 380 horsepower from the supercharged V6 combustion engine and an electric motor, the Cayenne S Hybrid combines the performance of a V8 with the economy of a V6.

Through continuous interaction between the 3.0-liter supercharged V6 and electric motor, the Cayenne S Hybrid focuses on maximum efficiency. Depending on driving conditions, either drive unit can operate independently or together. The 47-horsepower (34 kW) electric motor is the ideal partner for the 333-horsepower engine, which produces high torque at low engine speeds. With peak torque at 428 lb-ft at just 1,000 rpm, the Cayenne S Hybrid's performance is on par with a V8-powered Cayenne S.

The Cayenne S Hybrid's two drive units are connected by a decoupling clutch. A hybrid controller constantly coordinates their complex interaction, and intelligent management of the clutch makes the transition among various driving modes seamless. Like many hybrids, the Cayenne S Hybrid can cover short distances on electric power alone, free of emissions and noise up to 60 km/h or almost 40 mph. For aggressive acceleration, the motor provides an extra 'boost' to the gasoline engine.

Like many hybrids, the Cayenne S Hybrid can cover short distances on electric power alone, free of emissions and noise up to 60 km/h or almost 40 mph. For aggressive acceleration, the motor provides an extra 'boost' to the gasoline engine.

A new standard for Sport Utility Vehicles

All new-generation Cayenne SUVs set high standards for efficiency and performance. Compared with the former models, fuel consumption is down by up to 23 percent in the New European Driving Cycle and CO2 emissions are reduced. Actual EPA-certified fuel economy figures will be available when the cars go on sale in North America in July.

A new eight-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission with a wide range of gear ratios and the Automatic Start Stop function (first introduced on the Panamera) contribute to these improvements. So does efficient thermal management of the engine and transmission cooling circuits, on-board electrical network recuperation, variable deceleration fuel cut-off and the Cayenne's intelligent lightweight construction.

The entry-level Cayenne with its 300-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 engine and mated to the new eight-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission consumes 20 percent less fuel than its predecessor.

Fuel consumption is also down significantly on the high-torque Cayenne S. Its 4.8-liter V8 produces 400 horsepower, 15 more than the previous model.

The Cayenne Turbo, with its 500-horsepower, 4.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 also consumes less fuel than its predecessor despite its improved performance and acceleration.

Three other new Porsche models are making their New York debuts next week. Most prominent is the agile, light and dynamic 2011 Boxster Spyder roadster, a purer Porsche roadster weighing in at just 2,811 lbs. This sleek version of Porsche's popular mid-engine sports car is the lightest Porsche available is on sale now with an MSRP of $61,200. Also on display will be the 2011 911 Turbo Cabriolet featuring a 500-horsepower 3.8-liter engine, the first entirely new engine in 911 Turbo's storied 35-year- history. Finally, the new Porsche Panamera, the company's first four-door Gran Turismo, will grace the Porsche display in New York.

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The Dyson Airblade(TM) Hand Dryer Receives Industry First Carbon Reduction Label

As an industry first, Dyson's patented Airblade™ hand dryer is the first hand dryer to earn the Carbon Reduction Label from the Carbon Trust. Furthermore, Dyson research found that the manufacture of the new polycarbonate-ABS Dyson Airblade™ produces 50% less CO2 emissions than the aluminum equivalent launched in 2007.

The Carbon Reduction Label recognizes manufacturers' commitment to the further reduction of their product's carbon footprint - the amount of carbon emissions (CO2 and other greenhouse gases) produced from its materials and manufacture, transport, in-use and end of life. The Label, established in 2007 is based on PAS2050, the first internationally-accepted product carbon footprint standard. The Carbon Trust only grants their Label to companies with a 'reduce it or lose it' clause whereby if they fail to reduce the carbon footprint of the product in two years the Carbon Trust will withdraw the certification.

The rigorous process revealed that the Dyson Airblade™ hand dryer emits 1,300 kg/ CO2e total emissions during its lifetime or 3.4 g/CO2e per dry(1) – equal to the carbon emissions created by watching just over 2 minutes of television(2).

"Good design and environmental responsibility go hand in hand," says James Dyson, Chief Engineer. "As an engineering company, we are constantly reviewing our machines and manufacturing to deliver better performance using less energy and materials."

The Dyson Airblade™ hand dryer eliminates the power hungry heating element, drying hands faster, more hygienically while using nearly 80% less energy than traditional warm air dryers(3).

According to Tom Delay, Chief Executive of the Carbon Trust, "More so than ever, everything we make and do today has a carbon impact. We commend Dyson for their commitment to measure and reduce the carbon footprint of the Airblade™ hand dryer and hope our recognition helps people find opportunities to tackle climate change."

www.DaviesGreenEnergy.com

Envirepel Clean Renewable Energy Facility to Reopen

Envirepel Energy, Inc. ("EEI"), a privately held company in Vista, California, announced today it plans to reopen its first Renewable Energy Facility ("Kittyhawk") by the middle of April 2010, after temporarily closing it in June 2009 to address a shareholder proxy effort.

The Kittyhawk Project is a 2.5 MW biomass fueled power generating facility, with additional bio-fuel production from recovered water and CO2. The "anti-global warming" and virtually non-polluting facility design was permitted and built in the middle of a commercial business park. Kittyhawk sets the stage for many additional environmentally friendly facilities to be developed and financed. "By ensuring that the facility doesn't give off any significant amounts of pollution, EEI has shown that we can obtain very difficult permits where others cannot," said Anthony J. Arand, the Company's Founder, Chairman and CEO.

"I'm very happy to announce that we plan to have our team back to work by the middle of next month, so that we can complete commercial operations of the power plant and the initial bio-fuel production by the 4th quarter of this year. If our CO2 recovery and bio-fuel production technology is successful, then potentially 5% or more of the nation's energy needs could be produced with our process from our country's post recycled landfill waste supply," said Arand.

The California Public Utilities Commission has called EEI "the answer" to California's need for clean renewable energy. EEI would also help to satisfy Governor Schwarzenegger's mandate that renewable energy comprise 20 percent of the electrical energy portfolios of California's utility companies by the end of 2010.

Over the past six years, EEI has designed, developed, manufactured and built the first low emissions combustion system. This ultra low combustion system consumes urban waste that would normally go in a landfill, and also has the capacity to consume high sulfur coal, tires, animal waste and many other "biomass" feed stocks that would pose a significant pollution problem to other power generating, or bio-fuel production facilities.

The company has over 300 MW of projects in various stages of development in San Diego and Imperial Counties. These project sites include business parks, rural agricultural areas, and metropolitan landfill sites. EEI's website is www.envirepel.com.

SOURCE Envirepel Energy, Inc. and PRNewswire.com