New York -- The New York International Auto Show features a smattering of eco-friendly vehicles this year that, while unusual or even quirky, are not quite showstoppers. These include the Mitsubishi iMIEV and Subaru R1e electric minicars, and the Nissan Denki Cube Concept.

But one eco-friendly show car here is an attention grabber: the Saab 9-X BioHybrid, which made its world debut earlier this month at the 2008 Geneva Auto Show.

To improve aerodynamics and fuel economy at speed, the sleek and sporty two-door hatchback features a rooftop spoiler that automatically extends at speeds above 43 miles per hour, lengthening the roofline, while a rear diffuser automatically extends from beneath the rear bumper.

Wheels styled like turbines recall Saab’s heritage with jets. And like an aircraft’s fuselage, the body of the 9-X BioHybrid has no side door mirrors or visible handles. Inside, an arch-shaped main instrument panel features 3-D graphics designed to look as though they’re frozen in ice.

As befits a green car, it pairs a small 1.4-liter, E85-compatible “BioPower” turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a next-generation GM Hybrid system that uses a lithium-ion battery  and electric motor to provide a power boost to the engine on acceleration.

Of course, there’s no greater source of energy in the world than the sun, and the 9-X BioHybrid taps that power source, too. A large solar cell in the car’s glass roof charges the hybrid system’s battery pack – but not while the car is stuck inside a convention center.

Robert E. Calem, Contributor

Auto X-Prize entries will include mainstream vehicles and fanciful concepts.

By Robert E. Calem, Contributor

New York --The Automotive X Prize competition, an effort to do for the green car what the original X Prize did for private space flight, was officially launched Thursday at the New York International Auto Show, where sample vehicles were displayed by four of the more than 60 teams from nine countries that will be vying for shares of a $10 million bounty.

The prize money was put up by Progressive Insurance, which has become the  main sponsor in return for a name change: the competition is now the Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize.

Additionally, the federal Department of Energy plans to provide a $3.5 million grant to fund a national education program organized around the competition in order to “inspire youth and the general public about the alternative vehicle and fuel options of the near future,” the X Prize Foundation announced.

Inspiring Entrepreneurs
The contest, developed over the past two and a half years by the non-profit  foundation, has the lofty goal of inspiring entrepreneurs to develop a new generation of commercially viable automobiles with low emissions and fuel economy equivalent to 100 miles per gallon.

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By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

California's clean air regulators are updating the state's controversial zero emissions vehicle, or ZEV, mandate and are holding a public hearing in Sacramento next week to hear comment on the proposed revisions.

In advance of that, the Plug In America advocacy group today sent a lengthy letter to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, urging him to influence the panel to protect present rules calling for automakers to collectively build 25,000 zero emissions vehicles for sale in the state between 2012 and 2014 and 50,000 between 2015 and 2017.

One of the proposed changes would cut the number of ZEVs to just 2,500 in the first stage of the build-up and to 25,000 in the second stage.

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Ah, Monday.

Another week of commuting begins, and with it, more concern about what the price of gasoline is doing to the family budget.

Which brings up this thought: What if you could do a whole year's worth of commuting on a couple gallons of gas?

A team of students from a French technology school accomplished the equivalent (in theory) when they achieved an amazing 7,148 miles per gallon driving their ultralight, ultra-streamlined wondercar around the 1.94-mile banked circuit at Rockingham Motor Speedway outside of London during the Royal Dutch Shell-sponsored 2007 Eco-Marathon last July.

We say "in theory" because Team Microjoule, entered in the "prototype" category, didn't burn anywhere near a gallon of gas -- the car's fuel tank held only 1.01 ounces of fuel and the mileage was extrapolated from the gas used during 7 laps around the racecourse.

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We don't believe a candidate's stand on energy, or fuel economy regulation or even the larger issue of climate change, ought to be the sole reason he, or she, is judged worthy of office.

But it certainly ought to be an important part of every voter's decision-making, so we're offering up this look at the auto-related portions of the main candidates' energy plans to help those who haven't made up their minds with primary (and caucus) season rapidly closing in.

There are hundreds or sources for interested voters to find out how Hillary stands on health care, or Rudy on Iraq, but pinning down the presidential hopefuls' positions on CAFE and related alternative fuel issues isn't quite so easy.

To help out, we asked correspondent Terril Yue Jones to put together a look at the auto and fuels aspects of the energy plans of candidates who are polling at least 1 percent in national surveys.

We're doing this now, of course, because voting season gets off to an especially early start this year, with more than half the primaries and caucuses slated to be held on or before February 5 -- the so-called Super Tuesday when 22 states hold primaries and the major party nominees, who won't officially be named until the Democratic and Republican conventions at the end of summer, will be all but set in cement.

First up, though, are the Iowa caucuses, to be held Thursday evening, a fortnight after President Bush signed sweeping new energy legislation that raises the required corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) of automakers to 35 miles per gallon by 2020, from their current levels of 27.5 miles per gallon for passenger cars and 22.2 miles per gallon for light trucks.

Led by Hillary Clinton’s call for a massive increase in the fuel efficiency required of automakers, Democratic candidates' energy plans almost all spell out specific fuel economy standards for the nation’s automobiles. For the most part the Democrats even set fuel efficiency timetables.

Republicans speak in broader terms, preferring discussion of ending dependence on foreign oil and promoting alternative fuels and saying that specific miles-per-gallon benchmarks are not the way to go.

Here's the rundown on the candidates, in alphabetical order, from a green car perspective. Have fun!

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Hybrid-electric Citroen prototype enters Challenge Bibendum in Shanghai.

By Kate McLeod, Contributor

There was little TV coverage and hardly anyone watched from the sidelines, but this still was one of the most important races in the world.

Run in the form of a rally on the public roads of China’s Shanghai province on November 14, it was part of a unique event, the Challenge Bibendum.

There were no winners, though. The Bibendum philosophy is that the race won't be over until we all enter and drive together to find a sustainable finish. The environment is the ultimate winner, says Michelin, although the Hyundai Tucson fuel-cell prototype received "As" in tests for noise, local pollutants, fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions -- tank to tire. Venturi’s Eclectic got As across the board for the above tests as well as acceleration and maneuverability. Two prototype buses made in China, WanXiang EV Co.’s C3 fuel cell and CITIC Guoan Mengguli’s battery-electric, also made top grades.

Until then, the event -- launched by French tire giant Michelin Group in 1998 -- is staged annually to showcase existing and developing technologies that can help save fuel and reduce atmospheric pollutants, including greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.

It brings together global vehicle makers, energy suppliers, researchers and political and economic decision makers and encourages discussion of potential solutions to transportation, energy consumption, and traffic congestion and noise problems.

Equally important is that it lets them see advanced technology vehicles in motion.

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One of the biggest solar power arrays in use by corporate America will be  installed atop the 300,000-square-foot roof of General Motors'  Service and Parts Operations warehouse in Fontana, California, the carmaker said.

The system, expected to be in operation by December, will provide about half  the electricity needed to run the facility. It also will feed extra power to the grid.

It joins a similar-size solar array  at a GM warehouse eight miles away in Rancho Cucamonga.

Constellation Energy Projects & Services will design, build, own and operate the Fontana array and GM has a long-term contract  to purchase electricity generated by the system.

“At General Motors we understand that good environmental decisions are good business decisions and solar energy is a perfect example of this,” said Elizabeth A. Lowery, GM vice president, Environment, Energy and Safety Policy.  "The new solar arrays on our rooftops are reducing our energy costs and carbon footprint, while providing green energy to the community.”

GM estimates that  the Fontana system will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 355 metric tons a year and will cut the company's electricity costs by about 10 percent annually. 

The system will generate about 1.3 million kilowatt hours of electricity a year,  enough  to power 200 homes.