July 22, 2008
Soy foam in the seats the Ford F-150 pickups and Lincoln Navigator SUVs. Locally farmed hemp, "ethically produced" woolen fabric and floor mats made of sisal in the Lotus Eco Elise.
Some automakers are increasingly going to great lengths to make the interiors of some of their models if not environmentally friendly, at least a bit wholesome.
But others, well...
Early today the Ecology Center of Ann Arbor, Michigan, posted its second-annual consumer guide to toxic chemicals in cars and children's car seats at www.HealthyCar.org.
More than two hundred 2008- and 2009-model-year vehicles and more than 60 children's car seats were tested for unhealthy chemicals that seep in gaseous form from the steering wheel, dashboard, armrests, seats and carpet.
The "new-car smell," as the gases are commonly called, mingle with the air occupants breathe and have been linked to allergies, birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity and cancer.
The Ecology Center reported that Mazda, General Motors and Nissan improved since last year's findings, with GM showing the greatest gains of the domestic automakers, with an average vehicle ranking improvement of 27 percent.
The list of the 10 best and 10 worst vehicles as picked by the Center appears in the chart above.
Average child-car-seat scores improved 28 percent overall. The list of 10 best and worst car seats for 2008 as picked by the Center appears at left. Click on the chart for a better look.
For more information, go to www.HealthyCar.org.
Below are the three worst 2008-model-year vehicles by interior pollution, according to the Center (click on each to enlarge). From left to right: Mitsubishi Eclipse, Suzuki Reno and Volkswagen New Beetle.
Below are are the three best vehicles by interior pollution, according to the Center (click on each to enlarge). From left to right: Acura RXD, Chevrolet Cobalt and Smart Passion Cabriolet.
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- Scott Doggett July 22, 2008, 12:21 AM
- Categories:
- Acura, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Daimler, Dodge, Emissions, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hummer, Hyundai, Jeep, Kia, Lexus, MINI, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, Pontiac, Porsche, Renault, Saab, Smart, Subaru, Suzuki, Think, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo
May 29, 2008
EV-maker Think apparently has moved its anticipated U.S. launch up a bit and plans to add a crossover SUV to its electric vehicle lineup.
The Wall Street Journal finally got around to writing about the Norwegian electric car company's plans, and says Think CEO Jan-Olaf Willums hopes to begin sales of the two-seat Think City car in the U.S. by 2009...
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- John O'Dell May 29, 2008, 2:35 PM
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- Plug-ins and Electric, Think
April 22, 2008
Think City EVs like this model at recent event in Monaco are headed for U.S.
By John O'Dell, Senior Editor
Think is back, part of an apparent resurgence of interest in battery-powered electric cars.
The Norwegian electric car maker, once owned by Ford and headquartered, briefly, in Southern California, has announced formation of Think North America with plans to begin selling a sub-$25,000 EV in the U.S. in 2010.
Think Global Chief Executive Jan-Olaf Willums hinted at the company's North American plans in an interview last month with Green Car Advisor.
On Monday, the plan was rolled out, revealing that Think is partnering with two major venture capital firms to form the new subsidiary.
The move signals a new level of interest in battery-powered electric cars, once thought to be the vehicles that would help free the U.S. from its dependency on oil but abandoned by regulators and major automakers in the late 1900s as impractical because of cost and between-charge range restrictions.
Soaring fuel prices, growing concerns about energy security and advances in storage battery technology have helped reignite interest in EVs.
Think North America will be a joint venture of Think Global and venture firms Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and RockPort Capital Partners. Each of the venture firms will hold a 25 percent share and Kleiner Perkins managing partner Ray Lane will chair the new company.
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- John O'Dell April 22, 2008, 12:10 PM
- Categories:
- Batteries, Plug-ins and Electric, Tesla, Think
April 3, 2008
By Nick Kurczewski, Contributor
MONTE CARLO, Monaco -- Whirring silently past luxury hotels and multi-million dollar yachts, the Think City electric car seems a mighty strange fit in the ritzy confines of Monte Carlo.
True, it does have a sporty two-seat lay-out. But we’re pretty sure the boxy little Think doesn’t stand a chance against the shrieking Ferraris that are as popular as toy-poodles amongst the Monegasque populace.
Thankfully, we’re not here to impress the locales.
The EVER Monaco ecological car exhibition allows a first-hand and behind-the-wheel glimpse at the present and future of green-car technology. During this yeasr's show, held last week, Think Global invited us to take the company’s latest creation for a quick test-drive through Monte Carlo.
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- John O'Dell April 3, 2008, 4:15 AM
- Categories:
- Plug-ins and Electric, Think
Soy foam in the seats the Ford F-150 pickups and Lincoln Navigator SUVs. Locally farmed hemp, "ethically produced" woolen fabric and floor mats made of sisal in the Lotus Eco Elise.
Average child-car-seat scores improved 28 percent overall. The list of 10 best and worst car seats for 2008 as picked by the Center appears at left. Click on the chart for a better look.
