Smart Green Car Advisor Blog on Edmunds' Inside Line

October 8, 2009

Daimler Says Smart EV on Schedule for 2012 Launch, Will Be Built in France

Move over, Mini-E, Daimler reconfirmed this morning that it will begin "large-scale production" of the Smart Fortwo EV in 2012 and will begin ramping up with limited production of a series of 1,000 test cars next month.

The automaker is backing that promise - which we initially reported in August - with a multi-million euro investment in outfitting the Smart plant in Hambach, France, for production of the electric drive models, which will be sold in the U.S. and Europe.

The French government will provide tax credits and other incentives.

Daimler said that the first 1,000 electric Smarts would be delivered, beginning at the end of this year, to customers in Europe and the U.S. - typically commercial and government fleets - in order to obtain "feedback from use under everyday conditions."

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Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche, appearing with French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Hambach plant.
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The automaker has been testing electric Smarts in limited programs in London and German since 2007 and earlier this year introduced a second-generation version of the car, with a battery pack developed and manufactured by California EV-maker Tesla Motors.
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The lithium-ion battery pack is mounted between the car's rear wheels and provides juice to run a 40-horsepower electric motor than kicks out 92 lb.-ft. of torque. That give the two-seat Smart rather snail-pace acceleration of 0-37 in 6.5 seconds, with top speed of 62 miles an hour, but it's designed as a commuter car for crowded cities, not a racer for California freeways.

Range, according to Smart, is about 70 miles on a charge, and a depleted battery can be fully recharged overnight from a standard 220-volt outlet.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell October 8, 2009, 12:52 PM
Categories:: Daimler, Plug-ins and Electric, Smart
Technorati Tags:: Electric Smart

September 23, 2009

Volkswagen Says It Will Likely Sell Larger Version of E-Up! Electric Vehicle in U.S.

One week after Volkswagen made a splash at the Frankfurt Motor Show with the world debut of its E-Up! electric vehicle (pictured), the German automaker has announced that it will likely sell a larger version of the cute compact in the U.S.

"The reason we are working on an electric vehicle is the American market," Ulrich Hackenberg, board member in charge of product development at Volkswagen AG, said today.

Hackenberg said a production version of the plug-in battery-electric zero-emissions E-Up! will go on sale in Europe in 2013. He said U.S. sales would start later.

The E-Up! is based on VW's new modular small-car family, scheduled to debut in 2011. The four-seat E-Up!, which measures 125 inches long (or 19 inches longer than the tiny Smart ForTwo), has a range of up to 80 miles on lithium-ion battery power.

For the United States, Hackenberg said, he envisions a front-drive model about 146 inches long (the 2009 MINI Cooper is 145.6 inches long). Electric versions of the Smart ForTwo and MINI Cooper are planned for the U.S.

VW will launch its first hybrid vehicle next year -- a version of the Touareg SUV. Hackenberg said the Touareg hybrid will debut at the 2010 Detroit auto show in January.

To date, very few details have been released regarding this vehicle.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett September 23, 2009, 9:54 AM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Batteries, Emissions, Fuel Economy, MINI, Plug-ins and Electric, Smart, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: Detroit Auto Show

August 25, 2009

Smart Offers ForTwo With Lots of Classy Touches - and 'Micro Hybrid Drive'

Perhaps building upon the popularity of the top-end BRABUS versions of the ForTwo, Smart announced today that is welcoming autumn with a decidedly upscale ForTwo characterised by high quality equipment, fine materials and a rich appearance.

The new Smart ForTwo Edition Highstyle features exclusive paintwork in trendy chocolate brown metallic and elegant 12-spoke, 15-inch alloy wheels. The exclusive interior of the special model boasts an especially tasteful mix of fabric and leather.

Or perhaps Smart just wants to communicate that the smallest and shortest car available for the mass market in North America doesn't have to look like a toy - or at least like a cheap toy. We can see it appealing to older people whose tastes are more refined than those of the teens and twentysomethings buying ForTwos.

The Edition Highstyle is available with 71- or 84-horsepower gasoline engines. The former is fitted with an automatic start/stop system as standard equipment - what Smart calls "micro hybrid drive" - which we all know shuts down the engine when the driver applies the brakes and the vehicle is moving slowly.

Smart reports that exclusive, gleaming metallic leather on the seats and in the doors contrasts with the light and dark fabric ensemble reserved for this special edition.

Decorative brown seams are a subtle reference to the exterior. The kneepad and instrument panel have a leather look. The 3-spoke sports steering wheel with gearshift is covered with leather, as is the gear knob. Trim parts that shimmer in matt silver round off the high quality yet dynamic impression of the interior.

This ForTwo starts at $23,000 for the 71-hp version and $800 more for the peppier version.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); Scott Doggett August 25, 2009, 2:09 PM
Categories:: Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Smart
Technorati Tags:: Daimler

August 20, 2009

Smart ForTwo ED to Enter Production This Fall Using 2nd-Generation Electric Drive

Second-generation all-electric Smart ForTwo ED minicars will start rolling off a production line this November at the factory in Hambach, France, parent company Daimler AG announced today.

Daimler says that unlike its predecessor, the second-edition zero-emissions Smart ForTwo ED (pictured) is fitted with an innovative and highly efficient lithium-ion battery housed in a space-saving position between the axles. That "means that space is not compromised in any way in the intelligent two-seater vehicle," the company said.

That's a big deal, Daimler and Smart salespeople are fond of saying, because one of the major selling points of the vehicle is its size. At only 98.4 inches long, the vehicle is shorter than the width of most curbside parking spaces, allowing two or three ForTwos to park in a space intended for a single car.

What they usually don't mention is that this type of parking has been banned in Munich, amongst other European cities, and such parking in parallel-designated spaces is illegal in most American jurisdictions. But the vehicle's size often permits the car to be parked in legal parking spaces in which few other models could fit.

A 30-kilowatt (40-horsepower) electric motor is housed at the rear of the new ForTwo ED and provides "for good acceleration and high agility" with 88.5 pound-feet of torque that's immediately available.

By good acceleration the company means 0-60 kilometers per hour in 6.5 seconds, which equates to a respectable 0-36 miles per hour in the same amount of time. A 0-60 mph time was not available.

Daimler says the ForTwo ED can be charged at "any normal household socket" and says that in Germany, a full battery charge costs approximately $3 and is sufficient for a range of about 69 miles from the Tesla Motors-sourced 14-kilowatt lithium-ion battery.

It was unclear, and no Daimler was immediately available to confirm, if by "normal household socket" the automaker meant 110-volt outlet (standard in the U.S.) or 220-volt outlet (standard in Europe).

The availability of the new ForTwo ED will initially be limited to leased customers in Berlin and other cities in Europe as well as some American cities for real-world testing in tough everyday conditions. Daimler says that from 2012, the ForTwo ED "will be available to anyone interested."

In related news, the American-spec 2009 Smart ForTwo today achieved the "strongest roof" rating among competing minicars in tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett August 20, 2009, 1:03 PM
Categories:: Batteries, Daimler, Emissions, Plug-ins and Electric, Smart, Tesla
Technorati Tags:: Daimler

August 10, 2009

Smart Is Reportedly Working on Radical Design for New, 3-Seat Sports Car

Smart is reportedly working on a radical design for a new three-seater sports car that will form part of a new model assault, as well as a more conventional four-seat car to be produced in co-operation with Renault.

According to an Automotive News Europe report (subscription required), Mercedes is developing the three-seater partly in reaction to Toyota's iQ, which has gained plaudits as a fashionable and innovative urban city car.

The model has been conceived as a sportier alternative to Smart's upright second-generation ForTwo model, although the ForTwo will be retained in the Smart model line-up.

The model is likely to take the "ForThree" nameplate, although nothing has yet been decided by Smart's owner, the Mercedes-Benz Car Group.

Plans for the car were uncovered in European patent-application sketches (pictured, click to enlarge) obtained by Automotive News Europe sister publication AutoWeek.

The new three-seater model will draw heavily on the architecture and basic layout of the famous McLaren F1 supercar, which had a central driving position flanked on either side by two passenger seats.

The model is also likely to contain a number of innovative packaging concepts to accommodate three people in what will is likely to be a highly compact passenger car. These include a swivelling seat base as well as a transverse runner within the floor that allows the driver's seat to be adjusted out towards the door.

Although the patent applications do not mention the new car's proposed mechanical package, Mercedes is well advanced on a new line-up of modular three-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines as large as 1.4 liters.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); Scott Doggett August 10, 2009, 11:35 AM
Categories:: Emissions, Fuel Economy, Smart, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Daimler

July 23, 2009

2010 Smart Fortwo Diesel to Get 21 Percent More Power - No Fuel Economy Change

The diesel Smart Fortwo CDI, another fuel miser we can't get here, will get a big boost in horsepower and torque for the 2010 model year, parent company Daimler said today.

The reengineered 3-cylinder diesel engine gets new pistons and re-calibrated injectors and fuel pressure to achieve the power increase.

The increased torque, the company says, enabled engineers to lengthen the gear ratios in third and fourth and lower the shift points on the transmission's automatic mode - modifications that helped the gutsier engine keep the same fuel economy as the '09 model.

The new engine output figures are 40 kilowatts, or 54 horsepower - an increase of 9.5 horsepower - and 130 Newton meters of torque (that's 98 lb-ft) , an 18 percent increase.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell July 23, 2009, 3:10 PM
Categories:: Diesel, Fuel Economy, Smart
Technorati Tags:: Smart CDI

Fuel Economy: BMW, Mercedes-Benz Developing Three-Cylinder Engines

As soon as Ford started promoting its upcoming four-cylinder EcoBoost engine earlier this week, pundits started quibbling over the marketability of Lincolns with 4-bangers.

Well, how 'bout a Mercedes-Benz or a BMW with a 3- banger?

In the never-ending search for more fuel efficiency, both German automakers are working on three-cylinder gasoline engines for their small and, possibly, medium-size passenger vehicles.

Both companies are motivated by Europe's strict new CO2 limits, which can be met most rapidly by decreasing fuel consumption.

In an interview with Britain's Autocar magazine, a Mercedes-Benz spokesman said the company has a 1.2-liter, turbocharged, three-cylinder engine that cranks out 168 horsepower and up to 185 lb-ft of torque, "enough to drive a mid-size car like the C-class very well."

It also delivers a 6 percent fuel economy improvement over a small four-cylinder engine with the same performance characteristics.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); John O'Dell July 23, 2009, 7:00 AM
Categories:: BMW, Daimler, Mercedes-Benz, Smart
Technorati Tags:: Engine Downsizing

July 22, 2009

U.S. Energy Dept. Awards $47 Million in Recovery Act Funding for EV Smart Grids

Also: Illinois, Colorado, Austria announce plans to invest heavily in plug-in infrastructures.

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

When it rains, it often pours. That's certainly the case now, as the U.S. Department of Energy, the states of Illinois and Colorado, and an Austrian utility all announced in recent days that they will invest many millions of dollars to create recharging networks for electric vehicles.

That's wonderful news, because it brings electric-vehicle makers and potential EV makers a step closer to solving one of the two major problems they face: That being a lack of infrastructure to support pure EVs and plug-in gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles.

The other problem remains development of inexpensive, safe, reliable, lightweight and energy-rich batteries to power the vehicles. Many companies and governments are working on a solution to that problem.

The Energy Department on Monday awarded $47 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to eight ongoing smart-grid demonstration projects. The $47 million investment will add to the $17 million in funds DOE had awarded these eight projects last year, thereby accelerating the timelines for the projects.

Most of the projects relate to technologies to help transmission and distribution systems operate better, but a few are directly related to clean energy. For example, the city of Fort Collins, Colorado, will research, develop and demonstrate a coordinated and integrated system of mixed clean energy technologies and distributed energy resources, allowing the city to reduce its peak electrical demand by at least 15 percent.

Meanwhile, the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago will focus on implementing distributed energy resources and creating demand-responsive microgrids, which are small power networks that can operate independently of the utility power grid. In addition, the University of Hawaii will explore the management of its electrical distribution system to better accommodate wind power.

The Energy Department also just released the first Smart Grid System Report, which examines smart-grid deployments nationwide. The findings show that while many smart-grid capabilities are just beginning to emerge, the adoption of various technologies such as smart metering, automated substation controls and distributed generation are growing significantly.

The report also notes that smart-grid capabilities are socially transformational. As with the Internet or cell phone communications, smart-grid technologies have the potential to dramatically change how we experience electricity in the country, but improvements in physical and cyber security and information privacy will require consumers, manufacturers and utilities to closely follow a range of best practices for the smart grid.

Additionally, the Energy Department has begun the development of a Smart Grid Information Clearinghouse, tapping Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University for the $1.3 million initiative to develop and maintain the clearinghouse Website, which will provide information to the public about smart-grid initiatives happening nationwide. The Smart Grid Information Clearinghouse was mandated by the Recovery Act.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett July 22, 2009, 12:16 PM
Categories:: BYD, Batteries, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Honda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Smart, Tesla
Technorati Tags:: Electric Vehicles

June 23, 2009

Daimler Says Smart Fortwo EV Will Be Available for Sale in the U.K. Early Next Year

Daimler announced today that it will begin selling all-electric Smart ForTwos in the United Kingdom next year at a cost of about $22,400 - or about the cost of a Toyota Prius or Honda Insight hybrid.

The price includes government tax incentives for zero-emissions vehicles.

Daimler, which has been real-world testing the battery-powered two-seater in London, Rome, Paris and other European cities, said the vehicle will enter "small series production, with cars coming to the U.K. in early 2010."

The exact number of available Smart ForTwo EDs - as they call them, with "ED" standing for electric drive - was not disclosed. Daimler said the vehicle will feature a 40-horsepower electric motor that'll draw its juice from a lithium-ion battery.

The German automaker also said the car can reach 30 miles per hour in 6.5 seconds, has a top speed of 60 mph and a range of about 70 miles per charge, with mileage varying with driving habits, cargo weight and environmental factors.

A full recharge using a normal plug and outlet requires up to eight hours. While the Smart ForTwo ED burns no climate-changing fossil fuels, it should be noted that the vehicles are only as clean as the source of the electricity they use.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett June 23, 2009, 9:09 AM
Categories:: Daimler, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Plug-ins and Electric, Smart
Technorati Tags:: Daimler

June 2, 2009

Tesla Chairman Says His Company, Daimler to Launch Two Affordable EVs Soon; He Also Says Next-Generation Roadster Will Have Four Seats and Optional AWD

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

Tesla Motors and partner Daimler AG plan to launch two plug-in electric vehicles in the near future. And Tesla on its own will be replacing the current-generation Roadster -- its first car -- with a larger, four-seat sports car in 2013, company chairman, product architect and CEO Elon Musk said in a freewheeling e-mail exchange Monday night with Green Car Advisor.

Tesla and Daimler, working as partners, will come out with not one but two new plug-in electric vehicles in the next few years, starting with the already announced Smart EV roadster (pictured) late this year, followed by another affordable, zero-emissions electric vehicle. That second EV has never before been discussed publicly.

Additionally, Tesla will independently replace the current two-seat Roadster with a larger, four-seat sports car sometime in 2013, Musk said, adding that that vehicle will be available in hardtop and convertible models, and with rear-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive.

With regard to the Smart EV, Musk disclosed that Tesla and Daimler "have been working on an 'everyman' car for over one and a half years. It is the Smart EV and the first of those vehicles will be on the road by the end of this year."

Final pricing on the battery-electric Smart car "is up to Daimler, but I know that this car will cost a lot less than $30,000 once it achieves mass production. The reason we originally started working with Daimler was because we saw this as the fastest path to putting affordable electric cars on the road," Musk said in the interview by e-mail.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett June 2, 2009, 2:01 AM
Categories:: Batteries, Daimler, Emissions, Plug-ins and Electric, Smart, Tesla
Technorati Tags:: Daimler AG

February 3, 2009

ACEEE Dubs Honda Civic GX Greenest Car For 6th Year; Prius In Second Place

GM Gets Three Models on 'Greenest' List and Tops 'Meanest' Ranking With Hummer H2

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

In an anticlimactic repeat, Honda's natural-gas burning Civic GX topped the annual "greenest vehicles" of the year listing being published this morning by the non-profit American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

It is the 12th year the Washington-based environmental and economic lobbying group has published its Green Book Online, which ranks passenger cars and light trucks for overall environmental impact.

Although the list for the 2009 model year contained no big surprises, it was marked by the reappearance of General Motors Corp., with trio of small cars among the dozen "greenest" vehicles in the market - the Chevrolet Cobalt compact and its Pontiac G5 twin placed eighth overall and the Chevrolet Aveo subcompact finished10th.

The GM cars, which were rated highly for their fuel economy, knocked Ford's Focus off the "greenest" list after its appearance there last year as the only domestic car in the top twelve.

The Ford didn't get a lower score - but the average scores in the top 12 were higher this year than last.

Evolution, Not Revolution

Generally, the 2009 list was marked by continued improvements in the fuel economy and reduced greenhouse gas emissions of scores of vehicles rather than by stellar performances from just one or two models.

Manufacturers are fine-tuning their engines and transmissions, improving materials, and adding emission control technologies, said ACEEE transportation program director Therese Langer.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); John O'Dell February 3, 2009, 5:00 AM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Chevrolet, Daimler, Diesel, Emissions, Flex-Fuel, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Green Vehicles, Honda, Hummer, Hybrid, Lamborghini, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Natural Gas, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Pontiac, Smart, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: ACEEE Green Book Online

January 5, 2009

Daimler Says It Intends To Take on Bosch, Other Suppliers on Batteries for EVs

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

It would appear that Daimler not only views electrification of the automobile as the key to sustainable mobility, but it also views the shift from gasoline- and diesel-powered cars and trucks to electric vehicles as an opportunity for the Stuttgart automaker to compete head on with major automotive parts suppliers.

In an interview today with the German newspaper Handelsblatt, Chief Executive Thomas Weber (pictured) said Daimler -- parent company of Mercedes-Benz and Smart -- intends to compete directly with German automotive parts supplier Robert Bosch and other companies in selling high-performance lithium-ion batteries to third parties.

Weber's comments follow the joint announcement last month by Daimler and German chemical, energy and real estate company Evonik Industries that the two companies had partnered to develop lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and hybrids, with the first publicized target for the new batteries being the Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueHybrid due out this year.

Daimler and Evonik made that announcement less than a week after Mercedes-Benz disclosed plans to unveil a trio of BlueZero electric-drive concept vehicles at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, which starts next Monday, and Daimler's announcement to expand its test program of electric-drive Smart Fortwos from London and Berlin to the Italian cities of Rome, Milan and Pisa.

According to industry forecasts, the market size for high-performance lithium-ion batteries will exceed $13 billion within the next decade. Clearly, Daimler and Evonik Industries want a chunk of that market, as do Toyota, Volkswagen and Renault-Nissan, all of which have recently partnered with battery-makers.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett January 5, 2009, 3:28 PM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Batteries, Daimler, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault, Smart, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: BlueZero

December 16, 2008

Daimler, Evonik Industries Team to Produce Lithium-Ion Batteries for EVs, Hybrids

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

German automotive giant Daimler of Stuttgart and chemical, energy and real estate company Evonik Industries of Essen have partnered to develop advanced lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and hybrids, with the first publicized target for the new batteries being the Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueHybrid due out next year.

The German companies made the announcement Monday -- less than a week after Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler, disclosed plans to unveil a trio of BlueZero electric-drive concept vehicles at next month's 2009 Detroit Auto Show. Presumably the new batteries will make their way into whatever production models arise from the concepts.

Daimler officials have often stated that electrification of the automobile is the key to sustainable mobility. To that end, Daimler engineers have registered more than 600 patents associated with battery-powered vehicles over the past three decades, of which 230 were in the field of lithium-ion technology.

For its part, Evonik Industries has invested $110 million in battery technology in recent years. The outcome, according to Evonik Industries and Daimler: "Production-ready high-technology battery cells that are superior to competitor products in several key areas."

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett December 16, 2008, 11:34 AM
Categories:: Batteries, Daimler, Emissions, Energy Companies, Fuel Cell, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault, Smart, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: Battery

December 12, 2008

Mercedes-Benz To Unveil Three Electric-Drive Vehicles at Detroit Show Next Month

Mercedes-Benz will unveil a small family of BlueZero electric-drive concept vehicles at next month's 2009 Detroit Auto Show, and the official images of one of them have already been leaked on several German Web sites.

The least complicated of the three concepts is the BlueZero E-Cell, a pure-electric plug-in model featuring a 100-kilowatt motor with 236 pound-feet of torque and a lithium-ion battery pack. The range is said to be just over 60 miles on a two-hour charge.

An extended-range companion is the BlueZero E-Cell Plus, a gas-electric hybrid that adds a turbocharged three-cylinder engine from the Smart stable as an onboard generator to boost range to nearly 375 miles.

The third model is the BlueZero F-Cell, which uses a hydrogen fuel cell to deliver 136 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque, with zero emissions.

Slightly more information can be found about these vehicles at our sister site, Edmunds' Inside Line.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett December 12, 2008, 1:27 PM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Batteries, Emissions, Fuel Cell, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Mercedes-Benz, Plug-ins and Electric, Smart
Technorati Tags:: BlueZero E-Cell

December 9, 2008

Mercedes Reportedly Planning Electric A- and B-Class Models for 2012

No big surprise here, but a German news magazine is reporting that Mercedes-Benz plans to begin building battery-electric versions of its A- and B-Class subcompacts in 2012,

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A-Class could be new EV from Mercedes.
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The Mercedes-Benz electric cars are to follow the Smart EV, which Mercedes owner Daimler already is testing in England and Germany.

Mercedes doesn't sell the A- or B-Class internal combustion models in the the U.S. but is contemplating bringing them over, so we might be in line for an electric version as well.

The magazine, WirtschaftsWoche, cited Mercedes' internal planning documents as sourcing or its A- and B-Class report, according to a morning industry analysis briefing from economics and business consulting firm Global Insight.

Actually, Daimler already has said it plans to test Mercedes-brand EVs. The magazine report provides the models and the timeline for entering the retail market.

The magazine also is reporting that Daimler has pushed back the retail launch date for the Smart EV to early 2012 from 2010, a delay that could signal problems with lithium-ion battery development or concern over the availability of an electric vehicle charging infrastructure, according to the Global Insight analysis.

Perhaps the crew at Mercedes should talk to the people at Better Place, which appears to be moving ahead full steam on its plans to install EV charging stations anywhere it can find a willing partner.

(We took our info from the Global Insight briefing, but you can click here for a computer-translated version of the magazine article, or, if you read German, for the original.)

John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell December 9, 2008, 7:59 AM
Categories:: Daimler, Mercedes-Benz, Plug-ins and Electric, Smart
Technorati Tags:: EVs

November 5, 2008

With Gas Below $2.50/Gallon, Some Drivers Regret Move to Small, Fuel-Efficient Car

This year's record-high fuel prices drove some consumers to switch to smaller vehicles. Now, as fuel prices have pulled back, many are rediscovering some of the reasons they bought big cars and sport-utility vehicles in the first place, according to an article in today's Wall Street Journal (subscription required).

Perhaps the biggest draw for large vehicles: comfort. Having wide, soft seats to accommodate the ever-growing American physique and space to stash briefcases, totes and handbags has changed from a luxury feature to one drivers take for granted. And as people spend more time in their vehicles, they have come to crave the sense of safety, privacy and insulation that come with larger vehicles, the Journal reported.

Sometimes what seems like a small downgrade can lead to big regrets. Blake Schomas traded his 2002 Chevrolet Suburban, an SUV with room for eight, for a relatively fuel-efficient Chrysler Pacifica. The Pacifica is big, but it carries two fewer passengers than the Suburban and cannot tow as much.

"I kind of regret the decision to get rid of the Suburban, which had a lot to do with the price of fuel," Schomas, a marketing manager in Hudson, Wisconsin, told the Journal. While his Pacifica's fuel economy beats the old truck's by as much as 40 percent, the new vehicle seems downright small compared with the Suburban. The big problem is that its third-row seat takes up what would otherwise be room for cargo.

"We have two kids, and if one of them wants to bring a friend, our storage space is reduced to nothing," Schomas said. It also lacks the bigger truck's "family room" comfort, he said.

Even though average gasoline prices have fallen from a peak of $4.05 a gallon in July to about $2.40 -- dropping about 26 cents in the past week alone -- the broad move to smaller cars is still going strong.

Sales of compact cars like the Honda Fit, Nissan Versa and Toyota Yaris have risen 28 percent through the end of September compared with the same period last year. Midsize cars like the top-selling Chevrolet Malibu, Honda Accord and Toyota Camry are flat. Nearly every other segment of the auto market is declining, with large SUVs down 36 percent.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); Scott Doggett November 5, 2008, 9:46 AM
Categories:: Fuel Economy, MINI, Smart
Technorati Tags:: Chevrolet Suburban

October 21, 2008

Daimler to Launch Vehicle-on-Demand Pilot Program in Germany Using Smart Cars

Daimler AG announced today that on Friday it will launch car2go, a pilot vehicle-on-demand program consisting of a 50-car fleet of Smart ForTwos that initially will be limited Daimler employees but eventually offered to the general public.

Convenience will be key to the program, which will commence in the southern German city of Ulm, where car2go will be tested in real-life conditions, Daimler said in a statement.

Following a one-off registration process, the Smarts can be hired spontaneously wherever a customer finds a free Smart, or pre-booked and used for as long as desired, at a cost of 19 cents a minute.

If all goes according to plan, available vehicles could be located quickly and easily via the Internet or a telephone.

The concept aims to ensure that a reliable vehicle is available at any time, "just a few minutes walk away."

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett October 21, 2008, 7:36 AM
Categories:: Daimler, MINI, Smart, Transportation Alternatives, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: Car2go

October 15, 2008

Smart ForTwo, VW Diesels Join EPA's Top-10 List of Most Fuel-Efficient Vehicles

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today issued its 2009 fuel economy guide , with Smart cars and Volkswagen diesels now appearing on the government's top-10 list of most fuel-efficient vehicles available in America.

The Toyota Prius once again retains its position atop the list, with fuel-economy ratings of 48 miles per gallon in the city and 45 on the highway.

The additions to the top 10 list this year are the Smart ForTwo convertible and coupe and the Volkswagen Jetta diesels.

The Smarts, which arrived in the U.S. in January, were too late to make the 2008 guide. This year the Smart models hold down the No. 5 spot with ratings of 33 mpg city and 41 mpg highway.

The Jetta diesels were too heavy on emissions to enter the U.S. market last year, but they are in this year with improved emissions controls.

The Jetta diesel sedan and wagon with manual transmissions are in seventh place with ratings of 30 mpg city and 41 mpg highway. The sedan and wagon with automatic transmissions are in eighth place with ratings of 29 city and 40 highway.

Without further ado, here is the top 10 list for 2009:

1. Toyota Prius (hybrid) -- 48/45

2. Honda Civic Hybrid -- 40/45

3. Nissan Altima Hybrid -- 35/33

4. Ford Escape Hybrid FWD; Mazda Tribute Hybrid 2WD; Mercury Mariner Hybrid FWD -- 34/31

5. Smart ForTwo convertible; Smart ForTwo coupe -- 33/41

6. Toyota Camry Hybrid -- 33/34

7. Volkswagen Jetta (manual, diesel); Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen (manual, diesel) -- 30/41

8. Volkswagen Jetta (automatic, diesel); Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen (automatic, diesel) -- 29/40

9. Toyota Yaris (manual) -- 29/36

10. Toyota Yaris (automatic) -- 29/35

And the least fuel-efficient of all 2009 models? That would be the Lamborghini Murcielago, rated at 8 mpg city and 13 mpg highway.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett October 15, 2008, 5:53 PM
Categories:: Diesel, Emissions, Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, Ford, Fuel Economy, Honda, Hybrid, Lamborghini, Mazda, Mercury, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Smart, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid FWD

October 9, 2008

Electric Cars: From the Paris Motor Show to a Driveway Near You.

Electric cars are the hot topic at this year's Paris auto show, with General Motors, Renault, Nissan, Smart and many lesser-known car manufacturers showing off a huge variety of EVs.

They range from wildly exotic supercars to tiny commuter cars that look ready to park in your driveway. Some are strictly concepts. Others could go on sale - even here in the U.S. -- much sooner than you think.

Green Car Advisor's man in Paris, contributor Nick Kurczewski, was at the show last week and offers some thoughts on the biggest electric-car newsmakers there.

Chevrolet Volt - Yes, we've written a ton about it and you've read even more, but we still can't ignore it. There it was, sitting on the GM stand in Paris, bowtie gleaming in the spotlights.

Chevy's Volt is often called a plug-in hybrid, and it is a hybrid by definition. But it also is an electric car, using only an electric motor for propulsion.

Its small 1.4-liter gasoline engine cranks over only to recharge the batteries and never sends its power directly to the Volt's wheels.

Whether you consider it an EV or a hybrid, chances are the bigger factor in consumer acceptance of the four-door sedan will be its escalating price tag.

A new bill just signed by the White House makes the Volt eligible for a $7,500 federal income tax credit, but before applying that, the sticker price - which determines the size of down payments and monthly lease or purchase costs - is likely to be at or above $40,000 when it goes on sale in late 2010 in the U.S.

That's awfully steep sticker-price, especially considering that new Honda Insight hybrid will cost less than $20,000 when it arrives next year.

Renault Z.E. Concept - Renault and its sister company, Nissan, are busy co-developing electric vehicles that will go on sale as early as 2010. The Z.E. Concept is the first indication as to where Renault is taking its version.

The design of the Z.E. - for Zero Emissions -- looks like a shortened version of the humble Renault Kangoo, a tall and boxy utility van currently sold throughout Europe. The green glass in the concept model adds a bizarre touch of show-car drama.

Other details include the use of rear-view cameras instead of side mirrors - to smooth out the aerodynamics and improve range - along with solar panels built into the roof, to aid battery recharging.

The Z.E. concept car uses double-walled insulating bodywork, which keeps the cabin cozy whether it is hot or cold outside and requires less energy from the ventilation system.

Its lithium-ion batteries provide a driving range between 60 to 90 miles.

Renault does not currently sell cars in America, which makes it unlikely the French manufacturer will ever bring its EV stateside.

But it's Japanese partner has other plans.

Nissan Nuvu - Don't worry if you love the idea of an electric-powered Nissan but hate the blobby looks of the Nuvu concept car.

The 2+1 seat Nuvu is important chiefly because it offers a glimpse of the lithium-ion powered drivetrain of the electric vehicle Nissan says it will start selling in the U.S. in 2010.

The Japanese company reassures us that the quirky Nuvu is not a totally faithful indication of what this production car will eventually look like.

Under its skin, the Nuvu's battery pack provides a range of 75 miles and a top-speed of 78 miles per hour. Range will likely be improved, and the wacky looks toned down a bit when Nissan unveils a more accurate glimpse of its upcoming EV during next year's Tokyo motor show.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell October 9, 2008, 3:00 AM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Auto Shows, Chevrolet, Fuels & Technologies, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault, Smart, Solar
Technorati Tags:: Electric Cars

October 3, 2008

Bail-Out Passes, Includes Plug-In hybrid Tax Credits. Now Bring On the Cars!

In case you've been in a deep, dank cave with no wireless connection for the past few hours, the news du jour is that the House has approved the Wall Street rescue measure that includes the original $700-billion in bail-out bucks plus wads of cash for renewable energy, biofuels and energy-efficiency programs.

The $17 billion energy package also includes a plug-in hybrids tax credit plan with an estimated price tag of $1 billion. It won't expire until the auto industry has, collectively, sold 250,000 plug-in cars and trucks that run at least part of the time on all-electric drive from energy stored in rechargeable, on-board batteries.

While none of the major automakers has yet to offer a plug-in, just about all (Honda Motor Co. is a notable exception) are working on them, with General Motor Corp.'s Chevrolet Volt perhaps the best known of the bunch.

Reporters walking the floor of the Paris Auto Show this week, however, are seeing a lot more as European car makers seem to have embraced the idea of electric cars and gas- and diesel-electric hybrids with a fervor usually associated with revival meeting preachers.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell October 3, 2008, 12:47 PM
Categories:: Chevrolet, Fuels & Technologies, General Motors, Green Vehicles, Honda, Legislation, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opinion, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault, Smart, Subaru, Tata, Toyota

Daimler Sees Electric Future For Smart and Mercedes-Benz Brands

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

German automotive giant Daimler says it has seen the future, and it is green and uses batteries.

The company, which last month launched a major electric car and charging station program in Berlin and has been testing electric Smart cars in London for almost a year, unveiled the newest generation of Smart EVs (or EDs - for electric drive) Thursday at the Paris Motor Show.

The tiny Smart, in production since 1998, is an attempt to help make individual transportation environmentally sound and sustainable and the quiet and emission-free ED versions, the company says, could be the answer.

Speeches at major auto shows are usually grandiose and full of promises, and Daimler Chairman Dieter Zetsche's was no exception as he talked of the future he sees for his company and the auto industry:

As people continue moving out of the suburbs and into cities to be closer to work and to cut their fuel bills, "the future will see an ever-increasing proportion of traffic on the roads in urban centers," Zetsche said.

"Zero-emission electric cars could shape the image of environmentally aware cities because zero local emission motoring is no longer science fiction - and also when seen as a whole emissions will be further reduced as the proportion of 'green' electricity increases. The future of mobility is green. We invented the car - and we will do it again!"

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell October 3, 2008, 3:02 AM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Batteries, Daimler, Fuels & Technologies, Mercedes-Benz, Plug-ins and Electric, Smart
Technorati Tags:: Daimler

September 30, 2008

Toyota Develops Rear Window Airbag; Fuel-Efficient iQ to Get It First

Ever since it first appeared in a Mercedes nearly three decades ago, the airbag has ballooned in popularity and its placement has come to include every side surface area of the passenger compartment save one: the rear.

Thanks to Toyota Motor Corp., soon that will no longer be the case.

The Japanese automaker announced today that it has developed a rear window airbag to protect the heads of backseat passengers in the event of a rear-end collision.

The innovative airbag deploys from the roof lining above the rear window in the form of a curtain-like barrier. Together with the headrests, the airbag reduces impact to the head from a colliding vehicle or parts of the hit vehicle.

Its use in the soon-to-launch iQ ultra-compact fuel-efficient four-seater is expected to approximately double the car's rear passenger head protection performance.

The iQ is Toyota's response to the tiny yet popular Smart ForTwo, which suffers from safety concerns due to its size and lack of crumple zones despite the fact that it has done very well in crash tests.

Toyota is no doubt addressing similar concerns in its engineering of the iQ, which, unlike the two-seater Smart car, will fit three adults and one small child.

The vehicle is scheduled to appear in European showrooms early next year and will be exported to the United States if fuel prices remain high.

Scott Doggett, Contributor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); Scott Doggett September 30, 2008, 11:05 AM
Categories:: Fuel Economy, Smart, Toyota

September 15, 2008

Preview: Green Is the Fashion at Paris Auto Show This Year

By Nick Kurczewski, Contributor

Paris, fashion capital of the world, usually has more influence on what hangs in your closet than what's parked in your driveway.

But from October 4th through the 19th, when the doors to the Paris auto show are open to the public, the automobile takes center stage in the City of Lights, and big fuel economy numbers will be as essential to automakers as little red dresses or neatly tailored black suits are to the fashion world. Â

Car manufacturers will be displaying everything from hybrids, such as the new Honda Insight, to electric cars and fuel-sipping diesel and gas-powered models like the new Ford Ka and Toyota iQ (above) city cars.

To help whet your appetites, Green Car Advisor offers a look at the cars that are set to make the biggest impression in this distinctively enviro-chic auto show:

Honda Insight

The newest hybrid from Honda represents the Japanese company's most determined effort at cracking Toyota's stranglehold on this increasingly important market.

The five-passenger, four-door hatchback uses an improved version of Honda's Integrated Motor Assist system. Better fuel economy, a lower center of gravity and reduced cost are said to be the main benefits.

The Insight is expected to be cheaper than its rival, the next-generation Toyota Prius, when both cars go on sale early next year.Â Our one complaint:Â Why did Honda feel the need to copy the potatolike profile of the Prius?

Toyota iQ

If the Insight is Honda's take on a Prius fighter, the iQ is Toyota's attempt at outsmarting the Smart Fortwo.

The iQ is slightly longer than the Smart, and the Japanese city car offers two tiny rear seats, whereas the Fortwo -- as the name makes clearÂ -- is strictly a two-seater.

The iQ goes on sale in Japan in October and in Europe later this year.

Will Toyota bring the iQ Stateside?Â The company's not saying, but with the sales success of the Smart Fortwo in America, it would be pretty dumb not to consider the idea.Â And Toyota's not noted for dumb.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell September 15, 2008, 3:31 AM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Auto Shows, Chevrolet, Diesel, Ford, General Motors, Green Vehicles, Honda, Hybrid, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault, Smart, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: New Green Cars

September 8, 2008

Mitsubishi Said to Join Daimler, RWE Test of Li-Ion Charging Infrastructure in Berlin

Last week we reported that Daimler Group and German utility RWE launched a joint project that calls for RWE to develop, install and operate 500 charging stations in Berlin and Daimler to provide more than 100 electric cars from Mercedes-Benz and Smart that will use the stations.

The idea is to study the performance of the cars in daily, real-world driving, and to study the efficacy of the charging infrastructure provided by RWE. Ideally, the charging stations should work with all electric vehicles.

Today, the German newspaper Handelsblatt reported that RWE intends to allow Mitsubishi Motors access to the network of recharging stations when Daimler's one-year exclusive agreement with the utility expires.

Mitsubishi has a suitable vehicle for the Berlin project in the form of the i-MiEV (Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle), which will be named I-EV in the German market.

All of the vehicles provided by Daimler and Mitsubishi will be powered by lithium-ion batteries. The project represents the first large-scale rollout of lithium-ion battery-powered electric passenger cars in Europe.

One hundred Smart electric vehicles are currently being field tested in Britain, but all of them are fitted with the heavier, bulkier and less capable nickel-metal hydride batteries.

As previously reported, Daimler has said it plans to produce 10,000 electric-powered Smart cars by 2012.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett September 8, 2008, 1:37 PM
Categories:: Batteries, Daimler, Fuel Economy, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Plug-ins and Electric, Smart
Technorati Tags:: Berlin

September 4, 2008

Smart Says Cobasys Hampering Work on ForTwo EV Fitted With Li-Ion Batteries

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The accuracy of this story is disputed by Cobasys. Please click here for further information posted on Oct. 17.
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In early June we reported that General Motors won't sell as many hybrid cars as it had hoped this year due to 9,000 defective batteries supplied by Cobasys.

Now the Michigan-based battery maker is being blamed for holding up the release of electric Smart ForTwos fitted with advanced lithium-ion battery packs.

Smart had hoped to bring to market ForTwos packing lithium-ion batteries by the end of 2009.

But Klaus Badenhausen, the automaker's chief engineer, told Edmunds.com's Inside Line today that problems it is having with Cobasys have stymied Smart's lithium-ion battery plans.

As we've reported, Cobasys' parent companies are in a dispute over who should assume costs incurred by their troublesome child.

Indeed, GM wasn't the only automaker to be burned by Cobasys. Early last month, Mercedes-Benz sued Cobasys and its parent companies, claiming the battery maker wasn't delivering the battery packs it agreed to build for Mercedes' ML450 Hybrid.

As a result the German automaker might have to delay the launch of its planned hybrid SUV.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett September 4, 2008, 4:39 PM
Categories:: Batteries, Daimler, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, Plug-ins and Electric, Smart, Tesla
Technorati Tags:: Cobasys

September 2, 2008

Daimler Releases More Photos of Electric Smarts but Withholds Plans for U.S. Market

Daimler Group hasn't yet announced whether it will offer electric Smart ForTwos in the U.S., but that doesn't stop the German automaker from shoveling photos of the cute little plug-ins into the email boxes of autowriters across America.

Here are three that arrived today. We post them because we're certain some of our readers are already yearning for their own Smart ED -- for electric drive, as they are called in Europe -- even one in neon green.

Daimler currently has a first-generation fleet of 100 all-electric Smart cars being tested in England, and this little bugger is likely part of the herd. Also under study are public chargers, including the one pictured here.

As we reported recently, Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche has announced that Mercedes-Benz will begin selling an all-electric version of its Smart car in Europe in 2010.

Scott Doggett, Contributor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); Scott Doggett September 2, 2008, 4:20 PM
Categories:: Batteries, Daimler, Fuel Economy, Mercedes-Benz, Plug-ins and Electric, Smart

August 11, 2008

Business Is Brisk at Nation's First Rental Car Company That Loans Only Hybrids

With established rent-a-car companies reporting that they are having trouble meeting customer demand for fuel-efficient vehicles, a Southern California company has begun renting nothing but hybrid vehicles.

Business has been brisk at Eqocar in Burbank since it opened its doors three months ago, General Manager Nick Hamed told Green Car Advisor today. Hamed said Eqocar, which rents only hybrid vehicles, is in talks to open four more rental-car centers, all in California.

Eventually, the company would like to expand nationwide, Hamed said.

Eqocar has a fleet of 45 hybrids, which include the Toyota Prius, Camry and Highlander hybrids, Ford Escape Hybrid, Lexus LS600h L, GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe hybrids, and the Nissan Altima hybrid. Daily rates range from $59 for the Prius to $650 for the LS600h L.

There are plans to add the extended-range plug-in electric Chevrolet Volt, hybrid versions of the Smart Fortwo, Chrysler Aspen, Cadillac Escalade, and Porsche Cayenne and Panamera, as well as the Tesla and Fisker plug-in sports cars and the bubbled-faced three-wheel Aptera to the rental fleet, Hamed said.

The Aptera is reminiscent of vehicles appearing in The Jetsons, a futuristic cartoon series produced during 1962 and '63.

Scott Doggett, Contributor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett August 11, 2008, 2:42 PM
Categories:: Aptera, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Daimler, Emissions, Fisker, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Lexus, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Porsche, Smart, Tesla, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Camry Hybrid

Daimler Announces Plans to Produce 10,000 Electric Vehicles by 2012

In March we brought you news that Green Car Advisor had spied a pair of electric-powered Smart Fortwos in California and that Smart USA President David Schembri hoped to begin testing a small fleet of Smart EVs here in America sometime next year.

Today we can report that Daimler Group, which owns Smart, is aiming to produce 10,000 electric vehicles by 2012.

"By 2010 we will be very close to series production and aim to start with limited numbers in the hundreds," Thomas Weber, Daimler's director for research and development, said in Stuttgart Saturday. "Our aim is to cover costs by 2010. By 2012 we would be producing around 10,000 units."

Weber said "the next phase in electric car production is equipping the Smart microcars with lithium-ion batteries, with Smart two-seaters and the Mercedes A series coming onto the market the following year."

Daimler research shows that for most European customers 80 percent of their mobility requirement was under 31 miles a day. Weber said Smart electric cars can go 60 miles between charges.

The most promising market is seen as Europe, where environmental concerns are widespread. Weber said Daimler was planning further tests on top of those currently running since last year in London.

"Berlin is very interested, and Paris and Rome would also be possible," he said, but he made no mention of Smart or Mercedes EVs coming to the U.S., and calls placed to Daimler regarding the subject were not promptly returned.

Scott Doggett, Contributor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett August 11, 2008, 1:24 PM
Categories:: Batteries, Daimler, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Mercedes-Benz, Plug-ins and Electric, Smart
Technorati Tags:: Daimler

July 22, 2008

Japan Inc. Reportedly Working on Uniform Lithium-Ion Battery Standard

Lithium Ion battery packs being tested in U.S. at Argonne National Laboratory.

We don't think this is one of those signs and portents that mark the impending end of the world, but it does seem a near miracle: Several Japanese automakers, battery developers and power companies reportedly have agreed to work together to establish a global standard for lithium-ion batteries.

If you can remember back to the late 1990s and early 2000s and the days of the EV1, Nissan Altra, Toyota RAV4 EV and other first-generation electric vehicles built in extremely limited numbers to meet California's then-new Zero Emissions Vehicles mandate, you'll also remember that there were several types of batteries in use and two competing charging systems required.

That added more complexity and cost to an already complex and costly new-vehicle development program and helped hasten the demise of hopes for a vast fleet of readily available, affordable and easy-to-charge EVs.

A global standard, which means - among other things - that all battery systems would be designed to use the use the same recharging system, is one of the things needed if there is to be any chance of bringing back the battery-electric vehicle in a meaningful way.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell July 22, 2008, 9:53 AM
Categories:: Batteries, Chrysler, Fisker, Ford, General Motors, MINI, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Smart, Subaru, Tesla, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Electric Vehicles

Acura, Smart, Chevy Models Top List of Healthiest Cars Tested by Ecology Center

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.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); 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

July 17, 2008

That New Car Smell Might Kill You

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

That's our sensational headline for 2008, but there's more than a smidgen of truth in it.

Last year Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Ecology Center released the first-ever consumer guide to toxic chemicals in cars and child car seats -- and what they reported was sickening.

The odor you inhale when you slide into a new car? It might very well be bromine, chlorine, lead, other harmful chemicals or a witches' brew of them. They've been linked to birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity, premature births and, no doubt, cancer.

If you think the government protects you against such things, think again. Some of the vehicles on the road today are veritable toxic dumps on wheels. And many drivers are exposed to these chemicals through inhalation and contact with dust every day.

In case you missed last year's report, Ecology Center found the most toxic vehicles were the Nissan Versa, Chevy Aveo, Scion xB 5dr and the Kia Rio. The least toxic vehicles were the Chevy Cobalt, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Honda Odyssey and the Volvo V50.

Next Tuesday -- July 22 -- Ecology Center will release its second annual consumer guide to toxic chemicals in cars and child car seats, and if you're thinking of buying a new car anytime soon, you'll want to check it out. The guide will be posted at www.healthycar.org a little after midnight on the 22nd.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); Scott Doggett July 17, 2008, 1:39 PM
Categories:: Acura, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Daimler, Dodge, Emissions, Fiat, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jeep, Kia, Legislation, Lexus, MINI, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opinion, Pontiac, Porsche, Renault, Saab, Smart, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo

All Mercedes Cars to be Turbocharged by 2010; Full Hybrid to Join S Class Next Year

Right, Daimler R&D's Thomas Weber.

Mercedes-Benz will introduce turbocharged engines across its entire lineup in the next two-and-a-half years.

"All our vehicles will have turbocharged engines in series production by the end of 2010 at the latest," Thomas Weber, Daimler board member responsible for research and development, told Automotive News Europe at a press event in Dusseldorf, Germany, today.

Forthcoming legislation in Europe and the U.S. is forcing automakers to reduce auto emissions.

Demand for turbochargers is growing, because they offer a proven and relatively inexpensive way to reduce fuel consumption. With the addition of a turbocharger, Daimler will be able to install smaller, lighter and more fuel-efficient engines without sacrificing performance.

Under current proposals, the European Commission will ask the German automaker to cut its average fleet emissions from 178 grams per kilometer to 138 g/km by 2012. The commission will fine automakers that fail to meet the targets.

Improving the efficiency of its existing engines is the first part of Daimler's strategy to reduce carbon-dioxide emission levels across its fleet. Weber said the medium-term step would be to introduce more hybrid technology. The S class -- Mercedes' flagship sedan -- will be offered as a full hybrid vehicle starting in 2009.

Weber also said that zero-emission driving is the German automaker's long-term goal. To get there, the automaker plans to use technology such as fuel cells and electric-powered vehicles. A full-electric version of the Fortwo from Mercedes sister brand Smart goes into production in 2010.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (3); Scott Doggett July 17, 2008, 8:30 AM
Categories:: Daimler, Emissions, Fuel Cell, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Mercedes-Benz, Smart

First International Plug-In Hybrid Convention to Be Held in California July 21-24

The first-ever international conference dedicated exclusively to plug-in electric hybrid technology will be held in California's Silicon Valley next week.

"Plug-In 2008: A Short Drive to Tomorrow" takes place July 21-24 in San Jose. The event is open to anyone and on-site registration is available.

Admission isn't cheap, with full access to the conference starting at $250 for students with ID, but everyone who's anyone in the PHEV world will be there. Among the attendees:

Senior representatives from the automakers, high-tech component manufacturers, electric utilities, state and federal government.
Exhibitors who will showcase the latest innovations associated with PHEVs and supporting electricity infrastructure.
Scientists who will share current technical research on PHEVs in areas including batteries, powertrains and vehicle to home technology.
Analysts who will discuss the business case for PHEVs, including potential adoption scenarios, customer segments and profit potential.
Policymakers who will explain how regulations impact PHEVs and the electricity grid, and how future rules may accelerate PHEV adoption.
Clean-tech entrepreneurs who will outline their ideas to expand the PHEV market with new technologies for vehicles and communication systems.

For more, check out the agenda.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett July 17, 2008, 7:55 AM
Categories:: Batteries, Chevrolet, Daimler, Emissions, Fisker, Ford, Fuel Economy, Fuels & Technologies, General Motors, Honda, Legislation, MINI, Manufacturers, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Smart, Tesla, Toyota

July 16, 2008

Survey Finds American Consumers Are Hot for Hybrids but Cooling on Ethanol

While most automakers have shifted production to focus on smaller vehicles, nearly 70 percent of consumers want the companies to invest more in existing and emerging powertrain technologies, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Alternative Powertrain Study released today.

Now in its third year, the Alternative Powertrain Study examines the reasons why consumers consider or avoid alternative powertrain vehicles, such as gas-electric hybrid, flex fuel and clean diesel models.

The study includes the Automotive Environmental Index, which rates the 2008-model-year vehicles on the basis of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data to fuel economy and greenhouse-gas emissions, as well as expert input from J.D. Power & Associates.

The study found that more than 80 percent of the 4,000 consumers polled believe the U.S. is currently facing an energy crisis. Only 18 percent of these respondents believe the issue can be addressed by building small, fuel-efficient vehicle.

Thirty percent believe automakers should continue to produce a comparable vehicle lineup with a focus on gas-electric hybrid, clean diesel and flexible-fuel vehicles, while another 39 percent believe carmakers should focus on developing fuel cell and all-electric vehicles.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett July 16, 2008, 3:32 PM
Categories:: Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Emissions, Ethanol, Fiat, Flex-Fuel, Ford, Fuel Cell, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Hyundai, Kia, Lexus, MINI, Mitsubishi, Natural Gas, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Pontiac, Smart, Solar, Toyota

July 15, 2008

GM's Bob Lutz: Chevy Beat Not Coming to America, Cruze a Long Ways Off

Beat concept, right, was a car-show star.

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

Shortly after General Motors Chairman Rick Wagoner announced today that the automaker remains "committed to bringing to market great products that target changing consumer preferences for more fuel-efficient vehicles," GM's vice chairman told reporters the company won't be selling the fuel-efficient Chevrolet Beat in the U.S. after all.

Looking for quick fixes for its dramatically declining U.S. sales outlook, GM officials as recently as 10 days ago were considering importing into the United States and Canada the 40-miles-per-gallon Beat minicar presently planned for a mid-2009 launch in markets outside North America.

But in a conference call with reporters shortly after Wagoner's announcement, GM VC Bob Lutz said the 3-door subcompact hatchback bound for Europe and elsewhere next year as the Spark -- replacing the vehicle that shares the same name -- won't be offered in either the U.S. or Canada.

That's because the General didn't think to design the cute little gas-sipper, with an instant North American market of mileage-crazed motorists, to meet U.S. and/or Canadian federal safety and crash standards.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett July 15, 2008, 4:16 PM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Chevrolet, Emissions, Fuel Economy, General Motors, MINI, Smart

July 12, 2008

A Little Knowledge of Transmissions Can Save You Big Bucks at the Pump

All images click to enlarge.

By Robert E. Calem, Contributor

Choosing a fuel-efficient automobile was a whole lot simpler 30 years ago, the last time the U.S. was in the throes of a gasoline price crisis. It was often as simple as buying a small vehicle with a manual transmission.

Today, with gas prices soaring to new record highs almost weekly, finding fuel economy means navigating an almost bewildering selection of vehicles. Even enormous SUVs can qualify if they come equipped with gasoline-electric hybrid drive systems.

Behind this tremendous hike in choices -- to a fairly significant extent, experts say -- has been a concomitant increase in the variety of transmissions.

Whereas in the 1970s there were only four- and five-speed manual transmissions and three- and four-speed automatic transmissions, now there are six-speed manual, six-, seven- and eight-speed automatic, six- and seven-speed "dual-clutch" automatic-manual, and continuously variable transmissions.

The result: more efficient engine operation and higher fuel economy in every car, whether it's a high-performance Porsche Carrera or a modest Volkswagen Jetta.

But there are important differences among these sophisticated transmissions, including in how much they contribute to better fuel efficiency. Knowing those differences may help you the next time you're in the market for a new car.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); Scott Doggett July 12, 2008, 12:53 AM
Categories:: Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Daimler, Ford, Fuels & Technologies, General Motors, Honda, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche, Smart, Subaru

July 11, 2008

2009 Smart Fortwo in Europe To Get Standard Micro-Hybrid With Gas Engine

Beginning this October Smart will make its micro-hybrid-drive system standard equipment on European Fortwos fitted with the 61- or 71-horsepower gas engines, parent company Daimler AG said in a statement today.

The system has been available as an option with the 71-horsepower engine since 2007.

Smart claims the auto start-stop reduces combined city/highway fuel consumption by eight percent. But Smart owners who drive mainly in dense urban areas can see savings of up to 20 percent, the automaker claims.

The setup shuts off the engine whenever the driver is braking and the vehicle speed drops below 5 miles per hour. It automatically starts the engine when the brake is released.

Diesel-powered Smarts also get an upgraded closed particulate filter for 2009 that removes even more of the soot from the exhaust. All Smarts are also getting interior upgrades, including new gauges for the new model year.

U.S.-bound Smarts will likely contain the interior changes, but Daimler AG is not saying whether America-bound Fortwos will experience the powertrain upgrades.

Scott Doggett, Contributor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); Scott Doggett July 11, 2008, 9:53 AM
Categories:: Daimler, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Smart