Want a $3,400 tax credit on the 2010 Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan Hybrid that is getting great reviews? Looks like you're going to have to get in line with the early adopters. Green Car Advisor reports that the tax credit will drop to $1,700 on April 1. No, this isn't an April Fool's joke that Ford is playing on the public.
Ford has reached its sales threshold of 60,000 hybrids, and must begin the phase out period for the tax credits. Under the guidelines stated in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 , the allowable tax credit must be reduced by 50 percent for two calendar quarters. After about six months, that credit will reduce by 25 percent, and by next year it will be completely phased out.
You might be thinking: "No big deal, I have about two months to go get one." It's not that simple. The problem is, the cars will not be available until sometime in the spring. "That could be early March, but it could be later," said a Ford spokeswoman quoted in the article.
It's not an impossible situation and there are steps you can take to ensure you are eligible for the full credit. Check out the Green Car Advisor Blog to get the full story.
Our video team has put together two short but informative videos from the floor of the Detroit Auto Show about the highly anticipated 2010 Honda Insight and the FT-EV concept vehicle from Toyota. Senior Automotive Editor Brian Moody gets the scoop on how Honda has made its hybrid motor more advanced, yet less expensive. In the second video, Moody interviews Toyota's Bill Reinert, national manager of advanced technology vehicles, and learns that the lessons gathered from this concept will carry over into a full production electrical vehicle in 2012. Get the full story at the Edmunds Green Car Advisor.
For Hummer, a brand on the opposite end of the fuel economy spectrum, 2008 has not been a kind year. After suffering the worst decline of all GM brands -- down 50.9 percent from 2007 -- Hummer recently announced that it is halting production of its H2 model. With Hummer suffering its lowest sales year since 2002, the 200 layoffs that quickly ensued surprised no one. Check out the Edmunds Green Car Advisor for more information.
Last summer, gas prices shot to record levels at a rapid rate. Buyer's panicked and snapped up every fuel efficient vehicle they could find. Fuel sipping hybrids were more in demand than front row seats to the Presidential Inaugural. Consumers were happily paying thousands of dollars over MSRP for any hybrid car or small hybrid CUV. Fast forward to the here and now. Gas prices have dropped by more than half, people are buying trucks again and the once high-flying hybrid sales have crashed. Not only can you deal on them, but now you can get a deal.
Recently, the NY Times' Thomas Friedman wrote an op-ed piece advocating an increase in the federal gas tax. He sites sales statistics that showed that as gas prices fell, sales of trucks and SUV's spiked and sales of hybrids and small cars fell, as proof that the American consumer doesn't have the self-discipline to wean itself from poor fuel efficiency. While I didn't agree with his notion of what the Detroit Three should build in the future, I tend to agree with this idea.
Ford's 2010 Fusion Hybrid was heavily spotlighted by the manufacturer at the recent Los Angeles Auto Show, and with good reason: The frugal hybrid offers the sort of fuel economy that's likely to command the attention of buyers hoping to save at the pump.
The official EPA ratings are now in, and they cast this Fusion in a very favorable light. The car has ratings of 41 miles per gallon in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. This makes it the most fuel-efficient midsize car available in the U.S. market -- a title previously held by the Toyota Camry Hybrid.
According to Ford, the Fusion Hybrid can travel for more than 700 miles on a single tank of gas. Official pricing is not yet available, but it's expected that the car will cost about $25,000 once the applicable federal tax credit has been factored in.
Toyota plans to move in an even more environmentally conscious direction in the years ahead by increasing the use of plant-based "green" plastics in its vehicle interiors. The advantage offered by these materials is that they emit less global-warming carbon dioxide than traditional petroleum-based plastics during a product's life cycle. They also serve to reduce petroleum use.
Look for the redesigned 2010 Toyota Prius to feature a generous serving of these environmentally friendly bioplastics.
I got a chance to take the Honda FCX Clarity hydrogen-powered sedan for a long highway drive today. Out of 200 production vehicles that are planned for the L.A./Irvine area as part of Honda's rollout, this puppy was fourth or fifth to come out.
So, how does the Clarity translate to the real world?
The good news is that it's very much a Honda. That is, it's an easy driver. It's not particularly sporty -- you won't win any races -- but it's pleasant in every way and offers a pretty typical Honda feel in terms of steering and handling.
Last month, Toyota sold 8,660 Prius hybrids. That is just about half of the 16,737 they sold in November of 2007. Average gas price in November of 2007? About $1.30/gallon more than it was in November of this year. After the spike in gas prices over the summer, Toyota reacted to consumer demand by increasing production of the Prius and even developed plans to produce the Prius in the US, which it has shelved. Now that Prius demand has fizzled, Toyota is reacting by offering cut rate finance and lease deals in many parts of the country in an effort to move all those extra hybrids that nobody seems to want now. Clearly consumers are reacting to the rise and fall of gas prices and Toyota, and other manufacturers, are reacting to consumers' fickle nature.
It is safe to assume that once the current world-wide economic recession abates, in a year or two, and oil and gas prices spike back up, consumers will once again demand hybrids and other fuel efficient vehicles. This is why I suggest buyers think long and hard about their priorities when they look to buy a vehicle in the near future.
Buying a vehicle represents a commitment that is usually measured in years and not months. So when you are thinking about the color, options and body style, give long thought to what if. What if gas prices go back to $4/gallon, can you comfortably afford it? Don't just assume that gas will stay under $2/gallon indefinitely. Wall Street seems to have forgotten the lessons of history. Don't let the same thing happen to you. Don't just look down at the nice straight-a-way in front of you, lest you fail to notice the sudden curve until it is way too late.
Despite the fact that gas prices have recently fallen, demand for hybrid and clean diesel vehicles remain one of the few bright spots for dealers in a dreary automotive market. Dealers are often demanding MSRP or higher for vehicles with a hybrid powertrain or diesel engines. Phil's recent Jetta TDI buying experience bears this out. One benefit, not to be forgotten, is the availability of a tax credit for most hybrid and diesel buyers.
We've heard of making diesel out of plants, what about cutting out the middleman and letting the plants make it themselves? Sounds crazy, right? But an American researcher has found just that.
Professor of plant sciences at Montana State University Gary Stroebel, Ph.D., has discovered a microorganism in Patagonia that naturally creates a combination of hydrocarbon compounds remarkably similar to that of diesel fuel. It's the first organism ever discovered that does this.
The organism is called Gliocladium roseum (see photo above), and it is a fungus that lives in ulmo trees in the rain forests of Northern Patagonia. It consumes the cellulose of the tree (or any cellulose you might feed it) and turns it into what Dr. Stroebel calls "myco-diesel." ("Myco" means fungus and "diesel" means, well, diesel.) The fungus' output is a combination of many of the compounds that are found in the diesel fuel we put into our cars and trucks. They're still working out how this new discovery can be used to create fuel, but it's an exciting breakthrough in the search for crude oil-free fuel technology.
Dr. Stroebel says knowing something like this does exist encourages him and his colleagues to search for more organisms that perform similar functions. His discovery appears in the latest issue of the journal Microbiology.
Starting next year, 500 lucky customers in California, New York and New Jersey can lease an electric MINI. With a range of 150 miles and a top speed of 95 mph, the MINI E eschews a gas engine (and the two rear seats) for a series of over 5,000 small lithium-ion batteries and an electric motor. These batteries offer up a capacity of 35 kilowatt hours and are used to power the 204 hp electric motor. This powertrain is saddled with an extra 400lbs over that of a gas MINI Cooper, resulting in a 0-60 performance of 8.5 seconds. Faster than a gas Cooper, but slower than the turbocharged Cooper S.
Before you decide to camp out for your place in line, be aware that the monthly lease payment will be a not-so-mini $850 and the lease term is for only 12 months. Included in the payment is maintenance, a charging station (in your secure garage) and any electricity you use charging the batteries. The question of insurance coverage could not be answered, but it may also be included in the monthly payment. However, even if it doesn't include insurance, the high payment is partially mitigated by the fact that you won't have to be paying for any gas.
My take? I like it! I believe the future power source for automobiles is electricity. From both an economic and environmental standpoint, the world can no longer afford to power our vehicles by internal combustion engines. It will still take years, if not decades, for electric vehicles to become mainstream. However, we have to start somewhere. As they say, how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. The MINI E will be one such bite.
Sure, the Prius still tops the rankings that the EPA and the Department of Energy issued last week. But there are some notable new additions to the Top 10 list. In particular, the 2009 Volkwagen Jetta diesel and the 2009 Smart Fortwo. The Jetta, which comes in no less than 32 different flavors, will benefit from a $1,300 federal tax credit. The Smart? Well, you couldn't get me to buy that car even with a tax credit. Not with that transmission, anyway.
Happily, I'm the owner (or lessee) of the #3 car on the list, although I have to admit I'm getting less than the EPA estimated mileage of 35/33. I can't complain too much about getting 30/31, but the VW diesel's numbers (30/41 or 29/40) sure are tempting. The fact that VW sells every diesel it makes, means that if you want one, get in line now.
If you see a fleet of Audi Q7 TDI's covered with signage running through your town, it's probably part of the Audi Mileage Marathon, a two week cross-country drive that started in NYC and will end up in LA 4,800 miles later on October 20.
The 23 car rally (showcasing the Audi Q7 3.0 TDI SUV) was staged to illustrate how Audi's clean diesel technology is addressing concerns about fuel prices, energy dependence and global warming.
This rally is not a race. Vehicles are monitored during each leg of the journey and evaluated by speed, distance and fuel economy. In other words, winning isn't how fast you go, it's how fuel efficient you are.
I called in to my friend Kate McLeod, a NY-based automotive writer and playwright, who would be driving the Audi A3 TDI in the rally. She and driving partner Denise McCluggage were on the leg from New York to Chicago, two of the 184 drivers representing countries in North America, Europe and Asia, who will drive the fuel-efficient vehicles in 13 daily stages. FYI -- Automotive legend and journalist Denise McCluggage raced cars before it was hip and has been described as the "fastest woman on four wheels."
The duo had just arrived in DC, their first overnight stop.
Holly: How fast did you go?
Kate: 80-85 the whole way to D.C. We did no hypermiling, no riding the white line, no over inflating of the tires, we just drove.
"It's all about perception," noted Jim Gill, Head of Product and Technology Marketing for VW. We were at the introduction of the 2009 VW Jetta TDI 'Clean Diesel' in Santa Monica, California last week. Gill was talking about how different age groups perceive diesel.
More specifically, he mentioned that VW is marketing the Jetta TDI to a demographic that's 35 and younger. Why? Because they don't have a memory of "bad diesel", they're environmentally hip, they want a car with go--the TDI has lots of torque-- and they can afford it. The starting price for the Jetta TDI is $21,990.
The story is that clean diesel provides approximately 30% more fuel economy, 25% less greenhouse gas emissions and about 50% more torque. (For example, the 2009 Jetta TDI packs 263 lbs-fit of torque.)
Mention diesel to a jaded baby boomer and they'll probably snort a stream of negatives;
It smells like sulfur. Clean diesel low sulfur fuel has 97% less sulfur than other diesel fuel.
It's dirty. The dirty, smelly, smoke associated with old diesel engines was the result of unburned or partially burned fuel. Advanced emission-capturing technology reduces the amount of C0 2 drastically. What comes out of tailpipes from clean diesels is clean.
It's noisy. Pilot injection quiets down the engine and provides more torque then equivalent gas-based engines.
"We're not starting from scratch," Gill added. VW is celebrating its 32nd anniversary of diesel power. And clean diesel is a brand new game.
To note, the cost of diesel can run up to .58 cent more than gas. However, the pay back comes in fuel economy. For example, EPA estimates for the new Jetta TDI are 29 city and 40 hwy; the AMCI real world tests came in at 38 city/44 hwy.
In the final analysis, while the 2009 Jetta TDI costs a couple of thousand more than its gas version, you'll get a $1300 tax credit.
Plus, the folks at VW say that the resale value on diesels is more than 80%.
I'm not the kind of person who is good at retaining numerical facts in my brain. Maybe I'm deficient in Vitamin J, maybe I didn't get my recommended daily allowance of math quizzes as a third-grader, maybe my brain just doesn't care. Whatever the reason, I compensate by making lists. Lots of lists. I like lists.
Recently, I was driving my husband in one of the cars in our long-term fleet (I can't remember which one, and obviously I forgot put it on a list), and he asked me what kind of fuel economy it got. Somehow, magically, I did know at the time what mpg the car got and I told him. "How does that compare to Competitive Long-Term Car X?" he said. And I stared blankly, shrugged my shoulders and decided to make a list: fuel economy of all our long-term cars. You'll find it here on our long-term car blog. Now I don't have to wrack my brain when he asks me again, and you get a quickie snapshot of our fleet's fuel economy. How do your personal vehicles rank on the Big List of Fuel Economy?
Unlike the world of cars, where talk about energy and mileage is very serious, the world of fashion thinks that sustainability is SEXY and being nice to the planet is chic.
During Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in NYC, I attended the Be EcoChic fashion show at the American Museum of Natural History. The company, Be EcoChic was founded to use the power of the runway to raise environmental awareness. Obviously they get a lot of play.
The fashion show, hosted by super model Angela Lindvall of Discovery Planet's Alter Eco and The Sierra Club, featured collections made with sustainable fabrics.
Fashions included clothes crafted from seaweed, recycled crêpe de chine, gowns made from vintage raffia and dresses painted with low impact dyes.
So, you may ask, how does this relate to the world of cars? It just got me thinking about how often we focus on what's not happening. I hear so much complaining about how the major car companies did not prepare for the future, why didn't they see this coming and build more fuel efficient cars and blah blah blah. I say look at what IS happening.
We have a hydrogen fuel cell-powered Chevrolet Equinox in the office right now, but I don't get to drive it. Anyone who wants to drive the vehicle while it's here for a week or so was required to attend a training session on how to fill it up with all that odorless, volatile hydrogen gas. I missed the training. But that's OK. I can live vicariously (and you can, too), through Senior Editor John O'Dell, the man who embodies the words Green Car Advisor and happens to head up our blog of the same name, who wrote a post here all about the fueling training our drivers got before they could grab the keys to the Equinox.
"Studies conducted by J.D. Power show that the typical hybrid purchaser is better educated and wealthier than the average car buyer. Furthering the exclusivity is the fact that available hybrids are hard to find... Toss in the tax breaks and access to highway HOV lanes that hybrid drivers get in many locales, and it's no wonder old-school drivers can get irritated."
To which the non-profit 40mpg.org, which encourages hybrid ownership says, "Enough already!" with all the hybrid owner bashing.
But is there some truth to the idea that Prius owners are eco-snobs?
When I recently got my 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid, whose EPA MPG estimate is 35/33, I thought it would be no sweat to achieve the fuel economy estimates on the sticker. After all, the 2008 EPA estimates were revised to reflect real-world driving, right?
Apparently, I'm not part of the real world, because my second tank of gas yielded me only 27 mpg. After doing a little research, it appears that to my poor fuel efficiency was caused by 1) the car not being broken in, 2) the Altima, unlike the Prius, prefers longer trips rather than short city hops, and 3) my driving habits.
Now, I always knew I was a rather aggressive driver, but never thought much of it. When you work around a bunch of enthusiasts, many of whom race for a hobby, my minor-league bobbing and weaving on the busy freeway pale by comparison. Yet I was beginning to wonder if paying the extra money for the hybrid was a bad decision.
It's all about bashing Detroit these days. Everywhere I look someone is groaning about the automotive industry. The dialogue goes something like this: Why didn't they think of alternative technology sooner? Why did they wait so long? Why were they thinking producing all those big SUVs?
There's a legitimate point to those questions, yet I sometimes find myself defending domestic automakers. Especially because I have seen the other side of the industry... the non-business, philanthropic side.
Last weekend, for example, I attended the Essence Music Festival that takes place around the 4th of July every year in New Orleans, sponsored by Chevrolet. The festival incorporates hip music with inspiring empowerment sessions. Hence the motto, "Party with a purpose." Chevy thinks of itself as "America's brand," and there's nothing more American on the 4th of July than lending a hand where it's needed.
Chevrolet, which has partnered with Essence Magazine on this festival for the last eight years, provided 100 hybrid vehicles for transportation and sponsored an online talent competition, Voice of Tomorrow (which awarded the winning singer a set of keys to a 2009 Chevy Malibu.) But what really stands out at this weekend is Chevy's involvement with the Children's Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom Schools Music Therapy programs.
The CDF Freedom Schools serve 8,500 children across the country, spanning 64 cities in 25 states. In the Gulf-area, The Freedom School is helping more than 1,000 students, in line with the "Revolution to Rebuild" theme that Chevy developed last year.
Yesterday, J.D. Power and Associates released their U.S. Automotive Emerging Technologies Study, in which they polled 19,000 people across the country.
Some of the interesting highlights: 72% of consumers said they were "definitely/probably" interested in having hybrid technology. After they were told that it would cost them $5000 extra, that figure dropped to 46%...
With all the talk of hypermiling and fuel-efficient vehicles, something else is being overlooked: Left lane road hogs.
You know, the innattentive idiots that go too slowly in the left lane, forcing everyone to brake, change lanes, and pass them on the right? All that unnecessary acceleration means wasted gas!
While most auto writers have filed their long lead reviews of the 2009 Audi A4, the story is changing ever so slightly for Audi. With anxious Americans, increasingly making purchase decisions based on gas cash, the German brand has joined the banter, emphasizing 15% fuel economy improvement in the re-hauled product that hits show rooms in September.
It's crunch time in the car world, with falling sales and ominous fuel reports dampening the mood as the high fall season approaches, when most new cars hit the market. This week, Audi execs sculpted a fuel economy story in a
media presentation from a product planner perspective at their Manhattan showroom on Park Avenue...
Summer is high book-reading season. If you're tired of the Oprah list, or want something other than fiction, here are some reads you might enjoy.
First is Car Advice for Women (and Smart Men), by the husband and wife team of Alexander Law and Susan Winlaw. Unlike Lauren Fix's book, this one has no illustrations, just a couple of charts and lots of information, all broken down into easily digestible bits...
Although I'm happily back in the saddle of my new 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid (the battery's working fine, thanks!), I couldn't pass up the opportunity to drive home from the office in our long-term 2008 smart fortwo passion. Edmunds readers are giving it rave reviews, but the buzz aound the office after our Gas-Sipper Smackdown was that it is a real dog.
I admit I was nervous about riding in such a small car...
Yesterday I continued my story on how I came to choose the 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid as my new ride, and the deal I got on it. What I didn't have room for, though, was the details on how the car died as I tried to leave the lot.
Yes, after a few hours with the salesman and the finance woman -- during which time I had to do all the paperwork twice because someone screwed up the VIN -- I was finally ready to leave. But my new car was missing floor mats, the navigation manual, and a second key. What's up with that? Well, these things get poached when a car is sitting on the lot for a while... Would I come back at a later date to get those things? Well, what choice did I have at that point?
The car had been gassed and washed (at least on the outside; the inside was still really dusty, as I found later.) But when I pushed the START button to drive it off the lot, nothing happened.
Was my foot on the brake, as required? Yes it was. I tried repeatedly, but no dice. The salesman tried, but again, no dice. He looked concerned. He said, "I don't get it, it was working fine all day." I looked back at him and said, "You know, this isn't supposed to happen, right?"
Right. So they jumped the car, got it started, and the battery continued to charge itself as the car ran. The salesman and I drove around the dealership for a mile or so just to make sure it wouldn't die, then I dropped him off and went home.
All went well for two days. Then, on Wednesday evening, aftering return from an event for Planet Green, the Discovery's Channel's new eco-lifestyle channel (launching June 4), I parked in front of my house and turned the car off. Two minutes later, when I went to take the babysitter home, the car wouldn't start. Dead in the water. I got the babysitter home using the Highlander (which I hadn't yet returned to the Toyota dealership yet), and went to work to figure the damn thing out.
I went through the manual till after midnight, then gave it a rest. In the morning, I prayed for a miracle, but there was nothing. So Thursday, after I returned from work, the Nissan dealership had my new car towed -- towed! -- back to the dealership for repairs. And there it still sits now.
Yesterday, Mark LaNeve, North American VP of vehicle sales and marketing for General Motors, visited our offices. During his hour-plus-long conversation with a roomful of staffers from various departments, the subject of the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro came up. I found it interesting and surprising (and our enthusiast-focused sister publication, Inside Line’s editor-in-chief Scott Oldham found it alarming) when Mr. LaNeve said that they won't be pushing it as a musclecar and are only expecting about one third of sales to be of the big, smoky burnout variation that most of us associate with the name “Camaro.” But according to GM, the other two thirds of their expected buyers will be people who want a sporty, fun-to-drive compact car alternative, and they expect a large percentage of that buyer to be female...
I started looking at regular five-seater vehicles. I spent Sunday testing a ton of cars at Galpin Motors, because 1) they responded to my Edmunds quote request, and 2) they have Volvo, Ford, Saturn, Mazda, and Honda -- as well as five other brands -- all under one roof. My salesman from the Internet department, James K., was a mensch, letting me test drive everything I had my eye on without any pressure. (And no, he didn't know I was from Edmunds until later in the process.) I tried out everything from the small Mazda 3 (because the editors always loved that car, and after driving it, I could see why) to the Mazda CX-7, to the Ford Escape Hybrid, to the Volvo S40. All cars I had liked for one reason or another. The smaller cars on that list I ruled out because the back seat wasn't comfortable for three people.
So why not get the Mazda CX-7? I love the way Mazdas drive (the "zoom-zoom" ads are actually true). But SUVs are generally more expensive than sedans of the same size and get poorer fuel economy. In California, gas prices are already well over $4 / gallon. And prices are only going to go up. While it's true that hybrids don't yet make financial sense for most people (because the price premium for the hybrid usually outweighs the money saved on gas), that changes as gas prices rise. And besides, I'm even "greener" now than I used to be, and my husband and I really like the idea of less pollution / great fuel economy.
I started thinking: "family" sedan (for the rear seat) + great gas mileage + driving dynamics + style. Right there, that limited my list. I probably should have tested the Honda Accord -- but I was in overwhelm mode, and the Internet manager at the dealership needed his salesman back.
A few weeks ago, I asked for feedback on my next new car. Well, so much has changed since then, and I finally (finally!) made a decision over the Memorial Day Weekend: A 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid.
Would you want to drive a Smart Fortwo from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and back (a 270-miles trip)? Yeah, neither would I. But recently some of our fearless staffers did just that. It was part of a fuel economy test called the Gas-Sipper Smackdown that pitted the Fortwo, a diesel VW Jetta, a Ford Focus (all three from our long-term test fleet) and a Toyota Prius against each other in a fuel-economy cage match to the death...
The last few days I have been in Modena, Italy on a business trip. Like most European cities, I see people of all ages walking and biking instead of driving around town to do their errands.
I realize that not all of you reading this blog live in a city and drive to do your errands but I think we can all take another look at WALKING. It’s free, doesn’t leave a carbon footprint and is better for your health.
Walking is free, doesn’t leave a carbon footprint and is good for your health...
Earth Day is approaching fast (it’s next Tuesday, in case you didn’t already know), and if you’re in the market for a new vehicle, it’s the perfect time to consider buying a car that gets the best fuel economy in its class. (Truthfully, every day is a great time to do this, but I needed a hook, didn’t I?)
Even if you're not working on Wall Street or an employee of one of the four airlines that failed in 2008, chances are you're feeling the pain of the slow economy. Gas prices up, unemployment up, spending money down. Sounds like a lousy time to buy some wheels...
Since y'all were so helpful in Michelle's quest for a new car, which resulted in her happy purchase of a 2008 Scion xD, I thought I'd ask for your input for my next purchase. The lease on my 2005 Toyota Highlander is up in July. Once I crunch the numbers, it may turn out that buying out the lease is a good idea, but in the meantime, I want to consider other contenders.
My most important criteria: seating for 6 or more (for carpool when necessary), safety (good crash test scores, side curtain airbags, stability control), and a low price...
Old San Juan is a perfect location for electric cars
I was intrigued when I got a press release from the Sheraton Old San Juan in Puerto Rico announcing the addition of electric cars to a package deal. This demonstrates how alternative transportation is spreading beyond the usual suspects--US, Europe and Asia. The Caribbean has been wise to the green mentality with eco-conscious notes in the rooms about towel usage, but this is the first I’ve heard about electric cars—besides golf carts.
At the NYIAS, Subaru and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) hooked up for a good cause. In a partnership between NYPA and Subaru, two of Subaru's 2009 R1e electric vehicles will become part of NYPA’s green fleet.
The stats: The Subaru R1e uses fast-charge lithium ion battery technology. The two-seat Subaru R1e is capable of driving at speeds up to 65 mph with a range of up to 50 miles...
Listen up, ethanol skeptics. Saleen, the 25-year-old company that has made a name for itself in the specialty market has created a roaring concept that can run on ethanol E85. Yup, that’s right! The company that has been involved with wild cars like the Viper, Prowler and Fort GT, introduced the S5S Raptor at the NYIAS.
“The Raptor is designed to digest cellulosic ethanol...
With gas prices hovering around the $4/a gallon mark, I'm sure you're looking to save gas anyway you can short of hypermiling. Fortunately our editors have tested the gas-saving tips you read about everywhere and proved which ones actually work. Check it out at We Test the Tips, Part II.
I have had my new 2008 Scion xD for a few weeks now and I am happy to report that I have consistently been averaging 32.5 m.p.g. under mixed driving conditions. My last tank of gas and the one I am on now have had something closer to 31.4 m.p.g. because I have been having some issues with punctuality and regulating my aggressive acceleration tendencies...
Saab showed off its 9-X BioHybrid concept car at the Geneva Motor Show on March 3rd. The 9-X BioHybrid showcases a 1.4-liter BioPower turbo engine backed by GM’s next-generation hybrid system that runs on E85 and is flex-fuel, meaning it can also run on regular gasoline. In addition, the 9-X has solar cells in the glass roof that charges the battery pack. Green-o.
This 3-door compact puts an emphasis on efficiency both in design and performance. Wheels are placed at all four corners for better performance. A smooth body without visible door handles or side mirrors gives the vehicle a super sleek profile. The design, including minimal body overhangs and an extended roof line, is inspired by the Aero X coupe concept Saab showed two years ago in Geneva.
The vehicle is intended to be built on General Motor’s global compact architecture, which is under development in Europe and is expected to be used for a broad range of products like the 2009 Saturn Astra and the much talked about Chevrolet Volt plug-in...
Sir Richard Branson In front of a Chevy Equinox fuel cell vehicle
Sir Richard Branson, President of Virgin Atlantic Airways was in New York City yesterday to announce a partnership between Chevrolet Equinox hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, Virgin Atlantic and Rolls Royce. Seems like an unlikely combo?
Not if you’re talking about Sir Branson. Last week Virgin Atlantic “became the first airline in the world to successfully fly a plane using biofuel.” The Boeing 747-400 flew between London Heathrow and Amsterdam on a mix of babassu nuts from the Amazon rainforest and coconuts from the Philippines. Sounds like a good combo for a facial to me...
Chevy’s green motto, "From Gas Friendly to Gas Free," was in full flower last week as Chevy and Disney hosted more than 150 L.A.-area school children at Chevy Rocks the Future event at Disney Studios in Burbank. The lucky students, grades 4-8 attended a private concert with teen musical sensations the Jonas Brothers and Jordan Pruit. The event was also attended by many of the up-and-coming actors appearing on Disney-produced shows such as Desperate Housewives (a personal fave) and Hannah Montana.
The grand event was the culmination of a months-long campaign to educate school children in the Los Angeles/Ventura area about environmental issues. While they are too young to drive, students participated by making "Promise To Live Better" pledges to recycle, turn off unneeded lights and water, bring canvas tote bags to the grocery store with their parents, and so on. Thousands of such pledges were made, and that really adds up.
But the concert was only half the fun. Kids (and adults, trust me) played and ate in a giant "biosphere" while learning about the wide range of technologies Chevy is using to reduce emissions and increase fuel economy. Kids ran from interactive exhibits on hybrid and electric technologies to active fuel management and ethanol.
For example, the ethanol exhibit (above) features a huge biofuel-powered corn popper that sometimes blew its top, raining popcorn down on the happy participants. The point? To teach kids that stuff that grows from the ground can really be used to power a car, like the E85 Flexfuel Chevy Avalanche in the display.
We have a winner! We traded in my 2006 Volvo XC90 for a 2008 Scion xD this weekend. For $16,000, we got a car that averages 30 mpg city/hwy. Although we originally planned to get a manual transmission, we ended up choosing the automatic...
On Tuesday I spent the day with the MINI Cooper Clubman S. Before I even get into the car, I must tell you that MINI has come up with a new word-ZUG.
Some ZUG quotes to follow...
"ZUG likes it when weird happens."
"ZUG is about moving confidently in our own direction, with no apologies. And Zug is about going that way in style."
"The MINI CLUBMAN IS ZUG."
"It looks odd. It runs on irregular. It is the brown sheep of the family. It may not be right for you. Then again, you may not be right for it."
OK, I won't repeat the entire book but you get the drift...right? ZUG incorporates the BE HERE NOW philosophy. It is everything I keep trying to be and why I read spiritual books like Your Best Life Now on a daily basis. But, enough about me.
Is the MINI Clubman all that?
Well, it passed the test for me. It would certainly do just fine for a family, empty nesters, a surfer or a commuter.
First of all, it's bigger than the MINI.The door on the right hand-side opens backwards for wider access to the back seats; the rear doors split for a more practical opening to the cargo area. Also, the luggage compartment floor is flat and the rear seat bench can fold for more room.
Secondly, the mileage is phenomenal- MINI Cooper S Clubman does 34 MPG Highway/ 26 MPG City. The MINI Cooper Clubman does 37 MPG Highway / 28 MPG City.
In image-conscious Los Angeles, more than most other places, the car you drive is seen as a statement. That's part of why the Hollywood celebs upgrade every year or two to the latest/greatest vehicle -- whether they need it or not. It's why real estate brokers here all seem to drive Mercedes (they project "successful"), why middle-aged men with second wives buy sports cars ("youthful"), why rappers buy Bentleys and Escalades ("I've got plenty o' cash"), why soccer moms buy Tahoes and Suburbans when, in truth, minivans would suit them better. Even the Prius, while it does indeed save gas, is associated with folks who want their car to scream, "I"m green!"
Other people's opinions are a main ingredient in our "vehicle satisfaction" recipe, yet it's not something that's measured by the customer satisfaction polls.
Buying a new car is like having a child: You want people to cast admiring looks and ask questions about your new baby. If they don't, you begin to wonder if your new bundle of joy has a case of the uglies...
When last I posted, I tested a 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid on my 100-mile round trip commute. Last night, I drove a car that is $10K cheaper with better gas mileage.
I borrowed the 2007 Honda Fit Sport from our long-term fleet. I filled up the tank this morning so that I could calculate the mileage for my commute and I actually thought there was a problem with the pump when it stopped at 2.5 gallons, but that was all it took...
A few months ago a new fuel station opened up on Olympic and Robertson Boulevards, not far from where I live in West L.A. The huge billboards that tower over it indicated something "green" was going on, but what?
Turns out that BP -- British Petroleum -- has built the Helios House, a well-thought-out, LEEDS-certified fuel dispensary that's all shiny chrome, hard angles, and colored lighting. It replaced a really dirty, dumpy old station...
There was a generous amount of environmental concepts at the Detroit Auto Show, like the trio from Saturn, the offerings from Chevy, the plug-ins from Ford. All well and good. But, it’s always the wacky ones that I’m drawn to. The colors, shapes, and the images they drum up for me...
After I left the Detroit Auto Show I realized that the Nissan FORUM was a concept vehicle. Duh. I kept looking for a design forum. My editor kept talking about a popcorn popper in a vehicle, I kept asking the folks at Chrysler about it...
The truth. The Ford Explorer America Concept at the Detroit Auto Show was not as exciting as the name. I imagined all kinds of cool additions like pop corn poppers, lazy boy seats, maybe an in-car vacuum cleaner. But, this large and rather boxy SUV was nothing to groove about...
I didn’t expect the person in the form fitting black dress and zebra heels to be the interior designer for the Land Rover LRX concept. I’'m used to seeing a more corporate look at Land Rover. It was a nice surprise to see a departure from the expected dress code. Perhaps, I thought to myself, Land Rover is getting a little wackier...
The best part of the Lexus booth was their spa loft. Sure, I loved the look of the LF-A Roadster concept, the one with a V10 engine capable of 500 plus horsepower and a top speed of over 200 mph. All very nice.
But, after checking out their vehicles and hybrid technology, I couldn’t stop myself from floating up a cascade of white steps to an aromatherapy infused loft based in soothing music and scents of aromatherapy...
They looked like a better version Charlie’s Angels… more sophisticated, brainier and more down to earth. It turns out that they were the three interior designers for the Lincoln MKT concept, “the ultimate touring vehicle.” I sat down with the “interior angels” at the Detroit Auto Show to talk about their design. They were visibly excited to talk about the concept; a nice perk for me.
First, let me give a short run down on the concept. EcoBoost, Ford’s engine technology that has improved mpg and greenhouse gas emission, powers the MKT...
As you're likely well aware, Congress and the President officially took action to raise fuel economy standards this week. It will be a gradual phase-in process starting in 2011 and culminating in a 35-mpg Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard for automakers in 2020.
However, as our green car authority, John O'Dell, explains in this illuminating blog entry, CAFE is not at all in sync with the revised EPA fuel economy standards. The upshot is that a car could average well under 35 mpg in the real world and still meet the new standard...
I posted last month about my need for a fuel-efficient commuter car that also nicely fits a rear-facing infant seat in the back seat. My two main requirements are that the vehicle get a minimum of 30 m.p.g. on the highway and be able to seat a front seat passenger comfortably with the car seat in the back. Bonus requirement: It would be nice it the car was fun to drive...
In a recent radio report I did on MIT’'s City Car, a fold-up electric vehicle designed to help increase the idea of green city mobility, one old-timer car guy was very skeptical. He didn’'t see how cities would change their ways to accommodate smaller cars. “"The cabs and trucks will crush em,”" he quipped.
I neglected to tell him that cabs and trucks would probably be taxed to enter cities in the future…he wouldn't want to hear that...
Imagine a world where cars could be folded in half and stacked up on a rack instead of parking. When you needed to use one, you’d simply swipe a credit card and remove it from the rack. After unfolding it, you’d take it to your destination refold it, and attach it to a rack. Think of those Smart Carts in the airport + Zipcar convenience and you’ve got the concept...
Since the first time I watched the Smart Fortwo ease into a tight parking place in Paris, I’ve wanted one. It made sense for Europe with its series of small towns connected by rural roads. But, I wondered how it would do in the US.
The most talked about car at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show was the Nissan GT-R, a V6 twin-turbo 4WD coupe ---Nissan’s challenge to the beloved Porsche 911 Turbo. Yes, fast is sexy but green is getting…well, funkier, more fun, hipper. There was an impressive range of environmentally conscious concepts and production cars shown in Tokyo.
If you live in the NY, DC, or LA areas, you're eligible to qualify for the first significant market test of a fuel-cell vehicle (FCV): The Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell Vehicle. Chevy is running a 3-year test in these markets,dubbed Project Driveway, to get feedback on the cars and to spread the word about hydrogen fuel cells. Several hundred participants will get to drive the cars for roughly three months apiece, all expenses paid (vehicle, fuel, insurance).
Sure, some vehicles will go to policy makers and celebrities, but Chevy is specifically looking for "real folks" too. And I'll give you a hint: They're not just looking for hardcore greenies, they want folks who are interested in trying something new and who will be articulate and active participants in the Chevy online community.
I learned about all this on Tuesday at Chevy's "Electric Drive University," an off-site program where journalists got an education on everything fuel cell: from safety and refueling to necessary infrastructure and more. So, here are some basics you should know about hydrogen fuel cell vehicles:
- They are as safe, and quite possibly safer, than gasoline cars. Really. They put these babies through fire (literally) and ice to test them -- tests that no gasoline car could ever pass.
- They are extremely easy to refuel, without the mess or smell that gasoline has, but it takes a little longer to fill up a tank.
- There is no transmission on the Equinox. The power delivery is completely smooth, so there's no waiting for the revs to increase and no 'shift shock.'
- Though some modifications were made to the gas-powered Chevy Equinox to enable it for hydrogen power, a driver woudn't notice much different except that 1) the tachometer has been replaced by an energy meter, and 2) there are four seats instead of five, a sacrifice that likely won't have to be made on future generations of Chevy's FCVs. (The hydrogen system in the Equinox is 4th generation. The Chevy Volt is already running on 5th generation technology, which is smaller.)
- The only tailpipe emission is water vapor, which come out of the newly designed vents (four across) in the back (see picture below).
You've probably seen articles in the newspaper or on TV about a new crop of teensy imported cars that are slowly making their way to the U.S. from places like China and India. (The photo above is of the Chery S12 Kimo hatchback from the Istanbul Motor Show.) They promise extremely low prices (I've seen anywhere from $2,500 to $10,000), but are they too good to be true? Could this be the next big thing kicking Detroit in the butt, or is the image of a car shaking itself to pieces on the highway a more likely scenario?
I recently received a pamphlet from Chevy printed on recycled paper (with soy ink) titled Gas-friendly to Gas-free.
I get so confused by all the “green” jargon passed around these days; I thought their brochure was quite informative. Take what you want from it. Best, H
It’s not every day you get to have lunch with GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz, but a group of Edmunds staffers did that on Monday when Lutz and his entourage stopped by our Santa Monica headquarters. Lutz is affable and easygoing, and he wasn’t at all shy about his opinions, which focused largely on how challenging it is to comply with all the latest vehicle regulations; to wit:
On the huge issue of making a diesel engine comply with BIN 5, Tier 2 emissions regulations: He complained that the regulations will add thousands of dollars to the cost of a diesel vehicle. And if you were to design a hybrid diesel, "you're talking $6-$8K above the price of a gasoline engine car."
"We have technological solutions at hand, but not a commercial solution," he said, meaning that GM can do it technologically and physically, but the costs will be too high for the consumer. Lutz said that, of course, GM will discount the new technology when it first comes out in order to get the cars onto the street, but eventually, those costs have to be passed onto the consumer.
"When 2017 rolls around, 35 mpg will have to be the standard on 80% of the vehicles-- that means 2-mode hybrids. A 2-mode hybrid system itself costs as much now as the car [itself]. A car buyer in 2017 will walk into the dealer to trade in his regular [gas] car for the new technology, and he'll find the price of a new car has jumped from $28K to $38K!... It's the ultimate sticker shock, especially since we won't let fuel costs rise in this country. We think we have the right to pay 30-40% less than the rest of the world."
He griped about how automakers are getting squeezed by both government and public opinion, but that the numbers don’t add up. "This is what the politicians don't tell people," he said. "They say, 'We'll make the car companies improve gas mileage at no cost to you.' But that just isn't going to compute"
First, a note to my US audience. I am using German press kits that references litres, kilometres, kW, bhp etc. At the moment I am flying back to NYC from Germany and do not have access to the internet to make the translations. Hope you won’t mind. After all, this is a European product, after all. And I think it adds a little panache to the piece. Please read on…
The message at the Frankfurt Motor Show was everything you ever wanted to hear about green technology. The buzz was all about bio-fuel, diesel fuel, hybrids, fuel economy, “green cars” and a growing fleet of Mercedes-Benz BLUETEC vehicles. Ok, so what’s new…the green theme is ongoing in the US.
Flowerpower Biodiesel
But, what we all want to hear is that awareness is growing worldwide...
Up until now, folks who needed the towing capacity of a full-size SUV or a 5-8-passenger people-hauler that couild go off road couldn't make "green" part of their vocabulary. But General Motors new 2-mode hybrid systems is going to change all that with the 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid and 2008 GMC Yukon Hybrid.
I drove a development model of the Tahoe Hybrid yesterday and got the low-down on its stats from Mary Sipes, Vehicle Line Director for Full-Size SUVs:
- 332-hp Vortec V8 - 0-60 in less than 8.6 seconds - 40% improvement in city fuel economy over a gas-powered Tahoe (meaning 20mpg) - Total of 25% improvement in fuel economy overall - Significantly Improved aerodynamics and low rolling-resistance tires
The 2008 Tahoe Hybrid will on on sale in the 4th quarter of '07 and you should see models start to trickle into showrooms in November. Pricing hasn't been announced, but I was told that the hybrids will "not be the most expensive model we have," meaning, it's right up there with the LT, but not as expensive as the most expensive LT, which retails for $38.950. The hybrid is much the same as an LT in terms of amenities, and it includes a nav screen and rear camera as standard equipment.
It's often repeated that Americans still think diesel cars are smelly, smoke-belching and unlovable. An article in this week's edition of the industry publication, Automotive News, refutes that generalization. Citing data from Black Book, author Arlena Sawyers notes that diesel engine options (i.e., the amount you pay over/above a comparable gasoline engine) are holding their value and then some on the used car market.
For instance, the diesel engine in the '05 Mercedes E320 CDI is now worth 250%(!) of its original value, meaning this car will likely command a higher price than a comparably equipped, gas-powered E320 of the same year...
Until I got into the car biz, I thought about tires as a necessary accessory that needed to be changed, rotated or put out to pasture. A decade later I'm thinking differently. Last week I went to the jungles of Bahia, Brazil to see how Michelin's rubber trees are individually scraped for their sap and visited the plant where rubber is condensed into blocks to be shipped to Michelin’s plants in South Carolina. What truly astounded me was that it takes ONE YEAR for a rubber tree to create 5 kilos of the white sap, which equals enough rubber for a tire of a small car! Tires have taken on a whole new meaning for me.
In the course of a conversation with Lynn Mann, the spokesperson for Michelin, North America, she told me about the Tweel, the airless tire that is less than a couple of years from market for front loaders like Caterpillars and ten years away for passenger cars...
While the White House continues to be skeptical on global warming, some states--even the most Republican ones-are taking action.
Last week Florida's Republican Governor Charlie Crist, hosted the state's first two-day Summit on Global Climate Change. With speakers including Bobby Kennedy Jr. and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Florida is joining other active states like New York and California.
The Volkswagen Jetta has long been a popular car with women (and men, too) -- and with good reason, as most generations have been nicely packaged, good to drive and pleasing to behold in the parking lot. One thing to keep in mind is that in recent years, a significant portion of the Jettas sold in the U.S. have been diesels -- roughly 30% annually, according to an article by Dave Guilford in this week's Automotive News. And remember, that 30% doesn't include California, New York, Maine, Massachusetts or Vermont, where VW hasn't been able to sell Jetta TDIs for some time due to more stringent emissions standards...
I had a unique opportunity recently to meet with Troy Clarke, president of General Motors North America. He held a briefing for a small group of journalists at HRL Laboratories, jointly owned by GM and Boeing. Formerly Hughes Research Labs, Inc., HRL is the home of the very first laser, and a major partner with GM in development of some of its alt fuel technologies...
The last time Congress passed a federal auto fuel economy standard was in 1975 and the current requirement for cars of 27.5 mpg has not changed since 1989.
In case you hadn't heard, we have an amazing recent addition to our staff: Michelle Krebs, veteran automotive-industry authority. She's been writing her AutoObserver blog for a few months now, and there is always interesting information. Even if you're not really into the "industry" side of things, you'll learn a lot about the way things work...
Actor Brad Pitt goes green as he arrives in a BMW H7 - the world's first hydrogen-powered luxury sedan - to the Warner Bros. premiere of the film "Ocean's 13" at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on June 5, 2007 in Hollywood, California.
I like driving, but any way you look at it, driving isn't the greatest thing you can do for the planet. During a recent road trip to Oregon in our long-term Honda Fit, I averaged over 34 mpg, but I went through over 60 gallons of gasoline. And no matter what the fuel is, that's a lot of liquid to burn through in five days.
Understandably, my job puts me in an awkward position when it comes to tightening fuel economy standards and emissions regulations...
A USA Today analysis of federal highway data shows that Americans are cutting back on their driving for the first time in 26 years, due in great part to the high cost of gas and demographic shifts.
Seventy percent of people are consolidating errands or are taking othe steps to reduce driving, while 32 percent have shortened or cancelled a vacation. And ten percent have changed jobs to shorten their commute.
Would Americans change cars to save money on gas?..
San Francisco recently bit the nugget and became the first city in the US to ban plastic bags to help promote recycling. The city says the ban will save 450,000 gallons of oil a year and remove the need to send 1400 tons of debris to landfills.
Taking a tip from San Francisco, Ford is carrying that initiative even further by integrating eco-friendly cloth fabrics into their 2008 Ford Escape and Ford Escape Hybrid.
Supplied by InterfaceFABRIC, the seat cloth is made from 100 percent post-industrial waste—plastics and polyesters fibers that would have otherwise ended up in landfills...
As always, there's lots that happened in the past week. Here are some interesting tidbits:
If you haven't already heard, Toyota surpassed General Motors in global auto sales for the first time, during the first quarter of '07. While GM may regain the #1 spot in subsequent quarters, no one doubts that, over the long haul, Toyota will reign...
Ethanol E85, the alternative fuel source has been making news lately. The opinions are varied—E85 has been called everything from political suicide to the elixir of the future.
I recently spent a weekend in Jackson Hole, Wyoming at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) attending a seminar on Ethanol E85 from the experts at GM, driving the FuelFlex Tahoe and doing some spring skiing.
Because JHMR is ISO certified (the environmental stamp of approval) as a "green" company, it was a natural match for the event...
In its first ever "Green" issue, Fortune magazine will feature list of the "Green Giants" of big business, ten companies that "go beyond what the law requires to operate in an environmentally responsible way." Honda made the cut. Fortune cited these companies as being ahead of the learning curve on the "strategic value of environmentalism in their industries." They include, in no particular order: Honda, Continental Airlines, Suncor, Tesco, Alcan, PG&E, S.C. Johnson, Goldman Sachs, Swiss RE and Hewlett-Packard...
Toyota and Honda hosted back-to-back press conferences at the 2007 Geneva Auto Show, and interestingly, the manufacturers had much the same agenda: We want to make our hybrid cars more stylish and fun.
Toyota was first with the funky Hybrid X, which we've pegged as a design study for the next Prius. It has the same basic shape as the current, five-door Prius hatch but adopts much bolder lines, especially from nose to roof. Toyota added anthropomorphic elements as well: The car's exterior lighting adapts to warn passing pedestrians and fellow motorists of impending acceleration and braking efforts...
Who would have thought that tires would go green or that citrus oil (you know the stuff you burn to keep insects away?) could be used in tire technology?
Well, the time has come.
Yokohama and Sumitomo tire companies have developed green tires that trim petroleum content and lower rolling resistance.
Yokohoma's product, Super Nanopower Rubber, combines citrus oil and natural rubber. The claim -- that the SNR will reduce petroleum content in tires by 80% -- is very impressive...
Green statements at this year's Oscars start on the way to the red carpet. We’re talking green cars...although I think that carpooling might make an equally hip statement. And while I'm at it, what about hybrid cars getting the go-ahead for commuter lanes even if they are driving solo? Does that make sense to you?
That aside, Global Green USA has over thirty cars to drive green- conscious celebs, including Leo DiCaprio and Davis Guggenheim, director of An Inconvenient Truth, the documentary about Al Gore's global warming campaign...
You know the difference between the idyllic picture at the right and the photos of devastation wrought by hurricane Katrina? Only about 1 or 2 degrees on the global climate scale.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which issued the first part of it's report, "Climate Change 2007, today, a one or two degree increase in the global climate can have catastrophic effects.
CNN covered the conference in France where the report results were announced, and summarized it as such:
"Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global mean sea level," the report said. The report said man-made emissions of greenhouse gases can be blamed for these problems: fewer cold days, hotter nights, killer heat waves, floods and heavy rains, devastating droughts, and an increase in hurricane and tropical storm strength (particularly in the Atlantic Ocean).
And it's going to get worse, not better, according to the IPCC report...
For consumers who want a normal looking hybrid sedan (i.e., not a Prius), the Nissan Altima Hybrid looks appealing. With a base price including destination of $25,015, it's cheaper than either the Camry Hybrid ($26,820) or Accord Hybrid ($31,685). However, the handful of package options for the Altima Hybrid range from $1,300 to $7,250, and you can bet that any car you see on the dealer lots will have one of these packages on it -- possibly negating the price advantage.
And you have to live in the right state to get one of these Altimas: According to industry publication Automotive News, Nissan only plans to sell it new in California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont...
At a recent meeting of leading scientist and evangelical Christian leaders, both parties agreed to put aside their differences to work together on global warming.
“"Whether God created the Earth in a millisecond or whether it evolved over billions of years, the issue we agree on is that it needs to be saved for today,"” said Rick Cizik, VP of Government Relations for the National Association of Evangelicals, which represents 45,000 churches.
Apparently, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger agrees...
Here's a way to save time, money, gas and emissions. Amtrak has come up with a cool offer for students checking out colleges and universities. With their buy-one-get-one-free program teens can take a parent or guardian along for free!
The Campus Visit discount program lets high school juniors and seniors purchase a ticket on Amtrak at the best available fare and bring a parent or guardian along to campus visits for free. Younger siblings, ages 2 –15, can travel for half price with Amtrak’s children’s discount...
GM is set to launch a timely exhibit at Disney World's Epcot theme park in Orlando, Florida. In 1999 General Motors added the Test Track, a wild ride that roars around hair-pin turns, travels through freezing cold chambers and rushes onto 50-degree banked curves at 60 miles an hour. Now they're going green with “Fuel For Thought” an interactive display of fuel cell technology, hybrid vehicles and ethanol-powered cars and trucks.
Ever think you'd want a lump of coal in your Christmas stocking? In the not-so-distant future, you just might say, "Thanks!" Our buddy Bob at the Straightline blog spied this article in Newsweek that clearly explains how liquid coal may already be able to kick ethanol's butt as an automotive fuel.
By now you've probably heard about the 2007 Lexus LS 460 sedan's otherwordly ability to park itself: Using sonar sensors, computer algorithms and electrically assisted steering, the new LS can indeed wheel itself into a parallel-parking spot -- with a little brake pedal work from its driver. Interestingly, if you buy a Prius in Europe, you can also get this feature. While it makes sense that Toyota would offer its "self-park" feature on one of its most technologically advanced cars, the funny thing is that the Prius is, as we've noted in our long-term test blog, probably the easiest-to-park car Toyota sells, what with its superb sightlines (including a huge rear glass area) and tidy turning radius. I for one would like to see the company offer this feature to U.S...
I'm finding it increasingly hard not to drink the BMW Kool-Aid after experiencing the new BMW Hydrogen 7, unveiled at the LA Auto Show yesterday. Last night I got the chance to drive it, which was remarkable in that it was unremarkable. It looks and drives almost exactly like a purely gas-powered 7 series sedan...
We got to see the second-generation Saturn Vue today at the LA Auto Show, and on a visual level alone, it's a vast improvement over the current Vue. Of course, it doesn't have those nifty, shopping cart-resistant plastic body panels, but I think that's a small price to pay for the more refined look overall. GM says the '08 Vue will have "European ride and handling" which means this crossover SUV will handle just like its Opel-badged twin sold in Europe. The 2008 Saturn Vue will seat only five, as the recently introduced Outlook fulfills the 7- to 8-seater role...
While this isn't an alternative fuels blog, women are definitely interested not only in hybrids, but in all fuel alternatives that will help clean up the environment and provide better gas mileage. Fortunately, there's lots of good news today from around the country. Even though some of it is local to certain cities, it bodes well for more widespread changes...
Guess the movie, Who Killed the Electric Car, made a big impression on GM.
Or so it would seem, as GM is likely to show a prototype plug-in hybrid electric vehicle at the upcoming North American International Auto Show in Los Angeles in January. Though GM is hell-bent on hydrogen, it's exploring other alternative fuels as well.
As you'll remember, the EV-1 electric vehicle (shown above) created a cult following, but was literally and figuratively squashed by GM, much to the consternation of environmentalists...
Whether you like Arianna Huffington or not, her news and opinion blog, The Huffington Post, is very successful. Which is why I'm glad to see she now has section on hybrids, called the HuffPost Hybrid Movement. It features celebrities describing why they got their hybrid. Some are serious, like Bill Maher's, Nora Ephron's and Ed Begley, Jr.'s; others, like Tom Hanks' and Larry David's, are amusing...
Sometimes I stumble across a helpful article or piece of information from outside Edmunds.com that I find worth sharing. This is the case with Kay Bell's article for BankRate.com on federal hybrid tax credits. It does a great job of clearly explaining the latest information about the hybrid tax credits, including a chart of eligible hybrids by manufacturer and tax credits "deadlines" for Toyota buyers...
I've been reading a lot about future automotive technology -- nothing especially technical, just articles that talk about what we might do once petroleum gets too expensive and/or too unavailable to use in the quantities we use it in today.
One thing that proponents of both full electric and gas-electric hybrid vehicles agree on is that the nickel-metal hydride batteries currently used in production applications will be replaced by lithium-ion batteries. These are the same kind of batteries that allow portable DVD players, laptops, Nintendo DS players and iPods to hold a charge for as long as they do -- though maybe not as long as you'd like.
In a car, though, lithium-ion batteries would hold a charge longer, allowing for increased range on a full electric car and greater efficiency on a hybrid car...
I did some traveling in France last week, and a friend and I rented a Ford Focus from the Hertz in Bordeaux. This sounds like a normal enough car to rent, but this was of course the second-generation, European-market Focus -- not the aged Focus we have here in the U.S. Our car was a five-door hatchback (aka, the ZX5) in top-line Ghia trim (which means it had all the amenities, including dual-zone auto climate control, one-touch front windows and cruise)...
Republican Senator Bob Bennett, of Utah, and Demoocratic Senator Ron Wyden, of Oregon, have the right idea: Reward anyone who buys a car that exceed federal standards for fuel economy by 25% or more.
Together they are sponsoring a bill, dubbed the Oil Independence, Limiting Subsidies and Accelerating Vehicle Efficiency Act, or OILSAVE Act. (How do they work out those acronyms?) The bill is "technology neutral," meaning it wouldn't apply only to hybrids, but to electric cars, hydrogen-powered vehicles -- any passenger vehicle that got its MPGs right.
The tax break would amount to between $630 and $1,860, and the number would be printed right on a vehicle's window sticker...
You know, I would never have voted for Schwarzenegger, but I give him a lot of credit on this one. Today he signed legislation that requires California to reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by 25% by 2020. Although democrats say that this is just pre-election posturing, I say, who cares? Anything that moves us in the right direction gets my OK...
Toyota produced its 60,000th U.S.-bound hybrid vehicle this summer, and says the IRS, that means the tax credit on the Prius and all other Toyota and Lexus hybrid vehicles will be cut in half starting Oct. 1, 2006. At $3,150, the Prius had the energy efficiency tax credit, after the natural gas-powered Honda Civic GX ($4,000)... which as we reported in a recent road test, is a lot less practical to own than a Prius...
While a significant alternative transportation exposition is taking place in Boston this weekend, another, even bigger one is being planned for December 9-10 here in Santa Monica (which means I get to go to it!) The AltCar Expo will feature more than 100 alternative fuel and high MPG vehicles, as well as seminars and advanced technology displays. It's open to the public, and the best part is that anyone can participate in a "ride and drive," in which you can test drive these vehicles, some of which are available to purchase.
Excerpt: A third of Americans polled said they are seriously interested in buying or leasing such a vehicle, and a full 92% said they would be willing to pay more for one over a traditional gasoline-powered car. Top reasons cited included concerns over damage to the environment from fossil fuels and the high cost of gasoline...
Consumer Reports has come out with another national survey; this one is about what motivates new car buyers. When asked what would be their primary motivating factor in a car purchase decision, respondents said:
Twenty-four residents of Portland, Oregon have sworn off their personal cars for a month. Instead, they'll use mass transit, walking, biking, and Flexcar, a car-sharing service, to get around. If they make it through the month, they get free Flexcar service for a year, and if they actually sell their car, the goodies increase...
I was on the Palisades Parkway in NJ last Sunday, and some idiot was driving way too slowly in the left lane. Totally oblivious, he slowed down traffic for miles. I was behind him. The guy behind me, not realizing what was causing this up ahead, was on my tail so persistently that I had to give him a couple of “back off” signals (I won't tell you what those were)...
Now that I've seen Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth," there's only one thing to do: Make sure as many other people as possible see it as well. The movie, which is only 92 minutes long, is very well produced, extremely compelling, and nothing like you might expect. If you care at all about the future, if you ever contributed to the Red Cross after a natural disaster, if you have even thought that one day you might start recycling, then go see this film. It is not a political movie; it's an illustration of the measured, verifiable changes that the earth has gone through in just a few decades and the consequences of those changes...
They're kidding right? The Porsche Cayman gets better gas mileage than my plain old Nissan sedan? Well, this is just a dream come true for me. I love the Cayman's sexy good looks.
Now, Porsche is offering a version of the new Cayman that is "more accessible" than the base S style...
Tomorrow is the opening of the Al Gore documentary, An Inconvenient Truth. I haven't seen it, but considering the relationship between vehicles emissions and global warming, I intend to. I urge you to do the same, and if you can pledge to see the movie this weekend, you'll help raise awareness for this all-important cause. Politics aside, I think it's critical for all Americans to get their heads out of the sand (so to speak) and see this film...
I've been working on a full test of the 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid. In my research I found this Web site which outlines the history of hybrid vehicles.
It's interesting that in 1900, American car companies were producing steam-powered, electric-powered and gasoline-powered cars. The site notes that in a poll conducted at the first National Automobile Show in New York, people favored the electric cars first, steam second and gasoline third...
Honda will discontinue its original hybrid car, the two-seat Insight hatchback, in Sept. 2006, according to industry publication Automotive News. A successor won't arrive until the 2009 model year.
Not surprisingly, this tiny car with a 1.0-liter gas engine and a 400-lb passenger/cargo payload hasn't been selling well...
Previously on "Michelle Improves Her Gas Mileage," I saw a 10% increase in my gas mileage by slowing down a little and using cruise control a lot. On the next tank of gas, I saw further improvement for a combined increase of 12.5%, by not gunning it at stop lights and not passing aggressively.
On my last tank of gas, I achieved an astounding 29.4 m.p.g. (Highest EPA estimate for my car is 29 m.p.g.) I did this by going against my very nature and staying within 5 m.p.h...
I am continuing to improve my gas mileage by changing my driving habits. When last I posted, I improved my average gas mileage from 24.8 m.p.g. to 27.2 m.p.g. That 10% improvement was realized by just slowing down a bit and using cruise control as often as possible. For the next tank of gas, my plan was to really pay attention to my starts and not be so quick to punch it when a light turned green or when I took off from a stop sign or even when passing someone...
I posted a few days ago, about how I have been attempting to improve my gas mileage in my 2002 Nissan Altima by changing my driving habits. In one week, and on the same tank of gas, I improved the average from 24.8 m.p.g. to 27 m.p.g. by slowing down just a touch and using the cruise control as much as possible...
The speeding ticket I received last week has, even more than gas prices over $3 a gallon, finally prompted me to change my driving habits. I have slowed down a bit, but the primary change I made is using cruise control as much as possible. In just the past week, my gas mileage has risen from 24.8 m.p.g. to 27 m.p.g...
Three cheers for the celebrities that are choosing to arrive at Hollywood's biggest event -- the Academy Awards -- this Sunday in the humble Toyota Prius instead of the traditional black stretch limo. Leonardo DiCaprio, Charlize Theron, Robin Williams, Orlando Bloom, Salma Hayek, Penelope Cruz, Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins are slated to "send a message" to the public by eschewing gas-guzzling cars for the earth-friendly ones. It's part of the "Red Carpet -- Green Start" campaign by Global Green USA, an sustainable future organization and part of the Green Cross International.
Will people buy a hybrid because their favorite celebs endorse them?..
Progressive Group of Insurance Companies just published a survey of 1,000 car
buyers on the things they consider when buying a vehicle. The results, below, are surprising.
Factors that are most important to people shopping for a new car:
I guess it was inevitable that some car company would pick up on Kermit's the Frog's "Being Green," which was a hit from "The Muppet Movie" years ago. Ford featured Kermit in a cute commercial in yesterday's Superbowl...
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) use the same technology as the popular hybrids on the
road today, but have a larger battery that can be recharged by plugging
into a standard home outlet.
What's the advantage to you? PHEVs:
Get 30-50% better fuel economy than the standard hybrid
Plug into a standard home outlet
Can be driven 20-60 miles without any gasoline
This is according to Plug-In Partners, a grassroots coalition of cities (including Austin, Baltimore, Denver, Los Angeles,
San Francisco and Seattle), electric utilities and national policy
organizations. Today they kicked off a nationwide campaign to urge automakers to accelerate development of plus-in hybrid electric vehicles...
Last week the EPA announced it's overhauling the way it calculates
fuel economy ratings for cars and trucks. The new estimates will be more in sync with actual consumer experiences. Under the new guidelines, the mileage estimates on window stickers will be reduced by 5 to 30 percent, depending on the vehicle...
Saab introduced the 9-5 Aero BioPower wagon today in LA. The company is calling this ethanol-fueled vehicle a concept, but considering that Saab already sells a less powerful BioPower 9-5 in Sweden, I'm guessing this concept is pretty close to production-ready.
Ethanol is commonly sold in the Midwestern states as E85 (85% ethanol + 15% gasoline). It's an alcohol-type renewable fuel and it can be produced from corn, sugar cane and a variety of other crops...
Honda is all about long-term relationships. Its cars are built to last, and they're so fuel-efficient and practical, some people never want to get rid of them no matter how old they get. Like my stepdad. He'll keep driving his '92 Civic VX hatchback so long as he can use it haul landscaping supplies and still get 40 mpg on road trips...
The Wall Street Journal
had a good article on the 25th about hybrid vehicles being a better deal in
'06. (Sorry, links work for WSJ subscribers only.) The gist of it is
that the new tax credits -- as opposed to last year's tax deductions -- are
helping to decrease the differential between gasoline-powered cars and
their hybrid counterparts. (See chart at right.) Also, check this list of the estimated tax credits on current and expected hybrid and diesel vehicles.
When it comes to buying a hybrid or diesel to get the tax credit,
sooner is better than later...
If
you only had to invest five minutes to make sure your car's most
important safety feature was working properly, would you do it?
According to a new study of 1001 people by Farmers Insurance Group,
14% of people never check their tire pressure. Almost 30% said
they don't check their tires' treads more than once a year, or have
their wheels aligned and tires balanced more than every two years.
Considering that underinflated tires are the leading contributor to
tire blowouts -- which cause 414 deaths and 10,275 non-fatal injuries
each
year, according to NHTSA -- it seems that people are in a little too
much of a hurry. What's five minutes once a month to ensure car safety?..
The Environmental Protection
Agency will complete revisions to its fuel-economy testing rules, which were
established in 1997, by the end of this year. The testing, which is performed by automakers, has come
under criticism for generating numbers that don't reflect true, on-the-street
averages. The government agency expects the new rules go into effect in about two years.
The fact that the EPA is issuing new guidelines isn't really new news
-- they announced it several months ago...
According to a new survey, fuel efficiency has increased in importance
among women shopping for a new car. So much so, in fact, that it now
outranks everything except reliability -- even safety. This is probably
simply a factor of high gas prices. If gas prices dropped, safety would
likely take its second-place status back...
Now
that California law (Assembly bill 2628) allows PZEV hybrids to take
advantage of the carpool lanes, our long-term 2004 Toyota Prius has
been outfitted with four ugly yellow stickers to signal its legality.
Although decidedly unattractive, those stickers have made a big
difference in my life. My daily 33-mile commute between Long
Beach and Santa Monica averages an hour and 15 minutes each way.
With access to the carpool lane, my drive time is cut to 45 minutes...
According to new research by media analysis firm CARMA
International, Inc., the U.S. media is increasingly emphasizing
fuel-efficiency over safety in discussions of automobile features.
This
doesn't surprise me. A lot of people -- including journalists -- are
jumping on the hybrid bandwagon, despite the fact that hybrids are
often commanding prices way over sticker and that many of the larger
ones, such as the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and Lexus 400h, don't get
such great fuel economy...
Want a $3,400 tax credit on the 2010 Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan Hybrid that is getting great reviews? Looks like you're going to have to get in line with the early adopters. Green Car Advisor reports that the tax credit will drop to $1,700 on April 1. No, this isn't an April Fool's joke that Ford is playing on the public. 
Included in the payment is maintenance, a charging station (in your secure garage) and any electricity you use charging the batteries. The question of insurance coverage could not be answered, but it may also be included in the monthly payment. However, even if it doesn't include insurance, the high payment is partially mitigated by the fact that you won't have to be paying for any gas. 
Last weekend, for example, I attended the 
Consumer Reports has come out with another national survey; this one is about 
