We Obsessively Cover the Green Scene…

Americans are about to spend a lot of money on gasoline. If the number crunchers at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) are correct, US drivers will spend a tidy $1.44 billion filling up for their Memorial Day travels as 31.2 million people use the long weekend to participate in the time-honored tradition of a road trip.

Almost nine out of 10 Americans (89 percent, by UCS estimates) who will travel this weekend are expected to do so by passenger car or truck and therefore will spend the equivalent of 77 million bottles of sunscreen or 300 million cones of ice cream on petroleum. That gas tab will theoretically go up a tad after that ice cream's polished off and the collective weight's put on, of course.

The holiday spending number would be cut in half if we had tomorrow's cars today. The UCS says that if we were driving the average new vehicle from 2025 – which will have an average fuel economy that's roughly twice as high today – we would be paying about $619 million less on gasoline this weekend. Which means more ice cream and sunscreen for all of us.

Check out the UCS press release below.

Hey, for some, $4,800 is the price of their next car. For the Ultimate Driving Machine, it's the price difference between a diesel and a hybrid.

BMW has released pricing specs for its 2014 model-year 5 Series sedans, and it turns out that the German automaker appears to view diesel as a superior way to hit stricter fuel-economy standards compared to hybrids. How do we know? Bimmer is pricing its 535d sedan at $57,525. Not only does the oil burner deliver 255 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, but it's less expensive than the ActiveHybrid 5, which checks in at $62,325.

Of course, one could scrap any pretense of fuel economy and go for the V8 with TwinPower Turbo, which delivers a whopping 445 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque – and a fuel economy rating that will likely displease the treehuggers of the world. Check out BMW's really long press release below.

Toyota has built itself into the industry's standard-bearer when it comes to hybrids, and it isn't going to let the poster child for gas-electric vehicles get stale on the market. These spy shots captured in California are our first good look at the next-generation Prius, which could come to market wearing a 2015 model year designation.

Even though it looks like Toyota may have blown its annual camouflage budget on this mule, we can clearly see that it will have the same iconic half-moon design that has been with the car since 2003. If so, this goes against reports from last year that suggested the car would be getting a different look inspired by the 2013 NS4 Concept. Although, this could also indicate that the Prius family will continue to grow – adding a new sedan – to the existing Prius C, Prius V and Prius Plug-In lineup.

These spy shots also give us an indication as to what the interior will look like, with a more stylish three-spoke steering wheel and an instrument panel design that sort of reminds us of a BMW. On the other hand, all the tape, cobbled together pieces and lack of space for a center stack display screen has us thinking this isn't what the final product will resemble.

As for what will be powering the 2015 Prius, we hear that updated versions of the current electric system and engine will be employed, but it will carry over the nickel metal hydride batteries found in today's model. Still no word on the rumored possibility of all-wheel-drive system, either. In addition to a new design and updated powertrain, it sounds like production of the next-generation Prius could be making a move to the US, joining the line at Toyota's Tupelo, MS plant.

Volkswagen has gotten pretty comfortable hogging the – admittedly small – non-premium diesel car market in the US. With Golf and Jetta, the German automaker has been the one and only choice for those interested in the torquey, high-mpg merits of turbocharged diesel power.

However, US customers seem to be growing more interested in the technology that has been the primary mode of propulsion in most of Europe for many years now. Mazda is quite close to bringing its Skyactiv-D diesel engines to our shores, and Chevrolet has finally maneuvered to repurpose its European 2.0-liter turbo-diesel engine for US specification, which means it's cleaner here than overseas.

The first application of this rather impressive diesel engine is in the compact Chevy Cruze, which I spent a recent morning testing out. General Motors as a whole has high expectations for its new TDI-buster. Here's why:

Driving Notes:

• Since the Cruze Diesel has the Jetta TDI squarely in its targeting computer, allow me to start off with a tale of the tape for the two engines. Chevy's diesel displaces 2.0-liters, makes 151 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of torque (with an overboost mode that allows for brief moments of 280 lb-ft), consumes an EPA-estimated 46 miles per gallon on the highway and 27 in the city, and launches the Cruze from 0-60 miles per hour in 8.6 seconds. The Jetta TDI has a similar 2.0T diesel, with 140 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque, is rated at 42 mpg highway and 30 mpg city, and will 'sprint' to 60 mph in 8.7 seconds (with DSG transmission). Chevy only offers a six-speed automatic with the Cruze Diesel, while VW will sell you a six-speed manual or a six-speed dual clutch gearbox.
• Turn the key on the Cruze Diesel and, if the windows are down, you'll hear a rather loud, clattering noise from the engine bay, at idle. The sound isn't worse than other small diesels we've heard, but it is surprising since the sealed-cabin quiet of the Cruze is remarkably high. With loads of attention paid to refinement at speed, the Cruze is all but silent on the highway (there's some wind noise), and the exhaust note only intrudes when approaching the 5,000-rpm redline.
• Power from the diesel engine feels super strong from even very low revs, as is expected, I guess. Peak torque is available at just 2,600 rpm, and a full 250 lb-ft can be had over the broad expanse between 1,750 and 3,000 rpm. Much like the Jetta, the Cruze isn't fast from a dead stop, but the acceleration from middle to high highway speeds (60 to 80 mph, let's say), is fantastic.
• I drove or rode for about 90 miles in total over this very short preview program, but early returns on the fuel economy are good. Cruising at around 75 mph on the highway saw the fuel econ meter settle at around 44 mpg after just 15 miles, so my guess would be that the estimated 46 mpg or better is easily within reach. (We know from experience that more than 50 mpg is was possible with our long-term Jetta TDI.) On the second leg of our trip, which started on country roads and headed back to the highway, I saw roughly 30 mpg after starting really aggressively and then settling into speed-limit driving around 40 mph. Again, with an EPA City rating of 27 mpg, I'd guess that the Cruze is set to have better real-world numbers than its window sticker would suggest.
• The overall ride characteristic of the Cruze matches its noiseless cabin, insofar as the car really smoothed out the road underneath me. I drove over some pretty broken down Michigan backroads in the car, and found that only the worst potholes and pavement breaks filtered through the softish suspension setup.
• That softness in the suspension, combined with low rolling resistance tires, meant that when I did try to corner aggressively in the Cruze I was met with a lot of vertical motion from the corners and loss of grip. The small Chevy does have a nicely balanced front-wheel-drive chassis for the most part, but handling is only satisfying up to a warmed-up point.
• In all, I think that the new Cruze Diesel presents an interesting counterpoint and alternative to the Jetta TDI, without being dramatically better or worse than the default diesel standard bearer. You can buy the Jetta for a cheaper starting price at $23,055 with no options, but Chevy has, for better or worse, piled on a good amount of kit to its $24,885 basic Cruze Diesel. That sum (plus another $810 for destination) will get you remote keyless entry and start, heated front leather seating, MyLink with Bluetooth connectivity and a touchscreen interface, 17-inch aluminum wheels and more. I think that the 2LT package ($380 for power, heated mirrors, rearview camera, etc), the $795 navigation option and the $100 option for a heated oil pan (great for cold starts) are really good values, too.
• What you get with the Jetta is an ever-so-slightly sportier package (thanks mostly to the better manual/DSG transmission options) and a little bit more brand prestige in the minds of most buyers. This diesel Cruze will need some time to penetrate the land of enthusiasts and diesel geeks, I'm guessing, but it's a fine sedan in its own right, and worth at least a look from even the most ardent TDI supporter.

We've already driven the decidedly weird-looking 500L in its European-spec form, and now the folks at Fiat have just released US-specific pricing, which means that our US media drive is coming up soon. If you want to get your hands on the biggest of the little Fiats, you'll need at least $19,100 (*plus $800 for destination).

That base price gets you the 500L Pop spec, powered by a 160-horsepower, 1.4-liter MultiAir turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine (the only powerplant on offer), mated to a six-speed manual transmission. This base model comes equipped with 16-inch chrome-plated wheel covers (sexy!) and the usual list of standard features that pretty much every new car comes with. (You know, air conditioning, power windows and mirrors, etc.) Next up in the range is the 500L Easy, which adds aluminum wheels, tinted rear glass, body-colored mirror caps, uplevel seat fabric and a premium audio system. The price of entry for this better-equipped model is $20,195.

Things start to get more interesting from there, with the rugged-ish 500L Trekking coming in at $21,195. Visually, the Trekking is set apart by its two-piece front and rear fascias with graphite inserts, fog lamps and 17-inch wheels. Finally, the range-topping 500L Lounge adds a dual-clutch six-speed transmission, unique 16-inch wheels, chrome exterior accents, heated leather seats, and more. That top-trim 500L starts at $24,195, and the Lounge, Trekking and Easy models are available with a no-cost Premier Package that includes goodies like rear park assist and a 6.5-inch touchscreen Uconnect infotainment interface. Be warned, though, this no-cost option will only be available during the first year of production.

The 500L's closest competitor, the Mini Countryman, is pricier, starting at $22,000 for the base Cooper model with front-wheel drive, but keep in mind that Mini offers two higher-output turbocharged engines, as well as All4 all-wheel drive on the Cooper S and John Cooper Works models. Scroll down for the full press blast with even more details.

As part of a recent event with a number of Panamera S E-Hybrids driven by journalists in Europe, Porsche's new plug-in managed to burn (on average) just 4.4 liters of fuel for each 100 kilometers. That's the equivalent of 53.45 miles per gallon. Porsche says this real-world, 745-mile test, which took place on an 18-mile loop along the Autobahn and through the city of Hockenheim, proves that the official NEDC rating of 3.1 l/km (75.87 mpg) is not some impossible-to-meet-outside-the-lab fuel economy level, especially since one journalist managed to get 2.8 l/km (84 mpg).

The 2014 Panamera S E-Hybrid, which was recently unveiled in Shanghai, has a 9.4-kWh lithium-ion battery that offers an all-electric range of 22 miles and can go from 0- 60 mph in 5.2 seconds with a top speed of 167 mph from a powertrain that puts out 416 horsepower and 435 pound-feet of torque. It takes two-and-a-half hours to recharge from a Level 2 charger.

The car arrives at Porsche dealers at the end of July in Europe and in the US in late 2013. The US base price is $99,000.

Old habits die hard, and when it comes to changing our spending habits to account for gas price increases, newer ones do as well. About four in five Americans have held steady with their lower discretionary spending levels from last year – a time when gas prices spiked – despite the fact that the cost to fill up a tank has dropped since then. And those habits are consistent across age and income brackets.

The takeaway point, according Bankrate, which issued a press release on the numbers, is that high gas prices hurt the economy far more than lower gas prices help.

Some of that apparent paranoia may be attributed to the fact that, while prices are down from their $4-plus average from last spring, there have been a couple "S" curves worth of fluctuations. Average gas prices tumbled to about $3.45 a gallon last July, rose about 40 cents by September, dropped again to about $3.30 around the new year and have since settled at about $3.60 a gallon, according to AAA. See Bankrate's press release below.

When is $20 million not equal to $20 million? When, for some, it's an interest payment and, for others, it's all someone else thinks they're worth. Here's how that one number means two totally different things to two different green car companies.

Speaking to Bloomberg Television about the early repayment of Tesla Motors' DOE loan, CEO Elon Musk said today that, "ultimately, the US taxpayer actually made a profit above $20 million on this loan. For this loan at least, people's tax bill actually went slightly down."

Musk said that, now that the loan has been paid back, more people might take a look at Tesla. "We were attacked a lot in certain quarters for having some government debt," he said. "I think that actually matters to some consumers out there, whether or not a company actually does have government debt, and being able to say we fully repaid that debt with interest, I think it is helpful to some number of people out there in thinking about buying a car." So, for Tesla, which recently raised over a billion dollars, $20 million is an easy price to pay to potentially sell more EVs.

Now, let's look at Fisker Automotive, which is still fending off bankruptcy. We learned this week that VL Automotive and Wanxiang made an offer to buy the troubled automaker for an undisclosed sum. Word out today is that the amount that the two companies are willing to pay for Fisker is, you guessed it, $20 million. That's about one percent of Fisker's $2 billion-plus value back when the Karma plug-in hybrid was launched, according to Reuters. It's unclear how a potential Fisker buyer will have to deal with the outstanding DOE loan amount of $171 million and other issues, but the $20-million offer a striking contrasts to Musk's statement on Bloomberg Television, which you can watch in the video below.

Zero officially became many as the maker of electric motorcycles had its largest single-fleet sale to the city of Hong Kong.

The company, Zero Motorcycles, is distributing its bikes in eastern Asia through Yuen Ho Trading Co. (you didn't expect the Tesla Motors sales model, did you?) and sold 59 Zero S e-motorcycles to Hong Kong, most of which will be used by the police department. The Hong Kong Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department will also be using some of the really quiet two-wheelers.

The model-year 2012 motorcycles, which have an 89-mile single-charge range and a top speed of 88 miles per hour, "have been up fitted with a series of components developed exclusively for traffic enforcement, "were also retrofitted especially for law-enforcement purposes" but did not disclose the details of the upgrades. We do know that, compared to MY 2012, the 2013 models are about 10 percent faster and have about a 10-percent longer single-charge range. Check out Zero Motorcycles' press release below.

Think of this as a rare occasion where a General Motors collaborator is providing Ford with a little cash. A GM partner, peer-to-peer car-sharing operator RelayRides, is buying competitor Wheelz for an undisclosed amount, GigaOM reports. It's a bit of a stretch, but Ford is connected to Wheelz.

The draw for RelayRides is Wheelz's so-called DriveBox technology, which facilitates car entry without owner and renter having to go through the trouble of swapping keys. An additional wrinkle is that one of the investors of Wheelz, which had tried to corner the car-sharing market at universities, is Fontinalis Partners, an investment vehicle for automaker scion Bill Ford.

In 2011, RelayRides reached an agreement with GM that involved GM car owners with OnStar systems being able to car-share through RelayRides. That collaboration went into effect last summer. More recently, RelayRides caught heat from New York State for what the state government says is false advertising. The issue involves whether car-owners sharing their vehicles through RelayRides are liable for expenses if their cars are wrecked or stolen, or if the cars are covered by insurance.

While Nissan is expanding the single-charge range on its all-electric Leaf, the Japanese automaker is also working on shortening the distance between publicly accessible quick-charge stations.

Nissan is collaborating with CarCharging Group to deploy more quick chargers throughout the most Leaf-heavy parts of the country. Specifically, about 48 Nissan-branded quick chargers will soon be offered in California and on the East Coast. Such chargers can provide energy to fill 80 percent of the Leaf's battery capacity in about 30 minutes. CarCharging Group is also developing a mobile app that will give users real-time information on charging-station locations.

Earlier this month, Nissan said it has exceeded 25,000 Leaf sale in the US. Through the first four months of the year, the company more than doubled sales (compared to 2012) to 5,476 vehicles and is coming off two of its best sales months ever for the little EV. Check out Nissan's press release below.

In the same week that Audi said "not so fast" to some claims from Tesla, Chrysler has responded to a new press release from the California-based EV-maker by saying "not exactly, Tesla." The statement, released through the company's blog, comes in response to Tesla claiming it was "the only American car company to have fully repaid the government." Chrysler notes that it, too, recently paid back Uncle Sam from its 2008 bailout. Similar to Audi's recent press release, which was eventually and mysteriously deleted from the German automaker's site, Chrysler is both right and wrong in its statement.

Tesla specifically said that it had paid back the Department of Energy loans that many automakers received – including Fisker and VPG Autos – while Chrysler's retort argues Tesla is "unmistakably incorrect" since it repaid the government in 2011 a full six years early. Technically, the statements from both automakers are correct, but Tesla's startup loan originated from the DoE, while Chrysler's loan came in bailout form from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). Further, as The Detroit News notes, Chrysler's loan still cost taxpayers well over a billion dollars after all was said and done – those negative assets tied to "old Chrysler" in the bankruptcy did not require repayment.

You can sign us up for this one. Volvo is testing a prototype S60 sedan equipped with a Formula One-type Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) at its Sweden headquarters and recently took some folks from Green Car Reports for a test drive.

While noting that the KERS' rear-axle mounted flywheel that stores braking energy and transfers it to the drivetrain could be loud, Green Car Reports unmistakably enjoyed the experience of the extra kick the system provided to the car's 2.5-liter turbocharged engine. In short, the S60's KERS system adds 80 horsepower to the car's 254 and, as a result, cut about a second and a half off of the car's usual 0-100 km (62 miles per hour) acceleration time of about seven seconds.

Three years ago, Volvo was awarded a $1 million Swedish government grant to develop such a system and, early on, said KERS could cut fuel use by as much as 20 percent. Volvo said last month that it had a prototype in the works.

The Nissan Leaf, the Fiat 500e and now the 2014 Chevy Spark EV 1LT. Three different electric hatchbacks that can all be had for the same low lease price: $199 per month. The Spark even has the same appealing $999 down payment as the Fiat (the Leaf's is $1,999) and both require 36-month leases, so the cost of these two city runabouts is identical, at least at the base level. The one potential hiccup: Chevy says it's a "low mileage lease," and you'll pay 25 cents a mile for each mile over 12,000 per year. Considering these are urban-minded vehicles with limited ranges, however, that doesn't seem like as pressing an issue.

If you want to buy a Spark EV outright, General Motors will ask you for $27,495, a figure that will drop to $19,995 for anyone who qualifies for the full $7,500 federal tax credit. That's a good deal for EVs, but the gas-powered Spark starts at just $12,185. Before Fiat announced its low lease deal last month, all GM would say is that the Spark EV would cost somewhere "under $25,000 with tax incentives." Well under, apparently.

The Spark EV goes on sale in California and Oregon in the middle of June. The car is rated at 119 MPGe combined and has a range of 82 miles. When that's not enough, DC quick charging with the SAE combo charger will refill the battery to 80 percent in about 20 minutes (when such DC stations stations become available, since the Spark is not compatible with the already-available CHAdeMO stations).