How to make AutoblogGreen better for you - suggestions needed for new categories
by Sebastian Blanco on Nov 7th 2007 at 8:18PM 
We're working on an update to our little AutoblogGreen website. As this is happening behind the scenes, we got an email from a reader named Bill, who wasn't too pleased with us. He wrote:Why not add "concept engines" as a topic to introduce new up and coming innovations, how about "MPG" as a topic for mileage improvements, etc. Or do you only pander to large mfg sponsors to promote their deviated agenda? Same Ol S---, I'll be watching with no expectations. [...] I like that at least you added HCCI as a topic.
Now, problem #1 were his typos, which I cleaned up. Problem #2 is that (I think) we do cover green car improvements whether they come from large or small companies. Problem #3 is that we do have MPG as a topic, and we have Emerging Technologies where we would put things that he suggests for "concept engines." But Bill raises a good point (aside from highlighting the old truism that berating someone isn't the best way to try and get them to change), and that is what sort of new categories would our readers like to see? We've got our ears open and I will be reading the comments to see what you have to say. Remember, we're much more likely to hear you if you keep a civil tone. Thanks, and I look forward to your suggestions.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Brooke Logan 8:46PM (11/07/2007)
I think one way in which you can garner even more interest than you already do, and I happen to love your coverage of the space, is to incorporate celebrities and their alternative/ hybrid vehicle purchases or use. I think it important to catch them in their everyday lives with these vehicles.
Another course of action could be to partner with some well known personalities by putting a PHEV in their hands for a period of time and getting their feedback throughout the trial period. This would call a lot of attention (by regular consumers) to the good efforts of the companies and manufacturers bringing us these amazing products and services.
Thanks for your consideration.
Brooke
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rob 9:20PM (11/07/2007)
How about ultralighting for a category?
Seeing as it offers more potential for fuel (or electricty) savings as improvements in powertrains do, and is the key to triple-digit fuel mileage figures, it may be worthwhile.
You already have content for it: Aptera, the Toyota 1/X concept, the Toray carbon fiber story, the Hypercar stories. There have been hints dropped that the Tesla White Star may be an ultralight as well (comments on plant size & amount of in-house manufacturing from the ex CEO that point to a hypecar-style manufacturing facility). Much of the lightweighting news about the Chevy Volt was also eclipsed by excitement about the powertrain. One enables the other...
It bears paying attention to, at any rate.
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GoodCheer 9:43PM (11/07/2007)
I would think Aptera warrants a line in the Manufacturers list. They have two generations of running prototypes at least, putting them only a few steps behind Tesla (though less well promoted).
If nothing else, the number of comments that poured in after each of the 4 (?) posts I've seen indicate that people have opinions about Aptera one way or another. (Ok, ok, about half of them were from me.)
And then there's Dynasty, Hybrid Technologies, AC Propulsion ...
You might also consider separating a section on "Vehicle Classes" our of "Green News" for things like "NEV", "Electric moped", "High-Speed EV", "Plug-in Hybrid" etc.. Of course that subjects you to the burden of distinguishing classes of vehicles, which you might understandably wish to avoid (e.g. the Volt "EV w. Range Extender" vs. "Series Hybrid" fiasco).
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justin 10:30PM (11/07/2007)
I enjoy reading articles about Electric Bikes, Scooters, ATV's, etc. I also love to read about these
efficient diesel engines; especially the ones ready to land in trucks. It needs to happen
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justin 10:34PM (11/07/2007)
I enjoy reading articles about Electric Bikes, Scooters, ATV's, etc. I also love to read about these
efficient diesel engines; especially the ones ready to land in trucks. It needs to happen
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susan.kraemer 10:52PM (11/07/2007)
I would suggest finding a way to separate news for different countries.
Headlines like "YES!!: Freeway Speed EV's Coming To You Next Week!" that turn out to be only "coming" if you live in some OTHER country like Italy or the UK or Japan. Remember us in the poor backward USA too.
Also, please put measurements like speeds and ie grams of co2 per km in both the EU AND the US form ...really what would that be in US measurements? Not that anyone here would measure that... sigh...
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mike 12:00AM (11/08/2007)
You might consider an Antarctic New Update.
I think it was "Discover" that tonight broadcast a show about the Antarctic Melt Down.
In 2003, scientists thought Antarctica would be self-sustained. The melt from the coasts would be balanced by the snowfall inland.
Now, in 2007, they've revised that, the Antarctic shelf has melted and the glaciers are are moving toward sea. There will be a sea level increase soon.
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Mattias 12:49AM (11/08/2007)
I support #6. Just use categories like "EU", "US", "Canada", "South Africa", "Japan", "World". They would allow to search for topics regarding one country/region as well.
And ask some Europeans (and not just Englishmen) to write one or another story.
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Paul Markham 12:58AM (11/08/2007)
How about promoting Eco Auction Sites I have just looked at an excellent Electric Bicycle and Vehicle Worldwide Dedicated Auction Site www.ebikebay.com what a terrific site better than ?bay.com by far!!
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RxTx 1:07AM (11/08/2007)
ABG - you perfect, no need to improve. EVERYTHING green transport orientated can be found here in real-time. Nothing really lacking!! Great website!
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Paul Markham 9:32PM (11/09/2007)
For Justin may I suggest another excellent site www.extraenergy.org for articles etc on E Bikes and Scooters
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Domenick 5:01AM (11/08/2007)
I think your coverage is already quite broad. You cover everything from motorboards to trains to ships as well as the energy sources which power them and the politics which govern them. I have confidence that if there is a story out there somewhat within your purview you will give it some attention. Myself, I never use the category links down the right side. If I'm interested about a particular subject I just use the search feature.
I'm thinking this comment (like so many I make) has not been too useful but it's just my opinion.
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hugh nazor 7:29AM (11/08/2007)
I love the site and check it at least twice a day. My only, personal, wish is that any auto blog be about autos. That would exclude carbon neutral soccer seasons and new bio-alcohol plants in South America.
I understand it is a related topic -- but so are wind and tide generating electric developments. Please keep auto blogs about autos.
One last thing: please do convert all liters per 100k and Uk MPG data to US MPG. At one point you said that you did this. You do not always do so.
Thanks for listining.
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scatter 8:05AM (11/08/2007)
One thing I would like to see maybe is more feature type articles (perhaps separate from the main blog).
Just as an example, lots of the European and Japanese manufacturers seem to be launching eco brands and I haven't been able to keep track of who's launched what and what the specs for the new brands are. An article summarising this would be very useful. Another example might be a summary of new vehicles/startups in 2007.
The industry is evolving so quickly and blogs can be so fast moving that it's very difficult to keep track of developments and these more in depth articles might help that.
Otherwise I think you're doing a great job. Props ABG!
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GoodCheer 9:10AM (11/08/2007)
Actually scatter's comment above, and that of hugh nazor above that made me think of this:
Since you're now posting stories at a rate of about 1.5 / hour throughout the day, it would probably make sense to split into a couple of news feeds. You could have news headings like "Vehicles", "Drive-trains & Components", "Policy, Politics & Subsidies", "Green Fuels / Green Electricity Production", and of course "Other" for things like the CO2-neutral soccer season, or carbon offsets from insurance companies.
One benefit would be that new stories would last on their respective front pages for more than half a day (not that it's hard to get to linked pages, but if you're playing catchup after a couple of missed days you could jump to the stuff you're most interested in first).
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BlackbirdHighway 10:16AM (11/08/2007)
I like that all aspects of transportation are covered, but I can understand folks who just want to read about autos. Maybe two companion sites, or have a "just autos" page within this site, so people can have it whatever way they want.
The constant supply of news blurbs are great, but I'd like to also see some pages devoted tutorials and explainatory info.
Like for instance, I missed the first few articles about the two-mode hybrid. When I finally noticed a story about it, it took some effort to track down what it was they were talking about. I wound up doing a search on the term, then tried each of the articles, and then it took several tries to find the one article in particular that had a link to an article on another site that had an explaination. I still couldn't tell you exactly what it is if you asked me.
There are so many different terms and variants of alternative this and that, it's very difficult for even a devotee to keep up, let alone the casual reader.
ABG should set up a set of pages where folks could go to find out more basic information about the technologies,
That would be a great compliment to the news blurbs.
Also, keep up the good work!
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Chauncey 2:13PM (11/08/2007)
First off, the site is great, I surf it like PORN! "Bill" is a freak.
A few ideas:
1) NAV REDESIGN: Gotta rework the nav. Top pull-down with subsections so you can funnel down to your interest (but you're already doing that, right?! ;)
2) WHEN DAMMIT?!: It seems like we're terminally on the cusp of the next generation of the automobile. It would be neat to have a "tracking" page. Show companies with cars close to market, electric and otherwise and show the Company, Model, power source, price, due date, and extensions (how many times they've bumped the due date). Lay it out like an airport arrivals screen, maybe even make the columns "rankable" ie: lowest to highest price, earliest to latest due date, most extensions, etc. (but your programmers will probably hate you, ...and me!)
3) STORE: How about a store? License plate frames, stickers, car geek accessories
I like a lot of the ideas posted here, ...not sure about the enviro big picture stuff though, ...if you're on this site, you're already informed and there are other sites out there already doing it.
Keep up the good work!
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Mattias 11:41AM (11/08/2007)
#14: If someone at ABG will contact me, I will summarize the efforts on so called green brands. I will take a close look on those brands that just label their entry level engines differently and those who offer really modified versions (longer gear ratios, low resistance tires). I think it will be a rather huge list with lots of data to enable the US readers to compare for expample the size of EU or Japan only cars to models offered in the US.
I am currently an IT journalist with a strong background in cars, writing on cars is a nice break frome those Linux topics. :-)
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CT-Jake 11:42AM (11/08/2007)
Personally, I think your site is great just the way it is. It is one of the few I visit on almost a daily basis. You stay on topic more than most and I think trying to cover a lot of non-auto items dilutes your purpose. You touch on "green transportation" once in a while and that is good, too. I am glad that you do not waste efforts on what celebrity (or their off-spring) had a car accident. It's way to Access Hollywood.
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paulwesterberg 4:49PM (11/08/2007)
The main problem with autobloggreen.com is that it seems that you lose focus in terms of what "green" really means, I might as well be reading blog when I see useless filler stories like this:
GM's new hybrid SUV
Mercedes that gets 27mpg
New Dodge Ram diesel
Next Chevy Impala might stay front wheel drive
I mean who cares about the car companies latest gas guzzlers designed to slip through cafe loopholes.
FA soccer carbon nuetral - because soccer moms drive?
autobloggreen needs to start keeping it real, real green.
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