Autoblog Green http://green.autoblog.com Autoblog Green http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/green.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog Green http://green.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[No More Hummers. Time to Find a New Target.]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/19/no-more-hummers-time-to-find-a-new-target/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/19/no-more-hummers-time-to-find-a-new-target/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/19/no-more-hummers-time-to-find-a-new-target/#commentsFiled under:

GM has announced that it'll no longer make the Hummer H1. When I read the title of this article, my mouth twisted into an evil smirk and I thought, "Good, serves 'em right" or something equally as catty. After all, this is the biggest and dumbest of all the big, dumb SUVs, the one that sucks up the most gasoline and spits out the most noxious gasses. But as I read on, I realized that this was more a token victory than an actual one. GM only ever sold 12,000 original Hummers, and while even one is too many, it's the more popular H2 that's doing the most damage, followed I'm sure by the H3. GM isn't letting go of the Hummer name or ideal, just that one model. And it doesn't come in hybrid. [Source: Auto123.com; Thank you Joel A for the tip]

No More Hummers. Time to Find a New Target. originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 19 May 2006 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hummer, h1, gmHummer,H1,GmFri, 19 May 2006 12:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Earn Free Stuff By Carpooling Through NuRide!]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/16/earn-free-stuff-by-carpooling-through-nuride/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/16/earn-free-stuff-by-carpooling-through-nuride/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/16/earn-free-stuff-by-carpooling-through-nuride/#commentsFiled under:

If you've thought about the traditional carpool but it never works out for you--maybe your hours vary or you work in different locations--then log on to NuRide and look at their innovative ride share program. It looks pretty simple to use. You specify your starting and ending locations, then choose if you want to be the rider or the driver. You'll be matched up with one or more people who are going where you are, when you are. Like eBay, you can see your rider/driver's rating from other NuRiders, so you can tell your riding with someone on the up-and-up. The best part? NuRide offers frequent-flyer type rewards to its users, with sponsors from wine.com to Target to Brookstone. So for sharing a ride to the big game, to work, or to finals, you can earn free stuff, save wear and tear on your car, conserve natural resources, and reduce tailpipe emissions. Still have questions? Head over to their well-organized and information-packed website.

[Source: NuRide]

Earn Free Stuff By Carpooling Through NuRide! originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 16 May 2006 19:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car pool, NuRide, ride share, vanpool, ride sharingCarPool,Nuride,RideShare,Vanpool,RideSharingTue, 16 May 2006 19:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Honda's Hybrid CR-V Not Going to Happen]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/14/hondas-hybrid-cr-v-not-going-to-happen/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/14/hondas-hybrid-cr-v-not-going-to-happen/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/14/hondas-hybrid-cr-v-not-going-to-happen/#commentsFiled under: ,

I'd heard rumors that Honda's next project would be a hybrid CR-V. I was excited about it, too--Americans don't seem to be willing to give up their SUVs, and thought that it was about time that Honda joined the ranks of Ford and Toyota to produce a bigger hybrid. However, a source at Edmunds says that the hybrid CR-V never made it off the drawing board. The reason? Honda's hybrid technology works better on smaller cars, and no hybrid Honda SUV would be able to recoup in fuel savings the reportedly $7,000 additional cost.

The good news, though, is that like the commercials say, the Fit is go. It should be available in 2008, and the hybrid version will only be $1,800 more than the gas-only version. That's exciting, but it's no hybrid CR-V.

[Source: Edmunds.com, and thank you Joel A. for the tip]

Honda's Hybrid CR-V Not Going to Happen originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 14 May 2006 10:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cr-vedmundsfitfordtoyotaSun, 14 May 2006 10:09:00 EST<![CDATA[The Debate Rages: Hybrid E-85 vs. Hybrid Diesel vs. Biodiesel]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/11/the-debate-rages-hybrid-e-85-vs-hybrid-diesel/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/11/the-debate-rages-hybrid-e-85-vs-hybrid-diesel/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/11/the-debate-rages-hybrid-e-85-vs-hybrid-diesel/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Biodiesel proponents are eager to combine hybrid technologies with the environmental benefits and (sometimes) cost savings that biodiesel provides. They argue that diesel is easier to store and transport, cleaner blends are available, and biodiesel is far better for the world than ethanol-based fuels, which are hard to grow, give lower gas mileage, don't cost less, and require more fuel to produce than they save in the tank.

Sounds like a no-brainer, right? Business Week disagrees. According to a recent special report, cellulosic ethanol E-85 hybrids are cleaner and cheaper than diesel hybrids and plug-in hybrids. Not all of their readers agree with their points, but they're worth considering. One point they make is that biodiesel blends higher than 5% void factory warranties. That's not a problem for a lot of green fuel enthusiasts, but for the mass market, it's critical, and E-85 doesn't void the warranty if the car is designed to use it. Another point is that plug-in hybrids take the batteries to higher and lower charges than they're designed to run on, which may shorten the life of the batteries (they last so long on gas hybrids because they maintain a charge of 40-60%). Business Week also looks at CO2 emissions, and provides a smart analysis concluding that E-85 emits far less than biodiesel hybrids or gas hybrids.

I'm sure that the debate isn't over yet, but the article is definitely fuel for discussion. [Source: Business Week, and thanks again to Joel A.]

The Debate Rages: Hybrid E-85 vs. Hybrid Diesel vs. Biodiesel originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 11 May 2006 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biodiesel hybrid, ethanol hybrid, E-85 hybrid, flex fuelBiodieselHybrid,EthanolHybrid,E-85Hybrid,FlexFuelThu, 11 May 2006 11:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Americans More Likely to Forego Airconditioning Than to Buy Fuel Efficient Car]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/07/americans-more-likely-to-forego-airconditioning-than-to-buy-fuel/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/07/americans-more-likely-to-forego-airconditioning-than-to-buy-fuel/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/07/americans-more-likely-to-forego-airconditioning-than-to-buy-fuel/#commentsGas prices have climped to the point that two thirds of Americans are feeling financially strained by the pressures of filling up their gas tanks. Even in middle- to upper-income families (defined in this story as families earning $50K - $75K per year), the number of people to whom gas prices are a burden has risen by more than 20% in the past year. So how are Americans dealing with rising gas prices? They're turning off the air conditioner and deciding not to take vacations or to pick up their kids from football practice. What they're not doing is deciding to buy a fuel-efficient car: the number of people who say that they'd consider such a purchase has remained unchanged. Erik Merckel, an auto-industry market watcher, predicts that gas prices would have to top $4.00 per gallon before sales of SUVs and trucks will slow down.

[Source: Yahoo! News, AP]

Americans More Likely to Forego Airconditioning Than to Buy Fuel Efficient Car originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 07 May 2006 13:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gas prices, fuel efficient statistics, high price gasGasPrices,FuelEfficientStatistics,HighPriceGasSun, 07 May 2006 13:53:00 EST<![CDATA[The Little Known Story of Victor Wouk]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/05/the-little-known-story-of-victor-wouk/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/05/the-little-known-story-of-victor-wouk/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/05/the-little-known-story-of-victor-wouk/#commentsWe tend to think of hybrid cars as new technology, even if we know that electric power for vehicles has a long and colorful history. After all, it's only in the past five years or so that hybrid cars have become a part of mainstream American culture. But the if the government can cover up UFOs, it can certainly cover up hybrid cars, as it showed in its dealings with Victor Wouk.

Wouk was an engineer who had worked on projects as hush-hush as the Manhattan Project. He began working to reduce emissions from automobiles, and came to the same conclusion as modern car manufacturers: combining a gasoline engine with a battery-powered electric motor is the most feasible short-term solution, and is workable immediately without any additional infrastructure or any change to the auto fueling industry. Wouk built a prototype, a Buick Skylark, and with the encouragement of several EPA employees, formally proposed his model as part of the Federal Clean Air Incentive Program.

So what went wrong? One man, Erik Stork. Stork was in charge of the EPA's Mobile Source Air Pollution Control Program at the time, and he wouldn't allow Wouk's prototype to be tested. He finally did allow the testing, and although Wouk's car passed, Stork refused to allow Wouk's hybrid to move into the next phase of production. In an interview with HybridCars.com, Stork recalls his reasoning, saying, "Hybrids are just not a very practical technology for automotive. That's why it's going nowhere. It certainly wasn't going anywhere then. Even today, it's marginal."

No, Mr. Stork, it didn't go anywhere then--but that's because you made a bad decision for the American public. Your decision has implications that span the Great Barrier Reef, the polar icecaps, and the raise in asthma in American children. I wonder what you had to say about biodiesel? [Source: HybridCars.com]

The Little Known Story of Victor Wouk originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 05 May 2006 07:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 05 May 2006 07:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Hybrid Car Maintenance]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/04/hybrid-car-maintenance/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/04/hybrid-car-maintenance/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/04/hybrid-car-maintenance/#commentsThere's always a fear factor when reaching out into the unknown. With hybrid cars, that fear factor seems to center around car maintenance and repairs. People who are considering buying a hybrid car are often worried that their cars will have costly breakdowns, or that they'll be in for a shock when they open the owner's manual to look at the scheduled maintenance requirements. If you're thinking about a hybrid, relax! You won't spend any more time or money at the dealership than anybody else.
  • Batteries: The batteries in a hybrid car are designed to last as long as or longer than the engine and transmission. They've been tested up to 180,000 miles, and manufacturers of hybrid cars have been carefully watching their babies since they've been on the road to make sure that they'll run how they're supposed to. Honda has had hybrids on the road since 1999, and Toyota for almost as long, so by now, manufacturers know that they've designed a good product.
  • Brakes: Because hybrid batteries charge themselves using recaptured braking energy, it makes sense to ask if owners of hybrid cars need to replace their brakes any more often. The short answer is no. In fact, because the heat that accompanies normal braking is used to recharge the brakes, the brakes actually receive less wear and need replacement less often.
  • Other Scheduled Maintenance: To maximize fuel economy and to keep their manufacturer's warranties valid, hybrid owners should definitely keep up with their maintenance schedules. These maintenance schedules look the same as other cars' schedules, so you won't be in for any shocks. One minor exception: the Ford Escape Hybrid needs an air filter every 40,000 miles. [Source: Edmunds.com]

Hybrid Car Maintenance originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 04 May 2006 20:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hybrid car maintenance, hybrid battery repair, hybrid breakdownsHybridCarMaintenance,HybridBatteryRepair,HybridBreakdownsThu, 04 May 2006 20:13:00 EST<![CDATA[An Experiment in Gas Mileage, Part 2]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/04/an-experiment-in-gas-mileage-part-2/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/04/an-experiment-in-gas-mileage-part-2/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/04/an-experiment-in-gas-mileage-part-2/#commentsIn order to see how a well-maintained car and careful driving can impact fuel economy, I'm trying an experiment and attempting to raise the number of miles I get to a tank of gas in my 2001 Civic. I promised an update, so here goes.

I'm about 2,000 miles overdue for my 70,000 checkup at Honda, and I haven't been driving super-carefully. I run the air conditioner, gun the engine to try to make the light before it turns red, and have a nasty tendency to use engine braking. I still managed to drive 397 miles on 11 1/2 gallons of gas, an average of 34 1/2 miles to the gallon. That's pretty close to the 32/39 miles per gallon listed on the EPA sticker.

My next step is to have my car maintenence done and to see if a new fuel filter, a brake inspection (thank you Dave), and a tire pressure check improve my gas mileage, and then I'll drive another tank with a well-maintained car and careful driving techniques.

An Experiment in Gas Mileage, Part 2 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 04 May 2006 18:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Thu, 04 May 2006 18:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Full, Assist, or Mild: Which Hybrid is for You?]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/04/full-assist-or-mild-which-hybrid-is-for-you/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/04/full-assist-or-mild-which-hybrid-is-for-you/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/04/full-assist-or-mild-which-hybrid-is-for-you/#commentsSo, you've been stuck with the same 1996 Chevy for the last ten years, and it's finally time to donate your car to charity and move up to something more modern. You're considering buying a hybrid car, but which one? Hybrid technology has been exploited by some bandwagon car manufacturers, and therefore, not all hybrids are the same. Some hybrids have great gas mileage, while others barely do any better than their gasoline-only counterparts. How do you know what's what?

Before you head out for a test drive, do your research on edmunds.com or autobytel.com, and look at the different hybrid cars available. Pay attention to the type of engine each hybrid has. You'll notice that some cars seemlessly blend electric and gasoline power, while others us the electric motor for very little. Of course, the more your car uses the electric motor, the less it's using gasoline, so look for:
  • Full Hybrids -- Full hybrid cars are capable, if your driving style and conditions are right, of running solely on the battery. They typically have a gas engine, an electric motor run by a battery that charges itself when you brake, and some sort of computer that tells the car where to get power from under what type of driving conditions. The Toyota Prius and Highlander, Ford Escape, Lexus RX 400h, Mercury Mariner, and restyles Honda Civic hybrids all utilize this technology.
  • Assist Hybrids -- Assist hybrids can't run on electric power alone; they use the electric motor as a way to increase torque from the gasoline engine. Assist hybrids have smaller battery packs than full hybrids, and they are able to have smaller gasoline engines without sacrificing power. The Honda Insight and the first-generation Honda Civic Hybrid are example of assist hybrids.
Other hybrid vehicles don't use the electric motor to assist the gasoline engine at all. These "mild hybrids," such as the Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid, have a glorified starter that allows the car or truck to turn itself off at stoplights without the radio or air conditioning turning off. You will see a slight fuel economy improvement with a mild hybrid, but nothing like what you'd get with a full hybrid or assist hybrid. [Source: Hybrid Cars at About.com, Wikipedia]

Full, Assist, or Mild: Which Hybrid is for You? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 04 May 2006 12:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assist hybridAssistHybridcivic hybridCivicHybridford escapeFordEscapefull hybridFullHybridhybridlexus rx 400hLexusRx400hmercury marinerMercuryMarinertoyota priusToyotaPriusThu, 04 May 2006 12:06:00 EST<![CDATA[New Power Plant Will Help Electric Cars Run "Greener"]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/03/new-power-plant-will-help-electric-cars-run-greener/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/03/new-power-plant-will-help-electric-cars-run-greener/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/03/new-power-plant-will-help-electric-cars-run-greener/#commentsSome critics of electric cars have justly noted that powering your car on electricity doesn't eliminate its environmental impact, it just moves it. Instead of harmful emissions coming from your car's tailpipe, they're coming from the power plant that fuels the house where you plug in your car. That's true, but electric car proponents often reply that power plants are more carefully regulated than tailpipes, and that they're getting greener all the time. Here's proof:

On May 1, Biomass Investment Group, Inc (BIG) announced plans to build a Central Florida power plant that uses E-Grass for fuel, instead of coal. The plant's contract is for 25 years, and during that time, it's expected to save 9 million tons of coal and 20 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Because the E-Grass will be grown on site, the plant is called a "closed loop;" the growing grasses will take in as much CO2 as the smoke stacks emit. So if you live in one of the 83,000 homes powered by the plant, then by all means, run out and buy a plug-in kit for your Prius. [Source: Progress Energy Florida]

New Power Plant Will Help Electric Cars Run "Greener" originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 03 May 2006 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clean power plant, E-grass, Biomass Investment, clean powerCleanPowerPlant,E-grass,BiomassInvestment,CleanPowerWed, 03 May 2006 16:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Revisions To EPA Fuel Efficiency Tests Necessary]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/03/revisions-to-epa-fuel-efficiency-tests-necessary/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/03/revisions-to-epa-fuel-efficiency-tests-necessary/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/03/revisions-to-epa-fuel-efficiency-tests-necessary/#commentsWay back in October of 2005, Consumer Reports shocked the nation with its expose of fuel economy ratings on new cars. Testers calculated real world gas mileage on 303 cars and trucks, and found that 90% had inflated EPA fuel economy ratings. Sadly, hybrid vehicles were some of the worst culprits. They took three out of the top five spots for average fuel economy, but the discrepencies were greater between what the sticker said their fuel economy was and what testers actually achieved.

With all of the recent talk about raising CAFE standards, this seems a fitting time to appeal for tighter EPA controls over fuel economy calculations. Here are some of the problems with the current testing procedures:
  • Car manufacturers are allowed to use hand-built prototypes for fuel efficiency ratings--they don't have to use cars that come off of the assembly line.
  • Real-world idle times are longer than those used in EPA test protocols.
  • Americans spend more time in city driving situations than EPA combined mileage calculations estimate.
  • Tests are simulated on computers; nobody actually drives anywhere.
So when you write your congressman to show your support for tighter CAFE standards, be sure to give a sound bite to more accurate calculations of fuel economies.

[Source: Consumer Reports]

Revisions To EPA Fuel Efficiency Tests Necessary originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 03 May 2006 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fuel economy, CAFE standards, EPA fuel economy calculations, proFuelEconomy,CafeStandards,EpaFuelEconomyCalculations,ProblemsWitWed, 03 May 2006 14:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Butanol: Are You Still Out There?]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/01/butanol-are-you-still-out-there/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/01/butanol-are-you-still-out-there/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/05/01/butanol-are-you-still-out-there/#comments
In the 1970s and 1980s, when that energy crisis caused scientists and politicians to start the hunt for a gasoline substitute, butanol and ethanol were brought to the table as possible replacement fuels. Butanol, an alcohol that can be derived from fermentation or from petroleum, showed promise: it burns cleaner than ethanol, has a higher energy output, can travel through existing gasoline pipelines, and can be used at 100% concentrations in unmodified vehicles. So why did ethanol win the federal dollars for development? Because manufacturing butanol was expensive and inefficient, and the same bushel of corn could make 2.5 gallons of ethanol, but only 1.3 gallons of butanol.

In 2004, Environmental Energy, Inc announced that they had developed a manufacturing process that could yield 2.5 gallons of butanol per bushel of corn, and could even create butanol out of switch grass and yard waste. The last information the company gives is that it's still raising money to step their production into high gear. Perhaps Bush's new call to invest in alternative energy will give butanol a chance.

[Source: Environmental Energy Inc., and thank you to Stéphane Dumas for the tip.]

Butanol: Are You Still Out There? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 01 May 2006 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>butanolenergy crisisEnergyCrisisenvironmental energy incEnvironmentalEnergyIncMon, 01 May 2006 09:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Cleaner Biodiesel in the Works]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2006/04/30/cleaner-biodiesel-in-the-works/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/04/30/cleaner-biodiesel-in-the-works/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/04/30/cleaner-biodiesel-in-the-works/#commentsI've already posted about a team of college students and their professor who are working on a way to turn ethanol into an emission-free hydrogen fuel cell. Proving that the universities have the money, the brains, and the labs it takes to encourage true scientific exploration, Iowa State University chemist Victor Lin and his partners are also working on green car technology--but they're studying ways to make biodiesel better.

Among the problems with traditional biodiesels are the catalysts for the reactions that convert soybean and other vegetable oils into usable fuel. It's not easy to turn beans into gasoline, and the reactions used in the production of biodiesels are highly toxic and difficult to dispose of. Lin and his team, though, have developed catalysts that are easier to filter out of the fuel and can be reused. It's a baby step, to be sure, but an important one. [Source: Des Moines Register, and thanks again to Joel A. for the tip.]

Cleaner Biodiesel in the Works originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 30 Apr 2006 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clean biodiesel making biodiesel toxic biodieselCleanBiodieselMakingBiodieselToxicBiodieselSun, 30 Apr 2006 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[An All-Electric Delivery Van--The Modec]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2006/04/30/an-all-electric-delivery-van-the-modec/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/04/30/an-all-electric-delivery-van-the-modec/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/04/30/an-all-electric-delivery-van-the-modec/#commentsDelivery vans and other working vehicles are like a silent nightmare. They spew far more noxious fumes and greenhouse gasses into the air than even the most indulgent SUVs, and suck up gasoline or diesel as if the Earth had an unlimited supply. Not the Modec--this delivery van (which is currently available in Great Brittain) is 100% electric. It's got a battery that can plug in to recharge but can also reclaim braking energy, can go up to 100 miles without a charge, can be removed to put a fresh battery in, and supports a load of up to two tons. It's not perfect--ofter all, the electrcity has to come from somewhere, and it probably comes from a smoke-spewing power plant. But it's a heck of a lot better than the box truck with the blown head gasket, who I seem to always end up stuck behind. [Source: treehuger.com]

An All-Electric Delivery Van--The Modec originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 30 Apr 2006 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Sun, 30 Apr 2006 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Will We See a Propane-Powered Saturn?]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2006/04/30/will-we-see-a-propane-powered-saturn/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/04/30/will-we-see-a-propane-powered-saturn/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/04/30/will-we-see-a-propane-powered-saturn/#commentsAt first glance, this story doesn't seem to have much to do with American drivers--Steinmetz, in Germany, has developed a new propane-powered Astra that is hailed as being easy on both fuel and the evrionment, without sacrificing power or style. The green Astra promises 260 horsepower, sports clutch and suspension, and too-cool twin tailpipes. Sounds like the American dream, but you have to go all the way to Germany to get one, right?

Maybe not. The Astra is the future successor to the Saturn Ion. Nobody's promising anything yet, but the Ion "is expected" to share a lot of technology with new Astras. Nobody's saying anything yet, but a propane-powered, street-race worthy Saturn just might might be in the works. [Source: Edmunds Inside Line]




Will We See a Propane-Powered Saturn? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 30 Apr 2006 14:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>propane powered cars. saturn ion, propane powered ion, green satPropanePoweredCars.SaturnIon,PropanePoweredIon,GreenSaturnSun, 30 Apr 2006 14:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Ethanol: More Polution and Lower Gas Mileage?]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2006/04/30/ethanol-more-polution-and-lower-gas-mileage/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/04/30/ethanol-more-polution-and-lower-gas-mileage/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/04/30/ethanol-more-polution-and-lower-gas-mileage/#commentsEthanol has always sounded sort of sketchy to me. It's not truly a sustainable source of energy, because it takes a lot of room to grow and may actually use more fossil fuels to produce than blending it with gasoline saves. An article in Business Week adds fuel to the fire, saying that using ethanol in gasoline blends causes more smog (due to higher volatility) and reduces fuel economy by up to 40%. Add that to the extra fuel being burned by sneaky corporations who are using ethanol-equipped Suburbans and other vehicles that consume a lot of fuel in order to get around CAFE regulations, and it becomes clear that ethanol is definitely not going to do America any favors. I've thought of ethanol as a decent short-term solution to our fuel dependency problems, but the cost suddenly seems to dramatically outweigh the benefits. [Source: Business Week, and thank you to starlightmica for the tip on this important article]

Ethanol: More Polution and Lower Gas Mileage? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 30 Apr 2006 11:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ethanol problems, E85 pollution, ethanol lower gas mileageEthanolProblems,E85Pollution,EthanolLowerGasMileageSun, 30 Apr 2006 11:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Japan's Hybrid, Diesel, Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Commuter Train]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2006/04/29/japans-hybrid-diesel-hydrogen-fuel-cell-commuter-train/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/04/29/japans-hybrid-diesel-hydrogen-fuel-cell-commuter-train/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/04/29/japans-hybrid-diesel-hydrogen-fuel-cell-commuter-train/#comments
If you need to get to work, you have many options for how to lower your Earth impact. You can commute, lowering your per person gasoline consumption; you can drive a hybrid, diesel, or E-85 powered car; you can ride a motorcycle or order a micro-car from Europe; you can take the bus or a hybrid taxi. In Japan, though, you may soon be able to combine all of the above. The East Japan Railways Company is testing a train that combines hybrid, diesel, and fuel cell technology, and plans to have the train carrying paying passengers by the middle of next year. The company says that theirs is the first train to use fuel cells, which produce no emissions other than water vapor. The fuel cells will supply about a third of the train's power; the rest will come from a hybrid diesel-electric engine. [Source: MSNBC, and thank you to Joel A. for this fascinating tip]

Japan's Hybrid, Diesel, Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Commuter Train originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 29 Apr 2006 19:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fuel-cell train, diesel train, Japanese fuel-cell train, East JaFuel-cellTrain,DieselTrain,JapaneseFuel-cellTrain,EastJapanRailwSat, 29 Apr 2006 19:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Turning Ethanol into Hydrogen--Is This Finally the Answer?]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2006/04/29/turning-ethanol-into-hydrogen-is-this-finally-the-answer/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/04/29/turning-ethanol-into-hydrogen-is-this-finally-the-answer/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/04/29/turning-ethanol-into-hydrogen-is-this-finally-the-answer/#commentsIt's no secret that ethanol, while it's a decent short-term fix for rising gasoline prices and preventing further depletion of fossil fuels, isn't a long-term solution to our modern energy crisis. Burning ethanol, like burning gasoline, produces carbon dioxide--in fact, burning any sort of carbon-based fuel produces carbon dioxide--so ethanol isn't going to put a stop to global warming. Corn, the major source for fuel-grade ethanol, is also a plant that takes an incredible amount of room to grow, and there isn't enough space in this country to grow enough ethanol to power our cars and still have places to drive them.

But Lanny Schmidt, a professor at the University of Minnesota, has developed a reactor that can produce hydrogen gas from ethanol, using the ethanol to power a hydrogen fuel cell. Fuel cell technology is emission-free and shows great promise as a source of energy, but getting the highly exothermic reactions under control has prevented fuel cells from being mass marketable so far. What's even more exciting is that the team says they're close to being able to use other biomass, even grass clippings, to power the reactions. All hail the college kids--keep it up! [Source: The Minnesota Daily, and thanks again to Joel A]

Turning Ethanol into Hydrogen--Is This Finally the Answer? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 29 Apr 2006 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Sat, 29 Apr 2006 13:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Want to Design Your Own Green Car? Get a Spot on Ford's New Reality TV Show.]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2006/04/28/want-to-design-your-own-green-car-get-a-spot-on-fords-new-real/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/04/28/want-to-design-your-own-green-car-get-a-spot-on-fords-new-real/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/04/28/want-to-design-your-own-green-car-get-a-spot-on-fords-new-real/#commentsAs part of their "Bold Move" ad campaign, Ford Motor Company announced on Wednesday its plans to shop a new TV reality show to studio execs. The concept: average Americans working together with professional auto designers to create the next Ford dream car. Granted, the maker of the Mustang, the Expedition, and the F-350 isn't known for its green car technology, but that's the whole point--drivers get to design this one.

Ford, a sponsor of TV's wildly popular American Idol, is no stranger to reality TV. As slumping sales and increased interest in foreign cars have left the quintessential American car company's financial status shaky at best, the company is looking to make major changes to make Americans want to drive Fords again. Building the world's cleanest and greenest SUV is, in my admittedly biased mind, a good start in what's still an America that likes to do things bigger and louder than the rest of the world. Perhaps this is a case of "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em." Think I'll have to sing in order to try for a spot on the panel?

Want to Design Your Own Green Car? Get a Spot on Ford's New Reality TV Show. originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 28 Apr 2006 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Ford reality tv, green ford, design your own fordFordRealityTv,GreenFord,DesignYourOwnFordFri, 28 Apr 2006 11:59:00 EST<![CDATA[CLEVER Car Designed by British Students]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2006/04/28/clever-car-designed-by-brittish-students/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/04/28/clever-car-designed-by-brittish-students/http://green.autoblog.com/2006/04/28/clever-car-designed-by-brittish-students/#commentsA prototype of the CLEVERIn a concept similar to the Twike, a group of students from the University of Bath unveiled the project that goes along with their dissertations--a micro car that runs on compressed natural gas, gets the equivalent of 108 miles to the gallon, and can reach speeds of 80 miles per hour. They named their three-wheeled two seater CLEVER, for Compact Low Emissions Vehicle for Urban Transport.

While they're not commonplace here in the States, micro cars are gaining popularity in Europe, where gasoline costs twice to three times the amount that we pay. These vehicles combine the sportiness of motorcycles with the comfort and safety of enclosed cars, and generally seat two people. Ben Drew, one of the graduate students who helped designed the CLEVER, says that it's fun to drive and handles well.

Others working on the team included Drew's partner, Matt Barker; Geraint Owen and other instructors at the university; the European Union; and other partners including the Technische Universitaet Berlin, the Institut Francais Du Petrole, and the Institut Fuer Verkehrswesen Universitaet Fure Bodenkultur. The project has been over three years in development, and isn't expected to be available for the public for at least another ten years. [Source: AP]

CLEVER Car Designed by British Students originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 28 Apr 2006 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>micro car, CLEVER, twike, University of BathMicroCar,Clever,Twike,UniversityOfBathFri, 28 Apr 2006 09:40:00 EST