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[Carbon Footprints: Ditch the dog, get a Hummer H2, save the planet?]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/12/carbon-footprints-ditch-the-dog-get-a-hummer-h2-save-the-plan/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/12/carbon-footprints-ditch-the-dog-get-a-hummer-h2-save-the-plan/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/12/carbon-footprints-ditch-the-dog-get-a-hummer-h2-save-the-plan/#commentsFiled under: , ,



If you don't like dogs, there's now a new reason to continue avoiding canis domesticus. New Zealanders Robert and Brenda Vale have put forth the hypothesis that the care and feeding of a pooch is more environmentally harmful than rolling in a Toyota Land Cruiser. Those shifty, antisocial felines aren't much better, so don't get any more smug than you already are, cat people. One ten-pound feline's care is the same to the environment as a 3300-pound Volkswagen Golf, the theory goes.

The Vales present this work in their book "Time to Eat the Dog? The Real Guide to Sustainable Living." The animals that wind up in dog food burden the land while they're alive, and the amount of goodies that people lavish upon their dogs, from squeaky toy to special grooming sessions also do the equivalent work of burning the rainforest.

The claims have been disputed, of course - no doubt by more than a few dog lovers. The chief researcher for Seattle's Sightline Institute, Clark Williams-Derry, ran some numbers of his own and came up with results that don't square with the Vales. The think-tank scientist calculated that for the Vale's numbers to add up, the average dog would have to eat twice as much as the average person, an idea that is difficult to fathom since people are heavier than most dogs.

The takeaway from all this is simply that dog (and cat) ownership does have an ecological footprint. Like everything else in your life, keeping a pet is intertwined with our insatiable consumerism. The truly concerned will carefully consider where the products and items they purchase for their pets are made, what goes into them, and what that means for the planet. The rest of you will keep letting adorable little Beaufort leaves deposit on our lawns.

[Source: Seattle Times | Image: Andrew H. Walker/Getty]

Carbon Footprints: Ditch the dog, get a Hummer H2, save the planet? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbon footprintCarbonFootprintcat friendlyCatFriendlydogdog carbon footprintdog environmentdog friendlyDogCarbonFootprintDogEnvironmentDogFriendlydogsenvironmentenvironment dogenvironment petsenvironmentalenvironmental impactEnvironmentalImpactenvironmentalismenvironmentally friendlyEnvironmentallyFriendlyEnvironmentDogEnvironmentPetspetpet environmentpet friendlypet ownershipPetEnvironmentPetFriendlyPetOwnershippetsmartThu, 12 Nov 2009 11:46:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: EPA planning to address outlandish fuel economy claims of electric cars]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/01/report-epa-planning-to-address-outlandish-fuel-economy-claims-o/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/01/report-epa-planning-to-address-outlandish-fuel-economy-claims-o/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/01/report-epa-planning-to-address-outlandish-fuel-economy-claims-o/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



The EPA is aware that range-extended electric vehicles can game the current fuel economy test to deliver mileage estimates way up in the stratosphere. It makes for impressive advertising, like General Motors' touting of the Chevrolet Volt's estimated 230 mpg, but the EPA wants to give a more realistic reflection of the fuel efficiency of these types of cars, and it's not alone.

According to USA Today, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory would like the EPA's new formula to provide buyers information about the efficiency of the vehicle on either of its two fuels, providing two different numbers. An Israeli company also wants more data, pushing for three pieces of information: electricity used when fully charged, electricity consumed to top off the batteries, and how much fuel the range-extending gasoline engine uses when pressed into service.

The new ratings are important to consumers and automakers alike. If accurate, these new ratings would give buyers more insight into what they can actually expect to get. For now, carmakers are holding their breath to determine just what they'll be able to get away with claiming when advertising... let the lobbying begin!

[Source: USA Today]

REPORT: EPA planning to address outlandish fuel economy claims of electric cars originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chevychevy voltchevy-voltChevyVoltepaepa hybridepa mileageepa miles per gallonepa mpgEpaHybridEpaMileageEpaMilesPerGallonEpaMpgfalsehybridhybrid efficiencyhybrid epahybrid mpgHybridEfficiencyHybridEpaHybridMpgleaf mpgLeafMpgmiles per gallonMilesPerGallonnissan leafNissanLeafvolt mpgVoltMpgThu, 01 Oct 2009 16:03:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: Fiat's fuel-saving Multi-air tech could come to Chrysler]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/08/03/report-fiats-fuel-saving-multi-air-tech-could-come-to-chrysler/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/08/03/report-fiats-fuel-saving-multi-air-tech-could-come-to-chrysler/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/08/03/report-fiats-fuel-saving-multi-air-tech-could-come-to-chrysler/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Fiat could adapt its MultiAir technology to Chrysler powertrains
Fiat's advanced Multiair technology could be an easy port to Chrysler's powertrains as the companies move ahead together. "It is low-invasive hardware" said Lucio Bernard of Fiat Powertrain Technologies, the division of the Italian automotive conglomerate tasked with developing the parts that make the cars go.

The Multiair system, which uses its sophisticated software and fast-acting electrohydraulic actuation to send the throttle plate off to the annals of history, appears deceptively simple. The system slots into the cylinder head kind of like a Lego brick, and is easily adaptable to most engines. This being the case, adapting it to the Chrysler engines we already know and love wouldn't be too difficult of a task.

The software to run it all is what Fiat is most proud of; the competition is years behind, it says, and the company has patented its rig. Alfa Romeo already has MultiAir out in the wild with the MiTo, and with the need for fuel efficiency gains in Chrysler's lineup, something that's essentially as easy as snapping pieces together seems very attractive.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]

REPORT: Fiat's fuel-saving Multi-air tech could come to Chrysler originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chrysler enginechrysler multiairChryslerEngineChryslerMultiairfiatfiat chrysler multiairfiat chrysler multiair adaptfiat multiairFiatChryslerMultiairFiatChryslerMultiairAdaptFiatMultiairMon, 03 Aug 2009 17:02:00 EST<![CDATA[eBay Find of the Day: Mammoth 1930s Harris steam-powered split-window prototype]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/07/02/ebay-find-of-the-day-mammoth-1930s-harris-steam-powered-split-w/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/07/02/ebay-find-of-the-day-mammoth-1930s-harris-steam-powered-split-w/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/07/02/ebay-find-of-the-day-mammoth-1930s-harris-steam-powered-split-w/#commentsFiled under:


Harris Steam Car - Click above for high-res image gallery

Now here's just the thing to mix up with a heated-up Flattie, or better yet, a Rajo Model T powerplant, which would be perfectly authentic for the vintage. Oh sure, purists will argue that this artifact, which apparently started life as the Harris Steam Car carrying a Stanley Steamer power unit, should be returned to its original state. Good luck figuring out exactly what that was.

With a deft enough touch, you could pay homage to the 1930s craftsmanship in this vehicle without ruining it. Either way, if you're determined enough to buy this obviously Stout Scarab inspired vehicle for $8,500 or more, it will be yours to do whatever you choose, critics be damned. Going all Travels With Charley with this thing, especially towing a homebuilt teardrop trailer, would be a fantastic summer diversion, and if you did go all external-combustion-engine on it, you'd always have a fire to sit around at night.


[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: Mammoth 1930s Harris steam-powered split-window prototype originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As hardcore as they come, Che Guevarra's image has been transformed by the very capitalism he railed against into something non-threatening enough that the totem has been given a pair of 3-D spectacles and serves as a logo for a rebel band of film enthusiasts. In sharp contrast to what the retail-industrial complex continues to try selling us, there are those that prefer the more organic charms of a beaten, scratched, oft-repaired and aged release print of any given movie, ratty-sounding optical audio tracks and all. Guerilla Drive In has outfitted a BMW motorcycle with a vintage Eiki 16MM film projector in a sort-of nod to The Motorcycle Diaries, and organizes clandestine movie showings at secret locations that are apropos to the plot or storyline of the film in question.

Joining a band of South American rebels may have been easier than getting onto the Members List of Guerilla Drive-In, a fun-seeking endeavor dreamt up by website developer John Young. The first thing one needs to do if they wish to watch Ghostbusters on the wall of a haunted fort with jumbo jets on final descent adding to the ambiance is to find the "MacGuffin." An AM transmitter housed in a bright orange Pelican case, the MacGuffin plays a continuous loop of a secret access code needed to join, very Spy Gear. Once the unit is found, you must email a picture of yourself with the transmitter and containing the access code to be notified of future showings. It sounds like a fun way to take in the charms of aged films with a coterie of similarly minded folks, tenacious enough to find that orange thing pumping out a signal at 1700 kilohertz and get on the list. If it seems like a lot of work for something you could just rent or download, we think that's sort of the point; the experience, more than the film, is the reward.

[Source: Guerilla Drive-In via PSFK.com | Image Source: Harold Ross, rossstudio.com]

Lights Out: Guerilla Drive-In uses BMW sidecar motorcycle to host secret movie screenings originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drive-indrive-in moviesdrive-in theaterDrive-inMoviesdrive-insDrive-inTheaterguerilla drive inguerilla drive-inGuerillaDrive-inGuerillaDriveInmotorcycle drive inmotorcycle film projectorMotorcycleDriveInMotorcycleFilmProjectorThu, 25 Jun 2009 18:49:00 EST<![CDATA[______-miling the Jaguar XK-R]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2008/08/26/______-miling-the-jaguar-xk-r/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/08/26/______-miling-the-jaguar-xk-r/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/08/26/______-miling-the-jaguar-xk-r/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Hypermiling is too strong a phrase when you apply the MPG-increasing practice to a Jaguar XK-R. Extra-miling might pass muster, but all it amounts to in this particular instance is driving a $104,000, 420 horsepower Jaguar convertible like it's a $22,000 Camry.

Why not go for big dollops of both performance and luxury when you're trying to rock every possible mile out of a tank of fuel? With that in mind, we lined up a Jaguar XKR convertible filled to the hilt with everything but the
$8,000 brake upgrade. When it arrived, the last thing on our minds was what kind of mileage it gets. Dressed in a metallic red called "Radiance" which complemented the tan leather interior and matching cloth top, it looked like the ride home from the office was going to be a good one. Then the thunderstorms rolled in and stayed for a week. Hit the jump to see how we dealt with the weather in our XK-R.

Gallery: Jaguar XKR Mileage Quest




Continue reading ______-miling the Jaguar XK-R

______-miling the Jaguar XK-R originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The General Motors factory in Zaragoza, Spain is set to get a roof tiled in solar panels as part of a larger initiative throughout GM's European operations. 183,000 square meters of photovoltaic cells will be capable of providing up to a quarter of the factory's peak demand. Zaragoza is GM's biggest European factory, and the project will cost €50m, though its benefit will be significant reduction in energy bills for the automaker. GM has 19 other plants in Europe, and the Saint Petersburg factory is next on the list for the solar treatment. Other locations may follow, though some are likely better suited than others due to a variety of environmental and business factors.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub Req]

Spanish GM factory adds solar roof originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Autoblog Green Podcast has finally reached our second dozen! Sebastian and Sam kicked it just before the July 4th holiday, and touched on the Tesla sedan, fuel prices making a possible case for economical vehicles to consumers, ethanol from invasive species, and the possibility of GM dusting off the EV1. Most importantly, the new design of AutoblogGreen is discussed a little bit, too. Thanks for listening, see you again soon!

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Autoblog Green Podcast #24 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autoblog green podcastAutoblogGreenPodcastfeaturedpodcastTue, 08 Jul 2008 13:32:00 ESTAutoblog Green Podcast #24Dan Roth37:29<![CDATA[AutoblogGreen Podcast #23]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2008/06/10/autobloggreen-podcast-23/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/06/10/autobloggreen-podcast-23/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/06/10/autobloggreen-podcast-23/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Sebastian is joined by Jeremy for AutoblogGreen Podcast #23, since Sam was hanging out with Bob Lutz and his Vectrix scooter when we recorded. Jeremy recounts his experience with Piaggio MP3 scooters on a ride from New York to Connecticut, and we move on to talk about the limited Prius supply as of late. We also touch on some developments at GM: the impending doom that may befall Hummer, and the coming of the Volt, which GM wants to build in Detroit. We go on for a while about hybrids and EVs for a while before wrapping up. Thanks for listening, we'll see you soon!

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AutoblogGreen Podcast #23 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chevy voltchevy volt mulesChevyVoltChevyVoltMulesgmgm voltGmVolthumerhummer brandhummer saleHummerBrandHummerSalehybridpiaggiopiaggio mp3piaggio mp3 400piaggio-mp3piaggiomp3piaggiomp3400toyota priusToyotaPriusTue, 10 Jun 2008 17:26:00 ESTAutoblog Green Podcast #23Dan Roth30:12<![CDATA[AutoblogGreen Podcast #22]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2008/05/23/autobloggreen-podcast-22/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/05/23/autobloggreen-podcast-22/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/05/23/autobloggreen-podcast-22/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

For Episode #22 of the AutoblogGreen podcast, Sam and Sebastian recap the AVFI show in Las Vegas, and enter into a discussion focusing on diesel. Still on the diesel tip, Sam talks excitedly about the Volkswagen TDI Cup racing series before moving on to the much more charged topic of EV infrastructure. Our interview this week isn't so much a one on one as it is a speech from T. Boone Pickens, he of oil magnate status, about how oil is not going to last forever. Thanks for listening, see you again soon!

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AutoblogGreen Podcast #22 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 23 May 2008 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's tales from the road for episode #21 of the AutoblogGreen Podcast. Sebastian got a peek behind the curtain at GM to see the Chevrolet Volt, and Sam jet-setted to sample wares from Audi and BMW. Hybrids, diesels, EVs, and more - plus, we wrap up with an interview with Tesla's Daryl Siry for a total of 43 minutes. Thanks for listening!

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Autoblog Green Podcast #21 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 11 Apr 2008 09:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audi dieselAudiDieselautoblog greenautoblog green pod c...autoblog green podcastAutoblogGreenAutoblogGreenPodC...AutoblogGreenPodcastbmw x6BmwX6chevrolet voltChevroletVoltdaryl siryDarylSirytesla motorsTeslaMotorsFri, 11 Apr 2008 09:41:00 ESTAutoblog Green Podcast #21Dan Roth42:44<![CDATA[AutoblogGreen Podcast #20 - Geneva Motor Show wrap-up]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2008/03/13/autobloggreen-podcast-20-geneva-motor-show-wrap-up/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/03/13/autobloggreen-podcast-20-geneva-motor-show-wrap-up/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/03/13/autobloggreen-podcast-20-geneva-motor-show-wrap-up/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Episode 20 of the AutoblogGreen Podcast has us recapping Geneva mere days before we head to New York. There were lots of exciting things over in Switzerland, and we touch on a few of them. Th!nk's new Ox will be a Tesla-magnitude achievement if it hits the market doing what the company says it will. GM rolled out the new version of its mild hybrid system that will be propagating across virtually all models in all brands to help boost CAFE. Better efficiency for about half of what a sat nav option costs? We'll take it. Speaking of hybrids, there was a lot of talk from BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen ,and others about upcoming Euro-branded hybrids, and diesel hybrids at that. Mercedes will debut li-Ion batteries in a production hybrid, while Toyota has yet to see a compelling argument for diesel hybrids. Rest assured that if people want it, Toyota will build it, though. Before closing, we look forward to the couple of things we know about in New York, like the debut of the Acura TSX/Honda Euro Accord which will sport a 50-state legal diesel, and the Automotive X-Prize folks will be holding a press conference, as well. 32 minutes this time around. Stay tuned, we'll surely be abuzz when we return from New York.

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AutoblogGreen Podcast #20 - Geneva Motor Show wrap-up originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 13 Mar 2008 09:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some people use airport layovers to sleep, read, or get a meal. Sam and Sebastian took the opportunity to record AutoblogGreen Podcast #19. While waiting for a plane to whisk them back home from the Chicago Auto Show, we recapped a few things we saw at the show. It wasn't the greenest show we've seen, but they have the biggest building, by their own admission. A few things left impressions on us, first of which was the GMC Denali XT. The Zeta variant is the first use of GM's Two-mode hybrid system on a passenger car platform. Other exciting GM news is the announcement that ICM and Coskata will be working together to build a cellulosic ethanol plant. Ford came out with a couple of ideas aimed at truck customers that could boost CAFE numbers. The Transit Connect is a right-sized utility van, and their new Work Solutions system could be a stealthy way to improve economy. Honda has hybrids and diesels coming, and Toyota will be trying to add lightness to its fleet. Our interview this time around is with Bridgestone's Dan McDonald about their "One Team, One Planet" initiatives.

Thanks for listening!


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Autoblog Green Podcast #19 - Chicago Auto Show 2008 wrap-up originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 11 Feb 2008 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autobio fuelsBioFuelsbridgestonecellulosicchicagochicago auto showChicagoAutoShowcoskatadenalidenali xtDenaliXtethanolfordgeneral motorsGeneralMotorsgmgmchondahybridicmone planetone teamone team, one planetOnePlanetOneTeamOneTeam,OnePlanetshowtoyotatransit connectTransitConnectxtMon, 11 Feb 2008 11:02:00 ESTAutoblog Green Podcast #19Dan Roth41:54<![CDATA[Autoblog Green Podcast #18]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2008/01/23/autoblog-green-podcast-18/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/01/23/autoblog-green-podcast-18/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/01/23/autoblog-green-podcast-18/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Episode 18 of the Autoblog Green Podcast sees us reminiscing about the North American International Auto Show, recently passed in Detroit. We start with the reconfigured Saturn Vue Hybrid from AFS - the "extreme hybrid" claiming a narrowly defined150 mpg. AFS's claims point up the need for a new way to accurately rate mpg for hybrid and plugin powertrains. We touch on the Chrysler green trio, and Saturn's own Vue Two-Mode - one of three versions of the Vue that will have a flavor of hybrid powertrains (two mode, li-ion/phev, mild).

Everyone in Detroit had a Diesel, too, many displacing 2.2 liters and having four cylinders. We also talk abit about Ford going mainstream with their EcoBoost engine technology rather than trotting out ever larger V8s - big power doesn't always mean big cubes, and EcoBoost is more than small motors with big compressors strapped onto the exhaust manifolds. We wrap up by touching on the news that the ALMS series will see a fleet of Corvettes running cellulosic E85. The rules of the series allow lots of different technologies to run wheel to wheel, so alternative powertrains could be the next area where we see racing improving the breed. 43 minutes, and we're done, thanks for listening!

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Autoblog Green Podcast #18 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 23 Jan 2008 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto showAutoShowconceptDetroit Auto ShowDetroitAutoShowdieselepafuel mileageFuelMileagehybridnaiasnorth american international auto showNorthAmericanInternationalAutoShowplug inPlugInratingWed, 23 Jan 2008 11:02:00 ESTAutoblog Green Podcast #18Dan Roth43:09<![CDATA[Autoblog Green Podcast #17 - Coskata Energy's Bill Roe]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2008/01/13/autoblog-green-podcast-17-coskata-energys-bill-roe/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/01/13/autoblog-green-podcast-17-coskata-energys-bill-roe/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/01/13/autoblog-green-podcast-17-coskata-energys-bill-roe/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

We're in Detroit now, but Sebastian and Sam took some time to chat about a few things before leaving for the show. Rick Wagoner's CES keynote was historic, as was the appearance of the Cadillac Provoq at that show. Coming up at Detroit we'll bring you details on all of the alternative and fuel-efficient vehicles like the Hummer HX that signals a wholesale move to E85 capability and the first ever unibody Ford Explorer. Sebastian brings us an interview with Bill Roe of Coskata Energy about their exciting work on biofuels and we wrap up by touching on the Tata Nano. We'll be back again soon, see you then!

UPDATE: transcript of the interview with Bill Roe available here.

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Autoblog Green Podcast #17 - Coskata Energy's Bill Roe originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 13 Jan 2008 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We're back for AutoblogGreen Podcast #16. In this installment, Sebastian updates us on some of the really amazing things he saw while at EVS23 in Anaheim. Speaking of really cool stuff, our interview this time is with Beau Boeckmann of Galpin Autosports. Sebastian and Beau talk in depth about the crazyawesomelywild hybrid F450 that was done up for Pimp My Ride, while Sam got to see the Chevy Volt showing a little leg on a recent tour of the E-Flex design studio. We take some time to discuss the Volt and E-Flex in depth, touching on some of the discoveries that have been made as the platform gets developed, as well as how far along the E-Flex is, which is surprising. We're looking ahead to NAIAS in Detroit in a few weeks, for now, enjoy this installment, clocking in at 43 minutes.

UPDATE: Read the transcript and view a picture of Beau's truck here.

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AutoblogGreen Podcast #16 - Pimp My Ride's Beau Boeckmann originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 24 Dec 2007 10:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sebastian and Sam are back for episode 15 of the AutoblogGreen Podcast. We start with a recap of what Sam got to see at the LA Auto Show - the Honda FCX Clarity, Porsche Cayenne Hybrid, as well as the GM 2-Mode Hybrid trucks. While in LA, Sam got to take a thrilling ride in a Tesla Roadster with Daryl Siry of Tesla where they discuss Tesla's future plans, and the challenges you face when bringing a viable EV to market. Sebastian had the chance to talk with Jonathan Williams about a "tri-brid"fuel-cell mini-bus that also has batteries and ultracapacitors on board. There will be more on this when Sebastian reports from EVS23 next wee. The podcast clocks in at 57 minutes this week, enjoy!

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Autoblog Green Podcast #15 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 30 Nov 2007 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We're back for AutoblogGreen Podcast #14. In this installment, we recap the Santa Monica Alt Car Expo and many of the interesting things we saw at that show. Everything from converted Russian hatchbacks as NEVs to excessively fast electric drag racers. Sam is currently covering the LA Auto Show for us, and in this show we discuss details on the GM hybrid trucks and cars, as well as everything else with a green tint at the show. Finishing up this episode, Sam's also got an interview with Larry Nitz, executive director of hybrid powertrains at GM, part of the team that developed Allison's two-mode hybrid system. Thanks for listening to all 45 minutes, we'll see you again soon!

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Autoblog Green Podcast #14 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autoblog green podcastAutoblogGreen-podcastAutoblogGreenPodcastgeneral motorsGeneralMotorshybridlalos angelesLosAngelespodcastsanta monicaSantaMonicaWed, 14 Nov 2007 15:29:00 ESTAutoblog Green Podcast #14Dan Roth45:28<![CDATA[Autoblog Green Podcast #13 - Santa Monica Alt Car Expo and Tokyo Motor Show previews]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2007/10/16/autoblog-green-podcast-13-santa-monica-alt-car-expo-and-tokyo/http://green.autoblog.com/2007/10/16/autoblog-green-podcast-13-santa-monica-alt-car-expo-and-tokyo/http://green.autoblog.com/2007/10/16/autoblog-green-podcast-13-santa-monica-alt-car-expo-and-tokyo/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It's the lucky 13th episode of the Autoblog Green Podcast, just in time for Halloween. More importantly, just in time for the Santa Monica Alt Car Expo. The Alt Car Expo starts soon, and Sebastian will be there. It's one of the largest green car shows in the world, and admission is even free. There's always lots of really innovative and clever things to see. Last year, a group of folks converted a 1957 Triumph to EV power during the show. We'll be there rubbing elbows with all of the movers and shakers in the green car world. Our interview this week is with the Society for Sustainable Mobility, who will be in Santa Monica, and we talk about the Open Source Green Vehicle Project (check back later today for the transcript of the interview. UPDATE: here it is).

The Tokyo Motor Show is coming up soon, as well, which will be full of alternative fuel vehicles that push design innovation. There's a real alphabet soup of concepts heading to Tokyo, and the vehicles are as strange as their names. Both shows provide us with good podcast chatter for 42 minutes - enjoy!

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Autoblog Green Podcast #13 - Santa Monica Alt Car Expo and Tokyo Motor Show previews originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 16 Oct 2007 11:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Embedded Systems Conference in Boston played host to a buildup of a 100-mpg Prius equipped with a pair of additional battery packs and plug-in facilities. If Toyota won't build a series hybrid to compete with GM's burgeoning E-Flex program, aftermarket innovators will help them along. The retrofitted Prius can drive up to 14 miles in EV mode, and if you keep your boot out of it, the developers say that the 100mpg number is attainable. The car had been previously disassembled, and the retrofit was installed live during the show.

The system design was cooked up by the California Cars Initiative and uses newly designed batteries from Nilar that reduce size, weight, and internal resistance. Nilar's developments result in a battery that's equal in power to the standard Prius battery, but about half the length. The conversion does run into the low tens of thousands, but you can make the math work if you keep the car for ten years, bringing the cost for the additional hardware down to $1,000 per year.

Video trailer posted after the jump

[Source: Automotive Design Line]

Continue reading 100 MPG Plug In Prius on display in Boston

100 MPG Plug In Prius on display in Boston originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 27 Sep 2007 11:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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