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[2011 Ford Fiesta gets another early reveal]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/30/2011-ford-fiesta-gets-another-early-reveal/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/30/2011-ford-fiesta-gets-another-early-reveal/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/30/2011-ford-fiesta-gets-another-early-reveal/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2011 Ford Fiesta Hatchback - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Fiesta Movement, Ford's campaign to introduce the little global Fiesta car to the U.S. market, kicked off at the Chicago Auto Show earlier this year and will end this week during the LA Auto Show with, what else, a party. Oh, and the official unveiling of the 2011 North American version. We got a sneak peek of the Fiesta earlier today that it now seems was incorrect, based on these new pictures found buried on Ford's website.

The U.S.-style three-bar grille is thankfully not present in these official pics, though the hatch and sedan do wear different grilles (we like the hatch's version better, for what it's worth). The rest of the car remains as good-looking as the Euro-spec version ever did, and the interior will be a big draw for this car - along with solid MPG numbers, of course. For those of you who hoped Ford would bring the Fiesta over from Europe pretty much intact, it appears your wishes have been granted. We'll have all the details from LA right soon.




[Source: Ford]

2011 Ford Fiesta gets another early reveal originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 ford fiesta hatchback2011 ford fiesta sedan2011FordFiestaHatchback2011FordFiestaSedanFiestafiesta movementFiestaMovementfordFord Fiestaford fiesta hatchbackford fiesta sedanFordFiestaFordFiestaHatchbackFordFiestaSedanMon, 30 Nov 2009 17:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Ricardo's HyBoost tries to refine ICE to emit 30-40% fewer CO<sub>2</sub> emissions]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/30/ricardos-hyboost-tries-to-refine-ice-to-emit-30-40-fewer-co-su/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/30/ricardos-hyboost-tries-to-refine-ice-to-emit-30-40-fewer-co-su/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/30/ricardos-hyboost-tries-to-refine-ice-to-emit-30-40-fewer-co-su/#commentsFiled under: ,

While the search for alternatives to the internal combustion engine continues at labs across the world, work hasn't stopped on those traditional powerplants. Auto parts supplier Ricardo, for example, had just announced its HyBoost project, which aims to reduce the CO2 emissions of a " cost-effective, ultra-efficient gasoline engine in a C-segment passenger car" by something like 30-40 percent. That's pretty impressive, and will take not only Ricardo's resources but also that of the company's partners: Controlled Power Technologies, the European Advanced Lead Acid Battery Consortium, Ford, Imperial College London, and Valeo. The test vehicle will perform as if it has a 2.0 liter engine underhood but will have CO2 emissions under 100 grams per km. The HyBoost project is scheduled to take two years and will incorporate a lot of the technologies already available, like exhaust gas recovery, stop-start and regenerative braking, among others, in one car. Full details after the jump.

[Source: Ricardo]

Continue reading Ricardo's HyBoost tries to refine ICE to emit 30-40% fewer CO2 emissions

Ricardo's HyBoost tries to refine ICE to emit 30-40% fewer CO2 emissions originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>egrexhaust gasexhaust gas recirculationExhaustGasExhaustGasRecirculationhyboostregenerative brakingRegenerativeBrakingricardoricardo hyboostRicardoHybooststop startStopStartMon, 30 Nov 2009 16:59:00 EST<![CDATA[2010 Prius named WhatGreenCar Car of the Year, Insight and Fusion Hybrid also "commended"]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/30/2010-prius-named-whatgreencar-car-of-the-year-insight-and-fusio/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/30/2010-prius-named-whatgreencar-car-of-the-year-insight-and-fusio/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/30/2010-prius-named-whatgreencar-car-of-the-year-insight-and-fusio/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2010 Prius - click above for high-res image gallery

Last year, the first time WhatGreenCar gave out its Green Car of the Year award for UK vehicles, the Ford Focus EcoNetic won the title. That car managed to get a 33 on a WGC's hundred-point scale (lower is better) for, well, greenness. This year's winner for the U.S. market Car of the Year was the 1.8 liter, 4-cylinder continuously variable transmission 2010 Toyota Prius. The Prius scored a 30 to beat out nine other finalists:

  • Honda Insight hybrid (WhatGreenCar Rating 34)
  • Smart fortwo gasoline (39)
  • Ford Fusion Hybrid (40)
  • Honda Civic CNG (41)
  • Lexus 250h hybrid (42)
  • MINI Cooper gasoline (43)
  • Nissan Altima hybrid (44)
  • Ford Escape (45)
  • Mazda Tribute hybrid (45)

Two other cars near the top of the list, the Ford Fusion hybrid and the Honda Insight, were also "highly commended," so we have to assume the list is based more on specs than driving pleasure. While this award only looked at U.S. vehicles, a quick glance at WhatGreenCar's UK site shows a range of vehicles that scored under 30 points. Does that make the Prius award a sort of consolation prize?

[Source: WhatGreenCar]

Continue reading 2010 Prius named WhatGreenCar Car of the Year, Insight and Fusion Hybrid also "commended"

2010 Prius named WhatGreenCar Car of the Year, Insight and Fusion Hybrid also "commended" originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 prius2010 toyota prius2010Prius2010ToyotaPriuscar of the yearCarOfTheYearcotypriustoyota priusToyotaPriuswhat green carWhatGreenCarMon, 30 Nov 2009 10:57:00 EST<![CDATA[eBay Find of the Day: Messerschmitt KR200]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/30/ebay-find-of-the-day-messerschmitt-kr200/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/30/ebay-find-of-the-day-messerschmitt-kr200/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/30/ebay-find-of-the-day-messerschmitt-kr200/#commentsFiled under: ,



The last time a Messerschmitt KR200 was mentioned in our pages, it was in conjunction with a new minicar book published in 2007. It's not surprising that we don't write about the car that often - it hasn't been produced since the 1960s. But the minicar design, beautiful lines and three wheels show that Smart ForTwos, NMGs and Apteras are just the latest in a long line of vehicles trying to subvert the standard "car" paradigm. If the vehicle pictured above, an olive drab 1956 model, appeals to you as much as it does to us, then check out the current eBay auction, where the bids have climbed to $10,000. According to the seller, this KR200 was restored in Germany in 1984 and has been kept high and dry in a Florida barn for many years. While the car does come with the original Sachs 10hp engine, we imagine an electric motor wouldn't be a bad thing for this car, if there's enough room for the batteries. Thanks to Bip-D-Bo for the tip!

[Source: eBay]

eBay Find of the Day: Messerschmitt KR200 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ebayebay Find of the DayEbayFindOfTheDaykr 200kr200Messerschmittmesserschmitt kr200MesserschmittKr200minicarMon, 30 Nov 2009 09:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Zero-emission sowing: farming goes better than carbon neutral in OZ [w/VIDEO]]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/29/zero-emission-sowing-farming-goes-better-than-carbon-neutral-in/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/29/zero-emission-sowing-farming-goes-better-than-carbon-neutral-in/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/29/zero-emission-sowing-farming-goes-better-than-carbon-neutral-in/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Click above to watch the video after the break

Let's see an i-MiEV do this.

Michael Inwood, a farmer in New South Wales, Australia, has converted a Mitsubishi truck to plant crops using nothing but electric power. It gets better. The car is charged using renewable energy (wind and sun) and the farming method he uses, called Pasture Cropping and No Kill Cropping, doesn't use fertilizers or chemicals. It also returns biomass to the earth, sequestering the carbon trapped within, and is therefore better than carbon neutral. The truck uses 45 lead acid batteries (we think) to generate 200 hp, 150 kW, and 100 nm of torque. Plenty to pull the farm equipment. The truck cost $40,000 AUS to convert, but Inwood thinks that it makes sense for his family wool and grain farm. After all, he says that, "You could arguably say this is the most environmentally friendly vehicle in the world."
Watch a video on the project here and another one after the jump. Thanks to Michael I. for the tip!

[Source: YouTube, AgrowPlow]

Continue reading Zero-emission sowing: farming goes better than carbon neutral in OZ [w/VIDEO]

Zero-emission sowing: farming goes better than carbon neutral in OZ [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 29 Nov 2009 18:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbon neutral farmingcarbon sequestrationcarbon sequestration farmingCarbonNeutralFarmingCarbonSequestrationCarbonSequestrationFarmingSun, 29 Nov 2009 18:17:00 EST<![CDATA[EnerDel gets ready for the smart grid with one-megawatt systems in Oregon]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/29/enerdel-gets-ready-for-the-smart-grid-with-one-megawatt-systems/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/29/enerdel-gets-ready-for-the-smart-grid-with-one-megawatt-systems/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/29/enerdel-gets-ready-for-the-smart-grid-with-one-megawatt-systems/#commentsFiled under:

EnerDel Th!nk City - Click above for high-res image gallery

Indianapolis-based battery maker EnerDel is tied closely to the Th!nk electric car company - which has yet to bring the car to the U.S. market - but they're also looking beyond the next generation of plug-in electric vehicles. EnerDel has announced a new partnership with Smart Grid Leader and the U.S. Department of Energy to use EnerDel batteries in five separate one-megawatt power system out in Portland, Oregon that can supply energy to up to 400 homes for an hour during peak load times. The batteries in the system will use the same core chemistry that is used the EnerDel's batteries "designed for the emerging new generation of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles." This is the second time we're hearing about this PHEV system (first mentioned here), but we still don't know details about which company EnerDel is working with. We like that EnerDel is testing the same chemistry in cars and home power storage, since it's almost a given that the big packs from plug-in cars will be used to stabilize the grid once they've served their vehicular purpose.

Gallery: EDTA 2008: Ener1 Th!nk City


[Source: EnerDel]

Continue reading EnerDel gets ready for the smart grid with one-megawatt systems in Oregon

EnerDel gets ready for the smart grid with one-megawatt systems in Oregon originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ener1Ener1 Incener1 thinkEner1IncEner1Thinkenerdel batteryEnerdelBatteryenerdellSun, 29 Nov 2009 15:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Volvo introduces CO<sub>2</sub>-tracking Commute Greener mobile app]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/29/volvo-introduces-co2-tracking-commute-greener-mobile/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/29/volvo-introduces-co2-tracking-commute-greener-mobile/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/29/volvo-introduces-co2-tracking-commute-greener-mobile/#commentsFiled under: ,


Got a little OCD in you (and, yes, we understand if you think that should be CDO so it's in alphabetical order) and want to track your CO2 emissions while traveling around? Volvo's got you covered with a new mobile phone (i.e., iPhone) app/website called Commute Greener. The idea is that you tell the app or website how far you're going on a particular mode of transportation and it will tell you what your CO2 emissions will be for that trip. By switching the modes, the app recalculates the emissions, letting you figure out the cleanest/best way to get to where you're going. By the sound of it, the app is currently only geared to specific emissions in Volvo's home town: Gothenburg, Sweden, but we assume it's easy enough to apply the results to your own commute and green it up a bit.

[Source: Volvo]

Continue reading Volvo introduces CO2-tracking Commute Greener mobile app

Volvo introduces CO2-tracking Commute Greener mobile app originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>commutecommute greenerCommuteGreenermobile appmobile phonemobile phone appmobile phone appsMobileAppMobilePhoneMobilePhoneAppMobilePhoneAppsvolvoSun, 29 Nov 2009 12:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Speak No Evil: Latest Aptera newsletter stays mum about company turmoil]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/28/speak-no-evil-latest-aptera-newsletter-stays-mum-about-company/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/28/speak-no-evil-latest-aptera-newsletter-stays-mum-about-company/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/28/speak-no-evil-latest-aptera-newsletter-stays-mum-about-company/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Aptera 2e final design rendering - Click above to enlarge

Aptera Motors has been in the news recently because there's been a lot of trouble behind the scenes, with company founder Steve Fambro being let go and the vehicle being pushed back to 2010. The latest company email newsletter is out and it mentions three items:
  1. An Aptera 2e that was on display at the Reliant Football Stadium in Houston, Texas for the Texan/Titans game five days ago.
  2. That the company is resubmitting its application to the DOE, now that three-wheelers can be considered.
  3. Some information on "Aptera's Beach Body" and the evolution of the 2-series composite body.
Can you see what's missing? The official website, too, doesn't mention the trouble. We can understand that the company doesn't want to spend all of its communication bandwidth on problems it is having, but to not acknowledge them in any way gives off a bad feeling. Combine this with what we've heard (but haven't proved) about the Aptera website's RSS news feed being recoded to reduce the number of stories that show up about the troubles, and it's not exactly looking transparent over at there. Here's hoping for a bit more sunlight. Thanks to Richard H. for the tip!

[Source: Aptera]

Speak No Evil: Latest Aptera newsletter stays mum about company turmoil originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apteraaptera 2eaptera motorsAptera2eApteraMotorsSat, 28 Nov 2009 18:09:00 EST<![CDATA[High price for a hybrid: Lexus sets MSRP for LS 600h at $108,800]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/28/high-price-for-a-hybrid-lexus-sets-msrp-for-ls-600h-at-108-800/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/28/high-price-for-a-hybrid-lexus-sets-msrp-for-ls-600h-at-108-800/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/28/high-price-for-a-hybrid-lexus-sets-msrp-for-ls-600h-at-108-800/#commentsFiled under: ,


2010 Lexus LS 600h - Click above for high-res image gallery

Lexus' LS 600h may look modest on the outside, but the 2010 version of the hybrid sedan will set you back a cool $108,000, plus an $875 delivery fee, when it arrives at dealerships soon. The flagship LS line was given a mid-cycle refresh earlier this year and the hybrid version was upgraded with the same ECO mode that boost efficiency and can also be found on the 2010 Prius for a quarter of the price. Read more about the LS 600h's updates here.

In addition, Lexus has announced "MSRP adjustments" to most of its models. The price of the GS 450h went up $900, for example. See the complete list after the jump.


Gallery: 2010 Lexus LS600h

[Source: Lexus]


Continue reading High price for a hybrid: Lexus sets MSRP for LS 600h at $108,800

High price for a hybrid: Lexus sets MSRP for LS 600h at $108,800 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lexuslexus hybridLexus LSlexus ls 600hLexus LS600hLexus LS600h hybridLexusHybridLexusLsLexusLs600hLexusLs600hHybridls 600 hLS 600hLs600hSat, 28 Nov 2009 15:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Something to be thankful for: getting off of gas might reduce road rage]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/something-to-be-thankful-for-getting-off-of-gas-might-reduce-ro/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/something-to-be-thankful-for-getting-off-of-gas-might-reduce-ro/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/something-to-be-thankful-for-getting-off-of-gas-might-reduce-ro/#commentsFiled under: ,



Turns out, getting off of gasoline might save more than parts of the environment. According to a study published in BMC Physiology, rats exposed to unleaded gasoline fumes for 30 minutes a day for six weeks "exhibited an increase in lipid peroxidation and a decrease in AChE and superoxide dismutase activities." What does that mean? The rats got mad and had "a higher tendency towards aggressive behaviour as a consequence to gasoline inhalation." Basically, gasoline vapors can piss us off.

The study was conducted by Amal Kinawy of Cairo University, who says that the results might be applicable to humans help cause road rage. It'll take a long time to eliminate all gas-powered vehicles from the road, but doesn't the fight between hydrogen and pure electric seem slightly less important considering the benefits of reducing gasoline usage in general?

[Source: BMC Physiology via Wired]
Photo by david drexler. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.

Something to be thankful for: getting off of gas might reduce road rage originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amal kinawyAmalKinawygas fumesGasFumesratsroar rageRoarRageWed, 25 Nov 2009 19:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Electric Smart Fortwo gets shot in Berlin]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/electric-smart-fortwo-gets-shot-in-berlin/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/electric-smart-fortwo-gets-shot-in-berlin/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/electric-smart-fortwo-gets-shot-in-berlin/#commentsFiled under: ,

The next-generation Smart Ed, which just started production in France this week, is out and about on the streets of Berlin being filmed for some sort of promotional video, we think. Treehugger spotted the little all-electric city car zipping around the famous Siegessäule (victory column) landmark with a lens pointed at it. Berlin is home to other electric vehicles, including the Mini E and the first-gen Smart Ed.

In other Smart news, the Visionaire 57 plug-in calendar is now available. Designed to promote the Smart Ed, the calendar is limited to 4,000 copies and sells for $295.

[Source: Treehugger]


Continue reading Electric Smart Fortwo gets shot in Berlin

Electric Smart Fortwo gets shot in Berlin originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>smart edsmart electric carsmart electric drivesmart electric vehicleSmartEdSmartElectricCarSmartElectricDriveSmartElectricVehicleWed, 25 Nov 2009 19:05:00 EST<![CDATA[iQ not unusual enough for you? Toyota will decorate it for free]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/iq-not-unusual-enough-for-you-toyota-will-decorate-it-for-free/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/iq-not-unusual-enough-for-you-toyota-will-decorate-it-for-free/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/iq-not-unusual-enough-for-you-toyota-will-decorate-it-for-free/#commentsFiled under: ,

Toyota iQ - Click above to enlarge

There's no doubt that the Toyota iQ gets noticed. The unusual car - like the Smart Fortwo - stands out in traffic while the frugal 1.0-litre VVT-i model emits only 99 grams of CO2 per km. How can you make the city runabout stand out even more? By plastering your company's name all over the sides, of course. For a limited time, business iQ buyers in the UK can take advantage of a new deal from Toyota and Motor Mode UK to cover the door panels plastered in whatever graphics they want. For more coverage (as pictured above), shelling out a bit of cash is required.

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading iQ not unusual enough for you? Toyota will decorate it for free

iQ not unusual enough for you? Toyota will decorate it for free originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iqtoyota iqToyotaIqWed, 25 Nov 2009 18:01:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: Tesla IPO could be more a financing event than a way to cash out]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/report-tesla-ipo-could-be-more-a-financing-event-than-a-way-to/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/report-tesla-ipo-could-be-more-a-financing-event-than-a-way-to/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/report-tesla-ipo-could-be-more-a-financing-event-than-a-way-to/#commentsFiled under: ,


Tesla Roadster - Click above for high-res image gallery

We recently asked if the Tesla IPO is for you, and the results of that poll are about even. Just over half of you (51.4 percent as of this writing) think that investing in the electric car start-up is a good idea. Over at Businessweek, our friend Josie Garthwaite looks at how a Tesla IPO fits into the venture capital and green scenes. If it happens, it'll be the first automaker to go public since Ford did so a half-century ago, and it comes at an interesting time in the markets. The short version is that "public offerings now serve more as "financing events" for alternative energy and other cleantech startups, rather than as a way for investors and founders to cash in on equity." After more than $200 million in financing and $465 million in DOE low-interest loans, raising money from an IPO is a logical step.

To compare, A123's recent IPO had a great opening but then came back down. Garthwaite says that A123's venture capital investors averaged a four-fold return on their money, which isn't at all bad in today's economy, but doesn't come close to the returns of the dot com era (isn't this sort of a good thing, given "irrational exuberance" and all that?).

As for what the Tesla shares might be worth or how many there are, read this, and do some research before investing anything.

[Source: Businessweek]

REPORT: Tesla IPO could be more a financing event than a way to cash out originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>initial public offeringInitialPublicOfferingtesla initial public offeringtesla ipotesla motorsTeslaInitialPublicOfferingTeslaIpoTeslaMotorsWed, 25 Nov 2009 11:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Tesla sets up shop in Monaco]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/tesla-sets-up-shop-in-monaco/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/tesla-sets-up-shop-in-monaco/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/tesla-sets-up-shop-in-monaco/#commentsFiled under: ,



The Tesla Taxi was but one of the all-electric Roadsters on display at the inaugural party at Tesla Motor's latest store opening this week. And blog readers are not the only ones who like to look at the purty cars. In this shot, the orange roadster is being ogled by the Prince of Holland.

This isn't the company's first time visit to Monaco - they chilled with Bono a bit at the Top Marques Monaco last year. While not really in the same league as the $109,000 sports car, electric vehicles from the Nissan-Renault Alliance and Mitsubishi will make their way to the Principality in the near future. Makes sense, since the Prince is a fan of EVs and a statewide recharging network is coming.

UPDATE: More here.

Gallery: Tesla Store Monaco


[Source: Tesla]

Tesla sets up shop in Monaco originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>teslatesla monacotesla motorstesla roadsterTeslaMonacoTeslaMotorsTeslaRoadsterWed, 25 Nov 2009 08:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Consumer Federation of America pushing CAFE to climb to 45 mpg by 2020]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/24/consumer-federation-of-america-pushing-cafe-to-climb-to-45-mpg-b/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/24/consumer-federation-of-america-pushing-cafe-to-climb-to-45-mpg-b/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/24/consumer-federation-of-america-pushing-cafe-to-climb-to-45-mpg-b/#commentsFiled under: , ,

America's CAFE standards will climb to 35.5 mpg (42 mpg for cars, 26 mpg for light trucks) by 2016, thanks to the Obama Administration declaring not long after taking power how conflicting national and state (well, California) standards would be turned into one set or rules. But what comes after 2016? The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) says that 45 mpg is the new black and is pushing Obama to look long-term. CFA also believes that the technology to reach a 45 mpg average is available and just needs to be put to use. CFA's director of research, Mark Cooper, said in a statement that:

There is no question that the EPA should take the lead in developing the next generation of standards for the sake of the consumer and the industry. NHTSA not only has statutory limits that prevent long-term planning, but they have a history of close alignment with the domestic car companies, whose current financial woes stem from a lack of fuel efficient vehicles. If they were not in such bad shape, NHTSA could have set the 2016 standard at more than 38 mpg.

Read the CFA's statement here (PDF). The Administration will decide on it's final rules in April, and we can expect a lot more voices to weigh in before then.

[Source: Automotive News (subs req'd)]

Consumer Federation of America pushing CAFE to climb to 45 mpg by 2020 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cafecafe standardsCafeStandardsConsumer Federation of AmericaConsumerFederationOfAmericaobamaObama AdministrationObamaAdministrationTue, 24 Nov 2009 19:50:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: Sheryl Crow drives Focus BEV on Leno]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/24/video-sheryl-crow-drives-focus-bev-on-leno/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/24/video-sheryl-crow-drives-focus-bev-on-leno/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/24/video-sheryl-crow-drives-focus-bev-on-leno/#commentsFiled under: ,


Sheryl Crow in the Focus BEV - Click above to watch the video after the break

Drew Barrymore's done it. Rush Limbaugh did, too. And now it's Sheryl Crow's turn to help Ford promote its all-electric Focus on the Jay Leno Show. Cruising around the little track set, Crow managed to miss Ed Begley, Jr, but nailed Al Gore (well, their cardboard stand-ins, anyway). And we've got to say, the bright orange Focus EV looks pretty darn good zipping around the curves. But we're pretty sure those streamers that shoot out and attack the car are not exactly good for the environment. Watch it after the jump.

When she's not driving whatever Leno tells her to, the Crow likes her Mercedes BlueTEC SUV.

[Source: Ecorazzi]

Continue reading VIDEO: Sheryl Crow drives Focus BEV on Leno

VIDEO: Sheryl Crow drives Focus BEV on Leno originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>sheryl crowSherylCrowTue, 24 Nov 2009 18:42:00 EST<![CDATA[REORT: Toyota basks in 14,000 pre-orders for new Sai hybrid in Japan]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/24/reort-toyota-basks-in-14-000-pre-orders-for-new-sai-hybrid-in-j/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/24/reort-toyota-basks-in-14-000-pre-orders-for-new-sai-hybrid-in-j/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/24/reort-toyota-basks-in-14-000-pre-orders-for-new-sai-hybrid-in-j/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2010 Toyota Sai - Click above for high-res image gallery

When Toyota unveiled its new Japan-only hybrid model, the Sai, last month, it said it wanted to sell 36,000 of them each year, or 3,000 a month. The Sai, sort of a little cousin to the Lexus HS250h, costs about $37,000, but that relatively high price is apparently just right for 14,000 people. That's how many pre-orders Toyota says it has for the new hybrid, which goes on sale December 7. Maybe the $3,000+ in tax incentives had something to do with it. We don't expect sales each month will be quite that high, but Toyota must be celebrating this bit of good news (or congratulating themselves on keeping expectations low).

Apparently, the roughly $6,000 difference between the Sai and the Lexus was convincing to people it's a solid deal for what's almost the same car. The Sai is a step up from the Prius (the Sai is bigger and has a more powerful engine), especially in price: the Prius starts at around $22,000. The Sai is rated at around 54 mpg (U.S.) on the optimistic Japanese cycle.



[Source: Reuters]
Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

REORT: Toyota basks in 14,000 pre-orders for new Sai hybrid in Japan originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>japan hybridJapanHybridsaisai hybridSaiHybridtoyota saitoyota sai hybridToyotaSaiToyotaSaiHybridTue, 24 Nov 2009 17:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Quick Spin: Nissan Leaf the tip of mass market EV spear]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/24/quick-spin-nissan-leaf-the-tip-of-mass-market-ev-spear/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/24/quick-spin-nissan-leaf-the-tip-of-mass-market-ev-spear/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/24/quick-spin-nissan-leaf-the-tip-of-mass-market-ev-spear/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Nissan Leaf - Click above for high-res image gallery

Nissan has gone into a back room, pulled out its Ouija board and decided that the time is right to make a huge bet. The Japanese automaker, along with its partner Renault, wants to be the world leader in pure electric vehicles. Even though you can go buy an Altima hybrid right now, the company didn't develop its own gas-electric technology (the sedan uses Toyota tech). This time around, Nissan believes the future belongs to vehicles without an internal combustion engine (ICE) and is preparing to put its own foot forward. It's way too early to know for sure, but Nissan's gamble could pay off handsomely. Toyota leads the hybrid race, General Motors and others are adding plugs to vehicles with liquid-fueled engines, but no major automaker has claimed the pure EV pole position. If everything goes right, Nissan will be that automaker.

The flagship vehicle for the automaker is, of course, the Leaf EV hatchback, which was unveiled in August and recently made its North American debut in Los Angeles. We were on hand to take a Leaf mule out for a short (very short) spin and heard directly from Nissan how this unique-looking EV will secure Nissan's place in the auto industry as tremendous changes take place in the coming years. Follow us after the jump to learn about Nissan's wager and find out if the Leaf has got the potential to (silently) propel the company to the top.



Photos copyright (C)2009 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Quick Spin: Nissan Leaf the tip of mass market EV spear

Quick Spin: Nissan Leaf the tip of mass market EV spear originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battery electric vehicleBatteryElectricVehiclebevelectric vehicleElectricVehicleevfeaturedleafnissannissan leafNissanLeafquick spinQuickSpinTue, 24 Nov 2009 14:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Nissan starts first hydrogen X-Trail FCV lease in U.S. with Coke]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/24/nissan-starts-first-hydrogen-x-trail-fcv-lease-in-u-s-with-coke/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/24/nissan-starts-first-hydrogen-x-trail-fcv-lease-in-u-s-with-coke/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/24/nissan-starts-first-hydrogen-x-trail-fcv-lease-in-u-s-with-coke/#commentsFiled under: ,


Nissan FCV - Click above for high-res image gallery

Just as it offers a variety of beverage flavors, the Coca-Cola company dabbles in many gasoline alternatives for its truck fleet, from flex-fuel to hybrids. Today, the Sacramento Coca-Cola Bottling Company started leasing a Nissan X-Trail hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, the first such lease in North America. The company will lease the vehicle for one year, but has the option to extend that for another two years. Sacramento is one of the locations targeted by the California Fuel Cell Partnership for early H2 refueling infrastructure and already has three stations in the vicinity (it's also the home of the CaFCP). Coke will use the FCV for sales calls and public events to promote Coke Zero (zero - get it?). Read our first drive take on the X-Trail FCV here.

Gallery: Nissan X-Trail FCV


[Source: Nissan North America]

Continue reading Nissan starts first hydrogen X-Trail FCV lease in U.S. with Coke

Nissan starts first hydrogen X-Trail FCV lease in U.S. with Coke originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>coca colacoca cola nissanCocaColaCocaColaNissanfcvFuel Cellfuel cell cokefuel cell vehicleFuelCellFuelCellCokeFuelCellVehiclenissan fcvnissan fuel cellNissanFcvNissanFuelCellTue, 24 Nov 2009 14:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Volt battery life affected by hot weather, but 10 years means 10 years]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/24/volt-battery-life-affected-by-hot-weather-but-10-years-means-10/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/24/volt-battery-life-affected-by-hot-weather-but-10-years-means-10/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/24/volt-battery-life-affected-by-hot-weather-but-10-years-means-10/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Chevy Volt - click above for high-res image gallery

During an information-heavy battery and technology update on the Chevy Volt's progress recently, GM said the following about the 16 kWh battery pack in the plug-in car:
"The biggest challenge in testing is hot-weather storage of the vehicle. Currently, ten years of battery life is the norm, but some people could get more battery life depending on the climate where they live and their driving conditions.
We understand that outside temperatures can have a big impact on how a battery operates and will affect the Volt as well, but the good news for Volt fans is that Green Car Advisor got it wrong. They said that hot weather Volt owners will get less than ten years of life from the pack, saying Volts in "many parts of the western and southern U.S." would not get "the normal 10-year life of the battery." Not true, says GM, which is confident that everyone will get 10 years from the pack. GM's hybrid and battery technology communication spokesman Brian Corbett told AutoblogGreen that, "in more moderate areas of the country, battery performance could last beyond 10 years. 10 years is our minimum target life for everybody."

[Source: GM via Green Car Advisor]

Volt battery life affected by hot weather, but 10 years means 10 years originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chevy voltchevy volt batterychevy volt productionChevyVoltChevyVoltBatteryChevyVoltProductionvoltvolt batteryVoltBatteryTue, 24 Nov 2009 13:04:00 EST