AutoblogGreen http://green.autoblog.com AutoblogGreen http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif AutoblogGreen http://green.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid and Dan RothThe podcast by the people who obsessively cover the auto industry.<![CDATA[Memorial Day weekend gas tab likely to hit $1.44 billion in US]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/24/memorial-day-weekend-gas-tab-likely-to-hit-1-44-billion-in-us/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/24/memorial-day-weekend-gas-tab-likely-to-hit-1-44-billion-in-us/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/24/memorial-day-weekend-gas-tab-likely-to-hit-1-44-billion-in-us/#commentsFiled under: , ,

gas station in the fog

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

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

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

Check out the UCS press release below.

Continue reading Memorial Day weekend gas tab likely to hit $1.44 billion in US

Memorial Day weekend gas tab likely to hit $1.44 billion in US originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 24 May 2013 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gas pricesholidaymemorial daympgucsunion of concerned scientistsFri, 24 May 2013 19:57:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20583030/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20583030/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/24/memorial-day-weekend-gas-tab-likely-to-hit-1-44-billion-in-us/20583030/article-detail.xml 20583030 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/gas-station-fog_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/gas-station-fog.jpg <![CDATA[2014 Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid manages 53.45 mpg in real-world tests]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/24/2014-porsche-panamera-s-e-hybrid-manages-53-45-mpg-in-real-world/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/24/2014-porsche-panamera-s-e-hybrid-manages-53-45-mpg-in-real-world/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/24/2014-porsche-panamera-s-e-hybrid-manages-53-45-mpg-in-real-world/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid

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

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

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

Continue reading 2014 Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid manages 53.45 mpg in real-world tests

2014 Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid manages 53.45 mpg in real-world tests originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 24 May 2013 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>nedcporscheporsche panamera s e-hybridporsche plug-in hybridFri, 24 May 2013 10:40:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20582894/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20582894/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/24/2014-porsche-panamera-s-e-hybrid-manages-53-45-mpg-in-real-world/20582894/article-detail.xml 20582894 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/porsche-panamera-s-e-hybrid-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/porsche-panamera-s-e-hybrid-628.jpg <![CDATA[Ford hit with another lawsuit over C-Max, Fusion Hybrid mpg claims]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/17/ford-hit-with-another-mpg-lawsuit-claim/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/17/ford-hit-with-another-mpg-lawsuit-claim/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/17/ford-hit-with-another-mpg-lawsuit-claim/#commentsFiled under: , ,

ford c-max

Ford is waiting to see if it will be facing several class action lawsuits over its mileage ratings - three of which were filed in late April. Suits filed in federal courthouses in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and California claim Ford is overstating the average mileage ratings for its 2013 Ford C-Max and Fusion Hybrids.

Marianne Cibeu, a Massachusetts resident, filed for a federal class action lawsuit claiming she's only getting 32 miles per gallon in her Ford C-Max hybrid despite the EPA/Ford rating of 47 mpg. As you can see in the complaint filed in a US District Court, the suit is asking for $5 million in damages for Cibeu and all Massachusetts buyers of 2013 C-Max and Fusion hybrids.

"Plaintiffs purchased a Fusion Hybrid or C-Max Hybrid, only to be stuck with under-performing, less valuable vehicles that inflict higher fuel costs on their owners."

In California, two law firms combined their cases against Ford for making "false and misleading" claims. When we first reported on the case, back in December, there were reportedly hundreds of C-Max and Fusion Hybrid owners who'd joining the lawsuit. Not much later, Consumer Reports conducted extensive tests for both hybrids and found their performance to be significantly worse than the US Environmental Protection Agency mileage ratings. A similar case has been filed in US District Court in Philadelphia. "Plaintiffs are some of the tens of thousands of consumers who purchased a Fusion Hybrid or C-Max Hybrid, only to be stuck with under-performing, less valuable vehicles that inflict higher fuel costs on their owners," according to the complaint.

So far, the wave of lawsuits hasn't hurt sales of the C-Max or Fusion Hybrid, though it's still early in the legal battle. The EPA, which determines (sort of) the mileage numbers Ford and other automakers put on window stickers, says that it's confident the ratings of both Ford vehicles are sound but will review them. Both Ford and the EPA have emphasized real-world mileage results are completely dependent on how the driver operates the vehicle. That hasn't gone over well with people filing class action lawsuits.

Ford hit with another lawsuit over C-Max, Fusion Hybrid mpg claims originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 17 May 2013 17:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>47 mpgc-maxclass actionfordfusion hybridlawsuitmileagempgFri, 17 May 2013 17:47:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20574111/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20574111/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/17/ford-hit-with-another-mpg-lawsuit-claim/20574111/article-detail.xml 20574111 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/2013-ford-c-max-hybrid_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/2013-ford-c-max-hybrid.jpg <![CDATA[A family's 10-year history with a 2003 first-gen Toyota Prius]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/17/familys-10-year-history-with-2003-first-gen-toyota-prius/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/17/familys-10-year-history-with-2003-first-gen-toyota-prius/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/17/familys-10-year-history-with-2003-first-gen-toyota-prius/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



The Toyota Prius has put in its time as the benchmark for hybrids and fuel efficient vehicles on American roads. For Scott Burns, it's put in time as a family car as well, and one he's been incredibly happy with.

Burns, writing in the Houston Chronicle, says owning a 2003 first-generation Toyota Prius for the past 10 years has been smooth. (The larger, iconic second-edition Prius was launched as a 2004 model a few months after he purchased his). He calls it "a practical companion," and notes that even after 115,000 miles on the odometer, the metallic green Prius will live on with his 16 year-old granddaughter.

The Prius has only needed one expensive repair. It's been trouble-free over the years and has handled whatever road conditions it's been subjected to. While naysayers have voiced worries about the life of the Prius battery, the pack is still going strong. He's met several other Prius owners who've never replaced the battery and put a lot more miles on it.

While the second- and third-generation Priuses are known for getting 45-to-50 miles per gallon, his car averaged about 43 mpg. He estimates saving about 1,000 gallons of gasoline in the Prius compared to a comparable size non-hybrid, saving about $3,300 in the past decade.

Ten years later, Burns notes there are a lot of appealing hybrids on the market today, such as the Ford C-Max, which is larger and more fun to drive than a Prius. There's also a lot of high-mileage, cheaper small cars out there - which have become the Prius' strongest competitor. The Burns family is buying a new Honda Fit Sport model. It may not get 40-plus mpg, but at $20,000 it costs about $10,000 less than most hybrids - and he figures that will buy a lot of gasoline. Read his whole article here.

A family's 10-year history with a 2003 first-gen Toyota Prius originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 17 May 2013 13:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>first-gen priushybridmpgsmall cartoyota priusFri, 17 May 2013 13:53:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20572714/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20572714/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/17/familys-10-year-history-with-2003-first-gen-toyota-prius/20572714/article-detail.xml 20572714 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/first-generation-prius_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/first-generation-prius.jpg <![CDATA[2013 Nissan Leaf officially rated at 115 MPGe, with 75 miles* of range]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/2013-nissan-leaf-officially-rated-at-115-mpge-75-mile-range/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/2013-nissan-leaf-officially-rated-at-115-mpge-75-mile-range/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/2013-nissan-leaf-officially-rated-at-115-mpge-75-mile-range/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Nissan Leaf

The news keeps getting better for Nissan and its efforts to boost sales of its all-electric Leaf: the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ahs confirmed that the EV's range is about 15 percent better than it used to be.

The EPA finalized its 2013 Leaf numbers, confirming a miles per gallon-equivalent rating of 115, up from 99 MPGe. And while the single-charge range distance is only up two miles - to 75 - it's apples to oranges because the current number stems from about a 90 percent charge whereas the old number is from a full charge (details here). The new Leaf also gets 129 city mpge and 102 mpge on the highway.

Nissan estimated the EPA numbers back in February, but the confirmation is the latest bit of good news for the Leaf, whose sales through the first four months of the year more than doubled from a year earlier to 5,476 units. Additionally, the Leaf was given the top safety rating by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) earlier this month.

2013 Nissan Leaf officially rated at 115 MPGe, with 75 miles* of range originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 15 May 2013 19:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volvo has started production of four-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines for its new Volvo Engine Architecture (VEA) lineup. They're variants of Volvo's current models and are optimized to deliver higher performance than the current lineup of Volvo six-cylinder models, with less fuel consumption.

The VEA variants have been under preparation for about two years at Volvo's engine plant in Skövde, Sweden. The company has invested heavily in the plant's overhaul - about two billion kronor, or close to $300 million US. All of the engines are being built on the same line, which makes overall production more efficient. The Volvo press release (available below) says that the in-house operation is a vital part of the automaker's strategy for independence.

The VEA is replacing eight engine architectures on three different platforms, with the first new engines being introduced this year and continuing through 2015. Nearly 20,000 engines are scheduled to be produced in 2013, with a target rate of 2,000 units per week by the end of the year. By the fall of 2013, Volvo expects to have fitted the new engines to the Volvo S60, V60, XC60, V70, XC70 and S80 models.

Like the electrification of a few Volvo models, the objective of the new four-cylinder variants is to offer good energy economy, low environmental impact and immense driving pleasure at an attractive price, Derek Crabb, Volvo's vice president powertrain engineering said.

Continue reading Volvo's new four-cylinder engines offer more performace, better fuel efficiency

Volvo's new four-cylinder engines offer more performace, better fuel efficiency originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 15 May 2013 17:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>four cylinder enginesfuel efficiencyvariantsvolvoWed, 15 May 2013 17:47:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20567588/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20567588/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/15/volvo-new-four-cylinder-engines-offer-better-mpg/20567588/article-detail.xml 20567588 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/volvo-v70_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/volvo-v70.jpg <![CDATA[Elio moves to make $6,800, 84-mpg three-wheeler more real]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/10/elio-moves-to-make-6-800-84-mpg-three-wheeler-more-real/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/10/elio-moves-to-make-6-800-84-mpg-three-wheeler-more-real/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/10/elio-moves-to-make-6-800-84-mpg-three-wheeler-more-real/#commentsFiled under: ,

elio motors three-wheeler

Tell a hip-hop fan you've got a vehicle with three-wheel motion and they'll think of low-riders, '64 Impalas and hydraulics. Michigan-based Elio Motors has another idea, and the Detroit News says it's a few beats closer to reality.

Elio, which a few months ago made news when it agreed to buy an old General Motors plant in Shreveport, LA, has just announced 20 key suppliers - groups like IAV, Altair Engineering and Comau - for its upcoming three-wheeled vehicle. Elio is sticking with its previous estimate of starting production on the vehicle by next summer with the help of about 1,500 workers at the Louisiana factory. The company says the vehicle will have a $6,800 base price, get 84 miles per gallon, come with an eight-gallon gas tank and will be able to go from 0-60 miles per hour in less than 10 seconds. Pulled by the two front wheels, of course. Power will be supplied by a 1.0-liter, three-cylinder engine that delivers 70 horsepower.

Earlier this year, the company started taking $100 reservations on the car, which will come with a three-year, 36,000 mile warranty. Elio also said it expects the vehicle to receive five-star crash ratings.

Elio moves to make $6,800, 84-mpg three-wheeler more real originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 10 May 2013 14:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Americans are moving past the days of screaming eagles and big pick-ups. That's what the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) says, and it has the survey results to prove it.

The CFA's 30-page "progress report" (PDF) indicates that folks are ready to embrace fuel-economy standards that will force automakers to reach a Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) level of 54.5 miles per gallon (that's about 40 mpg in real-world terms). In short, about 60 percent of those surveyed called fuel economy a "very important" factor in their next vehicle purchase and are actually looking for a fuel economy boost of about 30 percent with their next set of wheels. Check out the CFA's press release below.

Vehicle popularity has moved roughly in tandem with fuel economy and gas prices since 2009. As one broad example, four-cylinder vehicles account for about half of new car sales today, up from less than a third in 2005. For another, last year, advanced power train and diesel vehicles jumped 63 percent to about 540,000 vehicles while plug-in vehicle sales almost tripled to almost 50,000 units. In May, 2009, average gas price in the US was $2.44. Today, it is $3.52.

Continue reading Consumer Federation says Americans ready for stricter fuel economy standards

Consumer Federation says Americans ready for stricter fuel economy standards originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 07 May 2013 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Demand for the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid is strong enough that Ford will change the production mix from 20 percent to 30 percent hybrids for the 2014 model year.

It's part of an overall MKZs comeback, which saw sales increase in April sales now that the car is no longer quite as slow to roll of the line. MKZ sales more than doubled last month, hitting the 4,000 units sold mark for the first time and setting an all-time monthly sales record for the Lincoln brand.

Ford is targeting younger customers for the MKZ. The MKZ is doing especially well in the coastal areas. Los Angeles is the fastest growth market where retail sales more than tripled, lead by the MKZ hybrid, said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president of US marketing, sales and service. In LA, the hybrid made up about 60 percent of MKZ retail sales.

With the exception of the Lincoln Navigator, the other members of the Lincoln family had a very poor sales month. The MKS plummeted 44 percent, the MKX dipped eight percent and the MKT dropped 31 percent.

The Ford brand did much better in April, with the F-Series pickup, Fusion sedan and Escape crossover each seeing impressive gains - and the Ford models sell much higher unit volumes than Lincolns do. The Taurus sedan, Flex crossover and Transit Connect were the only Ford models that dropped in sales during the month.

Back in October of last year, the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid was given a combined 45 miles per gallon rating. At that time, it was behind the Ford Fusion Hybrid's 47 mpg estimate. These days, that 45 mpg rating for the MKZ Hybrid is looking pretty darn good.

Ford increasing Lincoln MKX Hybrid production mix to 30% originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 07 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ford hybridhybridhybrid saleslincoln mkz hybridTue, 07 May 2013 08:00:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20557066/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20557066/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/07/ford-increasing-lincoln-mkx-hybrid-production-mix-to-30/20557066/article-detail.xml 20557066 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/lincoln-mkz-hybrid_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/lincoln-mkz-hybrid.jpg <![CDATA[April 2013: Prius sales slow, competition grows edition]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/03/april-2013-green-car-sales/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/03/april-2013-green-car-sales/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/03/april-2013-green-car-sales/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

April's alt-fuel sales rose 6.5% from a year earlier

Year-over-year advanced-powertrain sales numbers in the US continued to slow last month as Japanese automakers like Toyota and Honda failed to hit the demand levels seen in 2012.

A surge in Nissan Leaf sales, which helped push plug-in sales up 41 percent from a year earlier, and demand for newer Ford hybrids helped offset the effect of falling Prius sales. Still, advanced-powertrain sales rose just 6.5 percent to 52,671 units in April. Through the first four months of the year, Americans bought just over 200,000 advanced-powertrain vehicles, up 14 percent from a year earlier.

Sales of the Toyota Prius, still the world's best-selling hybrid, continued to plateau.

Sales of the Toyota Prius, still the world's best-selling hybrid, continued to plateau in popularity, as all four of its variants had declining year-over-year sales. Combined, the Prius models moved 19,889 units, down 21 percent from April 2012. The Prius Plug-in Hybrid was hit particularly hard, with sales plunging 64 percent from a year earlier to 599 vehicles. While Lexus hybrid sales climbed 27 percent from a year earlier and the newer Avalon Hybrid moved 1,423 units, Camry Hybrid sales fell 26 percent to 3,257 vehicles. As a whole, Toyota Motor Company sold 28,279 vehicles in April 2013, down 13 percent from the same month in 2012.

On the flipside, Ford's newer C-Max variants and its re-launched Fusion Hybrid helped surge sales for the US automaker. The C-Max Hybrid and C-Max Energi Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) sold 3,197 and 411 units, respectively, while Fusion Hybrid sales more than quadrupled from a year earlier to 3,625 vehicles. The Fusion Energi PHEV sold 364 units, while the Lincoln MKZ hybrid more than doubled year-earlier sales to 884 units. In all, Ford boosted alt-fuel sales more than sixfold to 8,628 vehicles.

Nissan also did well, with last month's sales of 1,937 Leaf battery-electric vehicles representing the second-best ever (to March's 2,236) and almost quadrupling year-earlier figures.

Still, things were pretty tepid for the rest of the automakers. General Motors' advanced-powertrain sales last month fell 10 percent from a year earlier to 4,051 vehicles. Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in sales declined 11 percent to 1,306 units, while sales of the Buick LaCrosse mild hybrid and GM's hybrid SUVs and pickups were down 43 percent and 23 percent, respectively.

Honda Insight sales plunged 47 percent.

Honda continued to lag year-earlier numbers, with advanced powertrain sales dropping 13 percent from April 2012 to 1,596 vehicles. While the recently introduced Accord PHEV and Acura ILX Hybrid moved 55 and 1,523 units, respectively, sales of the Civic Hybrid and CR-Z each fell more than 20 percent from a year earlier, while Insight sales plunged 47 percent.

As for the Germans, Volkswagen diesel sales dropped 8.7 percent to 7,301 units, while Europe's biggest automaker sold 353 Jetta Hybrids. Audi diesel sales declined 46 percent to just 348 vehicles. Porsche hybrid sales dropped 61 percent from a year earlier to just 51 vehicles.

Finally, Mitsubishi sales of its i EV jumped 61 percent from a year earlier. That sounds high, but it's just 127 vehicles despite aggressive discounts on the all-electric model.

April 2013: Prius sales slow, competition grows edition originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 03 May 2013 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aprilelectric vehicleev saleshybridhybrid salesplug-in hybridpriussalestoyotaFri, 03 May 2013 11:56:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20557010/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20557010/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/03/april-2013-green-car-sales/20557010/article-detail.xml 20557010 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/monthlygraphic_thumbnail.png http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/monthlygraphic.png <![CDATA[Ford owners sue over MPG claims, 'under-performing' hybrids]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/26/ford-owners-sue-mpg-hybrids/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/26/ford-owners-sue-mpg-hybrids/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/26/ford-owners-sue-mpg-hybrids/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ford C-Max Hybrid

A group of Ford hybrid owners in Pennsylvania aren't feeling too fraternal with the Blue Oval, suing the automaker for allegedly overstating fuel-economy figures, Bloomberg News reports.

The claim, which was filed in a Philadelphia court, seeks at least $5 million in damages and calls the Fusion Hybrid and C-Max Hybrid models "under-performing, less valuable vehicles that inflict higher fuel costs on their owners." A Ford spokesman emailed a statement to Bloomberg that states the ratings are in accordance with protocols set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

A similar claim was filed in California late last year, and two California law firms involved there have, more recently, combined claims. That followed a Consumer Reports study that found that the Fusion and C-Max Hybrids, both of which are rated at 47 miles per gallon combined, got about 39 mpg and 37 mpg, respectively, in the real world.

Ford isn't the only automaker with a fuel economy issue. Last year, Hyundai and its Kia affiliate ran into a similar issue with drivers alleging overstated fuel-economy figures. Earlier this year, the automakers agreed to set aside about $412 million to refund drivers claiming they've been overpaying for refueling costs.

Ford owners sue over MPG claims, 'under-performing' hybrids originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fordford c-max hybridford fusion hybridhybridlawsuitlegalpennsylvaniaFri, 26 Apr 2013 09:26:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20548742/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20548742/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/26/ford-owners-sue-mpg-hybrids/20548742/article-detail.xml 20548742 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/fordcmaxhybrid_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/fordcmaxhybrid.jpg <![CDATA[More automakers will use turbochargers to meet CAFE standards]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/25/more-automakers-will-use-turbochargers-to-meet-cafe-standards/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/25/more-automakers-will-use-turbochargers-to-meet-cafe-standards/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/25/more-automakers-will-use-turbochargers-to-meet-cafe-standards/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Hyundai Veloster Turbo

Plug-ins may be getting a lot of the attention from folks looking to cut emissions, but no one is forgetting the good old-fashioned turbocharger. In the end, turbos might even have a far larger impact.

Decidedly non-electrification-related features such as turbochargers, eight-speed transmissions and low rolling-resistance tires will be included on most US vehicles in 2025, the year automakers will have to meet the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard of 54.5 miles per gallon (which is closer to a "real world" 40 mpg), Wards Auto says, citing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials.

Automakers will be able to wring out 33 percent more "effective pressure" from turbochargers than they do today, with some companies boosting pressure by as much as 50 percent. That means that for every Nissan Leaf battery-electric or Toyota Prius Plug-ins, there will likely be many cars like the Hyundai Veloster Turbo (pictured) that will get better mileage thanks to a turbocharger. Even rigs like the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado may include four-cylinder engines thanks to improvements in turbocharging power.

Either way, the typical 2025 model will have about $1,800 more in fuel-saving technology than 2016 models, though the higher costs will likely be paid back in under four years, according to the EPA.

More automakers will use turbochargers to meet CAFE standards originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cafecorporate average fuel economyenvironmental protection agencyepamiles per gallonmpgturboturbochargerThu, 25 Apr 2013 11:55:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20547755/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20547755/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/25/more-automakers-will-use-turbochargers-to-meet-cafe-standards/20547755/article-detail.xml 20547755 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/hyundaiturbo_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/hyundaiturbo.jpg <![CDATA[SAE Congress: Evolve Hybrid Wheels give Ford Focus SE a 1.1 mpg boost]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/19/sae-congress-evolve-hybrid-wheels-give-ford-focus-se-a-1-1-mpg/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/19/sae-congress-evolve-hybrid-wheels-give-ford-focus-se-a-1-1-mpg/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/19/sae-congress-evolve-hybrid-wheels-give-ford-focus-se-a-1-1-mpg/#commentsFiled under: , ,



As fuel economy regulations tighten all around the world, each part of the automobile is getting a second (and third and fourth ...) look to see if there is any way to squeeze out a few more yards per gallon. At the SAE World Congress in Detroit this week, Lacks Enterprises was showing off its contribution to the get-every-efficiency debate: Evolve Hybrid Wheels.

James Ardern, Lacks Wheel Trim Systems director of business development, told AutoblogGreen that wheels, which spin at 1,000 rpm, are pretty much four propellers that can have a big effect on aerodynamics, an effect that hasn't been measured nearly as much as it could be.

"We have learned that wheels are contributing significantly to the fuel economy of a vehicle."

"We have learned that wheels are contributing significantly to the fuel economy of a vehicle," he said. The things right next to the wheels, the tires get tested. Consumer Reports, for example, has shown that better, more efficient tires can raise a vehicles mpg rating by one or two ticks, and Lacks has test results that show that the wheels - at least the Evolve wheels - can do the same.

The Evolve Hybrid Wheels are not to be only used on hybrids. The name comes from the hybrid composite wheel technology that is applied to a structural aluminum backbone that is both lightweight and strong. Then, the designers can add a variety of shapes to blend aerodynamic efficiency with good looks (eye of the beholder and all). Lacks had Roush conduct some independent tests, and discovered that a Ford Focus SE outfitted with the Evolve wheels got a 0.4 mile per gallon improvement in the average city fuel economy and a 1.1 mpg highway improvement, compared to the car's stock wheels.

The idea is to co-develop efficient wheels with the automakers, and Ardern said Lacks is currently in discussions with three different OEMs and, "We do have one Evolve wheel already launching on an OEM capacity towards the end of this year," but he would not name which company. First truck testing will be tested by June and a second in August/September, and the same type of test will be run. An expanded set of tests will be done on the Focus this summer as well. There are no plans to test the wheels on an alternative power vehicle, but Ardern did say the program "will keep expanding."

"Why hasn't this happened before? One, it hasn't been measured. Two, it is difficult to do it. It is not an exaggeration to say wheel development includes many towers of competency: wheel suppliers themselves from a manufacturing point of view, wheel engineering from a structural and safety point of view, not also weight teams and fuel economy and ride and handling teams are getting involved. But then you've still got design and now aero. The problem is, you put all of those people in the same room at the same time and you'll never optimize a wheel. The value of our product is you create the backbone and that cuts our all groups but the design and aero teams. Perhaps the key thing that's going to come out of all this is that the method is going to enable it to get out onto the road."

SAE Congress: Evolve Hybrid Wheels give Ford Focus SE a 1.1 mpg boost originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aerodynamicsevolveevolve hybrid wheeljames ardernlacksmpgsae world congresswheelsFri, 19 Apr 2013 14:06:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20543910/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20543910/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/19/sae-congress-evolve-hybrid-wheels-give-ford-focus-se-a-1-1-mpg/20543910/article-detail.xml 20543910 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/sae-world-congress-evolve-wheels-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/sae-world-congress-evolve-wheels-628.jpg <![CDATA[With 23.7 mpg, March sets third-straight month of record-high fleetwide fuel economy]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/15/23-7-mpg-march-record-high-fuel-economy/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/15/23-7-mpg-march-record-high-fuel-economy/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/15/23-7-mpg-march-record-high-fuel-economy/#commentsFiled under: ,

Nissan Leaf

As the Beatles succinctly put it: "It's getting better all the time." That's how we can characterize US new-vehicle fleetwide fuel economy, which last month marked the third straight in which US new vehicles set an all-time record for fuel economy.

In March, new light-duty vehicle sales averaged 23.7 miles per gallon, up from 23.4 mpg a year earlier, automotive researcher TrueCar reports. Cars averaged an even 27 mpg while trucks achieved a 20.2 mpg average.

Midsize cars made the greatest strides, boosting their average fuel economy to 27.7 mpg from 26.3 mpg a year earlier. Meanwhile, Hyundai and its Kia affiliate topped all major automakers with a 27.3 mpg average, while Nissan had the largest single-year jump, with a 1.4-mpg increase to 25.3 mpg.

While March 2013 advanced-powertrain sales were relatively even with 2012 figures, plug-in sales were up 49 percent from a year earlier, largely on monthly record sales of the Nissan Leaf battery-electric.

Last month, the US Environmental Protection Agency said fleetwide fuel economy went up a 1.4 miles per gallon, a single-year record, to an all-time high of 23.8 mpg. All in all, fuel economy is up 16 percent during the past five years. The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) also called 2012 a record-high year for fleetwide fuel economy. Check out TrueCar's press release below.

Continue reading With 23.7 mpg, March sets third-straight month of record-high fleetwide fuel economy

With 23.7 mpg, March sets third-straight month of record-high fleetwide fuel economy originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fuel economymiles per gallonmpgtruecarumtriMon, 15 Apr 2013 15:56:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20539427/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20539427/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/15/23-7-mpg-march-record-high-fuel-economy/20539427/article-detail.xml 20539427 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/leaf_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/leaf.jpg <![CDATA[Shell Eco-marathon]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/12/shell-eco-marathon/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/12/shell-eco-marathon/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/12/shell-eco-marathon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

An Oil Company Spends Big To Teach Students To Use Less

shell eco-marathon mater dei

The Shell Eco-marathon Americas 2013 is over, the winners declared. Thousands of excited students came to Houston last weekend with 140 cars and the winning team managed to get upwards of 3,580 miles per gallon. Now that the cars have been packed up and shipped back to schools throughout the hemisphere, from Alaska to Brazil, we can look back and discuss some of the bigger issues that the three frenzied, fuel-efficient competition days - and the months of hard work leading up to the event - raise.

Before leaving Houston, we got to sit down with representatives from Shell, which spends an undisclosed amount of money to put on these Eco-marathons around the world. It's a huge undertaking, and one that has lots of positive angles and some particularly thorny ones. But first, a short history.

The story goes that the first Eco-marathon started as a bet between two Shell engineers. The year was 1939 and the winner managed to hit 49.39 mpg.

The story goes that the first Eco-marathon was started as a bet between two Shell engineers to see who could go further on a gallon of fuel. The year was 1939 and the winner managed to hit 49.39 miles per gallon in a 1933 Plymouth. They had so much fun they did it again and, by 1949, the winner was getting 150.53 mpg. The numbers kept going up from there. 1968: 244.62 mpg. 1973: 392.02 mpg. And so on. The event was known as the Shell Mileage Marathon, but in 1985, a name change signified the start of the event in its current form. That year, students from 20 European countries in 25 teams competed in the first Eco-marathon in France, and the winners managed to get 1599.45 mpg. The 1997 event was canceled because of heavy rain and in 2006 the first solar cars ran the race. In 2007, the event was held in the US for the first time, in Fontana, CA, and Asia joined the party in 2010. Today, across the three events, over 400 teams participate each year. Next year, a fourth location will draw teams from the Middle East and Africa. The current record is 8,914 mpg, set by a French team in 2003.

Continue reading Shell Eco-marathon

Shell Eco-marathon originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 14:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>collegeelectric vehiclegasolinehigh schoolhoustonhydrogenhypermilingmater deimpgshellshell eco marathontexasFri, 12 Apr 2013 14:54:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20534478/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20534478/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/12/shell-eco-marathon/20534478/article-detail.xml 20534478 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/shell-eco-marathon-mater-dei-628-1365471129_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/shell-eco-marathon-mater-dei-628-1365471129.jpg <![CDATA[Mobilis Trading proposes CAFE credit auctions]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/11/mobilis-trading-proposes-cafe-credit-auctions/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/11/mobilis-trading-proposes-cafe-credit-auctions/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/11/mobilis-trading-proposes-cafe-credit-auctions/#commentsFiled under: , ,

D.C. company pitches CAFE credit auction site for gas-guzzler makers

One Washington, DC-based startup is looking to create a market for trading automaker "credits" that will allow gas-guzzler makers to "meet" stricter US fuel-economy requirements during the next few years, Automotive News reports.

Mobilis Trading, which launched last year, has an idea for auction site where automakers without a strong heritage of fuel efficiency, like Rolls-Royce, could buy Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) credits from companies like Honda and Toyota in order to avoid getting dinged by the government for not meeting fleetwide requirements. In the past, many companies have been happy to pay fines for missing fuel-economy quotas, but that will not be enough as the rules get stricter. Over the last 25 years, BMW, Jaguar and Porsche have paid $18 million in fines, the publication says, citing figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Under the new CAFE rules, automakers need to increase fleetwide new-vehicle fuel economy to 54.5 miles per gallon (around 40 miles per gallon in real-world figures) by 2025. Mobilis hasn't conducted any auctions yet.

Mobilis Trading proposes CAFE credit auctions originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cafecorporate average fuel economycreditsmiles per gallonmobilismpgtradingThu, 11 Apr 2013 11:56:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20536569/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20536569/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/11/mobilis-trading-proposes-cafe-credit-auctions/20536569/article-detail.xml 20536569 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/refueling-old-ford_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/refueling-old-ford.jpg <![CDATA[Shell Eco-marathon Americas 2013 winners wring 3,587 miles from one measly gallon]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/08/shell-eco-marathon-americas-2013-winners-3587-mpg/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/08/shell-eco-marathon-americas-2013-winners-3587-mpg/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/08/shell-eco-marathon-americas-2013-winners-3587-mpg/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Shell Eco-marathon Americas 2013

On a sunny, at times windy weekend in downtown Houston, TX, 131 vehicles competed in the Shell Eco-marathon Americas 2013, racing round and round Discovery Green for two full days. All told, they used like a gallon of gasoline.

The headline winner rocked 3,587 miles per gallon, which was the winning result from Quebec's Université Laval in the gasoline prototype category. The Purdue team we spoke with over the weekend did, in fact win in the EV urban concept category, with 78.1 mi/kWh in their tricky solar-powered EV. Mater Dei, which did well in previous years, also won, but only in two categories: prototype EV (600.1 mi/kWh), urban concept gasoline (849.2 mpg). Last year, the school won four and competed with four vehicles again this year - in case you were wondering if the competition remains fierce.

140 vehicles came to the event, but only 131 managed to pass inspection and participate.

You can read our on-site reports here and here. As we learned in Texas, the challenge wasn't just on the track, since it takes a lot just to get to the starting line. 140 vehicles came to the event, but only 131 managed to pass inspection and participate in the competition. There are two main categories - urban concept and prototype (the main difference is the number of wheels, four vs. three) - and six categories within in each of those: gasoline, battery electric (which includes solar), gasoline alternative (not available in urban concept), diesel, alternative diesel and hydrogen. There were also off-track awards, including the eco-design award for the bamboo car from Houston's West Side High School. A complete list of winners can be found here (PDF). The overall Shell Eco-marathon record is 8,914 mpg, which was set by a French team in 2003. Later this year, Shell will host two other Eco-marathon events, one in Europe and one in Asia. Next year, an Africa/Middle East event will be added to the roster.

Continue reading Shell Eco-marathon Americas 2013 winners wring 3,587 miles from one measly gallon

Shell Eco-marathon Americas 2013 winners wring 3,587 miles from one measly gallon originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 08 Apr 2013 19:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric vehiclehypermilingmater deimpgpurdueshellshell eco marathonMon, 08 Apr 2013 19:48:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20534152/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20534152/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/08/shell-eco-marathon-americas-2013-winners-3587-mpg/20534152/article-detail.xml 20534152 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/shell-eco-marathon-mater-dei-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/shell-eco-marathon-mater-dei-628.jpg <![CDATA[Shell Eco-marathon: 1959 Fiat 600 brings hypermiling history to Houston]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/08/shell-eco-marathon-1959-fiat-600-brings-hypermiling-history/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/08/shell-eco-marathon-1959-fiat-600-brings-hypermiling-history/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/08/shell-eco-marathon-1959-fiat-600-brings-hypermiling-history/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Shell Eco-marathon: 1959 Fiat 600

Long before the Fiat 500 came to the US to try and capture the public's imagination, a Fiat 600 was cruising in the Shell Mileage Marathons (the precursor to today's Eco-marathons) and setting records by getting over 300 miles per gallon. The little red cutie was on display at the Shell Eco-marathon Americas 2013 in Houston, TX this weekend to remind the students participating in the challenge - and the public stopping by to see what all the crazy cars were about - incredible that fuel efficiency is nothing new.

"They'd crank it, run and then kill the engine and coast. Same thing they're doing here. They just did it with real cars back then."

The 1959 Fiat 600 in question is currently in the hands of Ken Smith, who maintains a website on its history. For years, the car sat a junked state near the Talladega Museum before making headlines when it was discovered in 2007. "We didn't know what it was at first," he told AutoblogGreen, but bought it anyway and discovered that it had a fuel-saving past, running in the Wood River Mileage Marathons. Those events ended in the late 1970s, but with the Eco-marathons now back in the US, Smith thought it made sense to display the car. He also showed the car at the 2012 event in Houston.

The Fiat 600 ran at least three times in the Mileage Marathons, Smith said. It managed 173 mpg in 1967, 244 in 1968 and 304 in 1973. The car looks like a normal Fiat 600, but there were serious changes made inside.

"Basically, what they did was everything that ran off the pully at the bottom, they took off," he said. "The alternator is gone, the water pump is gone, the radiator is gone. There's no fan. They used electric pumps to circulate the water, and they used a small heater core as a small radiator for the air to come through, and the air would pick up the heat and help cool the water. But they didn't run the engine that long. They'd crank it, run and then kill the engine and coast. Same thing they're doing here. They just did it with real cars back then."

You can read more about this year's Shell Eco-marathon here and here.

Shell Eco-marathon: 1959 Fiat 600 brings hypermiling history to Houston originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 08 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1959 fiat 600eco-marathonken smithmileage marathonshell eco marathontalladega museumMon, 08 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20533225/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20533225/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/08/shell-eco-marathon-1959-fiat-600-brings-hypermiling-history/20533225/article-detail.xml 20533225 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/shell-eco-marathon-1959-fiat-600-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/shell-eco-marathon-1959-fiat-600-628.jpg <![CDATA[Audi ad under fire in UK for 'inaccurate representation' of MPG]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/08/audi-ad-under-fire-in-uk-for-inaccurate-representation-of-mpg/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/08/audi-ad-under-fire-in-uk-for-inaccurate-representation-of-mpg/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/08/audi-ad-under-fire-in-uk-for-inaccurate-representation-of-mpg/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2013 audi a3

The advertised vs. real-world mileage discrepancy that Americans are becoming very familiar with - see Hyundai/Kia and Ford - are not limited to our part of the world. Over in the UK, Audi is involved in what could be, in the words of The Guardian, a "landmark case" by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

The crux of the matter is whether or not car companies can say what the official government miles per gallon figures are without also saying that they "may not reflect real driving." In the ASA case, Audi admitted that the official numbers for the A3 1.6 TDI (68.9 mpg, on the lenient European cycle), "did not give an accurate representation of the actual fuel consumption which could be expected from any particular vehicle and were provided only to enable comparisons between different vehicles or models" but still wants to use them in ads because consumers are aware of this. The ASA says the not-so-accurate-representation is not, in fact, obvious to buyers, and therefore Audi needs to put up qualifying asterisks - otherwise it runs afoul of the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) Codes. If the case goes in favor of the ASA, all car ads in the UK would need to have these disclaimers.

Last year, the ASA took an ad for the Chevrolet Volt's sister vehicle, the Vauxhall Ampera, off the air because the driving range claim was found to be misleading.

Audi ad under fire in UK for 'inaccurate representation' of MPG originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:55:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20533907/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20533907/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/08/audi-ad-under-fire-in-uk-for-inaccurate-representation-of-mpg/20533907/article-detail.xml 20533907 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/2013-audi-a3_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/2013-audi-a3.jpg <![CDATA[Shell Eco-marathon: Day 2, students get creative under pressure]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/06/shell-eco-marathon-day-2-students-get-creative-under-pressure/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/06/shell-eco-marathon-day-2-students-get-creative-under-pressure/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/06/shell-eco-marathon-day-2-students-get-creative-under-pressure/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

shell eco marathon 2013 americas

Watching the Shell Eco-marathon Americas 2013 is, to be honest, kind of boring. Yes, the vehicles are all interesting and unusual, but they don't go very fast, you only see them on the track for a brief moment (there's no live video feed) and the ones competing against each other aren't even racing at the same time. But this is an efficiency challenge, after all, and one where students can learn by doing. Much of the action, after all, is off-side. It's the struggle of the 120 different high school and college teams to design their vehicles, to build them and - in the case of University of Alaska - take them apart and check them in their luggage. Multiply that by 140 vehicles and it becomes pretty clear pretty quick that there are roughly a million stories at the Eco-marathon, on the track and off.

It becomes pretty clear pretty quick that there are roughly a million stories at the Eco-marathon, on the track and off.

Those stories continued today. As the first vehicles made the early competition laps, many of the vehicles in the paddock were in various states of untogetherness. As in, they were still being tinkered with, adapted and reconfigured. By the end of the day, it became clear that some of them simply would not be able to pass the safety inspection.

Even if a vehicle makes it onto the track, there is no guarantee of success. One of the best-looking vehicles here, an all-electric DeLorean-style all-electric from St. Paul's School, a high school in Covington, LA, made an impression during the opening ceremonies. The team figured you don't have to look uncool to have a fuel-efficient car, and even added blue neon accent lights on the bottom. But, after being called to the starting line today, the EV didn't even make it around the track once. St. Paul's also brought an "taxi," in part to make the point that you can reduce fuel use by 50 percent by adding a person. You can't fail with that logic.

From the sidelines, we listened in as team members from Louisiana Tech University coached their driver through his ten laps via cell phone, just one group of many we saw trying to get their partners behind the wheel to improve their driving. Coast more on this lap, they said. Don't worry about your speed, you're fine there, they said, discussing amongst themselves how best to tackle each lap. At least one car in the competition was hooked up for wireless communication, transmitting important data to the team in the paddock. In the on-track competition, drivers need to go around the course ten times, making three 30-second stops during the run. They'll be judged on how little energy they use and need to finish in a maximum time of 24:45. As we'll see, it can be a hot 25 minutes.

Continue reading Shell Eco-marathon: Day 2, students get creative under pressure

Shell Eco-marathon: Day 2, students get creative under pressure originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 06 Apr 2013 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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