AutoblogGreen http://green.autoblog.com AutoblogGreen http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif AutoblogGreen http://green.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 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[Frost & Sulllivan predicts over a million CNG/LPG vehicle sales by 2018]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/23/frost-and-sulllivan-predicts-over-a-million-cng-lpg-vehicle-sales/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/23/frost-and-sulllivan-predicts-over-a-million-cng-lpg-vehicle-sales/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/23/frost-and-sulllivan-predicts-over-a-million-cng-lpg-vehicle-sales/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2012 Kia Picanto: Geneva 2011

Vehicles powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) aren't quite as exciting as cars that pack a big battery pack, but there's a good chance the gas-burners will play an increasing role in our transportation choice moving forward. Like 1,150,000 big.

Frost & Sullivan has released an analysis that claims that these alternate fuels will sell almost 900,000 units in Europe and almost 250,000 in North America by 2018. The coming CNG/LPG boom is the result of EPA and ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers' Association) regulations that call for lower emissions and, perhaps most importantly, the fact that moving from gasoline to CNG or LPG costs much less than shifting to battery or hydrogen fuel cell powertrains. In North America, the early adopters will mostly be fleets (i.e., UPS) while Europe already has a growing number of CNG and LPG vehicles, with LPG cars - for example the Kia Picanto, pictured, which can run on both LPG and gasoline - being adopted at a much higher rate than CNG vehicles.

The problem, as with all alt-fuels, is that most stations are set up to pump gasoline. Frost & Sullivan says that the "development of enhanced refuelling infrastructure" will be required to make their CNG/LPG sales estimates a reality.

Continue reading Frost & Sulllivan predicts over a million CNG/LPG vehicle sales by 2018

Frost & Sulllivan predicts over a million CNG/LPG vehicle sales by 2018 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 23 May 2012 10:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aceacngcompressed natural gasemissions Regulationsepaeuropean automobile manufacturers associationfrost and sullivanliquified petroleum gaslpgWed, 23 May 2012 10:13:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20243403/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20243403/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/23/frost-and-sulllivan-predicts-over-a-million-cng-lpg-vehicle-sales/20243403/article-detail.xml 20243403 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/04kia-picantogenflive-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/04kia-picantogenflive-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Bi-fuel option to cost $11,000 on GM pickups [w/video]]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/17/bi-fuel-option-to-cost-11-000-on-gm-pickups-w-video/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/17/bi-fuel-option-to-cost-11-000-on-gm-pickups-w-video/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/17/bi-fuel-option-to-cost-11-000-on-gm-pickups-w-video/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2013 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD CNG - front three-quarter view

2013 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD - CNG fuel tank closeupGeneral Motors has released pricing for the bi-fuel option for the Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD and GMC Sierra 2500 HD, and it's a pill that probably won't go down easy. Buyers who want their workhorses to suck down either compressed natural gas (CNG) or gasoline can look forward to ponying up $11,000 for the pleasure. That big chunk of change adds a Type 3 tank in the bed for CNG, and GM says that with both fuels, the trucks will have an effective range of 650 miles. The bi-fuel option is available on any heavy-duty truck configuration, including four-wheel drive and extended cab models.

The automaker says the bi-fuel trucks are a way for business owners to safeguard themselves against volatile gas prices, and that the option could save anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 over the course of three years depending on fuel fluctuations. However, any option on a work truck that only might break even in three or four years seems like a tough sell in our book, especially given the reduction in useable bed area. Hit the jump for the full press release as well as a quick video.

Continue reading Bi-fuel option to cost $11,000 on GM pickups [w/video]

Bi-fuel option to cost $11,000 on GM pickups [w/video] originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 17:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 chevrolet silverado 2500 hd bi-fuel2013 gmc sierra 2500 hd bi-fuelbi-fuelcngcompressed natural gasgeneral motorsgmgmc sierrasierrasierra 2500 hdsilveradosilverado 2500 hdTue, 17 Apr 2012 17:49:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20218005/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20218005/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/17/bi-fuel-option-to-cost-11-000-on-gm-pickups-w-video/20218005/article-detail.xml 20218005 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/01-silverado-bi-fuel-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/01-silverado-bi-fuel-628.jpg <![CDATA[Bob Lutz praises Nissan Leaf, Chevy Volt, says national security requires going electric]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/16/bob-lutz-praises-nissan-leaf-chevy-volt-says-national-security/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/16/bob-lutz-praises-nissan-leaf-chevy-volt-says-national-security/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/16/bob-lutz-praises-nissan-leaf-chevy-volt-says-national-security/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2012 chevy volt

Bob Lutz is not going to take the attacks on electric cars lying down - the closest he'll come to that is doing push-ups on The Colbert Report. After spending a few of his Forbes' columns laying into right-wing pundits for their attacks on the Chevrolet Volt, he is switching to a positive message about how plug-in cars can help with American national security. It is not surprising that Lutz, a former Marine, co-authors the article with two former U.S. Marines commandants and the CEO of FedEx (the three are all members of Securing America's Future Energy's (SAFE) Energy Security Leadership Council). The gist? Well, here's part of the opening paragraph:

When ... threats exist because the United States is the protector of the world's global oil supply lines, it is a clear illustration of how our nation's over-reliance on a single, globally-priced fuel impacts our national and economic security.

American addiction to gasoline costs the government billions of dollars a year, $80 billion, in fact, to guard the sea lanes, including one little area by Iran:

From a national security perspective, the U.S. military is forced to protect the world's vital oil infrastructure. The single greatest chokepoint is the Strait of Hormuz, through which 17 million barrels of oil per day passed in 2011 - 20 percent of global supplies. Protection of the sea lanes of commerce has become an American burden and will remain so, costing the United States Treasury an estimated $80 billion per year while taxing our military, which is already engaged on multiple fronts.

It's arguments like this that have made the recent right-wing criticism of the Volt such a mystery. If we use less gasoline, we can spend fewer lives and less treasure importing the fuel (of course, we don't lose many lives at the Canadian border, which is where most of our imported oil comes from). The Army says that today's soldier uses an average of 22 gallons of gasoline a day.

Lutz and his co-authors are quite clear that high gas prices are hurting Americans' pocketbooks, "essentially" wiping out tax cuts that Presidents Bush and Obama put into place. That's why, they say, "government action is needed to mitigate the risks of oil dependence, because there is no free market for oil." This intervention contains both expanded domestic production and - surprise - plugging our light-duty transportation fleet in as much as possible and feeding our big trucks lots of natural gas. To that end, they write:

Regarding electrification, the beauty of plug-in hybrids and pure electric vehicles like the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf is that they are powered by electricity, which can be generated from many sources: nuclear, coal, natural gas, and renewables. Best yet, these are all domestic energy sources, meaning OPEC won't be able to corner the market. And the retail price of electricity is far less volatile that the price of oil.

Hard to disagree with that. There's more at Forbes.

Bob Lutz praises Nissan Leaf, Chevy Volt, says national security requires going electric originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 16 Apr 2012 19:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bob lutzchevroletchevrolet voltchevy voltelectric vehiclegmleafnational securitynissanplug-in hybridstraights of hormuzvoltMon, 16 Apr 2012 19:47:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20216899/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20216899/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/16/bob-lutz-praises-nissan-leaf-chevy-volt-says-national-security/20216899/article-detail.xml 20216899 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/2011-chevrolet-volt-front-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/2011-chevrolet-volt-front-628.jpg <![CDATA[Propane-powered Maxximus LNG 2000 sets three new world speed records]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/15/propane-powered-maxximus-lng-2000-sets-three-new-world-speed-rec/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/15/propane-powered-maxximus-lng-2000-sets-three-new-world-speed-rec/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/15/propane-powered-maxximus-lng-2000-sets-three-new-world-speed-rec/#commentsFiled under: ,

Maxximus LNG 2000

It may not fit everyone's definition of green, but the supercar you see above did manage to hit 134 miles per hour in the quarter mile without burning a drop of gasoline. The 1,600+ horsepower, carbon-fiber-bodied Maxximus LNG 2000 can burn propane (a fossil fuel, also known as LPG), and it did so when driver/designer Marlon Kirby roared the car down the track in March to set the following benchmarks, all world records for an LPG-powered car, according to Maxximus Technology:

0-60 mph in 2.6 seconds
134 mph in 1/4 mile
1/4 mile elapsed time: 10.28 seconds

The Maxximus LNG 2000 is based on the Ultima GTR and the team behind the car, Centaur Performance Group, now calls it "the fastest powered street-legal car ever created." The multi-fuel powerplant can also burn liquified natural gas (LNG), which it did in January to better results:

0-60 mph in 1.96 seconds
159.9 mph in 1/4 mile
1/4 mile elapsed time: 9.63 seconds

The LNG 2000 is second-generation model of the Maxximus G-Force, which we covered back in 2009, and can also burn CNG. If that kind of fuel flexibility sounds intriguing, keep an eye out for the upcoming line of vehicles that the Centaur Performance Group is working on. Called Centaur Dragonfly models, these cars will be able to be powered by four fuel types: gasoline, LNG, LPG and CNG and will come with "cutting-edge onboard technology" that will point the driver to whatever type of fuel is available cheapest, locally.

You can watch a video of the January speed run below.

Continue reading Propane-powered Maxximus LNG 2000 sets three new world speed records

Propane-powered Maxximus LNG 2000 sets three new world speed records originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 15 Apr 2012 08:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>centaur performance groupcngland speed recordlnglpgmaxximusmaxximus g-forcemaxximus lng 2000propaneSun, 15 Apr 2012 08:17:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20214626/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20214626/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/15/propane-powered-maxximus-lng-2000-sets-three-new-world-speed-rec/20214626/article-detail.xml 20214626 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/maxximuslng-628-1334349179_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/maxximuslng-628-1334349179.jpg <![CDATA[Obama's EV Everywhere plan sets 2022 goals for U.S.-made electric vehicles]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/11/obamas-ev-everywhere-plan-sets-2022-goals-for-u-s-made-electri/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/11/obamas-ev-everywhere-plan-sets-2022-goals-for-u-s-made-electri/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/11/obamas-ev-everywhere-plan-sets-2022-goals-for-u-s-made-electri/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



President Barack Obama on Thursday outlined his administration's EV Everywhere plan designed to cut gas-powered vehicle use over the next decade.

Speaking at a Daimler truck plant in North Carolina, Obama set a 2022 goal of having the U.S. produce a five-passenger electric vehicle that would provide both a payback time - thanks to lower refueling costs - of less than five years and an ability to be recharged quickly enough to provide enough range for the typical American driver. Obama highlighted Envia Systems, which he said may be able to halve the cost of an EV battery providing a 300-mile single-charge range. The DOE notes that, since electricity beats gasoline on cost to power your car including savings on fuel costs, added convenience, and reduced maintenance costs. Electricity is cheaper than gasoline to power a vehicle and EVs "can also be more reliable, require less maintenance, and offer the same or better driving performance compared to today's gasoline-powered vehicles" this is a technology worth pursuing.

EV Everywhere is part of a plan the White House announced this week as part of its pitch for $4.7 billion to accelerate advanced-powertrain development. The Obama Administration proposed spending $3.7 billion on tax credits for alternative-fueled vehicles like compressed natural gas (CNG) cars and another $1 billion directed to a dozen or so local communities for infrastructure improvements that will speed up alt-fueled vehicle adoption. The White House specifically noted that driving an EV would save the typical American driver about $100 a month in refueling costs.

Such advances may allow automakers to meet more stringent greenhouse-gas emissions standards the White House set last year. President Obama last July reached a tentative agreement with the major automakers that would establish a 54.5 mile-per-gallon Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard for passenger vehicles - or about 40 miles per gallon in real-world EPA standards - in 2025. The White House is pushing for 5 percent annual fuel-economy increases in passengers cars starting in 2017, while light trucks would be subject to slightly less stringent standards.

As the Democratic presidential candidate in 2008, Obama set a goal of getting Americans to buy 1 million plug-in vehicles annually by 2015, and reiterated those goals in his late January State of the Union address.

Continue reading Obama's EV Everywhere plan sets 2022 goals for U.S.-made electric vehicles

Obama's EV Everywhere plan sets 2022 goals for U.S.-made electric vehicles originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 11 Mar 2012 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2022daimlerenergy departmentev-everywheregovernmentnorth carolinaobamawhite houseSun, 11 Mar 2012 16:28:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20189269/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20189269/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/11/obamas-ev-everywhere-plan-sets-2022-goals-for-u-s-made-electri/20189269/article-detail.xml 20189269 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/obama-daimler-ev-everywhere_thumbnail.png http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/obama-daimler-ev-everywhere.png <![CDATA[Chrysler Ram 2500 CNG starts deliveries in July]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/09/chrysler-ram-2500-cng-starts-deliveries-in-july/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/09/chrysler-ram-2500-cng-starts-deliveries-in-july/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/09/chrysler-ram-2500-cng-starts-deliveries-in-july/#commentsFiled under: ,



Chrysler will build the first U.S. production compressed natural gas-powered pickup truck when it starts deliveries of its Ram 2500 CNG this summer, as the U.S. automaker looks to offer a cheaper refueling cost for its utility vehicles.

Chrysler, which has started taking reservations for the truck, said the model will include an 18.2-gallon-equivalent CNG tank that will provide 255 miles of driving range as well as an eight-gallon gas tank that will provide another 112 miles. Pricing for the Ram 2500 CNG, which uses a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine, starts at $47,500.

The company says it's offering fleet buyers a cheaper refueling alternative because burning CNG is about a third cheaper than regular gas. AAA says regular gas prices, which jumped about 27 percent last year, average about $3.75 a gallon, up about 40 cents since the beginning of the year. Chrysler says there are about 1,500 CNG refueling stations across the U.S. - about half of which are publicly accessible - while the U.S. Department of Energy puts that number closer to 1,000.

CNG proponents have pitched natural gas as a preferable refueling option to gasoline because, as opposed to petroleum-dependent gasoline, most CNG is produced in North America. Meanwhile, Chrysler's Italy-based parent Fiat has built almost a half-million CNG-powered vehicles in Europe during the past five years and has more than an 80 percent CNG market share there.

Earlier this week, General Motors unveiled two bi-fuel CNG- and gas-powered trucks. The 2013 Chevrolet Silverado and the 2013 GMC Sierra 2500 HD, which GM showed off at the 2012 Work Truck Show in Indianapolis, will be available by the end of the year.

Overall, green-technology research firm Pike Research forecast last year that worldwide annual CNG vehicle sales would jump 68 percent to 3.2 million in 2016 from 1.9 million in 2010. In the U.S., CNG vehicle sales would grow by more than 25 percent a year and would reach almost 33,000 units in 2016.

Continue reading Chrysler Ram 2500 CNG starts deliveries in July

Chrysler Ram 2500 CNG starts deliveries in July originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chryslercngcompressed natural gasnatural gaspickuppickup truckramram 2500ram 2500 cngtruckFri, 09 Mar 2012 16:01:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20188317/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20188317/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/09/chrysler-ram-2500-cng-starts-deliveries-in-july/20188317/article-detail.xml 20188317 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/ramcng_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/ramcng.jpg <![CDATA[GM introduces new bi-fuel Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra during 2012 Work Truck Show week]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/05/propane-cng-vehilces-debut-at-2012-work-truck-show-including-b/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/05/propane-cng-vehilces-debut-at-2012-work-truck-show-including-b/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/05/propane-cng-vehilces-debut-at-2012-work-truck-show-including-b/#commentsFiled under: ,

2013 Chevrolet Silverado bi-fuel

The 2012 Work Truck Show is going on in Indianapolis this week, and that brings with it a helping of alternative-powered truck news.

The first is General Motor's news about two new bi-fuel, CNG- and gas-powered trucks, the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado and the 2013 GMC Sierra 2500 HD. Both of these vehicles can burn either fuel in a Vortec 6.0-liter V8 engine, and GM promises that the on-the-go switch between the fuel types is "seamless." The trucks will be available towards the end of this year, with orders starting in April and, because they are given their dual-fuel nature by a Tier One supplier, will come with GM's three-year, 36,000-mile limited warranty as well as the five-year, 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty. GM has other CNG-powered work vehicles available, like the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana cargo vans that use the same engine.

Also in Indianapolis, the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) will be on hand to promote autogas (propane) as a cheaper, greener and domestic alternative to gasoline. PERC says that vehicles that burn propane, "emit 12 percent less carbon dioxide, 20 percent less nitrogen oxide, and up to 60 percent less carbon monoxide than gas-powered vehicles." PERC will showcase some vehicles from Roush that use that company's CleanTech propane autogas systems, including a Ford E-350 delivery vehicle. There's more information after the jump.

Continue reading GM introduces new bi-fuel Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra during 2012 Work Truck Show week

GM introduces new bi-fuel Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra during 2012 Work Truck Show week originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 10:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yo-Auto, the hybrid-vehicle maker launched in part by Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, is pitching a crossover hybrid that can run on both gasoline and compressed natural gas (CNG) and can get about 65 miles per gallon. The company, which is owned by Prokhorov's Onexim Group and Russia-based truckmaker Yarovit, is also investing in a second assembly line at its St. Petersburg plant to double production capacity, HybridCars.com reported, citing a press conference held by Prokhorov in Russia.

The crossover, pitched in a video from Yo-Auto and available after the jump, will be able to run on both gasoline and CNG, and will be able to go more than 400 miles on a full tank. Always running in all-wheel-drive mode, the CUV will be able to go from 0 to 100 kilometers/hour (62 mph) in about 10 seconds, and will be able to serve double duty as an electric power source for other functions, according to the video.

The video didn't disclose a price or release date for the vehicle, whose body will be made out of composite material for weight-saving purposes.

Prokhorov, owner of the NBA's New Jersey Nets, has estimated that Yo-Auto's first car, a hybrid compact, will start sales by the end of 2012. Onexim and Yarovit had already been reported to be investing $200 million in the St. Petersburg factory and will be pricing the first hybrids at between $10,000 and $15,000. The second assembly line will reportedly double annual capacity to 90,000 vehicles.

Continue reading Prokhorov's Yo-Auto pitches CNG-hybrid crossover 'Yo-Mobile' [w/video]

Prokhorov's Yo-Auto pitches CNG-hybrid crossover 'Yo-Mobile' [w/video] originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cnge-autohybridMikhail Prokhorovnew jersey netsrussiast. petersburgyo-autoyo-mobileSun, 26 Feb 2012 15:44:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20179346/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20179346/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/26/prokhorovs-yo-auto-pitches-cng-hybrid-crossover-yo-mobile-w/20179346/article-detail.xml 20179346 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/yomobile_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/yomobile.jpg <![CDATA[Mitsubishi i steals ACEEE's "Greenest" car of the year title from CNG Civic]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/07/mitsubishi-i-steals-aceees-greenest-car-of-the-year-title-fro/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/07/mitsubishi-i-steals-aceees-greenest-car-of-the-year-title-fro/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/07/mitsubishi-i-steals-aceees-greenest-car-of-the-year-title-fro/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

mitsubishi i

For the first time in ages, the Honda Civic Natural Gas is not the "greenest" car in the U.S. This year, it's the Mitsubishi i. At least, it is according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), which takes it upon itself to rank these sorts of things.

The CNG-powered Civic has made the top of the list for the past eight years (last year, the Nissan Leaf shared the No. 1 spot) but it drops to second place this year. Last year, ACEEE gave the Civic Natural Gas a score of 54, a number that takes into account "unhealthy tailpipe emissions, fuel consumption, and emissions of gases that contribute to climate change." This year, the i managed to rake in 58 points, which ACEEE says is the "highest Green Score awarded since the rankings began in 1998." That deserves a golf clap or two, even if the methodology for calculating the score changed for 2012 (details in the PR after the jump).

The ACEEE also figures out which vehicles are the dirtiest for its "Meanest" list. This year, the Chevrolet G3500 Express/GMC G3500 Savana cargo vans, Ford E-350 Wagon and Bugatti Veyron can claim this dubious honor.

Continue reading Mitsubishi i steals ACEEE's "Greenest" car of the year title from CNG Civic

Mitsubishi i steals ACEEE's "Greenest" car of the year title from CNG Civic originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aceeeaceee listelectric vehiclegreenest carii-mievmievmitsubishimitusbishi iTue, 07 Feb 2012 18:08:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20166226/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20166226/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/07/mitsubishi-i-steals-aceees-greenest-car-of-the-year-title-fro/20166226/article-detail.xml 20166226 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/11/73-mitsubishi-i-miev-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/11/73-mitsubishi-i-miev-opt.jpg <![CDATA[AT&T orders 1,200 compressed natural gas Chevrolet Express Vans from GM]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/31/atandt-orders-1-200-compressed-natural-gas-chevrolet-express-vans/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/31/atandt-orders-1-200-compressed-natural-gas-chevrolet-express-vans/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/31/atandt-orders-1-200-compressed-natural-gas-chevrolet-express-vans/#commentsFiled under: ,




What's the biggest compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle order that GM has ever received? Thanks to an announcement yesterday from the automaker and AT&T, we now know the answer is 1,200 vehicles.

That's how many Chevrolet Express Cargo Vans AT&T will get from The General. The dozen hundred vehicles will go into service across the country and are part of AT&T's much larger initiative to green up its fleet. From electric vans to other electric vans to hybrids, the company has invested in a variety of alternative powertrain vehicles. It pretty much has to look at many options if it wants to reach its target of deploying 15,000 alternative power vehicles by 2018. This $545-million project started in 2009; the 5,000th vehicle joined the fleet last week.

The 1,200 new GM vans are all Chevrolet Express models that have been built at the factory to burn CNG in their Vortec 6.0L V8 engines. GM says the modifications include "hardened exhaust valves, and intake and exhaust valve seats for improved wear resistance and durability with gaseous fuel systems." The fuel may burn cleaner than gasoline, but these are still fuel-hungry monsters that get a gasoline-equivalent fuel economy of 11 miles per gallon (city) and 16 mpg (highway), according to previous statements from GM, which also indicated the CNG versions cost an extra $14,590 compared to regular gas vans.

AT&T's order is the latest in a bit of an upsurge in CNG vehicles in America and around the world. The Honda Civic Natural Gas won the 2012 Green Car of the Year award at last year's LA Auto Show and is the first passenger car to be available in all 50-states. CNG has long been more popular in the fleet market than in general use, since fleet managers can calculate the cost benefits fairly easily, just ask Waste Management or the AT&T of last March, which ordered 100 CNG-powered Chevy Express vans. If everything goes as planned, AT&T should have around 8,000 CNG vehicles in its fleet sometime this decade.

Continue reading AT&T orders 1,200 compressed natural gas Chevrolet Express Vans from GM

AT&T orders 1,200 compressed natural gas Chevrolet Express Vans from GM originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attchevrolet expresschevy expresscngnatural gasTue, 31 Jan 2012 18:04:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20160792/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20160792/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/31/atandt-orders-1-200-compressed-natural-gas-chevrolet-express-vans/20160792/article-detail.xml 20160792 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/chevy-cng-express-van-crop_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/chevy-cng-express-van-crop.jpg <![CDATA[Volkswagen Up! five-door hits the patent office]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/18/volkswagen-up-five-door-hits-the-patent-office/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/18/volkswagen-up-five-door-hits-the-patent-office/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/18/volkswagen-up-five-door-hits-the-patent-office/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Volkswagen Up! Five Door
Images of a five-door version of the Volkswagen Up! have surfaced courtesy of a European patent office. The German automaker confirmed a five-door version of the pint-sized vehicle was headed to market, and Volkswagen even went so far as to show off the Cross Up! Concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Judging by the patent photo, the production version of the five-door Up! will stick fairly close to the concept and will ride on a similarly tall suspension. That should give the vehicle more of a mini crossover appearance instead of a small hatchback.

Information on drivetrain options is suitably scarce at the moment, but we expect the five-door Up! to roll off of the production line with the same engines as its shorter three-door kin. That means buyers should be able to tick boxes for either a 59-horsepower gasoline engine or a brawny 74-horsepower gas powerplant. A 67-horsepower natural gas engine is also available in the Up! as well. A taller-riding Up! is a perfect fit in Russia and South America where roads can vary from uncomfortable to inhumane.

Volkswagen Up! five-door hits the patent office originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cross upfive door upupup five doorvolkswagenvolkswagen cross upvolkswagen upvolkswagen up five doorWed, 18 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20151352/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20151352/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/18/volkswagen-up-five-door-hits-the-patent-office/20151352/article-detail.xml 20151352 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/volkswagen-up-five-door-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/volkswagen-up-five-door-628.jpg <![CDATA[Bajaj RE60 may take World's Cheapest Car title from Tata Nano]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/03/bajaj-re60-worlds-cheapest-car-tata-nano/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/03/bajaj-re60-worlds-cheapest-car-tata-nano/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/03/bajaj-re60-worlds-cheapest-car-tata-nano/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The Tata Nano may not be the runaway sales success the vehicle's Indian manufacturers had hoped, but that hasn't stopped other automakers from eying India's blooming inexpensive vehicle segment. The country's largest manufacturer of three wheelers is set to dip a toe into the automotive manufacturing with an all-new vehicle. The Bajaj RE60 features a water-cooled 200cc engine with around 20 horsepower, and as a result, the vehicle has a top speed of just 43 mph. That may not be quick, but the company says there's room for up to four people indoors or up to 14.1 cubic feet of cargo area with the rear seats folded flat.

The Bajaj RE60 weighs in at a mere 880 pounds, and the company plans to offer several fuel variants. Gasoline, liquid propane gas and compressed natural gas versions will all be available, though buyers won't be able to get their hands on an RE60 with a diesel engine. So far, there's no word on price, but we're guessing it'll have to undercut the Tata.

Hit the jump for the press release and check out the gallery of photos provided by our friends at Indian Autos Blog.

Continue reading Bajaj RE60 may take World's Cheapest Car title from Tata Nano

Bajaj RE60 may take World's Cheapest Car title from Tata Nano originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 delhi2012 new delhibajajbajaj re60delhi 2012delhi auto expodelhi motor showinexpensive carre60Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:01:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20139585/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20139585/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/03/bajaj-re60-worlds-cheapest-car-tata-nano/20139585/article-detail.xml 20139585 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/01-bajaj-re60-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/01-bajaj-re60-opt.jpg <![CDATA[T. Boone Pickens has a federal subsidy beef with the Koch brothers over natural gas, ethanol]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/11/25/t-boone-pickens-federal-subsidy-koch-brothers-cng-ethanol/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/11/25/t-boone-pickens-federal-subsidy-koch-brothers-cng-ethanol/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/11/25/t-boone-pickens-federal-subsidy-koch-brothers-cng-ethanol/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Since the summer, natural gas supporter T. Boone Pickens (pictured) has been in an energy fight with the Koch brothers. Think of it as a battle of the conservative billionaires to see who can get more money from the federal government.

According to the Des Moines Register, Pickens has been working to encourage governmental support for natural gas vehicles. No surprise there, since Pickens believes it was given to us by God himself. The Koch brothers, on the other hand, have their hands out for a lot of ethanol subsidies even though they are often called Libertarian (or at the very least, deeply conservative). Pickens reportedly said recently that:

Koch Industries imports 61,000 barrels of OPEC oil a day to their Corpus Christi refinery. They're the third largest recipient of subsidies for ethanol, they're in the chemical business and the fertilizer business. So everything I do could affect them in some way. They're against me. I know Charles and David Koch. I asked them to talk to me about this subject; they would not do it. They would not return my phone calls. When I was one of their biggest customers in 2005, I heard from them and was entertained in their home in Wichita, but now (they) don't want to talk to me about it. They've gone and tried to peel off all the co-sponsors of the bill that they can. While they knocked out 14 I was getting 16. They spend a lot of money to do this. They're working for the Kochs, I'm working for America. I want an energy plan for America, they want an energy plan for the Koch's.

This past May, Charles Koch wrote an op-ed that claimed that Picken's call for natural gas to get subsidies "well-intentioned but misguided" even as it said that Kock didn't even want the ethanol subsidies he was collecting: "Because ethanol use is mandated, we were compelled to be in that business. We still oppose ethanol subsidies and mandates even though some of our businesses would benefit from them." A spokesman for the Koch brothers wrote to Congress in June that "We do not believe government should be picking 'winners and losers' in the marketplace." Well, of course you don't. Not once you're already winning.

T. Boone Pickens has a federal subsidy beef with the Koch brothers over natural gas, ethanol originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cnge85ethanolkoch brothersnatural gaspickens plansubsidiest boone pickensFri, 25 Nov 2011 16:04:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20112936/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20112936/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/25/t-boone-pickens-federal-subsidy-koch-brothers-cng-ethanol/20112936/article-detail.xml 20112936 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/t-boone-pickens_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/t-boone-pickens.jpg <![CDATA[2012 Green Car of the Year winner is the Honda Civic Natural Gas]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/11/17/2012-green-car-of-the-year-winner-is-the-civic-natural-gas/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/11/17/2012-green-car-of-the-year-winner-is-the-civic-natural-gas/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/11/17/2012-green-car-of-the-year-winner-is-the-civic-natural-gas/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The 2012 Green Car of the Year award was snagged from the electric and diesel jaws of its competitors by the Honda Civic Natural Gas. In a year full of standard gasoline powertrain alternatives, the Civic beat out the Ford Focus Electric, Mitsubishi i, Toyota Prius V and the Volkswagen Passat TDI.

Green Car Journal hands out the award and its rules state that the GCOTY needs to have a "quantifiable environmental achievement," market significance and "newness." Any car that has these clearly defined features and is available for sale by January 1, 2012 can be a nominee, and the list of finalists is whittled down by GCJ editors and selected industry and environmental experts.

Over the last four years, the GCOTY was won by a hybrid (the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid in 2008), diesels (the Volkswagen Jetta TDI in 2009 and the Audi A3 TDI in 2010) and a plug-in hybrid (the Chevrolet Volt in 2011). In our informal poll we put up when the five finalists were announced a month ago, the Focus Electric dominated the field.

2012 Green Car of the Year winner is the Honda Civic Natural Gas originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 honda civic natural gas2011 la auto show2012 green car of the yearbreakingciviccivic natural gasgreen car of the yearhondalala 2011la auto showThu, 17 Nov 2011 12:10:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20108994/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20108994/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/17/2012-green-car-of-the-year-winner-is-the-civic-natural-gas/20108994/article-detail.xml 20108994 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/honda-civic-natural-gas-green-car-of-the-year_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/honda-civic-natural-gas-green-car-of-the-year.jpg <![CDATA[Green Car of the Year Award finalists include diesel, hybrid, natural gas, electric]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/24/2012-green-car-of-the-year-award-la-auto-show/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/24/2012-green-car-of-the-year-award-la-auto-show/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/24/2012-green-car-of-the-year-award-la-auto-show/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

chevy volt green car of the year
Those are the past winners of the Green Car of the Year award, given out each year at the LA Auto Show by Green Car Journal. The five finalists for the 2012 award were announced today and there are four different powertrains among them. Here they are: Ford Focus Electric, Honda Civic Natural Gas, Mitsubishi i, Toyota Prius V and Volkswagen Passat TDI.

The rules for the GCOTY are that the vehicle has to have "quantifiable environmental achievement" as well as market significance and "newness." It has to be available by January 1 of the award year. Green Car Journal editor Ron Cogan said in a statement that the finalists offer "five exceptional answers" to the green car question. Which one is the most exceptional? We'll find out at the LA show on November 17. You can share your opinion in the poll below.

We may have a preview from the DC Auto Show earlier this year, when Green Car Journal gave the Focus Electric its Green Car Vision award. The awards aren't all that connected, though, since the Nissan Leaf won in 2010 while the Chevy Volt won in 2009.

View Poll

Continue reading Green Car of the Year Award finalists include diesel, hybrid, natural gas, electric

Green Car of the Year Award finalists include diesel, hybrid, natural gas, electric originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 24 Oct 2011 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric vehicleford focus electricgreen car journalgreen car of the awardgreen car of the yeargreen cotyhonda civic natural gasmitsubishi itoyota prius vvolkswagen passat tdiMon, 24 Oct 2011 10:40:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20088812/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20088812/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2011/10/24/2012-green-car-of-the-year-award-la-auto-show/20088812/article-detail.xml 20088812 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/volt-green-car-award-gm-pr-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/volt-green-car-award-gm-pr-628.jpg <![CDATA[Waste Management wheels out 1,000th natural gas garbage truck]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/16/waste-management-wheels-out-1-000th-natural-gas-garbage-truck/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/16/waste-management-wheels-out-1-000th-natural-gas-garbage-truck/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/16/waste-management-wheels-out-1-000th-natural-gas-garbage-truck/#commentsFiled under: ,

Waste Management cng fueling station near Chicago

With the addition of its 1,000th clean-burning garbage truck, Waste Management can now officially claim that it operates the largest natural gas fleet in all of North America.

Turning trash into fuel, natural gas trucks at Waste Management use renewable, ultra-low carbon fuel produced from the decomposition of organic waste at its landfills. The 1,000th truck symbolizes Waste Management's ongoing commitment to green operations, says Duane Woods, senior vice-president at WM:
This is a special milestone in our journey to develop the cleanest fleet of heavy duty trucks in our industry. We are pleased that we have so many natural gas trucks now in service, particularly in Southern California where clean air is such a critical issue.
More importantly, in one calendar year, WM's 1,000 natural gas trucks will eliminate the need for eight million gallons of petroleum and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45,100 tons.

Waste Management wheels out 1,000th natural gas garbage truck originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 16 Oct 2011 12:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cnggarbage trucknatural gasrefuserefuse trcukwaste managementSun, 16 Oct 2011 12:23:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20077005/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20077005/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2011/10/16/waste-management-wheels-out-1-000th-natural-gas-garbage-truck/20077005/article-detail.xml 20077005 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/waste_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/waste.jpg <![CDATA[Honda kicks off production of 2012 Civic Natural Gas]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/13/honda-kicks-off-production-of-2012-civic-natural-gas/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/13/honda-kicks-off-production-of-2012-civic-natural-gas/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/13/honda-kicks-off-production-of-2012-civic-natural-gas/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas

Let the natural gas revolution begin.

Tuesday marked the start of mass production of the 2012 Civic Natural Gas at Honda Manufacturing of Indiana (HMIN). HMIN will rapidly ramp-up output of the Civic Natural Gas to meet anticipated demand for the clean-burning compact.

As part of the ramp-up, HMIN has hired nearly 1,000 additional workers and will add a second shift on October 24 to double the facility's annual production capacity. Honda says the added production will be required to support the automaker's growing network of natural gas-certified dealers throughout the U.S. The number of qualified dealers will soon climb from 72 in four states to nearly 200 in 36 states.

The 2012 Civic Natural Gas is powered by the cleanest internal combustion engine ever certified by the EPA and is the only OEM-manufactured natural gas passenger vehicle available in America. The fully redesigned Civic Natural Gas will hit dealerships October 18 with an MSRP starting at $26,155.

Continue reading Honda kicks off production of 2012 Civic Natural Gas

Honda kicks off production of 2012 Civic Natural Gas originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>civic gxhonda civichonda natural gasnatural gas civicThu, 13 Oct 2011 16:15:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20079638/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20079638/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2011/10/13/honda-kicks-off-production-of-2012-civic-natural-gas/20079638/article-detail.xml 20079638 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/2012-honda-civic-gx-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/2012-honda-civic-gx-630.jpg <![CDATA[Ford Super Duty F-250, F-350 to be bi-fuel curious in 2012]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/04/ford-super-duty-f-250-f-350-to-be-bi-fuel-curious-in-2012/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/04/ford-super-duty-f-250-f-350-to-be-bi-fuel-curious-in-2012/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/04/ford-super-duty-f-250-f-350-to-be-bi-fuel-curious-in-2012/#commentsFiled under: ,

Ford F-Series Super Duty

Westport Innovations, a self-described global leader leader in alternative fuel, low-emissions transportation technologies, announced last Wednesday that it will transform select Ford F-Series Super Duty trucks into bi-fuel versions of their former selves in 2012.

Westport Innovation signed an agreement with Ford Motor - its second tie-up with a major U.S. automaker - to make available its bi-fuel (natural gas and gasoline) Westport WiNG Power System for 6.2-liter gas engine-equipped Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty trucks sold through Ford dealerships.

Westport says its WiNG system will be available on Super Duty trucks starting in the second quarter of 2012 and states that pickups equipped with its bi-fuel system will retain Ford's bumper-to-bumper and full powertrain warranty. Now, who's interested?

Continue reading Ford Super Duty F-250, F-350 to be bi-fuel curious in 2012

Ford Super Duty F-250, F-350 to be bi-fuel curious in 2012 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bi fuelbi-fueldual fuelfordford f-250ford f-350ford f-seriesford super dutypickuptruckwestportTue, 04 Oct 2011 10:40:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20071436/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20071436/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2011/10/04/ford-super-duty-f-250-f-350-to-be-bi-fuel-curious-in-2012/20071436/article-detail.xml 20071436 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/03fordsuperdutyfd2011opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/03fordsuperdutyfd2011opt.jpg <![CDATA[Global spending on advanced oil, gas exploration tech to hit $10.17 billion in 2011]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/09/30/global-spending-on-advanced-oil-gas-exploration-tech-to-hit-10/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/09/30/global-spending-on-advanced-oil-gas-exploration-tech-to-hit-10/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/09/30/global-spending-on-advanced-oil-gas-exploration-tech-to-hit-10/#commentsFiled under: ,

Shell Prelude FLNG

Although the Arctic has incredible potential energy resources - the United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimates 90 billion barrels of undiscovered oil and 1,668 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered gas - extracting that fuel will be costly.

A calculated and cautious approach to exploitation will be vital to optimal development, according to the UK-based analytical firm Visiongain. Due to the lack of geological data in the Arctic, oil and gas exploration and extraction will be a high-risk, massive-reward venture in which only the most experienced and wealthy of companies will compete.

Visiongain predicts that global spending on advanced oil and gas exploration technologies, including those used in the Arctic, will exceed $10.17 billion in 2011 and soar to exorbitant levels by 2021. Why all this spending? Well, as the world shifts to discovering hidden oil and gas deposits, the exploration industry will be required to use advanced surveying methods and outrageously expensive equipment. This kind of energy doesn't come cheap.

Continue reading Global spending on advanced oil, gas exploration tech to hit $10.17 billion in 2011

Global spending on advanced oil, gas exploration tech to hit $10.17 billion in 2011 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crude oilgasgas explorationgasolineoiloil explorationspendingvision gainvisiongainFri, 30 Sep 2011 20:01:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20065816/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20065816/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2011/09/30/global-spending-on-advanced-oil-gas-exploration-tech-to-hit-10/20065816/article-detail.xml 20065816 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/6a00d8341c4fbe53ef01538e979fcc970b-800wi_thumbnail.png http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/6a00d8341c4fbe53ef01538e979fcc970b-800wi.png <![CDATA[2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas priced from $26,155*]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/09/30/2012-honda-civic-natural-gas-priced-from-26-155/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/09/30/2012-honda-civic-natural-gas-priced-from-26-155/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/09/30/2012-honda-civic-natural-gas-priced-from-26-155/#commentsFiled under: ,

2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas

The totally redesigned 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas (formerly known as the Civic GX), America's only natural gas-burnin' passenger vehicle, will hit Honda dealerships nationwide on October 18 with a starting MSRP $26,155, (*excluding a $750 destination fee). Add in navigation, and the Civic Natural Gas tops out at a substantial $27,655 plus $750 for delivery.

A modified version of the 1.8-liter, four-cylinder found in the gas-fueled 2012 Civic Sedan and Coupe powers the Civic Natural Gas and a five-speed automatic transmission comes standard. The Civic Natural Gas is EPA-rated at 27/38/31 (city/highway/combined) miles per gasoline-gallon equivalent. Compared to the 2011 Civic GX, the 2012 Natural Gas boasts a 12.5-percent improvement in city fuel efficiency and a 5.5-percent bump in highway fuel economy.

But here's the crucial question: How does the Natural Gas stack up against its gas-electric sibling, the Civic Hybrid? Well, the Civic Hybrid starts at $24,800, so it's significantly cheaper than the Natural Gas Civic and, at 44/44/44, the gas-electric version is far more fuel efficient. But for residents of California, where unlimited access to HOV lanes is literally worth thousands of dollars, the Natural Gas Civic might still be the logical choice. The different costs and sources of the two fuels also plays a role, though the availability of said fuel clearly favors the Hybrid. Hit the jump for the official press blast.

Continue reading 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas priced from $26,155*

2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas priced from $26,155* originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 18:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 honda civic2012 honda civic natural gasciviccivic gxcivic natural gascnghondahonda civic natural gashonda cngnatural gasnatural gas vehiclepriceFri, 30 Sep 2011 18:44:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20070916/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20070916/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2011/09/30/2012-honda-civic-natural-gas-priced-from-26-155/20070916/article-detail.xml 20070916 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/2012-honda-civic-gx-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/2012-honda-civic-gx-630.jpg -1 2