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[Another study shows young people not so keen on driving]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/18/another-study-shows-young-people-not-so-keen-on-driving/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/18/another-study-shows-young-people-not-so-keen-on-driving/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/18/another-study-shows-young-people-not-so-keen-on-driving/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The automotive industry is getting more evidence that it's time to expand product offerings or switch over to another business. A new study by the US Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) says the "driving boom" is over. While Baby Boomers loved their cars, their kids - aka Gen Y or Millennials - have different idea.

From 2004 until 2012, the total miles traveled remained about the same, but the amount, per capita, decreased by one percent each year.

The numbers tell the story, and the total miles driven, per capita, in the US has been declining. While gasoline price spikes and the Great Recession play a role, the numbers have been dropping gradually since 2004. That marks the end of a 40-year driving boom that started up in 1964, according to the PIRG report. The number of miles driven by Americans increased each year an average of 2.5 percent per capita and 3.8 percent total during that time. From 2004 until 2012, the total miles traveled remained about the same, but the amount, per capita, decreased by one percent each year.

Urbanization appears to be causing some of the trend, and use of mass transit and carsharing has been increasing. On top of that, boomers are aging and will be driving less and Millenials don't like to drive as much. Automaker executives have been voicing concern that young people are much less interested in driving and owning cars then their predecessors. The PIRG report's authors are concerned that highway system authorities have been too focused on expanding the nation's roads rather than accurately gauging the landscape.

Another study shows young people not so keen on driving originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 18 May 2013 08:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baby boomerscar shoppersgenymillennialsyoung consumersSat, 18 May 2013 08:49:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20573135/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20573135/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/18/another-study-shows-young-people-not-so-keen-on-driving/20573135/article-detail.xml 20573135 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/young-motorists_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/young-motorists.jpg <![CDATA[XL Hybrids, Knapheide will offer aftermarket systems for commercial fleets]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/xl-hybrids-knapheide-offer-aftermarket-systems-commercial-fleets/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/xl-hybrids-knapheide-offer-aftermarket-systems-commercial-fleets/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/xl-hybrids-knapheide-offer-aftermarket-systems-commercial-fleets/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Hybrid electric vehicles are gaining appeal for fleets of all types as more models make it to showrooms bearing a variety of price tags. Even commercial fleets are finding more available products, from pickups and vans to medium-duty trucks. Now, there's a new option.

XL Hybrids, Inc., and the Knapheide Manufacturing Company announced an agreement for installation and distribution of XL Hybrids' low-cost hybrid electric powertrains, which are designed for class 1 to 3 commercial fleet vehicles. Knapheide is a longstanding commercial vehicle equipment provider in North America, and provides fleets with other alternative fuel vehicle choices.

The announcement was made at the 2014 GM Fleet and Commerical Product Preview, where the companies displayed a hybrid Chevrolet Express cargo van upfitted with XL Hyrids' powertrain system at Knapheide's booth. XL Hybrids' technology will be installed by Knapheide through its existing ship-through process, offering fleets a one-stop purchase, upfit, delivery and invoice experience. Nationwide delivery of converted hybrid 2014 Chevy Express and GMC Savana vans will start Aug. 1. 2013. XL Hybrids and Knapheide are also available for installation on what the press release refers to as "bailment pool vehicles," or as a retrofit for 2010 to 2013 GM cargo vans. Read it below for more details.

Continue reading XL Hybrids, Knapheide will offer aftermarket systems for commercial fleets

XL Hybrids, Knapheide will offer aftermarket systems for commercial fleets originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 16 May 2013 16:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cargo vanchevy expresscommercial fleetsgm fleethybridsxl hybridsThu, 16 May 2013 16:11:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20568755/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20568755/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/16/xl-hybrids-knapheide-offer-aftermarket-systems-commercial-fleets/20568755/article-detail.xml 20568755 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/chevy-express_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/chevy-express.jpg <![CDATA[Space-age electric tuk-tuk ready for taxi passengers in Philippines]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/23/electric-tuk-tuk-terra-motors-philippines/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/23/electric-tuk-tuk-terra-motors-philippines/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/23/electric-tuk-tuk-terra-motors-philippines/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Tuk-tuks are the three-wheeled passenger vehicles commonly used in Asia, and they're often noisy and most-certainly-not-emissions-free. To counter the current state, Japanese start-up company Terra Motors has launched an electric tuk-tuk and thinks its electric tricycle will be a cost competitive taxi in Asia.

The company plans to build the car in the Philippines and start selling it later this year for about $6,300. It can go about 31 miles on a two-hour charge, which could propose a bit of a limitation for all-day taxi use. This three-wheeler ties into a national program in the Philippines to replace 100,000 gas-powered tuk-tuks with more efficient, cost-effective EVs by 2016.

Drivers can acquire the Terra tuk-tuk on a lease-to-own basis. The idea is to save drivers money by offering lower fuel costs while reducing air pollution in densely populated urban areas. The challenge is that drivers can buy a gas-powered tuk-tuk for somewhere between $1,000 and $1,500, and those don't have a 31-mile range limitation. Still, plans call for the company to expand the business to the broader Asian market while continuing to work on hitting the right price point, according to Terra Motors director of business development Tetsuya Ohashi.

Terra Motors is counting on consumers enjoying the space-age design and ample interior seating. Investors such as former top executives at Apple Japan, Google Japan, Sony and Compaq have been impressed by Terra's plans, despite a small number of Chinese companies also marketing electric tuk-tuks. Of all the e-tuk-tuk builders, Terra is considered the most ambitious and you can see a TV news report on the company's six-seat taxi video below.

Continue reading Space-age electric tuk-tuk ready for taxi passengers in Philippines

Space-age electric tuk-tuk ready for taxi passengers in Philippines originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric vehiclejapanphillipinestaxiterra motorsthree wheelertuktukTue, 23 Apr 2013 17:45:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20545486/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20545486/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/23/electric-tuk-tuk-terra-motors-philippines/20545486/article-detail.xml 20545486 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/terra-motors-three-wheeler_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/terra-motors-three-wheeler.jpg <![CDATA[Exposure to smog while pregnant increases chance of childhood cancer]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/16/smog-exposure-pregnant-link-childhood-cancer/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/16/smog-exposure-pregnant-link-childhood-cancer/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/16/smog-exposure-pregnant-link-childhood-cancer/#commentsFiled under: ,



There's more scientific research on the hazardous impacts of air pollution. Researchers at the Universirty of California, Los Angeles School of Public Health have found that living near traffic pollution during pregnancy and the first year of life might increase the likelihood of developing childhood cancer.

The study has yet to provide evidence that traffic pollution causes childhood cancer, but it does suggest exposure increases risk.

Researchers have collected data on children diagnosed with cancer before the age of six and their local traffic exposure. The higher the level of traffic pollution, the higher the odds for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (white blood cell cancer), germ cell tumors (cancers of the testicles, ovaries and other organs) and eye cancer, according to their study. The study has yet to provide evidence that traffic pollution causes childhood cancer, said lead researcher Julia Heck, an assistant researcher in the department of epidemiology, adding that the study does suggest exposure to traffic pollution might increase risk for childhood cancers.

Southern California is known for its smog. The state's topography and its warm, sunny climate form and trap air pollutants and create smog, according to the California Air Resources Board. For Dr. Rubin Cohen, director of Adult Cystic Fibrosis and Bronchiectasis Center at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, NY, there's yet to be a direct correlation between smog and childhood cancer. "There has been an association between air pollution and other diseases," Cohen said. "We know that pollution causes asthma, and that is probably more real than the cancer issue."

Children exposed to air pollution are at higher risk of getting asthma, according to findings from researchers in Europe who studied children in 10 cities. Another study at a Southern California university has found that autism in children is another risk factor for those living in high air pollution zones.

As for cancer, the World Health Organization has linked exposure to air pollution from diesel engines to lung and bladder cancers. So, until tailpipe emissions are substantially reduced, those living living near traffic-packed roads - especially pregnant women and families with young children - are at risk.

Exposure to smog while pregnant increases chance of childhood cancer originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>air pollutionasthmacanceremissionspregnancysmogtraffic pollutionTue, 16 Apr 2013 19:53:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20542577/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20542577/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/16/smog-exposure-pregnant-link-childhood-cancer/20542577/article-detail.xml 20542577 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/truck-on-highway_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/truck-on-highway.jpg <![CDATA[Continental's digital key for EV carsharing points to a new way forward]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/11/continentals-digital-key-for-ev-carsharing-points-to-a-new-way/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/11/continentals-digital-key-for-ev-carsharing-points-to-a-new-way/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/11/continentals-digital-key-for-ev-carsharing-points-to-a-new-way/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Continental digital key carsharing

Electric vehicle carsharing is getting major buy-in from Zipcar, Car2go, and others. What about EV owners? Automotive supplier Continental thinks there's a technology that could revolutionize spontaneous rental of shared cars - a smartphone app!

For short-term EV drivers who want to live off their smartphones, the opportunities are impressive. Reserving and unlocking EVs, getting them set up remotely for charging stations and reserving quick charging are just some of the smartphone apps Continental is working on.

This is all a bit more complicated than downloading an app. Continental is developing a digital car key wirelessly installed in a smartphone along with a special utility program for cell phones. Continental's digital car key exchanges data with the vehicle using near field communication (NFC). An encrypted forgery-proof data record is sent to the phone each time the vehicle is about to be used. The data is stored in the phone's SIM card and contains access authorization for that vehicle. The NFC verifies access to the vehicle and grants permission to start the engine.

For now, Continental is testing the technology in a fleet of vehicles in Bordeaux, France, with four other companies - Veolia, EVTRONIC, Mercur and Proxiway. The project's goal is to create solutions that small and medium enterprises could use for carsharing. As a technology partner in the project, Continental is launching a complete carsharing solution, including the smartphone car key, in-car electronics, and fleet management functions.

Continue reading Continental's digital key for EV carsharing points to a new way forward

Continental's digital key for EV carsharing points to a new way forward originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 11 Apr 2013 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car2gocarsharingcell phoneschargingcontinentalelectric vehiclesevsfast chargingmobile appssmartphoneszipcarThu, 11 Apr 2013 08:02:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20534597/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20534597/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/11/continentals-digital-key-for-ev-carsharing-points-to-a-new-way/20534597/article-detail.xml 20534597 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/continental-digital-key-carsharing_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/continental-digital-key-carsharing.jpg <![CDATA[Zappos CEO will share 100 Tesla Model S EVs in Las Vegas Downtown Project]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/08/zappos-ceo-share-100-tesla-model-s-evs-las-vegas-downtow-project/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/08/zappos-ceo-share-100-tesla-model-s-evs-las-vegas-downtow-project/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/08/zappos-ceo-share-100-tesla-model-s-evs-las-vegas-downtow-project/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

tesla model s

Tesla may be claiming a real-world cost of $500 a month to lease/own a Model S, but if you live in downtown Las Vegas, you can get 100 Model S vehicles, all the bus rides you want and access to 100 bikeshare bikes - as well as a collection of 100 neighborhood electric vehicles - for under $400 a month. One minor detail: you don't get to actually drive the Model S.

Called Project 100, the idea is part of the Downtown Project by Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh. For now, the beta project is invite-only and still in the planning stages, writes GigaOM. The Verge says that the monthly cost should be less than $400, because that "represents an average car payment plus insurance." GigaOM says tiered pricing will be available.

Project 100 will be app-based, and using that app, you can call up one of 100 Model S taxi, unlock the bicycles and NEVs or ride the buses to any of 100 stops. Think of it as mobility sharing, with Teslas - and a high price tag.

Continue reading Zappos CEO will share 100 Tesla Model S EVs in Las Vegas Downtown Project

Zappos CEO will share 100 Tesla Model S EVs in Las Vegas Downtown Project originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 08 Apr 2013 10:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carsharingdowntown projectelectric vehicleteslatesla model stony hseihzapposMon, 08 Apr 2013 10:18:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20533593/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20533593/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/08/zappos-ceo-share-100-tesla-model-s-evs-las-vegas-downtow-project/20533593/article-detail.xml 20533593 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/model-s-alpha-black_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/model-s-alpha-black.jpg <![CDATA[Ford scion invests in Masabi, makers of public transportation ticket app]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/21/ford-scion-invests-in-masabi-makers-of-public-transportation-ti/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/21/ford-scion-invests-in-masabi-makers-of-public-transportation-ti/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/21/ford-scion-invests-in-masabi-makers-of-public-transportation-ti/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Masabi's JustRide app

If you've ever wanted to joke about something that would make Henry Ford roll over in his grave, this could be the time. The automaker's founder's great-grandson appears to be staking some of his financial future on train tickets.

In this case, Bill Ford, Jr. and his venture-capital firm Fontinalis Partners are leading a $2.8-million financing round for London-based Masabi, Giga Om says. Masabi is the developer of JustRide, a cloud-computing based app that lets smartphone owners hop out of their private vehicles and buy and store transit tickets on their mobile devices.

Lest anyone believe that it's a foolish bet, JustRide appears to be gaining popularity rapidly. Launched in November, JustRide has processed about $50 million in mobile transit tickets. The service also won a contract to provide mobile-transit tickets for Boston's Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

Actually, despite our lede, the Ford company is already involved in shifting from just cars to focusing on mobility. The company is working with Zipcar and recently announced Ford2go.

Ford scion invests in Masabi, makers of public transportation ticket app originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appbill fordfontinalisfordhenry fordjr.justridemasabitrainThu, 21 Mar 2013 14:06:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20512027/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20512027/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/21/ford-scion-invests-in-masabi-makers-of-public-transportation-ti/20512027/article-detail.xml 20512027 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/justride_thumbnail.png http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/justride.png <![CDATA[How private passenger cars are the landline phones of the future]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/17/how-private-passenger-cars-are-the-landline-phones-of-the-future/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/17/how-private-passenger-cars-are-the-landline-phones-of-the-future/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/17/how-private-passenger-cars-are-the-landline-phones-of-the-future/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Passenger might one day go the way of landline telephones. Everyone was dependent upon them until, somehow, mobile phones became ubiquitous and landlines began fading away. Maurie Cohen, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Environment Science at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, says the analogy is a good one.

"If we're 100 years into the automobile era, it seems pretty inconceivable that the car as we know it is going to be around for another 100 years," Cohen said in an interview with The Atlantic Cities. While automobiles remain embedded in communities around the world, they're likely to follow other icons in transportation history including the sailboat, steamship, canal system, carriage and streetcar. All of these technologies became pervasive and were gradually replaced by the next generation transportation modes - similar to what's happening with phones.

As for what's next, there won't any "cataclysmic moment," Cohen said. "Like any other technology that outlives its usefulness, it just sort of disappears into the background and we slowly forget about it," he said. That's what telephone communications are going through now - your grandmother might still use her landline, but for how long?

Transportation technology change does take a long time - perhaps longer than 100 years. Automobile history was preceded by steam-powered vehicles and the first internal combustion engine. Early car prototypes blew up, wreaking fear on the public. Cars had to become trustworthy and the infrastructure had to follow - roads, gas stations and repair shops - to allow cars to become widely accepted. We saw a video on this very subject just the other day.

There are several signs the era of cars is passing. New vehicle registrations have plateaued in the US even as the population grows. Twentysomethings are less likely to own cars because many just don't care about them, unlike Baby Boomers. So what's next for transportation? Autonomous cars, smart transportation systems, car sharing, and the growing popularity of biking and pedestrian traffic in urban environments are useful indicators to look at.

Cohen thinks it's wise to watch transportation trends in China. While cars were largely developed in the US to fit the American landscape of wide-open spaces and brand-new communities, China faces entirely different conditions. What works in one place might not work elsewhere, Cohen says, and we could see a replay of how the car never worked as well in Florence as it did in Detroit.

How private passenger cars are the landline phones of the future originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 17 Mar 2013 16:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bollore, the company that supplies electric cars to the Paris carsharing service Autolib, will begin selling the vehicles for a rock-bottom 12,000 euros (US$15,550). That sounds good, but remember that that's without a battery, which buyers would have to rent with a monthly service plan.

It sounds revolutionary, but it's really no different than buying a flatscreen HD TV and renting monthly access to cable channels. Or, buying the latest iPhone or Android smartphone or tablet and renting monthly access to call out and access the internet.

The monthly fee for Bollore battery rental is 80 Euros for unlimited mileage. The 12,000-Euro price for the Bluecar is more than 10 percent less than for the Renault Zoe, which starts at 13,650 Euros. According to L'energie D'avancer, the small Bollore Bluecar four-seater has a top speed of around 75 miles per hour and a surprising range of up to 155 miles on a full charge.

Right now, Bollore's only model is the Bluecar, the same model used by Autolib. The carsharing service currently has more than 65,000 subscribers, and boasts more than 4,000 dedicated parking spaces in and around Paris. Unfortunately for Bluecar buyers, they would not be able to use these dedicated spaces, which often are in desirable spots.

Bollore Bluecar EV priced at 12,000 euros, plus 80-euro/month battery lease originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autolibbattery leasebluecarbollorecarsharingelectric vehicleWed, 13 Mar 2013 17:04:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20488083/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20488083/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/13/bollore-bluecar-ev-priced-at-12-000-euros-plus-80-euro-month-ba/20488083/article-detail.xml 20488083 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/bollore-bluecar628p_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/bollore-bluecar628p.jpg <![CDATA[WA state representative argues bikes pollute more than cars, backpedals]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/08/wa-state-representative-argues-bikes-pollute-more-than-cars-bac/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/08/wa-state-representative-argues-bikes-pollute-more-than-cars-bac/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/08/wa-state-representative-argues-bikes-pollute-more-than-cars-bac/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

WA state representative Ed Orcutt - headshotIsn't bicycling supposed to reduce carbon emissions and free up traffic jam congestion? Well, it's actually making matters worse, argues a state representative from Washington. "You would be giving off more CO2 if you are riding a bike than driving in a car," claims Ed Orcutt (R - Kalama, WA).

The state rep reportedly explained the situation in a letter to a constituent. Said constituent had questioned the wisdom of a new Washington bike tax that the legislature is considering as part of a large transportation package. According to Orcutt, a cyclist "has an increased heart rate and respiration. That means that the act of riding a bike results in greater emissions of carbon dioxide from the rider."

For any bike riding activists already annoyed with Orcutt, he goes even further: Orcutt argues people who ride bikes do not pay for the roads when they ride. So, they're getting a free ride and polluting the atmosphere while doing it.

Orcutt would eventually back down from his bizarre "bike riding produces pollution" diatribe. In an email to Seattle Bike Blog, he wrote, "First of all, let me apologize for the carbon emissions line of an e-mail which has caused so much concern within the bicycle community. It was over the top and I admit is not one which should enter into the conversation regarding bicycles."

WA state representative argues bikes pollute more than cars, backpedals originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford of Germany's Ford2Go car-sharing service

With more than a half-million words in the English language and 10 digits to choose from, Ford had ample opportunity to not name its new European carsharing service pretty much the same as a competing service operated by Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler. Alas, opportunity squandered.

Sometime before June, Ford of Europe will debut its Ford2go car-sharing service in Germany. Through Ford2go, more than 500 vehicles, including models like the Ka compact and Transit Custom Van, will be made available to subscribers throughout the country. Ford will work with DB Rent, which operates Germany's Flinkster car-sharing service, on Ford2go.

The automaker cited a poll of more than 6,000 Europeans taken last summer that said about 56 percent of the driving public would consider car sharing as a way to cut transportation costs.

Maybe they were thinking of Car2go. That service, which offers Smart ForTwo vehicles available for short-term carsharing, was started by Daimler in Ulm, Germany in 2008 and now has 18 locations worldwide, including Berlin, Dusseldorf and Hamburg. In fact, Car2Go debuted in Berlin last April with 1,000 cars, the company's largest fleet.

Ford made its first notable impact in the car-sharing world when US car-sharing leader Zipcar said in 2011 that it would buy 1,000 Fords, including Focus and Escape models, for service at more than 250 US college campuses. Check out the Ford2go press release below.

Continue reading Ford will start familiar-sounding Ford2go carsharing service in Germany

Ford will start familiar-sounding Ford2go carsharing service in Germany originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 07 Mar 2013 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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zipcar mazda3

It's not exactly a surprise, but that hipster on the barstool over there will be more miffed if you take his iPhone or laptop than his car. That is, if he owns a car at all.

That's the gist of a survey released by carsharing leader Zipcar, which says young people between 18- and 34-years-old are more likely to be disrupted by the loss of their phone or computer than their car. Many of those surveyed indicated that they often use smartphone apps to reduce driving, either by finding public-transportation methods or communicating with friends virtually rather than in person. Details are in Zipcar's press release, below.

These results mirror those from a similar Zipcar study released 14 months ago, when 55 percent said they were "actively" trying to drive less. That was an increase from 2010, when the number was 45 percent. People between 18 and 34, aka "Millennials," are also about twice as likely to use transportation-related apps than those over 45. The new poll, conducted last December by KRC Research, surveyed about 1,000 people, many of which own pork-pie hats, we suspect.

Continue reading Zipcar survey says younger drivers more dependent on phones than cars

Zipcar survey says younger drivers more dependent on phones than cars originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 01 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car sharingcarsharingmillennialpollsurveyzipcarFri, 01 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20483383/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20483383/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/01/zipcar-survey-says-younger-drivers-more-dependent-on-phones-than/20483383/article-detail.xml 20483383 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/zipcar-mazda3-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/zipcar-mazda3-628.jpg <![CDATA[Zipcar plugs Honda Fit EVs into Portland fleet]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/28/zipcar-plugs-honda-fit-evs-into-portland-fleet/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/28/zipcar-plugs-honda-fit-evs-into-portland-fleet/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/28/zipcar-plugs-honda-fit-evs-into-portland-fleet/#commentsFiled under: , ,

honda fit ev

Portland, OR, is a smart place to go if you're in the car sharing or electric vehicle business. It's a town where it's cool to recycle, to embrace your eclectic or idiosyncratic side and to check out carsharing and electric vehicles.

Zipcar and Honda are betting on Portland, and will be expanding their carsharing partnership there. The carsharing giant is adding a number of 2013 Honda Fit EVs to its Portland fleet, with the first ones rolling on campus at Portland State University There are a number of charging stations in town already, and Ecotality will be providing Blink charging stations and access to its network, where Zipcar members can make reservations to charge the cars.

Portland State University made sense for Zipcar, what with its commitment to environmentally conscious innovations and Electric Avenue charging stations on campus and all. The new Fit EVs start at $10.25 an hour. Members who book Fit EVs in Portland will have full access to the Blink charging network throughout the Portland area. Every Fit EV in the Zipcar network comes equipped with a Blink InCard, providing complimentary access to Blink Network charging stations.

Continue reading Zipcar plugs Honda Fit EVs into Portland fleet

Zipcar plugs Honda Fit EVs into Portland fleet originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 28 Feb 2013 10:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There are quite a few taxi operators testing out electric cars by adding Nissan Leaf EVs to their fleets - whether that be New York (pictured), Hong Kong or Mexico City. It's a channel for the global automaker to sell more of the cars and give more people their own experience of being transported in a Leaf. But there can be a downside.

The experiment hasn't gone well in Osaka, Japan, where many cab owners and drivers can't wait to drive a non-Leaf taxi. In February 2011, the city made a deal with Nissan and 30 taxi firms to bring in 50 Nissan Leaf taxis. The Leafs were subsidized with incentives from the city and the national government that brought the price down to 1,780,000 yen (about $21,000 US) for the taxi firms.

Taxi drivers liked the Leafs at first. One taxi driver loved the Leaf and told Japan Today: "There's no vibration or knocks from the engine. They just glide smoothly. The electric power is far cheaper than outlays for gasoline, and there are few mechanical failures. Eventually we're certain that EV taxis will become the most common type on the road."

The driver's prediction was way off the mark. The Leafs are being utilized only about half as much as regular taxis in Osaka. The problem started right after the March 2011 Fukushima nuclear meltdown, right after the Leafs were delivered to the taxi fleets. Electricity had been an appealing alternative to gasoline for taxis as a clean, safe, and non-polluting source of energy. The positive image faded as electricity became scarce and the source of the power was called into question.

The cars themselves became another problem for taxi drivers - more specifically, the battery pack performance declined. "When the cars were new, you could drive about 100 kilometers (about 62 miles) on a full charge; but after two years of use, their maximum range is down to about one half of that. So you have to refuse passengers who request long trips," a taxi driver said.

On cold days, some taxi drivers even shun the heater and offer passengers chemical pocket warmers and blankets.

Charging has brought another wall to climb. Taxi drivers had been able to charge in about 15 minutes, but, recently, it has been taking 40 minutes or more. There are only eight charging stations in Osaka, and driving around to find them takes time out of finding potential rides. The problem gets worse on cold-weather days, when using the heater consumers more electricity - some drivers even shun the heater and offer passengers chemical pocket warmers and blankets. It's become a money-losing proposition for taxi drivers and owners.

What makes matters worse is that the government subsidy was a three-year program, and there's one more year left before the taxi operators can bring in a more practical car. "I'm getting out of this business," one of the Osaka cabbies said. "This is no way to earn a living."

With blankets in cold weather, Nissan Leaf taxi experiment not working in Osaka originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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bmw divenow

Carsharing venture DriveNow GmbH, owned by BMW and European rental company Sixt AG, is expected to be profitable this year, the first time that will happen since starting up two years ago. BMW hopes to overtake German rival Daimler (with Car2go) in this growing space as urban consumers become more interested in transportation alternatives like carsharing.

Since starting in May 2011, DriveNow has taken root in four German cities, and any further expansions will be limited to where the project can make money, said Andreas Schaaf, the partnership's managing director. This is certainly possible, since two more locations are on schedule to be added, one in Germany and another elsewhere in Europe, sometime this year. "We could expand quicker, but we want to prove that the business can be profitable," Schaaf said in an interview with Bloomberg. DriveNow offers a variety of BMW group vehicles, including Mini models and decidedly ungreen BMWs like the M3 and M6.

Carsharing is taking off in Europe and Frost & Sullivan predicts that it may surge 20-fold to almost 15 million users in Europe by 2020. This in a market that sold 12.5 million new cars last year. Analysts predict growth in North America, too, but not as fast as in Europe, which helps explain the recent acquisition of Zipcar by car rental giant Avis.

Daimler has had a strong carsharing presence in North America and Europe through its Car2go service. Daimler expects that Car2go will achieve break even financial status in 2014. Right now, the subsidiary is profitable in three of 18 cities where it operates, Daimler says. Car2go was started by Daimler as a pilot program in Germany in late 2008; showing that it does take a while to make carsharing worthwhile. A car company that can make it work, though, is pioneering a new way to make money by not selling cars.

BMW's DriveNow carsharing arm now turning a profit originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 12 Feb 2013 13:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Here's an unsurprising fact: Big Oil is making huge profits. Here's one that might catch your eye: car owners are spending nearly as much gassing up as they paid to buy their car.

Crunching a few numbers, the Union of Concerned Scientists spells out in a new report how consumers could be saving thousands through buying a fuel-efficient vehicle. Oh, and buying oil company stock is basically futile.

Last year, ExxonMobil and Chevron posted near-record profits of $44.9 billion and $26.2 billion, respectively. Whenever someone pumps their tank at a gas station, if they're spending $50, $33 will go directly to oil companies. If the driver bought the car in 2011 and drives it for 15 years (longer than the roughly 11-year lifetime of typical vehicles on American roads), they would be spending more than $22,000 on gasoline, $14,000 of which goes directly to oil companies.

Gas stations aren't making that much money off drivers filling up their tanks - only about 81 cents of an average $50 fueling go to the local gas station owner. "In the end, gas stations make more money off the bottled water, beef jerky, and other things you buy inside than off the fuel you buy outside," said Joshua Goldman, the report's author and policy analyst for UCS's Clean Vehicles program.

Drivers owning shares in oil company stock are not going to make back their money spent at the gas pump. An average driver with $20,000 in ExxonMobil stock would see less than a penny of growth in their stock investment after you account for spending about $1,700 over the course of a year for filling up at ExxonMobil gas stations, according to the UCS.

Spending more on fuel-efficient vehicles like a hybrid is worth it over the vehicle's lifecycle cost, the Union of Concerned Scientists says. For example, a Ford Fusion SE Hybrid may cost $3,500 more than its base conventional gas model, but consumes $9,000 less in gasoline over its lifetime.

Continue reading UCS: Buying an efficient car takes a bite out of Big Oil

UCS: Buying an efficient car takes a bite out of Big Oil originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 06 Feb 2013 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fuel costfuel efficient vehiclesgas priceshybridsoil companiesstock marketWed, 06 Feb 2013 19:27:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20448298/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20448298/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/06/ucs-buying-an-efficient-car-takes-a-bite-out-of-big-oil/20448298/article-detail.xml 20448298 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/pumping-gas_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/pumping-gas.jpg <![CDATA[Has "peak car" already happened? Are automakers becoming mobility companies?]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/28/peak-car-automakers-mobility/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/28/peak-car-automakers-mobility/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/28/peak-car-automakers-mobility/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



The mood at the 2013 North American International Auto Show has been more than upbeat for automakers. Lots of new models and concept cars have been unveiled and automakers think it will be a good year for a solid sales increase. Quartz writer Tim Fernholz looked at it from another angle, raising some big questions. What if this post-economic crisis renaissance is short lived? Is the world approaching "peak car" - when demand for cars declines? And will the role of manufacturers change from automakers to "enablers of mobility?"

The International Transport Forum at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reports that growth in total vehicle miles traveled has been steadily declining since the early 2000s across the developed world. As the chart above shows, in the US, car trip miles may have peaked in 2007 and declined ever since, according to Advisor Perspectives.

Fernholz sees several possible reasons for this global trend - the increasing cost of fuel, insurance and parking during a time of stagnant wage growth; government policy changes emanating from concern over climate change and pollution; attempts to reduce urban sprawl in places like Beijing; and social and cultural changes. Communications technology breakthroughs mean less people commuting to work and leisure and urbanization is replacing suburban sprawl in some areas. Then there are young people with much less interest in buying cars - the car isn't the same status symbol or rite of passage for Millennials as it has been for Boomers.

Ferholz points to Ford as an example of global automakers starting to accept changing social trends in the developing world. Last year at a media conference, Sheryl Connelly, the company's futurist, walked journalists through a number of the trends mentioned above, and defined Ford's mission as a transition from an automaker to "enablers of mobility." Ford is adapting to cultural trends through actions like a partnership with Zipcar to reach young consumers more interested in vehicle access than ownership. We've heard this sort of thing from Ford before, and we'd add Daimler to the list, mostly because of it leadership in Car2go.

Other car companies have comparable strategies for dealing with what they're calling "global gridlock." Over the coming decades, perhaps the most interesting aspect of the "auto" industry is how their identities transform from vehilce manufacturers to enablers of mobility.

Has "peak car" already happened? Are automakers becoming mobility companies? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 28 Jan 2013 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While some hipsters were bummed out by the idea of car rental giant Avis owning quirky car sharing innovator Zipcar, US regulators will probably approve the deal. That's what Reuters found out after conducting an informal poll of nine antitrust experts. While several of them feared loss of the lively upstart business, eight of the nine experts think that US regulators will approve the deal.

Zipcar and other car sharing providers have been popular with Millennial urban dwellers - from young, monied professionals who want to live car-free to broke college students who can get behind the wheel of a car for $11.25 an hour right in their neighborhood.

Ilana Preuss, a Washington community development advocate and Zipcar driver, speaks for this legion of car sharing fans. "My first reaction was concern because I have been very excited to see the significant growth of startups (like Zipcar and other car-sharing companies)," she told Reuters. "One nightmare would be they ruin the customer service of Zipcar, the friendliness of Zipcar."

Avis will be paying about $500 million in cash for Zipcar, which made up a 49 percent premium in the company at the time of the January 2 acquisition. If this acquisition is approved by federal regulators, Avis would take the lead in the $22 billion US car sharing market, over Hertz Global and Enterprise. Hertz and Enterprise dominate car rental market segments but have had limited presence in car sharing.

The Federal Trade Commission will probably review the Zipcar deal for antitrust concerns since it also looked at the Hertz acquisition of Dollar. But most of the interviewed antitrust experts don't expect Avis to face stiff regulatory headwinds. "I don't think there's any barriers to entry here," said David Balto, a veteran of the FTC and Justice Department now in private practice.

Avis' Zipcar buy likely to be approved by antitrust legislators originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 22 Jan 2013 08:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitionaviscar rentalcar sharingcarsharingenterprisefederal regulatorshertzzipcarTue, 22 Jan 2013 08:03:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20430296/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20430296/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/22/avis-zipcar-buy-likely-to-be-approved-by-antitrust-legislators/20430296/article-detail.xml 20430296 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/zipcar-and-avis-deal_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/zipcar-and-avis-deal.jpg <![CDATA[Does Zipcar's "Gas Is On Us" encourage waste?]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/18/does-zipcars-gas-is-on-us-encourage-waste/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/18/does-zipcars-gas-is-on-us-encourage-waste/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/18/does-zipcars-gas-is-on-us-encourage-waste/#commentsFiled under: , ,

zipcar video gas is on us

When you watch the Zipcar video "How to Zip: Fill 'er Up" (embedded below) you'll see a Zipcar customer finding out he needs to stop at a gas station. There's a Zipcar co-pilot in the backseat who gives him friendly, detailed instructions on how to get reimbursed for filling up the gas tank.

He's given step-by-step instructions on using the Zipcar gas card. You swipe it at the pump like any payment card, enter some numbers from your zipcard and enter the car's mileage on the odometer. Make sure you put in the right type of gas, though, since fancier cars take premium. Keep the receipt, since Zipcar will reimburse you later. The video ends with: "Got that?" and then, "Gas is on us. So go nuts!"

Free gasoline sounds like a real benefit to using Zipcar. After all, you have to pay for all your own gasoline when renting a car, such as through Zipcar's potential new parent company, Avis. But AutoblogGreen reader Aaron Desatnick raises a question: "So [Zipcar is] advocating that people treat fuel like its endless and there's no cost?" Does that make sense? Does it get to a deeper conundrum about Zipcar and car sharing programs in general - what is their real purpose? A recent study wondered if carsharing is a "romanticized view of access understood as a form of collaborative consumption and altruistically motivated"?

Desatnick's question also raises the practical issue of reducing fuel consumption, which is supposed to be one of the benefits for car sharing. So, a question for AutoblogGreen readers might be: Do you think "wasting" gas, even when car sharing, is a good idea?

Continue reading Does Zipcar's "Gas Is On Us" encourage waste?

Does Zipcar's "Gas Is On Us" encourage waste? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 18 Jan 2013 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car sharingfuel cardfuel consumptionfuel efficiencygas cardgas stationpayment cardzipcarFri, 18 Jan 2013 19:26:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20428912/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20428912/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/18/does-zipcars-gas-is-on-us-encourage-waste/20428912/article-detail.xml 20428912 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/zipcar-gas-card_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/zipcar-gas-card.jpg <![CDATA[Zipcar offering no-membership-fee weekday driving deal in Canada]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/07/zipcar-offering-no-membership-fee-weekday-driving-deal-in-canada/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/07/zipcar-offering-no-membership-fee-weekday-driving-deal-in-canada/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/07/zipcar-offering-no-membership-fee-weekday-driving-deal-in-canada/#commentsFiled under: ,



Zipcar is testing out a pilot program it calls the "Access Plan" in Toronto and Vancouver, Canada, that requires no annual fee. It's a weekday program available only Monday through Friday - excluding holidays - that allows members to drive some Zipcars and Zipvans (where available) at a lower cost.

The program's hourly or daily rates include gasoline, insurance and limited kilometers per day (125 kilometers versus 200 km for the existing plan). The hourly rates are the same as a regular Zipcar plan - starting at $9 (Canadian) an hour in Toronto ($78 per day), and $8 in Vancouver ($72 per day). Cars can be reserved for as short as an hour, or for multiple days. A one-time insurance background check, which also costs money, is required. Scroll below for more information on the plan.

The company is offering its Access Plan to meet a broader array of consumer needs, said Scott Griffin, chairman and CEO of Zipcar. It also gives renewing members a new option if they're infrequent drivers but prefer to keep their membership active without an annual fee. The plan is targeted to consumers who are looking to use Zipcar as a second car, need access to Zipvans for moves and transporting bulky items and are looking for other options in trying out Zipcar, the company said.

Last week, rental car giant Avis announced an acquisition of Zipcar. Bernstein Liebhard LLP quickly followed up with an announcement of an investigation into the deal, wondering if Zipcar "breached its fiduciary duty to its shareholders in agreeing to sell Zipcar to Avis Budget Group, Inc."

Continue reading Zipcar offering no-membership-fee weekday driving deal in Canada

Zipcar offering no-membership-fee weekday driving deal in Canada originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 07 Jan 2013 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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