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[The lure of the plug: two-thirds of Chevy Volt buyers trade in non-GM vehicle]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/chevy-volt-buyers-trade-in-non-gm-vehicles/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/chevy-volt-buyers-trade-in-non-gm-vehicles/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/chevy-volt-buyers-trade-in-non-gm-vehicles/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

red chevy volt

Whaddya think, that Volt buyers were trading in a Cadillac for their new plug-ins? Nope. Most buyers of Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in vehicles are coming in from outside of the General Motors family, the automaker says.

About two-thirds of Volt buyers are trading in non-GM cars, and more than 90 percent of recently surveyed Volt drivers said they'd buy another one. This fits with the results of a Consumer Reports survey on vehicle owner satisfaction released late last year. GM says the Toyota Prius hybrid is the most common vehicle sacrificed traded-in for the Volt, followed by the Toyota Camry, Honda Civic and BMW 3 Series cars.

GM is looking to drum up more sales for the Volt, which missed sales targets last year but is showing signs of life in 2011. Through April 2012, Volt sales tripled from a year earlier to 5,377 units, or about two-thirds of what GM sold during all of 2011.

Continue reading The lure of the plug: two-thirds of Chevy Volt buyers trade in non-GM vehicle

The lure of the plug: two-thirds of Chevy Volt buyers trade in non-GM vehicle originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 24 May 2012 19:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chevroletchevrolet voltchevy voltelectric vehiclegeneral motorsplug-in hybridpriustoyotatoyota priustrade involtThu, 24 May 2012 19:46:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20244533/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20244533/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/24/chevy-volt-buyers-trade-in-non-gm-vehicles/20244533/article-detail.xml 20244533 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/volt0309-1337884449_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/volt0309-1337884449.jpg <![CDATA[Plug-in vehicle drivers often get lower insurance rates]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/plug-in-vehicle-drivers-often-get-lower-insurance-rates/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/plug-in-vehicle-drivers-often-get-lower-insurance-rates/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/plug-in-vehicle-drivers-often-get-lower-insurance-rates/#commentsFiled under: , ,

silver chevy volt

Plug-in vehicle drivers are probably less likely to get cited for shredding rubber or doing 80 in a 50 zone and, apparently, insurance companies are taking note.

Drivers of vehicles like the Nissan Leaf battery electric and Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in hybrid pay, on average, lower insurance premiums than their conventional-vehicle counterparts, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Companies like Hartford Insurance have started offering a five percent discount for U.S. electric vehicle drivers, apparently taking into account statistics that show that these drivers tend not to speed or rear-end other folks, the publication reported.

Of course, there are some insurance companies that charge more to insure plug-ins because of their higher price tag, compared to gas-powered vehicles of a similar class. Still, on average, EV drivers appear to be paying less. Specifically, a typical Leaf driver pays about 15 percent less than a driver of a Nissan Maxima, whose base price is about 15 percent less than the Leaf's.



Plug-in vehicle drivers often get lower insurance rates originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 24 May 2012 10:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>edmunds.comelectric vehicleelectric vehicle insuranceinsuranceinsurance premiumsplug-in hybridplug-in vehicle insuranceThu, 24 May 2012 10:13:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20243887/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20243887/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/24/plug-in-vehicle-drivers-often-get-lower-insurance-rates/20243887/article-detail.xml 20243887 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/chevyvolt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/chevyvolt.jpg <![CDATA[Hollywood Electrics offers up Zero Cafe Racer, other customizations]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/hollywood-electrics-zero-cafe-racer-customization/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/hollywood-electrics-zero-cafe-racer-customization/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/hollywood-electrics-zero-cafe-racer-customization/#commentsFiled under: , ,

hollywood electric zero cafe racer

Hollywood Electrics isn't Zero Motorcycles' top dealership by accident. The retail shop is all in on all-electrics, and it doesn't stop at simple sales and service. It also offers unique personalizations of the bikes it sells, along with complete custom creations. Its newest product takes that revamp ethos to eleven: introducing the Zero Cafe Racer with iPad integration.

The first bike to benefit from this reimagining is a 2010 trade in, but the package can be fitted to 2012 models as well. The bike has been stripped of most of its original bodywork and given a classic cafe racer seat and tail stock, with sweet LED brake and signal lights neatly assimilated. The tank gets a modern twist with an embedded - and removable - iPad that handles all your instrumentation, gives an in-depth look at your battery status, and lets you check things like range radius and charger proximity. It also allows you to tweak some basic tuning parameters.

Other alterations include Vortex clip-on handle bars and Bridgestone Battleax rubber wrapped around larger Excel rims. Its off-the-line giddyup has also been enhanced with some gearing changes for more suitable city performance.

Check out the gallery for a better look around the bike. We've also thrown in a few pics with some of Hollywood's other work, including the awesome none-more-black Darth edition.

Hollywood Electrics offers up Zero Cafe Racer, other customizations originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 24 May 2012 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cafe racerelectric cafe racerelectric motorcycleshollywood electricsipadzero cafe racerzero motorcycle ipadzero motorcyclesThu, 24 May 2012 08:01:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20243712/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20243712/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/24/hollywood-electrics-zero-cafe-racer-customization/20243712/article-detail.xml 20243712 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/hollywood-zero-cafe-racer-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/hollywood-zero-cafe-racer-628.jpg <![CDATA[Democrats battling Republicans over military biofuels]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/23/democrats-battling-republicans-over-military-biofuels/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/23/democrats-battling-republicans-over-military-biofuels/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/23/democrats-battling-republicans-over-military-biofuels/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



It looks like Blue's fighting Red over the Green.

Democratic members of Congress and some U.S. military leaders are planning to fight the Republican-led effort to quash efforts to expand use of biofuels for the U.S. military, the Colorado Independent reports.

Proponents of more biofuel use by the military say they can help hedge against the type of fuel-price increases that will cost the federal government $1.3 billion in 2012. Petroleum use also causes safety issues. About one in 30 convoys designed to ensure the operation of refueling lines in Iraq and Afghanistan has led to a soldier casualty. More petroleum use also causes more greenhouse gas emissions, and the resulting climate change causes natural disasters that boost disaster-relief requirements from the military, biofuel proponents say.

Last week, the Talking Points Memo blog reported that a Republican-led group within the House Armed Services Committee put at risk hundreds of millions of dollars worth programs approved during the past few years by voting to disallow the U.S. Department of Defense from paying more for biofuels that would be used in military vehicles than regular fuels. Such a ban would reverse projects such as last August's a three-year, $510 million project with the USDA and DoD that was designed to develop biofuels for the private sector.

Democrats battling Republicans over military biofuels originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 23 May 2012 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biofueldefense departmentdodethanolmilitaryu.s. department of defenseWed, 23 May 2012 19:45:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20243623/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20243623/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/23/democrats-battling-republicans-over-military-biofuels/20243623/article-detail.xml 20243623 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/armytank-1337811521_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/armytank-1337811521.jpg <![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[Chip Yates announces plan to trace historic Lindbergh transatlantic flight in electric aircraft]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/23/chip-yates-announces-plan-to-trace-historic-lindbergh-transatlan/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/23/chip-yates-announces-plan-to-trace-historic-lindbergh-transatlan/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/23/chip-yates-announces-plan-to-trace-historic-lindbergh-transatlan/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

chip yates electric plane

Chip Yates retired his electric motorcycle last year after setting records at the Mohave Mile and Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, and notching several (slower than Lightning) FIM World Land Speed achievements on the Bonneville Salt Flats. If you thought he was done with his pursuit of battery-powered feats, however, you have underestimated just how crazy this Californian is. Case in point? He's just announced a plan to trace the path Charles Lindbergh took during his historic flight from New York to Paris in an electric airplane.

Not just any electric airplane though. To get around the energy density limits of today's batteries, the craft is to be refueled during in-flight rendezvous with drones, which will either recharge or swap packs. No, we're not making this up.

In the time it takes to make this flight of fancy flight of the century happen, Chip will keep busy with other high-flying adventures. He is currently converting a Burt Rutan Long-EZ (now dubbed the Long-ESA, for "Electric Speed & Altitude") to battery power, with which he will attempt altitude and speed records this summer. He is also in the midst of taking another important step in achieving immortal airborne fame: getting his pilot's license.

Scroll below for more transatlantic flight details in the official press release. You can keep up with Chip's flying adventures on his Twitter feed and at his new Flight of the Century website.

Continue reading Chip Yates announces plan to trace historic Lindbergh transatlantic flight in electric aircraft

Chip Yates announces plan to trace historic Lindbergh transatlantic flight in electric aircraft originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 23 May 2012 07:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chip yateselectric airplaneelectric airplane speed recordelectric altitude recordelectric vehicletransatlantictransatlantic electric flightWed, 23 May 2012 07:51:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20242936/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20242936/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/23/chip-yates-announces-plan-to-trace-historic-lindbergh-transatlan/20242936/article-detail.xml 20242936 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/chip-yates-infinite-electric-plane-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/chip-yates-infinite-electric-plane-628.jpg <![CDATA[Obama administration rethinking support for hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/22/obama-administration-rethinking-support-for-hydrogen-fuel-cell-v/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/22/obama-administration-rethinking-support-for-hydrogen-fuel-cell-v/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/22/obama-administration-rethinking-support-for-hydrogen-fuel-cell-v/#commentsFiled under: , ,



This is one political flip-flop scenario that could actually please some constituents.

The Obama Administration might reverse its policy of cutting support for hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle development (FCEV) in favor of battery-electric vehicles by putting more resources towards FCEV advancement, Slate reports.

U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu recently spoke at a private event and supported expansion of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, Slate said, citing ex-Shell USA President John Hofmeister. The government's executive branch may be reversing course because of what's so far been lower-than-expected battery-electric vehicle sales in the U.S.

Some consider hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles a best-of-all-worlds solution to cutting both petroleum use and greenhouse-gas emissions because the vehicles can be filled up in minutes and can go almost as far on a full tank as gas-powered vehicles. Still, costs remain an issue because of the limited number of HCEVs and the challenges of hydrogen distribution to refueling stations. General Motors has estimated that it would cost as much as $25 billion to build out the 11,000 hydrogen fueling stations needed to support a "mature" FCEV fleet, Slate reported. Currently, there are only about 50 stations across the U.S., according to the Energy Department.

Last year, Pike Research estimated that automakers will sell about one million FCEVs by 2020, less than Pike Research's prior estimate of 2.8 million vehicles. Toyota, GM, Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler and Hyundai are among the automakers that have targeted 2015 for mass production of FCEVs.

Obama administration rethinking support for hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 22 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>doefuel cellfuel cell vehicleshydrogenhydrogen fuel cellobamaobama administrationslatesteven chuTue, 22 May 2012 20:00:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20242638/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20242638/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/22/obama-administration-rethinking-support-for-hydrogen-fuel-cell-v/20242638/article-detail.xml 20242638 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/hydrostation_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/hydrostation.jpg <![CDATA[Monster Tajima's electric Pikes Peak attack vehicle revealed [w/video]]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/21/monster-tajimas-electric-pikes-peak-attack-vehicle-revealed-w/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/21/monster-tajimas-electric-pikes-peak-attack-vehicle-revealed-w/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/21/monster-tajimas-electric-pikes-peak-attack-vehicle-revealed-w/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima owns Pikes Peak, having summited quicker than anyone else these past six years. As we told you a little while back, his 2012 ascent will take place in a battery-powered racer for Team APEV (Association for the Promotion of Electric Vehicles). That car, the Monster Sport E-RUNNER Pikes Peak Special, has just been revealed.

The wraps came off this weekend in Tokyo at Toyota's Mega Web automotive theme park and, with a carbon fiber body and bubble roof, it looks pretty amazing. Unfortunately, no specifications have been released so far, but we suspect it has enough electric ponies to best his world-beating 9:51.278 record set just last year. Especially considering the path to the top will have no gravel road segments, as it has in years past.

You can watch the covers being pulled off publicly for the first time, along with bonus footage of it in action on the track, by simply scrolling below.

Continue reading Monster Tajima's electric Pikes Peak attack vehicle revealed [w/video]

Monster Tajima's electric Pikes Peak attack vehicle revealed [w/video] originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 21 May 2012 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Monster Sport E-RUNNER Pikes Peak Specialnobuhiro monster tajimapikes peakpikes peak 2012Pikes Peak International Hill Climbrace to the cloudstajimateam apevMon, 21 May 2012 18:02:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20242014/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20242014/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/21/monster-tajimas-electric-pikes-peak-attack-vehicle-revealed-w/20242014/article-detail.xml 20242014 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/tajima-pikes-peak-electric-racer-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/tajima-pikes-peak-electric-racer-628.jpg <![CDATA[EPA launches new 'Years to Payback' feature for alt-fuel vehicles]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/21/epa-launches-new-years-to-payback-feature-for-alt-fuel-vehicle/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/21/epa-launches-new-years-to-payback-feature-for-alt-fuel-vehicle/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/21/epa-launches-new-years-to-payback-feature-for-alt-fuel-vehicle/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Did you know the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid is a better deal for fuel-economy-inclined car buyers than a Honda Insight? True story, but only sorta.

Using a new section of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's FuelEconomy.gov website, we can now quantify the time it takes to pay off the higher price tag of most hybrids thanks to the lower refueling costs these vehicles provide. The page lets prospective customers look up 18 hybrids and show how many years it takes to save enough money to cover the extra cost. People can customize the search according to how many miles a year they drive, what their percentage of city vs. highway driving is and what gas prices are. Only hybrids apply, which means there are no cost-benefit analysis for the Nissan Leaf or Chevrolet Volt possible on the site - at least, not yet.

Still, some of the results are illuminating. The best deals, of course are models like the Buick LaCrosse eAssist mild hybrid and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, both of which have the same MSRP as their gas powered counterparts. That means you're in the black as soon as you drive them off the lot. As for other models, SUV hybrids had an advantage over some of more the most fuel-efficient compacts because the fuel-economy gains relative to the gas-guzzling conventional SUVs were greater.

That means that a Cadillac Escalade Hybrid four-wheel-drive, when factoring in 15,000 miles a year of driving, a 55 percent/45 percent city/highway mix and $3.75 a gallon gas prices, takes just 2.1 years to pay off relative to a conventional Escalade. That compares to the 4.6 years it takes to pay off a Toyota Prius C compared to a Yaris, and the 5.3 years it takes to pay off a Honda Insight hybrid compared to a gas-powered Honda Fit.

EPA launches new 'Years to Payback' feature for alt-fuel vehicles originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 21 May 2012 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cost benefit analysisenvironmental protection agencyepafuel economyfuel efficiencyfueleconomy.govhybrid price premiumpaybackprice premiumyears to paybackMon, 21 May 2012 13:58:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20241888/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20241888/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/21/epa-launches-new-years-to-payback-feature-for-alt-fuel-vehicle/20241888/article-detail.xml 20241888 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/escaladehybrid_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/escaladehybrid.jpg <![CDATA[House Committee votes to end military biofuel programs]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/20/house-committee-votes-to-end-military-biofuel-programs/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/20/house-committee-votes-to-end-military-biofuel-programs/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/20/house-committee-votes-to-end-military-biofuel-programs/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



So about those plans for more military biofuel production...

A Republican-led group within the House Armed Services Committee recently voted to ban the U.S. Department of Defense from paying more for biofuels used for military vehicles than regular fuels, putting at risk hundreds of millions of dollars worth programs approved during the past few years for the purpose of cutting foreign-oil dependency, according to Talking Points Memo.

The projects that may be on the chopping block include the Air Force's testing of a blend of camelina (made from a mustard-like plant) and jet fuel for its Thunderbirds show-pilot team and the Navy's testing of other biofuels used in both ships and planes flown by its Blue Angels team. The biofuels programs had been enacted in part to cut some of the $300 billion in annual U.S. spending on crude oil as well as to boost revenue flowing through U.S. farms. Last year, the Pentagon said it pays around $400 a gallon for fuel in Afghanistan.

Last August, the USDA teamed with the Defense Department on a three-year, $510 million project that involved developing biofuels for the private sector. The prior month, ASTM International, which writes technical standards for global industries, green-lit the use of renewable fuels in military and commercial aircraft. Components of the renewable fuel were to come from sources such as algae, camelina, jatropha or tallow (animal fats).

House Committee votes to end military biofuel programs originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 20 May 2012 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>air forcearmybiofuelblue angelscommitteegovernmenthouseHouse Armed Services CommitteemilitarynavyrepublicanthunderbirdsSun, 20 May 2012 16:02:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20239781/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20239781/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/20/house-committee-votes-to-end-military-biofuel-programs/20239781/article-detail.xml 20239781 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/armytank_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/armytank.jpg <![CDATA[Amp opens first dealership in Cincinnati]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/19/amp-opens-first-dealership-in-cincinnati/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/19/amp-opens-first-dealership-in-cincinnati/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/19/amp-opens-first-dealership-in-cincinnati/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Amp, the Ohio-based maker of battery-electric SUVs, has opened its first dealership in Cincinnati and said first deliveries would start by year end.

Amp of Cincinnati opened last week and showed off both its Jeep Grand Cherokee- and Mercedes-Benz ML350-based battery-electric vehicles. The dealership has started taking $5,000 deposits for the SUVs, which Amp says have a single-charge range of as many as 125 miles. Amp said in March that its SUVs qualified for the $7,500 tax credit from the IRS. That month, the company also said it reached an agreement to sell its SUVs in the Caribbean.

The company in January said the Jeep-based Amp would be priced at $57,400, bringing the out of pocket price just under $50,000.

Continue reading Amp opens first dealership in Cincinnati

Amp opens first dealership in Cincinnati originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 19 May 2012 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amp of cincinnaticincinnatielectric vehiclejeepmercedesohioSUVSat, 19 May 2012 16:29:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20238906/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20238906/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/19/amp-opens-first-dealership-in-cincinnati/20238906/article-detail.xml 20238906 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/amp-of-cincinnati-ribbon-cutting-dedication-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/amp-of-cincinnati-ribbon-cutting-dedication-628.jpg <![CDATA[Mitsubishi previews bonkers i-MiEV Evolution for Pikes Peak]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/mitsubishi-previews-bonkers-i-miev-evolution-for-pikes-peak/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/mitsubishi-previews-bonkers-i-miev-evolution-for-pikes-peak/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/mitsubishi-previews-bonkers-i-miev-evolution-for-pikes-peak/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Mitsubishi i-MiEV Evolution - front three-quarter view

No, that's not a Mitsubishi i-MiEV in a fat suit, it's the automaker's brand-new all-electric race car, and it's set to take on the 2012 Pike's Peak International Hill Climb in July. This isn't the first time we've seen an EV enter the Pike's Peak challenge - Nissan commissioned a Leaf for battle last year, a car that set the bar for all future electric racers.

Mitsubishi says that its race car, dubbed i-MiEV Evolution, uses the same motor, drive battery and other major components as the standard, bean-shaped electric car that we haven't quite grown to love. Aside from the additional bodywork, the chassis has clearly been lengthened and widened, and the race car now uses an all-wheel-drive configuration rather than the rear-wheel drive of the standard i-MiEV.

To give you an idea of just how big the racer is, a quick glance of Mitsubishi's specs show that the i-MiEV Evolution's dimensions are within a few inches of the stock Lancer Evolution. We wouldn't be surprised if the all-wheel-drive system was sourced from the Lancer, as well.

Mitsubishi will also be bringing two more of its EVs to the Pike's Peak event, including an i that has been updated with a more aerodynamic front bumper and new safety equipment, as well as a bone stock model. Scroll down for the official press blast.

Continue reading Mitsubishi previews bonkers i-MiEV Evolution for Pikes Peak

Mitsubishi previews bonkers i-MiEV Evolution for Pikes Peak originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 18 May 2012 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hill climbhillclimbii-mievi-miev evolutionmitsubishipikes peakpikes peak international hill climbFri, 18 May 2012 18:02:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20240860/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20240860/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/18/mitsubishi-previews-bonkers-i-miev-evolution-for-pikes-peak/20240860/article-detail.xml 20240860 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/67821mit628opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/67821mit628opt.jpg <![CDATA[Automaker-backed study sounds the alarm against E15]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/automaker-backed-study-sounds-the-alarm-against-e15/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/automaker-backed-study-sounds-the-alarm-against-e15/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/automaker-backed-study-sounds-the-alarm-against-e15/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

No E15 gas cap

Another day, another opinion on the feasibility of E15.

This time, a group called the Coordinating Research Council released a study saying that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's decision to push for allowing gas with a 15-percent ethanol blend (aka E15) to be sold to the general public for newer cars may have been a bad one because of potentially harmful effect the fuel may have on older vehicles, the New York Times reports.

E15 may compromise the durability of the engines of most of the cars on the road because automakers didn't design the vehicles to run on E15, which has 50% more ethanol than the current maximum of a 10-percent ethanol blend (i.e. E10), the group says.

Of course, Coordinating Research Council is backed by - wait for it - eight automakers as well as the American Petroleum Institute (API), according to the Times. The automakers have long pushed to delay E15 approval because of engine durability concerns while the API represents a petroleum industry whose demand is inversely related to how much ethanol's being used in light-duty vehicles.

With that in mind, Patrick B. Davis, an Energy Department program manager specializing in vehicle testing, said in a blog post that the new study is "flawed" in part because the study didn't involve the testing of E10's impact on engines. Renewable Fuels Association CEO Bob Dinneen called the report "junk science."

The EPA in April approved the first applications to make E15 amid protests from automakers and recreation vehicle makers that have claimed that the higher alcohol content may damage engines and fuel systems. The government has gone back and forth on the issue, both pushing for higher ethanol production levels to cut foreign-oil dependence while last year terminating a 30-year tax subsidy on corn-based ethanol.

Recently, The Auto Channel reported that researchers at University of Wisconsin and Iowa State University estimated that ethanol production cut the average cost of fuel last year by $1.09 a gallon because of lower ethanol prices and broader use of fuels such as E10.

Automaker-backed study sounds the alarm against E15 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 18 May 2012 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biofuelsCoordinating Research Councile10e15e15 safetyenvironmental protection agencyepaethanolFri, 18 May 2012 16:01:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20240465/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20240465/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/18/automaker-backed-study-sounds-the-alarm-against-e15/20240465/article-detail.xml 20240465 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/gas-cap-e15-1337355368_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/gas-cap-e15-1337355368.jpg <![CDATA[Ethanol production shaved $1.09 a gallon off of last year's gas prices]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/ethanol-production-shaved-1-09-a-gallon-off-of-last-years-gas/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/ethanol-production-shaved-1-09-a-gallon-off-of-last-years-gas/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/ethanol-production-shaved-1-09-a-gallon-off-of-last-years-gas/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

ethanol pump

If you thought last year was a bad one at the gas pump, it could've been worse. That's what one report partially funded by ethanol advocate Renewable Fuels Association says.

U.S. ethanol production actually cut wholesale gas prices by $1.09 a gallon last year because of relatively lower ethanol prices and the greater use of ethanol blends, The Auto Channel said, citing a PDF report written by researchers at University of Wisconsin and Iowa State University for Iowa State's Center for Agricultural and Rural Development.

Ethanol production cut the typical U.S. household's spending on gas by more than $1,200 last year and by an average of $340 a year since 2000, according to the report.

Ethanol advocates have been pushing for blends with a higher percentage of ethanol as a way to cut both gas costs and dependency on foreign oil, while opponents have decried subsidies given to ethanol producers. Late last year, Congress ended a three-decade tax subsidy for the corn-based ethanol, which was reported to have received $45 billion in subsidies since 1980.

Ethanol production shaved $1.09 a gallon off of last year's gas prices originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 18 May 2012 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biofuelethanolgas pricesiowa state universityrenewable fuels associationsubsidiesuniversity of wisconsinFri, 18 May 2012 11:59:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20240111/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20240111/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/18/ethanol-production-shaved-1-09-a-gallon-off-of-last-years-gas/20240111/article-detail.xml 20240111 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/ethanol_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/ethanol.jpg <![CDATA[EEStor and ZENN still alive and kicking... out the press releases]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/eestor-and-zenn-still-alive-and-kicking-out-the-press-release/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/eestor-and-zenn-still-alive-and-kicking-out-the-press-release/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/eestor-and-zenn-still-alive-and-kicking-out-the-press-release/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Zenn Motor Company, the former purveyor of a neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV), and Eestor, the eternal purveyor of promises of a supercapacitor-based energy storage unit, have managed to defy at least one of the predictions hurled their way. The two intertwined companies have survived.

Despite the loss of its CEO a year ago, Zenn has been idling along, putting out mundane press releases about its financial maneuverings. Eestor, as is its custom, has remained mostly quiet. Until now. Both companies have issued announcements that are sure to excite the handful of people who still believe they will achieve the energy storage breakthrough that we first heard about in 2006.

Zenn's missive is mostly about a doubling sextupling down on its Eestor relationship, upping the ante to $30.5 million and receiving, in return, all rights to supply eventual energy-storing product regardless of territory or vehicle type.

For its part, the Eestor statement concerns technological developments. Apparently, the company has now successfully manufactured 20 micron-thick voidless squares of material capable of handling more than 3,500 volts that have "a dc resistance of greater than 700 terra ohms" (mmm... terra ohms... mmm). While this obviously sounds very impressive, the company warns that the aforementioned layers "do not yet achieve the level of permittivity necessary for commercial production." They are working on that though.

For all the pertinent details, you can check out both official press releases by scrolling down below.

Continue reading EEStor and ZENN still alive and kicking... out the press releases

EEStor and ZENN still alive and kicking... out the press releases originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 18 May 2012 07:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>awesome sauceeestoreeyoremagicpermittivitypress releaseterra ohmsvaporwarezennFri, 18 May 2012 07:55:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20240266/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20240266/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/18/eestor-and-zenn-still-alive-and-kicking-out-the-press-release/20240266/article-detail.xml 20240266 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/zenn-press-release_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/zenn-press-release.jpg <![CDATA[Ford now taking orders for C-Max Hybrid at $25,995]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/17/ford-now-taking-orders-for-c-max-hybrid-at-25-995/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/17/ford-now-taking-orders-for-c-max-hybrid-at-25-995/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/17/ford-now-taking-orders-for-c-max-hybrid-at-25-995/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid

Ford is putting a big "X" on the Prius V.

The U.S. automaker said its dealers began taking orders for its 2013 model-year C-Max Hybrid and is pitching the model as a cheaper, more fuel-efficient alternative to the Toyota Prius V wagon.

Ford will start deliveries of the C-Max Hybrid this fall, while a plug-in hybrid version - the C-Max Energi - will be available by year-end. Ford's pricing the C-Max Hybrid at a base of $25,995, or about $500 less than the cheapest Prius V. While Ford didn't specifically give a miles-per-gallon estimate, the company said the C-Max Hybrid would beat the Prius V's 42-mile-per-gallon-combined rating from the EPA.

Last month, Toyota boosted U.S. Prius sales doubled from a year earlier to 25,168 units in part because of the 3,847 Prius V wagons sold.

Ford, which sold just 1,175 hybrids in April, late last month tapped the first 67 West Coast and New York-area dealers that will sell the Ford Focus Electric and published a map indicating where the EV would be rolled out during the rest of the year.

Continue reading Ford now taking orders for C-Max Hybrid at $25,995

Ford now taking orders for C-Max Hybrid at $25,995 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 17 May 2012 13:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>c-maxc-max energic-max hybridfordhybridpriusprius vtoyotatoyota prius vThu, 17 May 2012 13:56:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20240076/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20240076/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/17/ford-now-taking-orders-for-c-max-hybrid-at-25-995/20240076/article-detail.xml 20240076 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/2013-ford-focus-c-max-hybrid_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/2013-ford-focus-c-max-hybrid.jpg <![CDATA[IIHS crowns Prius c and Malibu Eco Top Safety Picks [w/video]]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/17/iihs-crowns-prius-c-and-malibu-eco-top-safety-picks-w-video/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/17/iihs-crowns-prius-c-and-malibu-eco-top-safety-picks-w-video/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/17/iihs-crowns-prius-c-and-malibu-eco-top-safety-picks-w-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

2012 Toyota Prius C

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has crowned two eco-friendly new models as Top Safety Picks: the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco and 2012 Toyota Prius c. The redesigned 2013 Malibu joins its 2012 model-mate as a Top Pick, and the 2013 earned a good side impact rating even without its optional side airbags.

The Prius c also has siblings that have won the award, the Prius and Prius v. Also earning top honors in the latest round of testing is the redesigned Hyundai Azera. The Top Pick moniker is given to vehicles that score "Good" in the IIHS's front, side, rollover and rear-impact tests.

Have a look below for video of the Malibu and Prius c going through their side-impact exams.

Continue reading IIHS crowns Prius c and Malibu Eco Top Safety Picks [w/video]

IIHS crowns Prius c and Malibu Eco Top Safety Picks [w/video] originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 17 May 2012 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 hyundai azera2012 toyota prius c2013 chevrolet malibu ecochevroletiihsInsurance Institute for Highway Safetymalibupriusprius cTop Safety PicktoyotaThu, 17 May 2012 09:57:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20239689/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20239689/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/17/iihs-crowns-prius-c-and-malibu-eco-top-safety-picks-w-video/20239689/article-detail.xml 20239689 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/toyota-prius-c_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/toyota-prius-c.jpg <![CDATA[California lawyer pitches class-action services in wake of overturned Honda fuel-economy ruling]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/17/california-lawyer-pitches-class-action-services-in-wake-of-overt/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/17/california-lawyer-pitches-class-action-services-in-wake-of-overt/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/17/california-lawyer-pitches-class-action-services-in-wake-of-overt/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Heather Peters 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid

There is safety in numbers, and not the kind put out by the EPA.

That's what one California-based attorney representing class-action claimants against General Motors and Hyundai is saying in the wake of Heather Peters' now-unsuccessful attempt to sue Honda over allegedly overstating fuel economy figures for the Honda Civic Hybrid.

Redlands, Calif.-based McCuneWright LLP principal Richard McCune, fishing for business, obviously, notes that, among other things, plaintiffs lose both the right for attorney representation and the right to appeal, both of which class-action members have.

"If you are filing against a big company, you are already at a disadvantage when you enter the small claims courtroom," McCune said in a statement last week.

Of course, McCuneWright has skin in this particular game, as it's representing a number of plaintiffs in class-action lawsuits against General Motors and Hyundai over - you guessed it - fuel-economy claims.

That said, TheDetroitBureau.com publisher Paul A. Eisenstein, in an AutoblogGreen editorial last week, essentially said the same, noting that class-action plaintiffs have a better record of success than those taking on large companies in small claims court.

Peters won a small-claims case worth almost $10,000 against Honda in February after a judge ruled in favor of her claim that Honda overstated the fuel-economy of her 2006 Civic Hybrid. Last week, a superior court judge reversed that ruling. The automaker had already agreed to pay out members of a larger class-action claim from $100 to $200 each and as much as a $1,500 discount on a new Honda purchase, an offer that about 1,700 Honda owners had accepted, according to the Detroit News.

Continue reading California lawyer pitches class-action services in wake of overturned Honda fuel-economy ruling

California lawyer pitches class-action services in wake of overturned Honda fuel-economy ruling originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 17 May 2012 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>californiacivic hybridclass action lawsuitheather petershonda civic hybridlawsuitlegalmpgsmall claims courtsuperior courtThu, 17 May 2012 07:57:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20239592/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20239592/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/17/california-lawyer-pitches-class-action-services-in-wake-of-overt/20239592/article-detail.xml 20239592 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/heatherpeters0516_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/heatherpeters0516.jpg <![CDATA[Retrofitted BMW M3 electric will compete in Pikes Peak race]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/retrofitted-bmw-m3-electric-will-compete-in-pikes-peak-race/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/retrofitted-bmw-m3-electric-will-compete-in-pikes-peak-race/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/retrofitted-bmw-m3-electric-will-compete-in-pikes-peak-race/#commentsFiled under: , ,

EV West Electric BMW M3

Last year, a BMW i8 plug-in hybrid was featured in the Tom Cruise-starring Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. This year, another BMW electric-drive vehicle is looking to make a star performance, and without the editing or tricky camera angles.

A 1995 BMW M3 has been retrofitted with a 420-horsepower electric motor and will compete in the "electric" heat in this year's Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado, aka the 90th Race to the Clouds.

EV West, which built the car, posted a minute-long video on YouTube showing the car laying waste to a poor set of tires. EV West is based in San Marcos, Calif., about 35 miles (or, in this little beast, about 20 minutes) north of San Diego.

About 100 cars and about 120 motorcycles will be competing in the Pikes Peak competition in July, including six other electric vehicles. See the complete list here, and scroll down below to watch the video.

Continue reading Retrofitted BMW M3 electric will compete in Pikes Peak race

Retrofitted BMW M3 electric will compete in Pikes Peak race originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 16 May 2012 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmwbmw evbmw m3 evcoloradoelectric vehicleev conversionev westhill climbm3m3 electricpikes peakWed, 16 May 2012 19:58:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20238832/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20238832/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/16/retrofitted-bmw-m3-electric-will-compete-in-pikes-peak-race/20238832/article-detail.xml 20238832 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/bmw-m3-ev_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/bmw-m3-ev.jpg <![CDATA[Antique EVs get their due at auctions, new museum]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/antique-evs-get-their-due-at-auctions-new-museum/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/antique-evs-get-their-due-at-auctions-new-museum/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/antique-evs-get-their-due-at-auctions-new-museum/#commentsFiled under: ,



As Americans buy more Nissan Leafs, Chevrolet Volts and other electric-drive vehicles, some of those models' forefathers are getting their due by way of auctions and museum exhibits.

A 1909 Walker Vehicle Co. delivery van recently sold on eBay for $127,500, signifying that old-school vehicles that predate the Nissan Leaf by a 100 or so years can fetch a pretty penny, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The 1909 Walker, which is mounted on solid rubber tires, is one of hundreds of EVs produced around the turn of the 20th Century as early car customers looked for a quieter, cleaner alternative to what were loud and dirty internal combustion engines. Chicago-based Walker also made early variants of hybrid vehicles, according to the WSJ.

With contemporary EV sales expected to rise during the next few years, car collectors are seeking out and paying for early versions of battery-electric vehicles. In fact, those thinking that the Walker set some sort of pricing record from the eBay sale would be mistaken. Last August, an 1899 Columbia Electric Landaulet sold at an auction for $550,000, making it the priciest antique EV ever sold.

Meanwhile, America's Car Museum, which opens in Tacoma, Washington, on June 2 will have an "Alternative Propulsion" exhibit that will include a 1912 Standard Electric Open Tourer (still roadworthy, the museum says) and a 1914 Detroit Electric Priscilla. In all, the 165,000-square-foot museum will have more than 350 cars, trucks and motorcycles.

Antique EVs get their due at auctions, new museum originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 16 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>americas car museumantiqueantique electric vehicleselectric vehicletacomawalker electricWed, 16 May 2012 16:00:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20238785/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20238785/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/16/antique-evs-get-their-due-at-auctions-new-museum/20238785/article-detail.xml 20238785 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/antiqueelectric-1337113830_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/antiqueelectric-1337113830.jpg -1 2