Hybrid News

Filed under: Etc., Legislation and Policy, Green Daily, USA

We can all save fuel and emissions by cutting back how much we drive, but until now not many insurance companies haven’t seen fit to reward us with lower rates if we put fewer miles on our cars. There have been a few percentage discounts if you live close to work, sure, and lots of hybrid discounts, but no plan where your bill and your odometer have a symbiotic relationship. Now, the MileMeter company in Texas has launched a pay-as-you-drive (PAYD) insurance program that offers infrequent drivers the chance to pay a lower premium. Of course, it’s highly amusing to me that Texas - the second largest state in the Union, where very house is at least 100 miles from the neighboring house*, - is where you can get rewarded for driving less, but I’m glad we’re starting somewhere.

* This might not be accurate.

[Source: Sustainable Business]

Don’t mess with driving - Texans can buy by-the-mile insurance rates originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Sebastian Blanco

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Nissan

Starting November 1, Nissan will run a two-month pilot program to test an intelligent transportation system in Atsugi, Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan. Like other ITS and vehicle communications systems, the primary focus is safety and improved traffic flow. The big side benefit of such systems is reduce fuel consumption and pollution. By proactively reducing accidents and congestion on city streets, vehicles can spend less time sitting idling or crawling along to get past obstructions.

For this test, Nissan is collaboratiing with cellular provider NTT DoCoMo. NTT will give specially-equipped cell phones to 500 pedestrians GPS enabled cell phones that will transmit location data to a central server. Nissan will provide drivers with 200 cars equipped with warning systems to alert the driver of a potential collision or accident based on the location data that is shared from the servers. Nissan will be monitoring the driver’s responses to the warnings they receive as a way of evaluating the effectiveness of the system. The automaker will also be optimizing the information processing algorithms within the system. If such systems were in widespread use, the amount of available data could easily become overwhelming to a computer system and the processing needs to be streamlined.

[Source: Nissan]

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Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Filed under: Biodiesel, Diesel, Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, Green Culture, Vegetable Oil, AutoblogGreen Exclusive

“America is addicted to oil…It’s time for an intervention.” That is the tagline for FUEL, Josh Tickell’s redo of 2008’s Sundance Audience Award winner, Fields of Fuel. We talked to Josh about that movie a couple of years, before he actually started putting it together. We made it to the L.A. premier of FUEL where we saw the flick, the principals and several celebs who support the cause. We even saw a Honda FCX Clarity in the parking lot along with dozens of hybrids, biodiesels and flex fuel vehicles. FUEL keeps the basic premise of Fields, but addresses some of the controversies surrounding biofuels and other alternative energy sources as well.

Fields of Fuel was basically a documentary of Tickell’s 11-year quest to spread the gospel of renewable, sustainable biodiesel from behind the wheel of his used-cooking-oil-powered “Veggie Van.” Sister site Cinematical did an excellent review of that film when it came out. The new film that premiered in L.A. last night is simply called FUEL because it adds info on solar and wind, biomass and algae, and a bunch of other alternative energy sources, along with answers to criticisms some of these fuels have generated. It’s an entertaining and educational movie that speaks directly to us. Follow the jump for more info about the movie from the L.A. premiere.

Continue reading Review: L.A. Premiere of Josh Tickell’s “Fuel”

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Original post by Frank Filipponio

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, China

Warren Buffett is renowned for making money buy investing in companies that he thinks have a some inherent value and holding the stock. So when he or his flagship company Berkshire Hathaway put money down, it’s worth taking note. MidAmerican Energy Holdings, which is owned by Berkshire Hathaway, has just bought a 10 percent stake in BYD, a Chinese purveyor of cars and batteries. So far, BYD has been best known for a for several cars that draw strong styling “influence” from cars produced by other non-Chinese companies. Lately, the company has been showing several electric and hybrid cars, some of which were on hand at this year’s Detroit Auto Show. That move into the electric drive field and development of lithium ion batteries is evidently what attracted MidAmerican. Recently, BYD has been trying to break into the Israeli market to compete with Project Better Place.

[Source: MidAmerican Energy Holdings]

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Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Filed under: Green Culture, HUMMER, Legislation and Policy, Pacific Region

Hummers may be a bit controversial due to their highly conspicuous consumption, but it is exactly that prominence that Aussie Police hope to make use of in order to fight crime. Really, Hummers are hard to miss, and a fleet of five of them, even in relatively small H3 size, is sure to get noticed, right?. Okay, fine… so who’s supposed to notice these Hummers with custom livery and bright flashing lights? Revelers out having a good time with bad intentions in the nightclub districts of Melbourne. Police in Victoria hope to curb “antisocial behavior” by being a bit antisocial themselves, or at least appearing as such. Not only are prospective criminals supposed to notice the Police Hummers, so are the regular townsfolk, who are expected to feel just a bit safer now that relatively unmodified Hummer H3s are roaming the streets. Gives you that warm-and-cozy feeling, no?

[Source: Drive.com.au via Next Autos]

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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, SMART

Smart currently has an electric version of its little ForTwo runabout… um, running about in Europe known as the Smart ed. Using a a sodium-nickel-chloride (commonly called a Zebra) battery, the 41 horse electric motor has plenty of power to move the vehicle around, and urban performance is actually said to be improved over the standard model. So far, the electric smart has only been for testing, but that looks to be changing rather soon. According to Dieter Zetsche, a fully electric ForTwo will be on sale to the public beginning in 2010.

We would expect the production model to be equipped with lithium batteries and have better range than the Zebra-equipped models currently on the roads. So far, no firm pricing information has been provided, though Dr. Z says he doesn’t believe consumers would be willing to pay a large surcharge. The total cost of the smart ev would also depend on whether the automaker chooses to sell the batteries with the car or lease them seperately — both options are currently on the table. We look forward to hearing more about the new model in the coming months, especially to find out what markets will be blessed with its presence. Stay tuned. Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

[Source: Sustainable Business]

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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: Etc., Green Daily

With American drivers nervously eying $4 gallons of gas, another group of people is getting that sinking feeling in the stomach as well: car dealers. Automotive News (subs req′d) says that Chrysler co-President Jim Press set the stage for 2008 car sales by saying, “This year is going to be a pretty severe year.”

Others involved in vehicle sales don’t have quite as pessimistic an outlook, but everyone agrees that fuel-sippers will get a second look from people who might otherwise be interested in thirstier vehicles. Just where the dividing line between fuel economy and (expected) performance will be for customers on the lot is unknown. Used cars, though, especially used trucks, lose a lot of their resale value when gas prices rise. Sources in the AN article add that the housing slump is hurting truck sales as well, so don’t just blame gas prices if you’re having a hard time selling your F-150 these days. I think the Onion handled a similar topic a while back.

[Source: Bernadine Williams and Ryan Beene / Automotive News]

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Original post by Sebastian Blanco

Filed under: Etc., MPG, Green Daily, USA

Last November, the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) released the results of a poll that asked Americans how higher gas prices were changing their driving habits. The majority (60 percent) said the cost of gas was having an impact on how they drive, while 30 percent expected more changes when $4 gallons of gas are the norm.

Last week, the AAIA followed up with another survey on the same topic. The main difference is that the $4 level - something the president seems to be working hard to keep in the news - is now seen as the “tipping point” for more people. 65 percent told the AAIA (actually, the Opinion Research Corporation, which conducted the survey) they would “dramatically change their driving behavior” when $4 a gallon gas arrives. Read more details after the jump.

All this begs the question: what is the real limit? Is $4 or $5 really the Rubicon of changing driving habits? I still think it’s not the actual price of gas at the pump, but how soon we get there. It seems like a 10-cent-per-month increase will be swallowed along with the general price inflation and weakening dollar. But have the price of gas shoot up $1.20 overnight (and then stay there for a year) and you’ll see some changes. Thoughts?

Press Release:

$4 a Gallon Gasoline Will be Tipping Point for Most Consumers

Keeping the Car Running Better and Driving it Less is the Trend

BETHESDA, Md., Feb. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — If gasoline prices hit $4 per gallon as many economists predict, an estimated 65 percent of American car owners say they will dramatically change their driving behavior, according to a study commissioned by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA).

“While a third of consumers claim they already changed their driving behavior by curtailing driving or maintaining their vehicle better when gas prices reached $3 a gallon, the real tipping point is $4 a gallon,” said Kathleen Schmatz, AAIA president and CEO.

According to a survey conducted by Opinion Research Corporation for AAIA, 91 percent of drivers are driving less and 75 percent are maintaining their vehicle better because of rising gas prices. Other specific behavioral changes were carpooling (31 percent), purchasing more fuel efficient vehicles (30 percent) and making greater use of public transportation (24 percent).

For more information on the survey, e-mail Rich White at rich.white @ aftermarket.org or call 301-654-6664.

For more information on tips and advice for simple vehicle maintenance and care to improve gas mileage, contact the Car Care Council at http://www.carcare.org/.

About AAIA

AAIA is a Bethesda, Md.-based association whose more than 23,000 member and affiliates manufacture, distribute and sell motor vehicle parts, accessories, service, tool, equipment, materials and supplies. Through its membership, AAIA represents more than 100,000 repair shops, parts stores and distribution outlets.

[Source: Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association]

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Original post by Sebastian Blanco

Filed under: Diesel, Subaru, UK

Last week, we reported on rumors regarding the Subaru WRX getting a diesel engine option, and now it sounds like senior executives at the company are fanning the flames again. According to Autocar, a high performance version of Subaru’s existing 2.0 liter diesel engine is being considered for the WRX, while the standard Impreza will get the normal version.

Currently, only the larger Legacy is equipped with the diesel engine and that’s only in Europe. We’ve been expecting the diesel to come here to the U.S. in the Legacy, Impreza and Forrester models. We’d love to add the WRX to that list, and the higher performing diesel engine in that application would be very exciting indeed.

[Source: Autocar]

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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: Hybrid, China

Chery has apparently been given the go ahead from authorities in Beijing to start building a new homegrown hybrid car based on their compact A5 sedan. The A5 hybrid is expected to go into production late in 2008 at a price that should start somewhere around $18,500. That sticker would put it well under a Prius or Civic Hybrid which run about $35,000 or more. Other than a 1.3L engine nothing else is known about the Chery hybrid system. Chery will be providing fifty cars for the use of officials during this summer’s Olympic games in Beijing, forty of which should be the new hybrids.

[Source: China Car Times]

 

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Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Filed under: Etc., Green Culture, Toyota

Toyota is investing in environmental science education with a $400,000 gift to the University of California at Santa Barbara. The money is going to the graduate program at the Bren School of Environmental Science and Education to fund a summer internship program for students working toward their master’s degrees in the environmental science area. The money will also fund a Professor in Residence program that will allow faculty from the Bren School to go on research trips with high school teachers to places like Costa Rica and the Galápagos Islands as part of Toyota’s International Teacher Program. Given the varied environmental issues we face (both about the extent of the problems and how best to address them) the more that educators and scientists can learn and pass on to others, the better.

[Source: Toyota Open Road Blog]

 

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Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Filed under: Hydrogen, Honda

Honda has just announced details of the leasing program for the new FCX Clarity fuel cell car that was unveiled at the LA Auto Show last November. The Clarity will be the first series “production” fuel cell vehicle available for lease to retail customers and the first examples will be delivered in July of this year. American Honda expects to lease about 200 Claritys during the first three years of the program. Right now, Honda is filtering through the 50,000 people that have shown interest in the lease program. The majority of those people who will be ruled ineligible because they don’t live within range of a hydrogen filling station in the Los Angeles area.

The first batch of lessees will be announced on June 16 when the first Clarity rolls off the assembly line in Japan. The leases will be three year terms at $600/month which includes the insurance for the car. To qualify for a lease, potential customers will have to go through a multi step process that evaluates where they live and drive, and whether they have the financial means to pay for the car. When we talked to Honda’s Stephen Ellis a few months ago, the retail price of hydrogen in the LA area was about $5/kg (equivalent to about 1 gallon of gas). The Clarity has a range of 270 miles and gets the equivalent of about 68mpg for gasoline. The full press release with all the details is after the jump.

All photos (C)2007 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Press Release:

Honda Announces FCX Clarity Business Plan and Commencement of Customer Selection Process

05/20/2008 - TORRANCE, Calif. -

[Source: Honda]

 

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Original post by Sam Abuelsamid