ElectriClub News

GreenMotor: Citroen DS5 joins the DS dynasty [Updated]

noreply@blogger.com (GreenMotor) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:25:20 +0000

Citroen’s design manager, Andy Cowell, introduced the new DS5 at a small reception last night, organised via Twitter and held in the new London offices of the SMMT. Cowell is a softly spoken Briton who has worked in Paris for 20 years. He’s very clearly proud of the work done on the three-car DS line-up, although he seemed a mite disappointed with the DS4 – it’s evidently not selling as well as

Gas 2.0: Rural Folk Bike and Walk as Much as City Slickers

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:30:50 +0000

A report released by the Rails to Trails Conservancy asserts that people in rural areas walk and bike at rates much like their metropolitan counterparts. The “Active Transportation Beyond Urban Centers” reveals important details about America’s travel patterns in rural communities that the Rails to Trails Conservancy hopes will garner support for more federal investment in bicycling and pedestrian infrastructure.

The report presents The Rural Policy Research Institute’s (RPRI) analysis of the 2009 National Household Travel Survey. The RPRI uses alternative geographic classifications for “rural” areas with the belief that the “rural” versus “urban” dichotomy is too simplistic. The RPRI classifies five different types of rural communities based on the Rural-Urban Commuting Areas (RUCAs) developed at the University of Washington. These five depend on factors including population size as well as whether these communities are tourist destinations, agricultural communities, or exurbs, and are as follows: large rural core, outer large rural, small rural core, outer small rural, and isolated rural.

Rates of bicycling in some of the smaller towns outpace those in some urban centers:

“[t]he share of work trips made by bicycle in small towns (Small Rural Core, 2,500 –10,000 people) is nearly double that of urban centers. And among all trips taken in towns between 10,000 and 50,000 population in rural regions (Large Rural Core on accompanying charts), just as many people bike as in the urban core..”

Surprising information, perhaps, but the report cites many reasons for this relatively high bicycle use, including that many of these smaller towns were founded before World War II and were originally designed with pedestrians in mind. Another reason for higher biking rates is that parents in small towns may feel it is safer for their children to bike to school, and seniors may find it easier to walk to their destinations in smaller neighborhoods.

A declining population and downturns in the economy, including the agricultural and mining sectors, are contributing to limited budgets. These rural areas depend more and more on federal programs to fill in the breaks in the transportation system that occur when cities lose their tax revenue. Federal programs include the Transportation Enhancements grants, the Safe Routes to School Program, and the Bike/Walk Pilot Program, all of which would be eliminated with the Transportation Bill.

Source: Networked Blogs

PuginCars: The Challenge for Plug-In Cars

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:48:33 +0000

The automotive landscape is changing. More choices are coming and that promises to be the watchword for the coming decade. Buying a new car will no longer be: What engine do you want? What model do you want? What options to you want?

The options will be the focal point of choice. And the options will be the type of powertrain and fuel you choose for your new ride. I took a tour in January through some of those choices and came away with a new appreciation of the challenge that plug-in vehicles are facing and will continue to face in the marketplace.

The event was called "Future Cars: Future Technology"; it was organized by Western Automotive Journalists, a 20-year-old group of auto writers (and photographers and videographers) based in Northern California. During the day, panelists discussed the long-range future of automotive technology--one panel talked about whether automated cars like the ones Google is running are likely to take over our highways; a second panel of engineers from the auto companies explored the variety of options they were researching for future cars.

PuginCars: Brad Pitt: What If Cars Were Invented Today?

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:22:54 +0000

In an appearance on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, actor Brad Pitt asked a simple but provocative question about our entrenched approach to powering cars. Pitt appeared on the show to promote Money Ball, the award-nominated movie about Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane's use of economic analysis to draft his players.

Pitt said that Beane’s success was based on a questioning of 150 years of baseball knowledge. “Just because we’ve doing it this way for so long, does that mean it’s right?” asked Pitt. That’s when he drew a comparison to cars.

“I equate it with the automobile," he said. "What if we invented the automobile today? Would we say, I know, we’ll run it on finite fossil fuels, we’ll export a half-trillion dollars of our GDP, we’ll spend hundreds of billions of dollars a year to protect that interest, and it will pollute the environment?”

Gas 2.0: NYC Bike Share to be Largest in the Country

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:00:22 +0000

New York City’s Department of Transportation and Alta Bicycle Share, Inc. will be opening the largest bike share system in the country by summer of 2012. Ten thousand bikes in 600 stations around Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the surrounding burroughs will be available 24 hours a day throughout the year for short bike rides.

The Details:

Alta Bicycle Share, the same company that runs Boston’s New Balance Hubway and Washington D.C.’s Capital Bikeshare, will be running the program. New York City’s program is funded by private sponsorship and user fees, much like Miami’s DECOBIKE. Alta will be responsible for installation, maintenance, repairs, cleaning, and customer support. The bike stations will be solar powered, thus reducing energy costs, do not require roadwork for installation.

Rental rates will be determined after the contracts are signed, but Alta is promising affordable annual memberships, costing less than a monthly unlimited ride MetroCard (around $90-95). Unlimited weekly membership would cost $20-25 and unlimited 24-hour access would be $8-10. The NYC bike share will include the obligatory smart phone app, which will use the system’s wireless technology to find real-time bike and station availability.

Like the DECOBIKE bike sharing program in Miami Beach, the bikes will be available in 30 to 45 minute sessions. Longer trips will incur a small, graduated usage fee. Check out the Boston and Washington D.C. bike share programs to compare rates. Check out NYC Bike Share to see how it works.

Who will benefit:

Bike shares are great for short trips: they reduce bike parking, storage issues, and as well as theft. This share program will help New Yorkers connect to different modes of mass transit where subways don’t reach. And Alta Bike and the NYDOT will be hosting demonstrations, open houses, and workshops throughout the city for those who are new to the concept. Alta Share estimates that it will employ 200 locals to help run the share.

The Benchmarking Bike and Walking Report shows that New York is in the top five states for bicycling and walking levels, and that New York City ranks in the top five cities for the same. The city’s transit system already tops the nation in its scope; items like this bike sharing program no doubt make biking the Big Apple that much more accessible, especially considering that 54% of all trips New Yorkers make are less than two miles, the perfect distance for a quick bike ride.

New York City has one of the highest bike userships in the country, but it also ranks in the top 10 cities with the highest fatality rates for bicyclists and pedestrians. Mayor Bloomberg acknowledged this in his State of the City address in January: “…the reality is more and more New Yorkers are biking, and the more bike lanes we put in, the fewer deaths and serious injuries we have on the streets.” Of course, that depends on education and biker awareness. But it seems that the government will be providing the infrastructure support needed, as per the mayor’s address: “We’ll also make our city smarter and safer by deploying Traffic Enforcement Agents to safety hot spots at key intersections, doubling the number of 20 mile-per-hour zones for schools, and continuing adding more miles of protected bike lanes.”

Source: International Business Times | Image: NYCStreets

Gas 2.0: Higher MPG, Higher Sticker Price – Peugeot 508 RXH

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:00:55 +0000

Peugeot’s flagship car, the 508 RXH, goes on sale in just a couple of months. Bare weeks before the car shows up at dealerships, Peugeot has finally announced the price. It’s not exactly pretty – 41,900 Euros (that’s $55,000 USD), a 9,000 Euro price difference from the comparable gasoline-powered 508 SW.

The upside to the 508 RXH is pretty much everything else, if you like the station-wagon-on-steroids type that’s nearly an SUV anyway. They’re all over, which makes me think they’re pretty popular and that Peugeot might be channeling the target market here.

The 508 RXH isn’t only a giant station wagon with extra ground clearance for off-roading, of course (and how many people actually off-road in their SUVs? I personally know exactly one). The new flagship car has been outfitted with a functional hybrid drive.

Diesel and (Sometimes) Pure Electric

The 2.0 liter diesel engine in the front of the car has about 160HP, and the electric motor mounted on the rear axle has an output of 27 kW. The rear-mounted electric motor is actually pretty versatile, and the one thing that I really like about the car. If the ground is rough, it powers the rear wheels for 4 wheel drive. If you should happen to run out of gas (it happens to all of us once or twice), the electric motor will move the car for up to 2.5 miles provided the driver stays below 35 mph.

The electric motor also helps the car accelerate quickly – Peugeot alleges zero to sixty in 8.5 seconds, which is fairly decent for a daily driver type normal passenger car. (You wouldn’t want to put your kids into something that does zero to sixty in less than 3 seconds, right? Right?) After reaching 60mph, the RXH can just keep going all the way up to 130mph before topping out.

If the 508 RXH is driven as intended with diesel in its tank, Peugeot claims that it will get 57mpg (combined city and highway), with a carbon dioxide output of 107 g/km (well below the EU standards for all new cars over the next few years).

The neat parts of the RXH hybrid aside, I’m not sure I’d pay over $50,000 for it, which is about what a faster, sleeker Tesla Model S sedan costs (after tax credits.) Then again, I like the pure electric cars. What do you think? Let us know in the comments, below.

Source: Auto Motor Und Sport | Image: Peugeot

AutoblogGreen: Pennsylvania may make neighborhood-electric vehicles street legal

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:56:00 +0000

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Legislation and Policy, NEV (Neighborhood Electric Vehicle), USA

Pennsylvania, one of the last states holding out against legalizing neighborhood-electric vehicles (NEVs) - such as those from Global Electric Motorcars (GEM), pictured - for street use, may change its laws to allow NEVs on some streets with speed limits as high as 35 miles per hour, according to AOL's Patch website for Warmister, PA.

The State Senate passed a bill that would allow NEVs on any street with a posted speed limit of no more than 25 mph and on some roads where the speed limit is as high as 35 mph. The bill, which was sponsored by the appropriately-named Senator Stewart Greenleaf and which doesn't include golf carts, will go before the state's House of Representatives for possible approval.

NEVs have long been popular with governments and operators of entities such as college campuses and planned communities because of their relatively small footprint, rechargability and lower pricetag - their lead-acid batteries keep the cost of a typical NEV at about $9,000.

NEVs are also gradually gaining favor as on-street vehicles. Green-technology research firm Pike Research estimated last year that global annual NEV sales will increase to almost 55,000 vehicles in 2017 from about 37,000 last year, with North America accounting for about half those totals. Global sales of NEVs, which are street-legal in 46 states, could surge further if China makes them street-legal.

Pennsylvania may make neighborhood-electric vehicles street legal originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PuginCars: All-Electric Nissan LEAF Rear-Ends Bus

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:02:54 +0000

A Nissan LEAF rear-ended a school bus and, despite being heavily damaged, the LEAF shows us that plug-in vehicles can be safe.

The federal investigation into safety concerns related to the Chevy Volt were closed last month, and hopefully will continue to recede in the rear-view mirror. As opposed to the simulated tests conducted on the Volt, real-world accidents involving plug-in cars will begin to create a set of data points about EV safety.

Gas 2.0: Green News Roundup: Monday, February 6th, 2012

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:00:46 +0000

Congratulations to my boys in blue, the New York Football Giants, for their Superbowl victory last night. What a game, that’s all I have to say. On to the green news! This morning’s highlights includes the real deal on propane AutoGas prices, Saudi Arabia is worried about global warming, and a taxi cab made of yarn.

The Real Deal On Propane AutoGas Pricing [AutoGas Fleet]

Nano-Oil Increases Thermal Conductivity Of EV Components By 80% [Green Car Congress]

Saudi Arabia’s Environmental Minister Worried About Global Warming [Planet Save]

7 Ways Superbowl XVI Was Green [Inhabitat]

Compulsive Crocheter Knits Taxi Cab Of Yarn [Treehugger]

Fisker Lowers 2012 Sales Expectations To 10,000 Cars [Autoblog Green]

Image: Tony’s Gallery

PuginCars: Video: Chevy Volt Teardown Reveals Blueprint for Volt 2.0

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:48:38 +0000

Ever wonder what's inside the Chevrolet Volt? Well, wonder no more as time-lapse video shows a detailed teardown of General Motors' plug-in hybrid. Though the teardown took three days, the video captures all the details in less than five minutes.

Last week, Munro & Associates tore down a 2012 Chevy Volt to get a full understanding of how the vehicle works. Part of the "Drive for Innovation" initiative, the disassembly was conducted to highlight the technology found within the Volt, from its T-shaped lithium-ion battery pack to individual circuit boards.

The bolt-by-bolt deconstruction was conducted without GM's involvement, but now that the Volt has been dissected, the possibilities of Volt 2.0 are starting to emerge.

AutoblogGreen: Tesla Model X to have ... "falcon" doors?

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:46:00 +0000

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Tesla Motors, USA

If you've been closely following the story of the soon-to-be-revealed Tesla Model X, you are likely aware that the all-electric crossover is said to be quicker than a Porsche 911, offer more interior space than an Audi Q7 and come with all-wheel drive (at least as an option). Also, if the teaser image is any indication, it should be pretty damn sexy.

What you might not know is that the feature likely to garner the most initial attention are its unique doors. Specifically, "falcon" doors. While we suspect front passengers will gain entrance to the vehicle in the traditional way, the rear portals will be decidedly different. CEO Elon Musk intimated as much when he recently tweeted, "The most interesting view of the Model X is really with the doors open."

So, what are falcon doors? Having seen photos of the Model X, Theo O'Neill of Wunderlich Securities explains that they "lift up and fold - like the wing of a bird," pivoting from the top. Apparently, this will help the Model X achieve its "functionality of a minivan" mandate, allowing easy access to attend to child car seats and such.

Though we can really only begin to decide whether this configuration is a stroke of genius or too clever by half after the official reveal on February 9 at 8:00PM, we suspect some of you might already be forming opinions. Feel free to share with the rest of the class in the comments.

Tesla Model X to have ... "falcon" doors? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Electric Vehicle News: Electric vehicle adoption on par with previous technology advancements

noreply@blogger.com (tsport100) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 02:01:00 +0000

Automotive industry executives and analysts recently took a shot at envisioning what the future holds for electric vehicles. “We think this is more of a marathon than a sprint,” said Mike Tinskey,...

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Electric Vehicle News: Toyota Prius v seven-seater coming to Australia in May

noreply@blogger.com (tsport100) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:49:00 +0000

Toyota Australia has announced the addition of the Prius V seven-seat family variant to the local lineup, with an arrival time of around May. The Prius v wagon seats five passengers, with 50...

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Gas 2.0: More Mias on the Road in Europe

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:00:49 +0000

Size doesn’t matter – at least, not when it comes to beauty and charm. The mia, a microvan produced in France, is the embodiment of practical and cute wrapped up in a tiny package.

How Much Car Is Enough?

The mia rolls off the line in Cerizay on 14” electric wheels, to the tune of 61” of height, 65” of width, and (depending on the model) either 113” or 126” of length. It weighs just 1,675 lbs. and if you’re in Europe, you can buy it for 23,500 euros (Google says that’s about $31,000 USD today).

The mia isn’t just tiny and cute. As long-term Gas2 readers may remember, the prototype at the Frankfurt Auto Show was purely electrically driven. Of course, all production mias are also 100% battery electric and zero emission.

Mia designer Murat Guenak, head of corporate strategy for mia electric, developed a love of cars that aren’t powered solely by gasoline throughout his career. The question that he asked himself when designing the mia was incredibly simple:

“We kept coming back to the same question. What does a person really need to be mobile in an urban environment?”

Guenak seems to think city dwellers will do well with a range of about 81 miles packed into a frame small enough to fit into nearly any parking space. He also offers the mia L and the mia K, just in case a little more cargo room is in order. Either way, the little mia is definitely more than adequate for most people’s daily needs.

Reduce, Re-use, Recycle

Then there’s the question of materials. Mobility, like so many other things, is inextricably linked to the availability of resources. Edwin Kohl, pharmaceutical entrepreneur and founder of mia electric SAS, is staking his future on the combination of renewable energy and electric cars (as we’ve said before, this is perhaps the greenest and therefore most awesome possible combination). The mia takes eco-friendliness one step farther, according to Kohl:

“I treasure the thoughtful concept of the mia. It’s easily built, constructed like an airplane. We not only use recycled and recyclable sheet metal, but the plastic can be recycled as well.”

Kohl trusts in the talent available in Cerizay as well – the production company Heuliez, which assembles the mia, has 20 years of experience in building electric cars for Peugeot and Citroen.

Whether or not the mia will be able to slip into the hearts of European drivers remains to be seen, but the German distribution company, Smiles AG, has decided that it most definitely will; they’ve set a sales goal of 500 units this year, with the first cars going on sale within this quarter. My question is when do we get an American release?

Questions? Opinions? Let us know in the comments, below.

Source | Image: Oekonews.at.

Gas 2.0: Two Minutes of Tesla’s Model S (Video)

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 16:00:06 +0000

Tesla’s latest offering regarding the Model S is a video with some great footage and fairly useless commentary.

Tesla Talks Up the Model S (Video) (via Clean Technica)

Electric Vehicle News: GS Yuasa To Triple Lithium Ion Battery Supply To Honda

noreply@blogger.com (tsport100) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:10:00 +0000

GS Yuasa Corp on Friday revealed plans to boost lithium ion battery output for Honda Motor Co.'s hybrid vehicles threefold to 15 million cells around the fall. The production hike will be...

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AutoblogGreen: Switzerland-based Catecar extended-range vehicle is tested in Geneva

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:49:00 +0000

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid

A Switzerland-based company is testing an extended-range plug-in mini-vehicle that it says gets more than 200 miles per gallon and has a single-tank range of more than 300 miles, according to website TechnologicVehicles.com.

The company, Catecar, tested a prototype of the vehicle at the Geneva Airport this week. The car weighs less than 800 pounds, while its batteries account for about 10 percent of the vehicle's weight, according to the website. Making the car even more energy efficient are the solar panels on the vehicle's roof.

At just under 10 feet long, Catecar is about a foot longer than Daimler's Smart ForTwo two-seater and about two feet shorter than the Mini Cooper. In other words, it's not big - but the company does have big plans, and production could start next year, TechnologicVehicles reports.

Switzerland-based Catecar extended-range vehicle is tested in Geneva originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gas 2.0: Green Electricity + Electric Cars = Win (Clearly)

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:00:41 +0000

Electric cars are a symbol of green transportation – no emissions, no reliance on fossil fuels, no noise pollution, even. And then, inevitably, someone raises a hand and points out that EVs really aren’t that green after all, because manufacturing them still requires CO2 emissions and the source of the electricity driving them is coal and nuclear power and totally not clean at all.

Just to be very clear on the matter, let me reassure you that this person is totally full of it. It’s not like we need a federal study to tell us that the more clean electricity is used the power an electric car, the smaller its tire-track of a carbon foot print is – except apparently somebody does.

Not the Newspapers Again

The German newspaper taz caused quite a stir by reporting just such reservations on the green-ness of electric cars, adding the word “eco-deception” to the mix and citing a study published mid-January by the Institute of Applied Ecology in Freiburg. According to the paper, the Institute said that EVs were not nearly as protective of the environment as a mythical everyone claimed. The Institute itself couldn’t distance itself from the claim fast enough (and this is why newspapers are dangerous and unreliable, but that’s another matter entirely).

The Institute of Applied Ecology’s report of their research, undertaken at the behest of the German Federal Ministry of Environment to evaluate the benefits of the potentially reduced carbon footprint provided by driving electric cars, focused on renewable energy. Federal Minister of the Environment Norbert Roettgen pointed out that not only do EVs have lower emissions while driving, but that the use of additional renewable sources of energy would drive down emissions associated with EVs even more.

Going from Dirty to Renewable

The crux of the matter, in Germany and worldwide, is the source of power for electric cars (and anything else you may use to cart yourself and your family around). Of course the source of electricity for an EV is directly related to its carbon footprint, but the recent re-emergence of the electric vehicle into the popular consciousness of the worldwide consumer base is coupled with an even stronger push toward generating more renewable energy. Even the shipping industry is getting in on it.

A switch from coal or nuclear powered electricity to greener renewable sources (sun, wind, geothermal, to name a few – all of which are the source of some really neat breakthroughs and pieces of new and awesome tech) is already imperative to help protect the environment and reduce the amount of waste generated. When that shift is combined with electric cars running on that green energy, there’s a vision of a really bright possible future.

Change isn’t easy – making a shift to green sources of electricity is hard enough, but adding in a fundamental alteration of how personal transportation works makes many people incredibly nervous. Don’t be – electric cars are super neat in so many ways.

Questions? Opinions? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: Autobild | Image: Wikimedia Commons.

Gas 2.0: SolarWorld GT Solar Car Embarks on American Leg of 20,000 Mile Journey

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:00:38 +0000

The SolarWorld GT, hailed as the world’s prettiest solar car, is making its way across America right now as part of its attempt to go farther than any solar-powered car has ever gone.

The World’s Prettiest Solar Car Drives Through America (via Clean Technica)

Electric Vehicle News: Toyota Sees Plug-In Prius Exceeding Volt’s Fuel Efficiency

noreply@blogger.com (tsport100) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:44:00 +0000

Toyota expects its rechargeable Prius, capable of going 15 miles on electricity alone, to get a higher fuel-economy rating than General Motors’s Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid. Toyota now sees its...

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AutoblogGreen: Who was for, who was against CARB's ZEV mandate "over-compliance" rule

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:53:00 +0000

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Culture, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Toyota, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Legislation and Policy

What impact will the "over-compliance" rule - some would say loophole - in the California Air Resources Board's recent changes to the Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate have? The short and obvious answer is that only time will tell, but one can make the case both that it's a good thing and that it's a bad thing. Odd, but true.

Before we get too far into this, a primer on the ZEV Mandate changes and what the over-compliance rule actually is is important. The basic idea is that CARB wants to reduce the amount of CO2 and other pollutants in the air that come from transportation. Zero-emission vehicles - whether they be plug-in or hydrogen powered - will do this, so CARB decided that at least 15.4 percent of all the cars sold by a major automaker in California needs to be either an EV, a plug-in hybrid or a hydrogen fuel cell vehcile by 2025. To go along with this new rule, some automakers asked for - and got - an over-compliance rule that will "allow manufacturers who systematically over comply with the proposed LEV III GHG fleet standard to offset a portion of their ZEV requirement in 2018 through 2021 model years only."

Some argue that the over-compliance rule will lead to a smaller environmental benefit from ZEVs because, quite simply, there will be fewer ZEVs on the roads than there would be without the rule. This is true. It's also true, as others will argue, that what matters most is lowering the amount of nasty pollutants and emissions from the air, so who cares if this happens because there is a true ZEV driving around or a much-improved (read: cleaner) gas-powered car that emits fewer greenhouse gases than today's vehicles?

We didn't want to try and answer that question. But we did think it made sense to try and capture the landscape of the recent battle over the rule, and so we asked some of the involved automakers and other concerned parties for their opinions. We put together a list of responses after the jump.

Continue reading Who was for, who was against CARB's ZEV mandate "over-compliance" rule

Who was for, who was against CARB's ZEV mandate "over-compliance" rule originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gas 2.0: 39 MPG Volkswagen Beetle TDI Coming To Chicago Auto Show

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:00:52 +0000

Volkswagen wants to be the #1 Automaker in the world, but to do that they’re going to have to sell a lot of cars. To be honest, there aren’t many cars in their lineup that catch my eye…but the new, more masculine Beetle has me seriously reconsidering how I look at Volkswagen. Now with the announcement that VDub will be bringing a TDI version of the Beetle to the Chicago Auto Show next week, the 2013 Beetle just got a whole lot more appealing to this guy.

Unlike many American automakers who are shying away from diesel cars, Volkswagen has embraced them, even earning a nomination (though not a trophy) for its Passat TDI. The 2013 VW Beetle has bolder looks and more masculine styling that appeals to people like, well, me. And I never thought I’d say that about a Bug.

What is even more appealing though is VW’s promise of 39 mpg highway (29 city) from a 2.0 liter TDI engine. That is about par for course for other non-diesel compact cars, but what sets the 2013 Beetle TDI apart is torque. 236 ft-lbs of torque, in fact, and 140 horsepower available through either a dual-clutch automatic transmission or a six-speed manual. Music to my freakin’ ears.

The 29/39 rating is also about a 25% increase over the petrol-powered versions of the Beetle, which average around 22/30 mpg. And with all that torque on tap, the 2013 Beetle TDI is just begging for a biodiesel conversion into a badass Bug race car. Price will be important, of course, and with the current Beetle starting at $18,995, it could be difficult to keep a TDI Beetle in the “cheap” price range.

If VW can knock the Beetle TDI out of the park, it may convince other automakers that there is indeed a market for performance diesel coupes here in America. Outside of just your humble writer, of course. Tune in next week when two of our intrepid writers, Jo Borras and Charis Michelsen, take on the Chicago Auto Show in person. And if Charis can pull Jo away from the NSX hybrid long enough, he may even have time to cover the TDI Beetle!

Source: Volkswagen

AutoblogGreen: Toyota boosts fuel-economy rating for Prius Plug-in to 95 MPGe

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:53:00 +0000

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, MPG, Toyota

Toyota has boosted the miles-per-gallon-equivalent (MPGe) ratings for the Prius Plug-in hybrid-electric that it plans to debut in the U.S. next month. The Japanese automaker now estimates that the car will get 95 MPGe in its all-electric mode, up from its prior estimate of 87 MPGe, according to Toyota Division Group Vice President Bob Carter and cited by multiple media outlets.

Once the plug-in goes through its 15-mile all-electric range, the car will get 50 miles per gallon from its hybrid-electric powertrain, up from Toyota's prior estimate of 49 MPG.

By comparison, the most fuel-efficient car sold in the U.S. is the Mitsubishi i battery-electric vehicle, which gets an EPA-rated 112 MPGe. The Nissan Leaf battery-electric gets 99 MPGe while the Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in is rated at 60 MPGe.

Toyota initially estimated fuel-economy figures north of 100 MPGe when unveiling the car at the Frankfurt Motor Show last September. AutoblogGreen reviewed the car here.

Toyota boosts fuel-economy rating for Prius Plug-in to 95 MPGe originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PuginCars: Good-Natured Misinformation About Electric Cars More Damaging Than Attacks

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:47:12 +0000

PluginCars.com has done a lot of reporting about direct anti-electric-car venom. EV-Haters, YouTube ranters and politically motivated attackers do their best to arrest the growth of electric car sales—which is forecast to expand from 17,000 units in the US in 2011, to between 60,000 to 100,000 sales this year. But in this age of Internet self-publishing, perhaps the greater threat is from mostly well-intentioned car buffs—trying an electric car on for size for a day or two, rather than living with one as a daily ride throughout the year or speaking to real-world drivers.

Gas 2.0: California Congressman Proposes $1 Billion Prize For 100 MPG Car

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:30:39 +0000

The Automotive X-Prize was a $10 million contest with a simple premise at its heart; produce a road-worthy, 100 MPG car. Sounds easy, but the contest was no joke, and at the end hundreds of contestants had been whittled down to three winners, the Edison2, Li-Ion Motors, and the X-Tracer team. Alas, none of these 100+ mpg vehicles will come to market en masse.But perhaps the prize just wasn’t big enough? That seems to be the thinking behind a new bill sponsors by California Republican Congressmen Dan Lungren, who proposes offering a $1 BILLION reward for any automaker that can build and sell 60,000 100 MPG vehicles.

Modeled after DARPA’s own version of the X-Prize, called the “Grand Challenge,” which challenges teams to develop an autonomous vehicle, Lungren’s prize would challenge automakers to build a 100 MPG mid-size sedan…and then sell 60,000 of them.

There are a couple of caveats though; the car must run on gasoline. No hybrids or electric vehicles allowed. Furthermore, the companies must be Incorporated in the United States. I’m not sure, but that may disqualify a number of Japanese and European automakers.

Another problem with this prize is that while a $1 billion is a lot of money to you or me, that is about what it costs for an automaker to develop a new car anyways. And unless such a vehicle is a runaway hit, it could take several years to sell 60,000 100 mpg cars, depending on the cost (and I doubt it would be cheap.)

Lungren’s bill has little hope of getting through our divided Congress at a time when the economy and budget deficit are front page news. But an affordable, mass-produced 100 mpg car could stretch out out limited oil supplies for a long, long time. Getting there without hybrid or electric vehicle technology might ultimately prove impossible though, even if this bill ever got passed (which it won’t.)

Source: Fox News (I know, I know…)

Electric Vehicle News: Chevy Volt "Aliens" Super Bowl Ad [video]

noreply@blogger.com (tsport100) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:03:00 +0000

2012 Chevy Super Bowl Commercials: A man walks in on a curious group of intergalactic creatures checking out the advanced technology of his Chevrolet Volt.

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Electric Vehicle News: Toyota gets 120,000 orders for Aqua hybrid in first month [video]

noreply@blogger.com (tsport100) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday the number of orders for the fuel-efficient Aqua compact hybrid has reached about 120,000 as of the end of January, some 10-fold its monthly sales target in just...

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300mpg: Timing Traffic Lights

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:55:26 +0000

Just recently, I was reminded of an video I shot a couple summers ago. It’s on “Timing Traffic Lights”. If you’ve never heard of the technique, don’t worry it’s simple and only takes a minute to learn. What I think is really great about it is that it is a TECHNIQUE rather than a “Feature.” [...]

AutoblogGreen: Italian Environment minister: Hey Fiat, you missed the boat on EVs

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:50:00 +0000

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Fiat

Italian automaker Fiat SpA missed a chance to benefit from growing global interest in electric-drive vehicles by giving up on some of its advanced-powertrain development efforts in favor of trying to develop more fuel-efficient internal combustion engines. That's the feeling of Corrado Clini, a member of Italy's Ministry of the Environment, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Clini said that Fiat's hybrid-electric Multipla, which was developed in the 1990s but has long been shelved, "was more sophisticated than the Toyota Prius," and that Fiat's Magneti Marelli division was not being sufficiently utilized in the development of electric-drive components, the Journal reported.

Fiat's electric-vehicle efforts have been limited to development work on an battery-electric powered Fiat 500. While this car was never released, a specially converted 500 EV was notoriously owned by deceased Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Fiat's sister company Chrysler displayed a battery-powered 500 at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show, and has said that a production model may be ready for the 2013 model year.

Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne once estimated that his company will lose $10,000 on each Fiat 500 EV sold. He also conceded in an interview with Automotive News last fall that Chrysler will need to make hybrid vehicles in order to meet progressively more stringent greenhouse-gas emissions standards in the U.S.

Italian Environment minister: Hey Fiat, you missed the boat on EVs originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gas 2.0: Infiniti EMERG-E Plug-In Performance Concept Teased Ahead of Geneva

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:01:05 +0000

Nissan and its luxury subsidiary, Infiniti, are playing a game with the automotive press called “tease and speculate.” We’ve been hearing about an upcoming luxury electric car from Infiniti since last year, as well as a plug-in performance hybrid. The latest crop of teaser pictures is for the plug-in hybrid, which now has a name; the “EMERG-E.” Will it live up to the hype?

I am hoping so. There have been precious few details regarding just what shape the EMERG-E will take, but now a few are starting to emerge from the obscurity. A 1.2 liter range-extending gas engine will be mounted in the middle of the EMERG-E concept for superior weight distribution, and that in an urban setting the Infiniti will be able to run on pure electricity. Infiniti had previously released these two teaser images of the yet-unnamed car, but without any of these new details.

As far as pure electric driving range goes though, Nissan will only say that the electric driving range is “respectable.” What could be more important, should such a fanciful concept actually make it to dealerships, would be fuel consumption in range-extending mode. A 1.2 liter engine is pretty small, though its main competitor, the Chevy Volt, also uses a small (1.4 liter) range-extending gas engine. The Volt is rated at 37 MPG combined and costs $41,000; could a similarly-priced Infiniti do better than the Volt?

Perhaps if they build it. The teaser photos paint a pretty picture of a sporty coupe, but it will come down to whether or not this is more than just a concept car. I hope it is, because if rich people get on board with the whole electric car and hybrid thing, everybody else is going to want them too. That’s just how it seems to work these days.

Are you looking forward to the EMERG-E too, or could you care less?

Source: Infiniti

AutoblogGreen: Boulder Electric Vehicle delivers first truck to Precision Plumbing [w/video]

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:06:00 +0000

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, USA

It's been a couple years since we first saw the Boulder Electric Vehicle prototype in action but now comes word that the company has delivered its very first production vehicle. The initial DV-500 (as it is affectionately called) has been sold to Denver-area Precision Plumbing,Heating & Cooling who have made a commitment to buy 20 of the all-electrics at a very reasonable-sounding $70,000 apiece.

In addition to obvious changes in appearance, its performance also differs slightly from the original. The production version boasts an 80-kWh battery pack made up of China-sourced lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) cells that weigh in at 1,300 lbs and are said to be good for 120 miles of range. Power comes from an 80-kW AC motor that gives the 7,000-lb truck a 70 mile-per-hour top speed. Charging can take up to eight hours.

Precision Plumbing's Tom Robichaud says that despite the higher up-front costs, he expects to save $6,000 to $8,000 per vehicle per year in lower operating costs and anticipates the trucks to be good for 300,000 miles. Currently, he says, the Sprinter vans he uses now are replaced after 100,000 miles. In anticipation of the electric fleet, the company has also installed a solar array at its facilities.

Boulder Electric Vehicle reportedly has five production lines set up and is busy building the vehicles for Precision and other customers. The company also has plans for a bigger truck that doubles the 500 cubic foot capacity of the DV-500. Hit the jump for a couple clips featuring Mr. Robichaud and his new promotionally wrapped plumbing van.

Continue reading Boulder Electric Vehicle delivers first truck to Precision Plumbing [w/video]

Boulder Electric Vehicle delivers first truck to Precision Plumbing [w/video] originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gas 2.0: Green News Roundup: Friday, February 3rd, 2012

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:00:17 +0000

In case you all didn’t know, I am a huge NY Giants Fan, so this Superbowl Sunday is about as close to a religious holiday as I have. What I’m saying is, there may or may not be a green news roundup on Monday morning. But for today, there is! This morning’s highlights include a Chevy Volt calculator that shows what you’ll save, Lebron James rides a bicycle to work, and the world’s prettiest solar car.Even LeBron James Rides A Bike To Work [Treehugger]

Audi To Compete With Hybrid In 24 Hours Of Le Mans [Green Car Congress]

Chevy Volt Calculator Shows How Much You’ll Save [Chevy Voltage]

Indiana Ethanol Industry Eager To Expand [Domestic Fuel]

Video: Volt Superbowl Commercial Draws Intergalactic Attention [YouTube]

World’s Prettiest Solar Car Kicks Off 21,000 Mile Journey [CleanTechnica]

GreenMotor: Fiat goes large with new 500L

noreply@blogger.com (GreenMotor) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:08:10 +0000

Fiat’s hugely popular 500 city car was clearly inspired as much by the reborn BMW Mini as it was influenced by its own tiny, rear-engined, air-cooled, 1950s namesake. So it should come as no surprise that the Italian company is now chasing hot on the profitable heels of the fashionable Mini Countryman with its latest lifestyle offering, the 500L.With a surprising lack of marketing flimflam, the L

Electric Vehicle News: Audi confirms it will race two diesel-electric hybrids at 2012 Le Mans

noreply@blogger.com (tsport100) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:18:00 +0000

Audi competes in the 80th running of the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 16–17, 2012 with a total of four LMP1 sports cars. Two of the four cars in action will be equipped with hybrid drive for...

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AutoblogGreen: Fisker lowering 2012 sales estimate to 10,000 units, expands availability to Canada

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:33:00 +0000

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, North America, Fisker

Time for some good news/bad news (maybe) from Fisker Automotive.

First, the good news. The company announced today that it will soon be selling the luxury plug-in hybrid in Canada, starting with retail locations in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver. Fisker is working with the big Canadian auto dealer the Dilawri Group as well as Fields Automotive Group to sell the PHEV in Canada. More stores should be coming, since Fisker said in a statement that it will "expand its presence in Canada as it ramps up Karma production."

Speaking of that production, here's the possible bad news. In Auto News is reporting (but doesn't actually source) that Fisker is dropping the number of Karmas it expects to sell in 2012 down to 10,000. Way back when, (i.e., November 2011) the company was still confident it would make 15,000 Karmas in 2012. But then sales were delayed - and we know that production is not the same as sales - so there's reason to be skeptical that lofty sales targets for the $100,000+ Karma will be met. We've contacted Fisker for a comment on this possible decrease, but have not yet heard back. If they respond, we'll let you know.

UPDATE: Roger Ormisher, Fisker's senior director of global corporate communications & PR, wrote to AutoblogGreen:

There has been so much confusion over our sales targets in the media (15,000 was the figure for full global production and sales of all 3 Karma derivatives - sedan, Surf Wagon and Sunset convertible) that we have now moved away from quoting projections.

This is a new car from a new brand in a unique market segment. Therefore, we are not making any predictions on sales figures. We are a new car company, learning as we go and opening up new markets consistently - and one thing that we have learned is that making annual sales projections when you bring a car such as the Karma to the market is unhelpful!

Continue reading Fisker lowering 2012 sales estimate to 10,000 units, expands availability to Canada

Fisker lowering 2012 sales estimate to 10,000 units, expands availability to Canada originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gas 2.0: The Republican Candidates On Alternative Energy and Electric Vehicles

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:00:01 +0000

We know where our Democratic President stands of Electric Vehicles (EVs) and alternative energy thanks to President Obama’s State of the Union Address. But where do the remaining Republican challengers stand on such issues? We here at Gas2 decided to find out.

The current state of America is not great. The housing market has not returned, unemployment is high, and the price of good just keeps going up. To top things off 2012 also happens to be a Presidential election year – so that means not a lot of is actually going to get done on the real issues and instead all eyes are going to be on the race.

Currently there are four Republican candidates squaring off against one another for a chance to take on President Obama. The candidates are former Massachusetts Governor Willard Mitt Romney, former Republican Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, Texas Senator Dr. Ron Paul, and former Republican Senator from Pennsylvania Rick Santorum.

Different people from different background and all with different ideas on many issues; but for the sake of our interests here at Gas2 let’s look at where each candidate stands on alternative fuel use and the growing EV market.

Willard Mitt Romney

On the issue of alternative fuels, Romney gives importance to achieving the targeted goal of American energy independence so that America can free itself from reliance on oil rich countries. At the same time, energy independence will aid America in becoming an economic and military superpower. Essentially through energy independence in Romney ‘s eyes America can do what it has to do without worrying about fuel or energy related consequences associated with the actions.

“The United States must become energy independent. This does not mean no longer importing or using oil. It means making sure that our nation’s future will always be in our hands. Our decisions and destiny cannot be bound to the whims of oil-producing states…” Romney said.

As for what kinds of alternative fuels Romney as listed as viable for the US, really for Romney just about everything is on the table. Nuclear energy, biodiesel, ethanol, and natural gas are all worth exploring for the Romney Camp. Additionally Romney has suggested exploiting domestic sources of oil such as the Outer Continental Shelf and Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. With the use of alternative fuels Romney believes the nation will also have to invest a lot into research and innovation. The areas that will need heavy investment include fuel technology, power generation and materials science with a focus on clean technology and more efficient power generation.

Mitt Romney is taking the safe road when it comes to his stance on alternative fuels. That safe road is saying that America’s dependency on foreign oil is bad and needs to stop, the solution for Romney is not set in stone, nuclear power or natural gas whatever works. What this does for Romney is not pigeonhole him within the alternative fuel markets. However, it is also not a clear plan.

This scatter shot approach to the alternative fuel issue is not uncommon for the Republican candidates as will soon be shown.

However, where Romney does stand out from the other candidates is on his stance that having America kick its foreign oil addiction will lead to an even stronger military. Romney has repeated time and time again his idea that having the strongest and largest military in the world will act as a deterrent from foreign aggression. This stated mixing of alternative energy and military muscle is a unique stance amongst the Republican candidates and one that Romney believes in.

On the issue of EVs, Romney has raised some eyebrows with comments that he has made. In an interview with The Detroit News, Tesla spokesperson Ricardo Reyes commented, “[It is] unfortunate that Gov. Romney is using Tesla as a political tool and he’s wrong. We’re creating American jobs.”

Reyes was commenting on a piece Romney wrote in which he said,

“Tesla’s next vehicle is expected to list for $57,400. Fisker’s car, already a year behind schedule, will cost $97,000. “We have a history of losses and we expect significant increases in our costs and expenses to result in continuing losses for at least the foreseeable future,” says Tesla’s most recent quarterly filing.

And neither firm has created many jobs. So far, approximately 100 workers are employed by Fisker in Wilmington, Del., while an additional 500 are actually assembling the cars in Finland. Tesla’s record is only slightly better. Even these few jobs may be illusory: studies of Europe’s green job experiments have found that each new green job destroys several other jobs elsewhere in the economy.”

This is an interesting departure from research approach that Romney has championed for regarding alternative fuel use and energy independence. On one hand Romney is saying that as a nation, America needs to explore all alternative energy options. But on the other hand, Romney is saying that the “European green job experiment” is no good for the United States.

The underlying factor for Romney is not that EVs are bad and that there is no market for them, as some other Republicans have said. For Romney it comes down to money. Romney is a capitalist and a successful one at that. For Romney companies live and die depending on the actions they take. On the American auto industry bailouts Romney said,

“It would have been best not to have had the president and government put their hands on the bankruptcy process … Bailouts are not the answer.”

The same goes for making EVs. Romney does not care that a company like Tesla is making an EV. From a capitalistic standpoint Romney is looking at Tesla and saying go for it, make the EVs and if they do not sell and Tesla goes away so be it – it’s the risk of doing business in the American market. What Romney does not like is the $1 billion USD in federal loans that companies like Tesla and Fisker took to create a few hundred “green jobs”.

Newt Gingrich

“Contrary to popular belief, America has more energy than any nation on earth. All that’s keeping us from becoming energy independent is a lack of political will to do so.” – Newt Gingrich

Gingrich has been in politics a long, time first arriving I Washington DC representing Georgia’s 6th congressional district in 1979. Gingrich is unique amid the other Republican candidates in regard to his alternative energy policies because Gingrich has actually written a book in which he details his plan. The book is titled A Contract with the Earth.

A Contract with the Earth details ways in which Gingrich would address almost every green issue facing America today. Within his book Gingrich comes out strongly in favor of nuclear energy and domestic oil drilling, he also recognizes the need for federal tax incentives that encourage clean energy choices, specifically singling out electric cars and renewable resources. Gingrich digs deep into federal agencies and policy and would replace the EPA with a more economically driven organization called the Environmental Solutions Agency. Gingrich has also written Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less: A Handbook for Slashing Gas Prices and Solving Our Energy Crisis.

At one of the latest CNN Republican Debates Gingrich said,

“We ought to have a massive all-sources energy program in the United States designed to, once again, create a surplus of energy here, so we could say to the Europeans pretty cheerfully, that all the various sources of oil we have in the United States, we could literally replace the Iranian oil.”

Gingrich’s approach to green issues combines solutions that the two major parties have put forward in the past. Interestingly, Gingrich’s emphasis on consumer choice, weak government control, and private enterprise reflect a gathering of Republican, Democrat, and even Libertarian proposals; and his “all options on the table” solution is the same solution taken by Romney.

Gingrich, however, is not all talk and thought on issues. Gingrich has put his proposals into action in the past most notably as was one of the sponsors of the Endangered Species Act. In fact, Gingrich record and reputation on the wide range of green issues is, arguably, clearer than any other candidate in the 2012 race — Democrat or Republican.

On the Gingrich website his energy plan is even laid out.

As for EVs, Gingrich has outlined their positive use in many of his environmentally and energy focused books. While Gingrich has shied away from mentioning the benefits of EVs as of late, his past published works in which he uses EVs as an example of viable clean energy solution speak for themselves.

Ron Paul

Ron Paul is a Libertarian through and through. As a Libertarian, Paul’s aim is to minimize federal government action in virtually every aspect, and that includes the energy and environmental fields.

Libertarian’s reason that the government has no business controlling or regulating what persons or firms do with their money, because of this system of thought Paul has been labeled by some as a non-green, however such labeling is inaccurate.

While Paul is “still open” on the question of global warming, Paul is not anti environment or alternative energy and fuel, not bay a long shot. Being a Libertarian Paul thinks that each state should pass their own environmental laws not the federal government – take the power away from the federal government and pass it off to each state plain and simple.

Paul supports nuclear, wind, solar, and any other forms of energy production. However, he opposes subsidies to them as he does not believe that the federal government has the right to take money from one person to subsidize the energy desires of another. Thus Paul is anti carbon tax as collected by the federal government. However, if a state put into effect their own carbon tax Paul would be fine with that because this would leave the business being hit with the carbon tax the option of moving to another state that did not have a carbon tax. Liberty.

In the past, Paul has noted that protection of the environment is not a function that the Constitution allows the federal government to perform. He has therefore called for an end to the EPA. To address any possible pollution, Paul has stated that private property rights should function in this aspect as no man has the right to pollute another person’s land, water, or air. He notes that if government regulation of the environment were removed and ill environment effects were addressed on a private property level, then the cost of any pollution would be built into the cost of that particular energy model. The best energy model would then prevail and would be the one that best balances the cost to bring the product to market and the effects it has on the environment.

Yes, it is a bit messy but on the issue of alternative energy Paul summed up his feeling through a post on his website:

“…I do not support providing federal grants to any industry, I do support the tax credits contained in the NAT Gas Act, HR 1380. These credits reduce taxes for the production or purchase of vehicles that run on American-made natural gas. These credits are not subsidies. Of course, we should repeal federal barriers to energy production and reduce taxes on all forms of energy. Therefore, I have also introduced the Affordable Gas Price Act HR 1102 which would remove governmental barriers to offshore drilling, encourage private investment in new refineries and suspend taxes on gasoline when the price at the pump reaches a certain threshold. Lowering taxes to encourage the domestic production of energy and getting government out of the way of the American energy market is not a government giveaway; it is the way it should be in a free country.”

On the issue of the EVs, Paul has not really said anything specific. But by understanding the Libertarian views and playing by the Libertarian rules we can see where his opinion would likely fall: If a company wants to invest money and attract outside investors into building and selling EVs that is fine – but there will be no federal involvement, monetary or otherwise, what so ever.

Rick Santorum

First off, Rick Santorum does not believe in global warming and, as a Senator, voted exclusively against reducing emissions or pollution, including voting against funding of renewable energy, voting to end CAFÉ standards and voted against reducing oil usage 40% by 2025. Santorum was rated a 0% by the League of Conservation Voters. Yikes.

On his campaign website, Santorum said the country needs

“…an all-of-the-above energy policy that uses oil, natural gas, coal, and nuclear energy to power our economy and empower the American worker.”

As with Romney and Gingrich, Santorum is taking the safe (scatter shot) road in regards to alternative energy policy and an energy independent America.

Additionally, Santorum does advocate ending roadblocks to oil exploration and stopping new natural gas regulations.

“We will open up energy in America, whether it’s ANWR, whether its coal mining, whether it’s drilling, we will have a free market of energy production. And we will lead the world and we will have stable, long-term energy prices.”

Santorum has said that he would phase out all energy subsidies and opposed creating incentives for “different forms of energy that the government supports.” Santorum voted against ethanol subsidies while in Congress and in a June 2011 debate in New Hampshire, Santorum said he believes the ethanol industry is mature enough to survive without them.

Santorum also supports offshore and Arctic drilling for oil.

“It is absolutely essential that we have as much domestic supply of oil, that we build the Keystone pipeline, that we create the jobs that — that that would create, and provide oil from domestic sources.

Different from the other Republican candidates, Santorum is a major supporter of coal. For some time Santorum was a consultant, being paid $142,500 from 2010 to August 2011, to Consol Energy one of the largest coal mining companies in the United States.

While Romney has attacked EV manufactures and Gingrich has written books promoting their use, Santorum has been rather mute on the topic. Santorum is, however, a proponent of ethanol use in vehicles, saying that all U.S. vehicles should be required to burn ethanol and other bio fuels in addition to gasoline while speaking to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, even though he voted against ethanol subsidies while in office.

Overall the four remaining Republican candidates have different views on EVs – some negative, some positive, and some none at all. However, all of the Republican candidates are for alternative fuel use and American energy independence…which is the same thing that every President since Dwight Eisenhower has said.

If nothing else, it is important to know where the Presidential candidates stand on America’s energy future. If anything will define this nation in the coming years, it will be the looming energy crisis. Whoever is elected President in November needs to have a clear, concise plan, but it is up to voters to figure out who truly has America’s best interests at heart.

Andrew Meggison was born in the state of Maine and educated in Massachusetts. Andrew earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Government and International Relations from Clark University and a Master’s Degree in Political Science from Northeastern University. Being an Eagle Scout, Andrew has a passion for all things environmental. In his free time Andrew enjoys writing, exploring the great outdoors, a good film, and a creative cocktail. You can follow Andrew on Twitter @AndrewMeggison

AutoblogGreen: Infiniti EMERG-E announced as name for Geneva-bound electric concept

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:09:00 +0000

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Infiniti, Geneva Motor Show

Infiniti has named its plug-in hybrid electric concept car headed for the Geneva Motor Show in March the EMERG-E. The company says the vehicle will be a sports car with a range-extending 1.2-liter gasoline internal combustion engine. The powerplant will be mounted mid-ship for superior weight distribution, and the Japanese automaker promises the concept will offer impressive performance. It may or may not also run on rainbows.

Infiniti has released very few details beyond saying pure-electric range will be "respectable." The vehicle also promises zero-emission driving in most urban settings, so there's a good chance the concept will show off some advanced charging tech as well. The automaker is intent on making us wait until the vehicle's full unveil in Geneva before it drops any more clues, though a few more teaser images have surfaced to whet our appetite. Check them out in the gallery below.

Infiniti EMERG-E announced as name for Geneva-bound electric concept originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gas 2.0: Stanford Researchers Working Wireless On-Road Charging For EV’s

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:30:40 +0000

Range anxiety is a common theme in arguments against electric vehicles, and it is a valid argument. But what if electric vehicles could drive…forever? Sounds crazy, but the idea of an in-road electric car charging system isn’t new. It is receiving a fresh look from researchers at Stanford University however, who want to use magnetic coupling to wirelessly charge EV’s as they drive.

The proposed design would transfer large amounts of energy via metal coils spaced about 6.5 feet apart. The design, in theory, could transfer up to 10 kW of electrical energy at a 97% efficiency rate. Very good numbers, in theory. Making it all work in the real world is the challenge though.

Stanford hopes to use resonant coupling to eventually lead to the development of an all-electric highway system. Resonant coupling uses two coils, one connected to an electric current that produces a magnetic field, causing the second coil to resonate. The magnetic resonance results in the transfer of electricity between the coils wirelessly. Several companies are working on bringing wireless charging to home garages, but this system would be built into the road themselves to provide charging on the fly.

In theory, this means that a highway with a wireless charging system could provide electric cars with an unlimited driving range. But while asphalt doesn’t interfere with the energy transference, the metal bodies of cars could, so more study and research is needed. But the potential here is huge…

Source: Green Car Reports

AutoblogGreen: Chevy turns to aliens to pitch Volt in Super Bowl ad

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:54:00 +0000

Filed under: Etc., EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Chevrolet

Just when you thought you'd seen all the Super Bowl ads there were to see, Chevrolet jumps in with a whole new spot for the Chevrolet Volt. The supposed savior of General Motors has been struggling to make sales headway for a number of reasons. GM managed to move a paltry 603 units in January. With some dealers refusing their allocations, the automaker is keen on putting the spurs to Volt sales. The Super Bowl ad features a host of very curious aliens attempting to comprehend the science behind the propulsion system in the Chevrolet Volt.

It would seem GM believes buyers are being scared off from the Volt because they simply don't understand the mechanics behind the plug-in hybrid. Anything is possible and, if that's the case, the new commercial should help clear up any mysteries surrounding the vehicle. Hit the jump to see E.T. in action for yourself.

Continue reading Chevy turns to aliens to pitch Volt in Super Bowl ad

Chevy turns to aliens to pitch Volt in Super Bowl ad originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PuginCars: Tesla Confirms Webcast of Model X Electric SUV Unveiling on February 9

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:25:37 +0000

Tesla Motors released this teaser image of its Model X ahead of its full reveal on February 9.

Gas 2.0: Bicycling and Walking Benchmarking Report 2012: Bicycling is on the Rise

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:00:21 +0000

The “Bicycling and Walking in the United States: 2012 Benchmarking Report” was published by the Alliance for Biking and Walking on January 23rd. The report, which was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the AARP, and Planet Bike ranks the levels of bicycling and walking in every state and 51 of the largest cities in the USA, and outlines the progress and challenges bike and pedestrian advocates have. Overall, the Report shows that bicycling is at least getting more popular as a method of transportation; the number of commuters who bicycle to work increased by 57% from 2000 to 2009.

The Benchmarking Report tells us that the top five cities with the highest levels of cycling and walking are Boston, Washington DC, San Francisco, Seattle, and New York. The top five states for biking and walking are Alaska (surprise!), Vermont, New York, Montana, and Oregon. The safest include Vermont, Nebraska, Alaska, Wyoming, and South Dakota.

Areas for Improvement:

The biggest area for improvement is in the short trips Americans take. 40% of trips in the United States were shorter than two miles in 2009, and yet an overwhelming 87% of these trips were by car. 27% percent of trips were shorter than 1 mile, and yet Americans chose to use their cars for 62% of these trips. That is a great area of opportunity for saving money and increasing physical fitness. Back in 2011, Andrew wrote about a study in the scientific journal Environmental Health Perspectives reported that riding a bike and taking public transportation instead taking the car out for a short spin would result in saving about $7 billion annually, as well as 1,100 lives. There is no better, cheaper way to improve our transit systems and health issues than investing in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.

Another area for improvement is overall bicycle and pedestrian safety. Cycling and walking are increasingly safe, but still need a lot of work. In 2009, 4,092 pedestrians and 630 cyclists were killed in traffic accidents, down from 4892 pedestrians and 786 bicyclists in 2005. It’s a reduction, but not good enough.

Wouldn’t it have been nice if our legislators cared enough about bicyclists and pedestrians to research or at least read reports like this one before writing their poor piece of transportation legislation (aka the American Energy & Infrastructure Jobs Act)? The act eliminates funding for biking and pedestrians, discretionary transit programs, including programs like Safe Routes to School, a proven project that has helped reduce fatalities in children throughout our country.

Maybe the seniors will get out and vote against Rep. John Mica and other supporters of this bill in outrage once they see the figures in the report. Seniors account for the highest percentage of fatalities while walking and bicycling, which is disproportionate to how often they walk and bike. For example, adults over 65 make up 10% of walking trips, yet comprise 19% of pedestrian fatalities, and this age group accounts for 6% of bicycling trips, yet 10% of bicyclist fatalities.

Click here to view rankings of the 50 states and 51 largest U.S. cities.

Source: Fast Coexist | Image: Miami Cycling Club

AutoblogGreen: BMW i3 caught winter testing again

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:02:00 +0000

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

Spy photographers have picked up yet another batch of photos of the BMW i3. This time, the pint-sized Bimmer was spotted during some winter testing in Norway. When we last saw the awkward-looking hatchback, it was whirring about under the power of 600cc two-cylinder range-extending engine back in November. This looks to be the same i3 REx, complete with its "Hybrid Test Vehicle" stickers slathered on both doors. That means the model you see here likely boasts a range of significantly longer than the 100 miles quoted for the pure EV. How much longer? That's a question BMW isn't likely to answer until the production model debuts.

From what we've heard, the BMW i3 is slated hit the market in 2013 with the i3 REx surfacing sometime shortly thereafter. We'll be interested to see whether the production model rides on the same super-skinny tires as the test ride pictured above. Click through our attached image gallery for a host of snowy i3 photos.

BMW i3 caught winter testing again originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PuginCars: Infiniti Emerg-e Extended-Range Electric Vehicle to Debut at Geneva Motor Show

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:18:54 +0000

Infiniti's rear-wheel-drive two-seat Emerg-e concept will make its worldwide debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March.

Infiniti has officially named its extended-range electric sports car the Emerg-e. Infiniti's rear-wheel-drive two-seater will make its worldwide debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March. According to Infiniti, the Emerg-e will be the automaker's first-ever mid-engined vehicle.

Infiniti choose a mid-engined setup to optimize the Emerg-e's handling.

Gas 2.0: Green News Roundup: Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:00:48 +0000

Good morning dear readers, and welcome to your daily dose of green news from around the web. This morning’s highlights include London’s all-electric taxi fleet, GM buys carbon offset credits, and the Civic Hybrid loses big in small claims court.

London’s First Electric Taxis Hit The Streets [Inhabitat]

Nissan Leaf Rearends School Bus [Yamhill-Valley News Register]

GM Buys Carbon Offset Credits [CleanTechnica]

Project Better Place Plans For IPO Within 2 Years [Bloomberg]

BP, Exxon Bet Against Electric Cars [Green Car Reports]

Civic Hybrid Owner Sues Honda For Low MPG, Wins [Jalopnik]

PuginCars: Bob Lutz Responds to the Spread of False Chevy Volt Information

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:42:25 +0000

Bob Lutz defends the Chevy Volt after the recent spread of misinformation.

Wired - Autopia EV: Nissan’s Electric Race Car Makes for Good, Clean Fun

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:30:04 +0000

This is the Nissan Leaf NISMO RC. You can sum it up in four sentences: It is tiny. It is electric. It corners like the blazes and is not street-legal. And you cannot have it.

Disappointing, right? Not really. For one thing, the Nissan Leaf RC is a prototype, which means it’s far from perfect and not fit for public consumption. For another, it’s not very fast. Sixty mph comes up in 6.8 seconds, or roughly about as much time as it takes the average Porsche to reach the next time zone. Top speed is a whopping 93 mph. You can hit that riding a shopping cart downhill, or possibly while driving a 1980s Hyundai, which is essentially the same thing.

Still, this thing is cool. Pundits have mocked the RC for its lack of speed and single-minded focus — Nissan wanted to create a Leaf-powered track car, logic and reason aside, and it did just that — but there’s something neat at the RC’s core. How can you not dig a car that looks like this?

I drove the RC, for two laps, in the dark, on a race track in Dubai. This is just as ridiculous as it sounds.

The RC was in the Middle East as part of an exhibition at the 24 Hours of Dubai endurance race. I was there to test the Nissan Juke-R (GT-R-powered Nissan Juke, accelerates like a supercar, corners like a barstool on casters) for someone that isn’t Wired.com. The RC just happened to be available during a nighttime media program. Because I am not an idiot, I hopped in.

There are eight Leaf RCs on the planet, each hand-built with a showroom stock drivetrain. The ordinary Nissan Leaf’s 107 horsepower AC synchronous motor, 24 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery and one-speed reduction gearbox reside in a carbon fiber unibody with what Nissan says is 50:50 weight distribution. Charging time is identical to that of a standard Leaf (seven hours at 220 volts), though a quick-charge setup allows engineers to get the pack to 80 percent in 30 minutes. The motor drives the rear wheels, not the front as in the production Leaf, and A-arm suspension replaces the stock multilink-and-strut setup. Ground clearance drops from 6.3 to 2.4 inches. Curb weight also shrinks, from 3,366 to 2,058 pounds.

On the surface, the RC is a race car. It looks, smells and feels like a race car. Two Bride shell-type racing seats occupy the relatively spacious cockpit, and four-point harnesses keep you in place. A tiny, suede-covered steering wheel sits in front of an unpainted carbon-fiber dash. Predictably, the difference comes in the start-up procedure: There is no drama, no explosion of noise, just the toggling of a few switches and the awakening of a dash-mounted LCD screen displaying motor stats and other useful information.

So there you are, tooling down the track in your priceless, one-of-eight, electric Nissan track missile. What goes through your head? Noise, mostly. The engine whines, wind rushes over the roof and the 18-inch tires pelt the RC’s uninsulated belly with rocks. You can talk with a passenger and hear yourself speak, but not easily.

Above all, you never forget you’re in an electric car. The motor’s torque comes immediately from a standstill but is less noticeable at speed; with just over 100 horses moving just over 2000 pounds, you spend a lot of time with your right foot mashed to the floor, waiting for speed. (Ever been on a Greyhound bus when it merges onto the highway? Remember that gentle, relentless acceleration, with no surge, no shove in the back? It’s like that, but without the smelly weird guy in the seat next to you.) Heat fills the cockpit. There is no power steering, but you don’t need it. The RC’s unassisted rack-and-pinion setup is linear, light, and doesn’t ask to be horsed around. Unboosted brakes offer a rock-solid pedal more sensitive to pressure than travel. All told, you could drive this thing with your fingertips and toes.

So that’s what you do. The RC’s relative lack of power and race-car-like grip means you spend much of your time attempting to preserve momentum—tiny steering angles here, the least possible amount of braking there, and so forth. Everything you do is measured in millimeters of movement, and you pay for your mistakes with an agonizingly long climb back up to speed. It’s fun, if occasionally frustrating.

But that’s what it’s like to drive any relatively slow car on a track. The really interesting part is how the powertrain impacts things. Thanks to the RC’s hefty battery pack, the Leaf carries a disproportionate amount of its mass low in the chassis. Few track cars of this size are this heavy and offer this kind of weight distribution; stiff springs and dampers are used to compensate, and you get the sense that Nissan’s engineers aren’t thrilled with the resulting balance. Approaching the RC’s grip limits is like threading a needle: The Leaf generally wants to understeer, sliding its front tires, but the window between that and a loss of rear traction is relatively small. When the back end slides, it happens quickly, and you don’t have much power with which to collect it. I’ve driven purpose-built racing thoroughbreds that are more forgiving.

Nissan says it built the Leaf RC for exhibitions and to prove the worthiness and adaptability of the Leaf powertrain. This makes sense. The RC isn’t currently legal in any sanctioned racing series, and the battery is only good for 20 to 40 minutes of driving. (Actual time depends upon your talent and speed.) You can’t buy one, and even if you could, you wouldn’t be able to do much with it.

But that’s the neat part. The RC exists as a tangible possibility, a first step toward a practical, production-worthy electric track car. It’s a glimpse at one of the cooler parts of our automotive future, and for that, we’re thankful.

Photos: Nissan. Sam drove the car at night, and obviously these were shot during the day.

We don’t have any video from the event in Dubai, but here’s some on-board footage of test driver Tsugio Matsuda shaking down the Leaf RC at Sodegaura Forest Raceway on June 6. Video: Nissan

Electric Vehicle News: Isola 2000 Andros Trophy Electric 2012 [video]

noreply@blogger.com (tsport100) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:12:00 +0000

Louis Gervoson won the first race, whereas Andrien Tambay won the second and Christophe Ferrier the third race from the Andros Trophy Electric round, which took place at Isola 2000.

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Electric Vehicle News: Nissan begins use of an energy-efficient coastal car carrier [video]

noreply@blogger.com (tsport100) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:08:00 +0000

Sustainable mobility takes to the open water, as Nissan launches its first energy-efficient, coastal car carrier, the Nichioh Maru. The maker of the first mass-marketed, 100% electric vehicle -...

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Electric Vehicle News: Oil industry sees no threat from electric car

noreply@blogger.com (tsport100) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:57:00 +0000

The biggest oil companies in the world have calculated that few, if any, of today's drivers will see electric cars outnumber gasoline and diesel models in their lifetimes. While politicians and...

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Electric Vehicle News: Highways could Wirelessly charge electric cars [video]

noreply@blogger.com (tsport100) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:52:00 +0000

Researchers say they've designed a charging system that could lead to all-electric highways that wirelessly charge cars and trucks as they drive. A team from Stanford University says their system...

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AutoblogGreen: Nissan Leaf rear-ends school bus in Oregon; results in minor injuries but no fire

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:31:00 +0000

Filed under: Etc., EV/Plug-in, Green Culture, Nissan

Maybe this will calm some of the "plug-in cars are scary!" fears that are out there. Recently, a Nissan Leaf driver rear-ended a school bus in Oregon, causing minor injuries but no fire, the Yamhill Valley News-Register reported.

The Leaf's front and side airbags deployed during the accident, which occurred in Gaston, about 30 miles southwest of Portland, the newspaper said, citing Oregon State Police. The bus, which was stopped at the time, contained only the driver, and no children. The Leaf driver suffered minor injuries, was treated at the scene and was cited for careless driving, the newspaper reports.

With sales of electric-drive vehicles such as the Leaf and the Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in expected to surge over the next few years, some have expressed concern over potential safety issues involving the cars. While each case is different, this minor story proves that an EV can be just as safe as a gasoline car - sometimes safer.

Last week, Chevy parent General Motors launched an advertising campaign touting the safety of the Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in electric vehicle just as its CEO testified to Congress that a recent Volt fire that took place after a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash test would never occur under real-world circumstances. NHTSA said earlier this month that it finished its a two-month investigation into the crash test that resulted in a fire three weeks after the fact last summer, and concluded that neither the Volt nor other electric vehicles pose more of a fire risk than conventional vehicles.

Nissan Leaf rear-ends school bus in Oregon; results in minor injuries but no fire originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AutoblogGreen: Better Place may try an IPO within two years

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:14:00 +0000

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Better Place

Electric vehicle "miles" company Better Place will likely go public within two years to take advantage of what many expect will be broader electric-vehicle adoption throughout the world, Bloomberg News reported, citing an interview with company founder Shai Agassi last week.

Better Place will likely have one more private round of financing before filing for an initial public offering, Agassi told the wire service said. The company has raised about $750 million since its founding.

Better Place's concept - based on the cell phone industry model - is to lease charged batteries and charging time to motorists so they can drive an electric vehicle without also having to purchase a battery pack that could cost as much as the car. Cumulative sales of plug-in electric vehicles will reach 5.2 million vehicles in 2017, up from 114,000 vehicles last year, according to green-technology research company Pike Research.

Better Place last week started delivery of the first 100 Renault Fluence Z.E. electric cars to Israeli customers as part of the company's efforts to build out an electric-vehicle charging and battery-exchanging network throughout the country, and is planning on rolling out a similar network in Denmark

Better Place may try an IPO within two years originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gas 2.0: House Transportation Bill Cuts Funding To Bikers, Walkers, In Favor Of Highways

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:00:38 +0000

There is no question that America’s highway infrastructure is in dire straits, and they need to be fixed. Unfortunately, a too-low gas tax and misplaced priorities have seen infrastructure constantly shuffled to the back of the pack, especially when it comes to promoting public transit options, walkable spaces, and bike paths.

President Obama and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood made great strides to encourage more bike paths and sidewalks, but a new bill from the House Transportation Committee essentially guts funding for non-highway projects.

Bike commuting in the U.S. has increased 57% between 2000 and 2009 and many cities including New York and Miami are even opening bike-sharing services and dedicated bike lanes. Walking is up too, as people move back to cities to be closer to their place of employment, food stores, and other people. In other words, fatass America is finally starting to move again.

So of course it makes sense that the Republican-led House of Representatives wants to slash funding for bike and walking projects, including the addition of a broad phrase that allows states to “eliminate any program not in the federal interest.” Yet I would argue it is in the Federal interest to promote alternatives to car-based commuting, which has led to health problems, traffic congestion, and a country addicted to oil.

Other items of note; a 25% cut to Amtraks annual subsidies, despite Amtrak ridership continuing to increase year over year, and an unspecified tax on oil and gas companies, rather than simply raising the far-too-low gas tax. About the only bright spot I could see was a point about encouraging the entry of private companies into the public transportation system. That could prove fruitful, as private companies tend to operate more efficiently when investor money is on the line. But just about everything else is focused on building and maintaining more highways. You can read the whole thing for yourself here.

Luckily, Democrats are going to oppose this bill with every tool at their disposal, though that does nothing to help the country either. Political gridlock at its best. Or worst, depending on how you look at it.

My opinion is obvious, but do you think the government should do more to promote getting people out of their cars and onto alternative forms of transportation? Or should we just squeeze everybody into automobiles?

Source: DC Street Blog | Image: Blazej Lyjack via Shutterstock

Gas 2.0: Despite Bankruptcy, Customers Stick With Ener1 Batteries

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:30:10 +0000

Who would ever imagine that we would reach a point in politics where one party is openly rooting for the failure of American companies? Yet that is exactly what the GOP is doing these days, cheering loudly whenever a green energy company files for bankruptcy and making a point to tie it all back to President Obama.

The thing about bankruptcy is that it doesn’t mean the end of the company, as the auto bailouts showed. While some companies, like Solyndra, inevitably closed showed after liquidating their assets, another recently-bankrupt company, EnerDel (also referred to as Ener1) has announced that many of their former customers are standing by the battery-makers side, hoping for a leaner, more efficient company.

Ener1’s story is not for the faint of heart, that is for sure. While EnerDel batteries were slated for use in the Th!nk City EV, Th!nk’s own bankruptcy (it’s third in a decade) saw production cease of its little electric car, slashing demand for EnerDel’s batteries. As it so happens, Ener1 owned a controlling interest in Th!nk Global, and ended up losing more than $73 million when the EV maker went bankrupt once again.

But while Th!nk Global was to be EnerDel’s largest customer (and may yet, if production resumes as planned) it was not the battery maker’s only customer. Volvo, now owned by China’s Geely, is using Ener1’s batteries in 250 of its C30 electric compact test cars. Lightning Motorcycles is also moving forward with planned production for an all-electric motorcycle using EnerDel’s battery system.

The Indiana-based EnerDel was the recipient of $118 million of stimulus money back in 2009, making it a prime target for Republicans on the war path. But despite this bankruptcy, EnerDel has been able to hold on to two high-profile clients, and will hopefully maintain other deals, like the agreement to provide China’s Waxiang electric cars with batteries.

What the future holds for Ener1 is any guess, though obviously some companies still see promise in the battery-maker’s technology and ability to re-organize whilst in bankruptcy. But can they make it in the long haul? Only time will tell.

AutoblogGreen: Chevy Volt sales drop to 603, Nissan moves 676 Leafs in January

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:33:00 +0000

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Chevrolet, Nissan

This one has got to hurt. After a record-best 1,529 units sold in December, sales of the Chevrolet Volt dropped to just 603 in January, part of an overall decline in GM model sales compared to the last month of 2011. The good news in this less-than-half drop? If you look at the year-on-year trend, the Volt almost doubled its sales. In January 2011, Chevy sold 321 Volts.

Over on the Nissan Leaf side, the numbers are also down. Nissan sold 676 Leafs in January, which is less than the 954 Leafs sold last month. But, if we do the same comparison that we did with the Volt, things look good. All the way back in January 2011, Nissan sold 87 Leafs. For more on Leaf sales, read this. We'll have our By The Numbers post on overall green car sales up as the information rolls in. Official press releases from both Nissan and Chevy are available after the jump.

Continue reading Chevy Volt sales drop to 603, Nissan moves 676 Leafs in January

Chevy Volt sales drop to 603, Nissan moves 676 Leafs in January originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PuginCars: Plug-in Car Sales Get Off to Slow Start in 2012

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:11:34 +0000

The Nissan LEAF outsold the Chevy Volt by 73 units in January 2012.

Gas 2.0: California’s Plug-In Car Push Has Huge Gas-Powered Loophole

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:00:47 +0000

Last week the California Air Resource Board voted to pass new regulations that would require automakers to put 1.4 million plug-in electric and hybrid cars on the roads by 2025. But as I pointed out in the intial post, automakers can get around making that many EV’s by simply “overcomplying” with a greenhouse-gas reduction target.

By overcomplying, CARB means that automakers who reduce their overall fleet emissions by 2-grams-per-mile more than the stated goals of a 34% reduction from the 2016 GHG emissions standard can sell about half as many zero or low-emissions vehicles. That could cut in half the 1.4 million clean car goal, which would be a boon to automakers who see the goal of 15% clean car sales as largely unachievable, short of a massive and permanent gas price spike.

So, not only is CARB now mandating what kinds of cars automakers should make, but they are also leaving a massive, easily-attainable loophole that will cut the legs right out under from the overly-ambitious goal.

Do two bone-headed moves make for good policy? Probably not. CARB hasn’t even left the door open for discussion of this move, and since 15 other states apply to CARB standards, this affects the whole nation, not just the Golden State.

Does anyone here really believe that by 2025, 15% of cars on the road will be electric or plug-in hybrids? I don’t. It is far more likely that Americans will transition from huge cars into smaller, more fuel-efficient offerings that don’t have a huge price premium like hybrids and EV’s. Nationwide, hybrids only account for less than 3% of all new car sales. California expects a five-fold increase in less than 15 years. I am all for electric cars and hybrids, but the last time California mandated that automakers build and sell electric cars, it ended poorly for all involved.

Instead of mandating the cars automakers should build, CARB should instead figure out how to make electric vehicle ownership easy and affordable while at the same time increase gas taxes on the cash-strapped state to help fix up some of their many crumbling roads and bridges. The market will figure things out from there.

Only CARB has the ability to simultaneously piss off the private industry and environmentalists in one fell swoop.

Ugh, California. That is all I have to say.

Source: Plug-In Cars | Image: Aaron Khor via Shutterstock

PuginCars: 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Set at 95 MPGe

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:10:05 +0000

According to Toyota Division Group vice-president, Bob Carter, the 2012 Prius Plug-in returns 95 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) in electric-only mode and 50 miles per gallon in hybrid mode.

Gas 2.0: Green News Roundup: Wednesday February 1st, 2012

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:00:48 +0000

What a beautiful spring day it is here in New England. Except that it is supposed to be the middle of winter…but who said global warming had to be all bad? Anyway, on with the news! This morning’s highlights include a new Tesla Model S video, a plastic-eating fungus, and the Muppets take on Fox News.

GM Cars To Start Carrying EcoLogic Stickers [CleanTechnica]

Plastic-Eating Fungus Discovered In Ecuador [Treehugger]

Green GT H2 Hydrogen Race Car [TechVehi]

The Muppets Respond To Fox New’s Communism Criticism [YouTube]

Ford To Cut Water Use, Landfill Waste At European Factories [Autoblog Green]

2012: The Year Of The Tesla Model S Sedan [Vimeo]

GreenMotor: VW Up and friends gain doors but keep their charm

noreply@blogger.com (GreenMotor) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:44:38 +0000

Pictures haven’t been released yet, but it won’t take a creative genius to imagine what the upcoming Seat Mii five-door will look like, now that we’ve seen its two litter-mates showing off their extra entry points. Pictures of the new five-door versions of the Skoda Citigo and VW Up have been released ahead of the Geneva Motor Show in March, where presumably a more accessible Mii will make up the