Autoblog Green http://green.autoblog.com Autoblog Green http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog Green http://green.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid and Dan RothThe podcast by the people who obsessively cover the auto industry.<![CDATA[Greenlings: What's the difference between kW and kWh?]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/19/greenlings-whats-the-difference-between-kw-and-kwh/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/19/greenlings-whats-the-difference-between-kw-and-kwh/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/19/greenlings-whats-the-difference-between-kw-and-kwh/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Understanding electric and plug-in vehicles requires a slightly different knowledge set than what mechanics and drivers have needed to know for decades. One of the most obvious new concepts is the large battery pack and electric motor added to the car. The capacity values of these devices are be written using kW (kilowatt) and kWh (kilowatt hours), but don't think that a 90 kW motor is anything like a 90 kWh battery pack. That little h makes a big difference. Exactly what is the difference? Well, that's what we investigate in this week's Greenlings. Follow us after the jump to learn more.


[Sources: Idaho National Lab]
Photo by Vince Alongi. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.

Continue reading Greenlings: What's the difference between kW and kWh?

Greenlings: What's the difference between kW and kWh? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>greenlingskilowattkilowatt hourskilowatthourKilowattHourskwkwhThu, 19 Nov 2009 19:54:00 EST<![CDATA[First Drive: 2010 BMW X6 ActiveHybrid is technologically impressive... but to what end?]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/11/first-drive-2010-bmw-x6-activehybrid-is-technologically-impress/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/11/first-drive-2010-bmw-x6-activehybrid-is-technologically-impress/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/11/first-drive-2010-bmw-x6-activehybrid-is-technologically-impress/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2010 BMW X6 ActiveHybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery

BMW's pitch on how great the X6 ActiveHybrid is goes like this: it's the world's most powerful hybrid vehicle, fuel consumption is reduced about 20 percent compared to a similar vehicle without a hybrid drivetrain, and no matter what speed you're going, the incredibly complicated powertrain is performing at the most efficient level possible. All of this power means that the X6 hybrid is no sluggish Toyota Prius, offering frugal but unexciting performance. On the other hand, the size and weight of BMW's luxury hybrid crossover means that, well, the X6 hybrid is no Prius in the mileage department, either.

Let's start by congratulating BMW for bringing its first batch of hybrids to market (the 7 Series ActiveHybrid is launching alongside the X6). In everyday traffic, the hybrid system helps keep fuel consumption down - to a still-lame 18 mpg combined (estimated) - and, since the engine can shut down at stops, the ultra-quiet interior made sitting in Miami traffic during our preview drive almost a pleasure. Nevertheless, there's still a lot of vehicle here that hampers any attempt at real fuel efficiency gains. The X6 ActiveHybrid weighs 5,688 pounds for crying out loud - 400 pounds more than the non-hybrid. This vehicle simply doesn't makes a lot of sense for anyone actually interested in fuel efficiency. Who does it make sense for? Follow us past the break as we try to find out.



Photos copyright (C)2009 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading First Drive: 2010 BMW X6 ActiveHybrid is technologically impressive... but to what end?

First Drive: 2010 BMW X6 ActiveHybrid is technologically impressive... but to what end? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 bmw x6 active hybrid2010BmwX6ActiveHybridbmwbmw x6bmw x6 activehybridBmwX6BmwX6Activehybridfeaturedfirst driveFirstDrivex6x6 activehybridX6ActivehybridWed, 11 Nov 2009 14:58:00 EST<![CDATA[At Witz' End: Notes from "The Business of Plugging In"]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/09/at-witz-end-notes-from-the-business-of-plugging-in/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/09/at-witz-end-notes-from-the-business-of-plugging-in/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/09/at-witz-end-notes-from-the-business-of-plugging-in/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Bright IDEA PHEV at the Business of Plugging In conference - Click above for high-res image gallery


EV business may be booming soon

I dropped by the Center for Automotive Research's (CAR) "The Business of Plugging In" conference in Detroit recently and came away with a collection of quotes and useful information from movers and shakers working to make vehicle electrification happen.

Most reasonable observers understand that electric vehicles will not replace liquid-fueled vehicles in large numbers any time soon due to their three key disadvantages of high battery cost, limited driving range and long recharge times. But everyone sees that they will become an increasingly viable alternative as automakers respond to growing consumer demand and ever-toughening fuel economy standards.

Respected research firm J.D. Power and Associates forecasts that, while 90 percent of U.S. light vehicles sales today are gasoline-powered (most of the other 10 percent are flex-fuels and diesels), the gas-only share will decline to about 80 percent in 2012 and less than 75 percent by 2016. Part of the alternative-energy 25 percent will be 1.5 million gas-electric hybrids (about nine percent of projected total sales), including plug-ins.

Power's good-news predictions: the number of hybrid models available in the U.S. will increase from 22 today to more than 100 by 2015, and the number of "pure" (battery only) EV models will swell from one (the Tesla roadster) to at least 13 by 2012. Bad news for pure EV fans: Power says just 0.5 percent of sales (fewer than 100K units) will be pure EVs by 2015. There's more after the jump.

Continue reading At Witz' End: Notes from "The Business of Plugging In"

At Witz' End: Notes from "The Business of Plugging In" originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anthony earlyAnthonyEarlyat witz endAtWitzEndbusiness of plugging inBusinessOfPluggingInchevy voltChevyVoltenid joffeEnidJoffefeaturedGary WitzenburgGaryWitzenburgj.e. robertsonJ.e.Robertsonkarina morleyKarinaMorleynissanpeter darbeePeterDarbeepevpev 2009Pev2009pgeplug in vehicleplug in vehiclesplug-inplug-in hybridPlug-inHybridPlugInVehiclePlugInVehiclesric fulopRicFulopTony PosawatzTonyPosawatzvoltMon, 09 Nov 2009 11:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Editorial: Henderson's fuel cell 10X cost comments are out of context]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/02/editorial-hendersons-fuel-cell-10x-cost-comments-are-out-of-co/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/02/editorial-hendersons-fuel-cell-10x-cost-comments-are-out-of-co/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/02/editorial-hendersons-fuel-cell-10x-cost-comments-are-out-of-co/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



The other day we reported on an interview with General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson published in the Washington Post. While most of the discussion focused on the bailout and bankruptcy, from the perspective of this site, the main items of interest were Henderson's responses to questions relating the to the cost of the Chevy Volt and hydrogen fuel cells. Much has been made of Henderson saying that the Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell used for the Project Driveway program cost 10 times the Volt's approximately $40,000 price.

The problem here is that Henderson's numbers are taken out of context and mean nothing in and of themselves. This is a total apples to oranges comparison. The Volt is expected to carry a sticker price of somewhere around $40,000 at launch. That price will be reduced for customers by a federal tax credit of $7,500 along with whatever state incentives are available. However, that does not necessarily reflect the cost to build the extended range EV, which will likely be somewhat higher than $40k at launch. More important to this discussion is the fact that the Volt is also designed and engineered for mass production meaning that it is cheaper in all respects than the Equinox FCV. Keep reading after the jump.


Gallery: 2008 Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell


Gallery: Chevrolet Volt 65% drive

Continue reading Editorial: Henderson's fuel cell 10X cost comments are out of context

Editorial: Henderson's fuel cell 10X cost comments are out of context originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterybattery vs fuel cellBatteryVsFuelCellchevroletChevrolet VoltChevroletVoltchevychevy voltChevy-VoltChevyVoltEditorialfeaturefeaturedFeatured StoriesFeaturedStoriesfeaturesfritz hendersonFritzHendersonFuel CellFuelCellhydrogenhydrogen carhydrogen carshydrogen fuel cellhydrogen vs plugHydrogenCarHydrogenCarsHydrogenFuelCellHydrogenVsPlugplug-inplug-in hybridPlug-inHybridplug-insProject DrivewayProjectDrivewaywashington postWashingtonPostMon, 02 Nov 2009 11:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Greenlings: How does weight affect a vehicle's efficiency?]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/29/greenlings-how-does-weight-affect-a-vehicles-efficiency/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/29/greenlings-how-does-weight-affect-a-vehicles-efficiency/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/29/greenlings-how-does-weight-affect-a-vehicles-efficiency/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Over the last few decades, the average weight of a vehicle sold in the U.S. climbed steadily after we got over the oil embargoes of the 1970s. Today, though, auto companies are putting a lot of effort into reducing weight - Lotus set up an entire lightweight structures division, BMW is investing millions into carbon fiber and Jaguar loves aluminum - because every ounce you take out of a car improves the vehicle's performance and fuel economy. Options for weight savings that automakers are investigating include installing things like plastic fuel tanks (PDF) and using carbon fiber instead of steel. As we discovered in a previous Greenlings, carbon fiber is a remarkable, lightweight substance that will likely not be used widely until prices come way, way down.

Today, one of the main reasons automakers want to reduce weight is because it's a great way to increase MPG numbers. AutoblogGreen reader GenWaylaid sent in a Greenlings question about how, exactly, reducing weight helps efficiency. We investigate his query after the jump.

Continue reading Greenlings: How does weight affect a vehicle's efficiency?

Greenlings: How does weight affect a vehicle's efficiency? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbon fiberCarbonFiberfeaturedfuel economyFuelEconomygreenlingsLightweightmpgweightThu, 29 Oct 2009 20:06:00 EST<![CDATA[PEV 2009: 1916 Woods Dual Power Model 44 Coupe hybrid on display]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/28/pev-2009-1916-woods-dual-power-model-44-coupe-hybrid-on-display/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/28/pev-2009-1916-woods-dual-power-model-44-coupe-hybrid-on-display/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/28/pev-2009-1916-woods-dual-power-model-44-coupe-hybrid-on-display/#commentsFiled under: , ,

1916 Woods Dual Power Model 44 Coupe - Click above for high-res image gallery

At the Business of Plugging In expo in Detroit last week, attendees were treated to a bit of history in the shape of the 1916 Woods Dual Power Model 44 Coupe. This car was moved by both a set of batteries that powered an electric motor and a gasoline-drinking 4-cylinder internal combustion engine. Wikipedia tell us that the silent electric powertrain moved the car unti it got to 15 mph, and that the gas engine took over up to the Coupe's top speed of around 35 mph.

The man behind Woods Motor Vehicle Co. - and the previous company, American Electric - was Clinton Edgar Woods who "wrote the first book on electric vehicles." Woods Motor Vehicle Co. was founded in 1899 and built 30 models, including pure electric vehicles and these dual power vehicles between 1911 and 1918. The hybrids cost around $2,700.

Gallery: 1916 Woods Dual Power Model 44 Coupe

PEV 2009: 1916 Woods Dual Power Model 44 Coupe hybrid on display originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1916 Woods Dual Power Model 44 Coupeclinton edgar woodsClintonEdgarWoodswoods carswoods dual powerwoods motor vehiclewoods motor vehicle companyWoodsCarsWoodsDualPowerWoodsMotorVehicleWoodsMotorVehicleCompanyWed, 28 Oct 2009 16:59:00 EST<![CDATA[PEV 2009: David Cole explains why adding plugs to cars is anything but simple]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/26/pev-2009-david-cole-explains-why-adding-plugs-to-cars-is-anythi/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/26/pev-2009-david-cole-explains-why-adding-plugs-to-cars-is-anythi/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/26/pev-2009-david-cole-explains-why-adding-plugs-to-cars-is-anythi/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

David Cole is the chairman of the Center For Automotive Research. As such, he is deeply connected to the industry and played a big role in organizing the Business of Plugging In expo in Detroit last week. We've talked with Cole in the past, and caught up with him at the expo to hear what the Michigan-centric conference can tell us about the future of plug-in vehicles in the mitten state.

There are six big companies with "significant" R&D facilities in Michigan - the three big domestic manufacturers plus Toyota, Nissan and Hyundai - and Honda has a major facility in Ohio. On top of this, there are about 300 tech centers for suppliers in the area, so it makes sense to try and bring these players together at a conference. Adding a plug to the vehicle means involving a larger cast of characters than has been common in the past, and new relationships must be developed. This is not easy to do.

"People tended to trivialize the complexity of the industry because it's so easy to drive cars," Cole said. Not true, he said, not true at all. Read more of his thoughts after the jump.

Continue reading PEV 2009: David Cole explains why adding plugs to cars is anything but simple

PEV 2009: David Cole explains why adding plugs to cars is anything but simple originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business of plugging inBusinessOfPluggingIncarCenter for Automotive ResearchCenterForAutomotiveResearchdavid coleDavidColepev 2009Pev2009Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:49:00 EST<![CDATA[PEV 2009: Henrik Fisker explains how his company will be profitable, plans for 2010]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/26/pev-2009-henrik-fisker-explains-how-his-company-will-be-profita/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/26/pev-2009-henrik-fisker-explains-how-his-company-will-be-profita/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/26/pev-2009-henrik-fisker-explains-how-his-company-will-be-profita/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



With his company about to announce its first U.S. plant in Delaware, CEO Henrik Fisker was in high spirits and high demand at last week's Business of Plugging In conference in Detroit. We were able to pull the busy man aside for a few minutes to ask for more information on how his company plans to make money - will they really find 5,000+ people willing to pay $89,000 for the Karma plug-in hybrid? - and how the unusual development path that the Karma has been on has been good for the small automaker. Get the details after the jump.

Continue reading PEV 2009: Henrik Fisker explains how his company will be profitable, plans for 2010

PEV 2009: Henrik Fisker explains how his company will be profitable, plans for 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business of plugging inBusinessOfPluggingInfiskerFisker AutomotiveFisker hybridFisker Karmafisker karma hybridFiskerAutomotiveFiskerHybridFiskerKarmaFiskerKarmaHybridhenrik fiskerHenrikFiskerpev 2009Pev2009Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Quick Spin: Myers Motors NmG - redefining fast and small for the future]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/25/quick-spin-myers-motors-nmg-redefining-fast-and-small-for-the/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/25/quick-spin-myers-motors-nmg-redefining-fast-and-small-for-the/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/25/quick-spin-myers-motors-nmg-redefining-fast-and-small-for-the/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Meyers Motors NmG - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's ironic that the NmG we got to take for a spin during the Business of Plugging In conference in Detroit last week might be the last one-seater that Myers Motors ever makes. The company is getting ready to focus on building the NMG2, a wider, more practical version of the easily-identifiable all-electric NmG. Since the lime-green NmG we got to cruise around the parking lot in was fresh off the assembly line, we figure it's helpful to use this vehicle to understand as much as we can about the company's next vehicle. Follow us past the jump to find out what scooting around in an NmG is like.

Gallery: Meyers Motors NMG

Continue reading Quick Spin: Myers Motors NmG - redefining fast and small for the future

Quick Spin: Myers Motors NmG - redefining fast and small for the future originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business of plugging inBusinessOfPluggingInfeaturedmeyers motorsMeyersMotorsmyers motorsMyersMotorsnmgnmg 2nmg evnmg myersnmg sparrownmg2NmgEvNmgMyersNmgSparrowNo More Gasno more gas carNoMoreGasNoMoreGasCarpev 2009Pev2009Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Quick Spin: GGT Cozmo NEV - rickety things come in pricey packages]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/24/quick-spin-ggt-cozmo-nev-rickety-things-come-in-pricey-packag/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/24/quick-spin-ggt-cozmo-nev-rickety-things-come-in-pricey-packag/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/24/quick-spin-ggt-cozmo-nev-rickety-things-come-in-pricey-packag/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


GGT Cozma - Click above for high-res image gallery

GreenGo Tek is a boastful little electric vehicle company. A press release issued by GGT over the summer to announce the new Cozmo neighborhood electric vehicle stated that, because the company also does EV conversions: "GGT is the only company in the world with the technology and manufacturing ability to retrofit any standard truck or car into an electric vehicle, avoiding any speed regulations." Wrong. GGT isn't modest, that's for sure.

What GGT is, though, is a Milford, Michigan-based company that puts an ell-electric drivetrain inside a small vehicle imported from China. Once turned into an EV, the Cozmo is the very definition of a neighborhood electric vehicle, almost identical to many others on the market in the U.S. today. We recently spent a few minutes behind the wheel of the Cozmo during the Business of Plugging In expo in Detroit. Follow us after the jump to learn more about this NEV and how it compares to competitors like the Wheego Whip.


Gallery: Cozmo NEV


Photos copyright (C)2009 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Quick Spin: GGT Cozmo NEV - rickety things come in pricey packages

Quick Spin: GGT Cozmo NEV - rickety things come in pricey packages originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business of plugging inBusinessOfPluggingIncozmofeaturedggtggt cozmoGgtCozmogo green techGoGreenTechgreengo tekGreengoTekpev 2009Pev2009Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Coskata's new Lighthouse cellulosic ethanol plant, in depth]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/16/coskatas-new-lighthouse-cellulosic-ethanol-plant-in-depth/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/16/coskatas-new-lighthouse-cellulosic-ethanol-plant-in-depth/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/16/coskatas-new-lighthouse-cellulosic-ethanol-plant-in-depth/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Coskata Lighthouse Cellulosic Ethanol Plant - Click above for high-res image gallery

Coskata's newly-opened semi-commercial flex ethanol facility in Madison, Pennsylvania is as small as it can possibly be. Co-located at a Westinghouse facility that also in some fashion uses nuclear energy, the Lighthouse project, as it's called, is running 24/7 to turn wood chips into ethanol. It's also intended to show off just how far Coskata has come since emerging from stealth mode almost two years ago. Oh, and the plant can also be scaled up to fit the needs of cellulosic ethanol producers from coast to coast.

The Lighthouse plant follows the Horizon integrated processing plant that started in 2008 in Warrenville, Illinois and precedes the Flagship plant that is due for 2012 at a location somewhere in the Southeast U.S. that will be announced later. The location for the Flagship plant has been selected, but Coskata will not specify where it is exactly until it can talk more specifically about the financing arrangements involved for the 55-million-gallon-per-year plant that will use forest residue and other woody biomass. Coskata says the Flagship will be "the first commercially-viable, feedstock-flexible ethanol facility." Coskata has not taken any government money to date, but they may apply for DOE loan guarantees for the Flagship plant. Coskata will not expand the Madison Lighthouse facility. In fact, they're only located there as a guest and will leave when the contract is up. The facility is modular and will actually be dismantled and trucked to the Flagship location in the future.

What might this plant offer, both for partner GM and for the U.S.'s biofuel needs? Find out after the jump.

Gallery: Coskata Lighthouse Cellulosic Ethanol Plant


Photos copyright (C)2009 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Coskata's new Lighthouse cellulosic ethanol plant, in depth

Coskata's new Lighthouse cellulosic ethanol plant, in depth originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alter NRGAlterNrgcellulosic ethanolCellulosicEthanolcoskatacoskata ethanolcoskata flagshipcoskata gmcoskata horizoncoskata lighthouseCoskataEthanolCoskataFlagshipCoskataGmCoskataHorizonCoskataLighthouseethanolfeaturedgm ethanolGmEthanolmadison paMadisonPapennsylvaniaFri, 16 Oct 2009 19:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Catching up with Chevrolet's 1,200 mile pre-production Volt fleet drive]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/15/catching-up-with-chevrolets-1-200-mile-pre-production-volts-fle/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/15/catching-up-with-chevrolets-1-200-mile-pre-production-volts-fle/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/15/catching-up-with-chevrolets-1-200-mile-pre-production-volts-fle/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Chevy Volts on 1,200 mile drive - Click above for high-res image gallery

Yesterday, we had an opportunity to chat with Chevrolet Volt chief engineer Andrew Farah as he rode through the hills of West Virginia during a development drive. On Tuesday, a fleet of eight pre-production (a.k.a. IVER) Volts set out from the company's Milford Proving Ground in Michigan on a three-day, 1,200 mile jaunt through Ohio, Pennsylvannia, Maryland, West Virginia and back. This event is known in General Motors' engineering process as a "65-Percent Drive" and as it implies it's one of a series of milestones on the road to production.

The 65% roughly corresponds to the minimum level of completeness of development of all the hardware, and more specifically, the software. At this point, many of the systems are in fact approaching 90-100% complete. Over the next several months, 70, 80, 90 and 100 percent drives will follow on the way to production launch a year from now. Read on to find out what we learned from Farah.


Gallery: Chevrolet Volt 65% drive

Continue reading Catching up with Chevrolet's 1,200 mile pre-production Volt fleet drive

Catching up with Chevrolet's 1,200 mile pre-production Volt fleet drive originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 chevrolet volt2011 chevy volt2011ChevroletVolt2011ChevyVoltandrew farahAndrewFarahchevroletChevrolet VoltChevrolet-VoltChevroletVoltchevychevy voltChevy-VoltChevyVoltdevelopmentdevelopment driveDevelopmentDriveThu, 15 Oct 2009 19:59:00 EST<![CDATA[What is CAFE?]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/12/greenlings-what-is-cafe/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/12/greenlings-what-is-cafe/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/12/greenlings-what-is-cafe/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



It was big news when the Obama Administration updated CAFE requirements in May to a new and higher national MPG standard of 42 mpg for cars (26 mpg for light trucks) by 2016. The higher standards will start increasing with 2011 model year vehicles. But what is CAFE? And how do these new numbers - before the raise, cars needed to average 27.5 mpg and trucks 24 mpg - change what will be available in dealerships in the coming decade?

Let's start with the official government wording. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is in charge of establishing CAFE standards, so let's use their definition:

Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) is the sales weighted average fuel economy, expressed in miles per gallon (mpg), of a manufacturer's fleet of passenger cars or light trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 8,500 lbs. or less, manufactured for sale in the United States, for any given model year. Fuel economy is defined as the average mileage traveled by an automobile per gallon of gasoline (or equivalent amount of other fuel) consumed as measured in accordance with the testing and evaluation protocol set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Clear as mud? We break it down after the jump.

[Image: Tim Boyle/Getty]

Continue reading What is CAFE?

What is CAFE? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cafecafe mileagecafe mpgcafe standardsCafeMileageCafeMpgCafeStandardsdotfaeturedgreenlingsnhtsaNHTSA CAFE rulesNhtsaCafeRulesMon, 12 Oct 2009 19:57:00 EST<![CDATA[AltCar 2009: Dan Neil, "Some Inconvenient Questions," and GM hints it could sell Chevy Volt gliders]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/08/altcar-2009-dan-neil-some-inconvenient-questions-and-gm-hin/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/08/altcar-2009-dan-neil-some-inconvenient-questions-and-gm-hin/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/08/altcar-2009-dan-neil-some-inconvenient-questions-and-gm-hin/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



On top of the test drives (Wheego Whip), test rides (Coda Sedan) and a visit to the unlimited energy booth, a highlight of the AltCar Expo last weekend was getting to hear the LA Times' premiere auto scribe Dan Neil moderate two sessions called "Some Inconvenient Questions." Neil was lucky to have on his panels some of the most knowledgeable people in the green car world who were able to discuss and promote their favored technologies (plug-in hybrids, hydrogen, etc.) without beating each other up. Well, Neil dished out a few critical hits at the idea of hydrogen cars but also allowed Honda's Steve Ellis to rebut his doubts about the efficacy of H2 as an energy carrier for vehicles. All in all, it was an entertaining three hours (four-and-a-half if you count the Tech Review Panel that took place just before Neil's events) in the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. We've got details and audio recordings of everything after the jump.

Continue reading AltCar 2009: Dan Neil, "Some Inconvenient Questions," and GM hints it could sell Chevy Volt gliders

AltCar 2009: Dan Neil, "Some Inconvenient Questions," and GM hints it could sell Chevy Volt gliders originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altcaraltcar 2009altcar dan neilaltcar expoAltcar2009AltcarDanNeilAltcarExpodan neilDanNeildave barthmussDaveBarthmussdean taylorDeanTaylorfeaturedinconvenient questionsInconvenientQuestionsjeff curryJeffCurryrick sikesRickSikessteve elllisSteveElllistom gageTomGageThu, 08 Oct 2009 16:07:00 EST<![CDATA[First Drive: 2010 Tesla Roadster Sport improves on original, keeps quirks]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/08/first-drive-2010-tesla-roadster-sport-improves-on-original-kee/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/08/first-drive-2010-tesla-roadster-sport-improves-on-original-kee/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/08/first-drive-2010-tesla-roadster-sport-improves-on-original-kee/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2010 Tesla Roadster Sport - Click above for high-res image gallery

To get from zero to 60 mph in the original Tesla Roadster takes an official 3.9 seconds. The brand new 2010 Roadster Sport beats that with a wonderful 3.7 seconds. Those two-tenths of a second don't look like much on paper, but they make a difference on the road. Perhaps just knowing about the enhanced acceleration makes the Roadster Sport feel faster in the absence of expensive testing equipment, because having driven both, it does feel that way. A lot.

Whatever the reason, when we recently got to take an Obsidian Black model out for a few hours, we couldn't help but notice how incredibly punchy the Sport is, whether bursting away from a stoplight or accelerating to pass on the highway. Sometimes we even slowed down a bit on the highway just to feel the seamless thrust of getting back up to speed. With the 2010 Roadster Sport, the EV grin is still in full effect. Find out what other kinds of fun can be had in a $125,500 Roadster Sport after the jump.


Gallery: First Drive: Tesla Roadster Sport


Photos copyright (C)2009 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading First Drive: 2010 Tesla Roadster Sport improves on original, keeps quirks

First Drive: 2010 Tesla Roadster Sport improves on original, keeps quirks originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 tesla roadster sport2010TeslaRoadsterSportfeaturedfirst driveFirstDriveroadsterroadster sportRoadsterSportteslatesla roadstertesla roadster sportTeslaRoadsterTeslaRoadsterSportThu, 08 Oct 2009 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[AltCar 2009: Riding in Green Vehicles' Triac, a prototype that is not quite ready]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/07/altcar-2009-riding-in-green-vehicles-triac-a-prototype-that-i/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/07/altcar-2009-riding-in-green-vehicles-triac-a-prototype-that-i/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/07/altcar-2009-riding-in-green-vehicles-triac-a-prototype-that-i/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Triac - Click above for high-res image gallery

The history of the Green Vehicles' Triac is a convoluted one. First surfacing in the summer of 2008, promised delivery dates in November and December 2008 were not kept, but Green Vehicles' Ehab Youssef and his team kept on pushing forward, taking reservations for the $24,995 three-wheeled vehicle. We saw the Triac caged in a booth at the AltCar Expo last year, but were somewhat surprised to find one cruising the parking lot this year as part of the ride and drive. After all this time waiting, we just had to hop in and see what the trike, which uses a 20 kW AC motor and a 160 amp hour lithium battery pack, is capable of. Just like our time in the Coda Sedan, we were not allowed behind the wheel, but our ten minutes in the passenger seat told us all we need to know for now. Read all about it after the jump.

Gallery: AltCar 2009: Triac


Photos copyright (C)2009 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading AltCar 2009: Riding in Green Vehicles' Triac, a prototype that is not quite ready

AltCar 2009: Riding in Green Vehicles' Triac, a prototype that is not quite ready originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altcaraltcar 2009altcar expoaltcar triacAltcar2009AltcarExpoAltcarTriactriactriac altcartriac electric vehicletriac evTriacAltcarTriacElectricVehicleTriacEvWed, 07 Oct 2009 19:46:00 EST<![CDATA[AltCar 2009: EF9's "unlimited clean energy" turbine could go into cars, if it works]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/06/altcar-2009-ef9s-unlimited-clean-energy-turbine-could-go-int/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/06/altcar-2009-ef9s-unlimited-clean-energy-turbine-could-go-int/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/06/altcar-2009-ef9s-unlimited-clean-energy-turbine-could-go-int/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


EF9's "unlimited clean energy" system - Click above for high-res image gallery

Mark Tanner, who does R&D for EF9 Energy Systems, was pretty wiped out by the time we got to speak with him at the end of AltCar 2009 in Santa Monica last weekend. It's understandable. He'd been explaining how his system for "unlimited clean energy" was supposed to work to hundreds of attendees for two days and was starting to question his ability to transmit the information to the people who stopped at his booth. Whether it was because this was the end of the show or for another reason, we didn't quite understand it either, but here's what we took away: Tanner claims that you can get about 81 hp of power out of a system that needs just 10 hp to work. Yeah, that's what Gov. Schwarzenegger thought, too.

Somehow, by funneling air through his turbine and using atmospheric pressure and the Bernoulli effect - the atmosphere is trying to flow into the turbine at the same rate as the air is going out - Tanner's system could return eightfold the energy put into it. He explained it as the atmosphere of the earth acting as a cache of energy that expands to form wind in the narrow channel of the turbine and spins the blades.

Tanner said the concept could be installed into an electric vehicle as well as a house. We'll let Tanner explain:



There's more numbers and details in the gallery below. Also, watch EF9's own video after the jump.

Here's another thing. Tanner is looking for about ten people to invest $5,000 each to build them ten prototype systems that he would install in their homes in order to prove that the idea is solid and to provide the investors with all of the clean energy they want. He said that it's possible he'll be back next year with a working system on display. We'll be waiting.

Gallery: EF9's "unlimited clean energy"


Photos copyright (C)2009 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.



Continue reading AltCar 2009: EF9's "unlimited clean energy" turbine could go into cars, if it works

AltCar 2009: EF9's "unlimited clean energy" turbine could go into cars, if it works originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altcaraltcar 2009altcar expoAltcar2009AltcarExpobernoulli effectBernoulliEffectef9ef9 energy systemsef9 unlimited clean energyEf9EnergySystemsEf9UnlimitedCleanEnergyfeaturedmarc tannerMarcTannermark tannerMarkTannerTue, 06 Oct 2009 19:48:00 EST<![CDATA[AltCar 2009: Coda Sedan test ride; wish we could drive the $30,000 (or so) electric vehicle]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/05/altcar-2009-coda-sedan-test-ride-wish-we-could-drive-the-30-0/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/05/altcar-2009-coda-sedan-test-ride-wish-we-could-drive-the-30-0/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/05/altcar-2009-coda-sedan-test-ride-wish-we-could-drive-the-30-0/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Coda EV Sedan - click above for high-res image gallery

Back in August, members of the Diamond Bar Electric Vehicle Association were treated to rides in t he Coda all-electric sedan with Coda Automotive CEO Kevin Czinger at the wheel. This past weekend, AutoblogGreen was given the same opportunity during the AltCar Expo at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. Our 15 minutes in the passenger seat were a real tease - this is a standard-looking EV with more punch than a mid-size-sedan deserves (it felt more feisty than its 0-60 speed of just under 11 seconds sounds), and we can't wait for the chance to drive it for ourselves.

A quick refresher on what the Coda Sedan will offer: a top speed of 80 mph, seating for four/five, a 100- to 120- mile range and a sales price of under $30,000 in California (after state and federal rebates). We didn't sit in the back seat, but should have remembered to do so since we've heard a few reports that it's a tight fit. We did, however, make the most of our time sitting shotgun - after getting the car out of the clever "Break Glass In Emergency" stand it was in most of the weekend - feeling the zero-emission power and learning about where Coda is today with their first vehicle offering. Read all about it after the jump.

Gallery: AltCar 2009: Coda Sedan


Photos copyright (C)2009 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading AltCar 2009: Coda Sedan test ride; wish we could drive the $30,000 (or so) electric vehicle

AltCar 2009: Coda Sedan test ride; wish we could drive the $30,000 (or so) electric vehicle originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altcar 2009altcar expoAltcar2009AltcarExpocodacoda automotivecoda electric carcoda ev test drivecoda sedancoda sedan evCodaAutomotiveCodaElectricCarCodaEvTestDriveCodaSedanCodaSedanEvkevin CzingerKevinCzingerquick spinQuickSpinMon, 05 Oct 2009 19:50:00 EST<![CDATA[AltCar 2009: Wheego Whip Quick Drive - is this the Cadillac of NEVs?]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/05/altcar-2009-wheego-whip-quick-drive-is-this-the-cadillac-of-n/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/05/altcar-2009-wheego-whip-quick-drive-is-this-the-cadillac-of-n/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/05/altcar-2009-wheego-whip-quick-drive-is-this-the-cadillac-of-n/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Wheego Whip - click above for high-res image gallery

Is the Wheego Whip "The Cadillac of Neighborhood Electric Vehicles"? That's one description that we heard during our very short test drive of the NEV during the Santa Monica Alt Car Expo last weekend. Marc Korchin, owner of the Green Motors electric vehicles dealership in Berkeley, rode with us around the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in the Wheego and explained why this car is, in many ways, the best he's ever sold.

Having driven the Tesla Roadster and the Dodge Circuit, we know what pure EVs are capable of. But this car costs about a sixth of what the Roadster costs - and the Circuit is just a prototype today - so we had to make sure to evaluate the Whip on its own NEV merits. Is the Wheego worth it? Find out after the jump.

Gallery: AltCar 2009: Wheego Whip


Photos copyright (C)2009 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading AltCar 2009: Wheego Whip Quick Drive - is this the Cadillac of NEVs?

AltCar 2009: Wheego Whip Quick Drive - is this the Cadillac of NEVs? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>quick spinQuickSpinwheegowheego electric carWheego Whipwheego whip evWheegoElectricCarWheegoWhipWheegoWhipEvMon, 05 Oct 2009 14:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Top Ten "green" cars that met their fate during Cash for Clunkers]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/09/25/top-ten-green-cars-that-met-their-fate-during-cash-for-clunker/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/09/25/top-ten-green-cars-that-met-their-fate-during-cash-for-clunker/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/09/25/top-ten-green-cars-that-met-their-fate-during-cash-for-clunker/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



One rule that all clunked cars needed to adhere to was a maximum rating of 18 MPG from the federal government, right? What wasn't required was that the clunked car be considered dirty. After all, it's pretty clear that CNG vehicles burn clean, but that didn't stop 232 of them from meeting their sodium silicate solution-induced death.

We looked through the official, but as of yet unverified, list (PDF) of trade-in cars that were clunked using the Car Allowance Rebate System (Cash for Clunkers) and found that the aforementioned CNG vehicles, 1,779 flex-fuel vehicles and 24 LPG vehicles found their way to the recycler thanks to CARS. Which alternative-fuel models were most dumped? Which single hybrid took a dive? Click above for our top ten and check out the full list after the jump.

Photo by dno1967. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.

Continue reading Top Ten "green" cars that met their fate during Cash for Clunkers

Top Ten "green" cars that met their fate during Cash for Clunkers originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>b3000carscash for clunkersCashForClunkersclunkerscnge250explorerf150featuredflex-fuelflex-fuel vehicleFlex-fuelVehiclefordgrand marquisGrandMarquismazdamercurymountaineerrangersierrasonomaFri, 25 Sep 2009 19:40:00 EST