Autoblog Green http://www.autobloggreen.com Autoblog Green http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog Green http://www.autobloggreen.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[Not Done Yet: Hummer H3, H3T get biofuel capability, new colors for 2010]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/06/not-done-yet-hummer-h3-h3t-get-biofuel-capability-new-colors/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/06/not-done-yet-hummer-h3-h3t-get-biofuel-capability-new-colors/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/06/not-done-yet-hummer-h3-h3t-get-biofuel-capability-new-colors/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2010 Hummer H3 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Can a Hummer be green? The brand that most obviously represents American excess in the minds of environmentalists - though Hummer's vehicles aren't actually any worse than any other large SUV - has seemingly been fighting off its negative stigma since shortly after the introduction of the larger-than-life H2. Part of the brand's hopeful transformation includes giving each model a flex-fuel variant, and the latest application of that principle is seen on the 2010 H3 and H3T.

Interestingly, the engine that gets the E85 capability is the largest and most powerful option: the 5.3-liter V8 as fitted to the top-level Alpha series and not the slightly more fuel efficient inline-five. In any case, anyone who ticks the V8 box on the options list will be blessed with 300 horsepower, 320 lb-ft of torque and the ability to pump ethanol into the tank if he or she should so desire.

Not green enough for you? Baby steps, people... Hummer CEO James Taylor (no, not that James Taylor) promises bigger eco steps in the near future, saying, "This is just the first step in Hummer's evolution to offer responsible, yet highly capable all-terrain vehicles. Future models will be lighter, more efficient and will continue to offer the best blend of off-road capability and on-road performance."

In related news, the 2010 Hummer H3 and H3T will be offered with three new premium exterior colors for 2010: Red Rock Metallic, Silver Stone Metallic, and Canyon Metallic. Huh, no green? Each of the three new hues can be seen in our photo gallery below. Enjoy!



[Source: Hummer]

Continue reading Not Done Yet: Hummer H3, H3T get biofuel capability, new colors for 2010

Not Done Yet: Hummer H3, H3T get biofuel capability, new colors for 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 hummer h32010 hummer h3t2010HummerH32010HummerH3tflex fuelflex fuel h3flex fuel hummerflex-fuelflex-fuel h3flex-fuel hummerFlex-fuelH3Flex-fuelHummerFlexFuelFlexFuelH3FlexFuelHummerh3h3thummerhummer h3hummer h3tHummerH3HummerH3tFri, 06 Nov 2009 15:02:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: Argonne National Lab developing Omnivorous Engine]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/21/video-argonne-national-lab-developing-omnivorous-engine/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/21/video-argonne-national-lab-developing-omnivorous-engine/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/21/video-argonne-national-lab-developing-omnivorous-engine/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Click above to watch the video after the break

Gasoline, ethanol, methanol, butanol, natural gas... there are a ton of choices when deciding on what fuel is best suited for automotive use, and each of them offer at least some reason to recommend them over another. Which to choose? Here's a better question: What if you didn't have to choose just one fuel?

That's the goal of the so-called omnivorous engine. Not long ago, Lotus Engineering made headlines at the Geneva Motor Show when it showed off its flex-fuel Omnivore engine concept, and now word comes from the Argonne National Lab that it, too, is working on such a powerplant.

While there are already some engines capable of running on multiple spark ignited fuels, it's not an easy task to get one single powerplant to run with optimal efficiently on such a diverse range of products. In the case of Argonne's Omnivorous Engine, a sophisticated computer keeps track of what's being fed into the engine, and things like valve timing, fuel injection metering and compression ratio can be adjusted on the fly. Click past the break to watch a video introducing the project.

[Source: Green Car Advisor]

Continue reading VIDEO: Argonne National Lab developing Omnivorous Engine

VIDEO: Argonne National Lab developing Omnivorous Engine originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>argonneargonne national labargonne national laboratoryArgonne-National-LaboratoryArgonneNationalLabArgonneNationalLaboratoryflex-fuelflex-fuel engineFlex-fuelEngineomnivoreomnivore engineOmnivoreEngineomnivorous engineOmnivorousEngineWed, 21 Oct 2009 12:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Ethanol will get you free parking at Vikings games, sort of]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/19/ethanol-will-get-you-free-parking-at-vikings-games-sort-of/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/19/ethanol-will-get-you-free-parking-at-vikings-games-sort-of/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/19/ethanol-will-get-you-free-parking-at-vikings-games-sort-of/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Here's the problem with flex-fuel vehicles. Also known at E85-capable, flexfuel rides can burn straight gasoline or a gasoline/ethanol blend that is up to 85 percent ethanol. But, since they don't need ethanol, the reality is that most people fill up with petroleum pure and call it a day (in most of the U.S., ethanol isn't all that easy to find, although it's easier now than ever before). The latest numbers available from the U.S. government say that that about 300,000 E85-capable vehicles actually used E85 in America in 2006, out of the five million E85-capable vehicles on the road.

This brings us to the Minnesota Vikings and a new deal the team has struck with the American Lung Association in Minnesota: free prime parking for ethanol cars. The thing is, even though the ALA wants to promote using E85 because it burns cleaner than gasoline, there's no way to prove what fuel is in the tank. So, even though the press release is titled "Use E85? The Minnesota Vikings and the American Lung Association in Minnesota Have a Free Parking Spot for You," what the team is really rewarding here is buying a flex-fuel vehicle, not actually using ethanol. Still, the first 25 people who pull up in a flex-fuel ride will get to use the premium parking spots near the Dome without paying the $40. More details after the jump.

[Source: American Lung Association in Minnesota]

Continue reading Ethanol will get you free parking at Vikings games, sort of

Ethanol will get you free parking at Vikings games, sort of originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e85ethanolflex-fuelflex-fuel vehicleFlex-fuelVehicleflexfuelminnesotaminnesota vikingsMinnesotaVikingsMon, 19 Oct 2009 12:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Coskata's new Lighthouse cellulosic ethanol plant, in depth]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/16/coskatas-new-lighthouse-cellulosic-ethanol-plant-in-depth/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/16/coskatas-new-lighthouse-cellulosic-ethanol-plant-in-depth/http://www.autobloggreen.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[What is CAFE?]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/12/greenlings-what-is-cafe/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/12/greenlings-what-is-cafe/http://www.autobloggreen.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[REPORT: Bentley to delay flex-fuel capability for 2010 Continental Supersports]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/06/report-bentley-to-delay-flex-fuel-capability-for-2010-continent/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/06/report-bentley-to-delay-flex-fuel-capability-for-2010-continent/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/06/report-bentley-to-delay-flex-fuel-capability-for-2010-continent/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Bentley Continental Supersports - Click above for high-res image gallery

While the environmental merits of any 621 horsepower, twelve-cylinder behemoth that's capable of traveling at speeds of up to 204 miles per hour are, at the very least, debatable, Bentley hasn't exactly been shy about touting the green angle of its upcoming 2010 Continental Supersports.

Add one more black mark to the car's eco credibility now that word comes from Green Car Advisor that U.S. laws and "engineering challenges" - including the fitment of hardened valve seats in Bentley's W12 engine - mean that the first 200 Supersports imported to the United States won't actually be flex-fuel capable.

Ah well, somehow we doubt that buyers willing to plonk down the $267,000 it takes to park a twin-turbocharged Continental Supersports in their driveway will be all that concerned with pumping ethanol in the tank.



[Source: Green Car Advisor]

REPORT: Bentley to delay flex-fuel capability for 2010 Continental Supersports originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bentleybentley continentalbentley continental supersportsBentleyContinentalBentleyContinentalSupersportscontinentalcontinental supersportsContinentalSupersportsethanolethanol bentleyEthanolBentleyflex-fuelflex-fuel bentleyFlex-fuelBentleyTue, 06 Oct 2009 14:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Top Ten "green" cars that met their fate during Cash for Clunkers]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/25/top-ten-green-cars-that-met-their-fate-during-cash-for-clunker/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/25/top-ten-green-cars-that-met-their-fate-during-cash-for-clunker/http://www.autobloggreen.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<![CDATA[Frankfurt 2009: Audi A4 and A4 Avant go biofuel in Germany]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/15/frankfurt-2009-audi-a4-and-a4-avant-go-biofuel-in-germany/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/15/frankfurt-2009-audi-a4-and-a4-avant-go-biofuel-in-germany/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/15/frankfurt-2009-audi-a4-and-a4-avant-go-biofuel-in-germany/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Audi A4 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Audi's big green reveal from the Frankfurt Motor Show is undoubtedly the e-Tron electric supercar - especially considering the recent comments about electric cars and diesels made by Audi North America President Johan de Nysschen. But there's another type of fuel/energy that Audi drivers in Germany can now use to move their four-ringed vehicles around: ethanol. Audi has never been a particularly strong proponent of the biofuel, but the A4 and A4 Avant 2.0 TFSI flexible fuel models are not the first to get the ethanol treatment.

The flex-fuel engine is a modified version of the standard 2.0 TFSI with Audi valvelift and start-stop system and both engines have the same torque (236.02 lb-ft between 1,500 and 4,200 rpm) and horsepower (180) outputs. A new A4 running on E85 will get 26 mpg (U.S.) on the European cycle, while the A4 Avant gets just 25.5 mpg (U.S.). Super unleaded petro-gasoline turns these numbers into 36.7 and 35.6 mpg (U.S.), respectively. Germany currently has around 300 E85 stations.

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Audi A4 Avant


Photos Copyright (C)2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Frankfurt 2009: Audi A4 and A4 Avant go biofuel in Germany

Frankfurt 2009: Audi A4 and A4 Avant go biofuel in Germany originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a4 avantA4Avantaudiaudi a4audi a4 avantaudi ethanolAudiA4AudiA4AvantAudiEthanolfalseTue, 15 Sep 2009 10:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Dakar 2010: Klever Kolberg goes ethanol with UNICA's help]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/06/dakar-2010-klever-kolberg-goes-ethanol-with-unicas-help/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/06/dakar-2010-klever-kolberg-goes-ethanol-with-unicas-help/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/06/dakar-2010-klever-kolberg-goes-ethanol-with-unicas-help/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Klever Kolberg and his ethanol-powered MItsubishi Pajero Sport - Click above for high-res gallery

The 2009 Dakar Rally was won by a pair of diesel-powered Touareg TDIs. The oil-burners will face a new type of competition in the 2010 Dakar race thanks to a new ethanol-powered vehicle category. For the first time in the rally's 31-year history, a flex-fuel vehicle - a Mitsubishi Pajero Sport - will compete. Why is the change happening this year (the second that the race will be held in South America)? Because Brazilian rally veteran and former Paris-Dakar winner Klever Kolberg asked that the category be added - and the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) said it would give its full support. The Pajero Sport that Kooberg will drive was made in Brazil, too. Kolberg said that there is a lot of agreement among the race teams that an ethanol category was overdue.

Last year, Mitsubishi was pushing its clean diesel technology in Dakar, but some say that the race can't be considered environmentally friendly no matter what fuel is used.

Gallery: Dakar and ethanol

etanol00etanol01etanol02etanol04etanol03

[Source: UNICA]


Continue reading Dakar 2010: Klever Kolberg goes ethanol with UNICA's help

Dakar 2010: Klever Kolberg goes ethanol with UNICA's help originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 06 Sep 2009 09:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dakar 2010dakar ethanoldakar rallyDakar2010DakarEthanolDakarRallyethanolethanol dakarEthanolDakarfalseSun, 06 Sep 2009 09:36:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: The real reason for the failure of ethanol? Bad marketing!]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/05/video-the-real-reason-for-the-failure-of-ethanol-bad-marketing/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/05/video-the-real-reason-for-the-failure-of-ethanol-bad-marketing/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/05/video-the-real-reason-for-the-failure-of-ethanol-bad-marketing/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Ethanol promo video - Click above to watch the videos after the break

Over the last forty years, corn growers and automakers have repeatedly tried to convince America that ethanol was the solution to our ever growing thirst for petroleum. After all, we could just keep growing our own corn, distilling it into alcohol and pouring it in our tanks and say goodbye to Middle East oil forever. Automakers have built millions of flex-fuel cars and yet somehow, ethanol remains both relatively unavailable and controversial.

So why the lack of success for our own home-brewed biofuel? Clearly, as Honda has so disastrously learned in recent days, marketing is much harder than it looks. There is a very fine line between edgy and ridiculous, abject failure. Ethanol marketing folks have so far apparently stood steadfastly on the failure side of that line. However, as they say, the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. The Illinois Corn Marketing Board has acknowledged its problem and compiled a video of some of its disasters to try and analyze what went wrong. Let's just say that we now know that Joe Cocker and white Broncos are not part of the solution. Check out the video after the jump. Thanks to Dan for the heads up on twitter!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: The real reason for the failure of ethanol? Bad marketing!

VIDEO: The real reason for the failure of ethanol? Bad marketing! originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 05 Sep 2009 15:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bad marketingBadMarketingbil cosbyBilCosbyethanolethanol marketingEthanolMarketingjoe cockerJoeCockeroj simpsonoj simpson broncoOjSimpsonOjSimpsonBroncovideoyoutubeSat, 05 Sep 2009 15:05:00 EST<![CDATA[DOE invests $300 million in clean fuels, including one lonely hydrogen station]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/08/30/doe-invests-300-million-in-clean-fuels-including-one-lonely-hy/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/08/30/doe-invests-300-million-in-clean-fuels-including-one-lonely-hy/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/08/30/doe-invests-300-million-in-clean-fuels-including-one-lonely-hy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


What does it cost to displace 38 million gallons of petroleum per year? According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), almost $300 million. That's the amount that DOE head Steven Chu announced last week would go from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into buying about 9,000 "alternative fuel and energy efficient" vehicles and 542 new refueling locations. The gasoline alternatives being funded by the money include the whole swath of options: including "natural and renewable gas, propane, ethanol, biodiesel, electricity, and hybrid technologies." While not prominently mentioned in the press release, a single hydrogen refueling station in New Haven, Connecticut, in fact, part of the funding (not a surprise). The money is being given out as part of the Clean Cities initiative, a partnership between the government and industry groups with the goal of reducing petroleum use in the transportation sector. See a complete list of grant winners here.

[Source: DOE]

DOE invests $300 million in clean fuels, including one lonely hydrogen station originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 30 Aug 2009 12:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>doerecovery actRecoveryActstephen chuStephenChuSun, 30 Aug 2009 12:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Honda starts building flex-fuel City sedan in Brazil]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/29/honda-starts-building-flex-fuel-city-sedan-in-brazil/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/29/honda-starts-building-flex-fuel-city-sedan-in-brazil/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/29/honda-starts-building-flex-fuel-city-sedan-in-brazil/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Here in North America, the only non-gasoline fueled cars offered by Honda are the natural gas-powered Civic GX and the hydrogen-fueled FCX Clarity. You can buy diesel-powered Hondas in Europe and, in Brazil, ethanol is the preferred alternative. Honda Automoveis do Brasil Ltda has just launched production and sales of a flex-fuel version of the compact City sedan in the South American country. After September of this year, availability will spread to other South American markets, as well as Mexico. The City uses a 1.5-liter four cylinder engine with a choice of 5-speed automatic or manual transmissions. Honda expects to sell about 17,000 units in the first year. The press release is after the jump.

[Source: Honda]

Continue reading Honda starts building flex-fuel City sedan in Brazil

Honda starts building flex-fuel City sedan in Brazil originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brazilflex fuelflex-fuelflexfuelhondahonda cityhonda city ffvHondaCityHondaCityFfvWed, 29 Jul 2009 08:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford: 2010 line 20-percent more efficient than '05]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/21/ford-2010-line-20-percent-more-efficient-than-05/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/21/ford-2010-line-20-percent-more-efficient-than-05/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/21/ford-2010-line-20-percent-more-efficient-than-05/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery

According to Ford, its 2010 lineup is about 20-percent more fuel efficient than it was in 2005, and that figure is only set to continue rising as the years progress. In fact, by 2015, Ford estimates its product line will be roughly 35-percent more fuel efficient than it was a decade prior. Says Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president of Global Product Development:

We are creating a full lineup of Ford vehicles - small, medium and large cars, utilities and trucks - that are best-in-class in fuel efficiency, quality, technology and safety... We are making fuel economy a reason to buy a Ford.

Key to the Blue Oval's efficiency improvement is a heavily revamped powertrain line, featuring Ford's EcoBoost series of engines. Later this year, that line will add a 2.0-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost engine to the already available 3.5-liter V6. Future iterations of the EcoBoost engine are expected to add E85 compatibility, which could boost horsepower further or allow Ford to reduce the engine's displacement for better fuel efficiency.

Also in the coming attractions menu are more hybrids and fully electric vehicles, beginning with an electric van in 2010 and the Focus EV in 2011. Click past the break for the official press release.


Gallery: Ford Fusion hybrid


[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford: 2010 line 20-percent more efficient than '05

Ford: 2010 line 20-percent more efficient than '05 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ecoboostecoboost 2.0ecoboost 2.0lecoboost v6 3.5l fordEcoboost2.0Ecoboost2.0lEcoboostV63.5lFordfordford ecoboostFordEcoboostTue, 21 Jul 2009 11:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Congressional Republicans call out Stephen Chu for flex-fuel vehicle remarks]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/16/congressional-republicans-call-out-stephen-chu-for-flex-fuel-veh/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/16/congressional-republicans-call-out-stephen-chu-for-flex-fuel-veh/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/16/congressional-republicans-call-out-stephen-chu-for-flex-fuel-veh/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Six Republican members of Congress have taken issue with DOE head Stephen Chu's call for all American vehicles to be E85-capable. Chu - who once said that ethanol, as it is made today, "is not the right crop for biofuels" - suggested the increase in flex-fuel availability during a speech in Des Moines, Iowa in late June. Congressmembers John Campbell (R - CA), Marsha Blackburn (R - TN), Bill Cassidy (R - LA), Lamar Smith (R - TX), Geoff Davis (R - KY), and Ken Calvert (R - CA) sent Chu a letter yesterday that said that Chu was dead wrong about the low cost of converting vehicles to burn higher blends of ethanol, adding:

  • We were surprised to hear that one of the President's Cabinet Secretaries would suggest an over $1 billion per year mandate on auto companies... [for] a fuel that is available at less than 2% of gas stations nationwide.
  • It is also worth mentioning that even if all vehicles were E85-capable, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the nation's ethanol production capacity could never be able to support the entire U.S. auto fleet running on E85.

You can read the letter here: page 1, page 2. The letter comes as the EPA is looking into increasing the nationwide ethanol blend to E15. For more on the E15 debate, click here.

[Source: Auto Alliance]
Original photo by Jared G. Licensed under Creative Commons license 3.0.

Congressional Republicans call out Stephen Chu for flex-fuel vehicle remarks originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill cassidyBillCassidydoee85ethanolgeoff davisGeoffDavisjohn campbellJohnCampbellken calvertKenCalvertlamar smithLamarSmithmarsha blackburnMarshaBlackburnstephen chuStephenChuThu, 16 Jul 2009 17:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Derek Bell runs the Bentley Continental Supersports at Goodwood [w/VIDEO]]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/15/derek-bell-runs-the-bentley-continental-supersports-at-goodwood/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/15/derek-bell-runs-the-bentley-continental-supersports-at-goodwood/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/15/derek-bell-runs-the-bentley-continental-supersports-at-goodwood/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Bentley Continental Supersports - click above for a high res image gallery

At the Geneva Motor Show in March, Bentley unveiled its fastest most powerful road car in its 90 year history in the form of the Continental Supersports. Besides significantly reducing the weight of the existing Continental GT, the Supersports marked the first step of Bentley's move reduce its CO2 emissions, in this case through the use of ethanol as a fuel. The Supersports is the first flex-fuel vehicle from the British luxury marque. At the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed, Bentley brought out a prototype and let multiple Le Mans winning driver Derek Bell spend the weekend ferrying lucky passengers up the hillclimb course at elevated speeds. Bentley has provided a gallery of photos and video that you can check out after the jump. Did we mention these passengers were lucky?

Gallery: Goodwood 2009: Bentley Continental Supersports


[Source: Bentley]

Continue reading Derek Bell runs the Bentley Continental Supersports at Goodwood [w/VIDEO]

Derek Bell runs the Bentley Continental Supersports at Goodwood [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bentleybentley continentalbentley continental supersportsBentleyContinentalBentleyContinentalSupersportsderek bellDerekBellgoodwoodgoodwood festival of speedgoodwood festival of...GoodwoodFestivalOf...GoodwoodFestivalOfSpeedWed, 15 Jul 2009 15:43:00 EST<![CDATA[U.S. Postal Service gets 6,500 new alternative power vehicles]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/u-s-postal-service-gets-6-500-new-alternative-power-vehicles/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/u-s-postal-service-gets-6-500-new-alternative-power-vehicles/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/u-s-postal-service-gets-6-500-new-alternative-power-vehicles/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Chrysler U.S. Postal Service Minivan - Click above for high-res gallery

As part of the U.S. General Services Administration's recent $210 million purchase of new vehicles from Chrysler, Ford and General Motors, the U.S. Postal Service is set to replace some 6,500 vehicles from its current fleet with more fuel efficient models. Of that number, 1,000 of the new vehicles are E-85 ethanol-capable and 900 are hybrids. The other 4,600 are conventional cars powered by four-cylinder gasoline-powered engines.

The U.S. Postal service currently operates a huge fleet of nearly 220,000 vehicles and will drive those cars an amazing 1.2 billion miles this year. After the 1,900 new hybrids and flex-fuel vehicles provided by the GSA, the USPS will have a total of 43,000 such machines in its fleet.

In addition, the USPS is currently trialing two four-generation Chevrolet Equinox hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, 300 vehicles powered by biodiesel, 35 delivery vehicles in Florida using propane and a series of electric transporters from T3 Motion in Florida, California and Arizona. Sometime soon, the USPS should begin using a fleet of 250 battery-powered minivans from Chrysler. Click past the break for the full press release.

Gallery: Chrysler EV USPS mini-van


[Source: USPS]

Continue reading U.S. Postal Service gets 6,500 new alternative power vehicles

U.S. Postal Service gets 6,500 new alternative power vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>general services administrationGeneralServicesAdministrationu.s. postal serviceU.s.PostalServiceus post officeus post office electric vehicleus postal serviceUsPostalServiceUsPostOfficeUsPostOfficeElectricVehicleuspsFri, 10 Jul 2009 09:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Swedish heatwave prompts recall of thousands of flex fuel Volvos]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/swedish-heatwave-prompts-recall-of-thousands-of-flex-fuel-volvos/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/swedish-heatwave-prompts-recall-of-thousands-of-flex-fuel-volvos/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/swedish-heatwave-prompts-recall-of-thousands-of-flex-fuel-volvos/#commentsFiled under: , ,



After receiving hundreds of complaints from Swedish drivers who have been left stranded by the side of the road, Volvo has recalled 8,500 of its V70 and S80 Flexifuel vehicles. Apparently the rigorous environmental testing the car maker employs does not extend to heatwaves like the one Sweden happens to be caught in the grips of...wait a sec. Heatwave? Sweden?

Anyway, seems the non-return valve and the pressure regulator (stick with me here) in the fuel pump of cars built between late November of 2007 and September of 2008 experience some loosening when the outside temperature gets too high. This results in the cessation of fuel flow which, of course, causes the engine to stop running. This also means the air conditioning stops and, since it's blazing like the dickens outside, causes drivers to lose their cool and call the car company to complain. The offending vehicles have for the most part been sold in Sweden, though there are a smattering within several countries of the European Union. The problem is not thought to be directly related to the burning of bio-fuels.

[Source: The Swedish Wire]

Swedish heatwave prompts recall of thousands of flex fuel Volvos originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FlexifuelHeatwaverecallS80SwedenV70Volvo recallVolvoRecallThu, 09 Jul 2009 14:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Confirmed: HUMMER buyer plans new green model]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/06/16/confirmed-hummer-buyer-plans-new-green-model/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/06/16/confirmed-hummer-buyer-plans-new-green-model/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/06/16/confirmed-hummer-buyer-plans-new-green-model/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Hummer HX Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Despite what could be construed as opposition by the Chinese government towards Tengzhong's bid to purchase the HUMMER division from General Motors, the company is still working towards finalizing the sale by October of this year and on future environmentally-friendly models. According to Yang Yi, the firm's general manager:
We want to make a green HUMMER. We think the Hummer has huge potential in emerging markets. Tengzhong and HUMMER are very aware of the government's fuel-efficiency requirements. HUMMER has already achieved substantial progress in this area.
Last year, GM's SUV-centric brand showed off a concept for a downsized HUMMER called the HX, which would likely be known as the H4 if it were ever to enter into production. Jim Taylor, currently head of HUMMER's operations and likely to stay on after the brand's sale to Tengzhong, has previously stated that the brand is investigating biofuels, hybrids and fully electric machines.

Gallery: Detroit 2008: HUMMER HX Concept


[Source: Autocar]

Confirmed: HUMMER buyer plans new green model originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric hummerElectricHummergreen hummerGreenHummerhummerhummer biofuelshummer h4hummer hxhummer hybridHummerBiofuelsHummerH4HummerHxHummerHybridTue, 16 Jun 2009 18:19:00 EST<![CDATA[TransAtlas: a new and interactive map for alt-fuel hunters, policymakers]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/06/11/transatlas-a-new-and-interactive-map-for-alt-fuel-hunters-poli/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/06/11/transatlas-a-new-and-interactive-map-for-alt-fuel-hunters-poli/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/06/11/transatlas-a-new-and-interactive-map-for-alt-fuel-hunters-poli/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



Ever wondered where all the biodiesel drivers are? Or how about where to find the most corn ethanol is made? Questions like these can be answered over at TransAtlas, a new project by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL). While good old Joe Internet can use the Google Maps-based map to find information, the DOE and NREL really designed the system to help industry and government planners make decisions on how best to east America's dependence on oil. The alternative "fuel" types included on the map include: biodiesel, compressed or liquefied natural gas, ethanol (E85), electricity, hydrogen, and propane (sorry, diesel). Current and future refueling stations are included. Check out the map here.

[Source: NREL]

TransAtlas: a new and interactive map for alt-fuel hunters, policymakers originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>doenreltransatlasThu, 11 Jun 2009 09:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Lamborghini adds solar power to factory, vows to cut range CO<sub>2</sub> 35% by 2015]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/06/07/lamborghini-adding-solar-power-to-fafctory-vows-to-cut-range-co/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/06/07/lamborghini-adding-solar-power-to-fafctory-vows-to-cut-range-co/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/06/07/lamborghini-adding-solar-power-to-fafctory-vows-to-cut-range-co/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



In the grand scheme of things, the facilities and products of Lamborghini don't really amount to a hill of beans. After all, the company only has one main factory that produces a few thousand cars a year. While those cars are high-powered and consume a lot of fuel per mile driven, Lamborghini owners tend to drive those cars far fewer miles than the mainstream autos the rest of us hop into on a daily basis. As such, the Lambos' total emissions don't add up to much.

Nonetheless, Lamborghini is still somewhat sensitive to both social and regulatory concerns and has an ambitious plan to reduce CO2 emissions. The automaker is in the process of installing a 17,000 square meter solar array to its factory roof that, when completed later this year, will generate 1,582 MWh of electricity annually. In addition to that, changes are being made inside the plant to improve insulation, lighting, and climate control as part of a broader effort to lower factory-related CO2 emissions 30 percent by 2010.

As for the products coming out of the factory, Lamborghini is pursuing several paths towards a goal of a 35 percent CO2 reduction by 2015. In addition to expanding the use of technology like the direct injection that debuted on the Gallardo LP560-4 last year, the engineers are working on improved combustion, weight reduction, auto start/stop systems, hybrid drive and biofuel use.


Gallery: Lamborghini CO2 reductions



[Source: Lamborghini]

Continue reading Lamborghini adds solar power to factory, vows to cut range CO2 35% by 2015

Lamborghini adds solar power to factory, vows to cut range CO2 35% by 2015 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 07 Jun 2009 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto start stopAutoStartStopco2 emissionco2 emissionsco2 reductionsCo2EmissionCo2EmissionsCo2Reductionsdirect injecteddirect injectionDirectInjectedDirectInjectionhybridhybrid carhybrid carsHybridCarHybridCarshybridslamborghinisolar powersolar power factorySolarPowerSolarPowerFactoryweight reductionWeightReductionSun, 07 Jun 2009 16:04:00 EST