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Showing posts with label ecology. Show all posts

Showing posts with label ecology. Show all posts

Wednesday, 6 June 2012

2013 Honda Fit EV Receives Highest Ever EPA Rating for Electric Cars at 118 MPGe

Good news for Honda as its 2013 Fit EV has scored a combined adjusted Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mile-per-gallon-equivalency rating of 118 MPGe, which the company says is the "highest fuel-efficiency rating ever given by the EPA".

But wait, doesn't the EV part of the new Fit's name stand for 'Electric Vehicle'? Yes, it does, so saying it has the "highest fuel-efficiency" is not entirely true. What Honda has achieved is to create a vehicle with a low consumption rating of 29 kilowatt hours (kWh) per 100 miles.

Friday, 1 June 2012

Via:

Thursday, 31 May 2012

CR Finds that Fuel Efficient Versions of Focus, Cruze and Civic May Not be Worth the Extra Cash

When is it worth paying extra money for a more fuel-efficient version of the same model? The answer to that question depends on the price of gas, how much more fuel-efficient is said car and how long it will take to recoup the added cost.

Consumer Reports (CR) set out to see if buyers would benefit in the long run by choosing the fuel-economy variants of the Ford Focus, Chevrolet Cruze and Honda Civic. While each of these models returns better mileage than their standard counterparts, they also cost between $500 and $800 more.

The following calculations were based on driving 12,000 miles (~19,300 kilometers) annually with an average gas price of $4 per gallon (€0.85/lt).

Starting with the Ford Focus, CR found that the $495 SFE (Super Fuel Economy) package, which adds flush hubcaps, a rear spoiler, and low rolling resistance tires, provides a 3-mpg improvement in overall and city fuel economy, to 31 and 21mpg, respectively.

Monday, 7 May 2012

Toyota Introduces Production Version of RAV4 EV, Prices Start at $49,800

Toyota chose the second day of the 26th annual Electric Vehicle Symposium in Los Angeles to present the world premiere of the production RAV4 EV featuring a pure-electric driveline developed by Tesla Motors.

While based on the current RAV4, the Japanese automaker is commanding almost twice the price of the popular SUV's top trim-level (Limited: $25,530) for the electric model that will begin arriving in select showrooms this summer with an MSRP of $49,800 before any state and federal incentives.

Tuesday, 27 March 2012

Obama’s EV Strategy and Energy Department Spending Questioned by House Panel

The Obama administration has put a lot of weight behind electric and alternative-fuel cars, offering tax incentives in order to increase their sales and reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

According to a DetNews report, the chairman of the House Science Committee’s panel on energy and environment, Andy Harris, has sent a letter to Energy Secretary Steven Chu requesting information about Obama’s proposal to spend more than US$1 billion in tax incentives and related infrastructure.

In his letter, Harris questions the proposed increase of tax incentives by US$2,500 for buyers of “clean” vehicles. He says that, according to GM, the average Chevrolet Volt owner has an annual income of US$170,000.

Thursday, 22 March 2012

GOP Budget Committee wants to Axe All “Green” Loan Programs and High-Speed Rail Funds

Five years ago, U.S. President at the time George W. Bush created the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Program. It was a legislation providing up to US$25 billion of low-cost government loans to automakers in order to restructure their facilities and develop fuel-efficient vehicles.

The same program continued under the Obama administration, which has made reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting the use of alternative energy sources one of its priorities.

However, after the bankruptcy of solar panel maker Solyndra, LLC which had received US$535 million in federal loans, the Energy Department has frozen all funding pending a review. This had a negative effect on upstart companies, such as Fisker Automotive, which relied heavily on these subsidies.

Tuesday, 20 March 2012

Volvo CEO Criticizes EU’s Strategy on CO2 Emissions Reduction and Electric Cars

Stephan Jacoby, President and CEO of Volvo Cars, said today at an industry seminar in Brussels that the European Commission’s plan of reducing CO2 emissions and promoting electrification throughout Europe is mistaken.

Jacoby believes that a lack of a cohesive incentive strategy and over-optimistic targets set by the EU will not have the desired effects. He said that the high cost of hybrid and all-electric vehicles is currently preventing European car buyers from adopting them.

“Volvo Car Corporation urges the EU to coordinate incentives while supporting research and development”, said Jacoby, adding that if this does not happen, European carmakers will have to deal with the consequences.

Monday, 19 March 2012

Obama Strikes Back Over Rising Fuel Prices, Accuses Republicans of "Liking Gas Guzzlers"

The election battle in the U.S. is heating up and the issue of increasing gas prices is at the agenda of both the Democrats and the Republicans.

One of the three candidates for the Republican Party presidential nomination, House Speaker Newt Gingrich, has called President Obama “President Algae” for his commitment to alternative sources of energy.

Obama, who has made efforts to reduce America’s dependence on oil by offering incentives for vehicles powered by alternative sources, responded to his opponents during his speech at students in Maryland, according to a DetNews report.

Opel Ampera to Run at the 2012 Rally Monte Carlo

The Chevrolet Volt's European twin, the Opel Ampera, will be making its inaugural appearance at this year's edition of the international Rally Monte Carlo.

All in all, six Ampera sedans will participate in the “Alternative Energy” version of the rally, which starts in Annecy-le-Vieux, Clermont-Ferrand and Lugano on March 22 and finishes three days later in the capital of Monaco, Monte Carlo.

Wednesday, 14 March 2012

U.S. Senators Criticize DOE of Mishandling “Green” Federal Loans

In 2007, the federal government created the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing initiative to help automakers and suppliers develop alternative technologies.

According to DetNews, on Tuesday, March 13, during an Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, many senators accused the Department of Energy (DOE) of mishandling the US$25 billion program.

They said that the DOE had not offered a new retooling program in a year and no new major loans in the past two years. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski said that the department had made the program “virtually dormant”, while others, like Senator Rand Paul, went as far as saying that “we need to get out of this business” as the program makes no sense at all.

Monday, 12 March 2012

Ford Focus EV Buyers in California get Access to HOV Lanes and up to US$10,000 in Tax Credits

A week after Ford revealed that it's all-electric Focus achieved a 105 MPGe combined EPA rating, the company announced that owners of the car in California can access the High Occupancy Vehicles (HOV) lanes. That, in itself, is another selling point for Ford. Read more »

Saturday, 10 March 2012

iCar: New Study Finds that Gen Y Consumers want Hybrids with Tablets and Smartphone-Like Functions

Echo boomers, Generation Y, Generation Next: whatever you call them, people who were born in the beginning of the 1980’s are now an important demographic group for any company. And their preferences may change the type of cars we will drive in the future.

According to the annual survey conducted by the Deloitte consulting company, Generation Y consumers, who the company describes as those aged from 19 to 31, want their new cars to be hybrids laden with high-tech features.

"This could be the generation that leads us away from traditional gasoline-powered vehicles", comments Deloitte automotive consultant Craig Giffi who oversaw the study.

Thursday, 8 March 2012

Obama Proposes Higher Incentives for Alternative Fuel Car and Truck Buyers

The current U.S. administration is committed to reducing car and truck fuel consumption and emissions. It has already managed to make major manufacturers agree on its 54.5 mpg Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) 2025 target.

Yet President Barack Obama wants more American new car and truck buyers to opt for cleaner vehicles. Therefore, during his speech at the Daimler Trucks North America plant in North Carolina, he proposed increasing tax incentives for buyers of electric, natural gas and hydrogen-powered vehicles.

"We’ve got to continually develop new sources of energy", said Obama. "We’re not going to be able to just drill our way out", he added referring to the rising fuel prices which averaged US$3.76 on March 6, up from US$3.51 a year ago according to data provided by the American Automobile Association.

Saturday, 3 March 2012

Via: Motorparade

Monday, 8 August 2011

Going on the go: Alessandro Ortega Amaral's "Bikelet" concept.

Monday, 18 April 2011

Britain's 2000AD comic series "Inferno" contained "a healthy dollop of ultraviolence" Full set of pictures at Geordie Biker

Sunday, 3 April 2011

BMC's $6000 electric cafe. Via: NY Times/Via: 2 Stroke Buzz

Thursday, 6 January 2011

Via: Matthew Thompson Doxtad

Tuesday, 26 October 2010

Prometheus Solar's electric motorcycle project

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