http://www.autobloggreen.com AutoblogGreen http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/feedlogo.gif 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/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/7pH_az8F4M0/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/maarten-timmers-vertigo-concept-the-future-of-electric-motorc/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/maarten-timmers-vertigo-concept-the-future-of-electric-motorc/#comments<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/maarten-timmers-vertigo-electric-motorcycle-concept/2136508/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/maarten_timmer_vertigo_lead.jpg" /></a><br /> <div align="center"><em><strong><small>Maarten Timmer's VertiGO electric motorcycle concept - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em><br /></div> <br />What should an electric motorcycle look like? Should designers attempt to make alternative machines as similar to their fossil fuel-burning siblings as possible or should they stray as far from that course as feasible? That's a question that's sure to be on the minds of budding young designers the world over for the next few years, at least.<br /><br />Maarten Timmer, a student working on his masters at the Deft University of Technology, believes electric motorcycles need to be different from the gas-burning machines we are currently familiar with, and his VertiGO concept proves the point rather well.<br /><br />We see some similarities between the VertiGO and the electric superbike design <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/12/06/robrady-wins-red-dot-design-award-for-vectrix-electric-superbike/">ROBRADY did for Vectrix</a>, especially in the use of negative space directly in the center of the bike. Because an electric motorcycle obviously has no need for fuel, Timmer's VertiGO features a tailsection and saddle cantilevered from the area we'd normally expect to see a gas tank. Overall, it's a nice design.<br /><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/maarten-timmers-vertigo-electric-motorcycle-concept/">Maarten Timmer's VertiGO electric motorcycle concept</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/maarten-timmers-vertigo-electric-motorcycle-concept/2136508/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/maarten_timmer_vertigo_1_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/maarten-timmers-vertigo-electric-motorcycle-concept/2136510/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/maarten_timmer_vertigo_2_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/maarten-timmers-vertigo-electric-motorcycle-concept/2136512/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/maarten_timmer_vertigo_3_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/maarten-timmers-vertigo-electric-motorcycle-concept/2136513/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/maarten_timmer_vertigo_4_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/maarten-timmers-vertigo-electric-motorcycle-concept/2136511/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/maarten_timmer_vertigo_5_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.maartentimmer.com/">Maarten Timmer</a> via <a href="http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2009/07/maarten-timmer-vertigo-making.html">Hell For Leather</a>]<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/on-two-wheels/" rel="tag">On Two Wheels</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/maarten-timmers-vertigo-concept-the-future-of-electric-motorc/">Maarten Timmer's VertiGO concept - The future of electric motorcycle design?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:46:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.maartentimmer.com/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/maarten-timmers-vertigo-concept-the-future-of-electric-motorc/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19093801/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/maarten-timmers-vertigo-concept-the-future-of-electric-motorc/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/eWxV1-pKovC1t3YWwaPayxsWn0s/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/eWxV1-pKovC1t3YWwaPayxsWn0s/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/eWxV1-pKovC1t3YWwaPayxsWn0s/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/eWxV1-pKovC1t3YWwaPayxsWn0s/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/7pH_az8F4M0" height="1" width="1"/>maarten timmermaarten timmer vertigoMaartenTimmerMaartenTimmerVertigovertigo electric motorcyclevertigo motorcycleVertigoElectricMotorcycleVertigoMotorcycleFri, 10 Jul 2009 19:46:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/maarten-timmers-vertigo-concept-the-future-of-electric-motorc/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/WIVYkulYv0Y/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/ohio-college-students-convert-1997-diesel-ford-e350-into-the-ele/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/ohio-college-students-convert-1997-diesel-ford-e350-into-the-ele/#comments<div style="text-align: center;"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border=" " src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/0907_01_zgm_electro_vanfront_three_quarters_view.jpg" alt="" /><br /></div> <br />Students from Ohio Technical College thought that a heavy, old van would make for a great electric vehicle conversion project. In OTC's Alternative Fuel program, the 13 students, along with their teacher, ripped the diesel bits from a 1997 Ford E350 van and turned it into the "Electro-Van." The newly-minted EV can go up to 35 mph thanks to 21 12-volt deep cycle marine batteries and a 36 V electric motor that used to pull duty in a forklift and offers 95 hp. All that roof space is used to hold a few solar panels to help power the batteries, but most of the power needs to come from a plug. The conversion project took a total of six weeks, with help from other OTC departments for things like the colorful wrap. Now "finished," the ongoing education project will be used by future students who will update the vehicle to increase voltage and speed.<br /><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.ohiotechnicalcollege.com/Students+Build+Electric-Powered+Van">Ohio Technical College</a> via <a href="http://www.automobilemag.com/green/news/0907_ohio_technical_college_builds_plugin_electro_van/index.html">AutomobileMag</a>]<br /><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/green-culture/" rel="tag">Green Culture</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/green-daily/" rel="tag">Green Daily</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/ohio-college-students-convert-1997-diesel-ford-e350-into-the-ele/">Ohio college students convert 1997 diesel Ford E350 into the Electro-Van </a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:48:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.ohiotechnicalcollege.com/Students+Build+Electric-Powered+Van>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/ohio-college-students-convert-1997-diesel-ford-e350-into-the-ele/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19094539/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/ohio-college-students-convert-1997-diesel-ford-e350-into-the-ele/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Y3MYmwjneQmE0axI9YhyvyxEGsw/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Y3MYmwjneQmE0axI9YhyvyxEGsw/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Y3MYmwjneQmE0axI9YhyvyxEGsw/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Y3MYmwjneQmE0axI9YhyvyxEGsw/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/WIVYkulYv0Y" height="1" width="1"/>electric vanElectricVanohio technical collegeohio technical college electric vanohio technical college evanOhioTechnicalCollegeOhioTechnicalCollegeElectricVanOhioTechnicalCollegeEvanotc electric vanOtcElectricVanFri, 10 Jul 2009 18:48:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/ohio-college-students-convert-1997-diesel-ford-e350-into-the-ele/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/le4fcb-XUWI/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/bad-timing-department-ford-hypes-bp-ties-as-bp-shuts-down-alter/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/bad-timing-department-ford-hypes-bp-ties-as-bp-shuts-down-alter/#comments<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/ford-focus-econetic/2136158/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border=" " src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/focuseconetic09_0150-580.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><small>Ford Focus ECOnetic - Click above for high-res gallery</small></strong></em><br /></div> <br />Ford UK might enjoy being tied to British Petroleum through BP's Fuel Efficiency Challenge, but the timing of Ford's announcement that its Focus ECOnetic is part of the low-mpg tour could have come at a better time, PR-wise, for the oil giant. BP, which spent millions trying to rebrand itself as "Beyond Petroleum," recently announced it would <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106437880&amp;ft=1&amp;f=1006">shut down its Alternative Energy division</a>. The two stories aren't directly related, but when your partner basically admits that gasoline alternatives aren't a profitbale endeavor and the chief executive of BP's Alternative Energy division goes into early retirement, you might not want to promote your ties too loudly. <br /><br />In recent years, BP has done at least some research and/or investment into <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/08/23/bp-board-member-confirms-companys-interest-in-butanol-and-co2-c/">butanol</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/02/21/bp-sinks-500-million-into-bioscience-research/">bioscience</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/04/25/bp-buys-50-percent-stake-in-brazilian-ethanol-venture/">ethanol</a> and <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/05/28/ge-and-bp-team-up-to-create-hydrogen-fueled-power-plants/">hydrogen</a> projects. The BP's <a href="http://www.gbfuelefficiencychallenge.co.uk">Efficient Driving Challenge</a>, which asks the question "How would you like to go that bit further on your tank of petrol?", continues in the UK into August.<br /><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/ford-focus-econetic/">Ford Focus ECOnetic</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/ford-focus-econetic/2136157/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/focuseconetic09_0054_hr_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/ford-focus-econetic/2136151/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/focuseconetic09_0113_hr_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/ford-focus-econetic/2136158/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/focuseconetic09_0150_hr_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/ford-focus-econetic/2136154/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/focuseconetic09_0160_hr_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/ford-focus-econetic/2136152/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/focuseconetic09_0232_hr_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div>[Source: Ford, <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106437880&amp;ft=1&amp;f=1006">NPR</a>]<p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/bad-timing-department-ford-hypes-bp-ties-as-bp-shuts-down-alter/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Bad timing department: Ford hypes BP ties as BP shuts down alternative energy division</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/mpg/" rel="tag">MPG</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/uk/" rel="tag">UK</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/bad-timing-department-ford-hypes-bp-ties-as-bp-shuts-down-alter/">Bad timing department: Ford hypes BP ties as BP shuts down alternative energy division</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:06:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.gbfuelefficiencychallenge.co.uk/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/bad-timing-department-ford-hypes-bp-ties-as-bp-shuts-down-alter/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19094278/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/bad-timing-department-ford-hypes-bp-ties-as-bp-shuts-down-alter/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/8lSEp2PXErJ4X5mUBs_jTaAGTRY/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/8lSEp2PXErJ4X5mUBs_jTaAGTRY/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/8lSEp2PXErJ4X5mUBs_jTaAGTRY/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/8lSEp2PXErJ4X5mUBs_jTaAGTRY/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/le4fcb-XUWI" height="1" width="1"/>econeticeconetic focuseconetic ford focusEconeticFocusEconeticFordFocusford focusford focus econeticFordFocusFordFocusEconeticFri, 10 Jul 2009 18:06:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/bad-timing-department-ford-hypes-bp-ties-as-bp-shuts-down-alter/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/PAsOQyiGdzA/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/seattle-mayor-wants-his-city-to-be-on-bleeding-edge-of-evs/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/seattle-mayor-wants-his-city-to-be-on-bleeding-edge-of-evs/#comments<div align="center"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/gregnickels.jpg" /><br /></div> <br />Seattle mayor Greg Nickels is a fan of electric vehicles and wants his constituents to feel the same way. In recent months, the Pacific Northwest city has signed a deal with Nissan to be one of the first locations to get its upcoming electric vehicles and Nickels wants to rapidly build out an infrastructure to support them and other plug-ins. The city owns it's own power utility and was the first to become at least nominally carbon neutral. The energy it doesn't get from hydroelectric dams has been offset or conserved in other ways. <br /><br />Seattle has also streamlined the permitting process for installation of 220V charging stations in city residences. The local building codes are also being modified to mandate adequate electrical capacity for charging in all new home construction. Nickels has also applied for federal funding to help pay for the installation of 1,000 charging stations around Seattle, including some fast charge locations. <em>Thanks to Clayton for the tip!</em><br /><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/quick-drive-nissan-ev-02-prototype/">Quick Drive: Nissan EV-02 prototype</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/quick-drive-nissan-ev-02-prototype/1532627/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/05/nissan-ev-drive-1280-01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/quick-drive-nissan-ev-02-prototype/1532626/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/05/nissan-ev-drive-1280-02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/quick-drive-nissan-ev-02-prototype/1532625/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/05/nissan-ev-drive-1280-03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/quick-drive-nissan-ev-02-prototype/1532624/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/05/nissan-ev-drive-1280-04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/quick-drive-nissan-ev-02-prototype/1532623/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/05/nissan-ev-drive-1280-05_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />[Source: <a href="http://gas2.org/2009/07/10/seattle-will-be-the-leader-in-clean-energy-and-electric-vehicles/">Gas2.org</a>]<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/seattle-mayor-wants-his-city-to-be-on-bleeding-edge-of-evs/">Seattle mayor wants his city to be on bleeding edge of EVs </a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:16:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://gas2.org/2009/07/10/seattle-will-be-the-leader-in-clean-energy-and-electric-vehicles/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/seattle-mayor-wants-his-city-to-be-on-bleeding-edge-of-evs/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19094524/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/seattle-mayor-wants-his-city-to-be-on-bleeding-edge-of-evs/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/NcSVt1JRaDl7fVaK7ATzE2v1ixk/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/NcSVt1JRaDl7fVaK7ATzE2v1ixk/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/NcSVt1JRaDl7fVaK7ATzE2v1ixk/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/NcSVt1JRaDl7fVaK7ATzE2v1ixk/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/PAsOQyiGdzA" height="1" width="1"/>chargingcharging infrastructurecharging stationcharging stationsChargingInfrastructurechargingstationChargingStationselectric carelectric carselectric infrastructureelectric vehicleelectric vehiclesElectricCarElectricCarsElectricInfrastructureElectricVehicleElectricVehiclesgreg nickelsGregNickelsnissanseattleFri, 10 Jul 2009 17:16:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/seattle-mayor-wants-his-city-to-be-on-bleeding-edge-of-evs/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/9hUCamu9hyc/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/audi-adds-to-entry-level-engines-to-euro-q5-and-a4-allroad/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/audi-adds-to-entry-level-engines-to-euro-q5-and-a4-allroad/#comments<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/beijing-0-and-8-20_-and-and09-au-di-q-5/762759/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/q5g_medium-580.jpg" /></a><br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><small style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Audi Q5 - click above for high-res image gallery</small><br /></div> <br />Audi has added a pair of new entry level engines to its mid-sized Q5 crossover and A4 allroad model lines. Both vehicles are now available with a 143 hp 2.0-liter diesel four cylinder. This common rail injected unit is the same engine offered in many other Volkswagen group models like the Jetta, Golf and standard A4. The all wheel drive diesel powered CUV gets a combined rating of 36.2 mpg (U.S.) on the EU test cycle. The Outback-like A4 allroad gets a 37.9 mpg (U.S.) rating on the cycle. Both vehicles are paired up with 6-speed manual gearboxes. <br /><br /> <div style="text-align: left;">The Q5 also gets a second, new gasoline-powered option with a 180 hp variant of the 2.0-liter TFSI turbocharged and direct injected four. In the Q5, this gas engine gets a rating of 28 mpg (U.S.) on the combined European cycle. Audi has not announced any plans to offer the A4 allroad in North America and the Q5 is currently only available here with a 3.2-liter gas V6.<br /></div> <br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/beijing-0-and-8-20_-and-and09-au-di-q-5/">Beijing '08: 2009 Audi Q5</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/beijing-0-and-8-20_-and-and09-au-di-q-5/762760/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/04/q5h_medium_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/beijing-0-and-8-20_-and-and09-au-di-q-5/762759/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/04/q5g_medium_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/beijing-0-and-8-20_-and-and09-au-di-q-5/762758/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/04/q5f_medium_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/beijing-0-and-8-20_-and-and09-au-di-q-5/762757/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/04/q5e_medium_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/beijing-0-and-8-20_-and-and09-au-di-q-5/762756/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/04/q5d_medium_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />[Source: Audi]<p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/audi-adds-to-entry-level-engines-to-euro-q5-and-a4-allroad/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Audi adds to entry level engines to Euro Q5 and A4 allroad</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/diesel/" rel="tag">Diesel</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/mpg/" rel="tag">MPG</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/audi/" rel="tag">Audi</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/audi-adds-to-entry-level-engines-to-euro-q5-and-a4-allroad/">Audi adds to entry level engines to Euro Q5 and A4 allroad</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:25:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/audi-adds-to-entry-level-engines-to-euro-q5-and-a4-allroad/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19094115/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/audi-adds-to-entry-level-engines-to-euro-q5-and-a4-allroad/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/jZGtuvYr1lTzX71lRMk49S63we4/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/jZGtuvYr1lTzX71lRMk49S63we4/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/jZGtuvYr1lTzX71lRMk49S63we4/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/jZGtuvYr1lTzX71lRMk49S63we4/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/9hUCamu9hyc" height="1" width="1"/>2.0-liter tdi2.0-liter turbo2.0-literTdi2.0-literTurboaudiaudi a4 allroadaudi a4 allroad quattroaudi a4 avant allroadaudi q5AudiA4AllroadAudiA4AllroadQuattroAudiA4AvantAllroadAudiQ5tditfsiFri, 10 Jul 2009 16:25:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/audi-adds-to-entry-level-engines-to-euro-q5-and-a4-allroad/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/c-4axIckrEY/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/continental-gets-innovation-prize-for-its-new-production-lithium/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/continental-gets-innovation-prize-for-its-new-production-lithium/#comments<img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/img_2009_07_09_cna_innovationspreis_en.jpg" /><br /><br />Continental Automotive has won an Intelligence for Traffic and Logistics prize from the Center for Transportation &amp; Logistics Neuer Adler e.V. (CNA) in N&uuml;remberg,Germany for its new lithium ion battery. The council decided to give Continental the prize for being the first company to start series production of lithium batteries for hybrid vehicles. The new Continental battery is being used by Mercedes Benz in the <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/search/?q=S400">S400</a> hybrid that is launching this summer. <br /><br />The S400 uses a newly developed mild hybrid powertrain and the Continental battery is only slightly larger than the conventional lead acid battery in the non-hybrid vehicles. As a result, Mercedes has been able to mount the new battery underhood in the same location as the conventional battery. Thus it doesn't take up any trunk or other storage space as in some other hybrids. The N&uuml;remberg plant that started production late in 2008 has a capacity of 15,000 units a year, an amount that can be doubled if demand warrants. <br /><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/mercedes-benz-s400-bluehybrid-2/">Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueHybrid</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/mercedes-benz-s400-bluehybrid-2/1043358/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2008/09/mercedes-s400-hybrid-21_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/mercedes-benz-s400-bluehybrid-2/1043352/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2008/09/mercedes-s400-hybrid-16_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/mercedes-benz-s400-bluehybrid-2/1043351/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2008/09/mercedes-s400-hybrid-07_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/mercedes-benz-s400-bluehybrid-2/1043350/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2008/09/mercedes-s400-hybrid-04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/mercedes-benz-s400-bluehybrid-2/1043349/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2008/09/mercedes-s400-hybrid-03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />[Source: Continental]<p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/continental-gets-innovation-prize-for-its-new-production-lithium/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Continental gets innovation prize for its new production lithium battery</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/hybrid/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/mercedes-benz/" rel="tag">Mercedes Benz</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/continental-gets-innovation-prize-for-its-new-production-lithium/">Continental gets innovation prize for its new production lithium battery</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:41:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/continental-gets-innovation-prize-for-its-new-production-lithium/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19094312/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/continental-gets-innovation-prize-for-its-new-production-lithium/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ARPuk5VOq-lweRoiDZQFNBUierg/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ARPuk5VOq-lweRoiDZQFNBUierg/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ARPuk5VOq-lweRoiDZQFNBUierg/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ARPuk5VOq-lweRoiDZQFNBUierg/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/c-4axIckrEY" height="1" width="1"/>continentalcontinental lithium ionContinentalLithiumIonlithiumlithium ionlithium ion batterieslithium-ionLithiumIonLithiumIonBatteriesFri, 10 Jul 2009 15:41:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/continental-gets-innovation-prize-for-its-new-production-lithium/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/m8CQ2Lnfql0/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/rumormill-2010-tesla-roadster-gets-sweet-upgrades/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/rumormill-2010-tesla-roadster-gets-sweet-upgrades/#comments<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/tesla-roadster-sport-4/1357196/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border=" " alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/tesla-roadster-sport-580.png" /></a><br /> <div align="center"><em><strong><small>Tesla Roadster Sport - Click above to enlarge</small></strong></em><br /></div> <br />While owners of the current Tesla Roadster get the benefit of driving their bad ass electric vehicle today, people who are on the list for a 2010 model will likely get a few benefits that might make 2009 owners jealous. <a href="http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/tesla-roadster/3012-2010-cool-new-features.html">Tesla Motors Club</a> member DrComputer wrote about "a conversation with Ted at corporate" that revealed some improvements to the new cars. A tipster sent in a similar list of upgrades. The upgrades include:<br /><br /> <ul> <li>New power electronics module</li> <li>Better cooling for the power electronics</li> <li>Improved AC with variable speed fans<br /></li> <li>Built in WiFi cards that connect the Roadster to the Internet (unless you turn the feature off) and gives Tesla the ability to interact with the car remotely. Also, this could open the door to mobile phone apps that talk to the car. <br /></li> <li>Glove box locks when you lock the car (to leave it out with the top down)</li> </ul> <br />Both sources mention the ability to switch vehicle performance modes - from range to standard or performance (but not back to range) - with the key instead of needing to change modes via the screen. There has been no official confirmation about these upgrades, but none of them would surprise us if they were true. Thanks to Dan for the tip!<br /><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/first-drive-tesla-roadster-1/">First Drive: Tesla Roadster</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/first-drive-tesla-roadster-1/606172/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2008/01/tesla_drive_b_01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/first-drive-tesla-roadster-1/606173/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2008/01/tesla_drive_b_02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/first-drive-tesla-roadster-1/606177/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2008/01/tesla_drive_b_03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/first-drive-tesla-roadster-1/606176/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2008/01/tesla_drive_b_04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/first-drive-tesla-roadster-1/606170/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2008/01/tesla_drive_b_05_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/tesla-roadster/3012-2010-cool-new-features.html">Tesla Motors Club</a>]<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/tesla-motors/" rel="tag">Tesla Motors</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/rumormill-2010-tesla-roadster-gets-sweet-upgrades/">Rumormill: 2010 Tesla Roadster gets sweet upgrades</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:56:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/tesla-roadster/3012-2010-cool-new-features.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/rumormill-2010-tesla-roadster-gets-sweet-upgrades/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19094161/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/rumormill-2010-tesla-roadster-gets-sweet-upgrades/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ZqgqQftjfE7pJ-qk3rEQPa5Njao/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ZqgqQftjfE7pJ-qk3rEQPa5Njao/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ZqgqQftjfE7pJ-qk3rEQPa5Njao/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ZqgqQftjfE7pJ-qk3rEQPa5Njao/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/m8CQ2Lnfql0" height="1" width="1"/>2010 Tesla Roadster2010TeslaRoadsterfeaturedtesla motors clubtesla roadstertesla roadster upgradetesla upgradetesla upgradesTeslaMotorsClubTeslaRoadsterTeslaRoadsterUpgradeTeslaUpgradeTeslaUpgradesFri, 10 Jul 2009 14:56:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/rumormill-2010-tesla-roadster-gets-sweet-upgrades/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/BMmy_mo5nVw/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/vancouver-approves-plans-for-mandatory-plugs-in-new-parking-lots/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/vancouver-approves-plans-for-mandatory-plugs-in-new-parking-lots/#comments<img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/tesla-charging.jpg" /><br /><br /><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/charge-port.jpg" />We told you a few days ago that the city of Vancouver, British Columbia was <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/07/report-vancouver-considering-mandatory-electric-vehicle-plugs-f/">considering mandating the installation of electrical vehicle charging ports</a> in new parking garages. The city council has now voted unanimously to approve the plan. Going forward, any property developers building parking facilities for apartments or condominiums will have to install charging ports in at least 20 percent of the stalls. Charging ports will also be installed in city-owned parking lots. <br /><br />This will certainly help address the needs of future electric car owners who don't live in a house with a garage. The 20 percent plan was double the original proposal's 10 percent installation rate. Developers will have 18 months before they have to start installing the charging stations, which cost $500-$2,000 each. The problem of charging still persists for those living in existing buildings. Those people may decide they're better off moving to a new place, and if the trend becomes big enough, it may prompt management companies to retrofit existing facilities. <br /><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2009/07/09/bc-vancouver-electric-cars-plug-ins.html">CBC</a>]<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/vancouver-approves-plans-for-mandatory-plugs-in-new-parking-lots/">Vancouver approves plans for mandatory plugs in new parking lots</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:10:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/vancouver-approves-plans-for-mandatory-plugs-in-new-parking-lots/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19094112/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/vancouver-approves-plans-for-mandatory-plugs-in-new-parking-lots/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/yT9sTmYRq_AMDIqf5FIbX4VxL3Y/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/yT9sTmYRq_AMDIqf5FIbX4VxL3Y/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/yT9sTmYRq_AMDIqf5FIbX4VxL3Y/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/yT9sTmYRq_AMDIqf5FIbX4VxL3Y/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/BMmy_mo5nVw" height="1" width="1"/>chargingcharging infrastructurecharging stationcharging stationscharginginfrastructurechargingstationChargingStationsvancouverFri, 10 Jul 2009 14:10:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/vancouver-approves-plans-for-mandatory-plugs-in-new-parking-lots/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/6moLk29cgmU/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/day-one-for-the-new-gm-the-more-things-change-lutz-stays-co/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/day-one-for-the-new-gm-the-more-things-change-lutz-stays-co/#comments<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patriciadrury/3380320737/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border=" " src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/3380320737_d6bfacf660_b.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /><br />After only 40 days in bankruptcy, General Motors emerged today as the new GM (sans <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/the-greenwash-to-end-all-greenwashing-gm-reportedly-pondering-c/">green logo</a>, for now). While the bankruptcy was about as short and sweet as they come, the future is what everyone is most interested in, and it's kind of looking a lot like the present/past.<br /><br />For one thing, Chevy Volt cheerleader and former General Motors product chief Bob Lutz has reversed his decision <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/02/09/bob-lutz-to-retire-at-the-end-of-2009/">to retire at the end of this year</a> and may stick around in either marketing and communications or product design, sources told <a href="http://www.autonews.com/article/20090710/ANE02/307109992/1042">Automotive News</a> (subs req'd).<br /><br />As for the company itself, their press release says, among other things, that the new GM has, "A fresh lineup of Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC cars, trucks and crossovers, each with leading-edge designs and technologies that matter to both consumers and the environment."<br /><br />CEO Fritz Henderson <a href="http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/archives/2009/07/the_new_gm_day_one.html">wrote</a> that the new GM will focus on "customers, cars and culture," meaning that they need buyers, vehicles that people want to buy and will shift things around in the company to make decisions faster. A lot of this we've heard before. After this morning's press conference, Henderson <a href="http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2009/07/gm-ceo-talks-green-cars-at-press-conference-but-drives-away-in-something-else.html">drove away in a 2010 Cadillac SRX </a>crossover. Were all the Volts busy? is this a sign of what will the future will bring to the <strike>old</strike> new GM?<br /><br />[Source: GM, <a href="http://www.autonews.com/article/20090710/ANE02/307109992/1042">Automotive News</a> (subs req'd), <a href="http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2009/07/gm-ceo-talks-green-cars-at-press-conference-but-drives-away-in-something-else.html">Green Car Advisor</a>]<br /><strong><em><small>Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patriciadrury/3380320737/">Patricia Drury</a>. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0</small></em></strong>.<p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/day-one-for-the-new-gm-the-more-things-change-lutz-stays-co/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Day one for The New GM: the more things change... Lutz stays, company needs vehicles that matter</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/buick/" rel="tag">Buick</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/cadillac/" rel="tag">Cadillac</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/chevrolet/" rel="tag">Chevrolet</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/gm/" rel="tag">GM</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/gmc/" rel="tag">GMC</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/green-daily/" rel="tag">Green Daily</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/day-one-for-the-new-gm-the-more-things-change-lutz-stays-co/">Day one for The New GM: the more things change... Lutz stays, company needs vehicles that matter</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:27:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.autonews.com/article/20090710/ANE02/307109992/1042>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/day-one-for-the-new-gm-the-more-things-change-lutz-stays-co/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19094426/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/day-one-for-the-new-gm-the-more-things-change-lutz-stays-co/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/NPwi_4rGCLoz2vCqZXoFhuaNYtA/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/NPwi_4rGCLoz2vCqZXoFhuaNYtA/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/NPwi_4rGCLoz2vCqZXoFhuaNYtA/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/NPwi_4rGCLoz2vCqZXoFhuaNYtA/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/6moLk29cgmU" height="1" width="1"/>bob lutzBobLutzbreakingfritz hendersonFritzHendersongeneral motorsgeneral motors bankruptcyGeneralMotorsGeneralMotorsBankruptcygmgm bankruptcyGmBankruptcynew general motorsnew gmNewGeneralMotorsNewGmFri, 10 Jul 2009 13:27:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/day-one-for-the-new-gm-the-more-things-change-lutz-stays-co/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/17QRRGFQpsQ/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/rumormill-mercedes-benz-working-on-electric-sls-edrive-for-2015/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/rumormill-mercedes-benz-working-on-electric-sls-edrive-for-2015/#comments<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/spy-shots-mercedes-benz-amg-sls/1514063/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/03-4-09-merc-sls-kgp-580op.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /> <div align="center"><em><strong><strong><small>Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></strong></em><strong><br /></strong></div> <br />Green-minded fans of the upcoming SLS supercar that <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/02/gullwing-returns-official-details-on-mercedes-benz-slc-amg/">Mercedes-Benz AMG</a> has been working on for well over two years, rejoice. The rumormill is buzzing with word that an all-electric version of the gullwinged monster could enter limited production in 2015. That's a ways off, but considering the gestation period of the gas-chugging version, it's pretty much par for the course. <br /><br />According to the gossip-happy blokes over at <a href="http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/241425/">Autocar</a>, the electric SLS will share its lightweight aluminum body, gullwing doors, and most of the interior with upcoming SLS. The changes for the SLS eDrive will mostly be contained in the powertrain, which will use four 98 kW motors (one at each wheel) for a total of 392 kW (532bhp) and 649 lb. ft. of torque. A rumored 0-62 mph time of under four seconds and a top speed of 120 mph would put it in the realm of the Tesla Roadster if the SLS eDrive were available today, albeit undoubtedly at a much higher price point. <br /><br />Of course, nobody actually knows what the electric gullwing will be capable of - if indeed it reaches production at all. According to <em>Autocar</em>, the SLS eDrive figures to have a shorter range than the Tesla, somewhere between 93 and 112 miles from a full charge that takes eight hours from a standard outlet, or five to six from a more powerful outlet. <br /><br />The gasoline-powered SLS is expected to debut at this year's <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/frankfurt-motor-show/">Frankfurt Motor Show</a>. <br /><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/spy-shots-mercedes-benz-amg-sls/">Spy Shots: Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/spy-shots-mercedes-benz-amg-sls/1514061/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/01-4-09-merc-sls-kgp_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/spy-shots-mercedes-benz-amg-sls/1514062/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/02-4-09-merc-sls-kgp_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/spy-shots-mercedes-benz-amg-sls/1514063/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/03-4-09-merc-sls-kgp_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/spy-shots-mercedes-benz-amg-sls/1514064/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/04-4-09-merc-sls-kgp_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/spy-shots-mercedes-benz-amg-sls/1514065/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/05-4-09-merc-sls-kgp_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/241425/">Autocar</a>]<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/mercedes-benz/" rel="tag">Mercedes Benz</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/green-daily/" rel="tag">Green Daily</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/rumormill-mercedes-benz-working-on-electric-sls-edrive-for-2015/">Rumormill: Mercedes-Benz working on electric SLS eDrive for 2015</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:39:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/241425/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/rumormill-mercedes-benz-working-on-electric-sls-edrive-for-2015/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19094385/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/rumormill-mercedes-benz-working-on-electric-sls-edrive-for-2015/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/BTV0AGvfPUEBAUXhxUv8ab29m6o/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/BTV0AGvfPUEBAUXhxUv8ab29m6o/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/BTV0AGvfPUEBAUXhxUv8ab29m6o/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/BTV0AGvfPUEBAUXhxUv8ab29m6o/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/17QRRGFQpsQ" height="1" width="1"/>benzbenz slsBenzSlsmercedes benz sls edrivemercedes slsmercedes sls edrivemercedes sls electricMercedesBenzSlsEdriveMercedesSlsMercedesSlsEdriveMercedesSlsElectricsls edriveSlsEdriveFri, 10 Jul 2009 12:39:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/rumormill-mercedes-benz-working-on-electric-sls-edrive-for-2015/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/NU1aA8aETSc/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/nissan-evs-a-viable-business-model-in-2012/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/nissan-evs-a-viable-business-model-in-2012/#comments<img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/03/electricvehicle_6.jpg" /><br /> <div align="center"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><small>Nissan EV-02 - </small></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><small>Click above for a high-res image gallery</small></span><br /></div> <br />Despite the sorry state of the global economy, Nissan is investing rather heavily into electric vehicles these days, which is why the Japanese automaker <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/06/23/officially-official-nissan-gets-1-6b-doe-loan-to-build-evs-b/">won a $1.6 billion low interest loan</a> under the U.S. Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing program to build batteries and vehicles at its facility in Smyrna, TN.<br /><br />Nissan's stated goal of mass-producing EVs by 2012 is <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/nissan-to-spend-1-billion-on-us-battery-plant-4-more-plants-in/">going to be costly</a>, but the automaker apparently believes building electric cars will finally become part a viable business plan by that time. Andy Palmer, senior vice president and head of product planning at Nissan, had the following to say at at the <em>Reuters</em> Japan Investment Summit:<br /><blockquote><em>Normal car development cost is about $300 to $500 million, and EVs are above the upper range of that... We're looking at two stages: initially, at the 2010 launch - that's when we'll get all of the buzz and the aid and all the rest of it. That's why we're talking about mass-marketing in 2012, 2013. That's when it becomes a viable, mass business in our business model.</em><br /></blockquote>Obviously, the global automotive market is in the midst of a massive shift towards environmentally-friendly technologies, and a great deal of the money that's being invested in that space right now goes towards battery development. Says Palmer:<br /><blockquote><em>I guess it's fair to say that if we couldn't access government funds in this environment, we'd have to slow down the development because of the enormity of the investments.</em><br /></blockquote><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/quick-drive-nissan-ev-02-prototype/">Quick Drive: Nissan EV-02 prototype</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/quick-drive-nissan-ev-02-prototype/1532627/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/05/nissan-ev-drive-1280-01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/quick-drive-nissan-ev-02-prototype/1532626/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/05/nissan-ev-drive-1280-02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/quick-drive-nissan-ev-02-prototype/1532625/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/05/nissan-ev-drive-1280-03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/quick-drive-nissan-ev-02-prototype/1532624/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/05/nissan-ev-drive-1280-04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/quick-drive-nissan-ev-02-prototype/1532623/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/05/nissan-ev-drive-1280-05_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/JapanInvestment09/idUSTRE5672RG20090709">Reuters</a>]<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/nissan/" rel="tag">Nissan</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/renault/" rel="tag">Renault</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/nissan-evs-a-viable-business-model-in-2012/">Nissan: EVs a viable business model in 2012</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:51:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.reuters.com/article/JapanInvestment09/idUSTRE5672RG20090709>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/nissan-evs-a-viable-business-model-in-2012/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19092008/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/nissan-evs-a-viable-business-model-in-2012/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/kEsIw8HRen4Et15DUloL0wqcv-E/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/kEsIw8HRen4Et15DUloL0wqcv-E/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/kEsIw8HRen4Et15DUloL0wqcv-E/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/kEsIw8HRen4Et15DUloL0wqcv-E/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/NU1aA8aETSc" height="1" width="1"/>electric carelectric carsElectricCarElectricCarsev-02nissannissan electricnissan electric carnissan electric carsnissan evnissan ev-02NissanElectricNissanElectricCarNissanElectricCarsNissanEvNissanEv-02Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:51:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/nissan-evs-a-viable-business-model-in-2012/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/0WdNi9rxf78/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/spain-announces-electric-vehicle-rebates-of-up-to-7-000-per-car/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/spain-announces-electric-vehicle-rebates-of-up-to-7-000-per-car/#comments<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/kangoo-be-bop-z-e/1537821/"><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/06/kangoo-be-bop-ev-09-580s.jpg" /></a><br /> <div align="center"><em><strong><small>Kangoo be bop Z.E. - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em><br /></div> <br />Spain's Minister of Industry, Miguel Sebasti&aacute;n, has announced that Spain will subsidize purchases of electric vehicles up to 15 to 20 percent of its cost. For standard electric cars, Spaniards can get up to &euro;7,000 back; for vehicles such as motorbikes, buses or trucks, the aid ranges between &euro;750 and &euro;20,000. The program is funded with up to 8 million euros and is called Movele (Plan de Movilidad El&eacute;ctrica - Electric Mobility plan). Movele also includes money for the immediate purchase of 2,000 electric cars and charging points for the municipalities of Barcelona, Madrid and <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/03/18/spains-pilot-ev-recharging-network-starts-in-seville/">Seville</a>. Mr. Sebasti&aacute;n said that the Spanish government considers EVs a key way to reduce foreign oil dependency. Makes sense, since Spain imports 80 percent of its energy.<br /><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.elpais.com/articulo/sociedad/Sebastian/anuncia/ayudas/7000/euros/compra/turismos/electricos/elpepusoc/20090706elpepusoc_6/Tes">El Pa&iacute;s</a>]<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/legislation-and-policy/" rel="tag">Legislation and Policy</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/european-union/" rel="tag">Europe/EU</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/spain-announces-electric-vehicle-rebates-of-up-to-7-000-per-car/">Spain announces electric vehicle rebates of up to €7,000 per car</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:03:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/sociedad/Sebastian/anuncia/ayudas/7000/euros/compra/turismos/electricos/elpepusoc/20090706elpepusoc_6/Tes>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/spain-announces-electric-vehicle-rebates-of-up-to-7-000-per-car/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19088057/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/spain-announces-electric-vehicle-rebates-of-up-to-7-000-per-car/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/YYAJP6qBVWY0DjXLYxz0i3k9m10/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/YYAJP6qBVWY0DjXLYxz0i3k9m10/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/YYAJP6qBVWY0DjXLYxz0i3k9m10/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/YYAJP6qBVWY0DjXLYxz0i3k9m10/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/0WdNi9rxf78" height="1" width="1"/>electric mobility planElectricMobilityPlanev purchase subventionEvPurchaseSubventionmiguel sebastianMiguelSebastianmoveleplan de movilidad electricaPlanDeMovilidadElectricaspainFri, 10 Jul 2009 11:03:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/spain-announces-electric-vehicle-rebates-of-up-to-7-000-per-car/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/2FSECjKfWI8/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/zipcar-recommends-low-car-diet-events-coming-to-13-cities/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/zipcar-recommends-low-car-diet-events-coming-to-13-cities/#comments<a href="http://www.zipcar.com/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border=" " src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/zipcars-grapx.png" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Zipcar's latest promotional event, the Low-Car Diet, will kick off in 13 cities - including Portland, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Boston, San Francisco, and Seattle - where Zipcar has a presence this month. In these cities, the company has organized small groups of a few dozen drivers to publicly gather and drop their keys into a lock box as they pledge to not drive their personal car for one month. Instead, the dieters will walk, bike, ride the bus, and use Zipcar's vehicles for 30 days. The company hopes the participants will, "realize that living without a car may be easier than they think. It will also provide a means to keep more of their paycheck while becoming more active and improving their health." <br /><br />This is Zipcar's second annual Low-Car Diet. Earlier this week, Zipcar launched its <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/07/zipcar-charges-up-electric-vehicle-pod-in-london-with-evie-plu/">first all-electric shared car</a> in London. <br /><br />[Source: Zipcar]<p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/zipcar-recommends-low-car-diet-events-coming-to-13-cities/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Zipcar recommends low-car diet, events coming to 13 cities</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/etc/" rel="tag">Etc.</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/transportation-alternatives/" rel="tag">Transportation Alternatives</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/green-daily/" rel="tag">Green Daily</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/zipcar-recommends-low-car-diet-events-coming-to-13-cities/">Zipcar recommends low-car diet, events coming to 13 cities</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:20:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.zipcar.com/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/zipcar-recommends-low-car-diet-events-coming-to-13-cities/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19094195/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/zipcar-recommends-low-car-diet-events-coming-to-13-cities/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/GMyxoDPFbX3AfeusoXctVMrnoNA/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/GMyxoDPFbX3AfeusoXctVMrnoNA/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/GMyxoDPFbX3AfeusoXctVMrnoNA/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/GMyxoDPFbX3AfeusoXctVMrnoNA/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/2FSECjKfWI8" height="1" width="1"/>car sharingcarshareCarSharinglow car dietLowCarDietzipcarFri, 10 Jul 2009 10:20:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/zipcar-recommends-low-car-diet-events-coming-to-13-cities/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/CKyQZ_DpPAg/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/#comments<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/chrysler-ev-usps-mini-van/1510713/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/04/usps1-580.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /> <div align="center"><em><strong><small>Chrysler U.S. Postal Service Minivan - Click above for high-res gallery</small></strong></em><br /></div> <br />As part of the U.S. General Services Administration's recent <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/06/11/u-s-government-buys-17-205-new-cars-for-287-million-ford-repr/">$210 million purchase of new vehicles</a> 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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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 <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/04/22/chrysler-unveils-new-electric-minivan-for-the-us-postal-service/">250 battery-powered minivans from Chrysler</a>. Click past the break for the full press release.<br /><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/chrysler-ev-usps-mini-van/">Chrysler EV USPS mini-van</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/chrysler-ev-usps-mini-van/1510713/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/04/usps1_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/chrysler-ev-usps-mini-van/1510712/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/04/usps2_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/chrysler-ev-usps-mini-van/1510714/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/04/lhd_usps_van_int04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />[Source: USPS]<p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/u-s-postal-service-gets-6-500-new-alternative-power-vehicles/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>U.S. Postal Service gets 6,500 new alternative power vehicles</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/ethanol/" rel="tag">Ethanol</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/flex-fuel/" rel="tag">Flex-Fuel</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/hybrid/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/legislation-and-policy/" rel="tag">Legislation and Policy</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/usa/" rel="tag">USA</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/u-s-postal-service-gets-6-500-new-alternative-power-vehicles/">U.S. Postal Service gets 6,500 new alternative power vehicles</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:38:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/u-s-postal-service-gets-6-500-new-alternative-power-vehicles/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19093770/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/u-s-postal-service-gets-6-500-new-alternative-power-vehicles/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Kav5T-jyyXI4OXB2t5NQXn99VYI/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Kav5T-jyyXI4OXB2t5NQXn99VYI/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Kav5T-jyyXI4OXB2t5NQXn99VYI/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Kav5T-jyyXI4OXB2t5NQXn99VYI/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/CKyQZ_DpPAg" height="1" width="1"/>general services administrationGeneralServicesAdministrationu.s. postal serviceU.s.PostalServiceus post officeus post office electric vehicleus postal serviceUsPostalServiceUsPostOfficeUsPostOfficeElectricVehicleuspsFri, 10 Jul 2009 09:38:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/u-s-postal-service-gets-6-500-new-alternative-power-vehicles/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/PaNHqKB4OLI/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/bliss-trek-brings-leafy-eco-driving-app-to-the-iphone/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/bliss-trek-brings-leafy-eco-driving-app-to-the-iphone/#comments<div align="center"><a href="www.BlissTrek.com"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border=" " alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/scrmap.png" /></a><br /></div> We're not quite sure why MaxQData is claiming that its new Bliss Trek iPhone application is the "first eco-driving application for iPhone" when there were <a href="http://earth2tech.com/2008/07/11/5-iphone-apps-to-help-save-gas/">at least five such applications</a> available 11 months ago, but that's the PR angle. Bliss Trek has some neat features - it's sort of like a <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/10/30/more-on-fords-smartgauge-cluster-for-the-fusion-milan-hybrids-w/">SmartGauge</a> that lives in your phone (it's even got <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/10/29/ford-smart-gauge-collects-green-leaves-for-good-behavior/">the leaves</a>) and can be used in any car - but it's certainly not first such program out of the gate. <br /><br />Using GPS signals, Bliss Trek gathers speed and acceleration data to determine if the driver is making smooth, efficient driving choices. If so, the app ups your "Bliss Score." Driving fast and idling will make you lose points. If you do particularly well and like to show off, you can Tweet your score from inside the app. While there are a lot of animated cues to let you know how you're doing, the app also uses audio signals to tell the driver when they're driving green. Bliss Trek is now available in the iTunes App Store for 99 cents.<br /><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.BlissTrek.com">BlissTrek</a>]<br /><p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/bliss-trek-brings-leafy-eco-driving-app-to-the-iphone/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Bliss Trek brings leafy eco-driving app to the iPhone</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/emerging-technologies/" rel="tag">Emerging Technologies</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/mpg/" rel="tag">MPG</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/green-daily/" rel="tag">Green Daily</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/bliss-trek-brings-leafy-eco-driving-app-to-the-iphone/">Bliss Trek brings leafy eco-driving app to the iPhone</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:49:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.blisstrek.com/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/bliss-trek-brings-leafy-eco-driving-app-to-the-iphone/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19093281/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/bliss-trek-brings-leafy-eco-driving-app-to-the-iphone/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/VABnw1OJw2TJEfZZ8HeW537KJPQ/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/VABnw1OJw2TJEfZZ8HeW537KJPQ/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/VABnw1OJw2TJEfZZ8HeW537KJPQ/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/VABnw1OJw2TJEfZZ8HeW537KJPQ/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/PaNHqKB4OLI" height="1" width="1"/>bliss iphonebliss trekBlissIphoneBlissTrekeco-driving appeco-driving iphone appEco-drivingAppEco-drivingIphoneAppiphoneiphone 3giphone gpsIphone3gIphoneGpsipod touchIpodTouchmaxqdatasmartgaugeFri, 10 Jul 2009 08:49:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/bliss-trek-brings-leafy-eco-driving-app-to-the-iphone/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/kzxpLMICUqw/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/diy-madness-all-wheel-drive-pontiac-fiero-hybrid/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/diy-madness-all-wheel-drive-pontiac-fiero-hybrid/#comments<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/diy-all-wheel-drive-fiero-hybrid/2135048/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/hybrid-fiero_lead.jpg" /></a><br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><small style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">DIY all-wheel-drive Pontiac Fiero hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery</small><br /></div> <br />We've seen plenty of custom Pontiac Fieros in our day, often kitted out with some sort of Italian-inspired bodywork and possibly an engine swap, but we've never come across a Fiero quite like this one. This <em>all-wheel drive hybrid Fiero</em> (seriously, how cool is that?) was built to compete in the <a href="http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/events/2009-challenge/">Grassroots Motorsports $2009 Challenge</a>. Powering the rear wheels is the original 2.5-liter Iron Duke four-cylinder powerplant, but that's the only part of the drivetrain that remains as The General intended.<br /><br />Driving the front wheels is a motor yanked from the engine bay of an electric Chevrolet S10 pickup truck. That unit sends its 114 horses through a set of axles nabbed from a Saturn and struts donated by a Honda Accord. Power for the electric motor will come from a couple of nickel metal hydride battery packs from wrecked Toyota Prius hybrids. <a href="http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/west-coast-2009-challenger-awd-fiero-hybrid/10519/page1/">Click here</a> for the whole story of how this unique project came together and <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/diy-madness-all-wheel-drive-pontiac-fiero-hybrid/">click past the break</a> for a video.<br /><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/diy-all-wheel-drive-fiero-hybrid/">DIY all-wheel-drive Fiero hybrid</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/diy-all-wheel-drive-fiero-hybrid/2135048/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/hybrid-fiero_21_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/diy-all-wheel-drive-fiero-hybrid/2135056/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/hybrid-fiero_23_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/diy-all-wheel-drive-fiero-hybrid/2135052/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/hybrid-fiero_26_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/diy-all-wheel-drive-fiero-hybrid/2135044/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/hybrid-fiero_01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/diy-all-wheel-drive-fiero-hybrid/2135045/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/hybrid-fiero_02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />[Source: <a href="http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/west-coast-2009-challenger-awd-fiero-hybrid/10519/page1/">Grassroots Motorsports</a> via <a href="http://jalopnik.com/5309278/grassroots-motorsports-competitor-builds-awd-hybrid-fiero">Jalopnik</a>]<p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/diy-madness-all-wheel-drive-pontiac-fiero-hybrid/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>DIY Madness: All-wheel-drive Pontiac Fiero hybrid</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/hybrid/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/pontiac/" rel="tag">Pontiac</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/green-daily/" rel="tag">Green Daily</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/racing/" rel="tag">Racing</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/diy-madness-all-wheel-drive-pontiac-fiero-hybrid/">DIY Madness: All-wheel-drive Pontiac Fiero hybrid</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:02:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/west-coast-2009-challenger-awd-fiero-hybrid/10519/page1/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/diy-madness-all-wheel-drive-pontiac-fiero-hybrid/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19092005/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/diy-madness-all-wheel-drive-pontiac-fiero-hybrid/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/TycqDg2EQoGAKo8k8AUzIWpC5Ug/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/TycqDg2EQoGAKo8k8AUzIWpC5Ug/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/TycqDg2EQoGAKo8k8AUzIWpC5Ug/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/TycqDg2EQoGAKo8k8AUzIWpC5Ug/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/kzxpLMICUqw" height="1" width="1"/>diy hybridDiyHybridfeaturedgrassroots motorsportsGrassrootsMotorsportshome built hybridhome made hybridhome-built hybridHome-builtHybridHomeBuiltHybridhomemade hybridHomemadeHybridpontiac fieropontiac fiero conversionpontiac fiero hybridPontiacFieroPontiacFieroConversionPontiacFieroHybridFri, 10 Jul 2009 08:02:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/diy-madness-all-wheel-drive-pontiac-fiero-hybrid/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/eE2MSTXTDKs/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/greenlings-why-doesnt-the-government-know-if-ethanol-cars-qual/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/greenlings-why-doesnt-the-government-know-if-ethanol-cars-qual/#comments<img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/89973288_f834ac87c3_b.jpg" /><br /><br /><img align="right" alt="" class="right border" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/06/greenlings-small-post-logo.jpg" />AutoblogGreen reader Michael recently sent in a question regarding the about-to-start "Cash for Clunkers" program. Officially known as the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS), the program allows owners of some older and inefficient vehicles to trade them in and get a rebate check worth up to $4,500 from the government to buy a new car. The simple version of the rules are that the trade-in can't be more than 25 years old, needs to have an official combined highway/city fuel economy rating of 18 mpg or less (on the EPA's new mpg scale), be in drivable condition and you have to have owned and insured the car for at least the year prior to turning it in. Michael's question revolves around what happens when a car has two fuel economy ratings - one for gas and one for ethanol. Turns out, no one really knows yet. Find out more after the jump. <br /><br /><strong><em><small>Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/iboy_daniel/89973288/">iboy_daniel</a>. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0</small></em></strong>.<p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/greenlings-why-doesnt-the-government-know-if-ethanol-cars-qual/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Greenlings: Does the government know if ethanol cars qualify for Cash-For-Clunkers?</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/ethanol/" rel="tag">Ethanol</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/autobloggreen-exclusive/" rel="tag">AutoblogGreen Exclusive</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/legislation-and-policy/" rel="tag">Legislation and Policy</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/green-daily/" rel="tag">Green Daily</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/greenlings/" rel="tag">Greenlings</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/greenlings-why-doesnt-the-government-know-if-ethanol-cars-qual/">Greenlings: Does the government know if ethanol cars qualify for Cash-For-Clunkers?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:40:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.cars.gov/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/greenlings-why-doesnt-the-government-know-if-ethanol-cars-qual/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19090598/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/greenlings-why-doesnt-the-government-know-if-ethanol-cars-qual/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/cEG7EO_BrV8i4Y5hbLhLUJhZw_w/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/cEG7EO_BrV8i4Y5hbLhLUJhZw_w/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/cEG7EO_BrV8i4Y5hbLhLUJhZw_w/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/cEG7EO_BrV8i4Y5hbLhLUJhZw_w/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/eE2MSTXTDKs" height="1" width="1"/>car allowance rebate systemcar allowance rebate system e85car allowance rebate system ethanolCarAllowanceRebateSystemCarAllowanceRebateSystemE85CarAllowanceRebateSystemEthanolcarscars e85cars ethanolCarsE85CarsEthanolcash for clunkerscash for clunkers billcash for clunkers e85cash for clunkers ethanolCashForClunkersCashForClunkersBillCashForClunkersE85CashForClunkersEthanole85ethanolfeaturedh.r. 2346H.r.2346Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:40:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/greenlings-why-doesnt-the-government-know-if-ethanol-cars-qual/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/IB59wtPlXls/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/proposed-u-s-legislation-would-provide-tax-breaks-for-natural-g/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/proposed-u-s-legislation-would-provide-tax-breaks-for-natural-g/#comments<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/2007-honda-civic-gx/149364/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/civic_ngv.jpg" /></a><br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><small style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">2007 Honda Civic GX - Click above for high-res image gallery</small><br /></div> <br />Senator Robert Menendez (D - NJ) has introduced new legislation to promote natural gas for use in our automobiles. The NAT GAS Act, co-sponsored by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D - NV) and Senator Orrin Hatch (R - UT), would extend and increase tax credits for vehicles powered by natural gas and the refueling stations needed to fill their tanks. <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/05/21/avfi-2008-t-boone-pickens-lays-the-future-of-oil-and-alternati/">Not surprisingly</a>, T. Boone Pickens (he of the <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/t-boone-pickens-wind-farm-plan-dies-out/">wind farm fail</a>) is a big supporter of the proposal. Pickens said:<br /><blockquote><em>This bipartisan legislation does more to reduce our foreign oil dependency crisis than any other piece of legislation in the past 40 years. As I have said many times before and will continue to say, natural gas is cleaner, cheaper, it's abundant and it's American... For too long, our dependence on foreign oil has been one of the factors influencing our foreign policy and if we can eliminate that issue by using our own domestic natural gas resources I am confident that it will benefit our national security, our economy and the environment.</em><br /></blockquote>If the legislation is met favorably in the Senate, there is a possibility it could be attached to the much broader energy and climate change bill that's currently in the works. <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/04/23/greenlings-can-i-run-a-car-on-natural-gas/">Click here</a> to read more on the pros and cons of natural gas for use in our cars and trucks, and click past the break for the official press release.<br /><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/2007-honda-civic-gx/">2007 Honda Civic GX</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/2007-honda-civic-gx/149362/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2007/02/2007_civic_gx_sedan_101_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/2007-honda-civic-gx/149363/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2007/02/2007_civic_gx_sedan_102_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/2007-honda-civic-gx/149364/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2007/02/2007_civic_gx_sedan_103_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/2007-honda-civic-gx/149365/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2007/02/2007_civic_gx_sedan_104_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/2007-honda-civic-gx/149361/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2007/02/2007_civic_gx_sedan_105_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/proposed-u-s-legislation-would-provide-tax-breaks-for-natural-g/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Proposed U.S. legislation would provide tax breaks for natural gas vehicles</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/legislation-and-policy/" rel="tag">Legislation and Policy</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/natural-gas/" rel="tag">Natural Gas</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/usa/" rel="tag">USA</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/proposed-u-s-legislation-would-provide-tax-breaks-for-natural-g/">Proposed U.S. legislation would provide tax breaks for natural gas vehicles</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:44:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/proposed-u-s-legislation-would-provide-tax-breaks-for-natural-g/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19092024/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/proposed-u-s-legislation-would-provide-tax-breaks-for-natural-g/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/uZabSO-tNB-vO4KOcI3uFXGn1Rs/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/uZabSO-tNB-vO4KOcI3uFXGn1Rs/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/uZabSO-tNB-vO4KOcI3uFXGn1Rs/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/uZabSO-tNB-vO4KOcI3uFXGn1Rs/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/IB59wtPlXls" height="1" width="1"/>cngcng carCngCarcompressed natural gasCompressedNaturalGasharry reidHarryReidnatural gasnatural gas carsNaturalGasNaturalGasCarsorrin hatchOrrinHatchrobert menendezRobertMenendezt boone pickensTBoonePickensThu, 09 Jul 2009 18:44:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/proposed-u-s-legislation-would-provide-tax-breaks-for-natural-g/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/lkxWcFRhQsk/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/spain-introduces-motorcycle-scrapping-scheme/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/spain-introduces-motorcycle-scrapping-scheme/#comments<a href="http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/spain-motorcycle-scrapage-deal-approved.htm"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/rusty_motorcycle.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Countries all over the world have <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/tag/cash+for+clunkers/">recently implemented schemes</a> to get drivers to trade in their older vehicles in exchange for newer, cleaner models. There are obvious questions as to whether any of this is really a good idea, especially when the fuel mileage requirements to qualify for the program are as lax as those in the <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/06/19/senate-passes-cash-for-clunkers-sends-it-to-presidents-desk-fo/">U.S. Cash-For-Clunkers legislation</a>.<br /><br />We've heard some support in the past for <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/06/16/pennsylvania-senator-introduces-bill-to-add-motorcycles-to-cash/">motorcycles to be added</a> to these scrapping schemes and now it seems Spain has recently implemented just such a program. The actual incentive is based on the engine displacement of the machines being purchased and traded in. Full details have yet to be hashed out, but it's expected that larger motorcycles may get up to 750 Euros in rebates.<br /><br />The supposed environmental benefits for this particular program may be real if a large number of two-stroke machines and older models without current emissions controls are scrapped in favor of modern cleaner-burning four-stroke motorcycles and scooters.<br /><br />[Source: <a href="http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/spain-motorcycle-scrapage-deal-approved.htm">Bikes in the Fast Lane</a> | Photo: <a title="" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgjones/">DG Jones</a>]<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/legislation-and-policy/" rel="tag">Legislation and Policy</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/on-two-wheels/" rel="tag">On Two Wheels</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/european-union/" rel="tag">Europe/EU</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/spain-introduces-motorcycle-scrapping-scheme/">REPORT: Spain introduces motorcycle scrapping scheme</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:58:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/spain-motorcycle-scrapage-deal-approved.htm>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/spain-introduces-motorcycle-scrapping-scheme/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19091442/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/spain-introduces-motorcycle-scrapping-scheme/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/IlGO9vKJaPHgrLBLj1vsnThYfTs/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/IlGO9vKJaPHgrLBLj1vsnThYfTs/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/IlGO9vKJaPHgrLBLj1vsnThYfTs/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/IlGO9vKJaPHgrLBLj1vsnThYfTs/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/lkxWcFRhQsk" height="1" width="1"/>cash for clunkerscash for clunkers motorcyclescash for clunkers spainCashForClunkersCashForClunkersMotorcyclesCashForClunkersSpainmotorcycle scrappingMotorcycleScrappingspain motorcycle scrappingSpainMotorcycleScrappingThu, 09 Jul 2009 17:58:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/spain-introduces-motorcycle-scrapping-scheme/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/DwXRfxwMtI4/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/peugeot-hymotion-hybrid-scooter-scheduled-for-2010-production/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/peugeot-hymotion-hybrid-scooter-scheduled-for-2010-production/#comments<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/peugeot-hymotion3-compressor-concept/1077709/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/peugeot-hymotion3.jpg" /></a><br /> <div align="center"><em><strong><small>Peugeot HYmotion 3 - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em><br /></div> <br />According to a report on French site <em>ConsoGlobe</em>, Peugeot is slated to put its <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/10/04/peugeot-unleashes-118-mpg-hymotion3-compressor-concept/">HYmotion 3</a> leaning three-wheeler into production before the end of 2010. Thanks to its twin electric motors (one for each wheel up front) and diminutive 125cc single-cylinder four-stroke powerplant, the hybrid scooter is expected to score an impressive 117 mpg U.S. (141 mpg Imperial, or 2 liters per 100 kilometers) with carbon emissions of just 47 g/km.<br /><br />Intriguingly, the HYmotion 3 should closely follow the <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/06/03/piaggio-mp3-hybrid-officially-in-production/">Piaggio MP3 Hybrid</a> to market. While both machines use a similar leaning three-wheeled design, the Italian machine differs in that only the rear wheel is powered by both the electric motor and gas-powered engine. Plus, the Peugeot features a partially enclosed design for superior weather protection. So far, we have no indication that the HYmotion 3 will make it Stateside or what it may cost in Europe.<br /><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/peugeot-hymotion3-compressor-concept/">Peugeot HYmotion3 Compressor Concept</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/peugeot-hymotion3-compressor-concept/1077709/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2008/10/peugeot_hymotion3_large_2_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/peugeot-hymotion3-compressor-concept/1077703/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2008/10/peugeot_hymotion3_large_1_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/peugeot-hymotion3-compressor-concept/1077704/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2008/10/peugeot_hymotion3_large_3_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/peugeot-hymotion3-compressor-concept/1077705/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2008/10/peugeot_hymotion3_large_4_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/peugeot-hymotion3-compressor-concept/1077706/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2008/10/peugeot_hymotion3_large_5_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.consoglobe.com/ac-transports-propres_3370_peugeot-hymotion-scooter-hybride.html">ConsoGlobe</a> via <a href="http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/hybrid-peugot-hymotion-motorcycle-on-sale-next-year.htm">Bikes in the Fast Lane</a>]<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/hybrid/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/peugeot/" rel="tag">Peugeot</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/on-two-wheels/" rel="tag">On Two Wheels</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/european-union/" rel="tag">Europe/EU</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/peugeot-hymotion-hybrid-scooter-scheduled-for-2010-production/">Peugeot Hymotion hybrid scooter scheduled for 2010 production</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:07:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.consoglobe.com/ac-transports-propres_3370_peugeot-hymotion-scooter-hybride.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/peugeot-hymotion-hybrid-scooter-scheduled-for-2010-production/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19091966/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/peugeot-hymotion-hybrid-scooter-scheduled-for-2010-production/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/pw4Lx1qh8AoHiU3zTs42-ikeAiU/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/pw4Lx1qh8AoHiU3zTs42-ikeAiU/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/pw4Lx1qh8AoHiU3zTs42-ikeAiU/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/pw4Lx1qh8AoHiU3zTs42-ikeAiU/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/DwXRfxwMtI4" height="1" width="1"/>hybrid scooterHybridScooterpeugeotpeugeot hybridpeugeot hybrid scooterpeugeot hymotionpeugeot hymotion3peugeot hymotion3 compressorPeugeotHybridPeugeotHybridScooterPeugeotHymotionPeugeotHymotion3PeugeotHymotion3CompressorThu, 09 Jul 2009 17:07:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/peugeot-hymotion-hybrid-scooter-scheduled-for-2010-production/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/Lx600d0yzM4/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/nissan-to-spend-1-billion-on-us-battery-plant-4-more-plants-in/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/nissan-to-spend-1-billion-on-us-battery-plant-4-more-plants-in/#comments<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/quick-drive-nissan-ev-02-prototype/1532620/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border=" " alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/nissan-ev-drive-n-580-13.jpg" /></a><br /> <div align="center"><small style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Nissan EV-02 prototype - </small><small style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">click above for high res image gallery</small><br /></div> <br />Nissan was one of the three recipients in the <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/06/23/officially-official-nissan-gets-1-6b-doe-loan-to-build-evs-b/">first round of low interest loans</a> through the U.S. Department of Energy's ATVM program along with <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/06/23/officially-official-ford-gets-5-9b-from-doe-in-atvmp-funds-for/">Ford</a> and <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/06/23/tesla-gets-465-in-loans-from-the-doe-to-build-model-s-ev-power/">Tesla</a>. Nissan will be getting $1.6 billion from the program that will be used to re-tool part of its Smyrna, Tennessee factory to build electric cars and lithium ion batteries. Out of that amount, apparently over $1 billion will be needed just for the battery production capacity. The battery plant will consist of three production modules each of which is capable of producing 54,000 batteries. <br /><br />The U.S. battery plant joins a Japanese facility that is starting up in 2010. In addition to these facilities, Nissan and French partner Renault will be building electric cars in Europe beginning in 2011. Because battery packs are heavy, it makes sense to build the packs close to where they will be installed in vehicles. As Renault-Nissan expand production, the alliance is also considering adding as many as four battery plants on the continent. No specific commitments have yet been made for locations yet. <br /><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/quick-drive-nissan-ev-02-prototype/">Quick Drive: Nissan EV-02 prototype</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/quick-drive-nissan-ev-02-prototype/1532627/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/05/nissan-ev-drive-1280-01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/quick-drive-nissan-ev-02-prototype/1532626/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/05/nissan-ev-drive-1280-02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/quick-drive-nissan-ev-02-prototype/1532625/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/05/nissan-ev-drive-1280-03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/quick-drive-nissan-ev-02-prototype/1532624/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/05/nissan-ev-drive-1280-04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/quick-drive-nissan-ev-02-prototype/1532623/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/05/nissan-ev-drive-1280-05_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br /><em><strong><small>Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.</small></strong></em><br /><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/JapanInvestment09/idUSTRE5672CS20090708">Reuters</a>, <a href="http://www.autonews.com/article/20090708/ANE02/907089993">Automotive News - sub. req'd</a>]<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/manufacturing-plants/" rel="tag">Manufacturing/Plants</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/nissan/" rel="tag">Nissan</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/nissan-to-spend-1-billion-on-us-battery-plant-4-more-plants-in/">Nissan to spend $1 billion on U.S. battery plant, 4 more plants in Europe</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:19:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/nissan-to-spend-1-billion-on-us-battery-plant-4-more-plants-in/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19091471/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/nissan-to-spend-1-billion-on-us-battery-plant-4-more-plants-in/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ZI_aNfsTajj5MEAojgZ3PkpCpqk/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ZI_aNfsTajj5MEAojgZ3PkpCpqk/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ZI_aNfsTajj5MEAojgZ3PkpCpqk/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ZI_aNfsTajj5MEAojgZ3PkpCpqk/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/Lx600d0yzM4" height="1" width="1"/>battery productionBatteryProductionlithium batterieslithium batterylithium ionlithium ion batterieslithium ion batteryLithiumBatteriesLithiumBatteryLithiumIonLithiumIonBatteriesLithiumIonBatterynissanrenaultrenault nissanrenault nissan alliancerenault nissan evRenaultNissanRenaultNissanAllianceRenaultNissanEvThu, 09 Jul 2009 16:19:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/nissan-to-spend-1-billion-on-us-battery-plant-4-more-plants-in/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/OE39DYWFmHA/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/dont-play-in-the-street-epa-will-study-effects-of-roadway-air/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/dont-play-in-the-street-epa-will-study-effects-of-roadway-air/#comments<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sidelong/2188538400/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border=" " src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/2188538400_5cb4578bd9_b.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /><br />With all the work being done to reduce the amount of petroleum products used on the nation's roadways, there's still an awful lot of gas being burned on every street, every day. The EPA is funding a $1.4 million joint study with the University of Michigan on the health effects of air pollution on children who live near busy roads. Learning more about how asthma and respiratory viral infections are affected by the pollution will be highlighted in the three-year study that started in September 2008. <br /><br />Officially called the, "<a href="http://www.epa.gov/ncer/near-roadway">Childhood Health Effects from Roadway and Urban Pollutant Burden Study</a>," the results of the study will be used by local governments to better plan where things like roads and schools should be built. The potential impact is large, since the EPA says that more than 45 million people in the U.S. currently live within 300 feet of a four-lane road, airport, or railroad.<br /><br />[Source: EPA]<br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><small>Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sidelong/2188538400/">SideLong</a>. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0</small></span>.<p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/dont-play-in-the-street-epa-will-study-effects-of-roadway-air/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Don't play in the street: EPA will study effects of roadway air pollution</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/etc/" rel="tag">Etc.</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/dont-play-in-the-street-epa-will-study-effects-of-roadway-air/">Don't play in the street: EPA will study effects of roadway air pollution</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:39:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.epa.gov/ncer/near-roadway>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/dont-play-in-the-street-epa-will-study-effects-of-roadway-air/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19089182/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/dont-play-in-the-street-epa-will-study-effects-of-roadway-air/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/RFeB4W9DHgYvjUld69q2ibvzxsQ/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/RFeB4W9DHgYvjUld69q2ibvzxsQ/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/RFeB4W9DHgYvjUld69q2ibvzxsQ/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/RFeB4W9DHgYvjUld69q2ibvzxsQ/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/OE39DYWFmHA" height="1" width="1"/>air pollutionAirPollutionepaepa u of mepa university of michiganEpaUniversityOfMichiganEpaUOfMroad pollutionRoadPollutionroadway pollutionRoadwayPollutionThu, 09 Jul 2009 15:39:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/dont-play-in-the-street-epa-will-study-effects-of-roadway-air/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/L63dWXk_Oao/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/#comments<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/swedish-heatwave-prompts-recall-of-thousands-of-flex-fuel-volvos/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="top" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/volvo-v70-flexifuel-wagon.jpg" /></a><br /><br />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? <br /><br />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.<br /><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.swedishwire.com/business/492-volvo-recalls-thousands-of-cars">The Swedish Wire</a>]<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/ethanol/" rel="tag">Ethanol</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/flex-fuel/" rel="tag">Flex-Fuel</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/volvo/" rel="tag">Volvo</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/swedish-heatwave-prompts-recall-of-thousands-of-flex-fuel-volvos/">Swedish heatwave prompts recall of thousands of flex fuel Volvos</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.swedishwire.com/business/492-volvo-recalls-thousands-of-cars>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/swedish-heatwave-prompts-recall-of-thousands-of-flex-fuel-volvos/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19092292/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/swedish-heatwave-prompts-recall-of-thousands-of-flex-fuel-volvos/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/m6fstG26K1Jpy30GRKJ4IO47NV4/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/m6fstG26K1Jpy30GRKJ4IO47NV4/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/m6fstG26K1Jpy30GRKJ4IO47NV4/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/m6fstG26K1Jpy30GRKJ4IO47NV4/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/L63dWXk_Oao" height="1" width="1"/>FlexifuelHeatwaverecallS80SwedenV70Volvo recallVolvoRecallThu, 09 Jul 2009 14:58:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/swedish-heatwave-prompts-recall-of-thousands-of-flex-fuel-volvos/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/Z1NbCJj23MM/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/jmc-motoronics-offers-pedal-electric-and-hybrid-tumtumcars/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/jmc-motoronics-offers-pedal-electric-and-hybrid-tumtumcars/#comments<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/tumtumcar/2133032/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/tumtumcar_lead.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /> <div align="center"><em><strong><small>Tumtumcar - Click above for image gallery</small></strong></em><br /></div> <br />Thanks to a reader tip, we've been introduced to a new series of four-wheeled personal transportation vehicles from a company called JMC Motoronics. The oddly-named Tumtumcar comes in a few different flavors, from a fully human-powered model to a gas-powered machine with a small 33cc engine sending power to the rear wheels via a CVT transmission.<br /><br />The machines we're most interested in, though, are the ones powered by electrons. The Tumtumcar Series E comes equipped with the buyers choice of a single 350 Watt motor, dual 350 Watt motors, dual 700 Watt motors or dual 1000 Watt motors. In each case, the vehicle is powered by a 7Ah battery pack putting out 36 volts. Pricing ranges from $2,750 on the low end to $3,650 for the highest performing model.<br /><br />According to the <a href="http://www.tumtumcar.com/">official website</a>, a hybrid Phoenix model is set to debut shortly featuring both a 6.5-horsepower gasoline engine and any of the available electric motor options. Depending on the laws in your part of the country, JMC Motoronics claims these machines may be classified as bicycles and therefore require no special licensing.<br /><br />Practical for everyday use? Perhaps not, but they do look like fun. <em>Thanks for the tip, Montenna!</em><br /><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/tumtumcar/">Tumtumcar</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/tumtumcar/2133032/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/tumtumcar_07_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/tumtumcar/2133027/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/tumtumcar_08_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/tumtumcar/2133019/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/tumtumcar_02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/tumtumcar/2133024/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/tumtumcar_09_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/tumtumcar/2133018/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/tumtumcar_01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.tumtumcar.com/">Tumtumcar</a>]<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/hybrid/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/transportation-alternatives/" rel="tag">Transportation Alternatives</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/on-two-wheels/" rel="tag">On Two Wheels</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/green-daily/" rel="tag">Green Daily</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/jmc-motoronics-offers-pedal-electric-and-hybrid-tumtumcars/">JMC Motoronics offers pedal, electric and hybrid Tumtumcars</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:05:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.tumtumcar.com/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/jmc-motoronics-offers-pedal-electric-and-hybrid-tumtumcars/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19091425/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/jmc-motoronics-offers-pedal-electric-and-hybrid-tumtumcars/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/FIvNjW38sfZOfQhjwk0R9zSHZRI/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/FIvNjW38sfZOfQhjwk0R9zSHZRI/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/FIvNjW38sfZOfQhjwk0R9zSHZRI/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/FIvNjW38sfZOfQhjwk0R9zSHZRI/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/Z1NbCJj23MM" height="1" width="1"/>hybrid pedal carhybrid pedalcarHybridPedalcarjmc motoronicsJmcMotoronicspedal carpedal carsPedalCarPedalCarstumtumcarThu, 09 Jul 2009 14:05:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/jmc-motoronics-offers-pedal-electric-and-hybrid-tumtumcars/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/EeJlaq_iJkk/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/study-clean-diesels-and-hybrids-have-cheaper-cost-of-ownership/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/study-clean-diesels-and-hybrids-have-cheaper-cost-of-ownership/#comments<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/2009-volkswagen-jetta-tdi/1042822/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border=" " alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/jetta-tdi-drive-580-15.jpg" /></a><br /> <div align="center"><em><strong><small>2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI - </small></strong></em><em><strong><small>Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em><br /></div> <br />Car sales may be down, but people who are looking for a new ride would do well to consider diesel and hybrid vehicles if they want a lower cost of ownership in the long-term. <a href="http://www.intellichoice.com/">IntelliChoice.com</a> has released its fourth annual survey of eco-friendly vehicles and has found that standard gasoline cars, while often less expensive up front, just aren't a good deal when compared to clean diesels and hybrids. <br /><br />IntelliChoice looked at 2009 model year diesels and hybrids and found that, after five years or 70,000 miles, these powerplants cost less than simple ICEs. The survey looked at overall maintenance costs and resale value in addition to fuel savings. Since hybrids and clean diesels are built and sold as top-of-the-line models, IntelliChoice says, they keep their resale value up. Of the 51 cars tested, 35 "deliver a cost-of-ownership that is somewhat or significantly lower than gasoline versions of the same vehicle," said IntelliChoice editor James Bell. Bell singled out the VW Jetta TDI and Mercedes Benz E320 as diesel vehicles that "perform even better than hybrids in saving thousands of dollars in costs and recouping their purchase premium." <br /><br />CNBC <a href="http://www.cnbc.com//id/31798369">pulls some numbers</a> from the report that show that, for example, the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI may cost an extra $2,070 up front, but it will save the owner $6,210 over five years compared to the standard Jetta. A 2009 Prius costs $1,805 more than a new Camry, but the savings will be $4,930 during the half decade. You can download the study <a href="http://images.intellichoice.com/intellichoice_2009_hybrid_clean_diesel_survey.pdf">here</a> (PDF).<br /><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/2009-volkswagen-jetta-tdi/">First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/2009-volkswagen-jetta-tdi/1042844/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2008/09/jetta-tdi-drive-1280-01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/2009-volkswagen-jetta-tdi/1042828/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2008/09/jetta-tdi-drive-1280-02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/2009-volkswagen-jetta-tdi/1042816/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2008/09/jetta-tdi-drive-1280-03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/2009-volkswagen-jetta-tdi/1042825/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2008/09/jetta-tdi-drive-1280-04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/2009-volkswagen-jetta-tdi/1042835/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2008/09/jetta-tdi-drive-1280-05_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.intellichoice.com/">IntelliChoice.com</a>, <a href="http://www.cnbc.com//id/31798369">CNBC</a>]<p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/study-clean-diesels-and-hybrids-have-cheaper-cost-of-ownership/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>STUDY: clean diesels and hybrids have cheaper cost of ownership rates than simple gas cars</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/diesel/" rel="tag">Diesel</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/hybrid/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/green-daily/" rel="tag">Green Daily</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/study-clean-diesels-and-hybrids-have-cheaper-cost-of-ownership/">STUDY: clean diesels and hybrids have cheaper cost of ownership rates than simple gas cars</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:25:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.intellichoice.com/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/study-clean-diesels-and-hybrids-have-cheaper-cost-of-ownership/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19092097/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/study-clean-diesels-and-hybrids-have-cheaper-cost-of-ownership/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/v6Jnv3eUajmdbLuDrj9StW1oMOk/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/v6Jnv3eUajmdbLuDrj9StW1oMOk/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/v6Jnv3eUajmdbLuDrj9StW1oMOk/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/v6Jnv3eUajmdbLuDrj9StW1oMOk/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/EeJlaq_iJkk" height="1" width="1"/>dieseldiesel premiumDieselPremiumhybridhybrid premiumHybridPremiumIntelliChoiceIntelliChoice.comThu, 09 Jul 2009 13:25:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/study-clean-diesels-and-hybrids-have-cheaper-cost-of-ownership/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/SL8WD2b-JAA/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/bergadana-solutions-introduces-the-ion-an-all-electric-hearse/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/bergadana-solutions-introduces-the-ion-an-all-electric-hearse/#comments<img hspace="4" vspace="4" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/begadana_ion.jpg" />Green options for your last ride have traditionally included a horse-drawn hearse or something a tad less tasteful, like this <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/04/11/the-smaaart-perfect-for-going-to-the-afterlife-or-80mph-yes-i/">Smaaart</a>. Now, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/12/11/goin-green-into-the-afterlife-all-electric-hearses-for-your-la/">a vehicle we first heard about some time ago</a> has become reality: an all-electric hearse called Ion (and totally unrelated to Saturn). The Ion is made by a Spanish company called Bergadana Solutions and is an all-electric car that has a maximum speed of 40 km/h (25 mph). On sale since December, at least seven Spanish cemeteries have ordered their units. The idea to create a vehicle like this came from Philippe Verhelle, Bergadana CEO: "I had always hated the sound regular hearses made when we walked behind," he said. In Spain, relatives and friends walking behind the hearse to the cemetery during funerals. Now, there will be no engine sound to drown out the tears. <br /><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.elperiodico.cat/default.asp?idpublicacio_PK=46&amp;idioma=CAT&amp;idtipusrecurs_PK=7&amp;idnoticia_PK=627713">El Peri&oacute;dico</a>]<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/european-union/" rel="tag">Europe/EU</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/bergadana-solutions-introduces-the-ion-an-all-electric-hearse/">Bergadana Solutions introduces the Ion, an all-electric hearse</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:40:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.elperiodico.cat/default.asp?idpublicacio_PK=46&amp;idioma=CAT&amp;idtipusrecurs_PK=7&amp;idnoticia_PK=627713>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/bergadana-solutions-introduces-the-ion-an-all-electric-hearse/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19091127/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/bergadana-solutions-introduces-the-ion-an-all-electric-hearse/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/_7SvisECLMw-44pQkgLmw9Bb-1I/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/_7SvisECLMw-44pQkgLmw9Bb-1I/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/_7SvisECLMw-44pQkgLmw9Bb-1I/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/_7SvisECLMw-44pQkgLmw9Bb-1I/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/SL8WD2b-JAA" height="1" width="1"/>bergadanabergadana ionbergadana solutionsBergadanaIonBergadanaSolutionselectric hearseElectricHearsehearseionThu, 09 Jul 2009 12:40:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/bergadana-solutions-introduces-the-ion-an-all-electric-hearse/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/bfKn5cnbpT8/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/elle-macpherson-gets-topless-at-fiat-500c-launch/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/elle-macpherson-gets-topless-at-fiat-500c-launch/#comments<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/fiat-500c-uk-launch/2133694/full/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="top" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/elle-macpherson-with-topless-fiat-500c.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /> <div align="center"><em><strong><small>Fiat 500C - </small></strong></em><em><strong><small>Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em><br /></div> <br />Fiat held a glitzy launch for the convertible version of their super hot supermini at the Whisky Mist in London the other night and swimsuit supermodel Elle Macpherson was the first in the UK to go topless, getting her very own <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/tag/Fiat+500C/">500C</a>. We're told the Australian-born model and actress received the keys to the latest iteration of the Italian-built model outside her <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notting_Hill">Notting Hill</a> home and was soon overheard telling a friend how cool and sexy she thought it was. Of course, Elle knows all about cool and sexy Fiat 500s, having previously owned the original hard top version.<br /><br />Other convertible-celebrating celebrities up in da club with Edoardo Agnelli, the nephew of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni_Agnelli">Fiat's co-founder</a> included <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/05/02/whos-plunked-down-100-000-for-a-tesla-roadster-these-guys/">Tesla Roadster buyer</a> and Black-Eyed Peas guy, will.I.am and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amelle_Berrabah">Sugababes' Amelle.</a> Feel free to check out the gallery below of Elle's famous friends posing with her new ride. Americans lusting after a topless model for themselves <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/06/29/report-u-s-to-get-four-versions-of-fiat-500-by-2011-no-word-o/">may have to wait until 2011</a> before they are able to satisfy their desire. Hit the jump for a couple bonus vids of the 500C in action and the official UK launch press release.<br /><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/fiat-500c-uk-launch/">Fiat 500C UK launch</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/fiat-500c-uk-launch/2133686/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/fiat-500c-uk-launch-8_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/fiat-500c-uk-launch/2133683/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/fiat-500c-uk-launch-1_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/fiat-500c-uk-launch/2133693/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/fiat-500c-uk-launch-4_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/fiat-500c-uk-launch/2133685/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/fiat-500c-uk-launch-7_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/fiat-500c-uk-launch/2133688/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/fiat-500c-uk-launch-10_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/fiat-500c/">Fiat 500C</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/fiat-500c/2110637/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/06/1475318_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/fiat-500c/2110636/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/06/7367880_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/fiat-500c/2110635/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/06/9382860_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/fiat-500c/2110634/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/06/7946804_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/fiat-500c/2110633/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/06/4790550_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.mslworldwide.co.uk/">MS&amp;L London</a>]<p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/elle-macpherson-gets-topless-at-fiat-500c-launch/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Elle Macpherson gets topless at Fiat 500C launch</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/etc/" rel="tag">Etc.</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/fiat/" rel="tag">Fiat</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/uk/" rel="tag">UK</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/elle-macpherson-gets-topless-at-fiat-500c-launch/">Elle Macpherson gets topless at Fiat 500C launch</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:50:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/elle-macpherson-gets-topless-at-fiat-500c-launch/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19091744/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/elle-macpherson-gets-topless-at-fiat-500c-launch/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/zthdnbQt4NJRAHG0Z8Satg5x-Ww/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/zthdnbQt4NJRAHG0Z8Satg5x-Ww/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/zthdnbQt4NJRAHG0Z8Satg5x-Ww/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/zthdnbQt4NJRAHG0Z8Satg5x-Ww/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/bfKn5cnbpT8" height="1" width="1"/>Edoardo AgnelliEdoardoAgnelliElle MacphersonElleMacphersonFiat 500CFiat 500C UK launchFiat500cFiat500cUkLaunchwill.I.amThu, 09 Jul 2009 11:50:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/elle-macpherson-gets-topless-at-fiat-500c-launch/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/ekVXXyAWauI/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/2010-bmw-5-series-gran-turismo-to-debut-bmws-brake-energy-regen/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/2010-bmw-5-series-gran-turismo-to-debut-bmws-brake-energy-regen/#comments<img vspace="4" hspace="4" border=" " src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/p90047038.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br />During a preview this week of the new 5-series Gran Turismo, BMW North America product planning manager Martin Birkmann revealed that the vehicle would include brake energy regeneration when it arrives in the U.S. this fall. BMW has been including its <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/03/13/video-of-the-bmw-regenerative-braking-system/">regenerative braking system</a> on numerous models in Europe for two years, but this will be the first North American application. The Gran Turismo is a new body style for the 5-series and it won't include a hybrid version, at least at first. However, the alternator includes an electronically controlled clutch that disengages it from the engine during acceleration or cruising. When the driver lifts off gas, the clutch engages and the alternator is driven from the drive wheels through the engine and transmission. Along with a heavy duty battery that powers the vehicle electrical systems during acceleration and then gets charged during coasting or braking, the system contributes up to a two percent improvement in fuel efficiency. The system is part of BMW's suite of efficient dynamics technologies, including electrical steering assist and an electric cooling pump. Now that the 5-series GT is bringing brake energy regeneration to America, it should spread to other models soon. <br /><br />[Source: BMW]<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/mpg/" rel="tag">MPG</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/2010-bmw-5-series-gran-turismo-to-debut-bmws-brake-energy-regen/">2010 BMW 5-series Gran Turismo to debut BMW's brake energy regeneration system in U.S.</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:03:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/2010-bmw-5-series-gran-turismo-to-debut-bmws-brake-energy-regen/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19091445/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/2010-bmw-5-series-gran-turismo-to-debut-bmws-brake-energy-regen/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/kGKI21dqr5ENbEY_jkJqi0vQhew/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/kGKI21dqr5ENbEY_jkJqi0vQhew/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/kGKI21dqr5ENbEY_jkJqi0vQhew/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/kGKI21dqr5ENbEY_jkJqi0vQhew/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/ekVXXyAWauI" height="1" width="1"/>5-series5-series gran turismo5-series gt5-seriesGranTurismo5-seriesGtbmwbrake energy regenerationBrakeEnergyRegenerationThu, 09 Jul 2009 11:03:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/2010-bmw-5-series-gran-turismo-to-debut-bmws-brake-energy-regen/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/xsOr1CPktD8/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/the-greenwash-to-end-all-greenwashing-gm-reportedly-pondering-c/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/the-greenwash-to-end-all-greenwashing-gm-reportedly-pondering-c/#comments<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/geneva-2009-chevy-spark/1394095/"><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/06/spark-2-580-2c.jpg" /></a><br /> <div align="center"><em><strong><small>2010 Chevy Spark - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em><br /></div> <br /><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31805852/ns/business-autos/"><img align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/07/gm_green_logo.jpg" alt="" /></a>General Motors has certainly been pumping out a greener message for the last few years, but, on the eve of its likely emergence from bankruptcy, it looks like it might be ridiculously difficult to miss the company's shift to a new and very public eco-mindset: The General's traditional blue square logo could become green. No, really.<br /><br />While no official decision has not yet been made, insiders are saying that the background color change is being considered, "in an effort to show consumers that it is leaner and greener, more focused on fuel efficiency and better able to make quick decisions," says <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31805852/ns/business-autos/">MSNBC</a>. <br /><br />The fuel efficiency meaning of a possible new green logo is easy to understand and the "quick decisions" part reflects a new GM that will likely have 35 percent fewer executives to go along with <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/13/gm-ford-job-cuts-closing-in-on-50-in-u-s-chrysler-not-far-b/">fewer employees</a> overall. More announcements on these issues and the <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/06/26/officially-official-gm-to-build-b-segmen-cars-in-lake-orion-mi/">fate of the Spark minicar</a> could come tomorrow, when GM is expected to emerge from bankruptcy.<br /><br />The real color change that GM needs to make, of course, is a shift from red to black - but that's significantly harder than swapping pixels in a logo. <br /><br /><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/geneva-2009-chevy-spark/">Geneva 2009: Chevy Spark</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/geneva-2009-chevy-spark/1394224/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/03/spark-2-1280-1_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/geneva-2009-chevy-spark/1394223/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/03/spark-2-1280-2_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/geneva-2009-chevy-spark/1394222/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/03/spark-2-1280-3_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/geneva-2009-chevy-spark/1394221/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/03/spark-2-1280-4_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/geneva-2009-chevy-spark/1394220/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/03/spark-2-1280-5_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31805852/ns/business-autos/">MSNBC</a>]<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/gm/" rel="tag">GM</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/green-daily/" rel="tag">Green Daily</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/the-greenwash-to-end-all-greenwashing-gm-reportedly-pondering-c/">The Greenwash to End All Greenwashing? GM reportedly pondering changing logo color</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:13:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31805852/ns/business-autos/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/the-greenwash-to-end-all-greenwashing-gm-reportedly-pondering-c/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19091873/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/the-greenwash-to-end-all-greenwashing-gm-reportedly-pondering-c/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/u68BPQbMr7gXtDPe8C0ZeF-i_Oo/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/u68BPQbMr7gXtDPe8C0ZeF-i_Oo/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/u68BPQbMr7gXtDPe8C0ZeF-i_Oo/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/u68BPQbMr7gXtDPe8C0ZeF-i_Oo/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/xsOr1CPktD8" height="1" width="1"/>breakinggeneral motors green logogeneral motors logoGeneralMotorsGreenLogoGeneralMotorsLogogmgm bankruptcygm greengm green logogm logoGmBankruptcyGmGreenGmGreenLogoGmLogogreen gmgreen logo goGreenGmGreenLogoGonew gmNewGmThu, 09 Jul 2009 10:13:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/the-greenwash-to-end-all-greenwashing-gm-reportedly-pondering-c/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/SDs8LV_BPIA/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/hyundai-production-volster-to-be-positioned-as-eco-sport-car/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/hyundai-production-volster-to-be-positioned-as-eco-sport-car/#comments<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/hyundai-veloster-concept/206927/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/07/hyundai-velostar.jpg" /></a><br /> <div align="center"><em><strong><small>2007 Hyundai Veloster concept - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em><br /></div> <br />Last February, we revealed that a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/11/coupe-scoop-scoupe-hyundais-veloster-concept-headed-for-pr/">production version of the Hyundai Veloster</a> was in the works and would likely hit the market as a late 2011 or 2012 model. Speaking to <em>Inside Line</em>, Hyundai of America's President and CEO John Krafcik says the Korean automaker plans to position the Veloster as an 'Eco-Sport' car.<br /><br />According to Krafcik, the car will be significantly smaller than Hyundai's own Genesis Coupe (not to mention the Kia Forte) and will be powered by a 1.6-liter four-banger fortified with direct injection that will offer up 140 horsepower while returning over 40 miles per gallon.<br /><br />Krafcik goes on to say the new machine will look 70-to-80 percent like the Veloster concept that we saw firsthand at the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/la-auto-show/">LA Auto Show</a> in 2007, and it will feature some sort of unique styling element. Says Krafcik, "It might be doors or a unique roof or something with the hatch. But it won't be like anything out there before in the small car segment."<br /><br />"Think of it like a four-passenger Honda CRX. It'll be a little car you can take out and wring its neck and still get good mileage," he said. "Fun and economical, with a great power-to-weight ratio." Sounds like a winner. All that's left to figure out is the car's name, which may or may not end up being either Veloster or Tiburon.<br /><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/hyundai-veloster-concept/">Hyundai Veloster Concept</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/hyundai-veloster-concept/206927/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/04/veloster_hi_004_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/hyundai-veloster-concept/206925/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/04/veloster_hi_002_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/hyundai-veloster-concept/206926/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/04/veloster_hi_003_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/hyundai-veloster-concept/206924/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/04/veloster_hi_001_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/hyundai-veloster-concept/206928/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/04/veloster_hi_005_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />[Source: <a href="http://blogs.edmunds.com/straightline/2009/07/il-exclusive-2012-hyundai-veloster-will-get-140-hp-and-direct-injection.html">Inside Line</a>]<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/mpg/" rel="tag">MPG</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/hyundai/" rel="tag">Hyundai</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/hyundai-production-volster-to-be-positioned-as-eco-sport-car/">Hyundai: Production Veloster to be positioned as Eco-Sport car</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:28:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://blogs.edmunds.com/straightline/2009/07/il-exclusive-2012-hyundai-veloster-will-get-140-hp-and-direct-injection.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/hyundai-production-volster-to-be-positioned-as-eco-sport-car/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19091186/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/hyundai-production-volster-to-be-positioned-as-eco-sport-car/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/8GdgprEzb6VRw_MSUKZmoLEt4V8/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/8GdgprEzb6VRw_MSUKZmoLEt4V8/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/8GdgprEzb6VRw_MSUKZmoLEt4V8/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/8GdgprEzb6VRw_MSUKZmoLEt4V8/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/SDs8LV_BPIA" height="1" width="1"/>2011 hyundai tiburon2011 hyundai veloster2011HyundaiTiburon2011HyundaiVeloster2012 hyundai tiburon2012 hyundai veloster2012HyundaiTiburon2012HyundaiVelosterhyundaihyundai tiburonhyundai velosterhyundai veloster conceptHyundaiTiburonHyundaiVelosterHyundaiVelosterConceptThu, 09 Jul 2009 09:28:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/hyundai-production-volster-to-be-positioned-as-eco-sport-car/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/3qieVW30nz0/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/fisker-gives-quantum-10-2-million-contract-for-powertrain-devel/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/fisker-gives-quantum-10-2-million-contract-for-powertrain-devel/#comments<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/fisker-karma-6/1356218/"><img hspace="4" vspace="4" border=" " src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/05/fisker-karma047-580j.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /> <div align="center"><em><strong><small>Fisker Karma - </small></strong></em><em><strong><small>Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em><br /></div> <br />Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies has been working with Fisker Automotive ever since the latter company started its efforts to be build a luxury plug-in hybrid a couple of years ago. Quantum has been largely responsible for the creation of the plug-in series hybrid/extended range EV powertrain. Fisker and Quantum have just signed a $10.2 million deal to cover the next phase of development for the powertrain. This Phase III development will cover the production validation of the Karma drivetrain. Valmet will start building final pre-production versions of the Karma late this year and customer vehicles by <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/07/first-fisker-karma-deliveries-scheduled-for-mid-2010/">the middle of next year</a>. <br /><br />This final validation will include hot and cold weather, high altitude and durability testing. The powertrain consists of a lithium ion battery pack with a 50-mile range, electric drive motors and a turbocharged and direct injected GM EcoTec four cylinder that acts as a range extender. <br /><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/fisker-karma-6/">Fisker Karma</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/fisker-karma-6/1356218/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/02/33_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/fisker-karma-6/1356219/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/02/41_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/fisker-karma-6/1356220/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/02/fisker-karma039_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/fisker-karma-6/1356228/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/02/fisker-karma047_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/fisker-karma-6/1356225/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/02/fisker-karma043_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />[Source: Quantum, <a href="http://www.greentechmedia.com/green-light/post/fisker-says-customers-to-get-cars-around-may-june-2010/">Greentech Media</a>]<p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/fisker-gives-quantum-10-2-million-contract-for-powertrain-devel/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Fisker gives Quantum $10.2 million contract for powertrain development</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/hybrid/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/fisker/" rel="tag">Fisker</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/fisker-gives-quantum-10-2-million-contract-for-powertrain-devel/">Fisker gives Quantum $10.2 million contract for powertrain development</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:44:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.greentechmedia.com/green-light/post/fisker-says-customers-to-get-cars-around-may-june-2010/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/fisker-gives-quantum-10-2-million-contract-for-powertrain-devel/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19091454/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/fisker-gives-quantum-10-2-million-contract-for-powertrain-devel/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/El6M5cMgvtXSLM3xQ_0oPirTSwc/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/El6M5cMgvtXSLM3xQ_0oPirTSwc/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/El6M5cMgvtXSLM3xQ_0oPirTSwc/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/El6M5cMgvtXSLM3xQ_0oPirTSwc/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/3qieVW30nz0" height="1" width="1"/>fiskerfisker automotivefisker karmafisker-karmafiskerautomotiveFiskerKarmaquantumquantum technologiesQuantumTechnologiesThu, 09 Jul 2009 08:44:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/fisker-gives-quantum-10-2-million-contract-for-powertrain-devel/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/dyL_TwY9roo/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/report-psa-says-its-not-working-with-mitsubishi-on-plug-in-hyb/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/report-psa-says-its-not-working-with-mitsubishi-on-plug-in-hyb/#comments<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/mitsubishi-imiev-production-model/2062514/"><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/06/38_i-miev-580.jpg" /></a><br /> <div align="center"><em><strong><small>Mitsubishi i MiEV - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em><br /></div> <br />PSA, the parent company of Peugeot and Citro&euml;n, this morning <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssAutoTruckManufacturers/idUSBNG46185420090709">denied a report</a> that came out in the Japanese Nikkei business newspaper about a new tie-up with Mitsubishi. The paper had reported that PSA and Mitsubishi would be collaborating on plug-in hybrid vehicles. The two automakers are working together on battery EVs with Mitsubishi supplying a version of its iMiEV to the French company, along with lithium ion batteries for other applications. <br /><br />However, PSA says that it is developing its own plug-in hybrid technology. This is likely to be based on its <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/10/06/paris-2008-peugeot-citroen-hymotion4-hybrid-drive-system/">Hybrid4 through the road hybrid system</a> that debuted last fall at the <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/Paris-Motor-Show/">Paris Motor Show</a>. This system uses a conventional gas or diesel powertrain driving one axle with an electric motor driving the other. It is mechanically simpler than a power split hybrid and easier to implement. Mitsubishi is also working on its own plug-in hybrid system targeted for a 2013 release. <br /><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/i-miev/">i MiEV</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/i-miev/1482877/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/04/27-i-miev-exterior_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/i-miev/1482870/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/04/01-i-miev-exterior_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/i-miev/1482885/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/04/21-i-miev-exterior_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/i-miev/1482895/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/04/45-i-miev-action_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/i-miev/1482892/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/04/40-i-miev-interior_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssAutoTruckManufacturers/idUSBNG46185420090709">Reuters</a>]<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/hybrid/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/mitsubishi/" rel="tag">Mitsubishi</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/psa/" rel="tag">PSA</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/peugeot/" rel="tag">Peugeot</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/report-psa-says-its-not-working-with-mitsubishi-on-plug-in-hyb/">REPORT: PSA says it's not working with Mitsubishi on plug-in hybrids</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:02:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssAutoTruckManufacturers/idUSBNG46185420090709>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/report-psa-says-its-not-working-with-mitsubishi-on-plug-in-hyb/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19091737/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/report-psa-says-its-not-working-with-mitsubishi-on-plug-in-hyb/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/J9ZF9E2AVXXC5pUBbY5EVpvXkQI/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/J9ZF9E2AVXXC5pUBbY5EVpvXkQI/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/J9ZF9E2AVXXC5pUBbY5EVpvXkQI/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/J9ZF9E2AVXXC5pUBbY5EVpvXkQI/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/dyL_TwY9roo" height="1" width="1"/>mitsubishimitsubishi i mievmitsubishiimievplug inplug-inplug-in hybridPlug-inHybridpluginpluginspsapsa peugeotpsa peugeot citroenPsaPeugeotpsapeugeotcitroenThu, 09 Jul 2009 08:02:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/09/report-psa-says-its-not-working-with-mitsubishi-on-plug-in-hyb/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/kGp-tqSBL3o/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/not-over-yet-senate-subcommittee-restores-does-hydrogen-fundin/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/not-over-yet-senate-subcommittee-restores-does-hydrogen-fundin/#comments<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/vancouver-fuel-cell-vehicles/2051683/"><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/06/vancouver-h2-cars-outdoor-2sm.jpg" /></a><br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><small>Hydrogen cars in Vancouver - </small></strong></em><em><strong><small>click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em><br /></div> <br />It was huge news back in May when <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/05/08/obama-doe-slash-hydrogen-fuel-cell-funding-in-new-budget/">President Obama and the DOE slashed hydrogen vehicle funding from the FY 2010 DOE budget</a>. Since then, hydrogen advocates like CARB have put on the best possible face and <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/06/19/carb-asks-doe-to-restore-hydrogen-vehicle-funds/">asked the DOE to restore the funds</a>. The first steps towards officially putting H₂ back into the federal money stream has now been made in Washington, D.C. <br /><br />The change comes from the Senate Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee, run by U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) The subcommittee has finished marking up the DOE's FY 2010 budget and it now includes $190 million for continuation of the terminated hydrogen research and development program. Dorgan said in a release that "because ongoing research and development is necessary to develop game-changing technologies, this bill also restores funding for Hydrogen energy research." Hydrogen advocate Greg Blencoe <a href="http://hydrogendiscoveries.wordpress.com/2009/07/08/senate-energy-and-water-development-appropriations-subcommittee-marks-up-doe-fy-2010-hydrogen-vehicle-budget-to-close-to-2009-level/">notes</a> that the House's version of hydrogen funding includes $108 million, including $40 million for hydrogen vehicles. The two chambers will reconcile their differences soon, probably within the next two weeks. <br /><br />There's a copy of the <a href="http://www.hydrogenassociation.org/">National Hydrogen Association</a>'s most recent Policy Update after the jump and you can find the subcommittee's press release on <a href="http://appropriations.senate.gov/energy.cfm">this page</a> (scroll to the middle and click on "Summary of FY 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations"). DOE head Stephen Chu has made strong comments in favor of the cut. Is a hydrogen political fight brewing in D.C.?<br /><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/vancouver-2009-hydrogen-road-trip-vehicles/">Vancouver 2009: Hydrogen Road Trip vehicles</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/vancouver-2009-hydrogen-road-trip-vehicles/2056735/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/06/h2-road-trip-arrival-1_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/vancouver-2009-hydrogen-road-trip-vehicles/2056754/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/06/h2-road-trip-arrival-10_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/vancouver-2009-hydrogen-road-trip-vehicles/2056758/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/06/h2-road-trip-arrival-11_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/vancouver-2009-hydrogen-road-trip-vehicles/2056751/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/06/h2-road-trip-arrival-12_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/vancouver-2009-hydrogen-road-trip-vehicles/2056738/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/06/h2-road-trip-arrival-13_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />[Source: <a href="http://hydrogendiscoveries.wordpress.com/2009/07/08/senate-energy-and-water-development-appropriations-subcommittee-marks-up-doe-fy-2010-hydrogen-vehicle-budget-to-close-to-2009-level/">Hydrogen Car Revolution</a>]<p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/not-over-yet-senate-subcommittee-restores-does-hydrogen-fundin/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Not over yet: Senate subcommittee restores DOE's hydrogen funding cut</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/hydrogen/" rel="tag">Hydrogen</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/legislation-and-policy/" rel="tag">Legislation and Policy</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/green-daily/" rel="tag">Green Daily</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/usa/" rel="tag">USA</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/not-over-yet-senate-subcommittee-restores-does-hydrogen-fundin/">Not over yet: Senate subcommittee restores DOE's hydrogen funding cut</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:44:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://hydrogendiscoveries.wordpress.com/2009/07/08/senate-energy-and-water-development-appropriations-subcommittee-marks-up-doe-fy-2010-hydrogen-vehicle-budget-to-close-to-2009-level/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/not-over-yet-senate-subcommittee-restores-does-hydrogen-fundin/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19091332/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/not-over-yet-senate-subcommittee-restores-does-hydrogen-fundin/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/__-N88SW1ic7vRZKowTd-yiL69o/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/__-N88SW1ic7vRZKowTd-yiL69o/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/__-N88SW1ic7vRZKowTd-yiL69o/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/__-N88SW1ic7vRZKowTd-yiL69o/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/kGp-tqSBL3o" height="1" width="1"/>breakingdoedoe hydrogendoe hydrogen fundingDoeHydrogenDoeHydrogenFundingfuel cellsFuelCellshydrogen fuel cellHydrogenFuelCellWed, 08 Jul 2009 19:44:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/not-over-yet-senate-subcommittee-restores-does-hydrogen-fundin/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/lX8kStzyhkY/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/officially-official-gmc-adds-yukon-denali-hybrid-suv/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/officially-official-gmc-adds-yukon-denali-hybrid-suv/#comments<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/2010-gmc-yukon-hybrid-and-denali-hybrid/2132796/"><img hspace="4" vspace="4" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/2010-gmc-yukon-hybrid_lead.jpg" /></a><br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><small style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">2010 GMC Yukon Denali Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery</small><br /></div> <br />General Motors has finally added the 2-Mode Hybrid powertrain to its top-level GMC Yukon Denali. There aren't any mechanical changes to the drivetrain that's been available since 2008 in the standard-grade Yukon Hybrid and its platform mates, the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid and Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, which means we'll see a 6.0-liter Vortec V8 engine with 332 horsepower and 367 lb-ft of torque and up to a 6,200-pound towing capacity.<br /><br />The hybrid technology is mostly contained in the 2-Mode Electrically Variable Transmission, which features twin electric motors powered by a 300-volt nickel metal hydride battery pack. Expect EPA fuel economy ratings of 21 city, 22 highway for two-wheel drive models and 20/20 when equipped with 4WD.<br /><br />As far as mechanical changes go, the Denali Hybrid will bring the first application of GM's MagnaRide suspension system to the Yukon. As you'd expect in a top-level SUV, the Denali Hybrid will come fully loaded straight from the factory - the only three options will be a sunroof, rear-seat entertainment DVD system and side blind zone alert mirrors. Hit the jump for the full press release.<br /><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/2010-gmc-yukon-hybrid-and-denali-hybrid/">2010 GMC Yukon Hybrid and Denali Hybrid</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/2010-gmc-yukon-hybrid-and-denali-hybrid/2132795/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/2010-gmc-yukon-hybrid_0001_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/2010-gmc-yukon-hybrid-and-denali-hybrid/2132796/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/2010-gmc-yukon-hybrid_0007_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/2010-gmc-yukon-hybrid-and-denali-hybrid/2132797/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/2010-gmc-yukon-hybrid_0002_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/2010-gmc-yukon-hybrid-and-denali-hybrid/2132798/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/2010-gmc-yukon-hybrid_0003_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/2010-gmc-yukon-hybrid-and-denali-hybrid/2132799/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/2010-gmc-yukon-hybrid_0004_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />[Source: GM]<p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/officially-official-gmc-adds-yukon-denali-hybrid-suv/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Officially Official: GMC adds Yukon Denali Hybrid SUV</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/hybrid/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/gmc/" rel="tag">GMC</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/officially-official-gmc-adds-yukon-denali-hybrid-suv/">Officially Official: GMC adds Yukon Denali Hybrid SUV</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:53:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/officially-official-gmc-adds-yukon-denali-hybrid-suv/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19091268/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/officially-official-gmc-adds-yukon-denali-hybrid-suv/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/3JKeLIvP4zB1RUa4cJ0AYVwYg-4/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/3JKeLIvP4zB1RUa4cJ0AYVwYg-4/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/3JKeLIvP4zB1RUa4cJ0AYVwYg-4/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/3JKeLIvP4zB1RUa4cJ0AYVwYg-4/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/lX8kStzyhkY" height="1" width="1"/>2010 gmc yukon denali hybrid2010 gmc yukon hybrid2010GmcYukonDenaliHybrid2010GmcYukonHybriddenali hybridDenaliHybridgmc yukon denaligmc yukon denali hybridgmc yukon hybridGmcYukonDenaliGmcYukonDenaliHybridGmcYukonHybridWed, 08 Jul 2009 18:53:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/officially-official-gmc-adds-yukon-denali-hybrid-suv/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/RTdbmPc7it8/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/t-boone-pickens-wind-farm-plan-dies-out/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/t-boone-pickens-wind-farm-plan-dies-out/#comments<img hspace="4" vspace="4" border=" " align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/pickens-seated.png" alt="" />T. Boone Pickens has spent $60 million in the last year promoting the "<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/07/08/t-boone-pickens-unveils-the-plan-big-on-wind-power-and-natu/">Pickens Plan</a>," an idea for a giant wind farm in Texas. Now, the billionaire oil man is saying he will postpone the project for at lesat a couple of years. The first hints that things weren't going as planned came last November, when PIckens <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/11/15/economic-woes-slow-down-the-pickens-plan-west-texas-wind-farm/">couldn't get a loan to finance the farm</a>. Pickens made the delay official yesterday, blaming the tight financial markets and trouble distributing the energy that was to be generated. The 81-year-old Pickens was valued at $3 billion in 2007.<br /><br />Today, Pickens' <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106397688">told NPR</a> that people still want renewables and that the wind farm will someday come to fruition. Until then, though, he's still <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/05/21/avfi-2008-t-boone-pickens-lays-the-future-of-oil-and-alternati/">touting natural gas</a> as a replacement for oil and said he would find places to install the 667 wind turbines that he had already ordered for the farm. There's a video report on the cancellation after the jump. <em>Thanks to Yanquetino for the tip!</em><br /><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/07/08/pickens.wind.farm/index.html">CNN</a>]<p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/t-boone-pickens-wind-farm-plan-dies-out/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>T. Boone Pickens' wind farm plan dies out</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/emerging-technologies/" rel="tag">Emerging Technologies</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/natural-gas/" rel="tag">Natural Gas</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/t-boone-pickens-wind-farm-plan-dies-out/">T. Boone Pickens' wind farm plan dies out</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:06:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/07/08/pickens.wind.farm/index.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/t-boone-pickens-wind-farm-plan-dies-out/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19091296/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/t-boone-pickens-wind-farm-plan-dies-out/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/oBwTCVASS414NWE9pRbnqNm0uWs/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/oBwTCVASS414NWE9pRbnqNm0uWs/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/oBwTCVASS414NWE9pRbnqNm0uWs/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/oBwTCVASS414NWE9pRbnqNm0uWs/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/RTdbmPc7it8" height="1" width="1"/>pickenspickens planPickensPlant boonet boone pickensTBooneTBoonePickensWed, 08 Jul 2009 18:06:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/t-boone-pickens-wind-farm-plan-dies-out/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/mzYxuaGmDNU/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/atlanta-motorsports-park-to-become-the-only-green-motorsports-p/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/atlanta-motorsports-park-to-become-the-only-green-motorsports-p/#comments<img hspace="4" vspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/atlanta-motorsports-park.jpg" /><br /><br />Over the last few years, racing organizations have seemingly become increasingly aware that their activities don't quite fit into the environmentally friendly category. Proof can be seen by the use of <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/02/19/honda-and-ethanol-friendly-indy-engines/">ethanol fuel by the IndyCar Series</a> and the controversial <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/tag/kers">KERS systems</a> employed by various Formula 1 teams at the highest level of racing. Now, it seems that the race tracks themselves are taking note of their eco-credentials, as Atlanta Motorsports Park's upcoming track design can attest.<br /><blockquote><em>This world class facility is being created with the "green" objective of reducing our carbon footprint. This formula includes a sustainable building design, waterless urinals, tank-less water heaters, reclaimed water for the irrigation system, recycling of garbage and oil, the maximum efficiency HVAC available today, thermal resistant windows, supplementary insulation, and the use of high-efficient lighting and florescent bulbs.</em><br /></blockquote>The actual design for the track itself is being done by world-renowned firm Tilke Engineers &amp; Architects, which has worked on various F1 tracks around the world. The grand opening is scheduled for July 30th, after which it will be occupied at various times by karts, motorcycles and automobiles. AMP also promises to "invest in alternative energy vehicles, such as those that run on natural gas." Click past the break for the full press release.<br /><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.atlantamotorsportspark.net/index.shtml">Atlanta Motorsports Park</a> via <a href="http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=152226">Inside Line</a>]<p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/atlanta-motorsports-park-to-become-the-only-green-motorsports-p/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Atlanta Motorsports Park to become "the only green motorsports park in the world"</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/green-culture/" rel="tag">Green Culture</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/green-daily/" rel="tag">Green Daily</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/usa/" rel="tag">USA</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/racing/" rel="tag">Racing</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/atlanta-motorsports-park-to-become-the-only-green-motorsports-p/">Atlanta Motorsports Park to become "the only green motorsports park in the world"</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:17:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.atlantamotorsportspark.net/index.shtml>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/atlanta-motorsports-park-to-become-the-only-green-motorsports-p/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19090794/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/atlanta-motorsports-park-to-become-the-only-green-motorsports-p/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/pXVKFy_YC1zmk6gzfi4Yk06Q3Qw/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/pXVKFy_YC1zmk6gzfi4Yk06Q3Qw/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/pXVKFy_YC1zmk6gzfi4Yk06Q3Qw/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/pXVKFy_YC1zmk6gzfi4Yk06Q3Qw/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/mzYxuaGmDNU" height="1" width="1"/>atlanta motorsports parkAtlantaMotorsportsParkgreen race trackgreen racingGreenRaceTrackGreenRacingtilketilke engineers architectsTilkeEngineersArchitectsWed, 08 Jul 2009 17:17:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/atlanta-motorsports-park-to-become-the-only-green-motorsports-p/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/D7Kf4yh-pNM/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/german-car-market-not-so-ready-for-the-euro-v-antipollution-rule/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/german-car-market-not-so-ready-for-the-euro-v-antipollution-rule/#comments<img hspace="4" vspace="4" align="top" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/focus-euro-v.jpg" /><br /><br />The fifth iteration of Europe's antipollution rules arrives in September. This might be a bit too soon for the automakers, since all new models being sold from that date onwards will be subject to stricter emissions rules (there's a comprehensive table of the limits after the jump). The German car association ADAC has taken the calculator out and has found that, among the 7,875 different model cars Germans can buy today, only 20 percent (1,539 models) are ready for the Euro V standards. Ouch. Looking a little further ahead, ADAC found that only four models are Euro VI compliant. Surprisingly, the brand that sells the most Euro V compliant cars is not German: Ford has 13 models ready, and two of them are diesels. <br /><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.auto-news.de/auto/news/anzeige_13-Euro-5-Modelle-Ford-macht-seine-Autos-umweltfreundlicher_id_24735">Auto News</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_emission_standards">Wikipedia</a>]<p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/german-car-market-not-so-ready-for-the-euro-v-antipollution-rule/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>German car market not so ready for the Euro V antipollution rules</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/legislation-and-policy/" rel="tag">Legislation and Policy</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/germany/" rel="tag">Germany</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/german-car-market-not-so-ready-for-the-euro-v-antipollution-rule/">German car market not so ready for the Euro V antipollution rules</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:26:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.auto-news.de/auto/news/anzeige_13-Euro-5-Modelle-Ford-macht-seine-Autos-umweltfreundlicher_id_24735>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/german-car-market-not-so-ready-for-the-euro-v-antipollution-rule/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19089654/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/german-car-market-not-so-ready-for-the-euro-v-antipollution-rule/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/91722FgK2LLE7-jc8jd7_6sl6Tw/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/91722FgK2LLE7-jc8jd7_6sl6Tw/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/91722FgK2LLE7-jc8jd7_6sl6Tw/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/91722FgK2LLE7-jc8jd7_6sl6Tw/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/D7Kf4yh-pNM" height="1" width="1"/>euro pollution standardseuro vEuroPollutionStandardsEuroVfordford euro vFordEuroVgerman car marketgerman marketGermanCarMarketGermanMarketready for euro vReadyForEuroVWed, 08 Jul 2009 16:26:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/german-car-market-not-so-ready-for-the-euro-v-antipollution-rule/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/77to-s7Wpck/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/could-rebates-help-sell-a-gas-tax/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/could-rebates-help-sell-a-gas-tax/#comments<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rwkphotography/3582680076/"><img hspace="4" vspace="4" border="0" align="top" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/taxing-us-out-of-our-homes-suvs.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/06/wsj-higher-gas-taxes-much-better-than-cafe-to-save-gm/">Lots</a> <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/12/25/ex-tesla-vp-siry-calls-for-either-taxing-up-gas-prices-or-droppi/">of</a> <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/04/22/bill-ford-calls-for-an-increased-gas-tax/">folks</a> <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/03/18/wagoner-says-gas-taxes-4-gallon-price-floor-worth-considering/">think</a> implementing a gas tax would be better than CAFE to help steer consumers toward buying more fuel efficient vehicles. This, in turn, could shrink our national clown-shoe carbon footprint, reduce pollution as well as give a boost to new technologies such as electric vehicles. So why did energy secretary Stephen Chu say that the tax option is off the table (despite previously favoring the concept)? It's thought to be too difficult to get through Congress. Not only would the <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/03/22/willing-to-pay-a-higher-gas-tax-48-of-americans-say-no/">average American consumer be opposed</a> but lobby groups from myriad industries would quickly mobilize against such a measure. <br /><br />Perhaps a teaspoon of rebate sugar would help the medicine go down? That's what Michael Levine and Mark Roe argue in a piece published in the <a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/369daf22-6a8d-11de-ad04-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1">Financial Times</a>:<br /> <br /><blockquote><em>Consider first a textbook move to get the public to accept a costly change in policy: give voters their money back through another channel. If they got a tax credit or refund for the amount of the average voter's petrol usage, they would see that they were no worse off. They could keep the money and drive less or buy a more economical car</em>.<br /><br /></blockquote>Not a bad idea, right? They've even discussed similar ways of dealing with commercial concerns. While some people won't accept any plan with the word "tax" attached to it, perhaps just enough could be sold on the scheme if the pain was soothed with a bit of silver salve. While the authors single out energy companies as remaining contrary...wait a sec, who really cares what they think? What we care about is what you think so, let us know.<br /><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/369daf22-6a8d-11de-ad04-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1">Financial Times</a>]<br /><strong><span style="font-style: italic;"><small>Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rwkphotography/3582680076/">rwkvisual</a>. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.</small></span></strong><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/etc/" rel="tag">Etc.</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/legislation-and-policy/" rel="tag">Legislation and Policy</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/usa/" rel="tag">USA</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/could-rebates-help-sell-a-gas-tax/">Could rebates help sell a gas tax?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:42:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/369daf22-6a8d-11de-ad04-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/could-rebates-help-sell-a-gas-tax/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19089314/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/could-rebates-help-sell-a-gas-tax/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/N3Hfk812h9ofWr3VQOSbOBgsba8/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/N3Hfk812h9ofWr3VQOSbOBgsba8/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/N3Hfk812h9ofWr3VQOSbOBgsba8/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/N3Hfk812h9ofWr3VQOSbOBgsba8/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/77to-s7Wpck" height="1" width="1"/>gas taxgas tax rebategas tax refundGasTaxGasTaxRebateGasTaxRefundMark RoeMarkRoeMichael LevineMichaelLevineWed, 08 Jul 2009 15:42:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/could-rebates-help-sell-a-gas-tax/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/F70u_lI7e5o/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/first-drive-vw-passat-ling-yu-the-technology-of-tomorrow-in-t/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/first-drive-vw-passat-ling-yu-the-technology-of-tomorrow-in-t/#comments<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/first-drive-vw-passat-ling-yu/2130214/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/passat-pics-review-01_opt.jpg" /></a><br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><small>Volkswagen Passat Ling Yu - </small></strong></em><em><strong><small>Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em><br /></div> <br />In many ways the automotive world - like most industries - runs like 19th century Europe: wars, skirmishes, diplomacy, assignations, shifting alliances, double dealing, imperialism. Everybody wants something the other guy has, and they'll occasionally exercise some ruthless tactics to get it. Of course, the obverse also happens: warring sects can work together to a singular end. That's what happens at the <a href="http://www.fuelcellpartnership.org/">California Fuel Cell Partnership</a> (CFCP), which we recently visited for a drive of the Chinese-engineered Volkswagen <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/02/24/16-vws-passat-lingyu-fuel-cell-vehicles-finally-make-it-to-the/">Passat Ling Yu</a> and the smell of hydrogen in the morning. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/first-drive-vw-passat-ling-yu-the-technology-of-tomorrow-in-t/">Follow the jump</a> to see what CFCP says the near future is going to be like.<br /> <br /> <div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/first-drive-vw-passat-ling-yu/">First Drive: VW Passat Ling Yu</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/first-drive-vw-passat-ling-yu/2130214/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/passat-pics-review-01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/first-drive-vw-passat-ling-yu/2130244/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/passat-pics-review-08_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/first-drive-vw-passat-ling-yu/2130259/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/passat-pics-review-03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/first-drive-vw-passat-ling-yu/2130243/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/passat-pics-review-04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/first-drive-vw-passat-ling-yu/2130230/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/passat-pics-review-05_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br /><em><strong><small>Photos Copyright (C)2009 Jonathon Ramsey / Weblogs, Inc.</small></strong></em><p><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/first-drive-vw-passat-ling-yu-the-technology-of-tomorrow-in-t/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>First Drive: VW Passat Ling Yu - The technology of tomorrow in the car of today</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/hydrogen/" rel="tag">Hydrogen</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/volkswagen/" rel="tag">Volkswagen</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/autobloggreen-exclusive/" rel="tag">AutoblogGreen Exclusive</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/green-daily/" rel="tag">Green Daily</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/first-drive/" rel="tag">First Drive</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/first-drive-vw-passat-ling-yu-the-technology-of-tomorrow-in-t/">First Drive: VW Passat Ling Yu - The technology of tomorrow in the car of today</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:56:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/first-drive-vw-passat-ling-yu-the-technology-of-tomorrow-in-t/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19089629/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/first-drive-vw-passat-ling-yu-the-technology-of-tomorrow-in-t/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/tvyXkLa89B3SbhWO2ZH1gfgKj8g/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/tvyXkLa89B3SbhWO2ZH1gfgKj8g/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/tvyXkLa89B3SbhWO2ZH1gfgKj8g/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/tvyXkLa89B3SbhWO2ZH1gfgKj8g/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/F70u_lI7e5o" height="1" width="1"/>california fuel cell partnershipCaliforniaFuelCellPartnershipcfcpfeaturedfirst driveFirstDriveh2 passatH2Passathydrogen carhydrogen fuel cellhydrogen passathydrogen vw passatHydrogenCarHydrogenFuelCellHydrogenPassatHydrogenVwPassatpassatpassat lingyuPassatLingyuvolkswagenWed, 08 Jul 2009 14:56:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/first-drive-vw-passat-ling-yu-the-technology-of-tomorrow-in-t/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~3/VuR6CUuEANs/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/japanese-honda-insights-can-compete-for-best-mpg-rating-with-sn/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/japanese-honda-insights-can-compete-for-best-mpg-rating-with-sn/#comments<img hspace="4" vspace="4" align="top" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/hondaecograndprix.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br />If you buy a new Honda Insight with the optional HDD InterNavi System in Japan, Honda has a special offer for you: an optional telematics device that updates to the web - automatically, natch - your hypermiling results (<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/06/08/trying-out-the-new-insight-in-spain-at-the-ecodesafio-honda-insi/">we have experience writing down our scores by hand</a>). Driver's scores can then be checked on a special website that can be viewed by overall daily results, by individuals or by Japanese provinces. This little game broadens the reach of the Insight's mileage indicator on the dashboard that is meant to teach drivers how to get the maximum number of miles from a single gallon. Oh, and the campaign was launched with a <a href="http://www.honda.co.jp/HDTV/greenmachine/cm-eco-grand-prix/">cool video featuring Snoopy</a>.<br /><br />[Source: Honda via <a href="http://www.leblogauto.com/2009/07/honda-lance-leco-grand-prix-au-japon.html">Le Blog Auto</a>]<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/hybrid/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/honda/" rel="tag">Honda</a>, <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/japan/" rel="tag">Japan</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/japanese-honda-insights-can-compete-for-best-mpg-rating-with-sn/">Japanese Honda Insights can compete for best MPG rating, with Snoopy's help</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:05:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.honda.co.jp/HDTV/greenmachine/cm-eco-grand-prix/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/japanese-honda-insights-can-compete-for-best-mpg-rating-with-sn/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/forward/19088179/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/japanese-honda-insights-can-compete-for-best-mpg-rating-with-sn/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/JA2s6SGGKllUWZ2k9vqe3Fniia8/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/JA2s6SGGKllUWZ2k9vqe3Fniia8/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/JA2s6SGGKllUWZ2k9vqe3Fniia8/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/JA2s6SGGKllUWZ2k9vqe3Fniia8/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Autobloggreen/~4/VuR6CUuEANs" height="1" width="1"/>Eco Grand PrixEcoGrandPrixgrand prixGrandPrixhonda insightHondaInsightinsightinternavipremiumWed, 08 Jul 2009 14:05:00 ESThttp://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/08/japanese-honda-insights-can-compete-for-best-mpg-rating-with-sn/