By Kate Weinkauf
October 9, 2008 – 12:09 pm
Commuter Cars is an American company based in Spokane, Washington and the Tango is their premier auto. Perhaps you’ve heard of Commuter Cars’ Tango back in 2005 when George Clooney became the owner of the very first and relentlessly promoted the benefits of an electric vehicle.
Completely electric, the tiny Tango has the ability to go from zero to sixty in four seconds, move through traffic like a motorcycle, and take one half of a parking space. While it may look completely unsafe, the Tango is actually so low to the ground and so weighted down by its battery packs, it is nearly impossible to tip. Additionally, the Tango is reinforced with steel roll bars throughout its frame. Granted, because of its small size your passenger has to sit like a bob-sled team member, but Greentech Media suggests that’s all part of the fun. Because of the two battery packs, this sweet little Tango will run you $108,000. Yet Commuter Cars is hopeful they will launch the T200 model for $40,000 and the T100 for $19,000. Both of these higher-production models remain to be developed and are awaiting funding, so until then, it will take quite a bit to Tango.
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By Kate Weinkauf
October 9, 2008 – 12:07 pm
Austin Energy will host the ALTCar Expo and Conference on October 17 and 18, held at the Palmer Events Center in Austin, Texas.
This conference will be a gathering of experts and exhibits promoting eco-friendly automotive technology with seminars addressing topics ranging from exploring cleaner fuel technologies to reducing air pollution. The expo will play host to burgeoning industry players such as Coulomb Technologies and Alien Scooters as well as industry leaders including Austin Energy, the DOE’s Advanced Vehicles Testing Activity, and the Idaho National Laboratory. Yet, perhaps the best part of this conference is that admission for the public is FREE—so, you can stop in, learn a lot of really interesting stuff, grab some free pencils and t-shirts, and not spend a dime.
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By Kate Weinkauf
October 2, 2008 – 1:29 pm
The Paris Auto Show has been filled with hybrid and electric vehicles from Renault, Audi, and Honda, to name a few, and automakers indicated commitments to further pursue production of more hybrids. Honda, for example, unveiled the new Honda Insight hybrid in Paris and promised additional hybrids in the future. Sage Marie, an American Honda spokesman, states, “The Insight is the first of three dedicated hybrid models the company will be introducing in the next four years.”
There are no mileage estimates yet for the new Honda Insight as testing is not completed. The new design features a hatchback and seating for five and is expected to go on sale in Europe, Japan and the United States next Spring. The estimated price is under $20,000, which is good news for car buyers. With the proliferation of hybrids, it is becoming more possible to go green and save some green.
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By Kate Weinkauf
September 29, 2008 – 3:35 pm
Chrysler has announced it will develop a full line of electric vehicles, the first to be ready by 2010. In this line up of vehicles, Chrysler will offer electric versions of its Town and Country minivan and Jeep Wrangler S.U.V., both “range-extended vehicles”, meaning they can travel 40 miles on battery power alone and up to 400 more miles with the assistance of a small gas engine. Chrysler will also offer a sports car with an expected driving range of more than 150 miles, though the company refused to state which of these automobiles would be offered in 2010.
This announcement comes at a time when sales for Chrysler are down 24% and electric vehicles are on the rise. No doubt Chrysler is hoping to get a bump from the proposed $25 billion federal loan program for the United States auto industry.
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By Kate Weinkauf
September 24, 2008 – 11:15 am
Californians out car shopping after January 1 of next year will have something new to consider: an automobile’s “environmental performance” rating. This information will be found on new mandatory labels placed on the driver’s side rear window, indicating how much pollution the car produces. Two scores will be available: one for smog-forming pollutants and one for heat-trapping gases, on scales of 1 (the worst rating) to 10. The label is meant to be consumer friendly while being as informative as possible. Daniel Kalb, a policy coordinator for California at the Union of Concerned Scientists, helped draft the original pollution-label law. “We think that of new car buyers in California, a large portion want to get cars that meet their needs and don’t pollute,” he said. “Here’s information to let them do that.”
via NY Times
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By Kate Weinkauf
September 19, 2008 – 3:32 pm
A recent Auto TECHCAST study conducted by Harris Interactive interprets some interesting new data concerning PHEV appeal and expectations in both Europe and the U.S.
Figures show 20% of Europeans are very (13%) or extremely likely (7%) to purchase a vehicle that has plug-in hybrid technology, not taking into account estimated market prices. A further 25% are likely to make that purchase. In comparison, 15% of Americans are very (11%) or extremely likely (5%) (percentages do not add precisely due to rounding) to purchase a vehicle with plug-in technology, with an additional 17% likely to make that purchase.
What’s interesting beyond the piqued interest of European and American consumers, are their expectations of PHEV driving ranges that are…well, a bit far reaching. Most consumers are expecting in excess of 100+ miles per charge for their PHEV’s, and while it will depend on the size and capabilities of the battery in the vehicle, the average range for a single charge is closer to 40 miles.
It is clear to most within the industry that consumer education needs to be part of the dialogue to make PHEV’s and EV’s successful, but there is still reason to remain optimistic. As Stephen A. Lovett, director of automotive and transportation research at Harris Interactive, states: “It’s clear that people are open to this new approach of adding energy to the vehicle. The fact that drivers now prefer to conduct this task daily, versus once a week, shows real promise for the technology.”
via greencarcongress
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By Kate Weinkauf
September 15, 2008 – 11:47 am
Manure from a herd of 3,900 dairy cows will be used in Ohio’s first-ever project to capture methane from manure for generation of electricity. Buckeye Power, Inc. has started purchasing cow manure produced power from Bridgewater Dairy in northern Ohio, to provide green energy to the state’s 24 electric cooperatives. This is good news, though I wouldn’t want to live around that processing plant. While Ohio is certainly not the first to utilize cow manure for this purpose, they are also considering a second biodigester generation system using waste from a poultry farm.
Old MacDonald would be proud.
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By Kate Weinkauf
September 12, 2008 – 1:45 pm
For every commuter who has ever been stuck in traffic and dreamed of simply lifting off in their car and flying over the crowded street, this flying car, ahem, road-able aircraft is for you.
The autovolantor prototype was recently developed by Moller International whose rotary engine is designed specifically for compact, high power-to-weight applications. Interestingly, this particular prototype was developed at the behest of a wealthy foreign businessman who was unable to commute from the city to his country home due to the overcrowded streets of Moscow. Thus, Moller International created this two-passenger sports car with the capability of vertical lift off and a flight speed of 150 mph, which will likely get you to work on time.
The autovolantor cost $5 million dollars to develop. However, Moller International believes it could be sold for $250,000, raising many interesting questions about operator licensing, air space, and the overall politics of innovative technologies. Regardless of the questions, the autovolantor gives us the answer to commuter woes and at the very least, offers us something to dream about as we sit in traffic.
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By Kate Weinkauf
September 12, 2008 – 1:39 pm
Pope Benedict XVI has touted a message of ecological sustainability and conservation since his election in 2005. On the “World Day of Peace” in January of 2007, the Pope even proclaimed concrete ecological programs and initiatives for the Vatican which are actually coming to fruition.
Prep work for installation of solar panels on the roof of the Paul VI building, a receiving hall that seats 12,000 people, has been completed. Now, the roof is ready for the 2,000 solar panels gifted to the Vatican by Solar World, a German company. According to Zenit.org, “The production of these panels will constitute 60%-70% of the necessary energy in those buildings, thus lessening energy expenses. Of the close to 5,000 square meters (53,810 square feet) of the roof’s surface, around 2,000 square meters (21,527 square feet) will be covered by the panels, while the rest will be used as a screen to increase the amount of captured energy.
The panels are expected to generate about 315.5 megawatts of electricity annually.
Other religious leaders have followed suit: the Church of England launched a “carbon fast” at the beginning of Lent this year. The bishops of London and Liverpool led the effort by encouraging parishioners not to make traditional Lent sacrifices (like giving up soda), but to reduce their carbon outputs by avoiding plastic bags, replacing a light bulb with an energy-saving bulb and taking a day off from using the dishwasher. Even the Dalai Lama has had solar panels installed at his private living quarters at the Gaden Jangtse monastery. Hallelujah! Amen! Can I get a witness?
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By Kate Weinkauf
September 4, 2008 – 12:35 pm
Twelve states, New York City and the District of Columbia are taking environmental matters into their own hands and suing the Environmental Protection Agency, claiming the Bush administration has failed to control oil refinery emissions. Other states in the suit are California, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.
This suit follows the April 2007 Supreme Court decision that carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels is a pollutant subject to the Clean Air Act. Thus the goal of the suit, according to New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, is to force the EPA to adopt new, strict regulations to reduce oil industry pollution, contributing to global warming. The suit was filed in a federal court for the District of Columbia Circuit, and it is the latest (though certainly not the first) by states critical of the EPA’s record.
Good for you, twelve states et al, for trying to establish that the administration needs to be accountable for making bad environmental decisions that negatively the effect the health of our country and our globe.
via cbsnews
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