Enough of the gas-guzzling vehicles around! This time Indian roads are all set to grab the Hybrid vehicles since both Honda Siel Cars India and Mahindra and Mahindra have specified that they will make their Hybrids viable by next year. Even other automakers, for instance Toyota and Ford, have expressed their interest for the hybrid vehicles in the country. Read the rest of this entry »
Rendered Speculation: Chevrolet Volt-based Saab Fashionista
Filed under: Concept Cars, Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Saab, Rendered Speculation
At this point, it’s not a certainty that Saab or even parent company General Motors will still be in the car business in the year 2012, but let’s not let that tidbit get in the way of an interesting concept car. Authored by Mayeul Walser, a fourth year design student at Creapole-ESDI, the Saab Fashionista is a 2+2 sport coupe that is reportedly inspired by the designs of Karl Lagerfeld and Chanel.
More importantly, this concept is based on the underpinnings of the Chevrolet Volt, which means there’s a range-extended electric powertrain hiding under its shapely bodywork. Since it only exists on paper, Walser took some liberties by ditching the eco-friendly drivetrain’s stock four-cylinder engine and replacing it with a more powerful V6.
In reality, a more powerful internal combustion engine wouldn’t make the Fashionista any faster than the Volt since the electric motor is the only power source driving the front wheels. No matter, it’s an interesting concept nonetheless. We especially like the nine-spoke blade-like carbon fiber rims.
Gallery: Saab Fashionista concept
[Source: Mayeul Walser via Carscoop]
Rendered Speculation: Chevrolet Volt-based Saab Fashionista originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green
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First Drive: Chevrolet Volt powertrain mule We get our chance to really see what GM’s been up to these last 28 months, and we’re impressed. |
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Ford Fusion hybrid hypermiles, goes 1,445 miles on a single tank In other news, America’s bladders give a collective shiver today. |
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Shai Agassi talks about Better Place, $20,000 EV, batteries extra The man with the battery-swap vision keeps forging ahead – and who wouldn’t with a plan to sell everyone an electric car? |
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AutoblogGreen for 04.29.09 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 06:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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UPDATE: Ford Fusion Hybrid travels 1,000 miles with 1/3 tank left, team still going
Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Sedans/Saloons, Green, Ford
The team that set out this past weekend to cover 1,000 miles on a single tank of gasoline succeeded and then some. When the team of race drivers, engineers and hyper-milers crossed the 1,000-mile mark a little after 9:00 am on Monday morning, there was still more than a third of a tank left. Over 47 hours of running the team led by NASCAR driver Carl Edwards and including record braking hyper-miler Wayne Gerdes averaged over 80 mpg.
The plan is to drive the bone stock Fusion until the tank runs dry. Along the way team members are running public clinics to help teach people how to drive more efficiently, even if they can’t necessarily match the antics of Gerdes, while simultaneously raising money for the Juvenile diabetes Foundation. While it’s obviously possible to achieve these kinds of lofty mileage numbers in the Fusion, it isn’t something most people will do on a regular basis, but Ford set out to prove it could be done and the team succeeded. Kudos.
Gallery: Ford Fusion Hybrid Challenge
Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
Continue reading UPDATE: Ford Fusion Hybrid travels 1,000 miles with 1/3 tank left, team still going
UPDATE: Ford Fusion Hybrid travels 1,000 miles with 1/3 tank left, team still going originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green
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Is mobility sustainable? Not the way we’re running it today The future of the automobile is small and shared, no two ways about it. |
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Norway still considering a ban on all cars powered by fossil fuels Unless you’ve got biofuels, a plug or something else fancy in the tank, forget it (maybe). |
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EEStor “permittivity” follow-up by someone who knows New phrase alert: “Hype Maintenance.” For more info, see ZENN Motors. |
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AutoblogGreen for 04.28.09 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 06:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green
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2010 Prius has plenty of tech, but doesn’t talk to your iPod A solar roof, automatic parallel parking ability, and 50 mpg. But forget about accessing playlists. |
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U.S. Cash for Clunkers deal likely Compromises still need to be made, but your old junker will probably soon be worth a lot more to trade in. Photo: dave_7, CC2 |
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VIDEO: Driving a Tesla-powered Smart Put the advanced electric drive system from a Tesla into a fortwo and this is what you get. Watch. |
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AutoblogGreen for 04.27.09 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 05:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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University of Warwick creates Formula 3 bio-racer
Filed under: Motorsports, Hybrids/Alternative, Green
Researchers at the University of Warwick in England have embarked on an ambitious project to create the most environmentally friendly race car the world has ever seen. Not only must the car be green, it must also be competitive with other vehicles in its racing class. The result is known as the WorldFirstF3 racer.
One of the building blocks of the bio-racer is recycled carbon fiber that was provided by a company called Milled Carbon. Bits like the steering are made from carrot-based plastic and the side mirrors are molded from a polymer derived from potato starch. Other components, such as the wiring harness, are fashioned from recycled aluminum and plastics.
Powering the green racecar is a 2.0-liter turbodiesel from BMW that will run on biodiesel, waste vegetable oil or even waste from chocolate factories. Yum! The car’s designers say it’s geared to hit 140 mph and suggest that it wouldn’t cost any more than any other race machine to build.
Gallery: WorldFirstF3 Bio-racer
[Source: Green Car Advisor]
University of Warwick creates Formula 3 bio-racer originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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University of Warwick creates Formula 3 bio-racer
Filed under: Motorsports, Hybrids/Alternative, Green
Researchers at the University of Warwick in England have embarked on an ambitious project to create the most environmentally friendly race car the world has ever seen. Not only must the car be green, it must also be competitive with other vehicles in its racing class. The result is known as the WorldFirstF3 racer.
One of the building blocks of the bio-racer is recycled carbon fiber that was provided by a company called Milled Carbon. Bits like the steering are made from carrot-based plastic and the side mirrors are molded from a polymer derived from potato starch. Other components, such as the wiring harness, are fashioned from recycled aluminum and plastics.
Powering the green racecar is a 2.0-liter turbodiesel from BMW that will run on biodiesel, waste vegetable oil or even waste from chocolate factories. Yum! The car’s designers say it’s geared to hit 140 mph and suggest that it wouldn’t cost any more than any other race machine to build.
Gallery: WorldFirstF3 Bio-racer
[Source: Green Car Advisor]
University of Warwick creates Formula 3 bio-racer originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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University of Warwick creates Formula 3 bio-racer
Filed under: Motorsports, Hybrids/Alternative, Green
Researchers at the University of Warwick in England have embarked on an ambitious project to create the most environmentally friendly race car the world has ever seen. Not only must the car be green, it must also be competitive with other vehicles in its racing class. The result is known as the WorldFirstF3 racer.
One of the building blocks of the bio-racer is recycled carbon fiber that was provided by a company called Milled Carbon. Bits like the steering are made from carrot-based plastic and the side mirrors are molded from a polymer derived from potato starch. Other components, such as the wiring harness, are fashioned from recycled aluminum and plastics.
Powering the green racecar is a 2.0-liter turbodiesel from BMW that will run on biodiesel, waste vegetable oil or even waste from chocolate factories. Yum! The car’s designers say it’s geared to hit 140 mph and suggest that it wouldn’t cost any more than any other race machine to build.
Gallery: WorldFirstF3 Bio-racer
[Source: Green Car Advisor]
University of Warwick creates Formula 3 bio-racer originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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University of Warwick creates Formula 3 bio-racer
Filed under: Motorsports, Hybrids/Alternative, Green
Researchers at the University of Warwick in England have embarked on an ambitious project to create the most environmentally friendly race car the world has ever seen. Not only must the car be green, it must also be competitive with other vehicles in its racing class. The result is known as the WorldFirstF3 racer.
One of the building blocks of the bio-racer is recycled carbon fiber that was provided by a company called Milled Carbon. Bits like the steering are made from carrot-based plastic and the side mirrors are molded from a polymer derived from potato starch. Other components, such as the wiring harness, are fashioned from recycled aluminum and plastics.
Powering the green racecar is a 2.0-liter turbodiesel from BMW that will run on biodiesel, waste vegetable oil or even waste from chocolate factories. Yum! The car’s designers say it’s geared to hit 140 mph and suggest that it wouldn’t cost any more than any other race machine to build.
Gallery: WorldFirstF3 Bio-racer
[Source: Green Car Advisor]
University of Warwick creates Formula 3 bio-racer originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green
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Green GT unveils racer at Energissima 1,475 lb ft of torque, a top speed of 170 mph and a pair of solar panels. Yum. |
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Greenlings: Can I run a car on natural gas? It’s cleaner, very available in the U.S., and works well in cars. So what’s the problem? |
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Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act introduced to protect blind from quiet cars What’s happened in the past year? Anything at all? |
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AutoblogGreen for 04.24.09 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 05:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green
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Dodge Circuit EV First Drive: electric car makes grand promises 15 minutes is just never enough time in an electric sports car. |
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Ford believes Fusion Hybrid can get 1,000 miles on a single tank of gas Bladder-busting in a Fusion? |
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Chrysler unveils new electric minivan for the US Postal Service Fixed routes, a need for lots of cargo space, and a company on the brink. A recipe for success? |
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AutoblogGreen for 04.23.09 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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REPORT: Nissan has no plans to introduce gas-electric Toyota Prius/Honda Insight competitor
Filed under: Economy, Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Hatchbacks, Nissan
As you read this, Japanese rivals Toyota and Honda are in the midst of a knock-down, drag-out fight for global hybrid supremacy with their two latest gas-electrics, the standard-bearing 2010 Prius and the revived-for-2010 Insight, respectively. Might Nissan, Japan’s other major automaker, get involved in the fuel-saving games?
Not exactly. According to Senior Vice President Andy Palmer, Nissan would rather stick to fully electric vehicles and is content to let other automakers battle it out on the hybrid front, at least on the smaller end of the spectrum. As quoted in Automotive News, Palmer says: “We think it’s a more persuasive technology… that’s where we’re directing our efforts. In the small cars, it’s clear we’re going to make the EV happen.” Nissan does offer a hybrid version of its Altima sedan, but the technology is licensed from Toyota.
Nissan and corporate partner Renault have announced aggressive plans to launch small electric vehicles starting in 2010 and in a slew of countries, including the United Kingdom, United States, Monaco, Ireland, Switzerland and China. According to Nissan’s plan, these EVs will be priced to compete with mainstream vehicles like the company’s own Altima and the Toyota Camry.
Gallery: Nissan EV at SDGE
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
REPORT: Nissan has no plans to introduce gas-electric Toyota Prius/Honda Insight competitor originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green
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2010 Prius starts at $21,000; one with everything costs $32,500 Toyota looks at the Insight, sees the value in a price war. |
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Bright IDEA comes to Washington, DC as a 100-mpg* plug-in hybrid van Part-fish, part PHEV; all about efficiency. |
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U.S. Navy experimenting with fuel cell UAV Why use more energy to spy on people than you have to? |
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AutoblogGreen for 04.22.09 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 06:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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2010 Prius starts at $21,000; one with everything costs $32,500
Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Toyota
Toyota has announced official pricing for the five (!) trim levels for the 2010 Prius, due to hit dealers in the States sometime in late May. The bare-bones version (which must be pretty bare, since Toyota hasn’t divulged what’s included) will be just $21,000. On the other end of the spectrum, the top trim level starts at $27,270 (add $750 to both prices for delivery), and the most you can pay for the new Prius this spring will be $32,520 for the V trim equipped with the Advanced Technology Package (ATP). Full details are available after the jump, but note that you can’t get the ATP, which includes the Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, the Pre-Collision System, Lane Keep Assist, and Intelligent Parking Assist, if you want the solar roof option.
As mentioned earlier, the $21,000 base price is important, since it is only $1,200 more than the new Honda Insight. The current, second-generation Prius starts at $22,000. For more on the third-generation Prius get the info overload and check out our First Drive.
Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius – First Drive
Continue reading 2010 Prius starts at $21,000; one with everything costs $32,500
2010 Prius starts at $21,000; one with everything costs $32,500 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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