2nd Green Revolution

Yesterday’s post about the Chinese automaker BYD’s announcement at the Detroit auto show begs the question about the future of the automobile. What does the coming decade hold in store for the automobile? Share your thoughts by answering the following poll:

(polls)

- Eric Wilson

While there is more news than we can possibly cover, there were a number of intriguing stories covered by The New York Times recently that deserve mention. Included was an article about hybrid garbage trucks. In New York City, a number of trucks have been retrofitted with hybrid drivetrains. Because these vehicles start and stop so frequently, hybrid systems that generate electricity for the battery make sense. Every time these trucks brake, they charge the battery, which assists the diesel powered engine. In the Mack Truck (one of four types of hybrids in the fleet) , “the electric motor cannot drive the truck by itself — its job is to lower the demand on the diesel engine, which improves fuel economy.”

The New York Sanitation Department is testing four different hybrid systems shown in the chart below: Read the rest of this entry »

The long awaited “Cash for Clunkers” bill recently passed through the upper house of Congress as an attachment to a war spending bill. As written, the bill will provide vouchers to car owners who turn in a vehicle that gets less than 18 miles per gallon for one that achieves at least 22 mpg, according to the mileage efficiency ratings that were determined by the Environmental Protection Agency. Business Week carried an article stating that the legislation would cost $1 billion dollars and may have the unintended side effect of spurring purchases of gas guzzling SUVs. For those cars or trucks (with a model year of 1984 or later) turned in that satisfy the requirement stated above, owners will receive a $3,500 voucher. The amount increases to $4,500 if the new vehicle being purchased has a mileage efficiency of at least 10 mpg greater than the “clunker”. Read the rest of this entry »

2nd Green Revolution has tested out the 2009 Prius and managed to get incredible gas mileage. We’ve also had a guest author review his purchase of a 2009 Prius. Though we haven’t had the chance to drive the new 2010 version, the New York Times is running a series on the new car that we’d like to pass along. The Prius Diary, by Micheline Maynard, gives a good account of the features on the 2010 car and goes over its pros and cons. One of the most interesting, in addition to getting even better gas mileage (51mpg highway) than the previous versions, is the multiple driving modes. From the article:

Along with the standard driving system, which Toyota says will achieve the rated fuel economy average, the Prius comes with three other driving modes Read the rest of this entry »

2nd Green Revolution recently wrote a post on the wildly eye-catching and super aerodynamic Aptera electric car. We also have an article on Jay Leno’s review of the Ford Fusion hybrid. Put them together and what do you get? Jay Leno reviewing the Aptera 2e on his website, Jay Leno’s Garage. Paul Wilbur, Aptera’s President, joins Leno in a video discussing the special design and some of the unique specifications of the three-wheeled, 100 mile per charge vehicle. The video mentions that up to 50% of a standard vehicle’s power is used to push air out of the way when it’s moving. Plus, there is all the energy needed to move the mass of a vehicle. The Aptera dissipates these energy demands with its incredibly sleek design and extremely light weight. A few other interesting tidbits from the video follow below:  Read the rest of this entry »

A few months ago 2nd Green Revolution brought news of Toyota Prius’ 50 mile per gallon designation by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). According to the blog Auto Tantra, the third generation Prius, which has a base price of $22,000 (US), debuted Monday in Japan. South African website Motoring claims that “Toyota has rolled out a cheaper, revamped Prius in a bid to boost sagging sales and maintain its lead in fuel-sipping hybrids against growing competition from rival Honda.” Honda debuted the less expensive Honda Insight in March, a redesigned version of the Japanese car makers’ first hybrid offering. The Insight, which sells for less than $20,000 (US) for the basic model, is credited for the drop in the price of the Prius. Read the rest of this entry »

For the first time in 19 years, the U.S. government is increasing the Corporate Average Fuel Economy  known as the CAFE standard. According to NPR, the average fuel efficiency of American vehicles declined from 1990 to 2005, due to an increase in SUVs, which are not covered by CAFE standards. President Obama’s plan calls for a fuel efficiency of 35 miles per gallon by 2016 for cars and light trucks, roughly 20% higher than today’s requirements of 27.5 mpg.

The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration oversees the regulation. According to their website, the CAFE standard “is the sales weighted average fuel economy, expressed in miles per gallon (mpg), of a manufacturer’s fleet of passenger cars or light trucks. . . . Fuel economy is defined as the average mileage traveled by an automobile per gallon of gasoline (or equivalent amount of other fuel) consumed as measured . . . by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).” The site explains that CAFE originated as a result of

The “Energy Policy Conservation Act,” enacted into law by Congress in 1975, added Title V, “Improving Automotive Efficiency,” to the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act and established CAFE standards for passenger cars and light trucks. The Act was passed in response to the 1973-74 Arab oil embargo. The near-term goal was to double new car fuel economy by model year 1985.

In addition to increased fuel efficiency standards, American Public Radio’s Marketplace reports that President Obama will also call for the first national fuel emissions limits for cars and light trucks. Read the rest of this entry »