Archive for March 19th, 2010
It’s Friday: Cleaner emissions? Maybe, maybe not
Filed under: Diesel, Etc., Hybrid, Transportation Alternatives
Cleaner emissions? Well, that depends on what exactly you are measuring and what you are comparing it to. In the case of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) bus seen here, the answer would probably surprise the 5,385 voters on Fail Blog that gave it a resounding thumbs down.
Sure, it looks dirty with all that ugly black smoke bellowing from the rear exhaust stack, but the hybrid people mover boasts the following statistics: 14% improved fuel consumption, a 56% decrease in nitrogen oxide, an ozone precursor, and a 96% decrease in particulate matter compared to a standard bus. All good things, no?
Still, we did indeed chuckle when we first glanced at the pic, especially with the arrow that points directly to the source of the smoke screen. Thanks for the tip, Wes!
[Source: Fail Blog]
It’s Friday: Cleaner emissions? Maybe, maybe not originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Report: Hawaii could have 10,000 electric vehicles in five years
Filed under: EV/Plug-in
There are four big reasons why Hawai’i is an ideal electric vehicle market: no real range anxiety, a lot of eco-minded citizens, current high energy costs, lots of solar potential. We’ve been saying as much since 2006. Since then, there has been some progress made: a partnership with Better Place in 2008 and the first public charging station that opened up earlier this year. This year’s First Hawaiian International Auto Show shows that the electric car movement is still moving forward in the islands. For example, a sponsor is the Hawaiian Electric Co., which will be on hand “touting the coming age of electrics.” A Tesla Roadster and a Mini E will also be on display. Good signs in a state that is dependent on petroleum for 90 percent of its energy. The Honolulu Advertiser says that one prediction estimates up to 10,000 of the state’s million vehicles could be electric in five years. In ten years, that already ambitious number could climb to 43,000. Yowza.
Some groups have been working to bring electric vehicles to Hawai’i a long time. We posted a two-part series on those efforts here and here.
[Source: Honolulu Advertiser]
Report: Hawaii could have 10,000 electric vehicles in five years originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Survey says: Only one-quarter of Americans would consider an electric car
Filed under: EV/Plug-in
Considering that hybrid vehicles – an established technology – comprise less than three percent of U.S. new vehicle sales, the fact that 26 percent of Americans would consider an electric vehicle (EV) for their next purchase probably sounds pretty good. However a survey of 1,752 adults conducted by Consumer Reports showed that 72 percent were unlikely to consider an EV. At this point, aside from a small number of people that can afford a Tesla Roadster and those with limited requirements that can use an NEV, there are no affordable EV choices anyway.
It also remains to be seen how those consideration numbers will change once people see what EVs actually cost. Nissan, Ford and General Motors will all be releasing electric vehicles (or ER-EVs) over the next 18 months but none of those companies have given any firm indication of what the vehicles would cost. Estimates range from the $25,000-40,000, but no one is certain if that will include the cost of a battery and whether it comes before or after tax subsidies.
One fifth of respondents indicated they would not pay a premium for an EV while another fifth said they would pay up to $5,000 extra. The median premium that people would pay was only $2,068. Given that hybrids typically cost $3,000-5,000 extra than standard gasoline vehicles and that EV batteries remain very expensive, it seems that any hopes of getting EVs into double digit market share in the next few years would be a long shot at best.
[Source: Consumer Reports]
Survey says: Only one-quarter of Americans would consider an electric car originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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First U.S.-Spec Ferrari 458 Italia Brings $601,000 at Charity Auction
Ferrari donated the first North American spec 458 Italia so it could be sold to benefit the Haiti Relief efforts of the William J. Clinton Foundation. The sale took place on the expansive grounds of the Saperstein estate in Holmby Hills (an extra exclusive area of Beverly Hills, not too far from the Playboy Mansion) the evening of March 18. John Mayer strummed and sung as jewel-, tuxedo-, and mini-skirt clad beautiful people cruised the lawns and contemplated their bids for a car that bases for around $250,000. Many attendees are already on the dealer waiting list for a 458. When it comes to disaster relief, Hollywood and Beverly Hills usually goes big, and certainly did this night. Classic car auction promoter David Gooding and motojournalist Dan Neil conducted the sale, and the crowd held its hands high, paying about $350,000 extra in the name of a huge tax write-off, and for the privilege of having the first Italia to be delivered in North America.
Company Vice Chairman Piero Ferrari and CEO Amedeo Felisa flew in from Italy for the occassion, and addressed the eager crowd just days after Ferrari won the first F1 race of the 2010 season. All of the sale proceeds went to the foundation in the name of relief efforts; Ferrari took no money for the car.
Next Ford Mondeo to be a world car
The next Mondeo is set to follow the Focus and Fiesta and become Ford’s third world car.
Insiders at the highest level have confirmed that designs for the new Mondeo are now nearing completion and the finished car is expected to hit the showrooms in 2014, when it will replace the European Mondeo and the U.S market Fusion. Like the new Focus, it’s also expected to be manufactured in Europe, the U.S and China.
In a break from tradition though, the new Mondeo is being designed and engineered in the U.S. The finished production car though will be sold globally with no design changes to suit local markets, although as with the Focus and Fiesta there will probably be small chassis alterations to suit local driving conditions.
