March 2009

You are currently browsing the monthly archive for March 2009.

Orange-Oil Tires Make Driving Sticky Sweet

March 31, 2009 in Uncategorized by kristen | 1 comment

At the March 19 IMSA GT3 race in Sebring, Florida, the Porsche 911s on the track smelled a little sweeter — or maybe just greener — than their competitors. Yokohama, a sponsor of the race, outfitted each of the cars with its Advan EVN-R1 orange-oil infused race tires.

The addition of orange oil to natural rubber produces what Yokohama calls “Super Nano-Powered Rubber,” which sounds like an anime plot device. In reality, it reduces the amount of petroleum in the tire by about 10% and increases its ability to be recycled — after a thorough shredding on the track. The compound also retains the performance of conventional race slicks, according to the company’s press release.

If you, Consumer Joe, would like to fit your Prius or Insight with some orange-oil tires, ask for the Yokohama dB Super E-Spec passenger car tire by name when it hits stores this summer. Sorry to say, though, that the scent of oranges does not carry through the tire-making process. They still smell like plain, old rubber.

Plug-In Piaggio Scooter to Be Sold in U.S.

March 30, 2009 in Consumer News, EVs, Hybrids, Two Wheels by kristen | No comments

Italian scooter builder Piaggio (owner of both Piaggio and Vespa brands) confirmed this month that its three-wheeled plug-in gas-electric hybrid scooter will go on sale in the U.S. in early 2010. The Piaggio MP3 hybrid, which has two closely mounted front wheels and one rear wheel, will have a range of “several” EV-only miles, and an overall range of 141 miles with the help of a small gasoline engine.

Piaggio CEO Paolo Timoni told FoxNews.com that the MP3 will have a 125 cc engine and an electric motor (size unspecified) that can be charged at a standard 110v outlet. It will also have regenerative braking capabilities and “several adjustable hybrid modes.” FoxNews.com says to expect the price to be in the neighborhood of the current cream of the MP3 crop, just under $10,000.

Michelin Sponsors 2009 ALMS Green Challenge

March 27, 2009 in Biodiesel, Bioethanol, Hybrids, MPG, diesel, racing by kristen | 1 comment

E85 Corvette in 2008 Le Mans

The American Le Mans Series will revive its Green X Challenge Award with Michelin tires as the sponsor for 2009. The prototype and GT cars that acheives the best performance and fuel efficiency with the fewest emissions will win the award.

Lest you doubters think Michelin is jumping on the green bandwagon, they’ve been rewarding eco-friendly innovations for a while now. Eleven years ago, they created the Challenge Bibendum for clean vehicles, then in 2006 sponsored the Michelin Energy Endurance Challenge at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France. In 2008, it extended the Energy Endurance Challenge to all European Le Mans-series races.

For its part, ALMS has been making the most inroads into green racing, with hybrid, biofuel, and clean diesels at the starting line. ALMS President and CEO Scott Atherton has applauded President Barack Obama’s green auto initiatives, and sees the track as a proving ground for new consumer technologies.

Racing will probably never be as clean a sport as, say, competitive tree planting, but initiatives like the Michelin’s Green X Challenge can help sate our need for speed and our preference for breathing cleaner air.

Photo of the E85-powered Corvette at the last ALMS race of 2008 courtesy of American Le Mans.

Think EV Coming to US

March 26, 2009 in Biz News, EVs, small cars by kristen | No comments

Norwegian EV manufacturer Think has plans to build a factory here in the States that can employ 300 people and roll about 16,000 lithium-ion-powered cars a year off the line, to start. The company hopes to ramp up employment to nearly 1000, including engineers, and make 60,000 cars a year eventually.

Think said in a press release that it is talking to reps from eight states, including hard-hit Michigan, about where to build the plant. It’s also applied for loans from the Department of Energy’s Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Program, but like any government process, it’s a slow one.

Green Car Advisor gave an update on the shaky process, due to Think’s filing for reorganization in Norway in late 2008. A spokesperson told Senior Editor John O’Dell that the company will press ahead with plans to build the cars in the U.S. whether or not its DoE loan goes through, and that it could be building demonstration and fleet cars here in limited numbers next year.

2009 VW Jetta TDI SportWagen: The Fuel Economy Test Drive

March 25, 2009 in Biodiesel, Consumer News, MPG, diesel, test drives by kristen | 3 comments

2009 VW Jetta TDI SportWagen

This poor 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI SportWagen got a real workout during the week I had it. I had made plans to stay at the Oregon coast, about 100 miles from my home. Then I got roped into a meeting held near Olympia, Washington, about 120 miles from home. All told, I put nearly 500 miles on the odometer — and used almost exactly one full tank of gas.

The diesel engine was quiet, started immediately, and smelled like nothing. It took the hills and curves over the Coast Range like it was a game, and both my short self and my tall husband were comfortable during the ride. The EPA estimates for the Jetta TDI SportWagen are 29 mpg city, 40 mpg highway. I ended up doing quite a bit of highway driving — more than I intended, actually — and was happy with my 37 mpg at the end of the week.

One word of caution to potential buyers: there was no indication on the gas cap that this car required diesel fuel. Drivers are not allowed to pump their own gas in Oregon (or New Jersey), and the attendant had the regular gasoline nozzle in his hand and was about to fill ‘er up. “No! No! Diesel!” I screamed inside the car. Luckily, he heard me and switched to good old B5 (that’s 5% biodiesel, suitable for winter driving). Close call, and one to be aware of if you’re not filling your own diesel tank.

Jetta TDI dash

2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI SportWagen
As tested: $29,410, including destination charge
2.0L diesel engine rated 29 mpg city, 40 mpg highway
6.4 tons of carbon dioxide emitted annually, on average

Images by Kristen Hall-Geisler.

This car was provided for review by the manufacturer at no cost to the reviewer.

Diesel Porsche Stays in Europe, Hybrid Comes to US

March 24, 2009 in Uncategorized by kristen | No comments

Porsche Cayenne Diesel

Porsche debuted a diesel version of its Cayenne SUV at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, but for now, at least, it won’t be in U.S. showrooms. Porsche says it’s saving the North American market for something even better: a hybrid version of the Cayenne in 2010.

The 3L, 240-hp engine in the diesel get 25 mpg combined, a significant increase over the current U.S. base model’s 17 mpg. In a press release, Porsche promises that the hybrid will deliver “V8 performance, the efficiency of a four-cylinder, and the ability to ‘coast’ at a maximum highway speed of 86 mph for up to 1.2 miles on electric power only.” I’m not sure how handy coasting on electric power for a mile or so will be in the real world, but that’s the statistic Porsche provided.

Image courtesy of Porsche.

New Batteries Charge EVs in Minutes, not Hours

March 23, 2009 in Consumer News, EVs, New Tech by kristen | No comments

Researchers at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, have burst through the lithium-ion ceiling with an improved material that could allow the batteries to charge in minutes, rather than hours, as they currently require.

The researchers found that the ions moved slowly across the lithium iron phosphate material common in today’s rechargeable batteries. They reworked the material to create “tunnels” that the ions could move through much more quickly, reducing both the charge and discharge times of the battery. Because the material is not new but just redesigned, the battery could be on the market sooner rather than later.

This breakthrough has implications for more than just EVs, though. Phones, laptops, MP3 players — pretty much anything that uses a rechargeable lithium-ion battery — will be able to fully discharge, which extends the life of the battery, and then recharge in a fraction of the time required now.

Sources: InventorSpot, GearLive

2009 Honda Fit: The Fuel Economy Test Drive

March 18, 2009 in MPG, small cars, test drives by kristen | 3 comments

2009 Honda Fit

The 2009 Honda Fit five-door sport is indeed go. I had a Revolution Orange number this week, and I tooled around town quite happily. There was enough punch for merging onto the highway, and it was as easy to park as a Mini Cooper. It was also impossible to park it in, though a UPS truck tried its hardest outside the coffee shop. Those short, rounded front corners can skirt just about anything.

The test car I had was fitted with a nav system that flipped open to reveal the slot for the CD player. Creature comforts were few, but it did have power windows and door locks. I’m not sure the little wing at the top of the hatchback kept the rear tires stuck to the road, but it added to the car’s sporty looks.

Surprisingly, the car didn’t live up to its EPA fuel economy estimates while it was in my hands. I’m not a crazed driver, but I also didn’t make an effort to drive in a fuel-friendly way (the Fit doesn’t have the eco-nanny feature that the new Insight has). There was an mpg minder in the dash, but it was small and I didn’t pay a whole lot of attention to it.

Honda Fit Speedo and MPG

After a week of mostly in-town driving, I got 22.1 mpg. The EPA estimates the car a 27 mpg city, 33 highway. I fell far short of its combined rating of 30 mpg, probably thanks to the 30-minute traffic jam I ran into outside Adidas headquarters. All that idling wrecked my mileage.

2009 Honda Fit Sport
As tested, $19,430, including destination charge
1.5L gasoline engine rated 27 mpg city, 33 mpg highway
6.1 tons of carbon dioxide emitted annually

Images by Kristen Hall-Geisler.

This car was provided for review by the manufacturer at no cost to the reviewer.

Motor Oil Goes Green (But Not Vegan)

March 16, 2009 in Consumer News, New Tech by kristen | 1 comment

GET G-Oil

Green Earth Technologies has created a fat-based, biodegradeable motor oil called G-Oil. It’s the first non-fossil-fuel, non-synthetic motor oil to earn certification from the American Petroleum Institute, meaning it meets the organization’s standards for use in gasoline engines.

Vegetarians may want to stop reading now, because I’m going to tell you where the fat comes from: livestock. According to Green Earth Technologies, “it takes three barrels of crude oil to make one barrel of motor oil, but it only takes one barrel of animal fat to produce one barrel of G-Oil.”

The API-certified motor oil is 5W-30 weight; the company is seeking certification for its 10W-30 and 5W-20 weight oils as well. The 5W-30 stuff will be on retail shelves in June, but bulk oil will be supplied to quickie lubes “much sooner,” according to GET.

Finalists for World Green Car of the Year Announced

March 13, 2009 in EVs, Hydrogen, MPG, small cars by kristen | No comments

Honday Clarity

The three finalists for World Green Car of the Year have been announced, and while none of them are widely available, none of them are big surprises, either:

Mitsubishi i MiEV (electric)
Toyota iQ (gasoline)
Honda Clarity (hydrogen)

Only the Clarity is available in the U.S., and it’s only leased to a select few customer in certain markets. The i MiEV is sold in Japan, and the iQ is sold in both Japan and Europe. The iQ, in case you’re not familiar with this foreign-only car, is the size of a Smart ForTwo and a 1-liter gasoline engine that gets 55 mpg.

The New York Times “Wheels” blog notes that with such disparate fuels and production levels, it’s not exactly a level playing field. Nonetheless, a winner will be announced at the New York Auto Show, which is being held April 10-19.

Image of the Honda Clarity by Kristen Hall-Geisler.

Honda Insight Priced under $20k

March 11, 2009 in Consumer News, Hybrids, MPG by kristen | No comments

Honda Insight

Honda announced the official MSRP for the new Insight, and it’s under $20,000 (unless you count that pesky, unavoidable destination charge. The car will be available for sale March 24 for a base price of $19,800 for the LX model. EPA fuel economy estimates are good, at 40 mpg city, 43 mph highway.

The LX is pretty basic for a five-door sedan, with auto climate control, power windows, and a CD stereo system. The Honda Insight EX will be priced at $21,300 (again, not including destination), and comes with stability assist, cruise control, paddle shifters, an upgraded stereo, and more.

How does this compare to its number-one competitor, the Prius? It’s hard to say, since Toyota hasn’t given a date or price for the redesigned 2010 Toyota Prius, only that it will drop this spring. They did just release the car’s EPA numbers, though: 50 mpg city, 49 mpg highway. The EPA gave them a combined rating of 50 mpg, which the Insight just can’t beat. But with a starting price of $22,000 for the 2009 model, Honda seems to have Toyota’s hybrid MSRP licked.

Image by Kristen Hall-Geisler.

Opel Ampara to Be Volt’s European Sister

March 9, 2009 in Consumer News, EVs, Future Cars, MPG, PHEVs by kristen | 1 comment

Opel Ampera Chevy Volt

GM unveiled the European version of the Chevy Volt at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show — the Opel Ampera. The two cars are identical where it counts: they use the same chassis and Voltec extended-range electric vehicle drive system. But the skin they wear is quite different, and not surprisingly, the Euro version has more style.

Following the GM press release’s Euro style, the car can travel on electricity only for 60 km. After that, a small on-board engine acts as a generator to recharge the batteries and give the Ampera another 500 km of driving range. (That’s 37 miles on battery power, and about 300 miles of generator-extended driving on this side of the pond.)

GM says the Ampera will debut in dealerships in 2011, as the Continent’s first EREV. The Chevy Volt will be in U.S. showrooms at about the same time; its production is scheduled to begin in late 2010 at the company’s plant in Flint, Michigan.

Images above courtesy of GM. The Ampere is on the left, at its debut with Opel VP Alain Visser, and the Volt is on the right.

Nissan’s EV Network at Fast Food Joints

March 4, 2009 in Consumer News, EVs, Future Cars by kristen | No comments

Nissan North America wants to put fast food to good use — by starting a nationwide EV charging network in their parking lots. (Seems like Sweden is leading the way here.) The way Nissan figures, 30 minutes on a commercial charger (rather than you 110V outlets at home) could give batteries up to an 80% charge. That’s about the time it takes to order, take a seat, get your food, scarf it down, and make a quick trip to the rest room before continuing on your merry, electrified way.

Customers would pay for the electricity at the curbside charger with a credit card. Drivers who need to top off for free might be able to do so at Nissan dealerships. The company is asking its sellers to install recharging stations as a courtesy for drivers just passing through.

Why does Nissan care so much? Well, they’ve got plans to get a five-seat EV sedan with a 100-mile range into showrooms by 2012. Without an easy-to-use infrastructure, the venture may be dead in the water. The company hopes the charging network will expand to workplace parking and shopping center parking, like malls and movie theaters. Maybe theaters could bring back the double feature so movie-goers can get a full charge.

Mitsubishi and Peugeot Work Together on i MiEV

March 2, 2009 in Biz News, EVs, small cars by kristen | No comments

Mitsubishi i MiEV

In a shower of rose petals and confetti, Mitsubishi and Peugeot Citroen signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will allow the two companies to work together to bring EVs to Europe sooner than expected. (More likely, it took place in an austere office sans confetti, but maybe there was sake and pate for everyone.)

The two companies had both started studies last summer on the feasability of bringing small electric cars to Europe. Rather than work against each other, the Mitsu and Peugeot Citroen agreed to work together on the i MiEV platform. The car will be sold under the Mitsubishi and Peugeot badges in Europe as early as fall 2010.

The press release announcing the Memorandum of Understanding (caps theirs) mentioned that real-world tests of the i MiEV are ongoing in Japan, New Zealand, and the U.S. Japan will see the little EV in dealerships this summer, while “several” U.S. markets could see a version of the car at the same time as the European rollout.