Green

Pilgrims’ Progress: GM, Ford and Chrysler’s CEOs Have a Capitol Idea

By Frank Williams
June 7, 2007 -

On Tuesday, Detroit's top execs made another pilgrimage to Washington, D.C. The Detroit News reported that the troubled troika all arrived at Capitol Hill in fuel-efficient vehicles as a "symbolic gesture." Mulally belted across the Beltway in a Ford Escape hybrid. Wagoner wheeled up in a hybrid Saturn Aura. And LaSorda made the scene in a flex-fuel Town & Country minivan. Of course, none of these vehicles are their makers' most frugal cars. However, we can't have America's automotive aristocrats getting off their avgas-sucking private corporate jets and jumping into a run-of-the-mill Aveo, Focus or Caliber, now can we?

Pilgrims’ Progress: GM, Ford and Chrysler’s CEOs Have a Capitol Idea editorial continued »

Posted in Editorials | Green | Industry | 56 comments

California’s “Solo-Carpool” Hybrid Exemption is a Really Dumb Idea

By Alex Dykes
May 15, 2007 -

In January, Gary “Mr. Roadshow” Richards of the San Jose Mercury News argued that hybrid cars with one occupant should be allowed in California carpool lanes because they reduce congestion, gasoline usage and smog. Richards was deploying the exact same argument used to justify the passage of California statute AB 2628 which allowed “solo-carpools” in the first place. Here’s a simple question about the logic employed: was the California Assembly on peyote when they cooked up this crap?

California’s “Solo-Carpool” Hybrid Exemption is a Really Dumb Idea editorial continued »

Posted in Editorials | Green | 77 comments

CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) Must Die

By Brad Kozak
May 7, 2007 -

Current Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards dictate that U.S. automobile manufacturers must produce vehicles whose overall average achieves 27.5 mpg (for cars) and/or 22.2 mpg (for trucks). The regulation’s stated goal: “encourage” manufacturers to build more fuel-efficient vehicles and, therefore, somehow, eventually, “lead” American consumers into buying same. Yeah right.

CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) Must Die editorial continued »

Posted in Editorials | Green | 56 comments

GM and DCX Set to Sell Hybrid SUV’s: Big Woop

By Megan Benoit
May 2, 2007 -

The hybrid hype has finally reached Detroit. This fall, the gi-normous GMT900-based GMC Yukon (a.k.a. the Chevrolet Tahoe) will offer optional dual-mode hybrid engine technology. Next year, Chrysler will follow suit with a hybrid Durango/Aspen. Both automakers promise 25 percent better mileage on the highway. Chrysler is claiming a 40 percent increase in the city. GM promises a 25 percent urban gain. Happy days are here again! You’ll soon be able to have your SUV and afford to drive it too! And cool the planet! Or, you know, not.

GM and DCX Set to Sell Hybrid SUV’s: Big Woop editorial continued »

Posted in Editorials | Green | 98 comments

Congestion Charging at The Energy Lean Buffett

By Stein X Leikanger
April 26, 2007 -

Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway holding group, is the world’s second-richest human. Buffett’s no stranger to the transportation sector, having mopped up profits with Geico, Forest River (RV’s), McLane Company (foodstuff distribution) and the XTRA Corporation (semi-trailer renting and leasing). Berkshire Hathaway recently took a ten percent stake in the railroad company Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. Warren Buffett’s seen the future.  

Congestion Charging at The Energy Lean Buffett editorial continued »

Posted in Editorials | Green | 70 comments

The Truth About EPA Mileage Estimates

By Paul Milenkovic
April 24, 2007 -

The Environmental Protection Agency’s current Federal Test Procedure (FTP) for city mileage was originally designed to represent a typical trip on Los Angeles streets. The test-- codenamed FTP-72-- begins with a cold start from 70 degrees. It then runs for 7.5 miles at an average of 19.6 mph, with a peak speed of 56.7 mph (from a short freeway segment). The EPA Highway Fuel Economy Test (HWFET) starts with a warm engine, runs for 10.26 miles, averages 48.3 mph, and peaks at around 60 mph. Does anyone in the real world drive like that?

The Truth About EPA Mileage Estimates editorial continued »

Posted in Editorials | Green | 58 comments

South American Ethanol Debate Highlights Alt Fuel Insanity

By Robert Farago
April 18, 2007 -

Yesterday, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez did something unusual: backpedal. The South American Bush basher “clarified” his opposition to an agreement between the U.S. and Brazil to promote ethanol production. Chavez claimed he objected to the development of corn-based ethanol-- not Brazilian sugar cane-based ethanol. Echoing last month’s interminable diatribe by Fidel Castro, Chavez condemned America’s energy policy, declaring that "taking corn away from people and the food chain to feed automobiles is a terrible thing."

South American Ethanol Debate Highlights Alt Fuel Insanity editorial continued »

Posted in Editorials | Green | 78 comments

Tesla Dead Ahead! The Automobile’s Energy-Lean and Speed-Restricted Future

By Stein X Leikanger
April 13, 2007 -

Word, Excel, Acrobat Reader, Photoshop, Powerpoint... The computer programs you depend on are filled with bloat: unused features that hog your hard disk, crowd the CPU and drain your laptop’s battery-- without adding to the action on the screen. Ditto SUVs. They are extraordinarily capable vehicles whose unused features guzzle gas, add weight and drain oil from the ground. In both cases, slimming down has few downsides-- save the psychological. And therein lies the tale. 

Tesla Dead Ahead! The Automobile’s Energy-Lean and Speed-Restricted Future editorial continued »

Posted in Editorials | Green | 104 comments

Is Green the Auto Industry’s New Black?

By Michael Martineck
March 26, 2007 -

“A potent, new, 500-hp engine that uses less fuel.” While the newly refurbished Porsche Cayenne Turbo offers well-heeled buyers many delights, you wouldn't think fuel efficiency was the first amongst them. Yet Porsche’s print ads for the off-roader are touting their uber-SUV’s improved frugality, positioning the machine as a fun-to-drive grocery-getter for, gulp, environmentally conscious consumers. If Porsche were alone in this misplaced appeal to green values, it could be dismissed as aberrant lunacy. But they’re not so it can’t.

Is Green the Auto Industry’s New Black? editorial continued »

Posted in Editorials | Green | 72 comments

Hybrids: The Not So Shocking Truth

By Paul Niedermeyer
March 15, 2007 -

Mention the word “hybrid” on an automotive internet site and commentators clump into two camps. It’s either “I save the planet while getting 97.467 mpg driving my Prius up Pikes Peak” or “I search and destroy hippy trust-fund Prius drivers with my jacked-up diesel F-350”. Despite this ongoing socio-political clash over mixed propulsion, hybrid sales have brought the technology into the mainstream. Which puts us in a better place to answer the obvious question: what’s the future beyond the hype?

Hybrids: The Not So Shocking Truth editorial continued »

Posted in Editorials | Green | 109 comments