GM Using Kids To Sell Hybrid SUVs

There are a series of GM Chevy commercials all featuring little kids.  Most of them are promoting the Chevy Tahoe hybrid.  My 7 year old daughter was watching one earlier today during a program we were watching.  I had to tell her that they weren’t telling the full truth.  She sees the kids and hears the message and believes every word.  Apparently it’s the “green car of the year.”  A gigantic SUV is the green car of the year?  Is that rating from a made up organization from the GM gas guzzler lobby? We’re even told that hybrids dont’ have to be “tinsy weensy.”  Then there is a Chevy commercial that just promotes Chevy.  In that one, they flash a huge SUV and then tell us, “we believe a hybrid should fit the way you live, not the other way around.”  I guess that sells to most Americans, but to me it’s just irksome.  I know too much about consumerism.  An SUV that gets 21mpg is an improvement, but it’s not the answer.  It shouldn’t be the future.  It is not fixing any of our worldly problems.  I guess HGTV didn’t get that message, either.  Anyway…enjoy some YouTube…

More not-so-brilliant commercials after the jump…

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Finally! Diesel-Hybrid Coming?

Finally!  Clean diesel is coming and so are the cars.  I think this is one of many that you’ll see in the very near future.  Right now there are only a few diesel vehicles for the normal citizen to buy as a passenger vehicle.  This is due to the fact that California, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Connecticut (and probably more) have very stringent diesel regulations on emissions.  In 2010, only ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD)  will be available for highway use.

Diesel engines typically get more MPG than standard gasoline engines.  So if hybrid gas/electric vehicles are popular, than why not a diesel/electric hybrid?  Volkswagen agrees.  They are taking their Golf model (now Rabbit in the U.S.) and giving it a diesel hybrid option.  The Golf will get 69.2MPG.  That blows the Prius out of the water.  The same hybrid options will be available on the Jetta and the Audi A3.

Now – where is my hybrid diesel/electric PHEV?  I’m guessing that would get some serious MPG!  Hopefully this will be available in the 2009 model.  I want one.

Source: GreenDaily, AutoBlogGreen

Sundance Film Fest: Fields of Fuel

The Sundance Film Festival is showcasing a number of “green” movies this year.  First up is Fields of Fuel.  They finally got the trailer up on their site the other day and you can see it below.  Now, I’ve heard rave reviews so I was excited about finally watching the trailer.  The only thing was, I could exactly tell what the movie was going to be about after watching it.  I’m pretty sure its about biodiesel from the one picture of the biodiesel gas pump and the fields.  When I first saw the fields and talking about our oil addiction, I was really concerned that it was going to talk mostly about just plain old ethanol. Maybe its a first edition trailer?

IMDB tells us: The film tells the story of biodiesel, an alternative fuel for diesel engines. Made from vegetable oil, it is non-toxic, has low carbon dioxide emissions and can ultimately replace all liquid fuels used in the United States, thus freeing America’s dependence on oil needed for gasoline. 

I’d really recommend checking out their daily Sundance blog.   Will this ever make it out of indy status and be distributed?  I’d love to give a review myself, but maybe I will one day when I get to see it.  I do have Everything’s Cool on the old DVR – that was the standout eco-flick from last year’s Sundance Film Festival.  Look for my own review on that very soon.

Variety: Fields of Fuel Review
CNET Review

Learn more about Biodiesel
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BMW Considers Launching “Green” Brand

This kinda sounds like the rumors of Toyota using the term “Prius” to be a full line of vehicles.  BMW is now considering adding a 4th brand to their list.  Although BMW is already doing a lot to make their current cars lines greener, they think that a 4th “marque” would allow them to experiment further. 

Good luck, BMW.  Any new R&D can’t hurt, right?

Source: Reuters

DOE Jumps on PHEV Bandwagon

I’ve been salivating over PHEV’s (plug-in hybrid electric vehicles) for at least the last two years.  Finally, the government sees some value in them as well.  Now, I will state right up front that I don’t think that this is the vehicle of the future.  Just like the existing hybrids – its a stepping stone.  Thursday at the Detroit Auto Show, the U.S. Department of Energy has pledged $30million towards PHEV research while the auto industry has agreed to match that for a total of $60million.  To me, that doesn’t seem like a lot of money for research.  The money is mainly for battery development.  The goal is to have a 40 mile range on EV-only by 2016.  In my opinion, this should easily be attained.  There are plenty of EV companies out there that can get plenty of range.

Auto companies originally scoffed at PHEV’s.  Then people started hacking their Prius’s and installing battery kits.  When people were getting 100+mpg from these after-market modifications, Toyota – and others – started to take the possibility seriously. There are several companies that are now making kits for people to buy.  It seems like every automaker has a PHEV in the pipeline – most noteably, the Chevy Volt.

As soon as a company can get the Prius kit down to $5,000 – I’m in.  I’d love to get 100+mpg.   If you want to learn more about PHEV – your first stop should be CalCars.org.

Source: CNN Money

Who Needs Government Funding When You Have Google?

Google.org made some announcements today regarding five core initiatives. It looks like they’re out to save the world.  Let’s talk dollars before the big announcement.  Google is allocating $25 million in new grants, devoting 1% of Google’s equity, 1% of annual profits as well as employee time towards these new initiatives.  From Dr. Larry Brilliant, executive director of Google.org, “These five initiatives are our attempt to address some of the hard problems we as a world need to face in the coming decade. We have chosen them both because we think solving them will make a better, fairer, safer world for our children and grandchildren – and the children and grandchildren of people all over the world – but also because we feel that these core initiatives fit well with Google’s core strengths, especially its innovative technologies and its talented engineers and other Googlers, who are really our most valuable assets.” 

Good job, Google.org.  I like the fact that they have this power and are using it to benefit the world - sure  there will those who say that Google should stick to gobbling up technology companies and spying on your gmail, but I think they’re grrrreat.   I say stop waiting for the world to change when you can help change the world.

Drum roll, please….

Predict and Prevent

Google is working to “predict and prevent” disasters in communities from spreading beyond where they are now.  This includes everything from the spread of infectious diseases like SARS and avian flu to droughts to any other ecological disaster.

Inform and Empower to Improve Public Services

Google.org works with partners to improve the flow of vital information to improve basic services for the poor in India and East Africa. In many countries in the developing world, essential public services are failing, especially for the poorest members of society. Google.org supports efforts to provide information to empower citizens and communities, providers, and policy makers to improve the delivery of essential public services such as education, health, water and sanitation.

Fuel the Growth of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises 

Google.org supports efforts to lower transaction costs to invest in SMEs, create opportunities to access larger financial markets and make investments in this sector. They also want to help increase the flow of capital to “the missing middle” by tackling some of the root causes that prevent these firms from becoming profitable investment opportunities.

Develop Renewable Energy Cheaper Than Coal (RE<C)

This cross-Google collaboration has set a goal of producing one gigawatt of renewable energy capacity that is cheaper than coal, within years not decades. The initiative, known as RE<C, was launched in November 2007 and will focus initially on advanced solar thermal power, wind power technologies, enhanced geothermal systems and other potential breakthrough technologies.

We wrote about this when it was first announced…click here for the way-back machine on SCREAM

Accelerate the Commercialization of Plug-In Vehicles (RechargeIT)

RechargeIT is a Google.org initiative that aims to reduce CO2 emissions, cut oil use and stabilize the electrical grid by accelerating the adoption of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and vehicle-to-grid technology.

Source: Google.org

With My Own Two Hands – Ben Harper

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Brief History Of The Electric Car

My friend, Citizen Shay, sent me a link to this advertisement from 1960.  When I first saw it, my initial reaction was how much it reminded me of the current ZAP cars in production - just without the zebra stripes.  My second reaction – WTF?  Why is it 2008 and this is all the farther we are? I know why – because the oil companies give the politicians too much cash.  That and there aren’t any filling stations for an electric car.  Look – I know that electric cars have been around since the inception of automobiles – even hybrid gas/electric vehicles have been around since the beginning.  So I looked for the first electric car and came across a timeline from PBS from the documentary “Who Killed The Electric Car?“  Here are some touch points that stood out to me.

• 1891 – First successful electric car built in the US
• 1897 – Electric taxis are on the streets of NYC
• 1900 – 1/3 of all cars are electric
• 1920 – Electric cars tank.  Gas is easily available and cars can go much farther on gas.
• 1966 – Congress introduces first bills recommending electric cars to reduce air pollution
• 1975 – USPS buys 350 electric Jeeps
• 1997- Toyota introduces the Prius
• 2003 – GM takes back all leased EV1 vehicles and crushes them
• 2007 – Chevy says it will produce a PHEV, The Volt

Source: PBS

Who Killed The Electric Car? Trailer

Ford Motors Unveils EcoBoost

Well, when it rains – it pours.  Somehow it seems that like celebrity deaths, stories on certain topics come in clumps.  Just the other day I wrote about the changes at Chevy.  Today, it’s Ford’s turn.  Ford is set to unveil what they are calling “EcoBoost.” Not sure how much Ford is putting on this for the future or if they’re just banking on this for the short-term.

What is EcoBoost?  It’s described as a “gas-turbo direct-injection engine.”  Yeah – I’m not sure what that means, either. From what I understand from reading the PDF on the Ford website, its still a standard gasoline engine.  They are just using a creative way to get 20-30% more efficiency from a standard gas engine.  At the same time they are reducing CO2 emissions by around 15% and increasing engine torque.  That seems like a fair tradeoff for right now, but I hope they have something better than that in their back-pocket for the future.  Like something with less oil dependency.  Why not put more into their PHEVs?

Ford Motor Company hopes to have the EcoBoost feature in 500,000 cars and trucks in the next five years.  The first vehicle to get it will be the 2009 Mercury MKS sedan.  The new Ford Explorer America concept truck (it kinda looks like those boxy Mercedes SUVs) will be shown at this year’s Detroit Auto Show and will showcase the new EcoBoost engine.

From today’s press release:
“EcoBoost is meaningful because it can be applied across a wide variety of engine types in a range of vehicles, from small cars to large trucks – and it’s affordable,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president of Global Product Development. 

“Compared with the current cost of diesel and hybrid technologies, customers in North America can expect to recoup their initial investment in a 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine through fuel savings in approximately 30 months.  A diesel in North America will take an average of seven and one-half years, while the cost of a hybrid will take nearly 12 years to recoup – given equivalent miles driven per year and fuel costs,” he said.

I should mention that Ford, like most automakers, is making strides environmentally.  They already have seats in vehicles now that are made with soy-based foams.  They have worked with BP on establishing two hydrogen filling stations.  I’m sure there is more… 

I’m waiting for the auto announcement one day where I actually get excited rather than just being skeptical.  I know there are better ways out there.  Maybe someone will buy me one of those Air cars being made with TaTa Motors in India that just runs on compressed air.  Or perhaps the new ZAP-X car that is being developed with the design engineers from Lotus that is electric with solar and a slew of other exciting features…including photovoltaic glass for heating and cooling, 100% electric, 0-60 in under 5 seconds, 155mph, 350 miles per charge…okay…I have to stop now because I’m drooling on my keyboard again.

Source: Ford Motor Company

The Chevy Car Report

There were two stories about cars out recently, both concerning Chevy.  As you may or may not know, Chevy has been working on the Volt car.  Its one of the first commercially-made PHEVs (plugin hybrid electric vehicles) in the States.   They’ve been wanting to get this on the market by 2010 if not sooner, but as with a lot of technology there are setbacks.  The setback hinges on the lithium-ion batteries.  They have engineers working on perfecting a battery system for the car.  It’s not simple to just go out and get new ones like you would for a kids toy, so they kinda need to get it right the first time. 

There are some sexy factors going in to the Volt (I never thought I’d call an American car sexy, but hey, as Dylan says, “Time’s are a changin’”).   I’ll start off with the smaller factors – the PHEV.  Third-parties make kits for cars like the Prius to make them PHEV.  Those kits get the Prius over 100+ mpg.  The way their system will work is that you’ll go the first 40 miles off of battery power from the electric-side.  Then the engine would recharge the battery while driving on fuel.  Here’s a sexy factor, but its still fuel-dependent.  Chevy is making what they are calling the “E-Flex” system.  This system will allow the car to be fueled with diesel, E85, regular gas, and even hydrogen. 

We’ll see when it really comes out and by the time it does hit the market, how many other manufacturers will be right there with them…


The other Chevrolet announcement is about the new Chevy Tahoe Hybrid.  It kinda makes me throw-up in my mouth a little bit just talking about it.  The new Tahoe will get 21mpg city and 22mpg highway.  That’s almost double what it gets now – so that’s an improvement, right?  The price different is about $8,000 to get the hybrid drive versus the standard Tahoe. 

I’m sure it drives like a dream and feels like sitting in the lap of luxury.  It’s great that they are working towards making more vehicles hybrids, but I see this car like putting lipstick on a pig.   The pig is just prettier and eats a little less now.  Maybe I’m pointing the finger in the wrong direction, though.  Maybe its the public who buys these cars who are the pigs?  I’m not saying all SUVs are horrendous.  Some are very practical for families.  But the ones that could be in the Macy’s Day Parade and  make monster trucks look normal aren’t necessary but American’s think they need them so they can take home half of Costco with them each time they go. 

Source: Detroit News and Seattle Times

CTA To Explore Leasing Hybrid Buses

If you’re not from the Chicago area, you may not be aware of the budget crisis for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA).  If the State of Illinois doesn’t bail out the CTA once again, then next month large cuts are coming.  Cuts include more route closing and loss of jobs.  Some people may not be to psyched about the proposal on the table to lease new buses. 

We all know that even though the CTA is in trouble, they aren’t going away.  So they still need to keep up their equipment and make sound decisions for the future.  Unfortunately, the timing just happens to be bad.  At the same meeting as the looming cuts, the CTA will discuss leasing 150 new hybrid buses.  That’s a lot of cash when you don’t have any to begin with…but the CTA estimates that it will save $7 million a year on fuel, labor, and maintenance.  The new buses will replace old vehicles that are at or past their usable lifecycle. 

Why now, though?  Why not wait?  Well – it is unfortunate timing, but Seattle opted not to lease the buses and the CTA has a chance at them now.  Buses take a long time to build and they can get them without the lengthy wait – in operation in the city by August.  So the CTA only has until January to decide before they go back on the auction block to another city. 

CTA Chair Carole Brown said the timing of the announcement may seem “insensitive,” but “given the time it takes to execute a new bus order, this opportunity is one that this board has to take a serious look at.”

The CTA has lagged behind other transit agencies in its use of alternative fuels and “green” technology. The hybrids get nearly 2 more miles per gallon than the 40-foot buses they would replace. These buses are 60ft long and are the accordian style.

I say go for it.  The timing sucks.  The State of Illinois should jump at the opportunity to get greener and help out.  The fact that our public transit in a major metropolitan area is in such disarray is horrible.  If Chicago wants the Olympics in 2016, they better get it together.  The better the public transit, the more cars we take off the roads. 

Giddy up!

Source: Chicago Sun-Times
Thanks for the heads-up, Eric.