Recent Comments:
U.S. Gov't: did we say $3.50 for a gallon of gas by Spring? Our bad, it'll actually be $2.50 {Autoblog Green}
Feb 7th 2008 10:49AM I came in to say what rgseidl said. It's an election year.
While K is a bit harsh, I admit that I would also think that high gas prices would also maybe convince people to think more efficiently, but the problem is that there's an easier alternative - credit cards. Rather than trading in their vehicle for a more efficient one or finding ways to drive less, they'll just keep putting their gas on credit cards and the average American debt level will continue to rise.
As Yggdrasilly suggests, we'll all pay in the end - trucking companies will increase their fuel surcharges to compensate, shipping costs will increase, and those costs will be passed on to us as consumers.
Basically, it all pretty much sucks. But, I don't feel right sitting here bitching about it - we need to start looking for solutions. The key is asking ourselves what we can do about it. Well, my short answer is that I try to bike to work as often as possible (weather and schedule permitting). It's a small thing, but it saves me money (about $3 a day at $3 a gallon), gets me some much needed exercise, lowers demand for fuel, and saves a couple of grams of C02 from being thrown into the air every day. It's not much and not everybody can do it, but it's one thing that I can do. I can't dwell on the fact that there's probably a billion people out there that are more than overcompensating for me, but I'll do what I can do!
Exclusive: GM to hybridize Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia, GMC Sierra {Autoblog Green}
Jan 28th 2008 1:25PM If this turns out to be true, Saturn could be on the way to be the first brand to offer a hybrid version of all of their models. Considering they only offer 5 models, it's definitely within reach.
Detroit 2008: ALMS announces Green Challenge, Corvette goes cellulosic E85 {Autoblog Green}
Jan 15th 2008 11:28AM All E85 politics aside, I personally think that this is cool. In today's racing environment, where most of the series are becoming spec series, it's nice to see a series encouraging innovation and new technology. I'll be watching ALMS this year.
BREAKING: Alonso signs with Renault {Autoblog}
Dec 10th 2007 8:34AM Great point, Flea - I think this will make the constructors' championship battle quite interesting!
CONFIRMED: 2009 Dodge Ram pic is the real thing {Autoblog}
Dec 10th 2007 8:04AM I haven't been a big fan of Dodge's truck styling, but I actually kind of like this. The extra storage is a nice idea, but I'm not quite sure I like how it looks. As someone else pointed out, it seems that putting a cap on it might interfere with the operation of the storage boxes.
I'm not a contractor or someone who pulls around a big trailer. While the truck commercials all tell me that I need to be able to tow 11,000 pounds, stop an airplane, drive backwards through a slalom course really fast, hang on to a dumpster falling off a cliff, etc., I'm guessing I probably won't use a truck to do any of those things anytime soon. I'm just a regular suburbian mid-30's, losing my hair, do-it-yourself weekend warrior type of guy. I would like to have something with which I can haul a couple of sheets of plywood, lumber, or drywall when I need to (I enjoy woodworking). I'd also like to take my family camping or load up our bikes and ride somewhere scenic. This truck would suit me just fine, and I'm probably the customer Dodge is looking for.
I'm also thinking a coil spring setup could be pretty good for street legal night at the local dragstrip, too... :)
Try, try again: FIA puts further restrictions on F1, freezes engine development {Autoblog}
Dec 10th 2007 7:40AM This article doesn't go into enough detail.
Teams have spent millions of dollars trying to get a few more RPMs out of an engine. The current rev limit was supposed to help alleviate that spending, but the teams would then spend all the money on the dyno trying to get more power out of every aspect of the powerband. The problem is that the teams are wasting huge amounts of money and energy on very minor technological advances. This engine freeze will specify which parts of the engine are frozen - from my understanding, it would be limited to the block, heads and everything within - and allow the teams to spend that money on more road-relevant technology, such as the KERS energy recovery system, which has a lot of potential as a hybrid drive technology using stored kinetic energy rather than batteries. Applying the huge F1 budgets to something like this may lead to a bigger technological breakthrough.
Here is an article with some decent information about KERS:
http://www.evworld.com/article.cfm?storyid=1160
While I personally think a 10 year ban is too long (maybe 3 or 4 years, and then revisit it then), the intention - to focus on areas where a major technological breakthrough could occur - is pretty cool.
Craftsman dropping out of NASCAR truck series {Autoblog}
Dec 5th 2007 10:26AM I think you're right, Gary. With the current economy, it seems that some businesses are trying to "rightsize" and cut out unnecessary expenses, or at least ineffective expenses. I don't think being a sponsor of a NASCAR team, race or series is as effective as it once was - or was at least perceived to be. Ratings are down, costs are high, there are too many rules and inconsistent enforcement, etc. - NASCAR is way out of balance and they've lost focus. NASCAR doesn't seem to know who their customers are anymore. I can't afford to take my family to a race and the racing isn't all that great anyway. Like you say, they want too much money, and I think there are much more effective ways to market your product to a much wider demographic for the kind of money they're requiring.
2009 Dodge Ram ditching leaf springs for coils {Autoblog}
Nov 28th 2007 2:17PM I agree - this could be a refreshing entry in the truck market, and Dodge really needs to do something that makes them stand out.
Toyota exec gets into tussle with Rainforest Action Network activist and it's all on YouTube {Autoblog Green}
Nov 15th 2007 3:39PM I agree with rgseidl. I consider myself to be an environmentalist/save the rainforests kind of person, but I don't want to be associated with a group like this. But by doing stupid stuff like this, these radical groups do more to damage their cause than they do to promote it.
Toyota launches "Why Not?" ad campaign, the largest in the company's history {Autoblog Green}
Nov 5th 2007 9:21AM "Why not" just spend the money on technologies to improve their environmental impact instead of telling us about what they could be doing?
Nothing against Toyota (I own a Camry Hybrid), but it seems that they've been too busy with political posturing instead of doing what got them where they are lately. What happened to their original plan of offering a hybrid version of their entire lineup by 2010, which was later changed to 2020? The new Corolla and Matrix come out, and no mention of hybrids for either of these.
