Recent Comments:
Leaked slides preview GM's future {Autoblog}
Jul 18th 2008 8:21AM Valor,
It's not Europe, but parts of Asia that do not have the safety standards of the U.S. The Beat was designed for AP. Google the Chevy Spark, it looks like an older version of the Beat. Yes, they get great fuel economy, but its because they are small and lightweight. The Smart car is now sold in the U.S. It is small like the Beat, but heavy and doesn't get that great of gas mileage as you would expect for something that small. A Honda Fit gets better gas mileage than the Smart
Buy Toyota badges... from GM {Autoblog}
Jul 9th 2008 3:32PM As you point out, Japan has import tariffs on the cars imported into Japan from the U.S., yet the U.S. does not have tariffs on cars imported from Japan. Does this sound like a free trade agreement? Why isn't someone in the U.S. government addressing this issue? How can the U.S. compete against the Japanese when our government allows this to happen?
Buy Toyota badges... from GM {Autoblog}
Jul 9th 2008 3:26PM @Matt
Chill out dude. What I was trying to get across is that Toyota has a Hummer-type of vehicle (i.e. purposeful off-road vehicle). Like you said, it is more comparable to a Wrangler than a H3, but then Hummer doesn't have a vehicle the size of a Wrangler or an FJ. Maybe they would if they come out with the HX concept The point being, the FJ is smaller than the H3, yet only gets 2mpg better in fuel economy. The H3, for what it is and capable of, does not get that bad of fuel economy, 14/18mpg label. Toyota aint as green as people make them out to be. They got their poor fuel economy off-road vehicle just like GM has Hummer, and Chrysler has Jeep.
Buy Toyota badges... from GM {Autoblog}
Jul 9th 2008 1:28PM A Toyota Hummer? Oh yeah, its called an FJ Cruiser. Label states 16/20 mpg, 2mpg more than the H3, with 2 less doors. (real doors, not those half-a** suicide doors)
Toyota may produce Prius in California with GM {Autoblog}
May 30th 2008 1:53PM LS2LS7,
Thanks for the links. Further reading uncovered that CARB had to drop their commercial vessel regulations due to court injunction. So, I'll give you 2 of the 4 are solved.
Pointing back to the article, producing the Prius domestically would be good for the environment and for the US workers. Don't know how much truth is to the rumor though, since the batteries and most of the components are made in Japan.
Toyota may produce Prius in California with GM {Autoblog}
May 30th 2008 12:53PM LS2LS7,
You bring up a point that I would be interested in seeing the data. Would be curious to know how much CO2 a freight ship produces per vehicle on board. I wonder if Europe will include the transportation footprint in their CO2 policies?
My issue is based on the over emphasis of the "green" movement on CO2 vs. other harmful gaseous emissions. Transportation factors can play a huge role in both energy conservation and pollution. My beef is with the pollution. How can governments force emission regulations on automobiles, but let lawn mowers, weed wackers, freight ships, off-highway equipment, etc. operate without any controls at all.
Toyota may produce Prius in California with GM {Autoblog}
May 30th 2008 12:42PM M1EK,
You are missing the point. I agree, the Prius emits less CO2 g/km or lbs/miles than a conventional vehicle. My issue is smog emissions of VOC and Nitrous Oxide that are produced by the freight ships that are used to transport the Prius from Japan to the U.S. These ships do not have emission controls on them. Thus, if I take a wholistic view of the complete impact of buying a Prius made in Japan on the environment, I would have already impacted the planet in smog forming emissions by the same amount as driving a conventional vehicle (made in the U.S.) 13,000 - 65,000 miles before I drive the Prius off the lot. Hence, the Prius has a lot to make up in CO2 savings to negate the impact of it's transportation vessel's VOC/NOX emissions. A domestically produced Prius would negate this issue, but until then, the Prius isn't as green as people make it to be.
Toyota may produce Prius in California with GM {Autoblog}
May 30th 2008 12:24PM @M1EK
I may be an idiot, but I'm an idiot with data. People these days have forgotten that being green is more than just reducing your C02 footprint.
Based on a report from Acurex, an ocean-going vessel that imports automobiles emits over 85,000 lbs. of emissions (VOC+NOx) traveling from Nagoya, Japan to Los Angeles (4,850 nautical miles).
Assuming 5,000 vehicles are on-board, this means over 17 lbs. of emissions per vehicle transported.
Depending on the model, this is more emissions than a new domestic built vehicle will generate in its first 13,000-65,000 miles of driving.
Toyota may produce Prius in California with GM {Autoblog}
May 30th 2008 11:44AM What? You mean the Prius is currently imported? How much fuel is burned in shipping the car across the Pacific? Do those freight ships have emission control systems on them? Ah, but who cares, they are in the middle of ocean when they are spewing their exhaust. And the winds never blow from the west, do they. And, they shut off their engines when they are sitting in the docks of LA for a couple of weeks while they unload, right? I think buying a hybrid made in the U.S. would be better for the environment. Wait, maybe buying a non-hybrid made in the U.S. is better for the environment when you consider the harmful affects of importing across the ocean in freight boats.
California man tries surfing with Cadillac Escalade {Autoblog}
May 30th 2008 11:36AM I'm sure there's a lawsuit there somewhere. Like, not having a sign posted saying don't drive on wet sand. Or not having a warning in the owner's manual (which no one ever reads) saying the vehicle is not designed to operate in swells over 3 feet. Maybe he should have bought a Hummer.
