Recent Comments:
Nissan-Renault and Tennessee to collaborate on zero emission vehicles {Autoblog Green}
Jul 23rd 2008 2:13PM This is really exciting news! Wow. Now, I won't have to build an electric car in my garage, but will actually be able to BUY an electric car, made by a real car company! Are you watching, Mister CEO and GM and Ford?
Traffic fatalities drop as gas prices increase {Autoblog Green}
Jul 23rd 2008 2:09PM A young lady from the UK is visiting us, and she was amazed that an "advanced" country like the US has virtually NO public transportation! Okay, we've now spent GAZILLIONS of dollars on Iraq-- maybe we could create a decent commuter train system on the west coast, with buses and light rail and bullet trains, so we aren't FORCED by big oil to be oil-slaves (Of course, maybe that is the reason WHY the oil and car companies dismantled the Red Car system in Los Angeles, and convinced the feds to allow passenger rail systems to fall into disuse). So, we are doing less driving? Sure. But now, we need a clean alternative (which will leave the roads open to my buddies and I, so we can drive our sports cars like maniacs on the uncrowded, open roads!).
Fiat e500 to electrify the British International Motor Show {Autoblog Green}
Jul 23rd 2008 2:02PM Okay, I KNOW that the Fiats of the sixties and seventies were unreliable are poorly made. But, heck, these little Fiat 500's are totally CUTE and STYLISH! Electric or gas, hey, come on Fiat, bring them it! I LOVE Italian cars! Now, all we need is to bring back Alfa Romeo!
British Motor Show: Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, 63.5 mpg (US)! {Autoblog Green}
Jul 23rd 2008 1:58PM I spent this summer in the UK and Paris. Why do European cars matter? 1. They have leading edge technology (which can't always be said for US cars) 2. The Europeans have many years of experience squeezing more miles per gallon out of their vehicles 3. Many of us CAME from the UK and Europe, and these folks are "our people" building these cars 4. The Brits, like us, LOVE cool cars! and 5. America is NOT the only country in the world (though some of us ACT like it!), and we could stand to learn a few things from cultures that are THOUSANDS of years old (Famous joke: "What's the difference between an Englishman and an American? The Brit thinks 100 miles is a long way, and the American thinks 100 years is a long time!").
Ford may announce plans to retool truck plants for small cars this week {Autoblog Green}
Jul 21st 2008 12:21PM Please, God, tell me that the Big Four FINALLY get it! "It's the economy, stupid", as the man once said. Okay, now if GM will just get their act together, and start bringing in the Beat-- or maybe producing a domestic small car (and not another Vega!), then we can show the whole world that American is not incapable of running an automotive business.
WSJ tests the OHM XU450 ebike {Autoblog Green}
Jul 19th 2008 2:08PM The main problem with the OHM and other electric bikes is cost: at $2,000 to over $5,000 (for some of the other brand's models), they are WAY more than mopeds and scooters, which start at $1,200 and top out at $,3,500. The Yamaha Vino 125 is $2,600, for instance, and is the scooter I've been seriously considering. Since these bikes only go ten to twelve mph (versus 45-55 mph for a scooter) it would take me an hour to go to work, versus fifteen minutes. So, unless the electric assist bikes get cheaper, for me, I'll just buy a scooter, and keep going to the gym for exercise!
It's time to start thinking in terms of PMPG, people-Miles-per-gallon {Autoblog Green}
Jul 17th 2008 12:24PM Of course, people miles per gallon makes sense, but the fact is, most Americans DO ride alone. In fact, I was shocked the other day to see a crew-cab Chevy truck with FIVE people in it! Usually, I see a massive, jacked-up F150 go by, with a tiny little woman, sitting all by herself, blasting down my suburban street at 45 mph! As for carpooling: the problem is, everyone has a different work shift. There is no "nine-to-five" here, but 0600 to 1400 and 1400 to 2200 and 2200 to 0600, and then, of course, if you get held for overtime, you miss your ride! Or if your shift runs over, then your carpool partner waits 20 to 30 minutes. More sensible would be a moped or scooter... but then, once it snows, the scooter is useless. Me? I'm waiting for the Poulsen Hybrid conversion to become available, so I can convert my Bronco into a hybrid. If that doesn't happen, then my next car will be a Prius!
The end is nigh: Turbo-four a possibility in 2013 F-150 {Autoblog Green}
Jul 14th 2008 4:04PM Perhaps Ford should bring in their Brasilian trucks?These Ranger-like trucks are small, economical, and they run on alcohol! Oh, and because Brazilian labor is cheaper than US labor, the price would be reasonable. Come on, Ford, "it's the end of the world as we know it" (REM).
VIDEO: Electric car shootout in London {Autoblog Green}
Jul 14th 2008 3:53PM It's seems logical that here in the US, we should create a special category for these city cars, to exempt them from regular standards... yes, Detroit can moan, but the Big Three have gotten a free ride for years, by diluting CAFE standards-- which, when you think about it, was shooting themselves in the foot, as now, judgement day has arrived. As my daddy used to say, When you make a deal with the devil (as Detroit tacitly did, by signing-on with big oil to make gas guzzlers), eventually, you pay the price.
Chrysler electric vehicle still 3 to 5 years away {Autoblog Green}
Jul 14th 2008 3:41PM Chrysler got the K- Car and the Viper to the marketplace at warp speed, but they can't make an electric vehicle? I'm guessing if a huge asteroid was heading towards the CEO's house, they'd figure out how to blow it up! I mean, hundreds of individuals are now building electric cars in their garages! Hey, that's an idea: Chrysler should ship complete bodies and chassis, sans motors, to electric home-builders, who will install the electric drivetrains for Chrysler! Kinda like when Chrysler took Sunbeam Alpines, and put V-8's in the front-- only this time, with eco-friendly motors!
