Rent a hybrid or biodiesel car—your mileage will soar and your fuel costs and carbon emissions will shrink. No matter what you drive, regularly check your tires to make sure they are properly inflated, which can improve your fuel economy by … There is even an eco-friendly nationwide auto club for roadside aid. The Better World Club assists both …

Perfect world nonsense? The highway fuel economy gimmick Highway fuel economy. According to transportation studies, census studies, etc., the future of transportation for most Americans is megacity-style, ever-increasing congestion. In such conditions, highway fuel economy is simply irrelevant. So, why do automakers love using these highway numbers when they are largely irrelevant today, and becoming significantly more irrelevant by the minute? According to one of Ford’s …

Just a piece of GM’s green future Efficiency is the future? So, Ford now expects a new period of sustained profitability after having successfully fought off bankruptcy last year, and the US auto industry overall is showing strong signs of improvement. Even Government Motors might be prepared for an IPO…

32 mpg on average Let’s talk real world fuel economy I have to say that I’m really pleased that GM fired its old ad agency, while realigning its marketing department. “Ending an era renowned more for overpromising market success and then chronically under-delivering,” according to Daniel Howes of the DetroitNews, was simply overdue. Case…

The evolution of carbon fiber One of the greatest ways to increase fuel economy is to reduce weight. Thus, exotic materials, such as carbon fiber, have excited automakers with the possibility of much lighter, yet stronger, cars. Unfortunately, costs have kept these materials from mainstreaming. Recently, however, BMW announced that its Megacity electric car would use carbon fiber . As the Megacity is planned …

Dumping big A new survey demonstrates that 53 percent of new car buyers will buy a more fuel efficient vehicle than their current model, while 54 percent are willing to downsize their vehicle choice. Likewise, 78 percent of respondents believe alternative vehicles are not a temporary fad, and 34 percent are considering an alternative vehicle as their next purchase. Not surprisingly, the key reason for not buying an alternative vehicle in the interim

Batteries or fuels, both? I’ve been following the Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress conference, and I’ve been amazed at the lack of consensus among experts on how to move the auto industry forward. While there is some consensus that the battery is the long term plan, costs will prevent the battery from dominating the auto industry for some time according to the …

It won’t create energy independence? Yesterday, Forbes ran Reasons not to buy a hybrid , yet Forbes couldn’t offer one compelling reason not to buy a hybrid, assuming energy independence was their primary goal, as stated in their subtitle. Hybrid vehicles , even the plug-in kind, are simply inefficient because they have two powertrains according to Forbes. Who cares? Success is about one thing and one thing only, …

But will there be loopholes? German and US automakers will have to pay significantly more per vehicle to meet new US auto emissions requirements compared to Asian automakers. For instance, VW will have to pay $1694.00 more per vehicle in 2016. GM will have to pay $1219.00 more. On the other hand, …

Fuel Efficient Eco Friendly Cars | Toyota Prius Hybrid. 20 March 2010 No Comment. Still providing great fuel economy, this hybrid now has many comfort and technology options that make it stand out among some of the other hybrids that …

Based on its long-term vision for technology development, known as ‘Sustainable Zoom-Zoom’, Mazda is striving to improve the eco-friendly performance of its products, including the improvement of fuel economy of Mazda vehicles sold …

Purely about CAFE GM will continue to build money-losing hybrid vehicles , but only because of CAFE requirements, according to GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz . And, to make up for the losses GM will have to increase the prices on the rest of their vehicles. Fortunately, since GM sold only 800 hybrids in January, they won’t have too many losses to make up. Ultimately, Lutz believes hybrids might one day make…