Recent Comments:
2008 New York Auto Show video preview: some of the teams in the Auto X-Prize {Autoblog Green}
Mar 19th 2008 2:52PM KarenRei,
"That's not the issue; it's not about things "running out". It's about power plants spewing vastly more pollution"
For many greens that is the issue. You can clean up power plants rather easily, so the argument sorta makes sense. Regulating mining and distribution is difficult because it's a more complicated process.
"What are you talking about? The Aptera starts rolling off the line at the end of this year."
Two seat, three wheel, tiny, odd looking cars. I meant a normal looking, affordable car the average family with 2.5 kids would buy.
I did not make the toxic claim but what about the mining of these materials? It's really about choices. Think of this like organic farming, the air car is an organic veggie and Volt a GMO, chemically treated one. Yes, it takes more energy but the air car is simple and clean. I don't think either side is right or wrong but they are both green POVs and worthy of coverage.
Also, the liquid pressure hybrids are probably more efficient. Who knows? Maybe MDI will go in that direction soon.
2008 New York Auto Show video preview: some of the teams in the Auto X-Prize {Autoblog Green}
Mar 19th 2008 1:12PM KarenRei,
I have posted about the efficiency of series hybrids and it's important but there are real hurdles to electric cars. Air is not running out. Some people say there is peak this or peak that hurt EV adoption. Long term energy cost of a car, who knows, Air Car might work. My main point is it's here VERY soon. I would be happy to cover the other electric cars coming out next year but none are coming out for YEARS. I have to disagree with you on the renewable energy thing too. I have seen government studies that say off shore wind could power the entire US. It might impact the environment but oil already does. I would rather try that science experiment on the plant.
Linton
2008 New York Auto Show video preview: some of the teams in the Auto X-Prize {Autoblog Green}
Mar 19th 2008 1:05PM A.Brien, I think they are at the show. We will probably ask.
2008 New York Auto Show video preview: some of the teams in the Auto X-Prize {Autoblog Green}
Mar 19th 2008 12:26PM KarenRei,
I don't think it is made by Tata. They just have a license to make the motors. I think the lower cost comes from using fiber glass. Anyway, yeah, the air compression thing may not be green but I like to think of it like fuel cells. Sure, the hydrogen production is not green but it's a clean storage medium. I think that needs more attention as my ban the catalytic converter post showed. Anyway, why are YOU not excited about a cheap, air powered car with that kind of range :D Green stuff aside, just their amazing time tables to get to market is something to watch if you ask me!
Linton
Zap CEO talks and talks about Zap-X, Alias, Coke deal, and more {Autoblog Green}
Mar 17th 2008 6:59PM Kardax,
In the interview, they actually say last year was bad. Execution, maybe, but sounded more like repair. They moved plants, improved quality, and more was talked about. Also, the CEO says they are really the only electric car company and they are right, depending on how you define it.
I am not going to argue with you on the financial stuff, no small-cap stock is perfect but from the green car perspective, Zap does not look that bad to me. How many other companies own half of a company, that is 36 months away (+whatever regulation times) from a Lotus designed, Chinese made, four door, normal looking electric car? I can only think of Miles but they are private and not talking as much as this.
GM will basically validate the EV market with the Volt in 2011 and people (press included) will say, okay, what else is out there? And yes, the Xebra is not about to replace the family sedan but as UPS and Coke proves, it's finding a place.
Linton
VIDEO: Bob Lutz asked about his "crock of shi*t" comment {Autoblog Green}
Mar 17th 2008 5:31PM Chad,
Bob Lutz argues CAFE created the SUV. The light truck rules were a little different. Anyway, who says the same type of thing won't happen again? You are correct, the best solution, is lighten up the car. Smaller cars fit the same number of people, have better mileage BUT there are lots of loop holes.
Diesel. Not exactly clean but MPG is higher. That's a major reason we are seeing them coming to the US. Flex fuel. Again, not very green and in many cases not even used but GM already promised half the new cars they make by 2010 to be flex. Ford is bringing back the muscle car if you look closely at the Ecoboot stuff. We already mentioned mild hybrids.
This is what they have come up with in the few months since the law was passed. Give them a few years to play the re-adjustments the EPA can do and things like plug-in hybrids. Here is a crazy idea but totally possible, what if they make SUPER GIANT SUV ... but it's electric and has a gas powered generator to extend the range? This car might get 10 MPG but get a rating of 100 MPG because of the "potential" to plug it in.
Everyone thinks high gas prices and CAFE will mean the death of the SUV but it really does not have to. The car companies are going to try everything that continues to make them money and selling a small car basically means selling a cheaper car with lower profits. They will do everything they can to fight selling smaller cars.
Linton
Zap CEO talks and talks about Zap-X, Alias, Coke deal, and more {Autoblog Green}
Mar 17th 2008 5:08PM Armmat, Zap-X looks normal and the three wheel thing gives them advantages i.e no crash tests because it's rated as a bike. They are designing a speedy, good looking 3-wheeler called the Alias. It's probably the best a small company can do right now. Apter and Miles are doing similar things. One of these guys just might find the right combination and start something. GM or some other auto maker should get into the low speed, three wheel biz too. I expect if Zap starts to take off, they just might. A few more deals like the UPS and Coke deal would do it. Zap says it's their year, so I guess we will see. Gas prices are not going down...
VIDEO: Bob Lutz asked about his "crock of shi*t" comment {Autoblog Green}
Mar 17th 2008 3:17PM Chad,
I know but two things. 1. Where is this $7,000 car using modern technology? I bet if they offered the highest MPG car they could make, it would sell! He says there is no biz case but what does he have to back it up? The Prius cost more and it sold.
2. The mandate is what 2020? 2030? With all the trading and flex fuel stuff, it's probably lower than most think too! Okay, so Lutz thinks technology is not going to change for 12 years? Well, lets seehow technology is doing so far ... second gen GM mild hybrid, up to 30 percent improvement at almost the same cost($2,000) of the current mild hybrids? Hmmm.... that does not sound like prices are going UP to me. Bob says parts are added and that means extra cost of course. Making things LIGHT WEIGHT gets RID OF PARTS! So, costs should actually go down, if you say, use a smaller engine, no?
Chad, I agree, GM needs to make *more* small cars but I am more concerned with things they are not doing at all. I say get rid of CAFE and tell the car companies to offer a SINGLE car in every model type that is the best they can do on MPG. Every single other car they make can be an SUV and they can have a corporate average of 10 MPG if they like. Just make that one car and sell it. Why try this insane plan?
CAFE does not force car makers to make the highest MPG car possible! That law would. Take out the middle man :D Automakers should love my idea. The R&D cost would be almost nothing compared to what they are doing now.
Linton
VIDEO: Bob Lutz asked about his "crock of shi*t" comment {Autoblog Green}
Mar 17th 2008 2:27PM Chad,
GM's mild hybrid costs well under $2,000 or that's the difference in the price of the mild hybrid vs the gas version. The two modes probably don't cost that much too. You can get a Prius new for well under $20,000. Even a lot of the things he mentions cost next to nothing. He mentioned that price before when he was talking about CAFE and I would really like him to flesh it out. Frankly, price is a red herring for green tech not selling if you ask me.
While amusing, the "crock" quote is not new and does not matter. If I had 4 minutes, my only question would have been why are the Volt mules delayed ... again?
Linton
Obama says "Yes, we can" to hybrid Hummers {Autoblog Green}
Mar 16th 2008 9:37AM Chris M,
I think there is a stipulation that anything created by the government goes into the public domain, so it should trickle down very fast. I think this may also be the first government funded hybrid conversion kit and it's going to get testing by the military. I would not be surprised to see a number of companies modify it to fit other cars or GM inspired by it to make the hybrid Hummer. The Hummer is really the Army's modern Jeep and I thought it would take much longer for it to be electric. Conversions means we could start to see them on the field very soon.
As for the pork, ear mark stuff, the only problem I have with it is, it would have been better to have a national, even international competition of some sort. I am sure IU is great and all but other schools or private companies may have been able to do it better. Also, who says electric hybrids are the way to go anyway? How about hydraulic hybrids or some carbon fiber or whatever. I am tired of politicians picking technology more than I am at picking specific schools. Anyway, like I said before, as far as pork goes, this really has the potential to be some kind of default standard for hybrid conversions. Not many conversions will be able to say tests on the battlefields...
