Recent Comments:
2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDIs now available for customer delivery {Autoblog Green}
Aug 18th 2008 11:49PM Bin-5 is hardly an emission-rating to consider "clean".
In other words, the "50-state legal" is polite way of saying that if it were any dirtier they wouldn't be allowed to sell it. SULEV & PZEV are the genuine clean emission-ratings.
As for the efficiency, it will be interesting to find out what the real-world driving results are. The calculated average from my Prius from 103,013 miles of driving is 48.0 MPG.
First new VW Jetta TDIs now in transit to U.S. dealers {Autoblog Green}
May 6th 2008 2:20PM Don't believe the nonsense about warm-up and electric-only. Both will happen on your daily drive, even in Minnesota in January. I've done it for 7 years now and have plenty of photos to prove the battery still works fine, even at -13F.
Hymotion launching Prius plug-in conversion kits {Autoblog Green}
Apr 27th 2008 10:09PM >> While it is true that the Hybrid Synergy Drive requires
>> the ICE be turning over to exceed about 25 mph
No, it's 42 MPH.
And the prototypes currently being tested by Toyota raise it to 62 MPH.
Hymotion launching Prius plug-in conversion kits {Autoblog Green}
Apr 27th 2008 9:50PM >> Your mileage gains will therefore be restricted >> to stop and go city driving environments.
No, that's not how FULL hybrids like Prius work. The electric motor contributes during highway cruising too.
In other words, the upgrade provides an efficiency BOOST.
Based on Google's mini-fleet of Hymotion augmented Prius, their average is 66.2 MPG
http://www.google.org/recharge
Auto Alliance: 1.8 million alternative fuel vehicles sold in 2007 {Autoblog Green}
Apr 5th 2008 2:12PM >> two-mode hybrid is very advanced, and helps commericialize
>> technology that is very "green."
You've been greenwashed.
Two-Mode Tahoe only delivers a non-CARB emission rating of Tier2-Bin5.
That is far from clean. In fact, any dirtier and sales would be prohibited. Genuine green begins with SULEV.
HGTV giving away Yukon Hybrid to winner of their Green Home Giveaway {Autoblog Green}
Mar 14th 2008 11:30AM How can a vehicle with only a T2B5 emission rating be considered green?
Chicago 2008: Just how many hybrids has General Motors sold? {Autoblog Green}
Feb 6th 2008 11:54PM More PZEV models isn't what matters. It's how many are actually sold. That's what makes the difference.
Of course, a PZEV guzzler is just another example of greenwashing.
Improvement of smog-related emissions without improvement of MPG is a problem too. We need *BOTH* to truly be green.
Chicago 2008: Just how many hybrids has General Motors sold? {Autoblog Green}
Feb 6th 2008 9:39PM http://www.gm.com/explore/fuel_economy/altfuel/emissions/50state/pdf/2008MY.pdf
Look up Tahoe in that link provided. Of the 50-State offerings, the hybrid version is actually the dirtiest! BIN-5 is most certainly not green.
Next look up the hybrid version of Malibu. That model, along with the others comes in at a pitiful BIN-5.
The hybrid Vue is a little better, at BIN-4. But what's the point? Most traditional gas vehicles are that clean already.
The genuinely clean hybrids deliver emission ratings of SULEV & PZEV, which are most definitely a big improvement.
MPG alone is greenwashing. Reduction of smog-related emissions is required too. And it looks like the market noticing that.
Oil prices set for highest annual gain this decade {Autoblog Green}
Jan 1st 2008 10:17AM "Adjusted for Inflation" is a red herring.
What difference does that value from 1981 really make in 2008?
It was a temporary spike, quite different from on-going high prices we are experiencing now. The supply & demand problem we face today has a permanent nature to it. Expecting a 50% drop afterward, like what happened back then, simply isn't realistic.
So why waste time on the topic?
Focus on the solutions instead.
Popular Mechanics: "Hybrids, beware of diesels" {Autoblog Green}
Dec 28th 2007 11:06PM Bin-5 is the emission rating those new diesels will offer. That's dirtier than the typical gas vehicle and embarrasing compared to the SULEV and PZEV rated hybrids available.
It's a step backward embracing diesel when the result is an increase emissions of NOx and PM.
Why aren't the automakers offering diesel systems that reduce SMOG pollution too?
