Recent Comments:
Volkswagen limiting Bluemotion sales to retail only to meet demand in UK {Autoblog Green}
Apr 21st 2008 11:13AM Meanwhile, in the U.S. . . .
Cannondale working on innovative commuter bike called the "ON" {Autoblog Green}
Oct 14th 2007 1:02PM I had a terrible time trying to buy a "Street Premium" bike from Cannondale. It is one of their high end commuter bikes that they sell in the USA. They sell only a couple models in the USA but they sell around twenty commuter models in Europe. (I found that strange since Cannondale is USA based... They should at least let us order the bikes they sell in Europe - even if they don't sell them at retailers).
I wanted to buy Cannondale because it was American Made. But I waited 3 weeks for the delivery date, then Cannondale slipped the date two weeks. I waited the two weeks, and they slipped the date another two weeks. I waited the two more weeks, and they slipped the date another two weeks. I called them and asked what was the deal - they said that they were having trouble with production. Clearly... I waited another two weeks and they slipped the date again. I cancelled my order.
I bought a Biria instead.
http://www.biria.com/
However, back to this Cannondale. I din't see anything really helpful for regular commuters. No fenders to keep crud off the clothes and gear. No racks to carry stuff.
If you need a folding bike, I highly recommend "Bike Friday". They are outstanding, and a great company to boot. http://www.bikefriday.com/
Allied Waste may pick up your trash with trucks running biodiesel {Autoblog Green}
Sep 20th 2007 2:45PM Portland, Oregon has mandated this for all garbage haulers in the city since March 1, 2007.
http://www.portlandonline.com/osd/index.cfm?a=149325&c=41625
Paris Hilton gives up her Range Rover for an Escape Hybrid, is scared for the environment {Autoblog Green}
Jul 26th 2007 2:19PM Now she can consume less gas driving home from the bar.
In any event, she is not taking one more gas guzzler off the road. The range rover will not be destroyed, it will be sold to someone who couldn't afford it new - and they will drive that range rover around. Possibly replacing an older less attractive yet more fuel efficient vehicle...
I can't believe I commented on a Paris Hilton story. But the concept of "removing a gas guzzler" is a fallacy unless the older car is destroyed. Through attrition many older cars take decades to remove from the roads (except in places where they salt the roads, those cars rust out in mere years).
Diesel invasion coming to the US in 2010 {Autoblog Green}
Jul 17th 2007 12:45AM "The other is a 2.9-liter V6 made by VM Motori S.p.A., an Italian engine maker (they already powered some Jeeps during the 90s for the European market)."
The Jeep Liberty CRD was sold in the USA for 2005 and 2006 equipped with a 2.8L VM Motori 4cyl diesel. They sold about 20k of them, twice as many as they had expected to sell.
"The German manufacturers who plan to start selling diesels in the U.S. next year plan to do this by using the BLUETEC technology licensed from Mercedes-Benz, but as far as I know GM has no urea-injection and/or NOx filtering system that would make their diesel engines comply, nor have they licensed the BLUETEC technology from Daimler-Benz, which I couldn't see them doing anyway."
There are other ways to do this. BLUETEC is only one common way. In fact the new smaller VWs will not use BLUETEC (however their larger engines will). And some of the Japanese manufacturers say they have ways they are doing it which do not require BLUETEC either.
Governor Kulongoski of Oregon to sign biofuels bill {Autoblog Green}
Jul 5th 2007 12:53PM It's "Or - ih - gun".
:)
And the law is pretty good about making sure supply comes from Oregon, and is more sustainable. No foreign palm-oil allowed. :)
It also gives tax credits to people who purchase 100% biofuel. 50 cents a gallon up to 200 dollars per year.
The City of Portland as of July 1 has B5 biodiesel in every diesel pump within city limits. Also with pretty good requirements about where the fuel comes from and how it is made.
In my opinion they are doing a good job of balancing the environmental benefits of biofuel with the obvious environmental risks. And a big set of issues are economic stability, energy independence, and sustainability. It just makes sense to produce fuel locally.
First steps.
Oh, and we have a lot of places like the SeQuential station, we a re pretty "green" here in Oregon.
Americans would rather skip a movie than take the bus {Autoblog Green}
Jun 27th 2007 12:06PM Hey - some of the smaller population centers have great transit, but not many. Of course, I am biased - I live in one. Portland, Oregon...
But I think that the study and your comments are dead on. There is just no way to go without a car for most places in the USA. Most of the cities that gained their size after the advent of the car - are too car oriented. Many cities have no real transit to speak of, and it is impossible to get places without hitting massive highways. Not very conducive to walking or biking.
But with the price of movies, I recommend skipping more than one movie... Buy the DVD and be done with it. I can buy 2 DVDs for less than just the tickets to a movie for my family. :)
71mpg Smart ForTwo CDi is the most efficient car on the road today {Autoblog Green}
Jun 7th 2007 4:27PM Efficiency has to be compared to it's expected use. For example, for one or two people, this statement that the Smart CDi is the most efficient might hold true.
But for three or four people, it would take two Smart CDi's and then the Mini Cooper D would pull ahead.
For 5 people, you are more efficient with a Jetta TDI rather than 2 Cooper D's and Smart CDi.
That is how a bus which gets only 3 or 4 mpg can be efficient. Carry 50 people. :)
But again, neither the Cooper D or the Smart CDi are available in the USA.
There is a Mini Cooper D with my name on it if it comes stateside...
2009 Honda Accord diesel to hit 52 mpg! {Autoblog Green}
Jun 7th 2007 12:00PM The author did not imply "Jetta". He said "Bluetec from Mercedes and VW". There are some VW models (the larger ones, I think Toureg and Passat but I am not sure) which will use "Bluetec". However, it is correct that the Jetta will not be a "Bluetec", and perhaps that could have been mentioned to keep things clear.
In any event, I like the looks of the Accord diesel.
I do agree though, we need some diesel mini vans. Our Jeep Liberty CRD is wonderful - but does not have enough seating capacity. That same engine is offered in the Dodge/Plymouth mini vans in Europe. I would love one of those...
Mazda celebrates 40 years of their rotary engine {Autoblog Green}
Jun 2nd 2007 6:35PM There are even a couple rotary powered motorcycles. :) Or perhaps I should say "were" as none are currently made.
