Recent Comments:
BMW to challenge Smart with Isetta brand? {Autoblog Green}
Feb 4th 2008 4:03PM 'cause Mini Mini sounds silly. J/K but someone had to say it.
Survey says: We want 35 mpg by 2020! Will we buy them? Who knows! {Autoblog Green}
Nov 12th 2007 8:41PM Phil L. The Accord coupe has LATCH in both rear seat positions. I know this because I own one and my daughters car seat is LATCHed in right now.
Video: Jeremy Clarkson says 4X4 = uncool, bad sex? {Autoblog Green}
Nov 12th 2007 8:26PM It's better to download off the internet uncut. BBCA cuts about 15 min out of the show for ads. Clarkson's no greeny but very funny.
What is "The Truth About Toyota"? {Autoblog Green}
Oct 15th 2007 9:44PM BlackbirdHighway you are correct on all fronts. I agree CAFE is wrong headed. A gas tax, engine size tax (registration cost tied to engine size) etc. would go much further than CAFE to save fuel. The Europeans drive smaller cars with smaller engines due these taxes. They'd probably work here too. What we might see is a CO2 tax in a few years if enough of the American people buy into global warming.
Video: Quiet, Obama's new TV ad has "Detroit" fuel efficiency joke {Autoblog Green}
Oct 11th 2007 8:20PM Tax the gas. That will go further to reduce fuel usage by causing people to drive less and choose high MPG vehicles. CAFE does not do this. Europe has a lot of high MPG cars because of high fuel taxes and taxes on engine sizes not because of any kind of CAFE requirement.
Toyota technical strategy presentation {Autoblog Green}
Sep 5th 2007 8:56PM How'd I miss that, must have been when I was tied up with work or something.
Looks like Toyota is trying to pump up the FUD factor on the series hybrids. I can understand why with the investment they have in the HSD system. If EV based series hybrids end up with close to the desired all electric range GM and Ford turn around and eat some of Toyota's lunch. Go for it guys, competition can be a healthy thing. Can you imagine if automakers end up in a all electric range war instead of a horse power war. I do think it'll be 2011 or 2012 before we see production "Volt" vehicles.
Toyota technical strategy presentation {Autoblog Green}
Sep 5th 2007 8:19PM When did Ford get into the "E-flex" type drive train. Last I checked their hybrid system was like 'yota's.
The chicken VS the egg: what's wrong with American trains? {Autoblog Green}
Aug 28th 2007 10:34PM Derek the "rail bus" you spoke of is called a DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) which is one or more self propelled rail cars making up a train rather than a locomotive hauled train. These are more efficent in many cases such as when only one or 2 cars are needed. The BUDD company built what were called RDC's (Rail Diesel Cars) in NA from 1949 to 1962 and some are still in service today. http://www.budd-rdc.org/introduction.htm
Good news is DMU's are being built in North America again. Colorado Railcar is building them
http://www.coloradorailcar.com/ when you look at their site it says that the DMU can pull another unpowered coach with it.
My father used to drive RDC's for Via Rail in Canada and they handle snow just fine. In the case of the RDC and the Colorado Railcar DMU the engines are under the carbody.
Video: 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid test drive {Autoblog Green}
Aug 7th 2007 6:47PM "The Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive is far superior to the Ford one"
Really, funny how they get their transmission from the same supplier, Aisin Seiki (40% owned by Toyota BTW).
Jeremy Clarkson takes on the Reva G-Wiz {Autoblog Green}
Aug 7th 2007 6:41PM I should add I have seen crash test footage separate from Top Gear and Clarkson. I have also seen crash test footage of a smart car. The smart car comes off as quite safe but the G-Wiz is fragle.
