Click on the image to watch the full video

As the video pasted after the break points out, running a 26 mile marathon is a tough task as it is. Though this writer couldn't hope to complete one anyway, doing so while bracketed by pollution-spewing cars and motorcycles makes it that much harder. So, we love the idea of using Vectrix electric scooters as the pace-setters and support vehicles for the just-finished Boston Marathon.

The video also mentions lighter but higher capacity batteries on the horizon. We can only assume that this refers to lithium ion packs. Take note of the electric MP3-style scooter that we've mentioned before which is slated to go on sale in eight months along with the electric sportsbike that could go on sale within a few years, depending on the interest level. The video concludes by making mention of the Brammo Enertia (see our ride here) and Zero Motorcycles off-road bike.

Above is another video from my trip to AltWheels Boston 2007. The video is a look at the Phill home refueling station, topping off a Honda Civic GNG (Compressed Natural Gas) car. Natural gas cars are actually the cleanest cars you can buy today, even cleaner than hybrids, but they just don't get the credit they deserve. The reason for the lack of recognition for CNG is they have major problems: natural gas is not available everywhere, for example, and CNG cars cost an extra $7,000 (that's without tax rebates) compared with a normal gas car. If the gas prices keep going up and battery technology promises never pan out though, CNG cars just might have to play a bigger role than many expect.

Related:

• IRS approves Honda hybrid and natural gas vehicles for tax credits
• LA Auto Show: Honda Civic GX quick test drive
• Consumer Reports weighs in on Honda's CNG-powered Civic
• Honda starts selling natural gas Civic in New York state
• Civic GX that runs on natural gas available this fall

We recently wrote about the VW's DIESELUTION tour. I took the video above of the Dieselution tour's stop at AltWheels Boston 2007. IMHO, VW should have called the tour Dissolution. Don't get me wrong. I like VW. I think they are great brand and really could have surfed the green revolution wave. I am glad they are planning on making "a" hybrid soon but VW's focus on re-branding diesel as clean diesel seems a pointless, uphill battle to me.

Take their display at AltWheels. The semi truck they use in the display was idling. The VW semi could have been idling the entire show, for all I know. I am guessing they were using it to power the video displays inside. They could have been getting ready to leave however. The video is dark because it was the last booth I checked out. Why would anyone go to beautiful Boston Hall plaza, an outdoor plaza, only to go into the back of idling truck to watch videos on monitors trying to convince you diesel is really clean now?

The video above is a look at the Ford Edge plug-in at AltWheels Boston 2007. The Edge concept is a plug-in electric car with a fuel cell range extender. If it were for sale, you could charge the Edge's lithium-ion batteries by plugging it into a 110- or 220-volt socket or use the fuel cell range extender if the batteries run low. The Edge has one motor in the back and another in the front allowing it to be a front wheel drive, rear wheel drive or both.

The video includes a look under the hood of the Edge plug-in. The Edge plug-in breaking system is a combination regenerative and standard hydraulic breaking. I was really surprised to see there is a lot space around the electric motor. Why is that? The Edge is based on a production car which has a much larger space for a gas motor. To be fair to the gas engine on size, the hydrogen tanks take up a lot more space than the regular gas tank.

Related:

• AutoblogGreen Drives the HySeries Ford Edge and fuel cell Explorer
• Ford unveils PHEV Ford Edge with HySeries Drive at DC Auto Show

The video above is a tour of the GM booth at AltWheels Boston 2007. Sir Mix-A-Lot would be proud to know that GM described its new Tahoe hybrid, the company's first full hybrid, as a "big ass hybrid" in the video. That colorful wording proves GM definitely wants the public to think hybrids are big, powerful machines. The Tahoe is the heaviest car GM makes and in the video, you can hear how I was told the hybrid version even has a larger engine than normal. But hey, GM reduced weight in the Tahoe hybrid by making the doors and hood out of aluminum.

The video also includes a tour of GM's fuel cell Equinox. The Equinox has two connections for refueling, as you can see in the video: a data connection below the back license plate that tells the pump the status of the tank as well as a hydrogen connection. Finally, the video includes a quick look at the Malibu hybrid. The Malibu is a mild hybrid and will only get 34 mpg on the highway and 22 in the city. The Malibu mild hybrid starts production in October. The Tahoe full hybrid starts production in November. Oh, and don't forget about Sir Mix-A-Lot's Baby Got Back video below the fold.

Related:

• VIDEO: Driving the GMC Yukon Two-Mode Hybrid
• ABG First Impressions: Two-Mode hybrid Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon
• GM will provide the fuel cell Equinoxes to customers for free
• Technical Analysis: 2008 Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell/HydroGen4
• Detroit Auto Show: Hybrid option for 2008 Chevy Malibu
• 2008 Chevy Malibu Hybrid to debut at Baseball All-Star Game

[Source: YouTube]

I just got back from AltWheels Boston 2007. Over the next few days, I am going to write about interesting things at the show. There is not much to this article right now but I will update it with links to all the articles about the AltWheels Boston 2007. Until I begin to update this article with links, enjoy the teaser video I made of funny and interesting moments from the show. Warning: GM uses a curse word to explain the hybrid Tahoe.

Update: Here are all the articles about 2007 AltWheels Boston.

AltWheels Video: GM describes Tahoe hybrid as a "big ass hybrid," Sir Mix-A-Lot would be proud
Boston AltWheels ABG Video: Spend some time with Ford's Edge plug-in concept
Video: VW's Dieselution tour pollutes at AltWheels Boston
Video: natural gas Honda Civic re-fueling
Video: Mini that runs on veg oil at AltWheels Boston 2007
Video: Environmental Insurance Agency at AltWheels Boston 2007
Video: Robin Chase, founder of Zipcar, GoLoco at AltWheels Boston 2007
Videos: bikes at AltWheels Boston 2007
AltWheels Boston videos: Electrathon, Microfurthur, eMotive
AltWheels Boston 2007 videos: fuel cells, cogeneration, nitrogen tires

[Source: YouTube]

During the recent AltWheels Festival in Boston, Mayor Tom Menino announce a new hybrid taxi initiative for the city. A new Toyota Camry hybrid owned by the Boston Cab Association is now roaming the streets of Boston. Taxis are an ideal application for hybrid vehicles because the bulk of their use is in crowded urban environments with a lot of stop and go driving. Most of the the benefit of a hybrid comes in these conditions where the repeated decelerations can be used for regenerative braking to charge the battery. If a vehicle is used mostly for steady state driving on a highway, it won't be able to go very far on the batteries and won't see any real benefit from being a hybrid. A taxi can keep it's batteries charged and can accelerate on the batteries most of the time. In addition to the Camry, Boston CleanAir Cabs program has also approved the Escape hybrid and the CNG Crown Victoria for use as cabs in the city. MassPort, which operates Logan Airport, is also a partner in the program and will be charging reduced access fees and giving queuing preference to the the clean air cabs.

[Source: City of Boston via GreenCarCongress]

Organizers are preparing for the 4^th annual AltWheels Festival to be held in Boston Sept. 22-24.

More than 8,000 attendees are expected, including corporate and government officials. All types of alternate transportation vehicles will be showcased, and there will interactive exhibits, test rides and children's activities. Historical vehicles such as the Stanley Steamer and a 1914 electric car will also be on display.

A symposium will be held at the Museum of Science a week earlier with seminars, displays and panel discussions covering a variety of topics. An invitation-only fleet day will be held on Sept. 25 so officials can learn more about reducing fuel costs and emissions when converting their fleets.

Many of the events are free. Check out altwheels.org for more information.

[Source: The Auto Channel]

The United State Postal Service announced yesterday that they would be testing an electric hybrid delivery vehicle in the Boston area. The van was converted by Azure Dynamics Incorporated, Boston.

The USPS uses about 125 million gallons of motor fuel a year, Vice President of Engineering Walter O'Torney said at the announcement ceremony. If the hybrid van gets the expected 30 to 50 percent better fuel efficiency and the USPS adds them to their fleet of 200,000 vehicles, the overall decrease in fuel use will be quite great. The USPS already operates about 30,000 alternative fuel vehicles, including CNG, propane, ethanol, biodiesel and electric vehicles. The USPS logo on the Boston hybrid van has been updated to read "We Deliver Clean Air For You." Nice.

[Source: USPS via Green Car Congress]