Toyota News - Toyota Prius Touring takes home Best Value trophy from
February 28, 2009 by tsikot · Comments Off
Toyota Prius Touring takes home Best Value trophy from
Filed under: Hybrid, Toyota, Green Daily
In these uncertain economic times, consumers looking to purchase anything, especially something as large and as important as an automobile, need to be sure that every dollar they spend is returning its maximum value. Great, but how do you go about choosing which vehicle is going to be the best bet? According to Rik Paul, automotive editor at Consumer Reports, “A low price doesn’t necessarily make a car a good value. At a time when people need to make every dollar count, our best value list will help consumers understand the difference.” So, if not by sticker price alone, how does CR decide what vehicles to label as best values? By combining the cumulative results from CR’s own road tests, five-year owner-cost estimates and predicted reliability ratings, apparently.
So, the results? At the top of the heap is the 2009 Toyota Prius Touring, which joins four other hybrids that made the value list. Somewhat surprisingly, a quick glance shows that there isn’t a single American car, hybrid or otherwise, that earns a Best Value ranking from CR. See the details after the jump.
[Source: Consumer Reports]
Continue reading Toyota Prius Touring takes home Best Value trophy from Consumer Reports
Toyota Prius Touring takes home Best Value trophy from Consumer Reports originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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[tags]toyota cars, toyota news, toyota suv, toyota[/tags]
Honda News - Honda to build cellulosic ethanol research facility
February 28, 2009 by tsikot · Comments Off
Honda to build cellulosic ethanol research facility
One alternative fuel area where Japanese automakers have shown comparatively little interest, until recently, is biofuels. Toyota has announced plans to offer a flex-fuel version of the Tundra and Honda offers flex-fuel Civics in Brazil. Toyota also recently announced a cellulosic ethanol partnership. Honda has now announced plans to build a new R&D facility in Japan that will focus on producing biofuels from non-food feedstocks. The 1,050 m2 lab is expected to be completed and operating by November of this year. Honda has been working with the Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth since 2006 and began operating an experimental production facility in 2007.
So far, Honda hasn’t given any indication that it will offer any flex-fuel vehicles in the U.S. market. Perhaps now that Honda has backed off from its plans to offer diesels in the U.S. market and only plans to offer hybrids in small cars, we may start to see the company embrace ethanol.
[Source: Honda]
Continue reading Honda to build cellulosic ethanol research facility
Honda to build cellulosic ethanol research facility originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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[tags]honda cars, honda news, honda models, honda[/tags]
Volkswagen News - VW Caddy EcoFuel on sale in the UK this summer
February 28, 2009 by tsikot · Comments Off
VW Caddy EcoFuel on sale in the UK this summer
Filed under: MPG, Volkswagen, Natural Gas, Europe/EU
Putting natural gas in the tank isn’t the first thing people think about when they talk green cars (unless said person is T. Boone Pickens) but in Europe, especially, natural gas is a somewhat common alternative fuel. Volkswagen has announced that a compressed natural gas (CNG) version of the Caddy commercial vehicle will be coming to the UK this summer. Called the Caddy EcoFuel, the CNG-powered panel van has been sold in other European companies since 2006 and 7,500 units were snapped up last year. VW will also offer the Caddy Maxi EcoFuel, with an extra 1.0 m³ carrying capacity, in the UK alongside the Caddy EcoFuel. More details after the jump.
The Caddy EcoFuel can burn CNG or biomethane. For the range-worried, rest assured that there is a 13-litre reserve gasoline tank that can be used if the CNG runs out. The Caddy EcoFuel was on display in Britain last summer and, in 2007, Rainer Zietlow took ones of these vehicles around the world on CNG in just 142 days.
Gallery: VW Caddy EcoFuel
[Source: Volkswagen]
Continue reading VW Caddy EcoFuel on sale in the UK this summer
VW Caddy EcoFuel on sale in the UK this summer originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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[tags]volkswagen cars, volkswagen news, volkswagen models[/tags]
Ford News - Plug-In Motors makes Mustang electric [w/video]
February 28, 2009 by tsikot · Comments Off
Plug-In Motors makes Mustang electric [w/video]
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Ford, USA
The wait for a battery-powered Ford may have just gotten shorter now that Plug-In Motors in Denver, Colorado is planning to turn Ford Mustangs into electric Plug-In Panthers. One of the co-founders behind the company, Kurt Neugens, has some familiarity with Fords having worked for the Detroit automaker for 17 years as an engineer. The other co-founder, Travis Winkelman, knows a thing or two about hands-on tweaking as well, with a resume that prominently features the Roush NASCAR Racing Team where he worked as a development engineer.
Although the company will convert other selected models, the Mustang is the vehicle they’re starting with and if you’re in the vicinity of Lakewood Ford on the 27th and 28th, you can go for a ride yourself to see if you like their handiwork. Using lithium iron phosphate (LiFePo4) batteries, an AC induction motor and adjustable regenerative braking, they claim to have a package that offers quickness (0 to 60 under 6 seconds) and a low-carbon impact. They seem to have several different configurations, each with their own strengths. The quickest car can only hit 85 mph at the top end or you can opt for a slower start and a 105 mph top speed. Range is also option-dependent. The more affordable version travels 85 miles on a charge or you can opt for more batteries that they say can carry you 200 miles. you can check it out for yourself in the video after the jump.
[Source: Plug-In Motors / YouTube / Examiner]
Continue reading Plug-In Motors makes Mustang electric [w/video]
Plug-In Motors makes Mustang electric [w/video] originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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[tags]ford cars, ford news, ford models, ford[/tags]
Nissan News - Renault-Nissan and greentomatocars to launch London EV cab fleet
February 28, 2009 by tsikot · Comments Off
Renault-Nissan and greentomatocars to launch London EV cab fleet
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan, Renault
Renault-Nissan has reached an agreement with London’s greentomatocars to work on bringing electric taxis to the UK capital. The Franco-Japanese alliance and the British hire-car company will be members of the Partnership for Zero-Emission-Mobility. The first stage of the partnership will establish a network of charging stations around London. After that, the automaker will supply battery-powered cars to for the greentomatocars fleet. greentomatocars already provides pre-booked hire-cars using a fleet of Toyota Priuses and wants to take its service to the next level.
Renault-Nissan has been forming partnerships with private and public organizations around the world to promote demand for electric vehicles and establish the necessary infrastructure to make them practical. Nissan’s first electric car is expected to arrive in 2010. The Renault press release is after the jump.
[Source: Renault]
Continue reading Renault-Nissan and greentomatocars to launch London EV cab fleet
Renault-Nissan and greentomatocars to launch London EV cab fleet originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 11:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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[tags]nissan cars, nissan autos, nissan news, nissan models, nissan[/tags]
