In an interview with Charlie Rose, GM CEO Rick Wagoner exclaimed, “we have more than a life force riding on the Volt.” GM’s long anticipated electric baby is en route to its 2010 launch date, however that date won’t come soon enough for the stressed and struggling GM brand. This year marks GM’s 100th anniversary - commemorated with an employee pricing promotion - but throughout the celebration Toyota will be kicking GM out of the top spot for car manufacturers. Detroit is hurting, and GM needs the Chevy Volt now more than ever to enhance their environmentally lacking product portfolio.
‘Our national security’ has been on the tip of every politician’s tongue, especially concerning the issue of our national dependence on foreign oil. Presidential hopeful John McCain is no exception, and with his proposed energy plan he hopes to “help free our transportation sector from its use of foreign oil, clean up our air and address climate change, and ensure that Americans have dependable energy sources.” McCain proposes a goal for the independence from foreign oil by 2025, to rid ‘our national security’ of the threat from dependency on volatile foreign oil suppliers.
To a… Read More →
In January BMW teased us with the rather vague announcement that the company would release the 3-series diesel, the 335d, in the U.S.. Specifics about the date weren’t announced, but due to Mercedes’ encroaching diesel release date for the end of 2008, BMW has stated the 335d will be available sometime this fall. The Jetta TDI, V-Dub’s new diesel vehicle, arrived this summer, and now BMW and Mercedes are in the last legs of the mad dash to be the first to introduce U.S. standard compliant diesels.
The much awaited 335d will be powered by BMW’s prized Variable Twin Turbo 3.0 lit… Read More →
There are two major issues that have continued to resonate in the current energy debate in the U.S. The first, of course, is the infamous star, global climate change; the second is our dependence on oil, and what’s worse our dependence on foreign oil imports. It’s hard to kick the habit, especially a 20 million barrel a day habit, but politicians, activists and the public have been working on their plans for intervention.
Struck by the American public’s struggle to accommodate the rising cost of gas, Presidential Candidate Barack Obama has implemented a plan to provide tax cuts… Read More →
Some of you may have noticed the recent lack of special lease incentives being offered by domestic auto manufacturers. Let’s welcome the new trend in automobile incentives: the fuel-efficient trade-in. Introduced by General Motor, the new incentive offers a hefty cash back bonus when you trade in your old non-GM gas guzzler for one of their new, more fuel efficient vehicles.
GM is trying to encourage drivers to let go of their current 1999 or newer vehicle, not made by GM, so you can purchase a new GM vehicle equipped with a nice cash back bonus. For instance, you can receive… Read More →
Volkswagen’s partnership with Carbonfund.org has led to the development of an initiative for the VW community of drivers to offset carbon emissions; enter, the Carbon Neutral Project. “Reduce what you can, offset what you can’t,” is their mantra, and the creation of the VW Forest is their mission. The VW Forest will be located in the Alluvial Valley in Lower Mississippi, where they will reforest 1,100 acres of land, which will greatly benefit the Tensas River Wildlife Refuge. Placement of the forest here will restore the threatened habitat of the Black Bear, rejuvenate the local wetland eco… Read More →
“Seeking a symbiosis of people, vehicles and nature,” is the adopted philosophy of the Nissan Green Program. Recently the company has taken this philosophy to heart and has begun development of electric vehicles, to be on sale in the U.S. by 2010 and for the global market by 2012. Nissan will lead the auto industry as the first manufacturer to mass produce zero-emissions vehicles. Nissan believes that the newfound environmental conscience of the American public will allow the electric vehicles to be well received and a highly lucrative addition to the Nissan lineup.
Following… Read More →
The British International Motor Show is now in full swing, with over 600 vehicles on display. After its jump start on July 23, it will run until August 3 and exhibit the next and best in automobile technology, including a few ‘greener’ options.
The Motor Show’s Co-operative Insurance Greener Driving Pavilion features a number of new eco-technologies, with an aim to assist consumers in choosing a more fuel efficient vehicle. Sponsored by the ‘ACT ON CO2’ campaign, the Pavilion will house the What Car?’s Green award-winner, the Ford Focus ECOnetic, with 115g/kg CO… Read More →
MINI’s are flying off dealer lots faster than England can produce them, and the Electric MINI just can’t seem to come fast enough. However, in the summer of 2009 the Electric MINI will finally be available in the U.S. MINI sales for the gas-powered models have skyrocketed leaving many prospective buyers wanting. Details on the amount that will be built, range, availability, and price have not yet been finalized. The unreal sales increase of these little gems marks a shift in the demand for automobiles in America. SUV sales are on the downturn, but the gas-powered MINI continues to “wow” b… Read More →
After seeing a white Mercedes-Benz sedan drive by in downtown Burlington, VT with a “Green Cab” light on the roof, I was intrigued needless to say. Turns out that not only is Green Cab VT a Burlington taxi service with a sense of environmental responsibility, but also a sense of humor! Their site features a section entitled ‘cabbie humor,’ with a few industry jokes, right next to the section where you can contact Green Cab VT - 24/7 - to be taken wherever you wish, without the guilt of burning excessive fossil fuels.
Green Cab uses alternative fuel sources to keep their fleet … Read More →
Avoid drive-thru lanes at fast food restaurants and instead park your vehicle and pickup your order inside.