Crash Test last May Reveals Volt Batteries May Not Be Safe-

With all the positive buzz surrounding the Chevy Volt these days, it was surprising to hear about the latest scandal linked to the new hybrid vehicle. Recently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tested three Volt batteries and one of them actually caught fire, with the other two reportedly overheating. The investigation was prompted to due the crash safety test performed last May, in which the Volt battery had allegedly caught on fire during routine inspections. NHTSA’s analysis aimed to mirror the circumstances surrounding the May battery incident. The NHTSA released a statement, in which they reported, “This past May, NHTSA crashed a Chevy Volt in an NCAP test designed to measure the vehicle’s ability to protect occupants from injury in a side collision. During that test, the vehicle’s battery was damaged and the coolant line was ruptured. When a fire involving the test vehicle occurred more than three weeks after it was crashed, the agency concluded that the damage to the vehicle’s lithium-ion battery during the crash test led to the fire.” The regulatory agency said its unknown at this time whether there will be a recall of any parts or the vehicle in its entirety. GM will be giving out free vehicles on loan to Volt owners who are apprehensive about driving the car until the situation has been resolved. It might be beneficial to note that other electric-powered vehicles on the market today, such as the Nissan LEAF or the Mitsubishi MiEV, have not reported any problems with battery packs.

Comedian Raves About Chevy Volt to NY Times, Slams Nissan LEAF-

As most know, Jay Leno has always been a car aficionado – with roughly 190 cars and motorcycles in his possession. He’s never owned an alternative powered vehicle — until now, that is, as he recently made the leap and purchased a Chevy Volt. The comedian drives to and from work every day, around 35 miles each way. Because of the (roughly) 40 mile range on the Volt, Leno is able to charge up while at work and then once again when he gets home. Since his purchase in December 2010, he’s reported using around 11,000 miles and claims he’s never once had to fill up the gas tank. Leno boasted about the efficiency of the car to the NY Times, noting it’s superiority in performance over the Nissan LEAF. While it is impressive, his situation is not typical as recent polls have determined that daily commutes are longer and more tedious since the almost five year long U.S. recession, and that’s especially true in cities with larger populations. It would be much more difficult for the average American consumer to work the extremely short range into their commute and expect to use zero gas.

Some twenty years ago, mogul Ted Turner sought to create an animated series that would capture the imagination of the youth of the early 1990s by appealing to what he hoped would be their growing sense of responsibility to clean up a world that increasingly needed cleaning up. Turner’s target audience, a group of kids already primed by highly promoted events like Earth Day, responded favorably to Captain Planet and the Planeteers, a cartoon that focused on superhero Captain Planet and his multicultural gang of adolescents out to save the earth from such dangers as pollution and poachers. Two decades later, the seeds sown by Turner and his eco-friendly avenger are being reaped as Americans remain highly interested in attempts to “go green” and behave in planet-saving measures that Captain Planet would eagerly approve.

Perhaps fueled by impressions that they are not contributing to the cleanup of the planet, trucks – big rigs, pickups, even garbage trucks – are beginning to find ways of going green as well.

In Ann Arbor, MI, the city has received funding through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Program to employ “green machines,” garbage trucks that use hydraulics instead of batteries to store energy. This less-costly system is 30 percent more fuel efficient. Hydraulics launch assist differs from popular hybrid technology by utilizing a pump motor and a tank to store energy that would otherwise be lost when braking. Ann Arbor energy programs manager Andrew Brix claims that this new system will save the city $9,120 in fuel per year. And because the brakes will require less maintenance, the city will accrue savings of $3,300 a year. Other service vehicles with high fuel consumption, such as city buses, are now under consideration as well.

Semis (or heavy-duty combination tractors) are heavy fuel consumers, thirstily drinking up twenty percent of all vehicle fuel. Spurred on by mandates from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to maintain fuel efficiency, it appears that new standards and regulations will force truck manufacturers to utilize ways to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and improve fuel efficiency. Government proponents of these measures believe that the savings incurred by these rules would be passed on to the consumer and would also create jobs.

According to the Energy Information Administration, modern diesel fueled vehicles offer a higher rate of fuel efficiency when compared to gasoline operated vehicles by about 20 to 40 percent. And while a diesel truck costs more, in the end the consumer saves more when gassing up. Some companies, such Columbia Credit Union in Washington, are offering “green” auto loans for customers who purchase “environmentally gentle autos.” Incentives such as these encourage potential truck-owners to go green. And of course higher fuel efficiency is a greener alternative.

Even places like FED USA Insurance out of Florida is doing its part when providing tow truck insurance by offering digitized monthly statements and policy requests. Which means, as their website states, “You never have to see a shred of paper from us again.”

Captain Planet would be proud.

About the Author: Carol Montrose is a freelance writer and part time student at California State University Northridge. In her free times she reads, runs, and works with an animal rescue in Los Angeles.

With ever-soaring gas prices, a vehicle’s MPG rating is the most important factor for many consumers. In the current market, hybrid vehicles are leading the pack with the best MPG ratings. Here is a list to help when choosing the right new car for you. For this list we’ll be looking at the newest 2011 models that present the highest quality, best prices, and the highest MPG. If shopping on a budget, many of these same models from previous years are an excellent bargain. Other good choices include the Chevy Volt, Smart Fortwo, Ford Fiesta, and the Honda Fit.

1. Toyota Prius

The Prius has been the premiere hybrid vehicle since it rolled out of factories in Japan in 1997. The 2011 model continues this trend with an impressive 51 MPG rating during highway driving and 48 MPG around town. The Prius can go 595 miles on a full tank. The Prius has more competition than ever with fully electric vehicles hitting the market, but it’s versatility and long range should keep it on top in the foreseeable future. It’s one drawback is that it remains one of the most expensive hybrids on the market.

2. Chevrolet Cruze

The Cruze is on the lower-end of the price scale with a base price under $17,000. The Cruze comes with either a 1.4 or 1.8 liter, four-cylinder engine. The 1.8 liter has 136 HP with 123 pound-feet of torque. The 1.4 liter engine is turbocharged for slightly higher HP. The Eco model gets the best gas-mileage with a rating of 28 in the city and 42 MPG on the highway. This vehicle offers a spacious interior and its handling is surprisingly sporty.

3. Honda Civic Hybrid

The 2011 Civic Hybrid has a MSRP of $23,950. It’s MPG rating is 43 MPG on the highway and 40 MPG during city driving. The Civic’s range is approximately 510 miles on a single tank of gas. This year’s model features an upgraded version of the battery pack used in the Honda Integrated Motor Assist system.

4. Nissan LEAF

The LEAF is the highest-priced vehicle on this list, but for good reason! It’s MSRP is $32,000. So, what does the Leaf offer to make it worth the cost? It offers an astounding 106 MPC (miles per charge) on the highway and 92 MPC in the city. These levels are unprecedented in the industry. The government offers a $7500 tax credit for those who purchase this vehicle, which can help to offset the high cost. The LEAF also has a low recharge time of only eight hours, although “range anxiety” is common for those with long commutes as the charging infrastructure simply isn’t sufficient in the U.S.

5. Hyundai Elantra

Hyundai offers a great MPG rating for a bargain with the $14,800 Elantra. It gets 29/40 MPG and has a range of 540 miles per tank. The engine has a nice amount of power with 140 HP. All models come with 1.8 liter, four-cylinder engines. The 6-speed manual, and automatic transmissions both get 40 MPG.

About the Author: Miles Walker is a freelance writer and blogger who usually reviews car insurance quotes over at CarinsuranceComparison.Org. His most recent review looked at the best Michigan car insurance.

Secretary Chu Announces Landmark Investment to Develop Advanced Vehicles-

U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu has announced more than $170 million to fund the development and deployment of advanced vehicle technologies. The cash will aid 40 projects in 15 states and will work to enhance fuel efficiency in next gen vehicles. Projects include better fuels and lubricants, longer-lasting and cheaper EV batteries and components, more efficient engine technologies, lighter weight materials, and more. President Obama announced fuel efficiency standards boost for light cars and trucks, as well as a new standard for work trucks, buses and other heavy duty vehicles. The administration promises that the new standards will save American businesses who own and operate these commercial vehicles roughly $50 billion in fuel costs over the lifetime of the program. “The Department of Energy is investing in new advanced technologies that will significantly improve vehicle fuel economy, save consumers money, and create skilled jobs for Americans,” said Secretary Chu. “Investments in the next generation of autos will strengthen our economy and lead to a more fuel-efficient, clean energy future.”

Obama Administration Announces New Fuel Standard for Automakers-

President Obama recently announced an agreement that will boost the fuel efficiency of cars and light duty trucks by almost double! The United Auto Workers (UAW), along with 13 major automakers and the State of California have joined forces and set the new standard of 54.5 miles per gallon, which will take effect between 2017 and 2025. According to the White House, Americans will save a collective $1.7 trillion in costs at the pump, with an average family saving more than $8,000 per vehicle over a few years. President Obama commented that the deal “represents the single most important step we’ve ever taken as a nation to reduce our dependence on foreign oil”. Fuel savings and a reduction in oil consumption aren’t the only pluses, though, as the new standard will also reportedly decrease CO2 pollution by a whopping 6 billion metric tons. While this certainly is a giant step in the right direction, I’d really like to see the current administration push for federal incentives for alternative fuel and electric vehicles to not only benefit the environment but also allow for a broader scope of manufacturing career opportunities in America.

Consumer Reports Releases Best New Cars for Fuel Efficiency-

While its exciting to finally see that mass-produced electric vehicles are hitting the mainstream market, its not yet practical for everyone to own one. We Americans are (unfortunately) becoming increasingly more familiar with the pain of the pump. I know some people dropping up to 100 bucks on one tank of gas… and that can be pretty awful when you’re having to fill up every other day. Remembering back to when I first got my drivers license back in 2000, it was unheard of to pay more than $1.75 for a gallon. Now with the deep-seated greed of major oil and gas distributors today and wars going on all over the world, it appears that volatile gas prices are here to stay. So there’s the bad news. The good news, though, is that you can avoid giving over your entire paycheck to the Arco around the corner and go with a car that’s fully electric if the range works for you, alternative fuel-powered, or at least more fuel efficient. Consumer Reports recently released its top 18 picks for the best fuel efficient models of 2011 (although all-electric and alt-fuel vehicles aren’t mentioned), and we listed the top 10 below:

 
 
➢ Toyota Prius IV – 32/55
➢ Smart ForTwo Passion – 30/44
➢ Honda Insight EX – 29/45
➢ Volkswagen Golf TDI (MT) – 27/49
➢ Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI (MT) – 25/49
➢ Honda CR-Z EX (MT) – 26/45
➢ Toyota Camry Hybrid – 28/41
➢ Scion xD (MT) – 25/40
➢ Ford Fusion Hybrid – 25/40
➢ Mazda2 Sport (MT) – 25/40
 
 
 
Note: Top 10 cars are listed in order of ranking. MPG’s listed are based on city/highway. For the full list, go here.

Department of Energy Collaborates with Industry Experts to Accelerate Advanced Green Technologies-

Steven Chu of the Department of Energy has announced a collaboration with industry experts to speed up the development of technologically advanced green vehicles, dubbed U.S. DRIVE. Formerly called the FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership, U.S. DRIVE – Driving Research and Innovation for Vehicle efficiency and Energy sustainability – will bring leading tech experts from the DOE, the national laboratories, and industry partners together to develop strategic goals and evaluate a wide variety of advanced vehicle and energy infrastructure technologies. “Government-industry partnerships like U.S. DRIVE can quicken the pace at which affordable, fuel-efficient vehicles reach and succeed in the commercial market,” said U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu. “By bringing together the best and brightest in government and the automobile, electric utility, and fuels industries, we can develop promising, innovative technologies that move rapidly from the lab into cars on the road, along with the infrastructure to support them.”

The full list of U.S. DRIVE partners include:

·Electric utility industry – DTE Energy, Southern California Edison, and the Electric Power Research Institute

U.S. DRIVE partners promise to collaborate on an in-depth analysis of advanced automotive and energy infrastructure technologies, including but not limited to battery and electric drive components, fuel cells, hydrogen technologies, advanced combustion engines and more efficient materials. A DOE press release states, “Not only will the efforts under the partnership contribute to reducing our nation’s dependence on oil, they will also lower carbon pollution and help to secure U.S. leadership globally in the development of innovative, clean energy technologies for the transportation sector.” While I’m not entirely sure as to what role big oil and gas companies could possibly play in an endeavor toward conserving resources, it will be interesting to see how this pans out.

Scientists Develop New Global Positioning Technology to Help Save Money for Commuters-

U. of Illinois scientists have announced a new global positioning system (GPS) development that calculates the most fuel-efficient route for drivers. The “green” GPS can be operated using data-connected smart phones and interconnects to the vehicle’s onboard diagnostic system using a standard wireless adapter. The vehicle’s onboard computer will calculate engine performance and fuel efficiency and upload it onto the phone to gauge the best streets to take for enhanced fuel economy. During research trials, scientists determined that the green technology saves 6 percent more fuel over the shortest route and 13 percent over the fastest. The GPS devices will be used on roughly 200 fleet vehicles on the Urbana-Champaign campus. “Currently at least 30 percent of total energy in the United States is spent on cars,” said Principal Investigator Tarek Abdelzaher, associate professor of computer science and researcher in the Coordinated Science Laboratory. “By saving even five percent of that cost, we can save the same amount of total energy spent on the nation’s entire information technology infrastructure.”

GSA Swaps Federal Fleet for Advanced Technology Cars-

The Government Services Administration (GSA), a department that purchases cars for federal bureaus to lease, recently announced that all the new cars bought in 2011 consume 21 percent less fuel than the vehicles that were replaced. On average, the MPG for the new fleet has jumped from 19.1 in 2010 to 23.4 this year. This step toward more enhanced environmental conservation on part of the GSA is mainly thanks to an executive order signed by President Obama in 2009, which required that all U.S. government fleet vehicles be at least 30 percent more fuel efficient by the year 2020. The administration has swapped out 35,000 fleet vehicles thus far and 22,000 of those use advanced technology (fuel cell, E85, EV, and hybrid). By 2015, it is mandated that all federal fleet vehicles must use advanced technology. The new cars are estimated to save 2.4 million gallons of fuel and $9 million taxpayer dollars every year.