Month: November 2009

Fuel Economy Increases 9 Percent in United States

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For the fifth consecutive year, EPA is reporting an increase in fuel efficiency with a corresponding decrease in average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions for new cars and light duty trucks. Average CO2 emissions have decreased by 39 grams per mile, or 8 percent, and average fuel economy has increased by 1.8 mpg, or 9 percent, since 2004. While the Senate debates if it is possible to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. by 17 percent by 2020 from the 2005 level, Americans already have us half the way there. Americans are cutting car use with flexwork, car pooling, and transit. Gas guzzlers are being replaced with fuel misers and even electric cars.

$620 Million for Smart Grid and Energy Storage Projects will spur Renewables

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DOE awards $620 million for projects around the country to demonstrate advanced Smart Grid technologies and integrated systems that will help build a smarter, more efficient, more resilient electrical grid. Electric cars will be smart charged and lithium batteries reused in grid demonstrations. These 32 projects include large-scale energy storage which will enable wind and solar power to be delivered when needed. Projects include most states and over 50 utilities serving over 100 million Americans.

Electric Cars Facilitate Smart Grid 2.0

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The electric car will help make the smart grid relevant to consumers. Right now most cars use inefficient engines fueled with gasoline or diesel. In the coming decades, many cars will use electricity. With a smart grid, renewable energy will do much of the charging. New electric cars from Nissan, Toyota, GM, Ford and others will use a charging standard J1772. The new charging units at home and work will include a smart meter chip. When a driver plugs-in, charging will follow preferences pre-established by the car owner. Many will prefer to save money and charge at night when rates are cheaper.

Toyota Expands Hybrid Car Models

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Toyota is the only car maker to have sold over one million hybrid cars in the United States. Hybrid sales are pushing 10 percent in Japan and even higher in some U.S. cities. Toyota will start volume manufacturing of the Plug-in Prius in 2012. Toyota will also start selling the less expensive 2-door FT-EV, a pure battery electric car. In the U.S. in 2012 Toyota will face intense EV competition with Nissan, Ford, and dozens of innovative younger companies such as Tesla.

PG&E to Smart Charge 219,000 Electric Cars

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This year, Newsweek ranked PG&E the greenest utility in the country due to its strong commitment to customer energy efficiency programs and renewable energy (RE) programs. 219,000 and 845,000 electric cars will be charged by this one utility by 2020, as renewable energy starts to replace gasoline as the preferred fill-up. Although smart charging provides for two-way communication, electricity will only be delivered one-way from the grid to the vehicle.

2010 Honda Insight Test Drive

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Driving the Honda Insight was smooth and quiet even when I went up a sustained 16 percent grade, demonstrating that its electric motor is quite effective in blending power with the 98 hp engine. The new 2010 Honda Insight EX demonstrated plenty of performance and hill climbing when I drove it in Monterey, California. It is rated 43 mpg highway and 40 mpg city.

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid Test Drive

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The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid easily seats five, has plenty of trunk storage, and delivers better mileage than 80 percent of hybrids due to Ford’s impressive hybrid drive system. Driving along the ocean and through windy forest roads in Monterey, California, the car delivered a smooth and solid ride. The Fusion Hybrid invites you to efficiently drive from point A to point B while consuming as little gasoline as possible.

Mini Cooper Test Drive

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On a 20 mile test drive along the ocean in Monterey, California, it was all fun behind the wheel of the MINI Cooper Convertible. If you want to enjoy driving, consider the MINI. If you need to seat more than two adults, be aware that the backseat practically touches the front. Cargo space is minimal. If your household has two or more cars, the MINI would be a fun second car with great fuel economy.

2010 Toyota Prius delivers the Best Mileage

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The 2010 Toyota Prius continues to deliver the best mileage in the United States. It will get you to work using less gasoline than the others. Accelerate on an expressway with power to spare. You can seat up to five, or drop the back seat and carry lots of business stuff, extras for a vacation, or bicycles and snow boards. Over a decade, Toyota has learned and improved, giving the new Prius record fuel economy and more room inside. The Prius continues to outsell all other hybrids.