Can Michigan become the Silicon Valley of mobility? Ford Motor Company executive chairman Bill Ford seems to think so. He’s calling for policy reform to make this happen, pointing at the integration of communications and vehicle technologies as key to solving urban mobility challenges while creating more high-tech Michigan jobs in the process. These aren’t […]
The auto field has seen interesting twists and turns over the years as it has explored the use of alternative fuels and advanced technologies to improve environmental performance. I have witnessed the ebb and flow of focus on fuels ranging from hydrogen, methanol, ethanol, propane, and natural gas to battery electric, gasoline-electric hybrid, plug-in hybrid, […]
CODA Automotive has been selected as one of 40 businesses to be profiled in The GOOD Company Project, a collaboration between the integrated media platform GOOD and IBM. The GOOD Company Project highlights 40 businesses for their positive contributions toward economic and social improvement. Over the past few months, CODA has delivered its first fleet vehicle […]
Enterprise Holdings, parent of the Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental, and Alamo Rent A Car brands, specializes in renting cars at airports and in neighborhood locations across the country. While best known for its ubiquitous rentals like Chevy Impalas and Toyota Corollas, in some markets drivers can choose ‘green’ models ranging from Toyota Prius and […]
Two electric Mitsubishi race cars will compete in this year's annual running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado Springs, Colorado this July. One of these will be an essentially stock version of the 2012 Mitsubishi i with a more aerodynamic front bumper, roll cage, and safety equipment, which will be driven by […]
Okay, let’s admit it. We’ve come to depend on electronics in our lives and indispensible devices of all sorts have transitioned from our homes and pockets to our cars. So it’s no surprise that automakers and accessory companies have recognized the importance of making this an easy and convenient transition for us. Hands-free, Bluetooth, and […]
Abundant domestic supplies, low emissions and cost, and activities by Clean Energy Fuels are bringing clean natural gas to our highways at an accelerated pace
Toyota has a long history in developing electric drive vehicles. Nobody can dispute its unparalleled success at dominating the gasoline-electric hybrid market with its venerable Prius, or how this success has led to a family of highly-efficient vehicles under a Prius sub-brand. Now the automaker has unveiled its new RAV4 EV that’s been developed in […]
According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s latest ‘Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and Fuel Economy Trends’ report, cylinder deactivation is an increasingly popular way to net greater efficiency from a V-6 or V-8 engine. However, the technology is largely bypassing passenger cars. Cylinder deactivation was found in 38 percent of all pickups, 17 percent […]
Our friend Carroll Shelby, who passed away at age 89, will be remembered by many for his racing wins early in his career including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, plus his skillful ability to craft some of the most notable street-legal sports cars ever made. The Shelby Cobra and Shelby Mustangs are top-of-mind among […]
Alternative fuel vehicles are increasingly finding their way to racing as a way of promoting the breed to consumers. Most of these are competition cars. Now, for the first time a compressed natural gas (CNG) car has found its way to a NASCAR race as an official pace car. A Honda Civic Natural Gas sedan […]
Performance has historically been a huge touchstone for the Dodge brand. These days, though, this is defined in ways other than pure power and acceleration, with environmental performance at the top of many lists. The revival of the legacy Dodge Dart nameplate for the 2013 model year aims squarely at this ‘new’ performance. This car […]
The sub-compact BMW X1 premium sport activity vehicle (SAV) combines the utility of an SAV with the driving dynamics of a BMW sports sedan. This combination has already proved popular in markets outside the U.S. Now the X1 is heading to our shores this coming fall. The U.S. version gets some unique updates for American drivers […]
While the 2012 Kia Rio is not EPA rated at 50 mpg, that’s not to say this efficiency can’t be achieved, as the Green Car Journal - FrugalDriver.com team illustrated during a recent Kia fuel economy drive from Miami to Key West in Florida. The goal was to post the highest mpg among a media […]
Audi’s focus on electrified transportation is showcased in its series of e-tron concepts, all very sophisticated approaches to developing future production vehicles for varying classes from city cars to high-performance sports cars. The latest, the A6 L e-tron plug-in hybrid concept, is a foray into the luxury market. This e-tron exercise is based on the […]
I am excited to update you on the recent progress that we’re making at Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) and San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) in the compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle market. This technology is here now, and the future is bright! I’m extremely bullish about natural gas as a transportation fuel. […]
Natural gas pickup choices are growing with the addition of a CNG powered pickup from Ram Truck. The dual-fuel Ram 2500 Heavy Duty CNG pickup, offered exclusively as a Crew Cab 4x4 model on a 169-inch wheelbase, is designed to run on either compressed natural gas or gasoline. The transition from natural gas to gasoline […]
Cars are going ‘green’. So are auto manufacturers. Why not the retailers that sell us our cars? Honda figures that makes perfect sense so it has launched its new Environmental Leadership Awards for designated ‘Green Dealers.’ The program honors independently-owned Honda dealers that have reduced their environmental impact by reaching specified thresholds of decreased water […]