GM’s recent “230″ PR campaign (previously covered HERE and HERE) has certainly caused a lot of controversy, most of it centered on the fact that the EPA initially “backed away” from the automaker’s optimistic (?) Chevy Volt mileage claims.

Despite the fact that the 230 mpg rating will likely stand (once GM gets a final-production Volt into the hands of the EPA, that is), so much attention has been paid to the matter that the good in charge at Progressive’s Automotive X PRIZE decided it was time to chime in, asking “Is MPG still relevant?”

Short answer:  No.

Read the X Prize group’s long(er) answer, and learn about their proposed MPGe rating system, after the jump.

Read more of this story »

With the focus being shifted to creating a vehicle that meets people’s needs in conjunction with other modes of transport, the experience of driving it enhanced by currently useful information, and the profit centered on the services rather than the product itself, this is a radical shift from tightly reigned intellectual property, proprietary after market parts, and a rather slow development curve when it comes to becoming a truly green car.

The thinking about and creation of the c,mm,n car is being done both online and in person, with the three c,mm,n garages happening so far. 800+ people are on their wiki, with 80 actively participating in conception and design at the moment.

What’s the actual car like?

Read more of this story »

India’s Tata group has announced that the world’s cheapest car, the Nano, will roll out of its car plant with a price tag of just 100,000 rupees - £1,350 or $2,000 - and will be exported to richer nations, beginning with Europe, in two years.

Read more of this story »

A huge increase in China’s demand for rubber is leading to the destruction of vast swathes of the country’s precious old-growth forests, and could cause irreversible environmental damage.

The shocking findings have been revealed in a new study by scientists at the Chinese Academy of Science’s flagship conservation institute, the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG). The team have discovered that China is producing a third more rubber than it was in 2007 to feed its booming automobile and tyre industries, which has led to an astronomical rise in the number of rubber plantations.

According to one of the scientists, “We will soon hit the wall in an ecological credit crunch. This is hardly a viable investment.”

Read more of this story »

It really isn’t as weird as it first sounds. Think about how hard it is to crack a coconut. From AboutMyPlanet:

Preliminary reports show that coconut replacements can easily meet most of the industry’s requirements and that the mechanical properties are just as good as there synthetic counterparts. Coconuts apart from being an environmentally friendly alternative do not burn very well or emit toxic fumes, which is one of the specifications in passing tests required for their certification as commercial automotive parts.

This could be huge for not just the car industry, but also coconut farmers around the world, most of whom are living in poverty. You can read more about coconut cars here.

Picture via algojo at sxc.hu.

A team of researchers at Baylor University, Texas, have figured out a way to make car parts from coconuts, opening the door to the replacement of environmentally damaging plastic with an abundant, renewable resource.

The team have also created biodiesel from coconut oil, and are confident the new fuel could be an economically viable substitute for gasoline, as well as a vital source of income for more than ten million coconut farmers worldwide struggling on tiny annual incomes, typically as little as $500.

Read more of this story »

When I say the name Fiat, what comes to mind? If you’re American, the words, “Fix It Again, Tony” may come to mind, recalling the days when Fiats were a more common sight on these shores, and had a less than stellar reputation for reliability. But if you’re in Europe, a very different set of words may come to mind: Efficient. Stylish. Innovative.

Really?

Yes. The latest example of that is EcoDrive. What is it, aside from a catchy name? It’s an application that analyzes how you drive, and tells you how you can improve it. This backseat driver has a motivation: Helping you save gas, money, and reduce emissions, on vehicles whose average CO2 emissions are the lowest in Europe.

How?

Read more of this story »

The automotive industry has long used recycled metals in production. But now, with costs rising in every facet of production, recycled plastics are a new offset that the industry can rely on to help keep them afloat. But recycling plastics isn’t as simple as recycling metal.

Read more of this story »

Arthur Shopenhauer said “All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.”

Above you see three cars, the Tesla Roadster, Wrightspeed X1 and the Tango… the Tesla in particular because of the company’s comparitively deep pockets, which would be in the Violently Opposed Stage (by the majors anyway). Anyone venture a guess when these cars will enter the Self-evident Stage?

All three were in Palo Alto recently… What a treat to see three of the most impressive in one spot! Almost got a ride in the X1… almost. Drat!

Photos by Gerry Gaydos.

Fact: Idling for more than 10 seconds damages the engine, emits more air pollution, and of course costs more money in the long run than turning the car off and back on again. This is true for all cars built since the 1970s with a catalytic converter.

And yet…

• » See also: Solar Energy - Neighbors Band Together in Denver to Get Group Discounts on Solar
• » Get EcoWorldly by RSS or sign up by email.

Idling in the developing world

Oddly enough, in the “developing” world, idling your car is not only accepted, it’s a national pastime.

Here in South Korea, a country where oil is at a premium for lack of any domestic reserves, the belief seems to be, “an idle car is a happy car.” Men, especially, have a love affair with the idle car. Perhaps it says, “Hey, ladies… I have money to burn.” Perhaps it’s just a lack of knowledge about car maintenance and air pollution; perhaps it’s a lack of concern.

The problem of idling is even more severe in countries where oil is not at a premium. On my last visit to Venezuela, I spoke with a man named Pedro, who drives charter mini-buses for a living. I asked him why he idles his mini-buses for hours instead of turning off the engine. He smiled proudly. Why shouldn’t he idle his mini-buses? After all, in Venezuela, petrol is cheaper than water.

So here again, idling is a sign of wealth. It’s a case of “waste to show you want not.”

Legal penalties for idling

You may not know it, but your city, county, state, or province may be one of the many with a fine for idling a car.

In the county of Denver, Colorado, idling a car for 10 minutes could land you a fine of no less than $999 and/or imprisonment for one year. A similar penalty of one grand and a year in the slammer applies to anyone in the county of St. Louis, Missouri for idling a car for just 3 minutes. See a list of idling laws in the United States here.

In Canada, of course, fines are less draconian. Idle a car for 3 minutes in Surrey, a city within the Metro Vancouver area in British Columbia, and you’ll get “dinged” $50.

Were these laws news to you? That’s because there’s clearly a disconnect between the laws and their enforcement. Start arresting St. Louis residents for idling and you’ll have a lot of ticked off Missourians. And who really wants a lot of ticked off Missourians?

The answer, as always, is better education about the true costs of idling.

Resources:

Green automotive reading: Gas 2.0

Idling Myths and Facts | Lowering Emissions and Particulates

Turn Off Your Engine! | Environmental Defense Fund

2008 Idle Laws by State | Scribd

Car Batteries

When you purchase a new car battery at the auto parts store, you'll pay a deposit. You'll get this money back when you return your old battery for proper handling. Due to such a "successful collaboration among members of the battery industry, retailers and consumers," lead-acid batteries have the highest recycling rate of all consumer products.

Motor Oil

If you change your own motor oil, collect and store the old oil in a sturdy plastic container and take it to a recycling center. Visit Earth911 to find earth-friendly DIY oil change tips. Check with your municipality to find a location that will accept it, or check with your local oil change businesses and auto parts stores.

Used motor oil still has value - make sure it gets recycled. It can be reprocessed and used in furnaces or to generate electricity. By recycling 2 gallons of oil, you'll help create enough energy to run the average household for 24 hours. For more information, visit RecycleOil.org.

Tires

Never throw tires into the trash or dump. Bring them to a tire retailer or wholesaler who will be able to recycle or retread them. There, the experts will decide to resell tires that are still safe for use or recondition tires (retread) that can be used for more time. If the tires are completely spent, they will shred or melt them for reuse into items such as playgrounds or roads.

Visit Earth911 to find locations near you to recycle these items and many more. If you have kids, check out Recycle City.

Rebecca says: My husband recently changed our car battery on his own, saving us about 50 bucks and causing me to be uber-impressed. We brought the old battery back to the store and received our $10 deposit back.