Green Options » detroit http://greenoptions.com/tag/detroit Posts tagged 'detroit' Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:53:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 en Tokyo Auto Show: Honda CR-Z Hybrid Coming To America http://gas2.org/2009/10/22/tokyo-auto-show-honda-cr-z-hybrid-coming-to-america/ http://gas2.org/2009/10/22/tokyo-auto-show-honda-cr-z-hybrid-coming-to-america/#comments Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:53:08 +0000 Christopher DeMorro http://gas2.org/2009/10/22/tokyo-auto-show-honda-cr-z-hybrid-coming-to-america/

I don’t normally get excited about hybrids. They’re pretty humdrum if you ask me, and I was into performance vehicles way before I was into alternative fuels. The Prius is boring, the Fusion is just a Fusion, and the Insight and downright ugly.

But Honda seems to have been listening, having announced that the aggressively styled CR-Z concept hatch will make it into production as a 2011 model for Japan and America. This is a hybrid car I could actually see myself driving.

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]]> http://gas2.org/2009/10/22/tokyo-auto-show-honda-cr-z-hybrid-coming-to-america/feed/ 150 MPG “Algaeus” Plug-In Prius To Cruise Coast-to-Coast On Algae Fuel http://gas2.org/2009/09/01/150-mpg-algaeus-plug-in-prius-to-cruise-coast-to-coast-on-algae-fuel/ http://gas2.org/2009/09/01/150-mpg-algaeus-plug-in-prius-to-cruise-coast-to-coast-on-algae-fuel/#comments Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:03:58 +0000 Christopher DeMorro http://gas2.org/2009/09/01/150-mpg-algaeus-plug-in-prius-to-cruise-coast-to-coast-on-algae-fuel/

In an effort to drum up attention and support for their algae-based biofuel, Sapphire Energy has announced they will conduct a coast-to-coast journey in their “Algaeus” plug-in hybrid. Part electric hybrid, part biofuel vehicle, Sapphire claimes the Algaeus will get 150 miles per gallon from its hybrid/biofuel drivetrain.

The Algaeus will visit 10 cities, starting in San Francisco on September 8th and ending in New York City on the 18th.

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]]> http://gas2.org/2009/09/01/150-mpg-algaeus-plug-in-prius-to-cruise-coast-to-coast-on-algae-fuel/feed/ Inspired Economist: Pick of the Week http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/08/31/inspired-economist-pick-of-the-week-13/ http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/08/31/inspired-economist-pick-of-the-week-13/#comments Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:20:01 +0000 Reenita Malhotra http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/08/31/inspired-economist-pick-of-the-week-13/  

This column highlights the top economic stories of the week.

While Detroit has benefited from Cash for Clunkers, foreign automakers have gained even more. Some critics of the program warned that because it let consumers buy domestic or foreign cars, Clunkers could end up spending more American tax dollars to help foreign companies than American ones. More on this story here.

With irresponsible banking practices taking the blame for bringing about the global economic crisis, there has been a surge of interest in Islamic finance.Now, a slew of academic courses are springing up to meet the demand of those wanting to break into an expanding market. According to ratings agency Moody’s, the global Islamic finance sector is worth $700 billion and has the potential to be worth $4 trillion. More on this story here.

n an effort to curb solid waste pollution, China banned the import of scrap polysilicon at the beginning of August, an effort supported by its current environmental laws according to its Environmental Protection Ministry. Scrap polysilicon is a low-grade form of silicon not pure enough to use in microchips. However, it can be used as a component of solar wafers, which contain a variety of types of silicon, including up to 30% scrap polysilicon. More on this story here.

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]]> http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/08/31/inspired-economist-pick-of-the-week-13/feed/ The Race to an EV Future: Being First to an Electric Vehicle Grid http://gas2.org/2009/04/29/the-race-to-an-ev-future-being-first-to-an-electric-vehicle-grid/ http://gas2.org/2009/04/29/the-race-to-an-ev-future-being-first-to-an-electric-vehicle-grid/#comments Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:19:23 +0000 Gavin Newsom http://gas2.org/2009/04/29/the-race-to-an-ev-future-being-first-to-an-electric-vehicle-grid/ Gavin Newsom EV

Editor’s Note: This is San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom’s second post on electric vehicles for Gas 2.0. It’s a direct response to Portland Mayor Sam Adams, who announced that his city would be the first to develop the charging infrastructure to support full-scale electric vehicle deployment. We expect to hear back from Mayor Adam’s later today - don’t miss it). UPDATE: Mayor Adam’s has posted his response. See video of his declaration to make Portland EV capitol of the US.

As car companies lined up in Washington, DC last November for the first round of federal bailout money – in San Francisco we announced another way – our comprehensive plan to make the San Francisco Bay Area the “Electric Vehicle (EV) Capital of the US.”

Our efforts to advance electric vehicles are not limited to San Francisco. We’ve engaged the entire Bay Area – a region of 7.3 million people – to make our region the cornerstone of the coming market for EVs. Not just governments, but key companies, business associations, policy advocates, and international car and EV infrastructure companies are all working together to make the San Francisco Bay Area the EV Capital of the U.S.

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]]> http://gas2.org/2009/04/29/the-race-to-an-ev-future-being-first-to-an-electric-vehicle-grid/feed/ GM Accelerates Restructuring. Glimmers of Hope for Chrysler. http://gas2.org/2009/04/27/gm-accelerates-restructuring-glimmers-of-hope-for-chrysler/ http://gas2.org/2009/04/27/gm-accelerates-restructuring-glimmers-of-hope-for-chrysler/#comments Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:35:15 +0000 Nick Chambers http://gas2.org/2009/04/27/gm-accelerates-restructuring-glimmers-of-hope-for-chrysler/

In the last weeks, GM has increased the intensity of its internal dialogue and negotiations with the Obama Administration to keep from being killed off. A summary of where GM is as of right now:

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]]> http://gas2.org/2009/04/27/gm-accelerates-restructuring-glimmers-of-hope-for-chrysler/feed/ Hummer H3 Plugin Hybrid Gets 100 MPG, Kicks Prius Butt http://gas2.org/2009/04/21/hummer-h3-plugin-hybrid-gets-100-mpg-kicks-prius-butt/ http://gas2.org/2009/04/21/hummer-h3-plugin-hybrid-gets-100-mpg-kicks-prius-butt/#comments Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:54:05 +0000 Jerry James Stone http://gas2.org/2009/04/21/hummer-h3-plugin-hybrid-gets-100-mpg-kicks-prius-butt/

While we wait to see if General Motors will go banko come June 1, Raser Technologies is hoping to change our minds about one of GM’s most iconic offerings: the Humvee.

During the upcoming 2009 SAE World Congress (Detroit, April 20 - 24) the company plans to unveil a Hummer H3 Range-Extended Electric Vehicle (ReEV) prototype. The vehicle is designed, first and foremost, as a purely electric vehicle with a drive train similar to the Voltec system in the Chevrolet Volt.

“We are resurrecting the Hummer,” David West, vice president of marketing for Raser Technologies said, adding that “It’s like a Volt on steroids.”

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]]> http://gas2.org/2009/04/21/hummer-h3-plugin-hybrid-gets-100-mpg-kicks-prius-butt/feed/ Wind Energy Industry Brings Badly Needed Jobs to Detroit http://cleantechnica.com/2009/04/10/wind-energy-industry-brings-badly-needed-jobs-to-detroit/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/04/10/wind-energy-industry-brings-badly-needed-jobs-to-detroit/#comments Fri, 10 Apr 2009 20:45:28 +0000 Timothy B. Hurst http://cleantechnica.com/2009/04/10/wind-energy-industry-brings-badly-needed-jobs-to-detroit/ wind turbine blade

Wind turbine manufacturer Global Wind Systems announced today that it will be hiring 250 new employees to work in the company’s new wind turbine assembly plant in Novi, Michigan, thirty miles west of Detroit. The news brings a ray of hope for a regional economy struggle under the weight of a sinking auto industry.

In December, Global Wind Systems received $7.3 million in tax credits from the Michigan Economic Growth Authority in December to create 256 direct jobs over six years. Founder and CEO of Global Wind Systems, Chris Long told the Detroit News that he hopes to almost double that number of jobs in just two years.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/04/10/wind-energy-industry-brings-badly-needed-jobs-to-detroit/feed/ San Francisco Mayor Takes Detroit to Task For Electric Car Failures http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/04/07/san-francisco-mayor-takes-detroit-to-task-for-electric-car-failures/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/04/07/san-francisco-mayor-takes-detroit-to-task-for-electric-car-failures/#comments Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:49:14 +0000 Nick Chambers http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/04/07/san-francisco-mayor-takes-detroit-to-task-for-electric-car-failures/

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is in it to win it today. After earlier defending San Francisco from Oregon’s plan to overtake the Bay Area as the EV capital of the world, news hit the wire that Mayor Newsom struck hard at Detroit for killing their electric vehicle programs and lacking the vision to move beyond hybrids.

At conference on the future of the auto industry sponsored by Newsweek, Mayor Newsom remarked:

“With respect to Detroit, it is not good enough to advance by 2012 an ambitious strategy of having 14 different models at GM of hybrids — when hybrids are yesterday’s technology. Hybrids have been on the market since 1999. The car industry must be reinvented and automakers must move quicker to plug-in hybrids.”

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]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/04/07/san-francisco-mayor-takes-detroit-to-task-for-electric-car-failures/feed/ Greening Foreclosures: Buy a Home in Detroit for $40 http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/03/30/greening-foreclosures-buy-a-home-in-detroit-for-40-and-turn-it-into-a-green-urban-space/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/03/30/greening-foreclosures-buy-a-home-in-detroit-for-40-and-turn-it-into-a-green-urban-space/#comments Mon, 30 Mar 2009 08:36:08 +0000 Jennifer Lance http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/03/30/greening-foreclosures-buy-a-home-in-detroit-for-40-and-turn-it-into-a-green-urban-space/ This foreclosed home costs $40 in DetroitAlong with the rest of the country suffering from the mortgage crisis, Detroit has seen more than its fair share of foreclosures. Coupled with a failing American auto industry, the Motor City has been hit hard by the current recession.  The national rate for home foreclosures is one in 300, yet Detroit has the highest home foreclosure rate in the country.  Since 2000, Detroit has lost over 150,000 jobs to downsizing in the auto parts and auto industry.  Michigan also has the highest percentage of subprime mortgages in the US, and the state suffers from the highest unemployment rate in the union.

So how much does a foreclosed home in Detroit cost?  Two weeks ago, you could buy a home for $1 in the city. Today the lowest price I could find was $40.

That’s right, you can buy a bank owned home in Detroit for only $40.

Of course, homes for these low prices may have fire damage or boarded up windows, but it is still a house sitting on a lot.

Another shocking statistic from Detroit is that the average price of a home is almost equitable to a year’s worth of auto insurance.  According to the Macomb Daily:

Because the neighborhoods and housing stock in the city have deteriorated so dramatically, the median sale price for a foreclosed home in Detroit has dipped to $7,750. At the same time, auto theft, insurance fraud and vehicle burglaries are so rampant that the average car insurance policy carries a price tag of $5,072.

The city’s morale has dipped so low that only 14 percent of voters turned out for the big mayoral election in February, and two-thirds of children drop out of high school.  What could we do to boost moral in Detroit?  We could buy up foreclosed homes and lots and turn them into green urban spaces.

By turning foreclosed homes into nature preserves and parks, Detroit could undergo a green urban renewal that would mitigate environmental damage the auto industry has done and improve the health of its citizens.  Recent studies have also shown how inner city children that grow up in neighborhoods full of green spaces grow up healthier and happier:

This study’s findings align with previous research linking exposure to green landscapes with health improvements.  Among adults, greenness is associated with less stress and lower [body mass index], improved self-reported health and shorter post-operative recovery periods. Among children and youth, the positive health effects of green landscapes include improved cognitive functioning and reduced attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms.

Another study has shown that crime rates go up in cities when the landscape is barren of nature.

Turning foreclosed homes into parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and urban gardens could be just what the Motor City needs to revitalize itself.  Considering the price of these foreclosed homes, it would be affordable for any grassroots organization to undertake.  I volunteer to buy a home and donate to any group willing to take on this challenge.

Image: Realtor.com

The V-8 combustion engine has been replaced by a small stand-alone 4 cylinder 2.0L engine which is only connected to the 100 kW Symetron PM Synchronous generator, and not the drive system. The engine is used only generate electricity and recharge the batteries when the vehicle drives beyond its 40 mile battery range and the lithium ion batteries are spent.

Three liquid cooled lithium ion battery packs are mounted between the frame rails and can be charged with a standard 110-volt household outlet. For a quicker charging 220-volt outlets are also supported. A full charge will take between 3 and 10 hours.

This plugin hybrid drive-system was designed by Raser Technologies, but developed by FEV, Inc. But is a 100 mpg Hummer enough to change the minds of the 30,000 industry specialists, engineers and business leaders who will be attending SAE?

No gas is used up to 40 miles. At 50 miles a day, the vehicle would still get 185 miles to the gallon. For 60 it’s 100 miles per gallon and over 200 miles the miles per gallon goes down to 33.

“Our goal in exhibiting this particular vehicle is to demonstrate that electric vehicle technology is a viable solution for a variety of vehicle platforms,” said Gary Rogers, FEV, Inc. president and CEO. “Needs of consumers will continue to vary, and the Hummer range-extended electric vehicle shows that fuel economy does not necessarily mean sacrificing power and utility.”

As of yet, there has been no talk of funding but I suspect that will come up during SAE. Raser hopes to have 2,000 of these things on the road by the end of 2010. Wired.com reports that Pacific Gas & Electric has already requested two of them.

Hey, only 1,998 more to go!

Don’t forget to see this throwback, the post that put Gas 2.0 on the map: Car Hacker’s Hummer Gets 60 MPG

Source [Wired.com]

]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/03/30/greening-foreclosures-buy-a-home-in-detroit-for-40-and-turn-it-into-a-green-urban-space/feed/ What Shade Of ‘Green’ Vehicle Does America Want? http://gas2.org/2009/02/11/what-shade-of-green-vehicle-does-america-want/ http://gas2.org/2009/02/11/what-shade-of-green-vehicle-does-america-want/#comments Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:49:40 +0000 Robert Moffitt http://gas2.org/2009/02/11/what-shade-of-green-vehicle-does-america-want/

I was recently glancing through the Washington Post, when the headline, “Green Is In The Eye Of The Beholder,” caught my eye — mostly because I have been wondering a similar question question as of late: What, exactly, makes a vehicle “green?”

It seems there are as many answers as there are shades of green. But, ultimately, the question all automakers need to figure out the answer to — especially the Big Three in Detroit — is which variety of environmentally friendly vehicles do Americans really want?

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]]> http://gas2.org/2009/02/11/what-shade-of-green-vehicle-does-america-want/feed/ Audi’s Clean Diesel A3 TDI Coming To The US http://gas2.org/2009/01/31/audis-clean-diesel-a3-tdi-coming-to-the-us/ http://gas2.org/2009/01/31/audis-clean-diesel-a3-tdi-coming-to-the-us/#comments Sat, 31 Jan 2009 16:00:43 +0000 Jerry James Stone http://gas2.org/2009/01/31/audis-clean-diesel-a3-tdi-coming-to-the-us/

At the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, Audi announced that their Clean Diesel A3 TDI would be available in US by early 2010.

The Audi A3 is by far one of Europe’s cleanest and most fuel-efficient cars, and Audi is hoping the car will kick some major Prius butt. Pitching the car as a hybrid-fighter, Audi is pairing it off against both the Prius and the Honda Insight.

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]]> http://gas2.org/2009/01/31/audis-clean-diesel-a3-tdi-coming-to-the-us/feed/ VW’s Diesel Roadster Gets 54 MPG, Offers Eco-Mode http://gas2.org/2009/01/24/vws-diesel-roadster-gets-54-mpg-offers-eco-mode/ http://gas2.org/2009/01/24/vws-diesel-roadster-gets-54-mpg-offers-eco-mode/#comments Sat, 24 Jan 2009 17:01:59 +0000 Jerry James Stone http://gas2.org/2009/01/24/vws-diesel-roadster-gets-54-mpg-offers-eco-mode/

At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Volkswagen showed off its latest roadster — the BlueSport Concept. The BlueSport features a 177 hp diesel engine with rail injection and a downstream NOx storage catalytic converter, all in a 6-speed DSG dual clutch transmission.

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]]> http://gas2.org/2009/01/24/vws-diesel-roadster-gets-54-mpg-offers-eco-mode/feed/ The Chevy Volt: Coming Soon to a Dealership Near You http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/01/21/the-chevy-volt-coming-soon-to-a-dealership-near-you/ http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/01/21/the-chevy-volt-coming-soon-to-a-dealership-near-you/#comments Wed, 21 Jan 2009 22:05:08 +0000 Lisa Wojnovich http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/01/21/the-chevy-volt-coming-soon-to-a-dealership-near-you/ Chevy VoltLast week at the Detroit auto show, new, battery-powered, green cars reigned supreme. General Motors announced finalized plans for its Chevrolet Volt, which will be on the market in both fully electric and plug-in hybrid forms by late 2010. LG Chem, a South Korean company, won the much anticipated contract to manufacture the Volt’s lithium-ion batteries, beating out several other contenders, including Massachusetts’s A123Systems and Germany’s Continental AG.

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]]> http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/01/21/the-chevy-volt-coming-soon-to-a-dealership-near-you/feed/ Ford Says EcoBoost With a Straight Face http://gas2.org/2009/01/14/ford-says-ecoboost-with-a-straight-face/ http://gas2.org/2009/01/14/ford-says-ecoboost-with-a-straight-face/#comments Wed, 14 Jan 2009 07:12:29 +0000 Marc Rose http://gas2.org/2009/01/14/ford-says-ecoboost-with-a-straight-face/ Well, actually I wasn’t there, at the Detroit Auto Show, but it stands to reason that someone from Ford uttered those words, near a rotating platform, without breaking into a laugh.  I’m willing to go on record, though, with the prediction that Ford’s new engine, the EcoBoost, will bear a new nameplate within two years. In a world fixated on what is sustainable, that name is simply not.

EcoBoost MedallionThe name of Ford’s new V6 engine seems to imply that power is somehow boosted by some naturally occurring and environmentally sustainable green technology, like tree leaves, or a river.  Cars are a long way from being environmentally friendly, regardless of the technology that’s been developed and put into hybrid and electric cars.  Electrical outlets don’t grow own trees, and in fact, much of the electricity we use is powered by coal, not exactly a clean or sustainable technology.

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]]> http://gas2.org/2009/01/14/ford-says-ecoboost-with-a-straight-face/feed/ Chrysler Releases “New” Dodge Circuit Electric Car - Still No Tesla http://gas2.org/2009/01/12/chrysler-releases-new-dodge-circuit-electric-car-shocks-everyone/ http://gas2.org/2009/01/12/chrysler-releases-new-dodge-circuit-electric-car-shocks-everyone/#comments Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:55:43 +0000 Jo Borras http://gas2.org/2009/01/12/chrysler-releases-new-dodge-circuit-electric-car-shocks-everyone/

This has been a Lotus/Chrysler-heavy blog in the past few days, but let’s face it: if you’re talking advanced automotive technology and lightweight engineering, you’re talking about Lotus Cars - and if you’re talking highly-anticipated new electric vehicles at Detroit’s 2009 NAIAS auto show, you’re talking about Chrysler’s ENVI electric-vehicle program.

The car shown above is the Dodge Circuit, which Chrysler promised would be a real step forward from the concept Dodge EV they showed last summer (a UK-only Lotus Europa powered by a 200 kW electric motor that Dodge painted yellow and decorated with cheap vinyl stickers).  I won’t keep you in suspense:  it ain’t.

More - including Chrysler’s official press release and some official photography - after the jump.

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]]> http://gas2.org/2009/01/12/chrysler-releases-new-dodge-circuit-electric-car-shocks-everyone/feed/ Dodge “Developing” Another New Electric Car http://gas2.org/2009/01/09/dodge-developing-another-new-electric-car-for-detroit-show/ http://gas2.org/2009/01/09/dodge-developing-another-new-electric-car-for-detroit-show/#comments Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:14:32 +0000 Jo Borras http://gas2.org/2009/01/09/dodge-developing-another-new-electric-car-for-detroit-show/ Automotive News is reporting that Chrysler is readying an updated version of its Dodge EV concept for the Geneva auto show later this year.

Despite a solid PR launch of Chrysler’s ENVI electric vehicle group, the current Dodge EV is little more than UK-only Lotus Europa with Dodge badges and fly-yellow paint.  This new concept, however, promises to be something more.

From Automotive News:

The Dodge EV shown in September was a Lotus-derived electric sports car. Look for the show version to have more Dodge styling cues and possibly be a four-passenger coupe.

Reading between the lines a bit, then, what can we expect from Chrysler?

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]]> http://gas2.org/2009/01/09/dodge-developing-another-new-electric-car-for-detroit-show/feed/ Utilities Suggest Huge Electric Vehicle Orders http://gas2.org/2008/12/15/utilities-discuss-huge-electric-vehicle-orders/ http://gas2.org/2008/12/15/utilities-discuss-huge-electric-vehicle-orders/#comments Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:07:08 +0000 Susan Kraemer http://gas2.org/2008/12/15/utilities-discuss-huge-electric-vehicle-orders/ Utilities are among the groups now considering mass orders of electric vehicles from the U.S. automobile manufacturing sector, to help the auto companies make the biggest manufacturing realignment since since WWII.

The exploratory discussions are being conducted at top levels and among firms like PG&E who see plug in hybrid and all electric vehicles as a solution to uneven grid loads. Utilities have invested a great deal of research using the vehicle to grid (V2G) capabilities of plugged in electric vehicles to stabilize the grid.

The idea being considered would involve joining together to put in a substantial order to put weight behind development of Plug In Hybrids (PHEVs) and electric vehicles (EVs). The idea is that large fleet orders would provide the certain market car makers need to make the initial move away from fossil fueled vehicles.

With their buying power (they could order 50,000 electric vehicles for their fleets) utilities could provide a solid beginning to switching Detroit to entirely new vehicle markets.

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]]> http://gas2.org/2008/12/15/utilities-discuss-huge-electric-vehicle-orders/feed/ Mercedes to Unveil All Electric Plug-Ins at Detroit Auto Show http://gas2.org/2008/12/13/mercedes-to-unveil-all-electric-plug-ins-at-detroit-auto-show/ http://gas2.org/2008/12/13/mercedes-to-unveil-all-electric-plug-ins-at-detroit-auto-show/#comments Sat, 13 Dec 2008 00:00:58 +0000 Jerry James Stone http://gas2.org/2008/12/13/mercedes-to-unveil-all-electric-plug-ins-at-detroit-auto-show/

Mercedes-Benz plans to unveil all electric plug-ins next month at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, according to Hybrid Cars. All models go zero to sixty in under 11 seconds!

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]]> http://gas2.org/2008/12/13/mercedes-to-unveil-all-electric-plug-ins-at-detroit-auto-show/feed/ $50 Billion CalCars Plan to Jumpstart Detroit Could Save Planet http://inspiredeconomist.com/2008/12/12/50-billion-calcars-plan-to-jumpstart-detroit-could-save-planet/ http://inspiredeconomist.com/2008/12/12/50-billion-calcars-plan-to-jumpstart-detroit-could-save-planet/#comments Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:36:05 +0000 Susan Kraemer http://inspiredeconomist.com/2008/12/12/50-billion-calcars-plan-to-jumpstart-detroit-could-save-planet/ 5 million $10,000 deposits on electric cars = $50 billion

As the age of oil ends we have stopped buying the cars that Detroit makes; so now they don’t have the money to adapt to build the more fuel efficient vehicles that we do need.

CalCars PHEV Prius

Production of near-term solutions, such as the Chevy Volt; which had been on track for 2010 and which could have driven us out of the age of oil –is endangered.

So - an interesting solution that CalCars founder Felix Kramer has proposed would be a way to generate $50 billion for the auto industry and just get us the low carbon driving options America needs, despite the footdragging;

  • Put together 5 million deposits on EVs and PHEV orders at $10,000 each.
  • Give the $50 billion that that would generate to automakers to build the orders.
  • Refund $7,500 to the buyers within a year via the EV tax credits passed in October.
  • Allow orders placed up till next April to count towards the 2008 tax year for tax credits.

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]]> http://inspiredeconomist.com/2008/12/12/50-billion-calcars-plan-to-jumpstart-detroit-could-save-planet/feed/ Auto Bailout Creates Uplift in Monday’s Stock Market http://inspiredeconomist.com/2008/12/08/auto-bailout-creates-uplift-in-mondays-stock-market/ http://inspiredeconomist.com/2008/12/08/auto-bailout-creates-uplift-in-mondays-stock-market/#comments Mon, 08 Dec 2008 15:40:19 +0000 Brenda Keener http://inspiredeconomist.com/2008/12/08/auto-bailout-creates-uplift-in-mondays-stock-market/ FordAlthough many valid arguments have been put forth that the bailout of US automakers is not a positive move - Wall Street appears to think otherwise.   Today’s stock market is showing an early rally with all major indices up.

From CNNMoney.com: “The market now is rallying on hopes that we can begin to stave off massive layoffs in the auto industry,” said Peter Cardillo, analyst for Avalon Partners.

European shares also rose, the pan-European Dow Jones Stoxx 600 index (ST:SXXP: news, chart, profile) showed 5.1% growth to 199.59, but this is still more than 45% lower than its position at this time in 2007.   

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