Indiana-based Bright Automotive has released some pretty impressive performance figures for its technically (and aerodynamically!) slick new IDEA cargo van. Aimed primarily at delivery fleets and in-town rental companies, the freshly-upgraded guppy promises to shave operating costs by thousands of dollars per year, per van.

More pictures, an official company press release, and my own opinions (that nobody asked for) after the jump.

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This is actually old news that recently resurfaced, and as a lifelong Cougar aficionado I can’t pass it up. In actuality, the Mercury Cougar was a refined, “gentleman’s muscle car” based on the 1st generation Mustang. It came standard with a number of gas-guzzling V8 motors including the epic “Boss” 302.

But the pristine-looking 1967 Cougar pictured here has done away with those gas hogs in favor of a Mercedes turbodiesel motor that runs on, you guessed it, biodiesel.

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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.

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Oh GM, I knew you were getting ahead of yourself.

Early this morning, CEO Fritz Henderson claimed thatthe Chevy Volt, a gas-electric plug-in hybrid would earn an EPA-estimated rating of 230 MPG.

But according to Green Car Advisor, the EPA has said no such thing.

Hit the jump to read the EPA’s reply.

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The Jetta TDI claims that it gets 58 miles per gallon (mpg), breaking the record for all current “gasoline” fueled cars, even beating the Toyota Prius - a hybrid. I might have grown skeptical in my old age, but I’m having a hard time swallowing this claim to fuel economy. What, were they driving 20 mph on the highway and never stopping?

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Road testing at Vermont’s Green Mountain College on a pair of souped-up plug-in Toyota Prius hybrids has found the cars returning better than 100 miles per gallon in daily commuting. At times, one car topped 140 MPG.

Steven Letendre (pictured above), economics professor and research scientist at GMC, monitored the travels of his colleague James Harding as he drove a plug-in Prius nine miles each way between the college’s campus in Poultney and his home in Middletown Springs during the fall semester. Letendre said he was “amazed” by Harding’s results.

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But is it really surprising that the industry is in a state of collapse considering they continue to make cars that are increasingly irrelevant to the needs of the rest of the world?

This issue is no better demonstrated than by the US Government’s introduction last year of average fuel consumption targets. The legislation mandates a national passenger car fleet average consumption of 32 mpg by 2015, and 35 mpg by 2020.

Is this progress, or is it too little too late?

According to a recent report the fleet average for Europe was 34.4 mpg in 2007. Putting Europeans practically 14 years ahead of the game. Other major auto markets are similarly ahead.

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Who hasn’t been enraged to read about how Ford and G.M. can make perfectly good little gas sippers in Europe, but just can’t bring themselves to make a fuel efficient car for us back home?

Well, now that they need some funding from us, here’s an idea. Let’s fund Detroit just to set up their efficient European car factories — back here, where they are really needed. Let’s get some better gas mileage out of their money troubles.

Apparently, it only costs $75 million to completely retool a plant, to produce an efficient little car instead of the gas-guzzling behemoth they were fobbing off on us fools all these years.

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Just weeks before the 2008 LA Auto Show, hybrid car and powertrain maker AFS Trinity is pulling out after saying that show management “muzzled” them by disallowing claims that their highly modified Saturn Vue plug-in hybrids can achieve 150 mpg.

In a statement, AFS Trinity said that “carmakers continue to seek tens of billions of taxpayer dollars, ostensibly to develop fuel-efficient vehicle technologies, but their conduct is evidence they are reluctant to embrace solutions they didn’t invent.”

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Toyota’s yet-to-be-unveiled 2010 Prius will have a bigger engine and a higher top speed, but improvements to CO2 emissions and fuel efficiency will take a backseat.

While the company has plans for a hyper-efficient plug-in version of the Prius by 2011, the standard model will make relatively few upgrades to its environmentally-friendly features. “It will be cleaner, with CO2 emissions below 100gm per kilometer,” said Miguel Fonseca, a Toyota managing director. “We could have gone lower but, instead, we have chosen to give the Prius better performance.”

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Via:  Freep.com

In this writer’s opinion, Bright’s IDEA—with its 40+ mpg efficiency and massive cargo room—is the perfect platform for a modern, low-emission RV in the spirit of VW’s classic camper vans (above).

Surely, all the benefits of more cost-effective operation and reduced environmental impact that make Bright’s IDEA van ideally suited for delivering hardware and lumber apply to the RV market as well, and with that market’s B-class “weekend” RVs primarily powered by large conventional V8s and (relatively) low-efficiency diesels, the IDEA van could make a strong case for itself, indeed.

Looks like there’s plenty of room back there, anyway…

If you were to ask John Waters, Bright’s President and CEO, about building an IDEA-based camper, I doubt he’d try to talk you out of it. I’ve already dropped him an email—if I hear back, you can bet I’ll post his response in the comments.

Official press release on the next page…

Bright Automotive Announces Performance Upgrade for Revolutionary 100 MPG IDEA Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle

ANDERSON, IN (October 20, 2009) – Bright Automotive, Inc. today announced new performance figures for the IDEA, its revolutionary plug-in hybrid electric commercial vehicle. The IDEA has been upgraded to deliver 40 miles of all electric range and nearly 40 MPG in standard hybrid mode. Each IDEA vehicle will save typical fleet and government operators 18 cents per mile, reduce gasoline use by 1,500 gallons per year, and reduce CO2 emissions by 16 tons per year.

Assumptions are included below.

“The IDEA enables fleet owners to go even farther in EV mode, creating greater cost and environmental impact savings,” said John E. Waters, CEO and President of Bright Automotive. “Congress and the Administration are demanding change in the auto industry. Bright Automotive is answering the nation’s call by maximizing economic value for our customers through performance and sustainability, while applying the battery electric vehicle tax credits available under current federal policy.”

The performance figures are the result of a new 13kwHr battery pack, which allows the IDEA to operate for 40 miles in charge depletion (EV) mode, and then switch to a class-leading 36 MPG (minimum) charge sustaining (standard hybrid) mode. For many fleet operators, the added EV range will allow them to operate almost entirely gasoline-free. The result: a fleet of 250,000 IDEAS will save 30 million tons of CO2 and 2.8 billion gallons of fuel over their 150,000-mile life-cycle.

“After speaking to major fleet operators and measuring how they use their vehicles, we modified the performance of the IDEA to better suit their needs and to save them even more money,” said Waters. “The IDEA was created by listening to customers and developing innovative solutions to meet their needs - customers remain our top priority as we continue vehicle development.”

In just over a year, Anderson, Indiana-based Bright Automotive developed the IDEA - a revolutionary multi-purpose, PHEV in the light truck classification aimed at commercial and government fleets. The IDEA, announced on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. last April, is 5 to 10 times more fuel efficient than current commercial fleet vehicles. Each IDEA will save a typical fleet customer more than 1,500 gallons of gasoline and thousands of dollars in fuel costs annually.

Bright Automotive has leveraged the industry’s most experienced EV/PHEV team to develop the IDEA, a revolutionary, purpose-built, PHEV utility fleet vehicle. Bright Automotive CEO John E. Waters developed the battery pack for the General Motors EV1, while collectively, the Bright Automotive team has, previously in their careers, developed and launched close to 40 vehicle platforms.

Assumptions

• Gas prices at $3.15/gallon in 2013 (U.S. Department of Energy estimate)
• Drive cycle of 80 miles/day, 5 days per week, 50 weeks/year = 20,000 miles/year
• Utilizes “LA92″ drive cycle (considered most realistic EPA cycle – city/highway mixture)
• 150,000 miles vehicle life (equates to 7.5 years)
• Competitive comparisons based on weighted average volume of 2007 plus 2008 model year sales
• Fuel economy, range and vehicle performance numbers are based on an unladen vehicle
• Macro measures (CO2 and fuel savings) are based on a laden vehicle

Source and Image Credits: Bright Automotive via Autoblog Green; amandabhslater’s Flickr Page, under a Creative Commons License.

As a basic principle of fuel economy, smaller cars get better gas mileage.  Engineering trends keep pushing the limits of the term ‘compact’ car while somehow keeping the interiors large enough to carry people. Unfortunately, the Prius won’t suffice for all drivers, and rightfully so.  There are people in the United States who require space shuttle sized SUV’s and Titantic trucks, and nothing is going to change that in the immediate future.  America runs on progress, and progress cannot happen without construction and high a high towing capacity.  The next generation of GM trucks is attempting to bridge the gap between brute force, and environmental friendliness.

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Enova Systems and IC Corporation have delivered a plug-in hybrid diesel electric bus to Denali National Park for use in carting visitors around the pristine wilderness.

The bus (similar to the one pictured above) has a GVWR of 27,500 pounds, carries up to 38 passengers and uses up to 70% less fuel than a similarly equipped conventional bus — so if the bus got 10 mpg with a conventional engine, it could get 30 mpg using Enova’s hybrid system.

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There are lots of gas saver devices out there that claim to help you increase your car’s fuel economy. Most of them are of questionable effectiveness — to put it mildly — relying on such things as magnets, mini-tornadoes, and fuel tank pills. I’ve covered some of them in a previous post about potential fuel saving scams.

The sheer number of such questionable gas saving devices makes it difficult for the average person to distinguish the effectiveness of any single one of them. It also instills a general feeling of distrust that any of them could actually work.

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Revetec, a little known company from the Gold Coast region of Australia, may be on to something huge: they’ve created an engine that is 50% smaller, 50% lighter, has 50% lower emissions and is cheaper to manufacture than a conventional internal combustion engine of the same horsepower. Oh yeah, did I mention that it doubles the fuel economy too.

What that means is a car like the 2007 Toyota Yaris, which is rated at 40 mpg on the highway, would get 80 mpg with a Revetec engine.

This isn’t some hoax… They have a prototype which has been attached to an actual vehicle and independently tested to substantiate their claims.

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All these years, I’ve been doing the simple math of dividing the number of gallons used over a given number of miles driven, to determine how my car is doing on gas mileage.

Now come two professors from Duke University who say that may not be the accurate way to determine how efficient your car really is.

In this writer’s opinion, Bright’s IDEA—with its 40+ mpg efficiency and massive cargo room—is the perfect platform for a modern, low-emission RV in the spirit of VW’s classic camper vans (above).

Surely, all the benefits of more cost-effective operation and reduced environmental impact that make Bright’s IDEA van ideally suited for delivering hardware and lumber apply to the RV market as well, and with that market’s B-class “weekend” RVs primarily powered by large conventional V8s and (relatively) low-efficiency diesels, the IDEA van could make a strong case for itself, indeed.

Looks like there’s plenty of room back there, anyway…

If you were to ask John Waters, Bright’s President and CEO, about building an IDEA-based camper, I doubt he’d try to talk you out of it. I’ve already dropped him an email—if I hear back, you can bet I’ll post his response in the comments.

Official press release on the next page…

Bright Automotive Announces Performance Upgrade for Revolutionary 100 MPG IDEA Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle

ANDERSON, IN (October 20, 2009) – Bright Automotive, Inc. today announced new performance figures for the IDEA, its revolutionary plug-in hybrid electric commercial vehicle. The IDEA has been upgraded to deliver 40 miles of all electric range and nearly 40 MPG in standard hybrid mode. Each IDEA vehicle will save typical fleet and government operators 18 cents per mile, reduce gasoline use by 1,500 gallons per year, and reduce CO2 emissions by 16 tons per year.

Assumptions are included below.

“The IDEA enables fleet owners to go even farther in EV mode, creating greater cost and environmental impact savings,” said John E. Waters, CEO and President of Bright Automotive. “Congress and the Administration are demanding change in the auto industry. Bright Automotive is answering the nation’s call by maximizing economic value for our customers through performance and sustainability, while applying the battery electric vehicle tax credits available under current federal policy.”

The performance figures are the result of a new 13kwHr battery pack, which allows the IDEA to operate for 40 miles in charge depletion (EV) mode, and then switch to a class-leading 36 MPG (minimum) charge sustaining (standard hybrid) mode. For many fleet operators, the added EV range will allow them to operate almost entirely gasoline-free. The result: a fleet of 250,000 IDEAS will save 30 million tons of CO2 and 2.8 billion gallons of fuel over their 150,000-mile life-cycle.

“After speaking to major fleet operators and measuring how they use their vehicles, we modified the performance of the IDEA to better suit their needs and to save them even more money,” said Waters. “The IDEA was created by listening to customers and developing innovative solutions to meet their needs - customers remain our top priority as we continue vehicle development.”

In just over a year, Anderson, Indiana-based Bright Automotive developed the IDEA - a revolutionary multi-purpose, PHEV in the light truck classification aimed at commercial and government fleets. The IDEA, announced on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. last April, is 5 to 10 times more fuel efficient than current commercial fleet vehicles. Each IDEA will save a typical fleet customer more than 1,500 gallons of gasoline and thousands of dollars in fuel costs annually.

Bright Automotive has leveraged the industry’s most experienced EV/PHEV team to develop the IDEA, a revolutionary, purpose-built, PHEV utility fleet vehicle. Bright Automotive CEO John E. Waters developed the battery pack for the General Motors EV1, while collectively, the Bright Automotive team has, previously in their careers, developed and launched close to 40 vehicle platforms.

Assumptions

• Gas prices at $3.15/gallon in 2013 (U.S. Department of Energy estimate)
• Drive cycle of 80 miles/day, 5 days per week, 50 weeks/year = 20,000 miles/year
• Utilizes “LA92″ drive cycle (considered most realistic EPA cycle – city/highway mixture)
• 150,000 miles vehicle life (equates to 7.5 years)
• Competitive comparisons based on weighted average volume of 2007 plus 2008 model year sales
• Fuel economy, range and vehicle performance numbers are based on an unladen vehicle
• Macro measures (CO2 and fuel savings) are based on a laden vehicle

Source and Image Credits: Bright Automotive via Autoblog Green; amandabhslater’s Flickr Page, under a Creative Commons License.

Image source: Wikipedia

There’s been talk about the VW 1L concept for years. Since VW built the original, fuel economy, safety, price, and release date has been speculated upon and argued about, and I’d finally stopped thinking it was ever going to happen. However, according to VW’s CEO, it should hit the market in 2010.

The VW 1L is so named because, in theory, it only consumes one liter of fuel per 100 kilometers traveled. For those of us in the US, this translates into about 235 MPG. Definitely far and above anything on the market currently. The concept, developed in 2002, actually got better fuel economy, scoring a sweet .89L/100km in VW testing. It’s likely to use more fuel in real world use, but with that kind of mileage in testing it’s unlikely that anyone would complain about an “unsatisfactory 200 MPG.”

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The Sierra Club will show you with the MPG Calculator. Choose the make and model of your car, how many miles you drive per year and the average cost you pay for gas at the pump.

For example, I entered Volkswagen Jetta at 12,500 miles per year at $3/gallon. Click on the "I Want My MPG!" button and here's the results:

If fuel economy standards were modernized, I would
Use 182 fewer gallons of gas a year
Save $545 at the pump annualy
Reduce CO2 emissions by 5,083 pounds

It is a fun tool that really shows the impact of what increasing fuel economy standards could do: mainly saving you money and reducing green house gas emissions. Of course raising fuel economy standards relies on politicians and automakers getting on board, and there are a few proposals out there, but the call to action might also have to come from drivers. How much could you be saving?

In this writer’s opinion, Bright’s IDEA—with its 40+ mpg efficiency and massive cargo room—is the perfect platform for a modern, low-emission RV in the spirit of VW’s classic camper vans (above).

Surely, all the benefits of more cost-effective operation and reduced environmental impact that make Bright’s IDEA van ideally suited for delivering hardware and lumber apply to the RV market as well, and with that market’s B-class “weekend” RVs primarily powered by large conventional V8s and (relatively) low-efficiency diesels, the IDEA van could make a strong case for itself, indeed.

Looks like there’s plenty of room back there, anyway…

If you were to ask John Waters, Bright’s President and CEO, about building an IDEA-based camper, I doubt he’d try to talk you out of it. I’ve already dropped him an email—if I hear back, you can bet I’ll post his response in the comments.

Official press release on the next page…

Bright Automotive Announces Performance Upgrade for Revolutionary 100 MPG IDEA Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle

ANDERSON, IN (October 20, 2009) – Bright Automotive, Inc. today announced new performance figures for the IDEA, its revolutionary plug-in hybrid electric commercial vehicle. The IDEA has been upgraded to deliver 40 miles of all electric range and nearly 40 MPG in standard hybrid mode. Each IDEA vehicle will save typical fleet and government operators 18 cents per mile, reduce gasoline use by 1,500 gallons per year, and reduce CO2 emissions by 16 tons per year.

Assumptions are included below.

“The IDEA enables fleet owners to go even farther in EV mode, creating greater cost and environmental impact savings,” said John E. Waters, CEO and President of Bright Automotive. “Congress and the Administration are demanding change in the auto industry. Bright Automotive is answering the nation’s call by maximizing economic value for our customers through performance and sustainability, while applying the battery electric vehicle tax credits available under current federal policy.”

The performance figures are the result of a new 13kwHr battery pack, which allows the IDEA to operate for 40 miles in charge depletion (EV) mode, and then switch to a class-leading 36 MPG (minimum) charge sustaining (standard hybrid) mode. For many fleet operators, the added EV range will allow them to operate almost entirely gasoline-free. The result: a fleet of 250,000 IDEAS will save 30 million tons of CO2 and 2.8 billion gallons of fuel over their 150,000-mile life-cycle.

“After speaking to major fleet operators and measuring how they use their vehicles, we modified the performance of the IDEA to better suit their needs and to save them even more money,” said Waters. “The IDEA was created by listening to customers and developing innovative solutions to meet their needs - customers remain our top priority as we continue vehicle development.”

In just over a year, Anderson, Indiana-based Bright Automotive developed the IDEA - a revolutionary multi-purpose, PHEV in the light truck classification aimed at commercial and government fleets. The IDEA, announced on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. last April, is 5 to 10 times more fuel efficient than current commercial fleet vehicles. Each IDEA will save a typical fleet customer more than 1,500 gallons of gasoline and thousands of dollars in fuel costs annually.

Bright Automotive has leveraged the industry’s most experienced EV/PHEV team to develop the IDEA, a revolutionary, purpose-built, PHEV utility fleet vehicle. Bright Automotive CEO John E. Waters developed the battery pack for the General Motors EV1, while collectively, the Bright Automotive team has, previously in their careers, developed and launched close to 40 vehicle platforms.

Assumptions

• Gas prices at $3.15/gallon in 2013 (U.S. Department of Energy estimate)
• Drive cycle of 80 miles/day, 5 days per week, 50 weeks/year = 20,000 miles/year
• Utilizes “LA92″ drive cycle (considered most realistic EPA cycle – city/highway mixture)
• 150,000 miles vehicle life (equates to 7.5 years)
• Competitive comparisons based on weighted average volume of 2007 plus 2008 model year sales
• Fuel economy, range and vehicle performance numbers are based on an unladen vehicle
• Macro measures (CO2 and fuel savings) are based on a laden vehicle

Source and Image Credits: Bright Automotive via Autoblog Green; amandabhslater’s Flickr Page, under a Creative Commons License.

Have regular tune-ups. Your car will run more efficiently, it will also be safer and will last longer. Keep an eye out for those spark plugs. A misfiring one can reduce a car's fuel efficiency by up to 30%.

Replace air filters. The engine air filters get clogged with dust, dirt, and more. This reduces fuel efficiency by as much as 10%.

All in all, be good to your baby! Keep her tires properly pumped and don't top 'er off. When the time comes to change that oil, tires, or battery, make sure they get recycled. Oh, and don't forget to unload the junk in your trunk.

Rebecca says: These car tips were inspired by my little baby: 1999 Toyota Corolla with 62,000 miles. Super mileage, super car.

Don't forget, you can suggest tips to me here. Even if you don't have a tip, let me know what topics you'd like to hear more about! Thanks for reading!

EPA: Car Maintenance

Bankrate.com: 11 Car Care Tips That Save Gas

In this writer’s opinion, Bright’s IDEA—with its 40+ mpg efficiency and massive cargo room—is the perfect platform for a modern, low-emission RV in the spirit of VW’s classic camper vans (above).

Surely, all the benefits of more cost-effective operation and reduced environmental impact that make Bright’s IDEA van ideally suited for delivering hardware and lumber apply to the RV market as well, and with that market’s B-class “weekend” RVs primarily powered by large conventional V8s and (relatively) low-efficiency diesels, the IDEA van could make a strong case for itself, indeed.

Looks like there’s plenty of room back there, anyway…

If you were to ask John Waters, Bright’s President and CEO, about building an IDEA-based camper, I doubt he’d try to talk you out of it. I’ve already dropped him an email—if I hear back, you can bet I’ll post his response in the comments.

Official press release on the next page…

Bright Automotive Announces Performance Upgrade for Revolutionary 100 MPG IDEA Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle

ANDERSON, IN (October 20, 2009) – Bright Automotive, Inc. today announced new performance figures for the IDEA, its revolutionary plug-in hybrid electric commercial vehicle. The IDEA has been upgraded to deliver 40 miles of all electric range and nearly 40 MPG in standard hybrid mode. Each IDEA vehicle will save typical fleet and government operators 18 cents per mile, reduce gasoline use by 1,500 gallons per year, and reduce CO2 emissions by 16 tons per year.

Assumptions are included below.

“The IDEA enables fleet owners to go even farther in EV mode, creating greater cost and environmental impact savings,” said John E. Waters, CEO and President of Bright Automotive. “Congress and the Administration are demanding change in the auto industry. Bright Automotive is answering the nation’s call by maximizing economic value for our customers through performance and sustainability, while applying the battery electric vehicle tax credits available under current federal policy.”

The performance figures are the result of a new 13kwHr battery pack, which allows the IDEA to operate for 40 miles in charge depletion (EV) mode, and then switch to a class-leading 36 MPG (minimum) charge sustaining (standard hybrid) mode. For many fleet operators, the added EV range will allow them to operate almost entirely gasoline-free. The result: a fleet of 250,000 IDEAS will save 30 million tons of CO2 and 2.8 billion gallons of fuel over their 150,000-mile life-cycle.

“After speaking to major fleet operators and measuring how they use their vehicles, we modified the performance of the IDEA to better suit their needs and to save them even more money,” said Waters. “The IDEA was created by listening to customers and developing innovative solutions to meet their needs - customers remain our top priority as we continue vehicle development.”

In just over a year, Anderson, Indiana-based Bright Automotive developed the IDEA - a revolutionary multi-purpose, PHEV in the light truck classification aimed at commercial and government fleets. The IDEA, announced on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. last April, is 5 to 10 times more fuel efficient than current commercial fleet vehicles. Each IDEA will save a typical fleet customer more than 1,500 gallons of gasoline and thousands of dollars in fuel costs annually.

Bright Automotive has leveraged the industry’s most experienced EV/PHEV team to develop the IDEA, a revolutionary, purpose-built, PHEV utility fleet vehicle. Bright Automotive CEO John E. Waters developed the battery pack for the General Motors EV1, while collectively, the Bright Automotive team has, previously in their careers, developed and launched close to 40 vehicle platforms.

Assumptions

• Gas prices at $3.15/gallon in 2013 (U.S. Department of Energy estimate)
• Drive cycle of 80 miles/day, 5 days per week, 50 weeks/year = 20,000 miles/year
• Utilizes “LA92″ drive cycle (considered most realistic EPA cycle – city/highway mixture)
• 150,000 miles vehicle life (equates to 7.5 years)
• Competitive comparisons based on weighted average volume of 2007 plus 2008 model year sales
• Fuel economy, range and vehicle performance numbers are based on an unladen vehicle
• Macro measures (CO2 and fuel savings) are based on a laden vehicle

Source and Image Credits: Bright Automotive via Autoblog Green; amandabhslater’s Flickr Page, under a Creative Commons License.

You've probably heard it before: check your tire pressure! Do you do it? How often? Properly inflated tires improve your gas mileage (conversely, if they are not inflated well, it reduces your mpg). You'll also reduce the wear and tear on your tires, helping them last longer. Oh, and did we mention it's safer, as well?

First things first, you'll need a tire gauge. If you don't have one, they cost less than $2 at the auto parts store. Pick one up and store it in your glove compartment (strange name, seeing as we never store our gloves there).

Now you need to know what the recommended tire pressure for your car is. You should be able to find the number on the inside of your driver's side door, in your car's manual, or online. In the USA, you're looking for the PSI. Depending on your car, the numbers could be anywhere from 26 to 40 for a cargo van. Some cars require a different level of inflation in the front as compared to the rear.

Next you'll need to measure the tire pressure with your handy gauge. Make sure to check when the tires are cool - meaning before you drive it. Measure each tire. If they are overinflated, you can release air by pushing on the tire valve stem with the edge of the gauge. If they are under inflated, you'll need to add air at a gas station. More complete instructions here and here. Repeat each month. Don't forget!

According to the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA), 85% of tires are driven with too little air. Alaska Wilderness League said that causes us to waste 4 million gallons of gas every day. These stats come from an MSNBC article last year about a young girl named Savannah Walters that started a movement and a website, called Pump 'Em Up, six years ago. She was 9. Walters was quoted as saying, "I have a tool that costs about 99 cents that will save us a million gallons of gas a day, starting today. It's a tire gauge!"

Rebecca says: I didn't plan on creating a whole tip just for tire pressure. It's usually a one-liner. The stats, however, are astounding. This is one of the many things that we can do that is so easy - yet so many people just don't do it. Err…once a month? Guilty! If it was education that was lacking, hopefully this will cover it. If it was motivation, well, hopefully we took care of that, too! Let's see how much you've learned! Take the RMA's Tire Pressure Quiz!

In this writer’s opinion, Bright’s IDEA—with its 40+ mpg efficiency and massive cargo room—is the perfect platform for a modern, low-emission RV in the spirit of VW’s classic camper vans (above).

Surely, all the benefits of more cost-effective operation and reduced environmental impact that make Bright’s IDEA van ideally suited for delivering hardware and lumber apply to the RV market as well, and with that market’s B-class “weekend” RVs primarily powered by large conventional V8s and (relatively) low-efficiency diesels, the IDEA van could make a strong case for itself, indeed.

Looks like there’s plenty of room back there, anyway…

If you were to ask John Waters, Bright’s President and CEO, about building an IDEA-based camper, I doubt he’d try to talk you out of it. I’ve already dropped him an email—if I hear back, you can bet I’ll post his response in the comments.

Official press release on the next page…

Bright Automotive Announces Performance Upgrade for Revolutionary 100 MPG IDEA Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle

ANDERSON, IN (October 20, 2009) – Bright Automotive, Inc. today announced new performance figures for the IDEA, its revolutionary plug-in hybrid electric commercial vehicle. The IDEA has been upgraded to deliver 40 miles of all electric range and nearly 40 MPG in standard hybrid mode. Each IDEA vehicle will save typical fleet and government operators 18 cents per mile, reduce gasoline use by 1,500 gallons per year, and reduce CO2 emissions by 16 tons per year.

Assumptions are included below.

“The IDEA enables fleet owners to go even farther in EV mode, creating greater cost and environmental impact savings,” said John E. Waters, CEO and President of Bright Automotive. “Congress and the Administration are demanding change in the auto industry. Bright Automotive is answering the nation’s call by maximizing economic value for our customers through performance and sustainability, while applying the battery electric vehicle tax credits available under current federal policy.”

The performance figures are the result of a new 13kwHr battery pack, which allows the IDEA to operate for 40 miles in charge depletion (EV) mode, and then switch to a class-leading 36 MPG (minimum) charge sustaining (standard hybrid) mode. For many fleet operators, the added EV range will allow them to operate almost entirely gasoline-free. The result: a fleet of 250,000 IDEAS will save 30 million tons of CO2 and 2.8 billion gallons of fuel over their 150,000-mile life-cycle.

“After speaking to major fleet operators and measuring how they use their vehicles, we modified the performance of the IDEA to better suit their needs and to save them even more money,” said Waters. “The IDEA was created by listening to customers and developing innovative solutions to meet their needs - customers remain our top priority as we continue vehicle development.”

In just over a year, Anderson, Indiana-based Bright Automotive developed the IDEA - a revolutionary multi-purpose, PHEV in the light truck classification aimed at commercial and government fleets. The IDEA, announced on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. last April, is 5 to 10 times more fuel efficient than current commercial fleet vehicles. Each IDEA will save a typical fleet customer more than 1,500 gallons of gasoline and thousands of dollars in fuel costs annually.

Bright Automotive has leveraged the industry’s most experienced EV/PHEV team to develop the IDEA, a revolutionary, purpose-built, PHEV utility fleet vehicle. Bright Automotive CEO John E. Waters developed the battery pack for the General Motors EV1, while collectively, the Bright Automotive team has, previously in their careers, developed and launched close to 40 vehicle platforms.

Assumptions

• Gas prices at $3.15/gallon in 2013 (U.S. Department of Energy estimate)
• Drive cycle of 80 miles/day, 5 days per week, 50 weeks/year = 20,000 miles/year
• Utilizes “LA92″ drive cycle (considered most realistic EPA cycle – city/highway mixture)
• 150,000 miles vehicle life (equates to 7.5 years)
• Competitive comparisons based on weighted average volume of 2007 plus 2008 model year sales
• Fuel economy, range and vehicle performance numbers are based on an unladen vehicle
• Macro measures (CO2 and fuel savings) are based on a laden vehicle

Source and Image Credits: Bright Automotive via Autoblog Green; amandabhslater’s Flickr Page, under a Creative Commons License.