Green Options » Prius

Tesla Motors Cool New Menlo Park Showroom

Keith Rockmael — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:19:22 +0000

Down in Menlo Park, where Tesla Motors recently opened its industrial chic showroom, people might not think “Who Killed the Electric Car?” but rather “Who Can Afford the Electric Car?”. Nevertheless we’re totally juiced about the nearby showroom that displays a half dozen juicy Tesla Roadster electric car models that make the Prius look like a gas guzzling Hummer. It’s our checkbooks that aren’t as excited.

If you happen to be one of the numerous stars like Matt Damon or green politicians (like Arnold Schwarzenegger or Gavin Newsome) then it’s easy to tool around in one of these electric beauties but with the current $98,000 price tag (going up to $109,000 for the 2009 model) it isn’t exactly priced like a Buick. Even, with the cash, the waiting list sits at about 1100.

At least these guys continue to drive in the right direction instead of General Motors, Ford and DaimlerChrysler which, according to The Detroit News, spent more than $15 million in the first six months of 2007, mostly to lobby against large hikes in federal fuel-economy standards.

We know what you’re thinking, you want to just stroll in and ask for a test drive. The local dealership will offer test drives with a $5000 deposit or a convincing story that you are a legitimate buyer. We plan to re-visit the showroom soon after we scrape up $5,000 from our sustainably built sofa.

Photo courtesy of Tesla Motors

Late to the High Gas Price Party: Honda Building Prius Clone

Nick Chambers — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:36:54 +0000

Car and Driver has reported on an upcoming as-yet-unnamed Honda hybrid electric vehicle aimed squarely at unseating Toyota as the undisputed king of hybrids.

Although we can’t reproduce the photos here due to copyright issues, suffice it to say that the Honda test model looks almost exactly like a Prius. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery — but in this case Honda appears to have crossed the line to outright copycat.

With the exception of the headlight and taillight shapes, the Honda is a carbon copy.

I mean really, I’d expect the Honda designers to have a bit more creativity.

Check out the original Car and Driver article and pictures.

Toyota Prius to Get Solar Power

Nick Chambers — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:29:27 +0000

Toyota’s next generation Prius, due out as early as next spring, will be outfitted with solar panels to help run the on-board electronics, according to a report from the Nikkei newspaper.

Smaller start-up car companies, such as Th!nk, have plans for solar power augmented cars on the books too, but the incorporation of solar panels on the Prius would mark the first time a major car manufacturer has done such a thing with one of its models.

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Revolution in Hydrogen Cars - 650 Miles Per Tank

Andrew Williams — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:42:18 +0000

A team at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have revealed a potential revolution in hydrogen cars, after driving 650 miles on one tank of liquid hydrogen. In a recent test, the scientists set a new world record after they installed a super-insulated hydrogen gas tank in a standard Prius hybrid that was able to keep a full load of the liquid without evaporating for six days.

The tank, weighing in at around 300 pounds, removes a heck of a lot of obstacles to the advancement of hydrogen-powered cars. Current versions, such as the fleet of hydrogen-electric Toyota Prius’s used by various city governments across Southern California, run on compressed hydrogen gas, and have a limited range of around 80 miles between refuels. Even a pretty unambitious three-gallon tank fills the entire trunk of a Prius, yet still only enables a range of approximately 200 miles, not really enough to compete with gasoline-only vehicles.

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Low Impact Living: Think Hybrid Cars are Too Expensive?

Low Impact Living — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:01:13 +0000

Editor’s note: Think a hybrid car is your only option for achieving significant gas savings? Think again: our friends at Low Impact Living point out several alternatives to investing in a new Prius. This post was originally published on Tuesday, May 27, 2008.

When I filled up my car this weekend with $4.09 gas (choke, gasp, sputter), I was sure glad I have a Toyota Prius and won’t have to fill up for another couple of weeks. But I hear from a lot of folks that they think they can’t afford a hybrid and they have to hang on to their sub-20 MPG cars. That got me to thinking about ways to find affordable hybrid options so folks can save money and reduce their contribution to global warming. Here is what I’ve found.

Buy a used hybrid! The Honda Civic Hybrid is probably your most affordable choice, as they are quite a bit cheaper than my beloved Priuses. (What is the plural of Prius? Priuses? Pri-i?) The Civic Hybrid gets 40-45 MPG and is a great all-around commuter car. I searched and found a 2005 Honda Civic Hybrid with 49,000 miles for $16,000 in Los Angeles. I found a 2006 model in Kansas City with 52,000 miles for $18,000. The only Toyota Prius I could find in LA for under $20K had 79,000 miles on it! You might also try looking for Ford Escape Hybrids– there seem to be many of those available around the country. You can search for used hybrids in your city by clicking here.

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Solar Days - Making Solar Energy Cool?

Mark Seall — Mon, 19 May 2008 05:00:00 +0000

It’s been suggested by some that the popularity of the Toyota Prius was brought about not by it’s technology, but by marketing - leading edge technology perception, and the gadget factor of that LCD display showing you how much energy you were regenerating made it a must have for many gadget nuts.

So could the same hold true for solar energy? There is a certain coolness factor to generating your own electricity, and just like the Prius you get a nifty display showing the amount of energy being produced by your solar installation.

However, there are few people in Europe who fully understand solar power, with many believing it to be too expensive or impractical in the less sunny parts of the continent. With this in mind, the European Photovoltaic Industry Association has organised ‘Solar Days’ this weekend in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Slovenia, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway and Britain.

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Google To Spend $10 Million on Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle Project

Clayton B. Cornell — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 22:36:15 +0000

As usual, Google is at the forefront of, well, everything. But this one is a little surprising: their philanthropic branch, Google.org, is putting $10 million into plug-in electric hybrid research and real-world testing. If you’ve been reading Gas 2.0 lately, you already know that’s as much as will be rewarded to the winners of the 2010 Automotive X Prize for revolutionary green car technology.

Last September, Google offered up the $10 million in a formal Request For Proposals (RFP), saying they wanted to invest in any company that would “accelerate the commercialization of alternative transportation that reduces vehicle fossil fuel use and climate emissions.” In other words, getting plug-in hybrids, fully electric vehicles, vehicle-to-grid capabilities, and batteries and other storage technologies on the market.

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Plug-In Hybrids Could Require 160 New Power Plants By 2030 (Or None At All)

Clayton B. Cornell — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 16:02:38 +0000

Plug-in Hybrids (PHEVs) have taken some undeserved heat lately, with the recent hullabaloo over their potential to drain U.S. water supplies. But as some readers pointed out, it all depends when you charge them.

This week’s report from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which evaluated the impact of a substantial increase in PHEV ownership, found that nighttime charging of PHEV’s would not increase electricity demand over baseline levels. In other words, no (or very few) new power plants would need to be constructed if plug-in owners only charged their vehicles at night.

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100 MPG+ Plug-In Hybrids Already Available (Check ‘em Out)

Clayton B. Cornell — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 21:19:50 +0000

Not everyone is waiting until 2010 to get their first plug-in hybrid. As I reported previously, Hybrids Plus out of Boulder, CO, is offering conversions for the Toyota Prius and Ford Escape hybrids, turning them into 100 MPG+ superstars.

I’ve collected a little more background on Prius hybrid hacks, and a few more resources. Check out this video, which should give you a good feeling for what getting 100 MPG would be like:

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This Prius Gets 120 MPG - It’s A PHEV

Clayton B. Cornell — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 19:09:46 +0000

Electric-car company ZAP announced it will offer $24,000 plug-in conversions for the Toyota Prius and Ford Escape Hybrids, making them plug-in electric hybrid vehicles (PHEVs).

It’s sort of like doubling your fuel efficiency for the cost of a new car…

Source: Gas 2.0

Get 120 MPG Out of Your Prius (Plug It In)

Clayton B. Cornell — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 18:58:33 +0000

55 MPG isn’t good enough for you? Then try adding a plug to your hybrid.

The electric-car company ZAP, in conjunction with Hybrids Plus, has announced it will offer plug-in hybrid conversions for the Toyota Prius and the Ford Escape Hybrid:

Hybrid vehicles retrofitted with systems from Hybrids Plus of Boulder, Colorado can achieve a significantly greater fuel economy. In tests these systems increased hybrid fuel economy up to 120 miles per gallon in the city and up to 90 mpg on the highway. The cost for the conversion ranges from $24,000 to $36,000 depending on the vehicle and size of battery pack.

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Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Travel

Jennifer Lance — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:55:57 +0000

Source: Sightline.org

The 2007 data for carbon dioxide emissions according to mode of travel.

Hybrid Hacks and Toyota Yawns?

Michelle Bennett — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 18:38:57 +0000

Imagine if you could eke more mileage out of your Prius. If you’re like me, you’ve already tried. What if you could get a decadent 100mpg? More? A group of Prius owners in Japan are doing just that - by hacking their Priuses.

According to this CNN report, the record holder among an underground group called “Mileage Maniacs” (Japanese language only) has managed to travel 1500 miles on a single tank of gas. That’s about 116mpg; I’m green with envy! Fortunately there is a similar push in the USA and Canada to feed the demand for more efficient cars. Numerous easter eggs , and hacks are available so an enterprising Prius owner can get more mileage. There’s even a solar company and those who will modify your car into an hybrid plug-in. Some plug-ins are already on the road. Voided warranty aside, extensive green modifications require a lot of green from the owner, ranging from a $40 kit to thousands of dollars.

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Minneapolis Mayor First to Use Plug-In Hybrid as Official Car

Maria Surma Manka — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 11:21:36 +0000

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak may be the first mayor in the nation to drive a plug-in hybrid vehicle as his official city car.

Since he was first elected in 2002, Mayor Rybak’s official car has been a Toyota Prius. But the dramatically superior gas mileage of a plug-in hybrid vehicle prompted him to make the switch: he had his hybrid converted to a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, from which he expects to get about 70 miles per gallon (mpg) compared to his average 40 mpg with the Prius.

A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is like a regular hybrid with a cord. That is, its battery can be recharged by plugging it into a regular 120-volt outlet.

Typical of many PHEVs, Mayor Rybak’s car can travel about 30 miles solely on battery power if the speeds are 30 mph or less. If he drives further or needs to go faster, the car automatically switches over to using the gas engine. But for local city driving — when speeds are low and distances are shorter — he could go days without using any gasoline to power the engine.

Although most of Minnesota’s electricity comes from coal power, powering a vehicle with the electric grid is still cleaner than gasoline. But the Mayor and other city officials want to make it even cleaner: Minneapolis has applied for a state grant to install solar panels on some city buildings so that future plug-in cars could charge up using solar power instead of fossil fuels. Rybak told the Minnesota Daily:

It became clear to me that the two big things we had to do were convert to plug-in hybrids and find a way to have them use electricity from non-coal sources … I become very frustrated with people saying we need to do years of research on all these issues. Research is great, but the technology is there right now.

Last year, Minnesota became the first state in the nation to pass legislation promoting plug-in hybrids. The law instructs the state to buy plug-in hybrids on a preferred basis when they become available and encourages Minnesota State University - Mankato to develop flex-fuel plug-in hybrid vehicles (plug-ins that can run on an ethanol blend).

Minneapolis has about 100 government vehicles that are either hybrids or use E-85 fuel (an 85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline blend). Leadership from the city and supportive government policies could make plug-in hybrids a more common occurrence on Twin Cities roads.

BIOconversion Blog
Cal Cars
City of Minneapolis
Minnesota Daily

Photo Source: City of Minneapolis

Daily Tip: Beware of Hybrid Vehicles in Parking Lots

Jennifer Lance — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 14:18:46 +0000

Today’s tip is a safety tip cautioning readers to be aware of the "dangers" of hybrid and electric vehicles to pedestrians. Last week, I was almost hit by a Prius in a health food store parking lot. I can imagine the headline: "Environmentalist run over by a hybrid vehicle." Ironic, eh?

My near-encounter with the Prius occurred because the car was running on its electric motor, thus making the car virtually silent. As the Prius backed out of its parking space, I was caught by surprise and realized how much I rely on my ears to warn me of traffic. We tell children to "look both ways and listen" for cars when crossing streets, but as our fleet moves toward hybrid vehicles (and hopefully electric ones, too), we will need to adjust which senses we rely on to keep us safe in parking lots and crossing roads.

I am not the only one to be startled by a low noise car. In particular, hybrid vehicles running on their electric motors especially affect blind people, who rely on their sense of hearing in traffic. According to the Wall Street Journal,

"Michael Osborn, a blind marketing consultant from Laguna Beach, Calif., and his guide dog, Hastings, were in the middle of an intersection one morning last April when the yellow Lab stopped short. Mr. Osborn took the cue and halted — just in time to feel the breeze from a car passing right in front of them. ‘Half an inch and it would have hit us … it wasn’t making any noise,’ says Mr. Osborn, 50, who has been blind for 12 years. Witnesses say the car was a Toyota Prius, a hybrid vehicle."

The National Federation of the Blind is advocating hybrid and electric vehicles emit a sound when turned on, and many guide dog schools are now including hybrid vehicles in their training course. The proposed sound device would alert a sensor carried by the vision impaired to alert them of a hybrid in the vicinity. In response to the concern, Denise Morrissey, a spokeswoman for Toyota Motor Sales USA stated, "The [industry] trend is toward quiet powertrains in all sorts of vehicles. That trend has raised the need for other drivers and pedestrians to increase caution and to be more aware of the surroundings."

I don’t know what the solution is, and I certainly like less noise pollution. The sound of an electric powered car is beautiful in its quietude, and I can only imagine how our city streets would sound if the electric vehicle had not been "killed." As pedestrians, we must be more aware and mindful of our surroundings as more and more hybrid vehicles are on the road. For drivers of hybrid or electric vehicles, pay special attention around pedestrians, especially the blind, who may not be aware of your presence. As our streets become quieter and our awareness grows, perhaps we will once again be able to hear the birds’ songs in the bustling city.

5 Ways to Reduce Your Dependence on Foreign Oil

Clayton B. Cornell — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 14:07:46 +0000

Trying to improve your gas mileage? Use biodiesel? Or just want to save a buck?
With all the hoopla around different fuel and vehicle choices these days, it’s easy to be confused. Hybrids? Diesels? Biofuels?
Which one of these choices is actually best for you?

While there isn’t necessarily a clear winner in terms of environmental friendliness, each option has some particular pros and cons that I’ve compiled here. I’ve tried to stick to options that are readily available, so things like fuel-cells and electric cars will have to wait. Want to kick the oil habit? Here are some options:

1. & 2. Get rid of your car / Walk or Drive Less.

Ok, obvious one first. For some, ditching the car isn’t an option. But
if you live in a city with decent public transportation, or a smaller
town (< 50,000) this may be your best bet. Consider walking, biking,
carpools, or public transport. Also consider moving to a walkable area. As Sheryl Canter from ED so aptly put it: "If you live in a car-dependent area, moving to a walkable area will do
more to fight global warming than buying a fuel-efficient hybrid car."

PROS:

health and well-being decreased stress

decreased pollution and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions

increased savings (vehicles cost, maintenance, fuel, insurance)

participation encourages pedestrian-friendly city planning

CONS:

public transportation unavailable/unreliable in some areas
can be difficult to walk or bike especially in certain seasons (or can be impossible due to distance > 5 miles)

CONCLUSION: When feasible, the single best thing you can do for your wallet, the environment, and your community. For some ideas and a real-world example, check out Kelli’s post: Why I Sold My Car, or How I Learned to Stop Driving and Love the Bus.

3. Hybrids/Plug-in Hybrids.

Popular and a good bet for many, especially for city driving.

PROS:

significant increases in mpg (~46 mpg)
significant state and federal tax credits
save on fuel costs
2008 models may blow the competition away by doubling fuel efficiency (94 mpg)

CONS:

still uses gasoline
mileage not always as good as comparable diesels, which are considerably cheaper
not useful for all climates/locations/users
these vehicles are usually expensive

CONCLUSION: Hybrids have always seemed like a lot of technology for little gain, considering that a 1982 Datsun Diesel gets the same mileage as a 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid - but they still offset gas guzzling vehicles that might otherwise be on the road. While often expensive (around $22,000), tax credits can soften the blow by several thousand dollars and may even make the cost comparable to other new vehicles. You may also be able to find cheaper new or used gas models, like the Toyota Corolla, that get good mileage (37 mpg highway). But the 2007 Toyota Prius tops the charts at 45-48 mpg. And we can expect newer models to get even better.
Also see Joshua’s new post: Prius No Longer Golden Child of Green Motorists.

4. Buy a diesel and use biodiesel.

May be the most environmentally friendly option.

PROS:

decreases most pollutants by 50% (when compared to diesel fuel)
decreases net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
no engine conversion needed
fuel not as harmful to humans/environment if spilled
fuel can be produced locally
more vehicle choices than hybrids
can get better mileage than hybrids while using renewable fuel
older diesel vehicles can be cheap
new 2008 diesels will be cleaner (emissions-wise) than comparable gas engines

CONS:

biodiesel not always available or convenient
have to blend it with diesel in winter (usually at 50%)
feedstocks may be questionable - food competition concerns
older diesels produce 10-100x dirtier emissions than comparable gas models

CONCLUSION: Buying used newer model diesel vehicles is a popular choice where biodiesel is available. Some models, like the VW Golf, Jetta, and Passat, can get upwards of 45-50 mpg on regular diesel or biodiesel. While older diesels are dirtier at the tailpipe, using biodiesel can offset considerable carbon dioxide emissions. To find an old diesel, try Craigslist or Autotrader.
To find a local biodiesel pump, try this map.
If you need to find biodiesel on the road, there’s now a biodiesel tucker hotline, 1-866-BIODIESEL (246-3437) that will help you locate the nearest source of fuel.
List of new diesel vehicles available.
More on biodiesel: Biodiesel Mythbuster.

5. Buy a diesel and convert it to run on straight-vegetable-oil (SVO).

For people that want to kick the oil habit, but still need a vehicle.

PROS:

only fuel that can be carbon negative
fuels is a recycled waste product
waste oil is usually free
never stop at a gas station again (almost)

CONS:

requires considerable investment in vehicle conversion and maintenance.
requires getting your hands dirty (or rather, oily)
waste oil requires time/effort to process. may be difficult during certain times of the year (cold winters) or without proper facilities.
may eventually be limited by consumer demand
regulatory structure not in place for SVO. requires personal responsibility to pay road taxes
lack of refining may increase harmful pollutants (such as acrolein) from combustion
no available long-term studies support or refute the use of vegetable oil in diesel engines

CONCLUSION: SVO works great for all kinds of people, but requires significant commitment in fuel acquisition and use. Using waste vegetable oil can almost eliminate fuel costs, although legal use still requires paying a nominal sum in road taxes. This is generally not a choice for the faint of heart, but is gaining popularity.

For more information, try the VegTruck blog.

So which one is best?
Hybrids and newer diesels running on biodiesel tend to be the most popular options, and for good reason: great mileage, comfort, availability, etc. For now, a hybrid may be your best bet if you can afford it (and if that type of car works for you). Those of us with smaller bankrolls can still get by on high-mileage gas models or diesels. In terms of environmental benefits, buying a used, high-mileage diesel (like a VW Jetta, Passat, or Bug) and running the highest blend of biodiesel available, may have the most significant environmental impact. There are plenty of used diesels out there in good shape, and for more adventurous types, many waiting to be fixed up. Keep in mind that buying a new vehicle entails considerable embodied energy costs that may not be reflected in the sticker price. Looking to the future: in 2008, expect drastic changes in both hybrids and diesel models, including dramatic increases in fuel economy and cleaner emissions.

Good Luck!

Kiplinger: Best Values in Clean Cars
eMagazine: Here Come the Cleaner, Greener Cars

Prius No Longer Golden Child of Green Motorists

Joshua S Hill — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 13:22:48 +0000

For the past half a decade, the Toyota Prius has been the poster child for the world-elite, being both green and cool. A hybrid-electric vehicle, developed and manufactured by Toyota, has won car of the year in several countries over its short lifetime, and appeared in more movies than Jack Bauer’s 4×4.

But according to a study recently released and conducted between Cardiff University and Clifford Thames an automotive consultancy, the Prius has been relegated to 12th spot in terms of “greenest car”.

It comes as a blow to the Prius, despite continuing sales with a recent increase of 76% in the past year, and making up more than 50% of the total hybrid cars sold in the US.

The study looked not just at emissions, for which the Prius is obviously low on, but on its environmental footprint. This included raw materials used in the construction of the car, and what impact its disposal will make.

In addition, while the Prius is the cleanest car for its size, weight is a factor as well. The Prius is heavier than its petrol reliant cousins, and natrually its footprint is heavier.

The researchers involved in the study believe that the steps being taken to create “ultra-low emissions” cars are going to soon create cars that overtake the Prius in terms of total emissions.

David Riemenschneider, Clifford Thames’ chief executive said that “Conventional technology will overtake the Prius over the next 12 to 18 months, and consumers won’t have to pay a premium for it.”

In my opinion, the Prius was not only an act of green awareness, but a status symbol for being able to afford such a car. They haven’t been cheap!

Recent changes to regulations across the planet, most notably in America, have forced car manufacturers to clamp down on the emissions allowed from one of their cars, and this has – as with many great steps forward in history – forced them to change.

Needless to say, the Prius will still wear the “Green Halo” for years to come.

ENN - Prius A No, No - Peugeot, Citroen And Ford Are All Greener, Says New Study

The Globe and Mail - Rethinking green

GreenOptions Founder Blog - Uses another car company–GM–to analyze the tension between business and environmentalists

Could Your Car Also Power Your House?

Maria Surma Manka — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 12:50:33 +0000

Pacific Gas & Electric, California’s largest electricity utility and one of the largest in the nation, is showcasing a Toyota Prius that it has converted into a plug-in hybrid at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group Alternative Energy Solutions Summit in California this week. The utility may be the first in the U.S. to demonstrate that a plug-in hybrid can power a home.

Like a traditional hybrid, plug-in hybrids have both an electric motor and a gasoline engine. But their larger batteries and ability to be charged with any 120-volt outlet allows for even better gas mileage than the 55 mpg average of a regular Prius. Since plug-in hybrid batteries can power the vehicle for up to 60 miles, about half of the cars in America could go everywhere they needed to go in a day without using any gas. Some estimates set the average fuel economy at 100 miles per gallon.

So what’s different about PG&E’s plug-in hybrid? Unlike most plug-ins that take in electricity from the grid and then are driven around during the day, the PG&E concept car demonstrated that any plug-in can also be used as a two-way generator.

These “vehicle-to-grid,” or V2G, cars are charged by plugging into a three-prong, 110- to 120-volt outlet. But if a home needs energy, like during a blackout or during high demand when electricity prices increase, a switch can be flipped to send the charge the other way, from the car to the home.

PG&E’s plug-in hybrid car powered a small electric heater and lights. The car could supposedly even run home appliances for several hours with a full battery charge. The utility hopes that the new concept car will demonstrate new ways to use hybrids and increase the demand for the cleaner vehicles. California’s renewable energy laws are pushing utilities to cut global warming emissions. Plug-in hybrids help them reach that goal by allow ing homeowners to use more energy at night – when wind power and cleaner fuels are available - and less energy during high-demand days when natural gas and coal plants produce the energy.

Prices for plug-in hybrids are expected to range from $3,000 to $5,000 more than typical hybrids, and it’s unclear how much money a homeowner would save by charging a hybrid with electricity. Although they would be buying more energy from their utility, they would save on gas costs. And although many areas of the country would be powering their plug-in hybrids with coal-fired power from the grid, governoment studies have shown that powering cars with electricity creates much less global warming pollution than power them with gasoline.

CalCars, a nonprofit organization that has converted about 20 hybrids to plug-in hybrids in the past three years, expects the two-way generator technology to be about 5-6 years away.

CalCars
PG&E
Plug-In Partners
Reuters
San Jose Mercury News, via Green@WorkToday

Tip o’ the Day: Business Trippin’ with Green Taxis

Rebecca Carter — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 13:36:21 +0000

Travelling for business is often a necessary evil. It's a little tougher to be green when we're away from home. It takes more planning, and often some sacrifice, to make our travel footprint a little lighter.

There is one part of travelling that is starting to get greener, however - green taxis. Now available in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York through two different companies, if you must take a taxi you can at least make it a green one.

Of course, the cars are not actually painted green. Ozocar, out of New York City, has a fleet of Toyota Prius's for regular trips and Lexus RX400h's for the occasions when extra space is necessary. Inside the car, you'll find a laptop connected to high speed wifi and Sirius satellite radio. In LA & San Fran, you'll find the service provided by Eco-Limo, who has a varied fleet of hybrids, natural gas vehicles, and biodiesel running Mercedes.

Now sure, if you can, use public or shared transit instead of taxis on your business trip. But sometimes, we have no choice. Schedules are too tight or distances are super inconvenient for mass transit. The choice, however, lies in choosing this "green taxi". Like we said earlier, this is going to take some planning. You can't step out to the street corner and hail down a Prius…not yet, anyway. Plan ahead and make a reservation. It may cost a bit more, but hey, the company is paying for it, right? Anyway, it's worth it.

Rebecca says: I just had the pleasure of receiving a (complimentary) ride to the airport from Ozocar. The experience was incredible. A laptop on the internet in the back of a fuel efficient Prius? Incredible.

By the way, remember the Car Diary Project? If you participated, please send me a message with your information ASAP!

Want to hear a tip on a certain topic? Have a tip to share? Suggest a tip and you may just see it soon as a Tip o' the Day!

BMW and DaimlerChrysler Enter the Hybrid Race

Maria Surma Manka — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 13:59:43 +0000

BMW and DaimlerChrysler are teaming up to develop hybrid transmission systems for rear-wheel-drive premium cars.

These transmission systems will be for so-called “mild hybrids,” which boost acceleration and can make engines work more efficiently in stop-and-go traffic, but can’t run on battery power alone and don’t offer the same fuel savings as a full hybrid (like a Toyota Prius, which connects an electric motor and batteries to a standard combustion engine.). The carmakers should have the mild hybrid vehicles ready for the road in the next 3 years.

The hybrid move by German automakers has surprised some analyists. BMW and DaimlerChrysler have dismissed hybrids as a passing fad, but the popularity of vehicles like the Prius and the increasing concerns about global warming have them rethinking earlier assumptions. They even see full hybrids are on the horizon: Daimler's Mercedes-Benz is expected to launch a full hybrid vehicle within a year or so and BMW plans a full hybrid within three years.

CNNMoney.com