Monthly Archives: November 2006

Notable green entries at the Los Angeles auto show

Posted on November 30, 2006 by paul kuehnel

A compact full-hybrid SUV from GM: 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line will loose its mild alternator belt hybrid system and gain the full hybrid, “two-mode” full hybrid system set to debut shortly in the 2008 Tahoe and Yukon. That front-drive … Continue reading →

Posted in All posts from the start, Diesel, Hybrid | Leave a comment

The SUV is an endangered species

Posted on November 29, 2006 by paul kuehnel

Like a Brontosaurus cruising around York long past the Jurassic period, the SUV could be eliminated in California. Automakers tolled the bell of doom Monday (for large profit margins) citing lawsuits over the vehicles’ excessive greenhouse gas emissions. The Supreme … Continue reading →

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A hydrogen powered Ford Explorer

Posted on November 28, 2006 by paul kuehnel

A Hydrogen Fuel Cell Ford Explorer will be available for test drives tomorrow and Thursday at the Los Angeles Auto Show. A center-mounted hydrogen tank that delivers 350 miles per fill up occupies the space typically used for the 6-speed … Continue reading →

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The Irish grow greener by closing tax loopholes for hybrids

Posted on November 27, 2006 by paul kuehnel

The Irish Minister for Finance Brian Cowen is reportedly going to stop tax breaks for large hybrid cars in next month’s budget. A number of Irish government ministers have recently switched their business cars to large hybrid sedans. Europe is … Continue reading →

Posted in All posts from the start, Hybrid, Tax incentives | Leave a comment

An account from the AAA hybrid driving seminar

Posted on November 26, 2006 by paul kuehnel

A first person account of the AAA hybrid seminar I mentioned in a previous post “This is all I think about,” said Charles Holmes, a chef from Glen Ellen who bought a Prius three months ago. “I’m fixated on the … Continue reading →

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Alternative Motor Vehicle Tax Credit phase-out skews hybrid cost

Posted on November 25, 2006 by paul kuehnel

The qualified Alternative Fuel Motor Vehicle Credit was enacted by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The new credit includes separate credits for four distinct categories: 1. fuel cell vehicles 2. advanced lean burn technology vehicles 3. hybrid vehicles 4. … Continue reading →

Posted in All posts from the start, Hybrid, Oil Machine/politics, Tax incentives | Leave a comment

Sluggish Prius sales in China; a new love for meat

Posted on November 23, 2006 by paul kuehnel

Lacking tax/social incentives and suffering from import duties, the Toyota Prius isn’t selling well in China. The Chinese car is double the price of the American counterpart. What seemed like a sure bet for Toyota in a boom market turned … Continue reading →

Posted in All posts from the start, Human Power, Hybrid, Oil Machine/politics, Tax incentives | Leave a comment

A Toyota/Isuzu diesel hybrid

Posted on November 19, 2006 by paul kuehnel

Toyota Motor Corp may market a diesel hybrid sub compact car as early as 2010 in cooperation with Isuzu Motors Ltd. The drive train would be popular in Europe where diesels dominate. European drivers haven’t warmed up to the idea … Continue reading →

Posted in All posts from the start, Diesel, Hybrid | 1 Comment

Clean diesel may win LeMans, but will it be beat by the Pa. motor fuel tax structure

Posted on November 18, 2006 by paul kuehnel

As night fell over the 24 Hours of LeMans this summer, spectators at France’s prestigious endurance race detected a pattern. While competitors entered the pits to refuel, a sleek pair of Audi R10s kept stealing laps around the 13.7-kilometer track. … Continue reading →

Posted in All posts from the start, Diesel, Hybrid, Oil Machine/politics, Tax incentives | Leave a comment

A Chinese hybrid may be here in 2008

Posted on November 17, 2006 by paul kuehnel

The Chery A5 ISG will be a compact sedan powered by a 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor. The gasoline engine kicks in at speeds higher than 25 mph.

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Green Machines is now greenmesh.com

Posted on November 16, 2006 by paul kuehnel

The York Daily Record/Sunday News has given us a new garage to hang in and discuss the world of cars, technology and the future of propulsion. I picked the domain greenmesh.com because it’s better suited to this blog and besides … Continue reading →

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The AAA hybrid driving seminar

Posted on November 16, 2006 by paul kuehnel

November is Hybrid Vehicle Awareness Month in California and AAA is sponsoring a Hybrid Driver Training Seminar for drivers who want to make the most out of the technology. The two-hour class held at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., included … Continue reading →

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GM: Woops! New company-wide focus on “electrifying” the car

Posted on November 11, 2006 by paul kuehnel

General Motors plans to unveil prototype plug-in hybrid at the at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January. GM has a new company-wide focus on “electrifying” the car, GM officials said Thursday. In an interview with Motor … Continue reading →

Posted in All posts from the start, Electric, Oil Machine/politics | 2 Comments

Government party shifts can affect the CAFE standard

Posted on November 10, 2006 by paul kuehnel

Consumers have pushed Republicans to the back of the car lot. The GOP has spent millions on advertising, but this time around their model just won’t sell. There is a Democratic majority in the House and Senate. Later this month … Continue reading →

Posted in All posts from the start, MPG, Oil Machine/politics | Leave a comment

Hybrid rally car wins rally title

Posted on November 9, 2006 by paul kuehnel

A Honda Insight in the UK won class A of the fiercely contested 2006 Formula 1000 Rally Championship at the first attempt using E85 bio ethanol. The race requires that the cars have engines under 1 liter. An electric/gasoline propulsion … Continue reading →

Posted in All posts from the start, Ethanol, Hybrid, MPG | 1 Comment

A Prius with no wait

Posted on November 6, 2006 by paul kuehnel

Toyota is catching up with consumer demand and expanding the Prius name. Toyota expects to import 122,590 Priuses this year, up from a previous forecast of 110,000, Toyota spokesman Bill Kwong said. Prius sales fell 12% last month in the … Continue reading →

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VW promises an affordable fuel cell

Posted on November 3, 2006 by paul kuehnel

VW says that they have a breakthrough in fuel cell technology. Up until now the cell costs at least as much as the whole car.

Posted in All posts from the start, Hydrogen, Innovation | 1 Comment

The Air Car

Posted on November 1, 2006 by paul kuehnel

I‘ve been scanning theaircar.com for 20 minutes and I still don’t quite get it. The Web site is mostly in English, but it runs into Spanish and sometimes French. The tech just isn’t translated well at times. Mostly they don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in All posts from the start, Biodiesel, Ethanol, Hybrid, Innovation, MPG | 4 Comments