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News -02-04-06 Reality Check on President's Oil Reduction Plan (Christian Science Monitor) "With Americans concerned about rising gasoline prices and dependence on imported oil, the president wants to cut 75 percent of US oil imports from the region by 2025 - and he provided a new energy plan to help do it." "A bipartisan proposal in Congress - the 'Vehicle and Fuel Choices for American Security Act' - advocates a 7-million-barrel cut over 20 years, nearly double Bush's proposal and eliminating the need for any Middle Eastern oil." 02-06 -08-04-05 Windows Up or Down? (Bankrate.com) "Automotive engineers have all the fun." "Or maybe not. During the test, one engineer shot around the track with the air cranked up. A second had the windows down. An unlucky third test driver was assigned to what turned out to be the most-fuel efficient way to travel: Driving with the windows up and the air conditioner switched off." 8-05 -11-30-07 Congressman Dingle, Champion of the Auto Industry (New York Times) "Under terms of the auto mileage deal, the cars and trucks sold in the United States must meet a fleetwide average of 35 miles per gallon by 2020. The Senate passed a bill with this standard in June, but the House version of the legislation, passed in August, did not include any new mileage mandate because of opposition led by Mr. Dingell." "Speaker Pelosi supported the new mileage standard and vowed that she would restore it in the final bill. She appears to have prevailed but Mr. Dingell won some important concessions." 11-07 Air-Powered Car in the U.S. Planned for 2010 (CNN News) "You've heard of hybrids, electric cars and vehicles that can run on vegetable oil. But of all the contenders in the quest to produce the ultimate fuel-efficient car, this could be the first one to let you say, 'fill it up with air.' " 08-08 Air-Powered Car in the U.S. Planned for 2010 (PopularMechanics.com) "Zero Pollution Motors (ZPM) confirmed to PopularMechanics.com on Thursday that it expects to produce the world’s first air-powered car for the United States by late 2009 or early 2010. As the U.S. licensee for Luxembourg-based MDI, which developed the Air Car as a compression-based alternative to the internal combustion engine, ZPM has attained rights to build the first of several modular plants, which are likely to begin manufacturing in the Northeast and grow for regional production around the country, at a clip of up to 10,000 Air Cars per year." 06-08 Automotive X Prize (PopularMechanics.com) "PM's expert car editors have watched this $10 million competition from the beginning, test driving some of the most fuel-efficient cars in the world, following the first teams to sign up—even sponsoring one. Now, as gas prices soar and the AXP entry pool officially opens, we take a detailed look at the most promising startups. These are the innovators we believe at this point have a very real shot at winning the X Prize—and developing a mass-market 100-mpg vehicle. (We'll examine some of the race's unsung heroes soon.) Adhering to the X Prize Foundation's rules, we analyzed all 64 entrants thus far based on six factors—technological feasibility, fuel economy, design, performance, price and production reality. The result is the most comprehensive, up-to-date scouting report on the field for the ultimate car of tomorrow." 06-08 Compare Cars by MPG (FuelEconomy.gov) Provides a comparison of vehicles their miles per gallon rating by EPA so consumers can select "green" cars. 07-07 Compare Cars by MPG (FuelEconomy.gov) Provides a comparison of vehicles their miles per gallon rating by EPA so consumers can select "green" cars. 07-07 Getting There Without Your SUV (CNN news) "If you drive a big SUV or pickup truck, you're probably trying to think of ways to save fuel, or -- gasp -- getting rid of that big vehicle and driving a fuel-efficient sedan or coupe." "But you probably bought that truck for a reason -- you need to carry people and or lots of stuff. Don't despair. There are options if you decide to ditch the behemoth." 09-08 Hypermiling (MotherJones.com) "on a midsummer saturday in a sprawling wisconsin parking lot, about a dozen people are milling about a candy-apple red Honda Insight. They're watching Wayne Gerdes prepare for his run in Hybridfest's mpg Challenge, a 20-mile race through the streets of Madison. Wayne is the odds-on favorite to win the challenge, in which drivers compete to push the automotive limits not of speed and power—a desire those gathered here consider old-fashioned and wasteful—but for the unsexy title of Most Fuel-Efficient Driver in the World." 06-08 Volkswagen's Diesel Polo--In Europe (PopularMechanics.com) "The Polo gets 60 to 70-plus mpg. And it’s really fun to drive. It’s got a good bit of turbo lag, so you need to keep the revs up for serious power, but once the turbo kicks in, acceleration is frisky. And the lag makes the car feel faster than it actually is. I didn’t wring it out, but over the course of a short cruise through the suburbs, it felt like a car I could gladly live with day in, day out. Fun to drive, just enough room for a family, and frugal as all get out. In Europe, the Polo sells for less than $20,000." 06-08 World's Cheapest Car (Time.com) "A lot is riding on the the world's cheapest car. In the words of Ratan Tata, chairman of the company behind the upstart econobox, India's "People's Car" will be a "safe, affordable, all weather vehicle for a family which is today traveling on a two wheeler." The entry level model is ticketed at just over $2,500 — or the equivalent of 100,000 rupees or one Lakh — a revolutionary price where the average lower middle class income is $200 a month. (For comparison's sake, in the early 1970s, Honda introduced affordable, good quality Civics at about $2,200, which adjusted for inflation would now be nearly $10,500.) It could well be one of the most important cars ever designed." 01-08 Papers -04-17-06 Spending Less on Gasoline (ABC News) Suggests how to spend less on gas. 04-06 -Fuel Cell Cars (Awesome Library) Provides a summary of options for current and near future transportation that avoids pollution, yet is convenient, uses inexpensive fuel, and is safe. 6-01 2008 Cars (AutomobileMag.com) Provides articles on cars expected to be available in 2008 and beyond. 07-07 Autos - Alternative Energy (Energy Source Guides) Provides listings of alternative vehicle businesses in the world. 6-01 Autos - Aluminum May Be a Problem (Environmental News Network) Suggests that the use of aluminum in automobiles may actually make carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere worse. 5-01 Autos - Fuel Efficiency (U.S. Department of Energy - www.fueleconomy.gov) Describes the fuel economy of cars. 8-01 Autos - Insulation Reduces Fuel Needs (Environmental News Network) Provides results from a study showing that use of insulation technology normally applied to housing can greatly reduce the heating and cooling needs for car. 5-01 Autos - Liquid Nitrogen Power (University of Washington) Provides the design for a car powered by liquid nitrogen, considered a much more environmental friendly source of energy than electric or gasoline power. Autos - MPG Standards Need to be Raised (Union of Concerned Scientists) Asserts that existing technology can be applied to reduce fuel use by 75 percent. 6-01 Autos - Made of Wood (Alternative Autos) Describes the development of a very aerodynamic car made of wood, the Tryane II. Includes pictures. 6-01 Autos - Microcars (Microcar.org) Lists all known very small cars in alphabetical order, by make. Also provides information for buying and selling microcars. 6-01 Autos - SUV Fuel Efficiency Proposed (Lycos) Recommends that light trucks, including SUVs, should be required to meet the same fuel efficiency standards as other vehicles. Nemtzow, a Republican lawmaker, asserts that "...requiring an SUV to get the same 27.5 miles per gallon as a passenger car would save consumers $27 billion in fuel costs...." 6-01 Autos - Stirling Engines (Environmental News Network) Discusses an engine that has no moving parts and may use no fossil fuel. 5-01 Autos - Sustainable Transportation (Institute for Transportation and Development Policy) Describes programs supported by the ITDP globally to reduce damage to the environment from transportation. 6-01 Autos - The Least Polluting Models (GreenCars.com) Provides a list of the 12 best automobiles for low pollution levels. 08-08 Autos - Thermophotvoltaic Prototype (Vehicle Research Institute) Describes a prototype vehicle that burns methane as a fuel to create infrared heat, which in turn powers photovoltaic cells, which in turn generate electricity to power the car. The cells are considered to be 200 times more efficient than solar photovoltaic cells. The power source is expected to be very clean burning and quiet. 6-01 Autos - Three-Wheel and Tilting Prototype (Mercedes.com) Describes a three-wheel, tilting vehicle by Mercedes-Benz. The F 300 Life-Jet was designed to solve problems for future vehicles and is not available for sale. 6-01 Autos - Tips to Improve Fuel Efficiency (U.S. Department of Energy - www.fueleconomy.gov) Provides tips to improve fuel efficiency of cars. 5-01 BLUETEC Fuel-Efficient Diesels (DaimlerChrysler) "On the eve of the Los Angeles Motor Show DaimlerChrysler, AUDI and Volkswagen announced that they intend to establish the BLUETEC brand name as the designation for particularly clean, highly fuel-efficient passenger cars and SUVs with diesel engines. Under the shared concept of BLUETEC, each of the manufacturers involved will be working on their own technical systems for meeting the world’s most stringent emission regulations." 01-07 Best MPG SUVs (Autobytel.com) "Hybrid powertrains, available in sedans and small cars for the past several years, will soon be widely available in SUVs. Ford was the first to introduce such a vehicle to the market, the Ford Escape Hybrid, but others are close behind." 12-06 Buying a Car With Good Fuel Economy (Edmunds.com) Discusses the most fuel-efficient cars and trucks of 2006. 01-07 California to Slash Carbon Gases from Cars (MSNBC.com) "When California Gov. Gray Davis signs a car emissions bill into law on Monday, he’ll be taking on not just the U.S. automotive industry but also President Bush. The law will require sharp cuts in emissions of carbon dioxide, a gas many scientists fear is warming the Earth." "THE MEASURE will make California the first state to regulate vehicle emissions of so-called greenhouse gases." 7-02 Cars - Fuel Efficient Car Goal Abandoned (Auto.com - Borenstein) Describes the government announcement that the 80 m.p.g. goal for cars by 2004 has been abandoned. Another approach to fuel efficiency, not disclosed, was given for the reason to stop trying to create a concept car that achieves 80 m.p.g. by 2004. 5-01 Cars of the Near Future (MSNBC News) "Power could be produced by the 1.0-liter, three-cylinder gasoline engine that serves as the Volt’s on-board generator. It could also come from the 110-volt wall outlet in your garage, which will charge the lithium ion battery pack enough to let you drive 20 miles to work and 20 miles back again. That is far enough for 80 percent of Americans to get to work and back on pure electric power, the company [GM] said." 01-07 Chevrolet HHR Small Wagon Review (Washington Post) "It gets 30 miles per gallon on the highway and two thumbs up for looks." 01-07 Chevrolet HHR Small Wagon Reviews (Edmunds.com) Provides reviews. Overall rating is 9.8 out of 10. 01-07 Compare Four Small Wagons (Edmunds.com) Compare the Ford Focus, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Chevrolet HHR, and Mazda3. 01-07 Comparing Mid-Size Family Cars Under $21,000 With Good Fuel Economy (Edmunds.com) Compares the Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry, Mazda6, and the Nissan Altima. All cars are rated by EPA for at least 24 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. All have an invoice price between $17,000 and $21,000. 01-07 Congress Rewards Huge Gas Guzzlers (ABC News) Thanks to a generous tax credit, Karl Wizinsky is driving a very large vehicle these days — a 2002 Ford Excursion." "Congress recently passed a tax bill, as proposed in President Bush's economic stimulus plan, that offers a $100,000 tax credit for business owners who purchase any vehicle weighing 6,000 pounds or more when fully loaded." 3-05 Early Look at Possible 2009 Prius (Popular Mechanics.com) "Toyota may be the first to market with a plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) vehicle. Today, we were briefed on Toyota’s future hybrid and alternative fuel plans." 07-07 Energy and Oil: Kerry (Issue2000.org) "I support updating CAFE standards to 36 miles per gallon by 2015. This proposal will reduce America's dependence on oil by saving 2 million barrels of oil per day -- almost as much as we currently import from the Persian Gulf. It will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, smog and ozone pollution."  "We have to encourage the use of hybrid vehicles and invest in research and development. We have to set a goal by 2020 that 20 percent of our energy will come from renewable fuels. I am going to create an energy efficient trust fund to look for news sources of energy and we are going to create tens of thousands of jobs doing that. We can't drill our way out of this." "We only have 3% of the world's oil reserves. There is no physical way for the US to drill its way out of this problem. We have to invent our way out of this problem. The sooner that we commit America to the science & discovery of renewable alternatives, the better off America will be, the better our health will be, the more effective our economy would be, the better our national security will be, and the better world citizen we will be. We need to commit ourselves to energy independence now." 2-04 Flywheel Lightening for a Car (Lambie) Describes how lightening a flywheel for a car can boost acceleration, but not increase the power or efficiency of the motor. Also warns of the dangers and of the lost smoothness during idling. 3-02 Ford Developing a Hybrid With Flexible Fuel (Ford Motor Company) "At the Washington Auto Show, Ford unveiled the Ford Escape Hybrid E85, a research vehicle marrying two petroleum-saving technologies – hybrid electric power and flexible-fuel capability. Escape Hybrid E85 is the world’s first hybrid vehicle capable of operating on blends of fuel containing as much as 85 percent ethanol, a renewable fuel that can be produced from American-grown corn or sugar beets. And ethanol use releases no fossil-based CO 2, so its use as a fuel in place of gasoline reduces the release of greenhouse gases." 02-06 Fuel Economy According to Users (FuelEconomy.gov) Reports actual MPG from users. 12-05 Fuel Economy and Muscle (USNews.com) "Looking for a car that can stretch that $3 gas—and has some get-up-and-go?" You're in luck. The U.S. News Muscle Per Gallon Index rates more than 400 passenger car models according to a combination of gas mileage and horsepower." 05-07 Fuel Efficiency or Economy of Autos (FuelEconomy.gov) Provides fuel efficiency ratings and comparisons among cars and other vehicles. 10-07 Green Car Guide (Edmunds.com) Provides articles on fuel efficiency for cars. 07-07 Greenest Cars of 2007 (Autos.Yahoo.com) Provides a listing of cars. 01-07 Hybrid, Diesel, and Gas Comparison (MSN News) Compares cars on "payback" for use of alternate fuels. 9-05 Improving Fuel Economy (FTC.gov) "Gas prices are up, and so is the volume of advertising for 'gas-saving' products. When gasoline prices rise, consumers often look for ways to improve fuel efficiency. Although there are practical steps you can take to increase gas mileage, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns you to be wary of any gas-saving claims for automotive devices or oil and gas additives. Even for the few gas-saving products that have been found to work, the savings have been small." 05-07 Low-Resistance Tires (GreenCarCongress.com) "Adding such a device (picture to the right) and slightly oversized, low rolling-resistance Michelin Energy MXV4 S8 tires to his 2003 VW Beetle TDI diesel resulted in an average 58.8 mpg in extended, high-speed highway driving." 12-06 Low-Resistance Tires (GreenSeal.org) Provides results of evaluations on rolling resistance and performance for top-rated tires. 11-07 Low-Resistance Tires (HybridCars.com) "Most of the hybrid vehicles use some sort of low rolling resistance tire. Sometimes these tires are called 'low mu.' 'Mu' is the Greek letter (used by engineers) as the symbol for “tire friction to the road surface.” "While the low resistance tires will help with mileage, there have been some complaints from hybrid owners that they did not like the way the tires handle on the road. As a result, Toyota has backed off from using the lower resistance tires and has settled with a better handling tire." 12-06 Low-Resistance Tires (TireRack.com) "During stop-and-go city driving, it's estimated that overcoming inertia is responsible for about 35% of the vehicle's resistance. Driveline friction is about 45%; air drag is about 5% and tire rolling resistance is about 15%." 11-07 MDI CAT's Compressed Air Technology Cars (TheAirCar.com) "The technology that MDI vehicles use is not new, in fact it had been around for years. Compressed air technology allows for engines that are both non polluting and economical. After ten years of research and development, MDI is prepared to introduce its clean vehicles onto the market. Unlike electric or hydrogen powered vehicles, MDI vehicles are not expensive and do not have a limited driving range. MDI cars are affordable and have a performance rate that stands up to current standards. To sum it up, they are non-expensive cars that do not pollute and are easy to get around cities in." 11-07 New Fuel Efficiency or Economy of Autos (FuelEconomy.gov) Provides the new government (EPA) fuel efficiency ratings among cars and other vehicles. 10-07 Reducing the Use of Gasoline (Oregonian - Yaden and Durning) Suggests ways that the use of gasoline can be reduced. "Feebates are point-of-purchase incentives. Consumers pay a fee when buying vehicles with low gas mileage and collect rebates for buying more efficient ones. Such a program could quickly push the market toward more economic designs. With the nation's automobile fuel efficiency at a 20-year low, this is an especially important step." 2-02 SUV or Minivan? (MSNBC.com) "But beneath their glossy new veneers, minivans are still about transporting large groups of children and groceries — and with typically better fuel economy than comparably sized SUVs and pickups. This might explain why, as gas prices go up, SUVs and pickups are on the slide, while minivan sales are holding steady." 6-05 Smart ForTwo Promised in 2008 (PopularMechanics.com) "These small-on-the-outside, large-on-the-inside rides, designed by Daimler (Mercedes-Benz), have been a hit in Europe for almost 10 years and will start rolling onto United States streets in January. The Smart Fortwo (as in for two passengers) will create a new, sub “B” car class in the U.S. market. It’s a vehicle specifically designed to comfortably and efficiently transport its occupants through the worst areas of urban congestion. The micro-size dimensions make it over 2 ft. shorter than a Mini Cooper. And at just over 5 ft. across, the Fortwo sits as wide as it does tall. You can park this Smart widthwise across a conventional parking space." "And since the Smart revs relatively high at freeway speeds, economy appears to plummet in proportion to speed more quickly than on some small cars. But drive, ahem, smart, and you’ll get 40 mpg in the city and 45 on the highway." 11-07 The Battery Challenge for Energy-Efficient Vehicles (Christian Science Monitor) "Can you imagine this scenario: An American automaker leapfrogs its Japanese competitors with a gasoline-electric hybrid that gets 150 miles to the gallon and can travel 40 miles on battery power alone?" "General Motors set out that possibility when it unveiled on Sunday the Chevy Volt, a concept car with a much larger electric motor than today's Toyota Prius." 01-07 Top 10 Green Cars (MSNBC News) "The only gas-only vehicle to make the top 10 is the manual Toyota Corolla." 10-05 Top 25 Green Cars (Greencars.com) Ranks the top 25 cars in terms of pollution and fuel economy. 6-03 Two-Wheel Transporter - Segway Ginger Description (Time.com) Describes how the electric, two-wheel personal transporter works. "Not only does it have no brakes, it also has no engine, no throttle, no gearshift and no steering wheel. And it can carry the average rider for a full day, nonstop, on only five cents' worth of electricity." The device is expected to be available commercially toward the end of 2002 and is expected to sell for around 3,000 dollars. It is designed to replace an auto for short trips. The device stays upright due to gyros. 11-01 Two-Wheel Transporter - Segway Ginger Picture (HowStuffWorks.com) Provides details of how an electric, two-wheel personal transporter works. The device is expected to be available commercially toward the end of 2002 and is expected to sell for around 3,000 dollars. It is designed to replace an auto for short trips. The device stays upright due to gyros. 11-01 Two-Wheel Transporter - Segway Ginger Picture (Time.com) Provides details of how an electric, two-wheel personal transporter works. The device is expected to be available commercially toward the end of 2002 and is expected to sell for around 3,000 dollars. It is designed to replace an auto for short trips. The device stays upright due to gyros. 11-01 Ultracapacitors Claimed to Improve Electric Mileage (AutoBlogGreen.com) "ZENN is claiming that drivers will be able to charge up their cars in five minutes and get a five-hundred-mile range." 01-07 Projects Car Sharing (CarSharing.net) "Car Sharing provides flexible wheels for an urban lifestyle. It's instant-access to a network of cars throughout the city, 24 hours-a-day, paying-per-trip, without commitment or inconvenience." 12-02 Purchase Resources Cheapest Gasoline Prices (Money.CNN.com) "U.S. drivers will have another tool available in their pursuit of low-priced gasoline this Memorial Day weekend when AAA members Thursday gain access via AAA club Web sites to retail prices at individual service stations." 5-05

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