Going green in Hollywood means sporting a HOT eco friendly ride, among other goodies. Which celebs are driving around Tinseltown in electric, hydrogen, and/ or hybrid powered vehicles? See some below.

Gorgeous George Clooney - Drives a Tango 600 (a one seater electric vehicle)

Some of the cars are highly fuel efficient such as the Toyota Prius, while others just barely pass eco labeling. Then there is Cameron Diaz who not only has an eco friendly ride, but she goes one step further, she bought it used. (actually a few celebs have bought their green rides used)

[via - Forbes]

Some celebrities considerably boost their eco cred with the cars they choose to drive, driving around in an electric car is a trend right now, but one that will continue for the foreseeable future. They have all given up the big gas-guzzling SUV’s of yesteryear, and are embracing the planet-friendly autos of today.

Below are some hot celebrities who all drive green. Click the boxes to make bigger.

Subscribe

1 Comment »

Filed Under: Autos, Celebrities, Eco Friendly, Green, electric cars

Very interesting article at easy finance blog WiseBread on how gas pump manufacturers back in 1995 created pumps that cannot charge over $3.99 The convention is/ was that gas would NEVER go that high. Well……they were so wrong.

[photo credit - flickr]

Mostly these pre-1995 gas pumps are located in small towns and other backwood places. What these gas station owners are faced with, is either install new gas pumps (which is costly and out of the question for many) or simply tell customers “the price shown is wrong”. Hmmm. This is going to be quite the issue in the coming months ahead.

What happens if you fill up thinking you’re getting $3.99 a gallon, then the gas shop owner tells you “hey its really $4.14 a gallon, the pump price is wrong”. What on earth!

Fact is 1995 is not that long ago, how could manufacturers put such a low price in effect for the computers in gas pumps. Did they really feel oil would never skyrocket the way it has? Well regardless, this is the current situation for many small town gas station owners.

The government is giving these owners a break for now, by giving them ample time in replacing the older pumps, but eventually they will have to comply with the law. As it is illegal to not display gas prices.
(or incorrect prices)

Subscribe

Add Comment »

Filed Under: Gas Prices, Gas Pumps

AskPatty is a car blog written, run, and dedicated to women. They recently had a blog carnival up, and our green car blog, TGM, was nicely mentioned in it.

Blogger Brandy takes note of the post Amy wrote on the NEW! Mercedes BlueTech Hybrid due out (maybe) next year 2009. The BlueTech Hybrid by Mercedes is a first, as it combines two technologies with vision not yet available, both combined are innovative and yet to be seen in any vehicles let alone an SUV. Mercedes claims that the SUV Hybrid will make it to showrooms by 2009, but as of right now it is labeled a concept car.

Talk about fuel efficiency in an SUV, this baby if it comes to fruition, will blow the competition away, as it is expected to top 40 MPG. In comparison, eco friendly SUV’s in a similar class are only averaging about 25 MPG. The Mercedes GLK will be a sweet and fuel efficient ride!

The focus of the blog carnival at AskPatty was on gas prices, green cars, and fuel saving tips from the blog-o-sphere. Thanxs go to Brandy, for the mention.

Subscribe

Add Comment »

Filed Under: Autos, Eco Friendly, Fuel Efficient, Green, Mercedes

I have just come across a directory of golf electric vehicles called NEVPortal. Essentially this NEV (neighborhood electric vehicle) directory has a pretty decent sized list of dealers that sell a variety of electric golf cars, parts, and accessories.

Here is an electric golf cart dealer in Illinois, ExtremeKor Motorsports, that specializes in custom electric golf carts. Check out 3 hot NEV’s below.

The specs below are for the California Roadster Electric Golf Car. (the first one pictured above)

If you’re looking for a NEV, give the NEVPortal a try. They have been around since 2002, carry thousands of listings, you can search by state or country. They even have some international listings. Good luck in your search, do let us know if you come across your dream NEV.

Subscribe

1 Comment »

Filed Under: Eco Friendly, Green, NEV, electric cars, electric vehicles, golf carts

When it comes to hybrid and electric vehicles, startup companies have made an incredible impact on the market. Startup companies have the freedom to think outside of the box when it comes to building new concepts. They don’t have the same expectations of established companies, so they can use their creative juices to truly make a vehicle that will put a smile on customers’ faces. Hybrid Technologies is the latest startup to step into the ring, and what they have come up with has gotten the automotive world excited. They have come up with a concept for a super car which almost seems too good to be true. The company has assured the public that it is, in fact, a workable concept, and it will see sales’ floors when they are done with the modifications.

The super car, yet to be named, is being produced in two different models. One model will be a lithium ion hybrid, while the other will be completely electric. As electric cars are known as the ride of the future, people may want to take notice to what Hybrid Technologies is doing. This could easily put them in a position as a major force in the automotive industry.

The company claims that its hybrid model will be able to get at least 220mpg. That’s on the low end of the stick. It is possible for it to get even better gas mileage. As for the electric model, Hybrid Technologies is planning on getting it to the 120-150 mile range between charges before it is released to the public.

The car is also expected to dominate in the terms of horsepower. Hybrid Technologies claim that this car is in a league of its own. When asked if it could keep up with the Corvette ZR-1, which produces horsepower in the mid 600s, the company stated that the Corvette ZR-1 would not even be in the same ballpark as their new vehicle. It is supposed to run circles around the Corvette.

An added advantage that Hybrid Technologies has over much of its competition is their view on electric and hybrid cars. Hybrid Technologies does not believe hybrids and electric vehicles are merely for show. The company has insisted they plan to bring comfort back to eco friendly vehicles. While the car does in fact look great, it is the comfortable features that set it apart from the competition. Hybrid Technologies believes that these are the vehicles that will take us into the future, so we need comfort, style, and something that drives well. Driving a hybrid or electric car should be an advantage, not a disadvantage.

Hybrid Technologies has just come forward with the information about the unnamed car, so it is not yet available for a test drive. However, they did say that they plan to have the car available for sale in 2009 or 2010, when the push for electric vehicles is expected to be at an all time high. Since the vehicle is currently in production, a test drive is feasible for 2008. The public will be waiting anxiously for this piece of machinery to hit the roads.

Subscribe

Add Comment »

Filed Under: General

Is your dress code at work cramping your style? Is your suit causing you to show off a different persona than you want to present when cruising to the office on your motorcycle? Do you find yourself getting more chuckles than yells when you drive by at 70 mph with your tie wrapped around your neck in the noose of a nine to five lifestyle? Sure, you’re a responsible adult now. Maybe you have some kids. You have to work at the office and provide. But wouldn’t it be nice if you could look cool doing it? What if there was a way to have the suit on when you rode the motorcycle, only no one could see it? What if you could just wear the motorcycle, and keep your work clothes tucked discreetly underneath it?

Thanks to Jake Loniak and Yamaha, maybe someday you can. Loniak, a student at the Art Center College of Design, has created a new concept, the wearable motorcycle. After Yamaha stamped its branding on it, the Dues Ex Machina started getting some attention. The design is so unique that it deserves all of the talk it is getting.

The motorcycle was created to be an extension of the body. In fact, the motorcycle is in the form of an exoskeleton. Loniak used 36 pneumatic muscles, seven artifical vertebrae, and two linear actuators in his concept vehicle that was inspired by Biomechatronics. The point is for the motorcycle to be a part of the driver. It is not your typical motorcycle that you sit upon. Instead, the driver fuses with the motorcycle to create one machine, making for easier driving and a warm covering on those cold, windy days.

The Dues Ex Machina runs on nana-phosphate batteries, which are eco friendly. Proving that it is not just for looks and hybrid lovers, the motorcycle can also go from zero to sixty in three seconds, and can travel up to speeds of 75 miles per hour.

Will anything actually come of this concept? As with all hybrid concept vehicles, it is impossible to tell. However, innovation in the hybrid market is always fascinating and an indication of what is to come with hybrid technology. While the future of the Dues Ex Machina remains to be seen, the creation of this innovative motorcycle shows that the technology used for hybrids will continue to evolve.

Subscribe

Add Comment »

Filed Under: General

Looking for an electric vehicle now? There is one currently available in California, the Triac EV. This three -wheeled electric ride as you can see below, is not super roomy, in fact, it is being marketed as a commuter only car.

Although the Triac is not big in size, it is big in fuel savings, as it is an electric plug-in. In all it takes about 6 hours to fully charge it. The EV averages top speeds of up to 80 MPH, and has a range of up to 100 miles charged up. The green Triac is made by the folks at Green Vehicles, and will definitely make a statement on the road. This eco friendly vehicle is available in two towns in California, including Mill Valley and San Jose.

Is this an affordable EV? Yes and No! The price tag on the zero-emissions Triac as of this writing is $20,000, but it is rather small and has no airbags. Not to mention there are no incentives from the state/federal government. The value is debatable and will vary by consumer need.

Can you see yourself in the Triac? How does the idea of a three-wheeled vehicle strike you? Share your opinion below.

Subscribe

7 Comments »

Filed Under: Eco Friendly, Green, Li Ion, Zero Emissions, electric cars, electric vehicles, ev

Cars are kind of like that person you met at the bar. If they look good enough, you’re willing to take them home with you. That’s the idea behind The Eden Project’s Sexy Green Car Show, which brings a lineup of good looking cars that keep people drooling. Onlookers reached for their wallets, hoping to take some of the good looking ladies home, only to find out they aren’t for sale yet. While that’s a shame, it gives us something to look forward to in the future. There will be a day (hopefully) when we can cruise up to the car dealership in our vehicles, make the ultimate trade, and take the Saab 9-X BioHyrid home. It would be a marriage made in heaven.

What’s so great about the Saab 9-X BioHybrid, you might ask? Besides being voted the best concept car at the Geneva Auto Show, and besides having a roomful of admirers at the Sexy Green Car Show, there is the performance of the vehicle. Yes, there are things that matter besides looks. Didn’t your mother ever tell you to find the substance behind the person? In this case, the Saab 9-X BioHybrid has enough substance to take home to mom and be proud.

Saab feels that they have uncovered the future of hybrid vehicles. Saab believes that second generation biofuels are the way to go in order to cut down on carbon emissions. This has proven to be true, at least for the short term. Even Saab realizes that the long term goal is to have electric plug in cars, but for now, this is a great, usable concept. In fact, by using this technology, the Saab 9-X BioHybrid manages to keep the carbon emissions as low as 105g/km.

The Saab 9-X BioHybrid consists of BioPower technology and design features that would make the most cynical driver smile, including a 3-D graphics cockpit, camera enhanced mirrors, and four point seatbelts. It also includes a solar cell in the glass roof. This solar cell harvests energy from the sun, and then replenishes the battery pack to save even more energy.

The engine in the Saab 9-X hybrid generates 200hp and 280Nm of torque, so drivers will definitely be satisfied in the power department. Still, even with all of that power, it is said to get around 58 mpg. That is incredibly impressive for something that could be considered a luxury car. It is difficult to find something that has looks and fuel economy rolled into one package.

Unfortunately, this vehicle is currently only a concept, although Saab has been parading it around. Even though it is a concept vehicle, consumers can rest assured that it is a good sign about the future of hybrid vehicles. It shows that the technology is progressing in a positive direction. It shows that a dedication to second generation biofuels will lead to a better performing vehicle. Most of all, it shows that as we continue to head in the right direction, there will be less concept and more production.

Subscribe

1 Comment »

Filed Under: General

As luxury vehicle manufacturers dip their toes into hybrid vehicle production, consumers can rest assured that green vehicles are not simply a trend. Hybrids are here to stay. In fact, luxury automotive manufactures have to keep up with that trend or be left behind. That is especially true when the luxury vehicle manufacturer produces SUVs. The SUV market is thinning out, with consumers focused on gas prices and the environment more than ever. For those reasons, Cadillac will soon be selling the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, a vehicle that has all of the luxuries of the original Escalade, along with increased fuel economy.

The new Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, which will make its way to car lots this fall, will have the same sleek design as the original Escalade. In fact, besides the exterior marking identifying it as a hybrid, the vehicle does not look like at all like a hybrid. It will look like the luxury SUV that it is.

The Cadillac Escalade Hybrid delivers like a hybrid, though, boasting a 50% improved fuel economy over the regular Escalade. The fuel economy of the Escalade Hybrid is incredibly impressive, considering that Cadillac did not compromise power or performance to achieve that kind of fuel conservation.

The 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid uses a 2-Mode Hybrid System. The 2-Mode System powers the Escalade between electric motors and a gas engine, depending on the requirements at the time. Therefore, it maintains power when power is needed, and also improves fuel efficiency. As an added perk, it utilizes regenerative breaking technology to keep the battery charged.

The 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, equipped with a V8, is capable of towing up to 6,000 pounds in 2-wheel drive. It can take care of all hauling needs, while still being mindful of fuel.

In keeping with its luxury vehicle reputation, the 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid has a Navigation Radio interface which displays the 2-Mode Hybrid System information in an easy way for drivers and passengers to understand. It is details such as this that keeps Cadillac at the head of its class.

Cadillac did not cut any corners when it came to producing the 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid. It stayed true to the Cadillac brand and produced a sleek, efficient piece of machinery that anyone would be proud to drive.

Subscribe

3 Comments »

Filed Under: General

GM has been busy with several NEW eco fuel technologies, one such being the hydrogen powered Chevy Equinox.

The Chevy Equinox is a limited production vehicle which will be powered by hydrogen, batteries, and a fuel cell pack. If it sounds complicated, don’t worry, because it is. Essentially with the technologies in place, this SUV will produce zero emissions and no co2 greenhouse gases.

The fuel cell car has also recently won the prestigious “Green Car Vision Award” for its innovative and ambitious fuel conservation and efficiency vision and efforts. Beating out other heavyweights, including the hydrogen powered BMW Hydrogen 7.

After weighing the achievements and importance of these vehicles, jurors felt that one vehicle stood out as a natural leader in this pack: Chevrolet’s Equinox Fuel Cell. This advanced vehicle brings to the highway an efficient powerplant that offers zero emissions, no CO2 greenhouse gases, and highly efficient conversion of its fuel to motive power. It also benefits from 40 years of research and development, building upon the engineering of other high-profile prototypes that have come before it and achieving near seamless operation with its space-age powerplant and electro-mechanical systems. It feels familiar to drive, even as its powerplant works in ways that that are unfamiliar to most drivers.

This familiar feel is important. The Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell is part of an extensive demonstration program that will find 100 such vehicles being driven by consumers and fleets for three months at a time in California, New York City, and Washington DC. Their experience behind the wheel will advance the cause of hydrogen vehicles considerably.

The Equinox will be test driven by consumers on the road to further test its viability and marketability. There is no date set for mass production, or when one will come to a dealer near you. But rest assured Chevy is hard at work making this a near reality.

Wanna test drive one? take one for a test drive

Subscribe

1 Comment »

Filed Under: Autos, Chevy Equinox, Zero Emissions, chevy, fuel cell, gm, hydrogen