Earlier this week, Toyota published a brief press release on its newest concept vehicle, a battery-powered electric vehicle. Details were limited but Brent Snavely of the Detroit Free Press was able to get a bit more information about the concept including the fact that it will be smaller than the Prius.

“This is a pure electric vehicle,” said Toyota spokeswoman Jana Hartline. “It’s a concept we are bringing to the show basically to confirm our interest in electric vehicles.” (Source: Detroit Free Press)

The green car blogosphere was all abuzz with conjecture after Toyota’s press release with some guessing that the vehicle will be an EV version of the Toyota IQ (not available here in the United States). With this latest bit of information from Hartline, the IQ guess is looking more likely.

Toyota is preparing for two press conferences during the North American International Auto Show (NAIAs) despite the news announcing the company‘s first operating loss in 70 years. Katsuaki Watanabe, Toyota President, will not be appearing at the 2009 NAIAS.

The 2009 Washington Auto Show will take place February 4-8, 2009 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC. The theme for the 2009 show is “Driven by the Environment” and the Green Car Journal will be one of the show’s promotional partners.

One of the highlights of the 2009 show will be the Green Car Pavilion, which is designed to be “a showcase of the industry’s newest and most innovative hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles, including hybrid race cars and battery-powered technology.” (Source: PR Newswire)

In addition to the Green Car Pavilion, the Green Car Vision Award will be given to one of the five finalists: the Chevrolet Volt, Fisker Karma, Honda FCX Clarity, MINI E or the Mitsubishi i-MiEV on Public Policy Day (February 3).

Visitors to the Washington Auto Show will be able to get a glimpse of the 2010 Toyota Prius, Honda Insight, 2009 smart fortwo and the all-new Lexus RX450h.

Ford Motor Company, the least affected of the Detroit 3, has proudly released the official Environmental Protection Agency fuel efficiency certification for the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. The results are in and the vehicle has a 41 mpg city rating and a 36 mpg highway rating.

This comes in 8 mpg higher for city fuel efficiency and 2 mpg higher on the highway when compared to the Toyota Camry Hybrid. Ford has been eyeing the Toyota Camry Hybrid and originally estimated that the fuel efficiency ratings would be approximately 5mpg higher than that of the Camry.

“The new Ford Fusion Hybrid not only significantly exceeds the competition but also embodies Ford’s 100 percent commitment to fuel efficiency leadership, quality, innovation and advanced technology,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Global Product Development. “The Ford team set the bar high — to develop America’s most fuel efficient mid-size sedan — and that’s what they delivered.” (Source: PR Newswire)

The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid was a finalist in the 2009 Green Car of the Year Award and will be available in the spring of 2009.

‘Tis the season to drive a zero emissions vehicle (ZEV), at least in the Los Angeles area it is. A GEM loaded with toys will visit the West Valley Boys & Girls Club at 4pm local time today. This will be part of Operation Green Toy ‘Drive’ in which children will be able to decorate a GEM, learn about environmental awareness issues and receive holiday gifts.

“It seems the West Valley Boys and Girls Club was short toys for the holidays. A team effort came to the rescue, with the toys being provided by the kindness of strangers through a toy drive facilitated by Barnett Ellman. The red GEM e4 car on loan to Santa is being delivered by Bill Fenton of Response Vehicle Solutions, a GEM dealer, located in North Hollywood.” (Source: PR Newswire)

Thank you to those who have come together to bring a bit of green holiday spirit to the children at the West Valley Boys & Girls Club this Christmas.

I am beginning to have London envy; today’s news from Ford and the Energy Saving Trust just adds to my jealousy. Journalists in London will be able to participate in a 45-minute ECO Drive lesson that will instruct the journalists in common green driving methods. These methods are useful in saving money on fuel consumption costs as well as reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

“In an initiative that is the first of its kind in the UK, Ford Retail, the country’s largest Ford dealer group, is offering customers and the public green advice and eco driving lessons. A pilot scheme has shown that the average motorist can make fuel savings of GBP200 to GBP250 per annum and cut their CO2 emissions by at least 15%. At the same time, by adopting eco driving techniques, driving is made less stressful, accident rates are cut and wear and tear on vehicles reduced.” (Source: PR Newswire)

If you are not in London, consider taking your own virtual green driving lesson and read Five Ways to Drive More Efficiently.

There is something to be said about brevity in a press release. Today, Toyota teased us all with a short, two-sentence press release that was not accompanied with any details, pictures or drawings.

“Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. will display a battery electric vehicle concept at the 2009 North American International Auto Show. This display marks the world debut of this concept vehicle.”

How is that for a teaser? Toyota will be premiering the 2010 Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid at the show so it is not going to be a new Prius concept. My guess is that this will be a smaller vehicle aimed at entry-level car buyers.

Last time I made a prediction, I was trying to guess which cars would make the 2009 Green Car of the Year top five list and I failed miserably. Thankfully, I only have to await a few short weeks to find out how close I am with this prediction.

The EU is leading the way on stringent laws requiring automakers to reduce carbon dioxide emissions on vehicles sold in the member countries. An 18% average CO2 reduction will be required by 2015 and vehicles must have an average emissions level less than 130 grams per kilometer.

“Under the phase-in, 65 percent of Europe’s new-car fleet must meet the target in 2012; 75 percent in 2013, 80 percent in 2014 and 100 percent beginning in 2015.

To meet the 130g/km average, the EU will give carmakers individual targets based on the weight of their cars. The targets range from 122g/km for Fiat and 137g/km for BMW and Daimler.” (Source: Automotive News)

Here in the United States, California has the strictest emissions requirements but with a new administration stepping in and a set of policy makers known as the Green Dream Team, it is likely that the United States will adapt more strict emissions limits as well.

Oh, to live in an area that has great public transportation. The metro area that I am part of is beginning light rail service this month. I am about 30 miles from the nearest stop though so will not likely be using it but it is good to see a focus on public transportation. The City of Burbank is taking public transportation a step greener and will be a test market for a zero-emissions plug-in fuel cell hybrid transit bus. That is a mouthful!

“Designed and fabricated by Colorado-based Proterra, the revolutionary vehicle can travel 250 miles before needing to be recharged, runs at double the fuel economy of a diesel bus and releases nothing but water from the engine exhaust. In addition to being created and built in this country, it relies on power that is 100% derived from U.S. sources, thereby reducing dependence on foreign energy.” (Source: PR Newswire)

The bus will be the first bus built from the ground up as a hybrid, the first mass-produced use of smaller output fuel cells as range extenders in a plug-in hybrid bus and a fast-charge battery system can recharge the battery in six minutes. The bus will begin service in the spring of 2009.

The Fisker Karma luxury plug-in hybrid vehicle was one of five cars named as finalists in the Green Car Journal’s 2009 Green Car Vision Awards. The vehicle is coming up on the one-year anniversary of its world debut. The Fisker Karma was revealed at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in January 2008.

“The first of its kind four-door plug-in hybrid premium sports sedan will have a starting price of $80,000. Initial deliveries of the Karma will commence in the 4th quarter of 2009 with annual production projected to reach 15,000 cars. The first 99 cars off the assembly line will be individually numbered and signed by Henrik Fisker and will be produced in the color and trim of the show car seen at NAIAS.” (Source: Fisker Automotive)

The Karma has a 0-60mph time of less than six seconds, a +125 miles per hour top speed and an emission free driving range of 50 miles.

The Green Car Journal has announced the finalists for the 2009 Green Car Vision Award. The five cars that have made the finals are the Chevrolet Volt, Fisker Karma, Honda FCX Clarity, MINI E and the Mitsubishi iMiEV.

“Vehicles offering dramatically improved environmental performance are crucial to helping us move beyond today’s challenges of oil dependence and growing environmental impacts,” says Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of the Green Car Journal and editor of GreenCar.com. “While not yet widely available in new car showrooms, these vehicles each inspire in important ways with their advanced powertrains, use of cleaner or more sustainable fuels, vastly improved efficiencies, or a combination of these attributes.” (Source: PR Newswire)

The Volt is on the list but in a precarious state with construction on the Volt engine production plant halted. Perhaps today’s news about financial help for General Motors and the continued recognition that the Volt is receiving will help ensure the vehicle’s success.

The winner of the 2009 Green Car Vision Award will be announced on February 3 during the Public Policy Day at the Washington Auto Show in Washington, DC.