The doors of the 2009 North American International Auto Show closed last week and despite the problems that the auto industry is facing, the show was a success. Many companies, including Nissan North America, pulled out of the show due to financial woes. Other companies, including Honda, scaled back on the glitzy events. However, more than 650,000 people attended the show, there were more exhibitors in attendance than the 2008 show had and 53 vehicles were unveiled.

There were several eco-friendly vehicles debuted during the show. Green motoring enthusiasts and the press were anxious for Toyota’s reveal of the 2010 Prius. This third-generation Prius was met with positive feedback from show attendees.

Other worldwide production green reveals include the 2010 Lexus HS 250h, the official production version of the 2010 Honda Insight and the sexy Fisker Karma sports car. On the concept front, show attendees were wowed by the Chrysler 200C EV Concept, the Jeep Patriot EV Concept, the VW BlueSport Concept and the Mercedes-Benz BlueZero concept.

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Filed Under: Auto Shows

The 2009 Washington Auto Show kicks off next. The event will run from February 4 – 8 and this year’s theme is “Driven by the Environment”. In advance of the show’s start, the Green Car Journal will be announcing the winner of the 2009 Green Car Vision Award. The five finalists for the award are the Chevrolet Volt, the Fisker Karma, Honda’s FCX Clarity, the MINI E and the Mitsubishi iMieV.

One green highlight of the show is that the EcoCAR will be on display during the show.

“EcoCAR Students are designing and building advanced propulsion solutions that are based on the vehicle categories from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) regulations. Teams explore a variety of cutting-edge clean vehicle solutions, including full-function electric, range-extended electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell technologies. In addition, they will incorporate lightweight materials into the vehicles, improve aerodynamics and utilize alternative fuels such as ethanol, biodiesel and hydrogen.” (Source: Washington Auto Show)

For more information about the show, including hours and admission prices, visit the Washington Auto Show website.

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Filed Under: Auto Shows

Although the Toyota Yaris is not a hybrid or alternative fuel vehicle, I write about it from time-to-time, as it is one of the more fuel-efficient cars available in the U.S. Yesterday, Toyota announced a safety recall affecting nearly 135,000 Toyota Yaris’ sold in the United States.

“The Yaris is equipped with driver and front passenger seat belt pretensioners that retract the seat belts to begin absorbing the occupant’s forward momentum when a severe frontal impact is detected. On 2006 through 2007 model year Yaris, Toyota has determined that the seat belt pretensioner deployment may affect the sound insulating foam in the center pillar, following a collision.

There are no reported cases of this condition in the United States and no other Toyota or Lexus vehicles are involved.

Toyota will inform owners of the involved vehicles with a Safety Recall notification via first-class mail beginning in early February. Owners are requested to contact their local Toyota dealer for repair. The repair will take approximately one hour, depending on the dealer’s workload.” (Source: PR Newswire)

If you are the owner of a Yaris, you can wait for your letter or contact your local Toyota dealership to make an appointment. If you have any further questions, please call the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.

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Filed Under: toyota

It is official, the 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan Hybrids are eligible for the $3,400 tax credit. This is, of course, if Ford can rectify the battery shortage that they are dealing with and you are able to purchase one.

“Buyers of a new 2010 Fusion Hybrid or Mercury Milan Hybrid this year will qualify for the $3,400 tax credit, the highest credit amount ever offered for hybrids purchased or placed in service after December 31, 2005. The Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner Hybrid, the most fuel-efficient SUVs in America, continue to qualify for a $3,000 tax credit, the highest available tax credit of all hybrids on the road today.” (Source: PR Newswire)

The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid has celebrated success recently; the Environmental Protection Agency rated the car with a 41 miles per gallon city rating. This is eight miles per gallon higher than its competitor, the Toyota Camry Hybrid.

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Filed Under: Ford

Dubbed the UK’s greenest family car, the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic is now available at dealerships in the United Kingdom. The newly designed Ford Fiesta hit the market in October of last year and since the ECOnetic was announced, more than 500 orders have been placed.

“For the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, modifications include lowered suspension, aerodynamic body styling and a gear change alert. Together these help to lower fuel consumption to 76.3mpg and CO2 emissions to 98g/km.

Automotive environmental specialists, Cleangreencars.co.uk, confirmed that the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic is the UK’s greenest family car. Publisher Jay Nagley said: “Cleangreencars.co.uk welcomes any car that sets a new benchmark for the industry. That the Fiesta ECOnetic does so without any loss of driving pleasure makes the new model doubly welcome. Of the 3,600 production models ranked by CO2 on Cleangreencars.co.uk, the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic comes out top among five-seater cars.” (Source: Newspress)

The Ford Fiesta ECOnetic 1.6 TDCi has fuel efficiency ratings of 61.4 mpg in urban areas, 88.3 mpg in extra-urban areas and a combined fuel efficiency of 76.3 mpg. Nice!

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Filed Under: Europe, diesel

The Geneva International Motor Show is going to be one of the “greenest” major motor shows in history. The organizers of the event have dedicated Hall 3 to green products and now Bentley has announced that they will be adding a bit of green to their offerings.

“Displaying its green-performance credentials, Bentley will unveil a high-performance sports car at the Geneva auto show in March with an engine that can run on E85 ethanol blend fuel. Bentley said the adaptation to running on green fuel was achieved by an enhanced engine management system and from newly developed transmissions and drivelines.” (Source: ANE)

Okay so it is E85 and not some fancy electric system, but it is a step in the right direction. The Automotive News Europe goes on to explain that this luxury sports car will be a step above the super sexy Continental GT Speed. The Speed has 610 horsepower! The definition of a “step above” is yet to be released by Bentley but I am wondering if we will be seeing a 650 horsepower E85 vehicle in the future.

Of course, the price of a Bentley is the same as a price of a small house where I live so I won’t be signing up to buy one. It is still nice to see this exclusive auto manufacturer making a nod towards more eco-friendly driving options.

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Filed Under: Auto Shows

British-based The Green Car Website has named Toyota as the site’s first-ever “Manufacturer of the Year.” The winner of the award was chosen by the website viewers in a poll conducted in December 2008.

Miguel Fonseca Managing Director of Toyota GB adds:
“We are delighted and honoured that the readers of TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk have voted for Toyota as manufacturer of the year. Toyota works continuously to achieve ever higher environmental standards in all areas of its operations, efforts that are reflected in the world-leading Hybrid Synergy Drive that powers Prius and the application of the Toyota Optimal Drive concept to a raft of new models, such as new iQ and Avensis, to bring substantial reductions in emissions and fuel consumption.” (Source: Newspress)

Toyota garnered 29% of the votes and Honda came in a close second with 26% of the votes. The remaining manufacturers and their percentages are BMW (16%), Ford (8%), Volkswagen (7%), Citroen (4%), Smart (3%), Mercedes-Benz (3%), SEAT (2%) and Peugeot (2%).

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Filed Under: toyota

Eco-purists will not bother washing a car, if they even have one, as it wastes water. However, for those eco-friendly vehicle owners who want a clean car, there is an eco-friendly car washing product line available. Green Earth Technologies has a line of car cleaning products that they are going to be selling to businesses in the car washing and detailing industry.

The products available are G-WASH (heavy-duty hydrophobic car wash), G-GLASS (organic glass cleaner), G-TIRE (tire shining product), G-WHEEL (wheel cleaner) and G-SCENT (odor eliminator).

“Blending nature with nanotechnology, these appearance products outshine and outperform by using plant oils to create 1-4 nanometer sized “micelles” to penetrate dirt, breaking it into billions of little particles that constantly repel each other until eaten by the micro organisms and bacteria living in the ground. GET products will not harm the environment when traveling into our waterways.” (Source: PR Newswire)

I do not know how green these products are but I do not see how they can be any worse than the stinky, chemical-laden products that car wash centers use now. I am curious if any of The Green Motorist readers have used any of Green Earth Technologies products. If so, I would love to hear your opinion!

Photo courtesy of Wolfiewolf

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Filed Under: General

When I received a press release with the following headline, “Could a Green SUV Revive U.S. Auto Plants & Save UAW Jobs?”, I immediately thought of an SUV riding to our rescue like a knight in shining armor. Perhaps that is a bit dramatic of me, but I reserve the right for a little drama every now and then.

It is apparent that the U.S. is in love with its sports utility vehicles. Last year, gas prices fell along with Toyota Prius sales but the Toyota Sequoia sales jumped (see November Auto Sales for more information.) AFS Trinity Power Corporation is hoping to address this love of the SUV in a more environmentally friendly way.

If you are a regular reader of The Green Motorist, then you may recognize the company; AFS Trinity Power Corporation is the maker of the XH-150 SUV prototype. The company decided to pull out of the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show after show organizers refused to allow the use of the 150 mpg estimate on its banners, even after the company offered to clearly state that this was an estimate.

Despite the issue with the LA Auto Show, AFS Trinity has not stepped back from its push to get this prototype to market.

“AFS Trinity is in the process of applying for $2.5 Billion of the $25 Billion DOE “green retooling” funding, which new DOE regulations specify is to be spent for ” … reequipping, expanding, and establishing manufacturing facilities in the U.S. to produce advanced technology vehicles and components that demonstrate meaningful improvements in fuel economy.” (Source: PR Newswire)

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Filed Under: Auto Shows

The 2009 Geneva International Motor Show kicks off on March 5 and runs through March 15. This year marks the 79th anniversary of the event and the show will have a noticeable green tint. The organizers of the show have dedicated Hall 3 to companies that are showing electric, alternative fuel and similar products.

One of the vehicles likely to be in Hall 3 is the Mitsubishi iMiEV Sport Air Concept.

“The clear removable top of the i MiEV SPORT ‘AIR’ will be premiered at the forthcoming 2009 Geneva Motor Show.

Taking a step beyond being merely ‘green’, this all-electric zero CO2 emission sports concept builds upon the fundamentals of the EV by marrying:

- the powerful acceleration and high torque inherent to electric motors,
- the safe driving dynamics that stem from i MiEV’s lithium-ion battery pack located within its long wheelbase and the low centre of gravity.

The i MiEV SPORT ‘AIR’ is a new-age “pocket rocket” and signals the direction in which the Mitsubishi sports EV may take in the future.” (Source: NewsPress)

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Filed Under: Auto Shows, Mitsubishi