Zipcar’s Low-Car Diet program concluded on August 15, 2009. The month-long program began on July 15 and included more than 250 participants from around the world. After the program, 100% of the participants are committed to remaining car-free. This is a big jump from the 83% that committed to staying car-free after last year’s Low-Car Diet.

Here is a summary of results from the 2009 Low-Car Diet:

Economic Impact:

• Respondents spent 67 percent less on vehicle-related costs compared to the previous month when they were driving their personally owned cars

Environmental Impact:

• 59 percent of the participants reported that the Low-Car Diet encouraged them to make other environmentally friendly changes in their life such as recycling, eating more organic foods and reducing their at-home energy usage (e.g. turning off lights and air conditioning)
• Participants took 74 percent fewer trips by car and reduced overall vehicle miles traveled (VMTs) by 66 percent
• Low-Car Dieters also doubled their public transit ridership with a 98 percent increased use of public transportation

Health Benefits:

• Participants walked 93 percent more and biked 132 percent more, logging a combined total of 8,060 miles by bike during the Low-Car Diet month
• 47 percent Low-Car Dieters reported losing weight; a total amount of 413 pounds were lost during the program

Zipcar is a car-sharing service with a fleet of 6,500 vehicles on college campuses and in urban areas in the United States, Canada, and London, England.

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Filed Under: General

The second generation of the smart electric drive (smart ED) will begin rolling off of the production line in November 2009. The second generation smart ED was revealed in late 2008 but it will be a full year before the vehicle makes it to production status. Considering the state of the economy and the auto industry, not just in the U.S. but also across the world, this is a quick turnaround.

“Unlike its predecessor, the electrically driven smart fortwo of the second generation is fitted with an innovative and highly efficient lithium-ion battery. It is housed in a space-saving position between the axles, which means that space is not compromised in any way in the intelligent two-seater vehicle.” (Source: Daimler)

The lithium-ion battery that the smart ed uses is supplied by Tesla Motors. Yes, the electric supercar company is providing batteries to the low cost smart ed. The current range is 115 km (approximately 71 miles) on a fully charged battery.

The 2nd generation smart ed will be available to select lease customers in Europe and the United States in late 2009. For more information on availability, contact your local smart dealership.

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Filed Under: General

If you’re in the market to trade in your clunker for some cash, the clock is ticking. The U.S. Government will be stopping the Cash for Clunkers program on Monday, August 24. The program, officially knows as the Cars Allowance Rebate System (CARS) has been hugely successful, which has led to a backlog of payments to dealers. General Motors has even begun advancing payment to its dealers until the government can process all of these payments.

Instead of letting the next round of funding for the CARS program run out, the U.S. Department of Transportation has decided to declare August 24, 2009 at 8:00pm EDT as the official end of the Cash for Clunkers program.

This doesn’t mean that you must ink your deal by 8pm on Monday; instead it means that the application must be submitted by the deadline. If you’ve recently participated in the program, it may be a good idea to give the dealership a call to verify that the application has been submitted.

If you haven’t yet participated in the program, but hope to, I’d advise you to get to your local dealership as soon as possible. The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) is actually recommending, “All dealers now focus their attention and efforts on submitting reimbursement claims prior to the looming deadline.” Source: PR Newswire

If you’re in the new auto sales industry, you’re probably in for a very busy weekend! The renewed funding for the CARS program is expected to have a significant impact on August 2009 auto sales and it is likely that we’ll see some positive numbers when the figures are released in early September.

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Filed Under: General

If you watch television, even a little bit of it, you’ve probably seen the ingenious commercials that Toyota has for the 2010 Toyota Prius. The commercials include hundreds of people dressed up as flowers that bloom as the Prius drives by. Toyota Motor Sales has taken this concept and turned it into a live floral display along a freeway in the Los Angeles Area.

The “Harmony Floralscape” is located on the Pasadena Freeway in downtown Los Angeles and is made up of more than 20,000 live flowers. This is just the first of nine floralscapes that will grace California freeways.

“Seven of the Floralscapes will be in the Los Angeles area and two in the San Francisco area. Developed by Greenroad Media, Inc., using the company’s patent-pending “Living Pixel” technology, design images are replicated using flowers of differing varieties and colors.” Source: PR Newswire

The picture is beautiful and I love the Toyota commercials but the first thing I thought of when I saw this news release was whether the flowers were organically grown. Thankfully, the press release answers my question:

“The Floralscapes are created from organic and reusable materials and are maintained using ecologically friendly techniques, including the utilization of non-potable water, solar electricity and ecologically responsible insect and fungi control.”

Although this is an advertising venture, I like that the project was thought out in its entirety and that these floralscapes will continue to thrive and won’t just simply die off after the campaign is over.

Photo courtesy of PRNewsFoto/Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

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Filed Under: toyota

Ford Motor Company has announced the development of an intelligent vehicle-to-grid communications and control system for PHEVs.

“When plugged in, the battery systems of these specially equipped plug-in hybrids can communicate directly with the electrical grid via smart meters provided by utility companies through wireless networking. The owner uses the vehicle’s touch screen navigation interface and Ford Work Solutions in-dash computer to choose when the vehicle should recharge, for how long and at what utility rate.” Source: Ford

This is cool! Seriously cool. If you get home from work, it may still be during the utility company’s peak usage hours. Instead of plugging it in and paying a premium or hoping you remember to plug it in during off-peak hours, you will be able to plug your vehicle in and then it automatically starts charging at a set time. Convenient!

Ford currently has a fleet of 21 plug-in hybrid Escapes. All 21 of these vehicles will eventually have this communications technology installed.

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Filed Under: Ford, PHEV

Vrooooom.

The 403 horsepower Fisker Karma Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) took a lap around the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca during the Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races.

The vehicle reached 100 mph and used zero gasoline! The vehicle has a zero to 60 time of six seconds and a top speed of 125 mph. The vehicle can also achieve more than 100 mpg, according to the manufacturers. There are currently no vehicles with a 100 mpg fuel efficiency rating from the EPA but General Motors is hoping to have the first one with its 230 mpg Chevy Volt.

“The Karma has a range of 50 emission-free miles on a full charge of its Lithium-ion battery, and a total range of 300 miles thanks to an on-board generator coupled to a traditional but efficient 260hp, four-cylinder gasoline engine.” Source: PR Newswire

Fisker recently received $85 million in venture capital, has expanded its retailer network, and was a finalist for the Green Car Vision Award.

Photo courtesy of PRNewsFoto/Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc.

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Filed Under: Luxury Hybrids, PHEV

It’s back to school time, which means that it is time for KBB to release its choices for the top 10 back to school cars. I’m not in the market for a car for either of my children (give me 10 years) but the list provides a guide for parents that may be car shopping for their children. The 2009 Ford Focus, which has seen a surge in sales thanks to the Cash for Clunkers program, came in at the top of KBB’s list.

“Like the honor student that can get good grades while maintaining a rockin’ social life, the Focus can live two lives. It can please the parents as a safe and economical buy, but still knows how to be the life of the party with its sporty driving dynamics and available voice-controlled SYNC communication and entertainment system.” Source: KBB

The 2009 For Focus manual transmission FWD has a combined fuel efficiency rating of 28 mpg. The vehicle averages 24 mpg in the city and 35 mpg in the highway setting. However, the “MPG Estimates from Drivers Like You” section shows that the average fuel economy is actually 36.9 mpg. Of course, the way you drive will effect your fuel efficiency.

Other vehicles that made KBB’s Top 10 Back to School Cars list include the 2009 Honda Fit, 2010 Kia Soul, 2010 Mazda MAZDA3, 2009 Nissan Cube, 2005 Chevrolet Silverado, 2005 Ford Escape, 2006 Honda Civic, 2005 Scion xB, and the 2007 Suzuki SX4.

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Filed Under: Ford

The Cash for Clunkers program has garnered a lot of media attention lately. The program was so popular that the government re-upped its funding. The beleaguered auto industry has definitely benefited from the program but so have consumers across the nation.

A Yahoo news article listed the top 10 clunker trade ins and the top 10 new cars, as of early August. The Ford Focus tops their list of new cars purchased through the program. This may help explain Ford’s increase in sales in July 2009.

The other nine cars that round out the top 10 new car list are, in order, the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Prius, Ford Escape, Toyota Camry, Dodge Caliber, Hyundai Elantra, Honda Fit, and Chevy Cobalt.

Out of the top ten most popular clunkers traded in, the Ford Explorer occupied six spots, including the top four. Other vehicles that made the list include the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Cherokee, Ford Windstar, and Dodge Caravan.

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Filed Under: General

Lucky consumers in New York, New Jersey, and Los Angeles have been participating in the MINI E pilot project for two months now. 450 private customers as well as employees from municipalities, colleges, utility companies, non-profits, and commercial organizations have been testing the vehicle and MINI USA has just released feedback from these trial participants.

“The feedback and data provided by these early users is valuable because it comes from real-world, everyday use and not some laboratory experiment,” said Jim McDowell, Vice President, MINI USA. “Whether it’s coming from the UC Davis research, consumer blog sites or from direct feedback to our company, this trial is giving us an important insight into the practicalities of using an electric powered vehicle in this country.” (Source: PR Newswire)

Each of the MINI E trial participants has a charging station installed in their garage. Charging times range from three to five hours on the 220-volt 32-amp system of two to three hours with the 48-amp system.

The MINI E’s claims of a 100-mile range per charge are holding up in the trial. One focused driver managed to eek out 141.2 miles on a charge, but as with anything related to driving ranges, your mileage may vary!

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Filed Under: electric vehicles

In the most recent issue of Ford’s e-News, the company has announced its commitment to focus on increasing the fuel efficiency of its fleet of vehicles. Ford has applauded the government for accepting a single fuel efficiency guideline and has several measures planned to help meet these increased fuel efficiency standards.

Ford plans to have its EcoBoost technology on the majority of its vehicles by 2013 and is also considering six-speed transmissions and electric power assist steering to help increase its vehicle’s fuel efficiency ratings.

Ford also plans to have four electrified vehicles on the market during the next three years. These four vehicles include a batter-electric Transit Connect in 2010, a battery-electric Ford Focus in 2011, and next-gen hybrid and PHEVs in 2012.

In addition to its commitment to creating a more fuel-efficient fleet, the company also supports cap and trade. Sue Cischke, group vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering commented on the cap and trade program in the e-News:

“Price signals matter. That is why we support a comprehensive, economy-wide, upstream national carbon cap and trade program that can slow, stop and reverse the growth of U.S. emissions while expanding the U.S. economy,” Cischke said. “Ford remains committed to delivering the fuel-efficient vehicles that will help achieve our nation’s goals, but it is imperative that government also address the need for lower carbon fuels, consumer incentives and price signals to adopt the technologies that will deliver a more fuel-efficient, greener future.”

I am impressed with Ford’s ability to stay afloat during the Detroit automaker meltdown. Its commitment to the national fuel efficiency goals is apparent after reading this latest news report.

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Filed Under: Ford