Fans of the Chevy Volt know that GM has been pushing to break the 100mpg barrier. General Motors wants a 100+ mpg official EPA rating on its $40k+ Chevy Volt. The latest news from GM, who is emerging from bankruptcy, is that the Volt has achieved 230mpg in a city setting.

This figure is a bit different from the fuel efficiency rating used with non-electric vehicles. The EPA has created a new set of fuel efficiency guidelines (in draft form) that is specific to extended range electric vehicles like the Volt.

“The EPA guidelines, developed with guidance from automakers, figure that cars like the Volt will travel more on straight electricity in the city than on the highway. If a person drives the Volt less than 40 miles, in theory they could go without using gasoline.” Source: MSNBC

The EPA has not confirmed this 230mpg claim and it will be some time before the official EPA ratings are released. Although it would be great to see the first commercially mass-produced 100+ mpg vehicle on the market, I still question how well the Volt is going to sell. The $40k+ price tag is prohibitive for many American consumers. Additionally, reports are that GM will be selling the vehicle at a loss, even with this luxury vehicle level price.

Subscribe

1 Comment »

Filed Under: chevy, electric vehicles

The Chevy Malibu Hybrid hit the streets about a year ago but with the release of the all-new 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, the Malibu’s fuel economy looks paltry. While General Motors is going through their bankruptcy proceedings, they have made the decision to reserve 2009 Malibu Hybrids for fleet purchases and hold off on the 2010 model until a two-mode hybrid system is available.

An article that appeared in Automotive News provides more details about the decision, “The base Malibu has a much lower sticker of $22,325, and its fuel economy isn’t far behind the hybrid version. The base 2009 Malibu with the standard four-cylinder powertrain and four-speed automatic transmission gets 22 mpg city and 30 mpg highway.”

With Saturn on the auction block, the Malibu is GM’s only hybrid car. The company does make several hybrid SUVs as well as the Chevy Silverado Hybrid but it is likely that Malibu’s relegation to fleet sales may hurt them in the short run but turn out to be a great decision for General Motors in the long run.

Subscribe

Add Comment »

Filed Under: chevy

Although General Motors is fighting to keep its business running and the company scrapped plans to build a new Volt engine facility, the company still maintains that it is on track to deliver the Chevy Volt to dealers in late 2010.

An article on mlive.com has good news for fans of the upcoming Chevy Volt:

“General Motors Corp. executives said they are on track to introduce the Chevrolet Volt by November 2010, even though GM is dependent on federal loans to stay in business.

“We remain confident and committed to the November 2010 launch of the Chevrolet Volt,” Kruse told reporters in a conference call Wednesday.”

I am not privy to all of the financial woes of the company but if the dire news about GM is even 50% accurate, I’m concerned about the future of the Volt. My biggest concern is that right now, the company is estimating that the Volt is going to be priced above the $40,000 mark. I want the car to make it to market, I want GM to rise above these times but I’m concerned that GM has over estimated how popular the Volt will be with its entry-level luxury car price tag.

Subscribe

1 Comment »

Filed Under: chevy

© GM Corp

Yes, you are on The Green Motorist website and yes, the headline has the words “Chevrolet Camaro” in it. I do not know a single person that would list the Camaro as a “green” car, including myself. However, I was surprised to see that the official EPA highway rating for the new 2010 V6 Chevy Camaro is 29 miles per gallon. It is nowhere near that of a Prius or the new Ford Fusion Hybrid, but 29 mpg is significantly higher than I would have guessed.

“The Camaro’s 304-hp, 3.6-liter V-6 is the most advanced base engine ever used in a domestic muscle car. Its fuel-saving technologies feature direct injection and variable valve timing. The V-8 Camaro adds a cylinder cutoff system.” (Source: Automotive News)

I am not an automotive engineering expert but I am curious what type of fuel efficiency we will see in the coming years if a 304 base horsepower Camaro is rated at 29 miles per gallon on the highway. For comparison, the six-cylinder Toyota Camry (non-hybrid) only gets 28 miles per gallon on the highway.

Subscribe

2 Comments »

Filed Under: chevy

I live in the desert southwest, work trucks are a way of life for those in the nearby area that work and live on ranches and farms. I see huge pickup trucks more than I see SUVs or minivans. Now my neighboring farmers and ranchers can buy a new full-sized hybrid pickup – the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid.

The truck comes with an 8-cylinder Vortec 6.0L engine that uses a two-mode continuous electric ratio hybrid system with regenerative breaking. The Silverado Hybrid has a 6,100-pound towing capacity and an EPA estimated fuel economy of 21 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway. Four-wheel drive models have an estimated 20mpg in both the city and on the highway. According to General Motors, this is a 25% improvement in fuel efficiency over the non-hybrid.

“The Silverado Hybrid’s fuel-saving performance is derived from GM’s advanced Electrically Variable Transmission (EVT) and 300-volt nickel-metal hydride Energy Storage System (ESS), which work in concert with the standard 6.0L V-8 gasoline engine with Active Fuel Management (AFM) and late intake valve closing (LIVC) technology. GM’s hybrid technology system not only enables the Silverado to launch and drive up to 30 mph on electricity alone, it also allows the Vortec 6.0L V-8 engine to operate in its more economical V-4 mode for longer periods.” (Source: GM)

Subscribe

Add Comment »

Filed Under: chevy

The Washington Auto Show is off and running and the Green Car Journal awarded its Green Car Vision Award to the Chevrolet Volt. Other finalists for the award were the super sleek Fisker Karma, the Honda FCX Clarity, the MINI E and the Mitsubishi iMiEV.

“The Volt offers a bold and far-reaching approach that promises to bring an exceptionally fuel efficient model to consumers at reasonable cost. When the Volt launches in late 2010, it will deliver exactly what many consumers are asking for – a car capable of driving on zero emission battery power most of the time at pennies per mile, with over 100 mpg possible on longer journeys when electric power from its range extender engine-generator is needed.” (Source: Green Car)

Although the Volt has a delivery date of late 2010, General Motors has had to stop production of the Volt engine facility due to financial woes. If January sales are any indication of what GM can expect this year, the Volt may end up being pushed back to a 2011 release.

Subscribe

1 Comment »

Filed Under: Auto Shows, chevy

Today, NADAguides.com released its list of “Best Car Buys” for 2009 and hybrids are included on the list (amidst some major gas-guzzlers.)

“The NADAguides.com Market Data Analysts (MDAs) conducted an in-depth study to identify the criteria that matter most to consumers when considering their next car purchase. If the car received high marks in each of the top five categories, it was recognized as a NADAguides.com “Best Car Buys” for 2009.” (Source: PR Newswire)

The number one hybrid best buy for 2009 is the Honda Civic Hybrid sedan. Are you surprised that it isn’t the Toyota Prius? I know that I am. The Honda Civic Hybrid is, indeed, a great buy and deserves the number one spot but I am used to the Prius always topping these lists. The 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid has an MSRP of $23,650, a 42 mpg rating, an average 16% depreciation in the first year, a 3 year/36,000 mile warranty and a 5-star frontal driver crash rating.

The number two-spot belongs to the aforementioned 2009 Toyota Prius. The Prius has an MSRP of $22,000 and gets 47 mpg, which is better than the Honda. However, Prius owners experience an average 27% depreciation during the first year and the car only received a 4-star frontal driver crash rating. After one year, your $22,000 Prius will be worth about $16,060. I say wait a year and buy a 2009 model when the third generation Prius comes out next year.

The Toyota Camry Hybrid comes in as the third hybrid best buy for 2009. The vehicle is a bit pricier with an MSRP of $26,150 and only gets approximately 33 mpg. Unlike the Prius, the average depreciation is only 12% and the vehicle has a 5-star frontal driver crash rating.

Despite dealing with some troubling times lately, General Motors has two vehicles on the top five hybrid list. In fourth place is the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid with an MSRP of $25,555, a 30 mpg rating and a 20% depreciation during the first year.

The 2009 Saturn Aura Hybrid is the last hybrid to make the list. In the number five position, the Aura Hybrid has an MSRP of $26,240, averages 30 mpg but has a whopping 31% depreciation in the first year. Both the Malibu and the Aura Hybrids have received 5-star frontal driver crash ratings.

If you are in the market for a 2009 hybrid, consider the NADAguides.com ratings when making your decision.

Subscribe

Add Comment »

Filed Under: chevy, honda, toyota

Consumer Reports is known for ranking the quality, value and reliability of products ranging from vacuums to televisions and refrigerators to automobiles. The organization has released the results from its 2008 Annual Car Reliability Survey and nine hybrid models rated above average. The results will appear both on the Consumer Reports website and in the December issue of the magazine that will be available on November 4, 2008.

The following hybrid vehicles all scored above average in the “predicted reliability” ratings: Toyota Prius, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid, Lexus GS 450h Hybrid, Lexus RX 400h, Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Ford Escape/Mercury Marine Hybrid and the Honda Civic Hybrid. In addition to the above average rankings for these popular hybrid models, several vehicles with above average fuel-efficiency scored well including the Honda Fit, Scion xD, Smart ForTwo and Toyota Yaris.

“Consumer Reports Annual Car Reliability Survey is used in determining which makes and models are recommended to consumers by CR. Consumer Reports recommends only models that have performed well in tests conducted at its 327-acre Auto Test Center in Connecticut, and that have average or better predicted reliability based on its annual survey. In addition, vehicles must perform well in government or insurance-industry crash and rollover tests, if tested, in order to be recommended.” (Source: PR Newswire)

Subscribe

3 Comments »

Filed Under: Chrysler, Lexus, Luxury Hybrids, Mazda, chevy, honda, toyota

General Motors has official introduced the Chevy Cruze in a debut at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. European consumers can purchase the Chevy Cruze starting in March 2009. The Cruze will likely be added to the North American lineup as a 2011 release alongside the 2011 Chevy Volt.

“At launch in Europe, Cruze will be available with 16-valve, 1.6-liter (112 hp/82 kW) and 1.8-liter (140 hp/103 kW) gasoline engines featuring variable valve timing (VVT) on both inlet and exhaust sides, giving more power as well as better fuel economy and lower emissions. A new 2.0-liter turbo diesel, developing 150 hp/ 110 kW and 320 Nm of torque adds power with even greater frugality.” (Source: GM Media Online)

In addition to the Chevy Cruze, guests were also presented with the Chevy Orlando, Chevy Volt and the European premiere of the Chevy Camaro.

“Media and guests got a first-hand look at the arching roof-line of the Cruze that extends from the steeply raked windshield to its sloping rear pillars and short rear deck, bringing coupe-like proportions to a compact sedan.” (Source: PR Newswire)

Subscribe

Add Comment »

Filed Under: Europe, chevy

There have been several exciting green motoring news announcements from Chrysler, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and of course General Motors. Details and photos of the 2011 Chevy Volt were released with much fanfare as General Motors celebrates its 100-year anniversary. Today, Harry Stoffer of Automotive News Europe is reporting that future buyers of the Chevy Volt may be eligible for up to a $7,500 tax credit.

From the Automotive News Europe article:

“The U.S. senate Tuesday evening passed a complex and wide-ranging tax bill, covering everything from extension of credits for wind energy producers to expanded exemptions from the alternative minimum tax.”

Credits for plug-in electric vehicles would range from $2,500 up to $7,500 and Stoffer reports that the Chevy Volt would likely be eligible for the full $7,500 tax credit. Understanding the ever-changing technology, Congress is looking at expanding the original hybrid car tax credit guidelines by implementing new credits for vehicles utilizing newer and cleaner technology.

Subscribe

1 Comment »

Filed Under: chevy