News on upcoming electric vehicle initiatives is not just limited to the United States, Europe and Japan; Australia is jumping on the map with a planned electric vehicle network. Better Place, a United States-based company, is collaborating with AGL (an Australian power company) and Macquarie Capital to raise AUD $1 billion for an electric vehicle network.

This new partnership has its eyes on building EV networks in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane; the power for these networks will come from a renewable energy source via AGL.

“Under the plan, the three cities will each have a network of between 200,000 and 250,000 charge stations by 2012 where drivers can plug in and power up their electric cars. The points would probably be at homes and businesses, car parks and shopping centres….

In addition, 150 switch stations will be built in each city and on major freeways, where electric batteries can be automatically replaced in drive-in stations similar to a car wash.” (Source: AFP)

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Filed Under: Australia, Eco Friendly, electric vehicles

Although Subaru does not currently have a hybrid vehicle available for purchase in the United States, they are committed to providing an environmentally-friendly auto making process as well as working on several different hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs).

In discussing Subaru’s green-friendly focus, Chairman, President and CEO of Subaru of America, Inc Kunio Ishigami says “Subaru always has been and will continue to be committed to safeguarding the natural environment that so many of our customers avidly enjoy. We will continue to make … [environmental] technologies a priority in our product development, manufacturing and business process.”

The Subaru Clean Plant
Subaru’s dedication to thinking green starts with the Lafayette, Indiana manufacturing plant.  This location was the first of its kind in the auto industry to be declared a zero landfill plant.  Everything used in the manufacturing process is reused and/or recycled.  The plant has received numerous awards and designations over the last three years.

Subaru Smartway Vehicles
Subaru has several models that qualify as a Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV) as well as meet the state of California’s Super-Ultra-Low-Emission Vehicle (SULEV) regulations.  Certain models of the Legacy, Outback and Forester can be purchased as a PZEV.  These three models have also been listed in the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Vehicle Guide.

Subaru B5-TPH
Although Subaru does not currently have a hybrid on the market, they are making strides to have one available in the next few years.  The Subaru B5-TPH is a concept car that will be a gasoline/electric hybrid as well as a crossover between a sport wagon and an SUV.    The all-wheel drive concept will utilize Turbo Parallel Hybrid (TPH) that runs a 2.0 liter, four-cylinder engine.  The model is expected to seat four and will use a manganese lithium-ion battery pack.

Subaru/Toyota Alliance
Toyota is unquestionably the leader in the hybrid car market.  Subaru has created an alliance with Toyota to help develop their first market-ready hybrid car.  Although there are no specifics available yet, according to a report on Motor Authority, “Subaru is not afraid of Toyota’s influence - the company will remain a separate entity with its own design style and its own products. But that’s not to say that the two companies won’t be sharing technologies and resources.”

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Filed Under: Eco Friendly

If you’re a Green Motorist and are going out-of-town on vacation or business, do not despair.  You can still do your part and rent a hybrid or high fuel efficiency car.  Most of the major national rental car companies as well as many regional brands offer hybrid rentals in some of the larger markets.  The rental car companies have seen the increased demand for hybrids and have added these green cars to their rental fleet. 

The Hertz Green Collection

In a magnificent branding move, Hertz offers the Toyota Prius as part of the Hertz Green Collection.  Although the Prius is only available in a select few markets, Hertz has also added several high fuel-efficiency vehicles to its Green Collection.

Enviro-friendly travelers seeking to rent a car in a non-Prius Hertz area are invited to try the Ford Fusion or the Corolla or Camry by Toyota.  These three vehicles offer a spacious yet fuel-efficient car for the more conscientious traveler.

Budget’s Trio of Hybrids

Budget Rental Car offers the popular Toyota Prius as well as the Nissan Altima Hybrid in some of their markets.  These hybrids offer drivers up to 60 mpg plus the benefit of reduced fuel emissions.  Although the fees are a bit higher than a comparable non-hybrid, the increased cost is not cost-prohibitive.

Budget currently has the highest availability of hybrids with a Toyota Prius or a Nissan Altima available in 47 different states.  To find out if Budget offers hybrid rentals in your area, check out the Budget U.S. Hybrid Locations page.

Avis’ Hybrid Rentals

Continuing the trend towards the Prius hybrid, Avis also offers its customers the ability to rent a Prius hybrid.  The Prius is considered a compact hybrid and thus a bit small for families traveling so Avis has expanded its hybrid fleet to include the full-sized Nissan Altima hybrid sedan. 

The Altima is currently only available to renters in certain California markets.  The Prius can be rented in parts of California, Portland, Seattle, Washington DC, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia and New York City. 

As the nation’s demand for hybrid options increases, rental car companies will be answering.  More rental car companies will offer hybrid choices in more locations throughout the United States.

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Filed Under: Eco Friendly, Fuel Efficient, nissan, toyota

Think City has dubbed their EV, the urban electric car. This small and sporty little ride is fast (speeds up to 65 MPH), nice looking, long lasting (110 mile range while fully charged), and fuel efficient. Check out the standard (and optional) specs below on this car which originated with Ford, and then was sold off to the Norwegians. Currently in development, the Think City electric car, is slated to be available in the US in 2009. Also stop on by Gas 2.0 and check out the comments section of the post written on the Think City, in which commenters raise good questions.

Standard Equipment on The Think City

• 2 front airbags
• Disable key for passenger airbag
• ABS brakes
• Regenerative brakes
• Power steering
• Central locking
• 4kW electric heater
• Electric windows and mirrors
• 2 loudspeakers and aerial
• Mind Box (to be introduced during 2008)

Optional Equipment On The Think City

• Air conditioning
• Pre-heat timer
• Electrically heated windscreen
• Full length sunroof
• Radio CD
• Radio with MP3
• Radio CD with MP3, USB, Bluetooth
• Navigation & Multimedia System
• Winter tires
• Alloy wheels - set of 4
• Steel wheels - set of 4
• Roof rack
• 2 + 2 children seats (including 3-point seat belts)

The Think City electric car is set to debut in the US in 2009, with a retail price of under $25,000. What comments do the Think City EV spark in you? Share them below.

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Filed Under: Autos, Eco Friendly, Think City, electric cars, electric vehicles, ev

We all have read about or seen hybrid cars by now. But some of you may have questions in reference to hybrid car basics. You maybe wondering the fuel efficiency of these types of cars, or perhaps how long one lasts while fully charged, etc.

Let’s answer some of these questions today, in the Hybrid Car Q&A article below.

Question - What makes a gas engine powered car different than one of these new hybrid cars?

Answer - A hybrid car (also known as an electric and gas powered car), allows you to operate the vehicle on two different fuel systems. With a hybrid, two engines power up the car, an electric motor and a gas powered motor. As you can see these two types of engines combined will generate greater fuel efficiency than if the car was run on purely a gas only engine. Hybrids generally speaking can have highway fuel ratings of up to 50 MPG, or greater. Case in point: The Toyota Hybrid.
Question - How long do hybrid cars generally last while fully charged?

Answer - Hybrid cars generally speaking can last up to 500 miles while on a full tank of gas, and fully charged up. As you can see considerable mileage can be logged on a gas and electric powered car. Also gas engines are smaller in hybrids, yet technically superior.

Question - How does a hybrid car get its power?

Answer - From batteries located in the vehicle itself, and an electric motor. In turn, the batteries juice up the electric engine.

Question - How do i Find The Greenest Vehicles in My State?

Answer - To find the greenest vehicles in your state, as determined by the EPA. Head on over to the Green Vehicle Guide. There input your name of your resident state, and a list of the most eco friendly vehicles again as determined by the good folks at the EPA, will be generated for your use.

Question - Which are the Top 3 Hybrid Vehicles From 2008?

Answer - In the state of Illinois the following Illinois green vehicles were listed:

As usual the Honda Civic Hybrid, Toyota Prius, and The Ford Escape Hybrid were the best rated. But this will soon change dramatically, as more hybrids are introduced later this year, and in 2009.

Feel free to ask your hybrid car questions below. I will write a follow up post and feature your questions on the blog. Thanxs!

Reference - Green Living at About.com

Photo Credit - Geek Habitat

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Filed Under: Eco Friendly, Ford Escape Hybrid, Fuel Efficient, Green, electric cars, electric vehicles, ev, honda, toyota

Have you heard of Jonathan Goodwin, the diesel hybrid conversions master. He specializes in taking gas powered vehicles and not only making them fuel efficient by up to 40%, but also giving them major torque-age.

[photo - flickr]

Jonathan was profiled back in the November 2007 issue of Fast Company, as the possible savior of the major car manufacturers, such as in Detroit. He can take a Hummer to 60 MPG, yes you read right, 60 MPG, all the while souping up performance on the Hummer (H3) from horsepower of 300 to 600.

How does Jonathan Goodwin perform such magical feats? Well, it is a combination of ingenuity, creativity, innovation, and good ole fashioned elbo grease. Goodwin has all this and more. He is quite the busy mechanice right now, with everyone from California Governator Arnold asking for his services for a Jeep Wagoneer, to Neil Young and his 1959 Lincoln Continental.
Johnathan is a big believer and promoter of diesel engines. He even has created a bolt-on kit, for those DIY guys (and gals) who also wish to convert their gas engines into Duramax diesel powered engines at home. Why wait for the big auto companies to go biodiesel or hybrid, when you can just do it yourself, he clamors. The fuel savings are impressive and the power ramping just plain fun. With his customizations and modifications, cars become more powerful, and much more planet friendly.

The Neil Young diesel hybrid Lincoln Continental dubbed LincVolt, is still under modification, just this morning an update was provided by ABG. Looks like Goodwin is still working on this one.

Goodwin an ardent fan of electric plugin cars, in the Fast Company article, mentions that by now all Americans should have access to one. Why we don’t, he doesn’t understand. He states he gets all his parts from the big three car manufacturers. The infrastructure is already there, why are they so slow with the new fuel technologies.

Good questions, all of them. I believe that American car manufacturers slowly but surely will get on the ball with fuel efficient vehicles, and transform what will be available to all of us. I hope. We all hope!

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Filed Under: Biodiesel Hybrid, Diesel Electric Conversions, Duramax Engines, Eco Friendly, Fuel Efficient, Green, Johnathan Goodwin, Kansas, LincVolt, hydrogen

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.

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

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.

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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.

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

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.

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