Filed under: MPG, Ford, UK

We're fully aware that Ford will be bringing the 62mpg, 98g/km CO₂ Fiesta Econetic to the British Motor Show. What was less noticeable was just how much faith Ford is putting into how this fuel-efficient little ride and the others in the Econetic lineup. As the release pasted after the jump makes clear, Econetic models and other eco-friendly rides are responsible for a 38 percent sales "surge" in the UK, and Ford says the upcoming Fiesta Econetic will - it is hoped - continue this success. Any good sales data much we music to the ears of Ford execs these days. You will find more details from Ford after the jump. For people who want a little more racing style with their Fiesta, Ford will also be bringing the Zetec S Red to the UK in a limited edition.


[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford UK pinning a lot on new Econetic models, including the Fiesta

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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Culture, Tesla Motors, USA

The rich folk of Hollywood, it's probably fair to say, switch out their bling mobiles on a pretty regular basis because, well, because they can. There are, however, a few who have embraced green transportation alternatives like Ed Begley Jr. (bicycle) and Darryl Hannah (former biodiesel El Camino owner). While George Clooney doesn't see himself as an environmental spokesperson per say, (he did, after all, make use of a private jet recently to get himself to the Venice film festival) he is pretty big on electric cars and believes they are the way of the future.

He's been driving his Tango by Commuter Cars since sometime back in 2005. That's like a decade in Hollywood years. Despite the strange looks and limited space it provides, Clooney hangs tough with his Tango while he waits somewhat impatiently for his ordered Tesla Roadster. He tells the Times Online that it can be a bit embarrassing sometimes driving it though, "...There's nowhere to hide, because it's just me behind the wheel and there isn't enough space for anyone else." Luckily the Tango is about as fast as the more traditional looking Tesla so when he feels the desire to make an exit, he can do so quickly. He should feel more relaxed in his Roadster, as well as less lonely, with its side-by-side seating, when it arrives later this year.

[Source: Times Online]

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Filed under: Hybrid, Renault, Green Daily, European Union

Considering all of the work that Renault is doing with fuel cells and pure electric vehicles, it can be slightly deflating to remember that there are still a lot of gas-using vehicles to be sold before those alternatives are available. The good news, out today from Automotive News Europe (subs req'd), is that the company is now saying they will bring the micro hybrid system called start-stop to every model sold in Europe by 2010. Start-stop technology shuts down the motor down when the vehicle is not moving, and then instantly turns it back on when needed. The company is currently working on prototypes and believes CO₂ emissions could be recuded by 15 percent to 20 percent in city driving and wants to provide the technology at a much cheaper price point than is currently availalbe.

[Source: Automotive News Europe (subs req'd)]

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Filed under: Fashion

Eco-luxury products are a huge trend right now. Why? Because, it's easier for a rich person to afford going green. They don't have to think twice about the higher costs of organic goods. Several new brands have started up recently catering to this new demographic, but the one that's been gathering a lot of buzz is Vegan Queen.
Eco-luxury products are a huge trend right now. Why? Because, it's easier for a rich person to afford going green. They don't have to think twice about the higher costs of organic goods. Several new brands have started up recently catering to this new demographic, but the one that's been gathering a lot of buzz is Vegan Queen.

 

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Many Canadians likely caught the news story a few days ago about the truck that flipped over on a New Brunswick highway with 12 million honey bees on board. The concern for those who are allergic to bee stings got plenty of media attention, however, I was surprised how little was said about the poor endangered honey bees.

original news source

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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hydrogen, Natural Gas, Green Daily

The U.S. Department of Energy today took the wraps off of an online Alternative Fuel Station Locator that should make it a bit easier to find the right fuel if you need something other than gasoline or diesel. Just put in your address, the fuel you're looking for, how wide a radius you'd like the database to include and presto. Instant results. As I still drive a gasoline-powered car (an efficient one, mind you), I can't personally judge the accuracy of the information for local pumps, but if you're knowledgeable about these sorts of things, give the online station locator a test and see how it does.

The DOE's map includes pumps/stations that offer:

• Biodiesel (B20 and above)
• Compressed Natural Gas
• Electric
• Ethanol (E85)
• Hydrogen
• Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
• Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Propane)

The database should be fairy accurate, as the DOE gathers it's information "from trade media, Clean Cities coordinators, and the submittal form on the AFDC Web site." Then, each station is contacted twice a year to make sure the fuel listed is still available at the site. Happy hunting.

[Source: DOE]

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Filed under: Celebrities, Movies, TV and Books

When Keanu Reeves appears as Klatuu, the helpful alien sent to Earth with a foreboding message of destruction, he'll bring an eco-friendly message to the big screen. Because, while original The Day the Earth Stood Still cautioned against warfare, the upcoming remake is concerned with a more modern dilemma: global warming.

While greenies like us are excited, I'll be honest: this plot line sounds like it could be seriously cheesy. I love Captain Planet as much as the next person, but when I see a sci-fi adventure movie, I don't want to hear about composting and CFLs, I want to see scary aliens, gun battles and explosions.

Fortunately, at least judging by the movie's trailer, it seems the film's eco-message hasn't put a dent in the action. Plus, it looks like the Reeve's character is supposed be wooden and unnatural, which lends itself to Keanu's, erm, unique acting style.

 

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Filed under: SMART, Green Daily

We have our own little smart history here on AutoblogGreen, a collection of all the posts about the iconic car (recent exaples: stuffing 13 people into a fortwo or the London Met Police testing the all-electric smart ed). But the smart has been around longer that the two and a half years that we've been here and Daimler is celebrating the 10th Birthday of the little city car this month.

Since Job 1 came from the factory in July 1998, Mercedes has sold over 900,000 fortwo vehicles in 37 countries (including the U.S. starting this year, thank you very much; China will get a real chance at the fortwo in about twelve months). Still, for many green car enthusiasts, it's the future that is most exciting about the smart vehicle lineup. 2010, after all, is when the all-electric smart is due.

Quirky at its launch - and today - the fortwo was the right move for Daimler, as chairman Dieter Zetsche said in a statement: "Had we not invented it ten years ago, we would have to do so now." You can read the rest of Daimler's look back at the first decade of the fortwo after the break.

[Source: Daimler]

Continue reading smart fortwo turns ten

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Filed under: Cars and Transportation, Local

While the comfort, convenience and relative privacy of driving yourself around could be viewed as advantages over public transport, the lack of human interaction has its drawbacks too. For instance, who's going to pull a wacky stunt to amuse their fellow motorists on the freeway? Not only would be that be dangerous, it'd be nigh on impossible to get anyone's attention. But pull your prank on a subway or bus, and you'll have a captive audience.

That's the thinking behind the latest antics by Improv Everywhere. The group that brought you the Starbucks desktop stunt has done it again -- this time employing a group of 10 identical twins to ride the subway dressed in identical clothing. The affect is a human mirror, with one side of the train car an exact replica of the other -- only in reverse (you know, like a mirror).

In my time on public transport I've also seen circus performers, exceptional musicians, and even some decent stand-up comedy. Nothing like a little random performance art to brighten your commute.

 

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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Green Daily

It's the "(Coming!) that gets us. In a funny and disrespectful Sunday comic about the high price of gasoline, Opus creator Berkeley Breathed illustrates the feelings of a lot of people in fine color. Sometimes you just want to gloat - it's too bad that we can't all do so quite yet. I've snipped a corner of the one-panel comic for our mostly family-safe viewing here on AutoblogGreen (you never know when someone will take issue with bare comic character butts in profile), but you should really check out the whole thing over at Salon. Breathed's fantasy PHEV doesn't quite look like any vehicle we know will hit the road in the next few years, but the fact that a plug-in hybrid is indeed Coming! is true (see: Saturn VUE)

If you've got a few more minutes, check out these other related green car cartoons:

• Dilbert
• CARtoons
• Diesel Sweeties

h/t to Paul S.

[Source: Salon]

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