Filed under: Etc., Chrysler, GM, Green Daily

The other day, our friends at Autoblog did a little thought experiment about which vehicle models would survive if the much-talked-about merger between GM and Chrysler comes to pass. The post didn't focus on the greener side of things, but we already know that the big Chrysler SUVs aren't long for this world and that Chrysler already wants a little of the Volt advertising attention. So, what might happen should these two companies become one?

Lots of job cuts, to be sure, but when it comes to the excess vehicle models in the line-ups, Grant Thornton of the consulting firm Grant Thornton LLP, told Automotive News (subs req'd) that of the 26 or so current Chrysler models, only seven are "core" and would survive the merger: the Dodge Ram pickup; Chrysler and Dodge minivans; and several Jeep models, including the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee. None of those are exactly eco-friendly, but AN writes that GM's plug-in hybrid knowledge is a vital addition to the potential merged company (file under: no kidding), while Chrysler's cash is appealing to GM (again, no kidding). What do you see surviving should a new GMrysler company take shape?

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

Chrysler vehicles could be attrition fodder if GM merger goes through originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Diesel, EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Mercedes Benz, SMART, Natural Gas, Daimler

Spanish Economy newspaper El Economista has published an interview with Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler, in which he says what a lot of our readers have been saying: hydrogen doesn't make sense.

While speaking about Mercedes' upcoming models, Zetsche gave a solid affirmation about downsides of the "hydrogen technology." Hydrogen cars are not viable economically, he said. Zetsche listed the upcoming models and green technologies Mercedes is offering for the next few years: Diesotto, Natural Gas, the Blueefficiency line for the A, B and C series and Bluetec in the U.S. first and in Europe some time afterwards, not to mention the S400 hybrid introduced in Paris. When it comes to future products, Zetsche speaks about the new C250 V6 Bluetefficiency, the new Bluetec diesel hybrids in 2010 and new batteries for the Electric Smart. A lot of technologies, not a lot of H₂.

[Source: El Economista]

Dieter Zetsche: Hydrogen cars are not economically viable originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Legislation and Policy, USA

With a plug-in hybrid credit valued up to $7,500 now on the books (get more details here), the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA) is looking past next week's big presidential election and trying to gauge the political landscape. EDTA president Brian Wynne sent out an email to EDTA members describing where the 111th Congress and the new president (whoever is elected) stand on PHEVs. The good news, if you're in favor of a car with a plug, is that legislators seem to be getting behind PHEVs, with the aforementioned tax credit hopefully predicting that the EDTA can easier explain to elected representatives "how Washington can accelerate electric drive and reduce oil dependence, sustain the environment, enhance global competitiveness and increase national security." With a lot of new House members, some new Senators and a new president all coming on the scene soon, the EDTA has its work cut out in getting more money set aside for PHEVs.

[Source: EDTA]

Continue reading EDTA: government support for plug-in vehicles growing

EDTA: government support for plug-in vehicles growing originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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David Suzuki and Flick Off rounded up the tour in Ottawa in collaboration with music group the Constantine’s. David Suzuki talked about issues concerning environment and politics and the role we play in the future of our planet.

original news source

Filed under: Diesel, Hybrid, MPG, BMW, Ford, Saturn, SMART, Volkswagen, LA Auto Show

The editors at Green Car Journal have announced their picks to succeed the Chevy Tahoe hybrid as the Green Car of the Year. The five finalists for 2009 cover all the bases including hybrid, diesel and really small. The vehicles up for the award include the Ford Fusion hybrid, the Saturn Vue 2 Mode hybrid, the BMW 335d, the VW Jetta TDI and the Smart ForTwo. To qualify, the cars have to be in production by January 1, 2009. Last year at the LA Auto Show, editor Ron Cogan announced the Tahoe as the winner based the fact that it brought a huge improvement in efficiency to what was then still a huge market segment. As we now know that's no longer the case. We'll learn who the winner is in a few weeks, but for now, please cast your own vote from among these new models.

View Poll

[Source: Green Car Journal]

POLL: 2009 Green Car of the Year finalists announced originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This has to be one of the best approach Greenpeace has taken to take action against Coal power. A funny James Bond like cartoon video featuring Graverson Green going against Cue Coalfinger a coal super villain trying to irreversibly change the Earths Climate by mass polluting with coal power. But the sad thing is Graverson Green can’t take Coalfinger alone. He needs our help.

original news source

New research shows that both Antarctica and the Arctic are getting less icy – and the best explanation is mankind’s emissions of greenhouse gases.

But will that convert anyone who doubts that global warming is caused by human activities, led by burning fossil fuels?

The scientists, writing in the journal Nature Geoscience, say that a study of temperature records from Antarctica (there aren’t many of them) shows a slight rising trend over recent decades that can be best explained by a build-up of greenhouse gases led by carbon dioxide.

Antarctica had until now been the only continent where a human fingerprint of warming had not been detected by scientists — that meant some sceptics said it might not be global at all.

Ice around the frozen continent has tended to expand in recent years — some climate experts have theories to explain that that could be a side-effect of warming linked to shifting ocean currents or changes in snow and rainfall.

But more ice obviously doesn’t sound a convincing argument for global warming when a runaway melt of the summer sea ice in the Arctic — to a record low in September 2007 – is often held up as Exhibit A in the evidence for climate change.

The U.N. Climate Panel said last year that it was at least 90 percent certain that most of the global warming in the past half century was caused by human activities. Ten percent is room for doubt, but it seems to be shrinking.

Filed under: Nissan

In an apparent bid to combat falling sales and offer buyers a more affordable option times of tight credit, Nissan has announced the cheapest new car on the U.S. market. The newly-available Versa 1.6 sedan will be priced starting at $9,990 (plus $695 destination charge). To get the base price down under 10 grand Nissan has substituted a smaller 1.6L engine with 107 hp in place of the previous 1.8L. The manual gearbox also loses one of its six gear ratios. The manual gearbox version gets 26 mpg city/34 mpg highway while the auto box gets 26 mpg city/33 mpg. On the inside, the car obviously gets de-contented to hit the new price point, although Nissan hasn't said exactly what equipment would be lost. Even with the lower equipment levels the base Versa is still a decent small car, with plenty of room and a solid structure. The new price certainly makes it a viable alternative to a used car while still offering a new car warranty.

Related

• In the AutoblogGreen Garage: 2008 Nissan Versa SL 6-speed

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Nissan announces sub-$10,000 version of the Versa

Nissan announces sub-$10,000 version of the Versa originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Lightweight

2014 is a very long ways off. It's pretty much impossible to predict what the automotive landscape will look like just a few years in advance, let alone a full five years. But, that's exactly what Gordon Murray's design team is trying to do with its latest project, the T25. This twenty-fifth clean-sheet design from Murray is an innovative city car that is supposed to make the most use of the little space that the car has. In fact, the T25 is expected to come in at just 2.4-meters long, which equals 94.5 inches (around 7' 10") in the U.S. That's really small, and the car is supposedly configurable to suit people of all sizes and shapes.

Interchangeable plastic outer panels will reportedly allow the T25 to come in mini-MPV passenger car, van, pick-up, taxi, police car and convertible flavors. The entire package is expected to weigh just 1,200-pounds, which will allow for extremely high fuel mileage and low emissions. Two years after the car's expected debut in Europe in 2012, Murray hopes that the car will be sold in the U.S. We wonder... will competitors like the seminal fortwo from smart and the new Toyota iQ still be around to do battle?


[Source: Car Magazine]

Details on Gordon Murray's T25 continue to leak originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Diesel, Volkswagen

This is the time of the year for awards, as pretty much all of the 2009 models are out in the open and journalists have had a bit of time to digest each and every model against its competitors. Such is the case at Popular Mechanics, which has just released its annual Automotive Excellence Awards. This year, as you might imagine, an emphasis is being placed on fuel efficient vehicles, and our friends at PM realize this fact and have handed out an award for fuel efficiency. The winner? Volkswagen's Jetta TDI, the first 50-state legal diesel vehicle sold in the U.S. since the latest and most stringent set of emissions regulations have been implemented. The Jetta was compared directly with the fuel economy leader, the Toyota Prius, and the editors found that the Jetta was nearly as efficient as its rival on the highway along with being more fun to drive in their eyes. Next year, the Jetta will have tough competition in the form of a brand-new Prius along with a new Insight hybrid from Honda. Let the games begin!

[Source: Popular Mechanics]

Popular Mechanics gives Jetta TDI Automotive Excellence Award originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 08:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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