It seems that the automobile industry is really riding the wave of green change with glee as it is making the best possible effort to keep up with the changing world. The fact the crude oil prices are shooting up at the rate of knots and pollution levels are growing alarmingly combine to make sure that the world of vehicles and transportation has virtually no other option but to switch to green. It is the turn of Boston and its Taxi system to head in that direction by completely going hybrid.

The mayor of Boston, Thomas Menino, made a major step forward for urban transportation by proposing that all off the city’s taxis be replaced with hybrids by 2015. The progressive measure will significantly cut the city’s carbon emissions, and officials expect that within two years, 50% of the city’s 5,500 cabs will have been replaced with ones with hybrid engines that work like a charm.

While the beautiful city of San Francisco and ever active New York are already on that path and will get there by 2012, Boston is running behind as a close second for now. The move will also modernize the outdated Taxi System of the city giving a whole new look. Hopefully more US cities will jump on the green bandwagon and set similar targets for themselves.

Via Inhabitat

It is almost always assumed that everything green is always priced at the high-end of the shopping cart and in most cases it is indeed true. One of the major hindrances to green technology is that it just is not always economically feasible in a large scale. But with more money and time going into the research of green products and eco-friendly gadgets, it only is going to get better with the prices. Most of the green cars and vehicles are generally far more expensive than their fuel-guzzling and Carbon fuming cousins. But with Ibiza of SEAT the convention is all set to change.

The new vehicle has been dubbed the ‘Ibiza Ecomotive’ and comes in either a 5 door hatchback or a 3 door Sport Coupe. Powering both the 5 and 3 doors versions is Volkswagen’s 1.4 liter 3-cylinder TDI turbo diesel engine which makes 80 horsepower at the wheels.

The new Ecomotive features a very low CO2 emissions figure while also providing very low consumption. Though the Spanish car makers have not yet released any official fuel mileage figures, it seems that the vehicle is pretty green compared to others in the same category.

The aerodynamic simplicity of the car along with its light body work makes it further reduce drag and increase fuel efficiency. So how good a buy is the car in pure economic sense? At $ 19, 120 the Ibiza is an excellent buy to say the least.

Via Inventorspot

Our first look at the Ventomobile was around a couple of months back as the students of the Stuttgart University were working hard on it. At that time they appeared pretty confident about the chances of their unique trike in a unique wind-powered race that was to test their creation. Now the race is over and as the dust still settles, the Ventomobile has finished on top as expected by many. The solely wind-driven Ventomobile constructed by the InVentus team, a team of some 20 Stuttgart University students of Aerospace Engineering, came in first at the “Aeolus Race” in the Dutch town of Den Helder.

Racing the extremely stylish and lightweight three-wheeler, the vehicles of five European universities and research centres had difficulties to catch up. For their “innovative design” and public relations work, the InVentus team was also awarded prizes. In this first time ever race the participating teams were challenged to drive directly into the wind, without tacking. During the preliminary races, the Stuttgart Ventomobile had already proven to be the most lightweight and most efficient vehicle among the contestants when, with its 130 kg, it succeeded in racing at 64% of the wind speed directly against the wind. From then on it was considered a serious contender for the win.

Beyond being a single race wonder, the Ventomobile proves the immense capability that wind energy holds and it gives the world a new alternate source of energy to look at other than the traditional solar power. Now hopefully more bikes and trikes in future will be powered by the wind!

Via:Â Nextenergynews

You want to save the earth? Ask Mondo-green mermaid Daryl Hannah how. The pretty lass nurtures a deep love for bio-fuels and leaves no stone unturned to make it a part of her life. She has been using the fossil fuel alternative for over a decade in her converted El Camino and bio-diesel for buzzing around her farm. She even founded the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance. Wow, it is indeed very cool to see people and celebs go the extra mile to save the earth.

Daryl’s mantra is simple. She uses fuel from waste vegetable oil, and not ethanol which has received a lot of flak for rising food costs. In Daryl’s words, “There are plenty of fuel processing techniques and feed stocks that bio-fuels can come from—for both bio-diesel and ethanol— like garbage, hemp, algae, cellulose waste, prairie grasses, moringa and jatropha.”
So don’t give up on bio-diesel just because some corporate sharks are promoting otherwise!
Via ecorazzi

I was amazed to know that one of the very first oil droplets formed on our planet came from a pond scum! So far as I knew it, I remember learning about pigment producing algae in my junior science classes but this piece of news is quite good to note down. Why because algae could run your car in near future!

Some really hi-fi research is going on in Solazyme corporation-synthetic biology company that specializes in producing biodiesel (diesel oil produced from algae).

Jonathan Wolfson and Harrison Dillon at Solazyme have intriguing information to share about algae- like the mucky pond scum has a dynamic reproductive ability to double its cell mass within no time! Besides both have discovered how one can extract oil and pep up oil production by feeding algae with lots of sugars instead of sunshine! (Wow!) At the research centre of the company, small fermenters are already producing clean-burning biofuel from these microalgae. Dillon & Wolfson’s success at this procedure raises hope of large scale production of this neat, efficient and clean renewable energy source. And this is not all; industrial chemicals and household cleaners can also be produced by this algal oil which tastes like peanut oil!

You don’t believe me? Have a look at the video then!

Via: goodcleantech

Fisker Automotive noted for its handcrafted, exotic, high-end performance sports cars is all set to deliver a super sexy yet green hybrid car Karma in late 2009. This plug-in hottie sedan was public’s eye candy at its debut at the 2008 North American International Auto Show. The verdict: Fisker has already received over 500 orders for this luxurious four-wheeler!

Features:

1) Karma’s Q-Drive- plug-in electric hybrids drive system (provided to Fisker by Quantum Technologies); it uses a small gasoline engine to drive a generator. The latter charges the car’s battery pack and the energy thus released, powers the electric motor driving the rear wheels.

2) Regenerative braking- contributes in keeping the car’s batteries in a charged state.

3) Frisker Karma is an emissions-free car with an all -electric range of up to 50 miles!

What’s more you can charge its batteries from a 110-volt household source over nightly.

4) To facilitate daytime battery recharging the company will also provide optional solar panels for roofs.

5) No need to run for batteries in the third-fourth year of purchase as Karma’s batteries

last for 10years.

6) The stylish sedan can pick up from zero to 60 mph under 6 seconds! Wow!

7) Present two drive-modes: ‘Stealth Drive’ mode- max speed 95mph and ‘Sport Drive’ mode – max speed 125 mph (is a full power mode!)

Karma’s a la mode interior comprises four and comfortable individual first class seats,

a spacious trunk with room for two golf bags & luggage, DVD system integrated into the seat backs, a navigation system and state-of-the-art pushbutton controls. Also, you can opt for climate control system with a full-length solar roof to provide interior cooling while the car is parked.

9) Estimated Price: $80,000

Incase you are not comfortable with the price tag then wait for the future cars by Fisker Automotives which will use Q-Drive technology. The price range of such models would be around $40,000.

Via GreenCar

On Ecoblog often we have proposed several classifications relating to cleaner cars or more ecological. This time, Forbes published a list of 10 most polluting cars with many ex-aequo especially on the tail of the top-ten. Obviously from the list were excluded Ferrari, Bentley and Lamborghini…

1. Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI
2. Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD
3. Mercedes GL320 CDI
4. Mercedes-Benz R320 CDI
5. GMC Yukon XL 2500
6. Ford F-150
7. Jeep Grand Cherokee Flex Fuel
8. 1500 GMC Yukon RW
9. Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG
10. Saab 9-7X Aero

Two-wheeler experience will now become more exciting, definitely more green and eco-friendly. From the house of Italian designer- Simone Cistulli, comes a marvel called Eco-Fun- a cozy, sleek, sexy, and stylish and to top it all, an electric car! This aerodynamic cutie looks as if it is designed to give you and your loved one the “we-are-in-a-little-spaceship” kind of feel.

Its attributes are:

·    A spherical front wheel.

·    Two large covered rear wheels.

·    A strong product aesthetic.

·    Presence of a porthole within each of the large diameter, hub-less rear wheels - the rear passenger can directly sit behind the driver between these!

·    Sexy black and neon color-scheme for the ultra-modern future.

·    Emission-free fuel system- runs on electricity.

Eco-traveling will sure be fun filled now with Eco-fun. Isn’t it?

Via Cardesignnews

The good aspect seen in relation to bad things like global warming, carbon emissions and climate change is the rapidly increasing awareness among both producers and consumers. Catching on with the popularity of hybrid, electric and other eco-friendly cars among the present day eco-savvy people is the latest trend of Eco-insurance. The latter was first started by a UK based insurance company CIS for those clients that purchase a hybrid car. The company offsets 20% of your car’s carbon dioxide emissions and gives discounts on insurance for low-emitting cars in case you are one of those who already have a hybrid car or are planning to buy one in near future. CIS also offers a CO2 tyre footprint calculator, which can be used to map the carbon footprint and efficiency of these hybrid cars. Also it has developed a recycling repair shop network to assist the long run sustainability models.

A couple of years ago, all this would have sounded rather weird but now, it’s not only a reality but also slowly acquiring the dimensions of a necessity! Today, many car insurance companies are actively developing eco-friendly policies to woo their green clientele. Most of them have now joined the Eco-insurance club. Another car insurance company

‘More Than’ is now, offering customers a “free carbon offsetting” for their first 3000 miles (in case the customers purchase the policy online!). Also, electric cars and hybrid vehicles are now being offered with up to 15% discount. Very interesting deal I must say! Just a piece of advice before you make up your mind to go for such green-insurance schemes- all these eco-friendly policies are competitively priced so do look carefully, at the premium payments and other conditions apply* sections.

Via ModernEcoHomes

The scene is going to change on roads in a couple of years. In 2011 one will see Pivo 2, a robot-assisted, electric car on the streets of Portugal. Nissan showcased the PIVO2 Electric Concept Car earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show. The cute looking somewhat bubble shaped car in sparkling blue color was first introduced in the year at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show and seen then, the company has refined the car design and its capabilities to its present day state. Now, with last week’s announcement it seems the car will finally be launched commercially in Portugal in 2.5 years time by Renault and Nissan. The country has agreed to pep up its efforts in installing up a large network of electric charging stations for the yet to be launched bug-like car.

Pivo 2 is a 3 seater with lithium-ion batteries that infuse power in this electric vehicle. The car is fully rechargeable off household current and possesses regenerative braking system. Its cozy-looking passenger cabin can rotate whole 360 degrees as also the wheels, which can turn a full 90 degrees to facilitate flexible maneuvering during parking. Robot assisted Pivo2 can thus be sneezed in the tightest of all parking lot corners!

A single entry/exit door along with the rotating cabin allows the passengers to exit from the side of the vehicle. While what I love the most in Pivo 2 is its design, I’m amazed to learn that through a communicating robotic instructor the driver can control the car’s different functions. The robotic instructor uses voice and feature recognition technology to sense the driver’s mood! Now hold on guys before you become a green-eyed monster getting jealous over the luck of Portuguese people, Nissan wishes to sell electric cars globally by 2012. The company is embracing green technology and is thus launching an aggressive drive to produce and popularize electric vehicles amidst concerns of global warming and skyrocketing gas prizes. Well, I’m impressed. What about you?
And by the way, there’s another version of blue Pivo2. It’s a white one! Check it out here.

Via TreeHugger