Obama’s Stimulus Package… Little for Green Cars

The Obama Admistration released a stimulus package that help New car buyers very little and does even less for Hybrid buyers.  It does mention possible help for the Plug-in type Hybrid down the road but the does not extend the existing Hybrid tax credit.  In a Nutshell, Toyota and Honda no longer qualify, the Ford hybrids will reach there limit sometime very soon, Nissan Altima (only available in 8 states) has some remaining months and GM will qualify for sometime because their Hybrids are just hitting ground. 

The bulk of the impact lies on the (NEV’s) or the low-speed neighborhood electric vehicles.  These small cars cannot travel more than 25 miles per hour and are made up of mainly, electric motorcycles, three-wheeled vehicles, and “gulf cart” type cars like the GEM. This group now qualify for a $2500.00 tax credit.  Oh, I did forget to mention the $100,000.00 dollar Telsa would also qualify. Heck that brings it down to an affordable $97,500.00.

Their answer for helping the 2009 auto industry, probably the worst in decades, is to allow you to deduct the sales tax from your federal return.  This amounts to roughly a couple of hundred bucks even if your in a 35% bracket.  WOW, now that is Stimulus…. The Telsa is looking better every paragraph. 

If they would have taken time to really think about what would help…. Make a provision to deduct the interest on car loan interest.  According to the National Auto Dealers Association, that plan could boost sales by roughly 360,000 vehicles in 2009.  

In my opinion, Obama really dropped the ball by not extending the Hybrid tax credit.  This is one way to boost auto sales and encourage people to make a difference and choose a Hybrid.  What do you think? We are all in this together. 

The Hybrid Guy

A Old General Motors EV1 Ad

Now Why can they get their act together.

 

Toyota FT-EV… Has anyone Heard of this Auto?

This one could be considered the greenest car on the planet.  This fully electric auto was yet another hit at the Detroit Auto show.  It is expected to hit the ground running in 2012. It is smaller than the Yaris but has room for four passangers (hard for me to believe, ive been in a Yaris).  The range will probably be less than 50 miles and has no gas motor to take it any further.  50 miles does not sound very far but it fits into 80% of the average American commute.

I want to ask you….. considering the price is reasonable, would you buy a commute only car.  The downside is you would still have to own another car for longer distances.  What do you think?….

Economic Times…. Hurting Green R&D

The current economic crisis is putting a toll on the venture capitalists of the world, these entrepreneurs are being squeezed by the banks and the necessary funds for the research and development of “clean technology” have disappeared.  The electric/hybrid auto start-up companies are being crushed by the big auto manufactures and the bailout for the big three is putting necessary R&D funds toward operating expenses.  The short of it all…. less innovation, less technology, and less of what we desperately need more…. less of a carbon footprint.  Wow, sound confusing but folks money is what makes the world go round and if banks continue the new trend of not to lend, great ideas will remain in the minds of the innovator.  

I recently read a article in the Wall Street Journal which summarized a perfect example. A Norwegian start-up company called Think Global was a front runner in the electric car world.  A company started in 1991, produced a zippy little city coupe that was able to go 110 miles on a single charge , just filed for bankruptcy protection in December and sent most of its three hundred employees home on temporary leave. Searching the world, it was unable to secure the 60-100 million it needed to finance its future growth.  Several others small automotive companies are in the same boat, like the India-based REVA Electric Car co. and Telsa Motors in California.

My focus for this Blog is to inform my customers and future customers of information that is relevant to the green industry.  I don’t like to write about negative subjects, most papers and news stories are mostly gruesome and harp on the negative tones.  That is NOT my intention and you will find a positive approach to the subjects on this blog.  I felt I needed to say something here because what is happening with the banking industry is going to have a huge impact on the world and especially Green Technology.  America was built on invention, innovation and manufacturing and we need to get back to the core values in order to get through this current setback were experiencing.  I promise to return to positive subjects and please lets all demand greener products.  If we continue to use our green to buy green, profits will appear and banks will loosen the tight belt….. I hope.

Let me know what you think!

Ford Fusion Hybrid…. Fords Answer?

First, and off topic… I would like to wish everyone a happy and healthy 2009 for all of us at BeGreenauto.com!!

It is come time to introduce the new Ford Fusion, not for sale until spring of 09′, I have just learned more about the newest Hybrid to hit the market. Ford Motor is taking Toyota head on with this sedan, mainly to compete with the Toyota Camry Hybrid.  It is larger than the Prius so in a slightly different market.  Ford claims the mid-size will get 41mpg in the city and 36mpg on the highway, which is a improvement over the Camry Hybrids 33mpg city and 34mpg highway. The Fusion is said to travel over 700 miles on a single tank of gas, using a smaller, lighter nickel-metal hydride battery that produces 20% more power than is bigger brother the Escape SUV. The car can reach speeds of 47mph in electric-drive mode.  Another first, the Fusion is able to capture 90% of the energy lost in breaking. This beauty hits the showrooms in the spring and costs around the 27K mark, this is right in line with the overall price of the Toyota Camry Hybrid.

After taking a beating in Congress earlier this month, the Fusion Hybrid could not come at a better time for Ford motor.  Even if Ford has set a modest sales goal of 25,000, it shows that Ford is moving in the right direction.  Mark Fields, president of Ford’s American division said “the Fusion Hybrid is important to Fords overall goal of being viewed as a leader in automotive technology not a follower of foreign competitors. Its all about bringing innovations to the marketplace, which Ford had done for many years” he said “For a period of time, we lost that leadership and we want it back”1

I always want to hear what You have to say!! For Myself, at first glance…. I’m very excited…. Great timing, Love the mileage, and the car has some style.  My only concerns, which is a shame is…. Quality.  Did Ford spend the time in R&D to build a can that can compete with Toyota’s quality? I really hope so….. I want to spend my money here in America but “SHOW ME THE QUALITY”  (is that from Jerry Meguire)?  :) 

I want to hear from you… 

Have a Great 09′ Brad “The Hybrid Guy”

(source New York Times)

Electric Cars…. What do you Think?

The car industry today is a mess to say the least…. General Motors on the verge of imploding, Chrysler in the works and Ford not far behind.  There is so much to say about this news, I’m going to spare you because if you have not heard it by now….. Good for you!   Back to the topic at hand Electric Cars.  The reason I even brought up the Big Three disaster is, I want your opinion if  this going to help or hurt future inovation and production of hybrid and electric cars? I dont have the magic crystal ball so I can’t tell you for sure but my job is to present some facts of what is happening with car manufactures around the world.

GM has a ton riding on the new Chevrolet Volt due to arrive in 2010, if  they make that far.  For reference this is a true plug-in electric car that has a range of less then 40 miles on a single charge and a max speed of 12o mph.  I have to admit, just from the videos, it is a great looking automobile. GM had several problems with the introduction of this car and keep delaying the date. At this point, no one knows when we will see the new Volt. Also, with a $40,000 dollar price tag, it my be hard to compete.

Toyota, currently leading the hybrid market in sales, plans to introduce the new Plug-In Prius in spring 09.  Toyota has been very low key with the introduction of this car, from the reports I have read, it can go 7 miles and up to 62mph before the gasoline engine kicks in.  The best part is you can accelerate up to half throttle before hearing the engine, this enables the possibility of short commutes using only electric power.  The downfall…. it looks like any other Prius, I would liked to seen a body change or something sleeker.  

In a completely different league is Telsa Motors.  They make a all electric Roadster that is capable of 0-60 in 3.4 seconds and has a range of 244 miles.  This car is with out a doubt as cool as the get but only if you have $104,000 to spare.  The point of including this company in my article is the technology is here, electric cars can have speed and range…….. the problem is price.  The technology is currently Very Expensive.  

The answer….. just may lie with a very small company out of Shanghai China named BYD Co., which stands for “build your dreams”.  I can see why they choose just BYD, anyway this small private battery company has turned to making automobiles. The vehicle has a range of 62 miles on electric power and is capable of switching to a small back up engine when power gets low.  It will fully charge in nine hours from a standard electric outlet or much faster with a BYD charging station.  This new vehicle drew the attention of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co, a unit of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc., which invested in a 9.9 stake in BYD.  The car will sell for about $22,000 and hopes to debut in the U.S. once the safety standards are worked out.

As Always I leave the question to the consumer….. the one with the greenbacks…. Will the decline of the Big Three have any bering in the mass production of the electric car?  Will other Non-US manufactures pick up the ball and run with it?  Or will we need the US auto industry to help this dream become more of a mass reality?

Brad “The Hybrid Guy”

Automakers Show Off Their New Hybrids Today in LA.

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

At the Los Angeles auto show today Ford will show its Hybrid muscle, introducing the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and the 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid.  Ford has been working overtime to produce a car that will rival the current Toyota Camry Hybrid.  The two Ford models will have a 6 mpg improvement in the city and 2 mpg on the highway and can reach up to 47 miles per hour on electric power alone.

Toyota spokesman Irv Miller says he welcome the challenge, it “further legitimizes the hybrid business”.  Mr Miller also added “they (Ford) made improvements in their vehicles just as we will in our next generation”.   Toyota also plans to introduce a concept version of Camry Hybrid powered by compressed natural gas, a car we have talked about in a earlier post.

Hyundai will produce its first US marketed Hybrid, using a revolutionary lithium polymer battery, it can produce 20 times the charge of todays batteries with half the size. Hyundai boasts these new batteries will be one step over the newer lithium being developed for the next generation plug-in hybrids.  This new technology will come in the form of the current Sonata, a mid-size car built to compete with the Camry and the Accord.

Lets not forget Honda, with the introduction of the new Insight sedan.  This concept car with coach drivers in saving fuel with a new instrument cluster called Eco Assist.  When the driver goes light on the accelerator it turns green, if you decide to punch it you get the blue light.  Also, included is a ECON button that sets the car in a fuel saving mode, going as far as adjusting the air conditioning. The Insight will be for sale to the public spring of 09′.

The bottom line is every generation Hybrids are getting better.  Battery technology in improving, gadgets are changing driving habits and most important people are slowing realizing Hybrid autos do make a difference and are important for our future.

What do you think?  Are Hybrids progressing fast enough?  Are the Auto makers spending enough in research and development?  Are any of the above mentioned cars intriguing to you, enough to wait for?  Of course the MOST important question, What is going to be your next car? Where are YOU going to put your money? I want to know, as a Hybrid dealer I value your opinion more than the auto makers.  Let me Know.

Bradford Bauer

“The Hybrid Guy”

Jennifer Aniston Interview

Some thing a little different…. It is a interview with Jennifer Aniston.

“Some things are important for the world to know…. like how long I shower. Seriously. I take a three-minute shower. It’s three minutes, or as short as possible, for a good reason, however, I even brush wash -brush my teeth while in the shower. Now here’s why: I found out that every two minutes in the shower uses as much water as a person in Africa uses for everything in their life for a whle day – drinking, bathing, cooking and cleaning…. everything! When you become aware of all the things you do, and the effect thoses things have, you want to make small changes. Like with water So now you know why I brush and wash at the same time. When I found out that my cell phone charger still uese energy when its plugged in and it’s not being used, I began unplugging it. When I found out that I could use less gas and get better mileage with a Hybrid car, I bought a Prius.

It all goes back to awareness and knowing better and then making a simple shift in habit. When your a kid, your mom tells you to clean your room and turn off the lights. So you listen to her and do it. (Well Sometimes). That becomes a shift in habit, something you do unconsciously. Obviously, when I learn about something new that I can do in my everyday life that makes a whole lot of sense and can help the environment , I do it. Eventually, it just becomes second nature. If we all begin to learn from one another and share some of the things we do, we just might be able to affect the World for the better through these little rituals. In a curious way, this would be a great wave of awareness: doing the right thing without being told to or having to think why. Now, about my baths….” (The Green Book)

Toyota Brings CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) Back Into the Limelight.

Toyota announced plans to display its concept of the CNG-Electric Camry at the November auto show in Los Angeles.  This new concept will unite the benefits of CNG with its current hybrid system.  Compressed Natural Gas has been considered an option in the ongoing pursuit for environmentally friendly automobiles.  CNG is less expensive than gasoline, lower in emissions and more plentiful than oil.  “With the combination of plentiful long-term supplies in North America, improved and more efficient recovery methods, favorable pricing, clean-burn and low emissions characteristics, CNG has become a prime energy source for the future,” said Irv Miller, Toyota group vice president, corporate communications.

In 1999, Toyota produced a CNG four cylinder Camry, but discontinued the automobile because of low customer demand, due to restricted trunk space, limited driving range and lack of CNG refueling stations.  Currently, there are about 1000 CNG stations in the U.S., only half are available to consumers and most are located in California.

Currently, Honda manufactures a CNG powered Civic and plans to double production in ’09 to 2000 units.  Honda’s answer to the lack of filling stations is a device called “Phill”.  Honda owners can put “Phill” in their garages and tap into their homes natural gas line to refuel their CNG car.  The Civic GX has a price tag of $25,070, which costs about $7,000 more than the typical gasoline powered Civic.

I would like to hear from you, is CNG the way to go? Will it become plentiful enough to make a difference on our dependence of foreign oil?

Still confused? Take a look at the T. Boone Pickens Plan, a Texas billionaire that feels he has the answer.  Watch the video at:

www.pickensplan.com

Let me know what you think…… I’m a firm believer in listening to every option before posting my opinion.

What Do You Think About Diesel? America and Europe Are Moving In Different Directions

As environmental concerns become more mainstream and Americans are accepting the fact that gasoline may never be under the $3 dollar mark, green cars and fuel-efficient trucks are becoming the future of the auto industry, east and west.

Toyota, Honda and Ford are the main manufacturers that are competing in the U.S for the most efficient hybrid, gasoline-electric vehicle. We could argue who makes the best car, but if we’re only talking MPG (miles per gallon), the Prius wins the contest with an estimated 48MPG city.

So, what about diesel?

In early 2008, Ford introduced the Fiesta ECOnectic diesel for Europe.   A low carbon dioxide-emitting, fuel-efficient compact that is capable of approximately 63.5 miles per U.S. gallon.  It is powered by a highly efficient 1.6-liter Duratorq diesel engine, in a lightweight and aerodynamic frame.

Volkswagon, who is known for their diesel engineering, has designed a new Golf with an efficient BlueMotion diesel.  This 1.6 liter, common-rail turbocharged, diesel gets 61.8 MPG and produces 105 horsepower.  Also, on the ground and already for sale in the United States is the ’09 Volkswagon Jetta TDI.  This ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) 2.0 liter four-cylinder diesel gets 29MPG city and 40MPG highway.

As a Hybrid and diesel dealer here in the U.S., I find it hard to believe Ford introduced a compact car capable of getting 63MPG and plans to export it to Europe while Volkswagon is considering importing a compact to the U.S. with roughly the same MPG.   Am I missing something or is it just politics?  (Sounds like a topic for another post)

So, I leave you the consumer, ultimately the person with the money, a very important question?  Consider the United States….. should we concentrate our efforts more on hybrid-electric technology or diesel technology? Also, as a hypothetical question, if Ford or General Motors made an “apples to apples” compact car in a hybrid-electric version and a diesel version, which one would you buy today?