I’m a pretty eco freindly type, or at least about as much as possible for being an American human being, but I must say that the new Ford ad I saw on television last night was pathetic.. It shows a guy talking about how he is a real man & likes to feel real power under the hood or some shit like that. The ad concludes with him explaining that he test drove a ford focus hybrid & was suprised to find out “wow its a car”.. I’m sry but your going to have to do better than that. Do you really expect people to be excited to go out and buy a hybrid just because you compare it to any old jalopy car. Its like “wow Ford created a car”.. We wonder why the auto industry almost took a nosedive, maybe because they spend boatloads of money on ads like this…

Coming soon, meet the Magic Pencil Girl.

Even proponents of sustainability know that the desire for change cannot trump technological capability. Systems like compressed air power storage, algae-based jet fuel or wave power generation have moved passed discovery and would be great additions to society but simply have not reached a level of commercial viability. When interests lie on the bleeding edge this is simply part of the game. However, there are few things more troublesome and disenchanting than a technology that exists to improve the level of function and efficiency of products and is simply not executed. I came across an article on Matter Network that highlighted the fact that a Ford Focus model for Europe is set to achieve 62 MPG, yet the Focus for Americans achieves only 35. This means that the technology for increased fuel economy is here, but not utilized. Things like this are amazingly frustrating.

Apparently Ford will release its Focus “Econetic” model that will be available to European consumers in four months. The article notes that Ford’s 40 MPG Fiesta model will not even be available to Americans until 2011. The first and logical question is why can Ford not make more efficient cars available in the U.S.? The frustrating part is not that there are not reasons, but that the reasons are actually true.

For starters, European countries have made vehicle efficiency, and its link to emissions, a legislative priority. European citizens have elected officials that are willing to endorse stricter codes on how standards will be set for automobiles. Where here in America, California’s voluntary efforts to raise emissions standards for cars were challenged by the federal government, across the Atlantic such goals are embraced. European politicians may admittedly care less if fewer, better cars are sold each year given that the result may be American job losses rather than local ones.

When comparing the prices of the Ford Econetic and its standard American counterpart, the difference is significant. A standard, 3-Door, Ford Focus can has an MSRP of anywhere from $15,500 to $18,300 here in the states while the anticipated Ford Econetic equivalent will carry an MSRP of £18,055 (around $29,790.) Americans very well may not pay $10,000 more for a similar car even if it gets nearly twice the mileage. So why will Europeans?

The price of gas is no small part of the equation. If we use London as an example, the current price of regular unleaded “petrol” is around 113p per liter which equates to $7.05 per gallon—over two and a half times our paltry average of $2.63 here in the U.S. This means that the difference between getting 35 MPG and 62 MPG is much larger for a Londoner than an American. If we use the our E.P.A. estimate of passenger cars traveling 12,000 miles per year and the 13.5 gallon tank in a Ford Focus it is easy to extrapolate the cost spent per year on gas for different gas mileages.

At current prices, raising the mileage of an American car from 35 to 60 mpg can save the average consumer $376 per year on gas, but the same conversion to a London resident saves an impressive $1,007. With an estimated life of 10 years (which is ambitious for many Americans) the savings could knock over $10,000 from the Econetic’s price tag and that is without a rise in the price of oil.

From all of this we can glean that the tens of billions of dollars we spend subsidizing the oil industry is only hurting our own advancements towards efficiency. Though perhaps not advocated by the conservative lobby, the example also illustrates the effectiveness of using legislation to curb societal norms and while we all may be in favor of letting a growing market awareness make that decision for us, sometimes natural capitalistic forces simply take too long to make the right decision.

Some experts blame similar occurrences of technological lethargy for why countries like Spain and Germany have surpassed America in solar and wind power generation. Our lack of effort to promote and improve these technologies when we had the chance allowed foreign minds to become industry leaders. The makers of the popular documentary “Who Killed the Electric Car” paints a similar picture of electric vehicle technology that was progressively researched years ago by GM until government and oil interests unraveled the project. In the meantime, Japanese car companies have cornered the market on fuel-efficiency in vehicles.

The fact that there is tested technology that is being constructed and sold to consumers outside of America but not available here is a problem. I am open to different solutions on how to fix it (raising gas prices, removing oil subsidies, new emissions or CAFE legislation) but the problem needs to be fixed.

Photo Credit: Channel4.com

Ok so if you haven’t heard of this car, welcome back to the present!!

No, seriously, the Volt is a pretty important car for Government Motors.  They’ve spent years and tons of money developing this all electric car for the masses and it’s actually getting closer and closer to being in our local Chevy showrooms.  So let’s go over what need know so far about this car, explain how it works and what it does without getting too technical.

This actually isn’t a Toyota Prius copy.  The drivetrain for the Volt…well it’s not original. I thought it up when I was still in highschool.  We’ll start by listing the important components: a small displacement gasoline engine, an electric motor, and an  electric battery.  I know what you’re thinking: “Sounds like a Prius to me!!” Hold on,  I’m getting there.

The Prius uses it’s small displacement gas engine to recharge the electric battery and aid in driving the car once you accelerate to a certain speed.  The Volt, however, never uses it’s gas engine to drive the car. All the gas engine does is recharge the electric battery once it’s depleted after above 40 miles of driving.

And this is the brilliance the Volt.  The best way to save gas when driving is to use as little gas as you can to make your car go.  Well if the gas is never driving the car, then you don’t need to worry about it, do you?  All the gas is doing is working to recharge the battery so you can keep running on nothing but electricity. Also, the amount of gas used by this small engine to recharge the battery is so minute, that even filling up the 8 gallon tank won’t happen all that often, depending on how often you drive.  It gets better though!  You can also plug the Volt up at home and charge the battery. So If you drive less that 40 miles a day, you’ll never need gas at all!!  That’s not a bad deal, eh?

I mean, obviously, it’s not the next Lamborghini or Mitsubishi Evo XI, but this car is still hugely important.  Take a look around the web and check it out for yourself.  Feel free to leave comments

-TripleDeuce

Hey there.  I’ve only had this blog up about a day and I’ve gotten some hits, which surprised me.  I’d love to get some more readers and some feedback on how I’m doing so far with this blog and what you all would like to see in the future.  This blog is only as good as it’s content. If i’m not putting up news and information that you want to read, it’s kind of pointless, right?

So, I’m asking and encouraging you all to please leave comments, emails, anything at all.  I’m even going to set up an instant messenger account (either on Yahoo or Skype) for those of you that would like to talk to me directly and exchange ideas. I would really appreciate the feedback.  Constructive criticism is always welcome as well.

Thanks everyone!

-TripleDeuce

Chevrolet has finally unveiled the details of it’s Cruze world car in U.S. spec along with some crisp HD photos.  Of course I haven’t driven the damn thing, but half the fun of talking about new cars is speculation. Will be better than the old dog Cobalt it replaces? What’s up with the smaller displacement engines? Will they be any good? Is this Cruze going to end up being another awful rental car? Well only time and some proper test driving will tell.  But we’ve got specs and pics and i think that’s enough to have a nice conversation over, so let’s get to it!!

The Cruze is an all new car Chevy has come up with. From the outside, the Cruze looks like a proper step towards modern for Chevy’s compact sedan offering.  The front looks like it means business.  The headlights are sort of this angular Nike swish that come come away from the grill and shoot back into the bodywork. A subtle line streaks beneath the belt line for the length of the car in sort of a BMW 5 series kind ofway until you get to the taillights…which again remind me of a BMW 5 series.  Really, it’s a compliment…I swear.  The dimensions of the car are a bit bigger everywhere.  It’s been lengthened to give more backseat leg room, widened for better handling and more shoulder room, and heightened for more headroom.  All in all, this Cruze is quite handsome and loads more interesting to look at than that defunked Cobalt and should  give you the feeling of being in a bigger car than you really are.

Chevy intend for this to be a world car, so I’m sure they’ve done their homework.   At least I hope they have because they really can’t afford to be wasting anymore [of our] money.   But let’s not forget that they have developed a habit of tuning their chassis’s on the Nurburgring in order to compete with European offerings, something Dodge/Chrysler still hasn’t caught onto *shakes head*.  So it should handle crisply and that’s promising.   I drove a Cobalt for a week and i couldn’t wait to get back in my 93 Honda Accord.  Yeah, that’s right. A 93 Accord was a damn blessing.

In the power department, the Cruze will be offered up with two engine choices as well as two transmissions.  We get a turbocharged 1.4 liter flat 4 cylinder engine making around 138hp and 148 ft-lbs of torque or you can level up and get the 1.8 with a bit more horsepower, but not as much torque.  Personally, I’m not sure I like these.  I’m not sure how much the car weights, but wouldn’t a 2.0 liter or 2.4 have been more appropriate?  Oh well, this is all a game of fuel economy anyhow. the 1.4 turbo is supposed to get 40 miles to the gallon. Nice!  Both of the tranmissions offered with these engines have 6 gears and will come in manual or automatic.  If I do get the opportunity to review the car for you guys, I’ll get the auto box since that’s what most will likely buy.

The interior is a quantum leap ahead of the Cobalt.  The Cruze just looks cool inside. It’s the best way I can describe it from the pictures. I’m not counting on all the materials to be of the highest quality, but it all does give the appearance at least of being more upscale than its predecessor.  I would, however, count on more soft touch materials on the arm rest, doors, steering wheel and dashboard.  The silver plastics against the glossy piano black plastics is a nice contrast.  All of the controls look like they have been laid out in an ergonomic fashion against an interesting center stack and the LCD display screen doesn’t look like it’s based off of a something built during the 80’s

There’s still a lot that we don’t know about the Cruze.  But, on paper, it looks like it should be an interesting and refreshing entry into it’s respective market.  I imagine direction competition coming from Mazda3,  Ford Focus, Kia Forte and Honda Civic(good Lord they need to come out with a new one of those!!!).  The Cruze is slotted to hit showrooms in the third quarter of 2010.  I’ve got my eye on you, Government Motors.

To see an annoying promotional video for the 2011 Chevy Cruze, check below!!

**note**: It’s better with the sound off

Kind of reminds you of the Cobalt, except you don't get that look on your face like you want to vomit

I've gotta admit, I'm not hating how it looks

I'm reminded a bit of the interior of the new For Fiesta. That's not a bad thing though.

-TripleDeuce

Für Nachtmenschen schon lange eine Bereicherung – die Wissenschafts-Formate im ZDF. Bei spannenden Erstaustrahlungen darf man aber trotzdem fragen, warum so spät ?

Am 2. Dezember gibt es die nächste interessante dreiteilige Wissenschaftsreihe:

In Zusammenarbeit mit der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) produzierte das ZDF die dreiteilige Wissenschaftsreihe “Inside Science – Wissenschaft live”. Karsten Schwanke, der für das ZDF auch “Abenteuer Wissen” moderiert, begleitet darin die Projekte junger Wissenschaftler, die sich mit Zukunftsfragen der Menschheit beschäftigen. Dabei filmen sich die Wissenschaftler bei ihrer Forschungsarbeit selbst und geben so authentische Einblicke in ihren Alltag. Entwickelt wurde die Reihe von den renommierten Wissenschaftsjournalisten Gisela Graichen und Peter Prestel. mehr

Quelle: DWDL.de

Hello!!! Glad you found the place. Welcome to The Steering Column. I’ve started this blog because for the last 4 years, I have turned into an absolutely car-crazed nerd. I’m always keeping up with the latest in car news and now I want to share it with as many people as i can.

This blog is intended to appeal not only to car enthusiast, but also people just looking for general car info. My intentions are to deliver current news and valid information about cars currently on the market and soon-to-be on the market along with my somewhat off-beat sense of humor.

If things go well where, my plan is to bring you videos of me reviewing cars as well reporting the top stories of the day.

Thank you for your support.

-TripleDeuce

With the much anticipated launch next year of quite possibly the two most important cars of our time, is it a wonder that people are confused with all the marketing hype and noise out there.  We’ve got color naming contests,  22 city road shows, gauntlet face slapping T.V. commercials, blog sites with daily content and even show and tell with middle school kids.  Is it really that hard to believe that people might be getting confused about which car does what, who has the best MPG, EV vs. Hybrid and why choose one over the other?

Talk about building up the hype, GM has announced the three finalist for their color naming contest.  “EV-ergreen”, “Veridian joule” and “EnviroMint”.  All fun and quirky names that conjure up thoughts of eco-warrior meets metrosexual chic.  Couple this with the constant “May the Best Car Win” TV ads and one might think that the Volt would be the hands down favorite in terms of mindshare.  But don’t count out that little company from Japan.  They have a few tricks up their sleeve too!!!

Nissan is on a “pilgrimage to mecha-annical” glory.  They have reached out to all the stakeholders and media alike and asked them to attend 1 of 22 different roadshows.  At the event, we get a chance to feast our excited eyes  on the Leaf, network with other EV enthusiasts and take turns driving a prototype around a little track at low speed.  A few of the people who have taken this opportunity to test drive the Leaf-like car use words like “seamless power delivery”, “smooth” and my favorite ” noticeably quite”.  All very positive endorsements.

The next and probably most aggressive attempt at winning the hearts of families is now being launched by GM.  Get ready for the biggest “show and tell” school event ever.  GM is inviting 800 middle school kids in LA. plus any other kid who wants to attend online to participate in a huge school yard education session.  Though the kids are probably not the ones who will buy the car next year, they will be the future purchasers of both Hybrids and EV’s and it makes sense to reach out to them now.

So who is the ultimate winner of the hype?  Hopefully it will be all of us in the end.

Neil Roland
Automotive News
November 24, 2009 – 3:08 pm ET
UPDATED: 11/24/09 6:55 p.m. ET

The administration has proposed raising fuel-efficiency requirements 40 percent — to 35.5 mpg — by 2016 for cars and light trucks combined. It plans to adopt final rules in April.

In a historic compromise with the industry, the administration last spring proposed moving up the 2020 deadline originally imposed by Congress for a 35.0 mpg standard.

“We want to make sure we don’t just rest on the 2016 numbers and that we’re prepared today, and get the industry to prepare, to move substantially beyond 2016,” Jack Gillis, a Consumer Federation of America spokesman and author of The Car Book, told reporters on a conference call today.

The consumer group’s statement is likely to be just an opening salvo in an extended debate over post-2016 standards.

The Consumer Federation, an association of 280 groups, also said the EPA should be primarily responsible for setting efficiency standards. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which shares rule-setting authority with the EPA, has allowed the automobile industry to exert undue influence, the consumer advocates said.

The consumer group said only 4 percent of 2010 model year vehicles achieve at least 30 mpg.

“Clearly, an important reason for much, much stronger fuel economy requirements in the future is to protect the car companies from themselves,” Gillis said.

The consumer advocate’s statement was issued as the Friday, Nov. 27, deadline approaches for public comment on the administration’s proposal.

Auto industry lobbyists declined to comment on the substance of the consumer association’s proposal while urging the administration to start considering post-2016 standards next year.

“We hope that once this rule making is finalized, NHTSA and EPA will begin the process of setting standards for future years,” said Charles Territo, a spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a lobbying group for 11 domestic and foreign automakers.

That view was echoed by the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers, which represents 13 automakers.

“Our industry is one where long lead times are especially important to accommodate the design, engineering and production planning for next-generation products,” said AIAM spokesman Kim Custer.

Territo also defended the role played by NHTSA, which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation. He said Transportation’s expertise “is invaluable to the standard-setting process.”

NHTSA and EPA spokesmen did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The administration proposed 2012-16 standards in September. The increases would be among the largest over a four-year period in the 35-year history of the program, said Mark Cooper, the Consumer Federation’s research director.

Cooper said the rate of increase during this period, if projected to 2020, would put the standard at 45 mpg.

“In short, technologies identified in 2008 could already support the goal of 45 mpg by 2020, and the technological limits are not fixed,” he said in a statement.

The administration’s proposal unifies regulation of greenhouse gas emissions and fuel economy standards. It also encompasses an agreement with automakers in which the industry would back the administration’s tougher rules on the understanding that those standards would preclude any set by California and other states.

“Utter market failure.” That’s how Mark Cooper, research director for the consumer advocacy group Consumer Federation of America describes the U.S. vehicle supply. For the 2010 model year, just 44 models (4 percent of all EPA-rated vehicles for the year) get 30 MPG or more, despite widespread consumer interest in more fuel efficient vehicles, according to a new survey conducted this month and released today from the group.

Published just days ahead of the deadline for public comments on tighter fuel economy standards, the CFA survey finds 78 percent of Americans support raising the bar to 35 MPG by 2016 (up from 25 MPG today) for the average MPG of an automaker’s fleet, as the Obama administration has proposed.

Go ahead with stricter standards, CFA’s survey respondents (which included 1,000 people) seem to suggest, but then open the information floodgates to let me make my own decisions. Support for “workplace programs that discourage driving alone to work,” and “feebate” programs that would offer rebates to buyers of fuel-sippers while putting a surcharge on gas guzzlers was underwhelming in the survey, with more than half of respondents opposing the ideas. But a whopping 80 percent say they support a requirement for auto companies to include MPG ratings in all TV and print ads for new vehicles, and 75 percent want to see in-dash MPG gauges.

Whether car buyers would be willing to pay a premium for these features or higher-efficiency vehicles, CFA has not explained. But drivers who want those tools have a growing number of low-cost options available via smartphone apps that build upon or mimick newer in-car displays (helping drivers track fuel consumption and save money on gas, for example). And as CalCars.org founder Felix Kramer noted to us recently, after-market options include “relatively cheap add-on for all vehicles” that can boost MPGs.

To address what the group sees as disparity between strong consumer interest in higher-efficiency vehicles and the relatively small number of high-MPG cars in the pipeline for next year (especially from U.S.-based car companies), CFA urges the Obama administration to put the Environmental Protection Agency in charge of setting fuel economy standards at 45 MPG or better by 2020, and “much higher levels in the future.”

With an increasing number of holiday festivities being held in the home this year, we’re all looking for creative and cost effective ways to spruce up our table settings and create a look that will impress our guests. When it comes to setting your Thanksgiving table, options for the adventurous host are limitless. What are the hottest trends for you to bring to your table this year? Here are a few ideas that will take your Thanksgiving table from ordinary to extraordinary:

Color, Texture and Mix – Match:

In table linens and accessories, this year we are seeing rich, saturated colours. We are also seeing a lot of texture and the mixing and matching of patterns with solids. There are a lot of options out there to do something warm and inviting.

Color Trends

Warm tones have always been popular for Fall and that continues with some of the biggest trends in colour combinations this year. Some of those include:
- Deep Spice and Aubergine with muted Gold accents – Dark Chocolate with Blues and Gray accents – Olive Green, Aubergine and softer greens as accents – Dark Chocolate, Taupe and Natural

Tabletop Decor

- Use things that you already have in your home – pull out your 3 or 4 of your favourite vases of different heights. Use complementary colors of fresh flowers for a simple and stunning arrangement. Fill three or four vases and/or glass bowls with different colors and sizes of ornaments, fruits, leaves – anything with color and texture that will create visual excitement.

- Your guests are all unique – why not celebrate their individuality? Use different patterns and/or colors of napkin rings that match their unique personalities. Are they simple or sophisticated? Fun or formal? Unpredictable or conservative? Show them you care with a little customization to complement your table linens.

- Candles are always a dramatic and cost effective way to make a statement – use votives at each place setting with a name card and emphasize beautiful table linens for a classy and simple look. Or go more dramatic and cluster your favourite candle sticks of varying heights and looks as a centerpiece. Use colors that complement or match your dishes, glasses and table linens.

- Nothing brings subtle sophistication to your table like a well-selected runner. Use one the length of the table plus 12 inches to hang over the edge (usually a 90″ or longer) as the perfect centerpiece. If you are using a solid tablecloth or placemats, make sure to jazz it up with a festive pattern. If you have a patterned look already, use a vibrant solid runner that picks up on one of the colors in your runner.

- Use 2 napkins instead of one with a napkin ring. With a solid napkin inside, and a more decorative napkin on the outside.

When setting your table, just remember: do what feels right for the mood. A casual gathering calls for a relaxed setting. A formal meal should feel that way at the table. Either way, it doesn’t take much to elevate your in-home dining experience. Replacing an old tablecloth with something fresh an exciting, and adding a few simple table accessories can go a long way to impressing your guests. It’s that time of year when family gatherings abound and everyone spends countless hours congregating around the dinner table. With the hours spent preparing the perfect meal, make sure you don’t forget to finish it off with the perfect setting.

Seems shrinking gas prices haven’t deterred Toyota’s need for hybrid developin’ speed. Starting with the third generation Prius and the new Lexus hybrid, the HS250h, which are being unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the car company has announced that it will launch as many as 10 new hybrids by the early 2010’s.Some of highlights from the incoming hybrid lineup? News that the Plug-in Prius will launch by the end of this year, and confirmation that Toyota will release a Battery Electric Vehicle, the FT-EV urban commuter vehicle, by 2012. Plug-in Prius Comes Early. The much-anticipated Plug-in Prius, which was originally slated for launch in 2010, will now be arriving a year early. The lithium ion battery-powered Prius Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle will hit US shores by the end of 2009, though only 150 will be placed with U.S. lease fleet customers. The FT-EV Battery Electric Vehicle Only Years Away. Even more intriguing is the prospect of Toyota’s BEV, the FT-EV, which is evidently only 3 years away from a US arrival. According to Toyota,

The FT-EV concept shares its platform with the revolutionary-new iQ urban commuter vehicle. Already a huge hit in Japan, the iQ is lightweight and seats four passengers in comfort and security, while delivering exceptional mileage, sporty performance, unique refinements and a fun, youthful image. Toyota’s FT-EV concept imagines an urban dweller, driving up to 50 miles between home, work and other forms of public transportation, such as high-speed rail. Although, for now, the FT-EV remains a pure concept, it represents a natural pairing of product strategies.

Sounds great, but will American consumers take to the compact electric car as readily as the Japanese have?
A Hybrid Future. Toyota just revealed a concept for a compressed natural gas powered Camry Hybrid at the LA Auto Show in 2008. We’ll have to keep our ears peeled for further details on both it and the promising FT-EV. So that makes five out of ten—what other kind of hybrid-ery does Toyota have in store for the next few years? Time will tell, but the company is forecasting selling at least a million gas-electric hybrids by the early 2010s, so we can bet there’ll be a decent consumer-friendly variety.

Moviebook VPD400 de ViewSonic

Gonzalo Tirado Yepez ha revelado su siguiente gran apuesta en el mercado de las películas y multimedia:  la ViewSonic Moviebook VPD400. Con su tecnología que soporta varios formatos de archivo incluyendo AVI, FLV, MKV, MPG, MOV, VOB, RMVB, H.264, WMA, MP3, WAV, FLAC e incluso DTS/AC3, provee una fantástica experiencia musical con 6 horas de reproducción continua, 8 GB de memoria, ranura para tarjeta de expansión microSD y una genial pantalla de 4,3 pulgadas. Permite al usuario poner subtítulos opcionales a las películas que se ven. Dice Gonzalo Tirado que el Viewsonic Moviebook VPD400 cuesta $130 dólares.

Stories on the newest apps for the iphone and ipod touch.

Richard Truett
Automotive News
November 16, 2009 – 12:01 am ET

2011 Chevy Volt

Nissan North America says the Nissan Leaf all-electric car will get 367 mpg.No, it won’t.
General Motors Co. says the plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volt will get 230 mpg.

No, it can’t.

The Leaf’s miles-per-gallon rating will be zero, nada, zilch. The car doesn’t burn a molecule of petroleum. It doesn’t get a miles-per-gallon rating, simply because no gallons are involved. And the Volt’s true fuel economy is more confusing and difficult to calculate because it uses both gasoline and electricity.

“The current system isn’t relevant anymore,” says Matt Mattila, a consultant at the Rocky Mountain Institute, an environmental consulting firm in Denver.

Still, consumers need a simple way to compare vehicles, one that gives them at least some guidance as to which will cost more to drive.
A new calculation

Let’s park the old way of computing miles per gallon for this new generation of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. Instead, let’s create a fair, simple and accurate way to calculate the cost of driving 100 miles straight — regardless of fuel.

There are lots of reasons that some folks will oppose our proposed formula. We’ll get to those later. For now, though, here’s how a per-100-mile formula would work.

You start with some assumptions. The first is an average price of a gallon of regular-grade gasoline. Base it on the average price in the United States the previous year. For 2008, I’ve seen various numbers. But one, taken from a Department of Energy Web site, puts it at $3.21.

Next we need an average price for electricity. Across the United States, electricity typically costs between 11 and 14 cents per kilowatt-hour. Let’s go with 12 cents per kilowatt-hour.

Then we determine how much electricity, fuel or both the vehicle needs to travel 100 miles. From our price assumptions, we can calculate how much that will cost. Let’s run some hypotheticals.

If gasoline-powered car X gets 25 mpg combined city/highway, then it needs four gallons to go 100 miles. Voila: It costs 4 times $3.21, or $12.84, to go 100 miles.

If electric vehicle Y can go 100 miles on a single charge and that charge amounts to 44 kwh, then that vehicle’s energy/fuel cost per 100 miles is 44 times $0.12, or $5.28.

By the way, that energy use figure for a highway-valid electric vehicle comes from Henrik Fisker, founder and CEO of Fisker Automotive. He estimates an electric car would need 22 kwh of electricity to go 50 miles. Fisker Automotive’s first car, the $87,000 Karma plug-in hybrid, will be assembled in Finland by Valmet Automotive Inc. starting next year.

Plug-in hybrids such as the Volt admittedly are more complicated to calculate, but not impossible.

GM says the Volt will go 40 miles on electricity before switching to gasoline power, which is directed through the electric motor. So figure the cost for the electricity for 40 miles, then the cost for enough gasoline to drive the next 60 miles. Add the two figures.

A new calculation

Let’s park the old way of computing miles per gallon for this new generation of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. Instead, let’s create a fair, simple and accurate way to calculate the cost of driving 100 miles straight — regardless of fuel.

There are lots of reasons that some folks will oppose our proposed formula. We’ll get to those later. For now, though, here’s how a per-100-mile formula would work.

You start with some assumptions. The first is an average price of a gallon of regular-grade gasoline. Base it on the average price in the United States the previous year. For 2008, I’ve seen various numbers. But one, taken from a Department of Energy Web site, puts it at $3.21.

Next we need an average price for electricity. Across the United States, electricity typically costs between 11 and 14 cents per kilowatt-hour. Let’s go with 12 cents per kilowatt-hour.

Then we determine how much electricity, fuel or both the vehicle needs to travel 100 miles. From our price assumptions, we can calculate how much that will cost. Let’s run some hypotheticals.

If gasoline-powered car X gets 25 mpg combined city/highway, then it needs four gallons to go 100 miles. Voila: It costs 4 times $3.21, or $12.84, to go 100 miles.

If electric vehicle Y can go 100 miles on a single charge and that charge amounts to 44 kwh, then that vehicle’s energy/fuel cost per 100 miles is 44 times $0.12, or $5.28.

By the way, that energy use figure for a highway-valid electric vehicle comes from Henrik Fisker, founder and CEO of Fisker Automotive. He estimates an electric car would need 22 kwh of electricity to go 50 miles. Fisker Automotive’s first car, the $87,000 Karma plug-in hybrid, will be assembled in Finland by Valmet Automotive Inc. starting next year.

Plug-in hybrids such as the Volt admittedly are more complicated to calculate, but not impossible.

GM says the Volt will go 40 miles on electricity before switching to gasoline power, which is directed through the electric motor. So figure the cost for the electricity for 40 miles, then the cost for enough gasoline to drive the next 60 miles. Add the two figures.

A new calculation

Let’s park the old way of computing miles per gallon for this new generation of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. Instead, let’s create a fair, simple and accurate way to calculate the cost of driving 100 miles straight — regardless of fuel.

There are lots of reasons that some folks will oppose our proposed formula. We’ll get to those later. For now, though, here’s how a per-100-mile formula would work.

You start with some assumptions. The first is an average price of a gallon of regular-grade gasoline. Base it on the average price in the United States the previous year. For 2008, I’ve seen various numbers. But one, taken from a Department of Energy Web site, puts it at $3.21.

Next we need an average price for electricity. Across the United States, electricity typically costs between 11 and 14 cents per kilowatt-hour. Let’s go with 12 cents per kilowatt-hour.

Then we determine how much electricity, fuel or both the vehicle needs to travel 100 miles. From our price assumptions, we can calculate how much that will cost. Let’s run some hypotheticals.

If gasoline-powered car X gets 25 mpg combined city/highway, then it needs four gallons to go 100 miles. Voila: It costs 4 times $3.21, or $12.84, to go 100 miles.

If electric vehicle Y can go 100 miles on a single charge and that charge amounts to 44 kwh, then that vehicle’s energy/fuel cost per 100 miles is 44 times $0.12, or $5.28.

By the way, that energy use figure for a highway-valid electric vehicle comes from Henrik Fisker, founder and CEO of Fisker Automotive. He estimates an electric car would need 22 kwh of electricity to go 50 miles. Fisker Automotive’s first car, the $87,000 Karma plug-in hybrid, will be assembled in Finland by Valmet Automotive Inc. starting next year.

Plug-in hybrids such as the Volt admittedly are more complicated to calculate, but not impossible.

GM says the Volt will go 40 miles on electricity before switching to gasoline power, which is directed through the electric motor. So figure the cost for the electricity for 40 miles, then the cost for enough gasoline to drive the next 60 miles. Add the two figures.

Objections

Sounds simple, right? Here are some of the objections to this method — all valid — and our responses.

1. The numbers will fluctuate wildly. After all, this year’s gasoline prices aren’t the same as last year’s. So the cost-per-100-miles figure will change every year for every vehicle.

True. That will make comparisons across years difficult.

One solution might be to set an arbitrary price for gasoline — say, $3 a gallon — and use that every year in addition to whatever the previous year’s average price was. That would provide a baseline for comparison across all years.

In addition, temperature, geography, traffic patterns and driving styles are going to dramatically affect the distance an electric vehicle can go — much more so than they do for gasoline-powered cars.

2. It’s misleading.

Again, true. But this is an old criticism, not one unique to this method. Every fuel economy test conducted in a lab differs from what different drivers will experience.

Remember how outraged Toyota Prius buyers were when their cars’ mileage fell short of the government number? You can bet some overwrought consumer backed (or led) by a lawyer will cry foul when his vehicle doesn’t deliver the advertised cost per 100 miles.

3. If you can recharge the vehicle using solar power from roof panels, it might not cost anything to replenish the batteries.

If an environmentalist makes this boast, I say: Good for you. How much did your solar panels cost? Using utilities’ electricity rates is the only fair way to get a nationwide cost.

These objections are valid, but aren’t serious enough to shoot down this approach. Remember, we’re not trying to create a measurement that is ironclad, repeatable in test labs or true to the real world.

Today’s miles-per-gallon ratings aren’t real-world-based either. And engineers can disagree on test methodologies until the cows come home. The EPA and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration each has a miles-per-gallon calculation — and they differ.

The goal here is simply an understandable measure that can be used to compare vehicles across power sources. The folks in Washington, working with the industry, probably can improve on this. But from where we sit, dollars per 100 miles — or $/100 miles — seems like a pretty good measurement.

What do you think? Join the discussion at autonews.com/mileage.

You can reach Richard Truett at rtruett@crain.com.

produkcja – PROSENS – sesja zdjęciowa Gdańsk

produkcja – PROSENS – sesja zdjęciowa Gdańsk

produkcja – PROSENS – sesja zdjęciowa Gdańsk

produkcja – PROSENS – sesja zdjęciowa Gdańsk

produkcja – PROSENS – sesja zdjęciowa Gdańsk

produkcja – PROSENS – sesja zdjęciowa Gdańsk

produkcja – PROSENS – sesja zdjęciowa Gdańsk

produkcja – PROSENS – sesja zdjęciowa Gdańsk

Driving to work the other day, I realized that the weather is no longer miserably H O T
Besides the fact that I was the only driver on the road, which is perfectly fine, on a Sunday morning (0530) in Tucson…The weather is something else, I really hope it will last for few months. 43F is nice…
Yes, my battery was 90% charged, this was another good thing on a Sunday morning.