Posts Tagged Green News
Smart Car knock-off in Uruguay!
Posted by Jeffrey in General News, Green Cars on June 16th, 2009
I’m currently on vacation and have enjoyed seeing what kind of cars are in other countries but not in the United States. Today I am in Montevideo, Uruguay. While taking an afternoon stroll, I happened to pass an auto dealership with a vehicle that looked very similar to a Smart Car, so I stopped in to get more information.
The car is the Noble, and it’s a Chinese-made car from the Shuanghuan Auto. Like I said, it looks quite similar to the Smart Car. It’s about the same size and also comes in similar color schemes. I talked to an employee there, and he gave me a brochure with the specs:
- Comes in three models and six colors
- 1.0 liter, 1.1 liter engines
- Max Speed: 77 mph, 87 mph
- Torque: 53 ft-lbs, 65 ft-lbs
- Fuel Efficiency (@ 25 mph): 97 mpg, 105 mpg
The employee told me the price was about $17,000 USD, but a little browsing on the internet showed that the price will vary depending on the country.
That’s not all, apparently the car was designed to be a knock-off of the Smart Car. I guess that explains why I thought it was a Smart Car! Chinese manufacturers have done well at cloning desirable products. Just look at the Apple iPhone and the iClone.
For a knock-off, I was quite impressed with this car. It looked nice, and the interior was impressive. Of course I didn’t take it for a drive, but I imagine that’s where the biggest differences will be between it and the Smart Car.
I need to reduce my ecological footprint!
Posted by Jeffrey in General News on June 4th, 2009
If everyone on the Earth lived like me, we would need five planets to sustain it! That’s my result for the Ecological Footprint Quiz I just took by Center for Sustainable Economy.
This survey goes in quite a bit of detail. It breaks down your footprint into four categories: carbon, food, housing, and goods and services. You can compare how each aspect of your lifestyle stacks up against national averages. And, of course, they provide tips on how you can reduce your footprint!
Check it out and see what your ecological footprint is!
Is the Chevy Volt bankrupt too?
Posted by Jeffrey in General News, Green Cars on June 1st, 2009
Like many had guessed on Friday, GM filed for bankruptcy today. The question for many green-minded folks is, “What does that mean for the Chevy Volt?” One of the biggest questions is how can GM invest so much in the Volt if it’s not expected to be profitable for a very long time?
Another big question is why would anyone pay $35,000-$40,000 for a plug-in hybrid when you can get a new Toyota Prius plug-in today for a better price. (Contact us, and we’ll prove it!) Plus, the Prius is a proven car: you already know its quality, comfort, and dependability.
I guess we have to just wait and see exactly what happens with the Chevy Volt. Perhaps the Volt isn’t the answer for GM or green consumers.
Norwegian Think Car to be manufactured in Portland, OR?
Posted by Jeffrey in General News, Green Cars on May 28th, 2009
I like to think of the Pacific Northwest as leaders in the green vehicle movement. Soon, we may have Norwegian’s Think! EV built in Portland to give us some serious green credibility.
Reports began in April that Think North America could use an old Freightliners plant in Portland, OR to bring it’s small EV to the United States. The move would not only provide about 900 jobs to the area, but Oregon seems keen on using the partnership to explore building an EV infrastructure with charging stations. (Think is also talking with several other states, so no final decision has been made yet.)
What is Th!nk?
From the official Th!nk city page:
TH!NK city demands very little of you. In fact, not much more than a mobile phone. Just an overnight power top-up, and it’s ready to go in the morning.
TH!NK city is a modern urban car. With zero local emissions and an energy efficiency three times that of a traditional combustion engine car, it is a car for the environment. And it is a fun car for you. A choice of sodium or lithium batteries allows you to accommodate your car to your driving style, travelling up to 180 kilometres in one charge, with a top speed of 100km/h. Driving a silent car will give you a totally new experience.
It is a 100% electric vehicle that is currently being sold in Europe. It’s a two-seater, but has the option for two more smaller back seats. It is not only safe, but is made in an evironmentally-responsible manner, and it is made to be recycled at the end of its life. (Full specifications here.)
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