Posts Tagged Green Cars
Green Guise: Volkswagen turns its back on biodiesel
Posted by Jeffrey in Green Guise on August 3rd, 2009
We’re keen on some of the new clean diesel technology that’s making its way into the United States: great performance, great fuel efficiency, and the cleanest diesel emissions ever. What we’re not keen on is what is happening with new diesels and biodiesel compatibility. More accurately, biodiesel incompatibility.
Volkswagen TDIs used to be the best choice for those wanting to cut their emissions with biodiesel. After VW took a break with diesels for the 2007 due to changing EPA rules, they came back with a shocker: biodiesel beyond B5 is a no-go.
Sure, the new “Clean Diesel” Volkswagens have much cleaner diesel emissions than their previous generation counterparts. But why would Volkswagen shy away from cutting emissions even more by keeping their TDIs as biodiesel-compatible as possible?
One of our experts, Tony Cutler, here at the Green Car Company pointed out that, “The newer 2008+ diesels use a process called late post-injection. This process involves injecting a small amount of fuel into the engine post-combustion. With regular petrol diesel this isn’t an issue, because it has a lower flashpoint than Biodiesel. A higher flashpoint however, means a little bit of Biodiesel may still be left leading to oil dilution.” There is an in-depth technological explanation why biodiesel above B5 is not good for the new TDI engine, but it’s shocking that VW would settle on a technology that limits the consumer’s ability to be as Green as possible.
Tony added, “If Volkswagen implemented a process called “exhaust stream” injection, rather than using late post-injection it would accomplish the same goal (reducing emissions) but would also allow for the use of Biodiesel without the damaging effects.”
Back on the Volkswagen website, they have a fancy page with a carbon offset counter on it. If they had the foresight to keep biodiesel running in their engines, then perhaps their offset counter wouldn’t seem like a bad joke.
Ultimately, if you want to run biodiesel, don’t buy a new VW TDI. In fact, don’t buy any of the new diesels that are out now, which all seem to rely on the same technology. Find yourself a 2006 or older TDI because the “2009 Green Car of the Year” doesn’t seem to be as green as it should be.
Most importantly, take a few moments to visit www.SaveBiodiesel.org to learn more about the issue and to sign their petition.
Auto manufacturers are gearing up to get more diesels on American roads, but if they’re going to restrict our ability to use the biodiesel we want, then perhaps they shouldn’t waste our time.
McDonald’s: would you like a charging station with your order?
Posted by Jeffrey in General News, Green Cars on July 6th, 2009
McDonald's first "green" restaurant
It looks like McDonald’s is going to start cleaning up its image and install EV and Hybrid Plug-In charging stations at its restaurants. McDonald’s first charging station will be at a new restaurant that will be opening July 14 in Cary, NC.
The charging stations will be part of the ChargePoint Network. The stations can either be free, or require a subscription. The press release didn’t mention if charging would be free at McDonald’s, but it doesn’t really make sense to pay for a full charging session if you’re just stepping into have a Big Mac. (You can look up other ChargePoint station locations here.)
The new restaurant in Cary, NC is McDonald’s first “green” restaurant in North Carolina, and only their third such restaurant in the United States. The other two green restaurants are in Savannah, GA and Chicago. Aside from the new restaurant’s charging stations, it will also feature other environmentally-responsible aspects:
- Use of solatubes and LED lighting fixtures designed to use 97 percent natural light during the day
- Highly efficient, energy and water-saving restroom and kitchen fixtures
- Dedicated parking spaces for hybrid vehicles and plug-in charging stations for electric vehicles
- Table and decor walls incorporating rapidly renewable materials like sunflower seed board, wheat board, bamboo and kirei board
- Some recycled building materials
- Drought tolerant landscape plants
- Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard in dining area informing guests about the economic and environmental benefits of the building
Diesel: Curent Vehicle Options and Upcoming Models
Posted by Jeffrey in Diesel, Green Cars on June 26th, 2009
This is the last post of a three-part diesel series. Part one talked about why diesel is more expensive than gasoline. Part two discussed why diesel consumer vehicles are relatively rare in the United States.
Diesel is a great option for consumers looking for a new car, but what exactly is out there? Since only about 3% of consumer vehicles are diesel-powered, it’s not a surprise if you can’t name too many diesel cars. Don’t fret! Virtually every manufacturer has a diesel model in the works, and some are even selling them now. So, let’s get to it, starting with what is being sold now in the United States. It’s also worth mentioning that there are tax credits available for several of these vehicles!
(Model, starting price, city/hwy mpg from fueleconomy.gov)
- Volkswagen Clean Diesel TDI
- Jetta Sedan, $22,270, 30/41 mpg
- Jetta SportWagen, $23,870, 30/41 mpg
- Touareg 2 SUV, $42,800, 17/25 mpg
- Audi
- Q7 TDI, $50,900, 17/25 mpg
- Mercedes-Benz
- R32 BlueTEC Crossover, $49,150, 18/24 mpg
- E320 BlueTEC Sedan, $52,900, 23/32 mpg
- ML320 BlueTEC SUV, $48,600, 18/24 mpg
- BMW
- 335d Sedan, $43,900, 23/36 mpg
- X5 xDrive35d SUV, $51,200, 19/26
So, those are your current new car diesel options. Volkswagen is leading the pack, but they’ve been doing that with diesels for a long time now. The other available diesels are, shall we say, more luxurious. The least expensive non-VW has a starting price tag of more than double the Jetta! Luckily, many other manufacturers have diesel models in the works that will be much more affordable! So, what diesel options will be coming to America? None of these are guaranteed, but if current diesels start performing well, expect to see some, if not all, of the following models.
- Acura TSX Sedan, but is currently facing an “indefinite” delay. Maybe for 2010, but our fingers are crossed.
- Kia Borrego SUV. This one maybe currently shelved as well.
- Subaru Impreza and Forester.
- Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD. This may actually be currently available, but the site is vague, and I’ve heard very little about it.
- Nissan Maxima Sedan. Maybe for 2010.
Diesel: Why is it more expensive than gasoline?
Posted by Jeffrey in Diesel, General News on June 24th, 2009
This is part one of a three-part series on diesel in the United States. Part two is about why diesel vehicles make up such a small part of the American consumer vehicle fleet. And part three is about what diesel options are coming soon to America.
Many years ago, diesel was cheaper than gasoline. However, since about 2004, that has not been the case. The additional requirement that refineries produce diesel very low in sulfur has also contributed to the increase in price. The U.S. Energy Information Administration has a nice great page focused on Diesel Fuel Prices.
The reason diesel is more expensive in the United States is a bit difficult to nail down. Diesel has historically been cheaper than gasoline in the U.S., but it’s currently cheaper than gasoline in many countries. Take the Netherlands, for example: a gallon of gasoline runs about $7.52 per gallon and diesel about $5.40 per gallon. These same Department of Energy charts show diesel costing about 30 cents more per gallon than gasoline here in the United States, at about $2.92 per gallon. (This is about the time when you realize that you’re getting a great deal on fuel costs!)
Supply and demand issues contribute greatest to the diesel price premium. FactCheck.org has a great overview that explains the diesel price situation. The page talks about historical price trends, but one of the most intriguing explanations of why diesel is more expensive is because gasoline is “cheap.” The Energy Information Administration pointed out that Americans decreased their amount of driving because of gasoline costs. About 97% of consumer automobiles in the U.S. are gasoline-powered, which resulted in great decrease in gasoline demand when gas prices started hitting consumer pocketbooks. However, diesel usage remained much steadier; we still needed all those trains and jets and ships to get goods from one place to another, and all those trains, jets, and ships use diesel (or a fuel very close to diesel in form). Ultimately, demand for gasoline decreased, so price decreased; demand for diesel didn’t decrease, so its price didn’t decrease. This allowed gasoline prices to fall below diesel prices, and that’s where we’re at today.
When looking at worldwide diesel demand, it’s growing rapidly. More than 30% of India’s new vehicle sales are diesel, and that number is expected to hit 50% by next year. In the European Union (page 13), there are several countries in which diesels make up more than 50% of new car sales (Austria, Belgium, Italy, Portugal), and nearly all the remaining countries are at 30% or more. Don’t forget about China, Russia, and Brazil, which are also quickly growing economies that demand more and more oil.
There of course are other factors influencing the price of diesel, such as taxes and production issues, but supply and demand is the biggest issue.
Maui: Beautiful Beaches and an Electric Vehicle Infrastructure?
Posted by Jeffrey in General News, Green Cars on June 23rd, 2009
Image from BetterPlace.com
Hawaii is planning on converting Maui to an all electric vehicle island. The Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative hopes to decrease the state’s dependency on oil and focus more on renewable energy. According to the initiative currently 85% of the state’s energy comes from oil. Hawaii hopes to become more self sufficient by introducing electric vehicles to the island of Maui. According to this article the government hopes to have 3,000 electric cars on the road by 2010 and 50,400 electric by 2015.
Hawaii is a perfect place to introduce an electric vehicle network; people living in Hawaii pay some of the highest gas prices in the country, so driving an electric vehicle will likely be a much greater value than in other states. The geography is also conducive to an electric vehicle system since most of the islands are not that large.
To implement their electric vehicle system Hawaii has partnered with Better Place. Better Place will build up to 100,000 battery charging stations around the island of Maui by 2015. While you can still charge your vehicle at home, you have the option to subscribe to their battery swapping service, which sources their electricity from renewable energy resources. The cost is expected to be up to 8 cents per mile. Just last month Better Place unveiled their trial battery swapping station in Yokohama Japan. The article also includes a video demonstration on the process, which at one minute and fifteen seconds is quite impressive.
While no production vehicles are currently compatible with the battery-swapping stations, Better Place is working with auto manufacturers to ensure future electric vehicles will work with their system.
It will be interesting to see the effects the electric vehicles have on Hawaii’s economy once the network has been well established. Better Place is also working on implementing electric vehicle networks in San Francisco, Australia, Israel, and Denmark. To read more about Hawaii’s energy plan visit www.hawaii.gov/gov/energy.
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