fuel efficient vehicles....
Taking Challenges and Turning them into Opportunities.
Contact us today with your ideas or suggestions.
For great information on our bus system, check out this wonderful blog...Big Albuquerque-like Things (BAT).
Alternative Fuels, Alternative Ways to Get Around (Bus Schedules, Bike Trails, etc.)
Tesla isn't coming after all. This is not the sedan that we would have been building anyway. This is the roadster. But, oooh, nice car. Go to their wonderful website.
And new from Myers Motors, an all electric single 
occupancy car under $30K. This car goes 76 MPH and has a 30 mile range with a 6-8 hour recharge cycle. $20 of electricity will take you 1000 miles.
Of course, if you want to turn some heads..there is the Aptera (left), the all 
electric "jetson" looking car of the future that only gets 230 MPG!!!!
PopularMechanics.com reports that "the Air Car, the little gas-free ride, is headed Stateside in a big-time way. Zero Pollution Motors (ZPM) confirmed that it expects to produce the world’s first air-powered car for the United
States by late 2009 or early 2010."
This car, expected to sell for around $18K, would only "sip" gas with the potential of 800-1000MPG!!!! Of course we would probably have to pay for the air at filling stations as it requires pressure not seen in our typical air compressors and of course it would require electrical power to compress the air. "Compressed air from electricity is where you have the great inefficiencies, in fact you would be lucky to have 20% of the energy that you started with, in the form of compressed air after you filled the tank. There are huge losses due to the heat generated when the air is compressed, that is in addition to the other losses inherent in the design of an air compressor" (comment from same article). Seems like we have a ways to go to find an alternative to oil.
New race for automakers: build a better battery - Let's hope someone wins this race big time. Can you imagine this scenario: An American automaker leapfrogs its Japanese competitors with a gasoline-electric hybrid that gets 150 miles to the gallon and can travel 40 miles on battery power alone?
General 
Motors set out that possibility when it unveiled the Chevy Volt, a concept car with a much larger electric motor than today's Toyota Prius. (I think this is one sexy car....go GM go).
And then there is the EXTREME Hybrid. "AFS Trinity is not an auto company. It applied its technology to retrofit a Saturn Vue hybrid crossover vehicle, with the help of a leading auto engineering company, Ricardo. It believes that with mass production, an Extreme Hybrid would cost only $9,000 more than an ordinary hybrid, with a payback of the extra cost in fuel savings in under four years at current gas prices. But that will require the company to find a major auto-manufacturing partner willing to commercialize the vehicle. " Salon.com article.
According to a recent Journal poll, 73% of NM voters think Congress should increase the mileage standards for cars. You don't have to wait...
If you are looking for a new car, buy or lease the most fuel efficient car you can find. One of the best sources for choosing a vehicle that is right for you, is the government's Green Vehicle Guide. It rates cars/trucks on both MPG and also on emissions. Their size categories are a little strange. The BMW 325i and Volvo C70 are in the compact/subcompact category, while the Toyota Prius is in the Mid-sized group.
You can reorder the list alphabetically or search for a model that you are interested in. The Honda Insite and Toyota Prius are the top rated cars for both fuel efficiency and greenhouse gases. Yahoo's Green Cars is more fun and educational too!! Check out the videos and Gas mileage impact calculator.
Majority of Americans Want Congress to Impose 40MPG Standard - Poll Finds 90 Percent Expect Much Higher Gas Prices Soon, Almost Half Now More Likely to Buy Hybrid or Other Fuel-Efficient Vehicle; Americans Want Washington to Help Big 3, But Don't Let Carmakers Off the Hook for Past Mistakes
Ed Begley and the Electric Car.
More Info
2006 Toyota Prius (review) ...
The 2006 Prius got 50MPG in the summer with the AC and 54MPG in the winter in a five month test that was primarily ABQ city driving with an occasional road trip (Santa Fe). The Prius is a four door sedan and has plenty of room for four travelers with a larger back seat than our old '89 BMW 535i. There is a good sized trunk and the rear seat folds down for hauling larger items. The front end is low and would not be good for off-road traveling (boulders or large ruts), although it handled Corrales/Rio Ranchos's unpaved soft dirt roads reasonably well. While a hard rain was not a problem, snow or ice driving was not tested. It handles 80MPH easily and has good pickup for freeway ramp negotiations.
After filling out an online form at www.Toyota.com, several local (including Santa Fe) dealers contacted us but all had 6 month waits. We were anxious to nail down the $3K tax credit and were delighted to hear from Neil @ Desert Sun Motors in Alamogordo that they had two coming in 2 weeks. They brought it up by flatbed truck for $150 and took my credit card for payment. Couldn't have been easier and didn't have to step foot on a lot. We paid roughly $24K and will get the $3K tax credit (see below). I am told that waiting lists are gone now. Important Note: We just got our insurance bill from Allstate and are paying $1700/Yr for the Prius....much higher than our other cars. See Article. Ahhh but no more lines at the emission station. MVD will give you a lifetime pass!!!
Have a review you would like to add, email us at mysuggestions@sustainableABQ.com.
Other Fuel Efficient Cars ...
Gas Sippers Src: AOL
* VW Jetta TDI: 36 mpg / 41 mpg Note: Diesel Jetta can get 50MPG!!!
* Toyota Yaris: 34 mpg / 40 mpg
* Honda Fit: 33 mpg / 38 mpg
* Scion xA: 32 mpg / 37 mpg
* Scion xB: 31 mpg / 34 mpg
* Honda Civic: 30 mpg / 38 mpg
* Pontiac Vibe: 30 mpg / 36 mpg
Check this one out....gets 105 MPG and you can build it yourself.
Turning Toughened Rules Into an Advantage - Cummmins adding jobs by meeting EPA standards for Diesel.
Who Killed the Electric Car? GM may be bringing one back
State Tax Incentives (NM) ...
From July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2009, HEVs (hybrid electric vehicles) with an EPA fuel economy rating of at least 27.5 miles per gallon are eligible for a one-time exemption from the motor vehicle excise tax at the time of the issuance of the original certificate of title for the vehicle. (Reference New Mexico Statutes 7-14-6)
Federal Tax Credits for Hybrids...
Qualifying hybrids purchased or placed into service after December 31, 2005 may be eligible for a federal income tax credit of up to $3,400. There is a phase out of tax credits based on numbers sold. www.fueleconomy.gov (Federal Tax Credits) has a table that spells it out.
alternative fuels:
As put forth by Tim Leuliette, January 19, 2005 in his article, "The Drug Our Society Is Hooked On Is Oil", " First, we must find an alternative energy source for national security reasons. Second, we must find an alternative energy source for environmental reasons. And third, we must find an alternative fuel source for fundamental long-term economic reasons. How you rank these reasons is your own concern, but the answer doesn’t change."
The official government definition of an alternative fuel is: ethanol (mixture of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline), Bio-diesel, liquefied natural gas, propane, battery electric power, hybrid-electrics and hydrogen cell technology.
Samba Lessons - What Brazil can teach the U.S. about energy and ethanol?
E-V World is an online mag with consistently good articles on alternative technologies.
Alternative Fuels (Click on Tabs for more info)
Hybrids...
Hybrids have both gas and electric engines and are an excellent choice to save gas and emissions. For a complete list of hybrids, go to HybridCars.com . See how the Toyoto Prius Hybrid works. (Great explanation with visuals)
Plug-in Hybrids ...
Ultimately, we would like to combine a solar unit with plug-in technology for the Prius. While not available locally, you can read about it at Cal-Cars or Plug-in Partners. Google.org also has plans to invest in the development of ultra fuel efficient plug-in hybrids. E-V World is an online mag with consistently good articles on alternative technologies.
Click here: Cool Mayors for Climate Protection
Utopia - Imagine the vast majority of urban driving done on the power of the sun (solar provided electricity to your plugin Hybrid) and then using that power at your workplace to offset peak loads (translation "no new coal/nuclear plants") and getting paid for the electricity you are sending back to the grid. This concept is called V2G (Vehicle to Grid). Src: NREL (Listen to the podcast) For more info, go to Vehicle to Grid Power
Electric-Diesel Hybrid Aptera (Must click on the cute little car which is slide 2) - "Affordable ($20,000), fuel-efficient (330 miles per gallon at 65 miles per hour), and safe (meets formula race-car crash-cage requirements)" -Src: Business Week
GM Said to Be Launching Plug-In Prototype
Solar Electric Car Alternative Video from MySpace
Salem couple are driven to make a change - For this South Salem couple, it's the sweet sound of saving money, conserving natural resources, protecting homeland security and reducing the impact on the environment. Charles Crockett replaced the 150,000-mile engine with an electric motor and 20 batteries.
Cute..cute..cute. The Silencer PT2 is a three wheeled $42K electric car. I love it.
All Electric ...
Japanese Automaker, U.S. Firm Team Up To Convert Cars to Electric Power - Our car is very different from a gasoline car in that it uses no gasoline, it's all electric, lithium battery and with a proprietary battery management system by Hybrid Technologies," Ron Cerven said. To watch a video of these cars, click here. "We want to make lithium powered, electric-powered vehicles [a part of the] mainstream in America, moving towards more electric-powered vehicles, electric-powered products, and electric-powered energy." (Renewable Energy World; June 6, 2008)
Of course, if you want to turn some heads..there is the Aptera, the all electric "jetson" looking car of the future that only gets 230 MPG!!!!
And new from Myers Motors, an all electric single occupancy car under $30K. This car goes 76 MPH and has a 30 mile range with a 6-8 hour recharge cycle. $20 of electricity will take you 1000 miles.
E-85 ...
Ethanol is a renewable fuel, distilled from corn, switchgrass, sugar cane and other cellulose sources. The drawback is that it takes land (and water) to grow the plants and competes with food supplies. It is typically mixed with gas. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that high-blend ethanol fuels can significantly reduce harmful exhaust emissions such as carbon monoxide (-40%) and smog-forming pollutants (-15%).
Ethanol-85 can only be burned in cars and trucks that are labeled Flex-Fuel vehicles. Santa Fe got off to an early start in the alternative fuels department with its Phillips 66 station on Cerillos Rd/I-25. There are now two E-85 stations located at 1229 Cerrillos Rd and 4354 Cerrillos Rd. and one planned for Los Alamos. In Albuquerque, you can find E-85 at the Ever-Ready Oil station at 1st and Mountain. (1200 1st St NW).
Note: Chevron CEO David O'Reilly said that E-10 can be used in existing U.S. vehicles. (Might be good to check your manual just in case).
Bio Diesel ...
Bio-diesel is made with waste vegetable oil (approx. 90%), methanol (approx. 10%), and lye (approx 0.35%). It can be put into any unmodified diesel engine.
Carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide emissions are reduced 100% and carbon monoxide emissions are also reduced.
Ever-Ready Oil in Albuquerque has a B20 blend. Albuquerque Alternative Energies has opened its first veggie-oil fueling station at 2285 2nd SW on the AAA Pumping Services property. This is not bio-diesel so conversions are needed. Conversion kits or conversion help is also available. Call (888) 646-2454 for more info or to make an appt. to buy fuel. The Giant Station at 1229 Cerrillos Rd in Santa Fe has a B20 blend. Src: BioDiesel Now Forum - NM Several things happening in this area.
Denise McWilliams, State Extension Specialist, New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension recently gave an excellent presentation to the MRCOG Agribusiness Council on dry-land canola farming as a high efficiency option for bio-diesel. She has graciously provided her powerpoint presentation. (Big, big file...good info)
Check our calendar for the next NMSEA-sponsored hands-on Biodiesel Workshop
And just for fun, Darrel Hannah and her bio-diesel car.
Note: Biodiesel is the #1 reason for deforestation of tropical rainforests (clearing forest to grow palm oil) according to a recent Peak Oil conference, however, check out this long (1 hr. 7 Min) Google video on BioMass to Liquid bio diesel plus Plug-in Hybrids by Reed M. Benet.
Hydrogen Cell ...
According to Fuelcells.org, "A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, with water and heat as its by-product. As long as fuel is supplied, the fuel cell will continue to 
generate power. The process is clean, quiet and highly efficient – two to three times more efficient than fuel burning." For a neat graphic/video that shows how fuel cells work, check out PLUGPOWER. "Plug Power, jointly with Honda R&D, is extending the capability of the existing natural gas products to include delivering pressurized hydrogen fuel. This solution will provide electricity and heat for the home and hydrogen for the fuel cell vehicle."
Angel's Nest in Taos, NM has to be the most colorful and interesting alternative energy project going on in our state. Robert Plarr, co-founder of Worldsnest, and Chris Sanders of Sanders Oil & Gas have recently formed a strategic partnership to incorporate domestic natural gas production with sustainable solar, wind, pure water from the air, and free range organic hydrogen. Make a reservation and take the tour.
Unfortunately, the next closest hydrogen fuel stations are located in Chino and Oakland, CA. Seen by many as the future for our energy needs by 2020, a lot of infrastructure and technology development is needed in the meantime. Home Hydrogen Refueling Technology Advances with the Introduction of Honda's Experimental Home Energy Station Hmmmm....provides fuel for the car and home in one nifty box...as long as the natural gas holds out. Honda Leasing First Ever Consumer Fuel Cell Car...the Clarity. It has a driving range of 270 miles . The reason for this limited initial release is that in order to drive a fuel cell vehicle, you have to be able to refuel it. And since these clean cars do not run on gasoline, you can’t just stop off at your regular corner gas station to fill up. Hydrogen fuel stations are critical to the deployment of a fuel cell car and, as it stands now, stations accessible to the public are still quite limited.
The new fuel thing - Is the future now for the 'car of the future'? Not quite, but it may come sooner than you think - and from GM, says Fortune's Alex Taylor.
A Boost for Hydrogen Fuel Cell Research - For techies only.... The development of hydrogen fuel cells for vehicles, the ultimate green dream in transportation energy, is another step closer.
The Hydrogen Highway - Imagine a new future. BMW has had a hydrogen car for 30 Yrs.
The Truth About Hydrogen -Wild promises abound, but can the simplest element in the universe really power our homes, fuel our cars and reduce our contribution to global warming? PM crunches the numbers on the real hydrogen economy.Natural Gas ...
Natural gas is domestically produced and readily available to end-users through the utility infrastructure. It is also clean burning and produces significantly fewer harmful emissions than reformulated gasoline or diesel when used in natural gas vehicles. In addition, commercially available medium- and heavy-duty natural gas engines have demonstrated over 90% reductions of carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter and more than 50% reduction in nitrogen oxides (NOx) relative to commercial diesel engines. More than 1000 vehicles in the US use LNG. Natural gas can either be stored onboard a vehicle as compressed natural gas (CNG) at 3,000 or 3,600 psi or as liquefied natural gas (LNG) at typically 20-150 psi. Src: U.S. Department of Energy
A source for additional information on natural gas vehicles is the natural gas vehicle coalition.
Using natural gas for our vehicles and mass transit is a much better use for this valuable resource than making electricity.
city and state efforts towards alternative fuels ...
from the Alternative Fuels Data Center: By 2010, all NM cabinet-level state agencies and institutions of education are required to take action toward obtaining 15% of their total transportation fuel requirements from renewable fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel. (Ref:EO 2005-049-,2005). The Rail Runner Express commuter train will begin running on biodiesel fuel, becoming one of the first commuter rail systems in the country to do so, according to state officials. |
Have a suggestion, Email us at: mysuggestions@sustainable.ABQ.com
One last news item.....
A growing number of Coloradans are setting their cars on fire, according to six years of data from state fire safety officials. The steady increase can be chalked up to rising gas prices, low trade-in values for SUVs and other economic pressures, insurance industry experts say. offsite article, read more....
