Autoblog Green

Forget Zipcar - Smart reportedly readying car2go car-sharing program in Texas

Sebastian Blanco — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Transportation Alternatives, SMART

Steers and Smarts - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Daimler announced in March it would bring the tiny Smart car to the big state of Texas through its car-sharing service car2go. At the time, the German automaker declared that entering the Austin market with 200 ForTwos was "the next logical step." Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche now thinks that the car share program is also a good way to boost sales numbers, which have dropped recently.

Smart's U.S. sales were down 70.4 percent last month compared to October 2008, and only 661 ForTwos were sold in the U.S. last month. In Austin, as in the first car2go location of Ulm, Germany, the shared cars will initially only be available to city employees. Expansion to other residents - and then to other cities - is expected once the demand is there. Make that if demand is there.

Gallery: smart fortwo in Texas and Germany

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Forget Zipcar - Smart reportedly readying car2go car-sharing program in Texas originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zero-emission Proterra electric bus comes to Capitol Hill

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:57:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Transportation Alternatives

Proterra electric bus - Click above for high-res image gallery

Altair Nanotechnologies has not had a completely successful string of events these last few years. They lost more money than expected in 2007 and were not always embraced by the investment community. But there was good news, too, like some government spending and a deal with Phoenix Motorcars (well, that's more a good news/bad news sort of thing). This week, though, the company is excited about showing off a rapid-charge hybrid bus in Washington, D.C. with partner Proterra.

The bus was on Capitol Hill this week and is full of impressive numbers. The big one is the company-calculated MPG equivalent of "18 and 29 miles per gallon diesel fuel equivalent fully loaded with 68 passengers -- 500% better than a comparable diesel bus," similar to numbers discussed when the bus was touring California and Pennsylvania earlier this year.

One of the technical advances that makes a lot of sense on this bus is the rooftop FastCharging hook-up. Proterra says this allows the Altairnano batteries to be recharged in 5-10 minutes. Earlier, we heard the bus would be able to go around 30-40 miles per charge, but this range has been dropped from the most recent press materials. Still, a powerful-enough charger at either end of a city route would be plenty to make zero-emission buses a reality. Oh, and these buses would need to be built, but Proterra has a plan for that, too. Details after the jump. Thanks to Luca R. for the tip!

Gallery: Proterra Electric Bus

[Source: Proterra]

Continue reading Zero-emission Proterra electric bus comes to Capitol Hill

Zero-emission Proterra electric bus comes to Capitol Hill originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Better Place and DSB to pilot electric car sharing for train travelers

Domenick Yoney — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:51:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Transportation Alternatives, Better Place

Will trains and cars become the voyaging version of peanut butter and chocolate? Perhaps. Better Place is partnering with DSB, Denmark's largest rail service provider, to offer an electric car sharing service at its train terminals. The project will begin next year with a pilot program at the stations in Høje-Taastrup (pictured above) and Skanderborg. These are seen as great places to start because, not only are they a good distance apart, but they both serve the largest population centers in the country; the East Jutland metropolitan area and the Copenhagen metropolitan area. Also included in the collaboration are charging facilities that will coordinate with the smart grid to supply as much renewable energy as possible for both private and shared vehicles.

If it all works as envisioned, travelers can book their train ticket and reserve an electric car at their destination at the same time. Besides reducing emissions and highway congestion, the service also affords time and space for people to do things besides stare at the highway ahead of them, yet offers them independent mobility where they need it. Hit the jump for a Better Place video demonstrating the idyllic version of this car2train2car experience as well as the official press release.

Source: Better Place via Green Car Congress]

Continue reading Better Place and DSB to pilot electric car sharing for train travelers

Better Place and DSB to pilot electric car sharing for train travelers originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tokyo 2009: We sample Honda's quirky U3-X, stride management assist and bodyweight assist devices

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:57:00 EST

Filed under: Transportation Alternatives, Honda, Tokyo Motor Show, First Drive

Jim Kenzie of the Toronto Star tries out the U3-X - click above for high res-image gallery

If there is one thing people love, it's personal mobility. After all, what other species regularly harness other creatures for the sole purpose of getting around. The auto industry is all about personal mobility. Since the dawn of the car in the late 19th century, it has been adopted world-wide as one of the preferred means of getting around.

Mobility, of course, is about a lot more than just driving. Just moving around is important and when people find themselves unable to move or having difficulty, It plays havoc with the psyche. As populations in many countries get older, reduced mobility is an increasing problem. A number of automakers are researching ways to expand mobility beyond the automobile and the result is projects like GM's Puma and Toyota's Winglet. Honda, too, is studying the problem and while we were in Japan for the Tokyo Motor Show, Honda took us to their R&D center to check out a few of their recent projects. Read on for a first hand account of what we saw.

Gallery: Honda mobility devices

Continue reading Tokyo 2009: We sample Honda's quirky U3-X, stride management assist and bodyweight assist devices

Tokyo 2009: We sample Honda's quirky U3-X, stride management assist and bodyweight assist devices originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AM General to build CNG-powered VPG MV-1 people-mover at Hummer H2 factory

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Transportation Alternatives, GM, HUMMER, Natural Gas

Vehicle Production Group MV-1 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Remember the Standard Taxi from the Vehicle Production Group? It's now called the MV-1, and production is slated to begin next year at the AM General plant in Mishawaka, Indiana. That's the same assembly location where the Hummer H2 is built, which makes sense since the MV-1 is based on the same GM underpinnings as the behemoth SUV.

According to its makers, the MV-1 is the first purpose-built wheelchair-accessible vehicle in America, and it's able to accommodate up to six adults or two full-size wheelchairs. An ADA-approved ramp that stows under the vehicle's floor and a 36-inch wide side opening are designed to make entry and exit a simple affair.

With its body-on-frame construction made with fully boxed rails, the MV-1 should prove to be a durable people mover and its well-known GM drivetrain components should be easily serviceable. Further, VPG has teamed up with Clean Energy to develop a dedicated compressed natural gas powertrain option that will provide a 250-mile range with significantly reduced emissions.

Styling wise, the MV-1 may not be the prettiest machine on the road, but for those needing to transport wheelchair-bound passengers, this design may just be a thing of beauty. See for yourself in our high-res image gallery below.

[Source: VPG Autos, Detroit Free Press]

AM General to build CNG-powered VPG MV-1 people-mover at Hummer H2 factory originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Opposite World: Is traffic good for the environment?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:56:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Transportation Alternatives, Legislation and Policy, Green Daily

Traffic congestion is good for the environment. Wait, come again? Are we talking about Bizarro World here? Actually, according to Wall Street Journal writer David Owen, excessive congestion can actually be a good thing when it convinces drivers to explorer transportation alternatives instead of sitting in endless traffic jams.

Further, some studies show that decreasing travel time with metered freeway entrance ramps actually increases overall vehicle emissions and fuel usage as the volume of vehicles using the expressways goes up. Poor traffic conditions in the New York metropolitan area turn many commuters and city dwellers into transit users. In fact, New York users account for a third of all public-transit miles in the United States.

Further, increasing roadway capacity can also have a negative impact on vehicle usage as drivers are lured back into their cars for trips they would otherwise have avoided. So, what's the solution? Really, there doesn't seem to be any one answer that will fix all of our traffic woes adequately, which is why individual city planners often come up with differing ideas, depending on local conditions.

[Source: Wall Street Journal via Wired]
Photo by flickrized. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.

Opposite World: Is traffic good for the environment? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eKRAD developing eQUAD [w/VIDEO]

Domenick Yoney — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 08:54:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Transportation Alternatives, Germany

eQUAD prototype - Click above for high-res image gallery

While we await word of when production will begin of their electric supermoto (their website says late 2009) the folks who cooked up the eKRAD have been keeping busy with another possible product; the eQUAD. Though not much is yet known about the four-wheeled machine we can say that, like their bike, they plan on both an off-road and a street legal version. According to Peter Würterle, one of the main men behind the project, that would be the first of its kind in Europe.

The electric quad will have a motor and controller different from that installed in its two-wheeled brother that should be good for about 50 hp. No word on the battery but we expect the chemistry to be the same lithium polymer that's nestled within the eKRAD. If you're wondering if 50 horses supplies enough juice to light up the tires you'll find your answer after the break with a pair of videos showing the prototype caught in action on some asphalt. Since it's Saturday, we'll throw in a third blooper video that vividly demonstrates why wearing a helmet on machines like these is a good idea.

Gallery: eQUAD prototype

[Source: eKRAD / YouTube]

Continue reading eKRAD developing eQUAD [w/VIDEO]

eKRAD developing eQUAD [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 08:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tokyo 2009 Preview: Suzuki to show off three fuel cell concepts

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:46:00 EST

Filed under: Hydrogen, Transportation Alternatives, Suzuki, On Two Wheels, Tokyo Motor Show

In addition to the plug-in series hybrid version of the Swift subcompact hatchback that Suzuki will display at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show, the Japanese company will also be bringing along three separate concepts powered by fuel cells.

First up is the SX4-FCV, which uses an 80 kW hydrogen fuel cell stack supplied by longtime partner GM that is paired with a Suzuki-designed hydrogen storage tank that compresses the gas at 10,000 psi. A lightweight capacitor reportedly takes the place of the more common battery pack and helps smooth out the flow of electrons to the 68 kW electric motor and aids in regenerative braking. Road testing is currently underway of the SX4-FCV in Japan.

Next on the list is a version of Suzuki's popular Burgman scooter that's propelled by an electric motor that gets its power from a small hydrogen fuel cell from Intelligent Energy and the first 700-bar storage tank in the motorcycle world. The final fuel cell-powered concept from Suzuki is a personal mobility vehicle called the MIO that uses easily replaceable methanol fuel cell cartridges in lieu of batteries. Check out all three concepts in our gallery below and hit the jump for the press release.

Gallery: Tokyo 2009: Suzuki Fuel Cell Concepts

[Source: Suzuki]

Continue reading Tokyo 2009 Preview: Suzuki to show off three fuel cell concepts

Tokyo 2009 Preview: Suzuki to show off three fuel cell concepts originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vertical bike parking protects from theft, worry

Sebastian Blanco — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:48:00 EST

Filed under: Green Culture, Transportation Alternatives

Vertical Bike Rack - Click above for high-res image gallery

Bikes are the most efficient thing on two wheels (sorry, Aptera), but they're not ideal for everyone's city commute. A new vertical parking/shower stall concept from Yinnon Lehrer over at Yanko Design could make biking an easier choice for a lot of people. The main reasons: you bike is protected from theft and, in one of the concept kiosks, you can freshen up if you've had a sweaty ride.

Lehrer's long-term parking concept is incredibly flexible - the parking rods could be installed at train stations, by shopping centers or on the sides of buildings - and have a small footprint compared to traditional bike racks. In suburban areas with space to dedicate to bike parking (see here) a vertical structure wouldn't be needed, but we can see how this makes sense in busy cities. Our main suggestion to improve the design would be to include some sort of canopy at the top of the structure to protect the bikes from rain or snow. If you're going to leave your ride somewhere for a while, it'd be nice to know it'll be dry when you get back. Check out the sketches in the gallery below.

[Source: Yinnon Lehrer / Yanko Design]

Vertical bike parking protects from theft, worry originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New train-sponsored carpool system comes to Paris

Xavier Navarro — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Transportation Alternatives, Europe/EU

SNCF, the public company that manages the French railway system, has launched a new carpool service. Aimed at people who live in the large Paris metropolitan area and use the commuter train system, Transilien, to go to work, the idea is to get more people to use fewer cars because most stations have insufficient parking space. Since commuting by car to the train station is a problem for many people right now, SNCF hopes that sponsoring a system that promotes carpooling will make parking easier and get more people on board. SNCF has set up a website to let users find neighbors to carpool with.

[Source: Le Blog Auto]

New train-sponsored carpool system comes to Paris originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zipcar's iPhone app finally available go ahead and honk the horn from your couch

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:03:00 EST

Filed under: Transportation Alternatives, Green Daily

If nothing else, the big news of the day is that your iPhone can now make cars honk. Why an iPhone app should be able to honk a car's horn is almost beyond us. Almost. We can think of one reason for the unique feature, and it has to do with getting ready for a new phase in personal transportation: since Zipcar is all about car sharing, and Zipcar users will often be using one of many cars, having it beep allows you to remember, "oh, right, I'm in the MINI today." The key fob would, of course, work just as well, but it's not as flashy as using your phone.

The horn honking feature is part of the newly-released Zipcar App, which makes finding, reserving and controlling your Zipcar possible through the iPhone (and, over WiFi, the iPod touch). The controls are not as cool as Dr. Horrible's little app in the sing-along blog, but you can do more than honk. You can lock and unlock the car as well. The app wont' be able to unlock any car in the system - you still need to scan your Zipcard to start the reservation; only then is the app able to honk that horn. The App is free and available now in iTunes. You can take a tour here.

What we haven't seen in this app, but what would be a good idea, is a Google Maps feature that simply shows you where your automobile is. Also not as notable as the honking thing, but much more practical.

[Source: Zipcar]

Zipcar's iPhone app finally available go ahead and honk the horn from your couch originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tokyo Preview: Honda unveils U3-X personal mobility device

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:05:00 EST

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, Transportation Alternatives, Honda, Green Daily

Honda U3-X - Click above for high-res image gallery

We've seen our fair share of personal mobility devices over the past few years -- from the ill-received Segway to Toyota's i-Real. Now, Honda's joining the minimalist motoring set with its own limb-atrophying U3-X.

Using technology originally developed for ASIMO the robot, the "U" in U3-X stands for both "universal" and "unicycle," and that's where the interesting tech resides. Housed within the large wheel are a series of smaller wheels that can rotate independently, allowing the awkwardly perched user to go forward, backward, side-to-side or diagonally. Like the Segway, the person piloting the U3-X simply leans in the desired direction to control the movement through the Honda Omni Traction Drive System (HOT).

Honda's keen to point out that the 22-pound U3-X is ultra-portable and easy to use, with fold away footrests and seat cushions. A single, lithium ion battery powers the electric motors up to one hour and the maximum speed is just a few ticks under four MPH.

We'll see the U3-X in person next month at the Tokyo Motor Show, but before then, you can get an eyeful in the gallery below and make the jump for several videos of the U3-X in action, along with Honda's press release.

Continue reading Tokyo Preview: Honda unveils U3-X personal mobility device

Tokyo Preview: Honda unveils U3-X personal mobility device originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's Friday! Border Collie + hamster wheel = go! [w/VIDEO]

Domenick Yoney — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:06:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Transportation Alternatives

Bordercolliebil - Click above to watch the trailer after the break

While there seems to have always been jokes about cars driven by hamster wheels (especially during the Chevette era), to our knowledge no one had ever created an actual vehicle powered by an animal running in place. OK, there was that horse-on-a-treadmill thingy but it's doubtful you could ever get a horse in there to do his thing safely. Besides that, horses on treadmills had never even been proposed as a punchline until that contraption was conceived after that long night its inventor spent locked in a barn with a bag of "special" mushrooms. But I digress.

The low-slung open-wheel machine we present for your perusal today ends any speculation about whether the hamster-wheel drivetrain is a viable low-carbon propulsive possibility. Of course, using real hamsters might be construed as cruel and bring down the wrath of the lettuce-wearing PETA people and so the hoop in question is up-sized to befit a Border Collie. Built on a frame of recyclable time-formed cellulosic material (ie. wood), the roadster is limited to one milk-bone motivated pup power and makes speed appropriate for its young driver. Although a dog-treat-to-wheels CO₂ analysis has yet to be performed we expect the vehicles canine-contoured carbon footprint to be relatively negligible compared to a gas-powered craft of a similar size. Hit the jump for a minute's worth of hamster-wheel driven go-cart craziness and perhaps visit the Google-translated Bordercolliebil blog for a little of the project's background. Happy Friday!

[Source: Bordercolliebil]

Continue reading It's Friday! Border Collie + hamster wheel = go! [w/VIDEO]

It's Friday! Border Collie + hamster wheel = go! [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This plug-in vehicle shoots for the moon (rover)

Domenick Yoney — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:55:00 EST

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, Transportation Alternatives, USA

With no time on its hands for promotional appearances at glitzy European autoshows, one of America's most advanced electric vehicles has been busy being put through its paces on the torturous terrain found at Black Point Lava Flow in Arizona. The Lunar Electric Rover (LER) has spent the last couple weeks wandering about this wasteland simulating a search for lost crew members in a trial that's putting the modern plug-in electric car architecture to the test.

Unlike the dune buggy-like moon rovers of yore, the Ford Ranger-sized LER depends on lithium ion batteries and is currently using a chemistry that packs 125 wh/kg of energy, though NASA, not unlike today's would-be electric car buyer, hopes to have at least a 60 percent improvement in that number before it leaves the ~~sales lot~~ launch pad. The pack will not only need to hold lots of juice but be engineered to perform without being affected by the exterior temperature which can swing from -153 C all the way up to 107 C. Unlike any electric earth-based vehicles (so far), the LEV has an exercise bike built in that can be used to give the batteries a boost in case of emergency or just to alleviate perceived range anxiety. Also, like many of the new breed of electric cars, the moon rover features an advanced navigation software. The improved smarts helped the rover track down the missing crew in less than an hour without any help from its heuristically programmed algorithmic computer. Hit the jump for a NASA Desert Rats video discussing the machine and its mission.

[Source: Technology Review]

Continue reading This plug-in vehicle shoots for the moon (rover)

This plug-in vehicle shoots for the moon (rover) originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Zipcar has $1 billion dreams... and 46 members per car?

Sebastian Blanco — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 08:59:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Culture, Transportation Alternatives, Green Daily

Zipcar's $1 billion ambition - Click above to watch the video after the break

How many cars do you think Zipcar owns around the world? Did you know it was 6,500?
How big could Zipcar one day become? How about a $1 billion company?

These are two of the numbers mentioned in an interview that CEO Scott Griffith gave to Fortune recently. Griffith also said that, today, Zipcar has about 300,000 members, which give us an average of about 46 members per car. To some of us on staff, that seems incredibly high, and to others of us, incredibly low. Either way, in order to reach the $1 billion goal, Zipcar will need to get to the one million member level, Griffith figures.

Before that happens, Griffith needs to convince a lot more organizations to adopt the Zipcar model. We know about how Zipcar can work for individuals - basically, easy car rentals by the hour - but Griffith is more excited about the behind-the-scenes operations. For example, people need to clean and maintain all 6,500 vehicles, right? The back-end work that Zipcar is doing today to make sure there is time in the schedule for all of these cars to be prepped and ready for customers when they want them will help tremendously as the company begins to add more and more electric vehicles to the fleet. Griffith says it is just a step away from scheduling maintenance to finding time to recharge electric cars:

Our system is going to integrate very well with electric vehicles, and that's one of the things that governments and universities and corporate partners are very interested in. How are they going to schedule all of this and manage the logistics of having electric vehicles.

The next city to get an electric Zipcar, Griffith said, will probably be Washington, D.C. Watch the video after the jump to learn more.

[Source: Fortune via CNNMoney.com]

Continue reading VIDEO: Zipcar has $1 billion dreams... and 46 members per car?

VIDEO: Zipcar has $1 billion dreams... and 46 members per car? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 30 Aug 2009 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Better Place to trial battery-swapping taxis in Tokyo

Domenick Yoney — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:56:00 EST

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, Transportation Alternatives, Japan, Better Place

When Better Place wanted to demonstrate how their battery switching station would operate they chose Yokohama Japan as the backdrop and now the land of the rising sun is returning some of that love. The electric vehicle infrastructure company has received an "award" to carry out a pilot project involving a switching station and battery-powered taxis operated by Nihon Kotsu in Tokyo. Although cabs comprise just two percent of the cars in Japan they're responsible for a whopping 20 percent of the CO₂ emitted. Expressing a desire to replace the entire 60,000-strong Tokyo fleet in the next decade, the trial gets underway modestly in January with up to four vehicles specially prepared using commercially available platforms by the venerable engineering firm Tokyo R&D Co. That company will also build the battery swapper, situated in the Roppongi Hills area in Central Tokyo, and supply the diagnostic software for the three-month test. Besides the taxi business, Better Place also has car rentals and sharing services on its "to do" list. The official press release awaits you after the break.

Gallery: Better Place battery swap station

[Source: Better Place / Bloomberg]
Original photo by letsputphotographsonthe internet. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.

Continue reading Better Place to trial battery-swapping taxis in Tokyo

Better Place to trial battery-swapping taxis in Tokyo originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zipcar's Low Car Diet results: save money, lose weight

Sebastian Blanco — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:55:00 EST

Filed under: Transportation Alternatives, Green Daily

Last month, Zipcar's annual Low-Car Diet saw 250 people in over a dozen cities trade in their personal car for a shared Zipcar and other transportation alternatives (bus, bike, walking). Zipcar surveyed the participants after the month-long trial and has released a few interesting numbers about what happened to those who went without a personal car for 30 days:

Saved 67 percent on vehicle-related costs
Vehicle miles traveled were reduced by 66 percent
Public transportation ridership shot up by 98 percent
47 percent lost weight (the 250 people lost a total of 413 pounds)
59 percent said sharing a car made them think about other environmentally-friendly ways of being, including increased recycling and conserving energy at home.

Everyone's mileage will vary, of course, but do any of these numbers make you wish you could easily car share in your town?

[Source: Zipcar]

Continue reading Zipcar's Low Car Diet results: save money, lose weight

Zipcar's Low Car Diet results: save money, lose weight originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Team behind Eliica EV to build electric shuttle bus for Japan

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Transportation Alternatives, Japan

Eliica concept electric car - Click above for high-res image gallery

We've always been fond of the Eliica (Electric Lithium-Ion Car) eight-wheeled electric car, which was designed and built by researchers of Keio University in Japan a few years back. Seriously, how can you not like such an interesting machine, especially since the Eliica is capable of some serious performance figures - how 'bout a top speed of 230 miles per hour, acceleration to 60 in 4.1 seconds and a range of 200 miles via an advanced lithium ion battery pack?

Last we heard, Keio University was looking for corporate sponsorship to put the Eliica into small-scale production. We're not sure what's up with that these days, but Popular Science reports that the team behind that project has branched out and turned its attention to an electric shuttle bus using similar technology with the hopes of having volume production underway in 2011.

Using a similar flat-floor platform as the Eliica with a body built by Isuzu Motors, a 120kW lithium ion battery developed by Toshiba and a charging infrastructure from Tokyo Electric Power Company, the group projects a 93-mile range from the shuttle bus. Typical buses in Tokyo reportedly average about 75 miles per day, so that should be plenty of battery capacity to complete its mission. Cost is expected to be in the same range as a common diesel bus if 500 units are made (including the battery) but with running costs that are a tenth of its oil-burning competitors.

Gallery: Eliica

[Source: Popular Science]

Team behind Eliica EV to build electric shuttle bus for Japan originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 22 Aug 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NYC Mayor Bloomberg calls for free crosstown buses to ease traffic

Domenick Yoney — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:43:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Transportation Alternatives, Legislation and Policy, USA

If that NYC crosstown traffic is slowing you down, you might like Mayor Bloomberg's invitation to New Yorker's to come on and take a free ride. Apparently, certain crosstown buses run so slow that the Mayor wants to ~~introduce dedicated bus lanes~~ stop collecting fares on them in an effort to speed things up. The measure is just one of many new steps the re-electioneering Independent would like to see implemented to improve the mass transit system in the Big Apple. Other steps call for extending some lines and services as well as using smaller buses when demand is lower. While Bloomberg can use his position to advocate for the changes, he can't actually implement many of them. The Mayoral office only controls 4 of 17 places on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) board. Interested in more? Check out the PDF to read Bloomberg's 33-point plan in its entirety.

[Source: NY Times]
Photo by Adam E. Moreira. Licensed under Creative Commons license 3.0.

NYC Mayor Bloomberg calls for free crosstown buses to ease traffic originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mu by Peugeot: renting mobility by the unit

Xavier Navarro — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 16:08:00 EST

Filed under: Transportation Alternatives, Peugeot, On Two Wheels

Sometimes you don't need to own a car. Sometimes you don't have the room to store a motorbike or even a bicycle. Sometimes, you need a bit of extra storage space on a family trip. While there are plenty of services where you can rent mobility solutions like these, Peugeot has launched a new integrated solution called Mu by Peugeot. Mu allows users to rent vehicles and accessories using a card loaded up with units (5 units = €1). Vehicles available include a bicycle, a 50 cm³ or 125 cm³ scooter, a leisure vehicle (207 CC, 308 CC), "regular" cars and a large variety of car accessories.

Mu by Peugeot works a bit like a prepaid cell phone: you top up the card and then use the card to pay for the rentals: driving a Peugeot 207 for the day costs 280 units (€56), a scooter is a bit less at 200 units (€40 for the day). As with many membership cards, Mu by Peugeot also offers prizes and member advantages.

[Source: Peugeot]

Mu by Peugeot: renting mobility by the unit originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 01 Aug 2009 16:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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