Green Car Report
Gallons Per Mile, Not Miles Per Gallon July 23rd, 2008
A Different Way to Measure Fuel Efficiency
I was at an event with my fellow automotive journalists last week, two of whom were down from Vancouver, BC. Conversation turned to fuel economy, as it always does these days, whether you write about...more
My Smart Test Drive July 21st, 2008
Is It Worth $99 and a Year-Long Wait?
Though they've only been available in the U.S. since January 2008, Smart cars are stirring up a lot of interest for a car so small. Once gas hit $4 a gallon, a seemingly magic number...more
Electric MINIs Headed for California July 18th, 2008
Zero Gas, Zero Emissions, All Grins
BMW, which owns the Mini brand, is slated to bring 500 electric-powered Mini Coopers to California sometime in the near future. You will know them by their distinctive paint job, silver with a yellow roof....more
Forget Gas Prices: Consider a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle July 16th, 2008
See if these Zippy NEVs Are Right for You
Many automakers are promising that electric, highway-speed, family sedans are on their way, maybe even as early as next year. If you'd like to lose the gasoline habit sooner rather than later, though, there are...more
Ditch That Old Clunker -- And Get Paid July 11th, 2008
Smoggy States Offer Incentives to Get Older Cars Off the Road
Conventional eco-wisdom says that driving an older car into the ground is better than tossing it into the junk yard and buying a gleaming new one off the showroom floor. It's true that it's better...more
3rd-Gen Prius: Toyota to Add Solar Panels July 9th, 2008
But Flaunting Your Green Style May Not Come Cheap
The more we hear about the new Prius, which should show up in 2009, the more excited we get. The latest news is that Toyota will add solar panels on the roof to power the...more
Prince Charles Runs His Aston on English Wine July 7th, 2008
Vintage Fuel for a Vintage Car
Prince Charles, the U.K.'s version of Al Gore, has taken another step in a green direction: his 1970 Aston Martin DB6 has been converted to run entirely on bioethanol, sometimes known as E100. The fuel...more
Rental Upgrades Not So Great July 4th, 2008
There Aren't Enough Small Cars on the Lot to Meet Rental Demands
Recently, my friend Andrew, a travel writer, was on the job in Ohio (I don't know why, either). He had reserved a compact car to drive from the airport to various cities and towns across...more
New Fuel-Efficient Car: You Better Th!nk! July 2nd, 2008
Norwegian Car Company Plans a 2009 Electric Invasion
In April 2008, upstart car company Think (also spelled Th!nk) made its first move toward invading North American shores with its compact, fuel-effiecient, city-friendly cars. It partnered with several U.S. companies, including General Electric and...more
Water-Powered Car a Pipe Dream June 30th, 2008
Claims to the Contrary Not Worth Their Weight in Water
We learned the other day that hydrogen-fueled cars release only water as a byproduct. Could you take that purest of all tailpipe emissions and fuel another car with only water? No, for two reasons: first,...more
