For New York City dwellers, fleets of yellow cabs are as part of the scenery as the skyscrapers. For many people living there, taking a cab is a common form of transportation.

If you’ve hailed a cab there recently, you may have noticed an increasing number of hybrid taxis honking their horns as of late.

The city of New York has a goal in which the entire taxi cab fleet will become hybrids by 2012. So far, they’ve doubled the number of hybrid taxis and expect to meet their goal.  So, with 15% of their fleet made up of taxis, they’re doing pretty well, but San Francisco is right there with them. San Francisco boasts 14% of their taxi fleet as being hybrid, while only 1% of Chicago’s fleet is going hybrid. One of Denver’s taxi companies is made up of 10% hybrids as well. (more…)

As gas prices start to drop, the alternative fuel buzz seems to go down with it, making green fuel advocates a bit exasperated.

When gas is $4 a gallon, even the biggest SUV fans are looking for a biodiesel station or checking out hybrid prices.  With current prices down to a remarkable $1.91 for regular gas, everyone seems content with fossil fuels once more.

While I enjoy the lower prices as much as the next person, part of me wishes they would go up again to spur the alternative fuel urgency that was so pervasive this time last year.

Perhaps we all need a gentle reminder that it’s not about the gas prices, it’s about the fuel and what we’re doing to the environment to get it. (more…)

Going on vacation soon?  How about a spring break road trip?  Next time you find yourself renting a car, check out some green car options.

Now increasingly common, companies like Hertz and Enterprise are beginning to expand their fleets with cars that have better gas mileage, use alternative fuel, and/or hybrid cars.

Though Hertz seems to have led the way with their 2006 launch of their “green collection,” Enterprise more than doubles Hertz in their collection of hybrid vehicles. (more…)

Subaru has always had a “green” reputation, mostly created by the people who drive them.  The Subaru Outback is generally driven by the outdoorsy type that doesn’t feel the need to own a gas guzzling SUV just to get up to the mountains.  And Dave Matthews drives one, so hey, it’s gotta be green, right?

But where are all the hybrids, the hydrogen-powered vehicles, the biodiesel-ready cars?

There have been rumors and speculation about Subaru producing an alternative fuel car, but actually having them available to the public seems a ways off still.  According to Drive magazine, the Subaru R1e, the first electric car produced by the manufacturers is still in testing.

The car uses lithium-ion battery technology, has a 50 mile range, and an estimated 10-year lifespan.  (more…)

The Toyota Prius was the first alternative vehicle to become part of the mainstream.  They are everywhere–there are three on my block alone!  In fact, they are so mainstream now that Prius drivers have a bit of a stereotype—the Whole Foods shopper with the designer reusable bag, listening to NPR while sipping their Starbucks… you get the picture (hey, nothing wrong with that).

Japan automakers are definitely getting this alternative vehicle thing right.  Along with Honda, Toyota has become a leader in offering green cars.  In the summer of 2008, Toyota’s Vice President talked about Toyota’s future in alternative cars: “Because of the many obstacles that must be overcome because of alternative energy source, more than one type of vehicle will have to be used to obtain the sustainable mobility society, and because in each region, the energy situation is different.”  No automakers have made such a claim—that multiple alternative fuel sources will be needed to meet the energy needs of our world.  Other manufactures seem to be making alternative sources out of a need to compete rather than out of an understanding of fixing our energy crisis.

So what does alternatives does Toyota have to offer the consumer? (more…)

When you think of Ford, you typically think of big bad gas-guzzling trucks.  Ford has never been a leader in alternative vehicles, but they’ve learned over the past few years that they better jump on this green train or risk going out of business.

Ford has outlined several ways in which they have gone green and further plans for the future.  Their sustainability report outlines their plan to reduce carbon emissions by 30% by the year 2020.

Ford is applying sustainable practices in multiple arenas.  They have reduced their water consumption by 25% in the last six years.  As a company, they’ve earned the Energy Star Award for reducing their global operational energy use by about a third and reducing CO2 emissions by 39%.  Ford is beginning to implement more sustainable practices in car interior fabric choices by incorporating recycled materials in the vehicles. (more…)

My first car was a 1994 Honda Accord. It was reliable, safe and served its purpose well.

Now, 14 years later, I’m still driving it. And it’s still reliable and safe. My family teases me mercilessly about how dinged up it is, “it doesn’t have any corners left!” However crunched and dinged it is, it’s seen me through my teen years, been stolen twice (and returned in various states), and moved me to three different states.

I am determined to drive this car for many more years, but once this car is out of commission, I guarantee my next car will be a Honda. I’m always curious what they have coming up, especially in regards to what they can offer in terms of an environmentally-friendly vehicle.

Alternative Fuels
The Civic GX. This Civic runs on natural gas and is Advanced Technology Partial-Zero-Emission Vehicle (AT-PZEV) certified. Basically meaning, it’s pretty darn clean. The convenient thing about using natural gas is that you can refill at home. This requires purchasing a refueling system called Phill, which hooks into your gas line, using the same gas you use in your home. If you go on a trip or don’t want to purchase Phill, you can visit http://www.cngprices.com/ to find the stations in your area that carry natural gas. This site also has a trip planner showing where natural gas pumps are along your trip.

The FCX Clarity. Fueled by a hydrogen fuel cell, this sedan has zero emissions, just water vapor. Many auto makers are coming out with (more…)

Biodiesel has been sprouting up more and more over the past decade. From public transit boasting “powered by biodiesel” to the VW bus bragging “fueled by vegetable oil,” this alternative fuel has been heard of by almost everyone.

Made from a variety of renewable resources, including soybeans, corn, canola, cottonseed, sunflower, beef tallow, pork lard and used cooking oils, biodiesel reduces carbon dioxide emissions and produces three times more energy than it takes to produce.

Biodiesel can be used in any diesel engine without modification. Many older models perform better with a low-blend of biodiesel and petroleum-based diesel. If you don’t have a diesel car, but are looking to buy, auto manufacturers are coming out with more diesel models to accommodate the increase of biodiesel use.

So with all these great benefits, why aren’t people lined up at the nearly 800 pumps nationwide that distribute biodiesel?

I spoke to Ryan Cruse, Regional Policy and Sales Manager for Whole Energy Fuels in Portland, who targeted three key reasons people aren’t making the switch: (more…)