http://www.ecomii.com/blogs/car ecomii car blog Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:00:36 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en 2009 Fisker Karma Fisker Automotive will begin deploying its government loan designated to spur U.S. production of fuel-efficient vehicles by buying and restoring an out-of-use GM plant in Delaware. Fisker paid only $18 million for the idle plant, but plans to spend an additional $175 million on refurbishing it. This Wilmington ... http://www.ecomii.com/blogs/car/2009/10/29/fisker-starts-putting-government-loan-to-use/ The status quo isn't a problem for big oil companies, who seem to be constantly breaking their own record profits. However, these corporations know that they must also look to the future and sustain their competitive edge. The competitive landscape of the future is not clear for the oil industry, with ... http://www.ecomii.com/blogs/car/2009/10/26/oil-majors-warming-to-biofuels/ The energy department has begun to dole out $25 billion in loans designated for the development of fuel-efficient vehicles. The program is designed to grease the wheels for technological innovation that will drive the auto industry of tomorrow to occur here in the United States. After decades of job cuts in ... http://www.ecomii.com/blogs/car/2009/10/08/energy-department-money-going-to-big-and-small-carmakers/ The man behind some of the most iconic sports cars of recent vintage has gone green. Henrik Fisker built his reputation designing the BMW Z8 and Aston Martin DB9 & V8 Vantage. The Z8 and the V8 Vantage both have the well earned distinction of being Bond cars: appearing as ... http://www.ecomii.com/blogs/car/2009/10/05/good-karma/ Ford is not as in your face about their green initiatives as other large car makers. Of course, that's due in part to not taking a leadership position on the green end of the market. SUVs and pick-ups have become Ford's bread and butter in recent years. Ford has hybrid models, ... http://www.ecomii.com/blogs/car/2009/09/21/ford-talks-green-initiatives-at-frankfurt-auto-show/ “This is the single biggest step the American government has ever taken to cut greenhouse-gas emissions.” That's what Daniel Becker of the Safe Climate Campaign said back in May about the Obama administration's plans to raise fuel efficiency requirements for motor vehicles progressively over the next several years. You could, of course, ... http://www.ecomii.com/blogs/car/2009/09/17/details-on-fuel-efficiency-standards-released/ While, personally, it gets my heart racing a little to see hot new fuel efficient models on the street, fuel efficiency is not generally associated with sexiness. Green cars can, however, be engineering marvels both visually and in terms of performance. Whether you're looking for an eye-catching sports car or a ... http://www.ecomii.com/blogs/car/2009/09/08/green-luxury/ Electric vehicles (EVs) have been anointed as the green cars of the future, gaining support from the federal government, auto industry, and Silicon Valley. Some EV and PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) models are already available, with many more set to launch in the coming years. However, EVs and PHEVs are ... http://www.ecomii.com/blogs/car/2009/08/31/the-sticking-point-for-evs-lithium/ Image: Beige Alert Flickr CC There is an inescapable link between building and personal transportation: what we build where determines where we drive when. All the greenhouse gases (GHGs) and smog emitted by cars come about because someone is trying to get somewhere, usually a building. When green building is mentioned the ... http://www.ecomii.com/blogs/car/2009/08/20/the-relationship-between-green-building-and-green-cars/ The "Cash-for-Clunkers" program--officially the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS)--was not designed by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) only as an environmental program. Some environmental impact was certain given the requirement that newly purchased vehicles be more fuel efficient than trade-ins, but the program is primarily a way to boost auto ... http://www.ecomii.com/blogs/car/2009/08/17/cash-for-clunkers-the-actual-cars/