Get your Geld ready: Germany issues final draft on CO2-based taxes
Changing the road tax legislation in Germany wasn’t an easy thing to do. This tax is managed at the state level, but a nationwide modification will be enforced now that the German federal government has decided to give €9 billion in compensation to the states. The new road tax, like similar legislation in other European countries, is aimed at stimulating motorists to drive fuel-efficient cars. Here’s how the new tax works, starting July 1st: First, there’s a base tax based on displacement: €2 per each 100 cubic centimeters if it’s a gasoline car or €9.5 if it’s a diesel car. Additional taxes are based on CO 2 : for each gram over 120 that your car emits per kilometer, your tax will be increased by €2. That CO 2 limit will drop to 110 grams in 2012 and, from 2014 onwards, it will be 95 grams. So, for example, the new Toyota IQ 1.33 , which emits 113 gm/km. The 1.3-liter gas engine will be taxed at 13 * 2 = €26 and the number will stay the same until 2012. At that time, its owner will be charged an extra €6 additional (€32 in total) because 113-110 = 3 grams at €2 each. Then, in 2014, the tax will be even higher: 113-95 = 18 grams, at €2 each, €36 additional (€62 total). I’ll let you do the math with a Porsche Cayenne S. [Source: Auto News ] Photo by ckroberts61 under CCL 2.0 Auto Blog: Legislation and Policy , Germany Get your Geld ready: Germany issues final draft on CO 2 -based taxes originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 09:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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Get your Geld ready: Germany issues final draft on CO2-based taxes
BMW adaptive navigation system helps save fuel
There are already numerous navigation systems available now that can download traffic data and compare it against route information programmed by the driver. But what if you know where you’re going and don’t program the nav? That’s what BMW is working to address with a new experimental system. BMW engineers have built artificial intelligence into the system that tracks where each driver of the car goes and builds up a history profile. It then uses this learned history and the car’s current track to predict where the driver might be going. Real time traffic data can then be compared to the prediction so that the driver can be warned of congestion, and alternate routes can be suggested to save fuel. Going beyond that, the system can potentially proactively modify the control strategies of the powertrain to reduce fuel use based on what the system expects to encounter. BMW has managed to improve the predictive accuracy from the initial 30 percent all the way to 70 percent in the current systems. BMW hasn’t given any indications of when this technology might make it into production vehicles. [Source: BMW] Continue reading BMW adaptive navigation system helps save fuel Auto Blog: Emerging Technologies , MPG , BMW BMW adaptive navigation system helps save fuel originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 08:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
Zero S electric supermoto to be unveiled in April
Zero Motorcycles , makers of electric off-road motorcycles, is planning to release its first street-legal machine next month. Speaking on Fox Car Report Live , company founder Neal Saiki let out a few intriguing details about the company’s new Zero S electric supermoto bike , including the fact that it will sport 3kWhs of battery capacity. That’s a whopping 50 percent more than the lithium ion unit that the firm uses in its Zero X dirtbike. Of course, batteries are heavy, so it’s not surprising to hear that the S model will outweigh its off-road sibling by about 50 pounds. Performance should be impressive, with Saiki quoting a 0-60 time of around 4 seconds and a top speed of around 70 miles per hour. Those figures, along with the bike’s added mass, should make the new Zero S fully highway capable. Expect a starting price of $9,950 before any federal incentives are applied. Gallery: AltCar 2008: Zero X electric dirtbike [Source: Hell For Leather ] Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , On Two Wheels Zero S electric supermoto to be unveiled in April originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 08 Mar 2009 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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Zero S electric supermoto to be unveiled in April
Used hybrid values have "fallen off a cliff"
As we’re sure you’ve noticed every time you’ve gone to refill your gas tank in the last few months, gas is once again relatively cheap. Just under a year ago, the price for a gallon of fuel was about double what it is today in most parts of the country, and those high costs were driving the sales of hybrids – both new and used – to record levels. Now? Well, not so much. According to Kelley Blue Book , used hybrid prices have fallen by an amazing 23.5 percent since last summer, and 4.5 percent of that has come in the first two months of 2009. It’s not just fuel prices that are causing hybrid values to plummet. Due to the lack of discretionary spending money and despite the savings on each tank of gas, the extra cost associated with a hybrid at the time of initial purchase is something that many buyers are unwilling to consider. Perhaps there’s a positive side to this story. Buyers looking to get a good deal on a used hybrid should have plenty of options to consider. Then, when the price of fuel inevitably climbs back up, you can laugh all the way to the bank. [Source: USA Today ] Auto Blog: Hybrid , Green Daily Used hybrid values have “fallen off a cliff” originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 07 Mar 2009 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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Used hybrid values have "fallen off a cliff"
British Touring Car Championship to begin testing CO2 emissions
Motorsports of all kinds are feeling the pressure to reduce their environmental footprint, and the British Touring Car Championship is no different. In an effort to demonstrate their commitment to green racing (a contradiction in terms?), the BTCC has started testing the race cars of its various contenders at Land Rover’s lab in Solihull to be sure that their carbon emissions are in line with the road cars on which they are based. Alan Gow, BTCC series director, says, “To my mind, it’s a far more meaningful demonstration of our credentials to motor manufacturers, environmental groups, sponsors, the government, motorists and the BTCC’s many millions of fans than us taking less convincing (or demanding) steps.” That may be true, but we should all remember that a vehicle’s carbon emissions are directly related to how much fuel it is burning. This being the case, cars that are being driven as hard as possible in an effort to win races are never really going to be environmentally friendly. Still, it’s an appreciated step in the right direction. [Source: BTCC , Channel 4 ] Auto Blog: Green Daily , UK , Racing British Touring Car Championship to begin testing CO 2 emissions originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 07 Mar 2009 13:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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Leave a commentNissan gets a charge out of Ecotality in Arizona
Ecotality , an electric transportation and storage company, has been big-timing it lately with the likes of Nissan . Together with the Pima Association of Governments ( PAG ), they have formed an EV Micro-Climate Working Group with a goal of making Pima County , which encompasses Tucson, Arizona, the charging-infrastructured home of many electric vehicles. When Nissan launches its electric car in 2010, they will make sure to have some of their battery-operated lovelies available for public and private fleets in the region while Ecotality is to help with the planning and installation of the charging stations. Although the project is being implemented to support the vehicles from Nissan, the public stations will meet charge system standards and be equipped with the J1772 connector that the Society of Engineers (SAE) has been working on . This should be the same plug other future electric cars will be equipped with. For older, pre-J1772 electric vehicles, we imagine adapters will be necessary. Full press release after the break. [Source: Ecotality ] Continue reading Nissan gets a charge out of Ecotality in Arizona Auto Blog: Etc. , EV/Plug-in , Nissan , USA Nissan gets a charge out of Ecotality in Arizona originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 16:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
Posted in Auto Green | a-friend-via, after-the-break, charging, charginginfrastructure, j1772, pimacounty, project, tesla whitestar, teslasedan, usa | Leave a commentSportier BlueMotion models coming from VW?
Click above for a gallery of the Volkswagen Bluesport While the primary goal of Volkswagen’s numerous BlueMotion models is to reduce fuel consumption and therefore carbon emissions, the German automaker apparently recognizes that not all drivers are willing to accept sluggish acceleration to go along with their reduced diesel bills. This is why the VeeDub introduced its BlueSport Roadster concept at the last Detroit Auto Show . That sporty model was able to provide plenty of performance from its 2.0L turbocharged diesel engine to go along with its miserly fuel mileage figures of 35 mpg on the European Combined Cycle and 62 mpg while in Eco Mode. Reports from the U.K.’s evo magazine indicate that VW is hard at work on a production version of the BlueSport concept for 2011. Before that model hits the market, the moniker may be applied to a performance-minded diesel version of the European Scirocco and possibly an oil-burning GTI hatchback as well. Gallery: Detroit 2009: Volkswagen Concept BlueSport [Source: evo ] Auto Blog: Diesel , Volkswagen Sportier BlueMotion models coming from VW? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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Sportier BlueMotion models coming from VW?
Think advances U.S. plans, will sell full-speed City car in mid-2010
Click above for a gallery of the Th!nk City Th!nk’s Norwegian exodus continues. Th!nk will announce details of its “aggressive expansion plans” next Thursday in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Th!nk CEO Richard Canny and Th!nk product development director Christopher Neal will be on hand to talk to representatives from Michigan and seven other states about “options to bring electric vehicle manufacturing jobs to the U.S.” Um, yes please. Th!nk has said for a while that they plan to bring this all-electric, highway-speed (62 mph top speed) car to America; now we know that the Th!nk City is scheduled to go on sale in the U.S. in the middle of 2010 (no word on the Th!nk Ox ). The City is already available in Norway and we have video proof that this car is fun to drive. With a 112-mile range, this car could be the right alternative for a lot of people. U.S. price? We’ll ask Th!nk next week. [Source: Th!nk] Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Green Daily , Th!nk (Think) , USA Think advances U.S. plans, will sell full-speed City car in mid-2010 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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Think advances U.S. plans, will sell full-speed City car in mid-2010
California Air Resources Board proposes Low Carbon Fuel Standard
The California Air Resources Board wants to reduce the amount of carbon in transportation fuels as a way to reduce the resulting greenhouse gas emissions. One way CARB wants to meet California’s stated goal of a statewide GHG emissions cap for 2020 (which would be based on 1990 emissions) is a Low Carbon Fuel Standard. Since at least 2007, CARB has been looking into implementing a Low Carbon Fuel Standard, and yesterday made an official announcement of a public hearing to consider the adoption of this standard. As a preliminary measure, this standard “would reduce GHG emissions by reducing the carbon intensity of transportation fuels used in California by an average of 10 percent by the year 2020.” The draft regulations issued yesterday call for the fuel industry to meet the first step of the standard by 2011. Up to 20 percent of the conventional fuels used today would be replaced by things like electricity, hydrogen, natural gas and biofuels. CARB will hold a public hearing on the proposal on April 23rd and 24th. More details here and at GreenTechMedia . [Source: CARB via GreenTechMedia ] Auto Blog: Legislation and Policy , USA California Air Resources Board proposes Low Carbon Fuel Standard originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 10:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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EVI’s all-electric trucks for the U.S. market unveiled in Chicago
Ford and Modec are not the only companies targeting America with electric trucks. Electric Vehicles International (EVI) unveiled it’s “Road Ready” commercial transport electric vehicle for the U.S. market in Chicago today at the Work Truck Show. EVI lists the two trucks it is offering on its website : eviLightTruck (center), a mid-speed electric vehicle (45-60 miles per hour) that has a customizable battery configuration. It can also be outfitted with a hybrid drive for extended range. This is a Class 3 truck, and the full-electric version that is on display costs between $50,000 to $55,000, with the batteries not included in that price (they are leased). eviRoute 1500 (on the right), a 40-mile range low-speed electric truck.This model sells for $15,000 to $20,000, including the batteries. (not sure what the truck on the left is) Also, these trucks might quality for federal tax incentives that can range from $7,500 to $15,000. EVI says it has delivered 1,000 vehicles worldwide and says they “guarantee the industry’s shortest lead time on all our vehicles” in America. Gallery: EVI Electric Trucks [Source: EVI ] Continue reading EVI’s all-electric trucks for the U.S. market unveiled in Chicago Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , NEV (Neighborhood Electric Vehicle) EVI’s all-electric trucks for the U.S. market unveiled in Chicago originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 09:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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EVI’s all-electric trucks for the U.S. market unveiled in Chicago
Posted in Auto Green | a-friend-via, a-hybrid-drive, alms, almsgreenchallenge, america, conventional, electric-trucks, entry, evi, eviroute, lists-the-two, since-at-least, truck, truck-show-, vehicles | Leave a commentGet Approved!
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