The Cash for Clunkers program has exceeded the positive expectations of even its most ardent supporters. Not only did more consumers take advantage of the program than anyone anticipated, but the cars they chose to buy were far more fuel efficient than anticipated. The average fuel economy of a clunker was 15.8 mpg, compared to 25.4 mpg for the car that replaced it—a 61 percent improvement.
At a showroom in Tokyo last week, Toyota got in touch with its girly side. With the "DecoPrius," a candy-apple red custom Toyota Prius emblazoned with decorative rhinestones, the carmaker hopes to catch the eye of a demographic that is growing increasingly cold to a product that once exemplified cool: the automobile.
With nearly all gas-electric hybrid cars qualifying for the Cash for Clunkers vouchers, hybrid sales in July grew to 3.55 percent of the new car market—its largest market share ever.
No longer an amorphous concept, Nissan’s electric car can now be stacked up against other hybrids and plug-in cars for its look and feel, features, and likely cost. The reviews from the blogosphere—usually an irreverant crowd—were mixed.
After months of anticipation, Nissan today unveiled the Nissan Leaf, a medium-size all-electric hatchback that seats five adults and has a range of 100 miles. Check out first photos and video.
Less than one week after it launched, the Car Allowance Rebate System—or
"Cash For Clunkers"—has almost run through its $1 billion in funding.
Congressional leaders scrambled Friday to extend the program before the
August recess—but Senate leaders like Dianne Feinstein of California may
be reluctant to add further money to a program many felt had lost its
environmental benefits.
The most effective way to achieve proposed long-term reductions in US greenhouse gas emissions is to reduce the number of miles we travel. That’s the conclusion of Moving Cooler, a new study by the Urban Land Institute and a diverse group of organizations.
What will fuel-economy numbers look like on the window stickers of electric vehicles coming to the US market next year? Trying to find the answer could short-circuit your brain.
Toyota plans to launch a new $16,000 subcompact hybrid, according to a report in Japan’s Asahi newspaper. The car, expected in late 2011, will use the platform and engine of the Yaris subcompact—but will feature a unique name, design, and a hybrid system that is more cost-competitive than the company’s other hybrid models.
In the Internet age, a company with limited funds and no track record can build a successful business with nothing more than a good idea and some powerful technology. It's not easy, but it can be done. As cars become more and more like high-tech gadgets on wheels, a crop of new companies is trying to put “open source” or “crowdsourcing” concepts to use in making the next great hybrid, plug-in, or fuel cell car.
