Audi Launches A1 e-tron Trial Program in Munich

The first examples of Audi's A1 e-tron gasoline-electric hybrid project car hit the streets of Munich today as the German company in cooperation with E.ON and the public utility Stadtwerke Munchen and Technise Universitat Muncher initiated the trial program.

Audi has provided a fleet of 20 extended-range A1 e-tron electric vehicles, while E.ON and SWM have installed charging infrastructure both within the city limits and in surrounding areas.

Read more »

Volvo Takes Pride in Reducing its CO2 Emissions the Most Among European Manufacturers

According to the data collected from the European Federation for Transport and Environment for its annual analysis, the European car manufacturer that has managed the greatest reduction in average CO2 emissions across its range in 2010 is Volvo.

The study shows that last year, Europe’s eight biggest automakers reduced their average CO2 emissions by 2 to 6 percent. Volvo, on the other hand, managed a 9 percent reduction topping the relative charts thanks to models such as the 99 g/km V50 DRIVe and the 119 g/km V70 DRIVe.

Read more »

Organization wants NYC's Central Park Carriage -Horse Operators to Trade in Mr. Ed for Mr. EV

NY-Class is a not-for-profit organization on a mission to replace the Big Apple’s venerable (though some say inhumane) carriage-horse industry with clean, electric-drive “show cars”.

These “21st Century Horseless Carriage” may look like something from the turn of the twentieth century, but behind the white walls and running boards sit five modern lithium-ion battery packs good for 8 to 10 hours travel time on a 2 to 3 hour charge.

NY-Class – an acronym for New Yorkers for Clean, Livable And Safe Streets – commissioned the Fort Lauderdale, FL based Creative Workshop to produce a two-foot-long model of their proposal. The lime-green miniature is said to have cost US$12,500 (€9,335), which is an achievement in itself.

Read more »

Vauxhall's VXR8 Sport Saloon Wins MPG Marathon Award, No Really

In an eco-marathon, you normally expect the winner to be a hybrid, a diesel or some other super-frugal -and usually underpowered- car. Well, in the Fleet World MPG Marathon the champion had no less than 431-horses kicking and screaming to be unleashed under its bonnet.

You read that correctly: the LS3 6.2-liter V8-powered VXR8 - essentially a Holden HSV rebadged as a Vauxhall for the UK market- won the two-day, 350-mile economy trial.

How did this happen? There's a simple explanation: this award wasn't given to the most fuel efficient vehicle in absolute numbers, but to the one that recorded the highest percent improvement over the official fuel consumption figures.

Read more »

Obama Administration Pushes Back Announcement on 54.5 mpg CAFE Regulations

The stricter fuel consumption standards that the Obama administration planned to introduce this week will be delayed, according to a report from Reuters. The government pushed hard to gain the automakers’ approval, and after making some concessions, it achieved its goal.

However, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and the Transportation Department that were expected to announce the new CAFE regulations for model years 2017-2025 by the end of the week are not yet ready. Therefore, the announcement will be delayed by a month, or possibly even more.

Read more »