Get Energy Smart! NOW!

Putting fuel efficiency feedback systems on the dashboard of every American automobile (both existing and new) could well be one of the most cost effective tools for quick reduction in America’s oil dependency and, as well, to improve traffic safety (and reduce) fatalities.   These feedback systems can be as ‘simple’ as solely providing real-time miles […]

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Congress has approved and sent to President Obama, as part of the Supplemental, a $1 billion (down-payment on a) Cash-for-Clunkers bill. As structured, this bill is a clunker that will do a poor job at achieving any (and, well, all) of the legitimate objectives of such legislation: Stimulate economic activity Improve traffic / highway safety […]

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Amid the supplemental appropriations bill (warning, 144 page pdf), currently awaiting vote after a Conference Committee, is the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save (CARS) Program (pages 52-58). Naming bills in deceptive and often cutesy terms has truly become an art form. The CARS Program merits being in the same zone as the ever-so appealing […]

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The best (blog and academic) work that I’ve seen on why we should work with gallons per mile (gpm), rather than miles per gallon (mpg), comes from Duke Professor Rick Larrick. He blogs at MPG Illusion and GPM Calculator. As we consider the Clunker of a Deal (otherwise known as Cash for Clunkers), it is […]

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Hybrids are too often thought of simply in terms of personal vehicles. They are also penetrating the big vehicle market space. Consider the average delivery truck and all its starts/stops. There is a lot of energy to capture there, which is why UPS is pursuing hybrids. And, as per Walmart and its hybrid trucks, they […]

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After stridently supporting the Wall Street bailout, this morning’s Washington Post’s lead editorial launched a broadside against the bailout plan for the automobile industry. Amid this uneven editorial, which both raises legitimate questions and displays an impressive tone-deafness when contrasted with supporting bailouts for financial ‘tycoons’, is this paragraph: Congress approved $7,500 tax credits for […]

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Red State. Blue State.  Through EcoDriving we can all be green states. Hit the link and you will be greated by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (and Governor Bill Ritter) introducing the power of Eco-Driving for making a real difference when it comes to the nation’s gasoline use and, therefore, carbon footprint. The average driving could seen a 15 […]

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A brief discussion about the economic imperatives for greening the nation’s taxi fleets. But, first, acronym definition: CtB: Cost to Buy: acquisition price, how much to purchase something CtO: Cost to Own: total ownership costs, from purchase through operating to disposal Quite simply, moving our collective mindset from CtB to CtO is a societal imperative. […]

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Toyota (Prius) and Chevy (Volt) seem to be in a race as to who will provide the first mass-produced plug-in-hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) onto the market. The backfit market is building, with options coming to market for plug-in conversions for existing hybrids. But what about the 10s of millions of normal, internal combustion engines out […]

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General Motors’ Vice-Chairman Bob Lutz truly does not seem to enjoy being called out when he says absurdities.  There was a recent brouhaha over his  calling Global Warming a “total crock of s–t” in a meeting with reporters.  As the man seemingly converted, the driving force behind the Chevy Volt (a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) that […]

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