Green Auto
Green Auto | Top 10 Polluting Celebrities
Mr. American Idol a.k.a. Simon “I make alot of money” Cowell was named the top worst-polluting celebrity in a recent survey by the green motoring organisation City Car Club. His Veyron is emitting a total of 574g/km CO2 while his entire fleet of luxury cars emits an average 457g of CO2 per kilometer. Second in place is English funk musician Jay Kay (who?).
Celebrity emissions offenders
1. Simon Cowell
Average carbon emissions 457g/km
Cars owned Bugatti Veyron, Ferrari F430, Rolls-Royce Phantom
2. Jay Kay
Average carbon emissions 444g/km
Cars owned Bentley S1 Continental, Ferrari Enzo, Rolls-Royce Phantom
3. David Beckham
Average carbon emissions 421g/km
Cars owned Bentley Arnage, Bentley Continental GT, Hummer H2, Lamborghini Gallardo
4. Rowan Atkinson
Average carbon emissions 398 g/km
Cars owned Aston Martin DB7 Vantage, Audi A8, Bugatti Veyron
5. 50 Cent
Average carbon emissions 394.5g/km
Cars owned Hummer H2, Rolls-Royce Phantom
6. Rio Ferdinand
Average carbon emissions 379g/km
Cars owned Bentley Arnage, Bentley Continental, BMW X5, Cadillac Escalade
7. Steven Gerrard
Average carbon emissions 361g/km
Cars owned Aston Martin Vanquish, Bentley Continental, BMW X5, Porsche 911 Turbo
8. Kerry Katona
Average carbon emissions 359.5g/km
Cars owned Aston Martin Vantage, Lamborghini Gallardo, Porsche 911 Turbo, Range Rover
9. Wayne Rooney
Average carbon emissions 308g/km
Cars owned Aston Martin Vanquish, BMW X5, Mercedes CLK, Porsche 911 Turbo
10. Justin Timberlake
Average carbon emissions 287g/km
Cars owned Audi TT, Jeep Wrangler, Range Rover
From the Newsroom (Source: WhatCar via eGMCarTech)
Green Auto | 10 Easy Tips for Greener Driving
As people are being made aware of the detrimental effects of living in excess has caused, they are becoming more and more focused on how we can be kinder to the environment. And with the rising, out of control prices of gasoline, your first thoughts may be how you can conserve gas, which ultimately (albeit inadvertently) leads to greener driving.
So if you are concerned about preserving your environment and reducing your gasoline consumption, take note of these 10 tips for greener driving.
Tip #1 – Buy Green Automobiles
Of course, the first thing that you can do to minimize your impact on the environment is to purchase a green automobile if you are in the market for a new car. There are several to choose from and most are hybrids that use either a combination of either gas and electricity or gas and biodiesel fuels to power your automobile.
Tip #2 – Avoid Sudden Starts and Stops
If you are an overly aggressive driver, the time to modify your behavior is now. Avoid sudden starts and stops. This wastes both gas and increases pollution in the atmosphere. Try to anticipate your stops and coast to a halt. Both your automobile and the atmosphere will thank you.
Tip #3 – Slow Down
By slowing down, you are conserving gas. Did you know that you burn ten percent more gas by going 75 MPH instead of 65 MPH on the Interstate? By choosing to follow the speed limit, you will have to fill up and less often while also avoiding speeding tickets. Setting the cruise control on lengthy trips helps.
Tip #4 – Unload Your Cargo
Honestly, the trunks of some cars resemble a storage closet. Do you REALLY need all that stuff every day? Taking the time to unload unnecessary cargo reduces your fuel consumption.
Tip #5 – Plan Ahead and Combine Trips
If you know that you need to take your kids to soccer practice and stop by the supermarket (which is on the route), try consolidating these two trips into one. Less mileage equals less fuel consumption and less harmful emissions to the environment.
Tip #6 – Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated
Be sure to keep the tires on your car or truck properly inflated to the pressure indicated by your automobile’s owner manual this information may also be printed inside your door panel. Underinflated tires decrease fuel efficiency by 1 percent for every 3 pounds under the recommended pressure. Underinflation also causes unnecessary wear and tear on your automobile.
Tip #7 – Get Regular Oil Changes
Changing your oil regularly improves your fuel economy and also helps your vehicle last longer. Also, using recycled oil helps the environment, so ask your service station if they provide it.
Tip #8 – Get Regular Tune-ups
Getting regular tune-ups will not only make your car run better, but it will also improve your fuel economy. You should also check your air filter and transmission fluids levels and replace as necessary.
Tip #9 – Park in the Shade and Open the Windows
On those unbearably hot days, park in the shade. If there is no shade, use a car/windshield shade to keep the temperature in your car from becoming excessively hot. You should also open the windows to dissipate some of the heat before turning on the air conditioner.
Tip #10 – Newer Cars Do Not Need to Warm Up
Contrary to popular belief, newer model cars do not need to warm up before driving. Plus, since they have automatic chokes, there is no need to step on the accelerator before cranking.
Following these ten tips will help you to save money as well as conserve the environment. There are many little things you can do to become a greener driver, but the important thing is to just get started by following these ten tips.
PRESS | Electric Lightning GT Design revealed
In June 2007, The Lightning Car Company announced its intent to develop electric technology for a luxury British sports car – the Lightning GT. Today sees the unveiling of its evolutionary design. This super car with its outstanding presence & performance is set to put British sports car innovation well and truly back on the map. Designed to accommodate the latest battery and motor technology and reflect its 100% electric power and performance, the electric Lightning prototype is being hand-built by a small team of passionate British engineers, designers and collaborators.
Whilst the rest of the automotive world engages in the hybrid, hydrogen or electric debate, the Lightning Car Company firmly believes its 100% Electric Lightning GT will help kick start the market for performance EV’s. Without a significant positive shift in perception, electric motoring will remain a huge compromise in the eyes of driving enthusiasts and therefore fail to impress the masses. Our vision is shared by the world’s biggest car maker, General Motors, who believes the global oil supply has peaked and a switch to electric cars is inevitable…
The design team has created a successor to the petrol Lightning GT. Combining the spirit, heritage, individuality and drama of the original car with a dynamic and contemporary design language moves it into a new era and, in doing so, embraces the new technologies and innovative architecture that reside beneath its skin. Subtle creases, positive and negative sections add a sense of strength and finesse to the dramatic surfaces of the car while retaining an understated, yet distinctive British Grand Tourer aesthetic. The Lightning’s interior will also be designed to complement the unique electric driving experience.
With the build of the prototype well underway, we should see how this translates into the ‘real thing’ during the second half of 2008. The electric Lightning GT and Sports versions are now available to pre-order and deposits of £15,000 are being accepted.
PRESS RELEASE (Source: Lightning Car Company via World Car Fans)
PRESS | Mercedes Vision GLK BlueTec Diesel Hybrid
The grand rehearsal at the beginning of this year already made heads turn, when the striking Vision GLK entered the SUV stage and was celebrated as a compact character actor marking a new design approach in this vehicle class. At the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz is going a step further and adding the Vision GLK BLUETEC HYBRID to the line-up.
This study illustrates the possibilities of the “TrueBlueSolutions” strategy in the compact SUV segment, true to the guiding Mercedes-Benz theme of producing the world’s most efficient and clean drive systems. The Vision GLK BLUETEC HYBRID achieved this goal by combining the new BLUETEC four-cylinder diesel engine generation with a hybrid module. This combination generates an overall output of 165 kW/224 hp, and a torque of 560 Nm. Superior performance can be taken as read in view of these figures. And yet the Vision GLK BLUETEC HYBRID returns a fuel consumption of only 5.9 l per 100 km.
With its TrueBlueSolutions strategy, Mercedes-Benz is preparing the way for the introduction of the world’s most economical and clean vehicles. As in the case of the VISION GLK BLUETEC HYBRID, ultra-modern and efficient diesel engines with innovative BLUETEC emissions control, hybrid modules and intelligent energy management are among the centrepieces of this trailblazing generation of drive systems. The study for this compact characterful SUV has a combined output of 165 kW/224 hp and generates a combined torque of 560 newton metres, the world’s highest in this class. This enables the VISION GLK BLUETEC HYBRID to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds; its maximum speed is 215 km/h. Despite these performance figures, this multi-talented newcomer consumes an average of only 5.9 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres, and achieves the world’s lowest CO2 emissions in the SUV segment, with 157 grams per kilometre.
In conjunction with highly efficient BLUETEC emissions control and AdBlue injection, the GLK BLUETEC HYBRID meets the world’s most stringent exhaust emission limits, such as the American BIN5 and the European EU6 standards.
“With the refinement, driving pleasure, outstanding economy and effective environmental friendliness that is typical of our brand, the VISION GLK BLUETEC HYBRID ideally represents our ideas on future model generations in the world of SUVs”, says Dr Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management responsible for Corporate Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development.
Mixed double: state-of-the-art BLUETEC engine and hybrid module
In the hybrid drivetrain, a completely new four-cylinder CDI diesel unit with a displacement of 2.2 litres acts as the internal combustion engine. In terms of exhaust emissions technology, thanks to the latest BLUETEC technology with AdBlue injection, this diesel engine is already among the world’s very cleanest power units. The technical highlights of this extremely compact and refined CDI unit with a geared camshaft drive mounted on the flywheel side include fourth-generation common-rail direct injection with an injection pressure of 2000 bar, innovative piezoelectric injectors and a two-stage turbocharger system. The compact hybrid module - a disc-shaped electric motor between the CDI engine and the automatic transmission - improves both the environmental compatibility and the effectiveness of the drive system. The electric motor acts as both a generator and starter, and performs convincingly in two important respects: firstly it contributes decisively to fuel economy, and secondly it significantly enhances driving pleasure by virtue of the so-called boost effect.
The electric motor backs up the internal combustion engine during the fuel-intensive acceleration phase by contributing its maximum torque of 160 newton metres. As a result the occupants experience an effortless rush of power right from the start. In addition the system features a comfortable start-stop function which switches the engine off in certain circumstances - for example when the car is stopped at traffic lights.
The driver only needs to operate the accelerator in order to set off again. As the engine starts within milliseconds, the VISION GLK moves off with no delay. This direct starting also helps to minimise emissions and fuel consumption.
When it comes to braking, the procedures are reversed: the electric motor acts as a generator, feeding the electrical energy obtained by what is known as the “recuperation” process into an efficient yet compact lithium-ion battery. This energy can be retrieved when needed - for the next “boost” phase, for example. All these processes take place fully automatically, thanks to intelligent drive management.
Striking body design counters stylistic uniformity
With the VISION GLK BLUETEC HYBRID, a distinctive character is entering the SUV stage whose special appeal lies in a combination of the four-square original design of the legendary G-Class and the typical design features of today’s Mercedes-Benz passenger cars. Crisp lines and large taut body surfaces come together with the bodyshell characteristics of practical off-roaders, such as short overhangs, an upright front end, slim A-pillars, a steep windscreen and tight roof contours. For the first time, this body design enables typical off-roader advantages to be transferred to the more road-oriented, compact SUV class. An excellent view of the vehicle body and good all-round visibility go together with the raised seating position to enhance day-to-day suitability and ensure relaxed driving even in dense city traffic. The appealing design concept is reinforced by the special “alubeam blue” paint finish, whose incomparable depth further underlines the sporty aspects of the bodyshell design. Specially produced 20-inch light-alloy wheels and muscular wheel arches enhance the powerful aura of the Vision GLK BLUETEC HYBRID even further.
Interior: High-end atmosphere meets good ergonomics
The comfortable, high-quality interior of the Vision GLK BLUETEC HYBRID excels with a modern interpretation of surface styling, an impressive quality of materials and precise finishing. The dominant feature is the dashboard, which visually extends into the door panels, lending additional width to the generously dimensioned interior. An elegant, central section in brushed aluminium trim covers the entire width and divides the layout into three vertical levels. The upper section of the dashboard is lined in black leather, encompassing the instrument cluster and the fixed COMAND APS central display. The lower area of the interior and the seats accentuate the sporty nature of the study with leather upholstery and linings in a light shade of aquamarine, which echoes the colour effects of the “alubeam blue” exterior paintwork. Dark-blue piped seams provide a visually effective contrast. The driver’s armrest and the COMAND APS controller are located in ergonomically ideal positions.
The occupants are protected by a comprehensive safety concept based on an extremely rigid passenger cell and energy-absorbing deformation zones at the front and rear. In addition to airbags, sidebags and windowbags, the protective features include a driver kneebag and active head restraints.
VISION GLK appointments at the perceived level of the luxury class
This compact concept vehicle has technical features and appointments which are normally the preserve of higher vehicle classes. In addition to the anticipatory safety concept PRE-SAFE and the Intelligent Light System (ILS), these include the infotainment centre COMAND APS with HDD navigation, whose controls follow the tried-and-tested, intuitive operating logic familiar from the S-Class, as well as THERMOTRONIC 3-zone automatic climate control.
The extremely stable bodyshell raises the basic parameters by which comfort is defined to a level which is unprecedented in the compact SUV segment: Both handling stability and vibration/noise comfort are absolutely convincing in all conditions.
AGILITY CONTROL: Safety plus dynamic handling and comfort
The AGILITY CONTROL suspension of the on-road Vision GLK BLUETEC HYBRID substantially reconciles the conflicting aims of sporty and agile handling on the one hand and comfortable, smooth travel on the other. Thanks to “amplitude-dependent damping”, the suspension delivers a soft response during normal travel on moderately contoured roads or unmetalled surfaces. Comfort is maintained even when driving more briskly or during avoiding manoeuvres, as the dampers work harder in this situation to ensure maximum handling stability. At the same time the driver of the Vision GLK BLUETEC HYBRID is assisted by a speed-sensitive steering system. Parking and low-speed manoeuvring are made much easier because full servo assistance is made available. At higher speeds this servo assistance is reduced in the interests of improved handling stability.
Latest addition to the premium SUV segment
Mercedes-Benz has occupied the leading position in the off-road sector since the introduction of the legendary G-Class in 1979. With the first-generation ML-Class, which was launched in 1997, Mercedes-Benz defined the Sports Utility Vehicle in its modern interpretation. Together with the current model, which celebrated its premiere in 2005, sales of this model series are rapidly approaching the one million mark, making it one of the world’s most successful premium SUVs. Since 2006 another SUV from Mercedes-Benz has occupied the pole position in the SUV world - the GL-Class, whose occupants enjoy first-class travel in all circumstances, whether on or off-road.
The Vision GLK BLUETEC HYBRID now demonstrates how outstanding performance could be paired with minimal fuel consumption in the future. What is more, this combination need not be confined to the new GLK-Class, which will enter the market in autumn 2008.
PRESS RELEASE (Source: Mercedes-Benz via Autoblog)
PRESS | Norton set to drive the BMW Hydrogen 7
Norton Joins Will Ferrell, Jay Leno and Others To Be Among the First Americans to Hit the Roads In BMW’s Hydrogen-Powered Vehicle
Woodcliff, NJ - February 27, 2008… BMW today announced that highly respected film actor and renewable energy advocate Edward Norton is the latest person to receive keys to a BMW Hydrogen 7 - the first hydrogen-powered luxury sedan. The Golden Globe winner and two-time Academy Award nominee becomes the most recent member of the BMW Hydrogen 7 Pioneer Program, which gives industry leaders and prominent figures in entertainment, politics, business and more a BMW Hydrogen 7 for their daily use.
“The excitement of this car to me is that it demonstrates what we’re capable of, and it inspires me to keep advocating for a more sustainable way of life,” said Norton.
While Norton is widely known for his prolific and acclaimed acting career – which includes memorable roles in films such as Primal Fear (1996), for which he won a Golden Globe and received his first Oscar nomination; The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996); American History X (1998), for which he earned his second Oscar nod; and the critically acclaimed Fight Club (1999); among many others – Norton has also become a leading voice in the area of solar energy.
In 2003, Norton teamed up with oil giant and leading solar-panel producer BP to develop the Solar Neighbors Program, which aims to get photovoltaic (PV) panels onto low-income homes in Los Angeles. Norton brought star power to the cause with support from fellow celebrities – like Brad Pitt, who has also opted for the BMW Hydrogen 7 as his green ride of choice. Within its first year the program succeeded in getting resources for dozens of solar installations for inner-city families.
While the BMW Hydrogen 7 is not for sale, it is considered to be a milestone in bringing forward hydrogen as the sustainable fuel for individual transportation. Running in hydrogen mode, the BMW Hydrogen 7 essentially emits nothing but water vapor, representing a major step in reducing harmful CO2 emissions. It is not a concept car, but a production model vehicle that has successfully completed the entire Product Development Process.
BMW believes that hydrogen will replace petroleum as the long-term alternative to fossil fuel, and hopes the Hydrogen 7 will play a pioneering role in driving forward the hydrogen technologies that will ensure our mobility in the future. By harnessing the power and influence of individuals who, like Norton, are at the forefront of their respective disciplines, BMW hopes to continue to generate support of hydrogen-drive vehicles in the short term and stimulate demand for a viable hydrogen infrastructure in the long-term.
A number of entertainers, politicians, business leaders and more have already opted for a BMW Hydrogen 7 as their energy-efficient ride of choice in order to evaluate the technology. Those who have recently chosen the vehicle include previously announced members of the BMW Hydrogen 7 Pioneer Program: Will Ferrell, Jay Leno, opera star Placid Domingo and famed director Steve Gaghan, among others. Other notable figures who have opted for rides in a BMW Hydrogen 7 include Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie at the “Ocean’s 13″ premiere in Hollywood; Fox Entertainment Chairman Peter Liguori at the FOX All-Star Party in Santa Monica; Richard Gere and Sharon Stone at the Cinema for Peace Gala in Berlin; and “An Inconvenient Truth” producer Davis Guggenheim (Oscar® for the best Documentary Feature) and Best Foreign Language Film Oscar® winner, director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck at the 2007 Academy Awards. The vehicle has also made an impact oversees, with luminaries such as Michael Glos, German Federal Minister for Economy and Technology, and Günter Verheugen, Vice President of the European Commission, world renowned soprano Anna Netrebko and many others.
PRESS RELEASE (Source: BMW via AutoblogGreen)
