The Progressive Automotive X Team recently held a contest where they awarded $10 million to three teams of engineers with the best cars who could run on at least 100 mile per gallon. The winner of the mainstream class is called the Vary Light Car, weighing in at 830lbs, with abilities to accommodate 4 passengers, and it runs on 102 miles per gallon.

Li-Ion Motors Corp.'s Wave II came won in the "alternative side-by-side" category. this two passenger vehicle goes from 0 to 60 in 12 seconds and hits a top speed of 80 mph. In the contest, this new and exciting battery powered car was able to reach 187 miles per gallon.

The winner of the "alternative tandem class" was the E-Tracer, which ran on a whopping 205 miles per gallon. Instead of the regular car with 4 wheels, it almost looks like a motorcycle, with two wheels but engulfed by the res of the car around them.

In the end I feel that this push towards high milage will be extremely beneficial to society, but I do not think that the winners of the Progressive Automotive X Team's contest will sell. Their designs have wheels on the outside of the car, or others only have two wheels. It is a very good attempt for a new look and feel for the automotive industry but i don't think that society is ready for it.

Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703440604575495942389170202.html?mod=WSJ_Autos_LS_Autos_4

You can't resist it. It's electric! Boogie woogie, woogie..

Within the last five years a new company has emerged from the woodworks. This company is called Tesla Motors. Tesla Motors was founded in 2003 by a group of intrepid Silicon Valley engineers who set out to prove that electric vehicles could be awesome. Tesla first emerged in 2008 with their new electric car called the The Tesla Roadster. The Telsa Roadster hit the streets in early 2008 as a car with no equal. Two years later, over 1,000 Roadsters drive emissions-free in more than 25 countries.  Forget everything you know about the automobile. The Tesla electric drivetrain offers a radically different experience. The driver, the car, and the environment connect in ways they've never connected before. 

Tesla makes the best electric cars and electric power trains in the world. Tesla technology offers the most efficient path to a sustainable energy future. No hybrids. No hydrogen. No hype. Tesla's battery packs and power trains will help lessen global dependence on petroleum-based transportation and drive down the cost of electric vehicles.. By cooperating with other car manufacturers, we hope to put more electric cars on the road. Every Tesla and EV using Tesla Technology is a step towards making increasingly affordable electric cars available to the consumer. Tesla's mission is to increase the number and variety of electric cars available to mainstream consumers. “We're catalyzing change in the industry” - Tesla. Tesla vehicles and EVs powered by Tesla are fun to drive and environmentally responsible. They are causing other companies to invest in electric cars and to make their current models more environmentally friendly to appeal to the customers. They are what every company would like to see environmentally friends yet successful and great looking cars!

How Smart are You?

Smart USA has been getting interesting feedback after it released its vehicles in America in 2007. The car company has been widely popular among Europeans for the past decade and decided it was now time to amaze American consumers. In a report by CNN they claim, “At just under 9 feet long, the Smart car is about 3 feet shorter than the Mini Cooper and 7 feet shorter than the Ford Explorer. At 1,800 pounds, it's about 4,500 pounds lighter than an empty Hummer H2” (Pawlowski 1). This car has been recognized for its interesting look, high gas mileage, and compact size. Americans are finding this car to be more suitable for the city rather than the highway. It also comes at a good time when Americans are steering away from huge, gas-guzzling vehicles and looking for energy efficient alternatives.

While Smart did not start this trend of sub-compact vehicles, it acted on the demand for smaller vehicles in the U.S. Smart USA waited to enter the American market after selling their cars in Canada because they felt that U.S. consumers were not ready for this type of vehicle. However, the current lacking economy and desire to be green has caused an increased demand for smaller, cheaper, and more fuel-efficient vehicles. Increased compact vehicle sales are telling automakers that consumers are looking for value and function, not big SUVs. This has significantly changed automakers’ manufacturing lines and the way that they market to consumers in this competitive segment. Under these economic conditions, I predict that many other similar vehicles will enter the market to help manufacturers stay above water during these tough times.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/11/08/smart.car/index.html?iref=allsearch

Aptera

Aptera is a fairly new company that focuses on producing fuel efficient cars. This includes making cars that run on electricity, are aerodynamic, and have a light weight. Its current line of models, the Aptera 2 Series, starts at $25,000. The electric vehicle can be charged overnight to be at full capacity. The batteries are designed to last the average lifespan of current cars. The site claims that if you drive it 100 miles in a day, it only costs you about 50 cents. The car goes 0-60mph in under 10 seconds. Its top speed is 90mph. The car is currently only distributed in California.

Here you can see what the car looks like

http://www.aptera.com/look.php

The emergence of companies like these that mainly sell electric vehicles shows that the industry is clearly moving towards making vehicles that uses cleaner energy. The fact that an electric car is the company’s main product means the market is growing enough to allow such a focus. Being able to drive at least 100 miles a day should erase the common perception that an electric car will leave you stranded on the road out of batteries. However, these types of cars are still only sold mainly in California, so it seems unlikely that electric cars will become mainstream just yet. Now that technology has caught up to allow electric vehicles to run just as well as cars that run on gas, I think the only hurdle is the initial cost. In any case as technology advances and electric cars get cheaper, the trend for the auto industry is to produce more and more of these energy efficient vehicles.

http://www.aptera.com/

Blaming Toyota

Over the past few years, there has been much data recorded involving the Toyota Motor Corp. for blamed for accidents based on "sudden acceleration and found that the throttles were wide open and the brakes weren't engaged at the time of the crash." Many people argue that their Toyota model "surged out of control," however, it has been found that they mistakenly pushed the accelerator instead of the brakes. After the Department of Transportation did an investigation, the Toyota company was accused and blamed for their acceleration issues: its' "sticky accelerator pedals that don't return to idle and floor mats that can trap accelerators to the floor." There have been similar reports of mistakes due to acceleration found, involving Audi 5000 Sedans. This makes one wonder if it is really the Toyota corporation, or is it a human error?

Due to several accidents involving this vehicle, the maker has been sued by over 100 individuals who say the accidents were due to an electrical problem. I think that there may be a problem with the construction of this vehicle, since there have been many accidents; however, some people may have just used this as an excuse to get money for the damages to their vehicle. One may find that the ongoing production of this vehicle is unethical. Why should this model continue to produce cars when there could be a chance that it is the cause of many automobile accidents? Also, the fact that the maker is blaming the consumers for the accidents could just be them not trying to take responsibility for the inconvenient make of their vehicles.

Since the investigation continues to go on, the Toyota Motor company has "recalled more than eight million cars globally" to fix the accelerators and floor mats. This company has taken into account that they could lose a lot of money if they don't act fast and try to keep as many consumers as they can. Although there are many consumers who feel as though Toyota vehicles should no longer be brought, there are some who feel as though this make deserves another chance. I am one to agree. This corporation has been supplying many consumers globally with their vehicles, so why should it stop now? Even though there has been a decrease in the consumption of their product, I feel as though this maker will get through this period and continue to heighten its' position in the auto industry.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703834604575364871534435744.html

Diesels back.

Its been a two years that Audi USA has tried to get americans to go back to using diesel by selling its fuel efficiency. One of their major efforts came during the recent Superbowl, where Audi spend nearly 3 million dollars on a funny commercial that showed their diesel powered Q7 SUV as the consumer's answer to the "green police". The tactic seems to be paying off however, Audi buyer's now choose turbocharge direct injection, or TDI, in 40 % of their Q7s and about half of their A3 compact sedans. That more than doubled Audi's diesel sale expectations.
Americans are warming up to diesel and not just because of Audi. The recent development of low-sulfur diesel fuel and exhaust systems has cut nitrous-oxide emissions to levels acceptable even to California, creating a 50-state diesel market for the first time in decades. These diesel engines now emit 30 % less green house gasses and increase milage by 40 %. Diesel also burns more effectively than gasoline and hybrids, therefor diesel generates more power.
However, Diesel does have some disadvantages. Premiums of $2,000 to $4,000 are common for cars with the diesel option. And diesel fuel prices can be unpredictable. Diesel spiked as much as $1 higher than gasoline in the summer of 2008, but the two are close to par now. 
Diesel is still a work in progress but who knows, maybe you're next car will run on diesel.


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703632304575451720343127244.html?mod=WSJ_auto_IndustryCollection

Corporate Values of the Big Three

I took a look at the corporate values of the three major American automotive companies: Ford, GM, and Chrysler. I checked what points they emphasized and whether there were any significant differences between the companies.

Ford

Ford emphasizes community, diversity, and environment. They show examples of community service, display a history of diversity, and have articles on environmentally friendly programs. They do not explicitly state their values, but rather show examples of their achievements.

GM

GM emphasizes environmental commitment, safety initiatives, diversity, community, partners, and education. They show clear examples of green technology, assures safety, describes how global the company is, states principles they value, and provide an interactive program designed to teach kids of all ages about the auto industry and its impact. I think this site had the most in-depth, clear information on the company’s ethics.

Chrysler

Chrysler emphasizes global diversity, environmental responsibility, green products, and green fuels. They show specific models and its standards, focus on biofuels as an energy source, and promote their electric vehicles. I think site is poorly organized because the corporate values are not listed on the main page, and the values are not all in one place. Their focus on renewable energy sources and electric vehicles were heartening.

http://www.ford.com/our-values
http://www.gm.com/corporate/responsibility/
http://www.chryslergroupllc.com/