Car Blog

Green Car Journal’s Award for Automotive Environmental Achievement to be Announced Nov. 20

The winner of the 2009 Green Car of the Year(R) (GCOY) award will be announced Nov. 20, 2008 during the Los Angeles Auto Show’s Press Days. Green Car Journal, the leading automotive environmental magazine, initiated this annual award in 2005 and it has continued to grow in significance as consumer demand for more fuel efficient and environmentally positive vehicles has increased exponentially.

“Each year we choose the LA Auto Show to make this important announcement because California — and especially the greater Los Angeles region — has historically been the epicenter for both automotive and environmental innovation, and that’s what this award is all about,” said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal and editor of GreenCar.com.

The Green Car of the Year(R) award is designed to recognize environmental achievement in the automotive industry. After considering scores of new vehicle models that raise the bar in environmental performance, five automobile nominees will be identified in advance of the press conference.

Last year, the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid was named Green Car Journal’s 2008 Green Car of the Year(R), with jurors noting that a Hybrid SUV achieving a city mpg rating on par with today’s mid-size cars ends the argument that efficiency and vehicle choice are incompatible. The previous year’s winner was the Toyota Camry Hybrid and the inaugural 2006 Green Car of the Year distinction was awarded to the Mercury Mariner Hybrid.

GCOY Selection Process

Green Car Journal staff narrow down all of the eligible vehicles to the five finalists based upon research and the driving experience. The winning vehicle must be in production by Jan. 1, 2009.

“In judging the Green Car of the Year(R), emphasis is placed on vehicles that advance overall efficiency and functionality while decreasing its environmental footprint,” said Cogan. “All current models are eligible for consideration and although ‘newness’ is a factor, it’s the impact that a vehicle and its environmentally positive technologies are likely to have in the marketplace that win the award.”

The winning vehicle is then chosen by a select jury of highly knowledgeable experts drawn from relevant fields such as transportation technology, automotive design, environmental protection and others. Notable past jurors have included leaders of the nation’s most recognized environmental groups, such as the Sierra Club, Ocean Futures Society, and World Resources Institute as well as automotive icons such as Carroll Shelby and “Tonight Show” host, Jay Leno.

Green Car of the Year(R)

The GCOY award is an important part of Green Car Journal’s mission to showcase environmental progress in the auto industry. Since 1992, Green Car Journal has focused on the intersection of automobiles, energy, and environment, first with an industry newsletter and then with an award-winning auto enthusiast magazine. Today, the magazine is considered the premier source of information on high fuel efficiency, low emission, advanced technology, and alternative fuel vehicles. Green Car of the Year(R) is a registered trademark of Green Car Journal and RJ Cogan Specialty Publications Group, Inc.

Los Angeles Auto Show

For the third year in a row, the Los Angeles Auto Show will be held in the fall. The show opens for media only Nov. 19 and 20. Media registration opens September 8. Public days run from Nov. 21-30. For general information visit http://www.laautoshow.com/.

Source: Los Angeles Auto Show

BMW Hydrogen 7s Travel Over 4,000 Miles on a Two-Week Tour of 31 Cities Sponsored by U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Energy, the California Fuel Cell Partnership and Leading Automakers

The BMW Hydrogen 7 — the first hydrogen-powered luxury sedan — pulled into Los Angeles this morning to finish a more than 4,000 mile cross-country journey featuring hydrogen-powered cars by the world’s leading automakers in the 2008 Hydrogen Road Tour. The purpose of the tour was to show that leading automakers and energy producers are doing their part to move away from fossil fuels to hydrogen, and showcase the cooperation among forward-thinking lawmakers, NGOs, the DOT, DOE and the industry.

Logging an unprecedented “strictly hydrogen” cruising range of over 200 miles, the BMW Hydrogen 7 mono-fuel completed the two-week, 31 city tour, tour with outstanding reliability, leaving only a trail of potable water vapor in its tracks. The 200-mile cruising range is equivalent to over 25mpg. In the BMW Hydrogen 7 bi-fuel vehicle, the cruising range topped 125 miles. By optimizing the combustion process in the mono-fuel Hydrogen 7, we achieved an increase in range of over 60% over the bi-fuel Hydrogen 7.

Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine kicked off the tour by driving a BMW Hydrogen 7 off the starting line when the tour began in Portland, ME on August 11.

BMW provided a fleet of four hydrogen-powered cars — two BMW Hydrogen 7 mono-fuel vehicles that use only liquid hydrogen and two BMW Hydrogen 7 bi- fuel vehicles that can switch from hydrogen to gasoline. The four BMW vehicles along with the core BMW CleanEnergy team were on the road for the entire two-week tour.

The Hydrogen Road Tour is a partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Energy, the California Fuel Cell Partnership and the National Hydrogen Association. In addition to BMW, participants included Daimler, GM, Honda, Hyundai-Kia, Nissan, Toyota, and VW. Providing clean, domestically produced hydrogen fuel for this tour were Linde, BMW’s hydrogen fuel partner for the Tour, and Air Products.

“The miles covered on this tour are a highly valuable contribution to the nearly 2 million miles already logged by our global fleet of 100 BMW Hydrogen 7s. This tour has shown thousands of people that hydrogen is truly the best alternative transportation fuel, and hydrogen vehicles are approaching commercial availability. An internal combustion engine, powered by hydrogen should play an important role in the future of sustainable mobility,” said Tom Baloga, BMW Vice President of Engineering, US. “What we have learned in these past two weeks is that there is intense enthusiasm, among the public and among our nation’s legislators, in hydrogen as a viable alternative to fossil fuels. The next step is to extend the nation’s hydrogen refueling infrastructure from coast to coast.”

What was most noteworthy about the Hydrogen Road Tour was the partnership between the world’s leading automakers, key federal departments, influential non-governmental organizations and hydrogen fuel providers to bring the reality of practical, clean energy to our nation’s legislators and the public. The tour visited key members of Congress in their home states to allow them the opportunity to see and drive these vehicles.

BMW Hydrogen 7 was the only vehicle on the tour that stores liquid hydrogen to power an internal combustion engine. Hydrogen is one of the cleanest energy sources available. Essentially the only tailpipe emission is water vapor.

Mono-fuel Hydrogen 7 actually cleans the air

The tour fleet included the mono-fuel version of the BMW Hydrogen 7, equipped with a V12 internal combustion engine (ICE), which has been engineered to run exclusively on hydrogen. It was created to showcase the zero CO2 and low emissions potential and feasibility of a dedicated hydrogen internal combustion engine (ICE).

The Hydrogen 7′s V12 mono-fuel ICE produces no CO2 and near-zero emissions, while not sacrificing performance. In fact, the tailpipe emissions are so infinitesimal they pushed the limits of current emission testing technology.

Independent authorities, including the Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), have confirmed these results. ANL conducted emission tests on BMW Hydrogen 7 mono-fuel vehicles in early March 2008 and found that not only were the emissions infinitesimally small but when running, the vehicle actually cleaned the air.

Exhaust emissions clean enough to drink

Recent studies have also confirmed the water emitted by the Hydrogen 7 is potable, i.e., safe to drink.

Exhaust from the mono-fuel Hydrogen 7 tested by FGL Environmental was found to be well within the limits set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for safe drinking water standards. The Maximum Contaminant Limit, abbreviated MCL, is the maximum limit set by the EPA for chemicals found in drinking water. Results showed the MCL from mono-fuel H7 emissions to be in compliance with the health safety standards.

BMW Hydrogen 7 on the road

For more than a year, the BMW fleet of bi-fuel Hydrogen 7s has been an important milestone on the road to a hydrogen future, with more than 150 Pioneers driving nearly 2 million miles so far. The Pioneer Program, as it is called, has provided the flexibility of being able to gather real-world driving experience driving on hydrogen with the peace of mind that comes from knowing you won’t run out of fuel. In addition to the BMW hydrogen pioneers, hundreds of people from academia, students, media, as well as the general public, have had the opportunity to experience the BMW Hydrogen 7.

See the Tour online at www.hydrogenroadtour.com. Check out the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FE6-rlbeqlc. Learn more about the BMW Hydrogen 7 at http://bmwcleanenergy.com/. With a nationwide hydrogen infrastructure in place — the goal of the Hydrogen Road Tour — the hydrogen future would be a reality.

Source: BMW of North America, LLC

What you don’t know about your car insurance policy could be draining your wallet right now. Insure.com, Inc. has revealed 12 factors that may be costing you money.

1. You’ll pay for your friend’s bad driving

If your friend borrows your car and crashes it, you’ll have to file a claim with your insurance company. You’ll have to pay any deductible that applies and your rates could go up as a result of your claim, especially if you have made other recent claims.

2. Your personal property in your car isn’t covered by your auto insurance

Stolen or damaged items like compact discs aren’t covered by your car insurance.

3. You may be entitled to payment for sales tax and registration fees for a new car

Most states require insurers to pay sales taxes on total loss settlements. Some states require the insurer to pay it at the time of loss while other states require it to be paid only if you purchase a replacement vehicle within a certain time period. Make your request for a sales tax reimbursement no matter where you live.

4. You may be entitled to a diminished value claim in some states

Diminished value is based on the idea that any car that has been in an accident, regardless of how well the repairs are done, is worth less than the exact same car that hasn’t been in an accident. However, most states allow car insurers to use policy language that officially disallows diminished value claims.

There’s one way you may be entitled to a diminished value claim: If someone else hits you and you make a damage claim on that person’s insurance. That’s called a third-party claim and it’s possible to get diminished value damages as a third party.

5. You may be able to “stack” your coverage

Stacking uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage means you can collect payment more than once within the same auto policy or across two auto policies. There are two scenarios for stacking: First, if you have multiple cars, you can collect the limit of your UM/UIM policy to cover full payment for damages. Second, if you have more than one policy with UM/UIM coverage, you can make a claim under each policy until all your damages are recovered. Check the language of your policy.

6. Making a claim could increase your car insurance rates, but by how much?

When an insurance company decides to raise your premiums because you make a claim, it doesn’t follow any hard and fast rules; many factors are involved. For example, if you make a claim and have a birthday before renewal time, your birthday might bump you into a higher risk category along with the claim.

Some insurance companies have “accident forgiveness” guidelines. When you buy or renew your policy, ask how to qualify for accident forgiveness.

7. If you don’t drive much, “usage-based” car insurance could save you money

“Usage-based” car insurance allows you to buy coverage based on how much you actually drive. If you don’t drive much, this can save you up to 60 percent on your insurance. Progressive is the first insurance company to offer “pay-as-you-drive” policies through its MyRate program. Your mileage will be measured by a wireless device installed in a car port.

If your insurance company doesn’t offer usage-based coverage, inquire about “low-mileage discounts.”

8. Your credit history may affect your car insurance premium

Car insurers believe that your credit history is an indicator of whether you are going to make a claim, and price your insurance policy accordingly where states allow it.

9. You must officially cancel your insurance policy when you switch insurers

You can cancel your coverage at any time by notifying the company in writing of your intended date of termination. Most consumers assume that if they decide to terminate the policy at the end of the coverage period, they can simply ignore the bill. Insurance companies don’t see it that way. They will send you another bill for the next premium payment, and when you don’t pay it, the company can cancel you for nonpayment, which goes on your credit record.

10. You can wait to add your teenager to your policy until he or she is licensed

In most cases, insurance companies don’t require you to add your teenager to your policy until the teen has his or her driver’s license. The exception may be if you are in a high-risk insurance pool; you may then have to add your child when they receive their permit.

11. Paying in installments will usually increase your overall bill

“Fractional premium” fees are usually charged when you divide your annual premium payment into installments rather than pay for a year of coverage all at once. It can be as little as a few dollars per payment, but the more you break it down, the more it adds up. When you apply for the policy, ask what the fees are for paying in installments. If you can, pay your annual premium all at once.

12. Your car model affects your premium, but by how much?

Auto insurers have a premium-rating system for every car model, usually based on “Vehicle Series Ratings” (VSRs) received from the Insurance Services Office (ISO). This rating indicates how comparatively expensive your vehicle should be to insure. Factors include susceptibility to theft and typical claims losses for the vehicle.

If you are shopping for a new car, contact your insurance company and ask about the premium difference among the cars you are considering.

Source: Insure.com, Inc.

A recent AP-Yahoo News poll indicates that nine out of 10 Americans say they expect rising gas prices to cause financial hardships over the next six months.

“If you are one of the majority looking to squeeze as much value as possible from what you pay at the pump, be sure to check your vehicle’s engine air filter annually, and if it is dirty, replace it,” says Ramon Nunez, Director of Filtration for Bosch. Bosch is the joint venture owner of Purolator, a leading supplier of filters to vehicle manufacturers and the aftermarket in North America.

According to the United States Department of Energy, replacing a clogged air filter improves a car’s gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. And, because it keeps impurities from entering the engine, it also protects against long-term damage to the inside of the engine.

A clogged or restricted air filter is likely to hinder airflow and draw contaminants into the engine. In today’s finely tuned fuel injected systems, this not only leads to poor fuel economy but causes premature wear to the fuel injectors and moving components in the engine.

“For example, Purolator’s PureONE air filter is 99.5 percent efficient,” Nunez said, “and its specially engineered, oil-wetted filtration media offers twice the capacity of conventional filters to trap harmful contaminants that can enter and damage a vehicle’s engine. This, ultimately, helps to improve the performance characteristics of a vehicle as well as its gas mileage.”

Consider the numbers. The average motorist drives approximately 12,000 miles per year. The average car gets about 20 miles per gallon and therefore, uses 600 gallons of gas a year. At $4 per gallon, this is equivalent to $2,400 per year. A 10 percent saving is equivalent to $240 per year or approximately $20 per month. An average air filter costs $15 to $20 at retail. Whether you get the service done by an automotive repair technician or choose to do it yourself, you can recover the money spent in no more than just a couple of months!

Source: Purolator Filters NA LLC

Chrysler LLC’s Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) began rolling off the assembly line this week at its Newark (Delaware) Assembly Plant. Chrysler is offering the two-mode hybrid powertrain on both vehicles built at the plant, Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen.

• Advanced two-mode hybrid system available in Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen

• Intelligent implementation of new manufacturing processes manages quality, cost

• Two-mode hybrid technology provides fuel-saving benefits of a full-hybrid system, including electric-only operation

In order to smoothly add one of the automotive industry’s most advanced technologies into their established build process, cross-functional launch teams conducted highly accurate, cost-effective computer simulation of new assembly processes. Similar efforts were conducted at tooling suppliers.

“The implementation of this new manufacturing process was done intelligently, with both quality and cost in mind,” said Joe Ozdowy, Plant Manager of Newark Assembly. “I’d like to congratulate and thank the team for their dedication while bringing these important new products to market to help satisfy the changing needs of our Dodge and Chrysler customers.”

“The members of UAW Local 1183 continue to prove that they have the expertise, the experience, the training and the professionalism to successfully accomplish the most demanding and complex work,” said Larry Dixon, President of UAW Local 1183. “This demonstration of excellence is something the men and women of UAW 1183 and UAW 1212 should be proud of.”

The production of early pilot vehicles was done on the plant’s assembly line which helped to root out anomalies early in the pre-production process, helping to ensure a higher quality launch.

Production of vehicles with the hybrid powertrain differs in several ways from production of those with conventional powertrains. New processes were implemented to accommodate HEV production, including a unique powertrain assembly process, and ergonomic-assist systems to aid in new functions, such as HEV battery installation.

There are several unique components associated with HEV production that are installed at the plant, including:

• 300-volt battery

• Two-mode transmission

• Torque power inverter module (TPIM)

• Electric air conditioning

• Auxiliary power module

• High-voltage cables (AC and DC)

• Hydro-electric power steering pump

• Hybrid gate way module

• Cooling module

Dodge Durango was the leader in its segment for initial quality, according to J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Initial Quality Study(SM). With the advent of HEV production, a new series of error-proofing processes was put in place to ensure continued quality excellence.

“We are proud of the highly skilled and dedicated employees at Chrysler’s Newark plant,” Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner said. “The employees at Newark Assembly continue to work hard to ensure the success of this new product line, and we are looking forward to these new hybrid vehicles being available to the public.”

The Advanced Two-mode Hybrid System

Chrysler LLC’s advanced, state-of-the-art two-mode full hybrid system — developed in partnership with General Motors, Daimler and The BMW Group — integrates proven automatic-transmission technology with a patented hybrid-electric drive system to deliver the world’s first two-mode full hybrid.

As a result of low- and high-speed electrically variable transmission (EVT) modes, the system is defined as a “two-mode hybrid.” In addition, the sophisticated fuel-saving system incorporates four fixed-gear ratios for high efficiency and power-handling capabilities. During the two EVT modes, the system can use the electric motors to improve fuel economy, acceleration, and for regenerative braking to utilize energy that would normally be lost during braking or deceleration. The energy is stored in the batteries for later use.

The system’s two modes are optimized for city and highway driving.

In the first mode — at low speed and with light loads — the vehicle can operate in three ways:

• Electric power only

• Engine power only

• Any combination of engine and electric power

The two-mode hybrid provides all of the fuel-saving benefits of a full-hybrid system, including electric-only operation. In this mode, the engine is “shut off,” with the vehicle moving under electric-only power at low speed. The result is a significant reduction in fuel consumption in heavy stop-and-go traffic.

The second mode is used primarily at highway speeds. In addition to electric assist, the second mode provides full power from engine when conditions demand it, such as when passing, pulling a trailer or climbing a steep grade.

Pricing for the full-size 4×4 sport-utility hybrid electric vehicles is nearly $8,000 below the competition. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for the new 2009 Dodge Durango HEMI(R) Hybrid is $45,340, including $800 for destination. The MSRP for the new 2009 Chrysler Aspen HEMI Hybrid is $45,570, including $800 for destination. Additionally, customers are expected to receive an estimated tax credit of $1,800.

Newark Assembly Plant

The 3.4 million square feet Newark Assembly plant has 1,000 employees and is represented by UAW Local 1183 and UAW Local 1212. The facility was built in 1951 as a tank plant and converted to an automobile plant in 1957. The 1998 Dodge Durango was introduced in September 1997. The all-new 2004 Dodge Durango production was launched October 2003. The Chrysler Aspen was launched August 2006. Hybrid production began in August 2008.

Source: Chrysler LLC

New 2009 Infiniti G37 Sedan, G37x Coupe and Revised M35 Make Public Debuts

The all-new 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible, the first-ever open-top iteration of the highly popular Infiniti G, is not quite ready for its world debut. That honor is scheduled for the Los Angeles Auto Show this coming November. That didn’t stop Nissan Senior Vice President and Design Director Shiro Nakamura from providing a preview photo of the new G Convertible on Saturday, August 16 in conjunction with Infiniti activities at the 58th annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Based on the current G37 Coupe, the G37 Convertible promises stunningly seductive styling and G-worthy dynamic performance. The new G37 Convertible will feature a three-piece automatic retracting hardtop, to retain a coupe- like roofline, and available unique interior treatments. “Our biggest challenge in designing the new G Convertible was keeping the beauty of the G37 Coupe on which it is based,” said Nakamura. “I believe we have succeeded.”

Infiniti also displayed three new 2009 Infiniti models on the lawn near the famed Pebble Beach Golf Course’s 18th green:

• The Infiniti G37 Sedan, featuring a new 328-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 engine

• The Infiniti G37x Coupe, a new all-wheel drive addition to the Infiniti G Coupe lineup

• The Infiniti M35, with a new 3.5-liter V6 engine rated at 303 horsepower and a new 7-speed automatic transmission

In addition, Infiniti sponsored a special design exhibit in coordination with Hearst Magazines, “The Infiniti House of Inspiration.”

Open throughout the week of the Concours d’Elegance, the exhibit showcased important designs from a variety of disciplines that share a similar philosophy with Infiniti. Among the select companies and exhibitors from the worlds of architecture, interior design and fashion were Fambuena, Paola Lenti, Carlos Miele, George Nakashima, Louis Poulsen, Duncan Quinn, Riga, Ligne Roset, Stua and Tsunami Glassworks. The boldly designed 2009 Infiniti FX crossover SUV was one of the centerpieces of “The Infiniti House of Inspiration.”

Infiniti was also the sponsor of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Media Center.

About the 2009 Infiniti G37 Sport Sedan and G37 Sport Coupe

The Infiniti G premium high-performance sport sedan receives a significant upgrade under the skin in 2009 with the addition of a new VQ37VHR “VVEL” 3.7-liter V6 rated at 328 horsepower. It is mated to a new 7-speed automatic transmission or close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission. Now designated as the Infiniti G37 Sedan, other major changes include new available sport brakes, a new sport 18-inch wheel design and standard Scratch Shield paint (self-healing clearcoat finish). The 2009 G37 Sedan is available in four models – G37, G37 Journey, G37S Sport 6MT and G37x AWD. It goes on sale in September 2008.

For 2009, the G37 Coupe’s performance envelope expands with the addition of a new G37x AWD model with advanced ATESSA E-TS(TM) all-wheel drive system. Also new is a 7-speed automatic transmission with Drive Sport (DS) Mode and Downshift Rev Matching (the G37 Coupe is also available with a 6-speed manual transmission). The 2009 G37 Coupe is available in four models – G37, G37 Journey, G37S Sport 6MT and G37x AWD – each with standard 330-horsepower 3.7-liter VQ-series V6 with VVEL technology. It goes on sale in September 2008.

Source: Infiniti