Hybrid/Greener Cars

[thewayne]

Short blurb on Wired. It's not terribly interesting, but it brought up one point that I hadn't considered, the same point also explains (at least partially) why we're unlikely to see Brazillian sugar cane fuel here: the E85 fuel, made with 85% corn, represents a huge amount of money for Archer-Daniels-Midland. Never mind that it's only 10% more efficient than petroleum (1 unit of energy used in production produces 1.1 units of usable fuel), whereas sugard cane ethanol is much higher.

We would have loved to have gotten a Prius when we bought our Matrix, but a priority was to get 4WD. Maybe in another five or so years they'll have such a vehicle. (yes, I know Toyota is coming out with a hybrid Rav4, but I want more of a sedan vehicle than a Jeep-type vehicle.)

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.07/play.html?pg=6

Comments

Ethanol Vehicle

[(Anonymous)]

ZAP www.zapworld.com ZP (NYSE). A California based company is planning on bringing a Brazilian made car to the US, the Obvio! 828, that is a hybrid that can run on ANY combination of ethanol and gas.That means E85, E100, all gasoline, ANY combination. Zap is also the only car company who is selling a Chinese manufactured car in the US the 100% electric Xebra city car.

Saturn vue greener car

[aerynn-sun.livejournal.com]

Bear went on Saturn's site and they are coming out with a partial hybride. The electric engine I think runs only when in idle or starting up the car. Something to use in stop and go traffic and city driving. It was at there website but I currently can't go looking for it. Anyway it brings it's mileage up to my Ion. Now if they could do that for the Ion.....