SustainLane Weekly Green
December 2008
Edition 82

Greetings!

"Are We There Yet?"
 
Pose this question to the U.S. government's National Intelligence Council with regard to clean technology, and the answer is a resounding... Not for at least twenty years.

But automakers large and small are forging ahead, working to replace fossil-fuel with everything from longer range batteries to air. We've even heard of one independent inventor working on a vehicle powered by water.

In this issue, we take a look at current trends in the green auto market, at electric vehicles, and at other technologies being developed around the globe.

For those who don't have the capital to invest in a new, clean car, we offer tips for getting hybrid-like mileage out of your current car. And speaking of all those old cars, we also look at where used cars end up.

In this newsletter, we also offer you a riddle. Every answer we receive counts as an entry to win a stainless-steel SustainLane water bottle. Send us your comments, we love hearing from you!

Did you know? Our featured products and businesses are 100% paid-placement free. They are solely intended to represent the views of the SustainLane community.
In This Issue
Life in the Fastlane
Drive Like A Pro
What Happens to Used Cars?
Featured Product: Xebra Electric Sedan
Answer This Riddle and Win!
Video: Who Killed the Electric Car
LifeIntheFastLaneLife in the Fastlane
Are we there yet boy At the Los Angeles Auto Show this year, car-makers from around the world unveiled new concept and mass market green cars. Who said electric car battery technology wasn't up to snuff?

Here's what's new and what's hot in green cars:
  • New Fuels: Take a deep breath because the next big thing to power cars powers us, too: air. For years, compressed air has been used by mechanics to run their power tools, and now it may power our cars too.
  • New Materials: Changing how much a car weighs is the preoccupation of modern car designers, and aluminum is literally taking a load off their minds.
  • Diesel: 2008's green car of the year was Volkswagen's Jetta TDI.


SustainLane user Debra B. raves about her Jetta:

         
Debra B.Four Stars"I bought this car used 5 years ago, when it looked like we were about to go to war over oil. It more than doubled my miles per gallon while being able to run on a non-petroleum, alternate fuel, biodiesel...Everyone in the house loves driving this car."

- Debra B.


Thoughts on green cars
? Blog about it at SustainLane.com!
New Gorilla in the Greenhouse Episode!
Gorilla in the GreenhouseAttention boys and girls of all ages: we just released the newest episode of Gorilla in the Greenhouse!

In this episode, the city's hooked on "clean, green, mountain energy." But when the gang realizes that "clean and green" is actually a massive coal-seeking mechanical worm on it's way to remove their favorite mountain, they get to work. Will they be in time to stop the evil Dr. Hufflebot? Watch and find out.

Watch Gorilla in the Greenhouse


Try it out, and let us know how it works for you! E-mail us at community@sustainlane.com.
DriveLikeAProDrive Like A Pro
Steering Wheel The fact is that even as sleek, clean tech cars hit the market in the next several years, you won't necessarily have the funds to hot-foot it to the nearest dealership and snatch up one of those hybrids.

Our friends at Ecomodder.com suggest more than a hundred things you can do to get hybrid-like mileage out of your car... even if you're still driving your grandma's '91 Camry.

Click here for tips to improve your mileage�

Got your own driving tips? Share them on
SustainLane.com
WhatHappenstoUsedCarsWhat Happens to Used Cars?
Abandoned Beetle
The new car market may be stalled now, but the proverbial pistons are still firing in the minds of green car designers.

As these cars come onto the market in the coming years, and as people begin to trade in their old cars for more fuel-efficient and low-emission models, many of you may be wondering, what exactly happens to the old cars?

More importantly, what happens to the environment? 
Habitat for Humanity reuses some clunkers in its Cars for Homes program, but that's not the only place they end up.

Click here to find out where used cars go�



How long have you had your car, and do you plan to trade it in for a greener one? Tell us on SustainLane.com.
FeaturedProductXebraFeatured Product: Xebra Electric Sedan
Xebra Electric Sedan Most of our car trips happen in our neighborhoods. If you're thinking of buying an electric car to do your daily errands, consider the Xebra Electric Sedan by Zap.
Cost of the Xebra: $11,700; Never having to gas-up again: priceless.


Click for the Xebra Electric Sedan by Zap

Four Stars
Troy S."ZAP has moved us one step closer to complete independence from the oil mongrals, as well as creating a healthier environment for our children. They have created a product which never uses gas or oil..."
click here for more

- Troy S.

What do you think of the Xebra Electric Sedan? Review it now at:
SustainLane.com!
Auto News You Can Use
Electric Car Charging
Clean Energy Technology
Are we there yet?

GPM's Instead of MPG's
Would re-labeling stickers to reflect gallons per mile affect perceptions of fuel efficiency?

Charging Full Speed Ahead
Hawaii plans to have the nation's first statewide network of chargers for plug-in electric cars.

In with the old, out with the new?
Is it better to buy a new hybrid, or keep your current car?

Colorado Man to Build 50,000 Electric Cars
Chevron may be sitting on a valuable electric car battery patent, but they can't stop the little guy.


Inspired to discuss a story? Post your comments at
SustainLane.com.
GreenWhatYouHaveAnswer This Riddle and Win!
Interstate 76Three auto execs need to get to Washington D.C. to plead with Congress for a $34 million bailout of the auto industry. It is approximately 524 miles from Detroit to DC, or 1048 miles roundtrip. Each of them plans to drive a hybrid vehicle.

If they each follow the directions on Google Maps, the trip will take them approximately 8 hours and 49 minutes, 184 miles of which will be spent traveling east on Interstate 76.

If Ford's Alan Mullaly leaves at 6:00 am, Chrysler's Robert Nardelli leaves at 6:37 am, and GM's Rick Wagoner leaves at 6:38 am, and each of them drives just under 70 mph, they should all reach D.C. by 3:00 pm, giving them plenty of time to rest up for their Congressional appearance the following day.
 
Which option is most sustainable? For the executives to drive their hybrids ~18-hours roundtrip... For each of to fly in his personal (and much maligned) jet... or for the three to hop on a commercial flight? 

Add your two cents here...on SustainLane.com.

Each comment counts as one entry to win a stainless steel SustainLane water bottle! Visit sustainlane.com.

VideoWhoKilledtheElectricCarVideo: Who Killed the Electric Car?
Electric Car Trailer"Who Killed the Electric Car" tracks the development of the electric car in the United States, its poor marketing, and subsequent downturn in the late 1990's.

Was this car doomed to fail due to the agendas of greedy auto manufacturers?

Watch the trailer now.
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