Many people love classic cars; but if you’re concerned about your environmental impact, how can anyone enjoy driving one? For some, the answer may be having the drivetrain converted to all-electric power and Duke’s Garage just outside Denver, Colorado has created an “Electric Pony” to show off their abilities to do just that. The classic car dealer and restoration specialist has taken a ‘65 Ford Mustang convertible in need of some extensive rebuilding and rehabilitated both its looks and its emissions output. The pony car is now powered using twinned electric motors supplied with current from a 144 volt lithium ion battery pack under the hood. The seats have been redone using recycled foam and are swathed in a classy hemp herringbone fabric with dark piping, as are the door panels. Finished in a dark olive, the “Electric Pony” is now green inside and out and ready to carry passengers about in style for 50 to 60 miles between charges. Check out their website for lots of pics of their handiwork. Duke’s will offer the service for $15,000 to $20,000, depending on the car and are eyeing a Volkswagen Beetle and Karman Ghia as their next projects.
2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid - Click above for high-res gallery
Four months after unveiling the 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan In Los Angeles, Ford is now finally shipping cars to the dealerships. Ford originally planned to start production in December 2008, but the collapse of sales last fall meant that there was excess inventory of 2009 models. As a result, the December shutdown was extended and production began in earnest in February. That means that anyone hoping to cash in on the maximum $3,400 tax credit on the hybrid versions will have to act fast. Ford has passed the 60,000 sales mark for its hybrids, which means that after March 31, the tax credits are being phased out. After this month the tax credit drops to $1,700 until the end of September. Between October 1 and March 31, 2010, buyers will get only $850 back on their tax returns. After that you’re out of luck unless the state you live in offers some incentives.
Inspired by the success that Germany has seen in boosting new car sales (up by over 20% in that country), the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders in the United Kingdom drafted a plan and submitted it to lawmakers in the UK that recommended a car scrapping scheme similar to the one recently instituted by their European neighbors.
Apparently, Ford is so sure that the UK government will go along with the plan that it’s adjusted its projected sales figures upward in anticipation of the plan’s impact on the remaining months of the year. Ingvar Sviggum, Ford Europe sales chief, says, “I really expect that the British will introduce a scrappage scheme,” and Autocar reports that other European automakers are also betting on it.
In February, the UK saw a 22 percent drop in new car sales. Some analysts are predicting that March will be even worse, in part due to the expectation that a vehicle scrapping plan is imminent. Sounds like that may be exactly the case.
If you’re at all familiar with the hardcore environmentalist mindset, then you know that there is really no limit to how far you can take thinking about your impact on the world. Locavore, the 2007 New Oxford Dictionary’s Word of the Year, for example, means someone who only (or mostly) eats food that comes from local sources. Well, we might soon be having the same sort of discussion about where we get our energy from, based on the thinking behind this WorldChanging post.
When people talk about eating more eco-friendly one big question is: “Do I eat organic food that was shipped thousands of miles or eat something less environmentally-friendly but was grown right around the corner?” The same question can be applied to energy. Does it make sense to move clean energy around on the grid or do we want to be, in WorldChanging’s word, “Locavolts”? Local, clean energy would be the best, but that’s not always an option. So, what would you prefer to use to power up your electric car or plug-in hybrid?
Ford plans to use the Leipzig Motor Show to unveil a new version of the super popular Mondeo capable of running on gasoline, ethanol or liquified petroleum gas. As a flex-fuel car, a computer can detect what concentrations of gas or ethanol are pumped into the tank and can adjust the engine’s operation accordingly. The tri-fuel-capable car will use a 2.0L Duratec four cylinder engine that puts out 145 horsepower on either gasoline or ethanol or 141 horses on LPG.
There are dual tanks in this vehicle, so the total range when both tanks are filled is nearly 800 miles, depending on which bodystyle is chosen (the wagon has a smaller LPG tank). Sales are expected to commence in Europe in April with a starting price of €27,500. Not that it matters, since the car’s not coming to America and the conversion rates are never proper indicators, but that equals $35,150 in the U.S.
Last year, the amount of vehicle miles traveled (VMT) dropped for the first time in just about forever. It was a big drop, too. In comparing November 2008 to November 2007, the USDOT found that Americans drove 12.9 billion miles (5.3 percent) less. The VMT drop kind of made sense though most of 2008 because of the $4 a gallon gas prices that forcesd many people to find alternatives to one-person-one-car. But now, with gas back down to $2, we’re still not getting into our cars as much as we used to. Want a reason? How about worry?
Jim Motavalli, writing in the Hartford Advocate, figures that we’re not driving as much as we used to because we were worried about gas prices and those fears are still around. Now, though, we’re worried about the high cost of everything else. We don’t go on vacation and we’re not buying new cars; we’re simply going to the movies and driving to work and back. Does this describe you at all?
Ford release pictures of the new Ford Ka ahead of its release at this years Paris Motor Show.
Ford release the first official pictures of the new Ford Ka design before its release at the Paris Motor Show in October. Eagerly anticipated thie will join rank with the new other new releases in Fords fleet notably the Fiesta and Focus.
The new Ka design will very likely go into production in the same Polish factory as the Fiat 500 and it is being rumoured that they will share some deeper similarities. Simply on overall shape they look very similar except where Fiat have gone for the smooth, retro Italian style, Ford have gone for a sharp, audacious, modern design. Looking like a Fiat 500 in Bladerunner it certainly appeals to a different market.
Its chiselled appearance and predatory headlights echo designs from the rest of the Ford fleet where it fits neatly into line. With several models below the 100 g/km threshold and prices starting from around £8,000, it is likely to be popular when it goes on sale in Spring 2009.
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Nationwide have the full range available of the Ford Fusion 5 Door. Leasing rates start from £178 plus vat per month on a 3 year contract for the 1.4 Style. A style Climate version which adds air conditioning is available from £189 plus vat. Best value are the 1.4 Tdci and 1.6 Tdci diesel versions which offer excellent performance and fuel economy for a similar price to the petrol models. To get a quote click on the link below to view the Fusion price list:
