Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Gas 2.0

Gas 2.0

Would You Pay A “Voluntary” Gas Tax?

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 03:29 PM PST

Most politicians won't even consider pushing for higher federal gas tax. But what about a voluntary gas tax? Would you give up a little extra money every time you fill up?

I would not…unless the money went towards a project that had a direct impact on my community. And that is apparently the idea behind the Voluntary Gas Tax program, which originated in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Like-minded people are getting together, bringing with them their gas receipts and then they are donating money based on how much fuel they collectively used. splinter groups have also been founded in Davis, California and Goshen, Indiana. To date, the Harrisonburg group has raised over $9,000 over the past seven years, donating the money towards groups advocating for local bike paths, giving reflector lights to people at a halfway house for their bikes, and other such initiatives.

So this isn't a tax, per-se, but more of a guilt-driven donation. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Obviously the money is going towards good causes, and it's a different take on the whole donation idea. I'm still not sure I'd give up what little extra money I have, but on the same token, I'd love to give back to my community in a bigger way. However, gas needs to go over $7 a gallon for most Americans to seriously consider giving up their petrol addiction, and even with gas sitting around $3.50 a gallon right now, we’re only halfway there. Even Bob Lutz, the man behind the new Camaro and the Chevy Volt, thinks a higher gas tax would help get America off of oil.

Would you willingly apply a voluntary gas tax to your life if it meant giving back to your local community?

Source: Treehugger via Voluntary Gas Tax

Chris DeMorro is a writer and gearhead who loves all things automotive, from hybrids to Hemis. You can follow his slow descent into madness at Sublime Burnout.

Diesel-Electric Puegeot 908 HYbrid4 Set for 2012 Le Mans Debut

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 11:00 AM PST

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the oldest motorsports endurance race, a proving ground for performance and, surprisingly, fuel efficiency. Peugeot's 908 diesel-electric hybrid racer, unveiled in Geneva, is set to debut at the 2012 Le Mans race.

Peugeot's 550 horsepower 908 diesel racers were heavily favored to win last year's, especially after taking the top four qualifying spots. However, it was Audi that took him the trophy after the Peugeots were down and out for regular repairs. This year Peugeot is still sticking with the same diesel engine formula, even though the FIA now allows hybrids to compete in the storied endurance race in an effort to both green the race, and make it more exciting. Fuel efficiency plays a huge role in endurance racing; it doesn't matter if you have the most powerful engine by a 1,000 horsepower. If you're always in the pits for refueling, you are going to lose. By allowing hybrids entry into this racing series, there will be fewer pit stops and more passing.

However, for 2012, Peugeot will enter a new version of its 908 racer, called the 908 HYbrid 4, which will feature the same 550 horsepower diesel 3.7 liter V8 engine now mated to a 80 horsepower electric motor. This electric motor will provide an extra "burst" of power at the push of a button, not unlike Porsche's own 911 GT3 KERS racer. The energy recovery system will store power from the brakes in a lithium-ion battery. While it may not seem like it, the technology that goes into these hybrid racers has a direct effect on the showroom product, which can be seen in Peugeot’s own 3008 HYbrid4, the world’s first diesel-electric production car. Racing technology directly influences that cars us regular consumers buy, so before you dismiss this as some sort of “greenwashing,” remember that technologies like fuel injection, anti-lock brakes, and all-wheel drive were often found on race cars before they made it to production cars.

Peugeot's diesel racers have dominated before, taking home the Le Mans victory in 2009 and dominating the 2010 American Le Mans series as well. They are no doubt out for blood this year, and will even be testing the 908 HYbrid4 at the pre-qualifying round at the 2011 Le Mans. It won't make its official racing debut until next year though. I can hardly wait.

See? Hybrids CAN be exciting. More please!

Source: Peugeot

Chris DeMorro is a writer and gearhead who loves all things automotive, from hybrids to Hemis. You can follow his slow descent into madness at Sublime Burnout.

Nissan 370Z Hybrid Could Change How We Look At Hybrids

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 07:35 AM PST

Nissan is positioning itself to be a world leader in electric cars as well as hybrids, but it still has a lot of performance enthusiasts to impress. So can it blend efficiency and performance in a Nissan 370z Hybrid?

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. Toyota has created this dull, boring image of hybrids that other automakers have followed, leaving an awful taste in the mouth of those of us who enjoy torque and throwing a car through the twisties. That may work for a bland carmaker like Toyota, but Nissan is saying no to boring hybrids, starting with the Infiniti M35h hybrid sedan. It is the only car that will be sold in America with over 350 horsepower and a combined mileage of 30 mpg, stealing some thunder from the 31 mpg, 305 horsepower 2011 Mustang V6. Sure, it costs twice as much as the Mustang (starting at almost $54,000) but for the person looking to blend fuel efficiency and performance, there will be few other options save perhaps the Porsche Panamera S Hybrid.

So to me, it is only natural that Nissan will move this hybrid drivetrain from an Infiniti performance sedan to its fabled sports coupe, the 370z. The 370z has a 3.7 liter, 332 horsepower V6 engine, which is a bigger version of the 3.5 liter V6 found in the M35h. However, when you take into account the electric motor, the M35h makes 360 horsepower and over 450 ft-lbs of torque, which blows the 370z's 270 ft-lbs of torque out of the water. What's more, the M35h's 30 combined mpg rating is much better than the 23 combined rating of the 370z. More horsepower, torque, AND fuel economy? This is a real no brainer, and Nissan apparently already has a hybrid 370z test mule running about, and rumors of a hybrid or electric Nissan sports car have been circulating since last summer. Combined with the ESFLOW electric sports car concept and rumors of a hybrid GT-R supercar, Nissan really seems to be pushing a blend of efficiency and performance that I can really get behind.

If automakers want hybrids to have a more mass appeal to customers, they've got to break this image of dull, boring aero-eggs like the Toyota Prius. The performance potential of hybrid vehicles is huge, and it looks like Nissan (as well as Porsche) realizes that. Nissan’s rich performance car history means that it has to make performance and efficiency blend, otherwise they risk alienating a fast-car fanbase that has been decades in the making. I only hope more automakers stop looking at hybrids as something they have to do, and more as something they want to do. If more performance junkies like me can be convinced that hybrids can be cool, it won't take long for the market to sort this out for the better.

Source: Green Car Advisor

Chris DeMorro is a writer and gearhead who loves all things automotive, from hybrids to Hemis. You can follow his slow descent into madness at Sublime Burnout.
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