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The next time you travel, travel green. Newark New
Jersey Car Rentals has thrown its hat into the
sustainability ring by offering a "Green Collection" of
cars. The selection of four models, the Toyota Camry,
Ford Fusion, Buick LaCrosse and Hyundai Sonata, get at
least 28 mpg; most of the Camry's, Fusions and LaCrosses
also carry EPA's
SmartWay certification, indicating lower emissions
of air pollutants and greenhouse gases. It's not easy
being green, according to Kermit the Frog. It's a good
bet he'd also find it difficult to rent a green, or
environmentally friendly, car.
Environment-conscious auto renters need to think ahead.
The clerk behind the counter might not know a green
machine from a gas guzzler. So do your homework.
Start with the Environmental Protection Agency's list of
likely candidates. If you're renting in New Jersey or the
New Jersey, Connecticut or Washington, D.C., areas,
you'll probably find some of the listed vehicles at EV
Car Rental Cars, which specializes in natural gas,
electric and hybrid rentals.
But elsewhere, hybrid cars are more difficult to find
and likely to be smaller and more expensive than
conventional cars. E. Rent-A-Car and A. don't offer them
at all, according to representatives of both companies.
H. offers a few hybrid cars at some California
locations, but renters can't specifically reserve a
hybrid car, says spokeswoman Paula Stifter. Where they
are available, the prices are comparable to other
compacts, she says.
B., A., rents hybrids through a marketing arrangement
with EV Car Rental. Locations are limited, however, and
renters will pay full-size prices for the smaller Toyota
Prius or hybrid Honda Civic, according to Budget
spokeswoman Alice Pereira.
"It's definitely more expensive," says E.B., director of
marketing and operations for the Better World Club, an
environmentally focused travel club.
But don't despair. In the next few years, the selection
will improve, says Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of
the Green Car Journal, a quarterly report on autos and
the environment.
The industry plans to put five more green vehicles on
the market next year and twice that maNJ the following
year, says Cogan, meaning green rental choices should
expand, too.
People want to go GREEN
and hybrid manufacturers are reaping the
benefits
Environment, Peta, animal welfare is
hot and the movement is growing.
Hybrid car manufacturers are leaving
no stone unturned to reap the
benefits of this growth. With the
growing prices of fuel more and more
people are opting for hybrid
vehicles for its financial benefits.
According to a survey conducted by
Mintel Comperemedia, 35 million
Americans are "True Greens" who
regularly buy green products which
also includes environmentally
friendly vehicles.
Recently several
companies which have no direct
relationship with hybrid car
manufacturers are providing rewards
for purchasing hybrid vehicles.
Insurance companies like Travelers
are giving a discount of up to 10%
to hybrid owners. Other companies
like Bank of America and Google Inc.
also recently jumped in the foray of
hybrid car promoters by providing
aid in hybrid car purchases.
Gas prices have
pushed people to buy hybrid vehicles
to some extent. However, the real
push in the sales of these vehicles
is all because people are looking
for ways to positively contribute to
the environment and buying a hybrid
car seems one of the easiest
options.
Hybrid car
manufacturers are further cashing on
the sentiments by highlighting their
commitment to the environment in
their promotions and thus portraying
themselves as green companies. Let
us have a look at the ways other
then the technology that is going to
drive the sales of hybrid cars:
- Hybrid cars
have become a fashion/status
symbol
- Increase in
prices of fuel
- Aggressive
campaigns
- Green
marketing
- Tax
deductions on hybrid cars.
- Oil
Dependence
- Other
benefits like car pool lane
entry, free parking etc.
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Why Plug In?
The answer is
simple:
Near-zero
emissions, cheap
operation, and
maybe no more
oil.
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Human Race
Horsepower isn't
the only way to
measure
performance, as
this competition
shows.
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CNG World Tour
An
around-the-world
tour proves the
worth of natural
gas as a clean
motor fuel.
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ML 450 Hybrid
Mercedes-Benz
shares a look at
the first
application of
its two- mode
hybrid system.
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Year of the
Mariner
Driving 20,000
miles in
Mercury's
Mariner Hybrid
reinforces why
this is a great
vehicle.
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Small Car
Comparo
Think
subcompacts are
too small?
There's a new
direction and
you may just be
surprised.
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Plug-In Hybrids
Interested in a
100+ mpg plug-in
hybrid car?
Here's a build-
up,
step-by-step.
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i MiEV Electric
Car
Mitsubishi's
popular
four-passenger "i"
model gets an
electric power
upgrade.
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VW Ecofuel
Lower emissions
and energy
diversity are
addressed with
VW's natural gas
Touran.
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New Highlander
Based on the
Camry platform,
the 2008
Highlander
Hybrid is better
than ever.
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2008 Malibu
Hybrid
Chevy's latest
mild (read
"affordable")
hybrid model
makes its first
appearance.
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"Green Car"
Fleets
Environmental
icon Jean-Michel
Cousteau on the
importance of
"green" fleet
choices.
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Electric
Lightning
Race car
experience helps
a design team
devise a 700 hp
all- electric
supercar.
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Toyota FT-HS
Toyota designers
are on the mark
with a
high-tech, high
power hybrid
concept.
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Altima Hybrid
Nissan's 2008
Altima Hybrid
took the long
road to market.
It has been
worth the wait.
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Ford Plug-In
Hybrid
Hydrogen and
plug-in hybrid
power make the
Ford Edge
HySeries unique.
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Autorickshaw EVs
Hired transport
like
autorickshaws
and Jeepneys are
going to cleaner
power.
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Shell Hydrogen
VP Duncan
Macleod talks
sustainability,
climate change,
and a hydrogen
future. |
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Start-Stop
System
Valeo's StARS +
10 hybrid system
can bring up to
15 percent
better fuel
economy.
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Air Apparent
From the mind of
a Formula One
race car
engineer comes
an air powered
automobile. |
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Swiss City Car
Behold a small
urban hybrid
that turns 360
degrees on its
vertical axis.
Weird? Yup. |
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Diesel 101, Part
1
Do you really,
truly understand
diesel? Here's
the easy way to
get up to
speed. |
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Ethanol and
Racing
If GM has its
way, NASCAR
could follow the
IndyCar Series
in a move to
ethanol. |
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M-B Clean Diesel
The first
application of
BLUETEC clean
diesel
technology
creates a
milestone sedan. |
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The Chevy Volt
Will GM's
stunning Volt
plug-in hybrid
come to market?
We explore the
idea. |
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The Biogenic Car
Bio-based
materials are
coming to future
cars. Here's a
look at
possibilities
today. |
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Saab BioPower
After Europe's
popular E85
vehicle, Saab
steps out with a
turbo E100 car. |
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Rinspeed eXasis
Advanced
materials,
lightweight
design, and E85
fuel make a high
efficiency
statement. |
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DIY Plug-In
Hybrid
The XR-3 plug-in
hybrid claims
225 mpg. The
catch? You build
it yourself. |
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Fuel Cell Future
Here's what it's
like to drive
the latest
hydrogen
vehicles from GM
and Honda. |
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Hyundai HCD10
Could this
innovative
concept indicate
a coming Hyundai
diesel for the
U.S.? |
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Green Gear
Specialty
automotive
products blur
the lines
between
traditional and
eco-performance. |
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E85 Vehicles
GCJ editors
present an
overview of the
30 E85 ethanol
vehicles now on
the market. |
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Hub of Power
Could in-wheel
motors be the
Next Big Thing
for fuel cell,
hybrid, and
electric
vehicles? |
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GM Electrified
The General is
full of
surprises. How
about a plug-in
series hybrid
electric
vehicle? |
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M-B GL-Class CDI
Advanced diesel
promises to make
popular SUVs
more efficient
vehicles. |
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Tesla Roadster
High efficiency,
high speed, and
high style are
the hallmarks of
Tesla's electric
car. |
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Greenest
Minivans
Need the
functionality of
a minivan? Here
are some of the
greenest 2007
models around. |
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High Tech Taxis
Ford is making
the case for
hybrids in taxi
service, with
increasing
success. |
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Hey, H-Racer
Don't want to
wait for your
own hydrogen
car? Try this
very cool model
on for size. |
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Electrified
smart
Electric
versions of the
smart fortwo are
undergoing
testing in the
UK. |
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Concept-CT
Hybrid
Mitsubishi shows
a realistic
direction for
its hybrid and
electric vehicle
development. |
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Plug-In Hybrids
These 100+ mpg
cars are gaining
supporters. But
are they
do-able? |
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Honda Civic GX
Consumers in two
states can now
buy Honda's
natural gas
Civic GX sedan. |
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Camry Hybrid
Toyota comes up
with an
exceptional
hybrid version
of its highly
popular Camry
sedan. |
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The Mariner Life
Living with
Mercury's
Mariner Hybrid
shows the value
of a four
cylinder hybrid
SUV. |
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Natural Gas!
This clean fuel
is abundant in
America, so why
aren't more
vehicles running
on it? |
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2006 GCOY!
Environmental
leaders help
pick the first-
ever Green Car
of the Year
winner. |
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Hydrogen Hybrid
Ovonic Hydrogen
Systems' H2
Prius showcases
solid hydrogen
storage.
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Lexus RX 400h
A high-end
hybrid that
offers it all:
plenty of power,
low emissions,
and no guilt. |
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Smart Cylinders
Intelligent
technology is
making the
internal
combustion
engine better
than ever. |
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Quick Charge!
Oahu shows the
benefits of
rapid charging
electric
vehicles. |
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Mercury's D-HEV
Showing the way
for near-zero
emission diesel-
electric
hybrids.
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Roush EV
Who says low
speed electric
vehicles must be
cart size? Roush
breaks the mold.
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Rinspeed Senso
A wild CNG
future car mixes
innovation and a
sixth sense. |
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Volvo 3CC
Electric power,
180
mile range, gull
wing doors…
everything you
want in a Volvo. |
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Smart Choice?
The smart car
from
DaimlerChrysler
is a pint-size
package in a
two-gallon
world. |
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Altima Hybrid
Nissan’s
prototype hybrid
shows this
automaker has
high performance
in mind. |
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Tips for High
MPG
How to buy the
vehicle you want
and get the best
fuel economy at
the same time. |
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Ethanol or Gas?
A look at
renewable E85
ethanol fuel,
its benefits,
and the new cars
that run on it.
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High Tech Scoots
Honda shares its
vision of two
wheeling with a
trio of
electric,
hybrid, and fuel
cell scooters. |
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Ford Mild
Hybrids
Can more
affordable
hybrids make it
in the
marketplace?
Ford’s Fiesta
provides a clue.
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Toyota Hybrids
Independent
internal
combustion and
electric drive
make Toyota
hybrids rock. |
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Subaru Scrambler
Smooth, stylish,
and offering a
unique twist in
hybrid high
performance. |
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Search & Deploy
The U.S.
military seeks
to field a new
generation of
“green”
vehicles. |
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Ford Ecostar EV
This 1990s EV
took to the
streets with a
hot sodium
sulfur battery. |
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Near Zero
Emission
Driving clean
needn’t be
boring, as our
guide to 19 PZEV
models clearly
shows. |
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2 Fast • 2 Clean
Can you
say...470 hp
hybrid supercar?
This Eclipse
concept speaks
volumes. |
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Deere Goes Green
A hydrogen
utility vehicle
shows that green
is more than a
signature color. |
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Air Hybrids
Working with
Ford, a UCLA
team aims at
harnessing air
hybrid power. |
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Eco Commuter
Nissan’s Effis
fuel cell
concept blends
form and
function. |
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New Engine Tech
Efficiency
improves by
combining the
best attributes
of gasoline and
diesel
technology.
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Alternative
Transit
Advanced fuels
and technologies
are making mass
transit more
efficient.
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Buses Go Green
Hybrid electric
drive technology
is making mass
transit even
more efficient.
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Saturn Aura
Hybrid
Hybrid cars
needn't be
costly. This
mild hybrid
brings higher
efficiency at
$23,000.
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Opel Flextreme
GM's next
iteration of its
E-Flex system is
a slick
diesel-electric
plug-in hybrid.
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Frankfurt Show
Automakers
showcase
hydrogen,
electric, and
hybrid cars at
the Frankfurt
Auto Show.
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Commercial NGVs
Where are
natural gas
vehicles in the
U.S.? Transit
and other uses
lead the way.
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Prius Plug-In
Toyota is
fielding plug-
in hybrid
prototypes in
the U.S. and
Japan. What's
next?
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Driving on Fumes
Aiming at the
X-Prize requires
100 mpg and top
performance. The
Alé focuses on
both.
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Plug-In
Motorcycle
If two-wheelers
are your gig,
you'll want to
check out this
cool electric
motorcycle.
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Natural Gas Now
Natural gas
vehicles are
clean and the
fuel is
plentiful. So
what is holding
us up?
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Supra HV-R
Hybrid
Toyota fields a
new Supra Hybrid
in a 24 hour
endurance race
and comes out on
top.
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Car
Electrification
Electric
auxiliaries and
drive power
provide more
than just fuel
efficiency.
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Green Automaking
Subaru's
innovative auto
manufacturing
means almost
nothing ends up
in landfills.
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80 MPG,No Hybrid
Does
mega-mileage
require a
hybrid? The new
smart fortwo cdi
says "no." |
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Hybrid Trucks
Hybrid,
electric, and
FFV trucks based
on Chinese
designs being
made in the USA.
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High-Tech Diesel
Need-to-know
info about the
new diesel
technology
that's changing
the game. |
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Phoenix
Electrified
A Ssangyong
"glider" and
high-tech
electrics make
for a nifty new
electric
vehicle.
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Saturn Vue
Hybrid
Driving Saturn's
2007 Vue Green
Line shows its
differences from |
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Leaning Green
The NARO's
motorcycle
footprint offers
ease in traffic,
parking, and
maneuverability. |
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Audi's Q7 Hybrid
The Q7 Quattro
Hybrid concept
shows another
path to
performance and
economy. |
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"Green" Taxis
A micro hybrid
system for taxis
has potential to
save over 10
million gallons
in NY alone. |
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Electric Cruise
Cars
Whether it's an
electric low
speed vehicle or
just a golf car,
Cruise Cars has
your number. |
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Kurrent Electric
Car
Low-speed
vehicle
enthusiasts get
a new choice
with this
Italian designed
NEV. |
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Battery & Solar
EV
Can around-town
transportation
really be
powered by
solar, wind, and
batteries? |
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BMW Hydrogen 7
According to
BMW, the car of
tomorrow will
run on hydrogen.
We drive it
today. |
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Grand Challenge
III
Stanford's VW
won the last
autonomous
vehicle
challenge. Will
they pull it off
again? |
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Green Car's Top
5
Green Car
Journal
editors name the
"best-
of-the-best"
green vehicles
2007. |
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Tri-Fuel Pickup
Ford's Super
Chief concept
covers all the
bases with gas,
E85, and
hydrogen fuels. |
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Ford's Clean V-6
Four-cylinder
PZEVs are now
common. The next
challenge is the
V-6…and Ford
is on it. |
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200 MPG
Carburetor
High gas prices
bring to mind
the mythical 200
mpg carburetor.
Want to know
more? |
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Hybrids Rock!
Hybrids connect
with Fall Out
Boy, Black Eyed
Peas, Maroon 5,
and McCartney
tours. |
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Nissan 2.5 S
PZEV
Driving 12,500
miles in a
near-zero
emission sedan
shows the value
of PZEV
technology. |
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E85 Lotus Exige
Sleek and
sinewy, this
alcohol fueled
Exige makes
quite a
statement for
E85. |
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E85 at
Bonneville
GM sets multiple
land speed
records with a
Chevy Cobalt
running on
ethanol. |
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Small Cars
It's true that
small cars are
gaining
popularity.
Could it be that
one is in your
future? |
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Hydrogen Shuttle
Ford's
production V-10
hydrogen engine
is powering
shuttles now.
What's in store
next? |
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Michelin
Challenge
The
environmental
Challenge
Bibendum event
continues at the
"City of
Lights." |
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Volvo Multi-Fuel
Why limit
yourself to just
a few
alternative
fuels? Volvo
goes for 5 in
one vehicle. |
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Saab Aero X
Aircraft
influence and
ethanol power
join to make
this Saab one
wild ride. |
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