Girl on Cars

Consumers won't pay more for cars that would meet new, stricter emissions standards.

That was the message sent last week by Susan Docherty, Western Region general manager of General Motors, as a handful of automotive journalists (including yours truly) sat scattered at a very large table in a private room in the back of one of Santa Monica's poshest hotel restaurants during a GM-sponsored holiday dinner.

The proclamation erupted out of a somewhat heated debate with one of the print journalists at the table, sparked in part by news that a U.S. District Judge had dismissed a lawsuit filed by automakers over a California law that would require car manufacturers to reduce new car emissions over the next several years.

The statement was especially curious coming from someone who had worked for one of the most expensive automotive brands in the U.S. Prior to her previous position, Docherty worked as head of marketing and sales for Hummer. According to her biography, her launch of the H3 increased Hummer's sales by more than 70 percent. If there are obviously plenty of people who will pay more than $30,000 for SUVs that get 13 miles per gallon in the city, why wouldn't there be a market for a $30,000 midsize car that gets 40 miles per gallon (or better)?

Some of us aren't so quick to underestimate the increasing savvy of the American consumer. While there are still people who will buy the biggest vehicles they can afford without regard to long-term consequences, the average car buyer is getting smarter. Even putting questions of social responsibility aside, basic economics tell us that the financial implication of buying a car goes far beyond the sticker price; it's about the overall cost of ownership. And we think you get that.

What do you think?

Winter temperatures can be tough on cars. Here are a few things to keep in mind to ensure your car performs its best in the cold:

Keep battery backup. It takes more electrical power to start a car in cold weather, yet those chilly temperatures also drastically reduce the battery's cranking power. To compensate for the increased need and reduced output, keep a good set of jumper cables or a portable power pack in the trunk.

Check climate controls. Make sure the heater and front and rear defrosters are working properly. If it takes more than a few minutes to feel or see a change, take the car in for service. In addition, take the extra time in the mornings to wait for the windows to defrost completely.

Replace wiper blades. Windshield wiper blades should be replaced every six months to a year, depending on the climate (although most drivers only replace them once every few years). Well-made, effective blades are essential for maximum visibility in bad weather.

Change the oil. Consider switching to a different grade of oil to help protect your engine in the cold. Base your decision on the lowest temperature you expect to encounter; for example, use 0W-30 in climates where the temperature drops below zero. While there are many differing opinions about which grades of oil to use, a good rule of thumb is to choose a multi-grade with the narrowest range of viscosity possible (meaning, the smallest difference between the low number and the high number on the label). Make sure to check the owner's manual for specific guidelines for your car.

Check filters, hoses, fluids. Inspect hoses to make sure they're properly connected and free of damage or leaks. Also check the oil, gas, and air filters. Coolant should be changed every two years (five years for extended-life coolant). Also check the radiator or coolant tank pressure cap.

With all the talk of new, fuel-efficient vehicles, those of us who are still driving our regular old cars might feel left out. But there are still ways we can help save gas -- and money -- by making relatively simple adjustments to our cars and driving habits.

Change the air filter. The air filter is a crucial component to minimizing fuel use and maximizing horsepower. Bryan Gregory, director of consumer education for Advance Auto Parts, says it takes an engine about 10,000 gallons of air to combust one gallon of gas. So it makes sense, then, that the easier it is for the air to get through, the more efficiently the engine will run. Air filters should be replaced every 7,500 miles, or according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

Check tire pressure. We've talked about proper tire pressure before, but it's still worth mentioning. Gregory says that every pound per-square-inch that a tire is under-inflated results in a six-percent loss in fuel efficiency. Make sure your tires fall within the recommended psi, printed on the sidewall.

Reduce idling. Plan trips to avoid peak traffic times. Going to the drive-thru? Go a little early (or late) to avoid sitting in line. And skip the long warm-up period in the morning. With the exception of extreme cold, most cars and trucks need only 30 to 45 seconds to warm up.

Lighten up. Fuel mileage is reduced by one mile per gallon for every 200 pounds of extra weight. Get rid of extra tires (except for the spare), bike or ski racks that aren't being used, toys, and other equipment that could weigh your car down.

Don't tailgate. Stop-and-go driving wreaks havoc on gas mileage. Accelerate slowly in crawling traffic and keep some distance. Then coast up to a stop instead of punching on the brakes.

Squeeze, don't punch. Practice slow, steady starts by imagining an egg underneath the accelerator pedal. Gregory says racing legend Jackie Stewart used this technique on the track.

Use the right gas. Check the owner's manual for the proper octane rating for your car. Using a lower grade than recommended can gum up fuel lines, reducing efficiency and increasing engine wear.

Oasis electric-cooled truck

(Credit: Global Refrigeration Systems)

Refrigerator trucks may not be sexy, but they play a vital role in our day-to-day lives by carrying food and supplies from one part of the country to another. However, they also contribute a significant amount of pollution on our roads.

Aura Systems, a company based in El Segundo, Calif., on Wednesday introduced a mobile-power system that keeps produce cold by using electricity instead of diesel fuel.

Traditional refrigeration trucks use a separate diesel engine to drive the compressor that keeps the inside of the truck cold. The extra engine not only emits more pollutants, but is also extremely expensive to operate.

The first vehicle with the new system, the Oasis, is a midsize Isuzu refrigeration truck. The truck's cooling compressor is jump-started by a large power surge (the system can handle between 5 kilowatts and 8.5 kilowatts of power), and it is kept running by the truck's main engine. And although the system still relies on diesel to keep it going, Aura reps say the elimination of the second motor saves, on average, about $250 in fuel costs per month, per truck.

The Oasis is set be on display at the Worldwide Food Expo October 24 through 27 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

For more information, visit the sites of Global Refrigeration Systems and Aura Systems.

Chevy Equinox fuel cell vehicle

(Credit: Donovan R. Unks)

Chevrolet is in the midst of launching "Project Driveway," an ambitious program where more than 100 fuel cell electric vehicles will be put in the hands of select consumers for the largest market test ever of its kind.

Fuel cell power train

(Credit: Donovan R. Unks)

Testing will take place over the next several months in the Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C., metro areas. Drivers range from average consumers to business owners to policy makers. Chevy reps also promise that some cars will go into the hands of "celebrities," but no names have been dropped yet.

The cars are modified Chevy Equinox crossover SUVs that draw hydrogen from three on-board, carbon fiber tanks to power an electric motor. In addition, a nickel-metal hydride battery pack captures and stores energy from a regenerative braking system to provide extra power when needed. The fuel cell Equinoxes get a range of about 150 miles on a single fill-up with 700-bar hydrogen.

The Equinox fuel cell cars run solely on hydrogen, which, at this point in time, is a drawback for the average consumer. Although we produce 40 billion kilograms of hydrogen globally every year--enough to power 130 million fuel cell-powered cars--hydrogen fueling stations are still scarce.

Interior display

(Credit: Donovan R. Unks)

The three test metro areas were chosen, in part, because drivers have access to hydrogen filling stations within a reasonable radius of their homes and/or places of business. General Motors reps say building a hydrogen fueling station infrastructure wouldn't be as difficult as some might think; they say the initial investment of about $10 billion to $15 billion required to put 12,000 stations within two miles of the top 100 urban areas is close to the amount of money being currently spent on maintaining existing oil pipelines and gasoline manufacturing equipment.

The specs for the vehicle aren't overwhelming--it goes zero to 60 in 12 seconds and has a top speed of about 100 miles per hour. But that's still impressive considering the only thing that comes out of the quad exhaust is water vapor.

Carbon fiber quad exhaust

(Credit: Donovan R. Unks)

Features include antilock brakes (ABS), driver and passenger front air bags, roof rail side-impact air bags, and StabiliTrak stability system. The cars are also equipped with the OnStar navigation system, which testers are encouraged to use to ask questions and provide feedback as they drive.

But don't get in line at the local Chevy dealership just yet; the test fleet won't be available for sale to the public. However, the information gleaned from this market test will help shape the next generation of fuel cell vehicles, which GM is working on now.

For a further look at the Equinox vehicles, see "Photos: GM's Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell."

The average person has probably never heard of Miles electric cars. The fledgling Miles Automotive Group, originally based in Malibu and now located in a renovated building at the Santa Monica airport in Southern California, currently makes small, low-speed electric vehicles used primarily by universities, government and the military.

Miles ZX40 low-speed car

(Credit: Miles Automotive Group)

But as it gears up to launch its first freeway-speed consumer car, Miles is hoping to raise its profile by urging college students to create and upload their own videos about how electric cars can help clean up the environment. Miles will post the videos on YouTube and will award each of the five students with the most traffic a $1,000 scholarship and a Miles electric car for their school. (Click here to see more photos of Miles' electric cars.)

The contest Web site, No Gas Required, attempts to educate students about global warming and includes links to green blogs, a glossary of terms, and information on how to contact government representatives.

Miles claims that "based on typical fleet driving," a university can eliminate about 12,000 pounds of carbon emissions a year for each gas-powered vehicle it replaces with an all-electric car or truck. Of course, the true environmental impact of driving an electric car shouldn't be measured solely by the absence of a tailpipe. How the electricity is generated also helps to determine just how eco-friendly we're being. How and where the cars are made, along with the battery material and life, are other considerations.

Miles plans on launching its midsize sedan, the Miles XS500, sometime in 2008.

A recent AAA survey names some of the most common -- and potentially dangerous -- auto ailments. Fortunately, all of these maladies can be prevented with a little care and attention. Here are the top culprits:

5. Worn-out windshield wiper blades. Old, torn, or cracked wiper blades can greatly reduce visibility when driving in bad weather. Experts recommend changing blades at least once a year, or when streaking begins.

4. Low or dirty oil. Low oil levels can cause overheating and severe engine damage, since there is not enough fluid to lubricate all of the engine's moving parts. Dirty oil contains debris and deposits, which increases engine wear. Check oil levels at least once a month and perform regular oil changes according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Many newer cars come equipped with sensors that alert drivers when the oil needs topping off or changing, but it's not a bad idea to check manually, too, when possible.

3. Worn tires. Road tires should have a minimum of 3/32" tread depth. A good way to check: Insert a penny into the tread groove with Lincoln's head turned upside down. If all of Lincoln's head is visible, it's time to get new tires. If only one or two tires need replacing, make sure the replacement tires match the size, model, and tread pattern of the existing tires on the car.

2. Clogged air filter. Decreased airflow through the filter will rob a car of horsepower and decrease gas mileage. Check the car's owner's manual to find the appropriate replacement interval. On many cars, changing the air filter is a pretty simple, do-it-yourself job.

1. Incorrect tire pressure Proper tire pressure ensures road safety, preserves tire tread life, and helps to maximize fuel economy. Tires lose air naturally over time, but they can also lose large quantities of air suddenly when hitting a pothole or a curb. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends checking the air pressure on each tire at least once a month. To ensure accuracy, measure when the tires are cold.

Other problems mentioned in the survey include low transmission fluid and engine coolant levels, worn or corroded battery cables, clamps, and terminals, and low windshield washer fluid levels. Survey results are based on inspections conducted on 6,082 vehicles by 25 different AAA clubs nationwide.

Bob Lutz

(Credit: Ray Wert)

Love him or hate him, Bob Lutz is somewhat of a celebrity in the automotive world. From GM to BMW to Ford and back again, Lutz has seen firsthand the growth, as well as the trials and tribulations, of the automotive industry over a span of more than four decades. Oh, and in his early days, he flew fighter planes in the Marine Corps.

When I told some of my colleagues I was invited along with a small group of bloggers to have dinner with "Maximum" Bob, some beamed in envy, others snarled in skepticism. After all, GM has had its share of bad publicity over the years. But Bob and company claim those days are over. General Motors is hoping to please the entire customer spectrum, from eco-minded conservationists to speed-loving gearheads.

On the "green" side of the scale, GM seems to realize what alternative-fuel experts have been saying for a long time: No single fuel can fully replace our dependency on petroleum-based oil. Fuel diversification--using different ways to power the various cars on the road--eases both ecological and economic strain on our resources. During the first half of our meeting, GM carted us over to Universal Studios and outlined some of the technologies they're either testing or currently employing:

Hybrid systems. GM is introducing two types of hybrid powertrains: a two-mode hybrid system that will soon be available on the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon (as discussed in a previous post) and a "mild" hybrid system that will be incorporated into smaller cars like the Chevy Malibu. And yes, it looks like that two-mode hybrid Escalade will make its way onto the market in the next year or so.

Flex fuel. Several vehicles, including trucks and SUVs, have been modified to run on up to 85 percent ethanol (E85). Although not yet widely available to the public, GM uses lots of these cars internally; they're often transport vehicles during promotions and press events. Of course, vehicle availability is only part of the equation, as E85 fueling stations are hard to come by in many areas. California, for example, only has four E85 pump locations in the entire state.

Hydrogen fuel cells. Real-world testing will soon begin on fuel cell-powered Chevrolet Equinoxes in Los Angeles and New York. It will be the largest market test ever of electric vehicles powered by hydrogen. Cars will be driven by consumers, although no specific details are available yet.

Electric cars. The all-electric Chevy Volt concept was unveiled at the Detroit auto show in January of this year. The Volt uses lithium-ion batteries, which are less toxic than nickel-metal hydride. GM folks say they're getting closer to a production car, but, they say, the battery technology still needs to get better before these cars hit dealerships.

On the other end of the spectrum, Lutz admits there's a horsepower race going on between car manufacturers. He says, for example, that a new version of the Corvette will most likely be faster and more powerful than the C6 and Z06 models on the market today. And although such muscle cars might seem the antithesis to gas-saving Saturns, Bob said not to rule out the possibility of any fuel-saving technologies on those vehicles in the future, either, should regulations so require. Electric-powered 500 hp sports car, anyone?

(Credit: USDA)

When a new biodiesel plant opens early next year in Odessa, WA, it will employ a novel strategy: take locally grown seeds, crush them on site, and refine the resulting oil for fuel. It might sound obvious, but, according to plant manufacturers, the Odessa facility will be the first of its kind in the Western U.S. to fully integrate these steps necessary for biodiesel production.

The result? The facility, according to equipment suppliers, will be less vulnerable to fluctuating agricultural oil prices, which could help stabilize fuel prices further down the supply chain. For the community, it will give Washington wheat farmers an alternative rotation crop, which is beneficial both economically and environmentally.

Turning oilseed into biodiesel is a three-stage process. First, the seeds are crushed. In the case of canola seed, the crushing produces two substances: crude oil and canola meal. The oil is refined and filtered, while the meal can be used as livestock feed. In the third stage, the filtered oil goes into a reactor and mixed with methanol or ethanol and processed. About 90 percent of oil is turned into biodiesel; the leftover byproduct is glycerin.

A Washington state law mandates that all petroleum diesel contain 2 percent biodiesel by 2008. To meet the requirement for that state alone, at least 20 million gallons of biodiesel must be produced by next year. The Odessa plant will initially produce about eight million gallons annually, with an estimated future production of about 16 million gallons a year.

The automotive industry still seems divided on the benefits of using biodiesel in cars. According to Wikipedia, car owners in the UK may void their engine warranties if they use fuel that contains more than five percent biodiesel. But many automakers say the alternative fuel reduces engine wear, since biodiesel is a better solvent than petroleum diesel and helps keeps fuel lines clean. The downside is, deposits cleaned from the lines may cause blockages in fuel injectors. But that can be solved by changing the fuel filter every few months -- something many of us do at regular oil services anyway.