EcoModder Blog

2009 VW Jetta TDi Fuel Economy Review: 41.1 MPG

Benjamin Jones — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:51:57 +0000

For more pictures, see the gallery at the end of the post.

The other day I finally got behind the wheel of a the much-lauded Jetta TDI, aka the diesel that could. Despite efforts from all the automakers to get diesels a favorable light in the North American market, it has always been Volkswagen holding the reins and beating back competitors.

Now, the new generation of 50-state legal diesels is selling like hotcakes while proving that fuel economy and power are not incompatible goals. Despite the fact that many manufacturers are still shying away from importing their diesels to the United States, VW has proven over the last 20 years that they are willing to stick out the relationship through thick and thin, and are finally reaping the rewards.

What is the 2009 Jetta TDI?

The flagship of Volkswagen’s diesel efforts in the United States, the 2009 Jetta TDI packs a lot of punch into the manufacturer’s stedfast sedan. After spending some time off the market due to evolving emissions regulations and the push to release 50-state clean diesels, the Jetta has returned it’s fuel economy champion to the market with a 2.0l engine delivering 140 hp and 236 ft-lbs of torque.

This car definitely isn’t your father’s Volkswagen Rabbit. Despite VW’s legacy of diesels that smell funny and couldn’t kick themselves in the butt to get up a hill, the company reinvented the TDI brand into something now more closely related with high torque and driving excitement than penny pinching and hard starts in the winter.

However, the car hasn’t completely lost its fuel economy roots. The rather large and powerful sedan still manages to impress most drivers with EPA ratings of 29 (city)/40 (highway) mpg with an automatic transmission or 30/41 mpg with a stick shift. Despite using slightly more expensive diesel gasoline, the car is poised to save drivers big over its gasoline siblings, which only manage ratings averaging 21 (city)/30 (highway) mpg.

Who should consider buying the new Jetta TDI?

Despite Volkswagen’s once-coveted position as the “car of the people,” the brand is now a little more up-market, with the Jetta TDI setting you back at least $22,270 ($1,100 more for the automatic transmission). That makes the TDI more expensive than Honda Insight and Toyota Prius hybrids.

Many buyers who are interested in fuel economy but need the space of a family sedan will likely find themselves looking at the Insight, Prius, and Jetta TDI. If thrift is all you’re worried about, the Insight or Prius will likely win, as they return better gas mileage for less money on cheaper fuel. However, that’s rarely the whole story.

The Jetta TDI is perfect for the efficiency-minded driver who desires both a spirited vehicle and a manual transmission, something the TDI distinctly offers and other fuel-efficient competitors fall short on delivering. It is this balance of fuel economy, oomph, and driving excitement that make the Jetta TDI worth looking at.

Jetta TDI Fuel Economy Report

Unfortunately for this review I was saddled with the automatic DSG transmission and did not get to take a crack at the stick shift version of the 2009 Jetta TDI. Although the automatic only averages 1 mpg less than the stick shift in the EPA test cycle, an experienced ecodriver can easily achieve much better mileage in a stick shift than an automatic.

That said, I was pleasantly surprised with my ability to surpass the EPA ratings in the DSG-transmission 2009 Jetta TDI with only mild ecodriving techniques in mostly suburban driving.

Over a few hundred miles of mostly short trips in suburban conditions I managed a respectable 41.1 mpg, 25% over the EPA combined rating of 33 mpg. To achieve this number I used only moderate ecodriving techniques mixed in with a lot of spirited driving. Though I was held back a bit by the automatic transmission, with a stick or more advanced techniques higher numbers are definitely a possibility with this car. Unlike its hybrid competitors, the TDI doesn’t struggle to soar past its EPA ratings when driven carefully.

However, during short trips and when making use of the overabundant power output of the diesel engine, mileage can be an issue, with some of my trips coming in at less than 35 mpg. As easy as it is to get great mileage with this vehicle, it is just as easy to see it all slip away during one spirited launch from a stop light.

In the end, more than many other cars’, the 2009 Jetta TDI’s fuel economy is what you make of it.

Overall Impressions of the 2009 Jetta TDI

While I focused on fuel economy during my time behind the wheel, I did not ignore the rest of the car. The 2009 Jetta TDI is a roomy, attractive sedan that is both comfortable to be in and to drive. The vehicle holds the road and gives you a feeling of confidence as you test the more spirited aspects of the car.

The 140 hp and 236 ft-lbs of torque really make themselves noticed when you put the pedal to the floor, tempting you to waste more fuel than you most likely should. When driving the car, it becomes clear that Volkswagen sacrificed a fair amount of fuel economy in the name of fun, which is sure to set the vehicle apart from some of its hybrid counterparts.

Storage room is ample and it is easy to fit five people in the car, though like many smaller sedans, it might not always be the most comfortable seating arrangement. Despite a surprisingly long trunk, I found it a little difficult to use for my normal hauling because the dimensions were narrower than I am usually treated to. Luckily, folding rear seats making hauling most things a fairly painless task.

Despite the fairly attractive gauges, I found myself constantly annoyed that the central information display would only display one thing at a time. This meant that I could only look at current fuel economy or trip fuel economy, but never both at the same time, which, as an ecomodder, left me constantly toggling between the two screens in order to get the information I needed.

The other main point of difficulty with the car was that with only 1000 miles on the odometer the stereo decided to randomly spike to 100% of volume. This made listening to the radio impossible and I eventually gave up fiddling with the knobs to turn it back down and just went without the built-in satellite radio for the remainder of the test drive. This may be an isolated incident, but for someone who still has doubts about VW’s ability to produce high-quality vehicles, it was a troublesome one.

Overall, the car was very solid and certainly wins my thumbs up as a sedan for performance, comfort, and handling.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for the most fuel-efficient vehicle you can get, the 2009 Jetta TDI is probably a bit overpowered for you. Despite the car’s ability to quite easily exceed the EPA ratings, it will still struggle to compete with hybrids like the Prius and the much more affordable Honda Insight.

However, if you’re looking for an attractive, fun, and comfortable car that can get good mileage without the attached stigma of “eco-nerdiness,” this might just be the car for you. The sedan sacrifices something in utility compared to hatchbacks like the VW Golf or Toyota Prius, but the Jetta is larger than you might at first expect and can handle all of the tasks you would expect a family sedan to be able to.

In the end, the 2009 Jetta TDI really stands alone in its attention to both fuel economy and above average performance and comfort.

Project IRX: Insight-CRX Renaissance Experiment [Part I]

Benjamin Jones — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:38:58 +0000

This entry is part 1 of 1 in the series Project IRX

In an effort to increase the blog’s focus on ecomodding and some of the great content that comes out of our users, I’ve decided to begin a series of posts on an ongoing project coming out of my own garage. The idea of swapping a Honda Insight hybrid drivetrain into my CRX began at this year’s Green Drive Expo, where despite my good mileage I realized I just couldn’t compete with the first generation Insight.

With that in mind I had two options: buy an Insight or ecomod the CRX. Buying an Insight would’ve been easier, but more expensive, less fun, and frankly my CRX is still in great shape. So, I decided to shop around for a totaled I could strip down for parts to recycle into my CRX.

Having found one, the swap became just a matter of doing it, which is where I currently am, and that’s where this update comes into play. The swap is half-finished, with all the old having been stripped out with the new ready to go in.

However, removing everything is clearly the easy part, with the second half of the project being the troublesome attempts to put things back together and make them play nice with each other. At this point there isn’t much to say, but in the upcoming posts I will take you through how I tackle several problems in making this whole thing come together.

Look out for upcoming posts on:

Custom engine mounts
Integrating the obd2 wiring system into the obd0 harness
Adding the IMA hybrid system
Tweaking the IRX for superb gas mileage

To stay up to date on the nitty-gritty, follow along with my project thread on the forums.

Honda Uses F1 Engineers to Race Towards High Fuel Economy

Benjamin Jones — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:22:45 +0000

Honda has had a long legacy in racing, from its early days racing motorcycles to its recent success as an engine supplier to other top-teir racing teams. However, last year Honda ended it’s relatively short-lived F1 team under cost-cutting pressures brought on by the larger downturn in the automotive industry.

Now, Honda has taken that team of 400 engineers and put them back to work squeezing every last ounce of efficiency out of their passenger vehicles. As investment fund manager Masayuki Kubota told Bloomberg:

“Automakers that are able to spare their resources for advanced and environmental technologies will eventually become the winners at a time when one breakthrough technology will make a huge difference.”

In recent years, Honda has made a name for it’s by rejecting may of the current trends in environmental engineering like plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and pure battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Instead, Honda has been working hard on perfecting it’s market-leading fuel cell technology and redoubling efforts to improve the internal combustion engine (ICE).

Most companies act as if they have given up on the ICE, but according to Honda the ICE will remain the dominant form of propulsion for the next several decades. Even if Japan, America, and Europe phase out the ICE relatively quickly, emerging markets in India and China will rely on cheaper ICE technology for decades to come, making efficiency gains important to a long-term, global approach.

Honda has clearly put most of their eggs in the ICE basket and only time will tell if it pays off. Either way, Honda is certainly putting its best foot forward in accomplishing its goal.

Modified Honda CRX HF Scores 118 MPG in Fuel Economy Run

Benjamin Jones — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:37:28 +0000

In the pantheon of very efficient production cars, there are perhaps three Hondas that truly stand out: the first generation Insight hybrid, the lean burn Civic VX, and the CRX HF.

Recently, a CRX HF owner further cemented that car’s status on the list by achieving a stunning 118 mpg (US) in a fuel economy rally in New York state.

The rally, organized by the Adirondack Motor Enthusiasts Club (AMEC), took place August 23 over 104 miles of scenic, lightly travelled, winding roads through the southern Adirondack mountains (with admittedly very MPG-friendly speed limits of 45 to 55 mph).

It’s fair to say the 118 mpg performance that Chang Ho Kim coaxed from his modified 1989 CRX surprised event officials. The marshalls – who observed each of the 25 competitors’ vehicles being filled to the brim both at the start and finish for the most accurate MPG calculations – brought Chang’s CRX back to the pump several times at the end to ensure they’d squeezed as much fuel as possible into its tank.

(For comparison, the next highest scores were 106 mpg (US) from an ecomodded 1998 Geo Metro/Pontiac Firefly and 90 mpg (US) from a 2000 VW Jetta TDI – more details here.)

In stock form, the 2nd generation Honda CRX HF is a good platform for fuel economy. It’s light (1830 lbs), has a small 1.5L 62 horsepower engine, and relatively tall gearing. It’s rated at 41 city / 50 highway / 45 combined mpg (US) by the EPA’s revised 2008 ratings.

Modifications, mechanical & racing experience helped secure win

How did Chang Ho Kim pull a 118 mpg rabbit out of his hat? EcoModder recently spoke to Chang to shed some light on his background, his CRX and his driving techniques.

EM: Let’s start with a bit about yourself. What you do for work & fun?

CHK: I am a mechanic in my own shop, FunHondas, in Maynard, Massachusetts. I mostly do general repair and maintenance of Honda/Acura cars. I do a lot of tire work as I am a preferred installer for www.tirerack.com. You can type in zipcode 01754 to see what is said about me and my shop on their website.

For fun I like to travel and go camping with my family. I also enjoy photography.

EM: Is it true this was your first fuel economy competition?

CHK: This was my first fuel economy run. I had never even heard of it before I saw the post from the AMEC organizers on the New England Region SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) web site.

EM: So you’ve got racing experience then? That would explain your skill behind the wheel.

CHK: My passion has been for autocross. I started autocrossing in 1991. I have placed as high as 3rd place at the SCCA Solo Nationals in a HS 89 Civic Si. Last year I campaigned a DS 00 Integra Type R. This year I am running my ST 89 Civic Si. I also have a STX 89 Civic Si that I have trophied with at the Solo Nationals.

Recently I started to rallycross a M2 90 Civic GSR and have been having lots of fun playing in the dirt and snow and ice. I am currently the season points leader in M2 for NER/SCCA. That is mostly due to the winter events where my studded Nokian Hakka5 tires do really well. I still have a lot to learn about driving in gravel.

I have ice raced my 01 Integra Type R, autocross style, using Nokian tires and have done very well, beating the AWD cars in the studded tire class with my FWD car on studded Hakka5 tires.

EM: OK, so you’ve obviously got experience with car control & precision. Where did you pick up your fuel saving techniques?

I spent a lot of time on the internet before the competition starting at the AMEC site and linking to many others: Aerocivic.com gave me a lot of ideas for aerodynamic modifications. EcoModder.com gave me many tips on driving technique.

EM: Before we talk about your driving techniques, tell us a bit about your car preparation and mods.

CHK: It’s a 89 Honda CRX HF with about 150,000 miles on the odometer that I got from a client.

General maintenance before the fuel economy rally included:

I had the AC fixed, I hate hot and muggy.
Redline MTL in the tranny and Mobil1 0w20 in the engine.
new Honda airfilter, cap, rotor, wires. They all needed replacing anyway.

Modifications before the rally included:

Tires: low rolling resistance 155/65/14 Nokian HakkaR snow tires, brand new for the event, pumped up to 50psi mounted on Honda 14×5 alloy wheels
Shocks: Konisport, revalved with SPSS1 valving, double adjustable, shortened body, set to soft
Springs: Ground Control coilovers with 350 front 250 rear springs.
Lowered car 2 inches, front camber at -3.5, toe set to zero front and rear, zero thrust angle
Front wind deflector and rear wheel skirts made from thin polycarbonate, aluminum duct tape, self tapping screws and 3/4″ aluminum band
masking tape to cover all panel gaps / seams, passenger door handle (forgot to do the driver side door handle)
removed passenger side mirror
I added lightness by removing the passenger seat, spare tire and tools, floor mats
6 pound race battery.

EM: tell us about the driving techniques you used.

CHK: I had a small cooler with a little ice and a small towel to cool myself off as I drove with the windows closed and the AC off.

The race type suspension meant I had better momentum coming out of the turns so less need to gas after a turn.

Where safe, I took a classic race line to maximize momentum. If I had to gas in a turn, I took the shortest line to minimize distance.

Pulse & glide where appropriate.

EM: Did you use fuel economy instrumentation? Navigation?

CHK: The HF has an upshift light that I find annoying. I used a Garmin Nuvi 760 to keep track of my average speed.

EM: Any plans for future economy competitions?

CHK: I suppose I have to come back in 2010 to defend my title with AMEC, but we will see what next year brings and if I still have the CRX. If I do come back, it will probably have a boattail and I will be more careful with the fillup at the start and not spill any at the finish fillup.

EM: Chang, thanks for the interview and congratulations again on your win!

—

For more coverage of the AMEC event see the complete forum thread.

BMW Steps Up Luxury Fuel Efficiency Game with 57 MPG Diesel 3-Series

Benjamin Jones — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:23:16 +0000

Luxury brands from across the globe have been working hard to offer fuel efficiency and and low emissions without compromising the creature comforts that define the luxury segment. Not only will efficient vehicles quiet some of critics of luxury brands, but they will help keep the American and European regulators from levying heavy fines on inefficient luxury brands.

At this years Frankfurt Auto Show, BMW will be kicking the competition up a notch with a 57 MPG EfficientDynamics version of their current 320d. This new vehicle will emit only 175 grams of CO2/km while having a top speed of 140 mph and making the 0-60 journey in a little over 8 seconds.

The best part is that the EfficientDynamics version won’t be any more expensive than the current 320d. The worst part being that BMW won’t be offering their most efficient car in the United States, where such an efficient option is most in need.

Source: Autopia

EcoModder Takes Home Four Awards at the AMEC Fuel Economy Run

Benjamin Jones — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:00:57 +0000

This weekend marked the third annual Adirondack Motor Enthusiast Club’s fuel economy competition, which takes place on the beautiful back roads just to the west of Albany, NY.

This was the first year that EcoModder came out to the event, and it was definitely a great time. Event organizer Mike Kamm included, 7 EcoModders came to the event and competed in two of the three categories.

The course was a 104 mile loop through the Adirondacks on winding roads that challenged not just the average ecodriver, but would challenge any driver. Unlike many fuel economy courses, this one had huge hills that challenged drivers to work hard and pick up mileage wherever they could.

All told, EcoModder took home 4 of the 6 awards its members were eligible for. In the diesel/hybrid category member tasdrouille took home first place in his 2000 Jetta TDI with an astounding 90 mpg. Second place went to Matt Herring in his new Toyota Prius, with an impressive 76 mpg over the course.

In the gasoline non-hybrid category, EcoModder had four competitors. Though Robert Smalls and Wonderboy did not take home prizes, they both got well over 200% of their EPA ratings. Robert drove his Subaru Legacy to a very impressive 47 mpg while Wonderboy made a record run of 65 mpg in his Civic EX.

I took home the 3rd place prize, with 83 mpg in my 91 Honda CRX, with my EcoModder co-founder Darin taking second place with a very impressive 106 mpg in his Pontiac Firefly (Geo Metro). The 1st prize went to Chang Ho Kim in his aeromodded 89 CRX, which shocked everyone with 118 mpg in his first fuel economy competition.

Also notable was event organizer Mike Kamm’s 77 mpg Datsun B210. He would’ve easily taken the top prize in the historic class but instead decided to compete in the gasoline class and came in 4th place by less than one-tenth of a gallon of gasoline.

Definitely an event we will be attending again next year!

U.S. Introduction of Scion iQ Possibly Moved up to 2010

Benjamin Jones — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:58:06 +0000

When the Scion debuted its iQ Concept at the New York International Auto Show, there was no solid word on when or if the car would be coming to the United States. The early word is that the car, which has already been successful in Japan and Europe, would come to North America in 2011 as a 2012 under the Scion brand, which would certainly give Scion some time to create larger customization options for the car to better fit their brand image.

Now the news is that the iQ could be coming to the U.S. even sooner. Given the recent success and expansion of SmartUSA, Toyota might have its sights set on the fortwo’s market niche with the iQ. Given Toyota’s superb brand-recognition and dealership network, it could easily give Smart a run for its money and reach even more potential buyers. Here’s hoping!

Drive Like a Trucker for Great Fuel Economy

Benjamin Jones — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:15:41 +0000

If you haven’t noticed by now, truckers drive their rigs in a fundamentally different way from your average commuter. The main reason for this is the size and weight of their loads, which make it driving a truck more difficult, but a secondary benefit of driving like a trucker is better fuel economy.

How do you drive like a trucker?

There are three specific driving techniques that truckers use that I would like to highlight in this article:

Driving with load: Because truckers are often carrying heavy loads, they simply can’t make it up hills at the same speed as smaller vehicles. This is why you’ll often see truckers crawling up hilly interstate passes in the right lane. Then to make up time they pick that speed (and a little more) back up on the downhill.
Traffic light timing: Starting a truck from a dead stop is a difficult task, so when trucks are in stop and go traffic you’ll notice them crawling painfully slowly up to a stop. This helps them let traffic clear out in front of them so they can avoid actually stopping completely and begin accelerating again in a higher gear.
Follow the path of least resistance: As I’ve already emphasized, acceleration both positive and negative can be difficult with a truck. So, on the highways trucks tend to stick together in the right lane where they can cruise at a steady pace without much swerving around and jostling for position like many drivers are often do during their daily commutes.

How can you emulate these practices for better gas mileage?

With three techniques of your own, you can take a hint from our friends in the big rigs and get much better mileage:

Driving with load (DWL): Since you don’t drive a truck, you probably can get your car up a hill at or above the speed limit, but this doesn’t mean that you should. Typically in DWL you will allow your car to bleed speed uphill and then regain it downhill, within +/- 5 mph of your target average speed. Make sure that your bleeding and acceleration are smooth however, as it is advantageous to back off the throttle only a little going up hill so that you’re not quickly decelerating.

You can DWL with even bigger changes of speed, but this is not recommended in traffic or on single-lane roads since it can be quite a pain for other drivers. I personally limit DWL to deserted back roads and multi-lane interstates.

Traffic light timing: Traffic light timing can be difficult depending on the circumstances, but with a little time and attention it is one of the most useful driving techniques around. Next time you are on your commute or a commonly traveled road, try to pay attention to the lights. Do some of them have cross walk signs? How long do they stay red for? Are they timed or camera-triggered?

With this information you can learn how to time lights so that you never actually stop. You can anticipate red lights in a number of ways using available information. If a crosswalk signing is turning to stop or cross-traffic is lined up waiting, it is a good bet that the light may be turning red and you can begin a coast to the light.

Likewise, if a light has been red for quite a while and there is already traffic piling up at the light, you can slow down early and approach the light slowly, waiting for the light to change rather than arriving sooner and slamming on the brakes, which will avoid stopping altogether.

The path of least resistance: This tip is pretty much the same as how truckers do it. Stick to the right lanes unless you’re in a busy road like DC’s beltway, where ramps every several hundred meters mean constant slowing and speeding up to let other drivers on and off the road.

So there you have it! Now you can drive like a trucker and save some gas while you’re at it. I have never quantified the affects of these techniques in normal driving, but I can assure you they add up to much more than just a few percent MPG gain in my normal commute. Happy ecodriving!

Yaris and Fit to Become Dueling Hybrids

Benjamin Jones — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 12:38:55 +0000

The Fit and Yaris have been dueling hatchbacks for years now, but it looks like they might soon become dueling hybrids. Rumors of both popular cars becoming hybrids have come and gone over the last few years, but it looks like it will stick this time for both of them. Especially now that sedans like the Civic and Corolla are much less popular at home in Japan than their hatchback counterparts.

Yaris rumors report that the vehicle could cost less than $16,000 in hybrid form and get up to 94 mpg in Japan’s urban driving cycle. As impressive as that sounds, it would probably only mean ~50mpg in the EPA test cycle. Nevertheless, you can anticipate the sales of vehicle carrying the Prius’s epic clout and a low price tag.

The Fit hybrid has been talked about for a lot longer, but it looks like that vehicle might come true as early as 2010. Less is known about the theoretical fuel economy of a Fit hybrid, but one would expect similar numbers to a Yaris hybrid unless Honda continues with it’s mild-hybrid IMA system into a new generation of hybrid vehicles.

Here’s hoping the rumor mill is more productive this time around!

DIY Car Solar Roof

Benjamin Jones — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:09:25 +0000

Got Pruis solar roof envy? Evidently quite a lot of people do these days. But that doesn’t mean that you, too, cannot have your very own solar roof. However, the ecomodders taking the initiative to add solar to their cars are not doing it for comfort in the summer, but for fuel economy.

How does a solar roof increase fuel economy?

Well, for the average ecomodder, removing gasoline-hungry alternator is a big dream. However, the usual method of doing this is to add a deep discharge battery and plug it in at home, a big hassle that still leaves your car with a somewhat limited range.

Solar alleviates this problem by allowing you to trickle charge your battery for extended alternator-less trips and less need to plug in to recharge.

So, how are they doing it?

The DIY solar roof solution is simpler than you might think. Just build your own custom solar array…on your roof! If that sounds too complicated, check out ecomodder member gascort’s step by step process, and you’ll see that with a little elbow grease and a lot of courage, you too can have a solar roof.

Definitely one of the cooler ways to turn your vehicle into a gasoline-sun hybrid!

Pulse and Glide Your Prius for Super Fuel Economy

Benjamin Jones — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:36:11 +0000

Ever wondered what the difference between the average driver struggling to beat the EPA in their Prius and the ecodrivers getting 80 mpg is? One of the keys is a technique called “Pulse & Glide.”

The specifics of pulse & glide on the Prius are covered in the above video, but to summarize, the technique has two parts:

The pulse: This is a period of gentle to moderate acceleration. Even though you are using a fair amount of gas to gain speed, you’re not flooring it.
The glide: During the glide you coast down from your top speed to your lower limit with the gasoline engine off, hoping to maximize the distance of your coast.

In the above video, the technique is practiced on rather empty roads from a speed of 20 mph to 37 mph, which nets about 80 mpg over the course in the Prius.

If you’re interested in more fuel saving tips, definitely check out EcoModder’s hypermiling tips list.

GM Claims 230 MPG City for 2011 Volt

Benjamin Jones — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:32:58 +0000

For the last couple days, GM has been trying to drum up a little press surrounding the number 230 for a surprise announcement. As you can see above, the “0″ in 230 is a plug, which makes sense considering the announcement was about the fuel economy capabilities of the upcoming Chevy Volt.

Nothing has changed about the Volt in recent history, but the big number comes from changes in the EPA’s plug-in electric vehicle rating system. The new system, which isn’t official yet, credits the Volt for what would be almost entirely electric-only use during normal city driving:

Under the new methodology being developed, EPA weights plug-in electric vehicles as traveling more city miles than highway miles on only electricity. The EPA methodology uses kilowatt hours per 100 miles traveled to define the electrical efficiency of plug-ins. Applying EPA’s methodology, GM expects the Volt to consume as little as 25 kilowatt hours per 100 miles in city driving. At the U.S. average cost of electricity (approximately 11 cents per kWh), a typical Volt driver would pay about $2.75 for electricity to travel 100 miles, or less than 3 cents per mile.

In a nutshell, semantics. The number relies on consumers consistently plugging their vehicle and getting a full charge each time. Also, this says nothing of the highway mileage for the vehicle, though it’s said the Volt will be weighted more for city driving than highway because of its plug-in capability. While this may generate a more impressive number, it doesn’t give much confidence in the vehicle for use in extended driving.

So, until the actual combined number comes from the EPA, we won’t really know what the Volt’s fuel economy is like, and even then, it will likely be very hard for any of us to make an accurate comparison with another vehicle.

Read the full press release after the break.

PRESS RELEASE:

Chevrolet Volt Expects 230 mpg in City Driving

* First mass-produced vehicle to claim more than 100 mpg composite fuel economy
* Tentative EPA methodology results show 25 kilowatt hours/100 miles electrical efficiency in city cycle
* Plugging in daily is key to high-mileage performance

WARREN, Mich. – The Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle is expected to achieve city fuel economy of at least 230 miles per gallon, based on development testing using a draft EPA federal fuel economy methodology for labeling for plug-in electric vehicles.

The Volt, which is scheduled to start production in late 2010 as a 2011 model, is expected to travel up to 40 miles on electricity from a single battery charge and be able to extend its overall range to more than 300 miles with its flex fuel-powered engine-generator.

“From the data we’ve seen, many Chevy Volt drivers may be able to be in pure electric mode on a daily basis without having to use any gas,” said GM Chief Executive Officer Fritz Henderson. “EPA labels are a yardstick for customers to compare the fuel efficiency of vehicles. So, a vehicle like the Volt that achieves a composite triple-digit fuel economy is a game-changer.”

According to U.S. Department of Transportation data, nearly eight of 10 Americans commute fewer than 40 miles a day http://tinyurl.com/U-S-DOTStudy .

“The key to high-mileage performance is for a Volt driver to plug into the electric grid at least once each day,” Henderson said.

Volt drivers’ actual gas-free mileage will vary depending on how far they travel and other factors, such as how much cargo or how many passengers they carry and how much the air conditioner or other accessories are used. Based on the results of unofficial development testing of pre-production prototypes, the Volt has achieved 40 miles of electric-only, petroleum-free driving in both EPA city and highway test cycles.

Under the new methodology being developed, EPA weights plug-in electric vehicles as traveling more city miles than highway miles on only electricity. The EPA methodology uses kilowatt hours per 100 miles traveled to define the electrical efficiency of plug-ins. Applying EPA’s methodology, GM expects the Volt to consume as little as 25 kilowatt hours per 100 miles in city driving. At the U.S. average cost of electricity (approximately 11 cents per kWh), a typical Volt driver would pay about $2.75 for electricity to travel 100 miles, or less than 3 cents per mile.

The Chevrolet Volt uses grid electricity as its primary source of energy to propel the car. There are two modes of operation: Electric and Extended-Range. In electric mode, the Volt will not use gasoline or produce tailpipe emissions when driving. During this primary mode of operation, the Volt is powered by electrical energy stored in its 16 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

When the battery reaches a minimum state of charge, the Volt automatically switches to Extended-Range mode. In this secondary mode of operation, an engine-generator produces electricity to power the vehicle. The energy stored in the battery supplements the engine-generator when additional power is needed during heavy accelerations or on steep inclines.

“The 230 city mpg number is a great indication of the capabilities of the Volt’s electric propulsion system and its ability to displace gasoline,” said Frank Weber, global vehicle line executive for the Volt. “Actual testing with production vehicles will occur next year closer to vehicle launch. However, we are very encouraged by this development, and we also think that it is important to continue to share our findings in real time, as we have with other aspects of the Volt’s development.”

About Chevrolet
Chevrolet is one of America ’s best-known and best-selling automotive brands, and one of the fastest growing brands in the world. With fuel solutions that go from “gas-friendly to gas-free,” Chevy has nine models that get 30 miles per gallon or more on the highway, and offers three hybrid models. More than 2.5 million Chevrolets that run on E85 biofuel have been sold. Chevy delivers expressive design, spirited performance and provides the best value in every segment in which it competes. More information on Chevrolet can be found at www.chevrolet.com. For more information on the Volt, visit http://media.gm.com/volt/.

General Motors Company, one of the world’s largest automakers, traces its roots back to 1908. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 235,000 people in every major region of the world and does business in some 140 countries. GM and its strategic partners produce cars and trucks in 34 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. More information on the new General Motors Company can be found at www.gm.com.

Cash for Clunkers Gets $2B, Back on Track

Benjamin Jones — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 20:39:45 +0000

It’s certainly a mixed bag of news for many of us, but the government’s “cash for clunks” rebate program has gotten an infusion of new cash and will be up and running through at least the end of the month.

As we recently posted, the program ran out of its first billion after its first week in operation. So, despite all the recent hub-bub around government spending and meddling with the auto industry, they’ve still managed to rush another huge junk of government money out to the aide of an ailing auto industry.

The rush to spend more money on the program, however, didn’t have anything to do with evaluating how successful it has been, either in terms of environmental impact or stimulating sales. However, early evidence suggests that the dealerships and auto manufacturers are going to be the big beneficiaries in all this.

So, if you were planning on buying a new car and through you might be out of luck, fear not, there will be funds available for at least another few weeks.

Progressive X-Prize Chooses Technical Operations Panel

Benjamin Jones — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:56:16 +0000

For those of us eagerly waiting for the official start of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X-Prize competition, this is definitely a step in the right direction. The contestants are assembled, the rules are laid out, and finally, the judges have been assembled.

The judging will be done by six automotive experts, assembled from such disparate backgrounds as racing to renewable and battery technology, which should leave the X-Prize Foundation well equipped to deal with the wide range of vehicles and contestants competing for the big, $10 million prize.

Read the full press release after the jump.

Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE Announces Team of Automotive Experts to Lead Technical Operations for Competition

Automotive Experts Will Lead Judging Process in Multimillion Dollar Competition for Super Fuel Efficient Vehicles

PLAYA VISTA, Calif., Aug. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, a multimillion dollar competition to inspire a new generation of viable, super fuel-efficient vehicles, today announced the hire of six new team members who will lead technical operations for the competition. All six new hires will serve on the technical inspection and design judging team and will report to Bob Larsen, Senior Advisor, Technical Operations for the Prize.

Under the direction of Larsen, who has spent his career in advanced propulsion systems, fuels, and vehicle competition operations and currently serves as Argonne National Laboratory’s Director Emeritus of the Center for Transportation Research, the group of new hires includes a mix of well respected and established names from the automotive and engineering industries. They include:

Steve Wesoloski – Senior Advisor, Deputy Technical Operations (Expertise in engineering and motorsports; most recently with GM Racing)
Don Taylor – Senior Advisor, Competition Rules (Expertise in ‘Green Racing’; formerly of the National Hot Rod Association)
P.T. Jones – Senior Advisor, Competition Operations (Senior Vehicle Systems Engineer, currently with Sentech, Inc.)
Jody Nelson – Senior Advisor, Energy Storage Technologies (Expertise in alternative and renewable energy technologies; formerly with Daimler AG and currently with BluEngineering)
Spencer Quong – Senior Advisor, Fueling & Advanced Vehicle Technologies (currently Chief Technology Officer with Quong & Associates, Inc.)
Dr. Jim Winkelman – Senior Advisor, Electronics & Advanced Propulsion Technologies (Electrical Engineer with 30+ years in developing advanced products at General Electric, Ford, Visteon and Plug Power)

Automotive expert Aaron Fyke, who currently serves as Director of Energy Prize Development for the X PRIZE Foundation, will also be contributing to the design judging effort. His extensive experience in automotive, alternative energy and manufacturing will be essential to evaluating the technical and business merit and commercial viability of Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE entrants.

“Adding this terrific pool of talent to the competition creates a robust and highly qualified judging panel for the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE,” said Eric Cahill, Senior Director of the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE.

The technical team is currently hard at work reviewing the 90+ Registered Teams’ business plans and vehicle data submissions. The Design Judging phase, as it is formally called, is the first competitive event in the competition. Teams must pass this critical phase in order to continue on as Qualified Teams that will compete in a rigorous and demanding series of vehicle challenges that begin with formal opening ceremonies next spring.

“The priority during this phase is to ensure that all teams understand the criteria, that entered vehicles meet or exceed the criteria, and that teams appear capable of building a production intent vehicle to these standards in time for formal vehicle challenges next spring,” noted Steve Wesoloski, newly appointed Senior Advisor, Deputy Technical Operations for the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE.

The newly assembled team of automotive experts will work closely with each competing team to review their vehicle for safety and ensure its readiness for on-road competition events in the coming months. For complete bios on each of the technical team members, please visit www.progressiveautoxprize.org/files/downloads/auto/PIAXP_Technical_Team.pdf.

How to Make Your Car Feel Like New in 10 Minutes

Benjamin Jones — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:56:01 +0000

Let’s face it, many of us have older cars. And cars, as they get older, develop all sorts of little, painful annoyances. One of those annoyances, which has gotten to me even since I first bought my 1991 CRX, was how the windshield wipers never really seemed to move the water off of the glass. It was like it stuck there, just to annoy me.

I finally discovered Rain-X, and while I don’t often sing the praises of commercial products, this is definitely one of the rare times when I will. Rain-X has done more than any other modification to make my car feel like new, and even allowed me to remove my rear wiper.

So, if you’re interested in just how easy it is to give your car a makeover, check out the video I made on the subject. Just wash, apply, rub in, repeat, and you’re done in no time flat!

The Nissan Leaf – Another EV!

Neil — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:29:48 +0000

I am very happy to see another electric vehicle on the near horizon: the Nissan Leaf was announced on August 2nd. There’s a very comprehensive post on AutoBlogGreen, including a video.

They appear to have done a lot of careful design: they did as much aerodynamic design as they could without having obvious things like wheel skirts. They did not want it to look like a Prius/Insight, and though it has the same basic shape of those cars, it obviously looks more “normal” than they do. Personally, I would prefer a lower window sill line — which would improve rearward visibility. And I hope that it can be had with steel wheels, so one can use smooth wheel covers.

I want it to work well; and as long as it avoids any “stupid” styling (which I think it does!) that hurt how it works, then I’m happy. Form should follow function, like with the Aptera. Styling should be limited to the “graphic” adjustments of the aerodynamic shape. Again, the best example of this is comparing the earlier Aptera MK-0 and Typ-1 to the current model. They changed the height, and they changed the “graphics” of things like the shape of the windows and the headlights, and while the overall shape is the same slippery form, the newer models look much better.

To quote the ABG article on this subject:

A Question of Style

Interestingly, unlike the current alt-fuel darlings from Toyota and Honda, Nissan has purposefully eschewed a fastback shape for a more formal five-door appearance. Shiro Nakamura, Nissan’s senior vice president and chief creative officer (read: styling director) admits he wanted the car to be unique, but not so bizarre as to be off-putting to most car buyers:

“From the beginning, we did not want to make the car very strange, because one of the perceptions of the EV [is that] people think that EVs are toys, or cheap… that you cannot drive high-speed, that EV means ‘not real car.’ But the car we have is a real car – you can drive it at 140 kilometers, you can sit four or five passengers comfortably.

By that measure, the more upright yet unique Leaf is a success – it is a slippery shape with real passenger space, yet it doesn’t resort to visually polarizing aerodynamic tricks like faired-in wheel housings and to maximize aero. Instead, it has a smooth face (secreting two charging ports hiding beneath the Nissan logo), strangely prominent blue-tinted headlamps that manage airflow as much as they do nighttime vision, and a roofline whose rearmost pillar reminds us of another Nissan – the Murano. The Leaf has an almost Gallic rump that recalls that of the Versa, a design that in turn reminds us of offerings from Nissan’s European partner, Renault.

From what we have been told so far, the Leaf will have range of 100 miles, carrying four adults or five people, and it has two charging plugs: a 120v and a 240v (~16 hours and ~8 hours for a full charge, respectively) — and there is the ability to use a 3-phase fast charge (if you have access to an expensive special charger) that does an 80% charge in less than 30 minutes, or an ~30% charge in about 10 minutes. The battery pack is ~200kg (440 pounds) and is made up of 48 laptop-sized modules (each of which has 4 magazine-sized cells). These are thin, laminated lithium ion cells (that may be similar to the battery used in the newest MacBook Pro laptops) — and they are installed in the floor of the Leaf. The total weight of the car is probably similar to say the Versa, but the Cg is probably much lower because of where the batteries are installed.

So, the (non-exhaustive) list of EV’s that we already have seen, or will be seeing in the next few years grows a bit longer:

Nissan Leaf
Toyota/Scion FT-EV
Mitsubishi iMiEV
Aptera 2e
Coda Automotive
Ford Focus EV
Mini E
Th!nk City
BYD F3DM

EcoModders Average 33 MPG, 25% over EPA

Benjamin Jones — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:55:27 +0000

With nearly 3000 vehicles in the EcoModder garage, most of them logging data for over a year, we decided it was time to crunch some numbers to see how EcoModders stacked up in terms of real fuel savings.

Well, the numbers are in. The average EcoModder gets 33.12 MPG, which is just a hair over 25% above the vehicle EPA ratings (at time of writing). This means that since joining the site, our members have saved over 65,000 gallons of gasoline when compared to the EPA ratings.

It’s not surprising that certain drivers can easily beat the EPA, but it is encouraging to know that thousands of drivers working together can consistently get fuel economy well above the EPA rating.

Cash for Clunkers Says Goodbye Tonight

Benjamin Jones — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:38:04 +0000

It seems the popular CARS program, which was designed to run out when its $950 million funding ran out is almost out of money. The decision to suspend the program will probably come as a surprise to many consumers who were being more careful about thinking over their purchase, but evidently it is a result of the slow turnover from dealerships to the government in processing rebates.

The government has only processed about $100 million in rebates thus far, but it expects that a far greater amount have already been handed out by dealerships, perhaps already exceeding the government funding. The problem is a slow rebate turnover between the dealerships and the government.

As of right now the program is only being suspended. Once the government knows exactly how much money it has spent and whether or not it can get more funding for the program it will decide whether to completely end or re-start the rebate program.

The program was originally supposed to run until November 1st, but it’s clear now that that won’t be happening. This will probably disappoint a lot of people hoping to trade in their clunkers, but hopefully the situation is not as dire as it currently seems.

Source: ABG

5 Cash for Clunkers Values on which to Spend your $4,500

Benjamin Jones — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:42:01 +0000

Been wondering where to cash in on your government rebate in recent days? There are lots of great new cars on the market, but EcoModder has picked 5 in particular that have extra appeal when coupled with the government cash for clunkers (CARS) rebate.

1. 2010 Honda Insight

The cheapest hybrid on the market is even cheaper with a fat rebate. If you’ve always wanted a hybrid but have been long-detered by the price premium, this is the perfect time to cash in an on eligible price rebate. The Toyota Prius also becomes much cheaper under this plan, but still can’t beat the Insight’s low price.

Price after rebate: $15,300

2. 2009 Honda Fit

Looking for big value in a little car? The Honda Fit is perfect for people looking to get a lot of car out of a vehicle with a small footprint. The car’s already low price makes it a perfect entry level vehicle or second family car.

Price after rebate: $10,250

3. 2009 VW Jetta TDI

With VW’s oft-lauded diesel models back on sale in all 50-states, a lot of people have been scooping up new TDIs. However, like hybrids, diesels carry a price premium that has prevented many people from capitalizing on their superior gas mileage. With a CARS rebate, this is no longer. You can pick up a manual transmission TDI now for a price comparable to similar gas vehicles without the rebate.

Price after rebate: $17,770

EDIT: VW notes that their clean diesels are also eligible for a further $1,300 government rebate for fuel economy, kicking down the price possibly as low as $16,470.

4. 2009 Smart Fortwo

The Smart Fortwo has always been a small, thrifty vehicle, which has gotten even thriftier with this rebate. You can get the absolute base model for as low as $7,490, or capitalize on Smart’s offer of a $99/month payments on the Fortwo.

5. 2009 Toyota Yaris

If you’re not into hatchbacks but want a cheap, fuel efficient sedan, the Yaris is for you. The Yaris is the smallest car in the Toyota lineup, and is easy on gas while maintaining a small footprint in a traditional sedan form.

Price after rebate: $7,705

Shut Up and EcoDrive

Benjamin Jones — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:42:52 +0000

Recently the New York Times has run several powerful articles underscoring the dangers of driving distracted, something which I don’t think can be emphasized enough.

When I first got a cell phone a little over a year ago, my home state of New Jersey had just made one of the country’s first hands-free cell phone laws. I thought this was great and eagerly purchased a bluetooth headset for use with my phone and left it at that.

Even so, I tried to avoid talking while driving unless I was on a long-haul highway trip, in which case the phone helped snap me out of highway hypnosis every now and again. However, I began to notice that fuel economy would always take a hit when I was on the phone.

Why? I was distracted. I didn’t think I was being particularly unsafe; I never drifted out of my lane, missed an exit, or had a close call. But, I was clearly distracted.

On top of this I had to follow a friend through city traffic recently. Because of the dense traffic we happened to get separated several times, in which case we called each other on the phone to reestablish our link. The phone, I found, was very distracting. Talking to my friend about where he was in traffic made it even harder to figure out where he was in the sea of cars ahead of me.

And I got terrible mileage.

So here’s a thought: if you can’t put down the phone because it’s not safe (even hands-free is unsafe and I have completely stopped answering when I get calls), remember that every minute spent on the phone will have a negative impact on your fuel economy.

Image: Ryan Harvey