Transportation & Supply Chain

The Impact of EV Solar Charging Stations on our Health (infographic)

2013-05-14T01:23:02-07:00

There’s no question that electric vehicles are the automobiles of our future. With Tesla Motors introducing quick and efficient charging stations, Electric Vehicles (EVs) are sure to continue to pop up everywhere with increasing popularity.

Legislators Push Manufacturers Towards Greener Cars

2013-05-07T00:44:21-07:00

Recent events are pointing to an increase in the popularity of hybrid cars, along with other green-car technologies. And governments are putting more pressure on manufacturers with more environmentally conscious regulations.

2014 Vehicle Technologies Budget Centers on Developing Hybrids and EVs

2013-04-20T07:37:18-07:00

The 2014 Vehicle Technologies budget proposal, submitted by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), requests $240 million to support R&D efforts for batteries and electric drive technology.

The Top 10 Best Selling Hybrid Cars in the US (2013)

2013-04-11T11:08:06-07:00

There are a number of hybrid vehicles that have flooded the marketplace in the last few years. The number of available hybrid brands in the US market has more than doubled since 2007. Here is hybridCars' 2013 list of the ten best selling hybrid cars in the US.

Exploring the Demand for Hybrid Vehicles in the US

2013-04-06T06:35:19-07:00

Hybrid vehicles are gaining in popularity in the US. The three primary reasons appear to be that consumers want to save money on gas, minimize their environmental impacts and reduce America's dependence on foreign oil.

Ford Motor Co.: Green or Greenwashing?

2013-04-04T11:23:05-07:00

Ford Motor. Co. has a long, albeit mixed history of developing greener vehicles. Their strategy appears to focus on offering more choices to consumers. Ford has been working on cleaner vehicles dating all the way back to the 1990's.

Tesla Turns a Profit

2013-04-02T10:36:01-07:00

Luxury electric-car maker Tesla Motors reported a profit for the first quarter of 2013, the first profitable quarter since the maker of $70,000 EVs went public in 2010.

The US Transportation Sector can Reduce Petroleum Use and GHG emissions by 80%

2013-03-29T12:05:02-07:00

According to a new government study an 80 percent reduction in petroleum use and GHG emissions is possible in the transportation sector by 2050.

Protected Bike Lanes Benefit You, the Economy, and the Environment

2013-03-15T13:01:02-07:00

Cities across the country are building protected bike lanes, finding that they promote exercise and economic development while offering a clean alternative mode of transportation.

Hybrids Get a Makeover at Geneva Auto Show

2013-03-07T12:51:01-08:00

As unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show earlier this week, Formula One-inspired hybrid powertrains can now be found under the hoods of the Ferrari “LaFerrari” and McLaren P1 (as well as the upcoming Porsche 918).

Volkswagen’s Sustainability Efforts Include the World’s Most Fuel Efficient Car

2013-03-05T13:13:31-08:00

Volkswagen may have been slower to engage sustainability than some of its automotive competitors but the company appears to be making up for lost time. Prior to the last few years sustainability was not a strategic priority for Volkswagen's business operations.

What the Tesla-NYT Skirmish Actually Tells Us

2013-02-21T10:44:01-08:00

As many of you are probably aware, Tesla Motors and New York Times writer John Broder have been engaged in a heated public battle over the credibility of his damaging review of the Tesla Model S.

Purchase of A123 Systems by Chinese Wanxiang Group Stands to Make Lots of Money, but Not for the US

2013-02-06T08:57:17-08:00

The recent purchase of the American company A123 systems by the Chinese company Wanxiang Group is another failure of US policy to make electric and hybrid cars attractive to Americans.

What Will Happen to Car Sharing Now the ZipCar is Part of Avis?

2013-02-04T10:38:02-08:00

With Avis acquiring ZipCar recently, will anything take its place? There are a number of local options for car sharing. Perhaps nonprofits will fill niche. One has taken root in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul) and another in Boulder, Colorado.

Dispatches from the Bus: Waiting

2013-01-20T07:57:02-08:00

I feel bad for the bus driver. Arrive too early and people are upset if you miss the bus because it goes by before you arrive. Get to the stop late and others are frustrated because you’re behind schedule, they’ll miss their connection, they’ll be late for work or an appointment.

2014 Corvette Stingray Goes Green (well, a little bit)

2013-01-19T10:37:01-08:00

This probably is not the best forum to talk about 6.2-liter V8 sports cars going green, but bear with me. The Corvette has been with us since 1953, and none is as fast or fuel efficient as the C7 generation unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show last Sunday.

Light Rail as Driver of Economic Engine

2013-01-14T01:52:32-08:00

I started working in downtown St. Paul a month and a half ago. During the first major snow I was lamenting the lack of light rail. Buses were running up to an hour late due to snow and associated traffic. There’s a light rail station a block from where I work. The only problem is that it isn’t scheduled to open until 2014.

Dispatches from the Bus: One Way Streets, Dedicated Bus Lanes

2013-01-13T04:17:02-08:00

I don’t pay much attention when I commute. On a recent morning commute though, I started paying more attention to the downtown Minneapolis corridor. Streets are laid out to keep bus and car traffic separate. Two way streets are really “one way for cars” and the other way for buses.

The 411 on Green Car Insurance Discounts

2013-01-08T14:52:31-08:00

As a hybrid car owner, you have invested wisely in a vehicle that saves you a ton of money on gas and that is good for the environment. But before getting a good-driver, multi-policy, or other common discounts, you will typically save up to 10% on your auto insurance just for driving a green car.

Considerable Benefits of Decarbonizing Urban Transport

2013-01-03T07:54:01-08:00

Cities worldwide are increasingly becoming agents in the fight to mitigate climate change, while simultaneously aiming for other goals, such as improved accessibility and clean air.

Avis to Buy Zipcar

2013-01-03T06:22:02-08:00

Though I wish they would stay independent and continue to lead the car sharing movement, Zipcar will be bought by Avis rental car company. The deal will make Avis Budget Group Inc. the largest player in the U.S. car-sharing market, leaping ahead of Hertz and Enterprise.

China Unveils Longest High Speed Rail Line in the World

2012-12-28T02:06:01-08:00

China has opened the world’s longest high speed rail line measuring more than 1,400 miles, or nearly 2,300 kilometers, the train connects the capital, Beijing, with Guangzhou, a commercial hub, in the south.

Smart Parking Trial in San Francisco

2012-12-19T04:12:01-08:00

Living in Tokyo, this is one thing I luckily don’t have to deal with: finding a parking space. Like many Tokyo residents, I don’t own a car and, like nearly all workers, I take the train to work. Costs for parking and gas are astronomical and traffic, navigation, and overall experience is a time suck and a lesson in futility.

Consumer Reports: Two Ford Hybrids Fall Way Short of EPA Fuel Economy

2012-12-14T10:51:01-08:00

Consumer Reports raised red flags after testing the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Ford C-Max Hybrid. While both vehicles were praised for their efficiency, they fell inexcusably short of their reported efficiency (miles-per-gallon).

Test Drive & Review of 2012 Tesla Model S: Quite Possibly the Best Car on Sale

2012-12-04T04:08:01-08:00

Tesla Motors was founded in 2003 with the overarching goal of expediting the world’s transition to electric transportation. Within that plan, the Model S represents the second stage: to build an affordable car, at least in its class of luxurious saloons. The two remaining stages of Tesla’s plan are to build a more affordable car, while simultaneously constructing zero emission charging options.