Green Technology

It may have a Japanese badge, but the world’s most popular hybrid might soon be made in the good ole’ U.S. of A. Toyota is planning on making Priuses, specifically ones it wants to sell here, at an American plant. The company hopes this move will trim costs and increase availability of the hybrid hatchback. Koei Saga, Toyota’s senior managing officer in charge of drivetrain R&D, told Automotive News that Toyota is looking to start Prius… Read More

Last week I was at Dell’s Annual Analyst Conference, but the product at the event I most wanted wasn’t a desktop, laptop, a tablet or even a smartphone. It was a scooter. It turns out that Dell had actually helped create Current Motor’s electric Super Scooter. What makes this particular scooter unique is that it both uses a hub motor, and was designed to use vehicle wraps instead of paint. That last point is something that I think the car… Read More

Famed Italian automaker Ferrari is developing its very first gasoline-electric hybrid system for 2013. The new energy-efficient technology will feature in the as-yet-to-be-named Ferrari Enzo successor, reports Automotive News. The gasoline-powered Enzo (pictured), named in honor of founder Enzo Ferrari, was originally announced back in 2002 at the Paris Motor Show, and featured a mid-engine V12 capable of hitting 60 mph in as little as 3.14… Read More

There are several trends in trying to sneak a bit of exercise while you multi-task at work. Some people prefer standing desks and others invest in a yoga ball chair to keep your calories burning as you get things done. While both those methods subconsciously trick you into working out, perhaps it is more effective if you are forced to do a little leg work to even get anything done. With WeBike, power is generated only when the user pedals from… Read More

We have to hand it General Motors, the American automaker is not afraid to dream big when it comes to the cars of tomorrow. Back in December 2011 we had a chance to make the trip out to Detroit and check out GM’s EN-V electric pod car-of-the-future for ourselves. Needless to say we came away impressed, even if we were left a little less than optimistic we would ever seen one make the jump from functioning prototype to production model.… Read More

Electric vehicle (EV) specialist Coda Automotive signed a deal with Chinese carmaker Great Wall to develop and sell more of the battery-powered cars in both China and the U.S. Coda has been selling its electric sedan (pictured) in California for a few months, while Great Wall is a newcomer to the EV scene. The companies hope to jointly develop EVs that will be sold under both brand names. Under the new alliance. Coda will supply the batteries,… Read More

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is set to hold a technical symposium in Washington, D.C. on May 18 to discuss regulatory and safety issues surrounding lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery-powered vehicles, Bloomberg reports. The meeting comes almost a year after General Motor’s Chevrolet Volt caught on fire following a crash-testing – causing consumers to raise questions regarding the Volt’s safety. The incident also came… Read More

U.S. drivers will save $68 billion in fuel costs by 2030 thanks to the Obama administration’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard, according to a report by the Natural Resources Defense Council. Last year, the Obama administration proposed a plan for CAFE standards for each auto manufacturer to reach 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. The NRDC, which is a non-profit organization, estimates that the average American driver will enjoy a… Read More

Audi likes to talk about building electric cars, but they are only one facet of its green strategy. The German company has shown a couple of concept cars, and is testing an electric A3 hatchback, all under the e-tron banner. In the meantime, Audi is showing the A6 L e-tron, a plug-in hybrid version of the A6 sedan, at the Beijing Motor Show. This hybrid was designed with Chinese customers in mind, but that doesn’t mean Americans will be left… Read More

Volkswagen is electrifying its redesigned Beetle with a battery-powered concept car. The E-Bugster debuted at January’s Detroit auto show with a chopped roof and “speedster” styling. Now, a convertible version is charging up VW’s booth at the Beijing Motor Show. The E-Bugster convertible previews the upcoming Beetle convertible, and hints at future electric Volkswagens. To make a Beetle into a Bugster, VW did more than cut off the roof. The… Read More

There's something about an English accent and vacuum cleaners that just fits so right a la Dyson. Now, the company might have a bit of a competition with this new cordless vacuum cleaner that can compress the dirt you pick up into disposable cubes so everything gets properly tossed away. The GTech AirRam claims to be the highest performing cordless vacuum cleaner on the market, with full power charged onto a Li-ion battery to last 40… Read More

Last Friday, commuters at Rome's Tiburtina station witnessed the maiden voyage of the "Italo," a joint effort from French rail company SNCF and Ferrari's inexplicable-yet-undeniably-cool locomotive division NTV (Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori — literally "New Passenger Transport"). The train, which can reach speeds of 350 miles per hour and seats up to 450 passengers, is an attempt at bringing the classic… Read More

Nothing screams post-modern, 21st century men like a boy's night drinking your favorite cheap or craft beers, hanging out with your friends watching sports or picking up ladies, and looking great in a well-fitted pair of jeans. And if you want a part of celebrating Earth Day this past weekend and continue to be green going forward, now you can by rocking a pair from Bonobos' new line of pants that recycles beer bottles into stylish… Read More

We’re going to go out on a limb here and assume you’re all pretty familiar with eBay. In fact, most of us have probably bought or sold something on the site at one point or another in our lives. Now, the online auction Mecca has launched a new site devoted entirely to alternative energy vehicles. eBay’s “Green Driving” site is exactly what it sounds like: a website dedicated to alt-fuels for green car enthusiasts or potential shoppers. Cars are… Read More

With the eyes of the automotive industry firmly placed upon it, the Nissan Leaf began rolling out of the company’s Japanese plants in December 2010. The zero-emissions all-electric car was met with critical acclaim, winning a number of awards upon its arrival including 2011 European Car of the Year and 2011 World Car of the Year. In its inaugural year, Nissan sold roughly 9,700 units in the United States alone, which is made all the more… Read More