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eco-friendly motoring in south africa.

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A diesel Cayenne (!), and other green things coming from Porsche

July 24th, 2008 · No Comments

The German sportscar maker Porsche AG is following a rather unorthodox method of cutting the average emissions of its fleet. Where most other producers of large-engines niche vehicles are looking at alternative fuels (like an ethanol powered Koenigsegg) or scaling down engine capacities (like the Ferrari Millechili concept), Porsche is hoping that another manufacturer’s green credentials will help it lower its output. (A similar argument to the theory posed by GreenCars surrounding the benefit of Tata buying the Land Rover brand.) [Read more →]

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→ No CommentsTags: Commentary · Emissions · Fuels and powertrains · News and Info

Unveiled: 3.7l/100km Fiesta

July 23rd, 2008 · 1 Comment

 

Ford’s production-ready Fiesta ECOnetic has  been introduced at the British International Motor Show in London.

Powered by a specially-calibrated, 66 kW 1.6-liter Duratorq TDCi,  the Fiesta ECOnetic offers fuel consumption of 3.7 l/100km and CO2 emissions of 98 g/km. Extra-urban  fuel consumption is 3.2 L/100km. Performance isn’t too bad for such a fuel sipper either - the Fiesta ECOnetic accelerates from  0-100 km/h in 12.3 seconds and has a top speed of 178 km/. The car will also feature a coated Diesel Particulate Filter in order to reduce particulate emissions.

[Read more →]

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Tesla Motors in-depth

July 15th, 2008 · No Comments

The Tesla Roadster is a car that we love to write about here at GreenCars. It’s hi-tech, fast and environmentally friendly - all good things. It’s also the product of a young and dynamic company that’s taken Silicon Valley business practices and applied them to the auto industry. The result makes for a very interesting (and at times turbulent) tale - one that’s been written in great detail and depth by Fortune magazine’s Michael V. Copeland.

For anyone who might have been wondering why Tesla Roadsters are only now beginning to come off the production line, Copeland’s article should prove fascinating, as it provides great insight into the technical, organisational and personal factors that have affected the car’s launch.

Check it out here.

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South African Gordon Murray’s T25 City Car (2010)

July 14th, 2008 · No Comments

Most of us motoring buffs know about local boy Gordon Murray making it big in F1 design a few years back. Friend Gordon then left the racing scene to focus on something more .., well … affordable. After starting Gordon Murray Design (GMD) in Surrey, England, his team of 29 set out to revolutionise the way we think about small cars. [Read more →]

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→ No CommentsTags: Manufacturing · Concept Cars · News and Info

World’s biggest rooftop solar station to be built by GM

July 9th, 2008 · No Comments

 

The General’s assembly plant in Zargosa, Spain (which produces over 480 000 vehicles per year) will soon be sporting a massive 10MW solar power station on its roof similar to the system pictured above.

GM will not own the solar station, however. It will be installed and run by US firm Clairvoyant Energy and France’s Veolia Environment who then sell this solar power to the Zargosa plant.

The system will comprise 85000 solar panels covering an area of  183 000m². In addition to its obvious environmental benefits, power generated by this plant will play a major role in reducing the operating costs of the manufacturing facility. It will also sell excess power to the local grid.

This is not the first solar facility to be built by the ailing motor giant - it has similar (albeit smaller) solar plants on the roofs of two parts warehouses in California.

According to GM Europe President Carl-Peter Forster, GM might install similar systems on its other European plants if the Zargosa system proves to be effective. 

Source: Physorg

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→ No CommentsTags: Manufacturing · Emissions

Plug-in VW Golf Hybrid by 2010

June 30th, 2008 · No Comments

Volkswagen last week introduced a plug-in hybrid Golf, a diesel-electric model slated for global launch in 2010-11. “The automaker is staking a claim to that future with a plug-in hybrid drive train it calls Twin Drive. [Read more →]

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SA vehicles to get standardised fuel consumption figures … hold the applause

June 25th, 2008 · No Comments

So, from 1 July 2008 every new passenger car sold will have to sport a fuel economy info sheet in the showroom. As part of the Department of Minerals and Energy’s (DME) Energy Efficiency Accord, all new cars, SUV’s and MPV’s (apparently not light commercials…) will need to undergo standardised fuel economy testing to ensure comparability between makes and models. But lets not get too excited yet… [Read more →]

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Mazda: 30% more efficient fleet by 2015

June 25th, 2008 · No Comments

Internal combustion engines may not be around forever but they’re certainly going to be the most common propulsion systems on our roads for many years to come, so it’s always good news to hear that automakers are making good progress in terms of ICE efficiency and emissions reductions. Recently, Mazda has announced the exciting news that by 2015 their entire fleet of vehicles will be 30% less thirsty than it is now. How is this to be achieved?

[Read more →]

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→ No CommentsTags: Emissions · Fuels and powertrains · Cars

The business of green transport is making headlines

June 18th, 2008 · No Comments

We all know that going green is big business. Big enough, in fact, to reach the pages of business newspapers every week - if not every day. In the Tuesday 17 June edition of Business Day, a double page spread focussing on international company news had no fewer than four reports on international companies meddling in greening the way we travel. It gives some insight into the business implications of cutting CO2 levels. Take a look at these links:  [Read more →]

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General Motors is going green (really!), according to CEO Wagoner

June 4th, 2008 · 1 Comment

2010 is not only a big year for global sports (South Africa hosts the Soccer World Cup), but also for the automotive world. Big changes are planned for the US motor industry, with planned launches of small cars – the Ford Fiesta and a string of Fiats (mist likely the 500) – on the cards. The most significant, however, will likely be the sale of the first GM Volt – a plug-in hybrid with a small internal combustion engine in tow.

After many year of losses, attributed to many factors ranging from high workers benefits bills to changing consumer buying patterns, the US Big Three (GM, Chrysler, Ford) are moving away from big pick-ups and looking towards smaller vehicles as their future. (About time, has Europe not done this for a decade or two already?) [Read more →]

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→ 1 CommentTags: Commentary · Fact-finding · News and Info