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 […]
Entries Tagged as 'Fact-finding'
SA vehicles to get standardised fuel consumption figures … hold the applause
June 25th, 2008 · No Comments
Tags: Commentary · Fact-finding · News and Info
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 […]
Tags: Emissions · Fact-finding · News and Info
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. […]
Tags: Commentary · Fact-finding · News and Info
Why Paul McCartney dislikes his free Lexus LS600h
May 30th, 2008 · No Comments
Beatle Sir Paul McCartney is seen as quite a green fellow. In fact, he has done so much for the promotion of green motoring that Lexus decided to give him a brand spanking new LS600h – for free. This luxury sedan is not yet available in South Africa, but will set you back around £84,000 […]
Tags: Hybrids · Emissions · Fact-finding · News and Info
$10 million prize for 100mpg (42.5km/litre) automobile
May 30th, 2008 · 1 Comment
The X-Prize Foundation, a non-profit organisation partnered with Google and Adobe Systems amongst others, is offering a $10 million prize to the first company that can design, build and commercialise a viable and efficient vehicle that can get 100 miles per gallon (mpg), or about 42.5km per litre. This venture even has the backing of Hummer-loving […]
Tags: Events · Fact-finding · News and Info
Hybrid / hydrogen drive does not signal death of manual transmission!
May 22nd, 2008 · No Comments
Take a look at the hybrids currently on sale in the world, from Toyota, Honda, General Motors (in the US only) and Ford, as well as concept hydrogen powered cars. Almost all are equipped with automatic transmissions, most of which are of the continuous variable transmission (CVT) kind found locally in a few Audi’s and […]
Tags: Commentary · Fuels and powertrains · Fact-finding · Trucks
GreenCars’ response to Business Day article on Toyota Prius sales
May 20th, 2008 · 1 Comment
In response to a Business Day front page article entitled “High-octane SA eschews green Prius” (16 May 2008), GreenCars’ Christie Viljoen submitted a letter to the editor (published on 20 May 2008) in response to claims that the Prius’ less-than-desirable sales were due to South Africans’ love for speed (i.e. high-octane fuel). A more correct […]
Tags: Hybrids · Commentary · Fact-finding · News and Info
Food vs. Fuel – a summary in the South African context
March 13th, 2008 · 1 Comment
The two questions behind viable biofuel production have always been: Can we make it and can we sell it? At present, the answer is a double YES! Tremendous technological developments, both in producing the fuels and developing applications therefore, as well as global oil prices heading above $100 for a barrel, this is the time […]
Tags: Fuels and powertrains · Fact-finding
Diesels: losing green cred?
November 6th, 2007 · No Comments
Thanks to the good fuel economy (and consequent lower CO2 emissions) of modern diesel cars, there’s been a lot of optimism about the role of diesel vehicles in reducing anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. However, a recent testimony provided by five scientists before the US House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform might put a serious […]
Tags: Emissions · Fact-finding
Do scientists agree about ‘Global Warming’ ?
October 17th, 2007 · No Comments
There hasnt been much mention of the other side of the global warming debate.
Below is a documentary from UK channel 4 archive found on google video.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5949034802461518010
Image: Al Gore Global Warming protest
Should we view the global warming message with caution? Please post your comments and let me know what you think.
Tags: Fact-finding


