by jboullion | Jul 28, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation:
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today kicked off a buyer incentive program designed to help consumers purchase new fuel efficient vehicles and boost the economy at the same time. The Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS), commonly referred to as Cash for Clunkers, is a new federal program that gives buyers up to $4,500 towards a new, more environmentally-friendly vehicle when they trade-in their old gas guzzling cars or trucks.
“With this program, we are giving the auto industry a shot in the arm and struggling consumers can get rid of their gas-guzzlers and buy a more reliable, fuel-efficient vehicle,” Secretary LaHood said. “This is good news for our economy, the environment and consumers’ pocketbooks.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also released the final eligibility requirements to participate in the program. Under the CARS program, consumers receive a $3,500 or $4,500 discount from a car dealer when they trade in their old vehicle and purchase or lease a new, qualifying vehicle. In order to be eligible for the program, the trade-in passenger vehicle must: be manufactured less than 25 years before the date it is traded in; have a combined city/highway fuel economy of 18 miles per gallon or less; be in drivable condition; and be continuously insured and registered to the same owner for the full year before the trade-in. Transactions must be made between now and November 1, 2009 or until the money runs out.
The vehicle that is traded in will be scrapped. NHTSA estimates the program could take approximately 250,000 vehicles that are not fuel efficient off the road.
by jboullion | Jul 28, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a story on WEAU-TV:
La Crosse County leaders are trying to find ways to improve efficiency and save money.
They’re “going green” by replacing old gas-guzzling vehicles with electric options.
“There are a lot of jobs that electric vehicles can do just as good, if not better, and save the county money in the long run,” said Nick Nichols, La Crosse County Sustainability Coordinator.
Nichols says you can only drive the electric vehicles on city streets – and the speed limit has to be under 35-miles-per-hour.
“Gasoline is up around $2.30, $2.40 a gallon right now,” he said. “To charge up this vehicle with gasoline, gallon-equivalent is about 15-cents.”
And with a tight budget, this move is something the county is excited about.
by jboullion | Jul 16, 2009 | Uncategorized
A low-speed vehicle made by Columbia ParCar in Reedsburg, Wisconsin.
From an article by Anita Zimmerman in The Chetek Alert:
If you’re looking for a cheap cruise around town this summer, it’ll cost you about 33cents to charge up a modified golf cart.
Regulation of neighborhood electric vehicles, as the street-legal carts are called, isn’t currently in Chetek’s code book, but forces-in the form of local man-about-town John Banks-are intent on securing their legality.
If Chetek wants to be a retirement-friendly community, officials need to enact retiree-oriented ordinances, Banks insists.
“My reason is, be proactive,” he urges. “Let’s get a jump on this.”
Mike and Lynnette Leavens, owners of Bloomer NEV retailer Master Cart, can go for 100 miles on $1 of electricity. That’s an inexpensive, and impressive, operating cost-but there’s a catch. If you’re not seeing models like E-MERGE out on the streets, it’s probably because the lack of a gas bill doesn’t make up for the other expenses.
Despite federal attempts to promote use of eco-friendly cars and electric- and battery-operated vehicles, Wisconsin’s strict regulations offer little encouragement. In a number of states, uninsured golf carts can be legally driven through town, but not here.
To make NEVs street-legal, manufacturers have to add a host of extras: a parking brake, specially coated windshield, reflectors in the back, headlights, turn signals and stop lamps in the front, seat belts, exterior mirrors and a rearview mirror.
Those costs get passed on to consumers. Carts sell for nearly as much as a cheap car, from $6,000 to $7,000 apiece, and that’s only going to increase. According to Lynnette Leavens, the 2009 E-merge runs $1,000 higher-and that’s just to dealers.
Although NEVs are classified as low-speed vehicles-25 mph at top speed-drivers are required to have full insurance coverage. Leavens called around; average cost of a plan: $32 to upwards of $50 per month.
by jboullion | Jun 15, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Nick Paulson in the Stevens Point Journal:
A dealership in Stevens Point has become one of four in the state to sell a tailpipe emission free, electric scooter.
Laszewski & Sons began carrying the VX-1, made by Vectrix, this year after noticing an increased interest in electric vehicles because of rising gas prices and a growing interest in thinking green.
The VX-1 still leaves some carbon footprint when charging, but its 36 grams per kilometer emission is less than half of similar scooters, or about a quarter the emissions of a Toyota Prius, according to Vectrix’s Web site.
“We were looking at the market, and we think this is what the future holds,” said Vice President Scott Laszewski.
The scooter is completely electric. Just plug it into a standard wall outlet and it takes about two hours for an 80 percent charge, and three to five hours for a full charge.
Depending on driving conditions, a charge can get up to 60 miles. The scooter is approved for freeway use and can reach around 60 mph. A motorcycle license is required to drive one.
by jboullion | Jun 10, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by the Wisconsin Farmers Union:
Chippewa Falls, Wis. (June 10, 2009) – The International Institute for Ecological Agriculture (IIEA) announced today that it is working with the Wisconsin Farmers Union and the Wisconsin Office of Energy Independence along with agencies and groups across the region to present its next series of educational workshop programs. The two-day Intensive workshops, (June 27 and 28 in Osseo, WI and July 6 and 7 in Madison, WI) promote rural and urban economic revitalization and non-exportable job creation through the optimized production of food and fuel source crops and related by-products.
The workshops will be led by David Blume, renowned Permaculture and Biofuels expert and author of Alcohol Can Be A Gas. Mr. Blume, is the recent author recipient of the American Corn Growers Association’s Truth in Agricultural Journalism award, and will teach attendees how they can:
•Earn federal and state renewable energy tax incentives that can offset as much as 80% of the startup costs for a small-scale alcohol fuel business.
•Beat the fuel and food price increases predicted for 2009.
•Produce clean alcohol fuel for less than a dollar per gallon from waste, toxic and spoiled food, common weeds, as well as high-return crops.
