EvolveShopping Blog

Discount Coupon for SF Auto Show Available from AAA

As a follow-up to the post Auto Show in San Francisco Includes Hybrids and Green Cars -- if you are a member of AAA, you are eligible for a 2 for 1 discount for admission to the San Francisco International Auto Show.  A direct link to the coupon is here (PDF). 

Note that this coupon is only valid from November 26 - November 29.  Additional information on this discount is available from the California State Automobile Association website (you may need to enter your ZIP Code when you visit this page).

Auto Show in San Francisco Includes Hybrids and Green Cars

The San Francisco Chronicle|SFGate.com 50th Annual International Auto Show, which takes place from November 22 through December 2 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, includes a number of exhibits that highlight hybrid, alternative fuel, and fuel-efficient vehicles.

In additon to displays of hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles (e.g. ethanol) from car manufacturers including Toyota and General Motors, AAA of Northern California is exhibiting the AAA Greenlight Initiative Showcase, which includes a "PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) from CalCars that gets up to 100+ m.p.g. (plus electricity), a Dodge Ram truck that has been converted to run on vegetable oil from the County of Alameda, a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle from the California Air Resources Board, an all-electric Toyota Corolla from Sun Run Cars, and a San Francisco Police Department patrol car that runs on compressed natural gas."  Also, according to a San Francisco Chronicle article, one of the show's most popular attractions is the Tango Commuter Car, a plug-in electric vehicle that measures 8 1/2 feet long and 39 inches wide.

This event is expected to draw approximately 400,000 visitors during its 11 day run.  For more information:

• The San Francisco Chronicle|SFGate.com 50th Annual International Auto Show (also see their press release highlighting green car exhibits)
• AAA Member 2-for-1 Admission Discount for SF International Auto Show
• Green is a Popular Color at this Year's S.F. Auto Show (San Francisco Chronicle, 11/23/07; also contains photos)
• San Francisco Auto Show Goes Green (ABC 7, KGO-TV; includes video)
• Green Cars & Fuels (EvolveShopping.com)

Kiplinger Highlights Green Investing and Living in October Issue

The October issue of Kiplinger personal finance magazine focuses on environmentally responsible investing, shopping, and living.  Articles include 25 Ways to Invest in a Cleaner World, Best Values in Green Cars, and 29 Ways to  Conserve & Save.  The Kiplinger website also features online extras associated with this issue including a "Behind the Green Issue" podcast and a slideshow with ratings of environmentally-friendly vehicles. Kiplinger has also posted some reader feedback to this issue of their magazine.

In addition, Kiplinger has recently added a "Going Green" section to their website, with articles and resources on environmentally responsible investing, shopping, and living.

Toyota Global Hybrid Sales Exceed One Million

Toyota Motor Corporation recently issued a press release in which the company announced that global cumulative sales of Toyota hybrid vehicles have exceeded one million, with approximately 1,047,000 units sold worldwide as of May 31, 2007.  In terms of the environmental impact of these vehicles, Toyota stated in the press release that:

Toyota has calculated that as of April 30, 2007, worldwide sales of its hybrid vehicles(2) since 1997 have greatly contributed to reductions in CO2 emissions, which are considered a cause of global warming, by producing approximately 3.5 million fewer tons(3) of CO2 compared with the same class gasoline-powered vehicles of similar size and driving performance.

(2) Excluding the Coaster Hybrid EV, Dyna Hybrid, Toyoace Hybrid and Quick Delivery 200 (3) Number of registered vehicles × distance traveled × fuel costs (test cycle for each country) × CO2 conversion factor

A separate press release from Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) U.S.A., Inc. indicated that more than half of the overall Toyota hybrid sales have been in the United States.

More information:

• Green Cars and Fuel (EvolveShopping.com)
• Toyota Worldwide Hybrid Sales Top 1 Million Units (press release)
• Toyota Motor Corporation Surpasses 1 Million Global Hybrid Sales: Toyota USA to Sell a Quarter-Million Hybrid Units in 2007 (press release)

Honda Accord Hybrid to be Discontinued with 2007 Model Year

Honda recently announced that it will no longer offer a hybrid version of the Honda Accord after the 2007 model year.  According to Honda spokesperson Sage Marie, "Consumers respond to that big fuel economy number and our hybrid technology is most optimally suited for smaller, more efficient packages."

Honda will continue to offer the Civic hybrid and also plans to introduce a new hybrid vehicle within two years.  "We still see continued potential and opportunity in the hybrid market," Marie said.

More information:

• Green Cars and Fuel (EvolveShopping.com)
• 2007 Honda Accord Hybrid (Honda)
• Honda Dumps its High-Performance Hybrid (MarketWatch)

San Francisco Opens First Biodiesel Fueling Station

Recently San Francisco opened its first biodiesel fueling station.  The station is located at site at the Olympic station at 2690 Third Street (at 23rd St) and will supply commercially licensed diesel vehicles with "B20," a mix of 20% recycled biomass and 80% traditional diesel fuel. Unlike "B100," or 100% biofuel, most commercially sold diesel engines can run on B20 without any adjustment or adaptation.

According to a press release from Office of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom this is the first viable biodiesel fueling station to open in San Francisco. A station supplying B100 existed for a short time in 2001, but there was no market for 100% biofuel at the time.

In addition, at the official launch for San Francisco’s first commercial B20 biodiesel fueling station, Mayor Newsom announced that 39% of the City’s vehicle fleet has converted to use of a biodiesel blend (ahead of the 25% goal expected by this point) and 100% of Norcal Recycling/Waste Management’s fleet has converted to the use of biodiesel.  Mayor Newsom also announced a new program beginning this Fall that will pick up waste oil from the City’s restaurants and recycle it as biodiesel for the City’s fleet.

For more information:

• Mayor Newsom Launches San Francisco's First Biodiesel Fueling Station (Office of the SF Mayor)
• San Francisco Opens First Commercial B20 Biodiesel Station (CNET News.com; includes link to photo gallery)
• San Francisco Biofuels Cooperative
• National Biodiesel Board
• Biodiesel (U.S. Department of Energy)
• Alternative Fuels and Hybrid Cars (EvolveShopping.com)

Hydrogen Cars Reviewed by The New York Times

In a recent article "On the Road, Hope for a Zero-Pollution Car," The New York Times reviewed six hyrdogen concept vehicles:

• BMW Hydrogen 7
• Ford E-450 Shuttle
• General Motors HydroGen3
• Honda FCX
• Mercedes-Benz F-Cell
• Toyota Prius (version designed to run hydrogen)

To learn more about hybrid cars and alternative fuels (including direct links to car manufacturers and review sites) visit the Cars and Fuels section of EvolveShopping.

The Future of the Automobile is Green

The 77th International Motor Show is currently taking place in Geneva, Switzerland.  Fortune has an article which discusses the impact of environmental and sustainability concerns on the auto industry. One telling quote from the article:

At the Geneva Auto Show, worries about carbon dioxide emissions and sustainability ran laps around such traditional topics as horsepower and performance. Automakers introduced a raft of vehicles that run on natural gas, batteries, biofuels and solar power. Said one analyst: "Everyone wants to be perceived as working on the problems of the environment."

The article also contains an interview with Chris Bangle, chief of design for BMW, which includes his thoughts on how environmental concerns may influence future car designs.