green cars

Kelley Blue Book (KBB) has started a green section to provide information on the environmental impact of new and used cars. The focus is on current and upcoming alternative fuels, hybrids, and upcoming electric cars. KBB Green has also released its list of the top ten new green cars.

At the top of the list is the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid, Smart ForTwo, and the Nissan Altima Hybrid. One feature allows users to calculate when buying a vehicle with a higher price and better gas mileage will pay off in savings. KBB is known as one of the foremost automotive authorities and this move signals

Solar Electric Vehicles (SEV) has developed a solar module for the 2004 - 2006 Toyota Prius that increases its already great fuel economy. Manufactured with mono-crystalline photovoltaic cells, the module is durable, has no moving parts and is basically maintenance free.

The SEV solar system generates 215 watts of renewable energy and uses a 3kW supplemental battery pack for additional energy storage and increased HV battery performance. The system is capable of adding up to 20 additional miles per day of electric mode driving, increasing the car's fuel economy by up

If you're interested in England's answer to the Tesla Roadster, reserve a Lightning GTS today for 15,000 pounds (about $29,500 US). Lightning Car Company Limited plans to deliver the electric vehicles in the UK starting next year. The company

claims the car will achieve naught to 60 in only four seconds, with a top speed of 130 mph. In addition, Lightning claims the range of 30 on-board NanoSafe batteries powering the vehicle will be 250 miles per charge. NanoSafe batteries contain no heavy metals and are

Fred Flintstone would be proud of artist Michel de Broin's piece de resistance, a stripped down, engineless 80s era buick, equipped with four sets of bike pedals as means of propulsion. He created the car as a statement about the inefficiency of combustion engines.

Although we appreciate the idea, it didn't exactly display the efficiency of human power. As friend Trevor Baldwin and three others sped down a Toronto street at a blazing 9 mph, a passing police cruiser could not help but notice, turn around and pull them over. The police cited them for driving an unsafe

Today in Seoul, South Korea, Hyundai Motor Company announced plans to begin mass production of hybrid electric vehicles by early 2009. Hyundai-Kia chairman Chung Mong Koo stated that "the importance of developing futuristic, environmentally-friendly cars is increasing for sustainable growth... Therefore, technology for advanced cars, like the hybrid, is imperative." He went on to say that Hyundai plans to develop a small fleet of fuel cell electric cars by 2012.

To meet its 2009 goals Hyundai plans to create a mass production system, develop new technology and expand its model lineup. The compact-sized LPG (Liquified Petroleum Gas) model, the Avante (Elantra)

Up to 1,000 miles on one tank of gas? One eight gallon tank of gas? The engine that makes this possible, first introduced over 10 years ago by French inventor Guy Negre, runs on compressed air. Now Zero Pollution Motors (ZPM) plans to release the CityCAT, a six-passenger sedan using this technology,

to the Northeastern US by early 2010. The range and speed capabilities of the CityCAT are enhanced by using a small amount of fuel to heat the compressed air and increase air pressure. To recharge the air tanks the vehicle

The innovative sub-compact car that has been making a buzz since its 1998 European release has finally launched in the US. The Smart Fortwo is an Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) with a 3-cylinder, 71 horsepower engine, and an easy-to-park length of just

under nine feet. According to 2008 EPA gas mileage standards, fuel economy is 33 mpg city and 41 mpg highway. Fourtwo component parts are recyclable, and the vehicle is powder coated during production, which generates zero solvent emissions and uses no water. Smart now has 68 dealers in 31 states offering the Fortwo, and announced

Get your hands behind the controller of the latest H2Go fuel-cell electric vehicle. The solar panel generates electricity to recharge the controller and electrolyze water into hydrogen and oxygen at the refueling station. With a little sunlight and water, this car has a range of five minutes between fill-ups.

The manufacturer, Corgi International, won the 2008 ToyAward at the Nuremberg Toy Fair. The technology for this product and others is made by Singapore's Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies. Other hydrogen gadgets they have powered include

The first production all-electric Tesla Roadster has arrived in San Carlos, California. Having finally passed all of the necessary regulatory hurdles, full production is scheduled to begin on March 17th.

The current model has a two-speed transmission, limiting 0-60 acceleration to 5.7 seconds. The company is developing a one-speed replacement transmission that will achieve 0-60 in four seconds.

Brought to you by the staff and students of the University of South Australia, the Trev operates on just a fifth of the energy required by your every day car. It uses a lithium ion polymer battery that allows the car to travel just over 90 miles (city driving) on a full

charge. The Trev only weighs about 660 lbs. and is made of a composite tub chassis with foam and plastic body panels. It has a single rear wheel that simplifies the suspension and allows for a more