Public transportation ridership reached a rate of 10.8 billion rides per year according to a report released today by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). Transit is valuable for everyone who uses it to commute to, from, and within cities. Public transportation enables millions to go to college without cars and then continue to live car free.
Electric vehicle wireless charging is now in use by electric cars, taxis, buses, car sharing, and racing teams. Is charging without plug connection in all of our future, or just special fleets? In Italy, over 30 buses on fixed routes in Genoa and Turin take advantage of wireless charging at bus stops to make electric transit a reality. As it readies for the Olympics, the city of London will include a new wireless pilot program that includes taxis using Qualcomm Halo technology.
One million people around the world are members of a carsharing program offered by Zipcar, Enterprise, Hertz, some innovative regional service, and even programs that let one person make money sharing with others in the community. Electric car owners can use car rental and car share to get hybrid cars that can take them beyond EV range, when they need SUV cargo space, and when they need AWD for snow and storms. For gasoline car owners, car share programs allow drivers to try an electric car for a few hours.
New report explains how the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline will actually increase domestic gasoline prices.
2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid can now be ordered at a starting price of $25,995, about $400 less than the popular Toyota Prius V. Both of these exciting crossover SUVs provide plenty of room for 5 passengers and the flexibility to drop the back seat and load more cargo than many traditional small SUVs. Since there will be no 2013 Ford Escape Hybrid, the C-MAX Hybrid will be the logical choice for many current Escape Hybrid drivers.The C-MAX Hybrid delivers 47 mpg compared to 42 mpg for the largest member of the Prius family.
The Infinity LE brings a new level of elegance to the all-electric 5-passenger sedan. Whether gliding down the highway or attracting a crowd in front of a favorite restaurant, the sculpted body and LED lighted grill are arresting. Premium appointments invite the driver to use a new generation of telematics and infotainment. Sexy.
The electric industry is proof that we can get off oil. Before the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo, almost 20% of US electricity came from petroleum. Now, it’s less than 1%. The same industry will play a critical role in accelerating the deployment of electric cars.
PG&E proposes new electric car rates with lower off-peak prices, equivalent to buck-a-gallon gasoline.
Toyota just announced the price and details for the first all-electric SUV to reach the market. Starting at $49,800 this exciting new electric SUV can be ordered with a 100-mile range thanks to its 41kW lithium battery pack. This SUV went from design to production in only two years, instead of a more common 4-years. The development speed is thanks to a collaboration between Toyota and Tesla which is 2 percent owned by Toyota.
FOX News now claims that humans cause global warming. FOX News is among a handful of media outlets now claiming that wind turbines somehow cause global warming. Opps. Yes, wind farms move hot air. No, wind farms do not cause global warming. The FOX coverage is upsetting some environmentalists because the coverage distorts the truth. Instead, we should celebrate that FOX is admitting that humans can cause global warming.