Latest news from hi-mpg.org

Average U.S. gas prices at the pump rose to an all-time (inflation-unadjusted) high price of $3.03/gallon, continuing the seemingly never-ending upward trend. Even when adjusting past prices for inflation, today's prices are coming close to topping March 1981's true all-time high of $3.16! Indeed, in some U.S. locales, the cost of a gallon of regular unleaded has already exceeded that. While some experts are predicting that prices may fall in the upcoming weeks, it would be wise to expect any drops to be temporary considering the way the cost of crude oil has been trending in recent years. August 13, 2006 (Sun) - Reuters

We admit, we overlooked that since 2003, the classic Porsche Boxster has had an EPA gas mileage rating of 20/29 city/highway -- not bad at all of one of the world's best-handling performance cars under $50,000. Also new to hi-mpg.org's list of Hot Green Machines is the 2007 Honda Fit, a frugal 5-door hatchback that is positively sporting in both the looks and handling departments. April 26, 2006 (Wed) - hi-mpg.org

We always were a fan of the ultra-light, high-performance Lotus Elise, but lamented that it did not get better gas mileage despite using a Toyota 4-cylinder engine. Lament no more. For 2006, the Elise now has an EPA gas mileage rating of 22/29 city/highway, the latter being close enough to our 30 mpg (highway) criteria for declaring an automobile as a Hot Green Machine. Lotus-philes, rejoice! Also worth mentioning is the even racier, hardtop version of the Elise called the Exige, which is also new for 2006. April 25, 2006 (Tue) - hi-mpg.org

Summer isn't even here yet, and crude oil already has topped $75 and gas prices are much higher than they were at this time last year. Nervousness over Iran's nuclear ambitions and a shortage of the fuel additive ethanol were factors contributing to this spike. No relief at the pump is expected soon making it a good time to switch over to Hot Green Machines if you have not already done so. April 21, 2006 (Fri) - CBC News

People have the tendency to think that as bad as gas mileage figures are for some vehicles today, they were far worse 40 years ago. This is not necessarily true. Case in point: the world's best-selling motorcycle of all time -- the Honda Super Cub C100 -- could achieve over 160 miles per gallon, as documented by Peter Egan of Cycle World and Road and Track Magazine. It did so by being lightweight and using a small engine that did not put out the outrageous (and largely unnecessary) high horsepower numbers of today's vehicles, demonstrating that stellar fuel economy does not necessarily require exotic technology or materials. March 31, 2006 (Fri) - felixwong.com

Here we go again. Gas prices have jumped nearly 15 cents in the past 2 weeks to $2.52 per gallon. Though this seems fairly inexpensive compared to last year's highs topping $3.00, keep in mind that this is 40 cents more than this time one year ago. Gas prices, therefore, are still trending up on an annual basis! March 26, 2006 (Sun) - ABC News

Federal tax credits are offered for new hybrid car purchases, which helps offset the premium one pays for a hybrid car. Currently, the greatest premiums are offered for the Honda Civic GX and Toyota Prius, which does not come as a surprise considering they are two of the most fuel-efficient new cars in the U.S. today. January 28, 2006 (Sat) - Best Syndication

Who says that one has to have a boring, underpowered car in order to get good gas mileage? Two more supercars -- the Chevrolet Corvette and Morgan Aero 8 -- get better highway gas mileage than a Ford Taurus! While they get worse city gas mileage than hi-mpg.org's other noted supercar -- the Lotus Elise -- they get far better than any Ferrari or Lamborghini (not to mention SUVs) and hence earn a spot on our list of Hot Green Machines. November 30, 2005 (Wed) - hi-mpg.org

It is well known that the less weight you have in the car, the better gas mileage it will achieve, all other factors being equal. It has been estimated that a 100-lb reduction in weight may result in a 2% increase in gas mileage. Health guru Jon Benson takes this concept and suggests that this is another reason for Americans -- 2/3rds of which are "overweight" or "obese" -- should strive to lose weight. He even calculates the net oil savings for this country if everyone was to do so. We at hi-mpg.org agree that not only should people be driving Hot Green Machines instead of gas-guzzlers but should be walking or bicycling instead whenever possible (in addition to eating a healthy diet). Your wallet and health (and, as Benson suggests, perhaps the nation's oil dependency) will all be the better for it. November 09, 2005 (Wed) - Jon Benson's 10 in 10 Challenge

At last, common sense is prevailing and a dramatic decrease of SUV sales is being seen in the showrooms. In October, sales for big SUVs (which include Ford Expeditions, Chevy Suburbans, etc.) were down over 50% compared to last year. Gas prices will undoubtedly remain high in the near and distant futures, and we hope and expect this "less SUVs" trend to continue. November 08, 2005 (Tue) - The Daily Breeze

The mood in the country is shifting. More people are becoming less indifferent to the profound effects gas-guzzling vehicles have on the environment, and more "no-regrets" policies are being advocated in goverment. Those who support these "no-regrets" policies rightly point out that even if catastrophic global warming or global insecurities are overblown notions (which we at hi-mpg.org do not think are), people would reap the immediate benefits of saving money and reduced emissions and pollutants in the air we breathe. We do not need to wait for governments to implement these "no-regrets" policies, however. You can implement them for your families by practicing these gas-saving tips, using alternate means of transportation like the bicycle or mass transit, and driving Hot Green Machines instead of gas-guzzlers when you do have to drive. November 08, 2005 (Tue) - AlterNet

The Northeast Sustainable Energy Organization further quantified how speed affects fuel consumption. Using a new Honda Civic Hybrid, experimenters found that driving at 55 mph vs. 70 mph yielded a whopping 19.2% improvement in gas mileage! Slow down a little and your wallet will remain a little fatter and our country's dependence on foreign oil will be a little less. October 13, 2005 (Thu) - Dissident Voice

Beginning on January 2006, the Department of Energy will be providing a federal tax credit for purchasers of new hybrid-electric vehicles. These credits will range from $250 to $3,400 and will be based on the efficiency and fuel savings of the vehicle. Toyota, for example, estimates that the tax credit for purchasing a Prius will be $2,500 to $3,000. Note that this is a tax credit which is better than a tax deduction, since a credit is subtracted from taxes owed. For 2005, a $2,000 federal tax deduction is already available for purchasers of hybrid-electric cars. October 13, 2005 (Thu) - Infozine

A newspaper ran its own "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" experiment with a 5-speed Saturn to quantify how driving styles affect gas mileage. It comes as no surprise that the more sedate Dr. Jekyll driving style resulted in 14% better gas mileage than the hurried, tail-gating Mr. Hyde way. Note that Dr. Jekyll could have got even better mileage if he had turned off the A/C completely at highway speed. October 13, 2005 (Thu) - Decatur Daily

Recently, Consumer Reports has done their own gas mileage testing of various automobiles. They concluded that the EPA gas mileage figures for 90% are overstated, sometimes by as much as 200%. This surprised us at hi-mpg.org, because with every single one of the vehicles we have driven, we have gotten better gas mileage that the EPA figures would suggest. For example, with our 1991 Alfa Romeo Spider, we have been average 34-37 mpg during a recent x-country trip (with approximately 80% highway driving and 20% city driving), which easily exceeds the EPA's highway rating of 30 mpg for the car. How did we achieve this? By not having a heavy foot and following our own tips. September 26, 2005 (Mon) - KLAStv.com

It's about time the Bush administration has increased the gas mileage standards for light trucks, which include SUVs, minivans, and pickups. While we support this (rather late) action, its effectiveness remains to be seen as car manufacturers may sidestep the standards by making their vehicles larger (to put them in a class with a lower mileage standard), for example. This SF Chronicle article explores some of the potential pitfalls of the measure. It also summarizes some of the technologies available today that automotive manufacturers can use to meet the standards. What should be mentioned (but isn't) in the article is that manufacturers can easily meet the new standards by simply making their engines slightly smaller and less powerful! Do cars and trucks today really need 225+ hp engines that are twice as powerful as those in cars from just 15 years ago? August 31, 2005 (Wed) - SF Chronicle

Analysts say that with all the storm havoc in the Gulf of Mexico, retail gas prices may exceed $3 in some places very soon (like 1-2 weeks!) Have you ditched your gas-guzzling vehicle for a Hot Green Machine already? August 31, 2005 (Wed) - MarketWatch

How much do you really know about saving gas? Here is a pretty good quiz to test your knowledge. Click on the link to below for it. August 26, 2005 (Fri) - WBAY Action 2 News

Crude oil continues to break new records. On August 12th, it went above $67. With escalating wariness over Iran's nuclear ambitions, expect it to go over $70 soon. What can you do? Please continue to conserve! August 20, 2005 (Sat) - Forbes

As if high gas bills were not enough, now SUV owners are faced with lower resale values for their behemoths. This is due to a glut of sport ultility vehicles on the resale market along with flagging demand due largely to escalating fuel prices. Just another reason not to purchase a gas-guzzler and to buy a Hot Green Machine instead! July 26, 2005 (Tue) - Delaware Online

Crude oil surged to a new record today, above $60/barrel. This is no surprise to us -- indeed, there continues to be talk about how oil prices can conceivably hit $90 in the near future if demand continues to be high. The immediate solution? Reduce demand today! Avoid unnecessary trips, drive a Hot Green Machine instead of a gas-guzzler, and follow all the standard and advanced gas-saving tips. June 24, 2005 (Fri) - Bloomberg

You got to love a car company whose engineers crawl under competitor's cars at car shows to gather intel in order to trump them at fuel economy. Toyota may be perceived to be the leader of fuel economy with its Prius and others, but Honda actually has 7 out of the 10 most fuel efficient vehicles in the U.S. Indeed, fuel economy has been a tradition and priority at Honda since Day 1, with its Civic CVCC in the 70s and the sporty CRX of the 80s. Companies with such a "make it greener" philosophy ought to be patronized. June 19, 2005 (Sun) - MSN NBC

In no surprise to us, a recent Yale study shows that the vast majority of Americans want a new energy policy direction. About 9 out of every 10 -- regardless of political party affiliation -- not only want greater independence from foreign oil, but want the government to require manufacturers to make more fuel-efficient vehicles. You can do your part by not waiting for the government to act and drive a Hot Green Machine instead of a gas-guzzler today! June 10, 2005 (Fri) - EurekAlert!

A Buell Blast gets 70+ MPG. The higher-performance Buell Firebolt and Lightning still get 50+ MPG. Is it any wonder motorcycle sales are on the rise? Expect to see more about these alternative Hot Green Machines in the near future! June 02, 2005 (Thu) - Feature Xpress

What vehicles have the gas mileage of a Geo Metro but the acceleration of a Corvette? Motorcycles! And increasingly, more and more motorists are turning to this alternative. In addition to getting great fuel economy (example: Buell Blast owners report 70 mpg on the highway), they are fun, engaging, and easy-to-park. Most of them also have much lower insurance rates than cars. Expect to see more about "wind in your face on two wheels" in the future from hi-mpg.org. May 10, 2005 (Tue) - The News-Enterprise

Stopping for gourmet coffee in the morning decreases everyone's fuel economy, according to a new study. This is because the coffee hunt divert people from the most efficient and fastest routes to work, leading to increased gridlock. In addition, more miles are traveled. A possible solution is to brew your own coffee at home before hitting the road. Another solution is to not drink coffee in the first place. Coffee is not only expensive but is addictive, teeth staining, and not good for your health. April 27, 2005 (Wed) - Yahoo! News

It is a myth that large and heavy trucks are always safer than smaller vehicles. Check out the results of offset-barrier crash testing for both a new Mini Cooper and a 2001 Ford F-150 Supercab at 40 mph. From the photos, it is clear that the driver of the Mini would fare much better in such a scenario. In addition, the Mini is much more agile and maneuverable, require shorter braking distances, and arguably attracts more attention from other drivers. These factors would suggest that the driver of the Mini would be more capable of avoiding accidents in the first place. April 23, 2005 (Sat) - Bridger.us

A federal energy bill has passed the House of Representatives that would allow oil drilling in an Alaskan Wildlife Refuge and shield oil companies from water-contamination lawsuits. While the Republican-backed energy plan may lead to some price relief at the gas pumps and reduce foreign oil dependency somewhat in the long-term, it will do nothing for the short-term. In addition, it is fraught with environmental and consumer-protection risks. The best solution is to alleviate the root of the problem (defined as high gas prices, global warming, etc.), which is that demand and use of oil is too high. We would like to see federal measures encouraging energy use reduction. In the meantime, you can do your part. For one, follow these gas saving tips. Also, the next time you are shopping for a new car, ask yourself if you really need a powerful, large, gas-guzzling machine? Or would a smaller, more economical Hot Green Machine that is more fun to drive, easier to park, and is high on style suffice? We firmly believe that for over 90% of all cases, the answer to the latter is "yes!" April 16, 2005 (Sat) - Witchita Eagle

Just last month there were dire predictions of crude oil going above $80 in the next 2 years. Now Goldman-Sachs is speculating that it could hit $105! Indeed, crude oil prices have only been going up; right now it is well above $55. April 02, 2005 (Sat) - The Scotsman

A pledge by OPEC to increase oil production and a Senate vote to open up Alaskan oil reserves for drilling failed to keep a lid on rising crude oil prices, which reached a new high of over $57/barrel on Wednesday. Gas prices are expected to continue to climb as well in the near future. March 17, 2005 (Thu) - CBS News

Fuel prices rose more than 7 percent in January, which is usually one of the slowest driving months of the year. This is causing experts to predict that fuel prices in 2005 may top 2004's record-setting prices. Be prepared! Get a Hot Green Machine for your next vehicle purchase and follow these tips. February 08, 2005 (Tue) - ABC News

Honda, the first major car company to mass-produce a hybrid, is now making an unheard-of request for a car-company: to please toughen the federal MPG rules. On the other hand, they have joined other manufacturers in suing California for imposing tougher CO2 rules. It's like one step forward and one step back. Still, we applaud them! February 05, 2005 (Sat) - NY Times

One year ago, crude oil was $30/barrel. Last week it hit a record $53! Reasons include hurricane-ravaged refineries in the Gulf Coast of Mexico, a looming strike threat in Nigeria, and continued instability in the Middle East. So despite Saudi Arabia now pumping out almost all of the oil it possibly can, a few experts are even speculating that crude oil could hit $60/barrel esp. if we have to reckon with a very cold winter or if there are other geopolitical disruptions. October 10, 2004 (Sun) - Bloomberg News

"We don't have oil, but we have ideas," was France's motto during the 1970s. And by implementing bold ideas--including levying high taxes on gas, encouraging diesel engines, and shifting 80% of all powerplant energy production to nuclear--France's oil consumption today is 10% lower than what it was 3 decades ago, while the U.S.'s is 16% higher. In fact, the average fuel economy of a French new car is 36 mpg, or approximately 50% higher than the American average. Indeed, gas mileage of a typical French new car easily exceeds hi-mpg.org's 30+ mpg criteria. October 05, 2004 (Tue) - Int'l Herald Tribune (original article by NY Times)

Energy alternatives to oil for vehicles exist, but all have drawbacks. Natural gas, like oil, is exhaustible and could be subject to OPEC-like cartels. Solar is still relatively expensive, and clean hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles are still a ways away. But there is a solution to our energy woes that requires no new technology. This, of course, is to simply use less energy. Easy ways to accomplish this is to drive a Hot Green Machine instead of as gas-guzzler and by incorporating these gas-saving tips into your life. October 02, 2004 (Sat) - The Straits Times

The U.S. accounts for 25% of global oil use despite having just 5% of the population. But despite crude oil topping $50 per barrel in recent weeks, Americans still are not changing their oil-consuming habits. This has got to change as both the environment and our national security depend on it. October 01, 2004 (Fri) - Australian Financial Review

CA governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a sweeping series of pro-environment bills, including opening up carpool lanes to hybrid vehicles that achieve at least 45 mpg even when there is only one occupant. The intent is to provide further incentives to purchasing ultra-fuel efficient vehicles which not only reduce consumption of global oil but also (as a consequence of burning less fuel) spew out less pollutants as well. Not surprisingly, auto manufacturers late in the game (such as Ford) are complaining that the bill is "pro-Japan" (since the only vehicles that currently qualify for the credit include the Toyota Prius, Honda Insight and Honda Civic Hybrid), but to them we say: get your act together. And to Arnold we say: we applaud you! September 24, 2004 (Fri) - Daily Breeze

Fuel-efficiency is only one part of the cost-of-ownership equation. For example, a Honda Insight gets stellar gas mileage (68 mpg hwy!), but will likely cost more in the long run than a Honda Civic due to greater depreciation. Opportunity cost (i.e., return on principal if invested) of the higher-cost vehicles isn't mentioned, but should probably be considered as well. September 19, 2004 (Sun) - cnn.com

Peter Egan, the motorcycle-and-automobile guru from Road & Track magazine, makes some insightful comments on the fuel efficiency of the plethora of different vehicles he has owned over the years. These include:

• Of all the cars he has owned (which include lightweight vintage Lotuses, an old Beetle and even a Miata), his most fuel-efficient vehicle has been a 1988 Buick Park Avenue (~31 mpg hwy).
• None of his cars even come close to his motorcycles, including a 1968 Triumph 500 (50 mpg), 2003 Triumph Bonneville (48 mpg), and a 1964 50-cc Honda Super Cub (168 mpg!)
• Large, overweight cars are not only fuel inefficient, but are often not fun to drive.

August 01, 2004 (Sun) - Road and Track