Click above for high-res gallery of the Piaggio MP3 400 and 500

Finding yourself stuck in a truck? Gas guzzling got you down? You are certainly not alone. Though the most obvious thing to do would be to ditch the fuel-inefficient vehicle for a cheaper to run model, Fox Business has other ideas. Keep in mind that the current value of pickups, especially full-sizers, has dropped nearly as dramatically as the fuel prices have risen, so you're not likely to get what you owe, assuming you are still making payments. That's why getting out from under your purchase could end up costing you more than its worth.

If you're stuck with a gas-hog, what are your money-saving options? Umm... drive less. No, seriously. Consider public transportation and carpooling if possible. Ride your bike when its practical and even *gasp* walk. Of course, it's not always possible to walk or ride a bike to get where we need to go. Fox ends by suggesting a scooter as a second vehicle. It's worked out for lots of people already, but be sure to count that cost too before making any rash decisions. We're cycle fans who recognize the fun and low-costs associated with scooters, but safety and practicality cannot be ignored. Whatever you do, get used to it, 'cause gas isn't likely to begin dropping back down any time soon.

[Source: Fox Business]

Although this year's Isle of Man TT races have recently come to an end, many are already looking forward to next year's event. In 2009, for the first time ever, the normal races will be run alongside the world's first "clean emissions grand prix." The event organizers hope to prove that "being green does not mean being slow." Any vehicle which is perceived as being green, either by being powered by electrons or by carbon neutral fuels, is encouraged to enter to race on the 101 year-old racing circuit. Both two and three-wheeled vehicles are said to be allowable.

According to Environment Minister John Shimmin, "The Isle of Man has a great tradition in both racing and technological innovation. Combining the world's greatest road racing circuit with state-of-the-art clean emission technologies brings yet another fantastic first for the Island." Current plans call for three one lap races on Senior Race Day. That would mean that the green races would be held after the official TT race has concluded.

[Source: TTXGP]

Considering all of the press that has been inked (or typed) regarding both John McCain's and Barrack Obama's various plans for the ailing automotive industry in America, you may think that the two hopeful presidential candidates would be in tune with the plight of the average driver who fills his or her tank. Or not. It seems that Republican John McCain is not aware of how much a gallon of gas costs. In fact, he says, "I don't recall, and frankly, I don't see how it matters." We have no intention of pushing any sort of political agenda, and this writer in particular is not attempting to back either politician with this writing, but the question begs to be asked: how in the world could somebody living in the United States not know how much gas costs today? Every time the news is turned on or the internet is fired up, citizens are bombarded with constant reminders that gas has crested the $4 a gallon mark. It must take a really busy man to be completely unaware of the price of gasoline these days.

Update: McCain apparently knew the price of gas when he gave a speech on June 18. See here.

[Source: Auto Observer]

This is fun.

The council of the town of Pozuelo de Alarcón, near Madrid, Spain, has decided to invest in the greenest technology available for the municipality's forest rangers: animal traction. The reason for the move to four-leg drive is that no single vehicle is carbon neutral, and the idea of carbon offsetting didn't appeal either. Since the area that the rangers need to cover is not that huge, it was decided that animals could do the job. Donkeys were chosen because they're strong, hard-working animals which belong to a somewhat endangered species. The rides will include modern gadgetry such as GPS to track any possible problems and draw a 3D model of the town's forest. Mmm, can you see yourself commuting on a donkey? My grandfather did. I'm not sure he had GPS, though.

[Source: Ayuntamiento de Pozuelo via Portalforestal]

How can we figure out how much potential electric car buyers are willing to pay for their battery-powered rides? Why not just ask them?

That's what Liberty Electric Cars did at the recent Eden Project 'Green' Car Show. Liberty conducted "in-depth interviews" at the show and found that green car fans are willing to pay up to 30 percent more for a car if it's powered solely by electrons. That's a huge premium that at least some in our little community are willing to fork over. On a $20,000, for example, that's six grand, and 65 percent of the people Liberty interviewed said the 30 percent extra is no problem. Forty-five percent, though, said that smaller, less powerful, "city" cars would not be acceptable. I guess that means that 55 percent think that the Th!nk City (pictured) would be OK, which is good.

Liberty Electric Cars is the company that's working to convert Range Rovers to EVs. More info after the jump.

[Source: Liberty Electric Cars]

Hybrid Technologies, in a bid to gain respect and credibility, has announced today that they will lend its LiV™ FLASH (a converted BMW Mini Cooper) to one Mr.Alan Thicke, Emmy and Golden Globe nominee and star of '80s sitcom "Growing Pains". About the deal, the Canadian-born actor is said to have stated, "As a Baby Boomer Consumer, I've been part of the problem so now it's time to be part of the solution. Hybrid Technologies allows me to cut back on emissions and eliminate fuel costs without sacrificing luxury or performance. I've set many examples for my kids - pro and con - but this is definitely one of the better ones. I feel like a smart guy in a smart car!".

In return for the loan, Mr.Thicke will mention Hybrid Technologies "as a way of leaving a positive legacy for our children's future" in his upcoming book, "How To Raise Kids Who Won't Hate You" (due in October, mark your calender). The press release didn't mention whether Mr.Thicke is considering laying out the cash to actually purchase one of their vehicles or whether or not it is powered by the new Superlattice battery. We offer the text of the official press release after the break for your amusement perusal.

Hybrid and fully electric vehicles have come under fire as of late due to the quietness at which they operate. While this is seemingly a good thing for passengers of the vehicle, there are legitimate concerns that blind people will not be able to detect the rapidly approaching vehicle if it is not making any sound. Along with blind pedestrians, safety advocates are concerned that children and cyclists will be at risk from silent vehicles.

The issue of hybrid and electric car silence is a complicated one. Of course, these vehicles are not really "silent," as the tires and associated systems do emit some sound, though it may be inaudible with other various traffic sounds. Some are proposing a minimum sound level for all vehicles, though nothing is likely to happen until the situation is studied.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration plans to begin research right away into the dangers of quiet hybrids and electric cars and has plans to introduce "technology neutral" ways to combat the problem. This continues to be an interesting discussion and one we're sure to hear plenty more about.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

After serving large helpings of hope to the offshore drilling, "clean" coal, and nuclear power plant hungry crowd, John McCain is set to dish up some tasty dessert for famished clean car proponents. In a speech he will deliver today at Fresno State University in California, the presidential hopeful will lay out a series of proposals aimed at quickening the transformation to carbon-free transportation. The one that really caught our eye was his "Clean Car Challenge" that would award the not-insignificant amount of $300 million to the developer of new battery technology that has "the size, capacity, cost and power to leapfrog the commercially available plug-in hybrids or electric cars," and do it at 30 percent of the cost of what is currently available. Quite a challenge indeed.

Another enticement on the menu is a $5,000 tax credit for every new zero-carbon car. He is expected to announce, "For every automaker who can sell a zero-emissions car, we will commit a $5,000 tax credit for each and every customer who buys that car," (The AP version of the story claims the credit is for auto-makers while Reuters says it's for the buyer) Other "if-elected" actions are said to include higher fines for non-compliance with CAFE standards and a speeding up the flex-fuel capability of the nations fleet. "Whether it takes a meeting with automakers during my first month in office, or my signature on an act of Congress, we will meet the goal of a swift conversion of American vehicles away from oil." It all sounds pretty good. Now, if he can just win that pesky election we'll see if he follows through.

[Source: Associated Press / Reuters UK]

Looking for a new "green" car but find it ironic you have to drive all over Timbuktu just to check out what's available? Perhaps you also want to talk with a lender about getting a special deal for choosing a hybrid over a Hummer. Veronica Rojas of the Tallahassee, Florida-based Envision credit union had her green thinking cap on and dreamt up the idea of hosting an exhibition of the top fuel-sipping vehicular choices from dealerships around the area to publicize the institution's special APR discount program (3.65%!) for vehicles getting over 30 mpg. Her boss liked the idea as well and so the Envision Go Green Car Show was born.

Over the weekend, gas misers such as the Prius, Smart and Fit (see the gallery below) are gathered in one place so folks could see what choices are available in the metal and ask questions of dealership staff on hand. There are no worries about being pressured to buy as the event is strictly a show & tell affair. As well as cars, the all-electric Vectrix motorcycle and Piaggio 250ie MP3 on display and available to try out if you happen to have a motorcycle endorsement on your license.

Like any good car show there are drawings to enter and free hotdogs to eat. Prizes on offer include oil changes and several denominations of gas cards as well as a shot at a later drawing for a Vectrix. The brass on hand looked happy to see lots of people turning up early on Saturday. Credit Union President/CEO, Ray E. Cromer Jr. said, "Everyone is feeling the effects of high gas prices so we thought it would be helpful to give customers an opportunity to look at fuel efficient options."


[Source: Envision]

"Play. Run. Walk. Breathe." That's the tagline for this summer's biggest no-car experiment in the U.S. For three Saturdays in August (the 9th, 16th, and 23rd) certain streets in New York City will be car-free zones. Actually, it will only be for part of the day on those Saturdays, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., that the nearly 7 miles of roadways selected for the "Summer Streets" event will be repurposed for some emissions-free activities. You can download a PDF of the streets that will be closed to cars - and open to your imagination, as the city says.

The Village Voice says that NYC is taking a page from the Ciclovia festival, a regular event in Bogotá, Columbia, and other similar events from around the world. It's not just that the city is shutting the streets down to make it safer for bike riders. No, this is a full-fledged summer activity program, with dance, fitness, and yoga classes on tap. Transportation Alternatives is one of the groups supporting the city in Summer Streets, and a spokesperson for the group told the Voice that this program will bring people together and will connect "communities who don't have parks to those who do."

One taxi manager's response to the idea: "They've got to be kidding,"

[Source: NYC via the Village Voice]

The Toyota Prius has long been the darling of Hollywood celebrities, though it seems its good reputation is being besmirched just a bit. We can't say whether the allegations are true or not, but The National Labor Committee (NLC) has published a report highlighting such offenses against Toyota as operating sweat shops, working with dictators and human trafficking. Also under fire are supposedly low wages for workers in Japan and long hours without overtime pay.

You may remember from some time back reports regarding at least one Toyota worker who died from overwork. This case is brought up again by the NLC along with a few examples of workers who committed suicide allegedly because they were put under too much pressure to perform. Toyota's lack of an American union is also drawing ire from the NLC, as are the lower wages the company pays its U.S. employees. Again, we're not able to comment on the validity of the NLC's report, however these are serious allegations which could potentially tarnish the squeaky-clean reputation that the automaker currently holds.

[Source: The National Labor Committee via World Car Fans]

SolarBug models old (right) and new.

It's been a bit over a half year since we last checked in with the pride of Bozeman, Montana - Steve Titus and his SolarBug electric car. A quick refresher: this homemade electric vehicle takes and ATV, encloses it and slaps on some solar panels. OK, it's not nearly that simple, and Titus has been hard at work for a long time on this project and hopes to one day sell a lot of these vehicles as people learn new ways of driving (i.e., in smaller cars). For now, the SolarBug is taking a toll on his family, but this "hobby gone awry" is not yet finished. Luckily, Titus is still energetic about the SolarBug, as a new video called A Crazy Dream shows. Produced by students at Montana State University there in Bozeman, the video is an uplifting two-and-a-half-minutes about Titus' vision. Interest in the SolarBug is not limited to one person. As fellow Bozeman resident Gary R. wrote in to AutoblogGreen, "We are very proud of Steve's effort here in Bozeman!!" Watch the video after the break and, if you're interested in getting one of these critters when they go on sale, download the brochure (PDF) or check out the SolarBug website.

At this point, it seems certain that the old Prius versus Hummer "debate" is never going to die. Despite being proven false, the study continues to pop up every now and then as forum fodder or as ammunition for hybrid-haters all over the globe. It's alright if you don't like hybrids, but real factual data would be much preferable to lies and misconceptions of the truth. The most recent evidence of hybrid-hating comes from an article contained in the latest Autowritiers Newsletter and is penned by Bill Maloney, who cites the oft-debunked CNW Marketing study we mentioned earlier.

A bit of truth rings out from Moloney's column regarding some hybrid purchasers, as some Prius owners admit to basing their buying decisions out of a desire to appear green. It has been argued, and may in fact be true, that many consumers chose the Prius over another hybrid model due to the fact that it is readily recognized as a green choice. Still, to suggest that all hybrids are purchased solely to make a statement is ludicrous, as it is the savings in gasoline that prompt the vast majority of fuel-sipping choices.

[Source: Autowriters.com Newsletter]

If you didn't know, Sergio Marchionne is Fiat's CEO. In a recent interview in the French-speaking Swiss media outlet L'Hebdo, he spoke about the bank crisis, Switzerland's politics and his life in Switzerland. But he also talked about the car of the future, that is, the car of the near future.

Mr. Marchionne is a firm believer that the most realistic and available solution to reduce car pollution is reducing engine size. This agrees with Fiat's new policy on smaller turbo-charged engines, called T-Jet, and also the latest iteration of the common-rail JTD diesels. Speaking about other green car technologies, he acknowledges the benefit possible from hybrid powertrains, but believes that they're complex and expensive, and therefore more suitable for expensive cars. Regarding hydrogen, he stated that it isn't expected to be ready until 2020, but he finds it will be a real revolution once the technology is viable.

[Source: L'Hebdo (thanks to Jeroen for the tip)]

Click above for more images of the Piaggio MP3 400 and 500

Two seventy-something year old men will soon be embarking on a 3,400 mile trip across the U.S. on the famed Lincoln Highway. The trip for Bob Chase and Bernard "Buddy" Rosenbaum will start on June 13 at San Francisco's Lincoln Park and hit fourteen different states before they end on July 14 at the Lincoln Highway's eastern end-point in New York City's Times Square. The vehicle of choice for the journey is the Piaggio MP3 500, which we recently tested in New York and found to be extremely competent. The projected fuel mileage for the trip is about 55 miles per gallon. Just so long as they obey the speed limit most of the way and don't test the ninety-plus mile per hour top speed too often, they should have little problem hitting that figure. In addition to the excellent fuel mileage, this scooter was chosen for its stability and excellent handling. We certainly wish the duo the best on their trip and look forward to following their travels.