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Clean Transportation

Review: 2014 VW Beetle TDI – One Efficient Beach Cruiser

written by Walter Wang

Few cars are as iconic as the Volkswagen Beetle. The original version of the VW Beetle was manufactured between 1938 and 2003. The original version was a fixture of American culture during the 1960’s and 1970’s and often associated with the hippie movement and surf culture. Driving through coastal Southern California today, you will see classic VW Beetles as well as VW vans with surfboards in tow.

The modern reincarnation of this classic appeared for the 1998 model year. The current 2014 VW Beetle expands on the new Beetle concept in a way that appeals to a wider audience. From the exterior, you notice that the car is slightly more aggressive than its predecessor without losing what I call the happiness factor (you can’t see a VW Beetle and not help but smile). From the interior, there are separate gauges for the turbo boost, a timer, and oil temperature that underscore that this Beetle is something more. Even the steering wheel has a flat bottom. This would make Kevin Bacon proud. It’s hard to drive this car and not think about Kevin Bacon and the classic VW Beetle he drove in the movie Footloose.

The VW Beetle that I tested was a 2014 VW Beetle TDI, meaning this bug runs on diesel. If you have read my reviews in the past, you’ll know that I have been singing the praises of the new generation of turbo diesels that have made their way to US shores. Diesel engines, while down on horsepower, have plenty of torque. The VW Beetle TDI has a 2.0L Turbo 4 cylinder engine good for 140 horsepower and 236 lb. ft. of torque. The car has plenty of giddy-up when called upon. Most importantly, the VW Beetle TDI is one efficient bug. The EPA rates the car at 29 mpg city and 39 mpg highway (automatic), 32 combined. In real world testing, I exceeded these numbers. For example, on the freeway, I hit 46.1 mpg en-route to Newport Beach. Point to point on that same trip, the final number was 45.7 mpg, well above EPA estimates. Overall, in mixed driving with a slight lead foot, combined fuel economy was 35 mpg. Depending on your driving habits, one tank of diesel will net you 500 miles or slightly more. Not bad at all!

Spending a week in a VW Beetle TDI puts you in a state of mind. With mild temperatures and great surf, it was time to hit the beach. Time to listen to some reggae tunes on the SiriusXM equipped audio system to set the mood! At the end of the day, you realize you’re relaxed, the fuel gauge has barely moved, and oh wait, come to think of it….the VW Beetle TDI is one efficient beach cruiser. The toffee brown metallic paint was unique and definitely set the car apart from the crowd. Over the course of the week, I did notice on several occasions how wide the C-pillar is when reversing out of certain parking spaces. That being said, no car is ever perfect.

The VW Beetle TDI starts at $24,595 and is real easy to live with. It corners reasonably well and has enough giddy-up for most drivers when needed. More than a few onlookers during the week inquired into the VW Beetle TDI. They were blown away when I mentioned the fuel economy. The VW Beetle is an iconic car no matter which era, now thanks to the diesel engine, it’s a more efficient icon that is sure to draw attention and reward you for many years.

09/01/2014 0 comment

Clean Transportation

Want to Save $179 in Fuel? Get Car With Stop-Start

written by CleanTechies.com Contributor

According to the American Automobile Association, you could save $179 a year on fuel if your car automatically shuts off its engine when stopped at a light. A tech feature known as “stop-start” or “micro-hybrid” makes that trick completely possible. In fact, about 50 percent of cars in Europe already use the low-cost fuel saving strategy.

America is finally catching up. While only 500,000 new cars sold in the U.S. in 2013 had a stop-start system, Navigant Research forecasts that the number will grow higher than 7 million by 2022. The stop-start feature—which puts the engine to rest when the car comes to stop, and wakes it up when your foot is lifted off the brake—can reduce overall fuel use by between about five and 10 percent.

AAA evaluated the technology by putting three stop-start cars through the EPA’s urban driving test: the 2013 Ford Fusion, a 2014 Mercedes Benz CLS550 and a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. AAA assigned its $179 a year in saving based on a driver putting 15,000 miles a year on a car that would get 20 miles per gallon, prior to being equipped with stop-start. “The technology requires only minor adjustment for motorists,” said Greg Brannon, director of AAA’s automotive engineering team. “Automatic stop-start technology is simply applied to standard combustion engines.”

Ford said its 2013 Fusion, the first midsize family sedan available with stop-start technology, would provide $220 a year in savings. The stop-start option is offered by Ford as a $295 option.

Chevrolet now offers stop-start in some versions of both the 2015 Impala (shown above) and 2014 Malibu—not as an option, but as a standard feature. Stop-start will also become standard on the 2.4-liter version of the all-new 2015 Chrysler 200 sedan, as well as on the Jeep Cherokee equipped with its 3.2-liter V-6 engine.

The list of brands either currently—or soon about to—offer the technology include Audi, Buick, BMW, Chevrolet, Ford, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche. Automakers are being increasingly pressured to introduce fuel-saving technologies, because the average efficiency of cars is mandated to increase to 35.5 mpg by 2016—on its way to the 54.5-mpg mark by 2025.

Luxury carmakers, such as BMW, Mercedes and Porsche, are particularly keen to offer stop-start systems, because their high-performance vehicles use bigger more fuel-thirsty engines. BMW has seen its stop-start vehicles criticized for being loud and noisy—when the engine shuts down or kicks back on—compared to quieter and more seamless systems offered by competitors.

Nearly all stop-start systems can be shut off by the driver, but why would a drive want to disable a feature that can save fuel and money?

Article by Brad Berman, appearing courtesy ebay Green Driving.

08/04/2014 2 comments

Clean Transportation

Beyond the Sticker: How Efficient is Your Car?

written by CleanTechies.com Contributor

EPA fuel economy numbers on window stickers have been the be-all and end-all measure of new vehicle efficiency in the United States since their inception in 1978. But even after repeated updates of its procedure over the years, the EPA has been embarrassed by several instances of carmakers overstating the efficiency of its cars. With more drivers tracking their own efficiency, and rising concern about pain at the pumps, there’s a growing outcry for more dependable estimates.

In most cases, the problem isn’t that the EPA testing process. In fact, very few models go through EPA testing in a given year. The numbers you see on a new car’s sticker are actually submitted by the carmaker.

The good news is that there are other sources of independent testing out there. And now, thanks to a new partnership between Emissions Analytics, Intellichoice and Motor Trend, there’s one more.

The “Real MPG” procedure, as it’s being called, is based on 140 minutes of sophisticated testing using an array of sensors deployed on a test course designed to “realistically represent both city and highway driving.” Roughly 100 new vehicles have been tested so far, and though the average discrepancy between the EPA numbers and Real MPG’s testing is marginal, some vehicles have shown as much as a 20-percent difference.

Beyond the Numbers

Even if there were no discrepancies between different testing procedures, the real-world performance of any vehicle would be subject to, let’s be honest, how you drive. Before making a purchase, every car shopper should do some driving self-assessment, and recalibrate expectations. This holds true when you buy a 50-mpg Prius C (shown above), or a full-size SUV. Here are a few things to consider:

City vs. Highway
The most important factor to consider is usually the breakdown of how many miles you drive in stop-and-go traffic, compared to miles you spend on the open road. Using your trip computer or odometer to keep track of this over the course of a typical driving week should help you get an idea of any discrepancies between expectation and reality. Gas- and diesel-fueled cars perform far better on the highway than in the city, while the extra cost of a hybrid will quickly pay for itself for heavy city drivers.

Can You Be Doing Better?
The efficiency of your car or truck is only as good as your personal driving style. With jack-rabbit starts, and aggressive quick braking, you’ll never achieve fuel economy numbers used in official ratings. Be aware of your speed. Use slow steady movements, and keep measuring until your fuel efficiency improves.

How much do you actually drive?
If you don’t drive very much, selecting a vehicle based on two extra MPGs of efficiency may not be the best economic decision. On the other hand, if your daily driving is less than the range of a battery-electric vehicle, you might want to consider plugging in—and thereby cut your fuel use to nearly zero.

Article by Brad Berman, appearing courtesy ebay Green Driving.

05/23/2014 0 comment

Clean Transportation

Review: 2014 Mazda 6 – Worthy of Accolades

written by Walter Wang

The 2014 Mazda 6 is a stunner. Now that we’re past that, consider this: The car won Popular Mechanics’ Car of the Year and the Red Dot Design Award. Yeah, it’s that good. It’s an efficient car too.

On a recent trip to Northern New Jersey, I had some quality time with the Mazda 6. The one that was

12/26/2013 0 comment

Clean Transportation

Four Top-Selling Hybrid SUVs

written by Walter Wang

Though dozens of hybrid models are available for sale in the United States, the vast majority are sedans. Still, there are a handful of options for consumers in search of both fuel economy and passenger and cargo room. Based on the latest sales numbers, here are the five top-selling hybrid SUV options.

11/27/2013 0 comment

Clean Transportation

Major Fuel Economy Boost Envisioned by Obama Administration

written by Yale Environment 360

The Obama administration is considering a new fuel economy standard that would require cars and light trucks to achieve an average of 56.2 miles per gallon by 2025, an ambitious target that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions but drive up the cost of automobiles.

06/29/2011 1 comment

Clean Transportation

Why Stop at Converting Hybrid Vehicles?

written by

Converting hybrid vehicles — particularly the Prius and Ford Escape — into plug-in hybrids has become a profitable niche industry for a few specialty companies. But the net impact of this new mini-industry has been much greater by influencing consumer and industry opinions.

Promoting the technical feasibility of PHEVs has been a significant factor in the auto manufacturers’ decision to develop the dozens of plug-in and all-electric vehicles now scheduled for delivery in the next five years.

But the earliest and strongest voice promoting PHEVs isn’t happy with that limited success. Felix Kramer, the founder of CalCars.org, says that getting to a million electrified vehicles by 2015 won’t do nearly enough to address climate change and energy independence, and now he’s setting his sights on electrifying internal combustion engine vehicles. He’s clearly on to something.

09/28/2009 1 comment

Clean Transportation

Fuel Economy: How Traditional Car Models Compete With Hybrid Vehicles

written by

In recent years a greater emphasis on MPG during car shopping has emerged. Between fluctuating gasoline prices, a broader selection of hybrid vehicles, and the promise of plug-ins and battery electric vehicles, and mandated increases in CAFE standards, fuel economy is becoming an important vehicle characteristic for many consumers.

Makers of ICEs are looking to accentuate the efficiency of many of their “traditional” models to meet federal requirements and better compete with hybrid vehicles. This includes the addition of a turbocharger, which enables manufacturers to use smaller engines while increasing fuel economy by up to 20 percent. Turbochargers reduce emissions as they burn exhaust gas as fuel, and also provide additional power for acceleration.

09/21/2009 9 comments