Fisker Automotive will begin deploying its government loan designated to spur U.S. production of fuel-efficient vehicles by buying and restoring an out-of-use GM plant in Delaware. Fisker paid only $18 million for the idle plant, but plans to spend an additional $175 million on refurbishing it. This Wilmington plant will be the manufacturing site for the company’s second model, a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sedan.

The factory–originally built by GM in 1947–will reach full production capacity of 75,000-100,000 vehicles a year by 2014. By that point Fisker estimates that reopening the plant will create 2,000 factory jobs. The automaker expects production from this plant will create an additional 3,000 vendor and supplier jobs. (more…)

The status quo isn’t a problem for big oil companies, who seem to be constantly breaking their own record profits. However, these corporations know that they must also look to the future and sustain their competitive edge.

The competitive landscape of the future is not clear for the oil industry, with financial, political, and environmental considerations coming into play.

The technologies and processes behind various renewable energy sources are improving, and may eventually lead to a renewable product that is cost competitive with oil. (more…)

The energy department has begun to dole out $25 billion in loans designated for the development of fuel-efficient vehicles. The program is designed to grease the wheels for technological innovation that will drive the auto industry of tomorrow to occur here in the United States.

After decades of job cuts in the US auto industry, the federal government is hoping that innovation can revitalize the sector and create employment.

The first $8 billion was handed out back in July, with Fisker being announced as a loan recipient just this week. GM and Chrysler have been excluded from this program to date, since they do not meet the economic viability standard for loan recipients. (more…)

The man behind some of the most iconic sports cars of recent vintage has gone green. Henrik Fisker built his reputation designing the BMW Z8 and Aston Martin DB9 & V8 Vantage. The Z8 and the V8 Vantage both have the well earned distinction of being Bond cars: appearing as the ultra-classy 007’s tricked out rides in the James Bond films.

Fisker has since decided to venture out on his own and bring exquisite luxury design to environmentally friendly vehicles. Fisker Automotive is a joint venture that combines Henrik’s world-class vehicle design talent with Quantum Technologies‘ plug-in hybrid electric propulsion systems. The result is amazing karma…

The Karma is Fisker Automotive’s first model, set to be released  in the summer of 2010. It’s a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) with a wide, low stance and a 50 mile all-electric range before the traditional gas engine kicks in. This green car packs a punch, though, doing 0-to-60 in under 6 seconds and reaching 125 miles per hour. (more…)

Ford is not as in your face about their green initiatives as other large car makers. Of course, that’s due in part to not taking a leadership position on the green end of the market.

SUVs and pick-ups have become Ford’s bread and butter in recent years. Ford has hybrid models, but didn’t trail blaze like Toyota and Honda or produce a hybrid version of almost all their models like GM.

They are not making much noise about electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), either. Then again, GM seems to be the only major carmaker pushing PHEVs in the short-term.

Keeping with the industry wide trend, Ford does have the environment and fuel efficiency in mind. (more…)

“This is the single biggest step the American government has ever taken to cut greenhouse-gas emissions.”

That’s what Daniel Becker of the Safe Climate Campaign said back in May about the Obama administration’s plans to raise fuel efficiency requirements for motor vehicles progressively over the next several years.

You could, of course, call this damning with faint praise. However, this is a strong step in the right direction that will hopefully be followed up with further environmental sustainability legislation and a strong international agreement in Copenhagen.

On Tuesday September 15, the details of this plan were filled in. The plan incorporates fuel efficiency requirements in both miles per gallon (mpg) and carbon emissions terms. (more…)

While, personally, it gets my heart racing a little to see hot new fuel efficient models on the street, fuel efficiency is not generally associated with sexiness. Green cars can, however, be engineering marvels both visually and in terms of performance.

Whether you’re looking for an eye-catching sports car or a safe, reliable way to transport your family, some high-end models are more fuel efficient than others. This efficiency will save you money on gas, and is an easy way to lower your ecological footprint.

Below is a list of  some green luxury options, organized by fuel source. Of course, some of the fuel sources themselves are greener than others. Some key stats accompany each model, or click on the model name itself for a link to the product page on the manufacturer’s website. (more…)

Electric vehicles (EVs) have been anointed as the green cars of the future, gaining support from the federal government, auto industry, and Silicon Valley. Some EV and PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) models are already available, with many more set to launch in the coming years.

However, EVs and PHEVs are not expected to overtake the internal combustion engine in the short-term. Part of this is due to the fact that it’s hard to change the status quo. Part of it, though, is related to price and manufacturing costs. And around half of an EVs manufacturing cost comes from its lithium ion battery. Mass adoption of EVs depends largely on improving the competitiveness of their batteries.

The demand for lithium is rising as the number of battery applications for the material rises. It is used in cell phone batteries and other electronics, and now increasingly in vehicles. As demand rises faster than supply, price increases. (more…)

There is an inescapable link between building and personal transportation: what we build where determines where we drive when. All the greenhouse gases (GHGs) and smog emitted by cars come about because someone is trying to get somewhere, usually a building. When green building is mentioned the design, materials, and functionality of a building typically come to mind.

However, there is a larger town planning aspect which also must be considered. Sustainable town planning includes placing buildings in such a way that self-powered and public transportation are encouraged.

If you have to get on the highway to get to anything zoned for nonresidential use, it’s very hard to live a sustainable lifestyle. Sustainable town planning doesn’t just help the environment, it leads to more livable communities and a higher quality of life. (more…)

The “Cash-for-Clunkers” program–officially the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS)–was not designed by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) only as an environmental program.

Some environmental impact was certain given the requirement that newly purchased vehicles be more fuel efficient than trade-ins, but the program is primarily a way to boost auto sales. CARS has met or surpassed expectations on both accounts.

People are rushing to trade in their “clunkers:” the initial $1 billion dollars in funding was given out quickly, prompting congress to push an additional $2 billion into the program. As of August 13th, 338,659 transactions have been submitted.

This is great news for the auto industry, (more…)