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Happy Halloween everyone! I don’t know about where you are, but the weather outside Washington, DC is frightful. (Good for Halloween, I guess, unless you’re trying to keep your kids warm for Trick-or-Treating.) So this is a good time for us to check back in about how our hybrids respond to dropping temperatures. Also, we have some interesting tidbits about the new hybrid on the block, as well as whether diesels are really poised to join hybrids on the clean vehicle marketplace. And, as you can see, you have voted and selected an exciting name for our newsletter!
So let’s get to it.
Scott Nathanson
UCS National Field Organizer &
HybridCenter.org Administrator
In this issue:
 After tallying all the votes, I’m happy to declare UP THE M.P.G. the winner of our “Name that Newsletter” contest. The name seems quite fitting given that improving vehicle fuel economy is on the minds of many DCN members.
Thomas Maxwell of Thousand Oaks, California submitted the winning entry and remarked on his efforts to “UP THE M.P.G.” of his own vehicle: “It has taken me three years of practice with my Prius to achieve it but now I’m getting 49 miles per gallon and have cut my usage to one tank per month.” Way to go Thomas! You’ll be receiving your HybridCenter T-Shirt as soon as we have one made.
Thanks again to all our DCN members for submitting newsletter name ideas and voting for their favorite. As you can see, we're going for a thematic logo for each month's newsletter (hence the Halloween black-and-orange this month). If you want to send us ideas/images for next month's issue, feel free to email me at hybridcenter@ucsusa.org. If we use it, we'll be sure to give you credit.
We’ve gotten great advice from many of you DCN members, and our research director was also able to get some helpful comments from Ford about what best to do to keep your mpg from dropping too much as the weather cools off those batteries. First and foremost, what a number of members noted correctly, is that this issue is a “nature of the beast” kind of thing, at least for now. This means that there is no perfect solution to this problem. All vehicles have the problem and hybrid battery packs seem to make them even more sensitive. Still, remember that even in winter, good use of hybrid technology produces significant fuel economy gains over their conventional counterparts. Hopefully the Environmental Protection Agency’s plans to bring in cold weather tests to their fuel economy ratings will create a push to tackle the issue head on for all cars and trucks.
An interesting incongruity came up between the Ford representative we spoke to on this topic and some of our members. The Ford representative said drivers should, “Start the car and immediately, but gently, drive away.” “Don't leave the car idling,” he said, “today's engines don't need to be warmed up and prolonged idling creates excess emissions and wastes fuel.” However, several DCN members suggested that giving their hybrid a little more time to warm up before driving (about a minute or so) helped. UCS Clean Vehicles Research Director David Friedman chimed in, saying, “Honestly, it is as clear as mud.” He went on to explain, “We would really need to do some testing to find the answer, as I could come up with theories to support either approach. Plus, the impact may vary depending on the length of your trip. At the end of the day, what we really need is to make sure automakers keep working on the problem for hybrids and conventional cars!”
There are some things that are far less theoretical. Here’s one from Ford:
 "I would suggest that proper vehicle maintenance and tire pressure have the most significant impact (especially in cold weather). Under inflated tires increase rolling resistance and reduce fuel economy. They also wear rapidly. Consumers should check the vehicles door-post sticker for minimum cold tire inflation pressure and keep tires properly inflated to the recommended pressure—this alone can reduce the average amount of fuel use by 3-4 percent."
A DCN member in Maine suggested garaging if possible, and a number of members noted that one of the best things to do is to pay more attention to the basics of fuel economy savings. Whether it be keeping away from jack-rabbit starts and stops, using cruise control on the highway and better pedal control, or just driving the speed limit—keeping a more deliberate eye on your driving style and habits is often the best way to get the biggest mpg bang for your hybrid buck. Whether the temperature outside is really hot or really cold, or even when it is more temperate, this is the smartest way to drive.
- Toyota branches into ethanol and says no to diesel hybrids: Toyota will not produce a diesel hybrid electric vehicle in spite of plans for such vehicles by Peugeot Citroën and other automakers. A Toyota executive noted that the high price premiums for both diesel and hybrid technologies challenge the market for such vehicles. Toyota will, however, introduce a flexible fuel vehicle capable of running on gasoline and ethanol blends in Brazil by spring 2007. For more information, check out the Hybrid News Center.
- Hybrids top fuel efficiency list: Toyota and Honda dominated the latest government list of the 10 most fuel efficient vehicles for 2007. The Toyota Prius (1), Honda Civic Hybrid (2), Toyota Camry Hybrid (3), and the Ford Escape Hybrid FWD (4) secured the top spots, followed by several non-hybrid vehicles (mostly Toyotas). The Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD, in a tie with its corporate cousin, the Mercury Mariner Hybrid 4WD, rounded out the top 10. For more information on the fuel efficiency list, visit the Hybrid News Center.
- New hybrids hitting the market: The 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid will be the latest hybrid to hit the U.S. market. The vehicle, which is expected to achieve 41 mpg (city)/ 36 mpg (highway), will initially be sold only in California and the eight eastern states that have adopted California’s stringent emission standards. This month, Ford announced its agreement with hybrid powertrain supplier Azure Dynamics Corp to produce hybrid versions of its E-350 and E-450 commercial vans by 2008. Additionally, there were more rumors this month about Mitsubishi’s plans to introduce an electric and/or hybrid electric compact car in the U.S. Learn more about these and other hybrid developments by visiting the Hybrid News Center.
Thanks so much to those of you who wrote letters to the editor this month in response to articles in your local newspapers. Following the formula of past success, we “doubled-up” again this month and asked multiple members to submit letters—with great results! Here are two letters that were sent to the Boston Herald:
Letter from Lorie Gols, Natick, MA (Printed in the Boston Herald, 10/16/06)
“The public's short memory when it comes to gas prices ("Cheaper gas prices fueling SUV comeback," October 10) shows clearly that the market alone cannot cure America of its polluting addiction to oil. Federal tax credits for hybrid vehicles have helped the few fuel-efficient SUV choices like my Ford Escape Hybrid stay competitive regardless of gas prices. But the simple fact is that the technologies already exist to make all SUVs more fuel efficient without sacrificing power and safety. Without bold action by our leaders in Washington on fuel economy, the win-win solutions for consumers and the environment will continue to gather dust on automakers shelves.”
Letter from Rebecca Backman, Andover MA
“When I needed to replace my 10-year-old gas-guzzling SUV ("Cheaper gas prices fueling SUV comeback," October 10), I bought a Toyota Highlander Hybrid - nearly doubling my mileage. It's a greener choice, and I'll save even more at the pump when gas prices go up again (after the elections).
A key to making hybrids competitive has been the $2,600 federal tax credit. Unfortunately, as of October 1, Toyota's hybrid vehicles no longer receive the full incentive because of a manufacturer's cap written into the law.
Congress can and should eliminate the hybrid tax credit cap. This action would ensure that consumers are provided with an incentive to choose the SUV, car, or pickup that will do the most to insulate family budgets from gas price volatility, as well as reduce U.S. oil consumption and global warming pollution.”
Thanks again to everyone who has participated so far. For those of you who haven’t been contacted yet, stay posted for a possible Rapid Response Letter to the Editor Initiative alert in the near future. I also encourage you to actively engage the media on hybrid and clean vehicle issues on your own: write letters to the editor, respond to online articles, make comments on blogs, etc. If possible, please Blind Carbon Copy me on your letters (make sure you’re doing “BC” or “BCC” and not just “CC”—I’d be happy to look over your draft if you want). Also, whenever topical, please mention HybridCenter.org as a resource for information on hybrid vehicles. Be sure to let me know if your letter gets printed so that I can share your success with the rest of the Driving Change Network.
Not yet reading the UCS HybridBlog? I wanted to point out some exciting issues I covered this month on HybridBlog that you might have missed.
One of the questions I get asked the most is about the potential wear and environmental impact of hybrid batteries. Vehicle Engineer Don MacKenzie concluded, “While the automakers continue to look for new ways to increase the energy output and decrease the environmental footprint of hybrid batteries, rest assured that the current technology is still a net winner for the environment. However, we are going to keep our eyes peeled to make sure their promises of recycling are fulfilled so that hybrids can stay net winners.”
Senior Analyst Patricia Monahan wrote an interesting blog about whether diesel vehicles are ready to join hybrids in the clean vehicle race. She noted something that few people think about when it comes to diesel car emissions: “Diesel cars don't have sophisticated pollution monitors—like gasoline vehicles do—to catch systems when they fail. So long-term use and emissions impact is still very much up in the air. In all, there are reasons to be both excited, and wary, about the new diesel cars we'll soon be seeing on the market.”
Finally, our California Outreach Coordinator Erin Rogers was in Fresno for the first phase of the “Automakers v. The People” trial. As you probably remember, the auto industry is suing the state of California to block the implementation of the state’s groundbreaking standards on automotive global warming pollution. Erin noted the key arguments the automakers made in court, and how significantly their arguments stray from their public image attempts to appear “green.” Of course, their first argument is by far the least green—that Carbon Dioxide is not a pollutant and therefore can’t be regulated at all! Erin writes, “Following this logic, the automaker’s claim that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cannot allow California to regulate CO2 emissions either. The truth is that the Clean Air Act very clearly states that the EPA can regulate any pollutant emitted by motor vehicles that ‘may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health and welfare.’ What do they mean by ‘welfare?’ ‘Welfare’ includes ‘effects on…weather, visibility, and climate.’ There is also a pending Supreme Court case that could well decide the fate of this issue.”
To get all the details on these and many other issues, check out HybridBlog. We usually post updates once or twice a week and it’s a great way to stay informed between our monthly newsletters.
Just so you know we’re not resting on our Webby Award laurels, we are in the process of giving the HybridCenter a bit of a facelift. We’re almost done creating an exciting new homepage feature—the Hybrid Scorecard. Our crack team of scientists, engineers, and researchers looked at key environmental and cost criteria and have rated and ranked all the hybrids on the market. In the coming weeks, you’ll get a chance to see how hybrids really rate up for the planet and your wallet.
Not only that—we’ll give you a chance to weigh your priorities and see how that might change the score. This new tool should be another great way for folks to get a sense of what hybrid technology can do, and further round out our “one stop shop” on hybrid vehicle information. Stay tuned, we’ll let you know when it’s up and running.
Get ready to "gobble up" our November issue!
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