Small and Green in Detroit
Green was center stage at this year's Detroit auto show press preview. Smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles and concepts starred along with more hybrids, including rechargeable plug-ins. Ethanol partnerships were announced and new clean diesel engine options for large pickups were featured.
Automakers also introduced more powerful engines and performance sports cars, such as the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. Green won out, however, especially because of concerns about the higher cost of gasoline and new government fuel economy regulations that soon will begin to take effect. A few green highlights from the Detroit auto show:
- Smart, the tiny car brand that is part of the Mercedes Car Group, showed a new convertible. The U.S. unit probably has 20,000 buyers for the 2008 "fortwo" that begins arriving in the U.S. this week. The fortwo gets 49 mpg. You can visit smartUSA.com for more information.
- Toyota plans to sell a plug-in hybrid by 2010 in the U.S. and General Motors also is on its way to producing commercially viable plug-ins—such as the Chevrolet Volt—in the same year. The lithium-ion battery technology is creating some challenges at this time for both automakers.
- Most automakers, including Toyota, Honda and GM, plan to introduce more gasoline/electric hybrids in 2009. Saturn unveiled three hybrids, including the 2009 Vue Green Line plug-in hybrid. Even GM's Hummer brand showed a hybrid concept vehicle called the HRX.
- Ford has introduced a new environmentally friendly system and brand called Ecoboost that will be expanded in 2010 to include its large pickup trucks. EcoBoost uses a turbocharger and direct fuel injection to improve fuel economy and lower emissions. Ford showed its small Verve subcompact concept that was designed in Europe with affiliate Mazda. Toyota intends to meet the new U.S. CAFE standard of 35 mpg much earlier than the 2020 deadline.
- Toyota and Honda and German manufacturers—Daimler's Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and BMW—intend to introduce clean diesel-powered vehicles in the U.S. next year. Land Rover introduced a concept SUV that runs on clean diesel.
- Chrysler showed three hybrid concepts—the Jeep Renegade, Dodge Zeo (zero emissions operations) and Chryslerexo Voyager—that are small, short and look like they just came from Mars. Even exotic carmaker Ferrari showed a sports car that runs on biofuel, and premium sports car maker Fisker Automotive unveiled the Karma plug-in sports sedan, which will be available at the end of 2009.
- Ethanol partnerships were touted. Toyota will increase its investment in ethanol derived from wood waste, through an affiliated company. GM announced a partnership with Coskata Inc. to use the company's technology to make ethanol from practically any renewable source, including garbage, old tires, and plant waste. The fuel will cost $1 less per gallon than gasoline.
- These many different green approaches, concepts, and introductions make it clear that automakers are willing to begin offering a broad selection of vehicles with alternative fuel options for consumers. It will be interesting to see how many of these vehicles make it to market and how much we will have to pay to enjoy the privilege of driving more fuel-efficient and cleaner vehicles. However, at least we'll have a wider range of choices in the near future. And it looks as though automakers still will be offering vehicles with more power as well as fuel efficiency.
Note: The North American International Auto Show at Cobo Hall in Detroit, MI, is open to the public from Monday, Jan. 19 through Sunday, Jan. 27.
