Hummer Melting Snow

As we watch this video of a Hummer four wheeling it in the snow we can help but wonder about all the damage that has been done to our environment by the Hummer. If only there were a true easy way to measure what the GM Hummer has done to our world and how much snow Hummers have melted and will continue to melt.

According to EV World way back in 1998. "Representatives of the news media assembled on the grounds of Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida for a demonstration of a new hybrid-electric HMMWV (Humvee)."

Too bad it hasn't caught on yet.

AQMD?

What is the Air Quality Management District? What does it have to do with Clean Air and the Environment? LMG caught up with Larry Robinson of the AQMD in Sacramento and asked him a few questions about the AQMD and what consumers can do to help air quality and reduce their carbon footprint.

WashDOT Talks about Carpooling

Lean Mean Green had a chance to speak with Chris Simmons of the Washington Department of Transportation and we got an earfull about carpooling / ridesharing, bus ridding, van pools and what else is going on around Seattle, WA

What is Arlington Doing Right

Chris Hamilton and the transportation team in Arlington County, Virginia are doing something right. In fact they are doing several things right. They have gone out of their way to make it easier for commuters to find alternative ways to get to work other than a single driver/passenger car. Through their commuter retail store they are helping commuters find alternative transportation and have launched ride sharing/car pooling programs, bike programs and provide bus maps and travel information.

They even won an award from ACT.

WOW! KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!

Tuesday is Carpool Day

Lean Mean Green caught up with Executive Vice President of Marketing for ABC, Michael Benson and asked him about ABC's new comedy.

It's nice to see ABC use this opportunity to hang thier "Green Hat" on and ask viewers to ride share once a week because Tuesday is Car Pool Day.



So do your part and go ask a friend or two to carpool on Tuesday.

If you are carpooling post a picture or video of your carpool in the comments section.

LMG Van Pools

Lean Mean Green had a chance to catch up with Allen Feather from Van Pool company VPSI at the ACT International international conference and ask them about ride sharing with van pools

ACT International President Jon Martz

We visited the 2007 ACT International Conference in Seattle and asked the ACT President Jon Martz what things people don’t realize about ride sharing.

The ACT International Conference itself is a meeting of Transportation professionals who’s goal is to reduce traffic congestion, conserve energy, and improve air quality. Now that sounds like a good organization to us. Maybe you should let your boss know about this so that your company can start making a difference.

Converting Gas Powered Cars into Electric Vehicles

We found this video of two women visiting Left Coast Conversions but when we went to their website we didn't see any pictures of the cars they are converting.

If you have any pictures or videos of Lean Mean Green cars let us know.

It's Been over a Year Tesla!

It's been over a year since the Tesla Electric Sports Car was announced. When are we going to be able to get our hands on one?

Into the Air

Many things go into the air when it comes to pollution but there’s a new Air and Water powered Hybrid transportation out there that is Lean, Mean and Green. If only we could use Kitesurfing to commute to work.

The EV Challenge

Each year students from around the United States participate in a Electric Car or EV Challenge. The idea is to take a gas burning vehicle and convert it to electric power.

Maybe some large corporations could hire some of these college students to convert their gas guzzling fleets into clear air vehicles?

Frankfurt Auto Show

Looks like some news about an Opel Diesel Hybrid eflex Concept Car "leaked" out on Jalopnik before the Frankfurt Auto Show. Maybe more gas and oil could leak out and we could go all electric.

Maybe the fashion-conscious designers at Ford could Unveil a 'Fiesta of the Future'
from their small-car design vision that was electric as well.

Real Horse-Power or Real Horse Sh*t?

We first saw this on
Tree Hugger

The website Fleethorse suggests that it is creating, “the most amazing vehicle, made in the current millennium” a bus powered by real horses.


We’re not really sure what to think about this one.

Hybrid Honda Accord

This past January Jeff Palmer of Temple of Vtech met up with with Honda Sr. Product Planner Gary Robinson at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit and took a look at the 2008 Honda Accord Concept Car. We didn't see too many details about the Hybrid Honda Accord but if you visit the Honda website now you can get a look at the Hybrid Honda Accord and build your own Honda Accord Hybrid.

According to Honda’s Website, “The Accord Hybrid satisfies your inner need for speed.” It has a “Powerfully Efficient 253-hp, 3.0-liter, 24-valve, SOHC, i-VTEC® V-6 engine with Integrated Motor Assist IMA® Up to 35 MPG on the highway* Electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering (EPS) 16" lightweight alloy wheels.” It’s Pro-Environment Advanced Technology Partial-Zero-Emission-Vehicle (AT-PZEV)† Fuel-efficient hybrid technology from Honda including Integrated Motor Assist IMA® and a MSRP of $31,090.

Ouch! Come on Honda, Can’t you do a little better on that price and help the good people who want to feel like they are making a difference get their hands and a Hybrid Honda Accord?

They do have a fun Build Your Accord Hybrid page and we went right to work tricking out our Hybrid Honda Accord with ever option we could. They didn't have Green as a color so we went with Tango Red Pearl, Hybrid with Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™,Wheel Locks $54,Ski/Snowboard Attachment* $139,Roof Rack Bike Attachment $135, Removable Roof Rack $270, Splash Guards $99, Door Edge Guards $64,Car Cover $215, Full Nose Mask $159, Gold Exhaust Finisher $85,Fenderwell Trim* $79,Door Visors $135,Fog Lights $335, Cargo Net $59, Trunk Tray $115, Auto D/n Mirror Base $229,Auto D/n Mirror Att.$29,Metal Look Trim Kit $250, Mp3 Audio Player $450, Audio Sub-harness $15, Audio Attach. $69,and after a $635 Destination & Handling charge we had a grand total of $36,710.

Here's a look at the FRONT

And the REAR

How Does a Hybrid Car Work?

The Prius uses an electronicly continuously variable transmission (ECVT), has a 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Automatic(CVT) Aluminum double overhead cam (DOHC) 16-valve Permanent magnet AC synchronous motor and uses VVT-i 4-cylinder Sealed Nickel-Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) [2] batteries.

What does all that mean? Well basically it means that Hybrid cars use two engines, a traditional gas combustion engine and an electric engine. The gas engine charges the electric engine and then the electric engine powers the car unless extra power is needed or the batteries need charging.

Now according to the EPA the Toyota Prius Hybrid should get 55 (highway) and 60 (city) MPG but many owners are happy to get between 45 to 47 miles per gallon. If you are looking for a way to get the best mileage for your Toyota Prius check out Rattling the Kettle and see if some of the tips there help you get better gas mileage for your Prius.

If you have any tips for getting better gas mileage in your hybrid please leave a comment here.

Toyota Prius Self Park

In one of its latest videos New Car Net showcases the self-parking feature on the Toyota Prius. Using the latest Hybrid Synergy Drive, the clean and green Toyota Prius is perhaps a little too clever but at least it is a start. Are you driving a Green Car? Do you have video of your Hybrid or Electric car you’d like to share with us?