The proposed legislation would provide financial support for experimental vehicle research, including new types of hybrids, hydrogen cells and other batteries, and new environmentally friendly engine systems. The U.S. Department of Energy would administer the funds. The major auto manufacturers and the United Auto Workers union have voiced support for this bill, which would provide a further boost to the rebounding auto industry after the success of the CARS program.

Peters, accompanied by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland, announced the proposal on September 3 in Troy, Michigan. The legislation is seen as a boon for Michigan’s economy, which heavily depends on the auto industry; it will also please environmentalists who praise its emphasis on alternative fuel sources rather than reliance on fossil fuels. If the bill is passed, funding might be available to auto manufacturers by the end of this year.

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View photos of the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics

Details released by the auto manufacturer indicate that the Vision EfficientDynamics will incorporate a three-cylinder turbodiesel engine with two electric motors, allowing enhanced fuel economy without sacrificing pickup or performance. A proprietary software program combines both the hybrid and electric powertrains, producing an engine capable of 356 horsepower, comparable with other performance vehicles on the market. Environmental concerns have not been neglected, however; the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics uses standard plug-in hybrid technology with an estimated driving range of about 400 miles, making it a viable choice for green enthusiasts. Seating four comfortably, the Vision EfficientDynamics may produce the highest performance of any family-friendly hybrid on the market.

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Touted as a success by environmentalists and economists, the “Cash for Clunkers” program removed 690,114 older vehicles with poor gas mileage from the roads, replacing them with newer fuel-efficient cars. The beneficial effects of this government program have been obvious in the automotive industry, with both General Motors and Ford announcing increases in production for the latter half of this year. “Cash for Clunkers” provided an incentive for consumers to purchase new vehicles, and the increase in demand is creating more jobs in the previously struggling automotive sector. Toyota, General Motors, Ford, and Honda topped the list of auto makers with the most “Cash for Clunkers” transactions, together netting over 64 percent of total rebate applications.

The environmental impact of this program is equally impressive, with an estimated 58 percent improvement in fuel economy expected due to the trade-ins. Most “Cash for Clunkers” trade-ins were trucks or SUVs, while the new vehicles purchased were primarily passenger cars. The White House reported that the cars purchased under this program averaged fuel economy 19 percent higher than the average of all new cars currently produced, making the “Cash for Clunkers” program a big win for environmentalists as well.

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Cash for Clunkers Ends Monday

The highly successful “Cash for Clunkers” program will end Monday, according to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. Part of the overall stimulus package, this program offered up to $4500 in rebates to car buyers who traded in certain older vehicles with poor fuel economy. “Cash for Clunkers” was designed to have a twofold effect, both reducing harmful emissions and giving the cash-strapped automobile industry a much needed boost in sales. Consumer reaction to the program was far more enthusiastic than predicted, necessitating additional funds to cover the cost of the consumer rebates. Despite continuing consumer demand, Lahood announced that applications for rebates will no longer be accepted after Monday, August 21, 2009.

Lahood indicated that the Cash for Clunkers program had already processed over $1.9 billion dollars in rebates, with over 450,000 dealer transactions already recorded by the Federal government. “This program has been a lifeline to the automobile industry, jump starting a major sector of the economy and putting people back to work,” Lahood said. Auto manufacturers saw the greatest increase in sales in their fuel-efficient passenger vehicles, with the White Hosue estimating an increase in gas mileage of approximately sixty-one percent over the trade-in vehicles.

The Cash for Clunkers program, also known as CARS, was originally only funded for $1 billion, but after the unexpected consumer response to the program, $2 billion in additional funds was passed by Congress. It is expected that these funds will be essentially depleted by the end of the program. Auto manufacturers and consumers alike have seen the benefits of this program, with Ford Motor Company announcing plans to step up production in response to extremely brisk sales of fuel-efficient cars in the first two weeks of August.

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What makes the Chevy Volt desirable?

If Chevrolet’s claims regarding its new Chevy Volt are accurate, this new car stands to revolutionize the way we commute and think about fuel economy. According to their press release, if you drive less than 40 miles per day, the Chevy Volt will consume zero traditional fuel and create zero emissions. In other worlds, according to Chevy, the future of personal automobile has arrived, and it is rated at 230 mpg.

Click to Insure Your Chevy Volt

How can it be rated 230 mpg?

When considering the Chevy Volt’s rating of 230 miles per gallon, it is worth remembering the Environmental Protection Agency is still working out the kinks on how they will test new electric cars for fuel efficiency . As the procedure currently stands, a car is expected to be charged up once a day. Unlike most electric cars or hybrids, the Chevy Volt will be able to complete up to forty miles of completely gasoline free driving on that charge. This means that around three quarters of commuters would be able to do their daily driving without any gasoline at all. The Chevy Volt only begins using gasoline once its electric charge has run down, which is where the 230 mpg rating comes from.

Where can you find car insurance rates for this new car?

Of course, once you decide to make the plunge, it will be necessary to look into getting insurance rates for your new Chevy Volt. These days, there are a handful of websites that can serve as a one stop shop to get insurance rates. Autocareinsurance .com, for instance, provides you quotes on insurance rates from the top providers without the hassle of contacting each insurance provider and haggling with them on your own.

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The ten-day run of the original cash for clunkers program increased much-needed sales for the auto industry, which has been beleaguered by the current economic recession. Of course, skeptics of the program believe that the fix is temporary, and after the funding peters out in September, Labor Day to be exact, car dealers will find themselves in an even larger hole than they were in to begin with.

The major concern for most Americans is where is the money coming from? Once again, the answer to age-old question of how to stimulate the economy rests with the taxpayers. The funding for both the original program and the extension comes from the taxpayers, who have seen more than their fair share of government excess when it comes to stimulus projects. This has been no more apparent than with the bank bail out program. Yet, since the cash for clunkers program is aimed at assisting the taxpayer, is it a bad thing? Probably not for the hundreds of thousands of Americans who were ready to purchase a new car, but for those of us who are already struggling, the impending tax increases to over the cost of all these programs will make it even tougher.

All in all, the cash for clunkers program extension means that more people will have an opportunity to purchase a new vehicle by providing additional cash to drive down the price. If you are in the market, now is a good time to buy.

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Cash for Clunkers

Do you have an older model vehicle and in the market for a new fuel efficient model? Is your car on its last legs, and you do not want to deal with expensive repairs? Then the recent program instituted by the U.S. Government, Cash for Clunkers, may be the right program for you. The government’s “Car Allowance Rebate System” (CARS) has $1 billion allocated to the Cash for Clunkers program and takes gas guzzlers off the road.

So is Cash for Clunkers right for you? In order to qualify for the program, your trade-in model must meet the following requirements:

• Your trade-in must have been manufactured less than 25 years ago.

• Your trade-in must have a combined fuel efficiency rating of 18 miles per gallon or less.

• Your trade-in must be in drivable condition.

• Your trade-in must be insured and registered to the same owner for the past full year.

In addition to the above requirements for the trade in model, the new car bought must have a combined MPG rating of at least 2 more MPGs than your trade-in. Of course, if the value of the trade-in model is less than the rebate offered by the Cash for Clunkers program, then the Cash for Clunkers program is not right for you.

The rebate offered by the Cash for Clunkers program is either $3500 or $4500 depending on the fuel efficiency of the new model. If the new vehicle being purchased has a fuel efficiency of 5 MPG more than the trade-in vehicle, the larger rebate can be obtained. In addition, by electing to use the Cash for Clunkers program, the buyer is no longer in a position to negotiate a trade-in value for their older vehicle and has to accept the fixed rebate amount of either $3500 or $4500.

Thus, if you are in the market for a new car with great fuel efficiency and have an older model to trade-in with a value under $3500 or $4500, then Cash for Clunkers is the right program for you.

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Tesla Model S Sedan

Recently, CNN.com posted a story about the new funding Tesla received from the federal government to aid in their production of electric vehicles. Tesla has already produced a roadster that has amazing specs for an electric car, and now this new funding will go to assist the production of the Model S Sedan.

Read the CNN.com article here: cnn.com

The Model S has a stunning luxury design and amazing features that make other electric vehicles pale in comparison:

RANGE

• Up to 300 mile range
• 45 minute QuickCharge
• Charges from 120V, 240V or 480V
• 5 minute battery swap

UTILITY

• Seating for 7 people
• Unique hatch for oversized items
• 60/40 flat-folding rear seat
• 2nd trunk under hood

PERFORMANCE & TECHNOLOGY

• 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds
• PURE electric
• 2X as efficient as hybrids
• Proven powertrain from leading EV manufacturer
• 17 inch infotainment touchscreen

Base Price $49,900* Deliveries Begin 2011

* Price shown includes $7,500 Federal Tax credit.  Consult a tax expert for details.

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Avoiding Car Insurance Fraud

Many people that are struggling with their finances due to the current recession are turning to car insurance fraud to find some financial relief. People are ditching, burning, pushing their cars off cliffs, even sinking their cars and then reporting them as stolen to cash in on the insurance money.

According to the Associated Press there have been instances of vehicles found burning in the Nevada desert, cars that have been pushed into the Miami canal, and there was a BMW found buried in a field in Texas.

Other ways that people try to defraud insurance companies is by filing false accident reports, false “hit while parked” claims, and phantom accidents. One example of this is a man who took a hammer to his truck. He beat up the body of his truck and then said that he had wrecked his vehicle.

These practices seem to be on the rise as people are looking for an easy solution to their financial woes. People that are having a hard time repaying their car loans are some of the ones who are susceptible to taking this route. Some people view getting rid of the car and reporting it stolen as an easy way to eliminate a monthly car payment.

Some of the people involved in insurance fraud are people who normally do not involve themselves in criminal activity. But their conscious is eased by viewing insurance fraud as a victimless crime, since the insurance company is the one losing money; and the insurance companies have plenty of money to spare. What people fail to realize is that the money the insurance companies lose is passed on to consumers through higher insurance premiums. It is not only a crime against the insurance company, but also a crime against all who pay a higher premium due to fraudulent claims.

What people need to realize is that insurance fraud is not only a crime that affects everybody who has to have insurance, but is also a crime that can lead to stiff fines and jail time. The question that car owners considering car insurance fraud need to ask themselves is this one, is it really worth it? Is it worth the price of a heavy fine or the price of losing my freedom? Is it worth having a criminal record and the risk of paying higher insurance premiums or being unable to obtain car insurance later on?

The obvious answer to this question is obviously no, it is not worth the risk; insurance fraud is never the route to take. Instead, car owners who are struggling to make their car payments should try to work out a deal with their lenders before throwing in the towel. If a person can work out a deal with their lender it is a win-win situation for both parties; with car insurance fraud nobody wins.

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The caravan offers the public an opportunity to gain hands-on experience with hydrogen fuel cell technology as a viable energy source for passenger vehicles and buses, as well as off-road and portable power supplies. The nine day road rally invites the public to learn about hydrogen technology and test drive participating fuel cell vehicles. The participating vehicles will stop at 28 locations along the I-5 corridor.

Daimler 'F-Cell' FCV

Daimler
The 2007 Daimler “F-Cell” FCV can comfortably seat four passengers. Hidden underneath the under floor of the vehicle is the entire fuel cell system and accompanying 2.8 kg hydrogen tanks. Unlike other bulky alternative-energy vehicles, there is no lost space in the passenger or luggage areas.

Reaching maximum speeds of 90 miles per hour, this vehicle has a 167 mile range. It boasts 89 horsepower, 10,000 PSI and 145 ft – lb torque.

General Motors Equinox Fuel Cell

General Motors
General Motors’ fully functional crossover fuel cell vehicle, the 2007 Chevy Equinox, offers 100 mph maximum speeds. It also boasts an ability to start and operate reliably in sub-freezing temperatures. It has 94 kW of maximum power, and a maximum torque of 236 lb – ft.

However, due to its engineering, the Equinox is not expected to last for more than 50,000 miles of use. Its range is 150 miles on 4.2 kg of hydrogen.

Honda FCX Clarity

Honda
One of the world’s most loved automakers, Honda has a long history of environmental technology advancement. This dedication was manifested in late 2002, when Honda leased the first government certified hydrogen fuel cell vehicle for daily commercial operation. The City of Los Angeles proudly used the first five FCX’s in daily City Government business. Honda holds another important first, having supplied the first fuel cell vehicle leased to an individual.

Honda’s award-winning 2009 FCX Clarity combines typical Honda efficiency with an advanced design and fuel cell power system. The hydrogen tanks hold 3.9 kg. A compact, high torque drive motor enables the vehicle to quickly accelerate with 189 lb – ft. torque and maximum speeds of 100 miles per gallon. It can start in temperatures as low as -22 degrees Fahrenheit and is one of the few fuel cell vehicles practical for real-world use.

It has a 240 mile range, maximum power of 100 kW and a fuel economy of 60 city / 60 highway.

Hyundai Tucson FCEV

Hyundai
The Hyundai Fuel Cell Vehicle Development Program has yielded success in the 2009 Hyundai Tucson FCEV. Having overcome challenges in range, efficiency and climate, the Tucson is the result of immense research and development at Hyundai’s Eco-Technology Research Institute in Korea.

Considered one of the most commercially viable fuel cell prototypes, the 2009 Tucson FCEV has a 221 mile range and a maximum speed of 97 mph. The tank holds 3.6 kg. Power tops at 100 kW and torque leads out with a top limit of 300 Nm.

KIA Borrego FCEV

Kia
The 2009 Kia Borrego FCEV is still in the development process. With a design based on the current gasoline Borrego model, the FCEVs are undergoing testing in the US and Korea. This automobile marks a major advancement for Kia’s fuel cell vehicle development.

The Borrego boasts an impressive range of 426 miles and max speeds of 100 miles per hour. Torque is measured at 300 Nm and power peaks at 110 kW. The tank holds 7.9 kg.

Nissan X-Trail

Nissan
Nissan is very concerned about the current state of the environment and has taken many steps to protect the world and its resources. The 2005 Nissan X-Trail offers a 310 mile range with max speeds of 93 miles per hour. 280 Nm of torque combines with 90 kW of power to get the X-Trail up and moving. A sporty design adds to the Nissan’s appeal.

TOYOTA FCHV

Toyota
The 2008 Toyota FCHV is the culmination of 80,000 miles and 18 months of testing on the streets of California and Japan. The FCHV has been leased limitedly in the US and Japan since early December 2002. This luxury style automobile offers the smooth, quiet ride so desired by commuters.

A consumer could expect to travel the FCHV’s 491 mile range at speeds up to 96 miles per hour with a tank capacity of approximately 6 kg. Power and torque max out at 90 kW and 192 lb – ft respectively.

Volkswagen Tiguan HyMotion

Volkswagen
Drive fully emissions-free in the super-silent 2008 Tiguan Hymotion. Offering 134 horsepower and top speeds of 93 miles per hour. Accelerating from 0 to 60 miles per hour takes only 14 seconds.

Installed in the trunk space, the battery does not affect the available interior space of the automobile. The 700 bar hydrogen tank is beneath the floor of the rear bench seat and cargo area, and holds up to 3.2 kilograms of hydrogen.

Read more about Fuel Cell Vehicles

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