Hybrid Owners of America
August 17th, 2006
A new and 100-percent independent organization – the Hybrid Owners of America – is being launched today to organize and advocate for the interests of the roughly 500,000 Americans who are saving money on gas, reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil, and reducing global warming pollution by driving hybrid cars and other gas/electric vehicles.
In addition to tracking federal, state, local and private sector incentives to keep hybrid car owners armed with the latest information, HOA is encouraging hybrid vehicle drivers to get involved by urging Congress and the White House to embrace a five-point “hybrid friendly” agenda: lifting the current cap on the federal tax break for hybrid purchases; creating a new federal tax incentive for those who undertake a plug-in hybrid conversion; promoting a new federal tax break for corporations that provide direct incentives to employees who buy hybrids; rewarding U.S. automakers that undertake more hybrid research and production with assistance in dealing with health care and other high-cost issues; and conversion of 30 percent of the federal car and truck fleet over three years to hybrids. Read the rest of this entry »
Chrysler and GM Going Yellow for E85
August 11th, 2006
Eric Ridenour, the Chrysler Group’s COO, announced today that his company would be joining General Motor’s “Live Green, Go Yellow” campaign by including yellow-colored gas caps on all of the Chrysler Group’s E85-capable vehicles.
Chrysler’s E85 lineup includes ten vehicles at the moment: the Dodge Grand Caravan, Caravan, Dakota, Ram half-ton and Durango; the Chrysler Sebring sedan, Town and Country, and Aspen; and the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Commander. The yellow gas caps are designed to allow consumers to know at a glance whether or not their vehicle is E85 capable. Chrysler will be volume purchasing the caps from the same supplier with GM.
Forbes Best Pickups for 2006
June 21st, 2006
While foreign manufacturers dominate the car and SUV vehicle segments, that quintessential American icon, the pick-up truck market continues to be dominated by the domestic automakers. Forbes Dan Lienert wrote that Toyota Tundra engineers, while touring Texas Stadium during a Dallas Cowboys’ football game, continued to be amazed how Americans loved their pickups even as personal transportation. We’ll have to wait until next year after the new Tundra has debuted to see if Toyota’s engineers have tapped the pulse of America’s pickup purchasing public.
So without further adieu, Forbes best pickups for 2006: