Luxury Mercedes, Luxury Green?

Theres a common cliche line that goes “If you want big rewards, you gotta take big risks”. To some extent this is true, but if your big risk is setting a date to be completely fossil fuel free you better be ready to back that up. This is the case with Merecedes recent statement that they would like to make their production line a fossil fuel free line by 2015.

There was allot of speculation if Mercedes’ electric car would ever make it off the production line, but it seems with such a bold and aggressive statement as this, they must be much closer than thought. Their plan is to make their whole car lineup petroleum free in 7 years. To do that, they’re looking at battery electric cars, fuel cells, and more efficient combustion engines that can run on biofuels.

I gotta say, I’m impressed with Mercedes for coming out and making such a bold statement, especially one with a deadline. To say that you want to be fossil fuel free by 2015 is spot on. We need more major corporations and companies to make such aggressive and bold statements. Click here, here, and here to learn more about Mercedes plan.

Keep it Green,

Paul

Here We Go…

Okay so they aren’t fully here, but get ready cause they’re coming. It’s only day old news but already this is a well known story, the Honda Fuel Cell is making its way to North America. There has been allot of buzz surrounding the BMW hydrogen fuel cell car, but once again I believe Honda will be ahead of the curve.

The car is called the Honda FCX Clarity and the only emission is water. The FCX Clarity is a next-generation, hydrogen powered fuel cell-powered vehicle. Propelled by an electric motor that runs on electricity generated in the fuel cell and its fuel efficiency is three times that of a modern gasoline-powered automobile. Based on the entirely-new Honda V Flow fuel cell platform, and powered by a highly compact, efficient and powerful new Honda V Flow fuel cell stack, the FCX Clarity marks the significant progress Honda continues to make in advancing the real-world performance and appeal of the fuel cell car. A few honorable mentions that separate this new FCX from previous generations are:

• an advanced new four passenger sedan design
• a greater than 30 percent increase in driving range up to 280 miles
• a 25 percent increase in combined fuel economy to 72 miles/kg-H2 a (25 percent increase in combined fuel economy to 72 miles/kg-H2)
• a 50 percent improvement in fuel stack power output density by volume
• a 40 percent smaller and 50 percent lighter new lithium ion battery pack

There is no doubt this car is amazing and the future of automobiles. I am dying to learn and see more of this car as it makes its way across to North America. There is a wealth of informationand news right now about this announcement so click here for Honda’s release, and:

• Here for ENN
• Here for Earth2Tech
• Here for Ecorazzi

All of which are great articles of information.

Keep it Green,

Paul