Smart ED

Daimler AG Chairman Dieter Zetsche announces a joint electric vehicle test program with German electric utility RWE AG that will see over 100 battery powered cars and 500 public charging stations deployed in the German capitol, Berlin. Starting early in 2009, Daimler will release the fleet of second generation Smart EDs powered by lithium ion batteries.

John McCain - Reuters

As Sen. John McCain accepts his nomination as the GOP’s entry into the US presidential race, his energy and environmental planks remain somewhat vague, offering little quantification especially when compared to that of Democratic rival, Barack Obama. And although domestic drilling is high on McCain’s list of things to do if elected, the Arizona congressman has also embraced a surprising number of green energy initiatives.

Gale Banks

Gale Banks has been building high performance engines for half a century.  Over the Labor Day weekend Banks was in Detroit for the Grand Prix at Belle Isle and he took time out to speak with Green Fuels Forecast about his latest passion, diesel engines.

Honda Insight concept

Honda will be posing the most direct challenge yet to the dominance of the Toyota Prius early in 2009 with the introduction of its new Insight hatchback. The Insight will debut as a concept at the Paris Motor Show in October with styling derived from the FCX Clarity fuel cell car.

2009 VW Jetta TDI

John and Helen Taylor have made a name for themselves in recent years by driving long distances on minimal amounts of fuel.  Today the couple are leaving Chantilly, VA on an 8,000-mile trip through all 48 contiguous states in an attempt to set a Guinness world record for fuel economy driving a VW Jetta TDI.

General Motors organized a Biofuels Summit in conjunction with the Detroit  Grand Prix on Belle Isle. Beth Lowery, VP for Environmental Affairs was part of a panel discussing food vs fuel, infrastructure and next generation biofuels.  Joel Valesco of Brazilian sugar cane trade group UNICA discussed the history and lessons learned with ethanol use in Brazil.

The Highcroft Acura

Acura announces plans to move up to the top category in the American Le Mans Series in 2009 as it develops an all-new car for the LMP1 class. Honda Performance Development President Erik Berkman would not reveal and detail specifications, but a diesel may be a strong possibility.

Photo: Getty Images

Green Fuels Forecast today begins an examination of the transportation energy plans of the two men running for president of the United States. First up: Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, who today will receive the Democratic nomination. An evaluation of Arizona Sen. John McCain's energy blue prints will appear one week from today when he accepts his party's nomination.

2008 Hyundai Sonata

John Krafcik, Hyundai Motor America's vice president of product development, reveals the company will show a Sonata sedan with an in-house developed hybrid system at November's Los Angeles Auto Show. The Sonata will have a strong parallel hybrid system with a lithium ion battery pack. A diesel powered version of the new luxury Genesis sedan is being studied, but is unlikely at this time.

Used Toyota Priuses are hard to find, pushing up residual values

Alternative-powertrain vehicles are proving a good investment, as some owners on both sides of the Atlantic are even selling their greener cars for more than they originally paid for them.