Ford Fiesta Van

There’s a new, super-stylish, small, green van in town, and it’s out to conquer Britain. Giant automaker Ford has recently revealed the new Fiesta Van ECOnetic. The super fuel saver that’s going to be released on the market later this year.

WhatGreenCar.com reports that the new and improved Fiesta Van ECOnetic comes with the same style as the old Fiesta, but with a few tweaks here and there and a greener overall design. This model has low-rolling resistance tires, a lowered suspension, and a specialized Duratorq 1.6-liter TDCi for super-low exhaust emissions of just 98g/km CO2.

The latest green car from Ford was created at the automaker’s wind-powered engine plant that’s found at Dagenham, Essex. Its 90PS Duratorq 1.6-Liter engine was combined with a Diesel Particulate Filter that’s designed to produce 10% less carbon dioxide (CO2) compared to the already-impressive mainstream TDCi. This car also has a unique aerodynamic profile that allows it to run at a very fuel-efficient 76.4 mpg (miles per gallon)!

Ford’s director of commercial vehicles in Britain, Steve Kimber, talks about the perks of this new “green van”.

Ford Fiesta Econetic 2008 Model

“Many operators are prepared to be green - but still want comfort, performance, and an affordable price. The low-running costs of this ECOnetic van are bound to make more people consider the ‘green’ option. It’s a great package…We are also announcing a Transit ECOnetic today for opeators to see that Ford is serious about sustainability and developing their favorite van range in a way that supports their business.”

When placed beside previous-generation Fiestas, this model is designed to use up to 35 gallons less fuel over a course of 12,428 miles. That’s definitely going to save you a lot of gas money in the long run. When driven in the extra-urban highway, the fuel efficiency of the Fiesta Van ECOnetic improves even further. This van is capable of achieving 88.3 mpg! While your regular gas-powered car runs at 23mpg, this van will run much, much further with much less gas—and that’s a Ford guarantee.

The title does not seem believable at first, especially if you’re talking about a brand-new car. However, the Revolution electric car is really only 15,000 dollars each and on top of that, it uses electric power instead of gasoline. Unlike other EVs, the Revolution definitely attracts a lot of attention these days with its sleek design and powerful colors.

Basically, the Revolution comes from California and it is designed for those who are into low cost and low speed NEVs or Neighborhood Electric Vehicles. When it comes to speed, the Revolution can go as fast as 35 mph. That’s not necessarily impressive, but electric cars like the Revolution are prohibited from going faster that that, so there’s really not much that you can do about it. Despite of its low speed, the Revolution is excellent for daily commutes and city errands for short distances.

So how well would the Revolution perform on the road? This car is a perfect fit for your daily driving needs because it cuts down emissions, saves you money, and makes your driving more efficient. When it comes to performance, the Revolution has a five-speed manual transmission and clutch. The manual transmission provides you with more freedom when you’re driving in bumpy roads, while carrying additional load as well.

The design of the Revolution also makes it a very attractive option for prospective NEV buyers. Basically, this car has a two-door design that provides enough protection against road debris and changing weather. Even at a very low price of 15,000 USD, it still comes with power windows, door locks, power side mirrors, well-designed bucket seats, an adjustable driver seat, and one full-size spare tire. If you want more than just that, you can avail of an air conditioner, sunroof, stereo, and DVD player at an additional price. Overall, the Revolution comes in a great package and the great thing is that you don’t even have to dig deep into your pockets to get it.

Meanwhile, the Revolution may appear like a blown-up toy, but in reality, it performs like a real car that is designed to take a beating. That’s because it boasts of an independent MacPherson strut suspension and LSEV legal lighting. That’s not all because it has a hydraulic front disc that would let you to stop without any problems. Despite of the car’s diminutive size, the car is very easy drive because of its electric-assisted power steering. Because of this, getting out of tight situations is effortless. In addition to that, the Revolution’s acceleration is good enough to keep it in step even in heavy traffic.

Just like all NEVs, the Revolution is all about the battery that propels it forward. The car uses a 6 KW brushless AC induction motor that is powered by 12-volt Hoppecke batteries, which can go as far as 60 miles. The great thing about the Revolution is that you can recharge it from 3-6 hours using any 110-volt electric outlet. The manufacturers of this car claim that each battery lasts for more or less 40,000 miles before being replaced. Unlike other batteries, the Revolution’s lead acid batteries are cheaper and easier to replace unlike the lithium-ion battery packs that other NEVs have. However, if you’re not content with its current batteries, you can upgrade to a lithium-ion version by coughing around 3900 USD.

Unlike most NEVs, the Revolution has enough space for some cargo and that means you can use it when you’re buying grocery supplies. You can put your cargo in the rear compartment that you can access through a two-piece tailgate arrangement. For sure, the Revolution is a good alternative if you’re sick and tired of spending so much money for your gas bills. At 15,000 USD, this car is a steal.

I know so many people who have been reading and asking about electric cars recently. I laud them for their enthusiasm, although I am against letting them buy something without knowing some background about it first. It’s great that you finally want to get away from being dependent on gasoline and clearly, choosing an electric car is one hell of a choice.

However, before you withdraw some cash and order the latest model, there are some things that you have to know first. The fact is, there are many manufacturers offering them now, but unlike regular cars, there are special considerations that you have to be aware of before purchasing one. So here I go.

Not Exactly Your Average Car

Yes, you read that right. Every electric is unique but if there’s one common thing about them is that they travel at very low speeds. Something like 25 mph and anything above that is illegal. Because of that, you can’t expect an electric car to torch the road because it can’t and it isn’t allowed to do so.

Why Are They Slow?

The fact is, most electric cars are small and they have not undergone the rigorous crash tests that the conventional cars have to go through. Because of their size, they can’t have the massive engine that most gasoline-powered cars have. However, these cars are so energy efficient that you can expect to make the most out of every voltage that you use on it.

The Federal law however that prevents electric cars from being really free out there is because of the golf carts. A couple of years ago, golf carts have become so prevalent on various communities even without having safety equipment such as seat belts, horn, brakes, tail lamps, and even windshield. So basically, you should blame it on golf carts for preventing funky electric cars from owning our highways.

NEVs Anyone?

An NEV or Neighborhood Electric Car does not necessarily give you the handle, drivability, and versatility of most traditional cars, but that was back then. These days, more and more manufacturers are making their electric cars less cute as they try to emulate sedans and even pickups. Although they still need to do a lot of work as far as comfort and performance are concerned, it will not be surprising if electric cars catch up with their more illustrious and older counterparts.

There Are Two Kinds

Just like your gasoline-powered vehicles, electric cars come in two varieties and these are the enclosed and the open-air types. The latter gives you that sensation of being inside a jeep, while the latter looks more like mini cars. Open-air types are good if you’re don’t like cramped space. However, they offer very little protection against the nasty weather that closed types provide.

The Cost

Naturally, an electric car costs more than your regular car because it uses special batteries, motors, and systems. However, two years of driving can pretty much cancel out the amount that you spent for it because you won’t be paying anything when it comes to gas. All you need is electricity and that’s about it, although there are serious concerns when it comes to the distance that this kind of vehicle has. Basically, most electric cars have a price range of 7,000 to 15,000 USD.

The Worth

An electric car is not for everyone, especially if you want to travel for long distances. However, if you just roam around the city from home to work, then this one is a solid choice. Even if these cars look weird and they don’t provide the boost that most cars provide; they have amazing advantages that can never be overlooked and these are: no tailpipe emissions, no dependence on petroleum, and more importantly, they look great.

You don’t have to deal with tiny spaces, miniature horsepower, and mediocre speed when you talk about green cars. Recently, Nissan launched what seems to be a topnotch hot rod that you can ever get and that’s the Nissan Altima Hot Rod Hybrid. As the name implies, this car doesn’t look like your typical hybrid car. In fact, it looks like it’s ready to just move through the speedway in full throttle and turn the road into dust. The fact is, it’s as fast as most sport cars out there and the catch is: it’s not going to ruin the atmosphere with its emissions.

Basically, the Nissan Altima Hot Rod Hybrid has the standard 2.5-liter engine and an electric supercharger that you can count on once you decide to go green. That’s not all, because it also has solar panels on the roof that can help you recharge the batteries anytime. The great thing about the Nissan Altima Hot Rod Hybrid is that it can compete with some faster rivals on the road. In fact, it’s scheduled to compete in the prestigious One Lap of America Race Series. Though far from being a Tesla Roadster, the Nissan Altima Hot Rod Hybrid can generate a whopping 440-horsepower and go as fast as 110 mph. If that’s not enough to convince you, it can go from 0-60 miles in only 12.9 seconds. With that being said, the Nissan Altima Hot Rod Hybrid is a solid choice if you want to go green without having to compromise power, speed, and space.

Nissan hasn’t yet released any information on how much the Nissan Altima Hot Rod Hybrid would cost, but it doesn’t seem to be significantly more expensive than non-hybrid cars out there.

Everybody knows the Smart fortwo car is one of the most promising mini cars out there. Some versions of this car have already been transformed to hybrid and electric autos, which can certainly help you save a lot of money on your gas bills. Sure you might have to deal with the glaring limitation in space, speed, and power; but this car is at the top when it comes to lessening your fuel emission and gas consumption. On the other hand, the SEMA show in Las Vegas just exhibited what may seem to be Bruce Wayne’s effort to lessen his bat mobile’s emissions and that’s through the Batsmart. It’s essentially a Smart fortwo equipped with nifty bat mobile wings, while painted in black. Yeah, it’s definitely far from being the real bat mobile, but other people will surely see the similarity once you start flaunting it.

The Batsmart is not necessarily menacing although when it comes to fuel economy, this car is second to none. The Batsmart has an astonishing 60 mpg rating for the gasoline model. For starters, that means you’ll get 60 miles out of every gallon of fuel when you drive it. Meanwhile, the diesel model is even better, because you’ll be getting as much as 83 miles by consuming only one gallon. Power wise, the Batsmart is far from its more ravenous and stronger counterpart. That’s because it can only manage 40 km/h as its maximum speed. Aside from that, there’s only room for one, which means Robin has to find another way of chasing the bad guys aside from walking and running.

On a different note, the Batsmart will be available to the public in the coming months and if you really want to feel like Bruce Wayne even for a day, getting this car is a good move.