We Obsessively Cover the Green Scene…

We've been fans of the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo Concept ever since we first laid eyes on it at the Paris Motor Show back in September. And just when we finally managed to get that sensational rump out of our minds, Porsche has gone and released a video of the sexy beast in action. The video also features the German automaker's general manager of advanced design style, Mitja Borkert, as well as Porsche Design Studio chief Michael Mauer. The two speak on the themes of the Sport Turismo, namely "form follows function." They also state the obvious; that the Panamera Sport Turismo is instantly recognizable as a Porsche yet simultaneously different from any other Stuttgart stormer before it.

Also discussed is the 335-horsepower, supercharged V6 powerplant, working in unison with a 95-horsepower electric motor in a parallel hybrid setup. Porsche states that the Sport Turismo has a 30-km (18.6 mile) pure-electric range. We are also treated to various shots of the futuristic instrument cluster and center control console. The former consists of a large TFT screen with video side view monitors, while the latter is a combination of touch-capacitive and touchscreen controls.

While visually stunning, the important mission statement of this vehicle is perhaps best summed up by Mauer, "This Sport Turismo Concept is as well, showing that there is no contradiction between sportiness and functionality." Though wowed by the driving footage in the video below, Mauer's statement evokes a combination that we can get behind – especially when the resulting concept car solves the production Panamera hatchback's unfortunate rear end so beautifully.

Car2go North America is continuing to roll out across the US, this time in Seattle, with a network of 330 Smart Fortwo cars available for shared use 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Registration for membership is open now here.

Car2go, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daimler, bases its carsharing concept on technologies that allow an entire community to use and share cars collaboratively. Members can just swipe a card on any available vehicle – even without having previously made a reservation – then drive the car as long as they choose to, and drop it off somewhere in the local "Home Area," making it instantly ready for the next member to use. Seattle will make the 18th global city to see introduction of Car2go's services. The cost? 38 cents a minute.

For a limited time, all new members who use the promotion code SOUND will receive 30 free minutes of driving time and, for now, the one-time $35 membership fee is being waived.

The Seattle venture is a little bit different than the San Diego Car2go project, which just celebrated a year in operation. San Diego offers an all-electric carsharing fleet, which is getting a lot of interest in the market. The Seattle operation is offering traditional (if that word applies at all) non-electric Smart Fortwo mini-cars.

Why Not Improve The Cheap Chemistry?



When General Motors launched its pioneering two-seat EV1 in 1997, its batteries were "advanced" lead acid (PbA). That means they were big, heavy, had low energy density and a limited life. But it was the best available chemistry at the time. That first EV1's T-shaped pack of 27 PbA modules weighed nearly 1200 pounds and stored the energy equivalent of a half-gallon of gas. The fact that you could coax 50-70 miles of (warm-weather, flat-road) range out of that tiny amount of on-board energy was a testament to the extreme efficiency of that car.

Then, by working hard with Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) developer Ovonic Battery Co., GM was able to offer an optional NiMH pack for the '99 EV1. Roughly the same size and weight as the PbA pack, it required the addition of a cooling system and was much more expensive, but it approximately doubled on-board energy. So, 1999 model year NiMH EV1 drivers could leave home with the equivalent of an entire gallon of gas in their "tank" and drive 100-plus miles.

But lithium-polymer, the next generation battery technology that was supposed to make BEVs much more affordable and practical, never came close to matching expectations. And it wasn't long before PbA's low energy and NiMH's much higher cost put an end to California's ridiculous EV sales mandate – and all the major automakers' production pure EV programs – for a while.

Switzerland's Rinspeed does its thing every year at the Geneva Motor Show, annually revealing another left-field solution for urban motoring. In 2010, it was the Fiat-500-esque UC?, 2011 saw the debut of the otherworldly BamBoo, and 2012 brought with it the Smart ForTwo-centric Dock+Go. In 2013, it will be the Micromax, which looks like it could be one of the individual cars in an amusement park people-hauler.

Billed as a revolution in short-distance transport and similar to the Ligier VIPA show at the 2011 Challenge Bibendum, the purpose of the all-electric Micromax appears to be a cross between Daimler's Car2Go program and an airport shuttle – an app-based way to gather a few more people who are going the same way. The same length as a Mini but more than seven feet tall, the Micromax has three upright seats for adults and one for a baby, plus room for a stroller or a cart. Enjoying yourself on the way to your stop won't be an issue with "unlimited connectivity," a coffeemaker and a refrigerator included in the vehicle plans.

We don't ever expect to see one on the roads, but we will look forward to seeing it in Switzerland next year. You can check out a couple of angles for yourself in the gallery, and get more info in the bubbly press release below.

The Detroit News reports that China's Wanxiang Group Corporation will acquire almost all of bankrupt A123 Systems Inc. for $256 million. The deal includes all of the American battery manufacturer's grid and commercial business assets as well as the company's facilities in Michigan, Massachusetts and Missouri. Meanwhile, Woodridge, Illinois-based Navitas Systems will purchase all of A123 Systems' government contracts for $2.25 million.

Previously, Johnson Controls was a leading bidder for the bankrupt EV battery manufacturer, but that company withdrew its bids from the bankruptcy auction after declining to match Wanxiang's highest bid. But the final sale will be subject to approval by the bankruptcy court handling the case in Delaware, and some members of Congress have reportedly raised concerns over the sale.

Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Michigan, said he was concerned about Wanxiang taking over A123 Systems because of the battery maker's close ties with the US Defense Department. Huizenga has been quoted as saying, "I am concerned about the government of China having access to sensitive technologies being used by our military forces."

This isn't the first time we've heard those rumblings. Back in August, several US automotive executives said Wanxiang's purchase of A123 Systems could put industry trade secrets at risk, including cutting-edge lithium-ion battery technology. Likewise, November saw US senators John Thune, R-South Dakota, and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, raise concerns over the Chinese company's interest in the bankrupt battery maker.

The Environmental Protection Agency has said it "will look at the report and data" from Consumer Reports indicating that the 2013 Ford C-Max and Fusion hybrids don't come close to achieving their fuel economy estimates of 47 miles per gallon. In CR testing, the C-Max Hybrid averaged 37 mpg; the Fusion Hybrid averaged 39.

CR reports that the 10-mpg difference recorded with the C-Max represents "the largest discrepancy between our overall-mpg results and the estimates published by the EPA that we've seen among any current models." For reference, the Toyota Prius came up six mpg short of EPA estimates under CR's testing.

So, what happens if the EPA finds a discrepancy in Ford's mileage claims? According to The Detroit News, automakers may face civil penalties over misstated claims. Just a few weeks back, Hyundai and Kia were found to have overstated mileage estimates for 1.1 million vehicles sold in the US and Canada, prompting the automaker to compensate owners for their now-reduced mileage figures. Lawsuits, reductions in consumer confidence and even inquiries from politicians are also potential problems in the pipeline.

It's too early to suggest such drastic measures will be taken by Ford, especially since "a hybrid vehicle is going to be far more variable than a conventional vehicle" when it comes to observed fuel mileage, according to Linc Wehrly, director of light-duty vehicle center compliance division at the EPA's Ann Arbor laboratory.

Ford, for its part, issued the following statement to Consumer Reports: "Early C-Max Hybrid and Fusion Hybrid customers praise the vehicles and report a range of fuel economy figures, including some reports above 47 mpg. This reinforces the fact that driving styles, driving conditions and other factors can cause mileage to vary."

What's up with the state of Washington's commitment to electric vehicles? It's a place where you can find fast charging stations and coffeehouses galore, but the state has backed away from offering incentives and requirements for zero emission vehicles according to Green Car Reports.

Oregon, and a few other states, has adopted California's zero-emission vehicle regulations. Implementing ZEV requirements has brought new plug-in electric vehicles to these states first, so that automakers may meet demand for what's been called "compliance cars." The District of Columbia and the states of Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont and New Mexico are set to adopt their own ZEV mandates.

Washington has taken on the California Air Resources Board's emissions rules, but left out the ZEV requirements. This means that consumers living in Washington have less EV choices at their local dealerships, since automakers are rolling out their new ZEV offerings fist to states with compliance mandates.

Automakers assert that they're not controlled by ZEV mandates, but they do tend to launch new EVs in compliance states. Residents of California and Oregon get to check out the new products long before neighbors to the north in Washington, such as the Honda Fit EV, Fiat 500E and Toyota RAV4 EV. Chevrolet asserts that its upcoming Spark EV isn't being built as a compliance car, but it is initially only being delivered to a few select states, so you do the math. Fiat admits it is going to lose money on every 500E sold, so the project is more of an investment in meeting compliance rules than bringing EVs to many consumers.

Protean Electric has received noteworthy praise for its unique in-wheel electric drive propulsion system. Car and Driver named it one of the 10 Most Promising Technologies for 2013. This ranking accompanies the publication's 10 Best Cars Celebration, which has existed for more than three decades in the world's largest auto enthusiast magazine.

Car and Driver's technical director, Don Sherman, sees a lot of potential in Protean's in-wheel and wheel-hub motors for upcoming electric and hybrid vehicles. "Integrating the propulsion system with the wheel hubs will enable designers and engineers to achieve major gains in packaging efficiency, fuel economy and, potentially, performance," he said in the statement you can find below.

Protean says that its in-wheel electric drive offers several unique features, including fuel economy improvements up to 30 percent depending on battery size; the highest torque density of any of today's leading electric propulsion systems; and superior regenerative braking capabilities, allowing up to 85 percent of the available kinetic energy to be recovered during braking.

Aside from Michelin's ActiveWheels, there isn't much else like Protean's technology out there. Also, Protean is now referring to the technology as in-wheel electric drive instead of how it used to be identified, in-wheel motors. Electric vehicles are typically powered by a motor fueled with electricity stored in an onboard battery. Protean's technology is considered an electric drive, as well, but it's generating power within each of the wheels. You can read more about in-wheel motors here.

The amount of power produced for each vehicle varies by how many wheels receive Protean in-wheel units. Some vehicles, such as hybrids, may just have two of the wheels installed with Protean motors, while some could have four. Protean's in-wheel electric drive system has the capacity to deliver up to 80 kW (110 horsepower), but the electronics are inside the wheel.

It is taking a while to catch on. Protean Electric has demonstration models out there now, including a Ford F-150 pickup, Volvo C30, Vaxhaull Vivaro cargo van, Guangzhou Automobile Company Trumpchi, and Brabus full electric and hybrid vehicles, based on the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. As for finished versions available at dealerships, that's yet to be announced.

The company did find investors earlier this year – $84 million worth. At that time, Protean set up a cost-effective production facility in Liyang, China that can handle a modest amount of volume. As for now, winning recognition from Car and Driver is a positive development.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tested the 2012 Coda electric sedan, and here is the good news about the results: the Coda scored five stars for the side crash and rollover tests, and four stars overall. What kept it from a five-star overall score is the bad news: a two-star result for its frontal impact test.

NHTSA issued a recall for the 2012 Coda over its side and window airbags, so there are two Codas listed in the test results – a pre-recall sedan that got no rating for the side impact test and no overall rating, and the post-recall sedan that was rated in every category.

To be even more precise on that frontal impact rating, the male crash dummy driver was left with a two-star score, the female crash dummy passenger got four stars. Judging from the videos, the frontal impact doesn't look like a two-star catastrophe, but NHTSA knows better than us and all of the deceleration and injury details are in these reports if you want to know everything.

If you just want to watch, however, videos of the crash tests can be found just below.

The world's biggest maker of hybrid vehicles said its energy consumption per vehicle is down 15 percent during the past decade while greenhouse gas emissions per vehicle fell seven percent since 2008. These are just two of the details Toyota announced in its release of the latest North American Environmental report.

The company said it reached or exceeded many of its eco-friendly goals and trumpeted the 2012 debuts of the Prius C compact and Prius Plug-in as well as the RAV4 electric, and added that 10 of its factories had zero landfill waste.

The better news for Toyota is that it's apparently fully recovered from the effects of last year's Japanese earthquake and tsunami, which hindered vehicle supply for much of 2011. Year-to-date, Toyota's alt-fuel sales in the US have almost doubled compared to 2011 numbers to almost 300,000 vehicles. Check out Toyota's press release below for more on the new environmental report.

Our moms always told us that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. Sometimes, however, if you take that vinegar and mix it with a bit of olive oil and then drizzle it over some thickly-sliced ripe tomatoes adorned with rings of sweet Vidalia onions, and then sprinkle all that with a few pinches of crushed pepper and sea salt, well, you've got yourself a pretty tasty salad. We raise this culinary quandary to ask this: Is it ever okay to say horribly nasty things about people – or, in this case, a company, which is made of people – to make a good point?

Oil Change International has just released a satirical ad called "Exxon Hates your Children" and is seeking donations to have it broadcast on television. The video make the argument that oil conglomerate Exxon couldn't care less about the welfare of (your) children because it is dedicated to making short-term profits in the face of the long-term climate catastrophe that its products have been linked to. The graphics that accompany the ad bolsters the child-hating claim with graphics that connote the association of asthma with air pollution.

Is it all too much or is there just enough seasoning in there to make the message palatable? Can this kind of gut-punch negative ad produce positive results? Of course, it's not likely that the people who run oil companies really hate your children but, at the same time, the health of the planet – and everyone who lives there – is a serious issue. So, what to do? Should individuals support this kind of activism, or are there better, more constructive, alternatives?

Scroll down to watch the ad for yourself and answer the poll that follows. If you have your own ideas about a more productive approach to the problem, feel free to drop some knowledge in Comments.

For those perplexed by making the right powertrain choice – pure battery electric, plug-in hybrid or hybrid – there may be a solution. For SCI, a Romanian concept design team, the solution would be modular units that offer the driver a choice – to transform the car from an all-electric car for clean daily operation, say, or into a hybrid for interurban travel when recharging possibilities aren't exactly available.

Called "hyMod – The modular hybrid," the system is all computer generated for now (see the gallery or the video below). The concept car was proposed by the Romanian team, which is composed of an automotive journalist, Dan Scarlat, a designer, Marian Cilibeanu, and an engineer, Cristian Ionescu. Most of the video shows a small crossover-style car, similar to a more rounded version of the Honda Fit hatchback. It does have distinct wheels that look something like a blossoming flower.

Then the video reveals the modular concept by asking a question: "Full electric or Hybrid? Your choice!" The SCI hyMod station allows for installation of one of two components – battery pack or engine pack. The modular unit, whether battery or engine (hybrid), is nothing like what you'd expect – it's the whole back end of the car. So, it's only a little bit like Better Place's battery switching. The Romanian team would not call the place where you swap out the back end a switching station. Their name for it is a "dedicated logistics center."

It is purely a concept at this point. Still, it's an interesting concept, and the team figures it could offer speeds up to 130 kilometers an hour (80 miles per hour) and an all-electric range of 180 km (112 miles). You can learn more at the hyMod website.

Electric vehicle owners may be the last ones standing cruising next year when it comes to London drivers that can dodge the city's congestion charges, UK-based This Is Money reports. New emission rules, which would still have to be approved by Mayor Boris Johnson, would cut congestion-exempt vehicle-emissions limits by about 25 percent, leaving only electric vehicles and a few hybrids below that threshold. Currently, there are about 19,000 mostly small-diesel-engined vehicles in the city who don't have to pay the daily charge of 10 British pounds ($16).

Such a move would boost congestion-charge revenue, which totals about 169 million pounds ($271 million) a year, and may help plug-in vehicle sales as well. General Motors affiliate Vauxhall has sold only 450 Amperas (the Chevrolet Volt sister vehicle) despite the fact that the model won the European Car of the Year award earlier this year.

In July, Transport for London reported that deadbeat drivers owned about $270 million in late congestion-fee charges. The city had sent out about 200,000 letters during the past three years threatening legal action to those who won't pay.

Los Angeles was home to the world's largest electric streetcar system before it became the car capital of the world. Now, the city may get a dose of deja vu, at least in its booming downtown area, according to the L.A. Weekly.

The city approved a ballot measure that would free up about $62.5 million in local funding by way of property-tax assessments on land parcels on or near the proposed line, which would run about four miles through various downtown districts. That would provide about half the funding needed to get the line up and running, the L.A. Weekly said, citing the nonprofit L.A. Streetcar Inc.

If all goes well (but let's face it, this is a public project, so all rarely goes well), construction may begin as soon as 2014 with an opening date sometime in 2016. LA's old Pacific Electric "Red Car" system was the world's largest of its kind in the 1920s and once had 900 electric trollies using more than 1,100 miles of track throughout Southern California. The growth in popularity of the automobile during the ensuing decades cut into the Red Car's user base, and the trollies stopped running in 1963.