A moveable feast of 'green' vehicles: soonerthan later, we will all be motoring green.

It's been more than 30 years now since the Arab oil embargo sent the first shock waves throughout the United States that heightened awareness to our dependence on foreign oil.

Back then, in the early 1970s, people who had scoffed at small cars, particularly the dinky, and ugly (by American

standards), foreign jobs like the VW Beetle and the Honda Civic, began investigating miles-per-gallon like university professors, if for no other reason than to avoid long gas-station lines. This awareness led to the EPA rating system now ubiquitous on automobile window stickers: MPG city/high-way measurements are now a way of life.

For the better part of the last three decades, however, while we were keenly aware of fuel efficiency, or the lack thereof, we've been on a mad dash for more horsepower and bigger vehicles. Even the foreign automakers, which came to these shores with a small-is-beautiful, efficiency-essential message, have gone big and fast to satisfy the American appetite.

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Tastes change. Like the middle-aged man with a health scare who suddenly gets religion about dietary restrictions, the United States driving public as a whole seems to have, overnight, seen the light on conspicuous consumption and is ready to accept all things green in their motoring lives.

The cynic says it is all a response to record-high gasoline prices, and the prospect that we have truly seen the last of cheap gas. But it's clearly more than that. The environmental movement, which ironically was born at about the same time as that early 1970s embargo gas scare, has finally gained credence in mainstream America, pushed by the growing evidence of global warming caused, in part, by our use of fossil fuels. For whatever reason, people all across the country have made it clear they would prefer more choice, and more healthy choices, in their automobile fare.

As luck would have it, the "green" car buffet line is getting longer all the time. Indeed, as the 2008 models begin to roll out to showrooms, we are seeing the onset of a virtual smorgasbord of high-tech, lower-emission vehicles to meet an all-new appetite for higher gas mileage and a smaller "carbon footprint" on the world.

Hybrid gas/electric vehicles have, of course, led this moveable feast, but now on the menu are a growing number of plug-in electric cars, a new breed of diesels designed to run on biodiesel fuels and blends, vehicles made to use renewable agricultural-based ethanol fuels and blends, and even fuel-cell vehicles powered by hydrogen.

For those drivers thinking of finally taking a bite out of global warming, there will be plenty on the menu of automakers this year and in the next few model seasons to feed anyone's fancy, from the budget-conscious to those whose tastes run more exotic. Bon auto-tite!

Hybrids

Of course, there have been fits and starts at getting green cars going for decades, but nothing really met the definition of "green" while at the same time having a shot at mass production until the Toyota Prius, a hybrid, made its debut some 10 years ago.

The beauty of the Prius--other than the fact that it was rated nearly 50 mpg in combined driving conditions--was that it was the first low-emission vehicle on the market in a real way that didn't have to be treated any differently than any other car. It didn't have to be plugged in. It didn't require oddball fuel. You gassed it up and drove it like anything else.

Hybrid refers to a combination of a gasoline or diesel engine, coupled with an electric powerplant. For the most part, a hybrid vehicle uses the electric engine at low speeds, where internal combustion engines are least efficient, switching to full gas operation once cruising.

The electric battery pack, typically, is recharged automatically through inertia, energy created by braking and slowing, for instance, so there is no need to plug in. One misconception of electric engines is that they are less powerful; in fact, they are more powerful, and most of the hybrids on the market--I have driven several--are extremely quick and powerful from a dead start.

This fact, however, has led to the development of several hybrids on the market where the electric engine isn't necessarily used for greater fuel efficiency, but rather to boost the power of the vehicle. A great example of this is the new Lexus LS 600h L, which combines an electric engine with a 5-liter V8 for a whopping 438 horsepower. This car, all new for 2008, is rated at 20 mpg city/22 highway and sells for a base price of $104,000. Lexus uses this power-boost hybrid system in one other sedan, the GS 450h, and one SUV, the RX 400h.

For the most part, however, hybrid vehicles introduced have gone for fuel economy, and for 2008 there are many choices available. Ford is back with the Escape small SUV Hybrid, and its brother, the Mercury Mariner Hybrid. Toyota, the Lexus cousin, has the Highlander Hybrid small SUV, and General Motors comes in with the GMC Yukon midsized SUV Hybrid, the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, and the Saturn Vue Green Line SUV.

Mazda also joins the hybrid SUV parade with the 2008 Tribute Hybrid. Also this year look for a BMW X5 SUV Hybrid, an Audi Q7 SUV, a Dodge Durango, and a Ford Explorer Hybrid. There's even a Hybrid Porsche Cayenne SUV set to debut; look here for power with a slight efficiency edge: 24 to 26 mpg compared with 14 city/20 highway for the current most fuel-efficient Cayenne.

On the passenger car side, there is, of course, the Prius from Toyota, now joined by its larger brother the Camry Hybrid. Then you have your Honda Accord and Honda Civic hybrids, a Nissan Altima Hybrid, and the Chevy Malibu Hybrid. Others expected to roll out this coming year include a hybrid in Honda's Acura luxury line, a Dodge ESX3, a Saturn Aura, a Hyundai Accent, a Kia Rio, and a Subaru B9 SC.

In other vehicle types ready to roll for 2008 look for hybrid pickups with the Dodge Ram, Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra. For minivans Toyota is expected to launch the Estima Hybrid and the Alphard Hybrid sometime in the 2008 model year.

Diesel

Diesel, of course, has been a dirty word in autodom for many years, as many people remember the smell, the foul exhaust and the noise from such automakers as Audi and VW a couple of decades ago.

But diesel is making a comeback, with much-more-quiet and much-less-polluting vehicles--and, best of all, almost all of the new diesels are of the so-called "clean diesel" variety, utilizing ultra low sulphur diesel (ULSD) and capable of running on pure biodiesel or blended biodiesel. The issue, though, is one of availability; not every truck stop yet offers ULSD and/or biodiesel or blends.

But, as chicken or egg situations go, this is a problem quickly in the midst of fixing itself, as evidenced by the number of new clean diesel vehicles that are ready to hit the market. Indeed, in Europe, according to R.L. Polk, half the cars sold are diesel engine vehicles, compared with just 3.5 percent on these shores, most of that in pickup trucks.

As usual, the parade is being led by the innovative Mercedes-Benz company, leading off in 2008 with the introduction of the E320 Bluetec, the only diesel-powered luxury car in the United States. The company claims this car will go 780 miles on a single tank of gas, er, diesel. Mercedes is also bringing such diesel-engine vehicles as the GL320 CDI, a full-size SUV, the ML320 CDI, a mid-size SUV, and the R320 CDI SUV to the American market.

For other new-generation diesel vehicles available in the U.S. in the 2008 model year, look for a new Audi Q7 SUV, a 10-cylinder VW Touareg diesel SUV, and both a diesel Jeep Liberty and Grand Cherokee. For pickups, check out the Chevy Silverado 2500 HD and 3500 HD, and the matching GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, the Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500, and the Ford F-250, F-350 and F-450.

In diesel cars, you've got a full line from Volkswagen: a New Beetle TDI, the Jetta TDI in sedan and wagon models, and the Golf TDI. Nissan is said to be bringing a diesel Maxima to the U.S., and BMW has promised a diesel vehicle with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo engine.

Flex fuel

Following closely on the heels of "green" hybrids and diesels, probably the type of technology getting the most buzz over the last couple of years has been the flex fuel vehicles, and General Motors has been leading this parade.

Flex fuel for the most part means vehicles that can run on ethanol--an alcohol derived from organic material, most notably corn--or gasoline or a combination thereof. The most popular combination has been the introduction of E85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, which GM says burns cleaner than gasoline, and is, of course, primarily made from a renewable, domestic source.

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The state of Colorado and Gov. Bill Ritter earlier this year set off an E85 program designed to encourage more stations to carry the blend, but I could only find 16 gas stations joining in through early September, eight of them in the Denver-metro area. For an update go to http://e85vehicles.com/e85-colorado.htm.

While General Motors and its Chevy division have led the flex fuel charge, and then mostly with pickup trucks, the bandwagon for flex fuel is gaining steam for 2008. There are really too many flex fuel vehicles on the market to mention them all, but check CM for Chevy passenger cars like the Malibu and Monte Carlo, and a few Chevy, GMC, Buick, Pontiac and Saturn SUVs and minivans.

Chrysler also has an impressive lineup of flex fuel cars: SUVs from Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge, minivans from Chrysler and Dodge, and a few sedans, like the Sebring. Nissan has one in the Armada SUV and Titan pickup, and Mercedes has a flex fuel C320 sedan.

I truly believe that in a very sort time, E85 fuel will be widely available, here and throughout the country, spurred on in large part by an agricultural community eager for a lucrative new market. There should be an explosion in the availability of these vehicles over the next few years.

Electrics

The full electric vehicle is perhaps the oldest of the green automobile engine technologies, as inventors were seriously tinkering with it as far back as the 19th century.

In many respects, the electric engine is also the smartest technology, in that there are fewer moving parts, the engine is inherently powerful, and there are no harmful emissions. The problem with electric car engines has always been twofold.

First, battery technology is way behind the development of almost all other fuel technologies, so storage of power has always been a challenge. Up until just recently, full-electric vehicles have had an effective range of no more than 40 miles.

Secondly, the whole notion of having to plug in a vehicle has so far proven to be anathema to the American car-buying public, particularly since even a full charge offers limited range. Besides, you might be able to easily plug in at home, but where else could you tap an outlet for an extended period of time?

The electric car that's received the most buzz of late is the Chevy Volt, which isn't even due to make its market debut for at least a couple of years. Chevy has been showing it everywhere, touting its E-Flex Propulsion System that offers up to 40 miles of operation on a single electric charge, and then a backup, on-board propulsion system that will run on gasoline, ethanol or biodiesel to recharge the batteries while driving.

But for all the press, GM may get to the party a day late and a dollar short. This fall, a company named Tesla Motors--named after the eccentric inventor-genius Nikoli Tesla, who had Colorado ties--will roll out for public sale the $100,000 Tesla Roadster.

This amazing-looking car--designed by Lotus, based on the Elise--is fully electric and runs on 7,000 ordinary lithium ion batteries (the kind in laptops) and is said to go 0 to 65 mph in four seconds, with a range of up to 140 miles on a single (plug-in, 110-volt) charge. While this will be out of the price range of most people, the company has said it will have a less-expensive family sedan with the same technology out in 2009.

Also currently on the market, and available in Colorado at ATM Sales in Brighton, is the ZX40S from a California company called Miles Automotive Group. This vehicle is all-electric and looks like a tiny SUV. It can go 70 miles on a single charge, but the drawback is that it tops out at 25 miles per hour. It sells in the neighborhood of $13,300 to $14,750. The same company is looking to add a sedan this coming year, the XS 500, that will go 85 mph with a range of 120 miles on a single charge. It is estimated to cost around $30,000.

COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS

In the near future, so the experts say, the new technology that will get everyone buzzing in green auto technology is fuel cells. The cars themselves with fuel cells will actually be propelled by electric engines, but those engines will be powered by the production of electricity on board, and probably utilizing hydrogen gas stored in high-pressure tanks, which burns with no harmful emissions. That is a ways off, perhaps two to four model years before we see a viable production vehicle.

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So far, however, what we have in production is one car--yes, there are municipal busses and some fleet vehicles--the Honda Civic GX that runs an internal combustion engine with compressed natural gas. This car was introduced in 2007 and is rated at 24 city/36 highway for gas mileage.

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Incentives

There are many people, of course, for whom the environmental impact--or rather, the lessening of the carbon footprint--is incentive enough to look for a greener car. For others--and, let's be honest, even the environmentalists will take free money--there is an amazingly confusing set of state and federal tax credits available to purchasers of hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles.

To go into great detail on this would require the rest of this magazine and the next several editions, so suffice to say that it could pay to check with your tax advisor. As an example, the IRS offers a tax credit of $250 for the buyer of a 2007 Chevy Silverado 2WD Hybrid Pickup Truck, and $3,000 for a 2008 Ford Escape 2WD Hybrid (the 4WD model gets a $2,200 credit).

The state of Colorado offers a tax credit of up to $2,756 on a 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid, and up to $5,806 on a 2007 Honda Civic GX natural gas vehicle. I say "up to" because it would take a CPA or a state senator

to do the math required in the Alternative Fuel Income Tax Credits legislation and regulations.

The truth is that before long--say, 10 to 15 years--we won't be having this discussion of alternative fuel vehicles because there probably won't be any all-gasoline cars on the roads.

In other words, sooner than later we will all be motoring green.