AD #1509 – Top 10 Green Carmakers, Check Your Pressure, Expect More Turkey Day Traffic
November 26th, 2014 at 11:58am
Runtime: 8:01
- Ranking the Greenest Automakers
- Car Sharing Set To Explode In India
- Car Sharing Could Save You $5,000 a Year
- Audi Wants Model S & i8 Competitor
- Cheap Gas = More Thanksgiving Traffic
- Check Your Tire Pressure
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Cheap prices at the pump leads to more Thanksgiving Day traffic. How car sharing could save you $5,000 a year.. And why winter weather will turn on a lot more tire pressure lights. All that and more coming right up on Autoline Daily.
This is Autoline Daily for November 26th, 2014.
WHO’S THE GREENEST OF THEM ALL
So who’s the greenest car company in the U.S.? Well we all know that Toyota dominates the segment with hybrids, plug-ins and electric vehicles. They account for over 13% of its total sales. Then there’s a big drop off to Ford which is number two, with green cars being close to 4% of sales. Surprisingly Hyundai/Kia beat out Nissan despite all those Leaf sales. Then comes Honda. While the top half of the list is dominated by Asian carmakers the bottom half goes to the Germans and Americans. BMW is at number 6, GM is next and then Daimler, VW and Fiat-Chrysler round out the Top Ten.
| Green Car Sales | % of Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota | 267,204 | 13.5% |
| Ford | 74,853 | 3.7% |
| Hyundai/Kia | 29,425 | 2.68% |
| Nissan | 30,400 | 2.6% |
| Honda | 23,478 | 1.8% |
| BMW | 4,856 | 1.6% |
| GM | 26,041 | 1.1% |
| Daimler | 2,333 | 0.8% |
| VW Group | 3,566 | 0.7% |
| FCA | 4,414 | 0.3% |
| Source: Ward’s | ||
CAR SHARING SET TO EXPLODE IN INDIA
Car sharing is an idea spreading throughout the world. Bloomberg reports that ZipCar copycats in India are offering cars at remarkably cheap prices. One of those copycats is called ZoomCar India. And it offers up Mahindra Reva e2o hatchbacks for only 73 cents an hour. There are over 200 million people in India under 30 who live in cities, and at prices like this, car sharing is expected to explode.
Speaking of mobility services, coming up next, how you could save $5,000 a year; Audi wants a performance ZEV; and why winter weather is going to turn on lights on your dashboard.
IT’S GOOD TO SHARE
This concept of buying mobility instead of buying cars is being studied intently by the automotive industry. And a new study by KPMG suggests that motorists could save a boatload of money if they go the mobility route. Using the U.S. market as its basis, the study shows that the average new car costs about 61 cents a mile to operate. That includes fixed costs–depreciation, insurance, and registration–spread over five years with the car driven 15,000 miles a year. But the fixed cost of a shared car, used by multiple people, and driven 40,000 miles a year, drops down to only 26 cents a mile. That means you could save more than $5,000 a year by paying for a car when you need it, instead of owning one that sits parked for 22 hours a day.
AUDI WANTS MODEL S & i8 COMPETITOR
Most automakers that make electric vehicles fail to play up their greatest quality, the fact they’re fun to drive due to all the torque the electric motor generates. But it sounds like Audi wants to highlight that feature. In a recent interview with the automaker’s Chairman of the Management Board, Rupert Stadler told Autoline, “Audi needs to make a performance zero emissions vehicle.” Yes we know the R8 e-tron is one the way, but we think Stadler is hinting at something beyond a limited production R8 electric. Clearly Audi needs to react to Tesla’s Model S as well as BMW’s i8. And the upcoming A7 h-tron, the hydrogen fueled car, doesn’t have the kind of performance numbers he’s talking about.
A programming note here. With the Thanksgiving holiday tomorrow, the Autoline crew is taking the rest of the week off. So no Autoline After Hours tomorrow, but we’ll all be back bright and early next Monday.
CHEAP GAS = MORE THANKSGIVING TRAFFIC
Speaking of Thanksgiving, are you going over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house tomorrow for for turkey, stuffing and all the trimmings? Well you better be prepared for a lot more people on the road. Thanks to plunging gasoline prices in the United States, IHS says motorists will make up nearly 90% of all travelers tomorrow. It expects a slight decrease in air travel, because people will be taking advantage of those cheap prices at the pump.
Coming up next, the Autoline Garage takes a look at why winter weather is going to start triggering low tire pressure warnings.
UNDER PRESSURE
In an effort to keep drivers safer by alerting them of an under inflated tire or tires, an electronic tire pressure monitor system is required on all light-duty vehicles made after 2007. If the pressure in any of the tires drops 25%, or about 8-psi in your average passenger car, below the manufacturer’s recommended pressure, this light will pop up on the dash.
While we’ve noted that this could be an access point for hackers into your car, I still think it’s a needed system. It can be very difficult to tell the difference between a tire that’s properly inflated and one that’s 50% below the recommended level. And people that don’t ever bother to check, which is a higher number than you otherwise would think, are driving on a blow-out waiting to happen.
Now it’s a fact that tires will lose a small amount of air, about a quarter to half a psi every month, even if there’s not a problem. It’s also a fact that the average person tends to freak out if any light pops up on their dash, running to the nearest repair shop or dealership. And with the switch to winter weather and much colder temperatures those pesky low tire lights will be popping up on thousands of vehicles.
For every 10-degree-Fahrenheit drop in temperature a tire’s air pressure will decrease by about 1 psi. There’s no need to freak out if there was a big drop in temperature and have your TPMS light come on. If you have a tire gauge in your car, which you should, just calmly head over to the nearest gas station and fill your tires. Or if you don’t have a gauge I’m sure most repair shops or dealerships will be willing to accommodate you.
Another good tip for those of you with TPMS is to keep your wheels clean. Most sensors have an aluminum valve stem that’s bolted to an aluminum wheel with an aluminum cap. And we all know how aluminum on aluminum loves to corrode. I’ve started to see more cases of air leaking around these valve stems. And as I’ve said before, if the sensor has to be replaced, it can cost over $100.
For Autoline Garage, I’m Sean McElroy.
And that wraps up this week’s reports. For all of our American viewers, have great Thanksgiving holiday, and for everyone else around the world, we’ll see you back here next Monday.
Thanks to our Partners for embedding Autoline Daily on their websites: Autoblog and WardsAuto.com
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Comments (49)
November 26th, 2014 at 12:32 pm
That is why those lucky enough to have Nitrogen in there tires (as my 2009 Nissan Murano) do not have to worry about lights on the dashboard popping up, a great feature.
November 26th, 2014 at 12:53 pm
I must be some kind of freak cause every month I check my tire pressure and if I’m down even 3 or 5 PSI, I fill it up to 35 COLD, in other words while the car has not been moved overnight, a lot of service techs check it when they’re hot, giving an incorrect reading and thus they end up letting air out.
November 26th, 2014 at 1:02 pm
A big reason I have always thought Tesla stock highly overvalued, is that any big car company can build a car to compete with the Tesla S, if so inclined. It now sounds like VW/Audi has become so inclined.
November 26th, 2014 at 1:23 pm
Wishing a safe and happy Thanksgiving to all!
November 26th, 2014 at 1:31 pm
The rental car companies keep 2-3 people occupied checking tire and check engine lights at the larger locations. After all the tire pressure warning may be due to a change in the weather or it may be due to the screw stuck in it.
Is the pollution given off creating those batteries considered in the greenhouse calculations?
I just don’t think the sound of an electric performance car can match the tuned growl of a gas performance car.
November 26th, 2014 at 1:32 pm
I agree with Drew. Safe travels and family unity.
November 26th, 2014 at 1:57 pm
1, I have 80% nitrogen in my tires.
November 26th, 2014 at 2:06 pm
Nitrogen reacts the same as air does as far as temperature goes (all gases adhere to the gas laws). While nitrogen may provide a sort of uniformity (in molecule size and may not leak as easily as air) it is still temperature dependent (and reality the differences are very slight as air is 78% nitrogen to begin with). Here is an article (to your defense) but temperature still rules. http://www.getnitrogen.org/pdf/graham.pdf
See everybody back on Monday; hope all have a happy holiday.
November 26th, 2014 at 2:26 pm
@ #7 Kit, My chemist girlfriend explained it to me, very funny.
November 26th, 2014 at 2:39 pm
8, Thanks for that link, Chuck. I’ve looked for real information on that topic, but never found it.
I always considered the use of nitrogen in tires to be a placebo fix for a certain number of people, but there is something to it, at least regarding pressure loss through the rubber of the tire. As far as this guyI know who is firmly convinced that his Helix scooter rides better with nitrogen in the tires, I suspect it is 100% placebo.
Since oxygen leaks out faster than nitrogen, the concentration of nitrogen vs oxygen in my tires should be getting higher over time, and the amount of air needed to get the pressure up to spec should decrease each time I top off the tires. This is assuming that most, or all of the air loss is through the rubber carcass of the tire, and not between the wheel rim and the tire or through the valve. The article mentioned only “leaks,” and pressure loss through the carcass, but did not mention loss at the rim, or through the valve.
November 26th, 2014 at 3:10 pm
7 Sometimes part of my car sits in shade while the rest is under full sun. The tire pressures get all wacky. If I drive around for a bit while pressing the brake pedal and pulling the handbrake, I find everything returns to normal.
I wonder what other people do.
November 26th, 2014 at 3:17 pm
11, I haven’t noticed a difference in the way the car drives, but I certainly notice with the tire gauge. If the car is parked outside when I check tires, I make a point to check them early in the morning, if the car is not parked toward, or away from the sun with all of the tires in the shade of the fenders.
November 26th, 2014 at 3:47 pm
Pure nitrogen from a bottle doesn’t change with temp as much because it is “dry”. Compressed air from a pump is full of moisture and water has a tremendous expansion coefficient.
November 26th, 2014 at 4:02 pm
13, As long as the concentration of moisture in the air is low enough that condensation isn’t occurring, Boyle’s gas law works the same with humid and dry air.
November 26th, 2014 at 4:06 pm
14, That’s Charles’ Law.
November 26th, 2014 at 4:29 pm
So, theoretically, if I fill up a tire “with air” on a humid day, while the other tires got filled on a dry day, I’m asking for a world of hurt.
Maybe we should really be filling our tires with helium instead. Lower angular momentum means better positive and negative acceleration, thus less global warming. Prolly shouldn’t mess with hydrogen.
/sarcasm, see 11
November 26th, 2014 at 4:34 pm
Is the greenest automakers list determined from model efficiencies and choice? Or does it factor in company initiatives and zero-landfill waste facilities etc ?
November 26th, 2014 at 5:12 pm
Hell, for all those fickled,fill your tires with sand or the like and you won’t have any worries! Tires really don’t loose that much pressure over 2-3 weeks to cause concern, unless a hole or bad bead exists. I mean, how many folks over inflate tires a few pounds to better mpg’s or lessen for better traction with no ill effects? The pressure range for normal wear has to be taken in consideration. For sure, tire pressures are not one of my priorities for they are checked often enough.
November 26th, 2014 at 5:23 pm
I’d heard of using oats in tires, mainly bicycle tires, that wouldn’t hold air. Since it would be hard to get the tire completely full, you put in as much grain as you can dry, and then hose down the wheel/tire. The water makes the oats swell up, so the tire is full.
November 26th, 2014 at 5:29 pm
So is green defined as sales of hybrids and electrics? Clean diesels are not green?
November 26th, 2014 at 5:45 pm
Kit, once you get those oat filled tires moving…well, I hope the breaks work REALLY well! Bus?..what bus?
November 26th, 2014 at 5:56 pm
Maybe consider a tailhook, Kit.
November 26th, 2014 at 5:57 pm
donfromnaples: perhaps hybreds should be thought of as sem-green for they have an backup power source,electrics called maybe-green…if power is not generated from a coal powered plant and diesels … maybe a sage green, if’n the fuel is not from the tar sands of Canada which have polluted the entire region around the work sites! Just a thought.
November 26th, 2014 at 6:50 pm
Hybrids, still utilize gasoline
Electrics, still use natural gas to charge
Both hybrids and electrics have battery disposal concerns
I still think hybrid diesels would offer a great intermediate solution.
November 26th, 2014 at 7:33 pm
21, …or throw out a tethered sand bag.
November 26th, 2014 at 7:42 pm
23, Seeing that there are few, if any hybrid diesels, even in Europe, apparently diesels don’t have enough advantage over Atkinson cycle gas engines to justify the extra cost of a diesel.
November 26th, 2014 at 8:15 pm
I used to use a tailhook thrown out a side window to make sharp turns, then I found it easier just to drag foot, but my wife started to complain about the holes, not only in my shoes, but also in my socks! I wondered how I got that thick calus on my heel! just fun’in!
November 26th, 2014 at 8:23 pm
Takata
NHTSA just ordered Takata to expand the driver side airbag recall to the whole country, not just humid areas.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/27/us-autos-takata-recall-idUSKCN0JA1SB20141127
November 26th, 2014 at 8:26 pm
whoop, sorry, I see Automotive News has had that story for several hours.
November 26th, 2014 at 8:45 pm
I learned of this several days ago. Rumor is, OEM,s don,t want to be included, in any way, with TAKATA, but Honda,since 2002,knew of the problem and in time others knew,but did little to nothing. So how is TAKATA to cover the cost of the recall without going broke? The OEM’s are not guilt free,IMO, so what’s next for them?
November 26th, 2014 at 8:52 pm
The UAW to picket at Wallymart for $15/hr wages! Do ya think this will fair well the countless temps at Toyota or get the attention of those in Miss.? To be or not to be…..?
November 26th, 2014 at 10:05 pm
Diesels have higher thermal efficiency than Atkinson cycle gas engines and the BTU of diesel far surpass gasoline.
November 26th, 2014 at 10:09 pm
even biodiesel, very little environmental impact, has a higher BTU than gasoline
November 26th, 2014 at 10:28 pm
31, 32. Petro diesel takes about as much extra crude to make over gas, as the extra btu’s it produces, roughly 7%. With more production of biodiesel, at competitive prices, the whole cost equation will change.
Diesels have higher thermal efficiency than Atkinson cycle gas engines, but apparently not enough higher for Toyota, Ford, or even VW to use them in their hybrids. The only diesel hybrid I know of, which may or may not be in production, is a Peugeot CUV.
November 27th, 2014 at 9:58 am
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE !
November 28th, 2014 at 11:15 am
Happy “Black Friday” everyone. I won’t go shopping today, but went to the post office to mail a package. It was a great time for that, with no wait at all.
November 28th, 2014 at 12:09 pm
Roger that, Kit; I don’t much like shopping even when it’s not ‘crazy’ out there (but there are those that do). Wouldn’t have all this crazy stuff if they offered the same prices, all the time; seems the retailers are happy with the sale-price margins (but what do I know).
November 28th, 2014 at 12:09 pm
Kit, I’ve been watching this ebay auction of a 2001, first edition Prius. The Florida dealer is doing a ‘no reserve’ auction ending today, but the current bids are mid 2k while the dealer lists the car at 6750. Let’s see if it gets pulled before the deadline.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Toyota-Prius-4dr-Sdn-/251727778563
___
yeah yeah, I shopped a little online yesterday, and today renewed my sub to some rag published daily in DC. No waiting here, either.
November 28th, 2014 at 12:36 pm
37, Those first Priuses are sort of collectable, but apparently not very collectable, seeing how that auction is going. We’ll see what happens those next few hours. It has fairly high miles, which might be hurting it.
The first gen Priuses never appealed much to me, because they were just a rather pricey small sedan, albeit one that got exceptional mpg for the time. When they went to the second generation, with the hatch and long load floor, along with the great mpg, they appealed to me quite a lot. If someone would make a similar car with a conventional power train for $4-5K less, that would be a great car too.
November 28th, 2014 at 12:43 pm
Yep the local county govt has a few Prii that were used for light duty, such as delivering subpoenas and such and when thy come up for auction they cost even more than the used police CV’s. unless you know some big shot at the local county govt.
November 28th, 2014 at 1:06 pm
I don’t think gas prices are helping the price of this Prius either. Maybe that’s why the dealer is selling it with no reserve. (I saw gas here at $2.91, and I’m sure you guys saw what happened to world prices in just the last hours)
____
I liked this car when it came out, if only for the dinky looks. I find I’m quite at odds with mainstream preferences sometimes.
November 28th, 2014 at 1:16 pm
Any one who goes out and buys a gas hog has to be an idiot, you know there will be some big crisis in the middle east and oil will shoot up again and they’ll be stuck with a gas hog that no one will want to buy.
November 28th, 2014 at 2:04 pm
I’ve personally known only one person who has owned a first generation Prius, but I know close to 10 people with second and third generation. These friends, along with myself, wanted utility along with the gas mileage.
As I remember, the first generation Prius had an MSRP of about $20K, so, corrected for inflation, it would have been more expensive than the much more capable current one.
November 28th, 2014 at 2:11 pm
40, The first generation Prius was based on the Yaris, called Echo in the U.S. at the time. As things go around, the current Prius C is based on the current Yaris.
November 28th, 2014 at 4:46 pm
Are the battery packs for all Prius universal,except for any updated modifications to the cells?
November 28th, 2014 at 5:00 pm
44, They are different for each generation, and the “C.” Between generations, the number of cells, and thus the voltage has changed. I don’t know if the “V” has the same battery as the liftback, but if not, it would be similar. All of them still use NiMH batteries, except the plug-in which uses lithium batteries.
November 28th, 2014 at 8:41 pm
That old Prius on ebay sold for 3000+300 in fees. Nice wheels for someone.
November 28th, 2014 at 10:02 pm
46, It sounds like someone got a “classic” at a good price. I’ve heard gen 1 Priuses called Prius Classic, as pre-BMW Minis are called Classic Minis. The terminology probably fits better with Minis.
December 3rd, 2014 at 9:05 am
Tesla is not a “green car” company?
I am pretty sure Tesla are 100% green and in excess of 10,000 units per year.
Bob Wilson