{"id":1884,"date":"2012-12-08T01:42:33","date_gmt":"2012-12-08T01:42:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/worldteamnow.org\/blog\/?p=1884"},"modified":"2019-07-27T03:31:38","modified_gmt":"2019-07-27T11:31:38","slug":"la-auto-show-renewed-world-team-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldteamnow.org\/blog\/2012\/12\/08\/la-auto-show-renewed-world-team-now\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cLA Auto Show- Renewed\u201d \u00a9 World Team Now"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Suzanne Maxx and Albert Boulanger\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

\"\"

The 2012 LA Auto Show<\/p><\/div>\n

The 2012 LA Auto Show\u2019s<\/a> new vehicles and the new Tesla all drive home the point that a car is more than a mode of transportation at this time in the history of the automobile.\u00a0 It is evident that innovation counts, as well as efficiency. \u00a0One\u2019s choice of vehicle (see our auto show album)<\/a> requires not just a commitment to invest in a brand, but also requires consideration into the way a vehicle is powered (conventional<\/a> or alternative fuel<\/a>).\u00a0 Now the actual intelligence of the vehicle itself<\/a>, how it \u201ccalls home\u201d and can network with you and other cars, with a variety of ways to customize it<\/a>\u2014 all factors into the mix. There are 1,000 plus vehicles to navigate at the show, so Auto Shows by Cars.com mobile app (iPhone<\/a>, Android)<\/a> becomes a necessity. Click here to see our LA Auto Show Album with the Tesla Model S<\/a> included.<\/p>\n

\u201cEco\u201d is clearly a priority<\/a> this year; both \u201ceco\u201dnomy and \u201ceco\u201dology are obviously considerations\u2014 \u201cGreen,\u201d comes in a variety of shades, from most original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), like never before at this year\u2019s first major North America show of the season.\u00a0 Over three dozen alternative vehicles enforce this year\u2019s trend.\u00a0\u00a0 Most importantly now there is the consideration of not just what kind of energy your vehicle uses, but also, where does your vehicle\u2019s energy source come from, is it renewable?\u00a0 Is the choice sustainable for your lifestyle and our future?\u00a0 Here is a big-picture look but highly technical article<\/a> dealing with the topic<\/p>\n

It is not just the plethora of new vehicles powered by a variety of options that range from the choice of electric vehicles (EVs) to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and hybrids (which have seen a recent sales increase of 63.5 percent in the USA<\/a>). It is the sudden availability of these vehicles in a variety of brands and models, which is the most significant change.\u00a0 EV and PHEV leaders like Nissan<\/a> with their all-electric Leaf<\/a> and Toyota<\/a> with the RAV4 EV<\/a> and Prius<\/a> now share the space with Audi<\/a>, BMW<\/a>, Chevrolet<\/a>, Coda<\/a>, Fiat<\/a>, Fisker<\/a>, Mitsubishi<\/a>, and Smart<\/a>. More than 50 models of vehicles are making their World Debut, North America Debut or LA Auto Show Debut (click here to see all 3 categories of debuts<\/a>) but these alternative entries: Fiat 500e, Ford\u2019s batch of new variations with the C Max plus the Fusion, and Honda\u2019s plug-in Accord, prove this is more than a growing trend.<\/p>\n

The OEMs\u2019 and public\u2019s awakening to realize that alternative vehicles can help achieve the goal of using our resources in a more sustainable way is a significant change.\u00a0 Policy in the USA helped drive this change to alternative vehicles with, for example, the Nissan Leaf qualifying for a total of $10,000 in both state and federal rebates, in CA<\/a>, click here to see your states\u2019 laws and incentives including rebates in some states.<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0 These rebates, plus the time savings from EV and PHEVs that now qualify (in CA) for the stickers that gain access to carpools lanes<\/a>, are an immeasurable advantage too.\u00a0 These changes prioritize stewardship of our planet\u2014 for future generations and make it possible for the public to affect our climate and future.<\/p>\n

Even the OEMs that rely on the straight traditional internal combustion engines (ICE) which had difficulty making a change in the past are now motivated to be efficiently innovative by the USA\u2019s new fuel efficiency standards<\/a>.\u00a0 Take Ford<\/a>\/Lincoln<\/a>, for example, with a batch of new vehicles suddenly flooding the market\u2014 aiding the change of direction to achieve independence from foreign fossil fuel that threatens both national security and economics. We now finally see the internal combustion engine vehicles with alternative fuels trying to compete with the life cycle factoring cost of EVs, PHEVs, and Hybrids. There are a variety of modes of this transformation inspired by new fuel standards in the USA to use everything from\u00a0 hybrid vehicles, EVs with range extenders (Volt and Fisker), to fuel-efficient EcoBoost ICE (Fords), plus many models that integrated a lighter weight design, like Land Rover\u2019s Ranger Rover with a 39% improvement in weight, as their game-changer. There are also the \u201cclean\u201d-diesel vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and more.<\/p>\n

The Test Drive at the LA Auto Show<\/a> is a \u201cmust\u201d, to test out these vehicles, and if you haven\u2019t made it there yet, you have until December 9th<\/sup>.\u00a0 \u00a0There are alternative vehicles from OEMs available to be driven. However to drive this year\u2019s Motor Trend Car of the Year, the Tesla Model S<\/a>, a refundable deposit of $5,000 is needed, plus coordination with the store to schedule the test drive. \u00a0The LA Auto Show has it all, except the Tesla. The test drive and the visit to the new Topanga Tesla store<\/a> the day before the LA Auto Show\u2019s \u201cMedia Days\u201d helped to round out our perspective of the new leading vehicles.<\/p>\n

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Tesla at the Topanga Showroom<\/p><\/div>\n

Tesla\u2019s Model S<\/a> is a vehicle that is an EV game-changer if in the long run the company can produce and deliver the vehicles within a reasonable rate of both time and cost, but with Elon Musk\u2019s<\/a> entrepreneurial skill all is possible and Tesla\u2019s success seems to become evident. The economics and affordability will naturally evolve as will Tesla\u2019s production capabilities, especially after partnering with Toyota.\u00a0 Since the vehicles are so customizable with just about every aspect from color to the interior to the battery being a choice, it may take time to get ahead of the vehicle demand.\u00a0 It deservedly won Motor Trend Car of the Year Award<\/a> with its EV battery\u2019s choice<\/a> of range with up to 300 miles on a charge. Their free solar charging infrastructure being developed and strategically placed to go the distance with DC fast chargers helps inspire early adoption too.\u00a0 But the actual vehicle itself is outside the EV box with 0 to 70 in 3.8 seconds and the handling is arguably incomparable to others including high-end internal combustion engine vehicles.\u00a0 The Tesla\u2019s custom design options, with a variety of choices, support individuals needs.\u00a0 All aspects of the design including the batteries well-integrative placement give Tesla a first mover\u2019s advantage. Smart to have an autonomous marketing strategy that leaves out the traditional approaches as this vehicle is redefining the \u201cbox\u201d in all ways, including the marketing.\u00a0 Tesla stores give the public the opportunity to view, and their vehicle sales are done on-line. This cuts out the middle man aspect of dealerships.\u00a0 Ideally, close communication with an OEM may better support the owner\u2019s interests, but this marketing model is a threat to many in the automotive industry as it pushes the boundaries to look closer at the law<\/a>. (Tesla won the first round of challenge in MA.<\/a>) It\u2019s no wonder internal combustion engine OEM\u2019s may find it hard to complete, but time will answer this inquiry.<\/p>\n

Tesla<\/a> has both the advantage and disadvantage of being new to the game of manufacturing but may end up changing the game.\u00a0 An OEM\u2019s history is becoming more significant though these times, however.\u00a0 We have to applaud a company like Nissan<\/a> that was able to preserve through significant events like Fukushima.\u00a0 An OEM\u2019s brand is much like our own personalities\u2014 varied, different, and mechanical history and how each come faces challenges counts.\u00a0 One key element is the marketing strategy for public adoption. Most of the OEM\u2019s new vehicles are described well in this press release on the LA Car Show media-only green advanced technology ride and drive event<\/a>.\u00a0 As the plurality of life exist for our differences, so too will drivers have varied vehicle preferences.<\/p>\n

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Nissan Shift_ Campaign at the LA Auto Show<\/p><\/div>\n

Nissan<\/a> indeed has led the EV \u201cSHIFT\u201d<\/a>.\u00a0 The launch of Nissan\u2019s Leaf in 2010<\/a> gave it the advantage of the first mover, is the leading innovator of the EV with the Leaf as the top-selling EV in the world<\/a>. The Nissan Leaf<\/a> is not only affordable and a fun, clean drive\u2014 it is a great car.\u00a0 Take it from me and others who have driven the Leaf over time, and love the vehicle, or check out their impeccable engineering and innovative design with a safety record nothing short of amazing. There have been absolutely no recalls ever in any years of the manufacturing Nissan\u2019s Leaf. The Leaf gets media instead for prestigious awards, like the World Car of the Year<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"2012<\/a>

2012 Leaf Charging<\/p><\/div>\n

The only challenge with the 2012 Leaf is the battery\u2019s range, which is improved in the 2013 model<\/a>. This range issue is not really a problem for the average person who drives less than 100 miles a day.\u00a0 If Nissan were to swap out their batteries overtime for longer range batteries as they are developed, there would be no stopping the widespread success of the Leaf.<\/p>\n

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Nissan\u2019s High Cross Concept Auto<\/p><\/div>\n

At the LA Auto, the buzz was around Nissan\u2019s High Cross Concept<\/a> \u00a0(photos courtesy of Nissan here<\/a>) which may fill the niche of integrating a hybrid model for either one of their famous lines like the Pathfinder\u2014 perhaps lighter weight\u2014 with an impeccable design. Nissan doesn\u2019t have to reinvent the wheel with new models as their old ones, like the Pathfinder, transcend time and who knows this may even be where the cross over technology comes to market as a PHEV.\u00a0 This brand\u2019s concept vehicles often come into form, as this company is a grounded pacesetter, so it is exciting to see the battery life being tackled for a longer range of sustainable EV driving.\u00a0 I still have memories of being Monaco in the early \u201990s where I interviewed key designers and asked about their plans of an EV.\u00a0 At that time, they said in Japanese that it would be at least a decade away, but they were working on it then.\u00a0 Obviously, Nissan took it\u2019s time to make sure the safety issues and the many problems that occur with a new car were addressed prior to the game-changing launch of their EV.<\/p>\n

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In the foreground is the Ford C Max Hybrid along with Suzanne Maxx<\/p><\/div>\n

Ford<\/a>\/Lincoln<\/a>: We have to applaud the ambitious efforts of Ford with their intent to blitz the market with eight new vehicles offering more than 40pmg, by the end of the year\u2014 plus their bold efforts to give the customer the choice of the kind of energy to use to power their vehicle.\u00a0 The choices go beyond choosing between a hybrid version an EV or and PHEV, to various engine size and EcoBoost \/Duratec internal combustion engine choices.\u00a0 I\u2019m driving the C Max<\/a> right now and am impressed by its handling, mileage, and design.\u00a0 The Ford\u2019s C Max was nominated for the Green Car of the Year, but unfortunately, the judges were still most impressed with the Fusion\u2019s five versions were both its wining attribute branded by the choice of engine\u2018s power, and yet that became a potential weakness. David Mondragon Ford\u2019s general marketing manager explained like this, \u201cFrom EcoBoost to hybrid and plug-in hybrid offerings, the new Fusion is delivering the best-in-class fuel economy wrapped in one dynamic package\u201d.\u00a0 The Ford Fusion won Green Car Journal\u2019s Car of the Year 2013 at the LA Auto Show.\u00a0 This week Ford has issued a recall of the Fusions with the 1.6 liter EcoBoost engine, as well as the Escape. Perhaps this was due in part to the diversion of focus on so many power plant choices, but surely they will persist. The Fusion\u2019s unique use of steel helps ensure safety as it is the first vehicle to use this steel technology<\/a>. The C Max series seems to have legs in the hybrid, PHEV and its all-electric C Max Energi EV<\/a>\u2014 perhaps this is the winning line.<\/p>\n

Toyota<\/a>: The Rav4 EV<\/a> was the first crossover \u201cRecreational Active Vehicle\u201d with 4-wheel drive in the USA. Actor Ed Begley is a good example of one the many owners of the original millennium-vintage Rav4 who have had their vehicles almost maintenance free (windshield wipers and tires still count) for more than a decade, and still rave about the vehicle. Now the new RAV4 EV<\/a>, a groundbreaking electric vehicle at 76 MPGe that is the result of a collaboration with Tesla Motors, the Prius Plug-in<\/a>, a next-generation hybrid that allows all-electric driving at speeds up to 60 mph and advanced safety technology including a Pre-Collision System; and the FCHV-adv<\/a>, a fuel cell hybrid concept vehicle demonstrating breakthrough hydrogen cell technology that can take a vehicle over 500 miles on a single fill-up, but the challenge with hydrogen fuel cell remains the large amount of energy it takes to make the fuel cell.<\/p>\n

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The sexiest looking EV was the Fisker Karma at 2012 LA Auto Show<\/p><\/div>\n

Fisker\u2019s<\/a> advantage is it is the sexiest looking EV with a range extender on the market, replete with a solar roof and every part chosen with kid gloves.\u00a0 It is a vehicle available now selling to a sports luxury market.\u00a0 It is the first luxury EV, featuring an electric motor delivering 959 ft. lbs. of torque paired with a range-extending four-cylinder engine\/generator. The surprising advantage of the Fisker is that the range extender on board generator has enough capacity to be able to help power your home if there is an electrical outage and potentially sustain an energy source with either the fuel or electric component. The Fisker Karma was listed among the “Green Design 100” of 2009 by Time<\/i><\/a>\u00a0magazine.\u00a0Also, Time listed the Karma among the “The 50 Best Inventions” of 2011.\u00a0In November 2011 the Fisker Karma won\u00a0Automobile Magazine’s<\/i><\/a>\u00a02012 Design of the Year Award. In December 2011, Karma was chosen as “Luxury Car of The Year” by\u00a0Top Gear Magazine<\/i><\/a>, and “Car of The Year”<\/p>\n

\"\"

Suzanne Maxx at the Chevy Volt display<\/p><\/div>\n

Chevy Volt<\/a> is the affordable version of a Fisker with the same advantages except for the high-end angle\u2014 this is a move to be a competitor of the plug-in Prius, and fortunately in 2013 they changed their start button\u2019s design will no longer pose a risk to be put in service mode while driving and also elimination of the redundant\u00a0 front console buttons. The Chevy Spark EV is powered by a nanophosphate lithium-ion battery pack and an 85kW electric motor.\u00a0 This will be GM\u2019s first EV since their controversial leading EV1 was recalled.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Lincoln MKZ Hybrid<\/p><\/div>\n

Porshe\u2019s PHEV<\/a> & Lincoln\u2019s MKZ Hybrid<\/a> kings of the sports & premium luxury traditional OEMs go Hybrid and PHEV respectively by this year\u2019s end.<\/p>\n

\"\"

BMWi8 Spyder concept car<\/p><\/div>\n

BMWi8 Spyder<\/a> (photo here<\/a>) (a concept car making its North America debut) planned for 2015 is a topless plug-in hybrid with a three-cylinder turbo diesel engine with fuel economy expected to be around 70mpg.<\/p>\n

Some vehicles seem to just be for the fun, like BMW\u2019s X1 compact cross over that partnered with\u00a0 K-2 \u00a0for the Powder Ride<\/a>\u2014this SUV is only available in winter months, this deal includes new skis, a ski luggage box, and the snowboard design on the vehicle.<\/p>\n

What is also in consideration of the big picture are resources used not just in each vehicle itself, but also the choice of the way each vehicle integrates and combines onsite power sources, and where\/how the energy the vehicle uses is actually sourced.<\/p>\n

EVs, PHEVs, and Hybrids truly are only are clean as the way their energy is sourced and stored and (all the way through their life cycle\u2014 cradle to cradle<\/a>) from a whole systems perspective of usage\u2014 that depends on the car being grid-tied, or independent.\u00a0 Generally, electricity bought through the electrical grid from a utility is subject to a carbon footprint game of roulette\u2014 depending on one\u2019s location in the USA, you or the utility\u2019s choices of purchasing power. It would be most ideal if a large portion of the USA got their energy from solar power, but unfortunately, energy generation is often still sourced by coal\u2014 it is truly a case-by-case situation depending on the region. Click here<\/a> to determine how clean your EV is now based on your state\u2019s generation mix.\u00a0 Ideally, each owner of an EV or PHEV would generate their own onsite power from a renewable energy source, on or nearby one\u2019s home, office or any location in route, or by a destination. As a reference, in the article Vehicle Electrification: Status and Issues<\/a>, the V2G model (refer to the article\u2019s Fig 7) of vehicle to grid can make your EV more than just a battery, needing a power source to charge. With the smart grid and various applications, one would have the choice to arbitrage energy by buying energy at off-peak demand and selling energy from one\u2019s battery to be put back into the grid at peak demand.<\/p>\n

Besides the Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for communities, in California, there is also the Community Choice Aggregation (CCA)<\/a> \u2014 that gives power to the people by allowing communities and other entities to unite and choose the source of their energy production.\u00a0 The CCA can supply their own energy from renewable sources, and set their own pay rates for the public.<\/p>\n

EV chargers sourced from wind energy are starting to take hold in the USA after years of success in countries such as Denmark where the country spent 100 million on EV infrastructure including charge points and battery swap stations supplied by wind power.\u00a0 The first wind EV charger installation in the USA was in Chicago, in 2010.\u00a0 But the partnerships with OEMs for wind installations has yet to take force, unlike the solar partnerships.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Solar Carports and EVs synergize<\/p><\/div>\n

Teaming up is more than the way to achieve energy efficiency, as it allows for the magic of synergy, evidenced by OEM\u2019s that are team up with solar manufacturers.\u00a0 Both Nissan and Ford have teamed up with solar giant SunPower<\/a>.\u00a0 Nissan\u2019s program<\/a> is geared to public education with how a Sun Power residential system can reduce CO2 while controlling the cost of driving the Leaf with an on-line video tutorial and free home assessment.\u00a0 Ford\u2019s \u201cDrive Green for Life\u201d program<\/a> offers high efficiency 2.5 kW solar roof systems to owners of the Focus EV, but also works for the C-Max Energi and Fusion Energi PHEV.<\/p>\n

Tesla Motors is putting in a Fast Charging system with Solar City\u2019s-built carports<\/a> in strategic location across the country. It is said just a half-hour at one of these chargers will provide 3 hours of driving at 60 mph.<\/p>\n

BMW and Real Goods<\/a> offer ActiveE owners that live in the states of CA, NJ, NY, MA, and CT with the option to charge their EVs at home with a solar system discounted at 35% and this includes a turnkey system from design to install.<\/p>\n

Chevy is creating \u201cGreen Zones\u201d<\/a> for Volt and other emergent EVs like the Spark, at dealerships where up to twelve vehicles will be able to charge from Sunlogics\u2019 panels<\/a>, the surplus energy will be used for the dealership.<\/p>\n

Then there are Solar providers working to help the public adoption of renewable energy with demonstration projects. Solar-panel manufacturer SolarWorld partnered with CALSTART to supply a solar carport paired with EV charging stations<\/a> at its U.S. headquarters.\u00a0CALSTART is a member of the Plug-in Electric Vehicle Collaborative, a group of auto manufacturers, suppliers and government agencies working to facilitate deployment of electric vehicle charging stations in the U.S.<\/p>\n

Green is the color nature paints with, and it represents natural growth, it also happens to be the color of USA\u2019s currency.\u00a0 2012 saw more green car choices, as we saw at the 2012 LA Auto Show, \u00a02013 promises to usher in a new wave of cars but now with more teaming-up to supply the missing links in the energy delivery chain to truly begin to earn the moniker Green and earnestly reduce the carbon footprint for transportation. The LA Auto Show<\/a> and the automobile industry are seeing remarkable changes and growth with different priorities- a reflection of what is true for our country and our planet at this time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The 2012 LA Auto Show\u2019s new vehicles and the new Tesla all drive home the point that a car is more than a mode of transportation at this time in the history of the automobile. It is evident that innovation counts, as well as efficiency. \u201cEco\u201d is clearly a priority this year; both \u201ceco\u201dnomy and \u201ceco\u201dology are obviously considerations\u2014 \u201cGreen,\u201d comes in a variety of shades, from most original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), like never before at this year\u2019s first major North America show of the season. Over three dozen alternative vehicles enforce this year\u2019s trend. Most importantly now there is the consideration of not just what kind of energy your vehicle uses, but also, where does your vehicle\u2019s energy source come from, is it renewable?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1896,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[70627,36501421],"tags":[929,16897,197443,184,55119,495498,19071,795979,13803,23516629,16430701,183866723,6877,429989,332154],"post_series":[],"class_list":["post-1884","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alternative-energy","category-electric-vehicles-2","tag-cars","tag-climate-change","tag-electric-vehicles","tag-environment","tag-evs","tag-fisker","tag-ford","tag-la-auto-show","tag-nissan","tag-nissan-leaf","tag-plug-in-electric-vehiclespev","tag-solar-energy","tag-sustainability","tag-tesla","tag-wind-energy","post-preview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldteamnow.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1884","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldteamnow.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldteamnow.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldteamnow.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldteamnow.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1884"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/worldteamnow.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1884\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11394,"href":"https:\/\/worldteamnow.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1884\/revisions\/11394"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldteamnow.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1896"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldteamnow.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1884"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldteamnow.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1884"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldteamnow.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1884"},{"taxonomy":"post_series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldteamnow.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_series?post=1884"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}