Green Maus

The Chevrolet Volt has been named the 2011 World Green Car of the Year at the New York International Auto Show.

To be eligible for the 2011 World Green Car award, a vehicle had to be all-new, or substantially revised, in production and introduced for sale or lease to the public in quantities of at least 10 in at least one major market during the period beginning January 1, 2010 and ending May 30th, 2011.

Tailpipe emissions, fuel consumption, and use of a major advanced power plant technology, aimed specifically at increasing the vehicle’s environmental responsibility, were all taken into consideration.

The Chevrolet Volt is the first mass-produced series hybrid/extended range electric vehicle. GM developed it from a concept to market and largely meeting its original performance targets.

The Chevrolet Volt will be available at David Maus Chevrolet in September.

Motors just released recent information from actual Chevrolet Volt owners who have been able to drive for over 1,000 miles before filling up their tanks at the station. The EPA estimate for the Volt electric-only vehicle ranges as a mere 35 miles, drivers can pull another 344 miles from the backup generator for a total range of 379 miles.

There is a change however when in engaging the generator – the Volt is no longer all-electric. The Volt is able to get 40 mpg while running off of its 9.3 gallon fuel tank, making it one of the more fuel-efficient vehicles available in the US.

Chevrolet also announced that for each Chevy purchased, customers will become part of a renewable energy, energy efficient and tree-planting project in local communities across America. The new initiative is estimated to reduce the total carbon emissions from the US by up to 8 million metric tons in the next few years.

More environmental information can be found at www.chevycarbonreduction.com.

This Spring, Toyota and The World Resources Institute (WRI) launched Southern Forests for the Future, a WRI project designed to raise awareness of the threats facing southern U.S. forests and increase the amount of forest conserved or managed in a sustainable manner.

With acres of forests diminishing each year, Toyota has made a pledge to fund the project with a $1.49 million grant over the next three years, with the following three components being fulfilled:

• Increase awareness about the threats facing southern forests and the value they provide
• Identify and develop a portfolio of options that align economic incentives with forest stewardship
• Pilot test and implement these options

The forests included in this project stretch from east Texas to Virginia and from Kentucky to Florida. Covering more than 200 million acres, they are among the most biologically diverse temperate forests in the world and provide a wide range of ecosystem services including: timber, paper, watershed protection, carbon storage and recreation. It is estimated that currently, one million acres are lost each year to
urban development and unsustainable forest management.

With constant innovation and a commitment to improving the environment, Toyota has contributed more than $464 million to philanthropic programs in the United States.

For more information on what Toyota is doing for the environment visit Toyota.com.

With the assistance of Carbonfund.org, Volkswagen is giving VW owners the comfort in knowing that being a customer of VW is helping reduce carbon emissions and better our environment. To kick-start the project known as the Carbon Neutral Project, Volkswagen donated hundreds of thousands of trees to help offset some of the carbon emissions of its community.

The contributions will be put toward VW’s chosen means of carbon neutralization, the re-forestation of the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley – aka The VW Forest.

Through the development of the VW Forest and the efforts of the VW Community, the Carbon Neutral Project has formed a “Carbon Neutral Counter” that as of today has calculated the following:

• 280,395 trees will be planted in the VW forest
• 80,387 vehicles’ emissions are being offset by the VW Community
• 416,429 tons of carbon are being offset by the VW Community

The idea behind the VW Forest is simple; to plant enough trees to offset a year’s worth of carbon released by a vehicle. The trees remain in a lush wildlife preserve that will actively absorb thousands of tons of CO2 from the atmosphere. The wildlife will also benefit any animals currently becoming extinct with the disintegration of our US forests.

To find out more about the VW Carbon Neutral Project please visit vw.com.

With ‘green cars’ representing the future of the automotive industry, an honor such as the Volkswagen Jetta TDI being named the 2009 Green Car of the Year by the Green Car Journal is very reputable. The automotive industry no longer has an option whether to build ‘green’ products or invest in ‘green’ technology, it is becoming a requirement for their future.

Volkswagen has addressed their green initiative by focusing on fuel efficiency and the impact on the environment its’ vehicles can make. Breaking new ground in the field of diesel technology, the VW Jetta features a quiet-running, diesel-powered car with “clean diesel” technology and an EPA estimated 41 mpg fuel economy. The Jetta TDI has achieved emissions certification in all 50 states without the use of special additives or other measures.

What is the Green Car Journal? Green Car Journal is the industry leading measure of environmental progress, identifying the one vehicle model that offers the most significant achievement in this area during the new model year. Selecting the Green

The 2009 Jetta TDI is also eligible for the $1,300 Advanced Lean Burn Technology Motor Vehicle Federal Income Tax Credit.

For more information on the VW Jetta TDI, please visit www.DavidMausVW.com.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) and Toyota announced a new project designed to raise awareness of the threats facing southern U.S forests and increase the amount of forest conserved or managed in a sustainable manner.

WRI is known for its long and successful history of transforming information and analysis into practical solutions for sustaining our natural ecosystems. The forests of the southern United States stretch from east Texas to Virginia and from Kentucky to Florida. These diverse temperate forests provide a wide range of ecosystem services including timber, paper, watershed protection, carbon storage and recreation.

The project includes three components:

1. Increase awareness about the threats facing southern forests and their value
2. Identify and develop a portfolio of options that align economic incentives with forest stewardship
3. Pilot test and implement options

Toyota is funding the project with a $1.49 million grant over the next three years.

WRI’s director of People & Ecosystems Program stated, “We need to implement new approaches to get economics and forest conservation aligned,”

Toyota has contributed more than $464 million to philanthropic programs in the United States with a focus on three elements – education, environment, safety.

Automotive News reported that Toyota would be increasing their competition against other manufacturers in the “hybrid” category by producing a smaller- than- Prius hybrid vehicle to compete with the Honda Insight. The smaller hybrid will be a low-priced Yaris spin-off which currently gives drivers a 29/36 mpg rating.

There is no defined date when the smaller hybrid will come to the United States but it could arrive as early as 2011, according to Japan’s Nikkei business newspaper.

Past reports in Automotive Business Review, announced that the Yaris was selected for the production of an all-lithium version. The production of the new model Toyota Yaris was to focus on design, quality and low costs.

It seems that Toyota is looking to continue its hybrid series expansion but instead of looking at the larger vehicles it will look towards the smaller, more compact car to showcase in the coming years.

Another manufacturer makes an announcement in regards to becoming a more environmentally conscience automaker and actually does it all on its own.

Hyundai announced that it will launch its first version of a hybrid with a plug-in vehicle. The new hybrid was shown during the 2009 Auto Show and introduced a four door, sports car concept design, called the Blue-Will.

President of Hyundai-Kia Motors’, yang Woong-chul stated “We want to be the world leader in fuel economy and alternative fuels.”

The new concept hybrid has staggering mpg numbers and is powered by a 1.6 liter gasoline direct-injection engine teamed with a 100-kilowatt electric motor. According to Yang, the Blue-Will can travel solely on electricity for approximately 38 miles. Hyundai claims a fuel economy rating of 106 mpg with plug-in mode and up to 55 mpg in hybrid-electric mode. Panoramic glass roofing with solar cells will assist in recharging.

Hyundai has gone so far in its “in-house” design and production that it has developed its own lithium ion battery. Hyundai believes that independently designing the parts will make the vehicle more affordable.

Price has not been determined or offered but the goal behind this concept hybrid is not to increase profit but according to Yang “to show our technological image to get people to the dealerships to drive our cars”.

All information was provided by Automotive News online, Kathy Jackson who wrote “Hyundai plans plug-in for 2012 in U.S.” written on April 2, 2009.

A Los Angeles Times article came out online in March commenting on the new 2010 Toyota Prius, to be released mid- to late of this year, and its considerable advancements it has made on what we now consider “the game of mpg’s”.

In his own mathematical equations, online journalist Dan Neil, has figured that over 10 years if the government spent $400 billion dollars and bought everyone Pruis’ we would save 14 billion gallons of oil a year which also equates to 170 days worth of gas.

Other advantages of everyone owning a Prius: significant reduction in vehicle-related greenhouse gas emission, an average of 50 mpg and a well-designed interior.

As stated in his article, the Prius has “created a segment, it changed minds, it validated a technology, and it raised awareness”.

Hyundai is making great strides to introduce a new effort to stop global warming and create a greener opportunity for the world through its Genesis Forest Project. With the purchase of a 2009 Hyundai Genesis, Hyundai will fully offset the Genesis’ carbon emissions for one year. To do this, Hyundai will conserve and reforest 3,000 acres of tropical forest in the Brazilian Cerrado.

Through extensive research Hyundai Manufacturing has seen various innovations used to better the environment, but the one that remains the most impactful is the natural source of CO2 in trees. Trees take in carbon emissions and give the Earth fresh, clean oxygen in return. The Brazilian Cerrado was chosen because it is one of the world’s richest and most threatened reservoirs of plant and animal life on earth.

The all new Hyundai Genesis is available at David Maus Hyundai where we strive each day to make a cleaner, greener tomorrow a reality today in our showroom and service department, everyday. Through recycled paper products, sending old tires to recycling centers and much more, David Maus Hyundai is doing their part for the future.

All Hyundai vehicles are available at David Maus Hyundai at 2308 S Woodland Blvd in Deland, Florida. For more information please call 1-866-757-0394.