Earth Day Electric & Connected Car, Hybrid, ZEV, EV News: Hyundai, Toyota, BMW, Cars.com & KBB

In honor or Earth Day, many automakers, aftermarket companies and publishers are making announcements and discussing the state of the our planet. Transportation is a huge contributor to air pollution and global warming. Companies in the mix include Toyota, BMW, Hyundai, Cars.com and Kelley Blue Book. Previously, AAA announced its best green cars for 2017 and showed that many consumers are planning on buying green cars.

Toyota Project Portal

Toyota revealed “Project Portal” – a hydrogen fuel cell system designed for heavy duty truck use at the Port of Los Angeles. Announced at a press conference with Port officials and representatives from California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the California Energy Commission (CEC), the zero-emission truck proof of concept will take part in a feasibility study examining the potential of fuel cell technology in heavy duty applications. The study will begin this summer and contribute to the Port’s Clean Air Action Plan, which has dramatically reduced harmful emissions from operations at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles since 2005.

BMW Takes Charge of  Electric Car Perks in National Parks

Calling on the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship of Thomas Edison, the first of up to 100 electric vehicle charging stations in national parks and nearby communities across the country was switched on  at Thomas Edison National Historical Park, site of Edison’s West Orange, New Jersey, laboratory and home.

BMW is working  with the National Park Service, National Park Foundation, and the Department of Energy to install up to 100 charging stations in U.S. National Parks.

Hyundai Ioniq Plans & Tucson Fuel Cell

Ioniq Unlimited+ provides zero initiation costs after rebate, where the customers’ initial $2,500 down payment is offset by the California electric vehicle rebate. This initiation fee includes all taxes (except California sales tax) and dealer charges, as well as the first monthly payment.  The remaining monthly subscription payment is based simply on the Ioniq Electric model chosen. Subscription monthly payments for the Electric is $275 + tax, Limited $305 + tax and Limited w/Ultimate $365 + tax

Ioniq Unlimited+, besides offering a hassle-free single-payment method, offers an entirely new concept of electric vehicle subscription that eco-focused shoppers will appreciate. It includes a unique online buying experience, where customers can select the exact vehicle from their preferred dealer’s inventory and preview the all-inclusive monthly payment online. Once they complete a credit application and are approved, they go directly to the dealership to complete the purchase. At the dealer, the shopper just signs a few forms and drives away in an Ioniq Electric. The tax, title, license, and dealer fees are included. Equally important to many EV customers, the Ioniq Electric will be HOV-sticker eligible, allowing Ioniq drivers to use carpool lanes on their daily travels.

Ioniq Unlimited+ owners can enjoy their full driving experience worry-free, because there are no mileage penalties during the 36-month subscription period. The program also includes reimbursement for electricity used by the owner, based on the number of miles driven, up to the first 50,000 miles. This electricity credit will be applied directly to the owners’ subsequent monthly payment, for immediate monetary benefit to the customer. Even more, all service, maintenance and wear items on the Ioniq Electric are also included during the first 50,000 miles, further enhancing the worry-free experience. The Ioniq Unlimited+ program creates an entirely new means of mobility that addresses the major, well-known stress points associated with traditional automotive leases.

The Ioniq Electric initially will be available to Los Angeles/Orange/Riverside county residents only, expanding to Northern California and San Diego later this year. The Ioniq Unlimited+ subscription program is only available to California residents.

For those customers who are interested in a more traditional buying experience, a direct purchasing option is available for the Ioniq Electric. The purchasing options include Hyundai’s industry-leading Lifetime Battery Warranty and America’s Best Warranty for the entire Ioniq powertrain, to the original purchaser.  Prices for the IONIQ Electric for $29,500, Limited for $32,500 and Limited with Ultimate $36,000.

Also for Earth Day 2017, Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell drivers have again surpassed an important threshold, accumulating more than two million miles on the roads and highways of both Southern and Northern California. These fuel cell CUVs have emitted only clean water vapor, and by so doing, have replaced approximately 760 tons of CO2 emissions that would have been emitted by vehicles of similar size and capability. Hyundai has delivered more than 140 Tucson Fuel Cell crossovers since its introduction as the first mass-produced fuel cell in the U.S. market in 2014.

Hyundai service engineers, with permission from vehicle owners, receive periodic mileage updates from Tucson Fuel Cell vehicles in Southern California, allowing them to calculate cumulative mileage totals as needed to assess fuel cell stack maintenance status.

Open Charge Alliance  Joins Open Invention Network

The Open Charge Alliance, the international nonprofit organization advancing open standards for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, today announced that it is joining the Open Invention Network (OIN). OIN is the largest patent non-aggression community in history and supports freedom of action in Linux as a key element of open source software.

By joining OIN, the Open Charge Alliance is demonstrating its commitment to open source software (OSS) as an enabler of electric vehicle (EV) charging and infrastructure systems.  OCA will draw on OIN’s wealth of experience in enabling patent non-aggression in key markets to establish an OCA working group whose mission will be to enable patent non-aggression and spur higher levels of innovation across the EV infrastructure community. Through its collaboration with OIN, OCA is expected to reduce risk for developers and companies building and contributing to open standards for EV charging stations, which contributes to interoperability among stations and increasing consumer adoption of EVs.

Cars.com Reports

As Earth Day approaches, Cars.com digs into its mountains of data to determine how the hybrid and electric vehicle (EV) market is faring. The company found that while automakers continue to pump out hybrid and electric models – 55 in 2016 and 59 in 2017 – sales have tumbled over the past five years. Is it the pressure from unrealistic legislation requirements driving this trend or are automakers betting on a comeback?

The company found that luxury brands comprise nearly 50 percent of all hybrid and electric vehicle searches on Cars.com. The top five most-searched luxury brands in 2016 were Lexus, BMW, Tesla, Porsche and Infiniti. When looking at all brands, Toyota and Lexus dominated shoppers’ attention. The Toyota Motor Company hybrids and EVs were searched more in 2016 than the next five brands combined, with the Prius family making up 12.4 percent of total hybrid and electric vehicle searches.

Gas prices fell $1.22 in the first quarter of 2017 compared to five years ago, based on Cars.com’s analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Energy. Price of gas was estimated at $3.66 per gallon in Q1 2012 and fell to $2.44 per gallon in Q1 2016. Meanwhile, strict government regulations are encouraging further production of hybrids and EVs. In August 2012, new CAFE regulations were announced for model year 2017-2025 vehicles to increase fuel economy to 54.5 miles per gallon for cars and light-duty trucks – a goal that many feel is still unrealistic.

Top Green Cars from Kelley Blue Book

Kelley Blue Book named the top Hybrid and Electric Cars under $40,000.

The Top Hybrid Models Are:

1. 2017 Toyota Prius.
2. 2017 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid
3. 2017 Honda Accord Hybrid
4. 2017 Kia Niro
5. 2017 Kia Optima Hybrid
6. 2017 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
7. 2017 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
8. 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid
9. 2017 Toyota Camry Hybrid
10. 2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

The Best Electric Cars Under $40,000 from Kelley Blue Book:

1. 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV
2. 2017 Hyundai Ioniq Electric
3. 2017 Volkswagen e-Golf
4. 2017 Kia Soul EV
   
5. 2017 Nissan Leaf

The Best Plug-In Hybrid Cars Under $40,000:

1. 2017 Toyota Prius Prime
2. 2017 Chevrolet Volt
3. 2017 Kia Optima Plug-In Hybrid
4. 2017 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid
5. 2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron

CarPrint EcoPrint App

The CarPrint app promotes eco-driving, a practice known to reduce fuel consumption by 10 to 20 percent without cutting back on travel. CarPrint reduces driver’s carbon footprint and it takes the boredom out of driving. The average American driver puts five tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year, and US drivers spend an average of 280 hours driving annually. That’s seven full work weeks in the car.

CarPrint is like a sports app for driving and it turns driving into a game. The app tracks fuel use, speed, and distance traveled second-by-second. Drivers login to see their trip-by-trip speed profiles, charts of fuel economy at different speeds, fuel economy improvements over time, and much more. Drivers win by beating their vehicle’s fuel economy ratings for city and highway driving and, to keep it safe, only trip duration is shown on the screen while trips are in progress. Moreover, the cornerstone of eco-driving is anticipation, paying close attention to upcoming traffic signals and other vehicles. Eco-driving is a more relaxed yet focused driving style involving about a dozen tactics that anyone can learn. The trick is to keep at it and that’s what CarPrint is all about—long term changes in driver behavior.

CarPrint uses an on-board data (OBD) scanner paired with the driver’s Android or iOS mobile phone or tablet. The scanner plugs into the OBD port near the steering wheel and transmits driving data via Bluetooth to the driver’s mobile device. From there, data is uploaded to CarPrint, where numbers are crunched and shown to players. The app itself is free and drivers can buy an Android compatible scanner for $12 or pay $35 for an iOS scanner. Most drivers will recoup the cost within a month or two.

The Hybridization of Cargo Vans

XL Hybrids, Inc., the leader in connected fleet electrification solutions for commercial and municipal fleets, today announced the company received a California Air Resources Board Executive Order (CARB EO) allowing aftermarket conversions of gasoline-powered Ford Transit cargo vans and passenger wagons to be upgraded with the XL3® Hybrid Electric Drive System. This executive order is the first-ever awarded by CARB for electrifying Ford Transit vans and wagons and covers model years 2017, 2016 and 2015.

This news follows XL Hybrids’ previous announcement that the company was the first-ever to receive CARB Executive Orders on General Motor cargo vans and wagons.

CARB also awarded XL Hybrids with the first California Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP) vehicle eligibility allowing an incentive for aftermarket conversions of gasoline-powered Ford Transit vans and wagons into hybrid electric vehicles for model years 2017, 2016, and 2015. California fleets can receive $2,500 vouchers for each Ford Transit van or wagon upfitted with XL Hybrids’ XL3 Hybrid Electric Drive System for up to 100 vehicles per fleet. The second 100 vehicles per fleet will receive $2,000 vouchers for each upfitted Ford Transit van. XL Hybrids conversions for CARB-compliant GM vans and wagons also qualify for HVIP.

The XL3 Hybrid Electric Drive System increases miles driven per gallon by approximately 25 percent. The technology works seamlessly in the background with zero impact on fleet operations. No driver training, or charging or fueling infrastructure required.

The HVIP offers point-of-sale incentives for clean trucks and buses in California. HVIP helps fleet and vehicle owners move into trucks and buses that reduce emissions, fuel consumption and support California’s goals to promote a clean climate future. Fleets operated by public, private and non-profit organization are eligible.