Green is red hot

[PSXtreme]

On the second floor of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, tucked away from the hot rods that dominate the exhibit space, some 20 vehicles sit in a large room. They range from 19th-century wooden contraptions to sleek Space Age prototypes. Some wouldn't draw a second glance on Wilshire Boulevard outside the museum, while others are bizarre enough to stop traffic, even in a city accustomed to flashy cars.

"Alternative Power: Propulsion after Petroleum," a sign reads. The automobiles are powered by steam, electricity, vegetable oil, hydrogen fuel cells and a potpourri of other methods. "A hundred years ago, people were experimenting with a lot of these approaches, but most had insurmountable problems," says exhibit curator Leslie Kendall. "The difference today is that we can offer realistic alternatives."

In other words, cleaner, greener cars are hardly museum pieces these days. Interest in fuel-efficient cars has increased as gas prices topped $3 a gallon and as films like An Inconvenient Truth focused attention on the environment. Even President Bush, a former oilman, declared that "America is addicted to oil" in his 2006 State of the Union address, in which he pushed for increased research on alternative-fuel vehicles.

"The biggest question I used to hear when people saw my car was, 'How does it work?' " says Felix Kramer, founder of the California Cars Initiative. That non-profit was formed to press automakers to build plug-in hybrids such as Kramer's customized Prius, which is emblazoned on the driver's door with his gas mileage: 100+ MPG. "Now, the biggest question I get is, 'How can I get one?' "

There are 46 alternative-fuel vehicles already on the road, including hybrids like the Prius, which, for a while, had long waiting lists at dealerships. "There are options out there, but people have to develop a more realistic idea of what they need from a car," says Dan Neil, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Los Angeles Times auto columnist. "We've got a culture based on these big steel boxes, and we need to change that."

Even aspiring green drivers, though, can have a variety of questions:

What exactly is a "green" car?
There's no simple answer, except to say that a car becomes greener as its gas mileage increases and its harmful emissions decrease. The independent global marketing firm J.D. Power and Associates recently launched the Automotive Environmental Index (AEI), which combines information from the Environmental Protection Agency with customer satisfaction surveys. Eight of the top 30 performers in the study are hybrids (Ford, Honda, Lexus, Mercury and Toyota are represented), along with conventional gas-powered models from Acura, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Saturn, Scion and Volkswagen. In the EPA's ranking, which grades every car on fuel economy, air pollution and greenhouse gases, the top five cars all were hybrids: the two-seater Honda Insight, followed by the Prius, two versions of the Honda Civic Hybrid, and the Ford Escape Hybrid.

How much will I have to pay?
Small, gas-powered cars that get high gas mileage tend to be on the inexpensive side. Hybrids, though, come at a premium: Standard 2007 Honda Civic sedans start at $15,010, while the hybrid version is $22,150. The Prius lists for $21,725. (Depending on the circumstances, tax credits may be available.) Flexible-fuel vehicles are available in many price ranges, but the difficulty of obtaining the fuel can make them less practical. As for electric cars, since the demise of General Motors' EV1 and similar vehicles, the field has become the province of niche companies whose products are out of reach for most drivers: The recent Tesla Roadster has drawn rave reviews for its style, speed and range, but it retails for $100,000.

Will I save money in the long run?
A recent report found that hybrid owners cite an average improvement of only 9 mpg. For a driver who travels 12,000 miles in a year, boosting fuel economy from 20 to 30 mpg would result in annual savings of about $600 (assuming gas is $3 a gallon).

Will I really help the environment?
Electric cars and plug-in hybrids occasionally have been criticized for tapping the U.S. power grid, which draws a significant amount of its energy from burning coal. In researching her upcoming book, "Plug-in Hybrids: The Cars that Will Recharge America," author Sherry Boschert compiled every available analysis of emissions from plug-in hybrids and their power sources. The clear consensus from more than 30 separate studies: Even with power coming from the U.S. grid, plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly.

What are the new models for 2007?
The usual array of hybrids will be available. Toyota continues to dominate the market with its Prius line, which will grow to include a sportier touring edition. The company also introduced a hybrid Camry. GM is planning hybrid versions of the Tahoe and Yukon SUVs, although the mileage still will be poor by green standards. In the 2007 model year, 31 types of flexible-fuel vehicles will be sold in the United States, according to the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition. (The problem lies in fueling those cars: In California, for instance, the organization says only four refueling stations exist for E85 -- the preferred 85% ethanol blend -- and three of the four are not open to the public.)

An array of upcoming green cars from small companies includes modifications of the fuel-efficient Smart car, a 60-mpg staple in Europe. Paul Scott, who is a co-founder of Plug In America, an advocacy group for electric cars and plug-in hybrids, is excited by the XS200 from Miles Automotive Group. Due to be unveiled in late 2007, the all-electric vehicle is projected to travel 200 miles on a single charge, have a top speed of 80 mph and, crucially, an MSRP of $28,500. "If it has any quality, which I'm sure it will, it will sell as fast as they can ship them over here," Scott says.

Given the uncertainty, should I wait?
Certainly, greener cars are on the horizon. For example, GM, DaimlerChrysler and BMW have pooled resources to improve hybrid technology, and smaller companies are stepping into the electric car and electric conversion field. At the same time, substantial research continues into alternative fuels, including hydrogen.

But few green-car aficionados consider inactivity a worthwhile strategy. "We need to start now, and then we need to integrate all the options as they are becoming viable," says Chelsea Sexton, a former EV1 salesperson turned electric-car activist.

Adds actress Alexandra Paul, who has been driving electric cars since 1990: "It's difficult to give up our irrational ideas of what a car is, the power, the image of the car. But it's in the best interests of the country, not only for environmental reasons, but also for national security reasons."

http://usaweekend.com/06_issues/061008/061008auto.html