ELECTRIC AND ECLECTIC
Over the coming year, several companies will be releasing fully electric vehicles. Will suburbanites as well as urban dwellers embrace a battery-powered future?
NISSAN LEAF
Fully electric passenger vehicle Torque: 208 lb./ft. Range: 100 miles Charge time: eight hours (standard); 15 min. with 400 volt charging station
CHEVY VOLT
Electric vehicle with range extension Battery: lithium ion Range: 40 miles (electric only) plus 50 mpg during charging with range extender Torque: 236 lb./ft. Charge Time: six hours (approx.)
THE WORK TRUCK LOOPHOLE
Pickup trucks are becoming more efficient, but a major tax loophole steers contractors and manufacturers toward big, heavy vechicles.
The technicians at Ford have been working hard to build a better truck. Instead of a hybrid, Ford plans to launch a V6 truck in 2011 with “EcoBoost” technology that will have the power of a V8, yet use the fuel of a V6, with gas mileage 20–30% better than a comparable V8 drive, somewhere in the mid 20s. When asked about using composites or other
materials to reduce vehicle weight to save fuel, Ford spokesperson Richard Truett says there will be some effort along those lines, but the major emphasis will be on improving aerodynamics and engineering drive trains for optimum efficiency. Of course, there’s another factor working against
26 GreenBuilder July > August 2010
reductions in vehicle weight, especially in the heavy pickup category. A major federal tax loophole, often referred to as the “Hummer Tax Loophole” almost forces truck makers to build heavy pickups in order to remain competitive. Under Section 179 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, a small business person can deduct up to $25,000 directly if he buys a heavy truck or SUV with a gross vehicle weight of 6,000 lbs. or more. But if he buys a lighter truck, the deduction is far less. Until that loophole is closed, automakers are understandably concerned that they may change their product offerings to a less incentivized model, and lose market share to competitors.
www.greenbuildermag.com
2011 Ford F-150 with EcoBoost Drive
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