Car Shows are getting greener every day

Green used to be the color of cars, now it is a worldwide trend in the automotive industry. Manufacturers from the United States, Asia and Europe will be exhibiting vehicles that use less gas, some that use no gas and others that that use fuels that burn cleaner at the San Francisco 52nd Annual International Auto Show, presented by AutoTrader.com November 26 through December 2 at Moscone Convention Center.

“This year is without question the largest number of alternative-fuel, high mileage and hybrid vehicles we have ever exhibited at the show,” said Show Director, Kevin Diamond. “Most of the major manufacturers will be represented.” The public's concerns about the economy and the environment have prompted the development and promotion of greener vehicles. There is another payoff besides reduced pollution: American owners of some of the greener vehicles also benefit by tax rebates and insurance discounts in certain regions. “There is a strong push for advance technology,” said Mark Duvall, director of electric transportation at the non-profit Electric Power Research Institute in Palo Alto.

“President Barack Obama has said he wants to see one million plug-ins (battery powered vehicles) on U.S. roads by 2015. It is challenging, but it is achievable.” One of the “plug-ins” on display at this year's International Auto Show will be Nissan's Leaf, which will be making its Northern American auto show debut in San Francisco f or just four days (Nov. 26-29). The Leaf is powered by a lithium-ion battery pack that can be charged on a 110 or 220-volt charger at home or in the workplace. The Leaf, which won't be on the market until December 2010, can be fully charged with 220-volts in seven hours.

Among the new hybrids appearing at the show will be Toyota's third generation Prius, the country's best-selling hybrid, along with the re-introduced Honda Insight, the first hybrid sold in the United States. Additionally, the show will feature BMW's X6 hybrid and Mercedes Benz's new S-400 hybrid sedan. Newcomers to this year's show are diesel burning vehicles including the BMW X5 Diesel and Mercesdez- Benz ML BlueTEC as well as the Lincoln MKT and MKS with Ecoboost, a turbocharged gasoline duct injection site that provides the horsepower capability of a larger displacement engine, but with the fuel economy of a smaller engine.

Owners or prospective buyers who want to learn more about hybrids or vehicles that use alternative fuels can visit the AAA Greenlight initiative display in the AAA Northern California exhibit at the auto show. The Greenlight display provides an overview of alternative fuels available today and on the horizon and features AAA's own Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid that gets more than 100 MPG, as well as vehicles from the California Fuel Cell Partnership. The Greenlight initiative, which is presently available in Northern California, Nevada and Utah, offers a variety of components including insurance discounts for owners of vehicles that use alternative fuels, including hybrids; to help hybrid owners get more fuel efficiency; and grants to organizations involved in alternative fuels.

Source : TheAutoChannel, November 4th, 2009