#60 Bump-Start

We discussed Febuary sales, autombile quality & logevity. Fuel prices through the ages, and quite a few of our usual tangents.

Manuel walked us through warming up our vehicles for the technique, as it is colder in Manatoba than Chicago.

If anyone actually reads these shownotes/descriptions, please send me a txt or use the leave a message feature on the site thanks.

Kacey Green, Manuel Santos, and Wayne Gerdes

#60 Bump-Start

#51 Honda Hybrids under Fire

  
Go Hypermiling Podcast

Type: Audio 
Hosts: Wayne Gerdes, Kacey Green, and Manuel Santos 
Recorded: August 29, 2010 
Music: You in your Socks by Elkin and The 27-second Tune by The EP Egg 
Runtime: 47 min : 10 sec 
Moderating: Kacey Green 
Main Topics: Honda Civic Hybrid software update controversy | Concern about Honda Hybrid availability in Canada | Hybrid Honda Jazz (European Honda Fit)  
Sponsors: CleanMPG, Hybrid Canada, & Midlands Hybrid | Enginer PHEV kits, Midlands Honda, & CleanMPG Scangauges

Our Technique: You and your dealer

We discuss your relationship with your Car Dealer …

Honda to fix Civic Hybrid battery issues with software update

Manuel tells us the true nature of the recent HCHII software update and slices through the hype and speculation …

Honda Canada to continue selling Insight and Civic Hybrids

Manuel does more mythbusting regarding the rumors that Canada was slated to stop receiving new hybrid shipments …

Hybrid power for the Honda Jazz

Wayne lets us know about the upcoming Honda Jazz Hybrid …

Please feel free to post a comment or to leave an audio comment using the button on the sidebar of this site (rings your phone).

Kacey Green 
Go Hypermiling!  
“Hypermiling in today’s world”

#51 Honda Hybrids under Fire

#50 Future Hybrids

 
Go Hypermiling Podcast

Type: Audio
Hosts: Wayne Gerdes, Kacey Green, and Manuel Santos
Recorded: July 23, 2010
Music: Grow by April Start and Blue Eyes by Audra Connolly
Runtime: 1 hr 2 min : 52 sec
Moderating: Kacey Green
Main Topics: Honda announces new advanced environmental technologies | 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid first drive | Honda CR-Z goes for a ride 
Sponsors: CleanMPG, Hybrid Canada, & Midlands Hybrid | Enginer PHEV kits, Midlands Honda, & CleanMPG Scangauges

Our Technique: Handling the heat

Wane lets us know how he beat the heat while he was in the CR-Z for a week, we discuss how to minimize the impact of the air conditioner on your fuel economy. We go into specifics for mechanical AC compressors, electric AC compressors, and electro-mechanical hybrid AC compressors. How can you lessen the load on your HVAC system? …

Honda announces new advanced environmental technologies

Manuel lets us in on a few nuggets of Honda’s plans for the future in the area of Hybrid technologies…

2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid first drive

We talk about the new Hyundai Sonata’s hybrid variant …

2011 Honda CR-Z goes for a ride

Wayne lets us know everything he found out on his week-long test drive of the new Honda, tune in to hear what he has to say …

Please feel free to post a comment or to leave an audio comment using the button on the sidebar of this site (rings your phone).

Kacey Green
Go Hypermiling! 
“Hypermiling in today’s world”

#50 Future Hybrids

#46 Fuel Economy in the Real World

 
Go Hypermiling Podcast

Type: Audio
Hosts: Wayne Gerdes, Kacey Green, and Manuel Santos, with Special Guest Jason Holder
Recorded: June 8, 2010
Music: Fall Out Boy this song is “Grand Theft Autumn” and we will close today with 37Hz’s “Calmly Going Nowhere” 
Runtime: 58 min : 40 sec
Moderating: Kacey Green
Main Topics: A Gulf Full Of Oil Can’t Beat A Tank Full Of Gas, Experts: Revise fuel-economy rules to reflect real-world driving, Honda’s near, mid and long term ideas regarding sustainability of its product lineup
Sponsors: CleanMPG, Hybrid Canada, & Midlands Hybrid | Enginer PHEV kits, Midlands Honda, & CleanMPG Scangauges

Our Technique: Weather & Fuel Economy

Jason is very proficient at hypermiling and he gives us pointers for inclement weather. Wayne, Manuel & Kacey jump in.

A Gulf Full Of Oil Can’t Beat A Tank Full Of Gas

A lot of BP’s oil eventually winds up in the gas tanks of American cars, so you’d think the current crisis on the Gulf Coast might make people think twice at the pump. Brian Mann of North Country Public Radio sets out to talk to customers at a gas station and find out what they think about the spill, and the decisions they make as consumers.

It’s mid-morning, and I’m out driving in my truck. On the radio, of course, it’s 24/7 about the Gulf oil spill. Everybody’s talking about it, and everybody’s saying there are no easy answers. …

Experts: Revise fuel-economy rules to reflect real-world driving

An expert panel called on government agencies today to revise fuel-economy testing to better reflect real-world driving conditions.
The National Academy of Sciences convened an expert panel in 2007 to assess technologies to boost fuel economy and make findings on the state of vehicle efficiency at the request of government regulators, releasing a report today.
“Reducing the amount of fuel we use is an important goal for the nation and for the individual consumer,” said Trevor Jones, chair of the committee that wrote the report and chair and CEO of ElectroSonics Medical Inc. in Cleveland. “Consumers will need to consider the trade-offs between higher vehicle prices and saving fuel and money at the gas pump.” …

Honda’s near, mid and long term ideas regarding sustainability of its product lineup

The 2010 FCX Clarity – Once a nationwide H2 refueling infrastructure is in place, this will more than likely be one of the key contenders for sustainability at a price we can all afford.

A “State of Honda” speech was presented by the Executive VP of Honda America, John Mendel at a conference entitled “Moving Ahead 2010” setup to discuss methods to reduce fuel consumption in transportation. The speech detailed Honda’s outlook when it comes to all things related to the future of the automobile and was presented to both business leaders and academics on the campus of Ohio State University.

The following are his remarks.

It’s great to be in Columbus… a real hometown for Honda. Our first U.S. manufacturing operations were established here 30-plus years ago … and we have a major R&D center that creates many of the products we build here. …

Please feel free to post a comment or to leave an audio comment using the button on the sidebar of this site.

Kacey Green
Go Hypermiling! 
“Hypermiling in today’s world”

#46 Fuel Economy in the Real World - Go Hypermiling!

#44 Is that an EV or a Harley?

 
Go Hypermiling Podcast

Type: Audio
Hosts: Wayne Gerdes, Kacey Green and Manuel Santos
Recorded: May 24, 2010
Music: This Is Fiction. This song is “The REMIX Scene” and we will close today with “The Reality Scene” 
Runtime: 49 min : 11 sec
Moderating: Kacey Green
Main Topics: The 10 Least Expensive Cars to Own, According to GE, Honda ’Lacks Confidence’ in Electric-Car Demand and Carmakers agree to make electric cars noisier.
Sponsors: CleanMPG, Hybrid Canada, & Midlands Hybrid | Enginer PHEV kits, Midlands Honda, & CleanMPG Scangauges

Our Technique: Hypermiling Clinic Improvements

Can a Student go from a frustratingly low 38 mpg to 81 mpg in one clinic?

With an Experienced Hypermiler she can ;-)

 Cheap Dates: The 10 Least Expensive Cars to Own 

When it’s time to buy a new car and desperation comes calling, all other priorities peel away, leaving price alone to govern the decision. But simply buying the cheapest car isn’t necessarily the cheapest route. Cars—even the affordable ones—are expensive to own and operate…

Honda ’Lacks Confidence’ in Electric-Car Demand

Honda remains skeptical about demand for electric cars 10 years after it stopped selling its EV Plus battery-powered model — “We lack confidence” in the electric-vehicle business, Tomohiko Kawanabe, president of Honda’s research and development unit, said in an interview in Wako City, northwest of Tokyo…

Carmakers agree to make electric cars noisier

Automakers and advocates for the blind have agreed on a plan to address an unintended problem caused by electric and hybrid cars: They endanger sight-impaired and distracted pedestrians because they make no noise when running on electric power.

The groups joined together to present Congress with a proposal for minimum noise levels that future electric cars would have to make.

Please feel free to post a comment or to leave an audio comment using the button on the sidebar of this site.

Wayne Gerdes
Go Hypermiling! 
“Hypermiling in today’s world”

#44 Is that an EV or a Haley? - Go Hypermiling!

#35 Honda Strikes Back

Go Hypermiling Podcast

Type: Audio
Hosts: Kacey Green, Manuel Santos and Wayen Gerdes
Recorded: March 21, 2010
Music: Time of Day by the Clintons
Runtime: 33 min : 14 sec
Moderating: Kacey Green
Technique: Steady State Driving Styles
Main Topics: Honda narrows Prius lead with Li-Ion’s | 18-wheeler caught on video with car attached to front bumer at 60 mph | CR-Z is hot in Japan
Sponsors: CleanMPG, Hybrid Canada, & Midlands Hybrid | Enginer PHEV kits, Midlands Honda, & CleanMPG Scangauges

 Our Technique segment is how to maintain high fuel economy during a somewhat steady state driving scenerio.

General discussion on how to handle the long road ahead.  

Honda narrows Prius lead with Li-Ion’s

Can snazzier batteries jump-start Honda’s hybrid sales? The Honda Civic Hybrid is planning to switch to lithium-ion batteries in a bid to make it more competitive with the embattled Toyota Prius (which has the lion’s share of the hybrid market).

Li-ion is, of course, the default battery for nearly all the world’s coming plug-in EVs, and it has by far the greatest energy density of any available chemistry. Hybridcars.com reports that li-ion packs could even be cheaper than the nickel-metal packs standard in hybrids today.

While not the biggest deal in the world, it’s still very significant—the only hybrid to use li-ion right now is the Mercedes S400, and that’s in a whole other price category. Bloomberg got its scoop, as it often does, from its Japanese reporters (Makkio Kitamura and Yuki Hagiwara). Honda Executive Vice President Koichi Kondo told them in a Tokyo interview that the Civic Hybrid would have li-ion within the next two to three years. “Lithium will become a lot more prevalent,” he said.

Honda’s li-ion plans hadn’t made it to this side of the world. A U.S.-based Honda spokesman told me, “I suspect you read the same story I did. That’s the first I’d heard of it and now you and I know the same very limited amount. It is way too soon to disclose details of any kind regarding the next-generation Civic, and I assure you that would be the answer provided by anyone (PR or executive) in North America.” 

Honda18-wheeler on video with car stuck to the front bumer at 60 + mph

A Truck driver was videoed in this once in a lifetime sequence.

An unaware truck driver was captured on video going driving along without a care in the world at 60 + mph while a car was stuck sideways to the front bumper. He even passed a car whose occupants had the forethought to begin filming using their mobile phone.

The Renault Clio got trapped (no cause of the accident has been released yet) and even more outrageous, how did the truck driver not realize he was pushing this poor guy and his Renault along at 60 + mph?

Miraculously, the car’s driver was not hurt.

In the video, taken on the A1(M) near Wetherby, West Yorks, a passenger shouts: “He hasn’t seen it!”

Eventually, the truck driver did stop and the Renault driver got out unharmed.

The source of the film said they had been “inundated” with calls since the story broke…. Imagine that???  

 Honda CR-Z hot in Japan 

Honda can’t afford another hybrid failure. After lackluster sales of the newly redesigned Insight, Honda needs a hit in the hybrid segment. They are hopeful that the upcoming CR-Z can garner sales success and be a hit here in the States, but the outlook is uncertain. Whether or not the CR-Z will be a sale success or flop here remains to be seen, but the new hybrid is hot in Japan.

The CR-Z has been on sale in Japan for 3 weeks now and Honda has taken more than 8,000 orders. Honda had expected to sell only 12,000 units in the first year in Japan, so they are more than halfway there. Remember, the Insight was initially a hot vehicle in Japan as well, but its success did not carry over to the US. 

Please feel free to post a comment or to leave an audio comment using the button on the sidebar of this site.

Wayne Gerdes
Go Hypermiling! 
“Hypermiling in today’s world”

#35: Honda Strikes Back - Go Hypermiling!

#30 Special! - Go Hypermiling!

Go Hypermiling Podcast

Type: Audio
Hosts: Kacey Green, Jud Engles and Mike Sirach
Recorded: January 10, 2010
Music: Al Philpp and The Woo Team - The Experimental Album II - Awakening
Runtime: 20 min : 55 sec
Moderating: Kacey Green
Technique: Grill Blocking
Main Topics: Jud’s NAIAS Crushes, Mike’s NAIAS interests,  & Kacey’s NAIAS Prospects
Sponsors: CleanMPG, Hybrid Canada, & Midlands Hybrid | Enginer PHEV Systems, We Use Coupons 

Kacey, Jud, & Mike look forward to the North American International Auto Show.

Please feel free to post a comment or to leave an audio comment using the button on the sidebar of this site.

Kacey Green & Wayne Gerdes
Go Hypermiling!
“Hypermiling in today’s world”

#30 Special! - Go Hypermiling!

#16 Silence is Golden - Go Hypermiling!

Go Hypermiling Podcast

Type: Audio
Hosts: Kacey Green, Manuel Santos and Wayne Gerdes
Recorded: October 4, 2009
Music: Thievery Corporation - DC 3000
Runtime: 36 min : 0 sec
Moderating: Kacey Green
Technique: Basic Setup
Main Topics: The Deadly Silence of the Electric Car, 2010 Prius III Prices on the Rise, Jack Rickard Leads the Quest for the Ultimate BEV
Sponsors: CleanMPG, Hybrid Canada, & Midlands Hybrid | Enginer PHEV Systems, Sunshine Toyota in Winnipeg, Palmetto Horse and Hound

First for our technique segment, Wayne teaches us about basic setup of our vehicles.

Next, Kacey has a surprise for us in the form of the pre-production CR-Z Concept car. We note the 6MT (6 speed Manual Transmission). We discussed engine sizes and fuel economy potential for the final version of the car. Kacey drops the thought provoking nugget that perhaps this car may have a dual clutched sequential transmission.

Kacey then brings us the news that folks are again trying to “bell the hybrids”; busybodies are again targeting hybrid cars and their owners with the misguided notion that the vehicles are too quiet and they absolutely have to stick their hooks into these cars and trucks. 

Manuel tells us about Jack Rickard and his pursuit of building the world’s best battery electric vehicle.

Finally Wayne tells us what’s happening in the world of the Prius 3G. Toyota has finally released details on the Prius I and pricing. I describe their efforts as trying to create an Insight competitor pricewise and failing miserably giving us a fat stripped down car that the typical Prius owner isn’t interested in. We discuss what this car means for fleets, and tinkerers, as well as try and decide if real people will be able to get their hands on this mythical unicorn. 

Please feel free to post a comment or to leave an audio comment using the button on the sidebar of this site.

Kacey Green & Wayne Gerdes
Go Hypermiling! 
“Hypermiling in today’s world”

#16 Silence is Golden - Go Hypermiling!

#6: 5? or is that 7? – Go Hypermiling!

Go Hypermiling PodcastType: Audio
Hosts: Kacey Green, Manuel Santos, Wayne Gerdes
Recorded: July 26, 2009
Runtime: 38 min : 45 sec
Moderating: Kacey Green
Technique:Ridge Riding & staying safe while being legal
Main Topics: (Surprise Topic) Mini-D not coming to the US; Hybrids Look A Little Less Green To Auto Insurers; Would You Rather Save $4000 or $14000?
Sponsors: CleanMPG, Hybrid Canada, & Midlands Hybrid

In our second regular episode Kacey, Manuel, and Wayne start to get the hang of being podcast hosts.

First, We discuss the technique of Ridge Riding (RR), then, Wayne surprised us with news about the Mini Diesel and its status in the North American Market.   We later discuss the Scangauge and move on to the topic, “Hybrids Look A Little Less Green To Auto Insurers”. There was an article about some insurers falling for stereotypes and conjecture recently…Next up, “Would You Rather Save $4000 or $14000?” Is Cash for clunkers a rip-off?.  We also had a lively discussion about tailpipes.

Kacey Green
Go Hypermiling!
“Hypermiling in today’s world”

#6: 5? or is that 7? – Go Hypermiling!

Update on Sep 3, 2009 at 23:02 by Kacey Green

Music: Cornelius - Wataridori 2

Go Hypermiling #4 – MSantos @ HybridFest 2009

Go Hypermiling PodcastType: Video
Hosts: Manuel Santos
Moderating: none
Technique: none
Main Topics: Manuel owner of the hour 2nd Generation Honda Civic Hybrid (HCHII)
Sponsor: Hybrid Canada

Our third video podcast continues with a recap by Manuel and then he shows us the modifications he has made to his 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid (HCHII).   The runtime on this video is very reasonable (under ten minutes)

Kacey Green
Go Hypermiling!
“Hypermiling in today’s world”

Go Hypermiling #4 – MSantos @ HybridFest 2009

Update on Aug 4, 2009 at 23:34 by Kacey Green

File updated to work in iTunes & with iPod, next up, the other episodes.