San Francisco to be electric car capital

Ambitious plans in San Francisco set to make the city the electric car capital of the world. The Bay Area will be the first region in California to make a concerted change from fossil to renewable energy fuels for its transport systems.

In California, vehicles account for 40% of carbon emissions so the attempt to wean the state's transportation off fossil fuels will make a huge difference for the health of the state.

$1 billion will be invested to set up roadside recharging points across the Bay Area to accommodate the rise in electric vehicle ownership.

Guardian - San Francisco Bay to be electric car capital

Guardian - California switches on to an electric future

Hypermiling is not easy but it is necessary

Patrick Barkham gave hypermiling a try in a 2-litre diesel Ford S-Max. After almost 8 miles of city driving, hill starts, mountain tracks and motorways, he could only manage 24mpg.

His errors included attempting to coast his neutral gear. Not only does coasting in neutral use more fuel than costing in gear, it is also dangerous. He also accelerated too hard and applied the brakes erratically. The key to hypermiling is smooth driving and in that Patrick failed miserably.

Guardian - 'If it was possible to fail - I failed'

Increasing usage of car clubs

The recent high fuel prices have forced many to look to car clubs for transportation. A car club allows a person to drive on a pay-as-you-go basis, this obviating the need to own a vehicle.

Even though fuel prices have fallen in line with the fall in oil prices, the credit crunch still makes it hard for people to make ends meet. Joining a car club instead of owning a car reduces the cost of ownership for the cash strapped motorist.

Guardian - Cash-strapped motorists turn to car sharing

£100 million boost for electric vehicles

The UK government is planning to invest in electric public service vehicles for the post office, police and government departments to speed up the introduction of low-emission vehicles on Britain's roads.

Some 22% of Britain's carbon emissions comes from transport and the hope is to produce vehicles that emit less than 50g CO2/km.

Guardian - £100m road to electric motoring ... police, post office and politicians step off the gas

Tesla in trouble

Tesla Motors, maker of the 125mph, electric roadster has hit financial problems. The company is currently losing money and is about to reduce their workforce to save costs. The credit crunch is making the financing of their next vehicle, an electric saloon car, problematic.

Guardian - Electric car manufacturer hit by financial crisis

UK petrol price below £1 a litre for first time in over a year

Not since December 2007 has the price of petrol been this low. Since the credit crunch plunged the world into recession the price of oil has halved from near $150 per barrel to less than $75 per barrel.

With economies in decline there will be less need for oil and so the price has dropped. Drivers are now seeing a fall in fuel prices.

However, this will only be temporary. The economic recession will end and demand for oil will push the price to a new record.

BBC - Retailers push petrol to below £1

MPG marathon

A four hundred mile race was held on British roads. The winner was not the fastest, nor the first to arrive at the finish line.

The race was to find the most efficient driver, who could drive the most miles per gallon in their car.

The winner was expected to drive over 80mpg in an ordinary factory built car.

BBC - The race to save fuel