Naturalpath

The AAA blasts dangerous hypermiling techniques; the WSJ wonders about the true purpose of the Chevy Volt; and here’s to greener July 4th fireworks.

Sensible AAA recomments not trying “dangerous fuel-saving techniques”: The AAA wants hypermilers to get a grip before someone gets hurt. Hypermiling is a term used to describe unorthodox driving techniques intended to squeeze radical fuel efficiency out of conventional vehicles. An example of hypermiling might be shutting down a car engine while coasting, or attempting to stay in the slipstream of a larger vehicle during highway driving. But the AAA points out that some hypermiling tactics compromise safety, and many are simply illegal. Moderate driving habit and properly maintained vehicles remain the best way to meet or exceed a car’s designed economy. (Autoblog Green)

Discount electronics company VIzio has announced that they’ve cut the power consumption of their televisions in half. But that’s a long way from being green…

Vizio–best known for offering cut rates on HDTVs–has rolled out a new television technology in time for the energy crisis to peak this summer, and hopefully draw panicked Americans their way. While each individual set draws almost 50% less power than the competing brands–a 35 inch model will only use 55 watts, amounting to an average savings of 107 kWh, annually, cutting the average utility bill by five dollars.

This is Great News, Right?

Maybe, and maybe not. While the technical advances are certainly something to be hailed–after all, you don’t see Sony, or Panasonic, or anybody else making this announcement, and it’s not because they’re not trying–it’s always on environmentalists to step back, look, at the larger picture, and call out greenwashing. Vizio? Unfortunately, this doesn’t look good for Ladanian Tomlinson’s brand of choice.

A new scooter concept is designed around the task of hauling cargo in the most literal way possible–it’s a moped with a hole in it.

It’s been known since the device came into being that mopeds, scooters, and motorcycles are far more space- and fuel-efficient than cars and trucks. They’re also dirt cheap compared to the four-wheeled behemoths we use to get aroud, most of which are a passable year’s salary. So why are they clogging the streets of Asia but not here?

One Last, Final, Last George Carlin Tribute

The late great comedian was fond of pointing out one of the most basic obsessions of American society: we’re bound, inexorably, to our stuff. Books, electronics, Aunt Edna’s silverware, it doesn’t matter. We’re so good at buying stuff that we need larger houses than the rest of the world just so we can fit all of our stuff inside. The same logic seems to apply to most truck and SUV owners (car owners, this goes for you, too, but it’s easier to pick on SUVs), who have their mode of transport for daily driving built around the one time a year it will snow enough to use the four wheel drive, or when they have to help a friend move. It’s going to take ages to get Americans to realize that they can have specialized vehicles, largely because right now it’s too expensive to be feasible. Until then, is there any way to get the population on to a scooter, and drastically cut fuel consumption?

Don’t expect much climate progress from the G8; a short-lived moratorium on solar power development is over; and on the road with Daimler’s smart car.

G8 could see climate deal but substance in doubt: When representatives of the G8 nations meet in Hokkaido, Japan, next Monday, climate change will once again be on the agenda. There’s likely to be some sort of a deal and joint statement — but don’t expect much until next year. G8 members seemed resigned to waiting out the term of U.S. President George W. Bush, who has been reluctant to embrace the sort of sweeping reforms favored by European nations. Last year, the G8 agreed in principle to halve carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. But the 2007 accords have since been subject to intense bickering between the G8 states and developing nations, who want more freedom in firing up their growing economies. (Reuters)