Smart Cars
Dumb policies
And the way out of this
mess
Introducing:
The 7300 CXT
The 7300 CXT
has a gross vehicle
weight of
25,999 lbs
Yeah!
No special license required!
4-door crew cab
comfortably
accommodates up
to 6 adults!
Their advertising slogan?
“The Brilliance of
Common Sense”
It’s over nine feet tall
and 21 feet long
Brochure Slogan is:
"Possibly Too Much
Truck. Like That's a
Problem."
But what are the customers saying
about the CXT?
“Honestly though, there's nothing like
the feeling of driving a truck so big
that it takes up the width of the lane
you're in and knowing if you hit a car
you probably wouldn't feel it. Man
that's a great feeling!
http://tinyurl.com/8h8rm
“Under the United States' fuel
economy regulations, the
heaviest sport utility vehicles
and pickup trucks are exempt
from mileage requirements”
It gets about 6 miles
to the gallon.
A new model on the way!
In 2003 congress created a tax break
allowing a $100,000 write off. This
subsidy could save you $37,100 off
of your colossal SUV.
This legislation was changed in the
fall of ’04, but other tax incentives
still allow a total deduction of
$60,722. A $20,000 subsidy.
http://tinyurl.com/8oes7
Seen a few of these around lately?
But remember:
The tax break applies only to
persons with a small business
who buy the largest and least
fuel-efficient category of
SUVs.
They have to be over 3 tons.
GM's Buick division
introduced a new luxury SUV
for 2004 that weighs 6,001
pounds fully loaded, just heavy
enough....
Fortunately, it's very easy to
find attractive vehicles above
the magic 6,000-pound figure
required.
Most machines that look big
enough to qualify do qualify.
Here is a short list:
•BMW X5
•Ford Excursion
•Hummer H1, H2
•Ford Expedition
•Land Rover Discovery
•Ford Econoline E-150
•Land Rover Range Rover
•Ford Econoline E-250
•Lexus LX470
•Ford Econoline E-350
•Lincoln Blackwood
•Chevy Suburban
•Ford F-150
•Lincoln Navigator
•Chevy Tahoe
•Ford F-250
•Mercedes G500
•Dodge Durango
•Ford F-350
•Mercedes ML 320
•Dodge Ram Van
•GMC Yukon
•Mercedes ML 500
•Dodge Ram Maxi Van
•GMC Safari
•Mercedes ML55 AMG
•GMC Savana
•Toyota Land Cruiser
•GMC Sierra
•Toyota Sequoia
•GMC Sierra Denali
•Toyota Tundra
•Cadillac Escalade
•Chevy Astro
•Chevy Avalanche
•Chevy Express
•Chevy Silverado
•Dodge Ram Wagon
•Dodge Ram 1500
•Dodge Ram 2500
•Dodge Ram 3500
With fuel economies in the range of
9 to 15 m.p.g., SUVs are some of the
highest polluting vehicles
on the road.
This legislation encourages their
purchase over smaller and more fuelefficient cars. http://tinyurl.com/9htfb
For every 100,000
individuals who take
advantage of this loophole,
it costs the treasury an
estimated $1.4 billion
http://tinyurl.com/9htfb
How many
vehicles are
typically sold?
GM, Ford &
Chrysler sold
803,000 units in
August. About
1/3 were SUV’s.
http://tinyurl.com/9lhr7
Note: SUV’s dropped
50% in September ‘05
Why are these men buying these large
trucks, is it because they are lacking in
other areas?
What if a person wants something a little smaller?
Like me?
Introducing the Smart Car
• S uperbly
• M anufactured
• A nd
• R eliable
• T ransportation
The cab on the CXT 7300 is nine feet long.
The Smart CAR is nine feet long.
It’s small, but is it safe?
Yes! “In the event of an impact, the smart
fortwo's steel tridion safety cell, crumple
zones and crash boxes, and front and side
air bags will protect the driver and
passenger.”
“In a series of tests
conducted in June 2004,
the smart fortwo achieved
outstanding results.”
http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/mbccustom/smart/safety/event.cfm
In June, 2003, the experts from DEKRA
put a smart fortwo up against another small
car in a 50 km/h head-on crash test at their
Accident Research and Crash Test Center.
The result: while the passenger cell of the
other car collapsed completely, the smart
fortwo's rigid tridion safety cell remained
intact. The smart fortwo driver, they
concluded, would have survived with only
minor injuries.
The smart fortwo's superior passive safety has been confirmed
by more than 50 crash tests:
A smart car and a Mercedes-Benz E-Class (which is twice as
heavy) collided at a speed of 50 km/h in an offset frontal
collision.
In every test, the strength and rigidity designed into
the tridion safety cell provided greater occupant safety
than in other small cars and the deformation values
measured were below all internationally recognized
standards for all vehicles
In 1998,… a crash test on five small cars
using the Euro NCAP method…,
concluded that passengers traveling in the
smart car would be by far the safest.
It achieved the best results in all relevant
areas of the car and showed a clear overall
advantage over the competitive cars
involved,…
http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/mbccustom/smart/safety/event_release.cfm
The Smart Car has ESP
The straight-line traction control function is
integrated into ESP, which uses a steering
angle sensor, speed sensors at each wheel,…
and computer logic to calculate the path being
steered versus the car's actual path.
If there is a discernable difference between
what the driver asks (through steering) and the
vehicle's path, ESP applies selective braking to
correct the car.
More room in the back than you think
A trip from Vancouver to Toronto
is 2,716 miles
A smart car would use 42 gallons
(at 65 mpg)
$3.00 per gallon total: $126
A 24 mpg vehicle total: $339
A 12 mpg SUV total: $678
Smart car facts:
A smart car weighs 1,606 pounds
The 700cc engine weighs 150 pounds
Color panels are all interchangeable
Currently a four month wait in Canada
Out selling the Mini Cooper and VW
Beatle
Since 1998, 700,000 sold in 35 countries
$16,000 to $21,000 in Canada
But in the “land of the free and the home of the brave”
you are not allowed to have one.
ZAP
“We think it is a crime, at a time when we are all experiencing
the highest gas and oil prices in history, that we don't have the
full governmental support for one of the most fuel-efficient
cars in our history. You may have seen the new standards just
approved by the government that allow the Hummer to be
exempt from all fuel economy standards. Even now, the U.S.
Government announced a waiver for emissions standards on
gasoline and diesel fuel, which tells us that government can
act quickly based on public need.
Also it does seem that outside influences are slowing down the
approval process. We need your help to get you the cars you
want. Please tell the U.S. Government your desires. Write,
call, fax and e-mail your local, state and federal government
officials.” (see sample letter)
August 2005
Dear Representative:
In 1974, 35% of our oil came from outside the country; today 56% is from foreign sources. Our Country needs
energy efficient cars.
The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency is "to protect human health and the environment. Since 1970,
EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people." One of the primary purposes
of the U.S. EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ) is to "encourage travel choices that minimize
emissions."
According to various test data, the Smart Car as Americanized by ZAP would be one of the most fuel-efficient cars
ever offered for sale in the USA. We need your help.
According to our information this vehicle has passed all requirements of both the Department of Transportation and
the Environmental Protection Agency. Yet, apparently due to unknown pressure, the EPA is apparently holding up
the sale of these vehicles, which are exactly the type of vehicles the agency is suppose to encourage.
Please can you make inquiries and try to break through this unknown roadblock. ZAP has spent in excess of $10
million on this project and there are numerous jobs at stake. Furthermore, a vehicle that is as fuel efficient as the
Smart Car would greatly help the environment and would also help make our Country more secure, by reducing
reliance on foreign oil.
Over 700,000 Smart Cars have already been sold in 35 Countries. If it's good enough for 35 countries, why not the
USA?
According to surveys over 100,000 Americans want to buy these energy efficient vehicles if they were available in
the USA. Please lets make them available now.
http://www.zapworld.com/cars/smartCar.asp
The Crossblade
Enough with the gas don’t we have
anything new?
Yes, a brand new idea.
Electric
1890
William Morrison built an electric car in Des
Moines that could travel for 13 hours
at a speed of 14 mph
1898
Belgian Camille Jenatzy averaged 18 mph in a 1.1 mile
contest, beating 56 gasoline and steam cars. In another race an
electric car set the world's first land speed record reaching a
breathtaking 39.3 mph on December 18, 1898
In 1899 he set a land speed record
of 66 mph in this electric vehicle
Unfortunately,
Jenatzy died in
1913 in a hunting
accident when he
went behind a bush
and made animal
noises as a prank on
his friends who
were hunting with
him.
There were 34,000 electric cars registered in
the U.S. and almost 50 companies producing
electric vehicles from 1895 to 1920.
No engine.
No gas tank.
No tailpipe.
No emissions.
No noise.
No kidding!
Electric Vehicles
(EVs) have 1/10th as
many moving parts
as a gas cars - No
engines,
transmissions, plugs,
valves, fuel tanks,
distributors, starters,
clutches, mufflers or
catalytic converters.
Battery Electric vehicles are the
most efficient cars on the road:
Toyota RAV4 EV
887 BTU/mile
Toyota Prius Hybrid
2250 BTU/mile
Toyota RAV4 Gas
4423 BTU/mile
Sounds great! Can I get one?
The automakers produced great electric cars to meet
California’s Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate. A few
thousand people have driven the cars. But industry spent
millions lobbying in Sacramento, sued in federal court and
successfully eviscerated the mandate. Now Toyota, GM,
and Honda are confiscating and destroying thousands of
electric cars, despite offers of cash from satisfied
customers. A small number of ZEV-mandated electric cars
were offered for sale in California. They sold out quickly.
The automakers won’t even sell you the electric cars
they’ve already made. They are crushing them instead.
They only sell gas cars.
A General Motors EV1 being
loaded for destruction
78 EV1s remain on a lot in Burbank, awaiting
transport to Arizona, where they too will be
crushed. These vehicles are all in working order,
and in fact are regularly charged and moved
around the GM parking lot.
Los Angeles police arrested a
TV actress and another Los
Angeles woman, who were
attempting to stop GM from
destroying a number of EV1
electric cars. Alexandra Paul
(“Baywatch,” “Christine”) and
Collette Divine were arrested
while blocking the path of
trucks hauling the cars to the
crusher. The two, part of a group
of activists who offered to pay
$1.9 million for the vehicles,
were booked for “suspicion of
failing to obey an officer,”
Why did they kill it? One EV-1 specialist, says:
--Partly the auto industry makes 40% of their profit
on parts and service -- much of which EVs don't
need. (1/10 the parts)
--Where would the aftermarket parts companies be
if we all drove EVs?
--Partly, the automakers are partners with the oil
companies, and it's in both of their best interests to
keep us dependent on petroleum products.
http://www.evworld.com/view.cfm?section=article&storyid=875
The Ford EV Th!nk
A protest in
California
Trying to keep the
Th!nk
from the crusher
Protesters standing up to Toyota
Excerpt from a letter to Toyota:
“Toyota, in developing electric vehicles,
did accept tens of millions of taxpayer
dollars, including money from the State
of California. Although we understand
that business decisions lie completely in
your hands, it would seem that the
company is now destroying the very
cars subsidized by taxpayers.”
--Sheila James Kuehl Senator, 23rd District
http://www.dontcrush.com/images/Kuehl_27May05.pdf
Following a three-month
campaign, Toyota agreed to stop
crushing its RAV4 EV, and allow
satisfied customers to lease or
buy their zero-emission SUVs.
Ford agrees to sell the Ranger EV to
customers after an 8 day vigil in
Sacramento saves them!
http://www.dontcrush.com/rangerev/
Ford Norway HQ Taken Over by
Greenpeace. 300 Th!nk City electric cars
SAVED! Ford agrees to send EVs back to
Norway, not the crusher.
Basic Bike facts:
--Bicycles outnumber cars on our planet by two
to one
--Each year bicycle production outpaces
automobiles 3 to 1
--Bicycles in Asia alone transport more people
than all the world's cars!
--A typical human “engine” can power a bicycle
for three and one-half miles on the calories from
a single ear of corn!
Bicycles use less energy per passenger mile than any other
form of transportation:
A medium-sized car uses: 1,860 calories per passenger mile
Public buses average: 920
Rail transport: 885
Walking roughly 100 calories per "passenger" mile.
A bicycle comes in at about 35 calories per mile
The energy and materials needed for one mediumsized car can produce one hundred bicycles.
The Twike
A maximum range of 55 miles per charge and a top speed of
55mph. At the same time the TWIKE is 10 times more
efficient than a normal car. The futuristic joystick steering is
easy and fun to use. The optional pedal drive adds to the fun
and fitness of the passengers and saves even more energy.
“TWIKE owners don't pay road tax or congestion charge, and can
park and charge for free in London!”
Free electricity in London, how about America?
This couple tried to bring one into the US, but thankfully it was caught!
“I spoke to her husband, and apparently the
Twike is STILL being held in customs in
Westbrook. It’s been there for two years! - they
have been charged the 10 dollar a day
impoundment fee for all that time ($7,300) and
it is getting to the point where they feel they will
say enough is enough. They may have no
alternative but to have the Twike destroyed.”
http://www.ihpva.org/pipermail/velomobile/2002-October/subject.html#717
“Their Twike arrived in Boston last October. But customs officials held it
on the dock because it was
a) an imported vehicle and
b) lacked an NHTSA sticker.
What's worse, when the Robnetts called NHTSA officials in Washington
D.C., they were told:
a) the feds had never heard of the Twike and
b) there was "no way" its rubber would ever meet a U.S. road.
This surprised the Robnetts, who already had spoken to a man in
Vermont who imported a Twike via Montreal and is happily traversing
the Green Mountain State with no federal interference whatsoever. For
two years, the Robnett's have tried - and failed - to free their Twike. They
hired a firm that helps people clear customs hurdles, but the best it could
do was have the crate sent from the dock in Boston to the warehouse in
Westbrook.
They even reached a tentative compromise with
NHTSA whereby the Twike would become a
"demonstration project" for environmental
classes at the UNE, where Regi teaches
occupational therapy.
But when NHTSA loaded on the conditions - the
Twike must stay within 25 miles of campus,
must be in the "sole possession" of UNE, and
after six months must be exported or destroyed –
the deal fell through.
Taking the matter
into our own hands
Donald Dunklee modified a scooter for his daily 5 mile
commute. His solar powered motorcycle has not been
plugged in since April 15, 2005 and has traveled over 700
miles.
http://www.gizmag.com/go/4430/1/
The Tango
Two high efficiency electric motors driving the rear wheels can
produce a combined torque level of over 1,000 ft lbs
George
Clooney
• 0-60 mph
in 4 seconds
• Range:
80 miles
• Top speed:
150 MPH
• MPG cost: equivalent to 195 mpg
• full charge in less than 3 hours
The Tango can accelerate from zero to 150 mph in one gear.
It it’s faster than most exotica you can buy off the showroom
floor such as the Dodge Viper, Porsche Carrera GT or
Ferrari F50
Subaru R1e
Japan
50 mile range
The Lithium-ion batteries charge 90 percent in five minutes.
Goes 100,000 miles before needing battery replacement.
Production
in 2008
Mitsubishi are expecting their new MIEV to easily out
perform their previous electric concept car's range of
(155miles)
Other transportation options!
Made in America
Retail: $320
Range: 22 miles
Speed: 19 mpg
Cost to charge: 4 cents
“The Rider”
Israeli design:
Weighs 30 pounds
Runs for four hours
at 9 mph
Folds flat
Segway's Centaur Concept - the wheelie machine
Built in Gyros
Self balancing, 150 pounds, 20 mph
Canadian:
Hydrogen fuel cell
powered,
gyroscopically
balanced, one-wheeled
recreational and
commuting vehicle
provides an
extraordinary vision of
the kind of personal
transport we could be
using 20 years from
now.
Remember this one from the 20’s?
We may have this one soon. The nissan pivo
It spins around!
The inside
The End
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