What Drives Us

Recorded January 18, 2012 Show notes TWO MINUTE NEWS TOPICS: Linda "There's an app for that" http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/18/doe-helps-launch-first-responder-tr... tony Honda kills drowned plant http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/01/thai-flood-honda-plant-pulled-o... Patrick air batteries http://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/2012/01/metal-air-battery-technology/ Jon Scion iQ driving report MAIN TOPICS: Why currency rates matter to cars http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/01/dropping-euro-makes-japanese-ca... (Tony, you might consider forming a nice, succinct explanation for this)(I *think* I get it) Limited editions RAV4EV and SCion iQ, coming out this year but you can't have one http://www.plugincars.com/toyota-reveals-details-electric-rav4-scion-iq-... Bob Lutz is still the biggest blowhard in the industry, and in an industry with Henrik Fisker, that's saying something http://www.plugincars.com/motors-bob-lutz’s-help-aims-sell-2000-electric-trucks-year-111497.html Speaking of Henrik, nice software bug http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1071730_fisker-issues-recall-and-per... and maybe less focus on design (and self-promotion) would be a good thing http://www.facebook.com/fiskerauto/posts/338994452791720 Tesla Model S kerfluflle proves dumbest species on the planet are "investors" http://www.freep.com/article/20120118/BUSINESS01/201180364/Tesla-says-it... Farewell to one of the pioneers of EnergyStar, Linda Latham http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/09/farewell... CES, NAIAS, trade shows and car/electronics convergence http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/14/ces-2012-automotive-round-up/ This week Patrick is up with our MPG-E tip of the Week

recorded january 11, 2012 TWO MINUTE NEWS TOPICS: Linda Supply constriction http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/01/gm-ready-to-reduce-volt-output/ Tony The almost death of high speed rail in the US http://cleantechnica.com/2011/12/07/high-speed-rail-hacked-attacked-in-u... Jason Repositioning the brand http://www.autoweek.com/article/20120111/CARNEWS/120119959 Patrick Obama defends Ev tax credit http://paper.li/OEVAorg/oeva-news-2?utm_source=subscription&utm_medium=e... MAIN TOPICS: NAIAS, we do care, really Plug-in concept debuts: Toyota NS4, Ford Fusion Energi, Honda Accord coupe, Smart For-Us, Volvo XC-60 http://www.plugincars.com/plug-vehicles-charge-stage-2012-detroit-auto-s... General NAIAS http://wot.motortrend.com/2012-detroit-roundup-show-stoppers-from-the-de... Breathing fumes, the bugster doesn't go fast enough? http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/volkswagen-e-bugster-concept/ http://www.plugincars.com/volkswagen-e-bugster-concept-refining-electric... Prius c specs and price, hot or not? http://priuschat.com/news/toyota-prius-c-53-mpg-city-46-mpg-hwy-under-19000

Or, "Danny gets thrown under the bus" Recorded January 4, 2011 Show notes: Patrick Ten EVs coming in 2012 http://www.plugincars.com/10-new-electric-cars-coming-2012-111135.html Linda Honda's in court http://articles.latimes.com/2011/dec/27/business/la-fi-autos-honda-small... http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-autos-honda-smallclaims-20120104,0... http://www.claimsjournal.com/news/west/2012/01/04/198026.htm Tony Rent to own luxury cars http://techcrunch.com/2012/01/01/luxury-car-sharing-service-higear-shuts... MAIN TOPICS: Fisker recalls all 239 cars they sold http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/01/fisker-karma-recall-is-official-239-c... Smart fourtwoEV get delayed till sept. for "battery problems" (maybe they bought packs from Fisker?) http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/26/smart-fortwo-ev-gets-delayed-until-se... Danny's favorite ad is one of the top ten of the year http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/10-most-watched-ads-2011-youtube-137242 Kia Ray EV needs hamsters, or something http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/22/kias-ray-ev-hasnt-heard-about-aerodyn... Cell phone bans don't reduce car accidents http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/19/auto-insurance-researchers-cell-phone... Volt is a flop? http://247wallst.com/2011/12/27/the-worst-product-flops-of-2011/

Recorded December 21, 2011 Our second annual Year In Review show.

recorded December 7, 2011 Show Notes Two Minute News: Linda http://www.insideline.com/features/emissions-test-car-vs-truck-vs-leaf-b... Tony Danny MAIN TOPICS: Toyota doubling down on hybrids http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111205/OEM06/312059... Fisker is the luxury car of the year? http://www.egmcartech.com/2011/12/02/top-gear-magazine-names-range-rover... http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1070132_electric-car-hating-top-gear... So pyrotechnics are a bug, not a feature? http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/02/gm-considers-new-battery-for-volt-off... But seriously, let's talk about how GM has handled this a moment of silence for (and from) aptera http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/02/aptera-fresh-out-of-greenbacks-closes...

recorded November 28, 2011 Show Notes TWO MINUTE NEWS TOPICS: Jon http://green.autoblog.com/2011/11/28/mercedes-aero-trailer-concept-mpg-s... Jason Chris Demorro has competition for this year's concern troll award http://sundial.csun.edu/2011/11/hybrids-have-the-potential-to-be-great-i... Russell The tragedy of Japan http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/11/28/377120/radiation-japan-fukushim... MAIN TOPICS: Prius c becomes "official" http://priuschat.com/news/the-prius-c-official-50-mpg-city-15-liter-engi... http://priuschat.com/news/video-an-introduction-prius-c EVs and "halo" products http://www.torquenews.com/119/ev-halo-effect-officially-fades-green-car-... GM "supposedly" will launch an "alleged" plug-in Cruze http://www.egmcartech.com/2011/11/23/report-gm-will-offer-a-plug-in-hybr...

recorded November 23, 2011 Show Notes: Is this a future for EVs? http://trexa.com/ Check out this apple, orange and lime. We like the lime the best. http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/1112_2011_hyundai_sonata_hybr... Honda finally makes a good decision? http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/17/honda-fit-ev-goes-lease-only-for-2012... Thank you for listening and have a great Thanksgiving!

recorded November 16, 2011 Show notes Special Guest, Mike Dabrowski http://99mpg.com/ The magic number. Apparently, EV's just cost 40 large. Coda announces "final" 2012 pricing, drops MSRP by five grand to $39K http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-57325764-54/coda-starts-motoring-with-... http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1068689_2011-la-auto-show-coda-relea... http://www.codaautomotive.com/ Wider topic, is there enough variation in EV pricing? http://www.greencars.org/pdf/gcipricing.pdf Mitsubishi i $29-$31K Nissan Leaf $35-$37K Ford Focus EV $39K Coda sedan $39K Tesla Model S $57-$77K Mini E (lease only) currently $600 per month for one year Smart ED (currently lease only but will go on sale for an unannounced price in 2012) $599 per month for 48 months (almost $28K but you have to give it back) Fiat 500 EV *SHOULD* be selling for about $45K if and when they decide to sell them Sort of related... Rolls makes a one-off, sorry, "prototype" EV. Do we care? http://inhabitat.com/nyc/inhabitat-takes-the-rolls-royce-102ex-electric-... I'm Burning, I'm Burning, I'm Burning For You Finally on EV's...EV's, great cars or just a bonfire waiting to happen. We look at the coverage. http://www.brandchannel.com/home/post/2011/11/14/EV-Fire-Issue-111411.aspx Because gasoline is *soooooo* safe http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/ev-related-fires-ignite-medi... http://www.torquenews.com/106/third-chevrolet-volt-fire-could-bring-abou... http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/helloworld/27344/ http://evworld.com/blogs/index.cfm?authorid=12&blogid=1005&archive=1

recorded November 9, 2011 TWO MINUTE NEWS TOPICS: Linda: Bright motors MAY make some cars http://gas2.org/2011/11/07/former-humvee-plant-may-produce-plug-in-hybri... Jason: Hasta nunca Lexus Hs250h http://www.dailytech.com/Quick+Note+Lexus+to+Reportedly+Drop+HS+250h+Hyb... Jon: http://green.autoblog.com/2011/11/08/nissan-pivo3s-quirky-ev-tokyo/ russell: new zero bikes http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/750/11496/Motorcycle-Article/2012-Zero-Mot... MAIN TOPICS: Ford Focus ev, it starts at $39K http://www.plugincars.com/ford-focus-electric http://www.ford.com/electric/focuselectric/2012/ http://www.plugincars.com/fords-focus-electric-marketing-chief-talks-pri... Tesla designs their own charging plug, good or bad or both? http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/07/tesla-bucks-industry-standard-with-ne... Is this a sign of failure or success or something or nothing? http://chevroletvoltage.com/index.php/volt-blog/18-volt/2535-chevrolet-v... This week's episode title is a nod to the fiftieth anniversary of West Side Story

recorded November 2, 2011. This week's show features Danny and Russell sans panel. Show notes: TWO MINUTE NEWS TOPICS: All new smelly cabs http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/31/nissan-leaf-evs-to-join-nyc-taxis-won... Honda says they'll try again with the Civic http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1067974_honda-okay-we-know-you-hate-... The Roadster was dead, but it's back, in 2014 http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/27/tesla-roadster-to-reappear-in-2014/ Where's the Mr. Fusion? http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/27/electric-delorean-dmc-12-prototype-go... russell- They hate him, they love him, maybe he is iron man, errrr, tony stark http://www.iewy.com/35502-elon-musk-named-innovator-of-the-year-in-techn... Kia shows commitment to magical unicorn powered cars http://www.torquenews.com/1070/kia-shows-commitment-zero-emission-auto-t... Polaris coughs up $28M for Brammo http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/1/11387/Motorcycle-Article/Polaris-Industr... And finally... Idiot of the week, author, James Wilkins, next time, do a better job at copy and paste http://www.auto-types.com/autonews/cost-of-electric-vehicles-said-to-exc... russell-ok, enough of that, let's dig into a few topics a little deeper. first up... MAIN TOPICS: Analysts, predictions and Tesla's performance (and we're not talking about cars here) http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2011/10/30/wider-loss-expected-f... (the first two topics are related from the analyst angle but not from the specific subject so let's not blend them together too much but just refer back to the analyst rant) Analysts, analysts, analysts! (but seriously, what's up with Honda) http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-31/honda-misses-profit-estimates-s... and Jazz hybrid review http://uk.autoblog.com/2011/10/31/honda-jazz-hybrid-hx-road-test/ and CR-V hybrid review http://inhabitat.com/test-drive-inhabitat-zips-around-town-in-the-manual... BYDe6, the China EV, does it matter? http://autonews.gasgoo.com/china-news/byd-official-comments-on-new-energ... http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/28/byds-e6-goes-on-sale-in-china-still-m...

recorded October 26, 2010 What do you think of what might very well be the Prius c? http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-hybrid-ev-alt-fuel-news/99050-2013-pri... It's not advanced tech, it's not all that cheap and it's not all that efficient, the Sonic LTZ from Chevy http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1067235_2012-chevrolet-sonic-ltz-sed... It's a bad week for extended range EV's http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1067487_2012-fisker-karma-20-mpg-on-... Home hackers http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/automobiles/nissan-leafs-true-believer... But, but but, solar panels will never pencil out http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/17/ges-new-factory-will-push-out-one-sol... Tesla and Panasonic sittin' in a tree... http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/13/panasonic-tesla-rekindle-romance-stri...

Recorded October 12, 2011. TWO MINUTE NEWS TOPICS: Jason: Better cars through better materials http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11282/1180565-28.stm Mark: Sheetz to install five 350Green charging stations http://www.cspnet.com/news/technology/articles/sheetz-taps-350green-ev-c... Linda http://www.jgpress.com/archives/_free/002409.html russell http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/05/tesla-delivers-100th-roadster-in-sw... MAIN TOPICS: Why financial are stupid (aside from the fact they're most often wrong than right) http://seekingalpha.com/article/298402-6-buy-3-sell-ideas-from-cramer-fo... Framing a disingenuous story http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1067126_and-the-mpg-champion-is-a-6-... Skewed numbers http://www.earthtechling.com/2011/10/ev-leader-will-be-hawaii-report-says/

Recorded October 5, 2011 Featuring hosts; Danny Cooper & Russell Frost And regular panelists; Tony Schaefer, Linda Weidemann, Mark Rickey, Justin Wages, Jon B Special thanks to Evan for going on vacation a little earlier than we expected. TWO MINUTE NEWS TOPICS: Linda http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/05/consumer-reports-calls-2011-hyundai... Tony http://www.forbes.com/sites/uciliawang/2011/09/29/feds-fund-novel-green-... Mark http://www.popsci.com/gadgets/article/2011-09/personal-turbine-makes-you... Jon http://media.toyota.ca/pr/tci/en/defending-champion-toyota-canada-216275... russell http://autos.aol.com/article/why-the-chevy-volt-is-attracting-wealthy-bu... Danny http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/05/consumer-reports-calls-2011-hyundai... MAIN TOPICS: Volt sales, it's more than a sales problem http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1066882_electric-car-sales-does-gm-h... jalopnik says the volt is a flop http://jalopnik.com/5846097/is-the-chevy-volt-a-sales-flop it's a right-wing political talking point http://nation.foxnews.com/president-obama/2011/09/27/limbaugh-ge-and-gm-... social media, car blogs and car companies, what the hell *should* they be talking about in all that space? -below are examples of social media use by above mentioned entities http://www.facebook.com/groups/chevyvoltowners/ http://www.facebook.com/nissanleaf http://www.facebook.com/fiskersantamonica http://twitter.com/#!/GreenCarReports/status/119597725791686657 http://twitter.com/#!/GreenCarReports/status/121599604402827264 http://twitter.com/#!/Honda/status/121585169374253056 http://twitter.com/#!/OurLEAF/status/121356879774482432 http://twitter.com/#!/fiskerauto http://twitter.com/#!/ChevyVolt

Recorded September 28, 2011 TWO MINUTE NEWS TOPICS: Jon: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/23/350green-to-install-400-ev-charging-s... Tony: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/23/toyota-demos-prius-proximity-notifica... Jason: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1066444_auto-dealers-lobby-against-o... Mark: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1066603_2012-fisker-karma-lands-a-ro... Danny: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1066636_upcoming-toyota-prius-c-94-m... Russell: http://pricinginsider.carsdirect.com/2011/09/27/bob-lutz-joins-new-ev-ma... MAIN TOPICS: hybrids are a better target for government than ev's says study http://www.hybridcars.com/news/carnegie-mellon-study-says-hybrids-are-be... CODA raises another $147M http://www.hybridcars.com/news/coda-holdings-raises-147-million-investor... 5 things you need to know about "clean diesel" http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1066546_2012-volkswagen-golf-tdi-cle...

Recored September 21, 2011 Mark Rickey's first episode! Fisher Surf, it's a wagon, it's a shooting brake, no, it's just as real as any other Fisker http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/13/fisker-surf-plug-in-hybrid-five-doors... Unicorns finally cough up the goods Maybe free hydrogen does exist http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14976893 Get your gift cards Honda and Nissan wallow try to create their own google bomb with mommybloggers and more http://twitter.com/#!/LiveHellaWella/status/113359274821943296 BMW and Husqvarna e-bike http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/13/bmw-unveils-concept-husqvarna-electri... Charging etiquette, where's miss manners when you need her? http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1065825_leaf-drivers-publicly-shame-... Plus an extensive breakdown of Green Drive Expo Bay Area 2011 and driving reports on new Toyota hybrids as well as two variants of the Chevrolet Cruze (the Eco and the LTZ).