According to engadge, Volkswagen is planning to release a plug-in "Twin Drive" hybrid in 2010
http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/27/volkswagen-prepping-a-plug-in-twin-drive-hybrid-for-2010/
Why does it take the American automakers so long to do this?
London's Heathrow Airport is set to install the world's first Personal Rapid Transport system. The PRT is a fleet of 18 driverless pods for business passengers flying out of Terminal Five, with installation scheduled to be complete in less than two years. Traveling at up to 25mph, the pods will ferry passengers rapidly between their cars and terminal check-in. The airport claims there will never be more than an 18 second wait, no delays due to congestion and no need to consort with the rest of the riff-raff from steerage. It's likely this new PRT system will be the first of many, as local governments seek to replace car use within city centers.
seek to replace car use within city centers.
With gas prices continuing to skyrocket daily, more small cars are making their way to America. Of course, there are other reasons why these cars are more popular. "With rising gas prices and greater environmental awareness, demand for small cars is increasing."
Read the entire It's a small-car world article
If you've been waiting anxiously for Telsa to release the much anticipated electric roadster, wait no more. Even at a price tag of $109,000 the two seat eco-friendly, speed demons are in high demand from notables such as Arnold Schwarzenegger. 
The car has the performance to match its glitz, it "goes from 0 to 60 mph in just under four seconds and tops out at 125 mph" and can go 225 miles on one charge. Best of all it looks great, and can be fully recharged in just under 4 hours.
Read more at http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/05/03/electric.car.ap/index.html?eref=rss_tech
Now you can view current weather conditions while planning your next trip with Google maps. Google has partnered with The Weather Channel to create a new interactive layers that overlay weather and radar information on top of Google Maps.
"To use the feature click on the Google Maps' My Maps tab and select The Weather Channel feature to begin exploring."
More details at PCWorld
Are we already over investing in ethanol production? According to some economists, a tank of ethanol is equivalent in cost to food for a year.
"Every day, it seems, corn ethanol gets a little less attractive. In fact, if the information in this article from the latest print edition of The Economist catches on, then ethanol advocates are going to have two more easy-to-remember absurditiies to defend: 1.) biofuels will use a third of the maize grown in the U.S. this year and 2.) filling "up an SUV's fuel tank with ethanol [uses] enough maize to feed a person for a year."
Read more at autobloggreen.com
Ok, now you can officially blame anyone driving while talking on a cell phone for making your commute longer. A recent study conducted a the University of Utah determined that people engaged in a phone call drive an average of 2 miles per hour slower.
The study concluded that "drivers on cell phones are far more likely to stick behind a slow car in front of them and change lanes about 20 percent less often than drivers not on the phone." The bottom line is that "If you commute by car an hour a day, it could all add around 20 hours a year to your commute".
Washing DC has prohibited cell phone use while driving. Maybe Portland should do the same thing.
Read more on They talk, you sit in traffic
Toyota is introducing a concept compact hybrid pickup designed in America, for Americans. What a concept! The hybrid gas-electric pickup named A-BAT makes its worldwide debut at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
I found a pretty good article with 31 tips on how to Save money and the environment by traveling green. Some of the tips are fairly commonplace but I thought were a few gems that could really be useful. If you are a geek like me, or have a busy schedule, consider adding some of these to your outlook or google calendars to reminders. For example, if you have a ski rack add a re-occuring reminder each Spring to remove it since you won't be using it over the summer months. Perhaps add a reminder to every three months to change your oil, or check tire pressure. That way you don't have to remember. Read Green Travel: 31 Tips to Save Money & Environment for more details
If you are a fan of the American auto industry, things are starting to look up for 2008. Fuel efficient cars designed to complete with the dominant Japanse models, are coming to market in 2008. According to autobloggreen, GM has released the first photos of the production Chevy Volt.
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