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2 012 POR T L AND I NT E RNAT I ONA L AUTO SHOW
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OF F I C I A L SOUV EN I R MAGA Z I NE
2012 PORTLAND INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW
06.012612 ASM
It is easy to understand why electric and
hybrid vehicles are considered green —
they’re saving fossil fuels, after all. But many
other kinds of cars and trucks have become
kinder to the environment in recent years,
too, and examples are everywhere at the 2012
Portland International Auto Show.
For many automakers, being green
starts with the manufacturing process. For
example, the Ford plant in River Rogue,
Mich., includes a roof garden and several
energy-saving technologies, including solar
panels. And Subaru has reduced the waste
thrown away at its manufacturing plants to
just about zero.
Manufacturers are also increasing the use
of recycled and natural materials in their
vehicles. For example, Nissan and Ford are
recycling plastic — including discarded water
bottles — to produce some of the new plastic
in their interiors. Ford and other companies
are also using soy-based materials in their
seat cushions and other soft components.
Many new vehicles have increased their
fuel efficiency this year, including the largest
trucks on the road. Chevrolet, Dodge and Ford
have all new V6 engines in their trucks that
offer more power, but better mileage, than
earlier V8s. And Chevrolet also increased the
fuel efficiency of its biggest diesel engine by
more than 10 percent.
More than 75 percent of vehicles that
no longer run are
already
recycled,
including virtually all
of the metal. But some
manufacturers
are
starting new recycling
program to reuse
even more of them.
For example, both
Honda and Toyota
are committed to
recycling the batteries in their hybrids. Toyota
even places a phone number for recycling
information on its batteries and pays dealers
$200 for each battery pack.
So don’t feel guilty if you want to help the
environment but don’t think an electric car is
right for you. There’s a good chance you can
be proud of any new car or truck.
Different shades of green
By
Jim Redden, Pamplin Media Group
More than
75 percent of
vehicles that
no longer run
are already
recycled..
The Fisker Karma represents a new direction for electric
vehicle manufacturers. Its design brings supercar style
to the green vehicle market.