eBay Listing: 1991 Alfa Romeo 164

The Alfa Romeo 164 was styled at Pininfarina, the famed Italian car design firm. It was unveiled at the 1987 Frankfurt Motor Show, as the last car offered before Alfa Romeo was purchased by Fiat.

Alfa was well known as a sports car brand. The 164 was the company’s attempt to go after the executive class with an upscale model. But this 1991 model, now listed in eBay, appeals to an entirely different class of car owner: one part lover of classic Italian styling—and one part amp-loving EV driver.

Its engine is now entirely gone, replaced by a 63 kilowatt (83 horsepower) motor.

The seller, a self-described “notorious Alfa Romeo addict,” juiced up the performance of this converted electric car by maxing out the voltage run through the Curtis controller. He has enjoyed 7,000 miles of driving pleasure without using a drop of gasoline. His custom-built charger, designed to extend the life of the lead-acid battery pack, provides a full charge via a regular 110-volt source in about 12 hours.

When fully charged, the car (if driven with caution) can go about 50 miles, although it averages about 20 miles per charge. But, after all, it’s an Alfa Romeo. So we’re guessing it’s too much fun to forget about maximizing range, and just drive this car in the speedy spirit of its original maker.

Still, bidding is off to a slow start, so this is your chance to own a truly unique Alfa EV.

It’s been more than 40 years since the first Earth Day. In that time, hybrid and electric car technology has been transformed from Buck Rogers fantasy to an everyday reality. Back in the day, driving a fuel-sipping car forced eco-minded motorists to settle on a stripped-down sluggish econobox. Today, there are more than available 40 hybrids—a range of attractive vehicles that can hold their own with any car on the road. Some of them plug into the grid to yield the equivalent of more than 100 miles per gallon.

There are more than 2 million hybrids on U.S. roads. These gas-electric fuel-sippers earn praise not only for their high efficiency and low emissions—but for their dependability, solid performance and style. Are you thinking about a new car for Earth Day 2013? Then put these five gas-electric cars on the top of your list.

Click here to read the full list on our Green Driving site!

By all accounts, Volkswagen was one of the last major car companies to offer a hybrid, when it introduced the Touarag SUV Hybrid in 2010. There’s a 2012 gas-electric Touareg available via an eBay Motors classified right now. It’s a very capable and attractive upscale mid-size SUV, offering 333 horsepower via its Audi V6 engine — and its towing brawn can handle 7,700 pounds. That doesn’t sound hybrid-like, and neither does its city-highway fuel economy average of 22 mpg. But you should see the Touareg as a precursor to a new era of electrified vehicles at Volkswagen.

The new era at VW starts with the recently released fun-to-drive 2013 Jetta Hybrid, which offers 41 miles per gallon in the city. It’s a big step forward for VW in terms of competing with efficient hybrids like the Toyota Prius, especially because the Jetta Hybrid doesn’t give up any of the driving engagement expected from the German automaker.

But VW will get much more juiced when it unveils the Audi A3 e-tron plug-in hybrid concept at next week’s Geneva Motor Show. With turbocharging and direct fuel injection, the e-tron’s 1.4-liter engine makes 110 kW (or 150 hp), and it works in tandem with a 75-kW electric motor. Total power available to the driver exceeds 200 horsepower, while offering about 30 miles of all-electric driving before the gas engine kicks in. Top speed is an Autobahn-apt 138 miles per hour.

But the A3 e-tron is a concept car. What can you actually take home? Well, if you’re in Germany or Austria, you’ll soon be able to lease the outrageously cool and sleek 261-mpg VW XL1 plug-in hybrid. (The 261 figure is not a typo.) The expected lease price of the ultra-efficient space-age lightweight two-seater is based on a sticker price of about $50,000. The XL1 is likely to be the star of the Geneva Motor Show.

Americans won’t be left out, but will have to wait until 2014 for VW’s first car that uses grid-supplied electricity as fuel. The Golf Plug-In Hybrid was recently green-lighted by VW. It uses the same system, and offers the same specs, as the A3 e-tron plug-in hybrid. The Golf plug-in hybrid is the most important of these VW plug-in cars, because its price will be more accessible to green car fans–although exact pricing has not yet been announced.

So, as compelling as the VW Touareg Hybrid is for buyers wanting a relatively efficient upscale SUV today, the best is yet to come for Volkswagen’s electric-drive vehicles—as the company pursues its dreams of becoming the biggest car company in the world, with a leadership role in every segment and technology, including the emerging market of EVs.

For more information about electric cars and other fuel efficient vehicles, visit eBay’s Green Driving Center.

Before hybrids and electric cars hit the green car scene, the best fuel efficiency strategy was to downsize. But for decades, opting for a smaller car, in order to go further on a gallon of gas, meant driving an “econobox” — a joyless, stripped-down model with little oomph and even less style. One exception has been the Mini Cooper, which was originally inspired by the need for a fuel-efficient alternative car—after the 1957 Suez Canal Crisis sent fuel prices soaring. The rest, as they say, was history. By 1969, more than 2 million Minis had been sold globally.

The new Mini made its U.S. debut in 2002, in the form of a bigger, stronger and faster model—loaded with charisma and featuring go-kart handling. It’s hardly an econobox.

By 2012, fuel efficiency improvements boosted the Mini’s mileage to 32 mpg as an average across city and highway driving, while delivering lots of fun from behind the wheel. The Mini’s success has bred larger versions of the car—the Mini Clubman and Mini Countryman—granting more passenger and cargo space, while keeping average fuel economy above 30 MPG.

The Countryman, the biggest Mini (an oxymoron?), attempts to combine efficiency, a great driving experience, and more heft—exactly the inspiration for this one-of-a-kind custom 1965 Austin Mini turned into a monster mobile now available on eBay Motors.

It is fully restored and sits on a Jeep YJ frame with 6″ lift kit. Add four-wheel-drive, four-wheel disk brakes, power steering, 35″ tires, and military whip antennas (for show) to get what the seller says is “always a crowd pleaser.”

The formula used in this restored 1965 Classic Mini Monster — keeping things efficient and small, while delivering as much fun and functionality as possible — is very much in play in today’s auto industry. Carmakers are innovating with segments and styles to defy expectations about how much MPG can be delivered in the most exciting package.

For more information about the latest greatest green car technology, visit eBay Green Driving.

Fiat today unveiled an all-electric version of its iconic 500 subcompact. Every bit as cute and iconic as the gas-powered Fiat 500, the so-called 500e takes on a blend of both retro and futuristic design—complete with dot patterns on the front grille influenced by Italian furniture, and a new Electric Orange color for the exterior, and interior accents. But in the most fundamental way, the Fiat 500e breaks from tradition by offering a zero-emissions all-electric powertrain.

The Fiat 500e delivers more than 80 miles of estimated range on single charge, by virtue of its 24 kilowatt-hour liquid-cool lithium ion battery pack. Power is delivered via a 111-horsepower 83-kilowatt electric motor.

It’s expected to deliver an estimated 116 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) in the city and 100 MPGe highway. In an EV, engineers can decide how much to mimic the feel of a conventional automobile. It appears that Fiat is aiming for familiarity, by adding a “creep” feature that launches the car as soon as its brake pedal is released, just like a vehicle powered by an idling engine.

According to Fiat, the electric 500 was designed to match—if not beat—the driving pleasure of the conventional version in terms of performance, handling and braking. An upgraded chassis and suspension increases spring rates and shock-tuning, for optimum ride comfort and body control. All electric cars are quiet, but the Fiat 500e promises to bring cabin noise to a whisper. Fiat engineers developed an all-new noise, vibration and harshness package for this car.

The car comes loaded with 21st century technology, including TomTom navigation route planning (with locations to nearby charging stations), and a smartphone app unique to the 500e. Large digital readouts on the dash indicate speed and range, as well as dynamic gauges providing feedback on battery state-of-charge. The battery’s liquid thermal-management system maintains battery capacity even in very cold or hot climates, avoiding problems with diminished range experienced by Nissan Leaf owners in Arizona.
When using a 240-volt power source, a depleted empty battery pack can be completely filled in four hours.

General Motors also used the L.A. Auto Show to debut its own small electric car, the 2014 Spark EV. GM announced that the electric Spark will be sold for $25,000—after a $75,00 federal tax credit. Pricing has not been announced for the Fiat 500e.

The subcompact EV segment is growing more crowded, with the Fiat 500e joining the Spark EV, Smart Electric Drive, and Mitsubishi i. This segment has until now not proven very popular. But not until the arrival of the Fiat 500e has there been a small EV with this much pizzazz and charisma. It goes on sale in California sometime next year.

On Monday, Motor Trend magazine announced that the all-electric 2012 Tesla Model S won its Car of the Year Award. It was the first time Motor Trend gave the distinction to a pure electric vehicle, and the first time the judges were unanimous in their decision.

The Motor Trend award follows Automobile Magazine giving the Model S its top annual award earlier this month. This is likely just the beginning of the awards circuit for the Model S. Tesla’s sporty luxury EV is the front-runner for other upcoming major awards, such as the North American Car of the Year, presented at the Detroit auto show.

While a single car does not make an entire category, Tesla Model S’s sweep of awards will create a new level of legitimacy to the entire electric car category. Only an electric vehicle could garner a description like this one, provided by Motor Trend editor-at-large, Angus MacKenzie: “The Model S is one of the quickest four-door sedans ever built. It drives like a sports car, feels as smoothly effortless as a Rolls Royce, and is more fuel-efficient than the Toyota Prius.” Moreover, MacKenzie said that the Model S, produced by a start-up American automaker, proves that “America can still make things. Great things.”

The Chevy Volt, an American-made plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, won many Car of the Year awards last year—but the level of praise is mild compared what is being heaped on the Tesla Model S—an all-electric car that is capable of going up to 300 miles on a single charge. While the 250-300 mile version of the Model S, costs as much as $100,000 fully loaded, the variant offering about 160 miles of range drops down in price to below $50,000 after federal tax incentives.

In granting its top honor to the Model S, Automobile magazine editor-in-chief Jean Jennings praised the car’s performance. “The Model S can blow away almost anything,” she said. “The crazy speed builds silently and then pulls back the edges of your face. It had all of us endangering our licenses.”

In my week with the Model S—to prepare for my review of the car for The New York Times—I also loved the car’s performance. But it was the whole package that makes the Model S such an accomplishment—from the Aston Martin styling and low center-of-gravity handling, to the 17-inch jumbo iPad touchscreen on the dashboard and access to a network of highway superchargers in California. The network makes all-electric roadtrips, for example between San Francisco and Los Angeles, a practical reality.

At the end of the day, awards are merely symbolic—and don’t reshape real-world market dynamics. But there’s little doubt the Model S is a true achievement, and will provide unprecedented opportunities to promote electric-drive vehicles as a viable alternative to internal combustion engine vehicles. On Monday, after receiving the award, Elon Musk, Tesla’s chief executive predicted, “Other car companies will in fact copy us and pursue their own electric car programs with greater vigor as a result of this award.”

This means more and better EVs on the market, and greater opportunities for green car shoppers to find exciting and capable cars that use zero petroleum and have no tailpipe emissions.

For more information about EVs and other fuel efficient cars, visit eBay’s Green Driving Center.

In 2014, Mercedes-Benz will begin selling a new small electric car, the B-Class E-Cell, in the United States. The car will use electric components supplied by Tesla Motors, and should display some of Tesla’s impressive high-power acceleration. But eBay shoppers don’t need to wait that long for a sweet all-electric Benzo. This 1965 Mercedes-Benz 230SL has been converted to run purely on batteries.

The pedigree of this EV is impressive. According to the listing, it was converted by a master Mercedes mechanic, who created electric car prototypes for General Motors. The seller personally hired the engineer/mechanic to do the conversion. The project took about 600 hours. The result is gorgeous—all the style of a 1960s Mercedes convertible coupe, with the innards of a 21st century emissions-free EV.

“It was very important to me that the car look exactly the same as it did before the conversion (dead sexy) and it does,” he writes. “I even went through extra pains to retain the original manual transmission. It just wouldn’t feel right without a shifter.”

The top speed is governed to 55 miles per hour. And in its current configuration, the driving range is limited to in-town use, about 30 miles per charge via its lead acid battery pack. But the seller says range could be extended to about 50 or 60 miles, with the addition of another half-dozen battery cells—at an estimated cost of about $1,000.

This EV is truly one-of-a-kind. “The car gets a lot of attention and is great publicity for a business,” writes the seller. But most of all, it’s a gorgeous drive. “There is nothing on earth like riding in this car on a warm afternoon with the top down. A silent whoosh, birds chirping as she speeds along,” he writes. “There no better way to clear the mind, and heart.”

For more information about fuel efficient cars, visit eBay’s Green Driving Center.

Photo credit: Imperial LimoLand

Imperial Coach Builders of Springfield, Mo. made headlines in June when it created the world’s first all-electric stretch limousine. “We took a regular Nissan LEAF electric,” said Nathan Daily, the company’s head electrician, “And we cut it into two and basically extended the frame and everything to add a center section to stretch it into a limousine.” That electric limo is now up for auction on eBay.

There’s only a day left in the auction, but nobody has yet met the starting bid of $50,000.

The process of stretching the Leaf obviously adds weight to the EV, which still employs Nissan’s 24-kilowatt hour lithium-ion battery pack. Therefore, driving range on a single charge will be less than the usual 80 or so miles offered by the Leaf.

But this does not diminish the uniqueness of the vehicle, or the publicity (and green cred) the right owner would get from driving what is likely the world’s only zero-emissions limousine. The design is fully revealed in a YouTube tour of the vehicle.

For more information about electric cars and other fuel efficient vehicles, visit eBay’s Green Driving Center.

Click to view the auction listing: 2013 Nissan Leaf Limousine

When you think of hybrid cars, BMW is probably not the first automotive brand that comes to mind. So, you might be surprised to learn that BMW started selling its first hybrid nearly three years ago. The makers of the ultimate driving machine can now point to four different hybrid vehicles, including the X6 SUV, 7-Series, 5-Series—and as of last month—the first hybrid version of its 3-Series model.

The 2013 BMW 3-Series ActiveHybrid is now available through select dealerships on eBay Motors. Don’t expect Prius-levels of efficiency on any BMW hybrids. The gas-electric technology is intended to offer only slightly better fuel economy than its pure gasoline models — but without an iota of compromise when it comes to performance. In other words, the ActiveHybrid 3 is fast, offering the same acceleration as a 335i, but with the mpg of the less powerful BMW 328i.

The EPA estimates city mileage on the 3-series hybrid at 25 mpg, compared to the 335i’s 23 mpg. The highway mileage for both vehicles is 33 mpg.

BMW describes the core philosophy of its technology as “EfficientDynamics.” That’s marketing lingo for maximizing efficiency, while making the car as dynamic (see: sporty) as possible.

We can also translate that to what’s happening under the hood of the ActiveHybrid 3. The 3-Series hybrid powertrain employs a twin-scroll turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six with a 55-horsepower electric motor, a lithium-ion battery pack, and an eight-speed automatic transmission. Total horsepower is 335 ponies. The hybrid can travel on electric power for about two-and-a-half miles at an average speed of 22 mph. The electric motor can power the sedan at speeds of up to 37 mph alone.

Pricing for the BMW 3-Series ActiveHybrid starts just past $50,000 — nearly $7,000 more than the 335i. This model on eBay is listed at $60,770.00 That price premium, which has also been applied to other BMW hybrids, helps explain why hybrid-electric Bimmers have not been big sellers. BMW has developed a line of hybrids, but has been cautious to produce or sell very many of them. The company appears to be keener on cars that use bigger jolts of electricity — like the all-electric futuristic i3 expected in 2013, and the outrageously cool i8 plug-in hybrid sports car due the following year.

Then again, BMW is leaving no stone unturned. In June 2012, the German automaker signed an agreement to collaborate with the hybrid leader, Toyota. The two companies will work on fuel cells, lightweight materials and powertrain electrification. “Toyota and the BMW Group share the same strategic vision of sustainable individual future mobility,” said Norbert Reithofer, chairman of the board of BMW. “Together we have a great opportunity to continue leading our industry through this transformation.”

The 3-Series ActiveHybrid gives you a chance to directly experience the power of BMW’s vision of a sustainable mobility today.

For more information about fuel efficient cars, visit eBay’s Green Driving Center.

The Volkswagen Beetle is one of the most iconic car designs of the past 100 years. Created by Ferdinand Porsche in the 1930s for the Third Reich (as “the people’s car”), its simple but high-quality design endured for most of the 21st century—becoming a top-seller around the globe.

After a slow decline beginning in the 1970s, production shifted to Brazil and Mexico. More than 20 million VW Beetles were produced, before the final model rolled off the line in Mexico in 2003. This 1998 model available on eBay was produced in Mexico, nearly two decades after the Beetle was no longer sold in the United States, according to the seller. (The New Beetle, which drew inspiration from the original, was introduced in 1997.)

This 1998 Beetle is unique in a number of ways. Because it’s been a museum piece for the past 14 years, it only has 4,000 miles on the odometer. It’s practically new. Moreover, the 1998 Beetle was converted to run purely on electricity. The homebrew conversion to EV means that its top speed is only 40 miles per hour, and its eight batteries—installed new in September 2012 — grant 40 miles on a single charge.

EV conversions have fallen out of favor, now that Nissan, Ford, Tesla and others are selling electric cars across the country. Factory-built electric cars are more durable, come with full warranty packages, and offer highway-capable driving with fast acceleration. Driving range on a charge can be 80 miles or more. But none of the new EVs have the rich design heritage as this 1998 electric Beetle.

If you believe that only a backyard DIY guy would want to merge 21st century battery-powered technology into a classic 20th century design, think again. Volkswagen itself has slowly and quietly been working on electric mobility — and at the 2012 Detroit auto show, unveiled the E-Bugster concept vehicle. That’s right: VW’s own electric version of the bug.

The E-Bugster is a sleeker more modern rendition of the Beetle—using a 115-horsepower electric motor, and a 28.3-kilowatt-hour battery pack to provide 110 or more miles of driving range. Its drivetrain is similar to VW’s electric Golf. Volkswagen has 80 e-Golfs on the road in Berlin in a pilot program. The preliminary feedback from drivers is very positive.

Electric cars using what VW calls its “Blue-e-Motion electric powertrain” will go into production in cars—more likely the Golf rather than the E-Bugster—as soon as 2013. Perhaps the E-Bugster will follow soon after, potentially becoming the people’s EV for the 21st century. In the meantime, you could drive the future by making a top bid on this 1998 Classic Beetle, converted to run on electricity rather than fossil fuel.

Click the link for more details: 1998 VW Beetle — Electric

For more information about fuel efficient cars, visit eBay’s Green Driving.

In the past decade, the gas-electric Toyota Prius has risen in status from science project to mainstream vehicle. In September, the 50-mpg hybrid was the eighth most popular car in the U.S., and the biggest gainer—more than doubling sales from a year ago. But for all the merits of hybrid technology—great fuel economy and low emissions—it’s the automotive equivalent of a sensible diet: good for you, but not a lot of fun. For drivers wanting high-mpg, but a more rollicking ride from behind the wheel, there’s an alternative: diesel.

For many Americans, diesel carries a stigma for belching dirty black plumes of exhaust.
It’s time to ditch that image. Thanks to a combination cleaner low-sulfur fuel, advanced engine design, and particulate scrubbers and filters, total emissions from modern clean diesel cars like the Volkswagen Jetta TDI and Passat TDI have been cut by more than 90 percent compared to their predecessors. Today, diesels sold on the U.S. are usually cleaner and more fuel-efficient than their gas-powered counterparts. And equally important, today’s clean diesel cars appeal to drivers who like to step on the accelerator pedal and go.

The Passat TDI demonstrates how a diesel technology translates to an impressive fuel economy rating of 43 mpg on the highway and 31 mpg in the city. Except for hybrids and electric cars, the most efficient diesels beat all pure petro-powered sedans on the MPG charts. The Passat has consistently drawn rave reviews from critics who celebrate its mix of torque and fuel economy. It was named the 2012 Motor Trend Car of the Year.

There are more than a dozen clean diesels currently available the U.S.—ranging from affordable, sporty sedans to pricey luxury SUVs. The VW Passat TDI is the only clean diesel mid-size sedan available in the U.S. The Jetta TDI is available as a small sedan or a wagon. Its packaging as a versatile wagon format has helped it become the second most popular high-mpg vehicle in America—outsold only by the Prius liftback.

Many diesel cars can also run, without modification, on biodiesel. But owners should consult with the fine print on your car’s warranty to make sure use of alternative fuels is covered.

Like nearly every other major automaker, VW is covering its bases when it comes to green car technology. Before the end of the year, the German automaker will introduce its first hybrid in the form the 2013 Jetta. Powered by an all-new 1.4-liter turbocharged gas engine, and an electric motor, the Jetta Hybrid will offer combined city-highway fuel economy of 45 miles per gallon—and a 0-60 mph time of less than 9.0 seconds.

But don’t take this as a sign that hybrids have beaten diesels in a battle of green car technologies. Earlier this week—in a turning of the table—Toyota (the hybrid champion) signaled its own diesel intentions. In Tokyo, Toyota vice chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada unveiled a new 1.4-liter clean diesel for passenger cars. Automotive pundits predict that Toyota will soon offer diesel-powered models as high-torque fast-off-the-line alternatives to its growing line of hybrids.

Check out all the clean diesel cars for sale, and more background info, at eBay Green Driving.

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VOLKSWAGEN ANNOUNCES 2013 JETTA HYBRID PRICING

The latest member of the Jetta family offers competitive pricing, excellent fuel economy, and the fun-to-drive nature expected of a Volkswagen

Jetta Hybrid starts at $24,995*, with SE priced from $26,990
Most fuel-efficient Jetta in the lineup with manufacturer estimated combined fuel economy of 45 mpg**
World’s first hybrid to use a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission
Fastest compact hybrid in its class with an estimated 0-60 mph of less than 9.0 seconds
Drives as a full EV at speeds of up to 44 mph
Premium features include LED taillights and Daytime Running Lights, plus Bi-Xenon headlights

**Manufacturer estimate of fuel economy only; EPA results may vary

The Toyota Prius, the quintessential hybrid car, now comes in four distinct flavors. There’s the conventional liftback; the wagon-like Prius V; the compact Prius C; and since March, a plug-in version. It’s currently offered in only 15 states, but it goes national next year. Toyota wants to sell 15,000 a year.

A few weeks ago, I drove a Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid for a week. For most of the week, when I was driving my kids’ carpool and doing local errands, the dashboard display read somewhere between 99 and 250 MPGe. The “e” stands for equivalent because I was almost always running on electricity, rather than gasoline measured in gallons. On a longer trip, the car simply reverted back to a 50-mpg Prius.

This versatility explains why the Chevy Volt, also a plug-in hybrid, and the plug-in Prius were purchased by nearly 20,000 car shoppers in 2012 through August—while the pure electric Nissan Leaf sold only about 4,000 units. In September, the Volt had a record-breaking month, selling nearly 3,000 units.

Auto executives, on hand at this year’s Paris Motor Show (which runs through October 14) have been paying close attention to how plug-in hybrids are outselling EVs. “There will be, for a long time to come, no alternative to the internal combustion engine,” said Martin Winterkorn, Volkswagen’s chief executive. “The new powertrain taking shape as very promising is the best of electric and engine power: the plug-in hybrid.”

Didier Leroy, Toyota Motor Europe CEO, agreed. “Customers are not yet willing to compromise on range,” he said. “And they don’t like the time needed to re-charge the batteries.”

Plug-in hybrids are like electric cars with training wheels. For the first stretch of driving—somewhere between about 10 and 40 miles, depending on the model—a plug-in hybrid runs purely or mostly on electricity from the grid. But then, an onboard gas engine wakes up to provide the same amount of range as a conventional gas-powered car.

At the end of the day, consumers need alternatives. So, the plug-in Priuses listed on eBay [link]—in California, Arizona and Michigan—are reassuring. It’s a solid choice for consumer wanting to go green, without having to give any thought to driving range.

The jury is still out on the long-term prospects for pure electric cars, models that never use a drop of gasoline. But until then, plug-ins like the Prius Plug-in Hybrid—as well as the Chevy Volt, and Ford C-Max Energi—will help tens of thousands of Americans reduce emissions, save money at the pumps, and make a transition to petroleum-free driving.

For more information about fuel efficient cars, visit eBay’s Green Driving Center.

Now that summer is, unfortunately, in the rear-view-mirror, perhaps you’ve noticed the days getting shorter and the nights cooler. As temperatures continue to drop, you might also see a slight decline in your car’s MPG. That’s completely normal, and should be expected. In fact, by the heart of winter, the drop in fuel efficiency could be as much as 10 to 20 percent.

Drivers of fuel-efficient cars, like the 50-mpg Toyota Prius, could notice the drop more than gas-guzzling SUVs. That’s because a 10-percent fall in efficiency in a 15-mpg vehicle will seem like a negligible difference of a mile or two per gallon—while fuel economy in a hybrid could decline into the mid- or low-40s.

This might seem like a big disappointment to greenies who take pride in wringing every mile out of a gallon. But in driving, as in life, everything is relative. Drivers of hybrids, electric cars, and fuel-efficient clean diesel vehicles should continue to feel good throughout the winter about their savings at the pump and on the planet—even if the numbers aren’t intrinsically quite as high as they were in the summer.

But why, after all, do MPG numbers drop in cold weather? Five reasons to consider:

1. Longer Warm-up Time
Cars, just like most people, operate best within a moderate temperature range. But in winter, engines take longer to warm up—usually running at high RPMs until reaching an ideal temperature. When shutting down, the car and its systems cool off faster. The next time you start up the car, once again, the engine management system slurps more fuel to warm up—often producing a richer fuel-mixture to maintain temperature. Engine oil and other fluids also thicken (and become less effective) as they cool. Then there’s human warm-up: the extra time you’re sitting idle, blasting the heat and burning gas, as you wait for the cabin to get nice and toasty.

2. Tires are Stiffer and Tire Pressure Drops
When the mercury falls, tire pressure drops. A 10-degree (Fahrenheit) change in ambient temperature means about a 1-psi change in tire pressure, which in turn costs nearly a half-percentage point of fuel-economy. Also, until a tire warms up on the road, it will be stiffer and not roll quite as easily.

3. More Power Drawn for Heating and Lighting
In colder darker months, you’re likely to more frequently use headlights, defrosters, and heaters. All of these accessories draw more juice. An electric car, which doesn’t have a warm engine to use as a heat source, uses an electric heater that pulls power from a battery and reduces driving range. A hybrid will keep its gasoline engine running, rather than switching over to battery power.

4. Challenging Road Conditions
The air is denser when it’s cold. Your car is also forced to fight winter winds. The roads can be covered with snow and ice. This all adds up to more resistance, or can cause the car to slip and slide on ice. Either way, winter road conditions are unpleasant and inefficient.

5. Winter-blend Gasoline
Oil companies change their fuel formula in in the winter. The idea is to match the right level of evaporation and volatility based on the ambient temperature. This can improve the reliability of your car’s engine—but winter gas has fewer hydrocarbons and therefore won’t take you as far on a gallon. Here’s the good news: gasoline generally costs less in the winter.

These are the cold hard facts about lower mileage in the winter. There’s not much you can do about it. That is, besides trying to drive less, and realize that just as spring and summer passed in a flash, so will the least fuel-efficient months of the year.

Photo credit: Flickr/Linda N.

Study: Used Hybrids and Electric Cars Retain Value

The economics of buying a fuel-efficient car can be misleading.  Critics of hybrids and electric cars often say, “They’re not worth it.”  That’s because their calculations about payback period—how long it takes to recoup a higher upfront cost—often exclusively look at fuel savings, based on higher MPG.  What number crunchers fail to consider is resale value.

According to FuelEconomy.gov — a consumer information website managed by the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency—the MSRP of a 2012 Toyota Prius is $4,315 more than a 2012 Toyota Matrix. But given the Prius’s 50-MPG rating, compared to the Matrix’s 27.5 MPG, a buyer will see a payback of the extra upfront cost in 4.7 years.   A Ford Fusion Hybrid versus its 2.5-liter gas sibling means a payback in 4.4 years.  And for some model comparisons, like the 39-MPG Lincoln MKZ Hybrid and its gas version that carries an identical price tag, the payback is immediate.

But these payback calculations completely change when you take resale into consideration. Especially when gas prices are high, hybrids and EVs can retain thousands of extra dollars of resale value compared to less efficient models.  In other words, when it comes time to sell, any extra upfront cost comes right back.  The gas savings during the ownership period becomes a bonus. Conversely, owners of large inefficient trucks and SUVs can be fleeced when they sale their gas-guzzlers, usually in a rush when the price of gasoline skyrockets.

A 2011 Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) study, using auction data from Manheim Auctions, validated the high-MPG resale advantage.  CMU showed that after three years of ownership, the Toyota Prius and Volkswagen Jetta TDI (an efficient clean diesel vehicle) retained greater percentage of their initial purchase price than the conventional gasoline vehicles.  Researchers observed a resale ratio of approximately +0.3 in the summer of 2008 as gasoline and diesel prices rose to record levels.

More recently, the June 2012 edition of the National Automobile Dealers Association’s Used Car Guide declared that the average trade-in value, after one year, for a typically equipped 2011 Leaf SV electric car would be $23,975—or 95 percent of its sticker price of $25,280, after the $7,500 federal tax credit. (NADA considers tax credits and rebates just like any traditional cash incentive.)  The projected trade-in value of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, according to the NADA guide, is $29,325—or 90 percent of its post-incentive $32,780 sticker price.

The values for Leaf and Volt are projected to decline a bit more in the five-year time frame—mostly based on an expectation that more capable plug-in cars are expected by mid-decade.  But hybrids, which have been on the U.S. market for more than a decade, are projected to continue retaining high resale values in coming years.

When you add everything up—the luxury features that come standard on many hybrids and EVs (creating an uneven comparison), tax incentives usually not included in ROI calculations, and strong resale values—the economics tilt even more strongly in favor of the most fuel-efficient cars on the road.  Also, there is the added societal and environmental benefit of reduced emissions and less dependence on foreign oil.  To a growing number of consumers, that’s priceless.

Photo Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images

For more information about electric cars and other fuel efficient alternatives, visit eBay’s Green Driving Center.

More than sixty communities around the country will be holding events to celebrate the second annual National Plug-in Day on Sunday, September 23. The event, designed to stimulate interest in electric cars, is organized by the Electric Auto Association, Plug In America—and perhaps surprising to some people—the Sierra Club. eBay Green Driving spoke with Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club, to find out why an organization dedicated to preserving natural places would want to support cutting-edge electric car technology.

Why is the Sierra Club promoting electric vehicles?

We have a deeply held philosophy at Sierra Club that you can’t just criticize the things that are wrong with the world. You have to offer real pragmatic solutions to some of the biggest problems that we face. I think it’s safe to say that most Americans believe we need to reduce our dependence on oil, if not get off oil entirely, because of its impact on public lands, the Arctic, the Gulf, foreign policy, and our economy. Electric vehicles aren’t the only solution to our oil problem, but it’s in a handful of the best solutions.

We believe it’s very important to electrify the transportation sector, or as much of it as we can, in order to help people get from place to place in a way that doesn’t pollute nearly as much.

Critics say that electrics and other fuel-efficient cars are too expensive, and that consumer will not reap any savings at the pumps.

It’s factually untrue. My family has been driving a hybrid for eight years now. It did cost a little more than a conventional car when we bought it. But we have more than made up for those costs, and have had significant net savings over the life of the vehicle. And we expect to have it for a few more years.

Yes, it’s fair to say that the purchase price of a plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle may be higher than that of a car that uses more gas, but it’s also demonstrably true and there’s plenty of evidence that depending on how much you drive, and how much gas prices rise, that over four, five, six years, you’ll see significant savings. It’s rare in life when you find one solution that works for multiple problems. An electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid helps cut air pollution, helps stabilize greenhouse gas emissions, helps to cut costs, helps to revitalize the manufacturing sector in the U.S., and helps to reduce our dependence on oil.

So, unless you are a senior executive working at Exxon or Chevron, there’s not much to not like about cars that use a lot less gas.

Is the Sierra Club taking on the oil industry?

Yes, we are. It’s even bigger. As a country, we’ll be stronger, healthier, and more resilient when we break our dependence on fossil fuels. When we do, and I’m confident that we can, we’ll increase the quality of Americans’ lives. We’ll be able to put more people to work. We’ll make our air and water cleaner, and our climate and our economy more stable. The only question is how quickly we can move beyond oil, and how we can we do it in a way that maintains our quality of life. In addition to other transportation choices like biking, walking, and transit, we think that electric vehicles are one of the most effective ways to meet those objectives.

Is an electric vehicle in your future?

Definitely. We’re maybe a couple years away from our next car. We made a commitment that our next car will definitely take a plug. I don’t think we’ll ever buy a car again that doesn’t have a big battery.

Does holding on to a car longer, or buying used, make sense from an environmental perspective?

There’s a fourth R that goes in there. Reduce, reuse, repair, and recycle. As a country, and as a species, we’re past the carrying capacity of our planet. We’re using more resources than can be sustained. So, what we have to do for everything we consume is to find a way to repurpose and extend the life of lots of products. And cars are no different.

It’s clear that Americans’ usage patterns of cars are changing significantly. People are living closer to work. People are engaging in car-sharing as well. We think it’s possible for someone to have a car for a much longer period of time, if they use it less—but also to be buying fewer new cars and extending the life of the existing fleet.

What role does public education play in making these positive changes regarding transportation?

Cars really didn’t change that much for more than a half a century. Now, what we’re seeing is technology that will make things a little bit different. As you go from a conventional car to a hybrid, the only real impact is that you use less gas and pay less money at the pump. As you move from a hybrid to a plug-in hybrid, you have to make sure to plug in at night and that the car is fully charged. But you see even more savings in greenhouse gas emissions and fuel costs. And once the leap is made to fully electric vehicles, then there’s another usage pattern altogether.

Sierra Club has more than a million members and supporters. And a big part of our involvement in National Plug In Day, and other similar activities, is to help our members as they move toward hybrid or plug-in or electric vehicles, if they drive at all, to educate each other about the best ways to use the new technology.

For more information about electric cars and other fuel efficient alternatives, visit eBay’s Green Driving Center.

The Detroit Electric automobile company produced about 14,000 pure electric vehicles during its 32-year run from 1907 to 1939. This Model 75, made in 1918, is one of only several hundred still on the road today.

In 1918, when this Model 75 was produced, electric vehicles were already going the way of the horse. The self-starter for gas-powered cars had been introduced five years earlier, in 1913. Before the self-starter, gas-powered cars didn’t sell as well because they were hard to crank-start. (That’s probably where we get the word “cranky.) By contrast, EVs in those days, just like today, started up silently and with little effort. Ease of operation is what made electric cars of the era especially appealing to women drivers.

In fact, electric car interiors were designed to appeal to the female demographic. Check out the interior photo on this model. EVs of the era featured the styling of Victorian-era sitting parlors. Another selling point was its use of curved window glass, reportedly the first vehicle to feature such refinement in a production automobile.

The driver controlled the car with a relatively confusing set of controls: a steering tiller (rather than a steering wheel); a lever to manage speed; and individual pedals for reversing, braking, and cutting off power from the motor.

The top speed of the Model 75 is 25 miles per hour. By the way, that’s 100 miles less than the top speed of 2012 Tesla Model S. (There have been considerable improvements in battery and motor technology in the past century.) Acceleration for the 1915 EV, according to several web reports, is from zero to 23 miles per hour in 30 seconds, if going down hill.

The leisurely pace allows this collectible electric car to travel 50 miles or more on a single charge. Be advised that while the 1915 Detroit Electric has its original paint and other equipment, it needs a new set of batteries.

Still, at the starting bid of $35,000, it could be quite a deal for the right collector. In August 2012, RM Sales of St. John’s Michigan, sold a similar 1918 Model 75 for $44,000.

Click the link to follow the bidding for this eBay listing: 1918 Detroit Model 75

For more information about electric cars, visit eBay’s Green Driving Center.

The Corbin Sparrow is a single-passenger, three-wheeled, pure-electric people mover. Only 300 of these wonderfully funky vehicles were produced, from 1992 to 2002. This one up for auction on eBay is Number 140. It’s even more unique—if that’s possible— because its owner has tricked it out with a custom metallic dark gray paint job, chrome rims, tinted windows, LED tail lights, and a two-tone gray and black seat with red piping.

As originally produced, the fiberglass Corbin Sparrow featured an array of day-glow color options—such as lilac, teal, magenta, and aqua.

What’s the genesis of this vehicle? Well, have you ever considered that a gas-powered vehicle uses nearly all its energy just to carry its own weight down the road? Experts estimate that less than 10 percent of the fuel’s power is used to move the passengers.

As the legend goes (and is told on CorbinSparrow.com), Mike Corbin stood on an overpass in Los Angeles in 1989, and observed a sea of solo-traveling drivers surrounded by tons of metal, stuck in morning rush-hour traffic. He thought there must be a better way. Mike and his son Tom — well-established makers of motorcycle seats in Hollister, Calif. — became determined to invent a much more efficient commuter vehicle. Seven years later, the first Sparrow debuted at the San Francisco Auto Show.

The “personal electric vehicle” features two wheels in the front and one in the back. According to the seller, it has a top speed of 75 miles per hour. It uses thirteen 12-volt, lead-acid batteries that can be charged through a standard 110-volt outlet. The batteries for this specific model were purchased in 2009. According to the seller, “the batteries are currently out of the car so I can charge them individually, but I’m happy to put them back into the car.” (Technically, the Sparrow is considered a motorcycle.) Expect around 30 miles of range on single charge, which takes six to eight hours.

Several Sparrows were featured in the 2002 movie, Austin Powers: Goldmember. But in March 2003, mechanical and electric problems with a number of Sparrow units unfortunately caused Corbin Motors to cease operations. The company was briefly resurrected in 2004 by Myers Motors, which renamed the vehicle as the NmG (which stands for “No More Gas.”) Myers Motors continues today to work to commercialize funky highway-capable all-electric personal vehicles.

This Y2K Corbin Sparrow, with 5,000 miles of use, is a piece of automotive history—but vehicles like the Sparrow might also lead the way to a new future for transportation. The idea of an efficient personal electric people mover has been promoted by major automakers, which in recent years have unveiled innovative models such as the Renault Twizy and General Motors’s PUMA (Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility) vehicle.

Watch the bidding for this 2000 Corbin Sparrow

The Land Rover Defender is a British four-wheel-drive off-road utility vehicle developed from the original Land Rover Series launched in 1948. First called the Land Rover Ninety and Land Rover One Ten—names referring to the number of inches in its wheelbase—it became the Defender in 1990. That name derives, at least in part, to the vehicle’s role in military actions, such as the first Gulf War.

This 1996 model on sale is stationed in Australia, where a previous generation of Land Rovers was adapted for military use. The adaptability of the vehicle is also evidenced by a Y2K special edition, built to celebrate the role of the vehicle in the Tomb Raider film series. That one was equipped with additional spotlights, a snorkel, and a V8 petrol engine.

This Defender model now available on eBay, instead, runs on biodiesel, and is thus defending the environment. Its steel roll cage is painted green, and its side panels are emblazoned with vinyl letters that read, “Green Machine.”

Biodiesel is a fuel made entirely from plant materials. It is widely considered to greatly reduce tailpipe emissions, including hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, biodiesel can also decrease output of carbon dioxide—a major contributor to climate change—by close to 80 percent, compared to conventional diesel fuel. Yet, the jury is still out concerning the net impact of biodiesel production and use on oxides of nitrogen, a key component of smog.

Smog is not a problem in the locations where this model has been put into service in a sustainable living residential estate in the Gold Coast of Australia. It was converted into a safari-style convertible four-wheel-drive 11-seat tour bus. The vehicle is weatherproofed all round with canvas and acrylic window panel roll-down awnings.

The 178,283 miles reading on the odometer is a testament to the ruggedness and longevity of diesel engines—and the lasting legacy of Land Rover vehicles.

For more information about fuel efficient cars, visit eBay’s Green Driving Center.

The Nissan Leaf is the car that ushered in the new era of affordable electric vehicles in the 21st century. So, it only makes sense that the electric hatch—capable of about 80 miles of driving on single charge—would figure prominently in an emerging market of used EVs. A year-and-half after the first customer was handed keys to his Leaf, eBay Motors now shows three used Leafs for sale.

The Leaf’s design is techno-chic. Its electric motor delivers the equivalent of 107 horsepower—although the silent surges of torque provide a much faster feel from behind the wheel. A full charge takes about eight hours from a 220-volt home charger, or one of the public chargers starting to pop up across America. The Environmental Protection Agency rates the Leaf’s efficiency at the equivalent of 99 miles per gallon. For some, that extraordinary level of efficiency, and never having to go the gas station again, is priceless.

eBay is listing a Leaf SV in West Palm Beach, Fla., with 2,500 miles on it and a price of $26,890. There is Leaf SL (the upscale trim) with 7,865 miles, up for auction in Alvin, Tex.—the current bid is $8,300. And there’s active bidding on another 2011 Nissan Leaf SL, this one with 4,501 miles in Mount Juliet, Tenn. The Leaf in the Volunteer state is interesting for a number of reasons. First, there is no reserve on its auction—which means that if the current bid of $20,100 is still in place in three days, it will be an incredible bargain.

In the June edition of the National Automobile Dealers Association’s Used Car Guide, the organization projected that the average trade-in value for a typically equipped 2011 Leaf SV electric car would be $23,975—or 95 percent of its sticker price of $25,280, after the $7,500 federal tax credit.

It’s important to keep in mind that the $7,500 federal tax credit on new electric vehicles reduces the price of a new Leaf—from its MSRP of $35,200—to $27,700. But the credit is only available to new cars, not EVs sold to second owners.

Another interesting factoid about the used 2011 Nissan Leaf available in Mount Juliet, Tenn. is that it’s being sold only 20 miles from Nissan’s U.S. headquarters in Nashville. The first set of Leafs sold in the United States were manufactured at Nissan’s Oppama, Japan plant. But starting at the end of this year, Nissan will begin making the Leaf, and the batteries that provide its power, in nearby Smyrna, Tenn. The company will have the capacity to make up to 200,000 Leafs every year.

Volume is the key to reducing the price of electric vehicles. If Nissan and other EV-makers (including Ford, BMW, Toyota, Chevrolet, Tesla, Honda and Mitsubishi) can ramp up production, it will mean more attractive prices for pure electric cars—both as new cars, and in used cars markets like eBay.

For more information about the full range of fuel-efficient cars, including EVs, hybrids and clean diesel, visit eBay’s Green Driving Center.

By the end of August, there will be more than 40,000 new plug-in electric cars on American roads. That’s just the beginning of the market for EVs and plug-in hybrids, which is expected to reach one million vehicles in about five years. Quickly following any new automotive market is a growing number of accessories and after-market products. Many of these accessories are designed to make a battery-powered car look as cool as the technology under the hood. In other cases, it’s nothing but pure EV fan-boy adoration.

Here’s a quick spin through a few accessories now available to owners of Volt, Leaf and Tesla.

Tesla Roadster HD Poster
The Tesla Roadster began with atmospheric prices and anticipation longer than a James Cameron movie. Did it live up to expectations? Who cares. With bodywork borrowed from Lotus, the few select owners of the Tesla Roadster are humming along quietly alongside high performance without sipping a drop of gasoline.

While gaining access to this highly coveted, limited production EV, you can still have one in your garage — on the wall.

Chevy Volt Sunshade
This windshield Sunshade Package helps keep the interior of your Volt cooler on hot sunny days. By cooling down the Volt’s cabin, you won’t have to run the AC as much—and therefore every electron of battery energy can be sent to the wheels. The sunshade also protects your dashboard from sun damage. It folds up and fits neatly in the storage bag, which also features the Volt logo.

Chevy Volt Cover
Even when you need to protect your Volt from the elements, folks should know that G.M.’s innovative plug-in hybrid is under the cover. There’s even a graphic of a plug over the charging inlet to show where the Volt gets its juice.

Nissan Leaf Zero Emissions Graphic Package
The EV revolution is on. Tell the world all about it with this zero emissions decal package for your Nissan Leaf. Available in light or dark gray.

Nissan Leaf Hologram Kick Plate
It’s time to pimp your electric car. This hologram kick plate adds the extra touch of technology to the EV experience.

Tesla Model S Poster
Tesla says the Model S will not only be the best electric car ever made. It will be the best sedan on the planet. The first units have been rolling out of Tesla’s California factory. Celebrate the dawn of the new era in electric automotive technology by displaying this 16 x 24 inch poster, printed on heavy weight gloss archive paper.

Tesla Model S Reservation
Don’t be satisfied with just looking at the poster. Here’s your chance to be Model S owner #424. The purchase of this Model S reservation includes the $5,000 payment toward the vehicle. The reservation will go to the highest bidder. The seller’s reserve price starts at $6,000. Delivery is expected before the end of 2012—otherwise you would have to wait until June 2013 or even later. The version of the Tesla Model S now on sale features a battery pack capable of 300 miles of range, and sells for around $70,000.