We Obsessively Cover the Green Scene…

Ireland is facing a roadblock just like the one in a few of the country's European Union allies: sales of electric vehicles (EVs) are much lower than initially projected. While the goal had been to sell 2,000 units in Ireland by the end of 2011, only 192 have been sold so far. When the campaign was launched in Ireland, the target was to sell enough EVs to make up 10 percent of all new vehicles by the end of 2020. That would be about 7,000 cars a year at the current new vehicle sales rate.

Consumers have paid about 23,300 euros ($29,900 US) for every electric car sold so far. The Sustainable Energy Ireland agency has invested 573,600 euros ($735,800) in grants to buyers of EVs, which has helped reduce the cost for consumers. The Renault Fluence ZE is priced at 22,000 euros ($28,000), which doesn't include the batteries that must be leased separately. The Nissan Leaf costs 30,000 euros ($38,400).

As for other Irish government investments, so far about 3.9 million euros ($5m) have been spent on charging station installations for public, domestic and business use. The charging infrastructure is behind the initial target – 1,500 charging points and 40 fast chargers were to be in place by the end of 2011. As 2012 comes to a conclusion, 860 public chargers and 30 fast chargers have been installed.

To simplify the charging process, consumers now have access to a nationwide charger payment program. Ireland's Electricity Supply Board (ESB), which oversees the power grid, has teamed with IBM to implement a smart charging platform that enables drivers to roam across the country and pay for electricity using one card.

Automakers such as Toyota, GM, Volvo, BMW and Ford are introducing plug-in electric vehicles to ease consumer acceptance of the new technology, with the assumption these extended range vehicles will do better than pure EVs. How to bridge the gap with Irish consumers is still troubling for automakers and government officials.

To Paddy Comyn of Volkswagen Group Ireland, it's extremely difficult to reach consumers with new technology in its infancy during rough economic times. "This is especially true when finances are difficult and buyers need to be more careful about their purchases," Comyn told The Irish Times.

For consumers considering buying a Renault Twizy, a four-wheeled covered electric vehicle (EV), some worries about winter driving conditions might be alleviated by this news. For 295 British pounds (about $472 US dollars), owners can now buy a kit that will make the little EV winter proof. Or, at least, a little bit more protected. The Twizy doesn't have a heater, after all.

The optional device – also kind of known as a window – is applied to Twizy's gullwing doors to make the small two-seater adaptable to the environment. The Renault weather protection program comes in two parts – one is a rigid metal frame that gets attached to the door, and the other is a transparent layer that is fastened to the frame. No tools are needed to install the kit, no bodywork modification is required and it can be easily removed by the owner when spring returns.

The system has been extensively tested by Renault to ensure its resistance to UV light, corrosion and cold temperatures. It goes on sale through the Renault network starting in late November.

The Twizy is one part of the Renault-Nissan alliance's ambitious plan for global electric vehicle domination. Renault and Nissan have so far committed to an overall investment of $5 billion in battery-electric vehicle development. There are Nissan Leaf vehicles in the European market, though the Renault EV product line is playing a lead role in that region. Just ask the Pope.

Whoever wins the presidential race will likely be pleased to hear this news: farmers (at least soybean farmers) are getting into biodiesel. Soybean farmers, through their checkoff program, are supporting the National Tractor Pullers Association spreading the word about biodiesel among tractor pulling fans. It will be showcased by NTPA allowing the use of 100 percent biodiesel in all diesel pulling competition classes starting next season.

NPTA is an association supported by Midwest farmers and government officials to maintain industry standards and excellence through competitive events. As for soybean checkoff, this is a national standard that soybean groups enacted years ago to comply with federal agriculture regulations. The idea behind the NPTA and soybean farmer alliance is to increase biodiesel demand by proving the performance benefits of biodiesel.

A recent industry study found that using B100 biodiesel in a pulling tractor can add up to four percent more horsepower and torque over traditional diesel. Biodiesel is also valued by agribusiness for improving mileage, cetane and lubricity, reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, and improving independence from foreign oil.

The United Soybean Board has been working with the NTPA for the past six years to help increase biodiesel availability and use among pulling fans. Another part of this biodiesel farmer competition that should go over well with Romney or Obama is that the Environmental Protection Agency recently announced it will require an increase of biodiesel next year – to 1.28 billion gallons of biodiesel under the Renewable Fuel Standard. Willy Nelson probably likes that one, too.

I finally got to drive a Fisker Karma (great model name!), and found it better than expected. The occasion was the annual Motor Press Guild (MPG) "Track Days" at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA, where four Karmas were lined up to be driven by attending media. Not on the track of course, but on the straight, smooth public roads around it.

Three journalists and a Fisker representative piled into the car, and I spent the first several minutes wedged into the right rear seat. Like the rest of the car, it was better than expected ... not especially roomy for a 6-foot, long-legged male, but not uninhabitable. The only major difficulty was extracting my feet from under the front seat when it was time to disembark.

Then it was my turn to drive. The controls and instruments were unconventional but easy to learn and use. The driver's seat was supportive and 6-way-adjustable. The available acceleration, even with four aboard, was strong. Despite the car's prodigious weight, the Brembo brakes were also strong (and fairly linear) when needed, with just a hint of noticeable transition from regen to friction. Can't comment on cornering, since I never got a chance.

The cabin design is modern and pleasing – founder Henrik Fisker is a gifted designer, so likely had much to say about it as well as the long, sensuous, bulge-fendered body) – and suitably plush for the price. Perhaps my biggest surprise was the 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder range-extender engine's unobtrusiveness when it ran. My only real dislike was the fuzzy velour (actually "EcoSuede") on the dashtop and steering wheel.

It was a small field of five. The stands were completely empty. And yet, the 2012 TTXGP World Championship was pretty frickin' awesome.

For the first time ever the event was being held on American shores – at the historic Daytona International Speedway, no less – and, with the winners from the North American, European and Australian TTXGP series in the paddock, there was a true international flavor.

You've already seen the results and video from the race, but there was so much more going on. Luckily, we had access and snapped shots in the garages, trackside and in the victory lane for the post-race celebrations. We've got a gallery for each of the three days we were in attendance and have kept the images in the sequence in which they were taken so you can follow exactly how things went down. Enjoy clicking!

Hyundai and Kia are lowering the fuel economy estimates on a majority of 2012 and 2013 models. The Detroit News reports a probe by the Environmental Protection Agency has found both manufacturers guilty of posting false fuel economy estimates on vehicle window stickers since late 2010. The companies will spend millions of dollars compensating the owners of some 900,000 vehicles sold under the claims. This marks the largest spate of fuel economy reductions in the history of the automotive industry. Prior to this probe, only two vehicles have seen their window sticker fuel economy values reduced since 2000.

Hyundai aggressively advertised the fact that the brand offers four models that boast 40 mpg, but that claim is no longer true. The 2013 Hyundai Accent, Veloster and Elantra will now see their EPA estimates fall to either 37 or 38 miles per gallon on the highway. The report quotes Hyundai CEO John Krafcik as saying, "We're extremely sorry about these errors" and blamed "procedural errors" in the company's fuel economy testing as the reason behind the discrepancy.

All told, 35 percent of 2011-2013 models sold through October will see a reduction. Of those, 580,000 will see a drop of around 1 mpg, while 240,000 units will have their EPA figures cut by 2 mpg. The remaining 80,000 will drop by 3 to 4 mpg. Owners will be compensated based on their vehicles' odometer readings, and both automakers will contribute an additional 15 percent over the dollar value. The funds will be awarded via prepaid debit cards. For an owner who drove 15,000 miles, an adjustment of 1 mpg would result in a refund of around $88.

For some time there has been suspicion that the Korean automakers' fuel economy claims were too optimistic, which most recently led to a class-action lawsuit filed in July of this year by an organization called Consumer Watchdog on behalf of Elantra owner Louis Bird of California.

The EPA and Hyundai have issued press releases on the new situation, which you can read below. You may also view the full model breakdown in the gallery below.

UPDATE: On a media conference call, Hyundai and Kia attributed the discrepancies to "honest mistakes" and "human error" during in-house fuel economy evaluations. Additional steps were added to the evaluation process in an attempt to ensure accuracy, which ultimately caused the higher-than-EPA figures. Both companies stress there was no intentional effort made to deceive either the federal government or consumers. There's no indication as to how much the apology campaign will cost, though Hyundai and Kia both plan to roll out extensive advertising campaigns to alert consumers of the issue.

We'll be impressed when the Nissan Leaf can fetch its driver a cup of coffee.

In the meantime, we'll have to be satisfied with the prospect of the electric vehicle being able to park itself properly over a wireless-charging pad.

Nissan's prototype for an automatically-parking Leaf was shown off in a two-and-a-half minute video by Green Car Reports (check it out below). In it, a right-hand-drive Nissan backs itself at a 90-degree angle into a striped parking stall so that it can properly be recharged. The driver merely has to pull forward until being instructed to stop, put the car in reverse, let the car do its magic and then hit the brakes when told to do so.

Such a device would complement wireless charging systems, which are likely to expand in presence during the next few years. Just this week, Evatran said it reached an aftermarket-charger sales and distribution agreement with SPX Service Solutions to make Plugless Power charging stations available to owners of Nissan Leafs and Chevrolet Volt extended-range vehicles.

From the same Dream Build Challenge that brought the DragQouia to the SEMA Show, NASCAR stars Clint Bowyer and Kyle Busch also got involved with the competition hoping to win $50,000 for their respective charities. Instead of building trucks like their NHRA counterparts, Bowyer had a Prius built for the contest while Busch stuck with a car he's very familiar with, the Camry.

Bowyer's Tekked-Out Prius is probably about as cool-looking as a Prius can get with its lowered stance, custom body kit, side cameras replacing the door mirrors and black-and-blue paint job matching the car's techie persona. Inside is where most of the mods took place with a totally redone interior including new fabrics throughout (including leather and Alcantara) and plenty of cabin tech such as the 17-inch touchscreen computer built into the passenger side of the instrument panel. Bowyer's charity of choice is the Emporia Community Foundation which goes to benefit Bowyer's hometown of Emporia, Kansas.

Named after Busch's apparent alter-ego (Rowdy Burns from Days of Thunder), the Rowdy Camry shows how mean a midsize Toyota can look with styling upgrades like a wide body kit, rear diffuser with integrated exhaust outlets and a ram air hood. The blacked-out Camry also has a lowered suspension and rides on staggered-width 18-inch wheels, and it was was built for the Kurt Busch Foundation. Scroll down for more information about both of these cars.

Smaller car, fewer problems.

The Toyota Prius C compact hybrid topped Consumer Reports' list of reliable 2012 model-year vehicles, leading a group of Toyota-made cars near the top of the list.

Consumer Reports based its list on subscriber experiences with 1.2 million vehicles, though Consumer Reports allowed that some of the results were affected by the timing of new-vehicle releases. For instance, Ford, whose overall ratings dropped substantially from last year, didn't update a number of models for 2012 because they're being revamped for 2013.

Either way, Japanese automakers reigned supreme, as Toyota and its Lexus and Scion brands topped the brand-reliability list, followed by Mazda, Subaru and Honda and its Acura badge. In all, 86 of the 90 Japanese models tested had at least average reliability. The four-wheel-drive V6 Ford Explorer earned the worst score.

Consumer Reports also said that green cars are reliable, so the fears people have about the first hybrids over a decade ago should not resurface today, saying "Reliability is a high point for most hybrids." The Nissan Leaf had "an excellent showing" and the Chevrolet Volt was "above average."

Since debuting the car in the US in February, the Prius C sold 26,130 vehicles through September. That accounts for about 14 percent of all Prius sales this year. Despite how reliable Consumer Reports and its subscribers think the Prius C is, the magazine is not a fan of the car. At all.

Germany-based automotive supplier Hella has developed start-stop technology that can shut down an engine at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour if using all that torque is deemed unnecessary. This added benefit could increase fuel economy savings up to 10 percent over traditional stop-start systems that shut down the engine when the car is stopped, Martin Fischer, president of Hella Electronics, said at the recent Society of Automotive Engineers Convergence conference.

To keep things safe, steering and braking, which are both powered by the engine, will have a backup battery to make sure that if one battery fails, the other will kick in. This twin-battery can be programmed to maintain temperature inside the car after engine shutdown. Customers will be able to choose a low-powered lithium-ion battery pack or double-layer capacitors for the backup battery.

This will likely be the first time traditional internal combustion engines will have this capacity. There have been hybrids, like the Porsche Cayenne hybrid crossover utility vehicle, that can coast thanks to stop-start systems that can shut off the engine while moving to reduce fuel consumption. Hella developed its systems for partial hybrids and vehicles with traditional internal combustion engines.

First-generation stop-start systems are starting to find their way into mass-production vehicles, such as the 2013 Ford Fusion. Hella has been working on bringing this technology to market for a few years now.

Hella says the technology is coming, which makes the real question of commercial availability whether consumers will embrace it, Fischer said, and whether drivers will accept their car shutting down. Right now, start-stop kills the engine at red lights (something BMW has found not everyone likes). If this first generation becomes widely accepted, Fischer expects the second-generation at-speed start-stop to go into production in three-to-five years.

The month-to-month increases in Chevrolet Volt sales for the last few months have not been all that impressive – from August to September, they went up just 20 units, and from September to October, the number climbed up 110. The good new for GM, though, is that each of the last three months have set new records. October continued that trend, with 2,961 Volts sold last month. Based on these trends, will anyone be surprised if the Volt finally breaks 3,000 for the first time in November?

Before Nissan released sales numbers today, we heard from our friend Paul Scott that October would be a record month for the Leaf, as well. Well, Nissan's best month ever for Leaf sales was all the way back in June 2011, when 1,708 Leafs were sold. October didn't quite hit that lofty high, but Scott was on to something. In October, Nissan sold 1,579 units, the second-ever best month for US sales. It's also something of a spectacular turnaround for the Leaf, which has been running in the three-digit sales figures since all the way back in November 2011.

We'll have our monthly write-up of US alt-fuel vehicle sales, including numbers for all the plug-in and hybrid vehicles, available soon.

Electric carmaker Fisker has partnered with car-wrapping specialists 3M for an interesting demonstration of what could be at this year's SEMA festivities. As we reported in greater detail earlier, the folks from 3M are wrapping up the Karma in a few fairly wild shades and stripe packages, to have a little fun with the already drop-dead gorgeous Fisker.

We caught the team mid-wrap when we shot the gallery of live images that you see here; transitioning from a white and blue livery to a sassy yellow and black number.

Considering the explosion of custom wrap jobs that we've seen and heard about lately, we'd expect to see the trend continue for both SEMA and the wider world of customization. In fact, wrapping at a high level makes a lot of sense for owners of expensive cars, who may be less willing to alter the original paint job, while still hungering for a little variety now and again.

We also happened across another rather interestingly modded Karma – this one with a distinct lack of associated press information. The car in the gallery below has wood accenting both the wheels and grille, as well as another distinctive colorway. Enjoy.

Automobile Magazine recently spent the better part of three days getting to know 28 of the latest and greatest cars on the market to pick its Automobile of the Year, and today it announced that the 2012 Tesla Model S was given this coveted award. As much as the all-electric Model S means to the automotive world, we'd be surprised if it doesn't snag a lot more hardware in the next few months.

The Model S beat out cars like the 2013 Cadillac ATS, 2013 Ford Fusion, 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S and 2013 BMW M5 with its sleek design, luxurious and tech-filled interior and, of course, its unique electric powertrain that offers both an incredible all-electric range and equally eye-popping performance.

To narrow down the top candidates for the award, Automobile took all the cars out for two days of road testing and then spent another day at Gingerman Raceway in Western Michigan, and the performance aspect of the Model S seemed to surprise and/or impress a lot of the magazine's staff more than anything else. To prove how fast the car is, they did a drag race to 100 miles per hour with the Tesla and the new M5, and the Model S won. The 265-mile driving range and 17-inch touch-screen display won points for the car, too.

Scroll down for a quick video from Automobile that goes into detail why its staff chose the Model S, and shows some great driving shots of the car as well. We've also put together a gallery with the Model S and the nine other cars that made the short list for the award, so be sure to check them out below.

Media junkies rejoice in getting "wired." Now, owners of Nissan Leaf or Chevrolet Volt plug-in cars can get similarly excited about getting "unwired."

Owners of those electric-drive models will be eligible for Plugless Power wireless electric-vehicle chargers now that maker Evatran has reached an aftermarket-charger sales and distribution agreement with SPX Service Solutions.

SPX will start installations at the homes of Leaf and Volt owners next April. SPX, which will take orders both on its website and by phone, has installed more than 13,000 Voltec, ChargPoint, Blink and GE WattStation systems. The home stations will cost between $3,500 to $4,000 for the on-board receiver, garage-floor transmitter and garage installation required for the wireless system, the New York Times reports.

In September, Evatran reached an agreement to install systems with Google and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. It also has similar commercial agreements with companies such as Hertz, Duke Energy and the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research. Check out the press release from Evatran and SPX below.