About Me
Jon LeSageLONG BEACH, CA
Jon LeSage is Automotive Editor, Green Initiatives at Automotive Digest. He writes for and edits online newsletter Automotive Digest Weekly Green, which goes out to the auto industry and green vehicle shoppers, daily blog Green Machine Digest and Facebook and Twitter pages.
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Category Archives: electric vehicles
Please Step Away from the Electric Car, Says Car Alarm Guru and House GOP Watchdog Darrell Issa
US Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) is usually very effective and shrewd at what he does. Case in point: the recall election of California Governor Gray Davis in 2003. Most people think of that gubernatorial transition defined by the launch of … Continue reading
Posted in clean transportation, electric vehicles, Greentech
Tagged DOE grants, electric vehicles, Fisker
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How to Make it in the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Business – Part 1
For fans of alternative fuel vehicles and technologies, it’s been a dreary time. The A123 Systems and Fisker Automotive dramas have been all over the internet. There have been other time periods where bankruptcies, shut downs, buyouts, closedowns, and other … Continue reading
Posted in alternative fuel, clean transportation, dealerships, electric vehicles, fleet managers, Green marketing, green transportation, green vehicles, Greentech, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, Lithium ion batteries
Tagged alternative fuel vehicles, auto loans, captive finance, green cars, leases
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EPA engineer says Feds are still monitoring accuracy of mileage ratings
The US Environmental Protection Agency is changing its practices and will be more closely monitoring automakers’ fuel economy ratings, according to Jeff Alson, a senior EPA engineer. Alson spoke at a University of Michigan conference last week and addressed questions … Continue reading
Posted in alternative fuel, clean transportation, electric vehicles, fuel economy, green transportation, green vehicles, hybrid, MPG
Tagged 2025, 54.5 mpg, EPA, fuel economy, Hyundai, Kia
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North American International Auto Show from a Green Perspective
Fuel-efficient technologies are the star of the show Major automotive suppliers are displaying fuel economy technology to assist automakers make the steep climb into federal fuel economy standards and to reach consumers with growing interest in fuel efficient vehicles. Suppliers … Continue reading
My green ride and drive at LA Auto Show similar to being a little boy going to Disneyland
Last week Thursday at the LA Auto Show, I participated in the Green and Advanced Technology Ride & Drive. At a holiday part on Saturday night, a friend asked me what it was like and I said it reminded me of … Continue reading
Posted in electric vehicles, emissions, EVs, Green cars
Tagged algae, green ride and drive, honda accord, LA Auto Show, plug-in hybrid
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Lincoln Marketing Guru Taking on Ford Electrification Strategy
C.J. O’Donnell, Lincoln’s group marketing manager, will be taking on a lead marketing role for Ford’s green vehicle lineup. O’Donnell played a key role in reinventing the Lincoln division following the demise of the Mercury brand in early 2011, and … Continue reading
Posted in dealerships, electric vehicles, fuel efficiency, Green cars, hybrid, plug-in electric vehicle
Tagged C-Max Energi, hybrids, plug-in hybrid
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Tangled Web for Battery Maker A123 Systems Gets Even Tanglier
Lithium ion battery maker A123 Systems has gotten a lot of ink and hyperlinks this year – the Fisker Karma battery recalls caused by its A123 Systems battery failure, and the acquisition deal by Chinese auto parts maker Wanxiang Group, … Continue reading
Posted in Battery, electric vehicles, EVs, plug-in electric vehicle
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Plug-in Car Sales Better but Still a Blip – Here’s the Problem and a Few Solutions
Plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicle sales had their best month ever in September, hitting 5,500 units. Overall, light duty new vehicle sales in the U.S. hit the 1.184 million mark, so plug-in vehicles made up less than a half … Continue reading
Depressing Month for the Green Car Business?
Well, there was a good deal of what might be called bad news for the green machine industry in the past month. It’s a glass half full, half empty scenario. So let’s start with one item of good news. Tesla … Continue reading
Automotive Digest Green Editor Jon LeSage Interviewed on AV Clean Cities Radio
The finalized 54.5 mpg federal fuel economy standards, hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) and how it may impact natural gas-powered transportation, and how consumers have been making green vehicle purchase choices were among the topics discussed by Curtis Martin, Program Coordinator for … Continue reading