This Automotive Podcast is Getting Slightly Better MPG (Musings Per Gigabit)

We're feeling green, not because of summer, but because that's what car buyers are into these days.

One green car that is really catching on, perhaps more than Nissan is ready for, is the electric Leaf.

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Green is going up

If they can't get a Leaf, drivers might want to try a Ford hybrid or electric, because they are getting software and other updates to improve fuel economy.

Even those looking at regular power cars will find that fuel economy is slightly higher across the U.S. new-car fleet.

Even still, diesels are a better deal in almost every case, in terms of the total cost of ownership.

But, hydrogen and fuel cells may be the best deal for the long term, according to Hyundai.

If 35 MPG Isn't Good Enough for You Then Wait Until 2025

After successfully getting the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) level to 35.5 miles per gallon in 2016, the Obama administration is working to push the fleet average to over 56 MPG in 2025, about double what it is now.

Wow. Even the Prius doesn't hit that and we're talking the average of all the vehicles that a car maker sells would have to be that. And that means the numbers would have to increase by about 5% a year after 2016. That also seems incredible when you consider that squeezing a couple of percentage points now is requiring auto makes to adopt radical new technologies like start/stop and electric hybrid.

But, I was going to point out that the Volt gets 93 MPG today, but I can't read it's EPA sticker.

Finally, by 2025, the fuel economy levels in Europe and Japan will be even higher than 56 MPG, so its not like car companies won't already be making super efficient vehicles for other markets.

Still, it does seem like the government is pushing for something that may not jibe with what the market will want. What if something in the energy market changes and giant fuel-guzzling vehicles become reasonable and desirable. Would it make sense for the government to mandate an out-of-touch economy rate?

Photo: This Is a Guilt Free Hummer, Really, They Swear

I came across this grubby orange Hummer on my morning commute. Hummers are getting rare, thanks to $4-a-gallon-gasoline and the fact that GM sold the brand. And, of course, they were popular during a better economic climate when driving a massive SUV was a status symbol instead of a sign you were a greedy capitalist, anti-eco pig.

But this vehicle had several stickers to indicate that it was both a hybrid and a fuel-cell vehicle. The best part was the small green sticker at the top of the windshield that said: "This vehicle produces less emissions than a model airplane." Quite a claim.

I was skeptical so I did a little Web searching and found that Arnold Schwarzenegger did set out to get a hydrogen Hummer. I don't know if he is still driving it now that he no longer needs to represent California's eco-mindset as the Governator. What's really interesting is that all the links to green Hummer companies from the above article are dead.

So, is this orange eco-Hummer real or marketing magic. I didn't sniff the tailpipe so we may never know.