Remember how high the initial demand was for hybrid vehicles? Now the growing demand for pure electric vehicles (EVs), is making things even more hectic. It’s a good thing the number of electric car charging stations is rising too.

Nationwide there are currently twice as many charging stations (roughly 4,500) as there are E-85 ethanol stations, with the government finalizing a proposal to expand the number to nearly 14,000 in the near future. (more…)

The car industry continues to get greener – Ford Motor Company, through the use of REPREVE recycled plastic fiber, plans to keep about 2 million post-consumer plastic bottles out of  landfills. Ford and recycled plastic innovator REPREVE will use the recycled plastic fiber in new vehicles beginning with the 2012 Focus Electric – the first vehicle to feature branded REPREVE’s seat fabric made from a hybrid blend of recycled plastic bottles and post-consumer waste.

The companies will collect bottles at events throughout the year, beginning with the North American International Auto Show and Consumer Electronics Show and convert them into REPREVE recycled fibers.

Ford states that the Focus Electric is the first vehicle with interior materials made of 100 percent clean technology, including the use of REPREVE recycled fibers — seating in each vehicle interior uses roughly 22 recycled plastic bottles.

Note: Ford’s recycling program is part of an effort to raise awareness that only 29 percent of plastic bottles are recycled in the United States – only half the rate of Europe.

Source: Ford Motor Company

Related: more green car info on The Alternative Consumer

Note: for the purposes of this review Eco Touch provided us a complementary Wash and Wax Kit.

The traditional driveway car wash uses an average of 20 + gallons of water and sends all manner of chemicals, soaps and non-biodegradable materials into lawns, storm drains and local waterways. A neat alternative – the Eco Touch Waterless Car Wash. Do the planet and your car a solid – try this waterless car wash product and wax. Eco Touch makes their car care products with natural, plant-based, biodegradable ingredients and they actually work. The Eco Touch products contain no parabens, phosphates, dyes or alcohol. A key to their car wash’s effectiveness is its combination of plant-derived surfactants that lift the dirt away from the car’s finish and Eco Touch’s micro fiber towels (machine-washable and totally reusable) that really suck up dirt.

The test: I recently waited until my car was appropriately grungy from sitting in an open air garage adjacent to our local commuter train station. (more…)

UPDATE: Thanks to Kia and everyone for participating. There were many worthy entries, but after much debate over who left the best Top 3 Green Tips, we have our official winner — Geoff K of New Hampshire. Congratulations and enjoy your Gaiam Gift Card! (original post follows)…

Want to win a $100 Gaiam Gift Card? Here’s how to enter this giveaway, sponsored by Kia.

As you may already know, we’ve been committed to becoming more sustainable and greening our lifestyles for the past several years. If you drive, one of the most effective ways you can reduce your carbon footprint is to opt for a hybrid car. Kia’s all-new Optima Hybrid is one a cool ride — save money by filling up less at the pump, and save the planet by using less non-renewable energy and causing less air pollution. A sporty sedan, it’s priced to sell (in the mid-$20,000s).

To enter this contest, simply complete the following:

• check out the lifestyle videos @ kia.com and learn about the design, technology & value of the 2011 Optima Hybrid
• then leave a comment on this post telling us how you optimize your green lifestyle with your Top 3 Essential Green Tips for those who are just starting to become “green”
• check out the Official Rules – (they may look a little intimidating but no need for concern – no waiver needs to be signed, and no likeness of you will be used – promise!)
• be sure to add m @ alternativeconsumer.com to your email address book – winner will be notified via email

A $100 gift card will be awarded to the person who we deem to be the most worthy. So give it your best. Generously sponsored by Kia, the $100 Gift Card is from one of our favorite green emporiums: gaiam.com.

Hurry, contest ends Monday, October 17, 2011, 11:59pm, EST.  NOTE: Contest is open to USA residents only. One entry per person. As always, we will not share your contact info or email address with anyone.

Toyota USA has announced the final 25 non-profits to receive a new Toyota as a result of their 100 Cars for Good giveaway. Five non-profit organizations were profiled on Toyota’s Facebook page for 100 days, with winners voted on and chosen by the public.

Each winning non-profit can choose a vehicle from the following models: Prius, Tacoma, Tundra, Highlander Hybrid, Sienna or Sienna Mobility. Toyota will provide a six-year, 100,000-mile Toyota Vehicle Service Agreement to provide extended protection beyond the vehicle warranty.

You can see the complete list of the 100 deserving organizations on Toyota’s Facebook contest page.

We originally wrote about this electric luxury car back in 2009 when Cadillac unveiled the initial design of the Converj Concept coupe. Cadillac has just announced that they will be putting the extended-range, electric luxury coupe into production and re-named it the Cadillac ELR.

Production development of the ELR is just underway, so details on performance, price and timing will be announced later.

The Cadillac ELR will feature an electric propulsion system made up of a T-shaped lithium ion battery, an electric drive unit, (more…)

Rising gas prices have many consumers reevaluating the car they currently drive. Fortunately, you don’t need to spend extra money on a new car if you’re looking to increase fuel efficiency – consider a used car. AOL Autos has come up with 10 green cars under $10,000. Here are a few highlights:

2009 Chevrolet Cobalt LT
Price: $9,992
 mileage: 43,913
The Cobalt is a great vehicle with strong fuel economy. It’s one of the few quality cars available in this recent a model year for under $10,000.  (more…)

There are many different ideas in the works to design a more sustainable car, but relatively little is said about the tires we use on those cars. Since all vehicles (even hybrids) need tires, wouldn’t it make sense to design a tire that provides environmental benefits as well as enhanced performance? Toyo Tires delivers with their new eco-friendly tire, the Versado Eco.

The Versado Eco is engineered using a combination of the latest in automotive technology and eco-friendly materials. Designers put their heads together to think of a way to reduce the rolling resistance of a car, thereby adding to the car’s gas mileage. What they came up with is a tire with a high silica content and a naturally derived material called Green Powder that disperses the silica. Using these two components, the Versado Eco is able to reduce friction and rolling resistance while driving. The tire also uses recycled Eco Circle Fibres in its casing. Toyo Tires has also added an optimized tread profile, which gives the tire a very long tread life.

Related: more articles on sustainable car technologies

If it weren’t a great enough achievement for a vehicle manufacturer to design an electric car, creating a solar-powered charging station for that car should earn them even more environmental respect. Last year, the Italian carmaker Pininfarina unveiled its prototype Nido EV as part of their “Nido Development Programme” for electric cars. Pininfarina imagines a future where cars like the Nido EV will proliferate to the benefit of both people and the environment.

Keeping true to this mission, this year has seen the auto designer successfully develop the Antares solar charging tree. The Antares is a 108 square foot “tree” of solar panels, under which parked cars can be charged. The unit holds 20 photovoltaic solar panels and can produce 4.6 kilowatts, which can power two electric cars to travel a distance of 50 miles each. The Nido and the Antares together are the ideal partnership for large-scale sustainable transportation. Amazingly, these are only the initials steps in Pininfarina’s plans for creating truly sustainable forms of mobility.

related: solar charging parking station via: cnet