IEA urges $45 trln “energy revolution” to halve CO2

World governments must quickly start a $45 trillion “energy technology revolution” that could drive up the cost of producing carbon ten-fold, or risk emissions surging by 2050, the West’s energy watchdog warned on Friday.

The world would need to build dozens of nuclear power plants a year and bury carbon emitted from dozens more gas and coal plants, plus cutting the carbon intensity of cars, trucks, buses and planes eightfold, to halve emissions by mid-century, the International Energy Agency said in a new report.

Read the rest of the article on the Reuter’s web site.

The report of weaker sales is in high contrast to the many reports in the press now of record scooter sales. Their numbers may be due to Piaggio’s flagship scooter line, Vespa, high price points in comparison to other brands of scooters.

However, in green news, Piaggio announced plans to continue its work on development of a four-wheel hybrid vehicle.

“Despite the global downturn, Piaggio said it had kept working on the development of new models, such as a four-wheel vehicle with a hybrid engine.

“Based on a three- and four-wheel light commercial vehicle made by Piaggio called the Ape — Italian for ‘bee’ — it would be big enough for three people to drive around town.”

commute is 10 miles round trip x 5-day work week = 50 miles

20 mpg car = 2.5 gallons x $4 gallon = $10.00/week = $40.00 to $50.00/month
46 mpg hybrid car = 1.09 gallons x $4 gallon = $4.35/week = $17.40 to $21.75
60 mpg scooter = .83 gallons x $4 gallon = $3.33/week = $13.33 to $16.65/month
100 mpg scooter = .5 gallons x $4 gallon = $2.00/week = $8.00 to $10.00/month

commute is 40 miles round trip x 5-day work week = 200 miles

20 mpg car = 10 gallons x $4 gallon = $40.00/week = $160.00 to $200.00/month
46 mpg hybrid car = 4.35 gallons x $4 gallon = $17.40/week = $69.60 to $87.00/month
60 mpg scooter = 3.33 gallons x $4 gallon = $13.33/week = $53.32 to $66.65/month
100 mpg scooter = 2 gallons x $4 gallon = $8.00/week = $36.00 to $42.00/month

commute is 60 miles round trip x 5-day work week = 300 miles

20 mpg car = 15 gallons x $4 gallon = $60.00/week = $240.00 to $300.00/month
46 mpg hybrid car = 6.52 gallons x $4 gallon = $26.09/week = $104.35 to $130.44/month
60 mpg scooter = 5 gallons x $4 gallon = $20.00/week = $80.00 to $100.00/month
100 mpg scooter = 3 gallons x $4 gallon = $12.00/week = $48.00 to $60.00/month

The scooter solution to high gas prices
Great Falls Tribune - Great Falls, MT, USA
Every time gas goes up 4 cents, he figures he’ll sell an extra scooter that week…. Charlie Heit, weatherman at News Channel 5, drives a 1986 Honda scooter, weather permitting. A friend gave him the scooter after he admired it in her garage. <more>

Trading in 4 wheels for 2
Rocky Mount Telegram - Rocky Mount, NC, USA
We sold 25 to 30 percent more this year than last year,” said Steve Cherry, sales manager at Honda Motorcycles ATVs and Scooters. <more>

Fuel prices revving up two-wheeler sales
Trading Markets (press release) - Los Angeles,CA,USA
Iraqi war veteran Nick Serio was beaming as he signed the paperwork for his new blue Harley-Davidson Sportster, the last one in the shop… It costs Serio more than $100 to fill up the fuel tank in his truck, which gets 17 miles to the gallon, but he expects to get 40 to 60 miles a gallon with the Sportster. <more>

So long, thirsty SUVs; hello, gas sippers: The economics of downsizing
Buffalo News - NY, United States
The Laseckis — like drivers across the country — are asking themselves the same question each time at the pump. When is it time to downsize to a smaller car, switch to a hybrid, or find an alternative way to travel? …<more>

Scooter sales soar in Seattle
Seattle Post Intelligencer - USA
Joan Kohler is not a typical new scooter customer. But the 51-year-old restaurant owner in Pierre, S.D., bought a candy-apple red Honda recently as worries about the price of gas overrode any trepidation about learning to drive it. <more>

‘Scooting’ by high gas prices
Marion Star - Marion, OH, USA
Julie Daiber is making a statement. Her answer to the rising gas prices was to purchase a Buddy 125 Scooter about a month ago. Daiber said she had ridden a motorcycle for about 8 years but knew the scooter would get better gas mileage. <more>

Saving gasoline is fun when done on 2 wheels
Akron Beacon Journal - Akron, OH, USA
Reynolds instead prefers commuting six miles to work on one of his three mopeds — basically glorified motorized bicycles — that carry him more than 100 miles, albeit fairly slowly, before burning up one gallon of gasoline. <more>

Pinch at the pump: fueling a change
Sussex Sun - Oconomowoc, WI, USA
There has already been a 60-percent increase in motor scooter sales since last year, said Tom Spielmaker, owner of Action Power Sports in Waukesha. He said gas prices have caused many people with short commutes to buy the scooters, which get about 114 miles to the gallon. <more>

The Marcophile: Scooter-mania
Marco Eagle - Marco Island, FL
“I run errands, post office, Publix and more, every day. It costs me virtually nothing and is fun besides.” BK and his significant other, Dr. Beth Steward, a veterinarian, are a two scooter family. “Beth rides her scooter to work every day unless it’s raining. But she doesn’t get as good mileage as I do, just about 80 miles per gallon.” <more>

It’s no gas hog
Grand Forks Herald - Grand Forks, ND, USA
Ann Brown said the couple got the scooters for fun, because of the gas mileage and because they are better for the environment. <more>

Scooter sales zipping along
Kansas.com - KS, USA
“The guy concerned about gas mileage probably won’t buy a $13000 bike,” Kemp said. The store also brought in Schwinn scooters, “and that’s been really hot…” <more>

As gas prices continue to rise, many consumers turn to scooters
The Birmingham News - al.com - Birmingham, AL, USA
Last year, Bogart’s Motorsports on Grantswood Road sold 67 Vespas, the venerable Italian scooter brand. This year, General Manager David Sanders said, sales are averaging one a day. <more>

High Gas Prices Cause Some To Buy Motorcycles
WISC - Madison, WI, USA
Motorcycles are primarily recreational vehicles, but they get great gas mileage. That has some drivers looking to buy a motorcycle. <more>

High gas prices driving booming scooter sales
WVLT - Knoxville, TN, USA
… and the sales department at Honda Yamaha of Knoxville is already selling out of some scooter models. The appeal, of course, is excellent gas mileage. … <more>

Motorcycles and scooters become popular choice for transportation
GoErie.com - Erie, PA, USA
“She could get on a scooter that sells for $2000, and if you figure out the gas mileage, the thing would probably make its own payments. … <more>

Gas saver - Many exploring options for more miles per buck
Jackson Clarion Ledger - Jackson, MS, USA
What kind of gas mileage do they get?” Owens said scooters are going at five or six a month, easily 50 percent above the rate this time last year. … <more>

Prices drive bike spree
Record-Searchlight (subscription) - Redding, CA, USA
Scooters in particular are becoming more popular, said Richard Robinson, a salesman at Fator’s Motorcycle Sales Inc. on Grove Street in Redding. “People who’ve never thought of riding a scooter in their lives are calling and asking” about them, Robinson said. <more>

Used Car Prices Spiking Along With Gas
U.S. News & World Report - Reston, VA, USA
Even smaller vehicles are making a comeback. The Christian Science Monitor reports, “High gas prices have prompted a 24 percent jump in scooter sales in the first quarter of this year.” <more>

Scooting around the gas crunch
Los Angeles Times - United States
As gasoline prices soar, scooter sales are booming. From mini to maxi, they’ll take you from the corner grocery to the freeway (and some of these cycles get more than 100 miles per gallon). <more>

Fighting Back Against High Gas Prices
WKBT - La Crosse, WI, USA
Whether it’s walking, riding a bike or carpooling, it’s probably safe to say that just about everybody is looking for ways to save money at the gas pump. That includes some La Crosse City Hall officials. Some employees there are turning to scooters. <more>

Specs according to the company web site:

Top Speed: 30 Miles Per Hour (50 KPH)
Range: 25 to 35 Miles (42 to 58 Km) W/out Recharging
Motor: 1500-Watts 48-Volt Brush Hub Motor
Number of Motors: Two (2) (One on each rear wheel)
Electric consumption per complete charge: 2 KWh
Noise level: Silent
Emission: Zero
Contaminants: Zero

Price: $4,300.00.

Opting for Two Wheels to Save Gas
KWCH - Wichita,KS,USA
Motorcycles and scooters get better gas mileage than cars. They’re also cheaper to fill up. When Anthony Shurtz wanted to find a cheaper way to work, he opted for a motorcycle. “It’s a smart way to go,” he said. <more>

Will gas prices force people to get scooters?
South Carolina Now - South Carolina,USA
As prices continue to climb, some people are turning to alternative transportation. Both locals and tourists are giving up their cars for bicycles and scooters… “I’ve had a lot of businesses to switch over,” said Garris. They’re using mopeds and scooters as their main source of transportation to run their businesses.” <more>

US pumped up on more thrifty rides
Toronto Star - Ontario, Canada
With the U.S. pump price closing in on $4 (U.S) a gallon (about 95 cents a litre), dealers are reporting brisk spring sales of fuel-stingy scooters and smaller motorcycles. <more>

Motor scooter sales rising along with gas prices
Waterbury Republican American - Waterbury,CT,USA
Scooter Centrale in Plainville is selling so many scooters lately, they’re having trouble keeping some in stock. “We’re very, very busy,” Day said Thursday. <more>

Gas prices soar, motorists seek alternatives
The Tomah Journal - Tomah,WI,USA
Among the reasons people would prefer scooters and mopeds to other methods of transportation is they are economical, easy to park, have storage room and “they are fun to ride,” said Williams. <more>

I was hesitant to start tracking my Vespa ET4’s mileage. Secretly, I didn’t want to know what it was getting, even though the previous owner told me she thought she got over 60 mpg with it. I was pretty sure I was getting more than the old Vespa ET4 specs page on VespaUSA.com that boasted a measly 42 miles per gallon. After owning a Honda Met II that got around 100 mpg, it would be totally embarrassing to get only a few mpg more than a Toyota Yaris.

So, I started tracking my gas mileage. Imagine how happy I was that I figured that I am getting over 70 mpg “city” (start & stop driving, carrying heavy loads, hills, short trips), and nearly 82 mpg “highway” (longer trips with less starting/stopping). Overall, I’ve been averaging around 75-76 miles per gallon.

It’s easy to track mileage manually:

- Write down your odometer number just before you fill up. Say it’s at 800 miles.
- Fill your tank (but don’t top off) and ride, ride, ride, ride, ride.
- Now, next time you’re at the gas station, note your odometer reading. Let’s say it’s 905 miles. Let’s assume you put in 1.25 gallons to fill it.
- Take 905 and subtract 800 = 105 miles. You did 105 miles with the 1.25 gallons used. So, divide 105 miles by 1.25 gallons of gas (105/1.25) and you got 84 miles per gallon.