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Going green at Denver International Auto Show

By Roger Fillion, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published March 25, 2008 at 5:31 p.m.
Updated March 25, 2008 at 5:31 p.m.

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Simon Hernandez of Professional Detailers from Orange County, Calif., polishes a Chevy HHR as it's pulled up for display at The Denver International Auto Show today. The show runs from March 26-30 at the Colorado Convention Center .

Photo by Matt McClain © The Rocky

Simon Hernandez of Professional Detailers from Orange County, Calif., polishes a Chevy HHR as it's pulled up for display at The Denver International Auto Show today. The show runs from March 26-30 at the Colorado Convention Center .

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Automakers want to put forward a "green" image at this week's Denver International Auto Show.

They're rolling out vehicles at the Colorado Convention Center that use alternative fuels and new technology, including ethanol, "clean" diesel, rechargeable "plug-in" hybrid technology and fuel cells.

The environmental push comes amid the specter of $4-a-gallon gasoline and worries over global warming.

"Green and fuel economy are on everybody's mind," said Scott Settlemire, manager of shows and exhibits for GM's Chevrolet division.

Among other cars, Chevy will display its "concept" vehicle, the Volt.

The plug-in hybrid — slated for commercial production in 2010 — can run on electricity, gasoline, ethanol-based fuel known as E85, or biodiesel.

On Tuesday, workers were driving cars into the convention center's huge exhibition hall, installing temporary walls, readying displays and cleaning the windshields on cars set to be showcased.

This year's auto show runs today through Sunday. About 550 vehicles will be on display in a space spanning five football fields. More than 100,000 visitors are expected to pass through the doors.

Three dozen automakers are represented, from Cadillac to Volkswagen.

Among the "green" cars on display: Ford's fuel-cell-powered Fusion, Volkswagen' Jetta Sportswagon, which uses low-sulphur "clean" diesel, GM's Yukon hybrid, and Cadillac's Escalade hybrid.

The event is billed as the largest new car display between the Mississippi River and Los Angeles. It's motto: "A new car is a clean car."

The "green" slant has been evident at recent auto shows throughout the nation, including those in Detroit, New York, Boston, and Los Angeles.

"It's across the country," said Barbara Pudney, vice president of Massachusetts-based Paragon Group, which produces auto shows, including Denver's.

The latest auto shows come after Congress approved — and President Bush signed into law — legislation last year requiring automakers to boost the gas mileage of their fleets to 35 miles per gallon by 2020.

While environmentalists applaud the new law passed by Congress, and supported by the auto industry, they argue that a tougher 36 mpg standard by 2016 is more effective.

"This is a program that we can do today," said Keith Hay, energy advocate for Environment Colorado.

But the auto industry begs to differ.

"It's too far, too fast," said Laura Dooley, manager of state government affairs at the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. "The technology isn't all there."

Dooley stressed, however, the industry wants to change its image on green matters. "We want the auto industry to be seen as part of the solution and no longer part of the problem."

To that end, automakers hope this week's show will persuade consumers to take a closer look at "green" models and others on display.

"We want you to come down. Open the doors. Kick the tires. Look under the hood," said Chevy's Settlemire.

Volkswagen is making a big push in the United States — and Denver — with its new "clean" diesel cars that rely on low-sulphur diesel. The German automaker said the fuel is cleaner and offers better mileage.

"It's literally 99 percent cleaner than diesel fuel and diesel products of yesteryear," said Tim Jackson, president of the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association.

"You can literally breathe through the tailpipe cleaner air than you'd get in a lot of major cities."

Despite the industry's latest green models, consumers have not exactly been flocking to one of the most highly publicized green vehicles today, the hybrid.

"Hybrids only make up about 5 percent of total vehicle sales in the U.S. today," Jackson said.

Price may be a reason. Toyota's Prius costs more than other compact cars, ranging in price from roughly $22,000 on up. That's versus around $18,000 for other vehicles in the compact category.

"It's getting easier to be green," said Jackson, noting the greater number of options. "It's just not inexpensive."

If you go

What: Denver International Auto Show

Where: Colorado Convention Center

Hours: 5-9 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday

Noon–10 p.m., Friday

10 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday

10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday

Tickets: $10 adults; $5 kids 7-12; free for ages 6 and under. Wednesday evening: seniors 65+ free with photo ID.

Information: 303-831-1691, or DenverAutoShow.com

Comments

  • March 25, 2008

    11:12 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Steve writes:

    Any purely electric cars? They are the best solution. The car manufacturers know that, they learned it in California in the late 90's during CA's Zero Emission Vehicle mandate. The only purely EV's in the US are Phoenix and Tesla. You'll never see the big automakers produce a purely electric car because they are too inexpensive for owners to run them and the car and oil companies don't make enough.

    I can't wait for the big car companies to go out of business to make room for the true innovators and the next wave of car manufacturers. The ones that really want to produce what Americans need.