Roadtrek Adds Solar Power, Biodiesel to Its RV Lineup

We have maintained for a while now that the best way to convince someone that nature is worth preserving is to get them out into it. It seems like the people at Roadtrek agree- and they’re going a step further by offering a new B+ class motorhome that not only uses recycled materials in its construction, but is capable of operating entirely free of fossil fuels!

Built on Mercedes’ Sprinter van platform, Roadtrek’s eco-friendly E-Trek is powered by a 3.0 liter Mercedes diesel engine that’s 100% bio-diesel capable. The diesel is used as the primary power plant to drive the RV, and is also capable of feeding the E-Trek’s electrical system and batteries. When parked, the diesel generates 3.5 KW of power that gets bumped up to 5.5 KW while it’s on the move. Still, that’s not the most visible “green” feature on the E-Trek- that award goes to the roof-mounted, 245 watt solar panel array that continuously charges a bank of 8 AGM batteries and a 5000 watt power inverter (you’ll need that to plug standard 110/220 appliances into the outlets).

Roadtrek calls the E-Trek “the most eco-friendly motor home in the universe”. It’s not just an empty claim, though- they back that up with the batteries, solar panels, biodiesel engine, and even the composite body of the RV, itself, which uses a recycled cotton and denim insulation to help regulate temperature and a recycled, paper-based material in the counters and cabinets. Roadtrek is helping cut back carbon emissions and push back against harmful fracking operations as well, by totally eliminating propane and natural gas (full-timer RV staples) from the E-Trek’s operations.

You can find out more about Roadtrek’s latest E-Trek motorhome, and find a local dealer, at Roadtrek.com. Check it out, then let us know what you think of the E-Trek in the comments, below.

Source: Gas2.0

Study: Diesel Vehicles Have Lower Cost Of Ownership Than Gas Vehicles

A study conducted by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute has shown that over a lifetime of ownership, diesel-fueled vehicles tend to have a lower cost of ownership than conventional gasoline-fueled vehicles.

Owners of diesel-powered vehicles saved $2,000 to $6,000 after just three to five years of ownership, making up most if not all of the price premium many diesel vehicles carry. In fact, that extra cost is even factored into the study. The study is titled: “Total Cost of Ownership: A Gas Versus Diesel Comparison”, and it was conducted for Robert Bosch LLC.

The results of the study were released at the 2013 Alternative Clean Transportation Expo in Washington D.C., and come to the following conclusion.

“Overall, the results of our analyses show that diesel vehicles provide owners with a TCO (total cost of ownership) that is less than that of the gas versions of the same vehicles. The estimates of savings for three and five years of ownership vary from a low of $67 in three years to a high of $15,619 in five years, but most of the savings are in the $2,000 to $6,000 range, which also include the extra cost that is usually added to the diesel version of a vehicle.”

Some people are understandably concerned that diesel-powered vehicles won’t save much money, if any due to high diesel prices. With cars like the Chevy Cruze Diesel carrying a $6,000 premium over a comparable gas model, it is understandable that some people are skeptical of diesel cars. Then again, a diesel-powered Volkswagen Passat TDI just accomplished nearly 78 mpg on an 8,000 mile, cross country trip, something your average gas-powered car can only dream of. No wonder diesel sales are up.

Yhanks to superior fuel economy and lower maintenance costs, diesel vehicles can prove to be real money-savers, especially for anyone who does a lot of driving, and this study backs up what diesel owners have known for decades.

Source: Autoblog Green