Could it be true? Did American auto finally snap out of its long denial that bigger is not better? Sort of - and all it took was an unprecedented spike in oil prices. GM announced today that it is shutting down 4 light truck and SUV plants and will shift its focus to building more fuel-efficient vehicles. Additionally, GM announced it will possibly sell its Hummer division, which has become the international poster boy of gas guzzling SUVs. The struggling automaker has felt the hurt of enormous losses over the last several years as its investments in large SUVs have fallen short of international automakers such as Toyota and Honda’s releases of smaller, “sippier” cars such as the Prius and Accord.

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Daily Greenz #148

As an eco-conscious commuter, you’d like to trade in your car for a bicycle, but your office is just a little too far to pedal your way there every morning.  Meet the Vectrix, the first high-performance electric motorcycle in the world and an attractive option for the eco-friendly.  As a zero-emission vehicle, it goes as fast as 62 mph and accelerates from 0-50 in less than 7 seconds flat.  Running out of steam?  Simply plug into a standard 110V outlet and recharge, allowing you to travel 35-55 miles per charge.  Its sleek design isn’t bad on the eyes, either, and gives you the freedom to zip in and out of traffic, leaving frustrating traffic jams behind.  Considering that the average American commutes approximately 12 miles to work every day, the Vectrix is a perfect option to save both funds and the environment. Its most attractive feature?  An affordable price tag of $11,000.  Visit www.vectrix.com to find a dealer near you.

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Daily Greenz #138

With the mucky winter months behind us, you’ve been itching to give your car a proper hose-down, but can’t banish the guilt of wasting so much water and polluting waterways with toxic cleansers.  As an alternative to running your car through the car wash, Lucky Earth offers a more economical option with its non-toxic, “waterless” car wash spray.  This eco-friendly solution works on both exteriors and interiors, and promises both to protect your vehicle from the elements and bring out the color in your body paint.  Best of all, the spray contains no VOCs, dyes, fragrances, or parabens, so you can rest easy knowing that no family members will accidentally be ingesting any toxins by being around the car.  Each 32-ounce bottle is good for 7-10 washes and is available for $16.99 at www.luckyearth.com.

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Daily Greenz #119

The Tear Drop Bike looks like it belongs in a museum - pretty to look at, but not much good for anything besides aesthetic beauty.  What if we were to tell you that this baby actually works, that this cross between a bicycle and motorbike is a veritable work of aerodynamic genius?  Engineer Josh Hadar uses a range of strong materials, such as hand-spun aluminum, metal, and glass to create his designs from scratch.  The sleek and simple lines aren’t just for show – they take into account the way aerodynamics work with body mechanics for the best performance.  Far from being a gas-guzzling nightmare, this cruiser has a small, hand-blown glass fuel tank that only kicks in when you get tired of pedaling.  It can only be engaged for a short while, as this bike relies mostly on human power to operate.  His custom creations take three months to complete and cost between $12,000 to $35,000, depending on the features you choose.  It may be a sizeable investment, but if you’re a committed bicyclist who wants to ride around in eco-style, you may want to check out his designs at hadarmetaldesign.com/.

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Daily Greenz # 96

Imagine never having to ride in one of New York City’s ugly yellow cabs again.  Imagine relaxing in a luxury hybrid car that will transport you effortlessly to the airport, all the while giving you access to an Apple iBook, high-speed wireless internet service, and Sirius satellite radio.  Wake up!  It’s a service that already exists, so why not take advantage of OZOcar’s fleet of Toyota and Lexus hybrids the next time you have to order car service?

For the same rate that you would pay a cabdriver or a regular car service, you can employ OZOcar to take you around town or to one of the major airports in the metropolitan area.  At $45 to $60 a trip, you’re buying yourself all-natural amenities and reducing carbon emissions in a city that could use a little help in the air quality department.  Also, every driver is carefully hand-picked for his driving ability, customer service skills, and personality, so you can rest assured that you’re in good hands.  So the next time you travel, you can sit back, listen to some music, and munch on the organic treats that come stocked in every OZOcar.

The likes of Sarah Jessica Parker and Leonardo DiCaprio have been seen zipping around New York in these babies, so make your next trip to the airport an eco-fabulous one by booking an OZOcar at www.ozocar.com.

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Daily Greenz #21

The Hammacher Schlemmer one-person electric car provides the functionality of a car and the size and maneuverability of a motorcycle.

Aside from looking really cool, the car is highway legal and can go up to 70 miles per hour—and can go from 0-60 in about 13 seconds. It’s fully electric and only takes an hour to fully charge.

For a mere $24,899.95, you can own this awesome eco-mobile in yellow, red, teal, orange, blue, purple, magenta, white, coral, dark aqua, green, lime green, aqua or lilac.

Visit www.hammacher.com to order your own.

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