Kacey Green is our resident environmental intellectual, and expert on all things Honda Hybrid. He has compiled this record of our recent involvement with different local and national organizations. Midlands Honda is keenly aware of the hunger for knowledge on how automobile manufacturers are making changes to benefit the environment as well as the consumer, and would be happy to assist in anyway that we can with educating the general public. Please contact us to make arrangements for any presentations with which we may assist.
For more information on Midlands Honda environmental activities please click here.
Year in review 2008 & 2009
Midlands Hybrid aided by Midlands Honda, our Premier sponsor has been very active in the community since our founding in The Spring of 2008. We started as the local arm of the Florida Hybrid Club, but we surpassed them in community involvement, and will fold their site into our own later in the year. We have also partnered with the National fuel efficiency club, who work closely with us on some events and have sent us several quality prospects. Us, Me, I, we are used interchangeably in this document to refer to Kacey Green, Midlands Hybrid and Midlands Honda. This document will be edited vigorously up until December 31, 2009 at which point I?ll turn it into an annual review article for the club?s website.
The Richland County Neighborhood Improvement Program:
We spoke about hybrids and learned what other companies and government organizations are doing to help protect the environment.
Earth Fare 2008:
Our First Event after founding the club, we were invited to the 2008 Earth Fare Pre-Earth Day celebration, although not the primary reason for attending the event we collected over 200 entries for Midlands Honda?s Free Civic Giveaway.
Midlands Honda Grand Opening:
Midlands Honda gave away three 2008 Civic LX Sedan leases with maintenance included we presented several hybrids and answered questions.
Civic Tour 2008:
In Myrtle Beach, SC, Panic at the Disco! performed.
MPGFest 2008:
We attended the MPGFest in Cincinatti, OH and Ft. Thomas, KY we scored over 89 Miles per gallon over a twenty mile loop through Cincy and Ft. Thomas including freeways and some of their monster hills. We didn?t get an official score in the MPG Challenge but on our trial run scored 79.4 MPG
Rolling out the new Civic Hybrid:
The 2009 Civic Hybrid saw changes that would be considered minor in the auto industry but they were just the freshening owners had been asking for, we got a more comfortable steering wheel, USB audio, Bluetooth Hands-free Link, and Vehicle Stability assist, also the wheels were slightly restyled so the look sophisticated now rather than something to ridicule.
Winterizing Drive 2008:
We helped people prepare their cars for the upcoming winter season and Midlands Honda Helped by providing us with exclusive member discounts on winterizing services.
48 State World Record Tour:
We hosted CleanMPG on their quest to run a 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid through each of the 48 contiguous states, we rode with them for the Columbia to GA segment of the trip and achieved over 68 MPG for the trip. They set a Gunniess Verified World record of 68.54 MPG over 7559.8 miles driving a minimum of 15 miles in each state. They even tackled down town rush hour traffic in both Chicago and New York City, those gluttons for punishment.
The Hydrogen Roadshow Tour:
The FCX Clarity diverted to D.C. and we didn't get to see it. I did get to ride in Toyota?s FCHV and something from Nissan. The Toyota Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle Handler just wanted to race around the parking lot showing how fast it was. Nissan sent an actual engineer and he was very helpful and knew his competitors product and his own very well. He was truly an asset to their company.
First Responder Civic Hybrid II teardown:
Columbia Fire Rescue came to learn firsthand rather than just in the books, where they can and can?t cut to extract collision victims. They asked great questions.
Detroit Auto Show:
In January, I was a guest of Cleanmpg.com and had the opportunity to attend the North American International Auto Show as a reporter. I got to attend the Insight launch at that show, and the launch of the 2010 Toyota Prius. Toyota also invited me to an exclusive Prius Owner/Former Owner event, (they weren?t fully aware I?d already traded my ?04 Prius on my ?09 HCHII. I gained valuable first hand experience with a competitors car, and was able to speak with the chief engineer of that vehicle, one can almost get to this level of hands on experience with a Ride and Drive.
Midlands Hybrid First Responder HCHII Teardowns:
They came back for another lesson, this time another shift and more excellent questions, I don?t think the same questions were asked twice, they were paying great attention and taking notes.
Winter Fuel Economy Championship
I achieved an award ?He who lives in his car? I placed 6th in Division B with 126 gallons burned over 6993 miles at 55.5 miles per gallon for the 3 month period. My adjusted score was 155.5% over EPA ratings for my car. (Hybrids get a 25% bump because they eliminate some of the fuel economy techniques as the car does them automatically, no hybrid has ever won either always a 5 speed to date)
Earth Fare 2009:
We were invited back to the Earth Fare Pre-Earth Day celebration again this year and we had a blast again, but the event was rained out and turnout was less than half of last year.
No Civic Tour:
Unfortunately the Honda Civic Tour concert series for 2009 was cancelled due to the effects of the weakened economy. This was a responsible move, however it kept us from participating in a great way to reach America?s youth, several outside analysts are still second guessing this decision.
World Hydrogen Conference 2009:
2009 Honda FCX Clarity Ride and Drive, we were invited, and attended, even though it was the last day of the month, a very busy day for most dealerships. The Honda FCX Clarity was in town and we had the opportunity for a quick ride and drive the car had loads of power on tap, and was quiet and smooth, it also could provide some really nice miles per kilogram of hydrogen ~76 MPK or ~72 MPG equivalent, I want to buy this car!
New 2010 Honda Insight:
We welcomed the first new Honda Insights to be delivered to Midlands Honda in 4 model years. We felt privileged to be the first in the city to receive the new Honda Insight. Which was originally to be the 2009 Honda Insight, but changed right before the Detroit Auto Show.
Earth Day USC Lancaster:
We helped with presentations and presented the 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid and the 2010 Honda Insight, several students indicated they?d try and arrange their finances in the coming weeks.
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