Handy Toyota in St. Albans, Vermont, is the first car dealership in the United States to get all of its electricity from the methane produced by the waste from cows. The Central Vermont Public Service (CVPS) had dubbed the energy “Cow Power.”

Here’s a quick rundown of how it works: The manure that cows produce on a daily basis is fed into an anaerobic digester. Bacteria then convert the waste into various products, one of which is methane gas. The methane is delivered to a modified natural gas engine. The methane gas fuels the engine, which spins an electric generator to produce electricity. The waste heat from the engine is used to keep the digester warm, which helps offset fuel costs.

The electricity produced from 1 cow can power 2 100 watt light bulbs for 24 hours.

As the need for alternative power grows, Vermont Toyota and CVPS Cow Power are already ahead of the curve.

What’s with all the Hybrid Hype anyway? In today’s climate, it’s almost uncool to not supply your customers, whether they be car buyers, home appliance shoppers or Whole Foods regulars, with non “green” materials. Pretty much every major auto maker either has a hybrid car already on the market, or will have one within the next year (for the 2011 – 2012 model years).

But with every Joe-blow engineer rushing out their idea for a hybrid drive train, or the smart auto makers buying the technology from someone smarter, there will be no shortage of hybrid car variants soon. Are we really getting a quality vehicle, and most importantly are we getting savings at the pump?

Don’t get us wrong, Automopedia loves fuel efficient, technologically advanced rides. And now that the tech is out there, auto makers can take advantage of it at a good rate, for both their wallets and yours. It’s not just a flash in the pan marketing scheme, hybrid sales are going up. There is a question of affordability, up front. Back in 2005, a CNN Money article exposed the larger price tags of hybrid variants by Japanese auto makers compared to their gas-online siblings. In today’s hybrid world, companies like Ford/Lincoln and Honda are selling hybrids at around the same price as the non-hybrid versions. That 2005 article was also published for the Government decided to give larger cash incentives to those purchasing green vehicles.

Are hybrid cars perfect? Not at all. But no vehicle is, not even KITT from Knight Rider or the General Lee. A hybrid vehicle requires different, sometimes more expensive maintenance than an regular internal combustion engine. With more hybrids coming out, auto makers will be looking for less-expensive alternatives to materials (cheaper parts, that is). John Viera, Ford’s director of sustainability and environmental policy, said to HybridCars.com: “We feel that outside the communication and the hype, there is no silver bullet. There’s no fuel type or technology, including electric, that is the perfect solution.”

And in the end, no matter what the dealer claims (40, 100, 230 miles on a single charge) only real world tests during your daily commute will prove what a Mazda, Toyota, Chevy or Audi hybrid is really made of.

Are you saving the earth? No. Are you helping? Probably. Are you saving at the gas pump? Indeed – though maybe only to put back into the higher cost of maintenance/insurance. One fact seems certain, hybrids are here to stay. With every major car company investing millions upon millions in this technology, someone’s going to want a payoff at the end of the quarter. The question remains, can you afford it after the hype is gone?

Everyone is getting on the electric car bandwagon – From Tesla to BMW, Chevy and even Toyota. Before, the main focus was on sheer eco-friendliness, but now Sports and Luxury are becoming just as important for auto makers, as their research and development people construct the hybrid/electric vehicles we may all one day drive. But there are many obstacles up against those who take money away from Big Oil and Governments. Yet, it doesn’t stop foreign auto companies from putting together some fancy hybrid rides. Check out our favs below.

BMW Concept ActiveE: 1-Series Goes Electric

BMW’s ActiveHybrid series is one of the most ambitious luxury alternative fuel concepts ever imagined. The German auto maker claims its vehicle has a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 and a 40-kW electric motor. How much power that combination creates is a mystery thus far- although we know the 7 Series ActiveHybrid needs to be gas-electric, while the 5 Series can run on electric-only power. Now that’s impressive.

Mercedes CLS – F800 Style Edition

One of the more spectacular options that goes along with owning a Mercedes F800 is its lithium-ion battery pack can be recharged from household currents or local charging station. Convenient! Mercedes says its F-Cell technology also could be adapted to the F800, bundling a 136-hp, rear-drive electric motor that generates 214 pound-feet of torque with a fuel cell stack. Range is said to be nearly 375 miles. The concept’s hybrid powertrain provides 0-60 acceleration in 4.7 seconds and a top speed limited to 155 mph, says Mercedes.

Tesla Roadster – Death Becomes It

One of the most infamous electric sports cars out there is Tesla’s Roadster. It’s been killed off several times already, and when the all-electric sports car seems like it’ll hit more dealerships outside of California, three Tesla execs die in a small plane crash. Conspiracy theory much? And just this week, Tesla Motors announced they will cease production of the Roadster in 2011. They already have a planned replacement, Model S, for 2013 – but the company needs to start paying off a $465 million loan with the Department of Energy. And you thought college loans were bad. We still have high hopes for Telsa – they’ve been through hell, which could make them stronger in the end.

5 by Peugeot – French Environmentalist Auto

Even the French are into going green. With their “5 by Peugeot” the auto maker has combined a luxury hybrid with the speediness of German cars. It uses a front-mounted 163 bhp 2.0-liter diesel engine, which works with a 27 kW electric motor at the back. The two combine for 147 kW / 200 PS when both systems are in use, providing power to all four wheels. At low speeds, the 5 goes all-electric, and has upwards of 61.9 MPG US. Too bad we’ll never see a Peugeot in ‘Merica outside of their bicycles.

Electric Zamboni For 2010′s Vancouver Olympics

As more auto makers are turning to luxury hybrids, sports electric and plug-ins for the future of production models we are optimistic The Electric Car will survive – no matter what Government Black Ops have to say about them.

Now on a somewhat related, and embarrassing note – The electric Zamboni was part of Canada’s attempt at a green Vancouver Olympics, and was a failure not once, not twice, but thrice! According to Jalopnik, “The Canadian-built electric ice resurfacers (note: Zamboni is a brand of ice resurfacers, these are built by Olympia) used at the Richmond Olympic Oval are supposed to help the environment but it cost the second half of the 500M speedskating pairs after one ice-resurfacing machine couldn’t properly clean the ice. Then a second machine failed. Then they brought in a third and it, too, screwed up the course.” Good try, Canada – but leave the trendy green car stuff to Americans…and Europeans…and Japanese.

Sources: Jalopnik | Inside Line | Worldcarfans

It’s Alternative Energy Thursday at Automopedia – though we bring this week’s news to you with a heavy heart. Just yesterday three execs from Tesla Motor Group were killed in a small plane crash outside Palo Alto, CA. – “A twin-engine Cessna piloted by a Tesla manager crashed into an East Palo Alto neighborhood today killing the pilot and two other Tesla employees on board.” Our condolences go out the those involved in the accident and their loved ones.

But we must press on, and start off Alt. Energy Thurs. with a look at the Tesla EYE concept. This 2+2 concept was constructed digitally at first, by a group of eleven L ‘Istituto Europeo di Design of Turin students studying for their Master of Arts in Transportation Design. EYE features some of the key points Tesla is always trying to push, a “2+2 type everyday sports car, high levels of comfort, youthfulness and digital-age compliance.” Tesla’s final product has been produced as a full-scale model for exhibition at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.

Now to some non-auto related modes of transit. Engineers at BERU in Norfolk, England have created the “world’s first bike designed and hand built by Formula one engineers.” The lightweight Factor 001 is built using carbon monocoque frame completely customized to the owner’s physical measurements. In fact, the bicycle can be transformed to a specific frame shape and comes with added engravings on the handlebars. The Factor 001 bicycle has a starting price of £22,000! And you thought a Cannondale frame was pricey.

According to BERU, built into the frame are “highly sophisticated load sensors, wiring, batteries, control cables and lines for its hydraulic braking system.” With additional electronics, the bike collects data on ergonometrics, biometrics, physical forces, and environmental factors. Data is displayed on the included LCD touch screen, but can also be downloaded onto a computer for analysis. Sounds pretty fantastic! But will it blend?

Sources: Jalop / WCF

Solar powered cars? Yaaawwwnnn… Corn the future of automotive fuel? Yeah, right. Here at Automopedia we have tracked down the best in future petrol alternatives – your own urine. That’s right kids, don’t flush that pee down the toilet, wiz it right into a fuel intake. Garardine Botte, who spends a lot of time surrounded by jars of pee-pee, has invented a electrolyzer to extract hydrogen from the bodily fluid. It uses “a nickel-based electrode to extract hydrogen from urea (NH2)2CO, the main component in urine” according to Wired Magazine. Hydrogen molecules in urea are bounded less tightly then in water, making them more easily accessible.

Unfortunately, this is not as easy as going to the bathroom in your gas tank each time mom stops at Sheetz. One of hydrogen’s biggest hassles to use as fuel is the amount of energy needed during production. And then, of course, you have to distribute it. Mz. Botte’s invention eliminates problems of size and spacing normal hydrogen-fuel cell units take up. Honda’s Clarity has a huge tank located in the rear to convert hydrogen into electric power. Botte’s creation is about the size of a CD case. And you never really need to worry about running out of “gas” – “your body produces two to three liters of it each day, and it is the most abundant form of waste on the planet.” Botte also speculated pee-powered autos could be capable of a 60 mile per gallon range, based on current alt-fuel technology.

“The electrolyzer would have to pull energy from a power source like a battery in order to produce hydrogen for a fuel cell.” One idea bouncing around would be connecting it to roof-top solar panels, similar to the 2010 Toyota Prius. This could power up to 40% of the pee-fuel energy transformation process. Garardine has been working with Department of Defense R&D to develop electrolyzer technology for military use. Because all new technologies are used primarily in war and pornography…we’ll leave that final thought open to our reader’s interpretations.

Source: Wired (Thanks Haley!)

Google’s reign of power over us all may soon reach your local highway. Design engineers at the search engine giant have put together an autonomous car for the future – ATNMBL. Once produced, we’re betting Adsense links will crawl across your front windshield.

Computer generated photos show off Google’s Solar Powered ATNMBL (Autonomous Automobile) parked at various locations, including a subway stop…not really sure how the car got down there. ATNMBL has no steering wheel, or accelerator/brake pedals, or regular car seats. Instead, a 7-seater wrap around couch, much like one your college-age cousin has in his frat house, holds passengers as they simply instruct an onboard computer towards various destinations.

If ATNMBL follows in the footsteps of Google’s other achievements it will be the model other car companies mimic for years to come – but will be in Beta testing for 5 years.

Breaker, breaker good buddy – we got the smokey on our tail and we’re eastbound & down in our gas-free, “world’s largest battery-electric powered truck” from UK based Smith Electric Vehicles. That’s a 10-4! Get it? It’s trucker lingo.

Smith EV already has their Newton EV Trucks roaming delivery routes in the UK – and will open their first US based plant in Kansas City next year. The Newton can reach a top speed of 50 mph, carries up to 8 tons and can last up to 150 miles on a single charge. The Newton has a turning radius of 14.15 meters, allowing it to make tight squeezes in and around narrow urban street settings.

The Kansas City location was achieved after a $3 million dollar tax incentive for Smith was offered from the state of Missouri. In return, company officials said the new facility would create 200 green collar jobs within three years – we recommend you ‘Shout!’ the green out before washing. Thanks to Gas2.org for the tip!

Many believe the future is now – but people in the 1850′s thought this as well. We’ve only really begun to strike at the heart of alternative energy. In the years to come we shall see the introduction of fully electric vehicles, hydrogen powered cars and perhaps even vessels powered by electromagnetic waves. Anything is possible, as long as these automotive companies get the funds to produce results.

Lincoln C Concept

Lincoln hopes to corner a market with smaller, high quality and eco-friendly vehicles that still produce a good amount of horse power. This Ford product will contain a 1.6-liter Ford EcoBoost engine along with a dual-clutch PowerShift six-speed transmission. The Lincoln C is expected to reach 180 horsepower and 180 ft.-lbs. of torque.

2+1 Seated Cars

Acura’s 2+1 concept doesn’t bother with all that silly 7 passenger seating rubbish, cutting down your occupant capacity to only three – a driver and copilot in the front, with a buddy in the rear. Other vehicles, like the SMART Car, have only room for two, and just enough speed and safety to get you between New York and Philadelphia. These smaller cars may become the new urban vehicle, taking a hint from the vehicles of European cities.

Honda Hydrogen Vehicles

Honda’s FCX Clarity has already grabbed headlines as the first consumer ready hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. For $600/a month per lease you better be packing some serious poundage in your wallet. The boys at Top Gear have said this vehicle is the most important car for the next 100 years, but is the same chemical that powered Zeppelins really a viable car fuel?

Renault Alpine Concept

Smaller engine sports cars with better gas mileage are a logical approach if we are to continue heading down the road of gasoline powered vehicles. Future Renault roadsters will contain small turbo engines rather than a large V6 block, cutting down on weight and emissions.

Pagani Zonda R

The new bodywork of automobiles, like the Pagani Zonda, is (aside from Toyota’s Prius) one of the most aerodynamic vehicle designs. Now cars can offer elevated down force, even in low speed corners. According to World Car Fans, “The longer front bonnet with flaps, closed under body and the rear overhang with the adjustable rear wing and race derived diffuser translate into shattering aerodynamic efficiency and will let you experience cornering speeds beyond imagination.”

“Volt” Electric Vehicles

General Motors is hoping to pick up where Tesla left off, after bankruptcy that is. Chevrolet teased their Volt electric car for weeks before it was finally unveiled. Electric cars seem to be the easiest transition for the general public to make, and electric recharge stations have already popped up throughout Southern California. Electric cars provide us with an easily accessible, renewable form of energy, but at what cost? You can charge at home, but be afraid when the bill comes in. Also, tons of coal is burned in order to produce the electricity in our homes. Until windmill electric becomes standard the coal mines and smoke stacks will continue billowing much into our atmosphere.

“Soft” Vehicles

What if the car you drive one day drives itself, connected by a satellite network? In theory, the automobile accident will become extinct, as the idea of human error will no longer be viable. How trustworthy is a car without a human behind the wheel? Do we really want a car controlled by the same satellites that broadcast Opie & Anthony or Ron & Fez (Noon till Three)? With car collisions an event of the past “Soft” vehicles, made of foam and completely customizable, may become commonplace.

Sky Cars

Where is my flying car? We are one spin around the Sun closer to 2015 – and if Doc Brown can have a flying DeLoreon than we want a flying vehicle to work. This does bring up a few issues. First off, the state of New Jersey would need to stop handing out licenses to every single person who walks into the DMV. And we see how people in drive all over the world, it’s probably not a good idea to start flying lessons. It is reasonable to believe ground travel will become a thing of the past – so get your helmets on people.