No joking folks. April Fools Day is best left to amateurs, as one of my hokey friends has been known to say. Hummer has dedicated time and (very little) effort to new, more earth-friendly SUVs AND SUTs. (SUT? Really?)

The 2009 H2 models out later this year will be FlexFuel capable, something that other companies have been making standard for nearly a decade now. By 2010, all of their cars will be E85 capable, meaning they will use even more fuel than before, but emissions will be less. According to Autobloggreen, a diesel may be in the works (bringing bio-diesel into play).

Roughly 30,000 of these hit the road every year, so it does add up. I guess.

What about their H2H Hummer Hydrogen prototypes? They’ve been on the road since October of 2004, and go a whopping 60 miles on 12 lbs of fuel. A collaboration between the Governor’s office, GM and Quantum Technologies, it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere quickly.

Hummer is a good example of how the law propels progress (making the recent decision by the California Air Resources Board so tragic). This is a quote from their website regarding the new H2 SUT.

The H2 SUT’s new engine is not just more efficient, but beats the deadline for the new US federal emissions standards by a year.

That’s their benchmark, and if expectations go down, so will their priority with one of the world’s leading gas-guzzler brands.

 Up for a little Free Parking?

From KOB.com:

“City Council wants more drivers to qualify for free parking. A bill being introduced would extend the benefit to hybrid cars and ‘green vehicles.’

Any car that can pass a “Green Vehicle Guide” would get a pass to park for free. The guide requires cars to have a lower emission, lower carbon emission, and be fuel efficient.

Right now, hybrid cars are able to park in Old Town, downtown and Nob Hill for free. City Council wants to see all cars have that benefit.

City Councilor Martin Heinrich said the plan would continue the city’s effort to lead the country in environmentally-friendly policies.

‘This is one more step in making Albuquerque the preeminent city in the nation in terms of efficiency, in terms of implementing technologies that produce energy without a large carbon footprint,’ Heinrich said.

Mayor Martin Chavez stressed that just because a car is a hybrid or runs on E-85, that it doesn’t mean it cuts down on emissions. For example, Honda Civics and the Ford Escape would qualify if the law is passed.”

Great example of how cities can help offset the cost of a more expensive hybrid model for the benefit of a cleaner, greener community.