AskPatty was present this morning at the grand opening of the Shell Hydrogen station in Santa Monica. This marks the first public hydrogen fueling station at a conventional gas station in California, and is the third hydrogen station Shell has open to American consumers. (Shell also operates stations in New York, and Washington, D.C.)

I've run several stories lately on hybrid vehicles -- comparing their costs against traditional gasoline engines (http://askpatty.typepad.com/ask_patty_/2008/04/pros-and-cons-o.html) and giving tips on how get the best fuel economy when driving them (http://askpatty.typepad.com/ask_patty_/2008/04/tips-to-get-bet.html) - and it occurred to me that it might be helpful to explain what makes these powertrains so different.

So Kim and Seana, those two music-loving Ford-focus-travelling- Sync-using singer songwriters have assembled all their travel adventure videos at a giant Kim and Seana YouTube video page (http://youtube.com/user/kimandseana), and have offered our readers another chance to win some more cool prizes.

During Earth month – and every day of the year – we know you want to stretch your fuel to get the most out of every purchase. We found a fun collection of money-saving tips and advice at Shell.com and thought to share a few of them with our AskPatty readers.

Now that gas prices are hovering around $4 a gallon, many drivers are becoming more aware of their need to cut their gas costs. And with Earth Day upon us, we've been bombarded by messages telling us to make greener choices to help save our planet.

It's only been a couple weeks since Blogger Bossy waved goodbye to her husband, kids, and an enormous breed of canine she calls her "lap pony," and embarked upon a stunt titled "Bossy's Excellent Road Trip." (http://www.iambossy.com/i_am_bossy/bossys_excellent_road_trip/index.html)

Now that gas prices are loitering around $4 a gallon, gas-saving tips are abundant.

I remember how shocking it was the first time I saw Los Angeles-area gas stations advertising prices at $3 per gallon--this was about a year ago, in May 2007. Just today, barely eleven months later, I drove past a station at which the price for their premium fuel was over $4!! (The photos associated with this article were taken today, at several stations in the San Fernando Valley.)

Nobody relishes the idea of spending hours at the mechanic, in a dirty waiting room sipping stale coffee, and reading last-week’s crumpled newspaper.

Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA) is asking young girls across the nation share their opinion on the topic of "Women and the Automotive Industry." Moms, grab your girls. Girls, go get your moms!As part of their "2008 On The Road Driver's Ed Contest," GSUSA is inviting Girl Scouts from age 14 to 17 to picture themselves as a big shot in the automotive industry and asks them: "How would you get girls in high school interested in choosing the automotive industry as a career path? How would you reach out to them and what messages would you use?"Girls who wish to participate in the contest should express their point of view in an essay of 300 words or less. The winning entries will be published in an upcoming Girl Scout publication, not to mention that the winner and three companions could be off to the races to see some industry women in action!

Pontiac unveiled a new sport truck design this week at the New York Auto Show. Based on the all-new Pontiac G8 performance sedan, the newest member of the G8 family has cargo bed suitable for either work or recreation. Pontiac sways the G8 sport truck stretches its commitment to style and performance, and promises it will arrive in dealers' showrooms in late 2009. Who remembers the old El Camino of the 1970s and 1980s?