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EPA proposes stronger air quality standards

terça-feira, 30 de junho de 2009 · 0 comentários

EPA proposes stronger air quality standards

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has put forward revisions to the nitrogen oxide (NO2) air quality standard in what would be the first adjustment since 1971.

The proposals would add a one hour NO2 standard as well as additional monitoring requirements that aim to protect public health by reducing exposure to high, short-term concentrations of NO2. The proposals will also ensure that NO2 concentrations remain below levels that can cause public health problems.

According to existing scientific evidence, NO2 exposures, ranging from 30 minutes to 24hours, can cause respiratory problems, particularly for people with asthma.

Concentrations in vehicles and near major roads tend to be higher than those that are measured in the current network. Indeed in-vehicle concentrations can be as high as two-three times more than those measured as nearby community wide monitors. Near road concentrations have been measured at anything from 30-100 per cent higher than concentrations away from major roads. As a consequence individuals who spend time on or near major roads can experience short-term NO2 exposures.

Now, the EPA has proposed that for the first time, a one-hour NO2 standard at a level between 80 and 100 parts per billion (ppb) be implemented. It wants to see the current annual average NO2 standard of 53ppb retained and wants to add NO2 monitoring within 50 metres of major roads in cities with at least 350,000 residents.

After the proposal is published in the Federal Register, the EPA will accept public comments for 60 days.


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Columnist: electric vehicle hype needs to be tempered

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Columnist: electric vehicle hype needs to be tempered

Coda sedan - Click above for high-res image gallery

Is the Detroit News becoming a home for anti-electric vehicle advocates? Last week, the News published a mostly confusing article by Manny Lopez that criticized the DOE loan that Tesla received. Another column, this one by Neil Winton, is titled, “Electric cars attract hype, but reality is less exciting” and gives Winton’s European perspective on the EV market. Winton makes more coherent points than Lopez, but he still comes down pretty hard on EVs, citing range issues and price as the two big hurdles. This is certainly something we’ve heard before, and Winton isn’t convinced by EV supporters who say things will work out just fine if governments give the cars one more push (tax break, R&D funding, etc.). As a warning, Winton points to the Wankel rotary engine and its rise and fall in the 1960s.

Winton relied on a market forecast by CSM Worldwide for some of his predictions. CSM found that ” enthusiasm for electrification has lost all contact with reality,” according to Winton. CSM’s numbers predict that, globally, there will be just 132,000 plug-in vehicles (pure EVs and hybrids) from major automakers in 2015. Previously, CSM has declared that microcars won’t play a big (pardon the pun) role in the U.S. market.

Gallery: Coda EV live

Coda sedan photos Copyright (C)2009 Mike Levine

[Source: Detroit News]

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Columnist: electric vehicle hype needs to be tempered originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AA Backs North East’s Electric Future

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AA Backs North East's Electric Future

The Automobile Association has joined an international consortium to support the development of a world-class electric vehicle infrastructure in the North East of England.

The AA joins Tesco, British Gas, CE Electric, and Capital Shopping Centres together with the Regional Development Agency One North East as it aims to place the region at the forefront of global electric vehicle development.
The group will provide high-profile locations for charging points, along with vision and technical advice and vital promotional work and leadership for the North East, as the region moves towards a low-carbon economy.
It is intended that this strategic approach will help the region show the world how to roll out electric vehicle infrastructure.

One North East will install 750 charging points over the course of 2010 and 2011 to provide future electric vehicle owners with the comfort that infrastructure exists in the region to charge them. The first 40 of these are already being installed in Newcastle and Gateshead.

Today's announcement follows the North East being named as one of the UK Government's Ultra Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator areas. The £10.7million project will see an initial 35 new electric passenger vehicles developed in the North East, including 15 Nissan cars, 10 Smith electric taxis, five Smith people carriers, a Smith executive minibus, two AVID saloon cars and two Liberty urban Range Rovers.

The development of electric vehicles alongside a network of charging points is part of One North East's £30m plan to base the car industry of the future in the North East, harnessing the region's global fame for engineering and manufacturing, and its developing renewable energy sector. Tesco will be supporting the project by installing electric car charging points at selected supermarket locations in the region.

Edmund King, AA president, said: "The North East is already planning for a low carbon future and the AA is supporting that vision. The North East electric car strategy has the potential to spark a personal transport revolution in UK cities.

"For the vision to work we need infrastructure, incentives, clean electricity and affordable, practical vehicles. Drivers want change. In a recent AA/Populus survey of 15,000 members 62% said they would consider buying a more environmentally friendly car. The AA will be working with Newcastle University and ONE NE to help this amazing vision become a reality."


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Consumer Reports blasts Honda Insight, ranked 21 of 22 tested

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Consumer Reports blasts Honda Insight, ranked 21 of 22 tested

2009 Honda Insight - Click above for high-res image gallery

Calling it “the most disappointing Honda Consumer Reports has tested in a long time,” America’s most influential product testing magazine has given extremely poor marks to the Japanese automaker’s new Insight hybrid.

In a verdict that reminds us of a certain Jeremy Clarkson review (albeit more kindly worded), Consumer Reports blasted the gas-electric hatchback for its “ride quality, handling, interior noise, acceleration, rear-seat, access, and visibility,” consigning the hapless Honda to a 21 out of 22 ranking among other small hatchbacks and wagons. Tallying a road test score of 54 points, it was trailed only by the widely-panned Dodge Caliber, which managed just 49 points.

Despite the fact that it won’t receive a much-coveted CR “Recommended” nod, the Insight still managed to post a “Good” overall road test score (largely on the strength of its 38 miles-per-gallon as-tested fuel economy). Regardless, it was comprehensively beaten by both the Volkswagen Jetta Wagon and the Hyundai Elantra Touring, which scored 80 and 79 points, respectively.

The Insight was the only vehicle in CR’s test group to not to be Recommended, save Kia’s Soul, which was excluded because the organization hasn’t compiled any reliability data on the vehicle yet. Check out the press release after the jump.

[Source: Consumer Reports]

Continue reading Consumer Reports blasts Honda Insight, ranked 21 of 22 tested

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Consumer Reports blasts Honda Insight, ranked 21 of 22 tested originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Peugeot 207 to take greener route

segunda-feira, 29 de junho de 2009 · 0 comentários

Peugeot 207 to take greener route

It may already be established as Europe’s top selling small car - a position it has held since 2007 - but the Peugeot 207 is set to be re-styled with an even greener outlook.

The vehicle, which has sold more than 167,000 units in the UK alone since its introduction in June 2006, will benefit from particularly fuel efficient engines with reduced greenhouse gas emissions. It is optimised not only aerodynamically, but in terms of the engine itself and the use of rolling resistance tyres, which collectively brings its carbon dioxide (CO2) emission levels down to a mere 99g/km.

The gradual introduction of engines sees the vehicle meet the Euro5 emission standard and there has also been a gear change indicator placed on the manual gearbox models, which will help the driver to perform in a more environmentally efficient way.

Of course it’s not just about the environmental credentials of the car as there have been a number of exterior and interior changes too. These include a redesigned front for a softer visual appearance, increased use of exterior body colouring and chrome detailing, new instrument panel designs, new trims and detailing.

In addition there is a range of new standard equipment such as an in-car entertainment system, a one-touch direction indicator function for safe lane changes and a remote controlled window closure.

Further details about the Peugeot 207’s pricing have yet to be released.


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GM: Volt to be sportier alternative to Prius and Insight

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GM: Volt to be sportier alternative to Prius and Insight

2011 Chevy Volt - Click above for high res image gallery

Now that the Chevrolet Volt has progressed to the point where vehicles with production-looking bodywork are running around the automaker’s testing grounds in Warren, Michigan, the time has come for the crew to begin ironing out details like the ride height and spring rates that will directly affect the car’s ride and handling.

Regarding these points, chief engineer Andrew Farah has some interesting things to say about the Volt and the way GM will position it against its competitors. For instance, Farah notes (in reference to the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight), “Our chassis is much more sporty than either of the other vehicles.”

Farah also comments on a couple of changes to the car’s exterior design that eagle-eyed parties had noticed, such as the relocation of the plug from the front fender to under a flap in the traditional location for a gas cap. Other changes, though, such as the headlamps and taillamps may merely be present because the Volt is still early in its development cycle and there are some pre-production bits that aren’t yet necessary for testing purposes.

Spy photographers take note: Farah also says the car is set to undergo some hot-weather endurance testing out west this summer.

Gallery: 2011 Chevy Volt

[Source: Inside Line]

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GM: Volt to be sportier alternative to Prius and Insight originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kangoo be bop Z.E. electric vehicle available for test drive

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Kangoo be bop Z.E. electric vehicle available for test drive

In a world first, Renault is to make its Renault Kangoo be bop Z.E. prototype electric vehicle available for test drives.

The Renault Kangoo be bop Z.E. prototype is powered by a 44kW (60hp) electric motor and is equipped with a 15kWh battery. With just 18 months remaining before the release of Renault’s forthcoming production electric vehicles, Kangoo be bop Z.E. provides a range of approximately 100km. By the time of their launch, Renault’s electric vehicles will have benefited from an evolution to their battery technology which will take their real-world range to 160km.

For many motorists, driving an electric vehicle will be a new experience. The absence of noise from the motor, the immediate availability of peak torque and the linear acceleration curve mean that drivers will need to develop new habits. This has led Renault to give motorists an opportunity to the sample Kangoo be bop Z.E. which previews the brand’s forthcoming technology.

The Renault-Nissan Alliance intends to mass market zero-emission vehicles.

This commitment is founded on the underlying principle that electric vehicles – unlike all other technologies (internal combustion engines, hybrids) – are zero-emission vehicles during their use on the road. Depending on how the electricity they use is produced in the different countries where they are driven, their well-to-wheel greenhouse gas emissions (equivalent carbon dioxide) can vary significantly. That said, electric vehicles generally tend to emit less greenhouse gases than equivalent internal combustion-engined vehicles.

Like the Z.E. Concept, which was unveiled at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, Kangoo be bop Z.E. is equipped with low-energy LED (light-emitting diodes) front and rear lighting with a view to optimising energy use. Again in a bid to reduce energy consumption, its aerodynamics have also been significantly reworked. Kangoo be bop Z.E. sits on full disc wheels, and its ground clearance has been lowered by 20mm compared with that of the production Kangoo be bop.

An illuminated gauge on Kangoo be bop Z.E.’s body sides displays how much charge is left in the battery by simply activating the remote central locking control. Inside, another gauge to the left of the instrument panel provides the driver with a permanent indication of how much battery charge remains.

Kangoo be bop Z.E. is derived from the production Kangoo be bop but is instantly recognisable by its Energy Blue body colour, while the Renault logos on the grille and wheels are picked out in satin-finish blue-hued chrome. Inside, satin-finish chrome and metallic fluorescent green details provide a unique ambience which is enhanced by the specific grey velour upholstery and embroidered ‘printed circuit’ motifs.

Renault Kangoo be bop Z.E. is an all-electric zero emission (in road use) vehicle. It generates no emissions of CO2, smoke or particulates.

Electrical energy is transmitted to the motor via a power electronics unit which incorporates a controller. This transforms the 400V direct current into three-phase alternating current to power the motor’s rotor and stator. It also regulates the power and torque of the electric motor.

Situated near the controller, the converter converts the 400V DC stored in the traction battery into 12V DC to feed Renault Kangoo be bop Z.E.’s conventional onboard electrics and auxiliary functions (interior and exterior lighting, audio system, electric windows, etc.).

The junction box distributes the power current to the motor functions (battery, climate control and heating systems). This junction box also includes the charger which converts the 220V AC into 400V DC for battery charging purposes.

The battery comprises 48 power modules, each of which incorporates four elementary cells. It is inside these cells that the electrochemical reactions take place, enabling electrical current to be produced or energy to be stored. Each module is of the size of a laptop computer. They are positioned in two rows, side by side. The four cells of each module store 8.4V, making a combined total of 400V for the 48 modules which make up the battery.

The battery of this prototype has a capacity of 15kWh. Kangoo be bop Z.E. ensures a range of approximately 100km. In 18 month's time, however, production Renault electric vehicles will benefit from an evolution to their battery technology which will deliver a real-world range of 160km.

Last but not least, lithium-ion batteries are recyclable and the Renault-Nissan Alliance is actively working on establishing recycling processes and infrastructures suited to automotive batteries. It is important to remember that lithium-ion batteries – which are made up of non-toxic materials (lithium, manganese oxide or iron phosphate, and graphite) – do not present any danger for the environment, unlike former nickel-cadmium batteries. To put the demand for lithium supplies into perspective, the Alliance’s 250kg AESC batteries contain just 3kg of lithium. According to the mining companies Chemetall and SQM, lithium reserves are currently estimated to be between 14 and 17 million tonnes.

The incorporation of a 250kg battery in the vehicle has naturally not been without effect and has called for specific bracing of the body structure in order to protect against impact. Given that the battery is as sensitive a component as a conventional fuel tank, it, too, has undergone bespoke strengthening with a view to ensuring that its modules are effectively protected. The layout of the electrical wiring has also been optimised with a view to preventing chafing, while the power supply is immediately switched off in the case of a big impact.


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Ford's new 1.6L EcoBoost four to come in three power levels

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Ford's new 1.6L EcoBoost four to come in three power levels

Ford iosis Max Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

When Ford introduces the next-generation Focus in Europe next year it will be powered by the first of the company’s new four cylinder EcoBoost engines. The engines will be built at the Bridgend in Wales starting with a 1.6-liter displacement. Like the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 now debuting in North America, the four has direct injection and turbocharging. Just as Volkswagen does with its similar 1.4-liter TSI engines, the EcoBoost engines will be available at several power levels.

The first version, which has appeared this year in the Iosis-Max, Lincoln Concept C and Volvo S60 concepts, will be rated at 180 hp. Further versions will be available at 130 and 150 hp levels. The EcoBoost fours will also be paired up with the new PowerShift dual clutch gearbox. The EcoBoost and PowerShift will also be available here in the U.S. when the new Focus arrives for 2011.

[Source: EuroCarBlog]
Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

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Ford’s new 1.6L EcoBoost four to come in three power levels originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hybrid Land Rover on its way?

domingo, 28 de junho de 2009 · 0 comentários

Hybrid Land Rover on its way?

The pressure is on car manufacturers to take new emission targets seriously - and it appears that the message is getting across with reports suggesting a hybrid version of the Land Rover LRX concept has been confirmed for production.

The vehicle, a two-door, off-road luxury SUV has been derived from the Land Rover LR2 except for the fact that it includes new hybrid powertrains. Though a petrol engine version of the vehicle will also be produced, the hybrid version has won the approval of the British Government which announced it would offer incentives for Land Rover to produce a new, green vehicle.

The Land-e concept form allows its drivers to run in petrol only, electric only, or hybrid modes. The technology is expected to cost around $650million to develop.

According to Auto Express, the new hybrid version won’t be in production for another two years but the petrol-only version will arrive in early 2010. It is expected to carry the Range Rover name though it will be built alongside the LR2 in Land Rover’s Halewood plant.


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David Vespremi on Tesla's relevance in bringing EVs to the masses

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David Vespremi on Tesla's relevance in bringing EVs to the masses

While things have been quiet on the official legal front in the battle for recognition between Martin Eberhard and Elon Musk, some of the bystanders in the saga are continuing to come forward with their takes of the story. Earlier this week we heard from Tesla’s former SVP for marketing Darryl Siry in a piece that ran on Wired. Now, former communications director David Vespremi is responding with a counterpoint to Siry’s article.

The heart of the legal argument revolves around who did what in the very earliest days of Tesla’s existence in 2003-4 and then what happened in 2006-7 as Tesla approached Job 1 for the Roadster. The two men have their own versions of those events and how that relates to what has been said by and about Musk over the past 18 months.

Keep in mind that neither Vespremi or Siry were there in the earliest days of Tesla. Instead Siry’s piece looks at the Roadster’s evolution from the AC Propulsion tZero. Vespremi’s response goes way beyond that and places Tesla in some historical context in the progression from the EVs of a century ago as they “cross the chasm” to mainstream acceptability. You can find Vespremi’s entire response after the jump and it’s a worthwhile read.

[Source: David Vespremi]

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David Vespremi on Tesla’s relevance in bringing EVs to the masses originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Congratulations! Rise in CO2 emissions halved

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Congratulations! Rise in CO2 emissions halved

Congratulations! You’ve done it! Your hard work and effort to reduce your carbon footprint last year has paid off and, we would like to think, Planet Earth is just a little bit happier to hear that the worldwide rise in CO2 levels slowed by half in 2008. Now, we understand that just slowing the rate means CO2 levels are still increasing but you have to slow down and stop before you can go in reverse. We are also aware that a large part of the decline has to do with the high price of oil and the global economic slowdown which has had negative effects on lots of people, but if there is a silver lining to those financial storm clouds to be had, this may well be it.

The good news comes to us via a study by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) which points out that the use of biofuels and an increase in the use of renewables has helped achieve the encouraging result. It’s also worth noting that America actually reduced emissions by 3 percent and that the continuing increases are mostly occurring in developing countries. One final positive worth underlining is that 2008 was the first year investment in renewables was greater than investments in fossil-fuelled technologies. So, keep it up and hopefully we’ll have an even better result to celebrate next year!

[Source: Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency via Green Car Congress]

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Congratulations! Rise in CO2 emissions halved originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 28 Jun 2009 10:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan takes intelligent approach to fuel saving

sábado, 27 de junho de 2009 · 0 comentários

Nissan takes intelligent approach to fuel saving

An eight month study led by Nissan will educate UK motorists on how reduce their fuel bills and lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

The Nissan Intelligent Driver Project uses satellite navigation systems, mobile phone technology and advanced vehicle telematics to analyse driving habits and suggest ways in which drivers can improve their fuel economy.

A similar trial has already been completed in Japan where fuel usage was reduced by an average of 18 per cent. It is estimated that savings at the pump reached €350 a year.

So how will the fuel savings be achieved? Real-time fuel economy updates will be displayed to the driver via the vehicle’s satellite navigation screen and data from every tip will be transmitted to the Nissan Global Centre for analysis. This information is then published on a password-protected website. This allows drivers to compare their performance to that of other motorists that are driving similar vehicles. Drivers are then given a ranking - from bronze to platinum - based on their fuel efficiency.

The UK was chosen for the trial because its fuel prices are the highest in Europe and it is one of the first to set lower CO2 targets for vehicle emissions. It is also Nissan’s largest market in Western Europe and home to a manufacturing plant, a design centre and a technical research and development facility.

According to Minoru Shinohara, the company’s senior vice president of technology development division planning and the advanced engineering development division, the company is taking a holistic approach to sustainable mobility.

“Reducing CO2 by making our vehicles more efficient is just one element.  Equally significant are the people behind the wheel,” he said. “The Nissan Intelligent Driver Project will help our customers develop eco-driving techniques with a vision toward using them on every journey as a matter of course.  We expect the UK programme to show that this is a practical, affordable and highly effective way of reducing vehicle emissions.”


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PETA Alert: Fiat underscores eco-friendliness using unique advertising campaign

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PETA Alert: Fiat underscores eco-friendliness using unique advertising campaign

European Fiat advertising campaign - Click above for high-res image gallery

We’ve some pretty cool advertising in our time, but the new European marketing campaign from Fiat is surely one of the more memorable efforts from an automaker in recent years. In an effort to underscore the safety of its diminutive 500, both to its occupants and the animals we share our planet with, the Italian automaker has unleashed a new series of images depicting the little hatchback in various crash test scenarios.

The interesting part comes from the car’s occupants, which includes a panda bear, a walrus (goo goo g’joob) and a couple of penguins. Equally as clever is the tagline, “Engineered for a lower impact on the environment,” after which the ad reminds the viewer that Fiat - with an average of just 133.7 grams per kilometer - is the brand with the lowest carbon emissions in all of Europe.

[Source: Fubiz.net via Jalopnik]

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PETA Alert: Fiat underscores eco-friendliness using unique advertising campaign originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 27 Jun 2009 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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House now considering doubling $25 billion DOE ATVM program

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House now considering doubling $25 billion DOE ATVM program

The other day, Sue Cischke, Ford group vice president of sustainability, environment and safety engineering, said, “If they (the DOE) raise the appropriations from the $25 billion to the $50 billion, we qualify.” At the time, we hadn’t heard about any plans to increase funding for the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing program. Of course, as we wrote when Cischke made those remarks, never say never.

Guess what? There’s now talk that the DOE may go ahead and double its $25 billion investment in the ATVM program. It seems that new legislation was added to the already controversial (and already massive at a whopping 1,200 pages) climate change bill that’s currently making the rounds in the House.

So far, Ford has been awarded $5.9 billion, Nissan has gotten $1.6 billion and Tesla has accepted $465 million, which leaves a total of $17 billion left in the original $25 billion. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu is expected to award the remaining millions to a range of automakers large and small as well as auto suppliers. If the House votes in favor of the bill, which may or may not happen before the planned July 4th recess, it will be sent to the Senate for consideration.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd | Photo: laura padgett CC 2.0]

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House now considering doubling $25 billion DOE ATVM program originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 27 Jun 2009 08:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Road pricing scheme axed

sexta-feira, 26 de junho de 2009 · 0 comentários

Road pricing scheme axed

Plans to introduce a national pay-as-you-drive road tax have been shelved, the Daily Mail reports.

The new Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said it was ‘not the time’ to introduce the scheme that would see drivers pay up to £1.50 a mile to use the road. The decision was no doubt influenced by the petition against it on the Downing Street website, which attracted more 1.7 million people to sign it.

The plan will not be included in the Labour manifesto in the run up to a General Election and will not be introduced in the next parliament if Labour is re- elected, Adonis confirmed.

Under the controversial scheme, cars would be tracked by satellite and charged for every mile they drive. The scheme was first suggested as a replacement to road tax, to incentivise motorists to drive less and cut emissions from private cars.


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German town of Vauban basically bans all cars

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German town of Vauban basically bans all cars

Like the idea of car-free streets? Bicycle riders the world over can probably see the appeal, but in the town of Vauban, German, the car-free lifestyle is being taken up by pretty much everyone. Since the early 1990s, residents have been moving away from cars and into alternatives like public transportation and bikes. As we wrote in 2006, the shift has been incremental and with the strong support of the people living in town. Heck, about 57 percent of the residents sold their cars in order to “enjoy the privilege of living here,” project founder Andreas Delleske recently told The Independent.

One way Vauban emptied the streets was to raise the associated costs of owning a car in town. For example, it costs about €20,000 ($28,153 U.S.) for a parking space in a garage on the outskirts of town. To make up for the convenience of personal vehicles, Vauban operates with an “ultra-efficient tram service” and also offers car-sharing for people who want to go on trips. The green efforts are attracting attention, and busloads of tourists show up every day to see how things are going down. Of course, they need to park outside of town and walk in. It’s all part of the experience. Thanks for the tip, FaLeX!

[Source: The Independent]
Photo by lrargerich. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.

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German town of Vauban basically bans all cars originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Resounding success or a piece of scrap? The Green Piece

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Resounding success or a piece of scrap? The Green Piece

The Green Piece - Tuesday 23rd June 2009

Since the introduction of Britain's vehicle scrappage scheme, everything appears rosy for the country's automotive industry once more. According to Government figures, orders for new cars have been boosted by 60,000; Toyota has seen its order book lifted by more than 7,000; and Nissan has taken an additional 2,383 orders from customers looking to scrap their cars, prompting it to take on more staff on temporary contracts.

Hard to argue with statistics like that, isn't it? Except people are arguing – and they're arguing loudly.
Environmentalists have dubbed the vehicle scrappage scheme "a bailout masquerading as a green initiative" and have slammed the Government for failing to tie the initiative to green cars.

Here's what they could have done…

Ostensibly, the scrappage scheme has been presented as an incentive to buy less polluting cars and therefore reduce damage to the environment. By restricting the cars that can be scrapped to those that are at least 10 years old the Government hopes to get "old bangers" off the road, and newer, less polluting alternatives out there.

hyundai-i10-scrappage2

However, the manufacture of new cars in itself pumps carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. The way to offset this would have been to make the incentives only available to cars that emit less than 130g/km of CO2 (the EU target for 2012). By scrapping the older polluting cars and applying the scheme only to the greenest new cars, the short-term spike in CO2 emissions during manufacturing would be wiped out within six years, delivering a net gain to the environment.

Yet the Government chose to ignore these potential environmental benefits and instead concentrated purely on short-term economic gain.

Money talks

And just how great is that economic gain? Britain's scrappage scheme is widely thought to be based on the success of a similar initiative in Germany. Europe's largest auto market enjoyed 380,000 new car registrations in April – the third monthly increase for the country in a row, and that on the back of March which witnessed the biggest rise in registrations since 1992.

However, the £2,000 being made available in the UK comes half from the Government and half from the vehicle manufacturers. The vehicle industry was already providing significant incentives to customers – delivery mileage Vauxhalls had been marketed with 40 per cent discounts and mid-range unused Fords had been offered with more than £5,000 off. By comparison, the Government subsidy appears almost measly.

Indeed, despite the spin, sales have hardly been outstanding - industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reports that new car registrations in May fell at an annual rate of almost 25 per cent to 134,858 units. This reflects little change compared to the previous month.

Yes such a widely publicised Government-led incentive is headline grabbing and has caught the attention of some sections of the previously unaware public. However, it's clear that the real deals are available in the form of no-nonsense, upfront discounts.

A greener choice

And if it's green you want, as opposed to just more green in your wallet, then perhaps you'd be better off hanging on to your old car for at least a little while longer.

The Environmental Transport Association states that even if the new model you buy is more economical, once you take into account the energy needed to scrap the old one and build a new one, the environmental benefits are likely to be minimal at best.

So instead car owners should hang on to their vehicles until they are no longer reliable and focus on greener driving techniques such as avoiding harsh acceleration and braking, and looking as far up the road as possible to avoid stop/start driving.

This way, by the time your car is really ready for the scrapheap, perhaps we'll have infrastructure in place to make electric or hydrogen cars a legitimate alternative. Maybe there'll even be some real incentives too.

Faye Sunderland


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Rendering: 2011 Honda CR-ZX hybrid

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Rendering: 2011 Honda CR-ZX hybrid

Honda has said for almost two years that the very good looking CR-Z hybrid concept would make it to production. We’ve heard that the production version of the CR-Z would harken back to the original two-seat CRX and would be more aggressive and sporty than the 2009 Insight. Now, Japan’s Best Car magazine has tried to imagine what such a car might look like, even enlarging (it appears) the big front vent. The new dedicated hybrid’s name will be the CR-ZX.

Best Car also says that the ICE portion of the hybrid powertrain would be a 1.3- or 1.5-liter gasoline engine, similar to what’s used in the Insight. Car Scoop has heard that a 1.8-liter is also a possibility, especially outside of Japan. We should know more when the CR-ZX is unveiled, possibly at the Tokyo Motor Show in October.

[Source: Best Car via Car Scoop]

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Rendering: 2011 Honda CR-ZX hybrid originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EU and US could join forces to battle emissions

quinta-feira, 25 de junho de 2009 · 0 comentários

EU and US could join forces to battle emissions

There are more similarities than differences in the European Union and the USA as both bids to win the battle against vehicle emissions and drive new innovations.

That is the verdict of the European Conference of Transport Research Institutes and the US Transportation Research Board, which have both assessed how the differences between the cultures can be used to drive new innovations in joint research projects.

In its report, it outlined that it is important to intensify co-operation in the field of research moving forward. It says that while there are critical differences between the two areas, they “pale in comparison to the similarities in the barriers both entities face” as they bid to forge sustainable collaborative research ventures.

It believes that international co-operation should increase due to the economic crisis across the globe and, according to the representatives, true global collaboration is both possible and essential.

A comparison of the research and innovations in both areas showed that the EU targets activities on railways and waterborne transport, whereas the US concentrates on road transport and how to find practical market-based solutions. The report also looked at the various models for transport research collaboration and attempted to start a dialogue on the issue of transportation research and development.


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GAO says truly clean plug-in hybrids need to be powered by alternatives to coal plants

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GAO says truly clean plug-in hybrids need to be powered by alternatives to coal plants

The long tailpipe. The longer you’ve been interested in cleaner cars that come with a plug, the more chance there is you’ve heard about this topic and thought of ways to mitigate the effect of the resources that are being consumed elsewhere to move your wheels. Solar and wind are two obvious clean choices to power an EV, but they’re not as prevalent as coal-fired electricity in the U.S. So, given this situation, what impact with plug-in vehicles have on the overall greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.? The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report this month called “Plug-in Vehicles Offer Potential Benefits, but High Costs and Limited Information Could Hinder Integration into the Federal Fleet” that presents the complicated reality of plug-ins. Some news outlets have jumped on this report to decry plug-ins, but it’s not that simple.

While a shift from gas to coal does reduce dependency on foreign oil, they also are like “trading one greenhouse gas emitter for another,” said Mark Gaffigan, a co-author of the report in an interview with CNS News (the site bills itself as an “alternative to the liberal media”). The GAO report suggests that new nuclear and carbon sequestration technologies could help reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted even if plug-in cars become commonplace. It also says that nighttime charging from coal plants will likely reduce the amount of smog formed by powering plug-in vehicles. The GAO says that, “Besides offering environmental benefits, reduced oil consumption from plug-ins could help to limit U.S. vulnerability to supply reductions and subsequent oil price shocks” (page 13).

Overall, the tone of the report is much less alarming (or surprising) than the CNS News report makes it appear. But not everything in the report is accurate. On page 19, for example, they still list the Phoenix all-electric truck and SUV as making an appearance in 2009. That’s maybe possible, but very unlikely. You can download a PDF of the GAO’s report here.

[Source: GAO (PDF), CNS News, Green Car Congress]
Photo by Paul Jerry. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.

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GAO says truly clean plug-in hybrids need to be powered by alternatives to coal plants originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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