Drivers can go green with scrappage scheme

The environmental benefits of the scrappage scheme is certainly open for debate - but drivers that pick up the ultra-green new SEAT Ibiza SC Ecomotive will certainly be doing their bit for the cause.

The scheme sees car buyers with vehicles over 10 years old qualify for a £2,000 contribution towards a new vehicle in exchange for a commitment to scrap their old vehicle. Those looking to make the change because of the environmental benefits need look no further than the SEAT Ibiza SC Ecomotive, the costs of which shrink from £11,605 to £9,605.

The Ibiza Ecomotive promises massive gains in fuel economy and significant reductions in CO2 emissions. Its fuel economy goes up to 94.1mpg and its CO2 emissions are a meagre 98g/km.

The vehicle is powered by a 1.4litre TDI three-cylinder engine and has a diesel particulate filter as standard.

SEAT UK’s head of marketing Steve Robertson is confident that the scrappage scheme, which was introduced yesterday, will be good news for the company.

“Our portfolio of already attractively-priced models is capturing car buyers’ imagination as they look to maximise style, value and driving pleasure,” he said.

“And with economy at the forefront of many drivers’ minds the road tax-exempt new Ibiza Ecomotive which, with the new scrappage incentive, can be bought for as little as £9,605 is clearly a car very much for our times.”

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Auto Alliance comes out in favor of new federal fuel economy proposals

After fighting fuel economy and emissions rules at both the federal and state levels for many years, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers is finally coming out in favor of the new regulatory framework that will be announced by President Obama tomorrow. The biggest sticking point in recent years has been the move to try and block California and other states from effectively setting their own fuel economy standards by regulating greenhouse gas emissions.

Tomorrow the president is expected to announce new federal rules that will effectively bring CAFE up to the same standard as the California proposal. Because the new rules will retain the footprint based standards that were in the California and 2008 NHTSA proposals, it won’t completely eliminate larger vehicles. It will however, be a tough standard with cars expected to hit 42 mpg by 2016 and trucks coming up to 26 mpg.

The alliance supports the proposal because it will allow automakers to work toward one set of regulations. The next big hurdle will be getting everyone to agree on a common standard for calculating the mileage of plug-in hybrid and extended range electric vehicles. The fuel consumption of those vehicles is highly dependent on the duty cycle including how often they are charged and how far they are driven past battery depletion. But that’s tomorrow’s fight. The AAM press release is after the jump.

[Source: Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers]

Continue reading Auto Alliance comes out in favor of new federal fuel economy proposals

Filed under: MPG, Legislation and Policy

Auto Alliance comes out in favor of new federal fuel economy proposals originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 18 May 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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US takes lead in tackling unsustainable biofuel production

Europe needs to follow in the footsteps of the US when it comes to biofuel legislation, the European Federation of Transport and Environment (T&E) claims.

According to the federation, California’s newly agreed ‘Low Carbon Fuel Standard’, uniquely takes into account the indirect emissions associated biofuel production such as the destruction of natural habitat to grow crops.

The standard, which President Obama has pledged to extend to the whole of the United States, follows adoption of a similar law in Europe last year. But the Californian law is fundamentally better, T&E say, because it tackles the issue of indirect land use change caused by biofuel production. Europe’s law does not, leaving a gaping hole in calculations of the real carbon savings of biofuels sold on the European market. As a result the current European law could actually increase emissions rather than reduce them.

Nusa Urbancic, Policy Officer at Transport and Environment said:”The California standard is the world’s first attempt at cutting carbon emissions from fuels that also takes into account the crucial scientific evidence on indirect emissions from biofuels: it’s an important step forward.”

“The science is as clear as crystal: many biofuels cause more emissions than they save. The Californian approach may not be perfect, but it can be improved as the science evolves. The EU should learn lessons, catch-up with California and revise its law.”

“A joined-up EU-US policy would send the right signal to the world that bad biofuels, and other carbon intensive fuels such as those from tar sands, have no future in a world that is serious about tackling climate change.”

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Corn ethanol subsidies getting the pro/con debate in Kansas

The debate over corn ethanol, and the federal government’s strong support for the biofuel, is being debated across the U.S. Everything from the potential cost for damaged fuel systems to the possible Federal push for E15 is in the news. The discussion has even hit deep into corn country, where the Kansas City Star published a point-counterpoint opinion column yesterday on whether the Feds should continue to subsidize growing corn for ethanol. On the negative side, the corn ethanol mandate “has led to land being taken out of conservation reserves to plant more corn, cultivation practices with dreadful environmental consequences, and increasing demands on fragile groundwater resources.” On the pro-corn side, ethanol reduces foreign oil use and “for every billion gallons of ethanol produced, 10,000 to 20,000 people are hired right here in America to do the work.” Perhaps the DOE’s funding for third-generation biofuels will put the debate to rest, in like fifteen years.

[Source: Kansas City Star]
Photo by dok1. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.

Filed under: Ethanol, Legislation and Policy, USA

Corn ethanol subsidies getting the pro/con debate in Kansas originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 18 May 2009 18:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford add EcoBoost engine to its flagship Lincoln

With the addition of the all-new EcoBoost engine, the new 2010 Lincoln MKS feature a powertrain that produces a combination of V-8 power and V-6 fuel economy.

The new Lincoln MKS is the first Ford Motor Company vehicle to introduce a premium twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine for the 2010 model year. By 2013, more than 90 percent of Ford’s North American nameplates will be available with EcoBoost technology.

“We are committed to delivering fuel economy leadership in every new vehicle,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president of Global Product Development. “We do this with affordable technology that can be applied to the widest number of vehicles. EcoBoost is an important component of that goal.

“The beauty of EcoBoost is that it enables us to downsize for fuel efficiency, yet boost for power. We’re able to decrease the size of the available engine - such as installing a V-6 versus a V-8 - yet boost the power using turbocharging to deliver similar power and torque of that larger engine.”

The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 of the all-wheel-drive 2010 Lincoln MKS produces 355 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 350 ft.-lb. of torque from 1,500 to 5,250 rpm and can be run on regular fuel. The Lincoln MKS with EcoBoost will deliver at least 17 mpg city and at least 24 mpg highway.

Standard on Lincoln MKS with EcoBoost are 19-inch premium painted aluminium wheels, steering-wheel paddle shifters, six-speed SelectShift Automatic^TM transmission, all-wheel drive, Intelligent Access with Push Button Start, ambient lighting, adaptive HID headlamps with Auto Highbeam, rain-sensing wipers and rear-window power sunshade.

The EcoBoost program is part of Ford’s ongoing and wide-ranging initiative to deliver innovative fuel-efficient powertrain systems with horsepower and torque performance found in larger-displacement engines.

“Our EcoBoost engines offer more power and better fuel economy,” said Brett Hinds, EcoBoost design manager. “It’s all part of Ford’s strategy to bring adaptable powertrain technology to all kinds of vehicles and all kinds of lifestyles. This technology is affordable and applicable to all gasoline engines.”

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Honda starts making Civic GX in Indiana

Honda Civic GX - click above for high-res image gallery

We recently discussed the benefits and challenges of running a car on natural gas. If that inspired you to think about making the switch, you probably pretty quickly narrowed down your choices down to the Honda Civic GX and, well, that’s it for fresh-from-the-factory major automakers. Converted vehicles are the other option. Honda has begun producing the GX at its plant in Greensburg, Indiana, where it also makes the 4-cylinder Civic sedan. Before the move, Honda made about 1,000 copies of the GX each year in Ohio.

The United States EPA rates the Civic GX as the cleanest car available in America. Last year, during the gas price spike, the GX was very hard to get.

Gallery: 2007 Honda Civic GX

[Source: Green Car Congress]

Filed under: Honda, Natural Gas, USA

Honda starts making Civic GX in Indiana originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 17 May 2009 19:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Corsa slashes emissions

With a combined CO2 rating of just 105g/km, the latest Vauxhall Corsa ecoFLEX shaves a remarkable 14g/km off the outgoing model's emissions figure, and now achieves 70.6mpg on a combined cycle– an improvement of over 13 per cent.

Now officially Vauxhall's most economical production vehicle in its 106-year history, the 3-door only Corsa ecoFLEX will pave the way for Vauxhall's even more efficient vehicles, such as the groundbreaking Ampera, as the company reinforces its commitment to reducing CO2 emissions.

On sale now, the new Corsa ecoFLEX has a raft of improvements to optimise its already efficient aerodynamics and 1.3-litre CDTi powertrain, which still produces 75PS and achieves similar performance to that of the outgoing model.

A shorter second-gear ratio improves the Corsa ecoFLEX's driveability around town, while the engine's generous 170Nm of torque from just 1750rpm allows it to pull a taller fourth and fifth-gear ratio, offering drivers a more relaxed cruising gait and better economy on longer journeys.

Aerodynamics have been enhanced by lowering the Corsa's ride height by 20 millimetres and optimising airflow through its front air intakes.

Complementing these changes are narrower (175/70 instead  of 185/70) low-rolling resistance tyres, fitted to lighter 14-inch steel wheels with new wheel trims – part of a weight-saving package that cuts the Corsa ecoFLEX's kerbweight by 45 kilogrammes.

Available in Life and Club trims, the Corsa ecoFLEX starts at just £11,295, though buyers with qualifying vehicles can use the joint Vauxhall/Government 'scrappage' incentive which starts today, to obtain a £2,000 discount, reducing this price to £9,295. And since the Corsa ecoFLEX attracts only 13 per cent Benefit in Kind tax for company drivers, and a mere £35 VED annually, it's set to be one of the cheapest cars to run on the market.

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