EPA looking into regulating CO2 for the first time ever; national auto emissions standard coming?
More potential changes in the way the EPA does business. Following the decision to re-open the states’ rights question on limiting carbon emissions and the California waiver issue , President Obama said yesterday that the EPA could soon take on CO 2 more broadly. The EPA could decide by early April whether or not carbon dioxide is a pollutant and a danger to the public, CNN says. If the EPA does so, then greenhouse gas emission regulations would kick in and would, in the words of the New York Times , “set off one of the most extensive regulatory rule makings in history.” The EPA is currently looking into how regulations might prevent endangerment to public health, and automobile manufacturers would obviously fall under any new CO 2 regulations. From the hints available in the media, it looks like the administration would prefer Congress to put together a cap-and-trade system that would affect pretty much all economic sectors, not just the dirty few. Buried at the end of the CNN piece is this: “the administration had directed the EPA and the Department of Transportation to develop a national policy for auto emissions.” Details are hazy, but it looks like the California standards (or a slightly changed version) could be the basis for a national standard. Carol Browner , President Obama’s special adviser on climate change and energy (the “climate czar”), said yesterday that, “We need a unified national policy when it comes to clean vehicles.” Well, that’s news. [Source: New York Times via Treehugger , CNN ] Photo by Clinton Steeds . Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0. Auto Blog: Legislation and Policy , Green Daily , USA EPA looking into regulating CO 2 for the first time ever; national auto emissions standard coming? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 08:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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EPA looking into regulating CO2 for the first time ever; national auto emissions standard coming?
Stimulus bill pumps up plug-ins, public transit, trains, smart grid
Click above and scroll down to watch the video I heard a phrase on the radio yesterday that described the unappetizing way the stimulus bill was crafted in Congress this past week: emergency sausage. However it was crafted, the deed is now done. The overall impact of the bill is being covered by everyone everywhere, so we’ll focus on the green transportation items that were included in the final bill, which is on its way to the President’s desk. The big winners were trains and plug-in cars. As the Environmental Law & Policy Center and CNN note, high-speed and inner-city rail made out like bandits. The first version of the stimulus bill, written in the House, set aside $300 million for these trains. This ballooned to $8 billion – along with $6.9 billion for public transportation and $1.3 billion for Amtrak – by the time it was done. Plug-in vehicles – as well as hybrids and fuel cell EVs – get a $2 billion investment for advanced battery technologies. The number of vehicles that are eligible for the plug-in electric drive vehicle credit jump up to 200,000 vehicles per manufacturer. The EDTA is happy with that, but is disappointed that the PHEV credit is capped at $7,500 and doesn’t apply to big vehicles (those that weigh over 14,000 lbs). An upgraded smart grid is helped out by $4.5 billion for development and deployment. Traditional cars don’t lose out, either. People who buy a new car in 2009 and who earn less than $125,000 individually or $250,000 jointly can deduct the sales tax. What does it all mean? Well, that’s something which won’t be clear for a while. CalCars , though, is optimistic: “Taken in combination with other external factors, this could be the beginning of the breakthrough we’ve been hoping for,” they write. You can watch a video of the President discussing the stimulus package after the jump. Thanks to Peter G. for sending some of this in. [Source: CNN , EDTA , Environmental Law & Policy Center , CalCars ] Continue reading Stimulus bill pumps up plug-ins, public transit, trains, smart grid Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , Legislation and Policy , Green Daily , USA Stimulus bill pumps up plug-ins, public transit, trains, smart grid originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 14 Feb 2009 11:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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Stimulus bill pumps up plug-ins, public transit, trains, smart grid
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Leave a commentSenate passes stimulus bill with $2 billion for plug-ins and batteries
Auto Blog: Emerging Technologies , EV/Plug-in , Legislation and Policy , USA American politicians are trying to figure out how best to save the wreck that is the U.S. economy, mostly by moving a stimulus bill through Congress. Today, the Senate passed their version of the bill and there is (unsurprisingly) a lot in there for green car advocates. The $838 billion package includes $2 billion for advanced vehicle batteries and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). Green Tech Media has a rundown on the other energy efficient measures included in the bill. A final version of the bill should be sent to President Obama soon, perhaps even this week, according to the New York Times . The Senate and the President have a history of promoting PHEV-friendly legislation (see here , here and here ). CalCars has more . [Source: WaPo , Green Tech Media ] Photo by laszlo-photo . Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0. Senate passes stimulus bill with $2 billion for plug-ins and batteries originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 17:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green
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Senate passes stimulus bill with $2 billion for plug-ins and batteries
Posted in Auto Green, Hybrids | a-stimulus-bill, cooper, current, dieselmini, economy, entry, mini, president obama, senate, senatestimulus, stimulus bill, stimulusbill, united-states, usa | Leave a commentRicardo ups efficiency with Ethanol Boosted Direct Injection system
Auto Blog: Emerging Technologies , Ethanol , Flex-Fuel There isn’t anything new about boosting an engine through the use of a turbocharger or supercharger, and direct injection is becoming more and more common as well. As you’re surely aware by now, it’s also rather common for an automaker to create engines that can run on alcohol fuels like ethanol. According to Ricardo , though, combining these technologies into one package, as it has done with its EBDI test engines, can have some highly desirable results. “The EBDI engine project is a great example because it turns the gasoline-ethanol equation upside down. It has the performance of diesel, at the cost of ethanol, and runs on ethanol, gasoline, or a blend of both,” says Ricardo President Dean Harlow. The auto development firm currently has a 3.2-liter V6 engine using the EBDI technology that it says would be suitable for a pickup or SUV. Future applications are endless, branching from passenger car use to agricultural equipment that could run on fuels based on biomass harvested on site. [Source: Ricardo] Continue reading Ricardo ups efficiency with Ethanol Boosted Direct Injection system Ricardo ups efficiency with Ethanol Boosted Direct Injection system originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green
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Ricardo ups efficiency with Ethanol Boosted Direct Injection system
Seattle gets a bit zippier thanks to ZipCar
Auto Blog: Transportation Alternatives The latest city to jump on the carsharing band wagon is Seattle. The city has signed up with ZipCar to provide on-demand short term car rentals in the hopes that more of the city’s 10,500 employees (Seattle has 10,500 employees?) will access the cars when needed for city business. Sixty ZipCars will be set up at garages and on-street parking spots within 10 blocks of city hall. Employees can use the cars for either city business or personal use with the usual setup of gas, insurance and maintenance being covered. [Source: ZipCar] Continue reading Seattle gets a bit zippier thanks to ZipCar Seattle gets a bit zippier thanks to ZipCar originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green
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Seattle gets a bit zippier thanks to ZipCar
Small motorcycles, scooters continue to post sales gains
Auto Blog: On Two Wheels , USA Click above for a gallery of the Vespa S 150 According to the most recent set of statistics, small-bore motorcycles and scooters are still selling at a good clip. In comparison with the automotive segment, which has seen its sales fall by around 30 percent globally, the overall motorcycle market is down by just over 7 percent. Scooters have led the charge with an amazing 41.5 percent sales increase as compared to 2007. The only other segment that posted gains were dual sport motorcycles that are capable of traveling both on and off the road. Pure off-road machinery took a bit hit, falling by 30 percent as discretionary spending took a nosedive. Interestingly, many dealers report that they could have sold even more scooters if they had been available. According to the 2008 MIC Owner Survey, purchasers say that commuting and errand running have displaced touring as the second most commonly cited reason to ride a motorcycle. Gallery: Vespa S150 [Source: Motorcycles.About.com ] Small motorcycles, scooters continue to post sales gains originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green
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Small motorcycles, scooters continue to post sales gains
Obama Wants Action on Energy
Stimulus plan calls for more fuel-efficient federal vehicles, but critics call it pork. President Obama today signed a presidential memorandum requesting the Department Of Energy to set higher efficiency standards for everyday household appliances. He spoke at the Energy Department to an audience of about 220 staffers. Mr. Obama also spent several minutes speaking about the importance of producing more fuel-efficient vehicles, including plug-in hybrids . “Through investments in our mass transit system to boost capacity, in our roads to reduce congestion, and in technologies that will accelerate the development of innovations like plug-in hybrid vehicles, we’ll be making a significant down payment on a cleaner and more energy independent future. “Now, I read the other day that critics of this plan ridiculed our notion that we should use part of the money to modernize the entire fleet of federal vehicles to take advantage of state of the art fuel efficiency. This is what they call pork. You know the truth. It will not only save the government significant money over time, it will not only create manufacturing jobs for folks who are making these cars, it will set a standard for private industry to match. And so when you hear these attacks deriding something of such obvious importance as this, you have to ask yourself: are these folks serious? Is it any wonder that we haven’t had a real energy policy in this country? “For the last few years, I’ve talked about these issues with Americans from one end of this country to another. And Washington may not be ready to get serious about energy independence, but I am. And so are you. And so are the American people.” read more
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Posted in Hybrids | a-also-spent, a-standard-for, bring-the-first, department, efficiency, energy, Hybrids, importance, money, news, obama-wants, president obama, ratings, read-the-other | Leave a commentCadillac Escalade Hybrid
Let’s be clear: the 2009 Cadillac Escalade 4WD Hybrid is 17 feet long, weighs almost 3 tons, costs $73,000, and gets about 20 miles per gallon. That’s not what most people think of when they hear “hybrid.” But this is the hybrid for you if you need a vehicle that can tow 5,800 pounds, seat 7 people, and still maximize your mileage. It boasts fuel economy of 20 city / 21 highway; those aren’t Toyota Prius numbers, for sure, but the city mileage is 50 percent better than a non-hybrid Escalade. You also get far more luxury than in the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid (and its twin the GMC Yukon Hybrid ); all three are essentially the same vehicle, underneath various levels of fancy dress. After an afternoon of fairly aggressive driving, the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid’s dashboard mpg display told the story: 16.3 mpg. (Photos: John Voelcker. All rights reserved.) Positioning Launched in August 2008, the Escalade Hybrid is unquestionably the world’s blingiest hybrid. GM’s characteristic hybrid-logo-with-green-leaf is rendered in large, garish chrome letters in a fender vent the size of your fist—which sits at chest level to a standard-issue human being. And some of its customers bask in the bling. One is Santonio Holmes, the 2009 Super Bowl’s Most Valuable Player, who was awarded an Escalade Hybrid 2WD Platinum Edition . GM didn’t publicize the award —bad form during the bailouts—but he got the top-of-the-line model. The Platinum Edition denotes unique front styling, LED headlights, four DVD screens, and more, and runs you $85,000. read more
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Cadillac Escalade Hybrid
Posted in Hybrids | a-also-spent, chevrolet-tahoe, city, dvd, escalade, Hybrids, importance, money, obama-wants, president obama, santonio-holmes, super-bowl, valuable-player | Leave a commentHybrid Car Future Hinges on Bolivia’s Lithium
The next generation of hybrid and electric cars depends on lithium ion batteries—but the world’s biggest supply of lithium is controlled by a socialist country with no great love for the United States. Evo Morales hopes Bolivia’s lithium reserves will allow it to join an exclusive club of countries like Venezuela and Saudi Arabia, whose natural resources make them indispensable to the global energy future. When representatives from the Obama administration visited the Washington Auto Show yesterday, their message was clear: The President hopes to make the United States a major player in lithium ion battery technology and manufacturing. Backing up their words is $2 billion of stimulus money that the administration wants to dedicate to the development of advanced batteries for fuel-efficient cars. Lithium ion batteries—which can pack more energy and power with less weight and space—are seen as the key to the next generation of hybrid and electric cars. And those battery-powered vehicles, in turn, are seen as the key to reducing American’s dependence on foreign oil and reducing carbon emissions from vehicles. As global car companies and battery makers scramble to take the lead on this technology, there’s a question of where the lithium carbonate that makes these batteries possible will come from , and at what cost. That may dictate whether or not hybrids and EVs ever become more than niche products. Bolivia says it hopes to one day be the world’s leading producer of lithium, and with at least 73 million metric tons waiting to be mined, the country is positioned to follow through. Representatives from Toyota, Mitsubishi, Sumitomo, and Bollore —a French electric car maker—have all contacted the Bolivian government in the hopes of hammering out agreements to buy the raw material. Bolivia’s 73 million metric tons of lithium carbonate lie beneath its vast salt flats. Photo by anijdam . read more
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Hybrid Car Future Hinges on Bolivia’s Lithium
Posted in Hybrids | a-also-spent, city, country, plug in hybrids, president obama, saudi-arabia, technology, words | Leave a commentSaturn Vue Hybrids, Harley Tri Glide trikes, to lead Presidential Inauguration
Auto Blog: Green Culture , Hybrid , Saturn , Legislation and Policy , Detroit Auto Show , Green Daily , USA Warning: What you are about to Car Blog Greenis not in the least bit environmentally friendly… yet, here we are anyway. Apparently, an epic convoy is set to lead the Presidential Inauguration, which is scheduled for Tuesday, January 20, one week from today. At around noon, President-elect Obama will utter the following, “I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States,” after which he’ll be sworn into office. An important event, to be sure. For some reason, though, the drive up to the event has also become big news, and 10 Saturn Vue Hybrids will start the trek towards Washington from the Detroit Auto Show , picking up a fleet of 12 Harley-Davidson Tri Glide trikes along the way. Sounds like this will be quite an event. We’re not quite sure why so many vehicles are necessary for the Inauguration. A card will be carried along the way that reads, “Change: Thanks to you, the word is no longer a cliché. Congratulations President Obama.” We’re not trying to be party poopers or anything, but we’re also pretty sure that just one Vue can hold the card at a time. We’re also quite confident that President-elect Obama can only ride in one vehicle, like the Baracktank , at a time. Oh well. [Sources: Motorcycles.About.com , IM Saturn ] Saturn Vue Hybrids, Harley Tri Glide trikes, to lead Presidential Inauguration originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green
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Saturn Vue Hybrids, Harley Tri Glide trikes, to lead Presidential Inauguration
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