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Should the U.S. institute a vehicle scrapping plan?

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:06:00 +0000

Last month, Germany reported a shocking 21 percent improvement in auto sales, and the greatest driver in the uptick was a used vehicle scrapping plan that pays drivers 2,500 euros ($3,150) to remove their old car from the road. With new car sales in most other countries down by at least that much, it was widely speculated that other governments would look closely at Germany’s new system to see if it would be worth adopting in their areas. An opinion piece at Automotive News (sub. req’d) suggests that it’s time for the United States to implement its own vehicle scrapping program. President Obama’s recently-passed economic stimulus plan does contain provisions that are intended to help spur new vehicle sales, but has nothing as dramatic as what’s been enacted in Germany. Such a plan would certainly spark major debate as to the environmental benefits and drawbacks of replacing older cars with new ones. One one hand, new cars feature engines that generally use less fuel and definitely emit less pollutants. On the other hand, the production of cars in general creates its own emissions and uses lots of power. What do you think: With signs pointing towards a possible sales recovery in the U.S., is now the right time to give the market an extra kick with a scrapping plan? [Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd | Photo: nico.cavallotto ] Auto Blog: Legislation and Policy , Green Daily , Germany , USA Should the U.S. institute a vehicle scrapping plan? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:06:00 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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Should the U.S. institute a vehicle scrapping plan?

UPS deploys 300 CNG trucks in four states, now has 800 worldwide

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 06:50:00 +0000

UPS has announced the deployment of 300 new CNG-powered trucks in North America. The trucks have been deployed over the past month to Denver (43 units); Atlanta (46); Oklahoma City (100), and four cities in California: Sacramento (21), San Ramon (63), Los Angeles (9) and Ontario (18). This gives UPS a total of 800 vehicles across the company’s worldwide fleet that burn natural gas out of a total of 1,819 UPS vehicles that use alternative fuels. The alt-energy sources include CNG, liquefied natural gas, propane, electric and hybrid electric vehicles in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Germany (pictured), France, Brazil, Chile, Korea and the United Kingdom. These 300 vans were not converted vehicles but designed to be CNG-capable from the start. [Source: NGV ] Auto Blog: Natural Gas , USA UPS deploys 300 CNG trucks in four states, now has 800 worldwide originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 05 Mar 2009 07:50:00 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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UPS deploys 300 CNG trucks in four states, now has 800 worldwide

Canada wants North American fuel efficiency standard

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:44:00 +0000

Canada’s Environment Minister Jim Prentice believes that there should be a single fuel efficiency standard for all countries in North America. He says, “At this point in the United States, it would appear as though they are headed toward a 35 mile a gallon standard by 2020 and that would start to come into effect in the 2011 model year. We’ve essentially been prepared to go in that same direction.” That 35 mpg standard is good enough for Canada if it’s good enough for the United States, right? It makes sense for automakers that sell their products across all of North America, especially to the U.S. domestic manufacturers that build hundreds of thousands of cars in Canada and Mexico each year. It’s not perfect, though, as California is moving to create its own fuel economy standards under the guise of greenhouse gas emissions regulations. “The first thing that has to happen, however, is that the United States has to land with their own domestic policy. It’s by no means clear how this will emerge from Congress over the course of the next year,” Prentice said. [Source: Reuters | Image: AlexCovarrubias C.C. 2.5] Auto Blog: MPG , Legislation and Policy , Green Daily , North America , USA Canada wants North American fuel efficiency standard originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 16:44:00 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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Canada wants North American fuel efficiency standard

Japanese market to get Mercedes S400 BlueHybrid in October

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:29:00 +0000

Click the S400 for a high res gallery Aside from the United States, the biggest market for hybrid vehicles so far has been Japan. As a result, the Japanese won’t have to wait too long to get their hands on the first series production Mercedes-Benz hybrid. The S400 BlueHybrid launches in Europe this summer and should be available in the U.S. by September . The S400 is expected to arrive at Japanese dealers only a month later. When the hybrid S arrives it is also expected to be the first imported hybrid in Japan and it should qualify for new tax breaks on eco-friendly cars. The starting price in Japan is expected to be around $129,000-139,000. The big Benz will have a European combined mileage rating of 29.8 mpg (U.S.). Gallery: 2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueHybrid [Source: Green Car Congress ] Auto Blog: Hybrid , Mercedes Benz , Japan Japanese market to get Mercedes S400 BlueHybrid in October originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 10:29:00 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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Japanese market to get Mercedes S400 BlueHybrid in October

Spain announces $5.3 billion in aid for domestic auto industry

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 07:51:00 +0000

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Seat Ibiza Ecomotive The United States , the United Kingdom and France have already announced plans to stimulate the ailing automakers and suppliers that do business in their countries, so it’s not too surprising to hear that Spain has joined in the ranks as well. Like those other bailout packages, the Spanish government is highlighting the need to invest in eco-friendly automotive technologies. According to data provided by the Spanish government, 350,000 people are employed in auto-related industries in Spain and 6 percent of the country’s GDP is related to the automotive market. Last year, new car sales in Spain dropped by about 28 percent, which seems to be about the average slump worldwide. The European Union has requested additional information from Spain regarding the plan before it will sign off on the aid package. Some European countries have complained that France’s plan amounts to illegal protectionism. Gallery: 2009 Seat Ibiza Ecomotive [Source: International Herald Tribune ] Auto Blog: Legislation and Policy , Europe/EU , SEAT Spain announces $5.3 billion in aid for domestic auto industry originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:51:00 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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Spain announces $5.3 billion in aid for domestic auto industry

FTC loses case against Dutchman Enterprises LLC

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:02:00 +0000

In a move that has made hydrogen injection enthusiasts more enthused and left most critics still critical, NJ Federal Judge Michael Shipp has ruled that the FTC failed to make its case against Dutchman Enterprises LLC., the United Community Services of America Inc and Dennis Lee. The FTC had disputed claims that a product distributed by the defendants, the Hydrogen Assist Fuel Cell (HAFC) kit, could actually cause a substantial increase in gas mileage. The HAFC kit, which is comprised of a “computerized emission system optimizer,” an electrolysis unit for on-board hydrogen injection, a vaporizer/ionizer using magnets and additives that include acetone and xylene, is said by its boosters to at least double a vehicle’s mileage. The decision seems to have come after it was revealed that the witness for the FTC, a physicist by the name of Dr. Halperin, had not bought and tested the HAFC and did not even posses a Ph.D in engine technology. For its part, the defense had a witness who “specializes in internal combustion engines” and were able to successfully employ arguments like, “Do you think the President of the United States and his advisors don’t know what they’re talking about when they call for an increase in the mileage of the nation’s vehicles, expecting at least a 10 mpg improvement?” While the seeming ” Chewbacca defense ” worked for the hydrogen injection evangelist Dennis Lee this time, the FTC may still appeal the ruling. We’ve put in a call to the FTC for comment, but have not yet heard back. Thanks to Tim for the tip. [Source: Pure Energy Systems ] FTC loses case against Dutchman Enterprises LLC originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green

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In the AutoblogGreen Garage: 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 11:15:00 +0000

Click the Camry hybrid for a high res gallery Automotive desirability is a strange thing. If you ask any statistically significant number of people to choose any car they desired, surely a large number of them would name Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Aston Martins or some other exotic breed. And yet these cars sell in only the low tens of thousands annually world wide. Surely a car that sells over 400,000 units every single year must also have some degree of desirability. No doubt it does, but there is a difference. The exotic appeals to the most basic animal instincts in the reptilian brain. The Toyota Camry appeals to the rational, logical brain that looks for durable, reliable, affordable personal transportation. Its about desiring the things you want vs. the things you need. The Camry has been the best-selling car in the United States for the past decade. Even with an eight percent drop in a miserable 2008, Toyota still found buyers for 436,617 examples. Globally, Toyota sold 52,479 hybrid Camrys last year most of which went to North American buyers. One way to sell nearly half a million units of any car is by creating something that doesn’t turn people off. Car Blog Greenon after the jump to find out if the Camry hybrid has anything to turn buyers on. Gallery: AutoblogGreen Garage: 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc. Continue reading In the AutoblogGreen Garage: 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid Auto Blog: Hybrid , Toyota , In The AutoblogGreen Garage In the AutoblogGreen Garage: 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green

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In the AutoblogGreen Garage: 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid

French automakers get $11.8 billion bailout

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 13:21:00 +0000

Following in the footsteps of similar programs in the United States and the United Kingdom , the French government has approved a bailout of sorts for its domestic automakers and their financial arms. Portions of these funds are to be used to further the development of green automotive technologies, including hybrids and fully electric vehicles. The main condition to receiving this money is that the automakers must keep their French factories open and operational. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s being doled out: Renault and PSA Peugeot Citroën will each get loans totaling $3.9 billion, while their captive financing units will each receive $1.3 billion in loan guarantees. This should help consumers looking to purchase cars get the credit that they need. Renault Trucks, which is a unit of Swedish truckmaker Volvo AB, has been awarded $640 million and auto suppliers with operations in France will get $785 million in loans. [Source: Inside Line ] Auto Blog: Legislation and Policy , Renault , Citroen , Peugeot , Europe/EU French automakers get $11.8 billion bailout originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:21:00 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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Better Late than Oily: America will have to wait for diesel MINI

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 17:23:00 +0000

Auto Blog: Diesel , MINI Click above for a hi-res gallery of the MINI Cooper D in the ABG Garage While the new electric MINI E is proving even more popular than expected and the Cooper D continues to sell big across the pond, MINI has been contemplating bringing the diesel hatch Stateside. However, the current diesel in the Cooper D, which AutoblogGreen drove last summer, isn’t deemed clean enough for U.S. emissions regulations. While previous reports suggested a modified version of the current Cooper D could make the trip across the Atlantic to the land of heavily-taxed diesel fuel, company spokesmen now say it could have to wait until a next-generation clean-burning diesel can be developed for the MINI. Although the artificially high price of diesel in the United States has prevented oil-burning vehicles from taking the lead here, MINI points out that the price difference between the premium gasoline their vehicles require and ordinary diesel is actually quite a bit more manageable. Add to that equation the 60 miles per gallon a diesel MINI being tested by Bosch here in the good old U S of A gets and a diesel Cooper is making more sense by the minute. Gallery: ABG Garage: 2008 MINI Cooper D [Source: USA Today via Kicking Tires ] Better Late than Oily: America will have to wait for diesel MINI originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 18:23:00 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

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:27:00 +0000

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