Category Archives: alternative fuels

Daimler Launches First All-Electric Truck – FUSO eCanter

FUSO eCanter has a limited range of 100 kilometers and a load capacity up to three and a half tons – depending on body and usage. The vehicle´s electric powertrain contains six high-voltage lithium ion battery packs with 420 V and 13.8 kWh each. Continue reading

Posted in alternative fuels, electric vehicles, environment, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Volkswagen Prices 2017 e-Golf at $31,315

There’s a catch however – potentially an expensive one: up to 80% charge within an hour requires charging at a limited number of DC fast charging stations. Frequent and consecutive high-voltage charging – including DC charging – can permanently decrease the capacity of the high-voltage battery. It’s like the old ‘memory effect’ of Ni-Cad batteries. Continue reading

Posted in alternative fuels, electric vehicles, environment, marketing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Toyota, 7-Eleven Japan to Study Fuel Cell Trucks

Fuel cell trucks, where the refrigeration/freezer unit, and the truck itself, are powered by fuel cells, will be introduced as refrigerator/freezer trucks for stores with the goal of reducing CO2 emissions. An energy management system, combining already-installed solar power generators will be introduced to enable greater energy conservation and CO2 emissions reduction. Continue reading

Posted in alternative fuels, electric vehicles, environment, fuel economy or emissions, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Eleven Japanese Firms to Share Building of Hydrogen Stations

While nit-twit tweet Trump is bellowing about infrastructure with no plan, no bills, no timeline, Japan is building – not talking – as illustrated by 11 Japanese companies signing a memorandum of understanding aimed at the acceleration of the construction … Continue reading

Posted in alternative fuels, electric vehicles | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Chevrolet Bolt EV at 4.5 Million Miles

These all-electric miles by Chevy’s calculation have resulted in more than 175,000 gallons of fuel saved – based on the average EPA-estimated 26 mpg for 2017 vehicles in the U.S. Continue reading

Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, electric vehicles, environment, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, news, news analysis, public health, shows and events | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Toyota to Use Hydrogen Fuel Cells for Zero Emission Trucking

The Project Portal platform is designed to provide the target performance required to support port drayage operations. The truck generates more than 670 horsepower and 1325 pound feet of torque from two Mirai fuel cell stacks and a 12kWh battery, in what appears to be a small battery to support class 8 loads. The concept’s gross combined weight capacity is 80,000 pounds and its estimated driving range is more than 200 miles, under normal operation. Continue reading

Posted in alternative fuels, concept, environment, fuel economy or emissions | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles Grow Three-Fold in 2016

The deployment activity is particularly brisk in Asia, where Japan and Korea are strong proponents of the hydrogen economy. President nit-twit Trump of course has a new head of the EPA that denies Global Warming is real despite unequivocal and unanimous scientific evidence to the contrary. CA Continue reading

Posted in alternative fuels, electric vehicles, environment, fuel economy or emissions, milestones, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

CARB Defies Trump on Vehicle Emission Standards

The courts have long upheld California’s right to set its own emission standards – for decades longer than District and Federal Courts have summarily dismissed Trump’s attempt at racist travel bans. Continue reading

Posted in alternative fuels, electric vehicles, environment, fuel economy or emissions, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

CARB Issues Next Gen Emissions Reduction Plan

CARB also directed staff to report annually on progress on implementation of the SIP Strategy including recommendations on additional funding as well as direction to expedite implementation where possible. Continue reading

Posted in alternative fuels, environment, fuel economy or emissions, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

U.S. Ethanol Exports at Second-Highest Level on Record

U.S. ethanol imports fell 60% in 2016 to 36 million gallons, the lowest level since 2010. Imports were almost exclusively (99%) sugarcane ethanol from Brazil. Most of the imported ethanol went to the West Coast region, most likely for compliance with California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) Program, which uses scoring rules that count sugarcane ethanol as a fuel with a much lower carbon content than corn ethanol. Continue reading

Posted in alternative fuels, environment, fuel economy or emissions | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

27 Electric Trucks Coming to SoCal Freight and Rail Yards

Exposure to diesel exhaust, of course, can lead to serious health conditions like asthma and respiratory illnesses and can worsen existing heart and lung disease, especially in children and the elderly. These conditions can result in increased numbers of emergency room visits, hospital admissions, absences from work and school, and premature deaths. It also produces ground level ozone, a contributor to Global Warming. Continue reading

Posted in alternative fuels, electric vehicles, environment, fuel economy or emissions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Daimler Expands ChargePoint to Europe

It’s well known that customer acceptance of electric mobility – thus far meager – is closely associated with the availability of a comprehensive infrastructure, one that is clearly deficient now. Continue reading

Posted in alternative fuels, electric vehicles, environment, fuel economy or emissions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Toyota, Shell to Bid on California Hydrogen Refueling Network

Shell with Toyota will be considered for the installation of hydrogen refueling equipment into seven retail stations in Northern California and a $16,362,500 taxpayer subsidies to develop those stations. Continue reading

Posted in alternative fuels, energy, fuel economy or emissions | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Toyota Global Hybrid Sales Exceed 10 Million

In one of the most graphic demonstrations of the benefits of being a first mover in technology, Toyota has now sold more than 10 million hybrid vehicles, including plug-in hybrids, as of 31 January. The milestone was achieved a mere … Continue reading

Posted in alternative fuels, electric vehicles, environment, fuel economy or emissions, milestones | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Nissan to Start Autonomous Vehicle Tests in London

One in three cars built in the UK is a Nissan, but following the Brexit dustup (Brexit Automaker Winners, Losers – Predictable and Surprising, ‘Bloody Hell,’ What Does Brexit do to Automakers?), it’s not clear Nissan will stay in the UK. Continue reading

Posted in alternative fuels, autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment