Category Archives: alternative fuels

Electric Cars and Solar Cells are not so Clean

Posted on 1 August 2013 by Ken Zino

“Stating that an electric car is clean is like saying that a light bulb is clean. Light bulbs do not produce exhaust, but it doesn’t mean we can use them with zero emissions. The same holds true for electric cars,” said Zehner in an NPR interview Monday. Continue reading →

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Cuts to 2014 EPA Budget Threatens Auto Emissions Rules

Posted on 26 July 2013 by Ken Zino

Not surprisingly since the chairman is Hal Rogers, a Republican from Kentucky, the legislation reflects significant efforts to cripple the EPA – “an agency that has been rife with governmental overreach, overspending on ineffective and unnecessary programs, and costly and questionable regulations.” The bill funds the EPA at $5.5 billion, a reduction of $2.8 billion – or -34% – below the fiscal year 2013 enacted level. Continue reading →

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Detroit Electric Roadster at Concours d’Elegance of America

Posted on 18 July 2013 by Donna Barbera

For the first time at any Concours, a rare 1914 Detroit Electric Roadster will be on display, the Concours d’Elegance of America claims Continue reading →

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GM and Honda Target 2020 for Viable Fuel Cell EVs

Posted on 9 July 2013 by Ken Zino

The light duty fuel cell vehicle (FCV) has shown promise for decades, but the problem remains that it is space age technology at NASA levels of cost. Not surprisingly, automakers have varying levels of interest fuel cells that always appear to be just a decade or so from commercialization, but interest is rising. Continue reading →

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Supreme Court Dismisses Ethanol Waiver Case

Posted on 24 June 2013 by Ken Zino

The United States Supreme Court today dismissed a petition by the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers or AFPM challenging an EPA regulation that allows for 15% ethanol in gasoline. Continue reading →

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Price War as Honda Cuts Fit EV Lease to $259

Posted on 30 May 2013 by Ken Zino

Moreover, the revised Fit EV three-year lease requires no down payment, has unlimited mileage, provides routine maintenance and collision coverage, as well providing a 240-volt home charging station, although the customer must pay for its installation but owns it forever. To the horror of auto execs, this program might foreshadow the next generation of marketing incentives that would apply to other types of vehicles. Continue reading →

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Electric Vehicle Startup Coda Files for Bankruptcy

Posted on 1 May 2013 by Ken Zino

Coda EV announced today that it is filing Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code after selling only 100 cars. Continue reading →

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Volvo Says Flywheel Energy Recover Ups Fuel Economy 25%

Posted on 28 April 2013 by Ken Zino

An experimental 4-cylinder Volvo equipped with flywheel energy recovery has the potential to increase fuel economy by as much as 25% when compared to a six-cylinder engine with the same performance level. Continue reading →

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Ford and Schaeffler to Make Fiesta EV

Posted on 26 April 2013 by Ken Zino

While offering no business reasons for the project at loss-making Ford of Europe, the company said there could be space-saving benefits that could support development of smaller cars that are more agile and optimized for urban areas with the ability to move sideways to park. Continue reading →

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Spark EV Electric Motor Manufacturing Starts in Baltimore

Posted on 16 April 2013 by Ken Zino

General Motors today celebrated becoming the first U.S.-based automaker to manufacture electric motors and drivetrains in the U.S. for electric vehicles for the upcoming Chevrolet Spark EV. GM moved the jobs from a plant in Mexico to its Baltimore Operations plant in White Marsh, Maryland. The Baltimore plant is also GM’s exclusive manufacturer of A1000 transmissions for heavy-duty pickup trucks. Continue reading →

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Absolute Fuels Guilty in $42 Million Bio-Diesel Credit Scam

Posted on 31 March 2013 by Ken Zino

A bio-diesel fuel company owner was sentenced to 188 months in prison for crimes connected to an illegal fuels scheme and also fined $175,000 and ordered to pay nearly $55 million in restitution. In what appears to be a badly run government program of renewable fuel tax credits, Jeffrey Gunselman, 30, the owner of Absolute Fuels was able to defraud the Environmental Protection Agency for more than a year by falsely representing that he was in the business of producing bio-diesel fuel. Continue reading →

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EPA Proposes Stricter Emissions Standards, Lower Sulfur Fuel. Big Battle between Oil and Auto Industries Coming over Tier 3

Posted on 29 March 2013 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed new standards for vehicles and fuels that are the strictest in the history of the agency. EPA said the regulations would reduce both tailpipe and evaporative emissions from passenger cars, light-duty trucks, medium-duty passenger vehicles, and some heavy-duty vehicles. Continue reading →

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Bosch to End Solar Business as Competitiveness is ‘Unattainable’

Posted on 22 March 2013 by Ken Zino

Bosch said today that it would end its solar business operations, including the making of ingots, wafers, cells, and modules at the beginning of 2014. More than 3,000 employees are affected. The German conglomerate, which is the biggest auto parts supplier in the word, said that individual business units would be sold, if possible Continue reading →

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Scientists Urge Strong Government Policies to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Develop Alternative Fuels. Caveats Abound

Posted on 21 March 2013 by Ken Zino

The study was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Not surprisingly, it also calls for “strong government policies to overcome high costs and influence consumer choices.” Continue reading →

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President Obama Calls for $2 Billion Energy Security Trust Using Fossil Fuel Development Taxes to Wean U.S. from Oil and Gas

Posted on 20 March 2013 by Ken Zino

Leaving aside the controversy over President George W. Bush’s plan to do so under the flawed Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which mandates ethanol that apparently is now adding $1 per gallon to the price of gasoline, the question remains is this just Washington politics from an Administration whose approval rating is dropping or sound national policy? Continue reading →

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