Category Archives: energy

Trump Mis-Administration Proposes a Weaker CAFE

Posted on 3 December 2025 by Ken Zino

The Trump Mis-Administration today proposed to reduce fuel efficiency standards for cars and light trucks. Obviously, this would significantly raise the cost of driving a car for years to come. It also could also damage the competitiveness of U.S. automakers in a global industry. The preliminary Notice of Proposed Rulemaking – not yet officially published in the Federal Registers as required –  would gut standards set by the Transportation Department’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2024. Those standards would save owners of personal vehicles an average of more than $600 in fuel costs over the life of a new vehicle. Continue reading →

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BMW Group Increases Its CO2 Reduction Goals

Posted on 2 December 2025 by Ken Zino

The BMW Group said today that it has defined a new 2035 milestone for cutting CO2e emissions on the road to net zero. The company aims to reduce its CO2e emissions by at least 60 million metric tons compared to 2019 levels, an additional reduction of approximately 20 million tons of CO2e beyond the existing 2030 target.

“The BMW Group has intentionally set itself the additional 2035 milestone to consistently advance its de-carbonization strategy. Global customer demand for electric vehicles alone will not be sufficient to achieve the CO2e targets set for 2030 and 2035. The comprehensive approach to reducing CO2e emissions therefore spans the entire vehicle life cycle, irrespective of the drive variant,” BMW said. Continue reading →

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Talking Turkey – U.S. Gasoline Prices Relatively Stable

Posted on 20 November 2025 by Ken Zino

Gasoline prices are relatively steady compared to last week AAA said today.* The national average for a gallon of regular fuel went up by a couple of cents to $3.10.

“Despite the burst of gasoline demand that will occur during Thanksgiving week, overall demand is low this time of year which helps keep pump prices down. The national average has seen few fluctuations in 2025 thanks to low crude oil prices and no major storms affecting Gulf Coast refineries.” [so far – AutoCrat] Continue reading →

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Porsche Cayenne Electric – Resourceful Performance

Posted on 24 October 2025 by Ken Zino

“With the Cayenne Electric, we are taking e-performance to a new level,” said Dr Michael Steiner, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board and Member of the Executive Board, Research and Development. “Our innovative high-voltage system combines maximum efficiency with the driving dynamics typical of Porsche.” Continue reading →

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BMW Group Testing HVO100 Diesel Replacement Fuel

Posted on 22 October 2025 by Ken Zino

The BMW Group (BMW.DE) said today that it is using its presence at the “Fleet Europe Days” on 22 and 23 October in Luxembourg to show fleet operators ways to decarbonize their fleets. In addition to fully electrified vehicles, the focus will be on fuels based on renewable raw materials.

“Our goal is always to have more environmentally friendly and efficient vehicles on the road. With the diesel replacement fuel HVO100, we have an opportunity to reduce the CO2 footprint of vehicle fleets. Especially in the area of fuels that are not based on fossil fuels, we see a potential that we are ready to realize,” said Dr. Martin Kaufmann, Head of Powertrain Development at the BMW Group. Continue reading →

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HondaJet Flies on Sustainable Aviation Fuel!

Posted on 13 October 2025 by Ken Zino

Honda Aircraft Company today announced it has become the first twin-turbine very light business jet manufacturer to fly the HondaJet on a successful test flight running a 100% blend of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). HondaJet aircraft currently in service have been operated by customers on approved SAF blends of up to 50%. GE Honda Aero successfully completed tests of the HF120 engine on the ground utilizing 100% SAF fuel blends in 2022 and 2023, providing an early demonstration of the feasibility of the HondaJet’s recent test flight.

“We are immensely proud of our Honda Aircraft Company engineering team carrying forward our commitment to the future of aviation by demonstrating that the HondaJet is capable of operating on a 100% SAF blend,” said Amod Kelkar, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Honda Aircraft Company. “This achievement is a step toward aligning our business activities with the global Honda goal of decarbonizing our business activities by 2050.” Continue reading →

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Milestones – Mercedes Joins Renewable Carbon Initiative

Posted on 10 October 2025 by Ken Zino

“Joining the ‘Renewable Carbon Initiative’ is an important step in driving the transition to renewable carbon sources and working with strong partners to develop innovative, fossil-free solutions,” said Dr. Ulf Zillig, Vice President Group Research, Sustainability and RD Functions, Mercedes-Benz AG. Continue reading →

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Bosch Puts Its First Hydrogen Fuel Cell Truck Into Service

Posted on 8 October 2025 by Ken Zino

Bosch said today that it has taken another step toward climate-friendly logistics. Its Nuremberg plant recently started using a fuel-cell electric truck in plant traffic. The truck is equipped with the Bosch fuel-cell power module (FCPM). [The Germans, who once scoffed at Japanese technological prowess  appear to be trailing them in fuels cells – AutoCrat.]

“When we decided to make our plant traffic more climate-friendly, it was clear that we wanted a truck featuring Bosch’s FCPM,” said Alexander Weichsel, the commercial plant manager in Nuremberg. “This deployment is an important building block that helps us reduce our emissions in logistics. The fact that several thousand trucks with Bosch fuel-cell systems are already on the road worldwide shows that the concept is proving its worth.” Continue reading →

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Gasoline Demand Dropping, Pump Prices Flat

Posted on 3 October 2025 by Ken Zino

“Tis the season for lower gas prices as demand drops and gas stations make the switch to winter-blend gasoline which is cheaper to produce. Crude oil supply remains robust as OPEC+ – a group of oil-producing countries – is likely to announce in the coming days another production increase in November. That surplus coupled with weaker demand is keeping pump prices down, even as some U.S. refineries are expected to go offline this month for seasonal maintenance,” said AAA. Continue reading →

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Honda, Astrobotic Start Study of Lunar Power

Posted on 29 September 2025 by Ken Zino

American Honda Motor Company and Astrobotic Technology today announced a joint-development agreement aimed at developing a scalable and integrated power supply for sustained lunar surface missions.

“The collaboration between Honda and Astrobotic marks a pivotal step toward creating scalable power solutions for long-term lunar surface missions. Powered by core Honda technologies, our regenerative fuel cell system is designed to provide efficient energy storage and regeneration to support sustained human life on the Moon, as well as advance zero-emission applications on Earth,” claimed Derek Adelman, chief engineer, Space Development Division, American Honda Motor Company. Continue reading →

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Climate Change – CARB Adopts Five-Year Research Plan

Posted on 26 September 2025 by Ken Zino

“While the federal government recklessly dismantles decades of proven science and undermines public trust, California is doubling down on facts, data and accountability,” said CARB Chair Liane Randolph. “This plan isn’t just a roadmap for cleaner air and smart climate action; it’s a declaration that science still matters. We’re building policies that are resilient, adaptive and rooted in evidence.” Continue reading →

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Environmental Pillage Agency attacks California

Posted on 25 August 2025 by Ken Zino

This proposed disapproval comes after two complaints filed by the U.S. Department of Justice in federal courts against the California Air Resources Board (CARB) about the State’s enforcement of emissions standards through its so-called “Clean Truck Partnership” with heavy-duty truck and engine manufacturers. This politicization of the Justice Department – long attacked previously by President Trump as a misuse of power and directly opposed to the Republican party’s long-standing support of States’ rights, is yet another baffling move by the Trump mis-administration. A better name for the agency given its actions under Trump 2.0 is the Environmental Pillage Agency in AutoInformed’s view. Continue reading →

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Mixed Results – Automaker Use of AI-Technology

Posted on 22 August 2025 by Ken Zino

“Smart technologies appear to not only anticipate the driver’s needs but also reduce the cognitive workload and some of the difficulties that drivers face with digital systems,” said Kathleen Rizk, senior director of user experience benchmarking and technology at J.D. Power. “Ultimately, what matters most to vehicle owners – and therefore to automakers and suppliers – is how useful the technology is and whether it enhances their driving experience. While smart technologies are not without issues, they represent a meaningful step forward. Continued development will be essential to address current challenges and maximize their effectiveness.” Continue reading →

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Toyota, Mazda Testing EV Battery Energy-Storage System

Posted on 21 August 2025 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) and Mazda Motor Corporation (Mazda) said today that they have started field tests of Toyota’s Sweep Energy Storage System at Mazda’s Hiroshima Plant in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The system rapidly switches each battery’s power flow on and off, even when new batteries are connected to degraded or different capacity batteries.

“For the tests, the power system at Mazda’s headquarters campus, the only power generation system operated by an automaker in Japan, and Toyota’s system that uses batteries from electrified vehicles will be connected through their respective energy management systems. This will enable the verification of stable, high-quality, and efficient charging and discharging. In the future, the storage system will be used to regulate power supply and demand from renewable energy, which fluctuates depending on weather and time of day, contributing to carbon neutrality,” the companies said. Continue reading →

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Spring Hill to Make Advanced LFP Batteries

Posted on 15 July 2025 by Ken Zino

“At GM, we’re innovating battery technology to deliver the best mix of range, performance, and affordability to our EV customers,” said Kurt Kelty, VP of batteries, propulsion, and sustainability at GM. “This upgrade at Spring Hill will enable us to scale production of lower-cost LFP cell technologies in the U.S., complementing our high-nickel and future lithium manganese rich solutions and further diversifying our growing EV portfolio.” Continue reading →

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