Category Archives: energy

EPA Issues First Standards on Powerplant Mercury Pollution

Posted on 21 December 2011 by Ken Zino

Environmentalists say more battles are ahead in “pay to play” Washington, DC during what likely will be the most expensive presidential election in history – literally awash with billions in “contributions” from the extremely wealthy or “One Percenters” and large corporations. Some extremist Republicans running for president want to abolish the EPA entirely. Continue reading →

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Honda Claims it will lead in Fuel Economy in All Classes within Three Years. New EVs and Hybrids Coming

Posted on 30 November 2011 by Ken Zino

The program is called “Earth Dreams Technology,” in a rough translation. It is actually a series of efficiency measures for engines, and transmissions, as well as electric-powered motors using existing or emerging technologies. Variable valve timing, direct injection, the Atkinson cycle, hybrid vehicles, turbocharging and friction reduction enhancements are part of the plan. Continue reading →

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DOE and EPA Release 2012 Annual Fuel Economy Guide

Posted on 16 November 2011 by Ken Zino

The Bugatti Veyron at combined, city and highway ratings of 10/8/15 is the least fuel efficient vehicle in the new guide. The Nissan Leaf EV at 99/106/92 is the most fuel efficient vehicle, but that rating uses a conversion factor since the Leaf doesn’t run on gasoline, The Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid under this system is rated at 60/58/62. Real world driving of the Volt by AutoInformed returned about 35 miles to a gallon overall, once you got past its 30-40 mile EV range. The Toyota Prius hybrid is rated at 50/51/48 since the plug-in version won’t be available until next spring. Continue reading →

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Renault Dedicates Enlarged Electric Vehicle Test Center

Posted on 15 November 2011 by Ken Zino

Since missing the hybrid segment completely that Toyota went on to dominate globally, reaping billions upon billions of dollars worth of “Green” image benefits in the process, Carlos Ghosn, CEO of both Renault and Nissan, has “bet the farm” by investing almost $5 billion in electric vehicles. Thus far, the Nissan Leaf, with roughly 8,000 sales year-to-date, has not met expectations in the U.S. Nissan, optimistically, wants 20% of its sales to be EVs by 2020. Continue reading →

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President Obama Kicks Keystone Pipeline Decision down the Road – after 2012 Election. Corruption Charged at State Dept.

Posted on 10 November 2011 by Ken Zino

True to form, Obama caught between his political desire to appear to be encouraging energy independence and his need to bolster waning support among environmentalists in what could be a tough bid to keep his job, today ordered the State Department to look at alternative routes that would avoid the Sand Hills in Nebraska. This effectively kicks the political problem down the road until after the 2012 Presidential election. Nevertheless, it does not address larger policy and environmental issues surrounding the tar sands derived oil pipeline. Continue reading →

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Sumitomo to Make 30 Minute Quick Charger for Nissan Leaf

Posted on 10 November 2011 by Ken Zino

Nissan previously announced a joint promotion of a DC Quick charger with Sumitomo. The newly developed DC quick charging unit retains the high performance of current quick chargers but is nearly half the size – making for an easier installation. Continue reading →

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Ford Taking Orders for 2012 Focus Electric at $39,995

Posted on 3 November 2011 by Ken Zino

No lease is available, so a typical payment to buy – with $4,000 down for 48 months – is almost $800 per month at Ford’s 7% interest rate. The gasoline Focus starts at just over $17,000. This means that the sales volume of the EV will likely be limited to a few enthusiasts. And Focus Electric also faces tough competition from the Nissan Leaf, which can be leased for about $400 a month. Continue reading →

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EPA Tells Pennsylvania to Improve Air Quality in New Jersey

Posted on 31 October 2011 by Ken Zino

The EPA ruling potentially has broad implications for the future of electric vehicles in the U.S. since half of the electricity produced comes from burning coal – a notorious source of SO2. The two Portland generating units covered under this rule are large sources of SO2 emissions in the region since they are about 50 years old.

This is a national problem. Currently 44% of coal-fired units in the country do not have advanced pollution controls, such as scrubbers or catalysts, installed to limit emissions. Utilities and coal companies are and have been vigorously fighting efforts to solve the problem. Continue reading →

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New EPA Grants Go to Universities for Black Carbon Research

Posted on 18 October 2011 by Ken Zino

Black carbon – including diesel powered vehicle emissions – can affect the climate in the near term, and as with other types of fine particles, can cause serious health effects such as cardiovascular and respiratory ailments. Fine particles have also been strongly linked to lung cancer. Continue reading →

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Chevrolet and Nissan Succeed with Plug-in Hybrids and EVs as the Business of Plugging In Shows First Product Results

Posted on 17 October 2011 by Ken Zino

Success is the verdict about one year after the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid and Nissan Leaf EV (electric vehicle) both went on sale, it was revealed last week at the third annual Business of Plugging In Conference in Michigan. And with Cadillac, Ford, Toyota about to introduce the their own plug-in hybrids, and a pure EV version of the tiny Chevrolet Spark coming in 2013, the small niche of electric cars has the chance to grow some more. Continue reading →

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Honda Starts Production of 2012 Civic Natural Gas car in U.S.

Posted on 12 October 2011 by Ken Zino

As it stands now, compressed natural gas or CNG vehicles that are growing clean air darlings – under debatable assumptions about how clean natural gas really is and how it is produced under exemptions from government environmental regulations – are all conversions of mostly Detroit Three pickup trucks and vans with one Honda factory-made exception. Continue reading →

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GE and Nissan to Work on EV Charging Infrastructure

Posted on 30 September 2011 by Ken Zino

In the U.S. several problems are inhibiting widespread adoption of EVs: the high cost of the EV itself even with lavish taxpayer subsidies, which are unsustainable given current deficits; the generation of 50% of electricity in the U.S. by carbon monoxide producing coal, the dirtiest of carbon based fossil fuels; and the lack of a national grid to move power around during peak demand periods. Continue reading →

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Great Recession Cuts Congestion as Economy and Traffic Stall

Posted on 28 September 2011 by Ken Zino

The growing traffic congestion problem is the direct result of politicians refusing to address the underlying problem of a bankrupt Highway Trust fund. Federal gasoline taxes that support the highway system, – 18.4 cents per gallon – have not been increased since 1993 as the population expands and road use and repair costs go up. Continue reading →

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The Business of Plugging In Adds EV Experts to Panels

Posted on 27 September 2011 by Ken Zino

The Center for Automotive Research is holding a timely conference – The Business of Plugging In, an electric vehicle conference – this October that will discuss the emerging plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) against a background of contentious budget debates in Washington about subsidies for automakers, global warming, emission regulations, and tax policies. Continue reading →

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New Porsche Paint Shop for New 911s at Zuffenhausen

Posted on 23 September 2011 by Ken Zino

The opening of the new paint shop this week in Zuffenhausen coincides with the start of production of the new Porsche 911, arguably the most famous sports car in the world since its 1964 début. The revised 911 bodies are painted inside and out in a dust free environment at the enclosed plant, which is located in a densely populated urban area of Stuttgart. Continue reading →

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