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Category Archives: energy
High Fuel Prices Having Little Impact on Vehicle Choice?
Rising fuel prices are having little effect on the type of vehicles U.S. buyers are considering. This latest research conundrum comes from consultancy AutoPacific, which claims that while drivers are complaining about fuel costs, the choice of a future vehicle appears decoupled from them. Continue reading
President Obama to Announce First Fuel Economy Regulations for Heavy Trucks, Buses. $50 Billion in Fuel Savings Claimed
The complicated standards vary by size and type of truck, and whether gasoline or diesel engines are used. However they appear stringent, calling for a 7-20% reduction in emissions with roughly corresponding increases in fuel economy. Continue reading
Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, energy, environment, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, milestones, news analysis
Tagged auto informed, auto news, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, cafe, epa, fuel economy, ghg emissions, heavy truck cafe, Ken Zino, medium truck fuel economy, nhtsa, truck cafe, truck fuel economy, zino
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President Obama Unveils 54.5 MPG Fuel Economy Regulation for 2017-25. Will it Alter Vehicle Choices and Increase Costs?
In a thirteen minute speech in Washington this morning, President Obama revealed his proposal for doubling the fuel economy of vehicles sold in the U.S. by 2025. This proposal, which will apply to cars and light trucks sold during model years 2017 to 2025, establishes a global warming pollution standard of 163 grams of CO2 per mile per new vehicle by 2025—the equivalent of 54.5 mpg if all the improvements are met through actual increases in fuel-efficiency. Continue reading
Volvo Shows Electric Vehicle Range Extender – a Gas Engine!
If engineers keep this up, they could arrive at a lightweight, front-drive gasoline (or diesel powered) car that would be much less expensive by eliminating the electric motor, power controls, recharging gear, battery cooling, battery back and sundry other EV components. However, it wouldn’t qualify for taxpayer subsidies or meet increasingly stringent government standards for reducing CO2 emissions, which correlate with increased fuel economy. Continue reading
Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, concept, electric vehicles, energy, environment, transportation
Tagged alternative fuel, auto informed, auto news, autoinformed, automotive news, cafe, co2, eu emissions, EVs, Ken Zino, utoinformed.com, volvo electric, volvo hybrid concept, zino
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The Business of Plugging In Conference Returns in October
The Center for Automotive Research announced today that The Business of Plugging In, a plug-in electric vehicle conference, will take place this October 11-13 at the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn, MI. The agenda for the conference – now in its third year – includes representatives from utilities, automotive manufacturers and suppliers, investors, regulators and researchers. Continue reading
Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, electric vehicles, energy, fuel economy or emissions
Tagged auto informed, auto news, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, car, center for automotive research, electric vehicles, EVs, Ken Zino, plug-in hybrids, the business of plugging in, zino
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EPA Finalizes E15 Gasohol Pump Labels as Automakers Again Protest Adding More Ethanol to Gasoline. Lawsuits Pending
The ethanol tariff is comprised of a 54 cent Most Favored Nation duty and a 2.5% ad valorem tax. Critics say the ethanol tariff makes our nation more dependent on foreign oil by increasing the price of imported ethanol. Iowa State University estimates that a one-year extension of the ethanol subsidy and tariff would lead to only 427 additional direct domestic jobs at a cost of almost $6 billion, or roughly $14 million of taxpayer money per job.
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Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, economy, energy, environment, news analysis, transportation
Tagged alternative fuels, auto informed, auto news, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, budget deficit., e15, ethanol, ethanol subsidy and tariff repeal act, gasohol, Ken Zino, pump labeling, taxpayer subsidies, zino
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Americans Flying More, Driving Less as High Gasoline Prices Cut Auto Travel during the (Non) Independence Day Weekend
Travelers with household incomes of $50,000 or less is expected to decrease from 41% to 33%, while travelers with household incomes of more than $100,000 are expected to increase to 35% from 26%. Continue reading
Ford Kills U.S. Gas C-Max Van. Smaller Hybrids Now Due in 2012
The C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid and C-MAX Hybrid will be followed by another next-generation hybrid in 2012, presumably an updated hybrid version of the Ford Fusion, which in its gasoline form remains the best selling car at the Number Two U.S. automaker. Continue reading
OPEC to Keep Oil Production Even. Prices Likely to Stay High as U.S. Economic Recovery Stalls and Unemployment Grows
OPEC’s decision to keep oil production levels constant is the latest setback for the stumbling U.S. economy. Since there has been no change in the way oil is produced or traded – as a fungible commodity – there is no reason speculators cannot keep oil prices moving up toward the record $147 a barrel that it hit in July of 2008. In fact, some analysts warn oil prices won’t stop there this time. Continue reading
U.S. Oil Imports Declining Since 2005 Peak. It’s Not All Good
There are several problems with the imported oil numbers since oil is mostly imported as crude, an unrefined product, but is consumed as a refined product. In between there is refinery gain – yes, gain – whereby more comes out of the process of splitting heavier oils into lighter ones. Continue reading
Ten Fuelish Mistakes Drivers Make, Hurting Their Fuel Economy
A new study by Chevrolet shows that drivers in identical cars can differ in their fuel economy by as much as 16 mpg or 40%. This means that by practicing simple techniques a driver can save as much as $100 a month at the pump. Continue reading
Big Oil has Big Day in U.S. Senate as Tax Breaks are Intact
Energy industry tax breaks will not however go away as a contentious political issue anytime soon with a soaring U.S. budget deficit that now requires borrowing 41 cents of every dollar spent, and gasoline prices at $4-$5 a gallon making voters angry. Continue reading
Electric Utility Coal Ash Safety Plans Released by EPA
Electric vehicles, the current technology in favor by special interest groups who want their use mandated as well as subsidized by taxpayers, raise many legitimate environmental concerns since half the electricity in the United States is generated by burning coal. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, electric vehicles, energy, environment, safety
Tagged auto informed, auto news, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, co2, coal ash, electric cars, epa, EVs, global warming, Ken Zino, toxic waste, tva
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Tougher Vehicle Economy Standards to Save Billions in Costs?
Pressure or advocacy groups rarely – if ever – acknowledge that higher fuel economy standards are controversial, and they usually don’t explore the soundness of their assumptions. (Ever see a California Air Resources Board assessment of the cost of its aborted electric vehicle mandate of the 1990s?) Continue reading
