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Category Archives: public health
Toyota Eco or EV Button Study Shows Greenhouse Gas Cuts
“We have the ability to use data to help empower customers so that they can make a difference,” said Brian Kursar, chief technology officer, Toyota Connected North America (TCNA). “While this study focused on Toyota-owned vehicles, we know there are millions of connected Toyota and Lexus vehicles in the US. If everyone drove in Eco mode, it could help greatly reduce our collective CO2 output. Given how successful this internal campaign was, we’d love to see where we can take this initiative, and we hope we inspire other automakers to do the same.” Continue reading
ChargeX Consortium to Improve EV Charging Announced by the US Department of Energy National Laboratories
During the next two years, the national labs will collaborate with industry to measure and identify opportunities to significantly improve the customer experience with public EV charging infrastructure in the United States. The consortium sets a goal that public charging stations nationwide will provide a charge to vehicles the first time, every time. This new, clearly aspirational, goal is not enforceable. However, it complements federal requirements of greater than 97% uptime to ensure that each customer can successfully and easily charge at public charging stations. Continue reading
Record Clean Air Act Settlement with BP North America
The Department of Justice’s complaint complaint, filed simultaneously with the settlement, alleges that BPP broke federal regulations limiting benzene in refinery wastewater streams, and hazardous air pollutants and volatile organic compound emissions at its Whiting Refinery, as well as the general requirement to use good air pollution control practices. As part of the settlement, BPP will install one or more permanent benzene strippers to reduce benzene in wastewater streams leading to its lakefront wastewater treatment plant. Continue reading
SEMA CEO Testifies Against Proposed EPA Standards
SEMA has a point, ~33% of consumer spending on performance and accessory products goes toward upgrading ICE engines and drivetrains, ~ $17 billion of the $51 billion specialty aftermarket industry. SEMA contends the $17 billion in sales of internal combustion products comes from small businesses. Continue reading
EPA – New Carbon Pollution Standards for Power Plants
EPA claimed the plants would avoid up to 617 million metric tons of total carbon dioxide (CO2) through 2042, which is equivalent to reducing the annual emissions of 137 million passenger vehicles, ~half the cars in the US. Through 2042, EPA estimates the net climate and health benefits of the standards are up to as much as $85 billion. Continue reading
Posted in energy, environment, global warming, public health
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, best system of emission reduction, Biden Administration, carbon pollution standards, carbon pollution standards for coal and natural gas-fired power plants, co2, epa, Ken Zino, Michael S. Regan
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Department of Transportation Wants Tougher Pipeline Regs
At its heart, the proposed rule will update decades-old federal leak detection and repair standards that rely solely on human senses in favor of new requirements that add an additional layer of safety by deploying commercially available, advanced technologies to find and fix leaks of methane and other flammable, toxic, and corrosive gases. These health and safety improvements will advance environmental justice in communities where gas pipeline infrastructure is disproportionately sited. Continue reading
Posted in energy, environment, public health, safety, transportation
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, Biden-Harris Administration, Environmental Justice, Ken Zino, PHMSA, PHMSA Deputy Administrator Tristan Brown, PIPES Act of 2020, US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
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PACCAR, Toyota to Sell Fuel Cell Trucks in 2024
The expanded agreement supports ongoing development and sale of zero-emission versions of the Kenworth T680 and Peterbilt 579 models with Toyota’s hydrogen fuel cell powertrain kit. Initial North American customer deliveries are planned for 2024. Continue reading
Volta Trucks Pilot EVs – US Debut in Late 2023
The so-called “Driving Experience Program” in the US will be launched late in 2023 for fleet operators to assess a Pilot Fleet of Volta Zeros in real distribution environments to understand how the electric delivery trucks will integrate into their operations. A similar program is currently launching across six European countries. The program in the US will start on the west coast, ahead of a roll out of production vehicles expected in 2024. Continue reading
CARB Mandates Zero-Emission Medium, Heavy-Duty Vehicles
Trucks represent only 6% of the vehicles on California’s roads. However, CARB noted that they account for more than 35% of the state’s transportation generated nitrogen oxide emissions, and 25% of the state’s on-road greenhouse gas emissions. Continue reading
Death of the Diesel – CARB In-Use Locomotive Regulation
Currently, operational emissions from just one train are higher than those of 400 heavy-duty trucks. Emissions reductions from this new regulation are expected to be equal to almost double those emitted by all passenger vehicles in the state between now and 2050. CARB said that the In-Use Locomotive Regulation will contribute the largest reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions toward meeting California air quality standards by the 2037 deadline. Continue reading
Climate Change Car Wars – GM to Reach 100% Renewable Energy in 2025
It’s the latest p.r. shot in the car marketing wars by automakers that no longer can deny the real life and planet threatening damages incurred by fossil fuel use. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, electric vehicles, environment, global warming, manufacturing, milestones, news analysis, public health
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, EPA Energy Star, global warming, GM renewable energy at its plants, Ken Zino, Kristen Siemen, renewable energy
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Magna Wins Additional EV Component Business in China
Magna has won additional business to further support Chinese electric vehicle (EV) start-ups in the world’s largest and most CO2 producing vehicle market. Continue reading
SEC Starts Task Force on Climate Change Investment Risks
What this means, in short, is that things are getting tougher for companies that are part of the global warming crisis or want to profit from investors who wish to support firms that are run on an environmentally friendly basis. but wish to avoid the consequences. Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria are an “increasingly popular way for investors to evaluate companies in which they might want to invest,” said the SEC. In the financial markets, mutual funds, brokerage firms, and robo-advisors now offer products that employ ESG criteria. ESG criteria can also help investors avoid companies that might pose a greater financial risk due to their environmental or other practices. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, environment, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, milestones, mobility company, news analysis, public health
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, climate change financial risks, ESG, investors and global warming, Ken Zino, sec
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Hyundai, Kia Announce Autonomous Investment in Aurora
The move strengthens a partnership formed between the companies in 2018, under which Hyundai, Kia, and Aurora have been collaborating on self-driving technologies on Hyundai’s flagship fuel cell vehicle NEXO. With the new investment, the companies have agreed to expand research to a wide range of models and to build an optimal platform for Hyundai and Kia’s autonomous vehicles. Continue reading
EPA – As Economy Grows Key Pollutants are Declining
Air pollution contains gas and particle contaminants that are present in the atmosphere. Gaseous pollutants include sulfur dioxide (SO2), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and certain toxic air pollutants. Particle pollution (PM2.5 and PM10) includes a mixture of compounds that EPA groups into five major categories: sulfate, nitrate, elemental (black) carbon, organic carbon and crustal material. Continue reading →