Category Archives: public health

Mazda to Make its First Pure EV in Hiroshima

Posted on 6 January 2025 by Ken Zino

Mazda Motor Corporation said today in Hiroshima that it will build a new module pack plant for automotive cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. The new plant will produce modules and packs of automotive cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells procured from Panasonic Energy Co. The completed battery packs will be installed in Mazda’s first battery EV that uses a dedicated EV platform and will be manufactured at Mazda’s Hiroshima plant. The annual production capacity is planned to be 10 GWh. Continue reading →

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First Look – EPA AirNow Mobile App

Posted on 2 January 2025 by Ken Zino

“State and local air agencies issue AQI forecasts as a public service to help people plan their outdoor activities. The agencies provide them to EPA, which shares them on the AirNow app and Airnow.gov website. Until now, AirNow users had to remember to check the app or website to see their forecasts; with the updates to the AirNow mobile app, people can opt to be notified when the daily forecast reaches an AQI category of their choosing,” EPA said. Continue reading →

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Ram ProMaster Diesel Engines – CARB Fines FCA $4.2M

Posted on 24 December 2024 by Ken Zino

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) said this week it has reached a settlement agreement with FCA US LLC (FCA) of Auburn Hills, Mich., for $4,185,820 for violations of CARB’s air quality regulations. The FCA vehicles concerned include model year (MY) 2014 through 2016 Ram ProMaster 1500, 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with 3-liter inline-4 diesel engines.*

“CARB’s robust compliance testing ensures that auto manufacturers sell the exact vehicles that received certification for sale within California, without alterations made to skirt the state’s regulations and release excess emissions that harm air quality and public health,” said CARB Executive Officer Dr. Steven Cliff. Continue reading →

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GAC Honda Automobile Plant Starts Making EVs

Posted on 23 December 2024 by Ken Zino

Honda Motor (China) Investment Co., a wholly-owned Honda subsidiary in China, announced today that GAC Honda Automobile Co., Ltd. (GAC Honda), a Honda automobile production and sales joint venture in China, began operation of its newly-constructed plant for new energy vehicle (NEV) production, named the Development District NEV Factory. The new factory is located in the Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development District in Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China. Under communist Chinese industrial policy 50% of the JV is owned by GAC.

The latest NEV production plant has state of the art production equipment to achieve a highly efficient, smart, and low-carbon production system. The stamping and welding processes completely eliminated logistics personnel by automating parts logistics. AI-based welding strength inspection was adopted for the first time at any Honda plant. In the assembly process, approximately 30% of the entire process is automated to achieve a highly efficient production line. Continue reading →

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Toyota to Get $4.5M in Fed Funding for EV Batteries

Posted on 18 December 2024 by Ken Zino

Toyota (NYSE:TM) said today that Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. (TEMA), inclusive of Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) R&D, has been selected to receive $4.5 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). The funding is part of the Catalyzing Innovative Research for Circular Use of Long-lived Advanced Rechargeables (CIRCULAR) Program, designed to support a circular domestic supply chain for electric vehicle (EV) batteries.

“As it stands, this project and program will highlight avenues for everyone to rethink their approach to battery circularity, and help prioritize the extension of battery life, facilitate battery reuse, and reduce battery waste while unveiling the appropriate pathways to achieve such priorities,” said Nik Singh, principal scientist at TRINA (Toyota Research Institute of North America) who is Principal Investigator on this project. “This is only made possible by the collaboration between the exceptional teams comprised within this project group.” Continue reading →

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California Advanced Clean Cars II Regs – EPA Grants Waivers!

Posted on 18 December 2024 by Ken Zino

“After reviewing the information provided by California, reviewing comments submitted by the public, and applying the limited criteria for waiver review under the Clean Air Act, EPA determined in each case that it would be appropriate to grant both waiver requests. The records, included in the waiver decisions, contain public comments on the programs’ feasibility, including costs to manufacturers and the lead time provided. EPA’s review found that opponents of the waivers did not meet their burden to show how either program is inconsistent with the Clean Air Act. California has longstanding authority to request waivers from EPA to protect its residents from dangerous air pollution coming from mobile sources like cars and trucks,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Today’s actions follow through on EPA’s commitment to partner with states to reduce emissions and act on the threat of climate change.” Continue reading →

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Clean Air Act – Power Performance Enterprises Fined

Posted on 18 December 2024 by Ken Zino

Louisiana-based company Power Performance Enterprises Inc. (PPEI) and its president and owner, Kory B. Willis, were sentenced yesterday in federal court in Sacramento, California, for violating and conspiring to violate the Clean Air Act by tampering with the monitoring devices … Continue reading →

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Tavares Out. Stellantis Back into ACEA!

Posted on 9 December 2024 by Ken Zino

Stellantis over his embrace of electric vehicles as the core of the global automaker’s strategy, Stellantis said it would rejoin the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association** (aka ACEA at AutoInformed), the lobbying group of 15 major European automakers. Under Tavares, Stellantis resigned from ACEA, which has been advocating slow-walking fines for automakers that fail to meet intermediate carbon reduction targets set for 2025. Battery electric vehicles sales in the EU have been tanking this year. Continue reading →

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GM to Sell Lansing Battery Plant to LG Energy Solution

Posted on 2 December 2024 by Ken Zino

General Motors (NYSE: GM) said today that it has reached a non-binding agreement to sell its stake in the nearly completed Ultium Cells LLC battery cell plant in Lansing, Michigan to its joint venture partner LG Energy Solution.* The transaction is expected to close in the 2025 first quarter, subject to customary closing conditions. 

“Our EV profitability is rapidly improving thanks in part to our strategic decision to build battery cells in the U.S. with LG Energy Solution. It will be years before some of our competitors approach this level of performance,” said Paul Jacobson, GM executive vice president and CFO. “We believe we have the right cell and manufacturing capabilities in place to grow with the EV market in a capital efficient manner. When completed, this transaction will also help LG Energy Solution meet demand by leveraging capacity that’s nearly ready to come online and it will make GM even more efficient.”  Continue reading →

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Honda – Global Expansion of Electric Motorcycles

Posted on 27 November 2024 by Ken Zino

Honda in Tokyo today announced two electric personal commuters in India continuing 2024 as the first year for its global expansion of electric motorcycles. The new ACTIVA e and QC1 are the 12th and 13th models, respectively, of Honda’s “30 electric models to be launched globally by 2030” target. The ACTIVA e is equipped with two Honda Mobile Power Pack e with swappable batteries as its power source. QC1, has a fixed battery.

“Both ACTIVA e: and QC1 will be manufactured in India, strengthening the electric commuter lineup to meet the growing needs for electric mobility in the Indian market. In addition, Honda Power Pack Energy India Private Limited will operate Honda e:Swap, a battery sharing service, in three major Indian cities (Bengaluru, the National Capital Territory of Delhi, and Mumbai [footnote 3], providing customers mobility experience with more peace of mind,” Honda said. Continue reading →

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Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles – Japan vs Korea

Posted on 26 November 2024 by Ken Zino

“This rivalry is more than a market battle – it’s a bid for energy independence and environmental sustainability. FCEVs (fuel cell electric vehicles) offer several advantages over traditional fossil-fuel vehicles and even BEVs (battery electric vehicles), such as longer range and faster refueling, making them a potentially transformative solution, especially for long-haul and heavy-duty applications,” GlobalData said. Continue reading →

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EPA – US Fuel Economy Record High. CO2 Record Low

Posted on 26 November 2024 by Ken Zino

“This annual report indicates EPA’s commitment to provide the public with information about new light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas emissions, fuel economy, technology data, and auto manufacturers’ performance in meeting the nation’s emissions standards. EPA’s annual Automotive Trends Report is separate from the agency’s regulatory process, which is far more complex and has been subject to political and judicial interference funded by special interest groups. – AutoCrat.” Continue reading →

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EPA – Tighter NOx Emissions Limits on Combustion Turbines

Posted on 22 November 2024 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today proposed to strengthen limits on emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from most new, modified, and reconstructed fossil fuel-fired stationary combustion turbines. The stated goal is to reduce exposure to dangerous air pollution for nearby communities. The proposal would ensure that new turbines built at power plants or industrial facilities, especially large ones that could operate for decades, would be among the most efficient and lowest-emitting turbines ever built. NOx contributes to harmful health effects, such as asthma and respiratory infections, and reacts with other volatile organic compounds to form ozone (i.e., smog) and fine particulate matter. Children, the elderly, and people with chronic heart, lung, or other cardiopulmonary diseases are most at risk. Continue reading →

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Toyota Huntsville Finishes 168-acre Solar Array

Posted on 19 November 2024 by Ken Zino

Toyota (NYSE: TM) and Toyota Tsusho America (TAI) and Huntsville Utilities have completed 168-acre solar project. The renewable energy produced will generate ~70 % of Toyota Alabama’s total energy. It is in keeping with the automaker’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality at all of its North American facilities by 2035. In total, the array will generate approximately 62,000 megawatt hours of energy annually, reducing an estimated 22,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions per year.

“Toyota is committed to clean and sustainable power. We know that the collective future for our community and our team members depends on clean mobility, clean air, clean water, and biodiversity,” said Jason Puckett, president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Alabama. “We are thankful for our partners on this project who have created a model of environmental stewardship in North Alabama.” Continue reading →

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National Recycling Plan Advancing Circular Economy

Posted on 15 November 2024 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today said its “National Recycling Strategy” is advancing through implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.* EPA is central to the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to build a circular economy thereby creating jobs and helping the environment. Since 1997, EPA has celebrated the nation’s progress on recycling. This year, EPA is encouraging organizations and individuals to continue expanding the ways they reduce, reuse and recycle. Together with investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s work has helped to transform recycling and solid waste management across the nation. It was not immediately clear if the incoming Administration is the result of recycled garbage. Continue reading →

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