Category Archives: fuel economy or emissions

Honda, GM Expand Cooperation for Next Gen Battery

Under the agreement, the companies will collaborate based on GM’s next generation battery system with the intent for Honda to source the battery modules from GM. The collaboration will support each company’s respective vehicles. The combined scale and global manufacturing efficiencies will ultimately provide greater value to customers. IT’s another example of how automakers are scrambling to cover the cost of future products as they try to morph to mobility companies. Continue reading

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U.S. Space Exploration Essential for Climate Monitoring

More than half of Americans say they would not be interested in going into space, citing cost, fear, and age or health concerns. * Therefore, an expanded definition of the automakers quest to transform into mobility companies does not include to go where no man has gone before at this time. Continue reading

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SoftBank Vision Fund to Invest $2.25 B in GM Cruise

The SoftBank Vision Fund investment will be made in two phases. At the closing of the transaction, the Vision Fund will invest the first tranche of $900 million. At the time that Cruise AVs are ready for commercial deployment, the Vision Fund will complete the second tranche of $1.35 billion. Continue reading

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CARB OKs Plan to Mitigate Harm from Volkswagen Diesel Defeat Devices. Heavy-Duty Vehicles to Get Clean Technology

“This is a landmark moment in the saga of Volkswagen’s environmental violations,” said CARB Chair Mary D. Nichols. “Over the next 10 years this plan will put in place not only tools to clean up VW’s excess emissions, but also to help achieve further reductions of smog-forming pollution for decades to come.” Continue reading

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Transformation to Mobility Company? Ford Returns to Detroit.

As part of an $11.1 billion investment in global electric vehicles announced earlier this year, Ford says it will sell electrified vehicles that “offer exciting experiences and enhanced capabilities based on what people need and want – including the all-new Mustang-inspired battery-electric SUV in 2020.” Continue reading

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Drinking the Electrolyte? Audi Plans to Sell 800K EVs in 2025

This regulation-prompted strategy – searching for an advantage and customers – means every third buyer or leasee would take an e-model by the middle of the next decade – customers who have thus far shunned driving “green vehicles” at this level. During 2017 Audi sold 1.9 million vehicles globally. Do the math and that means a huge shift in the market. In the U.S. during 2017 Audi sold 227,000 vehicles. Continue reading

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Software Lightens Hardware

The new design technology provides significantly more vehicle mass reduction and parts consolidation opportunities that – it’s said – cannot be achieved through traditional design optimization methods. Continue reading

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Ford Smart Mobility, Zotye Ink MOU on Chinese Ride Hailing

The Zotye-Ford mobility JV will provide ride-hailing fleet operators and drivers with all-electric vehicle leasing services, data-driven fleet management solutions, in-vehicle digital services, connectivity and vehicle customization. Ford Smart Mobility is a Ford Motor Company subsidiary formed to design, build, grow and invest in emerging mobility services. Continue reading

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California Details Latest CO2 Reduction Programs

California Climate Investments will fund about 150 cleaner school buses across the state. These include zero-emission battery electric models and conventional models using renewable diesel. The year-old Rural School Bus Pilot Project, which has received $25 million in cap-and-trade funding, will buy as many as 60 of those new school buses in rural areas, reducing 10,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. About 40 of those school buses in rural areas will be zero-emission battery electric. Continue reading

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Diesel Truck Brokers Busted in California

Diesel trucks are among California’s biggest sources of air pollution. Because they are so durable, they can operate for decades and belch significant amounts of diesel pollution along the way. Continue reading

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Chinese Currents – Buick Enspire All-Electric Concept

The car is remarkable because it debuts during a trade war invoked by the Trump Administration and China, the world’s largest car market. The Chinese have expressed the desire to replace the fleet with electrified vehicles, but no standards or rules have thus far been published. Continue reading

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50 Mayors, 11 States to Defend +50 MPG CAFE Standard

In a statement like the American Revolution’s Declaration of Independence, local leaders are rejecting a corrupt central government out of touch with the people – one that instead is beholden to special interests, big oil, and big money for campaigns to keep the corruption and tyranny ongoing. Continue reading

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Non-Independence Day as EPA Prepares to Scuttle CAFE

Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a Notice on the Mid-Term Evaluation (MTE) of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for the Model Years (MY) 2022- 2025 and indicated intent to place it in the Federal Register. This potential shift or softening of CAFE extensive and serious implications for all automotive industry participants. Continue reading

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Ford Proxy – Shareholders Want Political Spending Info

Herein lies the potential hypocrisy problem: In 2012, the U.S. issued light duty vehicle rules strengthening GHG emission reduction standards and improving corporate average fuel economy. These rules – made working with automakers – are being challenged by Ford and other automakers. Continue reading

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BMW 320D Meets German Emissions Regulations

The KBA test results also BMW claims “suggest that the emissions readings criticized by “Deutsche Umwelthilfe” resulted from forced driving situations and flawed execution of tests and are therefore not representative.” Does forced mean the way owners actually drive the vehicle? No wonder on the road testing will increase in all regions to check for emissions compliance. Continue reading

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