Category Archives: fuel economy or emissions

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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Milestones: Ford EcoBoost 3-Cylinder Startup in Cologne

Posted on 9 November 2011 by Ken Zino

Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally today launched volume production in Cologne of Ford’s smallest gasoline engine – a 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine that will debut in Europe in early 2012. Eventually variants of the three-cylinder, turbocharged, direct injection gasoline engine … Continue reading →

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EPA Ordered to Check State Plans Cutting Haze Pollutants

Posted on 9 November 2011 by Ken Zino

EPA initially issued a rule in 1999 requiring states to submit regional haze plans. These plans were due in December 2007. National Parks Conservation Association and other environmental groups sued the agency in August 2011 to take action on these plans. Today’s consent decree resolves the litigation. Continue reading →

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EPA to Study Hydraulic Fracturing Effects on Drinking Water

Posted on 7 November 2011 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced its final research plan on hydraulic fracturing, a controversial technique used to extract natural gas that critics maintain has a huge negative impact on the environment with costs passed on to the public by energy companies. Proponents of natural gas maintain that it is a cleaner fuel than oil, and the Federal government is subsidizing vehicles that use it. 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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California Institutes $15,000 EV Subsidy from Taxpayers

Posted on 31 October 2011 by Ken Zino

This light commercial EV subsidy is part of a larger program – or folly, according to critics – which will it’s hoped speed the adaptation of commercial electric vehicles. Heretofore, fleet operators who keep stringent track of costs have not been willing to invest in EVs because of their absurdly high costs and limited range – in the EV Transit’s case, ~$50,000 and 50 miles. Continue reading →

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2012 Honda Insight Hybrid Ups Fuel Economy at Under $20,000

Posted on 18 October 2011 by Ken Zino

Honda’s latest attempt to catch Toyota Prius, the undisputed hybrid sales leader, results in an updated 2012 Insight hybrid with revised exterior and interior styling, as well as an improved EPA fuel economy rating of 1 mpg. The new Insight’s city/highway/combined EPA fuel economy rating of 41/44/42 mpg, is up from 40/43/41 on the outgoing Insight hybrid model.

More significant is the price as Insights are just now arriving in dealerships. Honda continues to offer the highest EPA fuel economy rating of any new vehicle currently available with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) starting under $20,000, which is really $19,120 for the base Insight delivered, plus state and local taxes. 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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Chevrolet to Produce Spark EV All-Electric Vehicle

Posted on 12 October 2011 by Ken Zino

Chevrolet today announced it will produce an all-electric version of the Chevrolet Spark mini-car – the Spark EV. It will be sold in limited quantities in some U.S. and global markets starting in 2013 in California. The company needs to the CAFE credits from an EV in order to meet impending fuel economy requirements in the U.S. 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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Toyota Prices 2012 Prius Plug-in Hybrid at $32,760 and $40,285

Posted on 19 September 2011 by Ken Zino

With its tiny battery, plug-in Prius has a pure electric power range of a mere 25 miles and runs off of its gasoline engine at full-throttle. This is apparently enough to qualify for a federal taxpayer subsidy under consideration via a direct tax credit of about $2,500 in these deficit ridden times. Continue reading →

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EPA Grants Emergency Fuel Waiver for Flooded Pennsylvania

Posted on 12 September 2011 by Ken Zino

In a statement just issued, EPA said that in coordination with the Department of Energy (DOE), and at the request of Republican Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett (who receives funding from oil and natural gas companies), EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said that extreme and unusual supply circumstances exist. These problems are likely in EPA’s view to result in a shortage of gasoline that meets federal regulations. The federal waiver will help provide adequate supply of gasoline in the affected area until normal supply to the region can be restored. Continue reading →

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General Motors and LG to Jointly Develop Electric Vehicles

Posted on 25 August 2011 by Ken Zino

The high cost of developing new technologies to meet increasingly stringent CO2 and fuel economy regulations prompted the deal. Earlier this week Ford Motor and Toyota announced a collaboration on new hybrid trucks. Continue reading →

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Ford and Toyota to Develop a New Hybrid System for Light Trucks and SUVs as well as Future Telematics Standards

Posted on 22 August 2011 by Ken Zino

Both companies of course are heavily invested in fuel thirsty larger trucks, with Ford’s best selling vehicle the F-Series pickup rated at 16 mpg on the EPA city test cycle. The F-Series has been the U.S.’s best selling truck for the past 34 years with year-to-date sales of 313,000 units. Toyota before the Great Recession invested billions in full-size trucks and SUVs. Both the Tundra pickup and Sequoia full-size SUV have been sales disasters. Continue reading →

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Cadillac Rejoins Electric Vehicle Parade with Converj Concept

Posted on 17 August 2011 by Ken Zino

The on again/off again Converj program is now switched on again and in keeping with the ecological theme, the name is recycled from a hybrid concept first shown at the 2009 North American International Auto Show as General Motors was hurtling toward bankruptcy. Continue reading →

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