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Category Archives: fuel economy or emissions
EPA Issues First Standards on Powerplant Mercury Pollution
Environmentalists say more battles are ahead in “pay to play” Washington, DC during what likely will be the most expensive presidential election in history – literally awash with billions in “contributions” from the extremely wealthy or “One Percenters” and large corporations. Some extremist Republicans running for president want to abolish the EPA entirely. Continue reading
Milestones: 5 Million Bosch Start-Stop Systems
Volkswagen explored this concept with demonstration units decades ago. However, the effectiveness of electronic controls monitoring such variables as battery state of charge and engine temperature and heater operation, makes stop-start systems viable with no negative aspects. Stop-start is virtually undetectable to drivers, except for a slight shudder on engine reactivation. Once you drive a vehicle with start-stop you will go crazy when idling and realizing that you are getting zero miles per gallon for no reason other than to make oil companies wealthier. Continue reading
New 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL Revealed after Press Leaks
Press leaks about the new Mercedes-Benz SL have apparently prompted an extensive official release of the all-aluminum sports car ahead of its official introduction at the North American International Auto Show next month. Continue reading
News Bits – Carbon Fiber, Chinese Leaf, Rolls-Royce, Thailand Floods and Impending Goodyear Airline Tire Shortage?
General Motors and Teijin Limited, Japanese company with roots as a textile maker will co-develop advanced carbon fiber composite technologies for potential high-volume use globally in GM cars, trucks and crossovers.
Nissan Motor and Dongfeng Motor delivered 15 Nissan Leaf EVs to the Guangzhou Municipal Government in China.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has announced that it will enter the South American market for the first time in the company’s history.
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company says that as a result of the Thailand flooding commercial airlines are facing a potential global shortage of bias aviation tires
Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, aviation, electric vehicles, fuel economy or emissions, manufacturing, news, news analysis, transportation
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, carbon fiber, chinese leaf, Ken Zino, news bits, rolls royce, thailand floods and goodyear airline tire shortage
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Volkswagen Cross Coupe Plug-in Hybrid Unveiled at Tokyo
Cross Coupe is the latest regulation driven foray into plug-in technology, with the 9.8 kWh lithium ion battery onboard costing at least $5,000. Whether buyers will exist for the growing number of plug-in hybrids is a matter of debate by auto industry insiders. By the end of 2016, it’s predicted that 159 hybrid and electric vehicle models available for purchase in the U.S. market. This is a significant increase from only 31 hybrid and electric models in 2009. Continue reading
Honda Claims it will lead in Fuel Economy in All Classes within Three Years. New EVs and Hybrids Coming
The program is called “Earth Dreams Technology,” in a rough translation. It is actually a series of efficiency measures for engines, and transmissions, as well as electric-powered motors using existing or emerging technologies. Variable valve timing, direct injection, the Atkinson cycle, hybrid vehicles, turbocharging and friction reduction enhancements are part of the plan. Continue reading
Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, economy, electric vehicles, energy, environment, fuel economy or emissions, news, news analysis
Tagged auto informed, auto news, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, co2, fuel efficiency, hond, hybrid cars, Ken Zino, tokyo motor show, zino
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GM Will Lend Cars to Concerned Chevrolet Volt Owners as NHTSA Volt Battery Fire Investigation Continues
General Motors announced Monday that any Volt owner concerned about safety can contact his or her Volt advisor to arrange for a free GM vehicle loan until resolution of the issue. A letter to Volt owners will go out today. The aggressive customer satisfaction move came after the National Highway traffic safety Administration announced on Friday that it would open a preliminary evaluation of Volt battery assemblies after NHTSA test results caused electrical fires up to three weeks after an initial vehicle New Car Assessment Program side pole crash test. Continue reading
Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, customer satisfaction, electric vehicles, engineering, fuel economy or emissions, marketing, new vehicle, news, news analysis, results, transportation
Tagged auto informed, auto news, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, chevrolet volt, GM, Ken Zino, nhtsa, volt battery fires, zino
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Toyota Camry Hybrid Prices Cut $850 to $1,150 for 2012
The revised hybrid-electric powertrain, like other 2012 Camry models has a newly-developed 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. Toyota says that improved electric motor-voltage control, optimized regenerative braking, and reduce parasitic losses in the transaxle are key to the ratings. Reduced vehicle weight and improved aerodynamics are also factors in the class-leading fuel economy ratings. Continue reading
Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, electric vehicles, environment, fuel economy or emissions, marketing, new vehicle, news, news analysis
Tagged auto informed, auto news, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, Camry, Camry Hybrid, epa fuel economy, georgetown, hybrids, Ken Zino, zino
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Ford Shelby GT500 to Offer 650 Horsepower Production V8
Ford is boasting that the ultimate Ford Mustang – Shelby GT500 – will offer the highest horsepower production V8 when the new 2013 model goes on sale next year. The 5.8-liter V8 aluminum-block supercharged engine is claimed to be rated at 650 horsepower and 600 lb.-ft. of torque, making it the most powerful production V8 in the world. The 3,850-pound car also will be exempt from the gas-guzzler tax, a claim that awaits EPA certification. Continue reading
50 MPG Predicted for Toyota Prius c Hybrid
While not priced yet, expect the Prius c to sell for around $22,000, which is likely how Toyota will define entry level or an affordable price. In spite of fuel economy benefits, hybrids remain a tiny portion of the U.S. auto market – a little over 2% of sales YTD – because mainstream buyers refuse to pay a premium amounting to several thousand dollars over a comparable gasoline-fueled car. Continue reading
President Obama Kicks Keystone Pipeline Decision down the Road – after 2012 Election. Corruption Charged at State Dept.
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
Posted in auto news, economy, energy, environment, fuel economy or emissions, news, news analysis, people, transportation
Tagged alberta tar sands, auto informed, auto news, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, big oil, energy independence, hillary clinton, Ken Zino, keystone xl, oil, pay to play washington, transcanada, zino
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Milestones: Ford EcoBoost 3-Cylinder Startup in Cologne
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
Posted in auto news, environment, fuel economy or emissions, manufacturing, marketing, milestones, news, news analysis
Tagged auto informed, auto news, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, co2, ec co2 emissions, ecoboost, ford ecoboost, ford three cylinder engine, Ken Zino, news, zino
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EPA Ordered to Check State Plans Cutting Haze Pollutants
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
Posted in auto news, environment, fuel economy or emissions, litigation, news, news analysis, public health, results, transportation
Tagged air pollution, asthma, auto informed, auto news, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, epa, fine particle pollution, haze, Ken Zino, news, nitrogen oxides, regional haze plans, sulfur dioxide, volatile organic compounds, zino
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EPA to Study Hydraulic Fracturing Effects on Drinking Water
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
Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, economy, environment, fuel economy or emissions, news, news analysis, transportation
Tagged auto informed, auto news, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, blueprint for a secure energy future, drinking water, energy, epa, hydraulic fracturing, Ken Zino, natural gas, president obama, zino
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