California Leading Transition to Clean Fuels, Technologies

Posted on 16 November 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on California Leading Global Transition to Clean Fuels, Technologies

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The California Air Resources Board today proposed an aggressive climate action plan that drastically reduces fossil fuel dependence, slashes pollution, cuts greenhouse gas emissions by 85%  It’s the latest blow to the well-funded lobbyists of Big Oil, climate-change deniers and other special interests. The plan will cut air pollution by 71%, reduce fossil fuel consumption by 86%, and reach carbon neutrality by 2045.

Since California is the fourth largest economy in the world*, it will have a tremendous impact on other US States and international economic blocks as the demand created for cleaner fuels and methods will be a so-called virtuous circle that encourages innovation and then adoption of what emerges for economies of scale. Continue reading →

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Big Oil Rebuff as Nel ASA, GM Unite on Renewable Hydrogen

Posted on 16 November 2022 by Ken Zino

Nel Hydrogen US, a subsidiary of Nel ASA* (Nel, OSE: NEL), has entered into a joint development agreement with General Motors (NYSE: GM) to help accelerate the industrialization of Nel’s proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer platform, the companies said today in a joint release.** (AutoInformed.com on GM Plans to Expand Fuel Cell Sales Beyond Vehicles)

AutoInformed.com on Daimler Truck and Rolls-Royce to unite on stationary fuel-cell generators. Courtesy of and Copyright Daimler.

PEM membrane. Click for more information.

A PEM fuel cell is structured like a sandwich. In the center is a thin plastic film, the Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM). This is coated on both sides with a catalyst layer and a gas permeable electrode of graphite paper. The membrane is surrounded by two bipolar plates with milled gas ducts. Through these ducts flows hydrogen one side, and oxygen on the other. Several individual fuel cells are stacked to produce CO2 free energy.

A PEM electrolyzer and a fuel cell are largely based on the same principles. A PEM electrolyzer uses electricity and water to produce hydrogen and oxygen, while a fuel cell reverses the process, using hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity and water. As GM has increased expertise with fuel cells, the two companies see substantial synergies by transferring this to Nel’s PEM platform.” Continue reading →

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October Global Light Vehicle Sales at 7.1M Units

Posted on 14 November 2022 by Ken Zino

At 86 million units annually, October’s Global Light Vehicle (LV) selling rate was consistent with July, according to data just released by the respected LMC Automotive* consultancy. October’s meager sales of 7.1 million units was nonetheless an improvement of 10% YoY (year‐on‐year).

Year-to-date (YTD) sales are off ~1% compared to the weak covid-afflicted base of the 2021 plague. “Despite China experiencing a third consecutive month of slowing selling rates, YTD sales were up 8%. However, North America and Europe continue to struggle YTD as supply constraints hamper performances ahead of worsening macroeconomic conditions,” LMC observed. Continue reading →

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Loss of Steering Latest Tesla Model S, X Recalls

Posted on 14 November 2022 by Ken Zino
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Tesla is recalling more than 40,000 2017-2021 Model S and Model X vehicles because the electronic power assist steering (EPAS) system may experience a loss of power steering assist when driving on rough roads or after hitting a pothole.

The latest recall was made public in a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration made public today. Teslas built in Fremont CA and in use in North America, Europe, Australia, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, Macau and New Zealand are covered by this safety defect. Continue reading →

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President Biden at COP 27 Pledges US Leadership on Solving the Climate Crisis

Posted on 11 November 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on President Biden at COP 27 Renews US Leadership on Solving the Climate Crisis

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Today at the 27th U.N. Climate Conference (COP27), President Biden pledged new initiatives to strengthen US leadership on confronting the climate crisis (see 1 below). The President also called for global action and commitments to help developing countries cope with the problems that were created by industrialized nations.

The Biden plan also will continue and support the global auto industry’s nascent but fast-growing moves to take climate change seriously. President Biden said he believes that tackling the climate crisis and keeping the 1.5-degree C temperature goal within reach requires “all hands on deck” demanding the mobilization of local, state, and national governments, the private sector, and philanthropies. Continue reading →

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Nissan Motor Posts ¥156.6B Profit

Posted on 11 November 2022 by Ken Zino

Nissan Motor Corporation has announced financial results for the six-months ended September 30, 2022, and revised upward its full-year revenue and profit outlook for fiscal 2022. Consolidated net revenue increased by ¥715.3 billion to ¥4.66 trillion, with consolidated operating profit rising ¥17.5 billion to ¥156.6 billion, representing an operating profit margin of 3.4%. Net income (1) was ¥64.5 billion down ¥17.4 billion, from the previous year due to a one-time loss of ¥24.1 billion recorded in the second quarter because of the company’s withdrawal from the Russian market, and a decrease in equity in earnings of affiliates.

In the second quarter, free cash flow from the automobile business was a positive ¥206.6 billion. On a management pro forma basis, which includes the proportionate consolidation of results from Nissan’s joint-venture operation in China, operating profit was ¥212.6 billion, with an operating margin of 4.0%. (2)

Consistent with what other Japanese companies said during earnings week, increased revenue and operating profit were achieved despite “a severe business environment in the first half of the fiscal year, with raw material prices rising sharply and sales volume falling below the previous year’s level due to semiconductor supply shortages and the impact of COVID-related lockdowns in Shanghai, China,” Nissan said. (AutoInformed.com on Honda Posts a Profit of ¥453.4B for First Half FY Results) Continue reading →

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Some Small Cars offer Small Protection in Side Impacts

Posted on 11 November 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Some Small Cars offer Small Protection in Side Impacts

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The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says that seven of 11 small cars tested earn good or acceptable ratings in its new, tougher side-impact test, but four models are rated poor. The Mazda 3 sedan and Mazda 3 hatchback earn good ratings. Five other vehicles: the Nissan Sentra, Toyota Corolla sedan, Toyota Corolla hatchback, Honda Civic sedan and Honda Civic hatchback are rated acceptable. The Kia Forte, Subaru Crosstrek and the Subaru Impreza sedan and wagon are rated poor. (AutoInformed on: New Side-Crash Tests: Few Mid-Size Cars Rated Good)

IIHS created the updated side crash test after research showed that many of the real-world side impacts that still account for nearly a quarter of passenger vehicle occupant fatalities are actually more severe than the original evaluation. Continue reading →

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Hyper Marketing as Mercedes-AMG ONE Sets Nordschleife Record

Posted on 10 November 2022 by Ken Zino

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Mercedes said today that racing driver and Maro Engel at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife set a record time of 6:35.183 minutes for rounding the 20.832-kilometer track for road-legal production vehicles, as well as in the new super sports car category – aka hypercar class. Based on the track variant known as the sport auto Super Test, the lap time is 6:30.705 minutes. The record-breaking drives took place on 28 October 2022. (See the drive video here.) Continue reading →

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Honda Posts a Profit of ¥453.4B for First Half FY Results

Posted on 9 November 2022 by Ken Zino

Despite unfavorable factors such as a decrease in automobile production and unit sales due to the impact of the semiconductor supply shortage and an increase in the cost of raw materials, Honda Group*1 profit was ¥453.4B. This was a year-on-year increase of ¥11.2B. This was due primarily to increased pricing, a reduction of incentives, an increase in motorcycle sales and favorable currency effects, Honda said.

Consolidated profit for the fiscal first half (6 months) attributable to owners of the parent company amounted to ¥338.5B, a year-on-year drop of ¥50.6B due primarily to a decrease in the share of profit of investments accounted for using the equity method. Continue reading →

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Milestones: 75 millionth Opel – Grandland GSe

Posted on 8 November 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Milestones:75 millionth Opel - Grandland GSe

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There’s much to celebrate at Opel during its 160th year, including 40 years of the Corsa and 30 years of the Eisenach plant. Today, the Rüsselsheim-based brand, now part of the Stellantis mega-merger, reached a production milestone of 75 million. The 75th million Opel was a hybrid Grandland GSe Jubilee edition* that rolled off the assembly line in Eisenach. (AutoInformed.com on: Stellantis: Record First Half 2022 at €8.0 Billion Net Profit)

Opel recently announced that it would revive GSe as a new sub-brand for electrified models with GSe now standing for Grand Sport electric. The Opel Grandland GSe follows the Astra GSe and the Astra Sports Tourer GSe. Opel claims it is a high-performance, plug-in hybrid with electric all-wheel-drive in the SUV compact class, arguably the fastest growing segment in Europe and Asia. Continue reading →

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CARB – Discounted ZEV Landscape Equipment Offered

Posted on 7 November 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on CARB - Discounted ZEV Landscape Equipment Offered

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Qualified small business landscape professionals starting today can purchase discounted zero-emission lawn mowers, blowers and other landscape equipment through a new category of funding offered through the California Air Resources Board’s Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project (CORE).* Administered by CALSTART, the CORE program’s new funding category has an allocation of more than $27 million of voucher funds for professional landscape services operated by small businesses or sole proprietors, CARB said in a release.

Electric versions of lawn mowers and blowers will be welcomed in residential areas since the gasoline powered versions are noisy and constitute an unhealthy noise pollution blight  in AutoInformed’s view. CARB first announced this new funding in October. Continue reading →

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COP27 – Carbon Footprint Reduction Strategies Scrutinized

Posted on 7 November 2022 by Ken Zino

As the United Nations’ annual climate change conference (COP27) starts today in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, many automakers will publicize their efforts to combat global warming. Last year During COP 26 in Glasgow endorsed net-zero emissions for greenhouse gas emissions. Given the extreme climate experiences during the past year, the need for accelerating the net-zero transition will likely be a hotly debated topic in Egypt. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres named the US and China as the two biggest problems. In fact, the European Union and India also aren’t meeting their climate change goals. These are the biggest four offending emitters. (read AutoInformed.com on: COP26 – CARB’s Liane Randolph New Chair of Transportation Decarbonisation Alliance)

Fasten your seat belt this is going to be a bumpy ride to save planet earth and the invasive species known as mankind. It will require collective action from all the participants and special interests. Moreover, the debate over how developed nations should support or subsidize less developed ones will likely be rancorous behind the scenes. Continue reading →

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Honda Shows eN2 Concept EV at Shanghai

Posted on 5 November 2022 by Ken Zino
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Honda today held the world premiere of the e:N2 Concept, the second set of its e:N Series models, the Honda-brand EV line in China. The e:N2 was on display at the Fifth China International Import Expo that began today in Shanghai, China.

Starting with e:NS1 and e:NP1*, Honda will introduce 10 e:N Series models by 2027 and accelerate electrification in China including its sales and production operations. N2 clearly looks to AutoInformed that it is meant to take on the German automakers who have thrived in the world’s largest vehicle market, no matter the motive source.  In the upscale Chinese market, rear seat room is welcomed by the chauffeured owners be they communist party members or business people. (AutoInformed.com on: Chinese Commerce – Dongfeng Honda Begins Sale of NS1 EV) Continue reading →

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Recharged Heritage to offer MINI EV Conversion

Posted on 4 November 2022 by Ken Zino
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Recharged Heritage, part of Mini Sport, said today it is taking orders for a conversion of the classic Mini into an electric vehicle. Two prototypes have been completed and previously revealed, the MINI Recharged Paul Smith and MINI Recharged Lakwena.*

 “There have been electric conversions of classic cars before but not like this one. From the start an enormous effort has been made to ensure that the conversion can easily be reversed. The body remains as the original with no new holes and the petrol engine can be put back in, no problem. Also, the car has been engineered so that it weighs no more than the original. The fun factor in driving a classic Mini has been preserved fully intact and you don’t need to buy the whole car. Potential customers can either have their own Classic Mini converted or purchase a model from Recharged Heritage and then have it electrified,” Recharged said in a release.
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Mixed Economic Signals in October US Vehicle Sales

Posted on 3 November 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Mixed Economic Signals in October US Vehicle Sales

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Now that the final number are in, new US light-vehicle sales in October 2022 showed a Seasonally Adjusted Annual Selling Rate (SAAR) of 14.9 million units, the second-highest monthly total this year. It was up 12.7% compared to  October 2021 and increase 9.8% from September 2022.

The average transaction price in October, according to J.D. Power, is forecast to be $45,599, a 2.7% increase year-over-year. However, this is only off $26 from September. The old economist’s adage that prices are sticky downward applies we think. Transaction price highs of +$46,000 were experienced during July and August.  Continue reading →

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