Tag Archives: co2

Scientists Urge Strong Government Policies to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Develop Alternative Fuels. Caveats Abound

The study was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Not surprisingly, it also calls for “strong government policies to overcome high costs and influence consumer choices.” Continue reading

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Volkswagen to use CO2 as Air Conditioning Refrigerant

The Volkswagen Group is developing air conditioning systems that use CO2 as the refrigerant. Currently automotive air conditioners, depending on age, use R12, which is banned because of global warming effects, R134a, a replacement for R12, which is also now being phased out for its role in global warming, and its replacement R1234yf, which apparently poses safety threats. Continue reading

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Volkswagen Group to Cut CO2 emissions to 95 g/km by 2020

In the ongoing battle of the green press releases, Volkswagen Group has restated its strategic goal of becoming the world’s most “environmentally sustainable” automaker by 2018. The announcement was originally made a year ago when VW Group undertook an ecologically oriented restructuring designed to coordinate responses to increasingly tough global regulations covering vehicles and how they are made and recycled. Continue reading

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LaFerrari, a 900 Horsepower V12 Hybrid Unveiled at Geneva

LaFerrari promises to be the most sophisticated GT car with the highest performance ever achieved by a Ferrari. The Fiat-owned company said the technical systems would be incorporated in the rest of the Ferrari range over time. For the moment, only 499 wealthy customers will be able to buy the €1 million car, Ferrari’s first hybrid.. Continue reading

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Wind Turbines Headed for Honda Transmission Plant in Ohio

When the turbines begin operating later this year, the Honda plant will be the first major automotive manufacturing facility in the United States to obtain a significant amount of its electricity directly from wind turbines located on its property. Continue reading

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Honda Environmental Report Shows CO2 Cuts, Fuel Economy Gains

The eighth annual Honda environmental report just released for the North American regions show that the Japanese automaker reduced on average its output of CO2 with corresponding increases in fuel economy. During the 2012 fiscal year that ended last March the CO2-adjusted fleet-average fuel economy of Honda and Acura vehicles sold in the U.S. in model year 2011 rose 0.8 mpg, or 3.2%, to 25.7 mpg, compared to the previous model year. Continue reading

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EPA Releases Annual Enforcement Results

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or EPA today issued its annual enforcement results, which the Agency said showed significant environmental and public health protections achieved during 2012. EPA said that there was a reduction of 2.2 billion pounds of air, water and land pollution, and 4.4 billion pounds of hazardous waste, as well as $252 million in civil and criminal penalties levied. Continue reading

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Honda Claims Ecological Paint Breakthrough

Honda Motor Company said today that it would put into production a new paint process that uses less energy. Starting next July a new painting technology at its Yorii Plant at Saitama Factory in Japan will eliminate a middle coating process from a commonly used 4-coat/3-bake auto painting process. Continue reading

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Exhaust Gas Regen and 48-Volt Cars – Next Efficiency Breakthrough?

European automakers are rethinking the need for 12-volt cars. This move toward 48 volts, little noted in the U.S. media, has significant implications for a new generation of potentially cost-effective mild or semi-mild hybrid vehicles. A 48-volt standard could be a major factor for enabling the required motor-generator efficiency and power levels to make a practical hybrid at a lower cost. Continue reading

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Honda Says New Steel and Aluminum Welding Process Cuts Weight

Honda Motor Company says it has a newly developed technology for the continuous welding of the dissimilar metals of steel and aluminum. Continue reading

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More U.S. Companies Working on Sustainability and CO2 Reduction

The Carbon Disclosure Project released today an analysis showing that S&P 500 companies are making progress towards reducing carbon emission when compared to the so-called Global 500. CDP claims its results show a “tipping point” has now been reached in American C-suites and boardrooms to integrate a sustainability agenda into overall business strategy. This apparent acknowledgement of the growing spending and voting power of the green movement is occurring without comprehensive regulatory requirements in the U.S. to reduce CO2, and despite the goal – sometimes actually stated this election season – of Republican party candidates to abolish the Environmental Protection Agency and ignore climate change and possible remedial actions. Continue reading

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European Makers Squeal Over Tough CO2 Targets Just Announced

It is not clear if the European auto industry has the political influence to modify the regulations in the face of strong and apparently growing (at least among regulators and some political parties) green sentiment in Europe. Continue reading

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Honda World’s First Company to Reveal Third-party Validated Estimates of Global CO2 Emissions during Product Use

Honda Motor Company said in Japan today that it is the world’s first mobility company to disclose estimated global CO2 emissions during customer use of its motorcycles, automobiles and power products. The move will likely force other automakers who claim to be green into similar disclosures. A next step could be window or product stickers that list the effects of their use on the environment. Continue reading

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Nissan Creates Zero Emission Fund to Sell CO2 Credits

Nissan Motor Company in Japan today announced the launch of the Nissan Zero Emission Fund for individual Nissan electric vehicle (EV) owners in Japan that converts the amount of CO2 emissions that are offset by driving the electric Nissan Leaf to generate credits. Continue reading

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EPA Releases 2010 U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released today the 17th annual U.S. greenhouse gas inventory. The final report shows overall emissions in 2010 increased by 3.2% from the previous year because the economy expanded slightly. In addition, a factor was an … Continue reading

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