SalvaEco

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Tesla Motors

The California Air Resources Board and California Energy Commission announced yesterday how they will distribute almost $25 million worth of grants for the Alternative Fuel Incentive Program. One of the winners was Tesla Motors, which received $561,000 for the development of a UL-approved 16 kw (medium-power) public commercial charging station. Other funds went to building or upgrading E85 and CNG stations, various biofuel start-ups, transit programs and more. For the full list of grantees, see pages six and seven of CARB’s 41-page PDF that announces the awards.

Diarmuid O’Connell, Director of Corporate Development at Tesla Motors, said in a statement that, “This sizeable grant offered jointly by the California Air Resources Board and the California Energy Commission is a significant vote of confidence for Tesla Motors and acknowledges the pioneering work Tesla Motors is doing in the development of zero-emissions electric vehicles and charging station technology.”

When CARB solicited proposals this year, they said that, “Electric fuel vehicles have the largest potential to reduce climate change emissions and petroleum dependency relative to any other alternative fuel vehicle under consideration.” The awards list shows more money being sent to biofuels ($12 million for ethanol and biodiesel) than EVs and PHEVs ($5 million), though.

So, what might this Tesla “gas” station be like? Tesla says the charging station technology it has developed “could be used to power up electric vehicles throughout the state of California.” If the company’s plan to sell pure-electric vehicles across the country in the next few years takes off as expected, I wouldn’t be surprised to see these stations popping up in a lot of places, which would put the idea of “limited range” in an EV out to pasture. I wouldn’t be surprised to see some sort of solar enhancement to the stations, either, since Tesla will offer a home solar option with their cars. How much will it cost to “fill up”? Will people choose to get their energy while out and about (like we do today) rather than from the home plug? Is this project just a one-off to prove the technology and then license it to others? So many questions…

[Source: Tesla, CARB]

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Daniel has just sent me a leaked internal document from the G8 negotiations. I don’t know where he gets these and I’m not going to ask. The original is a MS Word document with track changes revealing edits by the Bush administration.

I’ve uploaded a .pdf copy of the leaked G8 draft here. There’s a Reuters story on it here. And here’s some off the cuff commentary from Daniel (one of our political advisors):

On May 24th, German Chancellor Merkel sheepishly admitted that the G8 may not agree on how to deal with climate change when they meet in Heiligendamm from June 6th-8th. She had probably been reading the US comments on the G8 climate document. Merkel prides herself on getting on
with Bush. But like Bush’s friend Blair, she was wrong to hope that Bush would change his oil-trenched mind on climate change. It doesn’t make it better of course, but this is a classic case of told you so.

Continue reading US harpoons G8 climate language in leaked document…

Filed under: Etc.

Sure, model cars can be made out of metal. Die-cast is a rather popular choice. But, when I was a kid, all of the models that I made were usually plastic. There was the good old Shelby Cobra, VW Bug, ’65 Mustang… all the regulars were there in full force in my own model collection. But, now that I am older, something different has caught my eye. Over at Autoblog, I found this, which is more along the lines of origami than what I remember from my youth. Times change, and so do I. I like these new models, and being able to download them at my whim, print them out and fold one up is pretty cool. So, I’ll try it out. If you make anything cool, be sure to post your results over at Autoblog!

[Source: Autoblog]

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Filed under: Diesel, Hybrid, GM, Saturn

The first generation Saturn Vue has been retired and replaced by a new global compact crossover platform from General Motors. The new vehicles are being shared by various GM brands and sold around the world as Opels, Saturns and Chevys. While all the variants get the same body style they will have a variety of different powertrain options. Both the Opel Antara and the Saturn Vue get the 2.4L four cylinder as a base engine but from there they diverge. The Antara gets a 3.2L version of GM’s twin-cam V-6 while the Vue uses a 3.6L variant.

The most efficient models are where the largest differences lie. The Opel has a two versions of the new 2.0L common-rail diesel with 127hp or 150hp. The Vue instead will offer two completely different hybrid powertrains. The less expensive mild hybrid system carries over the GM belt-alternator-starter system from the previous Vue (read the ABG Review) mated to the 2.4L engine. The second hybrid that will show up next year is the two-mode system that we already saw recently in the full-size Tahoe/Yukon mated to the 3.6L V-6. Further out in 2009 we should see a plug-in hybrid variant of the two-mode system. For comparison, the diesel Antara is rated at 26.4mpg/34.6mpg city/hwy while the mild hybrid Vue gets 27/32 mpg. The hybrid numbers are for 2007 model, ’08 numbers aren’t out yet. We’ll have to wait a while yet to get data on the two mode.

What we won’t see is a diesel, at least not yet. At some point as the fuel economy regulations get tighter we may end up seeing a diesel/hybrid combination, although by that time we might also see something like the E-Flex powertrain from the Volt in a cross-over platform. For now though the performance is comparable but if diesel engines start to catch on in the US market anything is possible.

[Source: Wards Auto World]

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Filed under: Diesel, Etc., Green Culture, MINI

MINI Cooper D. Click image to enlarge

Later this year, MINI will update its European/UK range, and the effect will be visible both at the pump and in the air. For example, the already-stingy MINI Cooper D will see its combined-cycle fuel economy leap from 64.2 mpg to 72.4 mpg. Those measurements use the larger Imperial gallon. Translated to the US system, the jump is from 53.4 mpg to 60.2 mpg. Very, very impressive. On top of that, the D’s CO² emissions number plummets from 118g/km to 104.

And what of the sportiest MINI? The Cooper S (I’m going to use US mpg here now) improves from 34 mpg combined to 37.9. No matter which MINI you select, it will get better gas mileage and emit less carbon dioxide. The automaker accomplishes this by incorporating brake regeneration, an automatic stop/start feature in manual transmission-equipped cars (this can be disabled by the driver), and by adding a shift indicator that tells drivers which gear they should select for maximum efficiency. MINI UK’s press release is pasted after the jump, and it shows the before and after numbers for each car in the lineup. We recommend using TDIClub’s handy conversion tool to do the Imperial-to-US mpg translations.

[Source: MINI]
PRESS RELEASE:
72.4mpg. 104 g/km CO 2. No batteries required.

MINI hatches plan to clean up with revised engine range

MINI hatch models are to receive technological revisions later this year, resulting in jaw-dropping performance and efficiency figures. Already BMW Group’s cleanest ever car, the MINI Cooper D will be capable of returning an astonishing 72.4mpg, with CO 2 emissions of just 104 g/km.

When production of the revised models begins in August 2007, there will be no requirement for alternative fuel sources or hybrid technology to achieve these stunning stats. All model variants will instead be supplied as standard with high-tech engine tweaks, providing exceptional economy and minimal emissions without compromising the MINI driving experience.

Efficiency improvements are consistent across the revised MINI hatch range.

Brake Energy Regeneration, Auto Start-Stop Function and Switch Point Display complete a package that will come at no extra cost to future MINI customers.

Brake Energy Regeneration works by using an Intelligent Alternator Control (IAC) and an Absorbent Glass Mat battery to recycle previously lost energy, which saves fuel. The IAC reduces drag on the engine by only engaging when required to charge the battery, whereas a traditional alternator is always pulling power from the engine. Additionally, the energy generated by the engine on over-run (under braking or descending a hill) was previously wasted. Now this lost energy is utilised by the IAC to charge the battery.

The Auto Start-Stop Function, available with manual transmission cars,automatically switches the engine off when the vehicle is stationary and the driver puts the car into neutral. To restart the driver only need engage the clutch again before pulling away in the normal manner. The system may be de-activated at the touch of a button when not required.

Switch Point Display aids drivers of manual transmission MINIs in selecting the most economical gear in which to drive. The engine management system analyses speed, road situation and accelerator pedal position and based on this data calculates optimum gearing. The ideal gear is then displayed by number in the cockpit display.

Even without these technology advancements in place, MINI leads the new car market for year-on-year improvements in clean engine manufacturing. CO 2 output per car has been reduced in the last year by an impressive 14 per cent. Putting that into perspective, the industry average was recorded at a lowly 0.3 per cent.*

To put the icing on the cake for customers, MINI Cooper D owners will continue to benefit from the car falling into VED tax band B. So savings are not only made in carbon emissions, but at the fuel pumps and the Post Office when replacing an annual road fund licence too. Little wonder then that MINI UK is again celebrating a month of record car sales!**

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Filed under: Biodiesel, Emerging Technologies

LPP Combustion, LLC has a patented combustion system based on Lean, Premixed, Prevaporized (that’s where LPP stands from) combustion of liquid fuels. The idea is converting liquid fuels into a synthetic natural gas, called LPP gas, which can be burned in natural gas combustion systems with no modifications to the combustion hardware. According to some tests performed this month, using soybean oil-based biodiesel, the whole process produced no net greenhouse gas emissions. The obtained emissions of NOx, CO, SOx and particulate matter were comparable to natural gas level emissions using a dry low emission gas turbine combustor.

“We are very excited to offer the power industry our LPP Combustion Technology, which will allow biofuels to be burned with the lowest pollutant emissions possible and no net carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. We look forward to the role our technology will play in helping the electric power industry and others to reduce greenhouse gases,” said Dr. Leo Eskin, President/COO of LPP Combustion, said in a statement. The soy-based biodiesel was provided by Renewable Energy Group Inc. (REG) from Iowa.

[Source: LPP combustion via Newswire]

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

By Ecotality writer Bill Hobbs. Originally published May 22, 2007.

It’s not going to be the most scintillating beachside reading this summer, but a new guide coming out in June from Duke University Press could help prevent rising seas from obliterating your favorite beach.

It’s called Harnessing Farms and Forests in the Low-Carbon Economy: How to Create and Verify Greenhouse Gas Offsets, and is described as “the first how-to manual for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the United States through changes in land use and farming practices, and turning those reductions into verifiable credits for trading in carbon markets, is about to hit bookshelves.”

John Grisham it ain’t, but the book may help bring some rationality and credibility to the whole “carbon offsets” business. The book is a technical guide for farmers, foresters, traders and investors. You can see a preview of the guide here. According to the Duke University press release, the book explains how farmers and foresters can convert their land’s carbon dioxide storage capacity, and reduce emissions of potent greenhouse gases such as methane and nitrous oxide, into revenue-generating “offsets” that can be bought and sold in future carbon markets.

Duke’s Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions developed the guide in collaboration with the nonprofit advocacy group Environmental Defense, with input from scientists at Texas A&M, Colorado State, Rice, Princeton, Kansas State and Brown universities.

More from the press release:

Lawmakers at the federal and state levels are paying increased attention to the role of such offsets as legislation to reduce U.S.greenhouse gas emissions is being developed.

“We know land-use practices can give us more options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions over the next 20 to 30 years and flexibility for companies adjusting to a U.S. carbon cap once it is enacted,” said Nicholas Institute Director Tim Profeta. “But farmers and foresters have needed specific guidance, and lawmakers need to know that the reductions can be verified. This book gives us that information and assurance.”

A number of agricultural groups are realizing the potential for new revenue streams through greenhouse gas-sequestering alterations to farming practices, such as “no till” farming where soils are not turned up after every season and manure-management practices that capture methane and use it as an energy source. “This is a comprehensive road map that paves the way for agriculture as a verifiable, measurable carbon sink,” said Dick Wittman, a member of the Agricultural Carbon Market Working Group and former president of the Pacific Northwest Direct Seed Association.

“Recent studies by Kansas State University and others have indicated that carbon could be an $8 billion market for agriculture,” Wittman said. “This document proves that specific agricultural conservation tillage practices are a legitimate method to store carbon. Should policy-makers embark on a cap-and-trade policy to curtail carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions, agriculture has the potential to be a cost-effective solution.”

Hitting the road this weekend? Here's a few tips on getting a little more from the gas pump.

Time your visits before noon. Gas retailers set their prices around 10 or 11 am when the first management shift gets in for the day.

Fill 'er up when it is cooler outside. It will have more density. During the heat of the day you could be losing as much as 1% of the fuel pumped into your car.

When the tank is full and you've stopped pumping, turn the nozzle of the hose 180 degrees before taking it out. This is said to drain a few extra drops of gas into your tank.

Tighten the gas cap. This will prevent gas from evaporating and escaping into the air.

And a couple of reminders: Do not top off or overfill the tank and be sure to check your tire pressure before hitting the road.

Amy says: Have a good weekend!

Via CNN.com (Personal Finance Editor, Gerri Willis) and Yahoo! Finance

This just in from our colleagues in Mexico:

Hi all,

I’m very sad to inform you that the son of one of our indigenous allies against illegal logging in the Great Water Forest [in Mexico] was murdered last week by four loggers. Yesterday we had a press conference with Ildefonso Zamora, father of Aldo Zamora who died on Tuesday, May 15th. During the conference we called upon Felipe Calderon, president of Mexico, to act to arrest Aldo’s killers and to guarantee the security of Ildefonso, his family and all the people of the community (San Juan Atzingo).

I would like to ask your help to pressure the Mexican Government to act immediately to grant justice to Aldo, Misael (Aldo’s brother, who was also injured) and his family.

Thank you very much for your support.

Remember to complete your signatures at the end of the letter.

Patricia

Murder of forest defenders

Continue reading Activist murdered in Mexico…