SalvaEco

Filed under: Manufacturing/Plants, MPG, Mazda

4 cm (1 1/2 inches) shorter and 100 kg (220 pounds) lighter than its predecessor, production on the new Mazda 2 has started in Japan. The car, developed together with Ford, will be assembled in Mazda’s plant near Hiroshima for the Japanese market, branded as Mazda Demio and at the end of the year the production will start in the Chinese factory of Changan Ford Mazda in Nanjing.

The sales of the Mazda 2 in the European markets will start in October, although prices have yet to be announced. The choices will be initially 3 gasoline-powered engines: 1.3 liter (74 or 85 HP) and a 1.5 liter (105 HP). A month later, Mazda will also include a 1.4 l diesel in the range (rated at 70HP).

Ford is planning to sell this model in the US for 2009 as the Ford Fiesta (or perhaps another name)

Related links:

• Small cars to be big part of Ford comeback
• Mazda2 coming to America as Ford Fiesta in 2009
• Ford merges B-Car teams into one global team out of Europe

[Source: Auto-news (German)]

 

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

Filed under: Etc., Manufacturing/Plants, Ford, Legislation and Policy

Or at least, that headline could be one of the possible (exaggerated) meanings of the certification that the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (German Carmakers Association) has given Ford GmbH for their use of recyclable materials in Ford vehicles. The certification states that the Ford GmbH vehicles are built with recyclable materials and that all processes during the lifespan of the vehicle are considered from an environment-friendly point of view, from manufacturing to the recycling strategy for used cars.

This certification was given one year before the new 2005/64 EU directive becomes mandatory for all European vehicle manufacturers, including the components industry. According to this directive, vehicles may be put on the market only if they are reusable and/or recyclable to a minimum of 85 percent by mass and are reusable and/or recoverable to a minimum of 95 percent by mass. Vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers should be requested to include those aspects at the earliest stages of the development of new vehicles, in order to facilitate the treatment of vehicles at the time when they reach the end of their life.

Ford got special praise by KBA for their software tool to calculate the impact, which includes data from the complete supply-chain of the manufacturing process.

[Source: Ford GmbH, Lex]

 

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

Filed under: Etc., Legislation and Policy

With record-high prices at American gas pumps, some Democrats in Congress are looking to put a hold on record-high oil company profits. There were hearings on House Resolution 1252 today, a bill that would “protect consumers from price-gouging of gasoline and other fuels.” Sponsored by Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan and known as the “Federal Price Gouging Prevention Act,” the law aims to make it “unlawful for any person to sell crude oil, gasoline, natural gas, or petroleum distillates at a price that–

• (A) is unconscionably excessive; or
• (B) indicates the seller is taking unfair advantage unusual market conditions (whether real or perceived) or the circumstances of an emergency to increase prices unreasonably.”

Penalties would be up to $150 million for corporations or $2 million (or 10 years in prison) for an individual. MoveOn says that Speaker Pelosi is contemplating moving the bill to a vote this week, but only if she finds a two-thirds majority required to fast track the bill through the process.

Not everyone thinks the bill is a good idea. Washington Post opinion writer George Will thinks Pelosi is wrong on this issue, and says that there’s no gas “crisis.” Will says that “in real (inflation-adjusted) rather than nominal dollars, $3.07 is less than gasoline cost in 1981.” I’m sure that’s a real (inflation-adjusted or not) comfort to everyone filling their tanks this week.

The Thomas.gov page about the bill is here.

[Source: Thomas.gov, MoveOn, PostBulletin]

 

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

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Solar, Toyota

At the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, we find a microcosm of what could be the future of garages. Under the cover of the “SolarPort” resides as many as 39 Toyota RAV4 EVs. They charge their batteries using nothing but the sun’s power captured by solar panels on the roof. The excess power they generate is routed to the Civic Auditorium, offsetting their electric bill each month, and since they generate 44,400 Kilowatt-hours of power per year (for comparison, the average house uses 4000-8000 KW-hours per year), that was clearly a wise move. As you notice by the shots of the EVs (as well as the dust collecting on the charge terminals), these are not new RAV4s. This is a system that has been functioning for a couple years now, which seem to be going by without extensive maintenance. The project was paid for by the City of Santa Monica, Edison Technology Solutions, with support from the U.S. Department of Energy, the California Energy Commission, and the Utility Photovoltaic Group (now the Solar Electric Power Association), and built by Solar Unity Company, Inc.

This is an excellent demonstration of using resources to their full efficiency. Imagine having a carport similar to this at a suburban apartment complex. When the residents are not charging their vehicles (whether they be plug-in hybrids or full EVs), excess solar power is sent to the building’s grid, or an emergency backup battery system, like a U.P.S. for an entire building. It could not be cleaner toward the environment, and it’s free, depending on how you look at it. Your transportation costs are now part of your electric bill, which is supplemented by a free, unlimited energy source. As soon as some popular, marketable electric cars are released to the consumer, these innovations will become even more viable. Too bad it’s taking so long for the rest of the world catch on to what the Santa Monica Civic Center has had for years.

More details to come.

[Source: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium]

 

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

Editor's note: In the newest edition of Red, Green and Blue, writers Shirley Siluk Gregory and Jimmy Hogan take a look at the "smaller" concerns of environmentalists, and whether it's worth worrying about such issues when there are much greater and more pressing matters affecting our lives and health.

Shirley: When the Environmental Working Group last week announced its release of an updated and expanded "Skin Deep," its online database of chemicals in cosmetics, my first reaction was, "That's great. At least someone is keeping an eye on what goes into the stuff we put on our faces, hair and skin." (The EWG says it created Skin Deep to provide consumers with information that's not required by the federal government — i.e., whether the ingredients in our personal-care products are proven to be safe, or not.)

But as I spent a little time exploring the extensive data online, I started wondering, "Are we worrying too much about every little thing instead of focusing our energies on the greatest environmental hazards?" That is, should we be as concerned about the potential dangers of parabens in lipstick, phthalates in toys and possible endocrine disruptors in pesticide-sprayed produce when we've got global warming, depleted topsoils, desertification, shrinking biodiversity and other far-reaching problems?

Ultimately, I think, the short answer is, yes. While it can be overwhelming trying to keep track of every possible environmental hazard, I find that every bit of information I gain about the "little" dangers helps me make better decisions that might also diminish the "big" dangers. Maybe phthalates in toys and shower curtains might (or might not) interfere with my toddler son's normal endocrine development, but if I choose all-natural wood toys or hemp shower curtains instead, I'm adding a little less plastic to the world and supporting companies that are probably smaller, more sustainable and more environmentally aware. I'm not going to live in fear of every bit of plastic or every synthetic substance that might be lurking in my home, but the less of it I have, the more responsibly and healthily I believe I'm living.

Skin Deep: The Cosmetics Database

Posted by Page (in Amsterdam)

Small group of beluga whales swimming near ice. Photo by Robyn Angliss, NMML. Click for larger.

A couple of weeks ago, there was a really great editorial by Michael Jasny on the BBC News website. It was called “Beyond the harpoon – whale saving begins at home“. It’s about the big picture, i.e. commercial whaling isn’t the only threat to whales, and that anti-whaling countries should do the right thing and address the other dangers.

These include deadly physical harm to whales and other cetaceans from ships and fishing nets, bioaccumulation of toxic pollutants in whales’ systems, a cacophony of ocean noise such as military sonar, and, of course, climate change.

Continue reading Global climate change versus the whales…

Whoo, whoo a major rainforest victory! Uganda’s cabinet has suspended a proposal to give away part of the Mabira rainforest near its capital and on the shore of Lake Victoria [more | search]. The significance of the protection remaining on this important Ugandan rainforest from sugar cane production (possibly for biofuel) lies not in the extent of the area — some 7,000 hectares were to be removed from the area — but more in the cooperation between local and international civil society to bring about the victory. Local activists organized boycotts of the sugar company that was to expand into the area. And Ecological Internet internationalized the issue, with 8,627 Earth Action Network participants generating 1,833,279 protest emails to the parliament that has now blocked the project. Now onward to the Congo where industrial rainforest logging’s very existence will be challenged. Expect a press release soon. Meanwhile, break out the beverage of your choice, and celebrate by making a donation to keep EI’s network in existence, the world’s life giving ecosystems best friend. Congratulations to all those that participated in the three alerts we ran on the campaign!

FUND-RAISER UPDATE: $19,130 raised, 57 donors, 32% to goal. This Ugandan rainforest victory is the sort of thing EI does all the time, internationalizing local conservation concerns to help local peoples achieve real ecosystem protection. We need to raise $20,000 in next 5 weeks. Help us out – donate now.

Filed under: EV/Plug-in

Altair Nanotechnologies and American Electric Power have joined the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA). The EDTA promotes electric drive (which means hybrids, battery electrics, and fuel cell) vehicles, and members of the association meet each year to promote their work. Last year, the conference was in Washington, D.C. I’m not sure if Altair and AEP have joined as small business or general members, but either way, expect to see them at the EVS 23 conference in Anaheim later this year.

The official announcement from EDTA is after the break.

Related:

• Miles Automotive, Segway and ZENN join EDTA
• EDTA Conference: Final Overview

[Source: EDTA]
American Electric Power, Altair Nanotechnologies Join EDTA

May 22, 2007-Washington, DC-The Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA) is pleased to welcome American Electric Power and Altair Nanotechnologies as its newest members. EDTA, the trade association representing battery, hybrid and fuel cell electric drive technologies and infrastructure, provides public policy advocacy, education, industry networking, and international conferences and exhibitions. EDTA’s membership includes automotive and other equipment manufacturers, electric utilities, technology developers, component suppliers, and government agencies.

“The diversity of the electric drive industry mirrors the versatility of the technology itself and the numerous visions for its use in transportation.” says EDTA President Brian Wynne. “Our members come from different business sectors, but they share a common vision of the enormous value and environmental benefits that electric drive transportation can provide.”

“AEP expects electric drive to have a significant impact on our business, and we are determined to be ready for that impact,” says Larry Dickerman, Director of Distribution Engineering Services for AEP. “We look forward to working with the other utilities in EDTA, and association members from other business sectors, as we explore options relating to electrifying transportation. This is an area that will help us fulfill our sustainability goals as both a fleet owner and an energy provider.”

“Membership in EDTA gives us access to the major players in this growing industry,” says Robert Goebel, Vice President, Sales and Marketing for Altairnano. “We look forward making a strong contribution to the advancement of electric drive as it enters mainstream markets.”

About American Electric Power (AEP):
American Electric Power is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity to more than 5 million customers in 11 states. AEP ranks among the nation’s largest generators of electricity, owning nearly 38,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also owns the nation’s largest electricity transmission system, a nearly 39,000-mile network that includes more 765 kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined. AEP’s transmission system directly or indirectly serves about 10 percent of the electricity demand in the Eastern Interconnection, the interconnected transmission system that covers 38 eastern and central U.S. states and eastern Canada, and approximately 11 percent of the electricity demand in ERCOT, the transmission system that covers much of Texas. AEP’s utility units operate as AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). AEP’s headquarters are in Columbus, Ohio. For more information, visit www.aep.com.

About Altair Nanotechnologies:
Altairnano is an innovator and supplier of advanced novel, ceramic nanomaterials which are used in products that exhibit ground breaking performance. A seasoned management team complements Altairnano’s leading edge scientists, with substantial experience in commercializing innovative, disruptive technologies. The company has developed nanomaterials for the alternative energy, life sciences and performance materials markets based on its proprietary manufacturing process. This process also provides the foundation for its innovative AHP pigment process. For more information visit www.altairnano.com.

About EDTA:
The Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA) is the trade association representing battery, hybrid and fuel cell electric drive technologies and infrastructure. EDTA conducts public policy advocacy, education, industry networking, and international conferences. EDTA’s membership includes automotive and other equipment manufacturers, energy providers, technology developers, component suppliers, and government agencies. For more information about EDTA and its members, visit www.electricdrive.org.

 

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

Filed under: Green Culture, Transportation Alternatives, Honda

Star Wars fans, someone has gone ahead and built your dream car without you. Cleverly masquerading as a road-going Honda Civic Del Sol, this starship is actually capable of .5 past lightspeed, running on ionized tritonium, available at any starport fueling station. Replacement parts, while expensive, are easy to find, and last I heard, Tosche Station on Tatooine had a great deal going on power converters. It has a standard astromech port in the rear to handle major navigation duties, though this particular vessel would not be too comfortable on long hyperspace jumps. And one must always remember to return and secure the removable hardtop to its place before leaving the atmosphere. The laser cannons are functional, and while not exactly environmentally friendly, will get you out of a road rage situation one way or another. This ship kicked in its afterburners and went to lightspeed before we could get a shot of the front or of the pilot, but my guess is it’s someone from Skywalker Ranch in Marin County, CA. For those as confused as I was regarding the license plate, it reads: Obi-Shawn. Hah.

This guy did a great job on his car, and certainly has gotten the most fun possible out of his 1.6L four-banger – a little imagination and it’s a hyperdrive. You can see pictures of him and his wife (that’s right, he has a wife) gallivanting around at various Star Wars events, detailed shots of the ‘show car’, as well as some creative specifications on the vessel here.

Thanks for the ‘tip’, dad.

[Source: H-wing]

 

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

Filed under: Coal to Liquid

The Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory has completed a feasibility study for a proposed Coal to Liquid fuel production facility in Illinois. The proposal would include a plant that would convert 24,500 tons of coal daily into 50,000 barrels of fuel along with 124 MW of electrical power that would go back into the grid. The output would include almost 28,000 barrels per day of diesel that would still require additional additives before it could be used. The rest would be naptha for use as a chemical feedstock.

The input to the plant would be high-sulfur bituminous coal which would be gasified and then the gas would be converted to liquids by the Fischer-Tropsch method. The study projected the $3.65 billion plant would have a twenty percent annual return on investment. The problem remains, though, that coal is a fossil fuel and any fuel you make from it will be releasing carbon from the earth into the atmosphere. While the fuel may displace some imported fuel it does nothing at all about environmental concerns.

[Source: NETL]

 

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