In 2012 the Obama Administration achieved a major win, with the full endorsement of the automobile industry, to require tighter fuel efficiency standards. The new CAFE Standards would reduce fuel consumption, reducing air pollution, and saving the US Economy zillions of dollars a year in fuel expenditures. Given the friendliness…
In July 1979 the USA was gripped by the second of the 1970’s fake oil crises. OPEC decided to give us a second lesson of its power to control the American populace by shutting down oil deliveries. In the midst of that “crisis”, Carter gave this speech demonstrating why he…
A draft bill (embedded below) being prepared in the US House Energy and Commerce Committee would increase the penalties for “hacking” cars, and gift automakers with an easy “out” on emissions control regulations. The bill focuses on reforms at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and while it contains a…
On Tuesday the US Dept. of Energy unveiled the eGallon, in an attempt to dispel some confusion about the cost of operating an electric or gasoline powered car. Many are reacting to the high price of gasoline by looking for alternatives, but then get lost in the question whether the…
The laudable goal, developing a gasoline powered car with 100 miles/gallon fuel efficiency, is being offered a $1 billion government prize as incentive, and would keep the U.S. addicted to oil. Not all Californians are looking forward to electric vehicles, some are Congressmen who propose legislation whose result would be to keep us addicted to oil.…
Today President Obama’s administration rejected the Keystone XL pipeline project, and we can expect a chorus of jubilation from the environmental groups. My email has already received statements from 350.org and the NRDC applauding this decision. I’m happy it came out this way, that the pipeline was rejected, but the…
NRDC’s Luke Tonachel testifies in joint EPA and Dept of Transportation hearings that the proposed CAFE standards upgrade would produce huge economic and environmental benefits. Today in Detroit was the first of three public hearings on the Obama Administrations proposal to increase CAFE standards to 54.5 MPG equivalent fuel efficiency…
In an op-ed published on Australian website businessinsider.com.au, Ross Blade makes an effort to tell us how large electric vehicles will cook the planet, while small electric vehicles won’t. Ross Blade, for those who don’t know, is the Chief Executive of Australian based companies Blade Energy Solutions and Blade Electric…
ExxonMobil predicts mainstreamed use of electrified vehicles by 2040 leads to efficiency improvements and a leveling off of emissions. The 2011 edition of ExxonMobil’s yearly Energy Outlook report predicts that by 2040, nearly 50 percent of light-duty-vehicles (cars) will be electrified (hybrid or electric). This mainstreaming of electrified light-duty-vehicles will…
The other day Ford and Toyota announced a partnership to develop hybrid drive train technology for light trucks and SUV’s. That nice announcement filled my mind with images of contractors, construction workers and farmers driving around hybrid F-150’s or F-250’s starting in 2020ish. But then a couple brain cells…
The World Energy Outlook (WEO-2009) is a yearly report issued by the International Energy Agency (IEA). This years report was issued on Nov 10, 2009, and due to next months climate change summit in Copenhagen the WEO-2009 report includes extensive information on the climate change impact which comes from energy…
A string of recent vehicle announcements contain miles per gallon fuel efficiency claims that are causing a bit of a stir. The Nissan LEAF, over 300 miles per gallon, the Chevy Volt, 230 miles per gallon (in city driving), and now Raser Technologies is claiming to have built a Hummer…
One of the side effects that may come from greening transportation is to reduce fossil oil dependence. Whether the green transportation uses biofuels or electricity, it’s not a fossil oil based fuel. The negative effects of fossil oil dependence include higher prices, and geomacroeconomic imbalance stemming from the primary location…
A twitter account claiming to be General Motors has been making vague statements about the number “230”. It’s started a fair bit of speculation about what the heck they mean by “230” and today GM revealed the news behind the “230” teaser. Namely that “the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle…
