Fuel Alternatives

Discussion Area

Goldilocks Chemistry

5/15/2012 10:05:36 AM

It’s a fueling groovy morning as stories abound related to all kinds of fuels and energy sources. First up is a new study from the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development with findings that growing use of domestically produced ethanol in the U.S. reduced gasoline prices last year by an average of $1.09 per gallon, up from an $0.89/gallon reduction in 2010. One of the Professors involved in the research will be part of a media call at 2 eastern time this afternoon.

The brainiacs at Brookhaven National Lab have been doing some studying, too, and the result could mean significantly lower costs for hydrogen, leading to a new generation of emission-free hydrogen fueled vehicles. They are calling it “Goldilocks Chemistry” and what makes it just right is instead of using expensive platinum ($50,000/kilogram) as the catalyst for the chemical reaction to produce hydrogen, they’ve been messing around with molybdenum ($32/kilogram) and nickel ($20/kilogram). Total Transportation Services already has their eye on the fuel cell prize as evidenced by signing a purchase order (PO) for 100 zero-emission Class 8 trucks from Vision Industries. That’s a $27 million PO and the total value of the contract is $108 million. TTS-I President Vic LaRosa sees signing the agreement as a signal that the trucking industry has embraced the zero-emission platform.

Baltimore is hailing the arrival of a new propane autogas fueling station as they roll out the red carpet for Veolia Transportation to convert 300 of their taxis nationwide to the fuel. Fifty Checker and Yellow Cabs in the city will run on LPG. Last summer Waste Management was out with the news that their fleet included 1000 natural gas trucks. This week the company has announced that they are adding 35 NG powered collection trucks to their Houston fleet, and it will also include a public NG fueling station. Last year Texas authorized an $8 million annual allocation for converting trucks to NG and $2 million/year for fueling infrastructure.

It could be me but San Francisco-based Mission Motors wins my 2012 ubiquity award. Not only are they at all of the “must attend” conferences but even Jay Leno has invited them into his garage. The company is a supplier of EV technology and they developed the Mission-R electric motorcycle to show what the technology can do. The small but growing company believes that their motorcycle platform is the key to helping companies get better hybrids and EVs into the market.

Crazy, Cool Gadgets is out, just in time for summer, with news about Audi’s B-Bike buzz. This bike allows enthusiasts to pop wheelies eco-style. The bike has a touch screen that allows for five riding options ranging from pure mode (translated-you are the energy source) to eGrip which provides electric power and can reach a speed of 35 MPH. Need a visual? Check out Julien Dupont of Bavaria who has mastered the capabilities of this light, sleek e-bike.

Ethanol Reduced Gas Prices by More Than $1 in 2011, RFA
http://bit.ly/KKZu17

Brookhaven National Lab Solves Hydrogen Fuel Problem, TPM
http://bit.ly/Jn6akP

Vision Industries Receives a $27 Mil Purchase Order, TTSI
http://bit.ly/K2n73w

Veolia Launches Propane Autogas Taxi Fleet in Baltimore, Pure Green Cars
http://bit.ly/L7aZmv

WM Joins NG Fueling Trend, Houston Business Journal
http://bit.ly/Jh3SBh

Jay Leno Checks out the Mission Motors Motorcycles, Autoblog Green
http://aol.it/J6rUnI

Audi Sport e-Bike Concept, Crazy, Cool Gadgets
http://bit.ly/J6ABP1

Mission Motors Waste Management refuse trucks Audi e-bike electric motorcycle LPG taxis hydrogen prices Veolia Transportation EV propane autogas EV motorcycle platform Baltimore propane zero-emission truck fuel cell gasoline price CNG trucks eco-cycling Brookhave National Lab Vision Industries TTS-I Jay Leno's Garage Houston NG ethanol
Dueling Repercussions

5/10/2012 8:49:08 AM

Canadian oil execs are taking another shot across the bow in the terminal discussion about wanting access for their tar sands oil in the Gulf Coast. Dave Collyer is the President of the Canadian Association of Oil Producers and he is warning U.S. lawmakers that delays in approving the Keystone XL pipeline will have repercussions on U.S.-Canada trade relations. James Hansen, Director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies is warning of repercussions over succumbing to the political pressure and is putting the responsibility for preventing it at President Obama’s door. Hansen believes the climate impact of an approved pipeline will expedite the destruction of coastal cities, intolerable global temperatures, and 20-50% of the planet’s species driven to extinction.

Consumer momentum toward alternatives to fossil fuels is building as is exemplified by Toyota’s recent sales numbers. Prius sales have jumped 56% from one year ago with more than 86,000 sold. The company is increasing production of their 4-model Prius line as demand is outpacing the initial U.S. target of 220,000 vehicles this year. There’s more good news out of Torrance, CA where American Honda received word that an appeals judge overturned a small claims judgment against them. A car owner claimed that gas mileage claims for her Honda Civic were misrepresented. The judge concluded several things, including that most owners of that type of vehicle do achieve close to the federal EPA fuel economy estimates.

Simit Patel with Seeking Alpha is talking investment, particularly with an eye toward sectors that are ripe for massive transformation. Transportation makes his list and in particular, he thinks electric vehicles (EVs) and natural gas vehicles (NGVs) are fine contenders to be the energy source for future transportation. For him, if he had to pick one, EVs win because the charging infrastructure network today has a bigger foothold than natural gas. Patel’s investment priorities are urban transportation and commercial shipping.

The annual great investment news out of California has been announced by the California Energy Commission. They have unanimously adopted the 2012-13 Investment Plan update which sets priorities for the $100 million in funding under the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program. This is the fourth year of the program which aims to increase the use of clean vehicles and alternative fuels. There are several areas of funding with infrastructure getting a lot of attention. The plan calls for $7.5 million for electric and plug-in electric, and $1.5 million each for natural gas and E85. There’s also $20 million allotted for biofuels and $11 million for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. The Department of Energy is out with a new funding announcement to spur the adoption of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs). The Funding Opportunity Announcement (DE-FOA-0000708) encourages applicants to form teams that include at least one designated Clean Cities coalition. Ten to twenty projects are expected to be awarded. Good luck!

Canadian Oil Execs Bring Warning to Hill, Politico
http://politi.co/JgmWSJ

Game Over For The Climate, New York Times
http://nyti.ms/JgedjJ

Prius Sales Exceeding U.S. Target, Bloomberg
http://bloom.bg/IV5Ygu

Honda Wins Gas Mileage Appeal, Detroit News
http://bit.ly/KpAGMa

Why Electric Beats NGVs, Seeking Alpha
http://bit.ly/Kjq4yj

CEC Updates $100 Million Investment Plan, Green Car Congress
http://bit.ly/JidSgd

DOE Announces Up to $5 Million to Spur Adoption of Alternative Fuels, Funding Opportunity Announcement
http://bit.ly/KpGXqZ

infrastructure Honda mileage biofuels CEC $ Canada tar sands NGV sea rise Clean Cities James Hansen alternative fuels transportation investment EV natural gas Keystone XL pipeline fuel economy E85 Keysto fuel cell vehicles climate change PHEV Toyota sales DOE $
It Happened on the Metro

5/8/2012 8:34:13 AM

Downtown Los Angeles is an electric vehicle (EV) mecca this week as people from 46 countries descend on the city for EVS26, and there’s no shortage of news. Siemens is thinking big and they unveiled their vision of the e-Highway of the Future, and they have the technology to back it. Understanding that CO2 emissions are forecast to rise 30% by 2030, and with trucks as the major culprit, they are looking at electrification of trucks and select highway lanes via overhead electric wires. The company has already developed the infrastructure, software, hardware and drivers to make it a reality.

Those awaiting the arrival of the all-electric Toyota RAV4 weren’t disappointed. The small SUV, made in collaboration with Tesla Motors, was brought to market in record time and sells for just under $50k. EVS attendees are also getting a look at new, innovative technologies like Protean Electric’s advanced, fully integrated in-wheel electric motor drive. Using unused space behind the wheels, their easy integration can convert most existing cars and trucks to hybrid or Plug-in electric hybrid vehicles (PHEV).

Signs of green abound here, too, as both Aerovironment and Coulomb have announced new funding deals. The Port of Seattle rang Aerovironment to let them know they’ve received $8.8 million to install its PosiCharge system at the airport for electric ground support vehicles. Coulomb’s ChargePoint network got a $47.5 million boost thanks to Braemer Energy Ventures and Kleiner Perkins, among others.

Napa Valley Unified School District Fleet Manager, Ralph Knight, is iconic for his decades long commitment to telling anyone who will listen that school bus transportation can and should lead the way in clean transportation. School Bus Fleet magazine gives voice to Knight’s passion as he is featured in the June cover story. In the late 90’s he took ownership of the first electric bus and he continues his tireless campaign today. The history of fuel cell buses for mass transit is a rich one, too, and Robert Devine with BAE, joined by Jaimie Levin with AC Transit are featured in a May 17 webinar hosted by the Center for Transportation and the Environment. You can sign up here.

There are all kinds of reasons to embrace public transportation and my favorite, favorite one today features a random act of kindness in the Copenhagen Metro. It involves intrigue, surprise, and joy. Really. Don’t pass up intrigue, surprise, and joy.

Siemens Reveals e-Highway of the Future, Silicon Republic
http://bit.ly/JT7LjS

The All-Electric Toyota RAV4 Revealed at EVS26
http://bit.ly/JcivYU

Protean In-Wheel Motor Powers Brabus Hybrid Sedan, Examiner
http://exm.nr/IOtI4t

Aerovironment Awarded EV Charging Deal, SoCalTech.com
http://bit.ly/JTMPJE

Coulomb Raises Another $47.5 Million for EV Charging, Sustainable Business
http://bit.ly/IU1vEc

Green Fleets Across America 2012, School Bus Fleet
http://bit.ly/KipoZR

The Path to Fuel Cell Commercial Buses
http://bit.ly/Kvd3hF

Flash Mob in the Copenhagen Metro, YouTube
http://bit.ly/IMps0j

investors Center for Transportation and the Environment Ralph Knight truck electrification Aerovironme hybrid bus in-wheel motors BRABUS hybrid Protean Electric grants Port of Seattle electric highway Kleiner Perkins AC Transit CO2 emissions Jaimie Levin green fleets ChargePoint Braemer Energy eHighway RAV4EV BAE Tesla Motors Toyota electric ground support Siemens fuel cell bus EV charging PosiCharge
Sparks and Screams

5/3/2012 8:44:10 AM

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a report yesterday saying higher fuel efficiency standards will cut gas tax revenues by $57 billion through 2025. That means the Highway Trust Fund, which pays for things like road repairs, will decrease by 13% over 13 years. The CBO suggests it is time to consider a gas tax hike. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta is all for fuel efficiency and he spoke in D.C. last night before a leading national environmental organization championing the military’s efforts to decrease fossil fuel use and boost production of alternative energy. In March, he signed off on ambitious plans to decrease military fuel consumption including an emphasis on combat vehicle energy efficiency measures.

Revenue generating strategies abound from increasing gas taxes to growing state momentum for charging based on vehicle miles traveled. One owner of a small parking lot in Boston has a different carrot and stick approach to reward people who purchase fuel efficient vehicles. The “Green Park and Charge” lot costs $10 per hour but hybrid and electric drivers receive a 10% discount. If your car gets under 15 mpg, you’re stuck with a 10% higher hourly fee.

Norwegian painter Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” may have broken the record for the most expensive piece of art ever to sell at auction, but Swedish Volvo’s mean green hybrid semi-truck broke two world records last week. You’ve got to watch it elegantly wending its way through the track at Wendover Airport in Utah. As a Volvo spokesperson said, this truck catalyzes discussions about the power and efficiency of hybrid trucks and how smoothly they run. (I would like to think that this is the only place you’ll see a juxtaposition between Edvard Munch and a hybrid truck.) In March Volvo announced the addition of a natural gas (NG)-powered VNL daycab to their lineup. Recognizing the growing market for NG, the Texas Railroad Commission is offering $700,000 in grants to public fleets to offset some, or all, of the incremental costs of NG fueling systems on a new or retrofitted vehicle.

“There has never been a fire in a Volt. Never.” I believe that man. Oh, that man is GM’s Chairman Daniel Akerson who has been caught in a political vortex of misinformation about the global, award-winning Chevrolet Volt. Newsmax, a conservative leaning blog, to their credit, let Mr. Akerson tell his story. “When we tested it we purposely hit it, rolled it, and we did not discharge the battery. If you have a combustion-engine car that has an accident, after the first responders extricate you from your car, they drain the gas tank and they disconnect the 12-volt battery. Well, when we did this the car was totaled. We didn’t discharge the battery, which is first responder protocol. We put it in a junkyard, and three weeks later there was a smoldering fire. No explosion. No nothing.” No nothing, except for 6 million miles on Volts already and the only spark to be seen is the passion of the drivers who own them.

GM and dozens of other CALSTART members will be exhibiting and attending the EVS26 Conference kicking off Sunday in Los Angeles. CALSTART is in booth 866. Stop by and say hi!

New Fuel Rules Will Cost Feds, Drivers, Detroit News
http://bit.ly/IHTZBI

Panetta Touts Pentagon Investments in Green Energy, National Defense
http://bit.ly/Io5c5p

A Parking Lot that Charges Based on Vehicle Efficiency, Fast Company
http://bit.ly/KuAWGR

World’s Fastest Hybrid Semi-Truck, Volvo’s Mean Green, Autoevolution
http://bit.ly/ItU5gr

Volvo Trucks Expands Fuel Efficiency Leadership
http://bit.ly/JFjhz4

Railroad Commission Grants Funding for NGVs, Texas Railroad Commission
http://bit.ly/J8Tj4J

GM’s Akerson: The Truth About the Volt Fire, Newsmax
http://bit.ly/IFxwmF

gas tax The Scream green parking lot Volvo Hybrid green military vehicles EVS26 Volvo NG Volvo hybrid drivelines Environmental Defense Fund NGV grants Leon Panetta fuel economy Texas Railroad Commission hybrid truck speed Volt misinformation CALSTART hybrid truck Chevrolet Volt
Think Electric

5/1/2012 8:31:16 AM

Last week world leaders gathered in London for a clean energy summit where they received a grave warning from the International Energy Agency (IEA) regarding a continued global addiction to oil. IEA Executive Director Maria van der Hoeven, citing a new report, warned that in spite of the availability of clean energy technologies, they aren’t being deployed quickly enough to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change. In response, yesterday, U.S. Representatives Henry Waxman and Bobby Bush sent a letter to the Committee on Energy and Commerce requesting an immediate review of the IEA report.

Moving efficient transportation technologies into the marketplace correlates with energy security, rebuilding national and regional economies, and addressing climate change. CALSTART member companies are leading the charge in addressing all three of those things. First up, Chrysler is reporting that their April sales surged by 20% pointing to the quality and fuel efficiency of their current lineup as factors in their 25th consecutive month of year-over-year sales growth in the U.S. Altec Industries is stimulating economic growth, too, as they just opened a new assembly plant in Dixon, CA, to expand their green fleet utility vehicle product line. At least 100 new jobs will be created. Southern California Edison and Pacific Gas & Electric are acknowledged for the support and guidance they offered in making this happen.

Highly efficient vehicle technologies dominated news out of the recent Society of Engineers World Congress, including the debut of a U.S. Army next generation, light, tactical vehicle. Called FED (Fuel Efficient ground vehicle Demonstration) Bravo has an Allison transmission and a lithium-ion battery supplied by A123 Systems. Fuel efficiency tests formulated and administered by the Tank Automotive Research, Development and Testing Center (TARDEC) show fuel economy of between 7.3 and 12.5 mpg compared to 4 mpg in the conventional predecessor vehicle. A123 is also the battery supplier for the new eTrans first factory-produced, all-electric school bus. Trans Tech Bus, in partnership with Smith Electric Vehicles has a 120-130 mile range per 6-8 hour charge.

Last up, kudos to Dueco as last week they took center stage in Milwaukee, WI as four new bucket trucks with Odyne Hybrid Systems were handed over to Milwaukee County. The trucks, with a Kenworth chassis, are the first hybrid trucks in the county fleet. I bet they’ll want more after they experience almost zero emissions and fuel consumption reductions of up to 50%.

Great Minds Think Electric is the tag line for the upcoming EVS26 Symposium in Los Angeles next week. There’s a lot of buzz including UQM Technologies reveal of their new PowerPhase HD 220 electric propulsion systems. And, Toyota will unveil their all new RAV 4 EV. Those two, along with many of the other CALSTART member companies listed here will be there, and since 80% of success is showing up (Woody Allen said so), CALSTART will be there, too, and you are encouraged to visit us in Booth 866. And, members who haven’t signed up for the Monday, May 7 reception---I’m waiting to hear from you!

Governments Failing to Avert Catastrophic Climate Change, The Guardian
http://bit.ly/IERPzn

Hearing Request Change Letter
http://bit.ly/K1ZWdY

Chrysler Sales Surge 20%, Detroit News
http://bit.ly/K3mZoy

Altec Opens New Plant In California, Dixon Patch
http://bit.ly/IeWtZk

Army Showcases New, Efficient, Diesel Hybrid Tactical Vehicle, Truck Trend
http://bit.ly/IjU1Rd

Debut of New, All Electric School Bus, School Transportation News
http://bit.ly/Ie8Ofh

Milwaukee County Welcomes Four Hybrid Work Trucks, Sys-Com
http://bit.ly/JrKIMU

Electric Vehicle Symposium 26
http://bit.ly/tFNqxP

Trans Tech Bus UQM A123 PG&E zero emissions jobs creation EV school bus TARDEC Dueco utility truc military vehicles Altec Smith EV Toyota SAE Congress lithium-ion battery Kenworth Chassis tactical vehicles climate change fuel efficiency SCE Chrysler profits Odyne Hybrid Systems
The Prius Trucker

4/26/2012 9:12:21 AM

Money talk happens on Capitol Hill today as the Senate Appropriations Committee meets to mark up the 2013 Energy and Water spending bill. That’s the legislation that sets the Department of Energy’s budget. Last week refiners, retailers, ethanol and consumer groups testified in front of a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on a bill that would provide liability protection for anyone making or selling the 15% blend, known as E15, as long as they comply with government rules. A similar bill will be under consideration in the Senate.

Congress was on ATA President Bill Graves mind yesterday as he addressed a national conference and waxed enthusiastic about natural gas for trucking as a game-changer. He cited as the only downside to the natural gas trajectory, Congress’ reluctance to pass tax credits. Beyond that, infrastructure is being addressed; Pilot Flying J will begin selling the fuel at their network of truck stops; and, said Graves, “…for the first time there will be serious competition between suppliers of diesel and natural gas.” The natural gas cup is half full in Canada, too, where a new report cites significant cost savings for truckers wanting to switch from diesel. The Conference Board of Canada claims that over ten years, the savings will be $150k per truck.

Everything is coming up roses for hybrids, too, as vehicle sales dramatically increased in January (11.4%), February (55.4%), and March (39.6%). In real numbers that translates to 106,207 vehicles sold. And what would happen to those sales numbers if hybrid and electric vehicles (EV) retailed for the same price as conventional vehicles? We may find out in 2014 when California-based manufacturer Coda, and China’s Great Wall Motors introduce the most affordable EV in the U.S. yet. The two announced their partnership earlier this week saying they will co-produce a new electric model to be made available in China and Europe as well as the U.S. Another EV game-changer could be on the scene in 2020 if IBM’s Battery 500 Project continues to make great progress. They’ve developed a lithium air battery that can go 500 miles. They promise to soon publish a paper on the technology that is much smaller and lighter than batteries in use today.

They are back! They didn’t really go anywhere but to inelegantly borrow from Mark Twain, reports of Azure Dynamics death were greatly exaggerated. Fleets & Fuels, and others picked up the story that “Team AZD” has received a sizable interim investment boost, and they have reinstated their warranty and product support.

I know of at least one NewsNotes reading motorcycle enthusiast involved with big brown truck package delivery who will appreciate this last story of an unlikely marriage between a Harley-Davidson and a Prius. Adam Winters is with Green Technology Transportation and part of his business involves driving 20,000 miles per month to fulfill eBay (largely) orders for folks buying bikes. Instead of driving a Class 8 rig or a Ford F550, Mr. Winters set his sights on a re-engineered, trailer hauling Toyota Prius that results in great fuel efficiency and lower costs for his customers. Kudos to the Prius Trucker.

Bill Protects Makers and Sellers of E15, Platts
http://bit.ly/HWje45

ATA Chief Sees Move to NG, Better Days for Trucking, Fleet Owner
http://bit.ly/IQI69q

NG Has Potential As Trucking Fuel, Transportation & Logistics
http://bit.ly/Iqyfoe

Hybrid Sales Up For 2012, MSN Blog
http://on-msn.com/IblSSC

Coda Deal Could Lead to Cheapest Electric Car Yet, USA Today
http://usat.ly/IhjbQi

IBM Demos Uber Battery That Breathes, Wired
http://bit.ly/IeUguI

Team AZD Coming Back, Fleets & Fuels
http://bit.ly/I7ztFp

Prius Trucker Tows Harley Across US, Autoblog Green
http://aol.it/Ilzea8

gas prices refiner Prius NG Trucking NG fueling CNG Great Wall Motors Toyota Prius ATA EV E15 lithium air battery hybrid sales Coda Automotive fuel economy Pilot Flying J DOE appropriations fueling tax credits trailer hauling Harley-Davidson
Video: Highlights of Army's New Vehicle Lab

4/25/2012 1:34:44 PM

The US Army TARDEC's GSPEL new vehicle lab has 8 labs in one, all focused on energy efficiency. Check out the video above.

TARDEC advanced propulsion technology alternative fuels renewable liquid fuels Paul Skalny plug-in electric vehicles fuel cell advanced technology U.S. Army advanced trucks
EV Ready

4/19/2012 8:06:26 AM

Colorado Senator Mark Udall and 17 of his colleagues sent a letter yesterday to Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, applauding his commitment to alternative energy. As there has been some funding pushback in Congress on the ongoing development of next generation energy technologies, the Senators note the correlation between reducing fossil fuel use and saving money and lives. The Brookings Institution chronicles the challenges facing funding for clean technology in their just released report Beyond Boom and Bust. From $44 billion in federal clean tech funding in 2009, to an anticipated $11 billion in 2014, a 75% reduction in funding over five years, is expected.

For the love of a national energy policy. The NRDC fights back with powerful statistics from another newly released report, this one from the National Renewable Energy Lab. It turns out that renewable energy investment produces jobs and economic growth. The report concludes that the past 3 years of energy investment has produced $44 billion in economic output, and has supported 52,000-75,000 jobs.

There is some potential policy relief in sight as legislation to repeal the retail sales excise tax on heavy trucks has been introduced in the House of Representatives and is now in the House Ways & Means Committee. The 12% federal excise tax (FET) is levied on the sale of some heavy trucks, truck bodies, and trailers and truck tractors. If approved, the revenue would be replaced with a small increase in the diesel fuel tax rate.

There’s some great news out of the Hybrid, Electric and Advanced Truck Users Forum (HTUF) this week. Trucking Info picked up on CALSTART’s news that the first hydraulic hybrid package delivery vans for regular service have been delivered to FedEx Ground, Purolator, and UPS (thanks to funding from the Department of Energy). Parker’s Hybrid Drive Systems Division led the charge in developing the first three hydraulic hybrids designed for medium-duty start stop applications.

From hydraulic hybrids to NASCAR (insert derision for a clunky segue here) attendees of the HTUF 2012 Conference in Charlotte, NC this September can experience it all. While we don’t have it nailed down yet, there are visions of having the first all-electric Ford Focus as the pace car at the Charlotte Motor Speedway to kick off the Duke Energy sponsored Ride and Drive. Not so far-fetched really, as Ford already has NASCAR plans in the works as they plan for their EV Focus to lead the field for the Sprint Cup Series race in Richmond, VA on April 28. And, CALSTART is calling all fleet managers to take advantage of a promotion where we’re giving away a limited number of complimentary fleet registrations for the 2012 conference (which in addition to tooling around on the zMax Dragway during the Ride and Drive, there’s also a reception at the NASCAR Hall of Fame). You can either sign up for the drawing on our website, or enter the drawing at CALSTART’s booth 2208 at the NAFA Conference in St. Louis this coming Sunday and Monday. Hope to see you there.

Udall Applauds Navy’s Commitment to Alternative Energy, Power Engineering
http://bit.ly/IAJXOV

Clean Technology on the Brink, Los Angeles Times
http://lat.ms/Jfachu

Beyond Boom and Bust, Brookings Institution
http://bit.ly/J9BxBF

Clean Energy, Efficiency, Continue to Spark Job Growth, Earth Techling
http://bit.ly/JhIDiX

Truck Sales Tax Repeal Legislation Introduced, For Construction Pros
http://bit.ly/J1eVEh

Companies Acquire Hydraulic Hybrid Delivery Vans, Trucking Info
http://bit.ly/HRJpYu

Ford’s Electric Car to Pace NASCAR, USA Today
http://usat.ly/Jfo9ft

HTUF 2012 Fleet Sweepstakes
http://bit.ly/JNIrI1

HTUF 2012 fossil fuels NAFA petroleum displacement emissions jobs creation DOE funding FET NASCAR Purolator Courier EV fleets Parker hybrid hydraulic hybrid advanced technology UPS fuel efficiency NRDC CALSTART FedEx Ground truck tax Brookings Institution Navy NREL HTUF stimulus
Climate Trumped

4/17/2012 8:54:55 AM

Thanks to a new Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) study, the Washington Post is out with their analysis of the best and worst states to charge an electric vehicle (EV). It turns out Colorado tanked in the rankings but 45% of Americans live in regions that rank “best” for charging EVs. How the utilities source power is key (i.e. coal is dirty vs. cleaner natural gas, hydropower or nuclear power. Even in the Midwest, (which doesn’t rank “best”) EVs still generate less carbon pollution than the average new compact gasoline-powered vehicle. And, the cherry on top, according to UCS, is that EV owners save $750 to $1200 per year in fuel costs.

Light-duty savings for private ownership matter a lot as gas prices rise, but when you look at strategic purchasing decisions made by the 7th largest private delivery fleet in the U.S., the results of smart planning are staggering. Frito-Lay has announced they are adding 67 new trucks that will run on compressed natural gas (CNG), saving $2.50 a gallon over diesel. And, they’ll save the company about 900,000 gallons of diesel fuel annually. Frito-Lay also plugs-in and they are in the process of finalizing the purchase of 100 additional Smith Electric box trucks. Hello Canada! Their Environmental Minister has announced that our northern neighbors will align with U.S. regulations for heavy-duty and engine greenhouse gas emissions, resulting in a decrease of 3 million tons per year and removing the equivalent of 650,000 personal vehicles from the road.

The Huffington Post is covering climate change this week and reports that among other things, the Pacific ocean has risen 8 inches in two centuries and droughts are intensifying all over the United States. News of weather extremes may capture your attention, or not, depending on whom you listen to. Media Matters analyzed news coverage on CBS, ABC, NBC and Fox, since 2009 and found a precipitous decline in their climate change reporting. In spite of Congressional debates, news of climate skeptics, and the Climate Summit in Durban, South Africa, CBS’ Sunday coverage declined 90%, and overall, Donald Trump garnered more attention than climate change across the networks.

If you are in the Los Angeles, Hollywood, Playa del Rey, Westwood and Venice Beach areas, pedal power is coming your way. Thanks to an investment from Bike Nation, bike-sharing is coming to the area and will initially include 400 bike stations and 4,000 bikes for people to rent.

Benjamin Franklin reminded us that nothing is certain but death and taxes, but horrors, could it be that for an unlucky 6% of us, there is a death and tax certainty? That’s what researchers at the University of Toronto concluded after sifting through 30 years of NHTSA records. Procrastinators unite-file online!

The Best and Worst States to Charge an EV, Washington Post
http://wapo.st/HIjwFJ

Frito-Lay Pledges a Major Shift Toward NG Trucking, New York Times
http://nyti.ms/HPEjcG

Canada Aligns GHG Emissions Regs with US, Trucking Info
http://bit.ly/ILgSTW

Climate Change This Week, Huffington Post
http://huff.to/JsmsG9

Time Devoted to Climate Change Has Fallen Sharply, Media Matters
http://bit.ly/ISQeoM

Bike Share Program Coming to LA, LA Times
http://lat.ms/ISuxJe

Scientifically Proven: Taxes Can Kill You, Truth About Cars
http://bit.ly/IJaetZ

nuclear power Cummins Westport engines hydropower GHG emissions utilities CNG GHG emis NBC CBS UN Climate Summit Donald Trump Smith Electric Vehicles fuel economy Frito-Lay death and taxes CNG trucks Union of Concerned Scientists Canada HD Regs weather extremes coal bike-sharing HD Trucks NHTSA delivery fleets LNG clean natural gas EVs ABC
Leading Fleets Take Delivery of World's First Commercially Available Hybrid Hydraulic Delivery Trucks

4/17/2012 8:41:15 AM

The world’s first commercially available hybrid hydraulic delivery trucks for FedEx Ground, Purolator and UPS are a result of the Hybrid, Electric and Advanced Truck Users Forum (HTUF) Parcel Delivery Working Group’s fleets’ joint efforts. Funded by US DOE, the trucks were manufactured by FCCC, Morgan Olson and Parker Hannifin and are expected to yield a 40% increase in fuel economy or better.
Read the press release.
Clean Sweep

4/12/2012 8:18:49 AM

A who’s who of powerful folks who mostly spend time in Washington, D.C. went to Warren, MI yesterday for the unveiling of the U.S. Army’s newest laboratory. On hand were Michigan Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, as well as John Holdren, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology. The Ground Systems Power and Energy Lab (GSPEL) is a $60 million marvel that will focus on R&D of military vehicles powered by advanced technologies. D.C. is answering the call to clean up its vehicle fleet and now has 1400 AFVs, an increase of 47% over 2010. The latest maintenance fleet additions include 2 compressed natural gas (CNG) sweepers and 2 CNG refuse trucks.

California is giving trucks a clean, green nod. Yesterday the California Energy Commission (CEC) awarded $2.6 million for 125 trucks and buses that run on natural gas. If you missed that opportunity, never fear, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District is here. As of April 16 they are accepting applications for their HD Truck Voucher Program. Funds are available at different levels for new trucks that meet 2007 & 2010 emissions standards, and for engine retrofits. Clean buses took center stage in Emeryville, CA earlier this week when Linde and AC Transit unveiled a new hydrogen fueling station. Jaimie Levin, Director of Environmental Technology for the transit agency said 12 fuel cell buses and 20 passenger cars a day can fill up there. Each bus can reduce carbon emissions by 44 metric tons per year.

It’s not just cleaner trucks and buses that are breaking records in delivering air quality and fuel efficiency benefits. A team at the University of Michigan says that last month the average fuel economy of all new vehicles sold in the U.S. reached a record high of 24.1 mpg. Among the best vehicles for fuel efficiency are the cute Smart Cars. For peak cute go to the Smart Car of Argentina twitter feed and press the J key. I’m not going to tell you what happens, just do it and smile and then read Grist reviewer Jess Zimmerman’s commentary on it, and smile again.

Officials Debut Army Vehicle Lab, Detroit News
http://bit.ly/Hu2D2r

DC To Get a Clean Sweep, NGV Global
http://bit.ly/ImXdd3

CEC Awards $2.6 million For NGVs, Green Car Congress
http://bit.ly/HJWIbT

Air District Announces Funds, The Business Journal
http://bit.ly/HzNEb0

New Linde Hydrogen Station for Fuel Cell Buses, YouTube
http://bit.ly/VZDco

New Vehicles Sold in US Reaching Record High Gas Mileage, Detroit Free Press
http://on.freep.com/Hv3C13

http://bit.ly/HtgbtO

Smart Car-The World’s Coolest Twitter Feed, Grist
http://bit.ly/Ilu2Hl

R&D refuse trucks sweepers AC Transit NG fueling CNG funding TARCOM fuel economy Linde air district US Army GSPEL methane engine retrofits fuel cell bus
US Army Opens Advanced Lab Today

4/11/2012 9:27:08 AM
HTUF's Bill Van Amburg, Richard Parish and Steve Sokolsky were proud to attend the grand opening of the US Army advanced energy lab in Warren Michigan today. The state-of-the art facility's grand opening ceremony included high level government officials:
-Dr. John P. Holdren – Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Co-Chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
-Dr. Joseph Westphal – Under Secretary of the Army.
-U.S. Sen. Carl Levin – Senior U.S. senator from Michigan and chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
-U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow – Junior U.S. senator from Michigan.
-Katherine Hammack – Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment.
The new lab, Ground Systems Power and Energy Lab (GSPEL), contains 30,000 square feet of testing space housing eight different labs which will investigate advanced vehicle and energy technologies such as hybrid, electric and fuel cell vehicles.

Read all about it in the US Army TARDEC GVSET News.

Excerpt, White House press release:
Army Opens a New Lab to Develop the Next Generation of Combat Vehicles
On April 11, the Army will open a new lab at Detroit Arsenal that will develop cutting edge energy technologies for the next generation of combat vehicles. Through a partnership with academia and industry, these advances may also hold promise for passenger and commercial vehicles. Shared access of this facility with industry and academia will facilitate the exchange of information and ideas to develop emerging energy technologies. Developing advanced technologies for tactical and non-tactical ground vehicles that support our military forces at home and abroad will make our forces more combat effective while helping save American families dollars at the pump.

The Ground Systems Power and Energy Lab (GSPEL)’s 8 state-of-the-art labs offer an unprecedented range of test and validation capabilities for emerging power, energy and mobility technologies at a single facility. The Army’s best and brightest ground vehicle research scientists, engineers and technicians combined with GSPEL’s unique facilities, will enable the Army to innovate tomorrow’s energy solutions.

Read the full release.
Collaborative Consumption Revolution

4/10/2012 8:43:27 AM

Gallup is out with a new environmental poll showing support for proposals ranging from spending on alternative fuels to environmental regulations. Like all else in American life, the results are heavily nuanced, though, along partisan lines. Federal agencies have a vested interest in demonstrating that when they do spend tax dollars, the results pay off in jobs creation. The Hill reports that the Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) conducted an analysis of funding for green electric projects (solar and wind) from 2009 stimulus money and concluded that 75,000 jobs annually were created over three years. So, why not spend more dough from DOE? Here’s your chance. The agency is out with an announcement that they are accepting applications for static wireless charging for electric vehicles. Smart Planet points to a partnership between Delphi and WiTriCity Corporation who are already leading the charge with patent rights from MIT to build a wireless solution. (Note to CALSTART members-look for a detailed FYI today on the Funding Opportunity Announcement).

Thank you O’Reilly Radar for making me 2012 smart. Who knew there was a “Collaborative Consumption Revolution” going on? The story is actually quite interesting and focuses on significant dollar savings that ten cities and municipalities are realizing by participating in ZipCar’s FastFleet program. By sharing vehicles which are located in a distributed network instead of a central depot, these fleets are saving millions annually in operational expenses. Washington D.C., for example, reduced their fleet from 365 to 80 vehicles and saved over $1 million in one year. Hybrid owners have seen cost reductions in fuel and I wanted to ignore the Polk study that said hybrid owners are largely not replacing their old vehicles with new hybrids (except for Toyota hybrid owners) as most of the coverage was tinged with a hybrid failure overtone. Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield with Green Car Reports did a good job, though, explaining how the industry has changed and evolved for reasons ranging from hybrid like fuel efficiencies across vehicle choices to changes in benefits like rebates and HOV lane access.

Happy birthday propane industry, which will be celebrating 100 years at the National Propane Association conference in Atlanta. Roush CleanTech joins the celebration by showcasing their propane autogas fuel system in a Bluebird school bus and a Ford pickup truck during the Clean Air Rally and autogas parade next weekend. It’s a crazy time for conferences and APTA’s 2012 Bus and Paratransit Conference takes place in Long Beach, CA May 6-9. Thanks to Long Beach Transit, which is taking ownership of the first of 64 brand spanking new CNG buses, attendees will be shuttled hither and yon in five of the new vehicles. That same week in Los Angeles, the international EVS26 Conference takes place. The event features an EV France pavilion showcasing the electric advances that country has made. Autoblog Green is shining the spotlight on CALSTART member and Taiwan company ARTC which has signed an MOU with French company UTAC to speed up advancements in battery electric vehicles.

(One more note to CALSTART members-we are pleased to host member receptions in conjunction with events in Los Angeles and Long Beach on May 7 (in partnership with the French Embassy Trade Office), and May 14. Now go dig your invite from yesterday out of your inbox and RSVP!)

Americans Endorse Various Energy, Environmental Proposals, Gallup
http://bit.ly/IbsIry

A DOE Report Says Green Energy Creates 75,000 Jobs, The Hill
http://bit.ly/Hkrjta

DOE Funds Wireless Car Charging, Smart Planet
http://smrt.io/IsPquy

CarShare Saves City Governments Millions in Operating Costs, O’Reilly Radar
http://oreil.ly/IwbHD3

Hybrid Owners Study, Green Car Reports
http://hgm.me/IiW1pY

Roush Celebrates Propanes 100th Birthday, PR Web
http://bit.ly/Im6izl

Long Beach Transit Greening Fleet with CNG, LB Business Journal
http://bit.ly/IcZaWj

Taiwanese, French Co-Develop EV Technology, Autoblog Green
http://aol.it/IeAprj

EVS26
http://bit.ly/tFNqxP

Zipcar propane industry Bus and Paratransit electric drive wireless charging Bluebird school bus APTA EVS26 jobs creation battery electric vehicles CNG renewable energy FastFleet alternative fuels EV fund CALSTART members Roush CleanTech DOE Toyota car sharing environmen BEVs fleet sizing autogas transit buses ARTC Propane Expo hybrids
Bikes Belong

4/5/2012 8:48:38 AM

In spite of claims that federal light-duty vehicle fuel economy regulations will be costly, a new Ceres and Citi Investment study concludes that in fact, the regs due to be finalized late this summer, will provide OEMs an increase in sales and profits. The study focuses on the impact of the standards on industry, and finds that Detroit’s big three, in particular, will benefit. Even before the standards are finalized, General Motors must be gleeful that the Chevrolet Volt had the strongest sales month to date in March with more than 2000 sold. In fact, clean cars in general did great with the Toyota Prius and Camry Hybrid breaking their all-time U.S. sales record.

Electric Vehicles International is feeling the glee, too, as they announce their partnership with UPS to deploy 500 medium-duty, zero emission, return-to-base delivery trucks in California. The delivery giants’ clean fleet footprint is being felt in London, too, home of the 2012 Summer Olympics. Since November UPS has been running ten biomethane powered trucks, while Coca-Cola will launch 14 new natural gas delivery trucks. As the Olympic Village is equipped with 18,000 wardrobes and beds, medals and computers, the games are serving as a catalyst for R&D for low carbon trucks.

Propane is making headway as a clean fuel, too, and the Mesa Public School District has saved $136,000 by replacing 27 diesel buses with propane. The District Transportation Director is so pleased with the results that he wants to convert the entire 504 bus fleet to propane over the next 15 years. Cynics among you may be saying that’s all well and good if you have the infrastructure but never fear, there’s an app for that. Forbes reports on a mini-boom in alternative fuel smart phone apps with over 100 in the Android market alone. “Green Driver” includes more than 10,000 EV, natural gas, ethanol/E85, biodiesel, propane and hydrogen stations listed throughout Europe, the U.S. and Australia.

Of course, if you get out of your car you can ride a bike, infrastructure free, or so I thought until I read about the “Bikes Belong Foundation.” The good people behind this effort aim to make bicycling safer and more accessible by developing replicable inner city models of mainstream, bike infrastructure street designs. Six cities (Austin, Chicago, Memphis, Portland, San Francisco, and Washington, DC) have been selected to participate in a two-year, intensive technical assistance program. If you need an irresistible visual to make you want to go for a ride, TreeHugger provides it in the form of beautiful bikes made from wood. Click through to Renovo where you can see frames sourced from Appalachia made from walnut, ash, hickory and maple. What a ride.

From the shameless plug division, CALSTART will be present and accounted for at the upcoming NAFA 2012 Conference in St. Louis, April 21-24. Not only are you invited to visit us in Booth #2208, but you won’t want to miss Florida Power & Light’s Claude Masters, and CALSTART’s very own Bill Van Amburg and Jasna Tomic as they enlighten fleet managers about available funding sources for advanced vehicle technologies. Meet them in St. Louis!

Study Says LD Vehicle Fuel Rules Will Increase Profits, Fleet Owner
http://bit.ly/HZisAr

Chevy Volt Sales Way Up, CleanTechnica
http://bit.ly/HMSCl7

EVI To Deploy 500 Medium Duty Electric Trucks, Green Fleet Magazine
http://bit.ly/HVAkvZ

UPS Plans to Deploy Ten Biomethane Trucks, NGV Journal
http://bit.ly/I2hr7i

Propane Fueled Buses Help District Save $136,000, Arizona Central
http://bit.ly/I1Ipic

Alternative Smart Fuel Apps, Forbes
http://onforb.es/I7lyld

Bikes Belong Fast Tracks Protected Bike Lanes, DC Streets Blog
http://bit.ly/HiceKE

Beautiful Bikes Made From Wood, Treehugger
http://bit.ly/H9ySHD

Funding Session at NAFA 2012, Fleet Owner
http://bit.ly/HfWM5s

Alternative Fuel Grant Funding, NAFA
http://bit.ly/Hiv7yK

infrastructure Chevy Volt 2012 Electric Vehicles International vehicle charging fuel economy standards biodiesel CNG Toyota Prius propane alternative fuels biomethane Florida Power & Light Blue BIrd General Motors bicycles NAFA 2012 zero-emission truck hydrogen fueling fueling apps Mesa Public Schools E85 UPS grant funding school bus LNG ethanol Camry Hybrid
Energy Heaven @ 7-Eleven

4/3/2012 8:47:57 AM

Thank you, Ray LaHood for announcing CALSTART as one of three recipients of $13.1 million in federal funding for eleven research and demonstration fuel cell bus projects. The Secretary of Transportation identified the other two recipients as the Center for Transportation and Environment in Georgia, and the Northeast Advanced Vehicle Consortium out of Boston. Transit agencies are in a price pickle as gas costs go up and so does ridership. SmartDrive Systems is out with a new study showing that eco-driving and hyper-miling techniques can reduce fuel use by 18.7%. Green Car Congress reports that study results were reached after evaluating several hundred transit buses and drivers in multiple U.S. locations.

Venrock is one company that sees renewable liquid fuels as a great business opportunity and that’s why they are reinvesting in Sapphire Energy, a start-up that’s growing and harvesting algae. The Bill Gates backed company completed a rare feat this week, closing one of the largest clean-tech venture capital deals in the past 12 months at $144 million.

From ethanol to electric vehicles, it is all about the infrastructure. Ethanol got a bit of a boost as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued two partial waivers raising the allowable ethanol volume to 15% for use in Model Year 2001 and newer cars and light trucks. That, combined with a federally backed goal of equipping fueling stations with 10,000 blender pumps over the next five years could be a boost for ethanol. Could drivers find a piece of energy heaven at 7-Eleven? Yes, says Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, who has announced a partnership that he says can claim the largest network of fast-charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs). The stations are at all seven Tollway Oases. As reported last week, California expects to see 200 public charging stations in the near future, as the result of a settlement with NRG Energy that will put $120 million into charging infrastructure. That’s good news for companies like Via Motors which is the manufacturer of full-size, extended range EV work trucks. The company was recently honored with the Work Truck Show’s 2012 Green Truck Award for “a product that best advances fuel utilization.”

From a fuel cell transit bus future to driverless vehicles, there’s always something new. We’ve been hearing about Google’s self-driving car, and a YouTube video demonstrates, through a 95% vision impaired man named Steve Mahan, how transformative that technology can be. What could be more transformative than The Jetson’s induced flying car fantasies? Terrofugia is answering the call with a prototype flying car that comes complete with two seats, four wheels, and wings that you can tuck away in case you want to drive it like a car. The vehicle, called “Transition,” is on display beginning tomorrow through April 15 at the 2012 New York International Auto Show.

$13.1 Million in Green Energy For Transit, FTA
http://1.usa.gov/HBor09

Eco-Driving Could Reduce Transit Fuel Use, Green Car Congress
http://bit.ly/HETxhZ

Bill Gates Backed Sapphire Harvests $144 Million, WSJ Blog
http://on.wsj.com/HdfZkw

EPA To Allow 15% Ethanol in Gasoline, Trucking Info
http://bit.ly/HbravF

Illinois to Build Largest Network of Fast Charge EV Stations, The Trucker
http://bit.ly/H6adQE

EV Charging Wins in NRG-CA Settlement, Earth Techling
http://bit.ly/HJZBbY

Via Motors Wins WTS Green Award, Fleet Owner
http://bit.ly/H4eZ13

Self-Driving Car Test, Google
http://bit.ly/HokVBX

The Jetsons
http://bit.ly/Hi7qWh

Flying Car Gets Closer to Reality, Washington Post
http://wapo.st/HGJ2wR

New York Auto Show
http://bit.ly/HboOJA

EPA NY Auto Show Venrock Sapphire Energy Bill Gates Prius 7-Eleven renewable liquid fuels NRG Energy self-driving car California EV charging extended range EV EV work truck ethanol blends Illinois EV charging DOE FTA prototype flying car venture capital fuel cell bus program fuel economy fuel prices lithium-ion battery fast charge transit eco-driving blender CALSTART clean tech investments
Peddling Change

3/29/2012 9:40:23 AM

I knew it would be one of those days when I saw the headline “Pink Slime Defense Rises.” Whew, my job doesn’t involve slime. However, sometimes highlighting news stories involves pointing out information that isn’t entirely palatable. First up, Coda Automotive announced two years ago that they would open a battery factory in Columbus, Ohio, complete with 1000 new jobs. Their business plan included an application for a Department of Energy (DOE) loan, which seems to have shriveled on the vine since the Solyndra debacle. With no word from the Agency, the factory is no longer part of their future plans. Next, CALSTART member company Azure Dynamics has filed for protection. They are the manufacturer of electric powertrains for the Ford Transit Connect. They are an innovative company that has weathered previous tough times by making solid, dependable systems. Challenges around system cost and best use of the vehicles are issues we are working with industry and fleets to address to ensure continuation of advanced vehicle growth. We look forward to Azure’s re-emergence.

There is good news out of DOE in that they have awarded $5 million to 3M and Eaton for two projects designed to lower costs of fuel cell systems for transportation. Fuel Cell Today reports that the specific goal is by 2017 to meet targets that include 60% peak efficiency; $30 per kilowatt; and 150,000 miles of driving. Ford is on track to triple production of their electric vehicles (EV) and hybrids in the 2011-2013 time frame. An announcement that they are expanding EV and hybrid engineering space in Dearborn is part of their strategy to manufacture more battery units and hire more engineers.

Invention and innovation is percolating in North Carolina where start-up Evatran is betting on wireless recharging. This spring, Duke Energy, Google, Clemson University, and Hertz Rent-a-Car will test a wireless, recharging pad mounted on the ground. Helping them cut the cord is Sears, which will be the nationwide installer of the 2000 units they expect to sell this year. Arizona-based GoE3 plans to make an interstate EV charging splash as they’ve announced plans to have 500 charge stations along several U.S. interstate highways. Stay tuned for the announcement which takes the form of an unnamed rally and Reality Show.

Might fetching public art be an effective strategy to encouraging bicycle riding? The Nashville Metro Arts Commission thinks so and they have announced round 2 of public funding for artists within 200 miles of the city to design cool bike racks. How cool? Think tomatoes, banjos, corn stalks and stretchy microphones all of which serve as bike racks. Looky here. The Tennessean is peddling the details.

Coda Ditches Plan to Build Battery Factory in Columbus, Columbus Dispatch
http://bit.ly/HhRPUG

Azure Dynamics Files for Protection, Detroit Free Press
http://on.freep.com/H3FeTv

DOE Awards $5 Million to Reduce Cost of Advanced Fuel Cells, Fuel Cell Today
http://bit.ly/GZjGYR

Ford Devoting More Engineering Space to EV and Hybrids, Detroit Free Press
http://on.freep.com/HlkFG8

Cutting the Cord for Electric Cars, Winston-Salem Journal
http://bit.ly/GPtKmw

Arizona Company Plans 500 Interstate Adjacent EV Chargers, Autoblog Green
http://aol.it/GWd6md

Nashville Peddles Chance for Artists to Design Bike Racks, The Tennessean
http://tnne.ws/H3A0q9

Bike Racks, Metro Arts
http://bit.ly/GZoNYV

bike art 3M R&D GoE3 Azure Dynamics Clemson Duke Energy battery EV Ford engineering Evatran EV recharching Ford Transit Connect Eaton jobs Coda Automotive Hertz Interstate recharging Google fuel cell vehicles wireless recharge PHE hybrid
Like a Champagne Cork

3/27/2012 7:41:06 AM

A group of scientists can’t be having much fun this week as they ruminate over melting ice caps already at their tipping point during their Planet Under Pressure conference in London. It didn’t take them long yesterday to conclude that not only is this the critical decade, but global warming is close to becoming irreversible. Next up? Natural climactic feedbacks. The Port of Los Angeles tried to heed the warning to reduce carbon emissions through their 2008 Clean Truck Program. The American Trucking Association didn’t like it, it went to court, and a Greenwire story suggests that it may be heard by the Supreme Court after the Justices invited the Obama administration yesterday to weigh in on the legality of the program.

Several CALSTARTians are in Washington, DC this week as part of the Transportation Energy Partnership’s Energy Independence Summit (EIS) 2012. The Governors Journal reported on yesterday’s EIS keynote presentation. For an hour, Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy was everyone’s Governor as he hit all the right notes about high gas prices and alternative fuels. “This is an opportunity. This is our moment,” he said warning that consumers have fossil fuel debate fatigue but will readily hear the good economic news that alternatives can lessen the pain at the pump. Kelley Blue Book (KBB) says that is in fact true. Last month used hybrid prices soared 3.6% and hybrid resale values have gained 20%. Dealers are buying them up and KBB attributes that in part to the solid reputation they have among consumers. Volvo is solidly behind their hybrid trucks and they are setting out to once again prove that Mean Green is the fastest hybrid truck in the world. Their attempt to beat their own world record takes place at Wendover Airfield in Utah April 27. The trucks lightning speed boost made the driver suggest that Mean Green is “…like a champagne cork, but without the sound effects.”

You might recall a decade ago when Dynegy and Enron were accused of manipulating California energy markets. An agreement was announced late last week that is an EV windfall for the Golden state. There will be $100 million invested over the next four years for an EV charging network throughout the state. Early reports say that will mean a network that includes 10,000 charge points, smart grid and grid storage services, hundreds of jobs in construction and EV manufacturing, training, and an unprecedented market acceleration. For those on the R&D side, there’s more good news. Next week, ARPA-E is issuing a Funding Opportunity Announcement seeking transformational innovations in energy storage systems. There was an advance announcement on February 17 to facilitate the formation of new project teams. They are interested in responses from companies with expertise in battery manufacturing, electric vehicles, grid-scale energy storage, electric vehicle charging, battery safety sensors, controls and power electronics.

Scientists Say Global Warming Close to Becoming Irreversible, Reuters
http://reut.rs/HbQ3EG

Supreme Court Requests Obama Administration’s Views on Clean Truck Program, Greenwire
http://bit.ly/GVc9zi

Malloy for Alternative Fuels, Governors Journal
http://bit.ly/GTDbUi

Hybrids Resale Value Rising, My Perfect Automobile
http://bit.ly/HaUfnS

Volvo Hybrid Truck to Attempt World Speed Record, Trucking Info
http://bit.ly/GU9EKD

California Windfall in NRG Agreement, Cleantech Blog
http://bit.ly/GTBERZ

ARPA-E To Issue New FOA, Green Car Congress
http://bit.ly/GTouCw

EV manufacturing hybrid resale storage Clean Truck Program CA EV settlement Clean Cities Planet Under Pressure grid TEP Supreme Court batteries Mean Green charging network Toyota Energy Independence Summit ARPA-e funding truck racing battery safety hybrid truck American Trucking Association Port of Los Angeles global warming EV charging Transportation Energy Partners
Having a Gas

3/22/2012 8:30:29 AM

In multiple choice tests “all of the above” can be a nuanced answer, as President Obama is figuring out. This morning he’s expected to publicly embrace part of the Keystone XL pipeline by directing federal agencies to expedite the southern portion of the pipeline from Oklahoma to the Gulf Coast. Tar sands by any other name are still tar sands and environmentalists are crying foul. So are representatives from the oil and gas industry. You can please some of the people some of the time but a lot of people seem pleased with CALSTART and NTEA’s Green Truck Summit. So pleased that Equipment World reports a 13% attendance growth over last year with 772 participants. Attendees should head over to our website and log in to get access to the presentations, including the keynote from CALSTART’s President and CEO, John Boesel.

There’s a new truck show in town, actually in Louisville, KY and Cummins announced its Medium-and Heavy-Duty lineup for 2013 at the Mid-America Trucking Show this week. In addition to meeting the 2014 EPA guidelines in January of 2013 for its new fuel efficient engine, they also announced the Cummins Westport ISX12G into full production in 2013. The engine operates exclusively on natural gas and it can be carried on the vehicle as compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG). Dane County, Wisconsin is having a gas-biogas, that is. Thanks to some sweet funding from the Wisconsin State Energy Office, the county will purchase their first filling station that uses bio-CNG from landfill gas. On Wisconsin.

On Colorado, too. I heard GM’s Britta Gross on the radio yesterday sharing the good news that my fair state now has a $6,000 tax credit for the purchase of electric vehicles (EVs). Add that to the $7500 tax credit and talk about a value proposition to purchase the Chevrolet Volt and other EVs? If you don’t care about Colorado’s tax credits, you may care about yours and to find out what’s going on in any state, Plug In America has a state and federal incentive tool that may interest you. AAA has a tool, too. Understanding that more of us are purchasing EVs, they are here to help with a new digital mapping tool that identifies EV charging sites. The information includes fee or free; public or private; and addresses, hours, and charging levels.

Mirror, mirror on the wall, is Frito-Lay North America the greenest of them all? That’s the goal of the brains behind evolving their impressive delivery fleet and yesterday they announced the purchase of five more medium-duty, electric delivery vehicles from Stockton, CA based Electric Vehicles International (EVI). Full disclosure-Frito-Lay, EVI, GM, Cummins, Westport Innovations and NTEA (all stars of today’s NewsNotes) are all CALSTART members. So is our very newest member, VIA Motors, which today will announce at a press conference in northern California that they will put their first production eREV fleet truck into service with Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E). In addition to the pickup truck having a 40 mile battery range and a 400 mile extended range, their new VIA TRUX announcement will be made by the father of the Chevy Volt and the former Vice Chairman of GM, Bob Lutz. Details on attending are available here.

Obama to Push Oil Pipeline in Oklahoma, Los Angles Times
http://lat.ms/GFtOVl

New Work Truck Show 2012 Sets New Records, Equipment World
http://bit.ly/GEGLQl

2012 GTS Presentations, CALSTART
http://bit.ly/VZDco

Cummins Unveils 2013 Engine Lineup, Fleet Owner
http://bit.ly/GD2IQ2

Wisconsin Develops Its First Biomethane Fueling Station, NGV Journal
http://bit.ly/GJIZlT

Colorado Volt Buyers Eligible for $13,500 in Tax Credits, 4-Trader
http://bit.ly/GGfYpw

AAA Adds Electric Car-Charging Info to Maps, Green Car Reports
http://hgm.me/GABnCM

State and Federal Incentives, Plug In America
http://bit.ly/naW57z

EVI Launches Pilot Electric Truck Program With Frito Lay, EV World
http://bit.ly/GFeE71

Bob Lutz to Speak at PG&E Press Conference, Via Motors
http://bit.ly/GMwD9e

EV tax credits Electric Vehicles International tar sands Cummins Bob Lutz CNG Frito Cummins Westport fleet fueling VIA M heavy-duty vehicles EV mapping tool GM Green Truck Summit state incentives medium-duty delivery vehicles Keystone XL Mid-America Trucking Show federal incentives EVI Cummins Westport ISL G LNG biogas EVs Chevrolet Volt Plug In America
No Charge Charging

3/20/2012 8:38:59 AM

From today’s Google doodle to the Christian Science Monitor’s look at the end of the winter that wasn’t, news sources are talking about this as the fourth warmest winter in 117 years of record keeping in the United States. And, in the absence of federal strategies on climate change and clean energy, a consortium that includes Oregon, Washington, California and Vancouver, British Columbia, has decided to take clean economy matters into regional hands. The outcome of the recent Globe Conference on Business and the Environment is a strong endorsement of a new action plan for aggressive clean economy job growth. Clean transportation, one of five outlined market opportunities, aims to focus on joint purchasing of low-carbon vehicles; integration of electrification and/or alternative fuel use in regional ports, and decreasing the carbon footprint of long haul trucking. Oregon is already demonstrating leadership in the form of a West Coast Electric Highway. The New York Times reports that public charging stations are open for business along a 160 mile stretch on Interstate 5, where electric vehicle (EV) drivers can charge at no charge at 25-mile intervals. Eventually charging stations will stretch from Vancouver to San Diego.

Successes with hybrids and electric vehicles (EV) are evident through two stories out today on Toyota’s Prius C and Nissan’s Leaf. Toyota’s newest hybrid saw sales of 1200 vehicles in three days in the U.S. when it went on sale last week. And, when it was launched in Japan in December, 120,000 orders were placed in five days. The manufacturer anticipates an increase in production by mid-year. Nissan expects their Leaf sales to double in 2012 and by the end of this year they’ll be out with an upgraded version of the EV to include a more efficient heating system and leather seats.

From buses, delivery, refuse and recycling trucks, and utility vehicles, Eaton is another manufacturing success story with more than 5500 hybrid systems on the road today. The company has just released an educational fact sheet to help fleets assess if hybrid power makes sense for them. The free analysis packs a lot into two pages including ROI, fuel consumption, proper driving techniques, and stop densities. Eaton joins BAE and Siemens as early sponsors/exhibitors of CALSTART and the U.S. Army TARDEC National Automotive Center’s Hybrid, Electric, and Advanced Truck Users Forum (HTUF). The 12th annual event takes place in mid-September in Charlotte, North Carolina. Look for more information in coming weeks. And, next week you are invited to attend a Transportation Energy Partnership policy education event in Washington, DC called Energy Independence Summit. CALSTART President and CEO John Boesel is part of a lineup of speakers that also includes Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy and Gary Guzy, Deputy Director, White House Office of Environmental Quality.

Spring Equinox Google Doodle, Youtube
http://bit.ly/GBYBaW

Spring Equinox Heralds the End of the Winter That Wasn’t, Christian Science Monitor
http://bit.ly/GDoB2d

Creating One Million Clean Economy Jobs on the West Coast, Think Progress
http://bit.ly/A2izdB

Oregon Interstate to Relieve Range Anxiety, New York Times
http://nyti.ms/GzsFlm

Toyota Increasing Prius C Production, Autoblog Green
http://aol.it/Ap48nk

Nissan to Unveil Improved Leaf, Detroit News
http://bit.ly/GB2Unm

Document Assists in Hybrid Electric Decision-Making, Fleet Owner
http://bit.ly/FRkKjV

Hybrid, Electric, and Advanced Truck Users Forum, HTUF 2012
http://bit.ly/GB662j

Transportation Energy Partnership
http://bit.ly/GCRb6j

HTUF 2012 utility vehicles Prius C West Coast Electric Highway delivery trucks refuse truck transit bus Energy Independence Summit Aerovironment Nissan Leaf clean jobs CALSTART Eaton hybrid advanced trucks school bus clean transportation
Hot Trends

3/15/2012 9:19:49 AM

The clock is ticking on a March 31 deadline for Congress to pass a transportation bill. The Senate did its part yesterday by approving a $109 billion measure that received praise from the trucking industry. It is now Houseward bound. President Obama is speaking at Prince George’s Community College in Largo, Maryland today about his energy proposals, in an effort to calm public angst over rising gas prices. The Los Angeles Times has a half full cup citing that while gas prices could top $5 a gallon in the near future, since 2008, there’s been a 16% increase in average fuel economy, saving $400 per year in fuel prices. Coda is talking fuel economy as the company celebrated their first, all-electric sedan rolling off of the assembly line this week. The vehicle has an EPA-certified range of 88 miles per charge, and comes with a 10-year, 100,000 mile, battery warranty.

A tricky thing about battery motors and battery packs is that they are made using rare earth metals, 95% of which are produced in China. In 2010, China imposed export quotas on those metals and the U.S., Europe and Japan have filed a formal complaint with the World Trade Organization citing a 1947 trade agreement that if a country restricts exports, they also have to limit their own domestic supply. Global demand for the metals is increasing 10% annually, and has quadrupled in China. All eyes are on Toyota, according to Rare Earth Investing News, as they have developed a method to manufacture hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs) without using the costly rare earth elements (REEs). The manufacturer says that while they have no timeline for commercialization, they will bring their technology to market if the price of REEs doesn’t recede.

Reuters reports on a sobering prediction issued by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). OECD says that by 2050, the global economy will be four times larger than today and the world will use 80% more energy. The kicker is that our energy mix isn’t predicted to be much different than today. Their assessment is that oil, coal and gas will comprise 85% of energy demand resulting in a 50% increase in greenhouse gas emissions. The result will be a surging of global average temperatures by 3-6 degrees Celsius by 2100, unless mitigation efforts begin immediately. Cincinnati is answering that call and by mid-year they will complete their Green Fleet Plan that calls for eliminating all fossil fuel use by 2025, resulting in a measurable reduction in emissions. Currently the city fleet burns through 2 million gallons of fuel per year at a cost of $5.1 million.

Transportation Bill Good News for Truckers, Land Line Magazine
http://bit.ly/zADa0l

Most Fuel Efficient Cars 2012, Los Angeles Times
http://lat.ms/xJMqWh

First All-Electric Coda Sedan Rolls Off Assembly Line, Mercury News
http://bit.ly/zVGtvB

WTO Actions On China’s Rare Earth Quotas, Globe and Mail
http://bit.ly/ybkPKw

Toyota Seeks to Decrease Reliance on Rare Earth Elements, Rare Earth Investing News
http://bit.ly/yPjMex

Rare Earths-The Next Oil, Asia Times
http://bit.ly/wJUzem

Emissions Set to Surge 50% by 2050, Reuters
http://bit.ly/AtiCvG

Cincinnati Plans to Rid City of Fossil Fuels, Biz Blog
http://bit.ly/wOabBb

Zipcar gas prices green fleet technology battery warranty rare earth metals GHG emissions OECD renewable energy Coda Sedan Cincinnati fleet Toyota global economy China exports energy mix transportation bill hybrid

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