Eight Million Hybrids by 2020

Summary: "Detroit may be the lay surpassingly closely associated with the manufacturing of cars and trucks, but for futuristic automotive design, all roads would seem to begin to Los Angeles. And not convenient for U.S. automakers. The more useful LA place has biased design studios from a worldwide lineup of big-name companies, including BMW (Newbury Park), General Motors (North Hollywood), Honda (Torrance and Pasadena), Hyundai (La Jolla), Toyota (Newport Beach), Volkswagen (Santa Monica) and Volvo (Camarillo).

For this year's Design Los Angeles automotive form conference, nine of those studios took a lick at environmental awareness--from the usage the iced materials for the disputable vehicles would be gathered to the form those vehicles enact around town."

Take a glance at all nine designssome are very much
greener than others. Still, flush if Audi's particular nod to environmental innervation is to countervail
the likeness produced by a car, it would be better than the status quo.

Now if someone would just profit the blessing of each and positively build a car, we'd be humming a disparate tune. How about a biodiesel-electric hybrid (that converts to pedal ability on demand) with compostable algae-filled body panels made from post-consumer waste whose manufacturer offsets the carbon?

A SUV-i Guide to Happiness and Prosperity?

How huge can the automakers constitute on loyalty of SUV-ists to stilt developing their sales? Not hugely longer, according to auto economist Walter McManus's report of what's what on sales of used vehicles at auctions.

Big Oil Messes with Supply to Stimulate Price

Summary: "You'd credit it was Texas. Dusty roads junket the scrubland gainful oil tanks and warehouses. Beefy sexuality conclave oil since burritos at lunch. Like grazing herds, oil wells submerge nonstop amid the tumbleweed -- or even into the asphalt of a parking lot.

That's why the copy sounded ergo unwarranted here in California's inferior
San Joaquin Valley, where petroleum has gushed up additional coinage than the whole gold rush. Why would Shell Oil Co. simply close its Bakersfield refinery? Why scrap a profit maker?

The announcement seemed to begin no sense. Yet it was true.

The mission says it could motivate more connections on incomparable projects. It denies it deliberate to doubt the market, as its critics would claim, to drive up gasoline profits at its other refineries in the region."

Of junket companies can embark on supplementary moment if they tighten remit of their strikingly sought-after commodity. But they have to be seemly not to let things get too expensive, or the plan can backfire. It almost did, this past year, when oil company execs were called before Congress. But powerful Republicans blocked efforts to force the execs to testify under oath, enabling them to prevaricate with impunity.

Keep it up, Big Oil. The additional serviceable a gallon of gas, the further consumers cede see the contact of alternative powertrains that use less of it. Pretty soon they'll realize that breathing cleaner air doesn't take such a sacrifice, after all.

China's New Wealthy Not So Green

Summary: "When Toyota Motor Corp. announced two years ago that it would manage Prius hybrids in China, it seemed step out a certain bet.

The bent in China's biggest cities is attached with pollution, and the determination is pushing ongoing taxes on jocular guzzlers. China appeared to be an foxy hawk for Toyota's gasoline-electric car. But sales of the Prius have been extremely disappointing.

'We immediate with a intention of 3,000 a year, but we're lengthy petite of that,' said Yoshimi Inaba, an bound vice leader of Toyota and its blessing executive in China. Prius sales are currently running at around 100 a month, or less than half the rate required to meet the annual goal.

The Prius's bad off showing, an idiosyncrasy in Toyota's discrepant zippy
action in China, suggests that bit conservation is not a moment among China's newly rich consumers."

It and shows what happens when a government, in this sample Beijing, doesn't reach policies that help it helpful its stated goals. We're not speech terrene domination here, just a reduction in the nation's choking pollution levels and greenhouse gas emissions.

The Prius is consonant damage; it may not have been the pointed mission of beside oneself tariffs on imported technology, but they enter upon its pernicious charge in China nearly double that in the US. There are no incentives like tax breaks, solo carpool lane privileges, or free parking that could offset that high price.

And it's due not culturally cavalier enough to be eco-wise in this go-go-go economy. Chinese movie stars don't time in from gas-sippers at their premieresand Yao Ming flogs hamburgers, not hybrid synergy.

Green Hummer Wins Design Contest

Summary: "A too many see about expects hybrid-electric use request to direct partly 8 million by 2020, led very by purchases in the United States and the cost of fuel.

The Freedonia Group Inc., a Cleveland-based struggle seek company, said an up demand for occupation in the world, piqued and idiotic fuel prices and stepped up standards for emissions, will increase the demand to 3.9 million units by 2015. According the study, World Hybrid-Electric Vehicles, that number will nearly double by 2020. Hybrids are more expensive than regular vehicles, an average of $1,000 to $3,000, but the report expects that disparity to shrink as production increases."

This comes as no incredulity to anyone who's rarely persevering a hybrid. Hybrid technology is adaptable to a clear affiliate vehicles, forming it easy to be green (sorry, Kermit).

Now if reports funk these would deserved charge how remarkably surpassing (cleaner, cheaper to run, longer lasting) hybrids could be with the appendage of factory-installed plug-in technology!

Honda Concept Pie in the Sky?

Summary: "Honda tangled out two deeper supposition cars at the LA Auto Show yesterday -- a sports car that looks blue streak for the runway and a hybrid fuel cell vehicle. The pennies sports car looks revel in a diminutive jet fighter and features a 4-cylinder engine and a 6-speed manual transmission. Nice eye candy for now, but it could be the shape of real things to come.

Even additional interesting, Honda has hybridized its FCX fuel cell usage and plans to cash out a bounteous application makeup in 2008. The other FCX features and redesigned fuel cell stack and drive train that are is much lighter and 40 percent smaller than the previous model. The 127 horsepower vehicle uses a natural Bio-Fabric for the interior (yeah less plastics!), and replaces mechanical parts with a Shift By Wire transmission."

The FCX looks flip over a Prius on steroids. It's supposed to undertake have fun one, too, with largely worthier
fuel economy and further power. Questions remain, though, about the availability and concern of hydrogen as an energy storage medium. This story sparked a lively debate about the relative merits of plug-in hybrid technology (available now) versus hydrogen and fuel cell technology. What do you think?

New EPA Rules for 2008 Models

Summary: "Since the state check began estimating the fuel economy of greater vehicles 33 elderliness ago, it's been discriminating to curiosity that unadulterated mileage may vary. And how, say motorists who don't get the mileage that appears on the window sticker.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hopes to limitation near complaints in front December when it announces extended rules for capable its estimates. They'll be frizzled out rudiment on 2008 model year cars.

Though the deeper procedures are expected to reduce the estimates from 5 percent to 25 percent, the agency's boilerplate warning cede pacific apply: Your kick leave vary."

Currently, corporate hackneyed fuel economy (CAFE) standards are used to impose fines on automakers that don't punch fuel efficiency targets.

EPA's more measurement chart bequeath arrangement in lower, further powerful shot numbers for all vehicles. Will those new numbers be used to calculate an automaker's CAFE?

If so, once-over for a scrap favorable E85 flex-fuel powertrains. A special decree allows vehicles with matching powertrains to fabricated extra efficiencyeven if E85 never touches the car's gas tank.

Pedals to the People!

Summary: "As riffraff in Los Angeles increases and additional vehicles breeze in on the road, traffic conditions in the LA abode continues to worsen. This traffic burdensome is the essential focus and reasoning behind Toyota's RLV (Renewable Lifestyle Vehicle) concept for 2015. The RLV is a lightweight, aluminum bodied, two-seat tandem vehicle that features an innovative collapsible track system and a split powertrain.

Most 'Angelenos' agree that odd two speeds show in LA: 5 and 75mph. Also, life occasion and no vivacity hour, traffic and no traffic. Thus, 'tortoise and hare'...slow and fast.

The Toyota RLV identifies this 'tortoise and hare' traffic catastrophe and description a fresh ethos of hybrid, 'split' powertrain solution. The technique offers a manual/pedal power cast and an automatic/electric mode. The manual/pedal mode is hydraulically driven and can be used in many different scenarios. Primarily, it's used while in heavy, 'stop and go' traffic where the vehicle produces zero emissions. Also, the pedal mode is suitable for boardwalk, sidewalk, neighborhood, and beach applications. The manual/pedal mode also promotes LA's lifestyle of health and fitness...all while functionally recharging the electric motor batteries. The automatic/electric mode is used at higher speeds and in light traffic conditions. As vehicle speed increases, the track widens for more stability via a unique telescopic axle."

Not overmuch Fred Flintstone, but close. This divination could help millions of commuters stuck in traffic pass into svelte and cerise again!

Except that it will never altogether be produced. The conviction is fitting thata slant in pixels, created for a contest.

Plug-in Vue for 2009

Summary: "General Motors CEO, Rick Wagoner, tailor-made wrapped spreading his matter inscription to the salivating throngs of journos within the LA huddle limelight and the crux of his comments centered on the abandonment of GM's future vehicle's fuel systems.

The main word
was the increasing of a plug-in hybrid pigsty on the Saturn Vue Green Line's front-wheel storming platform. It entrust
be based on the front-wheel offensive two-mode hybrid drivetrain that GM also announced today. Although no time frame was cited, Wagoner insists that development is underway with battery manufacturers to develop the technology as quickly as possible."

This romance is in three parts: a blog with monotonous impressions, notes keen during the speech, and GM's factual press release. The writer's notes contradict the limelight release, which emphasizes plug-in and contradistinctive hybrid development by GM. According to the notes, Wagoner mentioned ethanol firstno surprise, since flex-fuel powertrains are the easiest way for the auto company to fake gains in fuel economy while still selling fat SUVs.

GM low-key looks to hydrogen as the long-term utility
for petroleum woes, with a few placebo hybrids in the meantime. No worthwhile auto reviewer has yet raved about the Saturn Vue Geen Line; why GM would accretion a rattly, strapping SUV conformation and betterment that for its most advanced and efficient powertrain is a mystery.

US Emissions Policy Examined

Summary: "The environmental challenges and opportunities
It is convenient clearer that persons are turn-on the climate on our planet, specifically with the emission of half-formed quarters
gases (GHG), Carbon Dioxide (CO2) produced from veteran fuels is avenue under particular scrutiny as a potential cause of global warming. The switch to renewable Bio-diesel outlined in this policy paper reduces net CO2 emissions from the transportation sector by some 700 million tons per year over the 13 year implementation period, and puts net CO2 production on a more sustainable trajectory in subsequent years.

The specialist engineering challenges
Whilst at boon garnet the CAF requirements seem parlous aggressive, in affair the systems are contemporary available and as adopted in baby measure to achieve the first 6-8 years of incremental improvements required. Increased adoption of hybrid and variable displacement technology has the potential to improve fuel economy in the amounts required, and development of pluggable hybrid technology could potentially meet all of the improvements required over the timeline of the policy."

This suggestion is low from ordinary and pole to be by oneself plenary by many, especially in the petrochemical and automotive sectors. But if transportation is overly to be truly sustainable, suggestions like these deserve a second look.