Peapod - click above for high-res image gallery The amount of money that the U.S. federal government poured into corn ethanol is legendary. Today, we’re left with a floundering ethanol economy and a few happy corn farmers but not an abundance of the biofuel powering the nation’s cars. A columnist for the Washington Examiner thinks that we’re headed down a similar path with plug-in vehicles. This time, though, “the feds may foster addiction to a fuel concentrated in a socialist-run South American country.” Those are the words of Timothy Carney, who writes that the government’s rush to EVs is troubling because all those electric cars will need a bunch of lithium - some of which might come from Bolivia - to move them (Editorially, the controversial Examiner is right-learning, so the scary s-word in Carney’s piece shouldn’t be too surprising). Carney names some of the lithium lobbyists who worked hard in D.C. to promote plug-in vehicles to Congress. He writes that, “If the electric car lobby succeeds, brace for another harsh lesson in unintended consequences.” Carney also brings up the long tailpipe. While Carney is right that the GAO did warn against all of the coal that could be used to power the EVs of the future, he forgot to mention the GAO’s finding that “Research we reviewed indicated that plug-ins could shift air pollutant emissions away from population centers even if there was no change in the fuel used to generate electricity.” Gallery: GEMs Peapod [Source: Washington Examiner ] Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Legislation and Policy , USA Columnist: Plug-in cars are the new ethanol-style boondoggle originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

When the subject of algae comes up in relation to biofuels, it’s usually concerning biodiesel. That’s because algae are very high in oil content. However, one of the main reasons for interest in algae is that it grows fast and consumes a significant amount of carbon dioxide. With that in mind, there is no reason algae couldn’t also be used to produce ethanol. A company called Algenol has refined strains of algae specifically for ethanol production in salt water. Algenol has submitted a grant application to the Department of Energy to build a pilot plant in cooperation with Dow. The plant, located next to a Dow facility in Freeport, Texas, will consume carbon dioxide produced by Dow’s operations to grow the algae in bio reactors. Dow intends to use ethanol primarily in the production of plastics to replace petroleum. However, the ethanol could be used as a fuel as well. Algenol hopes to get the production price of its algae ethanol down to $1 per gallon. Not only does the process consume carbon dioxide at the net rate of 1.5 million tons of CO 2 per 100 million gallons of ethanol, it also transforms salt water into fresh water. [Source: Algenol, Dow ] Continue reading Dow and Algenol producing ethanol from algae and saltwater Filed under: Ethanol Dow and Algenol producing ethanol from algae and saltwater originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

Congratulations! You’ve done it! Your hard work and effort to reduce your carbon footprint last year has paid off and, we would like to think, Planet Earth is just a little bit happier to hear that the worldwide rise in CO 2 levels slowed by half in 2008. Now, we understand that just slowing the rate means CO 2 levels are still increasing but you have to slow down and stop before you can go in reverse. We are also aware that a large part of the decline has to do with the high price of oil and the global economic slowdown which has had negative effects on lots of people, but if there is a silver lining to those financial storm clouds to be had, this may well be it. The good news comes to us via a study by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) which points out that the use of biofuels and an increase in the use of renewables has helped achieve the encouraging result. It’s also worth noting that America actually reduced emissions by 3 percent and that the continuing increases are mostly occurring in developing countries. One final positive worth underlining is that 2008 was the first year investment in renewables was greater than investments in fossil-fuelled technologies. So, keep it up and hopefully we’ll have an even better result to celebrate next year! [Source: Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency via Green Car Congress ] Filed under: Etc. , Green Daily Congratulations! Rise in CO 2 emissions halved originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 28 Jun 2009 10:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

Freightliner Innovation Truck - Click above for high-res image gallery According to the American Trucking Association, there has been a 41 percent increase in registered large trucks and an 84 percent increase in miles traveled by large trucks from 1986 to 2006. That equals lots of diesel fuel consumed. Fortunately, a new report from Coordinating Research Council and the Health Effects Institute shows that pollution from heavy trucks and buses is actually improving at a faster rate than automobiles. Impressively, today’s big rig engines produce 98 percent less carbon monoxide, 10 percent less nitrogen oxide, 95 percent less non-methane hydrocarbons and 89 percent less particulate matter than required by EPA’s 2007 diesel engine emission standards. Diesel engines manufactured in 2010 will perform even better as new regulations mean the powerplants will cut nitrogen oxide emissions by another 50 percent. This study is the first installment of the Advanced Collaborative Emissions Study (ACES), which will continue to test diesel engines and the related health effects of burning diesel fuel over the next five years. Click here to view the official test results and to keep future tabs on the testing results. Gallery: Freightliner Innovation Truck [Source: American Trucking Association] Continue reading Report: Heavy trucks cleaning up faster than diesel passenger cars Filed under: Diesel , USA Report: Heavy trucks cleaning up faster than diesel passenger cars originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

A recent test in Germany attempted to test claims by Neste that its biodiesel is sustainable. The tests involved 14 Daimler vehicles, DHL, the German Post, OMV and the Stuttgart bus company. The test involved about one million kilometers driven with NExBTL biodiesel that were produced from certified palm oil. The results stated that this fuel helped reduce NOx by 15 percent, compared to regular diesel, as well as CO 2 emissions by 60 percent. The test measured each step in the production chain to assess its environmental efficiency and found that certified biofuels are the way to go, as there is no point in using biofuels that were produced with too many pesticides or old and polluting machinery. [Source: Auto News ] Filed under: Biodiesel , Mitsubishi , Tesla Motors , Germany , Daimler German test with certified biodiesel shows great results originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 21 Jun 2009 08:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

Hydrogen cars in Vancouver - click above for high-res image gallery The U.S. Department of Energy under President Obama hasn’t been kind to hydrogen vehicles in 2009. In early May, the DOE eliminated funding for research into H 2 -powered vehicles . Since then, the hydrogen vehicle industry has taken stock of the situation, promoted itself and is now ready to fight back. Support is coming from, unsurprisingly, the California Air Resources Board (CARB), which is going to bat for hydrogen cars in a big way. CARB Chairman Mary Nichols has spoken with the DOE’s Steven Chu about reinstating the funds and wants involved players to continue the “dialog and investigation,” according to Green Car Congress . An important part of the debate is what Chu called the “Four Miracles” that need to be overcome before hydrogen cars are viable. Big advances need to be made in: fuel cell durability/cost hydrogen production hydrogen storage hydrogen infrastructure Nichols’ response is that any alternative to gasoline has hurdles to overcome, so no options should be taken off the table quite yet. Heard that before? More details available over at Green Car Congress . Gallery: Vancouver 2009: Hydrogen Road Trip vehicles [Source: Green Car Congress ] Filed under: Hydrogen , Legislation and Policy , USA CARB asks DOE to restore hydrogen vehicle funds originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

While ethanol blended into gasoline can be a comparative good deal (or a possible scam ), there’s also good money to be made ignoring the biofuel altogether. At least, that’s the case for two gas stations in Brevard County, Florida that proudly sell ethanol-free gasoline. The driving force for the pure gasoline comes, unsurprisingly , from boaters and from motorcycle riders, but also people who want the extra mpgs that come from ditching ethanol. The fuel is sold as recreational gasoline and one station owner calls it a “more rare product.” It will get even more rare in a few years. 2011 is a deadline for all gasoline sold in Florida - except for fuel intended for boats, collector cars and small engines - to contain at least some ethanol. For now, anyone can fill up using recreational gasoline, and Florida Today talked to some SUV and boat owners who were more than willing to drive out of their way to the two stations for the corn-free gas. [Source: Florida Today ] Filed under: Ethanol , Green Daily Ethanol-free gas a hot seller in Florida originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

Hummer HX Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery Despite what could be construed as opposition by the Chinese government towards Tengzhong’s bid to purchase the HUMMER division from General Motors, the company is still working towards finalizing the sale by October of this year and on future environmentally-friendly models. According to Yang Yi, the firm’s general manager: We want to make a green HUMMER. We think the Hummer has huge potential in emerging markets. Tengzhong and HUMMER are very aware of the government’s fuel-efficiency requirements. HUMMER has already achieved substantial progress in this area . Last year, GM’s SUV-centric brand showed off a concept for a downsized HUMMER called the HX , which would likely be known as the H4 if it were ever to enter into production. Jim Taylor, currently head of HUMMER’s operations and likely to stay on after the brand’s sale to Tengzhong, has previously stated that the brand is investigating biofuels, hybrids and fully electric machines. Gallery: Detroit 2008: HUMMER HX Concept [Source: Autocar ] Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Flex-Fuel , HUMMER , China Confirmed: HUMMER buyer plans new green model originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

2009 Ford F-150 SFE - Click above for high-res image gallery Back in the summer of 2008, fuel prices hit their highest peak in U.S. history and automakers responded with a raft of new cars and trucks designed to eke as many miles from a single gallon of fuel as possible. Not surprisingly, Ford followed this tack when it introduced its latest F-150 pickup truck for the ‘09 model year, which launched with an optional SFE (Superior Fuel Economy, if you must know) edition that featured a number of fuel-saving tweaks and the Blue Oval’s long-running three-valve 4.6-liter V8 engine. After just one year on the market, PickupTrucks.com reports that Ford will drop the SFE model for 2010. The good news for those interested in fuel efficient fullsize trucks is that Ford will continue to offer a two-wheel-drive, four-door version of its popular pickup with an SFE-matching 15/21 mpg rating, so it would seem the SFE is disappearing in name only. As far as we’re aware, GM will continue to offer a competing model that matches the ex-SFE’s 15/21 mileage rating and carries an XFE badge . Gallery: 2009 Ford F-150 SFE [Source: PickupTrucks.com ] Filed under: MPG , Ford , USA Ford drops ‘SFE’ label from fuel-efficient trucks originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

A Shell station near Ottawa, Canada is leading the way in offering cellulosic ethanol at the pump. While many companies, including some in Canada, are working on making the biofuel , not many have gotten it to the refueling station. Blended at 10 percent with unleaded (E10), the ethanol is made by Iogen , which has a process that uses enzymes to chemically break down wheat straw until the cellulose molecules become ethanol. The most interesting part of this ethanol is that it isn’t obtained from feedstock, but from agricultural waste. Both Shell and Iogen stated that the factory could produce up to 40,000 liters (10,500 gal) of cellulosic ethanol a month from their demonstration plant in Ottawa. Thanks to Chris for the tip! [Source: Ottawa Sun ] Filed under: Ethanol , North America Shell station starts selling E10 in Ottawa using wheat straw ethanol originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments