Mobile Emissions Today articles from January 2005

Mobile Emissions Today archives from January 2005

SMAQMD to Use GlobalGuard to Track Engine Use.(Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2005... The Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (SMAQMD) recently announced it will use Satellite Security Systems' (S3) GlobalGuard tracking system to monitor the engine use of up to 6,000 heavy-duty vehicles in the region. ...

China to Offer Electric Vehicle Transport During 2008 Olympics.(Brief Article)
January 3, 2005... Chinese news service Xinhua recently reported that China plans to utilize a variety of electric vehicles to help ease congestion and air pollution problems during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. According to Xinhua, the city is expected to...

WestStart, NAC to Host Clean Heavy-duty Vehicle Conference.(National Automotive Center)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2005... WestStart-CALSTART, Inc. and the U.S. Army National Automotive Center (NAC) will host "Clean Heavy-duty Vehicle 2005 -- Making the Connection: Emissions, Efficiency and Energy Security," February 22 through 24 at the La Quinta Resort in La...

Canada Completes Phase-in of Sulfur in Gasoline Regulations.(Brief Article)
January 4, 2005... The Canadian Environment Ministry recently announced that the federal government initiated on January 1 the final phase-in of the Sulfur in Gasoline Regulations aimed at reducing sulfur levels in gasoline by 90 percent from 1998 levels. ...

EPA to Update Motor Vehicle I/M Program Requirements.(Environmental Protection Agency)(Inspection and Maintenance)(Brief Article)
January 4, 2005... The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced it has proposed updates to the Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) rule to reflect new air quality standards for ground-level ozone. "Updates to the I/M rule are...

Philippines to Use DiesolIFT Additive in New Pilot Program.(Brief Article)
January 4, 2005... International Fuel Technology, Inc. (IFT) recently announced that the Philippines Department of Energy plans to launch a new pilot program that utilizes the company's DiesolIFT fuel additive, which the company says helps increase fuel...

McGill University Team Develops Electric Snowmobile.(Brief Article)
January 4, 2005... McGill University in Montreal, Quebec recently announced that it is developing prototypes for electric snowmobiles and other power-sport recreational vehicles. According to the university, its Electric Snowmobile Team has been testing a...

EPA Proposes New MSAT Vehicle Emissions Standard.(Environmental Protection Agency)(Mobile Source Air Toxics)(Brief Article)
January 5, 2005... The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced it has proposed a minor adjustment to gasoline standards for certain refiners and importers under the Mobile Source Air Toxics (MSAT) rule. According to EPA, air toxics baselines...

ESW Canada to Lease New Production Plant.(Environmental Solutions Worldwide, Inc)(Brief Article)
January 5, 2005... Catalytic converter manufacturer Environmental Solutions Worldwide, Inc. (ESW) recently announced that its Canadian subsidiary ESW Canada, Inc. has signed a lease on a new 50,000-square-foot, high-tech manufacturing plant in Concord, Ontario....

Ward's AutoWorld Announces 10 Best Engines Awards.(Brief Article)
January 5, 2005... Monthly automotive magazine Ward's AutoWorld recently announced the winners of its 10 Best Engines awards for 2005, with gasoline-electric hybridization, advanced diesel technology and cylinder deactivation all represented on this year's list....

Envirotest to Operate New Emissions Program in TN.(Brief Article)
January 6, 2005... Environmental Systems Products (ESP) subsidiary Envirotest recently announced it has been selected to operate a new vehicle emissions testing program being implemented this spring in Hamilton County and Chattanooga, TN. Envirotest noted...

DfT Reviews Transport Energy Grant Programs.(Department for Transport)(Brief Article)
January 6, 2005... The U.K. Department for Transport (DfT) recently announced plans to revise its Transport Energy grant programs, which are designed to "incentivize the development and market uptake of clean, low-emission vehicles." Following a recent...

ESP to Develop Emissions Inspection Lanes for ARAI.(Environmental Systems Products)(Automotive Research Association of India)(Brief Article)
January 6, 2005... The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) recently announced it has issued a letter of intent to award a contract to Environmental Systems Products (ESP) for the development of two automated vehicle safety and emissions inspection...

Local Maryland Farmers Support State Ban on MTBE.(methyl tertiary butyl ether )(Brief Article)
January 7, 2005... The Associated Press (AP) recently reported that the Maryland Farm Bureau has expressed its support for a state ban on the fuel additive methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), which has been found in wells and groundwater throughout the state. ...

Rhode Island to Adopt New CA LEV II Standard.(Brief Article)
January 7, 2005... Rhode Island's Department of Environmental Management (DEM) recently announced that the state will switch from the federal national emissions standard to the more stringent California Low Emission Vehicle II (LEV II) standards for new vehicles...

Local CA County Official Faults New CARB Standard.(California Air Resources Board)(Brief Article)
January 7, 2005... Local California newspaper the Eureka Times-Standard recently reported that Humboldt County public works director Alan Campbell has referred to the new California Air Resources Board (CARB) program requiring state fleet vehicles to be...

Weekly Update.(Calendar)
January 7, 2005... Harvesting CLEAN ENERGY V CONFERENCE, January 20-21, 2005, Heritage Inn, Great Falls, MT CLEAN HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLE CONFERENCE -- MAKING THE CONNECTION: EMISSIONS, EFFICIENCY AND ENERGY SECURITY, February 22-24, 2005, La Quinta Resort and...

Zipcar to Rent Vehicles at DC Metrorail Stations.(Brief Article)
January 10, 2005... National car-sharing interest Zipcar announced last week it has signed an agreement with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to provide Zipcar services at or near metro stations. Zipcar said it plans to offer...

South Korea Introduces New Vehicle Emissions Regulations.(Brief Article)
January 10, 2005... The Korea Times recently reported that new vehicle emissions regulations in Seoul and Kyonggi Province that went into effect late last week, which are expected to reduce dust and sulfur oxide emissions by 20 percent from July, require public...

New Study Finds Connection Between Pollution and Smaller Babies.(Brief Article)
January 10, 2005... Reuters recently reported that the results of a new study featured in the January issue of Pediatrics indicate that the babies of women living in highly polluted areas have a 26-percent greater likelihood of being smaller than average. For...

Tenneco to Supply Exhaust Components for Toyota Tundra.(Tenneco Automotive Inc)(Toyota Motor Corp)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2005... Tenneco Automotive announced last week it has been chosen by Toyota to supply exhaust components for the company's next-generation Tundra pickup truck. The contract commits Tenneco to supply emissions control components for trucks produced...

C&H Capital to Act as Speedemissions' Investor Relations Agent.(C&H Capital, Inc)(Speedemissions, Inc)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2005... Vehicle emissions testing and safety inspections company Speedemissions, Inc. recently announced that C&H Capital, Inc. has been engaged by a shareholder as Speedemissions' investor relations agent. According to Speedemissions, C&H Capital...

Flexcar Named 'Top Brand With a Conscience'.(Flexcar Inc)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2005... Seattle, WA-based car-sharing company Flexcar recently announced it has been chosen by the Medinge Group, an international think-tank on business and branding, as one of eight "Top Brands With a Conscience" in its second annual report. ...

IFT Signs Middle East Distribution Agreement With Petrochem.(International Fuel Technology Inc)(Petrochem Middle East FZE)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2005... Fuel science and research company International Fuel Technology, Inc. (IFT) recently announced it has signed a distribution agreement with Petrochem. Under the agreement, Petrochem will distribute IFT fuel additives to industrial bulk...

Hybrid Fuel Systems Issues Fuel 2 Independent Emissions Report.(Hybrid Fuel Systems, Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2005... Tampa, FL-based Hybrid Fuel Systems, Inc. recently announced the independent certified emissions results for its Fuel 2 dual-fuel emission control technology, which converts medium and heavy-duty diesel engines to operate in a dual-fuel...

Matsushita to Replace Fleet Vehicles With Cleaner Alternatives.(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun recently reported that Matsushita Electric Industrial Company has revealed a new plan to operate only low-emission fleet vehicles by 2010 in an effort to help meet the country's emissions reduction commitment...

Speedemissions Acquires State Inspections of Texas.(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Atlanta, GA-based Speedemissions, Inc. announced this week it has acquired State Inspections of Texas, Inc., the operator of six emissions testing and safety inspection stations in Houston under the name Sticker Stop. The acquisition,...

Document Suggests New Regulations to Meet Kyoto Targets.(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Canadian newspaper the Globe and Mail recently reported that it has obtained a federal document titled "Climate Change: Lessons Learned and Future Directions" that claims the country will not be able to meet its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions...

Hybrid Fuel Systems Unveils School Bus Conversion Campaign.(Hybrid Fuel Systems, Inc)(Brief Article)
January 14, 2005... Hybrid Fuel Systems, Inc., recently announced the launch of its "No School Bus Left Behind" initiative, a move by the company to retrofit school buses with its Fuel 2 diesel conversion kit. Under the initiative, Hybrid Fuel Systems said it...

Emitec Provides Aftertreatment Technology for Mercury Meta One.(Brief Article)
January 14, 2005... Metallic substrate supplier Emitec, Inc., the North American operations of Lohmar, Germany-based Emitec GmbH, recently announced it has provided substrate design, engineering and prototyping for the concept car of Ford Motor Company's Research...

CA Harbor Officials Consider ACTI Emissions Technology.(Advanced Control Technology, Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 14, 2005... Local California newspaper the Long Beach Press Telegram recently reported that the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners is considering the purchase and installation of Advanced Control Technology, Inc.'s (ACTI) flexible hoods, which would...

EDITOR'S NOTE:.
January 14, 2005... EIN will not publish its newsletters on Monday, January 17 in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Weekly Update.(Calendar)
January 14, 2005... CLEAN HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLE CONFERENCE -- MAKING THE CONNECTION: EMISSIONS, EFFICIENCY AND ENERGY SECURITY, February 22-24, 2005, La Quinta Resort and Club, La Quinta, CA 11TH NATIONAL CLEAN CITIES CONFERENCE & EXPO, May 1-4, 2005, Palm...

Albemarle Open New Specialty Zeolite Production Plant.(Albemarle Corp)(Brief Article)
January 18, 2005... International chemicals interest Albemarle Corporation announced last week it has opened a new facility at its Bayport, TX complex to produce specialty zeolite, a precursor chemical used in making high-octane gasoline. According to...

New U.K. Center to Focus on Traffic Congestion.(Brief Article)
January 18, 2005... The U.K. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recently reported that industry minister Jacqui Smith announced late last month two 15-million-pound (about $28-million) centers of excellence designed to help reduce traffic congestion and tackle...

Jakarta Imposes New CNG Draft Bylaws for City Vehicles.(compressed natural gas)(Brief Article)
January 18, 2005... Local Indonesian newspaper the Jakarta Post recently reported that Jakarta governor Sutiyoso has announced a new city draft bylaw on air pollution that requires all city fleet vehicles to switch to compressed natural gas (CNG). "We will...

SaVi Media Group Completes Patents Acquisition.(Brief Article)
January 19, 2005... SaVi Media Group announced last week it has finalized the acquisition of all patents related to its four primary vehicle emissions technologies. According to SaVi, the patents are for a system which reduces vehicle emissions and increases...

Jakarta to Impose New Restrictions on Two-stroke Engines.(Brief Article)
January 19, 2005... Local Indonesian newspaper the Jakarta Post recently reported that Jakarta Environmental Management Board head Kosasih Wirahadikusumah announced last week new city regulations for two-stroke engine motorcycles aimed at curbing area emissions....

New Hybrid Buses to Help LBT Lower Vehicle Emissions.(Long Beach Transit)(Brief Article)
January 19, 2005... Local California newspaper the Grunion Gazette recently reported that Long Beach Transit (LBT) expects to receive next month the first of its 26 new hybrid electric transit demonstration buses. According to the paper, the new buses will...

IFT, Puma Energy Sign Partnership, Distribution Agreements.(International Fuel Technology, Inc)(Brief Article)
January 20, 2005... International Fuel Technology, Inc. (IFT) recently announced it has signed a commercial partnership and distribution agreement with Puma Energy International S.A. According to IFT, Puma Energy, a subsidiary of independent commodity trading...

Webasto Touts Clean Air Benefits of Engine Heaters.(Brief Article)
January 20, 2005... Fenton, MI-based automotive products supplier Webasto Product North America, Inc. recently asserted that its BlueHeat engine pre-heater product provides a "practical alternative" to the negative effects of vehicle idling in cold weather, a...

CUTE FC Demo Buses Complete First Year of Testing.(Clean Urban Transport for Europe)(fuel cell)(Brief Article)
January 20, 2005... The Community Research & Development Information Service (CORDIS) recently reported that the fuel cell (FC)-powered demonstration buses currently being tested in 10 European cities and Perth, Australia have successfully completed one year of...

MD Legislative Committee Hears Opinions on MTBE Proposal.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... The Baltimore Sun recently reported that the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review heard comments earlier this week in Annapolis, MD on a proposed plan designed to combat leakage of the fuel additive methyl...

Delhi, India Initiates New Vehicle Emissions Regulations.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Agence France-Presse (AFP) recently reported that officials in Delhi, India are imposing new vehicular emissions regulations due to a growing number of diesel-powered automobiles and increased air pollution in the city. According to AFP,...

Canadian Ministers Meet in CA to Discuss Vehicle Emissions.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... The government of Canada recently announced that Canadian environment minister Stephane Dion and transport minister Jean Lapierre met earlier this week with California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as part of a fact-finding mission to discuss...

Weekly Update.(Calendar)
January 21, 2005... CLEAN HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLE CONFERENCE -- MAKING THE CONNECTION: EMISSIONS, EFFICIENCY AND ENERGY SECURITY, February 22-24, 2005, La Quinta Resort and Club, La Quinta, CA 11TH NATIONAL CLEAN CITIES CONFERENCE & EXPO, May 1-4, 2005, Palm...

Proposed WI Legislation Requires Gasoline Ethanol Additives.(Brief Article)
January 24, 2005... The Associated Press (AP) recently reported that Wisconsin legislators proposed last week a new bill that would require all gasoline sold in the state to contain at least 9.2 percent ethanol, but no more than 10 percent, by July of next year....

Woodward to Provide Engine Control Systems to Yuchai.(Woodward Governor Co)(Brief Article)
January 24, 2005... Woodward Governor Company announced last week it has signed an agreement worth an estimated $18 million to provide OH1.2 gaseous engine control systems to China's Guangxi Yuchai Machinery Group. According to Wooodward, the units, which are...

TTC Hybrid Bus Purchase Aimed at Pollution Reduction.(Toronto Transit Commission)(Brief Article)
January 24, 2005... The Toronto Star recently reported that the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is looking to purchase between 100 and 150 new diesel hybrid electric buses to place into service next year in an effort to improve fuel efficiency and reduce area...

Eastman Looks to Reduce Emissions Using B20 in Fleet Vehicles.(Brief Article)
January 25, 2005... Eastman Chemical Company recently announced that its Tennessee Eastman Operations division plans to begin in March switching fuel supplies for more than 200 of its fleet vehicles from diesel to biodiesel. "We'll be using...B20, a mixture...

ESP Opens New Production Center in Shanghai.(Environmental Systems Products Holdings, Inc)(Brief Article)
January 25, 2005... Environmental Systems Products Holdings, Inc. (ESP) recently announced it has opened an office and production center in Shanghai, China to manufacture motor vehicle emissions test equipment. According to ESP, the new facility is expected to...

CARB Approves $2.4 Million in Research Contracts.(California. Air Resources Board)(Brief Article)
January 25, 2005... The California Air Resources Board (CARB) recently announced its approval of more than $2.4 million to fund 11 research projects examining air pollution and its health impacts in California. "The results of these investigations will set the...

IndyGo Purchases Two Hybrid Buses for Indianapolis Transit.(Brief Article)
January 26, 2005... General Motors Corporation (GM) recently announced that the Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation (IndyGo) has added two new hybrid transit buses, powered by GM Allison Transmission, Cummins, Inc. and Remy International, Inc....

Japan Tobacco to Convert Fleet to Low-emission Vehicles.(Brief Article)
January 26, 2005... The Yomiuri Shimbun recently reported that Japan Tobacco, Inc. (JT) plans to switch 3,787 of its automotive fleet to low-emission vehicles, such as compressed natural gas (CNG) and hybrid electric cars, in an attempt to help reduce the...

CT Transit Test Results Reveal Hybrid Buses More Efficient.(Brief Article)
January 26, 2005... The Associated Press (AP) recently reported that CT Transit, the provider of public transit bus services in the greater Hartford, New Haven and Stamford, CT metropolitan areas, has revealed the preliminary fuel economy results of an 18-month...

EPA Preliminarily Approves Louisville's Ending of VET Program.(Environmental Protection Agency)(vehicle emissions testing)(Brief Article)
January 27, 2005... Local Kentucky newspaper the Courier-Journal recently reported that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted preliminary approval to the city of Louisville, KY to discontinue its vehicle emissions testing (VET) program. ...

Micro-hybrid Van Tests Demonstrate Increased Fuel Efficiency.(Brief Article)
January 27, 2005... Ricardo UK, in conjunction with Ford Motor Company, Valeo SA and Gates Corporation, recently announced the results of the one-year collaborative HyTrans program, intended to develop and demonstrate a micro-hybrid research vehicle capable of...

MD Committee Approves New MTBE Leakage Regulations.(Brief Article)
January 28, 2005... The Baltimore Sun recently reported that a joint legislative committee approved earlier this week regulations proposed by the Maryland Department of the Environment to prevent leakage of the fuel additive methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) into...

New ADB Study Attributes Major Emissions to Tricycle Use.(Asian Development Bank)(Brief Article)
January 28, 2005... The Thai News Agency (TNA) recently reported that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has released a new study which finds that tricycle use is one of the major causes of air pollution in Asia. TNA said the ADB study also reveals that there are...

Hong Kong Officials Says Air Pollution to Continue Until 2007.(Brief Article)
January 28, 2005... Reuters recently reported that Hong Kong environment, transport and works minister Sarah Liao has commented that although the city and Guangdong province are taking measures to curb air pollution caused by such factors as the increasing number...

Weekly Update.(Calendar)
January 28, 2005... CLEAN-TECH INVESTORS SUMMIT: CAPITALIZING ON THE NEXT WAVE OF INNOVATION IN ENERGY TECH, WATER TECH AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, February 2-3, 2005, The Lodge at Rancho Mirage, Rancho Mirage, CA CLEAN HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLE CONFERENCE -- MAKING THE...

Maruti Introduces New Euro III-compliant Mini Car.(Brief Article)
January 31, 2005... Reuters recently reported that India's largest carmaker, Maruti Udyog Ltd., has released the latest version of its Maruti 800 mini car. According to Reuters, the new model, which costs about 4.4 percent more than the previous version, is...

Raleigh, NC Spends Clean Air Funds on New Traffic Signals.(Brief Article)
January 31, 2005... Local North Carolina newspaper the News & Observer recently reported that the Raleigh Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization has allocated $21 million of federal clean air funding, as well as an additional $7 million in city capital...

MD Continues to Investigate Source of Local MTBE Contamination.(Brief Article)
January 31, 2005... The Baltimore Sun recently reported that Maryland Department of the Environment oil control chief Herbert Meade earlier this week informed attendees of a town hall meeting in Hampstead, MD that while officials have looked into four potential...