Mobile Emissions Today articles from November 2004

Mobile Emissions Today archives from November 2004

Westport HCNG Bus Demonstration Reveals Reduced Emissions.(hydrogen and compressed natural gas)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Westport Innovations, Inc. announced last week during the Society of Automotive Engineers' Powertrain & Fluid Systems Conference & Exhibition in Tampa, FL the results of a demonstration project of hydrogen and compressed natural gas...

Researchers Say GHG Reduction Plans Should Focus on Vehicles.(greenhouse gas)
November 1, 2004... Duke University recently announced that two of its ecologists have conducted a new study which suggests that while retiring croplands and switching to no-till agriculture could contribute "in a modest way" to reducing the increase of...

China Issues Fuel Economy Standards for Passenger Cars.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Reuters recently reported that the Chinese government has released new fuel economy standards for passenger vehicles that will become effective in July 2005, at which point the vehicles will be required to achieve the "current average level of...

PA County Health Department Enacts New Bus Idling Rules.(Pennsylvania)(Brief Article)
November 2, 2004... The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) last week enacted new regulations that prohibit all school buses in the county from idling for more than five consecutive minutes. The law permits exceptions under specified circumstances, such...

NJDEP Announces New School Bus Retrofit Project in Newark.(New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection)(Brief Article)
November 2, 2004... The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) recently announced, together with Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (PSEG), the launch of a new program in Newark, NJ to retrofit up to 46 of Camptown Bus Lines' diesel-powered...

National Clean Bus Leaders Recognized in Six Communities.(Brief Article)
November 2, 2004... The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) last week recognized six state and local initiatives for leading the nation in deploying cleaner bus fleets. EESI honored Oakland, CA's Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District for its...

New York City's MTBE Lawsuit Takes Precedence in Federal Court.(methyl tertiary butyl ether)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2004... The New York Law Journal recently reported that the New York City Corporation Counsel's Office has announced that the city's lawsuit against oil companies over local methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) contamination will be at the forefront of...

Local NZ Group Encourages Businesses to Better Maintain Vehicles.(New Zealand)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2004... Television New Zealand (TVNZ) recently reported that a group known as Clean Air Auckland has launched a new campaign urging local businesses to tune up their vehicles on a regular basis to help reduce area pollution. According to TVNZ,...

EST Proposes Clean Vehicle Initiatives to U.K. Government.(Energy Saving Trust)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... The Energy Saving Trust (EST) recently announced it has responded to a joint U.K. government consultation on the future of clean road vehicles issued by the Department for Transport (DfT), Scottish Executive and the Welsh Assembly Government,...

London Mayor Reveals Plan to Raise Congestion Toll.(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... BBC News recently reported that the mayor of London has revealed plans to raise the city's controversial congestion toll from five pounds to six pounds per day. "I don't like putting up taxes and fares," said mayor Ken Livingstone to BBC....

UCLA Releases Annual Southern CA Environmental Report Card.(University of California, Los Angeles)
November 4, 2004... The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) recently announced the UCLA Institute of the Environment's release of the seventh annual Southern California Environmental Report Card, which finds that "while scientists are making dramatic...

Local U.K. City Council to Establish AQMAs.(air quality management areas)(Brief Article)
November 5, 2004... The city council of Exeter in Devon, England recently announced plans to establish a number of air quality management areas (AQMAs) around the city in an attempt to reduce local pollution. According to the Exeter City Council, five areas...

Afghanistan Receives ADB Grant for Air Quality Program.(Asian Development Bank)(Brief Article)
November 5, 2004... Agence France-Presse (AFP) recently reported that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has granted the Afghanistan government $450,000 in funding to help improve air quality in the capital city of Kabul. According to AFP, ADB said vehicular...

Weekly Update.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
November 5, 2004... AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE'S ULTRA-LOW SULFUR DIESEL IMPLEMENTATION WORKSHOP, November 15-16, 2004, Astor Crowne Plaza Hotel, New Orleans, LA TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE LAND TRANSPORT CONFERENCE, November 21-24, 2004, Michael Fowler Center &...

CESI Awarded Diesel Emissions Reduction Grant From TCEQ.(Catalytica Energy Systems, Inc.)(Texas Commission on Environmental Quality)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... Catalytica Energy Systems, Inc. (CESI) recently announced it has been awarded $330,000 in funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) under its New Technology Research and Development (NTRD) program. According to...

Parker Hannifin Invests in Vectrix for Low-emission Scooter.(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... Parker Hannifin Corporation recently announced an equity investment in Vectrix Corporation to begin production of a full-size, long-range, low-emission electric scooter. "As part of our win strategy, we said we would invest in innovative...

Australia Conducts National 'Walk to Work Day'.(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... Australia's Department of the Environment and Heritage (DEH) recently announced that the country observed a national "Walk to Work Day" last week, with thousands of citizens leaving home and walking, or taking mass transit, to work. ...

FOE Urges U.K. Not to Capitulate on Road Development.(Friends of the Earth)(Brief Article)
November 9, 2004... Friends of the Earth (FOE) U.K. recently urged the U.K. government to ignore pressure from the nation's motoring lobby to expand Britain's road network, commenting that such development "would bring more traffic, congestion and pollution, and...

Heavy-duty Vehicle Manufacturers Discuss Emissions Reductions.
November 9, 2004... The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) recently reported that heavy-duty vehicle and engine manufacturers from Japan, Europe and the U.S. met last week during the Global Commercial Vehicle Meeting in Makuhari, Japan to discuss...

Motorweek to Highlight 2005 Fuel Economy Guide.(Brief Article)
November 9, 2004... Automotive magazine television show Motorweek recently announced that it will cover the "nuts and bolts" of the 2005 edition of the Fuel Economy Guide in a series of upcoming episodes. Produced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)...

CARB Fines VES, Irish Construction for Emissions Violations.(California Air Resources Board)(Valley Environmental Services)(Brief Article)
November 10, 2004... The California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced this week that Valley Environmental Services (VES) and Irish Construction will pay a total of $24,635 in fines to settle charges that they violated state air quality regulations. VES has...

New Bill Seeks Air Pollution Exemption for Antique Italian Cars.(Brief Article)
November 10, 2004... The Associated Press (AP) recently reported that Italian senators Cesare Salvi and Luciano Magnalbo have proposed a bill that would exempt Fiat 500 automobiles, which do not contain catalytic converters, from federal and local anti-pollution...

Local CT Clean Cities Coalition to Benefit From DOE Funding.(Brief Article)
November 10, 2004... Yale University student newspaper Yale Daily News recently reported that the Greater New Haven Clean Cities Coalition will receive funding for its pollution reduction efforts through a $20,000 grant awarded by the Department of Energy (DOE) to...

Caterpillar Announces Sale of D8T Tractor With ACERT Technology.(Advanced Combustion Emissions Reduction Technology)(Brief Article)
November 11, 2004... Caterpillar, Inc. recently announced the introduction of a new D8T track-type tractor equipped with emissions-reducing ACERT engine technology. According to caterpillar, the D8T, which was purchased by Site Concrete, Inc., is the company's...

IdleAire to Install Emissions Reduction System at PA Truck Stops.(Brief Article)
November 11, 2004... Local Pennsylvania newspaper the Sentinel recently reported that the state Department of Environment (DEP) awarded last week a $360,000 grant to IdleAire Technologies to install the company's electrification technology at truck stops in...

Ford Donates Hybrid SUVs to Help Limit National Park Pollution.(Brief Article)
November 11, 2004... The National Park Foundation (NPF) recently announced that Ford Motor Company donated two Ford Escape Hybrid SUVs to the 26,000-acre Gateway National Recreation Area located in New York and New Jersey to help reduce the impact of park vehicles...

IFT Licenses Soliton to Distribute Clean Fuel Products.(International Fuel Technology Inc. and Soliton contract)(Brief Article)
November 12, 2004... Clean fuel innovator International Fuel Technology, Inc. (IFT) recently announced it has licensed Soliton R&D of New Jersey to distribute its products, with Soliton to purchase $300,000 in fuel blends to initiate the deal. "We have done...

Catalytica Reports Third-quarter Financial Results.(Catalytica Energy Systems Inc.)(Brief Article)
November 12, 2004... Gilbert, AZ-based Catalytica Energy Systems, Inc., a leading provider of emissions solutions for the power generation and transportation industries, recently announced its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2004,...

U.K. House of Lords Calls for Aviation Emissions Regulations.(Brief Article)
November 12, 2004... Reuters recently reported that a U.K. House of Lords' European Union (EU) sub-committee on the environment has urged Prime Minister Tony Blair to encourage the EU to include airplane emissions in its carbon dioxide trading scheme next year. ...

Weekly Update.(calender)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
November 12, 2004... AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE'S ULTRA-LOW SULFUR DIESEL IMPLEMENTATION WORKSHOP, November 15-16, 2004, Astor Crowne Plaza Hotel, New Orleans, LA TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE LAND TRANSPORT CONFERENCE, November 21-24, 2004, Michael Fowler Center &...

Tenneco to Supply Exhaust Systems for Ford F-Series Pickup.(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Tenneco Automotive recently announced it has been selected by Ford Motor Company to supply the full exhaust system for Ford's Heavy Duty F-Series diesel pickup trucks, to be launched in 2006. Tenneco said it plans to supply hot- and...

IFT Announces Hiring of Former Gulf Oil Executive.(International Fuel Technology, Inc)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... International Fuel Technology, Inc. (IFT) recently announced it has hired former Gulf Oil International executive Axel Farhi to help manage the company's efforts in the fuel additives and oils and lubricants markets. According to IFT,...

New Campaign Urges Automakers to Develop Cleaner Vehicles.(Center for a New American Dream)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... The Takoma Park, MD-based Center for a New American Dream, "a national nonprofit organization that helps Americans consume wisely," recently announced the launch of a new campaign designed to convince automakers to deliver more hybrid electric...

WestStart Announces 2004 Blue Sky Award Winners.(WestStart-CALSTART Inc.)(Brief Article)
November 16, 2004... WestStart-CALSTART recently announced the six winners of this year's Blue Sky Awards, presented to individuals and companies deemed leaders in the clean transportation marketplace. "We launched these awards in 1996 to recognize industry and...

WRI Report Analyzes Impact of Chinese Fuel Standards.(World Resources Institute)(Brief Article)
November 16, 2004... The American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA) recently announced that the World Resources Institute (WRI) has released its new report "Taking the High (Fuel Economy) Road: What do the new Chinese fuel economy standards mean...

Study Finds Winter Pollution Does Not Worsen Childhood Asthma.(National Jewish Medical & Research Center)(Brief Article)
November 16, 2004... The National Jewish Medical & Research Center (NJMRC) recently announced that the results of a three-year study of asthmatic children in Denver, CO, published in the November issue of Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, indicate that...

New Study Finds Chinese Air Pollution Surpasses U.S. Standards.(Brief Article)
November 17, 2004... Reuters recently reported that China's Civic Exchange has announced the results of a two-year air quality study, which found particulate matter levels in Hong Kong to be two times higher than U.S. standards and air pollution in the Pearl River...

San Joaquin Valley District Submits Clean Air Grant Plan.(Brief Article)
November 17, 2004... Local California newspaper the Visalia Times-Delta recently reported that the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District presented a plan this week to the Tulare County Association of Governments that would, if approved, set aside $3.7...

Local TN Official Comments on New Mandatory Emissions Testing.(Brief Article)
November 17, 2004... Local Tennessee newspaper the Chattanoogan recently reported that Bill Knowles, county clerk for Hamilton County, TN, has expressed concern that area drivers will experience "confusion and frustration" when new mandatory vehicle emissions...

CDT Reports Third-quarter Financial Results.(Clean Diesel Technologies, Inc.)(Brief Article)
November 18, 2004... Stamford, CT-based Clean Diesel Technologies, Inc. (CDT), "a specialty chemical company with patented products that reduce emissions from diesel engines while simultaneously improving fuel economy," recently announced its financial results for...

Indian Sugar, Oil Companies Gridlocked Over Ethanol Prices.(Brief Article)
November 18, 2004... Local Indian newspaper the Hindu Business Line recently reported that the country's sugar mills and oil companies have not been able to reach an agreement on a set price of ethanol, thus stalling the ethanol-gasoline blending program introduced...

CT Resumes Vehicle Emissions Testing After 7-month Suspension.(Brief Article)
November 19, 2004... The Associated Press (AP) recently reported that Connecticut restarted last week its vehicle emissions testing program, which was suspended by the state in April due to questions over test accuracy, improper inspections and unwarranted repairs....

U.S., China Team Up on Beijing Diesel Retrofit Project.(Brief Article)
November 19, 2004... China Daily recently reported that the U.S. and Chinese governments have agreed to undertake a joint project to retrofit diesel vehicles in Beijing to use advanced emissions control technology and cleaner fuel. The newspaper noted that...

Report Analyzes Environmental Regulations, Related Technology.(Brief Article)
November 19, 2004... International technology analysis firm Technical Insights recently announced the release of a new report, titled "European Automotive Industry -- Environmental Regulations and Related Technology Developments," which examines "various technology...

Weekly Update.(Brief Article)
November 19, 2004... TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE LAND TRANSPORT CONFERENCE, November 21-24, 2004, Michael Fowler Center & Wellington Town Hall, Wellington, New Zealand CALSTART'S 2020: CALIFORNIA'S TRANSPORTATION ENERGY FUTURE CONFERENCE, December 2, 2004, Wilshire...

ATA Welcomes New Diesel Emissions Regulations.(Brief Article)
November 22, 2004... The Associated Press (AP) recently reported that the American Trucking Associations (ATA) has revealed will not oppose the new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) diesel regulations requiring that sulfur levels be reduced from 500 parts per...

Zipcar Reports Record Growth, Profitability in 2004.(Brief Article)
November 22, 2004... Cambridge, MA-based car-sharing company Zipcar recently announced it has achieved record sales, member growth and profitability in 2004, with revenues projected to increase again by more than 100 percent in 2005. To date, Zipcar said it...

O2Diesel Begins Delivering Fuel to Harrison for Fleet Conversion.(Brief Article)
November 22, 2004... O2Diesel Corporation recently announced it has begun delivering it proprietary fuel, O2Diesel, to California-based E.J. Harrison & Sons, Inc. as part of a truck fleet conversion project. According to O2Diesel, Harrison is participating in...

New Study Links Ozone, Mortality in Urban Areas.(Brief Article)
November 22, 2004... The Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies recently announced that the findings of a new study, published in the current issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, suggest that "more people die daily in U.S. urban areas...

NPRA Urges Maryland to Fully Consider MTBE Ban.(The National Petrochemical and Refiners Association)(methyl tertiary butyl ether)
November 23, 2004... The National Petrochemical and Refiners Association (NPRA) recently announced that its director of technical advocacy Charles Drevna stressed last week during testimony before the Maryland House of Delegates' Environmental Matters Committee...

IFT, ETSP to Develop Clean Fuel Products for European Market.(International Fuel Technology Inc)(Expertises Technologies et Services Produits)(Brief Article)
November 23, 2004... Clean fuel developer International Fuel Technology, Inc. (IFT) announced last week it will partner with French research firm Expertises Technologies et Services Produits (ETSP) to market IFT technology and develop new products for European...

Activists Protest Ford's Lack of Emissions Reduction Programs.(Brief Article)
November 23, 2004... Environmental organization Jumpstart Ford organized a "Day of Intervention" last week during which activists held demonstrations at Ford dealerships throughout the U.S. and Canada to protest the company's lack of fuel efficiency improvement...

CARB Approves Fuel Standards for Watercraft, Trains.(California Air Resources Board)(Brief Article)
November 24, 2004... The Associated Press (AP) recently reported that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has approved new fuel standards that will reduce the amount of particulate matter (PM) emitted by locomotives and watercraft by approximately 25 percent....

EU Considers Adding Airplane Emissions to CO2 Trading Scheme.
November 24, 2004... Reuters recently reported that European Commission (EC) industrial emissions unit acting head Peter Vis announced during a European Union (EU) conference that the EU has launched a study into the feasibility of including aviation emissions in...

FOE U.K. Recommends Incentives for 'Green' Car Purchases.(Friends of the Earth)(Brief Article)
November 24, 2004... Friends of the Earth (FOE) U.K. recently called on U.K. chancellor of the exchequer Gordon Brown to adopt in his forthcoming pre-budget statement such measures as an increased tax on "gas-guzzling" vehicles and the establishment of cash...

Weekly Update.
November 24, 2004... CALSTART'S 2020: CALIFORNIA'S TRANSPORTATION ENERGY FUTURE CONFERENCE, December 2, 2004, Wilshire Grand Hotel, Los Angeles, CA EMISSIONS REDUCTION & ENERGY LEADERSHIP SUMMIT 2004, December 14-16, 2004, Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center,...

MD Officials Warn Against Proposed Ban on MTBE.(methyl tertiary butyl ether)(Brief Article)
November 29, 2004... The Baltimore Sun recently reported that while methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) has been appearing in greater amounts in drinking water wells throughout Maryland, both environmental regulators and oil industry officials expressed concern...

British Clean Fuels Endorses Green Plus Fuel Additive.(Brief Article)
November 29, 2004... Biofriendly Corporation and its European affiliate Green Plus Limited announced last week that their Green Plus fuel additive has received an official endorsement from British Clean Fuels, a London-based fuel company known for its service to...

NSW Government Replaces Old Diesel Fleet Vehicles.(New South Wales)(Brief Article)
November 29, 2004... The Australian Associated Press (AAP) recently reported that the government of New South Wales (NSW) plans to replace all of its V8 and V6 fleet vehicles by July 2006 and initiate a one-year trial of new low-emission vehicles. "I think...

STAPPA, ALAPCO Withdraw From Aviation Emissions Talks.(State and Territorial Air Pollution Program Administrators)(Association of Local Air Pollution Control Officials)(Brief Article)
November 30, 2004... The State and Territorial Air Pollution Program Administrators (STAPPA) and the Association of Local Air Pollution Control Officials (ALAPCO) recently announced they have sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) assistant...

Six PA Counties Form Joint Traffic Reduction Coalition.(Brief Article)
November 30, 2004... The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently announced that business, transit and metropolitan planning organization officials from six Pennsylvania counties have joined to form the Susquehanna Regional Transportation...

Catalytica Amends Stockholder Rights Plan.(Catalytica Energy Systems Inc.)(Brief Article)
November 30, 2004... Catalytica Energy Systems, Inc., a leading provider of emissions solutions for the transportation and power generation industries, recently announced that its board of directors has approved an amendment to the company's stockholder rights plan...