Mobile Emissions Today articles from October 2006

Mobile Emissions Today archives from October 2006

Maryland environmental groups press for clean cars.(Editorials, Asides & Reviews)
October 2, 2006... Maryland environmental groups are aiming to get clean car standards passed that would require more alternative-fuel vehicles, such as hybrids, to be sold and force manufacturers to reduce emissions in their fleets. Advocates last week...

Diesel sales in Europe peaking.(International Report)
October 2, 2006... Diesel-powered vehicles may be peaking in Europe as stringent emissions laws push up prices, but the popularity of the engine is likely to increase in other parts of the world, auto industry executives said last week. "We see sales...

Paper details European hydrogen plan.(International Report)
October 2, 2006... Energy companies Shell Hydrogen and Total France as well as automotive companies BMW Group, DaimlerChrysler AG, Ford Motor Co., General Motors Europe AG, MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG and Volkswagen AG last week issued a common position paper on "Next...

Japanese auto manufacturers support emissions-based taxation.(International Report)
October 3, 2006... The Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) this week said it supports the European Commission's Directive proposal transferring car taxation from purchase to use. The tax would take into account the CO2 emissions of cars, with at...

Australian testing facility focuses on emissions.(International Report)
October 3, 2006... The University of Melbourne, the Victorian Government, and Ford Australia have joined forces to develop the largest Advanced Centre for Automotive Research and Testing facility in the Southern Hemisphere. ACART aims to streamline processes...

BorgWarner purchases Eaton Corp. product line.(Editorials, Asides & Reviews)
October 3, 2006... BorgWarner Inc, which engineers components and systems for vehicle powertrain applications, announced Monday that it has purchased the European Transmission and Engine Controls product line from Eaton Corp. The transmission and engine controls...

Scientists criticize EPA on particulate matter standards.(Editorials, Asides & Reviews)
October 4, 2006... Scientists who advised the US Environmental Protection Agency on the public heath impacts of federal particulate matter standards have criticized the Bush Administration for ignoring their advice. In a letter sent last week to EPA...

Canadian government meets automakers about emissions.(International Report)
October 4, 2006... Canadian Environment Minister Rona Ambrose called carmakers to a meeting Tuesday to lay out plans for regulating car emissions. The move is part of the conservative government's promised environmental plan. Carmakers have never faced...

UK company offers reward to hybrid drivers.(International Report)
October 4, 2006... A cash back insurance scheme for hybrid car drivers was launched in the UK this week. Yesinsurance.co.uk hopes to encourage environmentally friendly motoring with the plan. The company will offer $75 cash back to owners of hybrid vehicles...

Indonesia to ban leaded gasoline.(International Report)
October 5, 2006... Indonesia recently joined the majority of countries worldwide by banning the use of leaded gasoline because of the damaging effect it has on public health and the environment. The United Nations Environment Program and the Partnership for...

France plans emissions-based tolls.(International Report)
October 5, 2006... French Transport Minister Dominique Perben said his government plans to move toward a new structure for motorway tolls based on the levels of vehicles' emissions, which will result in lower tolls for some vehicles and higher tolls for others....

Freightliner prepares for sales decline due to emissions standards.(Industry Report)
October 5, 2006... Heavy-duty truck maker Freightliner chief executive Chris Patterson said this week that truck orders are slowing and further job cuts are looming. Freightliner, North America's largest maker of commercial trucks, and a subsidiary of...

GE Electrolyzer wins Breakthrough Award.(Industry Report)(General Electric Global Research)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Popular Mechanics magazine has awarded its 2006 Breakthrough Award to GE Global Research for the development of an advanced hydrogen electrolyzer. According to the magazine, the award recognizes valuable work in science and technology that can...

New site aims to reduce DC congestion, emissions.(Editorials, Asides & Reviews)
October 6, 2006... The Washington, DC Department of Transportation is rolling out a transportation-centric website to address the issue of congestion in the District. "Reducing congestion in greater downtown benefits everyone who works, shops, or plays...

Canada eyes new environmental legislation.(International Report)
October 6, 2006... Canada's new anti-pollution policy will involve consulting with industries and provincial governments to ensure arbitrary targets aren't set, Environment Minister Rona Ambrose said Thursday. Ambrose said she hopes to unveil new...

Hydrogen Engine Center, Inc. moves ahead on low to zero emissions engines.(Industry Report)
October 9, 2006... Hydrogen Engine Center, Inc. recently announced completion of over $6 million of equity financing. The funding will help the company produce HEC's alternative fuel, low to near zero emissions, internal combustion engines. The company has...

BP and Shell to pay fines to EPA.(Editorials, Asides & Reviews)
October 9, 2006... BP and Shell have agreed to pay $1.5 million in fines to the US Environmental Protection Agency after distributing gasoline that did not meet legal pollution standards. The EPA sets standards for gasoline and diesel under the Clean Air Act...

EPA falling short on inspection program.(Editorials, Asides & Reviews)
October 9, 2006... The Environmental Protection Agency's oversight of state motor vehicle inspection programs needs major improvement, according to a report released Thursday. The EPA Inspector General's Office found that many of the 34 states now operating...

Save the World Air to unveil eco-friendly lines.(International Report)(ECOChargR and MAGCChargR, used for emission control)(Brief article)
October 10, 2006... Save the World Air Inc. recently announced it will exhibit and introduce two new product lines at this month's INTERMOT, an international motorcycle and scooter show in Cologne, Germany. STWA develops devices that can be installed on motor...

New emissions standards may result in Volvo layoffs.(International Report)
October 10, 2006... Employees at the Volvo Trucks North America plant in Dublin, Ireland, expected layoffs as the heavy-duty truck industry prepares for new emissions standards set for 2007. Aimed at improving air quality, the regulations are part of a series...

Tesla zero-emissions electric car wins breakthrough award.(Industry Report)
October 10, 2006... Popular Mechanics magazine has awarded Tesla Motors, manufacturer of electric cars, a 2006 Breakthrough Award for its work in developing the Tesla Roadster, the world's first all-electric production sports car. The Tesla Roadster is the...

New diesel fuel ready for rollout.(Industry Report)
October 11, 2006... On Oct. 15, a new, ultra-low sulphur diesel fuel that is 97% cleaner than the old formula will be available in the US. The new fuel will help reduce diesel tailpipe pollution, according to industry and environmental organizations. Roughly...

Mercedes to market new diesel vehicles as new diesel fuel hits us.(Industry Report)
October 11, 2006... As 76,000 US filling stations prepare to offer a cleaner diesel fuel Oct. 15, Mercedes readies the US launch of its E320 BLUETEC to coincide. According to Mercedes, the E320 BLUETEC uses up to 30% less fuel than comparable gasoline-engine...

MotoTron taps young engineers for vehicle emissions research.(Editorials, Asides & Reviews)
October 11, 2006... Systems developer MotoTron has gathered 43 of the world's best engineering students together to develop technology to combat vehicle emissions. MotoTron brought the students to its base of operations in Oshkosh, WI, to create the next...

TMC considers electric versions.(Industry Report)(Transmission Motor Company, Pakistan)(Brief article)
October 12, 2006... The Transmission Motor Company of Karachi, Pakistan, has developed the Alif Car, Bay Pickup and Bay Delivery Van. The vehicles are powered by a water-cooled, Chinese-made engine with a built-in four-speed transmission. When run on...

Alliance discusses plans for cleaner emissions in Europe.(International Report)
October 12, 2006... The Alliance for Synthetic Fuels in Europe presented ideas for a cleaner road transport system during the Driving towards Sustainable Mobility conference in Paris Wednesday. Launched in March 2006 in Brussels, ASFE is an initiative at the...

California agency outlines measures to reduce emissions.(Editorials, Reviews & Asides)
October 12, 2006... In its revised plan to fight air pollution unveiled Tuesday, the South Coast Air Quality Management District, the agency responsible for air quality in the Los Angeles region, outlined 60 potential control measures to reduce smog-forming...

AutoNation joins Plug-in Partners campaign.(Editorials, Reviews & Asides)
October 13, 2006... AutoNation, Inc., America's largest automotive retailer, has joined the Plug-in Partners campaign, calling on automakers to produce plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. "The development of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles could reduce...

Emissions testing checks vehicles imported to New Zealand.(International Report)
October 13, 2006... The Automotive Association of New Zealand and Japan-based inspection company JEVIC recently completed an emissions-testing trial of over 3000 used vehicles bound for New Zealand. Initiated by New Zealand's Ministry of Transport, the trial...

Report: biofuels unlikely to significantly reduce greenhouse gases.(International Report)
October 13, 2006... The Australian Transport Council this week told the Australian government biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel are unlikely to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The ATC provides advice to the government on transport and road...

Texas state senators try to push biodiesel.(Industry Report)
October 16, 2006... Biodiesel manufacturers by the end of the year must convince the state's environmental agency that their product has tailpipe emissions in line with low emissions standards or possibly be forced to stop selling the renewable fuel in Texas. ...

Canadian automakers are leaders on cutting emissions, industry spokesperson claims.(Editorials, Reviews & Asides)
October 16, 2006... Though it's an easy target when the topic of auto emissions arises, the automotive industry actually is a leader in emission reduction, writes an auto industry spokesperson in an editorial in the Toronto Star last week. David C. Adams,...

"One-liter car" could reduce auto emissions.(International Report)
October 16, 2006... Swiss scientists believe a car that can travel 100 kilometers on one liter of fuel may go some way to solving the problem of traffic greenhouse gas emissions. And they support a carrot-and-stick plan to penalize "dirty" car owners while...

EPA to ease rules for ethanol production.(Industry Report)
October 17, 2006... The US Environmental Protection Agency is planning to change the way ethanol plants are treated under the Clean Air Act, a move critics say could make it easier for the burgeoning industry to evade controls that dramatically reduce toxic air...

Honda sells ethanol-fueled vehicles in Brazil.(International Report)
October 17, 2006... Honda will introduce vehicles that can run on mixtures of ethanol and gasoline this year in Brazil, the first time for a Japanese automaker to do so. Japan's third-largest carmaker will unveil flex-fuel versions of its Civic and Fit models...

New Zealand proposal aims to reduce emissions.(International Report)
October 17, 2006... A New Zealand government proposal announced this week would reduce vehicle emissions by restricting the age of imported second-hand vehicles. There are about one million cars aged 15 years or older in New Zealand, and 250,000 of them are over...

EU prepares for tougher emissions standards.(International Report)
October 18, 2006... The European Union will implement tougher measures to improve energy efficiency, according to an action plan expected to be unveiled by the European Commission on Thursday. The paper sets out ten priority actions for 2007-2012 to control...

Canadian automobile club supports less driving, tougher emissions standards.(International Report)
October 18, 2006... Canada's largest club for drivers, the Canadian Automobile Association, Monday urged members to drive less to help fight climate change and boost air quality. The 4.9 million-member club also backed the idea of mandatory fuel efficiency...

Toyota Australia unveils Green Vehicle.(International Report)
October 18, 2006... Toyota Australia recently unveiled its new flagship sedan, the Aurion V6. In addition to having the most powerful engine ever offered in a Toyota vehicle in Australia, the car is environmentally friendly, according to Toyota. Aurion...

Pennsylvania Transportation Committeee votes on emissions bill.(Government)
October 19, 2006... The Pennsylvania House Transportation Committee voted 19-5 this week to approve a bill that would prevent the state from requiring that only lower-emission vehicles be sold in Pennsylvania beginning in 2007. The legislation would instead...

Biodiesel plant slated for Grangemouth, Scotland.(International Report)
October 19, 2006... Europe's largest biodiesel production plant will be built at Grangemouth, Scotland. Ineos Enterprises, owner of Scotland's biggest oil refinery, announced investment in the production of the more environmentally friendly form of fuel at its...

Railway Institute develops fuel-cell train for lower emissions.(International Report)
October 19, 2006... The Japan-based Railway Technical Research Institute recently announced it has conducted test runs of the world's first railway vehicle powered by a fuel cell. RTRI started the development of a fuel-cell powered railway vehicle in 2001, in...

Citroen named Car Manufacturer of the Year.(Industry Report)
October 20, 2006... The 2006 GreenFleet Awards has named UK-based Citroen "Car Manufacturer of The Year," for the company's long-term commitment to the development and production of fuel-efficient, low-emission vehicles. Citroen came out ahead of runners-up Toyota...

Automakers aim to make Bluetec synonymous with clean diesel.(Industry Report)
October 20, 2006... DaimlerChrysler AG said Wednesday that other German automakers are likely to end up using the name of its Bluetec clean diesel technology in the United States. Automotive News reported last week that DaimlerChrysler's Mercedes-Benz, BMW...

Canada moves ahead on clean air act.(International Report)
October 20, 2006... The Canadian government introduced on Thursday a proposed clean air act that would begin regulating smog levels by 2010 and looks to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2050. The bill sets out a number of regulation timetables for...

Caterpillar predicts decreased engine sales due to new emissions standards.(Industry Report)
October 23, 2006... New emissions standards for heavy-duty trucks scheduled to take effect in 2007 will cause a 40% drop in production of highway vehicles, machinery maker Caterpillar said Friday. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, harmful...

GM Technology aims to reduce emissions.(Industry Report)
October 23, 2006... General Motors is looking to decrease vehicle emissions through its OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics service. OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics alerts drivers by e-mail of a car's E85 ethanol compatibility and links owners to GM's...

Taipei county promotes biodiesel.(International Report)
October 23, 2006... The Taipei County Environmental Protection Administration in Taiwan is promoting the trial of biodiesel clean vehicles on county streets. The biofuel vehicles burn diesel with 20% added biofuel, and regular testing of their emissions and...