Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Speed bumps are bad for the planet]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/27/speed-bumps-are-bad-for-the-planet/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/27/speed-bumps-are-bad-for-the-planet/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/27/speed-bumps-are-bad-for-the-planet/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Britain's Automobile Association has found another bump in the road to environmental kindness: speed bumps and really low speed limits. They took a car that got 58-mpg running a constant 30-MPH, and ran it over speedbumps at the Millbrook Proving Ground, slowing down and speeding up for each bump. What they discovered was that mileage dropped to 31-mpg and carbon dioxide emissions went up. The findings correlate with those of the country's Transport Research Laboratory, which reported that "carbon monoxide emissions are increased by as much as 82% and nitrous oxide levels by 37% on roads with speed bumps."

The AA also found that setting the speed limit at 20-MPH instead of 30-MPH raised car emissions and consumption by 10-percent. Along with the speed bump results, these are intriguing findings, but in the real world, how long do you spend each day driving over speed bumps, and driving 20-MPH? The AA says that it knows speeds need to be kept down on residential roads to keep children safe, but thinks that "average speed cameras" would be more acceptable to the driving public. Based on the comments we get at Autoblog about speed cameras, we doubt it.

[Source: Channel 4]

Speed bumps are bad for the planet originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>britaincarbon dioxideCarbonDioxideemissionsenvironmentgreenspeed bumpsspeed humpsSpeedBumpsSpeedHumpsukSun, 27 Jan 2008 14:35:00 EST<![CDATA[California set to sue EPA next week]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/21/california-set-to-sue-epa-next-week/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/21/california-set-to-sue-epa-next-week/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/21/california-set-to-sue-epa-next-week/#commentsFiled under: ,

EPA standards govern vehicle emissions such as NOx and hydrocarbons. They are byproducts of combustion that can be balanced with engine tuning, such as ignition timing and fuel delivery. They can also be reduced through devices such as catalytic converters. Catalytic converters cause a chemical reaction that converts carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons into carbon dioxide and water. However, earlier this year the EPA won a Supreme Court ruling adding carbon dioxide to the list of regulatory greenhouse gases. The EPA is working on legislation to update its regulations due to this ruling, but there are some impatient states.

California is awaiting a waiver from the EPA so that it can put its own emissions standards into effect. Next week, California plans to file suit against the EPA to force a decision. California needs the waiver to introduce regulations reducing vehicle greenhouse gas emissions 30 percent by 2016. Despite opposition from automakers, a Vermont judge already upheld the state's adoption of California's tight standards. This is expected to come into play during California's suit against the EPA.

The results of this ruling will have a major impact on automakers. Already, manufacturers create some differing models to meet California standards and many diesels are not sold in California at all. Tighter regulations could see large SUV and truck sales eliminated from California along with all the states that adopt their regulations. Ultimately it could mean an enormous cost to automakers that the consumers will feel in the long run.

[Source: Detroit News, photo by David McNew/Getty]

California set to sue EPA next week originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 21 Oct 2007 08:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CaliforniaCarbon DioxideCarbonDioxideEPAexpire-images:2008-10-20VermontSun, 21 Oct 2007 08:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Porsche Cayenne, Panamera getting hybrid power]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/02/porsche-cayenne-panamera-getting-hybrid-power/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/02/porsche-cayenne-panamera-getting-hybrid-power/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/02/porsche-cayenne-panamera-getting-hybrid-power/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Automakers and legislators in Europe are tightening the screws on CO2 emissions, and Porsche may turn to hybrid powertrains for the Cayenne and Panamera to meet a proposed 130 gram per kilometer limit. Bosch and Audi are reported partners in the effort to bring a gasoline/electric system to the Cayenne before 2010, with the Panamera falling in line, as well. While hybrid technology is typically used to boost fuel economy, the V8 and large vehicle size of the Porsche models are anathema to the studied aero shape of the Insight or Prius, and we doubt that Porsche has misgivings about the unbelievably strong torque delivery of an electric motor. You'll still be able to rocket around in your Wessiach thumper, but Porsche has got its eye on that 130g/kg CO2 target. If it becomes mandatory, the hybrid powertrain is a good hedge at being ready. In the meantime, Porsche is promoting a percentage reduction in CO2, rather than a blanket number for all vehicles.

[Source: Car]

Porsche Cayenne, Panamera getting hybrid power originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Jul 2007 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbon dioxideCarbonDioxidecayenneco2emissionseuropegreenhybridpanameraporscheturboMon, 02 Jul 2007 17:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Supreme court says EPA can regulate greenhouse gases]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/03/supreme-court-says-epa-can-regulate-greenhouse-gases/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/03/supreme-court-says-epa-can-regulate-greenhouse-gases/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/03/supreme-court-says-epa-can-regulate-greenhouse-gases/#commentsFiled under: ,

Admittedly, we're a little late to the party on this one, but thankfully, our greener sibling site was on top of things when the Supreme Court made an important ruling yesterday regarding the Environmental Protection Agency's enforcement of the Clean Air Act.

The ruling revolves around the regulation of carbon dioxide, classifying it as a pollutant and, more specifically, a greenhouse gas. Considering that this is the first case involving global warming, the 5-4 ruling was a major blow to the current administration's opposition of mandatory controls on emissions.

Some of the quotes from the court are worth a read (click here for AutoblogGreen's post), but in the end, it's not the court's place to make regulations, only uphold them. As such, the EPA has to make changes to the existing law and/or uphold current regulations. However, don't expect anything to change until later this decade, if and when the Executive Branch has a shift in its policy towards global climate change.

[Source: Reuters via AutoblogGreen]

Supreme court says EPA can regulate greenhouse gases originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Apr 2007 08:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adminstrationbushcarbon dioxideCarbonDioxideclean air actCleanAirActenvironmental protection agencyEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyepasupreme courtSupremeCourtTue, 03 Apr 2007 08:35:00 EST<![CDATA[U.S. Supreme Court to consider government's role in CO2 regulation]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/26/u-s-supreme-court-to-consider-governments-role-in-co2-regulati/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/26/u-s-supreme-court-to-consider-governments-role-in-co2-regulati/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/26/u-s-supreme-court-to-consider-governments-role-in-co2-regulati/#commentsFiled under:

The Supreme Court announced Monday that it has agreed to hear an appeal filed by a number of states, cities and environmental groups hoping to force the federal government to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maintains that it cannot regulate CO2 emissions because the Clean Air Act does not give it the authority to do so. An appeals court ruling last year upheld the EPA position.

The appeal involves Baltimore, New York City and Washington, D.C., along with California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. The group's request for a Supreme Court ruling was opposed by the Bush administration, ten other states and a group representing electricity generating companies.

The case will be heard later this year.

[Source: Reuters]

U.S. Supreme Court to consider government's role in CO2 regulation originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jun 2006 14:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto emissionscarbon dioxideco2emissionsenvironmental protection agencyepagreenhouse gassupreme courttailpipe emissionsMon, 26 Jun 2006 14:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford to announce "Greener Miles" environmental program]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/27/ford-to-announce-greener-miles-environmental-program/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/27/ford-to-announce-greener-miles-environmental-program/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/27/ford-to-announce-greener-miles-environmental-program/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

According to Reuters, Ford Motor Co. is set to announce a new program that will enable customers to invest in clean energy projects to offset the carbon dioxide they produce by driving. The "Greener Miles" program is a partnership between Ford and California group TerraPass, an organization that has pioneered carbon offsets for individuals.

Preliminary information about Ford's Greener Miles program is available at the TerraPass website here. According to Reuters, Ford customers' contributions - ranging from $29.95 to $79.95 a year - will be invested in U.S. projects  that counterbalance the carbon dioxide they produce through driving, including wind energy farms. Ford already uses carbon offsets to balance the emissions created during the manufacturing of its hybrids.

Consumers who participate in the program receive a windshield sticker verifying that they have offset the carbon dioxide produced by their vehicle. The TerraPass program is available to owners of any vehicle, not just vehicles in the Blue Oval fold. To see how much carbon dioxide your vehicle pumps out in a year, check out their handy calculator widget here.

[Sources: Reuters UK, TerraPass]




Ford to announce "Greener Miles" environmental program originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Apr 2006 10:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbon dioxidecarbon offsetgreen milegreen milesgreener milesGreenerMilesGreenMileterrapassThu, 27 Apr 2006 10:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Fox News commentator: Ford's 'Green strategy' a mistake]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/27/fox-news-commentatory-fords-green-strategy-a-mistake/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/27/fox-news-commentatory-fords-green-strategy-a-mistake/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/27/fox-news-commentatory-fords-green-strategy-a-mistake/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

On Fox News, Steven Milloy writes about the backlash suffered by Ford CEO Bill Ford, Jr. at the hands of various environmental groups. The organisations have expressed their displeasure by pointing out that the Blue Oval still produces too much pollution from its manufacturing ("more heat-trapping pollution into our skies each year than the entire country of Mexico"); continues to produce gas-guzzling SUVs; and argues that the automaker opposes proposed California legislation requiring reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by 2016. The ridicule climaxes adjacent to the pictured ad in the New York Times.

However, Milloy takes issue with the criticism, pointing to what he considers the fallacies of the groups' talking points. But he reserves the bulk of his ire for Ford himself, who he believes is too 'occupied' trying to appeal to the environmental groups, even when such overtures threaten the company's bottom line. For example, Milloy points out that according to the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, complying with the California law may reduce CO emissions by a 'minuscule' amount while raising vehicle costs by thousands of dollars.

Specific details can be found at the link. When you come back, fire off in Comments.

[Source: Fox News.com]

Fox News commentator: Ford's 'Green strategy' a mistake originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Mar 2006 07:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbon dioxidecarsenvironmentgreenhouse effectmanufacturingOpinionpollutionsuvsMon, 27 Mar 2006 07:24:00 EST