Autoblog

This 192-wheel vehicle is carrying nuclear waste to Utah right now

George Kennedy — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Government/Legal, Safety, Technology, Videos, Work, Specialty

In light of Japan's Fukushima disaster, the future of nuclear power is a topic of debate whenever alternative power sources are discussed. Whether you are for nuclear power or against it, one legacy of this technology will be the great lengths that governments and power companies must go to dispose of the spent fuel and other byproducts.

The San Onofre nuclear power station replaced its steam generator several years ago, but only now is it able to move the old generator to a secure disposal facility. The generator must be moved in four parts. Each section is roughly 50-feet long and 15 feet in diameter and requires a transportation method of epic proportions. The trailer specifically constructed for this move is 400-feet long, nearly 17-feet high and it will take three weeks to make the 830-mile trip from San Onofre to its Utah disposal site.

For safety and security reasons, the route for the trips are undisclosed, though the first leg snakes its way through San Bernadino and Riverside counties. The generator parts will travel at night for minimal traffic, accompanied by California Highway Patrol.

The whole rig weighs in at 700,000 pounds and can only travel at a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour. Though the generator is irradiated, standing next to the rig for an hour will only expose you to the same amount of radiation as a dentist's x-ray.

An official from Southern California Edison says this special package could be the largest load ever to be moved such a distance distance. As our nation's nuclear powerplants age, motorists may see more impressive sights like this in the coming year. In case you don't find one on your nightly commute, check out the video below.

Continue reading This 192-wheel vehicle is carrying nuclear waste to Utah right now

This 192-wheel vehicle is carrying nuclear waste to Utah right now originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Nov 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reputation of electric cars takes a hit in Japan due to tsunami aftermath?

Autoblog Staff — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Etc., Japan

Electric vehicle owners like to think of themselves as green, but that color may be taking on a more glowing, radioactive hue in Japan.

The ecologically friendly reputation of electric cars in Japan is taking a hit since last year's meltdowns of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant have made more people concerned about a primary source of electricity throughout the country, Bloomberg Businessweek reports.

The meltdown - caused my last March's earthquake and ensuing tsunami - created a 12-mile radius around Fukushima where people are barred because of radiation issues. Before last year's disaster, the Japanese government planned on having nuclear power eventually supply half of the country's electricity, up from a third, but those plans have been put on hold.

Nissan, which has said it expects to sell 1.5 million electric vehicles around the world by 2015, has sold just 12,000 battery-electric Leafs in Japan since launching the model in 2010, according to the report. There have been positive associations drawn between the EV and its role in the earthquake relief efforts (between the Mitsubishi i and the aftermath, too) and Nissan even touted the way some battery packs that were damaged in the quake survived intact.

Rising gas prices make charging an EV in Japan about 90 percent less expensive than filling a tank. That said, electricity prices may spike expenses stemming from fixing the Fukushima plant increase. The higher cost might be the way EVs could get lumped together with nuclear energy in some consumers' minds.

Reputation of electric cars takes a hit in Japan due to tsunami aftermath? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Apr 2012 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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See how Nissan checks its cars for radiation

Zach Bowman — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 15:59:00 EST

Filed under: Japan, Safety, Videos, Nissan

Nissan radiation testing - Click above to watch video after the jump

Japanese automakers are continuing to test their products for excessive radiation levels as they leave their respective manufacturing facilities and before they're loaded onto container ships for transport. Nissan has released a video detailing the company's radiation check system, which includes monitoring randomly-selected sample group vehicles in three key locations.

Workers measure levels at the vehicles' wheels, the center of the hood and the steering wheel before handing out clean bills of health. So far, all of the company's vehicles have passed without a problem.

Automakers began testing vehicles after the disaster at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant despite the fact that most manufacturing locations are situated well away from the ill-stricken facility. The video after the jump follows a few vehicles (including a 370Z and a GT-R) through the test procedure and onto a transportation vessel in port. Click past the jump to watch the full video for yourself. Thanks for the tip, Stephen!

[Source: Integrity Exports]

Continue reading See how Nissan checks its cars for radiation

See how Nissan checks its cars for radiation originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Japanese automakers will test vehicles for radiation before export

Chris Shunk — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 09:21:00 EST

Filed under: Japan, Safety, Honda, Mazda, Nissan, Toyota

Japan continues to struggle from the effects of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, and one of the biggest issues facing the nation has been the nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant. The facility is now a grade seven nuclear disaster, which puts it on the same scale as the Chernobyl disaster in Russia during the 1980s.

Radiation from the plant has been found in agricultural sources, too, which has prompted 29 countries and regions to suspend or tighten controls on food and dairy products. Bloomberg reports that radiation fears have prompted the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) to begin testing vehicles for radiation prior to shipments at home and abroad. The move follows steps already being taking by Nissan to test all vehicles prior to shipment.

JAMA has mainly decided to perform the radiation checks to calm the nerves of some customers who have asked if their products are still safe, and so far radiation has been negligible. JAMA tells Bloomberg that, at least so far, foreign countries haven't introduced suspensions or strict measures. One container ship was asked to head back to Japan from China after radiation levels of 3.5 microsieverts per hour were detected. The typical X-ray is 100 microsieverts.

[Source: Bloomberg via The Wall Street Journal| Image: AFP/Getty]

Report: Japanese automakers will test vehicles for radiation before export originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 09:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: No radiation danger with cars imported from Japan

Chris Shunk — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: Japan, Honda, Nissan, Toyota

Japan's devastating earthquake and the resulting tsunami has already claimed thousands of lives, but the threat is far from over. The Japanese government is feverishly fighting possible meltdowns of multiple nuclear reactors, and radiation has spiked to dangerous levels in some areas around the compromised facilities. The U.S. government has gone out of its way explaining to us that radiation from these plants won't travel here in anything close to dangerous quantities, but what about the vehicles coming over from Japan?

Inside Line reports that Toyota, Honda and Nissan are working hard to assure car buyers that their products aren't radioactive. Japan's big three each told IL that the vast majority of their plants are nowhere near a nuclear reactor, with the exception of one Nissan engine plant. Nissan Americas communications VP David Reuter told IL that the company "will take all necessary actions to ensure safety."

Toyota communications VP Mike Michels echoed Reuter's statement, adding "vehicles are plastic-wrapped on ships and washed at our processing facilities before shipping to dealers. This is normal procedure." Further, the U.S. government routinely inspects cargo entering the U.S. That includes checking for radiation, and anything else that can harm American citizens.

[Source: Inside Line | Image: Go Takayama/Getty]

Report: No radiation danger with cars imported from Japan originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Hundreds of old nuclear warheads being secretly trucked across US freeways

Zach Bowman — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Safety, Military

It seems that the nation's stockpile of W76 nuclear warheads is due for a tune up. According to The Kitsap Sun, the Navy is moving 1,600 and 1,800 of the warheads from their home at the Kitsap-Bangor Naval Base in Washington State to the Texas panhandle for updating. The 100-kiloton are between 23 and 32 years old, and as such, require updates to their aiming, firing and fusing systems. In order to get those updates, the warheads will have to travel by road in special, unmarked tractor trailers. For obvious reasons, the Navy isn't into sharing the travel itinerary for the warheads, but according to The Kitsap Sun, specially-trained federal agents are tasked with transporting the weapons.

The trucks are forbidden from driving in foul weather, and a host of secure shelters along the way will house the big rigs should the skies turn cloudy. Likewise, the drivers aren't allowed to go for more than 32 hours without sleeping in a real bed, despite the fact that the tractor cabs are sleepers. In addition, the trailers themselves are protected in the event of an accident.

Still, the knowledge that large numbers of nuclear weapons are coursing through the country's interstate system should give us all pause before cutting off that tractor trailer in traffic.

[Source: The Kitsap Sun]

Report: Hundreds of old nuclear warheads being secretly trucked across US freeways originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iran-built Renault Logan gets green light again after political wrangling

Chris Paukert — Thu, 25 May 2006 12:33:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Etc., Government/Legal, Plants/Manufacturing

Pushing aside mounting political pressures, Renault has announced that it will go ahead with plans to build its Logan sedan in Iran as part of a joint venture.

Signed yesterday, the deal had been in doubt for some time-and not because of the nation's controversial nuclear initiative. As Autoblog reported last month, the future of the French connection was questionable after government officials balked over vehicle export percentages, shutting down production of the bare-bones vehicle.

Renault's original plans called for 250,000 Logans to be produced in Iran beginning in 2008, but that target may be under review.

[Sources: The Peninsula; Renault]

Iran-built Renault Logan gets green light again after political wrangling originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 May 2006 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iran grinds Renault joint-venture to a halt

Chris Paukert — Fri, 21 Apr 2006 11:04:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Government/Legal, Plants/Manufacturing

Iran is putting a crimp in Renault's plans. The French automaker had teamed up with the nation as part of a joint-venture to build the bare-bones Logan (L90), but now finds itself in a bind as authorities in Tehran have nixed the plan, apparently over a disagreement over the export futures of the car.

Renault has pledged to work with the Iranian government to resolve the problems, as some $800-million worth of contracts with local firms hang in the balance, but the future of the vehicle and the jobs involved in its creation are unclear.

In a time where Iran is under increasing pressure from the rest of the world to come clean about its nuclear efforts, this development threatens to further harm the controversial country's standing in global commerce circles.

[Sources: Motoring.co.za; Renault]

Iran grinds Renault joint-venture to a halt originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Apr 2006 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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