AutoblogGreen http://green.autoblog.com AutoblogGreen http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif AutoblogGreen http://green.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid and Dan RothThe podcast by the people who obsessively cover the auto industry.<![CDATA[DOJ, Arkansas suing ExxonMobil over crude oil spill]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/06/14/doj-arkansas-suing-exxonmobil-over-crude-oil-spill/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/06/14/doj-arkansas-suing-exxonmobil-over-crude-oil-spill/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/06/14/doj-arkansas-suing-exxonmobil-over-crude-oil-spill/#commentsFiled under: , ,

mayflower crude oil spill

Earlier this year, an ExxonMobil pipeline oil spill dumped around 5,000 barrels of heavy crude oil in suburban Mayflower, AR. It was a mess, and prompted a discussion about oil pipelines in the US, most notably the controversial Keystone XL pipeline. Yesterday, the US Department of Justice and the state of Arkansas filed a joint lawsuit against the oil company over the spill, claiming Exxon violated state pollution laws, according to Reuters. ExxonMobil declined to comment on the matter to Reuters, saying it needed

Reading the joint complaint (PDF), the DOJ and Arkansas allege that there was an "unlawful discharge of heavy crude oil" from the 850-mile Pegasus Pipeline, which was first built in the 1940s and runs from Illinois to Texas. It usually transports 95,000 barrels of heavy Canadian crude oil per day, but have been closed since the spill.

The spilled oil "caused and continues to cause pollution to waters of the State," the complaint says, and the parts that ExxonMobil was supposed to have cleaned up remain a mess. The state and the DOJ are seeking civil penalties of "$1,100 per barrel discharged ... or if the violation is the result of gross negligence or willful misconduct, no more than $4,300 per barrel discharged," among other fines. You can see a video of the spill below.

Continue reading DOJ, Arkansas suing ExxonMobil over crude oil spill

DOJ, Arkansas suing ExxonMobil over crude oil spill originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 14 Jun 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>exxonmobilkeystone xl pipelinemayfloweroil spillpipelineFri, 14 Jun 2013 18:00:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20622329/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20622329/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/06/14/doj-arkansas-suing-exxonmobil-over-crude-oil-spill/20622329/article-detail.xml 20622329 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/mayflower-ar-exxonmobil-oil-spill_thumbnail.png http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/mayflower-ar-exxonmobil-oil-spill.png <![CDATA[PlugWiz calculator shows financial benefits of driving electric]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/06/13/plugwiz-calculator-shows-financial-benefits-of-driving-electric/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/06/13/plugwiz-calculator-shows-financial-benefits-of-driving-electric/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/06/13/plugwiz-calculator-shows-financial-benefits-of-driving-electric/#commentsFiled under: ,

old style cash register

plugwizThe number of online calculators that can help plug-in drivers discover cost-to-drive savings compared to gasoline vehicles continues to grow. Yesterday, the EPA announced the eGallon device, which gives a broad overview of gas vs. electricity costs. Another new entrant is the more customizable Plugwiz, which promises to let you "discover the true costs of an electric vehicle."

The reason for that "true cost" line is because you can input all sorts of variables into Plugwiz - the plug-in vehicle make and model, what kind of charger you have at home, when you plan to charge, your gas car's mpg and more. Once you feed all the details in, Plugwiz will tell you how much you can save per month.

As cool as it is, Plugwiz would like some of your personal information (your email, but it doesn't require it), and it doesn't automatically draw down data on local average gas prices - which would be a nice feature - but there's still a lot of real usefulness here, especially since it can talk to your utility about price rates. You just input how much you pay a month for the calculator to make a comparison. A short statement from Plugwiz is available below.

Plugwiz is available on the California PEV Collaborative website. How much do/would you save?

Continue reading PlugWiz calculator shows financial benefits of driving electric

PlugWiz calculator shows financial benefits of driving electric originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 13 Jun 2013 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>california pev collaborativecost calculatorelectric vehicleplug-in hybridplugwizThu, 13 Jun 2013 07:57:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20604757/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20604757/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/06/13/plugwiz-calculator-shows-financial-benefits-of-driving-electric/20604757/article-detail.xml 20604757 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/old-style-cash-register_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/old-style-cash-register.jpg <![CDATA[Quirky Kurbwatt electric postal van from 1980s surfaces on eBay]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/06/01/quirky-kurbwatt-electric-postal-van-from-1980s-surfaces-on-ebay/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/06/01/quirky-kurbwatt-electric-postal-van-from-1980s-surfaces-on-ebay/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/06/01/quirky-kurbwatt-electric-postal-van-from-1980s-surfaces-on-ebay/#commentsFiled under: ,

Kurbwatt Electric Postal Van eBay listing

Here's a tough sell on eBay: an old electric postal delivery van that only gets eight miles of range. It could go up to 40 miles on a charge, but that would cost about $1,600 for a new battery on top of the $2,400 asking price.

The vehicle up for discussion is a Kurbwatt electric van, which runs on 14 six-volt, deep-cycle batteries that take all night to recharge at 220 volts. Its top speed is 55 miles per hour. Oh, and there's one more thing to consider: steering is on the right side and shifting is done with the left hand.

The seller's sons used to use the Kurbwatt to commute to high school - an 11-mile drive each way. They made this trip every day for years and found it to be reliable and required little maintenance. The kids also used the van to haul their rock and roll band gear - drums, amps, keyboards and guitars. The van also features an ancient swappable battery pack, which should make upgrading the pack easier than if it was all built in.

Originally built by Grumman, this Kurbwatt is one of 50 electric vans sold to the US Postal Service in Cupertino, CA, during the 1980s. There are three days left to bid, if a project car like this is up your alley.

Quirky Kurbwatt electric postal van from 1980s surfaces on eBay originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 01 Jun 2013 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ebayelectric vanelectric vehiclesgrumman kurbwattkurbwattpostal delivery vanus postal serviceuspsSat, 01 Jun 2013 15:55:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20592245/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20592245/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/06/01/quirky-kurbwatt-electric-postal-van-from-1980s-surfaces-on-ebay/20592245/article-detail.xml 20592245 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/grumman-kurbwatt-electric-postal-delivery-van_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/grumman-kurbwatt-electric-postal-delivery-van.jpg <![CDATA[Is peak oil never going to happen?]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/21/is-peak-oil-never-going-to-happen/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/21/is-peak-oil-never-going-to-happen/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/21/is-peak-oil-never-going-to-happen/#commentsFiled under: ,



You can make a coherent, logical argument for cars that don't burn gasoline without once mentioning global petroleum supply. You can talk about international relations and the power of gasoline exporters (just read the first three paragraphs of this for a bit of history). You can talk about climate change. You can talk about the health effects of CO2 in the air. But the fact remains that gasoline (or diesel) remains the go-to fuel for almost every passenger vehicle on the planet, so the question of how much black gold is out there is an important one. The answer, though is not so clear.

Despite some claims that peak out has already happened, a new study (PDF) by the International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that increased energy production in North America means that, between now and 2018, global oil production capacity will increase by 8.4 million barrels a day. Since this is "significantly faster than demand," Time says peak oil is dead, with perilous consequences. As the chart above shows, the IEA's predictions are that OPEC will have spare capacity for years to come.

On top of North American production, crazy new energy sources are being investigated (like methane hydrate, or crystalline natural gas. See video below). These require incredibly expensive research and exploration efforts, but the end result could be, as The Atlantic so provocatively puts it, "infinite fossil fuel?" The magazine has a detailed debate on the subject between Charles Mann and Amory Lovins here, here and here. Well worth reading.

Continue reading Is peak oil never going to happen?

Is peak oil never going to happen? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 21 May 2013 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gasolinemethane hydratespeak oilpetroleumTue, 21 May 2013 12:33:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20578124/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20578124/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/21/is-peak-oil-never-going-to-happen/20578124/article-detail.xml 20578124 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/medium-term-oil-market-balance_thumbnail.png http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/medium-term-oil-market-balance.png <![CDATA[Idaho has highest percentage of transportation-related emissions]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/idaho-has-highest-percentage-of-transportation-related-emissions/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/idaho-has-highest-percentage-of-transportation-related-emissions/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/idaho-has-highest-percentage-of-transportation-related-emissions/#commentsFiled under:



Is there a plethora of big rigs in the Gem State? Results of a US Energy Information Administration (EIA) report tracking state-by-state energy-related carbon dioxide emission makes that question worth asking, as Idaho was the state with the highest percentage of emissions stemming from the transportation sector.

A whopping 58 percent of the Spud State's energy-related emissions in 2010 (the most recent year tracked) came solely from transportation, narrowly beating out California, New Jersey and Oregon in that department. On the other end of the spectrum, just 13 percent of North Dakota's energy-related emissions came from transportation, while Indiana checked in at 19 percent. Click here (PDF) for the 21-page EIA report.

Naturally (or not so naturally, in this case), California in 2010 had both the largest amount of transportation-related emissions (Texas was a close second) and most total energy-related emissions, belching 370 million metric tons of CO2 into the golden sky. Optimists will point out that that figure is down 11 percent from a decade earlier. So we have that going for us.

Idaho has highest percentage of transportation-related emissions originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 16 May 2013 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>californiaco2emissionsenergy information administrationidahoThu, 16 May 2013 08:02:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20569285/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20569285/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/16/idaho-has-highest-percentage-of-transportation-related-emissions/20569285/article-detail.xml 20569285 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/welcome-to-idaho-sign_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/welcome-to-idaho-sign.jpg <![CDATA[Ram 2500 Power Wagon commercial shoot ends with truck spending night in ocean]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/02/ram-2500-power-wagon-commercial-shoot-ends-with-truck-spending-n/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/02/ram-2500-power-wagon-commercial-shoot-ends-with-truck-spending-n/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/02/ram-2500-power-wagon-commercial-shoot-ends-with-truck-spending-n/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ram 2500 Power Wagon stuck in the ocean

It's pretty by the ocean. So pretty that it feels like 80 percent of all car commercials are filmed on winding coastal roads (another 80 percent are filmed on mountains and another 80 on mysteriously car-free roads elsewhere). It's particularly pretty in Humboldt County, California, which the USDA has named "America's Most Scenic Rural County." So, it makes sense that you'd want to film a Ram truck commercial there. What doesn't make sense is getting that truck stuck in the tidepools, overnight, then submerged as the ocean came rolling in.

"Whether they knew they were out of the boundaries or not I do not know."

But that's exactly what happened to a crew trying to film an ad for a Ram 2500 Power Wagon yesterday. As reported in the Lost Coast Outpost, the truck was being shot on Luffenholtz Beach near Moonstone Beach. Humboldt County Film Commission commissioner Cassandra Hesseltine told AutoblogGreen that, from what she knows, the crew was permitted to be there, but in a different area and they went out of the boundary. "Whether they knew they were out of the boundaries or not I do not know," she said. A local wrote into Lost Coast Outpost to say that off-road vehicles are always forbidden on the specific area of the beach where the truck spent the night in the ocean, because of endangered species that live there.

In any case, the truck was eventually towed today and local environmental services and hazmat crews checked out the scene and, based on what Hesseltine was told, there was, "no environmental damage from liquids leaking out" and she was not aware of any damage to the rocks or ground. Part of the reason there were no leaked liquids, she said, was that this was a brand new truck, with many engine components sealed.

Jennifer Savage, from the local Humboldt Surfrider foundation, told AutoblogGreen that she is extremely dismayed by the film crew's lack of foresight. "It's easy to imagine," she said. "They were driving the truck on the beach, they wanted it to look cool, so they put it on the rocks, and they blew it. The word 'idiots' has been thrown around here a lot today."

Savage said that, after a visit to the site once the truck was pulled out, "At a glance, it does not appear a lot of damage was done, but I'm not a scientist. Still, it's pretty disrespectful. I have a truck, and I don't drive there." She said the incident shows a lack of respect for the beach and that Surfrider will follow up to see if any damage was done.

Hesseltine said this is the first time something like this has happened and that the film commission "prides itself on taking responsibility for environmental concerns. We do not take this [truck issue] lightly. We're happy to know that environmental services has said there is no impact as far as fluids go. We usually do really well taking care of our precious resources." For example, the new Will Smith movie After Earth was shot in Humboldt, and the crews were required to be extremely careful while filming among the redwood trees. "They had to be very careful," she said, "and they were."

Continue reading Ram 2500 Power Wagon commercial shoot ends with truck spending night in ocean

Ram 2500 Power Wagon commercial shoot ends with truck spending night in ocean originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 02 May 2013 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adcommercialdodgehumboldthumboldt film commissionram 2500 power wagonsurfriderThu, 02 May 2013 18:45:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20556424/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20556424/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/02/ram-2500-power-wagon-commercial-shoot-ends-with-truck-spending-n/20556424/article-detail.xml 20556424 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/dodge-ocean-stuck-commercial_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/dodge-ocean-stuck-commercial.jpg <![CDATA[EPA says US air is getting cleaner, GHG emissions dropped 1.6% in 2011]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/17/epa-says-us-air-getting-cleaner/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/17/epa-says-us-air-getting-cleaner/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/17/epa-says-us-air-getting-cleaner/#commentsFiled under: ,


Transportation is not solely responsible for the mess of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the air, but our cars and trucks (and ships, trains, and planes) were the second-biggest factor in GHG in the US in 2011. The good news is that overall emissions are on the decline, dropping 1.6 percent in 2011 (the latest figures available) compared to 2010. Overall GHG emissions in 2011 were the equivalent of 6,702 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in the air. It's been over 6,000 every year since at least 1990.

The numbers come from the 18th Annual US Greenhouse Gas Inventory, which shows that the annual emissions in 2011 were 6.9 percent below 2005 levels. GHG are made up of carbon dioxide (84 percent), methane (9), nitrous oxide (5) and flourinated gases (2).

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), electricity was the number one contributor in 2011, responsible for 33 percent of GHG, followed by transportation at 28 percent. The rest of the pie chart is made up of industry (20 percent), commercial and residential (11) and agriculture (8). Within the transportation category, the EPA says GHG come primarily "from burning fossil fuel for our cars, trucks, ships, trains, and planes. Over 90% of the fuel used for transportation is petroleum based, which includes gasoline and diesel." Which makes sense, then, that cleaner vehicles and fewer miles traveled helped reduce the impact of our vehicles on the air we breathe.

Continue reading EPA says US air is getting cleaner, GHG emissions dropped 1.6% in 2011

EPA says US air is getting cleaner, GHG emissions dropped 1.6% in 2011 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 17 Apr 2013 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>air qualityemissionsenvironmental protection agencyepaghggreenhouse gasesusWed, 17 Apr 2013 07:59:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20542206/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20542206/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/17/epa-says-us-air-getting-cleaner/20542206/article-detail.xml 20542206 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/us-greenhouse-gas-emissions_thumbnail.png http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/us-greenhouse-gas-emissions.png <![CDATA[Your car's exhaust can cause, not just trigger, kids' asthma]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/26/your-cars-exhaust-can-cause-not-just-trigger-kids-asthma/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/26/your-cars-exhaust-can-cause-not-just-trigger-kids-asthma/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/26/your-cars-exhaust-can-cause-not-just-trigger-kids-asthma/#commentsFiled under: ,

car exhaust

Stick your head too close to an old car's exhaust, and we're willing to be dollars to donuts that you'll start coughing. It turns out that vehicle exhaust isn't just bad for you until the air clears. All that nastiness has a serious long-term effect, and can even cause asthma in children.

That's the finding of researchers in Europe, who studied children in 10 cities and recently published their findings in the European Respiratory Journal. In fact, as much as 14 percent of all asthma cases are being blamed on traffic exhaust. This makes car exhaust more harmful than previously thought, since previous research stated that traffic simply made already-existing asthma cases worse.

What happens now is, well, who knows. Last year, the World Health Organization found that diesel fumes causes cancer, but as best we can tell, there haven't been any big new regulations issued because of that finding. The story is becoming clearer, though: the sooner we eliminate dirty vehicles from the environment, the healthier we'll be.

Your car's exhaust can cause, not just trigger, kids' asthma originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 26 Mar 2013 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asthmacar emissionscar exhaustchildhood asthmaemissionseuropean respiratory journalexhaustpollutionTue, 26 Mar 2013 16:31:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20517666/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20517666/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/26/your-cars-exhaust-can-cause-not-just-trigger-kids-asthma/20517666/article-detail.xml 20517666 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/car-exhaust_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/car-exhaust.jpg <![CDATA[Teslaccessories will make after-market products for the select few]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/22/teslaccessories-will-make-after-market-products-for-the-select-f/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/22/teslaccessories-will-make-after-market-products-for-the-select-f/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/22/teslaccessories-will-make-after-market-products-for-the-select-f/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Tesla center console insert CCI

Leave it to a maker of Tesla after-market products to generate a waiting list for a cup holder. Florida-based Teslaccessories is entering the extremely nascent Tesla after-market product industry with just one product: a center console insert for the Model S. Or CCI for those in the know.

With stitched leather and carbon composite components, the CCI not only offers storage but a place to set down a champagne glass for those who want to toast their good fortune (no, we don't advise doing this while driving).

The console insert reflects "a design that maintains Tesla's low profile minimalist approach and adopts the shapes and curves that exist throughout the Model S interior," Teslaccessories says on its website. So far, no price is listed for the CCI, but prospective buyers can, in true Tesla fashion, put their names on a waiting list.

Cheers.

Teslaccessories will make after-market products for the select few originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 22 Mar 2013 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>after marketccicenter console insertcup holderelectric vehicleevteslatesla model steslaccessoriesFri, 22 Mar 2013 10:01:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20514319/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20514319/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/22/teslaccessories-will-make-after-market-products-for-the-select-f/20514319/article-detail.xml 20514319 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/teslaholder_thumbnail.png http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/teslaholder.png <![CDATA[Like Jeep, Fisker Twitter account briefly hacked, offers way to lose body fat]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/20/fisker-twitter-hacked-body-fat-jeep/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/20/fisker-twitter-hacked-body-fat-jeep/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/20/fisker-twitter-hacked-body-fat-jeep/#commentsFiled under: , ,

fisker logo

In the overall scheme of things, having your Twitter account hacked isn't as bad as a flood or a fire. So, perhaps the "The Fastest Way To Lose BodyFat in (2)Weeks" tweet that Fisker Automotive sent out today isn't going to cause anyone to lose sleep, especially since it was almost instantly fixed. Not long after the body fat tweet went out, someone at Fisker took charge and wrote: "We know that the fans and followers of Fiskerauto don't need to lose weight... Disregard our last tweet as we were hacked like other OEMS."

Roger Ormisher, Fisker's senior director of global corporate communications & PR, told AutoblogGreen, "We became aware of the offending tweet in less than 30 minutes and promptly posted an apology. No information was taken and we will continue to monitor and our Social Media channels closely."

This is the latest in a string of high-profile Twitter hacks, including attacks against Jeep and Burger King. In those events, the hackers mucked around with background images and sent out some profane tweets. At least the Fisker hacker kept it clean, which is fitting.

Like Jeep, Fisker Twitter account briefly hacked, offers way to lose body fat originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 20 Feb 2013 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric vehiclefiskerhackspamtweettwitterWed, 20 Feb 2013 19:45:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20469963/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20469963/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/20/fisker-twitter-hacked-body-fat-jeep/20469963/article-detail.xml 20469963 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/fisker-logo-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/fisker-logo-628.jpg <![CDATA["World's greenest" Chevy Silverado now ready to order]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/15/worlds-greenest-chevy-silverado-now-ready-to-order/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/15/worlds-greenest-chevy-silverado-now-ready-to-order/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/15/worlds-greenest-chevy-silverado-now-ready-to-order/#commentsFiled under: ,

2014 chevrolet silverado model

Doesn't the idea of a big truck that doesn't use gas, is biodegradable and is 100-percent recyclable sound appealing? The group trying to get you to own one even says, "You can tell all your environmentalist friends that you just happen to have the world's greenest Chevy Silverado." Except, well, the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado in question here is made of paper. It's a pretty sweet model, but it's not exactly the zero-emission truck we've been hoping for.

Still, if you'd like to build a detailed toy truck model with nothing but a piece of heavy paper and lots of red ink, head on over to GM Parts Super Store and download the PDF. The site asks for your email address, but you don't need to fill that part in to get the PDF. You can see a time-lapse video below of someone building the truck and in the video you can also see paper models of the Toyota FJ Cruiser, Jeep Mighty FC concept and the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited.

Yes, big, boxy vehicles make the best models over at Paper Cruiser, it appears. As for the Silverado, word is, "As of February 2013, this paper version of the 2014 Silverado is probably as close as you're going to get to the real thing. Might as well enjoy it." If you do build one, feel free to share pics with us on Facebook.

Continue reading "World's greenest" Chevy Silverado now ready to order

"World's greenest" Chevy Silverado now ready to order originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 15 Feb 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 chevrolet silveradochevroletpaper modelpapercruisersilveradozero emissionFri, 15 Feb 2013 11:30:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20462442/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20462442/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/15/worlds-greenest-chevy-silverado-now-ready-to-order/20462442/article-detail.xml 20462442 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/paper-silverado-left-front-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/paper-silverado-left-front-628.jpg <![CDATA[Elon Musk ready to help Boeing with 787 Dreamliner lithium-ion battery problems]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/29/elon-musk-ready-to-help-boeing-with-787-dreamliner-lithium-ion-b/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/29/elon-musk-ready-to-help-boeing-with-787-dreamliner-lithium-ion-b/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/29/elon-musk-ready-to-help-boeing-with-787-dreamliner-lithium-ion-b/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Boeing 787 Dreamliner battery fire

Boeing 787 Dreamliner battery fireWith keywords like lithium-ion batteries, "thermal runaway" and Elon Musk, had we not read any further, we would have figured this story was some disastrous news about Tesla Motors. Instead, it's about airplanes. Specifically, Boeing's new Dreamliner.

The small fleet of 50 Dreamliners that are currently in service was recently grounded following two incidents involving the plane's unique li-ion battery system, including one in-air fire. After that happened, Musk tweeted about the battery situation that, "Maybe already under control, but Tesla & SpaceX are happy to help with the 787 lithium ion batteries." He then said he was in communication with the 787's chief engineer.

Now, the batteries in the Dreamliner and those in Tesla's electric vehicles are not the same, but Musk does have some experience sending carefully packaged lithium-ion cells into the sky with his SpaceX company. As he told Reuters in an email, "We fly high capacity lithium ion battery packs in our rockets and spacecraft, which are subject to much higher loads than commercial aircraft and have to function all the way from sea level air pressure to vacuum. We have never had a fire in any production battery pack at either Tesla or SpaceX."

The US National Transportation Safety Board continues to investigate the cause of the Dreamliner battery incidents. The Federal Aviation Administration is involved as well.

Elon Musk ready to help Boeing with 787 Dreamliner lithium-ion battery problems originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 29 Jan 2013 11:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boeingdreamlinerelectric vehicleelon muskli-ionlithium-ionlithium-ion batteriesspacexTue, 29 Jan 2013 11:48:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20441983/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20441983/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/29/elon-musk-ready-to-help-boeing-with-787-dreamliner-lithium-ion-b/20441983/article-detail.xml 20441983 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/boeing-dreamliner-787-difficulties_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/boeing-dreamliner-787-difficulties.jpg <![CDATA[Elon Musk: "I am not the kale eating overlord of Mars"]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/15/elon-musk-i-am-not-the-kale-eating-overlord-of-mars/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/15/elon-musk-i-am-not-the-kale-eating-overlord-of-mars/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/15/elon-musk-i-am-not-the-kale-eating-overlord-of-mars/#commentsFiled under: , ,

elon musk

Elon Musk, Tesla CEO and chief designer of space exploration technologies for SpaceX, had a lighthearted umbrage moment with an affront made on him and his space travel company, recently. It wasn't really the request made by animal rights group PETA that SpaceX trips to Mars only offer passengers vegan meals, it was how writer Amy Tennery ended her article with a quick side note: "unless Elon Musk were some kind of benevolent, kale-eating overlord of Mars, how exactly would he enforce this rule?" Musk joked on Twitter: "Also, I am not the kale eating overlord of Mars (altho kale has its moments)." His Twitter followers responded with support, such as cardoso's posting: "Thank you Oh Mighty Emperor of Mars Steaks!"

By now, you may be wondering how this possibly happened. Well, a press representative at PETA had sent The Jane Doe staff an open letter written to SpaceX founder Elon Musk. The well-publicized launch of the SpaceX Dragon capsule last year, and Musk's claim SpaceX would make it to Mars by 2018, got PETA thinking: "The opportunity to colonize Mars means a chance to make a fresh start, especially now that we've degraded our own planet by treating our fellow animals like disposable widgets, filled the air with pollution that will soon make the sky in 'Soylent Green' look clear, and populated the Earth with so many humans that the premise of 'Logan's Run' starts to look practical," the letter said

PETA thinks that serving vegan food to Mars colonists traveling to their new home, and leaving behind decimated planet Earth, means they might very well commit to enjoying an animal-free diet once they've arrived. We'd like to remind PETA about the 1972 film Silent Running, where space traveler Bruce Dern struggles to save the very last living vegetation from a destroyed planet Earth. Even vegan food might not be the easiest to come by in the future.

Elon Musk: "I am not the kale eating overlord of Mars" originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 15 Jan 2013 19:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric vehicleelon muskmars landingpetaspacexteslatwitterveganTue, 15 Jan 2013 19:36:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20428537/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20428537/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/15/elon-musk-i-am-not-the-kale-eating-overlord-of-mars/20428537/article-detail.xml 20428537 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/elon-musk-occupy-mars_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/elon-musk-occupy-mars.jpg <![CDATA[Toyota Fun Vii rainbow concept pops up on Facebook, has wireless charging]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/26/toyota-fun-vii-rainbow-concept-pops-up-on-facebook-has-wireless/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/26/toyota-fun-vii-rainbow-concept-pops-up-on-facebook-has-wireless/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/26/toyota-fun-vii-rainbow-concept-pops-up-on-facebook-has-wireless/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



toyota fun vii wireless chargingWithout much fanfare, Toyota recently updated its Facebook cover photo with the odd-looking, rainbow-colored vehicle (is that the right word here?) you see above. It took us a little while to realize that this bright, playful thing is the Fun-Vii concept that was first shown off at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2011. We were so used to seeing the glossy black that this rainbow (and the low-resolution image which made the Fun-Vii logo look more than a little like "FCHV/ii," implying that this was a wildly different update to the FCHV (fuel cell hybrid vehicle) and FCHV-adv models that Toyota has been testing for years. Those vehicles put a hydrogen fuel powertrain into the body of a Highlander SUV. The vehicle pictured above is, shall we say, not a Highlander.

Once we figured out that this was, indeed, the Fun-Vii, it prompted us to go take another look at what is, admittedly, nothing more than a fanciful sketch about what future Toyotas might look like. That's when we realized that, despite Toyota downplaying anything about the Fun-Vii's powertrain in the original press release - the Fun-Vii's focus was the changeable exterior - we discovered that this thing's got wireless charging technology. Turn out, when Toyota dreams in color, it dreams big.

Toyota Fun Vii rainbow concept pops up on Facebook, has wireless charging originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 26 Dec 2012 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric vehiclefacebookfun-viitoyotawireless chargingWed, 26 Dec 2012 14:02:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20409777/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20409777/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/26/toyota-fun-vii-rainbow-concept-pops-up-on-facebook-has-wireless/20409777/article-detail.xml 20409777 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/toyota-fcev-ii-rainbow-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/toyota-fcev-ii-rainbow-628.jpg <![CDATA[Lexus saves Christmas with its Flying Luxury Cruiser]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/24/lexus-saves-christmas-for-kids-with-its-flying-luxury-cruiser/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/24/lexus-saves-christmas-for-kids-with-its-flying-luxury-cruiser/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/24/lexus-saves-christmas-for-kids-with-its-flying-luxury-cruiser/#commentsFiled under: , ,

lexus flying luxury cruiser lflc

Lexus just announced a previously unheard of - and unthinkable - achievement by an automaker, or any other company for that matter: saving Christmas from being ruined for all the good boys and girls!

According to Lexus, Santa's reindeers bailed out on him to vacation in Hawaii through a last-minute travel deal. Santa contacted Lexus for help through his perception that the luxury carmaker delivers the best customer experience in the industry.

It was such a huge opportunity for Lexus that the company sprang into action. "We couldn't bear the thought of leaving the big guy high and dry. Our elves and engineers are proud to introduce the 'Lexus Flying Luxury Cruiser,' or LFLC for short," said Lexus General Manager Mark Templin in a company press release.

The Lexus Flying Luxury Cruiser has been tricked out with a few sweet features: advanced Lexus Hybrid Drive that gets 800 reindeerpower and creates fewer emissions than even a single reindeer; the safest sleigh ever with Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Advanced Pre-Collision System that keeps grandma from getting run over; Lexus Navigation System with e-Destination to make the trip time efficient to deliver gifts to all the nice children; and a Lexus Enform with a Pandora playlist with all of Santa's favorite tunes.

I have some questions for Santa, which may be answered through the Lexus media representatives or sent to Santa's post office box at the North Pole...
  • How did you choose Lexus over its direct competitors - Mercedes Benz, BMW, Infiniti and Acura? I've heard a few good stories from customers of these brands getting top-of-the-line customer service. Was there a special Santa promotional incentive mailed to the North Pole by Lexus?
  • Are you going to keep the Lexus Flying Luxury Cruiser for next year, in place of the sleigh and reindeer? You don't need reindeers to pull your Lexus, and it could be a violation of the reindeers' union contract and North Pole labor laws.
  • What fuels the Flying Cruiser? Gasoline or diesel? Jet fuel? Eggnog?
  • Lexus claims to offer you a lifetime warranty and 24-Hour Roofside Assistance. Do you and Mrs. Claus buy into that? It seems a bit lofty.
I will be looking out my window this Christmas eve. This, I gotta see!

Continue reading Lexus saves Christmas with its Flying Luxury Cruiser

Lexus saves Christmas with its Flying Luxury Cruiser originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 24 Dec 2012 16:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>christmasflying luxury cruiserholiday seasonlexusluxury carsreindeersantasleighMon, 24 Dec 2012 16:41:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20408585/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20408585/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/24/lexus-saves-christmas-for-kids-with-its-flying-luxury-cruiser/20408585/article-detail.xml 20408585 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/lexus-flying-cruiser_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/lexus-flying-cruiser.jpg <![CDATA[Green Car Journal wants to Kickstart 20th anniversary edition [w/video]]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/10/green-car-journal-kickstarter-20th-anniversary-edition/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/10/green-car-journal-kickstarter-20th-anniversary-edition/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/10/green-car-journal-kickstarter-20th-anniversary-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

The unsurprising green car journal 20th anniversaryfact is, print is more expensive than publishing news online. But when Green Car Journal got started in 1992, Ron Cogan couldn't have envisioned publishing a blog about green cars - the Internet as we know it didn't exist back then. After starting at a time when it took good money to get up and running, Cogan and his team have been putting out a printed magazine for 20 years, and they hope to celebrate with a special 20th anniversary issue early next year. And they'll be doing it in the most newfangled way possible: crowdfunding.

Cogan and his Green Car Institute are running a Kickstarter project (video below) to try and raise funds for the 20th anniversary issue that Cogan says will be something special and "much more than quick soundibites." He says the magazine will feature a combination of long-form journalism, opinion articles, technical presentations and "perspectives from the nation's top environmental groups and efficiency organizations." To put this all together - as we said - costs good money, and it's apparently going to be difficult. After 10 days of an active KS campaign, GCJ has just three pledges totaling $67. The target? $45,000.

Continue reading Green Car Journal wants to Kickstart 20th anniversary edition [w/video]

Green Car Journal wants to Kickstart 20th anniversary edition [w/video] originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 10 Dec 2012 18:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>green car journalkickstarterron coganMon, 10 Dec 2012 18:16:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20398141/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20398141/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/10/green-car-journal-kickstarter-20th-anniversary-edition/20398141/article-detail.xml 20398141 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/green-car-journal-20th-anniversary_thumbnail.png http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/green-car-journal-20th-anniversary.png <![CDATA[Does this <i>Exxon Hates Your Children</i> ad cross the line? [w/poll]]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/07/does-this-exxon-hates-your-children-ad-cross-the-line-w/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/07/does-this-exxon-hates-your-children-ad-cross-the-line-w/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/07/does-this-exxon-hates-your-children-ad-cross-the-line-w/#commentsFiled under: , ,

screen capture from Exxon Hates Your Children ad

Our moms always told us that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. Sometimes, however, if you take that vinegar and mix it with a bit of olive oil and then drizzle it over some thickly-sliced ripe tomatoes adorned with rings of sweet Vidalia onions, and then sprinkle all that with a few pinches of crushed pepper and sea salt, well, you've got yourself a pretty tasty salad. We raise this culinary quandary to ask this: Is it ever okay to say horribly nasty things about people - or, in this case, a company, which is made of people - to make a good point?

Oil Change International has just released a satirical ad called "Exxon Hates your Children" and is seeking donations to have it broadcast on television. The video make the argument that oil conglomerate Exxon couldn't care less about the welfare of (your) children because it is dedicated to making short-term profits in the face of the long-term climate catastrophe that its products have been linked to. The graphics that accompany the ad bolsters the child-hating claim with graphics that connote the association of asthma with air pollution.

Is it all too much or is there just enough seasoning in there to make the message palatable? Can this kind of gut-punch negative ad produce positive results? Of course, it's not likely that the people who run oil companies really hate your children but, at the same time, the health of the planet - and everyone who lives there - is a serious issue. So, what to do? Should individuals support this kind of activism, or are there better, more constructive, alternatives?

Scroll down to watch the ad for yourself and answer the poll that follows. If you have your own ideas about a more productive approach to the problem, feel free to drop some knowledge in Comments.

Continue reading Does this Exxon Hates Your Children ad cross the line? [w/poll]

Does this Exxon Hates Your Children ad cross the line? [w/poll] originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 07 Dec 2012 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>climate changeenvironmental activismexxonexxon hates your childrenglobal warmingoil change internationaloil companiesvideoFri, 07 Dec 2012 19:58:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20395227/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20395227/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/07/does-this-exxon-hates-your-children-ad-cross-the-line-w/20395227/article-detail.xml 20395227 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/exxon-hates-your-children-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/exxon-hates-your-children-628.jpg <![CDATA[Win a Pedego Classic Cruiser electric bike]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/06/win-a-pedego-classic-cruiser-electric-bike/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/06/win-a-pedego-classic-cruiser-electric-bike/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/06/win-a-pedego-classic-cruiser-electric-bike/#commentsFiled under: ,



Our friends at Translogic get to have all the fun, whether that's cruising around on battery-powered skateboards or in solar electric vehicles. Luckily, they are also people who like to share, and are currently offering readers (well, technically, people who "like" them on Facebook) the chance to ride away in a Pedego Classic Cruiser electric bike.

We don't spent too much time (just a little) covering electric bikes here on the Autoblog and AutoblogGreen, but we're certainly big fans. The bicycle is already the most efficient vehicle we know of, and adding a battery - in this case, a 36-volt rechargeable pack - and motor to the package can easily encourage more people to push pedals in circles instead of just up and down, if you get our drift. Plus, the forward-set pedals of a cruiser bike always make us feel like we're headed to the beach, which is impressive for some metal tubes and rubber tires.

If you'd like the Pedego bike for your very own, go ahead and try your luck. There's no cost to enter, other than clicking here and showing Translogic some Facebook attention.

Win a Pedego Classic Cruiser electric bike originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 06 Dec 2012 10:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric vehiclepedegopedego classic cruiserpedego sweepstakessweepstakestranslogicThu, 06 Dec 2012 10:44:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20395439/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20395439/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/06/win-a-pedego-classic-cruiser-electric-bike/20395439/article-detail.xml 20395439 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/pedego-electric-bike_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/pedego-electric-bike.jpg <![CDATA[Traffic pollution exposure linked to autism in young children]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/11/28/traffic-pollution-exposure-linked-to-autism-in-young-children/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/11/28/traffic-pollution-exposure-linked-to-autism-in-young-children/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/11/28/traffic-pollution-exposure-linked-to-autism-in-young-children/#commentsFiled under: ,

traffic on wet road

Living close to highways has built-in health hazards. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, asthma and carbon monoxide poisoning are two major public health problems caused by air pollution. Now, autism could be added to the list.

Exposure to high levels of air pollution from traffic may raise the risk of autism, says Heather Volk, PhD, MPH, assistant professor of research at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. USC researchers published a study in the Archives of General Psychiatry that found that children exposed to higher level of traffic-related pollutants during pregnancy or the first year of life were at increased risk of autism compared to children exposed to the lowest level. The risk of autism was two times higher during pregnancy and three times higher during the child's first year for the children close to highways compared to those living in areas with the lowest-level exposure.

The study looked at data from 279 children with autism and a comparison group of 245 children without it. Volk used the mothers' addresses to estimate exposure to air pollution during each trimester of pregnancy and during the child's first year of life. The researchers also used information from the Environmental Protection Agency and did traffic modeling to analyze how much air pollution was at each location. Exposure to particulate matter and nitrogen oxide were also factored in.

Autism may not be as easily diagnosed as other conditions, but there are a lot of parents out there learning how to have their child treated and cared for - about one in 88 children in the US have autism. As children get older, the problems can become more obvious in school, where they experience problems communicating and interacting socially.

It's only been about three years now that researchers have been looking at the potential role of air pollution in autism, Volk said. Air pollution has already been linked to other health issues, including babies being born small for their gestational age, she said. In 2011, Volk's research team reported a higher risk of autism for children living within about 1,000 feet of a freeway.

The EPA has made preventing public health hazards, along with environmental impact, one of its priorities in recent years while enacting air pollution and CO2 emissions regulations. The EPA says that enforcing the federal Clean Air Act is saving lives, preventing an estimated loss of 160,000 American lives per year in 2010 and potentially saving 230,000 in 2020.

The USC researcher acknowledges that it's too soon to claim a clear cause and effect relationship between air pollution and autism. Even if it gets dispelled, there is enough evidence to confirm that air pollution from vehicle emissions is harmful to health for humans and the planet.

Traffic pollution exposure linked to autism in young children originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 28 Nov 2012 11:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>air pollutionasthmaautismcarbon dioxideemissionsepahealth hazardssmogtailpipe emissionsWed, 28 Nov 2012 11:54:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20389679/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20389679/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/28/traffic-pollution-exposure-linked-to-autism-in-young-children/20389679/article-detail.xml 20389679 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/traffic-on-wet-road_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/traffic-on-wet-road.jpg <![CDATA[The two sides of Bridgestone's new off-road tire plant in Aiken, SC]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/11/09/the-two-sides-of-bridgestones-new-off-road-tire-plant-in-aiken/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/11/09/the-two-sides-of-bridgestones-new-off-road-tire-plant-in-aiken/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/11/09/the-two-sides-of-bridgestones-new-off-road-tire-plant-in-aiken/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

bridgestone tire aiken sc

Bridgestone is in an interesting position. On the one hand, the tire manufacturer wants to increase its green credentials with its line of Ecopia products. These are low-rolling resistance tires that improve efficiency by around five or six percent and are now available in 50 sizes that fit everything from hybrids to large SUVs. They're even used on all Nissan Leaf electric vehicles. On top of the Ecopia line, Bridgestone has big goals to reduce CO2 emission from its entire products lifecycle by 35 percent (by sales) and improve tire rolling efficiency by 25 percent by 2020 (compared to 2005 numbers). The company is also researching making tires not just from traditional rubber trees (hevea brasiliensis) but alaso from latex found in a native southwest desert plant, guayule, and Russian dandelions. So, if we look at that hand, the company looks pretty green, right?

The reality is that it's difficult for Bridgestone to make really big changes.

The reality is that it's difficult for Bridgestone to make really big changes. For example, when Bridgestone invited us to visit the future site of its new off-road tire plant in Aiken, SC, we asked if, for example, adding a recycling fee to the sale price of a tire made sense, encouraging more tires to be recycled at the end of life. The problem, we were told, was that competitors might not do that, leaving Bridgestone at a price disadvantage. In short, Bridgestone can lead, but not on everything.

Bridgestone's current Aiken tire plant is a mid-size operation, one that can make up to 25,000 tires a day, in sizes from 15 to 20 inches. At that rate, operating 24-7, the plant uses 1,000 pounds of rubber every minute. Most of the plant's raw rubber - which is the sap from the trees, so someone called it "perhaps the most sustainable part of a car" - comes from Indonesia and Liberia. GM is the biggest customer for the finished products, but Toyota, Honda, Ford, Chrysler and Hyundai all get tires from there. Walking around the plant, you see massive machines (mixers that are three stories tall and require 4,000 horsepower to run, for example) and lots of storage space (425,000 tires can be stored in the attached warehouse). It's a big plant, and an expansion is scheduled to be in operation by 2015 to increase capacity. The big news, though, is the off-road plant that Bridgestone is building just up the road.

Continue reading The two sides of Bridgestone's new off-road tire plant in Aiken, SC

The two sides of Bridgestone's new off-road tire plant in Aiken, SC originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bridgestoneecopiaelectric vehicleoff road tiretireFri, 09 Nov 2012 15:50:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20344478/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20344478/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/09/the-two-sides-of-bridgestones-new-off-road-tire-plant-in-aiken/20344478/article-detail.xml 20344478 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/bridgestone-aiken-sc-plant--12-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/bridgestone-aiken-sc-plant--12-628.jpg -1 2