AutoblogGreen http://green.autoblog.com AutoblogGreen http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif AutoblogGreen http://green.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 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[Democrats battling Republicans over military biofuels]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/23/democrats-battling-republicans-over-military-biofuels/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/23/democrats-battling-republicans-over-military-biofuels/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/23/democrats-battling-republicans-over-military-biofuels/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



It looks like Blue's fighting Red over the Green.

Democratic members of Congress and some U.S. military leaders are planning to fight the Republican-led effort to quash efforts to expand use of biofuels for the U.S. military, the Colorado Independent reports.

Proponents of more biofuel use by the military say they can help hedge against the type of fuel-price increases that will cost the federal government $1.3 billion in 2012. Petroleum use also causes safety issues. About one in 30 convoys designed to ensure the operation of refueling lines in Iraq and Afghanistan has led to a soldier casualty. More petroleum use also causes more greenhouse gas emissions, and the resulting climate change causes natural disasters that boost disaster-relief requirements from the military, biofuel proponents say.

Last week, the Talking Points Memo blog reported that a Republican-led group within the House Armed Services Committee put at risk hundreds of millions of dollars worth programs approved during the past few years by voting to disallow the U.S. Department of Defense from paying more for biofuels that would be used in military vehicles than regular fuels. Such a ban would reverse projects such as last August's a three-year, $510 million project with the USDA and DoD that was designed to develop biofuels for the private sector.

Democrats battling Republicans over military biofuels originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 23 May 2012 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biofueldefense departmentdodethanolmilitaryu.s. department of defenseWed, 23 May 2012 19:45:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20243623/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20243623/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/23/democrats-battling-republicans-over-military-biofuels/20243623/article-detail.xml 20243623 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/armytank-1337811521_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/armytank-1337811521.jpg <![CDATA[Obama administration rethinking support for hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/22/obama-administration-rethinking-support-for-hydrogen-fuel-cell-v/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/22/obama-administration-rethinking-support-for-hydrogen-fuel-cell-v/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/22/obama-administration-rethinking-support-for-hydrogen-fuel-cell-v/#commentsFiled under: , ,



This is one political flip-flop scenario that could actually please some constituents.

The Obama Administration might reverse its policy of cutting support for hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle development (FCEV) in favor of battery-electric vehicles by putting more resources towards FCEV advancement, Slate reports.

U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu recently spoke at a private event and supported expansion of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, Slate said, citing ex-Shell USA President John Hofmeister. The government's executive branch may be reversing course because of what's so far been lower-than-expected battery-electric vehicle sales in the U.S.

Some consider hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles a best-of-all-worlds solution to cutting both petroleum use and greenhouse-gas emissions because the vehicles can be filled up in minutes and can go almost as far on a full tank as gas-powered vehicles. Still, costs remain an issue because of the limited number of HCEVs and the challenges of hydrogen distribution to refueling stations. General Motors has estimated that it would cost as much as $25 billion to build out the 11,000 hydrogen fueling stations needed to support a "mature" FCEV fleet, Slate reported. Currently, there are only about 50 stations across the U.S., according to the Energy Department.

Last year, Pike Research estimated that automakers will sell about one million FCEVs by 2020, less than Pike Research's prior estimate of 2.8 million vehicles. Toyota, GM, Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler and Hyundai are among the automakers that have targeted 2015 for mass production of FCEVs.

Obama administration rethinking support for hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 22 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>doefuel cellfuel cell vehicleshydrogenhydrogen fuel cellobamaobama administrationslatesteven chuTue, 22 May 2012 20:00:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20242638/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20242638/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/22/obama-administration-rethinking-support-for-hydrogen-fuel-cell-v/20242638/article-detail.xml 20242638 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/hydrostation_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/hydrostation.jpg <![CDATA[House Committee votes to end military biofuel programs]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/20/house-committee-votes-to-end-military-biofuel-programs/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/20/house-committee-votes-to-end-military-biofuel-programs/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/20/house-committee-votes-to-end-military-biofuel-programs/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



So about those plans for more military biofuel production...

A Republican-led group within the House Armed Services Committee recently voted to ban the U.S. Department of Defense from paying more for biofuels used for military vehicles than regular fuels, putting at risk hundreds of millions of dollars worth programs approved during the past few years for the purpose of cutting foreign-oil dependency, according to Talking Points Memo.

The projects that may be on the chopping block include the Air Force's testing of a blend of camelina (made from a mustard-like plant) and jet fuel for its Thunderbirds show-pilot team and the Navy's testing of other biofuels used in both ships and planes flown by its Blue Angels team. The biofuels programs had been enacted in part to cut some of the $300 billion in annual U.S. spending on crude oil as well as to boost revenue flowing through U.S. farms. Last year, the Pentagon said it pays around $400 a gallon for fuel in Afghanistan.

Last August, the USDA teamed with the Defense Department on a three-year, $510 million project that involved developing biofuels for the private sector. The prior month, ASTM International, which writes technical standards for global industries, green-lit the use of renewable fuels in military and commercial aircraft. Components of the renewable fuel were to come from sources such as algae, camelina, jatropha or tallow (animal fats).

House Committee votes to end military biofuel programs originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 20 May 2012 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>air forcearmybiofuelblue angelscommitteegovernmenthouseHouse Armed Services CommitteemilitarynavyrepublicanthunderbirdsSun, 20 May 2012 16:02:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20239781/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20239781/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/20/house-committee-votes-to-end-military-biofuel-programs/20239781/article-detail.xml 20239781 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/armytank_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/armytank.jpg <![CDATA[Automaker-backed study sounds the alarm against E15]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/automaker-backed-study-sounds-the-alarm-against-e15/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/automaker-backed-study-sounds-the-alarm-against-e15/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/automaker-backed-study-sounds-the-alarm-against-e15/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

No E15 gas cap

Another day, another opinion on the feasibility of E15.

This time, a group called the Coordinating Research Council released a study saying that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's decision to push for allowing gas with a 15-percent ethanol blend (aka E15) to be sold to the general public for newer cars may have been a bad one because of potentially harmful effect the fuel may have on older vehicles, the New York Times reports.

E15 may compromise the durability of the engines of most of the cars on the road because automakers didn't design the vehicles to run on E15, which has 50% more ethanol than the current maximum of a 10-percent ethanol blend (i.e. E10), the group says.

Of course, Coordinating Research Council is backed by - wait for it - eight automakers as well as the American Petroleum Institute (API), according to the Times. The automakers have long pushed to delay E15 approval because of engine durability concerns while the API represents a petroleum industry whose demand is inversely related to how much ethanol's being used in light-duty vehicles.

With that in mind, Patrick B. Davis, an Energy Department program manager specializing in vehicle testing, said in a blog post that the new study is "flawed" in part because the study didn't involve the testing of E10's impact on engines. Renewable Fuels Association CEO Bob Dinneen called the report "junk science."

The EPA in April approved the first applications to make E15 amid protests from automakers and recreation vehicle makers that have claimed that the higher alcohol content may damage engines and fuel systems. The government has gone back and forth on the issue, both pushing for higher ethanol production levels to cut foreign-oil dependence while last year terminating a 30-year tax subsidy on corn-based ethanol.

Recently, The Auto Channel reported that researchers at University of Wisconsin and Iowa State University estimated that ethanol production cut the average cost of fuel last year by $1.09 a gallon because of lower ethanol prices and broader use of fuels such as E10.

Automaker-backed study sounds the alarm against E15 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 18 May 2012 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biofuelsCoordinating Research Councile10e15e15 safetyenvironmental protection agencyepaethanolFri, 18 May 2012 16:01:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20240465/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20240465/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/18/automaker-backed-study-sounds-the-alarm-against-e15/20240465/article-detail.xml 20240465 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/gas-cap-e15-1337355368_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/gas-cap-e15-1337355368.jpg <![CDATA[NHTSA launches inquiry into Fisker Karma garage fire]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/nhtsa-launches-inquiry-into-fisker-karma-garage-fire/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/nhtsa-launches-inquiry-into-fisker-karma-garage-fire/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/nhtsa-launches-inquiry-into-fisker-karma-garage-fire/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Fisker Karma

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched a formal field inquiry into the garage fire that may or may not have been started by a Fisker Karma sedan, Bloomberg reports. The conflagration, which destroyed the Karma, the garage and a few nearby vehicles, took place on May 3rd in Sugarland, Texas.

Claude Harris, NHTSA's director of vehicle safety compliance, said that the investigation is "ongoing," adding that "no determination has been made at this time." Until an official cause is isolated, we're betting there will be a good bit of he-said, she-said finger pointing in all directions...

It's worth noting that NHTSA has also been actively investigating the safety of battery packs used in the Chevrolet Volt after reports of fires in the wild and after NHTSA's own crash testing procedures.

NHTSA launches inquiry into Fisker Karma garage fire originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 18 May 2012 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 fisker karmaelectric car fireelectric vehicleev firefiskerfisker firegarage firekarmakarma fireplug-in hybridsugar landFri, 18 May 2012 14:05:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20240866/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20240866/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/18/nhtsa-launches-inquiry-into-fisker-karma-garage-fire/20240866/article-detail.xml 20240866 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/fisker-karma-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/fisker-karma-628.jpg <![CDATA[Ethanol production shaved $1.09 a gallon off of last year's gas prices]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/ethanol-production-shaved-1-09-a-gallon-off-of-last-years-gas/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/ethanol-production-shaved-1-09-a-gallon-off-of-last-years-gas/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/ethanol-production-shaved-1-09-a-gallon-off-of-last-years-gas/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

ethanol pump

If you thought last year was a bad one at the gas pump, it could've been worse. That's what one report partially funded by ethanol advocate Renewable Fuels Association says.

U.S. ethanol production actually cut wholesale gas prices by $1.09 a gallon last year because of relatively lower ethanol prices and the greater use of ethanol blends, The Auto Channel said, citing a PDF report written by researchers at University of Wisconsin and Iowa State University for Iowa State's Center for Agricultural and Rural Development.

Ethanol production cut the typical U.S. household's spending on gas by more than $1,200 last year and by an average of $340 a year since 2000, according to the report.

Ethanol advocates have been pushing for blends with a higher percentage of ethanol as a way to cut both gas costs and dependency on foreign oil, while opponents have decried subsidies given to ethanol producers. Late last year, Congress ended a three-decade tax subsidy for the corn-based ethanol, which was reported to have received $45 billion in subsidies since 1980.

Ethanol production shaved $1.09 a gallon off of last year's gas prices originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 18 May 2012 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biofuelethanolgas pricesiowa state universityrenewable fuels associationsubsidiesuniversity of wisconsinFri, 18 May 2012 11:59:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20240111/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20240111/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/18/ethanol-production-shaved-1-09-a-gallon-off-of-last-years-gas/20240111/article-detail.xml 20240111 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/ethanol_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/ethanol.jpg <![CDATA[California lawyer pitches class-action services in wake of overturned Honda fuel-economy ruling]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/17/california-lawyer-pitches-class-action-services-in-wake-of-overt/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/17/california-lawyer-pitches-class-action-services-in-wake-of-overt/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/17/california-lawyer-pitches-class-action-services-in-wake-of-overt/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Heather Peters 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid

There is safety in numbers, and not the kind put out by the EPA.

That's what one California-based attorney representing class-action claimants against General Motors and Hyundai is saying in the wake of Heather Peters' now-unsuccessful attempt to sue Honda over allegedly overstating fuel economy figures for the Honda Civic Hybrid.

Redlands, Calif.-based McCuneWright LLP principal Richard McCune, fishing for business, obviously, notes that, among other things, plaintiffs lose both the right for attorney representation and the right to appeal, both of which class-action members have.

"If you are filing against a big company, you are already at a disadvantage when you enter the small claims courtroom," McCune said in a statement last week.

Of course, McCuneWright has skin in this particular game, as it's representing a number of plaintiffs in class-action lawsuits against General Motors and Hyundai over - you guessed it - fuel-economy claims.

That said, TheDetroitBureau.com publisher Paul A. Eisenstein, in an AutoblogGreen editorial last week, essentially said the same, noting that class-action plaintiffs have a better record of success than those taking on large companies in small claims court.

Peters won a small-claims case worth almost $10,000 against Honda in February after a judge ruled in favor of her claim that Honda overstated the fuel-economy of her 2006 Civic Hybrid. Last week, a superior court judge reversed that ruling. The automaker had already agreed to pay out members of a larger class-action claim from $100 to $200 each and as much as a $1,500 discount on a new Honda purchase, an offer that about 1,700 Honda owners had accepted, according to the Detroit News.

Continue reading California lawyer pitches class-action services in wake of overturned Honda fuel-economy ruling

California lawyer pitches class-action services in wake of overturned Honda fuel-economy ruling originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 17 May 2012 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>californiacivic hybridclass action lawsuitheather petershonda civic hybridlawsuitlegalmpgsmall claims courtsuperior courtThu, 17 May 2012 07:57:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20239592/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20239592/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/17/california-lawyer-pitches-class-action-services-in-wake-of-overt/20239592/article-detail.xml 20239592 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/heatherpeters0516_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/heatherpeters0516.jpg <![CDATA[Climate change and the redistribution of carbon-sourced wealth]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/climate-change-and-the-redistribution-of-carbon-sourced-wealth/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/climate-change-and-the-redistribution-of-carbon-sourced-wealth/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/climate-change-and-the-redistribution-of-carbon-sourced-wealth/#commentsFiled under: ,

A fried egg on ashphalt

For a multitude of reasons - climate change, air quality, national security, etc. - a large reduction in the burning of carbon-based fuels is a good idea. Since higher prices are known to reduce consumption, one way to achieve this is to simply put a tax on fuel at the pump. It's been proposed by GM's Dan Akerson, Bill Ford and others, but the idea can be difficult politically and economically. With current prices already relatively high, further increases negatively impact the cost of production and distribution of everything we buy and can hurt a fragile economy.

Now, a slightly different approach has been proposed that would raise the price of carbon-based energy sources and encourage reduction, while helping the fiscally vulnerable absorb the financial cost. Hidden deep in an opinion piece for the New York Times that reminds us of the folly of continuing to pump CO2 into the atmosphere without regard for the future consequences, climatologist James Hansen makes the following suggestion.

We should impose a gradually rising carbon fee, collected from fossil fuel companies, then distribute 100 percent of the collections to all Americans on a per-capita basis every month.

He argues that this approach would effectively redistribute carbon-sourced wealth back to all but the biggest energy consumers and "stimulate innovation, jobs and economic growth", among other things, while creating a reduction in oil demand equal to six times what we expect to receive from Canada's tar sands via a certain proposed pipeline.

Though it doesn't seem to take into account the possible cost of administrating such a plan, compared to previous proposals, we think this one merits further consideration. Let us know what you think in the comments section by scrolling below.

Climate change and the redistribution of carbon-sourced wealth originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 15 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>climate changeco2gas taxglobal warmingjames hansenredistribution of wealthtaxesTue, 15 May 2012 08:00:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20236612/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20236612/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/15/climate-change-and-the-redistribution-of-carbon-sourced-wealth/20236612/article-detail.xml 20236612 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/egg-on-pavement-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/egg-on-pavement-628.jpg <![CDATA[Why your next car may not come with a CD player]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/14/why-your-next-car-may-not-come-with-a-cd-player/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/14/why-your-next-car-may-not-come-with-a-cd-player/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/14/why-your-next-car-may-not-come-with-a-cd-player/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Michael Arbaugh, chief designer of Ford interiors, describes center console space as "oceanfront property" - already fully populated, with more tenants trying to move in every year. Speaking to the Automotive Press Association in Detroit, Arbaugh said one tenant he'd like to evict is the CD player because it's dead weight for audio Luddites.

Ok, so he didn't say that exactly. But Arbaugh believes they're out of fashion with people under 30, and that growing lack of interest means they occupy space that could be better employed. They also add weight that has to be countered somewhere else in the march to meet CAFE regulations, an endeavor with nearly aerospace tolerances anymore.

The CD-less car is just talk at the moment but there's no doubt it's coming. More and more computers are being sold without optical drives, and as it goes in the tech world so it shall go in the car-tech world. If we could just get carmakers to properly integrate connections for other PMPs that can play lossless codes and don't mutilate the music, then we wouldn't mind at all - especially since weight savings is one of the best ways to improve fuel efficiency.

Why your next car may not come with a CD player originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 14 May 2012 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cd playerfordinteriorinterior designlight weighttechnologyweight reductionMon, 14 May 2012 09:59:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20237320/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20237320/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/14/why-your-next-car-may-not-come-with-a-cd-player/20237320/article-detail.xml 20237320 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/nocdplayer_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/nocdplayer.jpg <![CDATA[EPA waives gas pump vapor recovery rules]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/10/epa-waives-gas-pump-vapor-recovery-rules/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/10/epa-waives-gas-pump-vapor-recovery-rules/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/10/epa-waives-gas-pump-vapor-recovery-rules/#commentsFiled under: ,



In a move sure to please urban-area gas station owners, the EPA has issued a waiver to its 1994 rule requiring gas pump vapor recovery systems. The devices were required in mostly urban areas to reduce smog-causing vapors from being released into the air during the refueling of vehicles.

With more than 70 percent of vehicles on the road already having a vapor recovery device, the EPA says the pump system is redundant. The agency says waiving the requirement will save the nation's gas station owners an estimated $91 million a year.

Since 2006, all new vehicles have been required to have onboard refueling vapor recovery (ORVR) capabilities. While a vehicle is being refueled, the ORVR captures hazardous fumes that can worsen smog and impact public health.

The EPA website doesn't say specifically when this waiver goes into effect, just that it's "later this year."

EPA waives gas pump vapor recovery rules originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 10 May 2012 17:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>air pollutionepagas stationgasolineORVRsmogvaporsThu, 10 May 2012 17:48:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20235561/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20235561/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/10/epa-waives-gas-pump-vapor-recovery-rules/20235561/article-detail.xml 20235561 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/gas-station-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/gas-station-opt.jpg <![CDATA[These electric vehicles aren't really, real; just California compliance EVs]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/04/these-electric-vehicles-arent-really-real-just-california-com/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/04/these-electric-vehicles-arent-really-real-just-california-com/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/04/these-electric-vehicles-arent-really-real-just-california-com/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

chevy spark ev

California may be the Golden State, but when it comes to the upcoming debuts of a number of battery-electric vehicles, prospective buyers may want to associate the most populous U.S. state with the color red. As in herring.

That's the conclusion of Green Car Reports in its evaluation of a number of EVs set to launch within the next year or two. With automakers like Toyota, General Motors and Ford obligated to meet certain zero-emissions vehicles (ZEV) quotas for California, those companies are making EV versions of the RAV4, Chevrolet Spark, Focus (respectively) almost purely for the purpose of meeting the quotas - not for any widespread U.S. sales.

Honda and Chrysler are also making what GCR termed "compliance cars" with the Fit and the Fiat 500 Elettrica. All of those models are strictly for show, the publication says, because they're either going to be lease-only models, won't be available much outside of the "California emissions" states, will be produced in extremely low volumes or have so few details released about them from the automakers that a true national roll-out is unlikely.

Of course, if a bunch of other states follow California's emissions rules lead, this all could change. Earlier this year, we learned that as many as 10 other states may adopt zero-emissions vehicles quotas similar to California's. Also, California recently finalized a requirement for more than 15 percent of the new cars to be ZEVs by the 2025 model year, which would mean that about 270,000 ZEVs would have to be sold in California each year.

Still, we like that GCR named names, and you can get all the details and reasoning here.

These electric vehicles aren't really, real; just California compliance EVs originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 04 May 2012 19:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>californiachevrolet sparkelectric vehiclefiat 500ford focushonda fitquotarav4zero emissionszero emissions vehiclezevFri, 04 May 2012 19:46:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20230970/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20230970/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/04/these-electric-vehicles-arent-really-real-just-california-com/20230970/article-detail.xml 20230970 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/chevy-spark-ev-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/chevy-spark-ev-628.jpg <![CDATA[CBO: new CAFE rules will short Highway Trust Fund by $57b by 2022]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/03/cbo-new-cafe-rules-will-short-highway-trust-fund-by-57b-by-202/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/03/cbo-new-cafe-rules-will-short-highway-trust-fund-by-57b-by-202/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/03/cbo-new-cafe-rules-will-short-highway-trust-fund-by-57b-by-202/#commentsFiled under: , ,

highway trust fund outlay chart

Oh, the gas tax, always a contentious issue. We've covered it throughout the years but now the Congressional Budget Office is reminding us that the time has come to move well beyond simple discussion and politics: the Highway Trust Fund is not getting enough money to pay for the transportation infrastructure that America needs.

As you can see in the chart above, the Fund has not taken in more money than it spent since 2001, except for one time in 2006. In 2008, 2009 and 2010, the Highway Fund got money from the General Fund to pay for things like highway repairs and various mass transit programs.

Since the Highway Trust Fund is mostly paid for by the gas tax, that number plays a big roll in how much money America has to build bridges. Before we move on, though, it's time for a question.

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We've asked this before, but polls are fun. The answer, and more discussion, can be found below.

Continue reading CBO: new CAFE rules will short Highway Trust Fund by $57b by 2022

CBO: new CAFE rules will short Highway Trust Fund by $57b by 2022 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 03 May 2012 14:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cbocongressional budget officegas taxgeneral fundhighway trust fundThu, 03 May 2012 14:14:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20230289/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20230289/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/03/cbo-new-cafe-rules-will-short-highway-trust-fund-by-57b-by-202/20230289/article-detail.xml 20230289 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/cbo-graph_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/cbo-graph.jpg <![CDATA[E15 brings many questions, no consensus on widespread use]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/03/e15-brings-many-questions-no-consensus-on-widespread-use/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/03/e15-brings-many-questions-no-consensus-on-widespread-use/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/03/e15-brings-many-questions-no-consensus-on-widespread-use/#commentsFiled under: , ,



For some drivers, ethanol-blended fuels such as E15 and E85 generate the same kind of confusion as stalactites and stalagmites do for high school geography students. Now, E15, which is fuel sold with a 15 percent blend of ethanol, is creating confusion all on its own.

That's what the Minneapolis Star Tribune is reporting now that many gas stations are on the verge of adding so-called "blender pumps" that can distribute E15. While the pumps will have a government warning saying E15 can be used for cars made after the 2000 model year, automakers aren't so clear. Toyota and Lexus, for example, say on their model-year 2012 gas caps that E15 shouldn't be used (pictured), and Ford is also warning its customers against using E15.

Iowa and Kansas are states where E15 may be sold as soon as this month, Bob Dinneen, the CEO of ethanol trade group Renewable Fuels Association, told the Tribune. Dinneen called E15, "probably the single most studied fuel in the history of EPA waivers." But then there's the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which represents Ford, General Motors and Chrysler, among other automakers and says E15 hasn't been adequately tested.

Last month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as expected, approved the first applications to produce E15, which can be made with as much as 50 percent more ethanol than standard fuel, which so far has been limited to 10 percent ethanol. Automakers and recreation vehicle makers are among the entities that have fought against allowing widespread use of E15, claiming that the higher alcohol content may damage engines and fuel systems. Still, the government continues to push ethanol as a way to cut foreign-oil dependence, even though last year U.S. Congress terminated a 30-year tax subsidy on corn-based ethanol. The ethanol industry received an estimated $45 billion in subsidies since 1980.

E15 brings many questions, no consensus on widespread use originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 03 May 2012 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blender pumpsbob dinneene10e15e85ethanolrenewable fuels associationThu, 03 May 2012 10:05:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20229499/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20229499/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/03/e15-brings-many-questions-no-consensus-on-widespread-use/20229499/article-detail.xml 20229499 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/gas-cap-e15_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/gas-cap-e15.jpg <![CDATA[Alt-fuel vehicles generated more than $150 million in incentives last year *UPDATE]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/02/alt-fuel-vehicles-generated-more-than-150-million-in-tax-credit/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/02/alt-fuel-vehicles-generated-more-than-150-million-in-tax-credit/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/02/alt-fuel-vehicles-generated-more-than-150-million-in-tax-credit/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

car2go smart fortwo in washington dc

Now here's something that will make fiscal conservatives feel warm and fuzzy.

U.S. buyers of new electric-drive vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf battery-electric and Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug in were eligible for more than $150 million in federal and state incentives in 2011, or more than $8,000 for every one of the approximately 18,000 electric-drive vehicles purchased or leased last year, Edmunds.com's Inside Line reported.

The federal government accounts for about $135 million of those tax credits, with states and local governments covering the rest, according to the website. Leaf buyers are eligible for about $72 million of those tax breaks.

Not surprisingly, California, which isn't exactly flush with cash, was a big payer with more than 5,000 electric-drive vehicles purchased or leased in the Golden State alone. California offered as much as $5,000 in incentives per vehicle during the first half of 2011, and $2,500 for the second half of the year.

InsideLine points out that, while $150 million is a substantial sum, it pales in comparison to the more than $10 billion in low-interest loans that the U.S. Department of Energy has awarded to makers of alt-fuel vehicles and their components over the past few years. The publication added that the tax-credit number will likely jump for 2012, with new electric-drive vehicles such as the Ford Focus Electric set to debut and President Obama talking about increasing the EV federal tax break by another $2,500 to $10,000.

And just in time for the election.

*UPDATE: An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated that California is extending tax credits for the purchase of electric-drive vehicles and references the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP).

A representative of the CVRP said the program "provides rebates of up to $2,500 for CA purchasers or lessees of light-duty zero-emission vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. These rebates are not tax credits, and were not tax credits in the past. The CVRP is funded through CA vessel and vehicle registration fees, as well as smog abatement fees."

Alt-fuel vehicles generated more than $150 million in incentives last year *UPDATE originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 02 May 2012 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Department of Energyelectric vehiclegovernmentobamaplug-in hybridtax breakstax incentiveswashington d.c.Wed, 02 May 2012 11:55:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20229088/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20229088/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/02/alt-fuel-vehicles-generated-more-than-150-million-in-tax-credit/20229088/article-detail.xml 20229088 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/car2godc_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/car2godc.jpg <![CDATA[ANSI releases detailed electric vehicle deployment 'roadmap']]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/02/ansi-releases-ev-deployment-roadmap/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/02/ansi-releases-ev-deployment-roadmap/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/02/ansi-releases-ev-deployment-roadmap/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



It may not be an electric-vehicle junkie's version of "War and Peace," but it's pretty close.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI), which last year formed its Electric Vehicles Standards Panel (EVSP) to accelerate electric-vehicle component standardization, last week released the first version of its "standardization roadmap" about four months after its initial deadline.

And we think we know what took so long. The roadmap, which ANSI said last year would cover everything from charging standards to safety requirements to power-rating methods to battery-recycling procedures, is 122 pages long. The documents, which includes contributions from Con Edison, General Electric, General Motors, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), can be downloaded here.

ANSI, which formed the EVSP last May to help the collaboration between automakers, governments, utilities and other public and private entities to better enable EV expansion throughout the U.S., is looking to help ease what is expected to be a mass deployment of plug-in vehicles while ensuring a compatible and effective infrastructure is compatible and effective. ANSI said last May that its goal was to finalize the roadmap's first version by the end of 2011.

EV proponents are hoping such standardization quickens the adoption of plug-in vehicles as the U.S. looks to cut its dependence on foreign oil and reduce its vehicles' greenhouse-gas emissions. Plug-in vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf battery-electric and the Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in accounted for about one in 700 new cars sold, though that number is expected to jump during the next few years. Last year, green-technology research firm Pike Research forecast that the U.S. would account for about 300,000 plug-ins sold in 2015, while Michigan's Center for Automotive Research estimated that U.S. electric-drive vehicle sales will hit about 140,000 units in 2014. President Obama has said repeatedly that he hopes there would be a million plug-ins on the road by 2015.

Continue reading ANSI releases detailed electric vehicle deployment 'roadmap'

ANSI releases detailed electric vehicle deployment 'roadmap' originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 02 May 2012 07:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>American National Standards Instituteansielectric vehicleelectric vehicle standards panelelectrification roadmapevspgovernmentplug-in hybridroadmapsafetystandardsWed, 02 May 2012 07:54:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20227502/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20227502/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/02/ansi-releases-ev-deployment-roadmap/20227502/article-detail.xml 20227502 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/ansi-ev-standards-roadmap_thumbnail.png http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/ansi-ev-standards-roadmap.png <![CDATA[China getting ready for 5m plug-in vehicles by 2020]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/china-getting-ready-for-five-million-plug-in-vehicles-by-2020/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/china-getting-ready-for-five-million-plug-in-vehicles-by-2020/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/china-getting-ready-for-five-million-plug-in-vehicles-by-2020/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Imagine all of the cars and light-duty trucks in Washington and Oregon combined. Then imagine them all being either battery-electric vehicles or plug-in hybrids. That's what Chinese leaders have in mind by the end of the decade.

The China State Council is pushing for a combination of automotive industry production and public acceptance to allow for as many as five million plug-in vehicles to be on the roads in China by 2020, Green Car Congress reports.

The Chinese government is also looking to boost average new-car fuel economy to about 47 miles per gallon in 2020 from about 34 miles per gallon in 2015, when the State Council is targeting for about a half-million vehicles to be electric drive.

China will enact a combination of research and development funding and subsidies that will be used to boost sales of plug-ins. The government will also speed up the development of an electric-vehicle charging infrastructure and will tilt tax policies to be more plug-in friendly.

China was already expected to account for a substantial chunk of the more than 600,000 plug-in vehicles expected to be sold in Asia Pacific by 2017, as forecast by green-technology research firm Pike Research last year. The auto industry is certainly getting ready. This month, General Motors debuted a demonstration fleet of Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in vehicles in China. GM and the China Automotive Technology Research Center (CATARC) will operate and study the fleet for about a year. At the Beijing Motor Show this week, a number of plug-in vehicles were on display, like the CH Auto Lithia and the Venucia E-Concept.

China getting ready for 5m plug-in vehicles by 2020 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinachina evchina state councilelectric vehicleevplug-in hybridFri, 27 Apr 2012 16:02:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20225511/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20225511/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/27/china-getting-ready-for-five-million-plug-in-vehicles-by-2020/20225511/article-detail.xml 20225511 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/shanghai-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/shanghai-628.jpg <![CDATA[Massachusetts will distribute happy little EV license plates]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/massachusetts-will-distribute-happy-little-ev-license-plates/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/massachusetts-will-distribute-happy-little-ev-license-plates/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/massachusetts-will-distribute-happy-little-ev-license-plates/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



What, did you expect them to have a Yankees logo on it?

Massachusetts' department of transportation this week said that special license plates with a silhouette of a green car with a plug on the back will be available for drivers of hybrids, battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids.

Massachusetts is the second state (OK, it's technically a commonwealth) in the U.S. to distribute specially designed license plates for alt-fuel vehicles (Hawaii was the first). The so-called Electric Vehicle Plates won't cost any extra (see the Mass DOT's statement here), even for hybrids.

Officials say the new plates are about more than vanity or green cred. They actually argue that, with some alt-fuel cars looking just like their gas-powered counterparts, the plates let emergency respondents know that the car is alt-fuel and may need to be turned off differently to minimize safety risks. So for all of you folks using your Nissan Leaf to ghost-ride the whip on Comm Ave, you'll soon have that little extra something going for you.

Massachusetts will distribute happy little EV license plates originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric vehicleElectric Vehicle license platesEV license plateshybridlicense platesmassachusettsplatesplug-in hybridFri, 27 Apr 2012 14:07:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20225501/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20225501/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/27/massachusetts-will-distribute-happy-little-ev-license-plates/20225501/article-detail.xml 20225501 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/massev_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/massev.jpg <![CDATA[Gas may hit $6 mark, or maybe pump prices have peaked]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/26/gas-may-hit-6-mark-or-maybe-pump-prices-have-peaked/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/26/gas-may-hit-6-mark-or-maybe-pump-prices-have-peaked/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/26/gas-may-hit-6-mark-or-maybe-pump-prices-have-peaked/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

gas station in the rain

Might want to buy some stock in whatever company you think makes the most fuel-efficient cars.

The price of U.S. gasoline could hit the $6 mark if international sanctions are imposed on Iran and shut down the Strait of Hormuz, through which much of the world's oil is shipped, the Chicago Tribune reports, citing remarks made by IHS chief economist Nariman Behravesh at an event sponsored by the National Automobile Dealers Association and IHS.

Sudan, Syria and Yemen are among countries where there have been oil-supply disruptions, driving up the price of gas to its current levels. And, with 20 percent of the world's oil coming from the Persian Gulf and fears of Iran supply disruption, there's about a 20 percent chance gas prices will approach the $6 a gallon mark, and that could happen by early next year. According to Behravesh, such a jump could cause alt-fuel vehicle sales to spike and, with General Motors unlikely to be able to ramp up production of its Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in vehicle, Nissan Leaf battery-electric sales may surge.

Gas prices are a subject that elicit about as many opinions as presidential prospects. Earlier this month, USA Today quoted Patrick DeHaan, senior analyst for GasBuddy, saying that gas prices may have peaked at about $3.92 a gallon and would drop to $3.70 by the end of the month. U.S. drivers had been hoping that 2011 would've been the worst year for gas prices for a while, as average prices surged about 27 percent to more than $3.50 a gallon and hit the $4 mark last May.

This year, U.S. gas prices have jumped almost 60 cents a gallon to about $3.90 a gallon, according to AAA, and consumers are responding. Last month marked the third-consecutive monthly record when it came to fuel economy figures for new cars, whose gas mileage averaged 24.1 miles per gallon, according to the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI). As a result, both the Volt and the Toyota Prius hybrid had record monthly U.S. sales.

Gas may hit $6 mark, or maybe pump prices have peaked originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chevroletelectric vehiclegas pricesihsiranleafmiddle eastNariman Behraveshnissanpersian gulfpetroleumplug-in hybridpriusStrait of HormuztoyotavoltThu, 26 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20224470/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20224470/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/26/gas-may-hit-6-mark-or-maybe-pump-prices-have-peaked/20224470/article-detail.xml 20224470 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/5506707168edaf13f51fb_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/5506707168edaf13f51fb.jpg <![CDATA[Fisker reaches out to Middle East; DOE reaches for loan consultant]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/25/fisker-reaches-middle-east-doe-loan-consultant/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/25/fisker-reaches-middle-east-doe-loan-consultant/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/25/fisker-reaches-middle-east-doe-loan-consultant/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

fisker atlantic front 3/4

Fisker Automotive may not exactly be chummy with the U.S. federal government these days, but at least it's getting some love from the Middle East.

The California-based extended-range plug-in vehicle maker reached an agreement with Al-Futtaim Group to distribute its cars throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Al-Futtaim sells Lexus, Volvo, Jeep, Toyota and other vehicles throughout the Middle East. The distributor will open a Fisker dealership in Dubai this year.

As for the U.S. government, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), which has $193 million in loans out to Fisker, is working with Los Angeles-based investment bank and restructuring expert Houlihan Lokey to keep tabs of Fisker's attempts to raise its own cash, Bloomberg Businessweek reported, citing unnamed people familiar with the situation.

The DOE, in an e-mail to Bloomberg, copped to hiring consultants to tracking companies that have received its loans, but didn't specifically comment on Fisker. The DOE, which slated $529 million in loans for Fisker, froze the credit line after distributing less than $200 million because of production delays related to the Fisker Karma. Senators Charles Grassley (R-IA) and John Thune (R-SD) are among the members of Congress that have questioned the DOE's decision to grant a loan to Fisker.

Last week, ex-Fisker Chairman Ray Lane went as far as blaming Mitt Romney for the loan-distribution issues, saying that the Republican presidential candidate is using the issue for political gain. Meanwhile, Fisker is still deciding on whether it will use a former General Motors plant in Delaware to build its upcoming Atlantic (formerly Project Nina) sedan.

Continue reading Fisker reaches out to Middle East; DOE reaches for loan consultant

Fisker reaches out to Middle East; DOE reaches for loan consultant originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 09:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Al-FuttaimAl-Futtaim Groupdepartment of energydoedubaielectric vehiclefiskerfisker middle eastgrassleykarmamiddle eastplug-in hybridthuneWed, 25 Apr 2012 09:52:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20223158/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20223158/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/25/fisker-reaches-middle-east-doe-loan-consultant/20223158/article-detail.xml 20223158 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/fiskeratlantic-1335294300_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/fiskeratlantic-1335294300.jpg <![CDATA[NHTSA will hold electric vehicle li-ion battery safety symposium]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/25/nhtsa-holding-electric-vehicle-li-ion-battery-safety-symposium/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/25/nhtsa-holding-electric-vehicle-li-ion-battery-safety-symposium/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/25/nhtsa-holding-electric-vehicle-li-ion-battery-safety-symposium/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will conduct a meeting in Washington, D.C. on May 18 with representatives from the auto and battery-making industries to talk about safety issues related to lithium-ion batteries used on battery-electric vehicles.

"The purpose of this symposium is to bring together relevant stakeholders to share information on the status of safety activities related to the use of Li-ion batteries in vehicles designed for on-road use," NHTSA said in announcing the event. The statement can be read below.

Some EV advocates have argued that the issue of EV battery safety has stifled sales of cars such as the Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in vehicle and the all-electric Nissan Leaf. Both cars missed their goals to sell 10,000 units each in the U.S. last year, though Nissan missed by fewer than 400 vehicles.

The safety issue became all the more public last year when a Volt caught fire a few weeks after a NHTSA crash test. The regulator conducted an investigation and earlier this year said that electric-drive vehicles are no more of a fire risk than gas-powered ones.

Earlier this month, a prototype battery pack at a General Motors plant in Michigan caught fire after what the automaker said was extreme stress testing. The accident, which GM said involved a battery that wasn't going to be used in the Volt, injured at least six workers and caused up to $5 million in damages.

Continue reading NHTSA will hold electric vehicle li-ion battery safety symposium

NHTSA will hold electric vehicle li-ion battery safety symposium originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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