Special Interests do not like electric cars - VW, Shell accused of trying to block push for electric cars

Special Interests ho;ding back affordable Electric Cars

VW and Shell have been accused of trying to block Europe’s push for electric cars and more efficient cars, by saying biofuels should be at heart of efforts to green the industry instead.

The EU is planning two new fuel efficiency targets for 2025 and 2030 to help meet promises made at the Paris climate summit last December.

But executives from the two industrial giants launched a study on Wednesday night proposing greater use of biofuels, CO2 car labelling, and the EU’s emissions trading system (ETS) instead.

In reality, such a package would involve the end of meaningful new regulatory action on car emissions for more than a decade, EU sources say. But Shell insisted it is not trying to block an EU push for electric cars.

Ulrich Eichhorn, VW’s new head of research and development, said that plug-in hybrids and more efficient vehicles were “building blocks” for the future, but that “higher shares” for biofuels would be needed in the meantime.

He told a meeting in Brussels: “Modern diesel and natural gas engines will absolutely be required to deliver CO2 targets until 2020 and they will also contribute to further reductions going on from there.”

In meeting the Paris goals, “societal costs need to be minimised to keep our industrial strength and competitiveness,” he said.

The Auto Fuels Coalition study, written by Roland Berger, makes a series of highly pessimistic assumptions about the costs of fuel efficiency improvements, and equally optimistic ones about greenhouse gas emissions from biofuels. A recent EU study found the dirtiest biofuels three times more polluting than diesel.

An EU source said: “these two industries have realised they have a shared interest. When you saw who was paying for the study, you knew what the answer would be.”

Dr Christoph Wolff, the managing director of the European Climate Foundation said:“Electrification is taking off rapidly in markets such as China, Norway and the Netherlands. EU policymakers need to agree stringent measures, which will push the auto sector towards developing products that are fit to compete in this fast-evolving marketplace.”

Note EU-Digest: what would  popularize the electric car even more would be the availability of a family electric car within a price range of  €15,000.00 - €20,000.00 

EU-Digest

Alternative Fuels: Airbus and Air Canada make North America’s first ever “Perfect Flight”

Airbus and Air Canada are performing today North America's first "Perfect Flight" over international borders, with the goal of cutting CO2 emissions by more than 40 percent compared to a regular flight. The commercial flight on an Airbus A319 aircraft from Toronto, Canada to Mexico City will combine the use a modern, state-of-the-art aircraft, powered by sustainable alternative fuels, guided by streamlined Air Traffic Management procedures and facilitated through best practice operations to under-pin the industry's four pillar strategy to tackle carbon emissions.

The Air Canada flight (AC991) is the second leg out of a series of four biofuel flights taking the Secretary General of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Raymond Benjamin to Rio de Janeiro for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20).
The flight combines best operational and environmental practices available today. Dubbed as "Perfect Flight", it includes:
- Operation of the most eco-efficient aircraft family in its market segment.
- Use of sustainable bio-fuel blend (a 50 percent blend) made from used cooking oil supplied by SkyNRG.
- Optimized routings and flight altitude. In agreement with the Air Traffic Management authorities, the Airbus A319 will fly the most direct route, using the most efficient vertical flight profile and applying a Continuous Descent Approach (CDA) into Mexico City to save fuel and limit noise.
- Combination of several eco-efficient operational procedures such as single engine-taxiing, external aircraft cleaning for improved aerodynamics, light weight cabin equipment and a neatly tailored flight plan.

"Today's flight with Air Canada proves that the aviation industry is in a strong position to reduce emissions and fly many more Perfect Flights," said Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President and CEO. "To make this a day-to-day commercial reality, it requires now a political will to foster incentives to scale up the use of sustainable biofuels and accelerate modernization of the air-traffic-management system. We need a clear endorsement by governments and all aviation stakeholders to venture beyond today's limitations."

Read more: Airbus and Air Canada make North America’s first ever “Perfect Flight”

Germany: Audi A2 electric car sets a journey record with one charge

An Audi A2 electric car reached Berlin on Tuesday after running about 600 km from Munich with one charge, setting a new journey record for electric car.

German Economic Minister Rainer Bruederle welcomed this car at the courtyard of the Economy Ministry, praising it a "world record." Bruederle said the car is a "technological leap forward," as electric cars are usually to be recharged after running 60 or 70 km.

The electric vehicle was developed by electric car firm Lekker Energie and energy storage company DBM Energy on a basis of Audi A2. The driver drove the car at a recommended speed of 130 km per hour and the car shared many characters with a normal car, like power steering, airbags, air-conditioning and heated seats, said by the company representative. The car has super light lithium metal-polymer batteries, which are not just lighter than conventional solutions but are more energy efficient and powerful than ordinary batteries.

In May, the German government launched its National Electric Mobility Platform (NEMP) to support the development of electric car, aiming to realize one million electric cars on German road by 2020.

For more: Audi A2 electric car sets a journey record with one charge - People's Daily Online

Renault Testing Electric Vehicle Prototypes In Israel - by Derek Kreindle

Renault is currently testing prototypes from their upcoming electric vehicle range in Israel, with a view to selling them in the country by next year. The vehicles, known as the Renault Fluence Z.E. (for zero emissions), look just like normal Renault Fluence sedans, but run solely on electric power.

At first glance, Israel may seem like a strange place to focus EV efforts on, but it makes perfect sense upon closer examination. For starters, the, ahem, geopolitical concerns regarding the country and its petroleum-producing neighbors means that energy independence is crucial for the 7.3 million strong nation.

For more: Renault Testing Electric Vehicle Prototypes In Israel | AutoGuide.com News

Renault: Zoë Electric Car to be Made in France

arlos Ghosn, Chairman & CEO of Renault, declared after meeting the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, on January 16, “Renault is a French company, a socially responsible citizen, attached to its industrial and technological roots. This is one of the reasons why we decided to produce Zoë, the core of Renault’s Electric Vehicle range, in the Flins plant in France, near our 10,000 engineers, starting in 2012.”

“No decision had been taken concerning the production location of the next Clio in 2013. I confirmed to the French President that we will produce the Clio 4 in Flins, with a double sourcing in Bursa, Turkey. The future of the Flins plant is guaranteed and employment will be maintained at term.”

For more: Renault: Zoë Electric Car to be Made in France | The Global Herald

The Cutting Edge News: What Does Fiat Know about CNG that Honda and the American Media Want to Ignore? by Marc J. Rauch

A Fiat Palia running on CNG fuel

For the complete report from, The Cutting Edge News click on this link

What Does Fiat Know about CNG that Honda and the American Media Want to Ignore? by Marc J. Rauch

"In a country and world struggling to stave off the effects of economic depression and looming environmental devastation, “There’s absolutely no reason not to (use CNG),” Fiat proclaims. So why then do the American car companies, indeed all car companies building vehicles on U.S. soil (with the minor exception of Honda’s tokenistic 1,000 to 2,000 Civic GX units per year) ignore compressed natural gas, particularly since they all have had substantial experience with CNG in outside markets? And why hasn’t the Obama Administration already mandated a national transition to North American-produced CNG as one alt fuel of choice? Fiat, a major player on the world automotive scene, has not enjoyed top-of-the-mind brand awareness in America since they withdrew the last of their primary brands and models from U.S. soil in the 1990’s. Perhaps this self-induced low profile is the reason why the Fiat CNG story has not captured the imagination of the media, let alone the public. However, given the new set of circumstances revolving around Fiat’s deal with the now bankrupt Chrysler (a deal that was in the making since at least January), it would appear that Fiat might end up forcing CNG-powered vehicles on America and our pabulum-puking knee-jerk media, ironically to our own very best interest. Among the CNG benefits highlighted by Fiat are its lower cost versus gasoline per equivalent gallon, its significantly lower polluting characteristics compared to gasoline, and the safety of driving CNG vehicles. Moreover, CNG’s abundant availability from friendly "green" sources makes the fuel preferable as it does little to support OPEC and unfriendly regimes. Maybe there’ll be a happy ending to this tale, with Americans driving domestically-built sexy CNG-powered Fiats."

Times Online: What do cars and cows have in common? No, not horns - Carl Mortished

For the complete report from the Times Online click on this link

What do cars and cows have in common? No, not horns - Carl Mortished

Proposals to tax the flatulence of cows and other livestock have been denounced by farming groups in the Irish Republic and Denmark. A cow tax of €13 per animal has been mooted in Ireland, while Denmark is discussing a levy as high as €80 per cow to offset the potential penalties each country faces from European Union legislation aimed at combating global warming. The proposed levies are opposed vigorously by farming groups. The Irish Farmers' Association said that the cattle industry would move to South America to avoid EU taxes.

Livestock contribute 18 per cent of the greenhouse gases believed to cause global warming, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

Hybrid Cars: 6 Cool European Electric Cars Never Coming to the US

For the complete report from Hybrid Cars click on this link

6 Cool European Electric Cars Never Coming to the US

The European tradition of coachbuilding—the manufacturing of carriages—dates back to the 1700s. These days, it refers to the high-end auto design firms, such as Rolls Royce and Ferrari, which build custom-designed specialty vehicles. Like nearly every automaker in the world, coach builders are going green, by designing and building all-electric vehicles. Their electric cars are well suited to the congested streets of Rome or Paris, but don’t hold your breath for these cool electricity-powered rides to make it across the pond. By nature, the coach builders produce vehicles in limited runs intended for local markets.

MNBC: Alternative Eenergy: Fuel Systems Solutions to Launch U.S. Automotive Alternative Fuel Division in First Quarter 2009

For the complete report from msnbc.com click on this link

Alternative Eenergy: Fuel Systems Solutions to Launch U.S. Automotive Alternative Fuel Division in First Quarter 2009

Fuel Systems Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq:FSYS) will begin manufacturing its innovative alternative fuel solutions for the North American transportation market during the first quarter of 2009 at its U.S. subsidiary, IMPCO Technologies, Inc., which has been serving the industrial market for 50 years. This launch expands the company's global distribution of transportation products. Since the 1960s, Fuel System Solutions' transportation subsidiary, BRC, based in Cherasco, Italy, has been a major provider of alternative fuel systems worldwide that convert gasoline vehicles to run on cleaner burning natural gas or propane, and in 2008, production increased to approximately 800,000 conversions annually.

Luxist: Britain - The Queen's euro10.30 Million Bespoke Biofuel Bentleys - by Jared Paul Stern

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Britain - The Queen's euro10.30 Million Bespoke Biofuel Bentleys - by Jared Paul Stern

The Queen of England is having her two $14 million bespoke Bentley limousines converted to run on biofuels. Bentley will replace the 400 HP twin-turbo 6.75 liter V8 engines on the unique cars (above) by way of promoting the new range of eco-efficient models the famed marque plans to introduce by 2012.

GreenBiz: Green Fuels, Cars Get Boost from Cow Pie Power, the Queen and New EV Charging Hub

For the complete report from GreenBiz.com click on this link

Green Fuels, Cars Get Boost from Cow Pie Power, the Queen and New EV Charging Hub

The drive to green mobility got a boost into the New Year with news of heightened efforts to produce fuels from a variety of waste products, word that Queen Elizabeth's Bentleys are going green and the launch of an electric vehicle charging network in Northern California. Exploration of the power of poop, both bovine and human, made news in the U.S. and Japan. The energy chief for the state of Idaho, the third-largest milk-producer in the U.S., is looking to go big with the conversion of cow pies to natural gas that can power cars or homes, in addition to using the stuff to run turbines that would create electricity and recycling processed manure as plant bedding.

In Japan, the race toward green mobility is focusing on development of mass-produced zero-emission cars. Various firms have announced plans to have specific market launches as early as 2010 with widespread availability in 2012. Mitsubishi Motors Corp. says its iMiEV electric car is due to hit the market next year — which Nissan has also tagged as its launch year for electric cars in Japan and the United States.

For additional information on alternative energy click on this link

Telegraph UK: Motoring preview of 2009: 10 highlights

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UK: Motoring preview of 2009: 10 highlights

With the twin drivers of the financial crisis and reduced carbon dioxide emissions, the driving public are moving into smaller and more economical cars. Winners here are small-car specialists such as Fiat, Mercedes-Benz Smart, Toyota, the PSA Group of Citroën and Peugeot and Ford, with its brand-new Ka and Fiesta models.

Popular Mechanics: Battery Supplier Problems For Hybrids and EVs - Are There Enough Electric Batteries? - by Eric Sorfge

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Battery Supplier Problems For Hybrids and EVs - Are There Enough Electric Batteries? - by Erik Sorfge

This past August, then-candidate Barack Obama proposed a 10-year, $150 billion energy plan that included an ambitious deadline: one million plug-in hybrids on the road in the United States by 2015. Of course, that was before gas prices plummeted to historic lows, before the mortgage implosion in September, and before the Detroit Three appeared before Congress, hat in hand. But even if President-elect Obama can overcome a raft of financial obstacles, the million plug-in plan or any other attempt to dramatically increase the nation’s fleet of hybrids, plug-ins and all-electric vehicles could face an unexpected roadblock—too much political will, and not enough batteries. Last week Brian Wynne, the president of the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA), told the Wall Street Journal that there are no companies in the United States currently producing the kind of batteries used in hybrids or electric vehicles. That appears to be true—for a few weeks, at least.

New York City–based Ener1, one of four domestic players in the automotive-battery market, plans to begin volume production of lithium-ion battery packs next month, as part of a deal with Norwegian electric vehicle (EV) maker Think. Having recently acquired a Korean battery manufacturer, Ener1 now claims to have a total production capacity of 450,000 hybrid-electric packs per year, or 45,000 EV packs (which require more cells per pack). The company plans to reach that capacity by 2011. And while not every U.S. battery maker is so forthcoming with its production numbers, even if all four major companies reached similar capacities, a battery crunch seems inevitable.

CleanTech: Finland, Vietnam launch fish fuel project

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Vietnam launch fish fuel project

Espoo, Finland-based VTT Technical Research Center, the largest applied research organization in Northern Europe, launched a three-year project to produce biodiesel from waste generated by a Vietnamese fish processing plant. For the project known as ENERFISH, VTT is working with organizations in France, Germany, the UK and Vietnam to construct a biodiesel facility next to the Hiep Thanh Seafood JSC processing plant in southern Vietnam, which produces 120,000 kilograms (264,555 pounds) of processed fish waste daily. The fish waste is currently sold to the feed industry.

Earlier this year, Finland's state-controlled Neste Oil announced plans to build a $1 billion biodiesel facility in the Netherlands. Last year the company announced plans to build an $810 million biodiesel facility in Singapore that is expected to be operational in 2010

NYT: Alternative Energy Suddenly Faces Headwinds - by Clifford Krauss

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Alternative Energy Suddenly Faces Headwinds - by Clifford Krauss

For all the support that the presidential candidates are expressing for renewable energy, alternative energies like wind and solar are facing big new challenges because of the credit freeze and the plunge in oil and natural gas prices.Shares of alternative energy companies have fallen even more sharply than the rest of the stock market in recent months. The struggles of financial institutions are raising fears that investment capital for big renewable energy projects is likely to get tighter. Advocates are concerned that if the prices for oil and gas keep falling, the incentive for utilities and consumers to buy expensive renewable energy will shrink. That is what happened in the 1980s when a decade of advances for alternative energy collapsed amid falling prices for conventional fuels.

Note EU-Digest

like most reactions in the financial world this one is also based on just a snapshot of the actual moment. Medium and long term predictions are a gradual phase out of fossil fuels and a rapid increase of alternative technologies and fuels.

Science Daily: Hydrogen Vehicles Coming Soon? Two Million Could Be On Roads By 2020

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Hydrogen Vehicles Coming Soon? Two Million Could Be On Roads By 2020

A transition to hydrogen vehicles could greatly reduce U.S. oil dependence and carbon dioxide emissions, says a new congress mandated report from the National Research Council, but making hydrogen vehicles competitive in the automotive market will not be easy. While the development of fuel cell and hydrogen production technology over the past several years has been impressive, challenges remain.

The maximum practicable number of hydrogen vehicles that could be on the road by 2020 is 2 million, says the report. By 2023, the total cost of fuel cell vehicles, including the cost of hydrogen fuel over a vehicle's lifetime, could become competitive with conventional vehicles. At that point, the number of hydrogen vehicles on the road could grow rapidly, to nearly 60 million in 2035 and 200 million by 2050.

STLtoday - Europe is catching up with U.S. biofuel- by Bill Lambrecht

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Europe is catching up with U.S. biofuel- by Bill Lambrecht

Europe is starting to see a dividend on European Union subsidies paid to farmers — at least $25 for every acre of energy crops produced. Earlier this month, Europe’s first regular passenger train service powered by biodiesel departed London for Wales. Still in its early stages, biofuels has the agriculture business booming in parts of Europe: Near Letang’s farm, 75 miles southwest of Paris, implement dealer Philippe Bernard said he expects to sell $650,000 worth of canola-cutters, tools put on farm machinery to harvest canola plants, this year. A few years ago, he sold none.

Times Online: European Shell and Choren Industries turns to wood chips and straw in search for the road fuel of the future

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European Shell and Choren Industries turns to wood chips and straw in search for the road fuel of the future - by Carl Mortished

A new road fuel made from wood chips and straw will be launched in Europe later this year from a pilot plant developed by Shell and Choren Industries, the German biofuel company. The synthetic diesel, made using a novel biomass-to-liquids (BTL) process, will shift the biodiesel industry into a higher gear by using waste plant material instead of valuable food crops.

The pilot plant, near Freiberg, will produce 15,000 tonnes per year of synthetic diesel, which Choren has dubbed Sunfuel. Construction of a much bigger plant in Schleswig-Holstein, costing €500 million and capable of producing 200,000 tonnes of BTL, will begin next year in an effort to quickly bring the product up to commercial scale. Massive political and regulatory pressure is building on energy companies to find low-carbon alternatives to conventional road fuels.

All the technologies are based on the Fischer-Tropsch process, invented in Germany in the 1930s to synthesise liquid fuels from coal. Shell is already the biggest biofuel distributor in the world.