My Perfect Automobile » Politics & Government Programs

Gov’t Fleet Will Add 10,000 Hybrids

Larry Bell — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 23:54:13 +0000

Ford Fusion Hybrid

The U.S. government announced this week that it would add 10,000 hybrid vehicles to the federal fleet in an effort to cut fuel usage and reduce carbon emissions. According to estimates by the General Services Administration (GSA), the move will save about 1 million gallons of gasoline each year. The agency’s acting administrator, Dan Tangherlini, said, “At a time when government needs to make every tax dollar count, GSA is committed to creating more energy efficiency and cost-saving opportunities like the fleet consolidation program that make government smarter and reduce our environmental footprint.”

Hybrid Cars: Video

Government purchasing agents at GSA have plenty of hybrid vehicles to choose from in reaching their goal of adding 10,000 hybrids to the federal fleet. The short video clip above offers a quick look at one of Volkswagen’s offerings for 2013. The Jetta Hybrid is the product of a German automaker who has built a powerful reputation in the field of diesel engineering. The reviewer’s impression of the car? He finds the Jetta Hybrid agile, peppy and fun to drive, even though is can’t match mpg numbers of its direct competitor, the Toyota Prius.

Gov’t Fleet

In 2011, the president instructed federal agencies to rid their fleets of SUVs and other large cars in order to save money and improve air quality. The U.S. Interior Department will be among the early adopters of the new push. It plans to buy about 300 hybrid vehicles to improve fuel usage in its own fleet. GSA is helping fund the program by financing the additional costs for any federal agency that swaps out its older cars for hybrid sedans. GSA is in charge of administering the new program and hopes to create a government fleet in which about 10 percent of the cars are hybrids.

For more information about Ford Motor Co. and Volkswagen, see the companies’ official corporate websites:
http://www.ford.com
http://www.vw.com

Larry Bell

Larry Bell + is My Perfect Automobile’s Genius Author, but we call him ‘The Expert‘. Here is his full Blog: My Perfect Automobile. Larry lives in San Jose, CA and is also the Expert Author. Larry is a lover of the Automobile as well and shares a passion for Concept, Hybrid and Electric Cars…

Tesla in Texas: Musk Fights for Right to Sell Directly

Larry Bell — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:01:55 +0000

Tesla’s Model S may soon be available in Texas

Tesla Motors surprised the national media this week by convincing a powerful Texas legislative committee to advance a bill that would allow the electric carmaker to sell its vehicles directly to consumers, rather than use the traditional dealership system. Many auto dealers are attempting to stop Tesla from getting around the rule, and have tried to stop the bill from advancing. In a compromise of sorts, lawmakers this week added a key provision to the proposal, which would require Tesla Motors to use dealerships if the company breaks the 5,000-vehicle sales barrier in any given year.

Tesla Motors: Video

Shelby fans, racing enthusiasts, and Tesla devotees will enjoy the above video clip of a head-to-head speed contest between the venerable Shelby and a Tesla Model S. A classic quarter-mile at the drag track shows a lot about the power of these two cars. Notice that the victor is a mere 11 hundredths of a second ahead of the vanquished. Was the result a matter of different tires? Wheel size? Some other factor? Whether you like the final tally or not, there is no doubt that electric cars are no slouches in the speed department. Watch the video to see who wins.

Tesla in Texas: Fight for the Right

The Texas bill will now proceed to the House. A companion bill in the state Senate is moving along even faster than the House version. In any case, even if the bills do not survive this session of the legislature, Tesla CEO Elon Musk says that his company will try again. With its huge population and massive automobile market, Texas would be a key win for Musk and Tesla, allowing the company to sell its electric vehicles directly to consumers in the Lone Star state.

For the latest about Tesla Motors, which often uses its corporate website to post breaking news about the company, visit:
http://www.teslamotors.com

Larry Bell

Honda Civic Natural Gas Wins Big with New Law

Larry Bell — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 14:45:49 +0000

Honda Civic Natural Gas interior

The final version of the U.S. government’s fuel-economy regulation allows credits to be given to the manufacturers of natural gas cars. Until the last minute fix, natural gas (CNG) vehicles were not included in the credits program, which helps makers of electric and hybrid vehicles offset their manufacturing costs. Now, the Honda Civic Natural Gas car, the only CNG car sold in the U.S. retail market, will do wonders for Honda Motor Company’s bottom line.

Honda Civic Natural Gas: Video

The Honda CNG car, as the video clip below carefully explains, does not have the range of a typical gasoline Civic, but natural gas fuel is much cheaper than gas, and in any case, the Civic natural gas model can travel about 180 miles on a fill up. Other than fuel type and a sticker on the exterior of the car, a driver would not notice the difference between the natural gas Civic and a gasoline model.

Honda Civic: Details

Honda is the only major car manufacturer that has offered natural gas cars to the U.S. public, though the huge majority of CNG Civics sold in the past decade have made their way to fleet and municipal buyers. Natural gas vehicles emit nearly 25 percent less CO2 than traditional cars, and offset petroleum consumption completely. Most experts think that the new rule will cause other major carmakers to develop CNG vehicles.

Though infrastructure for natural gas transportation is not developed nationwide in the U.S., there are several states that have extensive networks, primarily in the Midwest, where natural gas pipelines are a mainstay for many home fueling and farming needs. Honda had complained to the federal government about being excluded from the early version of the fuel economy rules.

For much more detail about the Honda Civic Natural Gas car, see the company’s webpage designated for the trendy alternative fuel vehicle:
http://automobiles.honda.com/civic-natural-gas/

Larry Bell

Fuel Economy Standards: The Final Chapter

Larry Bell — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 19:00:36 +0000

Fuel Economy Standards: Hyundai Sonata gets 35/40 mpg

This week the president released a final version of the fuel standards rules that will double mandated mpg by the year 2025. Not delivering the news in a live press conference, the president instead emailed the pronouncement, which touted the 55 mpg law as a benefit for middle class families and a road toward energy independence. Another goal of the strict fuel standards is to cut down on the use of oil as well as overall oil imports.

Fuel Economy Standards: Video

Admittedly, discussions about fuel economy statistics tend to be somewhat dry. One automaker, Hyundai, went against the grain and made a hilarious commercial for one of its mileage champs, the Sonata hybrid. With no theme other than that no one, not even animals, can keep their eyes off the 2012 Hyundai Sonata hybrid, the commercial needs no further explanation.

Federal fuel standards have been with us since Congress first enacted them into law in 1975. Their goal was to create energy independence just after the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973. From that humble beginning, the standard became a massive piece of federal legislation that is still debated today. The law has strong enforcement provisions, with carmakers who fall below stated fuel economy mandates receiving hefty fines.

Fuel Economy Standards: Facts

The government announced the new fuel requirements late last year after a long debate with the country’s major automakers. Part of the agreement allows for generous financial incentives for alternative fuel vehicles, including electric, hybrid, and natural gas cars and trucks. Overall, when the 2025 set of rules takes hold, the average price of a passenger car will have risen approximately $2,000 as a direct result of the fuel standards. Fuel savings for consumers should, however, more than offset that cost increase.

For a complete rundown on the topic of corporate average fuel economy, see the following information resource:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_Average_Fuel_Economy

Larry Bell

Obama, Congress at War On Energy Bill

Larry Bell — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 15:08:08 +0000

Natural gas fuel tanks in a car

In a political battle that has no clear end in sight, U.S. House members have written an energy bill that, if signed by President Obama, would widen oil and gas production if the President uses oil from the strategic reserve. So far, Obama has threatened to veto the bill, hoping for a watered down version that allows the chief executive to draw oil from the reserve without triggering expanded oil production.

Republicans in the House say it is all part of national energy security. If the reserve is drawn down, their argument goes, then we have to make up for that somehow. Their claim is that the best way is to develop more reserves through expansion of drilling and exploration.

The president made his case late last week in a statement, claiming that unlimited expansion of oil and gas drilling will, “undermine the nation’s energy security, roll back policies that support the continued growth of safe and responsible energy production in the U.S., discourage environmental analysis and civic engagement in federal decision-making, and impede progress on important Clean Air Act rules to protect the health of American families.”

Before gasoline prices went down recently, there was much talk of Obama using oil from the strategic reserve to dampen market prices, even though many critics said his planned action would not decrease prices in any case.

A Honda Civic natural gas car

For now, the bill’s fate is still up in the air, while Republicans continue to state that a temporary price fix should be tied to a long-term plan to expand production. The president’s team remains adamant that linking the reserve to drilling is not wise. The issue is sure to be revisited in presidential debates between challenger Mitt Romney and Obama in the course of the election cycle.

For more on the bill in question, see the following U.S. government site that gives all the specifics:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr4480

Larry Bell

How Not to Get a Traffic Ticket

Larry Bell — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 09:01:18 +0000

VW Jetta race car

This year, Texas held its first-ever Distracted Driving Summit, hosted by insurance giant USAA (United Services Automobile Association) in collaboration with Shriners Hospitals for Children. The goal of the event was to raise awareness about distracted driving and to reduce the number of fatalities related to the phenomenon. One of the main topics of discussion was text messaging. Guest speaker Ray LaHood, U.S. Secretary of Transportation, and others discussed various ways that legislation could be crafted in order to decrease auto accidents and increase highway safety.

Two of the better-known local campaigns that have launched, or will soon, are the “Talk. Text. Crash.” advertisements, as well as Houston’s “Texting Distracts- Watch the Road.” The legal profession was represented by a Houston attorney, who said that he and his colleagues are seeing an increase in texting-related lawsuits. A sore point for many at the event was the failure of recent anti-distraction legislation in Texas, which passed the House and Senate but was vetoed by the Governor.

While state laws tend to be lax, many local towns and cities in Texas prohibit texting while driving. Around the U.S., many large metro areas have already banned the use of mobile devices completely for drivers of passenger and commercial vehicles.

Recently, several companies have come up with technology that will prevent drivers from being able to text, or use hand-held mobile devices, but so far, these applications have not gained traction in the marketplace.

For more about distracted driving, see the following useful resource page, courtesy of the U.S. Department of Transportation:
http://www.distraction.gov/

Obama in Volt

The DOT’s site is a compendium of facts and figures on distracted driving, texting while driving, and other dangerous automotive habits. The website also keeps a very useful running scroll of all media articles that touch on the topic. From pending legal cases and legislation, to ways that you can avoid falling into the text trap, the Distraction.gov site is one of the better federally sponsored Internet sites.

Larry Bell

Europe Gets Tough on Mileage

Larry Bell — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 12:10:28 +0000

A 1916 experimental vehicle

At a special meeting of the European Commission late last week, the organization offered a proposal for new, tougher vehicular fuel standards. The plan recommends a 2020 goal for CO2 emissions which would effectively reduce costs for consumers by up to 25 percent across the board. The assumption is that stricter emission levels will cut fuel usage and therefore consumer spending.

The Commission has not decided whether the new proposal will be binding, nor has it specified what the 2025 and 2030 levels will be. Both those pieces of the puzzle could come up in the next series of meetings. Some environmental groups think the proposed standards should be even more restrictive. In fact, the Transport and Environment campaign group would like to see the per-kilometer CO2 level set at 89 grams rather than the proposed 95 grams for the year 2020.

One source said the European Commission is considering a 70-gram goal for the year 2025, but automakers appear to be on board for whatever the new numbers turn out to be. As things stand, the average CO2 emission rate per kilometer in Europe is 138 grams, as Europeans are shifting their buying habits toward alternative fuel vehicles as well as high-mileage gasoline cars.

Opel Ampera hybrid car

In the United Kingdom, a generous incentive program is in place which offers drivers about $8,000 if they buy a vehicle that has an emission level lower than 75 grams of CO2 per kilometer driven. So far, the program has been a success, causing various types of alternative fuel vehicles to post increased sales numbers. The U.S. auto market has experienced the same thing, with both federal and state government incentives fueling a visible sales boost for such cars.

For more on the topic of vehicle fuel economy and how it is measured, see the following resource page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_economy_in_automobiles

Larry Bell

EV Sales: The Controversial Saudi Connection

Larry Bell — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:57:58 +0000

Smart Electric Drive's motor

To the surprise of many auto industry analysts and international economists, it appears that certain practices by the Saudi Arabian government, and OPEC in particular, are working to keep electric vehicle sales afloat. In a strange mathematical interplay of financial cause and effect, the workings of the powerful Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) are likely to keep the price of Brent crude oil above $100 per barrel for the near future.

When prices fall below that level, one of OPEC’s most powerful members, Saudi Arabia, would almost certainly decrease its oil output in order to keep supplies low. That, in turn, would work to hold the barrel price artificially high, even though current trends are seeing a fall in the global price of spot crude.

A recent survey of industry executives, bankers, and oil traders revealed that the majority feel the per-barrel price will remain above $100 but below $120 for at least another year. While world political events have made a decrease of Iranian oil a likely scenario, other global economic trends have been pointing toward lower demand. In any case, price support for $100 oil is good news for makers of electric vehicles, who have seen recent sales numbers react in direct proportion to the price of world petroleum stocks.

Honda Civic Natural Gas

Right now, petroleum prices are straddled around the magic $100 number, with WTI crude at about $93 (at the time of writing), but the cost of a barrel of Brent crude at almost $112. When and if Brent crude tags below the one-hundred mark, watch for the Saudis to cut production, stave off supply, and run the number back up.

A macro-economic result of all the oil shuffling is long-term demand support for electric and hybrid vehicles in the U.S., where the price of oil is one of the primary factors driving alternative vehicle popularity.

For a third-party information page about OPEC, see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OPEC
For the official OPEC website (yes, they have one), see:
http://www.opec.org/opec_web/en/

Larry Bell

DOE Spends $5 Million on Fuel Program

Larry Bell — Mon, 14 May 2012 05:25:10 +0000

Honda Civic hybrid

In a move that is being described as an attempt to build more infrastructure for new types of cars, the Department of Energy announced this week that a fresh $5 million initiative would help “expand the use of alternative fuel vehicles, including electric vehicles, in cities and towns across the country.” The main focus of the new funding will be to increase fuel station access for electric and hybrid cars.

A spokesperson for the department emphasized that the taxpayer funded program will not build or install fueling stations per se, but will be geared toward educating citizens about the advantages of alternative fuel transportation, and helping buyers choose the “right vehicles for their needs.”

In a lengthy release, the department pointed out that the goal of the new initiative is ultimately to reduce U.S. dependence on oil and to decrease greenhouse gas emissions. The DOE says that the program will create jobs, help the economy, and protect the environment in noticeable ways.

The new funding plan is part of what administration officials call the president’s “all of the above” method of reducing gasoline prices and eliminating the nation’s need for foreign petroleum products. By helping build a market for electric cars, so the thinking goes, demand for gasoline will be lower, and prices should drop as a result. The president has indicated that he is in favor of taking various other actions to effect that end.

"Charge me!" Nissan Leaf

Besides the DOE program, government efforts are aimed toward new developments in natural gas, more efficient combustion engines, and extensive biofuels research. Recently, the president has reiterated his commitment to reduce the amount of money Americans must spend at the gas pump, and all these programs are a part of that general, overall strategy.

For more information about the Department of Energy and the programs its oversees, visit the department’s official website at:
http://www.energy.gov

Larry Bell

Get Your HOV Lane Pass

Catherine Siverts — Wed, 02 May 2012 00:21:41 +0000

In California, single-occupant use of HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) lanes is allowed for vehicles that follow certain criteria.

HOV lanes were originally designed and implemented in the 1970′s and since that time have had their fair share of issues. From drivers putting blow-up dolls in their front seats (which is not legal, by the way), to people just plain disregarding the lanes, a fair amount of people have expressed their disagreement or unwillingness to comply with the laws surrounding their use.

However, when the actual statistics are examined, HOV lanes transport more people per lane than other lanes, and do so at a generally higher rate of speed. This is despite the fact that about 80% of drivers don’t use them! You’d think more of them would want to take advantage, right?

This incentive was the idea that fueled the original project in California, to put decals on hybrid cars (that qualify) and allow single-occupancy use of these valuable HOV lanes.

Originally drivers of qualifying hybrid cars could gain access to these lanes with just the driver, but this aspect of the program expired on July 1st of last year (2011). From that date forward, any vehicles with the yellow decals from this program do not have any advantage on the road when it comes to HOV lane use, and would be liable for the full penalty of single-occupancy use of these lanes if caught.

As it is now, the white decals and the green decals are valid. In order to get these decals, though, it’s not enough to just own a vehicle that qualifies. You must also submit a full application with accurate data to the DMV and actual get your stickers in order to use the lanes.

The white decals are obtainable if you have a zero emissions vehicle (ZEV for short), such as a Nissan Leaf, or other similar vehicles. The green decals are new as of the first of this year.

As far as how to get your green decals, this is what the California Department of Motor Vehicles says on it: “Green CAV decals will be issued to the first 40,000 applicants that purchase or lease cars meeting California’s Enhanced Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (Enhanced AT PZEV) requirements. Vehicles qualifying for this newCAV decal will be added to ARB’s website. For more information, visit www.arb.ca.gov.”

Catherine Siverts

Catherine Siverts is My Perfect Automobile’s Expert Author, but people call her Cat. Here is her bio: My Perfect Automobile. Catherine lives in San Jose, CA and is also a Dedicated Member of the My Perfect Automobile Team. Catherine is a lover of the Automobile as well and shares a passion for Nerdy Stuff (power), Concept, Hybrid and Electric Cars!

Cell Phone Ban? Controversy Swirls Around EVs

Larry Bell — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 07:39:02 +0000

A 2012 Ford Focus Electric

A proposed federal ban on cell phone use by drivers has many automakers up in arms and is setting the stage for a potentially massive battle between government regulators and auto companies. Highly automated infotainment systems in newer electric and hybrid cars, as well as combustion vehicles, are at the center of the controversy. Ford, for one, has packed some of its cars and trucks with what federal officials consider “driver distracting” science, like embedded phone and video technology.

Ford recently adjusted the position of its voice-recognition microphones in the Focus to better understand drivers’ commands. Since then, other Ford vehicles, as well as other companies, have copied the technological approach to such challenges. Not so fast, says the U.S. Department of Transportation. In a press conference this week, DOT Secretary Ray La Hood calls driver distraction caused by phone usage an “epidemic,” and is urging federal action to ban most phone use while driving.

The National Transportation Safety Board recently recommended banning the use of all phones by all U.S. drivers, even hands-free devices. Now it looks like the federal government and the auto industry are on a collision course, since the DOT came out this week and agreed with NTSB’s ban suggestion, which should pave the way for a bill that will eventually reach Congress. Not since the federal agencies mandated air bags in all U.S. cars has a single regulatory issue threatened to ignite so big a war between the public and private sectors.

Ford’s corporate website is located at: http://www.ford.com

The official website for the U.S. Department of Transportation is http://www.dot.gov/
The agency is a cabinet level department of the government. Established in 1966, the mission of the DOT is, “… ensuring a fast, safe, efficient, accessible, and convenient transportation system that meets our vital national interests and enhances the quality of life of the American people…”

Larry Bell

Tropical Paradise Going Green

Larry Bell — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 07:21:45 +0000

A CNG bus in Barbados

Besides encouraging the use of electric and hybrid vehicles, the Caribbean island-nation of Barbados is making a total shift away from a fossil fuel-based economy toward a green energy solution. Virtually every sector of the small country’s economic life will be touched by a series of government-sponsored programs that will create an integrated, renewable energy culture.

Early this month, the cabinet slated almost $200 million for a gigantic municipal facility that will produce solar energy, wind power, and include a waste-to-energy system as well as a landfill control facility. If all goes as planned, the new structure will have a total output of 25 megawatts of clean power, all of which will help cut the island’s reliance on oil and diesel fuel. Capping greenhouse gases has been one of the main motivations behind the policy from the beginning.

Right now, Barbados gets around 95 percent of its energy from fossil fuels, and the overwhelming majority of that amount is brought onto the island from other nations. Sadly, the country spends the same amount on imported oil as it does on education, but that is set to change after the new green initiatives get underway.

Informally, business leaders and civic groups in Barbados have been encouraging drivers to use electric and hybrid drive cars in order to minimize CO2 emissions. A so-called “perfect storm” of negative circumstances has propelled the Barbados governmental cabinet to oversee a societal and economic green push. Pollution has gotten worse during the last decade, as oil prices have risen steadily. Within several years, results should begin to show whether the effort is paying off. Most experts agree that the new plan is a definite step in the right direction.

New push for green cars on Barbados

For more information about the island paradise of Barbados, including everything a traveler might want to know about the famous getaway spot, see the official website, at www.barbados.org/
For a bit of historical data about Barbados, as well as all the current stats about the island, see the following information resource page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbados

Larry Bell