Jalopnik: Environment

REPORT: Obama To Allow California To Set Auto Emissions Standards

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 07:30:00 EST

President Obama plans to remove federal opposition to statewide automobile emissions standards today, allowing California and other states to regulate emissions above-and-beyond federal guidelines and possibly putting political expediency above good public policy. More »

Tazzari Zero Electric Car Recharges In 45 Minutes, Offers 93-Mile Range

Wes Siler — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:40:00 EDT

New Italian company Tazzari aims to address one of the key shortcomings of electric cars — recharge time — by offering a vehicle capable of taking a full charge in just 45 minutes. Tazzari hasn’t clarified what kind of outlet is required for this compressed recharge time, but as it’s an Italian company, we’ll assume at least a 220v is needed, but likely not a commercial-grade three-phase unit like the one required by the Lightning GT supercar. More »

California Continues Its War On Vitamin Pb: Lead Wheel Weights To Be Banned After 2009

Murilee Martin — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EDT

First they came for the lead in your paint. Then they came for the lead in your gasoline. Then birdshot. Now, following the European Union's ban in 2005, lead wheel weights are to be phased out in California, thanks to a lawsuit by the Oakland-based Center For Environmental Health. It's like these do-gooders think lead is bad for you or something! Seems that 500,000 pounds of wheel weights fall off each year, with much of the lead ending up in drinking water supplies, so it'll be steel or zinc weights for those of us in the Golden State. [Los Angeles Times] More »

Two European Automakers Meet Decade's "Voluntary" CO2 Targets; Success!

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:20:00 EDT

Only two companies achieved the voluntary average CO2 target of 140 g/km that European automakers set for themselves in the late 1990's to avoid actual government sanctions. Fiat and Mini were the big winners with emissions of 138.2 and 139.6 g/km, respectively. The worst offenders were Porsche (275.6 g/km), Land Rover (249.2 g/km) and Jeep (218.7 g/km). More »

Official Car Pundit Drinking Game: Early In The Morning Edition

Ray Wert — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 22:25:08 EDT

I'll be on NPR's The Bryant Park Project tomorrow morning at 8:00 AM talking about whether Japanese automakers create more environmentally friendly cars than American automakers. My answer will be a resounding no. Feel free to play along with some early morning shots of mimosa and some new rules in the comments below. If all of this sounds unfamiliar to you, read through this for the gist of it. [Bryant Park Project] More »

Biofuel Comparison Chart Highlights Hypocrisy

Wes Siler — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:00:00 EDT

The problem with the green movement isn't its goal of conservation — that's admirable — it's the gullibility many of its proponents suffer from and which big companies and governments are able to exploit to sell them on far-from-friendly products and policies. Take biofuel for instance. Many of its sources use more energy and effort than they're capable of producing, yet they receive subsidies and publicity over sources that might actually prove sustainable. This chart, put together by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer neatly sums this up. We only spot one glaring omission, poop. More »

G-Oil: Yep, You Guessed It, A Green Motor Oil

Travis Hudson — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 17:30:00 EST

With green-this, hydrogen-that, hybrid-this and Al Gore-that all slowly taking over the pages of Jalopnik, we thought that we still had the safe haven known as the "traditional engine" to fall back on, free from worries about the environment or mpg or anything else. Until now. Welcome G-Oil to the party, the green-alternative to traditional motor oil. More »

Carbon-Capturing Car To Eliminate Emissions, Maybe

Travis Hudson — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 14:45:00 EST

Rather than focusing vehicle-development and alternative-energy resources on finding different kinds of fuel, students and researchers at Georgia Tech are taking a couple steps back and looking at the emissions problem. The project currently being worked on involves a car that still operates on standard liquid fuels, but the kicker is the carbon emissions. The car will collect those and shuttle them back to a processing plant that can convert them back into fuel, taking out two birds with one stone. More »

Ford To Add EcoBoost Turbocharging and Direct Injection To 500,000 Vehicles

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 15:03:20 EST

If you've been wondering what Ford's big plans were for dealing with the new energy bill and higher CAFE standards and guessed hybrids or electric cars &mdash you were wrong. Ford's big plan is to add turbocharging and direct injection to 500,000 vehicles, starting with the 2009 Lincoln MKS. Ford claims this technology will boost performance while also affordably decreasing gasoline usage. According to their numbers, an EcoBoost car can recoup the initial investment in the technology in 30 months, compared to 12 years for a hybrid and 7.5 years for a diesel. The press release detailing this wild technology below the jump. More »

Ford's Tests Out Eco-Friendly Paint on U-Haul Vans

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 17:00:00 EST

Proving that saving the environment isn't all about mating electric motors to gas engines, Ford has been working on reforming the painting process to find ways to lessen our impact on our world. If you don't believe that painting trucks creates an environmental hazard, check out the paint shop at your local transit authority's bus barn. According to Ford, the new system "combines an advanced chemical formulation of high-solids, solvent-borne paint with an innovative three-wet application process." Exactly. Fittingly, Ford is testing this new process out on 200 U-Haul vans, which each use a lot of paint to describe the many tourist attractions of Delaware. More »

EU Outlines New Environmental Restrictions, Disappoints Ze Germans and Ze Greens

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:15:00 EST

The European Commission announced their energy bill today, which will require carmakers to reduce the CO2 emissions of new automobiles by approximately 20% to 120 grams per kilometer (30 fingers per ounce, we think) by 2012. Within the EU cars account for 12% of all carbon emissions. On one side, environmental groups are upset that the new plan abandons an old plan to cut emissions by 25%. On the other side, makers of larger cars, cars with smaller volumes and larger cars with smaller volumes may seek concessions or exemptions. More »

Are You Hosers Killing The Electric Car, Eh?

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 10:00:00 EST

The Canadian government is taking heat for depriving its citizens of locally built electric cars. Specifically, the ZENN electric car being made in Quebec and being sold in the U.S. and Mexico is getting volt-blocked by the government. Transport Canada has been vague about their reason for not allowing the companies to sell their cars, so of course there are those who see it as a great conspiracy. Another electric car company, Dynasty, is moving out of Canada because of problems with the Government. More »

UPS to Infuriate NASCAR, Eliminate Left Turns

Travis Hudson — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 09:45:00 EST

What's worse that a big, brown and ugly truck clogging up the streets everyday? Probably a big, brown and ugly truck constantly moving through traffic and clogging up the street. There are 95,000 UPS trucks out everyday and soon they will be drastically reducing the amount of left turns, focusing the delivery routes on making mostly right turns (I wonder if the same rule will apply for Dale Jarrett's UPS-sponsored car — that could get real messy). Eliminating the left turns will reportedly save three million gallons of gas annually. More »

EU to Cede on US Demands to Drop Vehicle Emissions Targets?

Ray Wert — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 08:15:00 EST

So we're hearing negotiators at the United Nations climate talks in Bali agreed to U.S. demands, dropping specific targets on greenhouse-gas emissions from a draft document in order to salvage an agreement that will guide discussions on a global-warming treaty over the next two years. Specifically, the target changes were pushed by Germany. Hmm, we're thinking maybe there's an automaker twisting arms behind the scene. Our guess is in this round the score is: Porsche, 1. Gore, 0. Who's got next? (Hat tip to Brian W!) [Bloomberg] More »

Ford Wins "Clean Vehicle Award" For Hybrids

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 15:45:00 EST

While we may have had a little poke at yesterday for their environmental leadership, the experts at the International Energy Agency Implementing Agreement on Hybrid & Electric Vehicles have given Ford their propers for achieving sales of more than 50,000 hybrid models worldwide. They also received awards for best practices in promotions and a "personal Award" for their dedication to increased efficiency in Hybrid powertrains. So there. Press release below the jump: More »

NASCAR Going Green... Eventually

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 15:30:00 EST

Whether or not NASCAR is a sport, it's a fairly popular pastime. And like all of America's major events, it's attempting to go green in order to protect the environment and reduce our dependence on... yada yada yada. Another important reason is that people drive long distances to get to races and an increase in gas prices could mean a decrease in fan support (A trip around a NASCAR event parking lot will reveal a few more V8-powered Mustangs than hybrids) More »

UK to EU: Give Us a Break

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 11:30:00 EDT

Britain's Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly is none-to-pleased with the EU's plans for a 125g/km carbon dioxide limit for all new cars from 2015. Porque? According to Kelly, the onus it puts on car manufacturers that sell only a few high emission cars (Aston Martin/Bentley) is unfair. It may not be a problem for the Seats and Citroens of this world, but Britain still has a few small marques. This isn't America, so she's not asking for all emission standards to be thrown out of the window. She merely wants a target date to be 2020 or 2025 so that smaller manufacturers can prepare for the stricter standards. And by prepare, one can only hope that she means an Aston Martin Hybrid Estate, Bentley Continental Hatch or other brand dilution that results in a cheaper ride.[What Car] More »

Don't Sweat it, Offset it

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 17:00:00 EDT

Enterprise, National and Alamo are offering the largest carbon offset program in rental car history, which isn't saying that much. Eco-friendly persons who don't want to take the bus/train can opt to pay $1.25 on top of the cost of the rental (plus insurance, gas fees, et cetera) and the companies will match that amount up to $1 million in carbon offsetts. The plan will be administered by TerraPass, which is an industry leader in letting people buy their way out of their eco-guilt. No word yet on whether Hertz or other rental car companies will offer a similar plan, but it wouldn't surprise us. [Environmental Leader]. More »

Couple Bringing LA to the Water...less Carwash

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 16:00:00 EDT

What to do if your one-year old daughter is allergic to commercial cleaners? If you're a bad parent you might put the kid up for adoption. The Peris of Los Angeles let the experience lead them to create a waterless car washing system that uses low levels of chemicals. The product is apparently good for the environment both in terms of chemical use and water savings (heads up Georgia). The couple has already landed a Lexus dealership and the Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, so this might end up being a sustainable business. If you're in the LA area and don't like spending hundreds of gallons washing your baby, check it out. [LA Times] More »

Enviro-Dweebs Plan To Plant Small Garden, Play Ping-Pong In Your Parking Spot Today

Ray Wert — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 10:30:00 EDT

[rant] OK, seriously enviro-nuts, you've gone and crossed a line. It's hard enough trying to find metered parking spots in places like LA and New York City without you eco-nerds taking them over and putting up your potted plants and trees and lawn chairs. And according to the Journal from Wall Street many of you green-freaks are going to be playing ping-pong in some of the spots. What? Ping-Pong?! We thought the purpose of "Parking Day" was supposed to be

"an effort to raise local awareness about the lack of open out-of-doors public space in urban areas, and draw attention to the gas wasted and pollution created by drivers circling the block for low-cost curbside parking spaces."

Ontario Contemplates Crackrock HOV Enviro Plan

Davey G. Johnson — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 20:00:00 EDT

As much as we vent here on tha Jalop about the habits and attitudes of many hybrid drivers, we're not against the gasoline-electric machines. We think they're fascinating pieces of technology, and in stop-and-go environments, their benefit is clear, both in terms of emissions and fuel savings. And we're not, per se against Ontario's nascent initiative to reward the drivers of fuel-efficient vehicles. But ferchrissakes, lawmakers, do not let solo hybrid drivers into your HOV lanes. The benefit is useless at constant freeway speeds. But carpool lanes are designed largely to reduce congestion, not pollution. Don't succumb to hybrid jackassery, Ontario! You Canucks are supposed to be the sensible North Americans! [The Star] More »

New Yorkers Count SUVs

Wes Siler — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 11:00:00 EDT

In an experiment in crowdsourcing, WNYC's Brian Lehrer asked listeners to count the number of SUVs on their block. "We're trying to find out just how much gas-guzzling SUV use there is throughout the New York area, with all the talk of environmental sustainability in the city," Lehrer explains. Results after the jump. More »

Automotive X-Prize Announces First Teams

Mike Spinelli — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 10:00:40 EDT

Want a check for 10 extra-large (that's millions)? All you have to do is prove you can design, build and bring to market a car that can get 100 miles per gallon and that people will buy. It sounds simple enough, and 31 teams have already signed up to compete for the Automotive X-Prize (you remember the X-Prize people from the $10 million they gave Paul Allen's Mojave Aerospace Ventures for building the first private vehicle that could go into space; no, it wasn't a Delorean). Qualifying teams will race their vehicular entries in a cross-country competition combining speed, distance, pothole bashing (i.e., urban driving) and overall performance. The winners will be those exceeding 100 mpg (or the equivalent), hit strict targets for emissions and finish in the fastest time. No prob. Bring us a Rupp go-kart, a case of rubber bands and 100 quarts of 151-proof rum. It's on. (Shown: Aptera) More »

Man Petitions to Ban Cars in UK

Davey G. Johnson — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 21:30:00 EDT

A UK citizen by the name of John McGlade has started an online petition to ban all private vehicles in the nation. His rationale?

This petition asks for the banning of the use of cars for private use, so taxis etc. would still be allowled [sic]. This will cut CO2 emmissions and reduce the effects of global warming. It will also create a better envirinment for all to live in with less noise, road deaths & fumes. Public transport should be massively improved to meet new demand created from this action.

So far, Mr. McGlade stands as the petition's only signatory. Maybe we should start our own campaign to mandate Mr. McGlade's use of a spell-checker. Or better yet, take up a collection to buy the poor clot a life. Who's in? [10 Downing Street] More »

The Roar of the Masses Could be Farts, Part 6: How Cows Work

Davey G. Johnson — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 20:15:00 EDT

The debate rages back and forth about whether cars or cattle are worse for the environment. As a global warming agent, methane is 23 times more powerful than carbon dioxide, and bovines pump the stuff out by the pantsful — estimates arrage around 26-132 gallons per cow, per day. There are 1.5 billion of the animals in the world today, and it's estimated that agricultural methane production could increase 60% by 2030. [Howstuffworks] More »

Top Gear Once Again Under Eco-Fire

Davey G. Johnson — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 20:10:00 EDT

Jezza, Der Kapitan der Nicht Schnell Ist and Doctor Teeth are once again in trouble with environmentalists for racing to the North Pole. Clarkson and May drove cold-weather outfitted Toyota Hiluxes, while Hammond hitched himself up to a team of sled dogs. Greenpeace, however, was far from pleased at the competition, once again spewing vitriol at Clarkson and blaming the BBC for destroying the environment. Interestingly, the notoriously outspoken lead presenter has yet to issue a comment, but we imagine he'll have a lot to say on the occasion of the show's airing. As a side note, Spinelli talks about the trek here. [Daily Express, UK] More »

Cutting C02 by Plugging In

Davey G. Johnson — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 21:30:00 EDT

A study in Japan over a period of fourteen months has shown that a system designed to run heating and cooling systems from external power sources when trucks are parked has cut C02 emissions from the vehicles by 97%. Consisting of a cabin-mounted cooler and electric carpets and blankets for heating, the Stop Idling system drops commercially in Nihon next March. We also assume that the system could be modified to light up one's dekotora. Now we just need a hot plate for cooking up some udon on the road and we're set. [Envautomental] More »

Florida to Adopt CARB Standards?

Davey G. Johnson — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 19:00:00 EDT

Autoblog Frank notes that actions by Florida Gov. Charlie Crist indicate that the nation's exceptionally peninsular state is moving toward adopting the greenhouse-gas standards of the California Air Resources Board, which would make our brothers in oranges the twelfth of the fifty to hop on the bandwagon. As populous as FL is, it could very well effectively force the hand of automakers to bend to the will of the Golden State when it comes to emissions standards. Über alles, California. [Autoblog] More »

Never mind cars, the biggest threat to the...

Ray Wert — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 09:35:00 EDT

Never mind cars, the biggest threat to the environment is ... ~~bears~~ cows! [Top Gear] More »

Unfortunate, Unnatural Reef

Davey G. Johnson — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 22:00:00 EDT

While the Land Down Under is famous for its Great Barrier Reef, another, lesser, freshwater reef is being dismantled by the po-po in Bankstown. Ne'er-do-wells have been dumping car carcasses into the Georges River via a launch ramp, and the estimated 60 cars in that area of the waterway could pose a navigational hazard to watercraft. Police divers have attached bouys to the underwater carcasses and are planning to use all manner of trickery to extricate the vehicles from Davey Jones' sock drawer. More »

IHT Lays The Carbon Guilt on Swedes

Davey G. Johnson — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 18:15:00 EDT

Twenty-five percent of Sweden's energy comes from renewable resources. Forty percent of the top ten vehicles on Swedish roads come from the nation's homegrown, foreign-owned automakers. And as such, the EU points the carbon-dioxide finger at Sverige and the International Herald Tribune gladly plays along, painting the Scandanavian socialists as greedy scumbags. The Swedes' defense? They like their cars. We suppose, as Americans, the rationale doesn't really wash with us. On the other hand, the Swedes may actually be trying to warm the globe, so's to become a vacation destination, thus bringing lingonberry yogurt to the masses. – Davey G. Johnson More »

New Cheap Cars Curry Favor With Indian Middle Class

Davey G. Johnson — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 17:00:00 EDT

While India's expanding middle class is now more able to afford motor vehicles beyond scooters and Renault/Nissan are looking at jumping into the $3000-car segment in India (presumably with some variant of the Logan), environmentalists and traffic gurus got worry on their hands. While public transit in New Delhi has cut carbon monoxide levels drastically, an influx of newer, cheaper cars with emissions standards behind Europe and the United States could start pushing the numbers back up. What's more, Murad Ali Baig, an Indian auto journalist, asks in the face of the impending flood, "The question is — where are all the bloody roads to cope?" – Davey G. Johnson More »

The Roar of the Masses Could Be Farts, Part 5: UK Encourages Less Meat Consumption

Davey G. Johnson — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 16:45:00 EDT

One of Los Jalops has been a vegetarian for nearly exactly twelve years now. At the time, he drove a V8 automobile. Twelve years later, he still drives a V8 automobile. That is to say, he's sort of a hypocrite, yet with the amount he actually drives said V8 automobile, coupled with his reduced appetite for methane-emitting agricultural beasts, he's pretty sure he's got the moral edge on rich people who slum in hybrids while tanking up once a week and dine early and often at Ruth's Chris. Apparently, a British government agency has decided that in the fight against climate change, the nation's citizenry should be gently pressured into eating fewer bangers and topping off their mash with a tad bit less butter. Needless to say, we're sure the cattle lobby in the UK is hopping mad. – Davey G. Johnson More »

General Motors Joins Economic Environmental Partnership

Ray Wert — Tue, 08 May 2007 13:00:00 EDT

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The General's just decided, now that Earth Day's come and gone, to join the "non-partisan" United States Climate Action Partnership (USCAP). USCAP's a partnership of companies and NGO's in all sorts of sectors of the economy that creates recommendations for toward slowing, stopping and reversing the growth of greenhouse gas emissions. Those rec's are based on six principles: More »

Governator Says He Won't Take Away Our Musclecars

Davey G. Johnson — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 17:15:00 EDT

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger played up the green image he's been cultivating during a speech yesterday at Georgetown University. The Austrian Oak remarked, "We don't have to go and take away the muscle cars. We don't have to take away Hummers or SUVs or anything like this, because that's a formula for failure," he said. "Instead we have to make those cars more environmentally muscular." So then, Governor Schwarzenegger, when can we have our 30-year rolling CARB exemption back? – Davey G. Johnson More »

Breathe Deep, Seek Medical Attention: How Toxic Are Car Interiors?

Mike Spinelli — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 15:00:00 EDT

It's been over a year since we mentioned anything about that toxic cloud inside your new car's interior. By the way, how are you feeling? That's good. Now, a watchdog organization concerned with the toxicity of cars' insides has released data on the best and worst new cars in which to take a breath. The group, Ecology Center, used a portable X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) gadget (thanks, CSI) to identify the presence of chlorine, bromine, arsenic, mercury and other potentially harmful substances. And according to their results, buyers of the Nissan Versa should probably keep a few extra Hazmat suits under their seats. Check out the toxicity list by class here. – Mike Spinelli More »

Fruit by the Foot: Length-Oriented Parking Fees on the Table in UK

Davey G. Johnson — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 21:15:00 EST

We actually think this is a pretty interesting idea. Norwich City Council members have floated the idea that motorists who apply for parking permits in the UK municipality should pay by the length of their vehicle. While we think Red Ken's proposed tripling of the congestion charge for large vehicles is presented in a really screwy way, especially considering a Landie isn't three times as long as a Fiat Panda. But this parking-by-length scheme actually seems like a pretty good plan. More »

Less Smoke on the Water: The Greening of Geneva

Davey G. Johnson — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 19:45:00 EST

While The Postfather is cooling his heels outside the Geneva City Limits, gearing up to take the Jalopnik Maximum Mojo Party to the pallid people at Palexpo, those who report on the week's business note that Geneva's followed the lead of Los Angeles, and to a lesser extent, Detwa, and donned the mantle of the Green Hornet. Which probably makes Spinelli Kato. We digress. Really, though. Spinelli totally needs a green AMC Hornet. With the Gucci interior, natch. – Davey G. Johnson More »

In Russia, Government Pays YOU!

Davey G. Johnson — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 19:45:00 EST

According to Moscow Mayor Mayor Mayor Yuri "Not Gagarin" Luzhkov, motorists willing to navigate the city in diminutive, efficient vehicles should receive a bonus. What's more, he's willing to back it up with a fistful of dollars, suggesting "We should establish incentives for citizens who opt for small-size cars with electric and hybrid engines. I am ready to grant a bonus of 1,000 U.S. dollars to each of them." The Man With No Name, Ennio Morricone, Salman Rushdie and Lavrenti Beria were all unavailable for comment on the program. – Davey G. Johnson More »

Merkel Don't Need No Merkin: German Chancellor Stands Up for Bruce

Davey G. Johnson — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 21:30:00 EST

Angela Merkel just applied a blast furnace to the cockles of our speed-freak hearts by standing up to the EU and asserting that unrestricted autobahn speeds aren't negotiable. The key to the development of the most Brucetastic vehicles in the world, the highways are a wonder of order and precision, at least when compared to the 405. The German chancellor stared down EU Environmental Commissioner Stavros Dimas when he asserted that Germany isn't doing enough to be green. Funny, because when we studied in Germany a decade ago, it was a helluva lot greener than the US is now. Plus, gas prices and the cost and rigorous nature of driver training in Germany, as well as serious TUV inspections, combined with impeccably-maintained roadways make travel by car in the nation, from our anecdotal experience, some of the safest and cleanest in the world. More »