Auto news and reviews from Car Buyer's Notebook.com: Environment Archives

June 8, 2008

Toyota sponsors environmental exhibit

Washington, D.C. -- The Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet exhibit, featuring more than 30 larger-than-life globes that depict simple solutions to global warming, has opened at the United States Botanic Garden (USBG).

The globes, designed by local, national and international artists, will be on display May 23 - October 13, 2008 as part of the USBG's "One Planet-Ours!" exhibition on sustainability.

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Posted by Frank at 4:37 AM | Filed under Auto Marketing | Auto News | Environment | Toyota

June 7, 2008

Nissan saves 21 million gallons of H2O at Barcelona Paint Plant

BARCELONA -- Nissan Motor Co.’s productive manufacturing plant in Barcelona will save 21.6 million liters of water in its paint shop in 2008, thanks to a new water recycling process now installed.

This improvement - a 20 percent reduction in water consumption over 2007 - is an integral element of the Nissan Green Program 2010, a global program designed to reduce the company’s impact on the environment.

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June 6, 2008

2008 Ford Escape Hybrid brings $33,000 at auction for Heal the Bay

SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- The 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid, the most fuel-efficient SUV sold in America, generated $33,000 for the environmental group Heal the Bay at the organization's annual charity auction.

Ford donated a 2008 Escape Hybrid SUV to Heal the Bay, the Santa Monica-based environmental group dedicated to improving water quality along California's coastline.

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Ford's Fumes-to-Fuel system turns emissions into 'green' fuel

OAKVILLE, Ont. -- Ford's Oakville Assembly Complex (OAC) in Ontario, Canada, will begin producing 'green' energy this summer through the use of the company's patented Fumes-to-Fuel system, an eco-friendly, industry-leading pollution-control system that converts emissions from the plant's paint shop into electricity to help power the plant.

The experimental Fumes-to-Fuel system at OAC already is turning emissions from the plant's paint shop into useable fuel, which will later be used to power a fuel cell that generates electricity.

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June 5, 2008

Finnish Co-Op Seeks to Electrify Corollas

A Finnish start-up is trying to aggregate over 500 customers to sign up for Toyota Corollas that will be turned into all-electric vehicles -- the theory being that a bulk order will make the cars as affordable as traditional gas models.

While the effort sounds honorable, it's a little short on specifics, such as who is actually going to be doing the conversions, but we understand this is essentially an attempt to create interest first, and flesh out the details later.

June 2, 2008

Think to export electric vehicles to US in 2009

Norwegian company Think has announced plans to export an all-electric car to the United States in 2009.

The model, known as City, should sticker just under $25,000; it reaches a top speed of 65 miles an hour and can drive up to 110 miles on a single charge. The company hopes to sell as many as 30,000 to 50,000 units a year in the U.S.

May 29, 2008

GM Announces California Public Policy Partners for Fuel Cell Project

DETROIT - As a further demonstration of its commitment to fuel cell technology, General Motors handed the keys to four Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell vehicles to a group of key government partners who are participating in Chevrolet's Project Driveway - the largest-ever market test of fuel cell-electric vehicles.

More than 100 electric vehicles, powered by hydrogen fuel cells, are being placed in the hands of drivers in New York, California and Washington, DC. Selected drivers include general public, media, influencers, celebrities, business and public policy partners.

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May 24, 2008

Lexus Hybrid joins Hotelier for Eco-Chic Promotions

Washington, DC -- Eco-savvy travelers can now enjoy luxury, style and a commitment to sustainability when they visit two premier hotels.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Lexus have partnered to unveil two "Lexus Hybrid Living Suites" geared for eco-conscious visitors, with the first launched at The Fairmont San Francisco in April 2008, and now in the nation's capital at The Fairmont Washington, D.C.

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May 23, 2008

Ford Donates Customized Escape Hybrids to LA County Lifeguards

LOS ANGELES -- Ford Motor Company is teaming up with the Los Angeles County Lifeguards, a division of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, to help save lives while protecting the environment.

Today, Ford presented the squad with the first 10 of a fleet of 45 eco-friendly Escape Hybrids with Intelligent four-wheel-drive, specially equipped for use on rescue patrol along 72 miles of Southern California coastline.

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May 22, 2008

Honda to set Environmental Benchmark With Global Hybrid

LONDON -- Honda is to launch an accessible hybrid car to allow more people around the world to adopt cleaner motoring technology and significantly reduce global car emissions. Going on sale early next year, Honda expects to sell 200,000 units globally of the new car annually.

The company will further accelerate hybrid sales by introducing a sporty hybrid based on its CR-Z, Civic Hybrid and the addition of a Jazz Hybrid model. With all four of these models, Honda expects combined annual sales of its hybrid models to reach 500,000 units.

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British drivers to be hit with huge tax increase

LONDON -- Eighty-four per cent of British drivers are unprepared for the radical changes to road tax rates which will see a million people pay more than double over two years, according to the Environmental Transport Association.

The graduated rates of vehicle excise duty in 2009 will be based on a car's emissions, but the research reveals that only 16 per cent of people know the current tax band into which their vehicle falls.

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U.S. DOE and GM Select 17 College Teams For "EcoCAR" Competition

Washington - The U.S. Department of Energy, General Motors and Natural Resources Canada today announced the 17 teams selected to participate in EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge, a collegiate vehicle engineering competition set to begin in the Fall of 2008.

EcoCAR will challenge university engineering students across North America to re-engineer a Saturn VUE to achieve improved fuel economy and reduced green house gas emissions, while retaining the vehicle's performance and consumer appeal.

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Challenge X Crosses the Finish Line

By Beth Lowery, Vice President, GM Environment, Energy & Safety Policy

Today I had the privilege of waving the checkered flag at the final Challenge X finish line.

The Mississippi State University Challenge X team with its Chevrolet Equinox

This is the second time in my life that I’ve been an official at an important race. Two years ago, I was the Official Starter at the GM FlexFuel 250 at Daytona International Speedway, which opened the 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.

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Emerson Fittipaldi to Participate in Ethanol Summit at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, ethanol refiner and driver of the Corvette Z06 Indy 500 pace car powered by E85 Ethanol for the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500, Emerson Fittipaldi will participate in the third annual Ethanol Summit and panel discussion held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Thursday, May 22 from 9:30-11 am in the North Pavilion.

Participants in the Ethanol Summit include:

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May 21, 2008

Honda CEO Outlines Aggressive Hybrid Strategy

Honda CEO Takeo Fukui has outlined an aggressive hybrid strategy for the company, aiming to sell 500,000 units per year of four hybrid models by early next decade.

Honda's plan calls for a dedicated hybrid vehicle based on the design of the company's FCX Clarity hydrogen car, that will debut as a five door hatchback. Honda plans to put the new hybrid on sale next year in in Japan, North America and Europe and projects annual global sales of 200,000 units.

In addition, and this came as a bit of surprise, Honda plans to make a hybrid version of the popular Fit subcompact, as well as the CR-Z SUV. The company will also roll out a reconfigured Civic hybrid.

Honda Expanding FCX Clarity Leasing Program

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