New York gets a facelift of sorts as its sanitation department will now be powered with hybrid-diesel trucks that will clean up the city. Aside from the usual cleaning along the streets of New York, the Kenworth T370 is expected to lead by example in the call for eco-friendly transport solutions aimed at fending off the growing greenhouse gas and carbon emissions caused by public serving vehicles.

“We are pleased to introduce the Kenworth T370 as New York City’s first medium duty diesel-electric hybrid truck,” said Rocco DiRico, Deputy Commissioner of Support Services for the New York City Department of Sanitation. “We are committed to use fuel-efficient vehicles that will reduce the City’s greenhouse gas emissions and improve the air we breathe. The Kenworth hybrid will help reduce fuel consumption and emissions in New York City.”

Hopefully, this move will help encourage local folks to do the same as far as addressing the eco-friendly concerns the world has to contend with to date. The City’s Kenworth T370 hybrid is equipped with a stakebed body, PACCAR PX-6 engine rated at 240hp and 560 lb-ft of torque, and the Eaton diesel-electric hybrid power system.

The Kenworth hybrid’s assignment is to pick up and deliver supplies and parts for the Department of Sanitation’s various locations throughout the New York City metropolitan area.

(Source) Press

Tags: carbon emissions, department of sanitation, diesel trucks, facelift, fuel consumption, fuel efficient vehicles, greenhouse gas emissions, hybrid power system, new york city department of sanitation, rocco, sanitation department, torque, transport solutions

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For most vehicles, the proper maintenance and car for car engines is important. Hence, we see a lot of cars and engines out there that have been around but are sure to be root causes of dangerous carbon emissions. It has been tradition that overhauls or engine rebuilding are a good way to upkeep the performance of engines, something that motorists are advised to take today especially if they are hit with financial shortcomings.

Several plans are currently being debated in the public forum in an attempt to find a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Most of these concepts have been debated for years — setting higher mileage standards, implementing advanced technologies, and passing “cash for clunkers” legislation. The head of one of the country’s largest engine parts distribution groups says one simple, quicker and less costly idea is starting to gain more attention — professionally rebuilding worn-out and inefficient engines of the millions of older cars and trucks now on the road.

The president of Engine Parts Group, Inc., Thomas Hobson, says that the 25,000 independent shops that make up the U.S. engine rebuilding industry have been restoring auto power plants to original specs for decades and are now beginning to be recognized for their “green” contributions.

“We hear a lot of talk about various ideas to reduce emissions, but policy makers and the public are starting to realize that the rebuilding of older engines may represent one of the fastest, cheapest and least wasteful ways to reduce automobile emissions.”

The U.S. Department of Energy’s fuel efficiency Web site shows that the simple act of keeping an engine properly tuned can save up to 165 gallons of gas per year. Checking spark plugs, oxygen sensors, air filters, hoses and belts are a few examples of maintenance that can result in potential savings of more than $400. Hobson says a complete professional engine rebuild would save that, and much more by restoring engine efficiency to original specs.

(Source) Press

Tags: air filters, auto power, automobile emissions, car engines, carbon emissions, distribution groups, engine efficiency, engine parts, engine rebuilding, fuel efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions, hobson, independent shops, older cars, oxygen sensors, power plants, professional engine, proper maintenance, root causes, spark plugs

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In a move to help address the growing problem of fuel and oil, Propel Fuels has reportedly partnered with Enterprise Rent-a-Car to fuel rental cars in the Sacramento area with renewable E85 Flex Fuel. This first-of-its-kind program in the area helps educate Enterprise customers on how to “fuel green and save green” with Propel E85 (85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline), which, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20 percent.

Enterprise has the largest “Flex Fuel” rental fleet in the nation, with over 73,000 vehicles able to run on standard gasoline or E85. Twelve Sacramento Enterprise locations have been selected to participate in the pilot program starting Q2 of 2009, giving customers an opportunity to try alternative fuels when they rent a Flex Fuel vehicle. Propel recently opened five Clean Fuel Points in the Sacramento area that serve E85 as well as biodiesel.

Clean Fuel Points accept major credit and fleet cards and are open 24/7, offering convenience to Enterprise customers. Enterprise customers will be educated about the opportunity to use Propel’s stations to fuel their rental cars.

(Source) Press

Tags: alternative fuels, convenience, e85 flex fuel, enterprise customers, enterprise locations, enterprise rent a car, environmental protection agency, Ethanol, fleet cards, flex fuel vehicle, gasoline, greenhouse gas emissions, pilot program, rental cars, rental fleet, sacramento area

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The State of California takes its cue from the regulation made possible by Governor Arnold Schwarzenneger on Low Carbon Fuel Standard, calling for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from California’s transportation fuels by 10 percent by 2020.

The regulation encourages the use of four primary low carbon alternative fuels for transportation: hydrogen, electricity, natural gas and biomethane. Two of the four fuels, natural gas and biomethane, are in the form of fuel (CNG and LNG) provided by Clean Energy Fuels Corp., North America’s leader in clean transportation.

“The new standard means we can begin to break our century-old dependence on petroleum and provide California with greater energy security,” said California ARB Chairman Mary D. Nichols in making the announcement.

“This regulation confirms the value of using domestic natural gas as a low carbon alternative fuel for transportation as California and the nation seek to clean the air and reduce dependence on imported petroleum,” said Andrew J. Littlefair, Clean Energy president and CEO. “Domestic CNG and LNG already exceed the state’s 2020 goal of 10% carbon reduction.”

(Source) Press

Tags: alternative fuel, alternative fuels for transportation, arnold schwarzenneger, carbon fuel, carbon reduction, clean energy fuels corp, domestic natural gas, energy fuels, energy security, governor arnold, greenhouse gas emissions, Hydrogen, natural gas vehicle, new california, transportation fuels

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With the growing demand and potential influx of hybrid and electric vehicles, the next thing that has to be addressed is where they can be technically plugged in. With that said, Northeast Utilities announced today it is in the initial stages of developing an electric charging infrastructure for plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

The initiative supports regional and national policy goals which include reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on petroleum-based resources.

“We see extraordinary potential in electric transportation as one of the tools to help meet the environmental and energy policy objectives of our regional and national leaders,” said James B. Robb, NU senior vice president of enterprise planning and development. “As the next generation of vehicles gets introduced, likely late in 2010, we want to be sure that New England is among the first markets. The development of a charging infrastructure is important, both to support the adoption of these exciting new vehicles and to allow us to assess the impact on our electric distribution system.”

“Plug-in hybrids and other electric vehicles are going to be important components of our green energy future, but they won’t work without a network of charging stations. I applaud Northeast Utilities for looking into the future and making this initial proposal to meet that need in their service territories,” said Philip Giudice, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources.

Several car manufacturers have announced roll-out plans for their new plug-in EV models, with expected “miles-per-gallon-equivalent” ratings of at least 80 to 150 MPGe. According to Stoddard, the near-term availability of new EVs in New England will depend on how “plug-in ready” our states and communities are. This initiative, potential tax incentives and other favorable state and local policies are important factors in speeding the arrival of electric vehicles onto the streets of New England.

(Source) Press

Tags: electric distribution system, electric transportation, electric vehicles, green energy, greenhouse gas emissions, plug in hybrids, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, tax incentives

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AT&T will be investing in cleaner domestic vehicles as it is set to spend up to $565 million as part of a long-term strategy to deploy more than 15,000 alternative-fuel vehicles over the next 10 years. AT&T expects to spend an estimated $350 million to purchase about 8,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles and approximately $215 million to begin replacing its passenger cars with alternative-fuel models.

AT&T’s investment represents the largest U.S. corporate commitment to CNG vehicles to date. The new deployments will bring AT&T’s alternative-fuel fleet to more than 15,000 vehicles by 2019.

Over the next five years, AT&T will replace about 8,000 gasoline-powered service vehicles with vehicles powered by domestically available CNG. CNG vehicles are expected to emit approximately 25 percent less greenhouse gas emissions than those traditionally powered by gasoline.

(Source) Press

Tags: alternative fuel vehicles, cng vehicles, Compressed Natural Gas, corporate commitment, deployments, domestic vehicles, fuel models, gasoline, greenhouse gas emissions, passenger cars, service vehicles, term strategy

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Are you wary of your vehicle’s carbon emission? Maybe you can check out these new eco-friendly oil products unveiled by Enoc which claims that they can lower your car’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Emirates National Oil Company has unveiled two new eco-friendly products, Protec Green engine oil for petrol engines and the Vulcan Green oil for diesel engines which will be made available at all Enoc and Eppco service stations in Dubai.

Can these products really make a difference? Too bad they are only available in Dubai. Perhaps once they have proven to be effective, we can see a global distribution of these lubricants in the market.

We will just have to wait and see.

Source

Tags: carbon emission, diesel engines, engine oil, enoc, eppco, global distribution, greenhouse gas emissions, lubricants, motor oils, national oil company, oil products, petrol engines

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