Clean Fleet Report 2007 Archives

December 2007

New Year's Resolutions

By John Addison (12/31/07). This is the traditional time when we visualize a better life in the upcoming year. We make resolutions for improved health and happiness for ourselves, our families and our friends. As publisher of the Clean Fleet Report it is appropriate to make some personal resolutions including putting the most miles on the car with the best fuel economy, saving 20% on the freeways, and continuing to live “carbon neutral.” Clean Fleet Article

Flexible Work

By John Addison (12/26/07). Great organizations are improving employee productivity, increasing retention of key people, and often saving millions of dollars annually. We admire corporations that contribute to the triple bottom line: people, profits, and planet. Flexible work and flexible transportation programs are enabling great employers to achieve all three. Clean Fleet Article

Electric Vehicles for Your Future

By John Addison (121/20/07) Over the next three years, a variety of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids are likely to be available including the Mitsubishi iMiEV, the smart ev, the Chevy Volt, and the Toyota plug-in hybrid. Clean Fleet Article

California's Low Carbon Diet

By John Addison (121/05/07) When Coke and Pepsi were in the middle of their diet wars, California was an early battle ground. Now millions of Californians are being targeted as early adopters for a low carbon fuel diet. More miles, less carbon emission. It is the law. Executive Order S-1-07, the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), calls for a reduction of at least 10 percent in the carbon intensity of California's transportation fuels by 2020. Clean Fleet Article

November 2007

Let in the Sun Shine

(11/28/07 by John Addison) Gene Coan does not worry about the price of gasoline, nor is he concerned with his gas and electric bill. Gene powers his home and car with solar photovoltaics (PV) and also uses solar hot water heating. With his Zenn electric-vehicle (EV) Gene rides on sunlight. Fleets are using solar car ports. VW and Mitsubishi are demonstrating electric vehicles with solar roofs. Clean Fleet Article

London Calling: Congestion Charge Recharges Electric Cars

(11/28/07) London could soon replace California as the electric car capital of the world. Thanks in large part to Mayor "Red Ken" Livingstone, who enacted London's much criticized congestion charge policy in 2003. The policy, which exempts electric cars from hefty daily taxation, is resulting in increasingly significant vehicle choices for English consumers. Plugs and Cars Blog

Freedom Harvest

(By John Addison 11/20/07) Oil prices neared $100 per barrel as hundreds of leading investors converged at the Pacific Growth Equities Clean Technology Conference. A number of exciting companies presented next generation biofuels that promise to reduce the nation’s dependency on foreign oil. Look for a freedom harvest including cellulosic ethanol, biodiesel, and biogasoline. Complete Article

Hyper Hybrids Headline Tokyo Auto Show

(11/13/07) An exciting variety of hybrids and electric concept vehicles were unvieled at the Toyoko Auto Show. Toyota led the pack with four of the hybrids, including the Toyota 1/X concept car, which aims to be a smaller, lighter Prius.The four passenger vehicle was reduced to not much over 400 kilograms by using carbon fiber reinforced plastic for the body. The plug-in hybrid's engine displacement is 500cc, or 1/3 of the Prius. Cleantech Article

Disney to Use Ten Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell Vehicles

(11/13/07) Disney will take delivery of 10 zero-gas, zero-emission Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell vehicles and use them to shuttle Disney employees, celebrity talent and others within Disney-owned facilities in Southern California during the 30 month evaluation. Truck Trend Article

Honda's New $600 per month Lease of Hydrogen Cars

(11/13/07) At the Los Angeles Auto Show, Honda was wowing crowds with the new FCX Clarity, the new four-door sedan hydrogen fuel cell vehicle with 270 mile range using existing 5,000 psi fueling stations. American Honda plans to lease the FCX Clarity to a limited number of retail consumers in Southern California where there are over ten hydrogen fueling locations. The first deliveries are planned for summer 2008.current plans call for a three-year lease term with a price of $600 per month, including maintenance and collision insurance. American Honda

London Orders 10 Hydrogen Buses

(11/13/07) Transport for London (TfL) has signed a £9.65 million (US$20 million) contract with ISE for five hydrogen fuel cell buses and five hydrogen internal combustion engine buses. London plans on 70 new hydrogen vehicles into London. ISE partners with Ballard and Wright Bus. Green Car Congress

October 2007

GM Takes Lead with 110 Hydrogen Equinoxes

By John Addison (10/31/07) General Motors accelerates the expanded use of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. New details are revealed about placing 110 Equinox Fuel Cell vehicles into daily use. GM will spend millions on nine 700 bar hydrogen stations. Customer support is a key initiative, including OnStar support. Article

$200 Million Invested in New EV Infrastructure

Greenhouse Gas Accumulation Accelerates

(10/9/07) Emissions from transportation, energy misuse, and land misuse have accelerated greenhouse gas emissions to a dangerous threshold not expected for a decade and could potentially cause irreversible climate change, said one of Australia's leading scientists. Tim Flannery, a world recognised climate change scientist and Australian of the Year in 2007, said a UN international climate change report due in November will show that reenhouse gases have already reached a dangerous level. Flannery said the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report will show that greenhouse gas in the atmosphere in mid-2005 had reached about 455 parts per million of carbon dioxide equivalent -- a level not expected for another 10 years. Associated Press

Solar Power 2007

By John Addison (10/2/07) Solar Power 2007 was such a hot event that registration had to be closed a week prior to the conference opening in Long Beach, California. There was enthusiasm for high growth and technology advancements in photovoltaics (PV) and in large-scale concentrating solar power (CSP). In 2006, PV grew over 40% to $20 billion in revenue and over 2,500 MW of new solar power. Complete Article

September 2007

Toyota Achieves 350 Mile Range with Fuel Cell SUV

(9/28/07)Toyota's FCHV fuel cell car traveled 350 miles (563km), from Osaka to Tokyo, on a single tank of hydrogen. The new FCHV car is 25 percent more fuel efficient than earlier versions, citing improvements in its fuel cell and control system. The car also features a 70 Mpa (maximum storage pressure) hydrogen tank capable of storing approximately twice the amount of hydrogen as the company's previous 35 Mpa tanks. Cleantech Article

Riding on Sunlight

By John Addison (9/20/07) Each day, over one thousand people ride on three hydrogen fuel cell buses in Oakland and in environmentally conscious Berkeley. By 2012, five thousand people daily will be riding on twelve such buses. The only emission is water vapor. The electricity to power the reformation and the compression of the hydrogen gas is from solar power. Complete Article

Mitsubishi Dazzles with New Electric Vehicle with Solar Roof

(9/7/07) The i MiEV SPORT maximizes the sporty possibilities of the zero-emissions electric vehicle. The high power and environmental performance of its electric motors make it an exhilarating drive that delivers superior environmental performance.Solar roofing powers a auxiliary photovoltaic generator. Mitsubishi at Tokyo Motor Show

Funding Gridlock Delays High-Speed Rail for California

(9/1/07) California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) believe they just may have the answer — a statewide high-speed rail system that would carry 25 million commuters per year, by 2030. The system would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 billion pounds per year, and save more than 5 million barrels of oil per year. Once again, however, the Governor and legislature cannot agree. Metro Magazine

August 2007

PG&E’s Clean Fleet and Visionary Future

Lithium Battery Delays and Advancements

By John Addison (8/13/07). Toyota Prius enthusiasts may now be forced to wait until 2011 to order a Prius with lithium batteries. It was hoped that the shift to these batteries would give hybrids better miles per gallon and accelerate the availability of a plug-in hybrid sold and warrantied by a major auto maker. Toyota (TM) did provide significant encouragement with the announcement that it is demonstrating ten plug-in hybrids (PHEV) and plans to follow with commercial sales. The new Toyota with its NiMH battery pack and has an all-electric range of only 13 kilometers (8 miles) and a maximum speed of only 100 km/h (62 mph) in electric-only mode. GM may beat Toyota to the PHEV market. Independents like A123 will be there first. Article

20 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses for 2010 Winter Olympics

(8/3/07) A team of New Flyer Industries, ISE Corporation and Ballard Power Systems Inc. has been selected by BC Transit to supply 20 hydrogen hybrid fuel cell buses. These advanced buses and their support infrastructure will be put in regular revenue service in Whistler, British Columbia. BC Transit operates 700 buses as the provincial agency charged with public transportation services in British Columbia. BC Transit Announcement

July 2007

Muggles Perform Magic in California

By John Addison (7/30/07) Zero-emission magic is being performed in California by Muggles (also known as regular humans to those not following Harry Potter). California Air Resources Board is again considering easing ZEV regulation. Because plug-in hybrids and light electric vehicles are in the regulation, California should have no need to relax requirements. Rapid advancements have been made in both high-performance and low-cost battery electric vehicles. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCV) have demonstrated ranges of 300 miles, 24 stations are in operation, and there are enthusiastic responses from those who drive these FCV on a daily basis. Next year, over 40 PHEV will be on California’s roads. Article

Toyota to Roadtest 10 Plug-in Priuses

(7/25/07) Toyota received Japan government certification to begin plug-in hydrid road tests on public roads in Japan. Initial tests will use 8 PHEV Priuses with NIMH batteries. Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., will also provide Toyota plug-in (PHEV) hybrid prototypes to the Advanced Power and Energy Program at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) and the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB). 10-year/150,000 mile battery warranty requirements may be causing delays in using lithium batteries. UCI Announcement

20 Ford Escapes for PHEV Demo

(7/14/07) Ford Motor Company CEO Alan Mulally and Edison International CEO John Bryson announced hat Ford is partnering with Edison in a multi-year, multimillion dollar project to, in Mulally’s words, “investigate and figure out how to commercialize plug-in hybrids.” Ford will supply twenty stock Escape hybrid SUVs to Southern California Edison, to be placed with “average consumers.” After real-world baseline data is collected from the vehicles, Ford will convert the Escapes to plug-in hybrids with lithium-ion battery packs from an unnamed battery supplier, then return them to consumers for comparison testing. SCE will supply smart electrical meters with two-way communication, as well as project evaluation services through its EV Technical Center in Pomona. Announcement

Abbott Fleet of 6,000 to be Carbon Neutral

(7/11/07) Abbott, the global health care company, announced that it will be the first FORTUNE 500 company to go "carbon neutral" with its entire U.S. fleet of company sales vehicles. Fleet vehicles are driven an average of 25,000 miles per year – nearly doubling the mileage, fuel consumption, and emissions of personal vehicles. A typical fleet of 500 vehicles can put more than 6,000 tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into the air annually. Abbott will reduce the carbon emissions from its 6,000-vehicle fleet in the United States by offering a hybrid vehicle option starting immediately. The company will then purchase carbon offsets in early 2008 to neutralize the balance of the fleet's impact on the environment — to become "carbon neutral." Abbott

Fuel from Wood and Waste not Food and Haste

By John Addison (7/3/07) Americans are screaming for lower gasoline prices. In São Paulo, Brazil, the price of gasoline is R$2.43/liter, ethanol is only R$1.48/liter, disclosed Brazil’s National Petroleum Agency. Brazil has reduced its petroleum dependency by 40% with sugarcane ethanol. The United States and Brazil together produce about 90 percent of global fuel ethanol. In the United States the current benefits of ethanol are far behind Brazil. Article

June 2007

Fuel Cell 2007 Conference Highlights

By John Addison (6/19/07). Several hundred engineers, researchers, and managers shared fuel cell technology, trends, and market success at the Fuel Cell 2007 Conference. In some areas, fuel cells generate millions in revenues from commercial deployment; in other areas, fuel cells are early in research and development. A number of commercial products involve hydrogen PEM fuel cells. Business is steady for molten carbonate and phosphoric acid fuel cells. There was optimism about solid oxide fuel cells using a variety of fuels including landfill methane, natural gas, diesel, JP-8, and biomass. Article

Building a Company: 0 to 60 in 4 Seconds

By John Addison (6/6/07). In October, Martin Eberhard will be driving his own Tesla. As I talked with him, it was easy to see why he was smiling.With $45 million of new venture capital, Tesla Motors will build its new automobile assembly facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico tol produce the WhiteStar, an upcoming four-door, five-passenger all-electric sports sedan. The vehicle plans include an aluminum chassis and body to reduce weight and extend range. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson has directed the state’s General Services Division, and other appropriate agencies, to investigate the purchase of 100 WhiteStar vehicles for the state fleet over a two year period as a demonstration of the state’s commitment to clean energy. Article

Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to Replace 5,300 Diesel Trucks with LNG

(6/6/07).Westport Innovations Inc. (TSX:WPT), a global leader in gaseous-fuelled power technologies, announced today that the Board of South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) has approved US$2.9 million for the immediate acquisition and deployment of 20 Westport liquefied natural gas (LNG) heavy-duty trucks at the Port of Los Angeles (POLA) and Port of Long Beach (POLB). Westport Announcement

General Motors Awards Lithium-Ion Battery Contract to Compact Power

(6/5/07) Compact Power, Inc. (CPI), a subsidiary of LG Chem, Korea's largest chemical corporation, announced today it has been chosen by General Motors Corp. to develop a lithium-ion battery system for the carmaker’s innovative E-Flex propulsion system. The E-Flex electric vehicle architecture underpins the Chevy Volt. Details

UPS and FedEx Get Results with Alt-Fuels but ROI is Elusive

(6/5/07) UPS operates the largest private alternative-fuel fleet in the transportation industry. Its global fleet is over 94,000 ground vehicles. About half of its 1,400 alternative-fueled vehicles operate on CNG, a technology it’s been using for about two decades. FedEx reaches one million miles on hybrids. Manufacturer Article

May 2007

2008 Olympics Will Be Cleanest with 3,000 Electric Trash Trucks

(5/24/07) Advanced Battery Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB: ABAT), a developer and manufacturer of rechargeable Polymer-Lithium-Ion ("PLI") batteries, announced today that on May 21, 2007 it delivered the first batch of 200 sets of battery cell packs under its previously announced contract with Beijing Guoqiang Global Technology Development Co., Ltd. ("BGTDC") to supply a total of 3,000 sets of PLI battery cell packs for use in 3,000 electric garbage trucks specially designed for the 2008 Olympics Games. This contract when fully executed is worth $10,000,000. The specific battery shipped is the ABAT 100AH/set, model number 240190. The second shipment under this contract is scheduled for June 15, with the balance of this order delivered in 15-day increments until completion.

Gas Misers or Corn Guzzlers

By John Addison (5/15/07) People buying new cars are asking if they should get a high mileage hybrid that runs on asoline, or a flex-fuel vehicle that could run on E85 ethanol. The United States DOE’s and EPA’s fueleconomy.gov, made it easy for car buyers to compare choices. Article

GM Achieves 300 Mile Range with New Hydrogen Sequel

(5/15/07) In an actual on the road test, the new fuel cell Sequel demonstrated a range on greater than 300 miles. The range is made possible by 8 kg of hydrogen stored at 10,000 psi, GM's unique 73 kW fuel cell, 65 kW lithium-ion batteries, two wheel motors, and GM drive-by-wire electronics. This is the first electric vehicle to demonstrate this range. GM Specs

“Advanced Clean Fuels Act of 2007” Proposed in U.S. Senate

(5/3/07) U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, introduced “The Advanced Clean Fuels Act Of 2007,” which sets a goal of increasing the volume of clean transportation fuels to as much as 35 billion gallons by 2025 in order to lessen greenhouse gas emissions and make America more energy ndependent, while also ensuring that as we are increasing our use of renewable fuels, we protect our air, water, and natural resources. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Joseph Lieberman (ID-CT) joined Senator Boxer as cosponsors of the measure. Senate Bill

April 2007

20 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses for 2010 Winter Olympics

(4/30/07) British Columbia is providing C$45 million (US$40.6 million) more toward the production of 20 hydrogen fuel cell buses and accompanying fueling stations in Whistler and Victoria. Premier Gordon Campbell made the announcement at the Hydrogen and Fuel Cells 2007 international conference and trade show in Vancouver. A major source for the hydrogen will be 200 kg/hour of waste hydrogen that is now being captured. Green Car Congress

China and U.S. Fight Other Nations Over Climate

(4/30/07) China and the U.S. accepted the first two IPPC Climate Change 2007 reports of 2,000 scientists about the science and impacts of climate change. These reports included the likelihood that by 2050, two billion people would face water shortages. Now that it is time to report on needed action, China and the U.S. fight the recommendations of other nations about oil and coal. Associated Press

California Hydrogen Highway Spans 800 Miles

By John Addison (4/23/07) The California Hydrogen Highway Network now extends from Chula Vista, near the Mexican border, to Arcata, near the Oregon border. You are invited to a virtual tour of 800 miles as we visit some of the more interesting stations. Article

GM Announces Hydrogen Plug-in Hybrid Chevrolet Volt

(4/19/07) At the Shanghai Auto Show, GM unveiled a second propulsion system for the Volt concept car. This second variant of the E-Flex system combines the new 80 kW fuel cell stack with an 8 kWh lithium-ion battery to provide up to 300 miles (483 km) of petroleum- and emissions-free electric driving. The Volt fuel cell variant is plug-in capable, adding up to 20 additional miles (34 km) of range each time it is charged. Green Car Congress

Big Oil vs. Big Utilities

By John Addison (4/17/07) At the recent Alternative Fuels and Vehicles Institute (AVFi) National Conference, major utilities were there with exciting presentations and demonstrations. Major California utilities included Sempra Energy (SRE), Southern California Edison (EIX), and PG&E (PCG). Major automotive and truck manufacturers showed their latest alt-fuel vehicles. Globally there are over 30 million electric vehicles and over 5 million natural gas vehicles.Vehicles give utilities added markets for electricity and natural gas, the opportunity to use excess off-peak electricity that is now wasted, and long-term opportunities to capture electricity from vehicles (V2G) when electricity is in peak demand. Article

Californians Buy Less Gasoline in 2006

(4/14/07) The price of gas really does matter after all. California added cars and drivers in 2006, but we bought less gasoline than the year before for the first time in 14 years. The drop in sales was meager — less than 1 percent — but surprising given that nationwide, drivers are consuming more gas than ever. Sustained prices above $3 a gallon prompted some Californians to cut back, others to park their cars altogether in favor of trains and buses, and still others to buy hybrids. Article

Hybrid Electric Bus with Only 19kW Fuel Cell

(4/10/07) Researchers at the University of Delaware (UD) unveiled a series-hybrid hydrogen fuel cell bus developed in partnership with a consortium that includes EBus, Ballard Power Systems, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Air Liquide Advanced Technologies US, and the Delaware Transit Corp. EBus adapted its existing 22-foot, 22-passenger chassis and electric drive system to use a Ballard 19 kW Mark9 SSL fuel cell stack as a range extender for a 60 kWh Ni-Cd battery pack. The bus has twin 5,000 psi tanks on its roof that can store 16 kg of hydrogen and has an estimated range of 200 miles. Green Car Congress

March 2007

Wal-Mart to save $300 Million with Hybrids

By John Addison (3/20/07 update) Wal-Mart operates 7,000 trucks that in 2005 drove 872 million miles to make 900,000 deliveries to its 6,600 stores. Wal-Mart has set a goal of doubling the fuel efficiency of its new heavy-duty trucks from 6.5 to 13 miles per gallon by 2015. 26 billion pounds less of carbon dioxide would be emitted over 15 years as a result. Wal-Mart estimates the potential to save $300 million annually by 2015 by using hybrid technology. Full Article

AQMD orders 30 more PHEV

By John Addison (3/19/07) South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) is ordering 30 more plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) that are likely to achieve over 100 mpg. Ten will be Toyota (TM) Priuses converted to PHEV by Hymotion using A123 lithium batteries. 20 will be Ford (F) Escapes converted to PHEV by Quantum (QTWW) using Advanced Lithium Power batteries. Total investment in the 30 vehicles and charging stations will be $3,777,843. AQMD will contribute most of the money. Full Article

Santa Monica expands EV Fleet

By John Addison (3/13/07 update) Santa Monica now has over 30 battery electric vehicles (BEV). The largest BEVs are Toyota RAVs which are used by inspectors, engineers, and in other city jobs. The city has a variety of light electric vehicles (LEV) including Dymac, Columbia, e-Ride, GEM, and Taylor-Dunn which make ideal utility vehicles for people maintaining parks, the Pier, and Promenade. The city is now planning on adding two Phoenix BEV sport utility trucks: one for the water department and one for the library. The Phoenix trucks have an impressive 130 mile range. Santa Monica will trickle recharge each night at 220 volts, rather than use Phoenix’s fast recharge option. Full Article

Actress Q'orianka Kilcher Drives a Zero-Emission Honda

By John Addison (3/7/07) Q'orianka Kilcher is now turning heads as she silently drives by in her new hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, the Honda FCX. "I feel it is important to take initiative toward seeking positive solutions and stepping up the quest toward clean energy and environmental preservation," said Q'orianka Kilcher. Full Article

February 2007

California's First 350 and 700 bar Hydrogen Station

(2/27/07) California now has a public hydrogen fueling station dispensing hydrogen at both 350 and 700 bar. The higher density greatly increases the range of some vehicles."The shift to a hydrogen economy is not an incremental change to society, but rather a dramatic and fundamental shift in the way that individuals will operate their vehicles in the future,” said Scott Samuelsen, director of UCI’s National Fuel Cell Research Center (NFCRC). The station is operated by the NFCRC and maintained by Air Products. Planning is under way for the addition of a separate liquid dispensing unit that can directly fill vehicles from BMW that carry liquid hydrogen on board as a fuel. The station is ideally located at the major intersection of Jamboree and Campus. NFCRC

Fleet Improves Fuel Economy 25% and becomes Carbon Neutral

(2/26/07) Infinity partners with PHH Arval and Environmental Defense to go "Climate Neutral." Infinity Property and Casualty Corporation (NASDAQ: IPCC), joined the fight against transportation-related global warming. Infinity is the latest participant in theGreenFleet program that was developed jointly by PHH Arval and Environmental Defense in an effort to reduce operating costs, improve efficiency, and cut greenhouse gas emissions from vehicle fleets. This year, Infinity replaced the approximately 400 sport utility vehicles in its fleet with more fuel efficient Jeep Compasses. By making this change, Infinity expects to reduce annual fleet operating costs by approximately 10%, improve fuel economy by 25%, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 16%. More than half of these vehicles will be located in California. Details

Light Bulb Replaces Coal Power Plants

By John Addison (2/23/07) California media, business and government leaders gathered at the CFL Summit to discuss a light bulb – the compact fluorescent lamp. CFLs are an important part of saving billions, achieving energy independence and averting a climate crisis. If each American replaced only one conventional 60W bulb with a 13W ENERGY STAR-labeled CFL, it would prevent the burning of 30 billion pounds of coal, and save $8 billion in energy costs. Complete Article

Cool Commutes

2/5/07 John Addison"Cool Commutes" is a friendly competition between Bay Area employers to determine which can encourage the greatest number of employees to commute without driving solo. Several attending corporations and government employers shared their success in helping thousands reach work using ride sharing, public transit, bicycling and walking. Employer programs are both reducing the fuel wasted in commuting and eliminating unnecessary commutes. Complete Article

Daimler Chrysler Meets 2010 EPA Emission Requirements with Diesel and B20

2/2/07 DaimlerChrysler AG's Chairman Dieter Zetsche introduced the 2007 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 with 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel engine offered with B5 and B20 biodiesel, available to consumers in March. The first to do so and three years before the deadline, the heavy duty truck will meet stringent 2010 truck emissions standards in all 50 states. He also announced the Dodge Ram clean, light-duty turbodiesel engine, that will provide up to 30-percent improved fuel economy and meet 50-state 2010 emissions standards, will be available after 2009. Green Post

IPCC Climate Change 2007 Report

2/2/07 The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) adopted the Summary for Policymakers of the first volume of “Climate Change 2007”, also known as the Fourth Assessment Report (AR4). “Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis”, assesses the current scientific knowledge of the natural and human drivers of climate change, observed changes in climate, the ability of science to attribute changes to different causes, and projections for future climate change. The report was produced by some 600 authors from 40 countries. Over 620 expert reviewers and a large number of government reviewers also participated. Representatives from 113 governments reviewed and revised the Summary line-by-line during the course of this week before adopting it and accepting the underlying report. IPCC 21-page Summary

January 2007

Oil Usage Drops in Developed Nations in 2006

1/22/07 John Addison Thank you to the millions that used less oil in 2006. OECD, the developed nations, reported using less oil in 2006, than in 2005. The drop was slight, but most encouraging. Millions have been seeking energy independence, averting a climate crisis, and healing an economy “addicted to oil.” Oil demand may be moderating for a number of reasons including these: Complete Article

Public Transit Saves USA 1.4 Billion Gallons

1/9/07 Public transportation use saves 1.4 billion gallons of gasoline every year, and can reduce household expenses by $6,200 - more than the average household pays for food in a year. Ridership is up over 25 percent since 1995. APTA Report

GM Introduces Plug-in Hybrid Chevy Volt

1/7/07 The new concept car Chevrolet Volt can be fully charged by plugging it into a 110-volt outlet for approximately six hours a day. When the lithium-ion battery is fully charged, the Volt can deliver 40 city miles of pure electric vehicle range. “If you lived within 30 miles from work (60 miles round trip) and charged your vehicle every night when you came home or during the day at work, you would get 150 miles per gallon,” Lutz said. Using E85, fuel economy of 150 mpg would translate into more than 525 miles per petroleum gallon. The new E-Flex platform is fuel-neutral and could be adopted to hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and plug-in hybrids using various fuels. GM Press Release

Ford Announces More Range with a Smaller Fuel Cell

1/7/07 HySeries Drive™ Ford concept features battery-powered, plug-in hybrid with a hydrogen fuel cell. The new HySeries Drive™ powertrain featured in the Ford Airstream Concept is a battery-powered, plug-in hybrid with a hydrogen fuel cell that operates as an on-board charger. The vehicle will be shown for the first time at the Washington, D.C., Auto Show on Jan. 23. The plug-in hybrid is powered by a 336-volt lithium-ion battery pack at all times and has a range of 25 miles on a full electric charge. With the Ballard hydrogen-powered fuel cell, the range increases to 305 miles. Greencar Congress

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