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Tag:

fuel efficiency

Are We Close to Bringing Back Supersonic Travel?

Are We Close to Bringing Back Supersonic Travel?

written by Environmental News Network

Remember the Concorde?  The supersonic passenger jet that flew from 1969 to almost 2000.  It was not cost effective for the airlines, and extravagantly expensive for passengers. It was also cramped.  The luxury was being able to fly from New York to London in about 3 hours!

The Concorde had a big problem, the sonic boom it created when flying at supersonic speed.  This led to governments restricting where it could fly supersonically and was a major factor in it not being economical to continue flying.  That and a very advanced airframe that was getting old.

The return of supersonic passenger travel may be coming closer to reality thanks to NASA’s efforts to define a new standard for low sonic booms.

Several NASA aeronautics researchers will present their work in Atlanta this week at Aviation 2014, an annual event of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.  They will share with the global aviation community the progress they are making in overcoming some of the biggest hurdles to supersonic passenger travel.

The research generates data crucial for developing a low-boom standard for the civil aviation industry.  NASA works closely with the Federal Aviation Administration and the international aerospace community, including the International Civil Aviation Organization, to gather data and develop new procedures and requirements that may help in a reconsideration of the current ban on supersonic flight over land.

“Lessening sonic booms — shock waves caused by an aircraft flying faster than the speed of sound — is the most significant hurdle to reintroducing commercial supersonic flight,” said Peter Coen, head of the High Speed Project in NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate at the agency’s Headquarters in Washington.  “Other barriers include high altitude emissions, fuel efficiency and community noise around airports.”

Engineers at NASA centers in California, Ohio and Virginia that conduct aviation research are tackling sonic booms from a number of angles, including how to design a low-boom aircraft and characterize the noise.  NASA researchers have studied how to quantify the loudness and annoyance of the boom by asking people to listen to the sounds in a specially designed noise test chamber.

A recent flight research campaign at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, had residents explore ways to assess the public’s response to sonic booms in a real-world setting. Researchers at Armstrong have an advantage — pilots are permitted to fly at supersonic speeds because the facility is located on Edwards Air Force Base.

“People here are more familiar with sonic booms,” said Armstrong aerospace engineer Larry Cliatt. “Eventually, we want to take this to a broader level of people who have never heard a sonic boom.”

Article by Roger Greenway.



June 18, 2014 0 comment
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Beyond the Sticker: How Efficient is Your Car?

Beyond the Sticker: How Efficient is Your Car?

written by CleanTechies.com Contributor

EPA fuel economy numbers on window stickers have been the be-all and end-all measure of new vehicle efficiency in the United States since their inception in 1978.  But even after repeated updates of its procedure over the years, the EPA has been embarrassed by several instances of carmakers overstating the efficiency of its cars.  With more drivers tracking their own efficiency, and rising concern about pain at the pumps, there’s a growing outcry for more dependable estimates.

In most cases, the problem isn’t that the EPA testing process.  In fact, very few models go through EPA testing in a given year.  The numbers you see on a new car’s sticker are actually submitted by the carmaker.

The good news is that there are other sources of independent testing out there.  And now, thanks to a new partnership between Emissions Analytics, Intellichoice and Motor Trend, there’s one more.

The “Real MPG” procedure, as it’s being called, is based on 140 minutes of sophisticated testing using an array of sensors deployed on a test course designed to “realistically represent both city and highway driving.”  Roughly 100 new vehicles have been tested so far, and though the average discrepancy between the EPA numbers and Real MPG’s testing is marginal, some vehicles have shown as much as a 20-percent difference.

Beyond the Numbers

Even if there were no discrepancies between different testing procedures, the real-world performance of any vehicle would be subject to, let’s be honest, how you drive.  Before making a purchase, every car shopper should do some driving self-assessment, and recalibrate expectations.  This holds true when you buy a 50-mpg Prius C (shown above), or a full-size SUV.  Here are a few things to consider:

City vs. Highway
The most important factor to consider is usually the breakdown of how many miles you drive in stop-and-go traffic, compared to miles you spend on the open road.  Using your trip computer or odometer to keep track of this over the course of a typical driving week should help you get an idea of any discrepancies between expectation and reality.  Gas- and diesel-fueled cars perform far better on the highway than in the city, while the extra cost of a hybrid will quickly pay for itself for heavy city drivers.

Can You Be Doing Better?
The efficiency of your car or truck is only as good as your personal driving style. With jack-rabbit starts, and aggressive quick braking, you’ll never achieve fuel economy numbers used in official ratings.  Be aware of your speed.  Use slow steady movements, and keep measuring until your fuel efficiency improves.

How much do you actually drive?
If you don’t drive very much, selecting a vehicle based on two extra MPGs of efficiency may not be the best economic decision.   On the other hand, if your daily driving is less than the range of a battery-electric vehicle, you might want to consider plugging in—and thereby cut your fuel use to nearly zero.

Article by Brad Berman, appearing courtesy ebay Green Driving. 



May 23, 2014 0 comment
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Renewable Fuel Standard Should Be Informed by Environmental Impact

Renewable Fuel Standard Should Be Informed by Environmental Impact

written by

For the first time in the short history of the U.S. government’s Renewable Fuel Standard, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed to decrease the total amount of renewable fuel required as part of the national supply, with a 41 percent cut to the advanced biofuel category.

But a study recently published by our organization found that EPA’s proposed reductions in biofuel use in 2014 would automatically increase use of petroleum and increase the associated emissions of greenhouse gases. In order to achieve lower emissions in 2014, compared to 2013, EPA must ensure an increase in biofuel use.

Our study, published in the Industrial Biotechnology Journal, examines the EPA’s proposed rules. It is available online and we invite responses.

If the EPA’s proposal undermines development of advanced biofuels—as we expect it will—the United States will forgo measurable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions over many years. Advanced biofuels must demonstrate a reduction in greenhouse gases of at least 50 percent compared to a baseline of petroleum gasoline or diesel produced in 2007. But if EPA continues to use the proposed methodology for setting the annual RFS obligations in future years, U.S. greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuels will remain above the 2013 level for many years. (See related coverage: “Biofuels at a Crossroads.”)

Estimated-GHG-600x543The model we developed begins with Energy Information Administration projections of fuel use from 2013 through 2022. EIA predicts that diesel use will steadily increase over the time period and gasoline use will increase in the short term before continuing its long range decline. Gasoline use in the United States peaked in 2007, but has declined in recent years due to the economic downturn. Its use is expected to continue to decline as fuel economy standards that favor diesel use come into effect.

We next calculated the percentages of petroleum blendstock for gasoline and diesel, ethanol, biodiesel, advanced and cellulosic biofuels that would be used each year under various scenarios—the EPA’s newly proposed methodology, the statutory RFS rules, and a continuation of the past practice of setting the advanced biofuel volume obligation at the highest achievable level. The volumes of each portion of the fuel supply were then assigned GHG emission scores—measured in metric tons of CO2 equivalent—and an annual total was tallied for each scenario.

The greenhouse gas emission scores are drawn from a model that includes land-use change calculations for biofuels. This model also includes an updated emissions profile for petroleum fuels, since the United States now relies more on marginal sources of petroleum—such as Canadian oil sands—than it did in 2007. (Take the quiz: “What You Don’t Know About Biofuel.”)

However, our model allows for EPA’s estimates of emissions to be assigned to the volumes. Substitution of EPA estimates would not change the primary and secondary findings of our study. If we increase petroleum in our fuel mix over the next few years by decreasing biofuel use, that petroleum will most likely come from Canadian oil sands and include more lifecycle carbon emissions.

The study also demonstrates that increased fuel efficiency standards may not by themselves achieve reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. In the short term, economic recovery could unleash pent-up demand for transportation fuel. And over the next decade, fuel economy standards will continue to boost use of diesel fuel even while lowering gasoline use. Diesel fuel emits more carbon during its lifecycle. And, if the petroleum used also emits more carbon over its lifecycle, the impact of decreased use could be offset significantly. A combination of fuel efficiency and use of lower carbon fuels is needed to achieve year-over-year reductions in carbon emissions.

When making changes to the renewable fuel standard, EPA must evaluate the impact of its rules on the environment, including climate change; energy security; future commercialization of advanced biofuels; sufficiency of infrastructure to deliver and use biofuel; costs to consumers; and job creation, rural economic development, and food prices. We published this study as a contribution to the EPA’s evaluation of its rule and its impact on climate change. Our hope is that EPA incorporates it into its analysis of the final rule, due in June. (See my earlier post: “Why New Biofuel Feedstocks Deserve Investment, Incentives.”)

Article by Brent Erickson of Biotechnology Industry Organization for National Geographic, appearing courtesy 3BL Media.



April 30, 2014 0 comment
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Top 5 Most Fuel-Efficient SUVs

Top 5 Most Fuel-Efficient SUVs

written by CleanTechies.com Contributor

Car buyers looking for great fuel efficiency don’t need to sacrifice cargo room, performance or high-riding road manners.  Here are five reasons why:

Toyota RAV4 EV (76 MPGe)
Tesla Motors, maker of the outrageously cool Model S electric sedan, developed the powertrain and battery pack for the Toyota RAV4 EV (pictured above).  Its position as the only electric SUV on the market makes it an intriguing vehicle. The popular EV, based on the popular Toyota crossover, carries an equivalent efficiency of 76 MPGe.  When fully charged, the RAV4 EV has an official range of 103 miles, a significant increase over popular smaller electric cars like the Nissan Leaf.  When dropped into Sport mode, the RAV4 EV reveals its Tesla origins with a serious jolt of power. The RAV4 EV has a starting MSRP of $49,800 though some dealers have offered lease prices as low as $299 per month.  It’s only sold in California.

Subaru XV Crosstrek (31 MPG)
New for 2014, the Subaru XV Crosstrek is Subaru’s first hybrid offering—much to the delight of Subi brand’s dedicated fan base, many of whom had been clamoring for a high-mileage gas-electric for years. Subaru didn’t disappoint, bringing to market a crossover SUV with the best gas mileage of any non-electric vehicle in that category. The Crosstrek is available in all 50 states. Typical of a Subaru, the Crosstrek earns high marks for its handling and received a perfect safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.  With standard all-wheel drive and excellent ground clearance, the crossover can handle its own in the city, on the highway (where the EPA gives it a 33-mpg rating) or off-road. The Crosstrek starts at just under $22,000.

Lexus RX 450h (30 MPG)
The Lexus RX line is the longest-running and best-selling hybrid SUV.  Last year, the RX 450h again sold more units than any other hybrid SUV in the United States.  As a midsize SUV, the RX 450h offers superior cargo and passenger space to other vehicles in this category.  The RX’s V6 engine and twin electric motors combine for a meaty 295-horsepower—not bad considering that the car gets 28 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. The RX 450h starts at $46,410 and comes with a range of standard features typical of a Lexus, including a nine-speaker audio system and dual-zone climate control.

Nissan Juke (29 MPG)
Starting at just $18,990, the Nissan Juke provides an outstanding combination of affordability and fuel economy of any crossover.  The compact SUV offers distinct styling and responsive handling, and its 188-horsepower turbocharged engine provides plenty of oomph.  Inside, the crossover employs bold color accents and panel design to create a youthful urban feel. The main tradeoff for consumers with the Juke is its limited cargo and passenger space, which trail behind other more expensive but less efficient SUVs.

Mazda CX-5 (29 MPG)

The CX-5 isn’t roomiest, most powerful or most efficient SUV, but it may offer the best balance of all three.  With more cargo space than the Juke and a much more “grown-up” interior feel, the CX-5 makes a good affordable, efficient vehicle for families.  Starting at $21,395, the CX-5 may set you back a few thousand dollars more than the Juke, but its versatility is worth the price.

Article by Brad Berman, appearing courtesy ebay Green Driving.

Photo by mariordo59



March 27, 2014 0 comment
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Average Fuel Economy of New Vehicles Rises 20 Percent in 5 Years

written by Walter Wang

The fuel economy of the average new vehicle sold in the United States rose last month to 24.8 miles per gallon, representing a 20-percent increase compared to five years ago. According to the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI)—which has tracked average new vehicle fuel economy since 2007—November saw the

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December 20, 2013 0 comment
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Could China Get left Behind in Electrification Trends?

written by CleanTechies.com Contributor

Is China getting left behind in electrification trends by focusing on plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles? Is it ignoring alternatives that would achieve its goals of cutting emissions and reducing dependency on imported oil more quickly than full-on electrification? Paul Rivera, director of the global product group for hybrids and electrical

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December 18, 2013 0 comment
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Review: 2014 Audi A7 TDI – Touring California in Style and Efficiency

Review: 2014 Audi A7 TDI – Touring California in Style and Efficiency

written by Walter Wang

California is a big state. For anyone who has ever driven from south to north or vice versa, knows that this state is big and diverse in more ways than a short article can describe. Imagine my delight when Audi gave the go ahead for me to test the 2014 A7 TDI on a road trip that would take me from San Diego to Sonoma and back with a few detours along the way including the Sierra Nevada mountains.

In theory, the purpose of this test was to see how efficient this car is. Driving in and around metro areas like San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco can make it a bit challenging to do. With stop and go traffic as well as higher than normal rate of speed (especially in Southern California), making a pure efficiency run is hard to do. With that said, I started my trip from downtown San Diego at 5:30 in the morning on a Friday. As soon as I got onto the freeway, I noticed there was quite a bit of traffic. Nevertheless, I tried to stay at 70 -72 mph. While the speed limit is 65 mph, the normal flow of traffic on I-5 can sometimes exceed 75 mph. The amazing thing with diesel engines – they are remarkably efficient on the freeway. The Audi A7 TDI proved this out. In Friday morning traffic, I made it up to LA hitting an average of 40 mpg. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a 4266 pound car that hit 40 mpg. No hybrid or plug-in wizardry here. No regenerative braking either. Just start and stop technology. Some cars half the weight cannot even manage 40 mpg. Think about this way – if you are a high powered business person and can afford this car, you can drive in style and still claim that you are supporting the environment because you are driving a very efficient car.

Traffic on the 405 and the 101 was a snarl for a bit. Oh well. Such is life. The first stop on the trip was Santa Barbara. This is such a sleepy and relaxing town that a stopover was a must. Unfortunately, the sun was not shining and slight sprinkles were coming down from the sky. No luck and a little early for lunch, I decided to make my way out of Santa Barbara. Instead of driving steadily along the coast, I opted for the mountains and took SR-154 out of Santa Barbara. In near white out conditions, the A7 TDI performed flawlessly carving the turns and rising to the peak. Sure, fuel efficiency suffers a bit, but heck, I already proved that you can hit 40 mpg in Friday morning driving without hypermiling.

Next stop, the quaint town of Paso Robles for lunch. After I parked the car, one passerby commented how beautiful the car was, particularly the front end. Then I told her that the car is fuel efficient too. I’m sure she said something afterwards to her companion who was driving a BMW 335i.

After lunch, it was a strait shot so to speak to downtown San Francisco. Along the way, I put the car in cruise control surely expecting that I would raise the fuel efficiency of the car. Nope. As I was leaving Paso Robles, I was down to 36 mpg. Between Paso Robles and San Jose, the car was only reading 37.2 – 37.3 mpg. I chalked it up to cross winds along the route which passed by Gilroy, CA, the garlic capital of the world. By the time I had reached downtown San Francisco, I was back to over 38 mpg. So there you have it, from downtown San Diego to downtown San Francisco, I hit 38 mpg. That is the EPA estimate. Had I taken I-5 straight up and limited my tangents, I have no doubt that I would have exceeded that number.

The story is just beginning. Throughout the weekend, I went back and forth between downtown San Francisco and Burlingame (where I was staying) as well as nearby San Mateo. All in all, from San Diego to San Francisco and weekend treks back and forth, well over 650 miles traveled. Not once did I fill up the tank. It was not until I was departing Burlingame for Healdsburg that I decided it was time to fill up. Even then, there was still range to drive more. All that range does come at a bit of a cost, especially when the tank size is 19.2 gallons. That being said, I’ll take 38-40 mpg freeway for a car that weighs 4,266 lbs. any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Driving up to and around Healdsburg (Sonoma County) was a pleasure. I was going up there to attend a good friend’s wedding. As I drove up to the evening reception for guests at the Francis Ford Coppola Winery, other guests in the parking lot could not help but do a double take on the car. The A7 TDI is a very distinct design that people notice. When equipped with the Black Optic Package and its 20” wheels, the car commands a presence. At the end of the evening, I transported a young attorney back to Healdsburg to meet up with some other wedding guests for some more food and wine. He could not get over how cool the car was and was enamored by all the technology in it. When I told him I hit 40 mpg, his mouth just dropped.

On the day of the wedding, the A7 TDI continued to get looks around town as well as at the Healdsburg General Store , which is where many visitors end up for lunch or to pick up some food en route to a vineyard or two. Arriving at Trentadue Winery in the early evening for the wedding, once again some guests were looking at the car. Perhaps it was the Michigan license plates. At the end of the evening, I transported a few guests back to the hotel. During the ride back, the guests loved the Bang & Olufson sound system and the night vision assist. Yes, I said it, night vision. It’s great to have in urban areas like downtown San Diego or downtown San Francisco as it identifies people. It’s even better in rural and suburban areas where deer feel free to roam. I wish I had night vision assist on my most recent rental in New Jersey as I almost ran into a deer during the nighttime hours.

Having toured around Healdsburg a little, it was now off to Napa via a beautiful stretch of road on SR-128. Driving around so much and often times for long stretches of road, it is hard not to admire the interior of the car. It is a comfortable place to be. With heated seats for the cool evenings and cooled seats for the warmer days, I can’t think of a better interior. While there are a lot of buttons to get used to, you don’t feel cluttered and everything serves a purpose. After visiting a couple wineries, it was time to park the car and wander by foot.

Commuting from Napa to Silicon Valley in the morning is not easy. Stop and go traffic is routine. Yet, despite all the traffic, fuel economy remained well into the mid 30’s and having a luxurious interior to relax in helps. The chill station on SIRIUS satellite radio definitely helps too. After a couple days of meetings, it was off to the mountains where there was already snow on the ground in some parts. If you have not been to the Sierra Nevada’s, you’re missing out. Gorgeous scenery, fresh mountain air, and wonderful hot springs are just a few of what’s on offer. After lounging around in the hot springs, I transported a family back to their cabin showing the father some of the cool features of the car. Yes, Audi, he is in the market for a new car.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Driving home to San Diego, my friend was utilizing the fact that the car is a wi-fi hotspot to get some work done on his laptop. Yes, there is way more technology in this car that I would need in general. For an executive who is on the road frequently, these are creature comforts that help make life a little easier. And yes, you can claim that you are driving a very efficient car. Simply put, getting into the 2014 Audi A7 TDI is like putting on custom suit. It always feels good and never gets old.

 

 

 

 

 

Places to Eat, Stay, & Go

Thomas Hill Organics, Paso Robles

Spoonbar, Healdsburg

Kitchen Door, Napa

H2 Hotel, Healdsburg

Napa River Inn, Napa

Quivira Winery, Healdsburg

Preston Vineyards, Healdsburg

Oxbow Public Market, Napa

Walter Wang is Managing Editor of CleanTechies. Follow Walter on Twitter: @energytaxprof



November 15, 2013 0 comment
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Average Fuel Efficiency of U.S. Cars Continues Steep Rise

written by Walter Wang

The average fuel efficiency of new vehicles in the United States rose to 24.9 mpg last month, according to a study released by the University of Michigan this week. The findings confirmed a trend seen in the growing sales numbers for hybrid and electric vehicles, small gasoline cars, and increasingly efficient trucks and SUVs. Thanks in part to higher federal fuel economy

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September 13, 2013 0 comment
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The Eugen Maersk and the Future of Clean Shipping

written by Walter Wang

Unless you’re a particularly dedicated shipping enthusiast, it’s safe to say that you have probably not come across the name “Eugen Maersk” before. However, it’s time that you commit it to memory, as she may well be the future of clean shipping.

At full capacity, she weighs in at well over 150,000

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September 9, 2013 1 comment
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Audi’s Latest Generation Clean Diesel Engine Shatters Old Perceptions

written by Walter Wang

Maybe you’ve seen or heard an old 1980’s era car powered by diesel fuel rumbling by on the street from time to time. Probably the first thing that came to mind was how loud the engine was. The second thing that came to mind probably was how bad the exhaust fumes smelled. With the release of the 2014 A6, A7, and Q5 TDI models, Audi has shattered all the

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August 26, 2013 3 comments
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Breakthrough Technology in Diesel Combustion Results in Cleaner Engines

written by Walter Wang

Diesel and gasoline emissions have become some of the leading concerns regarding greenhouse gases and global climate change. While diesel engines are more efficient than gasoline-powered engines, they have serious emissions problems. A breakthrough in diesel combustion technology may soon lead to cleaner diesel engines.

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August 14, 2013 0 comment
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Consumer Reports: 2025 Fuel Efficiency Targets Mean Big Savings

written by Walter Wang

By 2025, the official average fuel efficiency of cars in the U.S. will be 54.5 miles per gallon, as established last year with an update of federal efficiency standards known as C.A.F.E. This equates to real-world mileage in the low-40-mpg range—a big jump from today’s average fuel economy around 24 miles per gallon. Despite fears that the increase in

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June 21, 2013 1 comment
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Memorial Day Travel will Cost Americans over $1 Billion on Gasoline

written by Walter Wang

Memorial Day not only marks the day we pay tribute to those who have served in the United States Armed Forces, but it also marks the first unofficial weekend that kicks off the summer. With that said, tens of millions of Americans are expected to get away this weekend and according to an analysis by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) Americans will spend

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May 27, 2013 1 comment
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Top 5 Greenest Convertible Cars

written by Walter Wang

Wind rushing through your hair. The warmth of sunshine on your skin. There are fewer more liberating automotive experiences than a beautiful spring day with the top down on a convertible. An open-air drive is further enhanced when your ride is not fouling the air or guzzling down gas.

Here are the five convertible cars that deliver the

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May 22, 2013 1 comment
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