| BP political blowout: Ban our offshore drilling rights and we won't pay damages |
|
Sep 03, 2010 - 11:47 AM - by Chuck
|
 Author is calling this extortion
Steven G. Brant - HUFFINGTONPOST - Sep 3, 2010
Time will tell if damages are fairly assessed against BP while not driving them out of business --Ed.
According to the New York Times: "BP is warning Congress that if lawmakers pass legislation that bars the company from getting new offshore drilling permits, it may not have the money to pay for all the damages caused by its oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
[... ]
"If we are unable to keep those fields going, that is going to have a substantial impact on our cash flow," said David Nagle, BP's executive vice... [Read More]
|
0 Replies | 12 Views
|
| Chevrolet Volt Granted California HOV Access in 2012 |
|
Sep 03, 2010 - 9:52 AM - by Right Lane Cruiser
|
The problem for General Motors is that its competition has been given access while the Volt must wait.
Richard Posluszny - RANKINGSANDREVIEWS - September 2, 2010
Shouldn't the Volt be able to sell based on its own merits? --Ed.
The primary benefit of buying a green car is its gas savings. But it seems that there are other advantages too. One being federal tax credits and another is high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane access.
While HOV lanes were initially designed for vehicles carrying more than one passenger, you can now fly solo in California and other states if you have a... [Read More]
|
|
4 Replies | 39 Views
|
| San Francisco Mayor Newsom makes hybrid vehicles a top priority |
|
Sep 03, 2010 - 9:48 AM - by Right Lane Cruiser
|
Mayor Newsom has publicly vowed that the Bay Area and San Francisco in particular, will lead the nation in steering away from gasoline-powered cars.
Allison Addicott - WASHINGTONTIMES - September 2, 2010
Will SF be able to live up to this mayor's goals? --Ed.
Making San Francisco known as the most sustainable city in the nation is a well-known priority for San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. His green initiatives have ranged from what San Francisco does with its plastic bags and water bottles to the... [Read More]
|
|
0 Replies | 28 Views
|
| Land Rover will get hybrids, smaller vehicles |
|
Sep 03, 2010 - 9:44 AM - by Right Lane Cruiser
|
 A hybrid version of the Evoque is expected, although the timing is unknown.
CNET - September 3, 2010
Can these vehicles be made efficient enough to make sense? --Ed.
New owner Tata Motors promises that Land Rover will add smaller vehicles and hybrid powerplants, but it hasn't said much about the timing.
Land Rover will continue to share components with Jaguar, which is also under Tata ownership. Land Rover already uses Jaguar's 5.0-liter V-8 engine in all but one of its vehicles.
Here are Land Rover's product plans:
Land Rover LR2: The SUV gets a mild restyling and upgrades to the... [Read More]
|
|
0 Replies | 28 Views
|
| Toyota's Auris: another horrible hybrid? |
|
Sep 03, 2010 - 9:40 AM - by Right Lane Cruiser
|
 Hybrids not for you? This one might surprise you. Where Toyota's Prius feels staid and sensible, the Auris is fun to drive.
Charleen Clarke - MOTORING - September 2, 2010
Could this be the actual hybrid for everyone else? --Ed.
Men and hybrids just don't mix. Much like men and walk-in cupboards, pedicures or fidelity (ask Tiger). As such, my two (male) colleagues aren't exactly jumping for joy. The reason for their grumpy disposition? We have a four-hour drive ahead of us.
In a hybrid.
The hybrid in question is the Toyota Auris, a five-door hatchback... [Read More]
|
|
1 Reply | 50 Views
|
| 2008 Yamaha WR250R Rider -- A Long Way from Home Takes a Respite |
|
Sep 02, 2010 - 9:43 PM - by xcel
|
 Mederic, “Medski” as he’s called on the WR forums, departed Quebec and finds himself in Chicago for a night.
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Sept. 2, 2010
The mighty WR250 makes its way back into the news with yet another intrepid ride but this time performed by a young Canadian taking a cross country journey from his home Province of Quebec. His itinerary should see him reach Montana by early next week, up to Calgary, through the Banff/Lake Louise area while visiting Alberta/British Columbia and if time permits, a swing down to Vegas with a final all out effort to get back to Quebec for a much needed winter rest.
... [Read More]
|
|
0 Replies | 169 Views
|
| The 2011 Ford Mondeo – A new kind of classy fuel saver… |
|
Sep 02, 2010 - 4:30 PM - by xcel
|
 EcoBoost or Turbo Diesel, you decide.
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Sept. 2, 2010
2011 Ford Mondeo – 160 HP 2.0L TDCi is rated at 44 mpgUS combined on the NEDC while taking just 8.7 seconds to 60 mph.
Ford is launching the most stylish and technologically advanced Mondeo model it has ever built. With a restyled exterior, an enhanced interior, plus new high-efficiency Ford EcoBoost and TDCi turbo diesel powertrains and a host of new driver comfort and convenience features and safety technologies, the new Mondeo completes the rejuvenation of Ford's large car range, and takes its position as the flagship model in the company's European portfolio.
The new... [Read More]
|
|
5 Replies | 267 Views
|
| GM Offers Hands-Free Calling Choices |
|
Sep 02, 2010 - 2:12 PM - by xcel
|
While GM is calling it an On-Star feature, Bluetooth is actually built into the cars and available without a subscription.
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Sept. 2, 2010
OnStar is the brand name that GM is using to launch their Bluetooth/Hands-Free Calling awareness campaign to help simplify the process of pairing cell phones to the hands-free technology.
According to GM, only 45 percent of their customers are pairing their cellular phones to a vehicle’s Bluetooth system, raising concerns that customers are unaware of the feature in their vehicle or believe connecting to be too difficult a process.
GM created a website, ... [Read More]
|
|
0 Replies | 173 Views
|
| Ford’s Focus BEV Will Use a Liquid Cooled and Heated Li-Ion Pack |
|
Sep 02, 2010 - 11:38 AM - by xcel
|
For longevity and performance reasons, active heating and cooling makes sense but there is a long line of both complexity and cost added.
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Sept. 2, 2010
2012 Ford Focus BEV – Home grown tech and 100-miles AER. Price? TBA at a much later date...
The all-new Ford Focus BEV, which is scheduled to debut in the US in late 2011, will be powered by a Li-Ion battery system that utilizes cooled and heated liquid to regulate battery temperature, extend battery life and maximize driving range.
The all-new, 2012 Ford Focus BEV which debuts in late 2011 in the U.S. will be powered by an advanced Li-Ion battery that utilizes heated and... [Read More]
|
|
11 Replies | 346 Views
|
| Toyota at the Top in German Environmental Group Ranking |
|
Sep 02, 2010 - 11:21 AM - by xcel
|
 With an environmentally friendly line up consisting of the Prius, Auris and iQ, is it any wonder?
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Sept. 2, 2010
Toyota’s brand new Auris Hybrid is shaking things up in the land of the super diesel.
In this year’s ranking of the most environmentally friendly vehicles in Germany, Toyota took the top three positions as the overall leader. The list, which the Verkehrsclub Deutschland (VCD) compiles once a year, is topped by the new Auris Hybrid and Prius together, with 7.53 points each. Prius confirmed its results from last year. On the third position Toyota iQ 1.0 VVT-i follows with 7.43 points, a slight... [Read More]
|
|
0 Replies | 169 Views
|
| Old Faithful Visitor Education Center |
|
Sep 02, 2010 - 11:07 AM - by xcel
|
The Dedication occurred late last month for a whole new generation of Yellowstone enthusiasts.
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Sept. 2, 2010
Old Faithful.
There are more geysers and hot springs in Yellowstone than in the rest of the world combined, yet most visitors used to leave the Park without a basic understanding of the rare and precious geysers they saw or the volcanic activity that was happening beneath their feet. That has now all changed.
A new Visitor Education Center near the heart of Yellowstone National Park – Old Faithful Geyser – is... [Read More]
|
|
0 Replies | 158 Views
|
| Another Oil Rig Explosion in the Gulf off Louisiana's Coast |
|
Sep 02, 2010 - 10:46 AM - by Right Lane Cruiser
|
More oil drilling setbacks
Sean Welch - CleanMPG - September 2, 2010
For the second time this year the Gulf of Mexico has been rocked by the explosion of an oil rig. The Coast Guard is reporting that a drilling platform to the west of the tragic Deepwater Horizon site has exploded.
Thirteen workers were thrown from the rig in the explosion and while they were all wearing protective gear it is not yet known what injuries were sustained. No further information is available about any potential casualties.
When will these tragedies cease? What further affect will this have on the price of oil, the refined fuel costs,... [Read More]
|
|
3 Replies | 214 Views
|
| General Motors Wants Trademark for ‘Range Anxiety’ |
|
Sep 02, 2010 - 9:25 AM - by msirach
|
Tesla to trademark "Tesla Grin" next
Michael Ramsey - WSJ - September 01, 2010
What? A moot term trademarked? --Ed.
General Motors Corp. has asked the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for permission to trademark the term “range anxiety,” a phrase company executives first started using after their experiences with the EV-1 electric car of the late 1990s and early 2000s.
It refers to a driver’s fear of using the electric car for longer trips because there is no quick way to recharge if the battery runs down.
The move, reported first... [Read More]
|
|
7 Replies | 226 Views
|
| Military Study Warns of a Potentially Drastic Oil Crisis |
|
Sep 02, 2010 - 9:08 AM - by ALS
|
 A study by a German military think tank has analyzed how "peak oil" might change the global economy.
Stefan Schultz - SPIEGEL - September 2, 2010
A study by a German military think tank has analyzed how "peak oil" might change the global economy. The internal draft document -- leaked on the Internet -- shows for the first time how carefully the German government has considered a potential energy crisis.
The term "peak oil" is used by energy experts to refer to a point in time when global oil reserves pass their zenith and production gradually begins to decline. This would... [Read More]
|
|
1 Reply | 205 Views
|
| 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid Says "Green" With...Flowers |
|
Sep 02, 2010 - 7:23 AM - by Right Lane Cruiser
|
"Maybe Lincoln customers like flowers."
Marty Padgett - THECARCONNECTION - September 1, 2010
Is this a wise design choice for a mostly male consumer base? --Ed.
In the green-car world, the leaf is the king of all icons.
The 2010 Honda Insight fertilized the idea when it bowed in 2008; it still promotes greener driving with electronically rendered displays of plants that add leaves as the car's computers sense a light, planet-conscious foot on the gas pedal.
The king of the leaves? The 2011 Nissan LEAF, of course, which... [Read More]
|
|
0 Replies | 155 Views
|
