The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed sweeping regulations that would require states to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the electricity sector by an average of 30 percent nationally. This costly plan is another step in the administration's policies designed to eliminate low cost and reliable electricity and replace it with more expensive and less reliable sources.
"The rule is a stunning attempt to remake the nation's entire electric grid at great cost to households and businesses across the US. Our manufacturing base will become less competitive because of higher electricity prices. The impact of this regulation will be felt by families as they will spend more to heat and cool their homes. Those on fixed incomes and seniors will be forced to pay a disproportionately higher share of their monthly budget on utilities," said Hal Quinn, president and CEO, National Mining Association."
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7221731-national-mining-association-americans-electricity-bill-increase-due-to-epa-regulations/
Volvo delivers a unique combination of performance and efficiency with the High Performance Drive-E Powertrain Concept - a triple boost 2-liter 4-cylinder petrol engine with no less than 450 hp.
Following the successful introduction of Volvo’s Drive-E Powertrain range in 2013, Volvo’s powertrain team once again demonstrates its technological leadership in emission-reducing turbo technology.
“When we launched the Drive-E powertrain family, our aim was to deliver the most advanced 4-cylinder engines in the industry based on emissions and fuel consumption relative to performance and drivability. We knew that 320 hp in our petrol configuration was just a starting point. The 450 hp High Performance Drive-E Powertrain Concept, demonstrates this ambition and the versatility of the Drive-E Powertrains,” says Dr. Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President for Research and Development at Volvo Car Group.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/72762550-volvo-reveal-drive-e-450hp-engine/
2017 Renault Zoe
Renault has introduced a new Z.E. 40 battery for ZOE. At the same, ZOE owners can benefit from a range of new connected services and equipment upgrades. Order books for the new ZOE line-up are open. The new ZOEs fitted with the new Z.E. 40 battery are made at Renault's Flins plant in France and will be available for delivery before the end of 2016.
Double the range for even longer journeys
As the pioneer of all-electric mobility and Europe's number one seller of electric vehicles, Renault has stepped up its innovation programme and the deployment of its Zero Emissions strategy.
Fitted with the new Z.E. 40 battery, the Renault ZOE now delivers a record NEDC driving range of 400km, which is twice the distance delivered by the model at the time of its original launch.
The new Z.E. 40 battery has a real-world range of 300 kilometres in urban or suburban areas, for example.
The range permitted today by the ZOE is the longest of any mainstream all-electric vehicle and motorists can take advantage of this step forward now.
The ZOE is the best-selling electric vehicle in Europe and provides a real alternative to internal combustion-engine cars, since average daily commuting distances are well within the ZOE's capabilities.
The new battery removes the final psychological barrier that stands in the way of buying an electric car since ZOE users can now travel further and enjoy a wider variety of driving situations without worry about charging. This makes weekend trips a real possibility.
The Z.E. 40 battery's charging rate is similar to that of the standard battery, so 'topping up' doesn't take long at all. For example, just 30 minutes are required on average to charge the battery for an extra 80 kilometres of driving range when plugged into one of the many public charging points in operation in Europe. The ZOE continues to be equipped with the Quick Charge function to take full advantage of the maximum capacity of fast charging points located predominantly along motorway corridors.
An innovation that doubles battery capacity with no increase in size
The ZOE's new Z.E. 40 battery boasts 41kWh of useful energy, equivalent to almost double the storage capacity of the ZOE's standard battery (22kWh of useful energy).
Developed in close partnership with LG Chem, the battery uses high-energy density lithium-ion technology.
Renault and LG engineers have succeeded in increasing storage capacity without making the battery any bigger or a lot heavier. It was optimised by working on the chemistry of the cells in order to increase their energy density, rather than stacking additional battery modules, a commonly used technique.
This major new technology has been developed while ensuring the battery's reliability or safety.
The battery's large storage capacity ensures longer range for the ZOE thanks to the meticulous work that went into integrating the battery in the vehicle. The electronic management system of the battery optimises the ZOE's energy use on the move, while the new air circulation system maintains the temperature of the ZOE's battery at a constant level, making the car economical to run in very hot or very cold weather.
Shell today celebrated the official opening of the Quest carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in Alberta, Canada, and the start of commercial operations there. Quest is designed to capture and safely store more than one million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) each year – equal to the emissions from about 250,000 cars. Quest was made possible through strong collaboration between the public and private sectors aimed at advancing CCS globally.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7680751-shell-quest-carbon-capture-storage/
Andrew Frankel reviews the Renault Zoe – one of a new breed of all electric cars that can truly claim to be a practical alternative to traditional fuel cars.
With lower fuel cost and less emissions, many automakers and fleets are turning to compressed natural gas (CNG) as a vehicle fuel. Even though the fuel has been used in this capacity for decades, increasing prices of gasoline and growing concern for the environment has reignited interest. In this video we talk with Kathryn Clay, the executive director of the Drive Natural Gas Initiative, and Stephe Yborra, the director of market development at NGV America, about the growth, development and future of CNG in America.
Volvo is now launching trucks that can cut CO2 emissions by 20 to 100 per cent. With a firm focus on new, energy-efficient technology for gas-powered vehicles, Volvo Trucks makes it possible to significantly reduce the climate impact of heavy regional and long-haul transport operations.
Volvo Trucks is now introducing Euro 6-compliant gas-powered trucks that offer fuel efficiency and performance on a par with that of diesel-driven trucks, but with far lower climate impact. The new trucks, the Volvo FH LNG and Volvo FM LNG, can run on either biogas, which cuts CO2 by up to 100 per cent, or natural gas which reduces CO2 emissions by 20 per cent compared with diesel. This relates to emissions from the vehicle during usage, known as tank-to-wheel.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8192551-volvo-trucks-new-gas-cut-co2/
What if you could buy a car that produces zero emissions and where the fuel, the parking and the driving are basically free? There is such a country: Norway, the electric car capital of the world. Mark Phillips drove around Oslo as part of his series, “The Climate Diaries.”
Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) today released its 2016 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report, providing a detailed review of the company’s sustainability progress during the past year. Titled “Serving With Purpose,” the report outlines how Lowe’s is building on its 70-year heritage of serving customers, employees and communities through programs guided by the company’s purpose and values. The 2016 CSR report can be viewed on Lowe’s newsroom.
The company continues to take steps in important areas, including efforts to reduce energy use and emissions, enhance its overall workplace experience, grow community engagement and improve its offering of sustainable products. In 2016, Lowe’s established a Sustainability and Product Stewardship Council to oversee sustainability priorities, and the company intends to launch an enhanced sustainability strategy enterprise-wide this year.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/7906454-lowes-2016-csr-corporate-social-responsibility-report/
In this video you can see the reasons to convert your car to natural gas. That will your contribution for 30% lower greenhouse emissions and for saving over 1 billion $ each day for oil imports to the US.
