Category Archives: Automobile Emissions

Ignition Coil Problems For Volkswagen

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volkswagen ignition coil recallVolkswagen is conducting a voluntary emissions service program to inspect and, if necessary, replace ignition coils installed in some 2001 to 2007 Volkswagen vehicles. The coils in some of these vehicles are prone to malfunction under certain conditions, which could lead to poor engine performance, decreased fuel economy, increased vehicle emissions, and an illuminating Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL).

If the MIL should illuminate, you should take your vehicle to the nearest authorized Volkswagen dealer for diagnosis and repair as soon as possible to avoid damaging the vehicle. If you vehicle is not experiencing any problems, it is safe to continue driving until you receive a notification to bring it in. Because of a shortage of parts, customer vehicles with immediate needs will be dealt with first. Some vehicles have already been equipped with the latest version of the parts and are not included in this campaign.

If you have paid to have ignition coils replaced in your Volkswagen prior to this program, you may be eligible for reimbursement. For further information, please contact Volkswagen Customer Care at: 888.683.9156 (United States) or 888.595.8228 (Canada). For more information, go to http://www.vwcoils.com/.

Biofuel Choices At The Pumps In Oakland

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Last Tuesday, Oakland opened its first bio fuels station offering fill ups for cars that can run on renewable alternatives to gasoline. The station, operated by Propel Fuels, not only offered each new customer five free gallons of fuel, but had a marketing team on hand to assist customers who were not sure whether their vehicle was bio fuel compatible. (Those wondering whether their cars can run on bio fuels can visit Propel’s online guide).

Propel has been expanding its California operations rapidly since entering the state in January 2009. Stations similar to this one opened in Fremont and San Jose this summer, and a Berkeley station is expected to open soon. Emily Shellabarger, Propels marketing specialists says, “our focus is now on California. We are interested in building a California-wide network .” And this network will soon be a reality with an $11 billion grant from the Department of Energy and the California Energy Commission. With this money, they will build and operate 75 self serve alternative fuel stations across the state over the next two years. Propel said it will match the grant funding with $16 million in private investment to speed up building of Propel’s network of fueling stations.

In addition to luring drivers to its stations, Propel has tried to widen its customer base through social networking. The company communicates with customers and seeks out new ones online by means of both a blog and a page on Facebook.

GM Confident In Volts Battery

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According to GM executive director of global electrical systems, “The Chevrolet Volt’s batteries have exceeded performance targets and are ready to hit the road.” To prove it, Chevrolet is offering one of the automotive industry’s longest, most comprehensive battery warranties for an electric vehicle. The standard 8 year, 100,000 mile warranty will also be transferable at no extra cost to other vehicle owners.

The Volt’s comprehensive battery warranty covers all 161 battery components as well as the thermal management system, charging system and electric drive components, which allows the Volt to operate under a full range of climates and driving conditions without concern about being stranded by a dead battery. It has a range of about 340 miles and is powered with electricity at all times. For up to the first 40 miles, the Volt is powered solely by electricity stored in its 16-kWh lithium-ion battery, using no fuel and producing no emissions. When the Volt’s lithium-ion battery runs low, an engine/generator operates to extend the driving range another 300 miles on a full tank of fuel.

According to Nancy Laubenthal, plant manager of the Brownstown Battery Plant, “We’re moving fast to deliver for the customer and ensure the Volt launch stays on track.” “Last August we announced the investment in the Brownstown facility and in January built our first completed battery pack. Now we are finishing pre-production batteries and soon we will begin building production batteries for Chevrolet Volts that will be delivered to dealers before the end of the year.”

Hydrogen Cars – Still An Option?

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It seems that lately there has been much talk about the electric car. The automobile companies have been investing large amounts of money into electric cars with the hopes of becoming the leaders in the industry. The installation of more charging stations has not only made it more convenient to charge an electric car, but the installation of solar charging stations has made the drain on the power infrastructure less of a problem.

Still, the hydrogen car lurks in the background. Tucked away on the Torrance campus behind a security guard and a locked gate, a system designed to power Honda’s limited-production FCX Clarity sedan and other hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles uses solar panels to power a machine the size of a mini-refrigerator. This system converts water into hydrogen and oxygen gases and then pumpes the hydrogen directly into the car. No fossil fuels, no pollution, no additional strain on the power grid — and all done at home. It’s called a residential hydrogen refueler, and only one currently exists. According to statements from automakers like Honda, General Motors, Toyota, and Mercedes they hope to begin selling hydrogen-powered production cars to consumers as early as 2015.

Other hydrogen fuel-cell cars, only available by lease, exist. Made by GM, Toyota and Mercedes, most of the lessees are in “station clusters,” specific geographic areas that have hydrogen fueling stations. It’s the scarcity of these hydrogen stations that’s seen as one of the biggest barriers to mass adoption of fuel-cell cars.

The installation of these residential hydrogen refulers would solve this problem, but at what cost? Honda won’t say, but it’s a promising technology that advances the trend toward consumers detaching from a fossil-fuel economy and becoming more self-sufficient. It’s a future in which American homes are less reliant on a large-scale infrastructure — power grids, and water districts — and provide at least some of the solutions themselves via solar panels, gray-water systems, rainwater harvesting and home-based car-refueling technology.

GreenRoad Technologies Saves Companies Money

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Launched in 2003, The California-based GreenRoad Technologies Inc.®, provides a cost-effective service that helps reduce emissions, vehicle wear-and-tear and helps save lives. While billions have been invested in building safer and more fuel efficient vehicles and roads, virtually nothing was being done to address what contributes to wasted fuel and 90% of all crashes… driver behavior.

After four years of extensive testing in more than one million driver trips, GreenRoad’s comprehensive service is proven to be effective, especially in the commercial fleet industry. GreenRoad responds to unsafe and inefficient driving by enabling commercial fleets, insurers and consumers to measure, improve and sustain safe and fuel-efficient driving behavior. GreenRoad continuously measures and analyzes maneuvers which most impact safe driving, fuel efficiency and emissions and positively motivates drivers to change their behavior behind the wheel. Constant reinforcement in the form of a simple red-yellow-green display encourages them to maintain improvements. Fleet management and risk and safety professionals gain complete visibility into driving behavior and have easy-to-use tools they need to help drivers achieve safety and fuel-efficiency goals. Customizable, Web-based and e-mail reports provide individual trip detail, risk analysis and coaching to help drivers maintain improvements.

More than 70 industry-leading fleets in trucking, public transit, telecommunications, service delivery and public safety, have implemented the GreenRoad service and are realizing sustained improvements in the safety and fuel efficiency of their fleets.

Ford Investing $135 Million In Michigan Plants

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Ford Motor Co. will be investing $135 million at two Michigan plants that will help introduce five new models by 2012. Ford said it will begin selling two electric vehicles and three new hybrids to meet the new U.S. fuel economy standards. Ford plans to introduce a gasoline-electric version of its Lincoln MKZ sedan and an electric versions of the Transit Connect van this year, and the Focus electric car in 2011.

The investment will result in 220 new jobs by 2012, Ford said, including 130 hourly jobs at a trans-axle plant in Sterling Heights, Mich., and 40 hourly jobs at a Ypsilanti plant that will build battery packs. Fifty engineering jobs will be added as well.

Ford has eliminated 47 percent of its North American workforce since 2006, and had 70,000 workers in the region at the end of the first quarter. The company has cut costs and overhauled its model lineup to become less dependent on sport- utility vehicles and pickup trucks. The automaker ended three years of losses with a $2.7 billion profit last year as the U.S. auto market fell to the lowest level in 27 years.

National Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards

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The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have come out with their long awaited national greenhouse gas emissions standards. These standard are expected to significantly increase the fuel economy of all new passenger cars and trucks sold in the United States.

Starting with 2012 models, automakers are required to improve fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately five percent every year until the established fuel economy standards are met. NHTSA and EPA expect automobile manufacturers will meet these standards by more widespread adoption of conventional technologies that are already in commercial use, such as more efficient engines, transmissions, tires, aerodynamics, and materials, as well as improvements in air conditioning systems.

The new program is expected to:

  • Reduces carbon dioxide emissions by about 960 million metric tons over the lifetime of the vehicles regulated, equivalent to taking 50 million cars and light trucks off the road in 2030.
  • Conserves about 1.8 billion barrels of oil over the lifetime of the vehicles regulated.
  • Enables the average car buyer of a 2016 model year vehicle to enjoy a net savings of $3,000 over the lifetime of the vehicle, as upfront technology costs are offset by lower fuel costs.

Although the standards can be met with conventional technologies, EPA and NHTSA also expect that some manufacturers may choose to pursue more advanced fuel-saving technologies like clean diesel engines, hybrid electric vehicles, and electric vehicles.

Faked Emissions Tests

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The 1990 Clean Air Act is a piece of United States environmental policy relating to the reduction of smog and air pollution. Although the Clean Air Act is a federal law covering the entire country, the states do much of the work to carry out the Act. Auto inspections were included in the law to make sure cars are well maintained. When your register a car in California, an emissions check is required, and with every other registration renewal the check must be done again. Used car dealers are required to issue a valid emissions test for any vehicle they sell. With a private sale it is the responsibility of the buyer.

Dozens of auto repair shops and service stations in New York City, Long Island and Westchester County faked the results of emissions tests, giving nearly 21,000 cars and light trucks passing grades, state environmental officials said Thursday. Officials with the State Department of Environmental Conservation said they had issued citations to 40 of about 3,500 inspection sites in the region for granting inspection certificates for vehicles that were not tested. These stations could face fines of $375 to $15,000 for the first offense and up to $22,500 for each ensuing offense. Although the emissions testing costs only about $37, repairs to vehicles that fail the test can cost much more. Dealerships may pass a vehicles emission test to save on money, leaving the consumer to have to pay for the repairs when they take their vehicle for the next emissions test.