Tag Archives: California Gas Prices

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.

California The First To See The Volt

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General Motors Co. Vice Chairman Bob Lutz announced that when their Chevrolet Volt rolls off the assembly line, California will be the firsts market to see them in the show rooms. GM will provide 100 Volts and 500 charging stations for California utility companies in early 2011 for road testing. California was chosen as the first “test site”, because of it’s tax credit offerings, and infrastructure to accommodate electric cars.

The volt will be designed to comply with all overseas regulations in the hope of making it an international car. “This is uncharted territory for us,” Lutz said, but we expect to sell between 100,000 to 150,000 plug-in hybrids each year.

What About The Hydrogen Car?

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We have been hearing about electric cars lately and how auto companies are pushing to get them on the roads, but what ever happaned to the hydrogen car. Beyond the test market, hydrogen-powered cars seemed to be nothing more than research and development, but with new hydrogen technology it is no longer the dangerous fuel we were reluctant to put on the roads.

At last month’s Los Angeles auto show Honda introduced the Honda FCX Clarity, the world’s first production fuel-cell car. Befor this, BMW was leading the way in hydrogen development with their Hydrogen 7, a V12 internal combustion engine that can be powered by gasoline as well as liquid hydrogen. With a price tag of at least $250 000 only 100 celebrities and politicians have received a loaner car for evaluation and to provide feedback. The honda fuel cell car would also be quite expensive to buy, but once it goes into production for the public, the price would significantly go down.

Like the electic car, there is the problem of “fueling up”. According to H2stations.org, a website that tracks hydrogen refilling stations, there are only 10 certified filling stations in Canada (and those are used for industrial purposes), 38 in Europe and 49 in the U.S. (with more than half in California).

Honda tried to address the infrastructure problem with its experimental Home Energy Station, a self-contained unit that converts natural gas into hydrogen, but burning natural gas to produce hydrogen seems to just defeat the purpose.

California Gas Prices as of August 13, 2009

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The best prices for regular gas in California in the last 36 hours range from $2.69 to $2.83. They can be found in the following cities and/or places: Salton Sea Beach, Shafter, Porterville, San Diego NE, Modesto West, San Jose East, North Hollywood, Fresno East and North, Oxnard, Burbank, Yuba City, Citrus Heights, Merced.

The highest prices for regular gas in the last 36 hours range from $3.49to $3.79. They can be found in Bakersfield, Needles, Kearny Mesa, El Cajon, Fairfield, Lebec, King City, Meyers, Goleta, Del Mar.