Filed under: Hybrid, Hydrogen, Legislation and Policy, China

In China, the government tries to keep a tight reign on what companies can produce and sell. For example companies aren’t allowed to get into the car business without prior approval from Beijing which is why the company trying to buy Hummer from General Motors is having a tough time right now. Companies that are already in the car business also have to get approval for new types of products like hybrids and EVs.

The authorities in Beijing have just revised the rules governing classification of some types of so-called “new energy” vehicles. There are now three main categories: mature technology, developing, and start-up technology. Mature technology includes hybrids with NiMH or lead acid batteries and these are now being treated as conventional products and can be produced at will. Developing technologies like lithium ion hybrids can now be produced but approval is required before they can actually be sold, which seems a bit odd. Why produce them if you can’t sell them? Start-up tech includes fuel cells which are still largely at the research phase in China. The Chinese government wants five percent of all new vehicles sold in 2011 to include some kind of alternative drive system.

[Source: Caijing]

“New energy car” classifications revised by Chinese government originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Back in January 2008, I had talked about BNSF (Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation), Vehicle Projects and the U. S. Army working on a hydrogen fuel cell powered train that would be rolling out soon. Well that day has come at the Topeka, Kansas System Maintenance Terminal.

The world’s first fully operational fuel cell switcher train was introduced by Senator Sam Brownback, Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins and other players interested in alternative fuels and air quality. This hydrogen train can also be used as a power generator in disaster areas if needed.

According to Mark Stehly, assistant vice president, Technical Research, Development and Environmental, “BNSF operates through several locations that are in non-attainment areas for air quality as designated by the Environmental Protection Agency. We are investigating and experimenting with this hydrogen-fuel-cell technology for its potential niche application in areas with air quality concerns.”

From Kansas, the hydrogen locomotive will travel to Pueblo, Colorado and then on to Los Angeles, California for additional testing. If all goes well, this particular hydrogen train will be put into service in the smoggy Los Angeles basin where it will be real world tested in actual service along side other traditional diesel locomotives.

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According to the Detroit News, Dow Chemical announced yesterday plans to build a biorefinery that would use algae to convert carbon dioxide into ethanol fuel.

The company hopes to replace carbon dioxide in common plastic products like milk jugs if the technology is successful.

Through a partnership with Algenol Biofuels — a startup in Bonita Springs, Fla. — Dow hopes to create a breakthrough process to produce ethanol, a building block for other chemicals. Ethanol is a key ingredient in polyethylene, the most widely used of all plastics, which is found in everyday products, from food packaging to pipes. The chemical also is used in runway deicers, polyester for textiles, and paints.

The move could have significant implications for Detroit’s automakers, according to Algenol Chief Executive Paul Woods. Woods said he already has met with representatives from Ford Motor Co. to discuss manufacturing more vehicles that would use ethanol. The algae-generated ethanol is compatible with technology in use.

The article goes on to mention that the algae-based fuel’s price would be more consistent, selling for $1 per gallon.

Speaking about ethanol, Algenol Chief Executive Paul Woods said “if we can produce a gallon cheaper than any foreign producer, it’s enough to eliminate OPEC producers. We want a low, long-term, stable price that the consumer can rely on.”

Sounds like a job for ethanol.

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After a successful test earlier this year (see my post from February 4, 2009), Kinder Morgan today made the first commercial shipment of biodiesel through a pipeline in the U.S. through the Southeastern United States’ Plantation duct.

This Reuters story has details:

Kinder sent a 15,000-barrel batch of B5 — fuel that was 5 percent biodiesel and 95 percent diesel — from Collins, Mississippi, to Athens, Georgia, and Roanoke, Virginia. The product passed quality tests.

The volume of further shipments will be “driven by customers,” Kinder spokeswoman Emily Mir Thompson said by telephone.

Demand for the fuel has risen as federal mandates call for increasing levels of biofuels like biodiesel to be blended into petroleum fuels over time.

Kinder said it was optimistic it would be able to ship biodiesel on Plantation’s lateral Tennessee line serving both Chattanooga and Knoxville.

Company officials say they will be sending biodiesel only through the parts of the pipeline that move only gasoline and diesel while they work out issues of possible “trailback” of biodiesel into subsequent jet fuel batches.

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A ethanol blender pump fuel promotion was held last week at 1201 6th Street in Manning, IA that sold the domestically made fuel at a substantial discount. E20 sold for 20 cents off regular pricing, E30 was sold for 30 cents off, E50 sold for 50 cents off, and E85 sold for 85 cents off or $1.05.

“I thought the event was very successful, it was fun to see the community get involved in an ethanol promotion event. I think it’s important to give consumers what they are looking for: more choices at the pump that will positively affect their pocket book but also support our local farmers,” said Sara Courter, Market Development Coordinator for Growth Energy.

“We were very happy to assist in making the Aspinwall Co-Op Pump Promotion and Grand Opening in Manning a huge success. Growth Energy is dedicated to expanding the market and educating consumers and this is another great example of that. By giving consumers more choices at the pump with clean, green homegrown ethanol, we’re not only helping decrease our dependence on foreign oil, but also boosting our local economy,” noted Nicole Oliver, Communications specialist for Growth Energy.

Sponsors of the event included IA Corn Growers Association, IA Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, Aspinwall Cooperative, Manning Motors, CENEX and POET. The station also offered free bratt burgers, hamburgers, and t-shirts during the promotion.

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Nuclear Sticker Shock: “It’s just ridiculously expensive.”
Whether you think nuclear power is a good or bad idea, one thing is certain, it’s expensive. Very expensive. And that’s before the almost inevitable cost overruns… This is what the Canadian province of Ontario seems to have realized. It’s canceling plans for 2 new reactors because of sticker shock and out of “responsibility to Ontario taxpayers”. And while everybody’s talking about money, what I’m really wondering about is: What is Ontario’s plan to clean up its power grid?…

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Photos: Flickr, CC & Flickr, CC

Add it to Asthma, High Blood Pressure, and Cardiovascular Diseases
Did we need one more reason to to fight against smog? I don’t think so, but we got one anyway thanks to a study to be published in Environmental Health Perspectives and covered by Discovery News. A team from the University of California, Irvine, has shown that pregnant women living within 1.9 miles (3 kilometers) of a major …

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Tectusol is one of 30 companies the Cleantech Group spotted in the past week looking to raise money. Find out more in the Pitch o’ the week.

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Some people have realized that our interference with the planet’s ecosystems is in most cases disastrous and have come with several ideas to diminish our influence on the environment. Industrial designer Chris Allen has come up with an idea to use plastic bottles that we usually throw away to help generate energy from wind.

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Fort Collins, Colo.-based startup closes $16.8M Series A round today for a demonstration facility scheduled to start operating this summer.

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