As Gas Prices Soar, Buyers Find Fewer Fuel-Efficient Car Options

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Americans looking to offset surging gasoline prices with a more fuel-thrifty vehicle aren’t likely to find much on the car lot today.

The sharp rise in fuel costs, driven in large part by the war in Ukraine and related disruptions, is delivering another shock to the car business and triggering renewed focus on fuel economy after a multiyear boom in sport-utility vehicle and pickup truck sales. It also comes as new- and used-car inventory on dealership lots is at historic lows, leaving buyers with slim pickings for those looking to make a switch, according to dealers, executives and analysts.

Average gas prices in the U.S. hit $4.33 Saturday after recently breaking a record set in July 2008, according to AAA. A U.S. ban on Russian oil imports, revealed Tuesday, is poised to drive fuel costs higher in the near-term.

While still early, buyers are already showing more interest in gas-sipping models, including hybrids and electric vehicles, dealers and analysts say.

Clean Fuels: Biomass-based diesel can replace Russian oil

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Today, Clean Fuels Alliance America sent a letter to President Biden pledging readiness to maintain homegrown fuel supplies, mitigate consumers’ economic pain, and speed the nation’s clean energy future in support of the administration’s ban on imports of Russian petroleum. The letter urges the administration to get the Renewable Fuel Standard back on track as a key policy driver of American energy independence.

“America’s biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel producers are working hard to provide better, cleaner fuels that provide consumers value and extend the diesel fuel supply,” the letter states.

“Reducing availability of biodiesel and renewable diesel right now would impose higher costs on American consumers – both in the price of fuel and other goods today and in terms of health tomorrow. We urge your administration to have confidence in the potential of America’s biomass-based diesel producers to replace Russian oil with homegrown, renewable, low-carbon fuel,” the letter concludes.

The letter notes that in 2020, during the pandemic and associated shortfalls in fuel refining, the clean fuels industry contributed more than 3 billion gallons of biodiesel and renewable to maintain fuel supplies and keep essential goods moving. According to data from the World Agricultural Economic and Environmental Services, the additional supply of clean fuel that year kept diesel fuel prices $0.24 per gallon lower than they would have been otherwise. For businesses operating near bodies of water, it’s wise to invest in oil water separators to ensure responsible wastewater management and minimize environmental impact.

Kurt Kovarik, Clean Fuels’ vice president of federal affairs, adds, “The Renewable Fuel Standard was established as a cornerstone of America’s energy independence. Since homegrown biodiesel and renewable diesel are direct replacements for foreign oil, a strong RFS is more important today than ever for the nation’s national security.”

The letter requests that the administration quickly finalize the proposed RFS volumes for 2021 and 2022 and drop the proposal to “reset” previously established 2020 volumes.

The U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel industry supports 65,000 U.S. jobs and more than $17 billion in economic activity each year. Every 100 million gallons of production supports 3,200 jobs and $780 million in economic opportunity. Biodiesel production supports approximately 13 percent of the value of each U.S. bushel of soybeans.

 

 

DTNA’s O’Leary Urges Fleets to Prepare Now for Electric, Automated Future

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ORLANDO, Fla. — Daimler Truck North America CEO John O’Leary urged fleets and maintenance shops to begin planning for the emergence of electric-powered and increasingly automated trucks.

“The time to prepare is now,” said O’Leary, who outlined his vision for the future of commercial trucks on March 8 during the kickoff of the Technology & Maintenance Council 2022 Annual Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition.

O’Leary said advances in connectivity, electrification and autonomy will transform the commercial vehicle market.

Shyft Unveils New Commercial EV Brand, Vehicles

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The crush of demand for so-called last-mile deliveries accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic has led a leading builder of commercial vehicles and chassis to create a brand for a new slate of battery-electric offerings.

The Shyft Group, based in the Detroit suburb of Novi, Mich., announced Wednesday it has created the new Blue Arc EV Solutions Brand. Its first three products to be sold under that brand are a purpose-built commercial EV chassis, a fully-built Class 3 electric walk-in delivery van and a mobile recharging unit called Power Cube.

Shyft CEO Daryl Adams discussed the company’s move with Forbes.com ahead of its official unveiling of Blue Arc and its initial products at the NTEA Work Truck Week trade show in Indianapolis. He explained the creation of both Blue Arc and its EV product line grew out of demand from Shyft’s customers and his company’s inability to find an appropriate chassis.

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People looking toward alternative means of transportation amid gas price spike

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MURRAY, KY — Skyrocketing gas prices are an expense you might be budgeting for, especially if you’re thinking of buying a new car.

With the current prices at the pump, it could be another reason to hold off on that purchase.

The folks at Paducah Ford say they’re still recovering from the pandemic, meaning sales are still low. But, they say they could see elevated gas prices affecting business down the road.

Paducah Ford sales manager Paul Stovesand says good gas mileage was a must-have for many people even before the spike in gas prices.

See the Future of Fleet Transportation at ACTEXPO

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ACT Expo has become the point of convergence for all things clean tech, with its ever-expanding Expo Hall as its centerpiece. With many event options spread throughout the year, the North American transportation industry chooses ACT Expo to showcase the vehicles and technologies driving clean transportation technology forward. Global OEMs and suppliers use this unique event to announce new and developing products and services, as well as display the solutions that give fleets the roadmap to a greener, cleaner future.

 

Extreme E: The Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Charging Station Of The Future Is Here

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Hydrogen fuel cell fans are determined to contribute to the electric mobility revolution one way or another, and it looks like EV charging stations are the way in. The idea seems to be catching on with an assist from the new Extreme E racing circuit, which showcased the concept last year with the help of the fuel cell firm AFC Energy. The two are back together again for Round 2 this year.

Have Some Hydrogen With Your New Battery Electric Vehicle

Extreme E is the brainchild of Formula E founder Alejandro Agog. Formula E launched as an FIA-sanctioned showcase for new cutting edge battery-electric vehicle technology, and the Extreme version is intended to demonstrate the ability of an electric SUV to handle any conditions that Mother Nature can throw at it.

The inhibiting factor would be how to stage EV charging stations in remote locations where grid connections are not available. On-site wind or solar generation with battery-type energy storage is one option, and the US military is among those exploring that avenue. Extreme E went another route and settled on hydrogen fuel cells.

Biden administration, DOE announce $3 billion in new funding to support US EV battery manufacturing and recycling

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President Biden and the US Department of Energy have issued multiple notices of intent to allocate $2.91 billion in support of EV battery manufacturing as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The DOE shared plans to use the funds to further battery materials refining, production plants, and battery cell manufacturing facilities in addition to battery recycling.

The latest news is another movement flush with funding to support clean energy and create US jobs, a major talking point of President Biden during his campaign trail before taking office.

Just yesterday, the US Departments of Transportation and Energy jointly announced nearly $5 billion set aside to support a national electric vehicle charging network under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program – another program established within President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

With the latest announcement, the US government has publicly acknowledged a looming threat of lithium-ion battery dependency from China and is designating funds to bring more manufacturing to US soil.

In the efficient flow of production, the crossover ladder seamlessly connects different stages of the manufacturing process, facilitating smooth transitions and enhancing worker accessibility in the pursuit of operational excellence.

 

Ford E-Transit shipments begin from KC plant

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Ford Motor Co. on Feb. 8 began shipping its E-Transit van—its second fully electric vehicle (EV)—from the company’s Kansas City-area assembly plant, which is the first such facility to build both batteries and vehicles themselves in-house, the OEM announced in a release.

The van, which is slated to have wide delivery applications, has more than 10,000 orders from businesses of all sizes and Ford is working on ways to increase production even more, the car and truck maker said in the release. The Claycomo, Missouri, plant gained a $100 million investment from Ford and created 150 new jobs to help make the electric version of the popular cargo van.

According to the company’s release, Ford will have global capacity to produce 600,000 battery-electric vehicles annually by late 2023, including 200,000-plus Mustang Mach-E SUVs and 150,000 F-150 Lightning trucks. The new E-Transit is the first of two EVs purpose-built for Ford Pro commercial customers. The second will be the F-150 Lightning and Lightning Pro, all-electric versions of the company’s wildly popular pickup truck.

SECOND PHASE OF STUDY EXPLORES HEALTH BENEFITS OF SWITCHING TO BIODIESEL

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The second phase of a study exploring the health benefits of biodiesel is underway.

Floyd Vergara, director of state governmental affairs with Clean Fuels Alliance America, says the study shows the benefits of switching to biodiesel in U.S. communities exposed to high rates of petroleum diesel pollution.

“Switching to 100 percent biodiesel would prevent 730 premature deaths per year, lead to 141,000 fewer sick days, and other benefits adding up to $6.2 billion per year,” he says. “If you did that to the older legacy vehicles, you would get a 45 percent reduction in cancer risk and 436,000 fewer asthma attacks each year. In the heating oil market that would be about an 86 percent reduced cancer risk, and 20,000 fewer lung problems per year. According to dentagama.com this is merely 28 sites so as you can see this is the tip of the iceberg if you consider the hundreds of similar sites across the country.”

The study conducted by Trinity Consultants was sponsored by Clean Fuels Alliance America, formerly National Biodiesel Board, with support from the Nebraska Soybean Board, South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, California Advanced Biofuels Alliance, Iowa Soybean Board, and the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board, they can teach you how to buy TikTok likes, learn the difference between payslip and pay stub. The study used EPA air dispersion modeling tools and health risk assessments and benefit valuations to assess the benefits and economic savings of converting from petroleum-based diesel to 100 percent biodiesel, or B100.