Sell unclean engines, pay a fine: EPA issued $2 million penalty to PowerTrain— Autoblog Green

What is it with companies thinking they can get around the Clean Air Act? Earlier this year, the second-largest refinery in the U.S.was fined $5.3 million(and required to upgrade pollution control systems for $700 million) for CAA violations. Before that, companies likePep Boys,CumminsandMercedes(among others) were all forced to pay fines for selling products that are just plain dirtier than they should be.

Today, the EPAannouncedthat PowerTrain is the latest to be hit with a CAA-violation fine. The company settled the case and will now have to pay $2 million because, between 2002 and 2007, it allegedly imported:

at least 79,830 nonroad engines or pieces of equipment containing nonroad engines that were not covered by certificates of conformity, and in most cases, could not be certified because they exceeded the emission standards.

These dirty machines, the EPA says, caused 152 tons of excess emissions of HC+NOx, which contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone, and an excess of 4,533 tons of carbon monoxide. PowerTrain is a Mississippi-based company that is connected to Wood Sales Inc. and Tool Mart Inc.

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GE, Siemens will compete with electric vehicle charger startups— Autoblog Green

GE WattStation– Click above for high-res image gallery

Massive corporations such as General Electric and Siemens AG are getting ready to compete with lesser-known startups likeEcotality,Coulomb TechnologiesandAerovironmentfor your electric vehicle charging dollars. GE is eyeing widespread distribution of itsWattStation chargersin the second quarter of this year and, shortly thereafter, Siemens' lineup of Charge models should burst onto the scene.

Even though these sizeable conglomerates are trailing behind some of the already-established players in the plug-in vehicle charging industry, the might of mammoth corporations like GE and Siemens should allow them to make up for any lost ground in a flash. Also, once the big-name corporations step into the ring, some of smaller startups may find it difficult to survive with and mergers may be inevitable. Perhaps the added competition will ultimately drive down costs and hasten the deployment of plug-in vehicle chargers– and that's what matters most. Right?

Gallery:GE WattStation

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On Oscar night, will Chevy Volt be the new"it"car?— Autoblog Green

2011 Chevrolet Volt– Click above for high-res image gallery

At the8th Annual Global Green USA pre-Oscarparty held in Hollywood, CA last Wednesday, celebrities arrived in style and many of them lined up for a photo op withGeneral Motors' star of the green carpet: the2011 Chevrolet Volt. The list of A-list celebs caught on camera posing with Chevy's plug-in hybrid included director James Cameron and actor Dennis Hasbert.

Actors making friends with snazzy"green"cars on film got a kick start when Leonardo DiCaprio rolled up at the Oscars in aToyota Priusa few years ago. Since then, numerous celebs seeking to expose their"greenness"have been caught on camera seated behind the wheel of a hybrid vehicle, some of them boldly driving a not-so-green gas-electricCadillac Escaladehybrid.

Though some might credit the Prius with launching Hollywood's gotta-drive-something-green revolution, the question now seems to be: will the Chevy Volt, or maybe even theNissan Leaf, knock the Prius out of the spotlight? We'll find out tomorrow night.

Gallery:Chevy Volt tour in LA

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Ford launches Electrified Vehicle Facebook page, promises bigger and better things— Autoblog Green

Recently,Fordlaunched aFacebook pagededicated to its electrified vehicle technologies. Fans of Ford's page can access videos, photos, polls, announcements and direct questions to the team of engineers working on the automaker's five electrified vehicles. One example of the social network promotion? Back in January, Ford streamed theFocus Electricunveilingfrom the Consumer Electronics Show.

This was just the first of many similar events, says David Finnegan, Ford's electric vehicle marketing manager. Finnegan said that the Facebook page will evolve, becoming a go-to place for fans of the automaker's electrified vehicles:

You never know what will pop up next on the page. One day we could host a live discussion with an electric vehicle engineer, post the first information about Focus Electric orders or announce details surrounding a consumer contest. You'll just have to friend the page and find out.

Sounds like Ford wants to insert itself into your friends' status updates in a big way. If you like that sort of thing, you can check out Ford's Electrified Vehicle Facebook pagehere.

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Smog in Beijing exceeds measurable levels— Autoblog Green

Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China

On Monday, dense smog blanketed the city of Beijing, China. It was so bad that the hazardous air pollution exceeded measurable levels, forcing Chinese officials to urge residents to stay indoors. Official measurements indicated that the smog was"beyond index,"plunging below the worst rating on the city's pollution scale.

In an interview with the AFP, an official at the Beijing Environmental Bureau who refused to release her identity stated,"Obviously elderly people and children should not go outside."Yikes.

The Beijing weather bureau reported that particulate pollution, rising temperatures and a lack of wind caused the thick smog to settle in, cutting visibility down to 200 meters. Air quality in Beijing is expected to remain poor until winds pick up today and blow the dense smog north of the city. Beijing's 4.8 million registered vehicles bear the brunt of the blame for the city's rising air pollution.

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Dump truck owners suing CARB over diesel emissions regulations— Autoblog Green

On February 11th, the California Dump Truck Owners Association (CDTOA) filed a lawsuit against the California Air Resources Board (CARB), challenging the legality of a statewide rule that requires truck and bus owners equip their rigs with diesel exhaust filters and, eventually, to replace pre-2010 engines with emissions-compliant mills.

The lawsuit, theCalifornia Dump Truck Owners Association v. Air Resources Board, was filed in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California, Sacramento Division and specifically asserts that CARB's emissions regulations are unconstitutional. Why? Because, CDTOA claims, the costs of complying with CARB's Truck and Bus Regulation will drive the majority of dump truck owners out of business and cause"incalculable"damage to the construction industry.

Back in 2008, CARB adopted the statewide Truck and Bus rule, which became effective on January 1st, 2011. The Truck and Bus rule requires owners to upgrade their rigs by installing diesel exhaust filters by 2014. Then, by 2022, truck and bus owners will be required to replace most diesel mills that were manufactured before 2010.

CARB has a good reason for wanting the improved filters. It claims that the Bus and Truck rule will reduce diesel emissions by 68 percent by 2014, but the CDTOA argues that the regulations will lead to escalating construction costs, higher unemployment rates and a dramatic weakening of the state's economy.

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Video: DIY-er modifies Nissan Leaf for faster charging— Autoblog Green

Nissan Leaf - Click above to maybe watch the videoafter the jump

Modifying a battery-powered car risks voiding the vehicle's warranty, damaging vital components, catastrophic vehicle failure and possibly even electrocution. With that disclaimer out of the way, one DIY-er set out to hack theNissan Leaf's standard 110-volt (Level 1)Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment(EVSE) into something a bit more to his liking.

The goal was simple; to modify the Leaf's portable Level 1 unit to support 220-240-volt (Level 2) charging. By doing so, the Leaf could, at least in theory, be charged up by plugging the cord into any standard 110-volt or 240-volt outlet, eliminating the need for Level 2 charging stations. In addition, this modification apparently allows the Leaf to be charged at Level 2 speeds via the hacked Level 1 EVSE.

While we don't condone modifications of this nature, there's certainly no harm inhopping the jumpto try and watch one DIY-er hack a Level 1 EVSE to charge the Leaf. The video worked earlier but may be down. If so, then you can see pictures of the projectover on MyNissanLeaf.

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Ballard fuel cell power modules to power 5 HyNor hydrogen buses in Norway— Autoblog Green

Van Hool NV, a Belgium-based coach manufacturer, has contractedBallard Power Systemsto supply fuel cell power modules for five hydrogen buses. The fuel cell-equipped coaches will be operated by the HyNor Oslo Buss group and swing into action in late 2011, servicing the city of Oslo, Norway.

The quintet of hydrogen-fed coaches will be fueled at the Rosenholm bus depot, which pumps out hydrogen that's generated through electrolysis, using electricity from renewable sources. As a result, HyNor claims that the Oslo bus fleet will reduce well-to-wheels greenhouse gas emissions by 100 percent– compared to diesel coaches– and eliminate up to 4,000 tons of CO2 emissions within five years of use.

The HyNor hydrogen-fed buses will utilize Ballard's sixth-generation FCvelocity fuel cell power module. This module, which is designed exclusively for heavy-duty applications, has a cell efficiency of 62 to 71 percent and cranks out either 75 or 150 kW, depending upon application.

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Video: Green Overdrive cruises the streets in electrified $18,000 VW Bug— Autoblog Green

Homemade electric VW Bug– Click above to watch videoafter the jump

DIY-er and entrepeneur Al Bullock's electrified 1970Volkswagen Beetleproves that converting a conventional, gasoline-fueled vehicle over to run on battery power doesn't have to cost the proverbial arm and a leg. For a total investment of $18,000, Bullock purchased, fully restored and converted a VW Bug into a highway-capable electric car.

The converted Beetle tops out at a claimed 85 miles per hour and boasts a range of approximately 100 miles. We like that those DIY figures are both within spitting distance of theNissan Leaf'stop speedandits official EPA range rating. The cost is much better, too.

Recently, the crew over atGreen Overdriveinterviewed Bullock and cruised the streets of Livermore, CA riding shotgun in his electrified Beetle. Follow usafter the jumpto catch Bullock's converted Bug in action.

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Report: Smart Fortwo Electric Drive unaffected by Penske departure— Autoblog Green

Smart Fortwo ED– Click above for high-res image gallery

Last Monday,PenskeandSmartjointly announced that theirrelationship would soon come to a halt. Within a few months, Penske will hand over distribution rights, management, sales and marketing duties for Smart in the U.S. toMercedes-Benz USA. Penske's departure has reportedlyled to the end of the Smart-Nissan collaboration, but word is that theFortwo Electric Drive (ED) modelwill, at least for now, be unaffected by the handoff.

Mercedes-Benz spokesman Geoff Day toldGreen Car Advisorthat, for now, Smart's plan to lease 250 Fortwo EDs at a price of $599 a month (plus $2,500 due at signing) for 48 months wil continue. However, Day added that once the transition is complete and Penske no longer controls Smart, the team put in place by Mercedes-Benz,"may review those plans."

Gallery:Smart ED

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Photos copyright©2010 Sebastian Blanco/ AOL

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2012 Chevrolet Express, GMC Savana cutaway vans offered with LPG option— Autoblog Green

Last fall,General Motorsannounced that commercial fleet customers could order the full-sizeGMC SavanaandChevrolet Expressvans outfitted with eithercompressed natural gas (CNG)or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fuel systems. Now, GM has expanded its LPG option to include the 2012 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana cutaway 3500 and 4500 vans.

The pair of cutaway vans will be produced at GM's Wentzville, MO facility and transported to nearby Knapheide Manufacturing Co. for fitment of the 49- or 75-gallon capacity LPG fuel system. After the LPG kit is lodged in place, the cutaway vehicles are shipped out to upfitters for install of body components to ready the vans for various commercial applications.

The cutaway vans come packing a modified version of GM's Vortec 6.0-liter engine and are covered under The General's standard three-year, 36,000-mile limited warranty and five-year, 100,000-mile powertrain and emissions warranty.

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15 groups unite to try and stop the EPA from funding nationwide E15— Autoblog Green

TheE15 sagacontinues with more than a dozen trade organizations uniting in an attempt to bar the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from using federal money to cover costs of boosting the amount of ethanol in gasoline from 10 to 15 percent.

The 15 organizations, some of which have obvious ties to the petroleum industry, include: Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, American Bakers Association, American Meat Institute, American Petroleum Institute, California Dairies, Inc., Grocery Manufacturers Association, International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association, National Association of Truck Stop Operators, National Chicken Council, National Marine Manufacturers Association, National Petrochemical& Refiners Association, National Turkey Federation, Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, Small Business& Entrepreneurship Council and the Specialty Equipment Market Association.

The organizations collectively sent all members of the U.S. House of Representatives this letter:

The undersigned organizations urge you to support Congressman John Sullivan's amendment to H.R. 1, the FY 2011 Continuing Resolution, to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from using appropriated funds to increase the amount of allowable ethanol content in gasoline to 15% (E15). The amendment is necessary to protect consumers and the environment and deserves your strong support.

Our organizations rarely agree on any public policy issue, but we are united in opposing the premature introduction of E15. Protection of the environment and the nation's motorists must take precedence over the politics of biofuels. Simply stated, this amendment will call a halt to EPA's headlong rush to introduce E15 at least until unbiased and independent testing on the impact of E15 on vehicle and off-road engines and the environment can be completed. We collectively urge you to support the Sullivan E15 amendment to H.R. 1 when it is offered this week.

As we noted earlier today,the ethanol industry in the U.S. is pretty entrenched. Still, the battle continues.

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ACEEE names Honda Civic GX, Nissan Leaf Greenest Vehicles of 2011— Autoblog Green

Last year, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)ranked the natural gas-burning Honda Civic GXas the greenest vehicle of 2010. Well, that CNG-fedCivic, which is only available in a handful of states, has topped the charts yet again.

With a green score of 54, the Civic GX earned the number one ranking on ACEEE's"Greenest Vehicles of 2011."Yes, the battery-poweredNissan Leafdid score 54, same as the Civic GX, but ACEEE's ranking system places more emphasis on pollution than fuel economy and that's why the CNG-fed Civic retained the top spot.

The plug-in hybridChevrolet Volt, a no show in the top ten, ranked twelfth overall. The Volt's poor showing was due, at least in part, to its hefty curb weight and comparatively poor fuel economy when operating in range-extended mode.

The pint-sizedSmart Fortwo, with its 1.0-liter gas engine, placed third overall, trailing the Leaf and the Civic GX by one point. The world's best-selling hybrid, theToyota Prius, captured fourth and two more Hondas, theCivic Hybridand theInsight, ranked fifth and sixth, respectively.

ACEEE's ratings are based on a weighted score that's derived from fuel efficiency ratings, weight, emissions and complex formulas used to calculate a vehicle's overall environmental impact.

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Video: Green Overdrive gets greasy with San Fran's Got Grease— Autoblog Green

Green Overdrive with Got Grease– Click above to watch videoafter the jump

San Francisco'sGot Greasecollects used cooking oil from Bay Area restaurants and hotels, refines it at its facility and sells the finished product to local biodiesel distributors. Got Grease's founder, David Levenson, proudly advertises the company's mission on his own biodiesel-fueled vehicle, which bears this slogan:"From your fryer to you fuel tank."

Recently, theGreen Overdrivecrew rode along with Got Grease. The journey starts out with trips to local restaurants to collect the fryer sludge and continues on with a look at Got Grease's recycling facility. In the end, the oil is cleansed of food chunks and clarified to the point at which it no longer resembles the mess that was initially extracted from the fryer.

Hop the jumpto watch how gettin greasy fuels some of San Fran's biodiesel-burning vehicles.

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Massive shutdown of U.S. coal plants expected within 5 to 8 years— Autoblog Green

Back in December of 2009,Sustainable Businessreported thatno new coal-fired power plants were erectedthat year. In fact, SB indicated that 26 coal plant proposals had been either"defeated or abandoned."Well, it appears that the trend to shift away from coal power will continue.

Late last week, Energy Secretary Steven Chu spoke at a renewable energy conference in Washington. Chu told conference-goers,"We're going to see massive retirements within the next five, eight years. Much of our fleet of coal plants is 40 to 50 years old."

Furthermore, President Barack Obama proposed that the U.S. should require that 80 percent of its electricity comes from so-called"clean"sources by 2035. Under Obama's proposal, most coal-fired power plants would give way to wind turbines, nuclear reactors, natural gas-fired power plants and renewable energy sources.

While it's obvious that a shift away from coal to cleaner energy sources could reduce well-to-wheel emissions of plug-in vehicles, it's worth pointing out that renewable energy options are often more expensive, which could drive up costs of recharging battery-powered autos.

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Ecotality's EV Project expands to include San Francisco Bay Area— Autoblog Green

Ecotality has quickly strung togetherone of the largest electric vehicle initiativesin the U.S. With the addition of Texas back in July and expanding to include the San Francisco Bay Area earlier this month,Ecotality's EV Projectnow reaches 17 cities and major metropolitan areas in six states and the District of Columbia.

Jonathan Read, chief executive officer of Ecotality,remarked on the overall significance of adding the Bay Area to the EV Project:

Historically, the Bay Area has been the epicenter for driving technology innovation and adoption, but in the past few years, it has also served as the home of change in the transportation sector. It spearheaded the landmark CAFE standards, supported a wide range of EV technologies and now with this grant is creating the pathway necessary for electric vehicles to become the dominant form of transportation in the Bay Area.

One of our major goals has always been to 'electrify' the West Coast, from Canada to Mexico. With the addition of the Bay Area to The EV Project, we have completed the West Coast transportation corridor.

Ecotality will oversee the installationm of 2,750 home charging stations and up to 30 DC fast-charge units in the Bay Area, with the vast majority of those chargers beingEcotality's Cisco-connected Blinkstations.

Ecotality's massive EV Project is partially funded by a $114.8-million grant provided by the U.S. Department of Energy through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.Hat tip to Mike!

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Report: 2012 Chevy Volt to qualify for California's $5,000 rebate— Autoblog Green

2011 Chevrolet Volt– Click above for high-res image gallery

Back in October of 2010, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) rated the2011 Chevrolet Voltas an Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV). That's below the SULEV and PZEV ratings of cars like theJetta TDI,Toyota Prius,Honda InsightandHonda CR-Z. Unfortunately, the 2011 Volt's ULEV status and its inability to qualify as an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) means that it's not eligible forCalifornia's $5,000 tax rebate.

However, reports indicate thatGeneral Motorsis working on a modified Volt, to be launched in 2012 or 2013, that will qualify for California's substantial rebate. The General has reportedly decided to offer a version of the Volt that has a ten-year or 150,000-mile warranty, thus making the plug-in hybrid AT-PZEV compliant. GM currently backs the Volt's electric-drive andbattery components with an eight-year or 100,000-mile warranty.

If the reports pan out to be true, Volt's sold in California may eventually be eligible for both the $7,500 federal tax credit and the State's $5,000 rebate, effectively cutting the base price ofChevy's $41,000 plug-inby $12,500.

Gallery:2011 Chevrolet Volt

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2012 Kia Rio looks sharp, packs an efficient punch— Autoblog Green

2012 Kia Rio– Click above for high-res image gallery

Kiahas released the first images of its 2012Riohatchback ahead of its officialGeneva Motor Showdebut, and might we say, it's quite a looker. The Korean automaker has been doing some fantastic things with styling in the past few years– thanks in part to strong leadership from design director Peter Schreyer– and now the smaller Rio gets a healthy dose of modernity. It looks fantastic in these photos and we're eager to see the new angles and curves live in the metal.

The Rio will be offered with a range of gasoline and diesel powertrains in other markets, including a 1.1-liter diesel that only generates 85 g/km of CO2. We're most curious about the new 1.2-liter turbocharged direct-injected engine–we've heard about this three-cylinder powerplant before– and if it proves to be well-received in Europe, Kia will likely offer it here in the United States after the Rio's initial launch.

Look for the Rio to go on sale in the UK starting in September, with a three-door variant expected to launch in early 2012. We don't have any official word as to when we'll see the facelifted Rio here in the United States, but we'd guess that it'll arrive roughly around the same time as the Euro-spec version.Hit the jumpfor Kia's official release.Thanks to everyone for the tips!

Gallery:2012 Kia Rio

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BMW Vision ConnectedDrive set to make Geneva swoon— Autoblog Green

BMW Vision ConnectedDrive concept– Click above for high-res image gallery

BMWis coming to theGeneva Motor Showtech-loaded for bear and the Vision ConnectedDrive concept is the sleek, roadster-shaped weapon. The topless study is based on theproduction-boundBMWEfficientDynamicsand serves as a platform to showcase the Bavarian automaker's advanced driver assistance and mobility networking systems, demonstrating what is possible both now and in the future.

The drivetrain beneath the concept is purely electric. No specifications have been revealed yet, though it really only needs enough get-up-and-go to get up on the stage and get gone after what's sure to be its enthusiastic presentation. The sexy package is just meant to grab your attention long enough for BMW to subliminally inform you how it will swath you in a safe and entertaining environment through technology that's just a mind-meld short of miraculous. Check out our high-res gallery below and the press releaseafter the jumpdetailing the VCD concept and BMW's other Geneva activities.

Gallery:BMW Vision ConnectedDrive

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