 
July 2, 2009 - WIN FOR CALI: GOOD NEWS FOR CONSUMERS, INDUSTRY: The Environmental Protection Agency's decision to grant California, along with more than another dozen states, the right to enforce its greenhouse gas standards is another victory for the environment and U.S. energy security. A major reversal of a 2008 ruling by the Bush Administration, the state limits will form the basis of new nationwide rules in 2012. The decision brings a welcome end to years of automakers fighting the state requirements in court while also lobbying the federal government in Washington for more money. And, as we reported last week, the new federal regulations that are partly a result of California's battle for the environment will likely result in higher profits for automakers and will make U.S. automakers more competitive in the global economy ... Although the cash for clunkers program we reported on a few weeks ago has just started, buyers might want to wait to take advantage of it as the final details have yet to be worked out. The legislation was signed last week but legislators still have until July 24 to work out the fine print ... And a feature that appears to be borrowed from the hybrid stable and increases fuel economy is showing up non-hybrids and improving their gas mileage. The new Mazda3 2.0 Sport comes with a feature they call iStop, which pauses the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop, increasing fuel economy and decreasing CO2 emissions ...
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June 25, 2009 - HIGHER MPG = HIGHER PROFITS: It may come as news to some U.S. automakers but a new study from the University of Michigan reinforces what we've been saying for years: Automakers can increase their profits by focusing on fuel economy. The study - "Fixing Detroit: How Far, How Fast, How Fuel Efficient?" - points out that the new fuel economy standards will be key to making U.S. automakers more competitive in the marketplace, particularly against Japanese rivals, since "existing culture within the domestic auto companies systematically underestimates the value consumers place on fuel economy." We had recently observed the same thing, specifically with regards to General Motors. We can only hope that the new federal fuel rules will force domestic automakers to pay more attention to the value of fuel economy. If they don't, they do so at the risk of their own peril ... Although Ford did not take the bailout money that Chrysler and General Motors did, it looks like they, along with Nissan, will be taking advantage of a government program to help automakers meet new fuel efficiency standards. Ford will receive $5.9 billion and Nissan $1.6 billion out of the $25 billion program and are among the first to be awarded the loans. Ford may use some of the funds to convert a Michigan SUV factory to instead produce the compact Focus, to which we say "hurrah!". Nissan plans to use its money to cut costs on its batteries and ramp up production of electric vehicles. Electric carmaker Tesla will get $465 million to build an electric sedan and battery packs to power it ...
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Automakers need to understand that Americans want the most
fuel-efficient possible cars using the best available technology. Here is
where you can get involved to make that happen ...
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40 miles per gallon is not a dream. The technology exists today! You could be driving a vehicle that would save you money, make America safer and cut down on pollution ...
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Pam Solo, the president of the nonprofit and nonpartisan Civil Society Institute, which created the 40mpg.org campaign, welcomes you! ...
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If you already are doing 40 mpg or better, we
want to hear your story...
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Save
money ... use less gasoline from Middle Eastern oil ... cut tailpipe fumes ... NOW!
