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Greenhouse Villain Could Be a White Knight After All

The European Union is serious about reining in the release of gases that contribute to global warming. As of Jan. 1, 2011, air-conditioning systems for all new European-made vehicles must begin the switch to a refrigerant other than the current formulation, known as R134a, according to the New York Times.

If there is a familiar ring to this development, it’s because the predecessor of R134a was itself banned for environmental reasons. While the effects on the earth’s atmosphere are different this time, the scramble by automakers to comply seems every bit as urgent.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:08 AM to Environment , Government regulations | Permalink | Comments 0

House may get fuel bill today

WASHINGTON -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi prepared Tuesday to bring a massive energy bill, with several provisions that the White House has warned could draw a veto from President George W. Bush, to the House floor as early as today, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Pelosi's office said Tuesday that the bill would include $21 billion in repeals of tax breaks for oil and gas companies, as well as standards requiring public power utilities to generate 15% of their energy from renewable sources by 2020. Republicans and several business groups oppose both clauses and could block the bill in the Senate. Democrats are expected to pass the bill in the House, thanks to the deal on fuel economy standards setting a new target of 35 m.p.g. by 2020.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:05 AM to Fuel economy | Permalink | Comments 0

If there is a recession, auto production cuts likelier than incentives

If the United States slips into a recession next year, it could unfold very differently in Detroit than it did in 2001, according to Detroit Free Press business writers Tim Higgins and Jewel Gopwani.
That time, automakers offered generous incentives to buyers in the wake of 9/11, rather than let demand fall and plants go idle. GM kicked off the no-interest loan craze with its Keep America Rolling campaign.

Incentives won't go away, but this time it appears that automakers are more likely to accept fewer sales at higher prices. Automakers are already choosing to cut production to meet reduced demand.

To be clear: No Detroit automaker is talking recession publicly, but on Monday, GM and Ford both announced lower production plans for the first quarter of 2008 -- the lowest since at least the recession of 1991.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:01 AM to commentary | Permalink | Comments 0

White edges out silver as most popular color for autos

DETROIT — After seven years leading the pack, silver has given up its title as the most popular vehicle color in North America, losing out by a small margin to white and pearl white, according to a study done by DuPont Automotive Systems reported by USA Today.

White's rise in popularity is a sign that some new color, possibly red, blue or black, will emerge as North America's favorite hue in the next year or so, DuPont says. In the 55 years that DuPont, which manufactures vehicle paints, has released the study, white usually emerges as a favorite for a year or two in between changing trends.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:57 AM to Auto industry | Permalink | Comments 0

Oil Rises After OPEC Holds Quotas Steady

Oil prices rose sharply to about $90 a barrel Wednesday as OPEC members said they would keep output ceilings steady, according to the Associated Press.

Expectations that a weekly U.S. petroleum supply report due later Wednesday would show a small decrease in crude inventories also supported prices.

Light, sweet crude for January delivery added $1.61 to $89.93 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange by afternoon in Europe.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:55 AM to Crude oil market | Permalink | Comments 0

OPEC Holds Production Steady, Oil Rises

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- OPEC decided Wednesday to keep its output ceilings steady in a move that propelled crude toward $90 a barrel, but plans to review the situation early next year, according to the Associated Press.

The move by the 13-nation Organization of Petroleum Exporting countries appeared to reflect OPEC concerns that it would be counterproductive to raise overall production quotas at a time when prices have retreated about 10 percent from recent record highs.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:53 AM to Crude oil market | Permalink | Comments 0