The Daily Five: Monday, 18 August, 2008
Toyota turns up its nose at all-electric vehicles; a big setback for a Seattle biofuel manufacturer; and House Democrats surrender on offshore drilling.
Toyota wants hybrids across the board, remains dubious of plug-ins: Toyota’s “can’t do” attitude toward electric vehicles remains in full bloom. Toyota powertrain systems manager Justin Ward told a Michigan gathering last week that while the company plans on offering hybrids across its entire line, it remains deeply skeptical of the current capabilities of plug-in vehicles. Ward said an all-electric range of 40 miles — the target for Chevy’s upcoming Volt roadster — just isn’t enough range. He also questioned the effectiveness of EV vehicles in reducing overall carbon dioxide emissions, since most power in the U.S. is soarced from coal. (Autoblog Green)
Honda Prices New Hybrid Lower Than Prius: Honda’s upcoming from-the-ground-up hybrid vehicle will underprice Toyota’s Prius. Honda’s Richard Colliver told the Associated Press that the new Honda is designed to bring new hybrid buyers into the market. He also revealed that the car would not be available in conventional drivetrains, and would be smaller than the current models of Honda’s popular Civic sedan. (Environmental Leader)
Imperium Renewables ‘Royally’ Screwed?: A company once viewed as the hub of Seattle’s CleanTech sector is suddenly wondering about its future. Imperium Renewables opened its 100 million gallon per year biodiesel just twelve months ago — a $78 million project financed, in part, by a $10 million investment from Royal Cruise Lines. Now the travel giant has sold-off its share and canceled orders for up to 18 million gallons of biofuel per year. Ironically, Royal Carribean’s move is in response to losses from this summer’s rising energy costs. (Earth2Tech)
House to Rethink Drilling, Pelosi Says: Bowing to election year pressure, House speaker Nancy Pelosi says Democrats will take another look at offshore drilling. Though new drilling will likely have no effect on fuel prices for at least a decade, public support is high. That’s giving Republicans an election year campaign issue. Pelosi’s office says Democrats will craft some sort of a drilling plan that would open sections of the Continental Shelf to exploration without granting tax subsidies to oil companies — whatever that means.
German Researchers Attempt to Slow Glacier Melt with Giant Windshield: Researchers at Germany’s Johannes Gutenberg University have a novel approach to stemming glacier melt — a giant windscreen. Students have set up a 49 by 19 foot on Switzerland’s Rhone glacier to see if trapping cold air above the ice helps. Scientists say laboratory models suggest that might be the case. Results could take years to measure. (Clean Technica)
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