“Rushed” into judgement – “Republican God” Rush Limbaugh blasts green car movement – “nobody” wants hybrids

April 2, 2009 at 8:09 pm

 (Source: AutoBlogGreen)

In an attempt to stay politically neutral, we’re going to stop short of offering opinions about Rush Limbaugh’s recent statements regarding hybrid automobiles and the intent of automakers like Ford and Honda to “please politicians overseeing the industry’s multibillion-dollar bailout.” What we will say, though, is that Limbaugh’s a little off when he suggests that hybrid vehicles are entirely unwanted. So sayeth Rush:

Nobody’s buying ’em. Nobody wants them! The manufacturers are making them in droves to satisfy Obama! Sorry for yelling. Nobody wants them!

While it’s true that hybrid vehicle sales tend to rise and fall with the ebb and flow of fuel prices, which are currently down from the record highs from a year ago, Edmunds’ Green Car Advisor points out that 1.3 million hybrid vehicles have been sold in America since 1999, the first year the fuel-saving vehicles entered the market. Obviously, there are more than a few people out there who want to cut down on their fuel usage. Further, these hybrid vehicle programs have been in development since well before President Obama was elected.

When TransportGooru took a sneak peek into the trascripts posted on Mr. Limabugh’s website, the following golden statements caught the attention:   “I will only say that those people have probably given up their individuality for what they think is a larger cause, but nobody wants them.  That doesn’t matter, because as I mentioned earlier in the program, a couple hundred more million acres placed off-limits, energy rich, shale oil, natural gas, placed off-limits by the US Congress.  We’re gonna become more dependent on foreign oil, more dependent on foreign oil.  Gasoline prices are going to go through the roof at some point, Big Oil will be blamed by the Obama administration, and then you will be forced to start considering cars you do not want and you are not buying.  Good-bye freedom.  We have got to drive these people out of office before it’s too late. 

TransportGooru’s research found another rushed judgement on this issue back in June 2006 , as described in a Huffingtonpost article and the author David Franklin offers his counter along the way:

Rush says that, “Contrary to any loose statements made by our marketing partners in the environmental community and media, petroleum not consumed by Prius owners is not ‘saved.’ It does not remain in the ground. It is consumed by someone else. Greenhouse pollutants are released.” I find this statement baffling! Is there a backlog of “oil orders” that lies unfulfilled somewhere that I am unaware of? Are there companies out there just waiting for people to buy more hybrids, so that they can have their oil orders taken off backorder? Not to my knowledge. Logic would dictate that if demand for oil decreases, drilling and production of oil will decrease as well!

Perhaps if it was put another way it would be easier for Rush to grasp the cold hard logic behind what hybrids can do for this nation; “If every privately owned vehicle in America was traded in today for a Prius, it would reduce the amount of oil our nation requires to a level that could be fully supported by our own resources!”

Let me say that again in case it didn’t sink in fully the first time; “If every privately owned vehicle in America was traded in today for a Prius, it would reduce the amount of oil our nation requires to a level that could be fully supported by our own resources!” (and that’s without having to drill in Alaska!)

NOTE 1: Rush Limbaugh is slowly but steadily moving himself towards a spectrum of insanity that only he can fathom. TransportGooru is perplexed by his stands on this issue.  Look, it is very simple, Mr. Limbaugh:  Every drop of fossil fuel we don’t consume saves a whole lot for our future generation.  Trust me! You are not speaking for the republican masses here, at least on this one issue.   BTW, Mr. Limbaugh, start planning your “objections” for the upcoming electric vehicle revolution, spearheaded by Tesla.
Note 2: The above shown picture of Rush and the golden words inscribed in them are too golden to pass.  It clearly demonstrates how Mr. Limbaugh can quickly drive himself off a cliff on certain topics, like Iraq’s Abu Graib prison abuse! 

Horrible airline travel experience? Visit flightsfromhell.com and share you story

April 2, 2009 at 6:46 pm

(Source: CNN)

There was a time when airline travel was a special treat, the kind of occasion that inspired passengers to dress up.

Now, the awe people once felt about flying through the clouds is tempered by additional fees, cramped seats and horrifying tales of fellow travelers.

Take, for instance, “Mr. Poopy Pants” — a grown man who allegedly soiled himself 10 minutes into a flight from Florida to Minnesota. And then he just sat there.

 “We’ve all had our flying hell experiences,” said Gregg Rottler, creator of FlightsFromHell.com.

The site provides a venue for people to share their tales of woe, said Rottler. “It’s therapeutic … so it benefits them and provides entertainment value for others.”

Rottler, a 54-year-old environmental health supervisor in Tampa, Florida, launched the site more than two years ago. Since then,FlightsFromHell.com has attracted submissions from passengers and flight attendants that have run the gamut, touching on categories that include “odors,” “attendant issues,” “weird people,” and “luggage and delays.”

Among the story headlines: “Titanic toddler creates tumult,” “Wifey punched by elderly ‘sleepwalker,’ ” and “Lip-locked tousle-haired 20-somethings.”

“There’s something about being scrunched up with strangers … The seats aren’t that big, and once someone starts going wacko, it just creates an extremely stressful environment that was already stressful enough,” Rottler said.

TripAdvisor, the world’s largest online travel community, recently released survey results from more than 1,500 U.S. respondents asked to discuss what about flying bugs them most.

The purpose was to “allow travelers to air their grievances,” TripAdvisor spokesman Brooke Ferencsik said. Sure enough, he continued, “83 percent of respondents said air travelers have gotten ruder over the past 10 years” and the most annoying travelers, earning 59 percent of votes, were “oblivious parents.”

Flyers griped about fellow passengers snoring, vomiting and having “excessive flatulence.”

Click here to read the entire article.

CNN’s “State of the Union” explores the impact of transit cuts on communities across the U.S.

April 2, 2009 at 6:27 pm

(Source: Transportation For AmericaCNN via Youtube)

As painful transit cuts cripple more and more agencies across the country, major national networks are gradually tuning in to the story and seeing just how bad things are. CNN is the latest to cover the transit cuts phenomenon that’s wreaking havoc on the largest and smallest of our public transportation systems.

In a four-minute segment last week, CNN used Transportation for America’s handy map — which we created to document the 85 communities that are being forced to either cut service, increase fares, or lay off workers due to budget crises at the local and state level — and took an in-depth look at some of the impacts of cutting back public transportation at a time when Americans are riding transit in record numbers.   This peice on transit is part of CNN’s “State of the Union,” in which host and chief national correspondent John King goes outside the Nation’s  to report on the issues affecting communities across the country. 

 

At one stop Wednesday, a handful of developmentally disabled passengers boarded outside a local facility where they work. One told CNN she optimistic “something will get done about it” but said she isn’t sure how she is supposed to get around after Friday.

Kimberly Barge is a staff attorney at Paraquad, the gym where the Falks and other local disabled residents attend classes.

“People are frustrated, angry — almost to the point of hopeless in some cases because there aren’t many other alternatives for the disability community as far as transportation goes,” Barge told CNN.

Jean McPherson boarded the bus with her infant daughter. The 20-year-old is going back to school to get her high school diploma and though short on cash, she says she is now forced to explore buying a used car.

“I might end up losing my job or not being able to take my daughter to day care,” is how she sees the consequence of her bus route being shortened so that it no longer stretches out to her community. “You can’t afford a car; that is why you use public transportation. So a lot of people are going to be in a bad situation.”

 

Click here to read more.

“Are We There Yet?” – AASHTO launches national campaign to build awareness and provide information on the critical needs of our nation’s transportation system

April 2, 2009 at 4:31 pm

(Source: AASHTO)

Photo: Zen Skillicorn@flickr

Washington, DC – “Are we there yet? The perennial question asked by kids on a long car trip is the same one all Americans should be asking about our entire transportation network,” said John Horsley, Executive Director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). “Improving our transportation system must be a top priority for all of us since we are only investing half of what it would take to meet the needs of our nation’s growing population, demand for freight, and aging roads, bridges, and transit.”

 With the expiration date looming for the current federal transportation authorization, AASHTO has today launched a national campaign to build awareness and provide information on the critical needs of our nation’s transportation system.

Are We There Yet? We Can Be! is designed to be a one-stop shop for current information on the condition of the country’s infrastructure, state examples of successful projects, innovative technology, and focused solutions that can be shared with the public, the media, business and community groups, and lawmakers. The website highlights AASHTO’s proposals for the upcoming authorization, developed during the past year by representatives of the state departments of transportation.

“By working collaboratively across the nation – using common language and themes, we can ensure that our messages will be heard,” Horsley said.

The campaign stresses three key points: State DOTs are accountable; their projects are community-driven; and their work is performance based – on-time, on-budget and using the most innovative technologies.

The campaign website, AreWeThereYet.transportation.org, outlines the AASHTO authorization proposals and includes facts about America’s transportation infrastructure as well as a host of examples and information on issues ranging from safety and congestion, to freight and transit. AASHTO’s new television webchannel,www.TransportationTV.org, offers interviews with key Members of Congress, information on issues such as the Highway Trust Fund, backgrounders, and a weekly news show devoted to transportation issues.

Click here to explore the campaign.

A TransportGooru exclusive from Dr. Roadmap: “Where Old Police Cars Go to Die”

April 2, 2009 at 3:07 pm

 Dr. Roadmap Column: April 2, 2009

      For Sale: 1997 Ford Crown Victoria, 110,434 miles, white roof and doors, all else black. See auction details.

           Not your normal classified ad, is it? But then, this is not your normal car; it’s an ex-police car. 

      If you’ve ever wondered what it might be like to own a genuine squad car and tool around town faking out and intimidating other motorists, a few considerations bear keeping in mind before you embark on your NYPD, Real Stories of the CHP, or Police Story fantasy. 

      First of all, perish all thoughts of piloting a look-a-like police car unless you want to get pulled over for impersonating an officer.

      “As ‘storekeeper,’ part of my job is to ensure that all hardware that identifies the car as a police unit is removed,” said Charles Alvarez of the Azusa Police Department in California. “We strip them of all the city decals. About the only thing we leave is the dual batteries, beefed up suspension and the big engine.”

Photo Courstey: Chris Sensenbach @ Flickr

      Most police departments remove and recycle the door-mounted spotlights, the rooftop light bar, the sirens and the mobile data computer (which costs about $4-5,000). Yet, it appears that you could keep the original paint job if you so choose.

      “We do not paint the doors over,” said Sgt. Doug Brown of the South Pasadena (CA) Police Department. “We definitely remove the identifying decals, but I know of no law against driving with the black-and-white paint scheme.”

      Other police departments opt to paint over the doors in the same black color as the rest of the car. But in either case, at least you gain the benefit of a car that has been outfitted for peak performance, don’t you?

      “In a lot of cases, the engine in our police cars is no different that what the average person can special order from the factory,” said Lt. Al Cheatham, of the Chino (CA) Police Department. “Yes, it is a special police package, but anyone can order it. There’s no law against it. On the other hand, most people wouldn’t like the ride; it’s too stiff.”

      Let’s say that you still long for a car driven by the long arm of the law. You actually relish the responsive suspension of a well-built vehicle. As it turns out, so do others. Many departments remain reluctant to relinquish their “rides.”

      “We try not to get rid of any car too soon,” said Rob Pipersky, a technical services officer for the Montclair (CA) Police Department. “What we do now, especially with the Caprices, is rebuild them at 100,000 miles. Some of ours have 180,000 miles on them.”

      Pipersky went on to explain that Chevrolet Caprices represent the pinnacle of police pursuit cars. In fact, so many agencies choose to rebuild their Caprices that used parts are quickly becoming scarce. Even after their second spin through the odometer, Montclair’s finest prefers to recycle their cars.

      “Some of our old cars go on to ‘lesser duty’ such as police assistance and administration,” continues Pipersky. “At peak periods, or during emergencies, we use these lesser-duty cars to augment the regular fleet. In addition, some visit the local schools or drive around the local shopping center. These daytime assignments provide a police presence. This way we get one extra year out of the cars.”

      After the last ounce of utility gets wrung from these trusty steeds, they finally get put to pasture. However, the public can only obtain these past-their-prime cars by bidding on them.

      Three other police agencies confirmed that auction is the preferred method of dumping dilapidated cars. 

      “Most agencies have these cars declared as surplus property once their service life is over, and from there they go directly to auto auctions,” confirmed South Pasadena’s Sgt. Doug Brown. “That’s what we do because these cars are not worth enough to try and sell them privately. Any vehicle coming out of the department is so worn out that I’m not sure anyone would want one.”

      Thus, Sgt. Brown brought up the most important consideration of all when considering buying an ex-squad car.

      “Think about it: You have a car that’s been driven practically 24/7, and that has close to 100,000 of odometer miles on it,” observed Chino’s Sgt. Cheatham. “Everywhere we go, the car is usually left running. Your idle time on top of the mileage is horrendous. That’s a tired engine by the time you get done with it. The suspension is no better. You have jackrabbit starts and hard braking. The car has undoubtedly been in a couple pursuits or more. When you’re going after people, those cars bottom out at the dips in the intersections. Personally, I would not want to buy one after a police agency was done with it.”

      For anyone who remains undeterred in their quest to purchase their own personal patrol car, please don’t feel bad if you missed out on the Crown Vic’ with 110,000 miles (along with eight Caprices and twenty-one other Crown Victorias) that was sold during that particular auction. Auction sites abound on the Internet, where with a little detective work you can still ID an old forgotten workhorse of a municipal PD. 

©2009, Dr. Roadmap®

————————————————————————————————————————————————

David Rizzo, better known as Dr. Roadmap,  a Commute Management expert who writes about issues such as improving gas mileage (mpg), alternate routes, traffic congestion, ridesharing, commuting behavior and intelligent transportation systems on California’s Orange Country Register.  He is well known for his comprehensive guide ever written on off-freeway commuting in Southern California, published in 1990.  Two years later he became the first traffic reporter to offer daily alternate routes in real time over the air on one of the most popular morning radio shows in Los Angeles.  His bi-weekly columns appear exclusively for TransportGooru.  This is copyright-protected content.  Please contact Transportgooru if you like to use this article or portions of this article.  Thank you.

Oregon’s mileage-based taxation experiment declared a roaring success; Final Report now available

April 2, 2009 at 12:04 pm

(Source: Streetsblog & WorldChanging)

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has compiled a 100-page report on the experiment that covers a lot of ground, but basically describes the trial as a roaring success. A few interesting features of this report :

  • Overhead is low. Because the mileage tax piggybacks on the existing gas tax collection system, it’s easy and cheap for the state to administer.
  • Payment is simple. From the driver’s perspective, the mileage tax differs little from the gas tax, other than the fact that their gas station receipts contain interesting information on miles driven.
  • Privacy is protected. The state only gets odometer information, not information about vehicle location.
  • Evasion is difficult. Even if you tamper with the GPS receiver, you’re still going to pay the gas tax.
  • Phased implementation is possible. Oregon doesn’t foresee a complete changeover to mileage taxes happening until 2040. This is a bit too slow for my taste (I really hope gas stations don’t exist in 2040), but the point is that gas taxes and mileage taxes can happily coexist as the vehicle fleet turns over.

Technically, the system worked. Just as importantly, public acceptance was high. 91% of [self-selected] test participants preferred the system to paying gas taxes.… Before the experiment began, media portrayals of the system were almost uniformly negative — and inaccurate. By the middle of 2006, media coverage ranged from neutral to positive, and were far more accurate. Citizen comment reflected this broader trend. ODOT concludes, “Effective communication can lead to public acceptance.”

Click here to read blogger Adam Stein’s take on this subject at WorldChanging.com.  For those interested here is the final report in PDF form. 

 

China Invests to Be Leader in Electric Vehicles

April 1, 2009 at 8:04 pm

(Source: New York Times)

China wants to raise its annual production capacity to 500,000 hybrid or all-electric cars and buses by the end of 2011, from 2,100 last year, government officials and Chinese auto executives said. By comparison, CSM Worldwide, a consulting firm that does forecasts for automakers, predicts that Japan and South Korea together will be producing 1.1 million hybrid or all-electric light vehicles by then and North America will be making 267,000.

TIANJIN, China — Chinese leaders have adopted a plan aimed at turning the country into one of the leading producers of hybrid and all-electric vehicles within three years, and making it the world leader in electric cars and buses after that.

The goal, which radiates from the very top of the Chinese government, suggests that Detroit’s Big Three, even as they struggle to stay alive, will face even stiffer foreign competition on the next field of automotive technology than they do today.

“China is well positioned to lead in this,” said David Tulauskas, director of China government policy at General Motors.

To some extent, China is making a virtue of a liability: it is behind the United States, Japan and other countries, when it comes to making gas-powered vehicles. But by skipping the current technology, China hopes to get a jump on the next.

Japan is the market leader in hybrids today, which run on both electricity and gasoline, with cars like the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight. The United States has been a laggard in alternative vehicles. G.M.’s plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volt is scheduled to go on sale next year, and will use rechargeable batteries imported from LG in South Korea.

China’s intention, in addition to creating a world-leading industry that will produce jobs and exports, is to reduce urban pollution and decrease its dependence on oil, which comes from the Mideast and travels over sea routes controlled by the United States Navy.

Premier Wen Jiabao highlighted the importance of electric cars two years ago with his unlikely choice to become minister of science and technology: Wan Gang, a Shanghai-born former Audi auto engineer in Germany who later became the chief scientist for the Chinese government’s research panel on electric vehicles.

Beyond manufacturing, taxi fleets and local government agencies in 13 Chinese cities are being offered subsidies of up to $8,800 for each hybrid or all-electric vehicle they purchase. The state electricity grid has been ordered to set up electric car charging stations in Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin.

Click here to read the entire article.

Obama Favors “Cash for Clunkers”

April 1, 2009 at 7:43 pm

(Source: TreeHugger); Video: YouTube)

 Yesterday President Obama told Chrysler and GM that it is time to shape up or ship out. He also said he supports a program that would pay people to trade in older cars for newer, more fuel efficient vehicles. Europe has successfully tried this, but could it work here and would it be good for the planet? 

Speaking about a so called “cash for clunkers” program, Obama said:

“Such fleet modernization programs, which provide a generous credit to consumers who turn in old, less fuel-efficient cars and purchase cleaner cars, have been successful in boosting auto sales in a number of European countries.”

Here is an analysis from a News portal on what it could mean for consumers.

This is especially true in Germany, where new auto sales are said to have risen 20 percent last month. Of course, Europe has much higher gas prices than we do, increasing the desire to go with a greener car. They are also taxing people for their carbon output, again incentivizing people to get rid of heavier, more inefficient cars and trucks., A gas tax and other complimentary taxes that would bring our prices in line with Europe’s is politically unlikely, so a trade-in program may have some political legs given Congress’s new found attention on the climate. 

Another supporter is Ohio Rep. Betty Sutton, who sponsors the CARS Act, which creates vouchers of between $3,000 and $5,000 for people to trade-up. Given the president’s announcement yesterday, it’s suddenly a viable question to ask if there will be any American cars to buy if a cash for clunkers plan was enacted.

Here are some of the related posts from TransportGooru:

Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save (CARS) Act revives “Cash for Clunkers” scrapping plan in U.S

Germany plans to extend Abwrackprämie aka “Environmental Bonus” (in plain english, car scrapping program)

The bickering starts over the implementation of the Cash for Clunkers legislation

Fear strikes the Kingdom! Saudi Oil Minister Urges Caution on Renewable Energy

April 1, 2009 at 7:12 pm

(Source: Green, Inc. – New York Times via AutoBlogGreen )

Al-Naimi

Fears about energy security, and last year’s oil price spike, have sparked a serious push for renewable energy in the United States, the world’s largest oil consumer.

The trend is apparently making the world’s largest oil producer, Saudi Arabia, nervous.

Speaking at a major energy conference earlier this month, Ali Al-Naimi, the Saudi oil minister, offered an impassioned defense of oil, which he called “an enabler of progress and prosperity.” He cautioned that the current economic crisis — and the uncertainties over future oil consumption — could force producers to trim their supplies, and hence could cause a new price shock.

Mr. Naimi also offered his strongest public criticism against the drive for alternative fuels — which he referred to as “supplemental” energy — and the inconsistent policies of consuming countries. Although he never once mentioned either the United States or President Obama by name, these were clearly his targets.

But as I listened to the speech carefully again this week, it also struck me as one of the most important discourses on the economics of petroleum made by a senior oil official in recent times.

A video of the session is available here — though it takes a while to get through other speakers. (The relevant parts start around the ninth minute and last about 20 minutes.)

Mr. Al-Naimi, without doubt the most influential spokesman for the petroleum industry, began his address by praising the virtues of oil, the mainstay of the Saudi economy for 60 years.

“Oil is expected to retain its leading position as the world’s largest single source of energy,” Mr Al-Naimi said.

An article on AutoBlogGreen says:  “Court disaster.” “Catastrophic.” “In their infancy.” These are logical statements for someone who represents the Saudi oil industry, but it sure sounds like someone is working hard to dial down expectations for anything that threatens the dominance of oil. 

Thanks to AutoBlogGreen for pointing to a video on OPEC’s website featuring Mr. Naimi’s speech (starting at minute 9 in the video).

Calfornia gas station owners rebel against pollution rules; Half of California gas stations could be forced to close for failing to install new nozzles

April 1, 2009 at 6:43 pm

(Source: Los Angeles Times)

Gas station protest

Operators balk at having to comply with a California requirement to install costly nozzles and hoses to capture fumes. The governor calls on the Legislature to delay enforcement by a year.

James Hosmanek, an ex-Marine, has operated his San Bernardino Chevron station for 21 years, patiently installing equipment to control gasoline emissions, even as the region’s air grew smoggier.
Now he says he can’t, and won’t, obey the latest mandate: a state order to buy sophisticated nozzles and hoses to capture more of the vapors that cause respiratory disease and cancer. “It may be necessary to protect public health,” he says. “But it’s unaffordable.”
Today is the deadline for California’s 11,000 gasoline stations to comply with the nation’s most stringent controls on the fumes that seep from refueling cars. And Hosmanek is among the estimated one of five station owners who have joined an open rebellion against air pollution authorities.
Last week, spurred by a high-decibel campaign by gasoline trade associations, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called on the Legislature to delay enforcement by a year.

“Improving California’s air is of the utmost importance,” he wrote legislators. But “enforcement flexibility is an absolute necessity to ensure against the job and financial losses that could come from stations being shut down or fined for non-compliance.”

If the Legislature agrees, it would be the second time in the last two months that business interests have succeeded in rolling back a major pollution regulation. In February, a measure was added to the state’s budget package allowing construction firms to delay retrofitting diesel bulldozers and other equipment.

A campaign against the measure in recent weeks was laced with misleading information, according to officials with the California Air Resources Board. One alert mailed by the Responsible Clean Air Coalition, a group led by a former John McCain campaign staffer, Tom Kise, charged that, “On April 1st, more than 6,000 gas stations statewide are going to shut their doors because of zealous Sacramento bureaucrats.”

But in a letter to legislative leaders Friday, local air pollution districts charged with enforcing the rule said, “Air districts do not intend to shut down any stations on April 1.” Station owners have known about the deadline for four years, the letter said.

Battered by competition from cheaper chains such as Thrifty and Arco, the 51-year-old businessman said he was refused credit by banks and equipment lenders. Refitting his eight nozzles and hoses would cost more than $60,000, he said. “Even if I could get the funding, I couldn’t make the payments.”

Single-station owners like Hosmanek aren’t the only ones hurting. David Berri, an Irvine businessman whose family owns 22 stations in Orange, San Diego and Los Angeles counties, said he put a 25% deposit on vapor equipment last year. But his bank has since canceled his credit line. His family has put seven stations up for sale, but so far, there are no buyers.

Click here to read the entire article.