Archive for the ‘alternative fuels’ Category

Fill up at almost any pump today and you're likely to see a reminder that what you think of as gasoline can contain up to 10 percent ethanol.

The effect of that much ethanol on your car is relatively benign; it's been allowed since 1978 and over more than three decades the ethanol, mostly sourced from U.S. corn, has helped reduce our reliance on foreign oil.

Now agricultural lobbies, corn producing states, and some alt-fuel advocates are pushing to boost the allowable ethanol content in fuel to 15 percent, from the current 10 percent. A request filed last March, led by four ethanol-producing states, must be approved or denied by December 1.

Honda’s natural-gas-powered Civic GX is only offered to the general car-buying public in two states—California and New York. But today the automaker announced a third state where it’s available: Utah.

Why Utah? According to Honda, the Great Salt Lake state leads the nation in per capita natural gas refueling infrastructure and has the lowest natural gas prices in the country. Current average prices are just 99 cents per gasoline gallon equivalent. The 2009 Civic GX costs $25,090, but buyers might qualify for a double money-saver in the form of a $4,000 federal tax credit plus a $3,000 Utah tax credit.

Still, not all dealerships in...

Former president Bush devoted chunks of money to hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, launching research projects across the country. Unfortunately, the Obama administration (specifically Energy Secretary Dr. Steven Chu) would rather focus on electric vehicles, since EV technology is literally ready to roll. Budgets being what they are, Chu cut hydrogen funding, but constituents who depend on fuel cell projects for their livelihood weren't happy and called their elected officials. Result: congress is forcing the Chu to spend $204 million on hydrogen fuel cells -- whether the Nobel laureate likes it or not.  [BusinessInsider]