China has produced its first hybrid electric-diesel locomotive, the JT56ACe. The high powered diesel-electric model was jointly manufactured by CNR Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stock Co. (DLoco) and USA-based Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc., (EMD, formerly a GM company). It's got a 6,000 hp diesel engine and its manufacturers claim that it's the most fuel efficient and environmentally friendly locomotive in the world. It features dual isolated driver's cabins, low exhaust emissions, electronic fuel injection, AC traction drive system, microcomputer control system. The JT56ACe can pull up to 5000 tons (metric) with a maximum speed of 120 km/h (75mph). EMD and CNR have agreed to build 300 of these locomotives for the Chinese Ministry of Railways.

[Source: EMD]

Blocked borders, fuel pumps running out of gasoline, supermarkets that don't get fresh produce supply ... these are just a few of the consequences of a strike by Spanish and French truckers against high diesel prices. The strike is taking place this week. Currently, diesel prices are around €1.30/liter in Spain and €1.45 in France (that translates to $7.71 U.S. and $8.62 a gallon, respectively. You can see energy prices for all EU country members here). Those prices might be high compared to other countries, but that's not all that's not all the drivers are mad about: diesel prices have jumped up 40 percent in less than a year.

Major cities in Spain such as Valencia, Madrid or Barcelona suffered traffic jams because of demonstrations where trucks were driven at low speeds, making getting around difficult for other vehicles (the picture above shows one of Barcelona's main entry, the C-58 highway). The two main borders between Spain and France, La Jonquera and Irun, were also blocked and demonstrators prevented any truck from crossing. In response, the Spanish government offered an agreement to the Freight Unions. It includes a flexible fare system where transport could reflect fuel prices directly, as well as other measures like subventions for early retirement.


[Source: El País]

Dominique Laure, who is the owner of several freight companies in Loire-Atlantique and Gironde in France, has decided on a new benefit for his staff. Instead of salary raises, he will provide low CO₂-producing car at €1 per worked day to his workers. So, 100 out of his 130 employees will pay €250 per year to drive a new, cleaner car. There is a little catch, though.

Mr. Laure has two reasons for this unusual benefit. First of all, it makes financial sense for his companies. Each €2,000 raise would cost him €3,500 because of the extra taxes he would have to pay for that increase. The cars, in comparison, cost him €1,080 each instead, including the car's depreciation, maintenance and bank expenses. The employee and the employer sign a contract in which the employee rents the car from the company at €5 per day, while the employer pays the employee €4 to include advertising for one of Laure's companies on the vehicle. In the end, the cost to the employee is €1 per day.

The chosen model is a Renault Clio with a small diesel engine that produces less than 120 g/km of CO₂. Thus the second reason: Laure states that these cars allow his workers' to reduce their carbon footprint, since they mostly drive trucks at work.

[Source: Autoplus]

So you run a small business in Europe and you don't want to spend a lot on transportation; plus, you want to save as much CO₂ from going to the atmosphere as you can. Until now, your small panel van options were the Citroën Nemo/Peugeot Beeper or the Fiat Fiorino. Well, add one more to the list: the Renault Kangoo Express Compact. This van replaces the Renault Superfive-based Express, which is derived from the old Renault 5/Le Car; some of these are still running around.

The Renault Kangoo Express Compact will be offered with three engines: One gasoline: 1.6i 8V 90 HP (188 g/km of CO₂) and two diesels: 1.5 dCi 70 HP (140 g/km of CO₂) and 1.5 dCi 85 HP (135 g/km of CO₂). We're likely to see an ECO² label version that gets under 119 g/km of CO₂ in the near future in order to benefit from the various tax reduction schemes in Europe. The van comes with all kinds of amenities, such as radio CD, A/C, ABS, EBD, electric steering, navigation system, Bluetooth, front and side airbags..


[Source: Renault]

Goodyear has announced that it has joined the EPA's Smartway Transport partnership. Smartway is a program aimed at reducing pollution from road freight transport and offers low-cost loans to make it easy for those in the truck industry to install fuel efficiency devices such as low-rolling resistance tires or to certify new vehicles as fuel-efficient. Goodyear also stated that its Fuel Max Line line of tires can reduce fuel consumption by four percent. By using these tires and other Smartway-certified components, Goodyear and EPA announced that a 18-wheeler can save up to 4,000 gallons of fuel per year.

Through SmartWay, the EPA aims to reduce between 3.3 and 6.6 billion gallons of diesel consumption and eliminate between 33 and 66 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions and up to 200,000 tons of nitrous oxide emissions per year by 2012.

[Source: Goodyear, EPA]

Scania has announced that, after 20 years of providing ethanol buses, the Swedish company (owned by Volkswagen) is going to sell ethanol trucks from the next model year onwards. The marque also announced agreements to build a network of fueling stations to make it easily available for small businesses to buy the biofuel. According to Scania's data, ethanol produced from sugarcane can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 90 percent compared to a regular diesel engine. Scania stated that it's betting on ethanol because it's the most cost-efficient biofuel available.

What you might find interesting is that Scania's technology makes engines work according to the diesel principle (compression-ignition). This allow the engines to be as efficient as diesel units. Scania's ethanol contains 5-7 percent special additives that improve ignition and lubrication. Most current flex-fuel engines compatible with ethanol use the otto cycle with lower efficiency. Current ethanol-powered buses by Scania are already running in countries such as Norway, Spain, Italy, Poland, United Kingdom, China, Australia and Brazil.

[Source: Scania]

Road freight transport contributes significantly to pollution levels and there have been a slew of initiatives to reduce this environmental impact recently. Freight transport also impacts roads. If you happen to live near a port, like me, you know what I mean.

So these days, the city of Valencia, Spain is holding a Green Logistics congress for freight operators from more than 22 European countries and companies such as Nike, Ford, Procter & Gamble, DHL, Vossloh, Siemens, Volvo, SBB cargo and Evergreen. Saving fuel is not only good for the environment, but also for the companies' bottom lines. The EU and local Spanish authorities are sponsoring the event.

What are the key factors they are studying? On tap are the creation of "green corridors" or special dedicated paths for freight, logistical innovations (such as improved software for delivery planning), and something called "intermodality" (combining large-scale railway freight with smaller more efficient trucks for local delivery). The congress will also study energy efficiency measures as well as the impact of using renewable energies like biofuels. Their target: fewer CO₂ emissions by 2030.

[Source: Europa Press via Econoticias]

Smith EV, which makes delivery vans and trucks in the UK and Europe, has finally announced its plans for the US: Up to 10,000 EV trucks will be built in a facility that "could be sited anywhere in North America, would require up to a 300 acre site, including a 500,000sq ft assembly facility, test track and space for rolling stock. It would create at least 500 jobs."

Smith already has a small plant in Fresno, CA, which can produce 1,000 EV trucks per year, as well as another factory in the UK with an output of 1,500 vehicles. Smith EV plans a new facility in the UK for European customers.

Smith makes a range of highway-capable EVs, from 7,000lbs vans to 25,000lbs trucks. With a top speed of 50mph, and a range on one lithium-ion battery charge of up to 150 miles. The company claims they are suitable for deployment in urban delivery applications.

(Editor's note: stay tuned for an interview with Smith EV direct from EVS23 in Anaheim)

Related:

• TNT courier company buys two Smith EV trucks for Rotterdam delivery
• Smith Electric Vehicles, Enova partner up for zero-emission van, truck

[Source: Smith EV]