A new station offering CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) has opened along the A2 Autobahn in Germany. Normally, this isn't huge news, but this particular station is the 800th CNG fueling spot in the country, compared to more than 15,000 gas stations. More figures about CNG stations in Germany: 350 of these 800 stations are easilly accessible from highways, 95 percent are accessible to the general public and 60 are open 24 hours a day. What's also interesting is that nine percent of these 800 stations also offer biogas (in proportions that range from 10 to 100 percent), obtained from from organic waste such as manure or sewage sludge. Another interesting note, LPG (Liquified Petroleum Gas) can be found in 4,100 stations across the country. If you're driving around Germany in a car able to run with natural gas, you might find this site helpful. It's a station locator with all kind of parameters: distance, price, biogas avalilability, and more.

[Source: Gibgas via Auto News]

My, how the tables have turned. First, it was Germany that was in opposition to stringent emissions standards in the European Union which would have regulated the amount of carbon dioxide a vehicle can emit, beginning in 2012. German automakers tend to make large, luxurious vehicles with big, powerful engines. France, though, did not want to see changes made to the regulations, as its automakers already were close to meeting the proposals and thought it would be unfair to make concessions just for German brands. So, the two countries had a little meeting and came to some sort of agreement which would not go into effect until 2015.

Now, it's Italy that is in opposition to the French and German deal, as Italian automakers also offer rather efficient vehicles. Italian environment minister Stefania Prestigiacomo calls the new proposal unacceptable and feels that it would put the Italian companies at a disadvantage to its competition. We wonder what the final regulations may look like once every country has had its say in what should be done.

[Source: Automotive News Europe - sub. req'd]

It has been said numerous times that German automakers are upset with European proposals which would limit CO₂ output to around 120 grams per kilometer. Perhaps we shouldn't be lumping Volkswagen or its subsidiaries into that category. Martin Winterkorn, CEO of VW, has admitted that the VW brands, including luxury carmaker Audi, can achieve those low carbon standards. In fact, Winterkorn believes that the standards are achievable today, not by 2015 as proposals would require. Technologies which would allow the low carbon output are already being used. Direct injection and turbocharging are quickly becoming a staple of automakers like Volkswagen and Audi since those technologies allow the production of more power and the reduction of fuel consumption.

Another interesting tidbit from Winterkorn is that he believes that plug-in electric vehicles will become the fuel-saving technology of choice in the coming years. As you may be aware, Germany gets the vast majority of its power from coal, which is an extremely dirty process. For this reason, the VeeDub leader suggests that the country take a look at nuclear for its power needs.

[Source: Automotive News Europe - sub. req'd.]

The German automakers, through their lobbying group VDA (Verband der Automobilindustrie), say they're no longer against the European Commission plan to require a reduction in vehicle CO₂ emission to 120 g/km. Reuters reports that the German companies - most notably BMW, Daimler and VW - agree that 120 is a good target, but are still holding out to have that limit imposed in 2015 instead of 2012. The VDA isn't all of a sudden totally on the side of the EU regulators, and VDA President Matthias Wissmann said in a statement that, "The Commission's proposal is not innovation friendly enough, is too fixated on engine technology, too inflexible, particularly in its timetable, and too fixated on penalties." Still, getting the VDA to say that 120 grams per kilometer is the right target is a good thing. We'll see how they feel when they hear that the goalposts might get moved to 95 g/km.

[Source: Reuters]

The German arguments to European Commission rules aimed at lowering average vehicle CO₂ emissions has been well covered. Because many of the major German brands make large, powerful vehicles, the German administration felt that they were being dealt with unfairly. France, for its part, has automakers which quite nearly complied with the proposed standards just as they were and did not want to see German automakers get any special treatment. Can't we all just get along? Maybe, since Automotive News is reporting that representatives from the two feuding nations have gotten together and are hashing out their differences. We don't have any details on just what changes are being suggested to the proposal, but an anonymous source claims that there are few sticking points left on the table. According to reports, France would like to see a deal made before June 9, when there is a meeting between Frech President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel scheduled in Bavaria. Stay tuned.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

click above image for high-res gallery of the BMW 335i Convertible

Germany's Centre Automotive Research (CAR) at the college of Gelsenkirchen has commissioned a new study which seems to indicate the the market share for diesel vehicles in Germany has peaked. There are many reasons highlighted in the study, not the least of which is the rising cost of diesel fuel in Europe. Also under scrutiny is the shrinking efficiency difference between the average diesel vehicle and some of the newest high-tech gasoline powered cars and hybrids. Technology trends such as BMW's recent twin-turbocharging, as featured in popular models like the 335i (seen above), and Volkswagen's Twincharger system are narrowing the gap between gas and diesel power and mileage.

Also cited as a potential snag for diesel car owners is the resale value for diesel vehicles. Apparently, the cost increase association with the purchase of a new diesel vehicle doesn't translate into higher resale value. For these reasons and a few others, the CAR study, led by Ferdinand Dudenhöffer, forecasts a market share decrease of eight percent for diesel vehicles over the next decade or so. Could the U.S. actually make headway when it comes to the diesel disparity between it and Europe?

[Source: Just-Auto]

At the INTERMOT show in Cologne, Germany, running from October 8-12 this year, there will be a special section at the Innovation Centre which will showcase alternative drive two- and three-wheelers. The show will include vehicles that are already on the market, like the Vectrix scooter and electric E-Max scooter, and future vehicles, like a natural gas-powered Suzuki and hybrid Piaggio MP3, on display. A solar-powered test track powered by Salon AG will be on-hand for visitors to test out some of the latest electrically-driven machines and to recharge spent electric vehicles.

INTERMOT organizers believe that now is the time to put alternative energy on display, and they are intending to highlight the fact that environmentally friendly does not necessarily equal low performance. Besides alternatively-powered vehicles, the exhibit will also display eco-friendly parts, accessories and clothing related to the two-wheeled industry. The entire list of all INTERMOT exhibitors can be found at this link.

[Source: INTERMOT]

Even though we heard a report to the contrary just yesterday, government sources in France and Germany have told Thomson Financial that they are not about to reach a deal on CO₂ emissions. As you might know, French automakers are not putting up as big a fight over low-CO₂ emissions the way the dirty German automakers are. After all, it's Daimler, BMW, Porsche and Audi, after all, who have the most to lose should penalties of 20 euros per gram of CO₂ over the 120 limit kick in in 2012 (it could climb to 95 euros in 2015)

The governments are fighting the proxy battle in the EU over changes to the emissions regulations being proposed by the European Commission. While Reuters said there was "progress" in the discussions, Thompson reports that German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel and his French counterpart, Jean-Louis Borloo, cancelled a meeting to discuss the issue without rescheduling. Oh, and that compromise that might have been reached by the mid-June EU summit? That now looks unlikely.

[Source: Thompson Financial in Automotive News]


http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080411/ANE02/225390385/1193/

Europe, 2012: The goal is to have cars that emit an average of 120 grams of CO₂ per kilometer.
Europe, 2008: Wha?

Yes, the road to 120 is a tough one, but Reuters is reporting that two of the big players in the EU, France and Germany, are "making progress" on agreeing on how new low-CO₂ legislation should be instituted. As in the U.S., automakers in the EU are fighting for more time before the rules go into effect. The loudest voices come from the Germans (Porsche, BMW and Mercedes-Benz) because, well, they make and sell some pretty dirty cars, comparatively. French automakers, like Citroën/Renault, already have quite a few low-CO₂ vehicles and so don't mind if the rules kick in earlier rather than later. There's no word on just what the agreement might be, but environment ministers from the EU will meet in Slovenia this weekend. Perhaps more rumor will trickle out then.

[Source: Reuters]

Few would argue that Germany is known for its cars, as well as for their high-speed roadways. Manufacturers such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche have a well-deserved reputation for building awe-inspiring cars ... which also emit plenty of polllutants into the air. Keeping these facts in mind, we have a hard time imagining German politicians riding around in hybrid cars, let alone bicycles. Still, "It's just embarrassing when all parties preach climate protection and then drive around Berlin in fat luxury cars," says Winfried Hermann, the Green Party's transport spokesman. In order to make the transition from Porsche's to pedals, the Green Party wants the Bundestag (those with seats in Parliament) to trade in their current cars for hybrids and to have access to the rental bicycles available in cities across Germany.

[Source: Spiegel Online]

The war of words between the Mayor of London and Porsche is heating up. Thanks to Mayor Ken Livingstone (the guy in the black Prius), London's congestion charge will be increased, a move that sparked the threat of a lawsuit and even the creation of a website by automaker Porsche. At a news conference today, Mayor Ken Livingstone said "they [Porsche] should be redoubling efforts to produce less-polluting cars" and notes that Berliners would be annoyed "if a British company tried to intervene in a mayoral election" (remember, Porsche is a German company).

Livingstone is standing for his third term May 1 and, wouldn't you know it, his two opponents don't support the fee increases. Porsche spokesman Andrew Davis says they "are not interested in the election at all -- we're not a political company. ... We are simply fighting on the issue of modifying the congestion charge." I don't know Porsche, this web page and this one look a little political to me.

[Source: Bloomberg]

Christmas tree sticker shock in Germany is due in part to biofuels demand, according to HDH, the German timber industry group. Christmas tree land that was lost in order to grow crops for biofuels is a reason given by HDH along with more single person house holds and, of course, demand from China.

Christian von Burgsdorff runs a Christmas tree company and says that, "we don't have enough goods to keep up with Chinese demand." 28 million Christmas trees were sold in Germany last year (the most ever) and the Christmas tree racket can only go up. Will Christmas trees be added to the list of things impacted by biofuels like gummy bears and beers? More importantly, will people ever stop the incredibly strange tradition of chopping down a tree only to bring it inside and put lights on it?

Happy Holidays everyone!

Related:

• Biofuels threaten cheap beer in Germany
• Biofuels: responsible for the rising price of tortilla's, milk, coffee and... gummy bears?
• Japan: making biofuels out of used chopsticks

[Source: Spiegel]

I've been on quite a few flights lately, and usually, the worst part is not the airplane ride itself, but everything else that goes along with it. Like, either getting dropped off with all of your luggage or parking your car in the long-term lot, or taking a taxi ride. It sure would be nice if there was a good way to get to the airport that didn't cost an arm and a leg and was fast. According to this article, it sounds like Germany has the right idea with their new maglev project. Traveling from Munich's city center to the airport, the train can reach speeds of 310 miles per hour. Shouldn't take too long, then. The ride should be pretty good too, considering that maglev is short for magnetic levitation, so the train isn't even really riding on the track at all. Wouldn't it be nice to see trains like this connecting major cities here in the States too?

Related:

• Japan set to introduce magnetic levitation trains by 2025

[Source: BBC via Slashdot via Engadget]

The German Government has decided to raise the mandatory biofuel content of motor fuels from 5 percent to 10 percent. This applies to both ethanol blends in gasoline and biodiesel blends although an implementation deadline has not yet been set. the German Finance Ministry is also re-examining the tax situation with regard to biodiesel after sales dropped in the wake of recent new taxes.

[Source: German Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Ministry]

German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel has released a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Germany by forty percent by the end of the next decade. The eight point proposal includes improving overall energy efficiency by eleven percent, updating power plants to improve efficiency, increased use of renewable energy sources, more co-generation, more efficient HVAC systems in buildings, and more biofuel use. The final point is reducing emissions of non-CO2 greenhouse gases such as methane. This last item could be helpful by capturing methane from land-fills and using it as a fuel which would reduce use fossil fuels for the same purpose.

[Source: German Environment Ministry]