Early last month, we found out that Ohio was hesitant to license electric 3-wheelers because of a new definition of what the seat needed to look like. This would have meant that electric vehicles like the Aptera (above), the Zap Xebra and the NMG would be a legal limbo in the state. The good news from the Cleveland Plain Dealer blog, though, is that versions of a big spending bill - House Bill 562 - have been passed by both the House and Senate, and it looks like the conference committee that is reconciling the differences will keep the redefinition of a motorcycle as a vehicle that has no more than three wheels and either a "saddle" or a normal seat. The legislature could pass the bill today. If that happens, and it is signed into law by the governor, it will allow three-wheeled EVs to be registered as motorcycles, but helmet laws might mean that drivers will need to protect their heads with a brain bucket for the first year. Ohio's Bureau of Motor Vehicles is still hoping for a more comprehensive legal solution that will get rid of quirks like that, but at least Ohio drivers can register their emission-free rides now.

[Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer, Thanks to Robert S. for the tip]

According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, drivers in Ohio are facing problems when it comes time to register their electric three-wheeled vehicles. Most states classify three-wheelers as motorcycles, but Ohio adds one more item to their definition of a motorcycle: a saddle. This means that three-wheelers which have a normal "car-like" seat are unregisterable as a car, because they have fewer than four wheels, or a motorcycle. Two vehicles are mentioned in our source article, the ZAP! Xebra and the NmG from Myers Motors (pictured above), a company based, ironically enough, in Ohio. According to Josh Engel, chief legal counsel for the BMV, "It's not the first time that the law hasn't caught up with technology," adding that the state of Ohio is supportive of electric vehicles. Basically, the law needs to change, and Tom Hunter, communications director for the BMV, suggests that the real solution would be to classify the vehicles as neither cars nor motorcycles. A special class of vehicle would be created, and hopefully a motorcycle endorsement would not be required. We'll keep you updated if anything new comes of this issue. Thanks for the tip, Ken.

[Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer]

Ohio legislators are changing laws that allow any hybrid into the HOV lane. This means that GM's SUV hybrids are no longer allowed in the get-to-work-on-time lanes. House Bill 62, sponsored by state Rep. Todd Kiser, R-Sandy, would bring Ohio in line with the new national standards which only include hybrids that improve mileage by 50 percent in the city or 25 percent overall. Smaller SUV hybrids like the hybrid Toyota Highlander would still be allowed in Ohio's HOV lanes.

So, full size hybrid SUVs like the Chevrolet Tahoe two-mode hybrid, which only gets an MPG improvement of 40 percent (10 percent shy) will not be allowed in Ohio's HOV lane. The good news is that people who already have the license plate sticker allowing them to drive in the HOV lane by themselves won't get them taken back. New buyers of the Chevy Tahoe two-mode hybrid buyers, though, won't get the sticker. If Ohio does not comply with the national standard, national highway funding could be effected.

So, if you live in Ohio and planned on buying the Tahoe hybrid soon, do it now before the law changes and you lose this perk. What do you think readers: is the EPA wrong to exclude Chevy's SUV hybrids or did GM just make 'em too big?

Related:

• How SUVs screwed up the idea of hybrids
• AltWheels Video: GM describes Tahoe hybrid as a "big ass hybrid," Sir Mix-A-Lot would be proud
• Which hybrids are - and are not - welcomed in the HOV lane
  
• Stupid hybrid perk: no emissions test
  
• Hybrids getting a free ride in HOV lane

[Source: Salt Lake Tribune]

Not a very exciting headline, I know, but realize what this means. With the state government offering tax incentives on soybean-based B20 biodiesel as well as E85 ethanol, each retailer can lower their price per gallon by at least ten cents, making the two renewable resource fuels that much more affordable to consumers. That, in turn, makes E85-capable vehicles more attractive to purchase, which then increases the demand for and sales of said biofuel, stimulating suppliers to churn out more go-juice. Then it gets cheaper, and we're all a bunch of happy peas in a very green pod.

Ohio plans on throwing $4.5 billion at its tax credits every two years, and Mark Watkins, President of the Ohio Soybean Association (that sounds like a dream job) is also part of the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, who is pushing to get another $2 million from the feds, in addition to their current 30 percent tax credit. All you Ohioans can continue to enjoy your 43 E85 stations and 51 B20 stations, and look forward saving some scratch.


[Source: Dayton Daily News]

Remember last week's post on the Ohio-based Honda R&D facility receiving the gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) award? One of the environmentally-friendly technologies named is an ice-chilling system used to cool the main facility. The Associated Press wrote a more detailed report on it.

The technology is not new. The system creates ice under the power plant which then is used to cool air circulating in the building. According to Honda, the system uses less electricity and water than prior systems. Interestingly, such systems are costly to set up and usually used by convention centers and similar large complexes. Though Honda won't reveal how much it paid, a senior engineer stated the system will pay itself off with three years.

[Source: Associated Press via Washington Post]

Sibling blog Blogging Ohio provided no less than three news pieces on our favorite topic, biodiesel. The first covers the ASAlliance Biofuels company as it continues its progress to build a $120 million ethanol plant in Bloomingburg. After a permit hearing later this month, construction of the new plant should begin shortly which will take a 12 to 18 months to complete.

The second article profiles several Ohio farmers (pictured) who use biodiesel for their vehicles. They see alternative fuels as the future though are realistic it will not be embraced by Americans for some time. The last article profiles Dave Barker of Piketon who makes his own biodiesel which he uses for his vehicles as well as sell the fuel to others.

[Source: Chillocothe Gazette via Blogging Ohio]

Ray Holan is an accomplished auto mechanic, biofuel advocate, author of the book Sliding Home: A Complete Guide to Driving Your Diesel on Straight Vegetable Oil and regular feature contributor to AutoblogGreen.



The 47-acre grounds of the Congregation of St. Joseph of Cleveland, Ohio would put the most environmentally conscious neighborhood to shame. Oh, sure, there's the usual recycling activities of composting kitchen waste, collecting aluminum cans, glass, plastic, and paper. But it doesn't stop there. How about organic gardening, a "Styrofoam-free" campus, cloth napkins instead of paper, recycling bins in the retreat center for visitors and using a "green" cleaning company even though it's more expensive than traditional services? When religious women make a joint commitment to sustainability, you won't find the word "half-way" in their dictionary.

There was so much environmental consciousness and energy efficiency at play on the campus, I almost forgot to focus on the real object of my visit: their fleet of 12 Honda Civic GX's powered by compressed natural gas (CNG).

Follow the jump to continue the article...

UPDATE: Added author's byline.