Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - (Page 22i) INSIGHT NOVEMBER 10, 2008 • 22I Natural gas draws interest as alternative fuel John Couretas autonews@crain.com Less pain at the pump Even after the recent slide in gasoline prices, natural gas remains less expensive as a vehicle fuel. Here are prices per gallon in San Francisco as of Monday, Nov. 3, using a measure known as the gasoline gallon equivalent. LOWEST HIGHEST This year’s surge in gasoline prices has revived interest in the once-moribund compressed natural gas vehicle market. This summer, the CNG cause got a shot in the arm when oilman T. Boone Pickens launched a $58 million media campaign to promote his Pickens Plan to wean America from foreign oil. A key element of the Pickens Plan is a massive shift of commercial and light vehicles to cleanburning CNG, drawing on North America’s abundant natural gas reserves. The Energy Department calculates that CNG vehicles produce 60 to 90 percent less smogproducing pollutants and 30 to 40 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than gasolinepowered vehicles. Now automakers also are paying more attention. In late September, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. said that it would show a CNG Camry Hybrid concept vehicle at the Los Angeles Auto Show this month. Toyota has not said whether it will build and sell a CNG vehicle. Still, the Camry concept indicates that Toyota is adding CNG to its mix of alternative fuel technologies under study. In 1999, Toyota tested the CNG market, selling a four-cylinder Camry to fleet customers. But cheap gasoline and a dearth of refueling stations ended the experiment after a year. And the rise of ethanol as an alternative fuel pushed CNG off center stage. Gasoline Natural gas $2.46 $1.98 $3.34 $2.27 Source: cngprices.com; gasprices.mapquest.com Want to drive on natural gas in the United States? The Honda Civic GX is your only choice. July, Larry Burns, vice president of r&d and strategic planning, said natural gas power is “enticing because it is abundant, affordable and relatively clean.” Burns said GM is exploring, without committing to production, a dual-fuel approach with natural gas and gasoline for U.S. customers as another way to diversify the automaker’s portfolio of alternative fuel technologies. “In the near term, we can use compressed natural gas in internal combustion engines,” Burns wrote. “Mid term, we can leverage natural gas to create electricity for the Volt and future variants. In the long term, natural gas could be an excellent source for making hydrogen for fuel cell vehicles, either at the filling station or in people’s homes.” The Honda Civic GX remains the sole passenger car available for U.S. consumers who want to drive on compressed natural gas. Until early this year, demand was tepid. Doubling production Now Honda North America Inc. plans to double annual production of the Civic GX to 2,000 units. “I only see this thing getting bigger,” Honda spokesman Todd Mittleman says. One daunting barrier to CNG vehicles has been the lack of a refueling infrastructure. In October, the Energy Department said there were 777 CNG refueling stations in the United States, with half of them concentrated in four states: California, New York, Utah and Oklahoma. And most of those refueling stations are owned by and operated for private truck fleets ‘A different era’ But that was then. Now, says Toyota spokesman John Hanson, “We’re in a different era.” Writing on General Motors’ FastLane blog in or sit in natural-gas utility yards. They are not open to the public. Honda markets the Civic GX with a home refueling appliance called the Phill, which compresses natural gas from a home gas line so owners can refuel at home. The Phill can process slightly less than half a tank of fuel overnight, enough for about 100 miles of driving. Maximum range on a full tank is about 225 to 250 miles. Extra storage tanks could increase range but would add weight. In September, Honda sought to sell FuelMaker Corp. of Toronto, manufacturer of the Phill, for $17 million to Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (formerly Pickens Fuel Corp.) of Seal Beach, Calif. But in early October, the deal fell apart. Clearly, infrastructure is an issue that goes beyond automakers or even the natural gas industry. Any new fuel type that seeks to displace gasoline will face the same problem. A lot of cross-industry cooperation will be necessary. Says Toyota’s Hanson: “The energy companies can’t do it by themselves.” c aluminum lighter. cleaner. better. for a free Webinar on aluminum’s cost, safety & environmental impact. Register at www.autoaluminum.org. Join us Dec. 9 Aluminum can improve fuel economy by more than 10%, reduce emissions and meet the toughest safety standards – all while being infinitely recyclable. Learn more at www.autoaluminum.org. http://www.cngprices.com http://gasprices.mapquest.com http://www.autoaluminum.org http://www.autoaluminum.org http://www.autoaluminum.org
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - November 10, 2008 Life at 11 million: Slash, rethink The options: Bailout or disaster Can Toyota reheat the frozen Tundra? Chrysler dealers cheer halt to merger talk VW will unveil roadster at Detroit auto show BMW boosts dealers' year-end ad money Mercedes' $220 million flagship Mercedes hit hard in Northeast, once a sales stronghold Mercedes will kill CLK, add larger coupe, convertible Mitsubishi reclaims its finance business Toyota's Esmond to speak at congress Loss is more: Europe snatches bigger share of U.S. market Cash burn rates threaten GM, Ford GMAC: We're nobody's captive As losses mount, suppliers risk cash-flow crunch Tata: Yes to Jaguar XF derivative, no to SUV U.S. aid is needed now, but not to help Cerberus They are too big to fail Why should we help GM and Chrysler? First and foremost, you must be flexible U.S. trade policy gives it all away To the Editor: A rough ride is nothing new for autos Dealer's politics were pertinent Chrysler's 1st electric: Probably a cargo van Auto meltdown forces Mercedes to scrap prediction of sales record Boosting mpg will bump up stickers, too Adding up the tab for fuel economy Camaro Black: Eye-catching, affordable and available Honda sees green in Civic HFP's street performance Honda offers peek at future Fit Ford F-150 Raptor flies off-road Souped-up, tricked-out â and headed for the showroom Report: Toyota plans $5,000 car Amid gloom, Mazda chief sees revival in 2009-10 Report: Past-due subprime loans jump Toyota aims to win loyalty with credit card Study: Car buyers turn green for different reasons Thanks, buddy Hyundai helps Dealers Metaldyne offers pennies to bondholders Obituaries Personnel As expected, Oct. sales sank Another Chinese automaker plans Mexico factory Honda backs off U.S. clean diesels Industry pal, foe vie for key post in Congress Industry expects more activism from D.C. N.A. output falls 19.9% Toyota moves in striking distance of GM's U.S. sales crown Going, going . . . An ex-GM exec's view: It's going to get nasty Sex, Nazis, chicken and BMW: A scandal that puts fiction writers to shame Recession rips up roadster market Toyota takes heat for 'the herpes of the advertising world' Want to boost mpg? Turn up the heat on AC Cutting energy loss: A nibble here, a nibble there ... Carbon slashes weight, but it's still too pricey Carmakers shift to gears in search of mpg gains Natural gas draws interest as alternative fuel Friction? Ay, there's the rub Electric for a week Automotive News - November 10, 2008 Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - (Page Intro) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - (Page Bellyband1) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - (Page Bellyband2) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - The options: Bailout or disaster (Page 1) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - The options: Bailout or disaster (Page 2) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - VW will unveil roadster at Detroit auto show (Page 3) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Mercedes hit hard in Northeast, once a sales stronghold (Page 4) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Mercedes hit hard in Northeast, once a sales stronghold (Page 5) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Loss is more: Europe snatches bigger share of U.S. market (Page 6) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Loss is more: Europe snatches bigger share of U.S. market (Page 7) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - As losses mount, suppliers risk cash-flow crunch (Page 8) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - As losses mount, suppliers risk cash-flow crunch (Page 9) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Tata: Yes to Jaguar XF derivative, no to SUV (Page 10) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Tata: Yes to Jaguar XF derivative, no to SUV (Page 11) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - First and foremost, you must be flexible (Page 12) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - First and foremost, you must be flexible (Page 13) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Dealer's politics were pertinent (Page 14) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Dealer's politics were pertinent (Page 15) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Auto meltdown forces Mercedes to scrap prediction of sales record (Page 16) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Boosting mpg will bump up stickers, too (Page 17) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Boosting mpg will bump up stickers, too (Page 18) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Boosting mpg will bump up stickers, too (Page 19) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 20) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 21) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22a) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22b) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22c) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22d) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22e) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22f) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22g) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22h) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22i) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22j) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22k) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22l) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 23) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Souped-up, tricked-out â and headed for the showroom (Page 24) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Amid gloom, Mazda chief sees revival in 2009-10 (Page 25) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Toyota aims to win loyalty with credit card (Page 26) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Hyundai helps (Page 27) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Dealers (Page 28) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Personnel (Page 29) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Personnel (Page 30) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Personnel (Page 31) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Personnel (Page 32) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Personnel (Page 33) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Personnel (Page 34) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Personnel (Page 35) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Personnel (Page 36) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - As expected, Oct. sales sank (Page 37) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Honda backs off U.S. clean diesels (Page 38) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Industry expects more activism from D.C. (Page 39) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Industry expects more activism from D.C. (Page 40) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - N.A. output falls 19.9% (Page 41) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Toyota takes heat for 'the herpes of the advertising world' (Page 42) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Toyota takes heat for 'the herpes of the advertising world' (Page 43) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Toyota takes heat for 'the herpes of the advertising world' (Page 44)
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