Gas prices are rising and government fuel economy requirements are going up, too. This time around, Detroit’s ready for the fight. General Motors, for instance, is entering the increasingly competitive mini-car market with the Chevrolet Spark. Mini-cars are even smaller than subcompacts. The reason for selling them isn’t that they get better fuel economy, though. Generally speaking, subcompacts and minicars don’t get better mileage than larger compact cars. Beyond a certain point, there’s just no gain from shrinking cars any further. The reason for offering a car this tiny is competition. Some customers, especially younger buyers living in crowded cities, want a really small car. If Chevy didn’t offer the Spark, those buyers might go get a Scion iQ or Fiat 500 and GM wants every small car sale it can get.
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President Obama outlined new plans Wednesday to support the sales and use of alternative-fuel vehicles — including cars and trucks that run on hydrogen and natural gas instead of just those that run on electricity. The plans are part of a $1 billion National Community Deployment Challenge intended to support the use of natural gas and other alternative fuel technologies, in addition to plug-in vehicles. The president also announced separate incentives to encourage individuals and businesses to purchase alternative-fuel vehicles.
What happens when America’s largest commercial fleets commit to reduced gasoline and diesel use? http://go.usa.gov/PCl
By Peter GardettWhat happens when the largest American commercial fleets commit to reduced gasoline and diesel use? http://go.usa.gov/PCl ENERGY
Decade-low natural gas prices in the US are helping whet consumer appetite for natural gas vehicles, and Ryder Trucks is getting in on the action.
In addition to the immediate financial benefits, natural gas vehicles (NGVs) can also help companies achieve their corporate sustainability initiatives, says Scott Perry, Vice President, Supply Management at Ryder. Companies can benefit from decreased greenhouse gas emissions and advance their alternative fuel agendas by opting for trucks powered by natural gas. Keep reading →
Gas prices are rising fast, and companies are bracing for the impact — shedding old habits and adopting new technology.
In an effort to cut fuel costs, small businesses have turned to light trucks retrofitted to carry bigger loads and vehicles that can run on biodiesel. Some are even using special GPS devices that let bosses know when employees keep engines running hundreds of miles away. Keep reading →
The planned closure of Sunoco’s Philadelphia refinery, which accounts for a quarter of the US East Coast’s capacity, looks set to constrain supplies of diesel, heating oil, and perhaps gasoline, while pushing prices higher.
The projected shutdown, due to take effect in July if no buyer is found, was highlighted by the Energy Information Administration in a February 27 report saying petroleum product markets in the Northeast could be “significantly impacted” if the closure goes ahead. Keep reading →
The nationwide average for gasoline prices approached $3.74 a gallon Thursday, continuing a steady rise for the 23rd consecutive day, according to the motorist group AAA. The average price rose 0.7 cent a gallon in the latest 24-hour period, AAA said. A month ago, the nationwide average was $3.44 a gallon. Gas prices are up 14% so far in 2012. The average price is down 37.6 cents, or about 9.1%, from the record high of $4.11 on July 17, 2008. Average prices for regular gasoline top $4 a gallon in California, Alaska and Hawaii, with Hawaii’s price of just above $4.35 a gallon standing as the nation’s high. Prices are within a nickel of the $4 mark in New York and Connecticut, according to AAA.
Sammy Reiser fills his vehicle up with gas in a county where some grades of gasoline have already surpassed the $4 mark on February 21, 2012 in Miami, Florida. Fears of $5 per gallon gasoline are being heard as summer approaches and some feel that would hurt the economy just as an economic recovery appears to be getting traction.
The oil business is generally seen as monolithic by consumers, but parts of the industry can suffer even as rising prices boost results in other sectors. Keep reading →
