Beyond Now

The diesel vehicles you see on the road today aren’t your grandparents’ diesels.

If they were, we likely wouldn’t be seeing this uptick in diesel sales. Diesel cars account for three percent of U.S. sales today and are trending up. In fact, they jumped 35 percent in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011.

“Consumers realize that today’s diesel cars are cleaner, less noisy and faster than they used to be, and have a relatively lower cost of entry than some hybrids and EVs,” said Michael Omotoso, powertrain analyst, LMC Automotive. “Consumers also are more receptive to diesel fuel because of $4 per gallon gasoline.”

According to market research firm Baum and Associates, sales of diesels could double by mid-decade. Chevrolet plans to offer a 2.0L clean turbo diesel version of the Cruze next year in the United States. 

“With GM’s advanced clean-burning diesel technology under the hood, Cruze stands to be a game changer,” said Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum, a non-profit educational organization.

Diesel is also easier to find these days, according to Diesel Technology Forum. About one of every two U.S. service stations now offers it—up from one in three a few years ago.

As the global leader in producing FlexFuel vehicles that can run on E85 ethanol, gasoline, or any combination of the two, we offer more of these models than any other automaker.  If you’re looking for a car with this FlexFuel capability, you have 20 to choose from within the GM family.

Today we are talking with Coleman Jones, GM’s biofuel implementation manager, who is presenting on biofuels this afternoon at the Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress in Detroit.

Q: There’s a lot of talk about weaning America off of foreign sources of petroleum. What are some of the technologies that can help?

A: First, let’s talk for a moment about the scale of the goal. The U.S. is forecast to import more than 9 million barrels per day, which is more than the combined usage of Japan, Germany, and the UK. Achieving this goal will take multiple technologies including biofuels, electrification and utilizing natural gas in some manner.  Keep in mind that gasoline is less than half of a barrel of petroleum. The other uses that account for the rest of the barrel need to have substitutes or reduced demand, too.

Q: What does it take for a fuel source to have staying power and effectively compete with gasoline?

A: First the cost-per-mile traveled has to be competitive, and this includes paying for the whole value chain, from raw material supply through vehicle purchase.  Next, a fuel source needs to have scale. To truly compete, a fuel cannot be a limited supply niche product.  This means that as demand builds, the price needs to remain competitive.  The ability to quickly ramp up the infrastructure, wherever the bottleneck is, is critical for being able to displace large amounts of petroleum quickly.

Q: What are some of the challenges and opportunities the industry faces along this mission?

A: From the automaker perspective, the question is what to produce.  There are lots of people telling us what they think is the right answer, but the only one who counts is the customer at the dealer.  In Brazil, the voice of the customer has been loud and clear…but not here.  Product design and development is a long and expensive process and we need to make the right bets.  The opportunity is to lead the United States out of petroleum dependence.

Q: There are a lot of solutions that automakers are working on, ranging from electrification to using alternative fuels like CNG and LPG.  Why are biofuels considered the best near-term solution to reduce our dependence and reduce the impact of driving?

A: The Flexfuel vehicle is a pretty mature technology that is low cost and allows the customer to use traditional gasoline while waiting for the new fuel to arrive.  The liquid fuel infrastructure already exists although some upgrading is needed for E85.  Plus biofuels have the necessary scale to address the goal. According to the U.S. government’s Billion Ton Study, there is well over a billion tons of biomass that can be harvested in this country every year. Converting this to biofuels will displace most of the 9 million daily barrels of petroleum that we spoke about earlier.
 
Q: What will it take to get more people filling up their tanks with renewable biofuel?

A: Price and availability—the same thing that made the FlexFuel vehicle the industry standard in Brazil.

Q: Finally, can you speak to some of the benefits that E85 offers?

A: In comparison to gasoline, ethanol burns cleaner with greater efficiency, emitting less carbon dioxide and pollution into the air. And, this renewable fuel is developed here in the United States.

This past week, we featured guests posts from a number of respected members of the sustainability community.

In case you missed any of them, we've collected links to the posts below for ease of reading.

We hope you take a few minutes to read what they had to say about the future of sustainability.

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The Business Case for Biodiversity

Bob Johnson, president of the Wildlife Habitat Council, explains why businesses need to respect the ecosystems around them to thrive.

"Big Data" and Sustainability

Andrew Winston, author of Green to Gold and Harvard Business Review blogger, explores how the amount and speed of data will help us more quickly measure our impact on the environment, and how we can change our habits.

How to Be a Resourceful Consumer

Got moldy cheese? Too many ants? Jerry James Stone, a writer for Discovery and Treehugger, takes common household items, like vinegar and sugar, and tells us how to use them to complete common household tasks.

Delphi Tackles Waste to Lessen Their Impact

Delphi sustainability expert, Kimberly Bowden, explains how Delphi tapped GM's manager of waste reduction, John Bradburn, to learn how to get their zero waste program off of the ground. This post explores how Delphi has reduced their waste streams.

Clean Car Standards Moving America Forward

Roland Hwang, transportation program director for the NRDC, claims that the agreement to double fuel economy standards to 54.5 mpg will ensure the rebirth of the U.S. auto industry as innovation leaders.

Each day this week leading up to Earth Day on April 22, GM’s BeyondNow blog is featuring a guest post written by a respected member of the sustainability community. Today’s post is written by Roland Hwang, Transportation Program Director for the National Resources Defense Council.

Over the past few years, GM and other auto companies have affected a remarkable comeback. The original clean car agreement that the administration brokered in 2009 laid the foundations for the industry’s recovery by putting fuel-efficiency product plans into high gear. Last year’s agreement to double standards to the equivalent of 54.5 mpg will ensure this rebirth of the U.S. auto industry as innovation leaders.

In its entirety for model years 2012 to 2025, the National Program is the most important step taken in a generation to cut our oil dependency and carbon pollution. By 2030, the standards will cut oil imports by one-third and cut carbon pollution by the equivalent of 150 coal power plants.

And perhaps equally as important to moving our country forward, the clean car agreements exemplify how leadership, partnership, and compromise can help solve the enormous environmental, economic and energy challenges facing our country.

But opponents in the auto dealer industry and in Congress are still trying to block the proposed 54.5 mpg standard. This has resulted in a “strange bedfellows” partnership between NRDC and GM’s former VP, Bob Lutz. In the Chicago Tribune, the President of NRDC, Frances Beinecke, and the former VP of GM, Bob Lutz, have a joint op ed calling on the right wing and others to stop their senseless attacks on clean cars and the American innovative spirit. Bob Lutz, of course, famously calls global warming "a crock" but led to the development of the Chevy Volt.

The current 35.5 mpg by 2016 standard, supported by the automakers including GM, is already benefiting the auto industry and drivers.

In a world of unpredictable oil prices, it is the predictability of stronger carbon pollution and fuel efficiency that has   allowed the industry to be much better prepared, more resilient and – indeed –to thrive in the face of this past year’s record high average gasoline price due to increased number of fuel efficient models. In 2011, sales, profits, jobs and fuel efficiency all rose hand-in-hand.

With gas prices again soaring, NRDC’s new study, “Relieving Pain at the Pump”, shows bumper crop of fuel-efficient cars are in the showrooms, today.  In fact, since 2009 when President Obama announced the first set of fuel-efficiency standards, the number of popular, fuel-efficient models has more than doubled, from 27 models in 2009 to 57 today.

The proposed standard of 54.5 mpg by 2025, supported by 13 automakers including GM, will spark even more innovation, create even more jobs and cement the rebirth of the U.S. auto industry.

Stronger standards will strengthen and grow our economy by investing our energy dollars in the Midwest, not the Middle East.  Over the next two decades, instead of draining our wealth by importing oil, 54.5 mpg standard will result in $300 billion additional revenue for the U.S. auto industry and returning another $200 billion to consumer pockets. As a result, the stronger standards will create 500,000 new jobs.

The latest clean car agreement offers our country a choice; a choice between gridlock and progress. Today, automakers, regulators, labor unions and environmentalists are all working together in partnership, to build markets for clean cars, cut our dangerous dependence on oil and re-invest in American manufacturing leadership.

Many of the fuel-efficient technologies in GM vehicles are providing cost savings for drivers. For example, electric power steering—featured in many vehicles like the Chevrolet Malibu Eco—helps improve fuel economy by up to 2.5 percent compared to conventional hydraulic steering systems. It can help drivers save approximately 12 gallons annually. At $4 per gallon, that saves about $50 per year.
 
But the benefits don’t stop there. Because of this, more than half of all Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC vehicles will have electric power assist steering by the end of the 2013 model year. Here’s a look at why we’re using this efficient technology more:

Comfort: Makes low-speed parking maneuvers feel practically effortless, delivers a higher degree of steering feel at higher speeds.

Fun: Can be tuned to various driving modes, such as “comfort” and “sport” in some models.

Quality: Helps reduce vibrations that transfer through the steering wheel.

Efficiency: Consumes power only during steering maneuvers instead of constantly draining engine power to operate a hydraulic pump.

Environmental: Increases fuel efficiency and eliminates the need to dispose of hydraulic fluid.  

“Electric power assist steering is just one example of how a system improvement can deliver not one but several benefits for customers,” said Mark Meyers, General Motors global vehicle performance manager.

Tomorrow, when GM releases March sales numbers, it is expected that U.S. sales of EPA-estimated 30 mpg-or-better vehicles will break the 100,000 mark.
 
This would rank as the highest total in the company’s history.
 
“GM’s strategic investments in four cylinder and turbocharged engines, advanced transmissions and vehicle electrification have been very well timed,” said Mark Reuss, president of GM North America. 
“Three years ago, about 16 percent of the vehicles GM sold achieved at least 30 mpg on the highway. Today, that number is about 40 percent, and we have more new fuel-economy leaders on the way, including the Chevrolet Spark, Cadillac ATS and the Buick Encore.”  
 
By the end of 2012, GM will have all-new or significantly freshened Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac cars and crossovers in segments that represent 60 percent of the U.S. light vehicle industry. 
 
This includes the all-new 2013 Cadillac ATS 2.5-liter and 2.0-liter turbo I-4s, the all-new Chevrolet Spark and the four-cylinder 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, both of which are expected to achieve EPA estimates of 30 mpg highway or better when the ratings are released later this year.

When purchasing items such as household cleaning solutions, wine, cell phones or cars, consumers are reading the label. 

They simply want to know what they’re buying.  And not just in the sense of the product itself, but where it came from, how it was made, and perhaps most importantly, how it impacts the environment. 

In fact, SmartPlanet and Genencor found that consumers are 80 percent more likely to purchase a green or biobased product, provided that the cost and quality are similar to its non-green counterpart. 

In a recent Sustainable Brands article, Beth Colleton, vice president, Green is Universal noted, "Consumers are increasingly shopping with their values, particularly when it comes to the environment.

"This is an enormous opportunity for marketers to communicate their brand's commitment to green, as a way to build both loyalty and returns for their business." 

To help customers make more informed purchase decisions, brands are determining how to communicate the level of eco-friendliness their products offer.

Take AT&T and General Motors, for example.

AT&T recently announced an eco-rating system, posted right onto the phones’ packages, where shoppers can see how their phones affect the planet.  The system tracks 15 eco-criteria, ranging from toxic chemicals to manufacturing practices.

Similarly, Chevrolet in the U.S. (General Motors’ largest brand) recently launched the Ecologic label, which highlights some of the environmental  features of the vehicle relating to manufacturing, driving and recycling.  It will kick off with the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic.

Companies like Walmart and Levi’s have also taken a label-like approach to communicating their sustainability efforts.  As more brands and companies participate in this creative method of consumer relations, consumers should see – and experience – the full benefits of their more informed purchases.

Are you more likely to purchase a product because you know its eco-background? Tell us in the comments!

This content was originally posted on the EDF Energy Exchange blog on March 5, 2012, and is reprinted with permission.

By: Jamie Fine, EDF Economist, and Colin Meehan, EDF Clean Energy Analyst

Last Friday’s move by General Motors (GM) to briefly suspend production of the Chevy Volt must not be misconstrued as a sign that the car is failing to advance American leadership in building a clean energy future.

Just a few short years ago, it was widely argued that America’s vehicle manufacturers could never again be healthy competitors in the global marketplace.  They simply lacked the vision, discipline, and innovation skills necessary to re-invent themselves, it was said. 

Today, many of those same doom-sayers are again selling American manufacturing short.  GM blames those critics for the pause in Volt production, saying they have treated the car as a “political lightning rod.”

GM has a point.  With Volt production by its 1300 Michigan employees slated to resume in April, the critics are missing the real story behind the Volt and other electric vehicles in production and under development.  That is the story of steady and determined progress toward American leadership in building the clean, reliable, safe and sought-after vehicles Americans want to buy.  With that progress comes the promise of new jobs, a cleaner environment, and reclaimed pride and competitiveness of America’s manufacturers.  For GM, the Volt symbolizes the company’s technological prowess in its most profitable year ever.

Lost in the gloomy rhetoric about the Volt is some genuine good news: the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf are actually beating the sales history of their hybrid cousins.  When the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight were offered as the first commercially available hybrids in 2000, only 9,350 cars were sold.  By the end of their first year, over 17,000 Nissan Leafs and Chevy Volts were sold.  This is a particularly impressive debut considering the headwinds they have faced in terms of negative publicity and technological hurdles.

The Prius is now among the best selling cars in the U.S. with over 2 million vehicles on the road.  Most major auto manufacturers now offer hybrid vehicles, from Buick to BMW to Hyundai.  The same can be said for electric vehicles (EV) today.

Fueleconomy.gov, the “official U.S. government source for fuel economy information,” lists 16 new models coming out over the next few years and another six models planned for limited release and testing.  Ford, Honda, Toyota and Mitsubishi have new electric or plug-in hybrid models coming out this year, with Ford and Toyota each offering two new models this year.

Innovations in EV technology, production economies of scale and rising gasoline prices continue to improve the value proposition for EVs.  In just one example, an important breakthrough announced by GM-backed Envia will reduce the cost of EVs most expensive component–the battery–while extending driving range.

Electric vehicles can be fueled by almost anything, from wind and solar to natural gas power, which makes them possibly our greatest asset in any effort to reduce our dependence on foreign fuel supplies.  For all the increased oil production in the U.S. over the past few years, our domestic supplies remain http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/yes-oil-production-is-boo...">a drop in the bucket compared with our consumption.

Electric vehicles aren’t just about saving money or achieving energy independence.  A number of recent studies, such as the latest from Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, find that vehicle electrification is a necessary part of any meaningful strategy to fight climate change. 

Fortunately, the future for electric vehicles remains bright.  But don’t believe us, just ask the automakers.  “Most major auto manufacturers have announced their EV and/or PHEV production plans, which add up to 0.9 million units by 2015 and about 1.4 million units per year by 2020,” wrote Lew Fulton Senior Transport Analyst at the IEA.

Whatever politically motivated attacks may be aimed at EVs, and whatever shortcomings these revolutionary new vehicles may display, one thing is certain: the move to EVs represents a rebirth of confidence in American innovation, workers, and competitive manufacturing.  It also marks an irreversible national commitment to building a cleaner, more fuel-efficient transportation system for a prosperous American future.

Here’s a sneak peak of a few of his key points:
•    Cities around the world are looking for solutions to alleviate congestion, pollution and energy consumption. By 2030, we expect there will be more than 8 billion people on the planet and more than a billion vehicles. That said, more efficient propulsion systems are critical.
•    More than 35 percent of today’s global energy needs and 96 percent of today’s vehicle energy requirements are met with petroleum. We need to focus on energy alternatives and advanced technologies that help reduce dependency on petroleum, improve fuel economy and reduce emissions.
•    We’re seeing newer and better electrical and electronic systems, advanced vehicle controls, sensing technologies, and communications systems. The convergence of these technologies will revolutionize how our vehicles operate, how we interact with them, and how they communicate with other vehicles and networks.
•    For urban use, today’s automobile is over-engineered. By reinventing the automobile, it’s possible to preserve safety, utility and convenience while reducing the side effects in urban use like parking and congestion.

For examples of how GM is tackling this reinvention, visit http://www.gm.com/vision/greener_vehicles.html.

Joining Mike will be experts in this field from Alcoa Wheel & Transportation, The Ohio State University and The University of Michigan. GreenBiz senior editor Derek Top will host the hour-long session discussing a whole-system approach for more sustainable and innovative transportation options.

If you can’t make the event in person, you can attend virtually through the VERGE virtual conference.

GM’s fleet and retail consumers now have another alternative fuel option for their vehicles. Starting next month, they can place orders for the brand-new 2013 Chevrolet and GMC bi-fuel pickups.
 
The Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500 HD extended cab trucks have an option that seamlessly transitions between compressed natural gas and gasoline fuel systems, providing a combined range of more than 650 miles. CNG is a clean-burning, domestically produced fuel.
 
“The bi-fuel truck provides businesses with added re-fueling flexibility and eases consumer range concerns that typically come with CNG, all while reducing emissions and controlling costs,”  said Joyce Mattman, director, GM Commercial Product and Specialty Vehicles. “With a turnkey ordering process, combined with the best warranty in the industry for a commercial product, our bi-fuel truck is an attractive option, especially for commercial customers.”
 
The bi-fuel commercial trucks will be covered by GM’s three-year, 36,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty and five-year, 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty and vehicle emissions warranty, meeting all Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board emission certification requirements. It is the most extensive warranty offered by any manufacturer on commercial products.