Thursday, March 01, 2007

Good News Friday: Tech is a Good Thing

Except when it threatens to cut into corporate profits. The Union of Concerned Scientists announced yesterday their new clean vehicle design dubbed "The Vanguard". Built using off the shelf technologies, the minivan (attention Soccer Moms) meets or exceeds tougher clean air standards adopted by California, ten other states and Canada. Several more states are considering the new standards in the absence of federal action to reduce warming pollution from vehicles. The California standard calls for 34% reduction in global warming pollution for cars and light trucks and a 25% reduction for SUVs and trucks within the next 10 years. The Vanguard demonstrates that those standards can be met today.
The green vehicle incorporates several design elements to achieve its environment friendly performance. It has variable valve timing which allows better combustion under changing engine loads. Two of its six cylinders can be automatically deactivated when not needed to maintain speed as when cruising on a highway. Fuel and air conditioning hoses are upgraded and connections improved to stop leaks into the atmosphere of concentrated pollutants such as hydroflurocarbons. Who would have thought? The van also uses a less toxic refrigerant. Vanguard is a flex fuel vehicle that can run on either gasoline or up to 85% ethanol blend. Of course the vehicle is aerodynamically slick to reduce drag and improve mileage.
Typically, the automakers are resisting the implementation of the new standards by filing law suits and lobbying legislators. They also resisted seat belts and air bags. Their trade group, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, is now headed by Dave McCurdy, a former seven term Democratic congressman from Oklahoma. Maybe McCurdy should kick the Vanguard's tires before saying it cannot be done.