http://www.environmentalleader.com Environmental Leader Fri, 25 May 2012 17:41:13 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/goldman-sachs-to-pump-40bn-into-clean-energy/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/goldman-sachs-to-pump-40bn-into-clean-energy/#comments Thu, 24 May 2012 15:51:18 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=77317 Goldman Sachs Group plans to invest $40 billion over the next 10 years into renewable energy, an area where the bank expects demand to grow as the global appetite for energy increases and major manufacturing countries like China set more aggressive emissions targets, Reuters reported. But the bank’s new clean energy target would average about [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/goldman-sachs-to-pump-40bn-into-clean-energy/feed/ 1 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/fleet-roundup-sae-vs-chademo-tesla-waste-industries-volvo/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/fleet-roundup-sae-vs-chademo-tesla-waste-industries-volvo/#comments Thu, 24 May 2012 13:21:38 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=77289 The battle over DC fast-charge standards heated up at a recent California State Senate public committee meeting. A GM representative asked the state to limit adoption of DC fast chargers to only those that conform to the upcoming SAE standard (supported by US and German automakers) while a Nissan representative described the CHAdeMO connector (already [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/fleet-roundup-sae-vs-chademo-tesla-waste-industries-volvo/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/27/ab-inbev-sustainability-report-meets-co2-target-a-year-early-water-use-down-8/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/27/ab-inbev-sustainability-report-meets-co2-target-a-year-early-water-use-down-8/#comments Fri, 27 Apr 2012 13:45:18 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=75237 AB InBev last year cut its greenhouse gas emissions relative to production by 5.3 percent, meeting its goal of a 10 percent reduction on 2009 levels a year ahead of schedule, and also cut its relative water use by eight percent, according to the company’s 2011 Global Citizenship Report. In 2009 the company produced 10.57 [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/27/ab-inbev-sustainability-report-meets-co2-target-a-year-early-water-use-down-8/feed/ 1 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/19/fedex-purolator-and-ups-to-drive-hybrids-without-batteries/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/19/fedex-purolator-and-ups-to-drive-hybrids-without-batteries/#comments Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:30:25 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=74582 FedEx Ground, Purolator and UPS will soon deliver packages using hybrid hydraulic parcel delivery trucks. The companies, members of the Hybrid, Electric and Advanced Truck Users Forum’s parcel delivery working group, announced the receipt of the evaluation vehicles from Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation, Morgan Olson and Parker Hannifin. FedEx Ground, Purolator and UPS each purchased [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/19/fedex-purolator-and-ups-to-drive-hybrids-without-batteries/feed/ 2 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/18/battery-electrics-offer-best-savings-ev-emissions-beat-gas-even-in-dirty-grid-regions/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/18/battery-electrics-offer-best-savings-ev-emissions-beat-gas-even-in-dirty-grid-regions/#comments Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:20:39 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=74547 The total cost of ownership (TCO) over the lifetime of an alternative fuel vehicle can be lower than a conventional internal combustion engine vehicle, despite higher upfront costs for the vehicles and potential infrastructure investments, according to a Pike Research report. The report, Total Cost of Ownership of Alternative Fuel Vehicles for Fleet Operators, finds [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/18/battery-electrics-offer-best-savings-ev-emissions-beat-gas-even-in-dirty-grid-regions/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/11/ge-pushes-gm-to-second-place-in-2011-u-s-cleantech-patents/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/11/ge-pushes-gm-to-second-place-in-2011-u-s-cleantech-patents/#comments Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:43:10 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=74012 GE led companies securing U.S. patents for clean energy technologies in 2011, with 184, pushing last year’s top company GM down to second place with 127, according to a report from the cleantech group of Heslin Rothenberg Farley & Mesiti P.C. Clean tech patents reached an all-time high of 2,331 in 2011, rising by 450 [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/11/ge-pushes-gm-to-second-place-in-2011-u-s-cleantech-patents/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/03/13/odyne%e2%80%99s-plug-in-hybrid-propulsion-halves-costs-weight/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/03/13/odyne%e2%80%99s-plug-in-hybrid-propulsion-halves-costs-weight/#comments Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:09:23 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=71715 A new version of Odyne Systems’ plug-in hybrid propulsion package for heavy-duty utility bucket trucks halves unit costs and reduces the system’s weight even more, writes Fleet Owner. The new system cuts the total weight of the hybrid package from 4,000 lbs. to 1,600 lbs., and reduces system costs from about $100,000 down to about [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/03/13/odyne%e2%80%99s-plug-in-hybrid-propulsion-halves-costs-weight/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/02/08/stapleselectric-delivery-trucks-cost-9-12-less-to-operate-mit-finds-with-staples-data/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/02/08/stapleselectric-delivery-trucks-cost-9-12-less-to-operate-mit-finds-with-staples-data/#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:37:00 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=69659 Electric delivery trucks can cost between nine and 12 percent less to operate than their diesel cousins, according to an MIT study using data from Staples. The paper by the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics, to be published in the proceedings of last month’s IEEE Power and Energy Society Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Conference, [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/02/08/stapleselectric-delivery-trucks-cost-9-12-less-to-operate-mit-finds-with-staples-data/feed/ 1 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/01/17/detroit-auto-show-briefing-toyota-honda-acura-pge-bmw-hyundai/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/01/17/detroit-auto-show-briefing-toyota-honda-acura-pge-bmw-hyundai/#comments Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:32:33 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=68410 Toyota has debuted the 2012 Prius c (pictured), which it says offers the highest city fuel efficiency of any vehicle without a plug, at 53 mpg, and is the market’s most affordable hybrid subcompact, starting below $19,000. The Prius c is 19.1 inches shorter and 542 lb. lighter than the Prius Liftback. Honda has unveiled [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/01/17/detroit-auto-show-briefing-toyota-honda-acura-pge-bmw-hyundai/feed/ 1 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/01/10/detroit-auto-show-briefing-vw-amp-ford-kia-coda-nissan-volvo/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/01/10/detroit-auto-show-briefing-vw-amp-ford-kia-coda-nissan-volvo/#comments Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:20:41 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=68045 This year’s Detroit Auto Show is overflowing with hybrid and electric debuts. Here are some of the first big ones to emerge from the show, which started yesterday: Volkswagen debuted the Jetta Hybrid, which it called the world’s first hybrid to use a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission; and the E-Bugster concept car (pictured), a pure [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/01/10/detroit-auto-show-briefing-vw-amp-ford-kia-coda-nissan-volvo/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/10/24/nissan-aims-to-cut-co2-20-up-efficiency-35/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/10/24/nissan-aims-to-cut-co2-20-up-efficiency-35/#comments Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:04:54 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=64010 Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. is aiming for a 20 percent per vehicle cut in its operational CO2 emissions by 2016, compared with 2005, under a six-year environmental plan unveiled today. The Nissan Green Program 2016, the company’s third environmental mid-term plan, also calls for the company to become the world’s number one seller of zero-emission [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/10/24/nissan-aims-to-cut-co2-20-up-efficiency-35/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/10/07/green-fleet-briefing-fords-coconut-cars-escape-hybrid-dropped-volkswagen-wind/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/10/07/green-fleet-briefing-fords-coconut-cars-escape-hybrid-dropped-volkswagen-wind/#comments Fri, 07 Oct 2011 20:16:52 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=63209 Ford and the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company are researching the use of coconut fiber reinforcement for molded plastic vehicle parts such as storage bins, door and seat trim, or center console substrates. They say this will reduce the use of petroleum and make the parts lighter. The long fibers are also visible in the plastic and [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/10/07/green-fleet-briefing-fords-coconut-cars-escape-hybrid-dropped-volkswagen-wind/feed/ 5 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/10/04/led-lighting-sees-improvements-with-the-addition-of-hybrid-capacitors/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/10/04/led-lighting-sees-improvements-with-the-addition-of-hybrid-capacitors/#comments Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:37:44 +0000 Chad Hall http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=62922 An influx of devices containing light emitting diodes, or LEDs, provides a greater opportunity for efficient and long-lasting technology in the solid-state lighting industry.  Applications include off-grid street signage, medical devices, garden lighting and vehicles. With a brighter output, longer life, lower consumption of power and little to no required maintenance, LEDs are a much-improved [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/10/04/led-lighting-sees-improvements-with-the-addition-of-hybrid-capacitors/feed/ 1 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/09/28/university-of-michigan-to-pump-14m-into-green-measures/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/09/28/university-of-michigan-to-pump-14m-into-green-measures/#comments Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:09:10 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=62486 The University of Michigan (pictured) is to invest $14 million in green initiatives as it aims to meet a host of environmental goals by 2025. The green targets include cutting its greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent and decreasing the carbon output of its fleet by 30 percent. To achieve these goals the school is [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/09/28/university-of-michigan-to-pump-14m-into-green-measures/feed/ 1 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/09/23/ryder-launches-alternative-fuel-vehicle-lease-scheme/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/09/23/ryder-launches-alternative-fuel-vehicle-lease-scheme/#comments Fri, 23 Sep 2011 14:33:53 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=62265 Fleet vehicle provider Ryder System Inc. has announced the launch of its new “Flex-to-Green” program that gives customers the option of incorporating alternative fuel vehicles into their fleets. Ryder’s alternative fuel fleet includes compressed and liquid natural gas vehicles, which are offered in select markets as well as hybrid vehicles, which are available in most [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/09/23/ryder-launches-alternative-fuel-vehicle-lease-scheme/feed/ 0