Latest Energy / Automotive News : Court Rejects Big Oil Appeal in Climate Suits
London, 25 April, 2023, (Oilandgaspress) : US Supreme Court on Monday rejected a bid by Exxon Mobil, Chevron, BP, Suncor Energy and others to move lawsuits alleging liability for climate change to federal courts. Oil companies have battled more than two dozen lawsuits at different levels of the US court system seeking climate-related damages for the last several years. In rejecting Big Oil’s bid, the Supreme Court is effectively removing a hold on some of those cases in the state court system. The Biden administration has pushed for such cases to be heard in state courts, which are generally seen as more sympathetic to plaintiffs. Read More
EPA Releases Report Showing Health Impacts of Climate Change on Children in the United States
The signs of climate change are all around us, and children are uniquely vulnerable to its impacts. Climate change-related impacts in childhood can have lifelong consequences due to effects on learning, physical health, and housing security. A new national-scale, multi-sector EPA report showcases some of the ways children are especially vulnerable to a variety of health effects from climate change due to physical, cognitive, behavioral, and social factors.
This peer-reviewed report quantifies projected health effects associated with extreme heat, air quality, changing seasons, flooding, and infectious diseases. Where possible, the analyses consider the extent to which health effects disproportionately fall on children who are Black, Indigenous and people of color [BIPOC], low income, without health insurance, and/or have limited English proficiency.
“Understanding health risks to children is critical for developing effective and equitable strategies that will protect our current and future generations,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Today’s report will help further efforts being taken by the Biden Administration across the Federal government to address the climate crisis and advance environmental justice.”
The report finds a number of impacts to U.S. children’s health and well-being. For example, at 2°C and 4°C of global warming: Read More
DuPont and former employee sentenced for plant explosion that killed four
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company Inc. (DuPont) pleaded guilty and has been sentenced for criminal negligence in connection with a 2014 accident that left four company employees dead, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. On Nov. 15, 2014, DuPont released approximately 24,000 pounds of a highly toxic, flammable gas called methyl mercaptan (MeSH) into the air. In addition to killing the four, the chemical release injured other DuPont employees and travelled downwind into the surrounding areas.
The company pleaded guilty today along with Kenneth Sandel, 52, Friendswood, unit operations leader of the Insecticide Business Unit (IBU) where the accident occurred.
U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal ordered DuPont to pay a $12 million penalty. The company must also serve two years of probation during which time the company must give the U.S. Probation Office full access to all of its operating locations. Judge Rosenthal also ordered Sandel to serve one year of probation. At the hearing, the court asked DuPont’s corporate representative whether the company had to publicly disclose their conviction, noting the importance of that fact. They will also make a $4 million community service payment to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to address the harm they caused by funding projects that benefit air quality in and around areas adjacent to the western shores of Galveston Bay. As a result of this case and other related civil cases tied to the explosion, DuPont will have paid a total of $19.26 million for its unlawful conduct. Read More
Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) in collaboration with U.S. defense personnel is set to revolutionize maritime logistics and communication, transforming the way the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps conduct operations across the Pacific and other contested and distributed environments.
Marine Corps Captains Ben Cohen and John Schmaltz, while students at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), became interested in the defense applications of civilian hybrid aircraft like Airlander, the highly efficient aircraft currently under development by HAV, as a disruptive technology, and were introduced to HAV through the NPS alumni network. Their thesis, which serves as a guide to interaction and engagement for Department of Defense personnel to navigate the innovation ecosystem while assessing commercially developed, large-capacity transportation platforms, has been instrumental in the current work with HAV.
In the latest development of this work, the Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund (OECIF) in the DOD’s Operational Energy Office recently announced funding for the Zero Carbon Logistics Support Via Hybrid Aircraft project. This ground-breaking collaboration between the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and HAV can enhance logistics, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations, and communications in the Pacific. The project leverages commercial innovation to adopt and adapt commercial sustainable aviation technology, change operational concepts, and address logistical capability gaps. The lack of existing infrastructure within INDOPACOM limits current asset flexibility for inter/intra-theater lift, where access to deep water ports and airfields to accommodate appropriate aircraft is limited. With no need for ports or runways, Airlander aircraft can land on any reasonably flat surface, providing much-needed mobility resilience and flexibility in support of distributed maritime operations and expeditionary warfighting. Read More
World’s first autonomous, fully-electric passenger ferry Stockholm has become the first city in the world to launch a self-driving, fully-electric commercial passenger ferry. The ferry, an electric catamaran with a capacity of 25 people, will operate between Kungsholmen and Søder Mellarstrand in Stockholm with 15 hours of continuous electric operation every day. The vessel is part of a project aimed at creating more sustainable urban mobility and attracting international interest due to its green profile.
The project started at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, which led to the founding of Zeabuz, a Norwegian technology company. The project is expected to create more sustainable urban mobility and increase the utilization of waterways as a means of transport. Read More
Hyundai Expands Partnership with One Tree Planted to Plant 200,000 Trees Across North America
Hyundai Motor America today announced an expanded strategic partnership with One Tree Planted, a nonprofit organization that focuses on global reforestation. Together, Hyundai and One Tree Planted will plant 200,000 additional trees across North America, resulting in a total of 350,000 trees over the multi-year partnership. The partnership with One Tree Planted, initially announced in 2022, supports Hyundai Motor Company’s commitment to sustainability, combatting climate change and making a more sustainable future. The expansion across North America bolsters the company’s worldwide eco-initiatives and underscores its dedication to advancing the global vision of progress for humanity.
As part of the partnership, Hyundai donated two IONIQ 6 electric vehicles, winner of the prestigious World Car of the Year, World Electric Vehicle and World Car Design of the Year awards, to the One Tree Planted fleet, which currently includes two IONIQ 5 electric SUVs. The IONIQ 6 vehicles will be used at tree planting events throughout the United States. Read More
Hyundai Finishes First and Second in Nürburgring Qualifiers
Hyundai concluded the two 2023 ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifier races with a pair of first and second place finishes to complete the mandatory prerequisite events for next month’s 24-hour race. The Bryan Herta Autosport drivers represented by Michael Lewis, Mason Filippi and Harry Gottsacker secured two second-place finishes in the No. 831 Elantra N TCR for the two-hour Saturday night race and the rain filled four-hour event on Sunday. Taylor Hagler competed in the No. 527 VT2 car to finish in first position in the VT2 Front Class for Saturday’s race and a DNF for Sunday’s race. The Hyundai Motor America Team is partnering with previous Nürburgring 24 Hours winners, Target Competition, for the Nürburgring Endurance Series races, qualifiers weekend and main 24-hour event.
The weekend brought plenty of new learning opportunities for the Hyundai Motor America drivers as they experienced fluctuating weather and track conditions, managed varying class speeds, and tested endurance race strategies. The team worked their way from the back of the field for Saturday’s race due to a penalty and a broken gearbox during Sunday’s qualifying to clinch back-to-back podium finishes for the two and four-hour main qualifier events. Read More
Porsche leads the drivers’ and team standings of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship
At the Formula E outing in Berlin, Porsche held on to its lead in the team and drivers’ standings at race two on Sunday. At the wheel of his Porsche 99X Electric, António Félix da Costa earned critical points towards the championship with fifth – as did his teammate Pascal Wehrlein. The leader of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship crossed the finish line in seventh place on the Tempelhof Airport Street Circuit.For the Porsche customer squad Avalanche Andretti, the trip to Berlin, which has hosted Formula E every season, was well worth it. Jake Dennis (GBR), the winner of the opening round in Mexico, secured second place with his Porsche 99X Electric, while his teammate André Lotterer (GER) finished on P21. Read More
Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland and DEKRA finalise partnership
The Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland welcomes a new team member: DEKRA now partners up with the Porsche one-make cup. The company is one of the world’s leading specialist organisations and has been involved in top-league motor racing for many years. The Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland offers DEKRA yet another strong public platform in the future. The continued appeal of the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland since its 1990 debut season is based on the principle of equal conditions for all. Thanks to control tyres and limited setup options on the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, the focus is on the driver’s performance. The new season starts this week (27 to 29 April) with the FIA World Endurance Championship WEC at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium). The racing calendar is rounded off by the “Festival of Dreams” to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Porsche sports cars plus six other events run as part of the DTM support programme. Read More
Toyota Receives Zero Emission CARB Executive Order for HD Fuel Cell Electric Powertrain Kit
Heavy-duty Class 8 commercial truck original equipment manufacturers and operators now have another tool to help them comply with increasingly strict emissions regulations in the State of California. Toyota announced today that it was recently granted a Zero Emission Powertrain (ZEP) Executive Order from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for its new heavy-duty fuel cell electric powertrain. The hydrogen-fueled powertrain kit includes hydrogen fuel storage tanks, fuel cell stacks, batteries, electric motors and transmission, and offers a viable alternative to traditional diesel powertrains used in commercial goods transportation as companies look to transition their fleets to zero-emission vehicles.
CARB’s ZEP Executive Order certifies that a powertrain complies with CARB regulations for zero-emission powertrains determined to meet specific emissions standards required for sale in California. OEMs using Toyota’s certified powertrain may also be eligible for other available incentives, such as CARB’s Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP), the Clean Truck Fund (CTF) introduced last year by the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and certain federal incentives. Read More
2023 World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), the Sonora Rally in Mexico.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s dynamic duo, Nasser Al-Attiyah of Qatar and Mathieu Baumel of France, made a triumphant comeback at the 2023 Sonora Rally, Round 3 of the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), by winning the opening stage. Al-Attiyah and Baumel are competing in the formidable GR DKR Hilux T1+ racing car, the same vehicle that secured them victories in both the 2022 and 2023 Dakar Rallies.
Stage 1 of the Sonora Rally started and finished near the Mexican town of Hermosillo, covering a distance of 170 km, with a liaison distance of 165 km. Al-Attiyah and Baumel started as the third car on the road, following their victory in yesterday’s Prologue event. This advantageous position allowed them to attack and ultimately secure a 27-second victory over the second-placed crew of Yazeed Al Rajhi and co-driver Timo Gottschalk, in a privately entered Toyota Hilux T1+.
The terrain surrounding Hermosillo is characterized by a mix of desert landscapes, rugged mountain ranges, and arid plains. The Sonoran Desert, one of the largest and hottest deserts in North America, covers a significant portion of the region. The area features various types of vegetation, such as cacti, including the iconic saguaro, and other desert-adapted plants. Read More
Ultimate FLEX: 2024 Toyota Tacoma Coming with Portable Tunes Bring your tunes from the dash to the campsite. The all-new 2024 Toyota Tacoma, available with JBL® FLEX removable and portable speaker. Stay tuned for more Read More
Delta Showcases New 30kW Wireless Charging System
Delta, a world-class provider of power management and industrial automation solutions, today announced its participation at LogiMAT 2023 from April 25th to 27th. Delta will present its cutting-edge power systems and smart industrial automation solutions to boost the productivity and energy efficiency of e-forklifts, AGVs, and overhead cranes in the warehouses and logistics sectors. Key highlights include the brand new MOOVair 30kW Wireless Charging Systems, built on technology developed by WiTricity® and licensed by Delta, which is capable of charging large e-forklifts wirelessly with up to 95% efficiency; the Stationary and Wireless Chargers and Integrated Brushless DC Gearmotor for AGVs; and the overhead crane demo with excellent inching and real-time anti-sway control.
Ares Chen, general manager of Delta Power and System Business Group, said, “For over five decades, Delta has leveraged its core competencies in high-efficiency power electronics and system integration to become a global leading provider of a wide spectrum of solutions for critical industries, such as IT, telecom, appliances, automotive and even aerospace. Moreover, we continuously invest over 8% of our revenues into innovative revolutionary technologies, such as these newly launched wireless charging systems for large industrial e-vehicles, that promise to be a game-changer for next-generation warehouses and logistics.” Read More
Nigeria Completes Gas Pipeline
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has used around $1.1 billion of its own funds so far and has completed work on 70% of a large natural gas pipeline in Nigeria even after a Chinese loan for the project failed to materialize. This week, NNPC Group chief executive, Mele Kyari, said on a site inspection that the AKK Gas Pipeline project was nearly 70% completed, and more than $1.1 billion has been released so far to finance the project. The pipeline is planned to run for 614 kilometers (382 miles) and is currently being financed by NNPC.
The AKK Gas Pipeline line will flow 2 Bscf/d and will power industries and power plants and create gas-based industries, Kyari said. By the third quarter of this year, NNPC will complete the entire welding job on this line, he said while visiting a construction site along the pipeline’s route. Read More
Nigeria is Africa’s top oil producer in March 2023
Nigeria was Africa’s top crude oil producer in March 2023, with a production capacity of 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd). However, the country has reported the lowest production so far this year, according to the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission. Nigeria failed to reach its Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota of 1.8 million bpd or its 2023 budget benchmark of 1.6 million bpd due to a lack of investments, security risks and production sabotage, The Guardian newspaper reported. In its latest monthly oil market report, OPEC said Nigeria produced 1.268 million bpd in March against 1.306 million bpd in February 2023. Read More
Arabia Taxi adds 269 Tesla cars to its fleet
Arabia Taxi has signed an agreement with Tesla Motors, Dubai, to add the electric vehicles (EV) to the fleet, in line with plans to convert all the emirate’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) vehicles to hybrid, electric or hydrogen powered models by 2027.
Arabia Taxi, which is owned by The Economic Group, has a fleet of 6,000 vehicles in total. The company is one of several taxis operating under the RTA’s jurisdiction in Dubai. Sheikh Majid bin Hamad Al Qasimi, chairman The Economic Group, said 83% of Arabia Taxi’s cars are hybrids. Read More
OilandGasPress Energy Newsbites and Analysis Roundup | Compiled by: OGP Staff, Segun Cole @oilandgaspress.
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