Bush Continues Crusade for Alternative Fuel

Last January 31, 2006, President George W. Bush outlined his plan for the widespread use of alternative fuels in the country. In his State of the Union Address last month, he announced a proposed mandate that 35 billion gallons of ethanol be produced until the year 2017. He also proposed to reduce the amount of emissions of greenhouse gasses by as much as 20 percent by the year 2017. Out of the 35 billion gallons mandated to be produced, 15 billion gallons of ethanol will come from starch while the 20 billion gallons will be from cellulose or cellulosic ethanol.

Cellulosic ethanol is a type of ethanol which comes from cellulose. This is different from the normal ethanol which comes from sugars and starches. This kind of ethanol is what Novozymes are helping to develop. The company has developed an enzyme cocktail that makes the mass production of cellulose ethanol possible. This technology is a better alternative to normal ethanol since the production of the latter causes the increase in the price of corn. This is because cellulosic ethanol comes from biomass including wastes from urban, agricultural, and forestry sources. In the production of this type of ethanol, no toxic emissions are generated which makes it a better alternative than other fuels.

Novozymes recently received a very distinguished guest – the President himself. Bush toured the facility’s laboratories and he also did pose for pictures with the workers of the company. The visit of the President at the facility is a part of his effort to boost the morale of those working in the alternative fuel industry. Aside from the financial support of the administration in the form of $2 billion aid in the funding of cellulosic ethanol plants, he also provides moral support though his visits to those plants such as that one in Novozymes.

The use of ethanol as fuel for cars in the United States is a part of the administration’s effort to address the problem of global warming. Ethanol is a good substitute to gasoline since it burns cleaner than gasoline. The only thing to consider about the use of ethanol as fuel is its corrosive nature. Without fortification, engine parts like Volvo 240 parts will be corroded. To combat this corrosive nature of ethanol, car manufacturers and engine designers fortify different components of the car to take on the corrosive nature of ethanol.

With the increasing awareness of the global community towards addressing the global warming issue, the United States is on its track towards making a difference. The country has been criticized in the past for being one of the major causes of the destruction of the environment. With the steps being taken by the government and the private sector, alternative fuels like ethanol will one day be the most commonly used fuel by the majority on US roads. Aside from the development of ethanol as the fuel of the future, US agencies are also developing biodiesel for use of vehicles equipped with a diesel engine. Aside from these two alternative fuels, the US market is also being flooded with hybrid cars which also reduce the dependency of the country on imported oil fossil fuels.

President Bush’s commitment to the development of alternative fuel is a great boost for the industry. With the government’s backing, more and more alternative fuels can be produced which will result to cleaner emission by vehicles. The development of these alternative fuels can also increase the number of employed person in the country. It would also decrease the dependency of the country on other countries which produce oil and then later on export them to the US.

Tips On Buying A Used Car

Just like buying a new car, buying a used car is a serious matter and should not be taken lightly. Before you even begin shopping for a used car you need to do some homework to keep from paying too much and to keep from buying a vehicle fraught with problems. Consider what you will be using the car for, how much it will be used, and what your budget is.

You will want to research different models, options, repair records, safety tests, and gas mileage. Research and be sure there aren’t excessive recalls as well. Consumer reports will help you with some of these items. Use the internet; it is an unbeatable resource for all kinds of information. This is what I do, you can find all the information you need.

Thoroughly examine the car you intend to buy whether from a dealer or individual using an inspection checklist. You can find these online at used car websites. If the car passes your inspection I would still recommend taking it to your local mechanic. Many times they will look one over for free and if they do charge anything it will be nominal.

Test drive the car you like under different road conditions. Drive it on the highway and in stop and go traffic. Check the brakes, the steering, and the alignment. Ask for the car’s maintenance record from the owner, dealer, or repair shop.

When it comes to paying for the car most people don’t realize that there are methods of financing their car that they may not even realize. You may have capital in your home that can be used at a much cheaper rate than an auto loan would be.

Use the equity that you have in your home by taking out a home equity loan. A loan like this can be used for anything that you desire. Home equity loans can be used for any purpose such as a new car, home improvements, credit card debt, and debt consolidation. One of the other great benefits is that the interest rates are tax deductible.

If you don’t have equity that you can use in your home or are not a home owner then you need to check with your bank or credit union. In any case you want to have your financing arranged prior to going to the dealership or buying from an individual. Don’t set yourself up to get taken by the dealership if purchasing from one.

New Deal Can Close Two Gm Plants

In a detailed copy of the new agreement between General Motors and United Auto Workers, the automaker committed plans for its 16 U.S. assembly plants. However, the new deal also posed potential shutting down of plants in Michigan and Indiana and other facilities. The new vehicle production in the 16 plants was GM’s response to the UAW’s demands for job security. On October 10, the 74,000 GM hourly employees will complete the ratification of the new deal.

The details of the deal were posted in the internet by Gregg Shotwell, a GM worker and a UAW critic. According to Shotwell, he got the copy of the agreement from a UAW official who attended the contract briefing held in the UAW’s headquarters in Detroit. He did not give the identity of the official as the person requested for anonymity since the deal was not yet been voted upon.

The new contract calls for selling or closing of a plant in Indianapolis and closing an engine plant in Livonia, Detroit. The “white book”, a detailed document revealing that the Indianapolis stamping operation will still continue or for potential relocation to another GM plant “until such time as the plant can be sold to an outside buyer”.

The document also said that GM is considering to keep the plant, however if the plant is not sold or kept, it will be shut down “no sooner than December 2011”. The plant is providing 850 jobs according to a GM web site.

The Livonia plant in Detroit employing 300 workers will continue its operations until its present vehicle production ends in 2010.

“The national parties will jointly explore opportunities for current Livonia seniority employees,” the document said.

The “white book” document also disclosed that the operations of plants in Flint and Parma, Ohio near Cleveland are also in danger. Under the heading “Product Opportunities”, GM and UAW will look for opportunities for the employees in the Flint plant.

For the Parma plant, the document said that there is no future powertrain products that will be allocated. The plant has stamping operations which will continue to generate new products.

Other GM facilities declared as idle will also be closed, according to the document.

Under the new agreement, the Flint North engine plant will add a new facility. GM will be building three “lean, agile, flex engine modules” in a new site close to the plant. The new plant is expected to manufacture a huge number of engines as many as 1,200 four and six-cylinder engines per day.

GM has no plans for the Orion Township plant assembly plant that presently produces the Pontiac G6 under the new agreement, giving edge to the fierce competitors of the G6 like BMW and Volvo and its Volvo parts. The document also said that both UAW and GM are exploring opportunities for future products. GM is also planning to transfer Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice production from the Wilmington plant in Delaware to the plant in Bowling Green Ky, after the production cycle ends in 2011.

“No future product allocation has been identified beyond the life of the current agreement,” the document says of Wilmington.

“This isn’t a very genuine job security agreement,” Shotwell said.

“The UAW didn’t win anything. The plants that are allowed to stay operating were already allowed to stay open.” he added.

Shotwell’s assessment did not convince union officials from factories that will receive new products provided by the new deal.

Catena Enters 2nd Mercedes Benz Dealership

Catena, President of Edison- based Ray Catena Motors, initiated the opening of his second Mercedes-Benz dealership. Ray Catena Mercedes-Benz has been a family business since 1959. It began with a simple used car lot and has evolved into an excellent sales leader within the Mercedes-Benz USA’s (MBUSA) franchise network.

Catena proudly said that their main aim when they started the franchise business was to do one thing completely. He further said that the opening of their new facility in Union will grant them the opportunity to exalt even higher the experience that their customers already have with them.

Opened to the public for them to see the evolved franchise business, the eloquent event was held from 5 o’clock up to 9 o’clock in the afternoon. It included several odysseys to the refined showroom and service facility that showcased the latest models in the Mercedes-Benz product line-up. It was really a marvelous event that marked another milestone to Mercedes.

During the classy event, Ray Catena Mercedes-Benz of Union gave a toast to a successful future with their clients and guests, while raising essential funds for “Bright Steps Forward”.

The General Manager of Mercedes-Benz USA’s Northeast Region, Joseph Kurp, said Ray Catena has long been a standing member of the Mercedes-Benz dealer arena. He further said that Catena plays an important role in the success of Mercedes-Benz in the US as a brand in a strictly competitive Tri-State market.

Kurp also said that Ray Catena Mercedes-Benz of Union is giving the customers a high- level of service through the establishment of a new and conveniently located Mercedes-Benz dealership in Union, New Jersey.

About “Bright Steps Forward”

“Bright Steps Forward” is an organization that facilitates unswerving pediatric therapy for those children who cannot afford medical services. During the opening of Ray Catena Mercedes-Benz of Union, guests who made contributions of $100 or more to “Bright Steps Forward” will be entered into a draw for a 27-month lease of a new Mercedes-Benz R350. The said contains a top of the line Mercedes performance chip. The winner was drawn live in the event. A silent auction was also held to financially and emotionally support this life-changing charity.

About Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA)

With its headquarter in Montvale, New Jersey, Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is the group that is responsible for the sales, marketing and service of all Mercedes-Benz and Maybach products in the United States. MBUSA reached the all-time sales record of 248,080 new vehicles in 2006. This has set the highest sales volume ever in its history and has achieved 13 consecutive years of sales growth. Its northeastern regional office which is based in Parsippany, NJ is the on responsible for advertising, sales and marketing initiatives for the 94 dealers of Mercedes that are located in the Northeast of the country.

Though a German car, Mercedes-Benz continues its struggle in topping the US auto mobile market. And this new Ray Catena Mercedes-Benz of Union is a proof of such struggle.

Nazi-era Race Car for Auction

A rare Nazi-era vehicle concealed from the German mine shaft during World War II is now on display for two days at Audi’s showroom on Park Avenue. The silver D-Type from Auto Union, Audi’s forerunner, will eventually be auctioned on February 17 in Paris as part of Christie’s Retromobile auto sale. The race car is estimated to be worth millions of dollars and it is expected to fetch around $12 million to $15 million.

Christie’s said, “While Adolph Hitler gave about 500,000 reichsmarks to Auto Union and Mercedes-Benz to promote racing and technology, the car is not specifically affiliated with the Third Reich.” The D-Type on display, the grandfather of modern race cars, is one of only 2 in existence. Said car has revolutionized automotive racing by putting the driver in front of the engine instead of behind it. It speeds up to 185 miles per hour.

“This car was really quite ahead of its time,” said Rupert Banner, head of Christie’s International Motor Cars division. “It was revolutionary. It changed the face of racing.” Over 20 Auto Union series cars were manufactured between 1933 and 1939. The D-Type, designed by Ferdinand Porsche, has a body shape likened to an airplane fuselage. The driver sits sunken into the body of the metal, and the wheels. The latter appears like oversized bicycle tires having independent suspension. Automakers of today are improving their line from race cars like the D-Type. As a fact, the latest and greatest formulation for fast street or light track vehicles having EBC Redstuff are also inspired by race cars like the D-Type.

“There was a kind of memory loss after the war,” said Audi historian Thomas Erdmann. “It took really until the early 1960s and later on to the 1980s for car design to catch up to these cars.” Just before World War II, the D-Type won the 1939 French Grand Prix. The car, also called the Silver Arrow, was filmed winding through country roads for use in newsreels across Europe. “They vanished, lost behind the Iron Curtain,” Erdmann added.

In the racing realm, German cars were always using the color silver, French use blue and British green. These colors eventually became their trademarks. This is the reason behind the sleek silver color of the D-Type.

During the heyday of the World War II, Auto Union workers hid the cars in a mine shaft in eastern Germany to shun using them for scrap metal. After the historic war, the Russians discovered the cars and took them to their own country, along with dismantled Auto Union factories, to re-create motorsports. The cars were taken apart.

An American car collector came across car parts in a scrap heap in Ukraine and took them back to England. There, Crosthwaite & Gardiner’s auto experts restored it. Christie’s did not divulge who is selling it.