67-year-old H. Max Speight, a disbarred Tennessee attorney, has been sentenced by a federal court and will serve a 26-month sentence for defrauding a federal biofuels subsidy program. Though his sentence may be considered harsh, Speight’s partner, William Tacker II, was convicted and sentenced to five years behind bars, plus a mandatory repayment of funds, which he collected by filing fraudulent claims with the federal government.

The crime: both Speight and Tacker were partners at Biodiesel of Mississippi Inc., a company that refined soybeans to produce biodiesel. The company declared bankruptcy in 2006 and Speight and Tacker parted ways. Last year, the duo was indicted on ten counts of filing false statements to weasel $2.88 million out of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Information contained within the falsified statements is not available to the public, but we assume that the charges somehow tie in with the company obtaining money from the government’s subsidy program even though it did not qualify to receive it.

Speight plead guilty and agreed to testify against Tacker, thus his reduced 26-month sentence. But Tacker did not plead guilty and maintains that Speight took all of the money and ran. Tacker has hired new attorneys to appeal his case, but the outlook is dim as Speight’s previous testimony and federal records should keep Tacker behind bars.

[Source: Associated Press | Image: dok1 - C.C. License 2.0]

Tennessee attorney gets 26-month sentence for defrauding biofuels subsidy program originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 06 Sep 2010 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mazda6 mules are out there somewhere being tested right now for a planned debut in early 2012. The vehicles feature an entirely reworked suspension, an advanced six-speed automatic transmission and a multi-purpose platform that will underpin several new Mazda models. Mazda sources say that the new 6, with its advanced platform and new range of engines, should be future-proofed for upcoming emissions and safety standards for at least a decade after its launch, but Mazda’s approach to engineering engines that will meet future regulations is rather unusual. Or, as Autocar puts it, the company’s Sky mills are “uniquely engineered.”

At launch, the Mazda6 will be available with at least two entirely new Mazda-developed Sky engines. According to the company, both the 2.2-liter Sky D diesel and the 2.0-liter Sky G gasoline engines will offer best-in-class fuel efficiency, but both engines achieve their fuel-sipping status via unconventional designs. The diesel unit has a relatively low 14:1 compression ratio and meets 2013 Euro 6 emissions regulations, but does so without expensive NOx traps and therefore is cheaper to build than many of today’s Euro 5 diesel mills. The gasoline engine is normally aspirated, but its high 14:1 compression ratio gives it much-improved low-end torque. Key to the engine’s design is its oversized 4-2-1 manifold. This manifold boosts power, but also requires more packaging space. Both engines conform to Mazda’s global powertrain strategy and, as such, they will see widespread use in numerous company vehicles in the coming years.

[Source: Autocar]

Mazda’s “uniquely engineered” Sky engines will offer best-in-class fuel efficiency originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Audi A3 TDI is typical of the clean diesel breed. It offers impressive low-end torque, belches out little in the emissions category and scores on the efficiency chart. The A3 also coddles both the driver and passengers with near-luxury levels of standard and optional equipment. It’s small enough to allow for easy maneuverability, yet sized just right to allow ample space for four adults. With so many stellar attributes packed into a single automobile, Green Car Journal decided that the Audi A3 TDI was worthy of the honor of 2010 Green Car of the Year and decided to acquire a long-term A3 TDI in hopes that a more rigorous round of testing would show if this clean diesel was indeed worthy of the award.

Six months and 5,000 miles later, the verdict is in and Green Car Journal proclaims that the A3 TDI does so many things right that it’s difficult to find a single flaw. Regarding that clean diesel engine, Green Car Journal writes:

Drop the S-Tronic dual-clutch automatic in ‘drive’ and press on the accelerator, and you’re treated to a burst of low-end torque that presses you back in the seat, courtesy of this TDI engine’s 236 lb-ft torque at the ready from just 1750 rpm.

The journal sums up the overall experience this way:

Six months of seat time in Audi’s 2010 A3 TDI have done nothing but affirm the obvious value of this model. This sharp, luxury-leaning sportback typifies the clean diesel breed with its low emissions and impressive fuel efficiency - an EPA estimated 42 mpg on the highway…and better from our experience - while endearing drivers and passengers to the brand. There’s simply a lot to like about this car.

Green Car Journal points out that the TDI-equipped A3, with an MSRP of $29,950, is not one of the cheapest clean diesels available, but being an Audi, its high price is justified, right?

[Source: Green Car Journal]

Six months spent in Audi’s A3 TDI is nothing but pure delight originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ever since the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) announced the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup early this year, Audi has remained non-committal about participating. Actually, Audi has been non-committal about everything this year except for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Now, more than two months after coming away with its ninth victory in the French race, Audi has announced that it will run the R15+ TDI in the three-continent series starting next month at Silverstone in the UK.

After the British race, the diesels from Audi will join the Peugeot 908s for the trek to Road Atlanta for the Petit Le Mans before finishing with a six-hour run at Zhuhai in China in November. Audi has stuck with sports car racing because it is the only major international motorsports venue that allows cars to run a variety of different fuels and drivetrain technologies. The R8 was the debut platform for turbocharged direct-injected gasoline engines before Audi introduced its TFSI engines in road cars and the R10 and R15 have allowed Audi to demonstrate the performance and efficiency advantages of its diesel engines.

In 2011, the ACO is will officially allowing hybrid power-plants. The American Le Mans Series currently has four different fuels in use: E10, cellulosic E85, biobutanol and, of course, diesel. The flywheel-equipped Porsche 911 GT3R hybrid will also be running at the Petit Le Mans.

[Sources: Audi]

Continue reading Audi commits to 2010 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup with R15+ TDI

Audi commits to 2010 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup with R15+ TDI originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi U.S.A’s chief marketing officer, Scott Keogh, revealed the company’s diesel dreams in a recent interview with Green Car Advisor. Keogh unveiled that Audi expects to, “more than double our existing diesel portfolio in the next year or so” and added that the TDI engine is “definitely a part of the growth and success we’re having in the [U.S.] marketplace.” Though Keogh would not disclose which models would come packing the TDI powerplant, Audi spokesman Brad Stertz did suggest that the company is “looking at the possibility of TDI for the A8, A6 and A4” contingent upon Audi successfully “working through packaging of the TDI equipment in different models, emissions, and other regulatory testing.”

Audi’s commitment to add more diesel models comes after the company admitted that sales of both the A3 and Q7 TDI have substantially exceeded expectations. Keogh noted that the TDI model represent 50 percent of overall A3 sales and nearly 40 percent of Q7 sales. For Audi, the success of the diesel was unexpected but welcoming and, as Keogh stated:

Diesel business growth has been 100 percent incremental. These numbers are way beyond our expectations. Generally the types of buyers coming into diesel are younger than our gasoline buyers too. And these are generally people with higher household incomes [than gasoline customers], and equipping cars more richly.

It’s a win-win situation for Audi. If the company can build more diesel models, it will lure in younger buyers who are apt to spend more per vehicle than average. Of course, this would mean even more money in Audi’s pocket.

[Source: Green Car Advisor]

Audi to “more than double” its lineup of clean diesel models in U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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They don’t call Hawaii a paradise for nothing. The archipelago lies in the middle of the Pacific ocean and is one of the most remote locations on the planet relative to major population centers. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your perspective), the islands are relatively deficient when it comes to traditional energy resources. As a result, islanders are enthusiastic about adopting alternatives like electric vehicles and biodiesel. Biodiesel adoption began early in Hawaii with dive and tour boats in places like Kauai using recycled fryer oil since at least the late-1990s.

Visitors to the islands can use biodiesel off the water as well thanks to Bio-Beetle, a Maui-based car rental company that operates a fleet of 20 vehicles. Aside from a recently added hybrid Prius, the fleet consists of diesel Volkswagens and Jeeps fueled by Pacific Biodiesel. The $49.99-to-$75 a day rental rates are comparable to other companies on the island, but the overall carbon footprint is much lower. Bio-Beetle president and founder Shaun Stenshol spoke with ABG’s Sebastian Blanco about his efforts to keep Maui green three years ago and you can check out the interview here.

[Source: Domestic Fuel, Bio-Beetle]

Maui car rental company provides biodiesel VWs and Jeeps originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 07:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Packaging any engine into the restrictive area found under the Mini Cooper’s bonnet can present a challenge for engineers. For example, Mini engineers managed to shoehorn the newly-released 1.6-liter four-cylinder diesel into the Cooper’s tight confines, but it took a lot of coercing as, according to Mini, many of the diesels ancillary components had to be dramatically modified.

Now, Autocar is reporting that BMW’s forthcoming three-cylinder engine will eventually find a home in Mini’s lineup, but its fitment is questionable. Mini states that the three-cylinder mill will require heavy reworking before residing between the fenders of a model bearing its name, but the company is confident that the engine will find a home in several Mini models. We’d never have thought that dropping a three-cylinder engine into a Mini would present such an issue, but given the vehicle’s size, these things can apparently be quite difficult.

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Mini to extensively rework BMW’s upcoming three-cylinder for tight confines originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 15:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For 2011, European-spec Range Rovers are getting a fresh transmission to go along with the new, Ford-built 4.4-liter turbodiesel V8. Like many of its German competitors, the Range Rovers will now be equipped with ZF’s 8HP70 eight-speed automatic transmission, a change that contributes six percent of the new model’s fuel efficiency improvement over the six-speed 2010 model.

The eight-speed should be particularly well suited to a diesel application since the compression ignition engines have a narrower power band than gasoline units and the extra two ratios can help keep the engine in the sweet-spot of its power and efficiency bands. The diesel engine is rated at 309 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque and, with the new transmission, gets an 18.5 percent improvement in fuel efficiency.

ZF also supplies the electrically driven Servotronic steering assist system and the power steering column adjustment for the Range Rover. Land Rover hasn’t announced the 2011 specs for the U.S. Range Rovers, but it will likely get the eight-speed with the gas V8s available here.

[Source: ZF]

Continue reading 2011 Range Rover TDV8 gets new ZF 8-speed automatic, but not in America

2011 Range Rover TDV8 gets new ZF 8-speed automatic, but not in America originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Peugeot’s first production hybrid is finally coming to market next spring, but most of the technical details are out now. The 3008 Hybrid4 is the first light-duty diesel hybrid to come to market - it is also the first through-the-road (TtR) hybrid.

The mid-size crossover uses a system that consists of a fairly conventional 163-horsepower 2.0-liter inline-four diesel engine driving the front wheels and a 37-horsepower electric motor at the rear axle, which operates completely independent of the internal combustion drivetrain - hence, “through-the-road hybrid.”

The diesel drives through an electronically controlled and mechanized six-speed manual gearbox that can either be shifted manually or left in full automatic mode. A more powerful 8 kilowatt high-voltage integrated starter-generator on the engine provides automatic start-stop capability as well as the ability to charge the nickel-metal hydride battery from the engine.

When the battery has sufficient charge, the electric motor alone can propel the 3008 at lower speeds or provide on-demand all-wheel-drive. The rear-mounted motor also provides regenerative braking to charge the battery. The combined output of the two powerplants? 200 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque.

This mechanically simpler TtR hybrid drive allows Peugeot to produce a less expensive diesel hybrid than would be possible with a power-split system like the one used by Toyota, all while taking advantage of the highway cruising efficiency of compression ignition. The 3008 Hybrid4 is rated at 61.9 miles per gallon (U.S.) on the EU combined driving cycle with CO2 emissions of just 99 grams per kilometer. Eventually, Peugeot will also add a plug-in version of the Hybrid4 with a lithium-ion battery. Click past the jump for the full skinny after looking over our high-res gallery below.

[Source: Peugeot]

Continue reading Peugeot launches 3008 Hybrid4, world’s first production diesel through-the-road hybrid

Peugeot launches 3008 Hybrid4, world’s first production diesel through-the-road hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Indian automaker Mahindra and Mahindra is reportedly one big step closer to being able to offer its wares in the U.S. market: it has apparently gained emissions approval from the Environmental Protection Agency. The company’s TR20 and TR40 trucks are entering an American market that is being abandoned by most other automakers and will be the only offerings with diesel powerplants.

The regular and crew-cab trucks are powered by a newly developed 2.2-liter inline-four that is expected to deliver up to 30 miles per gallon along with a 2,600-pound payload and 5,000-pound tow rating. Mahindra had help from suppliers such as Bosch in developing an engine that meets the tough U.S. emissions requirements through the use of high-pressure common-rail fuel injection and a urea injection after-treatment system.

All is not settled, though. Before the TR20 and TR40 can go on sale, Mahindra will have to reach some sort of legal agreement with its intended distributor, Global Vehicles USA.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

EPA certifies diesel-powered Mahindra pickups for U.S. sale originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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