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Recharge Wrap-up: Nissan earns Energy Star award, ethanol production forecasts adjusted

The US Energy Information Administration has adjusted its ethanol production forecasts. It predicts an average of 944,000 barrels per day for 2015. That number is up from 2014 production levels of 935,000 barrels per day, but it is lower than last month's projection for 2015, which was 947,000 barrels per day. The EIA forecasts 937,000 barrels per day in 2016, down from its prior forecast of 942,000 barrels. Biodiesel production averaged 83,000 barrels per day last year, with projections of 82,000 for 2015, and 84,000 for 2016. Read more from Ethanol Producer Magazine. Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh supports the proposed Diesel and Vehicular Emissions Ordinance. The ordinance, filed by City Councilor Stephen Murphy, would require emissions control retrofitting of all pre-2007 vehicles belonging to the City of Boston, as well as those of any contractors it hires. The ordinance also seeks to create a simple city-level standard of enforcing the state's anti-idling laws. "The asthma rate in Boston's neighborhoods continues to climb," says Councilor Murphy. "By further tightening air quality standards, as this ordinance does, we will make Boston's neighborhoods healthier." Read more at DieselNet. The Michigan Blue Economy report profiles Ford for its water-saving sustainability efforts. The report notes that Ford reduced its water use by 61 percent, or 10 billion gallons, from 2000 to 2013 by "cutting the water used in everything from cooling towers to paint operations." As part of its Global Water Management Initiative, Ford has decreased its total water use at its facilities worldwide from 64 million cubic meters per year to 25 million cubic meters. Read more from Ford, or at the Michigan Blue Economy website. The EPA has named Nissan an Energy Star Partner of the Year for the fourth year in a row. The automaker received the Sustained Excellence Award for its efforts to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in its operations. Nissan reduced the amount of energy used to build vehicles by 13 percent in 2014. Energy reduction efforts include switching to LED lighting and developing an environmentally friendly paint process. Nissan also works with schools in Tennessee and Mississippi to help them reduce energy usage. "Since this initiative began in 2012, we've helped about 30 schools make the esteemed Energy Star certification list," says Nissan's John Martin. Read more in the press release below.

After Years Of Delays, Rear Visibility Requirements Move Closer To Reality

Regulations that would require automakers to improve rear-view visibility on all new cars and light trucks are nearing completion after six years of delays. The U.S. Department of Transportation sent its proposed rear-visibility rules to the Obama administration for review on Christmas Day. The White House Office of Management and Budget now must finalize the regulations. The rule are intended to minimize the risk of pedestrian deaths from vehicles in reverse, a type of accident that disproportionately affects children. Already in 2014, two children have died from cars backing over them, driven in each case by the children's father. Specifics of the Transportation Department's proposal are not available during the review, but the rules are expected to compel automakers to install rear-view cameras as mandatory equipment on all new vehicles. That's what safety advocates have wanted all along. Thought they were pleased the proposed ruling had finally been issued, there was some worry Friday the final rules would omit the rear-view camera mandate. "We're encouraged, but we're also a little concerned about speculation the rear-view camera may not be in there," said Janette Fennell, the president and founder of Kids and Cars, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting children in and around vehicles. "I'm wondering where that might be coming from." On Thursday, The Automotive News had reported the possibility the new standards could offer an alternative to rear-view cameras, such as redesigned mirrors, that improved visibility. The Office of Management and Budget typically completes its reviews of new rules in 90 days, although that can be extended. OMB officials said Friday they do not comment on pending rules. The intent of the rules is to enhance rear visibility for drivers and prevent pedestrian deaths. Approximately 200 pedestrians are backed over in the United States each year, according to estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Accidents Mostly Affect Children Roughly half the victims are children younger than age five. A government analysis concluded approximately half the victims -– 95 to 112 -– could be saved with new regulations. Yet the rules have arrived at a glacial pace. President George W. Bush signed legislation that had been passed with bipartisan Congressional support in 2008. But automakers have fought the idea of adding rear-view cameras, saying it is too expensive.

Ford reveals concept trucks that ultimately became Atlas

The Ford Atlas Concept was one of the quiet success stories of the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, and now Ford has given us a quick glimpse as to how that creation came to be. Designers actually combined two early sketches to build the Atlas. One, called the Bullet Train, is a futuristic, aerodynamic creation, while the other, aptly named the Locomotive, features the squared off proportions we're familiar with.
Once designers settled on the truck's proportions, they began nailing down exactly which attributes they wanted the final design to have. The Concept's notched windshield originated as a forked glass roof that seamlessly transitioned into the windscreen.
Likewise, designers wanted to fit the truck's tailgate with a storage compartment for tools and a first aid kit, but settled on the dual-purpose step/cargo cradle. Interestingly enough, the concept's active aero shutter wheels actually originated in some of the earliest sketches. Check out the photos and slides here for a closer look.