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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.

IIHS says these are the safest cars of 2013

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has revealed its annual list of Top Safety Picks, an award that highlights automobiles it says offer "superior crash protection." A new and still more significant award, the Top Safety Pick+ honor, is given to those vehicles that earn good ratings for occupant protection in four out of five areas of measure. And while some 117 vehicles were given the TSP seal of approval for 2013, just 13 passed muster for TSP+.
To be fair, IIHS only evaluated 29 vehicles with its new testing procedures for TSP+ (we'd expect that the number of qualified cars will rise substantially for 2014). Luxury and Near Luxury midsize cars were the first groups evaluated, followed by midsizers in the Moderately Priced Cars category - unsurprisingly, it's only midsize cars that you'll find among the class this year.
Only two luxury sedans made the list of 13 for 2013: the Acura TL and Volvo S60. The other 11 cars on the list included entries from domestic, Japanese and German car makers: Dodge Avenger, Chrysler 200, Ford Fusion, Honda Accord (sedan and coupe), Kia Optima (but not its close kin, the Hyundai Sonata, strangely), Nissan Altima, Subaru Legacy and Outback, Suzuki Kizashi and the Volkswagen Passat all made the grade.

What's in a trademark? Sometimes, the next iconic car name

The United States Patent and Trademark Office is a treasure trove for auto enthusiasts, especially those who double as conspiracy theorists.
Why has Toyota applied to trademark "Supra," the name of one of its legendary sports cars, even though it hasn't sold one in the United States in 16 years? Why would General Motors continue to register "Chevelle" long after one of the most famous American muscle cars hit the end of the road? And what could Chrysler possibly do with the rights to "313," the area code for Detroit?