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Recharge Wrap-up: Honda opens second CNG station, Fuels America's RFS ad for Obama

Biofuel group Fuels America is launching an ad campaign directed at President Obama regarding the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). It depicts a choice between listening to experts in favor of the RFS and its role in helping stem climate change and supposed lies told by the oil industry about renewable fuels. The seven figure ad campaign includes a TV spot and digital ads. National Corn Growers Association President Chip Bowling says "slashing the amount of clean, domestic renewable fuel in our motor fuel supply would dramatically increase pollution and carbon emissions, while strengthening the RFS and building on the progress of the past 10 years would help in our efforts to combat climate change." See the ad in the video above, and read more from the National Corn Growers Association. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) sees big savings under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA). The bill, which the ACEEE points out was signed by President Bush and implemented by Obama, is expected to save consumers more than $2 trillion, cut CO2 emissions by 17 billion metric tons and provide major cuts to oil and energy use through vehicle, equipment and lighting standards, efficiency programs and housing policies. Learn more from the ACEEE. Honda has opened a compressed natural gas fueling station at its campus in Troy, Ohio. It is Honda's second CNG station in North America, the other having opened at its Marysville, OH manufacturing facility in August. The stations are part of Honda's "green fleet" programs, and a larger goal of cutting the company's CO2 emissions by 50 percent by 2050. In addition to serving Honda and the trucks of its suppliers, the station is also open to public customers with CNG passenger vehicles. Read more from Honda. Connecticut has set aside funding for fleet EVs and workplace charging installation for state agencies and municipalities. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) will reimburse up to $15,000 per electric vehicle and $10,000 per charger (with a maximum of six per recipient). "Municipalities and state agencies can demonstrate leadership and their commitment to market development of zero emission vehicles (ZEV) through the purchase of EVs and the installation of EV charging stations for their workplace," says DEEP.

Honda has finally killed the unloved CR-Z hybrid hatch

Last week we told you that the CR-Z would bow out in Japan with a Final Edition, a typical limited-run job with some badging and unique cosmetic elements. Now Honda has announced that the CR-Z is going away in the US, according to Car and Driver. But there won't be any fond farewell for the two-seat hybrid hatch here. It won't return for the 2017 model year. We expected this – a long time ago, frankly. It's not so much that the CR-Z was a bad idea, or that the car itself wasn't fun to drive on some level. It's more about the promise it failed to fulfill. The car's predecessor, the first-generation Insight hybrid, was more fun to drive in spite of having no pretension of sportiness. And although Honda tried to claim a spiritual connection, the CR-Z had very little to do with the pulse-raising CRXs of yore, which in sportier trims were a flat-out riot to drive. Instead, the CR-Z paired lukewarm driving dynamics with some appalling styling and ergonomic choices. It was heavy and not terribly powerful or efficient. Its only real enthusiast calling card was an available manual transmission, something no other hybrid offers, sporty or otherwise. Given that it was unloved by Americans from the start, the most surprising thing about the CR-Z is how long it lingered on the market. Not every car works; that's the nature of things. Whatever was wrong with the CR-Z could have been addressed with the sort of emergency refresh that the last-generation Civic got in response to being widely panned by critics and consumers. Instead, the CR-Z rotted on the vine rather than getting an investment to fulfill its original promise. In the meantime, the highest-zoot supercars and Honda's own Acura NSX have made hybridization cool again. There's no reason a small hatch couldn't benefit from some on-demand electric torque. In many respects, the CR-Z's time is now. It wasn't quite the right thing and arrived at definitely the wrong time. That's a shame, but don't cry over the CR-Z. It's gone to a better place. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. News Source: Car and Driver Green Honda Coupe Hatchback Hybrid Performance

Honda, Nissan, and Toyota expand Takata recall by millions worldwide

Honda, Nissan, and Toyota are expanding their global Takata airbag inflator recalls to cover millions of additional vehicles. Toyota alone is adding about 5 million vehicles to its campaign globally, and over 600,000 of those are in the US, according to Automotive News. Nissan's expansion includes an estimated 1.56 million cars worldwide, including about 326,000 in North America, but the exact models from the company are not yet known. According to Automotive News, Honda has also announced plans to increase the scope of its campaign but hasn't yet disclosed specific models, total numbers, or their location. Company spokesperson Chris Martin tells Autoblog that none of these vehicles are in the US, though. In the US, Toyota is replacing the driver's side front inflators on 160,000 examples of the 2004 and 2005 RAV4 nationwide. It's also swapping out the front passenger side parts for 177,000 units of the 2003 and 2004 Tundra (pictured above) and 2004 Sequoia. The automaker is also expanding its regional recalls in high-humidity areas to include the passenger-side inflators of 300,000 more vehicles. In total, the affected models are 2005-2007 model-year Corolla, Matrix, Sequoia, and Lexus SC; plus the 2005-2006 Tundra is included, as well. All of the states that are covered by this campaign are listed in Toyota's announcement, below. In a statement to Autoblog, Nissan said that it's currently working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on this campaign. "We expect to have a more formal statement and additional information by Friday, May 15," the company said. TOYOTA EXPANDS TAKATA AIRBAG SAFETY RECALLS TORRANCE, Calif., May 12, 2015 – Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. today announced that it is expanding its recalls involving Takata air bag inflators. First, Toyota will conduct a recall to replace Takata-supplied driver front airbag inflators on approximately 160,000 model year 2004 and 2005 RAV4 sport utility vehicles. The inflators could potentially be susceptible to rupture when deployed in a crash, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants. For similar reasons, Toyota will expand two existing recalls for Takata-supplied front passenger airbag inflators, namely: Toyota's nationwide recall launched in April 2013 will expand to include approximately an additional 177,000 model year 2003-2004 Tundra and model year 2004 Sequoia vehicles.