Subscribe Today!
Networked Blogs
Jun
13
Toyota committed to E85 & cellulosic ethanol
Filed Under alternative fuels, E85, E85 / Alt Fuels, E85 prices, hybrid, plug-in, technology | Comments Off
Toyota offers an E85 Tundra pickup
A story about Toyota’s new plug-in hybrid also shows that E85 will remain a viable alternative to gasoline as Americans look for ways to cope with the reality that cheap and easy oil has been relegated to the history books.
While Toyota gears up to produce millions of hybrids, the Japanese automaker is also pushing cellulosic ethanol and is offering E85 compatible vehicles in North America as part of its business strategy and effort to produce lower carbon emissions vehicles.
Toyota plans to build 1 million hybrids per year to meet consumer demand for the fuel saving vehicles and to position itself to survive in a tough automotive marketplace that has been reeling because of the daily increases in gasoline prices. Part of Toyota’s plan is a committment to build engines that will operative on alternative fuels — such as the E85-compatible flexible-fuel Tundra and Sequoia models that are sold in North America.
Writes Wired’s Chuck Squatriglia in Plug-in Hybrid Leads Toyota’s Drive Beyond Oil:
The company’s ambitious “low-carbon” agenda includes cranking out 1 million hybrids a year and eventually offering hybrid versions of every model it sells. In the short-term, Toyota says it will produce more fuel efficient gasoline and diesel engines and push alternative fuels like cellulosic ethanol and biodiesel. It’s also pumping big money into lithium-ion batteries. With fuel prices going through the roof and auto sales going through the floor because of it, Toyota president Katsuaki Watanabe says the auto industry has no choice but to move beyond petroleum.
“Without focusing on measures to address global warming and energy issues, there can be no future for our auto business,” he told reporters in Tokyo, adding, “Our view is that oil production will peak in the near future. We need to develop power train(s) for alternative energy sources.”
Watanabe’s reference to peak oil echoes that of GM CEO Rick Wagoner, who in explaining the company’s decision to shut down four truck factories said rising fuel prices and mounting demand for efficient cars are “structural, not cyclical.” In other words, the two biggest automakers in the world realize petroleum’s days are numbered.
More: Toyota to launch E85 versions for Tundra pickup and Sequoia SUV models
Apr
5
2528 Spam Messages and Counting
Filed Under law, spam, technology | Comments Off
I don’t know where I’d be without spam filters.
My spam filter box has 2528 spam messages sitting in it right now. Akismet has captured 1606 spam blog comments here. Bad Behavior has blocked 1687 splog access attempts in the last 7 days on this blog.
Could All That SPAM Be Worth Millions?
The Indiana Code has a provision that allows Hoosiers to sue spammers — with presumed damages of $500 per prohibited Deceptive Commercial Electronic Mail. See I.C. 24-5-22 and I.C. 24-5-22-10(d)(2). I’m an Indiana resident, so therefore the law applies to anyone sending Deceptive Commercial email as defined by the statute to my inbox. Jurisdiction is provided in the statute — anyone sending prohibited email submits to the jurisdiction of Indiana.
At this rate, if all of those messages in my spam filter were prohibited and I prevailed in an action, they’d be worth more than $1 million at the presumed damages!
I wonder if anyone has ever sued a spammer and been able to collect their presumed damages as provided for under the Indiana code?
