Xavier Navarro
Filed under: Biodiesel, Asia

Finnish oil company Neste has started preparing to build what they are claiming will be the biggest biodiesel production facility in the world in Singapore. The company has invested about 550 million EUR (about $800 million US) in a plant that will be able to produce about 800,000 tons of biodiesel per year. Construction is expected to start in early 2008 and be completed by the end of 2010.

Despite some concern from environmental groups and research institutes, Neste is going to produce biodiesel from palm oil. They chose Singapore as site for such a big facility is because it has the world third-largest oil refining complex. It's also very close to palm oil-producing countries. Neste already has a biodiesel factory in Porvoo (Finland) that produces about 170,000 tons of biodiesel per year.

Neste states that this facility is going to use the company's new NExBTL, claimed to be a "second generation biodiesel manufacturing process." The process can use any kind of fatty acids as a raw material. Neste also said that NExBTL has a higher quality than standard oil diesel and has about 40 to 60 percent less global CO₂ impact.

Related:

• Neste will test biodiesel in Sweden
• Neste's new NExBTL solves many biodiesel issues

[Source: Agencia EFE via Econoticias]

Source: Neste Oil starts construction of the biggest biodiesel manufacturing plant of the world in Singapore

Simona Alina
Filed in: Opel | Opel Astra | car tuning

The Astra H from 2007 is on route with a new front. For both the Astra H 5-door and the Astra H Estate, Steinmetz Opel-Tuning has developed a new front with an even more striking appearance. The new Steinmetz parts have been developed to fit harmoniously into the overall image and are made with the usual high quality.

Engine

Steinmetz provides more power for the new generation of 1.9 CDTI engines from Opel. For the 150 HP engine, Steinmetz raises the power to 175 HP. Naturally the conversion is available both with and without soot particle filter, and still complies with Euro 4 standards. Safe and sure: Steinmetz gives a 2 year warranty from first registration.

Exhaust

Steinmetz’ trademark is the high gloss polished, trapezoid twin tailpipe silencer. For left or left/ right (5-door only), its unmistakeable appearance and sound leave nothing to be desired, and the quality of fit are convincing. As an option, the twin tailpipe silencer can be fitted to vehicles both with and without rear skirt.

Lowering

The Steinmetz lowering kit of around 30 mm was developed not only for appearance but also to make a decisive contribution to safety and uncompromising driving pleasure. So it is available for both standard suspension and sports suspension with Sport Mode. The Steinmetz springs lower the Astra’s centre of gravity, reducing its tendency to roll on corners and allowing faster direction changes.

Wheel/Tyre Combination

From 16" to 19", Steinmetz has the right wheel and tyre combination for all Steinmetz Astra H. The ST4 can be fitted in size 8.0J x 18“ and the ST5 in 7.5J x 17“. Both wheels are bicolor rims, with a black/silver appearance which intrigues the viewer. The brilliant finish is achieved with a polished surface. The resulting light plays have the desired effect of making both wheels into real eye catchers.

Bodywork/Aerodynamics/Interior Trim

THE outer sign of Steinmetz is the honeycomb front grille. For the Astra H 2007, the striking Steinmetz front grille was developed with a new design with vertical double struts. The new front spoiler with small flippers and outlined air intakes gives the front a more dynamic appearance on both the 5-door and on the Estate.

Extending the lines to the rear, the side skirts have been designed to make the Astra appear even lower. To provide rearward visibility, the electrically adjustable and heated Steinmetz sports mirrors have been adapted to the shape of the Astra.

The solid rear roof spoiler provides more downforce on the rear. Finally, on the same visual line as the side skirts and front skirt, a Steinmetz rear skirt was developed to allow the Astra driver a choice of rear silencers. For standard, left or left/right (5-door only), the rear skirt was developed so that (almost!) every wish can be met. Further bodystyling accessories are the design stripes in silver or anthracite and the aluminium filler cap cover.

In the interior, sill plates, an aluminium handbrake handle and the 4-piece foot mats with Steinmetz logo in stainless steel complete the overall impression of the Astra H.

Source: Internal

Source: Opel Astra H Facelift by Steinmetz

2020. That’s the year by which all automakers selling vehicles in the United States must [now] achieve a Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) of 35mpg. The symbolism is strictly ironic. The politicians who crafted the new Energy Bill hardly displayed 20-20 vision. They singularly failed to see that their well-meaning efforts to force Americans to conserve fuel by forcing manufacturers to produce fuel efficient vehicles evokes the law of unintended consequences. While it’s impossible to see the future with perfect clarity, there are obvious “unforeseen” pitfalls.

Let’s start with the legislation’s basic assumption: automakers can create a range of vehicles that when combined achieve a combined 35mpg. Ostensibly, there’s no need to reinvent the wheel (and everything attached to it). All carmakers have to do is build and sell more vehicles like the ones that already achieve the requisite [combined city and highway] 35mpg. According to the official EPA website, only two cars sold in the U.S. that meet the new target: the Honda Civic Hybrid and the Toyota Prius. Uh-oh.

First, these are both niche products; the vast majority of American consumers prefer to drive something else. That reality creates a strange, politically uncomfortable paradigm. An automaker who doesn't meet the new standards has a far better chance of selling vehicles and making money than one who does. If the CAFE fines are lower than the profits generated by ignoring the standards, auto execs' seeking maximize shareholder value must turn their backs on the legislative directive, pay up and get on with it. To wit: BMW and Mercedes' current CAFE fines.

Second, the Prius and Civic hybrid are both Japanese. Detroit doesn’t possess the necessary gas - electric technology to replicate their mpg results. To think that The Big 2.8 can catch-up with Toyota and Honda in 12 years, never mind overtake them, is a leap of faith without a historical basis. Yes, this dilemma is Detroit’s own damn fault. But Ford, GM and Chrysler are already teetering on the abyss. This legislation is a shove in the wrong direction.

Third, the Prius and the Civic Hybrid's towing capacity is… “not recommended.” While I’m sure there are plenty of environmental campaigners who’ll be happy to learn of the Energy Bill’s de facto death sentence for SUVs/CUVs, the economic impact of neutering pickup trucks (a.k.a. America’s workhorses) would be devastating.

The argument against this line of thinking: automakers will now race to develop technological solutions that will up their CAFE numbers by 40 percent without sacrificing anything: comfort, performance, practicality, towing, safety or reliability. Call it the “if we can put a man on the moon…” school of thought.

If we accept this metaphor, Japan is America with a ten year lead. Detroit is Communist Russia. Ford is bankrupt. Chrysler is destined for sale. And even if Chevrolet’s Volt turns out to be a stunning technological triumph, there’s little chance GM can convert their entire passenger and light truck fleet to lithium-ion battery-aided propulsion— and get people to buy the result— by 2020. That’s unless the EPA and/or NHTSA agree to some highly advantageous mpg calculations for plug-in gas – electric hybrids.

The potential for federal finagling on partial electric propulsion's impact on CAFE requirements raises the automakers’ most obvious “solution” to Congress’ “solution” to our dependence on foreign oil: cheating. Early reports indicate that the new Energy Bill extends the ethanol credits that hoiks automakers’ EPA stats based on almost entirely theoretical E85 use. I have every confidence that Representative John Dingell (D-Michigan) created plenty of exemptions, exceptions and get out of jail free cards for his Detroit constituents.

For example, the Detroit Free Press reports that “Money generated from fines that luxury automakers would receive for missing fuel-economy standards are to be given to automakers that retool old factories for building models with advanced technology.” If we assume the “luxury automakers” bit is Freep conjecture, this rider could mean that automakers who violate CAFE– and sell more cars than a more CAFE-compliant manufacturer– can use their own CAFE fines to fund new product development to catch-up; you know, if they really want to. How great is that?

The way I see it, either this Energy Bill will defeat Detroit, or provide enough loopholes and clever caveats to render its 35mpg target meaningless, or simply fail under the weight of its own unrealistic expectations. At the end of the proverbial day, legislation that attempts to control the free market on this scale is doomed to failure. The only way this will work is if the free market heads in the same direction at the same time– allowing legislators to claim credit for events they didn't create or control.

Of course, I could be completely wrong about all of this. Perhaps the Energy Bill will usher in a golden age of environmentally friendly automobiles. Wanna bet?

Source: New Energy Bill Dooms Carmakers to Failure