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November, 2011:

Truck replacement programme introduced at Port of Tacoma

Nov 4th, 2011
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http://www.portworld.com/news/i107922/Truck_replacement_programme_introduced_at_Port_of_Tacoma

http://i.pmcdn.net/z/img/107922_10124_3_s.jpg

Nov. 4, 2011

By 2015, about 80% of trucks serving the port will be required to have model year 2007 or newer engines.

The Port of Tacoma has introduced a voluntary programme in the Tacoma Tideflat offering truck owners a financial incentive to purchase newer, lower-emission trucks to improve air quality in the region.

The Truck Scrappage and Replacements for Air in Puget Sound (Tacoma ScRAPS) is part of the port’s Clean Truck programme which targets heavy-duty trucks with pre-1994 model year engines that operate in the Tacoma area.

Under the programme, eligible truck owners will receive a $30,000 incentive when they scrap their pre-1994 truck and purchase a new one with a model year 2007 engine or newer.

An incentive of $5,000 will also be offered to truck owners that scrap their pre-1994 truck and purchase a truck with a model year engine from 1994 to 2006.

Currently, trucks serving at port terminals are required to have model year 1994 or newer engines.

By 2015, about 80% of trucks serving the port will be required to have model year 2007 or newer engines.

The programme is operated through a partnership between the City of Tacoma and Cascade Sierra Solutions.

Truck owners interested in learning if they qualify for the programme can call  (253) 617-3201 or visit the Tacoma ScRAPS office at 2002 Stewart St. in Tacoma on weekdays from 8:00am to 5pm.

Light to be shed on air quality

Nov 3rd, 2011
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SCMP
Howard Winn – Laisee Column  3rd Nov 2011

The US embassy in Beijing has infuriated the Chinese authorities by giving out its own air quality measurements, which differ markedly from the official Chinese ones. Unfortunately for the government most people believe the US figures. While air pollution isn’t so bad here as in Beijing the problem in Hong Kong is that while the Environment Bureau puts out daily figures they can’t be trusted.

When the University of Science and Technology did its own measurement of the air quality with its mobile real-time air monitoring van, its readings showed much higher levels of pollution than the government monitoring stations.

We also understand that the Environment Bureau is using outdated equipment which is no longer accepted in the US and many parts of the EU. The readings this old equipment gives can be out by as much as 30-40 per cent.

So, since the Hong Kong government is so reluctant to tell us the true air quality figures despite having plenty of money to buy modern equipment, perhaps the US consulate could do us all a favour and monitor the air quality for us.

When the air is not so clear look to the government’s coffers

Nov 2nd, 2011
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South China Morning Post – Nov. 2, 2011

Readers will be aware that we have long been wondering why the government has been so reluctant to commit to implementing new air quality objectives. These have been agreed on and are supposed to replace the current outdated ones established in 1987. But while the government pays lip service to the idea of better air quality standards it has proved exceedingly reluctant to say when it plans to introduce them.

The reason for this reluctance becomes a lot clearer on reading an article by the Civic Exchange’s Mike Kilburn on the CleanBiz Asia website. He makes the point that under the terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Ordinance, air quality objectives act as an absolute standard. They are the air quality benchmarks for environmental impact assessments that have to be done for all big projects. At least in theory, as there are ways of getting around this. The model for assessing predicted air quality is a black box with no need to state input data, assumptions or margins for error. “Any project that breaches the standard cannot legally be approved.” A further complication is that the government’s proposed new objectives would reduce permissible levels of nitrogen oxides by half, by the end of this year.

This, he says, has serious implications for the plan to build a third runway. “Given the additional emissions from the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge, the fact that emissions of key pollutants – nitrogen oxides (NOx) and ozone – continue to rise across Hong Kong, and that proposed control measures to reduce this pollution have been largely unsuccessful, there is a strong likelihood that an EIA for the third runway would show that emissions, especially of NOx, will exceed the air quality objectives and would not therefore be approvable.” He cites the preliminary report on air quality impact from the third runway by the Airport Authority’s consultant Ove Arup which shows that failure to meet these new standards is a real possibility. The report says that, “emissions from aircraft can only meet the standard by reducing the capacity of the new runway by some 60 per cent”.

The authority claims the new runway would bring economic benefits of HK$132 billion in contracts and is projected to generate HK$900 billion in overall economic benefit to Hong Kong. It is not hard to see why the government would not want to jeopardise a project of this value by making the air quality objectives harder to meet.

Brammo scores Hong Kong government deal

Nov 2nd, 2011
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http://gigaom.com/cleantech/brammo-scores-hong-kong-government-deal/

http://earth2tech.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/brammotestdrive.jpg?w=300&h=166

Electric motorcycle maker Brammo says it’s scored a deal to supply the Hong Kong government and police force with its electric motorcycles. Brammo says the Hong Kong government will replace its existing gas-powered motorcycle fleet with Brammo’s Enertia (see my test drive of the Enertia below).

Hong Kong’s Water Supplies Department will use the Enertia Plus, while the Hong Kong police department will use the 2012 Enertia Plus “LE,” or the Law Enforcement edition, which has features for police. Brammo’s exclusive dealer in Hong Kong is JCAM Advanced Mobility Company.

I’m not sure how many electric motorcycles the deal entails, but I’ve asked the company and will update this when I know more. It’s gotta be sizable, particularly for Brammo, which is a small company based in Ashland, Oregon.

Two-wheeled EVs in China

http://gigaom2.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/brammoenertiahongkong.jpg?w=223&h=300

The electric vehicle market is being driven by sales of electric scooters, motorcycles, and e-bikes sold in China, as the Chinese government has banned gas-powered motorcycles in some places. According to Lux Research, sales of batteries for electric bikes and scooters will grow from being a $6.4 billion market in 2010 to a $10.9 billion market in 2015 (11 percent growth), led by the Chinese market. According to some statistics the market for electric motorcycles in China is expected to grow 11 percent per year through 2014 to 31.6 million units.

All the electric motorcycle, and scooter startups are angling for deals like this one, including firms like Mission Motors, Vectrix, Zero Motorcycles, and KLD Energy. Focusing on the U.S. market alone isn’t enough for these companies.

Brammo’s plans

Just last week Brammo announced it has raised another $28 million, and no doubt securing that funding had something to do with this deal. The funding was led by Polaris Industries, which makes sporting vehicles like ATVs and snowmobiles. Brammo is also backed by Alpine Energy; NorthPort Investments; the venture arm of Best Buy, Best Buy Capital; and Canadian investment firm Chrysalix.

http://gigaom2.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/brammo_empulse_sms_01.jpg?w=300&h=199

The Enertia electric motorcycle has a 60–70 mph max speed,40-mile range and roughly $8,000 price tag. But Brammo has been planning on building higher-end bikes, including its Empulse, which has a new battery pack, a power management system and a water-cooled motor. The Empulse has a 100-mph top speed, an average range of 60 miles per charge and an estimated starting price of $9,995.

Brammo is also building four new, 6-speed models that are using a transmission system that enables higher speeds and the equivalent of the performance of a traditional gas-based motorcycle. The transmission tech — called the Integrated Electric Transmission (IET) — will come from partner SMRE Engineering, and the prices for these motorcycles clock in around $10,000 to $12,000.

Policy address failed to deal with Hong Kong’s serious pollution problems

Nov 1st, 2011
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South China Morning Post – Nov. 1, 2011

With almost seven years of experience as the chief executive of the Hong Kong government, Donald Tsang Yam-kuen has obviously not done his job well if you read what was laid down for the environment portfolio in his last policy address.

He chose an easy and short-term option of offering more carrots to please various sectors of our society instead of applying sticks to get polluters under legislative control.

Mr Tsang is offering HK$180 million to franchised bus companies to pilot electric-powered buses and another HK$150 million for taxis and minibuses to replace their catalytic converters. The government estimates that 80 per cent of taxis and 50 per cent of minibuses are emitting exceedingly more pollutants than they should be. While giving out these carrots, why did Mr Tsang not at the same time ask for something in return? For example he could have demanded an earlier timetable for the retirement of very old and highly polluting buses with emission standards at Euro II and below, or a high penalty for those vehicles with emissions exceeding the statutory emission standards during the annual inspection.

When the World Health Organisation recently released the first global survey results for levels of airborne particles smaller than 10 micrometers (PM10) for 1,082 cities worldwide, Hong Kong was not on the list, because our government did not provide data. Who decided not to submit data for this important and relevant study? Is there something that Mr Tsang’s administration wants to hide? If he had really got his job done, and done it well, he would have set a goal for improving roadside air quality within a reasonable timeframe so that we reach similar air quality levels that other clean cities such as Copenhagen and Vancouver enjoy. Copenhagen has private cars and buses, but it also has 37 per cent of its people commuting on bicycles, which helps reduce air pollution.

To keep on offering rebates on our electricity bills will only encourage people to consume more electricity. This rebate is the most non eco-friendly freebie among other “candies”.

Mr Tsang has sprinkled more artificial sweeteners in his last policy address, which has helped him to gain a slight rebound in his popularity rating. However, it is sad for the future of Hong Kong people that we have a leader who chooses to put his higher public acceptance ahead of the public’s health and a clean environment.

Edwin Lau Che-feng, director, general affairs, Friends of the Earth (HK)

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