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One year after introducing the first extended-range electric pickup truck for utilities, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and VIA Motors on Monday showcased the utility industry’s first extended-range electric sport utility vehicles and cargo vans.
Both offer PG&E the potential to provide mobile, on-site power to help manage electric outages and minimize disruptions for customers.
These Extended-Range Electric Vehicles, or eREVs, currently feature 15-kilowatts (kW) of power capacity, enough to serve the needs of a medium-sized house.
A utility-grade output module, now in development, will provide 50 kW of mobile emergency power to keep critical facilities online.
“VIA’s new vehicles have the potential to transform the way we at PG&E manage electrical outages, and to help us provide safer, more reliable service for our customers,” said PG&E Senior Vice President Greg Pruett. “We’re excited about our ongoing work with VIA Motors as we develop new and innovative ways to green our utility fleet.”
In 2008, PG&E partnered with VIA Motors to develop the first eREV pickup truck. The two companies unveiled the trucks at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January 2012.
“VIA’s partnership with PG&E, and the introduction of the world’s first extended-range electric work trucks, SUVs, and cargo vans in their fleet, marks a turning point in the electrification of the industry’s fleets,” said VIA Motors Board of Directors Member Bob Lutz. “As the world becomes more aware of the economic advantages of this ultra-clean technology, I am convinced that this type of electric vehicle will become very popular with consumers as well, and will help end our dependence on oil. It’s good for business, good for the environment and good for America.”
The eREV models run the first 40 miles on batteries, then continue to drive on electricity generated from an onboard gas-electric generator for 400 miles or more.
By driving primarily on electricity, the vehicles can more than double gas fuel economy and achieve zero emissions on 50 percent of the miles driven on typical fleet routes.
For electric utilities, the electrified vehicles can provide on-site power to help shorten small outages, eliminate some planned outages for maintenance, and boost the electric grid when needed.
PG&E is committed to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by greening its fleet. Since 1995, PG&E’s alternative-fuel vehicles have helped prevent more than 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.
The utility has more than 3,100 alternative-fuel vehicles in its fleet, ranging from natural-gas, hybrid and electric passenger cars to large trucks that burn natural gas or have the ability to provide needed power from battery packs instead of idling engines.
PG&E is testing and validating other promising transportation technologies, including liquid and compressed natural gas and diesel-electric hybrids.
VIA Motors is a privately held electric vehicle development and manufacturing company. VIA has developed a proprietary 650-volt eREV drive system technology, called the VIA V-Drive, designed for full-size trucks and SUVs.
VIA employs a streamlined second-stage manufacturing process, called VTRUX, to integrate its proprietary eREV powertrain technology into new OEM vehicles. More information on VIA Motors may be found at http://www.viamotors.com .
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As the new year begins, Californians are experiencing moderate fluctuation in gas prices compared to last month. Many metro areas in Northern California saw a decrease of at least two cents over the past month.
According to the latest report from AAA California, gas prices are expected to be lower than in 2012, barring any unforeseen events.
California’s average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is $3.61, down one cent since last month’s AAA report on Dec. 11, 2012.
For perspective, gas prices today are nine cents cheaper than California’s average price on this date last year. Among all 50 states, California has the fourth highest state average price for regular, unleaded gasoline. Hawaii is the highest at $4.01.
Northern California gas prices are now averaging $3.56, with no change in price from last month. In the San Francisco Bay Area, motorists can expect to pay an average price of $3.68, which is down three cents from last month.
The California state average price of $3.61 is down one cent, which is 31 cents more than the national price of unleaded regular gasoline, $3.30.
“In the first 90 days of 2012, geopolitical tensions with Iran pressured the national price at the pump almost 65 cents higher. The beginning of 2013 does not have a similar situation that is moving the market,” said Cynthia Harris, AAA Nevada spokesperson. “In light of this, AAA continues to expect gas prices in 2013 that will average less than the annual record of $3.60 a gallon set last year.”
The national average price today of $3.30 is a drop of three cents from last month’s AAA report of $3.33 a gallon.
While retail prices nationally are currently rising at a slower rate than at the start of 2012, the average is driven higher by crude oil prices that have continued to slowly increase in recent weeks.
At the close of formal trading yesterday on the NYMEX, the price of West Texas Intermediate crude oil settled at $93.19 per barrel, up 10 cents on the day.
These are the highest settlement prices since September 18, but still well below the 2012 high of $109.77 on Feb. 24.
Only 12 states and Washington, D.C. currently have an average price at the pump that is more expensive than one year ago.
Not coincidentally, these are also the states where gasoline supplies and distribution were most heavily impacted by Hurricane Sandy this fall. Tight supplies in the Northeast linger and continue to buoy prices in the region.
The least expensive average price in Northern California can be found in Modesto, where regular is $3.44 per gallon in that metro area.
Of all the metro areas in Northern California where gas prices are tracked by AAA, Eureka has the highest average price at $3.78.
Only six states report prices below the $3.00 mark – Oklahoma, $2.99; Idaho and Minnesota, $2.98; Colorado and Wyoming, $2.92; and Utah, $2.90.
The highest price of gasoline in the nation’s metro areas is in Wailuku, Hawaii, at $4.02 per gallon.
To get the best mileage possible, AAA recommends keeping tires at the proper pressure suggested by the vehicle manufacturer, performing routine maintenance and making sure fluids are clean and belts and hoses are in good repair. The way you drive can also impact fuel economy.
Smooth driving to avoid sudden stops and starts, combining trips and lightening your load also helps conserve gasoline.
AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report is the most comprehensive retail gasoline survey available, with over 100,000 self-serve stations surveyed every day, nationwide. Data is provided in cooperation with OPIS Energy Group and Wright Express LLC.
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- Written by: Deb Clarke
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Northshore Business Association is celebrating the new year with a speaker that shares the group’s goal of bringing a positive experience to both locals and visitors of Lake County.
The group has invited author Kit DeCanti to speak. DeCanti writes stories about Clear Lake in the Cobb Mountain Mystery Series.
DeCanti likes to refer to herself as a “late bloomer,” because although she has written and painted since she was 8 years old, she was almost 50 before being published or selling a painting.
The author credits the area of Lake County, Calif. for her recent creativity in writing.
The breakfast meeting starts at 7 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16, at Judy's Junction in Upper Lake on the Northshore. The speaking engagement will begin shortly after. The meeting adjourns at 8:30 a.m.
If you are member or interested in joining, please come. The dues are only $40 a year and you will be added to the NSBA directory and Web site, as well as the Facebook page.
The Northshore Business Association is a collaboration of businesses and professionals, neighbors and government along the Northshore of Lake County's beautiful Clear Lake.
The group prides itself in creating a life long learning experience for members and guests, either in the form of local information, improving your business or listening to interesting topics presented to the group.
You can visit the association’s Web site at www.northshorebusinessassociation.com or Facebook page.
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SACRAMENTO – State Controller John Chiang this week released his monthly report covering California’s cash balance, receipts and disbursements in December 2012.
After accounting for timing issues related to sales tax deposits, December’s totals were $103.4 million above (1.1 percent) estimates found in the 2012-13 state budget.
“While December’s figures were distorted by timing issues, the month’s revenues closely match budget projections and offer further evidence that California’s economy is slowly mending,” said Chiang.
December’s sales tax receipts were affected by a large timing issue at the end of the calendar year. While $1 billion of sales tax was deposited into the Board of Equalization’s bank account on December 31, those dollars were not transferred to the General Fund for another two days.
Because the controller’s monthly cash report shows general fund balances reported by close of business on Dec. 31, the $1 billion of late-deposited December sales tax dollars will instead appear in January’s report. Without accounting for this timing issue, total revenues fell $896.6 million below (-9.6 percent) monthly estimates.
Personal income taxes in the month of December came in $767.6 million above (13.4 percent) monthly estimates contained in the 2012-13 state budget. Corporate taxes came in $445.9 million below (-31.2 percent) those monthly estimates.
The state ended the last fiscal year with a cash deficit of $9.6 billion.
As of Dec. 31, that cash deficit totaled $24.2 billion and was covered with $14.2 billion of internal borrowing (temporary loans from special funds), and $10 billion of external borrowing.