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Governor Rendell: Obama Administration’s New National Auto Standards Are Good for Consumers, Economy, Environment

New Rules Will Save PA’s Consumers $14 Billion in Fuel Costs, Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 57 Million Metric Tons over Next Decade

HARRISBURG — Governor Edward G. Rendell today praised President Barack Obama and his administration for announcing bold steps that will greatly reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil, save motorists thousands of dollars, and help clean the air of climate-changing greenhouse gases.

In a joint announcement today, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency established the nation’s first national standard for greenhouse gas emissions and rules that will greatly increase the fuel economy of passenger cars and light-duty trucks.

“Today’s news from the Obama administration is great news for Pennsylvania and the entire nation, because cleaner cars are a big win for consumers, the environment and our national security,” Governor Rendell said. “With access to more fuel-efficient vehicles, consumers will have to spend less time and money at the gas pump, which means fewer dollars going to foreign, oil-rich nations that may be hostile to our interests.

“The less fuel we burn, the cleaner our air will be,” Governor Rendell said. “That will make our people and our planet much healthier for the long term.”

According to the federal government, the new rules will reduce carbon dioxide emissions about 960 million metric tons and conserve about 1.8 billion barrels of oil—or the amount the U.S. now imports every six months from foreign sources—over the life of the vehicles that are subject to the requirements. Consumers who purchase a 2016 model year vehicle—the target year for attaining the new fuel economy standards—will save $3,000 over the life of that automobile by using less fuel.

According to the state Department of Environmental Protection, the new standards will cut Pennsylvania’s vehicle carbon dioxide emissions by 57 million metric tons and save the state’s motorists an estimated $14 billion in fuel costs over the next 10 years.

Transportation is responsible for more than one-quarter of Pennsylvania’s greenhouse gas emissions, so enactment of the new emissions standards will help the state meet its greenhouse gas reduction goals.

Pennsylvania has been pursuing cleaner standards for new vehicles based on California’s Low Emissions Vehicle Program. The Pennsylvania Clean Vehicles Program was amended in 2006 to require automakers to sell new cars and light-duty trucks in Pennsylvania that are cleaner than would be required by the federal government, starting with model year 2008.

Pennsylvania’s Clean Vehicles Program cuts volatile organic compounds as much as 12 percent and nitrogen oxide emission 9 percent more than the less stringent federal standards, resulting in a 5-11 percent greater reduction of six toxic air pollutants including benzene, a known carcinogen.

By establishing one nationwide standard, the new federal rules announced today also will help ease concerns that tougher standards in Pennsylvania would increase vehicle costs. Nearly all Mid-Atlantic states have already adopted tougher emission standards like those in place in Pennsylvania and California.

For more information, visit www.epa.gov.

Unique solution opens new horizons in personal mobility

NEW YORK – General Motors Corp. and Segway today demonstrated a new type of vehicle that could change the way we move around in cities.

PUMA Concept Car (Credit GM)

Dubbed Project P.U.M.A. (Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility), GM and Segway are developing an electrically powered, two-seat prototype vehicle that has only two wheels. It could allow people to travel around cities more quickly, safely, quietly and cleanly – and at a lower total cost. The vehicle also enables design creativity, fashion, fun and social networking.

GM and Segway announced their collaboration, while demonstrating the Project P.U.M.A. prototype in New York City this morning.

“Project P.U.M.A. represents a unique solution to moving about and interacting in cities, where more than half of the world’s people live,” said Larry Burns, GM vice president of research and development, and strategic planning. “Imagine small, nimble electric vehicles that know where other moving objects are and avoid running into them. Now, connect those vehicles in an Internet-like web and you can greatly enhance the ability of people to move through cities, find places to park and connect to their social and business networks.”

Trends indicate that urbanization is growing, and with that comes increased congestion and more competition for parking. Cities around the world are actively looking for solutions to alleviate congestion and pollution. Project P.U.M.A. addresses those concerns. It combines several technologies demonstrated by GM and Segway, including electric drive and batteries; dynamic stabilization (two-wheel balancing); all-electronic acceleration, steering and braking; vehicle-to-vehicle communications; and autonomous driving and parking. Those technologies integrate in Project P.U.M.A. to increase mobility freedom, while also enabling energy efficiency, zero emissions, enhanced safety, seamless connectivity and reduced congestion in cities.

“We are excited to be working together to demonstrate a dramatically different approach to urban mobility,” said Jim Norrod, CEO of Segway Inc. “There’s an emotional connection you get when using Segway products. The Project P.U.M.A. prototype vehicle embodies this through the combination of advanced technologies that Segway and GM bring to the table to complete the connection between the rider, environment, and others.”

Project P.U.M.A. vehicles will also allow designers to create new fashion trends for cars, and to focus on the passion and emotion that people express through their vehicles while creating solutions that anticipate the future needs of urban customers.

The Project P.U.M.A. prototype vehicle integrates a lithium-ion battery, digital smart energy management, two-wheel balancing, dual electric wheel motors, and a dockable user interface that allows off-board connectivity. The result is an advanced and functional concept that demonstrates the capabilities of technology that exists today.

Built to carry two or more passengers, it can travel at speeds up to 35 miles per hour (56 kph), with a range up to 35 miles (56 km) between recharges.

Since the introduction of the Segway Personal Transporter (PT), Segway has established itself as the leader in the small electric vehicle space. Its approach to congestion and environmental challenges is balanced with a strong understanding of the functional needs of its customers, enabling them to do more with less. Segway has delivered more than 60,000 lithium-ion batteries to the market.

GM has been a leader in “connected vehicle” technologies since it introduced OnStar in 1996. Today, this on-board communications package connects six million subscribers in North America to OnStar safety and security services. GM has also pioneered vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications systems and transponder technology. These and additional connected vehicle technologies could ultimately enable vehicles that don’t crash and drive themselves.

“Imagine moving about cities in a vehicle fashioned to your taste, that’s fun to drive and ride in, that safely takes you where you want to go, and “connects” you to friends and family, while using clean, renewable energy, producing zero vehicle tailpipe emissions, and without the stress of traffic jams,” said Burns. “And imagine doing this for one-fourth to one-third the cost of what you pay to own and operate today’s automobile. This is what Project P.U.M.A. is capable of delivering.”

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), one of the world’s largest automakers, was founded in 1908, and today manufactures cars and trucks in 34 countries. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 243,000 people in every major region of the world, and sells and services vehicles in some 140 countries. In 2008, GM sold 8.35 million cars and trucks globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM’s largest national market is the United States, followed by China, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Canada, Russia and Germany. GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.

More About Segway And P.U.M.A.
About the Inventor of the Segway, Dean Kamen