Fiscal Cliff Deal Extends/Improves 12 Alt-Energy Credits

While most Americans were enjoying the holiday break, Congress was called in for a special session to try and work out a deal to avoid the so-called "fiscal cliff." A compromise was reached, a deal was passed, and while nobody is particularly happy with the "American Taxpayer Relief Act", a number of green energy credits were extended for at least another year.

The Senate version of the bill, which was passed by the House and signed by President Obama late last night, includes 12 green energy credits or extensions for the year 2013. In no particular order, these credits are;

• Credit for energy-efficient existing homes is extended to 31 December 2013.
• Credit for alternative fuel vehicle refueling property is extended to 31 December 2013.
• Credit for 2- or 3-wheeled plug-in electric vehicles. In the case of a qualified 2- or 3-wheeled plug-in electric vehicle, up to 10% of the cost of the qualified 2- or 3-wheeled plug-in electric vehicle, or $2,500 may be allowed as a credit.
• Qualifying 2- or 3-wheel vehicles need a 2.5 kWh pack (down from 4 kWh), are capable of achieving a speed of 45 mph (72 km/h)or greater, and must be acquired after 31 December 2011 and before 1 January 2014.
• Extension and modification of cellulosic biofuel producer credit. The extension now carries through to qualified production beginning before 1 January 2014. Algae is treated as a qualified feedstock.
• Additionally, the section strikes the term cellulosic biofuel in favor of "second generation biofuel".
• Incentives for biodiesel and renewable diesel are extended to 31 December 2013.
• Extension of production credit for Indian coal facilities placed in service before 2009 for an 8-year period rather than a 7-year period. The amendment applies to coal produced after 31 December 2012.
• Extension and modification of credits with respect to facilities producing energy from certain renewable resources. Among other provisions for municipal solid waste, hydro, and biomass facilities, production tax credits for wind facilities are extended to 1 January 2014.
• Credits for energy-efficient new homes are extended to 31 December 2013.
• Credits for energy-efficient appliances are extended into 2013.
• The special allowance for cellulosic biofuel plant property is extended to 1 January 2014. In addition, algae is treated as a qualified feedstock for such.
• The special rule for sales or dispositions to implement FERC or state electric restructuring policy for qualified electric utilities is extended to 1 January 2014.
• Alternative fuels excise tax credits are extended to 31 December.

Of special note to green vehicle enthusiasts is the extension of the up-to $2,500 tax credit for electric motorcycles and trikes, as well as the inclusion of algae as a qualified feedstock for biofuel production plants.

These tax credits go along with Obama's "All of the Above" energy strategy, but do we really need an extension of the status quo? Or would Americans be better served by more forward-thinking initiatives with more support but a more narrow focus on a select few technologies?

The post Fiscal Cliff Deal Extends/Improves 12 Alt-Energy Credits appeared first on Gas 2.

http://gas2.org/2013/01/02/fiscal-cliff-deal-extendsimproves-12-alt-en

High mileage Suzuki

High mileage Suzuki is an inside look at what it takes to make a motorcycle run at over 200 miles/gallon efficiency in real world driving. The article covers the work of Matt Guzzetta who wanted to build the most fuel efficient motorcycle in the world.

At the same time a contest was being run: Craig Vetter, and how to achieve 470 miles/gallon ... the purpose of the contest? High fuel efficient motorcycles.

Matt Guzzetta used a Suzuki motorcycle with a 125cc engine, that was then modified heavily for fuel efficiency. The whole motorcycle was encased in a fairing. With all that he achieved around 250 miles/gallon efficiency, and at that only won third place in the contest. First place was won by a motorcycle that achieved over 450 miles/gallon. The driving course was along Highway 1 on the California Coast.

Early results in high gas mileage with a motorcycle

A couple months ago I bought a Honda Rebel 250cc motorcycle. I'm in the middle of building an electric motorcycle, and am needing some kind of motorcycle with which to learn the art of riding motorcycles. In California we're required to have a special drivers license, which puts me back into the role of having a learners permit and occasionally going to the DMV for a driving test. But that's a story for a different time.

I've discovered something with this motorcycle which is surprising me. You can have amazingly high miles/gallon efficiency!

I've written about this before: Riding motorcycles because they're fuel efficient

I learned before that the U.S. EPA doesn't measure miles/gallon on motorcycles, but the hints I found implied that small motorcycles (like the Rebel) would get high miles/gallon efficiency. It also makes logical sense, that a small vehicle would require less energy to move it, and that a small engine on a small vehicle should get high efficiency.

In the first couple tanks I mentally calculated the miles/gallon and was astonished to see 90 miles/gallon efficiency. But I knew the numbers were small, and inaccuracies would loom large.

High miles/gallon efficiency is important because -- I'm going to drive anyway, and to drive while using less gasoline makes for great benefits such as less pollution in the environment.

Here are the numbers for the first three tanks of gas run through the motorcycle:

Odometer	Gallons bought	Elapsed miles	Elapsed gas bought	Miles/gallon
3199.1	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
3325.3	1.71	126.2	1.71	73.80
3440.3	1.53	241.2	3.24	74.44
3562.2	1.70	363.1	4.94	73.50

My calculation method is to record the gallons bought, and the odometer reading at the time it was bought. This gives me an elapsed total miles ridden and gallons bought since the beginning of these measurements, at 3199.1 miles. The elapsed miles / elapsed gallons gives elapsed miles/gallon efficiency.

Assuming the odometer is accurate.

As you can see, the efficiency is staying just above 70 miles/gallon. Take that hybrids!

Interesting 3-wheeler concept vehicle from Volkswagon

At the LA Auto Show Volkswagon has unveiled a concept "car" that's a three-wheel vehicle with high fuel efficiency and is billed as a cross between a sports car and motorcycle. At Green Car Congress and treehugger they're extolling it as a breakthrough, but I find it a big yawn. I suppose a claim of 46 miles/gallon has their attention, but I'm currently riding a Honda Rebel 250cc motorcycle which is getting well over 60 miles per gallon range.

It looks like a fun vehicle. The seating is for two people, in an open cockpit. It accelerates from 0-60 in under 6 seconds.

But if you think of it as a high efficiency vehicle, let me just remind you there are ones with higher efficiency.