Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.energy From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: energy Tue, Mar 17 1992 Date: Tue, 17 Mar 92 05:44:53 EST Message-ID: 03-17 0000 DECISIONLINE: Energy USA TODAY Update March 17, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network SAFETY OF EVS QUESTIONED: Questions about the the safety of electric vehicles, or EVs, are being posed by regulators in Washington and elsewhere as the prospect grows that a sizable population of EVs could be on U.S. roads in the next decade. "It's a big can of worms," said David E. Cole, director of the Office for the Study of Automotive Transportation at the University of Michigan. (For more, see special Safety package below.) CRUDE PRICES DECLINE: Crude prices ended lower Monday on a report in an industry newsletter that said Saudi Arabia had cut back output. April light sweet crude eased 3 cents to $19.15 a barrel after rising to a high of $19.24 earlier in the day at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Lower-grade sour crude for delivery in May settled at $16.40 per barrel, down 7 cents. REFINED PRODUCTS UP: Refined petroleum products posted gains Monday at the Mercantile Exchange. Unleaded gasoline for April delivery added 0.67 cent to 60.02 cents a gallon. April heating oil gained 0.29 cent to 53.65 cents a gallon. Natural gas prices also rose, with contracts for delivery in April settling at $1.227 per 1,000 cubic feet, up 1.5 cents. JUDGE MAY TAKE ACTION: A federal judge in Southwest Virginia is considering taking action to stop the threatened cutoff of health benefits for 120,000 United Mine Workers retirees. Senior U.S. District Judge Glen Williams hinted during daylong arguments Monday that he might order union companies - Bituminous Coal Operators Association members - to up their payments to the trust funds that finance the benefits. MURPHY OIL REPORTED TO JUSTICE: The Wisconsin Natural Resources Department has referred numerous environmental violations by Murphy Oil Co. to the U.S. Justice Department, claiming demands to clean up pollution from Murphy's refinery in Superior have gone unheeded. Most violations were caused by sulfur plant that has been improved, and no lasting harm was done to the environment, Murphy said. PANEL TO TALK GAS TAX HIKE: An Alabama legislative panel will meet Thursday to consider a 4 cents gas tax increase to qualify for $304 million in federal highway funds. Twenty-five percent of the revenue from the tax would fund road work for cities and counties. The tax would raise $76 million that is the state's part of program cost. WORD ON CHRYSLER TEVAN EXPECTED: Chrysler is expected to announce soon that it will build up to 300 electric-powered minivans in 1993 for use in utility-company fleets across the USA. Chrysler has suggested that it would produce its so-called TEVan. It may announce the production and distribution plans for the TEVan next month at the Greater New York International Auto Show. TEVAN WON'T BE SOLD TO PUBLIC: The Chrysler electric-powered TEVan, based on the Plymouth voyager, will not be sold to the public. The van will be sold to utilities selected with the help of joint-venture partner the Electric Power Research Institute, which wants customers who are interested in promoting electric vehicle technology. "We know who the proactive utilities are," says EPRI's Gary Purcell. GAS LINE BLAST DESTROYS HOMES: A line carrying natural gas from the Gulf of Mexico to New York erupted in White Bluff, Tenn., Sunday, burning 500 acres of pastureland, destroying four homes, and killing livestock. The cause of the explosion of the Tenneco Inc. gas lines is not yet known. Firefighters battled the flames for four hours before gaining control. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON SAFETY: REGULATORY MOVES ARE KEY: Carmakers say rulemaking will be crucial to the fate of electric vehicles in the market. If regulators move decisively, they could help foster an image of EVs as safe and practical, industry sources say. If they dawdle, uncertainty could scare consumers away. "The process is taking too long," said Kenneth R. Baker, who runs General Motors' EV program. "We need to have a sense of urgency." SOME PROBLEMS MAY BE CREATED: Electrics will eliminate some regulatory concerns - while creating others. For example, EVs have no tail pipe exhaust that spews carbon monoxide and smog-causing hydrocarbons. But environmentalists worry that EVs could indirectly add to pollution if they tax polluting power plants. "Electric cars aren't a panacea," said Daniel Becker of the Sierra Club. POWER PLANTS MAY BE BURDENED: Some worry that EV recharging will put a burden on power plants. Utilities will urge recharging at night, when much generating capacity is unused. The Electric Power Research Institute estimates that utilities can handle overnight charging of 50 million EVs. The institute says its research shows that, even with increased power-plant emissions, EVs will be much cleaner than gas-powered autos. NHTSA REQUESTS COMMENTS: Batteries pose a recycling concern. Several advanced cells contain highly toxic chemicals for which no recycling network exists. Studies by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which regulates highway safety, have concluded that "unique safety hazards" posed by EVs may require new rules. NHTSA has asked carmakers and interested groups for comments on several issues. SHOCK HAZARD AN ISSUE: Among the issues on which the NHTSA has for comments: EVs make almost no noise, which could endanger pedestrians. NHTSA could require that cars emit an audible signal when in reverse; Short circuits might pose electric shock hazards. NHTSA could require an automatic disconnect for the power source; Small, light cars may have trouble meeting crash standards. (End of package.) Energy Editor: William Snoddy. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM