2003 Ford Expedition Xlt Sport Utility 4-door 5.4l on 2040-cars

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Recharge Wrap-up: Nissan earns Energy Star award, ethanol production forecasts adjusted

The US Energy Information Administration has adjusted its ethanol production forecasts. It predicts an average of 944,000 barrels per day for 2015. That number is up from 2014 production levels of 935,000 barrels per day, but it is lower than last month's projection for 2015, which was 947,000 barrels per day. The EIA forecasts 937,000 barrels per day in 2016, down from its prior forecast of 942,000 barrels. Biodiesel production averaged 83,000 barrels per day last year, with projections of 82,000 for 2015, and 84,000 for 2016. Read more from Ethanol Producer Magazine. Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh supports the proposed Diesel and Vehicular Emissions Ordinance. The ordinance, filed by City Councilor Stephen Murphy, would require emissions control retrofitting of all pre-2007 vehicles belonging to the City of Boston, as well as those of any contractors it hires. The ordinance also seeks to create a simple city-level standard of enforcing the state's anti-idling laws. "The asthma rate in Boston's neighborhoods continues to climb," says Councilor Murphy. "By further tightening air quality standards, as this ordinance does, we will make Boston's neighborhoods healthier." Read more at DieselNet. The Michigan Blue Economy report profiles Ford for its water-saving sustainability efforts. The report notes that Ford reduced its water use by 61 percent, or 10 billion gallons, from 2000 to 2013 by "cutting the water used in everything from cooling towers to paint operations." As part of its Global Water Management Initiative, Ford has decreased its total water use at its facilities worldwide from 64 million cubic meters per year to 25 million cubic meters. Read more from Ford, or at the Michigan Blue Economy website. The EPA has named Nissan an Energy Star Partner of the Year for the fourth year in a row. The automaker received the Sustained Excellence Award for its efforts to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in its operations. Nissan reduced the amount of energy used to build vehicles by 13 percent in 2014. Energy reduction efforts include switching to LED lighting and developing an environmentally friendly paint process. Nissan also works with schools in Tennessee and Mississippi to help them reduce energy usage. "Since this initiative began in 2012, we've helped about 30 schools make the esteemed Energy Star certification list," says Nissan's John Martin. Read more in the press release below.

James May picks 13 most significant cars ever for London Classic Car Show

James May tends to be the most pragmatic of the Top Gear UK hosting crew. Jeremy Clarkson obviously likes his vehicles loud, brash and preferably British, and Richard Hammond seems to have a thing for American muscle. May appears to find joy just in the mechanical nature of things, whether high performance or simply made for getting around. He's getting a chance to put that appreciation on display by curating a 13-car collection at the London Classic Car Show called The Cars That Changed The World. May actually wants to provoke debate from visitors about the exhibit and is separating his choices into two categories: The Halls of Obviousness and The Chambers of Bloody-mindedness. The first bunch includes the usual important vehicles you expect to see, but the other group has the really interesting picks. As May explains these selections in the event announcement, "I believe they are just as significant historically but they've simply been forgotten or misunderstood." The obvious choices are: 1886 Benz Motorwagen 1908 Ford Model T 1938 Volkswagen Beetle 1959 Austin Mini 1964 Ford Mustang 1997 Toyota Prius And the more eccentric ones are: 1901 Waverley Electric 1906 Cadillac Model K 1933 Standard Superior 1972 Honda Civic 1980 Lada Riva 2009 Bruno ExoMars Rover If you notice, there are only 12 vehicles listed above. That's because the final one is being kept secret for show attendees, but May considers it the most significant car ever made. The London Classic Car Show runs at the ExCeL in London's Docklands from January 8-11, 2015. In addition to May's exhibit and the other vehicles there, Formula 1 designer Adrian Newey is also curating a display from his own collection. May is hoping to spur conversations with his choices. Let us know in Comments if you notice any glaring omissions that should be among the 13. Read the full announcement below, along with a brief explanation for each choice from May. GET READY FOR A CLASSIC ARGUMENT 30/12/14 James May has chosen the 13 most significant cars of all time for The London Classic Car Show... but is he right? It's bold, controversial and bound to cause arguments... and that's just the way BBC Top Gear's James May wants it. May has stuck his neck on the line and has chosen what he regards are the 13 most influential cars of all time. The result is The Cars That Changed The World and it's one of the star exhibits at the London Classic Car Show taking place at ExCeL in London's Docklands from 8-11 January 2015.

The 2021 F-150 elevates Ford's bed game

The new 2021 Ford F-150 is ushering in a new era of pickup capability, but there's more to it than the introduction of the PowerBoost hybrid. While that new powertrain is certainly the truck's headlining element, the supporting electrical architecture enables a level of utility that hasn't been offered in past consumer half-tons. The true party trick is Ford's new "Pro Power Onboard" feature, which is essentially a built-in generator that provides juice for the 2021 F-150's rather robust in-bed power station. This system is available even on gasoline-engine models, but its utility is maximized with the electrified powertrain. ICE models equipped with the option max out at 2.0 kilowatts, while the PowerBoost hybrid can be had with either a 2.4- or a whopping 7.2-kilowatt inverter.  The idea here is that the F-150 can essentially stand in for a high-output portable generator. In a worksite example provided by Ford, a PowerBoost model with the 7.2-kW upgrade and a single tank of fuel could provide 32 hours of power for an 1,800-watt compound miter saw, a 1,000W circular saw, a 1,200W battery charger, a 1,200W hammer drill, and a 1,000W air compressor with hundreds of watts to spare for lighting and other accessories. But even without the Pro Power Onboard option, Ford's new bed setup enables more versatility than in previous models. The new Tailgate Work Surface option adds a flat work area with integrated rulers, recesses for pencils or small tools, and even a stand for a personal device.  Ford is neither the first to offer an auxiliary power outlet in a half-ton pickup bed, nor was Ford the first to introduce a more feature-rich tailgate. GMC's MultiPro tailgate was a major innovation on that front, and while it is geared mostly toward improving the cargo utility of the bed, it can also be customized with 12-volt power and even an accessory speaker system. The Ram 1500 is also offered with both a multi-function tailgate and AC power in the bed, though the latter option is limited to models with the RamBox cargo package.  As half-ton pickups approach levels of towing and hauling capability that begin to blur lines with heavy-duty offerings, it's clear that automakers are looking for ways to differentiate themselves without stepping on their own bigger trucks' toes. These new bed and tailgate innovations may yet be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to full-size pickup versatility. Related Video: