VW to Invest €1 Billion in Renewable Energy Production

Volkswagen seems committed to increase its renewable energy production as it plans to invest close to €1 billion ($1.44 billion) over the next two years, according to a report from Financial Times Deutschland.

This is a significant increase compared to the end of June announcement of a €600 million ($868 million) investment. VW is, reports the newspaper, interested in buying at least two offshore windparks and it is possible that it will announce a partnership with windpark developer Windreich before the end of 2011.

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Michigan Representatives Say 56 mpg Target Will Lead to Unemployment, Urge President Obama to Reconsider

Two Democrat Senators, Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, along with 14 House members from Michigan disputed President Obama’s informally proposed 56 mpg target for 2025 in a direct letter that predicts a loss of many American jobs if it comes into effect.

"We are deeply concerned that the administration's `starting' proposal of a five percent annual increase for cars and light trucks -- to reach a goal of 56.2 miles per gallon in 2025 -- is overly aggressive and not reasonable feasible," the 16 Michigan representatives said in their message to the President.

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Life After Death: Automakers Find New Uses for Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Batteries

Hybrids and electric vehicles are more environment-friendly than conventionally powered models. However, one question many eco-conscious consumers bring up is what happens to the batteries at the end of their life cycle in the vehicles.

GM and Nissan estimate that batteries in their Volt and LEAF models respectively will have approximately 70% of their “life” remaining after a decade on the road. So, far from being useless, they can be utilized as back-up power sources for home use.

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