Senators Bayh and Lugar introduces Bill aimed at reducing the nation’s oil dependence; the Bill could help speed fuel efficient vehicles too!

Too much dependence on West Asian oils has made the USA the butt of criticism by various bocks in the recent years.

The USA has chosen to rebound in a constructive way!!

The U.S. Senators duo Evan Bayh and Richard Lugar have introduced a new Bill that aims to reduce the nation’s oil dependence by reducing oil imports by 7 million barrels a day over the next 20 years.

All these years USA has been condemned by the international community for having done so little for reducing vehicular pollution despite being the richest country in the world. But this new Bill introduced by the U.S. Senators. Evan Bayh and Richard Lugar sparks off great optimism: the Act not only hopes to end the slavery to the foreign oil imports, it is also expected to boost up the combined programs of conservation, fuel diversification and technological advances.

The ‘Dependence Reduction through Innovation in Vehicles and Energy Act’ (the DRIVE Act), may at first glance appear as a political move from the geo-political perspective; but the Act is ultimately aimed at a brighter and greener future.

So what the DRIVE promise to do for the citizens?

First, the Act aims to increase the availability of renewable fuels such as ethanol to the consumers.

Secondly, the auto manufacturers will be asked to set their production target in a way so that 50% of their production comprise flexible fuel vehicles (FFV), alternative fueled vehicles, hybrids, plug-in hybrids and fuel cell vehicles in 2012. After 2016 at least 10 percent of the 50 percent requirement must be met by hybrids, advanced diesels, plug-in hybrids and other non-FFV vehicles.

However tax credits will be awarded to the auto-manufacturers in their efforts to upgrade their factories for producing hybrid electric, plug-in electric and flex-fuel vehicles.

Thirdly, it is also going to lift the per manufacturer cap on consumer tax credits, so that a greater number of consumers receive tax incentives for buying hybrid vehicles.

Lastly, it requires the States as well as the Federal governments to set an example by reducing oil use by 30% by turning the 23% of their entire fleet into advanced diesels, hybrids or plug-in hybrids by 2016.

According to Bayh’s prediction, the Act may cause a cut in oil consumption as big as 2.5 million barrels a day over the next 10 years. Over 20 years, the reduction will be equivalent of 7 million barrels a day. Thus the Senator sees in the Act a solution to the security threats emanating from the volatile region of West Asia.

The common consumers have a simpler reason to rejoice; the act clearly backs up the production and consumption of hybrid vehicles. That means your upfront cost for having a hybrid vehicle is going to be lot cheaper in the coming days.

The warm-ups started right in the Orange County Auto Show, 2006 with the unveiling of country’s 14th Hybrid Car. And as it rolls into another new year, the countdown has already begun: Nissan’s 2007 Altima is all set to hit the stores across USA.

This highly sophisticated hybrid car claims to create the “new benchmark, purposefully powerful and refined”. Have a quick look at the unique features and stay informed about this new Nissan model.

Nissan Altima is definitely going to be a trend setter among its other green car cousins with an AT-PZEV(Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle) rating up its sleeve. That is to say it virtually runs without any evaporative emissions.

With a power rating of 198 horsepower, the Altima Hybrid is going to be the most powerful among any available 4-cylinder hybrid systems. The car is equipped with 270-hp V6 and groundbreaking Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) that delivers instant response.

So the performance is ensured, but you don’t have to compromise on the style either. With Bose audio system, touch screen navigation, plush finish with metallic accents, and rich textures, Nissan Altima is going to be the ultimate experience in luxury, comfort and safety for both the rider and the driver.

Also the driver-friendly technologies make your driving experience more enjoyable; no need to carry the key to start your Altima…a keyless push-button ignition system cuts down your effort to simply pressing the button and getting the immediate response. However, you get the convenient Intelligent Key all right. In addition to that a touch-screen navigation system with live traffic reporting slashes off the stress of driving at a longer stretch.

A piece of advice from the experts of Nissan: don’t program while you drive. If you are driving in Hawaii and Alaska, you will not get the benefits of navigation system; it is made operational only in the contiguous 48 states of the USA. Also, the mapping is not yet detailed and may not reflect all the current traffic regulations.

Initially the car is planned to be sold only in California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont—the states having stricter emission rules than the other 42 states.

Feeling curious? Want to know more about this wonderful car that combines style and performance? The following links may come handy for you:

Orange County Auto Show

http://www.nissanusa.com/altima/interior.html

http://www.nissanusa.com/altima/

http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2007-nissan-altima.htm

Auto Blog Green has lots of great updates today - including their review of the EDTA Conference that’s currently taking place in Washington D.C. as well conference interviews with Argonne Lab’s Don Hillebrand and Honda VP Edward Cohen, and details on the IRS approving tax credits for Honda hybrid and natural gas vehicles.

The EDTA (Electric Drive Transportation Association) expo starts today, with the main goal of finding federal funds to support electric drive.  This is probably why this year’s convention will be held in Washingto D.C.

Toyota is the main sponsor, and GM, GE, Lexus, Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai will be among the exhibitors, see EDTA for the full list.