A new platinum-rhodium three-way catalyst system for LPG-powered forklift trucks has been developed which will aid their operations in tight areas.

The retrofit emission controlling system, produced by Nett Technologies, incorporates a catalytic muffler, oxygen sensor and a digital air-to-fuel ratio controller.

It is designed to improve the harmful pollution from forklifts by removing carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons from their exhaust fumes.

The platinum-rhodium catalyst is built into the muffler and has been specifically produced to easily replace the original mufflers featuring on the vehicles.

As part of the kit, the digital air-to-fuel ratio controller is also installed and it operates by receiving a feedback signal from a zirconia oxygen sensor within the muffler.

The controller attains the stoichiometric air-to-fuel ratio by making use of a solenoid valve that regulates the amount of fuel passed into the mixer by applying varying pressures on the membrane.

Nett's development is significant because the systems traditionally used on LPG forklifts are not particularly effective at controlling nitrous oxide emissions.

Furthermore, lean-biased controllers - which have often been used in an attempt to reduce carbon monoxide emissions - actually have the side-effect of increasing NOx output.

Another result of installing the new system - detailed in a report on ferret.com.au - is that the forklifts are able to obtain greater fuel efficiency.

The development is likely to be welcomed by truck drivers at a time when governments are becoming increasingly focused on imposing stricter regulations for harmful auto emissions.

Three-way catalyst systems for LPG-powered forklift trucks available from Norman G Clark (19/06/09)

The European Automobile Manufacturers' Associaiton confirmed that new registrations of commercial vehicles across the continent declined for the 13th consecutive month in May.

According to the body, sales fell by 39 per cent on a year-on-year basis to 138,830 units, while the annual decrease for the five months of the year was 39 per cent, affected by all vehicle categories in each country.

COMMERCIAL VEHICLES: Registrations down 37.6% five months into 2009 (24/06/09)

Meanwhile, Japan's major auto companies all revealed considerable global output declines for May.

Toyota, the world's largest automaker, saw production slide by 38.8 per cent on a year-on-year basis to 442,621 vehicles, representing its tenth consecutive negative month.

Honda, the country's number two producer, posted a drop of 38.4 per cent, while Nissan's worldwide output fell by 27 per cent.

Mitsubishi and Mazda recorded decreases of 54.6 per cent and 37 per cent respectively.

Japan auto production tumbles again in May (24/06/09)

Toyota also admitted recently that it is uncertain about when demand for its vehicles in the US will begin to recover.

Outgoing President Katsuaki Watanabe was quoted by Bloomberg as telling shareholders at the company's annual general meeting: "Right now, we can see recovery in some markets, but in the US, it's still not transparent."

Mr Watanabe remains as Vice-Chairman but his former role has now been taken by Akio Toyoda, the grandson of the company's founder, Kiichiro Toyoda.

Toyota’s President Toyoda Takes Over Amid U.S. Slump (Update1) (23/06/09)

Scotiabank has suggested that the recent improvement in financial markets across the world has seen North American automakers relax auto lending conditions.

Carlos Gomes, Senior Economist and Auto Industry Specialist at the firm, explained that he expects sales to receive a significant boost in the second half of 2009 as a result.

"The improvement in the North American auto loan market is highlighted by Federal Reserve data which indicates that the loan-to-value ratio for new auto loans in the US recently increased to 89.1 per cent, the highest level since August 2008," he said.

Auto Lending Conditions Improve In North America, According to Scotia Economics (25/06/09)

Audi has launched a new advertising campaign in the US in order to promote diesel vehicles' ability to save oil more effectively than their hybrid and electric counterparts.

Johan de Nysschen, President of Audi of America, told Bloomberg: "We're not saying these technologies are nonsense. For us the appeal of the clean diesel technology is that it is here right now."

The company plans to launch its diesel A3 wagon in the country later this year, while its diesel Q7 sport-utility vehicle has been on sale for the past six weeks.

VW’s Audi Promotes Diesel ‘Right Now’ Over Hybrids to Save Oil (24/06/09)

Volkswagen, which operates Audi as its luxury vehicle arm, is expecting to post "positive" financial results for the second quarter of the year.

Chief Financial Officer Dieter Poetsch told Reuters: "We will surely end with a positive result. We've reduced volumes and inventories which is why we have a strong cash flow.

"In the second quarter we will continue on this path. Net liquidity will remain at a high level."

Mr Poetsch added that Volkswagen would consider providing a loan for fellow German automaker Porsche, should the troubled company require support.

Volkswagen sees positive Q2 results : CFO (20/06/09)

General Motors (GM) has revealed that it will make a significant contribution to the US government's goal to have one million plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles on the country's roads by 2015.

Britta Gross, GM's Director of Global Energy Systems and Infrastructure Commercialisation, told Reuters: "I can tell you we can definitely do the heavy lifting part of that."

The debt-laden company is set to unveil its rechargeable Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid by the end of next year and hopes to have 14 similar vehicles in production by 2012.

GM will do "heavy lifting" toward plug-in goal (23/06/09)

Ford, Nissan and Tesla have all received a boost with the news that the US is set to make billions of dollars worth of cheap loans available to the three companies.

The Obama administration plans to offer Ford $5.9 billion, Nissan $1.6 billion and Tesla, the California-based electric carmaker, $465 million so they can increase production of new fuel-efficient vehicles.

"We have an historic opportunity to help ensure that the next generation of fuel-efficient cars and trucks are made in America," said President Obama.

Carmakers get $8bn for green revamp (23/06/09)

Finally, California Air Resources Board Chairman Mary Nichols has written to US Energy Secretary Steven Chu about the recent budget cut for hydrogen fuel cell technology research.

Ms Nichols originally met Mr Chu in May to discuss his lack of faith in the ability of fuel cells to become fully commercialised in the near future.

The letter contained a rebuttal of his 'Four Miracles' claim, which suggested that durability and cost of fuel cells - plus the storage, production and distribution infrastructure of hydrogen - are all major hurdles to the viability of such vehicles.

California Air Resources Board Pushes for Restoration of DOE Funding for Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles; Tackles the “Four Miracles” (19/06/09)

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