Shell’s US head says Americans will not give up their SUVs

February 15, 2008

The president of Shell Oil (US) said that Americans would not give up their SUVs despite new laws requiring US automakers to increase fuel efficiency by as much as 40 percent. John Hofmeister said that a tour by Shell executives had uncovered deep hostility to oil companies and deep loyalty to SUVs and big cars in general.

He added that new vehicle fuel efficiency standards would have only a “modest” impact on overall fuel consumption.

In other Shell activity in biofuels, the company and HR Biopetroleum have been constructing an algae-oil production facility to produce feedstocks for biodiesel.

The two companies created a joint venture, called Cellana, to construct a pilot plant in Hawaii, but the production capacity and location was not disclosed.

Today in Biofuels: “Bad, bad biofuels”, more Science magazine reaction, and downloads to complete underlying data; US institutions pledge $10 billion in green tech investment over next 2 years

Top Story:Reaction to two articles published in Science magazine continues to pour in from the world's media, almost universally dismissing the potential for biofuels to reduce greenhouse gas emission...

Today in Biofuels Opinion: “Jet A-1 at $US172 gives a hell of a lot of people a hell of a lot of encouragement to get on and make it happen bloody quickly”

Air New Zealand Deputy CEO Norm Thompson: "Our goal within the organisation is certainly to get into a position where we could run if not all, certainly part of our domestic fleet on biofuels. Believe...

New US consumer survey: 74 percent want increase in domestic ethanol production

A new survey commissioned by the Renewable Fuels Association showed that 74 percent of Americans believe we should increase our use of domestically produced renewable fuels like ethanol. In additio...

Europe’s Industrial Ethanol Association calls for closing of EU customs loopholes

In Germany, the head of the Industrial Ethanol Association (IEA) repeated its call for the European Commission to close customs loopholes which give heavily-subsidised ethanol producers in countries l...

Platinum Energy to complete 55 Mgy biodiesel plant in Malaysia; pilot BTL plant also

In Malaysia, Platinum Energy said that it will complete its 55 Mgy biodiesel facility in Senawang, Negeri Sembilan by July. The $19 million project will use jatropha grown in South Sulawesi and Banten...

Houston Chronicle warns aginst ethanol mandates: will “increase taxes,” “damage the environment,” and “add to Americans’ burden of high fuel and food costs”

An editorial in the Houston Chronicle warned against US ethanol mandate bills which would raise ethanol usage to 36 billion gallons in 2022 and 60 billion gallons by 2030. The editorial stated that "T...

Written by Jim Lane · Filed Under Consumers & Fleets