The American Trucking Association is concerned that speculation may be increasing, as investors seek investments that can insulate them from anticipated inflation that many believe is coming as a result of the U.S. and other governments' massive economic stimulus packages.

Renault and utility company EDF are developing a recharge communication system that will help pave the way for electric vehicles in France, according to the two companies.

As part of what the company calls its “Green Program 2010,” Nissan announced June 23 that it plans to introduce new, six-speed automatic transmission versions of clean-diesel cars in Japan in the spring of 2010.

A weaker U.S. dollar helped the price of the August NYMEX crude futures contract to rise yesterday by 3%, to $69.24/bbl.

With RBOB gasoline sharply higher for the last two weeks, ethanol traders and brokers were expecting an up market last week, but heavy selling moved all the markets lower and some traders believe that hedge funds unwinding their position was the reason.

The American Petroleum Institute suggests in a June 23 letter that the cap-and-trade provision in the U.S. House climate bill could result in increased prices for transportation fuels.

An analysis by the U.S. Congressional Budget Office found that implementing the cap-and-trade program in the U.S. House of Representatives’ climate change bill could cost U.S. households an average of $175 annually.

Energy Secretary Stephen Chu told a Des Moines audience the he supports increasing the ethanol blend in fuels to 15% if research proves the present automobile fleet can handle it.

He also told the gathering that he supports more production of E-85 capable cars, but that the Department of Energy won’t mandate such a move.

While the Democratic leadership of the U.S. House of Representative is trying to push “cap and trade” legislation to a vote this Friday some Midwestern members of Congress are holding out for language abolishing the EPA’s use of indirect land use change when evaluating biofuels before offering their support.

The South African government’s support of PetroSA’s plans to build a 400,000 b/d refinery by 2014 out of concern that too much of the country’s future fuel supply will be based on imports. Construction of the refinery, known as Project Mthombo is expected to begin in 2010.

Three automakers will be receiving loans from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop advanced vehicle technologies and boost the production of fuel-efficient vehicles.