Electric cars and electronic trees at LA Auto Show

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — From electric cars to electronic trees on dashboards that sprout leaves when you drive in a more economical way, nothing is off limits for auto manufacturers seeking to show their green credentials.

Although this week's Los Angeles Auto Show has taken place against the gloomy backdrop of an industry in crisis, the event has nevertheless allowed some manufacturers to proudly display their latest eco-friendly models.

One of the highlights of the show has been the new electric Mini, owned by German giant BMW, which made its world premiere on Wednesday.

The latest incarnation of the iconic compact car, which originated in Britain in the 1950s, runs on a rechargeable electric battery and boasts zero emissions.

Rae presses Ottawa to join the U.S. in helping ailing auto sector

TORONTO — Canada must press Washington to help the sinking auto industry while extracting promises from the sector that it will become sustainable and competitive, federal Liberal leadership hopeful Bob Rae said Friday.

In a speech to a Bay Street luncheon crowd that welcomed him with a standing ovation, Rae called it critical to the country's well-being to get vital parts of the economy growing again.

"The federal government has to get to Detroit and Washington to discuss major assistance packages that are essential to this completely integrated industry," Rae said.

"We must be part of any solution or we risk losing much more than we already have."

He rejected the notion that help for ailing industries amounts to throwing good money after bad.

In practical terms, he said, helping factories and companies get back on their feet - provided conditions are attached - pays huge dividends.

Canadian, U.S. officials meet on automaker aid

WASHINGTON, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Canadian officials met U.S. lawmakers on Thursday to ensure any congressional bailout of General Motors Corp (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Ford Motor (F.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Chrysler LLC keeps the Canadian side of the automotive supply chain in mind.

The Canadian government has pledged support for the auto sector, but has not detailed any specific action.

Canadian Industry Minister Tony Clement and Ontario's Economic Development Minister, Michael Bryant, said they spent time on Capitol Hill gathering information needed to propose help for the Canadian auto industry.

"The only option we've kicked off the table is a no strings attached bailout," Bryant told reporters.

Chrysler Canada seeks $1-billion

TORONTO and OTTAWA — Chrysler Canada Inc. has asked Ottawa and Ontario for $1-billion in financial assistance to help it survive through the auto crisis – the only one of the Canadian units of the Detroit Three that so far has specified how much it is seeking.

The auto maker has not said what form of assistance it wants or how the amount would break down between the two governments, sources familiar with the discussions said yesterday.

As the governments study the request, federal Industry Minister Tony Clement and Ontario Economic Development Minister Michael Bryant visited Detroit yesterday for discussions with executives of Chrysler LLC, Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp.

In the Speech from the Throne yesterday, the federal Conservative government said Ottawa would provide additional support for the crippled sector –and the aerospace industry – but gave no indication of how it would respond to the auto makers' request for short-term, emergency backing.

Ont. teens say proposed new driving rules unfairly treats them all as reckless

TORONTO — Young drivers in Ontario bristled Tuesday at a proposed law that would usher in some of the toughest restrictions in the country, including barring new motorists 19 and under from driving with more than one of their teenage friends at a time.

While Premier Dalton McGuinty called the legislation a "modest restriction" on the freedoms of young people and safe-driving advocates lauded the move, it raised the ire of many youth.

Thousands of them took to Facebook to air their grievances online. Concerns about the environmental effects of no longer carpooling, and questions about just how designated drivers would get their friends home, abounded.

At a downtown Toronto high school, Alex Popescu, 17, said the law, if passed, would mean he wouldn't be able to bring his friend and girlfriend to a party and thinks that's age discrimination.

SCE announces milestone in advanced battery performance

Rosemead, California - Utility company Southern California Edison (SCE) has announced a “major milestone” in advanced battery performance, following testing of a lithium-ion battery that demonstrated an equivalent lifespan of more than 180,000 miles (289,682 km) in a commercial delivery van with minimal deterioration.

The battery, which was tested in a laboratory setting, uses a Johnson Control-Saft lithium-ion battery subpack that is one-sixth of the actual battery size used in a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. The subpack has been tested continuously for two and a half years; testing continues to monitor the battery’s performance.

Based on the results, the U.S. Department of Energy has provided SCE with a full-size lithium-ion battery and has asked that it test and evaluate the battery’s viability for passenger car application.

New Ontario law to target young motorists and suspended drivers

TORONTO — A proposed Ontario law that would demand zero blood alcohol levels for all motorists 21 and under and limit the number of passengers in the vehicle would also get tough on people of all ages who drive with a suspended licence, The Canadian Press has learned.

Sources said the legislation, to be introduced Tuesday, would go after people who still drive despite having had their licences suspended for drunk driving by immediately impounding their vehicle for seven days.

A vehicle would also be seized for seven days if someone who has been ordered by the courts to install an ignition locking device that tests the driver for alcohol is pulled over in someone else's car.

Heavy habitual drinkers who ignore the laws and licence suspensions must be dealt with, said Prof. Robert Solomon of the University of Western Ontario, a national director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

IRL interested in new Montreal race

MONTREAL -- The demise of the Grand Prix of Canada might have opened the door for the return of another form of open-wheel racing to Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

The Indy Racing League is ready to entertain talks of possibly staging a race to fill the void left in the wake of a failed collective effort by city, provincial and federal government officials to secure the future of the country's only Formula One race.

"All it takes is a phone call to ask if we're interested in looking at a potential date," John Griffin, spokesperson for IRL president Tony George, said Monday. "It's something we would be open to discussing."

Government attempts to save Montreal's Canadian GP fall short

MONTREAL — The financial demands by F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone proved too steep for the three levels of government fighting to keep the Grand Prix in Montreal.

"We've placed our last financial card on the table," said Quebec's economic development minister Raymond Bachand at a news conference on Sunday, confirming the cancellation of the 2009 Canadian F1.

"Unless (Ecclestone) changes his mind, it's over."

Despite the collective effort, negotiations stalled when the F1 boss wouldn't budge from his "excessive" demands.

"Mr. Ecclestone demanded annual fees that started at $31 million and went to $38 million by 2013, so $175 million in total," said Bachand.

"And he wanted a bank or government guarantee. He didn't care who organized the race."

Formula One Administration Limited also wanted 100 per cent of the revenues linked to corporate boxes and advertising on the circuit.

Pelosi outlines aid package for US automakers

WASHINGTON – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Saturday the House would provide aid to the ailing U.S. auto industry, requiring that the industry meet new fuel-efficiency standards, produce advanced vehicles and restructure "to ensure their long-term economic viability."

Pelosi, D-Calif., did not disclose the amount of funding House leaders intend to seek for the industry — automakers have been seeking $25 billion in loans to stabilize their sinking companies. But she said the funding should come from the $700 billion financial bailout approved by Congress in October.

"A restructured, competitive American automobile industry will continue to play a crucial role in our national economy and in the global marketplace," Pelosi said in a statement.

The move sets up a conflict with the White House, which has opposed using the bailout funds to help General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler LLC. The Detroit companies have been battered by an economic meltdown that has choked their sales and frozen credit.