air pollution
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Free of tailpipe emissions, the all-electric ferry boat is configured for point-to-point passenger and car-ferry duty.
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Could moss-covered, data-connected park benches help clear city air?
A German company aims to plant moss on park benches and public buildings as part of a coordinated strategy to cut local emissions.
Eric C. Evarts -
Architect of clean-air rollbacks resigns at EPA
The top official at the EPA overseeing tailpipe emissions has resigned, prior to any resolution over proposed emissions and fuel economy rules.
Eric C. Evarts -
Electric Jaguar XJ, hybrid airplanes, more driving, fewer Chinese EV makers: Today's Car News
Americans driving more miles could cancel out emissions progress. Airbus looks to build hybrid airplanes. China puts restrictions on who can build electric cars in the world's largest EV market. And Jaguar plans to launch its new flagship XJ sedan as an electric. All this and more on Green Car...
Eric C. Evarts -
NYC taxi mpg requirements also cut pollution, study confirms
After New York City raised its gas mileage requirement for taxis to 30 mpg, levels of particulate matter and other local pollution have dropped.
Eric C. Evarts -
EPA lifts smog-related ban, allows more ethanol in summer gasoline
An action signed by EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler removes the current restriction on smog-forming E15 ethanol blends in summer.
Bengt Halvorson -
As reported by the New York Times, sources familiar with the EPA's plans indicate the agency may use a new model that will count fewer premature deaths as caused by air pollution.
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Hyundai system purifies cabin air, raises awareness about pollution levels
Particulate matter from diesel engines is one of the primary concerns for a system that uses lasers and informs occupants of cabin air quality.
Bengt Halvorson -
LA Green New Deal targets 80 percent EVs, less driving
As Washington DC waffles on developing a Green New Deal—or works to torpedo it altogether—LA's environmentalist mayor, Eric Garcetti, signed off on a local Green New Deal for the city on Monday. “Politicians don’t need to look across the aisle to find the answers—they...
Eric C. Evarts -
An Earth Day Twitter poll: When will it be socially unacceptable to drive a car with a tailpipe?
Every year, as Earth Day rolls around, we survey the automotive landscape looking for progress in the industry's efforts to reduce emissions and limit global warming. We've identified a lot of progress recently. More than a dozen new electric models are set to go on sale in the coming year, and...
Eric C. Evarts -
Polluters pay, 2020 Kia Soul EV, hydrogen internal combustion: Today's Car News
We had a first chance to drive the new 2020 Kia Soul EV. London's new pollution charge on older vehicles makes it really expensive to drive older cars into the city. And our latest Twitter poll asks what GM should do with the Volt name now that it no longer produces the car. All this and more on...
Eric C. Evarts -
EPA panel questions health effects of air pollution
Recommendations could dramatically limit what studies are used to determine safe limits on air pollution, and question the link with mortality.
Eric C. Evarts -
Ethanol is known as an alternative fuel, and is even renewable. But that doesn't always make it clean. The Environmental Protection Agency, after proposing watered down emissions and fuel economy standards for cars, has now released a proposal to increase the amount of ethanol blended into pump gas year-round, including selling E15 in the summer. READ THIS: Trump expected to lift E15 ban limiting ethanol in summer gasoline Currently ethanol blending is restricted between June 1 and September 1, because a higher ratio of ethanol has been flagged by scientists and environmental groups for being...
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Diesel lawsuit proceeds against Mercedes-Benz
While Volkswagen has reached a historic settlement and had to buy back hundreds of thousands of its diesel cars in the U.S., it isn’t the only automaker to be investigated for cheating on diesel emissions. Fiat Chrysler recently agreed to recall its Ram and Jeep EcoDiesels and pay owners for...
Eric C. Evarts -
EPA adds climate skeptic to science board
Science at the EPA has been a topic of much debate, and a lot of turmoil since President Trump took office. In that way, the addition of eight new members to the agency's much discussed Science Advisory Board isn't surprising. What may more surprising to some is the makeup of the new members...
Eric C. Evarts -
EPA enforcement efforts slide 85 percent under Trump administration
Not only do polluters have lower standards to meet under the Trump administration, they may not really have to meet those standards at all. That's the conclusion of a new study, published by the Washington Post, that shows enforcement activity has fallen drastically in the past two years since...
Eric C. Evarts -
Independent group aims to be for emissions what NCAP or IIHS is for crash safety
A newly formed organization called Allow Independent Road-testing (AIR) wants to make impartial emissions ratings available to vehicle shoppers. Using a simple rating from A (best) to H (worst), they would tell you, at a quick glance, how much you’re endangering the health of your family with...
Bengt Halvorson -
Oil industry funding supports campaign to roll back fuel-economy rules
A new investigative report by the New York Times has revealed the puppeteer pulling the strings in the Trump administration's efforts to undo fuel-economy and emissions improvements: no surprise, the oil industry. Backed by America's largest refiners and organizations tied to or funded by the Koch...
Eric C. Evarts -
The EPA has loosened or eliminated a lot of regulations since President Trump took office, but last week the agency announced it would tighten regulations on emissions of nitrogen oxides from heavy trucks such as semis. The EPA notes that smog-forming NOx emissions from heavy trucks fell 40 percent between 2007 and 2017 after the agency last tightened standards in 2001. (It predictably takes several years after new regulations are passed for air quality to improve as new trucks trickle out onto the roads and old trucks are retired.) DON'T MISS: Trump administration releases proposal to weaken...
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EPA dissolves boards of pollution scientists
The EPA has dismissed two panels of outside scientists that advised the agency on particulate matter and ground-level ozone, which have been linked to smog and respiratory problems. Under acting administrator Andrew Wheeler, a former coal-industry lobbyist, analyzing those pollutants will be left...
Eric C. Evarts -
EPA: Cleaner power generation offset increase of vehicle emissions in 2017
U.S. emissions of global-warming greenhouse gases fell 2.7 percent in 2017, despite the Trump administration's efforts to revive coal use in the U.S., the EPA announced on Monday. The EPA released data for 2017, showing an even larger 4.5 percent drop in emissions from power plants compared with...
Eric C. Evarts -
EPA plans to roll back emissions standards on power plants
After wiping out plans to continue boosting fuel economy standards earlier this month, the EPA on Tuesday proposed rolling back emissions standards on electric power plants. The new proposed rule, which the EPA calls the "Affordable Clean Energy" rule, would eliminate Obama-era standards that would...
Eric C. Evarts -
Report: Trump EPA plans to cancel California emissions waiver
The EPA is planning to cancel the special waiver that California has relied on since 1970 to set its own emissions standards, according to a Bloomberg report. As part of its plan to reverse a program to steadily tighten fuel economy standards that it coordinates with California and the National...
Eric C. Evarts -
An Earth Day question: When will we see 'tailpipes' on cars as morally wrong?
With increasing availability of zero-emission cars over the coming years, when will citizens at large start to question the idea that every vehicle has an "exhaust pipe" that just belches harmful substances into our shared air?
John Voelcker