natural gas
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Brace yourself, electric-car fans and advocates. It may be a bumpy ride for the next few days. Yesterday afternoon, the Associated Press covered a new study put out by the University of Minnesota that calculates the environmental impact of manufacturing and refueling vehicles with various powerplants. DON'T MISS: EPA's Coal-Plant Emissions Rules: This Will Be The Big Fight The article carries the headline Study: Your All-Electric Car May Not Be So Green. The actual study can be found here. The key word in that headline is "may." Regrettably, headlines in other outlets have missed the verb...
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Best Use For Abundant U.S. Natural Gas: Powering Electric Cars
Natural-gas vehicles have never had much acceptance in the North American passenger car market, and even trucks powered by it are struggling. While natural gas is presently abundant in North America, courtesy of the controversial process of hydrofracturing ("fracking"), a new study suggests there's...
John Voelcker -
Chevrolet Express, GMC Savana Natural-Gas Vans Recall: Leak Poses Fire Risk
General Motors is recalling Chevy and GMC vans to fix possible natural-gas leaks.
Stephen Edelstein -
Some Solar, Wind Power Competes With Natural Gas Without Incentives: Study
Fossil fuels have been an integral part of the industrialized world since it began 250 years ago. While renewable, carbon-free energy sources have long been viewed as the ideal solution, they were always more expensive than pumping carbon into the air. That may now have changed, according to a new...
John Voelcker -
Natural-Gas Vehicles: Honda, Chevy Are 'Neglected Stepchild' Among Green Cars
Diesels seem likely to gain U.S. market share in light trucks and SUVs, hybrids are at least holding their own, and of course sales of plug-in electric cars are rising steadily. Wait...are we missing a green-car technology? As an article in The Los Angeles Times points out, natural-gas powered...
John Voelcker -
Why Aren't Natural Gas-Powered Long-Haul Semi Trucks Selling Better?
High purchase prices limit the appeal of natural-gas powered trucks.
Stephen Edelstein -
Natural gas is very much in the public consciousness right now, if not for all the best reasons. Seen as a cleaner, more energy-independent fuel than fossil fuel oil, it nevertheless has its detractors, largely concerning the 'fracking' process through which it is extracted from the ground. But its benefits mean that it has plenty of potential as an automotive alternative fuel. In some countries it already is--and a chart by NGV Global shows just where natural gas vehicles are most popular. Unsurprisingly, that isn't in the U.S. Based on IRF 2008 data and UNECE 2011 data--so it's not...
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Natural-Gas Vehicle Makers Propose New Unit: Diesel Gallon Equivalent
How do you ensure that all fuels are treated equally, and that customers are aware of the benefits and drawbacks to every alternative to gasoline power? One of the most effective ways is to compare a new fuel to one consumers are already familiar with. That's why a group of natural gas advocates...
Antony Ingram -
Californians: Buy Honda Civic Natural Gas, Get $1,000 Off--But, Hurry
Do you live in California? Have you been mulling over the purchase of a natural-gas vehicle? If so, Honda wants you to know that its 2014 Honda Civic Natural Gas model is eligible for an immediate $1,000 purchase credit--but you'll need to act swiftly. DON'T MISS: 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas...
John Voelcker -
Natural Gas For Long-Haul Trucks: Which Version Makes More Sense?
LNG or CNG? If that just looks like a jumble of letters to you, we're talking about liquefied natural gas and compressed natural gas--and so is the trucking industry. Natural gas has, to a degree, been overlooked in the passenger vehicle industry while companies look towards electrification (in...
Antony Ingram -
Honda Civic, Hybrid & Natural Gas: Ultimate Guide
The Honda Civic originally made its name in the 1970s, arriving at the perfect time to attract tens of thousands of customers scared out of larger, thirstier vehicles by the oil crisis. Four decades down the line and the Civic still has a reputation as a gas sipper, though the modern car is...
Antony Ingram -
Natural-Gas Powered 2015 Chevy Impala To Start At $38,210
The 2015 bi-fuel Chevrolet Impala can run on natural gas or gasoline.
Stephen Edelstein -
Honda hopes to encourage suppliers to use CNG for their delivery vehicles.
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2014 Honda Civic Hybrid On Sale Today, Natural Gas In 10 Days
The Honda Civic Hybrid and Natural Gas get a few changes for the 2014 model year.
Stephen Edelstein -
Five MORE Big Myths About Green Cars And Gas Mileage, Debunked
Yep, Big Oil is definitely scheming and plotting to destroy the electric car. Everyone knows that. Right? [sigh] Time for more mythbusting, it seems. The surprising success of our first debunking of five green-car myths led us to look at five more relatively common ideas and explain ... well, as...
John Voelcker -
Obama Promotes Natural-Gas Fueling Stations In State Of The Union Address
Once again, President Barack Obama used the State of the Union Address on Tuesday night to raise the issue of natural gas vehicles as a way of promoting energy independence and cutting the impact of climate change. In his talk, Obama urged the U.S. Congress to support the construction of...
Antony Ingram -
GM Expands Landfill-Gas Use To Power Car Assembly Plants
Car production isn't the greenest of processes, but in recent decades many automakers have at least made attempts to reduce environmental impact--and General Motors is the latest to take a step towards improving it. The automaker has announced a $24 million investment in the use of landfill gas at...
Antony Ingram -
Yet Another Green Fuel: Landfill Methane On Sale In California
Methane may not come from the most glamorous places, but ti does offer many green benefits.
Stephen Edelstein -
Home refueling could help natural-gas cars gain mainstream appeal, but first the price will have to come down.
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Why North Dakota Is Like Iran, Iraq, Nigeria & Russia: Wasted Natural Gas
Natural gas flaring in North Dakota may be wasting revenue and harming the environment.
Stephen Edelstein -
Tata Nano CNG Emax: India's Most Fuel-Efficient, Least-Polluting Car
The Tata Nano CNG emax can switch between gasoline and natural gas on the fly.
Stephen Edelstein -
2014 Chevrolet Cruze: Gasoline, Diesel, Now Natural Gas (Bi-Fuel Conversion)
Cruze buyers will soon be able to choose from three fuels, but one of them requires an aftermarket conversion.
Stephen Edelstein -
New Gas Stations Must Have Quick Charging Or Other Alt Fuels, Canadian City Says
Where should you put public charging stations for electric cars? Local businesses and governments and urban planners all over the country are grappling with that question right now. But one Canadian city has passed a law that requires new or renovated gas stations to install electric-car charging...
John Voelcker -
Is The Writing On The Wall For U.S. Coal?
Stricter limits on new power plant greenhouse gas emissions and a weak export market have put the American coal industry on the ropes.
Stephen Edelstein