Alt Fuels
-
Few topics get our commenters more riled up than ethanol. Both sides weigh in with fervor and passion, debating energy security versus agricultural policies and costs, comparing studies on wells-to-wheels carbon dioxide profile versus the impact on older engines, and more. But marine users in particular seem to view ethanol as a hot button. DON'T MISS: Senate Bill Introduced To End Ethanol Mandate For Gasoline The issue in boat engines turns out to be twofold. First, older marine engines are not designed to handle the increased corrosion and solvent effects from even the small percentages of...
-
Mack Trucks Updates Its Natural-Gas Powered Semi Tractors
Mack Trucks adds a new transmission and adaptive cruise control to its Pinnacle series tractors.
Stephen Edelstein -
Senate Bill Introduced To End Ethanol Mandate For Gasoline
Anew bill would discard a mandate requiring larger volumes of ethanol be added to the U.S. fuel supply.
Stephen Edelstein -
Will Biofuels Growth Require Cutting Down Forests? At Scale, Yes, Report Says
Large-scale biofuel production requires cutting down forests, but will that do more harm than good?
Stephen Edelstein -
Natural-Gas Vehicle Sales Globally Won't Quite Double In 10 Years: Analyst
Cars running on natural gas have been around for decades now, and presently represent 2 to 3 percent of global auto production. Their tailpipe emissions are much cleaner than gasoline or diesel cars. And North American production of natural gas has soared over the last decade. You might think that...
John Voelcker -
Tax Breaks Back For Electric-Car Charging Stations, Natural-Gas Cars, Through End Of Year
It's the end of another Congressional session, which means that a budget extension bill has now been rushed through and is likely to be signed. Called The Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014 (H.R. 5771), it contains special provisions, rule tweaks, and concessions for many, many, many different...
John Voelcker -
It's a vision that seems like something from a future century: a carmaker preparing to phase out combustion engines altogether. The notion that an entire brand could walk away from the hydrocarbon-fueled engines that power more than 1 billion vehicles on our roads--and have done since 1885--is inconceivable. And yet that's what one industry analyst suggests famed German luxury maker BMW is preparing to do. Tesla investor Ron Baron manages mutual funds at Baron Capital; his funds have roughly $250 million invested in Tesla Motors, he told CNBC's "Squawk Box" program three weeks ago. Baron...
-
Will Biofuels Be Better For Plastics Than For Vehicle Fuel?
Biofuel companies may use ethanol to make plastic bottles and soap, as well as fuel.
Stephen Edelstein -
Freaky Friday: Veggie Diesel Mercedes 190 Spawns Bad Rap Video
A Norwegian duo raps about their grease-powered Mercedes-Benz 190 in a bizarre video.
Stephen Edelstein -
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 -
Southwest Airlines Will Use Renewable Jet Fuel From Forest Waste
Southwest is expected to begin using biofuel in 2016.
Stephen Edelstein -
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 -
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 passenger vehicles remain the "neglected stepchild" among vehicles with alternative powertrains. DON'T MISS: Where Are Natural-Gas Vehicles Most Popular And Most Numerous? Under two different model names, Honda has now been selling its Civic compact sedan with a natural-gas option in certain states for...
-
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 -
Jet Fuel From Tobacco Plants To Be Tested By Boeing, South African Airlines
South African tobacco farmers could grow jet fuel in the near future.
Stephen Edelstein -
Where Are Natural-Gas Vehicles Most Popular And Most Numerous?
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...
Antony Ingram -
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 -
Supreme Court: California Cleaner-Fuels Plan OK, Oil Companies Lose Appeal
In an action sure to appease fans of a greener transportation future, the U.S. Supreme Court has chosen to decline oil and ethanol companies' appeal to a decision to uphold California's Low Carbon Fuels Standard (LCFS). That means the LCFS now has one fewer obstacle in its aim to encourage the...
Antony Ingram -
Solar panels won't destroy electric utilities' business model, a new study says.
-
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 -
A Brief History Of Ethanol In Brazil
While many North Americans may not know it, Brazil presently leads the world in deploying biofuels for road vehicles. Specifically, a majority of cars sold in Brazil--especially lower-priced high-volume models built in the country--can run either on gasoline or pure ethanol. The modern history...
John Voelcker -
Driving Entirely On Ethanol: Brazil’s Volkswagen Gol Flex-Fuel Vehicle
What’s it like to drive on pure ethanol, known as E100, without a drop of gasoline in the car? In the case of the Brazilian Volkswagen Gol, it’s quite unremarkable. Brazil’s most popular small car for 27 years starts, performs, and otherwise behaves just like a gasoline-fueled...
John Voelcker -
Another Hydrogen Fueling Station Opens In LA, With Fuel-Cell Cars On The Way
Another hydrogen fueling station opened in southern California yesterday, this one at California State University, Los Angeles. The university's Hydrogen Research and Fueling Facility is a part of its program in sustainable energy and transportation technology, and is the largest hydrogen station...
John Voelcker