oil

Renewable energy, especially solar, is making inroads into the U.S. power grid, but it's a very slow process. And especially in the wake of the Solyndra collapse, it's one fraught with political wrangling. But there's another country that plans to invest heavily in solar power, hoping to provide...

Earlier this year, it looked as if the price of gasoline might cross the $5-a-gallon mark in the U.S. (In some places, it went well beyond that.) Analysts were screaming to the media, giving Cassandra-like interviews about fuel shortages and conflict in the Middle East. Gas-sipping rides became...

There was a time, not so long ago, when car owners were expected to carry out basic maintenance and regular servicing on their car using a handful of wrenches and common automotive tools. Nowadays, most of the maintenance is carried out by professional garage mechanics and dealers. but there are...

Over the past few months, gas prices have been creeping ever upward, fueled by political uncertainty in the Middle East and a reduction in U.S. oil refining capabilities. In California, a state traditionally plagued by high gas prices, a gallon of Regular now costs well over $4.50 at most gas...

Continuing his efforts to reduce U.S. dependence on imported oil, President Barack Obama yesterday proposed expanding tax credits now offered to buyers of plug-in cars to those who buy natural-gas vehicles as well. Given the ugly politics around electric cars and the presidential election season...

It's a truism of new-car sales: Gas prices go up, buyers focus more on gas mileage. Gas prices go down again, people forget all about fuel efficiency. Well, here's a gentle reminder about why you may want to focus on cars with high EPA ratings for gas mileage. As The New York Times reported, on...

Smart people who read true and false questions know to go for the non-obvious answer. So we'll make it easy: The U.S. is importing less and less gasoline and, as highlighted by the Wall Street Journal (via Pike Research), will shortly become a net exporter of gasoline and diesel fuel. Not since...

Almost every day we hear of a shiny new car that gets a certain number of miles to the gallon, a number often greater than its predecessor. It sometimes seems like witchcraft - until significant steps towards high-tech materials are taken, rarely do cars lose weight from one model to the next (with...

Just three months ago, the average gas price crossed 4$ a gallon. Now, oil prices have plummeted to their lowest level this year in response to the Standard & Poor's U.S. debt rating downgrade. We'll continue to be whipsawed by changes in oil prices, reflected in the price per gallon we pay for...

Over the years, the norms around what to do with used oil have changed. Used to be you tossed it down the nearest drain. Then came recycling. As energy prices soared, using old oil as heating fuel in special-purpose space heaters arrived. Now, the loop has closed, and used oil can be considered...

His party may be under increasing pressure from the Tea Party movement as it fights conservative attempts to stifle everything from healthcare reform to government spending, but President Obama is still keen to push the electric car revolution. Speaking at last night’s State of the Union...

Last night, in his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama reiterated his support for expanding U.S. production and sales of plug-in cars that run on grid power. Today, according to the Detroit News, a slew of policy changes will be unveiled by Vice President Joe Biden to advance that...

This video clip, now six months old, has been making the rounds yesterday and today. Still, it's worth pondering. What would you do if gasoline rose to $5 a gallon in two years? How would your driving, and car buying, behavior change? Two days after the BP drilling rig blowout in the Gulf of...

As a writer for a group of car sites with 3 million readers each month, I don't think I need to explain how much gasoline has changed my life. I've seen the world from street level because of it. It's fueled me. Oil has caused me agita this year, too. It's played havoc with a place I see myself...

If you think that manufacturers have a hard time making EVs appeal to consumers who have got used to over a hundred years of fossil fuels, then feel grateful you aren't in Carlos Ghosn's shoes. The Renault and Nissan chief is visiting the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the hope of establishing a...

Sometimes a "new" green idea is actually just the way we used to do things, before disposability and convenience became primary consumer values. Consider the "cartridge filter" that GM touts on the Ecotec engines fitted to its new 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. Instead of a one-piece metal cannister that's...

Green Earth Technologies G-OIL is the most biodegradable racing oil available.

One IEA Insider Says Yes

Sometimes speaking the same language isn't a prerequisite to understanding. Take this Swedish commercial. What appears to be an advertisement for the Finnish energy company, Fortum, carries a strong message. Transportation as we know it is portrayed by barren landscapes dotted with exploding oil...