Stephen Edelstein, Contributing Writer
Articles
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Could a full-size pickup truck ever get a fuel-economy rating of 37 mpg?
California-based Achates Power believes it can, and its novel engine uses a design that dates back to the earliest days of...
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Tesla Autopilot investigation closed by NHTSA, will continue to monitorThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) closed its investigation into the fatal Florida crash last May of a Tesla using the company's Autopilot driver-assist system. The Model S in question collided with a tractor trailer that turned left in front of it, killing the driver, who...
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Questionable electric-car study, GM biodiesel, WY threatens renewable energy: Today's Car NewsToday, a study on electric-car emissions is based on questionable assumptions, General Motors offers B20 biodiesel capability in several car and truck models, and a Wyoming bill would essentially ban utilities from using renewable energy. All this and more on Green Car Reports. Two U.S. agencies...
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New bill in coal-producing Wyoming would ban renewable energy for utilitiesWhile renewable-energy use has grown substantially over the last few years, the regulatory environment remains volatile. Some states have worked hard to stimulate renewable energy, supporting infrastructure projects and offering incentives to consumers who install home solar arrays. But others have...
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GreenTech Auto shutters its doors, closes Mississippi factoryThe harsh reality of high costs and the inexorable heft of the auto industry have claimed another electric-car startup. GreenTech Automotive opened a plant in Mississippi in 2014, first saying it would manufacture a small, two-seat electric vehicle called the MyCar there. It later struck a deal...
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GM adds B20 biodiesel capability to Chevy, GMC diesel trucks, carsWhen it comes to reducing emissions, fleet operators generally have fewer options than individual buyers of passenger cars. There are fewer zero-emission vehicle options for vehicles that see commercial use, although those vehicles often cover more miles every year than the average passenger car...
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Tesla uses over-the-air software updates to quickly add new features to its electric cars, or to correct problems without the need for customers to bring their cars to service centers.
But one...
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2016 was planet's hottest year on record, third new high in a rowDespite scientists having reached a consensus years ago, considerable debate still appears to be raging over the reality of climate change. Climate-science deniers can count several people appointed to key environmental-regulatory positions in the incoming presidential administration among their...
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Tesla Supercharger fees, Faraday Future FF 91 cost, German VW lawsuit: Today's Car NewsToday, a Tesla owner reacts to the automaker's new fees for Supercharger DC fast charging, a new report hints at the possible cost of the Faraday Future FF 91 electric car, and a German court orders Volkswagen to reimburse a diesel owner. All this and more on Green Car Reports. While the demise of...
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Court orders full reimbursement for VW diesel owner in GermanyA lot has been said about Volkswagen's use of "defeat device" software in diesel cars to cheat on emissions tests, but a German court may win the prize for most-creative description. VW "defeat device" software is like putting horse meat in lasagna, three German judges decreed during a recent...
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Second Honda dealership achieves grid-neutral statusIf you're planning on buying a green car, have you ever wondered if you'll be making the purchase at a green dealership? As cars get more efficient, the carbon emissions related to the infrastructure for manufacturing and selling them should be considered as well. Honda has made some efforts in...
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Gas has to cost $3 a gallon before it affects vehicle choice, study saysContinuing low gas prices are often blamed for the current popularity of crossover utilities and SUVs, along with any sales struggles green cars may experience. But would a sudden increase in gas prices cause shoppers to flock to more fuel-efficient vehicles? If so, how high would gas prices have...
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At the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show, Faraday Future released a number of details about the FF 91, its first production electric car.
It quoted a range of 378 miles, courtesy of a 130-kilowatt-hour...
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2018 Nissan Leaf rumors, electric car price guide, RIP Empulse: Today's Car NewsToday, we review what we know so far about the 2018 Nissan Leaf, our updated electric car price guide includes information on every available 2017 model, and the Empulse electric motorcycle is no more. All this and more on Green Car Reports. Looking for a new electric car? We have pricing and...
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VW Group plans 8 plug-in electric cars for ChinaAs it works to recover from its diesel emission scandal, the Volkswagen Group is rapidly embracing electric cars. By 2025, the company hopes to be selling 1 million electric cars per year, and plans to launch 30 different electric models across multiple brands in the coming years. According to a...
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French target Renault, Brits query Fiat, over diesel emissionsThe past week has not been a particularly pleasant one for advocates of diesel cars. Volkswagen agreed to plead guilty to criminal counts related to its diesel-emissions cheating and pay $4.3 billion in fines, while U.S. prosecutors arrested one of the company's executives and indicted five more...
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Electric Car Price Guide: every 2017 all-electric car, with specs (updated)It's a hot topic whenever anyone mentions electric cars: pricing. Many electric cars are more expensive than their regular counterparts, though in general they cost far less to run on a per-mile basis. But what do today's electric and plug-in cars actually cost? We've gathered the relevant data for...
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Chevy Bolt launch schedule, FCA diesel probe, VW diesel settlement: Today's Car NewsToday, we have a state-by-state launch schedule for the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV, the U.S. Justice Department launches a criminal probe of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles diesels, while Volkswagen settles its diesel-cheating case with the Justice Department. All this and more on Green Car Reports. Read...
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In the waning months of 2016, no dramatic changes occurred in European plug-in electric car sales.
The established players remained on top of the sales charts, in virtually the same sequence seen in...
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All 2017 BMW diesels certified by EPA, production now startingThis might not seem to be the most convenient moment to restart production of a gaggle of diesel cars. The Volkswagen diesel scandal continues to unfold, and last week the EPA accused Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) of failing to reveal eight separate software routines that altered the behavior of...
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Mazda to launch homogeneous-charge compression engine next yearThe differences between gasoline and diesel engines lie not only in their fuels, but in how those fuels are ignited. Gasoline engines use spark plugs, while diesels simply use compression. But it is possible to ignite gasoline in an internal-combustion engine with compression, as in a diesel. DON'T...
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How high a hill could recharge a coasting Tesla electric car completely?One of the benefits of electric cars is that slowing down becomes a useful activity. Regenerative braking recovers energy normally lost as friction heat, as it does when the accelerator pedal is not pushed and the car is coasting. In some cars, regeneration is aggressive enough to allow "one-pedal...
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All Dutch electric trains now running on 100-percent renewable energyWhile modern electric cars have only been available in large numbers for a few years, electric trains have been commonplace for some time. As with electric cars, the source of the electricity used to power these trains impacts their overall carbon footprint. The cleaner an energy source, the...
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VW execs indicted, EPA accuses FCA, Tesla 'Ludicrous Plus' mode: Today's Car NewsToday, the U.S. Justice Department indicts Volkswagen executives in connection to the diesel scandal, details on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's claims that Ram and Jeep diesel vehicles used "defeat devices," and Tesla releases "Ludicrous Plus" mode for its P100D performance models. All...
Stephen Edelstein