Europeans are far ahead of North Americans in eco-awareness, and it’s most evident at auto shows. This year’s London show, July 23 to August 3, is a perfect example; despite the UK’s traditional abundance of small supercar-makers and its luxury brands, the popular market seems now to be all about green cars—specifically those with low carbon emissions, or electric cars with no emissions at all.
Consider two facts. First, it takes about 20 years for all vehicles on the road today to be replaced with newer, more efficient cars. Second, the most polluting cars on the road are the oldest. Put the two facts together, and you can see why a handful of states are paying low-income owners to yank those vehicles off the road.
Former Vice President Al Gore wants the United States to shift its entire electricity sector to carbon-free power within 10 years—and use that power to fuel a new fleet of electric vehicles. Gore also called for the government to help “our struggling auto giants” switch to the manufacture of plug-in electric cars. But is the industry ready to make that switch?
California wants you to consider greenhouse gas emissions when you buy your next new car. And to help you do that, they’ve revised their mandatory Environmental Performance label for all 2009 model-year cars. All new vehicles must display the modified sticker by January 1, but some could appear on cars as early as this month.
As the national average price for a gallon of gas reached $3.94 this week, drivers across the country scaled back on their travel plans or stayed home for Memorial Day. Last year's Memorial Day gas price was $3.23, which raised the hackles of drivers at the time. The new higher prices—coupled with stagnant wages—are having a greater impact on driving trends. And ultimately on the environment.
The European Commission has been considering a continental speed limit that could drastically cut emissions from driving, especially on roads like the Autobahn, where many stretches of road have no speed limit whatsoever. The move conjures memories of President Jimmy Carter calling for Americans to obey a 55-mph speed limit in the 1970s.
Even with the economy and the war in Iraq dominating the discourse surrounding the presidential elections, environmental concerns and energy policy could potentially become major issues by the end of the summer. The three candidates have all outlined major—yet vague—energy and transportation initiatives.
The vision of hundreds of thousands of electric cars buzzing along American highways and byways makes most utility companies downright giddy. It’s not just the opportunity sell a lot more electricity that gets them excited. “We think there’s a fundamental game-changer here. And that’s energy storage,” said Ed Kjaer, director of electric transportation at Southern California Edison. What will it take to get us there?
For the fifth consecutive year, Honda's natural gas-powered Civic GX took top honors as the greenest vehicle, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. The rest of the list of greenest cars is dominated by hybrids and small vehicles.
Two new studies cast doubt on the ecological benefits of biofuels. Researchers found that, when all relevant factors are considered, biofuels produce more greenhouse gas emissions than fossil fuels.
