Green Car News
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Digital Rights Management, or DRM, is either the scourge of the digital age or a necessary evil to ensure people who create content get paid for it--depending on who you believe. It's essentially a collection of technologies that determines how you can use digital content or technology after you've purchased it: preventing files being shared without consent or limiting a video's playback to just one device, for example. More worrying is that the technology may have started to creep into cars, according to a recent article. Has Renault's Zoe electric car become an example of this, by...
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U.S. Drivers Have Fewer Cars, Drive Them Less, Use Less Gas: Study
New-vehicle ownership, vehicle miles driven, and fuel consumption peaked in the mid-2000s, according to a study by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.
Stephen Edelstein -
Bio Batteries: Researchers Use Viruses To Improve Electric-Car Energy Storage (Video)
Researchers at MIT say that a benign virus could be the next step in improving lithium-air battery technology. Viruses typically have negative connotations--think seasonal flu or malicious files sent to your computer--but biological technology is an increasingly important research topic and one...
Antony Ingram -
2015 Lincoln MKC Details, Subaru Legacy Concept Unveiled, Tesla Plant Accident: Today's Car News
The Audi Q5 TDI, Lincoln MKC, and Subaru Legacy Concept make headlines today.
Stephen Edelstein -
2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid: Is It Hybrid Enough To Matter?
Last year, we drove a prototype Infiniti JX Hybrid, as it was then called (it's now in production as the 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid). At that point, we wondered whether its mild-hybrid system would be "hybrid enough" to compete against the Lexus RX 450h that spawned the hybrid crossover segment two...
John Voelcker -
Which City Has The Worst Fuel Economy For All Its Used Cars?
See where you shouldn't go if you want a fuel-efficient used car.
Stephen Edelstein -
Subaru has released the first images of its Legacy Concept, due to make its worldwide debut at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show. Updates for Subaru's midsize sedan are always awaited with eagerness, and the concept points the way to a more dynamic, sleek offering than the current car. Resplendent in a coat of Ocean Silver Metallic paintwork, Subaru says the concept features a coupe-like silhouette and a more "distinguished" design--a new hexagonal grille and "hawk-eye" headlamp design complete the car's striking front profile. That hawk-eye theme is continued on the aggressive rear lamps. Being...
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Nissan's Ghosn: We'll Miss 2016's 1.5M Electric Car Sales Target
Renault-Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn has admitted the companies will miss out on his original electric car sales targets...and by quite some margin. Ghosn has previously said that the two companies would be on track to sell 1.5 million electric vehicles by 2016. But like so many other electric vehicle...
Antony Ingram -
Plug-in Electric Car Sales in Canada, Oct 2013: Tesla-Volt Rivalry Continues
The Chevrolet Volt and Tesla Model S have jockeyed for the Canadian sales crown since the latter's arrival in Canada. October marked the 20th consecutive month that either the Chevy Volt or the Tesla Model S was the top-selling Canadian plug-in electric vehicle. In the 10 months for which we have...
Matthew Klippenstein -
Workers Burned In Industrial Accident At Tesla Motors Plant
Three workers have suffered burns in an accident at the Fremont, California assembly plant, where Tesla Motors builds its Model S electric car. According to the company, a low-pressure aluminum casting press failed on Wednesday afternoon, spilling hot metal onto the workers. All three employees...
Antony Ingram -
2014 Audi Q5 TDI Diesel Crossover: Fuel Economy Test
U.S. car buyers are fond of compact crossovers, and they buy a lot of them. They range from high-volume entries by Toyota, Honda, Ford, and Chevrolet to more luxurious utility vehicles from the likes of Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Range Rover. (Lincoln and Lexus will join that crowd next year.)...
John Voelcker -
Tesla Battery Protection, Dimethyl Ether Fuel, Volkswagen E-Golf Preview: Today's Car News
Tesla fires, an alternative fueling station app, and dimethyl ether make headlines today.
Stephen Edelstein -
Unless your name is Brinks, you rarely hear the words "armor" and "car" mentioned in the same sentence. But two recent widely-publicized fires in the Tesla Model S electric car have put the spotlight on how its battery pack is protected from severe impacts underneath the car. MORE: Tesla Fires: What We Know, And What We Need To Find Out Both fires were caused by high-speed collisions with road debris, which apparently struck the underside of the cars, where the battery is located under the floorpan. (A third fire in Mexico came after such a violent collision that a gasoline car may well have...
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Yet Another New Fuel: Will Dimethyl Ether Matter For Big Trucks?
It's frustrating driving a fuel-efficient vehicle sometimes. While you know you're just one small part of an effort to clean up transportation, seeing an 18-wheeler pumping clouds of black smoke into the air can make you feel like your efforts are going to waste. Cleaning up trucks should be a high...
Antony Ingram -
Tesla's Elon Musk: Model S Fires Overhyped, Car Is Safe
Recent fires of Tesla Model S electric cars aren't worrying the company's CEO, Elon Musk--at least publicly. In a recent CNBC interview (via Forbes), the Tesla Motors [NSDQ:TSLA] founder said reports of the fires were little more than an overreaction by the press--and that Tesla's cars are still...
Antony Ingram -
Finding Alternative Fueling Stations? DoE Has An App For That
The DOE has made its Alternative Fueling Station Locator into an app.
Stephen Edelstein -
Honda Accord Hybrid Our Best Car To Buy, Soul EV Details, Ethanol Damage: Today's Car News
Honda, Mitsubishi, and Toyota make headlines today.
John Voelcker -
Automaker Group Says E15 Ethanol Damages Cars, EPA Approval Was Rushed
Automakers have fired the latest salvo in the ongoing battle against ethanol blends in gasoline, saying it can damage engine components. That's despite several manufacturers approving it for use in their newest vehicles--adding to the confusion over ethanol in pump gasoline. According to The...
Antony Ingram -
When battery maker A123 Systems went bankrupt, it seemed to be just one in a long line of failed energy startups--albeit one with some high-profile customers. Stalled battery production after A123's bankruptcy is considered one of the main catalyst's for Fisker's litany of struggles, while electric-car enthusiasts wondered what would happen to cars like the Chevrolet Spark EV, powered by A123 batteries. Now, are things different under Chinese ownership? If it ain't broke... The upturn in A123's fortunes started back in March when the bankrupt company was subject to bidding for its assets...
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Green Car Reports' Best Car To Buy: 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid
For 2014, our fourth annual Green Car Reports' Best Car To Buy award goes to the 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid. This new model of the redesigned Honda Accord sedan introduced last year is comfortable, quiet, stylish--and delivers real-world fuel economy from 40 mpg to as much as 52 mpg. And that's...
John Voelcker -
2014 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive: Teaser Video Emerges From Company
The Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive is expected to hit U.S. showrooms in Spring 2014.
Stephen Edelstein -
2014 Lexus CT 200h Hybrid To Debut In China
It's a mark of how important the Chinese market now is that Lexus has chosen the upcoming Guangzhou Motor Show to reveal its updated CT 200h. That's despite both the Los Angeles International Auto Show and the Tokyo Motor Show starting around the same time--both shows hosting several significant...
Antony Ingram -
2015 Kia Soul EV: Target Range Of 120 Miles, More Details
The 2015 Kia Soul EV will be the first all-electric car sold by Kia outside of Korea.
Stephen Edelstein -
Hybrid Corvette, Mitsubishi Plug-In Plans, Honda Fuel Cell Concept: Today's Car News
Honda, Mitsubishi, and Toyota make headlines today.
Stephen Edelstein