Real-world data more important than faith in boosting electric cars

2017 Nissan Leaf  "Big data" is often discussed as a useful tool for everyone from policymakers to corporate marketing departments. But could it also be used to help increase electric-car adoption? Last November, the Obama administration held the first-ever "Electric Vehicle Datathon" with that very goal in mind. CHECK OUT: Electric-car 'datathon' to be hosted by...

Audi tells its dealers to get with the (electric-car) program

Audi of America president Scot Keogh with Audi e-tron quattro concept, 2015 Los Angeles auto showAs many electric-car buyers will tell you, franchised auto dealers can pose a large and tedious impediment to actually buying the plug-in car you want. From salespeople with no knowledge of the cars to test vehicles that haven't been recharged and have little battery range left, the hurdles are numerous and frustrating. Now Audi has told its...

Bosch to pay VW diesel owners $330 million in emission scandal too

2015 Volkswagen Golf TDI SEWith a judge set to weigh in on the settlement VW Group negotiated with its 3.0-liter V-6 diesel owners, Volkswagen seems to have settled most of the U.S. legal claims stemming from its diesel-emission cheating scandal. Total costs in the U.S. alone are now more than $20 billion, and among other penalties, VW has pleaded guilty to three felony...

Exxon says coal will endure; other analyses beg to differ

Coal, by Flicker user oatsy40 (Used Under CC License)Renewable energy sources may eventually render fossil fuels irrelevant in energy generation, but when will the switch between the two energy sources occur? It's a question that fosters much debate among policymakers, environmental advocates, and financial analysts. For its part, ExxonMobil believes fossil fuels—notably including...