Yes, wiper fluid is a source of harmful vehicle emissions

Carbon fiber windscreen wipersA new study from the American Chemical Society provides a reminder that tailpipes aren't the only source of harmful vehicle emissions. The study suggests that wiper fluid could be a significant source of emissions, one that will become a bigger part of the vehicle fleet's overall carbon footprint as EV adoption increases. That's because wiper...

Former Audi CEO admits guilt in diesel scandal, pays $1.2M fine

Audi CEO Rupert StadlerA former Audi CEO pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges connected to the Volkswagen diesel emissions scandal, in which Audi parent VW cheated on emissions tests with illegal software. Rupert Stadler admitted culpability in keeping affected cars on sale after news of the scandal broke in late 2015, the Associated Press reported. He entered this guilty...

Senate blocks Biden clean-truck rules, without Feinstein vote

U.S. Capitol BuildingThe Senate on Wednesday voted to overturn President Biden's stricter emissions rules for commercial trucks, halting their implementation unless the president vetoes the measure. The 50-49 vote rescinds emissions rules that went into effect last month, marking the first time in 20 years that the EPA has set stricter standards for emissions from...

Study: EV policy around gasoline superusers could help the most

2009 Kia BorregoEV policy will achieve the greatest climate benefit by prioritizing those that use the most gasoline, according to the advocacy group Coltura. The group recently released a new study building on findings published in 2021 which found that one in 10 drivers burn nearly a third of U.S. gasoline. Coltura coined the term gasoline "superusers" to...

EPA tailpipe emissions rules for 2027-2032: EVs not mandated

2023 Ford F-150 LightningThe EPA on Thursday proposed a new phase of tougher emissions standards for model years 2027 to 2032 that would trigger a massive increase in the sales of EVs—but not technically mandate them. The proposed standards aims for fleet average emissions of 82 grams of CO2 per mile by the 2032 model year, a 56% reduction in emissions from the...

EPA might ensure 60% EV sales by 2030, align with California

U.S. production of Genesis Electrified GV70 in AlabamaThe EPA is expected to propose stricter emissions rules that would ensure more than half of new cars and trucks sold in the U.S. are electric, The New York Times reports. The proposal would not mandate a specific percentage of EV sales, but would set emissions limits so stringent that it would essentially force automakers to ensure that EVs...

EU adds e-fuels loophole to 2035 ICE ban, EV charging guidelines

DS 4 E-TenseThe European Union in Tuesday approved plans to ban sales of new gasoline and diesel cars in member countries by 2035, after Germany successfully fought for a loophole for vehicles burning e-fuels. The proposed law will require all new passenger cars sold in EU countries to produce zero CO2 emissions from 2035, ramping up from a 2030 target of 50%...

Combustion-vehicle sales peaked in 2017, peak oil due in 2027

Nissan Leaf confuses gas station staffThe global market for internal-combustion vehicles peaked in 2017 and is now in "structural decline," Bloomberg New Energy Finance declared in a recent report. Combustion-vehicle sales in 2022 were down almost 20% from the 2017 peak, according to BNEF. In 2017, 86 million internal combustion passenger vehicles were sold globally—including...

The SUV market is fueling global oil demand, clouding CO2 targets

2022 GMC YukonA strong SUV market is leading to higher oil demand today, and may make future carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions targets harder to achieve, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). New IEA analysis found that global CO2 emissions from SUVs reached nearly 1.1 billion tons in 2022, overshadowing increased sales from electric cars. SUVs are...

Research: Tires and brakes emit more particulates than tailpipes

Goodyear tire made from 70% sustainable materialCurrent emissions regulations are focused on what comes out of vehicle tailpipes, but a new study claims more than half of road-vehicle particulate emissions—fine particles that can pollute surrounding air and water—comes from other sources. Conducted by Imperial College London, the study (via Green Car Congress) estimates that in 2021...