Putting bigger battery packs in EVs can boost range, but a new study suggests it could also lead to a major increase in particulate emissions—from tires. The study comes from Emissions Analytics, a U.K.-based independent emissions testing firm. It first began sounding the alarm in 2020, publishing a study showing that tire-wear particulate... Bigger batteries in EVs could lead to colossal boost in particulate emissions—from tires, study suggests
Putting bigger battery packs in EVs can boost range, but a new study suggests it could also lead to a major increase in particulate emissions—from tires. The study comes from Emissions Analytics, a U.K.-based independent emissions testing firm. It first began sounding the alarm in 2020, publishing a study showing that tire-wear particulate... 
Mass adoption of electric vehicles is proceeding slowly, but one way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions today could be addressing poorly timed traffic lights, the traffic data analysis and controls firm Inrix claims. The company is hawking an analytics tool it claims will allow traffic agencies to run their networks of stop lights more... 
On Friday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finalized tougher fleet fuel economy standards for vehicle fleets that will mean an adjusted, industry-wide average of about 49 mpg across new passenger vehicles and light trucks in 2026. The standards, which are a step steeper than the administration’s original proposal, boost... 
Major automakers are siding with the EPA in a court battle over tougher emissions standards, Reuters reported Wednesday. Texas and 15 other states, along with ethanol groups, have challenged the EPA's emissions rules under the Biden administration, which aim to reinstate tougher rules after a rollback by the previous administration. The Alliance... 
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a rule reinstating higher penalties for automakers that fail to meet fuel efficiency standards, Reuters reported Sunday. In its final days, the Trump administration delayed implementation of a 2016 rule that more than doubled penalties for automakers that failed to meet... 
Global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions rose 6% in 2021, reaching their highest level ever due to increased use of coal power plants, according to new analysis from the International Energy Agency (IEA). The increase in global CO2 emissions was the largest in history in absolute terms, more than offsetting 2020's pandemic-induced declines... 
A coalition of ethanol producers have joined a group of 16 states challenging tougher vehicle emissions standards for model years 2023 through 2026, Automotive News reported last week. Under the Biden administration, the EPA has proposed rules that will support a fleet mix of about 40% EVs by 2030 and arrive at a slightly tighter level by... 
The EPA on Monday proposed stricter emissions standards for commercial vehicles, but environmental groups believe the proposed rules don't do enough to emphasize electrification. Set to take effect for the 2027 model year, the proposed standards would reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from trucks 60% by 2045, according to an EPA press release. The... 
There are some ill-informed opinion pieces suggesting that the more EVs that are put to use, the more we'll need to tap into dirtier power sources in order to meet demand. But as a recent RMI report suggests, that's not true—because relatively simple tech like smart charging and time-of-use rates will help smooth loads and help utilities... 
The Supreme Court is considering a case that challenges the EPA's ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from coal power plants. Fossil fuel-producing states and coal companies, led by West Virginia, argued that the EPA does not have the authority to shift electricity generation from coal to renewable sources like wind and solar, according... 
Tesla has made the sale of emissions credits to other automakers a significant part of its revenue, and that could continue under stricter emissions standards proposed by the Biden Administration, according to a new IHS Markit report. These new standards, along with stricter rules expected in Europe and China, could form "a lucrative revenue... 
General Motors has agreed to recognize California's authority to set its own vehicle emissions standards. This will make GM vehicles eligible for California government fleet purchases, according to the automaker. These statements were made in a letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom first shared with The Detroit News. GM said in the letter... 
Goodyear on Wednesday unveiled a tire made from 70% sustainable materials. It's a step toward the company's goal of making a tire from 100% sustainable materials by 2030. While this tire isn't ready for production (Goodyear calls it a "demonstration tire"), it does show some of the materials Goodyear is investigating to cut petroleum use, as well... 
Regulating carbon emissions from the oil and gas industry would allow the United States to reach its climate goals faster, argues a recent opinion piece by an oil industry veteran published in The Hill. Over 80% of U.S. carbon-dioxide (CO2) emissions come from burning oil and natural gas, and 1.4 billion tons of emissions come from the manufacture... 
Battery-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles already produce lower overall emissions than the average gasoline small SUV, and have a pathway to further reducing emissions, according to a recent Department of Energy report. The report considered the well-to-wheels and cradle-to-grave emissions of all propulsion types... 
Stricter federal fuel economy and emissions rules, outlined earlier this month in concert with the EPA, and coordinated with a goal for more EVs, will require automakers to make more efficient vehicles—along with some EVs. But that isn’t the only thing they’ll have to contend with. The penalties for failing to comply with those... 
Air pollution from vehicle tailpipes isn't just linked to respiratory issues. A University of Washington study has found an association between higher levels of air pollution and higher risk for dementia. First spotted by Inhabitat, the study was based on data from two existing studies, one tracking levels of air pollution in the Puget Sound... 
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President Biden will soon propose fuel-economy and EV adoption targets that surpass targets set by his former boss, AP News reported Tuesday. The proposed rules from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) could be released as early as next week, according to the report, which cited four anonymous industry... 
A new study confirms that, even when charged from the dirtiest electricity grids, electric cars are still cleaner than internal combustion engines over their lifecycles. First spotted by The Verge, the International Council for Clean Transportation (ICCT) study estimates overall emissions from medium-sized EVs registered in the United States...