Tesla Autopilot 8.0 better, still needs improvement, says Consumer Reports

2016 Tesla Model SThe magazine Consumer Reports has been one of the most vocal critics of Tesla's Autopilot driver-assistance system. It has called for Tesla to disable Autopilot's automated-steering feature, calling the technology "too much, too soon." It also called on Tesla to stop using the "Autopilot" name, claiming it could be misleading. DON'T MISS: Consumer...

EPA proposes to add more ethanol blends to ‘Flex Fuel’ category

FlexFuel badge on E85-capable 2009 Chevrolet HHRBack in 2007, the Energy Independent and Security Act included a Renewable Fuel Standard intended to boost adoption of lower-emission alternative fuels. It mandated increasingly-large amounts of ethanol to be blended with the U.S. fuel supply. Just under a decade later, the legislation has attracted criticism from both opponents of ethanol and the...

At 133 MPGe, Toyota Prius Prime wallops BMW i3 on energy efficiency

2017 Toyota Prius Prime PremiumMove over, BMW: there's a new efficiency champion in town this year—and you'll have to give back that laurel wreath you've worn since 2014. Last week, final EPA fuel-efficiency results were released for the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime plug-in hybrid. When running in all-electric mode, that car is now the most energy-efficient vehicle you can buy...

UN deal reached to limit, offset global aviation emissions

Airbus A320After much discussion, the United Nations' aviation agency plans to set limits on emissions from international airline flights. The agreement ratified by members of the UN International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) sets airlines' carbon emissions in the year 2020 as the ceiling of the total amount that will be legally allowed. Airlines that...

2018 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive preview

2017 Smart ForTwo Electric DriveThe redesigned 2018 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive debuted just before the recent the 2016 Paris Motor Show. It switches over to the current-generation ForTwo platform, introduced as a gasoline-powered coupe version for the 2016 model year. As with the outgoing-generation model, the 2018 ForTwo Electric Drive will be available as either a coupe or...

LNG-powered cruise ships to enter service in 2019

Costa Fortuna cruise shipCars and trucks aren't the only source of transportation-related carbon emissions. The massive ships that ply the world's oceans are major sources of pollution as well, but generally receive less attention from regulators. But one cruise line is now taking steps to reduce the environmental impact of its fleet. DON'T MISS: Cruise ships start to...

Could future VW Beetle return to rear (electric) powertrain?

2016 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible 2-door DSG 2.0T R-Line S GrilleAs any experienced journalist knows, you hear lots of good stuff in the corridors and private conversations of any large industry event where media are present. That applies to auto shows too. Which is how we came to hear an intriguing rumor about the possible production direction of the next-generation Volkswagen Beetle. DON'T MISS: VW ID: more...

Hydro-power reservoirs emit methane, a greenhouse gas: no free lunch?

Hoover Dam by Flickr user Airwolfhound (Used under CC License)The energy sources used to generate grid electricity can be a major source of greenhouse-gas emissions, and thus they affect the environmental impact of electric cars. The cleaner the electricity used to charge an electric car, the cleaner that car becomes in operation. And among potential energy sources, hydroelectric power from dams would seem...