Fuel from emissions? Catalyst converts carbon dioxide to ethanol

2011 Buick Regal flex-fuel badgeAt least in North America, ethanol is a contentious fuel. A decade ago, it was seen as a homegrown and carbon-neutral way to use less gasoline—and federal legislation mandated that increasing volumes be blended into U.S. fuel supplies. Much debate followed over using "food for fuel," its supposed carbon neutrality and the footprint of the...

Smallest state poses big question: natural gas or renewable energy?

wind farmThe smallest U.S. state now faces a big question on energy policy. Rhode Island is in the midst of deciding whether to continue getting a large portion of energy from fossil fuels, or to switch to renewable energy. Those options are represented by two competing projects: a large natural-gas power plant, and an offshore wind farm. DON'T MISS: Dirty...

Green Car Reports 2017 Best Car To Buy nominee: Chevy Bolt EV

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV, road test, California coastline, Sep 2016The announcement of the Chevrolet Bolt concept car came like a thunderclap at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show. After unveiling the 2016 Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid, General Motors CEO Mary Barra rolled out a bright orange five-door hatchback electric car. It would have 200 or more miles of range, she said, for a price starting at $37,500 before...

Nano Flowcell liquid-battery car briefly driven by outsider

NanoFlowcell Quantino conceptNano Flowcell Holdings hasn't been shy about promoting its flow-cell battery technology. It's displayed flashy concept cars at multiple auto shows, offering bold performance claims for what it said were near production-ready designs. But the company doesn't seem to have given outsiders any significant time behind the wheel of any of its prototype...

Nano Flowcell liquid-battery car briefly driven by outsider

NanoFlowcell Quantino conceptNano Flowcell Holdings hasn't been shy about promoting its flow-cell battery technology. It's displayed flashy concept cars at multiple auto shows, offering bold performance claims for what it said were near production-ready designs. But the company doesn't seem to have given outsiders any significant time behind the wheel of any of its prototype...

Carmakers must cut carbon rapidly to evolve, shareholders say

2016 Nissan LeafStricter global emissions standards are putting significant pressure on carmakers to improve fuel efficiency and make greater use of electric powertrains. But that may not be the sole force driving automakers toward reduced carbon emissions. Cutting emissions is also a priority for at least some of their investors, it seems. DON'T MISS: India, EU...

Audi electric SUV to carry e-tron name (not Q6), a la first quattro

Audi e-tron Quattro concept, 2015 Frankfurt Auto ShowWe've known for sometime that Audi will launch an all-electric utility vehicle in 2018, but there has been some confusion about what it will be called. It was widely believed that the SUV would carry the Q6 e-tron name, stemming from both its position in the Audi lineup and its use of an electrified powertrain. But now it appears the electric SUV...

Long-delayed BMW i8 Spyder plug-in hybrid due in 2018

BMW i8 Concept SpyderA convertible version of the BMW i8 plug-in hybrid coupe was teased as far back as the 2012 New York Auto Show, when the i8 Spyder concept first debuted. But while the i8 coupe went into production as a 2014 model, BMW has been unusually slow to approve a convertible version for production. BMW mentioned an i8 convertible during a March press...

VW ‘annoyed’ it won’t get order for electric vans it didn’t make

Deutsche Post StreetScooter electric van prototypeSuppose you're one of the world's three largest automakers. You don't offer a type of vehicle that a relatively small but highly visible customer in your home market wants. Do you have the right to be annoyed if that customer designs those vehicles itself? DON'T MISS: USPS picks AM General to help build next-generation mail trucks Only...