Dyson plans to build electric-car test track in Britain

Dyson Hullavington campus for electric car developmentIn another step to show it's serious about building an electric car, Dyson, the British vacuum-cleaner maker, has laid out plans to build a test track in Britain. Reuters reported Thursday that Dyson plans to build a vehicle test track at a former World War II airfield in Wiltshire, England, to go along with previously announced plans for an...

How to save gas on Labor Day trips

Overloaded Subaru Legacy with stuff on roofLabor Day is one of the biggest travel weekends for all year, as Americans close out the summer and enjoy a last excursion before heading back to school. That makes it one of the biggest weekends for gas sales too, though nobody wants to spend more than they need to on fuel. If you're making a trip longer than you can comfortably take your...

California meets with federal regulators over fuel-economy rollback

Exhaust emissions from tailpipe [photo: Simone Ramella, 2005, used under Creative Commons 2.0]Trump administration officials met with California regulators Wednesday to discuss the EPA and NHTSA's proposal to freeze fuel economy and emissions standards from 2020 through 2026. The proposal would rescind scheduled increases planned under the Obama administration, which would have raised vehicles' average fuel economy to about 39 mpg based on...

Final deadline for VW TDI diesel settlement

Volkswagen turbodiesels await their fate near Pikes Peak International Raceway in Colorado SpringsTwo more days. That's all the time owners of 2.0-liter diesel VWs have to file claims to receive a large financial settlement and to have their cars repaired to meet emissions standards. TDI owners have had plenty of notice to file paperwork to receive a financial settlement to replace or fix their cars, yet the latest report from the class action...

Americans still want better fuel economy, survey says

2017 Ford Focus Electric window sticker showing 115-mile range ratingJust as the Trump administration moves to roll back fuel economy standards, a new survey shows that Americans are dissatisfied with the fuel economy their cars already get. The American Customer Satisfaction Index survey for cars was released Tuesday, and among the 10 attributes the survey studied, fuel economy ranked last among factors Americans'...

California report links emissions reductions to economic growth

Tesla PowerpacksA new report on pollution, economic growth, and renewable energy in California sheds new light on the link between emissions regulations and economic growth ahead of the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco next month. The report released Thursday shows that even as the state implemented stricter emissions standards than other states and...

German RV maker builds electric camping trailer

Dethleffs e.Home Coco electric camping trailerElectric cars are great for efficiency. They're less adept at pulling heavy loads at highway speeds and the extra power needed to pull a trailer can quickly drain batteries. That means more charging, more travel time, and less vacation time. Now German RV maker Dethleffs has a solution for those who want to make a commitment to the environment by...