Trump supported ethanol, but his team may not; is oil the reason?

Big square baler harvesting wheat straw for production of cellulosic ethanolAs President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration draws closer, confusion still surrounds many of his possible energy policies. During the campaign, Trump indicated that he supported ethanol, even while he called for expansion of domestic fossil-fuel production. In January, he said he supported the Renewable Fuel Standard, which mandates that growing...

Long-range Renault Zoe electric car reviewed in U.K.: Forbidden Fruit

2017 Renault ZoeThe Renault Zoe is the best-selling electric car in Europe, and it has just received a significant battery upgrade. Unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in September, the updated Zoe sports a 41-kilowatt-hour battery pack, up from 22 kwh in earlier versions. Renault says that capacity will allow a range of 300 to 400 kilometers (185 to 250 miles) on...

Fuel-economy rules not the cause of rising auto prices: analysis

Fuel gaugeLobbyists for big automakers, both domestic and foreign, make no secret about their desire for lower fuel-economy standards. One argument presented to support a lowering of standards is that the cost of compliance with current rules will be passed on to consumers in the form of higher new-car prices. Carmakers must implement efficiency-boosting...

Tesla’s autonomous-car efforts use big data no other carmaker has

Tesla self-driving demonstration video screenshotIn the automotive industry, Tesla is a leader in many respects—but it's hardly head-and-shoulders above the rest when it comes to self-driving cars. The Silicon Valley automaker is developing fully autonomous cars, but it's part of a crowded field that includes many other automakers and a handful of rich tech companies as well. Still...

Deal of the year? Used Fiat 500e electric cars at $6,500?

2017 Fiat 500eIt's well known by now that the used-car prices of low-range electric cars are low. Any 2011 through 2016 electric car not made by Tesla is likely to be cheap on a used-car lot due to worries about battery degradation and its effect on range. Used Nissan Leafs, for instance, can often be found for around $9,000, even with only 30,000 or 40,000...

Update: Chinese elevated bus now abandoned, blocking road traffic

Transit Elevated Bus (TEB) - Image via China Xinhua NewsLast week, the massive Chinese elevated bus whose renderings had rocketed around the Internet made its first test run. The bus runs on rails embedded in the street, with room for cars to pass underneath it. Officially known as the Transit Elevated Bus, or TEB-1, it carried its first passengers on a stretch of street in the city of Qinhuangdao...

South Korea to extend electric-car subsidy to long-range vehicles too

2017 Tesla Model SSouth Korea currently offers electric-car subsidies, but only to shorter-range vehicles. This somewhat unusual provision was put in place in 2012, the government says, to encourage sales of electric cars with convenient charging times. Under the current rule, electric cars that can fully charge in under 10 hours on standard household current...

Fusion Hybrid again used for latest Ford autonomous test vehicle

Second-generation Ford Fusion Hybrid automated driving research vehicleIf you see a Ford Fusion Hybrid mid-size sedan cruising along with no apparent input from the driver, rest assured that you are not hallucinating. Since 2013, Ford has used modified Fusion Hybrid sedans to test autonomous-driving technology. The automaker is now rolling out an updated version, which will form the basis for a larger fleet of test...

Flurry of green-car rules as Obama administration departs

President Barack Obama sits in 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV electric car at Detroit Auto Show, Jan 2016When it comes to regulations governing the auto industry, the Obama administration does not plan to go gentle into that good night. The outgoing administration has pushed through a number of new regulations, some related to fuel efficiency, before President-elect Donald Trump takes office next month. The move is likely a hedge against the incoming...