EPA staff disputed fuel-economy freeze would save lives

Gas pumpWhat's $132 billion between regulators? Such is the breadth of the discrepancy between the estimates of what the government's final proposal to roll back fuel-economy standards would save American drivers, and what EPA staffers said it would cost. A Reuters report on Tuesday revealed comments from EPA staffers disputing claims made in the Trump...

Tesla privatization bid, quality control face increasing scrutiny

Tesla factory, Fremont, CaliforniaTesla CEO Elon Musk is facing mounting pressure from regulators and critics since his tweet last week to take the company private and the fallout that has followed. The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday (subscription required) that Tesla's board has received subpoenas from the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding Musk's Tweet about...

Best deals on hybrid, plug-in and electric cars for August 2018

2019 Chevrolet EquinoxThis month, green-car buyers can find some screaming deals. These aren't just local programs or restricted to California buyers, either. As always, our list of deals comes from our partners at CarsDirect. This month, they have focused on deals available nationwide and on cars that are more shoppers can find (unlike, for example, the VW e-Golf, of...

Report: Rising electric-car production may strain unexpected resources

Tesla Supercharger site in Rocklin, California, before expansion    [photo: George Parrott]Despite electric cars producing no tailpipe emissions, not all of their effects will be environmentally beneficial, according to a recent report by McKinsey & Co. The group, which is often optimistic about electric car adoption, forecasts that by 2030, plug-in cars will make up at least 20 percent of car sales globally, and up to 35 percent in...

GM files patents for new active aerodynamic aids

Patent for Active Side Skirts filed by General MotorsGeneral Motors filed patent applications in June for three types of active aerodynamic systems that could make cars more efficient and potentially even give electric cars longer ranges. The three patent applications were all filed as part of Chevrolet's design for the new eighth-generation Corvette, but they could make their way to other GM cars...

2018 Chevy Bolt EV makes successful 2,000-mile road trip

David Edwards' Chevy Bolt EV draws a crowd while charging Readers like David Edwards periodically send letters about road trips they’ve made in their electric cars. While long road trips are becoming somewhat commonplace with Teslas, he points out that they still aren’t common for other electric cars. Just last year, reader Jay Lucas sold his Chevy Bolt EV after finding it too difficult to...