Category Archives: fuel economy or emissions

Long-Time Volkswagen Engineer Pleads Guilty to Criminal Charges for Rigging Tests on Dirty Diesels

Posted on 12 September 2016 by Ken Zino

In the latest setback for beleaguered Volkswagen in the thus far un-ending Dieselgate scandal, a long-time employee – James Robert Liang – pled in the U.S. Eastern District Court of Michigan to criminal charges over his role in rigging results for at least 11 million diesels, thereby defrauding regulators. Continue reading →

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Biofuels – Academic Food Fight on Global Warming

Posted on 27 August 2016 by Ken Zino

The crux of environmental justification is based on the assumption that biofuels, as renewable alternatives to fossil fuels, are inherently carbon neutral because the carbon dioxide released when they are burned was derived from CO2 that the growing corn or soybean plants pulled from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. Continue reading →

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EPA, DOT Set Truck Rules for Greenhouse Gases, Efficiency

Posted on 17 August 2016 by Ken Zino

The Phase 2 proposal responds to a President Obama directive to develop new GHG and fuel efficiency standards for heavy-duty trucks that reach well into the next decade. Continue reading →

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Infiniti VC-T – Variable Compression Engine Production Ready?

Posted on 15 August 2016 by Ken Zino

The displacement of the engine changes and the compression ratio can vary anywhere between 8:1 (for high performance) and 14:1 (for high efficiency). Continue reading →

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Dexos-1 Latest Fuel Economy Oil

Posted on 8 August 2016 by Ken Zino

Idemitsu’s claims its 0W-20 had some of the highest fuel economy benefits seen in GM testing. It took Idemitsu two years to meet GM’s requirements. Continue reading →

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Start-Stop Expands in Spite of Cheap Gasoline

Posted on 3 August 2016 by Ken Zino

By 2020, Johnson Controls predicts 50% of all new vehicles sold in the U.S. will have start-stop technology. Continue reading →

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$14.7 Billion Volkswagen Diesel Fraud Settlements

Posted on 28 June 2016 by Ken Zino

The plea bargain requires Volkswagen to spend up to $10.03 billion to compensate consumers under the program. In addition, the VW will spend $4.7 billion to mitigate the pollution from these cars and invest in green vehicle technology. Continue reading →

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Diesel Coffin Nails – California Court Decision on Diesels Smacks Small Fleets and Farmers over Money

Posted on 20 June 2016 by Ken Zino

A decision by the Superior Court of California in Fresno earlier this month agreed with the California Trucking Association’s request to erase a range of amendments to the state’s major rule to clean up diesel trucks and buses. Continue reading →

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German Motor Transport Grants Fix on Dirty VW Diesels

Posted on 7 June 2016 by Ken Zino

Such an inexpensive fix is not possible in the U.S. where emissions standards are much tighter, and regulatory authorities – it could be argued across the EU – are not in the pocket of auto companies and major suppliers. Continue reading →

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Lawyer Plagued? BMW Sued for “Faulty” i3 Electric Vehicles

Posted on 18 May 2016 by Ken Zino

The crux of the lawsuit is about the BMW i3 “Range Extender.” This so-called Rex option, uses a two-cylinder, 34 horsepower gasoline engine that switches on when the battery charge drops to 5%, providing another 70 miles of range. BMW claims that the Range Extender “doubles your electric driving range” from the vehicle’s standard 81-mile range. Continue reading →

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Nissan Buys 37% of Scandal-Beset Mitsubishi Motors for $2.2B

Posted on 12 May 2016 by Ken Zino

Nissan Motor will buy 37% of Mitsubishi Motors for $2.2 Billion the companies said today in Yokohama and Tokyo, Japan. This requires a new MMC stock share issue. Call it a “one barrel of a two-barrel shotgun wedding.” Continue reading →

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Deadly Diesel – Dr Hatz, Head of R&D at VW, Porsche, Out

Posted on 3 May 2016 by Ken Zino

At the beginning of the diesel issue in the Volkswagen Group in late September last year, Hatz went on “temporary leave as a precaution,” Porsche said in a statement this morning. Continue reading →

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Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Most Fuel-Efficient SUV CR Tested

Posted on 30 April 2016 by Ken Zino

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid at 31 mpg combined in Consumer Reports testing has the best overall fuel economy of any SUV that doesn’t plug in, CR said today. It returned 26 mpg city and 36 mpg highway – better than most mid-size sedans. Continue reading →

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Volkswagen Group Earnings Devastated by Diesel Emissions

Posted on 23 April 2016 by Ken Zino

Volkswagen Group set a breathtaking loss of -$4.6 billion (-€4.1B) during 2015 because of the ongoing – and soon to get even more expensive – diesel emissions cheating scandal. Continue reading →

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German Drivers Want Plug-in Hybrids. Maybe

Posted on 14 April 2016 by Ken Zino

However, although 96% of drivers surveyed say they are environmentally conscious to some degree, when it comes to cars, the environment gives way to practical considerations. Continue reading →

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