Category Archives: fuel economy or emissions

Japan Automakers Buy $68 billion in US-Made Auto Parts

JAMA normally runs for cover on bad news or critical developments, not returning media inquiries on serial molester Donald Trump and the lying, corrupt Hillary Clinton, as well as the fight over the Trans Pacific partnership that a fading Obama presidency is still promoting. It’s puzzling if these are all factors behind JAMA’s new-found attempt to talk with U.S. media.
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European Diesel Car Sales Continue to Decline

It’s not just Volkswagen Group with diesel woes, during August in the EU diesel car sales showed the lowest monthly market share since diesel penetration peaked in 2011. However, with a market share of 48.3% diesel car sales remain substantial. Continue reading →

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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