Category Archives: fuel economy or emissions

Light Duty Diesel Ram Ups Fuel Economy Ante in 2014

Posted on 1 July 2013 by Ken Zino

The comeback automaker, Chrysler Group, ups the ante in the ongoing pickup truck fuel economy wars by offering the first light duty diesel engine pared with an 8-speed automatic transmission, both exclusives in the segment. Just bring money – this is going to be a +$45,000 (or more) set of wheels, AutoInformed predicts. Continue reading →

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Supreme Court Dismisses Ethanol Waiver Case

Posted on 24 June 2013 by Ken Zino

The United States Supreme Court today dismissed a petition by the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers or AFPM challenging an EPA regulation that allows for 15% ethanol in gasoline. Continue reading →

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Milestones – Volvo Produces New Engine Family

Posted on 13 May 2013 by Ken Zino

Volvo Car Group is now manufacturing the first versions of a new, high-efficiency four-cylinder engine family after two years of preparation. The engine plant in Skövde, Sweden is making new smaller engines that are claimed to deliver higher performance than today’s six-cylinder units, while offering lower fuel consumption than the current generation of four-cylinder units. Continue reading →

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Chevrolet Cruze Diesel Rated at 46 MPG Highway

Posted on 22 April 2013 by Ken Zino

Chevrolet said that its new 2014 Cruze Diesel will be rated at an EPA-estimated 46 MPG on the highway, better than any non-hybrid passenger car in America. It will be available in some cities this spring and nationwide and in Canada in the early fall. Continue reading →

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Ford and GM to Develop 9- and 10-Speed Automatic Transmissions

Posted on 16 April 2013 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corporation have signed an agreement whereby both companies will jointly develop an all-new generation of 9- and 10-speed automatic transmissions for cars, crossovers, SUVs and trucks. Continue reading →

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New Steel Alloys can Outperform Aluminum and Carbon fiber

Posted on 11 April 2013 by Ken Zino

Part of the steel industry’s problem, aside from the overall lack of interest among technically illiterate consumers, is regulatory. While the Obama Administration is in the process of implementing the most stringent emissions and fuel economy standards in history, the Environmental Protection Agency only looks at a crude mile per gallon rating that does not take into effect the energy used and greenhouse gas emissions that result during the creation of the 10,000 or more components that comprise an automobile. Continue reading →

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Dominion Energy Deal Cuts Emissions at Coal Powered Plants

Posted on 5 April 2013 by Ken Zino

The Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said that Dominion Energy has agreed to pay a $3.4 million civil penalty and spend approximately $9.8 million on environmental mitigation projects to resolve Clean Air Act (CAA) violations. Continue reading →

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EPA Voids Import Certificates for More Chinese Recreational Vehicles

Posted on 3 April 2013 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that it is withdrawing approval of the import and sale of up to 74,000 gas-powered motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles from China. The agency said that it received either incomplete or falsified certification information. Continue reading →

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Horses for Courses – GM’s Small Block V8 Versus Ford and Ram

Posted on 1 April 2013 by Ken Zino

This debatable engineering philosophy gained some credibility today when GM revealed that the 2014 Silverado and Sierra pickups with the 5.3-liter V8 engine – the most popular engine – will be rated at an EPA estimated 23 mpg highway. The trucks also have better fuel economy and higher load capacity at a maximum of 11,500 pounds than the 2013 model Ford EcoBoost V6, an expensive approach that uses two turbochargers and intercooling, among other tweaks. Ram is using a 5.7-liter double overhead camshaft multivalve V8 linked in its best version to an 8-speed automatic, and is rated at 20 mpg. Continue reading →

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2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Pickups Top F-Series and Ram in Fuel Economy with EPA 23 MPG Highway for V8

Posted on 1 April 2013 by Ken Zino

In a one-two punch, Chevrolet and GMC announced the best fuel economy of any V8 pickup for the 2014 Silverado and Sierra models at EPA estimated 23 mpg highway. The trucks also have better fuel economy and higher load capacity at a maximum of 11,500 pounds than the 2013 model Ford EcoBoost V6. Continue reading →

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EPA Proposes Stricter Emissions Standards, Lower Sulfur Fuel. Big Battle between Oil and Auto Industries Coming over Tier 3

Posted on 29 March 2013 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed new standards for vehicles and fuels that are the strictest in the history of the agency. EPA said the regulations would reduce both tailpipe and evaporative emissions from passenger cars, light-duty trucks, medium-duty passenger vehicles, and some heavy-duty vehicles. Continue reading →

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Honda Verifies Congestion Reduction System During Public Road Tests

Posted on 21 March 2013 by Ken Zino

Honda Motor Company conducted public-road testing of its new traffic congestion minimization technology in Indonesia and claims it verified its effectiveness in delaying the development of congestion, and improving fuel efficiency by more than 20%. Continue reading →

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New Regulations for Safety, Emissions Hurt Micro-Cars

Posted on 21 March 2013 by Ken Zino

While there is a clear emerging global trend of rising demand for small and inexpensive cars, regulations are increasing their costs. Since 2010, supply by automakers has been growing as they offer products in the range of €10,000 (~$13,000). Some vehicles in this price range are micro-cars, such as the Piaggio, NT3, Renault Twizy ZE, Tata Nano, and Opel Rak-e, all unheard of in the United States. However, there are two A-segment vehicles playing in this space, the Skoda Citigo and Daimler Smart ForTwo, which is on sale in the U.S. Continue reading →

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EPA Reports Significant Gains in Fuel Economy During 2012

Posted on 15 March 2013 by Ken Zino

In its annual report that tracks the fuel economy of vehicles sold in the United States, EPA today said that between 2007 and 2012 fuel economy increased by 16% while carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have decreased by 13%. In 2012, EPA said the one-year increase of 1.4 miles per gallon for cars and trucks was “significant.” Continue reading →

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Volkswagen to use CO2 as Air Conditioning Refrigerant

Posted on 12 March 2013 by Ken Zino

The Volkswagen Group is developing air conditioning systems that use CO2 as the refrigerant. Currently automotive air conditioners, depending on age, use R12, which is banned because of global warming effects, R134a, a replacement for R12, which is also now being phased out for its role in global warming, and its replacement R1234yf, which apparently poses safety threats. Continue reading →

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