Archives: News

President Obama this week toughened the CAFE standards for cars and light trucks beginning in 2016 giving automakers the 7 years they need to develop a whole new line of fuel efficient vehicles. The present CAFE standards are 27.5 MPG for cars and 24 MPG for light trucks. The light truck standards will increase to • Read More »

It’s Earth Day and wind power is the subject of the talk as President Obama gives a speech in Iowa at a wind turbine plant. At a place where Maytag appliances used to be made (and apparently the Maytag Repairman slept), President Obama called upon Congress to pass $150 billion in spending on renewable energy • Read More »

Universal Studios in Hollywood, California has decided to throw their gas-powered carts under the bus and go solar. In fact, Universal Studios has decided to buy 300 Cruise Car solar electric vehicles for all sorts of people to drive around their 415 acre lot. The Cruise Car Solar Electric Hybrid Cars are currently the only • Read More »

While some people are wringing their hands, quietly waiting for the Chevy Volt or another plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) to hit the showrooms in the next couple of years, a Fisher PHEV transit bus has already shown itself to the public. Funded mainly by the U. S. Department of Energy, Fisher Coachworks put the • Read More »

An electric car conversion from an internal combustion engine vehicle is what has students, teachers and home mechanics all abuzz around the country. With high gas prices the idea behind an electric car conversion is to save fuel and lower emissions to zero. Many people presume that the cost or time invested would be too • Read More »

Have you gotten a little cranky because you’re unable to use your portable solar charger at night to recharge your cell phone, GPS or other portable device? Are you even more cranky since you’re miles from nowhere and need just five minutes of juice to do what you need to do. Well, instead of getting • Read More »

The Tata Nano car has been unveiled in India and dubbed “The People’s Car” because the selling price is only $2,500. That’s right, not only is the selling price under $10,000 but way under this figure. The Nano car is fuel efficient too coming in a 54 mpg. This mini car is powered by a • Read More »

Today, President Bush has signed the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. This long-awaited bill spearheaded by Representative Dan Lipinski (D-IL) passed the House 314 to 100 and includes three major parts including the Bright Energy Savings Act, the H-Prize and new CAFE standards. The Bright Energy Savings Act calls for all government offices • Read More »

Because the Southern California wildfires were raging this week, the California Attorney General’s office has decided to postpone engaging its lawsuit until next week. Attorney General Jerry Brown is suing the Environmental Protection Agency to force stricter automobile emissions standards for the state. The auto emissions lawsuit will also impact 11 other states that will • Read More »

As of last night, 250,000 people were evacuated from their homes just in the San Diego area. At least 13 separate wildfires in Southern California are blazing and at least 260,000 acres so far have been destroyed. While other news outlets will cover the fears, anxieties, tragedies and human elements of this story, I would • Read More »