Articles by Paul Riegler
Study: Fuel Usage Could Drop 80% by 2050 with 74 MPG Cars
A study sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy shows that a combination of more efficient vehicles, changes in government policy, and the adoption of alternative fuels could lower the amount of fuel and greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks by as much as 80% by the year …
Last Chance to Vote for Your Favorite Diesel in the 2013 Diesel Car of the Year Awards
Vote today for your favorite diesel automobile. Balloting for the 2013 Diesel Car of the Year is almost over but you still have a chance to support your choice.
The field is wide open: five companies, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Volkswagen, currently offer a variety of diesel passenger cars in …
Place Your Vote for the 2013 Diesel Car of the Year
There are only two weeks left to vote for your pick for the 2013 Diesel Car of the Year and the 2013 Diesel Car Manufacturer of the Year. Cars from five automakers are in the running: Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Volkswagen.
This year’s stellar field of nominees includes eight passenger …
Volkswagen Launches 261 mpg XL1 Plug-in Hybrid, World’s Most Efficient Production Car
Diesel Plug-in Hybrid Gullwing Set to Go Into Production
Volkswagen announced the launch of the XL1 plug-in hybrid, a vehicle Volkswagen says is the most fuel-efficient production car in the world. The XL1 can cover 32 miles (52 kilometers) in all-electric mode as a zero-emissions vehicle. Fuel economy is 261 mpg …
EPA Rule on Renewable Fuels Overturned in Court
The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that a quota set by the Environmental Protection Agency requiring refiners to use liquids made from woody crops and waste materials in motor fuel was unenforceable on Friday.
The panel of judges said that the EPA’s rule appeared completely …
Mazda Does Diesel at Daytona to Introduce Mazda6 Skyactiv-D to U.S.
Mazda, which recently announced it will offer the Mazda6 sedan with a diesel engine later this year, will introduce the United States to its brand of diesel engines at the Rolex 24, also known as the 24 Hours of Daytona.
Mazda will run three Mazda6 sedans in the endurance race this …
BMW, Toyota Take Relationship to Next Level
BMW and Toyota announced plans to work together on fuel cell systems, lightweight construction technology, Lithium-air batteries, and a joint-platform mid-sized sports vehicle.
The two automakers began their collaborative relationship in December 2011. In March 2012, they announced an agreement to support a collaborative research project in next-generation lithium-ion battery cells, …
Vote for the 2013 Diesel Car of the Year
Voting for the 2013 Diesel Car of the Year and the 2013 Diesel Car Manufacturer of the Year has started. Five companies, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Volkswagen, currently offer a variety of diesel passenger cars in the U.S. To vote, scroll down on this page.
This year’s stellar field of …
Drowsy Driving Major Cause of Accidents in U.S.
If you’ve felt sleepy at the wheel and tried to keep going by drinking lots of Red Bull or blasting music from your iPhone, you’re not alone. A study published in the January 4, 2013 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report suggests that roughly 4% of drivers believe they …
IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Vehicles for 2013 Include 1 Diesel
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a non-profit that focuses on highway safety and conducts crash tests of cars sold in the United States, announced that 13 cars, including one diesel-powered model, had qualified as a Top Safety Pick+. The diesel is the Volkswagen Passat. The other models include the …
EPA Lowers Soot Pollution Standards by 20%
The Environmental Protection Agency announced new air quality standards that will reduce by 20% the maximum allowable amount of soot, or particulate matter, that will be released into the air by smokestacks, diesel exhaust, and other sources of pollution.
Also known as particulate matter, or PM, soot can include a number …
Gas Rationing Ends in New Jersey, Ramps Up in New York
While New York City and Long Island first embraced 1970s-style gas rationing last Friday, the neighboring state of New Jersey, which started rationing a week earlier, announced plans to discontinue it.
The rationing system has restricted the sale of gasoline and diesel to cars with even-numbered plates on even days such …
