Ford Votes for Plug-In Hybrids   30 Jul 2007 15:16 GMT
Ford's joint announcement with Southern California Edison this week to test 20 plug-in hybrid vehicles was symbolic on two counts: It was the first time a major automobile manufacturer teamed with power utility to explore technologies that could be beneficial...
Source: wired.com

BMW's New M3 Shows Minor Tradeoffs for Big V8 Power   30 Jul 2007 15:16 GMT
England's Car Magazine got one of the first road tests in the M3, soon headed to the United States. Among the reviewer's quibbles are numb steering, a lack of low-end torque, and too much body roll at turn-in. Once out...
Source: wired.com

Green Journalism Is the New Yellow   30 Jul 2007 15:16 GMT
Slate's editor-at-large, Jack Shafer, makes a pithy indictment of the excesses he sees in today's environmental journalism: Often as sensationalistic as its yellow predecessor, green journalism tends to appeal to our emotions, exploit our fears and pander to our vanity....
Source: wired.com

EU Trade Chief Says BioFuels Shouldn't Fund Farmers   30 Jul 2007 15:16 GMT
In a sign that alternative fuels are becoming ever more politicized, the European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said that biofuel policy should be based on environmental concerns, not as a way of protecting various interest groups. Europe should be open...
Source: wired.com

Chrysler Bets $530M on Energy-Saving Dual Clutch Plant   30 Jul 2007 15:16 GMT
Production is set to begin at the Indiana plant by 2009. The huge investment in this technology shows that Chrysler believes it's the best path to a profitable future. What happened to the company's continuously variable transmission, you ask? It's...
Source: wired.com

Chrysler Inks Deal with Chery to Stem Sliding Car Sales   30 Jul 2007 15:16 GMT
It was only mildly ironic that on the 4th of July Chrysler signed a deal with China's Chery Automobile to begin selling a re-branded version of the A1 hatchback in the United States. The Chery sells for about $7,100 in...
Source: wired.com

VW to Deliver New Turbodiesel by 2008   30 Jul 2007 15:16 GMT
The smart money says that it will arrive in the Jetta at first--and will possibly migrate to the Rabbit and the new Tiguan. Though slightly larger than the 1.9-liter model it replaces, the new 2.0 liter engine will have more...
Source: wired.com

Swedish Government Subsidizes Volvo Hybrid Research   30 Jul 2007 15:16 GMT
Volvo AB, a commercial vehicle and boat engine maker not to be confused with Ford's Volvo luxury car unit, said today the Swedish government is subsidizing its hybrid research for buses. The firm did not disclose the subsidy's value, but...
Source: wired.com

Demand for Oil Expected to Exceed Supplies by 2012   30 Jul 2007 15:16 GMT
Excluding a global economic slowdown, demand for oil will fall short of supplies much sooner than many had expected, according to the International Energy Agency. In its annual report released last week, the Agency predicts OPEC's spare capacity to narrow...
Source: wired.com

Ethanol Price Slide Nears Its End; Now Comes Politics   30 Jul 2007 15:16 GMT
The price of ethanol has plunged 43 percent in the past 12 months. For the first time in two years it is now cheaper than gasoline. Analysts see a rebound in the making. Oil refiners are expected to begin buying...
Source: wired.com