epa

EPA rates range of 300-mile Tesla Model S at 265 miles

Tesla announced a goal of 300 miles for the range of its Model S electric sedan early in its development. As the company came closer to production, it said that only the top-trim Model S, with an 85-kilowatt-hour battery pack, would achieve the 300-mile figure. Less expensive versions of the car, with 60- and 40-kilowatt-hour batteries, would hit 230 miles and 160 miles, respectively.

Today, in a somewhat technical and involved blog post from Tesla founder Elon Musk and CTO JB Straubel, the company revealed that the 85-kilowatt-hour Model S only achieved a range of 265 miles.

The post initially … Read more

Subaru BRZ, Scion FR-S rated by EPA, results are 'meh'

We're starting to get just a little excited about impending U.S. launch of the Toyobaru twins: the 2013 Subaru BRZ and 2013 Scion FR-S. We've taken more than a few longing looks at each of these cars since their announcement, Subaru's pre-order page is already up, and now (thanks to the EPA's fuel economy web site) we have an idea of what fuel economy you can expect, should you chose to make one of of these vehicles your daily driver.

The Subie and Scion feature identical 2.0-liter, four-cylinder boxer engines that make use of … Read more

California EPA to appeal ruling that blocks low-carbon rules

The California agency responsible for protecting air quality says it will appeal a decision by a court that blocks enforcement of rules designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and encourage alternative fuel technologies.

The Air Resources Board, part of the California Environmental Protection Agency, adopted the landmark Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCSF) last year. The regulation gives producers and refiners until 2020 to reduce the carbon footprint of their fuel by 10 percent.

Ethanol producers complained that the rules favor in-state producers and refiners because they take into consideration the carbon footprint impact of the transportation of, as well as … Read more

Car Tech Live 227: It's fast, it's yellow, and it's a Porsche (podcast)

The EPA doubles fuel economy by 2025, BMW shows off an electric car, Nissan complains about an electric car review, and drivers think about stopping.

Subscribe with iTunes (audio) Subscribe with iTunes (video) Subscribe with RSS (audio) Subscribe with RSS (video) EPISODE 227 SHOW NOTES

• New EPA regs are out

• BMW i reveals electric car concepts

• Nissan calls out 'Top Gear' over Leaf review

• Mazda Minagi concept becomes CX-5 at Frankfurt auto show

• Drivers put the brakes on with thought alone

New CAFE rules nearly double fuel economy by 2025

The debt debate may be grabbing all the headlines, but another debate has been taking place in Washington over the last few years. Under the Obama administration, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been hammering out an agreement with automakers and the state of California for a new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard. Today the EPA announced that a CAFE of 54.5 mpg will be required by 2025, nearly doubling current fuel economy standards.

Automakers such as Ford, GM, Chrysler, BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, and Toyota signed onto the agreement. The standards call for a CAFE of … Read more

'Most Efficient' Energy Star rating introduced

In addition to products with the basic Energy Star rating, consumers can now choose to buy even more efficient products with the help of a new rating.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy introduced last week an additional rating it calls Energy Star Most Efficient.

Consumer electronics and appliances with the Energy Star Most Efficient seal will signify those products that have exceptional efficiency within their product category. The seal will only be awarded to the top 5 percent of models. It will initially be introduced in five categories: clothes washers, heating and cooling … Read more

Supreme court rejects global warming lawsuit

The Supreme Court today rejected a global warming lawsuit against five big power companies, its most important environmental ruling since 2007 and a victory for the utilities and the Obama administration.

The justices unanimously overturned a U.S. appeals court ruling that the lawsuit now involving six states can proceed in an effort to force the coal-burning plants to cut emissions of gases that contribute to climate change.

In a defeat for environmentalists, the Supreme Court agreed with the companies that regulating greenhouse gases should be left to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the clean air laws.… Read more

New car labels offer QR codes but no grades

Consumers should have an easier time comparing the fuel economy of cars and light trucks once new consumer labels unveiled today go into effect.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson unveiled the new set of labels this morning at a live press conference hosted on the Web.

Prior to this, car labels hadn't been updated for 30 years.

Each new label differs slightly depending on the car's drive train or fuel source. (Click for a PDF of all labels.) Labels in the set include those for gas, flex-fuel gas-ethanol blends, … Read more

Methanol Institute onboard with Open Fuel Standard Act

With gas summer prices again threatening up to $4 a gallon across the U.S., everyone is looking at alternative fuels. Research into methanol, ethanol, and biodiesel is on the rise.

The Methanol Institute today, for example, announced that it's backing of the Open Fuel Standard Act of 2011 (H.R. 1687) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Methanol is just one of the several alternative fuels that are being researched as affordable alternatives to fossil fuel.

"The Open Fuel Standard Act is all about choice," Methanol Institute Executive Director Gregory Dolan said in a statement. &… Read more