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Tesla Comes Home (Jul 2)

In a surprising switch, Tesla Motors has announced it will build its next electric car model in its home state of California, lured by millions of dollars in state incentives. As it moves toward production of Model S, the start-up carmaker—a darling of the green tech movement—will need to deliver on its promises, something that it has found difficult during its short existence.

Don't Try This at Home Kids? (Jun 30)

A sobering reminder of the hazards in adding plug-in capabilities to hybrids comes from reports that a plug-in Prius conversion was destroyed in a fire. The news spread quickly through the online community of plug-in enthusiasts, bringing calls for all known information to be publicized as quickly as possible.

High-Mileage Chevy Small-Car in the Offing (Jun 27)

GM?s next-generation Chevy small-car will vault the company into the 40 mpg range, according to industry insiders. Spy photographers have captured the front-drive car in action, powered by a turbocharged 1.4-liter engine. Originally planned as the next-generation Cobalt subcompact due in 2010, it will now get is own name and be put forward as part of the company?s eco-stance along with the plug-in hybrid Volt.

McCain Lays Out His Energy Policy (Jun 25)

In a speech at Fresno State University in California, Republican presidential candidate John McCain outlined a series of new proposals for dealing with the energy and environmental crises that figure to play a bigger role in this year's elections than ever before.

Bad News Batteries (Jun 24)
These days, auto safety recalls don?t get much attention, so the news that General Motors was recalling 9,000 of its 2007 Saturn mild hybrids to replace the high-voltage battery pack in each one was no more than a blip in the press. But behind the scenes, it was an expensive and annoying distraction for General Motors, and a huge blow to Cobasys, makers of the nickel-metal-hydride batteries. For six months now, GM has been forced to divert batteries it should have fitted to this year?s mild hybrids toward its dealers? repair bays instead.

Toyota Looks to Go Small in the U.S. (Jun 23)

The race may now be set not to go to the swift, but the small. Toyota, evidently spurred by the positive reception to Daimler's Smart car, is eying bringing its iQ model to America soon after it's introduced in Japan this November, and Europe next January. Japan has already proven itself to be a receptive market for small cars, and Toyota says that the only thing standing between the iQ and similar success in the United States, is meeting American safety standards.

Why Americans Get Mileage All Wrong (Jun 21)
Every American knows what ?fuel mileage? is?especially these days. Whether it?s the EPA test results on the window sticker, or the actual mileage you figured out for your car, we?re all asking: How many miles can we go on a gallon of fuel? In Europe and Asia though, fuel efficiency is measured by how many liters of gas it takes to go 100 kilometers. So what's the difference? A new study released by Duke University?s Fuqua School of Business sheds some light on why "miles per gallon" is inferior to "fuel consumption."

The March Toward Plug-In Hybrids Continues (Jun 19)

GE is teaming up with Chrysler to help accelerate the latter's late move into plug-ins. Meanwhile, the U.S. government is finally putting some money into plug-in hybrid development—not a lot mind you—but it looks like industry has already sunk its own change into the program. Plug-Ins are coming. But how long will we have to wait, and will they be affordable?

Chevy Volt No Longer an 'Electric Camaro' (Jun 17)
The Chevy Volt concept car has been put out to stud. Its final public appearance was last week, at the Brookings Institute plug-in hybrid conference held in Washington, DC. GM has announced it will no longer be shown in public, and that the styling of the production Volt will be unveiled ?soon." So what will the actual Volt look like? It will have to me much more aerodynamic, and from the few glimpses we've had thus far, the body design may just end up resembling that of the Toyota Prius.

The Japanese Diesel Race (Jun 16)

These days, no major auto company can afford to ignore a technology that wrings more miles from a gallon of gas. Japanese automakers currently own more than 90 percent of the growing hybrid market, and they seem determined not to be left out of the diesel market either. Nissan plans to first offer a diesel engine to the American market in 2010, and Toyota, Subaru and Mitsubishi have all made noises about doing the same.