How will the Volkswagen scandal affect diesel?
I must admit I’ve always been a little skeptical about this idea that diesel can be a “clean-burning fuel.” Anyone who has ever gotten stuck sitting behind a bus in traffic is likely to agree.
Author Archive for: Arctic Leaf
Entries by Arctic Leaf
Can Apple succeed in the car business?
The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Apple has committed to trying to produce an electric car by 2019. Some see it as assuring the transformation of the auto industry, while others see it as Apple’s Waterloo.
195 cities celebrate Drive Electric Week
Earlier this month the nation celebrated National Drive Electric Week, with events in 195 cities.
Whatever happened to the Toyota Prius?
Eighteen years ago it was stylish beyond belief, the car that was going to lead us out of the Age of the Internal Combustion Engine and into a green future. Today the Prius has become somewhat dowdy, a tree-huggers’ car that’s trying to boast great gas mileage at a time when gasoline is about $2.30 […]
Cities emerge as incubators for electric cars
The realization is emerging that if electric cars are going to succeed in becoming part of the American fleet, it is probably going to happen in cities. There are several reasons for this: In-city trips are short and probably stay within the range of most electrical vehicles, if they don’t rise much above 50 to […]
The demise and resurrection of the natural gas industry
Borrowing from Mark Twain, the reports of the natural gas industry’s death have been greatly exaggerated. Words and phrases — like epic decline, demise, abandonment, crushed, confused, over-leveraged, bankrupt ideas and financially ill — have been used by many in the media and some analysts to define the state of the sector. Why? According to […]
The electric car — from Thomas Edison to Grandma Duck
People tend to think that Teslas and the Nissan Leaf are new developments, but in fact the electric car has a history stretching back to the 19th century. The first electric car was built in 1884 by Thomas Parker, the man responsible for designing the London Underground, plus various overhead tramways in Liverpool and Birmingham, […]
Tesla approaches a moment of truth
The month of September will mark a turning point as to whether Tesla Motors will be just another overhyped technology stock or whether it is truly about to lead a revolution in the auto industry. The month will mark the introduction of Tesla’s Model X, a $90,000 crossover SUV that will test the company’s ability […]
The pot calling the kettle black: The AEA and alternative fuels
I have great sympathy for the coal miners of this nation. Their job in supplying this nation with coal is among the toughest in the world. Their historical contribution to the nation’s economic well-being is well established. They were, and many remain, beset with long hours, moderate pay (currently $22,000 to $64,000 per year), negative […]
Alt-fuel stations growing, without subsidies or regulations
Without much fanfare, the number of fueling stations offering an alternative to gasoline has passed the 20,000 mark, according to the federal government’s Clean Cities program. The number of gasoline fueling stations, according to the American Petroleum Institute, is 153,000. The figure shows that alternative infrastructure is gaining ground even as the number of alternative […]
