You may really like cars, or driving, but if you’re like most people you probably don’t actually enjoy buying or pumping gas. It’s expensive, tedious, smelly, and flammable, and a new survey finds that a vast majority of us would prefer if our cars could be more efficient so we wouldn’t have to fill ’em up as often. [More]
fuel economy
No, Improved Gas Mileage Doesn’t Put Car Ownership Out Of Reach For Low-Income Americans
By 3.6.17 — Updated: 5.10.17
Automakers are currently asking the Trump administration to rescind federal fuel economy standards, claiming that these rules make cars more expensive and put car ownership out of reach for low-income Americans. However, a new report contends that the data doesn’t support this argument. [More]
Americans’ Gas-Guzzling Habit Will Peak In 2018
By 3.2.17
While the total number of cars on the road will increase in the coming years, experts predict that the United States’ oil usage will peak next year. That’s because the growing popularity of electric and hybrid vehicles along with ever-increasing (government-mandated, at least for now) fuel economy standards mean that the our gasoline usage will peak next year, and fall from there. [More]
Automakers Ask New EPA Chief Pruitt To Rescind Mileage, Greenhouse Gas Standards
By 2.22.17
Now that Scott Pruitt — the former Oklahoma Attorney General who repeatedly sued the Environmental Protection Agency — has been sworn in as the Administrator of the agency whose policies he once attacked, auto industry lobbyists are calling on the EPA to put a stop to longterm fuel-economy and emissions standards locked in by the previous White House. [More]
Kia, Hyundai Agree To Pay $41.2M To 33 States & D.C. Over Fuel Economy Issues
By 10.27.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
Hyundai and Kia agreed Thursday to pay $41.2 million to dozens of states four years after it was revealed that the carmakers overstated the fuel efficiency of certain vehicles. [More]
25 Total Mitsubishi, Nissan Models Affected By Fuel-Economy Issue; None So Far In U.S.
By 6.17.16
Two months after U.S. regulators opened an investigation into Mitsubishi over falsified fuel mileage data, the carmaker says its internal probe found that 20 of its models are affected, but none in the U.S. [More]
GM To Compensate Some Vehicle Owners For Misstated Mileage
By 5.20.16
Last week, General Motors revealed that it had incorrectly calculated the fuel economy on three models of SUV. The carmaker stopped the sale of these vehicles and is now going through the mea culpa process, trying to make things right with drivers who already own one of these SUVs.
[More]
Mitsubishi Says Fuel Mileage Falsified In All Vehicles Sold In Japan; U.S. Regulators Order Additional Tests
By 5.11.16
Last month, Mitsubishi admitted to falsifying fuel data on some vehicles sold in Japan for more than 25 years, leading to an ongoing probe by U.S. regulators. Now, that investigation is being expanded following the automaker’s acknowledgement that it fabricated the fuel economy data on all models sold in Japan. [More]
Hyundai And Kia To Pay $100M For Misleading MPG, Gas Emission Figures
By 11.3.14
In vehicle manufacturer news that doesn’t have to do with recalls, Hyundai and Kia will pay a record $100 million penalty to the Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board for not being completely truthful about their vehicles’ fuel economy estimates. [More]
EPA Wants Car Companies To Test Gas Mileage In Real World
By 7.15.14
Over the last few years, car makers have had to fork over more than $500 million in refunds to customers because of exaggerated fuel economy estimates on new vehicle stickers. In an effort to provide more accurate mileage information to consumers, the Environmental Protection Agency wants car companies to do their mpg testing on the road instead of in the lab. [More]
Ford & EPA Try To Figure Out Why C-Max, Fusion Aren’t Getting Advertised MPG
By 12.14.12
Following last week’s announcement that Consumer Reports’ real-world fuel-economy testing of Ford’s C-Max and Fusion hybrid vehicles showed these cars are not getting the 47 mpg touted by the car maker, both Ford and the Environmental Protection Agency have said they are looking into the matter. [More]
Tests Show Ford Fusion, C-Max Hybrid Are Not Getting Close To 47 MPG
By 12.6.12
Watch ads for the 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid sedan or its C-Max Hybrid wagon and you’ll hear that the vehicles get 47 miles per gallon (highway and city combined), which sounds awfully nice considering the cost of gasoline. But real-road tests of these cars don’t seem to back those numbers up. [More]
Woman Whips Honda In Small Claims Court
By 2.2.12
The woman who took Honda to small claims court because her Civic didn’t live up to its advertised gas mileage is now almost $10,000 richer thanks to a Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner ruling. [More]
Auto Manufacturers Slim Down Cars To Increase Fuel Economy
By 5.6.11
As a reaction to rising gas prices, new cars are becoming lighter and more fuel-efficient. Auto manufacturers are scrounging for ways to cut the weight of vehicles, shifting to lighter materials and ditching some parts altogether. [More]
Airline Urges Passengers To Leave Their Urine Behind
By 10.7.09
In a new and exciting airline cutback effort, an airline is now asking passengers to relieve themselves before getting on the plane in order to decrease passenger weight and save fuel. No, we’re not making this up. And no, it’s not Ryanair.
Honda, Toyota, Ford Top Cash For Clunkers Sellers
By 8.5.09
Some initial statistics are in on the vehicles traded in and purchased in the “Cash for Clunkers” program. Unsurprisingly, 80% of the vehicles traded in are trucks or SUVs, and the top sellers among car-buyers come from Honda, Toyota, and Ford.
Trade Your Clunker For These Sweet Fuel-Sipping Rides
By 6.25.09
The Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS), popularly known as the “cash for clunkers” program, starts next month. Need help picking a suitably fuel-efficient car?
In The Market For A New Vehicle? Here Are The Details Of The New CARS Credit Program
By 6.24.09
Next month, the government will start handing out credits of $3,500 or $4,500 to owners who trade in low-mpg cars for higher efficiency models under the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS), popularly called the “Cash for Clunkers” program. Here are the basic things you need to know to determine whether it’s worth it to you—and how to protect yourself from scammers.
