Fuel Efficient Vehicles

4-Wheeling

Can I Have a Diet Coke With That Ice Cream Sundae?

Essentially that's what UC Davis, Yale, and MIT researchers found among California families who purchase very fuel efficient vehicles—they also pair them with gas hogs. If your family owns two vehicles, do you meet the profile?

October 3, 2017 - San Francisco Chronicle

Gas Pump

U.S. Gasoline Consumption Might Decline Despite Love Affair with SUVs

Gasoline consumption in the U.S. peaked in 2007, but began climbing in late 2014 with the decline in gas prices. Last year almost set a new record, but increases in gas prices, fuel efficiency and more EVs could reverse the direction—but when?

January 24, 2017 - Oil Price

E-470 Toll

Colorado to Launch Road Usage Charge Pilot Next Month

Colorado residents are now being recruited to participate in a four-month program to evaluate how motorists react to being charged by the mile driven rather than gallon of fuel burned. Sagging fuel tax revenues are the impetus for the pilot program.

November 19, 2016 - The Denver Post

2015 Was a Record Year for New Vehicle Sales: 17.5 Million

Several key factors, not the least of which was cheap gas, combined to make 2015 a record year for new passenger vehicle sales, smashing the 2009 record of 10.4 million sales and edging-out the prior record of 17.40 million sales in 2000.

January 7, 2016 - The Washington Post

Has Fuel Efficiency Been Scapegoated to Avoid Raising the Federal Gas Tax?

Vermont's Transportation Secretary points to increased fuel efficiency as reason to look for an alternative revenue option, favoring Oregon's Road Usage Charge. Meanwhile, U.S. DOT reactivated its "ticker" to warn of funding cutoff after July 31.

June 23, 2015 - VPR

End of the Line for Honda's CNG-Fueled Cars, Civic Hybrid, and Accord Plug-In

Honda announced that low gas prices contributed to low demand for the Civic Natural Gas, the only compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered car for sale, the Civic Hybrid, and their first plug-in hybrid-electric vehicle, the Accord.

June 18, 2015 - Wall Street Journal

Mt. Hood and Traffic

A Serious Shortcoming in Oregon's Road Usage Charge?

Business providers have been chosen; the website is operating with a calculator and awaiting 5,000 participants to register. But is the 1.5 cent per mile flat rate an inherent flaw of the OReGO road usage charge program?

April 29, 2015 - Planetizen

Commute

Peak Driving Record Shattered

So long 2007. Hello 2014. According to new DOT data, peak driving is no longer in the rear view mirror but ahead of us thanks to cheap gas getting even cheaper, the rebound effect, an improved economy, and warmer weather.

January 25, 2015 - The Detroit News

Cheap Gas Defeats Fuel Efficiency Goals

The effect of low gas prices on motor vehicle selection by consumers could set back President Barack Obama's climate legacy, which includes obtaining fuel economy standards of 54.5 mpg by 2025.

December 31, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

California Fuel Consumption Rises—First Time in Eight Years

For the first time since 2006, gasoline consumption in California increased from the prior fiscal year. From July 2013 through June 2014, consumption increased 1 percent.

December 4, 2014 - The Sacramento Bee

The Environmental Downside of Falling Oil Prices

Ben Adler of Grist writes how falling oil prices will affect climate change. Cheaper gas prices may encourage more driving and more truck sales at the expense of hybrid, electric, and fuel efficient cars, but the news may not be all bad.

October 31, 2014 - Grist

Like the Old Days: Average Fuel Economy Declines in the United States

A recent study at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute showed that September saw the largest decline in average fuel economy, from 25.8 mpg to 25.3 mpg, since December 2011.

October 9, 2014 - 24/7 Wall Street

Do Hybrid Cars Make Cents?

According to Nick Bunkley, and data compiled by TrueCar.com, probably not. Aside from two hybrids and a diesel car, gas would need to cost $8 a gallon before most hybrids cover their increased initial cost versus a similar, non-hybrid model.

April 5, 2012 - The New York Times

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