Transportation Energy : Discovery Channel

Want to Know When That Hybrid Will Start Saving You Money? There’s an App (sort of) For That

Posted by David Goodspeed Mon May 21, 2012 01:17 PM ET | 0

Are you thinking about purchasing a hybrid vehicle but wondering just how much money you will actually save with the hybrid technology and when? Fueleconomy.gov has a nifty calculator that will figure this for you, allowing you to alter ... Read more

Study Shows Just 1 in 3 Hybrid Buyers Bought Another

Posted by David Goodspeed Mon Apr 9, 2012 06:56 PM ET | 0

Polk released an interesting study today that shows only 35 percent of hybrid vehicle owners bought another hybrid when purchasing a new vehicle in 2011. Hybrid models available today have doubled in numbers since 2007 yet the survey of ... Read more

Bi-Fuel Trucks, part II: Ram Announces Its Entry in CNG Arena

Posted by David Goodspeed Tue Mar 6, 2012 10:40 AM ET | 0

Yesterday I brought you word of GMC and Chevy announcing they will soon offer a 3/4-ton pickup with a bi-fuel option for cleaner, cheaper operation. Today Ram (formerly Dodge) trucks announces it will have a bi-fuel option arriving this ... Read more

GMC and Chevy to Offer New Bi-Fuel HD Pickups

Posted by David Goodspeed Mon Mar 5, 2012 11:52 AM ET | 0

The truck divisions of Chevrolet and GMC today released details for the new 2013 bi-fuel Silverado and Sierra 2500 HD pickups that fleet and retail customers can begin ordering soon. Based on extended cab chassis models at launch, the ... Read more

5 Reasons to Switch to a Diesel Vehicle

Posted by Alexander Davies Wed Feb 15, 2012 07:00 AM ET | 0

Long the lifeblood of Mack trucks, diesel fuel is often derided as dirty, noisy, and expensive. But thanks to recent technological advances and the growing realization that we’re running out of gasoline, diesel has been having something of a... Read more

What Are the Most Eco-Friendly Car Batteries?

Posted by Alexander Davies Thu Dec 22, 2011 01:12 PM ET | 0

Electric and hybrid cars have made quite an impact on the auto market, largely due to public concern over climate change and rising gas prices. But, skeptics are quick to point out, the Toyota Prius and Tesla Roadster may ... Read more

Beyond Piston Engines: Gas Turbine Cars

Posted by Alexander Davies Tue Dec 20, 2011 02:35 PM ET | 0

Gas turbine engines have numerous advantages over the piston engines that drive most of our cars. Their high power to weight ratio makes them better suited for large jobs, and they operate well at high altitudes. They are not ... Read more

Could an Electric Eel Power Your Electric Vehicle?

Posted by David Goodspeed Tue Dec 20, 2011 09:17 AM ET | 0

As a couple of holiday videos have proven recently, energy harnessed from electric eels is being used as an alternate source to power household accessories. This begs the question, “Could an electric eel be used to power an electric ... Read more

Is There a Future for Steam-Powered, Super-Efficient Cars?

Posted by Alexander Davies Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:00 PM ET | 0

In 1906, Fred Marriot climbed into his car and hit the accelerator. The steam powered vehicle raced at 127 miles per hour, setting the all-time land speed record and replacing the electric car as the king of speed. Four ... Read more

Hemp Energy: Sounds Like a Joke, But It’s Not

Posted by Alice Truong Wed Dec 14, 2011 12:15 PM ET | 0

Among the many uses of hemp: food, textiles, paper and even fuel. We’re still a ways from a hemp-powered car, but industrial hemp has made a number of headlines in past years, especially as an alternative energy source, as ... Read more

Can Hydrogen Be the Fuel of the Future?

Posted by Talal Al-Khatib Mon Dec 12, 2011 08:00 AM ET | 0

When it comes to looking to the energy source that will replace fossil fuels, there are no shortage of options. Solar power, wind energy, ethanol and biofuels are typically the most widely cited contenders to replace petroleum-based combustion... Read more

Ward’s 2012 10 Best Engines Winners Announced

Posted by David Goodspeed Fri Dec 9, 2011 10:00 AM ET | 0

WardsAuto has named its 10 Best Engines for 2012, a list that includes seven powertrains utilizing state-of-the-art direct-injection technology as automakers work to attain stricter fuel economy targets. The Wards list is the only program of its... Read more

Road Trains Offer a (Partly) Driverless Way to Drive

Posted by Talal Al-Khatib Thu Dec 8, 2011 03:42 PM ET | 0

Given all distractions available to drivers today, including cell phones, newspapers, tablets, and e-readers among other things, taking away the most demanding part of the ride — watching the road — may be a good idea. Road trains offer... Read more

Will Natural-Gas Cars Ever Become a Consumer Trend?

Posted by Marc Carter Tue Dec 6, 2011 07:15 AM ET | 0

Are you in the market for the greenest vehicle you can drive that isn’t a 10-speed bike? Natural gas-powered cars could be both cleaner and cheaper to run than gasoline or diesel powered cars — theoretically at least. This ... Read more

Intelligent Transportation Systems: Linking Vehicles and Infrastructure for a Traffic-Free Future

Posted by Talal Al-Khatib Mon Dec 5, 2011 11:12 AM ET | 0

Rapidly advancing technology during the past few decades has changed how we work, how we entertain ourselves, and how we connect with one another. Now advances in technology promise to improve how we drive. According to an IBM white ... Read more