Why is it that all 50 states in our country has different auto emissions laws? Each state government is free to decide whether to require vehicle safety inspection and only metropolitan areas whose air quality does not meet federal standards are required to implement vehicle emission inspections. Thus, only 18 states and D.C. have a [...]
Dear EarthTalk: Celebrities and billionaires are shelling out big bucks for cutting edge green-friendly cars like the Tesla Roadster. But what are the rest of us””who live in the budget-constrained real world””to do about buying a new car that does right by the environment? With so many new energy efficient cars in showrooms today, there”™s [...]
Dear EarthTalk: I”™ve heard that cars can be modified to run on water. How is this possible? There are a number of online marketing offers of kits that will convert your car to “run on water,” but these should be viewed skeptically. These kits, which attach to the car”™s engine, use electrolysis to split the [...]
“The Peapod all-electric is a neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV) that’s eco-friendly and people-friendly. And it’s made of over 95% recycled and recyclable materials. It can go on any road with a posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour. ” I am already sold! If you live in a small town or an urban neighborhood, [...]
Dear EarthTalk: With plug-in hybrid and electric cars due to hit the roads sometime soon, will there be places to plug them in besides at home? And if so, how much will it cost to re-charge? Gasoline-electric hybrids, like the Toyota Prius, are all the rage due to their fuel efficiency, and consumers have been [...]
Dear EarthTalk: If you have an electric or plug-in hybrid car, you’re paying for electricity rather than gasoline all or most of the time. How does that cost compare to a gas-powered car’s cost-per-mile? And since the electricity may be generated from some other polluting source, does it really work out to be better for [...]
The most fuel efficient cars in America available for sale to most of us are the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid. Sure, there is the Tesla electric car and the Aptera, but neither of those are available (or affordable) to everyone. The Toyota Prius gets 48 MPG city and 45 MPG highway, while [...]
