The next big thing in low-carbon aircraft isn't really an aircraft at all. DON'T MISS: Cars Vs. Planes: Which Emits More Carbon? It's a wing, mounted to the back of a Peterbilt truck. NASA is using this rig to test a concept that involves replacing today's large and thirsty jet engines with an array of electric motors. Which Sins Worse?) (Dec. emissions research NASA aircraft MORE

While automakers work to meet stricter carbon-emissions standards, another sector of the U.S. Carbon-dioxide (CO2) emissions from electricity generation during the first six months of 2016 were the lowest since 1991, according to the U.S. economy has already made notable progress in reducing ts emissions. Energy Information Administration (EIA). emissions electric utilities renewable energy solar energy air pollution MORE

It seems carbon fiber is starting to show up everywhere in cars to cut weight, with wheels being one of the latest examples. There are already some aftermarket carbon-fiber wheels available, but now Ford will offer them as standard equipment on its sportiest new Mustang model--the Shelby GT350R. Wheels Carbon Fiber aluminum weight reduction MORE

the "wells to wheels" carbon-dioxide emissions associated with. Carbon Footprint emissions global warming climate change carbon dioxide wells to wheels Union of Concerned ScientistsThe question is a reasonable one: electric cars may be zero-emission, but what about the electricity to recharge them? While renewable energy is growing globally, burning fossil fuels is still the source of most electric power today. The good news is that in most areas of the U.S., MORE

For electric utilities eager to hang onto their existing coal-fired power plants, carbon-capture technology must offer an exciting chance at salvation. As the name says, carbon capture retains and stores the emissions produced by coal power plants in particular, in theory mitigating some of their environmental impact. Power plants equipped with. emissions electric utilities energy fossil fuels MORE

Five years ago, Chevrolet made two commitments to reduce its carbon footprint. That same year, it also pledged to invest $40 million in projects to reduce carbon emissions. DON'T MISS: GM Looks Local For $40M Carbon-Reduction Initiative. emissions General Motors Carbon renewable energyIn December 2010 it launched the first-generation Volt as part of the initial wave of mass-market electric cars. MORE

Carbon Footprint emissions Minnesota greenhouse gas electric utilities plug-in carsIt's a very reasonable question: electric cars themselves have no tailpipe emissions, but what about the power plants used to recharge them? After more than a dozen studies and five-plus years of plug-in car sales, we know the answer. In North America, an electric car charged on even the dirtiest, most coal-intensive electric grid in the nation. MORE

But they have undeniable benefit of lowering wells-to-wheels carbon emissions per mile driven, and they can also be powered entirely on renewable energy. Carbon Footprint bicycle carbon dioxide plug-in cars wells to wheelsElectric cars are simply nicer and calmer to drive than conventional cars, and as their prices fall, that may be what will lure mass-market buyers over time. MORE

Transportation is a major contributor to carbon emissions, but historically it has not been the largest source. carbon emissions. However, that has apparently changed. Transportation-related sources now account for the largest share of U.S. DON'T MISS: How much do electric cars really pollute, even without tailpipes? Earlier this year. emissions Fuel Economy MORE

Carbon fiber You probably don''t think about your car''s wheels that much, but to state the exceedingly obvious they''re an essential part of every car. They''re also surprisingly heavy, as you''ll know if you''ve ever rotated your tires or had to change to a spare at the side of the road. MORE

According to a new international study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , 38% of black carbon in the Russian Arctic originates from transport and 35% from residential heating sources, while open fires, power plants, and gas flaring are responsible for only 12%, 9%, and 6% respectively. Black carbon, or soot, increases snow and ice melt by dulling the reflective surface and increasing the absorption of sunlight. MORE

For several years now, rigorous "wells-to-wheels" analyses of the carbon-dioxide emissions. Carbon Footprint emissions carbon dioxide electric utilities plug-in cars GRIDElectric cars have no tailpipe emissions when running. But unless they're charged entirely on renewable energy—still statistically unlikely today—there are emissions associated with generating the electricity used to charge their batteries. MORE

Eco-activists often indict air travel as a carbon-spewing threat to the global climate. Worldwide, commercial jets pour an estimated 700 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year, leading to headlines like this one in The New York Times not long ago: “Your Biggest Carbon Sin May Be Air Travel.” Carbon Footprint emissions greenhouse gas climate change transportation policy air pollution MORE

Today, a company called Power Japan Plus came out of stealth mode to unveil a new battery chemistry, with both electrodes--anode and cathode--made of carbon. The new cell, known as the Ryden Dual-Carbon Battery, promises energy MORE

million (US$141 million) of government funding, alongside significant funding from industry, to help develop the next generation of driverless and low-carbon vehicles, as part of the Industrial Strategy and the government’s Plan for Britain. Seven innovative projects will share grants from the latest round of funding from the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), the joint industry-government program to put the UK at the forefront of low carbon vehicle technology. MORE

Several European countries--including Norway, The Netherlands, and France--aggressively promote electric cars as a way to reduce vehicular carbon emissions. Carbon Footprint Germany incentives plug-in cars transportation policyBut despite its large domestic car industry, Germany is not among them. German government support for electric cars has been lukewarm at best, but now it appears that could change soon. DON'T. MORE

To many, biofuels seem like the ultimate compromise between lower carbon emissions and practicality. And, advocates say, biofuels are carbon-neutral, because any emissions related to burning them are. Biofuels Carbon Footprint emissions ethanol research Study alternative fuel vehiclesIt's easy to see the appeal of fuels billed as cleaner replacements for gasoline that also require few changes to established consumer routines. MORE

One new policy measure that could get companies to cut their carbon emissions is to put a price on those emissions. Such a "carbon tax" is enthusiastically supported by many advocates of greater action on climate change—including Tesla CEO Elon Musk—as an effective way to reduce emissions by putting an economic cost on them. Carbon Footprint emissions global warming energy policy climate change taxes carbon dioxide electric utilities MORE

LanzaTech has been selected by the Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) to receive a $4-million award to design and plan a demonstration-scale facility using industrial off gases to produce 3 million gallons/year of low-carbon jet and diesel fuels. Aviation Bio-hydrocarbons Carbon Capture and Conversion (CCC) Diesel Fuels Vehicle Manufacturers MORE

Researchers led by a team from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have developed a new laser process that could make joining carbon fiber composites and aluminum for lightweight cars and other multi-material high-end products less expensive—as well as making the joints more robust. MORE

Global carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels did not grow in 2015 and are projected to rise only slightly in 2016, marking three years of almost no growth, according to researchers at the University of East Anglia (UEA) and the Global Carbon Project. MORE

April 2 of this year marks the 10th anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling in Massachusetts vs EPA in which the EPA was forced to regulate carbon emissions. Carbon Footprint emissions laws EPA global warming lawsuit climate change carbon dioxide regulation MassachusettsAnniversaries often provide an opportunity to reflect on important past events, review what has happened since, and reflect upon the future. MORE

Producing carbon dioxide is an unavoidable part of burning fuel in cars. The problem with this of course is that carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas. The concept of carbon dioxide capturing has been theorized for a while now, but researchers at Saudi Aramco And the more cars there are on the road, the more sources of this greenhouse gas there are. MORE

Last month, scientists released an assessment that suggests global carbon emissions did not increase significantly in 2016. That makes this the third year in a row that carbon emissions have remained flat. Environmental emissions energy policy greenhouse gas climate change carbon dioxide air pollutionGlobal efforts to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions may be starting to pay off, suggests a recent study. MORE

With yesterday's release of final EPA rules for reducing carbon emissions from power plants, the stage is set for a major battle over how--and even whether--any carbon emissions in the U.S. Carbon Footprint Norway climate change plug-in cars transportation policymay be limited. Meanwhile, there's Norway. As Ola Elvestuen, a member of Parliament there as well as Chair of the Standing Committee on Energy and the. MORE

scientists and policymakers were excited about a new form of carbon-free energy--although not one that''s generally considered green today. In the 1950s, U.S. It was nuclear power. Multiple accidents and concerns over long-term disposal of radioactive fuel essentially killed nuclear-power development in the U.S., but some researchers believe it''s MORE

Not the least of it are body shells made of carbon-fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) mounted atop an aluminum rolling platform carrying the powertrains and crash structures. Body Carbon Fiber CFRP weight reduction The BMW i3 electric car and i8 plug-in hybrid sport coupe are audacious examples of advanced technology in many ways. MORE

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) researchers have become the first to 3D-print aerospace-grade carbon fiber composites, opening the door to greater control and optimization of the lightweight, yet stronger than steel material. MORE

Battery-electric cars produce no direct carbon emissions from driving, but those are not the only potential source of emissions related to these vehicles. The lifetime carbon emissions of electric cars seem to be the question that launches a thousand studies. Green Carbon Footprint Manufacturing Plug-In Hybrids Study UCS emissions plug-in cars MORE

The trucks are being fueled from special storage trailers while SoCalGas completes a 1.4-mile pipeline that will bring the carbon-neutral renewable natural gas into the SoCalGas distribution system. Up to 320 of CR&R’s recycling and waste collection vehicles operating in Southern California will use this zero-carbon fuel. Southern California Gas Co. MORE

To source the new lightweight track-capable carbon fiber wheels that are standard on the new Shelby GT350R Mustang, Ford partnered with Australia-based Carbon Revolution. Carbon Revolution first began delivering composite wheels in 2004 for Formula SAE campaigns. MORE

One of the major sources of carbon emissions is electricity generation. So what would it take to eliminate carbon emissions entirely from making electricity? emissions Carbon climate change Study electric utilities renewable energy energyIt's an issue that is becoming increasingly important in the automotive sphere, due to the slow rise of plug-in electric cars. DON'T MISS: Bipartisan governors' group urges Trump to back. MORE

Saint Jean Carbon Inc., a carbon science company engaged in the design and build of energy storage carbon materials, and a battery manufacturing partner will build a high-powered full-scale lithium-ion battery with recycled/upcycled material from an electric car power pack and upcycled anode material from Saint Jean Carbon. MORE

Stricter emissions standards may raise the average cost of new vehicles, but will that make them "elitist?" The increasingly sophisticated technology required to improve the efficiency of new gasoline and diesel cars does indeed add to their cost. But Jim Farley—the head of Ford's European operations—believes this could make cars so. Europe emissions Fuel Economy transportation policy MORE

Which new vehicle sold today has the lowest overall carbon footprint over its lifetime? The answer, according to Automotive Science Group (via InsideEVs), turns out to be the Nissan Leaf battery-electric car. In a study to be released this spring, The Automotive Peformance Index: Redefining Value in the North American Automotive Marketplace, ASG MORE

ExxonMobil is backing a new process that would capture carbon dioxide form power plants, and use it to feed fuel cells. FuelCell hopes to combine carbon capture and sequestration (CCS). oil Carbon carbon dioxide clean energy ExxonThe oil giant announced Thursday that it is expanding a partnership with Connecticut-based FuelCell Energy to develop the smaller company's fuel-cell technology. MORE

Tokyo Motor Show Carbon Fiber Gordon Murray Gordon Murray Design YamahaWhen it comes to car design, Gordon Murray has had a highly varied career. He designed the McLaren F1 supercar, as well as the lightweight Rocket single-seat sports car and numerous race cars. Throughout his career, Murray has always emphasized lightweight construction in his designs, and his latest work is no different. DON'T MISS: Tokyo Motor. MORE

You may be aware of your car''s carbon footprint, but what about the emissions related to the concrete structures it drives over? The Portland cement that acts as the glue in concrete is actually a major source of carbon emissions, due to the intense heat required to manufacture it. MORE

Within the text of the final CPP rules, EPA opened up the possibility of allowing “ affected EGU (Electric Generating Units) to use qualifying CCU [Carbon Capture and Utilization] technologies to reduce CO 2 emissions that are subject to an emission standard, or those that are counted when demonstrating achievement of the CO 2 emission performance rates or a state rate-based or mass-based CO 2 emission. ”. Algae Algal Fuels Carbon Capture and Conversion (CCC) Climate Change Regulations MORE

Fuels produced from plant feedstocks are touted by many as a viable and lower-carbon alternative to traditional gasoline or diesel. But the need to dedicate large swaths of land to growing crops for fuel, and the need to ensure all vehicles are compatible with these "biofuels," has limited their practicality. That's where a new type of diesel fuel. emissions Germany Norway synthetic fuel synthetic diesel MORE

A decade ago, it was seen as a homegrown and carbon-neutral way to use less gasoline—and federal legislation mandated that increasing volumes be blended into U.S. Much debate followed over using "food for fuel," its supposed carbon neutrality and the footprint of the. MORE

emissions energy policy climate change carbon dioxide innovation solarRepresentatives of world governments will meet in Paris this December to discuss a global strategy for combating climate change. But the outlook doesn't appear promising, according to a recent assessment by the International Energy Agency. It claims "not one" of the new technologies being tracked as possible solutions to the problem is meeting its. MORE

As world leaders met this past week in Paris to discuss carbon reductions on a global scale, mayors of four large West Coast cities—Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Portland—met in Portland for a two-day summit and united to reduce carbon emissions on a regional level. emissions zero emissions EVs carbon dioxide MORE