Fuel Efficiency

Just because a car says "hybrid" on its side panel, is it really any easier on the environment than its gas-burning counterparts?

By David Goodspeed

It's pretty much common knowledge that some countries use more resources than others. Do you know who consumes the most fossil fuel per capita?

By Jamie Page Deaton

With petroleum-loving masses and tax-happy governments finally getting on board with the development of alt fuels, the race is on to find the cleanest, eco-friendliest, and most importantly, cheapest alternative to fossil fuels.

By Eric Rogell

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.

By Marc Carter

There’s a lot of buzz these days about electric vehicles, as years of prototypes and waiting at last give way to cars like the Chevy Volt and the Toyota Prius. But if gasoline is no longer king, is there room for solar power in the auto industry?

By Alexander Davies

Wine adds flavor to foods and can pair nicely with a meal once it’s served. You can even use it to dye fabrics and soften your skin. But is it really good for making fuel, too?

By Terri Briseno

"Lower than pond scum" may be a great insult; but we're not here to put these micro-organisms down any lower than they already are on the evolutionary chart. In fact, we're here to exalt them.

By Akweli Parker

The U.S. government is offering tax breaks to those who make, mix and sell biofuels to consumers -- but not to the consumers who actually use them. We'll tell you how these tax credits work.

By Christopher Lampton

First-generation biofuels don't hold the promise they once did. Will the second generation be able to reduce the world's dependence on oil with affecting the global food supply?

By John Perritano

Oil is not only a precious resource, it's also a financial hot commodity for the giant oil companies. That's because we have a love-hate relationship with it.

By Alison Kim Perry

To cut down on carbon dioxide emissions, governments, car manufacturers and utility companies have been seriously pursuing alternative energy sources. How much do you know about biofuels?

By Dave Roos

Can we use vegetable oil as fuel in our cars and in electrical generators? The short answer is yes. The longer answer is, well, yes, with a good number of qualifications.

By Matthew McDermott, Planet Green

The world produces an astonishing amount of olives -- 21.2 million tons, or 19.3 million metric tons, says the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. It would be a bummer for all those pits to just sit in a landfill.

By Jonathan Atteberry

Instead of relying on futuristic power sources, steampunk-style contraptions look to the past and get their juice from steam. Does steam have staying power as a source of energy?

By Laurie L. Dove

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. Is hemp the power of the future?

By Alice Truong

Biofuels -- the word seems magical. It brings to mind singing birds, clear blue skies and global happiness. Somehow, we can turn plants and other organic material into something to power our cars and save the planet at the same time.

By Craig Haggit

Scientists use the term algae to refer to a large and varied group of plantlike organisms often found in water. Like plants, algae are photosynthetic: They convert carbon dioxide into food using the power of sunlight. Could it be used as fuel?

By Chris Opfer

Would you believe corn isn't just potential fuel for you, but also for your car? Welcome to biofuels!

By Elizabeth Sprouse

There's no question -- relying on coal and oil for power is a dirty game. Both fuels release greenhouse gases when burned. Both require extensive and sometimes dangerous collection methods.

By Jonathan Strickland

From wood-burning stoves in Sudan to coal-fired power plants in Pittsburgh, most of the world runs on biomass energy -- energy produced using materials derived from living things

By Christine Venzon

There are plenty of arguments for biorefining as the way to power the future, as well as reasons to wonder if we should think twice about the developing energy source.

By Alexander Davies

The sun provides more than enough energy for all of our needs, but the hard part is harnessing it to be able to use it effectively.

By Christopher Neiger

There’s a saying about sports cars: They can pass anything on the road -- except a gas station. Here are 10 sports cars that break the stereotypical gas-guzzler image.

By Christopher Neiger

Running a car on compressed air isn't exactly a new idea. In fact, the technology dates back to the early 1930s. So what makes Magnetic Air Motors' magnetic air car unique?

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

They said it couldn't be done: No one could build a car capable of traveling 100 miles or more on a single gallon of gasoline. They were wrong.

By Akweli Parker