Fuel Efficiency

When it comes to alternative fuels for cars and trucks, you may think you already know all the options. But do you think you can you list 10 alternative fuels already in use? We can.

By Jamie Page Deaton

Hybrid cars are fuel-efficient -- there's no doubt about that. However, is it true that hybrid car manufacturers have found a way to make use of kinetic energy that's normally wasted?

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

In 1999, Honda Motor Company became the first automaker to sell a mass-produced, gas-electric hybrid to U.S. drivers -- the 2000 Honda Insight. But how has Honda refined the Insight for 2010?

By John Fuller

With very few exceptions, cars have always required batteries. Hybrid and electric cars use high-powered (and often expensive) battery packs, but could you power your car with ordinary AA batteries?

By Patrick E. George

The E-Flex Propulsion System is a new platform from General Motors that will power the highly anticipated Chevrolet Volt sedan. If GM has its way, most commuters won't have to burn any gas as they travel to work each day.

By Patrick E. George

Replacing the battery pack on your hybrid can easily set you back $2,500 or more. However, the prices for these components are changing as quickly as the hybrid car industry itself.

By Eric Baxter

The strangest thing about the invention of the first hybrid car isn't who built it (a German engineer named Porsche), but when he built it -- at the turn of the 20th century.

By Christopher Neiger

If you're a member of Sam's Club, then you already know the great deals a membership can provide for you and your family or business. But can you really buy an electric car through Sam's Club, too?

By John Fuller

Did you know your car is operating at its lowest possible fuel efficiency when you're in stop-and-go traffic or if you're at a standstill and the engine continues to run at idle speed?

By John Fuller

Honda's taking a new approach to hybrid car design with its latest concept -- the CR-Z. But what makes the CR-Z so different from every other hybrid car currently on the road?

By John Fuller

Most of us have been told that driving with the air conditioner switched on uses a lot more fuel than rolling the windows down to cool off. But is that always true?

By Christopher Neiger & Talon Homer

There's little doubt that the 2010 Fisker Karma, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, has the looks to compete with any luxury sedan currently on the market. But how does the Fisker Karma perform?

By Eric Baxter

Hybrid cars are engineered to operate at peak efficiency in specific environments. But what happens when the environment is dramatically changed? Can a hybrid car perform just as well in cold weather?

By Jamie Page Deaton

Hybrid cars aren't generally thought of as sports cars -- not right now, anyway. But if the Toyota FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept ever makes it into production, you may have a very different opinion.

By John Fuller

The race is on to build the world's cheapest alternative fuel car as fossil fuel supplies continue to plummet and the planet's population continues to soar. This race has already seen several lead changes.

By Eric Baxter

From the start, Porsche has produced a lineup of cars that are exciting to drive. The latest Porsche -- the Porsche Panamera -- is no exception. But do you know what makes the Porsche Panamera unique?

By Patrick E. George

Replacing a battery in a typical car isn't a big deal, and relatively speaking, it isn't expensive either. Hybrid car battery packs, however, can cost thousands to replace. Is reconditioning cheaper?

By John Fuller

If you've been doing your homework on hybrid cars, then you may have come across the term "mild hybrid" at some point in your studies. But how does a mild hybrid differ from any other hybrid car?

By John Fuller

Most hybrid cars have instant miles per gallon readout as standard equipment. This feature gives immediate mpg information to the driver. But can this simple device actually save money at the pump?

By Jamie Page Deaton

In this increasingly green world, automakers are looking for ways to increase product efficiency. Their focus might surprise you: The exhaust pipe.

By Christopher Lampton

Some potential hybrid car buyers never actually buy a hybrid because they feel the batteries are too costly to replace or have a somewhat short life. So, what's being done to improve the technology?

By John Fuller

If you don't drive a hybrid car, you may not know the purpose of a hybrid system indicator. Not only do they monitor the car's vital operating systems, but they help drivers become more efficient, too.

By John Fuller

Hybrid vehicles are eco-friendly because they use less gasoline and produce fewer emissions. However, their reliance on electrical power raises some safety concerns for drivers. How long do hybrid batteries last, and are they safe?

By Christopher Neiger

The Astrolab is Venturi's latest energy-autonomous automobile. This sporty lightweight literally gets a charge out of the sun, thanks to the photovoltaic cells covering its surface.

By Terry V. Boyce

When you think of a hybrid vehicle, chances are, it's not a pickup truck. You're not alone. But that just may change with the introduction of the A-BAT, a compact hybrid pickup truck from Toyota.

By John Fuller