Cars | Grist

Waiver hello

EPA affirms California’s right to set tougher automobile emissions standards 0
Posted 3 days, 9 hours ago
The EPA announced on Tuesday that it will grant a waiver for California and 13 other states to set automobile emission standards that are higher than national ones. The move is important symbolically, even though it isn't likely to lead to emission reductions in the next few years.
Daimler launches first German hybrid car 1
Posted 4 days, 10 hours ago
German luxury car maker Daimler launched its first hybrid model last week, almost 10 years after the market leader, Toyota. The world's best-selling limousine, a favorite of world leaders, the Mercedes Benz S Class, is now available in Europe with two motors, one electric and the other gasoline, to save fuel and cut pollution.
Radiant Cities: Driving It Home

One man’s plan to re-create suburbia, sans cars 1
Posted 2 weeks ago
If Sherman Lewis has his way, he and 950 other homeowners will soon be living in a car-free California paradise. But can he shift his vision into high gear, or will it stall out?
Calling all hoopties!

Congress gives green light to “cash for clunkers” bill; Obama to sign 6
Posted 2 weeks ago
After the Senate passed the "cash for clunkers" bill on Thursday, it's now headed to President Barack Obama's desk, and he's expected to sign it enthusiastically.
Ray (and Shaun and Lisa) of Hope

Feds get cozy for sustainable communities 3
Posted 2 weeks, 3 days ago
A new partnership will promote affordable housing, public transit, and walkable neighborhoods. Pinch us, we're dreaming.
Point A to Point Whee!

The best U.S. transit systems you never knew existed 15
Posted 3 weeks ago
Certain cities are public transit all-stars: New York, San Francisco, D.C. But what about the rest of the country? As cities rethink how their residents get around, we take a look at transit innovations gaining speed in unexpected places.
Chu & Obama are right to kill the program, Part 1

Hydrogen fuel cell cars are a dead end from a technological, practical, and climate perspective 6
Posted 3 weeks ago
I wanted to once and for all lay out the case against hydrogen as a transport fuel, starting with an excerpt of almost my entire Energy Policy piece. I think it is worthwhile reading for anyone interested in understanding the challenges facing alternative fuels.
The Grist List: From Bikes to Books

Bikers seeking good ride get naked, and more 4
Posted 3 weeks, 1 day ago
The best part about World Naked Bike Day: No awkward spandex shorts. The worst part about World Naked Bike Day: No awkward spandex shorts.
Cashing in

House approves “Cash for Clunkers” bill, enviros unimpressed 12
Posted 3 weeks, 2 days ago
The House approved a measure on Tuesday that would give Americans a cash incentive to trade in their old, gas-guzzling automobiles for slightly more efficient models. The "Cash for Clunkers" bill passed through the chamber with a 298 to 119 vote, and the Senate could vote on similar legislation later this week.
Next, In Car Nation

Slideshow: The plug-ins and electric vehicles of 2009 8
Posted 3 weeks, 3 days ago
Check out these electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles that are either on the market now or will be by the end of 2009.
Vanity Unfair

Ask Umbra on license plates 6
Posted 3 weeks, 4 days ago
A devoted green gets a license plate reading PVC -- what to do? Umbra hammers out a number of suggestions.
CAFE serves up tasty emission cuts

Critique of auto standards misses how they save consumers money compared to gas taxes 1
Posted 1 month, 1 week ago
Robert Stavins thinks an increased gasoline tax or cap-and-trade would make Obama's tougher auto efficiency standards redundant. This offers an excellent illustration of how even economists who are not market fundamentalists can miss the way well-designed regulation improves economic efficiency.
Radiant Cities: Levittown, India-style

The folks behind the Nano take their vision to suburbia 4
Posted 1 month, 1 week ago
What's the next big thing in international architecture? It might be tiny, tiny houses.
The grist list

From Doug to Diaz 1
Posted 1 month, 1 week ago
Brad's bro gets into the green game, and Cameron comes clean about her habits.
Coming clean

The scoop on Obama’s new fuel-economy rules 6
Posted 1 month, 2 weeks ago
On May 19, President Barack Obama unveiled new standards to regulate fuel economy and greenhouse-gas emissions from cars and light trucks. Find out what that really means.
Get out of my dreams, get into my car

Obama’s new mileage rules will be first real step to curb planet-warming emissions 18
Posted 1 month, 2 weeks ago
President Obama is unveiling new fuel-economy standards for automobiles -- the first major step by his administration to limit planet-warming greenhouse gases.
So Long, Saturn

I sold my car, and I couldn’t be happier ... I think 20
Posted 1 month, 3 weeks ago
The road from deciding to ditch your car to actually doing it can be bumpy -- find out how one urban driver navigated her way to auto-freedom.
daft clunk

‘Clunkers’ debunkers attack Democrats’ auto trade-in plan 7
Posted 1 month, 4 weeks ago
Support “cash for clunkers” as an auto-industry bailout if you must, but don’t call it green.
Amtrak Joe Says Don't Go

Can you catch swine flu on the subway? 3
Posted 2 months ago
Vice President Joe Biden said he would tell family members to avoid planes, subways, and even cars for fear of contracting swine flu. But the official message is much less dramatic. Who's right?
'Pleased, but not satisfied'

Energy crops up at Obama’s 100-day press conference 3
Posted 2 months ago
President Barack Obama told reporters at the press conference marking his 100th day in office that he is "pleased, but not satisfied" with the progress his administration has made thus far, noting energy among the issues they need to keep working on.