The auto field has seen interesting twists and turns over the years as it has explored the use of alternative fuels and advanced technologies to improve environmental performance. I have witnessed the ebb and flow of focus on fuels ranging from hydrogen, methanol, ethanol, propane, and natural gas to battery electric, gasoline-electric hybrid, plug-in hybrid, […]
A line has been drawn in the sand. It’s a new standard that is pushing automakers to higher levels of fuel efficiency. That threshold is 40 mpg. Not long ago, a 40 mpg car was a rarity. Reaching 40 mpg required alternative powertrains like gasoline-electric hybrid drive or clean diesel. Today, 40 mpg is being […]
I am excited to update you on the recent progress that we’re making at Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) and San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) in the compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle market. This technology is here now, and the future is bright! I’m extremely bullish about natural gas as a transportation fuel. […]
A common refrain in recent years has been that, while there are many fuel-efficient models on the market, most consumers persist in their love of gas guzzlers. Once manufacturers are making a full range of appealing high-mpg vehicles so that everyone can choose efficiency without compromising other features they’re seeking, things will change. We’ll see […]
I am a car guy and can attest to this: It is thrilling to go fast. And it’s also exciting to see a fuel economy display hit 50+ mpg. Similar feelings are experienced when behind the wheel of a truly stylish car, when a favorite song pops up unexpectedly on Sirius XM, or when deplaning […]
The mission was simple enough: drive to my daughter’s college 90 miles away and return her and a sizeable load of laundry home for a long weekend visit. It was a perfect test for the long-range capability of the Prius Plug-In hybrid I was driving for the week. With a full charge in the lithium-ion […]
As we look at the connected issues of sprawl, traffic congestion, air pollution, societal disconnection, and global warming, we begin to see that a new model and vision for our communities and mobility is needed. One such vision was put forth in 1939 at the World’s Fair in New York. Futurama was an exhibit designed […]