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Cars 2.0: Energy

• Study: Algal Fuels Could Cut Oil Imports 17 Percent
  A government lab says we could replace a sizable amount of imported oil with algal fuel, but the study includes a lot of caveats.

  
  

  
  
  
• Study: We've Got Plenty of Land for Biofuels
  Researchers at University of Illinois say there is enough land worldwide that isn't suitable for food production to meet as much as 56 percent of our current liquid fuel needs.

  
  

  
  
  
• Study: Renewable Fuel Mandate Can't Be Met With Ethanol
  Economists conclude the focus on ethanol, even cellulosic ethanol, to help meet government requirements that we produce 36 billion gallons of renewable fuel by 2022, is misguided and impractical.

  
  

  
  
  
• Calculate Your Car's MPG
  Poor fuel economy can be a symptom of car trouble or driver trouble. Recognizing poor fuel economy requires that you have an idea of what your mileage should be. Pen and paper are old news, so here are some high-tech solutions.

  
  

  
  
  
• Silicon Nanopores Pack More Punch Into Batteries
  Researchers at Rice University find that copying sponges, not mops, can make better lithium-ion batteries.

  
  

  
  
  
• Save Gas by 'Hypermiling'
  From the no-brainer to the absurd, the simple to the stupid, greenies and cheapskates alike have been perfecting ways of getting the most out of every gallon of gasoline.

  
  

  
  
  
• We'll See More Ethanol in Some of Our Gas
  The feds say it's OK to increase the amount of ethanol in gasoline, but only for cars made since 2007. Everyone else, keep waiting.

  
  

  
  
  
• Solar Roads Fix Our Grid and Crumbling Pavement
  The idea of embedding solar cells in our roadways may sound crazy, but it's attracted the interest of GE -- and Uncle Sam.

  
  

  
  
  
• Enzyme Discovery Could Boost Biofuel's Viability
  Extracting the sugars from wood and plants is difficult. British researchers think they've found a way to make it much easier.

  
  

  
  
  
• Ford's Tweeting Car Embarks On 'American Journey 2.0'
  Ford is taking a road trip to Maker Faire to show off what it hopes will be the next step in mobile connectivity -- cloud-based in-car apps that, among other things, allow a car to Tweet from the road.