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The Political Theatre of Oil (May 16)

President Bush visited Saudi Arabia on Thursday to beg the leader of the world's leading oil-producing nation to open the spigots?in an attempt to provide price relief at the gas pumps back home. But days before he arrived, Bush himself characterized the act as an empty gesture. "When you analyze the capacity for countries to put oil on the market, it's just not like it used to be," said Bush on Monday. "The demand for oil is so high relative to supply these days that there's just not a lot of excess capacity."

The Boogeyman in the Hybrid: Top Five Threats (May 15)

There are more than one million hybrids on American roads?and there?s no sign that the market for fuel-efficient gas-electric vehicles is slowing down. But according to a number of urban myths, the growing fleet of hybrids is actually an evil force ready to inflict great harm to people with pacemakers, blind people, and anybody who dares to sit behind the wheel of a Toyota Prius. Here are the top five safety dangers supposedly posed by hybrids.

Nissan?s Electric Car Plans: Victory or Vapor? (May 14)

Carlos Ghosn, president and CEO of Nissan, unveiled the company?s five-year business plan on Tuesday. The plan?called ?Nissan GT 2012? with the G and T signifying growth and trust?puts a major emphasis on electric vehicles. Hybrid and EV fans responded with a chant in unison: ?Bring it on.? But green car enthusiasts also engaged their well-worn vaporware alert systems to detect false promises, improbable plans, and insincerity.

FAME versus NERD and Biodiesel's Future (May 14)

FAME versus NERD is not the latest summer blockbuster for teens. FAME and NERD are the acronyms defining the two main forms of biodiesel?a non-petroleum renewable fuel that can theoretically run in any diesel vehicle without modification.

April 2008 Dashboard: Hybrids Sales Defy Recession (May 13)
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New York Times Rips Smart Fortwo (May 12)

If the diminutive Smart car is going to succeed in America, it will need to make a strong showing in New York City?where driving distances are minimal and parking opportunities are scarce. But according to New York Times reviews of the Smart Fortwo, the cute little two-seater from Mercedes is already dead in the water.

The Electric Car Gold Rush of 2010 (May 9)

The buzz around electric sports car maker Tesla Motors is sparking something akin to what happened in California 150 years ago?this time the rush is toward plug-in electric and hybrid vehicles.

Oil Use Down in US, Way Up Globally (May 7)

Oil prices continue to surge to new records. A barrel of light sweet crude peaked above $123 on Wednesday. Gasoline is selling at a national average of about $3.60 a gallon, according to AAA. And according to the Energy Department, prices at the pump will surpass $4 a gallon this summer.

Hybrid 5-0h! Police Cruisers Go Green (May 7)
As fuel prices continue to rise, police departments across the country are considering the use of hybrid vehicles within their fleets. It?s a logical move that seems to be following the same path as many mass transit agencies that have switched over to utilizing hybrid buses to save on fuel costs. Since police cruisers are in patrol for most of their active shifts, the fuel savings from hybrids are potentially significant.

Getting Small, But Avoiding Econoboxes (May 6)

Conventional wisdom for American automobiles is being turned on its head by the combination of high fuel prices, concern about greenhouse gas emissions, and a looming recession. The auto industry is responding by taking a page out of Europe?s playbook?where smaller cars and smaller engines rule, but driving fun has not been banished from the equation. Smaller yet powerful engines are possible due to advances in supercharging, turbocharging, and direct injection.