New leader
Ford's 2010 Fusion S sedan has earned the top efficiency rating in its class for gas engines at 34 mpg, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The rating applies to the four-cylinder engine and the optional six-speed automatic transmission.
Electric roads
A group of Israeli engineers has embedded crystals into asphalt that produce electricity when driven over. The idea is to power and charge electric vehicles as they travel. An initial test this month with a 17-ton truck produced 1 kwh of electricity over 10 meters. Go to innowattech.co.il for more on the technology.
Plug-in race
China's BYD auto company says it has a plug-in hybrid, the F3DM, nearly ready for production. The company says the mid-size sedan can travel up to 62 miles on electric power before needing to resort to its gas engine. The company still must meet safety and emissions regulations before it can enter the U.S. market.
Sources: Associated Press, Wheelbase Communications
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