Automakers try to stop increase in ethanol limit to 15 percent of gasoline

Automakers are seeking to head off an EPA ruling that would allow gasoline to contain 15 percent ethanol, up from 10 percent now, and they've won some bipartisan congressional support. The two main automaker industry lobbies have argued that the U.S. Department of Energy has done insufficient testing to assure that gasoline containing up to 15 percent ethanol won't harm vehicles.

Design Services: Listen again to Dassault Systèmes' latest webinar

Dassault Systèmes webinar, ‘The Silverbull Bike made with CATIA for Creative Designers and CATIA Icem V6-R2013x', took place on 13 December at 1000 GMT. Two CATIA experts gave a 30-minute presentation about how CATIA for Creative Designers software helped designer Marc Boulangé realize his vision for the Silverbull motorbike. The session was followed by a 15-minute Q&A session.

European Parliament: electric cars must make noise

The European Parliament has voted in favour of a European Commission proposal to decrease the maximum allowed noise for new cars, vans, trucks, buses and coaches, in an effort to reduce “vehicle noise nuisance” by 25%. At the same time, the EU has voted in favour of a proposal to force carmakers to fit electric and hybrid electric vehicles with a sound generating device, to improve low speed safety for pedestrians and the visually impaired. On Bing: see pictures of electric cars Find out how much a used electric car costs on Auto Trader The proposed changes, which are expected to become law, would see new car noise levels reduced by four decibels, commercial vehicle noise levels reduced by three decibels.