As its name suggests, the Green Fleet Conference – held in Schaumburg, Illinois this fall – doesn’t focus on “green” vehicles meant for sale to individuals. Instead, the fifth annual Conference emphasizes alternative-fuel models that can be purchased in quantity by private and government fleets.  Close to a thousand attendees also heard about “clean technologies and green initiatives.” More...

Green was definitely the theme in Los Angeles this week, as the auto industry brought out a fleet of new electric, hybrid and diesel models to appeal to eco-minded customers in 2013. Here is our list, in no particular order, of the Top Ten Green Cars at the LA Auto Show. More...

Five cars have been named finalists for the 2013 Green Car of the Year award, which will be announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 29. More...

The top-of-the-line Tesla Model S all-electric sedan reaches 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds and has a top speed of 130 mph. Today we can add another number to the spec sheet: 89. As in, 89 MPGe (Miles Per Gallon equivalent).

That’s how the EPA officially rated Model S cars with the largest 85 kWh battery today, along with an expected range of 265 miles on a charge. Tesla had originally predicted a 300-mile range, which may still be possible if you’re dainty with the accelerator. More...

One car we didn’t mention during yesterday’s MPGe discussion was the 2012 Chevrolet Volt, because the story focused on purely electric cars like the Nissan Leaf and the Volt has a 1.4L 4-cylinder engine paired with its electric motor. While the Volt is an impressive bit of machinery, it simply can’t be as green as an EV.

But after today’s news, that engineers have upgraded the battery to improve range and efficiency, we may have to start including the 2013 Volt in the EV-only crowd as well. More...

Reuse, recycle, reduce applies not just to glass, paper, and aluminum cans, it applies to oil, as well. With more than 3 billion quarts of motor oil consumed by cars and trucks in the U.S. Each year, used oil is a valuable resource––too valuable to throw away. So Valvoline has created NextGen oil to take advantage of these untapped reserves.

The oil part of oil, called the base stock, doesn’t wear out, but the additives––usually accounting for about 15 percent of a finished motor oil––do, and when they do it’s time to change oil. Along with it comes the sludge and contaminants that build up in used oil. But because the molecules in the base stock don’t wear out, they’re reusable.

The recycled oil in Valvoline’s NextGen goes through a multi-stage refining process to remove the contaminants and worn-out additives and create fresh base oil. Then fresh additives are blended in to create new motor oil that’s ready for duty in your car or truck.

Because NextGen is 50 percent recycled oil, it reduces the amount of energy needed to find, drill, transport, and refine crude oil. Recycled oil uses 56 percent fewer resources compared to oil made without recycle content. Valvoline says NextGen could reduce the need for 1.6 billion quarts of oil every year.

NextGen is certified by the American Petroleum Institute (API), and is approved by all major car manufacturers for use in their engines. Valvoline recommends changing oil every 3000 miles, and that interval extends to NextGen, too. Valvoline’s Engine Guarantee covers your engine if it fails, and if you have 125,000 miles or less, using Valvoline NextGen can give you an engine guarantee up to 225,000 miles.

NextGen oil is becoming available in more locations every day. Click here to find a retailer or service location carrying NextGen.

Want to learn more about driving green? Check out the autoMedia Green Corner, with features and new car reviews for environmentally-friendly motoring.