G.S. MUDUR This is a question you'd surely ask yourself while buying a car: how much petrol does it guzzle compared with other models? Such fuel-efficiency data exist

Anumita Roychowdhury, of CSE's Right to Clean Air Campaign, says: "Government and industry data on heat trapping CO 2 emissions that directly depend on the amount of fuel burnt, show that oil guzzling vehicles are hitting the road.'

By Paul Krugman I have seen the future, and it works. O.K., I know that these days you're supposed to see the future in China or India, not in the heart of "old Europe." But we're living in a world in which oil prices keep setting records, in which the idea that global oil production will soon peak is rapidly moving from fringe belief to mainstream assumption. And Europeans who have achieved a high standard of living in spite of very high energy prices - gas in Germany costs more than $8 a gallon - have a lot to teach us Americans about how to deal with that world.

German carmaker Volkswagen and Japan's Sanyo Electric Co will jointly develop a lithium-ion bat tery to be used in hybrid and electric cars, the Nikkei Financial Daily reported on Sunday. Volkswagen will aim to start importing and using the battery in its hybrid and electric cars by 2012, the Nikkei said. Sanyo makes nickel-hydrogen batteries that can be recharged repeatedly and Volkswagen and subsidiary Audi AG in the Volkswagen Group's first hybrid model to be rolled out as early as next year will use the batteries.

CLEAN CAR WARS HOW HONDA AND TOYOTA ARE WINNING THE BATTLE OF THE ECO-FRIENDLY AUTOS
BY YOZO HASEGAWA, TRANSLATED BY ANTHONY KIMM WILEY, PAGES: 200; PRICE: $24.95

Drivers have long known that slowing down on the highway means getting more miles to the gallon. Now airlines are trying it, adding a few minutes to flights to save millions on fuel. Southwest Airlines started flying slower about two months ago, and projects it will save $42 million in fuel this year by extending each flight by one to three minutes.