green wheels

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2007-11-27T19:23:00.000Z

Yes folks, we've packed our bags and headed on!
Please come and visit the new and improved blog... click here!

Electric powered cars.. of a different kind

2007-11-23T06:45:00.001Z

On a slightly different scale to yesterdays story, todays offering to the future of electric powered automobiles is not undergoing a multi-billion $ launch. In fact, is the Sunzeecar Electrotrike a car at all? Well perhaps not but you can't argue with a vehicle that can go 40 miles on just an afternoons sunshine..

Not designed to replace the gas-guzzling, go anywhere cars we drive today - the trike (brainchild of former University of Utah bioengineering prof. Andrew Schoenberg) is more likely to appeal to those who sit firmly on the green side of the fence. Still, where practicality is lacking (and indeed, aesthetics) the Ekotrike more than compensates in just the same way as the Honda FCX.. it is clean, very clean. Zero emissions! This time, not from a billion £ r+d budget either... just Mr. Schoenbergs garage and 12 years of his time and own money.

It may not be conventional (even by electric car standards) but could small electric vehicles like these be our future? If you live in a city (and lets face it, a LOT of us do) then it has to make sense. Though, from the reaction Mr. Schoenberg gets when he goes to the shops, it is clear that before we can change car there needs to be a change in attitude from more than just curiosity.

Technorati Tags: electric car, electric car kits, solar power, diy electric car, sustainable, eco-friendly, environmentally friendly, Univeristy of Utah

Zero-emission car: Honda FCX Clarity

2007-11-22T13:07:00.001Z

Clarity... added to encourage visions of clear blue, emission free skies? Perhaps, but underneath the marketing, this new offering from the Japanese technology giants (who's standard engines aren't exactly 'dirty') might just be something a bit interesting.

Although set for an initial release in the US only, the FCX could be the shape of things to come for the UK market - provided we sort out our act and increase the number of Hydrogen fuelling points. The current tally of 2 Hydrogen filling stations, combined with the sub-300 mile range of the FCX, would not a UK success make as far as this particular model is concerned. Luckily, Honda have (in their customary way) thought of this and are looking in to the logistics of bringing their 'Home Energy Station' to this country. This is a technology which is already distibuted in the US and can be used to heat your home as well as power your car.

Regardless of the fact that none of us are likely to be driving one of these in the UK anytime soon, you can't argue with the technology. ZERO emissions - all by combining the FCX's Hydrogen Fuel and Lithium Ion Battery with (fresh) air to create electricity and a power source so clean that Captain Kirk would be jealous. The FCX even recaptures and reuses its own mis-spent energy (which more conventional cars just lose) from braking and deceleration.

Sounding too good to be true? Well, apart from thedrawback of the predicted £50k price tag (if it were to come to the uk) there is ONE emission.... water. Knowing Honda, they've probably built in a filter and a cooler so you can drink it when you get to work!

Technorati Tags: electric car, hydrogen car, hydrogen powered, honda, FCX, FCX clarity, sustainable fuel, economic, environmentally friendly

Environmentally friendly?

2007-11-21T14:03:00.001Z

Environmentally friendly? Perhaps not, but still an interesting development none the less. Is this a vision of the future - in that car manufacturers will continue to sate our lust for big engined, over-powered saloons and sports cars - but drinking lpg this time?

What you are looking at might just be that future, this is BMW new record beating 198mph LPG 3 series coupe.... spot the odd word in that sentance?

In combination with their long running tuning partner AC Schnitzer
(responsible for some of the fatest, meanest and most awe inspiring
BMW's to date) BMW smashed the LPG speed record at the Nardo test track
in Italy.

The power in this 3 is from a different animal all together - an M5.
Except, i naddition to the normaly quite adequate 500bhp in the M5, ACS
have taken it upon themselves to INCREASE the power to 544bhp in this
LPG model. Alternative fuel AND a 10% increase in power? Believe it.

Now, all this may be still in the big vat of concept that BMW and ACS
keep bubbling away somewhere in Germany - but it does look encouraging.
Yes, this car with all its impracticalities and gigantic power unit may
fly in the face of trying to find alternative, more sustainable,
greener fuel sources..

BUT, if the development of LPG cars such as this can continue the switch-on of manufacturers to this alternative fuel.. surely it has to be a good thing for all of us.

European Car of the Year 2008

2007-11-20T12:05:00.001Z

And the winner is...small, economical, and very, very environmentally concious.

The identity of the winner may have been leaked a week or 2 earlier, but for those who don't know, its the Fiat 500. Here's a picture of the supermini in question..

The 500 seals Fiats 9th win of the prestigious ECotY award and furthers the companies 'peaoples-champion' comeback from near dissapearance only a few years ago.

Building on a strong safety compliment (5-star Euro NCAP score) the 500 has gone green by aiming for and achieving the stringent forthcoming Euro 5 emissions regs. This approach and the overall simple, clean efficiency of the 500 is bound to win consumers hearts in these times of rocketing petrol prices and socio-environmental kudos.

Coming in to the UK from £8,000 this little mini-ite is going to prove a hard nut for other manufacturers to crack in the increasingly competitive small-car (Euro 'A' sector) marketplace.

Small, safe, trendy, stylish and affordable.. dont be surprised if the awards keep on coming in 2008.

Technorati Tags: fiat, car, car of the year, 2008, NCAP, 5-star, economical, safe, cheap, winner, awards, ECotY, Euro 5

Comparing Hydrogen Powered Cars To Electric Cars

2007-11-19T20:28:00.001Z

With gas prices being so high, alternative fuel vehicles have become a
popular topic. Two of the types of vehicles that tend to get a lot of
press are the hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicles and electric powered
vehicles. Both are lauded as the way of the future

But which of these two options are really has the better chance of being the car your children drive.

Let’s look at hydrogen fuel cells first. When burned in an engine,
the only emissions giving off is water, so a hydrogen powered vehicle
is a zero emission vehicle. Hydrogen is also a better fuel than
gasoline, it actually has the highest energy content per unit of weight
of any known fuel.

Hydrogen is also a very abundant element. While current methods for
making hydrogen are done by using fossil fuels, such as natural gas,
coal, and oil, American wouldn’t be dependent on foreign oil anymore.
Also, hydrogen can be extracted from water, and we all know there’s a
lot of water on this planet.

However, hydrogen is not without its share of drawbacks. Probably
the biggest problem right now is that it would require an entire new
infrastructure. While gas stations could be outfitted with hydrogen
fueling stations that would take years. Also, the technology to store
hydrogen efficiently is still not ready for prime time.

Then there’s the electric car. Electric cars can also be considered
zero emission vehicles since they give off no emission when running.
However, electric cars do require power from the electric grid, which
does give off emissions. As the electric grid gets cleaner, though, so
do electric cars, and electric powered cars are substantially less
polluting than gasoline powered cars due to the fact that power plants
are far cleaner and more efficient than an internal combustion engine
in a vehicle.

The technology for mainstream electric cars is also not quite ready
for all the major manufacturers to stop making gasoline powered cars,
but it’s much closer than hydrogen currently is. The challenge with
electric cars right now is the batteries. The batteries are both
expensive and current models, like the Tesla Roadster, have a range of
only 250 miles – great for commuting, but not so good for road trips.
The other problem is the length of time these vehicles take to charge.
It’s not simply a matter stopping at your local power station and
plugging in for five minutes and leaving. A typical charging cycle for
current prototypes is 4-5 hours – again, fine if you’re commuting, but
impossible for a road trip. While technology is being developed to make
charging your vehicle as quick as quick as filling up with gas, it has
a ways to go before it’s ready, just like hydrogen fuel cells.

Fleets of electric cars will certainly be hitting the roads sooner
hydrogen fuel cell cars, but which one ultimately ends up being the
vehicle of choice for American drivers remains to be seen as both have
plenty of challenges to overcome before people will readily give up
their cheap gas powered cars in favor of these alternatives.

About The Author:
Gary Ruplinger provides free gas saving advice at http://www.fuelsavingzone.com/http://www.fuelsavingzone.com/blog/

Technorati Tags: hydrogen powered, electric powered, hybrid cars, dual-fuel, lpg, alternative energy, environment, eco-friendly, sustainable fuel, economic, affordable, changing cars, buying a car

7 Reasons To Buy A Hybrid Car

2007-11-19T12:58:00.001Z

You’re probably hearing a lot about hybrid cars these days. They are
definitely being discussed everywhere. Hardly a day goes by that a
major newspaper or television network isn’t doing a feature story on
hybrids. And everyday it seems like one car manufacturer or another is
introducing a new hybrid vehicle.

So what’s all the buzz about?

Well, hybrids are a new type of vehicle that runs on electricity
(from a battery) and gasoline. Now, that’s a novel idea isn’t it?

Hybrids are picking up steam (sounds like a pun doesn’t it?)
everywhere, including the world’s most a car lovin’ city – Los Angeles
– where many of the top stars are hybrid owners.

In the “City of the Angels” you’ll see environmentally forward
thinking celebrities, like Bill Maher, Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford and
“Seinfeld” co-creator and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” creator and star,
Larry David behind the wheel of their hybrids.

You might also see the lovely Cameron Diaz cruisin’ the Hollywood
Hills in her hybrid. And when Leonardo Di Caprio really wants to feel
like “the king of the world,” guess what he’ll be driving? You did
guess a hybrid, didn’t you?

What do the stars know that you don’t?

Well they know that driving a hybrid makes a lot of sense (and may save some cents too! :-) )

Want to know more about hybrids? Good. Now here are 7 reasons to buy a hybrid car.

1. The smaller hybrid compacts and sedans save considerable amounts
of fuel compared to cars powered by gas turbine engines. If you’re
interested in saving dollars on gas, this could be your solution.

2. The larger hybrid cars are not concerned with fuel efficiency.
These cars are purchased because their owners want to boost power and
performance. If you’re looking to get higher performance, consider a
hybrid.

3. Hybrids can save you money in a multitude of ways. While the
typical hybrid is about $3000 more than a typical car, this cost
differential will narrow as auto manufacturers produce more hybrid cars
in the future. The hybrid savings come in the form of state and federal
incentives, reduced maintenance costs, and of course, lower fuel costs.

4. Your hybrid will even be financially advantageous to you when
you decide it’s time to sell it. The resale value of hybrid cars is
exceptional. Unlike most cars, hybrids hold their value at an
astonishing level.

5. If you care about the planet and you’re concerned with the kind
of environment you leave for future generations, driving a hybrid car
is an important environmental statement. Hybrids generate less
pollution than their standard counterparts.

6. Driving a hybrid saves gas. That’s a positive for our economy.
The less we, as a society, spend on gas means we have more money to
spend on other essentials and luxury products. We could even save the
money we would have spent on gas and use it for our savings or
investment plans.

7. Driving a hybrid could help America fight the war in Iraq.
Here’s why. In addition to funding U.S. soldiers and the Iraqi efforts
to create a democracy, many experts contend the U.S. is actually
funding both sides of the Iraqi war. They believe Middle Eastern oil
interests’ are using part of their profits to fund the insurgency. So,
in effect, our excessive oil consumption makes it more difficult to
bring peace to Iraq. Bottom line: the less we spend on gas and oil
means less financial resources for our enemies overseas.

For all of these reasons, hybrid cars are “the next big thing in
the automotive world.” So when it comes time for your next auto
purchase, do yourself a favor and check out some hybrids cars. You
might find that a hybrid is the perfect car for you.

Skip Davis is an author and an unabashed supporter of hybrid vehicles. You’ll find more of his articles at HybridCars.TheNetAuthority.com - one of the web’s premier information sites specializing exclusively on hybrid cars.

Technorati Tags: hybrid, cars, alternative energy, dual fuel, eco, efficient, copst effective, cheap to run, high mpg, low-cost-motoring

Electric Vehicle Kits: Build Your Own Electric Car

2007-11-18T22:26:00.001Z

With rising fuel costs, more and more people and are looking for
alternatives. One such alternative that is gaining popularity,
especially with the do-it yourself types, are the electric vehicle
kits. Anyone familiar with automobiles can now use these kits to
convert traditional gas powered vehicles to one powered by electric
current.

However, converting a traditional Gas powered vehicle into an
electric vehicle can be a very daunting task. Only those who are the
very mechanically minded should try this. To convert the vehicle will
require extensive modifications to nearly all-mechanical parts of the
car. Everything from the engine to the radiator, heater and
air-conditioning, to the gauges on the panel. On top of that, the
electric cars have to be recharged on a regular basis, which means
having to purchase or use the services of recharging station. Solar
power could be another potential source of power for the electric
vehicle.

Can any car be converted into an electric vehicle?

Unfortunately, the answer is no. Not all cars can be converted into
an electric vehicle. However, and the most common electric vehicle kit
seems to be the Chevy S-10 pick up kit. For examples to follow just do
a search online for Chevy S-10 pickup Electric conversions. Other cars
that are good candidates for conversion are the Chevy Geo, especially
from 1989 to 1999. These cars are good potential candidates for an
electric vehicle kit conversion. Cars similar to the Chevy Geo Metro,
such as the Chevy Sprint, Pontiac Firefly and the Suzuki Swift are also
ideal for conversions too.

Are there downsides to using an electric vehicle kit?

Going back a few years, many people associated electric powered
vehicles with slowness and a lack of power. But as usual, thanks to
technology, significant advances in the electric vehicle have changed
all that. With these electric vehicle kits some cars can reach top
speeds of between 70 and 75 mph. nonetheless, converting to electric
power still has its drawbacks.

The biggest drawback it is of course the need for recharging the
batteries. As an example, the Chevy Geo Metro kit must be recharged
every 20 to 40 miles, depending on driving habits and battery quality.
For city driving, this would be ideal. However, for lengthy commutes on
the highway, this would not be ideal.

The Chevy S-10 with an electric vehicle kit installed will run a
little longer on a single charge. On a single charge, the S-10 should
last between 40 and 60 miles. Again this depends upon the driving
habits as well as the size and quality of batteries. Some S-10 models
can be equipped with solar powered panels which would in reduced in the
need for charging, at least when driving during daylight hours.

Converting vehicles with electric vehicle kits is not a cheap
affair. Most conversion kits seem to cost between $8000 to $10,000. And
this does not even include professional installation as well as the
cost of the batteries, not to mention access to or the purchase of a
charging station.

Quite frankly, with the cost involved of using an electric vehicle
kit, it probably wouldn’t be very practical for the average consumer,
especially if they do a lot of highway driving. However, that being
said, it probably would be ideal for a back yard mechanic who loves to
tinker with cars and has a few bucks to throw around and wants to
impress his beer-drinking buddies.

About The Author:
Kerry Ng
is a successful Webmaster and publisher of The Hybrid Cars Blog. For
more great helpful information about the Hybrid Cars visit http://www.hybridcarsinfoblog.com/build-your-own-electric-vehicle

Technorati Tags: electric car, hybrid, economical, build, kit car, diy, D.I.Y, lpg, dual-fuel, biodiesel, eco friendly, affordable

Hybrid Cars and Our Future

2007-11-17T19:49:00.001Z

The main question and perhaps why you are reading this article. Should
you buy a Hybrid car in 2007 or 2008? The answer to that question
really relies on you as their are many reasons to buy one and many not
to buy.

Hopefully by reading this article you'll be better informed and
with the information presented here and in other areas of research you
will decide whether to purchase a Hybrid Car now or in the future.

Starting off I'm going to give you some information that I've
picked up from different auto makers, Wikpedia, Consumer Reports and
other online and off line sources.

With that said I decided to give you a little history and background information concerning the electric powered car.

Did you know as far back as 1901 the hybrid car was being
experimented with. It's true a gentlemen by the name of Ferdinand
Porsche designed a Hybrid car named the "Mixte". This Hybrid used a
gasoline engine powering a generator the generator powered hub motors
with a backup battery pack for backup redundancy.

Then in 1915 an electric car maker a manufacturing company by the
name of Woods Motor Vehicle designed a Hybrid aptly named "Dual Power".
This car had a 4 cylinder internal combustion engine and an electric
motor. The electric motor below the speed of 15 mph independently
powered the vehicle drawing power from a battery pack. At speeds above
15 mph the gasoline motor kicked in to increase the needed power
requirements.

Here we are in 2007 with Hybrid cars that aren't much better than
their 1900 counterparts, granted they can achieve speeds of 100 mph
compared to only 35 mph back then. But if you take a closer look the
technology was here even in 1901.

The regenerative braking system , the concept of most todays HEVs,
was developed by electrical engineer David Arthurs around 1978 using
off-the shelf parts and imagine this a Opel GT.

Fast forward to 2007 and the choices are many and it looks like
from all reports that the Toyota Prius is the best all around choice.
This baby has a total combined rating of 55 mpg and city driving of a
whopping 60 mpg with a price tag of 22K - 24K. The Prius also has the
best emissions standards of all the others. At this time it seems to be
the leader of the pack and the most bang for your buck.

I decided to add some other average Hybrids to give you a comparison to the Toyota Prius.

Saturn came out with a line of Hybrids recently and they now have a
mid size car named Aura. Gas EPA estimates for the Aura are 24 city, 32
highway. Not the best but comparable to the other Auto Makers. MSRP for
the Aura is 22,790.00 not too shabby!

Updated for 2007, the Toyota Camry Hybrid is a 4-door sedan that
can carry 5 passengers. This hybrid vehicle is powered by a standard
I4, 2.4-liter hybrid engine is a 192-horse engine. This hybrid vehicle
achieves 43-mpg in city driving and 37-mpg on highways. The Camry has
an automatic trans and the overdrive comes standard.

The 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid has been complemented for its
impressive interior and consumption. However, many users have
complained that consumption strives to obtain what is advertised by the
company. Its been said that the Camry only achieves 34mpg maximum.

Toyota has stopped at nothing for this hybrid vehicle but it comes
with a price, and it's expensive. Sold at an average of $29,000 in
showrooms. This vehicle is a nice option for those that want luxury and
also to save on gas.

A huge hit in 2006 and its gotten better for 2007. The 2007 Ford
Escape is a 4-door SUV vehicle that can carry up to a maximum of five
passengers. This hybrid vehicle comes in two styles, the 4WD and FWD.

This SUV hybrid is powered by a I4, 2.3-liter, 155-horsepower
engine. It has achieved 36-mpg in city driving and 31-mpg on the
highway. Both styles come with transmissions that are variable speed
automatics.

I hope you have enjoyed this article and that it has been informative!

About The Author:
Learn everything you ever wanted to know and then some about Hybrid Cars. Get my complete Hybrid Car Guide at: http://www.hybridcars.viralniches.com/

Technorati Tags: lpg, dual-fuel, economy, environment, hybrid, USA, buying, selling, upgrade, cars, autos, chnaging your car

Biodiesel From Algae

2007-11-16T13:02:00.001Z

Although there are many different ways being experimented with to make biodiesel, algae is one of the most promising production sources for biodiesel. Although algae is by no means a new way to create biodiesel, with the current oil crisis going on in the world it is important for companies to look into new ways that they can quickly and efficiently create biodiesel.

Because algae is a renewable resource, it is a great source. Algae can grow in a wide range of conditions, they can grow in bodies of water or even damp places. Just like plants algae need sunlight and carbon dioxide so that it can grow. They use the sunlight for photosynthesis in which they turn sunlight energy into chemical energy. Algae can be grown in a closed structure called photo bioreactor.

In a photo bioreactor you can control the environment which will make you be able to create algae at a much faster rate then just waiting for it to grow in an open pond. The photo bioreactor can be set up to harvest algae by setting it up with nutrients and algal seed.

Different types of photo bioreactors include tanks, plastic sleeves or bags and even glass or plastic tubes. To grow algae at home you simply take a container and put a small amount of algae culture in it. To grow algae for biodiesel you need specific strains from the biodiesel.

If you add an aquarium bubble stone you will increase the growth and help the algae circulate. The only things you will need is CO2 nutrients, fertilizer, and some type of light source. Temperature range depends on the strain that you are using. Suggestions for light sources are fluorescent bulbs and even natural light which will both efficiently do the job.

Author: Munya Chinongoza

Technorati Tags: How To Make Biodiesel From Algae, Biodiesel From Algae, Algae Used In Biodiesel, Algae Into Biodiesel

Tyre Disposal and Recycling

2007-11-14T08:03:00.001Z

It is now standard practice for tyre retailers to impose a tyre
disposal charge when you change your tyres, which tends typically to be
about £1.00 a tyre. You may wonder why you have to pay this charge -
after all tyre disposal charges have not always been the norm.

The real answer to this question is that it is a simple case of
economics - a case of supply and demand. Going back twenty years the
scrap disposal scenario was totally different to the way it is today.
It used to be the case that car tyre retreading companies would collect
the majority of used tyres as the raw material for their production.
They used to pick up the used tyres free of charge (or even pay for the
privilege).

However, that was when over 4 million retreaded car tyres were sold in
the UK every year. In the meantime the market for British manufactured
retreads has been squeezed by cheap new tyres from the Far East to the
point where the UK market is no more than a tenth of what it was. This
means that retreaders no longer pick up the scrap tyres. This is done
by professional tyre disposal companies who need to charge the retailer
for this service.

Much of the tyre disposal in the UK is now carried out by members of
the Responsible Recyclers Scheme, which is now administered under
license by the Tyre Recovery Association. Members of the scheme
guarantee that the tyres collected are disposed of in an
environmentally friendly method, whether recycled or used as a fuel in
cement kilns. As a guarantee, members of the scheme are subject to a
stringent audit process conducted regularly by independent
environmental audit specialists.

The Responsible Recyclers Scheme also promotes best practice in the
tyre recovery industry and helps protect against the continuing scourge
of fly-tipping.

In the UK around 40 million tyres are taken off car, vans, trucks and
buses every year, a total of 440,000 tonnes. That is a huge amount of
scrap to dispose of and it has to be paid for somehow. Although the UK
tyre recovery industry currently has enough capacity to cope with scrap
tyre arisings, the balance between overcapacity and undercapacity is
relatively fine.

Of key importance in the tyre disposal market in the UK is The Landfill
Directive, which was adopted by the UK in July 1999. This banned the
disposal of whole tyres by landfill from July 2003 and shredded tyres
from July 2006. This has changed the entire scenario of how tyres are
disposed of and recycled in the UK and Europe. There are a number of
ways in which scrap tyres are recycled in the UK although all of these
can be defined as either reuse, recycling or recovery.

Retreading is still considered to be one of the most preferable method
of tyre recycling as it effectively doubles the life of the new tyre,
reducing the numbers of new tyres needed and thereby minimising waste.
Retread still make up nearly half of all truck tyres on the road but
the number of car tyres that are retreaded is now relatively small.

Other common uses for scrap tyres include sports and recreational
surfaces, landfill engineering, carpet underlay/floor coverings, and
road building. Roads manufactured using crumb rubber last longer, have
better traction and reduce noise.

In the UK scrap tyres are also widely used as a fuel in cement kilns as an alternative to the traditional fuel, coal.

About Author :

Article produced by BlackCircles.com - discount tyres for cars, 4x4s, and commercial fleets in the UK. Tyres can be ordered online and fitted at your local garage.

This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.a1articles.com/article_189095_53.html

Technorati Tags: recycling, alternative energy, corporate, eco, environment

Buying your lpg car on ebay...? Pt. 2 of 3

2007-11-12T11:09:00.001Z

In this second instalment I want to look at just how you track down your perfect car on ebay - what your options are and how you can make the whole process more efficient.

As I've said previously - ebay is now one of the biggest auto markets online and really is just as good a place to start your search for a new car as auto-trader, exchange and mart, etc..

You may think that a prime reason for starting off with one of these sites or in the classfied section of your local rag comes down to distance - all the cars listed are likely to be in your area. Who really wants to drive to the other end of the UK just to test a car they may or may not like? What if you don't like the colour, the engine, want something newer, older...?! The list is endless.

Luckily, ebay have not only taken notice of this but, with appropriate use of the tools they provide, they've made your life a whole lot easier. Using the CAR FINDER you can begin to narrow down the vehicles you may wish to view by make and year, then add in variables to your search such as distance from a specified postcode (you can use any - doesn't have to be where you live), price, etc..

In terms of lpg vehicles, you can quickly use the Autos categories (in combination with the postcode / distance search) to quickly track down LPG CARS, LPG VANS and PICKUPS + other commercial vehicles and even any LPG PARTS (such as convertors for your existing car) that you are after.

Further to this, if you need the vehicle or part quickly, narrow listings down to Buy-it-Now or classified only. This effectively turns ebay into any other online store - just bigger! You'll notice by clicking THIS LINK that there are now less cars available to you by specifying you want Buy-it-Now (BIN) listings only - but importantly they're all available to you NOW. Very useful if say Saturday is the only day you can shop for your new car and you need to SEARCH, VIEW and CONCLUDE a deal all on that one day. Especially as ebay has now integrated Skype into its system - making it easier than ever to establish contact with sellers, when you need to.

So those are the basics - I can't stress enough the importance of experimenting with the Car Finder because once you get the hang of it, tracking down the perfect motor for you (lpg or otherwise) will be just so much easier.

I've been buying and selling on ebay for years - if you've any questions please take advantage of my experience and leave a comment on this post, thanks. Cameron

Technorati Tags: lpg, ebay, cars, vans, pickups, commercial, buying, selling, trading, safety, perfect car

World's Top 10 Fuel Efficient Cars

2007-11-10T17:05:00.001Z

The world is worried about depleting fuel reserves. Research is on the
fast track to find alternative fuel. People need transportation which
means increased consumption of fuel. With economy booming in many
nations more and more people are buying cars.

In 2007 the US car buyer is making fuel efficacy a prime concern when
buying a car. Cars are ranked as fuel efficient based on the
Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA) miles per gallon ratings. The
basis is 55 % of city mpg rating and 45% of highway mpg rating. Cars
are now available in gas, electric, and hybrid versions apart from
petrol or diesel run cars.

Here is a look at fuel efficient cars as listed by http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/list/top10/119083/article.html :

1. Toyota Prius: ratio of 60/51 mpg. The hybrid version is the most fuel efficient vehicle in the US market.

2. Honda civic Hybrid 49/51 mpg. This is a perrineal favorite.

3. Toyota Camry Hybrid 40/38mpg.

4. Toyota Yaris 34/40 mpg. Gives pleasant handling.

5. Honda Fit 33/38 mpg .

6. Toyota Corolla 32/41mpg. Is one of the most fuel efficient.

7. Mini Cooper 32/40 mpg.

8. Hyundai Acccent /Kia Rio 32/35mpg . This is a great buy in economy range of cars.

9. Honda Civic 30/40 mpg.

10. Nissan Versa 30/36 mpg. It’s the best in its category.

Another top ten list that is dependable is at
http://cars.about.com/od/helpforcarbuyers/tp/top10_fuel.htm where he
has considered fuel efficiency along with comfort and driving pleasure.
According to Aaron Gold, the cars to consider overall are:

1. Toyota Prius 60/51 mpg.

2. Honda Civic Hybrid 46/51mpg.

3. Volkswagen Golf 38/46 mpg.

4. Mini Cooper 28/37 mpg.

5. Hyundai Elantra 27/34 mpg.

6. Ford Focus Station Wagon 26/34 mpg.

7. Honda Accord 26/34 mpg.

8. Nissan Altima 24/31 mpg.

9. Chevrolet Malibu MAXX 22/30 mpg.

10. Buick Le Sabre 20/29mpg.

When buying a car you need to consider several aspects:

• Cost.

• Maintenance.

• Environmental friendliness.

• Durability.

• Personal preferences.

• Availability of parts and cost of parts.

• Insurance costs.

• Road tax.

While expert advice is important you must think about where you stay,
where the nearest dealer is located, and whether the car can adapt to
the weather conditions in your region. Never buy a car blindly always
find out how suitable the car is for you and your family. Think resale
too!

Use the expert advice available on online auto retail websites to find
out all the information you need about cars. Always comparison shop for
a car and car loan, get the best deal possible and enjoy many miles of
pleasant tension free driving.

with thanks to: Arthur Raise

Arthur Raise is a writer for Used Cars For Sale
, the premier website to find help on Cars including topics on car
rental, national car rental, thrifty car rental, online car rental,
pickup trucks rental, cargo van rental and more.

Understanding the Carbon Footprint and How It Affects the Environment

2007-11-09T14:09:00.001Z

First of all, the term carbon footprint refers to a measurement of greenhouse gases released by human activities based on the amount of carbon dioxide units that is produced. This helps scientists and government decision makers gauge how severe a particular human activity affects the environment by contributing to the so-called Greenhouse Effect.

You can compute your own primary carbon footprint, by taking into account your fuel consumption in your household and your travel activities per year.

In the first category which is fuel consumption per household, you should factor in the following:

•electricity consumption per year for your household

•natural gas consumption per year for your household

•LPG (liquified petroleum gas) consumption per year by your household

•household oil consumption per year by your household

•coal consumption per year by your household

•and the number of people who live in your household.

For the second category, which involves travel activities per year, you should factor in these:

•total mileage of your vehicle per year (for those who own their own private vehicle)

•total mileage of your second vehicle per year (for those who have an additional vehicle)

•miles traveled on the train per year

•miles traveled on both local buses and underground transportation systems per year

•miles traveled on long distance bus and coach per year

•yearly travel by air, in terms of short-haul return flights, medium-haul return flights, and long-haul return flights.

You can use an online carbon footprint calculator (like that found on http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.html) and enter in all these factors. The online calculator will do the computing for you so you can see just how extensively your activities affect the environment by contributing to carbon dioxide emissions.

Once you know how your activities affect Mother Earth, you can start taking steps to minimize your contribution to carbon dioxide emissions. This is very important, particularly since African and Asian countries are revving up their economies which means a proportional increase in fuel consumption.

Some things you can do are:

•look for a green energy supplier who will supply power to your household. (A green energy supplier relies on renewable energy sources such as hydroelectric and wind power, which wreaks less havoc on the environment);

•turn off electricity-dependent machines if you really do not need to use them, or at least minimize usage of these items;

•minimize your central heating by up to 2 degrees;

•minimize water heating by up to 2 degrees;

•use a timer for your central heating at home so that it turns off when you leave home;

•only turn on the washing machine and clothes dryer if you have a full load of laundry to put in;

•try reducing water to heat in the kettle if you do not need that much hot water in the first place;

•do not overcharge your cellphone;

•defrost freezers and refrigerators periodically, even before ice builds up;

•try shopping only once a week, making bulk purchases so you can cut down on car fuel consumption;

•and minimize use of the tumble dry function – rather try using a clothesline and the sun to dry laundry.

There are many other things you can do to minimize your carbon footprint. Leave less of a carbon footprint and you will leave behind a more stable environment in the wake of your activities.

with thanks to: greenstore11

Green Store UK sells eco friendly gifts and energy saving gadgets. We have various energy saving gadgets such as the Smart Adapter which is a remote control plug set which enables you to quickly and easily turn off electric items off standby.
This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.a1articles.com/article_224394_53.html

Buying your lpg car on ebay…? Pt. 1

2007-11-07T21:53:00.001Z

This post is the first of a series of three in which I’ll comment o nthe ever increasing trend of buying through ebay. Traditionally the home of the stamp collector, electronics buyer etc.. ebay is now selling more cars than ever before (including more than most specialist car classified sites) and a higher than ever number of lpg cars and other vehicles.

In this post we’ll have a look at security and how to buy easily and safely on ebay and then follow up with posts on what vehicles are available with regard to cars and finally commercial vehicles.

You may already use ebay to make purchases or even sell items yourself. However, chances are that those items are of a comparatively minimal value compared to a new car - something which is commonly cited directly behind homes as one of the biggest purchases people commonly make. For this reson it is importnant to apply different principles and be particularly vigilant when buying cars.

As a general principle you should ALWAYS aim to arrange to view the vehicle and test it, just as you would with a car advertised by any other means. The only difference with ebay is that (in addition to the traditional handshake) you will need to conclude the deal on ebay by winning the car at auction or using Buy-it-Now. If you’re particularly fussy about the car you’re after, or have a very strict budget you may need to view many cars and be prepared to take time to go to the end of each auction. In this instance you may wish to search ebay with your exact requirements and budget in mind and find a car that you can view and conclude on instantly.

To this end, ebay provide the very powerful Car Finder tool which I can’t emphasise enough as being the best way to go about finding your perfect car on ebay. Not only does it let you narrow down make, model, engine, spec and extras (such as lpg conversion) but most importantly it allows you to specify location. Using a similar postcode/distance finder as autotrader and other car-ad systems, this allows you to order search results by distance from your location.

Now, you’ve found the car and won the auction. What about money? Two schools of thought here I would say - either the traditional route of cash-in-hand (which I would personally favour) or stick with ebay protocol and use PayPal or similar. Now, how you do this is u pto you but always, always have a mind to where the car is, who has the keys etc at time of payment. I.e. just because you met a guy at a carpark yesterday and test drove the car does NOT mean he’ll necessarily turn up at the same carpark to hand over the car - once payment is in his account!

Common sense really, but you’d be surprised how often these simple rules are ignored.

The Social Cost of Automotive Fuels (LPG, Diesel, Petrol)

2007-11-06T22:59:00.001Z

We aim to give some insight into the financial and economical cost to society as a direct result of exhaust emissions from Petrol, Diesel and LPG engines. The financial costs are calculated based on city population sizes in the UK, and grams of pollutants emitted per 1000km travelled by each automotive vehicle fuel type. These figures relate directly to the economical costs in terms of health care expenditure. The results show the benefits that alternative fuels can offer to society as a whole, helping to reduce health problems such as Congestive heart failure, Respiratory problems and Bronchitis, which all relate to poor air quality. The report is based on findings from various sources including The Norfolk County Council alternative fuel trials, and the BeTa database report on social costs published by Netcen (AEA).

Automotive fuels are constantly taking blame and criticism from the Government as the main cause of poor air quality conditions in the UK. The levels of harmful gases in the environment are costing society financially, economically and physically. Most people are aware of the damaging effects that exhaust emissions have on air quality conditions, but what do these emissions cost to society in monetary terms?

Our analysis showed that the social cost of driving a vehicle varies significantly with the fuel type used. In a small town, Diesel results in social costs of �3.84 per 1,000km, petrol �1.04 and LPG �0.55p. In a large city, Diesel costs �32.70 per 1,000km, petrol �6.08 and LPG �2.33.

The cost of running alternative vehicles such as LPG cars is dramatically less than standard petrol and diesel vehicles and does not require higher maintenance levels. Further benefits include reduced engine noise, smoother vehicle running, exempt from congestion charges and low duty taxes. Having more vehicles running on LPG engine in the UK would assist in reducing emission costs to society while improving air quality.

Individuals and organisations that adopt the environmentally-friendly alternative automotive fuels and technologies are not only generating cost savings for themselves but also for the larger society.

Written by Laura Cowan at Fuelture Ltd, a UK based alternative fuel company with a national LPG conversion service. A more complete article can be reviewed at http://www.fuelture.com Fuelture Ltd aspires to build a unique network of state-of-the-art LPG Stations and to launch a unique LPG fuel card. Fuelture Ltd. works closely with performance engine specialists Nicholson McLaren Engines Ltd. Visit http://www.fuelture.com/ for more information about automotive LPG in the UK.

17th July 2006

Author: Laura Cowan
This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.a1articles.com/article_73225_53.html

What Does the Term Carbon Offset Mean Exactly?

2007-11-06T15:03:00.001Z

The term carbon offset means that you attempt to mitigate or reduce the effects of your emission of greenhouse gases by trying to do other activities which may have an equivalent value. For example, you might attempt to mitigate your carbon footprint or amount of carbon dioxide that you are responsible for producing because you own a private vehicle, by planting many, many trees in your community. To mitigate means you are offsetting your carbon emissions rather than reducing the degree to which you create carbon emissions in the first place.

The term carbon offset is used in close relation to the concept of emissions trading. In emissions trading, a government agency is usually responsible for setting mandatory limits for emission of a type of pollutant. If the enterprise is able to stay within limits for emission of that pollutant, the government will grant economic incentives to the enterprise as a reward for reducing pollution released into the environment. Strangely enough, if an enterprise has surpassed the limit for the emission level of the pollutant, the enterprise has the option of purchasing "credits" from other enterprises which have been able to stay well within emission limits. A credit represents how much emissions an enterprise is permitted to release into the environment.

The same principle used in emissions trading has been set into place through the adoption of the global Kyoto Protocol carbon credits scheme. Carbon credits designates a monetary or financial value to greenhouse gas emissions. For instance, one credit means the owner of the credit has permission to release one tonne of carbon dioxide. The Kyoto Protocol is one internationally-recognized treaty which defines the limits of emissions that entire countries can release into the environment over a certain period of time. These countries are then responsible for regulating the businesses or enterprises which operate in their jurisdiction, as far as their level of emissions are concerned. Just like in emissions trading as shown above, the carbon credits scheme allows businesses which have surpassed the permitted amount of emissions released to purchase carbon credits from those businesses which have been able to stay within emissions limits. An interesting aspect of carbon credits is that they can be traded on an open market level as well, with a market price being observed.

On the other hand, there are companies which are able to observe a carbon project mechanism in the way they operate. A carbon project pertains to a business program where the enterprise attempts to reduce its total level of greenhouse gas emissions so that the company will receive funding in return (as a reward, so to speak.) Carbon projects are better than simply buying carbon credits because it means the business is attempting to voluntarily cut down on its greenhouse gas emissions. Some enterprises choose to adopt a carbon project because they may have been guilty of surplus emissions in the past, and saw the carbon project mechanism as being preferable to paying a carbon tax or buying carbon credits from other enterprises. (A carbon tax can be perceived as a default penalty to be paid by the enterprise because it surpassed limits for emissions.)

Green Store UK sells eco friendly gifts and energy saving gadgets. We have various energy saving gadgets such as the Smart Adapter which is a remote control plug set which enables you to quickly and easily turn off electric items off standby.

08th October 2007

Author: greenstore11
This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.a1articles.com/article_224404_53.html

Buying a used car using the Web

2007-11-05T23:59:00.001Z

When it comes to buying a used car there is nowhere better than the internet to help you get started. There are a huge amount of websites where sellers list their cars along with photos and detailed descriptions and this is the easiest and quickest way to find the car of your dreams. However when it comes to buying the car, there are some things that you should take into account, with this is mind here are some tips for a buying a used car.

Before you even go looking for your car make sure you have a general idea of how much cars of similar age and type go for second hand. Also bear in mind the repair costs of the model, the safety aspects of that particular model and how much the car would cost to insure.

Once you have made contact with the seller and have gone to check the car over, it is essential that you get to see all documents related to the cars history. This will give you an idea of how well the car has been treated and if it has had all the check ups it should have had.

If you are buying your used car from a dealer then you have the right to see the written warranty that is provided by the dealer before you buy, this is one way of making sure of what you are getting before you commit yourself.

When you go to look at the car make sure that you give it a through inspection in good lighting and that you take it for a test drive. Where possible make sure that you test drive the car in most situations, for example up and down hills, in heavy traffic where you are stopping and starting and if possible a brief drive down the motorway. This will all tell you how the car handles and feels and pay particular attention to not only how the car handles but also how the engine sounds.

One of the best tips when it comes to buying a used car is if you know nothing about cars then make sure that you take someone with you who does. If you don’t have a friend or family member then it can pay to book someone from an auto club to go with you and look over the car. While of course this will cost you in the long run it can work out cheaper if the car is nothing more than an old banger.

Always remember that while you can get a good bargain when it comes to buying your used car privately you won’t have any warranty as such as you would get from a used car dealer. So usually you will buy the car “as seen” and this is the risk you take for saving a couple of hundred pounds or more on the car.

Whichever way you choose to go to buy your used car with a little common sense and by following the tips for buying a used car outlined above you can grab yourself a great bargain.

If you're serious about getting an LPG car, we recommend starting your search at www.lpgcarshop.co.uk where you will find dual-fuel cars, conversion kits for your existing or new car and even lpg commercial vehicles.

Thanks to: Louis Rix for the bulk of this arrticle.

Technorati Tags: lpg, cars, buying, investment, safety, tips, dual-fuel

For more lpg news and stories..

2007-11-05T22:21:00.001Z

Have a look at Colin's blog - an excellent guide to low carbon lifeforms!

LPG Car Performance Issues ...?

2007-11-05T21:12:00.001Z

It is believed by many car owners and consumers that if they decide to convert their car to run on LPG fuel this will lower the cars performance – this is untrue and in fact if there is any change in performance it will be negligible and most drivers would be unlikely to detect the difference.

If car owners decide to convert their vehicles to run on LPG they will find that power outputs from their cars engine will be slightly reduced than when the car is running on petrol. This slight decrease in power output from the cars engine will mean that top speeds and acceleration times will be reduced but the reduction will be of such a slight margin that as stated before it is unlikely that drivers will be able to notice any drop in their cars performance.

Car owners should be aware that to make sure their vehicles performance is not affected by the conversion process, LPG kits should only be installed by qualified mechanics in approved installation centres that can be found all across the country.

Thanks to the author: Stephen Rodger

Is LPG better for the environment?

2007-11-05T21:07:00.001Z

The debate about the affect that car pollution is having on the environment is a major taking point in the press and with governments now being pressured into trying to alter our driving habits would a move to LPG be beneficial to the environment?

The simple answer is yes!!

Carbon Dioxide is the main greenhouse gas and the low carbon content of LPG compared with petrol helps reduce the amount of carbon dioxide being produced by vehicles which could have a huge benefit in the quality of air in built up urban areas throughout the UK. LPG fuel also burns a lot cleaner than petrol thus reducing the amount of pollution entering our environment. The table below from Autogasscotland.com shows the comparisons in the levels of pollution produced by petrol and diesel cars compared with LPG. Showing that converting to LPG can have a beneficial effect on the environment.

The Major of London has introduced congestion charge schemes in London and there are plans to introduce these zones across the UK in a bid to reduce pollution. By charging car owners a congestion charge to enter these zones the hope is to reduce the amount of vehicles on the road and thus reduce pollution. The major benefit of converting to LPG is that all LPG vehicles are immune from these charges which can create great savings for those who are entering these zones on a regular basis. LPG is the greener option and those people driving LPG cars will see benefits not only in fuel economy and savings but they will be helping the environment at the same time.

In addition, there are a lot of discussions about road charging schemes that would incorporate car emissions.

Thanks to the author: Daniel Muir