Showing posts with label cars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cars. Show all posts

How Green Are Green Cars?

With the issue of global warming taking on international importance in recent years, unsurprisingly the focus has fallen on car drivers, with cars seen as one of the major contributors towards global warming. Green cars have been held up as a potential solution, one that motorists should be embracing.
But are green cars actually 'green'?


Firstly, let's take pure electric cars. Unfortunately these electric cars are anything but good for the environment. The electricity that they run on is produced in power stations, where only 30-40% of the energy is converted into electricity. Transferring this electricity along electric cables then results in a further 30% being lost to heat energy. So by the time this electricity reaches an electric car a huge amount of the energy has already been lost. Good for cutting down inner city pollution but efficient it certainly isn't.

Recently hybrid cars have been preferred, cars that contain both an electric motor and a petrol engine. The battery for the motor is powered by the energy generated from braking. When it comes to being 'green' these cars in theory offer many more environmental benefits.

In practice this isn't necessarily the case. Consumer magazine Which? tested four hybrid cars by driving them throughout London. The results were disappointing, as mentioned by George Marshall-Thornhill, senior researcher for Which?, "Some of these should have performed much better." And this is all without mentioning how to dispose of troublesome electric batteries.

Then there's the cost of hybrid cars. The Toyota Prius is the most popular hybrid car and can be purchased for around £17,000. However, with fuel economy claims in doubt and 55% of people believing that green cars are too expensive, there is still some way to go before green cars arrive on a large scale.

The facts are that green cars use more energy to produce, are harder to dispose of, their fuel economy claims have been doubted, and they are simply too expensive. The age of the green car has not arrived yet.

About the Author:
Charles Cridland founded the car parking site YourParkingSpace.co.uk, where you can rent a parking space or find a parking space or garage to rent.

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Hybrid Car Tax Credit

Ever since 2005, the IRS has been giving a tax credit to individual taxpayers who drive cars which use alternative fuel sources. There was at one time just a clean fuel burning deduction available to green minded taxpayers, but this only applied to gas-electric hybrid vehicles. In 2005, however, this was replaced by the current legislation, the Energy Policy Act. By the terms of this 2005 law, the tax credit is taken directly from the total amount of tax which the taxpayer would otherwise owe. This reduces or can even eliminate the tax which the individual in question must pay. If you are unsure whether or not your particular "green" vehicle qualifies for this credit, you can ask your car manufacturer or your local dealership.



If you have bought a hybrid vehicle after January 1 2006, then your vehicle (and you, happily!) qualify for this tax credit. This tax credit will also apply to your vehicle if you have begun to use your car after this date.

A hybrid vehicle is, by the definition given in this law a vehicle having drive trains which are powered by a rechargeable battery of some sort in addition to an internal combustion engine. Most hybrid vehicles which are available on the market currently do in fact qualify for this credit.

The credit provided for in the Energy Policy Act applies only to those who have purchased a new vehicle that meets these criteria. If this vehicle is leased rather than purchased outright by a consumer, it is the leasing company instead of the end user may claim this tax credit.

Let's have a look at how large of a credit you will be eligible to receive for your hybrid vehicle. This information is current as of January 2008:

1. Make: Chevrolet

Model: Malibu Hybrid, Amount of Credit: $1,300
Model: Tahoe Hybrid 2WD and 4WD, Amount of Credit: $2,200

2. Make: Ford

Model: Escape Hybrid 2WD, Amount of Credit: $3,000
Model: Escape Hybrid 4WD, Amount of Credit: $2,200

3. Make: GMC

Model: Yukon Hybrid, Amount of Credit: $2,200

4. Make: Honda

Model: Civic CVT, Amount of Credit: $0 to $2,100 depending upon date of purchase.

5. Make: Mazda

Model: Tribute 2WD, Amount of Credit: $3,000
Model: Tribute 4WD, Amount of Credit: $2,200

6. Make: Mercury

Model: Mariner Hybrid 2WD, Amount of Credit: $3,000
Model: Mariner Hybrid 4WD, Amount of Credit: $2,200

7. Make: Nissan

Model: Altima Hybrid, Amount of Credit: $2,350

8. Make: Saturn

Model: Aura hybrid, Amount of Credit: $3,000
Model: Vue Green Line, Amount of Credit: $1,550

9. Make: Toyota

Model: Camry Hybrid, Amount of Credit: $0 to $2,600 depending on date of purchase
Model: Prius, Amount of Credit: $0 to $3,150 depending on date of purchase
Model: Highlander Hybrid 4WD, Amount of Credit: $0 to $2,600 depending on date of purchase

10. Make: Lexus

Model: RX 400h 2WD and 4WD, Amount of Credit: $0 to $2,200 depending on date of purchase
Model: LS 600h L Hybrid, Amount of Credit: $0 to $1,800 depending on date of purchase

Ryan Edward and his team have reviewed all of the so-called best of the best, Water For Gas guides on the market. He shares their findings and shows you the results from their extensive Water For Gas Guide Reviews at his website. To visit Ryan's website now please click on the following link...

Go To: http://www.RyseReviews.com/HHO

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ryan_Edward

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Save money with eco friendly driving

green energy - eco friendly driving
The credit crunch and fuel prices have rarely been out of the news recently. When you combine this with the stark environmental warnings regarding CO2 emissions, it puts motorists under more pressure, both in terms of finance and conscience.

Clearly it’s just not practical for everyone to use public transport on a daily basis, so when you have to use your own car or a work vehicle, there are a number of steps you can make to your driving style that can help the environment and your wallet at the same time.


Eco-friendly driving is a term that’s been used more frequently in recent years. It covers a whole range of different aspects that are easy to implement into your daily journeys. The first of these is driving at a more even speed. Every day on the roads you’ll see people in urban areas accelerating harshly only to be stopped in their tracks by a set of traffic lights around the corner or a vehicle that’s obeying the limit. This rapid burst of speed of course means that they have to use their brakes more fiercely than normal too. Driving in this way only ever really achieves two things: wasting fuel and wearing down your car's controls.

Driving at a consistent and even speed whenever possible results in less CO2 being pumped into the atmosphere as well as preserving your fuel and brake components. By planning ahead and anticipating both the conditions and other road users, you can tailor your speed accordingly and also be in a position to brake more evenly and progressively rather than slamming them on at the last available moment.

There are other simple eco-friendly driving habits you can adopt, such as ensuring you’re in the correct gear for your speed, changing into neutral when you’ve stopped at traffic lights - even switching off your engine if you’re in a jam, and it’s clear you won’t be moving for a few minutes. Other things like driving with weight in the boot that you don’t need to be carrying, poorly inflated tyres, and even having the radio on when you’re not even listening to it will all increase your fuel consumption and the more you use, the more your emissions will be.

Another area where you can make a significant environmental impact is by switching fuels. Regardless of what fuel your vehicle uses just now, you can have it converted to use Liquefied Petroleum Gas or LPG and petrol. By using LPG you will cut down your emissions considerably and without affecting the performance and miles per gallon rate. Changing your vehicle to one with a smaller engine, can also help with emissions and put a smile on your face when buying road tax or getting a car insurance quote.

These are just some of the key areas where you can improve your driving, help the environment and save yourself money too. By implementing these small steps, you can bring about a lot of positive changes.

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Get At Least $2000 In IRS Refunds For Using Green Technology


Yes, you read the title right, you can now get at least 2000$ worth of IRS refunds for using green tech on your car. All you have to do is to run your car on water.

If you are not up to date with the newest technological advancements, let's give you a fast update. Due to the fact that gas prices are higher then ever, and even worse, they are continuing to rise, one person said enough was enough and he came up with a way to power a car using water. Just plain simple tap water.

Here's how it works: You use electricity from your car's battery to separate water into a gas known as HHO, this burns effectively and provides significant energy. HHO has the atomic power of hydrogen but it maintains the stability of water. This make it a very safe and very easy process.

Now the best part is the fact that you can convert your car to run on water by yourself. You don't need to be a mechanic or a handyman. There are a lot of high quality guides on the web that teach you how to do this, step by step with ilustrations and videos. The best part however is the fact that a guide costs about 50$ and the parts needed for conversion are also 50$. But what benefits come with a water powered car? up to 60% decrease in fuel consumption, more horsepower, lower emissions, longer engine life.

Now let's get back to the IRS refunds. If you convert your vehicle to run on water, you will not only recieve the above benefits but, the state will actually give you money for owning such a vehicle. So how is this really possible? It's quite simple to be honest with you. If you run an environmentally safe hybrid you will not pollute mother earth. Above that this helps our nation spend less money on pollution, sick days, hospitals etc. Most importantly it helps the nation save money on oil importations and all the other problems that come with it.

So how much can you really get? The IRS code clearly states that the maximum deduction you can claim for qualified clean-fuel vehicle property with respect to any motor vehicle is the following: 50 000$ for a truck with a gross weight over 26,000 pounds. 5 000$ for a truck or van with a gross weight of over 10,000 pounds. 2 000$ for a regular vehicle. Well I don't know about you but that seems like a lot of money...

Let's give an example, you are spending around 100$ to convert your vehicle (normal car) and you get a 2000$ IRS refund. This means that even if the hydrogen system did not work (witch is impossible) you will still get paid a lot of money.

In conclusion you can get at least $2000 worth of IRS refunds for using green technology in your vehicle simply by running your car on water.

Convert your car to Run On Water it's easy to do, effective, and it will help you save tons of money on those ever raising gas prices.

Matthew Pothen owns a website specially dedicated to the top 3 "How To Run Your Car On Water" guides available today. Visit RunOnWater-Review.info and make sure you buy the real thing.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Pothen

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How Hydrogen Fuel Conversion Can Help You Save

Technology has come a long, long ways in every field and autos running on water is no exception. Hydrogen fuel conversion is a technology that has been around for many, many decades. The Government chose to shoot it down when it very first surfaced well over 40 or so years ago and chose to outlaw it. I'm certain that they had their reasons, although I'm not sure just what those could have been.

Hydrogen fuel technology is not only a great fuel alternative but it great for the environment as well. The technology of hydrogen fuel conversion is one that could very well help us ease our dependency on fossil fuels, our main fuel resource, a fuel that produces carbon monoxide which is bad for the environment in that it greatly reduces air (oxygen) quality.

Hydrogen comes from water (H20) and has no toxic side effect that will harm the environment. The by product of hydrogen production is (H20) or water. Hydrogen fuel conversion kits installed on vehicles could drastically save by extending fuel mileage up to 50-75% thereby reducing costs because you are doubling or tripling mileages per gallon of fuel burned.

Although the technology has been around for decades it's been somewhat suppressed and what is common knowlege to very few is unacceptable in this case to many others. Surely this huge planet has resources not yet tapped and some thats still yet to be discovered. The use of fossil fuels along with other environmentally toxic chemicals,and the cutting down of far too many trees among other factors, is why our planet is heating up. My Point? Had we started using this very technology decades ago it could quite possibly have contributed in a big way to Global warming. But that's just one mans opinion.

Getting back to hydrogen fuel conversions,When mixed with air, extracted hydrogen from water turns into a very highly flammable mixture more commonly known as "Browns Gas" Now the name has nothing at all to do with the mixture but more so a person who had a hand in it's discovery. Yull Brown is the person that i'm referring to. There is great controversy surrounding the fact that mr. Brown in fact was or was not the person who discovered Browns Gas.

Nevertheless the conclusion was that Brown's Gas was in fact safe to use in 4 cyle engines considering you follow the engineers instructions on portions, and all the other variables needed to get it to the correct mixture to be used along with fossil fuels as a fuel for 4 cycle engines that is. Other applications my vary in these variables since Browns Gas has other useses as well.

With all of the controversy surrounding high gas prices all over the world many have turned their attentions to alternative full sources and hydrogen fuel conversions for autos have definitely been a topic that many have been researching. As stated above the extraction of this resource used along with our current fuel source may increase fuel MPG by as much as 75% in some cases while promising to lower fuel emmissions at the same time which helps the environment from toxic waste polluting the air.

Controversy has it's place here as well. Some agree and some disagree with the fact that this discovery is possible. Let me ask you though, If we can put a space ship into space, incidentally Brown's Gas is supposedly a possible fuel here as well, and if we can transplant or do surgery on the human heart, we had no hand in creating man, and in just a few days a person has extended life potential, do you think that just maybe we (man) who,infact invented the 4 cycle engine, could possibly make that 4 cycle engine run on another type of fuel extracted from water? Heck we know that engines run on used cooking oil, better known as Biodiesel and we accepted that. We accept the fact that sugar from candy is used in fuel for added octane for added fuel potency.

Hydrogen from water when mixed with air in a compressed state is very, very volatile and extremely dangerous. Just a spark near a small amount of this mixture could be catastrophic! Thats why harnessing it in the traditional way that we store fuel in our automobiles simply just would not work. As the hydrogen is being harvested it is being used simultaneously which does away with having to store it.

Alternative Fuel for environmental support as well as a possible future fuel adaptation Hydrogen Fuel conversion.

About the Author:

Donald Whitehead: Donald's information provided for articles is always researched material. Visit Donald's Site Top 3 Fuel Conversion Kits Reviews for a look at cost effective kits that Xtend Fuel Mileage and helps the environment by producing toxic free fuel, while saving you a bundle in cash too

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Tips to Get Free Gas

When you hear the word "free" and "gas" in the same sentence, you being to think if it's going to be some sort of scam or it's going to be too good to be true. Well in this case, I'm going to show you a few ways on you can legitimately get free gas. There are many possible ways out there that many people look over and don't even think about trying. I'm going to show you today on how you can get free gas.

Advertise on your vehicle - There are companies out there that will actually give you money for gas in return for advertising their company. This advertisement will usually be either a magnet of some sort or in some cases; the company might actually go out of their way to have a car professionally done for you to drive around. People who tend to drive a lot are usually eligible for these types of offers.

Paid for carpooling - Did you know that there are some states out there that will pay you for carpooling? States like New Jersey will pay you up to $100 just to carpool. Talk about having a great incentive! See if you state offers a deal like this that you can take advantage of.

Promotions - If you're about to buy a new or used car, check and see if any of the dealerships in your area are offering free gas giveaways or promotions when you buy a vehicle. Some dealerships will give you $500 gas cards, etc just for buying a vehicle. Just recently, Chrysler announced that they were going to give new buyers gas for $2.99 for 3 years guaranteed. This right there can save you a fortune!





Check out the banks - Just like the dealerships, the banks offer deals that are very similar. Some banks will offer gas gift cards if you simply sign up for a checking or savings account. There are websites out there that specialize in bank deals. Be sure to check out your local banks the next time you go in to do some banking, you'll be surprised what kind of deals are being offered.

Grocery cash back - Some grocery stores out there offer incentive programs if you purchase x amount of groceries. If the grocery store has a gas station, you may find that you'll be able to get so much back on your next gasoline purchase. This is a great way to save and most of the times you'll find that these coupon vouchers are as good as gift cards, there won't be any set spending limit.

As you can see by now, there are millions of ways to get free gas. It just takes a little research online and some extra time and you can get free gas in your vehicle. Try the above methods and see what kind of results you find. There are millions of websites out there that may offer contests related to gas cards. Time will pay off in the long run if you're willing to get free gas.

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Car driving on air? - no combustion?!

This video showa "the air car" - Idea of using pressured air instead of combustion, in the car. this will make a much cleaner and more efficient car.
The video from beyond tomorrow:


The compressed air moving the car instead of an regular engine. watch...

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The History of Electric Cars

We've all seen the commercials talking about how technology was all going to be about flying cars and cold fusion. In reality, though, we have our very own science-fiction-turned-fact in looking at hybrid vehicles which are taking over. They truly are efficient and are money-saving at some levels, but most consumers assume that the concept of electric motors is brand new, but the first experiments with electric motors began in the mid-1800s. Going as far back as 1832, locomotives and carriages were already using electric motors, considering that lead-acid batteries were already being used.

In the 1890s, though, the first electric cars were actually built at home in the U.S. and actually shown to the general public. To thank for that first electric car we have William Morrison, whose electric car was one of the first to be successfully tested. By the time 1893 had rolled around, there are already several models of electric-powered cars that were showcased in Chicago.

If you have the impression that electric cars are solely known to the public as the new economic fad, think again. Made by Pope manufacturing company in New York City, 1897 saw electric taxis around the city. In fact, by 1899, Thomas Edison was also involved with these ideas, even though he never saw his developments come to fruition.

In 1900, 28% öf vehicles in the U.S. were powered by electric motors, and over one-third of the driving populations in New York City, Boston and Chicago were actually driving electric cars. Had Henry Ford's new automobile, the gas-powered Model T Ford, not come along eight years later, the electric car could have possibly been the more common vehicle. Unfortunately, Henry Ford's Model T had taken over electric cars by far by the 1920s.

Around 1966, environmental awareness actually became a concern, prompting the US Congress to actually pass legislation regarding pollution, air cleanliness concerns, not to mention rising gas prices. As a result, the popularity and demand for electric cars has increased.

While most consumers think of old hybrids as being the 1998 Toyota Prius, the first actual hybrid vehicle was constructed from a Buick Skylark by a man named Victor Wouk in 1972. The Federal Clear Car Incentive Program in 1970 brought forward this need for hybrid cars, and Wouk's hybrid was no different, having been built specifically in response to this Act. Later, in 1974, Vanguard-Sebring built an electric vehicle known as the CitiCar, and was another attempt to respond to the Incentive Program. Unfortunately, the company and program were both out of the picture by 1980.

Although there was an actual act passed by Congress to research and develop hybrid vehicles in 1976, General Motors didn't actually start its research on their first hybrid vehicle, the EVI, until 1988. Thankfully, the entire country got a kick in the pants when California passed a Zero Emission Mandate in 1990 that required at least 2% of vehicles be ZEV compliant by 1993, and then 10% of those vehicles by 2003. Unfortunately, both of those goals had not been met by 2003, which still left the country in a position to research hybrids.

Finally, in 1997, Toyota was able to make a breakthrough, and the Toyota Prius was released to the commercial mass-market, selling over 18,000 vehicles in one year alone. It didn't take long after that, and in the next three years, Chevy, Toyota, Nissan, Ford, and GM began to release hybrid vehicles, but they were full of kinks and problems. By 2004, most of them were scrapped and recycled.

In 2006, hybrid vehicles began to see a resurgence in production. This time, the kinks were worked out and now, hybrids will soon become the new standard. The fact of the matter, though, is that while the packaging may be new, the actual technology behind the hybrid has spent a century being developed.

About the Author:
To learn more about hybrid cars visit hybridcarchat.com and join the hybrid car forums.

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What is a Hydro Powered Car?

What do you think of when you see the term "hydro powered car?" Do you picture the high-tech hydrogen powered cars being developed by companies like BMW? Or do you think of a car that somehow uses water instead of gasoline as fuel? Or perhaps one of those old steam-powered monsters that inventors tinkered with 100 years ago? When I think of a hydro powered car, I think of something slightly different, a cross between an all-hydrogen car and one that somehow uses water as fuel. You can call it a hydrogen-gasoline hybrid. Many people just call it a car that runs on water.
The idea of using water directly as fuel is still science fiction. On the face of it, the idea seems absurd. Yet today you can buy hydro powered car kits that use the hydrogen in water as fuel (to supplement the gasoline) in standard automobiles, resulting in much higher mileage.

Why Should You Care?

This kind of hydro powered car certainly isn't the futuristic all-hydrogen vehicle you may have heard about, or the seemingly magical vehicle that runs on just tap water that we would all love to have. So why should you care about this kind of hydrogen-gasoline hydro powered car? There are lots of good reasons:

If you've bought gasoline recently, you know that the price is high and looks to be heading still higher. A hydro powered car can get much higher mileage than an all-gasoline car, which means big savings on gas.

Gasoline comes with lots of baggage. The West's dependence on foreign oil makes it dependent on countries like Iraq, Iran, Venezuela, and Russia for energy. External hostility to the West, along with internal instability and unrest, make it scary to rely on many oil-producing countries. Anything that reduces Western dependence on their oil reduces the risks.

The sad fact is that Americans have a tremendous reliance on gas and the steady supply of it. Most simply don't live in areas where alternative fuels are readily available. Many Americans must endure lengthy commutes to work, traffic jams and rush hour, not to mention routine errands that can't be accomplished on foot. Public transportation is an option, however many areas of America don't offer such services.

Don't forget pollution. Burning gasoline for fuel pollutes the air. A hydro powered car gets better mileage and so reduces that pollution.

Last but certainly not least, you can convert your own car into a hydro powered car today using readily available parts. You don't need to wait for the ideal hydro powered car to come out of the auto company labs. You can turn your own car into one and start getting the benefits right away.

How Does This Kind of Hydro Powered Car Work?

How can water, the same substance that comes from your kitchen faucet, be used to fuel your car engine? The key is hydrogen. What is water when you go down to the molecular structure? Two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen. Get the hydrogen out of the water and mix it with your car's gasoline and voila! a hydrogen-gasoline hybrid car.

Hydrogen is a highly desirable source of fuel because it delivers lots of energy and burns with virtually no pollutants. But cars that run solely on hydrogen aren't ready yet and won't be practical for a while. Using hydrogen as a supplemental fuel is a safe and effective alternative that's available right now.

Hydro powered car kits available today use electricity to convert common water into hydrogen and oxygen in your car as needed. The hydrogen is immediately mixed with the car's gasoline and burned, delivering better fuel efficiency and cleaner exhaust. It is an ideal solution for today's world, and thousands of people around the world have purchased these kits to convert their own vehicle into a hydro powered car.

About the Author:

Bill Mann is a freelance technology writer who helps people benefit from the technology all around us. He is a big fan of alternative fuel systems. He recommends you visit: Hydro Powered Car to learn more about a kit that makes this possible.

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Believe it - We Will See Hydrogen Soon!

There is a lot of hype right now about hydrogen fuel and its possible uses. The technology is no longer theory; we are seeing in action. Unfortunately it could still be 10 - 20 years before we see this technology in abundance.

Many people look past the obstacles too easily, simply hoping for the prize at the end: clean, renewable, cost efficient energy. The main obstacles to overcome are storage, production, and use in vehicles.

Technology is coming along, but the storage of hydrogen is still very difficult. Since it is a gas at normal temperatures, hydrogen would have to be stored in pressurized tanks, if it were in gaseous form. Retaining enough fuel to provide a car with sufficient range would require that the tanks be under immense pressure (greater than can be obtained currently).

At present, practical hydrogen storage tanks are providing 100 - 150 miles to a tank of gas. To increase that number, researchers have investigated liquid hydrogen storage. In liquid form, the hydrogen would be more dense and able to hold more energy per unit volume. The ability to to maintain liquid hydrogen on a vehicle is still questionable however.

On top of storage, the future of mass produced hydrogen is unsure. Since hydrogen cannot be harvested from the air, it has to be extracted from compounds on earth. The two main processes for harvesting are methane extraction and electrolysis. Methane extraction is currently the most common way to obtain hydrogen, but experts believe that electrolysis will prevail in the future.

Electrolysis works by splitting water molecules in to H2 and O2 gasses by using electricity. Right now the process requires so much electricity, that it is not even practical to use on a large scale.

Even still, there are two types of hydrogen vehicles that people still clump into one. There is a hydrogen internal combustion engine and a hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicle. The two types of technology are quite different. Vehicles powered by fuel cells are still very far off. The technology is still extremely expensive, but as technology improve and prices come down, these vehicles will be the cleanest and most efficient.

Right now the first option is much more likely, however. An internal combustion engine can run on hydrogen with only a few simple modifications. As soon as hydrogen can be produced and stored on a large scale, we will certainly see these types of vehicles on the road.

Despite all the negative aspects of hydrogen fuel technology, much research is going on, and progress is being made daily. By weight, hydrogen fuel caries more energy than gasoline, so it is a logical move to raise awareness in hopes of using it some day. Maybe most importantly, hydrogen could reduce prices at the pump by as much as 50%. It might be a ways off, but anything that can save us $$$ is ok by us!

For more information, visit Gas Savers

Russell is a Mechanical Engineer dedicated to helping people save money at the pump. His articles are well researched and informative on the subjects of saving gas, alternate energy, and hybrid technology.

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The Hydrogen Road Of Norway

In the past, the focus was on California's Hydrogen Highway Network initiative. This one will look at a similar initiative, but on a global scale. HyNor, the Hydrogen Road of Norway, joins various industries together in order to accomplish a goal that has been in the making for several years. Although 2008 is the final year of this project it began in 2005. The beginning conceptualization started 2 years prior that in 2003.

HyNor, an infrastructure produced from hydrogen energy, runs along a 580 kilometer (roughly 360 miles) route between Oslo and Stavanger. The types of transportation that HyNor has incorporated in their plans include buses, taxis, and private vehicles. The official website of HyNor asserts that this venture includes "a partnership connecting major industrial and energy companies, transport companies, regional and national public authorities, and R&D institutes." This partnership offers a comprehensive approach to the implementation of the hydrogen energy infrastructure.

Because of Norway's vast resources in hydro power, natural gas and biomass, the country is an ideal location to attempt such an endeavor. They have secured backing from a number of interest groups who believe the ideas formulated through HyNor are achievable. In addition, the changeable climatic conditions that Norway experiences allows the project to test the reliability of hydrogen energy "under conditions of large seasonal fluctuations and cold ambient temperatures." This then extends to various segments of the world and will demonstrate the practicality of a hydrogen energy based transportation system.

According to the PDF document prepared by HyNor, the following are the industry participants who are involved in the succession of the project:

* Energy companies

o Hydro, Statoil, Lyse, Vardar, Akershus Energi

* Public transportation companies

o Stor Oslo Lokaltrafikk, Miljøbil Grenland, Rogaland Taxi, Telenor, Norgestaxi

* Universities/colleges and R&D inst.

o Vestlandsforskning, Østfoldforskning, IRIS, UiS, Høgskolen i Agder, Høgskolen i Telemark, Sintef, IFE, NTNU, HiB

* Environmental organizations

o ZERO, Bellona

* Vehicle and vehicle component manufacturers

o Raufoss Fuel Systems, Think

* Public institutions

o Rogaland County, Telemark FK, Akershus County, Drammen, Aust-Agder FK, Lyngdal, Stavanger, Buskerud FK, Oslo, Hordaland County, Kunnskapsbyen Lillestrøm, Skedsmo, Akershus County

* Others

o Lindum Ressurs, ASG, TeamConsult, Innova, Irmat, GassTEK, Rådet for Drammensregionen, Energiparken, CMR Group

In 2007, HyNor began incorporating hydrogen vehicles to the infrastructure. Beginning with the 15 Quantum H2 Prius vehicles, they added 4 plug-in hybrid H2 TH!NK cars. The latter, a vehicle that not only can be recharged by plugging it into a wall, but that is also powered through a hydrogen fuel cell, was discussed in detail in a previous post. In 2006, HyNor Stavanger, a hydrogen station, was opened. This facility operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In June 2007, HyNor Grenland, a second hydrogen facility, launched its operation. HyNor Oslo, the third station, plans its inauguration sometime in the Fall of 2008.

HyNor is demonstrating for the rest of the world the benefits of a hydrogen based transportation system. Through their endeavors, we will ideally embark on a more environmentally practical way of getting from one place to another.

David Tanguay is dedicated to providing research, reviews & helpful information to consumers and businesses. For more information related to Green Energy and Solar Energyhttp://greenenergyonline.org please visit

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Does the Bmw Hydrogen 7 Make Sense to You?

Does The BMW Hydrogen 7 Make Sense To You?

All we have been hearing for years is how we need to free ourselves from dependence on foreign oil. With the price of gas going out of site and the terrible emissions from car engines, it’s no wonder that BMW has taken the lead to create a better vehicle. The time is right for change in the automotive world.

What do you think about this?

First of all let me tell you that as of April 2008 there is no such thing as a production car from BMW or anyone else that runs on hydrogen. But the research being done by BMW is absolutely fascinating. The experimental model is the 2007 BMW Hydrogen 7. It’s really a 7 Series Sedan converted to run on liquid hydrogen. And like all experiments, this car is only for the purpose of learning how to make a hydrogen car work safely and economically.

According to a BMW company spokesman, “A BMW that is not a BMW anymore is not acceptable to us”. The fact is, BMW is putting their reputation and money on the line to adapt their existing 6.0 liter V12 to burn liquid hydrogen. When BMW works out a few sticky technical problems, hydrogen promises to revolutionize transportation as we humans know it.

The first problem with hydrogen is that it currently has to be produced from a source such as natural gas. To do this requires huge amounts of electricity usually being generated by burning coal. Not only is this expensive, but it is also bad for the environment. It’s like setting fire to your house in mid-January just so that you can keep warm for awhile. That doesn’t make much sense either, does it?

So don’t expect to see a production model BMW Hydrogen 7 anytime soon.

The second problem with a hydrogen car at this point is something most drivers will not tolerate. And that is, 30 gallons of liquid hydrogen will only get you about 125 miles. That’s why the BMW Hydrogen 7 is a dual-fuel vehicle. It can go another 310 miles on the 19.5 gallons of gasoline. Even though hydrogen may be the fuel of the future, finding a “hydrogen filling station” today is difficult to say the least. It’s just not going to happen soon.

The upside of driving a BMW Hydrogen 7 car is the positive effect on the environment. As you probably know, as you are motoring down the highway the exhaust is mostly good old fashion water.

But there is more to the exhaust than just water.

What you don’t know is that there will be small amounts of crankcase oil still emitted as it gets burned in the combustion chambers. This is the same with all internal combustion engines. There is also a small amount of nitric acid that is formed during combustion. Without getting too technical my friend, the nitric acid can be removed by a simple three-way catalyst.

Now, for all of you out there who either didn’t take chemistry in high school or college or who were sleeping in class when you should have been paying attention, I’ll make this easy for you. What comes out of the back end of the BMW Hydrogen 7 is “pretty darn clean”. It’s mostly just water.

Whew. That was easy. I told you it was going to be simple.

So, fellow traveler, our great adventure to create the car of the future has begun in the form of the BMW Hydrogen 7. There are many challenges to be overcome before you will see one of these cuties in your garage. But when it does make its grand entrance, I’ll be one of the first in line. The BMW Hydrogen 7 makes sense to me.

Does it make sense to you?

Chet Waters is the BMW Specialist. Learn How To Find Your BMW And At The Price You Can Afford. Go To:

http://www.bmwsauctions.com

About the Author:

Chet Waters is the BMW Specialist. His passion for everything BMW is what he likes to share with others

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Hybrid Car Comparison: Which Hybrid Car Should You Choose



Hybrid cars are getting more and more popular today. In fact, more and more people are now purchasing hybrid cars because of a number of reasons. One is that they will enjoy tax incentives as a buyer of a hybrid car, two is that they will be able to save a lot of money from the rising cost of precious, expensive and limited supply of fuel and three, it will enable them to generate less pollution to the environment because of the extremely low toxic emissions generated by hybrid cars.

Because of the growing popularity of hybrid cars, more and more car manufacturers are now competing to produce the best kind of hybrid cars. They are now producing hybrid cars integrated with stHybrid car, green energyate-of-the-art technology that will enable consumers to save more on fuel, and also a car that will be able to produce low toxic emissions.

However, because of the growing market for hybrid cars, and also because of more and more car manufacturers that are now integrating hybrid technology in their cars, many people tend to get confused on which hybrid car to purchase. Besides, all car manufacturers promises to offer the best kind of hybrid cars in the market today.

In order to know which hybrid car to purchase, you have to compare them closely for you to know which hybrid car is for you and which hybrid car you can benefit from more. You have to compare some factors of hybrid cars in order to determine which hybrid car is better than the other.

However, before you go on and compare hybrid cars, you first have to know a little something about how hybrid cars work and how you can benefit from it. First of all, hybrid cars use the cleanest and the most efficient source of energy, which is electricity and also gasoline. Hybrid cars are what you can describe as a cross between a conventional gasoline-powered car and an electric-powered car.

It allows you to save fuel and emit lower volumes of toxic fumes because hybrid cars run on electricity when it is idle. What this means is that when you are stuck in traffic, and the hybrid car is running idle, or not in motion, it will automatically switch of the gasoline engine. Therefore, the hybrid car will run purely on electricity. Once you step on the accelerator pedal, it will automatically switch on the gasoline engine again to run the car.

So, now that you know how hybrid cars work and how you can benefit from it, you now have to know how to compare hybrid cars in order to get the right kind of hybrid car for your everyday use.

First of all, you need to determine how you will use the car. If you have a family, it is recommended that you get an SUV hybrid vehicle. This will enable you to carry more passengers. However, you also have to consider that SUV hybrid vehicles can cost a little more than hybrid cars.

The main advantage of a hybrid car is that it is fuel efficient. You have to choose a hybrid car that is the most fuel efficient in order for you to maximize its benefits. You can ask your dealer about the fuel efficiency of the car. They will be able to tell you how much miles a gallon it can save compared to conventional cars and other hybrid cars.

These are the ways on how you can compare hybrid cars in order for you to choose which one to get. Remember all these things and you can be sure that you will be able to get the right kind of hybrid car available in the market today. To start your search, Honda and Toyota are two of the leading companies today that produce affordable and efficient hybrid cars.


About the Author:
Hilal Abdelwali, Ph.D. in Automotive Engineering. SAE Member Since September 2001. Expert in Automotive Engineering and Hybrid Cars.
Internet Marketer. Owner of http://TheHybridCarsSite.com, and http://MyHotProducts.com Site.

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Green cars - The new chick magnet?

In today's oil prices, more efficient ,hybrid and green cars becoming more than just an necessity. Green cars are lucrative and appealing. In a survey made by GM, They found the following:
"
  • Fuel- efficient cars - The new chick magnet? 88 percent of all woman say they’d rather chat up someone with the latest fuel-efficient car versus the latest sports car!.
  • How to win friends and influence . 80 percent of American car buyers would find someone with the latest model fuel-efficient car more interesting to talk to at a party than someone with the latest model sports car.hybrid car
  • Not green?That’s a fashion don’t. More than four out of 10 (45 percent) 18-43 year-olds say it’s a fashion faux-pas nowadays to have a car that is not green or environmentally friendly.
  • Project roadway. More than seven in 10 (73 percent) car buyers say if there were a reality TV show like “Project Runway” that was not about fashion design, but instead about designing the best-looking fuel-efficient and emissions-free car, they’d definitely watch
"

Wow!
green energy is becoming sexy!
What do you think?

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Avoid Highway Robbery by Using The New Crude--WATER

HERE'S THE BAD NEWS.

Engines waste gasoline! Up to 80% of the high-priced gas that you pump doesn't get you anywhere because it goes UNBURNED to the catalytic converter. That means you are getting 0 MPG (zero, zilch, nada) from most of the over-priced gasoline you pump into your tank.

WHY DO COMBUSTION ENGINES WASTE SO MUCH GAS?

That's what they are designed to do--WASTE GAS--because every second of every day, everywhere in the world, every single gas and diesel engine on the planet puts money into the deep, deep, DEEP pockets of Big Oil.

Automotive and fuel technology has been deliberately held back, and people have been kept in the dark about AMAZING inventions and discoveries, in order to sell us lots of gasoline. Sorry, but that's how it is.

For example, the gas could be preheated and better formulated for better combustion--but it's not. The fuel vapor droplets could be smaller for efficient combustion--but they're not. The pre-set computer-controlled air-to-fuel ratio could be more economical--but it's not. The exhaust could be reprocessed to contribute to mileage (there are patents on that)--but it's not. Cars could be using a better carburetor design--but they're not because the patent for a 100 MPG carburetor was bought and buried years ago. Cars could be running completely on water fuel--but they're not because those patents were also bought and then buried along with the inventor (however, the patents ran out recently!). Even the hybrids that Big Auto is selling at luxury car prices don't optimize gasoline combustion and consumption.

HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS.

You can do something about it, ONE CAR AT A TIME, starting with YOUR car.

How? By using ENERGY from WATER.

If that sounds impossible, or crazy, or delusional, I understand. This is something that none of our trusted sources of information--TV, radio, teachers, movies, professors, magazines, dad, scientists, books, Sesame Street--have told us about. Why? See the bad news, above.

I mentioned amazing inventions and discoveries. Many of them have very sophisticated technical patents on them. But the kind of water energy system I am talking about, the one that is affordable and do-able by ME and YOU in OUR cars (not by buying a Big Auto hybrid with a luxury car pricetag), is a do-it-yourself technology, specifically designed for beginners with basic tools and very limited budgets. A working system can be built at home for $20 to $200 worth of parts and installed in your car, truck, or SUV on a weekend. It's a 90-year-old technology that has been revived and developed into a simple, affordable, SAFE system based on low-cost hardware.

It works like this: The main component of the low-cost water energy system is an electrolyzer-a container of water with electrodes in it. The electrolyzer takes a tiny bit of electricity from your car. The electricity "splits" water into hydroxyl gas and feeds it immediately to the engine cylinders. The improved air/fuel mix gets very efficient combustion.

SPINNING WHEELS, NOT HEADS

Remember the bad news at the top? Remember I said that wasted fuel can be as much as 80%? In other words, even though you have paid $3.50 or more per gallon, you are only getting performance from as little as 20%--two gallons out of every ten--of the gas you pay good money for! It puts a whole new complexion on the phrase "highway robbery."

Our heads are spinning from rising gas prices. Now imagine instead that ALL your gasoline is working for you--it's actually turning your wheels and not just being turned into carbon deposits on your engine or exhaust from the catalytic converter. What would it be like for ALL that gasoline to be giving you mileage? It would be a WHOLE LOT MORE ECONOMICAL, that's what! That's what happens when you add the energy from water.

SEEING THE SEA OF ENERGY

Wondering how much energy is in water?

One gallon of water converts to approximately 1,833 gallons of combustible gas. One observer noted that a gallon of water in his water energy system lasted for about 2,700 miles.

"Energy from water" is hard to believe because we are misled by the appearance of water when it's liquied. It looks so, well, WET and noncombustible. But if we could SEE the sea of energy in the water--zillions of hydrogen and oxygen atoms ready to break out and be combustible gas under the right conditions--it would be easy to conceive that, indeed, water can be "burned" in an engine, thus taking advantage of a new "crude"--plain water.

Why aren't scientists telling us about this? Why doesn't it make big headlines? More bad news. Some of them just don't know about it, and some are paid to tell us about anything BUT this. Also, scientists are sometimes far behind empirical evidence from experimenters and inventors. Sometimes a true scientist makes an amazing discovery and is suddenly way ahead of everyone. What happens then? He or she has to fight all the other scientists that are way behind or too vested in the old paradigm. So who are the true scientists around here? A TRUE scientist could be anyone, including a scientist.

THE LAW OF CONSERVATION

Here is something to ponder from Patrick J. Kelly of http://www.PanaceaUniversity.org. He has a delightful way of tilting one's mind out of its box:

"The Law of Conservation of Energy is undoubtedly correct when it shows that more energy cannot be taken out of any system than is put into that system. However, that does not mean that WE cannot get more energy out of a system than WE put into it. A crude example is a solar panel in sunlight. We get electrical power out of the panel but we do not put the sunlight into the panel-the sunlight arrives on its own. This example is simple as we can see the sunlight reaching the solar panel.

"If, instead of the solar panel, we had a device which absorbs some of the energy that Quantum Mechanics observes and then gives out, say, electrical power, would that be so different? Most people say "yes!--it is impossible!" but this reaction is based on the fact that we cannot see this sea of energy. Should we say that a TV set cannot possibly work because we cannot see a television transmission signal?"

BUT ISN'T IT DANGEROUS?

We have been living and driving with danger for decades--it's called GASOLINE! Cars and trucks are planet-polluting bombs on wheels! But we are accustomed to it, right? And for the most part, we don't blow ourselves up.

But in the water energy system, I know, you think we're talking about tanks of compressed hydrogen in the car, but that's not how it is done! Here's the beauty of it:

Hydrogen is already compressed in plain water!

All we do in a water for fuel system is UNCOMPRESS and USE it--immediately, on-demand, in the engine! No hydrogen bombs on board. Just a container of distilled water! And the exhaust is--WATER! You split water, you burn it, you get fantastic mileage, you get a little water left over.

GREEN TECHNOLOGY

You can't get much greener than this unless you go for an engine designed to run completely on water, like the one that was designed and proven by Stanley Meyers when he drove across the United States on approximately 28 gallons of water. (You can see interviews with him on YouTube.) You can't get much more affordable, either. And because this is GREEN technology, and you will not be causing any damage to the car or the engine (far from it), your warranty will most likely be intact AND the government will owe you money for going green!

INSTALL WATER ENERGY SYSTEM, DROP JAW

You could pay someone to install your water for gas system. There are hundreds of people around the world who are constructing and installing water energy systems, as well as driving "watercars" themselves. These people save gas, save money, get much better mileage, and enjoy smoother-running engines and greatly reduced emissions. And that's why they are happy to do the same for you so you can save gas, save money, get much better mileage, and enjoy a smoother-running engine and reduced emissions.

Or you could do it yourself, in which case you would first get instructions, which are available on line. Then you would make a parts list and buy the parts from hardware and electronics stores. Third, you would construct the components of the water energy system, put them all together, and install the system, making all the necessary adjustments to it. You would now be the proud owner of a Water Hybrid Vehicle. And last, after picking up your jaw from the floor, where it has dropped in astonishment at your engine's mileage and performance, you would become an advocate of water energy, as I have.

BETTER COMBUSTION FOR THE MIND

To really grasp the implications and possibilities here, we must first clean the carbon deposits out of our minds. Using waterfuel is an approach to our cars and fuel that requires more participation from us. The whole water energy system consists of physical components PLUS your mind and attitudes about fuel consumption. To really optimize your waterfuel system, you will also be using fuel warmer, some Kiker wires to improve the spark, Xylene to add to your gasoline, a low-friction synthetic motor oil, a couple bottles of fuel treatment to clean carbon deposits from old unburned fuel out of your engine, a MAP sensor enhancer to keep the car computer from over-correcting the fuel mix back to over-rich, tires that are always fully inflated, and a real-time mileage tracker so that you won't have to use an entire tank of gas to know what mileage you are getting.

Perhaps the most important thing is this:

Trust yourself.

When you use an "alternative" fuel-efficiency system, you are an experimenter who is going against the herd and chances are, you are going to get some flack. Don't be fooled by self-appointed "experts" who don't have hands-on experience and say it can't be done. When they laugh or frown or condescend and say, "It's scientifically impossible," well, first of all, you know they are not "true scientists" (so why are they acting like they know what "scientifically" means?). Ask them if they have ever tried it themselves. You will find they have not. Further discussion might be fruitless, but you can try. Tell them to just wait and see. See for yourself. Don't wait ten years for big industry to do it because they don't want to GIVE you anything--they are only thinking about what they can GET from you while they continue making empty promises.

WHAT CAN A WATER ENERGY SYSTEM REALLY DO FOR ME?

Well…

How much will gas cost the next time you fill your tank?

A water energy system won't lower the price of ALL gasoline.

It will lower the price of YOURS. But don't just take my word for it.

Leslie Lackman is an advocate of the application of free, unlimited energies--mind, water, life force--to cars, health, wellness, and performance.
http://water4gas-4heroes.eoltt.com

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Hydrogen car becomes reality in britain within few months?

This article was found on channel 4:

"...

The fuel cell and electrolyser development company, ITM Power Plc, and the engineering group Roush Technologies Ltd, have signed an agreement that 'could see CO2-free commercial cars being marketed in UK within months.'
The two companies have teamed up to put hydrogen powered vehicles on Britain's roads.

Roush is to work on solutions to adapt existing internal-combustion engines to run on hydrogen and on the development of all-new bespoke hydrogen-fuelled engines. The only by-product of burning hydrogen in an engine is water vapour.

ITM Power is developing hydrogen refuelling stations and a system whereby operators can generate their own hydrogen on-site by the electrolysis of water. An electrolyser system is to go into production in Sheffield later this year that can produce hydrogen from water using either off-peak or renewable-source electricity generated by wind, wave or solar power.

Although engines using hydrogen are already in production - BMW has made a small number of hydrogen-fuelled 7-Series saloons - and fuel cell cars (with on-board electrolysis to convert hydrogen fuel into electrical energy) are near to commercial reality, both solutions need a supply infrastructure for hydrogen.

ITM's CEO Jim Heathcote said: 'We are committed to bringing practical hydrogen power into the automotive market place within a dramatically reduced timeframe. Whilst [the project] initially involves the commercial vehicle sector, it will demonstrate the wider potential of hydrogen technology to help cut CO2 emissions and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.'


..."

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The Israeli car that can makes its own hydrogen fuel

Israeli scientists have invented an exceptional system that can produce Hydrogen inside a car by means of common metals such as Aluminum and Magnesium. The system can solve all of the barriers associated with the manufacturing, transporting and storing of hydrogen to be used in cars. When it becomes commercial in a few years time, the system will be included in ordinary cars that will cost almost the same as existing conventional cars to run, and will be completely emission free.

While Bush urges Americans to cut back on the use of oil in face of the lately surge in prices, more and more people looks for more feasible alternatives to the use of petroleum as the main fuel for the automotive industry. Scientist at Weizmann Institute, have recently found a way to use pure Zinc to produce Hydrogen using solar power. Now, another solution has been developed by an Israeli company called Engineuity. Amnon Yogev, one of the two founders of Engineuity, along with a retired Professor of the Weizmann Institute, suggested a method for producing a continuous flow of Hydrogen and steam under full pressure inside a car. This method could also be used for producing hydrogen for fuel cells and other applications requiring hydrogen and/or steam.

The Hydrogen car Engineuity is currently working on will use metals like Magnesium or Aluminum which will come in the form of a long coil. The gas tank will be replaced by a new device called a “Metal-Steam combustor” that will separate Hydrogen out of heated water. The principle behind the technology is fairly uncomplicated: the tip of the metal coil is inserted into the Metal-Steam combustor together with water where it will be heated to very high temperatures. The metal atoms will bond to the Oxygen from the water, creating metal oxide.
Consequently, the Hydrogen molecules become free, and will be sent into the engine alongside the steam. The solid waste product of the process, in the form of metal oxide, will later be collected in the fuel station and recycled for further use by the metal industry.

Refuelling the car based on this technology will also be remarkably simple. The vehicle will contain a mechanism for rolling the metal wire into a coil during the process of fuelling and the spent metal oxide, which was produced in the previous phase, will be collected from the car by vacuum suction.

Alongside the apparent advantages of the system, such as the inexpensive and plentiful fuel, the production of Hydrogen on-the-go and the zero emission engine, the system is also more efficient than other Hydrogen solutions.

The main reason for this is the improved usage of heat (steam), which brings the overall performance level of the vehicle to that of a conventional car. In an interview, Professor Yogev told IsraCast that a car based on Engineuity's system will be able to travel about the same distance between refuelling as a comparable usual car. The only minor drawback, which also limits the choice of possible metal fuel sources, is the weight of the coil. In order for the Hydrogen car to be able to travel as far as a conventional car it needs a metal coil three-times heavier than an equivalent petrol tank. Although this sound like a lot in most cars this will add up to about 100kg (220 pounds) and should not affect the performance of the car.

Engineuity is currently in the advanced stages of the incubator program of the Chief Scientist in Israel, and is seeking investors that will allow it to develop a full scale prototype. Given the proper investment the company should be able to develop the prototype in about three years. The move to Hydrogen based cars using Engineuity's technology will require only relatively minor changes from the car manufacturer's point of view. Since the modified engine can be produced using existing production lines, removing the need for investment in new infrastructures (the cost of which is estimated at billions of dollars), the new Hydrogen cars would not be more expensive. Although Engineuity's Hydrogen car will not be very different from existing conventional cars, the company is not currently planning an upgrade kit for existing cars but is concentrating on building a system that will be incorporated into new car models.

Possibly the most appealing aspect of the system is the running cost. According to Yogev, the overall running cost of the system should be equal to that of conventional cars today. Given the expected surge in oil prices in the near future Engineuity's Hydrogen car could not come too soon.

Iddo Genuth, Tomer Yaffe - IsraCast, Jerusalem


from IsraCast.

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Honda new Hydrogen FCX cars


Honda presented new Hydrogen car in DETROIT on January 13. The car is called FCX Clarity, a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle.

The FCX-Clarity is a new-generation, no-emissions, fuel cell hydrogen powered car based on the novel Honda V Flow fuel cell platform, and powered by the highly compact, efficient and powerful Honda V Flow fuel cell stack.

That car featuring marvelous upgrading to driving power, range, mass and competence - boasting a low-slung, dynamic and very sophisticated appearance, Those traits were previously unattainable in a fuel cell vehicle.

the FCX Clarity marks the important progress Honda is making in advancing the real-world performance and appeal of a hydrogen-powered fuel cell car.

watch at: http://world.honda.com/fcx/

From Honda site:
“American Honda current plan is to lease the FCX Clarity to a limited number of retail consumers in Southern California with the first deliveries taking place in summer 2008. Full details of the lease program will be set closer to launch, but current plans call for a three-year lease term with a price of $600 per month.”

How it works?:

“The FCX Clarity utilizes Honda's V Flow stack in combination with a new compact and efficient lithium ion battery pack and a single hydrogen storage tank to power the vehicle's electric drive motor. The fuel cell stack operates as the vehicle's main power source. Hydrogen combines with atmospheric oxygen in the fuel cell stack, where chemical energy from the reaction is converted into electric power used to propel the vehicle. Additional energy captured through regenerative braking and deceleration is stored in the lithium ion battery pack, and used to supplement power from the fuel cell, when needed. The vehicle's only emission is water. The FCX Clarity's revolutionary new V Flow platform packages the ultra-compact, lightweight and powerful Honda V Flow fuel cell stack (65 percent smaller than the previous Honda FC stack) in the vehicle's center tunnel, between the two front seats. Taking advantage of a completely new cell configuration, the vertically-oriented stack achieves an output of 100 kilowatts (kW) (versus 86kW in the current Honda FC stack) with a 50 percent increase in output density by volume (67 percent by mass). Its compact size allows for a more spacious interior and more efficient packaging of other powertrain components, which would otherwise be unattainable in a sleek, low-slung sedan. Honda introduced the FCX Clarity at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show in November.”

Read more at: http://world.honda.com/news/2008/4080113Next-Generation-Green-Cars/

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Ford Introduces Roush F-150 Propane-Powered vehicle

Roush is the name of the first dedicated propane-powered F-150 pickup truck. With complete durable Ford truck parts and also with a variety of Ford truck accessories, Roush has an advanced liquid propane injection (LPI(TM)) system. The Roush F-150 LPI(TM) is designed and manufactured to operate solely on propane while providing the same horsepower, torque and drivability of an F-150 equipped with a gasoline-powered 5.4-liter, 3-valve Triton(TM) V-8 engine.Roush will be available in the market immediately. The truck can be ordered, delivered or serviced through a nationwide network of selected Ford dealers. Offered as a 2007 model year vehicle, it is the only propane-powered light-duty truck available from an original equipment manufacturer this year.


The Roush F-150 is available in Regular Cab, Super Cab and Super Crew cab styles with XL or XLT trim and the full range of bed lengths. The LPI(TM) option includes dedicated propane fuel lines, fuel rail assembly and fuel tank. Additionally, another Ford truck part, the OEM computer has been re-calibrated to provide optimum performance and fuel economy.


The base LPI(TM) option is $6,500 and has a unique 20 gallon toroidal fuel tank, mounted in place of the underbody spare tire. Also available as an additional option for customers in need of increased range is a 50 gallon, in-bed fuel tank.Ford introduced its new truck at the NPGA Southeastern Convention and International Expo in Atlanta, Georgia last April 14 to 17.


It was the largest propane industry conference in the United States.Tom Arnold, Director of Alternative Fuel Products for Roush said aside from the vehicle’s superb engineering, it is also an alternative fuel vehicle that has an established refueling infrastructure to support it.


He further said this vehicle will have a positive impact on reducing emissions and the dependency on foreign oil.Providing data to the engine’s computer that eventually allows more precise fuel control at the intake port are two billet aluminum propane injection fuel rails, an insulated cross-over, a combined pressure/temperature sensor, and a service port. Roush F-150 uses fuel injection and fuel storage systems supplied by Clean FUEL USA and ICOM, Italy. LPI(TM) is a registered trademark of Clean FUEL USA.The standard toroidal fuel tank include a special high flow fuel pump, dual filters, and the required control valves needed to run the engine. Optional is the in-bed fuel tank. The fuel sender and electronic auto stop fill system are also found in the tank. Through the fuel filler door, the fuel is poured. An automatic stop fill device prevents the overfilling of fuel.


This will allow the vehicle to be filled without using the "bleeder" system that vents propane vapors during filling. Another proof that the vehicle’s fuel tank will function well is that prior to entering the tank, the fuel is also filtered.A “one-touch” system controls the vehicle start. The engine controls take over from the driver to provide the fastest possible start with the lowest possible emissions. The OEM engine control is used with unique calibration values to suit the changes in properties from gasoline to propane.With no special oils or change intervals required, the maintenance schedule for the Roush F-150 LPI(TM) is similar to that of a gasoline engine schedule.In February 2006, the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) awarded the contract to Roush.


The vehicle was designed, manufactured and brought in to market in only 14 months. The Managing Director of Engine Fuel Programs for PERC by the name of Brian Feehan said Roush has an incomparable reputation for technical expertise, quality and value. He explained that it is because of this expertise and experience that they chose Roush to develop this vehicle.

About the Author: Gertrude Sayzer finished her degree in Marketing at Western New England College. She is passionate about writing and loves to travel as well. At present, this 32 year-old mother of three works full-time at an Ad agency in Boston.

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Comparing Hydrogen Powered Cars To Electric Cars

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/ and offers a free report called 61 ways to save money on gas on his site. Also, for more info like this, check out the blog at http://www.fuelsavingzone.com/blog/

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