Automobile

The Future of Cars is Here: How 2025 is Driving the EV Revolution

2025-02-18T03:41:00.000-08:00

As we navigate through 2025, the automotive industry is undergoing a transformative shift, primarily driven by the rapid adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). This evolution is not only reshaping the market dynamics but also influencing consumer preferences, technological advancements, and global economic trends.

Let us look at how this surge has been evolving with time and the development of new technologies including Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Surge in Electric Vehicle Adoption

The global EV market has witnessed unprecedented growth, with sales projected to reach approximately 14.1 million units in 2023, marking a 34% increase from the previous year. This upward trajectory is expected to continue, with EVs anticipated to constitute a significant portion of new car sales worldwide by 2025.

Several factors contribute to this surge:

Technological Advancements: Innovations in battery technology have led to extended driving ranges and reduced charging times, addressing two of the most significant barriers to EV adoption.
Environmental Awareness: A growing global emphasis on reducing carbon footprints has prompted consumers to consider EVs as a sustainable alternative to traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
Government Policies: Incentives such as tax breaks, subsidies, and stringent emission regulations have made EVs more accessible and appealing to a broader audience.

Dominance of Chinese EV Manufacturers

In 2025, Chinese EV manufacturers have solidified their position in the global market, accounting for a staggering 76% of EV sales. Brands like Nio, BYD, and XPeng have expanded beyond domestic borders, making significant inroads into European markets. Their success can be attributed to competitive pricing, advanced technology, and a diverse range of models catering to various consumer preferences. However, these brands face challenges in the U.S. market due to existing tariffs and trade policies.

Technological Innovations: BMW's 'Heart of Joy'

Traditional automakers are not standing idle amidst this electric revolution. BMW, for instance, has introduced the 'Heart of Joy,' an integrated onboard computer system that combines driving dynamics and powertrain control. This innovation enhances vehicle stability and energy efficiency, ensuring that the brand's commitment to delivering the 'Ultimate Driving Machine' experience persists in the electric era. Developed in-house, this system allows for seamless over-the-air updates and reduces reliance on external suppliers, showcasing BMW's dedication to quality and technological leadership.

Infrastructure and Charging Technology

The expansion of EV charging infrastructure is pivotal to supporting the growing number of electric vehicles on the road. Advancements in charging technology have led to faster and more efficient charging solutions. Installers and service providers must stay abreast of evolving standards and protocols to effectively deploy and maintain these systems. Moreover, understanding local permitting processes and compliance with regulations is essential to avoid delays and ensure the successful implementation of charging stations.

Economic Implications and Market Outlook

The automotive industry's shift towards electrification has significant economic implications. In the United States, for example, the market size was estimated at $1.62 trillion in 2024, with projections indicating continued growth. However, this transition also presents challenges, such as potential tax revenue shortfalls from decreased gasoline sales. States like Connecticut are exploring measures to address this issue, including imposing registration fees on EVs and taxing electricity at public charging stations to fund essential infrastructure projects.

Consumer Perspectives and Future Trends

Consumer attitudes towards EVs are evolving. Surveys indicate a growing interest in electric vehicles, driven by environmental concerns and the desire for cost savings on fuel and maintenance. However, apprehensions about charging infrastructure availability and vehicle range persist. To address these concerns, continued investment in charging networks and technological advancements are crucial.

Looking ahead, the automotive industry is poised for further transformation. Autonomous driving technology, increased connectivity, and the integration of artificial intelligence are set to redefine mobility. As automakers and tech companies collaborate, the lines between transportation and technology sectors continue to blur, promising exciting developments on the horizon.

In conclusion, 2025 marks a pivotal year in the automotive industry's journey towards electrification and innovation. The confluence of technological advancements, shifting consumer preferences, and strategic policy decisions is driving this evolution, setting the stage for a more sustainable and connected future in transportation.

Electric Vehicles: History, Challenges, Opportunities, and Looking Forward [Updated 2025 Edition]

2025-01-18T03:21:00.000-08:00

Electric vehicles (EVs) have become a beacon of hope for a sustainable future, promising cleaner air, reduced dependency on fossil fuels, and innovation in transportation. This blog dives into their fascinating history, the challenges they face, the opportunities they offer, and a glimpse into the exciting future of mobility.

A Brief History of Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles are not a recent invention. Their origins date back to the early 19th century:

1830s: Scottish inventor Robert Anderson developed the first crude electric carriage.
1890s: William Morrison from the U.S. introduced the first practical EV, capable of traveling up to 14 mph.
Early 20th Century: Electric cars gained popularity in urban areas due to their quiet operation and lack of exhaust fumes. However, the rise of internal combustion engines and cheaper gasoline eclipsed EVs for decades.
1970s Oil Crisis: The world saw renewed interest in EVs due to fuel shortages. Innovations included the CitiCar and experimental solar-powered cars.
21st Century Revolution: Companies like Tesla reignited enthusiasm for EVs, combining high performance with sustainability.

Challenges in the EV Landscape

Battery Limitations:
- Lithium-ion batteries dominate EV technology but face challenges with cost, energy density, and charging times. Recycling old batteries also remains a concern.
Charging Infrastructure:
- The availability of charging stations varies significantly across regions, creating anxiety for potential buyers.
Cost Barriers:
- EVs are more affordable than before, but many models still cost more upfront than traditional vehicles.
Raw Material Supply:
- Extracting essential materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel has environmental and ethical implications.

Opportunities in the EV Revolution

Environmental Impact:
- Replacing internal combustion engines with EVs can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.
Technological Advancements:
- Innovations like solid-state batteries and ultra-fast charging could transform EVs into mainstream options.
Government Incentives:
- Many countries offer tax credits, rebates, and subsidies to accelerate EV adoption.
New Business Models:
- Concepts like battery-as-a-service and vehicle-to-grid technology create economic opportunities.

Looking Ahead

The future of EVs looks bright. Self-driving EVs, advanced charging networks, and affordable models could dominate global markets within the next few decades. Countries like Norway, aiming to phase out combustion engines entirely by 2025, serve as a blueprint for this transformation.

What is Tesla Up To?

2020-05-29T16:06:00.000-07:00

What is Elon Musk and Tesla up to? Will the price of Tesla go down, given the growing competition among emerging electric vehicles?

Will Volvo and other brands have a role to play in challenging Tesla in the future automobile market?

How do you think the stock price of Tesla will flair in coming years? Is it wise to buy Tesla's stock right now?

2021 Tesla RoadSter

So What are the Best Cars to Buy in 2015?

2010-12-25T15:25:00.000-08:00

The article coming very soon...

Thanks for the patience.

Autombolies 2014 and On...

2010-11-25T08:53:00.000-08:00

Who has made some drastic improvements? Which cars you need to consider re-thinking? And what cars you need to avoid?
You will be finding all the answer in this forum.

Today's cars are just so... familiar. Day in and day out, on every highway and in every parking lot, we're bombarded by all the same cars we've seen a thousand times before. Yes we do have.

Tomorrow's cars, on the other hand, hold the allure of what's next. Whether it's a brand new name or just a new design, there's something magical about a car between the moment it's unveiled and the day it begins arriving on dealers' lots, showing up in television ads, and beginning the quick transformation from future to familiar. Many things to be thought here.

WHAT IS AUTOMOBILE?

2010-11-24T16:50:00.000-08:00

General Introduction

An automobile, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor. Most definitions of the term specify that automobiles are designed to run primarily on roads, to have seating for one to eight people, to typically have four wheels, and to be constructed principally for the transport of people rather than goods. However, the term automobile is far from precise, because there are many types of vehicles that do similar tasks.
Very simple, ain't it?

LITTLE MORE:

Automobile is a generic term to describe a wheeled vehicle that carries its own engine. Often the term is used specifically to refer to a car, though it is broad enough to cover cars, trucks, vans, station wagons, SUVs and crossovers. Significant numbers of automobiles first began appearing in the late 1800s.

Related terms: car, tire, automotive, waste oil, grease, oil, petroleum, petroleum hydrocarbons, TPH, total petroleum hydrocarbons, diesel, unleaded, gasoline, fuel, solvents, VOCs, volatile organic compounds, carbon dichloride, PERC, Perchloroethylene, tetrachloroethene, Tetrachloroethylene, TCE trichloroethene, Trichloroethylene, BTEX, Benzene, Ethylbenzene, Ethyl Benzene, Toluene, Xylene, MTBE, methyl t-butyl ether

15 Classic Science Fiction Cars

2010-11-22T20:12:00.000-08:00

Classic Science Fiction is as much about plot as it is setting and vehicle concepts. From Batman to Blade Runner, production geniuses have created some of the most memorable modes of transportation for characters to drive (or hover, or fly) around in, literally moving the story along. Besides, who says future cars will have to stay grounded? Have a look at the our favorite sci-fi vehicles, and chime in if you think we’ve left any out (or included something that makes you gag!)

1. Blade Runner

Let’s face it – Philip K. Dick’s Blade Runner (from his 1968 book entitled Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?) is one science fiction story referenced time and time again. The film’s design by artist Syd Mead has been mimicked since their introduction to celluloid in 1982. Rick Deckard (BR’s main character played by Harrison Ford) is chauffeured around by Gaff (Edwards James Olmos) in a police “Spinner” – part ground car, part flying-police interceptor. The Spinner, well, spins as it ascends past the rooftops of 2019 Los Angeles. According to a recent behind the scenes documentary, underneath the futuristic Spinner bodies were the chaises of Volkswagens.

2. Batman

The Batmobile has taken many forms – from a Lincoln concept car to the now famous Tumbler. The ride of Bruce Wayne’s alter ego has been barreling down Gotham streets for decades, and into the hearts of every kid’s imagination. Our 21st century anti-crime lab on wheels is complete with various gun and missile cannons, sensor units (both audio and visual) and a detachable motorcycle.

3. Star Wars

We searched high and low…and yes, there is a car in Star Wars…sort of. Cloud City’s “Twin-pod cloud car” patrols the skies in a galaxy far, far away. Two identical armored vehicles are connected by a thruster engine, along with matching laser blasters coming out of the front end, reminiscent of P-51 Mustang fighter planes from WWII. We want to know if each pod is independent of the other, or its connecting engine.

4. Minority Report

Also based on a story by Sci-Fi author Philip K. Dick (famous for the aforementioned Blade Runner) Minority is set in 2054 Washington DC, where pre-crime police capture criminals based on foreknowledge, provided by three psychic pre-cognitives. The vehicles provided by Lexus/Toyota were futuristic concepts, which came complete with a future press-release:
In the year 2054, some cars will be self-cleaning, some will drive in an accident free system, and some will change colors on command…In the film’s design…a mass transportation system uses electrical/magnetic energy – much like that which sends a bullet train speeding along – with horizontal and vertical surfaces covered with “roadways” made of magnetic discs that support and propel various vehicles.

5. Mad Max

Mad Max is a classic post-apocalyptic revenge story. Australian cop Max is out to get back at a violent motorcycle gang after they killed one of his wife, their son and a fellow officer. Along for the ride is Max’s sawed-off shotgun and his 1973 Ford XB Falcon. dozens of other custom 70′s muscle cars and super-charged bikes are roaming the outback wasteland, hunting for food (sometimes in the form of people) and precious oil, which has become a commodity more precious than life.

6. The Road Warrior

Mad Max 2, as it is also named, continues with the oil subplot, as a group of hardened civilians try to escape their heavily fortified compound with a tanker truck full of gasoline. The only thing standing in their way is a leather-chap clad gang of homicidal maniacs. Luckily, Mel Gibson is back in the lead roll, and he is still pretty pissed off.
Between the Mad Max films and Convoy you have a wide variety of armored Mack Trucks – including a fuel hauler with gun torrents and arrow launchers.

7. Back to the Future

Great Scott! If not for Back To The Future the DeLorean DMC-12 would have been just an obscure automotive legend. Instead, the gull-winged sports car is engraved in the psyches of movie buffs the worldwide. This DeLorean wasn’t much for surpassing 88-mph – not without traveling to 1885 or 2015. Doc Brown’s car consisted of a radioactive flux-capacitor, advanced time-travel system and a flying mode.

8. The Fifth Element

Ok, so Fifth Element may not be considered “classic science fiction” – but we love the New York Checkered Cabs of 2263 Manhattan. Bruce Willis spends his days catching fares and nights returning a mystical female oracle (played by the gorgeous Milla Jovoich) to the other four elements in an attempt to save the world. Why is it always the job of Willis to save the rest of us? Poor guy. Other flying vehicles include everyday pedestrian cars, police cruisers and a floating Chinese food stand.

9. Dune

In the year 10,191 one would think humans (or whatever evolves from us) will have little to no use for a car. When you’re trapped on the dunes of Arrakis with a sand worm hot on your tale, the only thing that can save you is a well-armored tank (or Sting in a leather jumpsuit). Dune’s Harvesters not only keep its two-dozen or so occupants safe from worms, it allows them to meticulously pick the land clean of the addictive “spice melange” – which sells to the highest bidder. The Harvester is big and tough, but slow as a snail, and needs a huge spacecraft to do desert pick-ups and drop-offs.

10. Akira

Soon to be a live-action motion picture, Akira is a beautiful piece of Japanese animation, which helped Manga become popular on this continent. Akira is the name of a child who was given almost “god-like powers” while undergoing military experiments for ESP in 2019 Neo-Tokyo.During the story, Akira grows out of control, threatening to destroy the entire city. Who will safe this futuristic faux-Tokyo? A bunch of delinquent 16 year olds in a motorcycle gang of course! Yes, bikes are not cars, but they are still sleek looking vehicles. We hope the live-action versions don’t look too plastic, or worse yet, CGI like a certain recent Speed Racer flick.

11. Death Race 2000

Yet another dystopia future? It may be looking bad for us humans, but the car industry (and, seemingly, weapons industries) will surely flourish! As the Aussies brought us Mad Max America brought us Death Race 2000. Set in (guess what year!) the thin yet entertaining plot revolves around outlaw racers who challenge one another, along with any pedestrian who crosses their path. Points are scored not only by how fast you reach a check point, but also by the number, gender and age of those you murder along the way. Talk about road rage! (wakka wakka) – Some of the cartoonishly-violent vehicles featured include a Fiat Spider, custom Chevy Nova and a custom Cimbria Super Sport (pictured above). Doesn’t this sound like the perfect mix of movie violence, cheese and entertainment? Hollywood sure thought so, because they are remaking the film this summer…

12. Death Race (2008 Remake)

…with an army of updated cars, trucks and SUV’s equipped with Vulcan cannons, flame throws and lots of heavy-looking metal plating. The big draw is Ford’s new Mustang as Death Race’s star. There’s also a late 60′s Buick Riviera featured, presumably blown up at one point in the film, which makes us all at Automopedia in Vermont cry just a tiny bit.

13. Escape from New York

Another great taxi for “Snake Plissken” (Kurt Russell) to help rescue the President after his plane is shot down over a Manhattan Island turned maximum security prison. The Checker Marathon cabs were made specifically for the livery services throughout their years of service, until the early 80′s when Ford and Chevrolet cars became your normal yellow cabs in New York. The cabbie (who is fittingly named “Cabbie” and played by Airwolf’s Ernest Borgnine) who assists snake in finding the Chief of Staff stocks his taxi with Molotov cocktails. Those probably came in pretty handy behind the scenes, shooting at night in downtown NYC during the early-1980′s.

14. Ghost in the Shell

Another anime, though this time we really have cars to feature! Ghost in the Shell is another world-famous manga revolving around the officers of Section 9, whose job it is to fight the most violent of cyber and technological crimes. A new animated series spin-off of the 1995 film includes a couple of animated Nissan concept vehicles – there’s Nissan’s Sport pictures above – which may come to life in the not-to-distant

15. Aliens

Syd Mead is back with more visually stunning vehicles for the sci-fi lover to gawk over. Aliens’ APC (armored personal carrier) was based on the trucks used to tow civilian and military airplanes to/from hangers. Mead again pushes the boundaries of imagination (while staying within budget) and brings us functional, realistic designs of cars we may all be driving…one day. Hopefully, we can figure out better ways to fuel these various modes of transit, so we won’t be shouting…

New Automobile Safety Features

2010-11-22T20:07:00.000-08:00

Over the past 10 years safety has become as much of a selling point in the automobile market as fuel economy and performance. Every vehicle sold in the United States sports a long list of safety features, from crumple zones to break-away engine mounts. All of these features provide passengers with a level of safety that was not available in the vehicles of the 70's and 80's.
Below is an overview of common safety features found in most new cars.

Anti-Lock Braking Systems

Anti-Lock Braking Systems (ABS) made their debut in the U.S. market in the late 60's as optional equipment on the Lincoln Continental Mark III. The system was unreliable and was discontinued, but it was a glimpse into what was to come in automobile braking systems. Though not new technology, ABS is one of the most important safety features available on a new car. Anti-Lock Brakes are available on just about every vehicle sold in the U.S. Most vehicles have them as standard equipment, but many less-expensive base models can be purchased without ABS. The theory behind ABS is that a sliding tire has less stopping power than a tire in solid contact with the road. Before ABS, drivers were taught to "pump" their brakes during an emergency stop. This technique prevented skidding by releasing pressure on the brakes momentarily, which allows the tires to regain traction if they have started to skid. ABS takes this idea a step further, since a computer can react and modulate the power brakes of an automobile quicker than the driver. When the ABS system in a car senses that a tire has lost traction and is skidding, it reduces the braking power for a fraction of a second, allowing the tire to regain traction, and then the system reapplies the braking power. This system allows ABS equipped vehicles to stop quicker than similar vehicles without ABS. If you are considering purchasing a vehicle without ABS, find out how much the same model with ABS is. It may only be a little bit more money, but it's well worth the investment.

Traction Control

Traction control works in a similar manner to Anti-Lock braking systems, and in a way, it is almost like ABS in reverse. Traction control systems are designed to keep your tires from skidding, but as ABS helps you decrease speed, traction control helps you maintain control when increasing speed. When driving on slippery roads, especially on snow or ice, it is easy to spin the drive wheels of a vehicle. When the drive wheels skid, not only does the vehicle lose traction and waste energy, but losing traction could cause a vehicle to skid sideways and lose control. Traction control systems monitor the speed of all 4 tires, and if it senses one tire moving faster than the others, the computer slows that wheel down so that it may regain traction. This is done by electronically reducing power to the drive wheels by adjusting the throttle or by adjusting the engines combustion to reduce power. Some systems use the ABS system to pulse the brakes and slow down the skidding tire. Those people living in warmer climates where winter traveling rarely involves snow and ice will probably not see the benefits of traction control, but those of us who live in the northern United States can really benefit from this new technology.

Electronic Stability Control

This September the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a report that provided solid facts about the effectiveness of Electronic Stability Control, a relatively new feature found on many automobiles sold here in the Unites States. Electronic Stability Control (or ESC) is an electronic system that monitors the stability of a vehicle, and electronically intervenes with the drivers controls in the event that the vehicle becomes unstable. This can be very helpful in preventing an accident by helping the driver maintain control of their vehicle during emergency maneuvers. The report stated that "ESC reduced single vehicle crashes in passenger cars by 35 percent when compared to the same models sold in prior years without the technology. The preliminary results were even more dramatic for the much smaller sample of SUVs in the study: Single vehicle crashes were reduced by 67 percent in models with ESC".

Airbags

Airbag Technology has improved greatly over the past few years. When introduced in the late 80's, most cars only had a driver's side airbag. Now, it is common to find as many as 6 airbags in one vehicle. These new airbags are sometimes called "Dual-Stage Airbags" meaning that they deploy at different speeds or different pressures, depending on the force of the accident. However, in order for airbags to function properly, passengers must wear their seat belts to prevent then from moving into a position where an expanding airbag may hurt them.

Safety Belts

Safety belts have also evolved dramatically over the past few years. Consumers can now buy cars with intelligent seat belts that modulate the tension of the belt during a crash. Integrated Safety belt systems mount the shoulder belt not to the inside wall of the car, but to the seat back itself. This allows the safety belt to move with the passenger, no matter where the seat is positioned. This results in a more comfortable fit and it is more effective at holding a passenger in their seat than the traditional method.

Preventative Safety Technology

Other new safety features are designed to prevent accidents. A few luxury manufacturers are offering night-vision display systems that enhance a driver's vision, making it easier to see problems in low-light situations. Also available on many vehicles are rear facing cameras that allow drivers to get a better look at what is behind them when backing up. Certain models also have a radar system installed that alerts the driver if they are getting too close to another solid object while in reverse.

Final Thoughts

All of these systems are designed to help the passengers of an automobile escape injury during an accident. However, the most important safety feature is an alert and defensive driver. Many accidents can be avoided simply by being aware of ones surroundings and reacting quickly to changing conditions. Hopefully you will never have to use all of those safety features in your new car, but it is much better to have them there when you really need them than not to have them at all.

Top 10 High-Tech Car Safety Technologies

2010-11-21T19:51:00.000-08:00

It's just a fact of life — we are living longer. And it's not just because of tofu, sunscreen and medical breakthroughs. Automakers are to thank (or curse) for this as much as doctors, since they are competitively blending performance and creature comforts with cutting-edge safety technology that tries to stay one step ahead of you — and everyone else on the road.
While pedestrian-friendly bumpers and cars that can drive themselves may seem like the faraway future of automotive safety, so did many of the features that are now industry standards for this year's models. It makes us wonder if the Jeep Grand Cherokee Concierge concept from 2002 — with an integrated heart defibrillator — might catch on as part of the next wave of safety.

Below are our top 10 choices for safety technologies.

1. Tire-pressure monitoring

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has required that all U.S. passenger vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or less be equipped with a tire-pressure monitoring system by the 2008 model year. But it's already a safety feature in most new autos. (For example, BMW offers this as standard equipment on all of its models.) Sensors at the wheels are able to alert you if the air pressure is too low by an audible warning, a light on the instrument panel, or both. You may also see more cars with run-flat tires (the Corvette, among the current offerings), which allow a vehicle to continue to run at a relatively high rate of speed for 50-plus miles.

2. Adaptive cruise control/collision mitigation

Modern cruise control goes beyond just maintaining a constant speed. Thanks to sensors and the use of radar, cruise control can now adjust the throttle and brakes to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you if there are changes in traffic speed or if a slowpoke cuts in. If the system senses a potential collision, it typically will brake hard and tighten the seatbelts. Once it knows the lane is clear or traffic has sped up, it will return your car to its original cruising speed, all without your input. Of course, you may override the system by touching the brakes. The Mercedes-Benz and Maybach systems go by a less obvious name: Distronic.

3. Blind-spot detection/side assist/collision warning

This technology is designed to alert you to cars or objects in your blind spot during driving or parking, or both. Usually it will respond when you put on your turn signal; if it detects something in the way, it may flash a light in your mirror, cause the seat or steering wheel to vibrate, or sound an alarm. This is more of a short-range detection system.

4. Lane-departure warning/wake-you-up safety

This is similar to blind-spot/side-assist technology but with more range. It judges an approaching vehicle's speed and distance to warn you of potential danger if you change lanes. It can also warn if it determines your car is wandering out of the lane, which could be useful if you become distracted. This could come in the form of a vibration through the seat or steering wheel, or an alarm. Down the road expect lane-departure warning to even be able to monitor body posture, head position and eye activity to decide if the driver is falling asleep and the vehicle is behaving erratically. At that point, the system may even be capable of slowing the car down and engaging stability control. Just in case.

5. Rollover prevention/mitigation

Most automakers offer an electronic stability control system, and some offer a preparation system (seatbelts tighten, rollbars extend). However, what we're talking about is more intelligent than that. If the system senses a potential rollover (such as if you whip around a corner too fast or swerve sharply), it will apply the brakes and modulate throttle as needed to help you maintain control. DaimlerChrysler calls it Electronic Roll Mitigation, Ford named it Roll Stability Control, and GM's is Proactive Roll Avoidance. Range Rover's is Active Roll Mitigation, while Volvo's is called Roll-Over Protection System. But they all have the same goal.

6. Occupant-sensitive/dual-stage airbags

All humans are not created equal, and airbags are evolving to compensate in the form of low-risk, multistage and occupant-sensitive deployment. Technology can now sense the different sizes and weights of occupants as well as seatbelt usage, abnormal seating position (such as reaching for the radio or bending to pick something off the floor), rear-facing child seats and even vehicle speed. While driver, passenger and side curtain airbags are nothing new, sensing airbags are popping up (so to speak) everywhere.
1. 7. Emergency brake assist/collision mitigation
  
  This brake technology is different from an antilock braking system or electronic brakeforce distribution, in that it recognizes when the driver makes a panic stop (a quick shift from gas to brake pedal) and will apply additional brake pressure to help shorten the stopping distance. It may also work in conjunction with the smart cruise control or stability control system in some vehicles if it senses a potential collision. It is often called brake assist, although BMW, for example, refers to it as Dynamic Brake Control.
  
  8. Adaptive headlights and/or night-vision assist
  
  Night vision can be executed in different forms, such as infrared headlamps or thermal-imaging cameras. But no matter the science, the goal is the same: to help you see farther down the road and to spot animals, people or trees in the path — even at nearly 1,000 feet away. An image is generated through a cockpit display, brightening the objects that are hard to see with the naked eye. Adaptive headlights follow the direction of the vehicle (bending the light as you go around corners). They may also be speed-sensitive (changing beam length or height), or compensate for ambient light.
  1. 9. Rearview camera
    
    Rearview cameras not only protect your car, but also protect children and animals from accidental back-overs. Backing up your car has graduated from side mirrors tilting down or causing chirps and beeps to real-time viewing. New-school tech involves a camera that works with the navigation system to provide a wide-open shot of what's happening behind you to help with parking or hooking up a trailer.
    1. 10. Emergency response
      
      There are a variety of ways vehicles now and in the future will handle an emergency situation. For example, DaimlerChrysler's Enhanced Accident Response System (EARS) turns on interior lighting, unlocks doors and shuts off fuel when airbags deploy, while Volkswagen's also switches on the hazards and disconnects the battery terminal from the alternator. In addition, GM's OnStar and BMW Assist both alert their respective response centers of the accident and make crash details available to emergency personnel.

2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class First Look

2010-11-21T19:08:00.000-08:00

Mercedes doesn't do revolution when it comes to the M-class. Instead, the third generation of Mercedes' midsize SUV is noticeably tame evolution, one that emphasizes more efficient engines, a more luxurious cabin and enhanced safety.

On sale this September and still built in Alabama, the new 2012 M-class seeks to blend off-road versatility with the kind of on-road manners expected of a Mercedes sedan. To find out more, we spoke to the development team in Stuttgart, Germany. Here's what they had to say.

Sensible Styling

Anyone expecting a wholesale shift in Mercedes' design language will be disappointed. This is a familiar-looking M-Class, blending hints of the full-size GL and compact GLK SUVs. The three-pointed star continues to dominate the grille and the prominent shoulder lines lead the way to a rear that emphasizes its width with taillights that echo the E-class.

Jan Kaul, the manager of the interior design, admits the overall concept was deliberately conservative and reflects the car's global appeal. "The biggest markets are Germany and the U.S., but China and Russia are growing fast."

Arguably the most challenging feature is to be found to the rear of the C-pillar, where the angular surfaces give place to an eccentrically curved rear window. "We tried different solutions," says Kaul, "but we wanted to keep some of the influence of the original M-Class." No less of an influence was a desire to optimize the aerodynamics, which Mercedes claims are class-leading. Careful attention was paid to the rear spoiler, the area around the windscreen and the front fenders, which integrate subtle spoilers.

Sedan-Worthy Cabin
The cabin looks more like an S-Class interior than ever, but seeks to assert a distinctly SUV design language that's more upright and imposing. There's the familiar mix of rotary knobs and switches, topped by a multifunction display screen — all of it a step above the previous switchgear. Hartmut Sinkwitz, Mercedes' curiously titled Director Competence Center Interior Design admits that customers now see the M-Class as an alternative to a traditional sedan and expect a similar level of quality. While the vibe of generations one and two was more utilitarian, the emphasis here is on luxury and ornamentation.

The contrast with the poor quality of the original, 2007 M-Class could not be greater. "The first-generation car was really a stand-alone project," says Sinkwitz. "It was developed by a U.S. team and was influenced by the quality of rival U.S.-based vehicles. This M-Class was designed here in Stuttgart. The perceived quality is just as important as the reliability. This is central to the Mercedes brand."

Mercedes is never short with its options list and owners will be able to choose from a vast array of gizmos and color combinations including napa leather for the panels and some particularly appealing Ash-wood trim. Sinkwitz admits he has some concern over the sheer wealth of choice. While customers will be free to indulge their eccentricities, dealers will be trained to suggest color combinations that remain on the right side of tasteful.

Regardless of its trim, every M-Class will be tailored for four. Mercedes' customer research suggests that while M-Class owners occasionally carry five, they'd rather optimize the comfort of a lucky quartet. "If you need more space, we offer the R- and GL-Class," says Sinkwitz.

Every M-Class will also feature every last safety feature in the Mercedes' tool kit. Highlights of the acronym fest include up to nine airbags and an Attention Assist system that tries to keep you awake if you start to nod off. "In the U.S., 47 percent of M-Class customers are female," says Dr Joachim Schmidt, Executive VP for Sales and Marketing. "For them, safety is a key priority."

Efficiency Is the Key Under the Hood
The M-class might be seen as a gas-guzzling SUV, but Mercedes is talking up its newfound fuel efficiency thanks to a new range of BlueTEC diesel and BlueDIRECT gasoline engines that will be offered in the U.S.

The ML350 CDI gets a new version of Mercedes' 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel. Peak output rises from 231 to 258 horsepower and from 398 to 457 pound-feet of torque. No EPA estimates are available yet, but Mercedes says the engine delivers roughly 32 mpg on the European cycle. Given that around 15-20 percent of M-Class vehicles sold in the U.S. are now diesel-powered, this model could become a much bigger part of the lineup in the coming years.

On the gasoline side, the ML350 4MATIC BlueEfficiency will be powered by a 3.5-liter V6 direct-injection engine rated at 306 hp and 273 lb-ft. Acceleration from 0-60 takes 7.6 seconds, and top speed is 146 mph. It will be joined later by what Mercedes is calling its "international engine," a 4.6-liter twin-turbo V8 offering up 408 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque.

Across the range, Mercedes is claiming a 10 percent improvement in fuel efficiency, achieved through a range of measures. Electro-hydraulic steering is standard, together with auto-stop/start technology connected to a seven-speed automatic transmission, which taken together equate to almost a quarter of the efficiency savings. In Europe, this efficiency drive will manifest itself in an eco-focused model powered by a 2.1-liter turbodiesel offering a range of up to 750 miles with a 23.8 gallon tank. This model won't be crossing the Atlantic, although the engine may feature in a U.S.-bound C-Class.

Farther down the line, there'll be a V8-engined AMG version and a hybrid.

On- and Off-Road Versatility
The project leader for the ML, Dr. Uwe Ernstberger says that "Mercedes customers expect a high level of off-road ability." That's news to us, but Mercedes took the idea seriously enough that it will offer an off-road package beginning next year. It adds an underbody skidplate, two-speed transfer case, center differential lock and an enhanced air suspension that allows a maximum ground clearance of 11.2 inches and a fording depth of 23.6 inches. There is also a Land Rover-style electronic system that provides six transmission modes: one automatic, two off-road and three on-road modes covering winter, sport and trailer-pulling.

Even if you don't opt for the extra hardware, every M-Class will still feature Mercedes' 4MATIC four-wheel drive system along with traction control, and an ABS system that has been tuned for off-road work. Back on terra firma, the ML is promising greater agility. Air suspension is standard but you can upgrade the system to include adaptive damping and an Active Curve system that acts to minimize body roll through corners. Couple this with wheels that go up to 21 inches, and you have an SUV that should deliver plenty of on-road performance.

Final Thoughts
Mercedes officials claim the key attributes of the new M-Class are defined as "efficiency, capability and safety." This might not be a slogan to excite enthusiasts, but it will no doubt play well to the SUV's core constituency. Mercedes has sold over 1.2 million M-Classes since 1997, so it was never likely to take a big risk. This new SUV is predictably predictable, but that's unlikely to stop it from being a huge success.

2012 London Olympics to use Mini Cooper R/C cars for javelin throw

2010-11-21T18:33:00.000-08:00

Mini Cooper R/C-London Olympics 2012

We can't help but cringe at the notion of 'product integration' efforts most of the time, particularly when it comes to movies and sports. That's because as often as not, the placement efforts seem contrived. And while the notion of using a Mini Cooper to retrieve thrown javelins, hammers, shot and discuses at the 2012 London Olympics might not seem like the world's most natural pairing, we can't ignore the inherent cheek and charm in using radio-controlled cars for an otherwise unremarkable chore.

Dubbed "Mini MINI," these three electric R/C Cooper hatchbacks are rendered in about 1/4-scale – necessary to ensure adequate payload capacity for up to eight kilos (nearly 18 pounds). That's enough carrying capacity to lug around a hammer, a discus, a shot or a pair of javelins. The cars' large scale also helps them pack the larger battery arrays that Mini says are necessary to run them for 35 minutes (before being down for 80 minutes of charge time). The models are painted blue with orange Olympic livery and white roofs, and they even have working headlights.

Mini Cooper R/C

The Mini MINI R/C cars will be used at both the Olympic and Paralympic games, and they join a fleet of 160 full-size BMW 1 Series Active E models and 40 Mini E hatchbacks as part of BMW's own all-electric Olympic team. While we're a little surprised Mini didn't choose to go with a Clubman or the load-lugging Countryman like we did in our recent giveaway, we think the marketing stunt fits in well with the brand's fun and funky spirit, and we're hoping that Mini publishes some video footage of their little helpers in action soon.

FYI- London Olympics 2012 is the first Olympics to initiate women boxing.

Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Which one do you think?

2010-11-21T18:25:00.000-08:00

Now, before Michael Taylor comes around to say that some crap SC 430 is better than all of them, I must remind people that this is the 3 main GERMAN brands. Last time I checked, Lexus isn't German, so don't bring other brands into the question please.

I think that Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have the tightest rivalry in the auto industry. Mercedes-Benz are big on comfort, BMW on performance, and Audi on, um, well I don't know - but Audi seem to target younger audiences and are generally good quality cars.

I'm asking you, the Autospies community, which is the best brand in your opinion. Obviously some of you hold some attributes tighter to you than others, like comfort or performance. So, in a simple response, tell us the best out of those three and why you chose that.

Below is my response:

I am going to have to say BMW, just by a whisker, passing Mercedes-Benz in second and Audi in third.

Quite simply, BMW generally better the competition. The 5 Series is much better than the E-Class and smashes the A6 into pieces. The new 7 Series looks like a stand-out car, very advanced, though I still like the S-Class a lot. The X5 is brilliant and beautiful, and does take the ML and Q7 out of the question. The 3 Series Coupe and Convertible are great cars, though the A5 is pretty good. The 1 Series hatch is better than the A3, and BMW is, scraping past MB, the best in R & D. Obviously, a brand that doesn't pride themselves in novelty LED headlamps succeeds for me.

Though, these are my opinions.

1st>2nd>3rd

1 Series>CLC/A>A3
C-Class>3 Series>A4
5 Series>E-Class>A6
7 Series>S-Class>A8
X5>ML>Q7A5/3 Series/CLK

10 Best Gas Mileage Cars of All Time

2010-11-21T17:32:00.000-08:00

Money per mile

You are considering buying a new car and you want to get the one with the best gas mileage. Maybe it's because you're socially aware and want to be kind to the environment. Or maybe it's just because you want to save yourself some money in the long run by paying for a car now that will cost you less in gas on a day-to-day basis. Whatever the reason, gas mileage is the number one thing that you have on your list as you're looking for a new car.

Here are the top ten cars to think about when looking for the best gas mileage for your ride:

Cars with automatic transmission:

Toyota Prius - The Prius gets just over fifty miles per gallon on the highway and does even better in the city.
Honda Civic Hybrid - This hybrid car gets somewhere between forty five and fifty miles to the gallon depending on where you're driving it.
Toyota Scion XA - This four speed automatic car gets over thirty miles to the gallon in the city and nearly forty miles to the highway gallon.
Toyota Celica - The Toyota Celica is a popular choice because it's a cute car that still gets almost thirty miles to the gallon in the city and over thirty five miles per gallon for highway driving.

Cars with manual transmission:

Honda Insight - This car gets nearly seventy miles to the gallon on the highway and about sixty miles to the gallon in the city making it the all-time best gas mileage car on this list.
Volkswagen - This brand isn't limited to any one style. The new diesel versions of the Volkswagen Golf, the Volkswagen Jetta and the Volkswagen Beetle all get approximately forty miles to the gallon.
Honda Civic Standard - Although not as good on the gas mileage as its hybrid counterpart, the standard Honda Civic gets over thirty five miles per gallon in the city and almost ten miles per gallon more than that on the highway.
Toyota Echo - The Echo is another cute car, like the Celica, which gets thirty five miles per city gallon and 43 miles per highway gallon.
Toyota Corolla - At forty miles per highway gallon, the Corolla is a sturdy car which holds its own in terms of good gas mileage.
Toyota Scion XB - This car doesn't quite hold up to the standard set by its automatic counterpart but it's not exactly bad on the gas mileage, getting just over thirty milers per gallon in the city and about thirty five miles per highway gallon.

As you can see, the top ten cars that you're looking at when you're looking at getting the best gas mileage are either Hondas or Toyotas (with the exception of the Volkswagen). If you aren't a Honda or Toyota kind of driver, there are certainly other brands which get good gas mileage. Look into the ones that most interest you with an eye towards both highway and city gas mileage.

Top 10 Electric Car Makers for 2010 and 2011

2010-11-21T15:56:00.000-08:00

Tesla is the first to sell 1,000 electric cars for the U.S. highways. Like its Roadster, the company is going zero to sixty in less than four seconds. Tesla is also developing a roomy Model S hatchback that starts at $57,400, about half the price of the Roadster. The Roadster is battery-electric with a 240 mile range; the Model S will have a remarkable electric range option of 300 miles per charge. Tesla is working with shareholder Toyota to bring back the Toyota RAV4 EV, an electric SUV. Tesla is working with shareholder Daimler to put Smart EDs on U.S. streets this year.

Nissan will be the first auto maker to put over 10,000 electric cars on U.S. highways. About 20,000 have made deposits for Nissan LEAF and several cities are in major partnerships. The LEAF can be purchased starting at $32,780 or $349 per month. The Nissan LEAF is battery-electric with a 100 mile range per charge.This 5-door, 5-seat, hatchback has the right size and range for many who drive under 100 miles daily, or for households with more than one car.

Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid (PHV) will build on the million car success of Toyota hybrids. At first glance, the PHV looks like another Prius until you spot the J1772 plug for smart charging. Five hundred PHV are in fleet trails from cities to car sharing services. In 2011, U.S. dealer orders were planned, but with Toyota’s 8 million vehicle recall this is may be delayed. Toyota will initially control costs by only using a 5kWh battery for a 14 mile electric range. In late 2011, Toyota will expand its offerings to include a pure battery-electric FT-EV.

General Motors wants to be the plug-in leader with the Chevy Volt, a plug-in hybrid with 40 miles of electric range and added 300 miles by engaging a small gasoline engine to act as a generator. Chevrolet will deliver over 10,000 in 2011. GM has a complete Voltec Propulsion System roadmap which envisions added offerings of pure battery-electric, E85, and diesel. Converj may become the Cadillac of extend-range electrics. Look for a range versus cost battle with Toyota, as the Volt achieves more electric range by adding to vehicle cost with a 16kWh battery.

Ford will be selling at least three electric cars by the end of 2011. The best seller will be the Ford Focus EV a battery-electric that we expect to aggressively compete with the Nissan Leaf. Ford will be taking orders for a 2012 plug-in hybrid; likely, it will be the Ford Focus available any way the customer wants it: battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, hybrid, or fuel efficient sedan. Ford is already selling the Transit Connect Electric compact van.

Mitsubishi will take orders next year for the 2012 U.S. version of the iMiEV, the best selling EV in Japan. Mitsubishi is currently suggesting a ballpark price in the low 30s. This fun-to-drive 5 door, 4 seat hatchback, will have a wheel base 5 inches wider for the U.S. market, but the micro-compact will still be able to get those precious city parking spaces that no other car can take except the smart. The more powerful U.S. version will have an electric range of 50 to 80 miles with a 16kWh lithium battery.

Fisker Karma is a luxury sports plug-in hybrid with prices starting around $90,000. With a $528 million DOE conditional loan, Fisker is moving into production with plans to start shipping Karmas to dealers in late 2010. A more affordable family sedan is planned for 2012.

Think has been selling its smaller battery-electric City car in Europe for years. Many of the Copenhagen climate delegates were transported with Think EV. With new capital from EnerDel, Valmet, and Kleiner Perkins, Think hopes to have its financial struggles in the rear view mirror and be on U.S. roads by the end of 2011.

Chrysler has about 40,000 of the GEM 25-mph light electric vehicles (LEV) on the U.S. roads in university towns, fleets, and retirement communities. With federal and local tax breaks, the net cost is under $10,000. With the growth of electric cars and charging stations, sales may actually increase for cost-leading LEV. A sub-compact electric Fiat 500 EV is expected to be offered in the U.S. in 2012, priced in the mid-thirties. In a DOE project, 140 Dodge Ram Truck Plug-in Hybrids are being built.

BYD has over $200 million invested by Warren Buffet. BYD is now selling its plug-in hybrid and E6 battery-electric car in China, but with little success. We expect the plug-in hybrid to be a freeway-speed electric car price leader in the U.S. in 2011. The E6 battery-electric is likely to be more expensive with enough batteries for a 250 electric range. These may take longer than expected to be selling in the U.S. due to tough safety, regulatory hurdles, and charging standards.

CODA plans to deliver an electric car with up to 120 mile charge range using over 33 kWh of lithium batteries from their joint venture with China’s Lishen Power Battery (Lishen). This 4-seat sedan should have more range than the Nissan LEAF and it’s 24kWh battery pack, but may be priced thousands higher than the LEAF. Over $100 million of big name investors back this spin-off of Miles. CODA talks about taking orders by the end of the year, but they appear to be waiting for DOE loans to start manufacturing.

Forecasts and Renewable Energy

Accenture forecasts 1.5 million electric vehicles in the United States by 2015. Over 10 million electric vehicles are easily possible by 2020. Single electric utilities have scenarios for charging over one million electric vehicles in their own service area by 2020. With renewable energy investment required of utilities in 30 states, these utilities are most interested in night time charging of electric vehicles with wind, geothermal, and hydropower. Utilities are also implementing smart grids and incentives for off-peak charging.
By 2011 year end, competition will be intense for electric car leadership. The above Top 10 describe our best guess about the market share leaders for delivered plug-in vehicles on the United States roads in 2011, although not necessarily in order of installed market share. Battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and electric vehicles with range extended by engines or fuel cells were all considered.
Over 100 competitors will be fighting for U.S. share by 2012. Some may be struggle to get significant share due to the time and cost of safety and other regulatory approvals, delays in funding, unpleasant surprises from a battery, drive system, or component supplier. It’s a tough business. Even Tesla had to add 700 pounds and two years to get the first Roadsters in customers’ hands.
Honda is certain to be on lists by 2012, if not next year, with their new battery-electric and plug-in hybrid announcements. Honda Lithium Battery and Electric Car Report.
250 smart fortwo ED will be put into U.S. tests this year using Tesla battery packs, but smart is currently targeting the 2013 model year for the first commercial electric car. It will start taking consumer and fleet orders in 2012. BMW will acclerate electric plans in a couple of years.
Volkswagen may teach everyone how to extend range by making vehicles light. The concept Up Light weighs just over 1,500 pounds, but we don’t expect U.S. sales in 2011. Zenn might be there with a commercialized EEstor ultracap that has been in stealth mode for 10 years.
China could have several price leaders being delivered to U.S. customers. India might bring us a Maharinda Reva or Nano EV that under prices everyone. Subaru could make bigger U.S. electric plans. Don’t count out the good old United States “can do” entrepreneurs with exciting innovation and venture capital backing. Some think that V-Vehicles or Aptera will be on the list.

Best gas mileage cars

2010-11-21T14:53:00.000-08:00

Best gas mileage cars

Best Gas Mileage
Make	Model	Engine size (liters)	Cylinders	Transmission	City	Hwy	Est. annual fuel cost
Honda	Insight	1	3	5-speed manual	60	66	$405
Toyota	Prius	1.5	4	Variable automatic	60	51	$466
Honda	Civic Hybrid	1.3	4	Variable automatic	48	47	$541
Volkswagen	Diesel New Beetle/Golf/Jetta	1.9	4	5-speed manual	38	46	$598
Honda	Civic	1.7	4	5-speed manual	36	44	$635
Toyota	Echo	1.5	4	5-speed manual	35	43	$651
Toyota	Scion XA	1.5	4	4-speed automatic	32	38	$727
Toyota	Corolla	1.8	4	5-speed manual	32	40	$705
Toyota	Scion XB	1.5	4	5-speed manual	31	35	$773
Toyota	Celica	1.8	4	4-speed automatic	29	36	$781

Large cars
Make	Model	Engine size (liters)	Cylinders	Transmission	City	Hwy	Est. annual fuel cost
CHEVROLET	IMPALA	3.4	6	4-speed automatic	21	32	$948
CHEVROLET	MALIBU MAXX	3.5	6	4-speed automatic	22	30	$972
CHRYSLER	CONCORDE/LHS	2.7	6	4-speed automatic	21	29	$1,010
DODGE	INTREPID	2.7	6	4-speed automatic	21	29	$1,010
BUICK	LESABRE	3.8	6	4-speed automatic	20	29	$1,028
Midsize cars
Make	Model	Engine size (liters)	Cylinders	Transmission	City	Hwy	Est. annual fuel cost
TOYOTA	PRIUS	1.5	4	Variable Automatic	60	51	$466
HYUNDAI	ELANTRA	2.0	4	5-speed manual	27	34	$831
HONDA	ACCORD	2.4	4	5-speed manual	26	34	$844
CHEVROLET	MALIBU	2.2	4	4-speed automatic	24	34	$869
CHEVROLET	6	2.2	4	4-speed automatic	24	34	$869
4WD SUVs
Make	Model	Engine size (liters)	Cylinders	Transmission	City	Hwy	Est. annual fuel cost
JEEP	LIBERTY 4WD	2.4	4	5-speed manual	20	24	$1,155
NISSAN	MURANO AWD	3.5	6	Variable Automatic	20	24	$1,155
CHEVROLET	TRACKER 4WD HARDTOP	2.5	6	4-speed automatic	19	22	$1,242
SATURN	VUE AWD	3.5	6	5-speed automatic	19	25	$1,150
Standard pickups
Make	Model	Engine size (liters)	Cylinders	Transmission	City	Hwy	Est. annual fuel cost
FORD	RANGER PICKUP 2WD	2.3	4	5-speed manual	24	29	$959
MAZDA	B2300 2WD	2.3	4	5-speed manual	24	29	$959
NISSAN	FRONTIER 2WD	2.4	4	5-speed manual	22	27	$1,036
TOYOTA	TOYOTA TACOMA 2WD	2.4	4	4-speed automatic	22	25	$1,085
CHEVROLET	COLORADO 2WD	3.5	5	4-speed automatic	19	24	$1,179

How To Drive More Efficiently

2010-11-21T14:38:00.000-08:00

Drive Sensibly

Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money.

Observe the Speed Limit

While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph.
You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.24 per gallon for gas.
Observing the speed limit is also safer

Remove Excess Weight

Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2 percent. The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle's weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.

Avoid Excessive Idling

Idling gets 0 miles per gallon. Cars with larger engines typically waste more gas at idle than do cars with smaller engines.

Use Cruise Control

Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas.

Use Overdrive Gears

When you use overdrive gearing, your car's engine speed goes down. This saves gas and reduces engine wear.

How To keep Your Car in Shape

2010-11-21T14:35:00.000-08:00

Keep Your Engine Properly Tuned

Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4 percent, though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done.
Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent.

Keep Tires Properly Inflated

You can improve your gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.3 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer.
The proper tire pressure for your vehicle is usually found on a sticker in the driver's side door jamb or the glove box and in your owner's manual. Do not use the maximum pressure printed on the tire's sidewall.

Use the Recommended Grade of Motor Oil

You can improve your gas mileage by 1–2 percent by using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. For example, using 10W-30 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W-30 can lower your gas mileage by 1–2 percent. Using 5W-30 in an engine designed for 5W-20 can lower your gas mileage by 1–1.5 percent. Also, look for motor oil that says "Energy Conserving" on the API performance symbol to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives.

Replacing a Clogged Air Filter on Modern Cars Improves Performance but Not MPG

A new study shows that replacing a clogged air filter on cars with fuel-injected, computer-controlled gasoline engines does not improve fuel economy but it can improve acceleration time by around 6 to 11 percent. This kind of engine is prevalent on most gasoline cars manufactured from the early 1980s onward.
Tests suggest that replacing a clogged air filter on an older car with a carbureted engine may improve fuel economy 2 to 6 percent under normal replacement conditions or up to 14 percent if the filter is so clogged that it significantly affects drivability.
The effect of a clogged air filter on diesel vehicles will be tested in the near future.

Cars Are Bad For The Environment

2010-11-21T14:00:00.000-08:00

The development of hydrogen fuel cells as an alternative fuel is no doubt good for the environment. It is easy to emphasize that we should use hydrogen fuel cell technology to save our environment and prevent global warming. But finding facts about it and embracing those facts can be two very different things.

First, consider the fact that hydrogen fuel cells are good for the environment because they are the cleanest burning fuels ever developed. Hydrogen is extracted out of water and then place into fuel cells as a gas that can power a vehicle. The only emission that comes out of a fuel cell powered vehicle is water vapor. But there are disadvantages with hydrogen fuel cells and the environment.

A hundred percent efficient system of producing, storing, and transporting hydrogen should, in theory, lead to zero unwanted gas emissions. But scientists say that such a system would be very expensive, and that in reality around 10 to 20 percent of the hydrogen would escape into the atmosphere. Such that if hydrogen fuel cells replaced all the oil and

gas-based combustion technologies, such losses would double or even triple the total hydrogen deposited into the atmosphere at the surface of the earth.

Other scientists believe that the hydrogen would be oxidized when it reaches the stratosphere, which would cool the stratosphere and create more clouds. This event would delay the break up of the polar vortex at the north and south poles, making the holes in the ozone layer larger and longer lasting. It is estimated that the extra hydrogen will lead to a 5 to 8 percent increase in ozone depletion at the North Pole and between 3 and 7 percent rise at the South Pole.

The exact extent of this further depletion of the ozone depends on a number of unknown quantities. In addition to uncertainty over the extent of hydrogen emissions in the future, little is known about how the soil absorbs hydrogen from the atmosphere. The scientists believe that this process of hydrogen absorption into the soil could compensate for all new hydrogen emissions into the atmosphere.

The truth, however, is that using hydrogen fuel cells as an alternative fuel is actually good for the environment in the long run. This is especially the case when the only emission that comes from hydrogen fuel cells is water vapor. This is a major advantages over the toxic emissions that are released into the atmosphere when gasoline is used to power our vehicles.

The bottom line is that hydrogen fuel cells have a major positive effect on the environment. Using hydrogen fuel cells has many more advantages that disadvantages and hydrogen as an alternative fuel has the most promise over any other alternative fuel.

Four wheels good, four wheels bad

2010-11-21T13:59:00.000-08:00

It is almost incredible to think that when many of our grandparents were born cars were a rarity. Today there are 620 million private cars worldwide, to say nothing of buses, vans and lorries. On current growth trends, that number is expected to double to a staggering 1.2 billion cars worldwide by 2020.

Cars have had an impact on society possibly unrivalled by any other consumer innovation in human history. Because of the scale and breadth of their impact - and the deep emotional response they invoke, the sense of identity that apparently comes with being wrapped up in a mobile metal box - cars have come to represent all that is best and worst about modern consumer society.

Cars have given people the mobility to work further afield, to stay in touch with families, to broaden their horizons. Road transport has opened up trade to even the most remote communities, often bringing liberty and democracy, health, education and personal comforts.

On the negative side, there are increasingly urgent problems, many of them eroding the very benefits of owning and driving a car in the first place. Building cars uses considerable raw materials and energy. In 2004, 45 million cars were built worldwide - 1.6 million in Britain - reducing the planet's natural resources and considerably adding to pollution.

All those extra cars need roads, but roads destroy natural habitats, use up construction materials and sever communities. Where there are too few roads for the cars, congestion has become one of the greatest constraints on economic growth in rich and poor countries alike. Congestion costs the British economy alone an estimated £20bn a year in wasted time and resources and lost business. According to the World Health Organisation, in 1998 an estimated 1.2 million people died in road accidents; by 2020, road accidents will be the third-biggest cause of death and injury, after heart disease and serious depression.

The greatest impact of cars, however, is the petrol and diesel they consume, draining valuable fossil fuel reserves and generating a huge proportion of man-made pollution blamed for problems from asthma to global climate change. In Britain, transport - the vast majority of which is by road - contributes a quarter of the country's carbon dioxide emissions, and the figure is still rising. A report for the Washington DC-based World Resources Institute in 2003 estimated that fuel production and use accounted for 94 per cent of a vehicle's carbon pollution.

If society is serious about reducing the threat of climate change, it will have to drastically reduce carbon emissions. This cannot be done without a transformation of every aspect of our lives, especially how we travel.

For years environmentalists have been exhorting people to get out of their cars and use public transport, cycle, walk or just stay at home. Today the message is more subtle: motorists are still urged to use their cars less and drive them more efficiently, but policy-makers have recognised that those who have cars are unwilling to give them up, and that those who don't will not relinquish the dream. So they have turned their attention to removing the pollution from the vehicles, rather than removing the vehicles.

In the past decade or so, car manufacturers have made significant strides towards making existing models much more efficient, but progress has slowed recently and few expect the industry to meet its target of an average new car emissions standard of 140g per kilometre by 2008. The holy grail is a mass market for cars that emit little or no carbon and other pollutants, including sulphur, nitrous oxides and particulates.

This is an extraordinary vision of the future: tantalisingly within sight, but still far off. There are dozens of 'alternative fuel' vehicles available now, including buses that run on hydrogen fuel cells, hybrid electric-petrol engine cars, and models powered by fuel made from crops, trees and even waste. Apart from the celebrated Toyota Prius, few of these models have made much of an impression on the mass consumer market. In Britain - which has one of the strongest markets for alternative fuel vehicles, thanks to government grants and tax incentives - estimates of the number of such cars range from just 6,255 to 25,000 of the country's 29 million cars.

In the long term, the industry's 'ultimate aim' is for cars powered by fuel cells, run on hydrogen generated from clean, renewable sources, says Keith Lewis of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders in Britain. But, he admits, 'how we get there and what happens between now and then is an issue nobody has an answer to'.

For manufacturers, this is, literally, the multi-billion dollar question. For environmentalists, for politicians, and for people everywhere threatened by climate change, it could be a matter of life or death.

Inevitably, therefore, there are plenty of suggestions. Tony Bosworth, transport campaigner for the environmental lobby group Friends of the Earth, says current voluntary targets for manufacturers should be swapped for mandatory limits on emissions. The average current emissions of new cars are 169g of carbon dioxide per kilometre. Bosworth thinks they could achieve 120g/km by 2012. 'Car manufacturers can do that within their current technical capability,' he says. 'They say it's too expensive to do it - it will add too much to the price of the car. Well, it will add to the price, but the industry has a record of overestimating the cost of complying with these sorts of regulations. Also, if you look at the more global picture, [motorists] save a lot more in fuel costs.'

The Energy Saving Trust, the not-for-profit organisation responsible for reducing carbon use in homes and transport, believes ministers need to do more. It wants central government and local authorities to give a lead by investing in more alternative-fuel cars, to boost the market and encourage consumers to follow their example.

Manufacturers also want more support from government and from oil companies. 'We can do everything we can, but if you go to Tesco and can't fill [the new car] up, we're screwed,' says Lewis. 'We can only make these things happen if we all work together, so there has to be an infrastructure to operate, which means we have all got to be aiming for the same thing.' Ultimately, this means governments 'have got to pick a winner', adds Lewis.

But there is one point on which almost all sides agree: green groups, the EST, motoring organisations such as the RAC, and even some carmakers. This is that government should greatly increase the difference between car tax bands, which are priced according to emissions. This, they believe, would give motorists a greater incentive to buy more efficient and alternative-fuel models, and generate the momentum needed to turn lots of prototypes and a few pilot projects into a mass market. 'The government has got the research which shows this would work,' adds Bosworth.

Are cars that bad for the environment?

2010-11-21T13:50:00.000-08:00

Driving a car is the most air polluting act an average citizen commits. Air pollution is not a good idea for a variety of reasons, large and small. The right ideas for remediation of environmental degradations involve unselfish and compassionate behavior, a scarce commodity. The right ideas involve long-term planning, conservation and a deep commitment to preserving the natural world. Without a healthy natural environment, there will be few or no healthy humans.

To understand air pollution you can consider a simple schematic that divides a big problem into components.

1. Local effects -e.g. poisoning humans breathing bad air.

2. Regional effects - fallout from airborne pathogens - infections, particles, chemicals.

3. Global effects - changing interactions between the atmosphere, oceans and thw sun, weather effects, effects on plants and the ocean biosphere.

Developments in the media made "go green" the slogan for action to limit the adverse effects of air pollution. Green refers to the color of chlorophyll in plants. Chlorophyll is the basis of photosynthesis that allows plants to turn the sun's energy into life energy. Human action destroys plants and replaces healthy ecosystems with concrete and asphalt. Another slogan that emerged was "save planet earth." Humans will not save the planet. The task for humans is to stop destroying the environments that sustain themselves. If we fail, the planet will do just fine without us.

The deepest problem for humans is that we cannot predict the future with any accuracy. Even the best informed scientist with the most recent data cannot know what is going to happen next. When we talk about prudence, we refer to methods of minimizing risk and preparing to deal with events beyond our control which can injure or kill us. Preparation for natural catastrophes, accidents and illness can consume a large chunk of our resources. Smart humans notice adverse changes and take action to minimize adverse consequences. But not all human are smart or prudent.

The year 2008 will be remembered as the near-collapse of capitalist economies. Among the corporations in trouble in the US and Canada were General Motors and Chrysler. All the US/Canada car and truck manufacturers had promoted their larger vehicles on customers by exploiting the innate human tendency to seek domination over others. Bigger is better. In 2009 the GM and Chrysler refurbished their operations and offered smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles for sale. Ford appeared to be unscathed by the recession.

The explosion of a a deep sea oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico is a reminder that gas and diesel consumers are partners in causing environmental degradation and disasters. While BP gets most of the blame, two US companies who built and operated the oil rig actually caused the problem. Among the most angry BP critics are consumers of BP products. Surely the blame should be widely distributed and must include the consumers of petroleum products.

The only certainty is that the future should look very different from the past. When we consider air pollution in cities from burning fossil fuels as the main source of energy for electricity production, transportation, home heating and industrial production, then the entire infrastructure of industrial countries must change.

When cars and trucks are the focus, manufacturers are the chosen culprits, but the people who buy and drive vehicles are really responsible for creating a better future for themselves and their children. The immediate challenge for vehicle users is not to replace existing vehicles with more fuel efficient versions, but to reduce use and participate in a new vision of car-free living environments. Citizens and not governments must end the madness of traffic, gridlock, superhighways, smog and lethal accidents.

Friendly or Lethal? Cars have two opposite personalities. One is friendly and attractive the other is destructive and can be lethal. The desire to own a car is linked to pleasure, sexuality, convenience and freedom. Men lust for big, prestigious cars they way they lust for women and women desire men with big, prestigious cars. Men are also interested in power, performance and want to know something about the engine, although modern engines are sufficiently complex to discourage even the professional mechanic. Some of the engine complexity electronic monitoring and adjustment of engine performance under different operating conditions. Several devices are added to the engine to handle air flow in, fuel delivery and exhaust out. Computers have been added to monitor and control engine, brake and transmission operation. The design of new hybrid vehicles involves even more complexity with electronic sensors feeding data to computers that manage every system. The cost of repairs will increase as will the demand for new sophistication from mechanics. The most advanced designs use only black box modules that cannot be repaired at the local garage but can be replaced with new or rebuild modules. This might be a wonderful solution, but only if you can afford it.

Extravagant Car Use Emissions from passenger vehicles increased in Canada and the US despite attempts to make engines more fuel efficient and despite the addition of antipollution devices. The two main reasons were: 1. vehicle use increased; 2. in the US and Canada, cars got bigger; pick-up trucks, vans and sports vehicles often replaced smaller, lighter passenger cars. An average new vehicle in 2003 consumed more fuel that its counterpart in 1988. In the USA in 1987 cars averaged 25.9 miles to the gallon. Fuel efficiency dropped to 24.6 miles/gallon by 1998 and it dropped further as larger vehicles replace smaller ones. The decision to drive cars long distances to work was common among people in North America and Europe in the past 60 years. In retrospect, it is clear that commuters made a mistake. They should now stop commuting by cars. Their mistake had health and economic consequences for them personally and for every other inhabitant of planet earth.

Despite compelling evidence of climate change, governments in many affluent countries have avoided their responsibility to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The USA is the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases worldwide. US emissions increased to 7 billion tones of CO₂ in 2004, 16% higher than emissions in the late 90's. The UK did better reducing their emissions to about 0.6 billion tons, 14% below 1990 levels. An accurate analysis of total greenhouse gas emission is difficult or impossible to achieve since there many variable and unknowns. Take the US estimates, for example, and pursue the argument that the US is also responsible for some emissions from other countries, which provide raw materials and manufacturing for the US economy. Romm argued: "U.S. businesses have off-shored more and more of the U.S. economy’s and CO2 emissions to parts of the world where the carbon intensity is higher but labor is cheaper. The U.S. has essentially off-shored its emission problem to the rest of the world, turning their economies into dumping grounds for our own air pollution. "

Car exhaust is toxic at ground level Exhaust from all combustion engines combine to produce local adverse effects on the health of car users and all innocent bystanders. Cities have become islands of toxic chemicals from the unrestrained use of vehicles burning fossil fuels. Cars are noisy, ugly, often dangerous and dominate the experience of modern living. We are now used to the carnage on roads and highways- attempts to reduce death and disability from our motorized containers have not substantially altered the negative impact on society. The adverse health effects of car exhaust are pervasive and difficult to measure.

Advertising and Delusions Television Ads for sports and recreation vehicles show solitary, impeccable machines in wilderness locations. One TV ad shows a couple making a mad dash to escape the city core in their expensive, luxury upholstered clone of the land-rover. The ads are selling a fantasy of wilderness, fresh air and escape. Is the consumer is completely deluded? These vehicles are mostly found in suburban driveways and in the traffic jams of polluted cities. They have nowhere to go to escape the environmental degradation they help to create: 4x4 drives and large tires are rarely useful in cities and are not suited to highway driving. You see these machines, submerged in suburban driveways by the floods they helped to create. The latest 2010 car advertising has switched to styling, crash protection, interior comforts and fuel efficiency as the main selling points. While these improvements are welcome, reduced vehicle use is the most essential remedy and is seldom mentioned.

Ethanol Combustion engines contribute to greenhouse gas accumulation in the atmosphere and are responsible for climate changes. A sane, sober revision of vehicle use is long overdue. While ethanol has been championed as an alternative to petroleum fuels, it mainly helps to reduce dependency on oil producing countries. Ethanol or methanol can be blended with gasoline to reduce petroleum dependency. Gasoline engines can use up to 10% ethanol without modification. New "flex" engines can use higher percentages of ethanol up to 100%. North American and European flex-fuel vehicles are optimized to run on a maximum blend of 15% gasoline with 85% ethanol (E85 fuel). The production of flex engine vehicles has increased, but the supply of flex fuel is limited.

There are problems in the bigger picture of carbon consumption and emission. When ethanol is made from corn, some its energy value (up to 70% in the least efficient plants) must be spent on its production. While innovations in production technologies continue, there will be an ongoing requirement to invent new methods of production. Investment in new technologies will require government policy changes, subsidies and research grants. Climate change with extreme weather events may reduce corn production in the US, where for decades corn surpluses were common. The new competition between ethanol plants and food production suddenly in 2008 became an international issue.

If you are an optimist, you might argue that improved technologies will save the day --- corn yields per acre have been increasing mostly because of genetic engineering, so that food and ethanol production need not compete in the future. The ethanol industry uses only the carbohydrate fraction of the corn; the protein and oil fractions are used as animal feed to be consumed by humans as dairy products, eggs and meat. If you are a pessimist, you might point to the recurrent droughts in recent years in the US corn producing regions and predict more crop failures in years to come. Other non-food vegetable sources of carbon will become alternative sources of raw materials.

Hydrogen The ultimate cars burn hydrogen in fuel cells, but despite working prototypes, a hydrogen fuel infrastructure is a distant fantasy. One problem is the low energy density of liquefied hydrogen that requires larger tanks than the equivalent gasoline tank. Another problem is that producing hydrogen requires a large amount of energy. In Canada, there are opportunities to dam more rivers and produce electricity with falling water, a non polluting, renewable energy resource. A more problematic energy source for hydrogen production would be be nuclear reactors that "burn" uranium or plutonium, but new technologies for fail -proof reactor safety and recycling spent fuel are required. A science fiction fantasy might include a novel way of splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen with less energy consumed but no-one knows how to do this in 2011. Even if new non-polluting energy sources are developed, hydrogen storage and distribution requires a new, very expensive infrastructure that could replace gasoline and diesel fuels.

An innovative use of hydrogen added to gasoline and diesel engines-has been achieved by the h2gogo HRN3 Hydrogen Generator The generator produces hydrogen from distilled water and is a retro-fitted to regular engines. The hydrogen input results in more efficient fuel burn, in reduced emissions and improved engine efficiency and power output. The Heathrow Airport retrofitted hydrogen generator units to a range of vehicles and reported a reduction of up to 40% reduction in carbon dioxide, particulates, nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbon emissions.

Understanding Complex Ecosystems Our ability to monitor and understand the atmosphere has taken a quantum leap in recent years. We have gone beyond naïve linear models and now appreciate that if complex systems such as the atmosphere, the oceans, and land ecosystems change, they may become unstable and more unfriendly. Extra heat will cause more turbulence, and weather patterns will change in unpredictable ways. While climate models are interesting, they have have limited to no predictive abilities. Rather than playing with unreliable long-term predictions, a sober assessment of what is happening right now should motivate action to change human behavior. Actions, such as driving cars whenever and wherever we please, do pollute the air, change the atmosphere and cause more extreme weather events. Smart humans notice adverse changes and take action to minimize adverse consequences. But not all human are smart or prudent.

What Can I do? Drive Less Both local and global pollution would be reduced if each car-driving person pledged to use their car 30% less starting immediately. This is a responsible, individual contribution to a global problem. At least 30% of vehicle use is optional - either recreational or lazy driving when walking, cycling or public transit would be a better choice.

Cities can reduce vehicular traffic by more than 30% over the next 3 to 5 years by improving public transportation. Commuter trains are a model of urban access for suburban residents who drive their cars short distances, park in terminal lots and ride the train into town. Cities can create car free zones and develop park-like corridors that would allow movement through the city by walking, cycling and limited use of small, light electric vehicles in vehicle corridors specially designed to be safe and efficient.

The rising cost of crude oil in 2008 quickly altered driving habits and big auto companies closed plants that produced SUVs and pickup trucks. If you are interested in longer term human survival, then high cost oil is a real benefit. With or without higher fuel prices, each person can drive less and resist the temptation to buy larger, heavier cars, trucks and sports vehicles. If you really need a 4x4 to drive off-roads in wilderness settings, you need a rugged clunker that's already got scratches, dents and mud on the tires. Carry a shovel, axe, chain saw, and a come-along in the back. If you can afford it, add a heavy duty winch up front. Stay off city streets and highways.

Solutions: Reduce Air Pollution by changing the design and use of motor vehicles

The use of cars must be re-defined. Car use has to be considered a privilege, not a right. The cost of environmental damage and reclamation has to be added to the cost of owning and operating a car. Vehicle use should no longer be subsidized.

Reduce number of Vehicles - Urban areas need to set vehicular quotas and issue permits to limit the number of vehicles to control regional traffic congestion and air pollution.

Small hybrid or 100% electric cars are desirable, but make their occupants specially vulnerable when they collide with much larger vehicles. A sane city would separate small, efficient passenger vehicles from buses and trucks.

Improve efficiency of vehicles - reverse the trend to larger vehicles; engineering solutions to emissions of combustion engines. Flex fuel and hybrid cars are a step in the right direction but in small numbers will not have a significant impact on air pollution.

Reduced vehicle use and traffic reform can be a bigger and more immediate remedy for urban air pollution. Improved efficiency of traffic is important. Examples are: dedicated bus lanes and priority for car-pools and vehicles with 3 or more passengers. Traffic can be scheduled to optimize road usage; e.g. commercial traffic at night; large companies can stagger working hours and decentralize administrative operations. Commuting long distances in cars to work needs to be phased out. Single passenger commuting to work should be strongly discouraged.

The most accessible measure of air pollution contribution is the amount of fossil fuel burned.

Recreational driving can be reduced immediately. Car owners need to pay for miles driven and fuel burned on an escalating scale. Each person can have a "free driving" allotment per year and pay increasing insurance and/or taxes on fuel consumption beyond this limit.

Governments can encourage the reduction of vehicular use by:

Promoting Voluntary abstention
Increase Public Transit - diversify options and limit access to existing roads.
Separate commercial and private traffic to increase efficient use of roads
Stop building car-oriented roads and highways
Replace 30% of the existing roads designed for cars with park-like corridors
In cities, build more walking paths, bicycle routes and roads for small electric vehicles
Reduce commuting - link residence and business activities by rezoning and rebuilding cities.
Reward car-pools and car-sharing plans
Redefine road use by defining access privileges - no longer a right
Road Tolls and increased gasoline and vehicle registration taxes
Base car license fees on fuel consumption in the previous year. Use exponential fee rate increase for high fuel consumption individuals.
Provide generous development grants and tax incentives for all non-polluting transportation alternatives.

Governments can use a combination of

Voluntary and Reward Schemes
Compulsory and Penalty Schemes
Incentives for New Technology and Changes in Industrial Fuel Consumption

Long term solutions require that vehicles use less polluting energy sources such biofuels, propane and natural gas. I am sorry to say that the marketing of "green solutions" to global warming is becoming yet another scam. One problem is that producing alternate fuels and hybrid cars often requires CO₂emissions that offset or cancel the benefits of improve vehicular design.

Electric Cars are on the road, under development and promise to become vehicles of choice for urban transportation. The new cars represent advances in technology that link computers, electric motors and batteries into systems that drive well, self-regulate, and require little maintenance. The main components are modules that are removed to be refurbished in specialized factories and recycled. One limitation is battery technology. Batteries are heavy, wear out quickly with repeated recharging and require expensive, rather scarce materials such as lithium. Another more severe limitation is obtaining electricity from a non-polluting power source. Even if all the technical problems of building reliable electric cars were solved, there remains a daunting list of infrastructure problems yet to be solved. While electric cars produce little air pollution, generating electricity continues to be a major source of air pollution. If an electric car is recharged with electricity produced by a fossil fuel burning generator, there may be no net benefit to the atmosphere. A real solution for car technology would reduce air pollution beginning at source materials and would continue through the use cycle of the vehicle. While is it feasible to use fossil fuels in generation plants with all the latest techniques of emission control and C02 recycling, these plants are uncommon in 2010. Before more people plug in electric vehicles, a new infrastructure of non-polluting, affordable electricity production will have to be built.

You might imagine new residential and commercial buildings that generate their own electricity with solar panels and wind generators that also charge their own electric vehicles. The cost of constructing new, more autonomous buidling is so great that only the wealthiest citizens can afford the capital costs.

In the immediate future reduced car use is the best solution. A gas-inefficient clunker driven twice a week for 20 km is a better choice than a new expensive hybrid car driven everyday for 100 Km. No solution is better than fewer vehicles and reduced vehicle use.

Bikes vs. Cars

2010-11-21T13:48:00.000-08:00

Interesting discussions at John's and Matt's. I think Matt does an exceptionally good job of illustrating the arbitrariness of subsidies to car owners simply by outlining an alternative scheme. I’ve always been a bit baffled by a lot of libertarian’s generally pro-car-centric view of transportation matters. Now, if cars, highways, roads, big parking lots, etc., really are the most efficient way to do things, all things considered, then sure. But I never get a clear sense from many libertarians that they grasp the extent of the subsidies, or the very significant crowding-out effects of our massively expensive state-supported auto-based transportation infrastucture.

Also, bikes. People complain about bikers breaking traffic laws. Well, I’m guilty, and I’m damn well going to keep doing it. A lot of traffic regulations make sense for cars, but just don’t for bikes. For example, I ride home almost every day the wrong way up a one way street, and nobody coming the other way gives a damn. Why should they? I honestly don’t give a fig about my carbon footprint (and anyway, since I’m not a breeder, I really should get carbon carte blanche). But I like biking because it’s faster than driving —because I blow through stop signs, go the wrong way on one-ways, etc. Were I suddenly to become fastidious about heeding traffic laws intended to regulate cars, one of the main advantages of biking over driving would evaporate. So I think people who do give figs about carbon really ought toencourage bikers to break traffic laws, or at least promote EXTRA traffic laws for drivers, in order to increase the relative benefit of biking. How about intersections where four-way purple means you’ve got to stop unless you’re on a bike? That would be pretty sweet.

10 Reasons Motorcycles are Better Than cars

2010-11-21T13:46:00.000-08:00

Cars are neat, I like them a lot and I've been fortunate to have had a few nice ones, but motorcycles have a long list of advantages over their 4 wheels cousins.

In my experience, if you like bikes, there's a good chance you appreciate cars, trucks, boats and airplanes, too, not all to the same degree but a particularly nice example of any motor driven vehicle can bring on a smile. Eventually, though, most of us have to choose among the categories if we're going to invest our resources on one or two vehicles (or more) and when the choice has to be made, motorcycles have a lot to offer.

Here's my personal list. It might vary from one person to another, your list might have items I haven't thought of, but I think these give you some food for thought.

1. You can fit 3 or 4 bikes into the space occupied by one car. Make maximum use of a small garage, buy motorcycles.

2. Motorcycles use less gas. 30 miles per gallon is on the low end and smaller engines can get triple digit mileage.

3. Motorcycles outperform cars. Sure, some exotic cars can keep up with a Hayabusa, but not many and the cost is usually 10 or 20 times the cost of the bike, or more.

4. You can rebuild a motorcycle if you're mechanically inclined, you don't have to do very much body work. Not being particularly skilled in body and paint, I appreciate this one.

5. Motorcycles cost less. Even classics and collector bikes can often be purchased for the price of a very plain used car.

6. Motorcycle riders are safer, they don't text on their phones while riding.

7. Motorcycle riding can be really cozy. If you want to be a little closer to your passenger, brake a little quicker for the next stop.

8. Motorcycle riding gets you out in the fresh air. Smell real pine trees, not the scent of a pine shaped deodorizer hanging from the mirror.

9. Motorcycle riding develops your coordination and balance. Brake and clutch levers for your hands, brake and shift gears with your feet, learn to balance at slow speeds, many drivers could never do it.

10. Best of all, there has never been a recall for unintended motorcycle acceleration.

These are just few. Feel free to add if you have any!

Do you wonder why cars are better than girls?

2010-11-21T13:45:00.000-08:00

Go through it, this is interesting!
WHY CARS ARE BETTER THAN GIRLS

1. A car can wait forever for you.
2. A car doesn't compare you with it's past users.
3. A car doesn't get calls from it's past users while you own it.
4. A car doesn't mind how excited you get.
5. A car doesn't tell you how great it's past owners were.
6. A car is big in all the right places.
7. A car doesn't ask you if you're seeing other cars.
8. A car won't even talk about marriage.
9. A car won't mind how many other cars you have.
10. A car won't say, "Let's just be friends."
11. A car won't shave with your razor.
12. A car doesn't ask you a thousand querstions everytime you get in.
13. Cars are easy to turn on.
14. Cars are ready when you are.
15. Cars are very responsive.
16. Cars will always do what you want it to.
17. Cars don't care about age difference.
18. Cars don't care if you're married.
19. Cars don't get pregnant.
20. Cars don't get upset if you use other cars.
21. Cars don't make you meet their parents.
22. Cars don't mind if you share them with a friend.
23. Cars don't play 'head games' unless you boost too hard.
24. Cars never ask you to call them later.
25. Cars never have headaches, or take rainchecks, or have a curfew, or have that time of the month.
26. Cars won't mind if you don't like their friends.
27. With a car, you never have to say you're sorry.
28. You can turn off a car.
29. You can visit a car any time you like, and it'll be up and ready for you.
30. You don't have to tell cars you love them. (But I do anyway.)
31. You'll never hear"Surprise! You are going to be a proud father of a new car " unless of course you go out and buy one yourself.
32. Cars don't have to have a shower every morning.
33. Cars don't mind if you stay in the garage all day and work on them. In fact, they love it.
34. Cars don't complain about how loud the music is.
35. You can always make a car look 'young' again.
36. A car doesn't care if it's not getting enough attention.
37. You can look at pictures of nice cars all you want to and not feel like a pervert.
38. You can hang any kind of car picture in your dorm room and not get in trouble.
39. A car doesn't have girlfriend cars that will talk about you and tell her that you are not good for her.
40. You can rub and wax a car in your driveway and not get arrested for lewdness.
41. Cars don't get mad at you for no reason every 28 days.
42. You can always test drive a car before making a commitment.
43. Cars come with an owners manual.
44. You can stare at nice cars in a parking lot and your car won't care.
45. If the car makes too much noise, you can get a muffler.
46. If you shave it once, it stays that way.
47. Cars come with warranties.
48. $1500 goes a long way for body work.
49. They're always well lubricated.
50. A car screams every time your press the pedal harder.
51. A car won't cheat on you.
52. Cars don't whine unless something is really wrong.
53. A car can't be driven by another guy unless you give them the keys.

14 reasons why cars are better than girls

2010-11-21T13:34:00.000-08:00

This coming Valentine’s Day, the members of your favorite motoring magazine team will be spending the day with their cars (with the exception of Paulo, Barbs, and maybe Vernon. Definitely with the exceptional exception of Barbs).

But there’s no need to feel sad when everyone else is suckered into believing the commercial exercise known as Valentine’s Day. There’s a saying that you may know what you’re missing, but you should also know what you’re being spared from.

So here are reasons why you can be grateful you’re with your car this Valentine’s Day. Of course these don’t apply to, Barbs; she’s one of the lucky few to be under the spell of true luhuv.

1. Cars have warning lights when something is wrong. Girls become monosyllabic and walk faster.

2. You can dress up your car the way you want.

3. A car is more straightforward to lubricate.

4. Cars will never tell you to dress up if you’re going out with a group in the evening.

5. When the car’s speaker is loud, you can lower the volume. Or mute it!

6. Cars don’t ask you if they look fat.

7. Cars don’t ask why you haven’t introduced them to your mother.

8. Cars don’t need to go to the restroom together and compare notes.

9. It’s less expensive to upgrade a car’s bumpers.

10. Cars are more likely to get along with your male buddies.

11. You can love two cars at the same time and nobody will think you’re a jerk.

12. Cars don’t ask you where ‘this’ is going. They go where you point the steering wheel.

13. Cars don’t feel insecure about the car you had before them.

14. Cars don’t give you hell for looking at other cars.

Some of the Weird and Crazy Cars Online

2010-11-21T13:28:00.000-08:00

Most of us have only seen some usual cars – maybe an old Volkswagan, or a new fancy Hyundai, Honda or Toyota. Here you can find some amazing, crazy and weird, cars which can entertain you. It is just an engineering disaster. They are good to watch, but I am not sure if they are good to drive.

These cars can be called as personalized cars, which person has shown his/her creativity to design something unique. If you are an automobile engineer, then I would suggest to go for doing something crazy. These crazy cars can actually relieve your hunger of craziness.

1. Grassy Green Car(Environmental Friendly)

2. Catty Car

3. Car as Aliens

4. Car after Settlement

5. Double Flipped Car