Study: Higher Fuel-economy Standards Won?t Hurt Vehicle Safety
A new study released at a major policy briefing by the International Council on Clean Transportation has found that a significant increase in fuel-economy standards for vehicles is achievable without affecting vehicle safety. The study is critical especially now that Congress is mulling over making changes in the America’s motor vehicle fuel economy requirements, known as Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards.
“As nations around the world consider new standards to improve fuel economy or lower greenhouse gas emissions from passenger vehicles, it’s important to address a common misperception that passenger safety is inevitably compromised as fuel standards are strengthened,” said Drew Kodjak, executive director of the International Council on Clean Transportation. “This debate only exists in the United States, and this report settles that debate once and for all.”
The study, “Sipping Fuel and Saving Lives: Increasing Fuel Economy without Sacrificing Safety,” was written by Deborah Gordon, a transportation policy consultant; David L. Greene, a fuel-economy policy expert; Marc H. Ross, emeritus professor of physics at the University of Michigan; and Tom P. Wenzel, of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Among the study’s key findings is that manufacturers can use advanced materials to increase both fuel economy and safety without reducing a vehicle’s functionality. The study also found that reducing the weight and height of the heaviest SUVs and pickup trucks will simultaneously increase both their fuel economy and overall safety.
“The public, automakers, and policymakers have long worried about trade-offs between increased fuel economy in motor vehicles and reduced safety. The conclusion of a broad group of experts on safety and fuel economy in the auto sector is that no trade-off is required,” the study concludes. “There are a wide variety of technologies and approaches available to advance vehicle fuel economy that have no effect on vehicle safety.”
The study’s authors concluded that:
• Most technologies to increase fuel economy do not affect safety; most technologies to increase safety do not affect fuel economy.
• Reducing car mass while improving vehicle structure, using advanced materials and designs, can simultaneously increase fuel economy and safety.
• Reducing the weight and improving the structure of truck-based SUVs and pickups can increase their fuel economy and improve the safety of all vehicles on the road.
According to the authors, existing technology options can improve light-duty vehicle fuel economy by up to 50 percent over the next 10 years without reducing the weight or size of vehicles. Any extra cost associated with the auto-manufacturing changes would be more than offset by savings generated by more fuel-efficient vehicles. Well if automakers can spend gallantly on improving their car’s exterior looks and auto parts (like GMC multi rib belt, for instance) – surely a bid on improving fuel economy will be worth the investment too.
“As the research makes clear, with smart engineering there’s no reason to choose between safety and fuel efficiency in automotive design,” said Hal Harvey, director of the environmental program at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, which convened the gathering that led to the report. “Now it’s up to policy makers to provide the regulatory environment to encourage it to happen.”
Here are the recommendations for policy makers from the study:
• Set fuel economy and safety performance goals at cost-effective levels, and allow adequate time for phase-in of vehicle redesigns.
• Develop short-term goals that use existing technological potential and long-term goals to spur continued innovation.
• Apply the same fuel economy and safety standards consistently to all vehicle types (cars, SUVs, and pickups).
• Encourage driver behavior that improves fuel economy or safety – e.g. seat belt use or reduced driving speeds.
An October 2006 policy workshop that brought together experts in vehicle safety and fuel efficiency from academia, research organizations, government, advocacy groups and the auto-manufacturing industry helped make up the authors’ conclusions. The workshop enabled researchers to share most recent evidence on fuel economy and safety, including important peer-reviewed studies published since the National Academy of Sciences’ 2002 report on fuel economy standards.
About the International Council on Clean Transportation
The goal of the International Council on Clean Transportation is to dramatically improve the environmental performance and efficiency of cars, trucks, buses, and transportation systems in order to protect and improve public health, the environment, and quality of life.
The Hewlett Foundation, which provided support for the report, makes grants to address the most serious social and environmental problems facing society, where risk capital, responsibly invested, may make a difference over time. The Foundation places a high value on sustaining and improving institutions that make positive contributions to society.
The full study and an executive summary are available at www.theicct.org.
Zeke Gervis has a degree in Human Resource Management. He is an F1 fanatic and is a collector of racing memorabilias. At present, he enjoys working at a consulting firm in Iowa.
A Brief Guide to Hybrid Vehicles
www-HybridCars.com — A Brief Guide to Hybrid Vehicles There are different types of hybrid vehicles. They can vary from the simplest wheelbarrows to ships. The simplest hybrid would be the single wheeled vehicles. These are wheelbarrows famously depicted with sails. This can be seen in Chinese sailing carriages. The next is two wheeled vehicles. These are usually cycle type vehicles. The best example would be the Moped and electric bicycles. They are powered by an electric motor or an internal combustion engine in combination with the rider’s muscles. This concept was also used in the 1800′s by motorcycles. The electric bicycle can either be a parallel or a series hybrid. Hybrid vehicles are not just limited to private cars. There are also hybrid power trains used by heavy vehicles. There are diesel or turbo electric buses, railway locomotives, heavy duty vehicles, hydraulic machinery and ships. In ships a diesel engine drives the electric generator or hydraulic pump which in turn powers one or more hydraulic or electric motors. Sails and engines were early forms of hybrids which may be used again due to rising fuel costs. Today buying a hybrid car is expensive but it will be beneficial in the long run. It does not just save fuel costs but also removes pollution that can harm the health of the people and take whatever it is left of the environment. To learn more about Hybrid Cars, please visit www-HybridCars.com
VW pursues electric car domination
Electric-car fans scramble to be the first to get one
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Venture capitalist Steve Jurvetson was skimming the information packet for his Tesla Motors board of directors meeting last year when he hit pay dirt about page 50. Spotting details for the Model S sedan that the electric-car company had on the drawing boards, he knew he had to have one. Better yet, he had to have the first one.
Read more on Detroit Free Press
Mitsubishi i-Miev in the city
CNET Car Tech spent some time with the Mitsubishi i-Miev in San Francisco.
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I-GO car users will soon be able to go all-electric
The Ride: I-GO is going electric. Starting next summer, the nonprofitcar-sharing service will add 30 Mitsubishi i-MiEVs to its fleet,allowing Chicagoans to drive an all-electric car without having to buyone. “I think it’s the future — moving toward using electricity instead offoreign oil,” says Sharon Feigon, the chief executive officer of I-GO.
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Electric cars readying mainstream rollout
General Motors and Nissan say they’re on target to roll out some of the first mainstream electric cars in U.S. history late this year, as the auto makers seek to attract buyers who want to cut their carbon footprint.
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VW pursues electric car domination
Reveals its green plans while striving to be world’s number one auto maker
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Four Tips On How To Buy A Fuel Efficient Used Car
Car buyers are more concerned with fuel efficiency than ever, but for thrifty consumers, sticker prices on used cars are sometimes too high to consider. Even though there are some great financing deals out there, people are cautious about adding the payments to their monthly balance sheet. That drives many people to look for fuel efficient used cars, and it leads to some tough decisions. Newer models are generally more fuel efficient for their weight and power, so a buyer needs to strike a balance between features and fuel. Used car buyers should take heart, however: Buying used is an environmentally friendly choice, since it saves the energy that would be used to produce a new vehicle.
The staff at Del Mastro Motors has years of experience catering to people buying preowned cars in Peterborough and as a result, know how to steer clients to fuel efficient used cars. Here are four tips from Del Mastro on how to pick a used car that saves you money at the pumps.
Get the Car You Need: One of the biggest mistakes people make when they’re trying to be thrifty is buying a car that doesn’t really fit their needs. “We do business in Peterborough the Kawarthas, where icy country roads are a fact of life,” says Mike Del Mastro. “Every once and a while you get somebody who wants to save by buying a compact car with a small engine, but the fact is that any fuel they save from the vehicle they’ll lose whenever they get stuck in snow or can’t manage the traction to take a rough road.” He recommends taking a hard look at the road conditions you’ll face all year round and turning them into minimum requirements for the type of vehicle you’re willing to walk away with.
Choose Manual if You Can: If you can drive a car with a manual transmission properly, choose one that has a tachometer or shift indicator. According to Natural Resources Canada, driving standard with these features can save five to ten percent over automatic. If you need an automatic transmission, the more speeds, the better. A five speed saves three percent over a four speed, and a four speed saves about five percent over a three speed.
Save Weight – Lose Features: Weight and engine characteristics are the twin pillars of fuel efficiency. Engine efficiency is largely indicated by the vehicle’s listed liters per 100 kilometers (or miles per gallon). Posted tests usually apply just to the base model; weight-adding features will reduce the listed range. For example, power windows and seats add a surprising amount of weight. Pick the lightest car you can, but not at the expense of safety.
Two Wheel Drive: Unless road conditions or the vehicle’s intended use demand four wheel or all-wheel drive, a two wheel drive car should be your first choice for fuel efficiency. These days there’s not much difference in fuel consumption between front and rear wheel drive, but in older models front wheel drive is generally more efficient – and safer, too.
Del Mastro Motors is one of the leading auto dealerships in Central Ontario. Serving all the Kawarthas, Del Mastro is a Peterborough used car dealer as well as a Peterborough?s Suzuki dealership.
Best Gas Mileage Cars – How to Get the Best Mpg With Hydrogen Conversion Hybrids
With today’s gas prices going up by leaps and bounds, people are looking more and more for a solution, wondering, what are the best gas mileage cars? The best gas mileage cars you can get today in America are generally hybrids. Some new models are worth the added cost in the long run and some are not. And some people are using hydrogen conversion instead – to convert their current cars, trucks and semis into hybrids.
For new models, the best gas mileage cars right now are the toyota hybrids, saturn hybrid, nissan hybrid, and the Ford Escape suv hybrid. The Toyota Prius gets the best mpg with an average of 48 mpg in the city and 45 mpg on the highway and an estimated yearly fuel cost of $1250. The Saturn Vue Hybrid gets 25 mpg city and 32 hwy, with an annual fuel cost of $2056, according to EPA estimates.
The problem with buying a new car to save gas – is that in some respects it doesn’t make financial sense. Unless you need a new car – or want to replace your gas guzzler entirely, and you don’t mind larger car payments, then this can be an option.
However, if you own a gas guzzling vehicle and you rather like it – because of size, or it fits your needs or whatever, then there is another option thousands of people are using right now to save 30 – 50% and more on gas, getting the best mpg in their current vehicle – with many folks doubling their gas mileage.
What we’re talking about is hydrogen conversion. Recently in the news, a police department in South Carolina started implementing hydrogen conversion in their vehicles.
The Mayor and Police Department of Honea Path, SC have been investigating hydrogen conversion to see if fuel cell technology was legitimate. After doing their research and investigating it for a few months, the police Chief reported a 6 to 8 mpg increase by using techniques taught in a popular online guide.
So, before you throw thousands of dollars at a new hybrid to save gas money, maybe you’ll want to take a look at your options.
Want to know which guide is best? Click here: best gas mileage cars
Discover Hidden Fuel herebest mpg
To build your own system: hydrogen conversion
How Hydrogen Engines Work
As gasoline and diesel prices at the pump continue to soar, automobile manufacturers are working tirelessly to produce vehicles that are capable of utilizing alternative fuel sources for power. One such alternative is hydrogen powered vehicles.
Although very few hydrogen powered vehicles are currently available, many car companies have plans to release them in the very near future. With the prospect of creating higher fuel efficiency and thus realizing consumer savings, it is interesting to understand how hydrogen cars operate and will be a viable option in the future.
Hydrogen engines depend upon a chemical reaction to create power to operate a vehicle. It’s actually a very simple process – what happens when two particles of hydrogen combine with one particle of oxygen? H20 equals water! In fact, in a hydrogen engine, hydrogen and air are continuously fed through, combining to produce both the electricity necessary to propel a vehicle as well as the water that will be the vehicle’s emission.
So in addition to hydrogen becoming an alternative fuel source, it also helps avoid dependence on fossil fuels, it is also a clean fuel source, where the emission is simply water instead of the far more harmful carbon dioxide produced by gasoline or diesel engines. Hydrogen technology so far is advancing at a much slower rate than ethanol, electric and natural gas engines but still has a very good outlook as a viable power source for the future.
You can find out more information about Hybrid Cars at www.prohybrid.com along with video news, reviews, and tools such as price quotes and an automotive loan calculator.
Article provided by ProHybrid.com
Car Emissions On The Rise
Car emissions have been on the rise in North America each and every year now for the past while and it appears that most people don’t really want to pay attention to the issue at hand because more and more cars are on the road. The number one emission problem is CO2 and this is causing our atmosphere to crumble apart and it’s not good for anyone. Everyone needs to begin to realize that they need to find alternative means of energy to power their vehicles or they need to stop using their vehicles as much.
With gas prices soaring higher and higher each day it should help keep some of the cars off of the road, and hopefully some of the big truck owners have to keep their trucks in park while the gas prices are high. Millions of trucks are sold each year and they are causing the most CO2 emissions into our air and it’s causing the environment lots of problems which will cause us problems in the near future. If something isn’t done about the amount people drive then soon something catastrophic is going to happen.
Almost all of the car manufactures in North America have announced that they will be releasing some sort of alternative energy model vehicle throughout the year. There are different methods of running these vehicles on different energy sources and they are all a lot better for the environment. With gas prices rising so high it’s also a pretty big money saver for anyone who is spending hundreds of dollars on gas. With a green car that runs off of an alternative energy source you will save on the money you’d otherwise be spending on gas to run your vehicle.
The savings on gas over the long haul will be greater then the cost of the green cars being introduced to us and it means that buying a green car is the smart choice. It not only will help the environment for our children but it will also save us for having to buy gas off of crooks, who continually raise the price of gas.
Green cars are also not much more then your average priced car but they will cost a bit more then your usual car although the savings on gas are tremendous over the years. Some places also offer rebates if you buy an environmentally friendly car, so if you look into this you may be eligible to receive a few thousand dollars rebate off the purchase of any car that runs off of alternative fuels. Even if you can’t receive a rebate it’s still definitely worth your money to invest in a greener car which will help to create a greener tomorrow. These cars are built very well now with advanced technology and they can run for long periods of time now. When they first came out they needed some work but they have received that over the past couple years now and look to keep expanding upon it.
WWU’s car fails road tests, eliminated from X Prize competition
Ford Introduces New And Untraditional Explorer
The Ford Explorer, the hulking family-hauler that helped launch the SUV boom in the early 1990s, is back. And it hopes to define a new generation of more streamlined, fuel-efficient sport utility vehicles. Ford begins a marketing campaign Monday for the 2011 Ford Explorer, which will be in dealerships this winter.
Read more on CBS4 Miami
Chevrolet Prepares 2011 Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle for Duty
DETROIT, July 26, 2010; General Motors today announced order and delivery dates, as well as final package specifications, for the 2011 Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle (PPV). The rear-wheel-drive Caprice PPV joins the front-wheel-drive Chevrolet Impala and the Chevrolet Tahoe PPV, making Chevrolet the only brand to offer a full line of police vehicles.
Read more on The Auto Channel
Ford introduces new — and untraditional — Explorer
The Ford Explorer, the hulking family-hauler that helped launch the SUV boom in the early 1990s, is back. And it hopes to…
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Glanville: Water is better, only it isn’t
Whenever possible, and when both sides of my brain collaborate to remind me, I drink some water. I know and have been reminded a gazillion times since birth that water is “the lifeblood of all things big and small,” and that I should guzzle it down by the half-gallon and like it. Well, ladies and gentlemen, boys, girls and Mrs. Brown’s cat, I don’t like it.
Read more on Craig Daily Press
WWU’s car fails road tests, eliminated from X Prize competition
Western Washington University’s bid to win an international contest to build a super fuel-effic
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Green Festival San Francisco
www.hippygourmet.com In this segment from an upcoming Hippy Gourmet TV Show episode, we visit with Dr. Kevin Danaher, co-founder of Global Exchange, partners in producing the annual Green Festivals in San Francisco, Chicago and Washington, DC – with more to come around the country. The Green Festivals are a uniting point for people who share the same values in supporting sustainability. With great speakers, wonderful entertainment, the best organic restaurants and foods to sample, and hundreds of companies and products that are innovative and planet friendly. Coming next, a segment from the Green Festival featuring the Industrial Hemp Movement.
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