31st July 2008

Where Are You Going To Get Fuel For Your Hydrogen Car ? Are Hybrid Cars Really The Solution ?

I saw a comment to an article I was reading about BMW and a hydrogen car they were supposedly going to market next year. The person asked why we didn’t have a full-on hydrogen car in the US. I guess my question is: where are you going to get fuel? The infrastructure for hydrogen, as a stand alone system, is beyond the horizon. We should be looking for alternatives, in fact we should have started doing that in the 1970’s with the first energy crisis. Hydrogen, even small amounts, increases the efficiency of other fuels. Most automotive hydrogen is produced by splitting hydrogen and oxygen from a water source that includes a catalyst. The overall gain, from working with various systems of that type, is 5% to 8%. Any gain is good, but that’s a long ways from stand alone.

The key is efficiency, which brings us to other items that aren’t as difficult to obtain, like octane. A simplified explanation follows. The higher the octane, the more efficient the combustion. The slower the burn, to a certain point, the higher the octane. Water vapor slows the burn and increases octane. On a foggy day there is a higher percentage of water vapor in the air, increasing horsepower. The horsepower increase on a foggy day is due to increased efficiency which is due in a round about way to the octane increase. When octane is increased, the timing can be advanced, which contributes to an earlier spark and the opportunity for a longer burn.

Computerized cars, after 1996, have OBDll, and later, compliant computers. Computers, if matched to the right system, will due all the changes. You don’t have to advance and retard the timing or rejet the carburetor for different altitudes and conditions because the computer does that for you. With the right system you don’t have to do anything to the computer. The computer sensors monitor the exhaust and lean the mixture if the engine is running cool enough. 60% to 80% of the fuel that goes into the engine is used to cool internal parts. Water is about 200 times more efficient at cooling than gasoline or diesel.

I was watching a NASCAR race and one of the commentators made the statement that “all the horsepower is in the camshaft and cylinder head(s).” That statement, in the way it was worded, in not correct. A large percentage of the horsepower is in the camshaft and cylinder head(s), but not all. There’s a reason the fuel they burn is rated at 99 octane. The slower the burn, the more complete the combustion.

A engine has to “breathe” to be efficient. Like the human body, if the airways are fouled or restricted, the human body and the engine aren’t capable of reaching maximum efficiency. Water vapor steam cleans internal engine parts. It breaks carbon off the valves and pistons and flushes it out the exhaust while cleaning the exhaust system in the process. If water vapor is introduced at the right place in the intake system, it cleans the passages, mixes with the fuel and increases octane. Higher efficiency results in more HP and better fuel economy.

Going back to hydrogen, there is a hydrogen producing system that’s as close to free energy as you can get. It seems to make sense to use what’s already available, as opposed to wasting it and expending other energy to produce more. A high priced, high tech vehicle isn’t necessary. But, to make everything work at the optimum, you need to have all the information and not just one piece of the puzzle.

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31st July 2008

A Number Of Car Owners Have Not Yet Tried Cheap Car Insurance And They Are Missing A Lot Of Benefits

A car owner, in one way or another, will be encountering troubles with the high cost of regular auto insurance premiums. This is where the greatest advantage of cheap auto insurance comes in.

So, how do you take hold of cheap car insurance? Well, the steps are simple but will require some thinking and patience. Here are some the most important tips on how you can get cheap car insurance.

First, take pains in comparing policies offered by several auto insurance companies.

Though the essential features of auto insurance companies are more almost the same, there would still be some discrepancies and differences. And in these differences the crucial factor lies in terms of how you could find cheap car insurance.

Some auto insurance companies will offer comprehensive or limited coverage while some other companies will have policies that depend on how many persons will be using the car or for what purpose the car will be utilized under normal circumstances. Generally, a car used to take children to and from the school and one used to and from the office will be taken into consideration.

Second, look for companies that give due consideration to anti-theft devices installed in your car. There are insurance companies that will be willing to give you cheap car insurance if your car has these devices installed. In connection, there are insurance companies that also take into account the nature of the neighborhood where you live in. This is usually in line with the crime rate of the location. The higher the crime rate the higher the premium.

Third, try considering offers made by independent car insurance agents but make sure that they have authority and sufficient credibility to deal with these matters.

Every State generally has its own set of rules in relation to car insurance policies. There are quite a number of States that make auto insurance mandatory. That is definitely not a problem among rich citizens but for middle class citizens it is important to look for cheap car insurance in terms of coverage, premiums and reliability.

Fourth, discover possibilities of accessing relevant data regarding various auto insurance companies. You may have access from these companies’ official websites or offices. While visiting their branch offices is feasible, doing it is generally not practical because that will consume lots of time and effort. In this regard, surfing the Internet is more advantageous.

Finally, please make some notes about your findings. This will help you remember offers and rates more conveniently and accurately when you are ready to make your decision.

As a conclusion, getting cheap car insurance is really a matter of being procedural and patient. It does not really mean that you have to buy policy from established and big companies, although that is usually advised. The more important consideration is whether or not the company will be able to pay you and answer for the expenses when the time comes.

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31st July 2008

The Latest Hybrid Cars Are Anything But Ugly

Hybrid cars are taking the world by storm - figuratively, literally. If you want an eco-friendly hybrid car that not only drives like a dream but is a weight off your conscious too, then you must see the PGO Cevennes Turbo-CNG. This nifty little hybrid car will run on bio gas making it essential in today’s fight against global warming.

You may be forgiven for thinking that hybrid cars are going to end up looking, well, ugly. This is simply not the case where the PGO Cevennes Turbo-CNG is concerned. Looking at the car’s rounded edges and the sleek design you may as well be looking at one of the top sports cars in the world. With a soft top to boot, you can make sure your next luxury car is a hybrid one.

The PGO Cevennes Turbo-CNG has been developed by BRA GmbH. This company has been at the very forefront of the development of hybrid cars for well over ten years now. They are based in Germany and they have developed not only environmentally-friendly hybrid cars but cars that have excellent style and design, as well.

The car itself isn’t due to be released until March 2008, but you can be sure it will open to a fanfare of utter amazement! The car is only likely to cost around 48,000 Euros making it not only environmentally-friendly but also friendly on your pockets, as well.

The Cadillac Provoq concept

America has realized that the gas-guzzling, environment-harming vehicles are not going to save the world any time soon. The eco-drive and style brought by hybrid cars have finally found their way to America and they have managed to do it in amazing degree… Not that we expected anything less of course.

As the flag bearer of hybrid cars, the Cadillac Provoq concept car has two main points. On the one side, it clearly shows the style, class and beauty that is renowned with Cadillac cars. It also has in its favor the hybrid car technology that is actually making the car a sure heart-stopper.

The Cadillac Provoq concept car is made to appeal to the luxury car owners; it oozes class and style and is sure to stand up in its own right against other luxury cars. If it is luxury next to hybrid car technology that you are looking for then you need not look any further.

The Cadillac Provoq concept hybrid car has wheels that are powered by the car’s 94bhp motor, which of course is electric. The car’s rear wheels have the 54bhp motor each. These features enhance the Provoq’s mileage for every small amount of gas it consumes - saving the planet and your pocket from hundreds of dollars spent on fuel. This is something that Cadillac Provoq owners would be very much proud of.

The PGO Cevennes Turbo-CNG and the Cadillac Provoq concept will fit right into any city or town and with their sporty look and sleek design they are simply head Nurners.

posted in Future Fuels | 0 Comments