Eco Cars - Reduced Performance?

Not too long ago, the eco car seemed like an element of the future. It was highly improbable to see one on the market anytime soon. Nowadays however, green cars have actually overwhelmed the petroleum car industry. Ever since hybrid and electric vehicles have become more popular than their conventional substitutes, there has been a sharp increase in the popularity of eco-friendly vehicles.

The change in public demand is due to the upgrading of reliability and performance. Many manufacturers are heavily financing the hybrid electric vehicles, as consumers are becoming keener to reduce motoring costs by cutting down fuel consumption, which allows them to qualify for lower tax bands. With fuel prices rising to high levels and consumers leaning heavily on the low-carbon vehicles, the negative impact of compression-ignition engines has been over-looked for years.

However, diesels are not the only environmental friendly cars available on the market anymore. With recent developments in technology, car manufacturers introduced the electric and hybrid vehicles, as well as alternative sources of power, such as clean-burning natural gases. The most popular hybrid car on the market is the Toyota Prius, but Peugeot's 3008 Hybrid4 is the first full diesel hybrid introduced; its brand new incorporated technology is meant to revolutionize the eco car market. One of the first electric vehicles seen on the UK roads is the Peugeot iOn, alongside the Nissan Leaf.

The increases in road and city taxes require consumers to seek more cost-effective alternatives to travel. Moreover, a new implemented transport Budget offers discounts to all road expenses, including a full exemption from the London congestion charge to all vehicles emitting a maximum of 100g/km CO2. This act is also meant to encourage consumers to benefit the environment; this is how the green vehicle started becoming so popular. The environmental damages and the unpopularity of the diesel engine are still the basic factors for diesel-powered vehicles such as the Peugeot 308 and 508, which emit a maximum of 148g/km CO2; however, by converting the vehicles to LPG, which is the cleanest burning gas operating cars on the road today, the CO2 emissions could easily be reduced to 99g/km.

Considering all the benefits of a green car, a potential green car buyer needs to know: Do eco friendly cars have reduced performance and practicality? To find out, the pros and cons of environmental cars need to be put in balance against the capacities of petrol-powered vehicles.

To begin the analysis, the first consideration is small cars. This category encompasses the Audi A1, the Renault Clio and the Peugeot 308, all available in super mini versions. The advantages the small cars have are the easy manoeuvrability, smooth drive and ideal for both town and motorway use. The eco friendly factor is available as the cars have very small engines and as a result have the lowest emissions on the market. The cars are also very cheap to buy and maintain as the engine consumes a small amount of gas and is not prone to damage. A small eco friendly car has a fantastic value at a lower price than hatchbacks or estate cars and saves a lot on running, taxes and insurance costs.

The disadvantages of a small environmental friendly car are the small space and the low power as a result of the vehicle's small engine. The Peugeot 308 diesel has a 1.6 HDi engine produces up to 180lb torque and an average of 119mph, which is quite less than its petrol-powered alternative. In addition to its small size, the 308 diesel can feel unsafe to some people; this does vary however due to personal preferences.

A diesel model usually costs more than its petrol equivalent. Looking at the petrol-powered car vs. its diesel substitute, the difference of pricing between the two Ford Mondeos is of 1,150. Also, diesel vehicles tend to depreciate more than petrol cars, a fact that highlights a difference of over 4,000 between the two Fords. Although the 1.6 litre TDCi is less expensive to tax and fuel by 400 and 1,000, the petrol version of the Mondeo has more value and its insurance and services cost less. The customers benefiting the least from the diesel version are the low mileage drivers. The frugal engine doesn't cover enough mileage to compensate the owners with fuel economy, as they initially spend more for a new diesel. With regards to performance, a vehicle such as the diesel version of the Ford Mondeo which depreciates prematurely is unlikely to provide the same high-quality performance in the long run. The petrol version is as a result, more beneficial, but more expensive to maintain and run.

When it comes to hybrid cars, the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid model is currently the most popular vehicle in the Peugeot series. It offers a variety of innovative features, such as micro-hybrid e-HDi Stop & Start technology, along with an incorporated 1.6 litre HDi FAP 112 Euro 5 diesel, all optimised factors which reduce CO2 emissions to 98g/km. The technology behind the 3008's performance is a combination between a diesel engine and a rear electric motor. The increased price of diesel is no longer a problem with the Peugeot's hybrid hatchback as the car operates via the electric motor, which has a top speed of 80mph and then the diesel engine provides an extra 160 miles, at a top speed of 131mph. A Peugeot 3008 with an engine of 1.6 THP 150 is cheaper than the Ford Mondeo 1.6 TDCi Zetec and also has 40bhp more power. Both of the cars are turbocharged, but the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid produces an extra 13bhp more. The hybrid model is the most performance enhancing green vehicle on the market today. The downside to the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid is its pricetag.

The electric cars are far from high performance vehicles as the technology is still unexplored and unreliable. The Peugeot iOn has maximum range of 100 miles, which makes it inappropriate for long-distance journeys. As the car operates through a full electric engine in the rear, it does not require any maintenance and is consequently the cheapest car to running, tax and upkeep costs on the market.

Although environmental friendly cars have a much more reduced performance as opposed to their petrol-powered substitutes, the economical circumstances have begun to dictate the most popular trends on the market. The conventional petrol-powered vehicles are beginning to be seen as a outdated, while the technology behind eco friendly cars such as hybrids like the Toyota Prius and the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid, electric or LPG powered is further developed and the way to the future.

By Ben J White

How Much Money Could You Save by Owning an Electric Car?

A recent study revealed that consumers are becoming more aware of the cost-efficient potential of the electric car, on a long-term basis. It is clear now more than ever that electric vehicles are rising in popularity and additionally, in awareness; although there is still a percentage of the target audience who resist purchasing green vehicles as a result of their higher price tags, electric cars are slowly earning their status as cost effective in the long term.

Due to the low refuelling costs and exemption from congestion charges, the electric vehicles have become acknowledged as the lowest costs on a lifespan basis, compared to diesel and hybrid-powered cars. The costumers therefore begin to rely on the economical characteristic on the electric car, assuming that the vehicle will compensate for its extra cost in the long term through reduced fuel, time, taxes and insurance.

With the launch of the Mitsuishi i-MiEV and the Peugeot iOn, a new generation of fully electric-powered cars is soon to arrive. To find out how much it would cost to live with an electric car, we take a look at the cost of the car per kilowatt-hour, the prices and packages, running expenses and the future car sales.

The first interesting aspect is the price of gas. As the car gets 30 mpg, the gas will cost £1.84. The conclusion is that the cost to run a car on gas is £6.1 per mile. As regards to gasoline, a hybrid car uses the energy from gasoline at an efficiency of 25%, as the most of the energy is lost in auto dynamics, engine heating and resistance. By using its full 100% potential, the same car could run up to 140 miles on a gallon, rather than only 30 miles.

The battery of an electric car will charge and discharge kilowatt-hours, by using a power grid functioning at a capacity of 90%. The performance of the rear engine depends on the size and it translates the electricity in energy, also using a 90% capacity. Both the Peugeot iOn and the Mitsubishi i-MiEV operate at over 80% mechanical energy, as the car enables the conversion of the amount of one gallon of gasoline in kilowatt-hours. Running an average of 100 mile, at an 80km/h speed, the performance of the electric car is of three times more effective than that of the gasoline-powered car.

There are 32.95 kilowatt-hours of energy in a gallon of gas and the cost of the kilowatts is usually £6.1, which makes a trip of 100 miles worth £2. Compared to gasoline-powered cars, electric cars use much less energy to drive for the same distance and additionally they cost much less to refuel. This is why the benefits of the green vehicles in general and electric cars in particular are beginning to be more and more understood.

The running costs of an electric car are considerably cheaper than of diesel or petrol, at a value of 2 pence per mile in electricity. The costs are predicted to keep their original price, as the electric vehicles offer a viable proposition in the green car industry.The electric vehicle industry is dominated by the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, the Nissan Leaf and the Vauxhall Ampera. The Mitsubishi i-MiEV influenced the design and technology implemented on the Peugeot iOn and the Citroen C-Zero, both of which offer the same business packages. Both manufacturers offer a lease in a value of £498 of 48 payments each month, adding up to £23,904. The lease is a more convenient replacement for the prices on road, and it also includes warranty, repairing and upkeep. The downside is that at the end of the four-year lease agreement, the car is owned by the lessor instead of the person who used it frequently.

The Mitsubishi i-MiEV however does offer on the road prices of £24,045. The package is additional to the Plug-In Car Grant, which is a fund provided by the government to support buyers of vehicles which produce low emissions. The grant has a value of £5,000. The price of the Mitsubishi is £23,990. Its immediate competitor is the Nissan Leaf, which is considered to be the market leader at both performance and purchasing packages, with the on the road prices at £23,990. The manufacturers provide a personal contract buying structure, which consists of a deposit of £3,850 and 36 payments monthly of £397. The costs and the final payment of £9,758 add up to a total of £28,204, which is an extra of £4,214 over the on the road prices. As the prices and business packages between the two electric vehicles are similar, the final verdict will be given by the i-MiEV and Leaf's practicalities. The Nissan is substantially more spacious, while the Mitsubishi is only 142.5 inches long. The Nissan Leaf has therefore more functions than the i-MiEV.

The electric cars are expensive to buy but they compensate by reduced running costs. Considering that the on the road prices of gasoline-powered vehicles incline over time, the advantage of the electric powered vehicles is that on the road prices are likely to just marginally rise. The Nissan Leaf for example, has predicted 46% original on the road prices on a three-year basis, as opposed to the 32% of the Vauxhall Astra 2.0 CDTi. If a pure electric car is worth approximately 2 pence per mile and a petrol-powered vehicle uses 17 pence per mile, 12,000 miles per year will be worth £250 in an electric car, as opposed to the £2,000, which only covers the driving expenses of the petrol-powered vehicle. The servicing costs are also very low, as the electric engine only has four working parts, unlike the 300 working parts of the internal combustion engine. Other benefits include exemptions from the congestion charge and parking space charges in the UK's major cities. If a company uses electric vehicles as company cars, the benefits for the business will be in value of a few thousand pounds per year, due to multiple tax savings.

The electric car is currently mostly popular with companies who want to build up an eco-friendly image. The first Peugeot iOn was delivered to the UK for the EDF Energy Company. The business supports the development of technologies to assist the environmental movement and their green profile is highly important. Most companies are attracted by the benefits of the leasing structure, in which Peugeot and Citroen are the market leaders.

Since the beginning of 2011, the electric cars have started achieving their potential as consumers began to understand their features and benefits in the long term. The access to the electric cars has increased public awareness with regards to their low running costs and their environmental engagement. The vehicles are highly appealing in the business sector, due their economical and eco-friendly characteristics.

By Ben J White

Amigo RD - Scooting Through With Efficiency And Affordability

Scooters, such as Amigo RD, are regarded by many as the type of transportation that effectively addresses a couple of issues, which are mobility and gas prices. With the recent movements on finding alternative fuel sources, scooters have become one of the most effective options to help individuals go from one place to another without a thought about gas expenses. Instead of choosing to use your car or other types of automobile, these mobility scooters can also be efficient when it comes to going around the city. With electricity powered scooters, you get a lot of benefits and advantages. The two main reasons why scooters are valuable devices are its efficiency and its affordability.

These days, you will find several kinds of mobility scooters on the market, such as the Amigo RD, which give you wider choices to select from. If you are looking at buying this type of device, you will notice that there are important aspects you need to contemplate in order to obtain the most appropriate one for you. One of the features you have to consider is the range of the mobility scooter. It is regarded as an essential factor to think of. Because these smaller vehicles are powered by an electric battery, you will have to find the mobility scooter which has the capability to go long distances even with only a single battery charge. If you need to travel for several hours, you need to get a dependable unit with a battery designed for long-distances and get it charged appropriately.

Scooters are available in different types. There is a three wheel travel scooter available in broad choices you can select from. You can go for a foldable unit designed for travels. There are also mid-size foldable scooters that can go on a 19-mile traveling distance. You may also encounter a range of sturdy four wheels compact folding travel scooters. These are handy for both outdoor and indoor travels since they can be easily assembled and dismantled. Additionally, there are durable kinds of units which look like a real motorbike and are also ideal for just about any venture. These electric scooters are generally constructed to excellence to be able to fit your personal requirements and complete fulfillment.

To attain great functionality, it is also vital that you think about the load capability of the mobility scooter. The weight of the user may have an effect on the overall efficiency of the unit. To ensure smooth use, get the scooter that has features fit for the individual who will be using the machine. There are vehicles that are designed with a weight capacity of 180 pounds, while there are those that are specifically for users weighing more than 250 pounds. So, before settling on a mobility scooter, always check that it is the appropriate one for the user in every aspect.

Choosing which mobility scooters that will promptly fulfill your needs may confound you as there are numerous models to choose from, and Amigo RD is just one of probably hundreds. This is the reason why you should first figure out your needs and preferences before acquiring one so as to be clear about what type of scooter is best suited for you. The mobility scooter meant for short distances is significantly different from the one created for long-range travels. You can check a lot of them on the Internet and you will see that the models offered at online retailers. They often offer different types of scooters with different features and functionality as well as colors. If you choose to shop online, you should first refer to websites that focus on consumer scores. Also, you will want to check out retailers in your area to get a feel of the scooters.

Amigo RD is a mobility scooter designed to give efficiency, value and convenience to users with mobility concerns. Find various models like the yuppie wagon and the pacesaver plus at Go Mobility, a reliable supplier that provides cost-effective units at http://www.gomobilityscooters.com/.

By Robert E Baldwin

Toyota Believes in the Future of Its Hybrid Vehicles

By 2020 Toyota expects hybrid vehicles to be 20% of global car market

Takeshi Uchiyamada, a top engineer for car make Toyota, made some interesting predictions this week. He expects that hybrid vehicles, including extended-range plug-in hybrids, will become 20% of all global car sales by 2020.

You might be wondering what these predictions are based on. Well, the Toyota's executive vice president overseeing R&D and engineering pointed out that hybrid car sales are already 20% of annual vehicle sales in Japan, but that most of the developing world is at or below 10 % in hybrid sales. But obviously he believes that these markets will develop in the same way the Japanese market has.

What will Toyota's market share in hybrid vehicle sales be?

What car manufacturer Toyota's market share of the hybrid car market pie would be, is something the Toyota engineer refused to expand on though. Up until a shirt while ago, Toyota's market share in hybrid vehicle sales in the United States had been as high as 80%. However, it has slipped a little bit since new competitors have entered the market.

Toyota does plan to continue its successful run with its high hybrid car sales and hopes to further expand its hybrid presence in all vehicle markets, including in the United States with the Prius V, Prius C and Prius Plug-In by the middle of next year.

According to Takeshi Uchiyamada, the automotive company also hopes to double the U.S. sales volume of the Toyota Camry to about 50,000 units in 2012. On the European car market, a hybrid version of the redesigned Yaris will be released.

Toyota production management in relation to hybrid car sales growth?

For the car manufacturer to be able to meet the expected rise in demand, the production process needs to be adapted. That is why car maker Toyota is looking into using suppliers outside Japan to build hybrid components. After the March earthquake in Japan, it became clear to the company that it is too dangerous to rely on a single source for key components.

Toyota engineer's predicts grim future for electric vehicles

Up until now, Toyota has concentrated on building hybrid cars and plug-in hybrids to live up to the increasing demand for 'green vehicles'. Electric cars have not been a priority for the car brand. So it doesn't come as much of a surprise that Uchiyamada doesn't predict a positive future for electric vehicles.

He expects that electric vehicles will fall short of their hype. "Based on the current data, the targets announced by other players show they are not on track," Uchiyamada said. "Compared to the target, it's pretty disappointing for them."

By Katrien Tans

Electric BMW Will Be Priced Lower Than Electric Opel

Buying a BMW i3 will be cheaper than buying an Opel Ampera

German car manufacturer BMW has interesting plans for the price setting of its new electric vehicle. The popular car maker intends to start offering its electric BMW i3 model, which will be released on the market in 2013 at a very competitive retail price. This was reported by BMW boss Norbert Reithofer.

So it looks as though the BMW i3, is going to be somewhat cheaper than you would expect from this German car maker. It was in an interview with a German magazine (Handelsblatt) that BMW boss Norbert Reithofer reveiled that the car would be available at less than ? 40,000 on the German market.

This would make it considerably cheaper than the Opel Ampera, a competing electric car that can currently be bought for ? 44,500 on the market. Because the BPM does not have to be paid for this electric vehicle in Holland, the price on the Dutch car market will be very similar to the car price in Germany.

At the moment, however, exact price settings for other European car markets haven't been announced. It will also be a while before prices and/or release details for the American market will be released.

How is car manufacturer BMW able to offer its electric vehicle at such a competitive price?

In Europe, the car brand BMW is known as prestigious and luxurious. It does not make a habit out of competing on pricing. Furthermore, the BMW i3 was expected to be a lot more expensive due to the high amounts of carbon fiber that were processed in the electric vehicle. So, how is the car maker able to offer its electric vehicles at a lower price than the Opel Ampera?

Well, the manufacturer decided to set up a new factory for carbon fiber in the American village Moses Lake to produce the i-models of car manufacturer BMW. Until now, carbon fibers were mainly handmade, which revved up prices significantly. These fibers are made in the US, after which they are further processed in Germany. Finally, the materials are transformed into CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic) in the BMW factories.

With the help of the factory in America, the production of carbon fiber costs BMW as much as the production of aluminum does. This is why the car manufacturer is able to launch its electric cars at this very competitive price. But we will have to wait for its release to see how BMW customers will react to the vehicle and the lower price setting.

By Katrien Tans

Hybrid Cars: The New Generation Is on the Move

German brands are reducing the gap with the Japanese trendsetters

Car manufacturers all over the world are venturing into 'green cars' technologies. Partly because they need to keep up with the competition in case the demand for green cars skyrockets, and partly because it's very 'cool' for ones brands image to be green. Even the Germans cannot stay behind.

Yes, it now seems that the slightly more conservative German car makers are making good efforts to keep up with the Japanese competition when it comes to green vehicles.

Green cars: the second life of Hybrid vehicles

Hybrid cars had recently lost some of their earlier their public appeal in the shadow of electric cars,. But now hybrid vehicles are returning to the limelight. And that is actually thanks to the Germans.

How did the Germans manage to bring new life to the hybrid car market? Well they have created quite some buzz by premiering various new hybrid car models during the international auto show (=IAA) in Frankfurt. The show is a big event for the European car market and runs from 15 to 25 September.

New German hybrid models: The futuristic Audi A8

The most important IAA debutant with hybrid technology is the Audi A8 Hybrid, at least from a German perspective. The twin engine version of the luxury vehicle will become available on the market in the first half of 2012, probably at a price between ?80,000 - ? 90,000.

Unlike its already available rivals, the Mercedes S400 Hybrid and the BMW 7 Active Hybrid, car manufacturer Audi's A8 Hybrid does not just use its electric motor for accelerating and climbing, it can drive purely electric. The result is a fuel consumption of a mere 6.4 liters per 100 kilometers. That is what I would call a fuel-efficient vehicle!

About the Audi A8 Hybrid cars

The Audi A8 Hybrid luxury vehicle will team a 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor generator and self-charging 1.3 kWh lithium-ion battery pack to realize 37 mpg. That would come to at least a 10 mpg improvement over the standard 2012 Audi A8.

The luxurious hybrid car will generate a combined equivalent of 245 hp and 345 pound/feet of torque, which ensures a strong acceleration. Audi says the A8 Hybrid will be able to make the charge to 62 mph (100 km/h) from a standing start in 7.7 seconds with a top speed of 146 mph. Not bad at all for a green vehicle.

By Katrien Tans

Using Natural Energy Resources

The world is slowly moving towards an energy crisis. The persistent use of non-renewable sources is the reason, and they are bound to become extinct. The importance of reducing our dependency on these non-renewable sources is obvious. Thankfully, there is a growing "army" of individuals in many countries across the globe who realise the importance of changing to natural energy resources. These are those who are living off the grid.

We briefly consider here what natural energy resources are available to help individual householders use today's technology to be living off the grid.

Natural energy resources are those which keep producing free electric energy day after day without exhausting their supply.

Three types of natural energy resources fall into the category of renewable energy solutions: solar energy, wind energy and electromagnetic energy.

Solar energy: The sun generates the most abundant energy available on earth. Make use of this supply of free electric energy to employ solar power in your own home. With the advancement of technology, energy from the sun can be converted to electricity.

Having your own electricity supply means living off the grid. You will cut your power bill and also help your contribution to the environment. Solar power can be used to operate cookers, heating systems, lighting systems, dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers. Anything you wish to run on electricity...

A solar energy system has many advantages. It is cost-effective and environmentally friendly, as it means living off the grid, and also it is low on maintenance. Families installing solar energy systems in their homes find they benefit from a quick return on their investment and from regular payments from the power supply companies for the free electric energy generated.

Wind energy: Windmills have been in existence for more than two thousand years. Once, they helped to tow boats and to pump water. After the industrial revolution, they were used to generate electricity. Wind energy is one of those excellent natural energy resources to use to create free electric energy.

When built for an individual home, location and environment being assessed as suitable, a homemade wind turbine can go a long way in helping you be independent and enjoy living off the grid. The wind turbine can be a useful contributor to harnessing the natural energy resources of the moving air.

Electromagnetic energy: Magnetic generators use powerful magnets to provide electricity. The special property of polarity which magnets posses, creates a force capable of turning a turbine so that electricity is produced as an Alternate Current (AC). A home made magnetic generator will have batteries to store the free electric energy when it is not running. A home made magnetic generator could be the best alternative of either or solar or wind energy as it is not only cheaper in production but also cheaper in its maintenance.

Free electric energy is a real possibility with your own homemade solar panels, homemade wind turbine or a free electric device, which can include your own home made magnetic generator.

If you are interested in living off the grid by using natural energy resources, eliminating or greatly reducing your power bill and getting paid by the national supply company, please visit http://www.key2gain.com for more information. To your free electric energy future!

By Thelma E Parker

Why Buying a Hybrid Might Not Save You Any Money

Hybrid technology is certainly not new but if you have been in the market for a new car recently you probably have considered buying one. If you have already bought a hybrid, thank you for contributing to decreasing the global dependency on oil.

What's in it for you though? Does buying a hybrid car save you any money? Is there a compelling argument to going for the hybrid car compared to the non-hybrid alternative.

If you think that "Hey, I'm getting more MPG's so I am saving money..." hold your horses because you might be missing on some important details. Hybrid technology is not brand new but it still does come at a cost. Not only higher sticker price for the battery technology itself. Also because of the environmental cost of manufacturing the additional equipment necessary to run hybrid cars.

The latter is important because your "green" car might not be as green as you think. We have enough of a problem disposing of batteries already in production. Imagine after the production of millions of hybrid cars.

Since the main reason most of us buy hybrid cars is fuel economy, let's look at some examples to compare hybrids to non-hybrids:

Example 1:

A Ford Fusion has a base price of $19,850 and a Ford Fusion Hybrid will cost you $29,395. A little bit less than $10,000 is the difference between the base prices of the two models. The difference in the mileage: 23 and 41 MPG respectively in the city. So maybe double the gas mileage.

Example 2:

A Honda Civic's base price today is $15,805 and a Honda Civic Hybrid will set you back $24,050. Again a little less than $10,000. The difference in the gas mileage is 16 MPG's since the hybrid version does 44 MPG in the city and the standard one 28 MPG.

Example 3:

A Toyota Corolla costs $15,900 and a Toyota Prius $23,520 as a base price. The difference in gas mileage between the two cars is 23 MPG in the city, with the Prius at 51 MPG and the Corolla at 28 MPG. So, you are getting a little less than double the MPG from the Prius. Their sticker price difference at the same time is around $7,000.

Example 4:

Looking at a more expensive, luxury hybrid, the Lexus GS goes for $58,950 and the standard, non-hybrid model around $46,900. A price difference of $12,000!!! Their difference in gas mileage? Not as much as you would expect...a mere 3 MPG more for the hybrid version!

So how does hybrid technology compare to standard cars today?

All these examples demonstrate clearly that the upfront cost of a hybrid is not to be taken lightly. If you are buying a car to save on gas and hopefully save some money in the long-term, you want your investment to pay off.

But even the simplest calculation based on the previous numbers shows that with such a significant difference in the sticker price it would take you at least 5-10 years to get the extra money you paid at the first place. The exact number of years you would need to drive depends on your annual mileage but even if you drive 15,000 miles per year it is unlikely it will be less than 5-7 years. Look at a similar article with some brief calculations here.

Usually when we invest money we all expect some return right? I am not naive to believe that buying a car is a good investment at the first place but paying the extra cost for the hybrid technology should be. It is the way human psychology works, that we tend to forget the upfront cost of a car especially when we are eager to get that new car smell. We only focus on the monthly "savings" from better gas mileage.

The way it looks though, you are expected to pay $10,000 upfront with the promise that if you drive a lot you will probably get your money back in 5-10 years. How does that make any financial sense whatsoever?

I am also sure that some will argue that a Toyota Prius is better equipped than a base price Toyota Corolla. And you will be right but this is not why you buy the Prius is it? You buy it for fuel economy and you cannot get it for less than $23,520. On top of that, the material quality and feel of the interior is really not much different.

Concluding, hybrid technology is certainly a step in the right direction in terms of developing more fuel-efficient green cars. It just seems a little early to pay back any real benefits for the individual driver like you and me.

John Stamm is an advocate of lifelong learning, positive thinking and the immense power of the human brain.

Find more of his articles on technology, cars, education and self-help at http://www.brainsuperiority.com

By John Stamm

BMW Electric Cars

BMW has long been a leader when it comes to producing high-quality, technologically advanced cars, so it is no wonder that BMW owners have been waiting (sometimes rather impatiently) for a BMW electric car. BMW has researched electric cars for decades, but, like other companies, never made any real strides in the area because of all the politics around the gasoline/electric debate.

For a long time, American emission and MPG guidelines were stalled. Companies were allowed to continue to produce cars with low-MPR vehicles while other countries made amazing gains in that area. Recently, though, new efforts have been made to reduce the carbon footprints of American vehicles (meaning vehicles driven in America, not necessary produced there). Now the Environmental Protection Agency is placing new, stringent regulations in place that force companies to double their fuel economy within a set period of time. As a result, companies are finally producing environmentally friendly cars that do not pollute the air with their emissions.

Very recently, in 2011, BMW made a definite public commitment to finally produce and release an all-electric car, the ActiveE. This is considered a gamble by some because the company is well known for its powerful gasoline-powered engines. They think BMW owners particularly like the gas-powered engines and will not be interested in switching to electricity. Knowing the skeptics, BMW promises to produce a "BMW quality" electric car that is sure to please owners who are used to great performance. The ActiveE will enter the market in the fall of 2011 and afford the driver approximately 100 miles of gasoline-free riding on just one charge. This is exciting news for the many BMW owners who have grown tired of paying the expensive premium gas prices.

The ActiveE will accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in about 9 seconds. This is not the type of speed sports car enthusiasts are used to, but it is comparable to the average family sedan. Because of the amazing MPC (miles per charge) rating, buyers should not be too disturbed by the reduced acceleration.

All-electric cars are still very new to the market, so they are very expensive, so much so that the average car buyer will not be able to benefit from the gasoline-free ride. However, as industry leaders like BMW continue to create electric cars, lower-end companies will eventually follow suit, offering up more scaled-down, budget-friendly versions of the electric vehicles.

By Enid Glasgow

Porsche Electric Cars

Believe it or not, the first Porsche electric car was created in 1900. It was a collaboration between Porsche and Lohner, two unknown car engineers who gained international acclaim because of their accomplishments. Porsche also went on to create the world's first gas/electric hybrid.

For many reasons, most of them political, the electric car did not take off. It faded into the background and was overshadowed by gas-powered cars for the next century. In recent years, a resurgence of interest in electric cars has encouraged the Porsche company (and others as well) to pursue electric cars.

In 2010, Porsche unveiled its jaw-dropping 918 Spyder concept, the first-ever plug-in hybrid. This "green" car boasts 78 miles per gallon and very low CO2 emissions. It has options that allow drivers to choose how they would like to power the car: electricity, gas, or both.

In 2011, Porsche followed up the Spyder concept with the Boxster-E, a completely electric concept that gets at least 100 miles per charge. The good news is that this car will have no emissions. (That is music to the Environmental Protection Agency's ears.) The bad news is that this concept is just that: a concept. Porsche has released no timeline for the official commercial release of this car. Customers will probably have to wait a considerable while to make this purchase.

However, when the Boxster-E does make it to the market, it is sure to please. It looks like an actual sports car, can reach speeds of 124 miles per hour, has two engines (one in front and one in the rear), is all-wheel drive, has 241 horsepower, and can go 0-60 in 5.3 seconds. Though gas-lovers are skeptical of its performance, Porsche has officially announced that the "Boxster-E is equivalent to the Boxster S in terms of driving dynamics." Of course, the real reviews will not come in until the car is available.

The secret of the Boxster-E is its battery. It operates on a rechargeable 29 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery. At this point, the only drawback is that the battery takes nine hours to recharge. Though this "fueling" option is free, it is much less convenient than a five-minute trip to the nearest gas station. For anyone who drives under 100 miles a day, an overnight charge would not present a problem in most cases, but for those who travel long distances regularly, the long recharge time is limiting and extremely inconvenient. Charging limitations considered, Porsche's Boxster-E is still a very big and necessary step in the right direction, and the charging problem will probably be reduced (or perhaps completely eliminated) by the time it reaches the mass market. Until then, hybrid options are currently available and will have to suffice for now.

By Enid Glasgow

New Technology: Clutchless Manual Transmissions to Conquer the US?

Automated manual transmissions: A greener alternative

Less than 10% of the cars and light trucks sold in the U.S. last year, were vehicles with traditional manual transmissions and clutch pedals. This is significantly less than on the European car market where manual transmission cars are more or less the norm.

That will be partly due to the fact that a manual transmission usually provides better fuel efficiency. However there is a new technology that offers the fuel economy of a stick shift without the hassle of a clutch.

Better fuel efficiency with with the benefits of an automatic transmission

Car manufacturers in Europe have been expanding the use of clutchless, or automated, manual transmissions for several years under number of different names and forms as a response to consumer demand for fuel-saving technology in a market where the price of fuel is high (and rising).

And that demand is also there in the States. Ans now clutchless manuals are crossing over to the U.S. There, car manufacturer Ford has developed new Fiesta and Focus models that both come with a choice of a six-speed manual transmission as standard equipment, or a six speed "PowerShift" transmission, which is Ford's version of a clutchless manual.

How does it work?

With Ford's PowerShift technology, drivers are able to choose between cruising along with the floor-shifter in "D" (for drive), letting the transmission's software do the shifting or pull the shift lever back to "S" (for shift) and press buttons on the side of the shift lever to change gears manually.

In "D" the driving the vehicle feels like driving an automatic, except for a subtle but noticeable stutter when moving out of first gear. This is one of those things that is typical for a stick shift. But it has led to some complaints from buyers of Ford cars with Powershift transmission.

Therefore car manufacturer Ford has decided to launch a campaign to help educate buyers on the clutchless manual transmission and the way it functions. Moreover, the car brand is currently considering ways to recalibrate the transmission to smooth out the performance.

Is this fuel-efficient vehicle a good investment?

At the moment, the PowerShift technology is still rather pricey. In a Ford Focus car, you have to pay around $1,000 for this technology, on top of the $16,500 starting price. But the technology allows the Focus to get up to 38 miles per gallon on the highway, a 2-mpg improvement over the regular six-speed manual, which will pay-off in the long run. A Focus SFE model equipped with PowerShift and other fuel-saving technology gets up to 40 mpg on the highway. So if you are likely to keep your vehicle for a few years or drive a lot of miles with it, it is an investment that can pay off.

By Katrien Tans

Mercedes B-Class Revealed

Mercedes have released the official details of their upcoming 2012 B-Class model, ahead of its full unveiling at the Frankfurt motor show in September. For those of you unaware, the B-Class has of course been the companies foray into the small family car market for over six years now, enjoying a fair amount of success along the way. Since its facelift back in 2008, it has remained wholly untouched until now with the upcoming model being the first total redesign since its initial release back in 2005.

Despite the lack of official exterior shots, there is an indication as to what the styling will look like. Mercedes are supposedly taking inspiration from the A-Class concept first shown at the New York Auto Show, which would mean a very modern sporty look that compliments aggressiveness with luxury. Interior shots are available however and early signs are good, as the inside really speaks for what to expect from the rest of the car. Inside there is quite simply a plethora of luxury fabrics and high-tech gadgetry to satisfy anybody looking for the perfect combination of comfort and entertainment. The first things you'll notice are the huge air vents, which are very reminiscent of the SLK series; and the steering wheel, which is nabbed straight from their CLS model. The huge centre console screen has apparently been modelled on an iPad and as it's the norm, it helps you to navigate through the wealth of entertainment features using their new and upgraded Command system multi-function controller. Seating and upholstery is covered with stitched Artico man-made leather and the dashboard features a large, three-dimensional decorative element.

Moving onto the engines, we have two versions on offer - the internally named B180 and the B200. The B180 is the smaller of the two, serving up 122hp from its 1.6 litre engine. The B200 is slightly larger, offering a 1.8 litre engine that pumps out 156hp. Both are 4 cylinder engines and Mercedes say they can be mounted either transversely or longitudinally, suggesting rear-wheel drive versions are possible for the future. There is also a rumoured third version - a 2.0 litre diesel variant, which is expected to be revealed at its September launch. In terms of transmissions a 6-speed manual will come standard with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission optional for those wanting even more gear choices.

Being that we are now living in the green era, it would be silly to think Mercedes didn't have any environmentally friendly ideas planned for the B-Class. Needless to say they've got a few penned in for the near future, with some design areas giving hint to their plans. First is the use of the sandwich floor last seen on the current B-Class, which allows open space below the passenger compartment. Mercedes say this space will be used for their upcoming "alternative drive" mode, which is just a fancy way of saying electric. Second is the Eco technology package that they plan to release shortly after it goes on sale. The idea will be to improve the aerodynamics through the use of a different external body kit thereby reducing the drag level to a 0.24 coefficient, which is less than the Toyota Prius. Eco-mentalists rejoice.

Overall this is looking to be a very interesting little revamp to the B-Class range which could make a big impact on the small family car market. It's expected to go on sale in November 2011 after its reveal in Frankfurt next month.

By Bunmi Adewoyin

How BMW EfficientDynamics Helps to Save Fuel

EffcientDynamics is the latest technology adopted in some of BMW models like 1 series, 3 series and 5 series. This technology aims to deliver more fuel efficiency and eco friendliness without comprising the on the driving experience.

Following are the fuel saving features of EffcientDynamics in BMW

Auto start stop

This saves plenty of fuel and emissions from the car being released. When cars are idle the car is switched off so energy is saved. The engine is able to be turned on simply by pressing down on the clutch. Brake energy regeneration Applying the brakes will not waste energy with this technology; in fact it will reuse it. The battery is recharged using the recycled energy. In effect less C02 emissions are released along with your car having better fuel efficiency.

Electric Power Steering

The steering system is designed in such a way that energy is only used when the wheel is actually turned, and not when the car is driving straight. This naturally reduces fuel consumption. Optimum shift indicator This is a recommendation system built within the car to suggest when to change gears. Following the indicator will give great fuel efficiency as the car will not over rev.

Lightweight engineering

The bodywork as well as the engine is both made of lighter materials. This naturally reduces the power needed for the car to drive forward, thus reducing carbon emissions and fuel consumption. The car also much more responsive and has improved handling.

Reduced rolling resistance tyres

Using this technology a lot less friction is caused between the tyres and road. This effectively brings about better fuel efficiency and allows the car to emit less C02 emissions.

Low-friction fluids

Engine oil and transmission fluid are designed to flow with more efficiency throughout the car, working together. Less fuel consumption and C02 emissions are achieved, along with a smoother drive.

Active aerodynamics

Vents are closed automatically to help the engine perform better, quicker from the beginning of journeys and for to be more fuel efficient. Instead of the car wasting fuel to power the engine, vents are opened and air is let in. This naturally reduces the need for fuel to be used. The vents however will be open to cool the car's engine components when needed.

Efficientdynamics is an excellent example of BMW's commitment to greener environment and big step toward the company's vision of 'emission free driving. Servicing BMW as per the manufacturer schedule is also essential for achieving the maximum fuel efficiency.

By Unni Nair

Electric Cars Need New and Improved Distribution Models

The art selling of electric cars

Taking into account the current market situation, it will still take some time for electric cars to substantially influence the mobility landscape. Nevertheless, car manufacturers and sellers are already taking steps to get involved in e-mobility. Why? To be able to lead the development in the sector off course. And to be able to take credit for it.

But it is important that car traders realize that it is necessary to change their approach it they want to sell electric cars. This article will help you understand just how significant the difference is, between a good e-mobility approach and today's conventional car sales process.

Electric mobility: leasing, buying and car sharing

This year, consulting firm Oliver Wyman released a study on electric mobility that could be ground-breaking for the sales strategies of car traders. The firm insists that instead of just selling the vehicle, it should also become a priority to strengthen the infrastructure and operations management. And they would be right.

E-mobility is different from traditional car sales, because among other things, private charging systems and public charging stations are also part of the equation. And as this infrastructure costs money, it could scare off potential customers of electric cars. That is why these things should be offered in different forms: buying, renting and leasing.

For instance, a car trader could sell an electric vehicle with battery or make a leasing agreement. As I mentioned before, purchasing electric cars is still very expensive and a technically sophisticated battery can be a high risk for the customer. Too high of a risk. Therefore, a monthly allowance for the battery bundled with a power supply, for example, makes sense. That way anything that affects the battery is up to the manufacturer.

E-mobility requires new partnerships

For electric cars, different agreements on power supply and charging stations could be combined, to lead to full-service solutions in which all relevant areas are covered by a lease rate. To tie all these packages together, car traders will need e-mobility partnerships with power companies, company management specialists or fleet operators.

Emerging car sharing concepts such as 'Car 2 Go', offered by Daimler, or BMW and Sixt, who offer 'Drive Now', are formulas that are especially made for electric cars. Because these zero-emission vehicles are mainly suited for short trips, a car-sharing model is perfect!

According to Oliver Wyman, already 76 of these partnerships were announced in Europe, 43 in the Asia-Pacific region, and 30 in the U.S. The main reasons for high figures in Europe is the pressure to reduce emissions, the high rate of innovation in e-mobility and the high awareness of the positive effect on brand image .

How to find the best e-mobility partnerships?

Since the state is generally important for the development of e-mobility infrastructure, governments are currently the most common partners. However, the entire sector is still in its development phase, as are the partnerships.

Because the e-mobility is so new, it is still not clear which sales, leasing or rental solutions are best for who, and which partners are most suitable. Long-term relationships haven't been built yet. At the moment traders are using a trial and error method to find partners. It will probably take a few years and the introduction of more electric vehicles on the market, before it will be known which solutions meet customer needs most effectively.

This experimental phase is considered really important by Oliver Wyman. Because, car traders need to think up a clear strategy and build partnerships depending on their customers and their region. Why is that so important? Because at this point, consumers still need some convincing. Switching to electric cars is a big step, not just financially but mentally. That is why we, as car traders need to work at giving them information and the easiest solutions. Lowering the barriers is key.

By Katrien Tans

Hydrogen On Demand, Fossil Fuel Is Getting Depleted!

The depletion of crude oil reserves worldwide has led scientific researchers onto other available sources of energy. Because of more research being done, it has brought hydrogen on demand as one of the next sources of fuel.

Hydrogen is the lightest element known to man. It is an explosive gas that does not exist freely in air, but as a compound in several substances that are both organic and inorganic. The most common substances that have this element as one of the elements forming them, are water, fats, carbohydrates and several other substances like petroleum. Since it is not available as a free gas, hydrogen generators are used to extract it from the compounds.

Water Electrolysis

One of the common most ways to obtain the gas is by cracking petroleum fuels. This is not helpful, as petroleum is the same source of energy that is facing depletion. This has therefore forced inventions of other ways to obtain the gas. The most successful method is water electrolysis.

Water electrolysis is the method through which electricity is passed through water separating the two components of water, hydrogen and oxygen, into gases. Each formed at each of the anodes.

Another source of generation of this fuel gas is the fuel cell. In fuel cells, water is split into the two components which are then reacted together giving enormous amounts of energy. The amount of energy required to hydrolyze water is very small compared with energy given out by the exothermic reaction between the two constituent gases.

The Cost

Use of hydrogen fuel is very cheap compared to other sources of energy, especially the limited fossil oil and natural gas. The main costs involved in the production, is the cost of buying the generator. Buying a generator large enough to supply a home comfortably requires a lot of money. However, this is cheap in the long run as one spends lesser on energy bills. One should ensure that they buy the latest model of generators as these are more efficient and has advanced safety devices.

The next cost in generating your own hydrogen fuel is the cost of electricity to run the generator. This is however not much as compared to the amount of energy it avails you. Some fuel generators, especially the ones on vehicles are self sufficient, in that the hydrogen used, is used on demand. The electricity needed to run the generator is produced by the cars alternator.

Hydrogen use is very economical as its use does not require set up of complex factories, like refineries and oil wells that are usually set up whenever oil is found. It is also free from political influences that affect the pricing and availability of oil. Political influence on energy source can deeply hurt an economy and its independence. The use of this energy enables families to save greatly on gas bills. The money saved can be directed to other sectors of the economy.

Explosive & Dangerous

The main problem that affects this source of energy is its explosive nature. This makes its transportation and storage very dangerous. Large amounts of stored gas can explode and engulf a very large area there-by hazarding both human life and the environment. This gas is usually stored in leak proof cylinders with very thick walls to withstand the pressure inside. The cylinders are then stored either underground or in an area where it can be tempered with the least.

To avoid electrical charges from accumulated to high levels within the storage cylinder, they are always grounded. The second way of dealing with the charge build up is providing the tank with spark arrestors so the charges will escape into the air.

To avoid problem with fires, it is a common trend to use a hydrogen generator where the hydrogen is used on demand. This eliminated the need for large storage tanks, or the need to transport the gas over long distances either by road or by rail. This is what makes it very dangerous if an accident does occur.

Another problem with hydrogen gas as fuel is that it requires large space for storage. Liquid gas will need about four times the space needed by fossil fuels that can produce the same amount of energy. This means that fuel tanks have to be redesigned to at least four times larger when moving to this type of fuel. This problem is mainly solved by using a portable generator that will supply you with the gas as it is being produced.

With hydrogen on demand, there is no need for large storage tanks, so therefore no real danger is involved. Many more inventions like the hydro cell kits, are still to be made in this area of science. This will be necessary to satisfy the growing energy demand.

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Gordon Rowat is the owner/CEO of Make Fuel Safe, the #1 selling hydrogen generator. The Hydrogen Generator also comes with a life Time Warranty. Any question you may have feel free to visit our FAQ page.

Remember to safe up to 60% on fuel mileage and put more money in your pockets Go To: http://www.makefuelsafe.com

By Gordon A Rowat

Light on Fuel: Toyota Camry Hybrid

Toyota Camry Hybrid is a gasoline - electric model that was first premiered by the Japanese auto maker Toyota Motor Corporation in January 2006. It is the seventh generation model and has a lot more to offer than what its predecessors had. The Toyota Prius is the big daddy of all the hybrid cars. Due to the exceptional fuel economy and carbon emission levels, Prius was recognized by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and United States Department of Energy as the most fuel efficient gasoline car currently sold in the United States. The new Camry Hybrid does not seek to compete with the in-house Prius but rather with the rival Ford Fusion Hybrid. You would see that the new Camry has received a number of evolutionary changes for this model year.

The 2011 Camry is powered by a 2.5 liter Atkinson cycle four cylinder gas engine which can generate 156 hp at 5700 rpm and 156 pound feet of torque at 4500 rpm. At the same time, the electric engine can generate 140 hp at 4500 rpm and 199 pound feet of torque at maximum 1500 rpm. The total power that this whole setup can crank out is somewhere about 200 hp which is 13 more ponies than the previous model year. The fuel economy stands tall at 41 mpg city and 38 mpg highway averages. It can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just a matter of 7.6 seconds which is simply superb for a car belonging to this segment.

Coming to the exteriors, you would see that the engineers at Toyota have not done much of the changes to the new Toyota Camry Hybrid's exteriors. But this will not be a bad thing because the comfort and safety elements which are the hallmarks of a Toyota Camry will remain untouched. No significant changes as such but in order to increase the aerodynamics of the car, the exteriors have got a little more pointing nose and flattened bumper corners. But we all know that Camry is not a looker but a performer. Its looks are not bad either.

Toyota has spent a lot of time in redesigning the interiors of the new Camry Hybrid, it seems. Unlike the exteriors which are more or less the same as the older versions, the interiors seem to have received a complete makeover. The quality of the plastic used on the interiors looks good. The seats are clad in fabric and leather which seems not of the highest class though, but not worth a complaint also. The best part of the interior is that there is ample space now which makes the complete riding experience a joy. There is a huge revamp in the interior designing for this model year.

Talking about the pros and cons, we would say that the Toyota Camry Hybrid comes with great fuel economy but there are a number of models that do pretty much same at all other aspects.

The price of the LE version of Toyota Camry Hybrid is $25,900 whereas the XLE version is priced at $27,400.

Toyota has lead the way to the hybrid platform in the automobiles industry with it's prior launch of Toyota Prius. It was the car that actually revolutionized the hybrid industry giving birth to many new models like Honda Civic hybrid, Camry Hybrid and more.

By Amit Vicky Ahuja

Guilieta Alfa Romeo Classic Sport Car Coupes

For those stylish sports car enthusiasts that are in the know most of Alfa Romeo postwar success can be traced to their stylish Bertone and Zagato coupes. Powered by fast, zippy twin-cam high performance engines they were highly fast as well as attractive.

The last of the Giulia GTV coupes left the production line in 1976, marking the end of a pretty direct line after 20 years, true testimony to the high quality of the original design.

The first Giulietta coupe had been introduced in very limited numbers during 1954 and the range really made its debut at the 1955 Turin Auto Show. Giulettas were small cars designed chiefly to be popular and affordable but also to be versatile enough to be built as practical, indeed dowdy saloons, elegant coupes and even efficient race winners.

At the heart of the Giulietta was a twin engine cam engine essentially that was still in production way into the 1980's. It marked a return to pre-war Alfa practice in some way, being built in alloy with wet cylinder liners (although with shimmed rather than threaded tappets). It's slightly under square dimensions of 74 mm x 75 mm resulted in a displacement of a mere 1290 cc from which no less than 80 bhp was extracted at 6300 rpm. Much of that power was due to the top end design of the engine, which featured two overhead camshafts chain driven and operating two valves per cylinder inclined at 80 degrees, in hemispherical combustion chambers. That amount of power of power naturally gave the coupe impressive performance for a mid 50's 1300 and it could reach 103 mph (166 kph) in top, a genuinely impressive speed for its day.

Almost as good as the engine was the suspension, a strong thoroughly engineered and relatively simple design of double wishbone and coil springs in the front and a live rear axle. The axle sounds very much in keeping with the 50's except that great pains had been taken to locate the axle securely to eliminate tramp and hop. Two stout pressed steel lowering trailing arms were complemented by a triangular upper bracket connected at one point to the differential carrier and at two points to the body in front of the axle. Again the springs were coils and the clampers telescopic. One unintentional oversight in the workup, which was quickly rectified, was an oddity - a column mounted gear change. You can bet that it did not take too long, and too many models out the factory door for this oversight to the ultimate motorists and drivers of this sports car was revised and thankfully corrected.

Although it might be said in retrospect saloons might be said to be the very incarnation of drabness and dullness, this coupe was indeed fortunate in having a body styled by Bertone. What resulted was a classic - a neat 2 door 2 + 2 design, compact and graceful. Everything in the design phase gelled and pulled together. What resulted was light, nimble, quick and graceful. What a winner.

By Lawrence E Storey

Fight The Battle With Stormproof Car Cover

Coverking is the manufacturing company of the famous car cover - Stormproof. The company is world renowned for their excellence when it comes to producing covers for any sort of vehicle. They are truly the king of all covers. They expertise lies in the many years of experience. They have been researching fabric for covers for over 10 years.

The research on fabrics is done so that Coverking can provide the maximum protection for cars. The have a wide selection of covers for cars of various shapes and sizes, and different climates. Since people live across the globe, with the many different climates and environmental weather difference, one type of car cover will not be good for all. People need different covers that will specialise in protecting their car, in their climate. Thus there are covers that are explicitly for hot climates and are experts in resistance to ultra violet rays. And then there is Stormproof.

Stormproof is the cover that is able to protect cars in every type of weather condition, and will brave all types of storms. The fabric used for the Stormproof cover has been custom made for Coverking. It is woven in a unique manner that ensures that it is naturally resistant to all types of weather conditions. Being as the resistance is natural, it will not fade will time and use, thereby making the cover extremely durable, and everlasting.

The Stormproof fabric is breathable, allowing air and moisture out through the material, but not in. This gives the cars a chance to breath and sweat, without getting steamed up whilst covers. Simultaneously, the car remains bone dry, as the cover shields it from any sort of liquid, rain, sleet and snow.

Stormproof is also kited out to protect the car from the powerful sun's rays. The damaging ultra violet rays is denied access from filtering through to the car beneath.

Since the car is covered over, it will not get stained by the various natural nuisances such as dust and dirt, tree sap, and birds muck. These are known to leave deadly stains that are near impossible to remove, and require extensive work to do so.

Coverking are committed to full customer satisfaction. All their covers, Stormproof included, are custom made. This means that each cover is made to fit each and every car - they are tailor made. The customer can choose the design and colour he wants, and can even personalise it with a logo on the bonnet. Custom car covers provide a much more sleek and stylish look, and demand attention from all those that pass by.

Another impressive part of Coverking's design is that they will make their covers with as few seams as possible. The cover is therefore much stronger, and there is less chance of seam leakages and rips. Of course the fewer seams just adds even more to the sleekness of the cover.

Buy A Custom Car Cover At Bargain Prices. Prices Start As Low As $21.95, Visit http://www.thecarcover.com/ To See The Full Selection.

By Basya Katz

Real Classic Cars Have 8-Track Tapes - Remember Those?

When it comes to real classic cars, there's always the question of functionality versus antique authenticity. If you have a classic car and you modify it in any way other than to manufacturing specs then it is no longer factory original. At a classic car show you will be judged by originality and you will lose points, and there isn't a chance you can't with the show. Everything matters, the tires you use, the paint, and even the instruments in the dashboard including any entertainment devices such as stereos, GPS, or CD players.

If you have a docking station for your iPad in your 1959 stingray then obviously it is "out of time" and you probably can't win best of show, even at the small local car shows. Just as if you can't put the latest model steel belted radials, drive your car to the car show, and get the ultimate of accolades, no matter how cool your car is. The real classic cars have eight track players, they do not have cassette players, as those didn't happen until much later. The radios were AM/FM with pushbuttons, not XM radio with the satellite antenna on the back trunk.

If you want to buy a car with all the bells and whistles, that's fine, but if you modify your classic car with all the bells and whistles you've ruined it in many people's minds, especially those who judge the car shows. The obvious option would be to get a satellite radio handheld version, which also had a CD player, and lay it on a towel, on the dashboard or get an iPad, and lay it in the tray in the center console, of course you will still have to be cognizant of the fact that you shouldn't play with it while you drive.

That could get you into trouble with the police due to the new distracted driver laws. In fact the Department of Transportation is concerned with this as per an article on June 1, 2011 in the Wall Street Journal titled "US Presses to Rein in Web Gadgets in New Cars," in fact, Transportation Secretary, Ray LaHood, gave an interesting one hour speech at MIT convincing the students to come up with devices which would prevent people from using personal tech devices while they were driving.

Now then, there was another recent article; "Automakers Sweeten the Recipe for Small Cars - Goodbye, Hand-Crank Windows and Hello, iPad Docs," which brings me to another point. In 30 years the cars sold today will be classics tomorrow. Therefore if you have an iPad, you want to buy three or four, and put them in a safe for 30 years, and save them for a time in the future when those devices will no longer exist because you want to keep your classic car in the right time period. Indeed, hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

By Lance Winslow

Classic Car Pate Swap Meets

A. M. Pate Jr. and Sebert Pate were not only genetically linked (they were brothers) but they also shared a passion between the two of them. The passion was a passion for cars. Hence they began collecting cars in the late 1940's. Since then the collection grew, and another idea had sparked between the two - they had thought about displaying their collection. Hence the Pate Museum of Transportation was born located on U.S. 377 between Fort Worth and Cresson, Texas.

That is right; it was a museum of transportation, not just cars. This meant that they had collected more than just cars. Amongst the collections was a yellow submarine, helicopters besides just cars. When they had first begun there were only 15 cars in the collection to be displayed. As the years went on, the Museum of Transportation grew until it amassed a total of 68 antique cars and other forms of transportation too, like the submarine, a minesweeper boat, aircrafts and a private railroad car. Aside from just vehicles, the museum also held books - 1500 volume of books were made into a library in part of the museum. Entrance to the museum was free and it opened from 9:00a.m right up till 5:00p.m from Tuesdays right till Sundays (it closed on Mondays; for upkeep and maintenance jobs) Sadly though, as of 2010 the museum as closed down. No one knows for certain the exact reason why the museum had closed down. However one thing is for sure, the Pate legacy would still live on. This is very much evident as the Pate Swap Meet car exhibitions still carry on - the last was held on April 28th, 2011 till May 1st, 2011. Carrying on with the main goal that drove the Pate brothers, that is to showcase their cars, the swap meet does exactly what was intended when the museum first opened.

The Pate Swap Meet car exhibition had begun in 1972 and is still going on strong, despite the museum being closed. The Pate Swap Meet car exhibition was an idea of a Barney Calvert who was at the time a member of the Antique Automobile Club of America. After seeing and drawing inspiration from the Hershey Swap Meet car exhibition, he approached the Pate brothers with the idea; which needless to say, went down well with the brothers. From the year 1972 till right now in 2011, the Pate Swap Meet car exhibition has continued on, having last met in the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas (located 20 miles north of downtown Fort Worth, at the corner of Interstate 35W and State Highway 114). The Pate Swap Meet car exhibition is also a fund raising attempt of 17 Texas antique automobile clubs. It is one of the three largest swap meets in the United States of America. It has more than a quarter of a century of heritage and is recognized internationally due to its diversity of products in the automotive industry that are offered by its vendors.

Vendors come from all across the nation to fill up the spaces that are available and offer their goods or services, offering anything and everything to do with the automotive industry - from cars to rare equipment and the likes of it. There are so many great car shows out there, don't limit yourself to just one showing.

Be sure to check out the cars at carlisle show as well as the sema and pebble beach shows that occur every year!

The Pate Swap Meet car exhibition will definitely continue to progress as it has already built a name for itself. Therefore, even though the museum has come to a close, the show must go on, as the saying goes - and it definitely will for years to come still. As we can see from this year's show that went on despite the closure of the museum. Surely the Pate family legacy will continue to live on through these shows.

By Jeff S Lilly

Pomona Swap Meet Classic Car Show

The Pomona Swap Meet was just held on 17th April, 2011 at the huge Pomona fairgrounds. This is one of the biggest auto swap meets in North America. It will be held six times in 2011 and seven times in the year 2012. This event usually attracts over 20,000 spectators from all over the country. It is an excellent place to buy and trade vehicles and car parts.

The event usually starts from 5am to 2pm, no matter what the weather condition is. For car enthusiasts, this is a fantastic car show that you don't want to miss! The entry tickets cost only $8 per person, and it is definitely worthwhile. It is also free for children under 12.

The whole show area is longer than 15 miles with more than 3,000 vendor spaces. At a fair price, you get to witness wide range of rare car parts or accessories. It is simply astonishing to see thousands of cars that are on sale or displayed during the car show. Some highlights include pre-1975 antique cars, Volkswagens, street rods, Porsches and Corvettes.

Seekers should find themselves happily exchanging classic cars, parts and sharing car wisdom in this event. Furthermore, this event is very suitable for car owners who wish to display or sell their classic cars. Remember that the spaces are on first come first serve basis. Moreover, you must ensure that your cars are complete; in other words, none of the major components are gone. The fee is $25 including packing space and 2 admission fees. For Saturday, it is advisable to reach around 9a.m. when Gate 15 is opened. Gate 15 is on Arrow Highway (North to the main parking lot), and it is the first entrance on the right. For Sundays, cars owners are usually advised to reach before 4 a.m. to get the space needed. And more good news for the car owners, there are no extra fees if you want to tow your car.

Besides that, if you find that there are car parts left from your restoration projects or from your car related businesses or if you are thinking about picking out the old car hobby, you may choose to sell your car parts during the event too. You can turn your car parts into money. If you are interested, you will need to pre-reserve your space as a parts seller. You need to have a valid California seller's permit too. After reserving the space, you will get the passes before the event. $40 is what you need to pay for a 20'x20' space.

For spectators who are not interested in selling anything, it is also advisable for you to arrive early to the show to get the best products available for sale. Besides that, do remember to wear a pair of good shoes to walk along the 15 miles long area. Various food and beverages are available for sale along the concession stands. When you have an eye on a car or a car part, negotiate with the seller for the best price possible. After that, check on every crook and corner of the car or the part that you wanted to buy. Among the questions you should ask yourself before the purchase include: Do you find any over spray on the exhaust that indicate new paint job? Is the carpet new? Any sign of rust-repair? You can inspect the bondo body-filler using a tiny magnet. Besides that, you may also use some negotiating techniques. For example, you can start from a large discount, and move on to the price that you think is reasonable. This is called the door-in-the-face technique.There are so many great car shows out there, don't limit yourself to just one showing. Be sure to check out the cars at carlisle show as well as the Sema and Pebble Beach shows that occur every year!

To save more, you can reject any extra service or any storage arrangements. Another important tip is to have all deal written on paper or to take a picture of your intended purchase. There are so many great car shows out there, don't limit yourself to just one showing.

By Jeff S Lilly

Classic Cars - The Ford Capri

In January 1969, a few months before man walked on the moon, Ford introduced the new Capri into Europe, in a bid to capitalise upon the massive success that the Capri's American cousin the Mustang had enjoyed in the pony car and sports coupe market throughout the decade.

When the Mark 1 Capri was launched at the Brussels Motor Show with the slogan 'The Car You always Promised Yourself' it became an instant success with the baby boomer generation.

Within a year of production, almost one in four of all cars that Ford sold in Europe, was a Capri.

In 1970 nearly 250,000 Capris were sold. The car was assembled at Liverpool and Dagenham in the UK and at Ford's plants in Ghenk in Belgium and Cologne in Germany. By 1973 the millionth Capri an RS 2600 rolled off the production line at Ford's Halewood plant in Liverpool.

The early success in Europe led to Ford introducing the car into the US and Australian markets in 1970 and guaranteed the production of two further models, the Mark 2 and Mark 3 Capris.

The Capri Mark 1 was a sporty looking fastback with a long bonnet, wide opening two doors, low roofline often in black vinyl, rounded side windows, fake air intakes and alloy wheels and the distinctive hockey stick shaped indent that ran the length of the side of the car. Inside the car was designed with plastic and fake wood which was to become synonymous with cars of the 1970s. Inside the car was roomy with a rear bench seat and according to an advert by Ford at the time 'We were going to call the new Capri a 2+2 but there's too much room in the back'.

The Capri came in a multitude of engine configurations with many of the components and parts borrowed directly from the Ford Escort which had launched two years earlier. This meant the car had the usual front mounted engine and rear wheel drive.

The most popular Capri sold in the UK was the 1600cc version with either a L, GL or XL trim deciding its look and interior design. With a manual gearbox the car would struggle to reach 100 mph but the buying public were not that concerned with performance in 1969, they were more interested in value for money style and price. The base 1300cc model for the petrol frugant or timid driver started at just £890 on the road. The zippy two litre version was sold for a meer £1088. The range of Capris on offer was so large that no dealer could stock every variety. Incredibly the car featured front disk brakes and rack and pinion steering as standard, but in early models you had to request seatbelts as extras!

In its base form the 1300 Capri was a sluggish drive with its pushrod engine, but the 1600 crossflow Kent engine with its Pinto derived overhead camshaft cylinder head gave the car a lively performance. The 2000 was a different machine again with a V4 Essex Ford engine.

The Ford Capri's handling could best be described as awkward and like the Mustang involved large amounts of oversteer. In the dry the car was maneuverable and fun to drive, but when it rained it could punish the unaccustomed driver with very poor rear wheel traction and a slippery drive.

This became even more apparent with the larger engined later versions such as the 3000 GT and the mark 3 2.8i, which quickly became rated in the high insurance groups. The Capri, like most cars produced at the time was also notorious for rust.

The iconic design was favoured by good and bad. The car was regularly featured on TV screens and films and in cops and robbers style car chases. This may have led to the rise of the British 'Boy Racer' who loved the souped up and modified later versions. The Capri was also favoured by the 'joy-rider' car thief and its poor security led to the Mark 3 becoming the most stolen car in the UK during the 1980's.

As the Capri aged the model changes tended to be more cosmetic than mechanical, for example the distinctive square headlights of the Mark 2 Capri, which as a result left the winning sales formula intact. Production of the Mark 1 ended in 1974 and was replaced by the Mark 2 Capri which was built from 1974 until 1978. The Mark 3 Capri was built from 1978 until the last car rolled off the production lines in 1986. All in all nearly two million Ford Capris graced our streets in the 1970s and 80s.

By Dave Healey

Classic Cars - The Mini

One of the most recognised and plagiarised car designs in the World, immortalised in films such as The Italian Job, the Mini became an icon of British design during the swinging sixties in London and around the globe.

The Mini was the brainchild and end product of a two year research project by the chain-smoking Sir Alec Issigonis for the British Motor Company (BMC) started in 1957 and launched to an astounded public in 1959.

The Mini was born out of economic necessity and demonstrated the differences in the mindsets of US and British car owners at the time.

In America, multi-laned freeways were springing up everywhere and the 1950's was a time of indulgence in classic muscle cars and massive engined saloons. Fuel and economy was not a consideration.

However in Europe the mindset and zeitgeist was totally different, with the first two lane UK motorway not opened until 1959.

In 1956 petrol rationing had been reintroduced in the UK due to the Suez Crisis. When Egyptian leader General Nasser shut the Suez Canal, Britain's largest oil supplier of the time, Burmah Oil, which operated out of Persia, had to find alternative and much longer routes.

Demand for sales of small economic to run cars soon outstripped supply and this gap was filled by the famous two seater 'bubble cars' and other strange machines of German origin like the gull winged doors on the three wheeled Messerschmitt Kabinenroller (cabinscooter) KR175 and KR200.

Against this background, BMC commissioned Issigonis to come up with a world-beating small car to replace its aging Morris Minor, a previously untested idea.

The Mini's ingenious concept and design meant it offered a staggeringly large amount of interior space for what was essentially a 10 foot long car. The short wheelbase meant the Mini was extremely maneuverable and the car only weighed just 587 kg.

When Issigonis set to work he imagined an ultra compact cube to house four passengers, fronted by a space-saving front wheel drive system. However in a flash of genius he positioned the engine transversely across the engine well with the gearbox underneath it, to keep the drive-train super compact and outside his cube, and in doing so he invented the transverse engine.

The prototypes were fitted with a 950cc Morris Minor engine which could reach speeds of 92 mph, but the production car was first released with a more limited 848cc BMC engine that had a top speed of 72 mph.

Every available space was utilised in the design of the BMC Mini.

The car had tiny ten inch wheels in very tight wheel arches. Inside the car was basic with novel storage drawers in the doors but nowhere to put a radio on a small dialled facia. Issigonis did however include an ashtray!

Issigonis couldn't have possibly known that his cube car would go on to be voted in 1999 the second most influential car ever built, behind the Model T Ford.

BMC launched the first Mini Mark 1 in August 1959 under the brands Austin Seven Mini and Morris Mini Minor. They were manufactured at the respective Austin and Morris plants at Longbridge in Birmingham and Cowley down the road in Oxford.

The basic Mini cost just £496 when it was launched, the cheapest car in Britain.

Despite rapidly developing a cult following, and the car being driven by Stars such as Steve McQueen, Paul McCartney and Margot Fonteyn, initial sales were extremely slow and by the end of 1960 only 116,000 Minis had been sold, way below BMC's production capacity.

The car didn't reach its peak sales for another eleven years when in 1971 318,475 new Minis were sold.

It was also rumored by competitors Ford that the basic BMC Mini cost more to produce than it was sold for.

BMC responded by saying that the profits were made by having additional extras to the basic model, such as a radio, but on inspection the records show that the Mini did not make a profit for the company until 1982.

As a nationalised company with considerations of employees and trade unions, coupled with the investment in technology, BLMC as BMC became, could not halt a slightly loss making production.

So Mini production continued until 2000 and over 5,380,000 cars were built, making the Mini the most successful all British car ever made.

By Dave Healey