RSSHow To Lower Your Fuel Bill
February 12, 2010
By fuel, I mean petrol or gas, whatever you like to call it where you are. Some tips that are good for your wallet and the environment are around reducing fuel consumption when driving.
CouponSherpa recently published some tips, including:
3. Drive Sanely
Drive like Evel Knievel and you’ll pay for the thrill. Wind resistance increases dramatically with speed so, for every mile per hour over 55 you drive, your fuel economy goes down by 2 percent. Speeding, sudden braking and jack-rabbit starts are notoriously inefficient ways to drive. Not only will driving sanely maximize your fuel efficiency but it will also reduce wear and tear on your vehicle.
4. Smooth It Out
The Environmental Protection Agency recommends “smoothing” your driving by accelerating and decelerating gradually and anticipating stops and starts. If you have an overdrive gear, use it as soon as your speed is high enough. If you drive a manual transmission, shift to a higher gear smoothly and as soon as possible without bucking. As the Car Guys say, “Believe it or not, due to an unexplained Einsteinian time warp, you’ll also get to your destination in about the same time.”
You can read the full lower your fuel consumption article here.
6 Sources Of Limitless Energy
October 9, 2009
These might actually work! The Business Insider’s Green Sheet goes through six sources of permanent alternative energy at various stages of development. There is no guarantee they will work, of course, but researchers are spending billions of dollars into trying to find alternative energy technologies that provide power as consistently fossil fuels.
Wind, algae, waves and more are used, so take a look.
Ford Makes Over 100,000 Hybrids
March 31, 2009
Ford has produced it’s 100,000th hybrid, rolling off the line in Kansas City, with next generation hybrid, battery-electric vehicles and a plugin hybrid coming in 2012. Currently the hybrids are just the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles, but the much discussed Ford Fusion hybrid, and the Mercury Milan hybrid come out next year, 2010.
“As we celebrate our 100,000th hybrid, America’s interest in hybrid vehicles keeps a does Ford’s commitment to advanced powertrain technologies that deliver greater fuel economy, lower emissions and help enhance our country’s energy security. No domestic automaker has more real-world experience with hybrid vehicle technology than Ford, and it shows in the quality and fuel economy of our vehicles.â€
- Bill Ford, Executive Chairman, Ford Motor Company
With an increasing commitment to alternative fuels, and more environmentally friendly vehicles, hopefully the next 100,000 come along much sooner. Read more about it here.
Greasy Rider Alternative Fuel Documentary Now Available
February 17, 2009
JJ Beck and Joey Carey’s terrific documentary about alternative fuels, Greasy Rider, is now available to rent and purchase (such as on Amazon.com).
The documentary is a cross-country road trip powered by vegetable oil in a 1981 Mercedes-Benz. Greasy Rider follows the two filmmakers, Joey Carey and JJ Beck, as they meet with fellow Greasecar drivers, friends, and critics. Some of the guests in the film include Morgan Freeman and Yoko Ono. You can watch the trailer/preview below.
Do You Have A Vespa?
February 10, 2009
I’m seriously considering getting a scooter, as since my move to America, the lack of a car where I live is a serious handicap.
Working from home, I don’t need a vehicle that often and when I do I don’t go far, just to run some errands. With the weather in San Diego being fantastic I don’t have to worry too much about the rain, so a scooter may be the way to go.
Vespa USA recently launched their new website, showing how their scooters get over 70mpg and speeds range from 39mph to 76mph. Iif Americans switched just 10% of their total mileage to scooters they could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 324 million pounds per day? The new site also includes a fuel average calculator that gives a quick snapshot of just how fuel economy can improve if drivers park the SUV or car occasionally and opt for two wheels instead. To be fair it has to be parked quite a bit to cover the cost of the scooter, but there are obvious environmental benefits. Now, if only they had an electric version….
Green Tech at NAIAS 2009
January 22, 2009
Our auto partners Ron Doron and James Bell from The Drivers Seat.TV take a look at Green Technology at the Detroit Auto Show 2009.
If you can’t see this video please click here.
Ford Goes Electric
January 21, 2009
Ford Motor Company is pursuing multiple technologies and working with partners to find affordable solutions to create safer, more fuel-efficient, quality products that customers desire and value.
Ford’s electrification strategy involves three types of electrified vehicles – Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) – to provide consumers with significant fuel economy improvements and reduced CO2 emissions. You can find out more about Ford’s electrification strategy here, and also you can watch the video below.
If you’re interested there is some more info on hybrid battery performance here, and also read more about their collaboration with suppliers, utilities, policymakers and universities to push forward their electric vision.
