Bio Diesel
Many consider Biodiesel as the Fuel of the Future.
Biodiesel is mainly diesel that is not obtained by distilling oil, but from vegetable oil as well as someother sources. There are many advantages of using biodiesel for your car over the traditional fuel.
In the first place, a notable element is that biodiesel does not harm the environment. It is a lot cleaner to operate a biodiesel based car than a normal one, because the emissions are lower, and the traditional black smoke coming from oil-diesel is gone.
Another great benefit is that you can fuel your vehicle with biodiesel without having to perform any sort of complicated modifications to the engine. There are cases of people mixing biodiesel with traditional diesel fuel, and by doing this, they benefit from the new fuel’s advantage very easily.
The price of biodiesel is a lot lower compared to other fuels. You can even make it on your own and if you have the proper things, you will not have to go to the gas station at all.
Another benefit of using biodiesel to operate your car is that it is also more efficient than traditional fuels. Its cetane cumber is in excess of 100, which will make your vehicle to easy cold start and have a lower noise at idle revs. (The cetane number represents the quality of a certain igniting fuel type and the higher the number, the more efficient that fuel is).
Biodiesel can also extend your engine’s life. Because it has fewer impurities that traditional diesel fuels, it will not clog your filters that easily and in the same its lubricating properties are greater, protecting your engine. The power output of biodiesel will not be affected if you use it as the mainly source of power.
Producing these new fuels is cheaper and cleaner than drilling, refining and transporting traditional
petrol diesel. Producing the same quantity of biodiesel compared to regular diesel will require less energy, thus making the entire process cleaner to the environment.
As the sources from which biodiesel is extracted (vegetable oil mostly) can be constantly regenerated compared to the hydrocarbon reserves the planet holds, it is a more viable option for the future. It also keeps the air cleaner, as it has lower polluting emissions.
That is why more and more countries in the world turn their attention to biodiesel fuels as a
replacement for the ever growing prices of traditional fuels. The market is settled with diesel cars and the moment to change the crude oil based diesel to the one obtained from natural sources has come.
In Europe for example there are numerous biodiesel equipped stations already and their number continues to rise. More and more car manufacturers try to convert their new models to be able to take advantage of this new fuel.
Right now, biodiesel is the best substitute for traditional petrol-extracted diesel fuel.
Feb 12, 2009
Alternative Fules
Alternative Fuels
As we know that our energy resources are limited so their substitute is of vital importance.Alternative fuels are very important for our future.
Alternative fuels are derived from resources other than petroleum. The alternative fuels identified in federal mandate legislation are: ethanol, methanol, electricity, compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, bio-diesel, hydrogen, or hybrid vehicles using a number of fuels.
The use of alternative fuels greatly reduces harmful exhaust emissions such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter. The purpose of this article is to introduce you to some of the choices of fuels to power your car or truck, and to compare these alternative fuels with petroleum fuels and with each other.
The use of alternative fuels reduces our dependence on imported petroleum, contributes to a cleaner environment, and furthers the rural farm economy by creating markets for agricultural crops.
Ethanol/Methanol
Ethanol is produced domestically from corn and other crops and produces less greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fuels. Ethanol was one of the first vehicle fuels, and is now the most widely used alternative to gasoline. Ethanol is an alcohol fuel that's derived mainly from grain. Methanol is an alcohol fuel that's derived primarily from coal. If you wonder why big oil and Middle Eastern oil interest are conducting a smear campaign on ethanol I believe $71 billion dollars is the logical answer.
Biodiesel
Biodiesel is derived from vegetable oils and animal fats. Biodiesel was among the first automotive vehicle fuels and is now the fastest growing alternative transportation fuel. Biodiesel is used in conventional diesel engines, primarily in low-level blends of 2, 5, and 20 percent biodiesel with diesel fuel, known as B2, B5, and B20, respectively. Facilities making biodiesel are already here and ethanol facilities are not far behind.
Electric
Electric vehicles(EVs), especially EVs powered by fuel cells, are a compelling alternative to gasoline-powered cars. According to many experts, we may soon find ourselves using fuel cells to generate electrical power for our cars and all sorts of devices in our homes. All EVs operate with electricity that is stored in a battery that must be recharged. They can either be plugged into an electricity source at home or wherever there is a suitable outlet. While not considered an alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) by the government’s definition, hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) are nonetheless an alternative to conventional gasoline-powered models.
Natural Gas
Natural gas is a fossil fuel that generates less air pollutants and greenhouse gases. Natural gas is used in two forms to fuel vehicles: compressed (CNG) or liquefied (LNG). Natural Gas is a by-product of oil drilling and coal mining, natural gas can also be harvested from natural gas fields.
Water
Yes water! Many people are now building small hydrogen generators to ”power their car on water” instead of pure gas. This is done cheaply and is fast to install. It does not interfere with your car’s engine and is completely safe. See below on how to build a hydrogen generator to run your car on water.
As we know that our energy resources are limited so their substitute is of vital importance.Alternative fuels are very important for our future.
Alternative fuels are derived from resources other than petroleum. The alternative fuels identified in federal mandate legislation are: ethanol, methanol, electricity, compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, bio-diesel, hydrogen, or hybrid vehicles using a number of fuels.
The use of alternative fuels greatly reduces harmful exhaust emissions such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter. The purpose of this article is to introduce you to some of the choices of fuels to power your car or truck, and to compare these alternative fuels with petroleum fuels and with each other.
The use of alternative fuels reduces our dependence on imported petroleum, contributes to a cleaner environment, and furthers the rural farm economy by creating markets for agricultural crops.
Ethanol/Methanol
Ethanol is produced domestically from corn and other crops and produces less greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fuels. Ethanol was one of the first vehicle fuels, and is now the most widely used alternative to gasoline. Ethanol is an alcohol fuel that's derived mainly from grain. Methanol is an alcohol fuel that's derived primarily from coal. If you wonder why big oil and Middle Eastern oil interest are conducting a smear campaign on ethanol I believe $71 billion dollars is the logical answer.
Biodiesel
Biodiesel is derived from vegetable oils and animal fats. Biodiesel was among the first automotive vehicle fuels and is now the fastest growing alternative transportation fuel. Biodiesel is used in conventional diesel engines, primarily in low-level blends of 2, 5, and 20 percent biodiesel with diesel fuel, known as B2, B5, and B20, respectively. Facilities making biodiesel are already here and ethanol facilities are not far behind.
Electric
Electric vehicles(EVs), especially EVs powered by fuel cells, are a compelling alternative to gasoline-powered cars. According to many experts, we may soon find ourselves using fuel cells to generate electrical power for our cars and all sorts of devices in our homes. All EVs operate with electricity that is stored in a battery that must be recharged. They can either be plugged into an electricity source at home or wherever there is a suitable outlet. While not considered an alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) by the government’s definition, hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) are nonetheless an alternative to conventional gasoline-powered models.
Natural Gas
Natural gas is a fossil fuel that generates less air pollutants and greenhouse gases. Natural gas is used in two forms to fuel vehicles: compressed (CNG) or liquefied (LNG). Natural Gas is a by-product of oil drilling and coal mining, natural gas can also be harvested from natural gas fields.
Water
Yes water! Many people are now building small hydrogen generators to ”power their car on water” instead of pure gas. This is done cheaply and is fast to install. It does not interfere with your car’s engine and is completely safe. See below on how to build a hydrogen generator to run your car on water.
Future Cars
Future Cars
CNN has just featured the so-called driverless cars -- all equipped with sensors, radars, cameras, computers and communicators that allows them to maneuver its way on roads and through traffic with very little human assistance. The several components which will serve as the “replacement” for the driver are the parts that are incorporated like, as earlier mentioned, the sensors.
These sensors are placed on the several vital parts of the vehicle to be able to monitor the movements of the car. Many cars of today are already fitted with sensors for various purposes; some to check what the car is doing when the wheels turn and another monitors the movements of the wheels. There are also brake sensors that time the spin of each wheel and sensor on the airbags which will trigger the airbags if and when an impact occurs.
Not only are these sensors fitted to watch over the behavior of the car and how systems work or react with another, the sensors are also there to monitor the actions and behavior of the driver as well. It studies the driving style employed by the driver like the hardness of pressing upon the gas pedal and the manner of turning the wheel.
The radars are designed to monitor the outside movements. Back-up applications are the most known and most common of these component. These are the ones that warn you if the car is getting dangerously close to colliding with other cars or even to people. There is also the active cruise control which allows the driver to set a maximum speed for the car and maintain distances from the other cars.
Although most of these cruise control systems are designed on highway speed mode, Continental Tevis has actually designed a system for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class that will work to slow speed mode and even put the car to a stop. So if the traffic situation is shifty, there is no need to push the brake pedal, the car will be able to stop and go for you. This system of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class will lessen usual crashes of tailgating.
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class line also uses infrared camera and infrared light source for better night vision. The actual road condition can be viewed in green-and-black on a monitor on the dashboard. Furthermore, these cameras will monitor if the vehicle starts to go beyond the bounds of the lane that it occupies. By sounding an alarm, the driver will be warned of this occurrence.
The information that are received by the sensors, the radar and the camera are fed in to the computer which will in turn calculate and assess the proper action that the car should make when it faces certain conditions. The computer also functions as a memory device which stores the information it has received so that in the event that a collision or a crash occurs, investigators can easily determine what went wrong. In some cars, the computers can actually manipulate and control the actions of the other parts of the vehicle to further prevent accidents.
Another of these devices is the Global Positioning System (GPS) or the telematic system, which enables the driver to communicate with other people and even to computers especially when the need arises. This system uses satellites to be able to know and ascertain the exact location of a car. Studies are still going on for the advancement to give this system the capacity to communicate directly with one another.
The overall benefit of this new technology on cars is of course lessening road accidents and taking care of the passengers on board cars. These driverless automobiles hold the promise of higher speeds and lower fuel consumption.
CNN has just featured the so-called driverless cars -- all equipped with sensors, radars, cameras, computers and communicators that allows them to maneuver its way on roads and through traffic with very little human assistance. The several components which will serve as the “replacement” for the driver are the parts that are incorporated like, as earlier mentioned, the sensors.
These sensors are placed on the several vital parts of the vehicle to be able to monitor the movements of the car. Many cars of today are already fitted with sensors for various purposes; some to check what the car is doing when the wheels turn and another monitors the movements of the wheels. There are also brake sensors that time the spin of each wheel and sensor on the airbags which will trigger the airbags if and when an impact occurs.
Not only are these sensors fitted to watch over the behavior of the car and how systems work or react with another, the sensors are also there to monitor the actions and behavior of the driver as well. It studies the driving style employed by the driver like the hardness of pressing upon the gas pedal and the manner of turning the wheel.
The radars are designed to monitor the outside movements. Back-up applications are the most known and most common of these component. These are the ones that warn you if the car is getting dangerously close to colliding with other cars or even to people. There is also the active cruise control which allows the driver to set a maximum speed for the car and maintain distances from the other cars.
Although most of these cruise control systems are designed on highway speed mode, Continental Tevis has actually designed a system for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class that will work to slow speed mode and even put the car to a stop. So if the traffic situation is shifty, there is no need to push the brake pedal, the car will be able to stop and go for you. This system of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class will lessen usual crashes of tailgating.
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class line also uses infrared camera and infrared light source for better night vision. The actual road condition can be viewed in green-and-black on a monitor on the dashboard. Furthermore, these cameras will monitor if the vehicle starts to go beyond the bounds of the lane that it occupies. By sounding an alarm, the driver will be warned of this occurrence.
The information that are received by the sensors, the radar and the camera are fed in to the computer which will in turn calculate and assess the proper action that the car should make when it faces certain conditions. The computer also functions as a memory device which stores the information it has received so that in the event that a collision or a crash occurs, investigators can easily determine what went wrong. In some cars, the computers can actually manipulate and control the actions of the other parts of the vehicle to further prevent accidents.
Another of these devices is the Global Positioning System (GPS) or the telematic system, which enables the driver to communicate with other people and even to computers especially when the need arises. This system uses satellites to be able to know and ascertain the exact location of a car. Studies are still going on for the advancement to give this system the capacity to communicate directly with one another.
The overall benefit of this new technology on cars is of course lessening road accidents and taking care of the passengers on board cars. These driverless automobiles hold the promise of higher speeds and lower fuel consumption.
Feb 9, 2009
Tata NANO
Tata Nano
The Tata Nano is a proposed city car — a small, affordable, rear-engined, four-passenger car aimed primarily at the Indian market.Tata targets the vehicle as the least expensive production car in the world aiming for a starting price of Rs.100,000 (approximately US$2000)
Newsweek identifies the Nano as a part of a "new breed of 21st-century cars" that embody "a contrarian philosophy of smaller, lighter, cheaper" and portend a new era in inexpensive personal transportation — and potentially, "global gridlock" The Wall Street Journal confirms a global trend toward small cars, which includes the Nano.
Conception and design
The project to create the world's cheapest production car began in 2003, under the Chairman of Tata Motors, Ratan Tata, inspired by the number of Indian families with two-wheeled rather than four-wheeled transport.
Contrary to speculation that the car might be a simple four-wheeled auto rickshaw, The Times of India reported the vehicle is "a properly designed and built car". The Chairman is reported to have said, "It is not a car with plastic curtains or no roof — it's a real car."
To achieve its design parameters, Tata has refined the manufacturing process, emphasized innovation and sought new design approaches from suppliers. The car was designed at Italy's Institute of Development in Automotive Engineering — with Ratan Tata requesting certain changes, such the elimination of one of two windscreen wipers.
The Nano has 21% more interior space and an 8% smaller exterior, when compared with its closest rival, the Maruti 800. The car will come in different versions, including one standard and two deluxe variants. The deluxe version will have air conditioning, but no power steering. The initial production target set by Tata Motors is 250,000 units per year.
Expectations
According to one report, India as well as other nations, such as European nations, have great expectations from the Nano and are keenly and eagerly awaiting it, especially the electric version of the Nano, making it in all probability the "world's cheapest electric car" officially on record. The car itself is expected to boost the Indian Economy as well as expand the Indian car market by 65%, according to rating agency CRISIL.
Special Features of Tata Nano
Rear mounted engine
Variants
Besides the regular and conventional gasoline-variant ,electric-variant (E-Nano) , the following variants are also expected.
Diesel
Together with Diesel Engine specialist FEV Tata Motors is developing a 684 cc diesel engine for the Nano. Diesel variant Nano will sell for Rs2 lakh (200,000 rupees). Nano will have the smallest Common Rail Turbocharged Diesel engine in the world and is expected to deliver sterling fuel economy figures.
Eco-friendly variants and initiatives
Tata Motors is reportedly working on some very revolutionary and eco-friendly initiatives, some of which are personally-supported and appreciated by Mr. Ratan Tata. Other than their Gasoline engine, Tata Motors will offer following options.
Compressed-air engine
Tata Motors is working with a French firm on using compressed air as an energy source which is eco-friendly and revolutionary in itself for a car of such large-scale. The company has tied up with Moteur Development International (MDI) for this purpose
Electric drivetrain or electric-version
Tata is also believed to be making an electric version of the Nano, called the E-Nano which might prove to be a boon for the society and the world, both in terms of cost and technology, as it might well turn out to be the "world's cheapest electric car"] which is more eco-friendly and has many enthusiasts and media for its support. It's supposed to be as cheap as the conventional gasoline version.
Hybrid
Some news-sources state that "a hybrid version [of Tata Nano] is also likely, although it is not yet known whether the electric motor will be paired with a gasoline or diesel version."
Trim levels
The Nano will be available in three trim levels[citation needed]:-
* Standard
* Deluxe
* Luxury
The base $2,500 getting no air conditioning[citation needed]. The Deluxe and Luxury variants will get AC and body colored bumpers. Luxury variant will also have alloy wheels, fog lamps and ICE[citation needed]. Tata Motors plans to sell more expensive version in order to keep product line profitable
"The ambitious Nano car has not rolled out of the assembly line of the makers Tata's plants yet. But it is already in the Guinness book as the world's cheapest car."
Maserati GT
Maserati GT
Maserati has a long pedigree and history since its establishment in 1914. With the GT, Maserati is signaling a return to its sporting roots by creating a grand tourer (big car with two doors) that encapsulates what Maserati stands for; luxury, power, performance and exclusivity.
It has a 4.2-litre V8 engine delivering 298kW and 460Nm, which at howling speed gives a glorious shrill that lets one know that this Maser means serious business. The 2+2-seater GT must be one of the most beautiful cars in the world, with elegant lines that flow straight from the bonnet right to the rear.
Dodge Nitro 2.8 CRD
Dodge Nitro 2.8 CRD
Americans have always known how to go big. Anything they do is big. The new Dodge Nitro is not necessarily big, in fact, in the US the Nitro is considered a mid-sized family SUV, all 4.5m metres of it! Vehicles like the Nitro personify aggression in the meanest sense. The 2.8 CRD is a turbo charged diesel engine with a range of 650km from a full tank, driving around town and cruising on the freeway.
Although not as refined as other modern diesels (this is based on old Chrysler Jeep technology), this engine delivers extremely usable torque of 460Nm starting at a very lowly 2000 revs per minute. This means the Nitro 2.8 CRD can pretty much pull up any type of steep hill without too much of a puff.
HUMMER H3
HUMMER H3
H3 is the younger brother to the (in)famous H2, a vehicle made notorious first by the 1992 war in Iraq, "Desert Storm", then by governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and then "bling" rap music videos. It is a vehicle that begs to be accessorised. It is extremely capable off-road, meaning it's not just a pavement poser that runs out of ideas once the going gets rough.
Under the bonnet of this SA-built big beast is a 3.7-litre engine good for 180kW and 328Nm. HUMMER is not purchased on the merits of its performance, rather it is bought as a bold statement by the buyer.
BMW X5 4.8i
BMW X5 4.8i
BMW has opted for evolution, rather than revolution in designing the X5. Nevertheless, the car is substantially better than its predecessor, which was already a class-leader itself. More power, more space, uses relatively less fuel etc., the X5 now offers a seating configuration of 7 as an option, for those with little children. Powered by the familiar 4.8-litre V8 engine, the X5 4.8i makes a heady 261 kW and 475Nm. X5 handling is for this class of car, unparalleled, making quick mince of obstacles such as tight corners as well as steep hills.
Solidly built, beautifully muscular inside and out without being imposing, and it is powerful, uncompromising and sleek. The X5 4.8i sets a new standard for big luxury SUVs. It just begs for everyday driving.
Mercedes-Benz C220 CDI
Mercedes-Benz C220 CDI
Looks really cracking, with or without the sharp AMG Sports kit. C-Class is also a class-leader in terms of spaciousness, while exhibiting the high levels of comfort people have come to expect of the Merc brand. The C220 CDI itself makes 125kW and 400Nm of torque, making it extremely drivable in any gear without the need for constant changedowns.
It has a top speed of 229km/h. A host of features and options is available to suit most pockets and tastes. As safety is paramount to Mercedes-Benz, acronyms like ESP, ASR and ABS with EBD feature prominently, as do airbags.
BMW M3
BMW M3
Awesome performance (309kW, 400Nm, 0 -100 in 4.8 seconds), intimidating good looks and a surprisingly spacious interior make the M3 a bargain supercar with a very high-quality interior and an exterior that includes a lightweight carbon-fibre roof to aid performance. M3 can be driven like a normal car though through everyday traffic and routines such as safety nets like Dynamic Stability Control or DSC, which helps in keeping the car on the road, should an extreme emergency occur. It also benefitted from Side Airbags, The M3 GT Bi-Plane rear spoiler, front corner spoiler extensions, electric seats, and polished alloy wheels.
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