Biodiesel Fuel

By Dennis James

Many consider biodiesel as the fuel of the future. It is hard not to have heard something about it, because more and more articles discuss its use. Biodiesel is mainly diesel that is not obtained by distilling oil, but from vegetable oil as well as some other sources. 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.

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. 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. Dennis runs Car Dealer Check which has reviews on Ohio Car Dealers including Toledo Car Dealers.

Environmental Group Sues EPA Over California Decision

By Evander Klum

The call to arms against the increasing threat of global warming has called the auto industry into action. States in the United States are also making steps forward in reducing greenhouse gas emission of vehicles. California is in the forefront of this battle. Its emission standard is the toughest so far in the country. But recently, the state was forced not to implement its own emission standard after the Environmental Protection Agency decided that it should follow the national standards.

The decision of the EPA is met with much criticism especially after the fact that California was originally cleared to implement its own emission standard as long as it is much tougher than the national standard. This criticism has taken a step forward as five environmental groups have filed a case to dismiss the decision of the EPA.

The Conservation Law Foundation, Environmental Defense, International Center for Technology Assessment, Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Sierra Club joined hands to petition the decision. They have their suit in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco.

Jim Tripp, the general counsel of Environmental Defense, criticized the EPA saying: "While global warming marches onward, EPA continues to drag its feet. The agency's decision defies the law, the science and the will of states representing nearly half of the U.S. population."

According to The Auto Channel, California's own stringent emission standard is scheduled to take effect on 2009 model year vehicles. The standard will ensure a reduction of 30 percent in greenhouse gas production by 2016. The said program would have been the first of its kind in the United States and is considered by environmentalists to be a positive step in the battle against global warming.

The standards formulated by California is said to be very good for the environment that sixteen other states have adopted or committed to adopt the standard. Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, and Washington states would then be supporting California in its fight against the decision of the EPA.

"The Administrator's denial of California's request relies on a flawed argument that the federal courts already have rejected," said Tripp. "We've won before in the federal courts, so we expect to win again this time too."

Karen Douglas, the director of the California Climate Initiative of Environmental Defense, added: "California has long played a pioneering role in clean air efforts. We can and must reduce global warming pollution from automobiles." California's standards would have meant that vehicles to be sold in the state should have limited greenhouse gas emission along with their reliable auto parts such as the Acura clutch.

CTI Symposium Highlights Green Technologies

By Anthony Fontanelle

With the threat of global warming steadily increasing, it can be expected that more and more consumers will look for eco-friendly vehicles. This demand leads to automakers struggling to come up with green technologies which would set them apart from their peers. Laws have been passed too, mandating that automakers should produce environment friendly vehicles.

At the 6th International CTI Symposium in Berlin with a theme Innovative Automotive Transmissions, focus was given to the development of green or eco-friendly vehicle features and the cost it entails. Apart from that, the future of transmission technology in different parts of the world was also tackled. At the said event, experts have come to an agreement that the dual-clutch transmission will be the future of transmission technology in Europe and in the United States. Meanwhile, in India, an auto market steadily growing is expected to create a market for continuously variable transmissions.

Dr. Carsten Breitfeld, the manager for transmission development at German automaker BMW, pointed out the pressure on the auto industry with regards to the development of eco-friendly features. "We cannot imagine the extent of the cost pressure on the car industry at all yet," said Breitfeld. "The development already begins to show: Add the target figures and compare them to the market data - it won't work."

Suppliers echo the sentiments of automakers regarding the issue. Tobias Hagenmeyer, the president of Getrag Corporate Group, a known manufacturer of transmissions, said: "Competition on the car market has reached a global level." Hagenmeyer thus calls out for auto makers and auto parts manufacturers to work hand in hand to develop new green vehicle features. "We have to develop engines and transmissions in cooperation to reduce fuel consumption and emissions and to meet the economic demands."

Today, automakers are credited with about 80 percent of transmission development. Hagenmeyer pointed out that by working together, auto parts manufacturer and automakers will be reducing costs of development. "We envision a common supplier basis, common standards. This creates cost advantages," he mentioned. With companies sharing the cost of developing auto parts like transmissions, they can save a lot. That is not the only advantage as they would be paired with experts on the field which means there is a bigger chance that they will produce better transmission technologies. This approach can also be taken regarding development of other auto components such as a Subaru coupe sedan radiator. Hopefully for the auto industry, the symposium will give them the spark that they need. With the threat of global warming steadily increasing, it can be expected that more and more consumers will look for eco-friendly vehicles. This demand leads to automakers struggling to come up with green technologies which would set them apart from their peers. Laws have been passed too, mandating that automakers should produce environment friendly vehicles.

At the 6th International CTI Symposium in Berlin with a theme Innovative Automotive Transmissions, focus was given to the development of green or eco-friendly vehicle features and the cost it entails. Apart from that, the future of transmission technology in different parts of the world was also tackled. At the said event, experts have come to an agreement that the dual-clutch transmission will be the future of transmission technology in Europe and in the United States. Meanwhile, in India, an auto market steadily growing is expected to create a market for continuously variable transmissions.

Dr. Carsten Breitfeld, the manager for transmission development at German automaker BMW, pointed out the pressure on the auto industry with regards to the development of eco-friendly features. "We cannot imagine the extent of the cost pressure on the car industry at all yet," said Breitfeld. "The development already begins to show: Add the target figures and compare them to the market data - it won't work."

Suppliers echo the sentiments of automakers regarding the issue. Tobias Hagenmeyer, the president of Getrag Corporate Group, a known manufacturer of transmissions, said: "Competition on the car market has reached a global level." Hagenmeyer thus calls out for auto makers and auto parts manufacturers to work hand in hand to develop new green vehicle features. "We have to develop engines and transmissions in cooperation to reduce fuel consumption and emissions and to meet the economic demands."

Today, automakers are credited with about 80 percent of transmission development. Hagenmeyer pointed out that by working together, auto parts manufacturer and automakers will be reducing costs of development. "We envision a common supplier basis, common standards. This creates cost advantages," he mentioned. With companies sharing the cost of developing auto parts like transmissions, they can save a lot. That is not the only advantage as they would be paired with experts on the field which means there is a bigger chance that they will produce better transmission technologies. This approach can also be taken regarding development of other auto components such as a Subaru coupe sedan radiator. Hopefully for the auto industry, the symposium will give them the spark that they need.

Honda taking the Hybrid Challenge

By Anthony Fontanelle

Honda Motor Co., the largest engine-maker in the world and the second largest automobile manufacturer in Japan, is taking the tough hybrid challenge against another Japanese auto giant – in fact, the second largest auto maker in the world – Toyota Motor Corp. in hybrid technology.

In 1999, Honda brought the first gas-electric hybrid – the Insight - to America. Unfortunately, it was soon overshadowed by the Toyota Prius, today’s top-selling hybrid in the world. But still, Honda is trying to catch up ever since.

After eight years playing second behind Toyota, Honda has decided to push its limit in hybrid technology.

According to Honda president Takeo Fukui, the company is investing heavily in hybrids. He claims that the race “has just begun”. He mentioned that the first phase of the technology was all about cultivating green image. The next phase will focus on making the vehicles more affordable and fuel efficient. He said that Honda, so far, has two cars in the pipeline that are likely to challenge Toyota’s eco-supremacy.

Fukui said that about 79 percent of the gas-electric vehicles that rolled out of American showrooms last month were from Toyota. Only about 10 percent were from Honda. The fact was due to the discontinuation of the Insight and Accord hybrid production.

Fukui predicted that hybrids will cover approximately 10 percent of Honda’s sales by 2010. To attain that goal, Honda will need to have 400,000 hybrids sold annually. But, it may not be enough to catch up, considering that Toyota is planning to sell 1 million hybrids a year within the first half of the next decade.

Toyota Prius is a tough player, the toughest actually. It accounted half of the hybrids sold in America last month. Toyota sold 167,000 units of them in the first 11 months of the year – compared with 32,610 units of hybrid Civics, Accords and Insights.

Fukui admits the mistake of offering hybrid versions of Honda’s best-selling cars rather than designing a new car. He said that it is because “until now, it has been an image-based competition, not a business-based competition”.

Another point of defeat for Honda is the pricing, not with the Acura CL coil springs or other individual parts, but with the entire hybrid vehicle. Toyota Prius costs $21,100, while Honda Civic hybrid costs $22,600. Thus, Fukui said, “The price needs to be reasonable and fuel efficiency higher so the (premium) the consumer pays can be returned in a short period of time.”

Honda will offer a subcompact hybrid in 2009, Fukui confirms. It will be provided with a smaller, lighter engine for improved fuel economy and lower price than the Civic hybrid. The company is also planning to launch a hybrid sports car based on the CR-Z concept, which has been unveiled earlier this year at the Tokyo Auto Show and will also be features at the upcoming North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It is also investing $425 million for a new research center, which will focus on developing the “next generation” of automobiles, including hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles such as the FCS Clarity.

Toyota's Prius -- Is the Hybrid Technology Worth the Extra Cost?

By Patrick Roberts

The Prius embodies Toyota’s motto, “Moving Forward.” They designed the Prius to be a step up in the car world, rather than a step toward awkwardness, as I would expect from any environmentally conscious car. The car looks and feels special. People notice the difference in appearance and realize that the whole motivation for the car is different.

The people have cried out for relief from rising gas prices. They have sought after something that doesn’t destroy the environment. Toyota has answered the people with their gas/electric hybrid, the Prius.

The Prius gets an average of 45 mpg in the city as well as on highways. People with lead feet complain that this car gives them no better gas mileage then a regular car, but this is because gas usage depends very much on the driver, how he or she works the gas pedal. The driver can ensure the best possible gas mileage by watching the screen mounted on the dashboard.

It is disputable whether or not additional cost for the hybrid technology is worth the money saved in gas expenditure. The car costs at least five thousand more than the average Toyota sedan to begin with. Then there is an additional seven to eight thousand dollar cost when the battery wears out. The battery’s warrantee comes to an end after one hundred thousand miles.

The car is trim and slim, easy to fit into small spaces. Unfortunately, the leg room is a bit wanting for the driver’s side in particular. I don’t understand why they didn’t allow the front seats to slide back any further. This is one of the few misgivings I have about the Prius.

So would you rather give your money to gas companies who are deliberately raising gas prices because they know there is nothing you can do about it, or would you rather support Toyota who is putting forth effort to give you a choice in the matter? Assuming I’ll break even in car payments vs. gas prices, I would rather support Toyota.

Toyota’s Prius also includes keyless entry and push button start. As long as the key is in your pocket, the car will sense this and unlock the car. Same thing goes for starting the car. As long as the key is in your pocket, just push the button and the car will start. The keyless key also makes it impossible to lock your keys in the car.

by Patrick Roberts. Find media reviews at www.KoGmedia.com. Also checkout www.BooksByPatrick.com