One problem with hybrid vehicles today is the recharging system. It just takes too long to recharge your battery. Given, that the hybrid electric vehicle range is extended with an internal combustion engine, for a “true” electric car, fast recharging of low batteries is a necessity.

With a 5 minute recharge time, A123Systems M1 cells charge almost 20 times faster than traditional Lithium-Ion cells. Also, at 1/3 the weight, expect that the vehicle range will be extended. A123Systems uses nanoscale materials that are inexpensive, nontoxic and safer than Li Ion batteries.

GM is prototyping A123Systems’ batteries in their Saturn Green Line Vue plug-in hybrid SUVs and are expecting double the fuel efficiency.

Whether to buy a new car or buy a used car is often times the first decision that needs to be arrived at before you can actively begin perusing purchasing your next vehicle.

Let’s take a look at some tips, pros, and cons when it comes to making this decision.

First of all, having been in the automotive business for many years, I almost always lean toward finding a good used car that fits what I am looking for. For me, I believe that used cars offer the best value for your dollar. In most cases, you’ll find used car departments are much more used to and willing to negotiate the price that they have posted on the car. From a negotiating standpoint, most used cars won’t have all of those superfluous dealer ‘add-ons’ stuck on the window either that will just never do.

In the automotive market, used cars will most certainly come with a lower initial price tag than a comparably equipped new car. And not only will the price be lower, you may also find that so is your cost to insure the used car as well as the tags, and taxes. Depreciation being what it is; means that with a car a couple of years old, the biggest depreciation hit has already occurred. And from a tangible perspective, you may have a better chance of getting those upgrades you’d like to have on the used car that you couldn’t otherwise afford going with the new.

Yet, with all of this, buying a used car isn’t for everyone. Finding a used vehicle that fits one’s entire car buying criteria can be a tough exercise in balancing what you want with the value versus risk inherent when it comes to used cars.

Not so many years ago, reliability was a major concern when purchasing a used car… and rightfully so. Today however, reliability problems are a fraction of what they used to be. Today’s vehicles, when properly maintained will easily go for 100,000 miles and it’s not uncommon for vehicles to be motoring along as they approach 200,000 miles or more. And with all of the information now available online, the risk factor is again reduced even a bit more.

Even though more reliable today, buying a used car for people means buying a car that is probably out of its original bumper to bumper warranty. This alone, is enough to repel many potential car buyers back to the new car side of the dealership.

As you know, if you are looking at buying a used car, you are probably looking at a car that is outside the factory warranty or at least would have very little remaining. With no warranty you’ll be on the hook to pay for any needed repairs out of your own pocket. However, the biggest expense for most all cars today are the things that aren’t covered by any manufacturer’s warranty anyway; items such as brakes, tires, alignment, batteries, etc.

Of course nobody can guarantee that you won’t encounter a lemon. No matter what the make and model, no manufacturer can produce a vehicle that can withstand years of neglect and/or abuse. Always, always, always give the used car a thorough inspection both by yourself and a qualified mechanic; doing this will catch most problems that may be looming on the horizon.

When it comes to financing the purchase of a used car, you find that the going interest rates will typically be higher than new car rates. This is definitely a piece of the puzzle you’ll want to check out. There is no rule of thumb as to what the difference in the interest rate will be between the two because there are just too many determining variables involved such as; the economy, rebates and incentives involved on the new car side, your credit, length of financing, and even the type of used car you’re looking at. Be sure to crunch the numbers for both sides.

With used cars, insurance can save you some money as well because you’ll typically pay less for your insurance on a like model from a few years past. The reason is simple; less cost of replacement for the insurance company and used cars are generally not high on the stolen lists.

And finally, (the latest) safety features could be a concern if you’re looking at used car (particularly if you’re going back a few model years).

All in all, if the touch, feel, and smell of a new car, isn’t a top priority for you, I think you’ll find that a well thought out used car purchase you can get more car and features and still be within your budget.

With the issue of global warming taking on international importance in recent years, unsurprisingly the focus has fallen on car drivers, with cars seen as one of the major contributors towards global warming. Green cars have been held up as a potential solution, one that motorists should be embracing.

But are green cars actually ‘green’?

Firstly, let’s take pure electric cars. Unfortunately these electric cars are anything but good for the environment. The electricity that they run on is produced in power stations, where only 30-40% of the energy is converted into electricity. Transferring this electricity along electric cables then results in a further 30% being lost to heat energy. So by the time this electricity reaches an electric car a huge amount of the energy has already been lost. Good for cutting down inner city pollution but efficient it certainly isn’t.

Recently hybrid cars have been preferred, cars that contain both an electric motor and a petrol engine. The battery for the motor is powered by the energy generated from braking. When it comes to being ‘green’ these cars in theory offer many more environmental benefits.

In practice this isn’t necessarily the case. Consumer magazine Which? tested four hybrid cars by driving them throughout London. The results were disappointing, as mentioned by George Marshall-Thornhill, senior researcher for Which?, “Some of these should have performed much better.” And this is all without mentioning how to dispose of troublesome electric batteries.

Then there’s the cost of hybrid cars. The Toyota Prius is the most popular hybrid car and can be purchased for around £17,000. However, with fuel economy claims in doubt and 55% of people believing that green cars are too expensive, there is still some way to go before green cars arrive on a large scale.

The facts are that green cars use more energy to produce, are harder to dispose of, their fuel economy claims have been doubted, and they are simply too expensive. The age of the green car has not arrived yet.

Here we have a few things you should check on your motorcycle on a regular basis. I assume you have a handbook with the specs for your bike, if not, go get one. You may be able to find some data for your particular motorcycle on the net. You can also pick up workshop manuals for various models on eBay in PDF or CD form for little money.

Whereas with a four wheeled vehicle you may get away with being lax with things like tire pressures etc, this is not the case with a motorcycle. You should not risk compromising the safety and stability of your motorcycle, for the sake of a bit of routine maintenance.

Pre-ride check

•Tires – check condition and for foreign objects in the tread.

•Tire pressures – it is vitally important to keep your motorcycles tire pressures either on spec or very close to it.

•Oil level – always check with the bike on level ground.

•Coolant level – only if your bike’s liquid cooled, obviously.

•Chain – check the tension and make sure it’s well lubed.

•Brakes – check they work and that they feel good.

•Lights – check all your lights, especially the brake light, you don’t want to get rear ended, do you?

•Visual inspection – self explanatory.

•All ok – hit the road.

Periodical checks

•Check battery – see that the connections are tight; I dropped a bike once because of a loose battery connection, strange but true. Also check the electrolyte level on some batteries, a lot of newer batteries are gel filled, sealed for life types, so no need with these.

•Carb balance – if your bike is multi carbed get yourself a Morgan carbtune or similar. It can be a little tricky the first time you balance them, but when you’ve done it once, the second time will be easy.

•Ignition timing – only necessary on some bikes, most newer models have electronic ignition which does not need touching, normally.

•Valve clearances – unless you’re a good home mechanic, take it to a dealer.

•Wheel bearings – grab each wheel with it off the ground and see if there is any sideways play. There should be none or maybe a trace at most.

•Steering head bearings – with the front end off the ground, grab the forks and push and pull. There should be no play.

•Swinging arm bearings – with the back wheel off the ground, check for any sideways movement in the swingarm, there should be none.

•Brakes – check fluid levels, brake hoses for deterioration, and pads/shoes for thickness.

•Cables and levers – should operate smoothly. Get some grease on lever/pedal pivot points, and get some lube down the cables, if you can. A cable oiler is a handy tool.

•Nut and bolts – go all round the motorcycle with your spanners and check that all nuts/ bolts/screws are nice and tight.

Well, that’s about it for some basic maintenance, obviously, unless you’re a good home mechanic, any bigger jobs will have to go to a dealer. The problem can be finding a good one with skilled mechanics you can trust. I manage to keep my Yamaha Fazer 1000 running sweet just using the steps listed above. It does help that this model only needs the valve clearances checking every 26,000 miles.

The elements of nature have been created for man alone. Every single need can be acquired and it is present in nature around us. Man only needs to travel and explore the hidden treasures of nature and use them for the fulfillment of his basic needs of life. Something that doesn’t need any searching shines up above in the sky. The sun is the basic source of life on earth. If there was no sun no life would have been possible.

Sun emits light which is known as the solar energy and you may have heard and studied about solar energy being used for thousands of purposes. This energy has been used for heating systems and thermal power plants are run through solar energy and so on. When you read or hear about these things you simply pass on because this is too common.

When it comes to solar powered cars it is very likely that you stop and think for a while. It is a promising future prospect and you wish you live long enough to see only solar powered cars racing down the streets, no running out gas, no waiting at the filling station, no more paying for the petrol. Imagine how quickly you would be able to increase your standard of living.

Solar powered cars have been in existence since the mid of the 19th century. They have been increasing in number year by year and organizations tend to hold solar powered car racing each year and thousands of people invest their money and bet on their solar powered cars. The mechanism of these cars is very simple. The batteries installed in these light bodied cars charge themselves from the solar energy. Then this energy is converted by them into electrical energy thus it helps the motor run.

Now this prospect is very simple or more likely it sounds very simple and trouble free. The sun shines everyday and there doesn’t seem to be any such problem with these cars. But the fact is that the amount of energy stored at a time by these cars enables them to drive at a very slow pace. The road has to be leveled and not steep because that requires even more energy. It will need more powerful batteries and more storage capacity.

Have you never noticed that this is the reason why solar powered cars are small; light weighed, and can carry one person at a time? There are many technical facts that render the concept of these cars as vague.

Introduction

A scooter, which is considered lightweight, and yet sturdy, is the Buzzaround scooter. This is a type of scooter, which is a bit new on the market. The Buzzaround is manufactured by Golden Technologies manufactures. Some people also call it the Golden Buzzaround.

Gasoline power scooters, being around for a longer period have grown more familiar to mass; however, when it’s an electric scooter in question, often the owners find themselves flabbergasted when their little pets grow disobedient. Little do they realize that certain little measures can get rid of the problems that cause botheration every now and then. Read on to find out more…

What should be done?

To keep an electric scooter up an running:

One should keep the tires inflated properly since smaller tires lose air pressure fast. This may result in the tube rotating inside the tire during both braking and acceleration; as a result, the valve stem may get destroyed. Also, this shall require the motor to work harder resulting in burnt armatures or brushes.

The battery must be charged frequently and after it returns to the room temperature. Heat damages batteries, hence, cooling it is recommended before charging.

Tension on the drive belt/chain must match the manufacturer’s specification. Looseness causes slippage and shortens the life of the chain/belt, therefore, move the rear tire forward or backward to leave approximately one-half to one-quarter inch gap while pressing against the middle of the span. A center position is also much required; if it does not ride against the side of the belt hubs on the motor or rear tire, it may jump up on the edge and can lock the wheel.

Throttle and brake linkages require light (or right) lubrication to prevent binding.

It’s foolish to ride electric scooters through wet surfaces; the water or mud can damage the electrical components.

To get rid of minor problems like:

Interrupted power: It can be a loose or broken connection or a battery with low charge. The second case is not that troublesome; however, if it’s a broken connection, then expose the wiring from the top and check for the broken linkage; it can also be a failed controller box or a malfunctioning master switch. Except for the controller box, the rest should be made subject to replacement. Apart from the above-mentioned points, it can also be that the wires behind fuse assembly are subjected to a loose connection to the battery.

Save time, effort, and money by knowing the facts about your auto warranty.

If you�re one of those people that doesn�t pay much attention to the auto warranty when you buy a car�.listen up. Whenever you decide to buy a car, make sure you understand the auto warranty that comes with the vehicle you�re purchasing.

Not all auto warranty issues are the same. The coverage can vary greatly from vehicle to vehicle. Purchasing a vehicle with a good auto warranty can help keep your car in good shape without costing you lots of money.

It�s important to note just how much the coverage of an auto warranty can vary. The minimal coverage for auto warranty on a new vehicle that you should look for is three years or thirty-six thousands miles. Coverage can go all the way up to 10 years or one hundred thousand miles.

Common Types of Auto Warranty

The three most common types of auto warranty are:

Basic: The basic and most common auto warranty covers everything except wear and tear items like oil filters, tires, batteries, wiper blades and other frequently replaced items. The U.S. federal government requires emissions equipment to be covered for two years or twenty-four thousands miles.

Drive train auto warranty: This type of auto warranty takes care of the majority of the parts that cause the car to move. These parts include the engine, transmission, drive shaft and the axles. Again, just as with the basic coverage, parts that are wear and tear items such as belts and hoses are not covered. Two items that are usually covered by drive train auto warranty are the bearings and pistons.

The third type of auto warranty is rust or corrosion protects you from rust-through problems of the sheet metal. Not this type of coverage only comes into effect if there are holes in the sheet metal. Proper maintenance of regular washing and waxing is required for most rust and corrosion auto warranty policies to remain effective.

Manufacturer to Manufacturer

Auto warranty policies can vary greatly from car manufacturer to car manufacturer. Investigate carefully and do you homework before you make a purchasing decision. Don�t let the hype of the sales person influence you. Purchasing a vehicle is a major purchase. Consider the auto warranty that comes with your vehicle carefully before you make your final decision.

When enthusiasts come into the Mancuso Harley-Davidson Dealership in Houston, Texas looking for more power for their Harley, Walter Birmingham, Assistant Parts Manager, recommends a performance package that includes exhaust pipes from D&D Performance Exhaust.

A common way to add ponies to a V-twin engine is to add a high flow air cleaner, jet kit or fuel injection module and a high-performance exhaust pipe. These three upgrades working together will show the biggest bang for the buck.

“We have four criteria in selecting a pipe that include performance, fit, finish and heat shields,” said Birmingham. “If D&D didn’t meet the performance standards we wouldn’t recommend them. They are that good.”

Birmingham has indicated that Service Technician, Jeff Skipski, is on the dealership’s dynamometer daily and acknowledges the difference between manufacturers. “As an example, we started with a stock Sportster that produced 60 HP at the crank,” said Skipski. “We added a pipe, high flow air cleaner and a jet kit to the package. When finished running it through its paces we were making 78HP. That’s a great bump in performance.”

“Horsepower at the drive-ability range from idle to 4,500 rpm is the sweet spot for Harley riders,” said Dave Rash, Mr. D&D. “You can see, feel and hear the difference immediately. Our pipes not only look good, they make the Harleys sound just the way they are supposed to.”

D&D Performance Exhaust pipes are torture-tested on D&D’s state-of-the-art in-house Super Flow Eddy Current Ram Air dynamometer. This is done in combination with the Super Flow Bench and the first in the industry, multi-cylinder Lambda Fuel Air Ratio Sensors. They are interfaced with the Dyno for real-time meter and graph analysis. Each pipe is dyno tuned for maximum performance and sound. [PRWEB]

Adding more hogs to your Harley-Davidson such as batteries or a couple of more fit-ins like power-controlling switches can result in more power generation and thus a more robust performance. Unlike a car audio, a power vehicle is not so easy to manipulate with a remote control but can only be managed through the proper fittings.

While major U.S. automakers are focusing on hybrid and fuel cell vehicles, Volvo took a different route, unveiling a sports car powered entirely with lithium-ion batteries. Volvo’s 3CC concept car, won “Best Design” and five Gold Standards at the recent Michelin Challenge Bibendum environmental competition in Shanghai, China. The unique aerodynamic styling of Volvo’s 3CC concept car allows room for a third seat in back. Volvo says the 3CC can travel 180 miles on one charge under ideal driving conditions. The Volvo 3 CC’s safety features include Volvo Safety Ride Down Concept, a unique solution with a seat system that moves forward, a bit like a sled, at the same time as the front is deformed. The result is the Volvo 3CC, a sporty and appealing, extremely aerodynamic and compact car equipped with an energy-efficient electric motor. [PRWEB May 6, 2005]

(NC)-The success of your road trip depends as much on your tires as your family’s enthusiasm. After all, they’re the only things between your precious cargo and the open road. Follow these important tire tips to keep your family safe and to enjoy road trip fun all summer long:

Check-up: “You take your kids to the doctor for regular check-ups, so why not your tires- and the rest of your vehicle?” says Celine Messiha, Marketing Manager at Uniroyal. “Before my family sets off for a road trip. I make sure to do a service check with my local dealer. It’s always best to be prepared.”

Especially before a road trip, do a complete tire check at your local Uniroyal dealer including tire pressure and tread wear on your spare. Make sure that fluids are filled up and that wipers and headlights are in good shape. Then go ahead, kick the tires and hit the road.

Peer Pressure: Be sure to regularly check air pressure in the early morning when tires are cold and haven’t been driven for at least one hour. For proper air pressure for your particular tires, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations printed in the car manual or on the placard posted inside the driver’s doorjamb or glove compartment. You’ll enjoy better fuel economy, a smoother ride and longer life for your tires.

SOS: Bring along a road trip emergency kit just in case-a blanket that can also double as a picnic blanket, flashlight, batteries, reflective warning signs, extra windshield-wiper fluid, booster cables, tire jack, a nylon tow rope, gloves and wet wipes. Carry emergency numbers, i.e., for road assistance, insurance or your family doctor.

Safety First! Worst case scenario of a flat tire? Get to the side of the road as far from traffic as possible. Find a level stretch of ground to jack up your car. Turn off the engine, turn on the hazard flashers, and place three reflective warning signs or flares behind your car-the first, 10 feet out from the back fender (even in the traffic lane if necessary); the second, 200 feet back from the centre of the trunk; and the third, 300 feet behind your vehicle at the curb to lead traffic out and away from your car. Make sure to get the kids away from the car to a place where they can wait it out at a safe distance.

For more information visit www.uniroyal.ca.

- News Canada