Fuel Ez

A Greener Motoring Future

A Greener Future Means YOU Need a Greener Car!
What’s the issue?

A ‘greener car’ is a vehicle that produces less harmful emissions to the environment than regular vehicles. It’s a common misconception that it will cost the consumer more to have a greener car. Smaller regular cars are greener to an extent because they use less fuel and therefore burn off less emissions. As well as saving money on road tax and petrol.

CO2 emissions contribute towards the greenhouse effect, which causes climate change. This in turn effects the worlds weather conditions and causes extreme weather conditions to happen more frequently with more severity.

In order to prevent this, a concerted effort towards reducing ones carbon footprint must be taken. A big step towards this would be the changing the transport used in favour of a more eco-friendly transport or invest in a greener car.

Alternative forms of fuel

There have been different fuels provided for use in cars and other vehicles that significiantly lower CO2 emissions.

Diesel; Diesel reduces CO and HC emissions but does however emit greater levels of Nox. This can reduce air quality in urban areas.

LPG & CNG; These are generally converted from pertol fuelled cars, either by the orginal manufacturer or an aftermarket converter. LPG and CNG vehicles tend to be bi-fuel, meaining they can run on petrol or gaseous fuel. LPG vehicles tend to fall between petrol and diesel in CO2 performance. LPG tend to fall between petrol and diesel in terms of CO2 emissions. This is due to the lower carbon and higher energy content by mass of the fuel. CNG offers even lower CO2 emissions than LPG. LPG could be seen very similar to diesel. CNG also emits CO, HC, Nox and particles. In terms of performance, CNG and LPG are as good as petrol.

Hybrids; Hybrids combine an internal combustion engine with an electric motor and a battery. The Hybrid’s 3 energy sources can work with each other in various ways in order to perform. Hybrid’s offer reduced fuel consumption and reduced CO2, as well as possible reduction in some pollutants. This is an excellent example of a greener car.

Bio fuels; Bio fuels reduce CO2 emissions drastically when compared with petrol and diesel. Most bio fuels are sold in a blend of petrol/diesel counting for 5% of fuel used by the greener vehicle.

Flexi-Fuel; Flexi-fuel is a blend that runs on 85% bio ethanol and 15% Petrol. However, there are currently limited retailing sites that offer this fuel. Flexi-fuel is compatible with existing vehicles.  Some manufacturers offer ‘flexi-fuel’ vehicles that can run on bio ethanol blends up to E85 – a blend of 85% bio ethanol and 15% petrol, as well as fossil petrol. There are currently limited retailers that will sell this bio-fuel, but this number is set to grow.

Steps already taken in the UK to reduce emissions with a Greener Car

In the March 2001 Budget the Chancellor announced the extension of the lower rate of Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) to cover cars in the Private and Light Goods (PLG) taxation class with an engine size of 1549cc or less.

Since March 2001, a system of Graduated VED has been in operation for new cars based primarily on their level of CO2 emissions.

Since April 2002, Company Car Tax has been based on the CO2 emissions of the vehicle provided to an employee for their private use.

In the March 2006 Budget, the Chancellor introduced a zero rate for cars with the lowest carbon emissions and a new top band for the most polluting cars.

Steps you could take to help
Pump up to cut down

Under-inflated tyres create more resistance when your car is moving, which means your engine has to work harder, so more fuel is used and more CO2 emissions are produced.

Less clutter in your car means less CO2

Clutter in your boot is extra weight your engine has to lug around. By removing it, you could reduce your engine’s workload.

Less stopping and starting means less CO2

Every time you stop then start again in a traffic queue, the engine uses more fuel and therefore produces more CO2. Keep an eye on the traffic ahead and slow down early by gently lifting your foot off the accelerator while keeping the car in gear.

Over revving accelerates emissions

Modern car engines are designed to be efficient from the moment they are switched on, so revving up like a Formula 1 car in pole position only wastes fuel and increases engine wear. Using your gears wisely by changing up a gear a little earlier can also reduce revs.

Idling is wasting fuel

When the engine is idling you’re wasting fuel and adding to CO2 emissions. If you’re likely to be at a standstill for more than 3 minutes, simply switch off the engine.

Current Issues

The European Commission and the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) came to an agreement in July 1998 that committed ACEA to reduce the CO2 emissions from new passenger cars by over 25% to an average CO2 emission figure of 140 g/km by 2008.
The government admitted in July 2008 what experts have been saying for some time — that it will miss by a large margin its own target of cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent from 1990 levels by 2010.
However, In September 2008, Gordon Brown stated he wants the current target of a 60 per cent cut in CO2 by 2050 raised to 80 per cent.
Although advancements in optimising the use of fuel to reduce emissions, technolgocial advances have led to heavier and larger vehicles being produced, so whilst emissions reduce the world load on the fuel has increased, causing no real change in emissions when cars are compared with those of the 1980’s.

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Quick Tips To Efficient Car Rental

If you are thinking of taking a trip to Ireland then Cork will more than likely be on your itinerary. The best way to see this wonderful place is to do it by car. Car hire in Cork is not very difficult to arrange. All that you have to do is to follow a few guidelines and you will have a stress free trip to a wonderful destination.

As soon as you have made your decision start to look at the various car rental services that they have in Cork so that you can choose the best one that suits your needs. If you book it way in advance you are more likely to have fewer problems and also will benefit from cheaper rates.

If you are seeking to have a quiet holiday which is not very expensive you should arrange to visit Ireland during the off season. That means that the summer months, St. Patrick’s weekend and Christmas are out. You will have a better option of car choices as well in the off- peak periods.

If you really want that vacation and are looking to have fun but save a bundle then you should consider getting a cheap Cork car hire deal. With that option you will have the option of renting a smaller car. It will save you money not only on the rental but on fuel costs as well and an added plus is that they will handle better on the narrow country roads of Ireland.

A good tip that you can bear in mind is that if your flight will be getting into Cork late in the night you can always arrange to get your car in the morning. It makes more financial sense.

Always remember that you should rent a car bearing your needs in mind. If you need a lot of space in your car then get one with lots of space. Also be careful to read the fine print in the contracts of the various Cork car rental companies. Ensure that there are no hidden fees or additional charges that were not mentioned from the outset.

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Going Green with Hybrid Vehicles

Automotive transportation has dramatically altered the environment because it contributes to a majority of greenhouse gases released into the air. Our consumption of gas leaves large quantities of carbon emissions that continue to destroy the environment at an alarming rate. Mending the hole in the ozone layer will take time, but it is only possible through everyone’s participation in the green movement. You can do this in many ways, and one of the most important is by changing your transportation habits. While sitting on a crowed city bus or walking may not appeal to everyone, you can still go green while driving if you switch to an alternative fuel car.

Hybrid vehicles can help you go green by reducing the amount of carbon emissions directly. Since hybrids use a combination of gas and electric power, they run on less gas and thereby create less fuel emissions. Hybrids typically run on 30 mpg or more depending on make and model. Some car manufactures claim you can squeeze out 40 or more mpg, depending on your driving style.

Different types of hybrid vehicles depend on how they operate from gas to electric power. A full hybrid allows the driver to run on just gas, electric power, or both. When driving in typical conditions, the full hybrid relies on power from both the gas engine and electric motor. The electric engine can power the car alone when used for stop-and-go traffic or for low speeds. Both electric and gas motors stop when the car is idling. A mild hybrid contains an electric motor that allows the engine to turn off and start up quickly to reduce gas consumption, but the gas engine is the primary power source. The electric motor in the mild hybrid primarily functions when higher speeds or more power is required.

Electric hybrids are not the only alternative fuel cars on the market. Auto manufacturers continue to experiment with hydrogen powered vehicles, also known as hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. This type of vehicle emits no dangerous greenhouse gases since the byproduct is simply heat and water vapor. Unfortunately, it could take many years before you see these fuel cell vehicles in large numbers due to developmental complications such as affordability, winter driving, and durability.

All electric vehicles are powered by an electric motor that charges from a battery. While these vehicles offer no harmful emissions and inexpensive operating costs, manufactures have failed to create a viable market due to excessive costs to consumers and a short battery life. The battery takes several hours to charge once drained, and can be extremely expensive to replace after only a few years.

Affordability and green power has enabled hybrid vehicles to thrive in this market. It won’t be long before auto manufacturers stop producing gas guzzling vehicles and replace them with alternative fuel cars. People’s budgets and the environment will benefit both now and in the future.

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Accurate Biodiesel Blending Practice & its Importance to Global Market Consumer Confidence?

Accurate Biodiesel Blending is Important to building global market consumer confidence. The biofuels industry must work to ensure that poorly blended biofuels are caught before they get to the end user. In colder climates, the thicker layers of the fuel can congeal and plug fuel lines, injectors or filters, stopping an engine. What is this material that congeals? It has to do with the feedstock that the biodiesel it was produced from. Feed stocks, especially those produced with used cooking oils (UCO), waste vegetable oils (WVO), yellow grease or animal fats (Tallow) will produce high levels of fall out materials. These layers of material can also be caused by incomplete removal of glycerin, soaps, waxes, or resins during the Transesterification process.

Government incentives are the backbone of the biofuel industry right now. Federal and state tax incentives are based on the amount of biofuel placed in the market. Companies that over report the amount of biofuel present in an advertised blend defeat the purpose of the tax credit and reduce government revenues. Biofuel advocates are concerned that inaccurate blending and poor press reports will lessen consumer confidence in their fledgling industry.

Companies such as 70CentsaGallon.com are offering cost effective solutions through a standalone biodiesel blending unit that will scientifically blend any blend of biodiesel. It has the ability to produce biodiesel at 350 Gallons per minute and if running non-stop it could put out 180 million gallons annually. It uses an injection blending technology that surpasses any blending technology out there. This set up is a 30,000 gallon gross set up which could be configured to the needs of the customers. These larger consumers range from governmental & city fleets to large transportation companies that rely on diesel biofuel to keep cost down and help the environment.

Just like any fuel station pump, a customer can pull up, insert their credit card, and purchase any one of three blends to fuel their diesel vehicle. The fuel is blended by two electronically controlled pumps and metering valves before being sent through the filling hose to the customer’s fuel tank.

These units are self contained just run power to it and your ready to dispense fuel. No holes to dig, plumbing to run or assembly. It’s the hassle free way to introduce alternative fuels at your station, or use them for your fleet.

The blend can also be programmed to suit individual needs as well. The units handle Bio-Diesel and regular Diesel onsite blending them into B20, B50, and B99 products. Fleet operators will benefit by consistently using the correct blend for each piece of equipment.

With new technologies like onsite biodiesel blending units to ensure proper blending of the fuels, the fledgling biofuels industry can grow and ensure global consumer confidence.

Biofuel will play a very important part in meeting the worlds growing energy need, Biofuel has a place in not only our past, but in our future as well.

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PULSAR – A fuel-efficient solar car

All car buyers take note – Here is a car that can give you about 2,000 kilometers for every liter of gasoline!! If that is not a mean machine then what is. PULSAR, a solar car designed by the students of University of PURDUE, promises to bring your gasoline bills down in a big way. With this solar powered car now, you can do the travelling for one full month or more, and pay for only one liter of gasoline!!

More about PULSAR

First things – This is the solar car of the century, and is different in most aspects from other solar impostors. It has three wheels, and weighs light (At about 50 Pounds). The panels have photovoltaic cells, which help in converting solar energy to electricity, which is further fed on to a motor.

Solar energy has been efficiently used in many solar cars. But solar powered cars have one inherent disadvantage – They just don’t run as fast as compared to a Lamborghini or a SUV! Well, if you are driving on a crowded city road, you would have wanted a vehicle that runs on 40 miles an hour, and not more, lest you risk accidents.

To PULSAR’s credit, it has no misthoughts of being a wonder car. With a maximum speed of 40 kilometers per hour tops, you have a solar car in your gallery that will give you good value for money.

Things to be improved about PULSAR

1. PULSAR can be driven only in areas that have a predominantly sunny climate. When it snows in your city virtually all year around and with the sun playing hide and seek most of times, this solar car can be virtually ineffective.

2. Though the car designers are not saying it, one thing is for sure – This car would need a high degree of maintenance. The photovoltaic cells need to be kept in top shape at all times.

3. By the looks of it, PULSAR does not look like a family car. It can thus be useful if you wish to drive down to your office and come back to your home.

PULSAR is definitely not a car for you to have your family in this solar car and zoom away for a long weekend. You could possibly take multiple trips, if you want, and yet not pay a lot for the gasoline. With 2000 kilometers per liter of petrol, you wouldn’t really mind paying a fortune for this car, isn’t it?

Thumbs up to PULSAR!!!

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Atlanta Limousine – Ride Green

Olympus Limousines, has taken an unprecedented pre-emptive action to reduce its impact on the environment by launching a comprehensive program to take on climate change issues.

The Olympus Limousines plan is based on the belief that the uncertainty and risks presented by global warming are so great, it is better to take action immediately rather than to wait for scientific research and technological improvements to “fix” climate change.

Olympus Limousines commitment to reducing our carbon footprint has lead us to be a founding member of the Limousine Environmental Partnership (LEAP). LEAP’s philosophy is simple: Reduce, Renew and Offset. Every LEAP partner, including Olympus Limousines, is taking action to reduce our carbon emissions, support the renewable energy industry, and neutralize the remaining carbon emissions – Olympus Limousines is, today, 100% carbonfree.

Olympus and LEAP are committed to the development and maintenance of an environmentally-friendly business model. Through our comprehensive initiatives, we are setting the emission reduction standards for the executive ground transportation industry in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Olympus Limousines is proud to be part of the first organization of transportation industry veterans and environmental experts working together to promote education and action within the executive ground transportation industry to address the problems created by climate change.

Simply put, our partnership in LEAP is supporting a common sense approach for our company and industry to transition to a cleaner, more environmentally friendly service.

At Olympus Limousines, LEAP has implemented comprehensive programs designed to help us exceed industry standards by providing detailed auditing, goal setting, and carbon offsetting.

Olympus Limousines and LEAP have introduced comprehensive and customized strategy to our operation that will, over the next five years, result in a significant reduction of the company’s energy consumption. Today, Olympus is actively involved in:

- A Carbon Emissions Inventory Assessment

- Emissions Goal Setting (in conjunction with the EPA)

- Integration of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction Strategies

- 100% Carbon Offsetting

- Voluntary Reporting to the EPA

- Use of FlexFuel vehicles

Other alternative actions that are being followed are:

1. Olympus Limousines has taken delivery on new flex-fuel SUVs This equipment can run on either gasoline or E85 – a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline — or a combination of both. “The availability of E85 will grow exponentially over the next few years, and right now, our SUVs utilize Active Fuel Management™.” This new technology lets the vehicles use all cylinders when power is needed and fewer cylinders when practical for better mileage.

2. Olympus has converted all paper documents – including confirmations, receipts, invoices, etc – to digital formats. The company has reduced its use of paper by more than 50%.

3. All Olympus light fixtures are now equipped with Energy Star certified compact fluorescent light bulbs, which are 75% more energy efficient than regular bulbs.

4. All Olympus Limousines promotional materials, including brochures, are printed on recycled paper and the company’s monthly newsletters and other new business mailings have been converted to digital formats and email.

5. Olympus has instituted a buy “green” preferred supplier partnership – office supplies, computers, and all other office-related products are purchased from companies that have established sustainability programs.

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For more information regarding the program, please contact:

Johan DeLeeuw at 404-524-8000 or visit Atlanta Limousine – Olympus Limousines and Chauffered Services.

Benefits Of Hybrid Cars For The Consumer

Hybrid automobiles are autos that operate efficiently on either fuel or electricity. The mixture of applying fuel and utility power can make hybrid vehicles both  environmentally-friendly and cost-efficient.

The vast majority of hybrid autos are powered by two diverse engines: a fuel engine and an energy motor. The fuel engine is responsible for starting and stopping the vehicle, whilst the energy motor is accountable for actually making the auto move. By making use of the two engines in this way, the vehicle isn’t completely dependent on fuel. This, in turn, cuts down on the environmental pollution & the amount & therefore cost of gas used.

Hybrid motors get considerably better gas mileage than the traditional internal combustion motor. Most get between twenty and thirty miles per gallon more than standard automobiles. All hybrids turn off the gas engine immediately when the vehicle is stopped. This preserves gas and is more desirable for the environment. When you push the gas pedal, the motor turns back on immediately. The gas engine will also come on to start charging the batteries when they become low on power.

Because a reduced amount of fuel is used in these automobiles, there is less pollution causing emissions sent into the environment. In addition, there is a lower amount of co2 released into the environment. Several scientists and environmentalists link carbon dioxide to global warming.

Hybrid vehicles have been both the beneficiary of and the inspiration for fresh technological developments in the automotive industry. Thorough testing has determined that some models of hybrid vehicles can be more fuel successful than straight gasoline powered autos and also be just as responsive and powerful. Hybrid cars remain now a viable choice for families and businesses that would like to reduce their reliance on petroleum, conserve money on fuel, and impact the environment in a greater way.

8 Reasons Why Biodiesel is a Viable Alternative Fuel

The diesel engine has been around since 1895, its inventor Rudolf Diesel always intended it to run off vegetable based oils. In fact the first diesel engine ran using peanut oil as its fuel. Over time it has gained a reputation for being a smelly polluting form of power, but recent rises in the price of oil, and the realization that fossil fuels will eventually run out, not to mention the damage burning them does to our planet, has resulted in renewed interest in fuel made from plant oils or biodiesel. Is biodiesel a viable alternative fuel? I think it is, and I hope the following 8 distinct advantages will convince you too.

1. Renewable source:

The oil that is used to make biodiesel comes from a renewable source, and so will never run out.

2. Less CO2:

Burning biodiesel produces 80% less CO2 when compared to regular diesel.

3. Less harmful emissions:

It produces no harmful bi-products when it burns. There are no sulfur dioxide fumes.

4. Smells better:

When filling your tank, or as you drive, there are no horrible smells like the ones associated with traditional diesel. In fact people have described a bio fueled vehicles fumes as smelling like french fries or donuts.

5. Burns cleaner:

We can say goodbye to clouds of dirty black smoke, as this bio fuel burns clean under all conditions.

6. Safer:

Biodiesel has a flash point of 300 degrees Centigrade compared to fossil fuel diesel’s flash point of 150 degrees Centigrade. So there is a significant reduction in the chance of fire.

7. Protects the engine:

It has a natural lubricating action on the engine, and so induces less wear. Also because it burns clean it produces less carbon and no sulfur. So your engine builds up fewer dirty deposits too.

8. It’s a direct replacement for regular diesel:

Most diesel cars can use the bio equivalent with little or no modification. So after you check with your engines manufacturer, you can probably swap over to bio fuel today! Many regular diesel products may already contain up to 20% bio produced fuel anyway.

For these reasons I hope I have shown biodiesel is a viable alternative fuel to replace regular diesel. Using it in your vehicle could save you money, and you will also be helping to look after the environment.

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Make Your Car 20 % More Fuel Efficient : These Simple Tips Show How

Apart from checking spark plugs don’t overlook the plug leads, including the oft forgotten lead from the distributor to the ignition coil. If these are old then they can cause misfires and poor or even no starting in damp conditions. Change them if you think they’re suspect.

It probably seems elementary but having the tyres at the correct pressures can make a real difference to your car’s fuel consumption, up to 8% if they’re too soft.

Make a saving of 10% just by driving smoothly, no drag take offs! And braking in good time helps.

Get into the highest gear possible as soon as your car is ‘happy’ with it. Less throttle, more cash in your pocket. Obviously, don’t slog up hills in top gear or you will lose any savings you’ve gained so far.

You wouldn’t normally walk around with your pockets full of lead, so it makes sense to get everything unnecessary out of your car. That weight saving just saved you some hard earned cash.

It’s nice to put the air-conditioning on when it’s a hot day, but that cold breeze is costing you fuel as the pump saps power out of your car’s engine.

We’ve all done it but don’t idle the engine unnecessarily, the engine doesn’t warm up quickly and apart from wasting fuel, there’s always the risk of wear inside the car’s engine.

Beware of the heated rear window, that imposes a load on the alternator, increasing it’s resistance and making the engine work harder. Fortunately, a lot of cars have heated rear windows which switch off automatically after a period of time.

And finally, if you don’t need it, get the roof rack off. Only fit it when you need to use it. It causes drag, which of course wastes fuel but also makes a lot of noise which can be worrying first time, I thought my car’s wheel bearings were failing until I twigged!

And finally, I promise, the best fuel economy  and health tip of all. If you don’t need to use the car, leave the keys on the coffee table. And walk. To the paper shop, the local store, wherever. You’ll feel better, so will your wallet, and so will the planet.

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Hybrid Cars Is An Attempt To Make The Environment Green

As far as the progress in technology is concerned, the hybrid cars are perhaps one of the best inventions of technology. Now what are exactly hybrid cars? These cars have benefited the citizens of USA to a great extent in the sense that they have added a new tax incentive for these car owners.

The hybrid cars are actually fuel efficient car and it generally works on two types of motors. There is an electric-powered motor running on one hand while on the other hand there is a gasoline powered motor. Both these kinds of motors maintain a great balance and help to run the car in any kind of situation. The hybrid cars have a special system that can capture the braking energy so as to store it in an onboard battery.

When the car is in the idle stage for instance in the traffic signals or when the car is running at a low speed, the electric motors do not use energy at all. They get automatically turned off. On the other hand, when the hybrid cars run at higher speed they can give more power and run the car more efficiently.

When the hybrid cars run at higher speeds, the gas motor automatically gets kicked in to give a new feel to the driver while driving the car. While the car is in its running stage, the battery gets automatically charged. So when the battery gets low, the gas motor starts on its own and the electric battery starts getting charged. While charging, the hybrid never has to be plugged into the outlet. Even if the fuel gets over, the gasoline powered battery can greatly serve a good purpose in running the car efficiently.   

The greatest benefit of the hybrid cars is that they are great to reduce the impact of air pollution on the environment. Normal cars emit a lot of fuel combustion containing carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. These are greatly harmful for the environment. The hybrid cars on the other hand do not produce any kind of smog or combustion consequently reducing the impact on the environment.

Thus the hybrid cars can serve a great purpose not only in terms of saving the environment from pollution but also from the shortage of fuel. When there is consequent shortage of fuel in the world, these hybrid cars would really serve a great utilitarian purpose.    

It is because of these reasons that the popularity of the hybrid cars have increased to a great extent. Though they are little expensive and the complexity involved in the hybrid cars are quite huge yet when it comes to the great utility purpose of these cars, it certainly exceeds every thing. Apart from the hybrid cars, technology has also brought forward other models like Lexus LFA. This car conveys a high tech image and is also designed to save the environment.