CARFCO

by Scott Siegel

There is some very bad advice out there in regards to improving your gas economy.  I recently saw an article from the Washington Post.  It talked about a strategy called hypermiling.  While some of the tips presented were useful and favorable ways to save gas, such as being easy on the gas pedal, others were just plain hazardous.

The post described this particular fuel saving methodology as hypermiling.  It described hypermilers as motorists who modify their driving to improve mileage and reduce emissions.  This description can describe many concerned drivers interested in conserving fuel and protecting the environment.  The difference between hypermilers and normal fuel conscious drivers is hypermilers are fanatics.

It seems any activity pushed to what one would consider fanaticism is dangerous and this is no different.  Some of the methods suggested by hypermilers can put you the driver, your passengers and other motorists in great peril.

For example here is one piece of advice offered by some hypermilers: TURN OFF YOUR CAR AND COAST.  This behavior is likened to hybrids that shut the gas engine off when the car is sitting still.  But with hybrids, the electric motor is how the vehicle starts and runs at slow speeds so the car is not really off, just running on a different system.

When you turn a conventional car off, the first thing that happens is your steering wheel locks.  You have absolutely no control of the car at that point.  The second thing is there is no power to the vehicle.  Not only can you not steer but you can’t power the car if you need to accelerate quickly if an emergency situation should arise.

Additionally the power brake system turns off.  In order to stop the car you have to literally push the brake pedal through the floor board.  No brakes is another extremely dangerous position to put you, your passengers and other drivers in.

Advice like this is irresponsible and can end up causing someone harm.  Another suggestion by Some hypermilers is to over-inflate your tires.  Again another dangerous suggestion.  Over inflating your car’s tires causes less tread to be in contact with the pavement.  The control of your vehicle is only through the contact your tires have with the road.  If you compromise that, you compromise your control and safety.

Additionally if you over inflate your tires they will wear faster.  That will result in you loosing tread and ultimately loosing more traction.  Monitoring your tire pressure is good advice.  Keeping them at the proper inflation does save fuel.  Over inflating is a safety hazard.

The basic premise of hypermilers is good.  Relearning how to drive in a responsible manner with fuel economy in mind is the best way to save gas.  While much of their advice can be called mainstream, such as slowing down, their fanaticism adds too much of a degree of danger.  Common sense driving, learning the correct way to drive fuel efficiently, is the best way to save gas.  After all, the best fuel saving device is you, the driver.

Scott Siegel is the author of a 143 page manual of industry insider information on saving gas and dollars at the pump (beatthegaspump.com). Visit us to discover how you can get better gas mileage. Find out how to improve gas mileage.

April 16, 2008 - It seems like CARFCO is starting to get some steam online.  Other sites are taking notice of us and it seems like that are people blogging information about us on their sites.  We are setting up and hope to pick up as much steam as possible.  I find this interesting and hope this continues.  Here, although working with CARFCO, I will continue to post interesting trends, eco-friendly vehicle information as well as possible car shows upcoming in locations and so forth when time permits.  You bloggers reading this can drop me a comment and I’d be glad to read them all.

Independent tests conducted by engineers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory on a BMW Hydrogen 7 Mono-Fuel demonstration vehicle have found that the car’s hydrogen-powered engine surpasses the super-ultra low-emission vehicle (SULEV) level, the most stringent emissions performance standard to date.

"The BMW Hydrogen 7’s emissions were only a fraction of SULEV level, making it one of the lowest emitting combustion engine vehicles that have been manufactured," said Thomas Wallner, a mechanical engineer who leads Argonne’s hydrogen vehicle testing activities. "Moreover, the car’s engine actively cleans the air. Argonne’s testing shows that the Hydrogen 7’s 12-cylinder engine actually shows emissions levels that, for certain components, are cleaner than the ambient air that comes into the car’s engine."

It was not an easy task to measure the Hydrogen 7’s emissions. "A gross polluter is easy to measure, but the cleaner the car the harder it is to test," said Don Hillebrand, director of Argonne’s Center for Transportation Research. "Most labs test at the SULEV level. Argonne’s vehicle testing facilities are unique in that they are able to detect even trace levels of emissions. In this case, it was near-zero emissions."

After an extensive evaluation by BMW, "Argonne’s Advanced Powertrain Research Facility was found to be the only public test facility in North America capable of testing hydrogen vehicles at these low emissions levels," said BMW’s Wolfgang Thiel, manager, operating support emissions analysis. "Zero is a very small precise number — we are pushing the boundaries of emissions testing."

Technical and program information about the Hydrogen 7 tests will be presented by Wallner and BMW North America’s Jason P. Perron Wednesday, April 2 during the National Hydrogen Association Annual Hydrogen Conference, March 30-April 3, in Sacramento, Calif. Argonne will join BMW’s Christoph Huss, senior vice president, science, traffic and vehicles regulations, in a press conference to present the test results during the Society of Automotive Engineers 2008 World Congress, April 14-17, in Detroit.

BMW has put the hydrogen model into limited series production. Although the vehicle is not yet available for sale to the general public, it is being made available to "influential public figures," whose use demonstrate a new era in clean energy, BMW has said. In the meantime, the greatest challenge to widespread use of hydrogen cars is the limited number of hydrogen refueling stations.

Argonne’s transportation research program and facilities are primarily funded by DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, which supports the development of vehicle technologies and alternative fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on foreign oil, and enables the U.S. transportation industry to sustain a strong, competitive position in domestic and world markets.

Special thanks to Science Daily

By Sandy Maseko

While truck drivers have tons of steel protecting them on the road, they can still be in danger. The following are some safety tips to help ensure truck drivers are safe on the roads, and that makes the road safer for everyone else in small vehicles as well. A truck driver needs to take care of his or her own needs before anything else. Failing to get enough rest, not eating properly, and not getting enough exercise can all affect a person physically and mentally.

Since most truck drivers travel from one part of the country to the next in order to pick up or deliver a load, the weather changes can be quick. It is important for a truck driver to have essential clothing for any kind of weather including the extreme hot and the bitter cold.

Many truck drivers log thousands of miles each month without incident. This is due to the fact that they work hard to take care of their own needs, they routinely inspect their truck and trailers, and they pay attention to what is taken place around them. Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye, so professional truck drivers know to be prepared for anything.

On team truck drivers

Most team truck drivers decide to drive in full shifts so that the other person can get sufficient rest. Basically the team will stop at regular intervals so each can eat, shower, and use the bathroom. Each person that makes up the team has to keep their own log book of their hours of service, both on duty and off duty.

There are a couple of downfalls to the concept of team truck drivers though. First, many people have their own way of doing things and this will carry over to taking care of the truck. It can create issues when each person wants things to be done their own way. Secondly, it can make it difficult for couples because even though they are in the truck for many hours per day together, they get very little time to actually spend together.

Ways of saving money

Getting a good interest rate on your truck is going to lower the cost of your overall payments. It is a good idea to pay extra on your truck towards the principal when you can. This will help you to pay it offer sooner and it will reduce the amount of interest you pay over the life of the loan.

Pay close attention to the cost of fuel when you are driving over the road. You may be able to save several cents per gallon by going to another truck stop. Many of the chain truck stops offer fuel cards that will also save you money. Each time you use your card you can save a few cents per gallon. They can also offer a points system where you can buy meals or other items from inside.

Food is another cost that truck drivers find puts a dent in their wallet. It is a good investment to get a small refrigerator for your cab. You can store lunch meat, fruits, snacks, and drinks in there. This is also more convenient than having to stop to get something to it. This will also help you eat healthier because many truck stops offer fast food options as well as a restaurant.

Let’s get access to more automotive information and reviews on automotive tools by visiting the following website: Automotive Search.