The options you choose for your new vehicle could save you a bundle at the pumps. Although some of these options do add extra weight and use more power, they improve fuel efficiency considerably:. Aluminum wheels are lighter alternatives to steel and reduce the vehicle’s overall weight

. Block heaters in the winter when set on a timer 2 hours before you leave for work will enable you to start a semi-warm engine. The vehicle will be easier to start and using a block heater will help the vehicle reach normal operating temperatures quicker

. Cruise control helps drivers maintain a constant speed and avoid inadvertent speeding which guzzles fuel

. Navigation systems take the guesswork out of travelling and reduce driving distances, traffic congestion and fuel use

. Removable roof racks help reduce drag and fuel consumption by allowing drivers to pick and choose when to use them-you may find that you can get by with a smaller car

. Sunroofs in city driving improve air circulation and reduce the need for air conditioning. Tilting sunroofs are the best because they maintain the vehicle’s aerodynamic contour

. Tinted windows: help keep the vehicle cool by reducing the amount of sunlight that passes into the vehicle, and thus reduces the need for air conditioning.

By choosing these and other options for your car, you can save money at the pumps and help reduce harmful emissions which hurt the environment.

Natural Resources Canada is a trusted source of information on fuel efficiency and has produced all kinds of helpful tips and tools. Visit Natural Resources Canada’s website at vehicles.gc.ca or call 1-800-387-2000 to learn about the EnerGuide Label for Vehicles, the Fuel Consumption Guide and for other tips and tools to encourage fuel efficiency.

Credit: www.newscanada.com

Technology is making it so easy to do just about everything nowadays, including the way we drive and how fuel-efficient our vehicles are. Consider going high tech if you want to lower your consumption, reduce your greenhouse gas emissions and save fuel. Look for these high tech bells and whistles when you go to buy a new or used vehicle:. Variable valve timing and lift: improves the flow of fuel and air during the engine cycle by varying the opening and closing of the engine valves depending on need. The technology can result in both greater power and better fuel efficiency.

. Cylinder deactivation allows V-6 and V-8 engines to operate as though they had fewer cylinders. While cylinder deactivation cannot decrease the weight of engines, it does reduce fuel consumption under light-load cruising conditions by only delivering fuel to activated cylinders.

. Gasoline and Diesel direct injection uses sophisticated electronic fuel-flow and air-flow controls, and precision injectors which inject the fuel directly into the cylinder and optimize the ideal mixture of air and fuel during combustion.

. Continuously Variable Transmission: Or CVT’s don’t have a gearbox with a set number of gears, instead they typically operate on a pulley configuration that allows an infinite number of engine/wheel speed ratios. This technology results in better engine speed matching, ideal “gear” selection and improved fuel efficiency.

. Hybrid Technology: by combining an internal combustion engine with an electrical motor and battery pack, most hybrids today can achieve improvements in fuel efficiency by using the electric motor to supplement engine power. Some hybrids can also operate exclusively using the electric motor at low speeds. Batteries do not require plugging in and are recharged by harnessing the energy from braking and from the engine. Hybrids are ideal vehicles for individuals who travel predominantly in the city under stop and go conditions. Consumers can use this information to help them buy, drive and maintain their vehicles in ways that will conserve energy, preserve the environment, protect their health and save money. Visit Natural Resources Canada’s website at vehicles.gc.ca or call 1-800-387-2000 to learn about the EnerGuide Label for Vehicles, the Fuel Consumption Guide and for other tips and tools to encourage fuel efficiency.

Credit: www.newscanada.com

The amount of fuel your vehicle consumes can vary considerably from its published ratings. If you drive with fuel efficiency in mind, you can achieve those numbers, or even exceed them. Here are some tips for getting there:. Consult your owner’s manual for driving and maintenance advice for optimum performance and efficiency

. Follow the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance schedule

. Check fluid levels at least once a month

. Measure your tire pressure at least once a month

. Avoid speeding

. Use cruise control

. Use your air conditioning sparingly

. Remove unnecessary weight

. Take off the roof rack

. Leave the car at home or park partway to your destination

These are just some of the tools consumers can use to help drive and maintain their vehicles in ways that will conserve energy, preserve the environment, protect their health and save money.

Visit Natural Resources Canada’s website at vehicles.gc.ca or call 1-800-387-2000 to learn about the EnerGuide Label for Vehicles, the Fuel Consumption Guide and for other tips and tools to encourage fuel efficiency.

Credit: www.newscanada.com

Ford has chosen Eaton Corporation to provide advanced air delivery compressors for their FreedomCAR and fuel cell demonstration program.

Green Car Congress reports that “Eaton has been developing engine air management components and systems for passenger vehicles and stationary engine manufacturers for decades. Its expertise includes Roots-type superchargers and by working with the fuel-cell stack manufacturers, its advanced engineering group has successfully applied the supercharger compressor technology to the fuel-cell environment.”

Read the full story.

A new organization - Argentine Biofuels Chamber (ABC) - aims to bring together biofule experts in the private as well as the public sector, as well as to bring in academic experts.

Green Car Congress reports “Launched recently in Buenos Aires, its founding members include US investors looking to break into the booming biofuels industry, European biofuel associations eager to purchase the sector’s output, and international vendors seeking to sell equipment and services.”

Read the full story.

The Environmental Protection Agency is creating rules to try to make car mileage on stickers more accurate.

The Chicago Tribune Reports:

Though the new procedures are expected to reduce the estimates from 5 percent to 25 percent, the agency’s boilerplate warning will still apply: Your mileage will vary.

“We are very confident these new values will be more reflective of the real world, but how you drive is still the more important factor,” said Margo Oge, director of the EPA’s transportation and air quality division. “They should always be viewed as estimates. We don’t want consumers to view them as absolute values.”

Read the full story on more accurate mileage.

People and Planet reports that the future looks bright in terms of fuel efficiency and the reduction of dependence on oil:  ”Biofuels can significantly reduce global dependence on oil, according to a new Worldwatch Institute report. This says that athough oil still accounts for more than 96 per cent of transport fuel use, biofuel production has doubled since 2001 and is poised for even stronger growth as the industry responds to higher fuel prices and supportive government policies.”

While the research is very promising, Biofuels for Transportation cautions that ecological and agricultural risks are possible.

Read full story.

Science Daily reports that the propane fuel cell “ran for more than 1,100 hours straight and did so with no measurable degradation in its efficiency.” 

Dennis Witmer, director of AETDL said that “from a technical point of view, it is an important milestone we have achieved here, it is one step closer to these kinds of fuel cells becoming devices that can be useful in remote locations.”

Read the full story.

(ARA) – Alternative fueled vehicles are of growing interest in the automobile industry, but what about the All Terrain Vehicle industry? Arctic Cat, a $736-million public company based in Thief River Falls, Minn., makes snowmobiles and ATV’s worldwide. The manufacturer has just announced and completed development of a twin-cylinder diesel ATV, the first on the market.The Arctic Cat diesel ATV will be aimed at markets around the globe. In fact, that is how the whole concept started. In European markets, half of passenger vehicles, and most offroad vehicles rely on #2 diesel fuel that can be up to 25 percent the cost of gasoline. Other users of the ATV are the military, which are working toward one common fuel (JP 8 ) for all their vehicles; others include American farmers and ranchers who have started to use Bio Diesel in all their machinery.

The 686cc twin cylinder, SOHC 4-stroke diesel engine, provides 30 percent greater fuel mileage over a conventional gasoline engine and provides gobs of low-end torque. The engine runs efficiently on six forms of diesel fuel (#1 DF 1, #2 DF 2, DF A Arctic, JP 5, JP 8 and Bio Diesel) with a glow plug pre-heater assist for starting.

If the term Bio Diesel has caught your attention, Arctic Cat hadn’t originally planned to test the new ATV on the alternative fuel made from vegetable oil or animal fat until the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) and the Minnesota Soybean Growers floated the biofuels idea. “They were very interested,” says Michael Sparby, AURI project director.

“Arctic Cat was very impressed with B20,” says Ole Tweet, vice president of new product development. The blend burns cleaner than conventional diesel, producing fewer carbon dioxide emissions and lower levels of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulates.

“That complements Arctic Cat’s stewardship goals,” Tweet says. “We’re trying to reduce the impact of our ATV’s on the environment and we like the idea of making an ATV that could run on renewable fuel grown by farmers, some of our best customers.”

According to the National Biodiesel Board, there is strong interest in extending the alternative fuel uses in commercial lawn-care equipment, small home generators, as well as large electrical generators that utilize backup diesel generators. In some areas, a B5 blend is being distributed for home heating, while the marine industry is testing biodiesel in large barges and towboats because the fuel is biodegradable in water, decreasing environmental risks and increasing fuel efficiency.

To learn more about the Arctic Cat diesel ATV, visit www.arcticcat.com, or log on to www.auri.org to learn more about biodiesel.

Courtesy of ARA Content

When I first heard that Toyota was aiming for a 100 mile per gallon hybrid, I thought that was pushing it.

Well, a group of “hypermilers” aren’t quite manufacturing lots of cars to go an average of 150 MPG - but they are aiming for this high fuel efficiency with a combination of driving a car known for its great mileage, the Insight, driving methods, and a smooth terrain.

That terrain is located just outside of my home - Tulsa, OK.  And it’s known for being pretty much flat and gentle to drive on.

At the end of the “Insight Marathon” this October, the Insight actually exceeded their expectations for day 1 with a relatively solid 156 + MPG.

Read all about the Insight Marathon at Clean MPG.