Rabu, 18 Maret 2009

Electric Vehicle

Electric Vehicle is a transport, witch uses electric power instead gasoline, or diesel. To power electric vehicle motors batteries are needed. Electric vehicle uses one or several electric motors to create movement. Despite engine differences, electric vehicles are very similar to regular cars. External and internal view can be the same. External design doesn’t differ much, because of aerodynamic properties and modern style.

The batteries of electric vehicle are suppliers of electric power to motor controller. It is main unit, which controls the amount of energy supplied to engines. Pressing accelerator pedal does controlling. Electric motor then transfers movement to tires. Electric motors are very efficient, because when braking electric motors acts like generators, who charges batteries. Charging car batteries with done by using regular chargers plugged to AC power supply. Mean time to charge batteries varies about 6 hours.

The main reason why electric vehicles were created is about pollution. An electric vehicle doesn’t pollute the environment and atmosphere what is unavoidable when regular engine vehicles are used. Some skeptic people say, that electric plant does pollute and there fore it can be stated, that electric motors pollute in this way. But in other hand government is strict about plant pollution outcome it can overwhelm the limits. Electric vehicles can be more effective when charging at nighttime, because the price of electric power at this time usually is twice cheaper then in daytime.

Also it is good to know that electric vehicles are more effective because there is no transmission where can be energy loses. Also electric cars are more silent and movement is smooth.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mindaugas_Marozas

By Mindaugas Marozas

Selasa, 17 Maret 2009

Classic Cars

There are a variety of definitions for what actually is considered a classic car. One of the most popular definitions of a vintage automobile is the one supplied by the Classic Car Club of America. The Classic Car Club of America insists that a vehicle cannot be a classic if it was manufactured after the year 1948.

Also, the club defines a standard automobile as a "fine or distinctive automobile, either American or foreign built, produced between 1925 and 1948." Also, a classic vehicle was high-priced when it was brand new and they were built in limited quantities. Any member of the Classic Car Club of America can petition for the club to add a automobile to their list of what they consider vintage cars but the petition will be placed under a large amount of scrutiny before any decision is made.

Individual states within the United States have their own definitions and requirements for what is a classic vehicle for the sole purpose of antique vehicle registration with those individual states. Most states' definitions include that a time-honored vehicle is one that was "manufactured 15 years prior to the current year and has been maintained or restored to a condition that is in conformity with manufacturer specifications and appearance."

The Classic Car Club of America was founded in 1952 by a group of auto owners that were being excluded from vehicle shows because they were told that the cars they owned were too modern. The list of cars that have been deemed time-honored by the Classic Car Club of America looks like this: A.C, Adler, Alfa Romero, Alvis, Amilcar, Armstrong-Siddeley, Aston Martin, Auburn, Austro-Daimler, Ballot, Bentley, Benz, Blackhawk, BMW, Brewster, Brough Superior, Bucciali, Bugatti, Buick, Cadillac, Chrysler, Cord, Cunningham, Dagmar, Daimler, Darracq, Delage, Delahaye, Delaunay Belleville, Doble, Dorris, Duesenberg, du Pont, E Icar, Excelsior, Farman, Fiat, Franklin, FN, Graham-Paige, Hispano-Suiza, Horch, Hotchkiss, Hudson, Humber, Invicta, Isotta-Fraschini, Itala, Jaguar, Jensen, Jordan, Julian, Kissel, Lagonda, Lanchester, Lancia, LaSalle, Lincoln, Lincoln-Continental, Locomobile, Marmon, Maserati, Maybach, McFarlan, Mercedes, Mercedes-Benz, Mercer, M.G. Minerva, N.A.G., Nash, Packard, Peerless, Pierce-Arrow, Railton, Raymond Mays, Renault, Reo, Revere, Roamer, Rochet Schneider, Rohr, Rolls-Royce, Ruxton, Squire, S.S. Jaguar, Stearns-Knight, Stevens-Duryea, Steyr, Studebaker, Stutz, Sunbeam, Talbot, Talbot-Lago, Tatra, Triumph, Vauxhall, Voisin, Wills Ste Claire and Willys-Knight. Not all models of the makes mentioned above are accepted by the Classic Car Club of America as classic cars. To check if a model is considered a vintage automobile by the Classic Car Club of America you will have to check their list of approved classics. They are listed in alphabetical order by the make and then divided into the models that are acceptable.

Time-honored cars are one of the most popular hobbies around today. Ask anyone. Especially ask television host Jay Leno. Leno owns quite a few time-honored cars of his own and they have appeared on his television show as well as others such as Home Improvement. Classic automobile shows are very popular across the country and occur on a year round basis.

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By Brenda Williams Platinum Quality Author

Protect Your Car From the Summer Heat

You may be accustomed to the strong heat inside your car in summer. You walk from your workplace into the car but after a day's work you are welcomed by a stifling heat in your car.

During the summer when the sun is hot, you will have felt that the stifling heat in the car is sometimes more intense than the heat outside.

That is because the air in your car is heated up like in an oven with the sun being the burner. While the car is parked there is no escape for the heated air inside with the windows closed tight. The heat depends also on the color of your car. Dark-colored cars retain more heat than light-colored cars.

It helps a lot if you can find a parking space under a shade. By doing this you will be keeping your car from that direct heat and consequently saving some of the energy the AC will have to spend on cooling the car...just do not do this by driving around the parking lot two or three times. By doing so you will burn more fuel driving than you intend to save

You can help reduce the effect of the sun on your car by using reflective sheets. These are quite cheap and although under the windshields in parked cars aren't the best lookers you may notice, they are very effective in reducing heat. These sheets reflect the sun's rays, and thus the heat. This means the car stays much cooler than it would otherwise under the summer sun.

The author of this article is a keen advocate of proper driving and alternative sources of energy to increase efficiency and save fuel. For more information about alternative energy sources that increase efficiency please go to Water Fuel Guides Reviewed

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By Napoleon Miles Platinum Quality Author

Tenerife Cheap Car Hire - Are You Getting A Good Deal?

Brief Background:

If you're travelling to Tenerife for the first time then here are some basic facts that you might find useful.

Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands, and rumour has it that it is the most popular when it comes to the annual influx of holiday-makers from across Europe.

Tenerife enjoys good year round weather conditions with relatively little difference between summer and winter month temperatures.

The scenery is stunning and when coupled with the low cost of living and alluring night-life in the main resort towns of Santa Cruz and Los Cristianos, it's no wonder that it has become a firm favourite for many.

Driving

Driving around Tenerife's highways and byways is the best way to get to know the island and discover its dramatic scenery and picturesque villages.

The TinerfeƱos as the locals are known are quite a sociable lot and tend sometimes to use driving around as way of catching up on the local gossip often stopping in the middle of road to engage in conversation with family and friends.

On arrival you basically have 2 choices of pick up and drop of locations namely:

1. Tenerife Norte - Los Rodeos Apt
2. South Tenerife - Reina Sofia Airport

For either of the above drop off/pick up locations the cost of hiring a car is roughly the same.

But do make sure that you specify the correct airport on your booking form as this will help to avoid needless time loss and confusion on arrival.

Typical Car Hire Rates:

Hire rates tend to vary greatly depending on the size, make and model. But in the main, most car hire companies will quote you roughly around £135 for an Economy Volkswagen Fox 2 dr. with AC Manual for 7 days. For those after something more sport, a 'soft-top' Volkswagen Eos Cabrio with Ac, Manual may just fit the bill. Cars with that kind of, high-spec and flashy looks don't come cheap at around the £440 mark for a week's hire. A 2-dr and 4-dr version are both available with the 4 -dr. version approximately £20 cheaper to hire for the week.

So, are you getting a good deal?

When it come to hiring a car in Tenerife it does pay to check exactly what is and isn't included in your hire rates as this does vary from company to company.

For instance your hire company should include these as standard:

1. Unlimited mileage
2. Local taxes
3. Airport hire
4. Apartment / Hotel Delivery Service
5. Driver insurance
6. Car theft insurance
7. Civil Liability
8. 24 hours emergency phone service
9. Low excess charge

If not, do shop around particularly online where you can easily compare different supplier rates and offers.

Other options that you might want to look out for are:
  • Child Seat - what's the daily hire cost?
  • Does the company offer - Out of hours Pickup / Drop off ?
  • Surcharges if any for drivers aged 25 or younger or aged 70 or older?

TIP: For rentals commencing at airport locations make sure that your booking form has accurate flight information. This is essential to ensure a timely service in case your flight is delayed.

In Conclusion

If you want to save yourself some time and hassle then click on the Tenerife cheap car hire link in the signature below to get instant access to a review of top supplier offers.

Click Tenerife cheap car hire for a review of the best hire offers. Dave Logan is an avid traveller and travel article writer. He actively researches the best airfares and travel deals available on the Internet. He has written and published several travel articles and newsletters and has helped many travel deal seekers find the hidden gems on line

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Logan

By Dave Logan

AC Cars - A British Tradition

AC Cars, more formally known as AC Cars Group, Limited, is the name of an automobile manufacturing company based in the United Kingdom. As a matter of fact, AC Cars is one of the most old and established automobile manufacturing companies in the world. The first AC car to ever be shown was at a motor show in 1903, under the pseudonym Weller Brothers - another automobile manufacturing company.

In 1904, AC Cars was officially introduced as Auto Cars and Accessories. From the three wheeler that the company originally came up with more force in 1911 after they started to call themselves Auto Carriers, Limited and shortened that to the AC brand name.

New Beginnings

In 1913, the very first four wheeled sports car was put out in 1913. It was immediately a hit, but not many of these cars were made. The first World War emerged around that time and put a serious halt to construction of these sporty little cars. They were what people were looking for at the time, but with war times come hard times and more expensive labor as there is much less of it, and for that reason AC Cars had to put a halt to the production of their first little two seater.

However, by the year 1920 there were more things in store for AC motors. For example, they were working on a six cylinder engine by 1919 and they even had some of them running that same year.

After the war ended, the AC Car company picked up a contract that helped to pay the bills but didn't really advance the AC brand name too much. They manufactured carriage cars for the handicapped and invalid and these cars had small engines in them that AC also manufactured. This contract went on for some time, for about 30 years after the contracted was initiated in 1947. The contract that AC cars had with the government paid the bills, and many of them at that. The fact that it lasted so long gave jobs to a lot of people and it kept the economy somewhat functional.

AC Ace in 1953

The AC Ace is one of the more popular models of AC motor cars. The AC Ace was first introduced in 1953, midday through the government contract for the small engine vehicles. The AC Bristol was later introduced in 1957, a cross between the AC Ace and a Bristol car with the AC cars chassis and the Bristol engine to create the AC Bristol car. The AC Bristol car was a true winner, blowing racing fans away at Le Mans two years in a row, both in 1957 and 1958.

The Implementation of the AC Cobra

In the early 1960s, the AC Car company received a proposition that would change the face of their company. While many people probably think that the Cobra was always a product of the Ford company, that is just not so. A car was needed that could rival with then-champ Chevy Corvette in motor car racing in the United States and the new AC Cobra model stepped right up to the plate. The Cobra wasn't always the fastest, sportiest thing out there, either. As a matter of fact, the car topped out at 70 miles per hour after speeding in bad conditions was leading to accident after accident. In consideration of the safety of their passengers and probably the security of their assets as well, the AC Cars company reduced the limit to 70 miles per hour so that the car could go no faster.

At first this quick little car was getting left in the dust by the Ferrari so Carroll Shelby and the AC company decided to step their game up a little bit and they boosted the size of the engine, giving it extra speed and power on the track. Eventually Shelby sold the Cobra name off to the Ford Motor Company, who then modified the Cobra idea into the Ford GT sports car.

AC Cars is and always has been a legendary car company. It is one of the oldest in the world and is often overlooked for their critical role in the Shelby Cobra vehicle.

VehicleRide is everything the current and future of cars. Find cars at VehicleRide.com and post your cars for free. Free auto classifieds

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fei_Lim

By Fei Lim

Free Power Designs and Resources - Produce & Transfer KW's of AC Power From Your Car to Your Home

Everybody has a Generator
You have a vehicle power electric system, a motor with a generator for use in an emergency power outage situation. Almost everyone has a generator right in their driveway! All you need is a small alternative power system and you can power almost anything you want even while you're away. I will show you how with this CSA approvable system to safely harness the power from your vehicle to sustain critical loads such as sump pumps or a fridge and a whole lot more. Just plug your car into your home or business when you need to and you're ready to go.

20,000 Watts or more from your Car or Truck
Did you know that you can get 20,000 Watts or more of power from a series of high powered alternators in your vehicle? With todays technology in alternator construction there are high powered units that can produce up to 4,000 Watts of power. That's equal to what a small gas powered generator can produce and the nice thing about using an alternator for power instead, is that you don't have to lug it around or put gas and change oil every 8 hours.

How it Works
This system uses your current, secondary; even multiple installed alternators in your vehicle to send DC power via quick connect battery cables to a weatherproof fused DC service entrance. From the DC service entrance that looks much like your standard household meter box without the meter, the DC power is harnessed by a battery bank. The power is then converted to usable AC power via a DC to AC inverter power electric system. There's always standby power in the battery bank as the batteries are being charged in normal hydro utility mode. This system can be a manual or fully automated one.

Problems that Occur and the Cure
The problems one might encounter with a system like this are large loads on the inverter such as a sump pump motor and fridge compressor starting up at the same time. This will overload and damage your alternator when your vehicle is connected. Another is choosing exactly what loads you want working with the system, you can't run everything at the same time. You can use a simple control circuit with relays to prioritize or time many loads in a power outage when you have little power. In addition to control circuit designs for load management, I will show you how to protect your alternator from a power electric system overload.

Some Advantages to having such a System
-Your vehicle can run for days on end, it has a large gas tank. Filling a small gas tank on a generator over and over again including adding oil can be a pain.
-System works automatically when you're not at home.
-There are literally millions of generators on the road.
-System can be upgraded with solar, wind and generator hydro; you can make your own electricity and store it.

Some Disadvantages are
-Less continuous power than a Portable Generator, depends on what alternator your system has.
-System cost can vary depending on your power requirements, mainly how much you want to run at the same time.
-Not as efficient, some loss but still very good, 90 +%.

Conclusion
Overall the advantages out way the disadvantages merely based on the fact that you have access to dependable emergency power on demand quickly and safely from any vehicle. Add alternative power products like solar panels and a wind generator to this system to create and store your own electricity. You can even build your own alternative power products and save a ton of money.

Power Electric System: Michael Thellend is an inventor, licensed electrician, certified in electronic controls and he specializes in alternative power. He offers a website with free custom ongoing resources regarding electrical, alternative, generator, vehicle and emergency power. Please visit: http://www.powerelectricsystem.com
http://www.powerhow.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Thellend

By Michael Thellend

Minggu, 15 Maret 2009

Save Money at the Gas Pump - Tips For the Driver

Your vehicle's fuel usage is a result of several factors. Overall weight, rolling resistance, the engine size and efficiency, and driveline efficiency all affect the final mileage per gallon capability. A small four cylinder sedan will get better fuel mileage than a large, V-8 equipped SUV. But no matter what vehicle you drive, there are a few things you can do to make sure you are getting the best fuel mileage your vehicle is capable of achieving.

Tip #1: Take Care of Your Tires

As a professional auto mechanic for the last 30+ years, I have worked on literally thousands of cars. And in the vast majority of cases, the tires on these cars are underinflated.

Tires are not what supports the weight of your car, the air in them does that job. Underinflated tires cause a number of problems, not the least of which is add to the rolling resistance of your car. That translates to higher fuel use and more money out of your pocket.

Tire pressures need to be checked with the tires cold. Driving even 1 mile will heat the tires up enough to raise the pressure, so wait at least 1 hour after driving or your pressure reading will be incorrect. Use a quality tire pressure gauge available at any auto parts store, and don't rely on the gauge built in to the air pump at the local convenience store. Measure the cold pressures in your driveway and make a note of how low they are, and how much air should be in them. Now drive to the closest air hose, and remeasure the pressures in the tires. Add the amount of air you would have when they were still cold.

Confusing you? Let's say the tires were all checked cold and measured 25 psi. The sticker on your door frame says they should be 30 psi. That's a 5 psi difference you need to add. Now, at the air hose the tires have heated up, and measure 30 psi. That doesn't mean they are all right...you still need to add the 5 psi they were short originally.

Adjust the tire pressures to the specification listed for your car. You can find this information in the owner's manual or listed on the placard on your car. This sticker can be typically found on the driver's side door pillar, or in the glove box. If you have trouble finding it, pay a quick visit to your local garage. They would be happy to show you.

Tires loose air over time. It's a normal condition. So check your tires at least once a week, or every time you fill the tank.

The use of nitrogen is becoming increasingly popular in tires for a variety of reasons. It is often claimed that using pure nitrogen in your tires will increase gas mileage, but that is not always the case. There are other benefits, however, that I'll cover in a future article.

Tip #2: Don't Carry Excess Weight

I've worked on cars so packed with stuff there wasn't room for the passengers. When was the last time you emptied your trunk or storage area? Are you carrying anything on that luggage rack you don't need to?

The engine uses the most fuel when warming up to operating temperature, and getting the vehicle moving from a standing start. More weight than necessary means the engine has to work harder to get all that weight moving, and that takes more gas.

Tip #3: Modify Your Driving Style

As mentioned, the engine consumes the most fuel getting the weight of the car moving. Shotgun starts from a stop only add to that factor, so don't try to drag race from a dead stop.

Another common practice for many drivers is keeping one foot on the brake pedal. Even light pressure will engage the brakes enough to increase rolling resistance and lower fuel mileage. Keep your foot near, but not on, the pedal.

Lastly, it used to be thought that using the air conditioning system on your car resulted in higher fuel consumption. That may have been true years ago, but not so today. In fact, because of the focus on aerodynamics, driving with the windows DOWN actually adds to rolling resistance and increases fuel usage. So go ahead and turn on the AC!

Tip #4: Keep the Fuel System Clean

The amount of fuel added is controlled by your car's engine management computer, and it can compensate for variances in a number of factors. One is the variance in fuel supply from the tank all the way through the injection system.

However, there is a fuel injector for each individual cylinder on a modern engine, and they don't all get dirty at the same rate. The computer can only manage the needs for sets of injectors at a time, and a dirty fuel filter can allow enough contamination to get through to affect the flow of these injectors. The resulting variance will impact overall fuel economy.

Change your fuel filter every year or every 30,000 miles at a minimum. You can also have your fuel injectors cleaned at the same time by a reputable service facility. Just make sure to ask if their Fuel Injection Service does indeed pass through the injectors themselves, as many such services only clean the combustion chamber and valve train. While this is a good thing, it is not a complete service.

Tip #5: Don't Forget the Air Filter

Like the fuel filter, the computer on your car can compensate for air flow restrictions caused by a dirty air filter. It's the dirt that gets through that causes the problem.

On many modern cars, there is a sensor in line with the incoming air that tells the engine management computer how much air there is. The computer uses this information to decide how much fuel the engine will need to run efficiently. Dirt and other contaminants can affect the accuracy of this sensor, and result in increased fuel mileage.

Inspect your air filter every time you change the oil in your car. You do change the oil, don't you? A quick test is to remove the filter and drop it on a clean surface. Any sign of dirt that falls out of the filter onto the surface indicates a filter that needs changing.

Tip #6: Have Your Brake System Inspected

You should have your brakes inspected at every oil change for safety. But problems in the brake and wheel systems can also increase fuel use by adding to the rolling resistance of your car. Brakes that are improperly adjusted or dragging, wheel bearings that are worn or adjusted too tight, are just a few of the related issues that lower fuel mileage.

Choose a competent technician to perform this service, and if they do recommend work, make sure they can visually show you why the work is necessary.

Tip #7: How the Computer Knows

The primary sensor the computer uses to know that it is supplying the correct amount of fuel is called the oxygen sensor. There may be 2 or more, depending on the engine design.

These sensors can age, and begin to respond more slowly than they should. So much so, it may even turn on your car's Check Engine light. But even before they reach that stage, they can begin to affect fuel mileage. Manufacturers of these sensors recommend routine replacement at least every 60,000 miles but I've personally owned cars with much higher mileage with no loss of performance from these sensors.

A competent technician can usually tell you if your oxygen sensors are aged enough to impact your fuel economy. He'll rely on testing procedures that requires specialized equipment so he can see what the computer is seeing. They aren't cheap to replace, especially if there is more than 2, so you will have to weigh that decision on its relative worth.

Follow these 7 tips and you'll keep more of your gas budget dollars in your pocket.

Peter F. Meier is an ASE certified Master Technician with over 35 years in the field. He also writes for several industry publications and is the author of "Automotive Driveabiity: A Guide to Engine Performance Diagnosis". You can find Pete at http://www.autoservicetech.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Meier

By Peter Meier