Natural Environment Blog

There is a lot of buzz around eco-friendly passenger cars, however some truck manufacturers have also decided to go greener. Many companies are interested in hybrid and all-electric vehicles, but the price of the vehicles may be discouraging. That is why the U.S. government decided to help the industry develop.

US Government Grant

In March 2009 President Obama announced Transportation Electrification Initiative worth $2.4 billion. The money will go to support companies manufacturing advanced batteries and related drive components as well as for demonstration and deployment projects. The general aim is to accelerate and facilitate the market introduction of advanced electric drive and plug-in hybrid vehicles of all kinds.

Examples of Companies Testing Greener Trucks

Some examples of companies that that want to test the greener trucks include: UPS, Coca-Cola, AT&T or FedEx.

• UPS recently ordered 200 hybrid trucks. Thanks to the new vehicles in their fleet, the company aims to decrease fuel consumption by over 170,000 gallons a year which means a reduction of CO2 emissions by 1,786 metric tons. The vehicles purchased by UPS use a Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation body and a hybrid power system from Eaton Corporation. The trucks are equipped with diesel engines combined with lithium ion battery packs and regenerative braking system.
• AT&T has purchased all-electric Ford Transit Connect vans. The lithium ion batteries enable the vehicles to go up to 80 miles (129 km) on a single charge and at a top speed of 75 miles per hour (121 km/h). The van will be officially available in the second half of 2010.
• FedEx has also invested in a greener fleet. This year they have started testing an all-electric truck called eStar. It is a medium-duty vehicle with a range of 100 miles, fully rechargeable in 6 to 8 hours. A huge advantage of eStar is that the battery is a cassette-type one and can be changed in 20 minutes, which enables the truck to be used 24/7 if needed. FedEx claims that the operating cost of eStar compared to a standard truck is 30% lower. Will it be enough to cover the extra purchase price?

For the time being the governmental grants will help the green truck industry develop. Hopefully, in the near future the manufacturers will profit from economies of scale, and their vehicles will be attractive to buyers not only due to environmental concerns.

This post was written by the team of Mascus.com. Visit our site to find various new and used trucks for sale.

If you would like to drive more environmentally friendly, but there is no chance for you to switch to a hybrid, there is probably a way to make your used car burn less fuel and therefore reduce emission.

Have you ever heard about “remapping”? Although many people will associate the term with the modified car scene, it is actually becoming an increasingly common practice amongst mainstream motorists.

What is engine remapping?

Remapping refers to a process that alters a car’s standard ECU settings to gain more horsepower and torque, and, in some cases, to reduce fuel consumption. What’s more, remapping is a cost-effective modification that, when performed by a certified remapping specialist, can take as little as two hours to complete.

Those who own turbocharged cars will benefit from the greatest power gains, with up to 30 percent more horsepower and torque obtainable after a remap, whereas non-turbo engines typically give a 10 percent gain in these areas.

For example, the hugely popular  BMW 320D, which boasts 163hp and 340Nm of torque in standard guise, will have its power rating boosted to around 190hp and 400Nm of torque after a remap. Similarly, a 1.6 TDCi Ford Focus, which only offers 109hp as standard, will gain almost 30hp after a professional remap.

Can remapping my car’s engine improve its fuel efficiency?

In many cases, yes. Although the remapping process won’t directly make your engine cleaner, it can increase its fuel efficiency rating, which will have a positive environmental effect, and benefit your wallet, too.

For example, in both the cars mentioned above, fuel consumption will drop by around 1mpg after remapping. In the case of the Volkswagen Golf GTi 1.8T, meanwhile there is a 2mpg improvement after remapping, which will add up to considerable savings over time, particularly for those doing high annual mileages. What’s more, you can achieve even greater fuel efficiency gains at the expense of power, if this is your priority.

Why would I want to change a car manufacturer’s standard map settings?

When car manufacturers launch new models, they usually map the car on standard settings to suit many markets around the world.

For example, Ireland has cold weather and Spain has warm weather, but car manufacturers usually apply a base map setting that suits both of these climates. A remap, however, exploits the car’s ECU to better suit a specific location.

Manufacturers also leave a possibility to upgrade the programme later to respond to market changes and customer demands, which leaves the opportunity for aftermarket tuning companies to offer after-sale remapping services.

How does the process work?

Many drivers talk about having their cars remapped, but most won’t be able to tell you what the process entails. Although it sounds like a highly complex procedure, it isn’t!

Unlike most car modifications, a remap doesn’t require any handheld tools such as screwdrivers and spanners. Instead, the mechanic simply plugs a diagnostics laptop into the car’s ECU and sets about introducing the new settings.

There are several ways to remap a car, but the popular method is to remap the car’s ECU by reading data on the car’s EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) chip. The easiest way to do this is by connecting a diagnostics machine to the car’s diagnostics socket, which allows the mechanic to both read and modify the car’s standard map settings. Once the data has been read, the mechanic can then choose to overwrite the EPROM file and replace it with a completely new file, which means they can apply different maps where appropriate, but also restore the original mapping settings should you need them again.

All drivers considering having their car remapped should be aware of any warranty implications – you need to know if the process will affect your manufacturer’s warranty or not, as it still counts as an aftermarket modification. For this reason, we would advise you to check with your local dealer before going ahead with the procedure.

Similarly, you should notify your insurer after having a remap carried out. Although it is almost impossible to visually trace a remap, authorised dealers will be able to tell the difference when driving the car. Most car mapping companies offer a service that allows you to have the ECU reset to the old settings for a small fee if you aren’t happy with the remap. Prices vary for each car and company, but in the UK, you can expect to shell out in the region of €350 for a remap, including labour and the required diagnostics.

This post was contributed by the Editorial Team at Car Buyers’ Guide. Car Buyers’ Guide is the publisher of Ireland’s leading motoring websites and magazines. CBG.ie is the only motoring website to have exclusive partnerships with the leading national newspaper websites (The Iris Times and Independent Newspapers). CBG.ie is visited by buyers over 450,000 times per month and users view over 11.5 million pages on the website per month.

For the latest motoring news and views, as well as road tests, videos and a host of quality used cars for sale, visit CBG.ie

When assessing cars we usually consider if they are economical to run, but we should also consider how economical our own driving habits are. Indeed, by following the fuel economy tips below, you’ll be able to save on fuel and save the planet without having to change our used car to a brand new hybrid :

1. Keep a steady average speed – avoid travelling at over 100km/h (65mph). When driving at higher speeds, your car uses most of the energy produced to combat the air resistance. As a result, your car’s fuel consumption is most effective at the speed of 50-90km/h (30-50mph), so it’s best to avoid over-accelerating wherever possible.
2. Use the highest possible gear – most cars’ engines are more effective at lower revs, so make sure you change up as you accelerate to keep the revs down around 1,500 - 2,500rpm.
3. Clean your car’s air filter regularly – driving your vehicle with a dirty filter can reduce its economy by 10 percent, as this restricts the air from reaching the engine.
4. Make your car lose some weight – Every extra 25kg makes your car consume 1 percent more fuel, so remove all the unnecessary items you’re carrying around, such as a roof box or bicycle rack, if you’re not going to use them in the near future.
5. Predict the situation down the road – when you see red lights or traffic ahead, do not accelerate. Speeding unnecessarily and then braking rapidly burns more fuel than if you drove at a steady pace.
6. Do not leave the engine idling – even when idling, an engine consumes fuel. So, if you’re stationary for more than 10 seconds, it’s more economical to stop the engine and then restart it when required.
7. Close the windows – if driving at more than 50km/h (30mph) open windows increase the air resistance, which will be reflected in more frequent visits to the petrol station.
8. Pump up your tyres – correct air pressure is essential for economical driving. What’s more, it’s easy to monitor and control your tyre pressure, as most petrol stations have a gauge and pump that drivers can use free of charge.
9. Avoid overusing the air-conditioning – use your air-conditioning only when it’s necessary, as it can increase the fuel consumption by up to 10 percent.
10. Ask yourself one simple question before each journey – ‘do I really need to go by car?’ For short hops, consider using a bike or walking from time to time, thereby cutting your fuel consumption and your carbon footprint.

This post was contributed by CBG.ie. Visit us to find more motoring advice, news and reviews as well as a comprehensive list of new and used cars for sale.

If you’re on the market for a hybrid car, chances are you’re interested in doing your bit for the environment. On that basis, I’ve listed the best hybrid cars from 2007, ranked by how economical they are as reported by fueleconomy.gov.  Generally, the more economical a hybrid is, the less greenhouse gas and air pollution it produces.

Here are the best hybrid cars, ranked by fuel economy:

1. Toyota Prius Hybrid (51 - 60 Miles Per Gallon)
2. Honda Civic Hybrid (49 - 51 Miles Per Gallon)
3. Nissan Altima Hybrid (39 - 42 Miles Per Gallon)
4. Toyota Camry Hybrid (39 - 40 Miles Per Gallon)
5. Honda Accord Hybrid (28 - 35 Miles Per Gallon)
6. Saturn Aura Hybrid (28 - 35 Miles Per Gallon)
7. Lexus GS 450h (25 - 28 Miles Per Gallon)

The Toyota Prius is widely recognized as being the best of the hybrid cars as far as low greenhouse gas emissions go. Having said that, everyone has different needs when buying a car and it’s greenhouse emissions is only one of many factors to consider. Of course, it would be nice if this factor is high on the list

There’s plenty of talk these days about the environmental benefits of using hybrid cars as well as how hybrid cars are becoming more, (ahem!) “accepted” in today’s society. Having said this, many people are still saying, “yeah, I know that hybrid cars are better for the environment and everything but, how do hybrid cars work?”.

Hybrid cars run on a combination of fuel and electricity. Therefore, hybrid cars have two engines: an electric engine and a conventional gasoline engine.

The electric engine is used when traveling at slow speeds (such as around the city) and the gasoline engine kicks in when driving at faster speeds (like out in the open road). This is fundamentally how hybrid cars work.

The electric engine is powered by rechargeable batteries. The batteries are automatically recharged, so you don’t need to manually recharge them yourself. Also, the gasoline engine in hybrid cars is usually very efficient at burning fuel, and they typically use technologies such as Variable Valve Timing Intelligence (VVT-i) etc.

Furthermore, both engines can operate in conjunction. For example, if you’re out on highway and put down your foot to pass another car, the electric motor will automatically be activated to assist in giving you an acceleration boost. Also, if the electric motor starts to run out of charge, the gasoline engine will automatically kick in to charge the batteries and run the electric motor.

Given many people spend hours each week stuck in traffic (as their car idles and burns through the gas), a hybrid car seems ideal. One of the problems with traditional electric cars is that they didn’t have enough power when it came to higher speeds and open road driving. This is where hybrid cars work really well. You get the best of both worlds - fuel savings when driving around the city, and full power when on the open road.

Hybrid cars are becoming more popular as people become more aware of the impact cars have on the natural environment.

A hybrid car is one that is powered by both gasoline and electricity. Because of this, a hybrid car will burn less fuel, which in turn makes it better for the environment.

There are plenty of hybrid cars being built nowadays so you might think that finding the best hybrid car would be a difficult task. But, there seems to be very wide consensus that the best hybrid car currently on the market is the Toyota Prius.

To back this up, according to the Australian government’s Green Vehicle Guide, the Toyota Prius has currently been rated the best green car (whether hybrid or not). This hybrid car was given a 5 star rating. The rating takes into account the car’s greenhouse emissions and air pollution.

The Toyota Prius scored the following ratings:

• Air Pollution Rating: 8.5
• Green House Rating: 8.5
• Overall Rating: 5 stars

This means that (as far as cars go) the Toyota Prius produces low levels of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and has a low contribution to air pollution. The 8.5 green house rating means that it emits 101 - 120 grams of green house gas per kilometer.

This compares to say, a car with a green house rating of 5 producing 241 - 260 grams per kilometer. And a car with a rating of 0.5 would emit 421 - 440 grams.

The Toyota Prius also uses only 4.4 liters per 100 kilometers - although this probably varies largely depending on whether you drive mostly in the city, or out on the open road. When driving the Toyota Prius at lower speeds (such as driving around the city), you’re only using the electric motor. The gas engine doesn’t kick in until you reach higher speeds (such as out on the open road). This obviously helps reduce the amount of fuel that you burn through.

So, that makes the Toyota Prius the best hybrid car. Well, it’s the best hybrid car if you’re talking about reduced air pollution and green house gases. I suppose everyone has their own idea about what makes the best car