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Tips and Advice for Purchasing a New Vehicle

Darryl H.
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Tips and Advice for Purchasing a New Vehicle

What to Know When Buying a Car

The most important thing to know when shopping for a car is what you’re looking for. Buy a vehicle that will suit the driver’s needs and be appropriate for its required uses.

Safety Features

Safety features are important options, and many now come standard. Look for anti-lock brakes (ABS), airbags, side airbags (on the lower part of the side of the car) or curtain airbags (on the top part of the side of the car), shatter-proof glass and all-season tires.

For SUVs, also look for stability control and anti-roll control that will offer added protection against roll-overs. Another feature to look for in SUVs and trucks with manual transmissions is the hill-start assist. This helps prevent the vehicle from rolling backward until the clutch is released fully. Similarly, hill descent will offer better control when traveling downhill. This is especially important in vehicles that will be used for towing.

Cost of the Car

Before going to the dealership, get pre-approved to know the budget and available credit. Also, know the price range of each car in the running, and if there any markups for special models, limited editions or high-demand models.

When figuring out how much the car will cost, consider expenses that may not show on the price sticker: fuel costs, service expenses, changes in insurance rates. Talk to the service department to get an idea of how much typical services cost: new tires, oil changes, brake jobs, etc. Find out what kind of oil and other fluids the car takes and what preventative maintenance is recommended. These will all add to the cost of the vehicle, and they should be taken into consideration when calculating monthly expenditure.

After deciding on a price range and budget, review newspaper ads and websites for special offers and financing deals on particular cars. Choose between buying and leasing and for how long a term financing will be required. Then decide which dealerships to visit.

The Dealership

Get to know a dealership before making a purchase. Learn about its reputation, if others have had problems with it in the past. Talk to others who have bought at that dealership. Talk to the general manager and the service manager. How do they treat their customers? Are they reputable? Trustworthy?

A dealership should do its best to make customers comfortable. If a sales associates is not a good fit, ask to speak to someone else. The customers are the ones spending thousands of dollars, and an uncomfortable experience will not help anyone.

Test Drives

If possible, try a car that has the exact specifications desired. This offers a true representation of how the car will drive.

While in the car, take the time to play with the gadgets. Pay attention to the sounds the car makes. Will that pinging get annoying in a week? Is the car too loud?

Get a feel for how the car will handle under normal driving conditions. If a normal commute consists of highway driving, take the car on the highway. If it’s destined to stay local, drive downtown roads. Try the car on less-than-ideal conditions, such as cracked roads and construction areas. See how it handles overall, how it accelerates and if it feels comfortable.

If the allotted time does not give a good idea of how the car drives, ask for a longer test drive. Some dealerships will even let consumers borrow the car for a day or two so they can drive on their normal routes as they normally would. If this is not possible, look for dealers or agencies that offer the same car as a rental.

Other Tips

Listen to sales associates. Many associates are knowledgeable and can offer information about comparable cars, how a particular car fares overall and specifics on the car itself. Talk to them about other cars that are in the running to get an idea of how they compare.

Watch out for first year models. High demand may cause prices to skyrocket, and there are often limited options. In addition, there may be bugs or kinks that haven’t been worked out yet. Wait until the second or third year, or until the car is used, to purchase that model.

The best time to buy is at the very end or beginning of a calendar year, or even at the end or beginning of a month. This is the time when dealerships are trying to meet quotas or set a trend. There will often be more associates available to help, and they will be more willing to negotiate price and trade-ins.

Some prices may be negotiable, but be reasonable. Back up offers with facts. This applies to the amount given for trade-ins as well. With trade-ins, consider the actual condition of the vehicle and how much it would actually be worth, not how much you want to get for it.

Get educated before shopping for a vehicle. Knowing what to look for and what to expect will ensure the right choice is made.

How to Choose a New Car

Darryl H.
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How to Choose a New Car

Research All Options to Find the Best Vehicle

Every year, the major car companies compete for business by boasting the lowest prices, the most safety features and the all-around best deals.

With so many of these claims from television, radio and magazine ads, choosing a new car is often confusing and even intimidating. Even car shopping novices can make an informed decision about what kind of car to buy. Coming armed with information helps you get the best deal at the car lot.

Research Different Makes and Models of Cars

Should you buy a family-friendly SUV or a sporty two-door sedan? With so many makes and models from which to choose, it is hard to know which one is right. The best way to narrow the choices is to consider lifestyle and plans to for future use of the car. For commuters or frequent travelers, a fuel-efficient model is a good choice. Large families may be better served by a spacious, kid-friendly minivan. To decide exactly which type is the way to go, ask these questions.

  • Does the driver commute or travel frequently?
  • Will there be only one main drive or shared driving responsibility?
  • Does the car need to accommodate small children or a large family?
  • Will the car need to carry or haul heavy loads?
  • Are you willing to pay extra for optional safety or convenience features?

With these questions answered, several vehicle options that meet these requirements should become apparent. With these in mind, start comparing more specific features of each make and model.

Compare Different Cars and Features

Once several cars are under consideration, it is time to compare what each has to offer. Thorough research on these important features.

  • Safety
  • Reliability
  • Fuel economy
  • Warranty coverage
  • Overall price

Use the Internet to find an abundance of information on all makes and models. The websites of car manufacturers provide a wealth of information on their models. They describe pricing, vehicle specifications and options packages. Most manufacturers’ sites also have build-your-own vehicle applications, which allows buyers to get an estimated price including all additional desired features. Also, check out the websites for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Consumer Reports for more complete data on the safety and reliability of new cars.

Informed Car Purchases Leads to Satisfied Consumers

When it comes to choosing a new car, some people have been dreaming about their selection for years. They purchase it without considering its intended use, price or safety features. While this may be gratifying at first, it is not the best decision in the long run. By carefully researching all options and comparing features, buyers remain satisfied with the car even after the newness wears off.

Hypermiling, Does it Really Save Gas?

Darryl H.
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Hypermiling, Does it Really Save Gas?

Using Your Car’s Engine Intuitively to Get Better Gas Mileage.

There are lots of Hypermiling techniques being preached all over the internet and a lot of people employing them. Some of these are good common sense driving tips and some of these are just plain dangerous.

Some of these dangerous tips include tailgating (like a NASCAR car drafting the car in front of them) or over-inflating their tires (which they say is ok because the risk of injury from a blow-out is reduced because they will only drive under 50mph. Really?). The art of Hypermiling is very useful for saving fuel energy if it is done correctly.

Accelerating and Braking

Driving sensibly is always a good thing to do, but as it turns out, it also saves gas. According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and their Fuel Economy Guide, gas mileage can be drastically improved by simply driving smoothly – not accelerating and braking harshly.

When a driver accelerates he should do it slowly and evenly and do the same with braking when possible. Keeping a close eye on what is ahead, and trying to anticipate what other drivers are going to do will help to prevent sudden stops and starts. If this is the only Hypermiling technique used, it will save the driver substantially. The EPA estimates that non-aggressive drivers can save up to 33% at highway speeds.

How to:

To learn slower acceleration, the driver should pay attention to how long it takes to normally accelerate from 0-60 mph. If it normally takes 10 seconds, slow that process to 15 seconds. This alone will save a lot of gas.

Use Cruise Control

Using the car’s cruise control is a helpful way to save energy. The cruise control aids the car in efficiently accelerating and slowing instead of possibly over-acceleration by a person. It also assists the driver by encouraging that he look further down the road and pay more attention to what is going on around him, in anticipation of what other drivers are going to be doing. This in refers us back to the previous point.

How to:

The driver should calculate the gas mileage during normal driving for 1 week. After this week is up, he should drive using the cruise control as much as possible for 1 week and compare the difference. NOTE: In mountainous or very hilly areas, cruise control can actually reduce the mileage because of it’s tendency to try and keep the car at a specific speed, accelerating and decelerating when it might not be necessary.

Windows Open vs. Air Conditioning On

This one seems to be in constant debate in the Hypermiling circles. Some say that the air conditioner puts a drag on the motor which in turn, decreases gas mileage. This is true. Some say that opening windows decreases aerodynamics and puts a drag on the car, decreasing gas mileage. This is also true. So Edmunds.com tested the theory out using cars going 65 mph with the windows down and one with the windows up and A/C on. They determined that there is no real benefit to gas mileage either way. For this they recommend doing what is comfortable. Edmunds.com: “We Test the Tips”

Other Tips from the Environmental Protection Agency

The EPA also recommends slowing down (as do many other organizations). They state that every 5 mph over 60 mph can reduce your fuel economy by 7-8%.

Avoid idling. While this is a good tip since when the car is idling and not driving anywhere it is getting zero miles to the gallon, sometimes this can’t be helped. Some people will turn their engines off in traffic to save the gas when they are sitting still. This practice doesn’t seem to make much of a difference since the surge of restarting the engine every few minutes negates much of the gas that is saved when it is turned off. Unless the car is going to be off for a while (at least a few minutes) then, leaving it running is the best bet.

Keeping a car properly maintained helps to increase fuel economy. If a car is running rough or has clogged filters fuel economy can plummet. The more efficiently an engine runs and suspension drives, the better the fuel economy.

What is Flex Fuel and E85 Ethanol Gas Alternative Fuels for Cars?

Darryl H.
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What is Flex Fuel and E85 Ethanol Gas Alternative Fuels for Cars?

With the ever-increasing dependency on foreign fossil fuels, many countries are looking for alternative fuel sources. Recently there have been lots of discussions on alternative fueled vehicles like electric cars, hybrid vehicles, hydrogen cells, natural gas, and ethanol.

Flexible fueled vehicles have been around for quite a few years. Many car owners may even be driving a flex fuel vehicle or FFV and not even know it. But what is a flex fuel vehicle and is it a good fuel source alternative? This article answers these questions and further discusses how a car owner can tell if they are driving an alternative fuel vehicle.

What is a Flex Fuel Vehicle or FFV?

A flex fuel vehicle is a car or truck that can operate using two types of fuels. Typically they can run on regular gasoline or a mixture of gasoline and ethanol. Ethanol is an organic fuel source that is alcohol based and is fermented and distilled using organic materials. Although many types of organic materials can be used to manufacture ethanol, the most common types of materials are crops like corn, barley, and wheat.

Besides regular gasoline, the alternative fuel that can be used in an FFV is a mixture of up to 85% ethanol and the remainder regular gasoline. This fuel mixture is commonly referred to as E85. Finding a service station that provides E85 can, however, be challenging in certain geographical areas.

Identifying Flex Fuel Cars and Trucks

Flex fuel vehicles have been manufactured by car markers since the 1980’s. An FFV needs minimal modifications to operate on E85 and thus look identical to vehicles that operate on regular gasoline only. Since an FFV looks like any other vehicle, a car owner could be driving an FFV and not even realize it. Some of the methods that could identify a vehicle that can operate using E85 are

  • FFV or E85 maybe printed on the fuel cap
  • FFV or E85 maybe printed in the fuel door
  • most vehicles will have an FFV emblem on the exterior car body
  • under the engine hood emissions sticker
  • vehicle identification number (VIN)
  • contact a factor authorized car dealer

Are Flex Fuel Vehicles a Viable Alternative to Fossil Fuels?

Since ethanol is used as a gasoline alternative in flex-fuel vehicles, the cost to produce ethanol is dependent on the cost of organic materials used like corn, barley, and wheat. According to E85 Prices, the current U.S. National average price for ethanol on the date of this article is $2.63 compared to gasoline at $3.06, a difference of 14.1%.

Looking at basic economic theory, as demand increases, supply decreases and the prices tend to rise. If ethanol demand were to increase, supply would naturally decrease. This could cause a spike in the price of ethanol.

Another important consideration is the actual miles per gallon (MPG) that a vehicle gets from ethanol versus gasoline. Depending on various factors, ethanol typically gets about 27% worse MPG than gasoline. With current prices, it would cost more to operate an FFV on E85 than it would on regular gasoline. Then again, using ethanol on a wider scale could significantly reduce dependency on foreign oil.

Some Simple Ways to Save on Car Expenses

Darryl H.
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Some Simple Ways to Save on Car Expenses

Lowering Automobile Costs by Being Proactive

Owning a vehicle is costly. Yet, in most North American cities it is almost a necessity, because of the sprawl that is common. Keeping the expenses of having and using a vehicle can be kept lower by following some simple rules

Proper Vehicle Maintenance Lowers Overall Cost

Keeping a vehicle in good running condition is necessary for efficient and cost-effective use. Gas mileage lowers with poor maintenance, increasing costs almost instantly. Something as simple as doing the oil change on time can make a significant difference in this area. There are always coupons coming in the mail or fliers. Use these to lower the costs of the oil change. Some places offer discount cards or even free memberships. If these are available in your area, be sure to check and compare which one is best.

If a vehicle isn’t in proper repair, then it is more likely to have mechanical problems, even minor ones. These are, of course, even more, costly than the original maintenance would be. So make sure to keep all vehicles in good repair!

Only Using a Vehicle When Necessary Keeps Costs Down

Some people will use a vehicle to drive two or three blocks to go to the corner store or drive half a block to check their mail. These trips cost in gas, wear, and are completely unnecessary. Even longer trips are often frivolous and can be avoided by walking or riding a bicycle. Combining errands into one trip can also greatly reduce the amount of vehicle use. And not only will that save on fuel and vehicle wear, but it can also save on personal time. Isn’t it great to have more free time to do things that are enjoyable, instead of running errands? Combine trips into one to make life easier and less expensive. Use lists if remembering is a problem, as this puts everything down and helps to jog the memory.

Do Some Self Vehicle Maintenance for Reduced Costs

Some minor maintenance isn’t that hard to do. Simple things like wiper blade replacements, filter replacement, checking the tires, and even oil changes and spark plugs can all be done quite easily. Changing the spark plugs can cost as little as $25.00, including buying the tools! Yet, if a mechanic does this, it can cost $100 because labor rates are high. To know if these need changing, simply pull the plugs and see if they are really corroded. There are many websites available that give tips on car maintenance – check these out for more help! Oil changes can also be done at home – just make sure to package the oil and take it to the recycling depot rather than pouring it out on the ground or down the sewer. Any old plastic container will do for this. Wikihow has a great page on changing the oil in a car. It even includes a video. One of the simplest maintenance items that can be done at home is washing the car. Why pay someone else to do what will take the same time at home and cost a lot less? Other simple maintenance items include changing the lights or fuses – these are much less expensive to buy and replace than have done!

There are also many things that can be done to decrease the costs of fuel by increasing fuel efficiency. Most of these are maintenance related, such as keeping the tires properly inflated, filters clean and not storing excess in the vehicle. There are more tips on fuel saving available at Personal Budget Help.

Car Extended Warranty: Choosing the Right New or Used Vehicle Warranty

Darryl H.
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Car Extended Warranty: Choosing the Right New or Used Vehicle Warranty

A vehicle extended warranty is just like an insurance policy. A person may never need to use the extended warranty or the repair costs may exceed the price paid for the extended warranty. Either way, it’s a gamble. Just like a cars insurance policy, the contract should be read word for word. Often the fine print will have exclusions that will not cover certain components or repairs that can add up to a healthy repair bill.

What’s Covered in the Car’s Extended Warranty?

Always look to see what vehicle components are covered and what’s not covered. Most vehicles extended warranties have a price scale for different policies. As the price of the extended warranty increases, the amount of components that are covered increases.

Some policies may not cover gaskets and seals. If certain gaskets and seals fail it could result in a costly repair. For example, if a car or trucks head gasket fails, it could result in thousands of dollars in repair costs. Buying an extended warranty that won’t cover gaskets and seals is not recommended.

Read the fine print. Some contracts may list an engines cylinder head as a covered component for example, but will it cover the cylinder head gasket? There may be stipulations that the vehicle must be maintained in accordance with a routine vehicle maintenance program. If maintenance records aren’t available to the claims adjuster, the repair could be declined.

Extended Powertrain Warranty

One of the least expensive extended warranty policies is the powertrain warranty. A word of caution, some new cars, and factory certified used cars automatically come with a powertrain warranty. Purchasing a powertrain warranty is this situation is redundant and a total waste of money.

Normal Component Coverage for a Powertrain Warranty

  • Engine
  • Transmission
  • Driveshaft
  • Rear Axle
  • Front Axle

Even though these are the normal components covered by a powertrain warranty, some components attached to the covered component may not be covered. For example, the throttle body that’s attached to the intake manifold on the engine may not be covered if it fails.

Comparing and Shopping Vehicle Extended Warranties

  1. Coverage – The first thing to decide for comparison of policies is what component coverage is needed. Components to consider are powertrain, electrical, fuel, chassis, luxury components, emissions and maintenance items. Also, make sure the consequential damage is covered. As an example, if the thermostat fails and damages the cylinder head, is the cylinder head also covered.
  2. Deductible – Most vehicle extended warranties have a deductible. As a general rule of thumb, the lower the deductible the higher the price of the policy. The deductible amount is a consideration in comparing prices of different policies.
  3. Place of Repair – Some extended warranty policies may require that the vehicle is taken to a specific auto repair shop. If traveling, this could be a problem.
  4. Rental Car – Does the policy pay for a rental car? If the policy does cover a rental car, how many days and what is the allotted dollar amount? Some polices may have a low dollar amount that won’t cover the total cost of the rental. Also, some policies may only cover the rental for the amount of time the repair takes. If an auto repair shop is backed up or is having problems getting parts, a 1-day repair could turn into a 5-day repair or more.
  5. Towing – Does the policy cover towing? If it does is there a dollar cap or a mile cap? These are all considered when shopping and comparing vehicle extended warranties.

Just like an insurance policy, having a vehicle extended warranty gives the vehicle owner a little peace of mind. When looking for an extended warranty, always compare a few different warranty companies policy. If a salesperson claims that a policy covers the car bumper to bumper, don’t take his/her word for it. .Always read the entire contract and the fine print so there are no surprise when the vehicle needs repairs.

Best Combination Car Seats

Darryl H.
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Best Combination Car Seats

Recommendations for Harnessing and Belt-Positioning Booster Seats

Combination car seats are seats that harness children up to 40 lbs. Once children reach the weight limit, the harness must no longer be used. At this point, the seat converts to a belt-positioning booster seat. Here is a summary of some of the top recommended combination of child passenger restraints.

Important Points to Consider

Car seat safety experts encourage parents to consider harnessing their child beyond 40 pounds if the child is too immature to sit properly in the belt positioning booster or for families who want the added safety of harnessing seats. There are youth and specialty child passenger restraints that can suit children up to 80 pounds.

Some combination seats advertise a lower weight limit of 18 lbs. However, in the United States children must be a minimum of 20 lbs. before they can be turned forward-facing. Further, it is a clear and undeniable fact that children are far safer sitting rear-facing for as long as possible (American Academy of Pediatrics, National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, Car-safety.org). Some convertible seats accommodate children up to 35 lbs.

Recaro Young Sport

The Recaro Young Sport has a 40 lb. harnessed weight limit and 17 inch top slots. The belt positioning booster can be used to 80 lbs. It has added safety features of EPS foam, side impact protection, and a tether that can be used with the belt-positioning booster. Knob adjustment for harness and headrest, shoulder belt guide, and a carrying handle enhance the seat’s ease of use. Children may find this well-padded, plush seat comfortable. The Recaro Young Sport converts to a very good highback booster that will suit families for an extended period.

The drawback to this combination seat is the cost. It retails for around $250.

Evenflo Generations

Evenflo manufactured the Generations seat to suit 40 lbs. harnessed and as a belt positioning booster to 100 lbs. The top harnessing slots are 16.5 inches. Ease of use features includes an adjustable headrest, 2 crotch strap positions, shoulder belt guide, knob harness adjuster, and harness strap covers. Additional comfort aspects include a pivoting armrest and a cup holder. The Evenflo Generations comes in at the mid-price range, retailing for around $100. It converts to a good quality belt positioning booster.

Parents of taller children may need to consider that the Generations seat has slightly shorter top harnessing limits.

Graco Cargo

The Graco Cargo is similar to the Recaro Young Sport in that is has a 40 lb harnessed weight limit, 17 inch top harness slots, and EPS foam. However, it can be used as a belt position to 100 lbs. Added features are a cup holder and mesh toy pocket. Depending on the model, it sells for between $80-$100.

The big downfall to all models of the Graco Cargo is that it does not make a good long-term belt positioning booster. Parents should skip the lowest model, the Treasured Cargo, with its rear harness adjustment. Seats with rear harness adjustment are difficult to get a secure fit each time.

Other Noteworthy Combination Car Seats

In addition to these seats, several other models have been acknowledged for their ease of use and safety features. Parents should scrutinize these seats to see if the restraints fit their family’s needs and address safety concerns. Evenflo Chase ($60-$70); Evenflo Generations ($100); Cosco Apex/Safety 1st Biltmore ($100-$130); and Graco Nautilus ($150) may be worth considering.

The above seats were chosen based upon added safety features, ease of use, and ease of installation. The price range was considered in order to offer suggestions that suit various budgets. Specifications refer to models currently being manufactured, older models may have different requirements.

Alternative Fuel Saves the Environment and Cuts Energy Expenses

Darryl H.
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Alternative Fuel Saves the Environment and Cuts Energy Expenses

Water Fuel Cells and Water Powered Cars

Every time gas prices go up, the idea of water powered cars becomes more and more attractive. Water as a fuel is not a myth, and even today there are devices, which help to convert water into fuel. There are cheap and reliable ways to convert water into fuel, and one of them is via a water fuel cell. Water fuel cells do not need special knowledge, so practically everybody can use them to convert water into fuel.

Water Fuel Cells Can Convert Water into Fuel

The principle of functioning of water fuel cells is simple. Water consists of hydrogen and oxygen. Water fuel cells take the hydrogen from the water and convert it into Brown’s gas (or HHO), which in turn powers the car. There is a battery, which converts the water into HHO, releasing energy in the process. The process of converting water into fuel is simple and straightforward.

Advantages of Water Fuel Cells

Water fuel cells have many advantages, and it is really surprising that they haven’t become mainstream yet. But most likely the next wave of increased gas prices will amend this. Here are some of the main advantages of water fuel cells:

  • Water is available everywhere. Unlike gas, which can’t be obtained everywhere but only at gas stations, water is practically everywhere.
  • Water fuel cells are cheap. Contrary to what many people might think, water fuel cells can be found for under $200 or even less. This is not much, and after running a car on water for a month, the investment is returned.
  • Water cells are easy to install. For somebody, who has never done any DIY work, installing a fuel cell might be a bit of a challenge but even such a person will be able to install it on his or her own without lots of difficulties. For everybody else, who is skilled in DIY work, the installation of a water fuel cell will be a piece of cake.
  • Better mileage. Another benefit of water fuel cells is that they allow to use the energy more effectively and as a result get 50-60% improved mileage without the need to change anything in the construction of the car.
  • Environmentally-friendly. Running a car on water is a blessing for the environment because there are no harmful exhaust gases.
  • No breach of warranty. The installation of a water fuel cell does not require any construction changes, so there is no risk to damage the car or to breach its warranty. The same applies to the removal of a water fuel cell.
  • Cars are not less powerful when running on water. Finally, if there are worries that water is not as powerful as gas, these worries must be dispelled. Cars don’t lose horsepower because of water!

Water fuel cells are a step ahead in the direction of cutting gas expenses and saving the environment. While 100% water powered cars are still not real, using a water fuel cells to power a car is as real as it can be. Hydrogen powered cars are more realistic than water powered cars, and even today many of the leading car manufacturers offer hydrogen-powered cars, but still, they don’t have all the advantages of water powered vehicles.

 

Electric Cars Drive for Less Than $.03/Mile: New Green Vehicles Can Save Money and the Environment

Darryl H.
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Electric Cars Drive for Less Than $.03/Mile: New Green Vehicles Can Save Money and the Environment

New technology is sometimes costly. Cellular phones are a great example. While the newest hot products can cost hundreds of dollars, the older phased out hardware of yesterday is practically given away.

For car lovers, this does not have to be the case. Nissan’s Leaf and GM’s Chevrolet Volt run on the road for approximately half the cost per mile when compared to the Volt’s efficiency when running on gasoline. On top of this, car buyers will receive a $7,500 tax credit for either purchase.

The Chevy Volt

The hybrid Chevy Volt is anticipated to be released at a retail price nearing $40,000. When the tax credit is included, the price lowers to $32,500. But the real savings comes over time.

According to ABC News, the average commute for Americans is 16 miles each way. Add a trip to the grocery store, bringing kids to practices or games, and going out to dinner on occasion, and drivers could easily cover 80 miles each day. For those who have very efficient vehicles that get 40 miles per gallon, the cost per mile is $.07 (according to the US average gas cost on March 24, 2010 of $2.80).

This same driver in a Chevy Volt will be able to commute the first 40 miles gasoline-free because the battery will propel the vehicle that far before switching over to its internal combustion engine. The cost per mile while driving on electricity is just under $.03, making this particular daily commute $.05 a mile.

While two cents doesn’t sound like much, here’s the math’s two cents’ worth on the matter. 80 miles equals a savings of $1.60, which may or may not buy a cup of coffee. When the car is driven 350 days out of the year, the savings comes to $560. For those who maintain their vehicles for the long run, the savings could potentially be in excess of $10,000, bringing this vehicle’s cost down to less than $25,000.

For those who know they’ll not exceed 100 miles per day (ever) the Nissan Leaf can bring even higher savings.

The Nissan Leaf

If the Chevy Volt is a bargain after the tax credit, then the Nissan Leaf is an absolute steal. The Leaf is expected to retail at $32,500. After the tax credit, the cost will be $25,000.

While the Volt runs for 40 miles on electricity, the Nissan Leaf is all electric. The drawback for some, though, is that being a road warrior does not go hand-in-hand with driving this vehicle as its maximum range is 100 miles per charge.

For those that will not exceed this distance on any day, there are great savings to be had. At $.03 per mile, the savings versus those driving a Chevy Volt doubles. The same driver who would drive his or her vehicle until the wheels fall off will practically have the Nissan Leaf for free!

Electric cars are long overdue for many who love to have alternative sources of energy, especially in their daily driving. With the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf, green driving may spread like wildfire, saving thousands of drivers millions of dollars.

Storing Hydrogen for Cars

Darryl H.
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Storing Hydrogen for Cars

Hydrogen is being aggressively explored in various parts of the world as a potential green fuel for powering automobiles. It is energy-rich, carbon-free and if properly exploited, may offer unlimited supply potential. Nevertheless, there are a few technological hurdles that need to be surpassed before we can reap the benefits of hydrogen as a vehicle fuel.

Probably the toughest challenge in the way of a viable hydrogen-powered vehicle is fuel storage, both onboard and at the fuelling stations. The technologies currently available are expensive, hazardous and impractical to varying extents. There are various techniques employed for storing hydrogen for automobile applications.

Metal Hydride Tanks

This method uses a combination of metal alloys that have a unique ability to store hydrogen and release it subsequently either at room temperature or upon heating. These metal alloys can absorb hydrogen like sponges and storage capacity varies with different metal hydrides. Leading examples are lithium hydride and sodium borohydride.

The main advantage of this technique is that hydrides can deliver absorbed hydrogen at constant pressure safely. However, these alloys absorb additional impurities which reduce the overall storage capacity as well as the storage tank life.

Compressed Hydrogen Storage

Hydrogen can be stored as a compressed gas under extremely high pressure. The lower energy density of hydrogen results in storage tanks almost 3000 times bigger than gasoline tanks. Moreover, due to storage as a gas at high pressures, this storage method is unsafe as well as expensive.

The safety hazards associated with storage tanks demand periodic testing of these tanks at pressures up to 6000 pounds per square inch.

Liquid Hydrogen Storage

The boiling point of hydrogen is -253 degree Celsius. For liquefaction, hydrogen has to be cooled as well as compressed. This renders liquid storage extremely expensive due to extensive energy required for maintaining high pressure and low temperature.

Additionally, liquid storage demands the tanks and piping to be insulated in order to avoid boiling of liquid. Thus storage of hydrogen as a cryogenic liquid is an expensive technique.

Chemical Storage of Hydrogen

Hydrogen is not available in an independent form and is found locked in various compounds such as methane, ammonia, methanol and off course water. For utilizing it as a fuel, it has to be separated from its parent compounds. Various techniques such as water electrolysis, ammonia cracking and steam reforming of natural gas are used for producing hydrogen from different compounds.

Other Techniques

Researchers across the world are rehearsing new technologies for hydrogen storage. A recent development is hydrogen storage through carbon nanotubes. These are microscopic carbon tubes having the size of the order of a billionth of a meter. Hydrogen is stored in microscopic pores present in between these tubes.

Another concept being explored is storage of hydrogen in glass microspheres. The permeability of these tiny hollow glass spheres varies with temperature. As the microsphere is heated up, the permeability of its walls increases and consequently the ability to absorb hydrogen.

The heated microsphere is immersed in high-pressure storage of hydrogen and hydrogen enters into it through its walls. Upon cooling, its permeability reduces greatly and as a result, hydrogen is locked inside. Hydrogen can be released subsequently by heating the glass microsphere as desired. This method of storage, if gets efficient enough, is safe and contamination resistant.

For successful exploitation of hydrogen as a vehicular fuel, it is imperative that the efforts to develop cheap, sustainable, safe and efficient storage methods are expedited. The use of lighter composite materials for tanks construction and advanced storage methods need to be prototyped in the laboratory and then successfully launched on commercial grounds.

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