Green Transportation - Travel

Truth or Myth: Electric Vehicles

When it comes to electric vehicles, there are many different myths surrounding them.  It is important that you know the truth about these vehicles.  Here is a look at the myths and the real truth behind them. Myth #1 - There is not enough range in an electric vehicle.  You'll get stranded. This is a huge myth.  The facts are that most Americans only drive about 40 miles each day.  Most of the electric vehicles out there have ranges that are double that and more.  You can charge them at any outlet as well.  All you have to do is plan things out a little to use your vehicle if you need to travel further.  On a combination of gasoline and electricity, these vehicles can go about 300 miles or more. Myth #2 - Electric vehicles are only good for trips that are short and in the city. Again, this is not the case.  Many consumers that actually own these electric vehicles use them on a regular basis for trips that are all the way up to 100+ miles. Myth #3 - There is simply a smokestack replacing the tailpipe with an electric vehicle. The truth here is that these vehicles really help to reduce the ...

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Wal-Mart testing Hybrid Diesel Trucks

When it comes to class-8 trucks, Wal-Mart announced that it plans on doing some tests on two different types of hybrid options.  They also plan on testing some alternative fuel options as well.  Why? They want to improve the fuel efficiency of their fleet.  In the past few years, they have been able to increase their efficiency by 25 percent and they are working to double this amount within the next few years. The problem is that the class-8 trucks they use are huge.  In fact, they have 10 tires, three axles, and weight more than 30,000 pounds a piece.  Currently these trucks are being used by Wal-Mart to help distribute their products.  However, they are not testing a couple different hybrid options.  One is available from Eaton and Peterbilt and the other comes from ArvinMeritor. A look at the two systems gives you a pretty good idea at which one is going to work the best.  The Peterbilt Eaton option should increase efficiency by about 7%; however, the ArvinMeritor option is expected to add an increase of about 25%, so it definitely sounds like one option is looking better than the other. The Hybrid System by ArvinMeritor This particular diesel-electric hybrid is going ...

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10 Great Reasons to Get an Electric Car

Admittedly, many of us will continue to use conventional cars even with the increasing popularity of electric cars.  In a way, this is not such a big deal considering that there are ways to lessen the environmental pollution that comes with using a fuel-powered car, not to mention that getting an electric car to replace your old but still functioning car is still an expensive proposition. However, if you are in the market for a new vehicle, then consider these ten practical reasons to go electric over an electric car. Lesser Service Costs Since the parts are fewer in an electric car, there are fewer things to fix, too.  As such, you can drastically reduce your trips to the mechanic and, hence, significantly lower your service bills.  Your wallets will be fatter, too. Say Goodbye to Oil Changes Oil changes can be a hassle, not to mention a real pollutant.  With an electric car, you say goodbye to oil changes since only the coolant flush and battery changes will be on the menu, both of which are less polluting and time-consuming than an oil change. Get Rid of Tailpipe Emissions Among the hazardous by-products of using ...

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Top Ten Reasons to Choose an Electric Hybrid Over a Natural Gas Powered Vehicle

High prices at the gas pump, along with an increasing awareness of environmental concerns, have led people to develop alternative energy sources to power automobiles.  Two of the biggest contenders are natural gas and electricity.  While both are more cost effective and environmentally friendly than the current gas being used, the clear winner in the battle for green energy for cars is electricity.  Here are the top ten reasons to choose a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) over a natural gas-powered vehicle (NGV). 1. Natural gas is a finite resource, while electricity can be easily generated from renewable sources as well as finite resources.  Implementing a plan to use natural gas to power vehicles would be a short-term fix, while using electricity provides the option of long-term sustainability. 2. Currently, the United States only has access to 3% of the known natural gas reserves and will have to import natural gas to keep up with demand if NGVs become more popular.  Russia and Iran hold the largest proved reserves of natural gas and if the US’s consumption of natural gas increases, we will be increasingly dependent on outside resources. 3. A significant infrastructure would need to be put in place to provide for ...

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Travelling the Green Highway

If you’re going to be taking a trip across this beautiful country of ours, there are several things you can do to make your travel as green as possible. The first thing to do is take your car in for a thorough inspection, to make sure it will be able to safely make the trip you want to make. Have the oil changed, all fluids topped off, and so on.  Don’t just look at your tires with a critical eye and decide that they’re fine – check them with a tire gauge and be absolutely sure.  And if they’re the least bit under inflated, top them off as well. Quite simply, under inflated tires waste gasoline.  And by extension, money. The faster you go in your car, the more gasoline you burn.  This can be a trade off.  The faster you go, the sooner you arrive at your destination, and the more time you have to spend on vacation.  But really, how much time do you save?  A couple of hours? It’s certainly hard to be the only car on the road going 60 when everyone and their brother is passing you going 70, but in the long run it saves on money and ...

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