LED signs may brighten ad revenue for buses

The LEDs that are transforming vehicle lighting are expanding into a new area: bus advertising. Lighted displays installed on buses can change messages often, even linking to GPS systems to pinpoint ads as buses travel into different neighborhoods.

via Electronics – Truck & Bus Engineering Online.

 

reBlog from waynechecker.net: waynechecker.net

I found this fascinating article today:

# HCCI engine could come close to matching the efficiency of a typical hybrid engine.waynechecker.net, waynechecker.net, Oct 2009

You should read the whole article.

 

2009 Tokyo Auto Show Highlights by Edmunds’ Inside Line

2009 Tokyo Auto Show Highlights:
http://www.insideline.com/auto-shows/tokyo/2009/
Mitsubishi PX MIEV @ 2009 Tokyo Auto Show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGWtSqlTy2Y
It may be smaller, but don’t count it out. There’s a lot to see at this years Tokyo Auto Show, including the Lexus LFA, Toyota FT-86, Honda CR-Z, and more.

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Top Gear Ken Block

Well I decided that its time I publish a fun post for a change … so please enjoy …

 

Fuel substitution futile

Putting a higher octane fuel in your car won’t boost performance unless it’s designed for it.

And Australian motorists are wasting millions of dollars a year pumping high performance fuels into cars which gain no benefit from the high-profile, high-priced products.

“The oil companies have for years encouraged the view that there is performance benefit in using a higher octane fuel because they sell the premium fuel as a premium product at a premium price,” warns NRMA vehicle specialist Jack Haley.

via Fuel substitution futile | Review | carsguide.com.au.

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AS GREENEST WAY TO TRAVEL, BUSES MAKE EVERY DAY EARTH DAY | ABA

I found this fascinating article today:

WASHINGTON – The status of motorcoaches as the undisputed greenest way to travel make every day Earth Day for the members of the American Bus Association.“When you go by motorcoach, you’re traveling on the greenest travel option,” said ABA President & CEO Peter J. Pantuso. “Earth Day is April 22nd. But buses are the eco-friendly choice any day. So at ABA, every day of the year is one to celebrate reducing our carbon footprints, cutting energy use and saving fuel.”The Union of Concerned Scientists, an activist group known for its environmental advocacy, recently released a report titled “Getting There Greener: The Guide To Your Lower Carbon Vacation” in which they recommended going by bus. “A couple traveling on a motorcoach will generate nearly 50 percent less global warming pollution than they would driving a hybrid car,” the scientists concurred.A recently updated study from DePaul University found that more bus travel cuts CO2. “The growth of new bus operators … over the past year has reduced the carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 36,000 tons,” DePaul researchers reported, citing “… the proportional shift in travel from less fuel-efficient modes” to more efficient bus travel.Motorcoaches lead every other travel mode in terms of their fuel efficiency on a per-passenger basis, averaging more than 200 passenger miles per gallon, according to an updated study by MJ Bradley & Associates, “Updated Comparison of Energy Use & Emissions From Different Transportation Modes,” which looked at 14 travel modes.“Independent scientific and academic third parties are corroborating that buses are the greenest way to travel,” Pantuso added. “Motorcoaches are part of America’s energy solution. For buses, every day of the year is Earth Day. April 22nd is only one of 365.”waynechecker.net, waynechecker.net, Sep 2009

You should read the whole article.

 

The Tesla Roadster is a rocket. And all-electric, too

Image via Wikipedia

“Are you ready?” the young driver beside me asked, as we sat in the two-seat Tesla Roadster convertible, facing a straight, steep, quarter-mile road that rises from the water of San Francisco Bay up the headland to the Golden Gate Bridge. Then he floored the accelerator. I was driven into the seat-back behind me—and I mean driven, like I was strapped into some insane amusement park ride—for several full seconds as the car accelerated and accelerated like a rocket up the climb. Only there was no screaming flame blasting behind us. There was no engine roaring either. I was being shot up this road so fast my emergency senses were on full alert, yet all was eerily quiet.

via The Tesla Roadster is a rocket. And all-electric, too: Scientific American Blog.

 

Motorists Warned Diesel Prices To Rise

The gap in price between diesel and petrol is narrowing, but Motorists who are thinking of switching to diesel cars because of the price at the pump are being warned it’s likely to go up again. Sky’s Eleanor Jeffrey reports.

more about “Motorists Warned Diesel Prices To Rise “, posted with vodpod

 

Diesel Cars Green But Not So Clean

Image via Wikipedia

In Europe diesel cars represent about 53% of the fleet and in Australia 6.5% and increasing. One could easily assume this is in part due to owners wishing to adopt “greener” motoring. But diesels are not as green as they appear. Only two diesel cars made it in the Australian Green Vehicle Guide top 100 cars, BMW E87 1 Series 120d and The Volkswagon Golf. The reason given for the lack of high rating diesels, their air pollution rating lets them down.

While diesel vehicles perform comparatively well on fuel consumption and produce lower levels of greenhouse emissions (CO2 being the main consideration), their contribution to air pollution (NOx and particulates) is generally higher than that of comparative petrol or LPG vehicles. Of most concern with their effect on air pollution are particulate matter and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions which can cause a range of adverse health effects. These emissions are generally higher in diesel vehicles compared to petrol or gas vehicles. For the sake of clarity, the term “greenhouse” basically refers to the health of the planet whilst “air pollution” relates to more towards direct human health.

So emissions is a bit of a mixed bag for the diesel, whilst they do have the edge in terms of greenhouse benefits that is lost in higher air pollution.

So just maybe the real attraction to diesel cars is related to the hip pocket more than clean emmissions! Diesel engine fuel consumption is about 28% less than a petrol one all else being similar, but the fuel is about 5% more expensive at the pump. This means you can save about 20% on your fuel cost by owning a diesel.

via waynechecker.net » Blog Archive » Diesel Cars Green But Not So Clean – green living at the grass roots.

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Top Gear – World’s Smallest Car

Jeremy Clarkson drives the world’s smallest car to work.

Jeremy Clarkson drives the world’s smallest production car to work and even takes it into the lift in this hilarious clip from BBC’s Top Gear.

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