The green garage of Mr. Leno makes use of a 19th century giant steam and natural gas engines that somewhat converts the garage into a self-sufficient power station. Mr. Leno explained there is simply no excuse why a garage that is full of old cars can’t be eco-worthy.

To create his eco-friendly garage Mr. Leno has worked with expert consultants in various fields to analyze his garage’s energy use and at the same time devise some alternative energy systems. This is part of Mr. Leno’s plans of upgrading his 20,000 sq.ft.-garage with the latest environmentally friendly shop equipment and products. Driving a BMW Hydrogen 7 is just jives with his “green” objectives.

Mr. Leno said, “As an avid car enthusiast I’m always interested in the future of automotive technology. With the BMW Hydrogen 7 I can experience all the fun and great features of a performance car, yet know that I’m being environmentally friendly at the same time! I look forward to driving the Hydrogen 7 and learning more about hydrogen as a fuel for our future.”

The BMW Hydrogen 7 when operating in hydrogen mode emits nothing but water vapor, which represents a major step in reducing harmful CO2 emissions. And the best thing about the Hydrogen 7 is the fact that it’s a production model vehicle and not just a mere concept car which means that it can be mass produce.

But at present it is not yet for sale however it is already considered as a breakthrough in introducing hydrogen as a sustainable fuel for individual transportation.

The German automaker and producer of high quality BMW 330ci parts also believes that hydrogen has the potential to replace petroleum as the long-term alternative to fossil fuel. It also hopes that its Hydrogen 7 will be able to pave the way for the implementation of hydrogen technologies for future mobility. And to further support its goals, BMW has launched its Hydrogen 7 Pioneers Program in which the company will give industry leaders and prominent figures in politics, entertainment, business and others a new BMW Hydrogen which will served as their daily mode of transport.

Through this program, BMW is hoping to make people understand the importance of the hydrogen technology and for them to see that it is available now, offered by the BMW Group.

 

Let us understand how this works.

 

Once you have a crack on your windshield, sooner or later you are bound to go in for a windshield replacement. Windshields are not a recyclable product. So once you get a new piece installed, the old one comes to absolutely no use. Much like plastic, the discarded windshields simply add to our nation’s landfill and effect our environment negatively. Unless reliable windshield repair technology is utilized, which guarantees that the windshield crack will be safely repaired and prevented, there is no other way of avoiding costly and expensive windshield replacement.  So by ensuring your windshield is repaired immediately, you also ensure that you do not require a windshield replacement, which works to minimize the landfill waste.  

                                                     

Our windshield repair technology is guaranteed to contain the crack or rock chip irrespective of its type. So be it a bull’s eye, a combo break, a partial bull’s eye or a star beak, our windshield repair method works on all of these. Needless to say with such perfect windshield repair available at such affordable rates, one need not opt for a windshield replacement at all leading to large savings both economically and ecologically.

 

Auto glass windshield repair is the one and only way to assure that despite having a crack or rock chip on your windshield, you stay away from a windshield replacement option. Not only will windshield replacement leave a rather large dent in your wallet but may also end up denting the ozone layer too. So, if you do spot a crack or rock chip on your windshield come to us immediately and help us save your windshield as well as the environment.

One of the biggest companies in the world is General Motors and uses the UK branding of Vauxhall Motors. There has been a campaign in the United States by a neurotic neurologist to rally up support for the latest GM model of electric car. The Chevrolet Volt was initial unveiled as a concept car however the website set up by the number one Volt fan has drawn in 33,341 signatures claiming they would purchase the car.

With everything in eco news it is all about feasibility. GM will not mass produce the car unless they can guarantee a return on it. The price tag GM is requesting is 40,000 dollars however on the website the prospective buyers have listed a maximum price they would expect pay at 31,261 dollars. With the GM price tag and assuming that all the prospective buyers actually buy GM would accumulate 1,336,440,000 dollars however there is no mention of how much the car would take to build and market.

There was a meeting between GM execs and the Volt car fans earlier in 2008 to discuss the issues and the car is suspected to arrive in 2010. Another major company that has been given the eco makeover is Range Rover. It must be made clear however that this is not done by the manufacturer who seem to be content churning out gas-guzzling Chelsea tractors, but by another company called Liberty Electric Cars.

They work on a build to order basis and are completely sold out until 2009. They have two different models which are priced 125,000GBP and 95,000GBP accordingly which come with all the trimmings including one years free electricity. This is a price tag that would usually appear on the balance of a mortgage, certainly not the price tag of a car but as with many innovative technologies is it is a success then it might well get picked up in more affordable formats.

Most manufacturers seem to be more interested in unveiling the next electric supercar which can achieve the most eco-friendly 0-60 acceleration record. Someday when they are finish flexing their design power then maybe the technology will leak through into the mass market in more cost effective models such as the NICE Megacity electric car which has a price tag of 10,000GBP however can only achieve 40mph.

Tommy Andersson, chief instructor at the Volvo Cars Driving Academy, commented it is possible to lessen fuel costs and have a better effect on the environment through changing one’s driving motive.

The Volvo Cars Driving Academy is a relatively unknown division of Volvo Cars’ operations. It has been around in various forms since 1989 giving instructions in winter driving, safety driving, and security driving.

Andersson explains the academy offers a wide variety of courses every year for professional drivers and private individuals. He explained further safety driving is still their biggest-seller, but the demand for eco-driving is increasing.

VEAB Mark & Trädgård, a Swedish construction service provider, is one of the companies that opted to enroll its employees in the eco-driving course at the Volvo Cars Driving Academy.

HÃ¥kan Persson, President of VEAB, says many of their clients demand the course if they are to be included in their purchasing contracts. He adds that they work on behalf of big companies, the municipality and the Swedish Road Administration. He affirmed their ISO 14001 environmental certification. He also said allowing employees to undergo an eco-driving course at the Volvo Cars Driving Academy is a wise investment.

Like many of the Academy’s students before, the VEAB employees are small groups (12) and the students are skeptical and most believe they already drive with a green foot or at least know how to.

They first get to drive a set urban route with the Volvo Cars Driving Academy’s cars, which are equipped with measuring devices for exact fuel consumption. A lesson in eco-driving then follows. And then, students drive the same route again, applying their newly learned eco-driving skills.

Students at the Volvo Cars Driving Academy are more than satisfied when they receive their certificates.

Stefan Fredriksson, landscape gardener, commented that from now on, he will be thinking more about which road he would choose. He continues that he will avoid roads with many traffic lights where the traffic has to stop so often.

Andersson predicts that enrolment in the Academy’s eco-driving course will increase. According to him, his aim is to focus more on environmentally friendly eco-driving. For example, he said, they are discussing cooperation with companies and municipalities with regard company cars and pool cars. He further said that it is only a matter of time before they realize what they stand to gain by giving everyone the knowledge about this issue.

Since Volvo is targeting an eco-friendly drive, expect that toxicity of emissions form its cars’ internal combustion engines are reduced because of its Volvo catalytic converter.

The history of the Hybrid stretches back much further than you would believe. As early as the 1900’s, there had been many enterprising individuals working on rudimentary petro-electric engines and it was the creator of Porsche who achieved the creation of the first working model. Capable of achieving lightning fast speeds of 50km/h, this wooden vehicle had a small battery pack which powered electric hub motors (a motor today’s busses and larger vehicles use) kicking in at 25kms. This was the first major breakthrough for hybrid vehicles and a precursor for all electric engine techniques.

As the century progressed, a man by the name of Victor Wouk would create a more effective prototype of the HEV engine. The year would be 1972 when Wouk’s prototype hybrid drivetrain engine was first tested in a Buick Skylark. This also marks the first time that the American governments EPA would ban production of Hybrid vehicles. As the decades rolled on, there were continuous improvements and innovations made to the Hybrid engine. Such as a regenerative braking engine, use to recover some of the energy lost during stopping. This energy is then saved in the battery and later used to power the motor whenever the car switches over to electric mode. Also, the change to a nickel-cadmium battery (otherwise known as rechargeable) over standard car batteries truly enhanced the development of the HEV engine.

Proper Hybrid production began in the 90’s, with the creation of the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius. Of these cars, the Prius has been in particularly high demand and a waiting list was in effect up until 2004. As the increase in global alertness amplified, sales soared and Toyota became the market leaders in commercial hybrid technology. The demand for clean running vehicles is higher than ever, with most countries converting their public transport vehicles to ones with HEV engines, in a bid to curb the assault of pollution. There are many Hybrid vehicles on the roads of South Africa already, yet you may not have even realised such cars were hybrids. The BMW 1 series were the first BMW’s in the world to have a mild hybrid engine. Mild hybrid engines are not petro-electric combinations, but are in effect huge starter motors which are turned off whenever the car is idle and is instantly activated whenever the BMW is moving. Most new Chevrolets under construction have also made the switch to mild or full hybrid engines. Consider that when your next car rental is a new Chevrolet.

HEV cars are the first of many steps in a complete and global revamp of our total pollution output. They do not provide the solution for global warming, but without these modern innovations our current planet-wide crisis will never be solved. There are still many years and even decades until HEV cars become the norm and until then it would be prudent to invest in one of the latest hybrid vehicles. Even better, an executive car rental establishment will most likely supply you with the latest hybrid. So do you research; as it may be the smartest purchase you ever make.

Shared below are simple yet proven effective ways on achieving fuel efficiency, saving gasoline and attaining maintenance cost savings:

• Get a car with high MPG, which calculates miles per gallon. Even better, check out the low GPM cars, gallons per mile which is logically lower the better. This is the ultimate objective, and really what we are discussing here, ie. the lesser the gasoline usage, the more miles coverage and the more savings from your higher fuel consumption.

• If you own a vehicle which heats up your car seats at the touch of a button, Do Not Touch that button. The energy consumption is exceptionally high. If your human counterparts have all survived the harsh winter without heated car seats, you could too.

• Eco friendly car washing is another money saving idea. But, let me qualify that if you have to do it at home, you need to use biodegradable soap specifically formulated for automotive parts. Do it on your lawn instead of your driveway, so that the dirt and toxic waste water are absorbed and neutralized in soil. Otherwise, just patronize your local car wash. Their toxic waste water is drained into proper sewer systems and treated before being discharged.

• In summer, run your air conditioner sparingly at a low setting. When the car is sufficiently cool, switch to fan mode instead. Ensure that windows are tightly shut and not rolled down when the air conditioning is running

• Rotate your tires to ensure even tire threading. This causes less strain to the engine.

• Avoid traffic congestion as travelling in jam condition could consume more fuel. Rise early and get to work early whenever possible.

• In all weather all season, use windshield shades to cut down the summer heat and reduce frost in winter.

• When travelling at high speed, for instance, along highways, keep windows tightly closed. Open windows cause additional drag, making your engine work harder, and consuming more fuel.

• Plan trips well ahead before you set off to reduce unnecessary driving. Remember to check out the road conditions especially when driving in hash winter weather.

• Over inflated tires can reduce your fuel efficiency. Remember to check your tire pressure and never overfill them. This is because you need to leave space air expansion when the tires get hot when driving.

• Conversely, you should avoid driving with soft tires. When soft and not at the correct PSI pounds per square inch, your car requires more energy to move and maintain speed as well as increase fuel emissions. According to a Carnegie Mellon University informal study, majority of cars on the roads are only 80% inflated to capacity and inflating tires to the proper pressure improves mileage by about 3.3%. And the best part is that it is definitely safer too. Stay tuned and check out even more environmentally friendly green car driving tips at my site.

The step is in the form of their concept car which is the Volvo XC60 that will use bio-ethanol for fuel to minimize the fossil carbon dioxide which is heavily damaging to the environment. The concept shows that harmful emissions are reduced by 80 per cent than those engines using gasoline only for fuel. This eco-friendly fuel will not only be good for the environment but using it will also not decrease the car’s performance.

Today, the manufacturer is already offering nine models with the FlexiFuel alternative powered by ethanol on selected European markets. The available models with this capability are the Volvo C30, the S40, and the V50 and their trim packages. And the company is aiming to add to that their Volvo XC60 Concept Car, though it is still a concept, there is good reason to anticipate a mass produced version of this car. The concept vehicle’s powerplant is a six-cylinder, 3.2 liter bio-ethanol engine which can give out 265 horsepower and 251 lb-ft of torque. All these power is capable enough to drive this car through its competitor if it will be put into production.

The car’s in-line engine is the same petrol engine used by the company on their luxury vehicle the S80 in 2006 but designed to take E85 fuel which is 85 per cent bio-ethanol and 15 per cent gasoline. The result is lower emissions and same high performance that buyers expect from a Volvo. Add to that optimized engine the different components like its Volvo exhaust parts that further cleans the gas emitted by the car and you have a car that is a combination of high performance and eco-friendly design.

The use of the E85 as its fuel does not diminish the engine’s capability; this can be seen on the car’s remarkable acceleration. The car can reach 60 miles per hour from a standstill in 8.2 seconds and can attain speed as fast as 143 mph.

The possibility of cars such as this looks good thanks to the increasing number of plants producing ethanol for use as fuel. Not only that, the step towards protecting the environment is one of the major concerns of all governments globally so a mass produced green car will be much welcomed. Car manufacturers can expect a large buyer base for cars such as this because of the fuels lower price than the non-renewable fossil fuels. Add to that the performance level of the cars using cleaner fuel and you will have a product that will surely receive much praise and awards and achieve sales record.

Dent Removal in the Past

Traditional dent repair options rely on sanding, paint, body filler, or even new parts to get your car back to looking like new. While these can be effective, they tend to be costly, time-consuming, and hard on our nation’s landfills. It is this last challenge that most concerns many consumer today; when you are working and living in locations like Silicon Valley and the Bay Area, where some of the greatest innovations in reducing your ecological footprint are available to consumers of all types, unnecessary waste simply doesn’t make good, environmental sense.

Body Shops and the Environment

Most body shops are held to strict environmental regulations for a good reason: the chemicals contained in paint, paint removers, paint thinners, and body fillers are dangerous. They typically must be disposed of correctly, recycled, and otherwise contained by spray hoods so that the fumes don’t escape into the atmosphere.

Hazardous waste products aren’t the only concern, either. When a vehicle undergoes even a slight paint touch-up, there are paper products, tape, and protective gear to contend with. Your auto body repair specialist might also have to spend more than twice as much time – and energy in the form of electricity – to get the job done.

Paintless Dent Repair is Better for the Environment

Most of these drawbacks can be sidestepped by opting for paintless dent removal. Virtually all of the hazardous waste is taken out of the equation, thanks to the techniques and equipment that allow technicians to simply take advantage of the high-strength metal and resilient paint finish already present on your vehicle. The technician pulls out the dent using specialized equipment that ensures your existing paint isn’t ruined in the process.

To ensure that your eco-friendly approach to dent removal is done correctly, make sure you choose a reputable company like Dings Plus of San Jose, CA. They take all the guesswork out of dent repair by bringing their mobile services right to your door. Paintless dent removal has never been easier – or greener.

 

But in recent months, it’s been becoming clear that the high mileage has taken its toll. Your vehicle has started wheezing and creaking, and needs a bit of coaxing before it will get going on cold mornings. Reluctantly, you’ve decided that your long-suffering car is nearing the end of its life. And you’ve fallen in love with a sporty new Chrysler Crossfire that will be perfect for you and your partner, now that the children have left home. So how can you dispose of old faithful in a sympathetic, eco-friendly way – without its life ending ignominiously, in a car-crusher?

If it’s a Chrysler, or a vehicle from another environment-friendly manufacturer, the problem is easily solved. Since 3rd March 2005, EU-Directive 2000/53/EG concerning the take-back of end-of-life vehicles has been implemented in the UK, through end-of-life vehicle legislation and its relevant provisions.

Under this legislation, a passenger vehicle with a maximum of nine seats, or a commercial vehicle with a maximum weight of 3.5 tonnes, that has been registered after 1st July 2002, may be returned for a free-of-charge take-back, provided that it fulfils the following criteria:

? All significant components, such as the engine, chassis, bodywork, catalytic converter or electronic control unit are present in the vehicle

? There is no waste in the vehicle

? The vehicle is or was registered in a member state of the European Union for a minimum duration of one month

? The vehicle registration documents are submitted with the vehicle

In order to achieve simple, eco-friendly disposal of end-of-life vehicles, Chrysler maintains a nationwide network of take-back stations. These will take back a used Chrysler free of charge, and provide a certificate of destruction. This confirms that the vehicle was properly disposed of, and enables the owner to legally deregister it. A certificate of destruction may only be issued by a certified Automotive Treatment Facility; a certified and authorised acceptance point; or a manufacturer-approved take-back station.

So what happens after a Chrysler take-back station receives a vehicle for end-of-life disposal? Firstly, it is de-polluted according to legal requirements, which ensure that all of the vehicle’s operating fluids (e.g. oil, brake fluid) are removed and recycled. Subsequently the reusable parts and recoverable materials are dismantled. Recoverable materials such as glass, tyres, and large plastic parts, etc. are fed into separate recycling systems. The remaining bodywork is shredded, separated into different categories, and, as far as possible, fed back into the economic cycle. It looks like the days of scrap-yards filled with rusting heaps of old vehicles are numbered!

For more information about Chrysler’s end-of-life vehicle take-back system, or details of the Chrysler range, visit http://www.chrysler.co.uk/

Lexus are forerunners in the bid to reduce emissions and save our planet with their range of hybrid vehicles and many people, particularly throughout the US, have been keen to give them a try. In the US, the public transport system is not quite as efficient as in Europe. People are spread out across the land mass and all are wanting to get somewhere as quickly as they can, whether it be the school run, gong to work, shopping for out for a super large McDonalds takeaway.

The Americans like their vehicles to be luxurious, comfortable and reliable, pretty much like the rest of us, which is why they have taken so well to the Lexus. In fact, they have taken to it much better than the Japanese who actually make the car and the Europeans who are not keen on paying so much for a method of getting from A to B when they have a pretty efficient transport system in place already.

One such American who wishes to reduce his carbon footprint by using a hybrid vehicle is Grateful Dead founder and front man, Bob Weir, who owns a 2007 Hybrid Lexus GS 450h. Environmentalist Weir purchased the car for its eco friendly qualities and ranks the car an eight out of ten. Although it is worth a full ten, Weir lives on a mountain side so doesn’t feel the full benefit of the car’s economical aspects but fully appreciates the sound system. Apparently, the driver is cocooned in silence whilst driving allowing the vehicles superb sound system to completely envelope the driver.

Another celebrity eco-warrior is Sir Paul McCartney. His tireless campaign for anything environmentally friendly has been rewarded by the gift of a Hybrid Lexus Limousine. This was in recognition of the fact that he does all he can to enlighten the public to the need for ‘green’ cars. However, Sir Paul was not best pleased when he found out that the car was flown from Japan to Britain by jet. The carbon footprint for a jet is one hundred times that of a standard method of shipping and kind of defeats the object of a ‘green’ car.

The market for hybrid cars has been slow to take off. People want to do their bit for the environment but not many people can afford the price tag that comes with it. This is something that the government should be able to tackle. Maybe if they were to subsidise it then we could all afford to do our bit.

They also do not provide the same sort of power that drivers have been used to with standard fuel cars. Technology is improving all the time in a bid to find a means of transport that not only is not harmful to the planet but that also gets us around at the speed we are used to and is accompanied by sleek, good looks. Until recently, many electric or hybrid cars looked plain silly. Tiny vehicles that were painted in lurid colours may have been good for the environment but few people are willing to drive around looking and feeling silly.

All the top car manufacturers are working on eco-friendly cars and the results are getting better by the day. Hopefully, in time, this will result in the right car, with the right look, at the right price.