Fuel efficient car guide
June 22, 2008 by Frank Girard · 1 Comment
FUEL EFFICIENT CAR GUIDE
Here you will find videos about the top ranked (by the government) fuel efficient cars. You will also find handy links to the manufacturer’s web sites
Happy shopping! The list is below:
Honda FCX Clarity
Link to manufacturer’s site: Honda FCX Clarity - Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle - Official Web Site
Here’s a video about the Clarity:
Mazda MX-5 Miata
Link to manufacturer’s site:Mazda MX-5 Miata
Video about the Miata:
Toyota 2008 Toyota Prius Hybrid
Link to manufacturer’s web site:Hybrid Prius - 2008 Toyota Prius Hybrid Car Site
Video about the Prius:
MINI
Link to manufacturer’s web site:MINIUSA.com
This cover the MINI Cooper S, MINI Cooper Convertible,MINI Cooper S Convertible,MINI Cooper Clubman, MINI Cooper S Clubman Ph
Video about Mini:
2008 Toyota Yaris
Link to manufacturer’s web site:2008 Toyota Yaris
Here you will get information about the Liftback and Sedan.
Here’s a video about the Yaris:
2008 Honda Civic Hybrid
Link to manufacturer’s web site:2008 Honda Civic Hybrid
Video about Honda Civic Hybrid
Driving miles down
June 22, 2008 by Frank Girard · Leave a Comment
U.S. car owners drove 1.4 billion fewer highway miles in April than they did in April 2007, the Department of Transportation said Wednesday. Americans have driven 20 billion fewer miles overall this year, the Transportation Department says. That marks the sixth consecutive monthly drop and coincides with record gas prices and an increase in transit ridership, Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said. The chart below from the Federal Highways Administration shows a previous trend over the years of mileage traveled growing every year. This trend may change dramatically based on the high price of gas. What do you think?
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FAQ Honda’s FCX Clarity
June 15, 2008 by Frank Girard · Leave a Comment
Here are frequently asked questions about Honda’s new FCX Clarity car, an emission free car just now being offered this summer:
Fuel cell vehicles are powered by electricity generated onboard by combining hydrogen with oxygen by the fuel cell stack. From tank to wheel, the FCX Clarity is twice as efficient as a hybrid-electric vehicle and three times more efficient than a conventional gasoline vehicle.
This information came from Honda’s Clarity FCX web site. Pump-less.gac.com in no way guarantees the accuracy and completeness of information provided by the manufacturer. Consumers should use the same due diligence they would use in making any automobile purchase in considering the Honda Clarity FCX.
For more information about the Honda FCX, go to this related link.
Honda’s FCX Clarity
June 15, 2008 by Frank Girard · Leave a Comment
Honda now sells a zero emission car called called the Honda FCX Clarity. Honda advertises this car as the “Zero Emission Sedan of the Future- A Reality Today.”
Here is information taken directly from Honda’s web site about the car:
FCX Clarity is powered by an electric motor. The car you drove to work today is probably powered by an engine. The big difference is that the motor in the FCX Clarity gets its energy from electricity, instead of from gasoline like most cars today. So while the FCX Clarity has the power of an engine, it also offers the uniquely clean, quiet ride of a motor.
According to Honda, the new high-output, compact electric motor that drives the FCX Clarity is powerful and quiet for a smooth and efficient ride. This lightweight motor has its roots in the one developed by Honda for the EV Plus™ electric vehicle.High efficiency over a broad output range with low noise is the main benefit of this next-generation motor.
The new motor was designed to take full advantage of the outstanding power-generating capability in the new Honda V-Flow stack. The new FCX Clarity reduces intake noise and vibration in the air pump to achieve an even quieter, more comfortable ride than the previous model.
A hydrogen fuel cell produces electricity for the vehicle. The fuel cell combines hydrogen, which is stored in a fuel tank onboard the vehicle, with oxygen from the air to make electricity. The electricity then powers the electric motor, which in turn drives the front wheels. Water vapor and heat are the only byproducts.
A fuel cell is made up of a thin electrolyte film wedged between two electrode layers in between two separators. Several hundred layers of these cells are connected in a series.
1. Hydrogen fuel is fed into the anode of the fuel cell. Helped by a catalyst, hydrogen atoms are split into electrons and protons.
2. Electrons are channeled through a circuit to produce electricity.
3. Protons pass through the polymer electrolyte membrane.
4. Oxygen (from the air) enters the cathode and combines with the electrons and protons to form water.
5. Water vapor and heat are released as byproducts of this reaction.
To develop a fuel cell vehicle worthy of the Honda name, our engineers worked tirelessly to ensure that the FCX Clarity was
Safe for the public
Operable in freezing weather
Able to drive a reasonable range before refueling
Easy to refuel
Sporty and fun to drive
Each generation of the FCX Clarity has brought Honda closer to achieving those goals, and we are proud to introduce the FCX Clarity to the world.
Since the first Honda fuel cell vehicle was unveiled in 1999, dramatic changes have taken place in rapid succession. The fuel cell stack in the 1999 vehicle was very large and bulky. By developing and working to perfect our own Honda Fuel Cell (FC) stacks, Honda has made them significantly smaller, lighter and more compact. As a result, the design of the vehicle itself has also gone from tall and boxy to sleek and elegant with a roomy and comfortable cabin.
Honda has brought the fuel cell vehicle from the lab to the fleet and finally to the public. The major barrier now is building up the hydrogen supply infrastructure. We have a strong interest in this area as well and we are hard at work perfecting a Home Energy Station that may supply power to the home as well as the family car. With these developments, Honda is paving the way for a clean and efficient hydrogen-based society of the future.
| 1999: | Honda introduces first fuel-cell vehicle prototypes FCX-V1 and FCX-V2. |
| 2000: | Prototype fuel cell vehicle FCX-V3 introduced.
FCX begins service as official pace car of L.A. Marathon and goes on to lead the race for eight consecutive years. |
| 2001: | Prototype fuel cell vehicle FCX-V3 equipped with a Honda FC Stack demonstrated at the California Fuel Cell Partnership in Sacramento, California.
Prototype fuel cell vehicle FCX-V4 introduced. |
| 2002: | Honda’s FCX certified by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB). First and only fuel cell car in history to be approved for commercial use.
FCX fuel cell vehicles delivered on the same day in Japan and the U.S. City of Los Angeles becomes first FCX customer, leasing first of five Honda FCX models for fleet use. |
| 2003: | Experiments begin in the U.S with a hydrogen Home Energy Station, providing hydrogen fuel supply and cogeneration functions.
Honda FC Stack, a next-generation fuel cell stack capable of power generation at temperatures as low as –20ºC, is announced. Honda becomes world’s first automaker to supply a fuel cell vehicle to a private corporation. |
| 2004: | New York State becomes a fleet customer. |
| 2005: | Honda introduces second-generation FCX. First to be powered by Honda FC stack.
FCX is put on road with real family, the Spalinos. FCX Concept vehicle unveiled at Tokyo Motor Show. Huge leap forward in lightweight, compact fuel cell stack design. Result is sleeker vehicle design. Startups now possible at -30°C. |
| 2007: | FCX Clarity, world’s first dedicated platform hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, debuts at L.A. auto show. New stack is 20% smaller and 30% lighter than its predecessor.
2007 marks the eighth consecutive year the FCX serves as pace car for the L.A. Marathon. |
| 2008: | FCX Clarity available for consumer use in the summer |
