Obama Tire Guage Energy Plan

Barack Obama just suggested that Americans can help conserve energy by inflating their tires. The McCain campaign is making a bit of a joke from this suggestion. In fact, this morning the McCain campaign distributed tire pressure guages to reporers and emailed supporters offering them “Obama Energy Plan” tire pressure guages if they donate $25.

Is this whole tie pressure bit just a lot of hot air? Not really…although it won’t be a major solution to our energy problem, little things do help. Keeping tires inflated properly can improve gas mileage 3-4% resulting in a savings of about twelve cents a gallon, according to the overnment’sd website www.fueleconomy.gov

According to the Energy Information Administration, in the US we consume 9,286,000 barrels/day (390 million gallons/day) of gasoline. Three percent of that consumption is a savings of 11.7 million gallons a day. Here’s some interesting related stats:

Consumers would spend 46.8 million dollars less a day for gas (assuming $4 per gallon price)..so that’s 1.7 billion dollars a year less that consumers would be spending on gas that could be spent elsewhere in the economy! Interesting numbers…the fact is that we’re consuming so much oil that even a minor savings can mean a substantial dollar impact!

No, I think Obama’s point about inflating our tires was presented incorrectly (at least in tone) as a major solution to our problem, but it has a bigger dollar impact than many of us might think! Don’t these dollar numbers surprise you? Of course, to get 100% of Americans to inflate their tires (or do anything) is unrealistic..but even if half of the population did it, the impact could still be helpful.

Scooter buying tips

Have you ever considered using a scooter sometimes to help reduce the amount of money you spend on gas?

According to dictionary.com, a scooter is “a child’s vehicle that typically has two wheels with a low footboard between them, is steered by a handlebar, and is propelled by pushing one foot against the ground while resting the other on the footboard.Also called motor scooter. a similar but larger and heavier vehicle for adults, having a saddlelike seat mounted on the footboard and being propelled by a motor.

Here’s some tips for buying a motor scooter:

1. Where will you drive it? Will you only be driving it locally or will you be driving on more high traffic roads? This will help you determine how fast you need the scooter to go.
2. How much weight do you plan to carry? Will you be the only person on the scooter or do you plan to take a passenger? You need to consider weight in order to check the specifications of what wieghts your scooter can carry.
3. Which scooter should I buy? Much of this is personal opinion. To help you check out some of the manufacturers, we’ve listed some of the manufaccturers with links to their sites.
4. Drive safe! Before you start driving, take a motorcycle driver training course even if it isn’t required by law.
5. Get insurance just like yu buy insurance for your car
6. Consider getting an alarm for your scooter to protect it from being stolen.

As part of my continuing series of buying tips, we’ll share other scooter buying tips in the future. As promised, here’s a list of links to scooter manufacturers:

Aprilia Scooters

Piaggio Scooters

Honda Scooters

Suzuki Scooters

Vespa Scooters

Schwinn Scooters

Yamaha Scooters

55 miles per hour returning?

Remember when the maximum speed limit was 55? That was way back in 1974 when the nation faced the Arab oil embargo….Gee, why didn’t we become more proactive about energy independence back then? Good question, right!

In 1995, we were permitted to “put the pedal to the metal” again and the 55 mph limit was dropped…Deja vu—-well requiring us to drive no more than 55 is back on the table again in Congress.

In a recent discussion, Republican Senator John Warner from Virginia asked Energy Secretary Sam Bodman to caclulate how much we would save at 55 mph- when enacted in the past the savings was 167-thousand barrels of oil a day. Savings could be greater today.

What do you think? Should Congress re-enact the reduced speed limit? You know, besides saving gas, it would save lives as well…

Here’s some related stories:

Hybrid Cars Today Videos

Watch a top list of great videos about hybrid cars today! You’ll find general information here about hybrid cars and hybrid car technology plus information about some specific hybrids.

Hybrid Cars

Top 5 Hybrid Cars For 2008

hybrid-car-prius

Demand For Hybrid Cars Continues To Rise

Developing hybrid cars

GM Richard Wagoner hybrid cars

Larry David Talking Hybrid Cars - Toyota Prius

City TV News item on Hybrid Cars

LA Auto Show: Hybrid Cars

Hybrid Cars

Gasoline/Electric Hybrid Cars, Trucks, SUVs

E3 TV: Hybrid cars

New Ford Hybrid Cars Benson Ford Huge Ford Dealer Easley. S

(Hybrid Cars) Overpriced? Increase MPG and Save Money!

Gasoline/Electric Hybrid Cars, Trucks, SUVs

I hope this hybrid car information is helpful to you- if you are shopping for a Hybrid car now or just want to learn more about hybrids.

Air drags down mileage

You may have never thought about this but how efficiently your car moves through the air can impact your miles per gallon. For example, if you have a roof rack on your car and don’t need it, take the rack off because that rack will cause your miles per gallon to drop. In fact, there are products on the market you can add to your car to make it move with less “drag” on the car. You may have seen large trucks with pieces added to the truck’s body to make it fuel efficient. Yesterday I learned from the owner of a local outdoor/sporting goods store that you can buy pieces to attach to your car to make it move more efficiently with less drag. One of the products is called air buds.

Bottom line, don’t keep racks on your car when you don’t need them! And consider adding a component to your car to cause it to move through the air with less drag.

Here’s some related stories:

Better MPG thru AERODYNAMICS….all the COOL kids are doing it!!!!

There are a couple of things we as commuters can do to increase our MPG by decreasing our cars drag coefficient. Roof racks, ugly wings, and huge body kits; really hinder the movement of air around your car….so get rid of those things. …

What Do Roof Racks, Ugly Body Kits, and Dragster Style Aluminum …

All those little Honda Civics running around with ugly unpainted body kits and huge dragster style aluminum wings….are killing the great gas mileage those little cars were born to get! And Please I Beg You!!!!……just save up your money …

Frugal Friday: Saving Gas

Rolling down the window creates drag and will cause your engine to work harder. Use the vents on the car air conditioner instead. * When you’re driving, avoid quick starts. Accelerating slowly can improve your gas mileage. …

Who Wants To Use Less Gas?

Cargo or cargo racks on top of your vehicle (eg, cargo boxes, canoes, etc.) increase aerodynamic drag and lower fuel economy. When it comes to mileage, a major issue is air flow. The fewer things blocking the air passage, the better. …

$11 worth of mods plus new tires - Car and Driver improves MPG by 25%

Fuel is burned to overcome two predominant forces: rolling resistance and aerodynamic drag. At highway speeds, aero drag dominates, and that’s where Car and Driver spent most of its effort - and the $11 for supplies. Mod #1: Front air …

How Can Truck Bed Covers Help Save Gas And Transform Your Truck

This could easily save several miles from your gas mileage every time you use your truck. These types of covers also provide extra gas mileage by reducing the air drag that is exacerbated by the truck bed - an aerodynamic nightmare. …

FAQ Honda’s FCX Clarity

Here are frequently asked questions about Honda’s new FCX Clarity car, an emission free car just now being offered this summer:

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.

Spark plugs and gas costs

You pay have never thought about this but if your spark plugs aren’t working effectively you’ll get lower gas mileage. This is another simple idea to help you save on gas.

Here’s some related stories:

Low resistance tires

Low Rolling Resistance Tires

Rolling resistance is fundamentally the parasitic energy a tire consumes while rolling under load. The phenomenon is quite complex, and nearly all operating conditions can affect the final outcome. It is estimated that 5%-15% of light-duty fuel consumption is used to overcome rolling resistance for passenger cars. For heavy trucks, this quantity can be as high as 15%-30%.

Some of the following documents are available as Adobe PDFs. Download Adobe Reader.

Sensitivity Coefficient

A modeling study conducted at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Analysis of the Fuel Economy Benefit of Drivetrain Hybridization (PDF 268 KB), shows the sensitivity coefficient (percent increase in fuel economy per percent decrease in rolling resistance) to be as high as 0.2 for a conventional vehicle. The current study quantifies this number by duty cycle and comes up with a range of 0.1-0.2. A report written by Green Seal (PDF 285 KB) indicates that a 1.5%-4.5% savings is possible for high rolling resistance tires. The same report quotes testing done for rolling resistance on tires with rolling resistance coefficients varying from ~0.01 all the way down to ~0.006 implying up to 3% improvement in fuel economy for a very low rolling resistance tire.

New vs. Replacement Tires

New cars are generally equipped with low rolling resistance tires that offer better fuel economy. This helps the auto manufacturer to meet their Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. However, no requirements are currently placed on replacement tires. Therefore, if you want to purchase fuel-efficient replacement tires, you must research to figure out which tires have low rolling resistance.

Tire Inflation

Proper tire inflation also plays a large role in keeping vehicles fuel efficient. For example, a vehicle with a recommended pressure of 35 psi whose tires are at 28 psi will have increased its rolling resistance by 12.5%.

Cost Effectiveness

According to a California Energy Commission report, the use of low rolling resistance tires on light-duty fleets is cost effective over the life of the vehicle. That is, the fuel savings pays for the additional cost of the low rolling resistance tires. This report finds that the opportunity for cost-effective energy savings in California from low rolling resistance tires is substantial—about 300 million gallons of gasoline per year resulting from a 3% average improvement in the fuel efficiency of light-duty vehicles currently operating on replacement tires. For more information visit the California Energy Commission’s Fuel Efficient Tire Proceeding Documents Web page.

In the equation, it is assumed that the baseline rolling resistance is 0.009. RRC_replacement is the rolling resistance of the replacement tire which can be obtained from sources such as Green Seal’s Choose Green Report, March 2003 (PDF 285 KB) Download Adobe Reader. Negative values indicate an increase in fuel consumption.

Convert your vehicle?

Conversions

Conventional original equipment manufacturer (OEM) vehicles altered to operate on propane, natural gas, methane gas, ethanol, or electricity are classified as aftermarket alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) conversions. In the United States, all vehicle conversions (except those to run on electricity) must meet current applicable U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards. EPA instituted these standards to assure unimpaired emission control of motor vehicles throughout their useful life. Vehicles operating in California must follow conversion rules issued by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

This section provides information about conversions. For more information, choose from the following links.

• What is an AFV Conversion?
• Vehicle Conversion Certification
• Certificates of Conformity
• Vehicle Converters
• Conversion Requirements

What is an AFV Conversion?

A converted vehicle is one that was originally designed to operate on gasoline or diesel and has been altered to run on an alternative fuel. Altering vehicles to run on compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are the two most common types of alternative fuel vehicle conversions.

OEM vehicles can be converted to “dedicated” AFVs, which means they operate exclusively on an alternative fuel such as propane or natural gas. They can also be converted to “bi-fuel” vehicles that have separate tanks for gasoline and the gaseous fuel. The desired fuel is usually accessed by flipping a switch to change tanks. Dual-fuel systems supply both fuels into the combustion chamber at the same time in various calibrated proportions. Currently there is no EPA certification available for converting OEM models to dual-fuel systems.

For more information on AFV conversions, visit the following sections.

• Natural Gas Vehicle Conversions
• Propane Vehicle Conversions
• Electric Vehicle Conversions
• Flexible Fuel Vehicle Conversions
• Conversion of Hybrid to Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle

Vehicle Conversion Certification

All vehicle conversions must be certified according to Mobile Source Enforcement Memorandum 1A (Memo 1A) issued in 1974; the Addendum to Memo 1A (PDF 32 KB), which was issued in 1997; and the Revision to the Addendum to Memo 1A (Revision), issued in 1998. Download Adobe Reader. The original purpose of Memo 1A was to enforce the tampering prohibitions under Section 203(a)(3) of the Clean Air Act with respect to maintenance and use of aftermarket parts. Its subsequent revisions outlined allowable procedures for converting vehicles to operate on alternative fuels while still complying with the Clean Air Act’s tampering prohibitions and ensuring that emissions are not degraded through the conversion process.

In the mid 1990s, testing determined that some vehicles converted to operate on alternative fuels, specifically natural gas and propane, produced worse emissions than those of baseline gasoline vehicles. EPA then issued the Addendum to Memorandum 1A in September 1997, requiring more stringent emissions testing for AFV conversions. The addendum specified three options for system manufacturers to demonstrate that it had a “reasonable basis” to believe its aftermarket part, vehicle add-on, or alteration to the vehicle would not adversely affect vehicle emissions performance.

Certificates of Conformity

EPA issues Certificates of Conformity that cover a “test group”—specific vehicle or engine models for certain model years that are modified to operate on an alternative fuel. Data for a test group retrofitted with a conversion companies’ alternative fuel system must be submitted to EPA for certification. Once the Certificate of Conformity is issued, vehicles in the test group may be converted by that conversion company to use that alternative fuel system.

Certificates of Conformity for “aftermarket” converters are signed by EPA and certify that the appropriate sections of the Code of Federal Regulations (40 CFR Parts 85 through 88) have been met. Certificates indicate:

• The original test group of vehicles as determined and provided by the OEM.
• The evaporative emissions family.
• The state(s) in which the test group is certified (e.g. California vs. 50 state sales areas).
• The “car line” (e.g., F-150, two-wheel drive, extended cab, 5.4-liter engine).
• The model year of the vehicles included in the test group.
• The emissions standards that are met.

An aftermarket conversion may only be performed on a vehicle if a Certificate of Conformity or CARB certification has been issued for that vehicle’s test group.

For information on CARB procedures, visit the Certification of Alternative Fuel Retrofit Systems section of the CARB Web site.

Vehicle Converters

The EPA refers to a vehicle converter as a “small volume manufacturer.” The vehicle converter holds the Certificate of Conformity. An individual or entity wishing to convert a vehicle to operate on an alternative fuel must go through a company or organization associated with a certificate holder, and the work must be performed by a licensed technician associated with that company. Examples of organizations that hold Certificates of Conformity issued by EPA include the designer of the conversion equipment, the producer or manufacturer of the equipment, and the company that performs the installations.

It is the responsibility of the certificate holder to ensure the equipment is properly installed and that it is safe, durable, and meets the emission standards of the original model year of the vehicle.

To qualify to perform aftermarket AFV conversions, potential certificate holders must complete an application and submit emissions test data to EPA for a test group of vehicles equipped with the retrofit system. Each year, certificate holders must file a new application to renew their certificates for test groups; they do not need to submit new test data in order to renew. For example, for the conversion of a model year (MY) 2003 vehicle, EPA can issue a MY 2004 certificate (enabling the certificate holder to convert that MY 2003 vehicle test group through the end of 2004 calendar year) or a MY 2007 certificate (enabling the certificate holder to convert that MY 2003 vehicle through the end of the 2007 calendar year).

The certificate holder could later apply for a MY 2008 certificate when EPA begins issuing them (enabling the certificate holder to convert that MY 2003 vehicle test group through the end of the 2008 calendar year). The certificates are valid through December 31 of each certification year. A manufacturer can reapply to convert prior year vehicles in subsequent years without conducting new emissions testing, as long as the conversion equipment and technologies are equivalent to what was first submitted.

If a Certificate of Conformity has not been issued for your vehicle, a certificate holder may consider applying for a Certificate of Conformity for that vehicle. The certificate holder may also provide an estimate on how much it would cost to convert your vehicle. See the Federal and State Laws and Incentives section to find incentives and other programs that could help offset conversion costs. Select Conversion Companies in the related links search to find companies that perform conversions.

Conversion Requirements

Beginning with MY 2005 light-duty vehicles (MY 2007 for heavy-duty vehicles between 8,500 lb. and 14,000 lb. gross vehicle weight rating), all conversions must be onboard diagnostic system (OBD II) compliant when operating on the alternative fuels. No false OBD codes or false malfunction indicator light (MIL) illumination should occur. For dual-fuel vehicles, the OBD II system must not be affected by the conversion when operating the vehicle on gasoline. Testing for compliance should be conducted by inducing failures to the emission system.

Deterioration factors (DFs) were updated on May 26, 2005, and alternative fuel converters must use these DFs for emissions measurements on vehicles using alternative fuels. These apply to dedicated AFVs and dual-fuel vehicles when operating on alternative fuels. For dual-fuel vehicles, the use of OEM DFs when operating on the fuel used by OEMs at the time the vehicle was originally certified is contingent on the alternative fuel converter not modifying the components or the location of the OEM emission control system. It is also contingent on the alternative fuel converter not modifying fuel control system or increasing the weight of the vehicle by more than 500 lb. Aftermarket converters must state that they have not altered the OEM’s emission control system and include it in their certification applications.

Ultra low sulfur diesel vehicles

Ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) is diesel fuel with 15 parts per million (ppm) or lower sulfur content. This ultra-low sulfur content enables use of advanced emission control technologies on light dury and heavy0duty diesel vehicles. Most highway diesel fuel refined in or imported into the United States is required to be ULSD as of 2006.

Petroleum-based ULSD is not considered an alternative fuel under the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct), but most ULSD fuels produced from non-petroleum and renewable sources are considered EPAct alternative fuels.

Ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) is diesel fuel with 15 parts per million (ppm) or lower sulfur content. U.S Environmental Protection Agency requires 80% of the highway diesel fuel refined in or imported into the United States (100% in California) to be ULSD as of 2006. One hundred percent must be ULSD nationwide by 2010. Different requirements apply to non-highway diesel.

Currently, the vast majority of ULSD is produced from petroleum. However, biodiesel, biomass-tp-liquids, coal-to-liquids, and gas-to-liquids diesel diesel; and hydrogeneration-derived-renewable diesel are inherently ultra-low sulfur fuels and could help meet ULSD requirements in the future. Petroleum-based ULSD is not considered an alternative fuel under the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct), but most ULSD fuels produced from non-petroleum and renewable sources are considered EPAct alternative fuels.

Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel as a Vehicle Fuel

Ultra-low sulfur content in diesel fuel is beneficial because it enables use of advanced emission control technologies on light-duty and heavy-duty diesel vehicles. The combination of ULSD with advanced emission control technologies is sometimes called Clean Diesel.

Nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and particulate matter (PM) are the two most harmful diesel pollutant emissions. These emissions can be controlled with the use of catalytic converters (for NO_x) and particulate traps (for PM). However, sulfur—in amounts that used to be allowable in diesel fuel—deactivates these devices and nullifies their emissions control benefits. Using ULSD enables these devices to work properly.

In general, ULSD should cause no noticeable impact on vehicle performance, although fuel economy might be slightly reduced because the process that produces ULSD can also reduce the fuel’s energy content. Removing sulfur from diesel reduces lubricity. This issue can be resolved by the addition of additives prior to retail sale that increase lubricity. In addition, blending biodiesel with ULSD also increases lubricity.

Using ULSD in older diesel vehicles might affect fuel system components or loosen deposits in fuel tanks. These vehicles should be monitored closely for fuel system problems and premature fuel filter plugging during the transition to ULSD. New vehicles designed to use ULSD must never be fueled with a higher-sulfur fuel. If kerosene is blended with ULSD for improved cold-weather performance, it must be ultra-low sulfur (15 ppm or lower) kerosene. New engine oils have been developed for use with new diesel vehicles fueled with ULSD.

Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel Benefits

Although petroleum-based ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) is not an alternative fuel, it provides important environmental and fuel-saving benefits. ULSD produced from non-petroleum and renewable sources is even more advantageous. The following are benefits of ULSD:

• Ultra-low sulfur diesel enables use of advanced emission control technologies on light-duty and heavy-dutry diesel vehicles.
  • ULSD enables use of catalytic converters and particulate traps that nearly eliminate emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and particulate matter (PM), pollutants that are linked to serious health problems.
  • Emission reductions from use of Clean Diesel (ULSD combined with advanced emission control technologies) will be equivalent to removing the pollution from more than 90% of today’s trucks and buses, when the current heavy-duty vehicle fleet has been completely replaced in 2030.
  • ULSD will enable light-duty diesel vehicles to meet the same strict emissions standards as light-duty gasoline vehicles.
• Diesel engines are 20-40% more efficient than comparable gasoline engines.
  • The availability of low-emission light-duty diesel cars and trucks fueled with ULSD is likely to put more diesel vehicles on the road.
  • Replacing some gasoline vehicles with diesel vehicles will result in reduced U.S. petroleum fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Ultra-low sulfur diesel uses existing fueling infrastructure and works with existing engine and vehicle technologies.
• Inherently ultra-low sulfur biodiesel, biomass-to-liquids diesel, coal-to-liquids diesel, gas-to-liquids diesel, and hydrogeneration-derived renewable diesel provide additional environmental, energy security, and economic benefits.

For more about the benefits of ULSD, visit the Diesel Technology Forum and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Clean Diesel Campaign, which includes a Diesel Emissions Quantifier that estimates emission-reduction benefits of fleet ULSD use.

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