AUTOMOTIVE ARTICLES
It is fun to drive the car you’ve always dreamt of. One takes pride in taking his or her car out for a test drive for the very first time.
While most of us who fancy driving the car of our dreams, does it ever occur to us how the first people felt when they got to hop on the very first cars?
One of the first prototypes of the automobile was the steam car which was introduced in 1771. 1885 was the year when the first gasoline-powered car was made by Benz Patent Motorwagen. However, the first patent for automobiles in the
Between the years 1815 to 1839, Europeans were attempting to come up with their own versions of the automobiles from steam-powered to electric carriages that ran on non-rechargeable primary cells. In 1860, a Belgian-native built a car with internal engine that ran on coal-gas though it did not last long and the maker did not pursue improving it further. There were others who tried a hand at the car-making scheme but most of the early pioneers were sort of forgotten.
It was in 1888 when the first batch of automobiles was produced. They were under licenses granted in
The years following 1903 marked the Brass era for the automobile history which lasted for 15 years. This was called the brass era because of the widespread use of brass in the
Among the more popular cars that came out of this era were the Ford Model T with planetary transmission and pedal-based control system; and the Mercer Raceabout, one of the first sports cars.
From 1919 to 1929, more cars with its engine situated at the front have become popular. The engine itself also made relevant changes. This period was referred to as the Vintage Era. Among those vintage vehicles that were famous are: Austin 7, Bugatti Type 35, Ford Model A, and the Cadillac V-16.
During the time between the Great Depression and post WWII, the automobiles went through a new development. Cars with fully-closed bodies were best sellers. After the war in 1949, car revolution took place. This era gave birth to high-compression V8 engines and modern bodies.
The 1950s introduced more integrated designs with better engine power and vehicle speed. This was also the time when cars went global. During the 60s, performance was a great sell for
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About the Author: The author is an auro consultant, writes articles for various sites, particpates proactively of various websites. He resides in
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Monster trucks are modified pickup trucks with extremely large wheels and suspension system to match. They are built for competitions and popular sports entertainment. In the late 70s, modified pickups became popular along with mud bogging and truck pulling. Truck owners had created raised trucks to compete in those events and soon started competing for the size of the truck- the ‘biggest truck’ won the prize. Few of the very first monster trucks which shot to fame are; Bob Chandler's Bigfoot, Fred Shafer and Jack Willman Sr.'s Bear Foot, and Jeff Dane's Awesome Kong.
Earlier trucks used stock chassis which were heavily reinforced, used leaf spring suspension, a stock body and axles from military vehicles to support the massive tires. The trucks were incredibly heavy weighing between 13,000 to 20,000 lbs. With monster truck racing picking up popularity, truck owners began building lighter trucks, with more power by using straight-rail frames, fiberglass bodies, and lighter axle components.
A modern monster truck features a custom built tubular chassis with four-link suspensions to provide up to four feet of travel. The engine is mounted just behind the driver on most trucks. Engines are supercharged, run on methanol and have displacement 9.42L. Monster trucks use modified heavy-duty military truck axles, custom designed automatic transmission and hydraulic steering systems. Tires are typically "Terra" tires measuring 66 inches in diameter.
Like all auto shows, monster truck shows are very popular and entertaining. A monster truck show involves trucks crushing smaller cars with their huge tires. Tire sizes vary from 1.2 to 1.7m in diameter. In recent years, monster truck competitions have a freestyle event- drivers are free to select their own course around the track and its obstacles. Drivers show-off their skills with a fast Donut, also called a Cyclone. Donut involves spinning the truck in a high speed circle.
USHRA's Monster Jam is a very popular series, with trucks like Grave Digger, Maximum Destruction, and Bounty Hunter. Bigfoot often runs with Checkered Flag Productions, Monster Truck Challenge, Monster Nationals, AMP Live Events, Chris Arel Motorsports, Southern Monster Truck Showdown. Monster truck events are extremely popular among Auto enthusiasts , especially throughout
About the Author: Writing articles is my hobby.
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Every car owner in the world is required to get insurance for themselves and their car in one way or the other. In the
However, the problem with car insurance premiums is that they can be very costly. There are different factors as to how each car is assessed for insurance. The insurance provider looks at different angles to come up with the monthly premium you have to pay for your car. This is an individual assessment, meaning what you're going to pay for annually is not going to be the same as your neighbor's regardless if both of you had bought the same car on the same date.
These are the common factors that car insurance providers look at. Check them out so that you'll know how you can possibly lower the car insurance premium you'd have to pay for your own car:
1. Your driving history
Are you a good driver? Have you had any accident reports or traffic violations in the past six months? Keep in mind that insurance providers prefer a defensive, careful driver. This is because these types of car owner are not likely to put their car in bumpy situations that would otherwise mean insurance claims later on. The fewer claims you're likely to make in a given year, the lower your insurance premiums will be.
2. The safety features of your car
How many safety features does your car have? The more it has, the better your rates would be. So whenever you shop for a car, try to ask the dealer all about the car's safety features first. This would help you in the decision process greatly, especially if you're more concerned about the monthly insurance premium you are to pay along with the purchase. Airbags and automatic brake systems are just a few good examples. Certain cars are made very durable to resist minor bumps and accidents on the road. If your car is one of these, then you should be paying less.
3. The model and make of your car
If you don't know it yet, flashy sports cars like a Porsche and a Ferrari requires bigger insurance than a regular sedan. Why? This is because these cars are so expensive that sending them in for repair is going to cost equally high. Furthermore, these cars normally have lesser safety features to give way to more aesthetics. It has got higher speed, convertible roofs, and a lot more things that car insurance providers would frown upon. So if these are the types of car you want, expect to pay so much for insurance.
4. Deductibles
Car insurance providers understand the pains that car owners have to go through when it comes to the payment of premiums. As so they have come up with a simple solution for it – deductibles. Deductibles pertain to the amount the insurance provider would deduct to the total claim. The resulting amount would be the one they would write a check for. And so if you get a car insurance policy with a higher deductible, you'd end up paying lower premiums. Lower deductibles mean higher premiums. You get to choose the deductible amount of your car insurance.
Knowing these factors would help you decrease the annual car insurance premium you are to pay. By using some workaround, you'd definitely pay lesser fees in the long run.
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Ethanol fuel is already here. Ethanol provides a viable alternative to rising Gasoline prices. In the
Currently, the automobile industry is producing vehicles capable of burning a product known as E85 which is a mixture of 85% Ethanol and Gasoline. The ability to burn 100% Ethanol is not far off, and there are many kits available online which claim to convert any Gas engine to burn pure Ethanol as well. Take caution, however, and refer to your automotive policies before converting as conversion could void your particular warranty.
Ethanol is a renewable fuel, which can be made from various feed stocks of plant matter. Current Ethanol production relies on Sugar cane and Corn stocks. The use of Corn has its controversies, primarily concerned about the impact on Corn based ethanol on food supply. Admittedly, this is an area of concern, and other non-food sources should be considered..
In
Getting ready for Ethanol.
Ethanol can be produced at home with the right materials, and there already exists many home-brewing kits for sale online. It is also encouraged by the Government with special cash incentives and tax breaks.
There is a company called 'E-fuel', and they are currently taking orders for a unique system which can be placed in the back-yard and produces Ethanol. Known as the 'Micro-Fueler', it is the size of 2 washing machines, comes with a station style hand pump, and can produce Ethanol at about $1.25/ Gallon when taking into account various sources of base materials and Government incentives. This system will produce ethanol from sugar and can also make Ethanol from waste alcohol. The machine can produce about 5 gallons of Ethanol a day. The company is currently accepting orders and expects shipments by the fourth quarter of 2008.
Current Ethanol Use
Currently, the ethanol formula in wide use in the
Future of Ethanol
Using Ethanol fuel is a wise choice now and for the future. Ethanol can be produced cheap and in large quantities. Granted, more work is needed by auto industry to make vehicles attain higher miles per gallon, but action is also required by the individual. Ethanol offers a solution that the homeowner can also invest in, thus allowing people access to their own renewable source of Ethanol. Government incentives are already in place to encourage the switch. Action combined on all these fronts will go a long way to lowering prices of oil due to decreased demand.
Food supply issues should be considered in ethanol use. There are solutions which do not affect food supply and more investment is needed. Ethanol is easy to make. It is made from sugar, and the planet offers many renewable sources for Ethanol production.
We need to pursue a green future, and Ethanol is one step in the right direction.
You can find out more abuot BioFuels and renewable energy sources at The Next Fuels Website
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One thing is certain; the way we look at our use of the automobile in
GM is closing production lines, again. As a matter of fact all major North American manufacturers are dramatically scaling down operations as a direct result of the high cost of fuel.
While Gasoline and Diesel account for the majority of consumption there are alternatives. Honda has recently announced it is shipping it's new hydrogen powered FCX Clarity model to US ( primarily
GM is also expected release it's Chevy Volt which uses the E-Flex Propulsion system which is basically lithium-ion batteries and a small onboard generator that will kick in only when needed and charge the battery. You can expect about 40 kilometers in between chartings. Again, perfect for the urban commute.
So what do the rest of us do meanwhile? I am determined to lessen my own fossil fuel footprint over the next few years. My wife and I currently lease a large minivan and we own a small Acura EL. Post lease the minivan is gone. We'll trade for a smaller more efficient subcompact, Honda,
In the mean time, bike, walk, carpool, slowdown and plan your trips more strategically in order to get the very most out of the gasoline you purchase. Leave the car at home and take the bus; it may be a lot easier to get used to than you think. A lot easier than getting used to today's fuel prices I might add.
Gavin Aims welcomes you to follow the progress of his hydrogen conversion journey at CarSellerAuctions.com
The current gas crisis is pinching the pocketbooks of drivers in every imaginable way. People are rethinking a simple trip to the grocery store, and a drive across town to visit a friend or see a movie is now more of a luxury than a casual spur of the moment decision. It's causing independent long distance truckers to go out of business and airlines to ground large portions of their fleets and lay off employees.
And the alarming thing is...politicians don't seem to have any answers to this crisis in the short term, and they don't seem to be able to offer any assurance that it will end soon.
Once upon a time the idea of paying three dollars a gallon for a tank of gasoline seemed outrageous. Now, we can look back on that price with nostalgia. However, we're not here to deliver nothing but gloom and doom, or to tell you things that you already know.
Instead, we're here to give you some practical tips that anyone can put into use to make their vehicle more energy efficient. We're talking about an increasingly popular practice called...hypermiling.
Hypermiling involves a number of tweaks, improvements, and techniques to squeeze every last mile possible out of a gallon of gas. Some of this involves free or low cost things that you can do to or with your car, some of it involves more expensive alterations which cost money up front but which save a fortune in the long run, and some of it involves common sense driving techniques - many so easy to implement that it will truly surprise you.
All of these little tricks and techniques add up to serious savings at the gas pump.
Hypermiling is a term believed to have been coined by an
So without further ado, let's talk about some hypermiling techniques that you can put into practice literally the next time that you pull out of your driveway.
To learn more about hypermiling, CLICK HERE. Find out more about other GAS SAVING TIPS HERE
There are some things that you must do to prepare for hypermiling and minimize any risk to you or to anyone else traveling in the vehicle with you. Here is a list of some of them: 1. You have to prepare yourself and your vehicle before venturing out.
2. You have to know how to start your car correctly.
3. You have to know what times of the day to travel.
4. You have to be aware of certain air conditioning tricks and how you should drive if the weather is hot.
5. You must be aware of the kinds of weather to avoid as well as the conditions of the traffic during certain times of the day.
6. There are certain places you have to park and a certain way to park
7. You must know the speed at which you should drive to maintain the ideal fuel efficiency
9. You have to know how to position certain items like a bicycle rack on your vehicle or possible what to do to make your vehicle lighter for driving.
10. You must know what parts of the highway you should drive
11. The ebook will reveal certain changes to your lifestyle that will help you to save more money on gas
Driving safe during hypermiling
There are motorists that will misuse the technique of hypermiling and engage in dangerous driving that is harmful to both themselves and the public. Most of these motorists haven't taken the time to learn about this gas saving method. Tailgating is to be avoided especially with large trailers or trucks. Do not indulge in any unsafe driving practices especially when it comes to hypermiling.
You can learn this method fairly quickly. The ebook provides most of the information you would need, but you can also do your research online even though, you have to use your own judgment in relying on other sources. Using these hypermiling tips and techniques will save you money on gas. You can use these methods as well as other alternative gas fuel solutions such as running your car on water or choosing the more expensive hybrid option. The choice is up to you.
To learn more about hypermiling, CLICK HERE. Find out more about other GAS SAVING TIPS HERE