You are here: Home / Archives for Clean Fuel Technologies

Tips for Buying a New Car

May 12, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Audi dealership in Dresden, Germany 

Image via Wikipedia

At one point in time, you will want to buy yourself a new car, possibly to replace an old one or to own your first car. When you plan to do so, it is important that you do all the research necessary so that you make a purchase you will not regret. A car is an expensive purchase and one that takes some time in order to get right. The first step is to use online resources to look into a model best suited for you. Once you are ready, you will have to look for dealerships that are located nearby.

In order to find the right kind of dealership, you can make use of online directories. These directories will help narrow down the locations of dealers so that you do not have to waste time hunting for one close to you. Your online research will help you arrive at the brand of car you want to buy. Directories like Canada 411 will also help you narrow down on dealers based on the brand they sell.

Cars need to be bought at the right time especially considering the general financial scenario. Once you are sure of what you want, avoid being sweet-talked into buying something else by the sales reps around. Most dealers also have offers that go unadvertised. These are something about which you should ask. Also, go to dealers on a weekday when agents have more time on their hands and are more than willing to close a deal. You could choose to buy cars online if you are absolutely sure you have found the one you want.

Filed Under: Clean Fuel Technologies Tagged With: , ,

Production Shortage for the Leaf

March 19, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Nissan has been one of the first automakers to heed public demand for a practical, family oriented, fully electric car. This has given them an enormous head start in gaining consumer confidence and allegiance. However, this may be jeopardized by the fact that Nissan is woefully unable to meet the massive demand for their product and in early 2011 stopped taking pre-orders. It is estimated that Nissan will be able to produce 10,000 cars by the end of March 2011. However, there are around 27,000 pre-orders in the United States, Europe, and Japan already, which should keep Nissan busy until the end of the summer.

In the 2011 fiscal year, which starts April 1st, Nissan has the ability to manufacture 50,000 new models. However, 17,000 of these are due to the customers who ordered their cars in 2010, leaving only 33,000 for new customers. Consumer frustration is mounting as they see a product that they would love to buy but are unable to even get on the waiting list. Fueling the building fire is the fact that the 6,000 orders from Japan are supposed to be completed by March 2011 while orders in the United States are being delayed due to shipping times.

Nissan has promised to open Leaf plants in Britain in 2012, and in Tennessee in 2013. It seems that the rate limiting step in constructing the assembly plants is the few factories dedicated to the production of their specialized lithium batteries. However, while Nissan constructs it plants every other automaker across the globe is scrambling to produce their own electric cars in the next couple years.

Filed Under: Clean Fuel Technologies Tagged With: , ,

What Is The Purpose Of Emissions Testing?

December 17, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Many states require safety inspections yearly on vehicles, while others require both emissions testing and safety testing, and yet others do not require any type of inspections. The states requiring safety inspections only include Alabama, Hawaii, Louisiana, and Mississippi. The states which do not require any type of vehicle inspections include Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Of the states that require emissions testing, only 10 of those states have emissions testing required in the whole state. The other 22 states that require emissions testing only require testing in select areas of the state.

What exactly is an emissions test? During emissions testing combustible engine vehicles are checked for the amount of hazardous materials that escape the engine during normal operations. The goal of emissions testing is to reduce the amount of pollutants that are being emitted into the air, and thereby increasing air quality. Vehicles with standard combustible engines release toxins in the air that are hazardous to humans and animals. One substance emitted by combustible engines is hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons, which are unburned fuels, have been linked as a contributing factor to the growth of cancers as well as causing smog. There are several other hazardous substances that are emitted from combustible engines that continue to have negative effects on our health and our environment.

Emissions testing has been the result of decades of research into the environment and the negative effect that combustible engine emissions have on the environment and our health. After years of attempting to educate the public on the dangers of vehicle emissions, many car manufacturers began regulating the emissions in their vehicles themselves. In the 1960s California performed the first emissions tests and since then several other states have followed. There are now many items which aid in controlling vehicle emissions to reduce the hazardous materials that are released into the air.

Filed Under: Clean Fuel Technologies Tagged With: , ,