Automotive Archives - Page 3 of 14

How To Save Money On Gas

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As I filled up my gas tank the other day, I was saddened that the reliably cheapest gas station near my office had gone up ten cents since my last refill and people were still lined up waiting for an open pump. This was not a good sign. Sure enough, prices had gone up all over town. Some people are calling it a fuel crisis, but whatever it is, it’s getting expensive. With prices expected to go up considerably more through the beginning of summer, there are ways to save a lot of money on your fuel spending that you might not be aware of.

(Photo: Scott Hadfield)

Find The Cheapest Gas Online

While some people drive around looking for the cheapest gas, even going as far as using their passenger as a price spotter, I’ve found a better way. It’s more efficient, less frustrating, and the bottom line is that it will save more money. I check my GasBuddy iPhone app before I even start the car. The GasBuddy app is available for the Android and Windows smartphones, too. If you don’t have a smartphone, you can look up the best prices near you on GasBuddy.com. Depending on the size of your tank, you could save $2 to $5 right at the pump. Personally, I like the app over the site. It’s very compact and simple. In no time, I have the closest prices and don’t even need to be near a computer.

GasBuddy.com has a ton of fuel-related tools and information on the website, too. One frightening example is the US Gas Prices Heat Map, which shows the gas prices as colors on a US map. Clearly California’s higher gas tax has a visible impact on the prices in that state.

Shop Online First

I’ve found myself wanting to buy things in stores (especially electronic gadgety goodness) because I could have those things right away even if it was cheaper to buy online. More than ever, buying online can save you a few bucks compared to driving to the mall and back. Sometimes it’s just cheaper and these days, what you buy online often arrives pretty quickly in your mailbox. Have it shipped to your work and you won’t have to drive to UPS, FedEX, or your post office to pick up a missed delivery.

Sure, some stuff is cheaper in the store, so the gas savings realized by shopping online aren’t really a savings, but is it in stock? I don’t know how many times I’ve driven to the store with a specific need, only to find it was out of stock. Shop online for the best price and call the store to verify stock of those needed items before heading out. The fastest, thus my favorite, online shopping is Amazon.com, eBay, and a simple Google search. I’ll have another post up soon on ways to save money shopping online at various sites, so watch for that.

Plan Your Driving

Above, I pointed out the benefit of knowing if something is in stock before driving to buy it. This helps because it reduces unnecessary driving. Another way to cut down on wasted miles is to plan out your trips. Obviously, if you have to visit two different places in North Phoenix this weekend and one in South Phoenix, you’re probably already planning to make both North Phoenix stops while on that side of town, but are you thinking this way for smaller trips? Maybe you can get shopping done near the place you get your hair cut. Is a your bank in the same store? Plan your activities and get things done more efficiently. Not only will this save you gas, but it will save you time and put less wear on your car.

Know Your Fuel Efficiency

When you bought your car, I’m sure it indicated the Miles Per Gallon as a range, rather than just a solid number. This is because there are ways to get the most mileage out of your car. You may have heard a few tales of fuel efficiency already. They range from making only right-hand turns (which Myth Busters even tested) to the speed at which you drive. One of the more widely known factors in fuel consumption is highway versus city street driving. Try different things and figure out what works for you. If you want to make it easy, try a tool like EconoDriver, which monitors your driving and fuel consumption and tells you how you’re doing.

More Ways To Save Money On Gas

I’m sure there’s even more ways to save money on your gas that I haven’t covered here. The best way to find them is to think about things you do that involve driving and any other factors that contribute to your use of or spending on gas. I’d love to hear any tips you have on saving your gas money. If you have one, share it in the comments.

The 2011 Nissan Leaf Electric Vehicle

Months ago, I read about a new car that would be rolling out soon called the Nissan Leaf. What I read gave a little information about what was coming, but nothing like the first hand look I got today.

(image from nissanusa.com)

My first real look at the Leaf gave me a better peek at the design, inside and out, and introduced me to a lot of cool features I want to share with you.

Appearances

Appearances aren’t everything, but nobody buys a new car without thinking about how it looks. This is not the most attractive car, but it’s not bad, either. One of the obvious challenges of an electric car is increasing its range and speed capabilities, which often means a smaller car. The shape is a little sporty and the interior is pretty nice as well. Over all, I think they did a decent job with it.

(image from nissanusa.com)

Benefits Of An Electric Car

By now, most people know that electric cars and hybrids cost a lot more money, and you may have also heard about government incentives and tax breaks given to people who buy these automobiles. There’s a reason you get these incentives. Hybrids are better for the environment, reducing emissions and an All-electric car like the Leaf has zero emissions. The environmental benefit is huge. As well, this car will not use fuel that we normally rely on and experts predict we’ll run out of. Instead, it uses electric power which can be harnessed from solar energy at your own home, if you want. Even if you just pay the electric company, the current rate works out to about $2.78 to fully charge the Leaf (100 miles on a full charge), compared to the $2.86 per gallon I paid to put gas in my car yesterday.

Nissan Leaf Specifications

There are a lot more specifications and features, but below are the ones I felt were worth mentioning here.

* zero tailpipe emissions/Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV)
* 100% electric – no gas required
* high response 80kW AC synchronous electric motor
* range – 100 miles/charge based upon US EPA LA4 City cycle2
* speeds up to 90 mph
* 5 passengers, 5 doors
* 120 V portable trickle charging cable3
* regenerative brakes
* vehicle-speed-sensitive electric power steering
* aerodynamic LED headlights
* partially recycled light gray cloth seat fabric
* Nissan Intelligent Key and Push Button Start
* Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System
* Automatic Temperature Control (ATC)
* trip computer
* remote keyless entry
* auto-dimming rearview mirror
* illuminated glove compartment
* auxiliary 12-volt DC power outlet
* AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system with MP3/WMA playback capability
* XMÂ® Satellite Radio 4
* auxiliary audio input jack 5
* USB connection port for iPodÂ® interface and other compatible devices5
* Nissan Navigation System with 7.0â€ color display
* CARWINGS – allowing for remote connection to LEAF
o monitor battery state of charge/charging status
o start vehicle charging event
o activate heating and air conditioning systems
* Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
* Nissan Vehicle Immobilizer System
* Vehicle Security System

Built-In Technology

Beyond the simple fact that this car is all electric, Nissan included some pretty cool features I’d love to see in my own car. One of these features that makes me feel like we’re finally in 2010 is CARWINGS. CARWINGS is akin to OnStar in that it is a computer in your car, but you don’t talk to a person. Instead, you talk to your car. With CARWINGS, you can communicate with the car via a touch screen interface, a web site, or your iPhone. You don’t have to initiate the conversation, either. Suppose you come home and forget to plug in your Leaf after a long day. It’ll recognize that fact and email or text you to remind you to plug it in. If one of the batteries fails, it will email Nissan so someone can contact you to bring the car in. My tour guide explained that they aren’t sure about pricing after the free introductory period, but that introduction lasts a comfy 3 years.

You can also get the Leaf with a rear back-up camera so you can back up safely, and even a solar panel on the back to help keep a small charge in the car even while you’re in your office, working away. One of the unexpected features is the ability to program an audible pedestrian alert to let pedestrians know you’re driving a very quiet car in the vicinity. I’m told there’s even a third-party program to allow you to create and program in your own audio. I can only imagine the results. Along with all of this comes some of the more recognizable features like map-guided navigation, MP3 support, etc. Not a bad mix of technology.

Charging

Charging an electric vehicle is one of the concerns voiced most by consumers. How far will it drive on a single charge? Will there be charging stations like there are gas stations? How much will it cost? My visit to check out the Nissan Leaf answered all of these questions and a couple more.

How far will it go?
According to Nissan, the Leaf will go about 100 miles on a full charge. This is less than most cars get on a full tank of gas, so it may be less ideal for road trips unless there are charging stations along the way. The other side of that argument is that the fuel economy provided makes it much cheaper for long trips.

How much does it cost to charge?
Nissan’s 24 kWh battery can be charged at around 10 to 12 cents per kWh depending on where you live. At that rate, you’ll end up paying about as much to fully charge the Leaf as you would for a single gallon of gas. Estimates (based on 15,000 miles a year at 12 cents/kWh) have come out to about $561 a year to charge it.

Can it be charged it at home?
When you buy a leaf, they install a home charger with a $100 assessment fee. The charging station, itself, is said to be about $2,000.

What about charging while out?
Nissan says, “We are working with government and private corporations to grow infrastructure. You can help by supporting this growth in your own community.” The charging plug is a universal standard, so you wouldn’t have to rely on just Nissan to get these charging stations in place. Any station that pops up with the universally standard plug will work.

How long does it take to charge?
At home, on a 120 volt system, you’ll get a full charge in 18 hours. A 240 volt system will, of course, make this much faster, and a 440 volt commercial system will get you 80% charged in only about a half hour.

Conclusions

It’s no Ferrari, but it’s not ugly, either, and it’s very tech friendly while saving the planet from the nasty emissions my own car will be pumping into the atmosphere on my way home tonight. The cost can be offset by government tax credits and even more by the efficient costs of daily driving, but the initial sticker price might still scare some away. It’s an attractive package for those of us who want technology but also want to join the ranks of people driving smarter and more earth-friendly vehicles. The Prius is about to have its impressive sales numbers challenged, although I am very interested in seeing what the how other car companies answer the Leaf.

New Delhi Citizens Take Traffic Law To Facebook

Picture yourself driving along and another driver cuts you off without so much as a turn signal or runs a red light. You want to hold that driver accountable. Sound familiar? In New Delhi, known for horrible traffic conditions, people have found a new way to hold these bad drivers accountable using cell phones and social media.

Reporting Traffic Violations With Facebook

A couple minutes ago, the image above joined 3,333 other photos on the Delhi Traffic Police Facebook Page. The image was uploaded to allege a parking violation and along with it, Sanjay Munjal included the following description of the violation pictured:

Dear Traffic Police Commissioner,

Please Challan the owner of this i10 Car DL-8C-N9144 for illegal parking under section 122/177 MVA since this car is blocking the service lane which is used by other residents of Surajmal Vihar, Delhi – 110092 from C-297 to C-306 and C-307 to C-316 for entering and exiting and the said vehicle owner Mr. Satish Kumar lives in D-4, Surajmal Vihar, Delhi – 110092. The attached photograph of the illegally parked car was taken on 05/08/2010 at around 10 am. This vehicle owner is in a permanent habbit to block this service lane in this manner.

Thanks and Regards,
Sanjay Munjal,
C-301, Surajmal Vihar, Delhi – 110092

Here’s how it works. You’re wandering around New Delhi, heading to or from work, going to the store, whatever. You notice a violation of motorcycle helmet laws, parking, red light running, illegally tinted windows, etc. You quickly pull out your camera phone and snap a photo, which you then upload to the Delhi Traffic Police Facebook page. There, it will likely be reviewed by the Delhi Traffic Police, usually resulting in a ticket.

Nearly an hour ago, a photo of a bus was uploaded to report a violation involving parking in a bike/pedestrian lane. The reported violation was met almost immediately with a response:

The people are speaking out against bad drivers and the police appear to be responding quickly with promises of action.

Is This System A Good Thing?

Any time technology significantly impacts our lives, it brings with it questions about the value it provides versus any possible negative impact. The speed camera debate in Arizona was a shining example of our struggle, as a society, with the pros and cons of our growing use of technology. I saw the value in possibly reducing accidents due to speed, but I felt it was far outweighed by the inability to effectively enforce any of the tickets, not to mention the new dangers of drivers quickly hitting the brakes when they see the photo radar camera. To me, it was smart technology that overlooked an array of concerns (financial, legal, and safety) that made it hardly worthwhile.

In this case, the pros of the New Delhi Facebook system are obvious. First of all, it’s incredibly cost-effective. At most, they need one person, I’m guessing, to monitor the Facebook page, respond to reports, and pass reports on after validating them. Compared to the man power that they’d have to hire to be as effective, this is a drop in the bucket. Second is the elegance and simplicity. We’re in an age where snapping a photo to show proof of a violation is as simple as answering a phone call and the integration of Facebook into all the major smartphone platforms adds to the simplicity. Finally it gives the average man or woman empowerment to do something about the people who break the rules.

Possible problems with this type of system? I can only think of a couple. For starters, you have to be careful when you ask anyone to do something other than driving while behind the wheel. Taking a picture while you drive is doable, but not very safely. Getting a shot that’s not blurry while you’re moving is a difficult challenge and can severely impact your own ability to drive safely. As well, there may be the occasional invalid report and I’ve already seen what appears to be overzealous individuals who seem to enjoy reporting a lot of violations. This excitement to defeat bad drivers may come with casualties. Still, if people remain fair and only report safely (like from the passenger seat or while walking), this system seems like a good bet, to me.

In the time it took to write this, three more photos and a video were uploaded, so it appears to be catching on. What do you think of the idea? Would you support or oppose the same system in your area?