It’s spring and pollen is on the attack. It’s in the air, on our skin, and much of it will end up coating our cars. No matter what particular elements you are battling this season, there are eco-friendly ways to keep your car clean for spring. And you can Do Your Part to wash your car without doing damage to our local waterways.
Massive Green Car Care Giveaway!
Get ready to enter to win our biggest green giveaway yet. We’re partnering with Valvoline and 3M Auto Care to give away more than 30 car care kits! Three grand prize winners will receive a Valvoline NextGen “Oil Change Starter Kit” and 3M™ Fuel System Tune-Up Kit worth $70. It includes NexGen motor oil (made from 50% recycled motor oil) and drain pan, so you can “Close the Loop” with your next oil change. The 3M Fuel System Tune-Up Kit is an at-home fuel cleaning service designed to increase fuel economy, amp acceleration and boost performance. It includes a Complete Fuel System Cleaning, Do-It-Yourself Intake System Cleaner, Throttle Plate, Carb Cleaner, along with an instructional DVD. And if that’s not enough, we’re also giving away an additional 30 Valvoline Next Gen “Oil Change Starter Kits” worth $25 to randomly selected winners! That means you have more than 30 chances to win! Entries will be accepted through June 30, 2012. Look below for all the ways to enter. Good luck!
Coffee-Powered Car Breaks Record
Image Credit: The Coffee Car
October 4, 2011
The price of gas and finite amount of resources are just a few reasons developers are looking for technology that will run a vehicle without relying on fossil fuels. A team of inventors in England has come up with a way to power a car with coffee grounds. The coffee car is a modified Rover SD1 that uses an onboard wood gas generator system which burns wood and coffee grounds at a high temperature. The result is a synthetic gas made up of carbon monoxide, hydrogen and methane capable of powering an engine.
The so-called “Coffee Car” just broke a record for the fastest speed traveled by a car using organic waste. The car was able to reach an average speed of 66.5 miles per hour and will now be in the Guinness Book of World Records. Last year the Coffee Car broke a record for the longest distance traveled using organic waste as fuel.
The Coffee Car team wanted to design a car that would run on waste products and came up with the concept of a coffee car after noticing the large amounts of used coffee grounds at local coffee shops.
Maximize Your Fuel Efficiency
Do Your Part by maximizing your fuel efficiency no matter what you drive. Using less gas means fewer emissions and that’s better for your wallet and the planet. Here are my top five ways of getting the most out of every gallon:
First up, don’t drive aggressively. Speeding up and slamming on your brakes can reduce fuel mileage by as much as 33 percent!
Tip number two – keep those tires properly inflated. It’s easy. Proper tire pressure levels can be found right on the tire. When they’re at the right level you can save you up to 8 cents every gallon.
Also important – clean out your car! The weight of sports equipment or an unused stroller can add up. Every 100 pounds of extra weight will cost you about two percent in fuel costs.
Cruise control comes in at number four. It will help conserve gas on flat terrain. If you’re driving through hilly areas…it’s best to switch back to foot control.
And my fifth and final tip – don’t delay routine maintenance. When do things like change your oil when necessary, your car won’t have to work as hard which saves you gas and money.
These are all easy ways you can Do Your Part to conserve gas and keep a few extra bucks in your pocket.
Terri’s Top 5 Tips To Maximize Fuel Efficiency As You Drive
Maximizing the fuel efficiency of your vehicle is an easy way to Do Your Part no matter what type of vehicle you drive. Less fuel consumption means fewer emissions and that’s better for your wallet and the planet. Here are Terri’s top five tips for getting the most out of every gallon:
1. Nix the Aggressive Driving
Speeding up and slamming on your brakes puts unnecessary wear on your vehicle, and kills your fuel economy. In fact, aggressive driving can reduce fuel mileage by as much as 33 percent!
2. Keep Tires Properly Inflated
Check your tire pressure monthly to be sure you’re at optimal levels. Proper tire pressure levels can be found right on the tire. Keeping your tires properly inflated can save you up to 8 cents on every gallon.
3. Lose the Extra Weight
It’s easy to let stuff accumulate in the back of your vehicle but all that extra weight can really eat into the fuel efficiency. For every 100 pounds of extra weight that you tote around you’re adding about two percent to your fuel costs.
4. Use Cruise Control on Flat Terrain
Cruise control can make long trips bearable, but it can also help you conserve fuel. Use cruise control when you’re on flat terrain to maximize fuel efficiency but switch to foot control when you’re driving through hilly areas.
5. Keep Up With Routine Maintenance
Keeping your car maintained will extend the life of your vehicle. It can also save you money at the pump. Make sure that your car gets regular oil changes and that you’re choosing the proper type of oil for your ride.
Yabba Dabba Do! A Human-Hybrid Car Powered By You
Photo Credit: HumanCar
Forget those other hybrids–soon there will be a new car in town and it’ll be powered by you!
Starting in 2011, Human Car Inc, will debut their human-electric car, the Imagine PS. The eco-friendly convertible seats 4 people–each seat complete with a hand crank to help power the vehicle. To supplement the man-powered energy, the Imagine PS also uses electricity too–a trait especially important for single operator use.
How can you Do Your Part?
If the human-hybrid doesn’t appeal to you, don’t sweat it. There’s still plenty of other practical ways you can Do Your Part.
First, if the vehicle you have still works, one of the best thing to do is to keep it properly maintained. If it’s broken and needs to be repaired–ask the repairman if it’s possible to use re-manufactured parts. It’s a great eco-friendly alternative because you can reuse existing resources and save money too.
When it’s time for you to retire your car–consider investing in smarter technologies that may cost more upfront but will be a lasting investment for you and the environment.
The Mystery Over The Chevy Volt
You might remember the Chevy Volt from its viral commercial that debuted in 2009, but it looks like the 230 miles per gallon claim GM made was too good to be true. According to USAToday, the standard used to calculate that value was never officially cleared to use. The issue is that traditional industry standard don’t quite apply to the unique traits of the electric cars–like the energy used to charge the battery overnight. However, the EPA, the industry, and GM are working together to find a solution that will allow consumers to compare gas-powered vehicles to the newer electrics.
Check out the following resources to learn read more about the Chevy Volt.
Links:
Advertising Age: What is 230? General Motors Seems To Know
Chevrolet: 2011 Volt
GM Press Release: Chevrolet Stands Behind Volt With Standard Eight-Year, 100,000-Mile Battery Warranty
USAToday: Chevy Volt 230-mpg Forecast Dead; Feds Work On New Formula
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