Monday 23 April 2012

Can Green Cars Help Minimize the Problem of Global Warming ?


Global warming is one of the most hotly debated issues today. Cars have been identified as one of the leading contributors to the escalating global warming problem. To minimize the effects of autos on the environment and limit its impact on global warming, a potential solution has been identified: green cars.
According to those who believe in global warming, drivers need to start using green motorcars. But what exactly are green cars and would they really slow down global warming?
Electric and hybrid cars are two such types of green cars. In reality, electric vehicles are not at all environment friendly. In order to get an electric car to run, it must be "charged" in power stations. These power stations convert only 30% to 40% of the energy into electricity. When the electricity is being transferred from the station to an electric car, 30% of the electricity is lost along the electric cables. Thus, by the time the electricity reaches the electric car, much of the energy is lost. Electric autos may cut down pollution in inner cities, but they aren't efficient at all.
Hybrid vehicles, on the other hand, are becoming the preferred automobiles by many motorists. A hybrid car has both an electric motor and a gas engine. The energy generated whenever you brake is what powers up the motor battery. Compared to electric models, hybrid autos appear to be more environment friendly -- in theory, at least. In practice, however, hybrid autos are still not up to par.
Which?, a British consumer magazine put four hybrid vehicles to the test by driving them all throughout London. The four hybrid models performed poorly. George Marshall-Thornhill, the senior research at Which?, wrote: "Some of these should have performed much better."
Hybrid motorcars are not at all completely "green" either as the batteries would still need to be disposed of. They aren't exactly biodegradable. Cost is another disadvantage of hybrid autos. For most people, hybrid vehicles are expensive compared to the regular engine-run autos. Since hybrid is a relatively new car concept, they are still not produced in a large scale so as to drive the costs down.
The bottom line is that green cars like the pure electric and hybrid automobiles end up using more energy, are more difficult to dispose of and are just too expensive for common motorists. Perhaps in a few years, green cars would be a legitimate option for motorists, but for now it still falls short of being a practical solution to global warming.
To learn about how to find green or traditional cheap used cars [http://www.cheap-used-cars.w-eland.com/index.htm] as well as used car loans [http://www.cheap-used-cars.w-eland.com/used_car_loans.htm] at low rates, in more depth, check out these links.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/908662

Tuesday 17 April 2012

Top Green Cars


Concerns about environmental issues and green credentials have led many consumers to become more conscious of how economic and environmentally friendly a car is when buying new or used cars. So what are the best models to look at if low emissions and a small carbon footprint are important to you?
The ongoing economic climate, credit crunch and climate change have all added to the belief that good cars are safe, offer good fuel consumption and are environmentally friendly, designed with low emissions in mind. The new road tax and London congestion charges also favour the environmentally friendly car, so now is the best time to look at these vehicles.
The Nissan Leaf just about to be launched has to be the most commercially available green car, although electrically powered it has the performance of most everyday petrol and diesel cars. Its CO2 emissions are zero and the newly designed lithium-ion batteries give around 100 miles travel time per charge, which should be more than ample for the average commuter, especially urban drivers.
The Audi A1 has redesigned smaller engines and has a new aerodynamic look that helps give excellent fuel economy for this new super-mini. Its designers have ensured that is produces less than 99g/km of carbon dioxide for an economically friendly, smart drive.
The Volvo S60, with its highly efficient GTDi engine, it provides lower fuel consumption and remarkably for a non hybrid car, Volvo have managed to keep CO2 levels down to only 119g/km, making this a stylish, practical and green choice.
The Ford C-Max to be released later this year has promised to be a comfortable, fuel efficient, low emission ride. The new eco-boost engines and advanced technology have all been built with raising Ford's green credentials even higher.
For more information on new cars check out Caffyns website. Also, Automotive Blog is a new blog site dedicated to the automotive industry and brings you the latest news, car reviews and information.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5157812

Monday 16 April 2012

Advantages of Choosing Green Car Cleaning Products


As environmentally friendly cleaning techniques continue to gain popularity, more people are looking for safe and eco-friendly alternatives that offer exceptional cleaning results without harming the environment. The increasing demand for eco-friendly cleaning machines and green cleaning chemicals have found use in various applications and industries, like industrial degreasing, office cleaning, and auto detailing.
Detailing cars and trucks generally involves the use of cleaning chemicals and abrasive detergents. However, there are advanced car wash systems that do not use any kind of toxic cleaners to remove virtually all residues from automotive exteriors.
With pressure levels at or below 1500 psi and super-hot steam temperatures of 330ºF, these steam car wash systems effectively clean vehicle surfaces without causing scratches or damage to the vehicle's painted exterior. In fact, these car cleaning systems allow you to eliminate dirt, soil, tree sap, mud, grease, oil, bugs, and other residues that can accumulate on the vehicle. Using super-heated steam, these mobile car wash systems can even melt away snow and ice. Low-flow auto detailing systems are also available. These machines boast a flow rate of 0.5 GPM to minimize the amount of water used, ideal for areas where water or drainage is limited.
Not only is effective pressure washing systems available for today's auto detailers, safe and effective green chemicals are also being introduced into the market. The advanced green technology and plant-based formulation gives green chemicals the cleaning power to eliminate the toughest dirt deposits from vehicle surfaces. The nano-sized particles present in green cleaners effectively breakdown the carbon bonds in dirt particles, effectively splitting dirt molecules into millions of tiny particles. These dissolved particles are then emulsified in water so that they can be easily rinsed away.
Leading suppliers now offer an extensive array of green cleaning formulas to meet the individual needs of various car detailing applications. For example, seasonal variants of green windshield washer fluid are available to reduce reliance on methanol-based formulas. These formulas include:
  • Windshield Cleaner for Summer
This green chemical is ideal for use in warm seasons or for use in regions where temperatures do not drop below freezing. Summer formulas are specially designed to lift and remove bug residues, bird splatter, mud, and other sticky residues characteristic of warmer climates.
  • Windshield Cleaner for Winter
These green cleaners include freezing point depressants and are designed to effectively eliminate mud, road salt, and other deposits that can adhere to windshields in temperatures as low as -15°F to -25°F. This concentrated solution also helps remove winter-related residues such as salt, ice, and snow.
  • Windshield Cleaner for All Seasons
All season formulations are great for cleaning off the summer-related residues as well as winter-related snow and ice from windshield. This is suitable for use in regions that experience both temperature extremes.
Other green formulas available on the market today include car washes, truck washes, carpet cleaners, upholstery cleaners, hard surface cleaners, tire shines, glass cleaners, and more. To achieve the ultimate auto detailing duo, pair an advanced steam car wash with a green car wash or truck wash solution. Both can be found online from the industry's top suppliers.
Author is well known of writing articles on environment safe cleaning chemicals such as green cleaning products, windshield washing fluid, green chemicals for pressure washer and carpet cleaners.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3776190