auto Blog

There are many valid reasons to start looking for alternative fuels for your car. There is the looming danger of global warming, and of course, the most pressing as of the moment, the current global economic downturn. It is for these reasons that many people are looking for ways to lower their spending on fuels. While it may take more than just decades to totally eradicate the use of fossil fuels, there are existing technologies today that can help anyone improve the fuel economy of their car and extend mileage per gallon.

One of the more promising technologies out there is Hydro Assist Fuel Cell otherwise known as HAFC. It is a system, meaning there is more than one technology and more than one theory governing how it works.

Think of your car as an energy factory. It uses fuel in the engine to create energy that is transferred to the wheel that makes the car go. It also creates electrical energy from the alternator and the battery. HAFC rides on the energy created by the engine from the fuel to make the system more efficient.

HAFC technology extracts a hydrogen-oxygen mixture from water by ionizing it with electricity from the battery. This hydrogen-oxygen mixture is then added to your fuel before it is burned in the engine, making it burn more easily and powerfully. This energy rich gas (hydrogen-oxygen) is called Brown’s gas, and is a proven technology that is used in welding torches and plasma cutters.

This Brown’s Gas is then added to the fuel before it is combusted in the engine. Brown’s gas extracted from water enriches the fuel mixture, allowing you to pump less fuel into the engine yet you get the same (if not greater) amount of burn, thus improving you vehicle’s gas mileage.

The HAFC system also uses six powerful magnets to ionize the gasoline to produce smaller molecules that burn more rapidly and cleanly. It is often misconstrued that gas burns. Gas DOES NOT BURN. It is but the vapor that is on the surface of the gas that burns. Gasoline is made that way to lessen the chances of gas exploding. It is only when the fuel is to be burned that it is turned into a fine mist and pumped into the car’s combustion chamber. If this fine mist were to be turned actually into gas, and the components broken down to make it burn more, you will get a more explosive mixture, meaning more power, and less emissions, using less fuel. That is why cars that run on Liquefied Petroleum Gas are more economical, the fuel that reaches the engine is in gas form, easily burned and gives off less smoke.

Many studies have been made and claim that the HAFC system can produce gas savings of a minimum of 50%. This is a dramatic increase in mileage and fuel economy; though of course one can expect the savings to vary from vehicle to vehicle depending on the engine condition and the road usage the vehicle is subjected to.

The beauty of the HAFC System is that it will work on all existing gasoline-burning cars. And unlike conversions to LPG fuel, there will be no need for modifications, only added components that will not burden the car. It is also compatible with other emerging technologies such as Pre Ignition Catalytic Converter technology, which should be available to you soon.

Water burns, and we don’t mean when it is boiling.

Whether you believe it or not, you can use water to weld metals, cut through steel, and even use water to fuel your internal combustion engine.

This is done by using a system that turns water into a gas called “Brown’s Gas”. Brown’s gas is simply water broken down into its constituent parts, Hydrogen and Oxygen and recombined in a specific manner under a specific pressure. When these two gases are re-combined under pressure, they can be lighted and will produce an implosion that releases massive heat and energy.

California inventor and Professor Yul Brown has developed a system (and has since patented it) that will convert plain tap water to a stoichiometric mixture of hydrogen and oxygen, another state of water besides ice, water, or steam, and he has aptly called it as Brown’s Gas.

Brown’s gas can be used for many things, from desalinating any water into pure drinking water, welding, create a vacuum to pump water, sublimate tungsten, and cut steel.

Brown’s gas is efficient, safe, clean and inexpensive to maintain. Already there is are some Brown’s Gas Welders available, and though far from perfected and may cost a bit higher than regular welders, the cost of running them in the long term will more than compensate for the price. No more dangerous oxy-acetylene tank, simply water and machines that use Professor Brown’s system.

Another way in which the discovery of Brown’s gas is significant is on the area of fuel efficiency and gas saving.

Brown’s Gas is a critical component of a newly introduced system that significantly reduces gas consumption in motor vehicles, Hydro Assist Fuel Cell or HAFC.

Part of what makes HAFC technology effective its ability to extract a hydrogen-oxygen mixture - brown’s gas - from water by ionizing it with electricity from the battery. The brown’s gas is then added to your fuel before it is burned in the engine making it burn more easily and powerfully.

Brown’s gas extracted from water enriches the fuel mixture, allowing you to pump less fuel into the engine but get the same if not greater amount of burn, thus improving you vehicles gas mileage.

Some studies have shown that the HAFC system can improve gas mileage in internal combustion engines a minimum of 50%. This is a dramatic increase in mileage and fuel economy, though it is expected that savings will vary from vehicle to vehicle, and depending on the uses the vehicles sees. The great thing about HAFC System is that it will work on all existing gasoline-burning cars. It is also compatible with other emerging technologies such as Pre Ignition Catalytic Converter technology or PICC, which should be available to you soon.

These are the promising uses for Brown’s Gas thus far, and there will surely be more. But so far, one thing is for certain, once the use of HAFC goes mainstream, it will greatly help common Americans and lessen America’s reliance on foreign oil.

Although the price of gas at the pumps has eased significantly, thanks to the lowering of the price of crude in international markets, there is still much to be concerned about. For one, there is the global economic downturn that pretty soon we will all be feeling significantly. Now is the time to be saving money and for looking at ways to cut costs.

One of the biggest expenditures for American households is gasoline, especially if there are two cars. It is not an option for a family not to use one of the vehicles or to sell off one, therefore, if the only way is to lower consumption by finding fuel saving options to increase gas mileage.

Currently, there are many options available to increase fuel savings and gas mileage. If you are into alternative fuels, you can make your own bio diesel, or even modify your car to use Liquefied Petroleum Gas or (LPG), which burns more cleanly than regular fuels, and is much more earth friendly.

But if major savings is what you are after, there are two technologies that may give you the double take. One is available already, while the other is in the experimental stages - Hydro Assist Fuel Cell (HAFC) technology and Pre-Ignition Catalytic Converter (PICC) technology.

What is HAFC?

Hydro Assist Fuel Cell technology, better known as HAFC, extracts a hydrogen-oxygen mixture from water called Brown’s Gas, through ionization using the electricity from the engine. The Brown’s Gas is then added to the fuel mixture before it is burned in the engine. The brown’s gas and fuel vapor mixed together creates an energy rich gas that burns far stronger. With this fuel mixture, you can realize savings because you need less fuel because of the increased efficiency.

The HAFC system also uses powerful magnets to ionize the gasoline to produce smaller molecules that burn more rapidly and cleanly. Gas that is broken down into its components make it burn more easily. Couple that with the brown’s gas and you get a more explosive mixture, meaning more power, and less emissions, and ultimately using less fuel.

Early lab tests peg the fuel savings from HAFC at least a minimum of 50%.

What is Pre-Ignition Catalytic Converter?

PICC or Pre-Ignition Catalytic Converter system is an experimental fuel improvement system that is in the developmental stage. But this early, it promises to up gas mileage by a potential 5x more.

Catalytic converters are not new, not by a long shot. These are already installed in the car’s emission systems and used for cleaning post engine emissions by breaking down the large gas molecules left un-burnt in your engine. This breaks the fuel into smaller particles that can be incinerated in the tailpipe.

The PICC is simply the same system - but in reverse. Instead of the fuel being broken down after being used in the engine, the PICC system breaks it down pre-engine use. Gas burns better in vapor form indeed gas will only burn when it is a gas. Break down gas further and theoretically, the fuel will be more explosive, burn easier and more powerfully necessitating less fuel injected into the engine.

The best thing is that these two technologies pay nice with each other, meaning one can be installed side by side. Imagine two technologies that improve your mileage significantly - it could well mean an end America’s dependence on foreign oil.

The American Treasury commended the Chrysler group to get ready to declared bankruptcy following the analysis that took place last week .This happened in spite of the Chrysler intention to act on a take over from the Italian brand Fiat. After yesterdays events and presidents Obama declaration the Chrysler business is no longer in danger. It seems that both Chrysler and General Motors will receive financial aid from the American government in order to avoid bankruptcy. The money will come under the form of credits with subvention interest payable in a very long term.

General motors will receive 5 billion dollars in order to ensure the necessary liquidities for he next period and it will continuous the program of restructure , and Chrysler will have at hand 500 million dollars that allowed it to accelerate the negotiations with Fiat confirmed by the American president.

While General motors tries this period to get rid of all sectors without profits, Chrysler finished the negotiations with the Italians for a new line of cheap and profitable cars. The aid promised to these two companies took the financial analysts by surprise in the context in which the president Obama suggested the two auto giants to declare bankruptcy in order to build up new solid businesses in Detroit based upon the performance active they own.

GM and Chrysler cashed since December 2008 till now financial aids of 17, 4 billion dollars. GM announced it will close 13 factories from the 34 it has .Almost half of the auto dealers representatives will be closed their number reaching around 3.605 units. Also General motors are going to lay off 8000 employees and by these the number of its US employees will arrive at 40.000 in 2010.

GM committed itself that till June 1st will present the American authorities a concrete and coherent plan or restructure in order to avoid bankruptcy. If the production will be restructured the financial help from the American government will help them cross over the storm. Besides Pontiac, GM will renounce at the SAAB, Saturn and Hummer until the end of the year selling the Opel brand being also in question.

Amongst GM employees, aside from the fear of getting a pink paper next week ( or the week after ) speculation is high as to whether the concept vehicle, being called the Volt, is going to be as revolutionary as the hype suggests.

After the disastrous shelving of the original working EV1 a few years back and taking incredible heat for being one of the BIG 3 engaged in fighting California in a bruising battle of who has the largest team of Lawyers, GM has gone back to square one ( perhaps a little unrepentant ) and is once again making an electric car.

Yep, sold the patents to a MIT. Just kidding. If the patents had been sold to MIT, the car would have been rebuilt and the Toyota Prius hybrid would never have been created. Whoever bought the patents wasn’t interested in building an electric car. There is enough anecdotal evidence to suggest the battery patents were purchased by Texaco who has done tremendous work with them since ( NOT ).

Balancing the books, one might claim. Lots of Research and Development costs, nothing to show for it, so sell the technology. It wasn’t an objective decision. After an acrimonious battle with the state of California, GM management couldn’t get rid of the technology fast enough. A billion dollars later, GM executives didn’t stop to think that perhaps core elements could play a critical roll in future transportation technology. They had to wait for the Japanese to prove that similar technology could and would be a huge element in the future of transportation.

So much for the history lesson, this week, we are back at square one watching a video interview with GM’s Chief Designer as he discusses the new GM Chevy Volt.

GM has almost entirely “bet the boat” on the new technologies going to market in the electric Chevy Volt. We are sure that GM Detroit Management exactly didn’t plan it this way, but their European operations must have seen the writing on the wall many years ago as gas hit 3+ dollars per gallon in europe and continued on through the equivalent $4 dollar mark. With the global credit crunch, increased gas prices and declining sales of the big cash SUV’s GM is feeling the pinch like never before. The Volt must become iconic.

The car is also GM’s gambit to outpace foreign competitors like Toyota (TM) and Honda (HMC). Unlike conventional hybrids-including the best-selling Prius-the Volt is essentially a plug-in electric car with an onboard gas-burning engine that can recharge the vehicle’s batteries. This enables the Volt to travel some 40 miles before the driver turns on the gas.

According to GM research, many drivers will not need to switch to the gas engine because simply recharging the vehicle via a regular outlet at home overnight will satisfy most of their driving needs. When I first heard this, I thought - What a useless car. Who wants a car that does only 40 miles per charge, but in truth, the car simply switches to the small gas engine at that point and continues its merry way.

Despite the GM bashing that many of us might engage in, on occasion, we all truly want a Volt or something like it. Traveling and seeing new places isn’t just a wish for the elite. But with gas prices threatening to go higher and the slightest threat of war poised to carry them beyond even the previous high of $147 per barrel, having a vehicle with the potential of the Volt is simply everyone’s dream.

So will or can the dream car Volt save the General?

I suppose it might be presumptuous but perhaps we should first ask - Does the General really need saving?

In May 2005, Business week estimated GM’s Cash Reserves to be 45 Billion. However, for the first 6 months of 2008 the BostonHerald estimates that both Ford and GM burned through an average of a Billion dollars a month each, with accelerating burn rates towards the end of the year as sales in highly profitable vehicles like SUVs were down an improbable 18%.

Detroit News writes in an article on Oct 14th 2008

GM had access to about $21 billion cash, $5 billion in available credit lines and is raising $5 billion through asset sales and borrowing.

Cost-cutting associated with the aforementioned 10 Billion in cuts, intensified when GM announced it was closing plants in Grand Rapids and Janesville, Wis. 2500 workers are affected by these measures in plants that produce sport-utility vehicles and parts for pickups/SUVs.

Since 2005, the General’s cash reserves have been reduced from 45 Billion to a mere 25 Billion and with the tightening credit crunch and federal government moving slowly on aiding the BIG3, the rumour doing the rounds is that GM is eyeing the cash reserves of Chrysler ( estimated 11 Billion ) to help it through 2009 when the arrival of the Chevy Volt and Cruz, the following quarter are expected to help turn things around.

So, what are our expectations for the Volt? GM says its expecting to sell about 10,000 Chevy Volts at between 30-40,000 USD each in 2010. So, that’s about 3-4 Billion dollars in gross sales with a net of about a 800 Million dollars annually at an estimated 20% profit per car.

Without being redundant, back to my original question. Can the Volt Save GM?

I leave that answer up to you, but if I had to make a serious bet with odds, I know which way I would be betting.

How can you save on car rentals? Where do you find coupons or promo codes? It is easy to find car rental coupons or deals online. You can 1. Go to the site of the car rental company, 2. go to one of the discount travel sites, or 3. go to a site such as Priceline where you can place a bid on a rental car.

Frequently you will receive a numerical code you will place a into a box that will calculate your discount, or just by following a link stating the discounted deal.You need to verify for yourself that your discount gets credited to your bill before you pay. This is an easy way to enjoy 10-50% off, get a free day with a weekly rental etc.

Travelocity and Expedia are two discount travel sites. They have agreements with the car rental companies to sell and market their services for a lesser fee. They pass this on to us, the consumers and we find them from clicking on a link somewhere promising us a discount.

Another easy way to find car rental coupons and promo codes is through hundreds of independent smaller websites and blogs who have taken the time to research the best deals, -so you don’t have to! You just need to make sure that the deal is still valid. Some sites offer feedback where people add their experiences and success with the discount.

These days it is almost nuts to rent a car without a coupon. All car rental companies offer an assortment of lowered prices, free upgrades, free days and more!