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These days, many people are trying to be eco-friendly in almost every possible way they can. This may be anything from recycling to using alternative fuel sources. These alternative fuel sources can be used to power homes and in the near future, cars. There are a few concept cars out that use either wind or solar energy instead of traditional fuel like gasoline or diesel. One of the first concepts for an alternate fuel source was to use electricity instead of gas; we now have Hybrid cars that can run on electricity with gasoline as a second fuel source, and we also have different types of cars that run off of electricity.

The first concept car on our list is AERO. AERO was designed by Cristian Polaco to be a 3-wheeled, eco-friendly car in more ways than one. This car can accomplish a lot by using little energy from its rechargeable batteries. The batteries can be recharged using solar power that is generated from a solar panel between the front two tires, or wind power using the car’s wind harvesting system. Of course, if you are somewhere where there is not wind or light, you can simply plug it into any 120V power source.

If you have been hang gliding and enjoyed it, you may like the next concept car. The Wind Light Vehicle is powered by wind, pretty much the same wait a sail boat is. This is also a 3-wheeled car, but it has a device on it that acts kind of like a kite. When you aren’t using the “kite” part of the car if goes back on top of the skinny car, like it is a windshield. Like the AERO, if you aren’t in a place that is windy enough to make you fly down the road, you can simply use the electric motors that are in each wheel to run this kite-like car.

Lamborghinis have always been known for their luxury, style, and speed, but now they have something else to add to their list, being eco-friendly. Flavio Adriani has created a concept car, Lamborghini Countach EV, that runs on electricity that is generated by both solar and wind power. The Countach EV has 4 wheels and like the Wind Light Vehicle, each is powered by an electric engine that is powered by batteries. It has solar panels on the top of the car towards the back end. On the very front of the car by the head lights, are 4 wind turbine engines that help power the car. Now you can ride in style and be eco-friendly.

The next on the list is called The Ventile. This car was designed by a French car designer, Thierry Dumaine. The car is meant to be a mixture of traditional and modern style car that is self-sufficient by converting wind to energy. The car has very large wheels each with two small tires and a fan between the two. This is one way the car can convert wind into energy. Since the wheels are so big, it allows for wind to enter the base of the car where it is then turned into energy as well. The energy created is stored in generators near each wheel.

As the economy has worsened over the past decade, Millions of Americans have been forced to keep their old cars longer than usual. And as their current car ages, they find themselves spending more money for repairs needed to keep it in good running condition. Here are 3 tips to help you save money on your auto repairs.

1) Find a good honest mechanic or service center. In any business there are a certain percentage who are charlatans, a certain percentage who intend well but are incompetent, and a certain percentage who do good or excellent work. A good and honest mechanic is worth his or her weight in gold. Since they are honest, you will rarely be overcharged for repairs. And, since they do good quality work, you rarely have to take your car back to the shop to have a repair redone.

Fortunately, if you don’t already have such a mechanic, it is much easier than is used to be to find someone good to work on your car. The Internet has resulted in hundreds of local rating services that you can tap into to find the good mechanics and garages in your area.

2) Keep your car on a regular maintenance schedule. You may be offended at the idea of taking your car in for routine maintenance when there is obviously nothing wrong with it. However, many times, a car owner will end up spending hundreds of dollars on major car repairs that could have been prevented if their car had been brought in for service earlier. Not only that, but your car will run smoother, more efficient, and will last longer if you tend to its care.

The key, of course, is ensuring that you have the maintenance done by an honest garage which doesn’t have a history of performing unnecessary diagnoses and repairs.

3) Monitor your car expenses. In the life of every car, there eventually will come a time when the money you are outlaying for annual car expenses exceeds the amount that a new car will cost you. Without keeping track of your expenses, however, you are basically guessing at your total outlay.

Specifically, the expenses you should keep track of are repairs, maintenance, fuel, and insurance. You have to figure out what your expense threshold is. But, once your expenses exceed that threshold, you should probably begin to look for a replacement vehicle.

However, you should also take into account the current book value of your car. Sometimes, it is best to trade in for a new car even if the car is in good shape, just to avoid the depreciation costs if you were to wait a year.

Long distance motorcycle riders often rely on electronics and what more convenient way to keep those electronics powered or charged than with a 12 volt power port on your motorcycle. There are 2 styles of 12 volt ports that you can choose from; an automotive cigarette lighter port or the smaller, less common motorcycle style included from the factory on many BMW and Victory motorcycles.

The advantage of the more common automotive style 12 volt port is that your standard cell phone and GPS chargers will plug directly into them. If you have multiple electronic devices that you want to use at different times with the same port an automotive cigarette lighter port is the most economical. There are many options for installing a cigarette lighter port on your motorcycle. These options range from a $20 made in China socket found on Ebay to the high quality made in the USA Powerlet brand products. Powerlet’s top of the line cigarette style port (AKT 005 & 6 available in black or chrome, $130) mount to the handle bars and include a heavy duty fused battery lead, lighter element and attached weather cap. It also includes a threaded hole for a Ram Mount ball, a great place to mount your GPS, phone, or radar detector cleanly. These handle bar mount models are great for cruisers with space on the handle bars and relatively no Powerlet also has other options like a simple cable mounted socket (PKT-101, $29) that can be strapped to a frame member, bar mount models and flush panel mount kits. The panel mount kits are great for sport bikes and sport touring bikes who have plastic area but not much handle bar space.

The other design, sometimes referred to as Powerlet style ports other times as BMW style ports, has some advantages of its own. The biggest advantage is that the connection between the port and the device charging cable is held much tighter than a cigarette style port. This is especially helpful for cruisers and dual sport motorcycles which often have higher vibrations and great for anybody that wants a more secure connection. Having a charging cable come loose while riding can mean more than just a dead battery for your electronics, it could create a distraction or safety hazard. The BMW style power port is available from Powerlet in all of the applications mentioned above as well as bike specific kits which have been designed by Powerlet to have just the right wire length and bracket positions for many different bikes. From the great looking horn mount kit for Harley Davidson to the dual rear set kit for the FJR1300 Powerlet probably has a kit to fit your 12 volt power needs. If they don’t, you can buy ports, adapters, cables and brackets and make up your own custom installation to bring power to where you want it.

The disadvantage of the Powerlet or BMW style 12 volt port is that your standard cell phone, GPS or other device charging cables won’t work since they are designed for the cigarette lighter sized port. But Powerlet has you covered with 12″ straight and 36″ coiled charging cords for most devices such as mini USB, micro USB, iPod/ iPhone and Escort radar detectors. If Powerlet does not have a cable to fit your device you could buy a do it yourself plug, cut off the cigarette lighter end and attach the BMW style plug to your device charging cable.

With gas prices so high these days, finding a way to improve your fuel consumption rate is more important than ever. It’s actually not that difficult to get better fuel economy – provided you know a few tips and tricks. You’ll be able to fill up less frequently and spend your hard-earned money on things besides gas. So if you aren’t happy with your car’s fuel economy, try these ideas to improve your gas mileage and make the best use of the gas you pay for.

Improve Your Gas Mileage by Keeping Your Tires Inflated

According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), having tires with the correct amount of pressure can improve your gas mileage by a maximum of 3.3%. For every 1 psi you lose in pressure in all of your tires, your fuel economy decreases by .3%. Even a small loss in pressure can have an impact on your fuel consumption rate. Check your tire pressure every now and then to be sure your tires are where they should be in terms of pressure.

Get Better Fuel Economy When You Drive Safely

You probably thought driving safely only helped to protect your life, but it can also protect your wallet! The DOE reports you can reduce your fuel economy by 33% on highways if you drive dangerously, doing things like sudden braking and speeding. Following the speed limit and being a safe driver can do wonders to improve your gas mileage.

Regular Car Maintenance Will Improve Your Gas Mileage

Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for vehicle service – this way your mechanic can check for any potential issues that would harm your fuel economy. Let’s face it, not everyone is a car expert and can identify issues like a mechanic can. The next time you have service, be sure to ask your mechanic if he or she noticed any issues that could be keeping you from getting a better fuel consumption rate.

Traveling Light Can Get You a Better Fuel Consumption Rate

If you drive with heavy items in your car, it could be hurting your fuel consumption rate. A heavier car means more power is necessary to move it, and that means more gas is used. Don’t keep heavy items in your car any longer than they need to be there so you can improve your gas mileage.

Buy a Fuel Efficient Car to Increase Your Gas Mileage

If you really want to see an increase in your gas mileage, buy a fuel efficient car the next time you’re in the market for a new vehicle. More and more car companies are coming out with models that have a great fuel economy, so using the tips above on a car like that will really make a difference in how much you have to pay for gas! Fuel efficient cars come in all shapes and sizes, so don’t feel like you have to settle for a small car just to improve your fuel economy. Even trucks can be fuel efficient now! Find a dealer with fuel efficient vehicles near you to see all the great models available.

Try one (or all!) of these tips and see how much you can improve your gas mileage. Hopefully you’ll find you are finally getting the most out of the gas you pay for!

RIKER ELECTRIC
Around the turn of the century, electric cars emerged as the elegant solution to horseless transportation. Because EVs were not temperamental or difficult to operate, they became the vehicle of choice among women. And many lawyers and physicians preferred them because they were clean. Charging at home also was considered a luxury, certainly more refined than pumping gas and adding oil. The 1897 Riker Victoria (shown) was one of the more refined examples of an electric car of that era, although it was one of the worst in terms of range. The stylish bodywork took precedent over battery placement, shortening its range to about 20 miles per charge. Still, that was far more than the average driver of the day ever needed. A.L. Riker, founder of Riker Electric Motor Co. in Brooklyn, blamed the car’s limited range not on its design, but on the lack of a satisfactory battery technology. During a 1897 meeting of the Electric Vehicle Manufacturers, Riker said he had “yet to learn of a battery of high-efficiency and low-depreciation, which was the type required” for electric vehicles.

EARLY FWD CAR
The Horseless Age
Walter Christie’s patent application for a front-drive car appeared in our June 29, 1904 issue. The powerplant sat transversely between the front wheels, with the crankshaft connected to the front wheels through, ” a novel and improved transmission-gearing and clutch mechanism. The clutch was used to couple and de-couple the front wheels from the engine. It also was used to shift between low and direct gear, or reverse. The short halfshafts ended in Hooke joints, and the steering pivot was carried on the outer stub shaft. Walter Christie specialized in racing cars and “motor-propelled war chariots, including those of the amphibian type.” The front-drive system shown here was used successfully by Christie on some of his early racing cars, but the lack of a suitable transaxle design likely doomed this novel approach.

DETROIT AUTO SHOW
Unlike serious motor vehicle exhibitions such as the Paris show, the 1903 Detroit Auto Show was actually an adjunct to a Sportsmen’s show that ran at the Detroit Armory. The Horseless Age covered the event in its February 18, 1903 issue, stating that the event only had about 3000 visitors per day, and that most of them did not come to see the cars. “To put it mildly, the show from the standpoint of the automobile exhibitors was hardly a success,” our editors reported. “The growling of the 200 or more dogs and the noise in the shooting gallery put a hard strain on the nerves of some attendants.” We concluded that a dog show was not the proper place to promote the automobile.

SPRUNG POWERTRAINS
This device, written about in our May 24, 1899 issue, was designed to transmit power “jerk-free” by attaching the drive gear to a spring-mounted arm. A casing was fitted around the solid axle connecting the left and right wheels. It carried the lower spring arm and axle assembly. This could rotate fore and aft, changing the position of the drive pulley. Acceleration and bumps compressed the spring and moved the pulley forward, which slackened the belt. Under braking, the spring expanded, stretching the belt tight. This was, the inventor claimed, especially effective when an electric motor was used for both drive and braking. About this same time, A.B. Andrews of Center Point, Iowa was taking spring theory a bit farther. He used a clock spring type mechanism to drive a vehicle. His prototype was his child’s baby carriage. A winding mechanism was fitted to permit the “engine” to rewind on downhill sections, or to provide self-winding on level roads.

RACING
Growing interest in the automobile spawned the inevitable sport of racing. Henry Ford was one of the pioneers, building his first race car in 1901. Ford’s 26 hp racer was tested against a Winton in October of that year, winning the race handily with an average speed of 43.5 mph. Mr. Ford later claimed to have done a flying half-mile in 26 seconds (69.2 mph), and defied any foreign machine to challenge him. In France, speed was also a topic of the day. M. Serpollet drove his torpedo-shaped steam-car (shown) to a flying-kilometer record at a speed of near 75 mph. It broke the world’s record in April 1902. Two years later, Ford drove his famous 999 racer over a record flying mile, averaging 92.3 mph. In the same year, Ford’s 999 set a speed record on an oval track at nearly 60 mph.

STEAM POWER
Steam power was well understood in early automotive days, but its use in passenger vehicles peaked quickly and disappeared. Because of its limitations in range and safety, it was best suited for industrial applications such as locomotives or overland freight trains as shown in this 1899 ad. Steam automobiles couldn’t carry enough water to provide acceptable mileage, and the drive to make passenger vehicles lighter forced boilermakers to compromise integrity for weight. Many tragic boiler explosions resulted, tainting the image of the steam-powered car. By the time a reliable kerosene-fired boiler came on the market, along with more steam-efficient engines, demand for the technology was surpassed by interest in electric and gasoline power.

Using a cover for your automobile is an ideal way to help protect your investment, as you probably spent a considerable sum of money on your vehicle. Covers can help prevent it from becoming scratched, and can preserve that showroom finish. If you purchase one suitable for outdoor use then it will help protect your car from the elements.

Having your vehicle covered up can also make it less attractive to thieves. It takes far longer for them to uncover the car, and it’s a lot easier to go after another vehicle. It can protect it from unsightly dings caused by people opening car doors onto it, and from the onslaught of birds.

Bird droppings can be very acidic, and if not cleaned off promptly may cause permanent damage to the paintwork. If you regularly park your car under a tree, then you may not only be at risk of damage from bird droppings, but also damage from dust, pollen, and tree sap. Tree sap can be extremely sticky and had to remove, and can be very annoying on your windshield.

Dust is an abrasive substance, and if allowed to build up can cause small scratches. Using an appropriate cover greatly lessens the risk of this happening. Even if your car is already scratched, covering it up would at least prevent it from getting any worse.

It’s easy to see the sense in covering up your vehicle when the weather is bad, as salt and moisture are well-known to corrode vehicles. But if it’s a bright and beautifully sunny day you might think your car is perfectly safe. In fact harsh UV rays can cause its color to fade.

It’s easy to buy a suitable protective cover for your vehicle online, and you may even find free shipping. They are made to fit all sorts of different vehicles and can be for indoor or outdoor use. Some come with a handy storage bag which makes them easy to put away when not in use.

Another great accessory for your vehicle is a set of protective seat covers. They are the ideal way to help protect your vehicle’s interior. Buying a set of floor mats will help protect carpets, and they are much easier just to pull out and shake in between vacuuming the interior, helping to ensure it remains relatively free of grit and dirt. Car covers also make the perfect gift for any owner as they are both a useful and thoughtful present.