Free Republic

Research findings released today indicate that mid-range ethanol blends—fuel mixtures with more ethanol than 10% (E10) but less than 85% (E85)—can in some cases provide better fuel economy than regular unleaded gasoline, even in standard, non-flex-fuel vehicles. The new study, co-sponsored by the US Department of Energy and the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), also found that mid-range ethanol blends reduce harmful tailpipe emissions. Previous assumptions held that ethanol’s lower energy content directly correlates with lower fuel economy for drivers. Those assumptions were found to be incorrect. Instead, the new research suggests that there is an optimal blend level of...

--SNIP-- If you want a car that will get 100 miles per gallon of fuel, you can build your own right now. This plan is based on an idea I got from a friend, but it has worked in the past and will work again. The idea is this. Start with a small car that weighs no more than about 2000 pounds. Many small sedans and hatchbacks from Honda, Toyota, Ford, Geo, Suzuki, Nissan, and the like are available. It must have a standard transmission and a good clutch. Next, throw out (remove and sell) the 80 hp engine it...

US carmakers have said they need help in tackling the challenges the industry is facing set by global warming. The heads of General Motors, Chrysler and Ford said that measures to improve fuel efficiency were not enough and may cost thousands of jobs. They told a House of Representatives subcommittee that the car industry alone could not act on climate change. US car firms are facing major struggles as they try to reshape their business in the face of stiff competition. The car makers were joined by Toyota and the United Autos Workers (UAW) Union in the meeting with politicians...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued new testing procedures that will cause fuel economy estimates on the stickers of new vehicles to drop an average of 12% for city driving on most 2008 model year vehicles, and 8% for highway driving, the Associated Press reported. The changes are in response to consumer complaints that fuel economy estimates often don't match real-world driving. The EPA's new procedure will take into account data from vehicle tests designed to more accurately assess high-speed driving, rapid acceleration, the use of air conditioning and driving in cold temperatures, the story said. Highly fuel-efficient vehicles are...

EPA “YourMPG” Data Reveal Diesel Vehicle Drivers Consistently Achieve Higher MPG Than Figures Displayed On Window Stickers WASHINGTON – Diesel-powered vehicles deliver more real-world miles per gallon than the numbers on new-car window stickers currently indicate, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “YourMPG” database. The findings were detailed in EPA’s “Final Technical Supporting Document” accompanying the agency’s new fuel economy labeling rule released Tuesday. The “YourMPG” data, compiled by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, includes 221 diesel drivers measuring their own fuel economy and providing their real-world MPG to an Internet database. EPA then compared this real-world data with...

WASHINGTON, DC -- Diesel-powered vehicles deliver more real-world miles per gallon than the numbers on new-car window stickers currently indicate, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's "YourMPG" database. The findings were detailed in EPA's "Final Technical Supporting Document" accompanying the agency's new fuel economy labeling rule released Tuesday. The "YourMPG" data, compiled by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, includes 221 diesel drivers measuring their own fuel economy and providing their real-world MPG to an Internet database. EPA then compared this real- world data with the projected fuel economy calculations it requires for all new cars. "As can be seen,...

Denny Klein thinks he has found a new commercial use for hydrogen technology. Working in a small, two-room shop at the Airport Business Center, Klein, 63, said he has developed a gas that speeds welding and fusing times and improves automobile fuel efficiency 30 percent. Although the technology Klein uses -- electrolysis -- has been around for decades, he said it's the form of gas that comes out of his electrolyzer and the characteristics of the gas that set his hydrogen technology apart. Klein's gas is two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen. Sound familiar? Yep, it's water. Electrolysis is...

The hydrogen economy is closer than we think. At least, that's the image portrayed by this TV news report from FOX 26 (as far as I can tell, the report aired last year, and I'm not sure which city this FOX 26 is in. For our purposes, these details don't really matter). The report focuses on Denny Klein, president of Hydrogen Technology Applications, and his water-powered car. There is some impressive imagery at work in the piece. Seeing someone pour water into an engine and getting energy out of it is pretty amazing. And slicing through metal with a water-based...

Mater Dei wins second straight gas mileage contest at IRP Indianapolis, April 25, 2006 - Evansville Mater Dei won its second straight Super Mileage Challenge at Indianapolis Raceway Park Monday, averaging more than 1,200 miles per gallon of gas. The car was designed, built and driven by its student team members. The contest was sponsored by the Indiana Mathematics, Science and Technology Education Alliance. Mater Dei won the stock class for the second straight year, improving its fuel efficiency by more than 200 miles per gallon from last year. Lafayette Harrison won the unlimited class, averaging almost 11-hundred miles per...

Expect something amazing from the next Toyota Prius — like fuel economy that pushes past the 100-mpg barrier. Due in two years as a 2009 model, the next Prius is set to be an evolution, company sources say. The hybrid will retain the same basic 1.5-liter hybrid drivetrain. But Toyota is now on a mission to do two things: drive the economy ratings skyward, and cut the associated costs by 20-30 percent.

Latest Statement of Tehran and Suburbs Public Transport Trade Union 2006-02-18 Latest Statement of Tehran and Suburbs Public Transport Trade Union English Translation by Marze Por Gohar Party Thank you all the union workers around the world that in defense to Tehran and Suburbs Public Transport Trade Union announced a solidarity day on Feb 15th 2006 and expressed their protest to anti-union activity to the authorities of the Islamic Republic. Tehran and suburb buss-driver union remind the 3 of its numerous needs 1. The Islamic Republic shall fully and officially recognize the union. 2. Without any conditions release detained union...

To provide consumers with more real-world fuel economy information when shopping for cars, SUVs, and pick-up trucks, EPA is proposing new methods to determine the city and highway mpg estimates that appear on the window stickers. The new methods will take effect for model year 2008 vehicles, which will generally be available for sale in fall of 2007. "With President Bush encouraging energy conservation, EPA is ensuring American motorists can be confident that the fuel economy estimates more closely reflect today's real world driving experiences," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "Consumers weigh a variety of factors when shopping for...

Owners of hybrid cars claim to be stealing a march on their makers by customising them to go even further for less fuel, in one case doing up to 300 miles per gallon. Green-minded enthusiasts in California are turning the popular vehicles into "plug-in cars" that can be recharged using off-peak electricity from the mains. The fuel-efficient hybrids, such as the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic and Ford Escape, have two computer-integrated engines: a petrol and an electric one. Both drive the wheels with the battery-powered motor charged up during braking and coasting. Unlike electric cars, they never need to be...

For decades, Americans have paid little attention to the fuel economy numbers on cars' window stickers -- or to whether their vehicles actually attained those mileage figures. But for hybrid car owners, impressive city and highway mileage numbers are often the primary selling point. When a hybrid's mileage falls short, the owner logically asks why the real-world figures don't match the ones listed by the Environmental Protection Agency. Consumer groups and transportation policy analysts often point to the EPA's test procedure as the cause. Critics say the test cycle, a simulated route of starts and stops to replicate city and...

WASHINGTON -- Back in the good old days when the price of gas in Seattle was a mere $1.50 a gallon, miles-per-gallon weren't so important. The number was a curiosity, the basis for bragging rights and mental exercise during long trips. That was two years ago. Today, with the price of gas pushing beyond $2.45 a gallon in the Puget Sound region and federal projections saying it will reach $3 this summer, the miles-per-gallon estimates calculated by the Environmental Protection Agency have taken on a new prominence in a nation suddenly intent on squeezing every mile out of its cars....

Transcripts of speeches given at Dr. Vafadari's memorial event The following are excerpts, transcripts and summaries from speeches given at Kasra Vafadari Memorial event that took place in Santa Monica on Saturday May 28th 2005. Roozbeh Farahanipour -Kasra is the 4th person that Roozbeh has worked with who has been killed by the Islamic Republic: first was Kourosh Aryamanesh, 2nd and 3rd were Dariush and Parvaneh Forouhar. -Kasra is not the first to be murdered by IR in France, and Kasra was a dual citizen, like Zahra Kazemi the Canadian journalist who was murdered on her assignment in the IR....

A memorial service honoring Dr. Kasra Vafadaari Directions to Santa Monica Mall WHEN: 6 P.M. Saturday, May 28 2005 WHERE: Santa Monica Mall. 395 Santa Monica Place Santa Monica, California WHO: Speakers Roozbeh Farahanipour, Faryar Nickbacht and Roxanne Ganji WHAT: Memorial service honoring Dr. Kasra Vafadaari Dear Dr. Kasra Vafadaari, your name is immortal for every true Iranian and forever in our hearts, because you too are now a part of our historical heritage: you’ve joined the ranks of history’s noblemen who have paid with their blood the price to upkeep and maintain our homeland, Iran. That is why we...

My parents made a camcorder of my children's birthday party. I have the DVD and would like to convert it to a mpg file. Is there a software to do this? Thank you.

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) - Oil prices have entered the early stages of a multi-year period of trading in which economic growth and rising demand could push oil to $105 per barrel, enough to meaningfully reduce energy consumption, Goldman Sachs analysts said Thursday. "We believe oil markets may have entered the early stages of what we have referred to as a "super spike" period -- a multi-year trading band of oil prices high enough to meaningfully reduce energy consumption and recreate a spare capacity cushion only after which will lower energy prices return," said analyst Arjun Murti. Murti said he's surprised...

Monday March 01, 2004 7:35 PM Reporting from: Kanoone Sokhan, Los Angeles, CA, USA Reported by: Sadegh Saleh of the “Marze Por Gohar Party” at www.marzeporgohar.org Name of the Speaker: Hoomer Abramian Subject: Religion, Fanaticism and Commonsense ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mr. Abramian lives in Australia. He established “Persian Cultural Foundation of Australia (Bonyad-e Farhang-e Iran, Phone/Fax# +612 98234371). He is born in 1317 H.S. in Hamedan, Iran and is a graduate engineer in building architecture of University in Tehran. After the Revolution he was the head of Iranian Ashourians in Iran. When he moved to Australia in 1998 he started Iranology and...