Weblog

Saturday, April 05, 2008

  • New Small Diesel Pickup

    Small diesel pickup will be built in the U.S. You may be aware that many foreign car companies actually manufacture their vehicles within the United States. Well the good news is that we will have another player added to this market. The surprising part of this story is that the vehicle manufacturer is an Indian-based company.

    Mahindra LTD is India's biggest maker of sport utility vehicles and tractors. This company plans to assemble a new diesel powered pickup in Ohio in the beginning of 09. Mahindra is in the final negotiation stages, with a major automotive manufacturing and assembly plant.

    The Indian vehicle maker plans to start selling this small diesel pickup model with an innovative 2.2 L four cylinder diesel engine, as early as the beginning of 2009. This truck will have a standard payload of 2,600 pounds and will be covered by a 60,000 mile 4 year bumper to bumper warranty. An SUV model sporting the same four-cylinder diesel power train will join this pickup truck. The efficient four-cylinder diesel engine is proposed to get around 50 miles per gallon and meet all of the US emissions requirements.

    Mahindra has signed up 300 automotive dealers in the United States so far and has a sales goal for its first full year of 45,000 trucks. If all goes well Mahindra will also start development of a diesel electric hybrid for possible rollout by 2010. The diesel engine coupled with an electric hybrid motor would be a very interesting development in this popular and growing segment of automotive technology and manufacturing.

Tuesday, April 01, 2008

  • Breakthrough Electric Vehicle

    Finally the electric vehicle industry is moving forward, and beginning to mass-produce very interesting vehicles. I came across one company based out of Ontario Canada, that is applying some very cutting edge technology to their latest offering.

    Currently, this company is offering a sport utility vehicle and also a four-door pickup truck that is 100% electric powered. So far, this company has had most of its sales from US government municipalities.

    Phoenix motorcars announced in a press release that they have received over 75 fleet orders from several US government municipalities for its new zero emissions all electric freeway ready sport-utility truck. The company is on target to manufacture and sell 500 of these fleet ready vehicles by the end of 2008.

    The sport-utility truck can travel up to 95 mph, which makes it truly freeway ready. This vehicle is capable of carrying five passengers and a full payload in its pickup bed. This sport-utility electric powered truck exceeds all specifications for type 3 electric vehicles and has a driving range of 130 miles. Its battery can be recharged in less than 10 minutes and has a lifespan of 12 years. This company’s use of the latest lithium battery technology truly separates it from all other electric vehicle and hybrid car manufacturers.

    I will provide more information about the company as posted in this press release and from their website. I'll also provide a link so that you can visit their website and see additional pictures of their products.

    Phoenix Motorcars manufactures zero-emission freeway speed all electric vehicles. It is an early leader in the mass production of fully functional, green electric trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs). These where developed originally for commercial and fleet applications but the program has been expanded to include general automotive consumers as well.

    Based in Ontario Canada and with offices in the state of California, Phoenix Motorcars uses the revolutionary lithium titan ate battery solution, This is a non-toxic, long lasting, and quick charging lithium ion battery pack that eliminates noise and toxic vehicle emissions that contribute to air pollution.

    I do not know how much this vehicle costs, but you can visit their website and contact them for more information. But what I have learned from the vehicle so far is that it could be priceless in our country's future energy requirements, as well as environmental concerns. Here is a link to the Phoenix motorcars website.
            

Sunday, March 23, 2008

  • Fuel Economy Leads to Engine Downsizing

    The recent rise in the automotive fuel economy standards will affect car manufacturers around the world. General Motors states, the new rules mandating an average of 35 miles per gallon will lead to smaller engines in their US vehicles. A General Motors representative stated at the North American international auto show in Detroit that they will not invest a lot of money in eight cylinder gas engines in the future.

    Large pickups and sport utility vehicles probably will have six cylinder engines or diesel power plants instead of the eight cylinder gasoline versions. General Motors will also use more aluminum and magnesium to make vehicles lighter and more fuel-efficient. This will cause production costs to rise, and along with it the window sticker price of these vehicles.

    The US government will require average fuel economy to rise 40% by the year 2020. Under tough energy legislation signed into law by President Bush. General Motors stated that complying with the tougher standards might cost an average of $6,000 more per vehicle. General Motors has also stated that they will try as much is possible to preserve the size of the vehicle the American public wants to buy.

    More GM auto news.


    General Motors is the largest overseas automaker in China, and they will start making hybrid cars in that country this year. The automaker debuted its first hybrid car, the Buick lacrosse in Shanghai. Toyota and GM both are betting that rising fuel prices and growing environmental awareness will convince drivers in the world's second-biggest auto market to buy more expensive hybrid cars. 6.3 million passenger cars were sold in China last year and only .03% of them were hybrids.

    Visit my updated hybrid cars page. I also added a home made video about how to fix your own car at home with online auto repair manuals.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

  • Hi everyone! I'm just getting started on Xanga... Drop me a comment if you've got some ideas on what to do first - or just to say, "Hi!" :-)

  • Alternative Fuels Update

    Alternative fuels update report

     In the United States, the Alabama state government is switching its vehicle fleet to ethanol and will spend $324,000 to install a 12,000 gallon E 85 fuel tank and two pumps at the state motor pool. This information is according to the Associated Press, who quoted the governor of the state of Alabama.

    All of the equipment should be in place and in operating condition by the end of the first quarter of 2008. The Alabama state motor pool provides vehicles for state employees to use on trips across the state as well as local responsibilities. Currently the state of Alabama has 207 vehicles that are flex fuel capable.

    Fuel stations for alternative fuels will also be installed at the Department of transportation's pumping stations. This will be used in all its equipment. the state of Alabama has a total of 3000 vehicles. The state plans on replacing equipment or converting existing vehicles so that they all burn The E85 grade fuel. A $312,000 federal grant will help them make these changes.

    Alternative fuels in Illinois

    It is reported by the Associated Press, that Illinois State owned vehicles will all be able to run on fuel derived from Illinois crops in the near future. The Illinois governor has signed a bill requiring state agencies to purchase flexible fuel and biodiesel powered vehicles.

    The chief sponsor of the legislation said the law would not only create cleaner air, but also a bigger market for Illinois corn and soybeans. Farmers will have more money to spend in their communities, and new markets will lead to the building of more ethanol and biodiesel plants, which would create hundreds of construction jobs. The new Illinois legislation also encourages state agencies to purchase hybrid vehicles.

    Visit marks automotive website for his latest pages that include free gas mileage tips!



mbatom2

  • Visit mbatom2's Xanga Site
    • Name: Mark
    • Gender: Male
    • Member Since: 10/21/2007

About Me

  • ASE Certified Master Mechanic. Mark can be your friend in the auto repair business. For more free info visit his automotive information blog at http://www.auto-facts.org/automotive-blog.html

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