CarBuyersNoteBook » gas mileage

Ever Wonder How The Chevy Volt Works?

Steve Anderson — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 05:45:03 +0000

If you, like me, have ever looked at that Chevy Volt and wondered how it works, just stay tuned because we’ve got a look at it in easy video format.

So the crew out at Chevrolet took some of our tax dollars and put together this informative little video–and I mean little, too, it weighs in at just short of three minutes runtime–explaining just how exactly that electric car works.

I personally had a big problem when they announced, in the most chipper manner possible, that with a full battery and a full tank of gas you could get three hundred miles range. Why does this annoy me so, you wonder? Well, I already get over three hundred miles on a full tank of gas and I don’t need a battery to do anything more than start the car. Of course, my gas tank might be a bit bigger–twelve gallons, roughly–but it has better range than this magnificent electric car.

But still, the look at the Chevy Volt is highly informative and pretty easy to understand, too. So satisfy your curiosity about this new paradigm in American automobile engineering below!

Tags: Chevrolet, Chevy, chevy volt, electric car, extended range, gas mileage, mileage, Volt

Volkswagen releases pricing for 2010 VW Golf TDI

Jeff Baker — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 23:50:53 +0000

Volkswagen has recently been kind enough to let us know that their brand new 2010 VW Golf TDI will start at $21,990. Furthermore, the automaker also let us know that the car is rated at 29mpg for the city and 40mpg on the highway.

Under the hood of the 2010 VW Golf TDI, consumers can expect to find a 2.0-liter diesel burning engine couples with a 6-speed manual transmission. Anyone takers?

Read (Volkswagen)

Tags: 6 speed transmission, diesel, gas mileage, Golf, pricing, TDI

New six-speed automatic transmission from GM to give 5% mileage increase

Jeff Baker — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 22:59:43 +0000

GM has recently announced that their engineers are hard at work on a second generation 6T40 6-speed automatic that will apparently give all cars using the transmission a 5% boost in gas mileage.

Autoblog reports that the new transmission comes from updated technology featured on the 2011 Chevy Equinox which currently touts a 32mpg rating. These updated electronic control strategies will apparently provide a 3% boost in mileage with anoterh 2% coming from the reworking of the actual hardware of the transmission.

We’ll let you know when more information is made known about which future GM models will support this new transmission.

Tags: 6t40, automatic transmission, gas mileage, six speed

EPA hasn’t confirmed Chevy Volt’s 230mpg rating

Jeff Baker — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 04:14:11 +0000

Despite GM stating that the EPA had given their Chevy Volt a rating of 230mpg the EPA themselves has chimed in to let them know this is not the case. It seems that the EPA hasn’t even tested the Volt yet which means they are unable to give the car an accurate rating.

Below is a quote straight from the EPA:

EPA has not tested a Chevy Volt and therefore cannot confirm the fuel economy values claimed by GM. EPA does applaud GM’s commitment to designing and building the car of the future – an American-made car that will save families money, significantly reduce our dependence on foreign oil and create good-paying American jobs. We’re proud to see American companies and American workers leading the world in the clean energy innovations that will shape the 21st century economy.

So I guess we’ll have to wait until the EPA actually gets their hands on the Chevy Volt before we see any rock solid numbers so as for now, the Volt’s 230mpg claim remains unofficial.

via GreenCarAdvisor

Tags: chevy volt, epa, gas mileage, rating

GM claims Volt gets 230mpg

Jeff Baker — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 04:06:10 +0000

Just yesterday we let you know that GM was gearing up to announce the mileage rating for their much publicized Chevy Volt. Well today, just on cue, they have announced the information; the Chevy Volt will get 230mpg.

This comes as news after the EPA has determined exactly how to rate extended-range all-electrics such as the Volt who say that the car will consume 25kWh for every 100 miles driven. Couple that with the minimal gas tank featured on the car and that is how they came to the 230 mpg rating.

The EPA hopes to fine tune this method of rating and will get back to us when they figure out what consumers are more likely to get during everyday use.

via Autoblog

Tags: chevy volt, epa, gas mileage

GM to announce Chevy Volt’s mileage information tomorrow

Jeff Baker — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:26:23 +0000

GM has just announced that they will begin auctioning off new cars in California tomorrow and already they have taken center stage again to speak of the forthcoming Chevy Volt. The automaker will reportedly announced mileage details for the electric vehicle tomorrow, August 11th.

While the mileage numbers will most definitly vary from what they will be during everyday use, expect the Volt to feature well over 100mpg. If you’re wondering why an electric vehicle would use gas it’s because the Volt is an extended range electric vehicle, this means that it’s propulsion will come completely from electricity but in order to gain a higher range GM will include a small gas tank that will then be used to power those electric motors.

Still no solid word on a price or release date for the volt.

Read (HybridCarBlog)

Tags: all electric, extended range, gas mileage, GM, mileage, Volt

EcoDriving: The Only Way To Drive

Brian — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 03:42:56 +0000

Here is another friendly reminder for people who have travel plans this Summer. EcoDriving has always been a reliable recourse especially during these critical times and apparently the aim of most motorists today is to make sure that they practice sensible driving as well as watching out for their carbon footprints.

EcoDriving helps a lot when fuel savings are concerned. And for the summer, here are some tips to remind people about eco-friendly driving once they hit the roads with their cars or RVs:

Turn the engine off when waiting at a curb to save more than half a gallon of fuel for every hour that would have been spent idling.
Tire pressure changes an average of one PSI for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit change in temperature, so maintaining proper tire pressure can improve gas mileage by about 3 percent. This can earn drivers a free tank of gas every year.
Avoid rapid starts and stops. This is not only safe, but it can save more than $1 per gallon, according to the U.S. EPA. While improving fuel economy by up to 33 percent.

These may seem like common and simple tips but practicing them is different. Be aware of your driving prowess. Being and eco-friendly driver can save more for you than it can for society.

(Source) Press

Tags: aim, Cars, critical times, fahrenheit, free tank, friendly reminder, fuel economy, fuel savings, gas mileage, motorists, pressure changes, proper tire pressure, prowess, psi, recourse, u s epa

Drive $marter Challenge Money-Saving Road Trip Tips

Brian — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 05:55:58 +0000

Each tip helps is what most people are looking for today. With traveling expected to peak this Summer, you can bet a lot of people are looking for leads and tips on how to be an economical vacationer through the use of their vehicles.

For that, the Alliance to Save Energy and its 13 diverse nonprofit, governmental, trade association, and for-profit partners in the Drive $marter Challenge fuel efficiency campaign aim to provide vacationers and everyday drivers with hundreds of dollars of money-saving gas tips, resources, and myth busters on an interactive website that responds to the call of frugal drivers.

Among the highlights for drivers include:

Decrease your speed. Gas mileage usually decreases rapidly above 60 mph. Each five miles per hour over 60 mph is like paying an additional 20 cents or more per gallon for gas.
Drive sensibly. Speeding, rapid acceleration (jackrabbit starts), and rapid braking can lower gas mileage by 33% at highway speeds.
Use cruise control and overdrive gear. Cruise control cuts fuel consumption by maintaining a steady speed during highway driving. Overdrive gear, when appropriate, reduces engine speed, saves gas, and reduces engine wear.
It’s a “drag.” Avoid carrying items on your vehicle’s roof. A loaded roof rack or carrier increases weight and aerodynamic drag, which can cut mileage by 5%. Place items inside the trunk when possible to improve fuel economy.
Turn down the AC. Operating the air conditioner on “Max” can reduce mpg by 5-25% compared to not using it.
Avoid idling, which gets 0 mpg. Cars with larger engines typically waste even more gas while idling than cars with smaller engines.
Navigate with a GPS system. GPS systems can help you find your way and, increasingly, GPS programs can search for low-priced gas at nearby stations.
Fill up before returning rental. Rental car companies charge higher gas prices if you don’t fill up the tank before returning the vehicle. Keep your gas receipts in case the company requires them to remove a gas surcharge.

Follow these simple tips and you may be surprised at the savings you will get. If you want to get an idea of how much money you are wasting on fuel, here is a website calculator that may be of some help as well.

(Source) Press

Tags: aerodynamic drag, alliance to save energy, cruise control, engine speed, fuel consumption, fuel economy, fuel efficiency, gas mileage, gas receipts, gps programs, gps system, highway speeds, jackrabbit, myth busters, nearby stations, rapid acceleration, rental car companies, roof rack, steady speed, vacationer

Grab the Low Mileage Discount from GMAC

Brian — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:42:07 +0000

Cars are a necessity but maintaining these vehicles normally carry another financial burden in the form of car insurance. But with GMAC, all of these may seem better and truth of the matter is, they have a program that can very well be beneficial to current motorists bucking the financial trends.

For people who have a short commute, work from home, use mass transit, carpool or choose to ride a bike or walk more for their health, the Low-Mileage Discount offers an opportunity to significantly reduce what they spend annually on auto insurance.

“People who drive fewer than 15,000 miles a year can opt in to the program and save up to 54 percent on their auto insurance simply by being an OnStar subscriber,” says Wade Bontrager, senior vice president of GMAC Insurance. “Using OnStar’s pre-existing Vehicle Diagnostics capability, with the customer’s permission, GMAC Insurance would receive a monthly odometer reading from the customer’s vehicle. If their total mileage for the year doesn’t surpass 15,000 miles, we then adjust their annual premium lower based on their abbreviated driving habits.”

As another way to help keep driving costs down while conserving energy, GMAC Insurance offers these five tips:

Maintain your vehicle. Keeping up with your vehicle’s maintenance can significantly reduce the cost of future repairs and vastly improve gas mileage. OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics monitors your vehicle’s key operating systems and will tell you exactly when you need to change your oil, eliminating unnecessary oil changes.
Keep your tires inflated. Pumping up your tires to the proper PSI is the easiest, most cost-efficient way to reduce gasoline use. OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics also runs monthly checks of your tire pressure.
Lighten your load. Every extra 100 pounds of weight you carry can strip away 1 to 2 percent of fuel efficiency. Take out those sand bags you might have added to the trunk for winter driving, remove the bike or ski rack if you aren’t using it, and unload any other unnecessary cargo. However, make sure to leave the essentials, such as your emergency safety kit.
Don’t idle. Picking the kids up from school? Waiting out front while someone runs into the store? If you are stopped for more than 30 seconds, shut the car off to avoid wasting gas.
Easy on the gas pedal. If you accelerate hard at green lights and when traffic lets up, you might want to think twice. Jerky, stop and start driving can hurt your gas mileage.

(Source) Press

Tags: car insurance, carpool, conserving energy, financial burden, financial trends, fuel efficiency, gas mileage, gmac insurance, odometer, odometer reading, sand bags, ski rack, tire pressure, vehicle diagnostics

Bill Ford wants expensive gas

Jeff Baker — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 23:39:05 +0000

You read that right, Bill Ford, Executive Chairman over at Ford, actually wants gas to go back up in price. Hell, he even wants the US Government to instate a gas tax which would artificially increase the price of gas.

Ford (the guy not the automaker) defends his position giving the following statement:

When gasoline went to $3.50 a gallon we saw a sea change in customer behavior. Now people are turning away from more fuel-efficient vehicles and taking the bigger vehicles. I’ve been talking for five years now about the need for a gas tax. We have to have some predictability on fuel pricing and that price signal has to be strong enough so customers will continue buying smaller, fuel-efficient cars.

You do have a point, Mr. Ford, but is forcing the American public to buy fuel efficient cars the right thing to do? In my opinion it would without a doubt work, but that doesn’t mean I want gas to go back up; perhaps if automakers provided more special incentives on fuel efficient cars, we would get the same positive feedback. What do you think?

Read (AutoBlogGreen)

Tags: bill ford, fuel economy, fuel efficiency, gas mileage, gas tax, Green, small cars, tax

Spring Your Car into Shape with CarMax

Brian — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 19:17:12 +0000

Spring may be just another season for us, but it is also a time where proper maintenance for your car takes a change. With a little love and tender care, your ride can be ready for spring in no time. CarMax, Inc., the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, and its master technicians, offer advice on how to spruce up your car for spring during National Car Care month.

“Spring is one of the most critical times for vehicle maintenance,” said Tom Damon, ASE Master Technician for CarMax. “Harsh winter conditions can adversely affect your car. Regular vehicle maintenance avoids unexpected costly repairs.”

To help your car recover from the damaging effects of winter, CarMax technicians suggest that drivers perform the following five tasks in the spring:

Take your car to an automatic car wash that has an under-carriage wash. This can help remove corrosive residues left behind by winter road treatments used to melt ice and snow.
Wash and wax your car. The wax will protect the paint from damaging UV rays.
Change the oil and filter every 3,000 miles or at the manufacture’s recommendation and have the air filter and PCV valve checked and replaced if needed. Winter temperatures can cause the formation of harmful condensation and acids in the engine oil.
Have your vehicle diagnosed by an automotive professional. If the engine is not running smoothly or any other conditions arise, preventive measures can help extend the life of your vehicle and improve gas mileage.
Have a qualified automotive technician check:

The condition of the engine coolant, belts, and hoses; hoses deteriorate from the inside out and summer driving gives your cooling system a workout.
All the lights and lenses for cracks; you should also replace wiper blades each spring and fall to ensure optimum visibility in all weather conditions.
The tires for any abnormalities (including the spare); the tire pressure should also be set at the level specified for your vehicle.
All the wheels and inspect the brakes thoroughly for damage due to corrosion since most states use salt, sand or other chemicals to melt snow and ice on the roads. During this process, it is also a good idea to have the tires rotated.
Your vehicle’s steering and suspension for loose, worn or damaged components often caused by potholes and other road irregularities.
The car battery, since it works much harder in the summer months and you’ll want to be prepared.
The air conditioner, so you can avoid the wait if you need to have it repaired during the summer.

(Source) Press

Tags: automatic car wash, carmax, costly repairs, critical times, engine coolant, gas mileage, master technicians, national car care month, preventive measures, snow wash, vehicle maintenance, weather conditions, winter road, winter temperatures

Japanese Prius ratings hit the roof

Jeff Baker — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:30:46 +0000

Sure, the 50 MPG rating that the 2010 Prius got back in March is cool but get this; the official Japanese rating for the same vehicle is a staggering 89.4 MPG and CO₂ emissions as low as 61 g/km.

Yes, this is a truley green car however don’t be misled by these ratings. Autoblog Green reports that when this test was done the car was averaging a speed of 16 mph.

So, for those of you who are a little more heavy on the gas pedal expect a number closer to the US’ rating of 50 MPG.

Tags: gas mileage, hybrid, japanese, Prius, rating

New Toyota Prius Comes with Solar Panels

Brian — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:58:28 +0000

Everyone knows that the Toyota Prius has changed the face of mobile preference thanks to its hybrid capabilities but the new batch comes with something special. They are equipped with rooftop solar panels.

Toyota just unveiled its new Toyota Prius, and it takes its eco-friendliness to the next level. Yes, it’s still a hybrid that gets excellent gas mileage, but now it also comes with a giant solar panel on the roof to soak up the sun’s rays and convert them into energy to power your stereo and air conditioner.

The great thing about these panels is that they work even when you aren’t driving. That means that when you come out to your car after working all day, it’s got a bunch of energy saved up from just sitting there in the sun. The new Prius will be on sale in Japan soon for between $21,000 and $26,000.

(Source) Crunchgear

Tags: air conditioner, gas mileage, hybrid capabilities, Japan, solar panel, solar panels, Toyota, toyota prius

Kia Makes MSN Autos Editors’ Top Picks List

Brian — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:38:18 +0000

Kia is a conservative player in the auto industry and apparently three of their models have made the grade and joined MSN Autos Editors’ Top Pick List. The Kia Spectra (LX) and Rio5 were named to the “Top 10 Cars for Less Than $15,000″ list while the Rondo was the top pick for “Best Family Cars for Downsizing.” The three vehicles were lauded for offering attractive pricing on top of an impressive combination of quality, space, comfort, value and warranty.

Spectra, noted for its front and back passenger space, audio system and comprehensive warranty, meets the needs of consumers looking for the total package at a significant value. While Rio5 is the “hip younger sibling” to the Kia Spectra, according to MSN Autos, it is recognized for SIRIUS Satellite Radio, standard CD/MP3 capabilities, air conditioning and 60/40 split-folding rear seats that give way to its large hatch area. Both vehicles also achieve impressive gas mileage, Spectra with a mpg of 23/30 M/T and 24/32 A/T (city/highway), while Rio5 offers a frugal fuel economy of 27/32 M/T and 25/35 A/T.

Recognized in the “Best Family Cars for Downsizing” category that identifies those vehicles with a starting price lower than $25,000 and offers the best mix of cargo capacity, safety, reliability, features and value, Rondo is noted for its seven-passenger seating capacity along with top safety features, solid reliability, interior space and “impressive fit and finish.” Fuel economy for the 2.4-liter engine is 20/27 A/T (city/highway), while the 2.7-liter V6 is 18/26 A/T.

MSN Autos developed the Editors’ Pick lists by collecting feedback from industry analysts and conducting test drives. It is the largest global network of online automotive sites, providing consumers with comprehensive research, buying and ownership services.

(Source) Press

Tags: cargo capacity, cd mp3, comprehensive research, family cars, fuel economy, gas mileage, hatch area, impressive combination, interior space, kia motors america, kia spectra, kia spectra lx, liter engine, liter v6, msn autos, passenger space, quality space, reliability features, sirius satellite radio, space comfort

Toyota changes MPG rating on ‘10 Prius

Jeff Baker — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 01:59:08 +0000

It seems that Toyota had a little trouble when they initially tested their brand new 2010 Toyota Prius as they have released word of a change in its MPG rating.

Toyota initally listed the rating as 50 MPG for city driving, and 49 MPG for highway driving. Well now they are refuting that claim and saying that it gets 51 miles to the gallon in the city and 48 on the highway.

The combined mileage, however, does not change resting at a none-too-bad 50MPG.

Tags: gas mileage, Prius, rating, test, Toyota

CarBuyersNoteBook » gas mileage

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