There was a time when fuel cost barely anything and it was easy to afford a trip to see the family. However, as the price increases, there are more looks into how to lower the amount that you are spending. The good news is that this will also help to protect the environment. The idea is to cut down on the amount of emissions that you are letting off.

Give Your Car a Regular Service

Yes, you want to save money but the best way that you can do that is by spending some. This may not make a lot of sense at first but it will in the long run. By investing in a regular service on your car – usually available with an MOT – you will be able to make sure that your car is in top shape. By doing this, you will make sure that less fuel is used, less emissions are let off and so the environment and your bank balance are protected.

Stop Driving Around

The worst thing that you can do is drive around when you are lost. You may think that driving around in circles will help you spot signposts to help you but you will waste time, fuel and money – and you are putting a lot of emissions into the air.

Before you set off, check and double check the directions. This will give you a chance find out road names and the numbers to get a picture in your head. Always have a map in your car and never be afraid to stop to ask for directions. Remember that online maps can be wrong so have a paper based map in your car as well as the GPS on your phone or a Sat Nav.

Opt for Walking or Taking Public Transport

So, you may end up saving some time by taking a drive to the shop down the road, but think about the damage that you are doing to the environment. You let emissions off at all times and burning fuel for no reason. Take a walk down to the shops – you will benefit from the fresh air.

Instead of driving to work, find a local bus route or look out for any trains. This will help you to cut down on the cost of fuel and will also help to cut down on the damage to the ozone. After all, the public transport will travel anyway, so you may as well use it instead of adding more emissions.

These are just a few ways of cutting down on the amount of emissions being let off into the air and the amount of fuel that you are using. This will naturally help you to cut down on the money that you spend and will also help with decrease the damage that you do to the ozone. If you do have the money and really want to invest in something, consider opting for hybrid cars, which also let fewer emissions into the air.

The city has had a major pollution issue for many decades, and even into the 21st century things didn’t seem to be getting any better. Therefore, the scheme was instigated with a view to encouraging companies of all shapes and sizes to be more aware of their vehicle emissions. Those that failed to meet the requirements would be charged a fee to enter London.

Definitely time for a change

According to TfL, pollution accounts for around 1,000 premature deaths every year in and around London, a staggering statistic when you consider there has been some degree of clean air legislation in place for many decades. Even those who were against the establishment of the zone realised that something really had to be done.

The implementation of the zone was a major project in itself, requiring vast quantities of road signs, leaflets and a major advertising campaign. As is always the case in such matters, the public, as well as the business community, took a little time to get used to the idea. Nowadays, regular visitors to London are all too aware of what’s required of them.

Are you in the zone?

Virtually the whole of Greater London is included in the scheme, which is now the world’s largest low emission zone. The M25 motorway, however, is not part of it, even on the sections that are within the borders of the Greater London region. Some sections of the M1 and M4, as well as parts of Heathrow, also come under the agreement.

In 2012, the scheme will be extended to include such vehicles as larger vans and minibuses, so if your company is likely to be affected by this you should be checking TfL’s website to see what to do next. Failing to meet the requirements of London’s low emission zone could be a seriously expensive mistake.

David Rice is a UK-based writer who travels into London on a regular basis. He writes for car leasing company Nationwide Vehicle Contracts .

While several companies are focused on creating hybrid and electric cars, a few automakers are putting their energies towards creating cars that run solely on air.

How Can Air ‘Fuel’ A Car?

These air-powered cars are “fueled” by an air compressor that pressurizes air in the car’s tank to move the pistons in the engine. This is different from hybrid cars, which combine air with gasoline, ethanol, or diesel to do the same task. Many companies are looking at this form of energy as the next best thing and there are three major contenders in creating the first mass produced air-powered car.

Who’s Winning The Air Car Race?

Motor Development International, housed in the UK, created an air compression vehicle they call the AirPod. It is expected to cost around $10,000 and can reach up to 50 miles-per-hour. It lacks a steering wheel, instead being controlled by a joystick, and has only three wheels. The standard version of the car has four seats with a small amount of storage space remaining.

The Honda Air concept car debuted at the LA Auto Show in 2010. Honda anticipates that the car will be able to run on a “charge” for about 100 miles. It comes with a Honda generator to “refuel” or you can use any air compressor at home. They also say it will be possible to use tire fillers at a gas station to recharge the Honda Air.

The MiniCAT was created by Tata Motors, India’s largest car manufacturer. It is projected to cost around $18,000 and would be able to go about 186 miles before requiring a “refuel.” They are expecting each air refill to cost $2.00 and take about two or three minutes to complete. Tata Motors also hopes to eventually create refueling stations just for air-cars where drivers can get more compressed air for their vehicle when the air-car market develops. The MiniCAT also comes equipped with a small compressor that can be connected to the engine and refill the tank in three to four hours. It has a top speed of 65 miles-per-hour.

Air Cars Are Not As Green As They Sound

While it does sound nice to not have to hand over a mass amount of cash for gas each week, an air-powered car still comes with some costs. Researchers at the University of Berkeley found that the energy used to charge air-compression vehicles comes at a higher cost than just purchasing gasoline for a regular car. They also said that cars powered by air are “significantly less efficient than a battery electric vehicle” and also that they “produce more greenhouse gas emissions than a conventional gas-powered car.”
This does not rule out the possibility of one day having a car that runs on air, but it just means there are improvements that need to be made before you can rationalize spending your money on air instead of gas.

This article written by Allen Green (@AllenGreen3), a sports enthusiast and green energy blogger for electricityco.com.

So it makes sense that you seek out advice before purchasing a child restraint. Ways to do this include when getting car insurance quotes to check for advice on the company’s website; check with your State motoring body; ask the retailer; or talk to community organisations that also offer fitting advice. It’s important that your car also has the correct anchor points. If you’re not sure, when getting a car service in Sydney, a car service in Melbourne or anywhere else in Australia, get the mechanic to check.

Understanding the legislation governing car seats and child restraints is vital before making a purchase. The National Child Restraint Laws state that:

• Infants up to six months old be restrained in a rearward facing infant restraint;
• Children aged between six months and four years to be seated in either a rearward or forward facing child restraint;
• Children from the age of four to seven to be seated in a forward facing child restraint or booster seat;
• Children under the age of four to be seated in the rear of the vehicle;
• Children from the age of four to seven years to be only permitted in the front of the vehicle if all rear seats are already occupied by younger children.

Just remember, get some sound advice before buying, or if you are confident, make sure you follow the seat manufacturer’s directions to the letter. There is no point putting your child at risk – protecting little ones from harm or injury in the event of a crash is of the utmost importance.

Once you have determined the right seat for your child, it’s important to have it fitted correctly. Once again, follow the manufacturer’s advice. There are plenty of organisations available to help out, fit the restraint or to even check if you have done it properly. Sometimes you have to pay or just make a donation. Quite often just a check can put you at ease.

If you are involved in a crash and you have even the slightest suspicion that the child seat has been damaged in any way, including the straps that hold it in place, throw it out and buy a new one. It’s worth checking if your car insurance policy will cover this. Research has shown that placing children in seatbelts too early can increase the potential for injury, so get the right restraint for your child and make sure it is fitted properly.

The Volt will be the first electric car used by the New York City Police Department, which also uses electric scooters and golf cars. The Volts represent the majority of 70 new electric vehicles joining the city fleet, which now has 430 electric vehicles.

“This is the latest and largest-ever addition of electric vehicles to the City’s fleet, which is already the largest municipal clean-air vehicle fleet in the nation,” Bloomberg said in a press statement. “We will continue to lead by example, but we also must provide New Yorkers with tools to make environmentally friendly choices in their own lives.

“When provided with the facts, people become far more likely to choose an electric vehicle. Our job is to ensure the public has the facts, ensure they can make their own decisions and ensure that if they want to drive an electric vehicle, we are providing the infrastructure needed. It’s all part of our PlaNYC agenda to create a greener, greater New York City.”

For the first 35 miles, the Volt can drive gas- and tailpipe emissions-free using a full charge of electricity stored in its 16-kWh lithium-ion battery. When the Volt’s battery runs low, a gas-powered engine/generator seamlessly operates to extend the driving range another 344 miles on a full tank for a total driving range of 379 miles.

It is important in an age where care for our planet is becoming a necessity rather than a preferred ideal, that we focus efforts on reducing emissions from essential transport in all vehicles including cars, buses and vans. In the UK and in particular the capital, the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) was introduced in 2008 to encourage the most polluting heavy diesel vehicles driving in the Capital to become cleaner. The LEZ covers most of Greater London. To drive within it without paying a daily charge vehicles must meet certain emissions standards that limit the amount of particulate matter (a type of pollution) coming from their exhausts. Currently vans are exempt from paying the daily LEZ charges, but from January 2012, vans registered before January 2002 will have to start paying.

Vauxhall’s London Retail Group has introduced a scheme which will help the owners of older vans. When an old van is traded in, Vauxhall will offer you savings on vans in their range of commercial vehicles such as the Vauxhall Vivaro van.

Vauxhall understand the importance of designing their vehicles with green credentials in mind and the Vauxhall Vivaro is no exception having won the UK Commercial Vehicle MPG Fuel Economy Marathon twice. The Vauxhall Vivaro vans are fitted with diesel engines that feature Start/Stop technology which improves fuel consumption and lowers emissions. This particular feature is ideal for driving in a city like London where you are more likely to spend precious time nose-to-tail in a traffic jam!

In addition to having the greenest engine in its class, the Vauxhall Vivaro is more than capable of transporting goods and equipment between and within cities. It has a variety of eco friendly engines including Vauxhall’s new ecoFLEX technology on offer with 1.9, 2.0 and 2.5 litre diesels and a 2.0 litre petrol engine. This new commercial ecoFlex range includes two new Luton-built Vivaro ecoFlex vans, a 2.0CDTi (90PS) and a 2.0CDTi (115PS), both with CO2 outputs of just 185g/km despite having payloads of up to 1254kg.

Bio
Peter works within sales for MW Vehicle Contracts, enjoys blogging and advising customers on their vehicle choices.

Modern cars are complex bits of technology, and they may require special parts or “genuine parts” for warranty purposes. There may also be a range of warranties, like statutory warranties, dealer warranties, and service warranties, to be considered.

All these things can impact on your choice of car service. Many car models have “authorized repairers”, etc., which can get a bit confusing when you’re not sure if your warranty requires it to be handled by a particular repairer.

Generally speaking, the statutory warranties take precedence over the commercial warranties. These warranties are required by law, and are supposed to be “rule books” for basic commercial work done for car servicing and repairs. It is possible, however, to void some warranties by getting work done which is outside their terms.

Checking your warranties
You need to be clear on your rights for warranty work, so it’s best to systematically check any warranties you may have or have been offered by a car dealer. There are three basic types of warranty which may relate to cars:

Statutory warranties: This is a basic warranty based on legislation. This warranty is the main guideline for your rights to warranty work on your purchase of goods or services, so it’s very important. The statutory warranty will cover refunds, compensation, repair and/or replacement for faulty goods or not suitable for the purpose they were bought, don’t match the advertised sample or have deficiencies. If you buy a car with defects, you have a prima facie right to compensation either by work being done on the vehicle to restore it or a refund.

Dealer warranties: These are commercial warranties. They’re given over and above the statutory warranty by car dealers. They apply to the specific purchase of a car and may vary depending on the dealer’s offer. They may relate to car repair or specific services at the dealer’s discretion.

Car service warranties: The warranty from your car service people is also a commercial warranty. It applies specifically to their parts and labour, not to any other warranty or guarantee in relation to the vehicle. The best car service companies provide a full warranty on all their labour and parts.

Getting help if you have difficulties with your warranty

There are several places you can get help if you’re having trouble getting warranty work done or refunds:
• The statutory regulator: The regulator can advise regarding your rights and suggest avenues of approach to enforce your rights.

• Statutory tribunals: Many warranty disputes can be resolved by the statutory regulators either by negotiation or arbitration.

• Legal advice: Some courts may provide free legal advice, or alternatively you can seek advice from a pro bono lawyer.

The basic rule is to know your rights and understand your entitlements. If you’re not sure, ask. You will get the answers you need.

Always compare prices and offerings
It’s so important that when you are choosing a rental car, you shop around. You want to make sure you are getting the best deal and with as many extras as possible. A great way to start looking for a car is to go online. A rental car comparison website must just be able to point you in the right direction, helping you to gather a number of quotes for what you want with a few clicks of your mouse.

What features do you want
Considering the features of the vehicle you will be hiring is especially important if you are renting it because you are on holiday in a different state. You want to make sure that the vehicle is suitable for the terrane you will be driving on. You need to think about things like if the tires may need chains where you will be going. Keep in mind the vehicles:

• Fuel efficiency.
• Comfort levels while driving.
• Entertainment options for kids in the back such as DVD players if you will be driving for lengthy periods of time.

How much space will you need
You need to carefully think about how much space you will need in the vehicle. If you will be carrying luggage and sporting equipment with you, keep this in mind. The last thing you want is to have everyone crammed in tightly for the entire holiday, uncomfortable because of the vehicle you rented. Always better to have too much space than not enough.

Added safety extras
If you have children riding with you, enquire about the suitable child restraints for their age. These are actually a legal requirement. You may even want to bring your own and install it in the rental car if you are unsure.

Check the car before driving away
Always make sure that you do a thorough check over of the car before you drive away. Make sure you know that everything is working correctly and check for any prior damages to the car.

Earn points
Many car rental companies offer frequent flyer points when you hire a vehicle through the Qantas Frequent Flyer Program, Virgin Velocity, Air New Zealand AirPoints and FlyBuys Points. Take advantage of these extra perks when you are renting your vehicle.

Whether you are looking at the different options for car hire melbourne has to offer or are deciding on what car will best suit your needs, I hope our list of tips on how to choose a rental vehicle has given you some hints that will help you decide on what car is best to rent for your transport requirements.

The best way to find a good repairer with reliable costs and upfront quotes is to do some shopping around before you need help. It’s just too expensive and too uneconomic to be guessing about your costs. Running a car is expensive enough as it is, without unknown extra costs added.

Defining what you need in car repairs
The most effective way to find anything is to define exactly what you’re looking for before you start.
For motorists, the list of basic needs is pretty straightforward:

• Local service: This is a natural requirement, saving costs and time. It’s much more convenient, and it’s also better economically, reducing the need to reshuffle your life to get your car serviced.

• Top quality parts and service: There shouldn’t be any reason to worry that your car is being repaired with the serviceman’s collection of antique car parts or “interesting” foreign components. The only standard is the industry standard, and anything else isn’t good enough.

• Upfront quotes for work, parts and charges: This is best practice, and it’s also a reasonable consumer demand. The cost should be disclosed upfront, before work is undertaken. It’s not really acceptable to expect consumers to simple agree to pay anything and everything in the way of charges that someone feels like putting on a bill.

• Guarantees of service on time: The usual curse of car repairs is the time frame. The tired old scenario of “Guess when the car will be ready” is ridiculous in this day and age.

• No charges for travel time: Efficiency also means no dubious charges like travel time or extras. These charges are rip-offs in any sense of the word, and they’re also avoidable.

• Service quality: The best car repair services provide excellent quality service on a routine basis.

Finding the right car repair service
Finding the best service can be quite easy. The best car repair services are the major companies. Those who also provide mobile car repair are often the best of the lot. They can provide fast on-road service and are extremely well-organized.

The most important features of these services are:

• Scheduling: This is one of the most important parts of any type of car servicing, and whether the repairs are minor or major, the schedule is a sign of real efficiency. The best service companies don’t guess, they schedule, and they deliver on time.

• Brand name service: This can be very important for warranty purposes, and it’s also important for ensuring that the work is appropriate for the car model. That can be the difference between a running car and total immobility, so it’s worth considering.

Check out your local franchise car repair service, and ask a few questions based on the points above. Good car service is only a phone call away.

Tail-gating. Are you one of those people who drives along the highway too close to others, and seems to think that you are not going to cause an accident? Can you predict if the car in front of you is going to suddenly stop. Why do we always see a number of cars involved in an accident on a highway? Because everyone was driving too close. You should at least use the 2 second rule, and why not a little more? If someone is tail-gating you, you might only see their car in the rear vision mirror and nothing else. This is also particularly dangerous. If you are subject to such and annoying and dangerous driver, you are better off slowing down, as they are already the impatient type, and letting them pass. Speeding up is not an option. Tail-gating is a major cause of accidents and is all too common on our roads. Avoid it at all cost.

Rage. If you are going to play music when you drive, it might not be a good idea to be listening to hard-core heavy metal or other music that will increase your motivation. WE are all affected by the sounds that we hear, and there is more likely the chance that you will become irritated if you are listen to sounds and music that have a high beat per minute. Safe driving is also about controlling your emotion. Note that all of your car insurance quotes did not have cover for road rage for a reason.

Tunnel Vision. After a long day at the office or hours in meetings, we are all driving home in a state of daze. You might want to make sure that you have had a little rest after staring into that laptop all day. Keeping your eyes moving when you are driving is extremely important. Tunnel vision is very dangerous. Moving your eyes from close to look far ahead (especially when going around corners) and checking your rear vision mirror will stop your eyes and mind from slipping into tunnel vision.

Mood. The old saying is, “Less haste, more speed”. The less that you rush, the faster you will get there. Controlling your mood and your mind can be very important. Is it really that things on the road went all your way today, or is it just that you think that it is so? It is more likely the latter is true. Keeping a good mood, and having a little patience, will not only have better effect on your car and definitely less fuel and brake consumption, you might actually get there are little faster. Time and perception are often related in ways that we don’t understand. A calmer approach is just plain safer. If you have just had a fight with your partner or work colleague, you might want to wait a little before driving.

Aids. If you have to drive long distances, or you just like to have something to keep you feeling good, little things can go a long way. Your favourite peppermint chewing gum might have a few sugars that keep you feeling good, and the taste might just be improving your mood.

Cool, calm and calculating – what you need when you drive.