Car Articles

The most common form of fuels today come from fossilized deposits found deep in the earth - including petroleum, natural gas and coal. Some geologists believe fossil fuels are running out, and some environmentalists believe their use is contributing to global warming. Renewable fuels come from resources that can be re-grown, or remade from other materials or harvested by other means. They fall into several categories. There are bio-fuels, such as corn-based ethanol, which come from renewable stocks and which may be burned in the same engines and furnaces as petro-fuels or coal. Other renewables, including wind, solar, wave and geothermal power, can be tapped to generate electricity. Costs are generally higher than traditional fuels, but have been steadily declining as they go into more widespread usage.

The typical car tyre is responsible for using about 20 percent of the energy consumed by an automobile. A key determinant of a tyre's contribution to total energy use is its rolling resistance. This is the friction caused by the flexing of the tyre as it turns and deforms under load. Factors such as size, tread pattern and inflation all directly impact rolling resistance, as do the compounds used in the tyre. New materials, such as silica, can significantly reduce rolling resistance and improve mileage.

Series hybrid is the form of hybrid where the wheels are driven by only the electric motors. The onboard petrol engine is used to either charge the hybrid's batteries or to send electric current to the motors. Though not currently used by any manufacturer, the series approach has some potential advantages. Among other things, the petrol engine can be run at a steadier, optimized speed, reducing both fuel consumption and emissions.

A capacity is an electronic component designed to hold an electrical charge. Unlike a battery, it does not require a chemical process to get charged or discharged. Small capacitors are found in almost every electronic device, from primitive tube radios to laptop computers, but researchers are working to develop oversized ultracapacitors that can store as much or more energy than a conventional battery. These devices can charge and discharge quite rapidly, a particular advantage in automotive applications. Honda is using an ultracapacitor as an alternative to batteries in its FCX fuel cell automobiles.