News and other tidbits that Chad Cloman finds interesting enough to share
Here’s a neat tip—store a spare car key underneath your license plate, using one of the license plate screws to secure it. Sounds better than those magnetic holders.
Link: http://consumerist.com/…
Did you know that US tire dealers can sell “new” tires that are over 6 years old? The linked article tells how an informed consumer can avoid this situation.
Link: http://consumerist.com/…
Researchers have discovered that people who put bumper stickers on their cars, regardless of topic, tend to drive more aggressively and use their vehicles to express rage. This also applies to decals and personalized license plates
Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/…
(via digg)
Some tips on what and what not to do when you’re pulled over by the police.
Link: http://www.caranddriver.com/…
(via digg)
In an update to this Chad’s News post, it turns out there can be serious problems with cars that run on grease, vegetable oil, and other biofuels. The problems are not mechanical or technical; rather, they have to do with legal and regulatory issues (at least in California).
Link: http://www.latimes.com/…
(via Neatorama)
When running on electric only, hybrid cars are silent. This turns out to be a safety problem for people (both blind and sighted) who use their ears to identify moving automobiles.
Link: http://ap.google.com/…
I thought the condo I once bought was overpriced. Little did I know…
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/…
(via digg)
The perfect city car, powered by compressed air, with a range of 125 miles and a top speed of 68 MPH. Looks like they won’t be sold in the US, but let’s hope the technology makes it here eventually.
Thanks to Josh for this topic.
According to the AAA, the number one gas waster in America is under-inflated tires. My mileage has increased by about 2 MPG since I started regularly checking my tire pressure, saving me about $4.00 each time I fill up.
The official mileage estimates for hybrid vehicles, long known to be too high, have been reduced. The Toyota Prius, for example, had its city mileage drop from 60 to 48 MPG.
Link: http://www.wired.com/…
(via digg)
Ethanol is being touted as an alternative fuel because it emits less greenhouse gases than gasoline. Unfortunately, all is not wonderful in ethanol land. A recent study found that the overall health effects of ethanol would be slightly worse than gasoline, because ethanol exhaust has increased amounts of ozone—which contributes to smog and kills people with respiratory problems.
So while ethanol would free Americans from the oil tyranny of the Middle East and would reduce greenhouse gas emissions (thus saving coastal cities from flooding), its health benefits are actually worse.
Link: http://www.iht.com/…
(via digg)
Link #2: http://news.bbc.co.uk/…
This modified PT Cruiser is one of the neatest cars I’ve seen. I want one!
Link: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/…
(via Neatorama)
