Archive for August, 2009
V2v – Lets Get Our Cars Talking To Each Other
Since 2005 General Motors has been testing a technology it calls vehicletovehicle V2V communication. Others refer to the idea as dedicated short range communications DSRC for short or cartocar safety networking. The idea is to replace all the multiple sensing systems that are cropping up in modern automobiles for such safety functions as lane awareness and driver alertness with a single comprehensive system that will analyze data and deliver warnings not just from the car youre driving but potentially from the cars around you as well.
A car equipped with a GPS receiver like that present in GMs own OnStar system; a shortrange 5.4 GHz radio; and a connection to the braking system is well on its way to realizing V2V capability. Such a system with a healthy dose of computing power added could take over for long range scanners controlling adaptive cruise control vision sensors scanning forward of the car for objects blind spot monitoring and lane change assistance.
Some of the earliest test drives with V2V systems under development by GM were in Cadillacs with a trunk load of equipment as many as four separate computers handling GPS positioning and wireless communication. But by the time V2V becomes a functional reality with an effective distance of 2.5 meters in the next 5 to 7 years by GMs estimates all functionality could be reduced to a single chip constantly sending information about the vehicles position and direction of travel.
Warnings sent to the driver are handled by visual cues on the dash and in the mirrors auditory warning alerts and even seat vibrations. For instance a potential problem to the left or right of the vehicle might cause the corresponding side of the drivers seat to vibrate a system that might seem annoying or even ludicrous on first blush but one that quickly becomes integrated into the drivers perception of whats going on with the car and its surroundings.
Although initial functionality will deliver the most obvious information about obstacles in the cars blind spots a dangerous degree of proximity and similar situations the sky is the limit when two cars start sharing information. The car in front of you for instance might blink its tail lights to say Hey youre getting too close. Transponders embedded in the pavement could signal vehicles to slow down as they approach dangerous intersections or deliver information about the status of stop lights to aid with traffic flow.
As a leader in the field of vehicle telematics GM is working to incorporate V2V as a comprehensive sensing and communications system. Obviously the greatest initial hurdle to the effectiveness of the system will be infrastructure. The more cars that incorporate V2V the more useful it will become performing functions undreamed of in the world of passive safety functions. According to GMs figures approximately 800000 blind spot accidents occur each year. Theyd like to take that down to zero by making cars not only more selfaware but more social sharing vital data vehicle to vehicle.
About the writer: You wanted one in the Sixties but your Dad said they were for hippies. That was forty years ago and now the Volkswagen Beetle is for everyone and it’s better and hipper than ever.
Useful Fuel Saving Tips To Improve Gas Mileage
With oil prices reaching record prices saving gas is now more important than ever before. You don’t have to throw away your car in favor of a bicycle if you follow these simple fuel saving tips to improve your gas mileage.
Keep That Tank Full:
Some people may wince at the idea of paying top dollar for a full tank of gas but you actually save a lot more gasoline if you spare the extra money to load a full tank. A full tank means that you take less trips to a gas station. Many latemodel cars also operate more efficiently with a full tank of gas. While you may end up saving pennies for every gas station trip the value all adds up per gallon.
Maintain Your Engine:
Old and dirty engines use up more fuel than clean engines. A lot of fuel is lost and wasted because of the debris that clogs up the engine. Excess heat can also contribute to fuel inefficiency because the substances in gasoline can decompose because of high temperatures. If your engine is caked with a lot of dirt and debris you need to pour on some engine degreaser to loosen up and remove the dirt and debris baked into the engine block.
Don’t Floor The Pedal:
Having a heavy foot on the accelerator will waste a lot of fuel. Unless you drive an old car and you have to floor the gas pedal to get a response it’s best to keep a light foot on the accelerator. There are times that you need to floor the gas pedal especially if you’re moving out of a sharp curve. The trick is to keep very light pressure on the gas pedal just enough to feed a steady amount of fuel to the engine. Only push the pedal to the metal when you need it.
Take Advantage of Water for Fuel Technology:
Using hybrid water technology is simply operating your vehicle using gas and water as a source of fuel. This can be done by using a device that coverts water to energy with the help of your car battery. The car battery acts as a conductor that electrolyze the water that produces a gas called “HHO” which then produces the energy to operate your car. You can improve fuel efficiency by 50 using this type of technology.
About the writer: To learn more about water for gas technology and how you can build your own water for gas powered car visit my How To Run Your Car On Water blog.
Useful Advice For Buying A Used Car
So you’re looking to sell you’re used car? Maybe you have an old junk car to get rid of or maybe you’re replacing it with another used or new car. Well before you get started on selling your new car here are some tips to consider. You want to be sure that you are doing everything by the book so that you get the best deal and so that you can protect yourself and your car from buyers coming to look at your car. Some times prospective buyers are not so nice you need to prepared to handle anything It is best to keep yourself calm and clear header when selling your car. There is a lot to discuss and a lot of negations they may go down so keep yourself calm and cool.
Prepare yourself for possible frustration when selling your car. Selling a car like any big sell is not always easy. There are many factors that can make this a irritating experience. You need to be prepared to deal with any challenges so that you do not have any problems later on. Many cars can take weeks or months to sale. Prepare for a long sales period. Be sure that you can afford having a car on sale for a long period. Rushing the sale may result in the loss of serious profit because you sold to the wrong buyer.
You also need to decide what firm price you want on the car. If there is an amount you do not want to drop below keep that in mind. Many buyers with try to get the price to come down. And be confident in your position because you do not want to fold when a buy tries to talk you into a lower price. Be willing to walk away from any deal if it does not fulfill your needs.
One more quick tip is to leave a phone number and price on the car at all times. People passing buy or driving by while you’re unavailable are able to see the car and call you later if they’re interested. Advertising the price upfront will save you and others time but being clean what your price expectations. You don’t want an army of callers who hang up the moment you disclose the price. It will also make negations easier by being clear about the price upfront.
I hope these quick tips will help you get the right attitude when selling your car. Selling a used car can be a struggle but these simple tips will help you sell your used can and fell good about it.
About the writer: Justin Briggs runs a blog about Nashville Used Cars where gives advice to those looking to buy used cars in Nashville.