Walk into a Wal-Mart in the not-too-distant future and among the thousands of products for sale will be an electric car. It will not be a remote control car, a golf cart or a little scooter to help granny cruise the aisles. The battery-powered automobile will look every bit like a MINI Cooper. This is because it will be a MINI Cooper, just with a powerful electric motor under the hood and a stack of lithium batteries where the gas tank used to be. Read Full ArticleAt a cost of $35,000, the all-electric smart car will be more than twice the price of the recently Americanized Fuel version. News source: Editorial Autos

HOUSTON – Energy company Exxon Mobil said Wednesday it will present technology next month aimed at improving the efficiency and affordability of electronic and hybrid automobiles.The company said it has co developed new film technology with Japanese affiliate Tonen Chemical that could allow lithium-ion batteries to be used in vehicles.Lithium-ion batteries are currently used in cell phones, laptop computers and other consumer electronics, however, several auto makers are working to adapt them to vehicles. The most widely sold gas-electric hybrid car, Toyota Motor Corp. (nyse: TM – news – people )’s Prius, uses a nickel-metal hydride battery.Exxon said it is working with battery manufacturers to adapt the technology for use vehicles. The company is scheduled to present the technology at the Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exposition in Anaheim, Calif. in the first week of December.Shares of Exxon Mobil (nyse: XOM – news – people ) rose 81 cents to $87.19 in morning trading. News source: Forbes

When metals such as tin, zinc and cadmium are placed under mechanical stress, one way the stress is relieved is by the sprouting of tiny threads or sticks of metal called whiskers. The whiskers are thinner than a human hair and can “grow” over a period of months or years at a rate of up to a millimeter a year. Most are less than a millimeter in length. The distance between electronic components is often very small. The gaps may be small enough for the tiny whiskers to bridge them and cause unintentional shorts and equipment failures. At frequencies above 6GHz or in fast digital circuits, the whiskers also can act as miniature antennas, affecting the circuit impedance and causing reflections. The whisker problem was first identified in the late 1940s, and soon after it was determined that adding lead to tin plating and solder mitigated the issue. Until fairly recently, the standard solder mixture for electronics work was 60% tin and 40% lead. Other ingredients have also been added to the alloy for specific purposes, like the rosin placed in some solders to remove impurities from the solder joint while soldering. Despite its advantageous properties, lead has also been linked to serious health concerns. Consequently, efforts have been made to remove lead from as many products as possible, including solder. But until a suitable substitute for lead is developed, problems with solder whiskers are likely to continue. In the aerospace industry, whiskers have grown in pure tin-plated electromagnetic relays, with expensive results. In one example, both the primary and backup processors on the $250 million Galaxy IV geostationary communications satellite were rendered inoperative by whisker growth. The satellite was responsible for carrying millions of pager signals, as well as the broadcast feeds for the NPR and CBS networks, and had been in service for only a few years when it failed in 1998. Millions of tin whiskers were found during an inspection of the space shuttle Endeavor , due to the use of pure tin-coated clamps to hold circuit boards in place. The electronics were made in the 1980s, before NASA adopted its current rule requiring a small amount of lead in its tin coatings. A chronicle of documented tin whisker-induced failures can be found on the NASA website at [url”>http://nepp.nasa.gov/whisker/failures/index.htm . In 2003, the EU enacted a directive called Reduction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS), which stated that by 2006, most electronic products made or sold within the EU could not contain more than a very small amount of lead, cadmium, mercury and a few other hazardous chemicals. Similar measures are being considered or are already in place in other countries, including Japan , China , South Korea , Argentina , Australia and the United States . Due to the high cost of maintaining separate production lines, many electronics manufacturers have already gone lead-free and converted to producing RoHS-compliant materials. So even though the U.S. has not instituted a policy concerning lead or other hazardous chemicals in electronic components, it may soon become difficult to purchase solder and other electronic components containing lead. The only commonly available RoHS-compliant solder contains about 96% tin and 2% silver, and costs about 50% more than lead-bearing solder. It’s not known whether solder joints made with RoHS-compliant solder will suffer from whisker growth problems. Consider the current uncertainties regarding the future of lead in solder in this country, then review the comparison of crimped vs. soldered electrical connections in last month’s column. After that, I hope you’ll be convinced that crimped electrical connections are the way to go in the majority of automotive situations. News source: Motor

Did you know that how much air you have in your tires can have a direct affect on your gas mileage? It’s true. Here’s why:Let’s say your tires are supposed to be filled to 35 psi. If they are filled correctly, six square inches of your tire are touching the road, just the way your tires were designed. But let some air out, and now the pressure is only 30 psi. Since your tire is like a balloon, the more air you have on the inside, the rounder and more firm your tire becomes. If you had six square inches touching the road at 35 psi, the flatter 30 psi tire will have eight square inches touching at once, making it harder for your engine to get things rolling from a dead stop. Here’s another way to think of it. Say your dog is going to the vet, and she’s not so interested in moving toward the car, so you pull. Gas MileageYou start out pulling her with all four of her feet on the ground. We’ll call this four square inches touching. But then she plops her rear end on the ground. You’re now pulling 12 square inches, and boy is she harder to drag toward the car. Unfortunately you can’t dangle a piece of salami in front of your car to make it go, so you’re left using the engine, which uses more gas the harder it pulls. Filling your tires to the correct pressure will make it easire on the engine, and that means you’ll be using less gas. It can make a difference of a three or four miles per gallon. That’s at least 36 more miles to the average tank of gas. At one tank of gas per week, you could be adding 1,872 free miles in a year! That’s savings, and that’s Autmotive Empowerment for no money at all. News source: About Auto Repair

Just when you think you can’t stand to hear another luddite auto mechanic gripe about technology destroying the independent auto repair industry, somebody like Carolyn Coquillette comes along and busts it all to … well, you know. Carolyn saw an opportunity in the boom of hybrid automobiles and, throwing caution and her physics degree to the wind, decided to dive into the auto repair industry. Now she’s launched San Francisco’s Luscious Garage, which as far as we know is the only all-hybrid repair facility in the country. More than just a novelty with a catchy name, Luscious Garage (or “LG” as they like to call it in the hood) caters to the special needs of hybrid owners. In addition to scheduled maintenance and repairs, they can perform a number of “hacks” to the vehicles’ computer systems, most of them aimed at the hugely popular Toyota Prius. Since so much of the Prius is computer controlled, LG can perform modifications of taste and convenience, like eliminating the irritating reverse warning beep. As the number of hybrid vehicles continues to grow, expect to see more specialty repair shops opening up across the country. Carolyn and LG get props for being there first. News source: Auto Repair About

Despite the proliferation of signs in various repair shops urging customers to have their engines cleaned, the practice can actually leave car owners in hot water, said Jeffrey Boone, approved auto repair specialist, Towson office of AAA Mid-Atlantic, headquartered in Wilmington, Del.“That can be very dangerous,” Boone said. “There are certain places in a car engine that will let water in but it won’t let it out.”It’s also not a good practice to attempt a do-it-yourself engine cleaning. Most engines don’t need to be cleaned, Boone said. As most people know, modern cars are controlled mainly by computers within their engines. The computers can be damaged by water.“If somebody doesn’t know what they are doing [when cleaning an engine”>, that can be very dangerous,” Boone’s colleague Ed Kriston said.However, there are some situations in which cleaning an auto engine is a good idea. One is when an engine has a leak that allowed oil and dust to cake on. Cleaning the engine will allow it to run cooler, Kriston said.But again, it’s foolhardy for laypeople to attempt to clean the engine themselves. Certified technicians who properly clean engines use special cleaners and generally rinse the car’s engine with a gentle spray. Another reason to use a qualified technician for such cleaning is to protect the environment. Not only will the wash consist of mainly recycled water, which has been filtered, but it also will keep oil in a separate canister for proper disposal News source: Examiner

Pulling into the gas station, you feel a little pang in your stomach – this fill-up is gonna cost about $40.With gas prices staying above $2.50 per gallon, a lot of drivers are looking for ways to squeeze every last cent out of each gallon of gas they buy. These tips from Miami Valley mechanics and fueleconomy.org will help:1. Check your tire pressure. “Tire inflation is critical,” said David Schnieder, owner of Dare Automotive Specialists in Dayton. “Inflate the tires to 10 percent below the maximum air pressure given on the side of the tire.” For example, if the maximum pressure on the side of the tire says 44, the air pressure should be 40.2. Check filters and systems. “A fuel system cleaning will clear up the fuel passages and gets carbon buildup out. This lets fuel burn cleaner and easier,” said Alan Tackett, part-owner of Preferred Car Care in Springfield.3. Think aerodynamically. “When you have the air on, keep the windows up because of the aerodynamics of the car,” Schnieder said. The car was designed to have the air travel around it and having the windows down creates a pull and slows down your car.4. Condense your trips. Try combining as many trips as you can, according to fueleconomy.gov. Visit the grocery, mall and gym in one trip. You’ll save gas and time.5. Keep your car tuned-up. Keeping your vehicle in top condition – changing the spark plugs, air filters and other parts when recommended – will make your car run better, Brooks said. “When everything is working right, that is when your car is at its top performance, and that is when it gets better gas mileage.”6. Buy a new car. If you are in the market for a new car, go for a fuel-efficient model.If you’re in the market for a new car, look for one that gets good gas mileage in a brand that you like, Neely said.Hybrid cars will save you gas, but may not save you much money, Neely said. “They are nice and get better gas mileage, but they are expensive.” If you drive a lot, you’ll most likely benefit from the hybrid, but if your driving habits are typical, then the extra cost of the car won’t payoff in the long run, he said.7. Use good gas. “Stay away from fuel containing any alcohol. It takes twice as much alcohol as gas to run a car,” Schnieder said.”Run the right gas. If you need octane 89, use octane 89. Just go by what the manufacturer says,” Brooks said.”Another thing that will help is using quality Fuel,” said Greg Reffitt, owner of Reffitt’s Auto Repair in Hamilton. “You may pay a bit more for it, but you will save money by getting better gas mileage.”8. Don’t speed. According to fueleconomy.gov, following the speed limit will increase your gas mileage. Each vehicle reaches its best fuel economy at different speeds, but the average is 55-60 mph. Going over that will decrease your gas mileage. For example, every five miles over 60 mph you go adds about 20 cents to the price of a gallon of gas.Also, be a more careful, less aggressive driver. Speeding, braking quickly and rapid acceleration will waste gas. You can lose up to 33 percent of the gas mileage at highway speeds and about 5 percent of the mileage in town.9. Lighten the load. Any extra weight will reduce your gas mileage, according to fueleconomy.gov. For every 100 pounds of extra weight in your vehicle, your gas mileage is reduced by about 2 percent. This affects smaller cars more than larger vehicles, but any extra weight can change the mileage.10. Watch the idling. Whether or not it wastes gas to idle your car depends on if it is fuel injected or carbureted, Coldwell said. The newer cars are fuel injected so shutting off the car and starting the car doesn’t waste much gas because it’s pulled directly from the tank. When the car is in idle you are using gas but getting zero miles to the gallon – therefore wasting gas. Drivers with fuel-injected cars should shut their car off instead of idling.However, carbureted cars are different. If you are just going to be sitting for a short time, then it’s OK to leave the car on, because more gas would be wasted by turning it on and off, Coldwell said. News source: Dayton Daily News

DETROIT – General Motors Corp. says it is testing a new combustion process that could increase fuel economy in conventional engines by up to 15 percent.The announcement comes as fuel economy has become a increasingly important issue as Fuel prices have risen. Foreign automakers have captured a bigger share of the U.S. market in part by emphasizing fuel efficiency.The process GM is testing, called homogeneous charge compression ignition, approaches the fuel efficiency of a diesel engine without the need for advanced pollution controls, the company said in a statement.It is being tested in two drivable concept vehicles, a Saturn Aura and an Opel Vectra, and was to be shown to reporters Friday at GM’s proving ground in Milford.The process ignites an air-fuel mixture in the cylinders by compressing it, producing a low-temperature, flameless energy release in the combustion chamber, the company said. Since all the fuel in the combustion chamber is burned at the same time, the engine uses less fuel to produce power that is similar to conventional engines.The company gave no estimate of when the technology might come to market, but said it still needs to work on controlling the combustion process.”Additional development costs, including research and testing programs, are required to make the technology ready for the great variety of driving conditions that customers experience,” Uwe Grebe, executive director for GM’s powertrain advanced engineering, said in a statement. News source: Forbes

One aspect of car maintenance that hasn’t changed since the Model T is finally getting a breath of fresh air.A handful of area tire shops now inflate car and truck tires with nitrogen instead of compressed air.It keeps tires inflated longer, makes them last longer and promotes fuel efficiency, says Jerry Haynes, owner of City Tire & Auto Repair in Logan and Williamson. “With nitrogen, you get more consistent air pressure because of nitrogen’s larger molecules,” says Haynes, whose tire shops have been selling nitrogen for tires for about a year. Because it’s bigger, nitrogen seeps through tires and any other permeable surface about four times more slowly than compressed air, he said.“More consistent air pressure means the tires don’t wear as much, they roll easier and save fuel,” he said. Fuel efficiency comes into play because cars and trucks get the best gas mileage when tires are fully inflated. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.4 percent for every drop of 1 pound per square inch in pressure in all four tires. Nitrogen is a colorless, odorless gas that makes up about 78 percent of the air we breathe. It’s just as safe to use for inflating tires as compressed air; in fact, it’s safer, Haynes says.Using nitrogen guards against tire belt separation, which has been blamed for countless tire recalls over the past few years, by helping prevent the corrosion caused by airborne moisture, Haynes said.“When you pump in regular air, you’re also pumping in humidity,” he said. “The moisture deposits on steel belts and leads to corrosion.”Drivers are hearing more and more about inflating with nitrogen because NASCAR racers and commercial airlines now use it, as does Russell Corp., maker of the Spalding Never Flat basketball. News source: WV Gazette “We’ve been seeing quite a lot of cars and light trucks, but it’s mostly car enthusiasts,” says Ron Thomas, co-owner of Thomas Tire Service in (fittingly enough) Nitro. “We see a lot of Corvettes and sports cars.”Thomas Tire has been dispensing nitrogen for about 10 months, and the shop gets about five to 10 fill-up customers a week. Each of Haynes’ City Tire shops draws 30 to 40 customers a month asking to have all four of their vehicle’s tires filled, Haynes said. A nitrogen fill-up is much the same as air fill-ups, except air-filled tires must be completely deflated first to purge all the air.Both Haynes’ shops and Thomas’ charge $5 per tire, and both dispense from nitrogen generators costing about $6,000. Suppliers can also buy nitrogen ready to pump from distributors like Airgas Inc.Some new cars and trucks – including Chevrolet’s Tahoe sport utility vehicle – are shipping from the factory with nitrogen-filled tires, Thomas said. And most new models now come equipped with tire-air-pressure sensors that light up on the dashboard, he said. The annoyance of the sensors may well get many drivers to switch to nitrogen too, Thomas said.“I think you’ll see a lot more of it,” he said.

Toyota Motor’s Hybrid Prius is a big success. In June, the company sold 17,756 of these cars, bringing sales to 94,503 units for the first half of the year. The Prius is a winner; but that’s not the case for Toyota’s (nyse: TM – news – people )other hybrids. Prius accounts for two-thirds of Toyota’s sales volume in hybrids, even though the company makes five other hybrid vehicles, three of which it sells under its luxury Lexus brand. Honda Motor (nyse: HMC – news – people ), one of the pioneers in hybrid technology, recently announced that it was dropping its Accord hybrid. Its Civic hybrid six-month sales, which equal 17,141, are fewer than Prius sales for the month of June alone. Other manufacturers’ hybrids have not been big sellers, either. Ford Motor (nyse: F – news – people ) has sold only 11,444 of its Escape sport utility hybrids in six months, and only 2,028 of the Mercury Mariner version. Nissan’s (nasdaq: NSANY – news – people ) hybrid Altima sedan is a half-hearted effort, as it is not even distributed nationally. News source: Forbes Besides fuel economy, people buy hybrids to make a social statement about energy and the environment. It does not hurt that the Environmental Protection Agency rates the Prius at 48 miles per gallon in the city, 45 on the highway. Yet I think that the major factor behind the success of the Prius is that it looks like nothing else on the road. All the other hybrids on the market, such as the Toyota Camry hybrid, cost thousands of extra dollars, and yet look almost identical to non-hybrid models bearing the same nameplate.The Prius is a small car, similar in capacity to Toyota’s conventional little sedan, the Corolla. The hybrid Prius costs $8,000 more than a Corolla, but since the two vehicles look different, consumers shop one against the other. Even with Fuel at more than $3 per gallon, consumers have a hard time justifying paying an extra $2,000 to $4,000 more than they’d pay for the similar-looking vehicle sitting across the showroom.This fall, GM and Chrysler will offer their new hybrid technology–different from Toyota’s–in full-size SUVs. I do not know what the add-on price will be. My guess is $3,000 to $5,000 for the hybrid Tahoe or Durango. Again, these vehicles will be more efficient, but will look just like the non-hybrid versions; I am not sure how many people will be willing to pay the extra price.Honda’s hybrid-only small car, the Insight two-seater, was a total flop–the company pulled it from the U.S. market. The company is working on a design for a unique hybrid model about the size of a conventional sedan. This car should arrive in a couple of years, at which point we will get a better idea if the Toyota’s design strategy with the Prius is what consumers want.The best chance for serious growth for hybrids may be the “plug-in” hybrid, a car that runs modest distances on batteries alone and can recharge those batteries off the power grid. The problem, so far, is finding batteries that will do the job.While Toyota loves hybrids, and intends to have a hybrid version of almost everything it builds, the remainder of the industry, even Honda, is not as enthusiastic. Several manufacturers are dabbling with hybrids, but they are also covering their bets with diesels and other technologies.The Detroit three (General Motors (nyse: GM – news – people ), Ford and DaimlerChrysler (nyse: DCX – news – people )), for example, all promise to put diesels in their regular pickup trucks within three years. If they work well, it is hard to see why diesels, which can provide a 25% increase in fuel economy over Fuel motors, would not be viable in larger SUVs.GM has just said it will have diesel offerings in a few passenger cars, including a Cadillac and a Saturn, by 2010. One concern: The diesel option could be costly if companies build the motors abroad and import them.At about the same time, Honda says it will start selling a small car in the U.S. with a four-cylinder diesel. Also tantalizing is Honda’s claim that its new diesel will not need costly emissions-control equipment, which has been one of the problems holding back the expansion of diesels in the U.S. market.Ford talks about twin turbo additions to Fuel engines that will give them diesel-like fuel economy. This is “now” technology, not something in the distant future, such as hydrogen-powered fuel cells.Of course, another way to save fuel is to make cars smaller and lighter, regardless of the power-train technology. Detroit has always connected small with cheap. But richer people, it may turn out, are willing to pay a higher price for a car with great fuel economy, even if it is small. Examples are the Prius and the Mini.Going small would mark a significant change in America’s car thinking here, if it is indeed happening. Our tradition always has been “bigger is better.” What does seem certain is that the most common hybrid approach, converting a standard vehicle by adding fancy batteries and an electric motor, creates even less excitement than the minivan did.