First Greece, eventually America, unless we act today It’s time to take today by the horns Since this morning I’ve read On Debt, Death, Taxes and Temperatures , the latest Dot Earth post on the New York Times, at least 3 times, wondering why exactly I’m so intrigued. I’m still not entirely sure, but I’m starting to believe that a possible zeitgeist is forming. Actually, it’s been forming for some time. President Barack Obama’s election, for instance, was a taste of this zeitgeist. Sadly, the President has been unable to be a real leader of this zeitgeist, of change. Instead of leading America, the President has mostly remained the leader of the Democratic Party. It’s still politics as usual. While that’s not the President’s fault, it’s not real change either. Unfortunately, politics as usual has resulted in most of the major problems in the US today. For decades — probably forever — most politicians have kicked the can down the road on tough issues, choosing reelection over the truth, over reality. Yet, with the US economy unraveling as once mighty European countries struggle with extreme austerity programs, it’s still politics as usual in the US. “Can the political wrangling in Washington now meaningfully torque the country from a mindset seemingly framed around maintaining entitlements, be they unrealistically fluffy retirement cushions or low tax rates and energy prices,” asks Dot Earth’s Andrew Revkin. “Signs are not promising, given the tendency to play the game as if saddling the other side with blame for failure is the main goal.” Politics as usual. But, can the world afford politics as usual? It’s not just the fact that the world’s advanced countries have kicked the can so far down the road, it’s the massive population explosion occurring across the planet. If the world is having so many problems today, with all the resources we now have, what happens when the world’s population doubles in the next few decades? Is it logical to assume that things will only get better? Insanity, right? This decade alone, for instance, China might double its auto sales. That’s like adding another US in terms of fuel consumption...

A step towards less range anxiety Charging stations every 40 – 60 miles The state of Washington will add a series of electric charging stations along its portion of Interstate 5, the key west coast highway, to alleviate range anxiety issues with electric cars . And eventually, this green highway will extend from California to Mexico. Charging stations will be placed every 40 – 60 miles along the highway as part of the EV Project, a federal program to increase EV infrastructure. Using AeroVironment quick chargers, electric drivers will be able to recharge their vehicles in 30 minutes, although a low cost-charging option will also be available that can recharge in 4 – 6 hours. Source: MotorTrend Read more here:  Washington to convert I-5 to electric highway, will eventually connect Mexico to Canada

Filed under: Latest News The level of tax attached to petrol prices is “highway robbery” according to the Institute of Advanced Motorists. A report from the IAM, Motoring taxation and public spending, declares that 62 percent of the cost of fuel is made up by tax, with only 38 pence in the pound actually going towards the petrol or diesel. However, despite road users paying £43,885m in taxes and road duty in 2007-2008, just £12,752m was spent on the roads and local public transport – less than a third. Despite this large spend from road users, the government has spent more on the rail infrastructure than the roads, with just £4,807m going on the roads in 2008 against £5,567m heading to the railways. IAM director of policy and research Neil Greig said: “Using so little of the taxes motorists pay on road upkeep is plainly unfair. Motorists are also paying the price as Britain’s potholed and increasingly dangerous roads take their toll, damaging tyres, wheels, steering and suspension. “Cuts are clearly going to have an impact on transport investment, but as more roads become more potholed and dangerous, spending on infrastructure now will save money in the long-term.”   Read the original post: Fuel tax is "highway robbery" View original here:  Fuel tax is "highway robbery"

Filed under: Latest News Portable toilets are risky places at public events – those at music festivals are legendary, while the conveniences at major motorsport meetings are not too pleasant either. But there was another reason for being glad you weren’t inside one of the movable potties at the Nurburgring this weekend for the GT Masters series race, as a BMW Alpina flew towards and over the barriers, taking out the toilet on the way. Thankfully the empty toilet was all that suffered in the high-speed crash, as both 22-year-old driver Alex Plenagl and the marshals were reported to be fine. Check out the video below.   Read more from the original source: Racer flies over barrier to take out portaloo Go here to read the rest:  Racer flies over barrier to take out portaloo

With India’s population set to overtake China’s by 2030, the Government is looking for ways to trim the country’s birth rate. As such, authorities in Rajasthan created an outlandish competition that gives neutered patients a chance to win a Tata Nano city-car, food blender’s, televisions, and more. “The prizes include a Nano car, five motorcycles, five 21″ colour TVs and seven mixer-grinders. “The aim is to encourage sterilisation in the district,” said Jhunjhunu CMO Sitaram Sharma. Provisional Census 2011 shows an 11.8% population growth in Jhunjhunu in ten years. Excerpt from: Health officials offer Tata Nano’s for sterilisations (IN) Here is the original post: Health officials offer Tata Nano’s for sterilisations (IN)

How many turbos would you like on that order? 1? 2? How about 3 turbos? As long as your ordering from BMW anything is possible as the rumor of the next generation BMW M3 is said to be powered by a 3.3-liter six-cylinder engine with 3 turbochargers. One of the turbochargers will supposedly be powered by electricity instead of the conventional exhaust gases. Power output for the new 3-turbo engine is said to be 450 horsepower and we are sure the torque numbers should be outrageous considering the use of THREE TURBOS! Considering how the new BMW M5 F10 continues a new tradition of turbocharged M-cars, the new M3 should be an air-fed screamer. We know the government has been shoving efficiency down the throats of auto makers lately but will it warrant the use of 3 turbos to keep the performance that we have been accustomed too for so long now? We will see. Let’s hope BMW makes the best of this new “innovation”. [source: Auto Express ] Original post: Next BMW M3 Rumored to get 3 Turbos Feeding Small Displacement Inline-6 Excerpt from:  Next BMW M3 Rumored to get 3 Turbos Feeding Small Displacement Inline-6

Electric cars are coming, but not as many as policy makers want Automakers on pace to manufacture only 1.4 million plug-ins worldwide per year by 2020 Every year the world’s automakers produce tens of millions of autos every year, and that number is expected to grow dramatically in the next few decades. At the current pace, billions of automobiles will be on the world’s roads by 2050, and according to the IEA, most will be oil powered — and could be long past 2050. Unfortunately, based on the latest IEA data , automaker plans through 2020 demonstrate that automakers are still far from buying into the plug-in revolution, despite the media hype. While various governments are expecting about 7 million plug-in vehicles by 2020, the IEA notes that automakers only have plans to build about 1.4 million plug-ins. Fortunately, more aggressive goals could still be met, but the IEA notes that important steps must be taken by the in the next 1 – 2 years that demonstrate that governments worldwide will support long term incentives, infrastructure, etc, for plug-in vehicles. Otherwise plug-in adoption could be significantly stunted through the next decade — making 50 percent penetration by 2050 all the harder. See the original post:  Plug-in Plans: Automakers and governments not on same page according to IEA

Red-light cameras have been a hot topic over the decade. Some feel they encourage safe driving, while others feel it is just another way for the government to generate revenue. Both are valid arguments. A recent study performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found two-thirds of motorists ,in 14 metro areas that have red-light… Here is the original: Red-Light Cameras: Love Them Or Leave Them? #YouTellUs

Chevrolet’s long-awaited Camaro muscle car will start from £34,995 when it hits retailers in Spring 2012, alongside the Volt . That entry price buys you a European-approved left-hand-drive Camaro coupé, while the hard-top convertible starts from £39,995. Power comes from a 426bhp (432PS/318kW) 6.2 litre V8 petrol engine that is linked to a 6 speed manual, while an automatic gearbox is available for an additional £1,500. Standard equipment will include 20” alloy wheels, Brembo performance brakes, leather upholstery w/ 6-way electric driver’s seat, Boston Acoustics 9-speaker audio system w/Bluetooth and rear parking sensors. Options include premium paint, polished alloy wheels, bonnet stripes, electric sunroof, and interior trim accents. For comparison, the equivalent U.S spec Camaro would cost $31,070 (£19,300) for the coupé and $36,775 (£22,800) for the convertible, which is a healthy mark-up of £15,695 and £17,195 respectively. “It’s with great delight that we welcome the Camaro to the Chevrolet UK product range,” said Mark Terry, Chevrolet UK Managing Director. “In the last two years we’ve replaced every model in our range with something new, and the Camaro ’s DNA has been present in each and every one of them. Chevrolet cars are affordable, accessible, great to drive and full of character – none more so than our new halo model.” Chevrolet also revealed the price-tag of the Volt range-extending vehicle. Taking the Government’s £5,000 incentive into account, the Volt starts from £28,545. Unlike it’s halo sibling, the Volt will be offered in right-hand-drive with leather interior set to feature as standard. The Volt can travel upto 50 miles (80km) on electricity, depending on driving conditions, with a 1.4T four-cylinder petrol engine kicking into life after the battery has depleted. Managing director, Mark Terry said the timing of the Volt pricing announcement was significant as the marque “wanted to back up a century of progress with our vision for the next century”. Read the rest here: Chevrolet Camaro and Volt pricing announced (UK) Go here to read the rest:  Chevrolet Camaro and Volt pricing announced (UK)

Click to enlarge image. Once upon a time, it was easy  to import any vehicle you desired from overseas. By the mid-1980s, Americans were annually bringing in as many as 60,000 of these so-called gray-market cars, creating a thriving conversion-to-U.S.-spec industry and denting dealer sales. Ostensibly to save consumers from sloppy modifications and itself from litigation (and lost profits), the auto industry, led by Mercedes-Benz, lobbied Congress to clamp down. The Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act of 1988 basically ended the gray market by requiring manufacturer certification of  U.S.-bound cars. Is it impossible to gray-market a car today? Officially, the government says self-imported cars are welcome.  After you pay $2000 to $3000 to ship a car to the U.S., above are the rules, pitfalls, and hurdles you’ll face. ­ Illustration by Ryan Vulk Read more: How To: Win the Car-Importing Game Read more from the original source: How To: Win the Car-Importing Game

After the horrific car crash of “Jackass” star Ryan Dunn early Monday morning, police have revealed that he was driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .196—twice the legal limit. Dunn was reportedly traveling 140 mph on a 55 mph road when he crashed his Porsche 911 GT3 through a guardrail and into the woods where it hit a tree and burst into flames. Dunn and his passenger, Zachary Hartwell, died at the scene. Crashes like this serve as a sad reminder of the dangers of driving drunk. Apparently, Dunn had an earlier DUI crash a few years ago, but was able to clear his record through court requirements and wasn’t required to install an alcohol interlock device on his vehicle. If he had survived this crash, Dunn’s future vehicles would’ve been mandated to have this device for at least one year after his license was reinstated. Alcohol interlocks are one way the government is hoping to reduce the 11,000 deaths each year from drunk driving. Forty-nine states have some type of interlock requirement and 11 states have mandatory provisions after the first conviction. The system requires the driver to blow into the device to check for alcohol for the vehicle to start. Currently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is conducting their “Over the Limit, Under Arrest” campaign through July 4th in an effort to ticket drunk drivers before a deadly accident occurs. This week and next week are full of graduation parties, 4th of July picnics, and other summer festivities. Make it safe for you and others on the road by following important these tips. If you are planning to drink alcohol, designate a sober driver before going out. If you are impaired, do not drive. Hail a taxi, use mass transit, or call a sober friend or family member to get you home safely. Plan ahead and pack a bag to stay over someone’s house if you know you will be drinking. Report impaired drivers you see on the roadways immediately to law enforcement by calling 911. Always wear your safety belt while in a car or use a helmet and protective gear when on a motorcycle. If you see someone about to drive drunk or ride with someone who is impaired, take the keys and help them get to where they are going safely. Learn more about car...

As a consumer, you may think that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) does a good job of making sure defective cars get recalled and repaired. Not so, says the Government Accountability Office, who recently revealed that only 70 percent of recalled cars and trucks were repaired within 18 months. The GAO wants the NHTSA to… Excerpt from:  Three Of Every Ten Recalled Cars Not Fixed Within 18 Months

If you’re ready to head to your local Dodge dealer to put money down on a 2012 Charger with the V-6 and the eight-speed automatic, you’ll need to wait just a bit longer. According to Allpar, high demand for the eight-speed, ZF-manufactured transmission has caused Chrysler to temporarily halt orders for Dodge and Chrysler models that… See the original post here:  2012 Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300 Models On Order Hold: Report

E10, E15, E20 and the extreme E85 mixed fuels has been entering the vocabulary of modern motorists at a fuel station. Gasoline blended with ethanol, an organically produced substance some rather many alluring properties. Reducing hazardous emissions and acting as a natural octane booster, ethanol is currently added to fuel station gasoline. Over the years, the support of ethanol expansion in the United States has been an issue of by-partisan approval. Creating jobs, decreasing dependence on oil from other countries and the zeroing-in on a more environmentally friendly fuel source, ethanol production has been an extremely tempting industry. Receiving growing enthusiasm, the ethanol industry has faced challenges by critics in government. This week in Washington D.C., some major arguments for and against the government funding of ethanol infrastructure has been shouted across the Senate floor. Oklahoma Senator Dr Tom Coburn’s has been strongly objecting to the continuation of subsidiaries to the ethanol industry. Tax credits said to be worth up to 6 billion dollars to production of ethanol-blended gasoline, the savings have helped allow a more competitive price for fuels to the consumer. Senator Coburn claims the ethanol industry tax credits would have no effect on the ethanol producers. The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) opposes Coburn saying that the less of the industry tax credits could lead to 112,000 jobs lost and a decrease in production of up to 38 percent. For this reason, ethanol advocates worked to effectively persuaded the Senate to vote down the Oklahoma Senator’s amendment to eliminate the incentives. ACE Executive Director Brian Jennings reacted to the news saying, “This vote is a major victory for the biofuels industry and American consumers and a setback for those clinging to our status-quo dependence on oil.” Though Senator Coburn’s argument against ethanol is focused largely on whether multi-billion dollar tax incentives are needed by for the fuel companies, some factors of ethanol itself have left many critical on the renewable resources use in vehicles. Performance-related shortcomings of ethanol fuels compared to pure gasoline have been slightly reduced vehicle fuel mileage, shorter storage life and being potentially damaging...

E10, E15, E20 and the extreme E85 mixed fuels has been entering the vocabulary of modern motorists at a fuel station. Gasoline blended with ethanol, an organically produced substance some rather many alluring properties. Reducing hazardous emissions and acting as a natural octane booster, ethanol is currently added to fuel station gasoline. Over the years, the support of ethanol expansion in the United States has been an issue of by-partisan approval. Creating jobs, decreasing dependence on oil from other countries and the zeroing-in on a more environmentally friendly fuel source, ethanol production has been an extremely tempting industry. Receiving growing enthusiasm, the ethanol industry has faced challenges by critics in government. This week in Washington D.C., some major arguments for and against the government funding of ethanol infrastructure has been shouted across the Senate floor. Oklahoma Senator Dr Tom Coburn’s has been strongly objecting to the continuation of subsidiaries to the ethanol industry. Tax credits said to be worth up to 6 billion dollars to production of ethanol-blended gasoline, the savings have helped allow a more competitive price for fuels to the consumer. Senator Coburn claims the ethanol industry tax credits would have no effect on the ethanol producers. The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) opposes Coburn saying that the less of the industry tax credits could lead to 112,000 jobs lost and a decrease in production of up to 38 percent. For this reason, ethanol advocates worked to effectively persuaded the Senate to vote down the Oklahoma Senator’s amendment to eliminate the incentives. ACE Executive Director Brian Jennings reacted to the news saying, “This vote is a major victory for the biofuels industry and American consumers and a setback for those clinging to our status-quo dependence on oil.” Though Senator Coburn’s argument against ethanol is focused largely on whether multi-billion dollar tax incentives are needed by for the fuel companies, some factors of ethanol itself have left many critical on the renewable resources use in vehicles. Performance-related shortcomings of ethanol fuels compared to pure gasoline have been slightly reduced vehicle fuel mileage, shorter storage life and being potentially damaging...