Americans only make 11% of our trips outside of an automobile. Much of that may be habit and/or the fact that driving (especially in a quality vehicle) is seen as part of the "American experience". But the lack of a viable alternative in most of the country would factor in heavily. Many of our towns and cities were designed around the assumption that people would be driving cars (spread out, few bike/walking paths, etc.). Gas prices are going to keep increasing and unless a quality fuel alternative becomes widely available (and affordable) pretty quickly, efforts will need to be made to get that number in the first column down.

When I got there today, the price was $4.12.  Ouch.

Reminds me of the Stan Freberg sketch "St. George and the Dragonet:"

St. George: Yeah, I hear you.  I got you on a 412 too.

Dragon: A 412!!!  What's a 412?!?!?

St. George: Over-acting.  Let's go.

There is no problem making your own HH2 water car. Water car technology is within the scope of anybody. To convert a standard car to HH2 water fuel costs less than $200. So it is cheap, no questions. Mechanical knowledge isn't important. I've converted over 10 vehicles, cars and trucks, to date and I'm a mechanical incompetent. I have never needed anything beyond the tools in my bog standard toolbox.

As far as cash savings are concerned, if you do around 20,000 miles per annum in an average-sized saloon, expect savings on gas of around $1,000 a year, as gas prices stand at this moment in time. If oil prices continue to rise at their current rate, in a few years time an HH2 car might not simply be an alternative but a necessity.

Shame on governments and corporations who mouth all the right phrases about carbon emissions, resource conservation, global warming and low carbon economies. My prediction is that if consumers continue to convert their existing vehicles to an HH2 water car at the current rate, in 7 years' time there will be more Hh2 water cars on the roads than normal gas powered vehicles. What an irony.

To be honest, it really doesn't matter that much. Okay, it would be nice to have an HHO gas option direct from the production line. I bet it would cost manufacturers under $100 to add in water technology to enhance efficiency.

But the truth is with the right guide and no specialist tools you can do it yourself in under two hours and for less than $250. HH2 kits work without any problems. They prolong the life of your vehicle. They increase the efficiency of your fuel consumption by around 30%.

Potential gas savings run into thousands of dollars, depending on the size of vehicle and annual mileage. In the US you get a tax refund of $2000 for converting your vehicle to an HH2 water car and up to $50,000 for a truck. The amounts you can offset against tax are similar in the UK, Europe, Canada and Australia.

The way an HH2 water car works is by drawing a small amount of electricity from your car or truck's battery. It is fed into a kit, which is incredibly easy to make yourself, which separates H2O into HHO gas or hydroxy. This gas has a performance ratio 3.2 times better than standard gasoline that you get at the pumps. Due to the low amount of HHO gas required, the system is entirely safe and approved as such by the relevant authorities.

It seems incredible that more people aren't converting their cars. That is probably just due to a lack of serious publicity. I hope the word spreads about HH2 water cars. More info here.

HH2 water car author: Timothy Payn

]]> http://someknowledge.wordpress.com/?p=236 Sat, 10 May 2008 23:32:27 +0000 someknowledge http://someknowledge.wordpress.com/?p=236 I have a 1985 Mazda RX-7.  It's seen better days.  For the last couple years the car has sat out by the barn.  It made a handy home for little mice and wasps.  Leaves fell on the car and decayed into dirt.  Rust slowly ate through the bottom of the doors, and the battery went dead.  A film of black dirt covered the paint.

The other day some guys came buy to ask if I wanted to sell this vehicle.  "Sure, why not?"  I thought, and led them back to the barn.  "The battery's dead.  The car has a lot of problems."  I explained, showing them the derelict.  I gave them my price and they still seemed interested.  I told them I would charge up the battery and try to get the thing started.  I gave them my phone number and they said they'd call me Saturday.

So, the next day I put the battery charger on the car, and pumped air into the tires.  I checked out the radio, and made sure the battery was taking a charge.  After a day on the charger, the engine turned over.  It would not run without a shot of starting fluid, of which I was fresh out.  I stopped by Murray's Auto and got a can of starting fluid.  After sitting around this morning wasting time on the net and writing in this blog, I decided to see if the car would start.

A good shot of starting fluid down the throat of the carb and a key twist later the engine roared to life.  I let it warm up for a while, but not long enough.  It stalled out and I had to hit it with the fluid again.  This time I let it get good and warm, and it finally idled pretty well.  I closed up the hood and retrieved the can of fluid, and threw the thing into reverse.  The right rear wheel just spun.  In two years the car had sunk into the ground,  Some wheel spinning and back and forth rocking later, and the car was free.  I pulled up to the front driveway and parked the RX on asphalt.

With the car safely parked, I got the shop vac and cleaned out all the leaves that had collected in the various crevices of the vehicle.  I vacuumed out the engine compartment, including a mouse nest by the battery.  Then I mixed up a bucket of soapy water and got a rag and the hose and washed the grime off the car.  A little cosmetic help will not detract from any price offers.

So the car is running and can be transported and is relatively clean.  Now I'm waiting around for this guy to call.  If he doesn't get back to me this week, I think I'll make up some nice number signs and park the car by the road and put a price on it.  It never hurts to advertise.  I did a lot of work on that car to keep it running over the couple years I drove it, and I spent a lot of cash on stuff like cool speakers and a stereo and all the other stuff I did to make the car run.  Now I just have to become a used car dealer and sell the thing off.  Shouldn't be too hard.  I can always sell it to the junkyard for scrap.  In fact, I might make more money taking and selling parts of it online to people looking to rebuild this car.  It's not a complete pile of junk.

I have spent many days working on cars in my life.  I used to do all kinds of different service to vehicles.  It is a hobby I used to enjoy.  If you can take a piece of junk and make it work to get you around, you have saved some money.  I probably spent more on gas and insurance for that vehicle than I ever did on the price.  Still, it would be nice to get rid of the thing so I don't have to think about working on it all the time.  I have considered converting it into an electric car, but it's kind of heavy for that.  It was interesting to study the construction of this contraption and learn how it operates.  Perhaps I will go into the car business and design my own vehicles.  Perhaps I will only need a couple hundred million to start a car company.  That's what venture capital is for, right?

Learn more about H2O car.

]]> http://bharatbookresearch.wordpress.com/?p=428 Sat, 10 May 2008 10:56:13 +0000 bharatbookbureau http://bharatbookresearch.wordpress.com/?p=428 Independent 5 year Automotive industry forecasts for UK.
Original Automotive market research and Automotive sector trend analysis for the UK Automotive industry.
Competitive intelligence, British Automotive company rankings and SWOT analyses on international and domestic Automotive companies in UK.

The UK Automotives Report has been researched at source, and features latest-available data covering production, sales, imports and exports; 5-year industry forecasts through end-2012; company rankings and competitive landscapes for multinational and local manufacturers and suppliers; and analysis of latest industry developments, trends and regulatory changes.

British Automotives Report provides industry professionals and strategists, corporate analysts, auto associations, government departments and regulatory bodies with independent forecasts and competitive intelligence on the British automotives market.

Key Benefits of Report

Benchmark It’s independent 5-year Automotives Industry forecasts on UK to test other views – a key input for successful budgetary and planning in the British Automotives market.
Target Business Opportunities & Risks in the British Automotives sector through our reviews of latest industry trends, regulatory changes and major deals, projects and investments in UK.
Exploit the Latest Competitive British Automotives Intelligence & company SWOTS on your competitors and peers through company rankings by production, sales, market share and ownership structure – includes multi national and national companies in UK.

Coverage

Executive Summary & Swot Analysis

Summary of It’s key industry forecasts and trend analysis, and commentary on key company and industry headline events. Collection of SWOT studies on local automotives market, economy and business environment.

Regional Overview

Cross-border analysis on the structure, size and value of the automotives sector, including comparative historical data and forecasts on the region’s sales and production figures.

Business Environment Rankings

Comparative guide to the region’s business environment, ranking of the regional markets by CBU Output Growth, Vehicle Penetration Potential, Regulation, Market Competition, Economics Risk and Politics Risk. The rankings table provides It’s view on the competitiveness of the regional markets.

Market Overview

Outlook of local market, commenting on its structure, size and value.

It 5-Year Industry Forecast

Historic data series and 5-year forecasts to end-2011 for all key industry indicators (see list below), supported by explicit assumptions, plus analysis of key downside risks to the main forecast, including: Total production value (US$bn); total production of units; production by vehicle-type, including cars, commercial vehicles, trucks and buses; total sales value (US$bn); sales by vehicle-type, including passenger cars and commercial vehicles (vans and microbuses, pickups, trucks and buses, 4 wheel drive); total exports by value (US$bn) and by units; total imports by value (US$bn) and by units; contribution to GDP; employment in industry.

It 5-Year Macroeconomic Forecast

It forecasts for all headline macroeconomic indicators, including real GDP growth, inflation, fiscal balance, trade balance, current account and external debt.

Competitive Landscape

Comparative company analyses and rankings by production, sales, % market share, employees, registration date and ownership structure.

Company Profiles & SWOTS

Company profiles, including SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats)analyses, fully researched senior executives and full contact details, business activity, leading products and services.

Executive Summary

The most significant development in the UK's automotive industry this quarter has been the re-starting of production at the former MG Rover plant in Longbridge, Birmingham. Production at the plant officially got underway in May, with new owners of the MG brand, Nanjing Automobile Corporation (NAC) kicking off production of the MG TF sports car, among other vehicles.

In It's view, NAC's plans for production at the plant illustrate the manufacturing opportunities still available in the UK's automotive market. NAC expects to be turning out around 25,000 units by 2008, contributing to a steady upturn in overall vehicle production over our forecast period up to 2011. Moreover, NAC is targeting sales growth in the UK, suggesting that the market continues to figure strongly in the strategies for growth of industry players.

In terms of car sales, the market grew by 4.3% year-on-year (y-o-y) to 170,163 units in April 2007, buoyed by another strong performance in the supermini segment. In January-April 2007 car sales rose by around 3% y-o-y to 858,639 units. Ford continued to rank as the biggest carmaker, with new car registrations totalling 133,010 units during the first four months of the year. Vauxhall maintained second place with 118,051 units, while Volkswagen (VW) reported a 10.75% increase in sales to take third place with 67,511 units.

Ford also enjoys a strong position in the UK's commercial vehicle sector. According to industry data, Ford's combined light and heavy commercial vehicle sales reached 32,213 units for the first four months of 2007. Exports from the UK's commercial vehicle sector are set to receive a boost this year in line with the plans of the Russian manufacturer Gorky Automobile Plant (GAZ). GAZ, which acquired UK-based LDV (formerly Leyland DAF) in 2006, is planning to launch LDV's Maxus range in Russia later this year.

In other industry developments, in May Citroën opened its biggest dealership in the UK in Coventry. Located at the Coventry Business Park the facility is expected to give a significant boost to the French carmaker's sales in Europe.

For more information, kindly visit:
http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=16149

I got a darned tarking picket when I parked on the wrong side of the road. But do I bother? No. Do I fret? Naw… I say to myself in a heap of optimistic pleasure. "Oh! Finally! I've needed one of these!"

The great thing about parking tickets is that they're relatively inexpensive. The greatest thing about parking tickets is that they come in a special envelope that you cannot buy anywhere, and that people assume you'll use to mail the ticket and your money.

But you kinda don't have to.

Mail the ticket in using your own envelope. Pay the fine, clear your name, and keep the original parking ticket envelope in your glove compartment.

Then, every time you park, pull the envelope out of the glove compartment and slide it underneath your windshield wiper so that it's easy to see.

This ensures that you'll not only never again get a parking ticket (because anyone writing one will clearly see that someone's beaten them to it), but that you'll likely not get a lot of cars parking very close to you (because they don't want tickets either).

Just one more useful tip for living free and beating the system. Till next time…

I've had a headache since Thursday…

Let's assume that you drive an average of 1,250 miles per month, or 15,000 miles annually.

At 20 miles per gallon for your paid-off car, you'll use 62.5 gallons in a month.  If we assume that gas is $3.75 per gallon, this means your gas costs for this vehicle is $234.38 per month.

At 30 miles per gallon for a new car, you'll use 41.67 gallons in a month.  For the same $3.75 per gallon gasoline, your gas costs for the new vehicle would be $156.25 per month.

OK, so you've saved $78.13 per month on gasoline.  What everyone fails to take into account is the cost of the new vehicle, whether financed or purchased outright.  If you trade in your old car and can get the new car for *just* $14,000, it would take you 15 years at $78.13 per month just to recover the price of the new vehicle.

Instead, let's say you have cash and face the same choice.  If you put your $14,000 into a mutual fund earning 10% for five years, assuming a 28% tax bracket, you would have over $20,000 saved at that time. 

So in five years your money grew over $6000, yet at the same time the "additional" amount you spent on gas was just $4700.  You still have your original $14,000 and then some.

This doesn't factor in the depreciation on a new car over five years, the increase in insurance, interest if financed, and so forth.  There are many reasons to replace your vehicle, but don't let gasoline prices be the overriding factor.  If gas is up $1.00 a gallon from last year, for your same 20 miles per gallon paid-for car your real incremental costs are up just $62.50 per month.  If that amount is going to make or break you, then there are much bigger issues that you should take a look at to bring about some financial peace into your life.

(Author: Timothy Payn)

In fact an internal combustion engine with a hydrogen cell added has been shown to last twice as long as an engine powered solely by gas. There is actually a slight increase in the performance of the engine, so that is not an issue. Of course the big factor is that a car powered by water increases the efficiency of the engine and cuts gas costs in half.

Let me get straight what I mean by a car powered by water. Virtually all kits are an addition to the existing gas powered system. They are an add-on in the form of a cell containing an electrolyte which produces electricity and improves the efficiency of the gas engine. As things stand at the moment, a vehicle run entirely on water would be tortuous and is not yet really practical.

In an age where governments are becoming increasing worried (supposedly) about low carbon economies, resource conservation, carbon emissions and carbon capture, it seems incredible that so little attention is being paid to bio cars. Why is all the innovation being left to bright cookies who have come up with do it yourself guides? It beggars belief.

It doesn't really matter too much because get a good guide for converting your existing vehicle to a car powered by water and you can do it yourself for less than $300 without any technical expertise. I know, because I have already converted over 10 cars myself and I am certainly no mechanic. I have done each one at cost, but believe me, my friends would have been more than happy to pay 2 or 3 times that amount. They are all now happily saving from anything between $500 each year and up to $1800 a year on gas. Their cars perform better and their servicing bills are lower.

So what is the problem for the large manufacturers fitting hydrogen cells as an option on all cars? If it costs me less than 300 bucks to do it myself, surely they could fit HHO cells for a fraction of the price. It is not as if it is unproven technology. It is good for the environment, which everyone seems to spout as their main priority. It makes us less dependant on the supply of natural resources from foreign countries. It is great for the consumer because he or she spends less on running a vehicle.

Perhaps that is where the problem lies. Do you remember not so long ago the resistance to low-energy light bulbs? Manufacturers of standard light bulbs were horrified by the prospect. They were deliberately building in a low life expectancy so consumers would be forced to buy more of their product. Unfortunately, governments tend to support big business and ignore the concerns of consumers.

The same thing is happening with water fuel conversion. The technology exists but there is no will to push it forward. To be honest, it doesn't really matter if enough people are wise enough to take matters into their own hands and do it for themselves. It takes me about an hour and a half to do an HHO conversion without the need for any specific tools. So, get yourself a guide and make your own car powered by water today.

Find out how to convert your own car to water.

]]> http://mikey890.wordpress.com/?p=39 Fri, 09 May 2008 12:47:44 +0000 mikey890 http://mikey890.wordpress.com/?p=39 Why not convert your car to run on water? It's wonderfully easy to do. Most cars can be converted to run on water for less than $500. Some methods convert totally to water power. Others improve the efficiency of your existing gas engine. Whichever you choose, you can do it all yourself. Not just that.

Why not check out my review of the top 10 guides to convert your car to run on water HERE.

If you're not happy with the results, any decent system will be easily removed in under an hour. Plus, you won't find any problems with your pre-existing gasoline system.

Practical guides are commonplace to convert car to run on water. Most are easy to follow. All are relatively cheap. I haven't seen one that costs more than $100. Any decent guide will also come with a full money-back guarantee.

They will take you through how to convert your car to run on water from start to finish. You will be told where to source the correct parts and at the best prices. How to attach the cell to current engine will also be explained. Finally, you should learn how to calibrate the system to obtain maximum efficiency.

Most guides on how to convert your car to run on water claim around a 30% increase in efficiency. (The conversion also prolongs the life of your engine.) For a medium sized vehicle, this equates to an annual saving of around $1000 at the gas pumps. Moreover, the IRS will refund you $2000 if you convert your car to run on water. So hang on to your guide and receipts for parts so you can prove that that is what you have done.

There is quite a selection of guides to choose from. The quality varies somewhat but all the ones I have reviewed, about 8 in total, are at the very least adequate and won't leave you stuck not knowing what to do. Burning water in conjunction with gas is still the most common method. Eventually I expect systems running cars entirely on water will be properly developed to a practical level.

Do it yourself is still the most common way to convert your car to run on water. However, it is interesting to see reported that Ford in Australia intends to give its backing to research by the University of Melbourne into hydrogen fuel technologies for vehicles. The Minister for Energy and Resources reported that this study had received a grant to the tune of $1.2 million from the State Government for Victoria. The President of Ford Australia is obviously proud to be supplying engines and resources for the project.

And all that is just in one Australian state. With concerns over dwindling resources and global warming, I believe the race is on to develop hydrogen fuel cell technology, hydrogen capture and storage. The holy grail will be to produce maximum efficiency without reliance on gas and incorporate it into production cars.

Of course for now anyone can convert your car to run water. Zero mechanical experience is required. All you need is the right guide and a few cheap parts and you could be saving masses on gas tomorrow. Why not convert your car to run on water today? A review of the guides available right here.

Author: Timothy Payn

]]> http://bharatbookresearch.wordpress.com/?p=421 Fri, 09 May 2008 11:38:04 +0000 bharatbookbureau http://bharatbookresearch.wordpress.com/?p=421 Independent 5 year Automotive industry forecasts for Nigeria.
Original Automotive market research and Automotive sector trend analysis for the Nigeria Automotive industry.
Competitive intelligence, Nigerian Automotive company rankings and SWOT analyses on international and domestic Automotive companies in Nigeria.

The Nigeria Automotives Report has been researched at source, and features latest-available data covering production, sales, imports and exports; 5-year industry forecasts through end-2012; company rankings and competitive landscapes for multinational and local manufacturers and suppliers; and analysis of latest industry developments, trends and regulatory changes.

Nigerian Automotives Report provides industry professionals and strategists, corporate analysts, auto associations, government departments and regulatory bodies with independent forecasts and competitive intelligence on the Nigerian automotives market.

Key Benefits of Report

Benchmark It’s independent 5-year Automotives Industry forecasts on Nigeria to test other views – a key input for successful budgetary and planning in the Nigerian Automotives market.
Target Business Opportunities & Risks in the Nigerian Automotives sector through our reviews of latest industry trends, regulatory changes and major deals, projects and investments in Nigeria.
Exploit the Latest Competitive Nigerian Automotives Intelligence & company SWOTS on your competitors and peers through company rankings by production, sales, market share and ownership structure – includes multi national and national companies in Nigeria.
Coverage

Executive Summary & Swot Analysis

Summary of It’s key industry forecasts and trend analysis, and commentary on key company and industry headline events. Collection of SWOT studies on local automotives market, economy and business environment.

Regional Overview

Cross-border analysis on the structure, size and value of the automotives sector, including comparative historical data and forecasts on the region’s sales and production figures.

Business Environment Rankings

Comparative guide to the region’s business environment, ranking of the regional markets by CBU Output Growth, Vehicle Penetration Potential, Regulation, Market Competition, Economics Risk and Politics Risk. The rankings table provides It’s view on the competitiveness of the regional markets.

Market Overview

Outlook of local market, commenting on its structure, size and value.

It 5-Year Industry Forecast

Historic data series and 5-year forecasts to end-2011 for all key industry indicators (see list below), supported by explicit assumptions, plus analysis of key downside risks to the main forecast, including: Total production value (US$bn); total production of units; production by vehicle-type, including cars, commercial vehicles, trucks and buses; total sales value (US$bn); sales by vehicle-type, including passenger cars and commercial vehicles (vans and microbuses, pickups, trucks and buses, 4 wheel drive); total exports by value (US$bn) and by units; total imports by value (US$bn) and by units; contribution to GDP; employment in industry.

It 5-Year Macroeconomic Forecast

It forecasts for all headline macroeconomic indicators, including real GDP growth, inflation, fiscal balance, trade balance, current account and external debt.

Competitive Landscape

Comparative company analyses and rankings by production, sales, % market share, employees, registration date and ownership structure.

Company Profiles & SWOTS

Company profiles, including SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats)analyses, fully researched senior executives and full contact details, business activity, leading products and services.

Executive Summary

It delivers a more optimistic assessment of the Nigerian car market in its latest Nigeria Automotive Report, with vehicle sales set to rise by over 18% in 2007, on the back of 5.9% growth in GDP. Automotive sales will be determined by overall trends in the Nigerian economy, with investor confidence and a growing consumer class continuing to drive growth, and we are forecasting a very good year in 2007. However, growth will be short lived, due to our belief that GDP growth levels will decline in 2008 and 2009, leading to sales in the region of 46,500-46,800 units. Sales will then rise to over 48,000 units in 2010, before falling to around 43,000 units in 2011.

There is also a mood of confidence in the Nigerian car assembly sector, which has the potential for a revival following the successful privatisation of Peugeot Automotive Nigeria (PAN) and Anambra Motor Manufacturing Company (ANAMMCO). In January 2007, the federal government's stake in PAN was handed over to a local Peugeot dealership. In the same month, the federal government's 24% stake in ANAMMCO was sold to GU Okeke & Sons Ltd, one of the country's largest bus transportation companies.

PAN has set its sights high. In March 2007, PAN announced a NGN6bn (US$49.2mn) project to manufacture 307 cars and develop a Nigerian engineered car. The T6 Project aims to make Peugeot products affordable to all Nigerians. In April 2007, PAN signed an agreement with Peugeot for the establishment of a brand new production line for the production of the Peugeot 307 as part of the T6 Project.

There is uncertainty over whether the new core investors - locally owned firms with less capitalgenerating power than foreign auto majors - can raise the necessary capital to revive the Nigerian automotive sector. It doubts that the new owners will be able to bring production to anything near capacity. Unless the new plant managers can improve efficiency and cut costs, the future of these assembly lines will remain dim. A leaner and skilled workforce and an overhaul in technological inputs will be vital to securing the long-term future of these plants. While the new owners at PAN and ANAMMCO are involved in the vehicle retail and transportation sectors, they have no prior involvement in automotive manufacturing. Consequently, the participation of strategic partners from the automotive sector will be crucial to these plants' long-term future.

Despite concerns over the long-term viability of the privatised automotive plants, the medium-term future of these assembly operations has been secured and It is forecasting modest increases in output over the forecast period. This is likely to be supported by government spending on vehicle purchases, with growing political pressure for supply contracts to be given to local producers. A revival of production at ANAMMCO, albeit with modest levels of output, will also add to the output figures. The government's car loan programme for state employees to buy PAN-manufactured cars will also help sustain demand, although at a lower rate than initially projected. It forecasts that output will rise from an estimated 14,500 units in 2006 to 15,500 units by 2011.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 – SWOT Analysis

Nigeria Auto Industry SWOT

Chapter 2 – Middle East and Africa Overview

Table: Middle East And Africa Autos Production – Historical Data & Forecasts (CBUs unless otherwise stated)

Table: Middle East And Africa Autos Sales – Historical Data & Forecasts (CBUs unless otherwise stated)

Suppliers

Table: Africa Autos Sales 2005 By Segment

Table: Middle East Autos Sales 2005 By Segment

Chapter 3 – Business Environment Rankings

Economics – Long-Term Risk

Politics – Long-Term Risk

CBU Output Growth

Vehicle Ownership/Penetration Potential

Regulation

Competitive Environment

Chapter 4 – Industry Forecast Scenario

Production and Sales

Table: Nigeria Automobile Sector – Historic Data & Forecasts (US$mn unless otherwise specified)

Trade

Table: Nigeria Automobile Sector – Historical Data & Forecasts (US$mn unless otherwise specified)

Chapter 5 – Macroeconomic Forecast Scenario

Table: Nigeria - Macroeconomic Forecasts

Country Snapshot: Nigeria Demographic Data

Section 1: Population:

Table: Demographic Indicators (2005)

Table: Rural/Urban Breakdown

Section 2: Education & Healthcare

Table: Education

Table: Healthcare: Vital Statistics

Table: Healthcare: Expenditure

Section 3: Labour Market And Spending Power

Table: Consumption And Stratification

Chapter 6 – Special Focus: Commercial Vehicles

Regional Market Overview

Table: Regional Commercial Vehicle Market: Country Ranking, Sales

Table: Regional Commercial Vehicle Market: Country Ranking, Production

Table: Regional Commercial Vehicle Market: Company Ranking Of Significant Regional Manufacturers

Table: Recent And Planned Investments In The Middle East And Africa

Nigeria Commercial Vehicles Sector

Table: Nigeria Commercial Vehicle Sector – Historic Data & Forecasts

Table: Nigeria Commercial Vehicle Sector – Historic Data & Forecasts

Chapter 7 – Competitive Landscape

Table: Nigerian Vehicle Manufacturers Scheduled For Privatisation

Chapter 8 – Company Monitor

Regional Case Study: Ford

Sales

Table: Ford Dealers In Middle East And Africa

Production

Table: Ford Assembly Plants In The Middle East And Africa

Company Profiles

Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN)

Toyota Nigeria

It Forecast Modelling

Automobile Industry

Sources

Appendix: Regional Demographic Data

Table: The Long View: Data Over The Economic Cycle (2000-2007)

Table: Population

Table: Household Spending Per Capita, US$

Table: Private Consumption Per Capita, US$ PPP

Table: Market Size, GDP, US$bn

For more information, kindly visit:
http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=16118

Here in Texas we have to get our cars inpected on a yearly basis to ensure that they are road worthy and do not pose a risk to ourselves or others on the road.  What really aggravates me (and ultimately leads to even more distrust) about having to do this is that most of the places that offer the inspection service are (gasp) auto repair shops.  They are IN THE BUSINESS of finding problems with your car, and they SURVIVE by convincing you to pay them to fix it.

I have found a place called "Inspections Only" that only does inspections (duh).  I love the idea of separating the inspection service from the repair service.  And, in fact, I am willing to drive quite a distance out of my way just to take my car there.  Well, this year, they found a legitimate problem with my vehicle - one of my tires needs to be replaced before they will give me a passing inspection sticker.

So, now, I am forced to shop around and buy a tire within 15 days so I don't forfeit my inspection fee (and so I don't get a ticket).  Which brings me back to square one.  I need to find a store that does only tires or I run the risk of "discovering" yet more problems with my car.  So, I am going to Discount Tire because they only do tires/wheels.  Luckily, in this case, there is one right close to my home.  But, contrary to Inspections Only, where the inspection pricing is set by the state, I have the added element of having to make sure they are not price gouging me on tires.  So, I must now undertake hours of research just to be minimally confident enough to go into Discount Tire armed with the knowledge of what tire I think I want and at a price I think is fair.

And, Discount will probably tell me that I need an alignment...which they don't do.

Anyone else seeing the problem here?  And we wonder why no one trusts a car salesman.  He is just the first person that you have to decide whether or not you can trust in the hopefully long life of that car that he sells you.

I wish that I could find someone who I know I can trust that does it all.  He sells you the car.  He maintains it for you with regular oil changes and new windshield wipers and new tires with frequent rotations.  He repairs what needs repairing (and only what needs repairing when it needs repairing).  He inspects it and licenses it for the road.  And, ultimately, he buys it back from you when you are ready to buy the next one from him.  Oh, and the best part, he does it all for a fair price.  Notice I didn't say he does it for free.  I would be willing to pay for this as long as I KNEW I could trust him.

That's the key...TRUST.  And, I don't know how I can give my trust to any establishment in the automotive industry.  I am sorry.  I know there are decent honest hard-working people out there that are doing fantastic jobs for their customers.  I just don't know who you are...and deep down, even if I did know you, I wouldn't truly know for sure if I could really trust you 100%.  Sorry.  Honest, I wish I could.

(Author: Timothy Payn)

HHO cars fall into the category of technologies which use a proton exchange membrane as the electrolyte within the fuel cell. Hydrogen is stored in the car or truck, just like standard gas. The difference is that very small amounts of hydrogen are stored compared to gasoline. This makes the whole system safe. Oxygen is then sucked in from the air outside and used as fuel. The only results are water, heat and electricity.

The electricity powers or part-powers the vehicle. The heat and water are dispersed into the atmosphere. So, as far as byproducts are concerned there is no pollution. The environment is left unaffected and safe.

Hydrogen produced by a proton exchange membrane in an HHO car is clean and green. It is not like extracting hydrogen from methane. This process produces carbon dioxide which is harmful to the environment. It accounts for around 90% of hydrogen produced in Western economies.

To convert an existing car to an HHO car is easy and cheap. All you need is the right manual. It is not necessary to modify the existing internal combustion engine in any way. The HHO car conversion can be removed within minutes, if wanted, without in any way affecting the engine. A water fuel system will increase the engine's efficiency by about 35%, actually increase performance and prolong the life of the engine. HHO car owners report the lifespan of their vehicles to outstrip diesels by more than 60%.

With a HHO car kit, H2 (hydrogen) is pulled into the fuel cell via flow field plates. They control the flow of electrons permitting the hydrogen molecules access before they are dispersed in an even manner by a carbon mesh. A platinum (or similar) catalyst then splits the hydrogen molecules into positive ions and negative electrons.

In a HHO car the PEM is at the heart of everything. This proton exchange mechanism rejects electrons but readily lets through electron ions. The electrons then make a vortex around the PEM and produce electricity. This electricity is passed to the motor. With most systems this reduces the gas fuel requirement. In more advanced technology, no gas at all is needed. However, as I write, these systems requiring no need for gas are very bulky and not particularly practical.

Oxygen is also pulled into the fuel cell. The oxygen (O2) is then split in two. These atoms then combine with the hydrogen electrons and ions. That forms water (H20) which is then expelled from the vehicle, ultimately via the exhaust system.

Anyone can have an HHO car, right now. I decent manual will cost around $90. The parts will set you back another $300 or so. Even someone with very rudimentary mechanical knowledge and almost no automotive tools, like me, can convert their vehicle to an HHO car in under two hours.

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http://technohelpblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/top-10-hho-conversion-guides.html

BMW E92 M3 from Hamann

Audi's small SUV called Q5

Dans le cadre de cette formation en alternance, vous développerez les compétences techniques et comportementales suivantes:

- La veille concurrence;
- L'analyse prospective des futurs produits automobiles des différents constructeurs;
- L'aide à l'analyse du plan concurrence;
- La participation à des études ponctuelles.

Pour plus d'infos et postuler, rendez-vous sur le site de PSA.

Cyb3rpunk is my setting idea for Cyberpunk 2.0.2.0. that you can find here on raben-aas.de but that (unfortunately) hasn't been translated into English (yet).

Cyb3rpunk takes the timeline and events offered in the Stormfront books and CyberGeneration (and Hardwired, too) and combines elements from all three with an "updated dystopian future projection" from our current point-of-view (abandoning the classic "Eighties" attitude in CP2020). The game is placed somewhere in 2035+.

Anyway, for all gamemasters playing "revamped"/reloaded CP2020 games – or Shadowrun, for that matter – here's an inspiration on what future cars may look like.

Gopal Krishna Gandhi è un grande uomo. E' il governatore dello stato del West Bengala, che ha Calcutta per capitale. Il suo cognome  denuncia la sua parentela (anche se Gandhi è un cognome diffuso in India): è il più giovane nipote del Mahatma. L'ho conosciuto, ci ho parlato un paio di volte e mi è sembrato un politico e un amministratore molto illuminato. E' il fratello di Tara, una mia amica di Delhi, una gentile signora innamorata dell'Italia e di Napoli (e questo dimostra la sua grandezza e il suo buon gusto).

Gopal Krishna Gandhi è un uomo di cultura, parla diverse lingue tra le quali l'italiano, ha girato il mondo, ha sempre servito lo stato. E si comporta, cosa strana per un indiano di questi tempi, come il suo illustre nonno.

Ricorderete che ho parlato diverse volte degli scontri soprattutto a Nandigram per la questione delle terre tolte ai contadini per realizzare fabbriche, in particolare quella della Tata Nano. Gli scontri e le proteste stanno continuando, anche se nessuno se ne occupa, tutti presi a decantare la magnificenza di questa India shining, risplendente.

La polizia, il governo, per sedare le rivolte, hanno tolto l'elettricità dai villaggi dei manifestanti. E Gopal Krishna che ha fatto? Visto che i suoi appelli alla calma sono andati a vuoto, nel più puro spirito gandiano di satyagraha (lotta non violenta) ha cominciato a staccare ogni giorno per ore la corrente dalla sua residenza. E lo farà fin quando non cambierà la situazione a Nandigram.

Come il nonno, che per obbligare gli inglesi a trattare bene gli indiani, faceva lo sciopero della fame.

Grande Gopal Krishna.

"Can everyone in Washington County have at least one car sitting without tags in their yard? Some people have as many as three or four. Nothing's been done about it. Has the county zoning gone out of business, or don't they have enough help?" - Chewsville

I find it amusing that someone in Chewsville is complaining about cars without tags when across the street they have a giant eyesore of a junk yard staring them in the face. I would focus on getting rid of that before I worried about the cars without tags in someone's yard. Although all of these things do tend to stem from one place, << and this is a very politically incorect statement >> poor, uneducated white people. I came from a place where people liked to put cars up on blocks in their yards and take off the wheels, that was always a plesant sight to see. Growing up and seeing that, I think I can safely say that the people who leave old cars without tags in their yards are the same demographic. It's good to know that I haven't completely lost touch with the place I grew up in.

Chrysler announced Monday an offer that caps the price of gasoline at $2.99 a gallon for three years for people who buy or lease new vehicles from Wednesday through June 2. The offer is based on 12,000 miles of driving per year at the vehicle's rated fuel economy. Customers will get a card for buying gas that is linked to their own charge account, Chrysler said. The customer will be billed $2.99 a gallon, and Chrysler will pay the rest.

I'm sure the honchos in Auburn Hills did their math on this (and when was the last time a US car company didn't correctly anticipate fuel costs?) but to me it looks like this could get pretty expensive.

The story goes on to point out that at the current $3.61 a gallon average gas price, someone who buys a new PT Cruiser (est. 21 MPG) would only cost the company $1075 per car. That seems a bit much but not ridiculous for a car with an MSRP of $15,285.

However let us take the radical notion that gas prices have not yet peaked. If the price of gas hits $5 a gallon (and I wish that were unthinkable) the total cost to the company hits $3300*. Even if the price "only" hits $4.50 per, the company is on the hook for $2580 per car. Suddenly that PT Cruiser is costing Chrysler a lot.

All of this, btw, assumes something we all know to be false: That there is a relationship between the advertised MPG and what you actually get. If the car actually gets 18 MPG then Chrysler has to pick up the actual difference. At today's prices that means a mere $150 increase over three years. However at $4.50 it's about $500 more -- which means Chrysler is in essence selling the PT Cruiser for about $12K. For the consumer it's a great anti-inflation move, for the shareholders though? Well, for gas company share holders it's great.

The other thing that will contribute to Chrysler's costs is the fact that consumers will probably buy more expensive grades of gas. Why not always get super premium if it only costs me $2.99?

Here is my own personal indicator of the impact of the price of gas: I am now driving at or below the speed limit. This news so shocked Mrs. CollateralDamage that she briefly put down the latest guide to Disney.

*(In case you're wondering here's the formula I used 12000[miles] / 21 [MPG] = total gallons consumed [which I'll call G]. G * price = total cost / (G * price - 2.99) = annual cost to Chrysler * 3 = total cost to Chrysler. Given my legendary inability to do anything beyond basic math I put this out there so that someone can and will correct me.)

The best bit for most of us, if we are not formulating national legislation, is that we save money on gas. I can remember only a year ago that experts were saying oil would never reach $50 a barrel. Now the predictions are it will be at $200 a barrel in the near future. That is frightening. It is also a trend which is unlikely to be reversed.

Oil stocks at sea and on land are still believed to be fairly plentiful. The trouble is it is costing more and more to extract this great resource. The stark fact is that in 50 years time petroleum will likely be costing 20 times what it does today. That is in real terms. It may even be higher than that. How will we be able to drive anywhere? What to do?

Well, water fuel technology has been around for some time now. With the help of the many excellent guides available, any standard gas-run car or truck can be converted to run partially on hydrogen produced from water. At the moment, that is what is meant by a water powered car. Sure, in the next 30 years we will probably see vehicles run entirely on water.

For the time being, water cells are added to an existing gasoline powered combustion engine. These improve the efficiency of the gas engine by about 35%, reduce harmful emissions and make the engine last longer. The great thing is that anyone can add this system to their car with the correct know-how and they can be easily removed in minutes if there are any problems. And that's without any adverse affect on the engine itself.

It really could not be more simple. A decent manual will come in at less than $100. The parts should cost under $300. No obscure tools are required. Personally I have no mechanical experience whatsoever but I turned my first family saloon into a water powered car almost eight years ago. I now have converted two of my kids' cars and several for friends. Quite honestly, they could have done it themselves.

Another great benefit, beyond saving cash on gas, is that you can obtain IRS refunds if you use a water powered car. The States and Europe are scared stiff about relying on foreign oil and want more green cars. They want us to use less. Keep the receipts for your manual and parts to prove you have a water powered car and this is what you can expect from the IRS. Pretty much the same applies in the UK too.

This is what the IRS says:

Deduction limit. The maximum deduction you can claim for qualified clean-fuel vehicle property with respect to any motor vehicle is one of the following.

$50,000 for a truck or van with a gross vehicle weight rating over 26,000 pounds or for a bus with a seating capacity of at least 20 adults (excluding the driver).

$5,000 for a truck or van with a gross vehicle weight rating over 10,000 pounds but not more than 26,000 pounds.

$2,000 for a vehicle not included in either of the above.

Truckers and coach companies are obviously flocking to convert their vehicles to HHO, hydroxy, Klein gas and Browns gas. But we can all do it and get a deductible from the IRS to the tune of $2,000. Considering that to convert your existing vehicle to a water powered car costs under $400, if you pay tax, you will have another $1,600 in your pocket at the end of the year. It's almost unbelievable, but there you go. Good luck with your new water powered car.

]]> http://mikey890.wordpress.com/?p=36 Wed, 07 May 2008 12:47:31 +0000 mikey890 http://mikey890.wordpress.com/?p=36 Run car on water is a frequent question. Your top 10 guides are right here. It is certainly a problem posed to me almost daily. The reality is that to run car on water is actually very straightforward. Currently the best methods to run car on water are combination of gas and water cells. They are very effective. They cost less than $200 and any car can be adapted.

These home kits to run a car on water have become so popular that more than 50,000 American households have at least one. That may not sound like very much. But when you consider how little coverage cars fueled on water have been given, it's not altogether surprising. When you then ruminate about the amount of people put off by DIY methods, you begin to see how many 50,000 actually are.

The reality is that home-fit car water systems are very easy to adapt to almost any vehicle. Water cars have been around for ages. It couldn't be simpler to have a car fueled by water. A little know-how and you're away. You can then run car on water. Burning water in a car is safe. It is also very efficient. I have been asked no end of times, how can I make my care run on water?

The answer? Get a good manual. They are cheap (under $90) and will take you step-by-step through adapting your existing car to HHO or water fuel technology. The science is a breeze. Mechanical skills are not required. No tools outside the normal home toolbox are necessary. All you require is the necessary know-how.

In the late fifties and early sixties, people were very skeptical about the fact that you could run your car on water. The ideas seemed great. Like relatives, they were made more pleasant by their distance. But, incredibly, most folk didn't believe in the basic science.

That is interesting because as early as 1903 authorities were becoming worried about car fuel. Even then they had begun to look at the best ways to save gas. Water cars did exist but only in terms of steam locomotion. As batteries and cells became more sophisticated, the possibilities of power via electrolysis became more evident.

All kind of doubt about the effectiveness of HHO systems to run a car on water has now been debunked. Some people still laugh at the idea. Anyone already using water as car fuel doesn't. While technology for running a car entirely from water fuel cells is still being developed, kits to convert cars to run on a combination of hydrogen and gas are completely successful. Tried and tested. Most kits will allow a standard engine to run on at least 30% water and can improve efficiency by up to 70%.

Anyone is now capable of making their car run on water. All you need is the right instructions and a few basic tools. Even to calibrate and fine tune a kit requires very little equipment and is only necessary to get another 2 or 3 percent efficiency. I'm not kidding. I have no mechanical expertise and I've already converted two of my own vehicles, one truck, a boat and about a dozen other cars for my family and friends.

All I did was get a manual which told me the parts I needed to procure and how to assemble the system. I must admit the manual was excellent and it was all just so easy. The parts came to under $200 and the manual cost about $90. So I just got my kids and friends to pay for the parts. But I tell you what, it's probably not a bad business opportunity. I'll bet there would be tons of people you know who would be more than happy to pay upwards of $500 to run car on water when you show them they will probably save around $900 in just the first year on gas pump costs.

It took me about 2 hours on my first attempt to fit a water fuel kit. It now takes me around 30 minutes. I could be making $300 for half an hour's work.

Anyway, the main thing is that I am now saving over $2,100 each year on motor fuel costs for my entire household. That's what can be achieved if you run car on water.

]]> http://mikey890.wordpress.com/?p=35 Wed, 07 May 2008 12:33:28 +0000 mikey890 http://mikey890.wordpress.com/?p=35 The water power car is eventually making an appearance in the media. Find the best guides right here. National networks are beginning to give air space to water power car technology. The knowledge has been there for several decades now. The problem has been self-interest on the part of oil and petroleum corporations. They have wanted to suppress the notion that cars can run on water.
Whatever the case, more than 200,000 Americans already have a water power car. To burn water in a car is not as complicated as you might think. Water cars generally run with a combination of the normal internal combustion engine, running on gas, and a water cell or battery. The HHO produced increases the car's efficiency. The gas consumption is thereby reduced.
Your average water power car will normally increase your gas mileage by around 30%. It is generally the same whether it is urban or highway driving. Savings at the gas pump are massive. Do your own figures, if you like. For an average family saloon car, savings with a water power car amount to around $900 a year. That is based on a yearly mileage of 12,000. You don't need the brains of Einstein to work out the savings increase dramatically if you own a truck or have more than one vehicle in the family.
You must ensure your find proper instructions for converting your existing car to a water power car. That's right. You don't need to go out and purchase a hybrid car. Kits to add water power to what you already have are commonplace. It is all so easy, you can install them yourself for under $300 without any mechanical knowledge. All of them can be removed at any time.
Water power car instruction guides come in at under $100. Once you know how to convert one car to run on water, obviously you can convert as many as you want. You can do all your family's, your friends, or, if you have a taxi company or haulage company, an entire fleet.
Some people still put forward spurious arguments against water power cars, but they are seriously flawed. There are cars on the road today which have been running on water for over 20 years. No adverse effects on the engines have been observed. Also, there is absolutely no danger in the process of electrolysis which produces the additional energy.
Furthermore, a water power car actually adds oxygen to the environment. That may not be good news for the oil companies, but for the rest of us less pollution in the environment is a good thing.
Contrary to what you might think, the performance of your engine will be augmented by adding a water fuel cell. Overall power is also increased, giving better torque performance. It is also much gentler on the engine, increasing its lifespan by 50%. No more need for diesel if that's what you're worried about. An engine run on gas and water will now outlast any diesel engine. In particular, the rings, valves and pistons get much less abuse.
Consider that feeding water through the system with a water power car cleanses the engine of carbon deposits and you will begin to understand what I'm on about. Water power cars also have a much reduced operating temperature than that of a normal gasoline engine. The combustion cycle is completely changed. The engine becomes noticeably more quiet. You will also find the gearshifts a lot more smooth.
To recapitulate, a water power car means money savings, is good on the environment, significantly reduces engine wear and tare and improves overall car performance. As I said, you can have a water power car for less than $300 and remove the system at any time without damage to your vehicle. Good luck with your water power car.

This has to be the 10th time I've had to say awesome for VW - but I really hope this isn't one of those times when I have to say...but the VW said no.  (VW Will Sell a 200 MPG Car in 2010)

So you're excited about the 2010 Prius, with its modest mileage gains. Or maybe you really want a Chevy Volt, with a 40 mile all-electric range. 2010, as we've noted, is going to be a good year for green cars. But, well, this is ridiculous.

So - save your money and let hope this one makes it!