Accutire MS-4350B Programmable Digital Tire Gauge $11.95 Amazon

You probably heard all about Obama’s recent comment on how if everyone properly inflated their tires it could save as much oil as would be gotten from off-shore drilling. A good article about the politics of the Obama’s latest statement and the conservatives reaction can be found here at Huffington Post.

The government site fueleconomy.gov has a number of fuel-saving, money-saving tips like how keeping your tires properly inflated can save you up to 12 cents a gallon. Interesting to note: off shore drilling and Arctic National Wildlife Refuge drilling combined, 20 years later, would only save you 6 cents a gallon.

If you just got inspired by all this latest news and are looking for the right gauge - then consider the Accutire MS-4350B Programmable Digital Tire Gauge. It is programmable so you can record your car’s recommended optimal tire pressure settings for front and rear tires. Its large, blue, backlit LCD screen makes for easy viewing. What else can you say - its a tire pressure gauge. A number of people complained about this model having issues with not getting a good seal but that has apparently been resolved.

For more info, check out Car Talk’s great page on everything you ever wanted or needed to know about your tire pressure.

Venture Vehicles has in development what appears to be a fantastically green and cool new mode of transport. You can now pre-register for the VentureOne’s e50 and Q100 hybrids or the Venture EV (all electric)
The hybrids have a 300+ mile range and can get up to 100 miles per gallon with a top speed of over 100mph. It is a 3 wheeled vehicle that is fully enclosed with state of the art steel safety features and includes airbags and side impact beams, making it much safer than a motorcycle.

This mini-cooper sized vehicle seats two with sleek wrap around windows. The videos on their flytheroad.com website make this trike looks a blast to drive, the front “cab” driving area is able to lean up to 45 degrees on turns while leaving the engine area horizontal. The videos on the VentureOne website shows this very well.

The planned price tag of $23,000 for the EV model and 18K for the hybrid might be a bit steep for such a small “car” but your savings on gas and the good karma you’ll have by not adding to greenhouse gas pollution makes it a serious temptation. They plan to release this in late 2008.

Could Airships be an answer?

Jet travel results in massive emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases that accelerate global warming. Flying is one of the worst polluters of all yet not enough is said about it. The Alternet article Air Travel is Killing the Planet is a great article to learn about how destructive air travel is to the environment. The article states “We could close every factory, lock away every car and turn off every light in the country, but it won’t halt global warming if we carry on taking planes as often as we do.”

Needless to say, there is virtually no political will for any serious reduction of air travel. Even Al Gore flies around the world, many times in a private jet, to give his presentations on global warming. Seems to me that we have all grown so reliant on the speed and convenience of air travel that we give it a pass, despite its significant role in climate change.

Not to say there aren’t people thinking about the issue. Richard Branson, Virgin CEO, has started a new company called Virgin Fuels that is looking for ways to create biofuel for jets. He plans on investing $1 billion in alternative fuels over the next four years, and possibly commercial jet engines within five years. A billion dollars might actually come up with something but right now it seems a long way off.

Another possible solution is “blended wing bodies” airplanes in which seat passengers in enlarged wings. Some claim it could possibly reduce fuel use by 20-30 percent.
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Amazing what a little ingenuity can come up with… imagine what would happen if a whole lot of ingenuity, like a few hundred billion dollars worth, were applied to the problem of getting renewable, clean, and cheap energy to power our transportation.

On the other hand, here is an example of a somewhat questionable use of ingenuity - despite it looking like it would be a pretty cool ride. The people at armchaircruisers.com who have built and are selling gas-powered, motorized, arm-chair recliner mobiles, some come with built in coolers for beer and chips… I wonder if they make an extra-wide model? I am having a hard time with the question if these were solar powered, would it make them any better? They have videos that show their chairs in action.

Aerorider Velomobile

Next to walking, the Velomobile may be the greenest form of personal transportation available. This bicycle car is designed with a sleek, aerodynamic style not only will help keep the planet cooler but will add cool cache to the driver as well. Combining the brawn of Flintstone’s car with the brains of Jetson’s this bike is just what the world needs now.

If commuting with human powered vehicles becomes popular it could offer a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and also address the obesity epidemic. It is amazing that many people drive their car to the gym so they could workout on an exercise machine. Think of the money saved in gas and gym fees by just driving your Velomobile to work.

Many new models have a small battery electric assist as well as being human powered. If you live anywhere other than a very flat terrain then you could certainly use the assistance getting up hills and the like. As some of these vehicles weigh up to 70 lbs. going uphill without the assist could prove extremely difficult. You would need to research to see what the rules of the road are in your area and figure out if your terrain would be Velomobile friendly or not. One place to get this information is Velomobiling.net perhaps the ultimate place to go for all things Velomobile.
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Sport Utility Bicycle (S.U.B.) from xtracycle.com 6 new S.U.B. models starting at $599.00
Much of urban driving is just running errands to various stores to get a few items. Why use a truck disguised as a car to carry a few groceries? More people are dumping the gas guzzling SUV’s for the clean and green S.U.B.’s. These bikes are built not only lightweight, compact and strong but can easily carry your groceries, supplies, even another passenger. Xtracycle has a photo gallery that shows images and videos of creative uses of the S.U.B. to carry an amazing amount of stuff, one photo shows a guy with a kitchen table and chairs on the back. If more people used bikes to get around not only would there be less pollution, we could see a lot more people in shape and having healthier lifestyles. Here is another link to their page on the bicycle lifestyle.

Tango, Electric Commuter Car at CommuterCars.com

Tango T600 ($108,000 with $10,000 deposit)

Tango T200 ($39,900 with $1,000 deposit)

Automotive technology specialist Prodrive and Commuter Cars Corporation (CCC) of Spokane, Washington are producing the Tango, an electric commuter vehicle as a possible solution to commuting problems in congested cities. Only 39 inches wide and eight and a half feet long, the Tango is as tall as a conventional car but takes up only half the road width.

The Tango is more like a motorcycle by it’s ability to change lanes to gain advantage in traffic. Unlike a motorcycle, you can safely ride in comfort listening to tunes, carry most of your stuff - even your significant other, staying dry and basking in the envious stares of other stuck in traffic as you whiz past. CommuterCars states that “extremely heavy traffic a Tango or motorcycle can travel in 20 seconds the distance that cars travel in 20 minutes.”

From a CommuterCars pdf: “According to the
US Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 90% of all automobile trips are single occupant, and the average round-trip commute is 20 miles. With relatively inexpensive lead-acid batteries, the Tango can travel 4 times that far on a charge. With lithium-ion batteries, 300 miles should be achievable.” “…Thus the equivalent mile per gallon cost of theTango could be over 300 mpg, based on $.05 per kWh as found in the Pacific Northwest and gasoline at $3.00 per gallon.”

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