What is MPGe?

Greater environmental protection measures have led to a push for more fuel efficient vehicles. Along with the development of catalytic converters, air fuel ratio sensors, and O2 sensorsfor standard gasoline engines, automakers have looked for alternative ways to fuel our transportation needs. Most popular today are gasoline-electric hybrids, but more recently, fully electric vehicles have been in the spotlight as the most green and efficient option available today.

 One challenge for the EPA was how to relate the fuel efficiency of fully electric vehicles to consumers. We are all used to the standard MPG – or miles per gallon – rating to compare the fuel efficiency of gasoline powered vehicles, so the solution has been to provide a MPGe, or miles ger gallon equivalent, rating for all electric and hybrid vehicles.

The MPGe metric was introduced in November 2010 by the EPA to label the fuel efficiency of the new Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt electric cars. The ratings are based on the EPA’s formula, in which 33.7 kilowatt hours of electricity is equivalent to one gallon of gasoline. This is based on the energy content of gasoline: burning one US gallon of gasoline is 115,000 BTU. The formula for calculating MPGe is shown below.

Two things must be taken into consideration for MPGe of electric vehicles: one  is the energy consumed to generate the electricity necessary charge the battery; and the other is the transmission efficiency of that electricity from its source into the battery. This makes the calculations much more difficult, but it is essential for getting an accurate depiction of the fuel efficiency of electric vehicles.

2012 Ford Focus Electric

 Even with all those factors taken into consideration, new all electric vehicles have impressive fuel efficiency. The 2012 Ford Focus Electric gets 105 MPGe and has a range of 76 miles. Certainly not capable of road trips, but it will get most people to work and back, and perhaps a trip to the grocery store, with some charge to spare. This satisfies what most people do with their cars on a daily basis, and can save a good amount of money in the long run on gas.

Does MPGe make sense to you?

Audi A8 drives home with best connected car award

This just in: Connected World magazine has announced the winners of its first annual Connected Car of the Year awards, and the Audi A8 has won top prize in the ultra-luxury category.

According to Connected World, the awards honor vehicles with technology that strikes the right balance of safety, convenience, and infotainment. The magazine's editorial team decides the winners.

The Audi A8's infotainment system, dubbed the MMI, is based on the QNX Neutrino OS. The MMI offers some extremely cool features, including 3D navigation powered by Google Earth and a touchpad that lets you input destinations names by tracing them with your finger.

Here, for example, is a photo of the navigation display:



And here is a photo of someone using the touchpad, known as MMI Touch:



Both these photos were taken at a QNX Automotive Summit that took place in Stuttgart in 2010.

Connected World also handed out awards to the Ford Focus, Chrysler 300, and Cadillac XTS. These cars won in the small, mid-size, and luxury categories, respectively.
 

Car Inspection Stations – Perfect Licensed Centers for your Car

Car inspection stations are the centers that help individuals with any kind of problems that is faced in their vehicle. If a person is not willing to directly give their vehicles for servicing to the centers then, they can first go to these car inspection centers and inspect their cars for any kind of wear and tear and only then if there is any kind of problem that requires immediate consideration can send their vehicles for servicing. Generally, people tend to send their cars for servicing and even if there is no problem with the parts the mechanics set a good amount of bill as their charges. The Car Inspection Stations, on the other hand, help you in finding the actual problem and will only tell you to change any part if it is actually required to do so.

Car inspection stations are also licensed centers that provide you with complete Car Inspection of your car, for any kind of wear and tear, at affordable prices. They have excellent services and are located at different places convenient for the customers. Even if you do not have time to especially take your vehicle for the inspection, you can get it inspected while going to work, or any time when you are out for some work. This makes it convenient for you to take care of your vehicle without finding time to do so. Car inspection stations are present almost everywhere so it will not be difficult for you to find one.