Automotive | All About Automotive

(ARA) - Even with gas at $4 a gallon, many people will soon be hitching up their boats, trailers and RVs and hitting the road for summer vacations. Catching up on the latest safety features will help these weekend warriors get out on the open road quickly and safely.

Before you set out on your first summer excursion towing a trailer or fifth-wheel it’s a good idea to practice turning, stopping and backing up your trailer in an area without heavy traffic or distractions. Because trailer wheels are closer to the inside of a turn than the wheels of the tow vehicle, they are more likely to hit or ride up over curbs. Make sure to take turns wide as corners, curbs and curves will require greater clearance.

Another safety tip to remember is to operate the vehicle at moderate speeds and avoid sudden starts, stops and turns to reduce trailer sway, allowing for adequate reaction time.

The phenomenon commonly referred to as “trailer sway” occurs when a trailer being towed by a car, truck or van begins to sway or swing back and forth as it is being pulled. Severe instances of trailer sway can cause drivers to lose control. Cautious driving can help minimize trailer sway, and now new technology from truck and SUV manufacturers helps to virtually eliminate this occurrence.

“Trailer Sway Control is helping people who tow trailers achieve an enhanced level of control of their load,” says Steve Kozak, Ford Motor Company’s chief safety engineer.

Trailer Sway Control helps determine from the side to side motion of the vehicle if the trailer is swaying and takes measures -- such as applying precise braking or reduced engine torque -- to help get both the vehicle and trailer under control.

For a video demonstration of the trailer sway control feature visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hn2YMS0o5c.

Before drivers can drive with these safety tips in mind, they have to first deal with hitching a trailer, RV or boat to their vehicle, which often calls for more than one set of eyes to help guide the driver.

When backing up to either a parking spot or to hitch a trailer use slight movements of the steering wheel to adjust direction. Exaggerated movements will cause excessive movement to the trailer. If you experience difficulty, pull forward and realign the tow vehicle and trailer or start again.

Automotive companies have developed some features such as a reverse camera system to help trailer, boat or RV towers get to their destination quickly.

For a video demonstration of the reverse camera system visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dby8lTnCOmo.

One final bit of advice would be to create a safety check-list before you begin any traveling with your RV, boat or trailer. Below are some pre-departure check-list items:

* Check and correct tire pressure on the tow vehicle and trailer, as low pressure hurts not only the drive of the vehicle but also the fuel economy.

* Make sure the wheel lug nuts/bolts on the tow vehicle and trailer are tightened to the correct torque.

* Be sure the hitch, coupler, draw bar, and other equipment that connect the trailer and tow vehicle are properly secured and adjusted.

* Check that wiring is properly connected -- not touching the road, but loose enough to make turns without disconnecting or damaging the wires.

* Make sure all running lights, brake lights, turn signals and hazard lights are working.

* Verify that the brakes on the tow vehicle and trailer are operating correctly.

* Check that all items are securely fastened on and in the trailer.

* Be sure the trailer jack, tongue support and any attached stabilizers are raised and locked in place.

* Check load distribution to make sure the tow vehicle and trailer are properly balanced front to back and side to side.

* Check side- and rear-view mirrors to make sure you have good visibility.

* Check routes and restrictions on bridges and tunnels.

* Make sure you have wheel chocks and a jack stand.

With precautions made to ensure safety while traveling with a trailer, boat or RV, motorists are ready to hit the road this summer and will be out on the water or setting up camp in no time.

By Autos

A couple of recent articles:

have been unnecessarily alarmist about EVs, which can negatively and inaccurately skew present perceptions about EVs.

The popsci article talks about how the increased demand for electricity due to use of EVs will "rearrange the grid". I think this is an rather unnecessarily alarmist attitude. EVs are essentially an answer to rising oil prices, rising pollution, rising transportation costs and unhealthy levels of vehicular emissions.

Firstly, people are not all going to go out and buy an electric vehicle right this moment, the demand and the supply of these vehicles will rise gradually and any consequent rise in demand for electricity will only be required to keep pace with that.

Secondly, if demand for electricity does in fact rise considerably in the foreseeable future, a time table and cost structure could be put into place by supplying grids that could easily take care of such an eventuality.
If, for acquiring the obvious benefits available thru EVs we have to make some adjustments and modifications, we must make them!

The second article talks about an increased demand for water due to the use of EVs. The article quotes a Paul Denholm of the US Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado as stating that "the overall impacts of plug-in vehicles are modest in the larger scheme of things". I agree with that.

When you look at the big picture, the pros far outweigh the cons of Electric Vehicles. Especially if EVs are powered by sustainable sources of electricity like hydro, wind or solar power, the benefits to the environment are so considerable as to practically nullify the impact of slightly increased usage of water resources.

Also, there is no comparison between oil as a resource and water as a resource. The scarcity of the former and abundance of the latter make this is a superfluous comparison.

(NewsUSA) - People used to assume that electric cars were science fiction -; a technology that might help reduce gas needs in the distant future.

But with gas prices on the rise, hybrid technologies never looked so appealing.

Companies now make road-worthy electric vehicles that reach normal speeds, travel normal distances and plug into normal electrical outlets.

What's not-so-normal?

The cost of an electric vehicle's upkeep. Electric cars don't need gas. They don't require air filters or oil changes. Driving 120 miles in a gas engine car costs at least $13.50.

The electricity needed to power an electric car 120 miles costs a paltry $2.20. Electric car buyers can also receive state and federal tax credits.

Many technology companies see potential in lithium-ion battery technology, the batteries that can give electric cars staying power. But one company, Hybrid Technologies, Inc., both builds new electric cars and converts existing vehicles to use electric motors.

Hybrid Technologies, Inc. (HYBR.OB) built one concept vehicle, the Reaper, for military use. The Reaper can handle tough terrain, reach speeds of 85 miles per hour and go 185 miles between power-ups.

Hybrid Technologies also converts the Mini Cooper, Smart Car, Toyota Yaris, PT Cruiser and Chrysler Crossfire into electric vehicles.

Hybrid Technologies removes the vehicles' original gas engine and installs an electric battery, which gives each car a 120-mile range.

Hybrid Technologies sees its sophisticated battery-management system, which uses lithium-ion batteries, as the key to its financial future. It estimates that its lithium-ion batteries will last at least 120,000 miles before they need replacement.

Hybrid Technologies offers warranties on all of its converted vehicles. If a car owner has a problem that cannot be solved over the phone, Hybrid Technologies will either send a technician to the owner's home or ship the vehicle back to its facilities.

Hybrid Technologies is attracting buzz on the marketplace. The company hopes to make an electric Mini Cooper available through Sam's Club Stores, and both NASA and the Environmental Protection Agency use technologies developed by Hybrid Technologies.

Oil now trades at over $129 a barrel. Lithium-ion technologies can only become more valuable, and Hybrid Technologies, Inc. looks like a solid contender in the green market.

Jenn Hoffman is a host of The QualityStocks Daily News Segment each day at QualityStocks.net, and she also works as an independent business consultant to select companies nationwide. Most recently, she was featured on "The Apprentice." Hoffman will be active with "The QualityStocks for Women" newsletter, geared toward investment-minded women. To sign up for the newsletter, log on to http://Signup.QualityStocks.net.