About the economy

mike legg asked:


Let’s face it the way things are going it doesn’t look like the price of fuel is going to drop anytime soon. In fact it looks like things are going to get a lot worse. With this in mind many drivers are on the lookout for devices that improve fuel economy and help them get more MPG for their vehicles (whether that be cars, trucks or SUVs).
For those who can afford it, trading in their existing vehicle for a more fuel efficient model,( as most newer vehicles get more MPG than an older one would) or one of the new Hybrid cars seems to be the way to go. However the majority of us, who’s budget doesn’t stretch to a new car will have to rely on devices that improve fuel economy to get more MPG from their old bangers.
During this fuel crisis (as in any crisis) you will get people coming up with scams and schemes to relieve you of your hard earned cash. Scams claiming to have the latest gadgets that will get you the highest MPG from any car or vehicle. Sadly most of these gadgets are shams or myths, some of which have been around for years and are just now popping up again with a new lease of life thanks to the internet.
However along with the more ridiculous claims of gadgets, gizmos, and devices that improve fuel economy, there are some that just may work. Listed below are some of the more promising ones. Now I’m not claiming that these will get more MPG for your car or improve your fuel economy in any significant way, but after reading up on them, they at least seem more practical than most that I have come across.
      Devices that improve fuel economy.
1) Carburettor Mixture Enhancers. This is a device that is installed between the intake manifold and your carburettor, and is supposed to improve the process of vaporising the air/fuel mixture before being burned in the engine.2) Liquid Mixture Enhancers. These work on a similar principle of the Carburettor Mixture Enhancers but are in liquid form and mixed with your regular fuel.3) Killer Wires. These are used in replacement of your ordinary spark plugs and are claimed to improve the spark by creating magnetic fields and so improve combustion.4) Fuel Additives. Such as xylene which is added to your fuel tank along with your regular fuel to give you better fuel economy and get more MPG.5) Water to Energy Converters. These are small Hydrogen Generators for cars and use electrolysis to produce Hydrogen Oxygen Gas which is mixed with your regular fuel mixture and results in a more efficient burning fuel.
These are just 5 of the devices that improve fuel economy and help you get more MPG. There are hundreds if not thousands more out there. As I mentioned before a lot of these are just scams and not all of them are going to work, but these 5 at least sound practical, and anything that could get more MPG for your car has got to be worth a try.

Christopher

Gregg Hall asked:


Many people do not realize how important it is to take proper care of their tires for better fuel economy. Caring for your tires is important to prolong the life of the tires but it is also a crucial factor in fuel economy. Keeping your tires rotated, inflated to the right PSI and having the wheels properly aligned and balanced can drastically increase your gas mileage.

Proper tire inflation is a major culprit in poor fuel economy. If you are like most drivers you probably don’t fully recognize the magnitude of how improperly inflated tires can adversely affect fuel economy. If your tires are under inflated it causes them to be softer and can lessen your gas mileage by as much as four percent if you are running ten pounds under, on the other hand if your tires are inflated properly it can increase your gas mileage by over three percent.

When tires are kept at their recommended air pressure it not only gives you a better ride and superior handling but also allows for optimum gas mileage. You should keep the tires inflated at the recommended pressure that is indicated on the driver’s side door. If there is a range instead of a certain number you should inflate the tires to the higher number to maximize your gas mileage. It is also important to be sure that they are inflated evenly.

In the winter your tires need even more attention because they will lose a pound of pressure for every ten degrees that the temperature drops. The air pressure in your tires goes down in cold temperatures and this just adds to the resistance that is caused by slush and snow. You should check your tires more frequently in the winter time and be sure that all of your tires are inflated equally. Be sure to have your own tire gauge because many times those at service stations are inaccurate.

You should also rotate your tires to be sure that the wear is distributed evenly over all of your tires. You can find the tire rotation pattern in the owner’s manual for your automobile and you should do this a couple of times a year. You also should be aware that the types of tires used affect gas mileage as well.

When it is time to replace one of your tires you should look at your owner’s manual to see the tires recommended for your vehicle. If you have a local tire service person that you trust you can ask them for recommendations as well. Look for tires with low rolling resistance.

Wheel alignment is another crucial aspect that should not be overlooked. If your wheels are improperly aligned they can cause unnecessary friction which also cuts fuel economy as well as the life of the tires.

Julio

Jason Tissuix asked:


US Small Businesses ‘Nervous’ about the Economy

According to the National Small Business Association’s 2008 Survey of Small and Mid-Sized Business, most small and medium-sized companies in the US believe that the economy looks bleaker than five years ago.

The survey of businesses indicated that 71 per cent of respondents thought that the economy was worse than it was five years ago. This figure was up by a massive 43 per cent from 2007. Half of the small businesses that participated in the survey also admitted that they had encountered some difficulty in securing credit during the last year due to the impact of the global credit crunch. In addition to this, nearly half of the respondents stated that they expected a recession to occur in the next year.

The number of survey respondents who said that they would seek bank loans for financing fell to just 28 per cent this year, which is the lowest figure since the annual survey began fifteen years ago. This notable decline in people seeking loans shows a real lack of confidence in the US banking industry.

Small businesses are important to the US; they are often described as the backbone of the country’s economy. Prior to the publication of their survey results, the National Small Business Association (NSBA) had already voiced concerns to their members that the current US housing crisis could lead to a recession.

Todd McCracken, president of the NSBA, concluded the results of his association’s survey in a statement. He said: “Our survey shows plain and clear how the economic slowdown is affecting small business. This year, a whopping 71 per cent (of respondents) have a negative outlook on the economy - clearly small business is feeling the pinch.”

These fears over the impact of the economy on US small businesses will undoubtedly spread to the UK soon. This means that if you’re a small business and you’re worrying about the impact of the global credit crunch, you should prepare yourself now. You can do this by ensuring that your small business has an effective website, which is a cost-effective way to help you to generate sales leads online. You could also boost the activity of your small business website by investing in some online advertising such as a Google Pay Per Click (PPC) campaign.

Source:

Reuters

Marcus

Koyak asked:


Economy in Iceland vs Economy in Cuba.

How many cups of coffee can you afford in Cuba with the cost of one cup of coffee in Iceland?

Barry

Mr. Q asked:


Someone told me there was a year in the 80s when the average fuel economy of all the cars on the road was 30mpg. Is that true? Does anyone know where I can find this information, a chart perhaps? I’d also like to know what the average is this year.

Cody

L Dawg asked:


I think the benefit of a local economy now is the use of less fossil fuels. If we change over completely to sustainable fuels, would the world or its local communities benefit from local economies, more than if we continue our large scale international trade? Detailed answers appreciated.

Bobby

Karolina12 asked:


I am an economy major and very interested in using my knowledge in the entertainment industry. What kind of jobs will I be able to apply economics

Erik

nabilkazerouni asked:


This is in correlation to the persecution of the Baha’is in Iran. Baha’is are denied higher education so many leave and go to a foreign country in order to pursue their education. What happens to Iran’s economy when these youth begin to send money home or if the parents start sending money abroad?

Rachel

Daniel Millions asked:


Gas prices continue to increase, with no end in sight. This trend further accentuates the need for every human to purchase more fuel efficient cars. Having an automobile with good fuel economy is not only helpful in saving money, but it is also an integral part of repairing the environment.

The official definition of fuel economy is how much gas is needed to move a certain distance. In the United States, fuel economy is measured in miles per gallon, while in the rest of the world, it is mostly calculated in liters per one hundred kilometers. These measuring systems vary greatly; a higher number in the US system is optimal, while a lower number is desired in the metric system (the lower the number, the lower the amount of fuel needed to travel one hundred kilometers).

Governments are taking notice of the importance of fuel economy, and are establishing guidelines which will regulate efficiency in the future. The European Union has decided that, starting in 2012, gasoline cars must have at least a 47mpg rating, and diesel cars must have at least a 52mpg rating. The United States currently taxes vehicles that do not adhere to environmental standards, as a means of discouraging their production. These taxes and penalties are expected to increase drastically within the next few years.

Engineers are constantly working to find ways to increase the fuel efficiency of vehicles. Several factors affect fuel economy, so it is a matter of altering those factors to produce better efficiency. The weight of a car is one of the biggest factors in fuel economy, so engineers are always trying to make cars lighter.

This can be done through replacing traditional materials, such as iron, with alternative options like carbon fiber. Wind resistance and drag require cars to exert energy to overcome them, so vehicles that are designed to experience these factors minimally have better fuel economies. Anything that can increase or save energy is beneficial. For example, shutting off the engine while the car is stopped saves energy.

Improving the efficiency of engine combustion is a key factor. Most engines only exploit 10-20% of the energy released from burning fuel; the rest is lost to heat and other forms of energy. Fuel cells are so desirable because up to 80% of their produced energy can be directly utilized. Different types of combustion, such as lean burn and HCCI combustion are being tested to identify what method is most efficient.

Average consumers can play their part in increasing the fuel economy of their vehicles. Fuel efficiency increasing products are popular in the market right now, but most of them do not actually improve efficiency at all. Simple things, like keeping the air pressure in tires high, and slowly accelerating and decelerating, can expand a vehicle’s rating a fair degree.

Hybrid cars are the best option currently for those who want speed and great fuel economy. These models combine electrical and gasoline engine components to create something which does not feel like an electric car at all. Hybrid vehicles recapture wasted energy during breaking, shut off gasoline power during idle periods, and utilize gas and electric power simultaneously to reduce the total amount of fuel consumed. All of these factors combined result in fuel ratings of over 50mpg, as well as lower emissions.

Lucille