Automotive trends are beginning to change. Gas guzzling SUVs are making way for smarter hybrid vehicles. Also called "clean fuel vehicles", these cars and trucks operate on either an electric motor, or a fuel engine and an electric motor. They are wise choices for anyone concerned with preserving our earth's precious resources, and the government is awarding these smart consumers with special tax deductions.

If you have purchased a vehicle that runs on both fuel and electricity, you can claim a one-time deduction of up to $2,000. Owners of vehicles that operate on electricity only can claim up to $4,000.

For yours to qualify as clean fuel vehicle, it must run on natural gas, LNG, LPG, Hydrogen or any other fuel that is 85% alcohol or less. You should be cautioned that even though gasoline/electric hybrids use an electric motor, they are not eligible for electric vehicle tax credits.

If your vehicle operates on more than one type of fuel, the cost incurred in converting the car into a proper clean-fuel user may earn you a deduction, subject to the stated limits.

There are other additional requirements to consider. To get a tax credit on your car, you must buy it first-hand and drive it primarily within the USA. The vehicle should have four wheels and is not to be used for commercial purposes. If any of these conditions change within three years of purchasing the vehicle, some of the money you received as tax deduction will have to be reimbursed.

Vehicle donations can also earn healthy tax credits. You may have seen advertisements by charity organizations offering tax breaks for vehicle donations. Technically, this is a valid offer, but there are several things that you need to consider. You cannot state the value of the car you are donating to be a penny more than its current market price. In effect, the deduction will be based upon the same amount that a buyer would pay in the fair market.

The amount of the tax deduction will depend not only on the value of the car, but also how the charitable organization uses it. The organization you donate the vehicle to must also be recognized by tax agencies. As unusual as the situation might be, you will have no idea as to the amount of tax break your donation will fetch you.

If the charity you gave your vehicle to sold it off at a lower price than your stated value, you will receive a tax deduction on the lower amount. On the other hand, if the charity sells your car after using it over a period of time, you need not worry. In this case, the deduction will be based on the value of your car at the time of your donation.

If you're thinking about donating a car to charity, or purchasing a clean fuel vehicle, you will benefit in two ways. You will feel better knowing that you've helped a greater cause, and the government will reward you for making a smart choice.

Charitable Tax Deductions

People who give to charity do so freely, without a tinge of "what's in it for me". But even the most earnest philanthropists will agree that a tax break can make the good feeling you get from giving, even better.

When you donate to your favorite charity, make sure to let the tax agency know. Charitable tax deductions are readily and legitimately available to you. Your contributions to charitable organizations can add up to a sizeable deduction when you itemize them on IRS Form 1040, Schedule A.

Before you make any donations, be sure to carry out a few checks. Remember that only donations made to organizations that are recognized by tax agencies are eligible for tax deduction. Refer to the IRS Publication 78 for a complete list of all recognized charitable organizations. Check your public library or search online to view this list.

Tax benefits are not available on donations made to individuals, political leaders or political organizations. Further, you cannot claim a tax break for time spent raising money for organizations by holding raffles, bingo or any other games of chance.

Tax deductions are available on contributions made in the form of goods, services or merchandise. This deduction must be claimed on the fair market value of these goods or services. For example, you may choose to donate by gifting stocks of your company. In this case, the value of the donated stocks will be calculated as the average of highest and lowest traded prices on the date of valuation.

You may also receive a tax break by donating a vehicle. The amount of the deduction will be based on the vehicle's resale value at the time of donation. This is also true of planes and boats donated to charity. However, if the claimed value of the donated boat, plane or motor vehicle exceeds $500, and the item is sold by the charitable organization, the tax break is limited to the gross proceeds from the sale.

If you are donating a household or personal item, a deduction can be claimed on the amount that the item would have fetched at a garage sale or at a flea shop. To qualify for a tax deduction, a proper receipt is required for all charitable contributions over $250.

Only contributions made during the tax year will qualify for a deduction. If you have used a credit card or issued a check, it does not matter what date the transaction shows on your account. You can claim the deduction only in the tax year that you made the donation.

Even if you don't expect to get anything in return for your goodwill, go ahead and keep a list of your charitable donations. The tax department will appreciate and reward your generosity.

Generate Free Energy
Make your own Solar Panels!
Eliminate your Power Bill!
Run your car on water!!
Join the Green Eco Club!

The UK oil and gas job market has sky-rocketed over the last few years, largely owing to the rise in natural resource consumption. More people own personal vehicles, which require gasoline and motor oil to run efficiently; homes of all sizes need natural gas for heating purposes; businesses consume a large amount of gas to fuel their operations. Under these conditions, oil and gas companies have become quite profitable in the United Kingdom and plenty of jobs have opened up. Young professionals need to disregard the myth that most of these jobs are low-paid or dangerous and realise that there are plenty of oil and gas jobs to match their ambitions.

One of the best jobs in the UK oil and gas sector is that of ‘Safety Inspector’. Safety inspectors can be employed by a natural resource provider, the government, or an independent agency. In any event, safety inspectors check gauges, assess workplace safety, and provide recommendations or admonishment regarding the way a company is doing business, depending on its activities. One reason why safety inspectors are so important in the oil and gas market is that a slowdown in the production process or a lack of proper safety may lead to vital natural resources sitting in storage instead of going out to the consumer; another reason is the obvious risk of explosion and danger to life if safety standards are not applied.

In the production arena, chemical engineers provide a vital service for oil and gas companies. Chemical engineers provide the knowledge of chemical reactions and processes that is critical to determining appropriate production guidelines. For example, a chemical engineer at an oil company may determine that the mixture used to create motor oil can be improved by inserting a chemical that prevents engine corrosion. Graduates and young professionals with an extensive knowledge of chemistry and a desire to work in an important industry should consider UK oil and gas jobs.

A final area in the oil and gas job market that is lucrative for employees is that of project management. Even the smallest oil or gas producer comprises a major undertaking, with various facilities devoted to the creation, distribution, and monitoring of natural resources. As such, executives often divide these tasks into small on-going projects, while assigning temporary projects to appropriate divisions. Project managers are crucial to the bottom line of an oil or gas company, as every division and project area needs to be working efficiently to maximise profits. These management professionals will often work in determining transportation methods, improving storage, or overseeing critical production processes.

Generate Free Energy
Make your own Solar Panels!
Eliminate your Power Bill!
Run your car on water!!
Join the Green Eco Club!

Fuel cell vehicles are being proved a worthy contender for the future of travel, development of such vehicles is being tried and tested. This comes at a time, when environmental issues and pollution from fuel emissions and its effects on global warming are getting huge coverage in the media arena.

So what's new?

Fuel cell vehicles are a refreshing alternative to the internal combustion engine that is currently the preferred method of powering our vehicles. Much like battery style electric vehicles, the vehicles are propelled by electric motors, but instead of storing this electricity a fuel cell vehicle generates its own electricity by means of a chemical process using hydrogen fuel and oxygen from the air.

Where does the power come from?

Pure nitrogen gas is the main way of powering the new style of vehicle, but other hydrogen rich alternatives, such as natural gas, methanol and gasoline also can be used if they are first converted into hydrogen gas by means of an internal component called the reformer.

Good news for the environment

A pure hydrogen fuelled vehicle would emit no pollutants; water and heat would be the only discharge. Other vehicles using a reformer would emit a very small emission, thus creating a small amount of air pollutants. In comparison to the conventional vehicles, these new vehicles will be twice as efficient as a similar sized vehicle of a conventional nature. The fuel cell vehicles will have the added advantage of further increasing efficiency by means of new technologies.

When will we see these fuel cell vehicles?

They are not expected to reach the mass market until 2010, but Progress and trials of such vehicles are already making headlines in the media. Nine automakers showcased their hydrogen-fueled and fuel cell vehicles on a publicity tour across the United States, visiting 31 cities in 18 states in 13 days. The Hydrogen Road Tour '08 began in Portland, Maine, and ended in Los Angeles, California, and was a collaboration of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the California Fuel Cell Partnership, the National Hydrogen Association, and the participating automakers with Linde and Air Products and Chemicals on hand to provide the hydrogen. There were fuel cell vehicles from General Motors Corporation, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Toyota, and Volkswagen, as well as the BMW Hydrogen Series 7, which burns hydrogen in an internal combustion engine. Tour highlights included two new hydrogen stations opening in Billerica, Massachusetts and Rolla, Missouri.

Trials are still underway for these vehicles to both bring down production costs and iron out and teething troubles before they are unleashed on the mass market, it's not just cars getting the fuel cell treatment but bikes, motorbikes, buses and aircraft as well as rockets. So let's hope these advances can do their bit to help cut global warming.

Generate Free Energy
Make your own Solar Panels!
Eliminate your Power Bill!
Run your car on water!!
Join the Green Eco Club!

On the 27th of this month, a showcase of alternative fuel vehicles used in large fleets was led by the White House. Present at the said event are the alternative fuel vehicles from UPS, the world’s largest package delivery company.

The company operates the biggest private fleet of alternative fuel vehicle in its industry. With more than 1,500 vehicles as part of their alternative fuel vehicle fleet, United Parcel Service clearly supports the administration’s “Twenty in Ten” goal. These alternative fuel vehicles are part of the showcase in White House and were inspected by the President himself.

Among the alternative fuel vehicles shown by the company at the event is their hydraulic hybrid vehicle. UPS operates the world’s first Full Hydraulic Hybrid Urban Delivery Vehicle. The said vehicle is the fruit of the collaboration between UPS, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Eaton International Truck and Engine, and the U.S. Army National Automotive Center.

Unlike hybrid electric vehicles, the other source of power in these vehicles, apart from an internal combustion engine, are its hydraulic components. The design of the vehicle is essentially based on the elimination of mechanical transmission and driveline with hydraulic components. The use of hydraulics reduces the amount of power wasted in the transmission of power from the engine to the drive wheels. The vehicle is predicted to save 60 to 70 percent of its fuel and this is based on the tests performed on it.

Aside from hydraulic hybrid vehicles, UPS’ alternative vehicle fuel fleet also includes electric hybrid vehicles. The use of an electric motor in this technology reduces the amount of fuel that needs to be burned. This, in turn, results to reduction in the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere where it increases the risk of further global warming.

UPS operates 50 units of hybrid electric vehicles and is reported to reduce fuel consumption for the company by as much as 44,000 gallons every year. Greenhouse gas emissions will also be decreased by as much as 457 metric tons every year.

UPS also uses fuel cell vehicles in collaboration with DaimlerChrysler. These vehicles produce only water as the byproduct of its operation. This means that it effectively eliminates the production of greenhouse gases. The vehicles with these technologies are also safe as Volvo S70 parts.

Aside from hybrid and fuel cell technology, UPS also makes use of liquefied natural gas as fuel for their vehicles. The company uses this fuel for large trucks since liquefied natural gas is very dense in nature. This means that the fuel provides adequate power for the amount of space it occupies in a vehicle’s tank. This fuel is best suited for large trucks that travels extended distances before refueling.

These vehicles are the company’s contribution to the reduction in the country’s consumption of petroleum products as called for by the President.

Generate Free Energy
Make your own Solar Panels!
Eliminate your Power Bill!
Run your car on water!!
Join the Green Eco Club!

Your vehicle could be your source of getting sizable tax deductions if you know how to go about it. According to tax laws, all vehicles that are classified as clean fuel vehicles, i.e. those which run on gas or electric motors are claimable for tax deductions. With gas powered vehicles, you can get a deduction of up to $2,000, while with electric vehicles you can get a one time tax deduction of $4,000.

However, there are some qualifying factors that you need to take care of. The gas that powers your vehicle must be either natural gas, LNG, LPG, hydrogen or some other fuel that contains less than 85% of alcohol content. Some gas powered vehicles may use electric motors also; but they will not be claimable for electric vehicle deduction in addition to the gas powered vehicle deduction. You can get only one kind of deduction on one vehicle. Then there are other obvious factors like the vehicle must be firsthand and must be driven primarily in the US. It should be a four-wheeled vehicle. It should be put to personal use and not for commercial uses. These conditions apply for three years of the claiming of tax. If within this period some of these qualifying factors change, there will be a reduction in the tax deduction that was given earlier.

Taxes can be claimed however if your vehicle runs on dual fuel. The costs that you incur to upgrade from vehicle to a clean fuel vehicle can be shown in the deductions. However, limits do apply on this kind of upgrade.

One more method of getting tax deductions from your vehicle is to donate it to charity. If you have driven the vehicle for a couple of years and now want to discard it, then you can donate it to charity to get deductions. The current market price of the vehicle is taken into account when the car is donated. So, the price for which the vehicle would have been sold in the market is the price which you can put up for deduction. But donating your vehicle to charity is not all that simple. You will need to keep track of how that charity uses the vehicle and whether it is a recognizable charity or not.

It happens many times that the charity sells off the vehicles that are donated to them to raise funds. If this happens, and the vehicle is sold at a price lower than the price you stated, then the lower price would be applicable for the tax deduction. But if the charity has used the vehicle for sometime before selling it, then you need not worry, because depreciation would be taken into account.

Hence, there are many ways of recovering money from your car even after it has given you good service. The only thing is you must be careful enough to claim all the deductions that apply.

Generate Free Energy
Make your own Solar Panels!
Eliminate your Power Bill!
Run your car on water!!
Join the Green Eco Club!

No? You are not happy about our gas prices? Well, honestly I'm not either, but the more I thought about it, the more I came to believe that perhaps our soaring gas prices and dependence on foreign oil has turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

It seems as though the most effective way to reach consumers is through our pocketbook. Once more we are outraged at high fuel prices and demanding something be done about it.

The auto industry has the technology to build fuel efficient cars, it has had much of this technology for decades, but it has not developed this technology into cost effective mass marketed vehicles. Why? Because the consumer has not demanded it. No matter what, the auto industry is and always will be consumer driven.

As long as the consumer continues to purchase what the industry is putting out, they will keep building what they are building. Granted, because of emission controls and higher mileage standards over the years we now have less harmful emissions and better mileage than we did twenty years ago. While this has been a great start we cannot let that become a stopping point.

Let's take realistic look at where we are today and how we, as consumers, can help insure a more cost efficient and healthier future for ourselves, our children and generations to come. We now have hybrid cars that provide much better fuel efficiency and less pollutants, and fuel cell vehicles that use no gasoline and produce no harmful emissions, their only by-product is vapor.

Here are some of the hybrids available now and scheduled for the near future

DaimlerChrysler - Diesel-electric Dodge Ram pickup with 15 percent mileage boost.

Early 2008: Dodge Durango SUV, no details available.

Ford - Escape Hybrid: SUV rated at 36 in city driving with two-wheel-drive model, nearly double that of the gas-only Escape. Highway driving rated at 31 mpg.

October 2005: Mercury Mariner SUV, 33 mpg in the city, 29 on the highway.

2007: Mazda Tribute SUV, no mileage data yet.

2008: Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan sedans, no mileage data yet.

General Motors - GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado pickups increase fuel economy 10-12 percent.

2006: Saturn Vue SUV, with 15 percent mpg increase.

2007: Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon, up to 35 percent mpg boost. Chevrolet Malibu, 15 percent increase.

2008: Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups that get up to 35 percent mpg increase.

Honda - Insight: two-door rated at 56 mpg on highway and in city.

Civic Hybrid: four-door rated at 48 mpg on highway and in city.

Accord Hybrid: rated at 37 mpg on the highway, 29 mpg in the city.

Nissan - 2006: Hybrid version of midsize Altima, no details on estimated mileage.

Toyota - Prius: four-door rated at 60 mph in city, 51 mpg on highway.

Lexus RX 400h: SUV rated at 31 mpg in city driving, two thirds more than its gas-only RX 330 sibling.

Highlander Hybrid: SUV is rated at 33/28 mpg in city/highway driving based on two-wheel-drive model.

Spring 2006: Lexus GS 450h sports sedan, mileage in the high twenties and 300-plus horsepower.

Late 2006: Camry, no details on estimated mileage.

Both hybrid and fuel cell vehicles are currently being used in mass transit systems in many selected U.S.cities as well as in Canada and Germany that include city transit buses, taxis, and delivery vehicles such as UPS.

Military vehicles - In April, the U.S. Army took delivery of the modified fuel cell Chevrolet Silverado that is capable of generating 188 kW and 317 foot-pounds of torque, or roughly the motor torque generated by GM's 5.3 liter V-8 engine. This is the first time the vehicle has been driven in California. It will be delivered to the Marines at Camp Pendleton, Calif., later this year for demonstration and evaluation.

"This vehicle has spent the last few months performing civilian-type duty at Ft. Belvoir, Va. where Army soldiers have been evaluating its performance and learning first-hand about hydrogen and fuel cells," said Dr. McClelland, director Tank-Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) of the U.S. Army.

World's First Individual Fuel Cell Vehicle Customer

California Hydrogen Highway - The Spallino family, living in the Los Angeles area, will be among the first individuals to begin utilizing the first of California's Hydrogen Highway refueling stations, a statewide infrastructure build out underway to offer hydrogen refueling station access to private individuals. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the state's commitment to a Hydrogen Highway in April of this year, creating a public and private partnership to build California's Hydrogen Highway by 201TEMPLATE

In the Chino project, Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage SUVs, powered by fuel cells manufactured by UTC Fuel Cells, will operate throughout Southern California and refuel at the ChevronTexaco hydrogen station. Of particular importance is the on-site production of hydrogen from natural gas. Natural gas, with an existing distribution infrastructure, is critical to the eventual transition to the hydrogen economy. This station will also have the future capability to convert other renewable fuel sources, such as ethanol, into hydrogen for refueling fuel cell vehicles.

Hydrogen Fueling Station - The EPA has commissioned a hydrogen fueling station at its National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Lab in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The station provides compressed hydrogen gas for hydrogen vehicles in Southeast Michigan.

The lab in Ann Arbor, Michigan is the first federal facility to install such a vehicle fueling station. This state-of-the art station serves as a real world example for others of the safe installation and operation of a hydrogen fueling station. In addition to supporting the Fuel Cell Delivery Vehicle Testing Program, this station will also be used for the fueling of hydrogen fueled vehicles deployed in the future in Michigan.

So perhaps our future is looking brighter with less dependence on foreign oil and a good beginning for achieving cleaner air and a healthier environment for everyone. But it rests in our hands, each of us, the consumers, and what choices we make that will determine our future.

Generate Free Energy
Make your own Solar Panels!
Eliminate your Power Bill!
Run your car on water!!
Join the Green Eco Club!

Cars driven by hydrogen have always captured the attention of the world on account of zero carbon emissions. While supporters of hydrogen-fuelled cars highlight the eco-friendly byproduct released by it and the need to be independent of fossil fuels, the opponents criticize the move of ignoring the greater picture. Evaluating the pros and cons of hydrogen as a fuel is, indeed, more crucial to better understand the concept.

This article aims to highlight the different aspects of hydrogen as an alternative fuel.

How does it work?

The conversion of hydrogen to provide torque for a vehicle can be performed in two ways. The first technique employs hydrogen internal combustion engines to burn hydrogen producing heat and water vapor. The burning of hydrogen also generates a small degree of other gases like oxides of nitrogen; but it is the zero carbon emissions that make hydrogen a popular alternative fuel.

Another way of employing hydrogen as a green fuel takes advantage of the fuel cells, wherein hydrogen reacts with oxygen to produce water and electricity, with the electricity forced to power an electric traction motor that powers the engine.

Advantages of hydrogen as a fuel

The advocates of hydrogen-fuelled vehicles throw the limelight on the capacity of hydrogen to provide the energy for powering the vehicle without producing carbon emissions. The byproduct of the reaction, water, can by no means cause harm to the environment.

Another fact that makes hydrogen popular is the abundance of hydrogen in the atmosphere. It can be found in water, fossil fuels, alcohols and many more sources, reducing the chances for its complete depletion. Moreover, as it is freely found in nature. There is no dependence for supplies from other countries as in the case when fossil fuels are absent.

Disadvantages of hydrogen as a fuel

Even though hydrogen is found in abundance, capturing of pure hydrogen is quite difficult. The property of hydrogen to bond easily with other elements makes the task of acquiring it in the pure form an expensive undertaking. For capacity to fuel vehicles, it has to be in its pure form to generate energy. Typically, electrolysis of water and reforming natural gas are the popular ways employed for separating it in its pure form. 

Similarly, to power vehicles, hydrogen has to be compressed and stored in cylinders. With cylinders being bulky, many are not interested in this as a form of alternative energy. Moreover, as compressed hydrogen possesses less strength than in its liquid form, which is very expensive to generate, it adds to the disadvantages.

Today many companies like Ford and Renault-Nissan have withdrawn their efforts on developing hydrogen as an alternative fuel. Companies like Daimler and Hyundai, on the other hand, are on their way towards the mass production of FC vehicles that will hit the roads by around 2012.

A successful solution that will be capable of separating hydrogen producing maximum power will indeed be an essential breakthrough that this industry is looking forward to.

Generate Free Energy
Make your own Solar Panels!
Eliminate your Power Bill!
Run your car on water!!
Join the Green Eco Club!

As the planet faces the implications of the release of greenhouse gases and people wrestle with a finite supply of gasoline, flexible fuel vehicles are becoming a more popular alternative. This type of vehicle functions using a blend of gasoline and something else entirely. They are designed to stretch the use of gasoline and improve mileage.

A true flexible fuel vehicle has an engine that can operate using multiple types of fuel. Gasoline is generally one of the component fuels a flexible fuel vehicle can consume. This type of engine design will typically use a single tank to hold blended fuel, which is then burned in a combustion chamber to provide energy for vehicle operation. This type of vehicle is becoming popular in North America and Europe.

Ethanol, or E85, is one of the more popular types of fuel for flexible fuel vehicles. Made primarily from corn, ethanol is considered a renewable source of energy. When a well-made flexible fuel vehicle is used, mileage will technically go down with ethanol use because this fuel is simply not able to provide the energy that gasoline can. Still, performance will remain high with the use of E85.

There are a number of different engines already on the road and under development that use alternative energy sources. The other power options, that may or may not be used in conjunction with gasoline, include:

Battery power – This type of flexible fuel vehicle uses electricity via battery power to make a vehicle function. Cars of this nature may operate solely on batteries or be hybrid in nature. This means they augment traditional fuel usage with a battery. The downfall for this type of flexible fuel vehicle to date has been a lack of capacity and efficiency. Air – Compressed air is a source of power that is considered emission-free. No major auto manufacturers have jumped on this idea to date. Solar – Taking the sun’s energy and transforming it into a usable “fuel” is an idea that has been around for a while. Solar power is popular in hybrid form, but as a sole source of energy this type of vehicle has yet to take off. Strictly solar powered cars are limited in their abilities at this time because it is difficult to gain enough UV energy and store it for longer distance drives. Compressed Natural Gas – This type of flexible fuel vehicle operates using methane or another type of combustible fuel. CNG cars are used in Italy and a few other countries with good results so far. It is estimated, in fact, that there are some 7 million of these vehicles on the roads worldwide today.

True flexible fuel vehicles have become very popular in the last few years. It is estimated that some 8 million of these vehicles are used in America today. Another 7 million are on the roads of Brazil. Unfortunately, many of the E85 flex vehicles on the roads today are not used to their full capacity as some owners are unaware of their ability to use ethanol.

What the future will hold for flexible fuel vehicles remains unclear. This option is a viable one for lessening the use of fossil fuel, but it is not likely a final solution to the problem of emissions and a depleting supply of gasoline.

Generate Free Energy
Make your own Solar Panels!
Eliminate your Power Bill!
Run your car on water!!
Join the Green Eco Club!

Volkswagen is launching a one-make Bio-CNG-powered race series in 2010, and the company claims this fuel reduces CO2 by 80 per cent.

This follows the successful debut of the compressed natural gas-powered Scirocco GT24-CNG at the Nürburgring 24-hour race.

The Scirocco Cup aims to demonstrate that major innovative strides are still being made in motorsport, and Volkswagen believes it will be the most eco-friendly one-make championship in the world.

The Cup version of the Scirocco is designed to enable eco-friendly motorsport.  Based on the TSI unit fitted in the Scirocco, the Bio-CNG-racing version of the 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine develops 203 lbs ft of torque and up to 223 PS. A push-to-pass system provides a short burst of increased power of 30 PS to create additional overtaking opportunities and action throughout the race.

Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifts operate a six-speed DSG gearbox and, as with the road-going Scirocco R, power is channelled through the front wheels.

Fitted with a fuel tank with a capacity of 22-litres, the Volkswagen Scirocco Cup uses so-called Bio-CNG which is produced from renewable resources such as grass or a special type of maize as well as from refined biological waste. The fuel tank itself is made from a composite material and is located behind the driver's seat, protected by the vehicle's roll cage.

The stainless steel pipes and special valves required for CNG operation within the Scirocco Cup use tried and tested components from Volkswagen production models with CNG engines, and the system pressures of 200 Bar are identical to those of the production vehicles.

Commenting on the new Scirocco Cup, Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen explained: 'By clinching class victory at the Nürburgring we proved that CNG-powered vehicles not only deliver high fuel economy but also allow very sporty driving. That's why we're particularly proud about launching the world's first one-make cup with CNG-powered vehicles.’

Generate Free Energy
Make your own Solar Panels!
Eliminate your Power Bill!
Run your car on water!!
Join the Green Eco Club!

Texas oil investment is as old in tradition as Texas oil drilling itself. It’s an historic endeavor that helps define Texas. The proud oil drillers of the past stem back to the days of the “old west” and up to the glory days of lucrative Texas oil in the early 20th century. However, the pursuit of fossil fuel reserves is not the same as it was in the old days. Today the technology exists that enable a company to drill and extract much more oil from a single reservoir than was ever possible before, and new techniques allow for the capture and transport of natural gas associated with crude oil.

Oil and Gas Investing is Once Again a Profitable Opportunity

Because of newer and more efficient drilling techniques such as horizontal drilling, more oil can be extracted from a single reservoir. And one of the by-products of oil drilling is natural gas.

Similarly to opening a bottle of cola, natural gas is released from a crude oil reservoir when it is tapped. However, in the past this was mostly a wasted product. If there was no market or user near the well, the natural gas by-product was burned off. Because of its gaseous state, natural gas had to be piped to the end user, and that just wasn’t cost-effective with most crude oil reservoirs.

However, new technology has been developed that can capture natural gas while drilling for crude oil. This is big news for oil and gas investing, and for those companies that can use the technology to harness and sell natural gas.

The Fischer-Tropsch Solution

The solution is to change natural gas into a liquid form which can then be extracted and transported via tanker trucks. A process known as the Fischer-Tropsch process uses a catalyst to transform gas to liquid. This chemical reaction process changes natural gas into a liquid form of various hydrocarbons later usable as transportation fuels, also known as biofuels.

Oil and gas investing can be much more profitable with the capture and use of natural gas as a biofuel. Automobile makers are now manufacturing more cars that use biofuels such as natural gas as a result of consumer demand. In fact, 2007 saw over $4 billion invested in biofuels. In 2008 about 1.8% of the entire world’s transportation fuels was from biofuels, and is expected to continue to grow. The result is a huge demand for oil and gas investing and companies to supply the biofuels needed to propel these vehicles.

Other uses for natural gas include electricity generation with gas turbines, domestic use including home heating and cooking, fertilizer, and hydrogen-powered aviation. So you can see that natural gas is becoming a big market. Take a look at companies that are now using these oil drilling techniques to extract natural gas as well. Your oil and gas investing endeavors could result in big profits, and serve a much-needed clean-fuel market.

Generate Free Energy
Make your own Solar Panels!
Eliminate your Power Bill!
Run your car on water!!
Join the Green Eco Club!