54.5 MPG Fuel Efficiency Standards for 2025

Posted on September 3, 2012 by melwin23

The Obama Administration finalized new standards that will increase fuel economy for cars and light-duty trucks to the equivalent of 54.5 mpg. The newest standards will be implemented by 2025, and when combined with previous standards set by the administration, will nearly double the fuel efficiency of future vehicles as compared to new vehicles currently on our roads. The administration estimates that the new standards will save consumers more than $1.7 trillion at the gas pump and reduce U.S. oil consumption by 12 billion barrels.

Read more: Obama Administration Finalizes 54.5 MPG Fuel Efficiency Standards for 2025 | Inhabitat – Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building

NO Petrol Price Cut Due To Weak Rupee

Posted on June 20, 2012 by melwin23

ARTICLE BY

New Delhi: State-owned oil firms have decided to “wait-and-watch” the international scenario and the rupee-dollar rate before deciding to cut petrol prices.

petrol price hike india

petrol price hike india

“The Greece vote is behind us now. But the Fitch rating downgrade has led to a sharp fall in rupee against the US dollar. There is high volatility in the market. For now we will watch the situation,” said a top official at one of the three state-owned oil firms.

petrol price hike india

petrol price hike india

Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan, as per practice, were to revise petrol price from June 15 but put off the decision by a couple of days. On Monday they decided to wait and watch for some more time.

“There is no revision in petrol rates today or even tomorrow. We will watch the situation for next couple of days before taking any decision,” he said.

Oil firms had last cut petrol rats by Rs 2.02 a litre with effect from June 3 in a partial rollback of the steep Rs 7.54 per litre hike effected last month.

Petrol at present costs Rs 70.24 a litre in Delhi.

Sources said the last revision was done keeping in mind an average of USD 115.77 per barrel rate of gasoline, against which domestic petrol prices are benchmarked. Gasoline rates have since fallen to USD 106.93 per barrel. But the rupee has devalued to Rs 55.69 to a US dollar from Rs 54.96 to a US dollar.

There was a scope to reduce petrol price by up to Rs 1.60 per litre but with rupee falling further, the cost of imports has again risen.

“Today, rupee dropped 53 paise to close at Rs 55.93,” the official said. “There is excessive volatility”.

Oil prices advanced in Asian trade today, mirroring gains in broader asset markets after Greece’s pro-austerity parties won a tight general election.

New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for July delivery advanced 90 cents to USD 84.93 a barrel and Brent North Sea crude for August delivery surged USD 1.48 to USD 99.09 in morning trade.

Greece’s two main parties narrowly clinched enough votes yesterday to form a government. There were fears that a victory for anti-bailout radicals would have led to the country being forced out of the euro-zone.

State-owned oil firms informally consult their parent ministry before revising prices.

Indian Oil, Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum had over the past one week indicated of a scope of reducing rates from June 1 but decided against doing so just now, the official said.

Petrol price hiked Rs 7.50 per litre – Effective Midnight

Posted on May 23, 2012 by melwin23

New Delhi: Petrol prices have been increased steeply by Rs 7.50 a litre from midnight. The increase was on the cards with the rupee continuing its free fall against the US dollar. The rupee fell to a record life low of 56 per dollar on Wednesday.

Petrol price hiked – India

State-owned oil companies have decided to raise petrol price by Rs 6.28 per litre excluding local sales tax or VAT. The hike translates into Rs 7.50 per litre in Delhi and is the steepest ever. Petrol in Delhi currently costs Rs 65.64 a litre and after the increase it will be priced at Rs 73.14 per litre.

Oil companies had already told the government that wanted to hike petrol price by at least Rs 4 per litre.

Earlier on Tuesday, Petroleum Minister S Jaipal Reddy had said that there was an immediate need to raise fuel prices, but refused to say when the hike would actually take place.

The government had decontrolled petrol price in June 2010 but rates were last increased on November 4 last year. This despite oil price rising by 14 per cent and 7 per cent fall in value of rupee against the US dollar.

Price of diesel, kerosene and cooking gas were raised in June 2011.

State-owned oil firms, who had in the fiscal ending March 31, 2012 lost Rs 4,860 crore on petrol sales, are currently losing Rs 6.28 per litre on petrol.

Here are the rates of petrol in four major metros after the hike:

Petrol in Delhi currently costs Rs 65.64 a litre and after the increase it will be priced at Rs 73.14 per litre.

In Mumbai, the petrol now costs Rs 70.66 but after midnight it will go up to rs 78.16.

Kolkata too faces the pressure with the petrol now costing Rs 77.53 from Rs 70.03.

Similarly, the cost of petrol in Chennai will see a steep hike of Rs 7.50 to 77.05 from Rs 69.55.

Top 50 MPG Popular Motorcycles:

Posted on February 28, 2012 by melwin23

This is the list of motorcycles with high fuel efficiency – mileage

Lifan 200 Sport : from 135 to 179 MPG

Yamaha TW200 : from 121 to 160 MPG

Honda 125 Varadero : from 119 to 158 MPG

Honda 200 Twinstar : from 119 to 158 MPG

Honda XL185 : from 119 to 158 MPG

Honda XL250S : from 116 to 153 MPG

Kawasaki Ninja EX250R : from 116 to 153 MPG

Yamaha Virago 250 : from 114 to 151 MPG

Honda Nighthawk 250 : from 113 to 149 MPG

Yamaha 125 Virago : from 111 to 147 MPG

Hyosung GV250 : from 109 to 145 MPG

Honda XL500 : from 105 to 138 MPG

BMW F650GS : from 101 to 134 MPG

Suzuki Intruder VL125 : from 100 to 132 MPG

Yamaha XV535 Virago : from 100 to 132 MPG

Buell Blast : from 98 to 130 MPG

Honda CMX 250 : from 97 to 128 MPG

Kawasaki Ninja 500R : from 95 to 126 MPG

Yamaha YZF600R : from 95 to 126 MPG

Yamaha XJ550 Seca : from 93 to 124 MPG

Honda Shadow VLX : from 92 to 121 MPG

Kawasaki KZ550 : from 89 to 117 MPG

Suzuki LS650 Savage : from 89 to 117 MPG

Suzuki GS425 : from 87 to 115 MPG

Suzuki S50 Boulevard : from 87 to 115 MPG

Suzuki V-Strom DL650 : from 87 to 115 MPG

Honda Shadow Aero : from 85 to 113 MPG

Suzuki Marauder 250 : from 85 to 113 MPG

Honda CB350 : from 84 to 111 MPG

Honda CX500 : from 84 to 111 MPG

Yamaha XJ900 Seca : from 84 to 111 MPG

Yamaha XS650 : from 84 to 111 MPG

Kawasaki GPX250 : from 82 to 109 MPG

Kawasaki Vulcan 800 Classic : from 82 to 109 MPG

Suzuki C90 Boulevard : from 82 to 109 MPG

Suzuki GS500 : from 82 to 109 MPG

BMW R850R : from 81 to 107 MPG

Honda CB400T Hawk : from 81 to 107 MPG

Honda CX500C : from 81 to 107 MPG

Honda V30 Magna : from 81 to 107 MPG

Kawasaki 125 Eliminator : from 81 to 107 MPG

Kawasaki 454 LTD : from 81 to 107 MPG

Kawasaki EN500 Vulcan : from 81 to 107 MPG

Kawasaki KLR650 : from 81 to 107 MPG

Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 : from 81 to 107 MPG

Suzuki C50 Boulevard : from 81 to 107 MPG

Suzuki Katana GSX 750 : from 81 to 107 MPG

Suzuki S83 Boulevard : from 81 to 107 MPG

Yamaha FJ600 : from 81 to 107 MPG

Yamaha FZ6 : from 81 to 107 MPG

Hypermile your motorcycle up to – No BS

Posted on February 28, 2012 by melwin23

The hypermiling techniques discussed in: Riding Your Bike For Maximum MPG can be implemented by any rider to obtain an immediate 20 to 40% increase in fuel economy. However in these desperate times when a trip to the gas station can cost more than a week’s groceries, some motorcyclists may want to wring even more miles from each mind- and wallet-numbingly expensive gallon.

Extreme hypermiling involves applying techniques which are much more radical than the typical common sense “conventional wisdom” tips to increase fuel mileage. However, these extreme hypermiling processes can return a remarkable increase in fuel economy.

Here are the top five extreme hypermiling procedures that any motorcyclist anywhere can apply to skyrocket your MPG. These techniques are effective with all motorcycles, from the weeniest 125cc commuter single cylinder to the most powerful 2 litre V-twin. When you consider that these techniques can squeeze 179 MPG from a motorcycle (not a scooter, but a real motorcycle), and even up to 113 MPG from a modern 750 like a Honda Shadow Aero they are definitely worth considering!

179 MPG… that’s about $30 in gas even with today’s prices to get from New York City to Miami!!!

Important! All of these have significant if not outright compromising safety considerations and may even be illegal in some jurisdictions. They should not be implemented without clear and comprehensive understanding of the severe ramifications.

1) Adjust your carburetor’s throttle lever so that it can only open up to half of its normal travel. This will limit your maximum revs and acceleration. Remember that you won’t have the power to do all the things you easily do now, like pass on the highway!

2) Change your handlebars to clipons. I hate those blasted low bars that make me feel like I’m caught halfway in a pushup, but lowering your arm position will drop your body down to the tank of the bike and considerably decrease your bike’s overall aerodynamic drag.

3) Cover your radiator. On watercooled motorcycles, you can cover the radiator with a piece of cardboard to keep your engine warmer and thus more efficient. Not a good idea to seal it hermetically with duct tape, nor is it a wise choice for stop and go rush hour commuting in August in Phoenix.

Now onto the two extreme hypermiling techniques which provide by far the greatest MPG advantage while at the same time providing by far the greatest chance that you’ll end up as a hood ornament on an SUV.

4) Use the kill switch. Unlike automobile drivers, we motorcyclists have an easily accessible kill switch. You can hit that kill switch when coasting and especially downhills, then while holding the clutch in and in an appropriate gear, turn the kill switch back on, release the clutch and restart the engine without using the starter. It is a procedure that when well rehearsed can be smooth and safe, and when it is done without due care and skill can cause you to flip your bike. Also note that in some motorcycles, you will lose braking power if your engine is off.

5) Only for hyperexperienced riders! Draft. This can kill you deader than almost any other hypermiling technique, but anyone who has ridden behind an 18 wheeler on the highway will testify that the “draft air zone” which is created by the wake of the truck can extend back well over 100 feet. If you don’t get distracted and your life insurance policy is paid up, this technique can drastically increase your highway MPG.

Should you implement at least some of these techniques and manage to not be turned into a splat mark on the asphalt, you could legitimately expect these MPG ratings from the
However, you may find that you’d be happy maybe cutting back on your riding, or scrimping on groceries, as some of those extreme hypermiling procedures can present a clear and present danger to your continued health and longevity! Be careful out there. Remember that saving money on fuel isn’t going to be worth much if you’re dead!
source

DUSTBIN FAIRING

Posted on February 6, 2012 by melwin23

BMW K1200GT touring motorcycle with full fairing
A motorcycle fairing is a shell placed over the frame of some motorcycles, especially racing motorcycles and sport bikes, with the primary purpose to reduce air drag. The secondary functions are the protection of the rider from airborne hazards and wind-induced hypothermia and of the engine components in the case of an accident. There may be a front fairing, as well as a rear fairing component. A motorcycle windshield may be an integral part of the fairing.

The major benefit of a fairing on sport touring and touring motorcycles is a reduction in fuel consumption. The reduction in aerodynamic drag allows for taller gearing, which in turn increases engine life.

The importance of streamlining was known very early in the 20th century. Some streamlining was seen on racing motorcycles as early as the 1920s. The effects of aerodynamic drag on motorcycles are very significant.

The term fairing came into use in aircraft aerodynamics with regard to smoothing airflow over a juncture of components where airflow was disrupted. Early streamlining was often unsuccessful resulting in instability. Handlebar fairings, such as those on Harley-Davidson Tourers, sometimes upset the balance of a motorcycle, inducing wobble. The first factory installed full fairing was that installed on the BMW R100RS introduced in 1976. This marked the beginning of widespread adoption of fairings on sports, and touring types of motorcycles.

Originally the fairings were cowlings put around the front of the bike, increasing its frontal area. Gradually they had become an integral part of the design. Modern fairings increase the frontal area at most by 5% compared to a naked machine. Fairing may carry headlights, instruments, and other items. If the fairing is mounted on the frame, mounting equipment on the fairing reduces the weight and rotational inertia of the steering assembly, improving the handling

Types

Streamliner: This is a full fairing as found on land speed record machines. The entire body of the motorcycle is covered to provide the lowest drag coefficient ratio attainable. The NSU Dolphin II (Delphin II) is a streamliner.
Dustbin fairing: A single-piece, streamlined shell covering the front half of a motorcycle resembling the nose of an aircraft, sometimes referred to as torpedo fairing. It dramatically reduced the frontal drag, but it was banned by Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) from racing in 1958, because it was thought that the frontal point of wind pressure made them highly unstable even with small amounts of yaw.Other reasons cited for the ban were to ensure adequate steering range (lock-to-lock) and stability against crosswinds. FIM regulations forbid streamlining beyond the wheel spindles and require the rider’s arms and legs to be visible from the side.
Dolphin fairing: It was called so because in early models the front wheel mud guard streamlined with the rising windshield part of the fairing resembled the dolphin’s beak from the side view. They had become the norm since the ban of the dustbins

Harley-Davidson police motorcycle with “batwing” fairing
Full-fairing: Bodywork that covers both upper and lower portions of the motorcycle, as distinct from a half fairing, which only has an upper section, and the lower half of the motorcycle is exposed. The fairing on a race or sport bike is meant as an aerodynamic aid, so the windscreen is rarely looked through. If the rider is sitting up at speed he will be buffeted by his rapid progress through the air and act as a parachute, slowing the bike, while if the rider lies flat on the tank behind the windscreen he generates much less aerodynamic drag. The high windscreen and handle-bar width of a touring fairing protect the upright rider from the worst of this, and the windscreen is functional. Full fairings can also provide protection to the engine and chassis in the event of a crash where the fairings, rather than the engine covers and/or frame, slide on the road.
Suzuki SV650s with half fairing and an aftermarket belly pan.
Half-fairing: Fairing that features a windscreen and fairing extending at least below the handlebars, even as far as down to the sides of the cylinder block, though generally half-fairing doesn’t cover the sides of the crankcase or gear box. A number of half-faired models have aftermarket kits available to extend the original half-fairing into a full fairing. Due to the popularity of these kits some manufacturers have started to supply their own full-fairing conversion kits and even offer their half-faired models new with a full-fairing kit fitted at the factory.
Quarter fairing: A windscreen and minimal fairing extending around the headlight fixed to the triple clamp; also referred to as a “bikini fairing”.
Belly pan: Quarter and half fairings are often paired with a belly pan below the engine for diverting air flow away from under the engine to reduce aerodynamic lift, as well as cosmetic reasons. Some track day or racing rules require belly pans to catch leaked fluids

Independent Motorcycle Designers Achieve- OHIO

Posted on February 5, 2012 by melwin23

Fred Hayes with his diesel streamliner, which finished in second place at the challenge, achieving 144 m.p.g.
LEXINGTON, Ohio — Motorcycle tinkerers questing after high fuel efficiency were forced to consider everyday practicality at the 2011 Vetter Fuel Economy Challenge at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course last weekend.

An industrial designer best known for his work with motorcycle fairings, Craig Vetter founded the efficiency event in the early 1980s before taking a break for a few years to raise a family. He decided recently to revive the event, with a new focus on developing two-wheelers that could transport people and their effects comfortably at real-world speeds.

John T. Gurley
Craig Vetter.
This year’s contenders were required to create bikes that could sustain 70 miles per hour running into a headwind, provide a comfortable riding position and carry four bags of groceries onboard as a demonstration of everyday usefulness.

“I don’t want to end up with museum queens,” Mr. Vetter said here on Sunday. “I want to change the world and carry four bags of groceries.” About 20 entrants answered Mr. Vetter’s call.

Today’s motorcycles generally return fairly poor mileage for their size and weight because the market has emphasized high performance above other factors. But with escalating fuel prices and rising awareness of carbon emissions, it does not seem inconceivable that a manufacturer might create new products that incorporate some of the ideas seen in the home-builts on display here.

Charly Perethian, a longtime efficiency chaser from Dahlonega, Ga., took top honors on a machine based on the Honda NX 250 dirt bike, which achieved 153 miles per gallon over the 110-mile highway course. For Mr. Perethian, winning with 153 m.p.g. might have seemed perfunctory at best. He prevailed at the 1983 Vetter Challenge on a 185 cc Yamaha-powered bike that went 372 miles on a gallon of fuel, earning it a spot in the Smithsonian’s collection. That bike, however, was a peapod-shape micromachine that traveled at 50 m.p.h. with its rider tucked tightly inside. It was hardly comfortable, and there was no room for cargo.

A streamlined diesel-powered motorcycle ridden by Fred Hayes of Hesperia, Calif., earned second, at 144 m.p.g. Hayes Diversified Technologies, Mr. Hayes’s company, supplies the United States Marines with Kawasaki KLR 650 scout bikes equipped with special diesel engines.
Mr. Vetter placed sixth, achieving 110 m.p.g. on a bulbous yellow machine derived from a Honda 250 Helix scooter.

Top 10 Eco Friendly Motorcycles

Posted on January 14, 2012 by melwin23

An average motorcycle gets about double the mileage of even the most fuel efficient cars but the downside is that they emit about 15 times more pollution than an average four-wheeler. Ecofriendly motorcycles have been in vogue for quite some time now and are a big hit among environment lovers. If you are crazy about two-wheelers but at the same time are looking for the best environmentally benign products, then hit the break for a list of the 10 best ecofriendly motorcycles.

mission one2 rcfag 69

• Mission One electric motorcycle

mission one1 ce7ov 69

This creation by Mission motors claims a top speed of 150 mph. The power source is a high energy lithium-iron battery pack providing a range of 150 miles per charge. Launched in April 2009, the tailpipe had been eliminated, adding the features of silence and zero carbon emissions.

· Brammo Enertia electric motorcycle

brmmoenertiajuly09

This cool-looking aluminum-extruded two-wheeler weighs only 280 pounds and is an entry level ride both for experts and beginners. Its premium design is targeted toward the eco-luxury segment. It runs on lithium-phosphate power cells, which remains good for about 3 hours and provide a range of 45 miles per charge.

• Zero MX from Zero Motorcycles

zeromx sized

Weighing a mere 151 pounds, this is a new creation by Zero Motorcycles in the electric motocrosser segment. The silent bike makes riding possible in areas off-limits due to noise restrictions. The motorcycle uses the typical lithium-ion battery good for 2 hours or 40 miles and takes less than 2 hours to charge.

• Piaggio MP3 125 Hybrid

piaggio mp3 hybrid 580

It is the world’s first production hybrid motorcycle. It combines a conventional 125cc four-stroke petrol engine with an electric motor driving the rear wheel with a rechargeable battery. Thus you can run it as electric only giving it a top speed of 35 km/h, regenerative mode and hybrid power mode, which is more useful on busy streets. The battery is compact and recharges in about an hour and a half.

• Modified Kawasaki ZX

kawasaki1 qwhux 69

You too can get your bike modified into a more environmentally benign version just like Jason and Jeremy Cantwell did. They got their Kawasaki ZX retrofitted with a hydrogen/gasoline hybrid engine. To add to it, the engine still yields a good 170hp besides doubling its mileage. To keep the weight of the bike to a minimum the body was made from lightweight carbon fiber and the weight of the wheels was also less. This modified beauty was launched in November 2008.

• E1pc by MotoCzysz

motoczysz yfwar 69

The feature that qualifies this motorbike to be called a dream machine is its hot swappable lithium battery pack. This power source gives the bike a top speed of 150mph on a single-speed gear box and 175mph with its multi-speed gear system. The framework is made up of aluminum and carbon fiber. The 150ft-lb motor yields 115hp. Most of all, the look is a treat to the eyes.

• TTX01 superbike

electric superbike2 m8pma 69

The 2008 NEC Bike Show unveiled the electric TTX01 superbike, which shatters the myth that silent bikes are sluggish. Based on a Suzuki GSX750 frame, it carries 43bhp electric motors. The motors propel the bike from standstill to 60mph in a record time of 3.5 seconds. Its top speed can go up to 150mph, but like all superbikes, this one too comes for a hefty price of £20,000.

• Bull 1 by Evolt

evolt bull1 from italy

With a top speed of 55mph, the Bull1 features both good performance and a decent range. It runs on lithium-polymer batteries, which give it a two-hour run time. Charging time is one hour and is done through a custom charging device.

• Yahama Tesseract concept

yahama

This concept hybrid by Yamaha is a combination of a V-twin engine and an electric motor. This four-wheeled bike retains the lane splitting and parking ease of a standard bike, to quite an extent. Besides, it comes with a mechanism to keep it upright when parked or stopped.

• 2009 VX-1 by Vectrix Electrics

vectrix

This new avatar of the Vectrix Personal Electric Vehicle comes in four new vibrant colors, new accessories and graphics. With a top speed of 62mph, it has a range of 35-55 miles. With two seat options- standard and lower, it has a standard kickstart. The 2009 VX-1 is clean, quiet and a beauty.

Motom motorcycle

Posted on January 12, 2012 by melwin23

Exhibition of vintage motorcycles (Motom)

THE HISTORY OF MOTOM

At the end of World War II engineer Baptist Falchetto, former designer of the Spear, in cooperation with the industrialists Frua De Angelis had the idea to build a lightweight moped robust and cost (almost a small motorcycle), good performance, high reliability but who remain within the limits of the classic 50 cc.

The first named Motom Motomic presented at the Geneva Motor Show in 1947 and whose name is an abbreviation for Atomic Moto.The Motom consisted of a frame, printed with X-shape, consisting of two halves combined, and the soap reservoir to be inserted between the two, just behind the headstock. The proven automotive experience Falchetto inspires him in the design of the engine, with four-stroke cycle developed with the engine Sola, also of the Spear.
But are the characteristics of the motor vehicle Motom making that all subsequent years of production.It was a 4 stroke engine, single cylinder, air-cooled power of good and exceptionally low fuel consumption. Motom salient features of the engine were reliability, low power consumption (75 km on a liter of gasoline) and good performance (top speed in third faster than 50 kilometers per hour, maximum slope exceeds 22%).

The engine motom suffered years of only marginal changes (such as lubrication of valves in the head) that were sufficient to significantly improve the performance, so that patterns of the 60 athletes exceeded the 75 km times while maintaining exceptionally low fuel consumption.