Car Sharing: Now A Revolution in Personal Transportation in Japan
Car sharing is a remarkable innovation in personal transportation in the 21st century.
This mode of personal transportation involves a short-term arrangement of renting a car. It is an urban car rental service wherein the customer who is a registered member can make reservations for a rental car for a period of time, as short as one hour. The customer can pick up the car at the designated place in their vicinity, and can return that car there.
This trend is now slowly increasing in popularity in Japan, specifically in the urban areas, though it is not as widespread as in North America and Europe.
Ford Launches Dry Clutch Version of Dual-Clutch PowerShift Transmission in 2010
In 2010, Ford Motor Company will launch in North America the dry-clutch version of the Dual-Clutch PowerShift Transmission for small cars.
Dual-Clutch technology comprises of two parallel manual transmissions, each one with an independent clutch mechanism. The first one has the irregular gears of 1, 3, and 5, while the other one carries the even gears of 2, 4, and 6. These two mechanisms synchronize with each other for flawless gear shifts and torque delivery.
The PowerShift can successfully reduce the consumption of fuel by 9% when compared to conventional automatic four-speed transmissions. Wet clutch plates are flooded in oil, therefore, this dry clutch technology does away with slightly heavier torque converters and oil pumps, while still providing maximum mechanical performance. It also eliminates hydraulic fluids, and cooling lines. The PowerShift eradicates the external cooler that traditional wet clutch mechanism carries. Therefore, the dry clutch derivative is 30 pounds less than the four-speed automatic transmission packed in the latest Ford Focus.
Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Helping EVs Zoom on the Road
Fossil fuel outputs have been declining in the recent years and technologies are being developed so electric vehicles will be feasible for the public.
The electric motor is more than 90% more energy efficient than the combustion engines used by vehicles today. The ordinary combustion engine car today outputs 25 to 30% of the energy from its fuel in the tank. The electric propulsion makes vehicles more efficient and friendlier to the environment.
In 2007, only 2.2% of the market comprised hybrid cars. The automotive sector forecasts a 15% coverage by 2015. Major car manufacturers are gearing towards the development of EVs and the market is responding well with these green cars.
Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide Inc. is a Tier 1 provider of propulsion systems, alternative fuel cars, energy storage, and equipment supplier.
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