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With the current recession and the fuel price hike, finding ways to increase your vehicle's mileage and reduce greenhouse gas emissions is not something that only scientists and tree-huggers are concerned about. Anyone who drives and owns a vehicle of some sort would love to have options that help them save money on fuel. And if you can reduce your carbon footprint while you're at it, great! With auto-makers being badly affected by the economic downturn, research funding on greener vehicles will be one of the first things to take a hit. But it doesn't always require a complete overhaul of our thinking to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and reduce automobile pollution. Even simple tweaks to current car models can improve fuel efficiency and cut emissions, according to a report in the March 2009 issue of Scientific American. While a great deal of research is on to find alternative sources of fuel, develop electric vehicles (EVs) and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles, scientists are also suggesting modifications in current vehicle models that can double gas mileage and may help you cut your fuel bill in half. Some new technologies that are emerging include fuel vaporization technologies that can boost the mileage of existing engines while lowering emissions. Others include stop-start systems that shut down the engine when the car is idling, tires that reduce friction, variable valve timing to boost fuel efficiency and fuel economy displays to increase driver awareness. Designing smaller, more powerful and more efficient engines, recycling engine heat to produce energy, creating vehicles that weigh less and perform better aerodynamically-these are some of the developments that scientists are working on. Better ways to conserve energy, including more efficient lighting systems, transmission and air conditioners are also in the pipeline. Studies have found that these simple tweaks can save up to six billion barrels of oil, two gigatons of CO2 and $600 billion in fuel costs by 2050. The best part about this it costs far less to improve the efficiency of current models than to find a new way of doing things, and that should make even auto-makers and policy analysts happy to promote it. Detractors point out that these are just stop gap methods that will take the focus off the research to develop alternate and cleaner fuel sources. However, adopting newer, greener technologies is not going to be an option for automobile manufacturers or consumers in the current economic scenario. Until the financial climate starts looking brighter again, even small changes can make a difference to fuel savings. Ultimately the goal of most car-makers and consumers is to switch to hybrid vehicles and EVs that are powered by fuel cells or batteries. These are the most likely candidates for a green automobile revolution, but they require a radical change in the way our energy and manufacturing systems function to become a viable choice for the layperson. The technology already exists to make our cars more fuel efficient and to lower CO2 emissions. All that is required is the willingness and the policy changes to support it, so that more people can adopt these modifications in their current vehicles without having to overhaul their lifestyles or buy a new car altogether. Want value for money servicing, including high grade replacements for your vehicle's engine and interior body parts? Metairie car care experts provide trustworthy and reliable maintenance, repair and automotive spare parts. Visit the auto body shop at http://www.neworleansautorepair.net
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