Archive for August, 2011

Ford engineers working to use dandelions as plastics modifier

Aug 26, 2011 | by Oscar Chalmers | No Comments »

People who buy a new car from Ford may have the added bonus up making an environmentally friendly choice without even realizing it.

Working alongside researchers at Ohio State University, officials with Ford say they are close to developing a new rubber-like substance from dandelions which could replace synthetic, petroleum-based rubbers, according to the New York Times.

The paper states the material could be used for car features such as cup holders, interior trim and floor mats, and may provide a green alternative to petroleum-based vehicle materials.

Philip Gott, managing director of IHS Automotive, an auto industry forecast center, told the newspaper the development of a rubber replacement, which is more eco-friendly, could be substantially positive for the environment.

“Far from ‘greenwashing,’ there has been a longstanding effort on the part of the industry to use natural plants to produce manufactured goods,” he told the paper, adding European auto manufacturers are also looking into creating and using the new material.

Ford has history of working with alternative materials

Since Henry Ford began the company, the paper states Ford has tested a variety of alternative products and materials to use in their vehicles, such as toy parts. Read more…

Young Drivers and Car Insurance

Aug 25, 2011 | by Stephen Murphy | No Comments »

Nothing’s quite as exciting as getting the keys to the car and heading out on your own for the very first time. But if you’re a parent with an excited teen driver in the house, you probably know how nerve-wracking this can be as well. Amidst the driver tests and practice runs, it can be easy to forget about car insurance. That’s to be expected — the thought of coverages, limits, and deductibles is likely the last thing on your mind as you watch your child get behind the wheel and drive off to … wherever it is teens drive to these days.

But before you hand over the keys to the station wagon, you need to talk car insurance. And car insurance for teens is not exactly the same as car insurance for grown ups. You might

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7 Generations of System Wars

Aug 25, 2011 | by Christopher Allen | No Comments »

Even the most hardcore gamers will find something new and interesting on our journey back to 1976 to truly understand the system wars of today. Sure you know where Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony stand in 2010, but how did we get here?

Cheap Car Insurance & Rioting

Aug 25, 2011 | by Oscar Chalmers | No Comments »

There can be no doubt as to what the big news story of the week is – the rioters that are laying waste to some of the biggest cities in the UK and causing all kinds of mayhem on high streets and in residential areas alike. Regardless of your opinion and the political persuasion you follow (this is not the place for a debate and so I will not be stating my opinions), you have to agree that there has been a lot of damage done to property and vehicles alike. Of course, if rioting was happening down your street or close to you then any damage done to your car is not your fault but that is not to say that your cheaper car insurance is not a thing of the past.

Any claim on cheap car insurance will automatically put your premiums up and insurers are highly unlikely to offer you any break for getting caught up in a tense situation that was definitely not your fault. A

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State Farm Auto Quote May Not Cover These Things

Aug 24, 2011 | by Christopher Allen | No Comments »

Car insurance companies must find a balance between offering excellent insurance coverage and running a business.  In the Fox Business article 6 Auto Insurance Potholes, by Jay MacDonald, we learn some of the actions we should take to avoid damage that wont be covered.  When you get a State Farm auto quote or that from another car insurance company, they are covering damage to your car assuming that you act in a responsible manner.  Its just not possible for a car insurance company to exist and cover any possible thing that could happen to your car.  You have the responsibility to make good decisions, which should ensure that you are covered by your insurer if something does happen.

Any intentional damage to a vehicle or person will likely be excluded from your coverage, so keep your road rage in check.  When you compare car insurance policies, most have a livery exclusion.  So if you use your vehicle to make deliveries or transport people on a regular basis, whether for business or charity, you need a car insurance policy that specifies coverage for the continual transportation.  Be sure that your policy covers any damage if you lend your car to a friend or family member.  Your policy may or may not cover them and even if it does, it may limit coverage or stipulate that you have to be riding in the car with them.

Dont brush off your car salesman when they offer you lease-gap insurance coverage.  For those who lease vehicles or take out a loan to pay for new vehicles, a totaled car is usually only covered for the market value.  If you owe more than that, which most people do, you have to come up with the extra cash to cover the difference if your car is totaled.  If you dont have comprehensive coverage from a company like Bristol West car insurance, you probably arent covered from damage caused by acts of nature.  Comprehensive coverage will pay for storm or flood damage, problems animals cause to your car, or damage from hitting a large animal like a deer.  Anything that doesnt come with your car is not covered by your car insurance policy if stolen.  Electronics and shopping bags alike are not reimbursed, even if they are stolen from your car.  Make sure to double check your car insurance policy to see if you have any gaps.

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