Tag Archives: Cars

5 Reasons to Choose Rail Travel

  By | | , , ,
3 Comments

Are you debating the best way to get from A to B? Are you considering travelling by rail – but not sure if it offers the most benefits? You’re in the right place. Here, we explore five reasons to choose rail travel.

1. You can be productive

If you’re driving a car, you need to place your undivided attention on the road in front of you. When you take the train, however, you’re free to spend your time onboard as you wish. Whether that’s being productive by getting some work done on your laptop, relaxing with your favourite podcast or refuelling with a bite to eat, you can make the most of your time spent travelling.

2. It’s better for the environment

Studies have shown that public transport can help to tackle climate change – by reducing the reliance on individual car journeys and therefore lowering overall emissions from petrol and diesel. In the US, greenhouse gas emissions caused by transport accounts for around 29% of the country’s total emissions – so by having less cars on the road, emissions can be reduced. This will in turn improve air quality, particularly in urban areas, leading to a healthier population.

3. You can avoid traffic

Have you ever been in a rush to get somewhere, got stuck in a traffic jam and ended up being late? You’re not alone – many of us have been caught out by heavy traffic at one time or another. Travelling by train means you don’t need to worry about getting stuck in traffic, you can simply hop onboard and get from A to B with ease. For instance, if you need to travel by train from Cambridge to Hatfield in rush hour, you’ll typically arrive in less than an hour with no stress about traffic or parking.

4. It’s fast and efficient

Another benefit of travelling by rail is that it’s fast and efficient. Many rail services can travel at impressive high speeds which are much quicker than that of a car on the road. Of course, how fast the train travels will depend on the service and model – but some of the fastest trains in the world include the Shanghai Maglev at 267mph and the Fuxing Hao at 249 mph.

5. It’s cost-effective

Travelling by train may also be a more cost-effective option than travelling by car or plane. This really depends on where you’re travelling to and from, so it’s important to do your research before you book your travel. In some cases, you may be able to take advantage of deals and discounts from the train provider. For instance, you can often get great value fares if you have a railcard or travel at Off-Peak times.

Will you take the train next time you have to travel?

Choose a Car That Fits Your Lifestyle: 4 Great Options to Consider

  By | | ,
1 Comment

Buying a car is a big decision. You’ll be spending a lot of money on something that will be your primary mode of transportation to and from work, school, and other important events. When looking for the most memorable vehicle or any other vehicle, it’s a good idea to think about what types of vehicles ideally suit your lifestyle. It’s normal to want a car that looks good and is fun to drive, but cars aren’t just beautiful things. Also, you have to think about how the vehicle will be used. Here’s a breakdown of Gurney’s Automotive vehicle types and why they’re best suited.

Electric cars are the future of eco-friendly transportation

 4 Vehicle Types to Consider

1. Cars

Most vehicles are available in two entry-level packages, known as roadsters, or in four entry-level packages, known as cars. Vehicles are the most common vehicle type and are useful for a variety of purposes. Cars are very popular with drivers who have to commute to work or school as they tend to have the highest miles per gallon. Many gaming vehicles are roadsters, and these are well-known choices for people who like convertibles or want to go fast. The vehicles are also ideal for couples or families with younger people.

2. Vans

There are two types of vans. A typical van is a large vehicle that is often used by businesses. Drivers who need to transport their children often use minivans. A minivan is a smaller version of a minivan that handles more like a car than a truck. A van usually has a lot of storage space and can usually carry up to seven people. Even smaller vans than expected can easily be converted into wheelchairs.

3. SUVs

SUVs were originally intended as commercial vehicles but have recently become popular family cars. Many SUVs are equipped with all-wheel drive, which allows driving on difficult terrain. Like minivans, SUVs offer space for five to nine people, depending on the model. If you have to drive every day, an SUV might not be the best choice as it tends to be low on fuel.

Transport Fleets Using Telematics

4. Trucks

Trucks are often chosen for people who frequently need to transport equipment or materials. Because many truck models can accommodate up to five passengers, they’re a popular choice for active families. Another option for trucks is an RV shell that provides weather protection in the bed area.

When choosing a model, consider your preferred style and the functions you want your vehicle to have. Choosing the perfect vehicle for your lifestyle is a difficult decision that requires careful thought.

Biomethane from Food Waste: A Window of Opportunity

  By | | , ,
5 Comments

For most of the world, reusing our food waste is limited to a compost pile and a home garden. While this isn’t a bad thing – it can be a great way to provide natural fertilizer for our home-grown produce and flower beds – it is fairly limited in its execution. Biomethane from food waste is an interesting idea which can be implemented in communities notorious for generating food wastes on a massive scale. Infact, the European Union is looking for a new way to reuse the millions of tons of food waste that are produced ever year in its member countries – and biomethane could be the way to go.

food-waste-behavior

Bin2Grid

The Bin2Grid project is designed to make use of the 88 million tons of food waste that are produced in the European Union every year. For the past two years, the program has focused on collecting the food waste and unwanted or unsold produce, and converting it, first to biogas and then later to biomethane. This biomethane was used to supply fueling stations in the program’s pilot cities – Paris, Malaga, Zagreb and Skopje.

Biomethane could potentially replace fossil fuels, but how viable is it when so many people still have cars that run on gasoline?

The Benefits of Biomethane

Harvesting fossil fuels is naturally detrimental to the environment. The crude oil needs to be pulled from the earth, transported and processed before it can be used.  It is a finite resource and experts estimate that we will exhaust all of our oil, gas and coal deposits by 2088.

Biomethane, on the other hand, is a sustainable and renewable resource – there is a nearly endless supply of food waste across the globe and by converting it to biomethane, we could potentially eliminate our dependence on our ever-shrinking supply of fossil fuels. Some companies, like ABP Food Group, even have anaerobic digestion facilities to convert waste into heat, power and biomethane.

Neutral Waste

While it is true that biomethane still releases CO2 into the atmosphere while burned, it is a neutral kind of waste. Just hear us out. The biggest difference between burning fossil fuels and burning biomethane is that the CO2 that was trapped in fossil fuels was trapped there millions of years ago.  The CO2 in biomethane is just the CO2 that was trapped while the plants that make up the fuel were alive.

Biofuel in all its forms has a bit of a negative reputation – namely, farmers deforesting areas and removing trees that store and convert CO2 in favor of planting crops specifically for conversion into biofuel or biomethane. This is one way that anti-biofuel and pro-fossil fuel lobbyists argue against the implementation of these sort of biomethane projects – but they couldn’t be more wrong, especially with the use of food waste for conversion into useful and clean energy.

Using biogas is a great way to reduce your fuel costs as well as reuse materials that would otherwise be wasted or introduced into the environment. Upgrading biogas into biomethane isn’t possible at home at this point, but it could be in the future.

If the test cities in the European Union prove successful, biomethane made from food wastes could potentially change the way we think of fuel sources.  It could also provide alternative fuel sources for areas where fossil fuels are too expensive or unavailable. We’ve got our fingers crossed that it works out well – if for no other reason that it could help us get away from our dependence on finite fossil fuel resources.