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Is the world really getting more and more concerned about our environment? Are we really getting more conscious about what we do so that we actually do not add to the destruction of nature?

Well, it looks like such for the market is constantly bombarded with consumers who are looking for clean and fuel efficient vehicles. Most consumers are no longer looking for really sporty and performance driven types of vehicles. Right now, their main concern is the environment and their pocket.

One very clear example of such is the recent order of electric vehicles. The well known manufacturer of electric vehicles, ZAP, just received its largest order in its entire existence in the industry. After all, the total amount of the order has crept up to US $79 million.

Such a huge order came about from The Electric Vehicle Company, or more commonly referred to as the EVC, which is a company based in Chicago. This group is one of those businesses who are making sure that they do send out word to all ordinary consumers about electric transportation that do not help pollute the environment but also is quite light on the pocket.

According to ZAP’s chief head honcho, Steve Schneider, the whole order of US$79 million is actually not just for electric cars. The order also does include a variety of electric vehicles like trucks. He also did further mention that would the orders be filled out in 12 months, EVC would be receiving a discount of 8% from the total deal.

Schneider also does continue to disclose, “We believe this order, which constitutes thousands of vehicles, is the largest order for consumer electric vehicles in history.” And with that statement it seems like he does have a point. In fact, not even huge companies like Active Brakes Direct or Ford have yet to experience such a huge order for their products.

“Many municipalities have been talking recently about mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, so we are grateful to be involved in this historic effort,” Schneider also does continue to express. This is after Schneider did mention that last March, quite a huge amount of concerned individuals, groups and organizations have voiced out their concerns in Congress calling for the lawmakers to give limits when it comes to carbon dioxide and other harmful gases emissions.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the bureau and arm of the country’s government that is concerned with the protection of the environment. And as part of this role of theirs, the agency has its own share of programs that would help keep Mother Nature as clean as possible.

One of the programs that the EPA has is its SmartWay program which made for highway tractors. This program is actually a member and a part of the agency’s SmartWay Transport Partnership wherein you can get more information about hem through www.epa.gov/smartway.

Following that line, one of the industry’s top companies has announced their vested support for the mentioned program. This company is Cummins Inc. and it has already said that all of the engines that they would be selling for 2007 would come as clean units and would be quite fuel efficient. And all of their 2007 model engine units would be made available for use for all Class 8 tractors and these has all been tested so much so that it meets all the given requirements by the previously mentioned EPA program.

But this is not where the fun ends. According to the automotive company, they are also sending out another new product which they are calling the Cummins Comfort Guard and this one comes as a power unit back up and it would be a great help for all drivers especially of large vehicles and its importance would surely be just like the that of a vehicle’s brakes which are very much needed during any kind of travel. The Cummins Comfort Guard would be able to help out tractor owners and manufacturers meet with the given requirements for the SmartWay.

So which 2007 engine units from Cummins are going to be compliant and part of the program? According to the company, their on-highway engine units would include the ISX, the ISM, and the ISL and all of these would be able to power and give life to tractors belonging to the Class 8. Also, all of these engines have been tested so much so that it has been found out to be clean enough that they have been certified already as per the 2007 EPA’s given requirements.

Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive.buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.You can also visit brakes for more information.a

Volvo has etched ample contributions in varied fields. As a fact, the word Volvo has eventually become a household name. This year, in accordance with its long lineup of activities, the company’s search for top young sailors continues.

In ISAF’s Centenary year, the Portsmouth Olympic Harbour will host the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship. The challenging event is scheduled from the 12th up to the 21st of July this year. More than 200 young sailors from 50 different nations around the globe are expected to participate in the ISAF World Championship. They are all heading to Kingston, Canada for this year’s Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship. Paraguay and St. Lucia will both compete at the Youth Worlds for the first time in the biggest-ever Championships held in North America.

Before the Youth World starts, an enthralling European summer of sailing is scheduled to be delivered to showcase the Championship’s uncompromising ability to give the sailing world a first glance of its future stars. The Volvo brake booster will surely not be stopping the flow of thrilling events. According to the people behind the much-anticipated event, spectators could expect nothing less than pure sailing action.

In Valencia, the Defender of the 32nd America’s Cup Alinghi features former Youth Worlds medallists Jorge Calafat (ESP) and Murray Jones (NZL) amongst its ranks. On the other hand, leading challengers include the BMW Oracle Racing and the Emirates Team New Zealand which will both be skippered by the previous Youth World Champions Dean Barker (NZL) and Chris Dickson (NZL).

At this year’s ISAF Sailing World Championships in Cascais, among the leading contenders will be some of many Youth Worlds medalists who have gone on to stand on the Olympic podium. The long list of star names includes Robert Scheidt (BRA), Alessandra Sensini (ITA), Siren Sundby (NOR) and Gal Fridman (ISR).

Now, racing enthusiasts are entertaining cobwebs at the back of their head: who will bag the glory among the 223 registered competitors competing at the 37th edition of the ISAF Youth Worlds?

Fiona Kidd (CAN), the chair of the ISAF Youth World Championship Sub-Committee, said, “Once again the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships has proven itself the premier event for youth sailing and it will take on a special significance in ISAF’s Centenary year. I am thrilled to see St Lucia and Paraguay enter the event for the first time ever - it just goes to show that, with the help of the APP and our sponsors Volvo, the spread and appeal of the Championships continues to grow.”

Kidd added, “Ever since the 1976 Olympic Regatta, Portsmouth Olympic Harbour has proven itself to be a fantastic sailing venue and I’m looking forward to the warm welcome which I know will greet the 37th ISAF Youth Worlds in Kingston.”

Speaking from China, race CEO Glenn Bourke, himself a former Laser Champion, has this to say: “We are proud to sponsor the ISAF Youth World Championship. We are sending our Volvo Ocean Race media team to Kingston to support the event and our commitment to developing the talents of today’s young sailors.”

Volvo Cars’ new booster cushion system is the automaker’s gateway to get the World Traffic Safety Symposium awards. The new system from the automaker is engineered to help protect children who have outgrown their toddler seats.

At the 2007 World Traffic Safety Symposium, a panel of judges from the Dept. of Transportation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Automobile Association of America Foundation for Traffic Safety, the National Road Safety Foundation, and the New York Police Department Traffic Safety Division awarded Volvo the first prize in the Automotive Manufacturer category for this innovative safety feature. The award stands among three other safety acknowledgements: Public Service, Media Activity and Aftermarket Product Design.

The Swedish automaker has contributed several safety milestones in the industry including the Volvo brake caliper, seat belts, and airbags among many others. The latest, so far, is the booster cushion system which is a combination of the tougher side body structure, load limiting seat belts, inflatable curtain and other reliable parts to deliver a distinctive engineering solution that ensures safety and comfy travel experience. Volvo’s innovation is the world’s first two-step integrated booster cushion. This is why it deserves to receive a prestigious international commendation.

“Our goal is to help protect occupants. This award acknowledges our efforts to help protect our smallest passengers, our children,” noted Thomas Broberg, the Senior Safety Advisor for the Volvo Car Corporation in Sweden. “This new seat, in conjunction with our refinements in side body structure and the inflatable curtain will have a significant reduction in child injuries.”

The seat belt positioning is one of the essential considerations when ensuring safety of children of different heights. Several studies have shown that proper positioning with the use of a booster cushion helps lessen abdominal injuries caused by the child slipping under the seat belt. Field data in several studies supports these findings and stresses the significance of booster seats. Studies point out that the booster be designed to hold the belt snugly across the pelvis or thighs during a frontal impact.

The overall effectiveness of booster seats is estimated as 31 percent as compared to utilizing only a seat belt and as high as 75 percent as compared to no restraint at all. Getting all children of appropriate age and size to use booster cushion delivers a potentially noteworthy safety benefit.

According to a study carried out by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 39.5 percent of the 664 children inspected in belt-positioning booster cushion were considered as critical misuse. The most common misuse was improper fitment of the shoulder belt followed by loose belt, improper fit of the lap belt and inappropriate age/fit.

“We took into account the child’s physical size and weight, seat belt misuse, child physiology, along with redesigning our vehicle side body structure and side impact inflatable curtain to come up with this new integrated two-step booster seat,” said Broberg. “There will be better fitment of our three-point seat belt, a wider age and weight range, and better attitude for the child who can now easily see outside with the added benefit of reducing driver distraction. Hopefully we will hear less often: ‘Are we there yet?’”

Volvo Cars has turned 80 on April 14. In connection to this remarkable milestone, the Swedish automaker rolled off a production consists of antique and modern product lines. As part of its 80th anniversary, Volvo showcased a parade of cars through the Gothenburg city which is its very own hometown.

The parade of cars includes the Volvo OV4 - the automaker’s very first car. The parade flaunted eighty years of history which has rolled from the Volvo museum in the outskirts of the city to downtown Gothenburg where the public was invited to gaze at Volvo’s engineering and vehicle know-how.

To highlight the event, Carl-Magnus Skogh, 82, a veteran Swedish rally legend, drove a 1927 convertible, the first car that Volvo mass-produced. Skogh was one of the renowned names who have helped the company to become popular on the world map. In the 1960s, along with racing legends like Joginder “Flying Sikh” Singh and Tom Trana, Skogh earned Volvo headlines worldwide with his achievements on the international rally circuit from the Saharan Africa to Greek Acropolis.

Skogh joined Volvo in 1963 after a successful stint as a rally driver for Swedish competitor Saab. He won the Swedish championship in 1960 and 1961, driving a SAAB 96. In 1965, he won the Acropolis Rally in a Volvo Amazon. Skogh’s automotive expertise was essential to the automaker not only on race courses around the world, but also in product research and development. In 1978, Skogh set the world speed record for diesel cars with 209 kph in a Volvo 340 that he had modified. The rally legend has also contributed to improving driveability and stability features of the cars.

“I designed the chassis features of the 850,” stressed Skogh. The rally legend intimated that he was happy about driving the most important car in the parade. The CEO of Volvo Trucks, Leif Johansson and the CEO of Volvo Cars, Fredrik Arp, were his passengers. “I feel good today. It’s an experience to have Leif Johansson and Fredrik Arp in the backseat,” said Skogh.

It can be recalled that in 1999, the Swedish premium cars and trucks manufacturer was split into two companies, the Ford Motor Company bought the automobile division. Through the years, Volvo has established a good standing when it comes to both durability and safety. At present, the company is striving to wipe away the boxy image to complete an excellent package.

The Swedish automaker founded in 1997 has eventually become a leading global manufacturer of commercial vehicles. To grab a bigger slice of the automotive market, the founders entertained several upgrades and modifications. The ordinary Volvo brake dust shields and other auto parts and equipment from the automaker were enhanced to offer superb efficiency, ergonomics and safety.