The average of fuel prices has gone up again this March. According to the American Automobile Association’s Chicago chapter in their Fuel Gauge Report, they had found out in Illinois, regular unleaded gasoline’s price has added 23 cents last month. They are looking at around $3.26 as the price per gallon this month. Compared to last year, that price is 74 cents higher. This goes to show that we all might have to tighten our belts if we would like to see our vehicles still running.

Here are some estimates of how the prices would be this March in several areas:

• In Cook County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $3.37, which is up 22 cents compared to last month and 77 cents higher than last year’s price-per-gallon.
• In DuPage County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $3.24 per gallon, which is a 20-cent increase from February and 78 cents higher than last year.
• In Kane County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $3.25 per gallon, which is 22 cents higher compared to last month and 75 cents higher than March 2007’s price.
• In Lake County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $3.22 per gallon, which is 23 cents higher than last month and up by 75 cents compared to this time last year.
• In McHenry County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $3.24 per gallon, which is 26 cents higher than February’s average and 74 cents higher than March 2007’s price.
• In Will County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $3.26 per gallon, which is 23 cents higher compared to last month and 77 cents higher compared to last year.
• In Champaign County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $3.14 per gallon, an increase of 27 cents from February and an increase of 67 cents from last year.
• In McLean County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $3.20 per gallon, which is 22 cents higher than last month and 68 cents higher than last year.
• In Peoria County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $3.29 per gallon, which is a 34-cent increase compared to last month and a 76-cent increase from March 2007.
• In Sangamon County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $3.18 per gallon, which is 25 cents higher than last month and 66 cents higher than last year.
• In Winnebago County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $3.28 per gallon, an increase of 24 cents from February and an increase of 73 cents from March 2007.
• In Allen County, Ind., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $3.29 per gallon, which is an increase of 32 cents from last month and 76 cents higher than March 2007’s price.
• In Lake County, Ind., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $3.20 per gallon, a 24-cent increase from February’s average and a 74-cent increase from a year ago.
• In Porter County, Ind., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $3.24 per gallon, which is 26 cents higher than last month and 79 cents higher than last year.
• In St. Joseph County, Ind., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $3.26 per gallon, which is 30 cents higher compared to last month and 75 cents higher compared to last year.

[Via The Auto Channel]

Car dealerships all around the United States have something in common - they are currently looking for quite a number of applicants to fill in the job openings available. These dealerships are having a hard time filling in the slots. Good thing, this coming April, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) is having an event known as the Automotive Career Month this April.

Annette Sykora is the chairperson for NADA and she has worked in their family dealership during her early years. She says, “New car and truck dealers have more than 100,000 jobs to fill nationwide.” And with that, the organization is helping dealerships get the needed employees through their event.

Anybody who is interested in knowing more about the positions available in dealerships can learn about such through the campaign. Interested parties can take a tour of the dealerships so they can see how such works and what the employees do. “We are encouraging students to schedule a visit to their hometown dealership and ask about internships or summer jobs, which can often lead to a full-time career a few years down the road,” stated Sykora.

Around a week back, the Minister of Science and Technology in China, Wan Gang, had an announcement. According to him, during the upcoming 2008 Olympics, the country would be meeting on the streets a thousand units of clean vehicles. Half would be powered by electricity and would have zero emissions. The other half would be running on hybrid fuel and would have low emissions.

At present, the country has implemented Euro 4 emission standards. Wan Gang also disclosed that the city of Beijing is currently working hard so that the emission standards would be up to par with European standards on emission. The Minister shared, “We are set to adopt a long term strategy by tapping into the most advanced technologies in the auto industry. Hybrid cars have become a worldwide hit in auto exhibitions. The global auto industry will definitely set their sights on developing energy-saving cars.”

Cars.com recently released its 2008 Hybrid Buying Guide which is intended to help consumers choose which of the 2008 model hybrids are going to be the best buys. Cars.com also disclosed that they designed the guide to assist consumers in choosing which hybrid would suit their lifestyle. The guide also has specifications, price, and fuel efficiency numbers of the top chosen vehicles. One could also find comparisons of the chosen hybrids with non-hybrids.

Here are Cars.com’s top ten 2008 model hybrids:

1. Toyota Prius

MSRP: $21,100

EPA-estimated mileage (city/highway, mpg): 48/45

2. Saturn Vue Green Line

MSRP: $24,170

EPA-estimated mileage: 25/32

3. Honda Civic Hybrid

MSRP: $22,600

EPA-estimated mileage: 40/45

4. Toyota Camry Hybrid

MSRP $25,200

EPA-estimated mileage: 33/34

5. Lexus RX 400h

MSRP: $41,280

EPA-estimated mileage: 27/24

6. Toyota Highlander Hybrid

MSRP: $33,700

EPA-estimated mileage: 27/25

7. Ford Escape Hybrid

MSRP: $26,505

EPA-estimated mileage: 34/30

8. Chevrolet Tahoe 2 Mode Hybrid

MSRP: $49,590

EPA-estimated mileage: 21/22

9. Saturn Aura Green Line

MSRP: $22,140

EPA-estimated mileage: 24/32

10. Lexus GS 450h

MSRP: $54,900

EPA-estimated mileage: 22/25

Nissan’s biggest plan in Spain has been successful in reducing its CO2 emissions by 12% which is equivalent to 9,400 tonnes. The company had a goal of reducing emissions by 7% by 2010 and with the 12% reduction, the plant had certainly exceeded the target. It has started to lessen its emissions back in 2005. This Nissan facility is the Zona Franca plant which is located in Barcelona, Spain.

To be able to achieve this goal, the Nissan plant in Barcelona had renovations done. Its climate systems, light controls, and air conditioning facilities were also checked. Such moves could now be used by other companies’ facilities as standards and samples of how to reduce CO2 emissions.

Since the company’s Zona Franca plant has been able to achieve its goals and even exceed its targets, Nissan gave the plant a new target - to lessen emissions by 20% come 2010.

The longer you drive a car, the more you think that you know a lot. But still, there are some tips that you may not have heard before. Here are some:

1. Before taking any medications, check the label and see if it can cause you to be drowsy or if the medication can affect your driving skills.
2. Children should be secured properly. There are different types of restraint systems for different ages and size. They should also be seated in the rear.
3. If you have pets and you drive with them, remember that they should also be properly secured. There are restraint systems for pets as well.
4. Focus on your task, driving, and focus on that alone.
5. Even if you are in the car, lock your doors.
6. When backing up, check your surroundings. You can hit a child or some items lying behind your vehicle.
7. Children and pets should not ride in the cargo area for this is dangerous for them.
8. Children and pets should not be left alone in a vehicle.
9. Have the essentials in your car and the list includes a flashlight, food, water, blankets, a mobile phone, a first aid kit, and your car tool kit.
10. Have IDs for each of your family members and include information like name, date of birth, allergies, illnesses, and blood type. Keep these IDs with your driver’s license.

[Via News Release Wire]

At the 78th Geneva International Motor Show, Morgan, a sports car manufacturer from Britain, took the covers off a new hydrogen vehicle which they claim to have no emissions. This vehicle, named the LIFECar, gets its power from a fuel cell.

With the company’s first sports car with two seats as the basis, the LIFECar is something to look at because of the design. That design has also been combined with a concept vehicle done by another company that makes vehicle designs that are aimed to be solutions to environmental issues.

According to Morgan, their LIFECar’s performance can be like that of a vehicle which uses 1.8 liters of petrol fuel for every hundred kilometers. The company has also disclosed that the vehicle clocks in 137 kilometers per hour as its top speed.

Light materials were used to create the vehicle and the list includes aluminum, leather, and wood.

Jessie Vigil has a 2007 Ford Mustang. With a little tinkering and a good paint job, Vigil’s Mustang now has become a police car. The vehicle now is painted with black and white paint. It also has the emergency bar in red and blue at the top. Painted on the vehicle’s doors is the word “POLICE”.

According to Vigil, he decided to make his 2007 Ford Mustang look like Barricade in the Transformers movie because his son was so much into the film.

Vigil checked with authorities if painting his car to look like a police vehicle was illegal. He was given discouraging answers however there is not anything written down that says that doing such was illegal. There is a law that says people should not have cars that look like police cars but the state police can sell old vehicles to citizens who can let the cars stay as is. That is a gray area so Vigil decided to go for it. He was warned though that he would be meeting trouble if he would impersonate a police officer.

[Via AP]

Driving on a rainy day can be risky. The roads are all wet and slippery and this makes the car lose traction. Strong rainfall can also lessen a driver’s visibility.

To be safe, you should first check your car before driving during a rainy day. One of the things you should check is the windshield. Make sure that it is clean on the outside and in the inside. The interior of the windshield should be cleaned well especially if a smoker usually rides in the car.

The lights of your vehicle should be checked - headlights, brake lights, turn signals, and taillights. Make sure that they are all working. Also check your vehicle’s windshield wipers and see if the blades are still in good condition. When you are already on the road, turn on your headlights and the windshield wipers when the rain starts pouring.

If the rain is pouring really hard, then drive slower than your usual speed. If the weather is really bad, be on the safe side — pull over.

The very first Activist of the Year awards is going to be done this year. This is part of the National Youth Traffic Safety Month which is celebrated in May and Allstate Foundation is open for nominations for the awards.

Two awards would be given. One would be for a teen while the other one would be given to a parent. Allstate Foundation says that to be a recipient of the award, one must have done something great last year so as to give a solution to the high number of teen driving mishaps.

The director of the foundation’s teen driving program, Susan Duchak, stated that they are having the awards as a way of recognizing those individuals who have done extremely well to address the issue. She added, “We want to find examples of the most dedicated, creative work teens and parents are doing to address the teen driving issue, and share these efforts throughout the country.”