What is Ethanol?

Ethanol (CH3CH2OH; also known as ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, and EtOH) is a clear, colorless liquid. Its molecules contain a hydroxyl group (-OH) bonded to a carbon atom.

The chemical compound in ethanol is the same whether the fuel is made from corn grain starch (as it primarily is in the United States) or sugar cane (as it primarily is in Brazil) or from cellulosic materials. Corn and sugar cane are commonly used to make ethanol today.

Ethanol can also be produced from fibrous cellulosic biomass materials, such as grass, vineyard grapes, wood, crop residues, or old newspapers. Breaking these materials down to their component sugars for subsequent fermentation to ethanol is a major focus of U.S. Department of Energy research. Whether made from starch in corn grain or cellulose in corn stalks, ethanol is a renewable, domestic biofuel.

Ethanol works well in internal combustion engines. In fact, Henry Ford and other early automakers thought ethanol would be the world's primary fuel before gasoline became so readily available. A gallon of ethanol contains one-third less energy than a gallon of gasoline.

Ethanol is a high-octane fuel. Octane helps prevent engine knocking and is extremely important in engines designed to operate at a higher compression ratio, so they generate more power. These engines tend to be found in high-performance vehicles. Because ethanol has high octane, it is sometimes blended with gasoline in small amounts to boost octane rating. This mixture, in turn, can be used in high-performance engines.

Low-level blends of ethanol, such as E10 (10% ethanol, 90% gasoline), generally have a higher octane rating than unleaded gasoline. Low-octane gasoline can be blended with 10% ethanol to attain the standard 87 octane requirement.

Ethanol is the main component in E85, a high-level blend of 85% ethanol, 15% gasoline.

Getting Auto Moving Insurance

If you are going to have your car shipped you need insurance in case something goes wrong. Most companies engaged in the car moving business provide insurance of your vehicle, however, the coverage of insurance may range. So it’s a good idea to do some research before you decide upon the car mover.

Any auto transport company that has a license for car moving activities should have cargo and liability insurance as well. You need to have a clear idea of it, for if your car gets damaged on the road you will probably want coverage. It is not that something will happen for sure, but it is better to be safe than sorry, isn’t it? The first thing you should do is make sure that your car moving company has an insurance certificate, don’t be shy to ask them to show it to you. You are not obliged to believe anyone until you see the proof with your own eyes. If you still have any doubts don’t hesitate to contact their insurance company so as to double check the information.

Some auto movers provide very limited insurance coverage, sometimes it is even less than your car is actually worth. Inquire at their insurance company as for the exact terms and rights that you are offered. The things that you need to know are:

· Can you buy additional coverage?

· What is the limited coverage amount (if any)?

· Are there any parts of the vehicle that are not covered?

· What type of damage is included in the insurance?

The car moving company should provide you with insurance against theft and damage. It is highly recommended that you have a hard copy of their insurance policy spelling out whether their coverage is secondary or primary to your car insurance. Remember to contact your own car insurance company as well in order to find out what kind of coverage is provided by your existing policy.

If you are not sure whether your home policy insurance covers any damage or loss of your personal items, it’s better to remove them from your car. Car movers don’t usually insure any contents of the vehicle except for such items as a jack and a spare tire that are necessary.

You should also make sure that your vehicle carrier is registered with the Department of Transportation, if you want to avoid any possible troubles with getting the coverage in case of an insured accident.

If there are any disputes, it’s better to try and resolve them with your auto moving company first. They are usually determined to workout any problems. However, if you did your best but still feel that you have been treated in an unfair manner you can file complaints to the Federal Department of Transportation, BBB or Interstate Commerce Commission.

Is auto transporting for me?

So you want to move your car across the state. Your not sure if you should drive it or have it shipped on a. Before you decide how you want to transport your auto you must first decide if it is worth it. Ask yourself, do the benifits outweigh the costs? Not sure what i mean? Keep reading on and find out if auto transporting is for you!

Auto Transporting is not free. With every service their is a cost. Depending on how far and the type of vehicle you wish to move, it may not be worth doing. For an example if you own a 1992 Honda Civic that leaks oil, that starts 50% of the time and is a rust magnet, you should not waist your money and time transporting it. Some companies will only move vehicles that are in good running order. You will also want to consider if you want to put the extra miles on your vehicle. When your vehicle is transported on a truck, no extra miles will added to the engine. Also the cost of gas and accommodations that you will have to pay out of your pocket will be costly, especially for longer moves. If your moving across the country, choosing an auto transporter to move your vehicle is a wise decision.

As you can see it is usually a good idea to choose an auto transporter over driving your vehicle yourself. The benefits of auto transporting usually always outweigh the costs. Remember to contact various auto transport companies and do your research. It will make your auto transporting experience go much more smoothly.

ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEMS (ELP)

Saudi Arabia has one of the highest per capita power consumption in the world.

Demand for power is growing at an average of seven percent annually, and the SAG is barely keeping up with this growth. Industry experts believe that the government has to add 50,000 MW of generating power over the next 23 years. The SAG is planning to invest $30 billion to increase electrical capacity by 20,000 MW by 2010. Private investors are also expected to invest and participate fully in this growth. With the stalling of the Gas Initiative, planned private power investment is on hold and the SAG is actively pushing new state-led power projects. By 2005, new capacity will come on stream with the completion and commissioning of the Ghazlan plant, Shuaiba plant, and expansion of Tabuk.

In line with its privatization efforts, the SAG brought about a merger between the Saline Water Conversion Corp. (SWCC) and Saudi Electricity Co. (SEC) to carry out independent water and power project (IWPPs) in partnership with developers. Reform in the electricity sector is advancing slowly in the need to re-price services, establish quality control standards, promote private investments, and protect consumer rights.

In May 2001, the SAG approved the formation of the Gulf Interconnection Authority (GCIA), which will be responsible for connecting the national grids of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, which include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates. The company will develop the scheme on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis. The initial phase of the grid connecting the Northern Gulf region, including Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, will stretch some 1,200 kilometers and is expected to come on stream in 2008.

Complaints about Air Travel

Safety and Security Complaints

Consumers with concerns about airline safety should call the Federal Aviation Administration toll-free at 1-866-TELL-FAA (1-866-835-5322).Consumers with concerns about aviation security call the Transportation Security Administration toll-free at 1-866-289-9673, or e-mail that agency at TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov.

Airline Service Complaints

Complaints about airline service other than safety or security issues may be registered with DOT's Aviation Consumer Protection Division (ACPD). You can call, write or use our web form.

· You may call the ACPD 24 hours a day at 202-366-2220 (TTY 202-366-0511) to record your complaint. Calls are returned Monday through Friday, generally between 7:30 am and 5:00 pm Eastern time.

· You may send us a letter at:
Aviation Consumer Protection Division, C-75 U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Ave, S.E. Washington, D.C. 20590

· You can send us a complaint, comment or inquiry electronically by using our web form. This form allows us to capture information more accurately and process it more efficiently. Please click here to use our web form.

Whether you call, write or use the web form, please be brief and concise in the description of your problem and be sure to include the following information:

· your name
· address
· daytime phone number (including area code) and e-mail address
· name of the airline or company about which you are complaining
· flight date
· flight number if known
· origin and destination cities of your trip.

If you send us a letter, you should also include a copy (not the original) of your airline ticket or itinerary sheet and any correspondence you have already exchanged with the company.

All complaints are entered in DOT's computerized aviation industry monitoring system, and are charged to the company in question in the monthly Air Travel Consumer Report. This report is distributed to the industry and made available to the news media and the general public so that consumers and air travel companies can compare the complaint records of individual airlines and tour operators. These complaints are reviewed to determine the extent to which carriers are in compliance with federal aviation consumer protection regulations. This system also serves as a basis for rulemaking, legislation and research. Where appropriate, letters and web form submissions will be forwarded to an official at the airline for further consideration.

What is an electric vehicle?

In an electric vehicle (EV), a battery or other energy storage device is used to store the electricity that powers the motor. EV batteries must be replenished by plugging in the vehicle to a power source. Some electric vehicles have onboard chargers; others plug into a charger located outside the vehicle. Both types, however, use electricity that comes from the power grid. Although electricity production may contribute to air pollution, EVs are considered zero-emission vehicles because their motors produce no exhaust or emissions.

There are currently no light-duty electric vehicles available from the major auto manufacturers. Neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs), on the other hand, are being manufactured by a variety of companies. These small vehicles are commonly used for neighborhood commuting, light hauling, and delivery. Their use is limited to areas with 35 mph speed limits or for off-road service on college campus or at airports or resort areas.

Because they can only reach speeds of 35 mpg, NEVs are not considered light-duty vehicles and are not eligible for fleet credit under the Energy Policy Act of 1992 Standard Compliance option and Federal Fleet Requirements. However, their versatility in moving people through limited commute areas makes them useful in a variety of applications. Other useful EVs in niche applications include electric scooters and bikes.