charging
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- May 12, 2011
Researchers have shown that ozone can be reduced when electric vehicle charging is done at night. That’s good news for both environmentalists as well as car owners of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, who typically choose to charge cars in the evening when drivers are more apt to be at home.
Ozone is a known pollutant that can cause harmful effects on certain individuals with respiratory ailments. It forms as hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides, emitted into the air, react with sunlight. Two of the largest emitters of these pollutants are vehicles and electricity generating units.
Charging plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, also known as PHEVs, is already known to be more cost effective and reliable. But a new report issued by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Texas have found that charging at this time leads to lower levels of pollution on average.
PHEVs have the capability to run off battery power and gasoline. When PHEVs run off battery power
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- April 28, 2011
Why is it that batteries to motorcycles, ATVs and even boats don’t seem to last? This is a very common complaint we hear, and one of the most obvious culprits seems to be sporadic use of the battery. Many pleasure boaters, for example, haven’t even taken their boat out since the last days of summer last year. Yet they get into the boat when warm weather arrives and are seemingly surprised that their battery isn’t quite as ready for boating action as the passengers.
Batteries will discharge at a rate of approximately 2-5 percent each month while not being used. While use does indeed keep a battery operating at peak capacity more consistently, a low battery can’t be fully charged by simply being cranked up on occasion—no matter the distance or length of time.
If a motorcycle or equipment is not going to be used for a period of 30 days or longer, consider placing the battery on a 2 amp or less smart maintenance charger for 24-48 hours every month (even better leave it connected indefinitely).
