Aviva launched its car insurance proposition in April last year, changing the face of car insurance in Singapore by being the first insurer to sell car insurance solely online, direct to the customer. The low-cost online model allows insurers to pass on cost savings to customers, without compromising. Aviva also allows customers to customise their cover so they only pay for what they need, which can translate into additional cost savings of up to 25%. Buying online is simple and straightforward for example, it only takes 60 seconds to get a quote and 5 minutes to complete the transaction on aviva.com.sg.

To help customers better understand how car insurance works, Mr Andrew Tait, Head of General Insurance at Aviva Singapore, sheds some light on the common myths and the realities of car insurance.

Myth: Red cars are charged higher premiums than other coloured vehicles

This myth may have come about because red is associated with danger, and there are many red sports cars on the road. In reality, insurers do not ask for the colour of your car. However, relevant details that influence the premiums of your car insurance policy include the make and model of the vehicle, age of vehicle, use of vehicle, as well as driving experience and claims history of the driver.

Myth: My car insurance policy only covers me in Singapore.

Most car insurance policies actually cover Malaysia and Thailand too. If you frequently drive to neighbouring countries, you will want to pay attention to the different terms of coverage from different insurers to find out which policy works best for you. For example, Aviva’s coverage extends to West Malaysia and 80km into Thailand. Moreover, we provide towing services back to Singapore if your car cannot be driven after an accident, at no added cost.

Myth: All car insurance policies are the same. I only have to choose the cheapest one.

That is definitely not true, and not all car insurance policies are the same. The terms and amount of coverage differ significantly from insurer to insurer. For example, some policies only cover damages to the car, but not medical expenses you might incur in the event of an accident. There could also be differences in the deductible or ‘excess’ of your policy, that is, the amount you bear before your coverage kicks in. (For example, if your deductible is $500, and the bill comes up to $6,000. You will bear $500, and the insurer will pay the remaining $5,500.)

Service level is another aspect that will differentiate insurers from each other. For instance, in the event of an accident, it would be helpful if your insurer is able to arrive on scene to provide advice on next steps, as well as take care of your vehicle if it cannot be driven. Emergency roadside assistance – such as help with a flat tyre – is also a value-added service that some insurers may provide.

Of course, cost is also a factor for consideration for most of us. Shopping around and comparing quotes would be the wise thing to do, but when you’re comparing cost, you should ensure you are comparing costs for the same type and level of coverage.

Myth: If my car is damaged in an accident and cannot be driven, my insurer will provide me with a replacement car while my car is getting repaired.

This is not necessarily the case, as not all insurers include this feature in their policy. Some might provide a transport allowance instead of a replacement car. Additionally, there will also be variants in the maximum number of days that insurers will reimburse you for transport or provide a replacement car, as well as the type of replacement car or amount of reimbursement. You will need to check the terms of coverage of your policy.

Myth: There are now insurers who allow me to buy and manage my car insurance online. But it’s too much hassle.

The online platform actually offers convenience and efficiency. It is available 24/7. You can browse through the available options and get a quote easily, with no pressure to buy. For example, it takes only 60 seconds to generate a quote, and 5 minutes to get covered, on aviva.com. sg. There is also a customer hotline available to assist with any queries you might have, or take care of the claims process for you. Moreover, online providers are able to offer significant cost savings because of the lowoost model they are operating on.  However, buying insurance online certainly isn’t for everybody. For products that are more complex, or if you prefer guidance, you may find that a financial advisor is a better option.

Myth: If I get into an accident that’s not my fault, my NCD can still be affected.

Different insurers differ on this. Aviva, for instance, guarantees that your No-Claims Discount will not be affected if “o claim is made against you. pbu will need to check the terms of coverage in your policy.

Myth: Anyone can drive my car and be covered if I have comprehensive coverage.

You will need to check the terms of coverage of your policy. You may be covered for unnamed drivers, but there may be limitations, such as the age and driving experience of the unnamed driver. For example, some insurers will either not cover, or impose an additional excess, if the unnamed driver is below a certain age or has driving experience below a certain number of years.

wheels asia

The last generation Swift has been a roaring success for Suzuki around the world since its debut seven years ago in 2004.

At the rear, the tail lamps have been enlarged and just like the headlamps, are curvier while the numberplate surround on the bumper is larger. The cut out for the latter apes the one on the previous Renault Megane hatchback and hence makes the Swift’s rump look a tad clumsy and fat when compared to the old model’s pert backside.

Thanks to its more generous exterior proportions, the new Swift offers more room for rear passengers than in the old car. The new Swift is a marked improvement over its predecessor especially when it comes to rear kneeroom – at least there’s enough kneeroom now for the knees of rear passengers not to be permanently touching the rear of the front seatbacks. Like in the old car, headroom is hard to fault while shoulder room has slightly improved thanks to the slightly wider cabin than previously.

Up front, the driver is greeted by an all-new dashboard that draws inspiration from the Kizashi’s design. The dash is still made from some very hard plastics in most parts but perceived quality and value has moved up a notch when compared to the old car thanks to the use of better looking and more tactile switchgear and silver coloured accents throughout the cabin. In terms of design, the stereo headunit now has its display screen integrated within the unit itself rather than being high up on the dash while the air-con controls and the smart looking instruments with an integrated screen for trip computer readings and gear indicator up perceived luxury a notch. The Kizashi sourced steering wheel not only features fingertip controls for the stereo but is adjustable for both reach and rake in the GLX model tested here. The front seats might not look great but they offer a wide variety adjustments including height for all body shapes to feel comfortable to rest their bums on.

Boot space though, is disappointingly small thanks to a load area that is short on length. Thankfully, the Swift comes standard with split/fold rear seats to extend the load area if necessary.

Underneath the skin, the new model features a heavily enhanced version of the outgoing car’s platform. The new model is still suspended by relatively simple MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam layout at the rear. Suzuki says that the suspension set-up has been heavily modified to further improve ride and handling to further enhance the old Swift’s virtues of nimble and fun handling.

There’s also a new steering system, which makes for a wonderfully precise and communicative tool to make it fun for the Swift to go round corners with, despite the Swift’s lack of sporting pretensions. Moreover, body control is much improved over the old car – the suspension doing a really admirable job of keeping unwanted body movements in check. The suspension feels well adept in taking on twisty tarmac and with a moderate power output to the front wheels, traction isn’t at a premium with the Swift. The 16-inch tyres will put the engine’s power down cleanly onto the tarmac without the need for any ESP stability or traction control systems.

Despite, the sporty handling, the Swift displays a fair degree of comfort and composure in the way it rides over bumps. The ride is far from choppy and is reasonably comfortable at both crawling town speeds as well as at expressway cruising speeds.

The new model is offered with a new, smaller 1.4-litre unit dubbed the K14B. With 95bhp and 130Nm on tap, the 1372cc four-pot unit makes just seven horses and 3Nm less than the old Swift’s 1490cc motor. 0-1 OOkm/h is quoted at 12.3 seconds for the four-speed auto model, which is fairly average among the cars in the Swift’s class.

DESPITE THE SPORTY HANDLING, THE SWIFT DISPLAYS A FAIR DEGREE OF COMFORT AND COMPOSURE IN THE WAY IT RIDES OVER BUMPS

The engine has ample torque at low revs but it’ll only truly come alive once it revs past 4000rpm – not surprising as the peaky little unit delivers its maximum torque of 130Nm only at 4000rpm. The motor doesn’t have the strong mid-range punch of the turbocharged engines that European brands favour but the Swift offers enough sprightly performance for a city car with little sporting pretensions. Moreover, throttle response is sharp to give the Swift some ‘get up and go’ feel and immediate responses that is worthy of a hot model like the Swift Sport.

Suzuki claims that the engine is not only lighter and more compact than before but is also more economical in terms of fuel consumption. Fuel consumption of the new model has improved by between 8 to 18 percent over the old model according to Suzuki.

As previously, two transmission options are offered – a five-speed manual as well as the four-speed automatic, the latter being the variant tested here. The new car’s gearbox might not have more gears than its predecessor’s but it is definitely quicker and more instant with its responses and gear changes. Disappointingly though, the auto box is not offered with a ‘+/-’ sequential manual mode. Those who love driving should opt for the five-speed manual model as it should offer both more performance and driving fun.

The new Swift is available in two trim level versions – the base GL and the GLX tested here. The GLX adds 16-inch factory-fitted alloy wheels, keyless entry and operation, six airbags, front fog lamps, rear disc brakes, tilt and telescopic steering column and LED side repeaters on the wing mirrors to the GL’s standard kit list. The latter features the same factory fitted six-speaker stereo system with iPod connectivity and fingertip controls as the GLX, two front airbags instead of six, locally fitted 15-inch alloy wheels and so on.

With the new generation Swift, Suzuki has built on the strengths of the popular outgoing model and evolved the Swift into something more complete than before.

Suzuki Swift 1.4 GLX(A)

At A Glance

•  Engine: 1372cc, in-line 4,16V

•  Performance: 95bhp/6000rpm, 130Nm/4000rpm, 0-100 12.3secs

•  Top Speed: NA

•  Transmission: 4-Speed Automatic

•  Price with COE: S$87,900

•  Testdrive & Enquiries: Champion Motors

•  Tel: 6631 1118

In A Nutshell

Plus: Nippy handling, fuel sipping nature

Minus: Awkward rear end styling

Verdict: Suzuki has built on the strengths of the popular outgoing model and evolved the Swift into something more complete than before.

Last week, Nissan announced that it was dropping the Altima Hybrid model from its 2012 lineup. The the car licensed Toyota’s hybrid drivetrain and battery technology to help Nissan meet emissions requirements in the nine U.S. states, but was never available to customers outside of those states. Critics enjoyed the added performance punch that the Altima Hybrid offered over competing hybrids, and since the non-hybrid Altima remains Nissan’s best selling vehicle worldwide, producing a hybrid version of the sedan has always made sense in theory.

According to a report in AutoNews, Nissan still sees the wisdom in selling the model, and is planning to reintroduce the Altima Hybrid as early as next year. This time around though, the carmaker won’t have to pay Toyota a license fee for its hybrid system.

Reportedly, the revamped Altima Hybrid will feature a front-wheel drive version of the gas-electric powertrain Nissan recently debuted in the Infiniti M Hybrid. Nissan developed its hybrid system in-house this time though, with plans to slot it into several new or existing models in the coming years. If the Altima indeed becomes one of those models, it will likely accompany a fifth-generation redesign of the car, which last received a full retooling in 2007.

Nissan’s new proprietary hybrid system is built around 1.3-kWh lithium ion battery. In the M Hybrid, that battery is housed underneath the floorboard and teamed with a 360-volt motor rated at 67 hp and 199 lbs.-ft. of torque. Both gasoline and electric power are routed through the the rear-wheels in that car, but the system would be reconfigured for front-wheel drive in new Altima Hybrid.

Since Nissan produces the current iteration of the car at its Smyrna, Tenn. facilities (which will soon be home to the carmaker’s brand new $1.6 billion lithium-ion battery plant,) it would make sense that both the vehicle itself and it’s battery could be manufactured in the United States.

Source: hybridcars.com

If the processes we discussed in The Equations of Electrolysis were to happen in pure water then the H+ cations (positively charged ion that’s attracted to a negative electrode in an electrolyte) will gather at the anode and the OH- anions (negatively charged ion that’s attracted to a positive electrode in an electrolyte) will go to the cathode. You can verify that by using a pH tester in the water of your hydrogen automobile. You’ll find the water closest to the anode (positive electrode) should be acidic while the water by the cathode (negative electrode) is basic (alkaline). Charged ions resist the flow of electricity until they’ve diffused away, which happens slowly, so they effectively begin to block the path. That’s why pure water isn’t a very good electric conductor for your hydrogen automobile and why the electrolysis will happen much more slowly in it.

If you add an electrolyte to your hydrogen automobile that dissolves well in water then the water’s conductivity increases substantially. The electrolyte itself disassociates into its own cations and anions. The electrolyte anions will rush to the anode to neutralize the positively charged H+ built up there. In the same way, the electrolyte cations will go to the cathode and neutralize the negatively charged OH− built up there. This will allow a continual flow of electricity.

You must be careful what electrolyte you choose in you hydrogen automobile. One of the anions from that electrolyte will compete with the hydroxide ions for its electron. If you choose an electrolyte anion that has a less standard electrode potential, than the hydroxide, it will oxidize instead of the hydroxide and you won’t get any oxygen. Likewise, a cation that has a greater standard electrode potential than the hydrogen ion it will reduce instead, and you won’t get any hydrogen.

Since you’re looking for cations that have a lower electrode potential than H+ try using one of the following electrolyte cations for best results in your hydrogen automobile:

Li+, Rb+, K+, Cs+, Ba2+, Sr2+, Ca2+, Na+, and Mg2+ (Lithium and Sodium are often used since they make inexpensive and dissolvable salts)

If you use an acid for the electrolyte in your hydrogen automobile, then the cation is H+ and there’s no competition for it from breaking down the water. Sulfate (SO42-) is the most commonly used since it rarely ever oxidizes. The standard potential of Sulfate to oxidize into the peroxodisulfate ion is −0.22 volts.

Stronger acids like Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4) or stronger bases like Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) and Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) are also commonly used electrolytes. Do not use NaCl in you hydrogen automobile because the anode will create deadly chlorine gas.

Be it recognized which the gas-powered vehicles had been also an enhancement to horse-run carts within the a long time prior to eighteen eighties. Following much more than a century, the time is truly ripe for that gas-powered vehicles to additional advance and embark on an additional evolutionary stage to mount a various and much more modified model.

Vehicles are much more broadly utilized across the globe correct now, that individuals from each corner from the globe would discover it tough to reside by with out owning one.

Vehicles have turn out to be a necessity and n essential component from the daily residing of guy. That’s why, if there’s 1 machine or gadget presently in use to mankind that wants or deserve additional modification and enhancement, it might certainly be the automobile.

Electrical vehicles

However the utilization of vehicles includes various and various setbacks and accompanying problems and issues. Probably the most grievous amongst these will be the problem on fuel usage.

Conventional and standard vehicles, becoming operate by acrylic or fuel, make up or need astronomical or greater fuel usage expenses, which to several are sufficient cause to set off a looming and deadly coronary heart assault.

Simply because acrylic costs are continuously increasing nearly each week because of towards the unstable and unstable political and civil situation within the Center East, the principal acrylic exporting area, fuel costs have reached a stage when ordinary individuals might discover buying it nearly a luxurious.

The environmental worry that continues to be tagged around the gas-powered vehicles also invoked severe consideration and actions around the component from the automobile makers.

Since the phenomenon known as greenhouse impact or international warming has began to display its wrath via local weather adjustments across the globe within the previous a long time, individuals are turning into increasingly more worried about environmental degradation.

Therefore, the electrical vehicles had been created by a number of automobile producers. Electrical vehicles had been the initial try of automobile makers to deal with the increasing and evoking issues more than environmental degradation and soaring acrylic costs.

Simply because electrical vehicles are operate by electrical energy, that is saved in batteries, there’s no require for that automobile to undergo or procedure spontaneous combustion of fuel on its engine. Therefore, smoke or carbon monoxide emissions are eradicated.

The proprietors of electrical vehicles would also not have to often go to fuel retailers and stations for refill. All they need to do would be to cope with their batteries via recharging, which could be carried out at house or at recharging retailers, which previously was also aimed by fuel stations.

Nevertheless, the electrical vehicles experienced higher setbacks, so humungous which the adverse shortcomings and item restrictions had been offset at higher ranges by its makes use of and benefits.

For one, the pace and mileage of electrical vehicles are inferior in contrast to individuals by the conventional and standard gas-powered autos. The needed time or duration of charging of batteries can also be one supply of setback for that electrical automobile.

The hybrid vehicles

Simply because of its restrictions, the electrical automobile was regarded as a failure and automobile makers didn’t proceed to totally roll out and launch the item towards the marketplace.

However the study and work created to create electrical vehicles had been not to become place in absolute futility. The automobile makers had been truly decided sufficient to arrive up with much better vehicles that might deal with the problems revolving from pollution and acrylic usage.

The electrical vehicles supplied the templates that had been utilized to create an additional kind of automobile the hybrid vehicles.

The hybrid vehicles had been crossovers or integration from the conventional gas-powered vehicles and also the disappointing electrical vehicles.

The hybrid vehicles had been principally created to make use of the very best functions and characteristics of every from the two kinds of vehicles, and cancel out their respective weaknesses.

For one, hybrid vehicles mix using electrical energy and fuel in operating and mobilizing the automobile. The fuel usage is this lessened, together with the higher acrylic expenses and air pollution created.

However the hybrid vehicles are nonetheless evoking a higher space for enhancement. Since the business is nonetheless within the experimental and preliminary phase with regards to hybrid vehicles, anticipate to determine much more developments and adjustments within the coming many years.

Hybrid vehicles are much better than electrical vehicles and gas-powered vehicles simply because it acquired the very best functions and traits from the two kinds of vehicles.

By: Shavennah