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ZAP (Zero Air Pollution), which is a 13-year-old advance transportation company, has established its name in the automobile industry for developing electronic cars, auto parts, and accessories. The company is set to add another good find under its belt as it is set to showcase its electronic car that can play and recharge Apple’s iPod on January 15 to 18 at the Macworld World Conference and Expo in San Francisco.

Through the stereo system, the ZAP e-car can play songs from the iPod player. This mp3 console from Apple only has to be attached to a provided socket that is connected to the car’s sound system. Hours of playing can eventually drain the player’s battery but no need to fret as this ingenious car is also capable of recharging the iPod. Armed with what the company calls as ZAP Recharge-It-All, this environment-friendly four-wheel machine is designed with such feature just for the iPod. Aside from charging the popular music player, the Recharge-It-All is also made well-suited for other handy gadgets such as mobile phones, video cameras, digital cameras, and laptops, among others.

"Apple is making some of the most popular consumer products on the market today," said Steve Schneider, who is the chief executive officer of the California-based ZAP. "A ZAP electric car made for iPod joins an important trend happening throughout the automotive industry to give car-buyers more amenities. So many bring their iPods with them wherever they go that having the capability to listen to and recharge them in your car can only attract more customers."

ZAP’s year-opener offering for customers, however, will only be available in the market by the later part of 2008. Other things to look forward to are the future vehicles of the company that are set to be designed to be compatible with all the iPod players of Apple.

Source: Fox Business.

Automakers across the globe are continuously upgrading their products. Manufacturers gear up vehicles with top of the line auto parts to ensure optimum performance. Some car owners, on the other hand, go through the process of browsing through various auto parts warehouses, which are either online and offline, to purchase car components and accessories. Some of these high-end products suitable for automobiles were even part of the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held Wednesday in Las Vegas.

Aside from the automakers, aftermarket manufacturers and electronic companies are also developing special auto parts and accessories for most of the makes. Gadgets are usually geared toward a more convenient stay inside the vehicle. Technologies found in an automobile are not usually just for a safe drive as some can bring the comforts found in homes. Concrete examples include browsing the internet and checking emails, watching movies, and making a phone call, among others. A special navigation system, on the other hand, is just one of the technologies to make driving a lot safer.

"The car is a lifestyle product," said Sterling Pratz, who is the chief executive officer of Autonet Mobile. "It's not just a car anymore."

The boundary of technologies for automobiles has no limit. These are expected to reach greater heights in the years to come as automobile manufacturers with the electronic and aftermarket companies are set to come up with more products in the future. Vehicle owners, however, must bear in mind that these gadgets and gizmos can cause distractions, especially to the driver, if not properly used. Thus, the person behind the wheel has to leave all those parts that merely entertain to the passengers.

Source: Associated Press.

Vehicles from the General Motors Corporation (GM) brand are and will still be geared toward a greener future according to its chief executive Rick Wagoner.

Wagoner announced today at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that the American automobile company is set to still focus on green technology. With that, patrons of GM have to expect more vehicles equipped with alternative power sources such as utilizing electricity, water, and diesel.

"The future of the auto is bright and increasingly electronic," said Wagoner, who is the first automobile company executive to deliver a speech at the said event. "All the factors point to a convergence of the automotive and electronics industries that is literally transforming the automobile."

As part of the long term green technology campaign of the Michigan-based automobile maker, Wagoner ended his speech by introducing the latest offering of GM dubbed as the Cadillac Provoq. This green car runs under a hydrogen-powered motor and a lithium ion battery. For that, this vehicle does not produce any of those noxious emissions like automobiles with petrol-powered engines.

Aside from the Cadillac Provoq, there are a lot in store for the American automaker according to its chief executive. Four years from now, GM will already be focusing solely on producing vehicles that are friendlier to the environment. These automobiles are set to be powered by the company’s Flexfuel and other fuel alternatives that are friendlier to the environment.

"One of the next big steps is to connect automobiles electronically to keep them from connecting physically," he said. "We are working our way up the technology ladder."

Becoming green may be the main focus of the plans of GM, but Wagoner said that vehicles of the company are also set to improve in terms of safety and convenience. The OnStar system is going to be a staple in its vehicles as a safety measure. Such technology from China allows to pinpoint specific location during accidents and to locate missing or stolen vehicles. Autonomous driving, on the other hand, aims to bring the comforts and convenience of a home or an office into the confines of the vehicle. In the future, passengers can be seen doing their e-mails or even eat a full meal inside the SUV or car.

These are the things GM is set to offer in the future to make driving more of a convenience not only to the motorists and passengers but to the environment as well.

Source: AFP.