No other compact economy car outside of a Mini Cooper offers as much stick-and-rudder fun as the 3: The steering (hydraulic, with an electric pump) is tack-sharp and precise, with almost no torque steer and a gratifying heft that gathers as you turn the wheel.

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The amendment would require gas stations located within a half-mile of a highway exit or hurricane evacuation route to be prewired for backup generators, which would allow electric pumps to continue to pump fuel in the case of a power outage.

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"The company makes a system called PosiCharge, basically a fuel pump to recharge an electric battery, " writes Brendan Coffey, editor of Cabot Green Investor.

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Pump out the used sludge out and replace it with fully charged electric sludge.

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Controlling steering using electric motors also helps to reduce fuel consumption and hence carbon-dioxide emissions. (Electric motors require power only when the steering wheel is turned, whereas a hydraulic pump drains power from the engine all the time.) Ford reckons 90% of its cars will have electronic steering within three years.

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Then when that scene was over, I'd walk over from the piano and go play the organ for another scene and then - a little pump organ I have, and then I'd pick up the electric guitar again and get all my distorted sounds out of that to go with the Indian drums and the things that were happening in the film.

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In an age where green travel and eco-focused marketing continue to grow, car rental companies are bolstering their rental fleets with electric and hybrid cars, giving travellers the opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint, save money at the pump and take one of these new-technology vehicles for a spin before perhaps buying one of their own.

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