Honda Hybrid Cars - Why So Popular?

The contemporary car owners and buyers are indeed getting more and more smart as time goes by. That is since there's no shortage of machine models and car brands out in the market right now. Honda hybrid cars are among the most succesful right now.

Each car brand and type is trying to produce the level of backing up and patronage that would sustain for fruitful and lucrative revenues and sales not just right now but also in the future.

The machine buyers have proven more finicky recently. That is since they expect factories to battle the aspects and issues they raise against the current vehicles they own.

Motor vehicle consumers expect future and current motor vehicle models to eliminate the unattractive characteristics and reservations of the contemporary machine types.

Because of this hybrid cars have become the most attractive and craved cars of the new generation.

The mighty car industry Toyota, Ford, General Motors and Honda have all in unison got going in a tight and pressuring contest to become the top hybrid vehicle maker and marketer.

Hybrid cars

When the tight race for hybrid motor cars started years ago, Honda was among the initial few car builders to have genuinely gone up and take the matter seriously.

As time goes by, Honda has formed a patient, devoted and skilful team to bring up research and development efforts for the brands own hybrid cars lines.

The manoeuvre did not fall inadequate. Now, the most contemporary and most in demand hybrid car models are bearing the brand trade mark of Honda.

Honda cars

From nowhere, Japan's Honda has been successful in building its own niche in the worldwide machine industry. Two decades ago, Honda was naught. It was an little known Japanese vehicle brand that appeared to linger on its prototype cars.

But through the years, Honda eventually emerged to win the battle. Its commitment has paid hugely, and now, it is competing directly against fellow Japanese motorcar maker Toyota in the global top spot for car manufacturers.

In the Usa alone, sales of Honda vehicles have continuously been on the rise the past few years, and their brethren, particularly the local based Ford and General Motors, are beginning to conceive the crunch in their very own sales and profits.

Honda hybrid cars have developed to being a threat to rival factories. And it's no coincidence either.

The Honda Civic hybrid

Honda has recently come up with its 2006 Civic Hybrids. This Honda hybrid car can brag with a potential to considerably reduce on gasoline consumption while at the same time enjoying the same old, cherished technical specifications of the common Honda Civic motor cars.

It is understood that hybrid motor cars are somehow mediocre and fall a notch lower evaluated against their conventional competitors, mostly as a result of the reservations arising from the association of electricity and gas combustion inside its engine.

But the Civic hybrid report that it has gotten past that limitation. The Honda Civic hybrid is right now obtainable in the market place at not so reasonable prices.

The Accord hybrid

One of the most accepted Honda hybrid cars is the Accord hybrid vehicle that is nowadays out in the market place and enjoying a enormous and warm clientele from hybrid car fanatics.

Honda report that the hybrid car is zero-emission, but even so, the driver and vehicle buyer will get to experience once more the bliss and feel of driving a satisfactory high-performance motorcar.

This hybrid car prototype by Honda is tagged as the designer's most environmentally friendly. The prices are astronomical, however, only in the higher premium compared to the most luxurious traditional or conventional car model in the market these days.

But do not let this be a hindrance for you to own these hybrid cars. The options and upsides of owning and driving the Honda Civic hybrid for certain might very well outpace or be more substantial than the disadvantages.

Learn more about Honda hybrid cars as well as other information on other hybrid vehicles at Knowmoreabout.net

What is a Hybrid Car?

A hybrid car, by definition, is any car with multiple power sources. In most cases, there are only two power sources, but there can be more. A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) comes about when an internal combustion engine (ICE) is mated with an electric power source (generator/motor) to move the car along. But there are other possibilities, including a fuel cell coupled with an electric motor, or a fuel cell mated to a gas engine, or you name it. For the most part, though, HEVs have become synonymous with the term hybrid.

Hybrid Car Features
Hybrid cars tend to come with several things. Regenerative braking helps restore power to the large battery packs necessary for the electric motor (more on that later). Some people claim that the regenerative braking makes the braking feel different.

Also, HEVs tend to shut down the gas engine when the car is stopped. Which means you won't hear the engine start when you turn the key (or push the button, or whatever starts your car up). Also, it can be disconcerting for some people to come to a stop sign and have the engine turn itself off. But, as soon as you start up, or when you attain a certain speed, the gas engine will turn itself back on again.

It's this stop-start feature, or in full hybrids the low speed electric motor only mode, that gives hybrid cars those strange EPA fuel economy ratings. For most ICE cars, the city mpg rating is lower than what the EPA rates the car for on the highway. In hybrids, it's reversed. This causes some people to argue that hybrids are best if you are going to do a lot of city driving. (Read more about the new EPA ratings and how they affect hybrid cars).

Benefits of Hybrid Cars
But why build a hybrid car in the first place? For an answer, check out this previous post on the pros and cons of hybrid cars. I'll summarize the benefits here.

The electric engine allows the gas engine to shut off when the car is stopped. That means you're not wasting gas when you're not moving. Also, electric engines are better suited for low speed engines, while gas engines are better suited for high speed situations. Hybrids allow you to optimize these operations. Fuel economy is higher (one of the more obvious benefits), but you also tend to pollute less. Pollution levels depend on the hybrid car, though, so be warned.

Mating the Two Engines in a Hybrid Car
The mating process between the two engines can be in series or in parallel. When the two powertrains are mated in series, only one of the motors controls the cars movement. The other one simply assists the first, dominant engine. This occurs most often in mild or assist hybrids. The Saturn Vue Green Line Belt Alternator System (BAS) is a good example. The concept vehicle named the Volt from GM is another good example of a series (but not a mild) hybrid.

When the hybrid engine is in parallel, both engines can propel the car alone or together. A good example would be Toyotas' Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD). Capable of being propelled at low speeds by the electric motor, the gas engine takes over at higher speeds. This allows both engines to perform in their optimal situation.

Hybrid engines tend to be symbiotic. The gas engine powers the car and the electric motor by powering up the battery. Regenerative braking helps power up the battery pack, which powers the electric motor. The electric motor assists the gas engine or moves the car by itself. It's all quite complicated, but fun to watch happen in the nice graphical screens Toyota gives you in their hybrid cars.

Battery Packs in Hybrid Cars
Obviously, ICE are powered by the gasoline you buy when you fill up at a gas station. The electric motor/generator is powered by a large (and by large, I mean large and heavy) battery pack. Most hybrids on the road today have large Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery packs somewhere near the trunk, or under the seats. (Read about the Lexus Hybrid battery pack).

Most automakers would like to see Lithium-Ion battery packs (you probably have a Li-Ion battery in your cell phone) which can store more energy. But as of right now, they are still too volatile/unreliable when placed in large packs for major carmakers to use. But that should be changing in the next few years. Both GM (with their Plug-In Saturn Vue) and Toyota (next generation Prius/ Hybrid Systems) believe the next generation of hybrids will come with Li-Ion battery packs.

These large battery packs take up a lot of room and are pretty heavy, which adversely affects the fuel economy and the storage space in most hybrid cars. These batteries get their power from regenerative braking and/or from the gas engine. Also, they are very expensive, costing thousands of dollars to replace. Which is why they are guaranteed for the life of the car (read you warranty, some states make automakers guarantee the battery for 100,000 miles).

There are some concerns when it comes to these high powered batteries and how good they are for the environment. But all hybrid batteries are set to be recycled (Toyota has a $200 bounty on each battery pack), and so unlike some lead batteries from conventional cars, they shouldn't end up in landfills.

Plug-In Hybrid Cars
Some groups are advocating the concept of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). Plug-ins are capable of recharging the large battery packs by plugging into wall outlets. This brings together the best of two worlds (all electric and all gas engines). By plugging in at night, you get much higher fuel efficiency (on the order of 2 to 3 times what you get with current generation hybrids), because you are able to drive farther on the electric motor alone.

But, plugging in requires larger battery packs, which means Lithium-Ion, which isn't quite ready. Also, some claim that switching the pollution affects from gas engines to power plants isn't going to help much. Advocates claim it's easier to regulate the power companies.

The future of hybrid cars
In the past few years, hybrid car sales have taken off. Despite being only 1.5% percentage of the overall car sales market, hybrid car sales are still seeing phenomenal growth (a 28% increase over last year).

More discounts on hybrid cars are already being seen. The reasons I see for this are 1) federal tax credits are lapsing, 2) production costs are coming down, 3) there's more competition, 4) sales goals are still high, and getting higher, and 5) inventory is up.

Used hybrid car prices should start dropping. While they are still high, they are not as high as they used to be. Consumers don't have to wait three to six months to buy a new hybrid, so they won't be as willing to pay new car prices for a used hybrid car.

Tax credits from the federal government are starting to lapse.
Toyota/Lexus, which sold about three out of every four hybrid cars last year, has already had it happen. Anyone who buys a Toyota hybrid car today is only eligible for half of what they could of gotten six months ago. As of March 1st, that is going to be cut in half again. Then, in September, it will be gone. Honda will hit the 60,000 car limit sometime this year, which means consumers of hybrids from Honda will start losing their tax credit at the beginning of next year.

Michael Doherty writes about hybrid cars at http://hybridreview.blogspot.com. Get the latest news and reviews at Hybrid Car Review.

Hybrid Cars for Sale on Ebay- Strategies for Buying Low

Hybrid cars are good for the environment, they save drivers money on ever increasing gasoline, and they are, in many cases, more efficient than full gas powered cars. Sometimes though, these cars just cost too much for the average tree hugger. To help them out, (and more likely themselves) people began placing hybrid electric cars on eBay.

EBay is a great source for cars. You are safe when you buy cars from EBay. You can buy a Porsche 911 2008 Porsche 997 Twin Turbo Cabriolet Wicked-7 GTR-700 for 66k. That may not be a cheap price, but for this amazing car, you will be willing to give up the cash. Also, you can find yourself a brand new Lexus GS GS450H. If you are a Lexus car person you know that this model is hard to find with low miles and other extra accessories. For 57k it is a really good deal. Since its eBay, I?m sure you can lower that price a bit.

Now, here are the really great deals for those who can?t afford the really expensive cars. The Lexus and Porsche were the best of the best. Now take a look at the cars that are just great buys. Since eBay allows you to bid on cars, you can get a car priced at $13,000 for half or less than that. For example, there is a Toyota Prius hybrid with low miles in excellent condition for $17,000 with a bid for only $1,000. Then again, that car still has a week left.

A real deal would be one that has a low bid and no time left. If you are an eBay buyer, you know that people will fight at the last second for things they want so even if there is a day left on an auction and the price is still low, chances are it would increase to much higher levels. What you have to do is research what a car would cost new and used. Then you have to see the ?buy now? prices on all the cars. Finally, check the price of the latest bid+ the number of bids. The more bids a car has the more chance it will have a ton of bids at the end. The perfect car would have half the cost, less than 24 hours left, and less than 5 bids. One such car is a Ford Escape Hybrid 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid 2WD. As you can see, there is only one such car like that at the moment. They are not often found but they do exist. Check every day for such cars.

George Christodoulou

Gas is costing you a small fortune annually! Learn how to run your car on water
visit http://run-my-car-on-water.com to learn more and stop being a slave to big oil.

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If you want more information about, Hybrid Cars for Sale on Ebay,
please visit http://electricvehiclesite.com for more information.

How You Can Save Money and Energy With the New Plug-in Electric Hybrid Car

A new prototype hybrid car was revealed by Pacific Gas & Electric Co. Not only does it save on gas, but it can be used to power homes and businesses during blackouts or during hot summer days when energy prices soar.

In addition to reducing energy cost, V2G technology will allow consumers to be able to sell back energy to the utility during the hot summer months when energy demand is the highest. Hybrid vehicle owners may sell energy at the price threshold they select. When the price reaches this point, the utility will automatically take energy from the vehicle. The owner will have enough energy left over for the drive home. Payment to the vehicle's owner can be made in the form of earned credits from the amount of energy used by the utility toward their monthly energy bill.

V2G technology can increase the availability of renewable energy used during peak energy hours. Plug-in electric hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) may charge their batteries at night when energy is inexpensive and is generated with a larger percentage of renewable resources. While electrical utilities usually have to buy power from expensive, less efficient, fossil fuel power generating sources during the day or times of maximum demand. But with PHEVs, utilities may purchase the renewable energy stored in the vehicle batteries.

PG&E demonstrated the first-ever utility Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology at Silicon Valley Leadership Group Alternative Energy Solutions Summit in California. The PHEV, a converted Toyota Prius, featured a 180 pound lithium battery that takes up the bottom of a back trunk where a tire would go. The vehicle produces about 9 kilowatts of electricity while the average house uses about 2.5 kilowatts of electricity on hour.

The PHEVs charge by plugging into a three-prong 110- to 120-volt outlet. Flipping a switch sends the charge to the home from the car, if the home needs energy during a blackout or high energy consumption days.

For the demonstration, the Prius ran several lights and appliances after reversing the flow of energy from the outlet to the vehicle.

The plug-ins, like the traditional hybrid, have both electric motors and batteries as well as a gasoline engine which turns on when the car runs about 20 to 25 miles per hour.

A plug-in hybrid vehicle with its larger battery, uses its gasoline engine less often and gets about 100 miles per gallon. In contrast, a 2007 Toyota Prius reaches about 55 miles per gallon in combined city and highway driving.

PG&E officials did not release a timeline of when V2G hybrid cars would be available to the general public. Since the auto industry is not yet increasing production of electric vehicles which require larger batteries, the PHEVs are not likely to be produced before 2012.

What this means to you, is that you will have way to turn your vehicle into a power storage system that will conserve energy and reduce dependence on foreign oil.

Nancy Val Verde writes about about hybrids among other topics. You can learn more about hybrids when you visit my blog, Hybrid Technology Reviewed at http://hybrid-technology-reviewed.blogspot.com

Hybrid Car Comparisons For 2007 - Buy A Hybrid Save The Planet?

For the past couple -three years, there has been much buzz going on about Hybrid Cars and the many benefits they seem to offer. It seems that Hybrid Cars may be the solution to both major problems we face in the United States today when it comes to transportation...

What are those two problems facing the United States when it comes to transportation?

1. Surging Oil Prices

2. Concern about the environment

So, how do you know which hybrid car to buy?

Compare your options and the benefits.

Owning a Hybrid car will offer you many, many benefits.

To name a few hybrid benefits:

1. Tax breaks by many states and Federal Government
2. Fuel cost savings - Hybrids use less fuel
3. Hybrid Cars are better for the environment producing less emissions

For these reasons and the never ending surge of gas pump prices, hybrid cars have experienced a sharp increase in sales.

More and more car manufacturers are joining the hybrid vehicle arena with their own versions. Both the old stand by companies that have been around for ever as well as many new "green car" companies are popping up to enter into the Hybrid Car Revolution. This is wonderful for those of you who are planning to buy a hybrid car, you now have so many choices it's almost unbelievable, that?s why you really need to compare hybrid cars to see which one would fit perfectly with your needs.

In this article we will only compare two of the worlds leading hybrid car manufactures, the Japanese giant's Toyota and Honda.

Toyota and Honda are credited with producing many top innovations of hybrid technology and their hybrid cars are the most popular, most awarded hybrid vehicles on the hybrid market today.

Here, in this article we will compare the hybrid cars they are offering for 2007 year, these will include the Honda Accord Hybrid, Honda Civic Hybrid, Lexus GS 450H, Toyota Camry Hybrid and the Toyota Prius.

Their fuel efficiency can be compared through their average consumption per mile in different situations, like; City Driving ? where the traffic is constantly stopping, Highway Driving ? where the engine can freely operate at maximum level and their combined average usage.

Miles Per Gallon and Average Used Per Gallon

• Honda Accord Hybrid ? 28 MPG (city), 35 MPG (Highway) and 31 MPG (Combined Average)
• Honda Civic - 49 MPG (city), 51 MPG (Highway) and 50 MPG (Combined Average)
• Lexus GS 450H - 25 MPG (city), 28 MPG (Highway) and 26 MPG (Combined Average)
• Toyota Camry Hybrid - 40 MPG (city), 38 MPG (Highway) and 39 MPG (Combined Average)
• Toyota Prius - 60 MPG (city), 51 MPG (Highway) and 55 MPG (Combined Average)

Before you just go out and pick the one with the highest MPG average, you need to consider something else.

Fuel type.

All of these vehicles use regular gasoline except for the Lexus which uses Premium Gasoline that is much pricier per gallon.

You also need to compare the size class of each hybrid car as well as the engine size and liters of the engine.

• Accord Hybrid is a midsize car with a 3 liter - 6 cylinder engine.
• Civic Hybrid is a compact car with a 1.3 liter ? 4 cylinder engine.
• Lexus GS 450H is another compact car with a 3.5 liter ? 6 cylinder engine.
• Toyota Camry Hybrid is a midsize sedan equipped with a 2.4 liter ? 4 cylinder engine
• Toyota Prius is a compact car with a 1.5 liter ? 4 cylinder engine.

The bigger the car and the more powerful the engine is, the more fuel will be consumed. Considering all these aspects and doing your homework can lead to a fantastic hybrid vehicle purchase.

You have to put all of the considerations on the table when searching for the best hybrid to buy.

So, before you rush right out an get that shiny new hybrid car, compare first and do your homework. Find the one that will suit your needs and fit your personality best and you will be on your way to helping save the environment as well as saving yourself some money on fuel.

Frederick Musser is the owner of e85 Tips. A site dedicated to informing the world about alternative fuels and energy and their many benefits.

For more information on e85 and alternative fuels please visit e85Tips.com

How To Get 100 MPG With Your Hybrid Car

Getting 100mpg can seem like a pipe dream to many, but this is no longer one of those mythical numbers. It?s already being done, right now, in vehicles you see on the road today.

For some people, getting 100mpg is as simple as getting a Moped. Sure, there?s nothing really magical about a 50cc gasoline engine, but the very lightweight Moped can be great if you live in a city with heavy traffic and a lot of bike lanes (usually a Moped can drive in lanes for bicycles). I have a friend who lives in Boston, and he tells me that his little scooter is the best way to get around town since it can drive on the road like a regular car, and then take bike lanes to get through traffic backups quickly.

But for the rest of us who need an actual car to get somewhere, 100mpg is in a car that can drive on the highway is possible. While they aren?t rolling of production lines, a person with a little know-how and some ingenuity can achieve the mythical 100mpg by starting with a car you can get from your dealer right now ? a Toyota Prius.

For those who like to tinker, and if you live in an area with a lot of sunlight, you might consider installing a solar panels on your rooftop so that while your car is parked while you?re out and about, the electric battery is being recharged. While this isn?t the most efficient way to use solar panels (the roof of your house is a much better place for them), on some trips you may be able to hit 100mpg.

Then there?s what many would consider the more sensible conversion ? taking your current Prius Hybrid and converting it into a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle. The conversion will run you in the neighborhood of $5,000-$6,000 if you like to do things yourself or you can have a conversion company do it for you for about $10,000-$12,000.

Converting your Prius to a PHEV can help you hit the 100mpg mark when taking your daily commute since you?ll be relying mostly on the electric motors to do all the work. And if you?re taking short trips, the gasoline engine may not need to fire at all, which means you?ve used no gasoline for that trip.

And if you?re feeling flush with cash, you live in Southern California, and you want to say goodbye to gasoline forever, you can get yourself a Tesla Roadster ($95,000). This vehicle is 100% electric, requires no gasoline, can do 0-60mpg in 4 seconds (about what a Porsche 911 Turbo can do), and has a range of over 200 miles. This vehicle gets the equivalent of 135 miles per gallon and costs only 2 cents/mile to drive (even the most fuel efficient non hybrid cars cost at least 8 cents/mile to drive)

Gary Ruplinger is the owner of FuelSavingZone.com. Be sure to get his free report with 61 gas savers. Also, save 5% on all your gas purchases by getting the best gas card on the market.

Hybrid Cars Help Save The Planet

Buying a new car is spending a considerable amount of money for most people, and with the ever rising oil price it is becoming a more and more expensive affair to own your own car too. With an oil price that works in a way so that a rain in north America raises the price people in Finland pays for gasoline from Russia, it is not strange that the market is eager to be offered more economical cars.

To further complicate matters, we are today well aware that the large scale use of fossil fuel like oil is very bad for the environment. Getting rid of all gasoline powered engines would be great for the environment.

All of the above has resulted in a new breed of cars being rapidly developed. These cars combine the best features of the electric cars with that of conventional, gasoline powered cars. These type of cars are called hybrid cars, and you are likely to hear a lot about them in the very near future.

The electric car revisited

The electric car first sounded like a great idea, since it has no emissions while it runs. However, this is only partially true as the total emissions depends on how the electricity for the electric car is produced - if it comes from a coal plant for example, it isn't very clean at all.

Furthermore, the storage of large amounts of electricity is problematic at best and in practise turns electric cars to pure bread city cars. Storing large ammounts of electricity is unfortunately a rather clumsy affair.

Hybrid cars combine an electric engine with a gasoline powered one, which means the use of gasoline isn't gotten rid of completely but it can be greatly reduced. The dual engines also allow for smaller engines to be used, and they take advantage of things like regenerative breaking.

Naturally the hybrid cars are also extremely lightweight and aerodynamically well designed, all to reduce the energy needed to run them. In slow city traffic the conventional engine is automatically shut of completely, producing no emissions whatsoever. When more speed and power is needed, the conventional engine is allowed to seamlessly kick in partially or fully.

You could own a hybrid car tomorrow

Like much of the car market today, it is the Japanese who have been fastest to develop attractive looking hybrid vehicles, such as the hybrid powered Honda Accord and Toyota Prius. Contrary to what one might believe, these cars have also gotten a warm reception on the market.

The idea of saving on gas is obviously appealing to a lot of people.

Most well established North American manufacturers are also expected to jump on the bandwagon of this lucrative market very soon. Many of them, including Ford, Chevrolet and Mercury have in fact already launched hybrid powered version of some of their models.

Since this is now a phenomenon that all big manufacturers are getting into, you can expect to see many of these cars appearing more commonly at local car dealers. As this is considered cutting edge technology, one can expect the initial prices to be rather high though. But then again, a hybrid car will mean considerable savings on buying gas. As the competition will no doubt be stiff, it will be interesting to see how the pricing of these cars develop during the next few years.

While the best thing for the environment would be to cease using any kinds of fossil fuels, hybrid cars represent one of the best alternatives one can right now - combining the cleanliness of the electric engine with the mileage of a conventional combustion engine. Hybrid cars are certainly not to be considered unorthodox or overly futuristic - they are here NOW.

The Know more about network (http://knowmoreabout.net), has more consumer information about hybrid cars at: http://www.knowmoreabout.net/automotive/hybrid-cars/

What Are The Benefits Of Owning A Hybrid Car ?

One thing the hybrid cars promise users is the most, is their ability to save gas by consuming less, as well as reduction in atmospheric pollution. For that reason more people prefer to own hybrid vehicles these days. Hybrid cars run on both fuel and engines that are powered by battery. This means that, they consume less oil and emit less gas when compared to gasoline powered vehicles. Hybrid car, no doubt is a possible solution to the sporadic hike in fuel price in the oil market.

Because of the benefits or advantages accrued from using or owning hybrid cars, the US government had welcomed and supported the manufacturing of this model of car. It has also allowed importation as well as encouraging automobile company in the country like Ford and General Motors to manufacture hybrid cars.

Some of the advantages derived from hybrid cars include the following:

(a) Savings on low gas usage:

Hybrid car combines both electric power and gasoline powered engine. Hence each function all by itself, and combines together depending on which is weaker or stronger when running. The regenerative braking feature enables the engine to compliment each other

(b) Consistent performance:

Unlike the traditional gas powered engine, hybrid cars do not require transmissions to make their engines work at full capacity even at reduced speeds. Hybrid cars function normal and on a consistent basis at any motor speed.

(c) Environmentally friendly:

Hybrid cars, because of their combination of electric powered and gasoline ? powered engines, emit significantly less gas into the environment. The effect of this in the long-run will be a clean population free environment around the globe.

(d) Convenience:

Less amount is expended on gasoline for hybrid cars. This is because of the battery powered engine used by hybrid cars. This is in perfect contrast to owners of the convention gas powered cars who cannot help but feel the scourge of the soaring fuel pump price. Also, most hybrid cars are easy to maneuver on the road because of its light weight. The designs are also something to behold and they come in style.

Some are of the opinion that buying or owning a hybrid car is not ideal for now because of its expensive nature. Notwithstanding its cost, the advantages to be derived from owning this type of vehicle in the long run is worth it. It will be better if more people demand for hybrid cars because this will induce the manufacturers to manufacture more and the price will eventually fall in no time at all.

For an honest review and guide to hybrid car information, you have got to visit http://www.hybrid-car-site.com

Why a Hybrid Car ?

For most of us these days there's so much publicity & news coverage over the Green House Effect that maybe you've been thinking about how much your car contributes to this and wish to help the environment. Or maybe you are sick and tired of paying high gas prices and want to buy a car that is better on gas. Whether you want to help the environment, or want to cut down on how much you spend on gas, the hybrid car is a great solution.

What is hybrid car?

Hybrid cars are autos that run efficiently on both fuel (normally gasoline) and electric energy. The combination of using fuel and electric energy makes hybrid cars both environmentally-friendly and cost-efficient.

The vast majority of hybrid cars are powered by two different engines: a gasoline engine and an electric engine. The gasoline engine is responsible for starting and stopping the car, while the electric engine is responsible for actually making the car move. By using the two engines in this way, the car is not totally dependent on gasoline. This, in turn, cuts down on the environmental pollution & the amount & therefore cost of gas used.

Types of Hybrid cars

If you've done research on hybrid cars on the Internet, you've probably seen that there are two types of hybrid cars currently available. These are the Series hybrid car and the Parallels hybrid car. There are slight differences between the two types of hybrid cars, which we will go over here.

With the Series type of hybrid car, the gasoline engine is used to start and stop the car. Then, when the car reaches a specific speed, the electric engine automatically takes over. Also, in the Series type of hybrid car, the gas engine is used to charge the batteries of the electric engine. With the Series type of hybrid car, both engines never really work together as a team.

The Parallel hybrid, just like the Series hybrid, uses both a gas and electric engine. Even though the Parallel and Series hybrids are similarly configured physically, they are distinctively different in terms of operation. The big difference is that, in the Parallel hybrid, both the gasoline and electric engines can be used to start and stop the car. The other difference is that the electric engine in a Parallel hybrid is only used to boost the power of the vehicle when needed. Parallel hybrid cars are more fuel efficient than are the Series hybrid cars.

How does the hybrid car increase fuel efficiency?

Hybrid cars are made up of lightweight materials. Thus, the load on the hybrid car is greatly reduced. Because of the lightweight materials, the car doesn't require as much fuel to move. Also, the tires of hybrid cars are firmer than are those found on regular cars.

Since the gasoline is burnt at a low level in hybrid cars, it produces lower toxic emissions than those produced by conventional vehicles. Green house emissions, as we previously mentioned, are a real threat to the environment. Hybrid vehicles, because they release less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, cause far less pollution than regular cars do. In fact, some studies have shown that hybrid cars can reduce the greenhouse gas emissions by as much as fifty percent, and tailpipe emissions by as much as ninety percent.

To sum up, hybrid cars are much more economical because they consume fifty to sixty percent less fuel than regular vehicles do. Also, they are very environmentally-friendly. The only drawback to hybrid cars is that currently they tend to be a bit more expensive than traditional cars to initially purchase.. However, this will change over time because more people will purchase hybrid vehicles due to the benefits and the pressures placed upon Governments to reduce pollution.

Toby Russell & his information website www.hybridcarlatest.com gives information, news and views for all those interested in the Hybrid Car Market

Hybrid Cars - Hottest Trend on Wheels

The increasing popularity of Hybrid cars is a clear indication of increasing fuel prices and increased concern over air pollution levels. People are looking for safe fuel alternatives for running their cars. Hybrid cars are the perfect answer of both the problems. Let us understand what hybrid cars are and how efficient they are for helping solve the global environmental problem.

The term hybrid means a mixture of two things. As the name suggests, hybrid cars run on a combination fuel. The energy for hybrid cars comes from a combination of a gasoline/diesel engine backed by an electric motor. Batteries in turn power the electric motor. These batteries are recharged automatically by utilizing the energy that is lost during braking and slowing down of the vehicle. In hybrid cars, the electric motor acts as an electric generator by running backwards, when the car slows down thus recharging the batteries. Hybrid cars are more efficient in city traffic rather than long distance driving due to the increased use of the electric power source.

The engines in hybrid cars are smaller than those in a traditional gasoline powered car. Thus, they consume less gas and are more energy efficient. The extra power needed to accelerate the hybrid car, comes from electric motor and batteries. The gasoline engine of hybrid car runs at higher engine revolutions without using excessive fuel. In some hybrid cars, the engine shuts off when the car stops at a traffic signal, and starts on its own when the car is put in gear.

Today, the consumer is well aware of the environmental harm being done by gas/diesel engines. The ever-increasing price of gas can make you feel the pinch every time you go to refuel your car. The hybrid cars offer a combination of power and energy. The constraint before now with hybrid cars however, was that there was not much choice available. Now, increasing popularity of hybrid cars have resulted in availability of several different models of hybrid cars. Many leading car manufacturers such as Honda, Ford and Toyota have come up with their version of hybrid cars.

There is a wide choice of hybrid cars available to fit everybody?s style and need. The old limitations that seemed to exist for the buyers now seem to be fading into the past. High cost, low speed, limited choice, non-availability are all things of yesteryears. Now you can have a trendy looking hybrid car that is easy on your pocket not only when you purchase it but also when you run it.

Will is a retired Research Food Technologist who worked over forty years with a major Fortune 500 food company in the Midwest. Product and process development of various types of foods were Will?s expertise. Will?s interests include reading, cooking, fishing, travel and golf.

Will is also a contributing editor for http://www.best-free-help.com a FREE Informational Website Portal that is dedicated to giving people expert knowledge of real value, to help people them decide!

Importance of Electric Car Parts in Hybrid car

Electric cars are getting commonplace day by day thanks to the fact that they have become very efficient to run and very cheap to maintain but just like any other vehicle, electric cars also suffer the wear and tear of time and the electric car parts need to be replaced and repaired. This means that people are on regular hunt for electric car parts needed for repair and replacement work. Most of the electric car manufacturers and electric car kit makers also sell high quality electric car parts which are easily available now in markets because of increasing demands and improving supply streams.

Electric car parts are generally of two types firstly those which are meant for electric conversion kits and secondly those meant for factory made electric car models. In fact battery is one of the most sought after electric car part. Both types of products are easily available provided you look for them in the right places. Generally the quality is very good but if someone sells you electric car parts like battery at prices too good to be true, it?s the best option to stay clear of these products as they may either be totally substandard or their quality must be subject to suspicion.

The electric car parts for factory made electric cars are generally available from the original equipment manufacturers. These products go through a number of hard quality checks and also certified by many quality assurance companies. If brought from an authorized dealer, the genuineness of the electric car part is almost every time guaranteed. These kinds of electric car parts may be made using proprietary technology and may not be available in open market from other manufacturers, thus if the original equipment manufacturer stops making the product, these kinds of electric car parts may be very hard to find.

The other kind of electric car parts are those meant for vehicles using an electric car kit. Unlike the electric car parts meant for factory made cars, these kind of electric car parts are generally available from a bunch of makers unless its a specific part of the car kit itself in which case this kind of a part may only be available from the car's electric kit maker. Being available in the open market from a number of manufacturers, these kind of electric car parts are generally easy to find but you must exercise caution and discretion while spending your money because the quality of the product is not something worth taking any risk.

It must be kept in mind that with proper market research and consultation of experts any one can buy an electric car part, what needs to be kept under consideration is that the quality of the product should not be compromised for a lower price and the buyer should always make every effort to make an informed decision.

Author is automobile engineer. Visit hybrid car information to get latest information on gas and electric hybrid car

Review On Hybrid Car Technology

The biggest question popping these days is that, what sort of vehicles are we actually going to be driving in the future? This question has stirred many minds and brains as world oil reserves are dwindling to such a worrying degree that the tip is we could actually run out of that black gooey stuff in about 50 years time. So what is the alternative left with us considering that there will be no black gold after few years? The answer is Hybrid Cars which will run on alternative fuel i.e. solar battery without emission of toxic substances in nature. But are reliable, will they perform well in future? These kinds of questions are just common these days.

Car is now part of daily life and culture, so it's difficult to imagine getting from one place to another without it, irrespective of distance. The future of the car, as we know, is doomed because of emission of large chunk of our greenhouse emissions, and fossil fuels set to become more costly before eventually running out. Thus this has resulted car manufactures to give a deep thought and are serious about alternative ways to produce engine power.

In other words we can say that it is all about developing the car of the future, a vehicle that will be both greener and more efficient. This is when hybrid car makes its entry. Hybrid car these days is gaining popularity as it is not only cheap but also easily affordable. This means owing this car won?t create any environment hazards and also won?t burn hole in your pocket. But is hybrid car reliable and bankable option? The answer is somehow yes, considering current trend of auto industry

A car with Hybrid technology has two engines, side by side, under the bonnet. This means an electric engine here and a petrol engine there. Seeing today?s cars we come to know that majority cars driven by one or the other engine. This means not that cost effective. Thus, for better mileage and maximum performance, you get them both chiming in together, so you get more power. This can only be found in hybrid cars. That?s why people prefer them over others.

In hybrid car the electric engine also charges the batteries, and that neatly gets you around the old problem of electric cars of having to plug it into the mains overnight. This means no need to worry about recharging too. But one of the biggest disadvantages attached with hybrid cars is that they needed big, heavy battery packs which took up all of the back seat. But this is also now rectified as now you get a full four-seater capacity and enough room in the luggage space for two or three small dogs or maybe even one really big one.

Thus, we can now say that hybrid car is the best and safe option to go for. Visit Author's site to learn more on hybrid car technology.

Author is business analyst of Automobile industry. Visit hybrid car information to learn more on hybrid vehicle. Gas and Electric car is an excellent report on the latest hybrid car technology trends.

Power Packed Features of Latest Hybrid Car

Gaze around and you will find cars which are not only attractive to look but also extremely powerful. Yes we are talking about hybrid car. A hybrid car is a vehicle that uses primarily three distinct source of power. Those are:

? An on-board rechargeable energy storage system or known as RESS and a fueled power source for vehicle propulsion

? A normal bicycle where rider can get extra power battery

? A sail boat with electric power

The term hybrid is basically used in relation with cars also has other uses. However, earlier the word hybrid was used in the United States to mean a vehicle of mixed national origin. If we travel few years back we come to know that it was a European car fitted with American mechanical components. But now this meaning has completely fallen out as now hybrid is often used to describe an engine swap. Few expert motor analysts have also referred to flexible-fuel vehicles as hybrids because they can use a mixture of different fuels, typically gasoline and ethanol alcohol fuel.

With people getting environment conscious, the one main consumer decision most people try to make which impacts the greatest on the environment is the choice of car or vehicle we drive. That?s why hybrid cars are gaining importance and popularity. Hybrid cars offer drivers a pioneering, competent, and reasonably priced option. After continuous running on roads, hybrid cars have become a practical choice for consumers.

At times people think are hybrid cars competent enough and provide same features and facilities. The answer is yes, a hybrid car features a small fuel-efficient gas engine which is combined with an electric motor that assists the engine when accelerating. Thus, the electric motor is motorized by batteries that recharge mechanically while you drive. Talking about its efficiency, hybrid cars are power packed with the following features:

1. Smaller and more efficient engines

2. Regenerative braking ? Herein the electric motor that drives the hybrid car can also slow the car. Thus, in this mode, the electric motor acts as a generator and charges the batteries while the car is slowing down

3. Periodic engine shut off ? This is the main highlight of hybrid cars. When a hybrid car is stopped in traffic, the engine is temporarily shut off. It restarts automatically when put back into gear

4. Advanced aerodynamics ? This has reduced the drag considerably

5. Low-rolling resistance (LLR) tires ? It is powered with narrow, stiffer tires have less drag

6. Lightweight materials ? It subsequently increases the efficiency of hybrid cars

Thus, owing a hybrid car will not only do wonders for you and your pocket but also to environment.

Author is automobile engineer. Currently he writes on environment friendly Hybrid Car at http://www.hybridcarinformation.info

The Benefits Of Hybrid Cars

Hybrid cars: The vehicles of the future? With the price of gasoline hiking up to astronomic proportions, a lot of motorists are resorting to different ways to save on fuel. Some of them use alternative diesel. Others resort to using bikes, which can also contribute to the clean air program. Some who cannot do away with their rides, however, chose to buy hybrid vehicles. What exactly is a hybrid car? Primarily, a gasoline-electric hybrid car is a combination of an electric car and a gasoline-run vehicle. To make things clearer, it is first necessary to distinguish the characteristics of those two kinds. A gas-powered vehicle is equipped with fuel tanks, which gives gasoline to the engine. The engine operates the transmission, and the transmission operates the wheels. Meanwhile, an electric car is equipped with a set of batteries which gives electric power to a motor. The motor then operates the transmission and the wheels.

Now the hybrid car is a mix of the two. The reputation of hybrids is that they add to the car's mileage with fewer emissions usually coming from cars run by gasoline, while eliminating more or less the disadvantages that comes with electric cars. Motorists usually take three considerations in mind when judging the usability of a vehicle. These are: -it should run at three-hundred miles at least between fuel stops. -Should be easily refueled, in the minimum amount of time. -It should catch up with the other vehicles zooming on the road. The thing is, a gasoline-powered car has all these features, but it produces lots of emission plus the mileage is poor. On the other hand, an electric car gives off almost zero pollution, but the speed is relatively slow, and can only run 50-100 miles between battery charges.

What are the parts of hybrid cars?

1. Gasoline engine Compared to the engine of other cars, hybrids use smaller ones and is more technically advanced in order to maximize fuel and lessen emissions.

2. Fuel tank This serves as the device for hybrids to store energy for the gasoline engine.

3. Electric motor The motor present in hybrids is a study in sophistication. It can serve as both generator and motor.

4. Generator Much like an electric motor, but its only purpose is to provide electrical power.

5. Batteries Acts as the storage device of energy for electric motors. The advantage of hybrid car motors is that they can charge the batteries with energy as well as get energy supply from them.

6. Transmission Acts the same as conventional car transmissions.

There are two ways in combining the energy sources found in hybrid cars. The first one is the parallel hybrid, which is equipped with a fuel tank that provides gasoline to an engine, and a battery set that supplied energy to the electric motor. The second one is the series hybrid. In contrast, the generator is powered by the gasoline engine, and the generator is capable of either energizing the batteries or provide power to the electric motor that starts up the transmission.

Peter Basset runs his own home based marketing business but in his spare time writes articles about his passion.....cars! Why not visit one of his websites full of Hybrid Car Articles
http://www.car-fanatics.com/Hybrid-Cars.html

Hybrid Cars Popularity on the Wane?

Hybrid cars enjoyed a huge boost in sales amid skyrocketing gas prices over the past few years of uncertain economic times and restless consumers. The fusion of electricity and gasoline to fuel a vehicle proved to be an irresistable offer to both the eco-conscious, as well as to thrifty realists who decided they'd had it with being price-gouged for gas.

Now, as the gas prices begin to stabilize and consumer's pocketbooks seem to be a little heavier because of it, are these hybrid vehicles still enjoying their increasing status, or are they now a passing fad? Well, apparently American consumers are still interested in helping to conserve natural resources as well as save on gasoline, because these hybrid cars are still selling like hotcakes.

Sure, the sales may not be as hot as they were just a few short months ago when many areas in the US were facing gas prices of $3 and over, but they are still enjoying successful and plentiful sales, and are also enjoying a more wide recognition as people become increasingly eco-aware.

More and more Americans are realizing after the great surge in gas prices that seemed to have no end in sight, that this type of energy crisis can very well happen again, at any time, and they are trying to make more energy efficient choices in their vehicles.

In fact, when most of the time the fickle American public is quick to forget a pricing or shortage crisis when it comes to energy or natural resource supplies, they are not so quick to forget the gas price increases that were digging so deep into our pockets for what seemed like an eternity, and they are willing to spend a little more on a car that may prevent them from "having" to pay those outrageous prices ever again.

This is a tremendous shift in typical American consumerism, since we usually do tend to think short term, and the continued popularity of hybrid vehicles seems to signal a turn to long term thinking in large purchases in the buying public.

So, who are the leaders in the hybrid car market? Well, the Toyota Prius seems to be the most popular, at least these are the hybrids that I have seen most out on the roads and freeways in my neck of the woods.

Toyota is known for it's high quality, long-lasting cars, and is a trusted consumer brand here in the US, so it is only fitting that they produce one of the best sellers in the hybrid market. Others that are up and coming in the hybrid car market are Daimler Chrysler and GM, but their models have not quite matched the success Toyota's Prius has had yet.

On the horizon for the hybrid car options are luxury SUV's and larger, "family size" vehicles, for families that are watching their gasoline budget, but who can also obviously afford a little more up front for the luxury that comes afterwards in less gas expenditure.

We can only hope that more advances are to come in the energy alternative market, especially since we've seen what a fuel crisis can do to our economy and our working class citizens (like you and me). I have a feeling the technology is right on the brink, we just need to learn to let go of the idea that gasoline is the most efficient answer.

Danna Schneider is the founder of Low Interest Credit Card Offers for information on low interest credit cards, special interest credit cards, and the best deals currently going in credit. She also manages an online financial and credit info blog Credit Card and Mortgage Loan Info

Future Hybrid Cars Look

Rising fuel prices have caused people to take a second
look at hybrid cars. Hybrids were originally considered as
flimsy, underpowered toys. They were seen as cars for the
hippies, flower children and tree hugging environmentalists.
After all, why drive a battery-operated toy car when a powerful
gasoline car was easily and cheaply available?

That way of thinking has mostly come to an end. Excessive
fuel prices have consumers flocking to hybrid car dealerships.
In response, the major automobile manufacturers have
developed sleek, powerful, and affordable hybrid cars. Keep in
mind that hybrid cars are still in their infancy. What will future hybrid
cars look like?

Future hybrid cars might look as different from today's hybrids as
the Wright Brothers' first airplane looks from a modern stealth
bomber. Both are recognizable as planes, but nobody could have
predicted the bizarre shape of stealth aircraft. In the same manner,
future hybrid cars could take an entirely unforeseen direction.
However, it is possible to examine today's technology to make a
guess about future hybrid cars.

Today's cars are called hybrids because they combine the best
qualities of their parent cars, the gasoline car and the electric car.
Gasoline cars are expensive to fuel and create pollution. Electric
cars use no gasoline, but have limited range and require plug-in
recharging overnight. Future hybrid cars will likely improve on the
current combination of hybrids with both gas engines and electric
motors.

Internal combustion technology is very well developed. That is why
future hybrid cars will be improved by working on the electrical side
of the car. The first place to begin developing future hybrid cars is
the batteries. The traditional lead acid battery of gasoline cars works
well enough, but is bulky and heavy. Scaling up these batteries for
future hybrid cars would result in cars too large and heavy to move.
Future hybrid cars will have batteries that are lighter, stronger, and last
longer than today's battery technology.

Once more powerful batteries are developed for future hybrid cars,
expect improvements in the electric motor. More powerful batteries
mean that the electric motor will be used more often to propel the hybrid
vehicle. This will save more gas when driving future hybrid cars.

The logical conclusion to the advancement of batteries in future hybrid
cars is an all-electric car. Current battery technology may not be that
advanced yet. However, future hybrid cars may use an advanced battery
system called the fuel cell. Fuel cells on future hybrid cars will combine
hydrogen gas with oxygen from the air to create chemical energy. Of
course, future hybrid cars that run entirely on one source of fuel cannot
continue to be called a hybrid.

Adoz Lizzat is the webmaster of Hybrid cars. A great resource for Hybrid Cars. For More Information visit http://www.acarsz.com

5 Buying Tips For Hybrid Cars

With the rising cost of gas, it is getting less and less affordable to own a car these days. As a result of this increase in cost, car manufacturers have lately been very aggressive in promoting their line of hybrid cars designed to save fuel.

While a hybrid car in general does saves you some money on gas, you may want to bear these points in mind when looking to buy a hybrid car.

1) Hybrid cars generally are more expensive than conventional gas powered cars. The price difference can be as much as $10,000. Hybrid cars are still new to consumers and may take a while before prices drop.

2) The batteries used in a hybrid car is different from a conventional car. The prices are much higher. They are about $2000 more expensive. However, hybrid car batteries have a longer life span as well.

3) The government has a tax deduction for hybrid cars owners. The hybrid car tax deduction varies from year to year but in general, you can save at least a couple of thousand dollars.

4) The cost of maintenance for a hybrid car is also higher. Also it has more complex systems and engine, a normal mechanic may not know how to repair it. In most cases, you need to send back to the hybrid car manufacturer for maintenance and repair and the cost is not cheap.

5) Hybrid cars use special tires that are wore out more easily than conventional cars. These hybrid car tires cost more and need to be replaced around 25,000 miles.

While the above points may seem that buying a hybrid car is more expensive, the fuel savings in itself is definitely worth it in the long run.

Ricky Lim operates a hybrid cars site. Visit his site for more information on hybrid car battery and hybrid car tax

The Benefits Of The Hybrid Car

Hybrid cars: The vehicles of the future? With the price of gasoline hiking up to astronomic proportions, a lot of motorists are resorting to different ways to save on fuel. Some of them use alternative diesel. Others resort to using bikes, which can also contribute to the clean air program. Some who cannot do away with their rides, however, chose to buy hybrid vehicles. What exactly is a hybrid car? Primarily, a gasoline-electric hybrid car is a combination of an electric car and a gasoline-run vehicle. To make things clearer, it is first necessary to distinguish the characteristics of those two kinds. A gas-powered vehicle is equipped with fuel tanks, which gives gasoline to the engine. The engine operates the transmission, and the transmission operates the wheels. Meanwhile, an electric car is equipped with a set of batteries which gives electric power to a motor. The motor then operates the transmission and the wheels.

Now the hybrid car is a mix of the two. The reputation of hybrids is that they add to the car's mileage with fewer emissions usually coming from cars run by gasoline, while eliminating more or less the disadvantages that comes with electric cars. Motorists usually take three considerations in mind when judging the usability of a vehicle. These are: -it should run at three-hundred miles at least between fuel stops. -Should be easily refueled, in the minimum amount of time. -It should catch up with the other vehicles zooming on the road. The thing is, a gasoline-powered car has all these features, but it produces lots of emission plus the mileage is poor. On the other hand, an electric car gives off almost zero pollution, but the speed is relatively slow, and can only run 50-100 miles between battery charges.

What are the parts of hybrid cars?

1. Gasoline engine Compared to the engine of other cars, hybrids use smaller ones and is more technically advanced in order to maximize fuel and lessen emissions.

2. Fuel tank This serves as the device for hybrids to store energy for the gasoline engine.

3. Electric motor The motor present in hybrids is a study in sophistication. It can serve as both generator and motor.

4. Generator Much like an electric motor, but its only purpose is to provide electrical power.

5. Batteries Acts as the storage device of energy for electric motors. The advantage of hybrid car motors is that they can charge the batteries with energy as well as get energy supply from them.

6. Transmission Acts the same as conventional car transmissions.

There are two ways in combining the energy sources found in hybrid cars. The first one is the parallel hybrid, which is equipped with a fuel tank that provides gasoline to an engine, and a battery set that supplied energy to the electric motor. The second one is the series hybrid. In contrast, the generator is powered by the gasoline engine, and the generator is capable of either energizing the batteries or provide power to the electric motor that starts up the transmission.

Peter Basset runs his own home based marketing business but in his spare time writes articles about his passion.....cars! Why not visit one of his websites full of Hybrid Car Articles
http://www.car-fanatics.com/Hybrid-Cars.html

Why Hybrid Car Is Better Alternative In London City

The idea of the electric vehicle has risen from the ashes because the search of alternate energy is gaining popularity in investor circle.

Most of today's vehicles will be powered by an internal combustion engine, which will run on either petrol or diesel fuel. Lately, lot of investment has been made by Car Company to build state of the art electric and hybrid engines.

Outside look of hybrid car is just like ?normal? vehicles, except for the lack of a tailpipe (and exhaust system). There is no petrol tank instead there is battery packs in the trunk.

5 simple points to know before you buy a Hybrid car

1- Hybrid cars are often referred to as a Hybrid Electric Vehicle or HEV. HEV have two engines as opposed to a traditional car. The engines that are found in hybrid car are combustion and electric. The two engines allow the car to switch from one engine to the other when power begins to run low.

2- However, if needed, combustion and electric engines will run simultaneously as well. This will happen if more power is needed for example of this type of situation would be accelerating on an expressway.

3- Do some study before even you meet the broker as hybrid car has some separate vocabulary? Hybrid cars are, on average, have a 90 percent lower emission rate than traditional cars and are therefore known as Ultra Low-Emission vehicles.

4- Fuel efficiency is the biggest advantage of hybrid car. If drive in an area where it requires frequent stopping and starting, you will be able to see significant fuel savings because in these types of driving conditions the vehicle is able to utilize the electrical engine, using lower RPM's than a traditional car does.

5- Do some on line research on engineering of hybrid cars, repair shops, vehicle maintenance requirements and other such information that is specific to Hybrid car. Do not forget to get some details from car insurance company also.

www.hybridcarinformation.info/hybrid_car_information.php provides useful tips to buyers on hybrid car. To get latest information on gas and electric car follow the link: www.hybridcarinformation.info/gas_and_electric_hybrid_car.php

Top 3 Picks For Hybrid Cars

Hybrid cars are fast becoming more and more popular due to the rising fuel costs and the prices of hybrid cars are becoming more and more affordable. The performance of hybrid cars are also comparable to diesel/petrol cars so there's no reason not to get it.

There are plenty of new hybrid car models introduced every year but here are my top 3 picks that offers the best performance and features for the price.

#3 Honda Civic Hybrid

The Honda Civic hybrid is not a new model and has been on the market for some time. The price retails around $20,000 and the fuel performance is 47 city miles per gallon and 48 miles per gallon.

Though it isn't terribly fast, what I like about the honda civic hybrid is that it can carry up to 5 people. It is more functional and is suitable as a family car. It also pass the crash test rating with a good score of 5.

If you have a family and do not need to get anywhere fast, then going with a honda civic hybrid is a good buy.

#2 Honda Insight

The honda insight is a two seater hybrid car which have fuel performance of 57 city miles per gallon and 56 highway miles per gallon. The price is about the same as the honda civic hybrid. It is a very reliable car which I have owned for a couple of years. So far, it has not given me such problems.

There are a couple of disadvantages, firstly it is 2 seater which means it's not a family type of car. Secondly, the horsepower isn't that great with only 71 hp.

It is my second top pick because I like its reliability and when you compare price to performance, it is pretty good.

#1 Toyota Prius

The Toyota Prius hybrid car is my top pick because it offers the best performance for the price you get. It cost around $19,000 which is the cheapest out of the three. It has more horsepower at 110 hp and can do 60 city miles per gallon and 51 highway miles per gallon. It is a family sized car which can hold 5 people quite comfortably with some space left in the trunk.

It also get a 4.5 score for it's crash test rating. For price and performance, you can't beat the toyota prius.

Ricky Lim is an automobile editor who owns a toyota hybrid car. Visit his site to learn more on hybrid car technology and hybrid electric cars

The New Breed of Cars- Changing Driving Habits and Choices with Hybrid Cars

Remember how futuristic movies of the past portrayed tomorrows car as fast air gliders. Cars that moved from one point to another in the air. Well the future is here but the car of the future is not the dream of yesterday. The cars of our future do not glide through the air. They are not lighting fast but they are fast enough not to leave you yawning at the wheel. It is a good idea to understand just what we are dealing with when hybrid cars are mentioned.

With the rise in energy costs worldwide fuel powered cars have the disadvantage of rising maintenance costs. These recent events have made the hybrid car a choice for vehicle owners. But more than the rising costs of maintaining fuel powered cars interest in hybrid cars rose because hybrid cars use more than one form of energy to power their motor engines.

Manufacturers are rising to the challenges posed by the questions raised about the possibilities of these cars in regards to speed, comfort, compatibility and longevity. Manufacturers are showing off a new brand of car that compares to it fuel powered brethren. Hybrid cars are manufactured with all the lushness, stylishness and slickness of these other cars. A shift is coming in what will be the future car of the road and it is represented by the new breed of car, the hybrid car.

Even though there is an increasing awareness for hybrid cars buying one is not yet a one, two process. This is because these cars are not yet as widespread as their fuel powered cousins, and have not yet been released into the general auto marketplace. To get a hybrid vehicle you will need a little know how of where they can be found. This will involve some form of personal search. A personal search might involve contacting the companies themselves or various car dealers.

The hybrid car is the wave of the future and you should definitely think about getting on the bandwagon. Explore it possibilities and you will not be disappointed. They are slick and getting better all the time. Have fun driving the wave of the future.

You can see an example of a hybrid vehicle and read more about the future hybrid car at www.autocentralebrugge.com

Hybrid Car Review: It's A Baby Nissan Hybrid!

Nissan recently made public its first baby in the hybrid car industry with its 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid! Although it has not been priced yet at the moment, car enthusiast are looking out for its initial release into the hybrid auto market which will be in 2007. On the exterior, the new 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid will assume the similar look of the non-hybrid Altima and will also run on the same gas engine as its non-hybrid counterpart. But this newly-introduced 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid Car will be boasting of its added hybrid electric system that helps reduce gas emissions and maximize its gas mileage with an expected fuel economy of 36 mpg - miles per gallon - for highway driving and 41 mpg - miles per gallon - for city driving.

Emission-wise, the 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid has passed the standard of PZEV or the Partial Zero Emission Vehicle, classified as AT-PZEV, which means to say that this new baby will be ruling the roads of the eight states which has adopted the California standard for vehicle emission tests.

A peek under the hood will tell us that the new 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid Car will have 2.5 liter 4 cylinder engine with a power of 158 horsepower and with a CVT powertrain . Together with the hybrid system, it will have a total of 198 horsepower, net! The 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid Car will run with a 40 horsepower permanent magnet synchronized AC motor. Its electric motor will have a 199 lb-ft, torque and a hybrid battery pack of 244.8 Volts.

Not a bad primi for Nissan. And if all goes well, we might expect more hybrid models from Nissan.

JB Anthony is the webmaster of http://www.hybridcars.hottestniches.com For more information on hybrid cars, latest hybrid car reviews and updates and links to hybrid cars, please visit http://www.hybridcars.hottestniches.com

The 2 Types Of Hybrid Cars

Many automobile companies have spend millions of dollars each year in research and development of more efficient fuel consumption for cars. Each year more and more cars are rolled out the production plants and there is an urgent call by consumers and environmental groups to reduce the fuel consumption of automobiles.

With the increasing cost of fuel and the environmental concerns regarding harmful emissions of toxic gases into our atmosphere, automobile companies are forced to developed radically different types of cars. One of which is the hybrid car

A hybrid is powered by conventional fuel as well as uses electric energy. Hybrid cars have lower fuel consumption and are more environmentally friendly.

All hybrid cars are powered by two engines : a gasoline engine and a electric engine. Typically, they work in tandem with each other. The gasoline engine is used during starting and stopping the car. Once the car is travelling at a certain speed, the electric engine will take over automatically.

In the current market, there are 2 types of hybrid car. The first type is the series. Typically, the gasoline engine is used to start and stop the car. Once the hybrid car has attained a certain speed, the electric engine will take over. The gasoline engine is also used to charge the electric engine?s batteries. As you can see, both engines are used in tandem with each other but never together.

The second type is called the parallels. It has the same physical configuration of the series hybrid however the operation is quite different. Both the electric engine and the gasoline engine can be used to start and stop the car. The electric engine is used to boost the power of the car when required. Parallel hybrid cars are more suited for long distance travelling.

Usually, hybrid cars are built using very lightweight materials in order to reduce the load on the hybrid car when travelling. This help to save fuel by requiring less energy to move the vehicle. The tires are made more rigid than conventional vehicles with higher tire pressure to increase fuel efficiency.

In on whole, a hybrid car consumes 50 to 60 percent less fuel than a conventional car. The only obstacle is the high cost at the present moment but I am sure as consumers start to recognize the benefits of hybrid car, the prices will start falling and become more affordable.

Ricky Lim is a hybrid car owner who contributes hybrid car technology and hybrid car manufacturers articles regularly.

Hybrid cars are the Vehicles of Choice these days

Hybrid Cars are becoming more and more popular. Hybrids are both stylish and have a reputation for being safe and fuel efficient. With more and more consumers focusing on the ongoing problem of air pollution, it is not surprising they are drawn to hybrid Cars. Toyota and Lexus sold over 60,000 Hybrid Cars combined since Jan 1 2006. Hybrid Vehicles are easy on the environment as well as your pocketbook. The fact that they are designed to be kind to the environment is getting the attention of many consumers, businesses, and governments.

Hybrids operate using both a small gasoline engine and an electric engine. The two work independently and together to create one of the most efficient methods of transportation. The smaller gasoline engine uses much less gasoline to operate the hybrid than a conventional gasoline powered vehicles uses. Therefore, owners of hybrids can enjoy lower fees at the gas pump. In addition, since the hybrids use less gas, they emit fewer pollutants. And help America become less dependent on forein oil. In fact, experts agree that a typical hybrid will emit up to 90% fewer pollutants than a typical automobile. These statistics are amazing and are the cause of many new developments and incentives being offered to consumers. For instance with the purchase of a Hybrid Car you get tax incentive savings. Along with savings at the gas pump. Here is a list of some typical hybrid cars MPG.

Car Make/Model - city/hwy

Honda Insight -- 60/66
Toyota Prius -- 60/51
Honda Civic Hybrid -- 49/51
Volkswagen Golf TDI -- 37/44
Volkswagen New Beetle TDI -- 37/44
Volkswagen Jetta TDI -- 36/41
Toyota Corolla -- 32/41
Scion xA -- 32/37
Hyundai Accent -- 32/35
Kia Rio -- 32/35
Honda Civic -- 30/40
Pontiac Vibe -- 30/36
Toyota Matrix -- 30/36

Even some businesses are offering incentives to employees who are planning to buy, or already own hybrids. Some businesses, such as Google, are offering $5000 for each employee toward the purchase of a new hybrid. Hyperion, the software company based in Santa Clara, California is also offering this cash incentive. Most corporations set aside millions in the yearly budget in order to compensate for these incentives. When asked, the corporations state they are giving their employees this opportunity in order to give back to the community. They feel that their locations have given to them through sales and in return they should give back to their community by providing cleaner air. Companies like Google even go so far to offer extensive group transportation schedules as well to further the positive effects on the community's air.

The fact that hybrids are environmentally friendly is also getting the attention of local governments across the United States. Local governments are offering free parking to hybrid drivers. Many cities like Los Angeles are allowing hybrid owners to park for free at city lots and parking meters. This incentive is showing consumers that the local government is supporting smart and environmentally wise shopping. With everyone in a community focused on being environmentally responsible, there is a common goal that leads to a better overall community.

In addition to the employers and government incentives, a few insurance companies are also offering incentives to hybrid drivers, in order to reward them for their smart choice. Although it would seem that the insurance companies were offering these discounts because statistics have shown hybrid drivers are less likely to file claims, it is not the case. At this time there is not enough evidence, according to experts, to be able to determine the risks hybrid drivers may or may not pose for an insurance company. The companies offering incentives are simply doing so to promote smart environmental decisions by consumers.

Consumers hear on the news and weather channel daily about the risks of global warming and air pollution. When you live in a large city, there are even days when smog alerts are as serious as a tornado. It is not fiction that air pollution damages humans and the Earth. Therefore, it is our responsibility to make wise choices when it comes to pollutants. Anything consumers can possibly do to cut down on their own personal pollution levels is a great thing. With our schedules being busier than ever, it is not likely everyone can forgo their vehicle for the greater good of the planet. However, hybrids are now offering a nice middle ground that allows everyone to profit. Consumers, corporations, and local governments are realizing the benefits. With long waiting lists in place for the newest hybrid arrivals, it is likely the hybrid will be the vehicle of the future!

Courtesy of http://www.activehybrid.com Hybrid Cars Articles

Improved Fuel Economy Tips and Hybrid Cars

Americans have been suffering "sticker shock" every time they pull into the gas station lately. Fuel prices keep rising with no end in sight.

With high fuel prices on the minds of most Americans, finding ways to be more economical and fuel efficient are on the rise. So what can you do to save money? More and more automakers are developing new, easy to use tools to help drivers keep an eye on fuel efficiency.

* Make sure your tires are properly inflated. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, you can improve fuel economy by about three percent by making sure your tires are properly inflated, but not enough people do it. The U.S. Department of Energy says nearly four million gallons of gas are wasted each day nationwide for every one psi of tire under-inflation. That translates to more than $10 million per day, or $3.8 billion per year in wasted gas money.

* Test your vehicle's emissions systems to make sure the engine is working efficiently. Fixing an engine that has failed an emissions test may improve gas mileage by four percent, on average. That's the equivalent of 12 cents per gallon.

* Change your car's oil and filters regularly. Changing the oil regularly (as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer) will increase the life of the car's engine. Clean oil reduces wear caused by friction between moving parts and it removes harmful dirt and grit from the engine. The car's air filter keeps impurities in the air from damaging internal engine components. Not only will replacing a dirty air filter improve fuel economy, it will protect the engine. Clogged filters can cause up to a 10 percent increase in fuel consumption.

Recognizing that not enough people find time to keep up with vehicle maintenance issues due to busy schedules and family commitments, more and more automakers are working on ways to help drivers worry less and pay less. GM is adding a new level of service to OnStar's popular monthly diagnostic e-mail that allows drivers to closely monitor conditions that can affect their car's fuel efficiency.

Enhancements to OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics, which collects valuable maintenance information on the vehicle's four key operating systems and sends a personalized e-mail directly to the owner, are being updated throughout 2006. Soon, the system will notify drivers of select models of the actual psi reading for each tire so they can make adjustments to improve fuel efficiency. The e-mail's oil-life monitoring feature now predicts the mileage at which the next oil change will be needed based on current driving patterns.

Enhanced vehicle emissions data gives consumers additional peace of mind that their emissions systems are operating efficiently. And vehicles that can run on E85 ethanol have access to the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition's (NEVC) handy E85 ethanol station on-line look-up tool through a hotlink in the OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics e-mail. And when driving, drivers can receive directions to the nearest E85 ethanol station by pressing the blue OnStar button in their vehicle.

The new hybrid cars are an excellent choice for anyone looking to save money at the gas pump and help the environment. Many car manufacturers are making hybrids because they are small and fuel-efficient. They are powered by a combination of an efficient gas engine and by electric motor that helps with accelerations. Batteries that recharge automatically power the electric motor. On this Hybrid Cars site you will find a large selection of topics covered with expert advice and tips for anyone considering the purchase of a hybrid car

EDITOR'S NOTE: Calculations based on an average gas price of $2.60 for 2006 from the DOE's Energy Information Administration. Estimates for fuel savings from vehicle maintenance are based on studies and literature reviews performed by Energy and Environmental Analysis, Inc., Washington, DC.

Courtesy of http://www.activehybrid.com

The new hybrid cars are an excellent choice for anyone looking to save money at the gas pump and help the environment. Many car manufacturers are making hybrids because they are small and fuel-efficient. They are powered by a combina

Why Is A Hybrid Car Tax Deduction Worthwhile?

Being environmentally conscience can be an advantage when it comes to saving you some money on your taxes with the fairly new hybrid car tax deduction. This is a new provision, since 2004, under the Working Families Tax Relief Act that allows for a hybrid automobile tax reduction. It can only be used once, but if you have recently bought one you could qualify for the tax reduction.

The way it can be taken advantage of is for those owners who bought them from the year 2004 and 2005 only. There is a limit when it comes to the car tax reduction, and that is $2,000, unfortunately that will decrease in 2006, when the car tax reduction limit will only be $500.

There are some improvements that are trying to be made in the hybrid car tax deduction. For one thing in August 2005 a revised energy bill was put into place to help increase incentives in buying a hybrid car. This bill helped exceed some of the limitations of the original hybrid automobile tax reduction by creating full dollar tax credits, which are an even greater advantage.

Going back to the car tax reduction that is in place right now, how much is dependent on the tax bracket you fall into. You can claim up to $2,000 but what comes off depends on where you fall in the tax brackets. The higher percentage tax bracket the more you will receive from the reduction and vice versa.

If you bought a hybrid car within three years of 2004 you can also apply for the car tax deduction. Of course this requires going back and modifying the original claim within three years of the return date or within two years of when any taxes were paid.

One good thing about claiming a tax reduction is you don't have to itemize. You can basically do your taxes as you normally would. The only thing is you must use a 1040 form and classified as 'clean fuel'. Other than that claiming this type of deduction is relatively simple and in the end can save you a good amount of money. As simple as it is, claiming a tax rebate is well worth it.

Now that you know what exactly qualifies you for this type of deduction you can see the benefits far outweigh any effort on your part it may take. Being environmentally conscience can not only help us all in keeping our planet clean, but can also help you personally by saving you money. So why not buy a hybrid and save with the hybrid car tax deduction?

Check out http://www.easy-tax-deductions.com/ for more articles on hybrid car tax deduction and tax deductions for business

Buying a Hybrid Luxury Car

A Hybrid luxury car is a great alternative to other high-end vehicles. A luxury vehicle like a BMW is a great way to show off your sense of style. But with a Hybrid automobile you will also be contributing to the environment as well as showing off your sense of style.

Why a Hybrid?

Hybrids are an economic way to customize your monthly spending. Instead of paying a huge car payment you will enjoy a small payment and even smaller gas bill. Toyota, Honda, and many other automotive brands are now offering hybrid vehicles to meet all their customer needs.

The customer's specifications can be matched exactly and there are just as many personalized aspects to a hybrid vehicle. Vehicle customizing can be as simple as a certain kind of leather on the seats, or as complex as a video monitoring system.

Women and Hybrids

More and more women are interest in acquiring a luxury car. These women enjoy a motor vehicle that they can show off in. They may not want the vehicle for its customized engine performance. Instead, they are looking for the overall appeal of the vehicle. Hybrids often make the perfect choice for a woman. These cars are still aesthetically appealing and they also are environmentally friendly.

Some Custom Luxury Car Problems

Many people who are getting a customized luxury car or van may find it difficult to wait so long for their vehicle. This is often a big deterrent for people who are trying to decide to customize their vehicle or not. It is hard to say you will wait 8-weeks for a customized vehicle when you can get a regular one right away.

Another problem that many people have with a customized vehicle is the pricing. Although most people who want to have a vehicle customized are not too worried about the price, the fact is that customization can run in the thousands of dollars.

Making Your Luxury Vehicle Purchase

A regular person off the street is not likely to ask for customization on a vehicle. The expense is very large and often very similar to the regular stock upgrades that the person can get.

Hybrid vehicles as well as luxury vehicles are a great way to show off your personal sense of style. When you own one of these types of vehicles then you will always take pride in your car. You will show off all the custom features you had incorporated to make it feel more like your own vehicle.

A hybrid car is an economical choice with today's rising gas prices. Even the luxury models will end up being a great choice when you start seeing all the saving you will have just on gas every month. Remember to compare prices when you are purchasing a luxury car. Not all dealerships are created equally, so you will have to find a dealership that can offer you the level of support you need throughout your vehicle purchase.

A custom luxury car is the dream of almost everyone, but even if you know which car you want -- what is the best way to get it? For numerous articles and resources designed to get you in your dream car NOW visit us at: http://www.customluxurycar.com/

Take a Ride to the Future In A Hybrid Car

Utilizing the latest in advanced technology, hybrid cars might just provide a glimpse into the future of automobiles. Hybrid cars sport sleek and futuristic looks, but these cars aren't just for show. These scientific marvels make use of both electric and gas power to make for a cleaner, more cost efficient, and environmentally friendlier car.

As the world's supply of oil inevitably runs out and the prices of gasoline continue to skyrocket to staggering new heights, more and more people have begun to look for an alternative way to power their cars, as well as to save some money. Thankfully, the rise of hybrid cars are providing a much needed solution to these problems and more. The popularity of hybrid cars continue to grow as more people begin to realize the many advantages that hybrid cars hold over conventional ones.

So, what is a hybrid car and how does it work?

As the name suggests, hybrid cars utilizes a combination of different technologies. Hybrid cars use an electric propulsion system together with of a gas propulsion system to great effect.

Hybrids cars consist mostly of the same basic parts as normal gas cars. They contain a gasoline engine, a fuel tank, batteries, and a transmission. The difference is that hybrid cars also contain an electric motor and in some cases a generator, that work in conjunction with the gasoline engine to run the transmission.

A hybrid car can work in different ways.

In a parallel hybrid system, both the gasoline engine and the electric motor are connected to the transmission. The car alternates between the two and sometime uses them together. It typically works by using the electric motor to power the car at lower speeds and once the car reaches a certain speed, the car will automatically switch to the gasoline engine to give it extra power.

Other cars use what is called a series hybrid system. In this method, the gasoline engine is used to power a generator. The generator is responsible for charging the batteries that power the electric motor, which in turn, turns the transmission causing the car to move. The gasoline engine in a series hybrid never actually runs the car directly.

Some of the later hybrid models have a feature that stores up the kinetic energy that is built up when braking and uses it to further charge the car's batteries.

The biggest advantage of a hybrid is that it uses a lot less fuel than normal cars. Hybrid owners will be very happy with the mileage that these cars are capable of.

It also helps that hybrid cars tend to be built with lighter materials like aluminum and plastic. The engine is also typically smaller and specially designed to consume less fuel.

Environmentalist will also be very pleased with hybrids seeing as how they emit far less air pollution. Using a hybrid car helps makes our world a cleaner and more beautiful place to live in.

The government is also very fond of hybrid cars. So much so that they're offering buyers tax incentives and other benefits. In some states, hybrid car owners can drive their hybrids in the high occupancy lane, even if they're all alone in their cars.

The earlier hybrid car models tended to have unique and special designs, but as more and more manufacturers are catching on to the hybrid craze, they have begun to create hybrid versions of their normal cars. The Honda Civic Hybrid for example, looks more or less exactly like a regular Civic.

Buying a hybrid car will inevitably cost more than a regular one. However, the money that is saved from the lower fuel consumption, along with the tax deductions will eventually make up for the extra cost of a hybrid. Those who drive frequently will be the ones that benefit most from this.

With all the of the benefits that hybrid cars give, it's no wonder that they're so quickly gaining in popularity. Hybrid owners figure that it's an excellent way to save money on gas and it gives them a good feeling, knowing that they're making a difference in the environment.

So those who are in interested should go seriously consider owning one and join the ever growing number of people who are stepping into the future with hybrid cars.

Lee Dobbins writes for http://hybridcars.unique-articles.com where you can get more news and information on hybrid cars.