Hybrid Car Buying Options

The hybrid car market has built upon us slowly but steadily over the last decade ago. If you can remember back that far you?ll recall that gas was hovering around a dollar a gallon and we were in an economic boom, right on the edge of the dotcom bubble and the economic reality of the new millennium.

The last half decade or so has brought a few other realities as well, the most prevalent being the truth in global warming. The social effects are just now starting to be seen, right alongside the commercial effects. The evolution of the automobile has sidled right up to the plate as the next major development. For those interested in helping out by owning one of the new generation of the car, your choices were limited for a long time, but with each passing year a whole new slew of options open up as car companies hop onto the bandwagon, realizing that there is in fact money to be made in this market.

Until Ford finally announced their Escape model recently, the market has been dominated by Japanese automakers, and even now as more American companies get involved, they have nearly a ten year head start in the market.

Toyota Prius ? The most popular and oldest of all hybrid models, the Prius is one of the cheapest models available as well as the most efficient with nearly 60 mpg. There is a downside to being the most popular however ? a waiting list of two to nine months.

Honda Insight ? Honda?s new entry, the Insight is a straight up competitor to the Prius, with a slightly lower price point and slightly higher mpg. It doesn?t have the establishment of brand name like Toyota?s machine, but the success of Civic and Accord hybrids in Honda?s line places them in a better position than any other car company to take Toyota on.

Ford Escape ? The Escape Hybrid is the first time an American car company has offered a hybrid vehicle to the public. Their first entry is an attempt to pacify both markets at the same time, offering a more expensive SUV hybrid that gets significantly better mileage than most SUVs on the market, but still fails to come anywhere near the Toyota or Honda mileage standards.

Lexus and Toyota have offered their own entries into the SUV hybrid arena, with the Lexus RX 400h and Toyota Highlander respectively. The popularity of the SUV being what it is, the price point is rendered partially if not entirely mute, as those on the cusp of buying an SUV because of gas mileage might reconsider when these options are presented.

With upwards of 10 new models supposedly being unveiled later this year, the list of hybrid cars available to the public is growing rapidly, finally catching up to the demand that Toyota and their over-stuffed order forms can attest to. What remains to be seen now is if the kind of technology race that this market needs is coming right behind.

Anthony Chatfield writes for Go Hybrid, where you can find information on hybrid cars, hybrid car batteries, and more energy-saving alternatives.

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

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.

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

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

What Are The Benefits Of Hybrid Cars?

These days no one wants to buy a car that eats up dollars at the gas pump. A hybrid offers as much fuel efficiency as possible through its design and technology. Depending on the model, hybrid cars can give their owners anywhere from 20 to 60mpg. They also have a good performance rating and a smooth ride without the gas drain.

Its in the automakers interest to produce these hybrids for the US market, since by law Automakers are mandated to keep the ?Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standard? or CAF? for short. Currently, the CAF? standard for all vehicles sold to consumers is 27.8mpg (8.55 liters per 100km). So if a car company can sell a hybrid with a mileage of 60mpg ( 3.92 liters per 100km) they can put 4 more large expensive luxury cars which give much less mileage on the market without violating CAF?.

In order to get the best mileage out of the hybrid, the car makers rely on optimizing the weight, the size and the aerodynamics. The weight is dramatically reduced by making the body out of light aluminum. The engine?s weight and height are also decreased. Materials such as carbon fiber and magnesium are also used in different models. The Honda Insight for example, which is about 1900 pounds (862kg) is less than half of what a traditional car weighs.

And a small efficient engine saves on energy, particularly when moving up and incline. A big engine uses more cylinders and puts those cylinders through more work and needs more gas. If you look at the Honda Insight, its engine weighs about 124 pounds (56kg) and contains only a 1 liter 3 cylinder engine. So it can produce 67 horsepower at 5700rpm. On top of that, there is the VTEC system and lean burn technology installed.

Another area that helps maximize the fuel efficiency of a hybrid is the use of advanced aerodynamics. When you are driving on a busy stretch of road, it?s the engine that provides the power needed to move the vehicle against force of the air. That force is called ?aerodynamic drag?. This drag is minimized in two ways. First, the hybrid is designed to have a smaller frontal area and second, all protruding objects are reduced. Covers are put on the wheels and some hybrids have small cameras in place of mirrors.

Jackson Porter is a staff writer at Environmental Central and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including Automobile Enthusiast

Mercury Mariner Hybrid Car Review

It is no secret that the Mercury brand of cars is part of the Ford Motor company. Mercury, like its cousin Lincoln, started out as independent companies but were bought out by the Ford company under the direction of the founder on his quest for domination in the world of automobiles. Since that time the name of all three makers has been with every dealership in the world. What most people fail to realize is the fact that Mercury is less of a work horse maker then Ford. For many years Mercury has released the higher trim levels of all their models, which are similar, but just a lot nicer then most of the Ford models that are released. This is the exact reason why so many of the Mercury models, while they seem to be duplicates of the Ford models, are so much more expensive. They are shall we say the higher class of Ford and the people who drive them expect something a bit more.

This can be seen easily in the Mercury Mariner. This hybrid SUV is closely related to the Ford Escape. Most often the models of the same type that are released by Ford and Mercury together are very similar, but there are many differences that are on going. Strangely enough most people cannot see the differences in the two models but they still lean towards the more expensive Mercury Mariner, whose sales have been far more brisk then that of the Ford Escape. In many respects from the mechanical stand point the two SUVs are identical. They both use the same motor and the same electric assist motor, but that is where the similarities stop. The interior of the Mariner is far more appealing to the higher class. Leather seats come standard with this model, as does on board tracking and a high end stereo system. The seating arrangements are even more complicated. The rear seats of the Mariner are automatic and can be folded down at the split to make room for cargo.

The Mercury Mariner has long been held as the best SUV hybrid on the market. The price difference between the two models of Ford and Mercury is great. There is little that one would not love about this model. You are getting all the fuel efficiency of the Escape with the high class styling that most have become accustomed too.

SouthEastDealers.com provides Automotive Information, Car Dealers and leasing contact information with around 40,000 listings from United States and Tips on dealing with Car Dealers, Saving Money with Insurance Premiums. Please visit http://www.southeastdealers.com for more information.

Daihatsu Hijet Hybrid Car Review

Some car maker names do not ring a bell with the people of the United States and that is normal because there are so many and they do not always actively market their cars in the US as a matter of slow sales and export taxes that found their way into the world of today. This is the case with Daihatsu and their models like the Hijet. Unlike the other car companies from Japan, the Daihatsu company is completely independent of anyone else other then in their sales range. The cars that they produce are made solely by their factories since the early 1960's. This would stand until the early 1990's when the company merged with super giant Toyota to create one of the largest foreign born car companies in the entire world. This has served both of these companies well as they work towards building the best there is in cars for the people in need of a better mpg rating.

The Hijet has been in existence since the early days of Daihatsu and was actually their first model to hit the market. The models include pick up trucks, cargo vans and mini cars, all of which are highly popular in Japan as they meet all of the requirements for the tax credits on small, fuel efficient vehicles in the country. For this reason the company decided to make the Hijet into a hybrid vehicle to perhaps gain some world wide appeal to the models. This has served them well and the company is now reaching a much wider market with the Hijet since it became the first pick up truck to be listed as a mild hybrid and receive the highest mile per gallon rating of any model in its class. The style and design of the hybrid version of the Hijet is very similar to the gas only version. They made very few changes in the manner of how the vehicle looks as opposed to how it performs when on the road.

The Hijet unit is very different then a lot of the hybrids that are currently on the road. The electric motor and the gas motor are built as one unit rather then two separate ones which is the norm for these kinds of vehicles. The electric motor resides behind the gas motor and attaches to the transmission, which is the concept that was created by Toyota for their line of hybrids, like the Prius.

SouthEastDealers.com provides Automotive Information, Car Dealers and leasing contact information with around 40,000 listings from United States and Tips on dealing with Car Dealers, Saving Money with Insurance Premiums. Please visit http://www.southeastdealers.com for more information.

What Are The Two Different Forms Of Hybrid Cars?

Currently, there is a lot of interest in hybrid cars due to the gas prices of recent years. There are two forms of hybrid cars. The first is a parallel hybrid, where there is both a gas and electric supply attached to the transmission of the car and the car is able to use both sources when running. The second is a series hybrid, where the gas portion powers a generator and the generator supplies electricity for the motor to run. These both improve the efficiency of the car, which is why hybrids are favored today. The only drawback for some consumers is the size.

The reason for this is that smaller cars help maintain the efficiency of the car. With a big car the engine is heavier and so when speeding or traveling up an incline, more energy is needed. Further more, because of the size, the hybrid car has an engine that requires less energy to perform its tasks. Then there is the cylinder displacement, which in a large vehicle takes more power. And in terms of cylinders, the smaller hybrid car doesn?t need as many to perform.

The Honda Insight is one of the smallest hybrid cars on the market. It was designed to carry two people. There is hardly any space for cargo or luggage. This design improves the fuel efficiency considerably, but the lack of space is a drawback.

The Toyota Prius has more space than the Insight. It can fit more than four people and the hatchback trunk can carry more cargo or luggage. This design has won Toyota awards and honors but for a family car, today?s consumers are used to having much more room.

Then there is the Honda Civic Hybrid. This car is the same size as a regular Honda Civic. The compartment spaces are maximized as much as possible in this model. Again, for the consumer who is used to driving an SUV or a minivan, this may still be not enough.

And for those consumers, there are some SUV and minivan hybrids available, however they don?t perform well. The efficiency has been compromised by the size. The price tag of these cars is a couple of thousands of dollars more than the regular models so in the end it may not be worth it in terms of gas mileage. So if you are buying a hybrid, it is best to go for the smaller cars and if you are looking for something larger, a hybrid may not be worth it.

Jackson Porter is a staff writer at Automobile Enthusiast and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including Environmental Central.

Get Hybrid Gas Mileage in Your Regular Car

It's no secret that hybrid cars get better fuel economy than their "regular fuel" counterparts. Unfortunately, chances are you probably don't own a hybrid car. Thankfully, that doesn't have to stop you from getting great gas mileage.

Below are several things you can do to help your vehicle get hybrid like fuel economy without having to shell out the extra money for an actual hybrid car:

1. Remove all excess weight from your vehicle. The rule of thumb is for every extra 100 pounds you carry in your car, you reduce its fuel economy by 2%. A good place to start is in the trunk of your car. Do you really need to carry your golf clubs around all the time?
2. Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Again, the rule of thumb is driving with under inflated tires will reduce your fuel economy by 2%, on average. You should try and check your tire pressure at least once per month.
3. Watch your speed. According to FuelEconomy.gov, for every 5 miles per hour you drive above 60 mph, you reduce your fuel economy by 6%. That's a pretty big incentive to just hang out in the right lane.
4. Reduce the amount of time you are in idle. Again, according to FuelEconomy.gov, your car wastes up to 17% of its fuel by simply being in idle. Whether you turn the car off when you're sitting at a long stop light, or park the car when you pick up something from a friend's house, you need to find ways to reduce the amount of time your car sits in idle.
5. Use moderate acceleration. Rapid acceleration, coupled with accelerating in to stops (as opposed to coasting) can decrease your fuel economy by as much as 33%! So, the next time the light turns green, don't gun it.

It may seem unrealistic, using the above tips should help you increase your fuel economy by between 10 and 20%. You may not be able to get the same fuel economy as an actual hybrid car, but following these items should get you pretty close.

Please visit Daily Fuel Economy Tip for more tips like this. The better driver you are, the more gas and money you'll save. It's a win/win situation!

Hybrid Cars Save Money

Hybrid Cars Save Money If you have been sitting on the fence about deciding to purchase a Hybrid car, you no longer have any excuse to be squeamish. Consumer Reports just released a study this August that confirms that Hybrid cars will in fact save you money over the long run.

The combination of generous tax credits along with the fuel saving nature of these vehicles is what makes them a good long term value. The difference in up front cost between a hybrid and its traditional counterpart is often between $1200 and $7000. Thats a wide gap, and can be enough to leave you wondering if its worth it.

The good news is that if you act fast and purchase your new Hybrid car before the tax credits phase out in 2007, alot of that upfront additional cost will come back to you in the form of a tax credit. Meanwhile, you will enjoy long term savings on fuel costs.

Did you know that as of 2006, Hybrids account for only 1% of new car sales in the US? As gas prices rise, the ratio will likely change as people seek to cut costs out of rising fuel prices. Unfortunately, if you wait too long you will no longer be able to take advantage of the tax credits that are being phased out. If you are considering purchasing a Hybrid car, you are better to do it now.

The study, conducted by Consumer Reports assumes that you keep your Hybrid car for several years, long enough to notice the difference in cost of filling up. Of course, the more you drive to work, school, or on vacation, the faster and greater your savings will add up.

If you are researching Hybrid cars, be sure to check out http://www.hybridrevolution.org This site lists updated information on all makes and models of Hybrids available and soon to be available.
Amber Lowery is an author and webmaster. You can read more about Hybrid cars by visiting her site: Hybrid Cars or by visiting: Hybrid Cars

Hybrid Cars for a Greener Wallet and Environment

Hybrid cars, trucks, and SUVs are a great alternative to regular cars. Although they are usually more expensive than the standard model, by $2,000 - $3,000, depending on the make and model, the savings that you can get with a hybrid over the course of the life of the car more than make up for that. Furthermore, by buying and driving a hybrid car, you reduce our nation's dependency on foreign oil and you show marketers and car-manufacturing companies that there is, in fact, a demand for hybrid vehicles.

It is true that hybrid cars are more expensive than the models with a standard engine. However, there are many benefits that you get with the hybrid that offset that cost over the lifetime oh hybrid cars. For example, a Honda Civic hybrid may yield between 10 and 15 miles more per gallon than a standard Honda Civic, depending on your driving habits. With gas at $3.00 a gallon and going up fast, this can translate into huge savings for you at the pump. Furthermore, many states as well as the federal government offer tax incentives for buying hybrid cars, which can translate to even more savings for you come tax time.

Reducing our country's dependency is at the top of most people's list of political goals, irrespective of your political leanings. Not only do hybrid cars represent a fantastic opportunity to save money, they also use less gas which translates to less dependency on foreign oil. This is important not just for the safety of the country and it's citizens, but it allows our government officials to do the right things and make the moral choices in troubled areas of the world without worrying about how our economy will survive without the foreign oil.

Finally, by buying and driving a hybrid car you are showing car manufacturers that there is, in fact, a demand for cars that leave a smaller environmental footprint. Some companies have been skeptical of transitioning their models to hybrid engines because they think that the market for the technology is too small to be profitable. Toyota has proven the U. S. automakers wrong with record demand for the Prius and waiting lists as long as six months.

By buying a hybrid car, you are ensuring the availability of a wide selection of hybrid cars in a variety of price ranges for yourself and for others in the future. Furthermore, if we are to lessen the environmental impact of driving, we need to support those companies that invest in being green to show other companies that they can make a profit and be good to the environment at the same time.

Green cars today, blue skies tomorrow.

Lance Freeman writes about hybrid cars and other technology within the automotive and environmental fields.

I Hate Hybrid Cars!

Drivers in the U.S. are buying hybrid vehicles, not because they want them, but because they can't afford to drive any other type of car. With gas prices setting all-time records and heading toward $4 per gallon, consumers are forced to drive a car that gets the most miles per dollar spent. That's an overpriced hybrid car.

The truth is that hybrids may get better mileage than a traditional car, but it's nothing to write home about. First, hybrids cost more. The slightly better mileage means that if you keep your hybrid car for from 3 to 5 years you may make up for the higher cost. That doesn't seem like such a good deal, does it? But it's all we have and that's why folks are buying the darn things.

The good news is that big improvements are on the way. AFS Trinity Power Corp. has been awarded a patent for a new flywheel technology that is expected to be used in second-generation flywheel/diesel hybrid trucks and buses.

This new flywheel within a flywheel technology is expected to make possible two key functions in both automobile and stationary power systems that utilize fuel cells and/or micro turbines. The problem is that these gadgets are constant power output devices, which means they can't speed up fast enough for acceptable acceleration and passing. The new flywheel gizmo may correct that.

Is this the huge breakthrough in automotive propulsion that we've been waiting for? Probably not, but it's an indication that a bunch of really smart people are working on the problem of developing a car that gets a million miles per gallon... or something like that.

President Bush recently signed a federal energy bill that encourages the use of fuel-efficient, low-emission vehicles and offers substantial tax breaks. The bill proclaims that high-efficiency vehicles, either hybrid or diesel, will receive credits on a sliding scale based on efficiency. Let me translate - "credits" mean MONEY! The maximum credit for light-duty vehicles is expected to be about $3,400.

When Uncle Sam starts handing out cash, two exciting things begin happening. Number One: Lobbyist begin shoveling it into their pockets. Number two: Lights go on in garages all across the country as inventors strive to solve the problem. You might say they are burning the midnight oil - one of the few fuels that is not necessarily in short supply.

Some point out that there is already a system to make biodiesel from vegetable oils for as little as 70 cents a gallon. This fuel does not contribute to global warming, has no obnoxious odor and is overall pollutant-free. Did you know that years ago Rudolf Diesel invented the diesel engine to run on peanut oil? Nutty, huh?

Another alternative mentioned from time to time is alcohol fuel, or ethanol. It is usually made from fermented corn; it blends as much as 85 percent alcohol and 15 percent gasoline and runs gasoline engines very nicely. Oh, it has a minor drawback, if you consider being highly explosive a drawback. That stuff could turn a Morris Mini into a rocket ship!

Yes, I hate the hybrids... of today, but I just can't wait to see what's coming tomorrow.

Mark Walters writes about hybrid vehicles at http://www.hybridvehiclestar.com and offers a free course titled Car Buying Tips.

Why To Wait a Year for a Hybrid Car

Hybrid cars are very popular vehicles in today's society. Hybrid cars combine the power of a gasoline engine with the environmental benefits of an electric engine to create what most consider being a better car. There are essentially two different types of hybrid cars on today's market. One type uses the gasoline engine to charge a battery. The battery then runs the electric motor in the car. The gasoline engine is reserved for situations where power is required. Another type never fully runs on the electric motor, but reserves that for situations where the car requires more power. Hybrid cars offer thirty to fifty miles per gallon of gasoline, and a host of special features that make them quite competitive with regular cars. They also, though, a price tag of three to five thousand dollars more than a typical car and waiting lists of six months to two years. There are, though, three good reasons to purchase a hybrid, despite the waiting list.

One excellent reason to purchase a hybrid car is to save money. Gas prices have been skyrocketing for the past two years. It hasn't been unusual over the course of the last several months to pay between two and three dollars per gallon of gasoline. If you live in a city or do an extensive amount of city driving, a hybrid is the car for you. Because some hybrids function on electric power only at low speeds, no gas is used during city driving. That means you could get up to fifty miles per gallon of gasoline just by driving to work each day. Since most traditionally built cars get less than twenty miles to a gallon of gasoline, you could be saving some serious cash. Some hybrids can go more than six hundred miles in between fill-ups, and that could save you more than six hundred and fifty dollars at the gas pump each year.

Another strong reason to purchase a hybrid car is to reduce pollution. City style driving is hard on a vehicle. As a result, cars produce more pollution while sitting in city traffic. Hybrid vehicles were built for this kind of a situation. Most hybrids produce ninety percent less harmful emissions than traditional vehicles do. Moreover, because many states are cracking down on emissions laws, this can save you in the long run. The government, both state and federal, offers tax incentives to purchase a hybrid vehicle. The internal revenue service alone offers up to one thousand dollars in the Clean Fuel Vehicle Tax Deduction program. Other local and state agencies offer similar deductions just to purchase a car that will help reduce pollution in our cities and neighborhoods. Additionally, it will help you feel good to know that you, personally, are doing something that will help our nation clear the air and eliminate the toxins we have spent so long adding to the atmosphere.

One final reason to purchase a hybrid car is to end dependency on oil as a power source. Oil powers everything from our homes to our cars. As a result, the United States is one of the leading countries in the demand for oil. This places us in a seriously problematic situation, as we cannot completely provide the oil we need for ourselves. Auto makers have continually pushed for more oil dependent cars like sport utility vehicles, large trucks, and minivans. Americans have bought into the bigger is better auto craze. The demand for oil goes up every day. Purchasing a hybrid, though, helps to tell the people around you as well as the government and the auto makers that you personally want fuel efficient technology that will stop robbing our natural resources and those of other countries as well as a fuel source that is not dependent on the help of other countries. Oil costs billions of dollars not only to purchase, but also to secure in trade agreements, to deal with the politics of other nations, and to find peaceful solutions to terrorist issues that change the oil supply. Those billions of dollars could find homes for other programs in our nation if we did not require as much oil.

Hybrid cars are one step to changing the way we think about driving. There are a number of excellent reasons to purchase a hybrid.

Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son. Get quality car care products from http://www.stopwaxing.com

The Hybrid Battery Car Plugs In

The future of the hybrid battery car is so bright you have to wear shades. Some would say the interest in the plug in hybrid is down right electrifying.

The hybrid battery car got a huge boost when President Bush featured it in a speech on his energy policy. It's part of the plan to replace over three-quarters of Mideast oil imports by the year 2025.

The location the President chose to give the speech is also significant. He spoke at Johnson Controls, a Milwaukee auto parts company that is making lithium-ion battery cells for the next generation of the hybrid battery car.

The race for hybrid technologies continues as the U.S. Energy Department pushes for hydrogen fuel cells to replace gasoline in cars. The department has targeted the year 2024 as a time when those fuel cells will be widely used in hybrid vehicles of all kinds.

There are really two forces driving the development of hybrid technologies. Number one is the uncertain Mideast sources of fossil fuels. The other is the cost per barrel of oil. As the cost of oil increases the race for information on hybrid cars becomes even more important.

Because hydrogen fuel is very expensive to transport some predict that the hybrid battery and ethanol technologies will precede any hybrid fuel based on hydrogen.

Government support means that plug in hybrid cars are on the horizon. These vehicles would get a battery charge from an ordinary electric outlet. Lithium-ion batteries will make this possible. These batteries will be large versions of the lithium-ion battery you use in your cell phone. You could be driving a plug-in hybrid by the year 2010.

The energy density of lithium-ion is typically twice that of the standard nickel-cadmium battery. There is even a growing potential for higher energy densities with these power source.

Lithium-ion is a low maintenance battery, an advantage that most other battery types can't match. Self-discharge is less than half compared to nickel-cadmium, making lithium-ion well suited for modern fuel gauge applications. They pose no threat to the environment for lithium-ion cells cause little harm when discarded.

Like most hybrid technologies, this one has its draw backs. Chief among them is that the lithium-ion batteries are fragile and require a protection circuit to maintain safe operation. All short comings are expected to be overcome as research and development continue.

To be successful hybrid fuel technologies must include petroleum alternatives. Right now ethanol would lessen the need for oil if mixed with gasoline. Here in the U.S we already make nearly 4 billion gallons of ethanol from corn. The irony is that a great deal of energy is needed to manufacture ethanol and that energy often comes from fossil fuel and natural gas.

Ethanol is an alcohol-based alternative fuel that is produced by fermenting and distilling starch crops that have been converted into simple sugars. Feed stocks for this fuel include corn, barley, and wheat.

Ethanol has a better chance of surviving as an important hybrid fuel when it is made from "cellulosic biomass" such as trees and grasses. These produce a hybrid fuel called bioethanol. Ethanol is used to increase octane and improve the emissions quality of gasoline.

Ethanol is blended with gasoline to create E85, a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. E85 and blends with even higher concentrations of ethanol qualify as alternative fuels under the Energy Policy Act. Vehicles that run on E85 are called flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) and can currently be purchased from several vehicle manufacturers.

There will be one surviving hybrid fuel in the future. What is your guess on which it will be? Or are there some surprise hybrid technologies in our future?

Mark Walters follows hybrid technologies and recommends that you learn more about the Hybrid Battery Car Here.