Electric Cars - Best Alternatives To Save Fuel

Electric cars, as the name indicates, are vehicles that work on electricity and whose only source of power is electricity. They are also known as battery electric vehicles. The most advantageous feature of electric cars is that they are zero emission vehicles and so, do not pollute the atmosphere. The number of parts in an electric car is also less as against other hybrid cars
or cars that run on gas. The noise from electric cars is almost negligible. Basically, an electric car is made up of a simple frame, wheels, an electric motor, car battery and an electric on and off switch.

The engine of the electric car is made up of a series of batteries that are attached to an on and off switch and it is in turn, attached to a motor that is electrically operated. Obviously, the electric motor drives the wheels and sets the car in motion. The amount of electricity that goes into the motor is controlled to drive the vehicle in a controlled manner. There are solar cars available that convert solar energy into electricity. The electricity that is stored within the battery of an electric car can be generated from any source, apart from solar, like nuclear, natural gas, coal and petroleum. Since electric cars have a low center of gravity, the initial acceleration is quite rapid and can be handled quite easily. But, the fact of the matter is, that the lithium ion batteries used in cars are very expensive making the overall price of the car expensive and these batteries have to be replaced once in three or four years. In addition, the charging of the battery takes almost three or four hours to fully recharge and therefore needs prior planning, if the electric car is to be used for longer distances.

This also means that the batteries can be charged only from the initial point of journey because there may not be too many charging stations on the way. People also feel that the electric cars are not most suitable for driving long distances and can be nightmarish, if the car runs out of battery or in the midst of busy traffic. Normally, an electric car offers the equivalent of twenty miles per gallon and the cost to run a mile is nearly three cents. Further more; there is no expenditure on tune ups, oil changes and the like in an electric car.

So, people who are environment friendly and want to paint a greener world can opt for an electric car. The choice would not only be appreciated by others but it would also fill the pocket of the owner because it saves a lot of fuel in the long run. Even though man affords to purchase oil what with soaring oil prices, oil is a depleting natural resource and it is our duty to save this resource for our future generations.

Solar Powered Vehicles - Best Fuel Alternative

Solar power is not a new concept by any means. It has been used for many years in such things as calculators and even by swimming pools for heating the water. But the use of solar power for automobiles is still a relatively new method of study. Solar power is a natural means of energy that is given off everyday. If it could somehow be utilized in the proper way, it may prove to be an efficient source of power. The race to discover the best fuel alternative ison as science continues to seek a better way.Solar power is really nothing more than the energy that is given off by the sun. The key is finding the right means of trapping it and making it useful for other purposes.

Solar powered grids are often used to attract the sunlight and absorb the sun's energy. It can then be transmitted to the object that needs to be powered.It may come as a surprise to some consumers to learn that science has been studying solar powered vehicle options for years already. Many solar powered cars are very small and not ideal for today's market. But with increasing amounts of study this possibility might become a reality sooner than we think. Scientists have even been racing their solar powered creations in order to see how they hold up.Solar powered options have been considered for today's current vehicles. Mazda once created a sunroof that was solar powered. It was designed to keep the inside of the car warm when it was not running and the temperature outside grew cold. These innovations are just a hint of what might be right around the corner.One of the most obvious concerns regarding a solar powered car is what one would do if the clouds cover the sun.

Normally, that would result in the loss of power and the car would come to a stop. And that certainly is not realistic in rush hour morning traffic. To fix this problem, a backup battery is included to automatically take over when the sun is absent.For using a solar powered car, the energy from thesun would have to be diverted to both the backup battery as well as running the car. Otherwise, there wouldn't be enough energy
to cover both facets. This could be seen as a serious disadvantage of a solar powered car.Another drawback of using solar power as a fuel alternative is that it has to be converted after it comes from the sun. It just cannot be done direct. This might include added costs just to obtain the energy needed to power both the car and backup battery.The solar cars that are currently in use by science for study are nothing like today's cars. You cannot get in them and they are very low to the ground. It is virtually improbable to see this get on the market. However, if the idea behind this model could be upgraded to fit the cars of today, it may be a worthy possibility.

Free How to Pick a Hybrid Car Tips

This article tells you how to pick a hybrid car. If you're looking for a green vehicle that is great on gasoline, with wonderful MPG, then you should consider a hybrid car.
As more people are becoming considerate of the environment, the idea of driving a vehicle less dependent on gas is becoming more popular. With this idea though, people are wondering how to pick a hybrid car, because they are interested in making the right choice for their vehicle needs as far as the environment go, but also for their lifestyles and wallets.
To choose a hybrid vehicle you should first choose the type of vehicle you need. Take into consideration how many people will be in your vehicle regularly as well as any kind of moving of heavy objects you do regularly. This is a first step when choosing any vehicle, but, while taking this into consideration, think about how each class of vehicle will also affect your gas mileage.
You see, each class of hybrid usually has higher mileage per gallon, but is still something you want to consider, if you are trying to decide between a sedan type and an SUV.

The difference in the gas mileage can be as high as 30mpg. For instance if you want the Toyota Prius, for city driving you can expect up to 60 mpg, and for highway driving up to 50mpg. However if you decide to instead go for the Ford Escape the mileage is 36/31. That is a huge difference for two vehicles that carry the same amount of passengers.
The cost of a hybrid is something else you might want to consider when thinking about how to choose a hybrid vehicle. For instance most gas only vehicles cost up to $5,000 less than a hybrid. You will be able to compare the two vehicles you like with their prices when you check for quotes, and in some cases you might be surprised to find that the difference can be as low as $3000.
If you are paying monthly for your vehicle you might want to sit down with calculator and find out if the extra payment of up to $90 a month (using the average $18/$1000 loan) is worth it. For instance the Prius is going to get you almost double the mileage you might have with a regular sedan, so you would spend half as much on gas every month. In the long run with the help each vehicle brings for the environment this could, very well, be worth the cost.
In the end no one can tell you exactly how to pick a hybrid car, but if you take these things into consideration you are going to be much happier with your decision to go hybrid, and the vehicle you choose.
Let's face it...
If you really want to know how to pick a hybrid car then you have to understand your goals. How much money can you spend? What is the hybrid vehicle going to be used for? Are you worried about hybrid car batteries, hybrid maintenance, and hybrid car risks? If you are, then you might want to wait another 3-4 years until you feel confident in the technology. That trust in hybrids is critical to your well-being and peace of mind.

Review 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid - Environment Friendly

The first phase of my research was to locate a Ford Escape Hybrid to test. Sounds easy enough but turns out it was a difficult task as it is the top-selling compact SUV in Canada. Although there are about 5 Ford Dealerships near my residence I had to travel to another major city to locate one. So there I was finally staring at a black 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD. The look was pleasantly aggressive and I really like the front-end face-lifts that Ford has given to many of their vehicles. The roof rack was a nice extra to accommodate my kayak and the interior appeared roomy enough for all the gear that I would take along on my kayak adventures. Although the interior space would carry my gear it was not enough for my mountain bike, but that can be solved with the rook rack. I also don’t think I could sleep in the back but I guess I can invest in a better tent than my leaky one. So besides the bike and sleeping quarters, I was still impressed.

Let’s get back onto the Hybrid part of this machine. The dashboard was well laid out and the battery indicator was intriguing. I wanted to know where the 330-volt battery was stored and see it but the sales staff would not let me open the metal cover in the back. My question to the sales staff was how reliable is the battery? The sales staff assured me that it is very reliable and has an 8-year warranty.
Ok, so the Escape Hybird looks like a regular SUV and has a battery but how does it drive? When I started it I heard the typical 4-cylinder gas engine immediately. The sales person stated that the Hybrid had been idle for some time and therefore the batteries would require some charging before coming into use and would charge quickly with some driving. The way the battery is charged is it takes the energy created during breaking and is stores it in the battery. I was curious to see how long it would take for me to drive until the charge would be enough, so I ventured out onto the busy streets of Mississauga.

At the 6-minute mark of driving time I was shocked at what happened next, while stopped at a red light the engine became so quiet that I was initially alarmed that the vehicle had shut off - great, stuck in a busy intersection! I began laughing as I pushed on the accelerator pedal (not the gas pedal) and the Ford Hybrid punched forward. It was in electric mode - amazing! Once I began accelerating, the engine went into gas mode again as the demand was too much for the battery and needed more charging. Given more time for the batteries to charge fully I would have had more electric driving.

During my short drive I experienced both electric and gas modes. I was very impressed with the performance while in electric mode. The sound and feel was similar to driving a golf cart (a much larger golf cart of course with more accessories). I also felt really good about being in electric mode as during that time I was not exhausting fuel and the truck’s emissions were practically non-existent.
I must conclude that the Ford Escape Hybrid is a must have for drivers who enjoy SUV’s. Like many of us who associated Hybrid with “small” now need to change our thoughts to “fuel efficient” and “functional”. Try a Hybrid, save money, and the environment.

Review The Prius - Much Loved Toyota

Only a third of Prius owners cited that reason just three years ago, according to CNW, which tracks auto shopping trends. “I really want people to know that I care about the environment,” said Joy Feasley of Philadelphia, the owner of a green 2006 Prius. “I like that people stop and ask me how I like my car.” Dan Becker, the head of the global warming program at the Sierra Club added, “The Prius allowed you to make a green statement with a car for the first time ever.”

This spring, over half of the Prius owners surveyed by CNW Marketing Research of Bandon, Ore., said that the main reason they bought their car was that it makes a statement about them.
Mary Gatch of Charleston, S.C., picked the car over a hybrid version of the Toyota Camry after trading in a Lexus sedan. “I felt like the Camry Hybrid was too subtle for the message I wanted to put out there,” Gatch said. “I wanted to have the biggest impact that I could, and the Prius puts out a clearer message.”
Unlike the original Prius buyers, who wanted to be first with its innovative technology, the latest owners are far more conscious of foreign oil dependence and global warming, said Doug Coleman, Toyota’s product manager for Prius. “Consumer knowledge and consumer awareness is changing,” Coleman said.



Prius sales for the first six months of the year increased 93.7 percent from last year, to 94,503, and the Japanese automaker has already sold close to as many Prius cars as it did in all of 2006.
The Toyota Prius was first embraced by famous celebrities and remains in trend long after most cars have lost their hum. Owners have included Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, Billy Joel, and Larry David. David has bought three, including one for his role in the HBO series “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”




Now Prius drivers are typically found in cities on the East and West Coasts, and in college towns like Ann Arbor, Mich., and State College, Pa. “You can’t drive across town without seeing half a dozen of them,” said Peter Darnell, a software engineer and Prius owner in Westford, Mass., north of Boston. Darnell admits to feeling smug this year when gasoline prices spiked above $3 a gallon. But that was not the main reason he purchased a Prius. “I have to admit that I’m a granola-crunching liberal, and I really liked the idea of minimizing the impact on the environment,” Darnell said.



Corey Confer, the general sales manager at Joel Confer Toyota in State College, said that he had received calls from as far away as Key West, Fla., from buyers looking for a Prius. His dealership advertises an $800 discount on each vehicle. A number of dealers in the West are adding $2,000 premiums.
Nationwide, Prius sales increased dramatically in May, when gasoline prices rose over $3 a gallon. Worldwide, Toyota has sold over one million Prius cars. Toyota was alarmed to see Prius sales even out last year. But before gas prices hit record levels, Prius sales were climbing again.

New Technology for Hybrid Vehicles

Hybrid vehicles have become more and more popular in the U.S. since Toyota introduced the Prius. This fuel efficient vehicle is equipped with a small engine that is powered commonly by gasoline. Its fuel efficiency is due to the use of an electric motor which supplies the additional power to aid the engine.
While a small engine may not be suitable for some driving conditions, the electric motor powered by an on board battery pack makes the power produced by the small engine adequate enough. But designers and engineers in the auto industry are constantly looking for ways to improve the performance of a hybrid vehicle. Turbodyne Technologies Inc. is one of the companies looking for ways to improve the performance of hybrid cars. Recently, the company announced that they have developed a new technology which is aimed to help hybrid vehicles perform even better.
Turbodyne has improved the design of the Turbodyne TurboFlow™ electronic air injection system.

The technology is aimed for use by hybrid vehicles. “It’s clear that hybrid vehicle production is experiencing significant growth,” says Al Case, the Chief Executive Officer of Turbodyne. “”The biggest challenge is maximizing engine output while maintaining fuel economy. That’s where the opportunity lies for the Turbodyne TurboFlow™ air injection system,” Case added.
The TurboFlow technology differs from turbochargers and superchargers by the absence of mechanical linkages. That is because the Turbodyne TurboFlow air injection system uses an electric motor to operate the air compressor which in turn supplies air to the engine.
By eliminating the mechanical linkages, the air injection system is made better than turbochargers or superchargers. Superchargers need power from the engine to operate the air compressor and this means that the power generated by the engine will be reduced.
Turbochargers, on the other hand, use gas exhaust to force air to the combustion chamber. This means that when there is significantly less exhaust gas, like for instance when starting a car, the turbocharger cannot help the engine. Both the engine power reduction and lack of take-off power problems are solved by the Turbodyne TurboFlow™ air injection system.
Since hybrid vehicles are known to have a good storage of electrical energy, it makes sense that the new air injection system for hybrid vehicles is powered by electricity. Since the Turbodyne TurboFlow™ air injection system is not dependent on the engine, it can be used throughout a driving cycle. It is specifically designed to provide air into small displacement engines like those used on hybrid engines.
This new technology will further increase the performance of the fuel efficient vehicles. This could mean that hybrid vehicles will be continuing their domination of the auto industry in the future. From the way things look, hybrid vehicles have become the bully dog in the yard of automobile industry.
With more and more developments like these, we can surely expect more and more hybrid vehicles roaming our streets.

Environmentally Friendly Cars – Hybrid Cars the Road Warriors of Tomorrow

You are an environmentally friendly person and have all the correct reasons to want to buy a Hybrid car. But buying hybrid cars can be a little more complicated than that. The complication is not whether to buy Hybrid cars but more on which to choose from, given the maze of hybrid cars currently in the market.
And just like in any purchasing process, there are certain considerations to be made before you could narrow down with your choices.

The Hybrid Car - A More Intelligent Vehicle. The nature of hybrid cars, or hybrid electric vehicle, HEV has two energy sources for its engines, namely electric and combustion. In an ordinary scenario, like cruising along the highway, the Hybrid car generally runs on one or the other of the sources, until the driver needs more power such as greater acceleration. When this happened, the two engines will operate in unison. Hybrid HEV cars are low emission, fuel efficient, and this is one of the key considerations when buying hybrid cars.
Another beauty of hybrid cars are is that they recharge their batteries while being driven. This literally removes the necessity of plugging the car for electricity. Unlike pure electric cars, which need to be plugged into wall sockets to be recharged.

Speak The Lingo. Prospective buyers should attempt to achieve some level of understanding with terms related in buying hybrid cars. For instance, according to the California Air Resources Board, Ultra Low-Emission Vehicle is a car with 50 percent cleaner emission and a Super Ultra Low-Emission Vehicle emits 90 % cleaner. There are zero-emission cars however, are purely electric vehicles, not hybrid cars. But pure electric cars are currently still rather cost ineffective and impractical for full scale production.
Your Lifestyle and Travel Needs. When buying hybrid cars, you should consider your work and home locations. Most Hybrid cars are made for urban or suburban travel. Short trips are most suitable for fuel savings, when hybrid cars are using electric engines at low RPMs. Conversely, driving on a highway or interstate travel won’t see much of the expected fuel reduction.
When is the Price Right. The other consideration for consumer before finally buying hybrid cars is the cost. Hybrid cars, are priced higher than gas-powered counterparts due to the fact that production of hybrid cars are still in low numbers and has more mechanically complex to build. But bear in mind that the upfront higher cost of your hybrid will be eventually offset over the long term by fuel saving due to higher fuel efficiency.

Tax Incentives Helps. Buying hybrid cars at present is encouraged by the Federal State, due to the long term benefits of limiting fuel usage. There several tax deduction for new buyers of hybrid cars. Several cities are offering free parking as an additional incentive for low-emissions vehicles. This list of considerations above is by no mean exhaustive. We have examined the factors from broad perspectives.
There is however, one key criterion you need to seriously consider when making your buying decision, namely how a Hybrid car fit into your lifestyle and travelling habits, whether you as an urbanite or a trans-state person is critical in buying that hybrid car..
While it is a fact that Environmentally friendly hybrid cars will be the new future vehicles of today’s roads, the greater question is, are you game for it yet?