Posts Tagged ‘oil’

Plug-in Hybrid Cars vs Hybrid Cars

January 18th, 2010

Hybrid cars are on everyone’s minds these days. $20, $30, $40 or even $50 for a tank of petrol? Who in their right mind really wants to pay that sort of money? But, frustrated, the fuel customer sighs, but pays up. However, hybrid vehicles are being applauded for the little amount of fuel they need to operate, and they are being driven off the lots of car dealerships each and everyday in ever increasing numbers.

But what about a plug-in hybrid? Most consumers have heard that these cars are great too. Then, a person might be asking him or herself, what exactly a plug-in hybrid is? How do they work, and what the difference between a plug-in hybrid and a regular hybrid is?

Plug-in hybrid cars are able to run just on batteries, but they can also run on petrol also. These types of hybrid cars share some of the characteristics of hybrid vehicles. They are also very similar to all-electric vehicles.

Plug-in hybrid cars need to be charged externally by plugging them into an electrical power source. The combustion engine of plug-in hybrid vehicles is engaged only as a back up. These cars can run only on batteries if so desired, but it is to be expected that these kinds of hybrid cars be plugged in daily.

Hybrid cars can go just as many miles as a conventional car. Designed to go the extra mile where gas-mileage is concerned, hybrids can be driven on the highway, in cities, or wherever else a person needs to travel.

On the other hand, plug-in hybrids are designed to handle commuter-type distances, meaning about twenty to sixty miles between destinations. This way, the plug-in hybrid does not have to use its back up combustion engine, but plug-in hybrids can go further using gas too.

Hybrids help to reduce pollution, but they do still pollute the atmosphere. Compared with plug-in hybrids, hybrid cars still have a long way to go as far as pollution is concerned. Because plug-in hybrid cars can run solely on their battery power, they don’t have to emit waste gases at all.

Plug-in hybrids actually do reduce total greenhouse gas emissions and plug-in hybrids use virtually no oil at all, imported or not. Studies have revealed that electric hybrids emit at least 67% less greenhouse gases than petrol cars. Since the product used to power plug-in hybrids is completely renewable, the difference in greenhouse gas emissions may be even greater than the study determined.

So there you have it – those are the main differences between plug-in hybrids and regular hybrid cars. It could make a big difference, but you would be surprised at how little it actually matters at the moment, but that’s only because plug-in hybrids are not being sold to consumers yet! But this article should make you excited about the fantastic plug-in hybrid car, coming soon to a forecourt near you.

And it’s going to be a great debut too – people already like regular hybrid cars, but they haven’t seen anything until they see the new plug-in hybrid cars. However, for now, maybe we should just be satisfied with what we already have, because who knows? Before plug-in hybrid cars come out onto the forecourts, something even better might be introduced onto the market.

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Which Celebrities Have Driven Hybrid Cars?

December 26th, 2009

No, it is not true that you might rise to fame and fortune if you went and bought a hybrid car. But a hybrid car is not only a vehicle for the rich and famous but it might be OK for you. Many people are driving hybrid cars these days including some of the most famous people in the world like your favourite movie stars. But the big question is, should you be driving a hybrid car at all?

So, are you driving anything close to a hybrid car? Well, if you are not, you can’t rub noses with some of these hybrid car-drivers. These people were very early drivers of hybrids cars. You may not see them in a hybrid vehicle when they pull up next to you on Rodeo Drive, but believe me, they’ve owned a hybrid car before. Whatever, trust me or not they have been reported as driving hybrid cars in the past even if they were given them for publicity purposes.

Alicia Silverstone This star certainly thinks about the environment. She knows that driving a hybrid car has many benefits for the environment. And if the general public doesn’t have the knowledge that she has, then that’s just too bad. Alicia knows that hybrid cars are good for the environment and therefore for everyone. So Alicia Silverstone got herself a hybrid car. So she has helped promote this new technology as far as this article goes, which has to be a good thing.

Ellen DeGeneres Now then, this amusing lady not only has a great haircut, but she was driving a great hybrid car even before you probably even knew about hybrid cars and she was probably smiling at you and your gas-guzzler last time she wizzed past you.

Robin Williams funny and lovable, Robin knew when he played the role of Mrs. Doubtfire that he should probably start thinking more like the sensible driver that you would allow to take your kids to and from school, so Robin got himself a hybrid car, and he hasn’t ever looked back since then.

Ted Danson Cheers! Ted knows a great car when he sees one. He was certainly sober the morning when he decided to go check out the new cars on the lot. He got up and bought a car that made a great deal of sense. He was making good sense when he chose a hybrid car.

Brad Pitt What’s the latest? Certainly, Brad’s gasoline hybrid engine is. He had a hybrid car, so he knows his car isn’t using too much gas.

Prince Charles Surely, if it’s good enough for royalty, then it’s good enough for everyone else! That’s how you should think when you drive a hybrid car. You should feel royal, adorned, and admired because believe it or not, that’s exactly what you are when you choose a hybrid vehicle. So enjoy it.

So, how do you feel? Like a million dollars? Well, you ought to if you are thinking of buying a hybrid vehicle and don’t worry, you won’t have your 15 minutes of fame, but you will be making a very bold statement that people will understand and many people will appreciate what you have done and that will go on for years and years because hybrid vehicles last for decade or more

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The Hybrid Car and Fuel Prices

December 21st, 2009

The appeal and popularity of the hybrid car have grown exponentially, especially with the rising concerns about rising gas prices together with worsening air pollution. Here are some useful bits of information that could help you learn more about hybrid cars and how they may help you save on gas and be somewhat protected from rising fuel.

A hybrid car is the type of car, or any other vehicle, that makes use of at least two different fuel sources to make it run. Both fuel sources are used together sometimes to help drive the car more efficiently. There are several different types of hybrid car possible, but the most common hybrid car so far is the gas electric hybrid.

The gas-electric hybrid car, also known as the hybrid electric vehicle or HEV, uses of a gasoline internal combustion engine or ICE and a separate electric motor to power it. While the ICE makes use of gasoline to make it go, an electric battery is used to store the electrical energy that powers the hybrid car’s electric motor.

The HEV usually has a gas engine that is smaller in size and weight than the conventional one used in standard gas powered cars. Use of more advanced technology makes this possible and allows the HEV to have better running efficiency as well as substantially reduced polluting emissions.

Apart from the gas engine, the hybrid electric car also has a specially designed electric motor built in that not only provides added power to the car but also acts as a generator when it is not being used. The electric motor acts as a generator, in situations when it is not being used to drive the hybrid car, to help charge the battery for added efficiency.

In a usual HEV set up, the car uses its electric motor when being propelled at very low speeds, say, in traffic jams. The gasoline engine acts as a secondary power source when the HEV requires much more power, such as when climbing a hill. The gas engine also compensates the electric motor with power whenever the car needs it in order to go faster such as when overtaking. The gas and the electric motor can also work together at certain instances if necessary.

Because the hybrid electric car makes use of both an electric motor as well as a gas engine, a substantial improvement in car mileage is achieved. A hybrid electric vehicle or HEV can run longer distances using the same amount of fuel compared to a conventional petrol powered car.

Whenever the electric motor is being used, petrol consumption is reduced. This results in less petrol being used when running the same distance as a traditional petrol powered vehicle. And because the hybrid electric car has a smaller gas engine, the hybrid car also runs more efficiently because of less engine weight compared to a conventional car’s engine.

The working components of the hybrid car engine are also smaller and require less energy to move. This efficiency makes the hybrid electric car quite a great option for people concerned with rising gas prices. Using a hybrid car can help drivers save a substantial amount of gaswhen traveling. Not only that, using the hybrid car can also help in reducing polluting emissions by using less gas while driving.

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Hybrid Car Battery Packs

November 20th, 2009

Those considering purchasing a hybrid car may be more than a little concerned about what is under the bonnet. Hybrid cars have partially battery-powered motors. Since a battery-powered motor is not something that typically comes to mind when people think about what’s driving a car, it’s a good idea to get a good understanding of hybrid car battery packs. Below you will find a few facts about them.

Hybrid car battery packs do not need to be replaced like torch batteries do. They are made to last over the lifetime of the vehicle, and therefore a hybrid car’s guarantee covers the battery pack for a time period that lasts between eight and ten years. In terms of mileage, a hybrid car battery pack is expected to last between 150,000 and 200,000 miles, and it probably will last even longer than that.

The toxicity of hybrid car battery packs is a worry, but not a major concern, because hybrid car batteries use NiMH batteries, not the cheaper rechargeable nickel cadmium ones. Nickel cadmium batteries can be detrimental to the environment if not disposed of correctly, but the NiMH batteries that are sold in in hybrid car battery packs are very safe and fully recyclable.

Hybrid car battery packs consist of hundreds and hundreds of cells. Several hundreds of cells means that hybrid cars have a complex battery beneath their hoods, and, it is true, complexity usually means expensive, but with the generous warranty hybrid car manufacturers are giving on these cars, there is very little risk of additional massive expense from the battery pack involved in purchasing a hybrid car.

The number of hybrid car battery pack failures reported has been really very low. When I say low, I mean negligible. If failure does happen, it is usually before the hybrid car even leaves the lot. Toyota has even stated that some of its original Prius hybrid models have battery packs that have gone more than 300,000 miles.

The cost of renewing hybrid car battery packs isn’t really even an issue. It isn’t an issue because the hybrid car battery packs are made for longevity. The DoE looked into hybrid cars, but halted its tests when the capacity of the hybrid car battery pack was determined to be “just like new” after 160,000 miles. So, very few people really seem to know for sure what it costs to replace hybrid car battery packs except the manufacturers.

Hybrid car battery packs are evolving very quickly. If we look into the near future, we can see the next generation of hybrid car batteries is already in development. The goal is, of course, to develop a technology that provides lots of power, lasts for the hybrid car’s lifetime, and costs less to make than it does today.

If your hybrid car battery pack does develop a problem, there is a solution. Toyota has put out some advice on what to do, should your hybrid battery pack run out after the warranty has expired. Their advice is to have the battery reconditioned. This solution works well because if something does go wrong, the problem usually lies with only one of the 28 modules that make up the battery.

So, if you simply replace the problematic module with one that matches the chemistry of the other 27 modules, your hybrid car’s battery should be back in good shape. You can find a match by getting a battery pack from another car that has a similar mileage and age.

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Buying A Hybrid Car to Save on Gas

November 6th, 2009

As you drive up to the petrol pump and fuel your car up with $10-$50 worth of gas, you may find yourself heaving a huge out sigh. How on Earth did fuel get to be so expensive? Should you check out one of those new hybrid cars you saw on the news? Everyone’s talking about hybrid cars anyway. Hybrid cars and other types of cars may seem like a good idea, but before you go out and do something rash, maybe you should ask yourself some questions about how you can begin to save on gas.

There are many options out there that include everything from staying home to purchasing a hybrid car, but you have to find out what’s best for you. You can only do that by asking yourself the following questions.

Maybe you should drive less mileage?

Yes, you could spend the rest of your life in the house on the couch, but how would you get by then? I know what you’re thinking! You will walk more and so get more exercise. That could be true, but what will happen when you get bored with walking or riding your bike? How are you going to be able to get to the gymnasium then? And, have you forgotten about work? You know you just love listening to your books on tape while you are sitting in the traffic jams at the end of the workday. Should you drive less? Perhaps not then. But what should you do? Well, have you ever considered purchasing a hybrid car?

Perhaps, I should buy a car that is more economical on gas?

Yes, of course you could do this, but what about when the vehicle starts to get older and it becomes less fuel-efficient than you thought it would be? Moreover, because you know you have a car that is getting more mileage per dollar, you are going to start driving more miles than you travelled beforehand.

How about getting up earlier each morning to look for the cheapest gas prices in the area?

Come on, who has the time to do all that? If you really think about it, you could probably spend your time better finding the right answer to the real question. Do you really want to spend extra time looking for a cheap fuel station? What would your boss think if you arrive late for work and tell him you were trying to save money on gas? And anyway, how long do you honestly think you’d keep that up?

Should I find a way to run my car on electric batteries?

Let’s see, you definitely don’t want to have to charge your car’s batteries every day before going to work because that might make you late as well. However, with a hybrid car, you wouldn’t have to worry about that. Therefore, the next question should be obvious.

Should I purchase a hybrid car?

Maybe you should. It’s possible that buying a hybrid car would be a sensible way to avoid high gas prices. Does your car depreciate after you drive it off the forecourt? A hybrid won’t do that so readily. It brings the buyer in more and more money as they save on gas. A hybrid car just might be a good choice here. However, it’s still a good idea to conduct further research before buying a hybrid car.

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The Hybrid Car and its History

October 17th, 2009

Just where did a hybrid car get it’s start? Read on to find out. Hybrid cars are very popular to today’s car buyers and there are many reasons why that should be. But before you even think about choosing which hybrid vehicle to buy, you might want to learn a little about the history of the hybrid first.

It is surprising, but hybrid cars were invented even before gas-powered cars. In or about the year 1665, a Jesuit priest by the name of Ferdinand Verbeist started making plans for a new type of vehicle. That vehicle or cart would be very simple, nothing complex. Dead simple was all he was interested in.

So Ferdinand designed a car that would have four wheels and would run only on steam. It took about fifteen years of work for Ferdinand to go through with his plan. He laboured to perfect his dream car. But no one knows if he ever finished because there is no evidence that his concept ever came into existence.

Then in 1769, a man by the name of Nicholas Cugnot developed a carriage that was driven by steam. This carriage did in fact work, and it could go at six miles per hour. This project was great, but it was difficult to get the amount of steam needed that would allow the car to go any significant distance.

A break through in hybrid car design finally came when Robert Anderson developed an electrically powered car in 1839. It was the first of its breed and was built in Scotland.

This type of electric car was a highly applauded innovation of its time. But, the only problem was that it was very hard to replenish the car’s battery. Some pioneers did come after Anderson, but they had the same problem of getting the battery recharged after a few miles.

Finally in the year 1898 Porsche manufactured an electric and fuel combustion engine that was the first of its time. The car was called the Lohner Electric Chaise, and it could go up to 40 miles just using batteries.

Soon, pioneers combined both gas and a battery powered engines to power what would turn into today’s hybrid vehicle. In 1999, Honda made its jump into the US market. It brought out the Honda Insight, which was a lightweight two-door hybrid vehicle. Since then, hybrid cars have been evolving and improving into what we see on the market these days. Hybrid cars are no longer just for the techies who think it’s nice to combine battery and liquid fuel to get them where they want to go. Hybrid cars began life simple, and they still are quite simple today.

These days hybrid cars are becoming more and more popular as people understand them better. In the 21st century, hybrids saw a boom in sales when the Toyota Prius came out on the streets. It was the first hybrid with four doors that was marketed for the USA.

Soon after, the Ford Escape hybrid became the very first SUV hybrid ever made. So there it is in a nutshell, the history of the hybrid car – today’s modern auto.

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Can a Hybrid Save You Money?

October 3rd, 2009

The cost of petrol continues to rise even now, but that does not mean that you have to be left broke. You don’t have to let the unstable economy control your life! Take whatever measures you need to, to alter the circumstances you find yourself in: there are all kinds of options available to you.

For instance, did you realize that a hybrid vehicle can help you regain control of the money in your wallet? Well, yes, it can … Hybrid cars are becoming more and more popular as the cost of fuel rises, and the cost of hybrid cars decreases.

Gas prices go up and gas prices go down and the cycle just seems to go on and on without giving us much respite at all. However, if you really take the time to think about it, that is not the case. It is all about how you think about the situation that matters. So don’t worry, be happy, and pay close attention to the television ads about hybrid cars.

A hybrid car really will help you combat rising petrol prices. If you bought a hybrid car after having had a conventional car, you would immediately see that you have more money in your pocket with the hybrid car.

Nobody likes to waste their money. I sure don’t, but that is exactly what you are doing if you stick with conventional cars. Hybrid cars or trucks can save you 50% on your fuel bills and that soon covers the premium that hybrids cars demand. Over the life of your hybrid, which is over ten years, you will make money on your purchase.

But work it out for yourself! Try this: write down the cost each time you visit the petrol station. What does the cost of a full tank of fuel tell you about your car? Whatever it is telling you, a hybrid vehicle won’t be telling you the same as a conventional car does. And that is guaranteed.

So, make your money talk to you the way you would like it to: instead of having it say to you all the time that your money is flowing out of your pocket, have it tell you, that some of it’s remaining in your pocket, so get a hybrid car.

Who toiled for those forty hours? You did, of course. So, make sure that you have something to show for it for a change. A hybrid car is a super car to own and it will be of real help to your bank balance.

It is a car that is certainly not cheap to buy, but be reassured that it will pay for itself over its lifetime and over that lifetime you will have done a lot of good for the environment or at least a lot less harm) and people will have admired you from afar, even if they don’t actually come up to you and express their feelings in person.

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