Advantages Of Hybrid Cars Over Conventional Cars

Due to the increasing cost of fuel and the environmental damage it causes to our planet, many car owners or buyers are looking for an alternative way to save money. Let's deal with fuel supply is finite and the price of gas is only going to climb higher. This is where a hybrid car has its advantages

Hybrid cars are gaining in popularity in recent years. With low production costs and new hybrid car technology being developed, owning a hybrid car is becoming accessible to everyone.

Hybrid car saves gas

The obvious advantage of using hybrid cars is that it saves gas. Combining the cleaner energy of an electric motor with the long-range capacity of a gasoline engine allows a hybrid car to save up to 30 miles per gallon. One feature of hybrid cars is that the gasoline engine turns off automatically when the car stops. This also helps in saving fuel. This is also the reason why hybrid cars are so quiet because it is stationary. The gasoline engine is automatically activated when you step on the accelerator pedal.

Hybrid cars are environment friendly

Hybrid cars emit less toxic emissions than conventional gasoline cars due to less gasoline being burned. It is environmentally friendly, causes less pollution and releases less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. If you do not know, carbon dioxide is a major reason for the increase of global warming. For example, the Toyota Prius can reduce exhaust emissions up to ninety percent and emissions of greenhouse gases up to fifty percent.

Tax incentives for hybrid cars

Because of the political pressures of the world to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, President Bush has signed an agreement in 2005 to provide tax relief for buyers of hybrid cars. The tax incentive varies by model and are based on two factors

1. How fuel efficient the hybrid car is compared to a conventional machine in 2002 with the same weight class.

2. How much gasoline the hybrid car may save his life compared to an equivalent conventional car

For example, a Honda Accord hybrid car have reduced tax credits of $ 600, while a Toyota Prius has a tax credit of $ 3150. Do note that the tax credits expire after 2010 for most hybrid cars.

Hybrid car manufacturers are continually looking for ways to reduce fuel consumption and better fuel efficiency. Furthermore, as more hybrid cars are being adopted, the cost of hybrid cars will reduce making it more accessible to all.

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Hybrid Car Drivers Need Thick Skin

Buying a hybrid car is more than a calculated decision to save fuel. It is a statement about "saving the planet".

Even if the chances are pretty slim that hybrid technology will actually make much difference, it gives hybrid owners the right to feel superior. After all, they care about the planet. And the rest of the world obviously doesn't.

But if you're one of those hybrid owners you'd better be ready to lose some friends. Here's why...

1. You're Driving Way Too Slow

In theory at least, hybrid owners are the antithesis of those guys who just ache to get in that passing lane and leave the rest of us behind. You know the type...you're minding your own business coming out onto the expressway and the otherwise ordinary guy in the vehicle behind you swings out and passes even before you've hit the highway.

Hybrid owners seem to do just the opposite. You've known for years that driving slow saves fuel. So you're likely to be driving under the speed limit rather than over like the rest of the world.

The fact that you're driving a hybrid just makes it worse, since you know that all the potential savings are squandered if you try to go fast.

Especially when you're accelerating. That guy in the high powered vehicle who pulls out and passes... the thought of saving gas has never crossed his mind. But hydrid owners know better. For you it's a moral duty to save fuel. The fate of the planet depends on it. So there's no way you're going to try any of that fast acceleration stuff.

2. What's with the Pulse and Glide Stuff

You've been told that "pulse and glide" can make a serious difference to your gas milage. That's where you accelerate (conservatively) to the speed limit, and then let the car "glide" to 10 or more miles per hour below the speed limit. Repeat this procedure. Repeat this procedure. Repeat this procedure...

I once had a friend who drove like this. I thought he was dozing off between pulses, but now I know differently. He was actually doing the environmentally responsible thing.

My friend's driving habits aside, this practice is not going to endear you to all the rest of the drivers who can't figure out why you keep slowing down. It's probably smart to speed up just a little when you find yourself in anything other than the "slow" lane.

All bets are off when they let you use the carpool lane.

3. You Just Won't Inch Forward Will You!

Everybody else in the world knows that you must "inch" forward during stop and go traffic. How else are you going to keep up with the driver in front. Besides, if you leave more than about a 15' gap between you and the guy ahead somebody's going to jump into the gap and slow you down even more.

Hybrid drivers have been told this "inching forward" stuff is pointless and wastes fuel. And the way they build hybrids these days they've got a point. When you take your foot off the brake pedal the auto-stop turns off and the gasoline engine restarts -- like one of those gasoline engine golf carts. And there goes most of your gas savings. All those stops and starts just eat up the gas.

But don't expect your mono-drive cousins to understand. They've only got one thing in mind: to get wherever they're going just as fast as possible. And everybody knows that racing up behind the guy in front is the only way to make that happen.

4. Do you really think you should be drafting me like that?

The responsible hybrid owner will make use of every advantage to save gas. And drafting larger vehicles is one technique that the more aggressive will try. That's where you pull right up behind a semi, a van, or an SUV and try to stay in the pocket of air they are pulling along behind them.

I remember doing this with an old '65 Beetle a few years back. We were travelling along the New York Thruway drafting semis. We were making great time and saving lots of gas... until we blew a rod.

Of course, sticking on someone’s bumper will not endear you to too many of your fellow drivers. And as I discovered, it's a bit dangerous too. You'll find yourself going quite a bit faster than you otherwise would go. And whipping along in that back-draft does not do a lot for your stability.

Just try to remember, when you're out there on the highway trying to save the planet, the rest of the world could care less about your morally superiour driving habits. All they want to do is get where they're going as fast as they can.

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Dual Power

The first hybrid gas electric car did not come out in 1983, but in 1917. The Woods Dual Power was built by the Woods Motor Vehicle Company of Chicago. Because the gas engine was so rough, but supplied more power and electric cars were smoother, but had limited range, the Woods Motor Vehicle Company wanted to supply a car that gave you the best of both worlds.

The best part is, it was a full hybrid (listen up GM) with regenerative braking. The engine was a parallel hybrid that included a 12-hp, 4-cylinder gasoline engine as an auxiliary drive system in addition to the electric drive train. The electric engine could propel the car up to 20 mph. Together with the gas engine, the dual wood power could get up to 35 mph.

The gas engine and electric engine were connected using a magnetic clutch. The gas engine became magnetized when activated (by a lever controlled by the driver). The copper disk was pulled against the flywheel connecting the electric motor to the gas engine.

Only the electric motor could be used while going in reverse. Why? Because the engine had no clutch and so the gas engine had no gears!

The car battery designed for this car was about half the size of the batteries in other electric cars of the time. Once the car got up to 20 mph, the gas engine could be engaged, allowing the electric motor and gas motor to work together. The battery could be recharged or discharged by another lever. Recharging was done by the gas motor (at speeds over 6 mph) or by braking on level ground or when coasting down hills. A conventional brake pedal was only used at speeds of less than 6 mph.

Available for only $2650 (remember this was 1917). Wire wheels were a luxury, costing an extra $25. Or you could 'pimp' your vehicle out for another $100 (paint and trim).

Ultimately, the first hybrid was a commercial failure. It was built only in 1917 and 1918. It was too expensive, too slow, and too difficult to service to be a commercial success.

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7 Reasons To Buy A Hybrid Car

You've probably heard a lot about hybrid cars these days. They are certainly being discussed all over the world. Hardly a day goes by that newspaper or television network to feature story on hybrids. And every day it seems that one or another car manufacturer to introduce a new hybrid vehicle.

So what's all the buzz about?

Well, hybrids are a new type of vehicle that runs on electricity (from batteries) and fuel. Now, this idea is not new?

The hybrids are picking up steam (sounds like a pound is not it?) In every place, even the world as a city car Lovin '- Los Angeles - where many of the top stars hybrid owners.

In "City of Angels", you will see that the environment for their loved ones, like Bill Maher, Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford and "Seinfeld" co-creator and "limit Your Enthusiasm" creator and star, Larry David at the wheel their hybrids.

You could also see the beautiful Cameron Diaz Cruisin 'Hollywood Hills in hybrids. And when Leonardo DiCaprio wants to feel like "king of the world", I think he'll drive? You do not have to guess a hybrid, right?

What do the stars do not know?

Ben knows that driving a hybrid makes a lot of sense (and may save some cents too :-))

Want to learn more about hybrids? Well. Now here are 7 reasons to buy a hybrid car.

1. only the smaller hybrid sedans and compact large amounts of fuel than the engines of cars powered by gas turbines. If you are interested in dollars saved on gas, which could solve this problem.

2. Hybrid cars are no longer worried about fuel efficiency. These cars are bought as they would like their owners to support the power and performance. If you want to get higher performance, consider a hybrid.

3. Can hybrids save money in many ways. Although the hybrid typically about $ 3,000 more than a car, the cost differential will narrow as more car manufacturers produce hybrid cars in the future. The savings come in the form of hybrid state and federal incentives, lower maintenance costs, and, of course, lower fuel costs.

4. It will be fair for hybrid financial benefit to you when you decide it's time to sell. The resale value of hybrid cars exceptional. Unlike most cars, hybrids retain their value to an astonishing level.

5. If you are interested in the planet and are concerned with the type of environment we leave to future generations, driving a hybrid car is an important environmental statement. Hybrids produce less pollution than standard.

6. Driving a hybrid saves gas. This is a positive for our economy. At least we as a society spend on gas means that we need more money to spend on other essentials and luxury goods. You could also save money that would have spent on gas and use it to our savings or investment plans.

7. Driving a hybrid may help America fight the war in Iraq. Here's why. In addition to funding American troops and Iraqi efforts to build a democracy, many experts argue that the U.S. is actually funding both sides of the war in Iraq. They believe in the Middle East oil interests' is used as part of their profits to fund the insurgency. So, in effect, makes our excessive consumption of oil is more difficult to bring peace to Iraq. Bottom line: that means spending less on gas and less money to our enemies abroad.

For all these reasons, hybrid cars are "the next big thing in the world of cars." So when it comes time for the next car purchase, do yourself a favor and check out some hybrid cars. You might get a hybrid car that is perfect for you.

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Advantages Of Hybrid Cars Over Conventional Cars

Due to the increasing cost of fuel and the environmental damage it causes to our planet, many car owners or buyers are looking for an alternative way to save money. Let's deal with fuel supply is finite and the price of gas is only going to climb higher. This is where a hybrid car has its advantages

Hybrid cars are gaining in popularity in recent years. With low production costs and new hybrid car technology being developed, owning a hybrid car is becoming accessible to everyone.

Hybrid car saves gas

The obvious advantage of using hybrid cars is that it saves gas. Combining the cleaner energy of an electric motor with the long-range capacity of a gasoline engine allows a hybrid car to save up to 30 miles per gallon. One feature of hybrid cars is that the gasoline engine turns off automatically when the car stops. This also helps in saving fuel. This is also the reason why hybrid cars are so quiet because it is stationary. The gasoline engine is automatically activated when you step on the accelerator pedal.

Hybrid cars are environment friendly

Hybrid cars emit less toxic emissions than conventional gasoline cars due to less gasoline being burned. It is environmentally friendly, causes less pollution and releases less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. If you do not know, carbon dioxide is a major reason for the increase of global warming. For example, the Toyota Prius can reduce exhaust emissions up to ninety percent and emissions of greenhouse gases up to fifty percent.

Tax incentives for hybrid cars

Because of the political pressures of the world to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, President Bush has signed an agreement in 2005 to provide tax relief for buyers of hybrid cars. The tax incentive varies by model and are based on two factors

1. How fuel efficient the hybrid car is compared to a conventional machine in 2002 with the same weight class.

2. How much gasoline the hybrid car may save his life compared to an equivalent conventional car

For example, a Honda Accord hybrid car have reduced tax credits of $ 600, while a Toyota Prius has a tax credit of $ 3150. Do note that the tax credits expire after 2010 for most hybrid cars.

Hybrid car manufacturers are continually looking for ways to reduce fuel consumption and better fuel efficiency. Furthermore, as more hybrid cars are being adopted, the cost of hybrid cars will reduce making it more accessible to all.

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6 Steps To Making Your Own e85 Ethanol

Step One: . . . The Conversion Process

We have to break down carbohydrate sugars, such as the starch from corn. Create it into "Mash". Grind or crush the feedstock (corn, soybeans, wheat, etc...). Then dilute and add an enzyme (alpha amylase) to turn the mixture into a liquid. Once liquified a second enzyme is added(glucoamylase) to convert the starch into sugar. (If the source is mainly sugar, i.e...rotten fruit, molasses, etc..., the conversion step can be skipped.

Step Two: . . . Fermentation

Add yeast and make it into a beer (wine) type solution.

Step Three: . . . Distillation

The beer (wine) type solution needs to be run through a still to extract the alcohol from the solution.

Step Four: . . . Filtration

The ethanol now needs to be filtered to get rid of excess organic volatiles.

Step Five: . . . Dehydration

The ethanol needs to be "dried". After the distillation process there will be a certain amount of water in the ethanol you have just created - this can be dried running the ethanol through Zeolite a readily available product for drying ethanol.

Step Six: . . . Ethanol Into e85

Now simply convert the pure ethanol into e85 by adding 15% unleaded gasoline to your ethanol. e85 is nothing more than 85% ethanol mixed with 15% gasoline.

Making your own ethanol will require some initial investment, but the rewards will be very, very beneficial. You can make your own e85 for right around a $1.00 a gallon if you buy the corn and for about $.60 a gallon if you grow your own corn.

e85 Flex Fuel Vehicles are becoming more and more popular as the gas prices continue to rise. e85 is defiantly going to be a major relief for the United States fuel problem.

You may even be driving a flex fuel vehicle now. Many newer models are equipped to handle both gasoline as well as e85 ethanol. The best way to check is to look in your owners manuel, check in the fuel door for the e85 sticker or contact your dealer and have them run your vin number to see if you vehicle is compatable. I suggest that you do all three, to be on the safe side.Now simply convert the pure ethanol into e85 by adding 15% unleaded gasoline to your ethanol. e85 is nothing more than 85% ethanol mixed with 15% gasoline.

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