As you pull up to the pump and fuel your car up with $10-$50 worth of gas, you may find yourself releasing a long drawn out sigh. How did gas get so expensive? Should you check out one of those hybrid cars, you saw on the news? Everyone is 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.
Should you just drive less?
Sure, you could spend the rest of your life at home on the couch, but how will you eat then? I know, you're thinking you will walk more and get more exercise. That may be true, but what happens when you get bored with walking and riding your bike? How are you going to be able to get to the gym? And, did you forget about work? You know you love listening to your books on tape while you sit in traffic at the end of the workday.
Should you drive less? Probably not. What should you do? Well, have you ever considered buying a hybrid car?
Should I buy a car that gets more miles for less gas?
You could do this, but what about when the vehicle starts to depreciate and it's not as fuel-efficient as you thought it would be? And subconsciously, because you know you have a car that gets more mileage, you are going to start traveling more miles than you traveled before.
Should I get up each morning looking for the cheaper gas prices in the area?
Who has time for that? If you think about it, you could probably spend your time better finding the right answer to this question: Do you really want to spend extra time looking for a cheap gas station? What will your boss think if you arrive late for work and tell him you were trying to be cheap? And really, how long do you think you'll last doing that?
Should I find a way to run my car on batteries?
Well you certainly don't want to have to recharge your car each morning before you go to work because that might make you late. With a hybrid car, you won'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 could be a sensible way to avoid high gas prices. Does your car depreciate after you drive it off the lot? A hybrid won't do that. It becomes 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 on hybrid cars.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
All About Plug-In Hybrids
Known as the eco-friendly car, hybrid cars that you plug in are considered symbols of the advanced future. The savings on gas adds up to the tune of thousands of dollars over the lifespan of the car. Right now, plug-in hybrids are not available to the buying public. Instead, regular hybrid cars are the dominant money-saving choice available to consumers. But in spite of the plug-hybrid's current public unavailability, in 2009 or 2010 General Motors plans to put one on the market. So many people might want to know all about plug-in hybrid cars.
As early as 1899, hybrid cars were being produced. The producer of these fascinating cars in those early years was Lohner-Porsche. These hybrid cars had to be charged externally.
In 1969, there was a July issue of Popular science. This issue featured an article on a plug-in hybrid manufactured by General Motors. The concept was that this plug-in hybrid car was a vehicle meant for traveling average distances. Called the General Motors XP-883, it had six 12-volt lead batteries located in the trunk area. And it was meant to be plugged into a standard 110-volt socket for recharging, and the fuel tank could hold about 10 liters.
In September of 2004, the California Cars initiative made a 2004 Toyota Prius prototype into what it called a PRIUS+, the difference being that the converted model had an add-on -- there were 130 kg of lead-acid batteries onboard.
Ford motor company says it plans to sell plug-in hybrids in about the next five to ten years. Everything depends on improvements made to lithium ion batteries. So don't you want to drive of these hybrid cars? With a plugin hybrid car, you'll be the envy of your friends who are just driving regular hybrid cars. You'll be able to travel on and on without looking for an Exxon or Texaco station.
And these types of hybrid cars aren't waiting for someone to bring them out on the auto showroom floor. Somehow, these hybrid cars have infiltrated themselves into the media. That's why people just love hybrid cars in general. And when you think about a plug-in hybrid, you can hardly believe what advances auto manufacturers are making these days.
It is said that there is a global demand for hybrid cars that is unbelievable. In fact, the demand is expected to grow. Therefore, by the year 2010, it is expected that more than 1 million vehicles will be produced annually. And if some of these hybrid cars were made so that they could run on electricity alone, there would be an even greater increase in demand.
But in terms of plug-hybrids, some people may not even believe these hybrid cars are really coming out since what they will be able to do is so awe-inspiring. But plug-in hybrids are definitely on their way. Supposedly, Daimler Chrysler is about to come out with 100 delivery vans that can go 20 miles just on electricity. So get ready, plug-in hybrid cars are definitely coming to an auto dealer near you.
As early as 1899, hybrid cars were being produced. The producer of these fascinating cars in those early years was Lohner-Porsche. These hybrid cars had to be charged externally.
In 1969, there was a July issue of Popular science. This issue featured an article on a plug-in hybrid manufactured by General Motors. The concept was that this plug-in hybrid car was a vehicle meant for traveling average distances. Called the General Motors XP-883, it had six 12-volt lead batteries located in the trunk area. And it was meant to be plugged into a standard 110-volt socket for recharging, and the fuel tank could hold about 10 liters.
In September of 2004, the California Cars initiative made a 2004 Toyota Prius prototype into what it called a PRIUS+, the difference being that the converted model had an add-on -- there were 130 kg of lead-acid batteries onboard.
Ford motor company says it plans to sell plug-in hybrids in about the next five to ten years. Everything depends on improvements made to lithium ion batteries. So don't you want to drive of these hybrid cars? With a plugin hybrid car, you'll be the envy of your friends who are just driving regular hybrid cars. You'll be able to travel on and on without looking for an Exxon or Texaco station.
And these types of hybrid cars aren't waiting for someone to bring them out on the auto showroom floor. Somehow, these hybrid cars have infiltrated themselves into the media. That's why people just love hybrid cars in general. And when you think about a plug-in hybrid, you can hardly believe what advances auto manufacturers are making these days.
It is said that there is a global demand for hybrid cars that is unbelievable. In fact, the demand is expected to grow. Therefore, by the year 2010, it is expected that more than 1 million vehicles will be produced annually. And if some of these hybrid cars were made so that they could run on electricity alone, there would be an even greater increase in demand.
But in terms of plug-hybrids, some people may not even believe these hybrid cars are really coming out since what they will be able to do is so awe-inspiring. But plug-in hybrids are definitely on their way. Supposedly, Daimler Chrysler is about to come out with 100 delivery vans that can go 20 miles just on electricity. So get ready, plug-in hybrid cars are definitely coming to an auto dealer near you.
All About Hybrid-Car Battery Packs
Those considering purchasing a hybrid car may be a little concerned about what's under the hood. Hybrid cars have battery-powered motors. Since a battery-powered motor is not something that typically comes to mind when people think about what's under the hood of a car, it's a good idea to get a good understanding of the hybrid-car battery-pack. Below are a few facts about it.
Battery packs in hybrid cars do not need to be replaced
Made to last over the lifetime of the vehicle, a hybrid car's warranty covers the battery for a time period that lasts between eight and ten years. In terms of mileage, a battery pack is expected to last between 150, 000 and 200,000 miles, and it probably lasts longer than that.
Battery toxicity is a concern, but not a major concern
Hybrid cars use NiMH batteries, not the rechargeable nickel cadmium. Nickel cadmium batteries are usually detrimental to the environment, but the NiMH batteries that are used in hybrid cars are fully recyclable.
Hybrid batteries contain hundreds of cells
Hundreds of cells means that hybrid cars have a lot of complexity going on underneath their hoods, and complexity does usually mean expensive, but with the generous warranty car manufacturers are giving on these cars, there is little involved in purchasing a hybrid.
The numbers of battery failures in hybrids have been really low
When I say low, I mean really low. If failure happens, it's probably before the cars even get off the lot. Toyota has even said that some of its original Prius models have packs that have gone over 300,000 miles.
The cost of replacing hybrid batteries isn't even an issue
It isn't an issue because the battery packs in hybrid cars are built to last. The Department of Energy looked into hybrid vehicles, but stopped its test when the capacity was "just like new" after 160,000 miles. So no one really seems to know for sure what it costs to replace the battery pack in a hybrid car.
The battery packs in hybrid cars are evolving
If we look further into the future, the next generation of hybrid batteries is in the works. The goal: To discover a technology that gives lots of power, lasts for the hybrid car's lifetime, and costs less to make.
If the battery pack in your hybrid car does run out, there is a solution
Toyota has put out some advice on what to do if your hybrid battery should run out after the warranty has ended. The advice is to recondition the battery. The solution works well because if something goes wrong, the problem lies within only one of the 28 modules that the battery is made up of. 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 in good shape. You can find a match by getting a battery pack from another car that has a similar mileage and age.
Battery packs in hybrid cars do not need to be replaced
Made to last over the lifetime of the vehicle, a hybrid car's warranty covers the battery for a time period that lasts between eight and ten years. In terms of mileage, a battery pack is expected to last between 150, 000 and 200,000 miles, and it probably lasts longer than that.
Battery toxicity is a concern, but not a major concern
Hybrid cars use NiMH batteries, not the rechargeable nickel cadmium. Nickel cadmium batteries are usually detrimental to the environment, but the NiMH batteries that are used in hybrid cars are fully recyclable.
Hybrid batteries contain hundreds of cells
Hundreds of cells means that hybrid cars have a lot of complexity going on underneath their hoods, and complexity does usually mean expensive, but with the generous warranty car manufacturers are giving on these cars, there is little involved in purchasing a hybrid.
The numbers of battery failures in hybrids have been really low
When I say low, I mean really low. If failure happens, it's probably before the cars even get off the lot. Toyota has even said that some of its original Prius models have packs that have gone over 300,000 miles.
The cost of replacing hybrid batteries isn't even an issue
It isn't an issue because the battery packs in hybrid cars are built to last. The Department of Energy looked into hybrid vehicles, but stopped its test when the capacity was "just like new" after 160,000 miles. So no one really seems to know for sure what it costs to replace the battery pack in a hybrid car.
The battery packs in hybrid cars are evolving
If we look further into the future, the next generation of hybrid batteries is in the works. The goal: To discover a technology that gives lots of power, lasts for the hybrid car's lifetime, and costs less to make.
If the battery pack in your hybrid car does run out, there is a solution
Toyota has put out some advice on what to do if your hybrid battery should run out after the warranty has ended. The advice is to recondition the battery. The solution works well because if something goes wrong, the problem lies within only one of the 28 modules that the battery is made up of. 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 in good shape. You can find a match by getting a battery pack from another car that has a similar mileage and age.
All About Hybrid Cars
It's probably not a news flash that gas doesn't seem to be getting any cheaper. People all over are asking what they can do about the rise in price, and often the answer is to choose a different vehicle. That's simple, right? But what kind of vehicle should you choose? Just maybe, you should try a hybrid car.
The hybrid cars are the talk of the town these days. They come in great colors, sleek styles, and they will make your commute less expensive. When you look at those characteristics of a hybrid car, how could you not choose to run to the car dealer right now and pick one up? Well, we all wish we could do just that, but before you run out, maybe you should learn a bit more about these cars.
A hybrid car is a vehicle that is run on electricity. A combination of a conventional propulsion system and a rechargeable energy storage system that is onboard the vehicle work together to give the vehicle better fuel economy than cars that run strictly on gasoline.
Hybrid cars are unlike battery electric vehicles because the batteries used in hybrid cars do not have to be charged by an external source. Instead, in order to get a charge, kinetic energy is generated by way of regenerative braking. Furthermore, some hybrid cars make use of their own combustion engine to create electricity. The combustion engine does this by spinning an electrical generator. The spinning does one of two things. It can either recharge the battery or in a more direct way, it can give power to an electric motor. This motor is what then drives the vehicle.
Therefore, because this fuel-economizing vehicle can generate its own electricity, it is very different from a vehicle that is run strictly on batteries. But, there is no waiting while your car charges up outside in the garage before you go to work. All you have to do is get into the car and ride.
It is true that some people have experimented with electrical vehicles in the past. However, the introduction of the hybrid car outdid these types of cars when it came on the scene.
Because the hybrid car is so innovative in the way it powers itself and the way it is able to save travelers money on fuel, it's called the car of the future. At least that's what some automakers believe, and many consumers agree with them. The next wave of the automotive market, Hybrid cars continue to be purchased by customers as the years go on.
So if you want a car that saves on gas and will make you the talk of town, perhaps you should invest in a hybrid car.
And you might find yourself tired of just pulling over at local gas stations to fuel up. If that's the case, you have another reason to think about purchasing a hybrid car. So get on over to the car dealer. It could be the best decision of your future.
The hybrid cars are the talk of the town these days. They come in great colors, sleek styles, and they will make your commute less expensive. When you look at those characteristics of a hybrid car, how could you not choose to run to the car dealer right now and pick one up? Well, we all wish we could do just that, but before you run out, maybe you should learn a bit more about these cars.
A hybrid car is a vehicle that is run on electricity. A combination of a conventional propulsion system and a rechargeable energy storage system that is onboard the vehicle work together to give the vehicle better fuel economy than cars that run strictly on gasoline.
Hybrid cars are unlike battery electric vehicles because the batteries used in hybrid cars do not have to be charged by an external source. Instead, in order to get a charge, kinetic energy is generated by way of regenerative braking. Furthermore, some hybrid cars make use of their own combustion engine to create electricity. The combustion engine does this by spinning an electrical generator. The spinning does one of two things. It can either recharge the battery or in a more direct way, it can give power to an electric motor. This motor is what then drives the vehicle.
Therefore, because this fuel-economizing vehicle can generate its own electricity, it is very different from a vehicle that is run strictly on batteries. But, there is no waiting while your car charges up outside in the garage before you go to work. All you have to do is get into the car and ride.
It is true that some people have experimented with electrical vehicles in the past. However, the introduction of the hybrid car outdid these types of cars when it came on the scene.
Because the hybrid car is so innovative in the way it powers itself and the way it is able to save travelers money on fuel, it's called the car of the future. At least that's what some automakers believe, and many consumers agree with them. The next wave of the automotive market, Hybrid cars continue to be purchased by customers as the years go on.
So if you want a car that saves on gas and will make you the talk of town, perhaps you should invest in a hybrid car.
And you might find yourself tired of just pulling over at local gas stations to fuel up. If that's the case, you have another reason to think about purchasing a hybrid car. So get on over to the car dealer. It could be the best decision of your future.
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