Hybrid Car Prices: Good Value For The Money

Retail hybrid car prices as suggested by manufacturers (better
known as MSRP) are decided by the car makers and advised to the
car dealers to be the base price guide in dealing with public
sale. Dealers providing fleet sales to corporate buyers have
also the invoice price, or that amount paid by the dealers to
the automakers, better used for wholesale purchases being made
from the dealers.

While these two serve as guides for the car buyer, prices may
increase due to additional costs for non-standard features or
add-ons to the vehicles. There are also charges for delivery to
move the vehicles to the final destination where buyer is
situated. Thereafter, sales taxes, marketing costs, registration
costs and other costs may be added by the dealership over and
above the MSRP or invoice price.

Price Ranges

As of this writing, at the bottom rung is the Toyota Prius,
most reasonably priced at suggested retail of $22,175, exclusive
of tax incentives that come along with purchases of hybrid,
environmentally-friendly units. At the high end of the spectrum
will be the 2007 Honda Accord Hybrid 4-wheel drive four-door
sedan, at around $31,000. Both these prices do not include
delivery or destination pricing.

The Array of Hybrid Car Prices

In between the Prius and the Accord, the Camry Hybrid from
Toyota is priced at around $26,000. The Saturn Aura Green Line
Hybrid starts at $22,695, a highly recommended purchase by many
hybrid enthusiasts. The Honda Hybrid FWD four door sedan starts
at $22,600 exclusive of destination costs.

To give you a gauge on SUVs, the Mercury Mariner 2008 Hybrid
four-wheel drive SUV starts at the bottom with $27,515, followed
by the Ford Escape Hybrid 4FD SUV at $27.250. Packed and loaded
with all amenities you can ask for, the 2007 Toyota Highlander
Hybrid can be yours for $32,500.

Price Indicators

The brand name comes with the package. With such prestigious
car makers as Toyota, Honda, Ford, Saturn, Mercury, Volkswagen,
Mercedes, the name comes at a premium. Brand name
notwithstanding, the full array of features and accessories not
included in standard units also impact on the final price of the
hybrid car you are purchasing.

Hybrid car prices are definitely higher than for conventional
models. That's because the manufacturer requires more resources
to produce the hybrids with their added valuable features -
these all add up to the cost. It is envisioned, though, that the
fuel savings from hybrids will more than compensate for the
usually higher purchase price compared to pure fossil-fuel
models.

To give you an idea, take the Honda Accord as an example. While
a value-packaged 4-door Accord Sedan can fetch for as low as
$19,450, the Hybrid Accord's price is almost twice higher at
more than $31,000. While Accord's special edition sedans and
coupes range from $23,350 to $23,450, these prices are still a
far cry from hybrid's prices. Only the EX-L four-wheel drive
2-door Accord Coupe comes close at $27,500.

The price differences among Civic models are somewhat more
manageable and saleable. Take a 4-door sedan Civic EX priced at
$19,510 add a hybrid system and you're $22,500 poorer. But the
price difference, at least, is not all that much.

Even with Toyota models, the fuel efficiency and
environmental-friendliness and zero-emission tags all come at a
premium. The Camry Hybrid starts at $25,200 when its
conventional sister is priced at only $18,570. Even with the
federal tax reductions for hybrid vehicles, the MSRP is still a
tad higher.

With the kind of research and development, not to mention the
extensive testing done on hybrid or alternative-fuel models,
it's not surprising that hybrid car prices are more expensive.
And manufacturers do not stop at the hybrid or fuel-efficiency
features; they also try and pack the hybrid with the latest in
electronics for the interiors, dash and instrumentation and
everything.

Standard or optional amenities notwithstanding,
environmentalists will always say that hybrid car prices are
worth every penny car buyers shed, if only to ensure a better,
cleaner, safer world for tomorrow. Amen to that, say the hybrid
manufacturers' environmental drum beaters.


About The Author: Ernest Jarquio is a successful Webmaster and
publisher of http://www.green-hybrid-cars.com/. Visit his
website to learn more about hybrid car prices and hybrid car
models.

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Why Hybrid Automobiles Require Less Maintenance Than Conventional Cars

Hybrid cars are getting a lot of attention from consumers looking to purchase a new car. One reason is that they use less gas and therefore save you a lot of money at the pumps. However, their popularity is not just based on their fuel saving design, they also require less maintenance than that of their conventional cousins.

It can be frustrating to have to take time off from work to go to the mechanic for maintenance checks and repairs. It is equally frustrating to use up part of your weekends for this as well. Owning a Hybrid helps you to avoid this frustration, thanks to their unique design. There are various features that contribute to these benefits.

One reason is that they have fewer parts than conventional cars. For example, the Hybrid vehicle does not have a starter. A car that has fewer parts requires less maintenance and less maintenance means less expense. Another important factor is that the engine is smaller, between 10 to 20 horsepower and designed to run more efficiently by using only one speed.

The generator runs on a separate, gas powered motor and contributes to the lesser need for maintenance. It also does things that conventional vehicles need additional parts for. The generator handles 80 percent of the braking, which helps to extend the life of the brake system. It does this in several ways, such as preserving brake fluid. Brake fluid can be contaminated by the effects of over heating, so by minimizing the heat exposure, the life of the brake fluid is extended. The lesser heat usage also helps reduce the risk of warped rotors. By the generator taking on more tasks, the battery usage is less and therefore will have to be replaced less often.

Another great feature that the design offers is that the air conditioner runs off of electricity and not gas. The steering system is superior in that it is also electric and does not require a belt the way hydraulic systems do. It also provides a smoother ride on rough road surfaces.

Other maintenance saving features are that the valve system requires no adjustments and the injectors don't have to be cleaned.

Hybrid vehicles offer longer warranties that also include the battery. This definitely adds to their attraction. The Prius, offered by Toyota, offers an eight year or 100,000 mile warranty that includes the hybrid system. The Honda Insight warranty offers 8 years or 80,000 miles and includes the power train.

When considering purchasing a new vehicle, definitely think about owning a hybrid. They require less maintenance than the conventional cars and therefore save you money and time spent at the auto shop. They are much more fuel efficient, and offer attractive warranties.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Car Care Wizards at http://www.carcarewizard.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gregg_Hall

Types Of Alternative Fuels: What's Out There

When looking into making the switch to alternative fuel use for your vehicle, there are a number of options. Based on price, availability, and motivation the best option for one consumer is not always the best option of another. For an alternative fuel to truly be viable it has to be both accessible to, and usable by, the consumer. In today's world the viable alternative fuels on the market are mainly; ethanol, biodiesel, electricity, and natural gas.

Ethanol fuel is made from the fermentation and distilling of starch vegetation like corn, although it also can be made from trees and grasses. Ethanol is widely available in two varieties, commonly referred to as E10 and E85. E10 Ethanol, sometimes referred to as gasohol, is a mixture of 90% standard gasoline and 10% ethanol. Almost all manufacturers approve of the use of E10 Ethanol in their gasoline powered vehicles. E85 Ethanol is a mixture of 85% ethanol and only 15% gasoline. To run a car on E85 ethanol it has to be a specially designed flex fuel automobile that is capable of using E85. Flex fuel automobiles are becoming more and more common and most vehicle manufacturers offer at least one model.

The cost of ethanol, either E10 or E85, does vary from region to region. Usually it is found to be cheaper than gasoline in more rural areas and somewhat more expensive in more urban areas, possibly having something to do with how closely the consumer is located to where it is grown and manufactured. The only widely reported change in vehicle performance when using E85 ethanol is a small drop in the gas mileage, thought to be due to the lower energy output of ethanol.

Diesel-like fuel manufactured from vegetable oils, recycled vegetable oil, or animal fats is called biodiesel. Biodiesel is a cleaner burning biodegradable option to conventional petroleum based diesel fuel. Biodiesel is not pure vegetable or cooking oil, these oils do have to go through a manufacturing process. Biodiesel can be used both pure and blended with standard diesel fuel. B2 and B5, 2% biodiesel and 5% biodiesel respectively, are the most common blends of biodiesel and can safely be used in almost any standard diesel engine. Some warranties may be voided if using biodiesel at a greater strength than 5%, like B20 (20% biodiesel).

Biodiesel can be produced domestically from vegetation grown specifically for the production of fuel. The cost can vary for using biodiesel from higher to lower than the price of gasoline, although if manufactured at home (which is possible) the price is significantly lower. Biodiesel is safer to handle and emits less greenhouse gases than conventional diesel fuel. Fuel economy can suffer minimally with the use of biodiesel and research is being done on its effects on engine parts.

Electric cars are nothing new to the alternative fuel scene and, in fact were quite popular in the early 1990's. The need for long recharging periods and limited travel distances impeded the Electric car's progress in the open market. Hybrid cars are available now that are powered partly by gasoline and partly by an electric generator. Hybrid cars have preserved the main benefit of electric cars by giving outstanding fuel economy and solved the problems of recharging periods needed (none) and range of travel (unlimited, as long as there's fuel). There are biodiesel hybrid cars in the development or early marketing stage that would even solve the petroleum based gasoline problem of current hybrids.

One of the absolute cleanest burning alternative fuels available is natural gas. Cars and trucks can use either compressed or liquefied natural gas as a fuel source. Dual fuel cars can run on natural gas or gasoline/diesel fuel. This is a very efficient use of the technology as now when natural gas is not available, the car can be filled up and ran on gasoline or diesel. The downside to this is that storage or passenger space may be limited by the need of the car to have two complete fueling systems on board. Cars designed to run on natural gas only do not have this problem, but they may have the problem of it sometimes being inconvenient to find a location to fuel their vehicle. Natural gas powered cars and trucks are not widely produced yet but there are after market kits available to convert a standard gasoline or diesel engine into a natural gas powered car.

Natural gas produces up to 90% less smog related pollutants than conventional gasoline. The gas itself is less expensive than gasoline and much of it can be produced instead of imported. Though substantially cheaper, natural gas does get fewer miles on a tank of gas.

Hydrogen power is being heavily researched as an alternative fuel source. Hydrogen can be used either in fuel cells to power electric engines or burned like conventional fuel in an internal combustion engine. When used in fuel cells, hydrogen produces no smog causing emissions or greenhouse gases, and it produces a very limited amount of emissions when burned like conventional fuel. While Hydrogen is readily available, it currently is very expensive to produce. The storage room needed for enough Hydrogen fuel to fuel a car for a longer trip is another challenge facing Hydrogen. Also, currently the vehicles able to run on fuel cells are priced far too high for most consumers to be able to afford.

Though cost and a vehicle's performance vary from situation to situation, almost all alternative fuels benefit the environment and reduce a nation's reliance on oil producing countries. In the future, because of the wide variety of needs of the world's consumers, there will most likely not be just one alternative fuel in use, but many. Diversifying the sources of potential fuel can lead to more benefits from the pursuit of alternative fuel development. For now, it is important to have the knowledge that there are other options than petroleum based fuel powered cars.

Mark Allen is a strong supporter of the continued serch for a viable alternative-fuel. More information at www.biodieselplans.info

Hybrids And Werewolves Share A Common Trait: Efficiency

What is a Werewolf but a part wolf, and a part human? Werewolves had the guile of a man and the bite of a wolf. Likewise, Frankenstein's monster was a hotchpotch of old body parts put together with some electricity. Even the Greeks had their idea of a hybrid; it was Chimaera, had a head of a lion, the body of a goat and the tail of a serpent. The modern equivalent of these flights of fancy is the modern gas-electric automobile called the Hybrid. Today such vehicles exist from manufacturers as diverse as Ford, Honda, and Toyota. Even BMW and Daimler-Benz are busy jointly developing Hybrids that'll be ready for the market by 2009. And Porsche, the hallmark of racing success, is hurrying the development of a Hybrid engine for the upcoming 2007 Porsche Cayenne. With the continuous rise in gas prices, Hybrid vehicles offer the newest of the fuel-efficient technology. Soon every car maker from Mazda to Maserati will be jumping on this particular gravy train, and for good reason.

Purchasing a Hybrid today is the modern day equivalent of taking control of higher gas prices while living the Jetsons' lifestyle. There are nine Hybrids on the market today. Toyota leads the way with the second generation Prius posting the highest fuel efficiency at the lowest cost. For MSRP of $21,725 you get efficacy of 60 mpg city/51mpg hwy. This practical, yet sophisticatedly designed four-door, five-passenger automobile makes a statement. It says "green-mobile" anywhere you go. The endless surge of energy provided by its notably silent, but frugal engine will make you feel elated as you drive mile-after-mile with the fuel gauge stuck on full, seemingly its permanent position. Additionally, its spaciously interior, exceptionally comfortable seats, outstanding build quality, and original styling makes the Toyota Prius an excellent buy in any category. The 2006 Prius is the complete Jetsons' vehicle available today. Rejoice, as the sci-fi future we once yearned for is finally here.

Depending on your personality, you now have the choice between a Hybrid that looks like a traditional car or not. Unlike the distinctive Toyota Prius, the Honda Accord Hybrid and the Toyota Camry Hybrid do not shout "environmentalist" by design; rather they both blends in with the environment. If you prefer the stealth mode of a wolf in sheep's clothing, consider either the Honda Accord Hybrid, or the Toyota Camry Hybrid as your next automobile. The Accord's luxuriously appointed cabin, with its host of luxury amenities such as retractable sunroof, navigation system and LED lights makes this Hybrid the perfect choice for those seeking a refined but economical sedan. Fuel efficiency of 29 mpg city/37 hwy and a MSRP of $30,500 make the Honda Accord Hybrid affordable as well. Similarly, the 2007 Camry Hybrid is fully equipped with all the bells and whistles, and has a brazen exterior styling. With a MSRP of $30,900 and fuel efficiency of 30 mpg city/40 hwy – the 2007 Camry Hybrid is well positioned to be Accord's Hybrid counterpart.

If you are looking for a compact Hybrid that conserves space as well as fuel, consider Honda's Insight or the Civic Hybrid. Both cars have cult-like followings among compact car drivers who love the lure of hybrid technology. The Insight, with a MSRP of $21,530 attains 57 mpg city/56 mpg hwy, and features a two-door/two-passenger cabin. Its sleek exterior design and the assortment of exterior colors enhance its desirability as a niche vehicle. The compact design, however, means limited storage capacity. Alternatively, the Honda Civic Hybrid at a MSRP of $21,850 is within the same price range as the Insight, and with its contemporary good looks attains a respectful 49 mpg city/51 mpg hwy. The Civic Hybrid is unique because it looks and drives like a sports car while posting outstanding fuel efficiency numbers.

For motoring enthusiasts who prefer greater towing capacity in your vehicles, there are four SUV Hybrids available in 2006. The Ford Escape Hybrid, for example, leads the way with an unprecedented 36 mpg city/31 mpg hwy at a MSRP of $26,900. The Escape Hybrid features a 155 horsepower engine and a luxuriously updated interior making this vehicle a good buy in this hotly sought after segment. The Lexus RX 400h pushes the envelope of luxury with an even more spacious interior and a powerful 3.3 Liter V6 268 horsepower engine. The four-door, five-passenger, Lexus RX 400h gets 33 mpg city/28mpg hwy, but costs considerably more than the Ford Escape with a MSRP of $44,660. The sumptuous sport utility segment is further enhanced with the presence of Mercury Mariner Hybrid with its 2.3 Liter engine that churns out 133 horsepower with a fuel efficiency of 33 mpg city/29 mpg hwy. With a MSRP of $29,225, the Mercury Mariner is competitively priced. Topping off the list is the Toyota Highlander Hybrid that features a 3.3 liter V6, 268 horsepower engine with the highest towing capacity of all hybrid SUVs. The Highlander's attributes include a well-appointed cabin, bold exterior design, and fuel efficiency of 33 mpg city/28 mpg hwy. With a MSRP of $33,030 the Highlander is the right choice for travelers who value torque, towing capacity, and gas efficacy in their SUV Hybrid.

Hybrids no longer exist in the realm of myths or in fairy tales, but have become an integral part of our contemporary folklore. Hybrid cars and SUV's let you explore the wide open roads of our beautiful country, the cul-de-sacs of our suburbs, and the busy streets and alleys of our towns and cities. Unlike regular engines, Hybrids offer an incredible way to save on fuel without compromising your need for living. Go ahead howl like the wolf.

Hybrid Cars Save You 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 Hybrid Cars 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

How You Can Save Money and Energy With the New Plug-in Electric Hybrid Car

A new prototype hybrid car was revealed by Pacific Gas & Electric Co. Not only does it save on gas, but it can be used to power homes and businesses during blackouts or during hot summer days when energy prices soar.

In addition to reducing energy cost, V2G technology will allow consumers to be able to sell back energy to the utility during the hot summer months when energy demand is the highest. Hybrid vehicle owners may sell energy at the price threshold they select. When the price reaches this point, the utility will automatically take energy from the vehicle. The owner will have enough energy left over for the drive home. Payment to the vehicle's owner can be made in the form of earned credits from the amount of energy used by the utility toward their monthly energy bill.

V2G technology can increase the availability of renewable energy used during peak energy hours. Plug-in electric hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) may charge their batteries at night when energy is inexpensive and is generated with a larger percentage of renewable resources. While electrical utilities usually have to buy power from expensive, less efficient, fossil fuel power generating sources during the day or times of maximum demand. But with PHEVs, utilities may purchase the renewable energy stored in the vehicle batteries.

PG&E demonstrated the first-ever utility Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology at Silicon Valley Leadership Group Alternative Energy Solutions Summit in California. The PHEV, a converted Toyota Prius, featured a 180 pound lithium battery that takes up the bottom of a back trunk where a tire would go. The vehicle produces about 9 kilowatts of electricity while the average house uses about 2.5 kilowatts of electricity on hour.

The PHEVs charge by plugging into a three-prong 110- to 120-volt outlet. Flipping a switch sends the charge to the home from the car, if the home needs energy during a blackout or high energy consumption days.

For the demonstration, the Prius ran several lights and appliances after reversing the flow of energy from the outlet to the vehicle.

The plug-ins, like the traditional hybrid, have both electric motors and batteries as well as a gasoline engine which turns on when the car runs about 20 to 25 miles per hour.

A plug-in hybrid vehicle with its larger battery, uses its gasoline engine less often and gets about 100 miles per gallon. In contrast, a 2007 Toyota Prius reaches about 55 miles per gallon in combined city and highway driving.

PG&E officials did not release a timeline of when V2G hybrid cars would be available to the general public. Since the auto industry is not yet increasing production of electric vehicles which require larger batteries, the PHEVs are not likely to be produced before 2012.

What this means to you, is that you will have way to turn your vehicle into a power storage system that will conserve energy and reduce dependence on foreign oil.

Nancy Val Verde writes about about hybrids among other topics. You can learn more about hybrids when you visit my blog, Hybrid Technology Reviewed at http://hybrid-technology-reviewed.blogspot.com

Rent a Hybrid Car When You Travel

You can rent a hybrid car on your next trip to California, Phoenix or Vegas, but you better call ahead. The availability of these exciting new vehicles is limited and rentals are in very high demand.

But when you rent a hybrid car, you can save money on gas and support the environment at the same time. Plus, if you're thinking of buying one, renting before hand is a great way to check out the new technology.

Whatever the reason, customers are lining up at EV Rental cars.

Thanks to Jeff Pink's entrepreneurial spirit and his mission to save the planet, EV Rentals opened its doors in 1998 as the first and only hybrid electric rental company in the U.S. And Pink now has the biggest fleet of these vehicles anywhere in the country.

There are over 400 hybrids to rent in eight western airport locations – Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Ana, San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, Phoenix and Las Vegas. And Pink now has a partnership with discount Fox Rent A Car and is getting ready for expansion with plans for 2,500 brand new hybrids.

As you may already know, these cars are pretty hard to come by. There just aren't that many available and they're certainly not accessible at the gas car fleet prices offered to Hertz and Avis. This means EV Rentals has to buy their automobiles one at a time at retail prices. But they do get some help through government consumer education program grants.

Right now, you have a choice of renting a Toyota Prius, a Toyota Highlander and a Honda Civic Hybrid. All three are recommended by Consumer Reports and get between 35 mpg to 60 mpg in town and on the road.

And, in the state of California, with a hybrid, you get to drive in the carpool lane even when you're driving alone. That, by itself, can save you a small fortune in time and money when tooling around LA.

EV Rentals' mission is to "provide the most technologically advanced environmental vehicles to the general public as soon as they're available, to educate the public and to raise the awareness of the benefits of driving clean-fuel vehicles, and to create a market for clean vehicle technology."

The management team at EV Rentals believes it's time for people to start thinking more about protecting the environment. They're extremely proud to have prevented over "100 tons of air pollution and to have passed on to their customers more than $1 million in fuel cost savings by acting environmentally."

However, be aware that when you rent a hybrid car, it will probably cost you more than for a conventional gas model. And, even though you pay less for gasoline, you'll still have to drive a lot of miles each day to make up the difference.

Right now, until auto manufacturer's economies of scale kick in, owners of these exciting new vehicles have the same problem.

But consider this. When renting a new Prius in LA, you'll be driving the same car Leonardo DiCpario drives. I'm sure he considers the extra expense as either an investment in the environment or the cost of being extremely cool. You could too!

Maria Cuttini is author of the 40 page "Hybrid Car Buyer's Guide." For a limited time, Maria is offering free downloads of her book at http://www.AlternativeCarNews.com Visit the site today to learn more about hybrid cars and how do hybrid cars work.

How Hybrid Cars Work

A hybrid car is such a car in which two types of motors are synchronized to provide power to the wheels. The most popular combination is the one in which the gasoline engine is assisted by the electric motor so that the gas engine is periodically shut off in order to reserve fuel.

Usually hybrid cars are subdivided into two major categories.

In the first type, only the use of electric motor propels the engine at very low speeds. The electric motor has the inherent ability to assist the engine when more power is required. It helps out the gasoline engine even while climbing or passing a steep road. The Ford Escape Hybrid and the Toyota Prius fall into the initial category.

The second of its kind requires extra horsepower for its gasoline engine to drive while in rapid acceleration or when moving up the hill. It utilizes that excess power only from the electric motor to assist the internal combustion engine. The Honda Insight and Civic Hybrid are ideal examples of the second category. These two engines do possess some resemblances as well.

When electric motor is used to assist the gasoline engine, both of the hybrids extract power from the battery depleting power, which in turn gets simultaneously self-recharged from the gasoline engine. Hence a hybrid car does not need to be plugged into a power source to recharge its battery, which is the most important aspect of hybrid cars.

Hybrid cars usually utilize sealed nickel metal hydride batteries, a technology which is popularly used in laptops and cell phones. These batteries are easy to make, cost effective and long lasting thus making it ideal for a higher valued car.

Hybrid engineers more than often have opted for unconventional design facets to maximize aerodynamics inside the engine, giving rise to its slim structure. These car units originally have very low (ultra low) drag coefficient due to sleek configurations, which make the cars slippery. All car makers strive to reduce drag, as a vehicle with less drag requires less power as well as fuel to move.

The electrical system is monitored by an on board computer system. The system is program controlled in such a way that when the vehicle is coasting downhill or the brakes are applied, polarity of the system is automatically reversed as the motor actually turns into an energy generating unit. This process is popularly known as regenerative where the conversion of mechanical energy to electrical energy stores up power into the battery.

All hybrid cars normally shut the gasoline engine off during road signals so as to conserve fuel reserve. The phenomenon is called idle stop characteristics. It cuts electrical consumption down during idle condition other than fuel saving and emission reduction. On pressing the accelerator paddle, the gasoline engine resumes work getting assistance from electric motor. The process being silent and seamless, the loss or delay in overall performance during this time is almost negligible.

The hybrids are manufactured by a special forging process termed as shot peeing, which reduces friction in the sidewalls of the cylinder thus increasing efficiency.

Hybrid cars, thus, by virtue of their technological advancement, exceptional fuel economy and marginal gas emissions, can be easily termed as the next generation cars

Tyson J Stevenson writes on a wide variety of automotive related subjects, most often with valuable news & reviews. Expect to see his name often.

A related resource is Affordable Hybrid Cars

Your Guide to Tax Breaks for Hybrid Car Owners

Encouragement to drive a Hybrid

The U.S. government has begun to offer tax breaks to those who purchase hybrid cars and trucks. Naturally this is being done to encourage people to buy the slightly more expensive vehicles, and to cut down on the U.S. foreign oil dependency. Not every car, however, qualifies for these tax deductions. Thus, it is a good idea to check with your local tax department before purchasing a hybrid to ensure that it will qualify for the deduction.

The value of the tax break for a hybrid car depends on the make, model and year of the car. Hybrid cars made before 2006 do not qualify for the tax break. If you decide on a particular make and model of a hybrid car, be sure to check with your local department of taxation to see how much of a tax break you'll get.

Meeting the right standards

In order to qualify for tax deductions, the hybrid car purchased must meet certain standards. Once again, you must check with your local tax department to find out the particular requirements in your state.

Some standards for hybrid cars to qualify for a tax deduction include averaging at least 45 miles per gallon and complying with ATPZEV emission standards. Only some models actually meet the 45 mpg standard. These include the Civic Hybrid, Prius, and Insight CVT.

Hybrid cars such as the Ford Escape, Honda Accord, and Lexus RX 400h do not qualify for the U.S. tax deduction because they don't fit miles per gallon criteria .(However the Honda Civic, Toyota Prius, and Honda Insight CVT do). They also do not currently comply with the ATPZEV emission standards. This further hurts their chances of qualifying for the U.S. tax break. So Choice of make & model is essential to qualify.

How much will I get?

So how does this all apply to you? Well, it depends on where you live. For instance, if you live in Colorado, you'll be eligible for a hybrid tax credit of up to $4713. You get this credit once only, in the year of purchase (so if you purchase a car in 2007, you'll get a tax credit that same year).

The value of your tax credit depends on the emissions of the car and the miles per gallon the car gives.. If it gets 40 or more MPG and emits very little pollutants, you can expect 100% of the credit. If it only meets one of the state standards, you'll get 50% of the tax break. In either case, you will get a tax credit.

But what if your car is ultra low emission? Well, then you'll get 75% of the full tax credit. If the hybrid car is super ultra low emission, you'll be able to get 85% of the maximum tax credit. This means that if the max U.S. tax credit is $4,000, you'll get a $3,400 deduction.

As has been mentioned earlier you must check with your state department to determine how much of a hybrid car tax break you'll be eligible for.

More Affordable

Hybrids were once out of reach for most people. However, these tax breaks now make hybrids more affordable for everyone.

Toby Russell owns and operates an information site called http://www.hybridcarlatest.com offerings tips, advice, news and information on all aspects of the hybrid car market.

Hybrid Trucks - It's About Time!

With the increasing concern about environmental issues such as pollution and global warming, as well as the unbelievable rise in the price of gasoline, it is no wonder that hybrid vehicles are gaining popularity. Hybrid cars have been relatively common for years, with hybrid Sport Utility Vehicles in close competition, but what about hybrid trucks? We don't see those too often. Automotive manufacturing giant General Motors, however, believes that will change.

In 2005, GM introduced hybrid versions of the Chevy Silverado and the GMC Sierra in Florida, California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and Alaska. In 2006 the company made the vehicles available nationwide. These hybrid pickup trucks have 5.3 liter V-8 engines which have exactly the same amount of power and torque as there non-hybrid counterparts (295 horsepower, 325 pound/feet of torque). They can carry the same size loads, tow the same weights, and accelerate to the same degree that regular non-hybrid GM pickup trucks can. And they do it all while providing the most efficient gas mileage of any full-sized pickup on the market—about 20 miles per gallon on the highway. These hybrid trucks also feature a 2400 watt generator that can be used to power electrical devices, making them ideal for contractors or construction workers.

When compared to the Toyota Prius, a small hybrid car that gets 50 miles per gallon, 20 mpg might not sound like much. It is in fact only about a 10 percent difference from the fuel consumption of regular non-hybrid GM trucks. This is because the Prius is what is known as a "full hybrid," which means that its internal combustion engine can shut off completely when the car is idle or driving at low speeds, relying solely on battery power and drastically improving fuel efficiency. This type of fuel savings is great, but it requires a significant compromise of power, which is something that the general pickup truck owner simply will not stand for.

Many truck owners use their vehicles for work related purposes, such as hauling heavy loads, and it is essential that a hybrid pickup truck be able to do this. If automotive manufacturers sacrifice power to gain fuel economy in hybrid trucks, their customers will disappear. Acutely aware of this, General Motors has decided that a little improvement is better than none at all.

Hybrid Cars and Trucks and the Environment

With fossil fuel emissions at levels of billions of tons per year and global warming becoming increasingly obvious, it is clear that sooner or later something must be done. For decades, scientists and researchers have tried to find alternative fuel sources, but there simply was nothing as convenient as the old standby—oil. The oil infrastructure is so vast and developed that is has become impossible to think of cars without thinking of gasoline, and many Americans are loath to change. But they must. Every major city in the country—New York, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, and most notably Las Angeles—is plagued by pollution. The cities are shrouded by smog, there are pollution warnings on weather reports, and at times it is impossible even to take a deep breath without noticing that something is wrong with the air. This is not a world that most of us want to live in. But if more people are willing to take the plunge and buy a hybrid car or truck, the effects over time will be enormous. A hybrid truck might be more expensive initially, but the fuel savings will soon make it worthwhile. And as hybrid technology improves, the cost of these vehicles will no doubt be reduced, making the future a lot brighter, and a lot less smoggy, for the next generation of Earthlings.

Are you a Greenie? Are you tired of ridiculous GAS PRICES? Check out Dan's hybrid car blog for the latest inside scoop on all things hybrid! Save the environment and save some $$$.

Don't be Gas Dependent – Choose a Hybrid

Oil will not last forever!

Gas prices have sky-rocketed over the past 5 years. Due to the greatly increased prices, it can take as much as $50 and $60 dollars to fill a tank with gasoline, an amount never dreamt of a few years ago. Americans have been dependent on gas for many decades, and with supplies of this non-renewable resource diminishing and the pollution conventional vehicles put into the environment, the auto industry has had to look for solutions to the problems associated with gas dependency. The main solution is the hybrid car, a fuel-efficient, environmentally-safe vehicle. A hybrid car has two engines--a gasoline and electric engine.

Excellent Range

Hybrid cars are becoming more and more diverse. Those who are considering purchasing a hybrid car now have many options to choose from. Toyota, Honda, and Ford, among others, currently produce hybrid cars. Sales in the United States of hybrid cars made by Toyota and Honda have been certainly on the up over the past few years. The most recent Statistics suggest that nearly 8,000 hybrid cars were sold in 2004. This was almost 0.53% of the total U.S. car sales in 2004.

Significant Sales Increases predicted

It is also predicted that sales of hybrid cars will reach 535,000 in 2011, which would be over half of all U.S. auto sales. All major auto manufacturers like General Motors, Ford, Honda, Toyota and others, will be producing and releasing more hybrid cars and trucks and in coming years, the production of hybrid cars and trucks could match or exceed the production of traditional trucks and cars.

Why are hybrid cars becoming popular?

It's not just because of the rising gas prices, but also because of environmental issues and a need to reduce significantly Co2 emissions that hybrids are better for the environment. Hybrid cars use less gasoline and emit fewer pollutants in the air than traditional cars resulting in substantially less pollution in the air.

Don't be scared off – think long-term

Many potential hybrid buyers are scared off because of the higher hybrid price. . When you consider the fact that purchasing a hybrid will mean less money spent on gas and less pollution, the hybrid is well-worth the extra money initially spent. Also, most, if not all, hybrids in the U.S. qualify for a tax break that can shave thousands off the price of the hybrid.

An Example

Are you still not sure that hybrid car is right for you? Let's look at an example. A Honda Civic gas-based car costs $15,000 in the U.S. The Honda Civic hybrid car costs $19,000. That is a $4,000 price difference.

The Honda Civic gas-based car gets 36 mpg in the city. A Honda Civic hybrid car gets 48 mpg in the city. If the price of gas is roughly the same as it is now($2.20 a gallon), and the car racks up 15,000 miles a year, it will cost $4,900 less dollars for the Civic hybrid car than the Civic gas-based car. Essentially, you get back your money after a year, and every following year, you save more money. After factoring in the tax break, you're saving even more money. All of this makes the hybrid car very appealing.

Toby Russell & his website: http://www.hybridcarlatest.com offer

Why Buy a Hybrid?

In this article we aim to cover just the very basics of what a Hybrid car is, and the advantages to buying and owning one.

Hybrid cars operate on both a gasoline engine and a battery. They were created with the idea of reducing the fuel consumed & to be more environmentally acceptable by reducing pollution levels. Fuel consumption is reduced because hybrid cars get their power from the battery, and the gas engine.

Advantages

The beauty of the hybrid car is that it has the advantages of the traditional car and electric car, and none of the disadvantages associated with both types of cars. Traditional cars have become expensive to run with the ever increasing price of gas, while electric cars cannot go more than 100 miles without having their battery recharged. Hybrid cars use the power from the gas engine to re-charge the battery while the car is being operated. Thus, hybrid cars can be driven for longer distances without the need to stop.

One thing that might come as a surprise to people is that hybrid cars have better city mileage than highway mileage. The reason for this is that the cars use the battery power more often in the city than on the highway.

Choice

Over the past five years, the number of hybrid car owners has greatly increased in the US. Because of this, many manufacturers are preparing to produce more hybrid models for US buyers. Hybrid car buyers are now able to pick and choose from at least 15 hybrid model cars.

Hybrid car buyers now have a plethora of choices when looking for a hybrid car. Manufacturers like Toyota and Honda both currently offer hybrid cars, and other companies are currently working on hybrids of their own.

Some of the most well-known car manufacturers like General Motors, Ford, Daimler Chrysler, BMW, Mazda, Porsche, Toyota, Volkswagen and Mitsubishi are all working on new hybrid car models. Some of these however will not be available until around 2010. With the increase in production of hybrid cars, you can expect to see many hybrids on the road in the future.

Easily Sourced Information

For those wishing to discover more information about hybrid vehicles the Internet enables you to read many reviews, compare & contrast data and using that information, determine which hybrid car best fits your requirements.. Most potential hybrid buyers are looking for a hybrid car to either save money or help the environment or possibly both. While some have said that hybrid cars aren't worth the extra initial cost, statistics have shown that hybrid cars are a better value in the long run than regular gas operated cars.

One thing that might discourage people from buying a hybrid car is that they have to spend more money initially to own a hybrid than they would with the conventional car. To help with this initial cost, and to encourage people to buy hybrids, the U.S. Government offers many incentives and tax breaks. The amount of the tax break depends on the state which you live in. You can find more information on these tax breaks by visiting the web site of your state's tax department.

Toby Russell owns and operates an info site called http://www.hybridcarlatest.com offering news, views and information about Hybrid Cars.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Toby_Russell

Buying a Hybrid – Consider the Costs

Even though hybrid cars currently cost more initially than the conventional car, many people are coming round to the idea of owning & driving a hybrid car. This is because hybrid cars are both environmentally-safe and fuel efficient. If more people drove hybrid cars, the environment would be less polluted and safer for everyone.

On the increase

Over the past ten years or so, the number of hybrid cars on the road has increased rapidly. Indicating that people are becoming more concerned about the state of the environment. If you're not sure whether or not it is worth it to purchase a hybrid car, this article will help you make an educated decision. We'll be going over the cost of hybrid cars.

Tax Breaks for US Drivers

One thing that helps make the hybrid car more affordable is that the U.S. government now offers a tax deduction for those who choose to use hybrid cars. The law, passed by the U.S. Congress, took effect on January 1, 2006. Despite the fact that the deduction is only in its first year, as much as $5,000 USD can be deducted from your taxes just for driving a hybrid car.

Reduced Gas Costs & helping the Environment

When you consider the fact that hybrid cars cost about $4,000 USD more than the average conventional car, the tax deduction means you'll only have to pay around $900 extra dollars out of pocket for a much better, safer car. Also, when you factor in how much less gas you'll have to purchase for a hybrid, the idea of purchasing a hybrid car becomes even more appealing.

Higher Repair Bills?

A lot has been written about how hybrid car owners have to live with the higher cost of repairs on their vehicles However, this slight disadvantage is overshadowed in real terms by the huge amount of fuel savings hybrid cars provide over time..

Hybrid cars get approximately 70 miles per gallon on the highway and 50 miles per gallon in the city. Conventional fuel efficient cars only get around 27 miles per gallon in the city and 30 miles per gallon on the highway. This is a big difference and results in hundreds of dollars of saving over time.

Replacement Battery Costs

A perceived disadvantage to hybrid cars is the cost of a replacement battery. Replacement batteries for regular cars are around $50-150 USD, while it costs around $2000-$3000 USD to replace a hybrid car's battery. However, this isn't that much of disadvantage because the hybrid car's battery only needs to be replaced every 8-10 years, so spread that cost over a period, put it against fuel savings & its not really an issue.

Tyre Costs

Tyres on a hybrid car are also a bit more expensive to replace than on a conventional car. This is because hybrids require the use of special high mileage tyres.. On the positive side, hybrid cars only need new tyres every 30,000 miles, which is better than conventional cars which need new tyres more frequently..

The hybrid car's internal combustion engine is smaller and lighter than the conventional car's combustion engine. Thus, a hybrid car's engine is more efficient than a regular car's engine is.

Insurance Savings

Another advantage to hybrid cars is that most insurance companies now offer a discount to hybrid car owners. This is because hybrid cars are much less likely to be involved in accidents, which saves car insurance companies money.

There is a general consensus among many people that the hybrid car essentially pays for itself over the long run. It may seem expensive at first, but it is a worthwhile investment. Why not save some money in the long run by purchasing a hybrid car now?

Toby Russell & his website http://www.hybridcarlatest.com offers, news, views and information about the hybrid vehicle market and the developments in that market sector just around the corner.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Toby_Russell

Save the Environment - Buy a Hybrid Car & Save Money as Well

For most of us these days there's so much publicity & news coverage over the Green House Effect that maybe you've been thinking about how much your car contributes to this and wish to help the environment. Or maybe you are sick and tired of paying high gas prices and want to buy a car that is better on gas. Whether you want to help the environment, or want to cut down on how much you spend on gas, the hybrid car is a great solution.

What is hybrid car?

Hybrid cars are autos that run efficiently on both fuel (normally gasoline) and electric energy. The combination of using fuel and electric energy makes hybrid cars both environmentally-friendly and cost-efficient.

The vast majority of hybrid cars are powered by two different engines: a gasoline engine and an electric engine. The gasoline engine is responsible for starting and stopping the car, while the electric engine is responsible for actually making the car move. By using the two engines in this way, the car is not totally dependent on gasoline. This, in turn, cuts down on the environmental pollution & the amount & therefore cost of gas used.

Types of Hybrid cars

If you've done research on hybrid cars on the Internet, you've probably seen that there are two types of hybrid cars currently available. These are the Series hybrid car and the Parallels hybrid car. There are slight differences between the two types of hybrid cars, which we will go over here.

With the Series type of hybrid car, the gasoline engine is used to start and stop the car. Then, when the car reaches a specific speed, the electric engine automatically takes over. Also, in the Series type of hybrid car, the gas engine is used to charge the batteries of the electric engine. With the Series type of hybrid car, both engines never really work together as a team.

The Parallel hybrid, just like the Series hybrid, uses both a gas and electric engine. Even though the Parallel and Series hybrids are similarly configured physically, they are distinctively different in terms of operation. The big difference is that, in the Parallel hybrid, both the gasoline and electric engines can be used to start and stop the car. The other difference is that the electric engine in a Parallel hybrid is only used to boost the power of the vehicle when needed. Parallel hybrid cars are more fuel efficient than are the Series hybrid cars.

How does the hybrid car increase fuel efficiency?

Hybrid cars are made up of lightweight materials. Thus, the load on the hybrid car is greatly reduced. Because of the lightweight materials, the car doesn't require as much fuel to move. Also, the tires of hybrid cars are firmer than are those found on regular cars.

Since the gasoline is burnt at a low level in hybrid cars, it produces lower toxic emissions than those produced by conventional vehicles. Green house emissions, as we previously mentioned, are a real threat to the environment. Hybrid vehicles, because they release less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, cause far less pollution than regular cars do. In fact, some studies have shown that hybrid cars can reduce the greenhouse gas emissions by as much as fifty percent, and tailpipe emissions by as much as ninety percent.

To sum up, hybrid cars are much more economical because they consume fifty to sixty percent less fuel than regular vehicles do. Also, they are very environmentally-friendly. The only drawback to hybrid cars is that currently they tend to be a bit more expensive than traditional cars to initially purchase.. However, this will change over time because more people will purchase hybrid vehicles due to the benefits and the pressures placed upon Governments to reduce pollution.

Toby Russell & his information website http://www.hybridcarlatest.com gives information, news and views for all those interested in the Hybrid Car Market.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Toby_Russell

3 Advantages Of Hybrid Cars Over Conventional Cars

Due to the rising 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 face it, fuel supply is finite and the prices of gas is only going to rise higher and higher. That is where a hybrid car has its advantages

Hybrid cars have been gaining in popularity in recent years. With lower cost of production and new hybrid car technology being developed, owning a hybrid car is becoming affordable to everyone.

Hybrid Cars 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 as much as 30 miles a gallon. One feature of hybrid cars is that the gasoline engine is shut off automatically when the car stops. This also helps in saving fuel. That is also the reason why hybrid cars are so quiet why it is stationary. The gasoline engine is automatically turned on when you step on the accelerator pedal.

Hybrid Cars Are Environment Friendly

Hybrid cars emit lower toxic emissions compared to conventional gasoline-powered 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 one of the primary reasons for rising global warming. For example, the Toyota Prius can reduce tailpipe emissions by up to ninety percent and the greenhouse gas emissions by as much as fifty percent.

Tax Incentives For Hybrid Cars

Due to world political pressures around the world to reduce greenhouse emissions, President Bush signed an agreement in 2005 to provide huge tax relief to hybrid car buyers. The tax incentive varies by model and are based on two factors

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

2. How much gasoline the hybrid car can save in its lifetime compared with 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 do expire after 2010 for most hybrid cars.

Hybrid car manufacturers are continually researching for more ways to reduce fuel consumption and better fuel efficiency. Also as more hybrid cars are being adopted, the cost of hybrid cars will reduce making it more affordable for everyone.

Ricky Lim is a hybrid car owner who contributes hybrid car technology articles regularly to http://all-hybrid-cars.info.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ricky_Lim

5 Things to Know Before You Buy a Hybrid Car

With gas prices rising with every tank of gas, the popularity of hybrid cars is rising almost as quickly. The profile of the buyer of hybrid cars is changing as well, no longer are they seen as fringe environmentalists, they are the average American citizen who is tired of paying outrageous prices for a tank of gas and then not being able to afford to drive anywhere but back and forth to work. So, if you want to purchase a hybrid car, where do you start? What should you look for? The following information will help you navigate your way through the growing market of fuel-efficient automobiles that are on the market today.

1- Before you decide to tackle the hybrid car market, there are some general points of knowledge that you need to be aware of. For example, this type of car is often referred to as a Hybrid Electric Vehicle or HEV. It will have two engines as opposed to a traditional vehicle, which has one. The engines that are found in an HEV are combustion and electric, having the two engines allows the car to switch from one engine to the other when power begins to run low.

2- However, if needed, the engines will run simultaneously as well. This will happen if more power is needed than either the electric or combustion engine alone can produce. An example of this type of situation would be accelerating on an expressway.

3- Hybrid car dealers also have their own language, you should know how to speak "hybrid" before you decide to go shopping for one of these vehicles. You will need to know that these cars are, on average, have a 90 percent lower emission rate than traditional cars and are therefore known as Ultra Low-Emission vehicles.

4- Before you buy a hybrid car, it is imperative that you take into account your current driving patterns. If you do a lot of highway driving, you will not likely see much in the way of fuel savings. However, if you are the type of driver that mostly stays in traffic that requires frequent stopping and starting, you will be able to see significant fuel savings. This is because in these types of driving conditions the vehicle is able to utilize the electrical engine, using lower RPM's than a traditional car does.

5- Research is so important when contemplating the purchase of a hybrid car. Thankfully, most people have access to the internet and therefore have access to information such as manufacturers' websites. These websites may be some of the most valuable information that you will find. They will contain information that will lead you to repair shops, vehicle maintenance requirements and other such information that is specific to hybrid cars.

Visit http://find-hybrid-cars.info or http://ez-hybrid-cars.info to learn more about all hybrid cars and hybrid electric vehicle.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Wallander

What Do I Need to Know Before Buying a Hybrid Car?

The days of 50 cent gas prices have vanished along with sock hops and soda shops. Now day's gas is closer to $2.50 a gallon and kids go to raves. What can be done? Are we destined to spend more on gas for a week than we do on groceries? Enter the hybrid car. Every year, more hybrid cars hit the market, and for good reason, consumers today are beginning to demand more fuel efficiency from their cars. If you are interested in purchasing a hybrid car, you are not alone, but you may not know what to look for while car shopping. The following tips will help you plan what you want in a car and how to find it on a lot.

Hybrid car dealers also have their own language, you should know how to speak "hybrid" before you decide to go shopping for one of these vehicles. You will need to know that these cars are, on average, have a 90 percent lower emission rate than traditional cars and are therefore known as Ultra Low-Emission vehicles.

Research is so important when contemplating the purchase of a hybrid car. Thankfully, most people have access to the internet and therefore have access to information such as manufacturers' websites. These websites may be some of the most valuable information that you will find. They will contain information that will lead you to repair shops, vehicle maintenance requirements and other such information that is specific to hybrid cars.

However, if needed, the engines will run simultaneously as well. This will happen if more power is needed than either the electric or combustion engine alone can produce. An example of this type of situation would be accelerating on an expressway.

Before you decide to tackle the hybrid car market, there are some general points of knowledge that you need to be aware of. For example, this type of car is often referred to as a Hybrid Electric Vehicle or HEV. It will have two engines as opposed to a traditional vehicle, which has one. The engines that are found in an HEV are combustion and electric, having the two engines allows the car to switch from one engine to the other when power begins to run low.

Visit http://hybrid-cars-central.info or http://ez-hybrid-cars.info to learn more about ford hybrid car and all hybrid cars.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Wallander

7 Tips to Know Before You Buy a Hybrid Vehicle

With gas prices on the rise, everyone is trying to conserve fuel. This is leading to an increased interest in hybrid cars, which are fast becoming a very popular option for many different types of people. Before you decide to buy a hybrid vehicle, you need to know the basics of their operation, the cost to buy one as well as the costs involved to maintain on of these newer types of cars.

1- It is important to note that on average a hybrid vehicle will cost around $3,000 more than its all gas counterpart will. While most people will weigh this price increase against the price of the gas that they will be saving, it can cause a pretty severe case of sticker shock. Be prepared for this if you are shopping for a hybrid.

2- Just like conventional vehicles, hybrid cars need a battery to run. While a traditional battery will cost approximately $50-$150 to replace, a battery for a hybrid car costs considerably more, about $2,000-$3,000 and those prices are just for starters. With this in mind, it is important to know that hybrid batteries have been known to run between 8 and 10 years before needing to be replaced.

3- If you are sitting on the edge of making a decision of whether to buy a hybrid vehicle or it is more traditional counterpart, you may be interested to know that the government may allow a tax deduction to those people who choose to purchase the more fuel-efficient hybrids. While this deduction is not guaranteed from one year to the next, it has been as high as $2,000 in the past.

4- Another consideration to buying a hybrid vehicle that needs to be addressed is the maintenance that needs to take place after the car has been on the road for a while. The more intricate power train systems that accompany a hybrid equate to higher prices, this is because there are not as many mechanics that are trained to fix them. This price consideration should pretty much go away as more of these vehicles hit the road and the demand for properly trained mechanics goes up.

5- These cars require the use of special high mile tires, they are smaller than the tires you are used to purchasing, but can cost considerably more to replace. This may be acceptable to some drivers since the tires last on average 30,000 miles longer than other types of vehicle tires.

6- Many purchasers of hybrid vehicles do so for one reason, they can live with the increases in aftermarket parts and the high prices of mechanics because they know what their car can offer them, fuel savings. On average, a hybrid car gets between 50 miles per gallon (MPG) in the city and up to 70 MPG on the highway. When these numbers are compared to an average of 30 MPG city and 27 MPG highway on a fuel-efficient gas car, the savings are clear.

7- While it is important to know the costs that are involved when you decided to buy a hybrid vehicle, it is also important to know what you will be saving. For all of the millions of people all over the world, who choose a hybrid over a traditional the bottom line is clear. The savings that they see at the gas pump far outweighs any money that will need to be paid out to keep their vehicle running in the future.

Visit http://hybrid-cars-central.info or http://ez-hybrid-cars.info to learn more about hybrid car toyota and honda hybrid vehicle.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Wallander

What Are the Costs Involved When You Buy A Hybrid Vehicle?

You may think that you are seeing more and more hybrid cars on the roads as you make your daily commute. You are right; the number of hybrid vehicles that are purchased every year is on the rise, and for good reason. These new vehicles use advanced technology that allows them to use be more fuel-efficient and to produce less harmful emissions. However, before you decide to buy a hybrid vehicle you need to be aware of the costs that are involved in both buying and owning one of the fuel saving cars.

If you are sitting on the edge of making a decision of whether to buy a hybrid vehicle or it is more traditional counterpart, you may be interested to know that the government may allow a tax deduction to those people who choose to purchase the more fuel-efficient hybrids. While this deduction is not guaranteed from one year to the next, it has been as high as $2,000 in the past.

These cars require the use of special high mile tires, they are smaller than the tires you are used to purchasing, but can cost considerably more to replace. This may be acceptable to some drivers since the tires last on average 30,000 miles longer than other types of vehicle tires.

Just like conventional vehicles, hybrid cars need a battery to run. While a traditional battery will cost approximately $50-$150 to replace, a battery for a hybrid car costs considerably more, about $2,000-$3,000 and those prices are just for starters. With this in mind, it is important to know that hybrid batteries have been known to run between 8 and 10 years before needing to be replaced.

Many purchasers of hybrid vehicles do so for one reason, they can live with the increases in aftermarket parts and the high prices of mechanics because they know what their car can offer them, fuel savings. On average, a hybrid car gets between 50 miles per gallon (MPG) in the city and up to 70 MPG on the highway. When these numbers are compared to an average of 30 MPG city and 27 MPG highway on a fuel-efficient gas car, the savings are clear.

It is important to note that on average a hybrid vehicle will cost around $3,000 more than its all gas counterpart will. While most people will weigh this price increase against the price of the gas that they will be saving, it can cause a pretty severe case of sticker shock. Be prepared for this if you are shopping for a hybrid.

While it is important to know the costs that are involved when you decided to buy a hybrid vehicle, it is also important to know what you will be saving. For all of the millions of people all over the world, who choose a hybrid over a traditional the bottom line is clear. The savings that they see at the gas pump far outweighs any money that will need to be paid out to keep their vehicle running in the future.

Top 3 Picks For Hybrid Cars

Hybrid cars are fast becoming more and more popular due to the rising fuel costs and the prices of hybrid cars are becoming more and more affordable. The performance of hybrid cars are also comparable to diesel/petrol cars so there's no reason not to get it.

There are plenty of new hybrid car models introduced every year but here are my top 3 picks that offers the best performance and features for the price.

#3 Honda Civic Hybrid

The Honda Civic hybrid is not a new model and has been on the market for some time. The price retails around $20,000 and the fuel performance is 47 city miles per gallon and 48 miles per gallon.

Though it isn't terribly fast, what I like about the honda civic hybrid is that it can carry up to 5 people. It is more functional and is suitable as a family car. It also pass the crash test rating with a good score of 5.

If you have a family and do not need to get anywhere fast, then going with a honda civic hybrid is a good buy.

#2 Honda Insight

The honda insight is a two seater hybrid car which have fuel performance of 57 city miles per gallon and 56 highway miles per gallon. The price is about the same as the honda civic hybrid. It is a very reliable car which I have owned for a couple of years. So far, it has not given me such problems.

There are a couple of disadvantages, firstly it is 2 seater which means it's not a family type of car. Secondly, the horsepower isn't that great with only 71 hp.

It is my second top pick because I like its reliability and when you compare price to performance, it is pretty good.

#1 Toyota Prius

The Toyota Prius hybrid car is my top pick because it offers the best performance for the price you get. It cost around $19,000 which is the cheapest out of the three. It has more horsepower at 110 hp and can do 60 city miles per gallon and 51 highway miles per gallon. It is a family sized car which can hold 5 people quite comfortably with some space left in the trunk.

It also get a 4.5 score for it's crash test rating. For price and performance, you can't beat the toyota prius.

Ricky Lim is an automobile editor who owns a toyota hybrid car. Visit his site to learn more on hybrid car technology and hybrid electric cars

5 Buying Tips For Hybrid Cars

With the rising cost of gas, it is getting less and less affordable to own a car these days. As a result of this increase in cost, car manufacturers have lately been very aggressive in promoting their line of hybrid cars designed to save fuel.

While a hybrid car in general does saves you some money on gas, you may want to bear these points in mind when looking to buy a hybrid car.

1) Hybrid cars generally are more expensive than conventional gas powered cars. The price difference can be as much as $10,000. Hybrid cars are still new to consumers and may take a while before prices drop.

2) The batteries used in a hybrid car is different from a conventional car. The prices are much higher. They are about $2000 more expensive. However, hybrid car batteries have a longer life span as well.

3) The government has a tax deduction for hybrid cars owners. The hybrid car tax deduction varies from year to year but in general, you can save at least a couple of thousand dollars.

4) The cost of maintenance for a hybrid car is also higher. Also it has more complex systems and engine, a normal mechanic may not know how to repair it. In most cases, you need to send back to the hybrid car manufacturer for maintenance and repair and the cost is not cheap.

5) Hybrid cars use special tires that are wore out more easily than conventional cars. These hybrid car tires cost more and need to be replaced around 25,000 miles.

While the above points may seem that buying a hybrid car is more expensive, the fuel savings in itself is definitely worth it in the long run.

Ricky Lim operates a hybrid cars site. Visit his site for more information on hybrid car battery and hybrid car tax

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ricky_Lim

Hybrid Vehicles Rise To The Top Of The Car Market

For many years people have often owned or driven cars that are not only to help for transportation purposes but are also there for improving the overall mobility experience.

In recent past times, people also drove cars to show off or flaunt their status symbol or just for the sake of casual and fun joy rides.

But those good times are turning into rare dreams now. For every motorist, it's really getting harder and harder each day. Almost everybody, may it be a student or a retired senior person, is troubled and concerned about the zooming up gasoline or oil prices.

Given the constantly rising increases in gasoline prices, which come almost on a weekly basis, there is no wonder why people are forced to limit the use of car to a basic necessity.

Hybrid vehicles

During the start of the new millennium, giant car manufacturers had heralded great news about the development of modern cars that would significantly cut oil consumption.

Japanese car makers Toyota and Honda started with their research on alternative fuel efficient transmission systems and soon became the pioneers in this particular endeavor. Their United States and German counterparts followed the trend soon.

That was the emergence of hybrid vehicles in the now sluggish global car industry.

But what exactly are hybrid vehicles? Literally, the word 'hybrid' means a crossover or integration of two systems or components. Applying this term for vehicles, it means a combination of two types of cars, the gasoline powered cars and the electric powered cars.

Before understanding the hybrids further, let's get familiarized with the two mentioned car types.

The gas-powered and electric-powered vehicles

The gas-powered cars are the predecessor of all the other types of cars that came after it. The first invented car and all the other cars and modifications that follow it until the end of the 20th century are all gas-powered cars.

Gas powered cars are, you guessed it right, run by gasoline or oil. These cars have made oil exported fro the Middle East and other nations valued like gold, because of its volatile pricing.

Many years of research and development has enabled the manufacturers to add key improvements in the newer models of the gas-powered cars. Some of them are truly superior over the others. However, their owners and users have always been complaining about their increasing bills for oil consumption.

At the same time, the environmentalists are complaining about such cars' air pollution. They are raising strong concerns over the combustion process that produces bi-products that are harmful to nature.

The first attempt of car makers to address the increasingly rising and agitating concerns about higher oil prices and depleting ozone layer in the atmosphere was that of electric cars.

But alas, on practical grounds, those efforts were proven futile and non-feasible. Electric powered cars were turned down as impractical because their mileage and speed would not match the capacity of the gas-powered vehicles by a great margin.

A powerful combination

So, if the gas-powered vehicles were too expensive and pollution causing to maintain but really fast and reliable, and if the electric cars are not fast and reliable, but significantly cut costs of oil expenses and reduce pollution, why not combine both?

Smart integration and the 'meeting half way' option for the electric and gas powered cars paved the way for the rise of the hybrid vehicles.

Hybrid vehicle system consists of both gas powered engine and battery set powered motor, and a fine balance of the two power sources to manage the transmission. It truly combines the strength of both car types and addresses the concerns arising from each car types too.

However, many experts and car fanatics are still disappointed with the hybrid car's inability to reduce oil bills as massively and tremendously as anticipated by the public before its introduction to the market.

A big concern is about the purchase price for hybrid vehicles. It's still way, way higher. Also, due to their complex designs, many people fear that their maintenance costs will be significantly more than the gas powered cars.

It has been just a few years since the emergence of hybrid vehicles. In the future, very soon, as the production cost would go down, the prices of hybrid cars would certainly be dragged down to an affordable level.

To collect your free book that will provide you with all the information you'll need to know about hybrid vehicles and electric cars visit: what are hybrid cars. To read more articles about hybrids then go now to: facts about electric and hybrid cars.

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The Need for Hybrid Cars

Since the very conception of the automobile, engineers and designers have been searching for was to make them more efficient and save on fuel consumption. Petrol fuels the majority of vehicles and diesel fuel is used in heavier automotive equipment. The internal combustion engine is considered to be a major if not the biggest source of environmental pollution and the cost of fuel is increasing every day.

With a constant rise in fuel costs and the environmental concerns regarding automobiles, vehicle engineers have had to develop more economical and environmentally safer alternatives to the internal combustion engine that powers most cars. This has led to the birth of the hybrid automobile. These hybrid automobiles offer a number of benefits. The hybrid automobile is a car that is powered by both an electric motor and a gasoline engine. Compared to non hybrid vehicles, the hybrid car saves on the cost of fuel by being more fuel efficient and has a lower rate of fuel consumption.

Hybrid cars operate on a dual mode where the electric motor, powered by batteries, takes over once the gasoline engine has gotten the vehicle up to speed. Braking and deceleration generates energy that is used to charge the electric motor's batteries. This system allows the hybrid car to provide better fuel efficiency. This also means that the engine of a hybrid vehicle is shut the moment the car is stopped. Considered the biggest advantage to the hybrid car is the reduction of environmental pollution due to fewer emissions of carbon dioxide and other harmful gases in to our atmosphere. Automobile manufactures such as Honda, Toyota, and Ford have already introduced hybrid car models to the commercial market and several others are in development.

Currently there are two types of hybrid vehicles on the market. The first is the "Series" hybrid. A battery powered electric motor powers the Series hybrid car. It also has a gasoline powered engine but it does not singularly power the vehicle. The gasoline engine powers a generator which is used in turn to charge the batteries of the electric motor. The electric motor is left on during the vehicles entire operation however the gasoline engine can be switched on or off depending on the needs of the vehicle. This type of hybrid automobile provides better mileage in city traffic.

The second type of hybrid vehicle on the market is called the "Parallel" hybrid. The Parallel hybrid car, like the Series type, has a gasoline engine and an electric motor. The electric motor and the electric motor can both be used to turn the transmission and power the vehicle. The major difference between the two types of hybrid cars is that the Parallel hybrid uses its electric motor to boost the vehicles power when required to increase the car's speed. The Parallel hybrid car is considered better suited for the open highway.

Hybrid automobiles provide several benefits due to some very unique features. The construction of the hybrid vehicle uses more lightweight materials than traditional automobile. This saves energy by using less to propel the hybrid car. Hybrid cars also increase energy efficiency because of their more aerodynamic shapes. Tires used by hybrid vehicles run on a higher pressure and are made of a more rigid material than general car tires. The higher pressure helps to increase the vehicles gas mileage per gallon of gasoline used. The overall efficiency of the vehicle is increased by these tires because they reduce friction on road surfaces and provided a grip. The braking system provided an energy transfer from the electric motor to the vehicles batteries when ever the brakes are applied. The overall gas mileage of a hybrid varies from model to model. The EPA test numbers report that the Lexus RX400h receives 31 MPG in the city and 27 MPG the highway while the Honda Insight receives 61 MPG in the city and 68 MPG on the highway.

In conclusion, the future of automobiles is currently the hybrid car and purchasing a hybrid vehicle will not only save you money but will also allow you to take responsibility and do you part in creating a safer, cleaner and greener environment.

Christine Bettridge has loved writing since childhood. She has written Plays, poetry and many articles. Her latest e-book End Time Secrets recently released by Cypress Street Publishing has caused an order craze in the religious world. It can be ordered and downloaded right now through the publishers website at End Time Secrets and she also is the editor of the article directory, Above All Conten

The 2 Types Of Hybrid Cars

Many automobile companies have spend millions of dollars each year in research and development of more efficient fuel consumption for cars. Each year more and more cars are rolled out the production plants and there is an urgent call by consumers and environmental groups to reduce the fuel consumption of automobiles.

With the increasing cost of fuel and the environmental concerns regarding harmful emissions of toxic gases into our atmosphere, automobile companies are forced to developed radically different types of cars. One of which is the hybrid car

A hybrid is powered by conventional fuel as well as uses electric energy. Hybrid cars have lower fuel consumption and are more environmentally friendly.

All hybrid cars are powered by two engines : a gasoline engine and a electric engine. Typically, they work in tandem with each other. The gasoline engine is used during starting and stopping the car. Once the car is travelling at a certain speed, the electric engine will take over automatically.

In the current market, there are 2 types of hybrid car. The first type is the series. Typically, the gasoline engine is used to start and stop the car. Once the hybrid car has attained a certain speed, the electric engine will take over. The gasoline engine is also used to charge the electric engine's batteries. As you can see, both engines are used in tandem with each other but never together.

The second type is called the parallels. It has the same physical configuration of the series hybrid however the operation is quite different. Both the electric engine and the gasoline engine can be used to start and stop the car. The electric engine is used to boost the power of the car when required. Parallel hybrid cars are more suited for long distance travelling.

Usually, hybrid cars are built using very lightweight materials in order to reduce the load on the hybrid car when travelling. This help to save fuel by requiring less energy to move the vehicle. The tires are made more rigid than conventional vehicles with higher tire pressure to increase fuel efficiency.

In on whole, a hybrid car consumes 50 to 60 percent less fuel than a conventional car. The only obstacle is the high cost at the present moment but I am sure as consumers start to recognize the benefits of hybrid car, the prices will start falling and become more affordable.

Ricky Lim is a hybrid car owner who contributes hybrid car technology and hybrid car manufacturers articles regularly.

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Six Easy Steps to Buying a Hybrid Car

Buying a hybrid car is a big decision, even more so nowadays because there are many more hybrid cars and hybrid trucks to chooes from. Having a larger choice is both a good and bad thing. Not only do you have to decide which company to buy from but you also have to decide between getting a hybrid car or a hybrid truck or even a hybrid SUV. The decision can be simplified by knowing why you're buying the hybrid; the issue of saving gas mileage versus just getting a hybrid vehicle in order to say you are driving a hybrid.

Hybrid cars combine two or more sources of power, usually consisting of an electric motor that regenerates energy through braking power and a standard gasoline engine, Because of the regenerated electric power, you are able to use much less gasoline to get where you want to go, which is how a hybrid vehicle saves you money. A hybrid is not an electric vehicle, and does not have to be recharged at night or anything like that. A hybrid is simply a gas powered car with electrical motor assistance.

Many forms of hybrid cars, hybrid trucks, and hybrid SUV's are currently on the market or coming to market. These include but are not limited to the Toyota Prius, the Lexus GS 450h Hybrid, the Honda Civic Hybrid and Honda Accord Hybrid, the Toyota Highlander and 2007 Toyota Camry hybrid, and the Ford Escape Hybrid SUV.

Because of the large influx of hybrid cars, the cost premium of buying one has started to go down. President Bush even said that to cure our addiction to oil, we must invest in hybrid cars and other energy technology, so now is the time to consider buying one, especially with the world's oil fields being so unstable and gasoline rising almost daily.

Which leads us to the key question, how do you best go about buying a hybrid car? Of course the start of that answer lies in 6 simple steps, which I have titled HYBRID.
• H – How to know if buying a hybrid is right for you.
• Y—Your personal driving habits might determine your choice
• B—Before you even think about buying, be aware of your options
• R—Research thoroughly the manufacturer and dealer to get the best price
• I—Investigate other dealers, and also check online, it may be cheaper to buy in another state and have the hybrid car shipped to you
• D—Don't ever go by sticker price. A MSRP (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price) is just that, a Suggestion, so if you have done all the previous steps you will be armed sometimes with even more information than the salesman, thus allowing you to have the upper hand in the negotiation.

Read more about Hybrid Cars.

Tracy Robinson is President of Zen Solutions - providing eco-friendly advice worldwide. More Hybrid Car Information can be found at http://www.HowToBuyAHybrid.com.

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Hybrid Car Review: It’s A Baby Nissan Hybrid!

Nissan recently made public its first baby in the hybrid car industry with its 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid! Although it has not been priced yet at the moment, car enthusiast are looking out for its initial release into the hybrid auto market which will be in 2007. On the exterior, the new 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid will assume the similar look of the non-hybrid Altima and will also run on the same gas engine as its non-hybrid counterpart. But this newly-introduced 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid Car will be boasting of its added hybrid electric system that helps reduce gas emissions and maximize its gas mileage with an expected fuel economy of 36 mpg - miles per gallon - for highway driving and 41 mpg - miles per gallon - for city driving.

Emission-wise, the 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid has passed the standard of PZEV or the Partial Zero Emission Vehicle, classified as AT-PZEV, which means to say that this new baby will be ruling the roads of the eight states which has adopted the California standard for vehicle emission tests.

A peek under the hood will tell us that the new 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid Car will have 2.5 liter 4 cylinder engine with a power of 158 horsepower and with a CVT powertrain . Together with the hybrid system, it will have a total of 198 horsepower, net! The 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid Car will run with a 40 horsepower permanent magnet synchronized AC motor. Its electric motor will have a 199 lb-ft, torque and a hybrid battery pack of 244.8 Volts.

Not a bad primi for Nissan. And if all goes well, we might expect more hybrid models from Nissan.

JB Anthony is the webmaster of http://www.hybridcars.hottestniches.com For more information on hybrid cars, latest hybrid car reviews and updates and links to hybrid cars, please visit http://www.hybridcars.hottestniches.com

Advantages of a Hybrid Car

With a proper introduction to the operation of a hybrid car automobile and an explanation of the energy saving benefits that can be enjoyed through car ownership, the advantages of hybrid car operations will be realized and ultimately understood. Thus, before buying a car, a hybrid car especially, it is important to discuss and find out more about the many nice advantages of Hybrid car performance with friends and family.

The hybrid version of automobiles offers the customer an interesting assortment of engine features that are supplemented with power options through the use of electrical motor and battery participation. These engine features are not available in every hybrid automobile currently being sold at automobile dealerships or through private sales in society today. The hybrid engines are equipped with gas powered, or dual powered engines, as well as an electrical motor that renders power support when needed. There is a heavy duty battery that serves as a source of power as well.

Within the hybrid breed of automobile engine varieties, there is a mild hybrid category and a full hybrid category. While each of these categories contain the same equipment, the performance of that installed equipment can cause your automobile to operate on entirely different principles. The mild hybrid category consists of a gas powered automobile engine that serves as the propulsion mechanism to move your automobile down the street.

Paired with this gas powered automobile engine is an electrical motor, as well as a heavy duty battery that are snuggly connected throughout the engine maze of pipes and mechanisms that when energized can provide propulsion to move your automobile forward. The hybrid car engine is the only source of propulsion power in the mild hybrid engine model, and the electrical motor remains in standby mode to provide spurts of energy and power to aid the gas powered engine in passing vehicles on a highway or wherever else a sudden surge of power will be of benefit.

The full hybrid category consists of a gas powered automobile engine that is considered the propulsion mechanism as well as an energy saving device. An electrical motor and a heavy duty battery are also part of this full hybrid engine power force. The gas powered engine works hand in hand with the electrical motor to provide the necessary boosts of energy to cause the car to propel through traffic. When the car is stopped at a traffic light, the gas powered engine will cease to operate, and the electrical motor will take over in providing propulsion power for the car to move from the site. Once the car achieves a good level of speed, the gas powered engine in the hybrid car will automatically engage and cause the car to continue down the street under gas engine power. The heavy duty battery is continually charged by the electrical motor at the same time.

The energy savings are accumulated during the different stops and starts that the vehicle might experience as the automobile moves toward its destination. Whenever the gas powered engine is not engaged there is a cost savings realized in its lax state of operation. The hybrid motor is quite capable of consuming energy and generating the right amount of power at the same time. These moments of non-engagement will save the consumer money in gas cost every time the automobile is driven down the road.

In conclusion, there exist more logical advantages of owning a hybrid car which is an unstoppable growing trend and unconfrontational facts.

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Best Hybrid Car

It would be easy to figure out which of the current automobiles today were ranked with the best energy efficiency ratings in gasoline powered car engines, model design, and those rated with the best safety features per car class. There is a wide opinion spread of rankings that can be provided by most major automobile manufacturers' reviews.

It would probably be difficult, if not impossible to find same rankings for the dual-powered hybrid automobile that is emerging like gangbusters on the automobile market today. It would also be near impossible to figure out which of these models would be considered or ranked as the best hybrid car available on the market today because with the energy saving features that save people money at the gas pumps, all of these hybrid car models are a winner.

The best hybrid car would provide versatility and style to the consumer. With mild hybrid and full hybrid car models available, there is a good selection of features that consumers can choose that will meet their individual driving needs and styles. Some of these hybrid car varieties have the capability of driving from a dead start on electrical power, while others require the gas powered motor feature to engage first to perform this part of the drive train operation.

There are three components in all of the hybrid cars that are manufactured today. To be considered a hybrid car, the automobile must have a gas powered automobile engine, an electrical motor and a car battery or battery pack underneath the hood. The manner that these components work together or singularly to move your car further down the highway depend greatly on the type of hybrid it is. The best hybrid vehicle would be one that used all three, but if that is not typical of your driving style, you will receive better fuel usage through the mild hybrid style which would render the car more economical.

The ease in use would also qualify a hybrid car into being considered one of the best on the market today. The keyless operation option is a highly valued feature that most consumers would prefer not to do without. These hybrid automobiles do not have a regular ignition switch, but feature state-of-the art technology in a push button ignition switch. All hybrid cars that have this feature built into their consoles will definitely be considered on the best hybrid automobile list that anyone creates.

Another feature that would be hard to vote on, in this best hybrid dual-powered car list would be the hybrids that give you a touch screen with interactive displays that give you a realm of information at your fingertips. The energy efficient power cars give multi-dimensional information across the console of the automobile, where you can tell at a glance what the climate control temperature is, or the radio settings are.

The simplistic pampering that these hybrid cars offer can give car owners back the control that they have in their cars. Drivers can now stay informed on the flow of power that goes through the electrical components and can now tell when this flow is affecting fuel consumption. With so many modes of operation to keep you informed and entertained, the hybrid automobile is hard to separate if you are trying to identify which one of the many manufactured brands are the best car in its class.

Future of Hybrid Cars

There are many design concepts being considered for maximum public exposure and benefits on the drawing board of car designers today that look to the future hybrid car needs and considerations that will serve the public well in the course of the next century. Many of these hybrid car designers are taking past and proven sales performers and have begun reworking their designs from the ground up.

Instead of a front wheel drive platform, there are automobile designers that are building on a rear platform design for one of the nation's best selling and widely recognized car frames in America and worldwide. The hybrid car designs of the future are including sports car models that have been all-time favorites with the world in the past and are now being revived with the brand new hybrid engine in mind.

There is an aggressive training program in place at one of Americas largest car manufacturing companies that is preparing their technicians to repair the growing styles and variations of hybrid cars that are emerging onto the automobile market.

With the extreme difference in battery features and dramatic variance in voltage levels, there is a void that needs to be filled by someone who is equipped with the necessary battery cabling devices that can handle 270 volts instead of the normal 12 volt battery systems. Regular car technicians are typically capable of handling battery recharging requirements, but with the futuristic applications that are applied in hybrid battery design, the best service these car technicians can provide at present is that they can still provide oil changes and tire rotations should the need arise.

With a mindset of grasping and expanding the propulsion features that are somewhat limited in today's hybrid car designs, there are retro styling efforts that are focusing on providing hybrid cars with optional V8 engine capacities.

There are considerations in place to use solar cells in the framework of hybrid automobiles. The electrical power will be produced through the boot lids and bonnet placement of these solar cell modules. Through the use of solar cells it will then be possible to utilize the battery charging capabilities when the car is not turned on or in motion to replenish batteries that have been depleted through the use of air conditioning or through continuous operation when the hybrid automobile is delayed in traffic jams at different times of the day. This lightweight body structure design would benefit the energy savings to the consumer and make the car more manageable on the highway.

There is an effort in hybrid car design that is turning the out of the ordinary hybrid vehicle into a replica of what is parked in the driveway every day of our life. This blending in effect is meant to bring the hybrid full circle into the acceptable graces of the American public.

The future hybrid car will need to focus more on greenhouse gases that negatively effect the environment as well as a hybrid car that will be even more fuel efficient. Without these changes, the production and sales of any type of vehicle will not be possible due to the degradation of our atmosphere.

There are many views about hybrid cars in the futures that will change its fuel source from the heavy duty batteries in use today, to hydrogen-power fuel cell. This will take away the need for hybrid cars to have to use gasoline completely in order to transverse down the major highways.

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