Hybrid Cars

In the face of rising fuel costs, Honda has decided to give people what people can call – the cheapest hybrid car ever! Honda has launched the car at a selling price of somewhere between 13000 pounds to 15000 pounds. The Honda Insight, as it is called, comes in 3000 pounds cheaper next to the best-selling Toyota Prius.

Japanese car makers of the Honda Insight are expecting to make a sale of nearly 200000 in just one year which surpasses the 280000 sales figures which was achieved in an entire decade. The new hybrid is scheduled to be unveiled in the October month of 2008 at the Paris Motor show with a fuel economy of 60 miles per gallon.

This green car is expected to hit the roads in spring with a couple of other new hybrids rolled out by Honda such as the new civic and the sports car. The manufacturers of this hybrid are hoping that one in every 10 cars sold will be a hybrid.

Rising fuel costs and persistent pressure from Governments, not just in Britain, has opened new avenues for the car market. In Britain, the demand for luxury models has triggered the selling cost of environmental-friendly cars in Britain.

The vehicle industry also expects the costs of alternatively-fuelled cars to increase. Surprisingly, the Honda Insight is a blessing in disguise for consumers looking for cheaper and fuel-efficient options.

Right from Barack Obama to George Bush, the agenda prevailing everywhere is – Hybrid cars. Belgians have a common trend prevailing that of rebating 15% of the price of cars if the vehicle releases less than 105gms of carbon dioxide for every one kilometer that it runs.

With a number of companies rolling out their versions of hybrid cars, what can be expected next? Yes, nothing less than Nisan getting to share the fame with its preparation to launch the electric car by 2012. Elizabeth Lee, Executive Vice President of Universal Motors Corporation (Nissan’s Philippine assembler) says that Philippines will be first among the ASEAN countries to receive the electric cars in 2012.

Lee further adds that apart from simply electrically-driven cars, automakers are also keen to launch the hybrid (gasoline and electric models) soon. On behalf of the CAMP members and as President of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc., she reports that such Nissan models will roll onto the roads in the years to come.

She says that since these vehicles are much costlier than fuel-driven cars that do not reduce carbon emissions, they are more common in developed nation such as the Unites States, Japan and Europe. However, she feels that is the costs are lowered, then developing nations such as the ASEAN counties can also avail them easily.

Though Lee is quiet optimistic about hybrids hitting the ASEAN nations such as the Philippines, other automakers feel that developing nations aren’t ready as yet to receive the hybrid models effectively. For instance, President of Toyota automakers, Horoshi Ito is of the opinion that fuel-efficient cars should be brought into Philippines only when the driving conditions of the country improves.

With a number of hybrid cars hitting the markets all that is expected and seen is soaring gasoline prices. No doubt the gasoline prices are coming down hard on the family budgets. As a result, people are finding new ways to travel to their offices in order to save on the gasoline prices. One such way is to walk or bicycle to work which just doesn’t reduce one’s expenditures but also keeps one fit and the environmental clean.

How to Save On Gasoline?
People have found other means to travel to their respective destinations other than taking the public transport. Some ways are listed below:

• Carpool: Does that sound familiar? Sure it must –remember the days you went to school with other kids, about what’s in the lunch box or the fancy pencils your mom bought you? Yes, carpool to office can bring you back memories of the good old days when you made new friends on your way to school. Your folks may have not had a choice then to drop you to school, but today it is a conscious choice you’d be making to cut down on fuel costs. The National Infrastructures Ministry, Israel is of the opinion that the Governments should take further initiative to encourage carpooling.
• Bicycle: This you should consider if you aren’t staying really far from your office. Juts pick up a bicycle and ride your way to office to cut down on gasoline prices and to keep yourself more healthy and agile. A bill to promote bicycling seems to have been passed its reading in Knesset (Western Jerusalem). Israel’s weather is pleasant and comfortable for people to take to bicycling people believe. It is expected that the government takes more initiative in making bicycling more efficient and convenient for people. Infact, the Tel Aviv issued an international tender to maintain and operate 100 stations that can provide bikes on rent to both visitors and residents at ay time. Such bicycle rental systems seem to be available in Barcelona, Paris and now Washington D.C (shared bicycle system).
• Segway: Another way to save on your gasoline costs is to ride a Segway. They can be the most unfamiliar things on the road but are worth saving every penny spent on gasoline. It is believed that the Segway can actually travel 20 kilometers in one hour and jut one charge can do well for running 30-40 kilometers. If the battery costs nearly NIS 10000, then it can be charged 800 times. The Segway is easy and comfortable to ride because of the way it is designed. Children below 16 years are however are not allowed to ride the Segway.
• Video Conferencing: Try avoiding car travel for meetings and issues you need to attend to during your working hours. Instead, organize video conferencing with your colleagues, partners, etc without having to leave the office in your newly purchased gas-powered electric hybrid.
• Work from Home: Working from home can be the next best option for cutting down on gasoline costs. Working from home has other advantages too such as balancing your work and home. Though some don’t prefer to work from home, the trend is rampant in countries like the United States with about 68% people working from home. About 53% of the workforce in Japan work from home and 48% in Western Europe. In case of Israel, working from home is not preferred as much with just a meager 18% of the workforce working from home.

A purely gasoline-driven car can add to the pollution by emitting poisonous gases. The electric hybrid on the other hand keeps a check on the emission of gases; the only drawback being that it can run 80-161 kilometers in between charges and hence is too slow and inconvenient to drive. The gas-powered electric cars were then brought into the market in order to achieve both mileage and lower emission rates. So go electric or get innovative to cut down on gasoline costs.

Lotus headquarters at Hethel, a small village in Norfolk, England is secretly conspiring on building the future engine. Teaming up with Jaguar and with scientists from the Queen’s University Belfast, Lotus is seeking to make cars that run on biofuels even more efficiently than before. The engineering team at Norfolk is steadfast in building cars out of fossil fuels and in boosting the miles per gallon for biofuel-driven cars.

The project is being sponsored by the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) centers. A whopping 281000 pounds have been allocated for the same to back the designing and for supporting the “flex-fuel” engine which will ensure that running of the car on biofuel and petrol.

Ford and Saab are the only car makers which seem to have models with flex-fuel engines till date. One major pitfall for cars running on biofuel is that they cannot achieve the number of miles per gallon as fossil fuels can.

What is the engine plan?
Lotus is aiming at developing the “Omnivore” concept by which a single-cylinder engine will be built to maximize fuel efficiency when the car is run on renewable fuels. The single-cylinder is expected to be completely built by January 2009.

It is also opined that cars running in bio-alcohol for instance, can lead to lower release of carbon dioxide gas into the environment because of the fuel’s superior combustion quality.

The Omnivore concept complements the Lotus Exige 270E Tri-fuel sports car which was recently unveiled. Lotus’ endeavor is to understand the combustion process that is involved for cars running in gasoline and mixtures of alcohol fuels.

Dr Robert Kenny from the Queen’s University opines that the current effort is to pave the way for future cars to be built with single-cylinder engines that will run on greener biofuels and those which will do lesser harm to both the cycle of food production and rainforests.

Defra spokesmen believe that the constant development of biofuels has not only given an opportunity for car makers and sponsors to benefit from the existing biofuels but has also opened the market to 2nd and 3rd generation biofuels.

Have you got the thrills of speeding a sports car that runs on electrically charged batteries? Thrill kills so just be cautious about that. To add to the fanfare associated with the invention of the eco-friendly hybrid cars, now the electric sports cars are becoming a rage. Tesla Motors was first to design the Tesla Roadster, a completely electric-driven car.

It is reported that the Tesla Roadster can cover about 350 kilometers with a single charge initiated by the lithium-ion battery. This sports vehicle is also expected to accelerate from 0-60m/hr or 97km/hr in just 3.9 seconds with the help of the development transmission.

Key Benefits of Electrically-Driven Cars
Some of the key benefits of electric vehicles are:

• Tesla’s torque cover gives you the feel of a strong, fast and safer car
• Speed efficient
• Comfortable and convenient to sit or drive (2 seat model)
• Many gears that ensure that the engine is spinning at the maximum torque zone at any speed
• Maximum torque at any speed unlike a petrol-driven engine
• Lack of emission tailpipes
• Lower operating costs with new emission trading schemes hitting the market

There are numerous other fast cars that are penetrating the market; one being France’s Fetish and Great Britain’s Lightning GT. The first is expected to hit the market by 2009. Fetish makers, Venturi flaunted the car as being the “the first desirable electric car” in the Paris Auto Show in 2004. This car also seems to accelerate from 0-60 seconds in 3.5 seconds and is worth $450000.

The Lightning GT is waiting for commercial deliver till 2009 as well. Care makers of this model promise that the vehicle can go 250 miles in a single charge, can hit 130 miles in just one hour and can be recharged in 10 minutes at the least.

With numerous cars betting their stake in the market, it wouldn’t be an easy choice for anyone. If it’s the Tesla Roadster, you’d need both &100000 and brains (for calculating the hassle of keeping it charged) to purchase one! Some opine that the Roadster hasn’t created so much of a rage with it’s attractive but tame looks as Chevy’s 2009 Camaro has. Even then you need to ride it to believe what electric cars are worth!

Some problems related to electrically driven cars are – weight and size of the battery, the time and distance that a car can cover just prior to running out of power and finally, making environmental-friendly batteries so that they cause minimum impact to the environment when discarded. Manufacturing operations are looking to mend these problems especially the one related to the battery make.

When man disrupts the cycle of nature; nature hits back! It is then realized that it’s time that something should be done to protect life on Earth. Soaring fuel prices and the release of toxic substances into the environment is an undisputed problem faced by countries worldwide today. So how do water-powered cars protect health and nature? Yes, cars running with the help of water can gift the environment with numerous benefits.

Though a purely water-run car is difficult to configure today, makers with existing technologies have done their best by implementing the gas-water hybrid system. It is believed that these hybrid cars can double your current mileage. Smoke and pollution is also reduced thereby restricting the release of poisonous gases into the environment that can be harmful for all living beings.

Benefits of Water-Powered Cars
Listed below are some benefits of water-powered cars to the environment and health of all living beings:

• Increases Mileage: Saves 35-60% of your gas mileage for each gallon of gas which means that water-powered cars can more than double your current mileage
• Protects the Environment: With no release of toxic substances into the environment, the air becomes fresher and safer to breathe.
• Huge Savings: Water-powered cars can help you save $300 every year even by implementing the gas-water hybrid tools worth $100-$200.
• Reduces Noise Pollution: Water-powered cars can also run very smoothly and quietly.
• Enhances Durability of Engine: Running your car with water can also enhance the durability and strength of the engine. Therefore, with an increased and powerful performance, water-powered cars also help the engine last longer.
• No Carbon Deposits: Neither will your engine have to face the problem of carbon deposits to get your car started.
• Cooler Engine: The engine will remain cooler when run with water due to its inherent quality of keeping cool than when it’s run with fuel.
• Saves Repair Costs: Since water-powered cars run both smoothly and calmly, you may have to spend the least on getting the parts – valves, rings, pistons, etc repaired or replaced.

The electricity from the car battery splits the water into a gas called HHO or the Klein gas. This gas undergoes combustion to produce energy for the car, at the end of which water and oxygen are the sole clean byproducts left.

The Hydro 4000 has of late caught the attention of many with its ability to run on distilled water. The makers of Hydro 4000 opine that they have introduced a device that sends hydrogen into the cylinder for cleaning the gas completely within the tank so that it is not released through the exhaust pipe into the atmosphere. Hydro 4000 is also reported to increase mileage thereby making it a good deal for the consumers and the environment.

Further mechanical and environmental variables still need to be considered before confirming that this device would work in controlling the release of toxic gases into the environment.

Water-powered cars, hypermiling, hybrid vehicles, hydrogen fuel cars, and water saver fuel kit are alternative solutions to improving fuel economy. Though implementing the water system tools in your car could involve a complicated process today, it is worth the effort and money till the pure water-driven cars hit the market!

Environment, Peta, animal welfare is hot and the movement is growing. Hybrid car manufacturers are leaving no stone unturned to reap the benefits of this growth. With the growing prices of fuel more and more people are opting for hybrid vehicles for its financial benefits. According to a survey conducted by Mintel Comperemedia, 35 million Americans are "True Greens" who regularly buy green products which also includes environmentally friendly vehicles.

Recently several companies which have no direct relationship with hybrid car manufacturers are providing rewards for purchasing hybrid vehicles. Insurance companies like Travelers are giving a discount of up to 10% to hybrid owners. Other companies like Bank of America and Google Inc. also recently jumped in the foray of hybrid car promoters by providing aid in hybrid car purchases.

Gas prices have pushed people to buy hybrid vehicles to some extent. However, the real push in the sales of these vehicles is all because people are looking for ways to positively contribute to the environment and buying a hybrid car seems one of the easiest options.

Hybrid car manufacturers are further cashing on the sentiments by highlighting their commitment to the environment in their promotions and thus portraying themselves as green companies. Let us have a look at the ways other then the technology that is going to drive the sales of hybrid cars:

• Hybrid cars have become a fashion/status symbol
• Increase in prices of fuel
• Aggressive campaigns
• Green marketing
• Tax deductions on hybrid cars.
• Oil Dependence
• Other benefits like car pool lane entry, free parking etc.

Toyota Motor Corp. world’s top manufacturer of electric powered gasoline cars could be on its way to make Prius into a line of vehicles. Toyota is trying to triple its annual sales of hybrid vehicles in US.

Toyota is planning to sell 1 million hybrid vehicles in which more then half would be targeted towards US market. Last year Toyota sold 235,000 vehicles worldwide. With the popularity for hybrid cars growing, figures seem quite achievable. In the new line, Prius might include light wagons and smaller cars with the present Prius hybrid car.

According to Jim Lentz, executive vice president of the company’s U.S. sales unit “For us to do 600,000, there will probably have to be Prius and derivatives of Prius that are selling in the neighborhood of 300,000 to 400,000.” “We don’t have any plans to do that right now, but that’s the direction that nameplate can go, because it is that strong.”

Toyota, Honda and Ford Motor Co. the three hybrid car manufactures in US sold 192,312 hybrid cars and sport-utility vehicles this year which was a whooping 24% increase from a year earlier. Prius was the best selling in this with over 75% share to the total hybrid vehicles sold.

People at Toyota Motor Corp. are rejoicing the occasion and why not, Toyota is on its way to overtake General Motors - the world’s biggest automaker. The global production for Toyota Motor Corp. rose by 17.3% in August, a trend Toyota is maintaining since last 22 months.

What is the major cause for these continuous gains? Well, you guessed it right, it is none other then soaring oil prices what has proved a boon for Toyota as more and more drivers are turning to fuel-efficient cars which also includes Prius hybrid, Corolla compact and the midsize Camry, best-selling models in the U.S. for 8 of the last 9 years.

Toyota sold 622,471 vehicles in august. In these, overseas sales rose by 7 percent to 322,079 units, whereas domestic sales jumped 30.9 percent to 300,392 vehicles.

The next big number Toyota is eyeing at is global sales of 9.8 million vehicles in 2008. Well, figure seems bit high but not for a consistent company like Toyota.

Look at the GM sales for 2005 - 9.2 million units worldwide and production of 9.05 million vehicles. Any guesses, will the mighty fall…..?

According to the latest research done by J.D. Power & Associates, a Westlake Village, California research firm, about 57% of people have plans to buy hybrid cars in next 2 years. This upsurge of interest is not sudden but is primarily driven by the rising prices of gasoline which touched $3 recently.

The report however could be a bit confusing as intention to buy and actually buying the car is much different. The concern was shared by Jim Hossack, an analyst with consulting firm AutoPacific Inc. of Tustin, California.

The report further claims that 49% of consumers are considering models that run on fuel that has 85% ethanol and mere 12% will go for diesel powered vehicles. GM, Ford and DaimlerChrysler have plans to produce 2 million vehicles a year by 2010 which will have their fuel as ethanol or bio-diesel.

People generally have unrealistic expectation about the fuel saving abilities of hybrid vehicles happens to be the biggest challenge for alternative power trains.

What ever may be the reason but the time in which we are living today demands saving fuel at all cost. Hybrid car is the only way as of now to save fuel in a big way. Conservation of environment is at the doorstep of each one of us. Why not go ahead and grab your next — Let it be Hybrid car.