The Advantages of Hybrid Cars by Thomas Jones

Gas prices this year will drive a lot of us - no, not to drink! - to research how we can make things more affordable, either the car or the gas, so we can decrease our busting gas budget and bring it back to normal. Hybrid cars have found their greatest hour of fame because of the 2008 gas prices and the increase cost in just filling up your gas tank for the week. Driving down the freeway today, folks no longer stare as the hybrid that goes by - there are lots of them. Eight years ago a friend bought a Honda Insight, when it was the thing. Hybrid cars were not well known at the time and friends and strangers stopped to pick his brains as he filled up. Now most of the big manufacturers have put out a hybrid car or two. Usually there is a coupe, very pared down with two seats, and another model, family style. Hybrids are not known for having a lot of room inside, so they are most popular for city driving, where you can un-cramp fast. It's a pity, because where they really shine is on the long stretches.

Recent reports on these cars shows that they do save on gas. Mileages range from 24 mpg on the larger models to - believe it or not! - 64 miles. This larger number is for standard transmissions rather than automatic. But for savings like that, heck, who minds shifting?? Think of it - you could drive from San Francisco to Sacramento on a gallon. At today's predicted top prices, that would come to about $3.60! One caveat, though, almost all of the hybrids get incredibly better mileage in the country, where they speed along with no complicated stops. Hybrid cars cost more, often a lot more, but good old Uncle Sam will pay in the neighborhood of $1500 if we are good citizens and purchase a hybrid car, so the sticker price is not that much of a shock.

Good mileage like that mentioned doesn't come without a price, however. Hybrid cars run on very little fossil fuel, partly because as they go down the road, the huge batteries that are under the hood (or in the trunk) are charging. You don't have to plug them in, and the charge they get as you drive is free. Big problem, though is the day the batteries need to be replaced. That's right, batteries don't go on forever, no matter what the Energizer Bunny tells you. Replacement is expensive. Does the cost eat up most of the savings you made at the gas pump? It's hard to get a concrete answer to this. A lot depends on the quality of the battery that is originally in your new hybrid car, but it pays to ask that question when you go to the dealer showroom

Want to hear another advantage in being a hybrid car owner?? Hybrids are "green." How's that for snob appeal, these global warming days?

You can also learn more about hybrid cars at hybridcarchat.com and discus this in the hybrid car forums.

About the Author

Car Enthusiast and writer.

Plug in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) - Save Up To 80% On Fuel Costs by Alan Jacobson

A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (also called PHEV) is a car that has batteries that can be recharged through a conventional outlet. PHEVs have both traditional internal combustion engines and batteries that can fully power the car by themselves. The advantage of PHEVs is that when they run on their electric charge only it is estimated they cost about 20-30% of what they would running on gas. Not only does this benefit the consumer, it is also great news for the environment, as these cars reduce air pollution and the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming.

The future is bright for plug in hybrids. The first PHEVs by large commercial carmakers will be produced in 2009, with even more companies entering the market in a large way in 2010. Even today its possible to have a PHEV if you already have a conventional hybrid vehicle through the use of easily obtained conversion kits. In fact, the Prius you saw today may be a converted PHEV!

Plug-in hybrids are often driven in what is called charge-depleting mode at first, exclusively running from cheaper and cleaner battery power. At a certain level of the battery's depletion, the internal combustion engine kicks in. More advanced PHEVs may be able to use what is called blended mode, driving in different modes depending on the maximum energy efficiency that can be achieved on a long trip. As of now it is unclear what the all electric range will be for new PHEVs, but it will be easy to tell: It is likely that PHEVs will come in denominations such as a "PHEV-50" indicating a 50 mile all-electric range.

In parts of Europe recharging spots in parking areas are being installed. These are pay-per use outlets for use by people who drive PHEVs and want to get a full charge for their ride home or to their next destination. In fact, a major car maker has plans to install an electric recahrging spot infastructure in parts of Europe for its fleet of PHEVs. It is possible that as PHEVs get more mainsteam, many hotels and places of business may have recharging stations in their parking lots as well

Despite the fact that carbon emissions are produced when electricity is created, PHEVs are still much less polluting than conventional cars and even regular hybrids. If clean coal, nuclear, or other clean means of producing electricity become more widespead, this difference will be even more pronounced. In addition, PHEVs help create a more efficient and distributed use of electricity production, because they are often recharged during off peak periods (e.g. at night). Finally, a little known but powerful potential use of PHEVs is as a source of emergency power for the home.

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are soon to become available in the mass commercial market, and could be a significant means for the reduction of our dependence of fossil fuel, our contribution to global warming, and the financial stress on people who have to fill their tanks with gas. For these reasons we can all hope that PHEVs develop into a preferred and widespread means of transportation.

About the Author

For more information about plug in hybrid electric vehicles in the United States and Canada, please see http://www.phevs.us

For information about PHEVs in the UK and Europe, please see http://www.pluginhybrids.co.uk

Inexpensive Kit Turns Any Car Or Truck Into A Hybrid by Seth Manne

Water and Gas is a technology based on splitting water "on board" a vehicle, and using the resulting gases not to drive the vehicle - but to boost the efficiency of its combustion.

It is a Do-It-Yourself technology, specifically designed for beginners with no special tools and very limited budgets. A working system can be built at home with basic hand tools for $20-$100, installed in minutes and removed in seconds.

No modifications to the engine, computer or fuel injection systems, so any backyard mechanic can install it easily.

This is a simple structure based on low cost hardware. Although there is a myriad of hydrogen generating designs out there, this one is the simplest and also the safest for the beginner. The electrolyzer, bubbler and water reservoir have all been combined into one super-simple device.

Another advantage is the employment of coiled/spiraled electrode WIRES - rather than flat plates or spiraled plates. The magnetic vortex created by the coil assists water splitting, so you don't need as much power from the car's electrical system, thus simplifying the system even further and lowering its cost.

Three major factors work together to cause water splitting: direct current flowing through the electrode wires to the water, the magnetic vortex created by the shape of the electrodes, and the vacuum provided by the engine itself.

The effects of this technology is lowered emissions and improved mileage, simply due to a MORE COMPLETE COMBUSTION. Today's internal combustion engines suffer from poor efficiency of 20%-25%, as any mechanic will tell you; 75%-80% of the gasoline, instead of being converted to forward motion, is instead converted to pollution and carbon deposits (unburned fuel), as well as heat (global warming), vibration and noise (knocking/pinging).

THE MAIN PROBLEM IS OVERSIZED FUEL DROPLETS IN THE MIXTURE. The Hydrogen, being such a small particle, hits a droplet, cuts it into smaller droplets and attaches itself to the smaller droplets. Now the finer, hydrogen-enhanced mixture, is capable of burning more thoroughly.

On top of improved performance, the engine steam-cleans itself every day, and the resulting effect is smoother and quieter operation. One person who tried this kit was shocked when she checked her engine oil and was sure that her oil ran totally out. Actually what happened was that while she was expecting dark brown, dirty oil, the oil was actually so transparent that she could not see it on the dip stick. Her 20-year-old car is as smooth now (with this device on) as it was when she bought it 17 years ago.

Another lady "complained" that she could not hear the engine running...but to her surprise the car was still moving along.

This technology is not capable of running a car on water alone. The aim is not to replace gasoline but to enhance it - and open the door and the mind to the possibilities of waterfuel technology. With correct fine tuning you can DOUBLE the mileage, rendering a new energy balance: half gasoline, half water. Very little water is used, in an economy car it's around 2700 miles per gallon of distilled water, together with 4-6 teaspoons of household baking soda as a catalyst. It has been demonstrated many times that the fuel consumption of a 4-stroke generator can also be cut in half with this technology.

Not all cars, loads and driving conditions will gain the same, obviously. Realistic expectations are for more than 10%-50% improvement in fuel economy, however daily success stories range from experimenters who are seeing gains of 80%-100% in various vehicles. For some, significant economy gains inflict a revelation that something can be done about it, while for others it's a life changing factor.

This technology and how to manufacture it, exists in a free marketplace where sellers and buyers of actual systems can find each other and trade without interference. Like in the Golden Age of Greece - no police, very little government.

There are more than 3200 satisfied customers, over 400 registered independent manufacturers/installers, and an unknown number of affiliates promoting this technology all over the world.

All in all, Water and Gas technology has become a buzzword for practicality and affordability. This all shows that something can be done about gas prices, pollution and global warming, you can gladly take an active role and help to spread the word.

At the time of writing, this technology is only for gasoline and diesel cars and trucks. However many experimenters are working on adaptations to propane/LPG/CNG propelled vehicles, as well as boats and other applications such as stationary generators.

It has been predicted by some that this water and gas hybrid technology will start showing up in production cars as soon as 2012. However, at this time you can actually do it yourself seeing as how the kits are simply "add-ons" that do not change anything already equipped on the vehicle.

About the Author

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