Renewable Clean Energy Info

Archive for March, 2009

Hybrid cars are one of the most sought after vehicles nowadays, particularly with the growing market concern over the environment and fears of the continuing oil price hikes. People are opting to buy hybrid cars because they do not want to always fall pray to pricing pressures, and because more information is being disseminated over the dangers of fuel-induced pollutants to the surroundings.

However, while hybrid cars are jam packed with all the merits that might instantly bowl the discerning consumer over, it is not without its share of faults and disadvantages. Of course, as with anything in this world, hybrid cars have ‘catches’ to their name. This is not to discount hybrid cars altogether. We will be discussing each one in brief here and hope that it will be able to help you make your choice if you’re considering buying a hybrid car anytime soon.

Disadvantages of hybrid cars

1) Expensive Price

Hybrid vehicles generally cost more than regular cars because not too many of them are in the market yet. Much of this high price tag is attributed to the fact that hybrid cars come with a complicated battery pack and make use of an electric motor to operate. Maintenance tools for hybrid cars are also pretty rare, so expect to spend more on checkups and fix-its when the car bogs down. This can be addressed, however, over time, when more people begin to patronize hybrid cars and prompt manufacturers to make more units.

2) New and untested technology

Since hybrid cars’ technology is fairly new, its performance is still untested. This means some of the problems that may be linked with them are still unforeseen. Thus, if a new glitch arises, it is likely that it will take a while for a solution to come up. However, this bit should not deter the buyer from purchasing a hybrid car, because, well, this is how regular vehicles started out in the first place. It is all a trial and error process.

3) Acceleration

Hybrid cars, though they boast of being able to perform as well as traditional vehicles, they are generally slower, making it difficult for drivers to keep pace with other cars especially on the freeway. This lack of accelerative power can be dangerous in certain situations. (However, other car owners can see this as an advantage, because it affords the user better control of his steering.)

4) High voltage

Another disadvantage of hybrid cars is the high voltage it requires to charge itself and get ready for operation. If the hybrid car gets into an accident, the high voltage wires could become open and exposed and could cause collateral harm. It could also cause short circuits.

5) Light weight

Because hybrid cars are lighter than regular vehicles, they are more prone to accidents especially during storms. Also, in the event of a collision with other cars, hybrid cars are disadvantaged because they are likely to spin out more easily than their heavier counterparts.

Reports have shown other disadvantages of hybrid cars, but, again, these should not stop anyone from patronizing the product because, well, everything has a catch. No product is perfect and it is good to know that manufacturers are in the constant search to making hybrid vehicles more user friendly and less accident prone.

Hybrid vehicles boast of an all-encompassing operational system. They operate by combining an electricity-run motor, a diesel engine and maximum-powered batteries. The battery gives off energy for the electric motor and recharges when it recaptures the energy that is usually lost when the car is lessening its acceleration or while it is coasting.

How Hybrid Cars Work

The distinction of the full hybrid from the mild variety is that the electric motor and the diesel engine can operate on its own. In most instances, the electric motor can function by itself in low speed, and once it picks up, the diesel engine automatically takes over. Both the motor and the engine can function together if the car is in hard acceleration.

This combined effort provides the car the power that it needs for that situation. Full hybrid cars can consume and build up electricity simultaneously. The full hybrid setup can be found in models such as the popular Toyota Prius, the Mercury Mariner Hybrid, and the Escape hybrid from Ford.

For instance, one can look at the way the Toyota Prius works. The Prius runs on a technology called the Hyrbid Synergy Drive, which involves a power split device to combine the energy of the electric motor and the gas engine. The HSD enables a effortless switching of power sources that the car driver would not notice in the slightest while driving.

Unlike the other mild hybrid types, the Prius can be operated by the electric motor alone powered by the battery pack. As a result, a motorist can drive silently for short amounts of time. The Honda hybrids on this level cannot function just by the electric motor.

While speeding up a highway, the Prius utilizes the diesel engine as its main operator, and can get assistance from the generator if needed. Then this hybrid car shuts off the gas engine automatically during stops. This contributes greatly in mileage improvement and produces less emission.

Diesel VS Hybrid

A good case in point is Ford’s hybrid version of the Escape SUV, which boasted of emitting less than a pound of smog substances for every 15,000 miles the vehicle runs. This is a great improvement considering that traditional diesel-powered light trucks emit around 105 pounds of smog pollutants for the same 15,000-mile distance. Even regular cars produce 67 pounds!

So really, there isn’t going to be much argument over the great savings a consumer can gain with a hybrid vehicles. Sure, it comes at a cost, but its long term gains truly outweigh the initial price shock. After, over time, when more people realize the merits of hybrid vehicles, supply will definitely go up and push prices down.

Environmentally-conscious individuals would find heaven with hybrid cars. However, since they are just being introduced in the market, they can come at quite an expense. With increased patronage, it is hoped that more hybrid cars will become accessible to everyone in the future.

Sure, hybrid cars are hot nowadays. And sure, this is not only a fad that would lose its appeal later on, because of the technology, gas mileage, and overall environmental concerns that it simultaneously tries to resolve.

So before you rush to your dealer, try researching on the different hybrid cars available in the market today. At the very least, compare hybrid cars using several factors.

We can start with some of the hybrid cars models currently available and are worth comparing. There is the Toyota Prius, the Honda Insight, the Honda Civic Hybrid, and the Honda Accord Hybrid. These are the four major hybrid cars available at dealers in your place today.

Your choice is also much improved with the availability of the Ford Escape Hybrid. This was the first hybrid SUV available. But you also have a choice with Lexus RX 400h, Toyota Highlander and the Mariner Hybrid.

First consideration is the mileage

Vehicles sold in the United States to day, on the average, gets a combined highway and city EPA fuel usage estimate of some 20.4 miles per gallon (mpg). All hybrid cars, hard as you compare, have EPA number well above than what specified earlier.

Honda Insight was particularly manufactured to obtain the best mileage, making it the undisputed leader in terms of gas mileage. The traditional manual transmission hybrids have EPA estimates of 60 mpg in the city and 66 mpg on the highway. The automatic version on the other hand has transmission rated slightly lower at 57 city/56 highway.

The second best choice is the newest version of the Prius at 60 city/51 highway. It can be seen that the city estimate is higher than the highway estimate due to this hybrid car’s capacity to operate on battery power alone at low speeds.

The 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid was available with a manual transmission that was rated at 46 city/51 highway; the automatic at 48 city/47 highway. Hybrid sedan is rated at 25 city/28 highway.

Compared with other hybrid cars, SUV’s, like GS450h, get the lowest gas mileage of the hybrid vehicles. The Ford Escape on he other hand is rated at 36 city/31 highway. This is much better than a non-hybrid Escape that is only rated at 22 city/25 highway.

Size does matter

Another point to consider if must compare hybrid cars is the size. With earlier models, hybrid cars only came in two sizes. First is the small sized vehicle. The second is the much smaller one. But hybrid manufacturers are learning to respond with the consumer’s specific needs. And because these manufacturers somehow know that the consumers had learned how to compare hybrid cars, all of them are putting some improvements.

But let’s go back to the size consideration. When considering size of a particular hybrid car number of passengers and typical loads you may be transporting.

The Honda Civic Hybrid is a compact sedan. It has five seats and has a general is outside look comparable to that of non-hybrid Civic. The interior is the same size, although the trunk of this hybrid is slightly smaller to accommodate the battery. For 2006 edition, it was redesigned, and now has a more slender and sporty overall look.

The Prius 2000-2003 models have 5 passenger compact capacity, and was redesigned in 2004 and evolved into a mid-size category car. This comparatively larger edition includes a versatile hatch back.

The Price

For price, below is a means to compare currently available hybrid cars. It’s not a clear-cut pricing table, but at least you have an idea.

> 2006 Toyota Prius, $21,2745
> 2006 Honda Insight, $19,330 manual transmission; $21,530 for automatic
> 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid, $21,850
> 2007 Lexus GS 450h, $54,900
> 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid, $25,900
> 2006 Honda Accord Hybrid, $30,140

For SUV:
> 2006 Ford Escape hybrid begins at $27,515 for the two-wheel drive version and $28,595 for four-wheel drive.
> Saturn VUE Green Line Hybrid SUV (summer 2006) $23,995.
> 2006 Lexus RX400h $49,060.
> 2006 Mariner Hybrid $29,840
> 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid $33,030 for the two-wheel drive; $34,430 for four-wheel drive.

The Look

The last consideration is the appearance. You can choose a hybrid car that looks like the other available models, or you may want to be totally different. Anyway, this one of the few reasons why hybrids are hot today and was able to penetrate the American market successfully within a short period of time.

Buying hybrid cars can be a little bit more complicated than what you might think. The complication though, is not on the “buying hybrid car” part, but how to go about the myriad of hybrid cars to choose from. But just like in any other activities, there are some basics needed to be understood.

It is understood though that on this note, we have a basic understanding regarding the nature of hybrid cars, or hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). HEV has two energy sources for its engines: electric and combustion. On ordinary situation, like careening down the highway, this car generally runs on one or the other of the source, until the driver needs more power such as faster acceleration.

When this happened, the two engines will operate in unison. HEV cars are low emission, fuel efficient, some of the characteristics worth considering when people are considering buying hybrid cars.

In addition, hybrid cars recharge their batteries while being drive. This removes the necessity of plugging the car for electricity. This is unlike pure electric cars, which needed to be plugged in wall sockets, like an ordinary appliance unit.

There are also other considerations before the actual buying is considered.

1. Prospective buyers should have some level of understanding with terms or lingo related in buying hybrid cars. According to the California Air Resources Board, Ultra Low-Emission Vehicle is a car with 50 percent cleaner emission, compared with a new 2001 model car.

A Super Ultra Low-Emission Vehicle emits 90 % cleaner than average new 2002 model car. There are zero-emission cars however, are purely electric vehicles, not hybrid cars. But pure electric cars are, at this moment, impractical to produce.

2. Before buying hybrid cars, consumers should also consider their work areas, and home location. Hybrid cars are for urban or suburban area. Short distance trips are superb for fuel savings, when hybrid cars are using electric engines at low RPMs. According to experts, driving on a highway or interstate travel won’t see much of the expected fuel reduction.

3. The other consideration for consumer before finally buying hybrid cars is the cost. Hybrid cars, are admittedly, priced higher than gas-powered counterparts. This is due because of the low production numbers, and the considerably complex mechanical process. But these concerns are readily compensated in the long run, by fuel saving.

Buying hybrid cars at present is encouraged by the Federal State, due to the long term benefits of limiting fuel usage. There several tax deduction for new buyers of hybrid cars. Several cities are offering free parking as an additional incentive for low-emissions vehicles.

The historical road traveled by hybrid cars

There are also other beliefs behind these types of vehicles, which make buying hybrid cars for some a serious consideration.

One is the idea that hybrid car is a new phenomenon. In the earl 1900’s, American car manufacturers are producing electric, steam, and gasoline cars in equal numbers. By then, buying hybrid vehicle is as normal as buying ordinary car.

Eventually, some engineers figured out that a vehicle with multiple sources of power is possible. In 1905, a certain American engineer named H. Piper filed for the first patent for a vehicle, with engines for gas and electric.

A decade after electric self-starter made gasoline-run cars more feasible. Hybrids and other alternative were almost wiped from the market. The following years from this period was characterized cheap oil, made possible by the almost inexhaustible oil fields of the Arab world. This discouraged auto engineers to continue developing alternative cars.

The oil price hikes of 1970s, coupled with growing awareness of environmental concerns, driven engineers back to their drawing boards for new designs. Extensive and experimentation 1980s produced the hybrids in the U.S. in 2000. The earlier experience of the market on mass-produced hybrid vehicles has given engineers the encouragement to come up with complex systems, making multiple sources of power in a car possible.

In an interview by the Associated Press, Mr. Jim Press, president of Toyota Motor Sales USA, said: “I think everything will be a hybrid, eventually. It will either be a gas hybrid, a diesel hybrid, or a fuel-cell hybrid.”

From here, it is safe to declare that people buying hybrid cars, are people buying the future vehicles.

That no longer is the question. If Mr. Jim Press, president of Toyota Motor Sales USA is to be believed, everything will be a hybrid, eventually. Mr. Press proposed that it’s going to be either a gas hybrid, a diesel hybrid, or a fuel-cell hybrid. Hmmmm. Looks like the world is going to be ruled by hybrids, interesting.

But, hey, why buy hybrid cars anyway?

Less resistance to air drag

This is also known as the concept of aerodynamics. A vehicle with designs that allows moving through air effortlessly is easily the least expensive in terms of fuel consumption. Studies had shown that about half of the energy needed to move a car traveling in a highway is used up by aerodynamic drag.

Car designers have a plethora of techniques for making vehicles glide more easily down a windy highway. Today’s more efficient hybrid cars use some of these strategies. To buy hybrid cars meant therefore, as to look for these characteristics.

A hybrid car eats up less air conditioning fuel

Looks like to buy hybrid cars means also to more efficient on air condition. Latest results from valuations of hybrid cars signify a drastically less consumption of fuel while car air condition is open. “Hybrids got 15 to 27 percent lower fuel economy with the air conditioning on,” according to Jim Francfort, main investigator at the Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho Falls, under the U.S. Department of Energy.

For five years now, Francfort has been evaluating hybrids. When he first came across with hybrid cars in 2001, he was astounded. While testing the Honda Insight and the first generation Toyota Prius (Two hybrids first introduced in the U.S.) Francfort realized immediately the future of these cars. He reportedly said, “It was a new technology and we were trying to learn. We thought we needed to do more tests to understand the impacts on fuel economy, based on how hybrid owners actually drive their cars.”

Low emission level

And of course, to buy hybrid cars means to help the environment. Hybrid vehicles are low emission and fuel efficient. These are some of the characteristics that top the list, actually. Why this is so? A hybrid car recharges its battery while running. This removes the need for regularly plugging the car for an electricity outlet.

Super Ultra Low-Emission Vehicles emit 90 percent of cleaner emission than average new 2002 model car. Ultra Low-Emission Vehicles however, are cars that emit 50 percent cleaner emission, much lower than a new 2001 model car. Zero-emission cars however, belong only to the family of pure electric vehicles. But they are much expensive to produce, and proved to be impractical as drivers needed to plug these cars regularly.

Also at present, people who would buy hybrid cars will benefit from the Federal State tax deductions. Buying hybrid cars is encouraged because of the long term benefits of minimized fuel usage. Other tax deductions for hybrid car are also available. Some cities several free parking areas for low-emissions vehicles owners.

These efforts seem to be not lost to Americans. According to an online survey conducted by a research center, ninety percent of the respondents surveyed indicated a willingness to buy hybrid cars the next time they need one. Provided, however, that these cars are comparable in look with they currently own.

In this marketing study, about 46 percent of male respondents and 36 percent of female respondents strongly believed that these hybrid vehicles will perform comparably to all-gasoline vehicles. For these respondents, this is the most important factor. The concern for model, style, and features in these hybrid version is important for female respondents (49 percent), and 35 percent important for male respondents.

Only a handful of respondents, about 10 percent of those surveyed said they would buy hybrid cars with different style, while only 16 percent are willing to compromise on performance features, like horsepower and acceleration.

For price, however, the respondents are willing to compromise. When they’re asked what they would be most willing to sacrifice for more efficient fuel usage for the environment, a common characteristics of hybrids, 45 percent of the respondents indicated the willingness to pay $1,000 to $2,000 or higher for their new hybrid vehicles.

The demand and availability for hybrid cars has been growing steadily over the years because of the increasing concerns of motorists regarding the price increases of gas. Major automobile manufacturers have come up with their respective versions of hybrid vehicles, and consumers have lots of considerations when purchasing these cars. Of course, price ranks among the most important of those concerns.

To help them decide on which cars to choose, here is a list of some of the best hybrid cars flooding the market today.

1. Toyota Prius

Considered by many as the top-rated hybrid among them all, because of the presence of a gasoline engine that provides assistance to the electric motor when operating. For slower speeds, it is the electric motor that runs the car, and when the speed acts up, the gas engine takes over the reins.

The mileage for the Prius is estimated at 60 mpg for city-driving speeds and 51 for the highway performance.

Reportedly, the Prius has more spacious interiors compared to its closest competitor, the Honda Civic hybrid, and they say that the Prius is also better mileage-wise. This bestseller from Toyota comes with a distinctive exterior that sets it apart from its fellow hybrids belonging to the economy-class.

2. Honda Civic Hybrid

This hybrid vehicle does not look different from its past models, and it does not stand apart from its competitors. Even though it is always the bridesmaid compared to the illustrious Prius, it has a reputation for higher speed operation, especially on highways.

The Civic also maintains the runner-up status with the Prius when it comes to fuel efficiency, with the Civic chalking up 26 mpg for driving within city range.

3. Ford Escape Hybrid

It is the first Hybrid SUV in the market, another first for Ford Motors. Its success heralded the launching of the Mercury Mariner a year earlier than was intended. This hybrid vehicle produces 28 mpg in combination driving. This gem from Ford is known for its spacious cargo room, its easy maneuverability and its visibility.

Its add-ons include anti-lock brakes and outlet for 110-volts located in the control panel. The Escape Hybrid still reigns supreme above its closest SUV rivals, such as Lexus.

4. Honda Insight

This hybrid from Honda may not be as award-winning as its competitors, but the Insight is proving itself as the best one when it comes to fuel economy. It runs on an impressive 60 mpg on city driving, and an awesome 66 mpg on the highway.

Although the Insight is not as comfortable and impressive as the popular sister Civic or the famed Toyota Prius, it will do best as a second-car, or a commuter vehicle.

Other choices include:

2006 Lexus RX 400h – it is the firs SUV in the luxury level, it is known for its indefatigable power, its cool technology and its fuel efficiency.

2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid – it is said to drive better than the common SUV, and gives off great power, but the downside is its lack of gadgets on the dashboard.

Gasoline prices are rising every now and then. That is because conflicts in the Middle East never falter to affect the pricing of the volatile oil commodity in the world market.

Consequently, consumers around the world feel the domino effect of the phenomenon. Rising oil prices mean they are up for harder times along the way.

That is why as much as possible, people will always find ways to cut their reliance on gasoline and oil.

Traditional cars are now on the hot seat because consumers and users are starting to complain about high gasoline consumption bills.

The increasing environmental concerns that has been tagged on the gas-powered cars also invoked serious consideration and steps on the part of the car makers.

Because the phenomenon called greenhouse effect or global warming has started to show its wrath through climate changes around the world in the past decades, people are becoming more and more concerned about environmental degradation.

Hybrid cars

Thus, hybrid cars, as manufacturers claim, are the cars of the future. That is because those cars are considered the answers to people’s prayers over the past years for vehicles that would not necessarily run on gasoline, which has prices that are so volatile due to emerging conflicts in the oil-producing countries every now and then.

Nowadays, car owners are being forced to just commute or take the public vehicles on their way to work everyday instead of using their cars because the gasoline prices are so high, that everyday use of the car would be unsustainable and most often, becoming a luxury.

In those cases, the purpose for buying or purchasing a car is breached, overlooked, neglected and unattained. For sure, cars are bought to give the buyer the convenience of going to destinations without the hassle of a public transport, which usually are tormented by delays, accidents and unlikely incidents.

No wonder, the launch of hybrid vehicles not so long ago was bombarded by promising and higher than expected sales of the cars. It is understandable that people have long awaited and anticipated the market launch of hybrid cars.

Hybrid car models

There are a number of hybrid car models available in the market today. The major companies are almost all claiming that their hybrid cars are the best hybrid cars ever produced in the market.

But are there serious proofs or implications from such claims?

The Japanese car makers have started the race for the best and most-patronized hybrid car models of today and the future.

Thus, from Toyota Motors, the market is now bombarded by the robust sales and increasing demand for hybrid car models that include the Camry hybrid and the Toyota Prius hyrid.

The Camry hybrid is termed the best hybrid car in terms of exterior features, designs and overall functionality. The claim is supported by the hybrid car model’s robust sales figures in the past couple of years.

The Prius hybrid car is tagged the best in terms of environmentalism. Toyota said this hybrid car is designed with zero-emission features, that bids goodbye totally or significantly to gasoline combustion processes in engines, which make up for the pollutants in the air.

The Honda hybrid car

For its part, Honda Motors will not take the competition for hybrid cars just sitting closely by. The Japanese car making giant has its famous Accord and Civic models spun-off in hybrids.

That is right. The hybrid models for the Honda hybrid cars are as efficient and as beautiful as the company’s old, traditional and reliable car models.

Honda claims that its hybrid cars are the best in the market today because the feel of driving them would be nothing different from driving the best car models from the company, namely the traditional and gas-powered Accord and Civic.

Picking up the best

So how do you pick the best? All of them are the best in their own respective rights. The best is a relative term. What can be the best for one person might not be the best for you.

So in picking up for the best hybrid car model for yourself, just rely on your instincts and the best things the best hybrid car models would be put in front of you.

In the 1990s, the U.S. Department of Energy collaborated with GM, Ford, Chrysler, to challenge the dominance of their Japanese and European counterparts in the development of hybrid cars. Millions of dollars were put into the huge project of developing American hybrid cars.

Ten years after, Ford came up with one model entry into the market, competing against six Japanese hybrid cars. Ford started selling the Escape SUV Hybrid in September of 2004. The other two American hybrid cars manufacturers are having a hard time in delivering their hybrids to the consumer public.

Whatever happened to the big American hybrid dream cars can be anybody’s guess.

Below is a short update on the status of American hybrid car manufacturers.

Ford

The public release of the Ford Escape Hybrid was finally materialized in September 2004. The original schedule however, was in 2003. The Ford’s answer to the call for American hybrid cars is a fully hybrid electric vehicle, able to run on its gasoline or its electric motor, or both. This is to meet the requirements set by driver demand to optimize performance and limit fuel consumption.

The Ford Escape was first ever among American hybrid cars. It produces less than one pound of smog-forming pollutants for every 15,000 miles. This is more significant when compared with all light trucks average of 105 pounds of smog-forming pollutants for every 15,000 miles. The average for passenger cars, with the same number of miles, is 67 pounds.

At present, hybrids, particularly, American hybrid cars are the hottest topic in the U.S. The populace is interested in finding out how hybrid will benefit the environment. , including their small as well as their own budget for fuel. And perhaps, the consumers are interested if the hybrids would really consume small amount of fuel.

And Ford is clever enough to make the first American hybrid car as SUV. For obvious reason, SUV is considered as very American, which help the Ford hybrid to sell.

The Ford Hybrid has the looks and performance capabilities of a normal car. This allows the American hybrid car to evade the “image-look” problem of Honda’s earlier version of hybrid cars. The improved fuel economy usage of the Ford Escape has also impressed American buyers.

To show its commitment to environment issue, has installed 10.4 acres-wide purifying plants in its factory in Dearborn. The plants server as insulators to the building, and is improving the water runoff. Ford is also on its for producing Mercury Mariner Hybrid next year. A hybrid smaller-sized sedan will follow, and a hydrogen-powered Ford Focus is being developed.

Daimler-Chrysler

When Evan Boberg, an automotive engineer for Chrysler’s hybrid program resigned over the presumed incompetence oof program officers in the early 1990s, many believed that the hybrid program of Chrysler is good as dead. Last year however, Daimler-Chrysler has announced the release of its first hybrid offering in the market, named as the Dodge Ram Contractor Special. As modeled after other hybrid pickups, Dodge Ram will emphasize utility, instead of fuel saving system. The hybrid however, failed to meet the promised mass production, and available only to fleet owners.

In a separate interview by a German auto industry paper in 2004, Thomas Weber, DaimlerChrysler board member, said that it will take five years to come up with a Mercedes hybrid. So before the present decade ends, a new Mercedes will take the road of major cities in the world.

General Motors

GM began offering American hybrid cars with Sierra and Silverado, for fleet and commercial customers in May 2004. In October of the same year, GM started offering the hybrid pickups to six states: Washington, California, Nevada, Alaska, Florid, and Oregon. The limited offering was based consumer demand for American hybrid cars in those States.

GM also produced 2,000 of their Silverado and Sierra hybrid trucks for 2005. For the year 2006, the availability of the hybrid pickup trucks has been expanded to include the entire nationwide demand. Before the present year ends, GM is contemplating a volume of 3,000 units.

Aside from a new hybrid vehicle Saturn VUE this year, GM is also offering Chevrolet Malibu for next year, 2007. Next year, GM is also set to come up with two-mode full hybrid. This project is being developed with Daimler Chrysler and BMW. The resulting America hybrid car is expected to have 25 percent more fuel economy than the popular SUVs, the Chevrolet Tahoe, and the GMC Yukon.

More and more people are turning to hybrid cars these days because of their promise of lesser fuel consumption and environmental friendliness. Hybrid cars, because they run on both fuel and battery-powered engines, eat up less fuel, thereby sparing the consumer the pain of falling prey to price pressures in the world oil market. In addition, it also emits significantly less smog pollutants in the air, compared to traditional fuel-operated cars.

Indeed, there are a lot of advantages to owning hybrid cars. This is why even the US government is starting to show support by welcoming more models into the country and by encouraging American auto makers like General Motors and Ford to make more units.

Here are some of the advantages of hybrid cars:

1) Efficiency

Hybrid cars are electrically operated and are thus able to function well and consistently at any motor speed. This is in contrast to conventional gas-powered engines, which tend to produce less power in low revolutions per minute episodes. Hybrid cars do not need to use transmissions to make their engines run at full capacity even at reduced speeds.

2) Economy

One of the advantages of hybrid cars is that the feature called “regenerative braking”. Since a hybrid car works using both electric power and fuel power, each can function by itself or conjunction, depending on which is stronger at the time of use. This means that both engines complement each other and do not simply bog one when one of them becomes weaker.

3) Convenience

Because hybrid cars are part battery powered, they do not create huge holes on the pocket, compares to users of traditional cars who feel the pain of the continuing oil price increases. Most hybrid cars, particularly the ones that are made in Japan, are also more compact and lightweight, making them easier to maneuver on the road. Other models, particularly those by American and European car makers also do not deviate from the stylish designs their regular counterparts adopt, so users don’t have to feel they are being left out in the style department.

4) Sustainability

Sure, hybrid cars are fairly new, so their immediate impact on the environment cannot be foreseen in the short term. However, over the course of time, the next generations will definitely be thankful for having a clean, pollution free world, thanks to hybrid vehicles.

Most critics say that it is not the time to buy hybrid vehicles because they are expensive. However, when you consider the advantages, you really shouldn’t think twice. While you must be discerning in choosing the right model for your needs, this doesn’t mean you start hesitating. After all, when more people patronize hybrid cars, manufacturers will see the need to produce more and eventually bring its price at very affordable levels.

The rise and drop in temperatures in the coming years, place intense pressures on consumers around the world as this means only one thing, more energy and fuel are needed to control the environment and make homes more comfortable.

Over the years, new technology has been invented to improve the manner of living – energy saving devices are not excluded. However new technology, as always, is a bit expensive at first. And the prices will go down after some time. But instead of waiting for a more affordable energy saving devices, let us apply our common sense today and do some effort in saving energy.

•Avoid “phantom” energy users.

Electrical appliances that are plugged in to sockets even when not in use consume energy. It is like a turning on the engine of your car and idling for a very long time. A single appliance that remains plugged in may not give a significant increase in your electric bill but letting every appliance on “standby” can be a real money spender. Make sure to pull the plugs of every appliance from their sockets whenever you don’t use them.

•Turn down temperature of water heaters.

Water heaters hold about 40 gallons of water and maintain it at a constant temperature. Forty gallons of water that is sitting in your tank for a very long time consumes a lot of energy. If the water heater is not expected to be used for a while, it is advisable to maintain it at a lower temperature.

•The openings and leaks in doors and windows create drafts.

The stronger the draft is, the longer it will take for homes to be heated or cooled – in addition to the extra work that a heater or an air-conditioning system is doing to regulate the right temperature of the house. In newer homes, the problems may be few as today’s’ builders take more attention to sealing drafts potential areas and slots. Older homes may not be as well sealed. Even if the outer walls are insulated, air leaks often occur around wall outlets, switches and vents that could result in water condensation around these areas. A good foam patch could fix the problem.

•If there is really nothing to prepare much cooking for, let the stove and oven rest.

Instead, use the microwave. When cooking in stoves though, the closer the bottom of the pan used for cooking matches the hob ring of the stove, the more energy is saved. Too much flame for the pan and you are paying for heating the air around it.

•CFL lights are energy savers.

Using CFL bulbs will save you more than sixty percent of the cost of lighting compared with using incandescent light bulbs. Sure CFL lamps are a little more expensive but these are recovered easily because of its longer life and the energy saving feature it has.

•Clean appliances regularly.

Dirt and dust interferes with the efficiency of appliances. Likewise, place a good distance; allow about four inches of distance between the wall and appliances that generate heat for your walls not to retain the heat.

•When in the market always look for the energy coefficient and the energy saving features of the appliance you are buying.