Sep

8

How to save more fuel while driving your car

Filed Under Car Improvement & Maintenance, Cars & Environment | Leave a Comment

You might have noticed the increasing price of fuels in these recent days. There are some efficient tips in you can increase savings of fuel.

Proper warming of the vehicle before operating will help you to save considerable fuel. Try to reduce the time spent on driving during heavy traffic. Using overdrive gears is another option to reduce the consumption of fuel. Never idle your car for a long time which will consume more fuel. Drive sensibly so that you are able to reduce the amount of fuel used for driving. Alternative ways will help you to keep money in your pocket itself.

Feb

24

The myths about hybrid vehicles II

Filed Under Cars & Environment, Hybrid Technolgy | Leave a Comment

In the second of the hybrid myth series we will dispel a couple of more myths today.

The batteries of the hybrids require frequent replacement

The hybrid technology is designed to keep the batteries charged in the range of 35% - 85%. This ensures that the battery sustains itself through the life time of the vehicle. Eventually the batteries, of course need to be replaced. Honda categorically states that their batteries are designed to last a decade! Even the Toyota Prius comes with a 8 year/ 100,000 miles warranty on all hybrid components including the battery. Industry observers and experts put the life of batteries in hybrid cars at 150,000 to 200,000 miles before the call for replacement has to be made. Well, that’s a long, long way to go.

Cold climates make the hybrids sweat

Hybrid cars can be driven at any point of time irrespective of the climatic conditions. The cars can safely be operated at 20 degrees below Fahrenheit. The batteries of the hybrid can sustain in 140 degrees Fahrenheit also. They don’t get too hot because of the internal air cooling system that they operate within.

In the long term the hybrids are not good because of the dead hazardous batteries

This is one of the most commonly held myths. As I said the batteries of the hybrid vehicles are designed to last a decade at the end of which they would need to be replaced. These are NiMH batteries which are 100% recyclable. And as a matter of fact some companies like Toyota shell out 200 USD if you bring a battery to them for recycling.

Feb

10

The myths about hybrid vehicles I

Filed Under Cars & Environment, Hybrid Technolgy | Leave a Comment

As this relatively new technology of hybrid cars catches the public imagination, question are raised on the feasibility of the vehicle. Here are some of the common myths dispelled.

Hybrids are expensive than their conventional cousins

The pricing actually depends upon the model and the make. The LexusRX400h is about 6000 USD costlier than Lexus RX 350. That’s definitely a good difference. The difference between the Mercury Mariner Hybrid and the starting model of Mariner Luxury AWD is only around 3000 USD. This difference is easily offset by the cost of the fuel the owner would save over a period of time. Add to this the tax incentive that would reduce the cost of the hybrid. And with the spiraling prices of oil, the savings arising out of fuel would further narrow the gap.

They are less powerful than the convention cars

It again boils down to the model. The Civic hybrid is slower and less powerful than its conventional predecessor Civic sedan. Whereas, the Toyota Highlander is faster than the regular Highlander. And the Honda Accord hybrid is one of the most powerful Accord ever.

Hybrid vehicles need to be plugged in

This is not true to the best of my knowledge. The hybrids cars are completely self sufficient and do not require any external support source of power to keep its batteries from discharging. The batteries recharge themselves by capturing energy from the brakes. This is often known as regenerative braking.

Jan

26

Toyota: the hybrid way

Filed Under Cars & Environment, Latest Ramblings | Leave a Comment

As news has it, Toyotas hybrid battery partner has presented its proposal to augment output. So going by these standards, certainly Toyota is readying themselves for increased hybrid sales. Of course, it will be effective the following year because the plans just getting underway. Their battery partner, Panasonic EV Energy Co. has proposed to produce 800,000 hybrid-vehicle batteries in 2009. Post production, approximately 95 percent of the hybrid batteries will go to Toyota Motor Corp., as stated by Panasonic EV Energy. With such a proposal underway, we can only wait and watch Toyotas unprecedented growth in the automobile sector the following year.

Nov

26

What’s a hybrid car?

Filed Under Cars & Environment, Hybrid Technolgy | Leave a Comment

A vehicle that combines two or more sources of power to generate momentum is referred to as a hybrid car. Generally, hybrid SUVs or hybrid cars are a combination of a diesel and a gasoline engine with an electric motor. The powering unit is composed of a gas tank, a diesel and / or a gasoline engine and batteries to power the electric motor. The engines of such hybrid cars are small and efficient and they are boosted by the electric motor when more power or momentum is required.

A computer, onboard, works continuously to achieve optimum levels of performance between the gasoline / diesel engine and the electric motor. Very few people can actually notice if you are driving a hybrid since they look very much like their conventional cousins.