Owning an Electric Car 2010 Edition: Find the Truth About Using Electric Cars Including Range, Charging, Batteries, Environmental Impact and Everyday Use of Plug in Cars

Owning an Electric Car is the essential book for anyone who is interested in owning an electric car and who wants to know more about them. The book has been written with input from hundreds of people from all around the world: interviews and surveys with owners of electric cars about their experiences - both good and bad, meetings with vehicle manufacturers and discussions with politicians, environmental campaigners and electricity providers have all contributed make this book an essential guide to help you make an informed choice about electric cars.

List Price: $ 14.99 Price:

MiEV - Mitshubishi's Hybrid Car


Image by NA.dir
Mitsubhishi Innovative Electric Vehicle.

Article by Wendy Gorman

When considering the potential purchase of a hybrid car for the first time, most people hesitate slightly in the knowledge that under the hood, hybrid cars are somewhat different from conventional gasoline powered cars. Most people are aware that hybrid cars have battery-powered motors and this brings to the surface one or two uncertainties. It would therefore be advantageous to look more closely at the facts about battery packs used in modern hybrid cars.Hybrid car battery packs should never need replacing

Unlike batteries in conventional cars, which need replacing every three or four years, hybrid car battery packs are warranted for between eight and ten years. They not only can last much longer but usually outlast the life of the rest of the car. In terms of mileage, they are designed to last between 150,000 and 200,000 miles, which in today’s terms is way beyond the life expectancy of the normal car.

Hybrid batteries are designed to be recyclable

In conventional cars, the batteries utilise rechargeable Nickel Cadmium elements that when disposed of give some toxic waste concerns. The design of hybrid car batteries utilises a NiMH construction that is fully recyclable and produce much reduced toxic waste effects.

Hybrid batteries contain hundreds of cells

Conventional car batteries have very few cells and the deterioration of any one of them can have a catastrophic effect on performance. Hybrid car batteries are constructed with hundreds of cells, which at first glance would indicate a problem of complexity and possibly less reliability. Modern construction methods ensure this is not the case and in fact the sheer number of cells means that should one or two deteriorate, over all performance remains relatively unaffected. This is clearly reflected in the length of warranty the battery manufacturers are prepared to give and should therefore give rise to no anxiety when purchasing a hybrid car.

The rate of hyrid car battery pack failure is negligible

The battery failure rate on hybrid cars in normal use is so low its difficult to quantify. Where a faulty or failing battery has been produced, it will usually be found before you take delivery from the dealer. Toyota has issued statistics that show some of its hybrid battery packs have lasted for over 300,000 miles. All of this once again is reflected in the length of warranty given by the manufacturers.

No need to budget for replacement hybrid battery costs

Once again this comes back to the fact that warranties are for eight to ten years and the fact that batteries are known to last for hundreds of thousands of miles. The U.S. Department of Energy commenced tests to show the decline in power of hybrid car battery packs over distance in use. It actually terminated its testing when after 160,000 miles it could detect no discernable drop in battery capacity and described the performance still to be ‘as new’.Hybrid battery packs have still to be fully developed

All auto manufacturers and their suppliers have continuing development programs and hybrid battery packs are no exception. The battery industry is targeting new technology in order to produce more powerful and more efficient battery capacity, reduced manufacturing costs and therefore lower prices, together with extending even further the efficient working life of the battery pack.

After the warranty period you can still refurbish a hybrid battery pack

So, somewhere down the line you own a hybrid car more than ten years old with more than 200,000 miles on the clock and the battery pack starts playing up. No problems. You can just refurbish the battery pack. The hundreds of cells within the packs are divided up into 28 separate modules. All you have to do is replace the faulty module with a non-faulty one from another pack of similar mileage and age. The latter point is essential as the replacement cells have to have the same chemical performance as the ones in the other 27 modules.

Taking into account the above facts, it can be seen that there should be little cause for anxiety about battery packs when contemplating the purchase of a hybrid car.

About the Author

Wendy Gorman is an accomplished author and niche website developer. She is committed to exploring the impact of new environmental technology on the economics of the hybrid car and also of explaining the benefits of a hybrid car.Visit her sites now to better understand the hybrid car marketplace and its future.

Fisker Karma, Driver's Side


Image by Fisker Automotive
Photos of the Concept Fisker Karma. For more about Fisker, please visit us online at:

www.fiskerautomotive.com

Learn About Hybric Cars at HybridCarChat.com

Houston, Texas (PRWEB) April 30, 2008

One can expect that the automotive industry will be providing more and more information about the benefits of owning a hybrid automobile, but will it be accurate and unbiased? Will it reflect the true consumer experience? Will information be accessible in a single area of the Internet? Thomas Calkins recognized, as every consumer does, that information is key. He has developed the website HybridCarChat.com that will enable those who desire information about hybrid cars to visit a site that educates and unites owners, potential owners, technical experts and those seeking information about the wide variety of hybrid cars and the many new developments that seem to be occurring daily.

Hybrid cars have quickly claimed a substantial market niche which can only be expected to grow as the price of fuel continues its unrelenting upward spiral. In fact, it is reasonable to expect that hybrid vehicles may very well become the standard American automobile.

Hybrid Car Chat provides the latest news articles, car reviews, a blog and a forum where questions can be addressed and the opportunity for owners to place pictures and discuss the pros and cons of ownership. As the site grows and develops there will be an opportunity to highlight specific maintenance issues that will certainly be encountered by hybrid owners. While many mechanical functions of a hybrid vehicle are the same as gasoline fueled vehicles, one can expect that picture and the associated costs to change substantially as electrical, battery and other power components require servicing or replacement.

Articles are available which address the cost of ownership, the advantages and disadvantages of hybrid vehicles, domestic versus imported hybrids and a myriad of other topics and issues which serve to inform and educate potential owners. Visitors that currently own a hybrid vehicle can find other owners and share information as well as dissect and discuss issues with those seeking information and sharing similar interests.

The news section contains the most recent, as well as past articles, news releases and reviews of hybrid cars from both foreign and domestic producers. It also contains the latest scientific information on the alternatives to gasoline fueled vehicles and addresses the variety of technological studies that are currently underway. This is complimented by the hybrid car reviews section where information about the features of virtually every hybrid car currently on the market or scheduled for production is presented.

The famous poet Ralph Waldo Emerson once stated that "knowledge is the amassed thought and experience of innumerable minds." Hybrid Car Chat.com seeks to provide knowledge for all who recognize that good choices are the result of acquiring essential information before making a commitment.

So visit hybridcarchat now if you would like to discuss alternative fuel cars and technology in the hybrid car forums.

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San Diego, CA (PRWEB) December 19, 2004

Concerned citizens and activists, Andy Grant and Taylor Reid launched http://www.AllAboutHybridCars.com in response to rising gas prices, America’s dependence on foreign oil and increasing pollution. “I was angry about the continuous increase in the cost of gas and getting such poor mileage in my SUV and hybrid cars seem like the best answer,” said Grant, a professional business writer. “So we wrote a book and created a Website to present all the basic facts and keep people updated on developing technology.”

They feel the subject is an important topic to showcase since hybrid cars will increase in popularity, because they make so much sense economically and environmentally. “There’s no better way to reduce our consumption of foreign oil, save money on gas and help the environment,” said Reid, a search engine analyst. “Hybrid cars may change the way people view their responsibility as a global citizen. I know I’ve changed mine.”

The book is in the form of an electronic eBook, which can be ordered through the Website and read on the computer or printed out. The Website has extensive information, articles and resources about hybrid cars and other alternative fuels being developed. “The book explains the whats, hows and whys using non-technical language,” said Rob Wilder, who wrote the foreword to the book. Wilder, an environmental activist is President of the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Institute.

The monthly newsletter keeps people updated on all the new hybrid car releases. “The year 2005 will be the year hybrid cars take off,” commented Grant. “Our Website and newsletter have all the current news as the each manufacturer releases its hybrid.” “Californians are forward-thinking and have already invested in hybrid cars,” said Reid. “We’re hoping the rest of the nation will too.”

To order a free report, go to http://www.AllAboutHybridCars.com/ebook.htm. For more information send an e-mail to info@allabouthybridcars.com or call 858-350-5235.

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