MORE INFO: ebaymotors.com In this first episode of the eBay Motors World's Fastest Car Show, host Justin Bell takes the 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 out for an early morning spin on LA's secret race track - Mulholland Drive. Then he gives us an exclusive look at the elite Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance concept lawn. Host: Justin Bell Video Rating: 4 / 5
Article by John Miller
As fuel prices move into record territory, there is greater interest in the benefits of hybrid cars. Do hybrids really hold the key to beating high gas prices, and if so, how do they do it? The article below takes a closer look at hybrid design, how it results in savings, and how to figure out if a hybrid is the right choice for you. After reading this, you should have a good understanding of how hybrids fit into the overall fuel economy issue.The word "hybrid" means that two distinct types of technology have been blended into one vehicle. Hybrid vehicles have been around for a long time. A moped is one good instance because it combines human pedaling power with the power of a small gasoline motor. Most of today's new hybrid cars combine fuel and electric power, making them gas-electric hybrids. Gasoline-powered cars can go far and fast, but they produce pollution and require high-priced fuel. Electric power is clean and inexpensive, but most cannot provide power essential for high speed or great distance. Vehicles based on hybrid tech put the best of both into one package. It's this combination of technologies that give rise to the benefits of hybrid cars.What are the benefits of hybrid cars in terms of saving gas? To begin with, the fuel engines in hybrids are smaller. This means they are lighter and therefore use less fuel to get around. Not only is the engine lighter, the whole car weighs less, so it requires less horsepower to move it. The hybrid's electric motor can lend a hand in the event more power is wanted. There is more fuel saving tech under the hood as well. Hybrid vehicles are actually able to harvest power when you decelerate using "regenerative braking." They also automatically shut off the engine when you stop at traffic lights or drive-thru windows, and resume on demand when you are ready to move again.Could the benefits of hybrid cars save you money? It's relatively easy to figure it out. What is your average annual mileage? If you're like the everyday American, it would be about 15,000 miles per year. Let's say you drive 45 percent of those miles on the highway and 55 percent in the city. That's 6,750 highway miles and 8,250 city miles. A standard fuel Honda Civic would use 187.5 gallons (6,750 miles @ 36 mpg) on the highway and 330 gallons (8,250 miles @ 25 mpg) in the city. That's a total annual fuel cost of ,070 (517.5 gallons @ per gallon). A hybrid Civic would use 132.4 gallons for highway driving (6,750 @ 51 mpg) and 168.4 gallons in the city (8,250 @ 49 mpg). At per gallon, that would give you an annual fuel cost savings of 7. Another factor to keep in mind is the higher initial cost of buying a hybrid. You may be able to save more if there are any federal or state tax benefits of hybrid cars.Hybrid vehicles combine two types of power to attain new levels of fuel economy. What one technology may lack, the other furnishes. Their lower weight and smaller size make it possible for hybrids to extract more distance from less fuel. By comparing annual fuel costs as well as taking into account possible incentives, you may find that the benefits of hybrid cars can save you money over the long run. The next step is to start getting together information about your favorite hybrid vehicle and treat yourself to a test drive.To learn more about how to save fuel, go to http://fuelsavingguide.info now.
About the Author
John Miller writes regularly about autos related topics. I hope you enjoy this article.
BMW i3 Concept -- dynamic, urban, emission-free. The BMW i3 Concept is an uncompromisingly sustainable vehicle designed for urban areas. Driven purely by electric power and purpose-built to meet the demands of sustainable and emission-free mobility, it embodies an intelligent form of urban transportation and commuting. The BMW i3 is a well-resolved all-round concept, with every detail conceived and optimised to fulfil its eventual purpose. Its innovative LifeDrive architecture renders the BMW i3 Concept light, safe, spacious and dynamic. Innovative use of materials and intelligent lightweight design, moreover, not only enable the i3 Concept to travel long distances on a single charge and provide superb safety in the event of a collision, they also help give the car its excellent driving dynamics. The electric motor over the rear axle -- which generates output of 125 kW/170 hp and impressive torque of 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) from a standstill -- and a small turning circle combine to deliver pleasingly crisp driving characteristics. The BMW i3 Concept accelerates from 0 to 60 km/h (37 mph) in under four seconds and from rest to 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than eight seconds. The so-called Life module conjures up a feeling of space inside the car more generous than even the latest conversion vehicles can offer. Select materials lend the open and airy cabin a lounge-like character. The use of renewable raw materials is another defining characteristic of the interior, offering ... Video Rating: 5 / 5
Article by Phil Adams-Wright
Over the past few years, the automobile industry has seen a rise in the popularity of electric cars. This is largely due to greater awareness of the environmental issues caused by cars and emphasis on how we should all be trying to reduce the impact cars have on the environment.
In the past, electric cars were perceived as inferior to traditional cars in terms of performance and style. This is changing slightly now with companies such as Tesla bringing out more modern styled, high performance electric cars. The Tesla Roadster sports car was released in July 2007 and has seen sales steadily grow as electric cars become more popular as attitudes change and the drivers become more environmentally conscious.
The performance of electric cars, in terms of speed and miles per charge has always attracted negative reviews. However, perceptions are changing thanks to cars like the Tesla Roadster which can drive for 244 miles on a single charge of battery and can reach 0-60 in 3.9 seconds.
This performance has helped to reposition electric cars as a more realistic option for many motorists around the world, with consumers now warming to the idea of more environmentally friendly motoring. Gas and fuel prices now mean that we could all save a considerable amount of money if we switched to an electric car.
The United States of America as well as the United Arab Emirates has seen an increase in the volume of electric cars on their roads and we will probably see the same here in the UK. Tesla has a partnership deal with Lotus which results in the building of the cars in the UK. This could be great for the UK economy.
Electric cars are becoming increasingly stylish and when you combine this with the fact that you could considerably help the environment by cutting down massively on your CO2 emissions, means that we should all consider electric cars as the cars of the future.
About the Author
Phil Adams-Wright is an experienced motoring and tehcnology writer covering car finance, Car Credit and Used Car Loans.
2012 PRIUS C CONCEPT CAR AUTOMOTIVE REVIEW ON FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *************************************************************** TAGS: 2012 PRIUS C CONCEPT CAR TOYOTA 2013 lexus a-bat f3r ft-ch ft-ev ft-hc nlsv plug-in hybrid all... Video Rating: 3 / 5
OK, so is it really possible to build your own DIY Electric Car from parts you can obtain yourself, at a cost that won't put you in the poor house? That's really the one question I seem to get most often from skeptics.
To be honest, I don't know why there aren't more DIY electric cars on the road. I suppose people assume that if it were really so simple, everyone would be doing it. Driving for 4 cents per mile instead of four dollars per mile is a no-brainer. Who wouldn't do that if given the choice? Everyone would gladly say goodbye to tune ups, oil changes and the gas pump forever if the could. Therefore, many conclude that converting a car to electric power must be difficult, highly complicated and beyond the ability of most people.
What I do know is that it is a lot of fun to build and drive and the project is easy and cheap to complete. Simply begin your DIY Electric car project with a car that is appropriate for converting and a good set of plans. You'll need to mount batteries and the electric motor inside, so you'll need a car with enough room for those but is still relatively light and small.
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To make the project a lot easier, the car should also have a manual transmission. Don't worry if you can't or don't want to drive a stick. A converted vehicle requires no shifting once the project is completed. It's pretty amazing how inexpensively you can pick up a used car with engine damage that is in otherwise excellent condition. Just check for issues in the transmission, undercarriage, breaks etc before you buy it.
In spite of their 50-60 MPH top speed and range of 200 miles between charges, I always recommend that the first conversion not be performed on the owner’s primary vehicle. Instead, get a cheap 2nd car to convert. One more point to remember once you do complete your project take some time to get used to the responsiveness. You must get a feel for the controller (the electric car version of the gas pedal) because these things are amazingly zippy off the line.
The reasons the plans are so important is that a good set of quality plans will not only guide you step-by-step through the entire project, but will also provides priceless information on where to locate all your parts very inexpensively-and in some cases even free. You can save a ton of money using a good instruction guide. For example, retail conversion kits cost 00 or more and that's before you even buy a single battery or the vehicle, or you can spend on a set of plans up front and convert the entire car for under 0 including the batteries. Readers can learn a lot more about DIY electric cars here.
Nick Molinar runs DIYHomePowerGrid, where he discusses home grown power generation systems including solar, wind and automotive alternatives.
BMW lève le voile sur son concept car interconnecté, le Vision ConnectedDrive, exposé au salon automobile de Genève, qui a lieu du 3 au 13 mars: il met l'accent sur l'interaction entre le conducteur, la voiture et l'environnement au travers de la sécurité, du confort et de l'infodivertissement.
In order to make your hybrid car run smoothly for a long time, there are a few things that can be done which will not take a lot of money or time. Most cars come with good warranties especially for the expensive parts like the battery. But not all parts of the car have the same warranty duration. While some parts have 3 or 4 year warranty, others can have up to 8 years - which is considered the lifetime of the car.
When you buy a new car or a used car, make sure you check the warranty conditions. This can save you a lot of trouble in the long run. All cars come with preventative maintenance instructions. You will be told when you need to give the car servicing or replacement of parts depending on the usage. Basic maintenance of a hybrid car is the same as a regular car and you will need to do the oil checks, air filter replacement, etc.
After the warranty expires for your car parts, even if it costs you slightly more, go for high quality parts made by the manufacturer. A cheap spare part may work just fine but the durability will always be lower and you may need to replace it more often which is not worth the trouble. The hybrid car battery is the most important as well as most expensive part of the car. You can do hybrid battery replacement on your own or you can go to the local auto dealer and get it done with the added expense of hourly charges. When you get it serviced according to the instructions, you may sometimes have to specify if you'd like extra checks of the engine winding equipment, electric parts, etc.
If you find that the car is giving you any trouble, don't wait for it to get worse before you see a mechanic. The earlier you detect and fix the problem, the less it will cost you. A hybrid car is a lot more complex than a regular car which most mechanics know how to fix. It is a good idea to go to an authorized dealer to get your car checked, fixed and even for the regular service. With the dealer, you may get a few services for free as well. In general hybrid batteries need replacement after 160,000 miles and you can wait till it dies to replace it as ‘s very expensive.
Extended warranties are also available with most manufacturers and should be made use of. When your car works fine, you may hesitate to spend on the extended warranty but remember that your car will get older when the warranty kicks in and you may be able to save a lot more. This holds true even if you plan to buy a used car. Don't buy a used car if the warranty has expired. If the warranty is close to expiration, you will be safe for a few years by paying a little extra for the extended warranty.
Eagle Technologies is a Factory Automation company in Bridgman, MI serving clients all over the world. The areas Eagle Technologies specializes in cover many motor and energy related industries such as Automotive, Green Alternative Energy, Healthcare, Food Processing Consumer Products, and Military. Contact Eagle tech at www.eagletechnologies.com for more info on these subjects and many others.
Alongside its conventional combustion engine - usually a petrol or diesel unit - the hybrid car has electric motors and batteries that help power the vehicle. The hybrid system helps the combustion engine by maximising its efficiency rating. When the car is at a standstill, idling is avoided, thus cutting fuel consumption. The energy that is available when the car is moving can be partly recovered during braking. The electric motor serves as a generator, creating electric energy that is stored in the battery for later use when accelerating.
Battery technology is undergoing extremely swift development. Previously, the batteries used were of the nickel-metal hydride type but in the most recent hybrid cars and also in the forthcoming models, lithium-ion batteries are fitted, giving longer range and better driving properties. Thus far, hybrid technology incurs considerable extra costs. Just how much depends on the variant chosen - the further you want to be able to drive on electric power, the more battery power is needed, which affects the car's cost.
At present there are five different hybrid car variants. They are listed below from the lowest degree of electrification to the highest (battery sizes are examples and can vary).
1. Micro hybrid Often called a Micro HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle). A start/stop function means the engine switches off when the car is at a standstill and restarts when the driver presses the accelerator. This is possible owing to the installation of a more powerful starter motor (4 kilowatts) compared with the normal 1.4 kW. The battery is a regular 12 volt starter battery. According to NEDC (New European Driving Cycle - the European driving cycle used by all car manufacturers for calculating fuel consumption) carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are reduced by 4-5 percent compared with a corresponding car without the start/stop function.
2. Medium hybrid (Medium HEV). This variant has a 10-15 kilowatt electric motor and a more powerful battery compared with the micro-hybrid, with an output of about one kilowatt-hour (kWh). Thanks to a generator located by the rear axle, the medium hybrid generates energy when the car brakes, energy that can be subsequently used for acceleration. CO2 reduction according to NEDC is about 10 percent.
3. Full hybrid (Parallel Powersplit HEV). Has an even more powerful electric motor of about 35 kW and a more powerful two kWh battery that allows the energy generated during braking to be stored and utilised even more efficiently. With a full hybrid, it is possible to drive about one kilometre on the electricity that is generated. This variant offers approximately 20 percent carbon dioxide reduction.
4. Plug-in hybrid (PHEV, Parallel Powersplit Plug-in HEV). Same principle as the full hybrid, but with an even more powerful electric motor (50-100 kilowatts) and even more battery power, up to 15 kWh. It can be recharged via a regular wall socket and can be driven for about 50 kilometres on electricity, after which the combustion engine automatically takes over. Here it is possible to achieve a CO2 reduction of around 70 percent. For e.g. Volvo ReCharge Concept.
5. Series hybrid SHEV (Series Hybrid Electric Vehicle). It has more powerful electric motor (100 kW) with a 50 kW generator and more powerful battery (15-20 kWh) than in the plug-in hybrid. Recharged from a regular wall socket and can be driven up to 60 kilometres on electric power. Here it is the electric motor that propels the car while the combustion engine is used only to produce electricity for the batteries when they need to be recharged. The powerful electric motor means it is possible to use a smaller combustion engine, such as a three-cylinder petrol or diesel engine. This hybrid variant too can achieve about 70 percent lower CO2 emissions.
All five variants thus include a conventional combustion engine, so there is never any risk of coming to a standstill at the roadside because battery power has run out.
The step beyond hybrid cars is the dedicated electric car without any combustion engine, the BEV, (Battery Electric Vehicle). This is recharged via a wall socket and runs solely on electricity. With today's technology the range would be 150-200 kilometres (depending on battery size). Carbon dioxide reduction is 100 percent - the car produces no carbon dioxide emissions at all.
About the Author
Know more about Volvo XC90 - Luxury SUV in India and Volvo S80 - Luxury Sedan in India.
( www.TFLcar.com ) Is this the next generation of the Lexus GS? When a automobile manufacturer launches a new car they often show it first to the press first. The car company provides reporters with video of the car. Here is the very first video of the Lexus LF-Gh hybrid Concept on the road. We added our own music and editing to the video to bring you the first look at the newest Lexus concept car that signals the new design direction for Lexus. Video Rating: 4 / 5
Article by Thomas Jones
You’ve heard about hybrid cars from everywhere, including the news and the papers. People talk about them in chat rooms and the internet has information on the too. You know that hybrids have many features that conventional cars just can’t match up to. One of those features is the fact that hybrid cars get great gas mileage. You would love to trade in your supposedly “greener†compact car for a new hybrid version of the same model.
Why do hybrids get great gas mileage? Are they really as efficient as everyone wants to believe they are?
The answers to these questions can be both quite simple yet also a bit complicated. Hybrid cars have two sources of power that make them work. One is an internal combustion engine that is just like a conventional car. The other is an electric motor. Both of these power sources are connected to each other by a battery pack that transmits information between them and also to a computer that runs the car.
If a hybrid still burns gas how can it not be wasting fuel and still get great gas mileage?
Conventional cars require gasoline to do everything for them such as start, drive, idle and start again. When your driving a conventional car and sitting at a traffic light you are idling. You are wasting gas just sitting there so that when the light changes to green you can automatically accelerate the car. Something similar happens when you are traveling at slow speeds, driving in the rain or snow or even sitting in a traffic jam.
Hybrids are “smarter†than a conventional car. The hybrid engine does not begin burning oil until you have reached speeds greater than 15 miles per hour. This means that the hybrid does not waste fuel while driving slowly or being stopped which is the area of driving where conventional cars burn the most fuel.
Not only that but many hybrid are equipt with a feature that will shut off the internal combustion engine when the hybrid car is idling such as when your sitting at traffic light or in bumper to bumper traffic and then turn it back on when you accelerate. This allows you to coast rather than use power.
How can it still coast if the engine is off?
As was said before hybrids have two types of power sources. The electric motor which is one of their power sources is made to handle many of the small task that a car performs. These task include things such as braking, idling and coasting. The electric motor also helps out with things such as getting up large hills. This is a point where conventional vehicles waste a lot of gas but the hybrid only uses electric energy.
So in short a hybrid gets such great gas mileage because they use two different power sources, an internal combustion engine and electricity. If it uses electricity for a portion of the time it is running, it also uses less gas which means more miles run per gallon of gasoline.
You might also want to learn about the future of hybrid cars and discuss it in the hybrid car forums
About the Author
Why do Hybrids get much better gas mileage than normal cars?
Ahead of its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, BMW has released details of its Vision EfficientDynamics Concept Car in this video. More details at www.carsuk.net Video Rating: 4 / 5
Lexus designers at Calty Design Research in Newport Beach, Calif., married creative vision and technological advances to develop Lexus' latest concept car, the LF-Ch hybrid car. Visit www.lexus.com/fcv/lf_ch.html for more information
Article by John Gorman
In Britain there had been several attempts to build steam cars with varying degrees of success with Thomas Rickett even attempting a production run in 1860. Lawson in 1896 and making their first cars in 1897. Since the 1920s, nearly all cars have been mass-produced to meet market needs, so marketing plans have often heavily influenced automobile design. Sloan who established the idea of different makes of cars produced by one company, so buyers could "move up" as their fortunes improved.
Hybrid
Hybrid vehicles are on track to achieve record U. Hybrids combine the best of electricity and gasoline. Hybrid technology also works on a larger scale. Hybrids sound good -- they are, for example, exempt from the range limitations of battery-powered cars. Automobile propulsion technologies under development include hybrid cars, battery electric vehicles, hydrogen cars, and various alternative fuels. Experts say hybrid sales on pace for record-setting year. Sales this year despite signs consumer interest in hybrids is waning, an auto information company. Full hybrid systems allow both the gasoline engine and electric motor to provide power to the wheels; often, this allows the vehicle to shut down the gasoline engine when stopped at a red light, and to start driving the car on electric power only. The hybrid systems available from Toyota, Lexus and Ford employ this technology. Mild hybrids, by contrast, use the electric motor primarily to boost the performance of the gasoline engine, when it needs extra power; this technology is seen most often in the hybrids sold by General Motors. In the mild hybrid vehicles available today, most use what's known as a Stop/Start hybrid system, which shuts the gasoline engine off at idle (like at a red light) and instantly starts it up again on demand (like when the light turns green and you hit the accelerator).
Toyota
Rather than ask engineers and designers what they had in mind for loyal owners, Toyota asked loyal owners what they wanted the engineers and designer. Toyota first demonstrated a futuristic hybrid concept vehicle at the Tokyo Auto Show in 1995. The Toyota Prius is the best-selling hybrid in the US. The hybrid systems available from Toyota, Lexus and Ford employ this technology. In 2000, Honda and Toyota both started selling "hybrid" electric cars that evade those bothersome range limits. The Toyota Prius, a five passenger hybrid about the size of a Corolla, gets 52 miles per gallon around town and 45 on the highway. Toyota was supposed to start introducing the lithium-ion hybrids between 2008 and 2010, according to the Journal. See all models Hybrid News Toyota unveils plug-in hybrid car; Japanese automaker Toyota has unveiled what it says is the world's first certified plug-in and go car for public use.
A handful of other hybrid cars, SUVs, minivans and pick-up trucks are expected to go into production and be available in the next two or three years. All of the hybrid cars available today are considered "parallel hybrids," for the ability of both the electric motor and gasoline engine to provide power to the wheels.
About the Author
John Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of www.WeKnowCars.com. He provides more information on all types of car and car issues that you can research in your pajamas on his website.
The Lexus LF-Gh Hybrid Concept will make its debut at the 2011 New York Auto Show. Read more here: www.motorauthority.com Industry leading car reviews and shopping tools www.thecarconnection.com luxury and performance cars: www.motorauthority.com green and electric cars: www.greencarreports.com www.allcarselectric.com Family cars: www.familycarguide.com Cars and social media: www.socialcarnews.com Car Tech www.allcartech.com Video Rating: 5 / 5
Hybrid cars are given rave reviews for their fuel efficiency, eco-friendliness, and the savings that they can bring over time to their owners. There are people who switched their luxury cars for these go-green vehicles to do their part in helping the environment. Yet there are still some who shrug and are non-committal if asked if they have plans of trading in their economy cars for a hybrid anytime soon.
1. Experts at Consumer Reports have advised against buying hybrids if you're the type who's looking into immediate gains and savings. The rave reviews might praise the hybrids but these cars on the market can set your budget back with the high price tag, despite the hybrid tax incentives offered by the government. Consumer Reports have compared two 2003 models, the 36-mile per gallon Honda Civic Hybrid and the 29-mile per gallon Honda Civic EX. Side by side, the former sells for around ,000 and the latter is ,500.
2. Wait until car companies bring in better hybrid in the next year or two. There's a very high possibility that hybrid cars manufactured early are vulnerable to depreciation. This is because car manufacturers are upgrading powertrains, improving handling, and milage of these hybrids as we speak. The premium is too high for just a slight difference in mileage from economy cars. There's still some hesitation on other consumers too, as it would take too long a time for their hybrid investment to see some pay back, not just for the price tag but for getting insurance for it, too.
3. Spending money on a hybrid right now will crunch your finances tight, even when you're using a gas guzzler SUV. If you're desperately looking for ways to trade in your SUV, you're better off with a compact economy car rather than buying a hybrid car. It's not very feasible if you're in it to save money, though it remains as an awesome pro-eco statement.
There are those that propagate ditching all cars except hybrid types, but there are those who still are unsure about how hybrid owners can recoup and save with their hybrid purchase. One thing is for sure that hybrids of today have a long way to go from shifting to "transition technology". There are still many ways we can contribute without shelling out thousands of dollars for a car. If you really want to save until a better hybrid car comes along, do the environment a favor and utilize bicycle, public transport, walking, and at the very least car pooling to be able to make a difference!
Dave is computer programmer and loves saving money by using coupons and promotional codes. He offers many of these coupon codes on his web site http://www.couponsaver.org
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