The Prius plays catch-up in the game it started. 2/11/2011
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Drive Time review of the Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid by auto critic Steve Hammes
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Do you need an Electric Car Conversion Kit?

If you are new to conversions, you'll ask,'What's in an electric car conversion kit?' the answer's,'that depends on where you get it'. The easiest conversion kits have only a motor and a compatible controller. You will need a few more items before you are prepared to drive your conversion down the road, items you might or might not have laying round the garage already.

Why would you want a DC kit?
Well, because the DC ( direct current ) motor system is straightforward, less costly, and freely available. This is potentially you, too. ( if you are an electric engineer, ignore all that and just continue with the AC conversion you were already working on. Why get a kit that is's made for a specific car ( a custom kit ) ?

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An electrical vehicle conversion kit as it will save you 150 hours or so of hard, boring, enthusiasm-killing, machine-shop type work.

You'll love building your own battery box and motor mounts. But for the rest of us, especially the first time, you will be most happy getting a kit that fits your donor automobile's dimensions completely - as close to'plug-and-play' as it becomes. Get your easy electric car conversion kit at Gas2Electricity.com! Gas2Electricty uses a guide that is used by mechanices and is designed so that anyone wehter they know a lot about cars or not, can use it. This allows you to do a conversion yourself in the comfort of your home without stress, frustration, or high expenses.

Mechanics Electric Car Conversion Kit

Driver-**** Passenger-**** Earned **** Overall
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Article by Jim Henderson

Are you interested in finding out how to make an electric car cheaply? It used to cost anywhere from ,000 to ,000. But not anymore. New electric car technology has made it much cheaper. The conversion is also easier to do than it used to be. You no longer need to be a super-mechanic.

This is a great time to convert your gas-guzzler into an electric powered vehicle. The New York Times just reported that an electric car infrastructure covering the whole country is in the works right now. Not only that, but you'll be able to specify which source of energy you want. "Will you have wind, sun, or coal energy power your car battery, sir...?" It might sound crazy, but Forbes magazine says this scenario could become a reality in as little as two years!

But you can find out how to make an electric car right now. There are many electric car conversion kits available online. They cost anywhere from to . These sets of instructions are easy to download, so once you purchase one you're ready to start work immediately.

Next you'll need to find the right tools and parts. You can actually get a lot of the necessary equipment for free, or at very low cost. The manuals show you how. If you follow the directions closely, you'll be able to do the whole electric car conversion for as little as 0 (excluding the price of the manual).

When you're finished, your car will look the same. It will be able to go at speeds of 50 mph. You can travel 100 miles on just one charge. When your battery runs low you simply plug it in. Imagine never stopping at a gas station again! In addition, your car doesn't give off any pollution or make unpleasant noises. Electric cars are wonderfully quiet.

One of the best parts about driving an electric car is the huge rebates. That's right. State and federal governments will pay you to drive a renewable energy vehicle. When you add the rebates to all the money saved on gas, you begin to realize that electric car conversion isn't expensive at all. In fact, you'll come out ahead!

It can also be a lot of fun. And you'll learn about batteries. Big batteries that can hold lots of electricity are the next big industry. They're the cornerstone of clean-technology.

It seems pretty clear that gas-powered cars belong to the past. Electric powered cars are the next big thing. It's an amazing future, and by finding out how to make an electric car you can become part of it right now!

About the Author

Find out which electric car conversion kits are the highest rated at Electric Car Conversion Kits.

Alex and I take a drive through Downtown in a hybrid Prius.
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Article by John Rhodes

This article about hydrogen hybrid cars discusses how cars can run on hydrogen and fuel cells, but also hybrid batteries, safety, brands and models, and availability.

Introduction

Nowadays, people are aggressively searching for more ways on how they could save on gas. In effect, companies are being pressured to offer something new to consumers other than their conventional cars. This is evident with their notable development of new technologies that are obviously aimed for fuel economy; one of which would be the hydrogen hybrid car.

Combining Two Innovative Technologies

Hydrogen technology and hybrid technology are two different innovations that are used to save gas, increase your vehicle's power and most of all, make your car more environmental friendly in contrast to conventionally fuelled vehicles. Considering each of them are already powerful solely by themselves, just imagine if these two technologies are combined!

Well, here's the good news, manufacturers have been working on hydrogen hybrid cars and they have finally come up with vehicles that support both of the said technologies! So, here are the essentials on what you should know about hydrogen powered hybrid cars.

How Does It Work?

Hydrogen hybrid cars actually make use of fuel cells. Major carmakers, focus on fuel cells, since they say it's more clean and efficient than mere hydrogen internal combustion engines alone. Rather than burning fuel inside the engine, fuel cells would act more like batteries, where they would use electrochemical reaction between oxygen and hydrogen to produce electricity.

One company that is known to develop fuel cells would be Anuvu, which is actually almost prepared to produce large cargo vans and Nissan Frontier pickups that run on hydrogen and fuel cells.

A Deeper Look

What the company is selling are actually hybrid fuel cell vehicles. This kind of vehicle is the kind that utilizes a quite small fuel cell system in order to provide power to an electric motor, which supplies all the heavy work for the vehicle to move. The car is quite similar to gas-electric hybrids, which are currently on the market. However, this time, the vehicle makes use of fuel cells rather than internal combustion engines.

The stack of fuel cells has the ability to recharge the hybrid battery. Nevertheless, the latter could also be recharged simply by plugging it to a wall. Experts consider it to be an electric car that has all advantages that a car of its kind could have minus the disadvantages.

Trouble Shooting

You wouldn't have to worry about hydrogen leaks either. If ever one occurs, hydrogen hybrid car censors would shut down your fuel cell stack. Nevertheless, there's no need to worry since you could still drive your vehicle for another 30 miles simply by using your vehicle's hybrid battery.

Looking At Mazda

On the other hand, Mazda also has their mixed hybrid and hydrogen car to offer. This would be the Mazda 5, which is known as the Premacy Hydrogen Hybrid in Japan. Nevertheless, whatever name you want to call it, this car is actually a concept vehicle. It is a hydrogen minivan in style. They say that it was based on RX-8 Hydrogen RE car. Mazda 5 is a rotary mild-hybrid bi-fuel which is considered to be the first mass-marketed car of its kind.

The Specs

This car actually runs using both compressed hydrogen gas and gasoline. All you have to do is just press a button on its dashboard and you would transform this minivan to a green vehicle. Press again to change back again whenever you need more distance to be covered.

It introduces a gasoline / bi-fuel hydrogen internal combustion engine. This solves one of the major infrastructure issues circling around where users could buy hydrogen when fuel stations still dominate the main scene. By doing this, hydrogen manufacturers and distributors would be given the incentive and chance to take their distribution network to a massive scale.

This hydrogen hybrid car's rotary engine and hybrid unit are transversely mounted in front of the car having a layout for a front-wheel drive. Additionally, it has a high-voltage battery underneath its 2nd row of seats. The gasoline tank is also near the high-voltage battery, while you can find the hydrogen tank next to the back seats. This kind of arrangement provides you a roomy and comfortable interior. It also gives you excellent driving performance along with environmental benefits.

About the Author

John S. Rhodes talks more about hydrogen hybrid cars at Hybrid Cars, Hybrid Trucks and Hybrid Vans found at http://HybridCarsTrucksVans.com He also discusses hybrid motorcycles and hybrid minivans at that site, offering videos and advice on hybrid batteries and hybrid rental vehicles.

February 8, (Los Angeles) - On assignment for the New York Times, HybridCars.com and PluginCars.com founder and editor Brad Berman was joined by EV advocate and ex-EV1 driver Earl Cox, for the first test drive of the BYD F3DM, the new Chinese plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). Brad discusses the car, its MPG and the expected impact on sales of GM's Chevy Volt and the Toyota Prius. Could this be the Volt but with a Wal-Mart price tag? (Video created and produced by Matt Kelly.)

You may have heard of the new Hybrid cars being mentioned in the news, magazines and car programmes. The Hybrid car is a revolutionary concept that has been created to help protect our environment.

 

The difference between a standard car and the Hybrid car is that the engines run off rechargeable batteries and gasoline opposed to just gasoline or diesel. Hybrid cars can reduce smog up to 90% and can offer much higher fuel economy against a normal car engine. Eventually the idea is that everyone will drive a Hybrid car providing fuel efficient transportation which will effectively reduce pollution from car fumes alongside decreasing the worry for rising gas prices.

 

Hybrid car engines run an electric motor when accelerating during this time the gasoline side of the engine is shut down. When the batteries need to be charged again the gasoline engine wills start again. When the hybrid car brakes it usually will return to the electric motor side because of the lower amount of power needed when braking for an extended amount of time.

 

Hybrid cars are a wonderful concept for our environment; they can effectively get 55-60 miles per gallon over inner city driving. This is actually more than three times better then many of today’s economical SUV's! Another impressive factor is against the new electric cars in that the Hybrid car does not require limited use and there is no need to recharge their engines. Electric cars require recharging anywhere from 50-100 miles. The hybrid engine has the ability to recharge itself with the gas side of it. This means that long distance travel is never a worry for the fuel efficient auto enthusiasts with today's hybrid motors. Also a massive disadvantage the electric car has is performance. Most electric cars are only able to reach a top speed of around 60 miles per hour whereas the hybrid engine will perform just the same speeds as the standard cars.

 

If you are looking for more information on this cutting edge car visit your local dealer or you can research a large amount of information by searching online.

Roadfly road tests the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Prius PHV doesn't require a special charging station. With a standard household 110V electrical outlet, you can recharge it in approximately three hours. With a dedicated 220V outlet, recharging takes just one and a half hours. It's that easy. And as more cities and businesses build public and private charging stations, it will be even easier. The Prius PHV features electric-only driving for a maximum of approximately 13 miles, plus an anticipated 50 MPG-rated hybrid driving that totally eliminates range anxiety. This new Toyota technology features lithium-ion batteries which offer a great opportunity for renewable energy. Roadfly.com - www.roadfly.com Car Forum - http RoadflyTV - www.youtube.com Facebook - www.facebook.com Twitter - twitter.com
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There is an increasing trend of owning hybrid cars. What is that special something about a hybrid car that is now attracting more and more people to get one for their own?

For starters, if you're a hybrid driver, you'll cut your fuel consumption in half. Gas prices are on a constant rise and will not fall at all. When compared to conventional cars, hybrids need roughly have as much gas to go the same distance. This means fewer trips to the gasoline station.

The government is also taking steps to promote the hybrid technology. Back in 2005, the President of the United States signed a bill that offered great tax incentives to any consumer that purchased a hybrid.

Depending on where you live, you might even enjoy free parking and tolls too!

You can feel better about owning a hybrid too. By employing both an electric and a gas-powered motor, hybrid cars emit less pollution.

By combining the two sources of power, gasoline and electric, a hybrid vehicle can reach higher speeds with less effort, it also guzzles less gas in gridlock traffic. The hybrid automobile was conceived of as a direct result of the demand that the automobile industry create cars less reliant on foreign oil and less polluting for the planet. Keep in mind that it's not necessary to charge the hybrid vehicle through an electrical outlet. Hybrids charge themselves by means of power usually lost during coasting and braking and can also be charged by the car's gasoline engine.

Hybrid buyers typically find a better ROI on their purchase for the long run. A hybrid also tends to carry a resale value closer to the cost of the initial sale tag. Anyone looking to sell or trade a pre-owned hybrid should be sure that you will get more of what you paid for it. If there is one major complaint about the hybrid car, it is the higher than average price tag when compared to similar cars in its class. However, the hybrid car still wins out in that it saves its owners money over the life of the car in gas costs.

Plug-in Hybrids: The Cars that will Recharge America

A politically polarized America is coming together over a new kind of car—the plug-in hybrid that will save drivers money, reduce pollution, and increase US security by reducing dependence on imported oil.
 
Plug-in Hybrids points out that, where hydrogen fuel-cell cars won’t be ready for decades, the technology for plug-in hybrids exists today. Unlike conventional hybrid cars that can’t run without gasoline, plug-in hybrids use gasoline or cheaper, cleaner, domestic electricity—or both. Although plug-in hybrids are not yet for sale, demand for them is widespread, coming from characters across the political spectrum, such as:
 
• Chelsea Sexton, the automotive insider: working for General Motors, S

List Price: $ 16.95 Price:

We took a spin yesterday in the Ford HySeries Edge, the world's first working plug-in, fuel-cell, hydrogen-powered car, which the Detroit automaker plans to show off as a concept at the New York auto show tomorrow. Though wafting zero-emissions exhaust in our face taught us plenty as to the realities of a hydrogen-powered automotive experience, what really made our test special was actually being able to drive a car running on advanced hydrogen fuel-cell technology that can power itself with a 336-volt battery pack. For more videos from Popular Mechanics visit: www.popularmechanics.com Everything from the World of Popular Mechanics: www.popularmechanics.com Subscribe to Popular Mechanics: subscribe.hearstmags.com -
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Because of the constant increase in fuel prices, many people are now considering getting rid of their gas guzzling conventional car and are now purchasing a cheaper alternative. Some people purchase cars with smaller engines for fuel efficiency and some people are now thinking of purchasing the car with the latest technology that enables them to cut fuel consumption by half.

These cars are called plug-in hybrid cars. With this car, you will be able to cut fuel consumption by more than half by taking advantage of the hybrid technology that many car manufacturers are now integrating in their new car models. Although plug in hybrid cars have existed for quite some time now, it was only about a few years ago that it was released in the market. Plug-in hybrid cars are cars that combine the gasoline energy and the electric energy to run or to propel the car. Plug-in hybrid cars will enable you to run your car up to a hundred miles per gallon depending on the engine and the battery installed.

If you think that getting a good mileage per gallon is non existent, think again. With the technology being integrated by car manufacturers in their hybrid vehicles, it is now possible. This vehicle has two engines to run your car. One is the gasoline engine and the other is the electric motor. Just imagine a car that has an extension cord that you can plug-in in your home electricity outlet to recharge. You do not even to worry about the cost of your electric bill because the recharging will just be equal to less than a dollar per gallon.

Just imagine a car that has two fuel sources. If one runs out, the car will still be able to run. You do not have to plug in your plug-in hybrid car but if you do, your vehicle becomes an electric vehicle that will be able to run quietly, cleaner, cheaper and more efficient than conventional gasoline powered cars. You have to consider that the gasoline tanks are there for long driving purposes.

However, when you are only driving locally, you do not need to fill your car with gasoline. All you need to do is plug-in your car to your home's electric outlet and once it is fully charged, your car will be ready to go using the electric motor. Imagine the savings that you can get with a plug-in hybrid car. However, these things are not the only benefits that you can get with plug-in hybrid cars. You will be shocked once you find out about the other benefits that you can get with a hybrid car. If you have a hybrid car, the service cost will tend to be lower because it is mainly electric. Another great thing about plug-in hybrid cars is that it will be able to power your home in case of power outage. It can act as an electricity generator.

Recently, tax incentives have been imposed by the government to hybrid car buyers. This means that as a buyer of a plug-in hybrid car, you will be able to enjoy tax breaks. You will also help improve the condition of the environment because it runs on the cleanest energy source available, which is electricity. This means that the car will produce no toxic emissions when it is running on electricity. Also, when it runs on gasoline, the emissions are also very low because of the small size of the gasoline engine.

These are some of the benefits that you can get with plug-in hybrid cars. So, if you think that you are spending too much on gasoline for your gas-guzzling conventional vehicle, you can start saving money by getting a plug-in hybrid car.

To help support Climate Denial Crock of the Week Go to climatecrocks.com This video inaugurates a new series, that will augment, but not replace, "Climate Denial Crock of the Week". Many people seem to think dealing with climate change will bring poverty and limit human development. The truth may be exactly the opposite. Moving to a world of where we aren't fighting each other over the last few drops of oil, where energy is free, will mean a better life, with greater opportunities even for an expanding population. If we make the right decisions, we could be on the verge of the most prosperous period in human history. Climate Denial Crocks will be back soon to tweak trolls and ding deniers. www.ferc.gov www.environmentamerica.org www.udel.edu www.udel.edu newenergynews.blogspot.com climateprogress.org

Article by Wendy Gorman

Well that’s a truism that probably applies to buying anything, but the good news is that in the case of Hybrid Cars any negatives are identifiable before you purchase. So, what are these disadvantages of owning a Hybrid Car? Well don't worry, they are quite straightforward and don't require to be taken back to the dealer to fix!

Hybrid cars are less popular than some people would have you believe

Approximately 50% of consumers are considering the purchase of a Hybrid Car in the near future. The reason it’s not higher is probably because the prices of Hybrid Cars are still above conventional ones. In addition, the knowledge that Hybrid Cars depend upon battery packs in the main for their automotive force is still looked upon with some concern by the average motorist. What is the main cause of the concern? It is the dreaded possibility of a Hybrid Car being left high and dry with battery failure. Some potential Hybrid Car purchasers are reluctant to take the risk of what they see as an expensive item.

A true valuation of a Hybrid Car can be difficult to achieve

A wide spectrum of opinion exists on the subject of Hybrid Cars and people’s views differ markedly. Much research has been done on Hybrid Cars and what people are looking for in the product so 'data overload' is a real possibility as you try to refine your own opinion. Buying a Hybrid Car is the same as buying anything else. Some Hybrid cars are better than others and some satisfy their owners better than others. As always it’s individual choice that counts. Some people find Hybrid Cars useful, others believe that the drawbacks out way the advantages.

Hybrid cars may go out of fashion in the next few years

Clearly, Hybrid Cars are rapidly becoming the next 'must have' fashion item. Hence some people call Hybrid Cars the "wave of the future". With their leading edge technology and environmental credentials, Hybrid Cars can seem 'real cool'. The issue is "what lies around the corner? The Hybrid car as we know it has not yet completed its development phase and become a mature, stable product. It could just be that the next development replaces the concept before its even fully developed. The auto industry continues to invest big time in research aimed at find ways to be ever less dependent on fossil fuels.

Hybrid Car battery packs are said to be designed to last for the lifetime of the car

Manufacturers of Hybrid Cars usually give warranties on their battery packs for between eight and ten years. This is a good sign on the surface, but how good was any warrantee that you have ever bought? Small print might come into play with a Hybrid Car warrantee just as it does anywhere else. What risk might it leave you with? Well, basically the usual unknowns but in the case of a Hybrid Car, do you know the cost of repairs, particularly if its a battery associated problem? - Probably not. This gives unknown risks with a Hybrid Car that for any other car would be known.

It is easy to think you know all about Hybrid Cars when maybe the truth is different

When contemplating the purchase of a Hybrid Car, recognise that you are purchasing still-evolving technology. Therefore be prepared for unexpected developments that might just take the edge of your new pride and joy - The Hybrid Car.

About the Author

Wendy Gorman is an accomplished author and niche website developer. She is committed to exploring the question "what is a hybrid car?" and also to explain how to buy a hybrid car.Visit her sites now to better understand the hybrid car marketplace and its future.