Lightning Hybrid Cars » Autos, Trucks and More

Homemade Biodiesel Is It The Right Fuel For The Future

lightning — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 12:49:28 +0000

If you sometimes sit back in your chair and watch, with an element of incredulity, the violence that inevitably breaks out whenever climate related political summits occur, then you can see an element of the tension that is slowly but surely building up around the world. Now we are coming to understand how unsustainable our lives are. Nobody can justify this kind of violence, and it makes us think how these individuals can be so angry and driven, but then when we look at all the material that scientists now give us and realize that our crazy lifestyles really are alien to the sustainable future of our planet. Everyone of us has to take steps to cut down, in aggressive fashion, the energy that we use, both at home and at work and be responsible for what is happening all around us. Greenhouse gases are building up in our atmosphere due to our use of those traditional fossil fuels – gas, coal and oil, raising our Earth’s temperature and threatening considerable harm to future generations unless we act quickly.

As always, political developments are slow and we are often frustrated by the inability of our political leaders to make headway. Recent and crucial talks in Copenhagen resulted in only moderate agreement and few, tangible results. Each one of us has to take action and we are aware, for example, that we need to cut back on our transportation needs. Public transportation is very underused and we tend to scoff at the idea of carpooling, riding a bicycle, or even walking! Most of us are not sufficiently aware of environmental reasons to cut back on energy use, even though we recently saw just how volatile the supply chain can be during 2008, when gasoline prices went through the roof.

Our cars, trucks and buses are huge polluters of the environment and the automotive industry in the United States in particular is slow to shrug off the vestiges of an era when gas guzzlers were totally acceptable. Once, it was acceptable to drive the lumbering, cumbersome and thirsty vehicle, especially when gasoline was much less than a dollar per gallon.

Now we know that biodiesel fuel represents a much more palatable option. It is derived from widely available agricultural sources. It is produced by mixing vegetable oil or leftover fats with methanol through separation. With a little bit of application and ingenuity, making biodiesel at home is a very viable solution. As a rule of thumb, homemade biodiesel in undiluted form can be used in your diesel engine vehicle with no additional effort, but many vehicles use a blend of conventional petrodiesel and biodiesel, called B20, B40, etc.

Biodiesel may not yet have “arrived” in terms of popular culture, but as our desire to cut back on consumption, to explore alternative hybrid vehicles and to generally live greener lives increases, we’re sure to see more emphasis on this renewable form of energy. When this special fuel does eventually become widely available to people all around the world, we will have a much better chance at slowing the incredible rate of global ecological change.

Top Three Reasons To Get A Hybrid Car

admin — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:06:25 +0000

A hybrid car is a tough competitor to its former cousin. There are various critical reasons based on which many people prefer a hybrid car to any other car. Amongst many, here are 3 reasons to get a hybrid car rather than the conventional cousin and enjoy its benefits.

Hybrid cars can be appealing for you to opt for buying one. Hybrid cars are made of light weight materials and are smaller in size and therefore require less fuel. Also, since it is made up of light weight material, they are smaller in size and register economical fuel needs.

Further, another good reason for you to purchase a hybrid car is its less fuel consumption feature. They are made to achieve 15% to 50% more fuel efficiency which directly cuts the amount of oil consumed. And oil, as we are all aware, is now a precious commodity. Extracting oil is usually an expensive task and it is required that we save oil consumption as much as possible. To ensure perseverance of the required oil, various military activities and wars have happened in the past.

Among the 3 reasons to get a hybrid car, another concrete reason is good savings when you have a hybrid car. Hybrid cars are known to have a higher resale value. In addition, the insurance cost of hybrid cars are less than that of ordinary cars. Also, it does not cost you a high amount to maintain your hybrid car. Some cities in the US have dedicated lanes for hybrid cars ensuring optimum speed. In UK, the owners of hybrid cars can park their cars for free. Therefore, besides saving on fuel, oil and money, you can be assured of other specialty services if you own a hybrid. However, in total, the luxuries and facilities depend on where you are located.

The make and appearance of hybrid cars also allow you to add more features into your car as per your needs. Therefore, buying a hybrid can is definitely a good option.

Visit this website for more information on Hybrid cars and find out the advantages of hybrid cars.

Hybrid Cars

Would You Like To Discover How To Build Your Own Electric Car?

lightning — Sun, 30 May 2010 13:04:36 +0000

Chances are you are like millions of other people, trying to live a normal life while saving money and improving the environment. The current economy is tough and while the price of fuel has seen some decline, you can do better. With the book, “build your own electric car“, you will gain a tremendous amount of information for converting your existing gas powered car into one that runs on electricity. In addition to the huge savings for fuel, you are also doing your job to support a green world.

The developer of this book comes from a different vantage point. His entire family has spent 15 years living green. Using both solar and wind power, and making the revolutionary discover of converting a car to electricity himself, he can now pass on his knowledge so that you too can benefit.

Build your Own Electric Car offers a wealth of information and valuable tips for using renewable resources. While electric cars are nothing new, when making a hybrid car comparison you will discover that a new hybrid car costs lots of money. However, taking the same concept, a new and improved method was developed, one that literally converted a gas powered vehicle into one that runs on electricity. All a person has to do is follow the instructions and in no time, have a fully functional and practical car that costs near nothing to operate.

The book, Build your Own Electric Car” is unique in that it was written by a person with a passion for using renewable resources. The educational information in the book is simply amazing, showing people how they can stop paying high costs for gas with a simple conversion. The solution the author developed was so successful for him and his family, he made the decision to share what he learned with others so they too could benefit.

The conversion process provided in “Build your own Electric Car” is easy but you will also be given other valuable insight that includes:

* Cutting fuel costs to almost zero
* Cleaning up and supporting a better environment
* Getting significant IRS refunds

This book is extremely affordable and the tips to convert your car will cost you only a couple hundred dollars. Using reconditioned batteries and natural power is all you need, along with the knowhow in the book. In addition to the main book “Build your own Electric Car”, you will also receive four bonus books, all pertaining to sustainable energy.

When the conversion is finished, you will be able to drive your car at normal highway speeds and go up to 100 miles on just on charge. The developer of “Build your own Electric Auto” is so confident that he provides a 100% guaranteed that anyone using the information provided would succeed. This means the cost of expensive fuel is forever eliminated.

The Very Best Approaches to Making A Hybrid Car Comparison

lightning — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 17:18:10 +0000

Hybrid cars tend to be hot nowadays. This is not a fad which will drop its lure later on, with the technologies, gas mileage, and overall environmental issues which it in unison attempts to resolve.

So before you dash to the dealer, start studying the several hybrid cars and trucks available on the market currently, it will be well worth the effort to make a hybrid car comparison making use of several factors.

We could begin with a few of the hybrid cars models now available and are worth comparing. There is a Toyota Prius, the Honda Insight, the Honda Civic Hybrid, and the Honda Accord Hybrid. Fundamental essentials 4 major hybrid cars and trucks available at dealers in your place today.

Your options are also a great deal improved with the availability of the Ford Escape Hybrid. This was the first hybrid suvs obtainable. But you also have a option with Lexus RX 400h, Toyota Highlander plus the Mariner Hybrid.

Primary Consideration Will be The Gas Mileage

Automobiles sold in the united states nowadays, around the average, will get a combined highway and city EPA gasoline use estimation of some 20.4 miles per gallon (mpg). All hybrid cars, you’ll find, possess EPA number well above than what specified previously.

Honda Insight was specifically made for getting the best mileage, making it the undisputed best hybrid car in terms of fuel useage. The original manual transmission hybrids have EPA quotes of 60 mpg within the city and 66 mpg on the highway. The automatic version conversely has transmission rated somewhat lower at 57 city/56 highway.

The second best option is the latest type of the Prius at 60 city/51 highway. It can be seen that the city estimate is greater than the highway estimation due to this hybrid car’s capacity to perform on battery power alone at low rates of speed.

Size Does Count

An additional factor to consider with hybrid cars will be the size. With earlier styles, hybrid cars only came in 2 sizes. First is the small size car. The second is the significantly scaled-down size. However hybrid manufacturers are presently reacting to consumer’s particular needs. And because these suppliers somehow realize that the consumers had realized how to compare hybrid cars, all of them are making upgrades.

But let’s return to the size factor. When considering size of a certain hybrid vehicle number of passengers as well as common loads you will be transporting.

The Honda Civic Hybrid is a stream-lined sedan. It offers five seats and has a general look similar to that of non-hybrid Civic. The inside is the same size, although the trunk of this hybrid is marginally smaller to accommodate the battery.

The Prius models have five traveler capacity, and was recently redesigned and evolved in to a mid sized category auto. This relatively larger release includes a versatile hatch back.

The Appearance

The last consideration will be the appearance. You are able to choose a hybrid vehicle that looks like the other available models, or you might want to be completely different. In any case, this can be one of the number of reasons why hybrid cars are hot today and was able to penetrate the Us marketplace effectively within a short period of time.

Hybrid Cars

Some Of The Reasons Why Hybrid Automobiles Are Usually So Popular | Hybrid Automobiles

lightning — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 04:14:49 +0000

Hybrid automobiles are vehicles that employs 2 or even more distinct sources of power to get powered with the hybrid engine. Amongst the actual power options for a hybrid automobile there are gasoline or diesel fuel, on-board or out-board rechargeable energy storage systems (RESS), hydrogen, wind, compressed or fluid natural gas, solar, coal, wood or other solid combustibles, etc. The term hybrid car or vehicle is employed normally to refer to hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) by which an internal combustion engine is merged with one or more electric motors.

As stated before, there are more hybrid vehicles beside hybrid automobiles we will primarily deal with here. Just think of mopeds and electric bicycles. These types of will be the rather basic varieties of hybrid vehicles. The combination between a gas engine or a battery and the physical power of the muscles is definitely superior. The heavy hybrids cover the industrial or supply vehicles such as ships, hydraulic machines, buses, locomotives and so on. Usually, whenever reading through a hybrid car comparison, the actual term hybrid car-vehicle is used to pertain to hybrid electric vehicles. This range comprises of the following types of cars: AHS2 (Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Silverado, Cadillac Escalade, Saturn Vue), Toyota Prius, Ford Escape Hybrid, Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Honda Civic Hybrid, Honda Insight and many others. A gas-electric hybrid car ordinarily gets its power through an internal combustion motor (gasoline or diesel engine) and an electric battery.

The roots of the hybrid car are to be found in early 1900s whenever David Arthurs made the very first hybrid ever. Other than the combination of gasoline motor and electrical engine, there are other propulsion options applied, mainly a single motor only. They’re additionally regarded by many people for being like the hybrid car. Actually the latter ought to be more correctly called dual mode vehicles (electric trolleybuses, dual mode buses, flexible-fuel vehicles, etc).

A hybrid car presents many benefits from your environment perspective and there are 2 factors to take into account here. First of all, you get to do something for your atmosphere and mankind, but you additionally cut costs on gasoline. Both of these advantages and advantages as a result of the hybrid car are tributary to at least three elements in the design: the combination of gasoline and the electric motors, a battery with plenty of storage capacity and the possibility to re-capture important amounts of energy, which are normally wasted while braking.

Hybrid Cars

The Top Quality Produced Toyota Hybrid Cars Stand Out From The Others

lightning — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:17:53 +0000

Toyota hybrid cars were among the first manufactured in their categories. After decades of quality gas-fueled vehicle manufacturing, Toyota Motor Corp. redirected its creative efforts in an environment friendly direction. The first model from the Toyota hybrid cars was Prius that made a true revolution in the world of automakers.

The next hybrid vehicle introduced to the Japanese market place (after the Prius) was the Toyota Estima hybrid minivan. This minivan was introduced in Japan in 2001, as being the initial mass-made four-wheel drive hybrid.

Toyota hybrid cars stand out from among the other models on the market by their multi-leveled superiority: the engine, the mph rate it gets within a few seconds and all the road conditions it provides are some of the best, not to mention that the reliability of the concept and the price are equally profitable for car owners.

The cylinders were also improved with the Toyota hybrid cars but the upgrades have not reached the maximum development point. Not everybody is ready to embrace vehicles in the green line, and this is the reason why the production as such remains pretty limited. People interested in Toyota hybrid cars find info and assistance with local dealers, and they are the ones to intermediate the purchase. Before going for the purchase, check the technical data and even compare them together with a pro in the field .

The bad part is that more advanced Toyota hybrid cars are worth a fortune, and they are far from the reach of the average user who cannot afford to buy up to $165,000 for a car even if it has a much lower fuel consume. The future model expected to be unveiled in January 2010 is the one to keep the consumers hopes up. New Toyota hybrid cars will be designed as a more powerful and larger vehicle with an engine growth to 1.8 liters. The range of all-electric fuel-free driving option will be created without making Toyota models bulkier.

Even if the future Toyota hybrid cars will undergo some upgrading, they will still operate on the nickel metal hydride batteries without offering any plug-in choice. The Prius design to be launched will be available in several models from the wagon and the pickup to the compact and mid-sized SUV. The new Toyota hybrid cars owe a great deal to the first Prius models with the all-electric mode available for anything below high speeds. Then, the joint power engine of the gas and hybrid engine devices will allow you to enjoy the speed of a comfortable ride while saving on fuel.

Hybrid Cars

Enjoy The Advantage Of Owning Hybrid Suvs

lightning — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:42:17 +0000

It seems that when we say hybrid suvs we actually make a mistake, as it sounds like an oxymoron. Why is that? SUVs are expensive vehicles and whoever purchases one probably has enough cash to maintain and fuel it.Yet, with the oil prices hitting the roof, more economic vehicles are necessary, and hybrid SUVs happen to match the requirements. Besides, there is this tendency and policy all over the world to make people aware of the importance of our planet’s resources which we have been using wastefully. Therefore, we should all be concerned about having hybrid vehicles which are more fuel-efficient.

These were the premises for the transformation of the power SUV vehicles in to hybrid SUVs. When you decide to buy hybrid SUVs, keep in mind the fact that not all of them are advantageous when it comes to the costs, which means that you have to do some research before picking up among the diverse hybrid SUVs. To be of help in this matter, analysts at automotive-cost tracking Web site IntelliChoice.com ran a study for CNNMoney.com, in which they investigated and put side by side projected 5-year ownership costs for hybrid vehicles the average expected costs of which were similar to SUVs. The elements followed in this study were fuel, maintenance, finance costs and depreciation. Analysts wanted to learn whether specific costs measured up to their expectations. They also compared the difference amounts between non hybrid and hybrid SUVs. The research revealed that hybrids beat expectations with approximately $4,000.

Among the hybrid SUVs advertised on the market at present, we could count a number of vehicles like Lexus hybrid, Acura RD-X, BMW X5 Hybrid, Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Equinox, Dodge Durango, Ford Escape, Lexus RZ 400h, Saturn VUE, to name just a few of them. So, as you can see almost all the big automobile companies have become interested in doing something about the environment and finance and have already come up with a number of hybrid SUVs on the market.

How much can a hybrid engine save in terms of fuel? All the data available are statistical as the calculations are approximated and influenced not only by the initial price but also by the driving specificity of every owner. All in all hybrid SUVs, and hybrid vehicles in general, though bulkier, seem to bear their bigger weight better than conventional vehicles, and this is apparent if we consider the problem of fuel efficiency and costs. Consequently, choosing from hybrid SUVs types is a true pleasure; take a driving test and see for yourself. Hybrid SUVs are definitely worth paying for.

Gasoline Proficient Plus High-Class Lexus Hybrid Cars

lightning — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:18:49 +0000

Lexus hybrid vehicles are the consequence of better than 10 years of major scientific endeavors and specialized changes that eventually proved rewarding. The improved Lexus hybrid vehicles include the GS 450h saloon performance, the RX 400h SUV and the LS 600h saloon luxury flagship; all the three styles are a major mark to the consumer market that low emissions, ride proficiency, high power and energy benefits are possible in our century.

the top design from the Lexus hybrid models is the 1st type of car within its category not to mention that it also scores the record as the very 1st back wheel drive hybrid auto. This kind of car translates as little stress in the natural environment, yet also more rewards for person who rides it.

The fuel-powered engine works in combination with a quite sophisticated electrical engine that takes care of the operation of the auto from standstill to instant motion. Even if the engine is the 6.-liter model,

The Lexus hybrid engine proves outstanding by means of the quite low emission range. Apart from the environmental advantages that electrical vehicles stand for there are the major results and goal achievements of hybrid and electrical vehicles in general, and Lexus hybrid models also bring an large degree of enjoyment that is just specific to luxury vehicles such as the reclining ottoman or the Shiatsu massage system.

The power button in a Lexus hybrid will only activate the electric power system, and although you’ll be pressing the acceleration, there are no gas emissions whatsoever

the most important accomplishment in the creation of the Lexus hybrid vehicles is that the 2 power sources, electrical and fuel-based can be capable to work as one single system. This is reflected in the way the electronically controlled continuously variable transmission works allowing smooth acceleration possible without the inconvenience of changing gears several times. This kind of transmission equipment has a crucial impact in the saving energy properties specific to Lexus hybrid vehicles.

Furthermore, the noise level changes to very low levels, you’ll be operating a quiet vehicle that will not bother either the occupants or the neighbors.

How long can an electrical battery work properly? That is the main problem for anyone purchasing a Lexus hybrid. The manufacturer states that the battery power is designed for extended life usage: it is a 288V Nickel Metal-Hydride device that is located in the back part of the car so as to ensure a good weight distribution in the economy of the vehicle. eventually, a Lexus hybrid car are more silent and energy saving from acceleration to slowing down. When slowing down and you press the break pedal, the engine becomes a generator. motion power that is reduced and lost is captured and transformed into electrical energy that is sent back to the battery recharging

Hybrid Cars

Toyota’s Creates a Solar Powered Vehicle

admin — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 04:38:16 +0000

One of the most popular Hybrid cars on the market today is the Toyota Prius. It is both compact and economical, with a starting price of just $22,400. This price puts the Prius within the realms of possibility for the average, although environmentally-conscious, individual.

The third generation of Toyota Prius, the 2010 model, has EPA ratings of 51 miles per gallon in the city, and 49 miles per gallon on the highway. Even for a hybrid, that’s not bad, and it’s a step up from earlier years’ Toyota Prius models.

But a new pricing structure is lined up for this hybrid. The Toyota Prius I, II, III, IV, and V are reportedly already available.

The most economical model is the Toyota Prius I, which should run for around $21,000, while the Prius V starts at $27,670.

The new line of Priuses will include a range of features, but it gets better.. A solar-powered roof package is available for the Toyota Prius II, III, and IV Models – but not for the V.

The solar roof system costs between $3,600 and $4,500. It uses solar panels to supplement the vehicle’s power and to get even better mileage. This package also includes a solar-powered ventilation system, a navigation system, a power tilt/slide moon roof, and remote-control air conditioning (for those of us who just can’t be bothered to lean forward and turn the knob?)

With the combination of hybrid technology and solar power, a whole new range of fuel efficiency may be well within our grasp. The solar powered version is said to make mileages of up to 70 mpg possible, under ideal circumstances.

If you live in or often visit a sunny climate, the solar roof might go a long ways in reducing your gas bill and pollution emissions.

Under some (although somewhat theoretical) circumstances, the driver of a solar-powered Toyota Prius might never need to buy gas at all.

But at the very least, a driver of a solar powered Prius who uses the vehicle’s “eco” settings and follows basic guidelines can expect to stop for gasoline far less often – so infrequently, in fact, that he should probably take care not to forget to stop for gas at all.

About the author: Megan Barlow helps others learn how they can live greener and more environmentally friendly lives.

To learn more, visit her blog, Green Gadget.

Source Article: Solar Powered Toyota Prius

New Hybrid Fuel Saving SuperTurboCharger

lightning — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 02:26:09 +0000

VanDyne SuperTurbo, a member of the Rocky Mountain Innovation Initiative’s incubator program, will design, develop and produce a hybrid superturbocharger that can deliver fuel savings of 25 percent in passenger vehicles and heavy-duty engines.

VanDyne SuperTurbo Inc. has just spun out of Fort Collins-based Woodward Governor, where the technology for the superturbocharger was developed during the past four years. The spinoff will bring the product to the high-volume automotive market, which does not fit in with Woodward’s core business lines of aerospace, and power generation and industrial controls. Woodward Governor will retain an equity position in the company.

The superturbocharger technology allows automotive companies to reduce the size of their engines while maintaining performance. Results have shown a 25 percent to 30 percent efficiency improvement for gasoline engines and a 7 percent to 10 percent improvement for diesel engines.

VanDyne SuperTurbo Inc. is effectively a new company determined to develop products that will help manufactures cut the fuel consumption and reduce the carbon emissions of their engines, no matter what fuel they are using. According to local reports, low-volume production is slated for late 2011.