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The Hybrid Car Engine

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Your hybrid car’s environment-friendly features lie in its engine. They are a combination of a gas engine and an electric motor that assists a car as it accelerates, slows down and even when it stops. Throughout all these basic actions, the hybrid car engine plays a major role so that the least amount of gas is used and cleaner emissions achieved.

Breaking It Down

Because of the hybrid car’s gas-electric engine, it can run both on gas and electricity. A gas-powered car has a fuel tank and it is this tank that supplies the engine with the gasoline it needs to run. The engine then turns a transmission which is what it essentially behind the turning of wheels.

An electric car’s motor is powered by a set of batteries. In this case, it is the electric motor that turns the transmission that turns the wheels. Although mileage is something that gas-powered cars have been covering with great efficiency in later years, there is still the issue of air pollution, which is something a hybrid car is a solution to.

Since it doesn’t run on gas alone, hybrid motor almost doesn’t produce any pollution at all. But an electric car can only go so far before having to be charged again. Now, by combining these two functions into one, a hybrid car engine attempts to increase mileage while reducing emissions of a gas-powered car and also reducing the use of large amounts of fuel. And to make up for the electric motor having to be charged, it is now left to the gas-powered engine and transmission to charge the cells in the batteries found in a hybrid electric vehicle. It’s a simple solution that has had great and positive effects with respect to fuel economy and eco-friendliness.

Cutting Costs

The hybrid car engine is known to help keep carbon dioxide emissions down, and thus, keep pollution at minimum level as well. But most importantly (to average consumers), hybrid cars can save you money gas and maintenance costs. The engines of these cars are quite small and easy to manage so they last for a very long time and are quite durable.

Considering that many car manufacturers offer free parts replacements on hybrid models, this is probably the best purchase that you can make when considering what car to buy. There is also the added tax break that the US government has promised to all owners of new hybrid vehicles purchased after January 1 2006.

The hybrid car engine is a technology that has been embraced by both car manufacturer and consumer as a means to save the environment from further damage and a cost efficient way to save the planet from the depleting resource of fossil fuels. It is perhaps one of the most overlooked technologies in the world but a growing awareness of these vehicles will eventually lead to a future of more hybrid electric vehicles on city streets and highways.

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August 29th, 2009 at 9:18 am

New Hybrid Car Comparison

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Hybrid cars operate on the concept of utilizing gas and electric motors in maximizing fuel consumption and longer mileage. However, this does not mean that all the hybrid vehicles available on the market all achieve the same mileage and use up the same amount of fuel. Here is a hybrid car comparison of some vehicles from different brand manufacturers.

2007 Prius

The Prius sells for about $23,000 give or take a few dollars. With a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that can manage 76 horsepower and an electric motor with 67 horsepower, a total electric motor assist rate would be about 110 horsepower. The Prius is a front-wheel drive, four door hatchback and is said to achieve 48 miles to the gallon in the city and 45 miles to the gallon on the highway or on longer drives.

2007 Camry

This sedan entry from Toyota is another of their popular luxury hybrids that, much like the Prius, is a four-door and features front-wheel drive. It does have a larger engine, a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder that can achieve 147 horsepower. Its electric motor is much weaker and achieves 40 horsepower which means that mileage and gas is sacrificed. Still, for a hybrid, it performs much better than conventional vehicles and can get about 33 miles to the gallon in both the city and on the highway.

2007 Saturn Aura Green Line

The Saturn boasts of a 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine that can achieve whopping 164 horsepower. This motor basically shuts down the vehicle when it’s on standstill and then automatically restarts it when it moves again.

Though this feature may help save gas when idle, nonetheless, its real electric motor assist cancels out the advantage. This allows for 24 miles to the gallon in the city and 32 miles per gallon on the highway; still a fraction better than a conventional gas-powered vehicle.

2007 Honda Civic Hybrid

Probably the next best thing to a Toyota Prius, the Civic hybrid is one powerful sedan that not only plays the part but looks the part as well. Sleek and luxurious, this beauty from Honda has a tiny 1.3 liter four-cylinder 8-valve engine and full electric motor support that promises 110 horsepower when both engines are in operation to make the car move. The car boasts 49 miles to the gallon on city streets and 51 miles to the gallon on the highway; now that’s competition for Toyota if they haven’t seen it yet.

It all boils down to the technology being used in a hybrid car. For the best performance, you may want to choose one that uses less gas and has full electric motor support to give you the best mileage. Make sure to study your hybrid car comparison before making your hybrid choice.

To get the best hybrid car comparison information, look for the latest reviews. From there, you will be able to find the best car that suits your lifestyle.

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August 19th, 2009 at 9:51 am

Why You Should Try Water Fuel Cell Vehicles

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With the economy, you’re probably already having a tough time paying for the gas that goes in your car, and yet the prices just keep rising. A water fuel cell vehicle could be the answer to your needs. On the one hand, you might have some reservations on this technology. On the other hand, if there’s a way to save money, you should try it.

It might be hard to believe water can actually power a vehicle. It seems too common and ordinary a substance to be properly effective. You might think it’s just a story invented to scam you. Instead, though, you should get to know the truth about this new possibility, and to let go of any commonly held myths you might still believe in.

The thing most people don’t realize is that the water itself is not actually the fuel. Instead, the fuel cells work with your battery, and extract a gas named HHO from the water. This is then what is used to power the car in addition to gasoline, meaning you’ll need less of the latter to get where you need to go in your everyday activities.

It’s natural for people to be worried about their safety when trying something new, especially when that involves the potentially dangerous combination of a car engine and a very powerful type of fuel. Fortunately, because of the way the cells work, your engine will only ever get exactly as much HHO as it needs, and never an excessive amount.

People who argue against the possibility of something like this discuss the fact that products aren’t made or talked about all that much. Yet many people still don’t even know that they have a better option; and those who are aware know that gas companies won’t be happy about something threatening their monopoly, and so might want to stay quiet.

Don’t want to give up the car you’re already using? It’s pretty easy to get detailed instructions for only a couple hundred dollars that will teach you all you need to know about making your own cells. That way, you can simply convert your own car to this cheaper and more environmentally friendly method of getting around town.

Clearly, the concerns about water fuel cell shouldn’t worry you that much. And with all you have to get from them, is there really any reason not to give it a try?

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August 15th, 2009 at 3:02 am

Hybrid Cars and Plug-in Hybrid Cars

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Hybrid cars are on everyone’s lips. Twenty, forty, or fifty dollars for a full tank of petrol? Who in their right mind wants to pay that sort of money? However, frustrated, the fuel consumer sighs, but pays up. However, hybrid vehicles are applauded for the small amount of gas they need to operate, and they are flying off the lots of car dealerships each and everyday in increasing numbers.

However, what about a plug-in hybrid? Most drivers have heard that these vehicles are great as well. So, someone might be asking him or herself, what exactly a plug-in hybrid is? How they work, and what the difference between a plug-in hybrid and a regular hybrid is?

Plug-in hybrids are capable of running just on batteries, but they can run on fuel also. These types of hybrid cars have some of the features of hybrid vehicles. They are also very similar to all-electric vehicles.

Plug-in hybrid cars need to be charged externally by plugging them into an electrical power source. The combustion engine of plug-in hybrid vehicles is engaged only as a back up. These cars can run only on batteries if so desired, but it is to be expected that these types of hybrid cars are recharged every day.

Hybrid cars can go just as many miles as a conventional car. Designed to go the extra mile where fuel-mileage is concerned, hybrids can be driven on the motorway, in cities, or wherever else anybody needs to drive.

On the other hand, plug-in hybrids are meant to handle commuter-type distances, meaning between twenty and sixty miles. Used in this fashion, the plug-in hybrid does not have to make use of its back up combustion engine, but plug-in hybrids can go further using fuel as well.

Hybrids help to reduce pollution, but they do still pollute the air. Compared with plug-in hybrids, hybrid cars still have a long way to go as far as pollution is concerned. Because plug-in hybrid cars can run solely on their battery power, they don’t have to emit waste gases at all.

Plug-in hybrids actually do combat greenhouse gas emissions and plug-in hybrids use virtually no oil, imported or not. Studies have shown that electric hybrids emit at least 67% less greenhouse gases compared to diesel cars. Since the electric used to power plug-in hybrids is completely renewable, the difference in greenhouse gas emissions may be even greater than the study indicated.

And so there you have it. Those are the main differences between plug-in hybrids and regular hybrid cars. It makes a big difference, but you would be surprised how little that matters at the current moment. And that’s only because plug-in hybrids are not being marketed to consumers at this present time. But this article should get you excited about the wonderful plug-in hybrid car, coming soon to a forecourt near you.

And it’s going to be a spectacular debut too. People already really like regular hybrid cars, but they haven’t seen anything until they see the new plug-in hybrid cars. However, for now, maybe they should just be satisfied with what they have, because who knows? Before plug-in hybrid cars come out, something even better might be introduced onto the market.

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August 5th, 2009 at 3:09 am

Water Fuel Cell Kit – An Environmentally Friendly Option

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Many people think that water full cell kit for cars is not a very effective way to power your car, while on the contrary research shows that it’s more than adequate to power you car using water. Today it’s possible for you to purchase high quality water fuel cell kit for your car and save as much as 78% on your gas expenses. These kits are very simple to install, however unfortunately many people don’t seem to know anything about them.

One of the latest kits on the market can help you save thousands of dollars on gas each year simply because it makes your fuel take you farther. Which in turn saves money.

The latest and the hottest new accessories for automobiles is the water fuel cell kit. Over the past few years this technology has received a great deal of attention as an alternative to gasoline and other carbon based fuel solutions. The only by product of water fuel cells are vapor.

With the current high prices of crude oil, gasoline etc on the rise installing water fuel cell in your car makes sense. Car owners today face a dilemma i. E. How to fuel their cars as well as maintain their monthly life style. This is one reason why water fuel cell kits are getting so much attention nowadays. So how does this system work? This article will take a look into this topic.

How does a water fuel cell kit help reduce the money you spend on gas? Well its very simply really, if you are familiar with high school science you probably already know that water is made up of two hydrogen atoms (H2) and one oxygen atom, what the fuel kit does is break water up in to oxygen and hydrogen.

The hydrogen powers the car by venting hydrogen into your car’s intake system. So when hydrogen is generated it’s released into the engine’s combustion chambers. This hydrogen then combines with gasoline fumes. This in turn will increase the potency of the gasoline contained in the chamber making it many times more potent. The large explosion caused by this increased potency produces a higher torque. So this makes your car run for longer distances on the same amount of fuel hence saving you money.

These days these water and fuel cell kits are relatively cheap. This makes purchasing and installing one sensible.

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August 5th, 2009 at 2:52 am

How To Get Better Gas Mileage And Save Fuel

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As fuel prices continue to go up you may be figuring out how to increase gas mileage. If you are looking for ways to improve gas mileage or increase fuel efficiency there are several do it yourself solutions available to consider as part of your standard vehicle maintenance.

Doing a tune up could improve gas mileage up to 20% or more if a faulty oxygen sensor is found. This is extreme but if your engine is idling roughly or hesitating and spiting smoke out the tail pipe then you should and get a full engine tune up you should increase gas mileage and possibly improve the life of your engine saving hundreds or thousands of dollars in future repairs.

Check your tire pressure. Many people overlook this simple maintenance item and it should be checked monthly. By keeping your tires at recommended pressure as stated in the owners manual you could get better gas mileage of 2-3%. Not only that you could save hundreds of dollars of more because when your tires are properly inflated it also maximizes the life of the tire.

Your driving habits can have a real affect on gas mileage. Driving habits could include finding the shortest way to work or the route that is the most direct and has the least amount of stops to your destination. If you have been asking yourself how to improve gas mileage this is a major factor. Check with a free online map service that shows you direct routes.

have you ever used your truck or car trunk as a mini storage unit? By removing every 100lbs in your vehicle you may be increasing gas mileage by a percentage point. a few people are so extreme in this extra weight that they may only keep their gas tank partially filled to remove weight. Gas weighs around 6.1 pounds per gallon. If your are finding ways on to improve gas mileage there are many solutions to help help increase fuel economy.

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June 24th, 2009 at 3:06 am

Which Celebrities Have Driven Hybrid Cars?

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No, it is not true that you could rise to fame and fortune if you went and bought a hybrid car. But a hybrid car is not only a vehicle for the rich and famous but it might be OK for you. Many people are driving hybrid cars these days including some of the most famous people on the planet like your favourite movie stars. But the big question is, should you be driving a hybrid car at all?

So, are you driving anything like a hybrid car? Well, if you are not, you won’t get pally with some of these hybrid car-drivers. These people were very early owners of hybrids cars. You may not see them in a hybrid vehicle when they pull up next to you on Rodeo Drive, but believe me, they’ve owned a hybrid car before. Whatever, trust me or not they have been reported as owning hybrid cars in the past even if they were given them for publicity purposes.

Alicia Silverstone This star certainly thinks about the environment. She knows that driving a hybrid car has many benefits for the environment. And if the general public doesn’t have the understanding that she has, then that’s just hard luck. Alicia knows that hybrid cars are good for the environment and therefore for everyone. So Alicia Silverstone got herself a hybrid car. So she has helped promote this new technology as far as this article goes, which has to be a good thing.

Ellen DeGeneres Well, this funny lady not only has a great haircut, but she was driving a great hybrid car before you probably even knew about hybrid cars. She was probably smiling at you and your gas-guzzler last time she wizzed past you.

Robin Williams Funny and sweet, Robin knew when he played the role of Mrs. Doubtfire that he should probably start thinking more like the sensible driver that you would allow to take your kids to and from school, so Robin got himself a hybrid car, and he hasn’t looked back since.

Ted Danson Cheers! Ted knows a (fantastic|great car when he sees one. He was definitely sober the morning he decided to go check out the new cars on the forecourt. He got up and bought a car that made a great deal of sense. He was making a good choice when he chose a hybrid car.

Brad Pitt What’s up? Certainly, not Brad’s petrol bills ‘cos he’s got a hybrid engine! He’s had a hybrid car, so he knows his car isn’t using that much petrol.

Prince Charles Why, surely, if it’s good enough for royalty, then it’s good enough for the rest of us? That’s how you should feel when you drive a hybrid car. You should feel royal, adorned, and envied because believe it or not, that’s exactly what you are when you choose to drive a hybrid car. So enjoy it.

So, how do you feel? Like a million dollars? Well, you should if you are thinking of buying a hybrid car and don’t worry, you won’t have your 15 minutes of fame, but you will be making a very bold statement that people will understand and many people will applaud what you have done and that will go on for years and years because hybrid cars last for a very long time.

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June 6th, 2009 at 3:48 am

Hydrogen Generator For Cars Can Improve Mileage

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Imagine a tiny power plant small enough to fit under the hood of your car. With your own hydrogen generator for cars, this is the possibility of hydrogen fuel for cars. Hydrogen as a fuel for cars has a great range of benefits. It costs less than gasoline, offers better mileage than gasoline and puts out low to zero emissions.

You can’t get around making your own hydrogen fuel if you don’t happen to live close to a facility that produces hydrogen fuel from which you can get your fuel. There are not many fueling stations for hydrogen fuel in most localities, which is a large disadvantage of deciding to convert to run on hydrogen.

A common way to produce hydrogen gas is called electrolysis. This method produces hydrogen by means of sending electrical currents through water creating a condition that separates the hydrogen and oxygen from the water. The hydrogen will go to one terminal and the oxygen to the other. By storing this hydrogen gas or passing it to a motor or engine that can handle hydrogen gas, you can power a vehicle. There are even plans available to purchase that teach you how to create your own water for gas systems that produce hydrogen and is used as a hybrid with ordinary gasoline.

There is more than one way to make use of a hydrogen generator for cars. You can install a combination system that uses hydrogen produced by a small electrolysis system that gets its power from the existing electrical system in your vehicle. A system to make hydrogen fuel can be made from already designed plans using regular materials that can be found at hardware stores, but some of the more intricate parts need to be special ordered. Complete on-board generator systems are the other possiblity for generating enough hydrogen to be the sole source of fuel.

The hybrid approach reduces both the gasoline consumed by your vehicle and the amount of emissions your vehicle puts out. This saves both money and the environment. This method produces a small amount of hydrogen gas that is fed into your vehicle induction system via the inlet manifold which is fed into the gasoline air/fuel mixture into your vehicle.

The whole enchilada approach for converting to hydrogen gas is to construct a hydrogen generator for cars that will produce enough hydrogen to fuel your vehicle entirely, thereby replacing gasoline. This approach involves both a miniature electrolysis system and storage for generated hydrogen and electrical energy storage. Some vehicle engine modifications might be required making this the most complex and expensive method. But when complete you have a zero emission vehicle costing roughly one-third the cost of the gasoline-powered version to operate.

All things being equal, it makes better sense and is more cost-effective at this point in time to have a hybrid hydrogen generator for cars. There is a limited amount of stations that offer hydrogen fueling and it is hard to repair a hydrogen generator right now, therefore going hybrid appears the safer choice. Indeed, it makes no sense buying a car and then converting it to hydrogen. Let the car manufacture wear this cost as they will also probably provide a warranty. You may void your current warranty if you go down this route. Rather try the hybrid option as this should not void the warranty and is fairly easy to install.

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Purchasing Archos 504

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Back in 2006, a nifty gadget called the Archos 504 hit the market. While a lot of the electronics and technology folks gave it great review, the product went right under the radar of most consumers.

At that time, it was probably a tad more technology than most people were requiring and the price was a little expensive. Now, picking up the Archos 504 personal media player could be a fine idea.

Impressive Capabilities

The Archos 504 is a lightweight device that quite much does everything you’d want a portable media player to perform for you. Let’s say you want to listen to music. The 40 GB model existing on Amazon allows you store up to 20,000 songs that is an impressive library and more than the typical customer maybe has in total.

The Archos 504 does not just play music, however. This portable media player also allows you to store pictures, movies, and even DVDs on its hard drive so you can access them at any time for viewing on the impressive 4.3 inch LCD screen. That’s quite large compared to the screens on the iPod Nano and the Microsoft Zune.

Most of the major formats of music and video are supported, except for the proprietary formats from another businesses. Nevertheless, any MP3s, JPEGs, and WMV files you have will work perfectly.

The rechargeable battery may offer you around 17 hours of music listening (about 5 hours less than most of the products on the market nowadays) but more than 5 hours of video viewing (more than the average for players today). Whether the battery existence is good or bad, truly relies on what you arrange to be doing with it.

Buying Considerations

On the weakness, the media player is a little on the old side. For instance, it was made to operate with Microsoft XP not Vista. The good news is you may still readily acquire accessories for them, as well as the docking station, via Amazon and other retailers.

Now one drawback is the only model sold through Amazon is the 40 GB model for $377. Other options, including the 80 GB model, are available through some of the site’s sellers in either new or used condition for varying prices.

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May 11th, 2009 at 2:44 am

Has technology of the car really come that far?

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How far has car industry technology come in recent years? From being a luxury way back in the 1930’s to the cheap affordable way you can buy them now using car contract hire it is amazing just how far they have come.

One of the best ways I can talk about this is to use my knowledge of games. With this I am going way back to the days of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. I could cover the first ever racing game but seeing as I was only really around from the realease of the SNES it is best that I only cover the time after this. F1 pole position was really the first driving game I had ever played and for 1993 it is a brilliant piece of gaming.

Four years later and a huge difference can be seen between the the last game and the newer version on the next Nintendo console. The graphic jump between the two is simply astounding. The cars went from being 2-D to being 3-D which is huge leap in technology. The next graphical jump doesn’t really occur until the Xbox 360 and PS3 come into the equation as the graphics on the games on these consoles look almost real.V.

Many changes in the car industry have oviously taken place in the same time of the leaps in the gaming industry. The biggest and best in my opinion isn’t the amazing new Ferrari’s you see being released it is in fact the Hybrid car. They save on a lot of energy which is going to be useful when all the oil runs out in the not too distant future and in all honesty some of them look pretty awesome. The newer models of the Hyrbid enable you to put more charge into the battery when you brake the car.

As well as this you have all the crazy TV’s, heated chairs and other gadgets for your car that really are just a waste of money.

The Hybrid car is going to be huge when the prices of oil goes up from the inpending lack of it but for now, when buying a car you need one that looks brilliant and one that is affordable. Getting a leased can save hundreds if not thousands? The Audi contract hire looks pretty good as well as being as little as £214 a month.

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May 4th, 2009 at 2:03 pm