Monthly Archives: May 2009

Author : Hilal Abdelwali

Hybrid cars are considered to be the car of tomorrow Because of the benefits it can give you, you will definitely want to get one for your own In fact, more and more people are now considering selling their conventional car and purchase a hybrid car So, why is it that more and more people prefer getting a hybrid car instead of a conventional car even if hybrid car retail prices are far more expensive?

The answer to this is that these people are thinking of the long term benefits that a hybrid car can give With a hybrid car, you can cut fuel consumption in half compared to conventional cars Hybrid cars will be able to give you maximum fuel efficiency It will be able to give you far better mileage to the gallon Just imagine, with a hybrid car, you can get more than 60 miles to the gallon of gasoline

This is because hybrid cars run on two engines One is the conventional internal combustion engine that you will find in conventional cars and the other is the electric motor and batteries Hybrid cars are basically cars that combine electric energy and gasoline energy By combining these two to power your car, it will run quieter, cleaner and far more efficient than conventional cars These are the main advantages of hybrid cars

Another advantage is that you will be able to save more money from tax breaks imposed by the US government to hybrid car users and buyers If you own a hybrid car, you will be able to enjoy tax breaks Also, you will be able to enjoy free parking and other incentives that the government imposed on hybrid car owners

Now that you know about the main pros of the hybrid cars, you also need to know what the cons of hybrid cars are

People have been purchasing hybrid cars because of the ability of saving a lot of money from fuel consumption However, the main advantage of hybrid cars, which is the electric motor, is also its downfall When a hybrid car is involved in an accident it will be difficult for you and the rescuers to get you out of the car because of the dangers of electrocution Hybrid cars carry large amounts of voltage When it gets involved in an accident, wires from the battery may tear off and will be potentially dangerous to handle

Another disadvantage of hybrid cars is that the retail price is higher than conventional cars in the same weight class However, the hybrid car can counter this disadvantage by allowing consumers to save money in a long term basis When you look at it in a long term basis, hybrid cars tend to be cheaper than conventional cars Try and compute the amount of gasoline both cars will consume during its lifetime and add it to the retail price of the car You will see that the conventional car will tend to be more expensive than hybrid cars when you look at it in a long term basis

These are the pros and cons of hybrid cars You can see that it contains more advantages than disadvantages Most hybrid cars today are now integrated with the latest technology in car safety So, if you are planning to purchase a car, think hybrid

Hilal Abdelwali, Ph.D. in Automotive Engineering. SAE Member Since September 2001. Expert in Automotive Engineering and Hybrid Cars.
Internet Marketer. Owner of http://TheHybridCarsSite.com, and http://MyHotProducts.com Site.

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Author : Gregg Hall

Owners of hybrid cars are taking the plunge for those of us still driving the regular gas-only engine cars Although they are getting some perks for having these electric/gas hybrids, they still want to improve their gas mileage In fact, although some drivers have reported much better gas mileage than they had with their regular cars, they are finding that their expectations have not been met quite the way they imagined they would be In these cases, some hybrid owners have actually made it something of a game to try and get better and better mileage

It appears that the expectations are high with hybrids Some models of hybrids are getting in the 60 mpg range for cities and highways For some owners, however, the expectations are not being met because regular consumers are not driving like a trained tester Experts on hybrid cars and driving in general are trying to consult with the owners to show them that the mileage guides were not deceiving them after all After some workshops done with hybrid drivers, owners have reported much better mileage after taking advice from the experts The added bonus from mileage tips for hybrids is that they also work for those of us who have not yet been able to make the switch over to these mileage makers

For certain hybrid cars, the term “pulse and glide” is becoming popular This basically translates to finding the zone with the hybrid where energy use leveled off between the electric and gas engines Lexus and Toyota get to claim use of the pulse and glide which is best found when driving somewhere between 30 to 40 miles per hour Getting into this mode requires a little bit of fancy foot work which involves gradually getting to the speed (within the 30′s to 40′s range) which you want, and then once there, pressing quickly on the gas pedal After this quick press, a Toyota or Lexus hybrid driver will get a clean screen on their dashboard which shows all black arrows This indicates that energy use has stabilized When this tactic is used properly, it is possible to double or triple your mileage This process takes a little time to get used to but is probably a lot easier than driving a manual transmission or parallel parking

Another top tip for saving on gas mileage will be a little harder to hear The key is to take the rushing around out of driving Slowing down and driving at the speed limit for a change is one of the best ways to save on gas Although this tip might require some organization and lifestyle changes, it will also save you the most money A dime saved on every gallon is the estimate by energy agencies when you stay slow and steady A hybrid, or any car for that matter, does not like a lot of stop and go, either Luckily, driving a little slower will give you more opportunities to see which lane will keep you from slowing down up ahead, so hopefully, you will not need to make a lot of sudden stops Keep in mind the word “glide” as much as possible This will keep you from having to continually accelerate and break to get where you are going When drivers get into that mode, they also tend to speed to get out of whatever cluster they are in and get into more accidents on top of that Accelerating to get through a yellow light may save you 15 seconds, but it will not save you any mileage on your hybrid

One of the other top tips for adding mileage to your hybrid is to pay a little more attention to your tire pressure Under-inflated tires can reduce the mileage performance on a hybrid by at least 10% This is large enough of a number to inspire a trip to the auto shop for a tire pressure gauge The trick is to stay just under the maximum recommended tire pressure and make sure that you are checking the pressure once or week Slow tires make a car drag, so let your hybrid become the super-mileage maker that they aim to be by making a note on the calendar to check them

Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son. Get patented car care products for your car at http://www.stopwaxing.com

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Author : James Monahan

Well a lot of people may not be aware of booster seats When one hears about it, the one thing that comes to mind is maybe a rocket ship on the way to the moon Nope, you can’t find booster seats in there It is not what astronauts sit in while on their way to space Actually, it’s is more down to Earth as you might otherwise think A booster seat can be found (or added) into your family car and it can actually save your child’s life in case of an automobile accident

Booster seats are a specialized kind of seat for children and designed to protect them from injury in a car accident As you well know, car seats are designed with adults in mind The safety seatbelts are in the same way designed only for adults to use Using the seatbelts on kids can sometimes even prove more than a hindrance rather than an effective safety device That is where booster seats come into play

It is said that most car accident casualties are results of improper seatbelt use Injuries occur when people inside neglect to put on the seatbelt properly But how do you put a seatbelt on kids when they are designed for adults? That alone already makes it improper

Booster seats can solve this problem by letting the kids sit inside the car in the proper sitting position The proper sitting position for children is for children to be able to sit up with their backs straight against the vehicle seat’s back cushion and with their knees bent over the vehicle’s seat edge without slouching If they’re still not able to achieve that, they need a booster seat Children 12 and under should sit in booster seats because they are not yet big enough for the adult seats

Booster seats for kids are needed because most 40 pound kids are still not yet big enough to fit the adult lap and shoulder safety belts of the vehicle Booster seats help protect the child’s upper body with either the shoulder belt or with the shield The booster seat raises the child so that he or she can fit with either the vehicle’s lap or shoulder belt Booster seats are comfortable for children because it allows for their legs to bend normally Booster seats can also reduce slouching, which is a cause of poor lap belt fit

There are several kinds of booster seats There are belt-positioning boosters, which are booster seats without shields This booster seat should only be used with the vehicle’s lap and shoulder belt Some of these booster seats have a high back to give head support taller children

There are also booster seats with removable shields for children weighing below 40 pounds The removable shields are there as an added protection for small children Once the child reaches over 40 pounds, the harness is removed and used like a belt-positioning booster

There are also high-backed booster seats for large children who reach a weight of 40 pounds before they reach the age of 3 They may not be mature enough to stay properly seated in a belt-positioning booster so they m ay still this kind of booster seat that has its own clip or strap to hold the vehicle’s shoulder belt in place

James Monahan is the owner and Senior Editor of <a href=’http://www.BoosterGuide.com

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Author : Art Gib

When you head out to look for a used cars in Orem UT, remember that it is a buyer beware situation Buyers must be especially vigilant that not only are they getting the best deal, but they are being treated honestly and fairly Some less than savvy sellers may try to take advantage on an unwitting car shopper, and you don’t want it to happen to you Keep yourself informed of some of the tactics that dishonest sellers use, so that you can recognize it happening and leave the potential sale immediately

Some sellers may call you a few days after the initial sale of the vehicle, before the funds are transmitted, and tell you that your financing fell through You may have arranged for financing through the seller, or gone with a bank, but a seller might use this tactic to be able to charge you a higher interest rate, or lock you in for a longer termed loan than you were planning for Either way, if this happens to you, contact to actual source of the financing to verify, and don’t just take the seller’s word for it

A seller may also check your credit score, and tell you that it is lower than it is in actuality This way they are able to charge you higher interest rate for your financing The best advice is to know your credit score before you even begin shopping for a car, and if a seller tells you that it is lower than it is, find a new dealer

A seller may also tell you that you need to pay for the extended warranty for the vehicle because the financing company or bank requires it before you purchase the car Banks never require extended warranties in exchange for financing, and you should know this is a lie to get you to pay more for the car The seller may even tell you that it’s included and simply add the price into the price of the car

Buying used cars in Orem, UT can be frustrating, especially when you are dealing with less than honest sellers Know what type of scams they are running so that you’ll be informed and will easily recognize any type of scam that a seller is trying to run on you Not only will you keep yourself and your pocketbook safe, you’ll know which sellers not to deal with while you look for that perfect vehicle

Brent Brown Automotive Group (http://www.brentbrownauto.com) sells used cars in Orem UT. Art Gib is a freelance writer.

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Author : Shaun Parker

The global credit crunch has affected many people and many industries, we all know that, and of the worst hit industries has been the car manufacturer industry, with many of the major companies having to close their production plants for a few weeks and even months in some cases, having an adverse effect on the livelihood of production staff and other employees

In the UK alone Aston Martin, Bentley, Nissan, Jaguar Land Rover, MINI and Honda are among those giants that have had to halt production or lay off staff Honda, a leading player in the world of car manufacture, especially with such innovative designs aimed at lowering CO2 emissions and offering economical vehicles, have had to halt production in the UK for four months, until June

Honda dealers just haven’t been even close to hitting sales targets simply because consumer confidence is at an all time low People are so reluctant to spend, especially on brand new cars, as the future of the UK and global economy is still not clear With interest rates at an all time low in the UK, people may not be inclined to save all of their money in the UK, but at the same time, many are avoiding the temptation to upgrade their car as they would normally

Honda employs 4,000 factory workers in the UK, at least three quarters of which have been affected by the four month closure of the plant, and those working at Honda dealers have been affected also As less and less people are purchasing cars, staff are feeling the brunt of this dire situation

The UK government are considering following Germany by introducing a 2,000 pounds discount on any brand new vehicle when trading in any car that is more than nine years old This is in a bid to increase activity in the car sales industry but also as an eco friendly move to lower CO2 emissions by getting old cars off the road This model has yet to be sanctioned and if agreed by Parliament will not be implemented until after the Budget on April 22nd, but car manufacturers’ and their employees, Honda dealers and factory staff in particular, will be hoping that the Government see sense and approve this suggestion

Since being implemented in Germany the scheme has been a success, with sales figures of brand new vehicles increasing by 21 per cent in February alone Business Secretary Lord Mandelson hopes that a similar scheme can revitalise the UK market, although the government will no doubt face opposing views from the public about giving away tax payers’ money to purchase brand new cars

If this scheme does get the green light, Honda dealers will hope that their sales figures will rise, and they are well placed to obtain a share of the market given that their cars are amongst the most reliable on the market according to consumer experts, Which?

Honda have topped the Which? Reliability League in the last two years and in 2007 had a remarkable six out of the ten top cars in the league table With such innovative, eco friendly and reliable engineering it really is a shame to see a brand such as Honda struggling, but in time that will surely change as consumers look towards a car manufacturer that gives you quality and value for your money

Shaun Parker is a car expert with many years of experience in the car sales industry. Find out more about Honda dealers at http://www.hondainchcape.co.uk

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Author : Matt Chang

Gas prices in the US are at an all time high In fact, for the first time ever, miles driven in the US has actually gone down, and in many states, they are showing a decline in gasoline usage So there actually may be a silver lining in the sharp rise in pricing However, what about those that have to drive? Even though we need to pay the high prices, doing what you can to conserve makes sense Here are 5 simple things you can do to improve your mileage and save some money at the gas pump

The first thing to do is let your engine warm up This may sound like you’re wasting gas because you’re sitting there idling your car while your engine is warming up, but studies show that a warmed up engine is more efficient and a more efficient engine will use less gas In the same way that your body performs better when you are sufficiently warmed up, gasonline fuel burns cleaner in a warmed up car

Tip number 2 is to turn your engine off Any time you’re in stopped traffic, turn off your car This doesn’t mean to turn off your car in short stops, but if you are going to be stuck not moving for a few minutes, it may be worth it to shut the engine off You actually save gas by turning your car off and then turning it back on While we are on that note, it is important to also note that while driving make sure that you accelerate smoothly and avoid heavy braking Stop and go quickly is not only hard on your car, it wastes gas as the energy to go then stop is wasted

Don’t go so fast Studies show that it takes 25% more gas to drive at 70 mph than to drive at normal or average highway speed Again, what that means is that by driving 75 mph you lose another 5 miles per gallon Basically, the faster you want to drive, the more you have to press your gas pedal and the more you use gas There is an optimum speed to gas usage ratio, and it happens to coincide closely with posted speed limits

Tip number four is to check your tires Tires that are over or under inflated will offset the performance of your vehicle Make sure that you check what your manufacturer recommends for tire pressure Also make sure that your tires are in alignment If they are out of alignment, then the resistance caused by the tires wastes gas A simple thing like this can make all the difference in the world

Use your cruise control One of the benefits of cruise control, is that it maintains your speed at optimum level If you are going on along trip, or you are going on a long distance with street level roads, your cruise control can make all the difference in the world What the cruise control does, is help keep you from wasting gas by eliminating your accidental hitting of the gas pedal

Minimize your wind resistance This may sound odd, but sometimes it does make sense to use your air conditioner If you have to use your conditioner to keep your windows rolled out while driving and highways speeds, you may actually improve your mileage because you are minimizing the drag on your car Imagine driving down the road with all of your windows open All of the resistance created by the wind flowing into your car really eats up your gas mileage You save by keeping your windows rolled up and making your car more streamlined If you are going to be doing fast highway driving, it makes sense to turn on the air conditioner The extra gas used to run the A/C will actually be less than the fuel needed to fight the wind resistance caused by windows being rolled down

These are five easy tips you can use to save money on gas. For more information and more ways on how to save money on gas, visit our website http://savegasmoneyinfo.com.

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Author : Mike Trudel

The idea of change is being embraced by many Americans The beauty of this slogan, with the many challenges facing Americans in all 50 states, is that there are so many factors in our lives that are in need of change, or at the very least, modification One of the factors that affects all Americans, and everyone that lives on this planet, is becoming more proactive in addressing environmental problems

Global automotive manufacturers find themselves in the midst of this issue Oil refining capacity is being stretched to its limits with the growing thirst for gasoline from countries like India and China This global demand is helping to bring more focus on the need for alternative fuels and less dependence on internal combustion engine technology

This is not new news In fact, automotive manufacturers have been working on new technologies to address these issues for some time Arguably, some manufacturers may be further along in their advanced technology development curve, but every manufacturer seems eager to accelerate its efforts to develop reliable, and affordable, alternative energy technology that consumers will want to buy

Hybrid technology — along with plug-in electric vehicles — is getting a boost from the wave of

“change” thinking that is sweeping across America Globally-focused corporate marketing executives typically understand that once American consumers are on board, development accelerates As North American automotive manufacturers develop new hybrid and electric models that reduce their reliance on the internal combustion engine, the technological “change” will likely sweep beyond the 50 states

Furthest along in this new technological wave is the development of hybrid vehicles Hybrids combine the benefits of the internal combustion engine (IC) with an electric motor In city driving the vehicle is powered primarily by the battery-operated electric motor and engages the IC engine when more power is necessary – for instance, on the open road Using the battery operated electric motor reduces the run time of the internal combustion engine allowing the hybrid vehicle to deliver more fuel efficiency

Some of the advanced technologies typically used by hybrids include:

- Regenerative Braking Instead of using the typical friction brakes to slow the vehicle, the electric motor applies resistance to the drive train causing the wheels to slow down In return, the energy from the wheels turns the motor, which functions as a generator The energy normally wasted during coasting and braking is converted into electricity, which is stored in a battery until needed by the electric motor

- Electric Motor Drive/Assist The electric motor provides additional power to assist the IC engine in accelerating, passing or hill climbing This allows a smaller, more fuel efficient engine to be used In some vehicles, the motor alone provides power for low-speed driving conditions where internal combustion engines are least efficient

- Automatic Stop/Start Advanced technology allows the internal combustion engine to automatically shut off when the vehicle comes to a stop and restart again when the accelerator is pressed This eliminates wasting energy when idling

The development of totally electric vehicles (EV) is continuing to progress Electric vehicles are propelled by an electric motor (or motors) powered by rechargeable battery packs Electric motors have several advantages over internal combustion engines:

- Energy efficiency Electric motors convert 75% of the chemical energy from the batteries to power the wheels; internal combustion engines only convert 20% of the energy stored in gasoline

- Environmentally friendliness EVs emit no tailpipe pollutants, although the power plant producing the electricity may emit them Electricity from nuclear-, hydro-, solar- or wind-powered plants causes no air pollutants

- Reduced energy dependence Electricity is a domestic energy source

- Performance benefits Electric motors provide quiet, smooth operation plus they require less maintenance than internal combustion engines

EVs face significant battery-related challenges Most EVs can only go 150 miles (or less) before recharging; gasoline vehicles can go more than 300 miles before refueling Fully recharging the battery pack can take four to eight hours The large battery packs are expensive and may need to be replaced prior to the end of the vehicle’s life In addition, they are heavy and take up considerable space in the vehicle Researchers are working on improved battery technologies to increase driving range and decrease recharging time, replacement frequency, weight and cost These factors will ultimately contribute to the future of EVs

Alternative fuels are derived from resources other than petroleum Some are produced domestically, reducing our dependence on imported oil, and some are derived from renewable sources Often, they produce less pollution than gasoline or diesel To promote alternative fuels, the U S federal government offers tax incentives to consumers purchasing qualifying alternative fuel vehicles Of the alternative fuels gaining traction and media attention, the two most popular are ethanol and natural gas

Ethanol is an alcohol-based fuel made by fermenting and distilling starch crops, such as corn It can also be made from “cellulosic biomass” such as trees and grasses The use of ethanol can help reduce our dependence upon foreign oil and reduce greenhouse gas emissions E85 is available at a growing number of gas stations right alongside of your traditional petroleum options

Natural gas is a fossil fuel comprised mostly of methane and is one of the cleanest burning alternative fuels It can be used in the form of compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG) to fuel cars and trucks Dedicated natural gas vehicles are designed to run on natural gas only, while dual-fuel or bi-fuel vehicles can also run on gasoline or diesel Dual-fuel vehicles allow users to take advantage of the widespread availability of gasoline or diesel but use a cleaner, more economical alternative when natural gas is available Since natural gas is stored in high-pressure fuel tanks, dual-fuel vehicles require two separate fueling systems, which take up passenger/cargo space

Indeed, change is coming in the U S A New thinking and new attitudes are also creating renewed confidence that automotive engineers will deliver the dream of driving green

Mike Trudel, Freelance Writer.

Delphi is committed to contributing innovative technologies to help make our roadways greener. For more information, visit www.Delphi.com/4green.

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Author : Gregg Hall

Most people wonder what the big deal is with car shows and what is so good about them The answer is cars and more cars, the car shows are not just about cars getting together to show off what they have, I mean that is the point of the car show but that isn’t the only thing that goes on at a car show If you have ever been to a car show or an NOPI event then you know what goes on You have a best car in show, best looking car, most customized, best restored You have all kinds of places to win an award They even have bikini contest at most car shows and that is the best part of the whole car show

For that person that is bringing their car to the show it is a day that they will never forget if it is their first time entering a car show They will enter their car and then be able to park it, detail it a little more since they drove it to the show and then just clean it up just a little bit before the judging begins

There are dog shows on TV just like there are car shows in magazines There isn’t any difference to a car show from a dog show Who really cares about seeing dogs walk around on TV that is pretty lame if you were to ask me? I would rather have my shows on the discovery channel then be watching the dog shows It doesn’t make any money unless people come to the event and that is insane

Of the hundreds of cars that enter car shows there are only a handful of ones that are given prizes and awards at the end Those few that do win something have been deemed the ones with the best looking cars and if that was your first car show and you won a prize then your car must have been a good looking one

A lot of people that do not even have a car are always at the shows looking at the cars looking at which ones look the best and just look the best in general There are tons of people who go to a car show and do not have a show car That is ok because that will just motivate you to get a car of you like those types of cars Even though I don’t really care for show cars they are cool just too much money to spend on one car

Even though car shows are not always considered a sport there are many contests that go on with a car show that you can say are sports, like racing laps with other cars that is a sport Drifting is a sport and that happens at a lot of NOPI events and just a lot of car shows in general if it is a car show contest or something like that

Gregg Hall is an author living with his 18 year old son in Jensen Beach, Florida. Find more about cars as well as a car care products at http://www.5starshine.com

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