Petroleum-based fuels are ideally suited for internal combustion engine technology, which has powered most cars and trucks for over a century. Burning fossil fuels for over a hundred years however has done some serious damage to the ecology of the planet. Enter the electric vehicle with lower emissions, but correspondingly lower power. Finally, both technologies have come together in hybrid vehicles, also known as hybrid electric vehicles or HEVs.

Present-day hybrid vehicles are equipped with both gas internal combustion engines and electric motors. The gas engine produces power through small and continuous controlled explosions that push pistons which turn a rotating crankshaft. The force created by the rotation crankshaft is transmitted through a number of components and ultimately turns the vehicle’s wheels. The electric motor is powered by a battery which creates energy through a chemical reaction. The battery is continually recharged by a generator that is powered by the internal combustion engine.

Hybrid vehicles are of parallel or series design, or a combination of the two.

In parallel design vehicles, the electric propulsion system and the energy conversion unit are connected directly to the vehicle’s wheels. The gas engine is used for highway driving and the electric motor acts an assist and provides additional power for acceleration, hill climbing, and other situations that require more power.

In series design vehicles, the gas engine is connected to an electricity producing generator. This electricity is used to power an electric motor, which in turn powers the vehicle’s wheels. Hybrid vehicles can also be designed to use the series configuration at low speeds, and the parallel configuration for acceleration and highway driving.

Braking in conventional vehicles generates heat. This energy is wasted. Some hybrid vehicles convert this energy to electricity and use it to help propel the vehicle. This process is called regenerative braking and contributes to the overall efficiency of the vehicle.

Other hybrid vehicles extend the life of the car’s on-board battery system by using ultracapacitors. The ultracapacitor is more efficient than a battery for capturing the energy from regenerative braking and utilizing it for initial acceleration.

It’s not by chance that many of the vehicles getting better gas mileage are hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs), also known as hybrid vehicles, or simply hybrids. Hybrid car mileage tends to be much better than conventional cars because they are built in a variety of configurations to achieve different objectives.

Hybrids combine an electric motor together with the best features of the internal combustion engine which makes them capable of big improvements in gas mileage without affecting performance or driving range. A little-known fact is that some hybrids are also configured to supply power for power tools or other electrical devices.

Hybrid vehicles are mainly powered by an internal combustion engine, just like a conventional vehicle. However, they also convert energy normally wasted during braking and coasting into electricity. Then this energy is stored in a battery until it is required by the electric motor. Internal combustion engines are least efficient in low-speed driving conditions, and when hill climbing or accelerating.

This is exactly the place where the electric motor kicks in, by assisting the gasoline engine in these low-efficiency situations. Some hybrids also shut the engine off automatically when the vehicle comes to a stop, and restart it when the driver steps on the accelerator.

This prevents further waste of energy by idling the engine when stopped. Unlike vehicles that are solely electric powered, hybrid vehicles don’t have to be recharged by plugging them into an external electrical source. All the energy the vehicle needs is provided by conventional gasoline and regenerative braking.

After reading this I am sure you can see how hybrid cars get great gas mileage

If you buy a new hybrid car, you could be eligible for a one-time federal income tax break of as much as $2,000.

Several models of hybrid car placed in service by the end of 2005 are eligible for a clean fuel deduction of $2,000. Those put in use during 2006 could be eligible for a $500 federal income tax deduction.

Under current legislation vehicles purchased after 2006 will not be eligible for a deduction. If you purchased a hybrid car before 2005, you can submit a claim for the deduction by filing an amended tax return for the tax year in which the vehicle was purchased.

The following requirements must be met for your hybrid car to qualify:

* You must purchase the car new and for your own use. Cars purchased for resale do not qualify.

* You must drive the vehicle “mostly” in the United States.

* The vehicle must meet all federal as well as state emmissions requirements.

* Government agencies, tax exempt organizations, and foreign entities are not eligible for the deduction.

* If any of the above conditions change within three years of the vehicle purchase, you may be required to return some of the money saved by the deduction.

The following vehicles currently qualify for the deduction. Other hybrids may be approved at a later date:

2005 Ford Escape Hybrid
2005 Honda Accord Hybrid
2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid
2000-2005 Honda Insight
2001-2005 Toyota Prius

Whether you itemize or take the standard deduction doesn’t matter. Either way, you can still claim the clean-fuel tax deduction. Simply include the deduction for your hybrid car on your 1040 form in the “Tax, Credits, and Payments” section. Enter the appropriate amount of the deduction you are claiming and the words “Clean Fuel” in the space to the left of the block for line 35 and include the deduction for your hybrid car in the total.

The hybrid SUV shown it has all of the power and utility of the conventional SUV, while also giving superb fuel economy and greatly reduced emissions. The following comparison is for the Toyota and Lexus, both offering 2006 hybrid SUV models, which were put through 1,000 mile road tests under all conditions.

2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

The Highlander Hybrid SUV is a seven-passenger vehicle that doesn’t sacrifice comfort for fuel economy. The hybrid model is just like the gas Highlander. It handles just as well, has a simple cabin design, and maintains the same 81 cubic feet of cargo capacity. The difference is that it achieves much greater fuel economy while being more powerful. Yes, you may go back and read that again. The hybrid version of the Highlander is actually MORE powerful than the gas model.

Toyota used the same 3.3 liter V6 in the hybrid SUV that it uses in the gas Highlander. They recalibrated it and added three electric motors. One of the electric motors is used for starting the internal combustion engine and also recharging the 288-volt battery pack.

One works with the gas engine to drive the front wheels. And the other adds additonal power to the rear wheels when extra traction or power is needed (the third electric motor is not used on front-wheel drive models).

Don’t let the silence fool you when starting the Toyota Highlander Hybrid SUV. The gas engine won’t kick in until you hit 25 mph or you turn on the air conditioning.

The hybrid Highlander is not lacking for power. In fact, the hybrid model boasts a whopping 268 horsepower compared to the gas model’s 230. Acceleration is responsive at any speed with the electric motors handling the low-end pull, and the gas engine hitting its stride in midrange. The Highlander Hybrid went from zero to 60 in 7.2 seconds in track testing, making it one of the fastest SUVs (hybrid or internal combustion) in its price range.

During testing the Highlander Hybrid SUV only attained a 23 mpg average fuel economy. This was a bit disappointing, especially since Toyota claims 31 mpg city and 27 mpg highway, but in the 7-8 passenger SUV class it really doesn’t get much better than that. Hybrids perform much better in terms of fuel economy at low speeds because this is where they use more electricity than gas. While stuck in traffic the Highlander got about 30 mpg.

The 2006 Highlander Hybrid comes with more standard features than the gas model. The model tested came standard with leather and side airbags. But even after adjusting for the extras, you can expect to pay about $3,000 more for the hybrid over the conventional model. One incentive to buy the hybrid model is you can take a $2,000 tax credit if you buy in 2005. However in 2006 the federal tax incentive drops to $500.

The 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid SUV is the only hybrid that seats seven passengers.

2006 Lexus RX 400h

The Lexus RX 400h hybrid SUV is essentially the best-selling RX 330 with a hybrid drivetrain installed. And the wait list for the hybrid model was so long that Lexus was forced to set up a communication system specifically for keeping customers updated on the vehicle’s progress. Due to the early buzz created by the RX 400h, Lexus is now planning hybrid versions of the GS and LS sedans.

The RX 400h hybrid SUV uses the same drivetrain as the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and is rated for fuel economy at 31 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. The Lexus is available in all-wheel drive only.

The RX 400h is 100 pounds heavier than the Highlander, but equalled the Toyota’s zero to 60 time at 7.2 seconds. In the quarter mile the Lexus slightly outperformed the Toyota hybrid SUV at 15.3 seconds.

Like the Highlander, the Lexus RX 400h has more power than it’s gas counterpart. Even at 300 pounds heavier than the RX 300, the 400h felt considerably faster, even when easily ascending steep highway grades. The RX 400h has a tighter suspension than the Highlander Hybrid, as well as 18-inch tires, which made for better handling and an exciting drive.

The Lexus delivered a disappointing 22 mpg average, with the best tank at 24 mpg. Despite those numbers, compare it with the gas RX 300 which when tested only averaged 16 mpg.

There is a marked increase in engine noise with the RX 400h when under hard acceleration. More so than with the RX 330. There was a similar problem with the Toyota, but the difference seemed greater in the Lexus.

The Lexus RX 400h hybrid SUV has a sticker of $11,000 more than the base RX 330, but it comes with just about every possible feature. If you add all of those features to the RX 330, the difference is only about $3,000 which is comparable to the difference in the Toyota models.

The growing reliance of China and India on gasoline in conjunction with the continued insecurity in the Middle East will probably ensure expensive gas for the foreseeable future. However, the high price of gas doesn’t have to put the squeeze on your wallet.

While the high price of gasoline will is starting to hurt many vehicle owners, it need not be totally unbearable. There are several ways to reduce get better gas mileage, and every one of them helps ease the pain on your wallet a little. Here are some ways to save on car running costs.

One of the most obvious ways to save money at the gas pump is by combining your trips in order to drive less, keeping your tires properly inflated and making sure your car is fully tuned. But there are some less obvious ways to save money, and they can also help reduce your monthly gasoline bill.

Other ways of reducing gas consumption

Don’t buy premium fuel unless you need it. Using premium gas in a car that doesn’t need it is a waste of money – yours. There is nothing to be gained by putting high-octane fuel in a car that doesn’t need it, so check your manual and buy the fuel that your manufacturer recommends.

Keep your gas cap on tightly

Gas evaporates, and it will particularly do so if you have no cap or if you don’t have it on snugly. A certain amount of venting takes place with a properly working cap, but having no cap at all is like pouring gas on the pavement.

Park in the shade

The heat of Summer increases gas evaporation and makes your car work harder to cool off after you start the air conditioner. Whenever possible, park in the shade, to keep your car cooler, save your engine some work and save a bit of gas.

Keep your air filter clean

A clean air filter helps your engine breathe better through better airflow and will reduce your gas consumption. In fact, it’s not a bad idea to replace your air filter each time you change your oil.

All of the above tips will only help to reduce gas consumption slightly, but the effect is cumulative. The more you do to reduce your use of gasoline, the more you will save and all those a little savings add up in the long run.

Can you imagine what you would do if gas prices went up even higher and the running costs of owning a car forced you off the road? Some people say that the only way to get them to use public transport or walk the 5 minutes to the local shop instead of driving is to price them out of using their cars for inefficient journeys.

Sadly, the likelihood of this happening is becoming more and more likely with increasing tensions around the world leading to ever-increasing oil prices and volatility in the world markets.

Fossil fuels are running out an alarming rate and people are starting to look seriously at other alternatives. More and more people are making their own biodiesel fuel from used cooking oil to run their cars to reduce their dependence on oil.

Biodiesel is made from vegetable oil (including used oil) in a process called transesterification, whereby the glycerine is separated from the oil leaving a clean burning fuel that will efficiently power any diesel engine with vastly reduced exhaust emissions this is good for the environment.

People have been deserting their local gas station in favour of using waste vegetable oil from large-scale users such as pubs, restaurants, or pure oil off the shelf.

Naturally, the government is becoming aware of this use of cheaper, alternative fuel and is targeting this eco-friendly method because people using it are not paying tax, which they would be if they bought gas.

The government talks about reducing climate change but the small number of bio-diesel users are being targeted for tax evasion instead of being encouraged to use this eco friendly fuel. With this in mind what is the incentive for current bio-diesel users and companies to invest in research and development?

For those of you that are thinking of making the making your own biodiesel there are a number of kits available to convert car engines and these cost between £400 and £1,200.

All you need to add is vegetable oil, methanol, a small amount of catalyst, electricity and tap water into this conversion and you’re ready to go! Oh….. and don’t forget to tell the taxman.

Did you know you can make your own fuel for less than $1.00 a gallon if you know the fundamentals? Can you imagine paying $1.00 a gallon for fuel instead of $3.10 a gallon or more.

In fact you can achieve remarkable results at home with just a little knowledge and a very small investment …starting right now.

Step One -The Conversion Process

We have to break down carbohydrate sugars, such as the starch from corn and turn it into “Mash”. Grind or crush the feedstock (corn, soybeans, wheat, etc…). Then dilute and add an enzyme (alpha amylase) to turn the mixture into a liquid.

Once liquefied a second enzyme is added(glucoamylase) to convert the starch into sugar. (If the source is mainly sugar, i.e…rotten fruit, molasses, etc…, the conversion step can be skipped.

Step Two – Fermentation

Add yeast and make it into a beer (wine) type solution.

Step Three – Extract the Alcoholn

The beer (wine) type solution needs to be run through a still to extract the alcohol from the solution.

Step Four – Filter the Ethanol

The ethanol now needs to be filtered to get rid of excess organic volatiles.

Step Five – Remove water from the Ethanol

The ethanol needs to be “dried”. After the distillation process there will be a certain amount of water in the ethanol you have just created – this can be dried running the ethanol through Zeolite a readily available product for drying ethanol.

Step Six – Turn Ethanol Into e85

Now simply convert the pure ethanol into e85 by adding 15% unleaded gasoline to your ethanol. e85 is nothing more than 85% ethanol mixed with 15% gasoline.

Making your own ethanol will require some initial investment, but the rewards will be high. You can make your own e85 for around a $1.00 a gallon if you buy the corn and for about $.60 a gallon if you grow your own corn.

e85 Flex Fuel Vehicles are becoming more and more popular as the gas prices continue to rise. e85 is really going to help reduce the fuel problem.

You may even be driving a flex fuel vehicle now. Many newer models are equipped to handle both gasoline as well as e85 ethanol. The best way to check is to look in your owners manual, check in the fuel door for the e85 sticker or contact your dealer and have them run your vin number to see if your vehicle is compatible.

It’s a good idea to do all three, to be on the safe side.

Now simply convert the pure ethanol into e85 by adding 15% unleaded gasoline to your ethanol, because e85 is nothing more than 85% ethanol mixed with 15% gasoline.

Because of the ever-rising cost of fuel and the environmental damage it causes to our planet, many car owners or buyers are looking for an another way to save money. Let’s face it, fuel supply is finite and the price of gas is only going to go up and up. This is where a hybrid car has an advantage over conventional cars.

Hybrid cars have been increasing in popularity in recent years. Thanks to ever-lower costs of production and innovative hybrid car technology being developed, owning a hybrid car is becoming within the means to many more people.

Hybrid Cars Save Gas

The obvious benefit of using hybrid cars is that they save gas. Combining the cleaner energy of an electric motor with the long-range capacity of a gasoline engine allows a hybrid car to save as much as 30 miles a gallon. One quality of hybrid cars is that the gasoline engine automatically switches off when the car stops, which helps to save fuel. That is also the reason why hybrid cars are so quiet when they are at a stop. The gasoline engine turns on automatically when you step on the accelerator pedal.

Hybrid Cars Are Environmentally Friendly

Hybrid cars emit lower toxic emissions compared to conventional gasoline-powered cars because they burn less gasoline. They are environmentally friendly, cause less pollution and release less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. If you do not know already, carbon dioxide is one of the chief causes of global warming. As an example of how environmentally friendly a hybrid car can be, the Toyota Prius can reduce engine emissions by as much as ninety percent and greenhouse gas emissions by up to fifty percent.

Tax Incentives For Hybrid Cars

Thanks to political pressure to reduce greenhouse emissions, President Bush signed an agreement in 2005 that will offer a big tax relief to hybrid car buyers. The tax incentive varies by model and is based on two factors

1. How fuel efficient the hybrid car is compared to a conventional car in 2002 within the same weight class.

2. How much gasoline the hybrid car can save in its lifetime compared to an equivalent conventional car

For instance, a Honda Accord hybrid car has reduced tax credits of $600 while a Toyota Prius has a tax credit of $3150. Do note that the tax credits will expire after 2010 for most hybrid cars.

Hybrid car manufacturers are constantly searching for more ways to reduce fuel consumption and get better fuel efficiency. Moreover, the best part is that as people buy more hybrid cars, the cost of them will reduce making them even more affordable

If you are suffering from the high cost of running you car, it may seem ridiculous to think of ways to increase your car’s performance when doing this is usually associated with increased fuel consumption.

However, there are four ways to increase your cars performance that do not have to negatively affect your running costs.

Let’s take a closer look at each one.

Reusable Air Filters.

Landfills are full of items we use only once and then throw out in the garbage. Auto air filters are one such auto part and throughout the lifespan of a car you may go through 6-12 of them without realising. For roughly three times the price, washable and reusable air filters are a great substitute.

When you buy one it will probably be the last air filter your car will ever require. Reusable air filters allow you to achieve slight increases in horsepower and acceleration as well as to affect the environment in a positive way.

Performance Chips.

All new cars are operated by a computer integrated circuit that tells how much torque and horsepower can be displaced. Performance chips or recalibrations of your current chip can produce considerable increases in horsepower and torque for your vehicle.

Performance Exhaust Systems.

Cat-back or “catalyst-back exhaust systems” are a great way to release trapped torque and to unleash horsepower. Keeping all the important emissions parts in place, a cat-back system uses large width exhaust pipes and low restriction performance mufflers into your car thereby lowering exhaust back pressure. A side benefit is the awesome sound emitting from the exhaust system.

Cold Air Intake.

A cold air intake is an under the hood mod that helps to reduce the temperature of the air entering the car for the sole purpose of increasing the power of the engine. Side benefits include enhancements to the appearance of the engine bay as this part can be attractive and colorful; the sound the unit makes is also appealing.

Costs for each of these performance enhancements can vary greatly. Shopping online with a reliable wholesaler is one of the best ways to find top quality parts at the lowest possible prices. By doing the work yourself, you can save a lot of money and enjoy the lower running costs.

Why buy a hybrid vehicle when petroleum-based fuels are perfectly suited for internal combustion engine technology? After all petroleum has powered most automobiles and trucks for over one hundred years. Burning fossil fuels for over a century however has done some severe damage to the ecology of the planet.

We now have the electric vehicle with lower emissions, but correspondingly lower power. At long last, both technologies have been united in hybrid vehicles better known as hybrid electric vehicles or HEVs.

Current hybrid vehicles are fitted out with both gas internal combustion engines and electric motors. The gas engine produces power through small and constant controlled detonations that force pistons, which turn a rotating crankshaft. The power produced by the rotation crankshaft is channeled through a number of components and finally spins the vehicle’s wheels. The electric motor is powered by a battery which creates energy through a chemical reaction. The battery is constantly recharged by a generator that is powered by the internal combustion engine.

Hybrid vehicles are of series or parallel design, or even combination of the two.

In the parallel design vehicles, the electric propulsion system and the energy conversion unit are linked up directly to the vehicle’s wheels. The gas engine is used for highway driving and the electric motor acts an aid and provides supplemental power for acceleration, hill climbing, and other situations that call for more power.

In series design vehicles, the gas engine is linked up to an electricity-producing generator. This electrical energy is applied to power an electric motor, which in turn powers the vehicle’s wheels. Hybrid vehicles can also be configured to use the series configuration at low speeds, and the parallel configuration for acceleration and highway driving.

Braking in conventional vehicles produces heat but this energy is wasted. Some hybrid vehicles convert this energy to electricity and use it to help propel the vehicle. This process is known as regenerative braking and adds to the overall efficiency of the vehicle.

Other hybrid vehicles prolong the life of the car’s on-board battery system by utilizing ultracapacitors. The ultracapacitor is more efficient than a battery for capturing the energy from regenerative braking and using it for initial acceleration.

A lot of consumers aren’t don’t just want to know that hybrid cars attain superior fuel economy and decreased emissions, but also are also interested in how they work. Three chief components are integrated to make a hybrid vehicle: an internal combustion gas engine, an electric motor and a high-powered battery. A process called regenerative braking is used to capture energy and charge the battery.

This is energy that would normally be wasted during coasting or slowing down. The hybrid car battery, which is continuously recharged through this process, provides power to the electric motor. If necessary, power from the gas engine can also be diverted to charge the hybrid battery. These charging strategies create an electrical power system that never needs plugging in to an external source for charging.

Those are the fundamentals of hybrid cars in general. We’ll split up hybrids into two classes to analyze further how the three components work together. Each class of hybrids incorporates the three components in its own way.

Mild Hybrids

In the mild hybrid configuration, the electric motor is not able to function independently of the gas internal combustion engine. The hybrid vehicle is powered mainly by the gas engine, and the electric motor just provides auxiliary power to assist when required. The electric motor is capable of drawing energy from the battery or generating electricity to charge the battery, but it isn’t capable of doing both at the same time. The Honda Civic and Insight are mild hybrid cars.

Full Hybrids

Full hybrid cars integrate the three components in a way that permits the electric motor and the gas engine to work independently of each other. For example, the electric motor is capable of functioning on its own to allow for light acceleration at low speeds. The gas engine then gets going up and takes over at higher speeds.

Both the electric motor and gas engine can operate in tandem when more power is called for during hard acceleration, such as when climbing hills. Full hybrids are also able to draw energy from the battery and charge it simultaneously. The Toyota Prius and Ford Escape are full hybrids.

Notwithstanding their differences, both kinds of hybrid cars achieve the aim of enhanced fuel economy and decreased emissions over normal gas or diesel powered