Some of the famous hybrid cars

Hybrid cars are also called hybrid electric cars that run on two powered sources; the internal combustion engine and an electric motor. It is this combination that permits the electric motor and batteries to help in reducing fuel costs and consumption. In addition to this, these cars lower the levels of exhaust emissions to create a much safer environment.

Of the many hybrid car options you have today, the Toyota Prius is the most popular one in the market. It comes with an electric engine that provides a maximum energy boost of 25 miles per hour, without any help from the alternate engine. It can also be used with the internal combustion engine for added power if required.

The Lexus GS 450h is another option for a hybrid car. This is the latest V6 creation in the Lexus range which comes with a 3.5 liter unit from the new Toyota Avalon/IS 350 performance sedan.

This engine too is mounted transversely to drive the rear wheels and is connected to a CVT gearbox where there is a permanent magnet motor found in between. However not much is known about the running of the electric engine here as it has been kept a closely guarded secret by the company.

The beautiful 9-X BioHybrid car

A hybrid car worth admiring and owning is the 9-X BioHybrid car. This is a car with expressive looks, great performance and high tech communications. All this is found in a fun to drive package that helps satisfy all the needs of the everyday consumer.

You find that this car incorporates the innovative BioPower technology with an in-built solar cell and features like camera-enhanced mirrors, 3-D graphics cockpit and 4-point seatbelt. All this proves that this is a car that has a fusion of sexy designs with great performance.

Its e1.4 liter BioPower turbo engine is optimized for E85 fuel to produce 200hp and 280Nm of torque in addition to reduced emissions when compared to petrol. It is because this car utilizes next generation hybrid technology from GM which includes combination of electric power boost, fuel cut-off, regenerative braking and automatic engine re-start.

In addition to all this, the 9-X BioHybrid also harnesses solar energy through the solar cell found in its glass roof. This free energy provides charge to the battery pack when the vehicle is parked and on the move.

The future compact biohybrid car, Saab 9-X BioHybrid

The 2008 Sexy Green Car Show that was held from 23^rd to 31^st May once again saw the Saab 9-X BioHybrid which is projected as the vision of the future compact car. This car was first seen in the 2008 Geneva Auto Show that was held in March, and is now making its UK debut with the show.

Saab is still leading in the use of biofuels in Europe, with which they help reduce the CO2 that is liberated through road transport in both short and medium terms. With this car, it is now proven that more prominence ahs to be given to opportunities that are created by second generation biofuels.

According to the General Manager of Sales and Marketing Strategy of Saab Green Britain Ltd, David Pugh, they have not given up on their fight of making biofuels a great alternative for fossil fuel, with the confusion going on about its alleged conflicts with food production. They say that one of the main reasons for the increased demand for grain today is not biofuels, but the change in the Asian diet, for a more protein rich diet.

However Saab feels that second generation biofuels should be encouraged by using perhaps waste by-products from agricultural production instead of using the main crop. For example, for the past five years, 50% of the waste straw drawn from UK cereal production has helped in producing a 10% blend for all petrol that is supplied in the UK, with sufficient energy to power 10% more new car sales.

Hybrid cars having hydrogen or fuel cells

One of the best ways of reducing pollution is to use a hybrid car. There are hybrid cars that run on electricity, hydrogen cells and compressed natural gas. In the case of a hydrogen cell car, a fuel cell is used for the generation of electricity.

The fuel in this fuel cell is liquid hydrogen where the electricity is produced by the catalytic reactions in the fuel cell. It is this electricity that is used for the running of electric motors for the propelling of the car.

This is a better alternative as a hybrid car, than the electric cars which have to be plugged for the recharge of its batteries, as these fuel cell cars create their own electricity for running the car.

The reason hydrogen is used as the fuel in the fuel cell is because hydrogen is the most abundant element today. Its energy is produced by fuel cells that are free of harmful byproducts.

However to actually see the implementation of hydrogen cell cars, there are some problems to be overcome like the economical mass production of pure hydrogen, and the necessary infrastructure to make this hydrogen reach uses safely and efficiently.

There are many automakers like Honda and General Motors which now have prototype fuel cell vehicles, which may give a breakthrough with this type of hybrid car in the near future.

Is using electricity feasible for running a car?

It was since the mid 1990s that the concept of using electric cars was introduced to the public. It was the use of such cars, and the idea of eliminating combustion engines that brought such appeal for the use of these cars.

However there are some drawbacks with these cars, where engineers have not actually been able to overcome the problems of limited range of usage of about 100 miles per charging, the lengthy recharge times that the cars use and its poor performance, when compared to gas and diesel powered vehicles.

In addition to this, there are other concerns pertaining to the use of electric cars like the storage and recycling of hundreds of lead acid battery pack that a car needs and also in finding the best source of electricity for charging these battery packs.

The electricity source is something of great concern as most of the energy in the US is supplied by coal fired utility plants. These plants produce millions of tons of carbon dioxide, the green house gas every year.

So in a bid to reduce exhaust emissions with electric cars, you only end up producing lots of green house bas when using electricity to recharge your cars. So until and unless this problem is resolved, it is a bit difficult to see mass produced electric cars.

Interesting alternatives to gasoline fuel

With the rising fuel costs, and diminishing sources of gasoline, there are now many 21^st century alternatives to gasoline you could consider for use in your vehicle. Ethanol is one of them which is created from vegetable matter and mixed with gasoline, or used undiluted.

This fuel is called E85, and is used in many gas stations across the country. It is composed of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline and can be used in E85 compatible cars and trucks that have been designed by GM and Ford.

The fuel offers lower emissions of unburned hydrocarbons, which in turn leads to a reduction in the dependence on US based non-renewable, petroleum based fuels. It is also possible to set up most vehicles to run on this E85 at low costs, without any loss in performance or power. And as ethanol fuel degrades quickly in water, they are less of a threat to the environment than oil or gasoline spill is.

It is possible to use vegetable oil not only to cook fries, but also to power your vehicle. These fuels are called biodiesel and were designed for use in diesel engines that run on vegetable oil and not on petroleum based diesel fuel.

By using vegetable oil, engines keep the air cleaner while reducing the dependence on oil by a country. Biodiesel is made from raw vegetable oil and can be used in any compression ignition engine, with minor or no modifications.

However to use raw vegetable oil in diesels, you need pre-heaters and other fuel system upgrades. Moreover, biodiesel is less toxic than table salt but have upgrades like sugar for enhanced fuel efficiency.

Drivers don’t always aim to save gas

The normal notion for all car owners is to cut down on fuel costs with the increasing fuel costs. However there are many drivers who tend to waste, and not save gas, on any chosen day.

Footing the gas pedals when the light turns green is one of them for the more you press on it, the more gas you tend to pump into the engine. This leads to only a waste of fuel and energy. Instead, you should lightly press the gas pedal as you still accelerate in a reasonable span of time, without wasting fuel.

Similarly, there is no point in racing up to red lights till you reach the intersection. The faster you let your foot off the pedal, the more you rest your engine and perhaps, coast to a stop while braking gently. Moreover, this is a better option than firmly braking at the intersection as your brake pads last longer.

Bumper buzzing leads to fuel loss and is unsafe as you don’t have the time to react if the car in front of you suddenly stops or slows down. By tailgating, you also waste fuel as each time the driver taps his brakes, you have to slow down more than he or she did. Accelerating again leads to an increase in fuel consumption.

Instead of taking the car along with you for small errands, it is better to have some exercise instead. Walking is not only better than driving; you burn a few calories and also save on gas. Taking too many short trips makes the engine cool down between trips, leading to your using twice as much fuel as you would need to start the car once and completing errands in a single trip.