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Anton Rowd asked:


As to date, an increase of 50% on hybrid car demand has been observed since it entered mainstream market. It’s no surprise how much of an effect they have had on the average driver and consumer but it seems that hybrid is definitely the future of the automobile industry; so much so, in fact, that it’s also not a shock to see hybrid car rental companies sprouting up here and there.

On the Rise

Long before the introduction of electric hybrid, car rental companies that support environment friendly vehicles have been around already. They were renting out other vehicles that were either purely electric or were using power sources other than the fuel and electric combination as well as the conventional gas-powered cars as well. As soon as hybrid electric vehicles were introduced, it was inevitable for these companies to add them to their rosters as well.

Advantage

With the growing popularity of hybrid electric vehicles, it’s just as well that these hybrid car rental agencies do exist. For the consumer, it will be a good opportunity to test out a hybrid before making the decision to purchasing to own one. By renting one out for a week or so, a person will be able to determine if the hybrid electric definitely will do what manufacturers say it will do.

Hybrid cars can differ in some of the vehicle’s aspects. The concept behind the technology may be the same for all manufacturers but there are a few key differences between hybrid models released by various car companies.

Savings

These hybrid car rental companies also makes touring more convenient for travelers. Travelers who do use hybrid cars will most definitely be spending much less on gas since hybrid electric vehicles can run for much longer on lesser amounts of gas.

In the long run, if this trend remains, hybrid electric cars will do much better than their gas-dependent counterparts as far as car rentals are concerned. This also means that car rental agencies that do rent out hybrid vehicles will probably rent them out at even cheaper prices since fuel rates will not be too much of a concern for them.

Maintenance for hybrid cars is also easier because it does not have too many mechanical engine parts under the hood. Since they are simple and get the job done more efficiently and in an eco-friendly way, consumers not only save money, but they end up saving the world from hazardous carbon dioxide emissions as well.

To date, there are only a few listings of hybrid car rental companies but the list is expected to rise with the demand. Perhaps through these hybrid car rental agencies, people will learn to appreciate hybrid vehicles even more which will hopefully lead to their use over gas guzzlers in the city streets and highways.

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Mark Robinson asked:


With the opening of the new year headlining oil costs rising up to a historic $100 per barrel, more and more Americans are now looking into the possibility of owning up their first hybrid car. Though, generally, American drivers have been immediately associated with gas-guzzling trucks or sports cars who trade oil efficiency for speed, the idea of paying up to $4 a gallon is creeping up to a mind-set of customers. Hybrid cars seem to solve this problem. Ironically, the hybrid car is also seen as environment friendly. This is the reason why car companies are in a race to seal victories with consumers.

What makes a car hybrid?

A vehicle can be considered a hybrid when it utilizes two different sources of power to allow the car function.

The most common hybrid vehicle on the roads right now is the hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). They use a conventional system of propulsion complemented by a rechargeable system for storing energy. A typical example would be cars with electric batteries added to the usual internal combustion engine.

How do the cars work?

Vehicles with electric batteries have been introduced in the early nineties but were not a big hit due to the major hassle of charging the vehicle and small number of charging stations. But hybrid vehicles have been able to solve this dilemma by recharging the batteries as the car spins.

All actions of the driver are monitored by an internal computer. From startup and into lower speed, the car is essentially driven using the electric motor. If computer feels that you want to accelerate faster, it will immediately kick in the gasoline engine to provide you the power that you need. At the same, the electric motor is now acting like a generator and recharging the battery in your car.

The electric motor also assists the gasoline engine when needed. This explains why most engines found on hybrid cars are smaller since they eliminate the need for high-powered ones that consume a lot of gas. As you slow down, the power is again shifted to the electric motors until you reach to a full stop.

The results

Most hybrid drivers immediately notice the absence of the common engine noise that they get used to when starting up and when kicking into high gear. This is because of the fact that the electric motors are generally quitters plus the gasoline engines used are smaller. The tandem also proves to be beneficial by reducing the wear and tear on the gasoline engine, adding more to its durability.

Reduced emissions on noise and air pollutants generally make hybrid cars more environment friendly. Though most people are concerned about the batteries and how they discarded, nickel metal hydride (NiMH) can actually be fully recycled. Car companies such as the frontrunner Toyota as well as Honda also provide clear assistance in disposing of the batteries being used by their cars.

Admittedly, the main reason why a lot of drivers are going hybrid is the surprisingly positive fuel mileage of a hybrid car. Recent EPA numbers show that the top two hybrid cars in the market get more than 40 miles per gallon while driving in the city. The Toyota Prius gets 48 mpg while the Honda Civics nets 40 mpg. Highway driving nets both cars 45 mpg, not that bad when paired with normal cars with bigger engines. This is again attributed to the fact that the fuel consumption is only used when driving at higher speed.

It is undeniable that hybrid cars are the future of the auto industry. With more and more consumers becoming concerned about mileage and the environment, we will be seeing more and more hybrid cars trek your local roads.

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Ranju Kumar asked:


Today, most of the car manufacturers are building greener versions of their famous brands. The invention of Hybrid technology has bought a major change in the field of motor cars.The demands for these kinds of vehicles are also increasing day by day because these vehicles are environment friendly. So the manufacturers are very keen in making these kinds of products to attract potential consumers in the marketplace.

For the year 2007, Toyota has come up with latest model hybrid car named as Camry Hybrid; it is the third vehicle in Toyota’s Hybrid models. This latest model car has a top-quality six cylinder along with the fuel economy of a four-cylinder engine. This model is much better than normal hybrid cars, even though it is not as fuel efficient as Toyota’s two previous models.

Even the Japanese car manufacturer Honda, has come up with two Hybrid models called Hybrid Civic and Hybrid Accord. These two models are what exactly hybrid cars are known for, less release of smoke and low consumption of fuel.

Honda’s new 2007 model Accord Hybrid combination of both lavishness and fuel efficiency and it is in fact environmental friendly. Though it has V6 engine which produce 253 horsepower you no need to worry about the mileage.

Honda’s another model for the year 2007 is Civic Hybrid which gives a complete essence of the modern Hybrid technology. Creative engineering and advanced technology has made this car a Partial Zero-Emission Vehicle (PZEV) rating, it means that it’s truly an environment friendly vehicle.

General Motors second Hybrid car, Aura Hybrid sedan is joining the Hybrid car race 2007. This model will be challenging with other model hybrid cars such as Toyota’s Camry and Honda’s Accord. These cars consist of a V6 engine, and Aura is dedicated to provide the highest engine power with minimum fuel consumption. Aura’s engineers state that it you will be able to save 20 percent of fuel.

Altima Hybrid, manufactured by Nissan, the company has announced that, they will be offering test drive to their customers. Toyota and Nissan are in a deal, to dedicate five years in to the project on Hybrid technology which is developed by Toyota.

More and more companies are becoming conscious in realizing the prospectiveness of modern hybrid technology and it won’t take too long to manufacture the cars using this technology. As the prices of the fuels are hiking day by day and the unease for the environment are growing, we can make sure that these type of cars will be greeted whole heartedly.

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William Thomas asked:


More and more people are turning to hybrid cars these days because of their promise of lesser fuel consumption and environmental friendliness. Hybrid cars, because they run on both fuel and battery-powered engines, eat up less fuel, thereby sparing the consumer the pain of falling prey to price pressures in the world oil market. In addition, it also emits significantly less smog pollutants in the air, compared to traditional fuel-operated cars. Indeed, there are a lot of advantages to owning hybrid cars. This is why even the US government is starting to show support by welcoming more models into the country and by encouraging American auto makers like General Motors and Ford to make more units.

Here are some of the advantages of hybrid cars:

1) Efficiency - Hybrid cars are electrically operated and are thus able to function well and consistently at any motor speed. This is in contrast to conventional gas-powered engines, which tend to produce less power in low revolutions per minute episodes. Hybrid cars do not need to use transmissions to make their engines run at full capacity even at reduced speeds.

2) Economy - One of the advantages of hybrid cars is that the feature called “regenerative braking”. Since a hybrid car works using both electric power and fuel power, each can function by itself or conjunction, depending on which is stronger at the time of use. This means that both engines complement each other and do not simply bog one when one of them becomes weaker.

3) Convenience - Because hybrid cars are part battery powered, they do not create huge holes in the pocket, compared to users of traditional cars who feel the pain of the continuing oil price increases. Most hybrid cars, particularly the ones that are made in Japan, are also more compact and lightweight, making them easier to maneuver on the road. Other models, particularly those by American and European car makers also do not deviate from the stylish designs their regular counterparts adopt, so users don’t have to feel they are being left out in the style department.

4) Sustainability - Sure, hybrid cars are fairly new, so their immediate impact on the environment cannot be foreseen in the short term. However, over the course of time, the next generations will definitely be thankful for having a clean, pollution free world, thanks in part to hybrid vehicles.

Some critics say that it is not the time to buy hybrid vehicles because they are expensive. However, when you consider the advantages, you really shouldn’t think twice. While you must be discerning in choosing the right model for your needs, this doesn’t mean you start hesitating. After all, when more people start buying hybrid cars, manufacturers will see the need to produce more and eventually bring its price to very affordable levels.

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Serg Caro asked:


A hybrid car is a specifically planned and made vehicle that mixes the strength of the conventional gasoline motor and electricity. In the past, many have referred to hybrid cars as electric cars.

Technically, a hybrid automobile can not be classified as just electric because only about 40% of the energy use of the vehicle is from electric sources, in the form of collected electricity in batteries.

As oil costs continue to rise with depleting supplies and rapid expansion in demand, all economies globally are experiencing the setbacks of the need to limit high use of fuel.

For a long time, research and improvement has been vigorously finding ways on how struggles in regards to very high demand could finally be abolished. With the invention of the hybrid automobile, car owners and drivers all over the world are now manifesting comfort that yes there is hope.

Though the wide use of hybrid cars provides hope that in the future, when oil sources finally and fully run out, the transportation industry will not experience the drawback. Yes, at this time, driving a hybrid car could result in huge savings for the car owner.

At least, the overall usage of oil could be significantly reduced. Research continues to be ongoing so that in the near future, further more efficient versions of the modern hybrid car can be developed and launched into the market.

However, just like many other predecessor technologies, there are many problems to owning and using a hybrid automobile. Many people hope that in the upcoming months or years, people can finally realize a better and more useful hybrid vehicle. Here are the most realistic and understandable of those frustrations.

If the hybrid automobile gets into possible accidents and collisions in the future, there is a possibility that the incident would be more tragic. A hybrid automobile traditionally and usually has high voltage cables within it.

Because hybrid cars are still not quite rampant and regular, purchasing spare parts may be very challenging, if not impossible. In addition, costs of spare parts can be rather costly.

Any hybrid automobile needs to allocate a significant amount of space for batteries. Because the hybrid automobile needs batteries to make it work and for the use of some if its functions, the total weight of the automobile gets greater and greater.

Because the hybrid vehicle technology is still a fairly new automobile technology, it is just certain that the automobile is costly. On the average, a hybrid car these days costs more than the standard and typical automobiles by approximately $2,000 to $5,000.

That is just an average and is expected with the high demand for the car as more buyers get thrilled about it and manufacturers continue to make the automobile models on a restricted ability.

There are several states in the United States and some other global governments globally that are charging additional fees and other charges for possession and registration.

A regular and even basic hybrid automobile is composed of a very sophisticated automobile system. Thus, ordinary mechanics likely would not have the necessary and required skill set and understanding to attend to any technical requirement for repair of any hybrid automobile.

Do not forget that hybrid cars move more slowly than traditional automobile models.

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Anton Rowd asked:


For the past years, people going out to buy a hybrid car are increasing. Considering the many reasons for the decision, this buying trend is not surprising. Still, there are many who believe that the technology is actually too expensive to invest in and that hybrid cars are just not powerful or spacious enough for their needs. So when is it really the right time to invest in a hybrid car?

The Price Of Gas

Gas fuels almost everything that moves. We all know we need it. But we also know that it is fast becoming a depleted resource. Personal vehicles these days can consume up to 140 billion gallons of gas and diesel fuel in a year and these numbers don’t seem like they are falling at all.

Gas prices, contrary to its availability, is always increasing, though. This should be the cause of concern for anybody who owns a gas-powered vehicle. This is one of the signs that should trigger the notion that more people should buy into the idea of hybrid cars.

Emissions And The Environment

So your current car is not much of a smoke belcher. This is not enough of an argument to go against the fact that there are dangerous emissions that are released as your car burns the fuel it needs to move. To buy a hybrid car means that you will be making a world of difference especially with the way your driving is affecting the air around you.

Hybrid car emissions promise zero carbon monoxide emissions. This means that you can start driving around without worrying at all what your car is contributing to the pollution situation of the world. This is due in part by hybrid cars running on less gas and more electricity. This is another reason why you should really think about investing in a hybrid vehicle.

Purchase Incentives

In most cases, purchasing a hybrid car will generally means great savings for you in the future. A number of incentives offered by the government are another reason why more people should purchase hybrids.

A new incentive for hybrid car users came in 2006 in the form of full-dollar tax credit. This made it even more valuable for car buyers to buy hybrids when compared to the reductions of taxable income when purchasing regular cars. More specifically, buyers who purchased, for example, a Toyota or Lexus hybrid before October 1 2006 qualified for a 100 percent tax credit. Those who bought Toyota hybrids after that date received a tax credit equal to 50 percent of the amount that they spent.

The biggest reason to get into the hybrid trend really is that it is a life-changing experience in more ways than one. You not only get to contribute to positive changes in the worlds environment, but you also get the privilege of driving cars straight of the future with technologies that make it more convenient for everyday transport. Still not convinced? Buy a hybrid car and you’ll see what it means to own one.

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Brad Martinson asked:


Hybrid cars are getting more and more popular each day. But still we don’t know many things about them. Here are the most frequently asked questions.

1. Why are hybrid cars becoming so popular?

With the price of gasoline hiking up to astronomic proportions, a lot of motorists are resorting to different ways to save on fuel. Some of them use alternative diesel. Others resort to using bikes, which can also contribute to the clean air program.

Some who cannot do away with their rides, however, chose to buy hybrid vehicles.

2. What exactly is a hybrid car?

Primarily, a gasoline-electric hybrid car is a combination of an electric car and a gasoline-run vehicle. To make things clearer, it is first necessary to distinguish the characteristics of those two kinds.

A gas-powered vehicle is equipped with fuel tanks, which gives gasoline to the engine. The engine operates the transmission, and the transmission operates the wheels.

3. What is the difference between a hybrid and an electric car?

An electric car is equipped with a set of batteries which gives electric power to a motor. The motor then operates the transmission and the wheels.

Now the hybrid car is a mix of the two. The reputation of hybrids is that they add to the car’s mileage with fewer emissions usually coming from cars run by gasoline, while eliminating more or less the disadvantages that comes with electric cars.

Motorists usually take three considerations in mind when judging the usability of a vehicle. These are:

-it should run at three-hundred miles at least between fuel stops.

-Should be easily refueled, in the minimum amount of time.

-It should catch up with the other vehicles zooming on the road.

The thing is, a gasoline-powered car has all these features, but it produces lots of emission plus the mileage is poor. On the other hand, an electric car gives off almost zero pollution, but the speed is relatively slow, and can only run 50-100 miles between battery charges.

4. What are the parts of hybrid cars?

a. Gasoline engine

Compared to the engine of other cars, hybrids use smaller ones and is more technically advanced in order to maximize fuel and lessen emissions.

b. Fuel tank

This serves as the device for hybrids to store energy for the gasoline engine.

c. Electric motor

The motor present in hybrids is a study in sophistication. It can serve as both generator and motor.

d. Generator

Much like an electric motor, but its only purpose is to provide electrical power.

e. Batteries

Acts as the storage device of energy for electric motors. The advantage of hybrid car motors is that they can charge the batteries with energy as well as get energy supply from them.

f. Transmission

Acts the same as conventional car transmissions.

g. How are the energy sourcecs used in hybrid cars?

There are two ways in combining the energy sources found in hybrid cars. The first one is the parallel hybrid, which is equipped with a fuel tank that provides gasoline to an engine, and a battery set that supplied energy to the electric motor.

The second one is the series hybrid. In contrast, the generator is powered by the gasoline engine, and the generator is capable of either energizing the batteries or provide power to the electric motor that starts up the transmission.

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Thomas Jones asked:


After all you have seen, read, and heard about hybrid cars, are you truly ready to buy your new hybrid car? Have a look at this quick FAQ to help you understand the essentials in getting your very own hybrid car:

Even hybrids are not created equal. In the city, the Honda Civic Hybrid can achieve a fuel economy of 49 miles per gallon, while the Chevy Malibu Hybrid can only achieve 24 miles per gallon. That’s a fairly big difference, especially because the Malibu Hybrid, which costs $22,790 MSRP, is actually more expensive than the Civic Hybrid, which costs $22,600. So which one is better suited for you is the real question when buying one of these hybrids.

Hybrids cost more than conventional cars. Most hybrids cost about $20,000 and above, so considering a new vehicle when you only have about $18,000 would mean it probably wouldn’t be a hybrid– unless you find a real bargain. But normally, you would need at least $3,000-6,000 more than the conventional models if you wanted to purchase a hybrid. There is also a lot more you actually have to pay for when it comes to purchasing a hybrid vehicle, including optional items such as paint and upholstery pro-tectants, and warranties, which can really cost thousands more in dollars once you have added in everything you want for your new hybrid car.

Gas expenditure will be reduced. The good news is that hybrids use only half the amount of gas that conventional vehicles do use, because of its two sources of power—gas and electricity. Hence there is less need to refuel, which translates to savings on gas in the long run.

Hybrid cars are environment-friendly. With all the alarm due to the greenhouse effect of burning gasoline, hybrids are a welcome development, because they can reduce that greenhouse effect in this planet we live in. Do you believe that a hybrid car can have up to 90% less emissions than the conventional car? This results in less smog, as well as damage to the ozone layer, and ultimately, your health.

Hybrid cars allow for tax and other benefits. Hybrid cars are allowed to park at parking meters and parking meters without fees, drive in Toll lanes for free, or qualify for credits in tax. But you can get benefits for up to $3,400 only, so watch when your vehicle hits the 6,000 purchases, and you can no longer get credits.

You need some time to get used to your hybrid car. You’ll not just get a pleasant surprise when you realize the savings from your fuel consumption… you’ll also find that your engine automatically shuts off, then starts again at red lights… and even the oh, so quiet engine allows you to listen to your favorite music without needing to increase its volume.

Hybrid cars, aside from the usual features and benefits from other cars, come with the perks for you, your neighbors, and our planet earth.

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Thomas Jones asked:


Hybrid cars are the Model T of our century. They are cars produced to reduce greenhouse gases, at the same time to get better gas mileage than other vehicles which no one probably dreamed would be at all possible, but hybrid owner is grateful since the huge increase in gas prices in recent months. But do you know what is behind the hybrid cars’ ability to reduce emissions? How do they work?

A hybrid car is a cross of two kinds of cars: the fuel-driven and the electric car. Let us see how the two work and how they can function as one hybrid engine.

Fuel-driven engines of cars have a fuel tank, an internal-combustion engine, and a transmission, which work to let the wheels of the car go round and round. Fuel from the fuel tank is sent to the engine, which it processes through the transmission to make the wheels turn.

The same process goes through electric cars, but battery packs are used to send electricity to the motor. The motor then processes this through the transmission, which then makes the wheels turn.

A hybrid car has the parts of both the fuel-driven and the electric vehicle, including fuel tank, gas engine, battery pack, generator, and transmission. Some differences include the gas engine which is smaller on hybrid cars, and developed for more efficiency and emitting less harmful gases to the environment. Transmissions can be constructed so differently in some hybrids, but with the same basic purpose.

The one item a hybrid has that neither the electric nor the conventional car have is the generator. The generator on a hybrid is used to produce electricity, making the hybrid more efficient than an electric car because it does not have to stop to charge up.

The part that distinguishes a hybrid from the electric and the conventional car is the generator. This generator produces electricity, which makes the hybrid car more efficient than the electric car because there is not need to stop just to recharge.

A hybrid harnesses the power from electricity and gasoline using a computer system that commands the engine to shut off when its speed is 15 miles per hour or less. It can also tell the motor to push more when there is a need in getting uphill.

Let’s go back to the smaller engine size to understand how the hybrid vehicle works more efficiently. Its design, as you can see, is for the driver’s actual, not possible, needs. The traditional vehicle normally has a heavy engine for times it is really needed. But both energy and gasoline are wasted because we hardly need to step on it as much. The lighter and smaller parts of the hybrid engine can meet the actual needs of most drivers. There, so less energy and fuel are used unnecessarily in moving the heavy engine.

Hence, the power from two energies in the hybrid cars, electricity and gasoline, are more efficiently used in the long run. You are being eco-friendly too, the more you use the hybrid.

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Thomas Jones asked:


Shopping for a hybrid car is quite different from shopping for a regular car. You know that the hybrid will be easy on your budget and great for the environment but what else do you need to ask yourself? Here is a list of questions you need to answer to be able to find your ideal hybrid car.

Do you drive mostly on the highway or do you stick to city roads more? Many hybrids are great for highway driving but others are better when it comes to city roads. Figuring out what kind of driver you are is key to picking the right hybrid to meet your needs.

Do you need to save a lot of gas? The Honda Civic and the Toyota Prius hybrids are both excellent hybrids when it comes to saving a lot of gas. There are also many others who will run a close second to these cars.

Ar you interested in a sedan or would you rather have an SUV? As of today the hybrid car buyer is limited to one or the other but come the year 2009 you will also be able to choose from a full-sized pickup truck. Both the Chevy Silverado and the GM Sierra will be available in a hybrid.

Do you require a lot of space? Once you start shopping for a hybrid you will notice that many of the cars that were once roomier in a regular car are not as large on the interior now that they are a hybrid. If you require a lot of room you might want to make sure you throughly check to see if the hybrid you want has enough leg and head room to accommodate you comfortably. Don’t forget to think about traveling. Many new hybrids are short on storage space.

Are you interested in a hybrid that is less or more dependent on it’s battery pack? With hybrid cars some use the battery pack more than others will. They have the ability to switch from the gas engine while coasting or at very low speeds. If your interested in a hybrid like this then the Toyota Camry, Toyota Prius or even the Honda Civic is the one to check out.

Do you have the ability to pay for a hybrid? Hybrid cars cost more than regular cars by about $3,000 to $6,000. This increase can greatly effect what cars you are able to afford and whether you can have any extras.

Did you know you can receive a tax credit from purchasing a hybrid? The New Energy tax credit is give when less than 60,000 units of any hybrid have been sold. This credit is up to $3,400. Once 60,00 units have sold the government will begin reducing the credit. Ask your dealer for more information.

People buy hybrid cars for many reasons. Once you have decided why your purchasing a hybrid it will make the choice in which hybrid to purchase that much easier.

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