All About Hybrid Car: 10/19/08

Friday, October 24, 2008

Mini E hybrid introduced by BMW

BMW officially jumped on the electric car bandwagon with the announcement of the limited edition Mini E car for production. The electric car, based on the Mini Cooper platform, will get power from a 150-kilowatt electric motor tied to a newly developed high-power lithium ion battery. Dr. Klaus Draeger, BMW chief of development, told Hybridcars.com, “This is yet another example of the company’s environmental push.” The Mini E will be made available to select private and corporate customers under a one-year leasing program in Southern California, New York, and New Jersey. It will make its world debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in Nov. 2008.

The car's 380-volt battery back comprised of 5,088 individual cells, and can be recharged using a standard 110-volt electrical outlet. The battery pack has a maximum capacity of 35 kilowatt hours. BMW will offer a specialized high-amp wall-mounted device that will allow a full replenishment of the battery in less than three hours. The Mini E will have a cruising range of 150 miles, well beyond the requirements of most daily commutes.

In terms of performance, the Mini E will benefit from 204-horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. The result is a 0 to 60 time of 8.5 seconds and a top speed of 95 miles per hour. These numbers fall short of specs for the standard MINI Cooper, but the Mini E will grant performance—especially acceleration from zero—much better than virtually all compacts or subcompacts currently on the road today.

The Mini E optimizes efficiency with a re-calibrated suspension, regenerative braking capability, and a modified air-conditioning compressor designed to cut down on power usage.

Approximately 500 cars are slated for production, which will take place at BMW’s Munich plant before the end of 2008. The price of the Mini E, or production beyond the first demonstration models, has not yet been determined.

2020 the target year that All Hybrid Car on the road

A new study of 125 anonymous car industry executives from 15 countries done by IBM’s Institute for Business Value announces the car industry’s prediction that all new cars will be hybrids by 2020. This news comes along with the acknowledgment that the auto industry is changing at a nearly unprecedented pace – the economy is changing (currently in a very negative way for the U.S.), the environment is becoming a higher priority for the consumer and politicians, technology is changing and improving with each model year, and the industry itself is changing in terms of which companies are working together or becoming one entity.

Download the whole report here to see what the anonymous executives’ thoughts were on all aspects of the changing automotive landscape or just take a peak at pages 8-12 for the nitty-gritty on hybridization of all new cars by 2020.

The execs felt that hybridization of all new vehicles by 2020 would be incremental over the next 12 years and would focus on finding the answer to several key questions:

How can we (the manufactures) assist the occupants of the vehicle? Industry leaders felt that this question will be best answered with focused advances in driver-friendly software and electrical systems.
How will the vehicle be powered? This is where the hybridization really comes into play. The answers to the question will lead to the development of more efficient engine and auxiliary power systems and power trains.
What is deemphasized? The auto executives seemed to think it was the end of exterior and interior style, as they thought that the interior, body, and chassis would be less of a priority for buyers in the future.
While the executives think that all new cars will be hybrids by 2020, just how hybridized they are will depend. In part, the pace of growth could be based on hybrid car battery advancements. They anticipate seeing at least three kinds of hybrids on the road by that time.

Micro hybrids with stop-start capability and regenerative braking hold the potential to make sizeable contributions to carbon emission reduction and lower fossil fuel consumption. Current projections include estimates of up to 10 percent reduction in carbon emissions and fuel savings of up to 13 percent under certain driving conditions.

Mild hybrids, designed to provide extra power as needed but incapable of propelling the vehicle alone, are gaining attention, with several OEMs announcing agreements to collaborate and develop this technology.

Full hybrids, not unlike some vehicles available today (powered exclusively by the electric motor under certain operating conditions) will continue to see extensive development. Alternative financing models will fuel the affordability of this technology for consumers.

The belief that all cars would be built as hybrids within 10-12 years was not based on the opinions of auto environmentalists. 85% of the top worldwide car companies are included in this study, including the ten largest. It is an exciting time for hybrid lovers everywhere and thought by my estimates, this prediction seems very optimistic of hybrid advancements, it is exciting to know that a greener world is expected by the auto industry.

American Passport Express

Life plans can change in a New York minute. One minute you're at work planning a late supper with your kids, and the next minute a travel order falls across your desk. Instead of mentally preparing a dinner menu, you find yourself scrambling to make last-minute international travel arrangements. Between board meetings, teleconferences and piles of paperwork, the last thing you have time to do is leave the office to renew a passport. Fortunately for the busy executive, you can get an American passport in NYC without leaving your desk.

You can get the fast American passport at American Passport Express. They are nationally recognized non-government US passport service. They work with the US Passport Agency and foreign consulates to secure US passports and visas in as little as 24 hours.

Filling out an online passport application saves the time and trouble of going in person and waiting in line at a passport processing agency. All types of expedited passport applications can be accessed via the web, including 24 hr passports/renewals and 2 day passport/passport renewals as long as you still have your old passport, it was issued to you at age 16 or older and within the past 15 years, and is in good condition.

Hybrid Car Tax Incentives

Most often when considering the purchase of a new car the last thing that comes to mind is that it can actually be financially beneficial. In the case of buying a new hybrid car it can be a financially sound purchase. Since their beginning hybrid cars have been used as a tax credit. Luckily for hybrid owners who bought their car in 2006 the tax incentives have gotten even better.

Before January 1st, 2006 people who purchased hybrid cars were allowed to take a $2000 income tax deduction. After that date, the deduction became even larger. Currently the law states that a new hybrid car owner can have a tax credit anywhere from $400 to $3400 on their income taxes. All of this is due to the new energy bill recently passed.

It works in a way like a first come, first serve situation. Each manufacturer’s total available tax credit to their buyers begins to be reduced after the automaker has sold 60,000 hybrid vehicles. After the initial 60,000 have sold that manufacturer’s tax credit is slowly lowered over the course of five years. With this in mind, the interested consumer would be smart to try to purchase their hybrid as soon as possible.

The tax credit available on each hybrid is generated by the use of a calculation and two tables. The total hybrid car tax credit is determined by the Fuel Economy credit and the Conservation credit. The fuel economy credit is based on its fuel usage for its weight class. The better a certain hybrid performs in this arena the higher the credit it will be awarded.

The conservation credit is determined by how fuel effective the vehicle is. In other words it is directly related to how much gas the hybrid saves. As in the case of the fuel economy credit the higher the percentage the better the tax credit will be.

Some of the hybrid cars that have come out on top of these ratings have been the Prius and Escape Hybrid. The Prius comes to its new owner with a $3150 tax credit. That number takes a significant amount out of the original price.

Ford’s 4-wheel drive Escape Hybrid SUV is a high dollar amount as well. Its tax credit comes out to be $1950. The consumer who is considering buying a hybrid car can easily look into the current value of each models tax credit by contacting the dealership or the manufacturer directly.

The new energy bill and a new hybrid car could help keep the IRS away. The current tax credit break given to hybrid owners may just be the thing to put this form of new technology in the forefront of the minds of American car buyers.

Purchasing a new hybrid not only helps with the rising cost of gas and the danger to the environment, but also is an excellent resource for deferring the cost with the tax credit. The hybrid car tax credit is an incentive few people would want to miss.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

How to get Hybrid Car Rental Coupon?

Taking a green vacation? When you get to your destination and need to travel longer than your cycling legs will take you, consider renting a hybrid vehicle!

While purchasing hybrid vehicles is gaining popularity, renting a hybrid vehicle has still not reached the same level of normality. It’s up to the consumer to research and ask questions of the rental car companies they choose. Of course, in the end the consumer will win!

Fox Rent A Car, founded in 1989, is a worldwide premier car rental company specializing in low rates. Touted as the largest independent car rental company headquartered in California, Fox Rent A Car and their affiliates have rental car offices located at major airports around the world.

By partnering with EV Rental Cars, all Fox Rent A Car locations offer hybrid vehicles for rent. Hybrid vehicles rented by Fox Rent A Car include: Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, Ford Escape and the Toyota Highlander. The benefits of renting a hybrid vehicle consistently outweigh those of renting a standard vehicle due to their increased ratio of miles per gallon.

Before heading to a Fox location, be sure to check their website as a hybrid car rental coupon is frequently available. This coupon, when presented, entitles the bearer to a 5% to 10% discount on the rental of any hybrid vehicle.

Choosing to rent a hybrid car is a great fiscal selection for travelers. These vehicles have excellent gas mileage and that difference can really add up on those long summer trip or even when tooling around town on business. When a hybrid car rental coupon is used, the savings quickly and easily become even more significant.

Fox Rent A Car locations can be found at many large airports and airline hubs. Phoenix, Los Angeles, Miami, Atlanta, Austin, Salt Lake City and Orlando are just a select few of the most popular national Fox Rent A Car locations. When traveling abroad look for Fox Rent A Car centers at Toronto, Guam, Cancun, San Juan, Dubai, Gatwick and Heathrow airports.

It is worth noting, that Fox Rent A Car – like several car rental venues - currently does not accept debit cards as a form of payment.

Currently the only major national chain offering hybrid rental cars is Enterprise-Rent-A-Car. They offer the Toyota Prius for rental but not at all locations. It’s in the consumer’s best interest to contact the office directly to determine hybrid availability. At the time of your call, inquire about possible savings, discounts or a hybrid car rental coupon. Remember, the coupon may not specify hybrid car rentals only, but if applied to the rental of a hybrid car, the end result is the same; big savings for you!

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

How much do hybrids really cost?

In the past, selecting and driving a hybrid car required the purchaser to make some sacrifices. The vehicles were typically smaller than a midsize sedan, did not carry a long list of creature comforts and often featured styling only an aerodynamics expert could love. For those not willing to make these sacrifices, the choices were vehicles with good mileage and vehicles with poor mileage. Great mileage was out of the picture. 2007’s lineup of available hybrid vehicles shows those choices are no longer necessary.

With a hybrid car cost starting at $26,200, the Toyota Camry Hybrid is a roomy, five passenger sedan suitable for carting kids around or several business travelers. The deep, 10.6 cubic foot trunk easily accepts groceries or luggage.

The Nissan Altima Hybrid’s hybrid car cost starts at $24,990. The Nissan Altima Hybrid features a Toyota licensed Synergy drive. Toyota helped to develop the electric motor and computer controls. These are joined to a modified version of the 2.5 liter four-cylinder found in the standard, non-hybrid Nissan Altima.

The Honda Civic Hybrid’s car cost starts at just $22,600. A strong point of the Honda Civic Hybrid for many is that, with the exception of a few gauges, the car is very similar to a standard Honda Civic, one of the best-selling compact cars in America.
The second generation Toyota Prius debuted in the 2004 model year with a four-door hatchback and seats up to five people. While the Prius’s hybrid powertrain has a 1.5-liter gasoline-fueled engine, drivers still have more than sufficient power, efficient fuel economy and reduced tailpipe emissions. Starting hybrid car cost for the Toyota Prius is $22,175.

If it’s a SUV you’re looking for, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid offers an available 3rd row seat for seating up to 7 and all wheel drive to power through the mud and snow. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is available for a hybrid car cost of $32,490.

The Saturn Vue Green Line uses a unique gasoline electric hybrid system. Termed a “mild” hybrid, the Saturn system eschews the complicated Synergy drive favored by Toyota. This results in a low hybrid SUV cost of $22,370.

The Ford Escape Hybrid is an excellent choice for comfort, convenience and space. Seating for 5 and room for golf clubs means everyone can tag along for family fun. The Ford Escape Hybrid has a low hybrid car cost of $25,075 while its sibling, the Mercury Mariner Hybrid is available at $25,765.

Lexus hybrids include both the GS 450h sedan and the RX 400h SUV. The Lexus RX 400h debuted in 2006 and borrows heavily from the advanced hybrid powertrain developed in the Toyota Highlander. New to the Lexus lineup this year is the hybrid GS 450h. The GS series has been the sport sedan of Lexus’ stable. Lexus felt it would be great to offer a hybrid sedan, but refused to compromise the handling, power or ride quality of its prestigious GS line. The result is a slick sport sedan with a 3.5 liter V6 and electric motor tucked under the hood. The hybrid car costs for these vehicles are $41,180 and $54,900, respectively.

With so many versatile models to choose from, it’s clear to see that in 2007, the line between fuel efficiency and desirable cars has been erased and with reduced fuel costs and substantial tax credits, purchasers can keep more of their money in their pockets.

The Top 10 Fuel Economy List for 2009 Vehicles

The EPA and Energy Department this week issued its 2009 fuel economy guide. Hybrids, once again, dominate the top of the list with five of the six most efficient vehicles. The 2009 Toyota Prius is the leader with ratings of 48 mpg in the city and 45 on the highway.

There are two new entries on the Top 10 list: the diesel-powered Volkswagen Jetta TDI sedan and wagon, and the Smart ForTwo convertible and coupe. The Smart ForTwo is number five on the list, with a rating of 33 mpg city and 41 highway. The Jetta diesels are now capable of passing strict emissions guidelines in all 50 states. The Jetta with a manual transmission is in the No. 7 spot with 30/41 mpg, followed by the automatic version at 20/40 mpg. The manual-transmission Toyota Yaris, and the automatic version, round out the Top 10 list.

And here the Top 10 list:

Toyota Prius - 48/45
Honda Civic Hybrid - 40/45
Nissan Altima Hybrid - 35/33
Ford Escape Hybrid FWD; Mazda Tribute Hybrid 2WD; Mercury Mariner Hybrid FWD - 34/31
Smart ForTwo convertible; Smart ForTwo coupe - 33/41
Toyota Camry Hybrid - 33/34
Volkswagen Jetta (manual, diesel); Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen (manual, diesel) - 30/41
Volkswagen Jetta (automatic, diesel); Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen (automatic, diesel) - 29/40
Toyota Yaris (manual) - 29/36
Toyota Yaris (automatic) - 29/35

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Honda Hybrids and Tax Credit

The Internal Revenue Service announced that purchasers of American Honda Motor Company, Inc., qualified vehicles may continue to claim the Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit.

The announcement comes after the IRS concluded its quarterly review of the number of hybrid vehicles sold. Honda sold 6,518 qualifying vehicles to retail dealers in the quarter ending June 30 2007. This brings the cumulative number of qualified Honda hybrid vehicles sold as of June 30, 2007, to 58,872.

The credit amount and make and model of qualified vehicles sold are:
* Honda Accord Hybrid Model Year 2005 $650
* Honda Accord Hybrid, Model Year 2007 $1,300
* Honda Accord Hybrid Navi Model Year 2007 $1,300
* Honda Civic Hybrid Model Year 2007 $2,100

Original purchasers of these vehicles may claim the full amount of the credit up to the end of the first calendar quarter after the quarter in which the manufacturer records its sale of the 60,000th vehicle.

For the second and third calendar quarters after the quarter in which the 60,000th vehicle is sold, taxpayers may claim 50 percent of the credit. For the fourth and fifth calendar quarters, taxpayers may claim 25 percent of the credit. No credit is allowed after the fifth quarter.

The reason why you should use Hybrid Car

Many people are looking at ways to save money and gas mileage and one of the first things that comes to mind is to purchase a smaller vehicle.

A hybrid car is typically designed to be smaller and better on gas mileage because of its size. But a true hybrid is actually a car that runs off two different types of fuel such as electric, gas, wind driven, natural gas, solar, hydrogen and even human powered in some cases. Hybrid offers the versatility of being able to conserve one form of fuel while the other one is being used which in turn saves money while helping the environment at the same time.

Making the decision to drive a hybrid care is one that takes careful consideration, for some people a hybrid may or may not fit into their lifestyle, for others it fits perfectly. If one of the following matches up with your lifestyle needs than a hybrid may be right for you.

Cutting Edge Style -- Not only are most hybrid cars small and compact they are also on the cutting edge of style. With their ergonomic designs and sleek styles and contrasts, hybrids are popular with the fashionable elite. Popular among working commuters who are also trendsetters, you will find a hybrid in almost every parking lot in young corporate America.

Money Savings -- A hybrid is more than just another pretty face. A hybrid can actually save you thousands each year on gas. The hybrid always uses the fuel source that is long lasting and saves the other source for reserve or for alternate fueling at a later use. Hybrids get good gas mileage not only from the alternate fuel sources but from their design and their cutting edge fuel filters and mechanical parts that keep the vehicle in cost savings mode virtually at all times.

Help the Environment -- It is well known that hybrid cars help lower emission levels and therefore, emit less pollution into the air, but they also help the environment by their longevity. Most hybrids have been tested to outlast others in a similar class such as sub-compact and compact. Hybrids are designed to be around for the long haul and most come with substantial warranties, bumper to bumper which make them a sound investment for whoever buys one.

Protecting the environment is such an important ideal for so many people, that you can often find hybrid rental cars for those that are looking to help the environment even while on vacation.

Choosing to buy any vehicle takes time, research and a lot of shopping around, but with the right tools one can find the hybrid car of their dream in no time.

Rent a Hybrid Car (http://hybrid-rental-car.com) offers tips and tricks to finding the best deals for a hybrid rental car. Billings Farnsworth is a freelance writer.

Gas Mileage is the major factors That Affect Your Fuel Economy

Calculating gas mileage is not just dividing the gas volume by the number of miles traveled. There are a number of variables that affect a vehicle's gas mileage. If you do want to calculate the mileage of your car or truck, you will need precise equipment to carry that out and also remember to keep the following variables under consideration:

• Road conditions are very important considerations. If you are driving on good roads freeways or highways you will get a better mileage than you would on a bad road full of potholes and craters. If you are planning to calculate the mileage of your vehicle then the best bet is testing it on flat roads to get the optimum value.

• Being 'stuck' in the traffic and keeping an eye on your odometer will probably not give you a fair estimate on your mileage either. Idling consumes a lot of gas that otherwise you won't incur. Starting your car and then breaking frequently also effects mileage adversely. Again try testing your vehicle in a long stretch of road. Dynamometer is used by scientists to measure miles per gallon at different speeds. Gas consumption at 55 mph and at 75 mph varies drastically.

• Drastic weather changes also influence the mileage. Laminar adhesion is an important concept to understand in order to determine a car's vehicle. Generally extreme fog, rain, snow and wind affect the laminar adhesion and thereby influence the amount of energy the engine spends to move the vehicle. The car gets more resistance in moving against air. If it is raining heavily consider up to 10% reduction in mileage whereas a 1%-2% change in mileage is expected for a decrease of every ten degrees in outside temperature.

• Using the pump auto stop will not give you the exact volume of gas in your vehicle. In most cases vehicles take in as much as three gallons of gas after the auto stop has indicated a full tank. This auto stop varies in gas stations. Filling up your gas tank to the fullest is never a great idea either because often overflow costs in loss of gas. You can check your mileage by filling your empty tank up to 10 gallons and then drive around. Ideally you should repeat that a couple of times to titrate the results.

• Last but not the least and the most important factor to consider while calculating mileage is the engine condition. For example if you have just tuned your engine and you want to test the mileage after installing the latest gas-saving equipment, then probably you won't get accurate results as a better mileage can be attributed to the freshly tuned engine.

So as we can see there are a number of factors and variables to keep in to consideration while calculating the mileage of a car or if you are planning to test the performance of a newly launched gas-saving device. Keeping all the variables at an optimum level is your best bet.

Gregg Hall is an author living on the Emerald Coast of Florida. Now that you know a little more about gas mileage be sure that you get gas saving products by going to http://www.nsearch.com

Alli Diet Pill Review

What exactly is alli? Alli is the very first over the counter diet pill approved by the FDA. The product comes with a complete plan on how to use it as well as support to help adults achieve their weight loss goals in a healthy way. Overall, alli is very safe. It works within the digestive system, and does not manipulate hormones to stimulate the brain or heart. It doesn't cause insomnia, jitters, or a rapid heart beat.

So how does alli work?
You can find out more about Alli diet pills at ConsumerPriceWatch.net. They provides to us the details of alli reviews from many aspects such as the safety, and possible side effects.

In general, alli prevents up to 25% of the fat you eat from being absorbed by the small intestines and stored in the body. The active ingredient in alli attaches itself to the enzymes that break down fats for absorption. When the fats are not broken down by the enzymes, they are too large to pass through the walls of the small intestine. Since this undigested fat cannot be absorbed, it passes through the body instead of being stored.

The Alli diet pill is an effective weight loss pill that is approved by the FDA to be bought over-the-counter. The Alli diet pill consists of unique weight loss regimen that is designed to be a diet pill with a plan.

To use the Alli diet pill more effectively, it requires its user serious commitment. Because the usage of the Alli diet pill is individually tailored according to the specific needs of a person, it is a diet regimen that comes with a myalliplan program that is intended to guide the Alli diet pill user throughout their dieting period.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

All about HHO Conversion

HHO conversion is emphatically the number one choice for people wanting to save gas in their cars and trucks. An HHO conversion involves installing an HHO cell in an existing gas or diesel powered engine, so producing a hybrid car. The reasons why an HHO conversion is so popular are it saves up to 50% on gas or diesel, is easy to install, is entirely safe and is very cheap to do.

HHO Conversion Facts

HHO conversion costs less than $150 for a standard sedan. Manuals cost between $50 and $90. If you are not too handy with electronics and mechanics, a car mechanic might charge $200 for assembly and installation.

The IRS gives tax refunds of $2,000 for a sedan car with a hydroxy gas kit and up to $50,000 for a truck over 26,000 pounds in gross weight.

Insurance premiums are significantly reduced for HHO conversions.

More than 70,000 American families have already converted their cars or trucks to run on a mixture of HHO gas and gasoline. HHO conversion in California leads the way, followed closely by HHO conversion in Florida, Texas and Georgia.

HHO conversion produces the following gas savings for these models: Toyota Camry 56%, Ford F-Series 43%, Chevrolet Silverado 45%, Dodge Ram 52%, GMC Sierra 48%. Those are just averages. Figures vary depending on the kit and the amount of fine tuning.

How HHO Conversion Works

There are several components necessary: an HHO cell or generator, a water tank, pump and control unit. Just a few liters of ordinary tap water are added to the water tank. The control unit modulates the amount of H2O pumped to the generator and the performance of the electrodes within the cell. The water molecules are split within the generator to form hydrogen and oxygen.

By far the most important part of HHO conversion is the HHO cell kit. Via this cell, ordinary water is converted into HHO via electrolysis. HHO conversion occurs by passing an electric current through the water. Hydrogen is hived off and combined with oxygen drawn in from outside the vehicle. This is then pumped into the engine to produce a gas 4 times more effective than petroleum.

The housing for the generator should be made from high temperature resistant CPVC piping. It is cheap any easy to get hold of. Its beauty is its durability and easiness of use. A coil and two stainless steel electrodes are inserted withing the housing. When an electrical current is added two atomic different forms of hydrogen are produced. Orthohydrogen is the one which is used, in combination with oxygen, as fuel.

There is a little more to it but HHO conversion really is about as simple as that. That must be why so many people are going in for an HHO conversion.

Top HHO kits and manuals reviewed at Cars Plus

All About Hybrid Car