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Posts Tagged ‘hybrid car comparison’

By hybrid automobiles we refer to any vehicle that relies on two separate power sources for propulsion. Among the power sources for a hybrid car there are gasoline or diesel fuel, on-board or out-board rechargeable energy storage systems (RESS), hydrogen, wind, compressed or liquid natural gas, solar, coal, wood or other solid combustibles, etc. The term hybrid car or vehicle is used most frequently to refer to hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) in which an internal combustion engine is combined with one or more electric motors.

As mentioned above, there are other hybrid vehicles beside the hybrid car we will mainly deal with here. Mopeds and electric bicycles make the most relevant of examples here. These are the rather basic forms of hybrid vehicles. They combine the power from an internal combustion engine or electric motor with the power of the rider’s muscles. Then there are hybrid heavy vehicles like railway locomotives, buses, heavy goods vehicles, ships or mobile hydraulic machinery. Usually, when reading a hybrid car comparison, the term hybrid car-vehicle is used to refer to hybrid electric vehicles. This category includes the next types of automotives: AHS2 (Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Silverado, Cadillac Escalade, Saturn Vue), Toyota Prius, Ford Escape Hybrid, Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Honda Civic Hybrid, Honda Insight and many others. A petroleum-electric hybrid car usually takes its power from an internal combustion engine (gasoline or diesel engine) and an electric battery.

The origins of the hybrid car are to be found in the early 1900s when David Arthurs created the first hybrid ever. Other than the combination of gas engine and electric motor, there are other propulsion sources used, but for a single engine only. Though there is a certain similarity to a hybrid car, distinctions do exist. In fact, vehicles with double or multiple energy sources are dual mode automotive systems of the trolley type.

There are lots of advantages to buying a hybrid car, and the green considerations are not the only ones. First of all, you get to do something for the environment and humankind, but you also save money on fuel. These two advantages and benefits brought about by the hybrid car are tributary to at least three elements in the design: the combination of gasoline and the electric motors, a battery with plenty of storage capacity and the possibility to re-capture important amounts of energy, which are normally wasted while braking.

Simply put, Gas4Free is a system that you can install yourself for very little money. By installing this water system it will be used with your normal fuel, but much less of it, to run your engine.  Some of the advantages are that your car will run better and cleaner while helping the environment at the same time.  Not only that, you will be able to claim a tax deduction by converting to “green” technology.

This manual is written in easy to read language. Be prepared to see a huge savings in your fuel costs the very first month.  You will discover you can build this system in less than a day.

Book one of this two book set will educate you on how to turn your car into  a hybrid car using hydrogen technology. You will easily learn how to build a hydrogen fuel system for your own car. 

Visit the Gas4Free website and read hundreds of testimonials from more than satisfied car owners who have made the change from gas fuel only to this HHO system.  They have seen their cars drive and smell better,  and has given new life to their old cars. 

After installing this system, only a quart of water is necessary to go over a hundred miles.  Don’t worry about how you can afford a trendy hybrid, simply build your own at home. When a car runs on water it runs much cooler.  Save the earth from global warming with a cooler running car.  The HHO system only emits water vapors and oxygen into the atmosphere instead of carbon and chemical pollutants.

Just a few common tools and only a few simple parts will enable you to build this yourself.  You will not need to make any dramatic changes to your engine.  After you complete the project, just fill it with pure water.  Once you start your engine the electricity will begin making HHO gas (Hydrogen + Oxygen).

HHO gas under your hood seems a little scarry but it is actually very safe.  HHO is not a pure hydrogen gas therefore there is no cause for alarm.  You will discover you have a more efficient and stable engine after installing the HHO device than before.

Vic Lawson produced Gas4Free because of his great concern for preserving our environment.  By writing this book he wanted to help others discover how they too could own a hybrid car without spending thousands of dollars.  He also wanted to write a book in a simple step by step format that anyone could follow.  It is very straitforward and easy to follow.  He is so sure you will be successful after reading his book that he can offer a 100% money back guarantee.

Do you know which is the best hybrid car? It’s pretty difficult to point at a vehicle and claim that is the best hybrid car? Well, if you really want to make a detailed hybrid car comparison, let me tell you this is something very difficult to do. Just think about the tough fight in the car industry. All producers aim at one thing only: to design superior ecological vehicles and thus best hybrid car models.

Several factors indicate the candidates for the title of “best hybrid car” but with an ever changing market, chances are that the first position will not always be occupied by the same model. Fuel consume efficiency, horsepower, price of the car, design and utilities are just a few of the criteria by which to appreciate and give a rating to a hybrid car model.

The care for the fuel consume efficiency of the best hybrid car is normal given the ever increasing oil price and the pressure put on the environment by toxic emissions. Well a hybrid car first and foremost aims at reducing fuel consume. Hence the best hybrid car, from this perspective at least, should be running more on electric power than on gas, and even when the regular engine is in function, the average gas need should be lower than that of a regular car.

No matter the engine combination, the best hybrid car should be capable to lead to a gas consume rate that would justify its high initial cost. Some of the best hybrid car illustrations, in this line of thought, are Toyota Prius and Honda Civic, that have systems with high fuel economy rates thanks to the contribution of the electric motor.

When making classifications of the best hybrid car models size also sets them apart. Thus, you might like to know that the best hybrid car in the small, town-use range, or maybe the mid-size hybrid sedans are more adequate for your needs. Though luxury vehicles like  Lexus hybrid automobiles are far more costly and difficult to maintain, there is a special market segment they address.

The best hybrid car according to personal requirements should be chosen by asking an expert for advice and guidance in this field of green-oriented vehicles. Thus, you should consider the cost of replacing certain equipment items, governmental tax credits, fuel economy, warranty, battery charging system and so on. Clarifications are necessary for other technical features, but that is the expert’s call.

hybrid car comparison

Today lowering the cost of gas-powered cars is a primary concern, and it is even a higher priority for the average household.  However, on the positive side, things are starting to build up as the competition increases in the hybrid car market, and this hybrid car comparison will give you some insight as to what to consider before you purchase a hybrid car.

So what exactly is a hybrid car?In other words, a hybrid vehicle is a mix of gas-powered engines and another energy source.  This mix can be a combination of gas and electric, gas and hydrogen, or gas with some other alternative fuel.

There is an ever increaseing demand for these cars that are gentle on the environment, and the fact that we have experienced constant gasoline price hikes have created a demand, indeed a vacuum, for more serious development of hybrid vehicles. This only makes it better for the consumers: the more competition, the better the research and development, and ultimately the more competition and choices for the public.

At the moment of this printing, there are iin excess of 20 different models of hbrid cars, and this is increasing every year as the newer models reach the market.  Some major car manufacturers have even developed electric cars where the gasoline is the backup system.One example is General Motors’ (GM) announcement and introduction of the Chevrolet Volt — an electric car for 1010.  (Click here to read more about the new Chevrolet electric car and additional informatio on electric autos ).

Hopefully this article will help your reduce some of the considerations to help you make a better choice for your needs, your budget, and your family.

Hybrid MPG or Fuel Efficiency

Probably the primary reason a family considers a hybrid ar is the hybrid’s fuel efficiency or hybrid mpg.Hybrids lead all other gasoline powered engines in lower emissiona and higher fuel efficiency.  All automobiles (gasoline or hybrid) have a fuel efficiency rating as represented by the number of miles per gallon (MPG) the car can obtian.

The miles per gallon (or here the hybrid mpg) changes depending on variables such as road conditions, wheather, tire inflation and other circumstances.  For example, your hybrid mpg in the city is totally different from cruising down a freeway or highway.

Let’s Look At The Competition

At his writing, at the top of the most fuel efficient cars for 2010 is the Toyota Prius with a rating Hybrid MPG rating of 48 City/51 Highway according to FuelEconomy.gov. The Honday Civic Hybrid came close with a 45/40 rating, followed by the Nissan Altima Hybrid and Toyota Camry Hybrid each with a 34/33 hybrid mpg rating.Of course honorable mentions go to the Mini Cooper, Volkswagen Jetta and Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen, the Mini Clubman, Ford Escape Hybrid and Toyota Yaris.

So What Exactly Is An Emission Rating?

Basically there are two notable emissions-rating entities in the United States.There is the EPA, which is the federal government’s agency that regulates emisions.The next ones are the CARB standars, which stands for California Air Resources Board. The CARB ratings are generally higher than the standards set by the federal government.

The “emissions” are the pollutants coming out of a car’s tailpipe.Advances in technology like catalytic converters, fuel control systems and exhaust recirculation make enough reduction in polution to be compliant with EPA laws.Under the federal system, you can use a rating system of zero to ten in wich you can compare emissions of one vehicle to another vehicle – even if they are not the same type of car (i.e., trucks versus cars). The higher the number, the better.For example, a sedan with a score of 7 is not as clean as a truck with a score of 8.

With California’s CARB ratings, if a vehicle has good emission ratings, they are given the label PZEV, meaning Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle.  This title is nearly always given to hybrid cars because of the mix of electric motors power and gasoline.  Other cars may be given even a higher rating called AT-PZEV, which means Advanced Technology PZEV. But the highest is a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle or SULEV.

Let’s Compare Emission Ratings

When it comes to comparing emissions, a hybrid does not necessarily win top honors.  For example, the Lexus gets tops with SULEV ratings for alll their hybrid cars.  Of course their hybrid mpg is a disappointing 25mpg, if your priority is a clean hybrid, this is a good option.  Toyota Prius is a both an SULEV and PZEV, depending on the fuel used (i.e., California it gets the PZEV rating; however, other states with different fule standards and it is rated SULEV). A nice SUV that is an SULEV is the Toyota Highlander.

Other “clean cars” are the: 2009 Toyota Prius Hybrid, 2009 Honda Civi Hybrid, 2009 Honda Civic GX (CNG), 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid and the Ford 2009 Escape Hybrid.

Power and Acceleration

For many people, the power and acceleration stats may be the deal breaker and the area that gets a very hard look by consumers.There exists an unfair reputation that hybrids are not much faster than the country club golf carts.This is not reflective of the true facts. Hybrid cars, by some definitions, use two power sources.  When comparing this category, you have to look at the total rating for the combined sources.  Some of the power horses (all puns intended) are the Lexus LS 600h L, which clocks in at about 430 hp.  That’s huge, and it’s as powerful as some 6-liter V12 engines.It can accelerate from zero to sixty miles per hour at a highly impressive five seconds. Another leader in this area is the Lexus 450h. This model comes in at 339 hp, coming from the two sources: the gas engine contribues 208hp while the the electric motor ponys up another 97 hp.It can go from zero to sixty in a time of 5.3 seconds. In third place is the Nissan’s Altima Hybrid, which comes in with a respectable 198hp with acceleration of 9 seconds.

Hybrid Car Prices

Here’s the real consideration: will the hybrid car pay for itself, somehow?
Many states have incentives for driving hybrid cars.In California, for example, some hybrids allow the driver to drive in the high-occupancy vehicle or “commuter” lanes when driving alone.  Additionally, there are various tax credits or incentives from the federal and local governments for the purchase of a hybrid car.

Considering this, hybrid autos are more expensive than their non-hybrid, gas engine counterperts.Although with competition on the rise and 2010 looking like a better year for the hybrid, that could change.

For small hybrid cars:

Honda Civic Hybrid (MSRP $23,650 – $26,850)
Toyota Prius  ($22,000 base MSRP)

Family Hybrid Sedans

Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid (MSRP $25,555)
Lexus- GS450h (MSRP $56,550)
Lexus- LS 600h-L (MSRP $106,035)
Nisssan – Altima Hybrid (MSRP $26,650)
Toyota-Camry Hybrid (MSRP $26,150)

Hybrid SUVs

Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon Hybrids (Tahoe Hybrid MSRP $50,455 – $53,260)
Ford Escape / Mercury Mariner / Mazda Tribute (Ford Escape Hybrid $20,435 – $27,670)
Saturn Vue Green Line (hybrid) (MSRP $28,160)
Toyota Highlander Hybrid (MSRP $34,700 – $41,020)

Lexus RX 400h — Based on the 2010 Lexus RX redesign, there was no RX 400h for the 2009 model year.We’ll be on the lookout for the new 2010 year models, coming out in late 2009.

In summary, there are many variables that go into the decision to purchase a hybrid car.  Hopefully this hybrid car comparison wil help you narrow your choice to one that suits you best.Happy Green & Clean driving!