Hybrid Technology Develops as the 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid
 | ||||
by: Jenny McLane
| ||||
| The company that popularizes the hybrid technology is producing the better hybrid vehicles year after year. Although Toyota starts the technology to their Prius in 1997, Honda produces, develops, and uses the technology continuously to their cars. Honda’s first hybrid car, the Honda Insight was released in the United States in 1999. This was soon followed by the Honda Civic which marked the radical change in the hybrid technology and changed the way people’s to a car. Hybrid cars use the combination of technologies such as internal combustion engines (ICEs), electric motors, batteries, hydrogen, and fuel cells. This saves a lot of gas fuel that becomes the preference of car purchaseers.
A 3.0l V-6 engine of the Accord is the biggest among its class. It is the first hybrid that can match or even surpass other gas-engine vehicles. With 255 horses pushing it, the Accord is the most economical V-6 vehicle. The 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid drives like the conventional gas-engine powered vehicle. And without the “hybrid” badges on the vehicle, you wouldn’t know the difference. This Accord uses the same automatic transmission like that of the gas-engine instead of the continuously variable transmission (CVT), Toyota and Ford uses to their hybrid. Its so the IMA or the integrated motor assist which always at the gas mode and kick to electric for additional power when needed, unlike Ford and Toyota which uses the electric as long as possible then switch to gas when needed.
The only backslash of the 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid is its price tag of about $30,000 which is $3,400 more that its gas model. But for a vehicle that saves more fuel the regular vehicle, it is a better purchase in the long run. The 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid can be seen on www.partstrain.com along with other Honda vehicles. For more information about the vehicle, and to purchase Honda part, visit http://www.partstrain.com/ShopByVehicle/HONDA . About the author: Jenny McLane is a 36 year old native of Iowa and has a knack for research on cars and anything and everything about it. She works full time as a Market Analyst for one of the leading car parts suppliers in the country today. |
Showing posts with label fuel economy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fuel economy. Show all posts
Friday, September 21, 2012
Hybrid Technology Develops as the 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Save Your Planet and Your Wallet : Consider Fuel Efficiency When Purchasing a Car
Consider Fuel Efficiency When purchasing a Car
| ||
by: Fisher Swanson
| ||
| When you need to purchase your next automobile make sure that fuel economy doesn't get lost in the shuffle. purchaseing a compact car with good gas mileage is both friendly to the environment and your pocket book. You will enjoy the savings throughout the life of the vehicle. There is a lot to consider when purchaseing a car. If you are purchaseing a used car the condition of the clutch, brakes, engine and transmission will play a huge role in how much that car will cost to operate. Even minor problems can result in $300 repairs. With new cars you need to find the make and model that has a proven track record and fits your needs. Make sure that fuel efficiency plays a role in your decision making. If you emerge from the car purchaseing process with a fuel efficient car you will burn up less cash in your tank and have more money to spend on things that matter. Take advantage of what is known. When it comes to vehicle maintenance, the one thing you can easily and accurately predict is how much gas you are going to use. Gas prices may fluctuate but most people can spend a week or two logging their gas consumption and get a good idea of how many gallons they use. If you don't already, track your gas consumption so you can use this information when purchasing a car.
One way to make sure that fuel efficiency is considered is to start by looking at cars that get good gas mileage. Make it the #1 priority and see where that leads you. The problem with today's car market is car manufacturers know that gas mileage is not a major consideration when purchasing a new vehicle for many U.S. customers. Crunching the numbers. When you are evaluating a car's fuel efficiency, ask yourself how long you think you will be driving the car and determine how much gas will cost. Let's say you want to get a used car for $5,000 and hope to drive it for 5 years. Below are some 5 year gas cost estimates based on driving 15,000 miles per year and purchaseing gas for $1.40 per gallon. If gasoline is more expensive than $1.40, the costs will be even higher. A Sampling of Used Cars: 1994 Ford Explorer SUV (2WD) 5 year gas estimate = $5525 1994 Honda Accord Sedan 5 year gas estimate = $3885 1994 Honda Civic DX Sedan 5 year gas estimate = $2385 A Sampling of New Cars: 2004 Ford Explorer 2WD 5 year gas estimate = $6175 2004 Honda Accord 5 year gas estimate = $3750 2004 Honda Civic Hybrid 5 year gas estimate = $2235 2004 Toyota Prius Hybrid 5 year gas estimate = $1910 This is a small sampling of cars but you get the picture. Unless you really need an SUV or large truck, you can save a lot of money by purchaseing a fuel efficient compact car. You will sacrifice size and sometimes luxury when choosing fuel economy first. Part of this is because bigger cars and trucks are heavier and will naturally get worse gas mileage. But it is also a function of consumers not worrying about gas mileage when they make a decision on purchasing a new or used car. A great site for comparing cars fuel economy is www.fueleconomy.org. At www.fueleconomy.org you can compare numerous makes and models of both new and used cars and set the default gas costs to reflect the current prices. The numbers above are based on a $1.40 regular gas price which is really hard to find right now. In the case of the 1994 Ford Explorer you likely pay as much in gas over a 5 year span as you payed for the vehicle in the first place. Put fuel economy first and you will find yourself with more money in your pocket. About the author: Fisher Swanson is a regular contributer to The ThriftyFun.com News. ThriftyFun publishes information about thrifty living. Send an email to thriftyfunnews-on@thriftyfun.com to subscribe to The ThriftyFun.com News.Fisher Swanson is a regular contributer to The ThriftyFun.com News. ThriftyFun publishes information about thrifty living. Send an email to thriftyfunnews-on@thriftyfun.com to subscribe to The ThriftyFun.com News. |
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Drive slower, Save the planet!
Drive slower, save the planet!
| ||
by: Sophie Evans
| ||
| Site: Hoot Article Release details: Immediate Date: 23 September 2005 Drive slower, save the planet! The environment is a hot issue that we just can’t afford to ignore any longer. To some, being environmentally aware is a way of life, a necessary and fundamental aspect of existence. To others being ‘green’ is something to aspire to, a lifestyle that with a bit of guidance could be achievable. Young people have been brought up in a culture of ecological revelations, such as the depletion of the ozone layer and melting polar ice caps. We all know that these things are still happening yet we’ve still got a long way to go before the impacts of modern society on our planet are decelerated. Our parents weren’t particularly clued up about the effect that peoples’ actions have on their environment and recycling was certainly never an option in many houses in the 80s and 90s. However, these days we do have the resources and the knowledge to make little changes that can improve the planet for the better. If we can slow down on the road then we might be able to slow down climate change. High levels of Co2 emissions are one of the biggest influencers of climate change and environmental damage. Exhaust emissions contain a myriad of chemicals which clog up the atmosphere and cause long term damage to our surroundings. Aviation contributes to a large proportion of the damage. Each jet requires hundreds of thousands of gallons of fuel to get to its destination. Short of getting to your holiday resort by rail, a bit tricky if you’re off to the Maldives, there is little that you or I can do about aviation emissions. However, drivers can make a massive difference to the environment by taking a few steps to reduce their emissions and help reduce harmful pollution. You can reduce the amount of fuel you use by up to 25% by changing some of your habits. Driving is expensive, with the cost of car insurance, road tax and fuel to consider. It’s not difficult to alter your lifestyle; we owe it to our future offspring and more importantly right now, we owe it to our pockets! Whilst we may not live long enough to see the benefit to the environment we can feel the immediate benefit to our pockets. By being slightly more conscientious drivers we can all make a huge difference. Follow these tips from www.hootcarinsurance.co.uk and you’ll soon help protect the planet and feel the immediate payback in your pocket. • Keep a steady speed when driving; by reducing the use of your pedals you reduce the use of fuel. • Anticipate conditions, and accelerate and decelerate efficiently. This is safer and uses less fuel. It is also proven that you won’t get to your destination faster by speeding. According to Earteasy.com the most fuel-efficient speed for your car is roughly 55 mph, or 90 km/h. Increasing your speed from 55 mph to 75 mph boosts your fuel consumption a stunning 20 percent! • If you are in traffic or caught behind railway gates, then turn off your engine. Idling uses up a great deal of fuel especially when some train gates stay down for as long as ten minutes. • Keep your tyres pumped up to the correct level. This will save you up to 4% fuel. • Maintain your car and change the air filter as recommended by the manufacturers’ guidelines. • If at all possible, car share to work, this will save you money and give you a clear conscience! Some companies arrange car share schemes as do some local councils. See www.nationalcarshare.co.uk and www.liftshare.co.uk for more information. • Walk to work if you live nearby. Not only will this keep you fit but you’ll also save fuel and money. • purchase a car with a small engine. This will not only cut emissions but also means really cheap car insurance, cheaper tax and manoeuvrability in busy towns. Driving a 4x4 means 50% less fuel efficiency, so unless you are a farmer and regularly go off road, there really is no need to drive a gas guzzling vehicle in urban areas. By the way spray on mud is a dead giveaway! So, we can all cut our costs and save the planet at the same time by making a few changes to the way we drive, but what about the future of fuel? Surely driving more slowly can’t be the only solution? The future of travel There are some innovative new energy solutions, new engine designs and hybrid car concepts which are set to take off in the years to come. Hybrid cars are vehicles that have an ordinary combustion engine combined with another energy source such as batteries or electricity. The alternative energy source takes over from the engine when it is inefficient, such as during long slow drives. These hybrids are extremely efficient and half as polluting as normal cars with petrol engines. The good news is you don’t even have to change your beloved car because it can be converted as long as it’s less than six years old. This can be costly but long term it could save you money. There are also several government schemes running that can help you to convert your car. Some manufacturers have already caught onto the benefits of hybrid vehicles. For examples of hybrids look at the Toyota Prius, the Ford Escape and the Honda Accord to name but a few. Electric cars may be the way ahead for city dwellers. With no emissions and using a quarter of the energy consumption of a similar sized petrol car they may revolutionise driving in the longer term. Although the cars currently on the market only drive at a maximum of 40 mph, they are exempt from tax, some congestion charges and great news for young people… they are in the lowest car insurance group. After the initial outlay of around £8,000 the car is cheap to run and extremely eco-friendly. The future of fuel Sulphur free fuel: We can expect to be able to purchase this by 2008, in fact this will become compulsory by that date. Biodiesel: This is a blend of 95% low sulphur diesel and 5% rapeseed oil. This reduces CO2 emissions by as much as 5% and can be used in an engine that hasn’t been converted to this type of fuel. Bioethanol: Although this could take years to become widely available it produces less air pollutants and is renewable. It is made through the distillation of wheat, sugar or biomass. It can be used blended in unmodified engines or straight in modified engines. The future of our environment is in our hands. If you can’t afford to purchase a hybrid car or convert your engine, you can certainly make a start on your eco friendly lifestyle by following the driving tips above. It’s not too late to decelerate the impact of our polluting behaviour by decelerating our driving. It really is worth it for the future of the planet and for the health of our bank balances. -ENDS- Editorial notes: www.hootcarinsurance.co.uk is an online car insurance provider which offers massive savings on existing premiums and gives the customers quick quotes and the ease of purchaseing online. Hoot provides car insurance for young people only. For more information contact Sophie Evans – www.hootcarinsurance.co.uk Online car insurance provider. About the author: For more information contact Sophie Evans – www.hootcarinsurance.co.uk Online car insurance provider. |
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
10 Tips For Saving Cash On Your Gas
10 Tips For Saving Cash On Your Gas
|
by: Pete Lance
|
| Gas prices are getting more and more ridiculous. And it’s going to keep increasing with no limit in sight! For the new car owners out there, do you know that a gallon of unleaded gasoline used to cost only $1.25? Therefore, it is becoming more and more important to maximize your money and save at the gas station. So here we have compiled 10 best tips to help you get the most out of your dollar! Tip 1: Shop Around This is the advice that you can apply anytime you purchase anything. Always shop around. You can get a cheaper price for your favorite brand, and probably a yet cheaper price for a different brand. Tip 2: Use a Gasoline Credit Card Gasoline credit cards are great! They can save you 5 to 10 percent o ff your gasoline purchase. Tip 3: Purchase Gasoline When the Weather is Cool Gasoline is denser in cooler temperatures, such as in the morning or at night. Gas stations measure volume, not density, so you'll be getting more solid fuel than vapors, thus improving your overall gas mileage. Tip 4: Avoid Gas Stations That Just Refilled Their Tanks When underground tanks are refilled, particles at the bottom of the tank get stirred up, and when these particles get into your gasoline tank, they affect the fuel efficiency of your car. Tip 5: Don’t Top Off The gas pump needs time to draw out the full amount of gas, so When you purchase a bit of gas the station, you get short bursts of fuel that you'll probably pay extra for. You should refill your tank when you have less than half a talk left or when you find a price that is so low you cannot afford to miss it. Tip 6: Don’t Use High Octane Gas Most cars nowadays are built to run on regular unleaded gas. Purchasing higher octane gas is simply a waste of money. Octane measures how hard it is to ignite gas, not the quality of the gas, so getting higher octane gas will not improve fuel efficiency. You should only get these more expensive gases when your engine pings, knocks or rattles. Tip 7: Pump Your Own Gas It's cheaper to pump your own gas at the self-serve stations rather than using the full-serve pumps. Full-serve gasoline naturally costs more. Tip 8: Lessen the Use of Air-Conditioning This tip is simple enough. Air-conditioning uses electricity, and they can reduce fuel economy by up to 20àIt's advisable to use the air ventilation system instead. Tip 9: Plan Your Trip You can avoid unnecessary driving by planning your trip before hand, and of course that saves you money on gas consumption. Tip 10: Purchase Vehicles That Get Good Mileage This is probably one of the best tips anybody can give on saving money at the gas pump. It's always better to purchase vehicles that get good gas mileage. Check with your car dealer about cars that have better fuel economy. About the author: Pete Lance is the founder of www.USGasTracker.org, a premier company which helps the consumer save money on gasoline. Thousands of gas stations across the nation are tracked daily to guarantee the lowest prices on gasoline anywhere in the United States. Sign up for a free daily email with the lowest gas prices for your zip code.http://www.usgastracker.org |
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Chevrolet / Chevy Aveo. The city car.
The first impression of Chevy Aveo. Everything is decent. The design, tyres, front view, back view are decent looking. Even the fuel consumption is economically decent. The price is decent too. Thus, no doubt a good, suitable car for a novice driver who wish to get a hand on a new chevy but lost in choices. Even if you are not a novice driver, but are badly bitten by the global economy crisis, this is also a suitable car to put into your consideration list, based on their excellent fuel economy, and affordable basement price. Although it gives a comfy ride, it is not advisable to speed with this car, as it lack some safety features.
Belows are the pros and cons comparing to other sub compact cars
The Pros:
+hold a substantial amount of cargo with the rear seats folded
+reasonable amount of space for four passengers, five in a pinch
+variable valve timing for its four-cylinder engine, which increased its fuel efficiency
+achieve 27/34 mpg-city/highway with a manual transmission
+achieve 25/34 mpg city/highway with automatic transmission
+comfortable
+easy to drive
+decent acceleration and handling
+variable valve timing engine for 2009 version
+automatic transmission - smooth upshifts and prompt downshifts.
+suitable for city drive.
+Plenty of headroom
+narrow B- and C-pillars
+neat tachometer
The Cons:
-standard safety features list is limited
-plenty of hard plastic
-lack of legroom (for driver above 6 feet.)
-A-pillars are a little too wide.
Watch the video for a better pre-experience of the Aveo.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)