Toyota Hybrid Sports Car

Anton Rowd asked: Every loyal customer to Toyota and the people behind the company itself are looking forward to 2008. Why? Because that is the slated release for the much-awaited Toyota hybrid sports car dubbed the Volta. Toyota has always been known to set itself apart from all other car manufacturers, releasing some of the most outrageous designs that seem to grow onto society once the cars establish themselves as bestsellers. Japan Goes Italian Toyota’s hybrid sports car can only be a real head turner. This is what’s expected when you have an elite group of designers to give the new concept car a new, nice Italian twist. Pictures of the concept car have emerged from the company itself and the first thing that may come to mind is the Lamborghini Diablo; only the Volta is eco-friendly. Toyota believes that hybrid technology can also be used in high-performance vehicles such as the Toyota Volta. After all, it is rumored to go from 0-60 in 4 seconds and has a top speed of 155 mph; not as fast as the Diablo or any Ferrari but the important thing is how much gas this vehicle doesn’t use. The Name Game The 2008 new Toyota Volta will be paying homage to Alessandro Volta, the man who came up with the electric battery in 1800. It is only very apt considering that this vehicle does run on a type of battery. The Volta runs a V6 engine and there’s an electric motor on each axle. The electric motor will be used to operate several things at the same time such as, for example, a computer that operates the movement of the wheels, activation of brakes, etc.; basically something known as drive by wire, a technology that is fitted into modern fighter jets, so you can imagine how much time in design was spent on this near-future release. This technology also allows for an awkward feature that can have the passengers reposition the steering wheel and pedals in front of them. Economy Two centuries after the invention of the electric battery after which the new hybrid is named, Toyota aims to have the Volta out and running by 2008. It is expected to have a tank that holds only 13.7 gallons that will allow it to go 435 miles when filled up. Plus, if 408 horsepower isn’t enough, you will just have to weight for later versions of the Volta because this is the top speed estimated for the initial release. Toyota France expects to release this to the European market in 2008. However, Germany might be happy to know that the car will be for sale there by December of 2007. Experts are speculating that prices for the Toyota hybrid sports car will range from $72,000 to $165,000 in the US market once it hits North American shores. Whether or not the market is ready for this sports car, Toyota itself is ready to prove that hybrid technology does belong in the automobile industry and will suit any purpose and application. Read more on Toyota Hybrid Sports Car…

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Toyota Hybrid Sports Car

New Hybrid Car Comparison

Anton Rowd asked: Hybrid cars operate on the concept of utilizing gas and electric motors in maximizing fuel consumption and longer mileage. However, this does not mean that all the hybrid vehicles available on the market all achieve the same mileage and use up the same amount of fuel. Here is a hybrid car comparison of some vehicles from different brand manufacturers. The 2007 Prius The Prius sells for about $23,000 give or take a few dollars. With a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that can manage 76 horsepower and an electric motor with 67 horsepower, a total electric motor assist rate would be about 110 horsepower. The Prius is a front-wheel drive, four door hatchback and is said to achieve 48 miles to the gallon in the city and 45 miles to the gallon on the highway or on longer drives. The 2007 Camry Another entry from Toyota is the Camry, similar to their luxury hybrids with four-door and front-wheel drive features. It does have a larger engine, a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder that can achieve 147 horsepower. Its electric motor is much weaker and achieves 40 horsepower which means that mileage and gas is sacrificed. Still, for a hybrid, it performs much better than conventional vehicles and can get about 33 miles to the gallon in both the city and on the highway. 2007 Saturn Aura Green Line Running with a whopping 164 horsepower, the Saturn features a 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine and an electric starting assist motor. This motor basically shuts down the vehicle when it’s on standstill and then automatically restarts it when it moves again. While this may save some gas because none is spent while it’s idle, this is not as helpful as having a real electric motor assist while the vehicle is moving. This allows for 24 miles to the gallon in the city and 32 miles per gallon on the highway; still a fraction better than a conventional gas-powered vehicle. 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid Coming up close to the Toyota Prius is the Civic hybrid which is also one powerful sedan that not only plays the part but looks the part as well. Sleek and luxurious, this beauty from Honda has a tiny 1.3 liter four-cylinder 8-valve engine and full electric motor support that promises 110 horsepower when both engines are in operation to make the car move. The car boasts 49 miles to the gallon on city streets and 51 miles to the gallon on the highway; now that’s competition for Toyota if they haven’t seen it yet. As far as hybrid cars are concerned, it’s all about the technology. For the best performance, you may want to choose one that uses less gas and has full electric motor support to give you the best mileage. Make sure to study your hybrid car comparison before making your hybrid choice. For more hybrid car comparison information, look for more reviews online. From there, you will be able to find the best car that suits your lifestyle. Read more on New Hybrid Car Comparison…

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New Hybrid Car Comparison

The 100 Year History Of The Hybrid Car

T J Madigan asked: The history of hybrid cars is immersed in controversy. Not so much for the product itself, but for the technology it uses. Is it old like the conception of wheel itself, or is it a recent idea, as recent as the embryonic stem cell technology? First of all, a hybrid car is a vehicle that uses on-board RESS, or rechargeable energy storage system. This is coupled with a fueled propulsion power source for the automobiles propulsion. The Hybrid car is a low-gas consuming vehicle, therefore, a low-polluting vehicle. The last characteristic is particularly important because of the growing consciousness of people worldwide on the need to protect the environment. History points to the clear differences between hybrid and all-electric cars. Electric cars use batteries charged by an external source. On this note, almost all hybrids, save for those considered as mild-hybrid, still need gasoline or diesel as their fuel source. Other fuels are also available in the form of ethanol or other plant based oils. Hybrid vehicles also use hydrogen gas occasionally. What is the history of hybrid cars? The history of hybrid cars is closely intertwined with the history of the automobile itself. In 1898, Ferdinand Porsche, a young Czechoslovakian, designed the Lohner-Porsche carriage, a series-hybrid vehicle that utilized a one-cylinder gasoline internal combustion engine. This engine spun a generator which powered four wheel-mounted electric motors. The car was eventually presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris. The said automobile, capable of up to 56 km/h (35 mph) fast destroyed several Austrian speed records. In 1901, it won the Exelberg Rally, with Porsche himself driving the car. Mass production during this time was yet to be developed, but for Porsches future-looking design, 300 units of this model were sold to the public. The first Porsche model however, technically speaking as we know Porsch today, was a hand-built aluminum prototype, and was completed on June 8, 1948. The development of the first transistor-based electric car in 1959, the Henney Kilowatt, heralded a new development in the history of automobiles as a whole, and the history of hybrid cars in particular. This transistor-based electric car, paved the way for the electronic speed control. Ultimately, this made the road for the development of modern hybrid electric cars possible. The Henney Kilowatt was considered the first modern electric car. It was a product of collaborative work between the National Union Electric Company, Henney Coachworks, Renault, and the Eureka Williams Company. Whilst the sales of the Kilowatt during this time were far from encouraging, its development served as the prototype for the other automobiles down the line of hybrid cars. Between the 1960s and 1970s, another prototype of the earlier electric-hybrid vehicle was built by Victor Wouk. Wouk is among the scientists involved with the development of the Henney Kilowatt automobile. For this work, some historians bestowed upon him the honor being the Godfather of the Hybrid hybrid car. For his pioneering work, Wouk installed a sample electric-hybrid drivetrain into a 1972 Buick Skylark, courtesy GM for the 1970 Federal Clean Car Incentive Program. The program was later axed by the EPA in 1976. Hybrid enthusiast and supporters continued building hybrid automobiles. These models however, were not put into mass production. In the fading years of the twentieth century however, the history of hybrid cars has taken on a new course. 1978, the regenerative-braking hybrid, was developed by Electrical Engineer David Arthurs. The said regenerative-braking is to have become the core design concept of most hybrids, currently available in the market. The first attempt of Arthurs used off-the shelf components, including an Opel GT. But the voltage controller that links to the battery motor and the DC generator belonged to Arthurs. Fast forward in the 1990s The history of hybrid cars took the final step to modernity in terms of mass production during the Bill Clinton administration. Clinton initiated the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles program in September, 1993, that involved the Department of Energy, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, USCAR, and various governmental agencies. The partnership was tasked to engineer a modern efficient and clean vehicle. In 2001, this program was replaced George W. Bushs own hydrogen focused FreedomCAR initiative. The focus of the FreedomCAR initiative was to fund research that is considered high risk for the private sector to engage in. The long term purpose of which is the development and production of petroleum emission. The success of hybrid vehicles in terms of mass production however, became a reality, when the Japanese car manufacturer entered the American market. This is when the history of hybrid cars finally took its modern development. Honda Insight and Toyota Prius became the modern progenitor of modern day hybrid vehicle available today in the market. Read more on The 100 Year History Of The Hybrid Car…

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The 100 Year History Of The Hybrid Car

How to Find Cheap Car Insurance for Hybrid Vehicles

Share One of the most challenging aspects of driving the newest technology is the uncertainty presented by the insurance industry. Some car insurance companies have embraced hybrid cars and their drivers for specific reasons. When the driver has a good driving record, finding affordable auto insurance is no more difficult than for a traditional vehicle. All insurance rates are based on the drivers profile, specific risk indices, and the insurance industrys position on the perceived risk. Read more on How to Find Cheap Car Insurance for Hybrid Vehicles… tramadol 100mg

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2010 Honda Civic Hybrid Car – Easy on the Environment and on Your Budget

Augustine Guzman asked: Car makers have come up with an innovation by producing vehicles that can help both the environment and the driver’s budget. They have manufactured a certain type of car that can function with more than one power-source option. These are the hybrid cars. And one that offers comfort and style: 2003 Honda Civic 2010 hybrid car. What is a Hybrid Car? A hybrid car is a one that uses more than one energy source to power the car. A gasoline engine and an electric battery run it. These are what we now know as the Gas Electric Hybrid Cars. A hybrid car can either be a full hybrid or an assist hybrid type. A full hybrid is a car that can run either with a gasoline engine or through batteries or both, while a gasoline engine primarily runs an assist hybrid and the battery takes charge of the gas engine when gas runs out. There are three most popular hybrid cars in the market. The first car that had been released was the Japanese-made Toyota Prius in 1997, and then followed by Honda Insight, also a Japanese-made car, which was released to the American and Canadian markets in 1999. A few years later, Honda again released another hybrid car: the Honda Civic hybrid. Features of the Honda Civic Hybrid Honda Company developed another option for hybrid car lovers. This model is a bigger and better hybrid car, which is competitive with other previously manufactured hybrid cars. Physical Structure The 2003 Honda Civic hybrid looks like the first released Honda hybrid car, the Civic Insight but this has four doors instead of just two. This car has 174.8 inches length, 67.5 inches width and 56.3 inches height. It weighs around 2,700 pounds. It can accommodate a maximum of 5 passengers and can carry weight up to 435 kilos. Its trunk has a volume of 10.1 cubic feet. The body is made from steel. The car comes out in two colors. These are magnesium metallic and gray. Interior 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid is neatly structured. All parts are well distributed and located. All the controls are grouped together which makes it easier to manage and control. It also has a storage area that has enough space to fit a wallet or a coin purse found at the center area between the driver and the passenger. In addition, it also has a glass-holder. It is very convenient for placing your beverages. The gauge meters are colorfully made. It comes with blue color and is easier to read especially during nighttime when light is limited. The interior has a classic color of black and tan. The seats are covered with a suede-like cloth that is very soft and it also has a new pattern design. The back part has a wide area where passengers can move freely and with ease. Technology The Honda Civic hybrid car has a 1.3 liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, with 85 horsepower at 5,700 rpm. It has 47/48 (highway/city) fuel consumption. It has an Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system wherein the gasoline engine stops and the battery works in place of it. Advantages Of Hybrids Over Conventional Cars Like other hybrids, this car consumes less gas, which can be seen clearly when the distance of travel is gauged. It likewise produces lesser carbon dioxide to the environment. With the conventional cars, the amount of the carbon dioxide is equal to the fuel that is used. Once the carbon dioxide released is decreased, there will also be lesser chances of pollution, thereby decreasing the factors that can affect global warming. Since there is lesser consumption of gasoline, your budget for gasoline is considerably less. Aside from these, the maintenance of the car is not as frequent as a conventional car. Motor and batteries of a hybrid car do not involve any special attention because they do not bring out as much carbon dioxide as the other cars. The brake pads in hybrid cars are not frequently used so it lasts longer as compared to the conventional car’s brake pads. In the US, tax breaks are available to those individuals who use hybrids, such as the 2003 Honda Civic hybrid. This is the way for the government to support the car manufacturers and drivers who likewise help clean the environment. Read more on 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid Car – Easy on the Environment and on Your Budget…

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2010 Honda Civic Hybrid Car Easy on the Environment and on Your Budget

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Hybrid Cars?

Found a good video today that talks about what the pros and cons of hybrid cars are and gives some good advice. Check it out and then comment below with your thoughts on hybrid cars . Read more on What Are The Pros And Cons Of Hybrid Cars?…

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What Are The Pros And Cons Of Hybrid Cars?

Cheapest Green Car – Honda Fit Hybrid

In tune with its focus on continuing with combining hybrid attempts and smaller size, Honda is offering another hybrid – the smallest and cheapest. This fall, Honda’s Fit will be on sale in Japan priced at 1.6 million yen hoping to become an instant hit. Honda will be launching the cute little car in Posted in: Economy , Hybrid Cars , Transportation

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Cheapest Green Car Honda Fit Hybrid

BMW’s Electric Car Comes To America

Share BMW Announces Markets for BMW ActiveE Field Trial New York Metro and Greater Los Angeles will again be included and be joined by Metropolitan markets of San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento and Boston Read more on BMW’s Electric Car Comes To America… Subscribe to the comments for this post? Share this on del.icio.us Digg this! Post this on Diigo Post on Google Buzz Add this to Mister Wong Share this on Mixx Share this on Reddit Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUpon Share this on Technorati Tweet This!

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BMWs Electric Car Comes To America

New Industrial Lithium-Ion Battery For Energy Storage

Lithium-Ion battery technology, scalable to megawatt sizes, provides innovative energy-storage solution for renewable energy sources and grids and enables hybrid alternatives for reducing CO2 emissions and fuel consumption.

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New Industrial Lithium-Ion Battery For Energy Storage

Hybrid sales hit the skids in June

June wasn’t a good month for hybrid sales. With gas prices remaining low, buyers weren’t willing to spend the extra cash needed for a high mpg hybrid, no matter how much rhetoric was put out there about the need to reduce oil imports after the Gulf oil spill. Here’s the numbers: While overall car sales increased Related posts: US hybrid sales up 5.2% over last June, and 3% of all cars sold Hybrid sales up 15% in March, but decline in overall percentage of new sales Hybrid sales rebound in May

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Hybrid sales hit the skids in June

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