Why An Electric Honda Civic Hyrbrid Is Better Than Using Alternative Fuel

Electric cars have been around for a long time. In the early 1900s, there were more electric cars than gasoline cars. This was because gasoline was very expensive. It was also difficult to start a gasoline engine; there was no key to turn and start the car like there is today. To get the car to start, you had to turn and turn a crank in front of the car before it would start.

Electric cars were popular, at one stage there alot of them being driven on the roads of the United States. This was because gasoline vehicles were very noisy and put out a lot of smoke. The cars either had no mufflers, or the mufflers were not very good.

Electric cars soon faded away. New ways to make gasoline were being discovered. The electric starter was invented, this started a car with a key instead of the crank. A gasoline car could travel further distances than the electric cars. Therefore, gasoline cars soon become the popular method of transportation. Now that there is push towards cleaner cars, electricity and electric cars are again being looked at as ways to reduce pollution and greenhouse gases from being released into the environment by gasoline.

Electric cars do not burn gasoline. They use electricity stored in batteries. In these electric cars, the battery is used to run the motor which then turns the wheels. It may take up to 12 or 24 batteries to power the car.

To charge these batteries, the car is usually plugged in at night. Some cars can plug into a regular electrical wall outlet. Other cars need a larger outlet, similar to one a stove may plug into. The electricity is then stored in the batteries in the car.

There are different types of batteries for different cars. Some batteries can be lead acid, like batteries found in a flashlight. Or they could be ni-cad (nickel-cadmium) like batteries found in a portable video game player -- only they will be much larger. Better batteries that can last longer and hold more energy are constantly being developed. Most electric cars should be able to travel 150 to 200 miles before needing to be recharged.

Car manufacturers and scientists are constantly coming up with new ideas and ways to run our vehicles in a cleaner, more environmentally friendly way. The production of the electric car is an exciting one that growing and is being embraced by more and more people every day.

Some Simple Ways To Save Fuel

Who would have ever thought that gas prices would almost triple in the last 4 years? When my family and I last moved, gasoline was around $1.39 per gallon. Today, we’re excited to find it for less than $3.50. Even though it’s high, it still isn’t at a record high when adjusted for inflation. Still, I’m looking for every avenue possible to save a couple of bucks at the pump.

Here’s a few things you and I can do to ease the pain at the pump:

1. Plan your route to maximize your RIGHT turns. Companies such as UPS and FedEx have discovered that planning their delivery routes to maximize right turns has lowered their fuel expense. Since drivers are able to make a right turn even if the stop light is red, maximizing right turns results in less idle time. When a vehicle is idling, it’s getting zero miles per gallon. We aren’t used to planning our routes as consumers, but altering this behavior can save quite a bit of gas.

Also plan your trips better by combining errands. Making unnecessary trips only wastes gasoline. So don’t drive unless you have to.

2. Use smooth starts and stops. You’re not at the Talladega 500. Unless you have a true medical emergency, jackrabbit driving only saves a few minutes anyway, but it costs you significantly more in fuel. Some experts say you can save up to 33 percent in fuel by altering this one behavior.

3. Keep it under 60, even on the interstate. According to the EPA, you can assume that each 5 mph. you drive over 60 mph. is like paying an additional 20 to 25 cents per gallon of gas. Wow!

4. Check your tire pressure every couple of days. If you drive with underinflated tires, it’s like running laps around a track while wearing 10 pound shoes. Underinflated tires can guzzle 4% to 10% out of a car’s potential gas mileage. Check inside your glove box, inside the door frame, or the owner’s manual for the correct tire pressure and remember that it may be different for front and rear tires. Check the pressure when the tires are cold. When you have to replace your tires, buy the set with the least amount of rolling resistance to further increase your fuel savings.

5. Go ahead and stop on those yellow lights. Research shows that drivers tend to stomp on the accelerator to get through a yellow light more quickly and this uses far more gasoline than idling at the light.

6. Drop some weight. Every extra 100 pounds drops your MPG’s by a couple of percentage points. Those golf bags, tools, bowling balls, books, and other miscellaneous things you keep in the trunk are costing you big bucks.

7. Change those dirty filters. According to the FTC, changing your air filter alone could increase your miles per gallon by 10 percent.

8. Change your oil. Dirty oil increases the resistance on the inside of your engine and more resistance equals poorer gas mileage. Use the lightest grade of oil recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer. A multi-viscosity oil such as 5W30 can save gas compared with regular 30-weight oil because it creates less friction. The engine doesn’t have to work as hard.

9. Cars run more efficiently when they are kept in tune. It often makes sense to get them tuned more often than the manufacturer recommends. But don’t worry, you might can do some of the work yourself. For example, spark plugs can be easily checked and cleaned or replaced, and the simple act of pouring a bottle of fuel-injector cleaner in the gas tank every six months or so can help the engine maintain peak efficiency.

10. Coast whenever possible. Don’t accelerate up to a stop. Use gravity and inertia to help increase your MPG’s.

Are You Looking For A Used Honda Civic? Here Are Some Tips In Searching For Any Used Car

With new cars getting out of hand of the normal joe, consumers are now increasingly turning towards the used car market. However, used cars too are commanding a high price. You do have a vast range of used cars to decide from, as there are a very huge number of used car outlets all over.

However, buyers have to exercise caution while purchasing a used car, since the cars might not have been handled properly by the owner. You need to ensure that you are getting value for your money.

You may go through the tips mentioned here for the buyer of a used or new car.

Visit as many used car outlets as you can to look for the right deal.

Gather information on different cars and the concerned dealers. It is better to approach a reputed dealer from whom you can expect a fair deal.

The used car market is a buyer's market. So you can be prepared to be treated well. You may be offered special deals. You may be offered rebates, discounts and payments in installments, or even free service.

Scouring the used car market is an exercise in patience. You should not hurry your purchase lest you get a bad deal. There is a lot at stake for you, since used cars do not come cheap.

Plan your purchase in advance. The time factor is important in looking for the right car. Give yourself enough time before you close a deal.

If you are buying a brand new car, there is no need to worry about the wear and tear. The wear and tear factor is a major concern in the case of a used car. So, you need to take care on this account when you are scouting for a used car.

You can take advantage of the Lemon law, if you think that you have been sold a used car under a false pretense. The Lemon law (USA) protects you if your car does not work the way it should. The Lemon law may differ somewhat from state to state, but the underlying purpose is to protect consumer rights.

Another good suggestion is to buy a used car from a friend or acquaintance. You would be sure about the car and the way it has been maintained. Buying from dealers or an unknown person is always fraught with risk. Look around for people, who are selling not because their car is giving trouble, but for the reason that they are buying a new car.

Always inquire from friends who you know have purchased a used car. They may help you and guide you to the right outlet, if theirs had been a nice experience. They may also help you with the entire procedure. This will save you a lot of time and effort in locating the right place for used cars.

It is important to gather as much information as you can about different makes and models of cars. It is not necessary that you may find the car of your choice. You may have to settle for another make and model. The internet can help you in this regard. Go through the plethora of information available on different car companies and the models. You will find out the strong as well as weak points of each car. This can help you in making your mind up to the kind of car you should purchase. Some cars are known for problem suspensions or electrical systems. Buying such a car can have you spending extra on repairs.

It is a good idea to gather as much information as possible about your chosen car, there maybe common faults that you where not aware of previously, information is key. The more information you have the better well armed you are and the more successful you will be in buying your chosen car.