Posts Tagged ‘hybrids’

Hydrogen Fuel Cars – When Will We See Them?

Wednesday, May 11th, 2011

There are hydrogen fuel cars on the roads of some cities. However there are two ways in which hydrogen can be used to power cars. The first method is to use hydrogen to actually power the internal combustion engine, in much the same way as numerous cars use Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG). The second way is to use the reaction of hydrogen with oxygen in fuel cells as a battery, which makes the car a form of electric car.

The dream of producing hydrogen in the car whilst driving along by electrolyzing water is still a long way off, so we are still at the phase of batteries and filling the tank with hydrogen gas. This is the nub of the difficulty for potential owners and manufacturers. There are merely sixteen hydrogen filling stations in Los Angeles and none in 99% of other cities worldwide.

In fact, some of the big name motor manufacturers have pulled out of the race to get the first commercially viable hydrogen powered car on the streets. Ford and GM have announced that they are pulling out in America and so has Renault in France.

However, the Japanese companies are pressing on. In fact, Honda introduced its first hydrogen fuel cell car in 1999. It was known as the FCX and they are now poised with introductory models of the second generation hydrogen cars known as the FCX Clarity. Guess where they are available for sale? The one city in the world? Yes, Los Angeles, because of its filling stations.

Honda says that, they could go into full-scale production of the FCX Clarity by 2020, if the world is ready for them by then. Hyundai have on-going plans to produce fuel cell (FC) cars and say that they will be in place to launch full-scale production by 2012. Daimler also announced that they would be manufacturing 100,000 FC vehicles in 2012-2013.

Then there are hydrogen powered buses in quite a few European cities including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Hamburg, London, Luxembourg, Madrid. Porto Stockholm and a few more. Lotus, the makers of London taxis, have stated that they intend to set up a fleet of new, hydrogen powered taxis in time for the London Olympics in 2012.

So, the hydrogen vehicle and the hydrogen passenger car is out there and the numbers will be swelling pretty soon. The buses, mentioned above, go back to their depot, where an electrolyzing machine converts water into fuel for them to fill up on and the same will be true for many of London’s taxis. Regrettably, acquiring fuel is not the only problem for the average motorist, some of these vehicles, like the FCX Clarity cost approximately $300,000 each.

However, here are a few interesting facts for those who like trivia. Francois Isaac de Rivaz designed the first hydrogen powered car in 1807 and Paul Dieges filed a US patent for a conversion to the internal combustion engine in 1970 which enabled a petrol engine to run on hydrogen and 200 years later we are still trying to get it right.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on several topics, but is now involved with how to get Stapletons tyres. If you want to know more, please go to our web site at Car Tyres For Sale.

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Hybrid Cars and Plug-in Hybrid Cars

Monday, August 3rd, 2009
by Colin Jones

Hybrid cars are on everyone’s lips. Twenty, forty, or fifty dollars for a full tank of gas? Who in their right mind wants to pay that sort of money? However, frustrated, the fuel consumer sighs, but pays up. However, hybrid vehicles are applauded for the small amount of gas they need to operate, and they are being driven off the lots of car dealerships each and everyday in increasing numbers.

But what about a plug-in hybrid? Most consumers have heard that these cars are fantastic as well. Then, a person might be asking him or herself, what exactly a plug-in hybrid is? How do they work, and what the difference between a plug-in hybrid and a regular hybrid is?

Plug-in hybrids are capable of running just on batteries, but they can use petrol also. These kinds of hybrid cars have some of the characteristics of hybrid vehicles. They are also very similar to all-electric vehicles.

Plug-in hybrid vehicles must be charged externally by plugging them into an electrical power source. The combustion engine of plug-in hybrid vehicles is used only as a back up. These cars can run only on batteries if so desired, but it is to be expected that these types of hybrid cars be plugged in daily.

Hybrid cars can go just as many miles as a conventional car. Designed to go the extra mile where gas-mileage is concerned, hybrids can be driven on the highway, in cities, or wherever else a person needs to travel.

On the other hand, plug-in hybrids are meant to handle commuter-type distances, meaning between twenty and sixty miles. Used in this way, the plug-in hybrid does not have to make use of its back up combustion engine, but plug-in hybrids can go further using gas too.

Hybrids help to minimize pollution, but they still pollute the atmosphere. Compared with plug-in hybrids, hybrid cars still have a long way to go where pollution is concerned. Since plug-in hybrid cars can run solely on their battery power, they don’t have to emit waste fuel emissions. That means that plug-in hybrids don’t need to pollute the atmosphere.

Plug-in hybrids really do combat greenhouse gas emissions and plug-in hybrids use virtually no oil, imported or not. Studies have shown that electric hybrids emit at least 67% less greenhouse gases compared to diesel cars. Since the electric used to power plug-in hybrids is completely renewable, the difference in greenhouse gas emissions may be even greater than the study determined.

And so there you have it. Those are the main differences between plug-in hybrids and regular hybrid cars. It makes a big difference, but you would be surprised how little that matters at the current moment. And that’s only because plug-in hybrids are not being marketed to consumers at this present time. But this article should get you excited about the wonderful plug-in hybrid car, coming soon to a dealership near you.

And it’s going to be a spectacular debut too, since people already like the current hybrid car models, but they haven’t seen anything yet until they see the new plug-in hybrid cars. However, for now, maybe we should just be satisfied with what we already have, because who knows? Before plug-in hybrid cars are brought out onto the forecourts, something even better might be introduced onto the market.

About the Author:
If this piece has interested you at all in plug-in hybrid cars at all or Hybrid Cars in general, please click a link to go to our website on hybrid vehicles.

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Hybrid Car Battery Packs

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009
by Colin Jones

Those thinking about purchasing a hybrid car may be more than a little concerned about what lies under the bonnet. Hybrid cars have partially battery-powered motors. Since a battery powered engines is not something that typically comes to mind when you think about what is powering a car, it’s a good idea to get some sort of an understanding of hybrid car battery packs. You will find a few salient details about them underneath.

Hybrid car battery packs do not require to be replaced like flashlight batteries do. They are made to last over the lifetime of the vehicle, and therefore a hybrid car’s warranty covers the battery pack for a time period that runs between eight and ten years. In terms of mileage, a hybrid car battery pack is expected to last between 150,000 and 200,000 miles, and it probably will last even longer than that.

The toxicity of hybrid car battery packs is a worry, but not a major problem, since hybrid car batteries use NiMH batteries, not the cheaper rechargeable nickel cadmium ones. Nickel cadmium batteries can be detrimental to the environment if not disposed of correctly, but the NiMH batteries that are sold in in hybrid car battery packs are very safe and fully recyclable.

Hybrid car battery packs contain hundreds of cells. Hundreds of cells means that hybrid cars have a complex battery underneath their hoods, and complexity does usually mean expensive, but with the generous warranty car manufacturers are giving on these cars, there is little risk of additional massive expense from the battery pack involved in purchasing a hybrid car.

The number of hybrid car battery pack failures reported has been really very low. When I say low, I mean negligible. If failure does occur, it is usually before the hybrid car even leaves the lot. Toyota has even declared that some of its first Prius hybrid models have battery packs that have gone more than 300,000 miles.

The cost of replacing hybrid car battery packs isn’t really even an issue. It isn’t an issue because the hybrid car battery packs are built to last. The Department of Energy inspected hybrid cars, but stopped its tests when the capacity was determined to be “just like new” after 160,000 miles. So, very few people really seem to know for sure what it costs to replace hybrid car battery packs.

Hybrid car battery packs are being developed very quickly. If we look into the near future, we can see the next generation of hybrid car batteries is already in the works. The goal is, naturally, to develop a technology that gives lots of power, lasts for the hybrid car’s lifetime, and costs less to make than it does today.

If your hybrid car battery pack does develop a problem, there is an easy solution. Toyota has put out some advice on what to do, should your hybrid battery pack run out after the warranty has expired. Their advice is to have the battery reconditioned. This solution works well because if something does go wrong, the problem usually lies with only one of the 28 modules that make up the battery.

So, if you simply replace the problematic module with one that matches the chemistry of the other 27 modules, your hybrid car’s battery should be back in good shape. You can find a match by getting a battery pack from another car that has a similar mileage and age.

About the Author:
If you would like to know more about the technology in hybrid cars, you should go along to our website where there is tons of information on hybrid cars

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Will a Hybrid Save You Money?

Monday, July 13th, 2009
by Colin Jones

The cost of fuel continues to fluctuate even now, but that does not mean that you have to be left out of pocket. You don’t have to let the unstable economy run your life! Take whatever measures you need to, to change the circumstances you are in: there are all types of options open to you.

For example, did you realize that a hybrid car can help you regain control of the money in your pocket? Well, yes, it can … Hybrid cars are becoming ever more popular as the cost of fuel goes up, and the cost of hybrid cars goes down.

Gas prices go up and gas prices go down and the cycle just seems to repeat itself without giving us much relief. However, if you really take the time to think about it, that is not the situation. It is all about how you think about the situation that counts. So don’t be sad, be happy, and pay attention to the television commercials about hybrid cars.

A hybrid car really will help you fight back against high gas prices. If you bought a hybrid vehicle after having had a conventional car, you will immediately see that you have more money in your pocket with the hybrid car.

Nobody likes to waste their money. I know that I don’t, but that is exactly what you are doing if you stay with a conventional car. Hybrid cars and trucks save you up to 50% on your petrol/diesel bills and that very soon exceeds the premium that hybrids vehicles demand. Over the life of your hybrid vehicle, which is more ten years, you will definitely make money on your purchase.

But work it out for yourself! Write down the cost each time you visit the petrol station. What does the cost of a full tank of fuel tell you about your car? Whatever it is telling you, a hybrid car won’t tell you the same as a conventional car. And that is guaranteed.

So, get your money to talk to you the way you would like it to: instead of having it say to you all the time that your money is flowing out of your pocket, have it tell you, that some of it’s remaining in your pocket, so get a hybrid car.

Who toiled for those forty hours? You did, of course. So, make sure that you have something to show for it for a change. A hybrid car is a really nice car to have and it will be of real help to your bank account.

It is a car that is not cheap to buy, but it will pay for itself over its lifetime and over that lifetime you will have done a lot of good for the environment and people will have admired you from afar, even if they don’t actually come up to you and express their feelings in person.

About the Author:
If you are concerned about the chance of rising gas prices, you should consider buying a hybrid car. To find out more about hybrid electric cars, please click the link.

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The History Of The Hybrid Vehicle

Saturday, July 4th, 2009
by Colin Jones

Just where did a hybrid car get it’s start? Well, read on to find out. Hybrid cars are very popular to today’s car buyers, and there are many reasons why. But before you even think about choosing a hybrid car to buy, you might want to know a little bit about the history of the hybrid car first.

Surprisingly, hybrid cars were around even before gas-powered cars. Back in about the year 1665, a Jesuit priest by the name of Ferdinand Verbeist began plans for a certain type of vehicle. That vehicle would be very simple, nothing complex, or intricate. Simple was all he wanted.

So it was that Ferdinand designed a vehicle that would have four wheels and would run on steam. It took roughly fifteen years of work for Ferdinand to go through with his plan. He worked to perfect his dream car. But no one knows for certain if he ever finished it because there is no physical evidence that his concept ever came into reality.

Then in 1769, a man with the name of Nicholas Cugnot designed and developed a carriage that was powered by steam. This vehicle really did go and it went at six miles per hour. This project was all well and good, but it was difficult to get the amount of steam needed to make the car to go any significant distance.

A break through in hybrid car design finally came when Robert Anderson developed an electrically powered car in 1839. It was the first of its breed and was built in Scotland.

This electric car was a highly applauded innovation of its time. However, the only problem was that it was very difficult to recharge the car’s battery. Some pioneers came after Anderson, but they too had a hard time getting the battery recharged easily.

Eventually, in the year 1898, Porsche developed an electric and fuel combination combustion engine that was the first of its type. The car was called the Lohner Electric Chaise and it could go for up to 40 miles just using its batteries.

Within a short space of time, pioneers combined both gas and a battery powered engines to power what would become today’s hybrid vehicle. In 1999, Honda made its jump into the US market. It came out with the Honda Insight, which was a lightweight two-door hybrid. Since then, hybrid cars have been evolving and improving into what we see on the market today. Hybrid cars are no longer just for the techies who think it’s nice to combine battery and fuel power to get them where they want to go. Hybrid cars started out simple, and they are still quite simple today.

These days hybrid vehicles are becoming more and more popular as people understand them better. In the 21st century, hybrids saw a boom in sales when the Toyota Prius came out on the market. It was the first hybrid with four doors that was marketed in the USA.

Soon after, the Ford Escape hybrid became the very first SUV hybrid ever made. So there it is in a nutshell, the history of the hybrid car – today’s modern car.

About the Author:
If you would like to know more about the technology in hybrid cars, you should go along to our website where there is lots of information on hybrid cars

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Hybrid Car Battery Packs Info

Saturday, June 20th, 2009
by Colin Jones

Those considering purchasing a hybrid car may be more than a little concerned about what is under the bonnet. Hybrid cars have partially battery-powered motors. Since a battery-powered motor is not something that typically comes to mind when people think about what’s driving a car, it’s a good idea to get a good understanding of hybrid car battery packs. Below you will find a few facts about them.

Hybrid car battery packs do not need to be replaced like torch batteries do. Made to last over the lifetime of the vehicle, a hybrid car’s warranty covers the battery for a time period that lasts between eight and ten years. In terms of mileage, a hybrid car battery pack is expected to last between 150,000 and 200,000 miles, and it probably will last longer than that.

The toxicity of hybrid car battery packs is a concern, but not a major concern, since hybrid car batteries use NiMH batteries, not the rechargeable nickel cadmium ones. Nickel cadmium batteries can be detrimental to the environment if not disposed of correctly, but the NiMH batteries that are used in hybrid car battery packs are fully recyclable.

Hybrid car battery packs are made up of hundreds and hundreds of cells. Several hundred cells means that hybrid cars have a complex battery structure underneath their hoods, and, it is true, complexity usually means expensive, but with the generous guarantee hybrid car manufacturers are giving on their vehicles, there is not much risk of additional massive expense from the battery pack involved in purchasing a hybrid car.

The number of hybrid car battery pack failures has been really low. When I say low, I mean negligible. If failure does occur, it’s usually before the hybrid car even leaves the lot. Toyota has even declared that some of its first Prius hybrid models have battery packs that have gone over 300,000 miles.

The cost of replacing hybrid car battery packs isn’t really even a problem. It isn’t a problem because the hybrid car battery packs are built for longevity. The Department of Energy inspected hybrid cars, but halted its tests when the capacity was determined to be “just like new” after 160,000 miles. So, very few people really seem to know for sure what it costs to replace hybrid car battery packs.

Hybrid car battery packs are evolving quickly. If we look further into the future, we can see the next generation of hybrid car batteries is in development. The goal is, of course, to discover a technology that gives lots of power, lasts for the hybrid car’s lifetime, and costs less to make than it does now.

If your hybrid car battery pack does develop a problem, there is a solution. Toyota has given some advice on what to do, should your hybrid battery pack run out after the warranty has expired. Their advice is to have the battery reconditioned. This solution works well because if something does go wrong, the problem usually lies with only one of the 28 modules that make up the battery.

The solution is to simply replace the depleted module with one that matches the chemistry of the hybrid car battery pack’s remaining 27 modules, your hybrid car’s battery should be back in good shape. You can find a matching module by getting a battery pack from another hybrid car of a similar mileage and age.

About the Author:
If you need to know more about the technology of hybrid cars, you should go along to our web resource where there is tons of offormation on hybrid cars

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