Whybuyhybrid.com - Hybrid Cars

Toyota Motor Corp. recently announced that they will test-run advanced gasoline-electric hybrid cars for public road tests in Japan and plans tests for the U.S. and Europe. These gasoline-electric hybrid cars can cut fuel costs by some 40% compared with those of its Prius gasoline-electric hybrid.

The upcoming competitive hybrid technologies, Plug-in hybrids, whose batteries can be recharged via a standard wall outlet, are being developed by other major automakers like GM and Ford.

Europe is one of the fastest growing hybrid car market in the world. In the first six months of 2007, over 23,000 environmentally friendly cars were sold in the European country, translating into a rise of 25% over the same period last year. The growth indicates that low-emission automobiles made up for around 15% of all new registered cars.

Andreas Carlgren, Environment Minister, speaking at a press conference, said, "Sweden is taking the lead in Europe's environmentally-friendly car league”, as reported by The Local on July 2, 2007. The conference was organized to present the half-yearly data from Bil Sweden, a Swedish car industry organization.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg ordered all city taxis to operate on hybrid engines by 2012 as part of his drive to reduce air pollution. Currently New York has around 13,000 taxies among them only 375 operate on hybrid engines.

Currently city's conventionally powered cabs get about 14 miles (22.5 kilometers) a gallon of gasoline. New York Mayor plan to raise this to 30 miles a gallon. If New York achieves this, it will be the largest, cleanest fleet of taxis anywhere on the planet

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) boosted hybrid car sales significantly by providing tax credit to buyers last few years. But recently IRS announced some cut on tax credit for some popular models.

First is the most popular Toyota Prius. After reviewing Toyota's 2007 first quarter sales, the IRS has ruled that Prius buyers may continue to claim only a small tax credit. The total amount of the credit now available to a Prius buyer is only $787.50.
At the same time, the IRS announced that purchasers of qualified General Motors Corp. hybrid vehicles may claim a tax credit ranging from $250 to $1,300.

In Germany, according to the recent survey commissioned by Hannover-based tire producer Continental, 30.7 percent of the respondents said that next time they would certainly or most probably buy a hybrid car with both an electric motor and a combustion engine. This is a big just from last autumn when only 24.7 percent said they would consider buying a hybrid car. 
Continental board member Karl-Thomas Neumann predicted that in the European market alone, sales of hybrid cars will increase by about 100,000 units annually in the coming three years.   Currently the number of hybrid cars are sold worldwide annually is between 200,000 and 300,000 hybrid cars

There is good news for Hemi Lovers.  Chrysler to release a hybrid Hemi engine option which will give more fuel efficiency than traditional Hemi without sacrificing any power. Traditionally hemi known more for power than fuel economy. Current Aspens and Durangos (both use hemi engine) get 13 miles per gallon in the city driving and 18 on the highway, but the hybrid versions should get an estimated 18.2 mpg in city driving and about 22.5 on freeways.

If you want to drive a high performance luxury car and also save the environment by driving a greener (hybrid) car, 2007 Lexus GS 450h is the answer for you.
Lexus introduced the Hybrid GS 450h which has a 3.5-liter V6 engine and a permanent-magnet electric motor and produce 340 horse powers. It will get you 0-60 in sport cars like 5.2 seconds. And you will get all the usual luxuries you can expect from Lexus.

About the gas mileage, the GS 450h has an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 25 mpg city, 28 highway and 26 combined. This is probably not as impressive as Toyota Prius but after considering about all the performance and power it seems pretty impressive.

The Lexus GS 450h is a little bit prices than previous Lexus GS but it has significant improve on performance, power and luxury. Realistically this is not a car for everyone. This is a car that gives luxury car buyers an option to buy hybrid car.

Picture: 2007 Lexus GS 450h

Detailed Specifications:

Engine & Performance:
Engine Type - 3.5-liter V6
Electric-Drive Motor - High-output, permanent magnet, electric-drive motor
Horsepower - 340 (Total System)
Displacement (L /cu in) - 3.5 / 210
Valves - 24
Cam Type - Four cam
Electronic Timing - Dual Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i)
Compression Ratio - 11.8:1
Emissions - Super Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV)
Performance:
0 - 60 mph (sec) - 5.2
Top Track Speed (mph) - 131 (electronically limited) [4]
Aerodynamic Drag Coefficient - 0.27

Fuel Economy:
City (mpg) - estimated 25
Highway (mpg) - estimated 28
Fuel-Tank Capacity (gal / L) 17.2 / 65

Transmission & Drivetrain:
Drive Type - Rear-wheel drive
Electronic Traction Control - Traction Control (TRAC)
Electronic Stability Control - Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM)
Final Drive Ratio - 3.769:1
Electronic Transmission - Electronically controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (ECVT)

Exterior Specs:
Length - (in / mm) 190 / 4,825
Width - (in / mm) 71.7 / 1,820
Height - (in / mm) 56.1 / 1,425
Wheelbase - (in / mm) 112.2 / 2,850
Curb Weight - (lb / kg) 4,134 / 1,875

Interior Specs:
Seating Capacity - Five
Headroom, Front (in / mm) - 37.8 / 960
Headroom, Rear (in / mm) - 37.0 / 940
Legroom, Front (in / mm) - 43.5 / 1,105
Legroom, Rear (in / mm) - 36.4 / 925
Shoulder Room, Front (in / mm) - 56.3 /1,430
Shoulder Room, Rear (in / mm) - 55.1 /1,400
Trunk Capacity (cu ft/ L) - 7.5 /360

Body & Chassis:

Body Type - Five-passenger luxury sports hybrid sedan
Doors - Four
Construction - Welded-steel unibody
Suspension
Suspension, Front - Independent, double-wishbone with coil springs, gas-pressurized shock absorbers and stabilizer bar
Suspension, Rear - Independent, multi-link with coil springs, gas-pressurized shock absorbers and stabilizer bar
Electronic Suspension - Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) with electronically modulated damping

Active Stabilizer - Active Stabilizer *Optional
Suspension System - Suspension System
Steering
Steering - Electronic vehicle-speed-sensing, progressive-power rack-and-pinion
Variable Gear-Ratio Steering (VGRS) - Variable Gear-Ratio Steering (VGRS)
Turning Circle (ft) - 36.7
Steering Turns (Lock to Lock) - 2.7-3.2

Brakes
Brakes - Four-wheel, ventilated, power-assisted disc brakes
Anti-Lock Braking (ABS) - Four-sensor, four-channel (integrated with VDIM)
Braking Assist - Brake Assist
Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) - Electronic Controlled Braking (ECB), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
Regenerative Braking - Energy captured during braking that is used to recharge the battery
Discs, Front (in) - 13.1 ventilated
Discs, Rear (in) - 12.2 ventilated

People offer ask the question - what is the best hybrid car in market now? From different consumer group review as well ad from our online pool Toyota Prius is the best hybrid on the road today. Toyota Prius runs with an electric motor assisted by a gasoline engine. During the city driving it uses electric motor and the gas engine kicks in at higher speeds which provide maximum gas efficiency. Prius has EPA estimates 60 mpg/city and 51 mpg/highway mileage. But owners reported estimate 50 mpg in mixed driving.
Also, Toyota Prius has roomier interior than it competitors. It seamless and sophisticated power system provides smooth power transfer between gas and electric engine. You can learn more about Toyota Prius here:

http://whybuyhybrid.com/prius.htm

You can get a discount on your car insurance if you drive a hybrid car. Currently two insurance companies offering this discount and discount amount is up to 10% of your insurance cost. These discounts not only apply to hybrid vehicles but may also apply to alternative fuel vehicles.

The Farmers Insurance Group of Companies was the first company that announced it is to offer an insurance discount to customers who own alternative-fuel or hybrid vehicles. The discount amount will be 5% for auto customers in California. The other company currently offers discount is Travelers Insurance. Travelers’ discount will equal 10%.

There is good reason for insurance companies offering this discount. Normally insurance premiums are calculated based on a number of factors including type of vehicle, vehicle price and driver characteristics. Research found that most hybrid drivers fall into a “preferred group” that is typically married with ages ranging between 41 and 60. It also found that hybrid drivers are Cautious driver and likely to have less claims. No wonder insurance companies offering discount to good driver.