A123Systems announce six initial certified partnerships that are authorized to install and convert the hybrid Toyota Prius to an plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). The conversion is expected to increase the gas mileage of the Prius to over 100 MPG for the first 30 - 40 mile commute.

The L5 module, designed for the the 2004 - 2008 Toyota Prius, provides approximately 5 kWh of power and takes only 4.5 hours to recharge. The A123Systems L5 module runs $9995 which includes installation and a 3 year warranty.

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By Mike Cain

The MGF, designed and produced by Rover, is a small mid-engined sports car, with a soft top roof and plenty of boot space. Despite this, it is not renowned for its practicality, but if that is what you are looking for then you are missing the point of the MGF - it is intended to be fun to drive and something of a head turner. The driving position is quite low to the ground, which means when the top is down you get a unique driving experience, it is ideal for the summer months. It grips the road well and has good balance when driving, which is just as well with a 0-60 time of just 8.5 seconds. It responds immediately to the slightest touch on either the accelerator or the break, roaring into life with a great burst of energy, yet slowing quickly without much effort.

However, the slightly cramped cabin (especially when the roof is up) and hard body styling makes for an uncomfortable time when taking in long journeys or negotiating bumpy roads and sharp corners. The plastic rear windscreen means is liable to cloud up, and can become creased and folded where the roof has been put up/down many times. Frequent problems have also been reported with head gaskets on the older models, and this is a common cause of breakdowns.

Second hand values have stayed quite strong, due to Rover restricting the supply, and cars can be picked up from around £3,500 for a 1995 model and upwards, and it proves relatively cheap to run. Fuel consumption is good, at around 38.4 mpg, and with an insurance group of 9/10 cover is cheap as well.

Production is due to begin once more in 2008, courtesy of Nanjing Automobile, at the old Longbridge plant in West Midlands, as well as in their yet to be completed Chinese factory. The MGF is expected to go back on sale in 2009.

All in all the MGF is a fun sports car, with great style and personality, suitably cosy and enjoyable during the winter, and a fast, thrilling ride in the summer sun. —————————————————————-

The Hyundai Azera is a car model from Hyundai Motor Corp. which was produced in 1986. The fourth generation of Hyundai cars is called the Hyundai Azera and it was marketed first in North America.

The all new Azera started in 2006 as an advanced sedan which provides many traits and amenities which are usually characteristic for more expensive cars. The Azera offers the full-size luxury automobile consumer a more elegant cabin, more security characteristics, and a smoother drive.

Technical aspects

The Azera has a four-wheel independent suspension (multi-link in the rear) and uses the company’s new 3.8 L Lambda V6, which generates 263-hp (196 kW). The power is sent to the front wheels through a five-speed automatic transmission with "Shiftronic" manual gear selection. Hyundai claims 6.3 seconds to accelerate to 60 mph (97 km/h) and a top speed of 157 MPH (252 km/h). The Azera has a fuel economy of 19 MPG (12.4 L/100 km) in the City and 28 MPG (8.4 L/100 km) on the Highway is expected.

Styles and Major Options

The Azera offers plenty of perfomance using an awe-inspiring 263-hp DOHC V6 24-valve aluminum power plant with CVVT, variable induction and intake of cold-air.

The Azera is the most uncompromising car Hyundai’s ever created through a double-wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear suspension, with front and rear stabilizer bars to provide an optimized ride and handling.

The Hyundai Azera is recognized an an Ultra Low Vehicle Emission. The Azera helps the driver reach amazing levels of efficiency, with a trip computer that allows for MPG monitoring. You are provided alloy wheels, heated front seats, leather seat-upholstery, and a power sun shade in the rear window. In the ultimate package are included an improved audio system with 10 speakers and a 6-Disc CD changer, a power sunroof, telescopic steering wheel, and rain-sensing windshield wipers.

Safety

Eight Airbags which come standard on the AzeraHyundai make you sure that their Azera has many standard features and it can be compared to Toyota Avalon, with Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control, as well as Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS). The Azera also comes standard with 8 airbags and remote keyless entry, and an anti-theft engine immobilizer. The Azera/Grandeur TG" is a full-size sedan. It is sold as the Hyundai Azera in North America.

Being a step up from the Sonata, the Azera is evaluated at $24,995 for a base SE model, $27,495 for the Limited version, and $29,995 for the Ultimate Package. The flagship Azera will be the most luxurious sedan Hyundai is selling outside of Korea.

The Azera was named "Best New Family Car (over $35,000)" in the 2006 Canadian Car of the Year awards.

It also was awarded by Car and Driver because it has more rear legroom than a BMW 7 Series. It is also believed to have more overall interior room than the BMW 7 Series.

For more details go to http://www.ourismanhyundai.com

Vehicles that will help you save money on gas

Prices at the pump are rising steadily; more and more of the vehicles being released get very low gas mileage. This makes it really hard to get around town or to work, on a budget. Well, there still are tons of options for vehicles that can save you tons of money at the pump.

If you’re not ready to take the plunge and buy a hybrid or electric vehicle, there are many gas-engine cars that get very good gas mileage. For small cars, the mini cooper (28 city/36 highway) gets you the most miles for your gallon. If you’re looking at midsize or large cars, you should check out Hyundai. The Elantra gets 27 city/34 highway, and the Sonata get 24 city/34 highway. If you’re looking into station wagons, the Pontiac Vibe and the Toyota Matrix both get 30 city/36 highway.

If you’re looking for a car with even better gas mileage, you should check out hybrid cars. The concept of a hybrid is that its engine is actually a combination of two engines: a traditional gas engine, and an electric engine. Unlike true electric cars, the electric engine is charged by the gas engine, so there’s no need to plug it in. And while all the power is ultimately derived from the gas engine, these cars, van’s, and SUVs still get way batter gas mileage and saving you tons of money at the pump. If you’re looking simply for the best gas mileage overall, you should check out the Honda insight; it gets 60 mpg city, 66 mpg highway. Plus it’s from Honda so you can be confident you’re getting a solid long lasting vehicle. If you’re looking for an SUV, the vehicle with the best gas mileage is the Ford Escape hybrid. It gets 31 mpg city, 36 mpg highway. Imagine, getting the gas mileage of a car (or better) from an SUV.

Another option for saving fuel that will be available on the market soon is the plug-in hybrid. You’re probably thinking “why would I want to plug in my hybrid when I can just get a regular hybrid?’ One dollar to get as far as a gallon of gas, that’s why. A plug in hybrid is the same as a regular hybrid except you have the option of charging the electric engine. This means that if you only take short trips, your gas engine will rarely even have to turn on, and electricity gets you as far as a gallon of gas for about $1. And, unlike normal electric cars, you never have to worry about your battery dying so you can go as far as you want on your gas engine.

If you want to just skip the gas altogether, there have been some great advances in electric vehicles. You’ll forget everything you know about electric vehicles when you see the Tesla Motors Roadster. It’s fully electric, so you can always get a gas mileage equivalent of about $1 per gallon. Unlike traditional electric cars, this one runs on a lithium ion battery, so it can go farther between charges (about 250 miles), it can go a lot faster (top speed of 130 mph), and to be honest, it just looks cooler. If an electric car ever catches on, it will most definitely be this one.

With any type of vehicle, you should keep your car in good shape and making sure it gets regular tune ups, this will help keep up gas efficiency. Also remember that the weight of the vehicle matters. Carrying around stuff you don’t need and always having a full tank will raise your gas mileage.

Hybrids not only perform above average on mileage (the Honda insight can reach above sixty mpg) but reduce their gas emissions and air pollution considerably. Toyota Prius, for example has a 90% reduction in the amount of pollution that would otherwise be in the air. And although this is not perfect it has improved the current standard considerably

About one third of air pollution is caused by the fuel used in cars. The major culprit is the carbon dioxide which causes global warming. Compared to regular cars, the Toyota Prius reduces the amount of carbon dioxide by fifty percent. And the hybrid made by Honda has reduced its emissions by two thirds. Nitrogen oxide, a chemical found in car emissions, not only causes global warming, but will cause acid rain and lung irritations. Hydrocarbons is another substance found in gas emissions from a car and this can cause birth defects or lung cancer. Lead is also released in the air as is carbon monoxide every time the car is in motion. Imagine sitting in rush hour with all those toxic gases being released in the air.

With a hybrid the gases and other substances are dramatically reduced. Because more and more people are becoming concerned about air pollution and global warming, car makers are rushing to meet the demand. There are the hybrid models from Toyota and Honda and Ford. But Saturn and Mazda and GM are following suit.

The EPA is also participating in encouraging this trend by supplying more information to the consumer about the hybrid cars. There are new ratings in place. One is the ultra low emissions vehicle (ULEV) and the other is the super low emissions vehicle (SLEV). The hybrids on the market today receive either one of the ratings but regular cars never reach the mark.

There is a system in place that the EPA uses to rate cars. It gives two scores, one for the green house gases and the other for air pollution. In the seventies, there was a law passed that required cars to keep to certain standards. Regular cars barely met the requirement. Even if you took into consideration things like speed, weather or location, that may change the outcome of results. It doesn’t reduce the high scores of the hybrids. In fact, this score can be perfect at times because the hybrid runs on electric power too. So that reliance on gas is decreased, making the hybrid the better choice of car in the market today for the EPA

According to a new survey by JD Power and Associates, approximately one third of consumers in the United States consider fuel economy to be a key factor when purchasing a new car. With fuel economy, dependence on foreign oil, pollution, and global warming weighing heavy on the minds of so many people recently, it may be a surprise to learn that in 1992, General Motors actually produced a vehicle that achieved 100 miles per gallon (MPG).

In order to get a better idea of what General Motors has been doing for the last 25 years, it is important to first learn about another amazing vehicle: The GM TPC. The TPC (which stands for “Two Person Commuter”) was able to obtain 75 miles-per-gallon. It weighed approximately 1000 pounds and resembled a Geo Metro. GM abandoned the project vehicle, which contained a frugal 3-cylinder engine, when they needed to add another 200 pounds of reinforcement. This unfortunate turn of events can be blamed on GM’s need to comply with America’s then lax safety laws.

While the existence of such a vehicle may be shocking to some, what is even more shocking is the existence of other prototypes made by General Motors that met the same demise. These vehicles included the GM Lean Machine (80 MPG) in 1982, along with a number of other fuel efficient vehicles like the GM Aero-X, the GM Aero 2000, and the finally the GM Ultralite (which had achieved 100 miles-per-gallon). While Honda was leading the world with the Civic VX in 1992 (achieving 50 miles-per-gallon) the USA- owned General Motors was producing 100 MPG vehicles behind the scenes, all the while selling 20 MPG vehicles to the public.

100 miles per gallon is not only obtainable, but it already has been obtained.

One obvious question must be asked. Why are these high gas mileage vehicles not available for sale? Why do companies like General Motors, Honda, Toyota, and Ford continue to sell 30 MPG vehicles when something so much better was made before? The answer to that question is, of course, a complex one. Market analyses, surveys, polls, government regulations, and other red tape held back efficiency.

The short answer to this question is simple: While the U.S. continues to sell its traditional vehicles, other vehicles are being bought and sold far from America, by the same companies.

Vehicles that can attain over 70 miles per gallon have been sold in Europe and Japan for many years. Recently, Volkswagen produced a vehicle called the “Lupo” that is a perfect example. This vehicle, which achieves 78 miles per gallon, likely will never be sold in the USA. For the 2007 model year, Honda has introduced the Fit to the US Market (known in other parts of the world as the “Jazz”). In Japan, the Jazz comes standard with a smaller engine and a few fresh ideas to help boost fuel economy. In the USA, the Fit doesn’t have the smaller engine and isn’t even an option.

Americans have always loved big cars, or at least that’s what they tell us. They, of course, are the auto manufacturers. This has nothing to do with conspiracy theories and everything to do with economics. When General Motors sells a giant truck or SUV, they make a lot of money. When they sell a small two-person commuter, they make next-to-nothing. As a consequence of this realization, all that was needed have been broadcasts of a few finely focused commercials to the citizens of the richest country in the world. Manufacturers have persuaded the citizenry that they absolutely need these “Tanks on Wheels”. Profits skyrocket. To remind Americans that there are no options, merely look at the fact that the options heave never been presented.

General Motors had the chance to be the world leader in fuel economy, which it turned down to be the world leader in SUVs. GM is not alone, as every other auto manufacturer has produced similar vehicles over the last 25 years and denied the U.S. access to them.

Americans should not only ask how they can get better gas mileage, but most importantly ask why they have never been given that option in the first place. In a world where wars are waged over oil, more options should be offered to a concerned public. Perhaps blowing the dust off of 25 year old blue prints is a good place to start.

With the gas prices being so high, more and more people are becoming aware of how valuable energy is in our daily lives. Hybrid cars show how energy can be conserved and pollution reduced. The cleanest non hybrid car can put about 90 percent smog pollution in the air versus the hybrid.

The Honda insight was the first hybrid on the US market in 1999. It is electrically powered and can go 61 mpg on city roads and 70mpg on the highway. Then in 2000, Toyota brought the Prius to the market, it goes 52 mpg in the city and around 45 mpg on the highway. The Honda Civic hybrid came out in 2002 with 46mpg on city roads and about 51mpg on the highway. Since then there have been other hybrid models such as, the Chevy Silverado, the Dodge Ram pickup and the Ford Escape SUV.

Hybrids are more efficient for a number of reasons. For one, the battery of a hybrid lasts longer. It is equipped with two energy supplies- the gas and electricity. The car is made of lighter materials, that means less energy is used. The engine in a non-hybrid is heavier so it requires more power to accelerate and to go up an incline. And with a hybrid there are fewer cylinders.

Hybrids have less internal machinery. The energy and time needed to move a cylinder up and down in a non hybrid is greater. To start the car, the non hybrid engine needs more power because it has more cylinders. In addition, each cylinder uses more fuel for cylindrical displacement.

There are some tips to keep in mind when driving a hybrid to maximize energy and mileage productivity.

Drive slowly-Aerodynamic drag increases if you drive fast. If you slow down you will save energy.

Drive at a constant speed- Increasing your spend and then slowing down wastes fuel.

Try not to break suddenly-The motor in a hybrid is like a generator. Energy is lost if you stop abruptly. Try to give you car some recovery time.

Many people claim to worry about the environment, but continue to drive their exhaust polluting vehicles through a thick layer of smog. Our energy resources are suffering a terrible blow and so few people are actually willing to do anything about it. One solution to consider is the use of a hybrid vehicle. They emit less pollution that a standard oil burning type and offer less gas used per mile! Imagine the savings. But that’s not the only reason you should consider a hybrid.

The EPA or Environmental Protection Agency, when doing a comparison between a hybrid and regular vehicle, finds some very interesting facts. Vehicles are tested to determine what type of emissions they are polluting into the air we breathe, then they are rated by those conclusions. Among their choice vehicles, the hybrid along with SUV’s and eventually minivan’s are the pick of the liter! The Toyota Camry puts out more than half of what its hybrid counterpart, the Toyota Prius hybrid does, in carbon dioxide. Nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbons are diminished by two-thirds and halves supported by their green house emission rating for pollutants. With the exception of trucks, hybrid vehicles have the more favorable of ratings and top their categories over and over. When faced with the fact that hybrids put 97% less pollutants and toxins into the air when compared with gas-burning vehicles, it becomes harder to justify why we continue to drive the latter.

Hybrids are the better choice for so many reasons, including the evidence that they emit fewer pollutants and the fact that they get phenomenally better mpg, between 20 and 30 for larger engine models likes trucks or SUV’s and well into the 60 range for cars! Manuals traditionally get better mpg than automatics, which is evident by the Honda Insight whose automatic gets 50mpg and middle 60’s for it’s manual. Aside from being more efficient, the greenhouse effect and fossil fuel debate would be null and void by the use of hybrid only vehicles. It’s unfortunate that our vehicles only allow for 15 to 18mpg, but can that argument really justify the damage they are doing to our environment? Society as a whole needs to get serious about conserving our fuel, and hybrid vehicles are definitely a step in the right direction.

Have you ever been stuck in traffic on a hot day, in a busy city? How was the air quality around you? Could you take a deep breath and exhale on a smile? Probably not. It’s not just the environment we need to concern ourselves with. Our bodies and health suffer from the effects of carbon monoxide and methane, being emitted into the air by our vehicles. We are doing damage to our lungs everyday. Did you know that one third of all air pollution in America is in direct relation to that which our vehicles output? Researchers are studying the effects these pollutants have on the human body as we speak and direct links to cancer are being found. Sounds scary doesn’t it? Yet another reason why hybrid cars are the better, more health conscious choice.

If you could reduce the amount of carbon dioxide being polluted into the air by 10 tons, would you? The fact of the matter is, 1 vehicle getting 25mpg instead of 20mpg, would do exactly that. The EPA measures the effects these pollutants have on all living things and reports its findings on every industry. Today, with the advance in our technology, there is no reason for the continued desecration of our environment by the use of these inefficient, toxic vehicles. Yes, it’s true there is much left to learn and the EPA is continually breaking ground and finding new solutions to old problems. How we put the information they provide us with, to use, is up to us. We are responsible for our world and our bodies and in the long run, it is the population as a whole who will undoubtedly have to answer for our actions or lack thereof.

It might not seem like RVs (Recreational Vehicles) or Motorhomes would promote a healthier lifestyle, but research shows that people who go RVing lead a generally healthier lifestyle. Here are a few ways that RVing promotes healthier living:

Stress-reduction

When you are out camping in your RV, you don’t have to worry about the day-to-day stressors that you have at home or work. You can make your own schedule, travel how and when you want, and choose your activities. This leads to less stress, which, in turn, promotes a healthier lifestyle. The closeness to nature also helps reduce stress levels.

Exercise

People who are on vacations in their RVs are typically more active than if they had stayed at home. Hiking, walking, and biking are among the three most popular activities when you are RVing. Often, RVs don’t have televisions, so people are more active and less sedentary than they would be in front of the tv. RVs are often parked in campgrounds which offer other active ways to get involved and have fun, such as canoeing, kayaking, yoga, jogging, rollerblading, and more.

Eating

Instead of eating the normal fare of fast food and processed food, people who go RVing are more likely to take the time to make themselves a better meal. When you are on vacation, you have time to cook healthier meals. You are also not tempted by the junk food and fast food that is often part of a daily life.

Relationships

RVing is a time when you make new friends from all over the world. It is also a time when you can reconnect to those people who are closest to you. Most RVers take their families with them, and say that RVing is a great time to hang out with their children and grandchildren. Fostering these positive relationships is great for your health.

Next time you are looking for an excuse to go RVing, do it for your health. Do it for your well-being. Most importantly, do it for the fun.

You have probably heard theses gas saving tips from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and whoever taught you to drive. Yet very few people actually bother to implement them.

Why is that? Are people tired of hearing them? Have these gas saving tips been said so many times that people tune them out? Well, you are going to hear them again in this series of articles, along with the reasons why they DO work!

Gas Saving Tip #1: Know Your Vehicle’s Fuel Efficiency

The actual fuel efficiency of your car will probably differ from that stated on the price sticker. Variables such as make, model, weather, city or interstate driving, and driving habits will affect the fuel efficiency. Efficiency is measured in miles driven per gallon of gasoline used (miles per gallon or mpg).

That is why you should periodically calculate your vehicle’s fuel efficiency. If you see it decreasing, you know that something’s not right with the engine and can take quick action to fix it.

Some people are unaware of how to properly calculate fuel efficiency. It is more than simply dividing miles by gallons. For example, if someone drives 500 miles and then buys 1 gallon of gas, the fuel efficiency is not 500 miles per gallon!

Here is the proper method to calculate fuel efficiency in mpg:

1. Fill up your gas tank. Do not top it off. 2. Write down the starting mileage. 3. Drive until the tank is almost empty. 4. Fill the tank up again the next time you need to buy gas. 5. Write down the ending mileage. 6. Write down the number of gallons of gas it took to fill up the tank. 7. Calculate the Miles Traveled as the Ending Mileage minus the Starting Mileage. 8. The fuel efficiency in mpg = Miles Traveled / Gallons Used

Example:

A driver fills up her tank when the odometer reads 25,000 miles. When the tank is almost empty, she fills up with 18.5 gallons, and the odometer reads 25,500 miles.

Starting Mileage = 25,000 miles Ending Mileage = 25,500 miles Miles Traveled = 25,500 - 25,000 = 500 miles Gallons Used = 18.5 gallons Fuel Efficiency = 500 miles / 18.5 gallons = 27 mpg

If her next efficiency calculation under similar driving conditions is only 20 mpg, she knows that something is wrong with the vehicle.

As gas prices go higher, the need to save gas and save money on fuel is greater than ever. More gas saving tips can be found at the website below.