Drive a Hybrid, Not an SUV!
Switching from an average new car to a 13 mpg SUV for a year would waste more energy than leaving a refrigerator door open for six years, a bathroom light burning for 30 years, or a color TV turned on for 28 years.
SUVs spew out 43 percent more global-warming pollutants - 28 pounds of carbon dioxide per gallon of gas consumed - and 47 percent more air pollution than the average car, using 1 million barrels of oil a day.
from the EPA: In the United States, approximately 6.6 tons (almost 15,000 pounds carbon equivalent) of greenhouse gases are emitted per person every year. And emissions per person have increased about 3.4% between 1990 and 1997. Most of these emissions, about 82%, are from burning fossil fuels to generate electricity and power our cars. The remaining emissions are from methane, from wastes in our landfills, raising livestock, natural gas pipelines, and coal, as well as from industrial chemicals and other sources.
Leading climatologists predict the temperature of the planet could increase by 5 degrees this century; extinction is forecast for vulnerable animals and plants across more than 1/3 of the Earth's natural habitat. Estimates are that concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere will double from pre-industrial levels during this century. Some projections suggest a three-fold increase in concentrations by 2100 unless action is taken to rein in the inefficient use of coal, oil and gas for energy production.
Americans contribute 25 percent of the world's human-generated carbon dioxide
Save gas! Save money! Save the planet!
Top five reasons to buy a Hybrid car
A hybrid car is an excellent choice for anyone looking to save money at the gas pump as well as want to help the environment. Hybrid cars are powered by a combination of an efficient gas engine and by electric motor that helps with accelerations. Batteries that recharge automatically power the electric motor.
Since hybrid becoming more popular there are many car manufacturers are now making hybrid cars. Now we are having more choices in hybrid vehicles. Currently there is very little difference between a regular car and a hybrid car, making hybrid car no longer a vehicle from science friction. Even celebrities are turning to the environmentally friendly hybrid to make statements.
Although hybrid cars do have a higher purchase cost and are often hard to find due to high demand, there are many great benefits for choosing a hybrid including tax break.
Here are the top five reasons you should consider a hybrid car:
1. Hybrid car has more efficient engines and get you better gas mileage:
The efficiency of the hybrid is boosted by the small size and lightweight materials used to make the car. Hybrid vehicles also have regenerative braking. This means that the electric motor that drives the hybrid acts as a generator and charges the battery while the car is slowing. Hybrids also have a periodic engine shut off; meaning when a hybrid is stopped in traffic, the engine is temporarily shut off. Then when the car is put back in gear, the car starts automatically. The efficiency of a hybrid car outperforms that of a conventional car.
2. Hybrid cars are environmentally friendly:
Because a hybrid uses less fuel, it benefits the environment. They consume less gas and produce less pollution per mile than other non-hybrid cars. Some hybrids can get ten to fifteen miles per gallon more than a regular gas engine. They are also capable of producing 90 percent fewer harmful emissions.
3. Hybrid cars use the newest technology and sleek, aerodynamic designs:
Car manufacturers are now more focusing on newest hybrid technology. The result is latest technology, sleek stylist and designed cars. The aerodynamically designed hybrid cars are great for reducing drag. Also, the uses of low-rolling resistant tires made of special rubber reduce friction on the road. The high capacity nickel-metal-hydride battery pack is reliable and helps power the car when needed. This helps reduce the drag of the car when driving. The sleek profiles and designs of the hybrid allow the car to drive well through all conditions.
4. More choices and styles in hybrid vehicles:
As we already mention hybrid car is no longer is science friction car. Now you can get many popular models in hybrid version. There is little difference between regular car and hybrid car. For example you can drive a Honda Accord without knowing anyone that you are driving a hybrid car. As the popularity of the hybrid car rises, more makes and models are being offered. A buyer can purchase a Honda Civic and a Ford Escape in hybrids. GMC and Chevy are currently making two hybrid-pick-up trucks called the C15 Silverado and the C15 Sierra. The Honda Accord and Toyota Camry are also available in hybrid. In the near future, Saturn, Lexus, Honda, and Chevrolet will make hybrid SUVs available to the public. In addition, Chevrolet will offer their Malibu in hybrid form in 2007. Now since so many hybrid cars are available on the market, you can choose a style that suits you. Choose a hybrid that looks like a conventional car such as the Ford Escape.
5. Tax Breaks from Uncle Sam:
The Federal government currently offers tax breaks to people who buy hybrids.. The amount of your tax break depends on when you file and what tax bracket you are in. Some states are also starting to offer tax breaks to those who purchase hybrid vehicles.
Here are the Top 10 fuel-efficient cars:
1) Honda Fit
EPA city/highway mileage: 33/38 (manual), 31/38 (automatic Base), 31/37 (automatic Sport)
The Fit is one of several minicars to hit American (and Canadian) streets in recent months, but few, if any, do such a good job of divvying up space between front seats, back seats and cargo bay. Thoughtful engineering gives the Fit gobs of interior space, including room for tall drivers, and it delivers excellent fuel economy in the real world, not just on paper.
2) Honda Civic
EPA city/highway mileage: 30/38 (manual), 30/40 (automatic)
When it comes to squeezing every last inch of motion out of a drop of gasoline, no one does it like Honda. A 40 MPG highway figure makes the Civic the most thrifty automatic-transmission-equipped car on this list bar the Prius Hybrid. It's an amazing feat considering the Civic's acres of interior room and full complement of safety features. Another Honda coup.
3) Mercedes-Benz E320 BLUETEC
EPA city/highway mileage: 26/37
If everyone in the US got the chance to test-drive a Mercedes E320 BLUETEC, I bet the demand for diesel cars would go through the roof. With its 3-liter V6 powerplant, the E320 BLUETEC offers the passing power of a V8 with the fuel economy of a compact sedan -- pretty impressive for a car this big and luxurious. With a price premium of only $1,000 over the gasoline-powered version and significantly better fuel economy, the E320 BLUETEC just makes sense.
4) Mercury Mariner Hybrid
EPA city/highway mileage: 33/29
Fuel economy is not an SUV strong suit. It takes gasoline to haul around all that bulk, and the SUV's inherent aerodynamics, or lack thereof, don't improve things. Enter the Mariner hybrid, which offers SUV-like space while reducing fuel consumption to the level of a mid-size or compact car. Its well-designed hybrid system runs on clean, silent battery power at low speeds, making it super-efficient in traffic and around the neighborhood.
5) Nissan Sentra
EPA city/highway mileage: 28/34 (manual), 29/36 (automatic)
Common wisdom says that if you want the best fuel economy you should buy a car with a manual transmission. That's not true anymore; many automatic cars get similar or better fuel economy as their manual counterparts (witness the Honda Civic, above). But the Nissan Sentra takes things to a new level, thanks to it's continously-variable automatic transmission, or CVT. The CVT not only gets better fuel economy than a manual, it also feels more powerful -- plus it comes wrapped in a roomy and handsome compact sedan that's easy to live with.
6) Scion xA
EPA city/highway mileage: 32/37 (manual), 31/38 (automatic)
The xA has single-handedly proven that Americans and Canadians will embrace a small car - provided its the right small car. The Scion xA provides the right blend of size, styling, practicality and thrift with a high fun-to-drive factor. As with the aforementioned Hyundai Accent, automatic xAs are great in town but pokey on the freeway, while the manual transmission makes for a great all-rounder.
7) Toyota Camry Hybrid
EPA city/highway mileage: 43/37
When America's best-selling car adapts hybrid technology, you know it's here to stay. Unlike the Prius, the Camry presents an altogether conventional driving experience. Its bigger (2.4 liter) engine and conventional tires, among other factors, yield lower fuel economy than Prius, but a darn sight better than regular Camrys -- and it's so transparent you can easily forget it's a hybrid.
8) Toyota Corolla
EPA city/highway mileage: 32/41 (manual), 30/38 (automatic)
With all those hybrids in the Toyota family, not to mention the hybrid version of its arch-nemesis, the Honda Civic, it's easy to forget that the Corolla is a remarkably economic car in its own right, even in automatic guise. It's also roomy, well trimmed out, affordable, and unbelievably reliable -- plus it boasts fuel economy equal to or greater than the smaller Hyundai Excel and Scion xA. Impressive!
9) Toyota Prius
EPA city/highway mileage: 60/51
The Prius will be remembered as the car that put hybrids on the map. But fuel economy aside, it's a great car in its own right. The hatchback body makes it excessively practical, and the Buck Rogers interior is a nice change from the typical car interior that's both futuristic and easy to get used to. Expect real-world fuel economy of 40-45 MPG, which is pretty darn good for a car this roomy.
10) Toyota Yaris
EPA mileage: 34/40 (manual), 34/39 (automatic)
The Yaris' predecessor, the Echo, was never a big hit over here. From the lessons learned with its Scion successes, Toyota has given us a much more appealing package. Practical, good-looking, and built to last forever, the Yaris is a great runabout that won't break the bank.
