Electric and hybrid cars, Difference between electric and hybrid cars

Electric cars, hybrid cars: Difference between electric and hybrid cars. Why hybrid car is better then all electric cars.
Batteries: Hybrid car batteries recharge while you are driving. There is no need for plug in where, as after certain miles, electric vehicle batteries need recharge. Most electric cars need a recharge every 50-100 miles. Speed: Electric cars could go only up to 50-60 miles/hr where as hybrid cars can go much faster then that.
Size: For maximum efficiency electric cars are small whereas we have SUVs in hybrid cars.Price: Electric cars are cheaper then hybrid carsSince long, people have been working hard to improve the batteries for electric cars. Still electric cars can only travel a fraction of distance traveled by gasoline cars. Hybrid car is the result of efforts put by people in developing electric cars and having faith in cars powered by electric motors. Hybrid car development is only a change in tactics due to failure in improvement of efficient batteries. Hybrid cars could be defined as an electric car assisted with a gasoline engine.

Hybrid cars: Why sales are growing at a slower pace.

Every year 15 million new vehicles are sold. Last year 88,000 hybrid cars were sold in United States. This year the projected figure for sales of hybrid cars is 220,000 as per estimates done by J.D. Power and Associates. Why people are not willing to buy hybrid cars in large numbers? Lets take a look at some of the possible reasons:
1. Speed. Hybrid cars are not so fast as cars that run on only gas. Why? Technology Hybrid cars do not have high speed as in gas only cars. They run on battery assisted small engines. Theoretically, I am not sure if hybrid cars could match the speed of the gas only cars in near future.
2. Not enough advertisements/promotion for hybrid cars. You start your TV sets or listen to the radio, you get a lot of ads for monster, gas guzzlers suv and cars run by only gas. The ads ratio could be 1 in 10 for hybrid cars as compared to general cars.
3. Lack of awareness. Govt. is trying its best to promote hybrid cars by making public aware of the benefits for hybrid cars. California and Virginia are allowing hybrid cars in car-pool lanes though there is no federal approval till date for such policy. However, is this enough? Why so delay in approval of such policy. As I think, the following steps could be taken:

a) Federal approval for different incentives for people buying hybrid cars
b) Heavy tax incentives for hybrid cars buyers
c) Higher registration fees for purchase of non-hybrid vehicles.
d) Free parking for Hybrid cars e) Set an example by replacing all the state owned cars to hybrid cars
4. Fuel prices are high but manageable. This could seem vague but I am of the opinion that increase the prices of the fuel to something like $3+. I know I would not have many takers for this but can't help. Extreme steps taken now could prove beneficial tomorrow.
5. Lack of Choice If a person wants to buy a hybrid cars he has got very less choice as of now.
He has to select between a few. Now, if hybrid cars will not go neck to neck with general cars, it will be difficult that carmakers would speed much in research for hybrid cars due to less demand. Now what about something like state sponsored research for hybrid cars.

6. Consider Diesel
Diesel vehicles operate more efficiently than their gasoline counterparts, because they use higher compression ratios and higher combustion temperatures. The efficiency advantage is enhanced by the fact that a gallon of diesel fuel contains about 10 percent more energy than a gallon of gasoline. These two factors help modern direct-injection diesels achieve roughly 50 percent higher fuel economy than gasoline engines. That’s a big reason why diesel vehicles now account for nearly half of all new vehicle sales in Europe. Diesel still carries a black smoke stigma for many American car buyers, but that’s changing. For now, there are only a handful of diesels, some of which are not available in all 50 states because of strict emission standards at the local level. But expect greater choice in diesel engine vehicles in the next few years.

7. Avoid Gas-Guzzling Vehicle Options
After you select a vehicle segment, and a specific make and model, you’re still not done. If you have a choice between two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive versions, opt for the two-wheel drive. When is the last time you drove a stick shift? Going with manual transmission will earn fuel economy points. And remember that anything adding weight to the base vehicle will result in lower fuel efficiency. Rooftop luggage racks, kayak holders, and ski racks add weight and reduce aerodynamics.

8. New Beats Used
As your car ages, so can its ability to squeeze more miles out of a gallon of gasoline. If your budget allows, purchase new rather than used. Newer cars are more likely to use advanced technologies, such as camless systems, low friction lubricants, idle-stop, and cylinder deactivation, which shuts down cylinders when not needed. Of course, late model used cars can also feature many of these technologies—and can be a great value. Older cars should not be dismissed out of hand. Purchasing used simply means that you need to be careful that the vehicle has been well maintained.

9. Plan Your Shift to Low-Resistance Tires
Don’t just kick the tires. Think about swapping them out with a low-resistance option. The tire offered by the manufacturer is a compromise designed for the widest range of customers. Fuel efficiency aficionados know that tires with lower rolling resistance have a big impact on mpg. See if the dealership will sweeten the deal by making the switch for you. Decreasing the resistance by 20 percent could raise mileage by as much as five percent. No matter what kind of tire you use, proper inflation is essential. For every three pounds below recommended pressure, fuel economy goes down by about one percent.

10. Maintain Your Investment with Good Driving Habits
The EPA window labels say “your mileage may vary” for a reason. The way you drive is every bit as important as what you drive. First of all, don’t speed. Driving 65 mph instead of 75 mph will increase your fuel economy by about 10 percent. In addition, avoid "jack rabbit" starts and anticipate stops. Flooring the gas pedal and speeding up to a red light is a waste of gas. After spending your hard-earned dollars on a fuel efficient vehicle, you don’t want to see your investment get wasted on unnecessary trips to the pumps.

Top 10 Tips For Buying

1. Analyze Your Needs
Before you get your mind set on any particular make or model, it’s important to take a step back and consider why you drive. Are you looking for a car primarily to commute to and from work? Or is it a second car for quick errands around town? How many passengers do you usually carry? Shopping for a car that meets—but does not exceed—those real needs is an essential first step toward fuel efficiency.

2. Choose a Right-Sized Vehicle
After an honest self-assessment of how you’ll use your car or truck, it’s time to think about the vehicle size (commonly referred to as “segment”): SUV, Minivan, Pickup Truck, Crossover/Wagon, Midsize Sedan, Compact, or Subcompact. Why is segment important? Because when it comes to fuel efficiency, size matters. Bigger vehicles weigh more than smaller ones—and vehicle weight is the single biggest setback for fuel efficiency. A heavier vehicle needs more power, and thus uses more fuel to accelerate. You’ll be way ahead of the fuel economy game if you “right-size” your vehicle.

3. Choose a Right-Sized Engine
You might imagine yourself as Jeff Gordon or Danika Patrick on your morning commute, but the amount of horsepower required for your daily needs is well below NASCAR standards. In almost all cases, a smaller engine will result in greater fuel economy. Giving up a few horsepower can mean serious gains in fuel efficiency. The key stats are the number of cylinders and the amount of engine displacement. For maximum fuel efficiency, select a four-cylinder vehicle over a six-cylinder, or a V6 over a V8. With engine displacement, as in golf, low scores win.

4. Research the MPG of Specific Models
With a short list of a few models in hand, you can boil down your research to one statistic: the window-sticker MPG rating supplied by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Be aware that EPA numbers are likely to be inflated compared to your real-world mileage. Nonetheless, those numbers are very useful as points of comparison. As you walk through the showroom, take note of the MPG ratings of the various vehicles on your shopping list.

5. Consider a Hybrid
When gas-electric hybrids were first introduced to the American market, they were viewed as science projects. No longer. In 2007, more than 300,000 shoppers are expected to buy a Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid or one of about a dozen available hybrids. The growing popularity of hybrids is directly related to the technology’s ability to save fuel. In any segment—from compacts to SUVs—hybrids are at the top of the list for fuel efficiency. You’re likely to pay a little bit more for the hybrid system; however, many consumer information organizations, including Consumer Reports, report payback periods on the premium of less than five years for the most efficient hybrids.