Hybrid Car

Yes, it’s true. You could rise to fame and fortune if you would only get up and go get a hybrid. A hybrid car is a car for the rich and famous so it just has to be for you. Many people are driving hybrid cars these days including some of the most envied people on the planet like your favorite movies stars.

 

But the big question is, are you driving a hybrid? Are you driving anything close to hybrid? Well, if you are not, you can’t rub noses with some of these hybrid car-drivers.
These people were early drivers of hybrids. You may not see them in a hybrid when they pull up next to you on Rodeo Drive, but trust me, they’ve owned a hybrid before. Well, trust me just as much as you trust any other celebrity news.

Alicia Silverstone


This girl certainly isn’t clueless about the environment. She knows that driving hybrid cars has many benefits. And if the general public doesn’t have the braniac knowledge she has, then that’s just too bad. Alicia knows that hybrid cars are good for everyone including the people who can finally sniff clean air as hybrid cars pass by. So Alicia Silverstone got herself a hybrid. She’s a genius in the book as far as this article is concerned.


Ellen DeGeneres


Hey, this funny lady not only has a cute haircut, but she was driving a cute hybrid car before you probably even knew about it. She was laughing that time at you and your gas-guzzler. Ellen’s got a knack for picking out cars that are good for her budget.


Robin Williams


Funny and sweet, Robin knew when he played the role of Mrs. Doubtfire that he should start thinking more like a sensible driver that you would allow to transport your kids to and from school. So Robin got himself a hybrid, and he hasn’t looked back since.


Ted Danson


Cheers! Ted knows a great car when he sees one. He didn’t sleep at the bar that morning when he decided to go check out the new cars on the lot. He got on up and bought a car that made a whole lot of sense. And yes, it seems like he was very sober while choosing this car.


Brad Pitt


What’s cooking good looking? Certainly not Brad’s fuel engine. He had a hybrid car, so he knows his car isn’t using too much fuel.


Prince Charles


Say this sentence to yourself, “If it’s good enough for royalty, it’s good enough for me.” That’s how you should feel when you drive a hybrid. You should feel royal, adorned, and admired because believe it or not, that’s exactly what you are. So enjoy it.


So, do you feel like a million bucks yet? Well, you should if you are thinking of all the different models of hybrid cars you would like to own. And don’t worry, you won’t have just 15 minutes of fame. Hybrid cars last for years and years.

Cool Cars in Cool Movies (and on TV)
Do you agree with this statement – Cool car = cool movie? Here’s a little matching game to see if you are an awesome person and know your rad movie/TV cars. Match the car to the movie:

 

1. 1963 Astin Martin DB5 2. 1958 Plymouth Fury 3. 1970 Chevy Nova 4. 1968 Ford Mustang 390 GT 5. 1973 Ford Falcon X8 GT Coupe 6. 1969 Dodge Charger R/T 7. 1983 GMC Vandura G-Series (G-1500) 8. 1974 Dodge Monaco 9. 1964 Volkswagen Beetle 10. 1982 Pontiac Trans Am 11. 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor Ambulance 12. 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 13. 1966 Chrysler Imperial 14. 1976 Ford Gran Torino 15. 1980 Lamborghini Countach 16. 1977 Trans Am SE 17. 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback 18. 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California 19. 1932 Ford Deuce Coupe 20. 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T

a. Gone in 60 Seconds (Eleanor) b. Herbie, the Love Bug c. The Blues Brothers Blues Mobile d. Back to the Future e. Ghostbusters (ECTO-1) f. Goldfinger (JB007) g. American Graffiti h. Death Proof i. A-Team j. Bullit k. Mad Max and the Road Warrior l. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off m. Starsky and Hutch n. Smokey and the Bandit o. Dukes of Hazzard (The General Lee) p. Knight Rider (K.I.T.T.) q. Green Hornet’s Black Beauty r. Cannonball Run s. Vanishing Point t. Christine

 

There are these and then there are the classics that have so many cool cars, it might make you tear up a bit – The Fast and Furious series, Gone in 60 Seconds (made in 1974 and 2000), every single James Bond movie, The Batman Series. There are also pimp mobiles like SWNGR3 – the 1975 Cadillac El Dorado created especially for Austin Powers in Goldmember; and silly mobiles like the 1984 Ford Econoline Mutt Cutts vehicle in Dumb and Dumber.

There can’t be talk of cool cars without talking about the beloved Bat Mobiles. First in the TV series, there was the 1955 Lincoln Futura. The movie Batman and Batman Returns drove a 1967 Chevy Impala, and a super human vehicle designed by Wayne Industries named The Tumbler starred in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. This particular vehicle was actually built and served as a pace car in a 2005 NASCAR race. Some of its’ upgrades include a jet engine that allows it to fly, a driving position for driving AND one for flying/jumping, stealth capacities including an electric-motor drive and the entry and exit of the car consists of no door but more of a blooming flower.

Whatever your favorite car movie might be…tack your posters back on your walls, watch and re-watch these cool car movies and remember, you were probably cool at some point in your life.

About the Author: Chuck G. runs SeatCovers.net, an online retailer of seat covers for cars and trucks. Chuck is an auto enthusiast at heart, and especially loves to research some of the most expensive cars on the market today.

Answers – 1.f, 2.t, 3.h, 4.j, 5.k, 6.o, 7.i, 8.c, 9.b, 10.p, 11.e, 12.d, 13.q, 14.m, 15.r, 16.n, 17.a, 18.l, 19.g, 20.s

Yes would be the answer to that question, but why? It would seem odd that the future of hybrids cars would be unpredictable since everyone is talking about the pain at the pump all of the time. So just how is it that the solution to all of our gas problems has an unpredictable future?

Well, that has a lot to do with price. But no one could predict how much sales have soared in the both the current and past years. Hybrid cars came out in the year 2000. And since then, they have just been selling like hotcakes. But will the soaring sales for hybrid cars continue? That’s the question that has many people squinting their eyes and sighing. People just don’t know. They aren’t sure how hybrid cars will do in the upcoming market.

Right now, car industry bosses believe that hybrid car sales will outrun those of other cars that are great when it comes to fuel efficiency. They think the sales of hybrid cars will just leap over those of pick-ups, luxury models, and sports vehicles.

However, other people believe that car manufacturers do a lot of grandstanding because the auto bosses think that hybrid cars will accomplish all of the above in five years. But opponents say it’s impossible to make such predictions for five years down the road because there are just too many variables. For instance, now the price of gas is about $3.00, but who knows what it will be five years from now.

Without stable numbers to go by, it’s very difficult to come up with numbers that try to successfully predict how many people will buy hybrid cars in the future. And who’s to say that people will so easily give up their luxury cars and SUVs? Hybrid cars are nice, but some people are quite attached to their Mercedes. Maybe the people who can afford a Mercedes aren’t even worried about paying $3.00 for gas.

So the opponents may have some good reasons to believe car bosses are exaggerating when it comes to the future of hybrid cars. The biggest reason they may be grandstanding is because they can’t predict how the economy will be doing in the next five years. Hybrid cars are very expensive, and if the economy takes a downturn, people may not be able to afford the good jobs they need to buy a hybrid car.

Then, yes, if the economy goes down, car bosses will definitely have put their foot in their mouths when it comes to hybrid cars.

But the question is what are you going to do to affect the future of hybrid cars? Are you going to buy or continue to drive your conventional car? The future of cars will be better if more people would consider buying a hybrid car. You can do it today. All it takes is good credit and a fondness for embracing better automotive technology. So a hybrid car is waiting for you, and it’s in just the color you wanted.

Those considering purchasing a hybrid car may be a little concerned about what’s under the hood. Hybrid cars have battery-powered motors. Since a battery-powered motor is not something that typically comes to mind when people think about what’s under the hood of a car, it’s a good idea to get a good understanding of the hybrid-car battery-pack. Below are a few facts about it.

Battery packs in hybrid cars do not need to be replaced

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 battery pack is expected to last between 150, 000 and 200,000 miles, and it probably lasts longer than that.

Battery toxicity is a concern, but not a major concern


Hybrid cars use NiMH batteries, not the rechargeable nickel cadmium. Nickel cadmium batteries are usually detrimental to the environment, but the NiMH batteries that are used in hybrid cars are fully recyclable.

Hybrid batteries contain hundreds of cells

Hundreds of cells means that hybrid cars have a lot of complexity going on underneath their hoods, and complexity does usually mean expensive, but with the generous warranty car manufacturers are giving on these cars, there is little involved in purchasing a hybrid.

The numbers of battery failures in hybrids have been really low

When I say low, I mean really low. If failure happens, it’s probably before the cars even get off the lot. Toyota has even said that some of its original Prius models have packs that have gone over 300,000 miles.

The cost of replacing hybrid batteries isn’t even an issue

It isn’t an issue because the battery packs in hybrid cars are built to last. The Department of Energy looked into hybrid vehicles, but stopped its test when the capacity was “just like new” after 160,000 miles. So no one really seems to know for sure what it costs to replace the battery pack in a hybrid car. You can also use a payday loan, as the solution for the replacement batteray cost.

The battery packs in hybrid cars are evolving

If we look further into the future, the next generation of hybrid batteries is in the works. The goal: To discover a technology that gives lots of power, lasts for the hybrid car’s lifetime, and costs less to make.

If the battery pack in your hybrid car does run out, there is a solution

Toyota has put out some advice on what to do if your hybrid battery should run out after the warranty has ended. and you can The advice is to recondition the battery. The solution works well because if something goes wrong, the problem lies within only one of the 28 modules that the battery is made up of. 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 in good shape. You can find a match by getting a battery pack from another car that has a similar mileage and age.

Known as the eco-friendly car, hybrid cars that you plug in are considered symbols of the advanced future. The savings on gas adds up to the tune of thousands of dollars over the lifespan of the car. Right now, plug-in hybrids are not available to the buying public. Instead, regular hybrid cars are the dominant money-saving choice available to consumers. But in spite of the plug-hybrid’s current public unavailability, in 2009 or 2010 General Motors plans to put one on the market. So many people might want to know all about plug-in hybrid cars.

As early as 1899, hybrid cars were being produced. The producer of these fascinating cars in those early years was Lohner-Porsche. These hybrid cars had to be charged externally.

In 1969, there was a July issue of Popular science. This issue featured an article on a plug-in hybrid manufactured by General Motors. The concept was that this plug-in hybrid car was a vehicle meant for traveling average distances. Called the General Motors XP-883, it had six 12-volt lead batteries located in the trunk area. And it was meant to be plugged into a standard 110-volt socket for recharging, and the fuel tank could hold about 10 liters.

In September of 2004, the California Cars initiative made a 2004 Toyota Prius prototype into what it called a PRIUS+, the difference being that the converted model had an add-on — there were 130 kg of lead-acid batteries onboard.

Ford motor company says it plans to sell plug-in hybrids in about the next five to ten years. Everything depends on improvements made to lithium ion batteries. So don’t you want to drive of these hybrid cars? With a plugin hybrid car, you’ll be the envy of your friends who are just driving regular hybrid cars. You’ll be able to travel on and on without looking for an Exxon or Texaco station.

And these types of hybrid cars aren’t waiting for someone to bring them out on the auto showroom floor. Somehow, these hybrid cars have infiltrated themselves into the media. That’s why people just love hybrid cars in general. And when you think about a plug-in hybrid, you can hardly believe what advances auto manufacturers are making these days.

It is said that there is a global demand for hybrid cars that is unbelievable. In fact, the demand is expected to grow. Therefore, by the year 2010, it is expected that more than 1 million vehicles will be produced annually. And if some of these hybrid cars were made so that they could run on electricity alone, there would be an even greater increase in demand.

But in terms of plug-hybrids, some people may not even believe these hybrid cars are really coming out since what they will be able to do is so awe-inspiring. But plug-in hybrids are definitely on their way. Supposedly, Daimler Chrysler is about to come out with 100 delivery vans that can go 20 miles just on electricity. So get ready, plug-in hybrid cars are definitely coming to an auto dealer near you.

Arranging auto transport is one of those things that most people don’t know the first thing about. So for most, their first step will be to go online, book with a company, and they’re done. Aside for just booking a car shipping company, it is important to prepare your vehicle for auto transport.
                First, take the vehicle for a maintenance check. Many companies will not accept a car that is not in perfect running order. Any special instructions for the driver when driving the car on and off the rig should be given to him in writing at the time of pickup. Clean the car well, and take pictures of it. This way you will be reimbursed for any damages that occur during the trip. Also, the oil, gas, and any fluids should be filled only a little bit. This ensures that the car will have enough gas to be driven on and off the rig, but not so much that it will add to the weight of the car. The owner may be charged an overweight fee for a vehicle that is too heavy, adding to the overall auto transport rate.
                Before sending it off, clean the interior of the car. This includes removing any and all personal possessions, including documents, a GPS, car phone, or other paraphernalia. Auto transport companies cannot be held responsible for any personal items left in the car. Also, since their insurance does not cover personal possessions, if stopped, the owner of the car may incur a fine.
                All in all, preparation for auto transport is not that complicated, and in the long run car shipping is a very convenient service to make use of.