A hybrid car is basically a normal fuel efficient car that has two motors. It has both an electric motor and a gasoline powered motor. It also contains an innovation system that captures braking energy to store in an onboard battery.

The reason there is two motors is because electric motors turn off when they are idle and gas motors do better at high speeds. Gas motors can also deliver more power. In the stop and go traffic a electric motor does great and does not produce any emissions. The gas motor charges the batteries while it is running.
In a hybrid vehicle the gas motor starts automatically when the battery gets low and charges the battery. A hybrid never has to be plugged into an outlet. Hybrids are more complex and tend to be more expensive. However, with the increase in popularity the price for a hybrid is going down. Hybrids can now be purchased for a reasonable price.

There are also incentives from the government to choose more fuel efficient and green cars like the hybrid. There are tax credits available and you can also save on car insurance. Some auto insurance companies reduce premiums on hybrid cars.

Hybrids are the most efficient of all gasoline vehicles. They usually get between 48 to 60mpg. The fuel efficiency comes from the aerodynamics, weight reduction and from smaller less powerful engines. With a hybrid you get the best of both worlds and get to same on fuel at the same time.

Your carbon footprint is the amount of deadly greenhouse gases which are measured in units of carbon dioxide. The Duke University conducted a study and over 97 million billion pounds of carbon dioxide was released into the air from fossil fuels in just one year.

A green vehicle will cut down on this problem and minimize your carbon footprint. When someone refers to a green car they are talking about a car that uses alternative fuel sources. A regular car uses petroleum fuel to run this is also known as fossil fuel. Fossil fuels are what is known as non renewable energy and releases harmful gases into the air. A green car uses other fuel sources which include bio-diesel, solar energy or electricity to run the car.

There are other benefits to driving a green vehicle besides helping to decrease greenhouse gases. They are cheaper to run and maintain. They do not contribute to acid rain and create less smog in the air. A green car is better for our environment and reduces global warming.

Others ways to decrease the greenhouse gases that are cause by driving vehicles that are not eco-friendly is to not drive at all whenever possible. You can walk whenever it is feasible and get exercise and help the earth at the same time. Sharing a ride is another way to help cut down on our carbon footprint.

Green cars are considered the “wave of the future” because of the way they are changing our thinking about what we drive. The green car concept makes everyone more aware of the environment and what we can do to help erase our carbon footprint.

A Green Car is a vehicle that is more environmentally friendly than a conventional car. A green car consumes less fuel or they use renewable energy sources to fuel the vehicle. There are several types of green cars available today. There are electric, hybrid, hydrogen and bio-diesel cars.

An electric car is a zero emissions type of vehicle because it produces no harmful fuel emissions. It relies solely on electricity from batteries to run. This type of car has fewer moving parts so it is cheaper to maintain. They can go for short distances without having to recharge the battery.

A Hybrid car combines a gas motor with an electric engine that can recharge on its own. This is a great way to extend the miles per gallon of fuel your car uses. It will save you money at the gas pumps. These cars are the same as regular cars as far as having to change your everyday driving habits or activities.

A hydrogen fuel car converts the chemical energy of hydrogen into mechanical energy that can be used to power a motor or engine. Hydrogen is the most abundant elements so by using it to run a vehicle it is an efficient way to save money and also reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Bio-diesel cars run on fuel that is made from vegetables such as corn or soybeans, or from animal fat. These types of fuels are renewable and reduce CO2 emissions. Biodiesel cars are becoming more popular because biodiesel is becoming available at more gas stations.

Green cars are the “wave of the future” and will save money in fuel costs and maintaining a vehicle. They will also help reduce CO2 emissions and make the world cleaner and healthier.

This car is shaped somewhat like a plane for a reason. It is aerodynamically designed like a tear drop to reduce drag as much as possibly therefore increasing fuel economy. While the body alone may not justify the unreleased-but-surely-enormous price tag, the equivalent 300 mpg fuel economy may ease the blow.

2. Zap Alias

If this car doesn’t scream “Mach 5” to you, then you’re not looking at it from the right angle, especially with the three blades in the front. Another three-wheeler, the Alias gets over 100 miles per charge, but it’s hard to care about such petty things when you’ve got a set of wheels like this!

3. Nissan Electric Car

Nameless as of the moment, the car speaks for itself. A different style of style from the previous two, it looks like one bubble sitting on four smaller bubbles. I can’t imagine there being many blind spots in this car, but that doesn’t make a difference when there aren’t any side or rearview mirrors.

4. Mazda Kaan

I will admit this is probably my favorite although I can imagine a lot of rocks and debris getting up in the front “bumper” if in can even be called that being that the wheels are in front of it. I can’t imagine what a fender bender would be like in this car, but it better not mess up the pretty orange wheels.

5. Peugeot Leonin

Ok, this one is my second favorite, but only because of the wheel covers and the doors which I had to show. The headlights exude an aggressive elegance if such a thing existed. With a projected price tag somewhere between $22,000 and $32,000, it may even be possible for regular people to afford.

6. Courreges Zooop

I can’t help thinking this car was designed based on a turtle, but only in terms of its chassis. This is surprising since it was designed by two French fashion designers of all people. This may be fashionable in France, but here in America, we prefer smooth lines and the guts of the car being concealed. That doesn’t stop me from appreciating this marvel.

7. Pininfarina Sintesi

The obvious thing that jumps out at me about this car is that the whole dashboard lights up and looks something like honeycombs. While the interiors of the other cars are by no stretch of the imagination boring, this one really caught my eye. The outside isn’t too shabby either, I guess.

8. Phoenix Concept Car – Regeneration Passion

Just when you thought you had seen it all, someone builds a pod racer. This car actually uses wind turbines in the front to provide energy. It turns using a central axis which basically lets the two “pods” lean like motorcycles to turn. How safe this car is can be debated but it’s the closest thing right now for Star Wars geeks to get a real life fix before light sabers are invented.

9. Pueugeot Moovie

One thing really stands out about this vehicle to me; it’s basically a glass ball. In its simplicity, it seems that the maker left out air bags, bumpers, and even windows. A crash in this car would certainly mean instantaneous death. Let’s hope that gets remedied.

10. Unknown

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to track down the model or maker of this car, but I’m sure its design will make itself well known soon enough. At least the door does not seem impossibly awkward to open unlike many of the other cars.

11. GYM, a concept designed by Da Feng, a design student at Coventry University

The GYM is can be powered by two things: electricity or more interestingly, human power. There is a rowing machine, pull simulator, stepping machine and other various exercise machines built into the car which produce energy for the car when parked. Oh yeah, the car looks sweet, too.

12. The Kite, a collaboration among Tsun-Ho Wang, Min-Gyu Jung and Sung-Je Do

This one was definitely worth two pictures as it can be powered three different ways. It can be simply run on electricity with the top down. It can also be used to windsurf with the top rotated upward at a 90 degree angle. The most fun way is to allow the top to fly up in the air and let the wind power you the most direct way possible, pushing the top as a kite.

13. Solas Concept Car

The neatest part of this car is not only its Euro racer design, but also its hex shaped solar cells. The only problem I foresee here is the lack of windshield which might become an annoyance with bugs or other things like flying car parts. The transparent outer materials allow sunlight to enter the cells and power the entire car while the cells inside also provide protection in crashes.

14. Venturi Volage Concept

While the Tesla is a supercar to be sure, and not quite unique enough to make this list, the Volage is set to overtake the electric supercar crown in 2012 with 295 horses backing it. In my opinion it not only beats the Tesla in power, but also in design. As you can see, blending design themes from Audi and Porsche is never a bad idea.

15. Audi R-Zero Concept

Now what kind of list would this be without an Audi? Always the masters of elegant simplicity, this electric concept is no different. Need anymore be said about this car?

Chrysler was seriously involved in designing high technology for electric cars and test marketing an electric minivan. However, the merger with Daimler all but stopped the efforts Chrysler was making in the electric drive development. Chrysler did make an electric concept van in 1992 the Electric Power Inter-Urban Commuter or EPIC for short. The EPIC concept had nickel iron batteries.

Chrysler was also trying to create a viable 4door mid size electric vehicle through a program they called Destiny. It used light weight materials and an AC induction motor. It turned out not to be a viable option so they tried other approaches.

Since the mid 1990’s Chrysler has sold more than 35,000 low speed GEM neighborhood electric vehicles worldwide. The GEM is not a full function vehicle and is suited for specific uses. Its top speed is 25mph and allowed only on streets with speed limits of 35mph or less.

Now that Chrysler is no longer part of DaimlerChrysler they have renewed their efforts to develop and market electric cars. They recently unveiled three electric drive concept vehicles. They include an all electric Dodge sports car and a range extended electric version of the Jeep Wrangler and Chrysler Town & Country minivan. All of these vehicles use lithium-ion batteries. Chrysler has said that they will move beyond the concept stage and will market one of these vehicles in 2

The Green Car Journal has chosen the 2010 Audi A3 TDI for the prestigious title of the Green Car Journal’s 2010 Green Car of the Year. For the second year in a row a clean diesel has taken top honors in the annual award program. Last year the award went to the VW Jetta TDI.

The competition for top honors was tough and among a lineup of stellar vehicles including three hybrids and a clean diesel. The other green cars that were contenders included the Honda Insight Hybrid, the Mercury Milan Hybrid and the Toyota Prius. The other clean diesel in the running for the award was the VW Golf TDI.

The judges of this year’s award liked the rakish styling and 42 mpg highway fuel efficiency of the Audi A3 TDI. This vehicle has a 50% improvement over the A3 gasoline model and has relatively low CO2 emissions. This model is also approved by Audi for operation on up to B5 biodiesel fuel.

The Audi A3 is an entry level luxury car that has a variety of distinctive features, including 17 inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights and a sporty appearance. The Audi A3 looks like a hatchback; however, the EPA officially classified it as a small station wagon. Audi on the other hand describes it as Sportback. No matter what it is called, the Audi A3 TDI is a fuel efficient and low emissions winner of the 2010 Green Car on the Year award.

There are many green choices to choose from today. If you are considering a new vehicle you will want to find the one that is the most environment friendly for your needs and budget. You can look at the various models and compare their green scores. When you choose a green car you are helping to reduce air pollution.

The more consumers that purchase environmentally friendly vehicles the more the auto industry will take notice. This will make the auto manufacturers continue to make the effort to build and redesign more fuel efficient and lower emission vehicles. The economic downturn and the highest fuel prices in history influenced the vehicles that were purchased. Compact vehicle sales were at a all time high.

As time goes on there will also be more alternative fuel and flex fuel automobiles available. As of now the automakers are concentrating on making gas efficient vehicles. However, there has been an increase in vehicles that are flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs). There has been a renewed interest in ethanol being used instead of oil. There has been a substantial increase in the number of fueling stations that offer ethanol. However, it still isn’t widely available across the United States.

Every day the consumer has more options and choices when it comes to buying a vehicle that is fuel efficient and environmentally friendly. The more green cars put onto the highways and streets the more we as a society are erasing out footprint on the ecosystem.

However, there is good news for the consumers in all of this turmoil. The auto industry is making fuel economy their top priority. The automakers have been spurred on by the high gas prices and the need to compete with the Japanese and European auto manufacturers. This has also led to the availability of a wider range of green vehicles to choose from.

Hybrid and small fuel efficient cars are being mass produced. The automakers are also starting to design efficiency technologies into most all of the new vehicles and redesigned models. This year consumers were introduced to the first “clean diesels.” Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen and BMW released diesel SUVs and cars that are lower in emissions.

Due to all of the latest technology and innovations, new vehicles produced today contribute less harmful emissions into the environment. The auto manufacturers have introduced a variety of innovative designs to the engines and transmissions. They have also tweaked the body design and are using lighter materials to improve the fuel economy of their vehicles.

Even makers of high performance sports cars, such as Porsche are making improvements in their vehicles to lower fuel consumption. The Porsche 911, which has a direct injection gasoline engine, has reduced fuel consumption by 13%. The auto industry is trying to make vehicles that combine fuel economy with better performance. This is good news for consumers who are in the market for a new vehicle.