My Car Insurance Life |

matt q may, Sr. asked:


increasing gasoline burden is making people think afresh about alternative sources of energy and with the alarming effects of the greenhouse effect the need for gas and electric cars has become more pronounced. These vehicles are known as hybrid vehicles and a number of different types are available using alternative sources of energy. The mo-ped is a good example and will surely have been used by many Americans at some time or the other.

A standard benchmark for an electric car or even the gas powered car is that it should have a driving range of at least 300 miles, can easily be refueled and also not be a traffic burden in that it should keep up with other vehicles on the road. The higher price tag on gas and electric cars is more than offset by the reduced operating costs of these cars because of the better mileage that is obtained through use of gas and electric cars.

Driving a hybrid car like the gas and electric car variety is not as simple as there is the constant urge to own a fancier gasoline driven vehicle because you may want a certain sense of pride and make heads turn when you drive by. But, compromising on these vanities and settling for the more mundane and easier to operate vehicles has its own advantages. Firstly, there is the problem of driving slow which is far more difficult in the gasoline driven cars than in the gas and electric car. And, driving slow is not only safer but also more economical.

Probably the greatest advantage for the gas and electric car is the lower fuel bills because there are simply lesser visits to the fuel station. The lower operating costs tilt the balance in favor of the gas and electric cars. Honda Motor Co. Ltd. has announced that it will be launching its hybrid cars in the US and will call the vehicle as Honda Insight and due to its innovative design and sleek manufacturing should be able to give 70 miles to the gallon average mileage consumption. This, while meeting the Ultra-Low-Emission-Vehicle standards.

The hub of the system will be the world’s lightest 1.0 liter, 3-cylinder gasoline engine while the electrical components will be mainly the ultra-thin DC brushless motor, 144 volt nickel-metal hydride battery pack as well as an enhanced electric power control unit. All this goes to show the improved technologies that are now available and being put to use to sell gas and electric cars.

Richard Caring writes:

One of the best known car manufacturers worldwide is the Ford Motor Company. As one of the largest car companies, they have been in no rush to get into manufacturing the electric car market. Due to consumer demand, an electric car was manufactured, placed on the market and sold by Ford - a cleaner, environmentally friendly car producing less pollution and no greenhouse gas emissions. It was their first version of an electric car.

Called the Think City electric, Ford produced many years ago, and a lot of people were keen to take advantage of this new vehicle. It was pollution free and more energy efficient than a fuel powered car. The United States have very rigid standards about the road safety of vehicles on their road, so the Think City electric didn’t meet those strict standards. Ford had to cease production of their first prototype and as a result many of the cars were returned once customers had reached the end of their leases. The cars were then crushed as they couldn’t be sold in America. So Ford no longer market the Think City cars, although a few can still be found.

Ford have now implemented and produce hybrid electric cars after much research. These mostly run on battery power, as well as being able to use gasoline power at the touch of a switch. Many of these electric cars can be seen on the roads. As a leading manufacturer of electric cars in the industry, Ford decided to branch out and produce electric vehicles such as Ford trucks, mini-vans and the SUV’s, rather than limit their production to just electric cars.

Ford mostly produce electric cars of the hybrid version to meet safety standards, but abroad you can find Ford brand electric cars. Many countries do not have as rigid safety standards, so the electric car can be seen driven by even more people in countries such as England and France.

Some people may be disappointed that Ford had to move from producing electric cars to hybrid vehicles, but as they weren’t able to meet the safety standards, there was no choice for the company. As a result it was more cost efficient to produce a more environmentally-friendly vehicle to cope with their customers’ demands, than it was to keep the electric cars on the road and try to meet the safety standards.

Ford do continue to listen to their customers and are trying to come up with a suitable model for an electric car. As leaders in the industry, it may only be a matter of time before they can replace the hybrid version with a new exacting Ford brand electric car. Customers will have to wait and see what comes up in the future. With the fast pace of modern technology, it could be possible.

Best regards

Abhishek Agarwal asked:


Batteries are used to run electric cars, they are stored beneath the hood and maybe 12 to 24 in numbers.

When it is time to replace them they are all there.

These batteries are similar to those used on cell phones and toy cars children love to drive around in the backyard.Thus, it is not very difficult to get new batteries when we need them.

Actually, electric batteries do not need to be replaced often so replacment of batteries does not happen too frequently.

They cost around $2000 to $5000 , depending on the model and make of your car.

You must be careful about the amount of electricity in the battery before charging it.

Sometimes the batteries have an in built “memory” , and if the battery is not run completely before charging it may lose some of it’s potency.In this situation you may have to spend on a new battery before it is due.

There is alot of research and development underway in the electric cars industry.

New battery technology is being worked on to ensure that your vehicle can get charged faster and hold more power for a longer time.It will not be long before you can drive your car longer without the need for a battery charge.This is really some great news for those who patronise electric cars.At present the cars can run upto 100 miles per charge.There is a strong possibility that by 2010 the car will be able to run 200 miles on new batteries.

Recycling of the batteries can be done when it is time to replace the batteries.

Electric car batteries are recyclable upto 95 percent.Only those who are concerned about the environment and want to protect their wallets against the gasoline price hike will opt for an electric car, since you have, you are sure to be one of them. So, if you can recycle your electric car battery, before buying a new one you have given yourself a new source of power along with peace of mind.

It is advisable to choose the best type of batteries, for the best price, for your car and be assured that you have done the best for yourself and for the environment .

Thomas Pretty asked:


Ways to deal with the large amounts of greenhouse gases produced by those cars in inner city areas has been a major concern for environmental lobbyists for some time. The car hire industry has been one of the major points of discussion, as has the way in which we use our cars. In Europe especially the drive towards more environmentally friendly forms of transport and more ecologically sound transportation solutions has been gaining pace.

The latest development in this has been from the mayor of Paris. He recently presented plans to allow city dwellers to hire an electric car from various points in the city along a ‘pick up and drop off’ scheme. The mayor is hoping that by the end of next year there will be almost four thousand electric cars available for hire in the city. Hopefully, those making short journeys will be able to pick up the car in the outskirts and drop it off once they have reached their inner city destination. Of all the capital cities in the world, Paris is taking the first steps towards a more eco-friendly transportation solution.

Some believe that such a scheme could revolutionise transport. He has already expanded the original plans and clearly believes that this is the way to combat rising amounts of greenhouse gases being produce in modern cities. This is a worldwide problem and affects us all; thankfully, at least one official is happy to follow a course that will hopefully reduce smog and be more environmentally friendly. Paris does however have a history of being a forerunner for such schemes. The bikes available for hire in the city have changed the way that residents traverse the capital; the next phase of this is to bring the electric car plans into action.

Schemes like this could be adopted in many cities across the world. Many capitals would benefit from such a scheme that would utilise around seven hundred pick up and drop off points all around the city. As short journeys and city driving are the most harmful to the environment, green campaigners are largely appreciative of the scheme. Such a plan however has only become a reality thanks to advances in GPS technology, allowing system operators to manage the location of vehicles at all times.

The similarities with the bike hire system in place at the moment are hard to dispute, but as this has been a success it is easy to understand why they are incorporating electric cars. Users would have to subscribe to the system along annual basis; however plans are in place to allow a pay as you travel method of payment. Plans may even use a system like London’s Oyster card to allow users to pay indirectly for the hire service.

Many cities are facing the problem of overcrowding on the roads and it is hoped that schemes such as this will allow residents to negate the need for owning a car. For instance, a family that only uses their car once a week for shopping would benefit from hiring one instead of owning one. The fact that it is electric cars simply reflects the growing understanding of environmental needs.

Not all green campaigners are entirely happy however. Some argue that instead of catering for people using cars, behaviour should be changed. More important is to increase the use of public transport networks and reduce the congestion on our city roads. In Britain, car sharing schemes are more likely to be adopted over the hire plans used in France. Whatever the arguments surrounding the scheme it is good to see that some officials are trying to create more eco-friendly forms of travel. As the environment becomes an increasingly important factor on the political agenda, solutions like this will undoubtedly become more popular.

Abhishek Agarwal asked:


Odds are, you probably own a gasoline or diesel powered vehicle. If you are considering making the switch to an electric car, there are some things you should consider before getting started.

Should I Buy a New Vehicle?

If you are in the market for an electric car, the easiest option is to simply go new car shopping. There are a few production electric cars out there right now. Be aware that while an electric car is more expensive up front, if it suits your commuting needs you can save a lot of money in the long run on fuel costs. Most production electric cars have more limited range than a gasoline vehicle, but as long as you don’t drive more than 50 miles on a daily basis, they will be just fine. Along with the electric car, you will usually receive a power station for your home, where you plug your car in to recharge overnight. Remember, power isn’t free, and has to come from somewhere. You can expect a rise in your electricity bill, but usually you are still saving money over a gasoline vehicle. And check the laws in the state you live in! California, for instance, offers some very nice incentives to owners of green alternative fuel vehicles. This includes electrically powered vehicles.

Converting Your Existing Vehicle

If you just don’t want to give up your gas guzzlers style or storage capacity, it is possible to convert your vehicle to run on electricity. Just be aware from the get go that this is an expensive project that is definitely not a do-it-yourself deal. Pretty much every active component of your vehicle will have to be replaced with versions designed for electric vehicles. But the costs will probably not be much more than purchasing an electric vehicle, and you may like the results much better.

Get in touch with some companies that specialize in alternative energy sources, such as solar power or fuel cells. Even if they can’t help you with your specific project, they can probably point you towards someone that can. The company that you finally settle on will have quite a few issues to discuss with you, such as the battery types, or whether to go pure electric, or hybrid. Electricity-generating fuel cells are another option, but can be expensive to maintain. There are many different ways to go when talking electric car conversions, and many need to be worked out with someone who knows what is what.

It’s All Worth It

But once you actually perform the conversion, you will be amazed at the difference. Electric vehicles are nearly silent, and you’ll never have to pump gas again. They have a very futuristic feel about them, with computerized systems and displays as finishing touches. And they produce no emissions whatsoever, so you are doing a major favor to the environment. Imagine how much less smog there would be in your city if everyone drove zero emission electric cars.

Abhishek Agarwal asked:


Electric cars are not a new concept as we think, people hve been using them for a long time .In fact in the 1900’s people used more electric cars than cars run on gas.In the 1920’s when the popularity for cars was growing, gas was very costly.Starting a gas run car was also a very tedious process, there was no key to ignite the engine, in fact a rod used to fit into the front of the car which had to be turned round and round to get the car started.

Not only were gas run cars tedious to start , they emitted alot of smoke and were very noisy, as either the mufflers used were not good or there were no mufflers at all. Beleive it or not , at one point of time electric cars were so popular that there were about 50,000 electric cars running on the streets of United States .

As new discoveries were underway to make gasoline cheaper, electric cars started disappearing from the market. The discovery of the electric starter made way for the exit of the crank and the car was started with a key.A car run on gas could travel more distance than the electric car.Thus cars run on gas started getting more pouplar than the electric car.

Now, once again because of the awareness towards protecting the environment and reducing the dangers caused by the emission of the greenhouse gases ” green ” electric cars are once again getting

popularized.

Gasoline is not used to run an electric car, it runs on the energy stored in batteries in the car. 12,14 or more batteries may be needed to run the car.The operation of the electric car is similar to that a remote controlled one since both have an electric motor that turns the wheel and a battery that that runs the motor.

Charging of the batteries can either be done all night or some cars need to be plugged into a standard electric wall.There are some which need a large electric outlet, something like what is used for an electric stove or electric clothes dryer. These are the various ways electricity is stored in the cars.

The batteries used to run the cars have to be either lead acid batteries, similar to those used in torch lights or ni-cad (nickel-cadium) used to run portable viodeo recorders or video games , only much larger in size. A lot of work is going on to upgrade the batteries to hold more energy and last longer. By the time the fifth graders in 2001 are ready to drive we should have electric cars which will be able to travel 150 to 200 miles before needing to get recharged.

Manufacturers of cars and scientists are making constant endeavours to make better cars which will be more eco-friendly. The revival of electric cars and the challenge to make them more attractive is on in a big way and enticing more people to switch over to electric cars.

Abhishek Agarwal asked:


An electric car conversion kit will allow an individual to make a gasoline propelled vehicle into an electric vehicle. If you are interested in electric car conversion kits, they are available from vendors to use in a do-it-yourself form. You should research the best types of cars suited for the electric car conversion kit as well as the type of car to meet your needs. However, there are a number of things to keep in mind before converting to a “green” car.

A Few Things To Consider

The majority of electric cars can only be driven between 30 and 100 miles, this is affected by driving conditions and the weight of theautomobile. For those who have a daily commute in this range, an electric car conversion kit makes perfect sense. For a two car family, where one vehicle is used only for short trips, an electric car is a good alternative. It will save a great deal on the costs of gasoline annually. If your daily commute is more than 30 miles one way and/or in rough or hilly conditions, an electric car may not be the best alternative for you. However, if the daily commute is only 20 miles each way, and the road conditions are normal it may be ideal.

An electric vehicle needs to be recharged overnight. This requires a garage or carport that has electrical outlets. Most electric car conversion kits allow your car to travel up to 25 miles “per gallon” ratio, top speeds are comparable to gas-powered vehicles, and can carry up to four passengers. The cost is usually less than $10,000, but batteries need to be purchased about once a year. These cost about $300 each; that is another expense that should be considered.

Individuals who are interested in learning more about electric car kit conversions can attend various schools with courses on the subject. These courses show the proper way to perform the elements of the conversion process, reducing mistakes and errors that can affect the end result. There are also various workshops available in communities with instructors who are qualified to give you the basic information for working with an electric car kit. They can also assist you with devising a time frame and budget that works to get the project done. For those who aren’t confident in their mechanical abilities, a mechanic with experience in this type of installation may be the best option. Companies which specialize in converting vehicles are springing up rapidly. Many are available via the Internet, and there are also websites which direct the user to conversion specialists near their areas.

Having considered all the ramifications and limitations of converting your vehicle, and if you decide that its right for you and your family, there are many ways of going about the process. Once completed, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you have done your part toward protecting the environment, and saving yourself money, too.

George Christodoulou asked:


g from gasoline to electric requires relevant parts and components. You would need these for a successful conversion. How well your car will function after the conversion will depend on the quality of parts and the expertise of the technician who did the conversion. For these reasons, it has become necessary that you devote a lot of time to finding the right parts so that you have a trouble free driving after you get your electric car.

The right parts will ensure that your car works as a functional unit and that you do not have misaligned components. You will be able to keep your car for long if you are able to fix the right parts from reputable manufacturers.

An electric car is supposed to bring a lot of savings to the motorist. He should therefore be in a position to buy components that will ensure that in the end the conversion has become profitable. Parts that are too expensive will result in a costly conversion; in which case the motive for the conversion would have been defeated.

You would have to examine each component carefully before you pick a choice. You may want to ensure that the electrical fittings and the motor especially are up to standard. Electric car wiring differs from that of the conventional car in the way the cables are run. Using inferior cables may lead to overheating and current flow problems as the electric car has more wiring and higher current demand than that of the regular car. The motor would also need to be the right type with the correct voltage and wattage to provide optimum performance.

Lastly, you must buy cheap to get an affordable conversion. Online shops are the best places to compare prices and features.

Abhishek Agarwal asked:


With the rising gas prices and need to save the environment, you have decided you want to do your part, but you just don’t have the money for a new car. There are alternatives and one of them is converting your existing vehicle to run electricity. Electric cars get between 30 to 70 miles a gallon, depending on certain factors. One of the first things you will need is to create an electric car battery box. You cannot just put the batteries in any type of container because they need special care.

The box is going to be placed in the rear part of the car. You can either put it in the trunk or, if you have the tools and know how, you can weld it into the trunk floor to retain space. The electric car battery box is important because it serves several purposes. The first is that it prevents fumes from getting inside your vehicle while the batteries charge. The second is to prevent any accidents in case of an emergency. Both important reasons and why you have to be very careful.

You will need some electrical knowledge to do this. Here is what you need build and install your own electric car battery box: marine-grade plywood (which is made of Douglas fir or Western Larch), water-repellent paint, an explosion proof brushless fan, marine-grade ventilation bilge hose, metal bands, bolts and baking soda.

Measure the batteries to see how big of a box you are going to need. Once you have the proper box, paint the box with the water-repellent paint and sprinkle baking soda on the box floor. Usually, there will be about 10 batteries. Install the fan onto the side of the box. The fan should be wired so that it will turn on once the batteries begin charging and the fumes can be pulled out of the box. Next, place the hose onto the fan with the end pointing below the car for the fumes to escape. Once all of this is secure, place the metal bands around the box for extra protection. This is to ensure the box won’t be weighed down by the batteries and break, and that it won’t come apart in case of an accident.

Once you have finished the electric car battery box, bolt it to the car frame.

Converting your own vehicle to an electric one can be cost effective. Just prepare and make sure you have all the right equipment before starting to build an electric car battery box.