Not a Hybrid Car Topic, But How Bad ARE American Cars?

Force the Change in the Automotive Industry
By Christian Gillman

It is time for you, the average consumer, to take a stand!

Fellow consumer, for years we have been taken to the cleaners from the automotive industry: It is time for us to demand change in product quality and how the automotive industry conducts business! As consumers, we need to pressure the industry to change course and give us the best product and service they can or let them die - let them go bankrupt! If a few American companies survive they might just get it - they might finally understand that Americans deserve and expect more.

Do not be fooled by the stories of bad economy and poor sales! The U.S. automotive industry has done this to themselves!

I am not saying that a bad economy does not exist but they have been on this road to destruction for a long time. I used to work in an Oldsmobile, Subaru dealership: in 1986 we sold all models from both manufacturers', please allow me to cite two models from the 80's to make my point.

1) The Oldsmobile Cutlass Sierra wagon came with a 4-cylinder motor, air conditioning, A.M. radio, power steering, power brakes, the approximate retail price was 10k to 11k.

2) The Subaru GL wagon came with 4-cylinder motor, air conditioning, F.M. stereo, power steering, power brakes, 4-wheel drive, power windows, power locks, split rear seats, rear defrost, multi position front seats with tilt, roof rack and more: the approximate retail price was 10k to 11k.

The Olds had a reputation for having major motor problems and often would not survive past 100,000. By contrast, the Subaru was well known for surviving 200,000 miles plus with little motor troubles. In addition, there was a massive difference in standard comfort features for the same price - we sold Subaru's at a rate of 40 to 1 compared to the Olds.

The U.S automotive industry continued down that path for several years, as the price of vehicles rose dramatically they started to use financing tactics to sell their inferior products. The inevitable happened and many of the vehicles sold failed to last the term of the loans without major repairs and the resale value of a U.S. vehicle was poor so you could not trade them in without going financially backwards.

Around 1990 U.S. automotive manufactures started to take heed, they produced some better quality vehicles and kept the prices more stable. Unfortunately, along with the better quality product came a substantial rise in part costs. Thus, repair bills began to skyrocket and continued to stay behind foreign competitors' and their technology. Around 2000 it seemed we went downward again in the Quality department, around 2005 we started to rise some but I think it was far too little and a little too late.

In 2008 Ford Motor Company had an ad campaign on stating they now had cars that with equivalent quality of Toyota. I don't know about you, but if I owned a Ford I would feel like "Oh great, so the Ford I bought prior to 2008 was admittedly inferior!"

U.S. automakers sponsor racing teams at a cost of millions of dollars per year: they continue to grossly overpay their executives: they have wildly exaggerated union worker compensation: and still, after at least 2 decades of foreign competitors nipping at their heels, they still stay so far behind in technology and quality. Quite frankly, I don't understand why!

Now, after years of inferior products, higher repair bills, exuberant executive payouts, must have unions in order to work in the plants, they put their hands out for the taxpayer to bail them out? There should be no question about the answer: a resounding NO!

Thank you Mr. Ford for making the model T and further ushering in the industrial age, thank you U.S. auto manufacturing for providing good jobs for so many years: But you are a business after all and must hold to do or die like the rest of the business world!

I am not advocating Americans should buy foreign products - especially in our current economic crisis! However, the majority of the working U.S. public has a limited amount of money for automobile purchases necessitating we use that limited amount wisely. With past and current conditions in the automotive industry higher quality, better comfort, more options for the same price suggests the foreign automotive makers provide "more bang for the buck".

(By the way, I own two American vehicles, one I am not pleased with at all and the other has so far *crossing fingers* been fantastic.)

My name is Christian Gillman I have worked in various fields of the automotive industry, Including auto sales, Auto repossessions, Auto transport, Auto detailing, I have seen the best and worst and i am more of a consumer advocate

If you enjoyed my article then be sure visit my web site http://www.dontbeapatsy.com for much more information about used, new car buying and the automotive industry.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christian_Gillman http://EzineArticles.com/?Force-the-Change-in-the-Automotive-Industry&id=1843430

Learn more about hybrid cars and other automotive topics at http://lube2005.com/hybrid_cars/

Hybrid Car - A Responsible Way of Transportation

By Michael Bliss

Hybrid cars are currently regarded as very beneficial to the conservation of the environment. This is because the price of fuel and the harm it contributes to our surroundings has become really uncontrolled. The rationality behind this is that hybrid cars don't mainly rely on fuel for their power, but they also make the best use of electricity. That leads to lower quantity of fuel consumption and lower emission of air polluting gasses.

A hybrid car merges an electrical motor and petrol engine to supply adequate force to the vehicle with minimal fuel usage and less emissions. They're also far more useful for day-to-day purpose than pure electric-powered automobiles and far more fuel-efficient than pure gasoline-powered automobiles. Fusing the two sources of power, a newly-created vehicle will be comparatively non-polluting and will result in less fuel intake. This entails that it produces plenty of power to deliver highway speeds without wasting too much fuel; plus it is likewise neat for the stop-and-go driving in traffic heavy areas.

The hybrid car was produced to satisfy the demand to keep the environment clean from pollutions and in order to rely less on fuel resources. It is not required to plug the hybrid into an electric wall socket to be able to recharge it. They continually re-charge themselves by using the power normally lost during cruising and braking and they could as well be charged by the vehicle's gasoline engine.

Hybrids do tender more benefits than the regular cars with gasoline engines. Here is a brief list of some rewards hybrid cars extend.

1. Advanced pollution control.

One of the elements that lead to the greenhouse effect and its damages is the pollution in the air. It's a reality that the nonstop harm to our ozone layer is caused by the dangerous chemicals like carbon dioxide, which are emitted by vehicles and transmitted into the atmosphere. The amount of carbon dioxide exhausted by a hybrid vehicle is primarily dependent on the amount of fuel it consumes; therefore the hybrid cars can be a leading factor in halting the progress of the global warming. As already stated, this is because hybrids don't use just gas in order to operate - they also employ electricity, a power source that does not wreak any risk to the environment.

2. Efficiency and operation.

Because the power is received from 2 sources hybrid vehicles get smaller engines than the regular gas autos. The smaller engines are closer to the optimal power requirements for engines that will contribute to a more effective operation.

3. Better miles-per-gallon ratio.

The evident advantage of a hybrid vehicle is that it keeps the gas expenses low. With the utilization of a hybrid car, you are capable to save money. You don't have to buy gas 2-3 times a week or afterwards each long trip because you can go a few hundred miles just on one tank.

4. Your investment acquires additional value

A hybrid vehicle may hold back a higher resale value. Whenever you need to trade in or sell a previously owned hybrid you can be certain that you will get a decent deal for it.

5. Hybrid automobiles can assist in lowering your taxes

Tax discounts are presented to hybrid car owners, so if you purchase a hybrid car you achieve additional savings through the extra tax withholding allowances. Please, always check with IRS on the latest rules.

In spite of numerous beneficial uses and advantages, there's one matter to consider in viewing the hybrid cars. For some people they may not be yet affordable at the current market prices but you should remember that your investment will pay out ten-fold.

Michael Bliss has worked in automotive industry for over 10 years. One of the company's branches is dealing with donation cars. If you're looking for information on how to donate used cars, help non-profits, save on taxes and other useful tips and resources - please, make sure to stop by our website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Bliss
http://EzineArticles.com/?Hybrid-Car---A-Responsible-Way-of-Transportation&id=1861069

Hybrid Cars

Facts About Hybrid Car Battery Packs

Facts About Hybrid Car Battery Packs
By Wendy Gorman

When considering the potential purchase of a hybrid car for the first time, most people hesitate slightly in the knowledge that under the hood, hybrid cars are somewhat different from conventional gasoline powered cars. Most people are aware that hybrid cars have battery-powered motors and this brings to the surface one or two uncertainties. It would therefore be advantageous to look more closely at the facts about battery packs used in modern hybrid cars.

Hybrid car battery packs should never need replacing

Unlike batteries in conventional cars, which need replacing every three or four years, hybrid car battery packs are warranted for between eight and ten years. They not only can last much longer but usually outlast the life of the rest of the car. In terms of mileage, they are designed to last between 150,000 and 200,000 miles, which in today's terms is way beyond the life expectancy of the normal car.

Hybrid batteries are designed to be recyclable

In conventional cars, the batteries utilise rechargeable Nickel Cadmium elements that when disposed of give some toxic waste concerns. The design of hybrid car batteries utilises a NiMH construction that is fully recyclable and produce much reduced toxic waste effects.

Hybrid batteries contain hundreds of cells

Conventional car batteries have very few cells and the deterioration of any one of them can have a catastrophic effect on performance. Hybrid car batteries are constructed with hundreds of cells, which at first glance would indicate a problem of complexity and possibly less reliability. Modern construction methods ensure this is not the case and in fact the sheer number of cells means that should one or two deteriorate, over all performance remains relatively unaffected. This is clearly reflected in the length of warranty the battery manufacturers are prepared to give and should therefore give rise to no anxiety when purchasing a hybrid car.

The rate of hyrid car battery pack failure is negligible

The battery failure rate on hybrid cars in normal use is so low its difficult to quantify. Where a faulty or failing battery has been produced, it will usually be found before you take delivery from the dealer. Toyota has issued statistics that show some of its hybrid battery packs have lasted for over 300,000 miles. All of this once again is reflected in the length of warranty given by the manufacturers.

No need to budget for replacement hybrid battery costs

Once again this comes back to the fact that warranties are for eight to ten years and the fact that batteries are known to last for hundreds of thousands of miles. The U.S. Department of Energy commenced tests to show the decline in power of hybrid car battery packs over distance in use. It actually terminated its testing when after 160,000 miles it could detect no discernable drop in battery capacity and described the performance still to be 'as new'.

Hybrid battery packs have still to be fully developed

All auto manufacturers and their suppliers have continuing development programs and hybrid battery packs are no exception. The battery industry is targeting new technology in order to produce more powerful and more efficient battery capacity, reduced manufacturing costs and therefore lower prices, together with extending even further the efficient working life of the battery pack.

After the warranty period you can still refurbish a hybrid battery pack

So, somewhere down the line you own a hybrid car more than ten years old with more than 200,000 miles on the clock and the battery pack starts playing up. No problems. You can just refurbish the battery pack. The hundreds of cells within the packs are divided up into 28 separate modules. All you have to do is replace the faulty module with a non-faulty one from another pack of similar mileage and age. The latter point is essential as the replacement cells have to have the same chemical performance as the ones in the other 27 modules.

Taking into account the above facts, it can be seen that there should be little cause for anxiety about battery packs when contemplating the purchase of a hybrid car.

Wendy Gorman is an accomplished author and niche website developer. She is committed to exploring the question what is a hybrid car and also to explain how to buy a hybrid car. Visit her sites now to better understand the hybrid car marketplace and its future.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wendy_Gorman http://EzineArticles.com/?Facts-About-Hybrid-Car-Battery-Packs&id=1545885

Learn more about hybrid car technology at http://lube2005.com/hybrid_cars/basic_technology_of_hybrid_vehicles.html.

Save even more money with your hybrid car when you use AMSOIL synthetic motor oil.

Generating Homemade Energy

Just wanted to let everyone know that I have started a new blog called Generating Homemade Energy.

This blog was originally intended to cover hybrid cars and alternative fuels, such as E85 and Biodiesel, and began to evolve to cover all things related to energy, including solar and wind power, and I felt it was beginning to range too far afield. In an attempt to rein it in a little I started my new blog, Generating Homemade Energy. which will concentrate more on alternative forms of energy for the home.

This blog will retain its focus on hybrid cars and alternative fuels, and automotive technology such as electric cars, hydrogen cars, and compressed air cars.

Hybrid Cars

What the HECK's Up with Hybrid Hummers?

For over a decade, Dr. Ali Emadi of Illinois Institute of Technology, has pioneered research and aided in the development of technology intended to improve the value of the hybrid car. In the process of this work, his research lab has developed a superior hybrid car electric system that is designed as a retrofit for large vehicles that are already in use, such as SUVs and Hummers.

His team calls the "Hybrid Electric Conversion Kit", "HECK", as in, "What the HECK's going on with hybrid cars, Doc?"

The HECK system is designed to use off-the-shelf components and Dr. Emadi believes that governmental agencies and the military in particular will benefit through increased fuel economy and better overall performance of vehicles retrofitted with their kit.

Did you know that hybrid cars can use AMSOIL synthetic motor oil?

Hybrid Cars

A Fundamental Principle on How to Build an Electric Car

By Mike Darwin

Acquiring at least the basic knowledge on how to build an electric car is the key to acquiring everything in the field of car innovation. The creation of cars powered by electrical energy or electricity is considered one of the simplest means of transportation since the main component is just an electric motor.

The electric motor is responsible for giving life to the car. Generally, people think that electric cars are the most complicated means of driving the wheels into motion. The gear assembly from the electric motor to the wheels is the work of a genius. Some experts would even add solar collectors that would help recharge batteries while the car is on the go. Solar collectors are those components that convert energy from the sun into electricity.

Why do people tend to switch to electric cars? Simply because electric cars give a pleasant driving experience. They are incredibly easy to handle and the embedded acceleration factor is really good and lighter, compared to that of conventional cars. Thus, they have more advantages when it comes to climbing roads with steep inclinations or those with sharp turns. But the most practical part is that electric cars decrease fuel consumption, which is advantageous nowadays due to consistently rising fuel prices.

Due to the simplicity of the overall assembly of electric car, anyone can actually build their own version of an electric car within a month. You just need a simple chassis, wheels, electric motor, car batteries, and switches to turn the motor on and off.

So, before you begin to build your own version of electric car, try to develop your own plan. Have a blueprint of the assembly so that it would be much easier for you to troubleshoot if everything fails. Make sure to do extensive research on how to build an electric car as well.

Gas prices are rising. Why not convert your car to run on electricity and save on gas from this day onwards?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Darwin
http://EzineArticles.com/?A-Fundamental-Principle-on-How-to-Build-an-Electric-Car&id=1874704

Save money on vehicle maintenance and operation with AMSOIL synthetic motor oil.

Learn more at http://lube2005.com