Gas Mileage and Gas Prices » Alternative Fuel http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com How to Increase Gas Mileage and Beat Gas Prices Wed, 07 Sep 2011 14:36:28 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 2009 New York International Auto Show Starts This Weekend http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2009/04/2009-new-york-international-auto-show-starts-this-weekend/ http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2009/04/2009-new-york-international-auto-show-starts-this-weekend/#comments Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:36:18 +0000 Fuel Economy Advisor http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/?p=240 The week of April 10th through the 19th, the annual New York Auto Show will be taking place at Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City. With giveaways, prizes, high-tech displays, celebrities and much much more, it is a world of entertainment for the whole family.

2009 Toyota i!The 2009 NY Auto Show is the best place to get a look at the latest and greatest advancements in automobile technology. (Event Schedule) Whether you are interested in going fast or going green, there is something there for everyone. While you cannot actually purchase a car at the New York Car Show, take a look around and get some ideas for your next buy. Not only is there the opportunity to check out a display of antique cars, there is also vast information on the newest developments such as increased gas mileage, lowered emissions and brand new safety features developed to keep you and your family safe.

The winners of “Car of the Year” are all smaller cars which get great gas mileage:

If you plan on checking out the NY Auto Show this weekend, be sure not to miss the raffle for the 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera, benefiting the Diabetes Foundation. Also, definitely check out the automotive career fair, which is a great opportunity for students soon to graduate. The exhibit of custom cars is sure to awe as well.

The New York Car Show will be running at the convention center from April 10th through April 19th, from 11am to 10:30pm (7pm on Sundays). It is open to the public and tickets can be purchased online or at the door. The NY Auto Show is an event that is sure to delight the whole family.

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]]> http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2009/04/2009-new-york-international-auto-show-starts-this-weekend/feed/ 22 The Top 3 Hybrids of 2009 for the Best Gas Mileage http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2009/03/the-top-3-hybrids-of-2009-for-the-best-gas-mileage/ http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2009/03/the-top-3-hybrids-of-2009-for-the-best-gas-mileage/#comments Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:25:45 +0000 Fuel Economy Advisor http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/?p=233 2009 Toyota PriusThe 2009 Toyota Prius Hybrid is hands-down the highest rated of the hybrid vehicles. Gas mileage, the most important consideration for many, is 48 mpg in the city and 45 mpg on the highway. This Toyota was designed from scratch as a hybrid, not modified from a conventional vehicle, and is considered by many the best blend of efficiency, dependability and affordability. It’s roomy design seats up to 5 people and maximizes interior space. At $21,100 it is a good value for all that it offers.

2009 Honda CivicThe 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid has excellent gas mileage at 40 mpg in the city and 45 mpg on the highway. Its price is competitive with the Prius at $22,600. The Civic Hybrid is a roomy, 4-door style sedan with a number of trims and options available. This hybrid vehicle is considered reliable and affordable, all-in-all an excellent value.  Plus Honda has an award-winning extended warranty program which is standard for most vehicle purchases.

2009 Smart FortwoThe new kid on the block, coming out this fall, is the 2009 Smart Fortwo.  The Fortwo is a small, affordable 2-seater, designed more for around-town than for long trips. It’s base price of only $11,590 is very affordable, and it gets great gas mileage: 33 in the city and 41 on the highway. Although this Smart car is definitely not for everyone, it is easy to park anywhere and it’s low fuel consumption will definitely save you money.

For those who need a more conventional vehicle, the Volkswagen Jetta may be a better alternate choice than these hybrids in a slightly bigger class. It is not an alternative fuel or hybrid vehicle; it gets great gas mileage through efficient design. It gets 30 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway, with some variation between specific models. Available in a coupe or a sportwagon, the VW Jetta boasts quality design and construction for a long lasting vehicle, starting about $17,500.

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]]> http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2009/03/the-top-3-hybrids-of-2009-for-the-best-gas-mileage/feed/ 46 How Hybrid Cars Produce Better Gas Mileage http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2009/01/how-hybrid-cars-produce-better-gas-mileage/ http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2009/01/how-hybrid-cars-produce-better-gas-mileage/#comments Tue, 27 Jan 2009 21:16:10 +0000 Fuel Economy Advisor http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/?p=215 Hybrid Car Cutaway Converting Gas To BatteryThe computerized Hybrid vehicles detect when to alternate the power from gas to electric. Your benefits are cost effective in fuel or gas, and using a rechargeable battery. In addition, there is less emission produce in hybrid cars opposed to conventional automobiles, which is better for the environment and the economy. Depending on the economy it may produce more jobs having more hybrids in production. It seems that hybrids are here to stay being that it is low cost and easy to maintain.

Hybrid cars have better gas mileage, as it uses both the engine and motor it converts gas to energy and it automatically stores in the rechargeable battery. When you completely brake or make a full stop using the brakes the Hybrid car recreates energy into electricity storing it in the battery. Like any other car the engine and motor forces the vehicle to move forward, backward and so forth. While cruising in the hybrid car the engine shuts down and the battery does all the work saving you a whole lot of fuel.

If you purchased a Hybrid after December 31, 2005 you may qualify for a tax break up to $3,400, so ask your accountant or tax professional for more information.

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]]> http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2009/01/how-hybrid-cars-produce-better-gas-mileage/feed/ 32 Rising Gas Prices: Fuel Economy and Your Next Car Purchase? http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2009/01/rising-gas-prices-fuel-economy-and-your-next-car-purchase/ http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2009/01/rising-gas-prices-fuel-economy-and-your-next-car-purchase/#comments Wed, 07 Jan 2009 06:31:13 +0000 Fuel Economy Advisor http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/?p=207 The Associated Press reported that oil prices fell Tuesday as fresh signs of a deepening U.S. recession trumped tensions in the Middle East and worries over natural gas shortages in Europe. Light, sweet crude for February delivery fell 23 cents, to $48.58 a barrel, in trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The five-month slide in gasoline prices has come to an abrupt halt, with gasoline rising by several cents in recent days amid indicators that the national average could jump to $2 a gallon or higher this spring.

So we’re facing rising gas prices — how does that impact new car purchases, specifically hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles?

Automotive analysts expect consumers, who are still wary over the shaky state of the economy, to buy between 10 million and 12.4 million new cars and trucks in 2009.   That’s down substantially from the 16.7 million in annual sales the industry has averaged over the past decade. And it’s even lower than the dismal 13 million or so in sales expected for 2008.

2010 Ford Fusion HybridSo the question is, at what point does fuel economy and better gas mileage become an issue again?  A lot of consumers have simply stopped purchasing new cars due to the poor economy. Once car sales begin to pick up, though, it will be a new market out there.  Consumers will want cars which get better gas mileage and more miles to the gallon.  Next years answer may come from Ford:

The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, and its twin, the 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid, are mid-to-full-size sedans that seat five in surprising comfort and offer a full-size trunk measuring around 12 cubic feet. They measure 190.6 inches and weigh a goodly 3,720 pounds. The gas-electric output is 191 horsepower and 0-60 mph acceleration is under 9 seconds.

With the cost of gas increasing to $2 in the next few months, more and more consumers will take another look at hybrids and alternative fuel vehicles.

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]]> http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2009/01/rising-gas-prices-fuel-economy-and-your-next-car-purchase/feed/ 32 Is This Gas? FlexFuel, E85 Ethanol, and BioFuel Explained http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/11/is-this-gas-flexfuel-e85-ethanol-and-biofuel-explained/ http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/11/is-this-gas-flexfuel-e85-ethanol-and-biofuel-explained/#comments Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:18:46 +0000 Fuel Economy Advisor http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/?p=137 I recently noticed a 2009 Chevy Impala which had a “FlexFuel” designation on its trunk.  Underneath, in small letters, it said “E85 Ethanol.”  I asked the driver if he knew what that meant, and he said “No.”  I couldn’t believe it - he didn’t know the what the flex fuel designation meant on his own car!?!  It turns out there’s a whole new breed of FFV, or Flex Fuel Vehicles, out there on the market and many consumers don’t even know what they are.

First, let me explain what ethanol is.  Ethanol is known by several other names: ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol.  That’s right – it’s the heavy stuff we drink to get drunk.  But it can be used as a fuel or fuel additive.  The ironic truth is Henry Ford designed his first car, the Model T, to run completely on 100% ethyl alcohol way back in the early 1900s.  But today the U.S. gov’t doesn’t allow 100% pure ethanol as a fuel.

E85 Ethanol is a type of biofuel. In the U.S. it is mainly produced by distilling corn.  Not surprisingly, it’s more popular in the midwest where we have a lot of corn being grown.  According to Wiki, E85 is an “alcohol fuel mixture that typically contains a mixture of up to 85% denatured fuel ethanol and gasoline or other hydrocarbon (HC) by volume.”  There’s a lot of controversy around using E85 as a biofuel, since it may have an even bigger carbon footprint than traditional fuel.

E85 is a bit cheaper than gas; currently it’s about .20 to .30 cents less per gallon; of course, you’ve got to find a station which is selling it.  But there are plenty of cars on the market which will run on E85, and according to Chevy, they’ve been making FlexFuel cars which will run on biofuel for the past 8 years.

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]]> http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/11/is-this-gas-flexfuel-e85-ethanol-and-biofuel-explained/feed/ 12 Top Ten Reasons to Choose a Hybrid Vehicle: Car or SUV http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/10/top-ten-reasons-to-choose-a-hybrid-vehicle-car-or-suv/ http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/10/top-ten-reasons-to-choose-a-hybrid-vehicle-car-or-suv/#comments Thu, 23 Oct 2008 23:26:10 +0000 Fuel Economy Advisor http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/?p=91 With the rising costs of gas there is an abundance of reasons that we are choosing to go green – for one, it releases the strain on your wallet when you see the gas gauge dwindle towards the empty line. Now with the option of a hybrid vehicle customers aren’t forced to look upon that empty gas tank with dread – in fact, with a hybrid vehicle you will see this happen a lot less often!
 

1. The best reason to buy a hybrid vehicle is to save money! No matter how much some of us may deny it, we all like to save money wherever we can. Now we can save money at the pumps by increasing fuel economy and filling up less with a hybrid vehicle.

2. Not only can we save money but we can also save the environment. Everyone wants to decrease their emissions while protecting the planet for the future generations. Many hybrid vehicle owners are thinking about their children’s future generations and the state of the earth that they are going to be faced with in fifty years. Go green for the younger generations!

3. Hybrid vehicles may cost more to begin with, but upkeep is not as expensive as it once was.  Mechanics are becoming more familiar with the different types of hybrid cars and SUVs as they grow in popularity.

4. Hybrid vehicles are all the rage! Celebrities and Stylish people are going green – you are in luck, never before has it been so trendy to go green!

5. Many of our favorite vehicles are available in Hybrid format now with increased gas mileage and specialized engines. This is one reason that a Hybrid can be for everyone! It is available in styles that range from the Toyota Prius, to the traditional Honda Civic, or Ford Escape – there literally is a hybrid for every vehicle owner.

6. Now, you don’t have to worry about losing power within the vehicle. Many of the hybrid vehicles that are being manufactured as just as powerful as those gas guzzling SUVs that we have all come to know and love.

7. Hybrids are the latest technology and are not going to become obsolete the way that some older vehicle models (like electric) did. Soon they are also going to stop making vehicle parts for those gas-powered vehicles that are bad for our health, our wallets, and the environment.

8. Some day soon Hybrid may be the only way to go! Think about the legislations occurring on a daily basis, warranting companies to reduce their CO2 emissions — it is only a matter of time before this legislation is introduced to vehicle owners. Why not get ahead of the game and start reducing today?

9. Hybrids are forming the path to future technologies. Once consumers have decided to care about the environment, their finances and contributing to the transition – auto companies will jump on this trend, too!

10. Doesn’t everyone want to contribute to pressing world issues? When consumers purchase hybrid vehicles, they are assisting the local communities and the nation as a whole to stop relying on foreign oil production. The truth is that the more we learn to become an independent nation, while learning to rely on other methods of energy rather than oil, the better off the relationships between developed countries can be.

 
With all of these reasons to go green, how can you resist? Not only will you be saving the crunch on your wallet, but also the crunch on the earth – Are you ready to start making a difference and consider trading in that gas guzzling SUV for a hybrid?

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  • Al Gore: Seeing Green
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]]> http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/10/top-ten-reasons-to-choose-a-hybrid-vehicle-car-or-suv/feed/ 28 Alternative Energy and Fuel: Considering a Hybrid Car? http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/10/alternative-energy-and-fuel-considering-a-hybrid-car/ http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/10/alternative-energy-and-fuel-considering-a-hybrid-car/#comments Fri, 17 Oct 2008 23:55:48 +0000 Fuel Economy Advisor http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/?p=81 Although a hybrid vehicle may save a bundle at the pump, is this car as easy on the wallet throughout the course of its lifetime as it is at the pump? Many consumers have this concern, and for this reason it is important to research each vehicle choice in depth – before making the final decision.

Although prices for hybrid vehicles can be expensive, the money that will be saved throughout the life of the vehicle may offset these initial costs. For this reason it is important to consider the budget of the customer when debating the purchase of a hybrid vehicle to save money on fuel.

Quick tip: Hybrid cars cost on average two to four thousand dollars more than traditional vehicles.

Are you concerned about the environment? Many activists are taking the next step to reduce the emissions created by the daily use of their vehicle. Are you one of the potential vehicle owners that wish to decrease your impact? If so, then a hybrid is the right choice for you!

Hybrid vehicles are actually most beneficial to drivers who use the vehicle for more than ten thousand miles per year. In order to realize the great fuel economy, the car must be used often enough to return a savings. For a driver that doesn’t use the vehicle often it may be beneficial to purchase a traditionally fueled vehicle which just runs on plain old unleaded.
 
Considering these aspects of a hybrid car to make the decision can be helpful in deciding if a Hybrid is truly worth the investment.

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