Environmentales

Although having a hard time coping up with the loss, the American local auto maker still have good plans for hybrid enthusiasts. Maybe this is their own way to promote their sales again. The DaimlerChrysler fleet of electric vans started to undergo several tests on battery power. The list of their plug-in hybrid vans includes the 2007 Dodge Sprinter.

Announced by the car maker, they made a vehicle that can propel from the combination of a diesel engine and electric power. The Dodge Sprinter is capable of running 20 miles using electric powers alone. The new car comes up with a rechargeable battery and a diesel engine that would serve as one powertrain part for a real time fuel economy. This will be the first test done on the new plug-in vehicle.

Coming on the first quarter on 2008, this new car will sure be something worth the wait.

According to the Chrysler Group’s vice president for advance vehicle engineering, Mark Chernoby, "For plug-in hybrid technology to move forward, a dramatic leap in battery technology is necessary. The energy storage systems in the Dodge Sprinter PHEV concept fleet will provide valuable field experience on the possibilities with lithium-ion battery technology."

The new Dodge Sprinter got four models run by test costumers. Based on its previous model, the new Sprinter will also have the same Dodge parts. So if you are into real time environment-friendly cars, this one is something good to look forward to.

We can never deny that the most popular notch in the US car market today belongs to hybrid cars. Car buyers are now more concerned about how they can help preserve the environment adding a couple of dollar bills on what they would spend to buy conventional cars. Hybrid popularity is never deniable and it is just not that surprising at all.

It all started when Honda revealed its first Hybrid in 1999 - the Insight. Car enthusiasts have been so curious about how the hybrid has the few fuel emission and save up its fuel consumption into an almost unimaginable amount. The Insight was the very first Hybrid in the US car market. It uses world quality Honda parts.

Then the Toyota Prius was released. The Prius is the most famous and was the first mass produced hybrid car ever made until this very day. It was a follow up from the Honda Insight which was released in 1997 and is still making rounds up until at the present. While Honda stops the Insight’s production, Toyota keeps on remodeling the most famous car hybrid.

This time, even European cars are doing their best to make hybrid cars. But undeniably, Asian carmakers take the lead in terms of hybrid cars. The Japanese group, to be particular, are the best makers of hybrids. Even the Korean auto brand is catching up with both American and European car makers in building such cars. Hyundai, to be specific, is planning to release a new hybrid car in 2009. Interested now?

The South Korean car maker promises to build hybrid cars that are far more even better than the cars made by Honda. However, it is not the cost that concerns the car maker but the quality and the technology is the main issue. They still need to figure out whether it is better if the new hybrid car will use battery aside from Hyundai parts that they will install on their 2009 future hybrid car.

Mazda will be revealing a new cleaner and greener car next year. The new car, according to the Asian car maker, will be a new hybrid-electric vehicle that will be running on both hydrogen fuel and electric motor. This is as per Japan's Nikkei financial report.

The formal announcement of the new car plan will be today. Mazda is also planning to increase its car domestic production rate to 15% compared to its 2006 production next year. Green cars are on undeniable on demand on the US car marker today. But because of the report that most of the car makers failed to increase it hybrid production despite of the demand last year, more car companies including Mazda are now opting to make more clean cars for the clamoring market.

The new green car will be using both electric motor and fuel parts to run the vehicle. This means fewer emissions but more energy. Mazda has been working on perfecting a car that produces 0% emission rate and perhaps this new car will bring that dream to reality. Installed with greener powertrain parts and more Mazda parts, the new car will sure be a hit in the US.

Mazda will also reveal a new car model that runs on diesel engine in Europe and this is something we all have to watch out for.

Hybrid vehicles, as a fact, are pricier than ordinary and conventional vehicles. And why this is so? Well, the thing is, hybrid cars and vehicles offer something that most of us would benefit from and that is what makes up for that added cash.

You may be one of those people who still need a little more information so as to decide why you should be going for a hybrid vehicle. After all, if you do buy one right now, you may be thinking that it may only be a craze or a hype and you would only be swept into it.

Well, let me do tell you though that if you do purchase a hybrid vehicle, you get a better gas mileage. And this is because hybrid vehicles have been created with engines that are more efficient. These vehicles are also created to be small and lightweight so much so that the engines would not have a hard time propelling forward.

Another thing that you should know about hybrids is that when you start to slow down, the car has time to charge the battery so much so that you would not have to use up too much fuel and thus allow you to save on expenses at the pump.

The environment really needs our help and using a hybrid car can be your share. Remember, such a vehicle type uses a less amount of gas and in the process, the vehicle only spurts out a less amount of emissions that would greatly help out in alleviating pollution.

It seems like European cars are doing hybrids nowadays and it certainly does look like German auto marker Mercades Benz will be shifting its production of diesel cars to hybrids.

Yes, you heard that right folk. It will be the first hybrid car on Mercedes just incase the plan will be pursued and becomes reality.

The plan was made because of the greatest demand on hybrid cars. According to the DaimlerChrysler Chairman Dieter Zetsche on a German publication, Auto Motor und Sport, "We won't develop any future models without a hybrid option.” The switched is also said to have been brought up by the costumer’s demand which will be a major shift for Mercedes according to the Chairman.

According to the car company, they will not be producing hybrid cars as powerful as those Toyota hybrids. They will be building mild hybrid cars that will still use diesel or gasoline together with extra power given by an electric motor to improve its performance, emissions and fuel consumption. The Mercedes Hybrid will be using quality auto body parts like the Walker exhaust to fully satisfy the market standards.

It will take two more years for Mercedes to make its subsequent models that will offer 0% emission rates just like that of a Prius. Zetsche said, "We will combine our know-how with BMW in a bid to accelerate development. With a mild hybrid we can obtain up to 70 percent of the effect offered by a full hybrid with just 30 percent of the effort".

Are you a frequent visitor to the Green Car Journal Online (www.greencar.com)? If you are, then you would know that the journal has made an article on the best green cars that you would find in the industry today. They call the feature “Green Car’s Top 5”. Let’s take a look at this list.

Green Car’s Top 5
1. Honda Civic GX
2. Lexus GS 450h
3. Mercedes Benz E320 Bluetec
4. Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid
5. Toyota Camry Hybrid

Ron Cogan, the editor and the public of Green Car Journal Online, notes, “While hybrids are clearly on the minds of many these days, the inclusion of the popular natural gas Honda Civic and Mercedes-Benz E320 BLUETEC clean diesel show that this field is wide open.” He even further adds, “Ultimately, it's not just about a specific technology or fuel. Winners in the marketplace must fulfill the traditional needs of buyers with regard to safety, quality, performance, and value, while offering substantially improved environmental performance as well.”

If you would visit the site, you would find that the journal has also expressed the specifications of the vehicles plus some really in-depth descriptions. Of course, there would be no really that specific information like what kind of auto gaskets or the kind of tires that the vehicle uses.

So how about you? What’s your top 5 green cars?