Important steps have been made in this direction. Scientists, engineers and vehicle producers have combined efforts to create new green vehicles, or at least, to modify the existing ones to reflect ecological needs and help humanity survive into the future. One notable outcome of their efforts is represented by the appearance of more and more hybrid vehicles. And this is where hybrid trucks come into play.

What’s the deal about hybrid trucks? Well, as you know, the transportation of goods relies a lot on big vehicles like trucks all over the world. There are three main cargo moving methods - boats, trains and trucks! And usually the last leg in the journey is completed by these trucks - big vehicles which are huge consumers of fuel. Commercial hybrid trucks are needed to conserve fuel and still get goods to market.

Wal-Marts First Hybrid Truck

People are becoming more aware every day of the importance of preserving our environment and not using our energy resources wastefully. This is true even of owners of businesses in the field of transportation. Rising fuel costs and squeezed profit margins have changed their views and turned them to seeking hybrid trucks. Changing laws and state regulations are also encouraging the purchase of commercial hybrid trucks.

It seems, that hybrid trucks may represent one of the most popular hybrid items in the automotive industry. People are waiting eagerly for the latest achievements in the hybrid vehicle construction business.

And people are interested in all kinds of duel-fuel trucks which include hybrid electric, diesel and flex fuel pickups, hybrid commercial trucks, freight trucks, semis and many others.

Kenworth T270 Class 6 Hybrid-Electric Truck

The number of manufacturers involved in the design of hybrid trucks is increasing, and efforts are progressing in the direction of getting fully electric vehicles. Thus Chevy and GMC are bringing out versions of hybrid pickups.

Truck drivers will get satisfaction soon, when promises made by Toyota, Dodge, Freightliner, International Truck Engine, Eaton and Kenworth will materialize into the launching of new hybrid trucks. A nice bonus in the making of hybrid trucks is the considerable lowering of the noise level, in addition to the energy saving features. Hybrid trucks are quieter, cleaner and more reliable to use: and better for our future.

Scott Harker is the publisher of Hybrid Cars - Driving The Future and Green Power.

If you liked this article, sign up for out RSS Feed for automatic updates.

1. Honda Insight Hybrid Concept

The Honda Insight

The new Honda Insight is making its US debut at this year’s LA Auto Show.  The Insight was previously unveiled at the Paris auto Show. When the new Insight arrives in the showrooms next April, it will be the cheapest hybrid car on the US market, with approximately $18,500, roughly $3,000 cheaper than the Prius. According to Honda, the Insight will be able to achieve 60 miles per gallon, more than any other hybrid car available today. Honda aims to sell 100,000 units in 2009.

2. Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan Hybrid

Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan Hybrid

Ford welcomes the opportunity to unveil its very first hybrid sedans: The Ford Fusion Hybrid and the Mercury Milan Hybrid. Fusion and Milan Hybrids can operate in electric mode at speeds of up to 47 mph with a range of more than 700 miles of city driving on a single tank of gas; a smaller, lighter high-volt battery has greater charge capacity and range than the previous generation battery. These two hybrid cars are expected to arrive in the showrooms in the first quarter of 2009.

3. Hybrid Sonata Hybrid

Hybrid Sonata Hybrid

Hyundai also launched its first hybrid powered sedan at the 2008 LA Auto Show. According to Hyundai, the Sonata Hybrid will give its owners around 30 miles per gallon. Hyundai says the lithium-polymer battery is more efficient and lighter than other battery technologies, and that’s two things you might like in a fuel-efficient car. Plus, it’s less expensive to make than lithium-ion batteries. The Sonata Hybrid won’t arrive on the market until the beginning of 2010.

4. Toyota CNG Camry Hybrid

Toyota CNG Camry Hybrid

This concept combines the Hybrid Synergy Drive system with a natural gas-fueled engine. There is a strong domestic supply of compressed natural gas (CNG) in the United States. Toyota claims the CNG Camry Hybrid should travel more than 250 miles per fill-up. Jana Hartline, a Toyota spokesperson, the Camry Hybrid is designed to show the versatility of the company’s Hybrid Synergy Drive—this Camry is considerably more fuel-efficient compared to Toyota’s initial CNG production offering.

5. Lexus RX 450h

Lexus RX 450h

The luxury automaker debuted the new RX 450h at the LA Auto Show. The 450h promises better fuel-efficiency, better safety, more power and more luxury than the successful RX 400h. The hybrid RX 450h adds the Lexus Hybrid Drive system to the mix, with batteries and motors teaming with the V-6 to produce 295 horsepower, up 27 from today’s RX hybrid. The RX 450h goes on sale in the spring.

If you liked this article, sign up for out RSS Feed for automatic updates.

So, if you are looking for a less pricey hybrid you should either consider the Toyota Prius or wait till next year when the new Honda Insight arrives.

The Toyota Prius - The Cheapest Hybrid Available Today

Currently, with a base MSRP of $21,000, the Toyota Prius is the cheapest hybrid car on the market. Also, the Prius was ranked second on our list of "5 Best Mileage Hybrids" with 48 miles per gallon in the city and 45 on the highway. This means, the Prius is going to save you the most money among hybrid cars.

If buying a hybrid car not so urgent for you, you might wait until next year when the new Insight arrives. The Insight is rumored to carry a roughly $18,500 price tag, almost $3,000 less than the Prius. Like the Toyota Prius, the new Insight hybrid will be a 5 passenger, 5 door hatchback.  The Honda Insight is expected to give its owners around 60 miles per gallon! 

The Honda Insight Might Become The Cheapest Hybrid on The Market

It’s your choice! Just don’t forget the saying "Patience Pays Off!"

If you liked this article, sign up for out RSS Feed for automatic updates.

1. Honda Insight

Honda Insight

If you still don’t know, the Honda Insight, the best mileage hybrid, was introduced in 1999 as the first gasoline-electric hybrid sold in North-America. Although the Japanese automaker quit the production of the Insight, it remains a mileage champ, averaging 61 miles per gallon in the city and 68 miles per gallon on the highway. The Insight offers a 1 liter gasoline engine coupled with an electric motor. Power for the electric motor comes from a nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery pack that is charged using regenerative braking, and when necessary, by the gasoline engine.

2. Toyota Prius

Toyota Prius

Prius, the legend, remains one of the most fuel-efficient hybrid cars available today. With 48 miles per gallon on city streets and 45 miles per gallon on the highway the Prius takes the second place. The cars 1.5 liter four-cylinder gasoline engine mated to two electric motors offers 76 horsepower and great performance. To read more about the Toyota Prius click here…

3. Honda Civic

Honda Civic

Not quite as fuel-efficient as the Prius, the Honda Civic gets 40 mpg in the city and 45 mpg on the highway. As soon as the second generation of the Prius arrived on the market in 2003, the Civic become the runner-up in the hybrid world. The Civic’s 1.3 liter iVTEC 4-cylinder gasoline engine and the 20 hp electric motor deliver a total of 110 hp. If you would like to read more about the Honda Civic click here…

4. Nissan Altima

Nissan Altima

The Nissan Altima ranks fourth on our “Best Mileage Hybrids” list with 35 miles per gallon in the city and 33 on the highway. Despite its hybrid powertrain drivers are impressed with the Altima Hybrid’s energy and power. The 2.5 liter four-cylinder engine delivers makes 158 horsepower, while the electric engine delivers additional 40 horsepower. Click here to read more about the Altima Hybrid…

5. Toyota Camry

Toyota Camry

With 33/34 mpg, the Camry hybrid is ranked fifth on our “Best Mileage Hybrid” list. The Camry, America’s top-selling passenger vehicle for eight of the past nine years, is an affordable and reliable family sedan. The first half of the Camry drivertrain, a 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, gives 147 horsepower, while the second half, 105-kW electric motor coupled with a 244-volt battery pack, delivers a peak of 45 horsepower. Interested in the Camry Hybrid? Click here to read more…

If you liked this article, sign up for out RSS Feed for automatic updates.

A smart way to become less independent on traditional energy sources is to use renewable energy systems for your home’s power needs. Renewable energy has some advantages over traditional energy. First of all, the price of renewable energy will NEVER go up in the future. In fact, the price can only decline. Another advantage is that it’s environmentally friendly.

Earth4Energy is a new must have complete step-by-step kit that helps you setup your own renewable energy system in your backyard! It was revealed to the world in June 2008 and became extremely popular. The manual is written in simple, easy-to-read English, with clear illustrations that will guide you through the whole process. Earth4Energy was created with the complete novice in mind Michael, the author, will basically hold your hand through the build and installation process.

Solar Power System

The primary goal of this kit is to help you go green and save money at the same time. This is done through converting solar and wind power to electricity that will be used in your home, and it’s a very worthwhile project. It explains everything.
The book also explains how to build your own wind power system. Wind power is a great backup for when you have long periods of cloudy days. So it makes sense to build a wind generator too! This windmill can power your household appliances and you can make it for less than $200! In fact, you can build my windmill for as little as $100 by using my secret methods that very few people know about!

The Verdict

The manual is extremely valuable and I am recommending this manual, since it shows you how to install these systems for a fraction of the cost of a professionally designed and installed system. Solar and wind power systems cost $3000 and the author explains you in great detail how to create these systems for an amazing $200.

Click here to visit Earth4Energy for more information.

There is not much more of a risk in purchasing a used hybrid compared to any other normal vehicle. All you need to have is an understanding of how hybrid cars function so you will not get fooled.

So, here are a few things to bear in mindprior to purchase:

1. Used Hybrid Car and Their Batteries

When buying a used hybrid cars the biggest concern is the car’s battery. Different automakers have different warranties for their hybrid cars. For instance, Honda’s warranty is 8 years or 80,000 miles, while Toyota offers a 8 yrs/100,000 warranty on the battery and powertrain.

The estimated life expectancy of the batteries in some hybrids is more than ten years, or roughly 150,000 to 200,000 miles. When these battery packs wear out, they can cost several thousand dollars to replace, and require expert technicians to do the work. From the Newsweek article:

Philip Card of Utica, N.Y., says a Toyota dealer wanted to charge him $3,900 to replace the battery on his 2001 Prius, which had 350,000 miles on it when he bought it used on eBay this year for $4,357.

However, a huge salvage market is developing that could allow you to buy a used battery-pack, recovered from a wracked vehicle, for a fraction of the cost. Also, the battery prices will more like go down as more hybrid cars are on the streets and the battery technology improves.

2. Mileage and MPG on a Used Hybrid Car

Similarly to conventional fuel-operated cars, a low mileage used hybrid car is better thana hybrid car that has hundreds of thousand of miles. There are plenty of used hybrid cars with more than 100,000 miles, but this doesn’t mean you have to be scared of a higher mileage hybrid. 

When you are purchasing the hybrid car ask the seller what mileage does the car get in the city and on the highway. There are several hybrid cars, such as the Honda Insight, that show the average city/highway miles per gallont. Don’t rely on that dat, since it can be reset by the owner at any time.

3. Used Hybrid Car Inspection

I always recommend to have the pre-owner hybrid car checked by a specialist. When you are buying a used hybrid car it is also a good idea to get a CarFax history report done. There are things the seller may not reveal, such as a salvage title, etc. The CarFax report gives you an insight into any reported accident and how many owners has the car had. This is information is very valuable, since it affects the car’s safety, performance and value.

4. Used Hybrid Car Tax Credit

Unfortunately, used hybrid cars don’t qualify for hybrid car tax credit. These incentives only apply for brand new hybrid vehicles.

Please keep your eyes and ears open when buying a used hybrid car and your chances for buying a stinker will be greatly reduced. Once again, the process of buying a used hybrid vehicle doesn’t differ from buying a gasoline powered vehicle.

If you liked this article, sign up for out RSS Feed for automatic updates.

The Civic Hybrid is qualified for $1,050 tax credit until the end of 2008.

The Hybrid Tax Credit may be brief, depending on customer demand for the fresh hybrid cars and trucks. The value of the tax credit would start to decrease once the manufacturer has sold 60,000 or more qualified cars. The phase-out will start at the auto manufacturer level. The well-known brands may see their tax credits decreased sooner than less popular brands.

Taxpayers may claim the full amount of the credit up till the end of the first quarter after the quarter in which the manufacturer records its sale of the 60,000th vehicle. For the second and third quarters following the quarter in which the 60 000th automobile were sold, people may claim 50 percent of the credit. For the fourth quarter, the taxpayers may claim their twenty five percent of the permissible credit.

The government has qualified diverse makes and models for this hybrid tax credit. These certifications set the utmost dollar value that your tax credit will be. Your tax credit may reduce by various limitations

The Prius is no longer eligible for tax incentives.

Under guidance released by the IRS, auto manufacturers can provide you a certification specifying the amount of your hybrid tax credit. The IRS dictates that the producer’s certification should have the subsequent 16 essentials: Name, tax identification number of the manufacturer, and address; Make, model year, model, and other identification information; A written statement that the vehicle was made by the manufacturer itself; The kind of credit for which the automobile qualifies; The amount of the tax credit (shows all the computations); The gross weight of the vehicle; The vehicle weight class; The city’s fuel economy of the vehicle; Statement that the vehicle does complies with the provisions provided on the Clean Air Act; A Copy of the certificate that proves that the vehicle meets the emission standards set by the government under the Clean Air Act; A statement that the motor vehicle comply with state’s air quality control law; Statement that the vehicle complies with certain motor vehicle safety provisions; Statement that the motor vehicle uses a hybrid technology both rechargeable energy storage system and an internal combustion; Statement that the motor vehicle meets or exceeds California’s low emissions vehicle standards; proof that the motor vehicle does not go beyond the maximum power standard. Perjury statement are as follows: "Under penalties of perjury, you declare that you have examined this certification, as well as supplementary documents, and to the best of your awareness and belief, the facts on hand in support of this qualifications are true, correct, and complete. Keep this tax documentation for at least four years, because you will never know whether you will be able to use these again in the futur

Select your state:

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

DC

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana 

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Montana

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

Nevada

Ohio

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

Wisconsin 

For Q3, the oil giant’s profit was an "only" $14.83 billion or $2.86 a share, up from $9.41 billion and $1.70 a share a year earlier. 

High Gas Prices Help Exxon Make Record Profits

Exxon also said that total production fell about 8 percent and warned that its fourth-quarter earnings will be cut by $500 million because of lower volumes.

It’s useless to say, but while we suffer from high gasoline prices, oil companies make record profits! What does this fact tell you?

In the Family Cars category, the Toyota Prius, the Toyota Camry Hybrid and the luxury Lexus GS 450h Hybrid sedan are all among the most reliable. In the midsize SUV category, the Toyota Highlander and the Lexus RX400h are the most reliable, while the Ford Escape Hybrid is rated over average.

Consumer Reports found that the non-hybrid gas-savers such as the Honda Fit, Scion xD, Smart ForTwo, and Toyota Yaris had few problems.

Still, Japanese cars are the most reliable overall. The top 10 most-reliable brands sold in the U.S. are all owned by Asian carmakers.

By City:

1.) Toyota Prius: 48 mpg
2.) Honda Civic Hybrid: 40 mpg
3.) Nissan Altima Hybrid: 35 mpg
4.) Ford Escape/Mariner Hybrid: 34 mpg
5.) Smart Fortwo: 33 mpg
    Toyota Camry Hybrid: 33 mpg
7.) Volkswagen Jetta/SportWagen Diesel: 30 mpg
8.) Toyota Yaris: 29 mpg
9.) Mini Cooper: 28 mpg
    Honda FIt: 28 mpg
 

By Highway:

1.) Toyota Prius: 45 mpg
     Honda Civic Hybrid: 45 mpg
3.) Volkswagen Jetta/SportWagen Diesel: 41 mpg
     Smart Fortwo: 41 mpg
5.) Chevy Cobalt/Pontiac G5 XFE: 37 mpg
     Mini Cooper: 37 mpg
7.) Toyota Yaris: 36 mpg
     Honda Civic/Civic CNG: 36 mpg
9.) Chevy Cobalt
     Pontiac G5: 35 mpg
     Toyota Corolla
     Honda Fit: 35 mpg
     Ford Focus: 35 mpg 

To check out the EPA Fuel Economy Guide click here.