Car shoppers already know that we must reduce our reliance on gasoline for a variety of reasons. There are a lot of alternatives to the traditional gasoline engine, but thus far none of them has proven itself the clear leader. Here are the pros and cons of some of the top contenders.

Ethanol

Pros: Ethanol can be made domestically from corn, in the future might be produced from other food or waste products. E10, which is a 10% blend, can be burned in any new car. Many existing cars can operate on E85.

Cons: E85 gets about 25% lower fuel economy than gasoline. E85 is not readily available, since very few gas stations carry it. The federal government offers credits to automakers for E85 cars, but meeting those standards lowers overall fuel economy for all cars. Food prices could rise as a result of mass production of any product made from food crops. Increased crop production requires the use of farm equipment, which run on gasoline.

Diesel/biodiesel

Pros: Diesel and biodiesel get 30% better fuel economy than traditional gasoline engines. Fuel is readily available. Although cars that run on diesel and biodiesel cost more than traditional gasoline cars, the cost premium is lower than it is for hybrids. Any diesel car can run on a blend of renewable biodiesel fuel.

Cons: Diesel cars have historically had more vibration and engine noise than gasoline cars. The relatively high cost of diesel fuel can reduce the financial benefits of the improved fuel economy. 

Electric Cars

Pros: Cost per mile is much lower than for a traditional vehicle. Electric cars produce no emissions. Batteries can be charged at home.

Cons: Cost of cars is high dues to expensive batteries. It takes a long time to recharge and range is limited. Although electricity can be produced using renewable resources, many power companies currently use coal to produce it.

Plug-in hybrids

Pros: Plug-in hybrids can be charged at home. When they’re running on electric power, they have no emissions and have lower per mile operating costs.  They have up to a 40-mile all-electric range, which is sufficient for most people most of the time. A gas engine can extend its range for lengthy trips.

Cons: The cost is higher than that of conventional vehicles due high-priced batteries. Charging car batteries could put an additional burden on existing electric grid, especially if done during the daytime. The gas mileage depends significantly on driving habits, and drivers often don’t get the mileage they expect.

Hybrids

Pros: Hybrids use gasoline, which is good because we have gas pumps throughout the United States. They drive like cars always have, so drivers don’t have to make a major change. These vehicles can get great fuel economy.

Cons: Hybrids cost more than traditional autos, requiring a large investment up front. Many drivers have been dissatisfied because their hybrids don’t get the gas mileage they hope for.

Hydrogen fuel cells

Pros: Hydrogen cars get very good fuel economy – about twice that of gasoline cars. They produce no emissions – just water vapor. Hydrogen is abundant and some of it can be made from renewable energy.

Cons: Hydrogen fuel cells are expensive and often wear out quickly. In order to get an acceptable range, you need very high-pressure hydrogen storage. Hydrogen is expensive to transport, and there is no infrastructure in place yet, so it’s difficult to find places to refuel. Although hydrogen fuel can be made from renewable energy sources, it is currently made from natural gas. The production process creates a large amount of CO2 emissions.

Natural Gas

Pros: Natural gas burns much cleaner than gasoline, costs much less, and provides comparable power.

Cons: Large amounts of natural gas are required, so cars must have huge gas tanks, which reduce space available for other uses. Refueling takes a long time due to the amount of fuel required. Natural gas cars have a limited range. There are very few refueling stations available.

Most of these alternative vehicles involve additional costs upfront, which is only viable if the consumer can reasonably expect to get back the cost over the life of the vehicle. So far in the U.S., hybrids are in the lead, with electric cars gaining popularity. Diesel cars have been practical in other countries for a long time. Only time will tell which technologies are practical and cost effective.

Written by Hannah Valez.  Nissan Truck San Bernardino      Auto Centers in Coachella Valley

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Although fuel prices weren’t as high as it was before a couple of years ago, you have to consider that with the looming global financial crisis, the low gasoline prices will really not last that long. This is why more and more people are looking for an alternative when it comes to saving money on fuel. This is also why more and more people are going green.

When it comes to personal transportation or Vehicles, increasing numbers of people are now considering selling their old gasoline engine vehicle and buy a purely Electric powered vehicle that they can drive from home to school, work, or shopping centers.

Basically, there are two ways to own an Battery Powered Vehicle. You can try converting your gasoline powered Car in to an Electric Car or you can just buy an Electric Automobile.

You need to understand that Battery Electric Automobiles use Battery Electric motors instead of an internal combustion engine. To power the Electric motor, the Automobile will also be equipped with batteries. These batteries are state of the art and today, you will find that Battery Powered Cars have batteries that are lighter, smaller and have larger capacity when it comes to storing electricity. In addition to that, these batteries can be charged rather quickly.

In fact, some Electric Cars today are equipped with state of the art batteries that it can be fully charged while you eat lunch during a long trip. Most Battery Electric Automobiles today can be charged with a simple home outlet, which is very convenient for everyone.

After a day at the office, you can simply charge your Vehicle in your garage using your conventional Electric outlet to connect your Car to a power source to recharge and get it ready for another day of commute.

The great thing about Electric Cars today is that it is built to be lighter. Because the batteries as well as the body of the Car itself are lighter than its predecessors, efficiency is maximized.

You need to understand that Electric Cars are not entirely a new concept. In fact, some of the first Vehicles were Battery Electric. However, the batteries back in those days were not really very effective in storing electricity. And, you need to charge it for many hours before you can use the Car again.

Electric Automobiles run purely on electricity. Although there are hybrid Electric Cars that run on both electricity and gasoline, you will find that more and more companies are not developing Vehicles that run purely on electricity. Battery Electric Vehicles may be more expensive than conventional Cars when you buy it off the showroom.  However, when you think about the savings that you will get with Electric Automobiles, you will find that it will be worth every penny owning one.

Aside from the fuel savings that you will enjoy with Electric Vehicles, you will also enjoy tax breaks or tax incentives offered by the federal government for people who owns and drive Battery Powered Cars. Some states even offer exemption from Automobile pool lane rules for people driving Electric Vehicles.

Electric Cars will not just enable you to save a lot of money on tax breaks and fuel, but you will also find that you will also be able to contribute to the environment by having a Car that does not emit pollution and contribute to global warming. These are the advantages of Electric Vehicles.

So, the next time you are ever in the market for Cars, you may want to consider buying an Electric Car.

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Even though the fuel prices recently went down and we are currently enjoying low fuel prices, you have to face reality that this will not really last that long. It is inevitable that the fuel prices will start to increase again soon and you should expect that the prices for other commodities will also rise.

And, in the current state that the economy is in today, you will want to save as much money as you possibly can. Besides, with the number of companies closing down and the number of mass layoffs going on, you really can’t tell whether you are secured in your job or not.

If you really want to save money, then you may want to try selling your old gasoline powered Car and start looking for a cheaper alternative.

Today, more and more people are relying on public or mass transportation in order to save money gasoline. However, you may be glad to know that it is possible for you to own a Car without even spending a single cent on gasoline.

Through Electric Cars, you will be able to save a lot of money on gasoline and at the same time, still have a personal vehicle that you will be able to drive anywhere and anytime.

Automobiles do add to our convenience. Without it, life would be a lot harder. If you sell your gasoline powered Automobile, you are not really giving up on this convenience but what you are actually doing is invest the money you get in Electric Cars.

It is a fact that Electric Cars do cost more compared to conventional Automobiles. However, if you take a look at it in the long run, you will find that Electric Cars are a lot cheaper. Why?

For starters, you don’t have to buy gasoline in order to make the Car run ever again. Electric Cars run purely on electricity. Instead of an internal combustion engine, Battery Electric Vehicles have Electric motors that are connected to a power source, which is a series of batteries.

You need to understand that the concept of Battery Electric Vehicles have existed ever since the first Vehicle was invented. The only problem was that the technology back then wasn’t as advanced as the one we already have today, particularly battery cell technology.

Batteries installed in Electric Cars today are more powerful, smaller, lighter in weight, and is also faster to charge. Basically, the distance was the flaw of Battery Powered Cars in the past. However, thanks to modern technology, this flaw is now considered to be a thing of the past. With electronic Cars today, you will now be able to travel across the states without worrying about charging the batteries.

And, a dollar’s worth of electricity will be able to take you a hundred miles or even more in Battery Electric Vehicles.

What’s more is that the government is now encouraging people to buy Battery Powered Vehicles. The federal government is now offering tax incentives to people who own and use Electric Cars.

These are just some of the big money saving advantages that you will get if you own and use Electric Automobile. As you can see, you will be able to save hundreds or even thousands of dollars in gasoline as well as in tax breaks. Electric Cars may be more expensive than conventional Vehicles but if you take a look at the benefits and advantages it offers, you will find that Battery Powered Cars will be a lot cheaper in the long run.

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In the past few years, you will see that there has been a significant increase on the demand for Electric Vehicles. In fact, more and more people are now considering selling their old gasoline powered Vehicle and go Battery Electric. And, there are people who are now proud owners and drivers of Electric Automobiles.

So, just what is it with Electric Cars that a lot of people are now buying one for their own and is easily replacing conventional gasoline powered Cars?

First of all, you have to consider the Battery Powered Cars are more expensive than conventional Cars. It is also slower and Battery Powered Cars are also smaller in size compared to conventional gasoline powered Cars. And, even though this is the case, a lot of people still prefer Electric Cars over gasoline powered Automobiles.

The most popular reason for this fact is that Electric Cars are a lot cheaper to drive than gasoline powered Cars. Why?

Although Electric Cars are more expensive to buy off the market, you will find that it will be a lot cheaper to own in the long run. This is basically because Electric Cars run purely on electricity. It doesn’t use gasoline, which means that you won’t have to stop by the gasoline station ever again. Just imagine how much money you will save by not purchasing gasoline in order to make your Car run?

Electric Automobiles are powered by an Battery Powered motor instead of your traditional internal combustion engine. The Battery Electric motor gets its power from the batteries installed in the Electric Vehicle. Although you do need to charge the batteries, you will see that with today’s battery cell technology, a dollar’s worth of electricity will be able to get you a hundred miles with your Electric Car before you ever need to recharge the batteries again.

So, if you use your Automobile everyday, you can easily add 30 dollars in your monthly Battery Powered bill, which is way better than spending a hundred dollars a month in gasoline. In the long run, you will see that Battery Powered Cars are far cheaper than conventional gasoline powered Cars.

You also have to keep in mind that Cars that run on electricity are not a new concept. In fact, Automobiles like this were invented ever since the first Automobile was developed. The idea was scrapped because of the available battery cell technology. Thanks to the advancement of technology, it is now possible for Cars to run on electricity through batteries and do so efficiently.

These Cars are made with lighter materials, and are significantly smaller than conventional Cars. This is a great way to get a good power to weight ratio, which will make the Vehicle go faster and also go farther than its predecessors. Although the Electric Automobiles existing today aren’t as fast or as powerful as Automobiles with internal combustion engine, it does offer what most people want today, which is big savings.

In addition to that, Electric Vehicles do not emit harmful gas, which contribute to greenhouse gas in the atmosphere and ultimately global warming. Because of the environmental concerns that people have today, Electric Cars are fast becoming popular, especially to people who are concerned about the environment.

These reasons alone are enough to give you the conclusion that Electric Cars will surely be the future of driving. It won’t be long until you see that most people will start driving Electric Vehicles.

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Environmentalists and the government have been searching for a way to reduce air pollution for a very long time now. If you take a look at big cities, such as Los Angeles, you will see that the city skylines are already engulfed in smog. People all point at the gasoline engines from Cars as the main cause of the problem.

It’s already a common knowledge that the smoke coming out from Automobiles is one of the most destructive factors that affected and still continues to affect the ozone layer. Also, it is one of the main contributors of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere which is the cause of global warming and climate change.

Combine this with the global financial crisis and the unstable price of fuel you will eventually see why people prefers Battery Powered Cars. 

Because of the growing concerns in air pollution and the current state of the economy of the country today, more and more people are now getting rid of their old gasoline powered vehicles and are now buying Electric Automobiles.

At its most basic, Battery Powered Automobiles works very much like your conventional Car. The only difference is that instead of having an internal combustion engine that uses gasoline to power the Car, this particular Car runs purely on electricity, which means that it produces no harmful emissions at all.

Because it doesn’t use any kind of fossil fuel to power the Car, this also means that you don’t have to buy gasoline ever again in order for you to power the Automobile. All you need to do is charge the batteries in the Automobile from time to time in order for you to keep it running.

This means that instead of filling it up with gasoline, all you need to do is plug the Car in your home electricity outlet and you will be charging the batteries in no time at all.

You need to understand that the Battery Electric Car concept have existed ever since the first Automobile was invented. The only problem back then was the technology. The materials for the body of the Car were too heavy, the batteries were not efficient, and it was simply expensive to build and run.

Today, thanks to the advancement of technology, Electric Automobiles are far more advanced than it was before. Equipped with the latest battery cell technology along with light and very strong materials, Battery Powered Cars have overcome its major drawback which was the distance it was able to go. Today, a single charge can take you a hundred miles or even more.

And, the best part of all this is that the batteries can be fully charged rather quickly. You can even go on a road trip across the country and when you have lunch, you can easily charge the batteries and get you ready for your trip after you eat your lunch.

However, you have to remember that the Electric Car technology is still in its infancy. It will still need to come a very long way before it is accepted by society as an alternative to gasoline powered Cars. Despite the fact that Battery Electric Cars still needs to go a long way before it becomes the primary choice for personal vehicles, you will see that there are already increasing numbers of people who are now using Electric Automobiles.

With Battery Electric Cars, you will be able to save money on gas and also contribute in to stopping global warming. It’s really not that far in the future before you start seeing almost all people using Electric Vehicles.

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