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Toyota Hybrid X

This is the Hybrid Cars and Hybrid Vehicle Directory of All Sites Sorted, and is a subsection of the Renewable Energy Online Directory.

Top 5 reasons to buy Hybrid Cars:

      5. Resale potential
      4. Reduce oil dependency
      3. Save money on gasoline
      2. Save the Earth
      1. More fun!

Hybrids include Hybrid cars, Hybrid SUVs, Hybrid trains and other hybrid vehicles and typically have an on-board electric generator and battery array to store generated electricity, in addition to an internal combustion engine – whether gasoline powered or diesel powered. In hybrids, the generator runs on otherwise wasted energy released by the engine, or via braking. This electricity in turn drives an electric motor which provides power assist and acceleration at low speeds. All this can lead to a substantial reduction in fuel consumption, especially so in stop and go city driving. Because a lot of the fuel saving is achieved at low speeds and in braking, hybrid cars tend to be rated with higher mpg (miles per gallon) in city driving as opposed to highway driving – the opposite of traditional cars.

Technically speaking, hybrid cars are not a form of energy, much less renewable energy - since they consume gasoline or diesel fuel. However, they do generate electricity in a renewable fashion – which is why we decided to include hybrids in our renewable energy directory. In reality, hybrids present the most economically feasible way to harness renewable energy otherwise wasted in traditional vehicles – leading to significant reduction in fossil fuel consumption. Hybrid cars provide a double benefit of reducing dependency on unstable suppliers of crude oil, while addressing environmental concerns.

Hybrid car engines include a rechargeable energy storage system ("RESS"), which includes the electric generator and batteries. They also have a fueled power source (gas engine or diesel engine). Thus, hybrid cars sometimes are referred to as hybrid-electric vehicles (“HEV”) to refer to the generation of electricity. The noticeable increase in fuel efficiency has led to rapid consumer acceptance of hybrids, leading some auto makers to focus on hybrids as an important auto segment of the future.

Typically hybrids capture the kinetic energy released as the hybrid car brakes. This is known as regenerative braking, where the energy otherwise released as heat in the car brakes (or SUVs, buses or trucks of course) is utilized to run the electric generator instead, and the electricity is stored in the battery or batteries. Energy otherwise wasted as heat by the brakes is thereby captured as useful electricity to power the electric motor. Some hybrids also use other fuel savings techniques, such as shutting down the car engine at idle or slow speeds, and use the electric engine at low speeds, only turning on the gasoline (or diesel) powered engine at higher speeds, leading to further fuel saving.

The adoption of hybrid technologies has not been uniform among automakers. For example, Toyota is believe to have devoted R&D resources to development and refinement of hybrid vehicle engines – resulting in a technological and price advantage. Other auto makers have followed the lead of Toyota. However, the U.S. makers, such as Ford, General Motors (GM) and Chrysler (Daimler) are catching up now giving Toyota especially, and other Japanese-based auto makers early leadership in hybrid cars, although the gap has been narrowing. Also the later comers to the hybrid market include other leading European and Korean makers, like Daimler, Volkswagen, Renault, Fiat, Porsche, Volvo, Saab, Hyundai and Daewoo. Honda and Nissan have introduced hybrid cars as well. Some have said that Toyota’s early market leadership in hybrids has led to its emergence as the number one global auto maker.

Hybrid vehicles can utilize any of the alternative engine fuels. For example huge savings in crude oil consumption can be achieved by use of an ethanol – hybrid vehicle. Likewise diesel and biodiesel powered hybrid cars achieve significant fuel consumption savings. Gasoline powered hybrid vehicles also achieve substantial efficiencies. All leading to reduced petroleum consumption, reducing dependence on unstable or often hostile suppliers of crude oil an at the same time reducing the release of environmental pollutants, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Latest News

Toyota to move Highlander hybrid output to Indiana - Reuters Chicago Tribune Toyota to move Highlander hybrid output to Indiana Reuters By Deepa Seetharaman CHICAGO Feb 8 (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp will shift production of its Highlander hybrid sport-utility vehicle from Japan to Indiana, where the company will invest $400 million and add 400 new jobs. The Japanese automaker also ... Toyota to move Highlander hybrid output to Indiana from JapanChicago Tribune Toyota bringing Highlander stateside, moving vehicle's production to IndianaMemphis Business Journal Toyota adding 400 jobs in Indiana to make hybridsUSA TODAY Detroit Free Press all 133 news articles » Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:26:48 GMT

Myths And Facts About Electric Cars - Media Matters for America The Car Connection Myths And Facts About Electric Cars Media Matters for America This chart from the Department of Energy shows that, even though coal is the source of nearly half the nation's electricity, all-electric vehicles (EV) like the Nissan Leaf, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) like the Chevy Volt cause on ... Don't Believe the Electric Car HypeMotley Fool Shift!Calgary Herald Green cars? Electric vehicles are marketing a mythThe Conversation Montreal Gazette -The Car Connection -Christian Science Monitor all 41 news articles » Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:17:41 GMT

Pricing: 2012 Toyota Prius C to start under $19000 - ConsumerReports.org News Sizzle Pricing: 2012 Toyota Prius C to start under $19000 ConsumerReports.org Toyota announced pricing today for its new small Prius C. The smallest hybrid car is set to go on sale next month starting at $18950, plus $760 for destination charges. The base model will have standard Bluetooth and iPod connectivity, nine air bags, ... 2012 Toyota Prius cChicago Tribune 2012 Toyota Prius c: New small hybrid claims largest city mpg of any car ...STLtoday.com The 2012 Toyota Prius C – The People's HybridNews Sizzle Automobile Magazine -BusinessWeek all 42 news articles » Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:50:37 GMT

2013 Acura ILX Hybrid Expected To Reach 38 MPG Highway - Green Car Reports Automobile Magazine 2013 Acura ILX Hybrid Expected To Reach 38 MPG Highway Green Car Reports More It takes a lot of money and time to develop and produce hybrid cars and electric vehicles, but... Read More The 2013 Acura ILX will be the company's first entry into the compact sedan market since the Integra, but of most interest to ... 2013 Acura ILX at the 2012 Chicago Auto ShowCars.com (blog) Latest concepts hot, but not outrageousEdmonton Journal First Look: 2013 Acura ILXAutomobile Magazine Motor Authority -THE Blog About Cars (blog) all 50 news articles » Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:02:20 GMT

What non-hybrid cars costing less than $40000 have memory seats? - Chicago Tribune What non-hybrid cars costing less than $40000 have memory seats? Chicago Tribune At least a few dozen cars fit that description, so you should visit the Cars.com Vehicle Recommender to specify additional requirements that will narrow down your search for new wheels. Among your many choices are the Acura TL and TSX; BMW 1 Series and ... Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:14:34 GMT

Japan to slash use of a heavy rare earth as China tightens grip - Reuters Japan to slash use of a heavy rare earth as China tightens grip Reuters | TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan aims to cut domestic consumption of a heavy rare earth used widely in hybrid cars and electronics by 30 percent over the next two years as China keeps a tight grip on exports of the material, known as dysprosium. and more » Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:41:16 GMT

Will a hybrid car save you some green? - Montreal Gazette Will a hybrid car save you some green? Montreal Gazette Jonathan Chevreau: I'm the first to admit it takes a lot of driving in a hybrid to save enough on gas to justify the purchase price over fuel-efficient non-hybrids such as the Smart car, Chevy Cruze or Toyota Corolla. Prices for the latter start at ... and more » Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:06:27 GMT

Hotai Motors to release Taiwan's first self-made hybrid car Feb. 16 - Focus Taiwan News Channel Hotai Motors to release Taiwan's first self-made hybrid car Feb. 16 Focus Taiwan News Channel 8 (CNA) Hotai Motor Co., the Taiwanese sales agent for Japan's Toyota Motors, is scheduled to release Taiwan's first self-made hybrid car Feb. 16, demonstrating the country's domestic production ability, the company's president said Wednesday. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:38:17 GMT

Car review: 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid - Chicago Tribune MotorTrend Magazine Car review: 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid Chicago Tribune Kia's Optima sedan is such a perfect blend of styling, value and practicality that it won Cars.com's highest honor as our Best Car of 2011. The hybrid version attempts to take on the likes of Toyota's Camry Hybrid, Ford's Fusion Hybrid -- a past winner ... Kia Optima Earns Kiplinger's Personal Finance 2012 Best New Car Value AwardMarketWatch (press release) all 30 news articles » Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:46:51 GMT

O.C. hybrid car maker lays off 26 - OCRegister Business Insider O.C. hybrid car maker lays off 26 OCRegister By JAN NORMAN / ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER Fisker, Anaheim maker of hybrid electric luxury cars, said today that it has laid off 26 people and delayed opening a manufacturing plant in Wilmington, Del. Fisker is facing a cash crunch, which it blames on the ... U.S. loan on hold, Fisker electric-car plant stallsSan Francisco Chronicle Fisker lays off workers during DOE loan negotiationsCNET (blog) Electric Car Company Fisker May Be Running Out Of JuiceBusiness Insider BusinessWeek -Torque News -The Associated Press all 204 news articles » Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:26:43 GMT

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