Honda Civic Hybrid

The hottest trend in the automotive industry is the production of vehicles that run on dual engines. One engine is powered by traditional fuel and the other is powered by electricity. The Honda Civic Hybrid is one of these ground-breaking automobiles that put the future of the car manufacturing industry within reach. These vehicles are considered to be the impending standard of our automotive horizons.

My sister and her husband were set on buying one of these “green” vehicles this year. Both of them were ready to venture off on a new and exciting prospect that seemed to be offered to them through the Honda Civic Hybrid. They loved the idea of doing something good for the environment and they were attracted to the idea of spending less on gasoline.

The government also offers a tax incentive for those who purchase vehicles like the Honda Civic Hybrid. Buyers can save a lot of money by purchasing the new vehicles. However, the tax incentive is not nearly enough to offset the high cost of the vehicles. They are significantly more expensive than traditional cars.

Another drawback is the complexity of the vehicle. Cars like the Honda Civic Hybrid run on two engines that rely on each other to function properly. For example, the Honda Civic Hybrid's gas-powered engine kicks in when the vehicle is using the most energy, like running uphill. The electric engine kicks in when the car idols or runs at a consistent speed, like during travel on the highway.

The complexity of the vehicles becomes even more intricate because there is a third source of energy that fuels the cars. Vehicles like the Honda Civic Hybrid draw power through the braking system as well, storing energy produced when the cars are brought to a stop. If one of the three complex sources of power breaks, the entire vehicle is brought to a halt because each system relies on the other to function properly.

The costs of fixing a vehicle like the Honda Civic Hybrid are quite costly. Once the vehicle breaks down the owner is faced with a hefty mechanic bill. In addition, the cars are more expensive in general. The savings in fuel costs is not enough to offset the high price of the vehicle, not to mention maintenance costs.

It may benefit car shoppers to wait for the future before buying the car of the future. In fact, after shopping around for awhile my sister and her husband chose to buy a large truck powered by diesel fuel.

Car Fuel Efficiency

One of the very first questions that car users ask each other is, “What is your car fuel efficiency?” And naturally! Everyone who drives a car is bound to be concerned about car fuel efficiency. Not everyone buys their cars based on the car fuel efficiency alone, but it would be safe to presume that it is one of the foremost considerations. It is much more than a mere technical obsession. The running cost of the car, not to mention the maintenance aspect, depends solely on the car fuel efficiency.

Most people whine and crib about their car fuel efficiency, but seldom do little else! People believe that it is the responsibility of the car manufacturer or the mechanic to keep the car performing at its optimum efficiency. But little do they realize that there is a whole lot that they themselves can do to ensure their car fuel efficiency.

For one thing, they can drive carefully and in accordance with the manual for efficiency. The car manual exists for a reason. And that is to ensure that the gear changes and the driving speeds work in tandem to give your car the maximum fuel efficiency. If you drive on a very low gear for instance when a higher gear would work just as well, it is natural that the fuel efficiency will drop. So learning to understand the efficiency levels of driving and following them well will go a long way in ensuring car fuel efficiency.

Another way to increase the fuel efficiency is to use the air conditioning in the car only when it is absolutely critical. This way, not only can you make your car go longer on lesser fuel, but you can also ensure that your battery life is enhanced. So remember to drive with your windows open for the purpose of ventilation rather than close all windows and set the air conditioning on full blast. It is a matter of dollars and sense!

Still another way to ensure that your car is fuel efficient is to ensure that you have filled your tires to the optimum level. If your tires are not filled with enough air, the friction levels increase dramatically. When this happens, it takes more power for the car to move the same distance than say, when the tires are filled to the optimum level and make the car travel along smoother. Although this is clearly specified in the manual, not many people pay heed to it. Following these simple steps will surely increase your car fuel efficiency.