Parallel Parking Dread is Over!

One of the dreaded tasks while driving is the infamous parallel parking. Drivers have to pass the task to get their licenses and it seems to be the most feared chore for inexperienced drivers. What if the driver did not have to parallel park at all, but rather control only the foot brake pedal? Toyota has come out with technology where the car will virtually park itself.
While this technology was largely introduced by Lexus, a Toyota made company, Toyota is starting to put this option I some of their less expensive vehicles. One in particular that everyone is familiar with is the Toyota Prius. Not only does this hybrid get good gas mileage, it could possibly park itself.
The way the parking assist works is when the driver pulls next to a spot he or she wants to park in and puts the car into reverse, a rear bumper camera turns on and displays all that is behind the car. The driver then pushes a button on the dash and the car calculates how much it needs to turn in order to fit in the parking space. A green area appears on the screen telling the driver where the vehicle will end up and a yellow path describes how the car will get there. Then it is just a matter of controlling the car with the brake.
There are some flaws in this feature though. It does not tell you if the spot the driver is trying to back into is too small for the car to fit. This could lead to some major problems and may actually make parallel parking more of a pain if the driver can only rely on the computer to park. The only thing that scares me is if my car is the one sitting behind where this computer savvy vehicle is trying to park.

Parents Love MyKey

There has always been a struggle throughout the course of history between the snotty teenagers who thinks he or she knows it all and the older, so called wiser parents. It is only natural for the teenager to ask for independence through the high school years and especially when the independence turns into reality when they obtain their licenses. The more teenagers try to separate themselves from their parents as they mature into adulthood, it seems as though parents want to keep a tab on their children and make sure they are making the right decisions even more. Even though they cannot be there when their children head out onto the roads, there are still ways for the parents to feel secure and have reassurance that they will be safe on the road even when they aren’t riding shotgun. With Ford’s brand new MyKey technology it makes it simple for the parents to make the car as safe as possible for the children.

The MyKey has many features that will allow the parents to feel better about letting their children drive away alone. This feature will come standard in the all new 2010 Ford Focus Coupe and will have many more features than previous child monitoring systems. The system is based around the key to the car. It can allow parents to limit the speed of the car to just 80 mph, and will allow the stereo to only be turned on to 44% of the total volume. Also, if the children are not buckled up in the car, the car alerts the driver with chimes. Not only does it producing these annoying sounds to buckle up, it will mute the cars stereo until everyone in the car is wearing their seat belts. This is not all the key can do. It will also give the driver an early warning on how much fuel is left and alerts the driver when there is only 75 miles left on the tank of gas. The key can also be programmed to chime at certain speed levels to make sure that the novice driver pays attention to the speed he or she is going.

This technology sounds great on paper and will surely help those who need assistance when driving, but in my car these features would become a nuisance and would eventually be cut out. A way around this is to educate the drivers even more, and don’t hand out driver’s licenses to just anyone. They must fit a strict set of requirements in order to obtain their privilege to drive.

Cool Your Seat!

Perhaps one of my favorite car innovations is temperature controlled seats. We’ve all been there, on a hot summer day and the leather seats are scolding hot. Or in the dead of winter, sitting in your car literally freezing your bum off! But then, some genius thought outside the box.
Someone took car comfort to the next level and now we can control if are seat are heated or cooled. No more uncomfortably hot or cold seats. You know how that power at your finger tips.

In most new cars this technology is preinstalled before you even get it, but what about everyone else? I kind of want that sort of luxury in my car so I got to doing some research and found some reasonable prices for this. I found that a good price is $119.95. Unfortunately though, if you want your car to keep its stock appearance you’ll have to pay a tad bit more. The price for the $119.95 is just a seat cover that comes with the coolness and hotness.

I for one wish I had this in my car. I hate going into my car in winter and sitting on a cold seat; it would be one hundred times better if I got to sit on a warm cozy seat! Or in the summer it would be nice to have a colder seat that way my back doesn’t stick to the seat. I think I may have to put this item on my Christmas list!!!

Musical Roads

Growing up as a kid I spent a lot of time with my grandparents, and one thing my grandfather loved to do while he was driving was hit the rumble strip on the side of the road (where you are not supposed to be) and of course this would shake the car and he would yell “Wake UP!” I always found this to be funny, one probably because of the obscene noise it did make, and also because of my grandpa’s funny nature. As I grew older I came to realize that it was kind of scary that he was driving back and forth to hit the rumble strip on the shoulder of the road. But what if the rumble strip was brought onto the road?

The way it works is the road has been “tuned” to a certain speed a car must go, and also some have been based on a certain car’s wheelbase and tires to give it that almost perfect tune and sound. It seems to be a hit for kids, but the people living close to the road seem to not care for it too much. They must not like the same song being played day after day when they come home from work. I wouldn’t like it either if I had to listen to a poor humm of “The William Tell Overture” everyday after a long day at work.

I think that they should implement more of these though, maybe on two lane roads where people can choose not to drive on the musical path. Some of the roads have been complained about so much that they are being paved over.

The only thing that scares me is what happens when you want to rewind or listen to it be played faster?

Car Internet: Personal Safety

Many of us use Motorola products, most likely as a phone or hand held device, but Motorola is working on something else that is going to help connect you to the internet while traveling down the highway. Motorola is on the brink of commercializing their brand new WiMax module. This is a small card that allows automotive equipment makers to make connected devices that can receive broadband information on the road from the comfort of your car.

Most of us think that this has already been implemented in cars. Most information that cars are receiving is through satellite or radio networks that link up with the navigation within the car; most commonly in cars such as Acura, BMW, Cadillac, and Lexus. The problem with this connection is that it can only receive information one way, and must first download the whole database. This is proven when people search their navigation to find local fuel prices. When it downloads the database, much of the information is not needed and therefore is a waste of time and effort. With the new WiMax network it would only allow you to download what you need, making it more efficient and less time consuming.

Another feature that could be put into place that I found was quite interesting was that it could be a vehicle-to-vehicle network. If one car is broken down on the side of the road, it can alert other drivers coming up behind it or close to it that they are stopped. This is basically an early warning system for all drivers, and makes being on the road changing a flat or working on your vehicle much safer.

I think that implementing something like this would be great in all cars especially if it can make the roads safer for those in accidents or breakdowns. This could also help notify people of stopped emergency vehicles or police stops, and could ultimately save the lives of those doing their jobs on the road.

Car Tech

Many people in today's world of technology have come to know the name "Cnet". They have established themselves as one of the leading companies in reviews of today and tomorrow's technology. Cnet gives reviews on almost any gadget anyone could think of, and it is also a great tool for someone who is looking to buy a new phone, camera, PDA, or any other type of equipment, such as television or radio.

Most reviews consist of one, if not a few, short videos describing all the pros and cons of the product and have many credible people describing the products; some of which are the actual producers and designers of the new device. While I personally have used Cnet to do comparisons between different pieces of technology before making my purchase, I didn't know there was much more to the site than what they are primarily known for. Cnet has a large number of blogs for many different subjects in the field of technology. One that especially caught my eye while perusing through the different reviews was Car Tech. It is an up to date blog that shares everything from the small chimes you hear when entering and exiting a car, to the brand new hybrids and vehicles that are revolutionizing the industry.

This blog seems to be the mother blog of Automotive Advancements, it shares many of the same attributes and must be checked out if our blog here entices you. There is anything you can imagine in Car Tech, and is well worth checking out.

New Concepts Spark Great Ideas

Has anyone heard of Toyotas new car? I’m not talking about their trucks or their new hybrids but I’m talking about the new wheel chair! Yes you heard me right, Toyota has taking it to the next level with this.

It’s an upgrade that makes the Segway look like a child’s toy. The new ireal concept “car” is a masterpiece. It’s much like the couch on wheels that ever man dreams of. The ireal concept is driven and controlled with simple joysticks. And can go from a reclined position to an upright for its high speeds. Its high speed is 18.6 mph and while that doesn’t seem like much, that completely trumps the Segway’s measly 12.5 mph. It’s designed of light weight carbon fiber and reinforced with strong plastic. Unfortunately, it is a concept car so who knows when or if we’ll see this baby on the streets.

The Segway can rest easy for now because after all it still is a concept car. This is actually Toyotas second model; their first was called the I-Unit. That design was so crazy cool, but there was no way they could have made money off of those models. They were much to advance for this time but the ireal brings it down to earth a little bit. I guess there crazy ridicules design led to an improved elegant design. Don’t be surprised though if you see some of the on the streets in the next 10 years.

VIDEO

From A Distance

Winters in Indiana can be some pretty rough times. Most of us are forced to wake up an extra 20 minutes early to grapple with the nearly inch thick sheet on ice on our windshield. Then when you finally manage to enter your vehicle, you realize that the nickel sized vision hole you managed to carve out of the windshield just isn’t big enough to see out of. That’s when you just sit in your car and rev up the engine in hopes that you won’t have to go back out in the freezing cold praying you car will warm up soon enough so the defrost will melt the sheet of ice. Your butt is basically freezing to the seat as you drive and your hands are beginning to stick to the steering wheel! It’s just no fun driving to work or even school. But there’s a simple remote that solves all of these problems for us.

The remote engine start has the answer to all our prayers. It allows me and you to just peek outside the window or open the garage door to turn our car on. Using the same technology as the remote unlock button, this remote sends radio waves to your car’s computer giving it the signal to turn on. It then allows your car to warm up while you’re inside your hopefully warm home preparing to leave for the day ahead of you. You need not waste your time on scraping windows in the winter any more. The best part is that if you start your car soon enough your car will be nice and toasty, free from harsh winter air. No more fighting with ice or cold seats.

The price for this baby really isn’t bad. You can find fairly decent ones for fewer than 200 dollars and they last long too, so there is no wasted money. If the remote stops working it more or less just the battery from your over use of the nifty little device. I love using my grandmas because I think it’s so cool that you can start your car from inside your house or even outside just as long as you’re in the 20 meter range. However, there are just a couple of minor setbacks.

The only thing going through my mind while I was typing this is how clumsy I am and I would accidently start my car and it would be on all night. If you think about it, that would be terrible! It would drain your battery and leave your gas tank empty, neither of which is a good thing in the morning when you’re about to leave for work or school. Another thing that the remote keyless entry does is open the door for thieves. Hackers can steal the signal the remote gives off and they would be able to steal your car even easier than before. With a gadget like this, you have to be careful. But I certainly think that the pros out way the cons in this case!

Want you Want?!

Last week I was running low on all of my ideas for this blog. For some reason, half the stuff I write about seems to be just the first thing that pops in my head. I found myself asking my roommate and friends what they liked about their cars, but this week I’m curious to know what you as readers want to know about. Any good ideas are certainly welcome here!

Our blog “Automotive Advancements” has a lot to do with the technology of cars. Anything that improves the car whether that is via safety, luxury, or even fuel economy, we like to include in our blog. Personally I like to talk about little gadgets I want in my car, but I’d rather know what you as readers want me to write about. Do you want me to write more about specific cars? Would you like me to go more into alternative fuels sources? Or are so of you actually enjoying some of my gadget blogs?

Any who, I just thought I’d get input from the people who actually matter. Just message me, pull me aside, or comment this blog and let me know what you’d like to read about next. Have a good week, and remember how blessed you are because your grandparents had to walk uphill 5 miles in the snow to school and we get to drive.

The Camaro is Back

The whole world seems to be turning to hybrids. Yes, this may be what everyone "needs" to be more feasible and help from hanging away half of their salary at the pump, but is this really what everyone wants? When does the want surpass the "need" phase? With Chevrolet's all new Camaro being introduced, the want just overcame the need.

The new Camaro brings back the classic muscle car styling, with all the new amenities. With the base V-8 model pulling close to 300 horses, the V-6 model to keep the cost of insurance down, and the costlier model with the LS2 Corvette engine, this Camaro has a model for everyone. The base V-6 model will list at only a smidgen over $20,000, making it affordable for almost anyone. But, for those car enthusiasts who know of the classic stying of the 1969 Camaro, loves power and great handling, the LS2 model will surely be for them. The car is slammed with the Corvette engine pulling over 400 horses, giving it all the power the driver would want.

The styling of the car takes the lines from the classic 1969 Camaro, but this is by no means the same car. It takes on the new car popularities of today such as the staggered 22 inch rims in the back, and 21 inch rims in the front. Fuel injection and disc brakes also round out some of the new technology that seperates it from its predecessor. While many people think that the muscle cars of the good ol' days still cant be touched, which may be true, this new vehicle will sure give them a run for their money.

no more blind spots!

Today’s cars are being equipped with all kinds of safety devices. Automotive industries are in a chess game one upping each other while trying to win over families with the newest ways of safety and comfort. This past summer I was a valet at the airport. While it was fun to drive all the fancy cars, the coolest thing I saw was a review camera.

Cars are now being installed with cameras underneath the license plate. It’s a nifty little item that lets you see directly behind you. The camera turns on when you put your car in reverse. I loved it because it showed me all of the blind spots behind the car I couldn’t see. The image appears on a screen normally in the dash so I’m sorry to tell you if you don’t have a new car this technology probably isn’t available to you.

I was even more surprised, after I put the car in reverse and the picture came up, when I turned the wheel. As I began to turn it, lines appeared on the screen showing me exactly when I would end up. I was so excited, it was hilarious. It gave me the perfect parking spot every time. For those of you who are annoyed with crocked parking, like me, you’re probably as happy as I am. I loved it. Backing into a parking spot is now the funniest this for me. It really made me want to drive around backwards driving by just simply glancing at the screen.

If that is not mind boggling enough for you, it gets better. Some cars have the picture from the camera in the actually mirror. So you can see everything behind you with the mirror, plus all of the little blind spots. Can you imagine how many kids’ lives can be saved? All of the parents that are scared that they may accidently run over their child now can breathe again. No longer will bikes be ran over or toys destroyed. This is a revolutionary product that brings intelligence and safety to all vehicles that are blessed to be equipped with the rear view camera!

http://www.rearviewsystems.com/

New age for your windsheild!!!

This summer I was driving home from work in a bad storm. Rain was clashing against my windshield blinding my vision. All I had to do was turn on my handy dandy windshield wipers and POOF, I could see again. The only problem though was the fact that I had to reach down to turn them on. It’s possible in that split second that I could have veered into oncoming traffic and that would have not been so good. But engineers have an answer for our safety.

There’s a new gadgets for cars looming out in the automotive world many of us take for granted. For starters, before we had powered windshield wipers we had manual wipers that you had to crank and before that there were squeegees that drivers had to use. I’m here to open your eyes to an even newer device. This device is called the “Rain Tracker”.

The Rain Tracker is a unique devise that senses when rain, snow, or road debris hit your windshield and automatically turns on your wipers for you. It eliminates the manual, the dangerous, part of looking down to switch on your wipers. It allows you to keep your hands on the wheel protecting you and me from simple dangers of the road.

By far my favorite part of this tool is the fact that it can sense how much rain and adjust the speed of the wipers. Using beams of inferred light it determines how much water is on your wind shield and either turns your wipers up or down in speed.

I know what you’re thinking; a device like this has to be well out of your price range. Really, it is NOT. It’s just a mere 150 bucks. I think I might actually get it. Just about anytime I take my eyes of the wheel I slightly veer to the left or right but with just 150 I might save my life. That’s amazing, and I’m excited to see how long it takes for all new cars to incorporate the Rain Tracker into their new models.

Silence?!

I don’t know about you but I think silence is excruciatingly boring. There’s nothing worse than driving with a broken radio, let alone not even having one at all. I don’t even like to talk about the time my radio was broken. It was very depressing. The worst part was driving to high school in complete and utter silence. A hundred years ago, this poor world drove around with nothing but the sound of a roaring engine like me. And the worst part for them, not knowing what they were missing out on.

The car radio came about by a young man in high school in 1922. He put it on the door of his Ford Model T, but this wasn’t like a real “car” radio it was the ghetto version. It wasn’t until 1933 when cars, specifically 100,000, got fitted with a small radio. This commercially produced radio was called Philco Transitone, and was created by a battery company.

The radio all started with one idea of being able to transmit sound wave but has since evolved into a mainstream of hundreds of thousands of radio stations worldwide. To me there’s nothing like having the freedoms and pleasures of being able to pick what the stations I like while driving along on an open highway. The only trouble I have is picking one that is good for that occasion. I’ll listen to some punk when I feel tired, for some reason it just gets the blood flowing. But really prefer country or rap. Like I said it just depends on the occasion/mood. But all in all, I’m just thankful for my car radio.

Retro Styling Meets New Technology

Many of us don't know what exactly the Muscle Car age in America was, mostly because we weren't even thought of at that time. It has impacted the way Americans portray their car companies. With the new surge towards the classic muscle car styling, and the enormous amount of power strapped under the hood, it proves that history will only repeat itself once again.

While the muscle cars of the 1960's and early 1970's were run out by the gas shortage in the mid 70's, I often stop to wonder how much different the world is today compared to the classic days of drive-ins and fast cars. We lean towards more power and faster cars, but this only decreases the fuel mileage. Just like after the shortage America started to buy more fuel efficient vehicles, but these turned out to be some of the worst cars ever made. This sounds similar to today’s world where Americans are jumping on the hybrid and alternative fuel wagon. It seems as though we are feeling the "gas shortage" by paying outrageous prices at the pump just like in the 70’s. Will this spike in price of fuel deter the American companies from their new retro styling once again?

I think that many people love the styling of the classic muscle cars, and it gets only better with today's new technology being thrown into them. Like the classic Chevy Camaro and the Dodge Challenger coming back into the game, their styling is amazing, giving it the classic look with the new parts that are much more feasible than some of their earlier predecessors. With the upgrades of disc brakes all around, and fuel injection instead of the cold weather hating carbureted engines, this new technology could be just what this style of car needed. They may have been run off by high gas prices and shortage previously in history, but let’s hope that this will keep the new "Muscle Cars" around for a long time.

Bugatti Veyron

Is there nothing more exciting than flying down the road at a high rate of speed? Why do we do it? Most people do it for an adrenaline rush, or want to show off their new ride to some fellow passengers. While most of us have never reached speeds over 120 mph, it seems that there is always the need to produce more and more speed in a vehicle. Imagine going 80 mph on the interstate, fast isn't it? What about doing 150 mph down an empty road? Sounds insane. Now think about doing a little over 250 mph. Where? I don't really know, but for an adrenaline junky it sure sounds like a good time.

This speed is no longer only held to those people who drive special drag cars or some F1 or Indy cars. While the feat of gaining speed of over 200 mph is a huge milestone in the automotive industry, Bugatti has developed a production vehicle with speeds of nearly 253 mph. The Bugatti Veyron is the worlds fastest production vehicle, it can run from 0-63 in 2.3 seconds. Yes, this is over five times faster than your mom's mini-van. With the 16 cylinder engine pulling over 1,000 horsepower and speeds of such a great number, of course this car will make a dent in your pocket book, listing at just over $1.5 Million.

The Veyron has proved to be a huge accomplishment for the auto industry. The engineering of a vehicle that can obtain a speed of over 200 mph and still hold together is incredible. All the features on the car make it safe and a guaranteed amazing experience every time anyone gets in the driver's seat. So save up your money for the next 30 years, and possibly you could have one of these amazing machines in your garage.

All New Chevy Volt

Many of us hate the amount of money we needlessly spend filling up our vehicle at the gas station, but do we want to buy cars from foreign made countries? While many people believe it is essential to buy American made from the "big 3", the selection of vehicles that are hybrids and can obtain gas mileage of over 30 miles per gallon is limited. What if an American based company produced a car that doesn't need gas for the first 40 miles?

This dream is becoming a reality, and should be in production by November of 2010. General Motor's new unveiling of the Chevy Volt will revolutionize the hybrids in America. While the hybrid works both on gasoline and electric, it does not need to start the gasoline engine until it has gone over 40 miles. Making this an ideal means of transportation for anyone who travels just a few miles a day for work or any other event.

General Motor's is not only focused on the use of batteries to power a vehicle they are working on many other hybrids and alternative fuel sources to power the way of the future. Some of the other sources of power are plug-in vehicles, bio-fuels, and fuel cells. They have put tons of time and research into producing the Volt to make sure the batteries and electrical system in the car can stand up to any condition. With production starting very soon, the way of the future in vehicles is just around the corner for America.

No Worries!!!

Driving home tends to be a major hassle for me and a couple of buddies. It’s not that we have no clue on how to get there, nor is it construction problems. Speed is our infinite problem because I don’t know how you drive but I like to get to my destination fast. So what’s the problem, cops?
Everyone’s enemy when we are running late. They seem to always show up at the wrong time and never be there when they are actually needed. Fortunately, there is an answer to this problem. All you have to do is equip your car with a radar scanner. These scanners send out wave and find hi frequency scanners like the ones cops use. It is a very useful tool if you think about it.

Some scanners have the intelligence to remember where cops stay or even have the learning capability to block out false alarms. On one scanner I read about, it gives you your speed so you can adjust to what you think is the correct speed even before it’s too late. The coolest review I read was about how the Escort Passport 9500i Radar Detector could adjust the strength of its search results to your speed. This easily translates to, if you’re going 10 miles an hour it’s not going to pick up a cop from a mile away; but if you’re going 85, it can pick a signal from a mile or two away. This system however is not a cheap one, but they basically can guarantee no tickets. http://www.radarbusters.com/radar-detectors/escort-radar-detectors/escortpassport9500iradardetector.cfm

If you consider the cost and how much it can save a speedy driver, I would recommend this to all speedy drivers. However, if you’re a bit skeptic, there are cheaper models that can get the job done. You can find radar detectors at Best Buy, Wal-Mart, and target. Basically anywhere you can buy car electronics. Have fun this weekend and remember with a device like this, cops would be the least of your worries on the road

No More Paper Maps!!

GPS devices are the new age for cars. Any location you’d like at a finger tip. No more worrying about opening maps, just zoom in on your location and listen to the commands about to be given to you. All the hassles of driving are gone. No more getting lost or needing a passenger next to you to help you get somewhere fun for the weekend. The GPS device is the new map, the new age for a technological world. Paper is the thing of the past; digital maps are for now the new age. http://reviews.cnet.com/4566-3490_7-0.html

Your destination is just a finger touch away. The design is so simple it’s amazing. Its map quest times 5 in your car; but better because the system gives you commands on where to go at the instant they’re happening, so you never have to take your eyes off the road.

The tiny computer like system gets signals from satellites to update roads and construction so you won’t get lost. One system I found weighed only 6.4 ounces. Its intelligence compared to its size that is unreal. A touch screen allows you to zoom in and out of areas to zone in only the local hot spots. Some GPS devices even come with features, including text-to-speech functionality, MSN Direct services, and Bluetooth, all in its tiny design.
There are five top GPS systems that I have done research on and id say they are the best in the market. I am willing to vouch for these companies, and although I don’t agree with their pricings I think that they are worth the prices.
· Garmin Nuvi 880
o http://reviews.cnet.com/Garmin_Nuvi_880/4505-3430_7-32815498.html

· Mio C520 Navigation Receiver
o http://reviews.cnet.com/Mio_C520_Navigation_Receiver/4505-3430_7-32461192.html

· HP iPaq rx5900 Travel Companion
o http://reviews.cnet.com/HP_iPaq_rx5900_Travel_Companion/4505-3127_7-32079581.html

· Magellan Maestro 4250
o http://reviews.cnet.com/Magellan_Maestro_4250/4505-3430_7-32735157.html

· TomTom GO 930 GPS
o http://reviews.cnet.com/TomTom_GO_930_GPS/4505-3430_7-33003945.html

Personally I wish I could afford a System like these but for right now I guess I can manage with a paper map. Soon enough I may be able to afford a nice model like one of those five. Unfortunately, that day probably won’t come till after college. Then maybe there will be a 3D graph or even something better that will be able to surly put these models in the outdated column.

New School Rides Better For Kids

People often take advanced of the upgrades automobiles have gotten in the last decade or so. Fifteen years ago, there were not any Tom-toms or high-tech radar detectors preventing us from speeding tickets. Nor were there tiny TV screens in the head rest of every seat for all of the children. If you were lucky, you got a game boy and some snacks for a long road trip.
These days’ kids have it good. Don’t get me wrong now, I’m growing up in the same time period but kids that are 5 and 6 are just spoiled. I can remember when I had to beg my mom to shut the air off or turn up the heat. Yet these youngsters have the power of the sun at their fingertips. I can always remember burning up in the summer and freezing in the winter but not these kids. They have the perfect temperature every ride.
Like I said before, all of these new interior devices have escalated in the past decade. I can remember a couple of families having a TV in an ASTRO van but not in an SUV or cars. Those TVs were massive to, were talking like old school. I saw 32in plasma in a car one day, that’s a bit obscured to me but then again it is the 21st century!

Hybrids, Toyota Prius

What people are looking for in a car today is obvious, good fuel mileage. Hybrids in today's market are a key stepping stone of what the future has to offer for us. I believe that this truely is the way of the future along with the use of an alternative fuel, not depending upon gasoline at all. One major car that sticks out in the small number of hybrid models is the Toyota Prius. While many of you know what a Prius is there is a lot more about the car that many people do not know about. A driver cannot go down a road without seeing one of these hybrids anymore. They are becoming more and more popular because of the great fuel economy they get for in town driving.

The way a Prius works is based on the combination of both electricity and gasoline to power the vehicle, thus making it a hybrid. The better city mileage can also be aided by the fact the electric part of the vehicle can power it to speeds up to 15 mph, thus alleviate the dependency on gasoline entirely at low speeds. The drive train and braking are Toyota's main focus on turning the vehicle into a power supply within itself. The way the car regenerates electricity is in the braking, as you brake the car sends the excess kinetic energy back to the batteries, charging them up.

The car has many different settings that it senses depending on what kind of driving you are doing. For intown driving it focuses more on the regeneration of power and the use of the batteries to drive the car. For most highway driving the car uses primarily the gas engine to provide power. The gas engine when at a certain speed will actually provide enough electricity to cover the loss of the electric portion of the vehicle.

This car has many different features that can be tweaked to gain even more gas mileage. Several people have altered the wiring system in the car and have obtained over 100 mpg. This proves that if any average Joe or electrically inclined person can alter to obtain this, why can't the automotive companies exceed the fuel mileage they are making cars get today?