Hybrid Cars – Going Green And Saving Gas

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Hybrid Cars – Going Green And Saving Gas

Most of us have places we have to go, and our feet just aren’t sufficient to get us there. At the same time, we worry about the impact on the environment of using our gas-guzzling, pollution-emitting automobiles. The price of fuel is also a serious concern for most of us, as it continues to rise.

Many are turning to hybrid cars to satisfy their need for transportation with the least possible impact on the environment (and their wallets). Hybrid Car Dealers are popping up all over the country, offering both new hybrid cars and used. While used hybrid cars are not as available yet as many would like them to be, they are becoming more available as hybrid cars become more popular.

Hybrid cars save gas, and therefore money, because of how they work. Hybrid cars have two motors: a gasoline motor which provides power to get up to speed and generates electricity to store in the batteries; and an electric motor that keeps the vehicle fuel efficient and lessens emissions by taking over during stop and go or slow traffic and other times when the gasoline motor is not needed. When you are driving a hybrid, and you are coasting or idling, usually the gasoline engine part will shut down, saving gas and reducing emissions. This causes the vehicle to have a much better fuel economy – especially the larger Hybrid Suv Cars. Unlike traditional SUVs, hybrid SUV cars are much more environmentally friendly, because they use much less of the fossil fuels and emit much less pollution, making them a good way to go green even if you need a larger vehicle.

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Some of the new hybrid cars have as their non-electric motors ones that run on fuels other than gasoline, making them even more environmentally friendly. Some of them use biofuels (such as ethanol) as an alternative to the more common gasoline, helping us to become less dependent on oil and other nonrenewable energy sources.

With car companies beginning to manufacture many new hybrid car options, it is becoming easier to find hybrid car dealers. New hybrid cars are now being offered by many vehicle manufacturers, including Ford, Lexus, Saturn, Mercury, and Toyota. The hybrid SUV cars offered by these companies have features such as more miles per gallon, lower fuel costs, and very little greenhouse gas emissions.

With a little bit of looking, most people will find a hybrid car dealer within a reasonable driving distance from their home. Many manufacturers are working on adding new hybrid cars to their lineup over the next few years, which will give consumers additional choices and options.

Regardless which options you choose, choosing a new or used hybrid car is an excellent way to show that you care about the environment and to reduce both consumption of fossil fuels and noxious emissions, both of which contribute to the decline of the quality of our earth and the lives of those on it. Why not go green with a hybrid car?

Green Vacations: 4 Simple and Exciting Tips

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Green Vacations: 4 Simple and Exciting Tips

Whether you’re traveling to the next state or traveling to faraway countries, there are plenty of ways that you can stay eco-friendly. In some cases, it’s a simple matter of practicing the same good habits you would practice at home. In other cases, you can help make your vacation greener by being very selective in how you purchase plane tickets or car rentals. Regardless of what you choose, you will be able rest easy in the knowledge that you are helping to preserve the earth and having fun at the same time.

There are a wide variety of simple ways you can enjoy the best green vacations. For example, one of the best things you can do is pack light. Not only will it make your luggage much easier to handle, but it will save on space and materials as well. After all, the less you pack, the less need you have for disposable item or plastic bags. You’ll also be able to save on energy as well; the taxi or car rental you ride in will consume considerably less energy if there are only a few bags in the trunk rather than an immense amount of them weighing the vehicle down.

A great way to cut down on your carbon footprint is to arrange your travel plans in an eco-friendly way. This can mean everything from car pooling to sticking to bikes during your vacation instead of driving. Public forms of transportation are also a great way to cut down on gas emissions. If you’re concerned about your upcoming flight or car trip, however, there are other options you can choose for keeping your carbon footprint down. This involves you purchasing an offset to compensate for the amount of emission your plane or rental car will create during longer vacations.

One of the keys to enjoying some of the best green vacations is to reuse and recycle as much as possible. For example, are you using a temporary, pay per use cell phone while on the road? Before your vacation begins, do a bit of research and learn which cell phone brands have options for recycling. Many manufacturers allow you to mail the temporary cell phone back to their headquarters, where it can be used again or broken down to create new ones. This rule still applies for damaged cell phones too. You can also make the most of your green vacation by consuming less energy. This is more than simply turning off the lights when you’re not using them. If you’re in the car, go easy on the heating and air conditioning. This will save you both on gas and on energy. Be sure to turn off any cell phones, laptops, or ipods as well. Not only does this save you on batteries, but it cuts down on wasted energy as well.

Maryland Honda Dealers Offer Tips For Buying “Green”

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Maryland Honda Dealers Offer Tips For Buying “Green”

Today more and more consumers are more conscientious of the impact their choices have on the environment. Fortunately many of the green buying options available to car buyers also helps put a little bit of green back in their wallet. If you are in the market for a new or used vehicle, Maryland Honda dealers can offer help in finding the best green purchase. The following tips will get you started.

Think small- After years of buying big and super-sizing, consumers have made a shift back toward smaller, more compact cars. Baltimore Honda dealers have plenty of small, fuel efficient vehicles in inventory, making it easier to find the right car for your transportation needs. Downsizing your vehicle preference will not only be good for the environment but your wallet as well.

Think technology- Car manufacturers recognize the need to develop technology which results in vehicles that leave a smaller carbon footprint. As a result, consumers have more options when shopping at Honda dealerships in Maryland. By purchasing a hybrid or clean diesel model, buyers can reduce the fuel emissions and improve fuel efficiency.

Think content- Go behind the basic concept of emissions and fuel efficiency and think about what products were used in the making of the vehicle in question. Many car manufacturers are not only creating vehicles which are environmentally friendly when driven but also made out of environmentally friendly materials. You can ask your Honda dealer what steps have been taken to ensure your vehicle has been produced using green materials and processes which are safe for the environment.

Go Green With These Do It Yourself Car Accessories

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Go Green With These Do It Yourself Car Accessories

There are a number of ways with which you can accessorize your car. However, most of them, if not expensive, are harmful to your health and the environment. The good news is, you can always innovate and accessorize your car the clean and green way. Aside from being economical, DIY car accessories can give your car a look that can’t be found in other vehicles.

Start your project with the seats first. When people enter the car, the first thing they will notice are the car seats. If your car seats are already worn out, hide the tears by covering the seats with your personally-designed seat covers. These seat covers can be produced by using your sewing skills on old clothes, towels, and unused fabric. There’s absolutely no need to spend just to give your car seats a makeover.

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To minimize clutter inside your car, you will need to install an organizer. Again, there’s no need to spend some cash on this one. Simply make use of old shoe or jewelry boxes that you have in your home and use your imagination to give it an appealing look from the outside. You can then use such containers as storage for small items such as pens, receipts, and even hand held gadgets like your phone or iPod.

Aside from clutter, you will also have to deal with trash inside your car. To eliminate them, set up a little trash bin made of a plastic or tin can with a diameter of 7 inches. Wrap it with special covering for a more presentable look. The best place to set your trash bin is either at the backseat and the front seat or both, as long as you secure it in place to prevent it from spilling.

A car is not complete without an air freshener. It would be best if you create your own car freshener that does not contain any health threatening chemical. Get a cardboard and cut it into a shape of your choice. Do the same with a piece of fabric and glue it to the cardboard. After that, soak it in essential oil according to your scent preferences and presto! You have your own eco-friendly car freshener.

If you notice, there’s nothing too difficult with these DIY eco-friendly car accessories. With the help of your imagination, there is absolutely no limit to what extent you want to accessorize your car’s interior.

Does your choice of car colour give an insight into your personality?

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Does your choice of car colour give an insight into your personality?

Does the colour of your car reflect your personality? The majority of drivers would undoubtedly agree that the colour of their car has some meaning for them; after all, few people are willing to pay large sums of money for something that doesn’t appeal to them visually, especially when they have a say in the matter. However, what does each colour mean, and what does it say about a driver’s likely on-road performance?

According to studies conducted in New Zealand, the U.K. and the U.S., certain car colours end up in collisions and accidents more frequently than others. Trends definitely occur when several thousand results are tabulated. Take, for example, the colour green. Seems relatively innocuous — until you peer closely at the data. Drivers with dark green colours are generally solid, well-grounded types; but their light green driving counterparts rack up almost as many accidents as red car drivers.

Of course, aside from their high accident rate, red car drivers have a reputation for being passionate, sexy, and dynamic. The data partially supports this, although according to a U.S. study, the red may just be a clever way to disguise deep insecurity. Compensation, perhaps? Getting comprehensive car insurance for a red car can be more costly than virtually any other colour, although the rates heavily depend on the track record of the individual driver.

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Not surprisingly, silver cars tend to be owned by very sleek, detached individuals who possess enormous reserves of self-confidence. They have the lowest accident rate of the colour spectrum, making it easy to procure online car insurance at a decent rate for these vehicles. Cream cars and grey cars also seem to attract a centred, non-accident prone type. Oddly enough, data isn’t available on the specific accident rate for these types of cars.

Yellow cars attract a youthful, optimistic driver, although these drivers also are prone to making impulsive choices, resulting in a relatively high accident rate. Orange cars seem to be owned by people who are heavily invested in the present, which makes them prone to extreme changes in how they view themselves.

What is fascinating about these observations is how simple gradations in colour can radically alter the demographic most likely to drive the vehicle. Pink cars, for example, could be said to have a great deal in common with red cars, yet the personality types attracted to these shades are extraordinary different. Gentle people tend to drive pink cars, in contrast with the hard-charging, high-achieving, yet secretly insecure red car owners. In another instance of colour trumping perception, brown cars are said to attract a sensible, thoughtful demographic, yet in New Zealand, they have the second highest crash rate. Depending on where you live, your cover or insurance plan may change based on the behaviour of other drivers.

No matter what your actual personality is, when choosing the colour of your car, remember that looks are only as thick as a coat of paint; it’s all about how you choose to drive it.

Is It Less Expensive To Insure a Hybrid Car?

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Is It Less Expensive To Insure a Hybrid Car?

With the advent of green living and more Earth-friendly lifestyles, companies all across the board are featuring and promoting products that follow the green philosophy. All of us are probably familiar with organic markets, reusable water bottles, canvas sacks, and of course, the hybrid car.

The hybrid car is supposedly eco-friendly because it uses less fuel compared to your standard, run of the mill car. When a hybrid car is running and it gets into a certain speed, its batteries come on, therefore consuming less fuel. Of course, the batteries are rechargeable, which is also a nod to reusable energy. It is not uncommon that many families and individuals, in the effort to save money, have switched to hybrid cars in lieu of regular ones.

Despite hybrid cars costing more than regular cars on the market, studies seem to indicate that hybrids promote more savings in the long run, as hybrid car drivers don’t have to refill with gas as often. What about in the realm of insurance? How much would it cost to actually insure a hybrid car? Would a car owner expect to pay more or less? Is it really less expensive to insure a hybrid car? Read on to find out!

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First, the bad news: it is actually more expensive to insure a hybrid car. A recent study concluded that hybrid and small cars in general cost more to insure compared to larger, more fuel-hungry counterparts. To name specific examples, a Honda Civic will be about 0 more expensive to insure than a Honda C-RV. To ensure a Toyota Camry hybrid will end up being 0 more expensive than ensuring a regular Toyota Hybrid.

Now, why is this so? It’s not that insurance companies are against hybrids, saving the planet and the green movement in general. At the end of the day, insurance companies run on cost. The cheaper a car is to repair, and the easier its parts are to source, the cheaper the insurance rate for this particular car. In the case of hybrids, there are plenty of reasons why they cost more to insure. First, their repairs are specialized, and you can’t go to them anywhere, which means that you will most probably get a hybrid specialist to repair it in case something goes wrong. Another reason is the parts: hybrids have very specific parts which cost more than the average parts. Lastly, hybrids and generally small cars are more commonly stolen compared to their bigger counterparts. All of these help to add up insurance costs for the hybrid.

If you’re really set on a hybrid, then there are still possible solutions. Perhaps the best thing to do is shop around for insurance companies. Some insurance companies actually provide discounts for vehicles that prove to be fuel-savers. If you manage to find an insurance company like this, then you can count on saving a few bucks on car insurance.

 

 

Role of Blue & Green Permit to import used vehicles in Sri Lanka

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Role of Blue & Green Permit to import used vehicles in Sri Lanka

There are certain restrictions imposed on used car imports in Sri Lanka with a view to avoid undesirable imports in to the country causing bad impacts to public, Environment, Economy and Security of the country. The controller of Import and Export issues a permit to people who are eligible to import. There are two main Permit under which import of used vehicles is permitted:

1. Blue Permit             2.  Green Permit

Let’s know about the two in detail.

Blue Permit:

Allows a person who is employed in a foreign country, to gift his/her mother /father, brother/sister, wife/husband and children who are living in Sri Lanka.

1. Type of a vehicle allowed to be imported Car, Jeep, Vans or Cabs which are not older than 5 years.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED WHILE APPLYING FOR BLUE PERMIT

a. Duly completed CIE 8a & CIE 8b forms.

Donator CIE 8b

Donate CIE 8a

b. Two photograph from two dimensions of the vehicles.

c. Copy of vehicle registration certificate.

d. A certificate of Donor’s foreign earnings and a bank statement to prove the remittance of money to Sri Lanka.

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e. Photo copies of the visa page, page with the endorsement of leaving the island and page with photo of passport holder of donor’s passport to prove his stay abroad.

f. Certificate of foreign employment.

g. Relevant documents to prove the relationship with the donor and donate.

h. A condition certificate of the vehicle.

License Fee

A license fee of 15% of CIF value of the vehicle should be paid to the Department.

Green Permit:

Allows Sri Lankan who have gone abroad and earn foreign exchange to import a vehicle subject to following conditions:

1. Type of vehicles allowed to be imported under this scheme are Cars, Jeeps, Vans or Cabs not older than 10 years.

2. If the relevant vehicle is under 5years; the vehicle should be registered and used in the name of applicant at least for a period of one year.

3. If the vehicle is within 5-10 years old, the vehicle should be registered and used in the name of applicant at least for 3 years.

 

Documents required while applying for Green Permit

a. Duly completed CIE 06 Form.

b. Two photographs of the vehicle (Two Dimensions)

c. Certificate of registration which proves that the vehicle is registered in the Name of the applicant (Certificate of Registration)

d. Bank Statements to prove the applicant has earned  foreign exchange.

e. Photocopies of the Visa pages, photograph page of the applicant and the page having endorsement of leaving the country / arrival to the country of the pass port.

f. Vehicle inspector certificate.

License Fee

The license fee is charged according to the age of the vehicle to be imported:

Vehicle Age (Years)     License Fee (On CIF Value)

3 ½                                         03%

5-7                                          05%

7-8                                          07%

8-9                                          09%

9-10                                        12%

If you are looking more information to import used car under blue or green permit in Sri Lanka, please visit: http://www.japancaraccess.com

 

Santa Clara used cars will soon include a hybrid sports car

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Santa Clara used cars will soon include a hybrid sports car

With the focus of the auto industry resting gently on the laurels of green driving, many of the earth’s largest auto brands have pushed forward into the future with hybrid and electric vehicles. Santa Clara used cars already reflect the green treatment, with great vehicles like the Toyota Prius numbering among them. When it comes to Honda, you won’t always think “sports car” right away, but the brand is coming through with a combination that’ll knock your socks off: a hybrid sports car called the CR-Z. The fuel efficiency that this car claims is pretty amazing, especially for a sports car, logging in at a respectable EPA estimated 37 mpg. That kind of mileage isn’t just great for a sports car – it’s good for any car. In fact, the new CR-Z’s mileage lands it in fifth place for fuel efficiency in the market. All that might change when we’re able to test how well electric cars work, but it’s still a great accomplishment for the Honda brand. Sunnyvale used cars drivers can’t wait to get a closer look at this innovative new vehicle from a trusted brand, and they won’t have to wait too much longer.

 

Part of what makes this car so different from other hybrids on the market is that the electric part of the engine does not kick on immediately when you start the car. Instead, it kicks the gas engine off when you’re standing or idling, which helps contribute to the car’s amazing fuel economy. Most Santa Clara used cars don’t get anywhere near this much green. A recent review of the CR-Z from the New Jersey News Room offers more details: “A car doesn’t have to be ugly to be fuel efficient. Nor does a car have to sacrifice pizzazz to save the planet. Starting with those dictates, the challenge to the guys with the crayons at Honda was to come up with a low end, compact sports car, which had hybrid technology and better gas mileage than the little, Plain Jane, Honda Fit or its stalwart workhorse, the Honda Civic. So the designers threw out the old templates, melted their crayons drawing something that oozed a sense of hot and, since they couldn’t think of a clever name for it, settled on the CR-Z.” Sunnyvale used cars could take a page out of Honda’s book and start gunning for a more effective hybrid engine while offering a car with a solid design and great features.

 

For Santa Clara used cars, the future of engine technology is coming quickly. A brand with the backing that Honda has is sure to be an innovator in the field, and the CR-Z is just more proof of the fact that Honda is incredibly comfortable in its own skin. Sunnyvale used cars that bear the Honda brand are among some of the most dependable vehicles on the market, and now there’s a fun and fuel efficient reason for you to head down to your local dealer and give a test-drive.

Green Car Tax

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Green Car Tax

Car fuel whether it be petrol or diesel is something that the government rely on heavily, as it is such a big business and therefore brings in a lot of money to the country. But with advances in motoring and the design of eco cars, meaning far more green vehicles are on the roads, they are finding it increasingly difficult to command prices and make the money that they normally would.

To combat this they are contemplating rising the prices for green vehicles, and implementing this through the road tax we pay. Currently eco friendly cars are in a smaller bracket and therefore cost less to maintain.

The shortfall in the motoring budget could affect things like the conditions of our roads, and the government seem to be realising that although it is a good idea for the environment for them to encourage us to buy these more economically viable vehicles, it might impact them in the future.

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The cars offer you a way to get around that is not harmful to the environment, but also a great way to save money on your Comprehensive Car Insurance policies. Low carbon vehicles are therefore great for everyone, especially in the economic climate as it currently is in 2011.

RAC Foundation director Professor Stephen Glaister said: “At some stage a point will be reached when the Government is likely to either start putting up tax on green fuels or the Treasury must accept a cut in its income. For all the talk about sustainable transport there also needs to be a sustainable and equitable tax regime.

“With just 1,500 electric cars registered in Britain at the end of 2010 clearly this is not going to be an overnight problem, but it will have to be tackled sooner or later. Given that there are real doubts that the price of battery-powered cars will fall significantly, drivers are likely to be unhappy with anything that increases their day-to-day outgoings.”

If you are driving on the roads in the UK then you will know that it is a legal requirement to have Car Insurance, a valid MOT certificate and valid road tax.

Car Tax Calculator Explained

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Car Tax Calculator Explained

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that vehicles powered by fossil-fuels emit 1 ½ billion tons of greenhouse gases into the environment each year. By simply changing to green transportation this devastating damage could be greatly reduced. To overcome the ever increasing rate of pollution, the United Kingdom’s government has taken a vital step against the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere by introducing new Co2 based UK car tax rates.

The newly enforced UK car tax rates are judged according to the amount of Co2 produced by ones vehicle. It is now advised that when buying a new car you seriously consider carbon emissions as an important factor in your decision and opt towards a greener, environmentally friendly model of vehicle.

So how can you judge how green your potential new car will be?

Well, there are many ways of choosing a green car. Firstly, more and more top brand car manufacturers are spending a lot of time and investment in producing eco ranges that are specifically designed to produce low amounts of carbon emissions. Another extremely easy and popular method is to use an online car tax calculator.  A car tax calculator works by  calculating a series of details such as fuel type, transmission details like manual, automatic or both, manufacturer, car model and specific Euro standard. It takes all this information into consideration in order to give you and accurate calculation as to how much car tax you will be liable to pay. Car tax calculator gives an indication of the car tax charges that you would be likely to pay. The benefits of using a car tax calculator is that you are quickly given accurate results, the service is free and can be found most respectable car dealership websites.

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So why do we have car tax in the first place?

The main idea behind the road car tax is to reduce the use of the vehicles that cause high amounts of pollution. Car tax rates can be judged in a series of payment bands. There are seven car tax bands that range from A-G, A being the lowest. Any car that emits Co2 up to 100g/km will fall into car tax band A, 101-120g/km band B 121-150g/km band C and so on. The benefits of falling into either band A or B is that you are exempt from paying road car tax. Car tax calculators have been set in place to promote the use of fuel efficient greener cars that produces less CO2 by allowing everyone the ability to access this kind of information.

It is estimated that eco-friendly car owners are currently saving £165.40 per year on fuel compared to those driving standard cars. With increasing awareness surrounding climate change and global warming, more and more people are making the conscious effort to do their part to save the planet. The easiest way to dramatically decrease your individual carbon foot print is through transportation. So if you are in the position to purchase a new vehicle you should take the time to use services like a car tax calculator, and opt for the greenest option you can. In the long run it will make the difference both environmentally and financially.

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