Energy Saving Cars
         ---When using this Webpage notice the blue underlined portions are Web links---

--What I want in a car
     The characteristics I want from a car is low maintainence and high fuel efficiency. I am also interested in using alternative fuels. I think people should have a car that best fits their needs.

--Car Efficiency
     The Department of Energy has a page that allows its users to compare the fuel efficiency of one model and year of car with another. They also include alternative fueled cars that are sold in the U.S. into their comparason. This website can be found here.

--Alternative Fuels
     The Department of Energy has a very explanatory website about different fuels that are now used for transportation, as well as some information on their current development. This information can be found here.

--Electric Vehicles- EVs
     The only newly made electric cars that are available to the public are the Toyota Rav4 EVs. All others are either used, converted from other cars, or not available to the public. I have a few links to places where you can find postings of EVs for sale from links on  The Electric Auto Association's website. There is also a company called Cloud Electric that sells rebuild EVs here and conversion kits here. A similar motor used to power the Geo Metro conversions Cloud Electric sells can be found here and here. Another website that keeps track of EVs for sale is: EVfinder.com.

--Other Alternatively Fueled Cars
     Other links I have are to air pressured and diesel-fueled cars. The air pressurized car just came out in Europe. That link is here. The only deisel car that I know of in the U.S. is the deisel Volkswagon Jetta- it gets milage about as good as a regular hybrid car. Also, I am interested in the Volkswagon Lupo TDI (Sport), one of which traveled around the world getting around 90 miles-per-gallon on the highway. They are only available in Europe. The link to the specifications on them is here. You can find their USA website here. If you would like them to be sold in America, visit here.. There are now commercially available Fuel Cell vehicles that you can buy here.

--Why Diesel Fuel?
     The reason for my interest in Diesel fuel is because it is relatively simple to make using vegetable oil- even if the oil has been used. A link to a document discribing this process can be found at homepower magazine here.

--Hybrid Cars
     As of 2003 I know of only three car models that are hybrids which are: the Honda Insight, the Honda Civic Hybrid, and the Toyota Prius.

--My Honda Insight Test Drive
     For my birthday present, mywife had me test drive a Honda Insight. I would have never thought to do it on my own. It was a really good experience. The car started up so smooth, but the gas indicator showed that I had no fuel. That was fine because there was plenty of battery power on the battery meter. The control panel has a meter for gas, electricity, miles per gallon, recharging from the regenerative brakes, and a few other indicators I didn't quite understand.
     As soon as I came to a stop I was surprised to see the car shut off. Although I have heard from other reports that the breaks can squeak, they didn't squeak at all for me. I drove the Insight for about a half hour. I tried slowing down to see how much power I could give to the regenerative breaking system. The regenerative breaks are on even when the car is going downhill at a normal rate.
     On the whole, I really enjoyed the car. I got to see the underchassy plastic peice that keeps the wind resistance down, and I got to take a look at the electric engine. In the end I was sad that I couldn't take the car home with me. I would highly recommend this car to anyone in a 2 person family.