| Drivers in the U.S. are buying hybrid vehicles, not | | | | recently signed a federal energy bill that encourages |
| because they want them, but because they can't | | | | the use of fuel-efficient, low-emission vehicles and |
| afford to drive any other type of car. With gas | | | | offers substantial tax breaks. The bill proclaims that |
| prices setting all-time records and heading toward $4 | | | | high-efficiency vehicles, either hybrid or diesel, will |
| per gallon, consumers are forced to drive a car that | | | | receive credits on a sliding scale based on efficiency. |
| gets the most miles per dollar spent. That's an | | | | Let me translate - "credits" mean MONEY! The |
| overpriced hybrid car.The truth is that hybrids may | | | | maximum credit for light-duty vehicles is expected to |
| get better mileage than a traditional car, but it's | | | | be about $3,400.When Uncle Sam starts handing out |
| nothing to write home about. First, hybrids cost more. | | | | cash, two exciting things begin happening. Number |
| The slightly better mileage means that if you keep | | | | One: Lobbyist begin shoveling it into their pockets. |
| your hybrid car for from 3 to 5 years you may make | | | | Number two: Lights go on in garages all across the |
| up for the higher cost. That doesn't seem like such a | | | | country as inventors strive to solve the problem. You |
| good deal, does it? But it's all we have and that's | | | | might say they are burning the midnight oil - one of |
| why folks are buying the darn things.The good news | | | | the few fuels that is not necessarily in short |
| is that big improvements are on the way. AFS Trinity | | | | supply.Some point out that there is already a system |
| Power Corp. has been awarded a patent for a new | | | | to make biodiesel from vegetable oils for as little as |
| flywheel technology that is expected to be used in | | | | 70 cents a gallon. This fuel does not contribute to |
| second-generation flywheel/diesel hybrid trucks and | | | | global warming, has no obnoxious odor and is overall |
| buses.This new flywheel within a flywheel technology | | | | pollutant-free. Did you know that years ago Rudolf |
| is expected to make possible two key functions in | | | | Diesel invented the diesel engine to run on peanut oil? |
| both automobile and stationary power systems that | | | | Nutty, huh?Another alternative mentioned from time |
| utilize fuel cells and/or micro turbines. The problem is | | | | to time is alcohol fuel, or ethanol. It is usually made |
| that these gadgets are constant power output | | | | from fermented corn; it blends as much as 85 |
| devices, which means they can't speed up fast | | | | percent alcohol and 15 percent gasoline and runs |
| enough for acceptable acceleration and passing. The | | | | gasoline engines very nicely. Oh, it has a minor |
| new flywheel gizmo may correct that.Is this the huge | | | | drawback, if you consider being highly explosive a |
| breakthrough in automotive propulsion that we've | | | | drawback. That stuff could turn a Morris Mini into a |
| been waiting for? Probably not, but it's an indication | | | | rocket ship!Yes, I hate the hybrids... of today, but I |
| that a bunch of really smart people are working on | | | | just can't wait to see what's coming tomorrow.Mark |
| the problem of developing a car that gets a million | | | | Walters writes about hybrid vehicles at and offers a |
| miles per gallon... or something like that.President Bush | | | | free course titled Car Buying Tips. |