Alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles

[admin]

Honda has established itself as one of the premiere car manufacturing companies in the development and integration of alternative fuels into its vehicles. It has won countless awards for its advancements in alternative fuels and continues to develop new automobiles and technologies that are more efficient, saving you money in gasoline costs and helping to reduce the pollution caused by automobiles.

In recent months, gas prices have spiraled out of control and many are predicting that the cost of gasoline will soon hit $20 a gallon and beyond, making it unaffordable for the vast majority of people. This has a major effect on the vehicle industry which now relies primarily on gasoline to power automobiles. In a response to these rising gas prices, many car manufacturers have worked hard to develop alternate sources of power for their vehicles. Currently, hybrid cars are the most popular alternatives to regular gasoline powered cars, while the use of ethanol to power automobiles is also becoming very popular here in North America, and abroad.

Honda has become a leader in the quest to develop, new, more efficient ways to power cars that come from a reusable source, are cost effective, and help protect the environment.Over the last six months, new Honda vehicles have won numerous awards for their use of alternative fuels that are cheaper to use and help protect the environment.

In January, the Honda Civic Hybrid was awarded the title of 'Best New Alternative Powered Automobile' by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada and then less than a month later, the Honda Civic GX and Honda Insight, both tied for first place in the 'Greenest Car of the Year' awards given to the car who best utilizes alternative fuels to protect the environment. The Honda Civic Hybrid was fourth on the list. (You may also remember that the Honda Insight was the world's first hybrid vehicle)

"This ACEEE (American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy who compose the list of the Greenest Cars of the Year) acknowledgement speaks directly to the commitment Honda has made to lead the industry in lowering emissions and increasing fuel economy" said John Mendel, senior vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "Combined with our 'Safety for Everyone' initiative, Honda continues to set the standard for socially and environmentally-responsible automotive products."

Honda also took home another 'Greenest Car' award in 2006 when the Honda Odyssey, Honda's premier minivan which has become one of the hottest selling Minivans in the United States, won the award of the 'Greenest Minivan'.

On its most recent project, Honda recently announced that the new Honda Civic GX, which runs on natural gas, produces nearly zero emissions, and can easily be refueled, will become available for purchase in New York in the fall of 2006. This new car is considered by many to be the most environmental friendly car ever created and greatly reduces gasoline costs for customers. The new Civic GX gets a city/highway Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rated fuel economy of 28/39 miles per gallon, and is considered by many of the top car critics as the 'cleanest car on Earth'. Natural gas is more than 25% less expensive than normal gasoline and should save consumed hundreds, if not thousands of dollars each year in gasoline prices, especially as the price for gas increases. Apart from saving thousands of dollars in gas costs annually, in an attempt to promote the sale of cars such as the Civic GX, which are not as damaging to the environment as some of the other automobiles on the market today, everyone who buys this car when it is released is qualified for a tax break of up to $5000.

Apart from purchasing an automobile that will consume less gasoline, there are a few things that you can do to Honda vehicles to make them even more economically efficient in terms of gasoline usage. Inflating your tires and watching the speed at which you drive can be two very good ways to improve your fuel economy. Also, replacing stock Honda parts with performance parts that are more effective and get more power by using less gas as well as getting frequent tune ups and having a professional check your engine are also proven methods of increasing your fuel economy and saving hundreds of dollars in gasoline costs.

With all of the advancements that Honda has made in the last few years in developing alternative fuel and energy sources for automobiles, the company has only just began. There are hundreds of new concepts and ideas of how to power automobiles that are being designed and tested by the car manufacturer's talented team of technicians. As of late, many of these technicians are looking for a way to make all of Honda's vehicles come in a hybrid version, while also trying to utilize the use of ethanol from corn or sugarcane to power automobiles. It would not be surprising if Honda is the one who develops and integrates the next big advancement in alternative fuel or become the first car company to manufacture and sell hydrogen powered cars on a large scale basis, something they have been trying to develop for a long time. After all, they were the first company to ever create a hybrid vehicle and are leading the way in the use of natural gas to power cars.

The environmental and financial advantages of owning and driving a Honda vehicle is just another reason why more people should look into the reliable and stylish car manufacturer. Honda creates a large assortment of cars and other motor vehicles and expands its lineup every year so that it creates a car for everyone. Not only are Honda vehicles, reliable, stylish, and environmental friendly, they are also very economical with many costing less than $20,000. If you are in the market for a new or used vehicle, you should definitely consider a Honda vehicle.


By: Amit Mahesh
DISCLAIMER: The contents of this article are not necessarily the official views of, nor endorsed by, the owner of HondaClub(com).

[Cole]

I hope these advances keep coming, I'm sick of the gas prices nowadays. O_o

Whatever happened to the prototype water/hydrogen car?

[EyesofFreedom]

Our company is currently working on setting all 26 divisions up with a bio-diesel conversion processor and all of our trucks, forklifts, and bobcats will be running on bio-diesel. We are expecting to be able to manufacture this for about $.75 to $1.25 per gallon.

Unfortunately I do not know of any Honda diesel powered cars. But if they start making them I will be one of the first to buy one and convert it over!