We’ve all read it in the news. The gas mileage on the sticker is not the gas mileage we really get. We’ve come to accept it. Really, we don’t even consider it to be a scam. It’s a way of life, just like the fact that my cereal doesn’t really stay crispy in milk. I’m not going to write the cereal company and complain, and I’m not going to be upset if my car only gets 20mpg instead of 22mpg. But it’s not just about gas mileage anymore. No, now it seems that automakers are thinking they can really pull one over on consumers.

The plan started out simply enough. A few posts ago, I wrote about a Prius being fitted with a solar panel. I was interested in it, and it sounded like a great idea. The process was being done for research, and it seemed like it might turn into something great.

Apparently, though, the Gods at Toyota could not allow a good PR stunt to slip through their fingers. Instead of waiting for this research to be completed and actually gain something from it, they have started the ball rolling to outfit their Prius with a very small solar panel on the roof.

That’s great, right? Solar power can really be wonderful.

Don’t buy into it. This solar panel will have enough energy to partially power the air conditioner. Yes, you read that right. I said PARTIALLY.

In order to get the most out of the global gasoline hysteria, Toyota is going to try to convince consumers that this little solar panel is actually going to help them with their mileage. However, rumors are already circulating that this is just a scam to sell more vehicles.

Solar energy is a tricky process. In order for a small solar panel to actually get enough energy to power a vehicle, it’s going to have to sit out in the sun for a long time. Basically, don’t plan on going anywhere until 2010 if you’re waiting for that solar panel to take you there. Park it in the sun and go live your life. Then come back to it later.

Hopefully, people will not fall victim to this sad PR stunt. Just as gas stations like to jump up their rates after a national disaster or a terrorist attack, the automakers are now getting into the hysteria game and giving consumers ideas that their products are actually better than they really are.

The important thing to remember is to always do the necessary research before you purchase a vehicle. Just because a company tells you that something is a certain way does not mean that it is. They want to sell cars, and in some cases they will do whatever it takes to do just that.

Toyota has yet to announce their intentions of outfitting the Prius with a solar panel. However, insiders have confirmed that Toyota is getting ready to begin the process, which they refer to as a “symbolic gesture.” Their symbolic gesture is the next person’s scam.

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We’ve all felt the frustration. Gas prices are rising, and we are all stuck with our current vehicles, like it or not. In most cases, we have gas guzzling monsters that are more interested in going fast than saving money. One man decided to take action. Instead of whining every time he whipped out the plastic at the local gas station, he did something about it. A grandfather from Illinois managed to beat the system.

Robert Swafford was feeling the crunch at the gas pump. His Chevrolet Z-71 pickup truck was registering a mere 17 miles per gallon, and Swafford, a former construction worker, decided to do what the car companies have been promising the public for years. He rolled up his sleeves and went out to his truck and actually got to work. After he did a lot of research, that is.

Swafford managed to build a hydrogen converter for his truck. His plan started when he noticed that the truck had an extra place for a battery. That caused him to think about the things about hydrogen vehicles he had seen in the news. Then, he read up on the subject and gathered all of the knowledge that he could.

Swafford got his truck up and running by running an electrical connection through water. The hydrogen on demand system works by filling a reservoir with water and a substance such as baking soda or mineral water. The mixture combines with the gas, and causes the fuel to burn differently. Not only does Swafford’s truck now burn less fuel, but it also lets off fewer carbon emissions.

Swafford claims that he is still not done with his truck. He’s ready to get back to work and see what else he can do.

Maybe Swafford could get a job with one of the major car manufacturers. It’s nice to see that something is actually running and not just a “concept.” With people like Swafford, we might actually get to see a few more vehicles on the road, instead of just at car shows. Swafford was tired of waiting for the future and decided to make things happen now.

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Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to convert a standard vehicle into a hybrid? Imagine taking your non hybrid vehicle, dropping it off at a conversion center, and having a hybrid when you went back to pick it up. In California, U.C. Davis engineering professor Andy Frank says that is about to become a reality. A $10,000 reality, that is.

About thirty years ago, Frank started working on technology to convert average vehicles into hybrids. His findings have allowed him to convert vehicles so they can go dozens of miles without using any gas. Frank claims that his technology will work with any gas burning vehicle on the market. That leaves a lot of possibilities for consumers.

With Frank’s technology, all that owners will have to do to keep their vehicles charged up and ready to go is plug them in. The technology will be very easy to use. In fact, consumers will not even have to install it. Frank says that within the next few years, there will be conversion centers all over the country. Those conversion centers will take one of Frank’s kits and convert the vehicle into a hybrid.

With Frank’s conversion kit, vehicles will get around 40 mpg. That means that within three to four years, the average driver will be able to recoup the costs of the conversion. Still, some people might shy away from the $10,000 it will cost to purchase the kit.

Currently, there is a race for companies to get conversion kits into the market. There is a large market available for these companies, as people want the benefits of a hybrid vehicle without actually going to the dealership and purchasing a new car. Consumers should feel very comfortable with the time and research that Frank put into his conversion kit.

As the gas prices continue to rise, Frank announced that he plans to mass produce his kit very soon. The kit is expected to be a hit with consumers who are looking for some relief at the gas pump. Those who are far sighted enough to look into the future will realize that the price will be recouped and the kit will be worth it in the long run.

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What do magnesium, titanium, and aluminum have in common? They have the ability to make a fuel efficient, lightweight vehicle. The VW One Liter Car uses those materials to lower the weight of the vehicle to an impressive 660 pounds. What does that mean for the consumer?

In a nutshell, it means 282 mpg. Needless to say, that’s a lot of miles.

Of course, the fuel efficiency is not only due to weight. Weight does play into it, but so does the aerodynamic design of the vehicle. The vehicle is long and is low to the ground, and it has many features to optimize aerodynamics.

Consider the engine cooling vents of this vehicle. While most vehicles keep their engine cooling vents open at all times, the One Liter Car only opens the engine cooling vents as the vents are needed.

Then, it also took a lesson from airplanes. It uses an aircraft like canopy to make it even more aerodynamic.

Also, the two seater has the passenger sit behind the driver. This allows for the car to be incredibly narrow and aerodynamic.

This vehicle is a candy store for the vehicle lover. It’s like the Batmobile has finally become available for the public. There are enough awe inspiring features to make even the biggest cynics nod their heads and say that VW got it right.

For instance, instead of using mirror, this vehicle uses video cameras. VW uses all high end concepts for this vehicle. It is a fun vehicle that actually gets great gas mileage.

Initially, VW did not expect to manufacture this vehicle in 2012 because of expense. Now, however, they plan on beginning production and having the car ready to hit the roads as early as 2010. They do not plan to have the vehicle mass produced by that time, but they expect to have as many as 1,000 available for the roads.

While a price has not been set yet, the car is expected to sell from $32,000 to $47,000. The cutting edge technology and materials are expected to be costly when the vehicle finally hits dealerships in 2010.

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The die hard do it yourself type of people often like to roll up their sleeves, head outside, and make some modifications to their car. Those modifications can give them the benefits of driving a hybrid without actually having to purchase a hybrid, or they can improve their current hybrid. In order for people to get this done, they used to have to do all of the work themselves. Now, thanks to the kits that are hitting the market, you no longer have to be a mechanic in order to convert your car.

A large number of E85 conversion kits have just hit the market. These kits allow for almost any vehicle to convert to E85 fuel. As long as you have a fuel-injected vehicle, you can probably change it to a fuel-flex vehicle for less than $400.

Sounds great, right?

Since it hit the market, flex fuel vehicles have been hard to classify as good or bad. That is why these kits have not exactly been met with open arms. People are quick to name many of the bad things that go with flex-fuel vehicles.

On one hand, it is difficult to find a fueling station that has E85. Most areas do not have very many, if they have any at all. This can cause a problem for people who want to fuel up.

Another concern is how far vehicles can actually go on E85. When a car is converted to E85, it is speculated that it will actually go a lot shorter of a distance than it went on gasoline. It is anticipated that many vehicles will not adapt to the low energy density of E85.

Still, no one can deny that E85 vehicles leave less of a carbon footprint than their gas only counterparts. It is important for people to weigh the environmental impact with the problems before deciding to convert their vehicle.

Currently, E85 is not used in many vehicles. It is still considered to be in the testing phase. There have not been enough people who have used it to truly say that it is a good thing or a bad thing. In the meantime, people may want to avoid converting their vehicles until more is said about taking this measure.

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One of the biggest complaints people have about hybrid vehicles is the cost. They want to save money at the pump, but they do not want to pay the extra money for the technology. Tony Markel thinks that he can help bring the costs down on hybrid vehicles. He has taken a 2006 Toyota Prius, revamped it, and says that if hybrids are made his way, people will get more performance for their money.

Markel, a senior engineer at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, sites the battery that came with his prius. It came with a nickel-metal hydride pack, and Markel took that out and replaced it with lithium-ion batteries.

Markel believes this will be a more cost effective and durable measure that hybrid manufactures can take. But he did not stop there.

In an effort to get the most out of the available energy sources, Markel also set up a solar panel on top of the Prius. Right now, the solar panel gets enough solar energy to go five miles. It is currently only in the test phase, so they do not know the limitations with this as of yet.

Markel and his team are also working on vehicle to grid charging. The idea is to charge plug ins at night. The team thinks that by doing this, some of the power can be returned to the grid the next day. Automakers are not experimenting with this idea, so people are leaning to Markel and his team to understand more about this concept.

What they do know is that this plug-in Prius gets 100 mpg and can go 50 miles off of a charge. Even though it is in the experimental stage, Markel says that he expects to see this technology out on the roads before we know it. He feels that his team has made great progress in their research, and will be able to bring down the price of hybrid vehicles in the future. As hybrids become more affordable, people can finally have the opportunity to purchase one and find out what so many people are talking about.

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Those people who have a lot of extra cash in their wallets can get the SUV of their dreams that actually gets pretty good gas mileage. Luxury automakers are no longer making as many of the SUVs that only get 15 mpg. Now, they are changing with the times and putting out a product that is much more fuel efficient. With the sale of SUVs continuing to decline, it was a measure they had to take. While some people still associate SUVs with gas burners, they have finally become moderate in their fuel efficiency. To show you the changes, I have compiled a list of the ten most fuel efficient luxury SUVs, along with their prices.

10. Infiniti FX35-17.5 mpg-$38,050

9. Land Rover LR2-18mpg-$33,895

8. Lincoln MKX-18.5 mpg-$35,420

7. Acura RDX-19 mpg-$33,195

6. BMW X3-19.5 mpg-$38,000

5. Lexus RX 350-19.5 mpg-$37,400

4. Mercedes-Benz GL320CDI-21 mpg-$53,775

3. Mercedes-Benz ML320CDI-21 mpg-$44,425

2. Mercedes-Benz R320 CDI4MTIC-21 mpg-$46,175

1. Lexus RX 400h-25 mpg-$41,800

Granted, these vehicles are not cheap by any standards. You are paying for that gas mileage, and you are paying dearly. However, they are much better than many of the other SUVs that are on the market today.

However, consumers need to keep in mind that the luxury SUVs are not getting better fuel efficiency than the non luxury SUVs with the best fuel efficiency do. That makes it difficult to make the huge purchase for a luxury SUV.

However, crossover vehicles are changing things for SUV manufactures. A big part of the reason that fuel economy is getting better is because of these crossover vehicles. There are a lot of advantages to crossovers, including:

§ More comfortable ride
§ Better gas mileage
§ Multi-functional

Increased fuel economy and a growing number of crossover vehicles might be just what the SUV market needed. SUV manufacturers are seeing increased profit from crossover SUVs, which shows that it might not be time to bury the SUV after all. They might be making a comeback, only in a different package this time around. It should prove to be a much greater success than SUVs have had in the past.

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There’s good news for people who want a good car on a budget. Consumer Reports just released the most fuel efficient cars for under $10,000. While these cars are used, they have managed to stand up to the years, and continue to deliver great gas mileage, year after year. They are proof that you can go green while on a budget.

2000 Honda Insight

When this three cylinder vehicle hit the scene in 2000, it was the first electric and gas hybrid that was sold in the United States. If you are lucky enough to find one of these for sale, you can get it for less than $10,000. It delivers an average of 51 miles per gallon. Imagine getting that kind of mileage for under 10k.

2001-2002 Toyota Prius

This version of the Prius used a four cylinder engine, along with an electric motor, to get 41 mpg. This has proven to be a durable car, and it is still a great find for those who are on a budget.

2000-2005 Toyota Echo

Known for its fuel efficiency, Toyota makes the list yet again. This car gets 38 mpg, and you have several years to choose from to get the price and mileage you want.

1998-2002 Chevrolet Prizm

When this vehicle was first unveiled, it was called a Geo. Eventually it became a Chevy model, and it managed to get 32 mpg. This model is quite a bit like the Corolla.

1998 Mazda Protégé LX

Not much has been said about this model throughout the years, but it makes the list with 32 mpg. It’s affordable, it gets great mileage, and it’s a good car for those in the market for something affordable.

1998-2000 Toyota Corolla CE/LE

Toyota has managed to have an affordable, reliable product with their Corolla year after year; it has managed to impress people with its mileage and durability. It is not a surprise to see it on the list at 32 mpg.

1998-2001 Acura Integra LS

Acura’s model manages to hold its own in the competition, coming in with 32 mpg.

2004-2005 Scion xA

The last car to make our list is not as old as the others. You can buy a 2005 version of this Scion and get 31 mpg.

There are a lot of cars available for you that fit into a tight budget. If fuel economy is what you are after, you can get it, even if you do not spend much money.

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There was a time when luxury car buyers shelled out all of that extra cash for bad gas mileage. Happily, those days are gone. Now, the luxury automakers are upping the ante in the race for a greener environment by putting out some respectable models of their own. Here are the ten most fuel efficient vehicles that the luxury automakers are currently offering.

1. Mercedes-Benz Bluetec-This diesel ran version of the Mercedes has the torque of a V-8 and the best gas mileage of any other luxury vehicle. At 23 city and 32 highway mpg, it is very impressive, not only for a luxury vehicle but for a vehicle in general.

2. Audi TT 2.0TT-The Audi barely missed first place. With 22 city and 30 highway mpg, it should be very proud of its second place standing.

3. Audi A3 2.0T-This sporty four door hatchback gets 21 city and
29 highway mpg.

4. Lexus G5 450h-This is one of the two hybrids that Lexus sells. The V-6 gets 22 city and 25 highway mpg.

5. Audi A4 2.0T-The model with the continuously variable transmission gets 20 city and 28 highway mpg.

6. Volvo S40 2.4i-Volvo coasts onto the list with 20 city and 28 highway mpg.

7. Acura TSX-The for cylinder entry level model gets 19 city and 28 highway mpg.

8. Lexus IS 250-Great gas mileage isn’t the only thing this Lexus is known for, as it is also the lowest priced Lexus on the market. The vehicle gets 20 city and 27 highway mpg

9. Porsche Boxster/Cayman-The 2.7 liter, six cylinder model gets 19 city and 28 highway mpg.

10. Volvo C30-This two door hatchback just made the list by getting 19 city and 27 highway mpg.

As you can see, there is a different breed of luxury vehicles out there now. Manufacturers of all levels are beginning to appreciate what an eco-friendly car can do for their sales. There was a time when luxury automakers did not have to bother themselves with such a thing, but that has changed. Now, everyone is beginning to take part in the quest for a better environment.

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So today, as I slid behind the wheel of my car, turned the key, and heard it start, a slight tear formed in the corner of my eye. It was the tear of memories, the tear that can only come from remembering something from the not so great past. And my past memory was of my 1978 Plymouth Volare.

Now, you are probably thinking I’m sixty five years old, but sadly, this was my first car, and the car was in its twenties when I bought it. In my defense, I was a young person out on my own for the first time. Also, I drank a lot back then so the car looked much better.

Back then, you couldn’t just step in the car, turn the key and go. You had to prime it. And it ate some serious gas.

On top of that, I had further fuel difficulties. I had a little problem with the choke of the Big V, and a friend of mine fixed it. After this, I made a personal promise to never pay people with beer to fix mechanical things. It seems that they start drinking while they’re still working. So two hours and a twelve pack later, my friend, who we will call D, had my car “fixed.” After his adjustments, it went thirty miles an hour without touching the gas and got about seven miles to the gallon.

Believe it or not, I am going somewhere with this story. I just needed to lay out the background first. So let’s see…1978 Volare, seven miles a gallon, and I can no longer drive through school zones because I can’t slow my car down to the 25mph speed limit without riding the brake.

And that made me think about this:

Has anyone noticed how much even the non hybrid cars have evolved through the years?

Right now, we are in the middle of a movement toward greater fuel efficiency, but when you look at how the cars used to be, it is amazing. Consider this: the average car in 1975 got 13.5 miles per gallon. I think that my Volare was right on schedule with that mess.

We might not be moving as fast as we want people to move, but we are moving. While at times I do miss the Volare with her burnt orange interior that was so roomy multiple children were probably conceived in it (I’m still paying the child support on some of them), at least now I can make it around the block without refueling.

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