Features of Hybrid SUV Models

Hybrid sports utility vehicles (SUVs) are high performance vehicles that are compatible to using two distinct sources of power- the gasoline engine and the electric motor. This provides a fuel efficient source of power.

 

The ‘milder’ hybrids are dependent primarily on the gas engine. They use a small electric motor/ generator to supplement this. There are also ‘strong’ hybrids in which the electric motor is given a larger role enabling it to propel the car on its own at low speeds.

 

Hybrid SUV Models

 

Toyota and Lexus are providers of hybrid SUVs. Honda provides the mild hybrids. These are the ones that rely mainly on the gas engine while using a small electric motor or generator to supplement it. Toyota Prius and Ford Escape Hybrid are examples of strong hybrids which have a larger role ascribed for the electric motor.

 

Features and Functionalities of Hybrid SUVs

 

The pathway of energy for the Hybrid SUVs can vary to wide extents. This depends upon various conditions and demands of the driver. Usually it is the electric motor that provides most of the momentum while driving at lower speeds despite the engine revving. The excessive power from the engine is absorbed by the smaller motor or generator and then routed back to the main motor to be used either for providing the energy to move the car or for charging the battery pack.

 

A simple system is involved in the Hybrid SUV setup. No rotating belt is there as in case of conventional Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). There are simply two electric motors and a gas engine that is permanently linked together using a planetary gear set. The driver can perceive nothing but only a smooth flow of power in spite of the fact that there is a lot of variation in the different modes.

 

There is a third electric motor or generator in case of the RX400h and Highlander Hybrid 4WD-i – two models of Hybrid SUVs. It is worth noting that the front-wheel-drive Highlanders do not have this motor. These Hybrid SUV models have none of the typical elements present in an all-wheel-drive system, namely, individual drive shafts connecting the front and rear axles and a center differential varying the power split. The independent third electric motor or generator rated for 68 hp and 96 lb-ft of torque is instead built into a rear transaxle.  It is only in times of need like during hard acceleration or starting on a slippery surface that the rear electric motor comes into play. While moving under force of gravity (coasting) and braking, this rear electric motor acts as a generator. In other circumstances the two models work as front drive SUVs.

 

Toyota Prius Is The Most Popular Hybrid Car.

The Toyota Prius is still the most popular and best-selling hybrid car in the US and world today. When the Prius was released back in 1997 it pioneered the trend towards hybrid vehicles.

Purchases of the Toyota Prius started to rise as more models were released, even though, initially, sales of the now-popular hybrid vehicle were not very good. Toyota released its second-generation Prius in 2003 as the first midsize hybrid available to the public, and that year it was named Car of the Year by Motor Trend magazine.

People are not just buying hybrids because of the environmental and health issues, but also because of the soaring gas prices which is leading people to look for alternatives. Prius is the number one choice due to its simplicity and price, although, there are many hybrid cars to choose from.

Many improvements have been made to the latest hybrid vehicles. While the first version of the Toyota Prius had excellent fuel efficiency, air conditioning was the sole option available. The second generation vehicle improved on the first in aesthetics, speed, and size. It is the first sedan of its class and size and has won numerous awards.

It employs the Synergy hybrid system used by all of Toyota's hybrid vehicles. It has a 1.5 liter 4 cylinder engine with smart valve timing along with an eternal magnet Ac synchronous motor. It has 110 horsepower (combining electric power with gas power) and 46 mpg fuel economy (city and highway mileage combined, as rated by EPA).

It has an electronically controlled continuous variable transmission, anti-lock system and regenerative breaking. The environment benifits because of the low 89% emissions.

Power windows, cloth seats, micron filter air-conditioners, cruise control, door locks, and keyless remote entry are included as standard features in the second generation Toyota Prius. Switches can be found on the steering wheel that controls the climate, audio and cruise control.

Customers have the option of buying the vehicle with a navigational system with Bluetooth technology. What makes it different from any other hybrids on the market is that it uses a power button to start the ingition rather than a key. An energy motor is mounted on the dashboard which indicates the flow of power between the engine, electric motor and battery pack.

While the second-generation Toyota Prius isn't the most stylish of the available hybrids, its low price, high miles per gallon, and environmentally minded features combine to make it extremely attractive. If you're looking for practicality why not choose the pioneer?

You can find more great information and articles about hybrid cars, including the Toyota Prius, on our website.

Growing Bonsai Trees

Bonsai tree cultivation is a Japanese tradition for hundreds and hundreds of years.  Translating literally to "tray planting," growing a bonsai tree involves actively working to shape a tree into a dwarfed, artistic version of itself.  A bonsai tree is not a special dwarf or hybrid species of a common tree; they’re genetically identical to their larger brothers and sisters.  It’s the careful cultivation and shaping techniques that keeps these trees small.  However, the trees are not sick or damaged.  In fact, given the correct attention, the bonsai version of a tree can live longer than the same tree if it was allowed to grow in the wild.

Grown from seeds or cuttings, Bonsai trees normally range in height from two inches to three feet.  They are kept miniture through pruning both branches and roots.  Additionally, new growth is frequently removed when they are repotted periodically. 

There is a much about art as there is about horticulture in the cultivating of bonsai trees.  Bonsai trees are not only kept miniture, they are also shaped into pleasing forms.  They frequently follow a number of different growth patterns, from simple triangles to waterfall shapes cascading down over their pots.  The shapes are usually a product of both the pruning of the tree and through the use of wrapping the branches and trunk with wire, pushing the tree into its desired shape.  Chosen to compliment the color and shape of the tree itself, the pots are also part of the art of bonsai.  Rocks and mosses are frequently added to the base for aesthetic appeal. 

Cultivating a bonsai tree is more complicated than the growing of most houseplants.  Since the bonsai, by definition, has has a smaller root system than most plants, it needs fertilizer and water more often than the majority of garden-variety houseplants.  Occasional pruning is also essential, since without pruning the bonsai tree would grow into just a normal size tree.  Also, if wire is used to help mold and form the tree, it is important to take care that the wire doesn’t dig into the bark of the tree, scarring the branches permanently.  Depending on the type of bonsai tree and your climate, you may be able to keep some bonsai trees outside year round, while others will need to be kept inside for at least part of the year.  Moisture is also important, not only in the soil but in the branches and leaves of the bonsai.  They need to be misted occasionally for the bonsai to remain healthy. 

Different Types Of Solar Energy

Passive Solar Energy

Solar panels can be used to create the type of solar energy that does not require mechanical aid called passive solar energy. This type of technology uses sunlight to provide heating and cooling of water and air. This quite interesting in that the very design and location of a home will be based on this technology. The altitude of the sun in winter and summer, the geographical location of your home are all variables in utilizing passive solar energy. One example of use of passive solar energy would be a sunroom, or solarium.

Passive solar energy can be used based on the construction of a house to supply energy for heat, and to cool your home. Heat is ventilated into your home after storage. You can also heat your water using passive solar energy. It has been noted that solar panels used to generate passive solar energy to heat water generate more power than those used for generating electricity. Maybe we should call passive solar energy, straight sun power.

The trick to passive solar energy is that it doesn't have to convert solar energy into electricity, thus losing a certain amount of energy in the process. What you're left with is a more efficient heating and cooling system than you would have if you converted solar energy into electricity and then used that solar energy for your water heater, electric heat registers, and air conditioners.

However, you may want to complement the cooling aspect of this system with a dehumidifier or two to take the humidity out of the air, which can make the cooling feel a lot more efficient, or you may even want to have an air conditioner for back up for particularly hot days that reach degrees in the three digits. People in Texas and Nevada, Arizona, will need this.

Solar panels will cover about 1/3 the total square feet of your home. Whether you are using panels for passive solar energy or solar energy for electricity, or both, the cost savings is worth it. In time it will pay for the initial cost of installation. Installing your home solar energy system right the first time with aid of a professional will position you to enjoy free energy safe for the environment and beneficial to your family. Not to mention, increase the value of your home.

Feel free to visit our blog on more golf swing software tips and tricks and free articles.

Hybrid Car Buying Options

The hybrid car market has built upon us slowly but steadily over the last decade ago. If you can remember back that far you’ll recall that gas was hovering around a dollar a gallon and we were in an economic boom, right on the edge of the dotcom bubble and the economic reality of the new millennium.

The last half decade or so has brought a few other realities as well, the most prevalent being the truth in global warming. The social effects are just now starting to be seen, right alongside the commercial effects. The evolution of the automobile has sidled right up to the plate as the next major development. For those interested in helping out by owning one of the new generation of the car, your choices were limited for a long time, but with each passing year a whole new slew of options open up as car companies hop onto the bandwagon, realizing that there is in fact money to be made in this market.

Until Ford finally announced their Escape model recently, the market has been dominated by Japanese automakers, and even now as more American companies get involved, they have nearly a ten year head start in the market.

Toyota Prius – The most popular and oldest of all hybrid models, the Prius is one of the cheapest models available as well as the most efficient with nearly 60 mpg. There is a downside to being the most popular however – a waiting list of two to nine months.

Honda Insight – Honda’s new entry, the Insight is a straight up competitor to the Prius, with a slightly lower price point and slightly higher mpg. It doesn’t have the establishment of brand name like Toyota hybrids, but the success of Civic and Accord hybrids in Honda’s line places them in a better position than any other car company to take Toyota on.

Ford Escape – The Escape Hybrid is the first time an American car company has offered a hybrid vehicle to the public. Their first entry is an attempt to pacify both markets at the same time, offering a more expensive SUV hybrid that gets significantly better mileage than most SUVs on the market, but still fails to come anywhere near the Toyota or Honda mileage standards.

Lexus and Toyota have offered their own entries into the SUV hybrid arena, with the Lexus RX 400h and Toyota Highlander respectively. The popularity of the SUV being what it is, the price point is rendered partially if not entirely mute, as those on the cusp of buying an SUV because of gas mileage might reconsider when these options are presented.

With upwards of 10 new models supposedly being unveiled later this year, the list of hybrid cars available to the public is growing rapidly, finally catching up to the demand that Toyota and their over-stuffed order forms can attest to. What remains to be seen now is if the kind of technology race that this market needs is coming right behind.

Water Filters - 4 Healthy Reasons to Use Them

Getting a pure water filter is important to every household as it gives a lot of benefits in the long-run. Here are some reasons why do you need a pure water filter.

Reason #1: Pure water filter for a healthier life

The word "filter" give a basic impression of the function is which to filter the water from things such as bacteria, pesticides and contamination which is hazardous to our health. This is because although water are treated in water treatment plant before it flows into the water system in each household but there are some bacteria or pesticides that resists the treatment facilities effort. The standard treatment such as chemical disinfection does not eliminate cryptosporidium cysts - a common water contamination that are resistant to the chemical disinfection. Cysts, a form of parasite or microscopic creature can cost illness, commonly known as "stomach flu" which can cause fatality.

Reason #2: Inexpensive

Pure water filters are not expensive as many people thought it to be as there are many varieties and different categories to choose to catered to all households' needs. Ditch the idea of buying bottled water as a substitute in getting clean water instead of installing pure water filter. This is because in a practical manner, buying bottled water as your water supply will cost you more in the long run and bottled water may not be necessary safe as water standard are not stated in the label.

Reason #3: Fun with pure water filters

As mentioned above, there are many varieties of water filters such as faucet fillers, pitchers, refrigerator (Yes! You can install in it too, depending on your refrigerator model) and dispensers type. And who says drinking water is dull and tasteless? To add the fun, there is also flavor filters that comes in strawberry grape, peach or lemon flavor.

Reason #4: Go green & be happy

Substituting bottled water with pure water filter is a right choice for everyone as you can save the earth from "consuming" the plastic bottles which take years to be dispose at land-fills. In addition, filtered water is often chlorine-free and this provides safe, clean and odorless water for drinking, washing and bathing, compared to consuming unfiltered water or bottle water.

In conclusion, getting a pure water filter is a step of a healthier life, inexpensive, fun and at the same time, allows you to go green by being environmental friendly and a happier you. Now, isn't that every good reasons for you to install pure water filter today!

Health Hazards of using Chlorine in Bleach

Last week I went to clean the bathroom. I got my bowl full of hot soapy water and added Clorox Bleach to it. Within a few minutes my throat seemed tight, my lungs were having a hard time breathing and I had to go outside for quite a while before these feelings left. I walked back into the house just to leave again because I could now smell the fumes throughout the house. I don't remember ever having this type of reaction before so I thought I would do some investigating and identify what caused this.

My first approach is to identify what compounds make up bleach. I pulled out my bottle of Clorox Bleach and it says the ingredients are:

• 6% Sodium Hypochlorite
• 94% Other ingredients

Below it says that it yields 5.7% available chlorine.

Now that I know what the ingredients are - well at least 6% of the known ingredients I want to learn what Sodium Hypochlorite is and my research found this:

Sodium hypochlorite is made by mixing chlorine gas in a cold sodium hydroxide solution. Chlorine when a gas form can only become liquid when cold and then it converts back to a gas easily once released. Chlorine Gas stays close to the ground and spreads quickly exposing those closer to the ground to harmful toxic fumes.

What types of products have chlorine in them?

• used as disinfectants in our water systems
• household cleaners like laundry detergents
• Bleach

Other names for chlorine:

• Triahlomethanes
• PCB's Polychlorinated biphenyls
• Vinyl Chloride
• Organochlorines
• C12
• Molecular Chlorine
• Bertholite

Cleaning 101 suggestions without using Chlorine products:

Since this situation took place last week I have decided that my body is telling me that I should no longer be using Bleach so I have identified some other ways of cleaning without killing my throat, lungs and nose airways.

• Distilled White Vinegar works as well if not better than bleach
• 20 drops of Essential Oil of Lavender to 1 cup of tap water in a water bottle
• Microwave wood cutting boards for over 10 minutes or let soak in soapy water

Also look at companies like Seventh Generation who creates healthy products for daily use including chlorine free bleach.

seventhgeneration.com

Basic Car Maintenance to Save on Gas at the pump

As a nation we can all do little things to help conserve on our fuel economy. If you drive a car, truck or SUV you know the prices of gas is high. I remember when we used to fill up our Toyota at $16.00 a tank (and we thought that was high) now it's over $36.00 a tank.

We always try to remember to check these items to lower that $$ price per gallon need

• Buy gasoline at the earliest or coldest time of the day. Gas becomes dense when cold and you get more for your money.
• Inflate tires to the manufacturers setting. This can help increase miles per gallon by 3%.
• Remove items from your trunk. The more weight you are driving around the more gas you are sucking down.
• Change the Air Filter - I learned this one when I was 16 in Auto Class at High School.
• In Drivers Education I was taught that if I maintained speeds between 45 - 55 mph I would conserve gas.
• Use Cruise Control as it helps maintain a steady speed saving you potentially some gas.
• Remove racks and carriers. Living in Utah you will see a lot of cars with ski racks on and they all know that keeping these on during summer reduces their gas mileage.
• Buy lower vehicles which encounter less wind resistance
• Avoid the Drive Through as the idling time usually takes over 6 minutes waiting to order, pay and get food.
• Carpool 1x a week or give someone else a lift
• Use Public Transportation
• Look for state Tax incentives to buy new car "types" like Biodiesel
• Once you are on the road complete all Tasks so you don't need to take "extra" trips back out.

Driving cheaply makes everyone happy!

8 tons of carbon output

I just went and took the ECP Test to identify my carbon footprint in the United States. I came up with a 261 ECP Score or as they consider a Carbon Output of 8 tons. It amazes me that it could be that since both my husband and I work from home. We hardly drive anywhere (we are a bit of work-a-holics) and we fly for business about 4-8x's a year.

We run a medical billing and consulting service using virtually ZERO paper and we also offer online training videos, use online training tools and electronic training tools for our clients. So I guess it's possible that Home Bodies can actually still damage the universe with driving under 7000 miles a year.

Take your test through EarthLab by visiting earthlab.com/carbonprofile. They score people from a 150 - 900 with the United States Averages being 325 (Canada is at 305).

Steps I have taken since I was a child to conserve

• I recycled aluminum cans, milk jugs, newspapers and glass.
• Turned off the lights (even when at times the hallway seemed scary to go down in the dark I was conserving energy)
• Took shorter showers (does 10 minutes count as short?)
• Recycled toilet paper rolls
• We planted two beautiful Maple Trees this year
• Use Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL) Lighting
• I have tried carpooling a few times (Hate it)
• Turn off my computer monitors at night
• Recycle paper from my desk (the shredding company recycles it for us)
• Water - Efficient Shower head
• I buy LOCAL products at Whole Foods

Seriously I can't imagine why I have a Carbon Output of 8 tons. What is everyone else getting?

Go Green - Bring your bags when shopping

Over the last year we have changed our eating habits for the good. We are no longer stuffing our faces with Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) and other chemicals found in most foods. Which means we shop more often at our local Whole Foods Market.

At first it was a hard transition and we started questioning if paying more for food would really benefit us. We were used to being conservative with our money, shopping as frugal as we could etc. But over time we have adjusted, learned to enjoy the calmness of the store and love the variety of foods. Plus the food just tastes amazing which is worth paying an extra $.10 cents - $.50 cents more than normal grocery stores.

Ever since I can remember going they had been asking customers to bring in their own bags instead of using Whole Foods plastic or paper bags. They would also make a donation of $.10 cents to a local charity. At first I thought up 20 million reasons why I didn't have time to bother with such a small thing and Wow! how much does $.10 cents add up to anyway. Well, in one month in a small Salt Lake City Whole Foods store they donated almost $2,000.00.

Is it bothersome to bring in your bag(s)? Yes. Do you feel a bit weird the first few times you do this? Yes. Does it get easier over time? Yes, it's like creating a new habit and if you do this at Whole Foods they reward you by donating $.10 cents to a local charity. Isn't it worth us to make a simple change as bringing a few bags in with us to any grocery store we shop at? I think it is.

This was taken when we were in Rhode Island on a business trip. It was so huge and to be honest it was extremely busy. Not like the Whole Foods in SLC but the variety of foods were overwhelming and enjoyable. I think we could have lived at the Deli for weeks without eating the same foods twice.