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