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Hybrid Cars & Alt Fuels: Most Popular Articles

These articles are the most popular over the last month.
2008 Dodge Avenger
2008 Dodge Avenger
2008 Chevrolet Impala
2008 Chevrolet Impala
CNG Conversion Companies
Converting a conventional gasoline car to compressed natural gas with a CNG conversion kit may be complex, but not necessarily difficult. Here are companies that offer kits and/or installation.
Propane and LPG Conversions
Propane and LPG conversion kits can convert your gasoline vehicle into a bi-fuel or alt fuel vehicles. Here are some kits and companies that offer street-ready and off-road kits and conversions.
Hybrid Tax Credits
Find out how much of a federal tax credit you're due if you buy a hybrid in the United States.
F-250 Diesel
2008 Ford F-250 Diesel
EV Conversion Companies
Here's our constantly-growing reference listing of companies that offer electric vehicle (EV) conversions and all-electric car components.
Hybrid Battery Replacement
Learn about the replacement cost and life of hybrid batteries.
What is a PZEV?
Learn the definition of a PZEV (Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle).
What is GVWR?
The definition of GVWR, the gross vehicle weight rating.
cockpit view
Photos of the 2008 Lexus LS 600h L hybrid car's cockpit.
2008 Electric Cars
Check out the electric cars currently available in 2008.
Make Your Own Biodiesel-Part 1
Ever wonder how to make your own biodiesel? We'll walk you through it with step-by-step instructions and photos.
left front shot
2008 GMC Yukon 2-mode Hybrid 2WD - 2008 GMC Yukon two-mode left front shot
Insight LX interior
Photo of the 2010 Honda Insight LX interior.
Ford F-350 Powerstroke Diesel
Ford F-350 SuperDuty Powerstroke Diesel
2010 Hybrids
Check out the 2010 hybrid models: hybrid previews, test drives and reviews, and photo galleries.
Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel 101
Learn the basics on ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) and how it affects newer and older diesel vehicles.
Used Veggie Oil for Fuel
Learn the tricks of the trade for collecting good quality used vegetable oil for making homemade biodiesel or for use in a converted diesel engine.
How Electric Motors Work
Electric cars hybrids rely upon electric motors for propulsion and assistance--learn more about how these electric motors and generators work.
Cold Weather & Diesels
Check out these three things to keep your diesel running smoothly all winter long and eliminate those cold weather starting problems.
What is CRD
Find out how diesel common rail direct injection (CRD) works.
Zoom, zoom, zoom
2007 Honda Accord Hybrid right rear
Toyota Camry Hybrid
Toyota Camry Hybrid
2009 Ford F-series Super Duty F-250/350/450 series
Photo of the 2009 Ford F-series Super Duty F-250/350/450 series.
Question: Kero in a Diesel?
A regular reader writes in asking if gasoline can be mixed with oil to run in a diesel engine. Scott answers, and sheds light on the many fuels that can run in a diesel.
Hybrid Incentive Programs
Tax credits, rebates and incentives available for hybrid vehicles.
Alternative Fuel Tax Credits
Check out the varieties of federal incentives that are available in the United States to ease your transition to alternative fuels.
Insight EX interior
Photo of the 2010 Honda Insight EX interior.
2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid
2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid
Diesel Tax Credits
Check out which diesel vehicles qualify for the Advanced Lean Burn Technology Motor vehicle tax credit.
What is Ethanol?
The basic facts about ethanol, an alternative fuel derived from corn, grains or agricultural waste or it is chemically extracted from ethylene.
2007 Lexus RX 400h
2007 Lexus RX 400h
Hydrogen 101
Find the answers to your questions about hydrogen, an alternative fuel that can power fuel cells in electric vehicles.
What is Cetane?
Learn about cetane and how the cetane number can affect diesel engine performance.
How Do Fuel Cells Work?
How do fuel cells make electricity? What is the fuel for fuel cells? What kinds of fuel cells exist? Find the answers here.
2008 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 diesel
Check out the Dodge Ram 3500 equipped with the Cummins turbo diesel engine for 2008.
Ford Hybrid cutaway motor
Ford Hybrid cutaway motor
2008 Mercedes ML320 BLUETEC CDI 4matic
2008 Mercedes ML320 BLUETEC CDI 4matic, 3.2-liter V-6
What is Electrolysis?
The definition of electrolysis.
Global Warming Solution
Global warming--it's a hot topic. Learn how you can take action to reduce your vehicle's greenhouse gas and carbon dioxide emissions.
2008 Chevrolet Suburban
2008 Chevrolet Suburban
DPF Delete Kit on F-250
A reader wonders if he should install a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) delete kit on his 2008 Ford F-250 truck.
AdBlue Diesel Fluid
AdBlue is a brand name for for Diesel Emissions Fluid. Learn how this urea solution is used to scrub oxides of nitrogen from diesel exhaust.
2008 F-250 Super Duty 4X4
Ford's 6.4L Power Stroke diesel is the heart and soul of this truck where white collar meets blue collar - by Christine & Scott Gable
2010 Honda Insight test drive
Aaron Gold test drives and reviews Honda's newest hybrid, the 2010 Insight.
E85 Compatible Vehicles
Wondering if your vehicle is E85 compatible? Start here to find the model and year to confirm if you have a flex-fuel vehicle that can utilize E85.
What is PSI?
The definition of PSI.
What is Alternative Fuel?
Alternative fuels; we're not talking about gasoline, diesel or kerosene. Think cleaner and also domestically produced: Discover the array of alternative fuels that offer hope and possibility for life after traditional fossil fuels.
Got Alt fuel? Start here.
Find answers to basic questions about alternative fuels. From where to find biodiesel to FAQs on hybrids (do I need to plug it in?) and where to buy E85 for flex-fuels, we'll answer your alternative fuel questions here.
2009 Phoenix electric SUV
Photo of the 2009 Phoenix electric SUV.
2008 Dodge Grand Caravan
2008 Dodge Grand Caravan
2008 Mercury Grand Marquis
2008 Mercury Grand Marquis
Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell
Proton Exchange Membrane -PEM- Fuel Cell Diagram
2009 GEM electric car
Photo of the 2009 GEM electric car.
Gasoline Gallon Equivalents
Gasoline Gallon Equivalents are based on British Thermal Units (BTUs), this gasoline gallon equivalents chart compares the energy content of various fuels to that of a gallon of regular gasoline.
Dodge RAM 2500
2008 Dodge RAM 2500 - Cummins Turbo Diesel
Propane Vehicles Available
Learn more about the availability of propane powered vehicles for 2008.
Power Stroke Diesel engine
Check out the 2007 Ford F-250/350 SuperDuty engine with the 6.0L PowerStroke Turbo-Diesel.
Autos & Global Warming
How do auto manufacturers contribute to global warming? Learn more about vehicles' contribution to the earth's carbon load.
SCR Emissions Control
Learn about Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR), a method of converting harmful diesel oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions, by catalytic reaction, into benign nitrogen gas and water.
2009 IT electric car
Photo of the 2009 IT electric car.
NGVs Available
Learn more about the current availability of compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles.
What is Biodiesel?
The basic facts about biodiesel, an alternative fuel made from vegetable oil.
How Safe is Hydrogen?
A lot of misinformation about the safety of hydrogen is circulating as truth, much of it urban legend generated by the crash of the airship Hindenburg. Separate myth from truth and learn the true nature of hydrogen.
'07 Chevy Silverado test drive
It's all in a day's work when you start with a Silverado and add in a Duramax diesel engine and Allison transmission - by Christine and Scott Gable
2009 Mercedes E320 BlueTEC
Photo of the 2009 Mercedes E320 BlueTEC.
Dodge Ram 6.7-liter Cummins
Check out the 2007 Dodge Ram 2500/3500 with the 6.7L Cummins Turbo-Diesel.
How Regenerative Braking Works
Learn how hybrids and all-electric vehicles create their own power for battery recharging through a process known as regenerative braking.
What is Syngas?
Learn more about Syngas and its use as a fuel.
2007 Honda Civic Hybrid
A hybrid that goes easy on the eyes and the pocketbook: the 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid.
2009 Honda Civic GX test drive
Aaron Gold test drives and reviews the only production natural gas car on the market.
2008 Mercedes R320 BLUETEC CDI 4matic
2008 Mercedes R320 BLUETEC CDI 4matic, 3.2-liter V-6
2009 TH!NK city electric car
Photo of the 2009 TH!NK city electric car.
2009 Mullen GTEV electric car
Photo of the 2009 Mullen GTEV electric car.
Lexus 600hL
Lexus 600hL
What is a hybrid vehicle?
Start here to learn the basics about hybrid vehicles.
gauges
Photo of the 2010 Ford Fusion gauges.
Natural Gas & LPG maintenance
Learn how to maintain your natural gas or propane powered vehicle.
engine bay
Saturn HCCI Concept Test Car engine bay
2009 Chevy Silverado HD 2500/3500 series
Photo of the 2009 Chevy Silverado HD 2500/3500 series.
2008 Dodge RAM 3500 test drive
2008 Dodge RAM 3500 Mega Cab 4x4 is a diesel powered behemoth - by Christine & Scott Gable
HCCI Engine Basics
It's diesel compression ignition technology for gasoline engines. Learn how and why this old yet new fuel-saving technology is on the come back, along with its advantages and disadvantages.
Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Biodiesel Recipe
Good quality waste vegetable oil is an important part of this recipe for making homebrewed biodiesel fuel.
2009 Miles ZX40s electric car
Photo of the 2009 Miles ZX40s electric car.
2009 G-Wiz electric car
Photo of the 2009 G-Wiz electric car.
Mis-fueling a diesel
It can happen to anyone, learn about the problems associated with mis-fueling a diesel vehicle.
6-speed Allison transmission
2007 Allison transmission for GM Duramax diesel trucks available in 5 and 6 speed versions
Color ghost of the Duramax diesel
2007 GMC 6.6L Duramax diesel available for Sierra 2500 and 3500 series trucks.
What is a DPF?
The definition of a Diesel Particulate Filter
Titration for Biodiesel
Titration is one method used to determine the appropriate amount of lye (base) needed for a particular batch of waste vegetable oil when making homemade biodiesel.
cockpit
2008 GMC Yukon 2-mode Hybrid SUV 2WD - 2008 GMC Yukon two-mode cockpit
right rear shot
Photo shot of the 2008 Mercedes C300 right rear.
2008 Grand Cherokee test drive
Refreshed for 2008, the heart and soul of the Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD is still a powerful biodiesel-capable SUV - by Christine & Scott Gable
2009 GMC Sierra HD 2500/3500 series
Photo of the 2009 GMC Sierra HD 2500/3500 series.
interior
Photo of the 2010 Ford Fusion interior console.
2009 Tesla Roadster electric car
Photo of the 2009 Tesla Roadster electric car.
Why Should I Care?
What's the big deal? Does it really matter if I fill up with gasoline or propane? Learn why renewables are making such a big impact in the energy world.
Maintaining Hybrid Vehicles
Keep your hybrid running its best by following these guidelines for regular maintenance.
2009 ZAP Sedan electric car
Photo of the 2009 ZAP Sedan electric car.
2009 REVAi electric car
Photo of the 2009 REVAi electric car.
2008 Dodge Dakota
2008 Dodge Dakota
How Hybrids Work
Learn about the inner workings of a hybrid vehicle, and how they seamlessly integrate an internal combustion engine, an electric motor and a battery.
F250SD Outlaw side shot
A nice shot of the 2007 F-Series Outlaw with the 6.0L PowerStroke Turbo-Diesel.
2009 Kurrent electric car
Photo of the 2009 Kurrent electric car.
2008 Mazda Tribute HEV
2008 Mazda Tribute HEV
EGR valve
The definition of an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Valve.
Diesel Vehicle Basics
Learn the basics about what a diesel/biodiesel vehicle is and how it works.
What's a Fuel Cell?
What is a fuel cell? How long have fuel cells been around? Who invented fuel cells? Find the answers here.
Propane 101
Propane is powering more than barbecue grills. Find the basic facts on propane (liquified propane gas or LPG) as an alternative fuel.
Cargo hold
Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle cargo area
How Safe is Natural Gas?
Do the physical properties of natural gas and the design characteristics of natural gas make it a safe motor fuel?
2009 Myers Motors NmG electric car
Photo of the 2009 Myers Motors NmG electric car.
2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Photo of the 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
2009 Mercedes R320 BlueTEC
Photo of the 2009 Mercedes R320 BlueTEC clean diesel.
Soot collector particulate filter
2008 Ford F-250 Super Duty King Ranch exhaust particulate filter
What is a Throttle Body?
The definition of a throttle body.
What is Gasification?
Learn more about what gasification is and the thermo-chemical process by which carbon-rich feedstocks are converted into syngas.
Toyota's Smart Key
2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid Smart Key
2009 Dodge Durango Hybrid
2009 Dodge Durango Hybrid
FCX Clarity Motor
2009 Honda FCX Clarity Fuel Cell Vehicle Motor
2008 Chevrolet Silverado
2008 Chevrolet Silverado
Atkinson Cycle Engine
The definition of the Atkinson Cycle in an engine.
Flex-fuel (E85) Vehicle Basics
Learn the basics about what a flex-fuel vehicle (FFV) is and how it works.
Make Your Own Biodiesel-Part 2
Day 2 of our making biodiesel tutorial shows a sample of the mixture that settled out separately in a glass jar.
2009 ZENN electric car
Photo of the 2009 ZENN electric car.
2007 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Duramax
2007 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Duramax right side
Soot catcher
2007 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Duramax diesel particulate filter
Chevy Silverado Diesel
Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Diesel
2008 Sebring Convertible
2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible
Electricity as an Alternative
Electricity is an alternative fuel. Learn the basic facts on how electricity has joined the rank of the other alternatives: it may just be the fuel of choice for your next vehicle.
2010 Toyota Prius First Drive
Scott's driving impressions from driving the all-new 2010 Toyota Prius at the media preview event in Napa, CA.
FCX Clarity under the hood
2009 Honda FCX Clarity Fuel Cell Vehicle under the hood
2008 Lexus LS 600h L
2008 Lexus LS 600h L
2007 Natural Gas Vehicles
Check out the compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles for 2007.
2009 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid
Photo of the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid.
Hybrid FAQs
You've got questions about hybrids, we've got answers. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about hybrid vehicles--and their answers.
Cold Weather & Biodiesel
Good old fashioned preventive medicine and a few quick cures to keep your biodiesel powered vehicle running smoothly all winter.
Hybrids: Real Deal or Hype?
Are hybrids just more marketing hype--or are they the real deal to saving fuel and emissions?
Hybrid Central
Whether you're looking to bone up on hybrid car basics and maintenance or looking for photos and test drives of the latest hybrid car models, start here to find the answers.
2008 Dodge RAM 3500 right side view
2008 Dodge Ram 3500 Mega Cab 4x4 Diesel right side
2010 Ford Fusion test drive
About.com's test driver Basem Wasef drives the new Ford Fusion Hybrid and reports back.
What is a Clean Diesel?
Clean diesels utilize advanced fuel delivery and exhaust scrubbing technology that take advantage of the 15 ppm sulfur content of ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD). Learn more here.
Electronic Throttle Control
A description and the workings of electronic throttle control technology.
2008 GMC Sierra
2008 GMC Sierra
Global Warming & Vehicles
Global warming. Yes, scientists have confirmed it--global warming is happening as we speak. Learn more about the major contributors to the overload of greenhouse gas emissions and carbon dioxide.
What is Propane?
Learn the basic facts on natural gas, an alternative fuel that is a by-product of oil drilling and coal mining.
Phill nozzle docked in position
The Phill natural gas refueling appliance for overnight vehicle refueling.
Biobutanol
Learn the production and process basics of biobutanol, an alcohol-based motor fuel. Read how biobutanol is used as a motor fuel in addition to its pros and cons.
Explore Hybrid Cars & Alt Fuels
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