While currently no manufacture is selling the vehicles as a direct-to-consumer feature, an organization in California is retrofitting the Toyota Prius and other hybrids to include the plug-in feature.(A modification that may void the Pirus’s warranty package.) Additionally, DiaimlerChrysler spearheading a project to create a fleet of PHEV vans for several utilities and government agencies.

While still in its infancy, if the movements gains widespread acceptance, it could significantly reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil. In fact, the Set America Free coalition, a proponent of hybrid technology, estimated that if half of all the vehicles in the US were hybrids and the other half PHEV’s, the country’s dependence on foreign oil would drop by 8 million barrels a day.

The impact on the environment is less certain. While all hybrid cars pollute less than conventional gas-powered cars, and PHEV’s emit even less than standard hybrids, there is a trade-off.  Since PHEV’s are powered by electricity, the true measure of its enviro-friendliness depends on how the electricity is generated. For example, in the Northwest regions of the United States, most power plants are powered by coal, releases pollutants of its own. Therefore, while the PHEV may itself omit few pollutants, the benefits may be negated by the increased coal consumption needed to power the vehicle. However, in other regions where power plants pollute less, a PHEV could have a very favorable impact on the environment.

The major stumbling block to mass-producing PHEV’s, as with other forms of alternative energy cars, is price.  Manufacturers don’t want to create a huge supply for the new cars if there isn’t a demand for it, especially since the price of the new cars will likely be more expensive than standard cars.

But there may be good news on the horizon. Toyota recently announced it will attempt to halve the price of hybrids and that it will begin the feasibility of mass-producing PHEV’s.

While it may be years away, one day you may have to plug in your car when you get back from work or running errands. But the trade-off, being able to drive without using a drop of gas, could be huge.

By David Plowman

 

Brazil is currently the world’s largest producer and user of ethanol. Its factories are capable of producing 92,500 gallons of the renewable energy source daily. Nearly 70 percent of all new cars in Latin America’s largest country are capable of running entirely on ethanol, gas or a combination of the two. All told, this means that nearly half of the country’s domestic passenger fuel demand is met by ethanol.

Brazil’s transition to ethanol didn’t happen without cause, nor was the transition cheap or easy. Brazil was rocked same by the oil crisis that shook the world in the 1970’s. While the United States saw high gas prices, high demand and long lines at the pumps, Brazil saw massive trade deficits, massive government borrowing and hyperinflation.

But unlike the most industrialized nation in the world, Brazil’s government, then a military dictatorship, vowed to end its dependence on foreign oil—and followed through on their pledge. The government heavily funded and subsidized factories that turned its abundant sugar-cane crop into a fuel source and mandated that all gas stations in the country provide the new fuel source.

While their ethanol movement seemed to peak in the 90’s when a brief respite in high oil prices coincided with an ethanol shortage, the “alternative fuel source” is back with a vengeance in Brazil today, even as Americans are facing yet another fuel crisis.

Today, Brazilian commuters happily fill their empty tanks for just $18. Environmentalists are smiling too. Air quality in the Western Hemisphere’s second largest economy has significantly improved. In the meantime, the ethanol production facilities are burning the sugarcane waste to turn steam-powered turbines to provide all of the plant’s electrical needs. In fact, the facility currently has plans to create its second renewable energy source by providing electricity for a near-by town.

Many experts doubt the United States could duplicate Brazil’s success with ethanol (A dictatorship lead by the military can usually enact radical new policies quicker than can a democratic society with a market-driven economy). However, our neighbor to the south should serve to inspire us to put some real action behind our pledge to wean ourselves from foreign oil.

Just something to think about the next time you’re paying $60 to fill up your SUV.

By David Plowman

So how can you find the best mechanic for you? Just as you would with any other important business or service you select, do your homework and look for quality and value.

When you are shopping around, consider the following:

• Check with your friends and co-workers for recommendations. Good mechanics know that word of mouth can be their best advertisements.
• Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there are any complaints against the mechanic you are considering.
• Are the mechanics certified? Mechanics may receive certification from the American Automobile Association (AAA) or the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).
• Will the work be under warranty? A good mechanic should stand behind her or her work, including both the parts and the labor. The longer the warranty the better.
• Get a complete estimate (preferably in writing) before any work is completed. Do not authorize any work until you have the estimate. If you don’t know understand what the mechanic is saying, ask questions until you do.
• Remember you are looking for the best value, a combination of quality and price. The cheapest repair shop could cost you a lot in the long run. Similarly, the most expensive mechanic doesn’t guarantee you will receive the best service.

Following these steps will help ensure that your next visit to a mechanic is a good one.

By David Plowman

By pre-qualifying for an auto, loan you are able to shop for the best rate and don’t have to rely on the dealer’s financing package. Just as important, if you walk in to a dealership already knowing you are pre-qualified for a loan, you will be in a better position to negotiate the best price on the car, knowing you won’t have to worry about financing,

Remember, finding the best interest on your car loan could literally save you a thousand dollars or more. For example, on a typical 48-month loan, each percentage point you shave from an ARP equals savings of a little more than $20 per $1,000 of your loan. That may not sound like much, until you do the math. Say you find one loan with an ARP of 9% and another of 5% on a $19,000 car. By taking the lower interest rate, you save $1,040.

There are several places you can shop for competitive auto loan rates. Your bank, credit union or an internet-based lender may offer all reasonable rates.

Even after shopping for the best car loan rates, you may still find that your dealer offers the best rate, especially if they are offering low interest financing to its qualified buyers as a promotional tool. If that’s the case, definitely take their option. You have gained a competitive advantage just by having done your homework and knowing what financing options are available to you.

David Plowman
411Web provides finance ideas for its readers. Our postings, articles and e-mail responses are not meant as to serve as personal advice, nor are they endorsements of any investment or personal finance strategy. Any financial or investment plan must take into consideration an individual’s personal experience and circumstances. Individuals may want to contact their investment, tax or legal advisor on these subjects.

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