A hybrid could save your life

Every new car offers greater safety features than its predecessors. Technological developments such as blind spot warning system and lane departure warning systems make driving safer than ever before. And within the vehicle, it’s becoming standard for cars to come with six airbags.

Hybrids have always been advocated for their great fuel economy and the fact that they are better for the environment than conventional cars as their emissions are low. Now, they’ve got another string to their bow – they can be safer cars to drive than conventional cars. This is due to their heavier weight, an average of 10%, because of their extra components - the electric motor and the battery that charges it.

An insurance report carried out by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the States has found that the extra weight affords greater safety for their drivers and their passengers in a collision. The report says that occupants of hybrid vehicles are 25 per cent less likely to be hurt in a collision.

However, although it may be safer for the people inside a hybrid car, hybrids may represent a greater danger to people in another car hit by one – for the very same reason. The extra weight that protects its occupants is actually what will make a hybrid have a greater impact on another car during a collision.

It has also been suggested that hybrids can be dangerous for pedestrians. The danger comes from the fact that the hybrid has a very quiet engine noise – and so pedestrians can be unaware of an approaching hybrid vehicle behind them. Hybrids may be involved in 20 per cent more crashes with pedestrians than conventional cars, according to Highway Loss Data Institute analysis.

So, hybrids score highly in some regards for safety, while they represent a greater danger for unaware pedestrians and those in other vehicles. As with most things in life, there are pros and cons to driving a hybrid.

Continue Reading

Honda’s incredible micro commuter

If you don’t know what went on at the recent Tokyo Motor Show – a biannual motor show in Japan’s capital city, you might not know what the future holds for car gadgets. Fortunately, I’m able to tell you – and the big news is that the car itself is the new gadget; I’m completely serious!

What happens at these really big motor shows (and perhaps none more so than in Japan which has really been the single most innovative country when it comes to motoring technology over the last half century) is that we see the cars we’ll be driving maybe five years from now. Or I should say that we see the cars something like the ones we’ll soon be driving. And if the future cars are anything like the Honda micro commuter, then I can’t wait.

The micro commuter concept car looks incredible. It’s a small plastic framed all-electric vehicle (or so it looks), which is rechargeable and has a range of almost 40 miles between recharging. So it is a city car – hence the name. And when, in the future, there are recharging points all over the place, I don’t think the limited range of such eco cars will really be a problem for commuters. And you can bet that when the real car model comes out in a few years’ time, battery technology will have improved along with the range and speed.



At the moment, the vehicle will only do up to 37 miles per our. But really, if you live in a big city – when do you ever get up to 37!? The chance would be a fine thing!

The micro commuter is tiny, but it still seats three people. And you can even change the body styling by choosing different panels when you feel like it.

Personally, I can’t wait till it’s really here.

Continue Reading

Why not hire a hybrid first?

If you’re thinking about joining in the green motoring trend but aren’t really sure whether it’s the right thing for you – why not try hiring one first?

An increasing number of car rental firms now offer hybrids and green cars, from manufacturers including Honda and Toyota, to rent to motorists who have a bit of a green conscience. And a test drive just isn’t the same thing. You only truly get to know the feel and overall operation of a car when you drive it over long distances and in different situations over at least a few days. Its strong and weak points become all too apparent.



The same goes for electric vehicles. These are also available to hire with some of the bigger, better-known car rental companies, though these are mainly in and around major cities as of course, the rental agency needs to organising recharging for you.

There are no such problems with hybrid cars though. So it’s a good idea to do all the research you can on what the best hybrid option is for you before deciding which one to rent. The Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight are perhaps the best well known of the hybrids, but there are an ever increasing number from which to choose.

So if you’re at all nervous about buying into the hybrid boom, renting one is a great way to truly gauge what each new car offers.

And just in case you aren’t familiar with hybrid car technology - they have a petrol (or diesel) engine to power them, combined with an electric motor. The latter helps the engine when the car is accelerating, so less fuel is used and the harmful emissions to the atmosphere are minimised.

Continue Reading

The in-car gadget choice picks

These days, there are loads of in-car gadgets to choose from. A lot of manufacturers like Honda are past masters at building in devices you really need – as opposed to those you don’t – or only want for the fun of it.

But which of these superfluous options are the best / most essential / most fun? Fear not, we’ve done the research for you and here’s our definitive list:

First off, you need a multi-use in vehicle charger with USB port/s and dual 12 Volt sockets. Otherwise, most of the gadgets you have won’t be useable.

One that will is an in-car table for the kids in the back that fit on the back of the front seats. They’re invaluable for families with young children on long journeys for all their activities and, of course, eating.

You will need your adaptor for your in-car DVD player and this is an absolute essential. Any parent that has tried one will tell you; they’ll never do a long journey again with kids without the DVD player!

Next – consider a portable vacuum cleaner. Dirty cars are depressing to be in, whilst getting out the main vacuum cleaner at home is awkward; so you don’t do it that often. With a portable one that stows away in the boot easily – you tend to use it little and often and that’s a far better idea.

A rechargeable LED torch is also useful. If you’ve ever broken down in the dark – you’ll already know this.

An iPod cradle is pretty much a ‘given’ these days. Just get one that’s easy to install and which won’t fall over!

An LED car signal can also be a lot of fun to sends quick and easy messages to other drivers like: “Sorry”! "Thanks" will also prove useful.

And if you want to be environmentally friendly – then sticking an Econav system in green cars like hybrids is something of a ‘belt and braces’ approach as the system takes you on the most fuel-efficient routes.

Continue Reading