Toyota Highlander Hybrid SUV

Something I would like to share with all of you this week is that I am on the Women’s Tennis Team at the University of Arizona. I am a senior on the team and we are in our fall season. This weekend, I traveled from Tucson, Ariz., to El Paso, Texas, to compete in a tennis tournament.

The trip was 4 ½ hours long. The driver, Vicky Maes, head coach of the tennis team, happened to drive a hybrid SUV. I thought to myself, “How perfect!” and I was able to score an interview with her this weekend during our drive to Texas.

My long trip to Texas allowed me to examine my coach’s 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid SUV to the fullest detail. My experience in the car was great. I took naps, ate, stretched-out, sat in the front and backseats, listened to music, played around with the A/C, and opened-up different compartments.

I am one of those people who can take naps wherever I am, whether I am on a plane, train, or automobile. I have to say that the Highlander was very comfortable. The first two hours of our trip, I slept in the backseat. The car drove very smoothly and swiftly. I barely felt the bumps on the road.

The car was also very quiet. When my coach started the vehicle you could here it start, but then it went so silent that I thought it was off again. When the car drove in reverse I couldn’t hear it at all. It was almost as if the car was falling back in an off/neutral position.

I also noticed that the car was very spacious. It is just like a regular SUV. The backseats are a little tighter than a regular SUV, but I am only 5’2” so I didn’t bother me much. The trunk is huge. We were able to fit three backpacks, three suitcases, two tennis bags, three shopping bags, and three purses in the back.

There were also a lot of cup holders everywhere. There are cup holders in the front and backseats of the car. It was very convenient.

What I liked best about the car was the sound system. There is no difference between a hybrid and a regular car when it comes to quality and sound of music.

We only stopped twice to get gas our entire trip. Our coach filled it up before we left, once during our trip to Texas, and once more on our way back to Arizona. I was impressed.


Here is what my coach had to say when I interviewed her:

Q: Is this the first hybrid car you have owned.

Maes: Yes, this is the first one.

Q: What was your last car?
Maes: A Toyota Forerunner.

Q: How does your last car compare to the Highlander?

Maes: The Forerunner was a V8, this is a V6. I feel a little bit less safe in this car because it is more swift. Sometimes I feel like it can tip over on sharper turns. The gas mileage is better though and the gas emission is a lot lower. It’s also quieter. It is less bumpy and it feels a lot lighter than my Forerunner.

Q: Do you think you would ever switch back to a regular car?

Maes: I’ll try not to but it all depends. I prefer a hybrid, but some cars just don’t come in a hybrid. I like to do my part for the environment. With the great amount of driving I do, I’d like to help the environment.

Q: Do you have friends that drive hybrids?

Maes: Yes, I know a lot of people. It’s funny but I also get a lot of questions from people. I get stopped a lot at the gas station or anywhere where I have to stop. A lot of people seem to be interested in switching over [to a hybrid car].

Q: Is it good for taking trips up to the mountains and camping?

Maes: It is really good for going up to the mountains. Although it is a V6 it is really fast. It is the same performance wise to the Forerunner. It just doesn’t feel as stable.

Q: How do you fuel the car?

Maes: I fuel it exactly the same way as you would a regular car. The gas tank is smaller but fueling is the same.

Q: How much mileage does the Highlander get?

Maes: Mileage is 32 mpg in the city and 27 on the highway, but I don’t get that much. I never get more than 25 in the city.

Q: How much is the hybrid Highlander?

Maes: They tend to be more in price then the regular cars. This one is about $35,000 to $40,000.

After my interview I went online to see how my coach’s Toyota Highlander Hybrid compared to the Toyota Prius.

The coast of the Toyota Prius is $20,000 to $25,000. It is supposed to get 48 mpg in the city and 45 mpg on the highway. However, from reviews I have read that those numbers tend to drop down from 35 to 40 mpg. The Prius is a lot smaller. For people who are looking to purchase an eco-friendly SUV, I would recommend the Toyota Highlander Hybrid because of a great personal experience.

In the end, my trip was great. My teammate and I got 3rd place in doubles. I went on to win the consolation draw in singles and my teammate ended up getting 4th place.

Here are a few websites you can check out:

http://http//www.toyota.com/highlander/

http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/2008/highlander/models.html

http://www.toyota.com/prius/models.html

Alternative Energy Expo

Yesterday I went to the Alternative Energy Expo at the Tucson Convention Center. The exhibition was open on Friday, Sept. 14, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 15, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hundreds of people interested in eco-friendly living came to the exhibition. There were approximately 60 exhibitors/vendors at the expo.

My main interest and focus at the expo was automobiles and alternative fuel emission. I learned that there are three types of alternative fuel emissions: 1) biodiesel, 2) Ethanol (E85) and 3) compressed natural gas (CNG).

Something interesting that I never knew about biodiesel is that it is made from soybeans and it is mixed with traditional diesel. Biodiesel can be run on any diesel vehicle. There was an old Mercedes diesel on display at the expo which ran on biodiesel fuel.

According to the brochure for the Alternative Energy Expo, "Biodiesel is the name of a clean burning alternative fuel, produced from domestic, renewable resources. Biodiesel contains no petroleum, but it can be blended at any level with petroleum to create a biodiesel blend. It can be used in compression-ignition (diesel) engines with little or no modifications. Bioiesel is made through a chemical process called transesterification whereby the glycerin is separated from the fat or vegetable oil... Biodiesel can (also) be made from recycled grease."

Ethanol (E85) is corn derivative. "There are over 75,000 vehicles, called flex-fuel vehicles, registered in the state of Arizona as of 2004 that could run on E85," according to the Alternative Energy Expo brochure. Putting E85 is just like filling your car up at a gas station. You just simply fill it up at a local retail station.

Compressed natural gas (CNG) is not as available in Tucson as E85. However, it is the future. "There is a device called FuelMaker that can be installed at ones home or business that allows you to fuel at home, overnight by hooking into your gas line at home," according to the Alternative Energy Expo brochure.

I spoke to Chad Lindham, regional manager for Clean Energy. Clean Energy is the largest provider of vehicular natural gas in North America with a broad customer base in the refuse, transit, shuttle, taxi, police, interstate and interstate trucking, airport and municipal fleet markets. It's a $120 million dollar per year company. It operates throughout Arizona. Arizona is a huge user of natural gas.

"We fuel 500 buses in Maricopa, 80 buses run by SunTran and 50 school buses in Tucson," said Lindham.

One of the good things about natural gas is that there is no smoke that comes out from the buses.

"Cleaner, cheeper, and domestic. That's our motto," said Lindham.

The goal of Clean Energy is to try to get every trash truck to switch over to CNG, because trash trucks are huge pollutants.

An interesting fact I found out at the expo is that Arizona is the most aggressive state in the United States for alternative fuels. I found this fact to be interesting because you would expect a state like California to be more aggressive, especially with the population increase and the vast pollution in Los Angeles.

The expo was very interesting and it makes me want to go out and buy an alternative fuel vehicle.

Please check out my slideshow!!! There were a lot of amazing cars I saw at the expo.

Also, here are some websites if you are interested...

Alternative Energy Expo site:
http://www.tucsonaltenergyexpo.com/

BioDiesel Info:
http://www.biodiesel.org/

Natural Gas Info:
http://www.naturalgas.org/

E85 Info:
http://www.e85fuel.com/

Test Drive

2007 Toyota Prius Slideshow:

Photos Courtesy of eVox Productions

Hello blog readers! This past weekend I decided to test-drive a 2007 Toyota Prius, a gasoline hybrid, just to get the feeling of what a hybrid car is like compared to a regular car.

The 2007 Toyota Prius is similar to the 2004 Prius except for some additional standard safety equipment.

The EPA fuel economy is 60 miles per gallon in the city and 51 on the highway. Available engine is a 76-horse power, 1.5 liter I-4. Available transmission is a 2-speed CVT w/OD.

Before the test drive, I went online to find some of the plus and minuses about the vehicle. I went to a website that laid out a few points.

Some of the new and notable functions are:
*Electric-dominant hybrid powertrain
*Hatchback body style
*Enhanced regenerative breaking
*Available Touring Edition

The positives about the car are:
*Superior fuel economy
*Performance, considering its frugality
*Interior and cargo space

The negatives about the car are:
*Rear visibility
*Rear headroom
*Control operation

Taking these points into consideration, I went to test-drive the 2007 Prius at Precision Toyota at 700 W. Wetmore Rd. in Tucson, Ariz.

The first thing I noticed when I got into the car was how much room there was. You would expect a hybrid car to be tiny in order to be fuel efficient; but in fact, it was very spacious. The seats were also very comfortable. However, I am only 5’2” and I couldn’t adjust the seat for my height… That’s an important feature I think Toyota needs to add to the Prius.

The backseats were very spacious as well. They were comfortable, but I wouldn’t say they match up to the comfort of German cars, such as the Audi or Mercedes.

I also would have to agree with the review that there is little headroom in the backseats. Because I am not so tall I was able to fit perfectly, but for someone who is taller then I am they might have trouble squeezing into the backseat. The cargo volume totals 16.1 cubic feet and 5 people should be able to fit in the car.

The placement of the gauges on the dashboard is pretty neat. I had to operate the climate controls on an LCD screen located at the top center of all the controls. The car comes with an AM/FM radio/CD six-speaker sound system. The quality of the sound was definitely good. I am a base lover and the speakers could produce a lot of base sound so I liked that.

The car started different then a regular car. I had to press a power button in front of me. Then, as I started driving it, I could never really hear the car. When I went into reverse I heard some beeping sounds which told me I was going in reverse. The Prius was very quiet and calm inside.

As I started driving the car, I would say I have to agree with the negative review about the car’s rear visibility. I couldn’t see behind me very well. Also, because my seats had no height-adjustability, that only added to the problem.

I also noticed that when I would hit the brakes on the car it would jerk slightly. According to the website above, the Prius has anti-lock brakes and traction control. Maybe the way it is designed it wants a person to have more feel when they are stopping. Not sure.

I decided to try to park the car. There is no park position on the gearshift lever. Instead, I had to press a button with a “P” on it to get to the park position. Then you just press the power button again to shut it off.

It was an interesting ride and experience since that was the first hybrid car I had ever test-driven.

The Toyota Prius starts out at a pretty good price as well. $22,175 for the 4-door Sedan Base and $23,070 for the 4-door Sedan Touring.

Overall, I have to say my experience was great.. I would definitely buy a hybrid car someday.. I really want to test-drive the Porsche hybrid so I will try to see if I can find a place in Tucson to do that.

Also, if you come back later tomorrow I should have a slideshow posted so check back!!

For those interested in the 2007 Toyota Prius, here are some websites you can check out:

Toyota Prius review -

http://www.edmunds.com/toyota/prius/review.html

Auto Spectator's Prius summary -

http://www.autospectator.com/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid=103

Automotive.com -

http://www.automotive.com/2007/09/toyota/prius/index.html

Another Cool Website

Hey guys! I found another cool website:
http://www.hybridcars.com/

It talks about the effect of hybrid cars on the world we live in.. There was an interesting statement concerning battery toxicity which read "Some environmentally motivated car buyers are concerned that a hybrid utopia might turn into a toxic nightmare when the nickel metal hydride batteries in today's hybrids end up in landfills." Hmmmmm? This is something interesting to consider.

I still think that with or without battery toxicity, the environment is a lot safer without so much Carbon Dioxide being burned everyday. What do you guys think???

Anyway.. Also according to the website, there are also several health factors to be aware of concerning pollution:

*Pollution can cause acute respiratory problems, temporary decreases in lung capacity, and inflammation of lung tissue
*It can impair the body’s immune system
*Reduce the release of oxygen to body tissues
*Increase a person’s risk of cancer-related death
*Contribute to birth defects, low birth weight, and infant deaths
*Harm blood vessels in healthy individuals
*Make healthy active children 3 to 4 times more likely to develop asthma

And pollution is increasing everyday as cars and mileage traveled increases.. Here is another fact grabbed off of the website:

"Since 1970, vehicle miles traveled have increased approximately 150 percent while the U.S. population increased only about 40 percent. Today, there are approximately 200 million cars in America, and over 700 million vehicles worldwide."

Here are some other problems which arise from all the pollution and increase in cars around the world:

Water Pollution
"Runoff of oil, automotive fluids, and roadway chemicals are estimated at hundreds of thousands of tons per year, and are considered the leading source of impairment to rivers. In addition, hundreds of thousands of potential leaks from underground fuel storage tanks threaten groundwater, and improperly disposed of used motor oil ends up in waterways."

Noise Pollution
"Noise from car traffic, and loud car stereos and alarms, has become so ubiquitous that we barely notice it anymore—but it's taking its toll. Recent census data indicates that 1 in 8 American households suffer from bothersome noise from the street or traffic. Problems related to noise include hearing loss, stress, high blood pressure, sleep loss, distraction, and lost productivity, and a general reduction in the quality of life and opportunities for tranquility."

Definitely check-out the hybrid car website!!

ALSO.....

For those of you who are curious about the Porsche hybrid, here is another article I found which states that the car is supposed to be launched in 2009 and available in Australia:

"Porsche to go hybrid by 2009
by Safura Rahimi on Wednesday, 07 March 2007
The 2008 Porsche Cayenne was introduced in January, with the 2009 hybrid model to follow in 2009.Porsche is set to launch a hybrid version of its Cayenne luxury SUV by 2009 with the aim of cutting down on fuel consumption, AutoInsider News reported today.

Porsche Australia's managing director Michael Winkler confirmed rumours about the gas-electric hybrid at the Melbourne motor show this week.

He said that the hybrid system is still in development and that it will be installed in the Cayenne 4WD, although it is not limited to one type of engine, AutoInsider News reported.

According to the AP, the company has teamed up with Volkswagen AG to develop hybrid engines that will cut down on fuel spending by about 30% to around 2.4 gallons per 62 miles.

Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking has also indicated in a German newspaper article that the Porsche Panamera will be next to feature the hybrid system.

Porsche joins Toyota and Honda in trying to reach eco-minded drivers. Hybrid engines draw their power from an electric motor and gas-power transmission, and so produce less carbon dioxide and less nitrates in the environment.

And according to the AP, Thomas Weber, an executive board member with DaimlerChrysler, said the Mercedes-Benz unit is set to launch its first hybrid car also in 2009.

The Cayenne hybrid will be available by 2009 in Australia."



Lastly, who drives hybrid cars??? Here is an unofficial, unverified list of celebrities who drive hybrids gathered from the hybrid car website:

Alexandra Paul
Alicia Silverstone
Dr. Andrew Weil
Arianna Huffington
Bill Maher
Billy Crystal
Billy Joel
Brad Pitt
Cameron Diaz
David Duchovny
David Hyde Pierce
Donna Mills
Donny Osmond
Ed Begley
Ellen DeGeneres
Ewan McGregor
Hart Bochner
Harrison Ford
Jack Black
Jack Nicholson
Larry David
Kevin Bacon
Kirk Douglas
Kurt Russell
Leonardo DiCaprio
Dr. Oliver Sacks
Patricia Arquette
Prince Charles
Rob Reiner
Robin Williams
Salma Hayek
Susan Sarandon
Tim Robbins
Ted Danson
Tom Hanks
Woody Harrelson
Will Ferrell

Hybrid Vehicles and the New Porsche

Hello blog readers...

Everyone who is interested in new electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid electric vehicles, and/or lighter vehicles (such as golf carts, electric wheelchairs, personal transportation devices and scooters) should check out this website:

http://www.valence.com/technology/applications_motive.html%20

The company name is Valence Technology. They use a lithium phosphate technology system to create batteries that power electric vehicles.

Valence Technoloy created a lithium battery to run a new Porsche Cayenne SUV hybrid prototype. More information about the Porsche sports car will be talked about next week.

This website talks about the Valence Technology lithium battery:

http://www.valence.com/products/ucharge_overview.html

For information about another Porsche hybrid, the Cayenne SUV hybrid prototype SUV, here is an article:

http://www.businessweek.com/autos/content/jul2007/bw20070727_632056.htm?chan=innovation_auto+design_concepts+%2B+trends

Hybrid vehicles first started to appear in 2007. They support green living because they cause less polution, thus more eco-friendly to our environment.

Here is a website that contains a timeline of all the hybrid vehicles created and future hybrid vehicles:

http://www.hybridcenter.org/hybrid-timeline.html

Hope you enjoy these wesites and let me know what you think!

The Green Ride

The Green Ride is a blog dedicated to the Green movement - A movement that is trying to help save our environment through eco-friendly living, a.k.a Green Living. This blog was created for my Journalism 498D class at the University of Arizona.


This particular blog will discuss how you can be eco-friendly through transportation. What vehicles are more eco-friendly? Are motorcycles really more eco-friendly than cars or is that just a myth? Why use public transportation? How can people help reduce pollution and what options are out there for them? ... and several more questions will hopefully be answered..


Please check this site often and comment on my blogs. I will be posting new stuff on a weekly basis so check back!

Thanks!