Oklahoma Technical College Blog

Welding Fun Facts

otctech — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:28:20 +0000

1. NASCAR — Long before the rubber hits the road, roughly 950 man-hours are spent on welding and fabrication for each race car. Hundreds of parts are hand-cut, welded and machined, from the chassis and suspension to the drive-train.

2. In 1961, General Motors installed the first industrial robot in history, the Unimate. Featuring a motorized arm that weighed more than two tons, the Unimate performed spot welds by following step-by-step commands stored on a magnetic drum.

3. Which famous comedian has a large antique car and motorcycle collection and employs welders regularly?
Jay Leno! His large collection includes models from the early 1900s to modern vehicles.

4. Explosion welding is a powerful welding process that can accomplish what many other welding methods can’t—it can join nearly every kind of metal together, even the most highly dissimilar ones.

5. Welding in space was first attempted in 1969 by Russian cosmonauts. Today, advances in welding technology have made it essential for projects like the construction of the International Space Station.

6. President Roosevelt, in a letter to Prime Minister Winston Churchill, boasted about the discovery of new welding techniques that enabled America to build ships with a speed unequaled in the history of shipbuilding.

7. The first car made with an entirely plastic body was assembled using ultrasonic welding. Even though plastic cars did not catch on, ultrasonic welding did. Ultrasonic plastic welding is an example of a friction welding process, which creates energy through high-intensity acoustic sounds that cause plastic pieces to vibrate together and form a bond.

8. Did you know that if two pieces of metal touch in space, they become permanently stuck together? This may sound unbelievable, but it is true. Two pieces of metal without any coating on them will form into one piece in the vacuum of space. This doesn’t happen on Earth because the atmosphere puts a layer of oxidized material between the surfaces.

9. More than 50% of U.S. products require welding. Do you know which of the following products rely on welding?

Race cars
Bridges
Ships
Computers
Medical devices
Oil rigs
Farm equipment
Cell phones
Scooters
MP3 players

Answer: All of them

10. What is a “fume plume”?
It is the visible column of fume that rises directly from the spot of welding or cutting.

11. The current record for the world’s deepest underwater dry weld, which is carried out in a chamber sealed around the structure to be welded, was set by Global Industries in 1990, at 1,075 ft. deep. But that is only half as deep as the world’s record wet weld, set by the U.S. Navy in 2005, at 2,000 ft. deep. Wet welding is performed underwater, directly exposed to the watery environment.

12. The earliest recorded welds occurred in 3,500 B.C., the Bronze-Age. Pictures of welders and their ancient tools have been discovered in long-sealed Egyptian tombs!

Automotive Mechanics — Rev Up Your Future

otctech — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:17:49 +0000

By Andy West

In a 2009 analysis of the highest-paying and most secure blue-collar careers, US News & World Report named auto mechanic as one of the top six occupations, citing strong demand due to Americans’ need to maintain their vehicles and the industry’s need to replace a large contingent of retiring technicians.

The automotive field is a huge industry that provides good job security and a wide variety of positions available to graduates of automotive school programs, as well as talented amateurs who find opportunities to learn on the job. As car ownership and usage continues to increase dramatically by the year, anyone with an automotive background is virtually assured a job. Some of the most common occupations include:

Oil and Lube Technicians – Cars require a lot of regular maintenance, such as oil changes, a service that each car owner needs every three months or so. As a result, many oil and lube shops provide these services. The tight time schedule many of these shops adhere to ensures plenty of jobs for technicians who have the knowledge and experience to perform these routine tasks quickly and easily. Any graduate of an automotive school will be able to easily outshine the competition for these positions.

Automotive Technicians – Auto techs are often hired by shops that provide more services than oil changes, filter replacements, and other simple maintenance. Automotive technicians may be hired to mount and dismount tires, balance wheels, change brake pads, and perform tune-ups, in addition to changing fluids and filters.

Mechanics – They tend to have more responsibilities than technicians, therefore requiring more education and experience. Mechanics may do all of the jobs often assigned to automotive technicians, but they also perform more complex repairs. Important components, such as shocks and struts, drive shafts, alternators, starters, etc, are usually replaced by mechanics. More critical maintenance tasks, such as adjusting engine valve clearances, replacing timing belts, and other complicated engine work, are also performed by mechanics.

Master Mechanics – The title of master mechanic is one any automotive school graduate would be proud to hold. Many schools include more advanced degree programs, providing the education and hands-on training necessary to become certified at this level. Master mechanics can find jobs at almost any high quality automotive shop, garage, or dealership maintenance department. Naturally, the pay for a master mechanic position is considerably higher than that of an automotive technician or mechanic.

Parts Salespeople – For the brave car owners who attempt to perform their own maintenance and repairs, there are neighborhood parts stores and dealership parts departments to meet that demand in addition to servicing commercial repair shops. Graduates of automotive school programs make great additions to parts sales teams, because they have the ability to do more than just look up a part number and grab an item off the shelf. They can discuss and help diagnose difficulties encountered by customers, and tackle the problems that occur when parts catalogues are wrong or computers fail. Most parts departments like to have at least one very knowledgeable person on their team.

Finding a Good Automotive Repair School

An automotive education proves to employers that you know your trade, making them feel more comfortable about taking a chance on you. It also qualifies you for higher-level openings in the industry, depending on your experience. Here are some ways to ensure that the automotive repair school you choose will give you a solid foundation and make a good impression on your resume.

Verify the school’s reputation. If an automotive repair school has a good reputation among employers, you can bet there is a good reason for it. Most likely, the employers have hired graduates of the school’s programs, and have been duly impressed. Even if you don’t have the money or the desire to go to one of the nation’s top automotive schools, you can easily narrow down your list of potential schools by eliminating those with questionable reputations in the industry.

Research the school’s degree programs. Almost all automotive schools offer an associate’s degree to help you get started in the industry. This degree can usually be completed in a relatively short amount of time, allowing you to enter the field as soon as possible. In addition, many schools offer a master’s program to help ambitious students reach more-esteemed positions, such as those of mechanic or master mechanic. In all cases, do your research and make sure the program genuinely teaches all of the knowledge and skills you will need to have in your chosen career.

Ensure that the school offers ASE certification.
Automotive Standards of Excellence certification is extremely important to members of the automotive industry. ASE certification lets your employer know which areas you can claim expert status in, as well as reassuring your customers that their vehicles are in good hands. Any automotive repair school that is worth its salt will gear its programs toward ASE certification. Some schools simply help you study for the tests, while others may offer testing at their location, making it easier for you to get certified.

Two For The Home Team

otctech — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:26:40 +0000

Source: Boston.com

After years misjudging the nation’s appetite for small cars, American automakers are making up to us. GM brought over those Vauxhalls and Opels as Saturns, and even after Saturn died in 2009, they continued the European bloodline with new Buicks like the 2011 Regal. Last year, Ford went so far to import its compact Transit Connect work van from Turkey, and handed Americans a truly likeable subcompact, the Fiesta. But two of the best new cars, the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze and 2012 Ford Focus, are their most heartfelt apologies to date.

Click photo for larger version.

It’s not that their predecessors, the Cobalt and 2011 Focus, were awful. In 2009, the Focus was one of the best-selling cars during the government’s “Cash for Clunkers” program. But as in most months, the Focus — and the Cobalt, which didn’t make the top 10 clunker trades — couldn’t shake the Corolla and Civic from their cement perches. Buyers keep flocking to Honda and Toyota because every new model is as predictable as the last (built since 1968, the Corolla is the world’s best-selling car of all time). They’re not expecting eye-popping, innovative design and execution.

Those last five words are the first things you’ll notice about the new Cruze, on sale since the fall, and the new Focus, which should arrive at dealers by the time you read this. Their gutsy blend of style, technology, and performance feels rather shocking, except when you realize how long the rest of the world has been enjoying them.

The Cruze, designed by GM Daewoo in Korea, went to Asian and European dealers in 2009. The Focus is new worldwide, though its rakish shape is very familiar to the second-generation European model. Americans couldn’t taste the lovely Focus hardtop convertible in those years, but we’re on the guest list for the hardcore 247-horsepower Focus ST debuting in 2012. Consider the home team thoroughly appeased.

Open and shut a Cruze or Focus and you’ll hear the reassuring thump of thick metal and dampened latches. By comparison, the doors on a Kia Forte or the larger Hyundai Sonata close with a hollow pang. Everything, from the door handles to the hand brake pulls, feels pulled off more expensive rides (the chunky Cruze steering wheel with its knobbed palm grips is nicer than an Audi A4′s). There are more soft rubber surfaces inside the Ford, but the Cruze interior looks classier and is easier to work, with chrome-ringed gauges, finer switchgear, and a simpler, more intuitive layout for the audio and vehicle controls.

Click photo for larger version.

Ford relies on two steering wheel-mounted “D-pads” — the classic four-way Nintendo-style controls — to command two LCD screens. Operating the audio and Bluetooth phone menus with these pads, however, seems like they’re meant to be a backup for the voice-activated Sync system. For example, if you want to switch between one of three auxiliary inputs or select an iPod track, you need to first press the “menu” button on the console, then go back to the pads to select your choice. It’s not a deal breaker, but sometimes you’re not in the mood to talk.

Click photo for larger version.

Our $24,185 Cruze LTZ packed more options (18-inch wheels, 6-speed automatic, moonroof, premium sound, and leather) than our Focus SE hatchback could offer at $21,250 (Ford lets you throw all these items on, too, as a sedan or hatch). Touch-screen navigation and infotainment systems weren’t included on our test cars. But the fact these options are here at all — like the Chevy’s three-stage heated seats and automatic climate control with air quality sensors — is proof you don’t need to wear size 15 shoes to get the big and tall treatment.

Case in point: Rear side airbags and front knee airbags are standard on the $16,000 base Cruze, and unheard of in all but the priciest German sedans.

Most small cars remind you how small they are on the highway, where shorter wheelbases and four-cylinder engines tend to give a harsher, noisier ride than larger cars. That doesn’t happen here. Ford and Chevy have gone to town on sound deadening material — they’ve laminated the windshields several times over, covered parts of the engine and hood, and filled all sorts of gaps and holes so 70 mph feels utterly peaceful. The engines aren’t buzzing — they’re geared properly, and the chassis are as planted as the best midsize cars. Ford even tunes the Focus steering rack to automatically compensate for crosswinds.

When the straightaways dissolve into side streets, the Focus and its more powerful 2.0-liter engine show up the Chevy’s turbocharged 1.4-liter. The difference between 160 and 138 horsepower isn’t much, but the Focus serves up smoother and more gratifying thrust. It’s a quieter car during acceleration, and the steering is quicker and more direct. Think creamy polenta versus buttery grits. I did, however, find our Ford’s optional sport suspension to be a little stiff on bad pavement and the Chevy’s a tad more compliant.

Ford left out a sixth gear on the SE’s standard 5-speed manual (the Cruze comes with six), but it’s a well-spaced, precise stick that could have dropped out of a BMW. The Cruze’s 6-speed automatic is without fault, although it could drop out of top gear quicker for passing. I tried the 6-speed dual-clutch automatic in the Fiesta sedan, which actually gets better gas mileage than the manual, and found it a hair faster to react. Bottom line for these cars: plan well ahead before you merge.

Of course, gas mileage is a big factor for a compact car, and here’s where it gets really confusing. Chevy rates our automatic Cruze LTZ at 24 mpg city, 36 highway. The manual Cruze LS does 26 in the city. If you step up to the mid-priced Eco trim, you’re rewarded with 28 city and a class-leading 42 highway, but only if you choose the manual transmission. Take the Eco automatic you’re back down to 26 city and 37 highway.

It’s the same with the Focus. The SE trim is estimated at 26 city, 36 highway, and the highest 28/40 rating is only on the SE automatic with the $495 SFE package, which deletes the pretty alloy wheels for cheap covers. Hyundai attacks these discrepancies in commercials for the new Elantra, which delivers a single 29/40 rating across all trim levels and transmissions. They’re right — Ford and Chevy are advertising high fuel economy numbers that are only available on very specific, limited production trims.

Fuel economy niggles aside, the Cruze and Focus look and drive like world champs. But should it hurt our national pride that the Koreans and Europeans have built the best American compacts in years? I don’t think so. The automotive industry has gone global for decades, and it’s clear our US divisions are better engineering the midsize sedans and large pickups that dominate our market. And, by the way, those flashy new Kias were penned in Germany.

Automotive Fun Facts

otctech — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:05:19 +0000

The 1st automobile racetrack in the US was the Indianapolis Motor Speedway which consists of 3 million cobblestones.
In its 1st year the VW Beetle sold only 330 cars in the United States.
Women spend more than $65 million on new cars and trucks, influence 80 percent of all new car purchases, and will buy 60 percent of new cars in 2001.
In 1916, 55 percent of the cars in the world were Model T Fords, a record that has never been beaten.
135 million cars travel the nation’s roads and interstates each day.
The first Ford cars had Dodge engines.
One seventh of the new auto/truck sales in the US are in Southern California.
The average 1999 model year automobile cost $5,674 per year to own and operate.
In the 1970′s cars were scrapped almost twice as often as small trucks, but over the years cars have become more durable and in 1999 the scrappage rate was almost equal.
The city with the most Rolls Royce’s per capita is Hong Kong.
Windshield wipers were invented by a woman.
The brake light in the rear windows was put there after a suggestion by Elizabeth Dole.
The first person to win the Indianapolis 500 at a speed of over 100 MPH without a relief driver was Billy Arnold who won in 1930 with an average speed of 100.448 MPH.
The first product Motorola started to develop was a record player for automobiles. At the time, the most known player on the market was the Victrola, so they called themselves Motorola.
In 2002 30% of the cars sold were SUVs.

Welding Fun Facts

otctech — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:13:39 +0000

3. Which famous comedian has a large antique car and motorcycle collection and employs welders regularly?
Jay Leno! His large collection includes models from the early 1900s to modern vehicles.

4. Explosion welding is a powerful welding process that can accomplish what many other welding methods can’t—it can join nearly every kind of metal together, even the most highly dissimilar ones.

9. More than 50% of U.S. products require welding. Do you know which of the following products rely on welding?

Race cars
Bridges
Ships
Computers
Medical devices
Oil rigs
Farm equipment
Cell phones
Scooters
MP3 players

Answer: All of them

10. What is a “fume plume”?
It is the visible column of fume that rises directly from the spot of welding or cutting.

12. The earliest recorded welds occured in 3,500 B.C., the Bronze-Age. Pictures of welders and their ancient tools have been discovered in long-sealed Egyptian tombs!

Finding A High-Paying Job In Welding Technology

otctech — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 17:42:25 +0000

By Erik

For those people interested in careers, in welding technology, there are some things they can do to ensure they can secure one of the high-paying jobs in the field. Some of the best-paying jobs in welding include pipeline welding, structural welding, pipe-fitter welding, boilermaker welding and aerospace welding. Anybody can find and secure one of these jobs by following these useful, easy tips.

As with many other professions, the job of a welder requires some practical experience to become proficient in the field. It is always a smart idea to start a welding career with a suitable education at a certified welding school. After students complete their training in a certified school, they need to build their experience before they can obtain high-paying jobs. Graduates can accomplish this by taking low-paying jobs in the beginning. Although these initial jobs do not pay much, they offer much in experience to graduates; and they help to build strong resumes for better-paying jobs later.

Many of the high-paying welding jobs require their applicants to pass a welding certification exam before they can begin working. These tests can vary widely as to content; therefore, it is best to find out, from the test administrator, what each exam involves. Most often, these administrators have no problems with giving applicants the details of the different exams. Once applicants know what to study for, they can then find classes that will help them study for the exams. These classes may cost a bit of money, but they are well worth the money spent considering the salary one can make in a high-paying welding job.

When writing resumes or attending interviews, people should neither sound too arrogant or too modest. They should state their qualifications and areas of expertise but without being too extreme. A smart idea is simply to present the facts without going into lengthy details. If employers need more information, they will ask. Humor is best left out of resumes and interviews, as well. Although a humorous statement may make potential employers smile or chuckle, they may think of the applicant as unprofessional and move on to another person.

In conclusion, welding jobs can be physically demanding, but the fact that many of them pay well makes them rather attractive to people searching for careers. It is a smart idea for people who want careers in this field to get the proper training and experience they need. Anyone can secure a high-paying job in the field of welding technology by following the useful tips outlined above.

Welding Art – A Cool Trick For Welding Sculpture

otctech — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 13:56:11 +0000

Welding Art, like all other art is in the eye of the beholder. What one person views as garage sale fodder is viewed by another as a treasure.

But no matter what your tastes in welding art, most people can recognize a piece of welding art that shows the talent and skill required to make something that catches the eye and keeps it occupied for a while.

I have found a way of making welding artistic pieces that requires welding skill, allows for artistic expression, and also is very interesting to look at.

Want to know what it is?

Its TIG welding using aluminum bronze filler on steel or stainless steel.

When done correctly, the two different metals provide enough contrast to allow for lots of detail to be shown and for details to stand out because of the contrast between the gold looking bronze overlaid on top of the discolored steel.

The secret to getting the bronze to shine like gold lies in the machine settings. Conventional settings on Direct Current electrode negative will not yield the look.

Welding on Alternating Current in the same way aluminum is tig welded is the preferred method for getting the desired look. The alternating current combined with argon shielding during the welding process, allows the bronze to cool under gas shielding and shine like a new penny. The benefit is that no polishing or surface treatment is required after welding. The Welding Art piece looks good as welded…without touching it. No wire brushing, no electropolishing, nothing.

This lets the welding artist use each ripple of the welding bead as a subtle nuance of expression.

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Breaking Into the Automotive Industry With Automotive Technology Courses

otctech — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 14:02:33 +0000

Automotive technology courses will give you the skills you need to turn your passion for cars into a steady, rewarding and long-lasting career. With very high employment rates, graduates of automotive technology courses can go on to apprenticeships in some of the most successful automotive repair and service facilities around the world.

Most automotive technology courses are intensive in focus, providing students with comprehensive training on all aspects of automotive repair and service. This training will cover all aspects of car repair, including extensive training in brake systems, differentials, transmissions systems, electrical systems, heating, air conditioning and fuel injections systems. A graduate of an automotive technology course will be provided with everything you need to be a successful automotive technician.

In addition to learning the nuts and bolts of automotive repair and service, automotive technology courses will train students for personal and workplace safety, professional protocol, performance standards, effective communication skills, and problem solving. With this kind of training you will have the tools you need to launch a rewarding career in the dynamic, fast-paced automotive repair industry.

Auto Tech programs often use a unique combination of classroom theory, demonstrations and hands-on instruction to provide comprehensive skills training and help you become an automotive repair and service expert. The very best of these courses benefit from strategic partnerships with high profile industry leaders and are able to provide students with extensive hands-on training on some of the best industry standard equipment around. Students in great auto tech programs will spend the majority of their study time in fully equipped automotive facilities with state-of-the-art technical and diagnostic equipment, such as:

A chassis dynamometer
Brake lathes
Hand-held diagnostic scanners
Engine diagnostic equipment
Wireless wheel alignment analyzers

With hands-on training on all this equipment, you’ll have the latest skills and knowledge to excel in any automotive repair and service environment. When you complete an automotive technology program, you’ll be certified as an Inspector, and licensed to handle air conditioning refrigerants under your region’s ozone depletion prevention program and regulations.

As a future automotive technician, it will be your responsibility to help to protect the environment through the safe and responsible handling of ozone depleting chemicals. In compliance with the government’s mandatory certification requirements for all persons handling or repairing air conditioning systems. These certifications, a requirement for any auto tech job, will give you a definite edge in today’s repair and service job market.

Philippe Taza is the founder and CEO of Higher Education Marketing, a leading Web marketing firm. Taza has worked in the Canadian Education market for nearly a decade, specializing in Google Analytics, Education Lead Generation, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Mobile SMS Alerts, Social Media Marketing and Pay Per Click Marketing, among other Web marketing services and tools.

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Welding Careers Are In Demand

otctech — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 13:54:29 +0000

If you like working with your hands and build things from scratch, and get your ultimate satisfaction when the job well done, then you may consider getting a career as a welder. Being a welder is a career that requires your strong will to learn and work hard so that you can be the best at your profession.

Welding careers are in demand, and as the construction and manufacturing industries grow and expand in the world. Projections are they will be among the most required professions in the future. Welding is used in a lot of manufacturing processes such as automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles, airplanes, skyscrapers, bridges, large appliances, underground pipelines and a lot more.

It is a skilled profession that cannot be outsourced to a different country, and also job security is another interesting quality of these careers.

Welding careers have wide different types of jobs; there is underwater and x-ray welding, and a lot more to mention. Every type of this particular job has unique characteristics and needs special training. In order to be a successful welder, you will need to have several different skills, including good math skills, reading blueprints, doing mechanical drawings, and may even have a basic knowledge of physics. This is the reason why it is essential to find the right school to learn the necessary skills in order to be successful in welding careers. As the programs are varied in accordance with the teaching methodology, making sure to look for the right and most suitable one for you is necessary.

When you have finished attending its trade program at school, you need to go to the business manufacturing, such as furniture and wind chimes, to get the qualification to start your career as a welder for others. Determining to have a career as a welder in the automobile manufacturing and oil industry are some of the highest paying jobs on the field. One thing that is often disregarded about such a kind of jobs is that in the next 10 to 15 years the government of United States will spend trillions of dollars updating as well as maintaining the infrastructure; therefore, the amount of jobs available in the metal fabrication, especially job as a welder is just about limitless.

If you are planning to work as a welder abroad then there are numerous jobs available for welders around the world, include oil rig, metal fabrication, construction jobs, etc. In a word, trained and experienced welders will always be a need. However, unlike the past time when a person could start his profession as a welder as an apprentice to a professional one and work his way up to be a full time welder, now it is very important to enroll in an accredited school for training and get your license. Having an official license is very crucial for your ongoing success on this field since your customers will prefer a skillful welder who also has a license as a guarantee for the outcome. For these reasons, welding careers are a popular job opportunity among job seekers today.

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Are All Hybrids The Same?

otctech — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:29:54 +0000

So you’re in the market for a hybrid car and think all hybrids are the same? Better think again as there are a number of different types of hybrid vehicles available and even more on the way. Buyers need to be informed and realize that hybrid vehicles can be drastically different in terms of both technology and the hit to your checkbook. In the following article I will breakdown the different technologies available and help you determine what is best for you.

Full Hybrids

At this point most people would agree that these are the best types of hybrids currently available. They operate using two separate propulsions systems, the internal combustion engine and the electric motor which can work independently of each other. Under certain driving conditions, typically low speed, the car can operate purely on the electric motor. Full hybrids use regenerative braking which takes energy that would normally be lost and uses it to charge the hybrid battery packs.

Full hybrids usually achieve very good fuel efficiency. At this point full hybrids can be more expensive than the other type hybrids cars, but the price should come down as popularity increases.

An example of a full hybrid is the Toyota Prius.

Mild Hybrids

Car manufacturers in a rush to capitalize on hybrid sales, created a breed of hybrid vehicles called mild hybrids. Upon closer examination you will come to realize that many of these “mild hybrids” are as much a hybrid car as a vehicle with a turbocharger, which is why many people do not even consider these hybrid vehicles. In a mild hybrid car the electric motor is not connected to the powertrain like in a full hybrid. The electric motor will assist the internal combustion engine, but is incapable or propelling the vehicle on its own. Mild hybrids certainly aren’t a bad thing but they do have the tendency to mislead the consumer. They are much cheaper to manufacture, are not as complex, and do achieve a slight increase in gas mileage. The Chevrolet Malibu hybrid is one example of a mild hybrid and it only nets approximately 2mpg more than its non hybrid counterpart.

Plug-In Hybrids

Plug-In hybrids at this time are not available from any car manufacturer, but you can expect to see them in the near future. The plug-in hybrid uses the internal combustion engine only as a backup to the electric motor. These hybrids can be plugged into a normal household electrical outlet to charge, but in addition they can also use the same charging capabilities of a full hybrid. While full hybrids utilize the electric and internal combustion engine all the time, plug-in hybrids will only use the internal combustion engine as a backup when the electric motors batteries run out of juice. At this point the car will operate as a full hybrid. Plug-In hybrids are expected to achieve better fuel efficiency than the other hybrids and many people see this technology as the future of hybrid technology.

At this time there are a few companies that will convert your full hybrid, like a Toyota Prius, into a plug-in hybrid, but they are more of a novelty at this point as they are cost prohibitive.

Performance Hybrid

Electric motors can offer instant torque unlike a conventional combustion engine. Some companies realized that you can take a smaller gasoline motor and pair it with an electric motor to get the performance of a much larger engine, and also get good fuel efficiency. A good example of this would be the Lexus GS450h which is capable of going 0-60 in 5.2 seconds, but gets a respectable 25mpg city / 28mpg freeway. The great thing about performance hybrids are the cars can get the performance of a V8 engine, but get the fuel efficiency of a smaller motor.

In closing, be sure to do your homework when buying a hybrid car as some hybrids might not be what you expected in terms of fuel efficiency or price. A car can have a badge that says hybrid on it but only get 17mpg. All of the above technologies have their place and it should be very exciting to see what the future holds for hybrid technology.

Keith Graat is the owner of the Hybrid Jungle which is an online resource dedicated to the topic of hybrid cars. Visit http://www.hybridjungle.net to learn more information about hybrid vehicles. You may also be interested in our online hybrid car forum at [http://forum.hybridjungle.net]

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