I used to think that all the materials that make up vehicles are one and the same. I thought that at the end of the day, size, power, and speed are the only things that should matter.

However, extensive research and development have changed automobiles drastically over the years. Simply put, vehicles have changed a lot and that means they only just got better and better. Meanwhile, there are two types of car bodies have emerged recently: lightweight steel and aluminum. If you want to know the difference, read on and find out.

1.Weight and Size are not Equal

Back in the past, light cars and small cars were indistinguishable. When your car is small, it’s natural to think that they are also small. However, big and bulky cars have also become really light these days. Truth is, what really protects a vehicle from damage is not size, but weight. Aside from that, lighter cars are also better suited for the environment. That’s because heavier cars burn more fuel because their bulk needs more energy to be carried. In short, if you have an option to choose a light and a heavy vehicle; choose the former.

2.Cars have different sizes for different reasons

Through the years, most cars simply got bigger. In fact, from 1990 to 2009, vehicles have increased in mass by as much as 500 lbs. The cars simply got heavier because of bigger engines, chassis, framework, and overall parts. With that being said, you can expect jeeps, SUVs, cars, and even sports cars to be heavier. However, they are not necessarily slower. That’s because engines have also improved and that only means one thing: more power.

3.Going Lightweight

Since most vehicles became heavier than their older counterparts, engineers have a found a way so that automobiles won’t have to necessarily slow down. The solution to that problem is to use lightweight materials for some of the vehicle’s parts. This is being done by tweaking the interior and exterior of the vehicle, without affecting its speed and power. Some examples include lighter seats or using a chassis/framework made of lightweight materials. It all boils down to the fact that lightweight cars are easier to handle, while being able to accelerate faster. That does not end there, because studies show that they are easier to brake too.

4.Other Parts

Lightweight materials are not only used on the vehicle’s body. In fact, all parts of the vehicle can use light materials and these can be the engine cover, pumps, and even the cylinder block.

5.So Why Lightweight?

Vehicles that use lightweight materials have more efficient engines because they just don’t have to work as hard. As a consequence, they last longer and that means you don’t have to spend so much money to get it fixed. Aside from that, you extend your vehicle’s gas mileage much better.

Initially known as Datsun in the US, Nissan has become part of the winning circle decades ago. Through the years Nissan has produced many world-class small cars such as the Datsun 510, and Nissan Sentra. To continue the tradition however, Nissan has another trick off its sleeve and it’s none other than the Nissan Versa.

Basically, the Nissan Versa’s 1.8-liter engine can generate as much as 122 horsepower and 127 lbs.-ft. of torque. When it comes to acceleration, this subcompact vehicle can zoom from 0-60 mph in only nine seconds. Far from being a super car but still, that’s good enough for me. As a small vehicle, you’re definitely asking what its MPG rating is. Basically, the Nissan Versa gets a respectable score here since its city MPG is 27 and its highway MPG is 33.

To reduce power loss, the Nissan Versa uses electric-power steering, making it a fun car to drive wherever you want to go. When you step behind the steering wheel, this car simply tells you that you are in control. That’s because everything is simple yet all the things that you can see inside have a specific function.

Prior to the domination of weird-looking green cars of the 2000s, one of the most famous green cars years ago was the Ecostar EV from Ford. Born in 1992, the Ecostar EV was way ahead of its time when it comes to the green technology that it used.

An electric vehicle, the Ecostar EV looked like any other automobile out in the streets. The only thing that makes it different is its power source. Using a sodium-sulfur battery pack that is mounted beneath the floor pan, the Ecostar EV was a solid vehicle needless to say. When it comes to performance, it can go from 0-60 mph in 15 seconds while having a maximum driving range of 150 miles.

Meanwhile, the thing that really stands out about this vehicle is its 600-degree sodium-sulfur batteries. Basically, these batteries need to operate at this temperature in order to ignite a reaction between the sodium and sulfur molecules. The reaction results to electricity being produced, while kinetic energy was stored inside the batteries’ thick walls.

Although sodium-sulfur batteries had great potential, newer and better batteries were later invented. Because of that, the Ecostar EV faded in obscurity although it paved the way for other electric vehicles to come out years later.

At last, the Volvo has come up with its very own Hybrid car. Although still at its conceptual stage, the ReCharge concept is unique because it has individual electric motors attached to its wheels. When it comes to performance, the ReCharge can run as fast as 100 km/h using a 1.6-liter engine. To further increase its MPG, it has a lithium-polymer battery pack that is meant to last for years. Just like most vehicles that rely on electric power, you can easily recharge it any time in any standard outlets.

If you think that reaching an MPG rating of 235 is impossible, think again. That’s because right now, Volkswagen is working on a vehicle that delivers that number. Known as the VW 1-liter, this vehicle looks like it just came from a sci-fi movie. Basically, the VW 1-liter has a narrow body and nearly flat body. With its design, the vehicle has an amazing drag coefficient of just 0.159 and with its 235 MPG, it can travel for 400 miles using only its 1.7-gallon fuel tank. Its speed is also decent because latest measurements have shown that it can go as fast as 75 mph.

1. BMW Hydrogen 7

2. CHEVY EQUINOX FUEL CELL

3. HONDA FCX CLARITY

4. PHOENIX SUT

5. TOYOTA PLUG-IN HV

Years ago, I would not even dare say that Americans will appreciate green vehicles or alternative fuel autos. With our love for gas-guzzling and powerful cars, I really doubted whether Americans will ever give these vehicles a chance.

Then again, recent studies show that from 2007-2008, more than two million green vehicles were bought by Americans. This rising trend is brought by an increased awareness in the advantages that these automobiles bring. Aside from that, ever increasing prices of fuel have led many Americans to buy the often slower, yet more economical green cars.

Let’s face it. Most of us aren’t willing to do away with our rides completely and to trade them in for electric cars. While ideally, we would all be able to purchase our green car of choice, there are other factors at play, which could delay this type of big purchase. If you have a fuel-efficient vehicle that’s not being run by biofuels or electricity, then there’s still a way for you to reduce your carbon footprint, without having to trade in your fuel-run car completely.

Aside from walking more, or riding a bike to work, another thing you can do is to get a green car insurance for your vehicle.

The ordinary, non-green car is capable of producing up to 3.5 tons of Carbon Dioxide per year. Now, multiply that by millions upon millions of times and you get a rough estimate of how much pollution vehicle drivers pump into the atmosphere. Air pollution is what ruins the environment, causing rapid and extreme climate change and global warming.

So how can you help minimize your contributions to air pollution with a Green Car Insurance policy? Well, you drive your fuel-efficient car while being absolutely carbon neutral. Meaning, the carbon dioxide produced by your car is taken away from somewhere else.

What a green car insurance policy gives you is an offer of up to a hundred percent offset of your carbon emissions. These types of policies even offer discounts to fuel-efficient or eco-friendly vehicles and drivers who keep their mileage to a minimum.

By offsetting your carbon emissions, the policy means that a huge chunk of the money you spend on your premium is used to buy Carbon Credits used in renewable energy projects. Solar farms, wind farms, and hydroelectric stations benefit from your insurance policy, allowing them to conduct further research on their fields while minimizing their carbon footprints. So indirectly, you’re helping lessen the use of fossil fuels.

So while it’s ideal to purchase a new green car, if you can’t buy one now, might as well become an eco-warrior by getting a green car insurance policy instead. Negate your carbon dioxide emissions by getting green car insurance as soon as you can.

There are a lot of companies today, which are solely dedicated in providing vehicle owners with this type of policy. Check out local companies in your area and ask for brochures before getting your green car insurance. Go for a legit green car insurance company to ensure that you’re truly offsetting your car’s noxious emissions.

I have been a fan of automobiles ever since I can remember. In fact, I was able to identify car models even before I was able to write my name. Then again, you don’t see automakers that specifically cater to the specially-abled members of the society. In short, you don’t see vehicles that are tailor-made for people using wheelchairs. Now considering that these guys need special attention when it comes to everything, I’m tipping my hat to an automaker such as Kenguru UK. Why? That’s because the company has created a vehicle for the handicapped called the B-4220.

Classified as an invalid car, cars such as the B-4220 make things easier for people on wheelchairs. In fact, it has become so popular in Eastern Europe for years already. Today, you can get yourself a B-4220 for only 12,500 dollars. Unlike most cars, this invalid car doesn’t have a seat because the wheelchair will do the job. There is very little legroom inside, although its design will allow the drive to roll into driving position by merely using a ramp that lowers automatically. After that, the wheelchair will be locked into position, to prevent it from wobbling once the B-4220 starts moving.

Once you insert the ignition key inside the ignition switch, the rear panel immediately closes down. After that, the driver can already start driving and its functions are just like any other vehicle out there. The downside to this car however is its size and its very limited space. In fact, there’s only room for just one person. In spite of that, it is still capable of generating as much as 25 mph on the freeway. On the other hand, the B-4220 is powered by a 4KW electric motor and four lead-acid batteries. Since it’s an electric vehicle, you need to charge its batteries to make sure you can last the distance. The B-4220 may be far from having the performance of a sports car, but it sure is up for the task it was made for: providing comfort and safety to handicapped drivers. At 12,500 dollars, the B-4220 gives handicapped people the comfort that they need despite their physical limitations.

Brusa Elektronik is really on a roll these days. Last time out, I posted about its new electric car called the Brusa Spyder. Sure, I was really impressed with that car could offer on the table. Little do I know that the company still had something more to offer other than the Brusa Spyder. Actually Brusa Elektronik still had one more trick up its sleeve and it’s the supremely-looking and opulent Protoscar LAMPO Electric.

At first, there’s no way to tell that this car is electric powered until someone told me that it is.Just like the Brusa Spyder, it’s also an electric car that is styled like a roadster. Unlike some small and compact electric vehicles though, this one boasts of serious power. In fact, it can produce as much as 268 horsepower using only its lithium-ion batteries. What’s even more impressive is that it’s a four-wheel drive car and each set of wheels can muster 134 horsepower instantly. It also has serious torque because last time I checked, it’s capable of generating 324.5 lb.-ft. of torque.

So what powers the Protoscar LAMPO Electric? Basically, there’s a lightweight lithium-ion battery that can provide it by as much as 200 kilometers in range. Just like most electric-powered vehicles, it can be charged using any public or home charging public outlet.

When I checked out the instrument panel of the Protoscar LAMPO Electric, what caught my attention was how it displays the amount of power is uses in real time. Seriously now, I can’t recall any kind of electric vehicle that had that kind of feature. Basically, it shows positive when you’re accelerating, while showing negative when you start to decelerate. Aside from that, there’s also a touch screen module that shows the current battery charge and the current driving conditions. I also found the GPS tool is very useful because it allows you to plan your routes. That means you become an efficient driver and you save your battery power as well.

Meanwhile, getting inside the Protoscar LAMPO Electric is a totally different experience as well. That’s because you can set the parameters of the on-board battery charger. Aside from that, the interior is stylish as well. There’s also ample legroom so you can put in some extra cargo when you’re planning for a longer trip.

Despite the design, looks, and energy efficiency of the Protoscar LAMPO Electric, it’s one car that is all about zero emission. It’s one efficient running machine that is fun to drive in city-driving conditions. Meanwhile, the Protoscar LAMPO Electric is not yet on sale but it will certainly change how we see electric cars in the near future.