Every week we come to know about the rise in gasoline prices, this is the reason why oil prices are considered most volatile on the commodity market. The tension in the Middle East Region, the major oil producing region seems not ending that soon.

Even if the tension is resolved there will be another conflict, this seems to be an ongoing process. That is the main reason that the economies of the world nations are always watchful and worried about the rising crude oil prices.

Another important factor is about the impact of gasoline combustion on traditional car internal combustion engines which are responsible for emissions.

Hybrid cars produced by giant car makers like Ford, Toyota, Honda, Nission etc are really making vehicles which are very appealing and aesthetic with modern designs. These cars are really cars of future and are quite efficient, economical and practical.

The cars are beautiful designed both on the exterior and interior, hence are easily acceptable by the customers. However, with all the good things there is a drawback, the price which is not that appealing. Hybrid cars are quite costly as compared to other traditional automobile. As hybrid vehicles are being installed with new technology, hopefully the car prices will reduce soon.

New hybrid cars use rechargeable energy storage system, also called RESS which is quite useful in fuelling the propulsion power. In some countries, hybrid cars use both internal combustion engine and an electric motor; these cars are known as hybrid-electric vehicles.

In north America, car industry experts estimated that car buyers also buy pickup trucks every year. This is the reason that the business of Ford trucks in this area is always on the peak.

There are many reasons behind the purchase of such trucks, the main one being the aspect of functionality. Another reason is the masculine features of these trucks. In the United States, it is estimated that 90% truck buyers are males and only 10% are females.

Since trucks are bigger in size so is the consumption of gasoline. The hybrid concept of cars has given hope not only to car owners but also truck owners as well. As raising gasoline prices has also made the life of truck owners miserably and their entire budget has gone hay wire.

Since trucks are manufactured to carry heavy duty tasks, it is very important to find ways to make it consume less gasoline. The hybrid technology if used for trucks also can reduce the gasoline consumption and money spent on it. Toyota and Honda are already exploring this business sector and are trying to come out with hybrid trucks.

The new hybrids technology has given an opportunity to big manufacturers to enter into the market of hybrid trucks. Both Toyota and Honda are working very hard to launch their hybrid trucks as it is to be seen how the largest manufacturer Ford will enter the market.

I am certain Ford will not just sit at the site line and watch other companies entering the hybrid truck market. It will be interesting to see how this market develops in the new future.

For those who are planning to start an electric truck conversion project, it is best you get to know the humble electric golf carts. Golf carts have undergone up-gradation in technology like most other utility items; the improvements brought about are to raise the efficiency, reduce hassles of maintenance or introduce some added feature for better functionality.

Just like any homemade electric vehicle, the golf carts, among other things, need battery replacement but far less frequently. In certain models, there is no replacement needed during the working life of the cart!

Those who are not well acquainted with the inbuilt modifications for such a significant change of a vital maintenance feature are not too sure when they find it necessary to change the battery; some senior golfers still tend to believe that the old type batteries were much easier to maintain and cheaper to replace.

A bit of clarity on this may help settle the issue. No doubt, the batteries being used to power the new models of golf carts are costlier; but then they have a much longer life too. Proper maintenance surely increases the usable life span of the battery. It cannot however be assured that modern day golf carts would never need replacement of battery.

When such a need does arise, it’s a good idea to replace the existing battery with a battery of exactly the same specifications; even with the same brand unless there are concrete reasons not to do so. This will ensure continuity of power supply needed by the cart system.

Another point well worth keeping in mind while going in for change of battery is the type of terminal set up; it is easily missed, so be extra careful. The fact is that there are several types of terminal set up that are available in the market.

A different type of terminal set up may not quite suit the cart electric motor; it may even not run with it! It is not at all advisable to try to somehow use a battery with a different terminal set up by re-arranging cables. Such an effort, unless done by an expert technician, may cause irreparable damage to the motor; so such an idea is better given up before execution.

Keep in mind that the golf cart has been designed with high level of manufacturers’ expertise and should not be fiddled with just to make a wrong terminal design fit it. Such a mismatch may even result in electrical explosion that can cause not only damage to the vehicle but serious injuries to persons around.

Every battery has a specific power rating i.e. voltage that it supplies. In case a battery of 48 volts specification came as original with the golf cart, the replacement has to be with the same voltage piece.

Don’t be under a wrong impression that you can enhance the vehicle power by replacing the existing battery with a battery of higher voltage. Such a misadventure is sure to raise current amperage through the cables and give rise to overheating; this again can lead to fire with consequences that need no elaboration here.

Yes, comparing prices offered by different battery vendors is your legitimate right; do it for sure, more so in today’s times of financial distress.

By understanding the internal workings of an electric golf cart, you will also understanding how a DIY electric pickup truck works. Generally, a homemade EV is a pimped up golf cart on the road.

When you are planning to start your own electric car conversion project, one of the types of donor car you should look into is a pickup truck. A truck has many advantages compared to a normal sedan especially for EV conversion projects.

However, there a few things you should take into account when choosing a donor pickup truck. Firstly, you have to determine if the new electric motor will fit into the truck.

To do that, you have to determine the maximum diameter of the motor before it comes into contact with other transmission components, driveshaft and the bodywork of the truck.

Here’s a simple rule of thumb. Any electric motor with a diameter of less than 7 inches would be too small for the truck. In the opposite scale, any motor over 11 inches would be too big to fit into the front of the truck. Apart from the size of the motor, you also have to determine how long the motor is and the types of clear mountings required.

The next thing you should consider is the voltage you want to run your truck on. The power output from the battery pack can be from 72 volts to 144 volts or more. You can run your electric truck on a lower voltage but you’ll end up with poor performance.

When choosing the electric motor, go with 48 volts or higher. Higher voltage means you’ll get higher speed for your electric vehicle. Since the pickup has a back bed which can be used to store the deep cycle batteries, space would not be an issue.

Finally, for an electric truck, find an electric motor with a large brush area. Preferably, look for com bars that are about 2 inches or more long.

Do It Yourself (DIY) Electric Vehicle Guide

Do you want to know how to convert a car to run on electric power? If you do, check out Les Oke’s Convert2EV e-book.

Les is a Canadian and lives a green lifestyle with his family. To move around, Les and his wife use pure electric cars.

Throughout the years, Les has completed numerous electric car conversion projects. The Convert2EV guide is a collection of his experience working on EVs.

==> Click here to visit Convert2EV now!