4driversonly

© shannonkringen

An electric car is power-driven by an electric motor instead of a gasoline engine. The electric motor gets energy from a controller, which regulates the amount of power, based on the driver's use of an accelerator pedal. The electric car uses energy stored in its rechargeable batteries, which are recharged by common household electricity.

Unlike a hybrid car, which is fueled by gasoline and uses a battery and motor to improve efficiency, an electric car is powered completely by electricity. Electronic vehicles have not been widely adopted because of inadequate driving range before needing to be recharged, long recharging times, and a lack of commitment by automakers to produce and market electric cars that have all the comforts of gas-powered cars. As battery technology improves, simultaneously increasing energy storage and reducing cost, major automakers are expected to begin introducing a new generation of electric cars.

Electric cars produce no tailpipe emissions, reduce our dependency on oil, and are cheaper to operate. Of course, the process of producing the electricity moves the emissions further upstream to the utility company's smokestack. But even dirty electricity used in electric cars usually reduces our collective carbon footprint.

© randyihara1

The rise in gas prices has occurred despite the fact the demand for gasoline has decreased across the United States.

Officials at AAA say the weak U.S. dollar as well as unrest in Libya, Syria, Yemen and other Middle East countries is helping fuel the rise. However, they say the biggest cause is speculators on the commodities market.

"Investors continue to be the largest force driving the market price for oil," said Matt Skryja, an AAA Northern California spokesman. "Instability in the Middle East and North Africa still has them concerned about the world's supply of crude, which has helped keep oil prices on the rise."

Jay McKeeman, the vice president of government relations for the California Independent Oil Marketers Association, agrees. He also blames speculators for the high price of gasoline. "It's all because of the price of crude. As crude prices rise, the price of gas rises," McKeeman said.

Sean Comey, a spokesman for Chevron Corporation, said about two-thirds of the cost of gasoline comes from the price of crude oil. He added most of the rest of the price is due to federal, state and sales taxes.

As per a report, rising prices of gasoline has increased the sales of small SUVs and small cars. As gasoline prices hikes from 2008, Scotia Economics reports that Canadians and Americans are turning around to buy small SUVs for their usages.

The sales of small SUV's have increased to 23 percent over the last year in April. This year the small SUV's are leading as compared to minivans and pickups last year.

© goldberg

Big Gas Guzzling models were the ones used in the past, people prefer small SUV's now and its the one in the top for their shopping list as the gasoline prices are hiking. Over the past year 40 percent hike in the sales of small SUV's and compact cars is reported. The new account now volumes high for small SUV in America.