This year, its been predicted that consumers won’t be outraged until gas is 4 dollars or more at least, due to the conditioning we’ve already received from the previous years spikes.

What does this mean for you? Typically the average consumer won’t change driving habits or switch vehicles, like trying to get a jump on fitness every New Year’s Day, to save on fuel economy until they’re sufficiently unhappy with the price at the pump. One of our readers is still outraged that gas ever went above $2.00 per gallon, but $2 to $3 dollars per gallon is becoming the “normal” range for many gas stations across the country.

Leave your comments below with your thoughts on gas prices and what the current pricing means to you.

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After averaging a relatively modest $2.78 in 2010, the federal government’s Energy Information Administration predicts the price of gas will rise substantially this year and next, hitting an average of $3.29 in 2012, with price spikes temporarily raising the price well beyond that number.

As a consumer, saving money behind the wheel is important. Paying high prices at the pump means cutting costs wherever you can, including finding discount car insurance.

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The proposed legislation would provide financial support for experimental vehicle research, including new types of hybrids, hydrogen cells and other batteries, and new environmentally friendly engine systems. The U.S. Department of Energy would administer the funds. The major auto manufacturers and the United Auto Workers union have voiced support for this bill, which would provide a further boost to the rebounding auto industry after the success of the CARS program.

Peters, accompanied by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland, announced the proposal on September 3 in Troy, Michigan. The legislation is seen as a boon for Michigan’s economy, which heavily depends on the auto industry; it will also please environmentalists who praise its emphasis on alternative fuel sources rather than reliance on fossil fuels. If the bill is passed, funding might be available to auto manufacturers by the end of this year.

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View photos of the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics

Details released by the auto manufacturer indicate that the Vision EfficientDynamics will incorporate a three-cylinder turbodiesel engine with two electric motors, allowing enhanced fuel economy without sacrificing pickup or performance. A proprietary software program combines both the hybrid and electric powertrains, producing an engine capable of 356 horsepower, comparable with other performance vehicles on the market. Environmental concerns have not been neglected, however; the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics uses standard plug-in hybrid technology with an estimated driving range of about 400 miles, making it a viable choice for green enthusiasts. Seating four comfortably, the Vision EfficientDynamics may produce the highest performance of any family-friendly hybrid on the market.

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Touted as a success by environmentalists and economists, the “Cash for Clunkers” program removed 690,114 older vehicles with poor gas mileage from the roads, replacing them with newer fuel-efficient cars. The beneficial effects of this government program have been obvious in the automotive industry, with both General Motors and Ford announcing increases in production for the latter half of this year. “Cash for Clunkers” provided an incentive for consumers to purchase new vehicles, and the increase in demand is creating more jobs in the previously struggling automotive sector. Toyota, General Motors, Ford, and Honda topped the list of auto makers with the most “Cash for Clunkers” transactions, together netting over 64 percent of total rebate applications.

The environmental impact of this program is equally impressive, with an estimated 58 percent improvement in fuel economy expected due to the trade-ins. Most “Cash for Clunkers” trade-ins were trucks or SUVs, while the new vehicles purchased were primarily passenger cars. The White House reported that the cars purchased under this program averaged fuel economy 19 percent higher than the average of all new cars currently produced, making the “Cash for Clunkers” program a big win for environmentalists as well.

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Cash for Clunkers Ends Monday

The highly successful “Cash for Clunkers” program will end Monday, according to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. Part of the overall stimulus package, this program offered up to $4500 in rebates to car buyers who traded in certain older vehicles with poor fuel economy. “Cash for Clunkers” was designed to have a twofold effect, both reducing harmful emissions and giving the cash-strapped automobile industry a much needed boost in sales. Consumer reaction to the program was far more enthusiastic than predicted, necessitating additional funds to cover the cost of the consumer rebates. Despite continuing consumer demand, Lahood announced that applications for rebates will no longer be accepted after Monday, August 21, 2009.

Lahood indicated that the Cash for Clunkers program had already processed over $1.9 billion dollars in rebates, with over 450,000 dealer transactions already recorded by the Federal government. “This program has been a lifeline to the automobile industry, jump starting a major sector of the economy and putting people back to work,” Lahood said. Auto manufacturers saw the greatest increase in sales in their fuel-efficient passenger vehicles, with the White Hosue estimating an increase in gas mileage of approximately sixty-one percent over the trade-in vehicles.

The Cash for Clunkers program, also known as CARS, was originally only funded for $1 billion, but after the unexpected consumer response to the program, $2 billion in additional funds was passed by Congress. It is expected that these funds will be essentially depleted by the end of the program. Auto manufacturers and consumers alike have seen the benefits of this program, with Ford Motor Company announcing plans to step up production in response to extremely brisk sales of fuel-efficient cars in the first two weeks of August.

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What makes the Chevy Volt desirable?

If Chevrolet’s claims regarding its new Chevy Volt are accurate, this new car stands to revolutionize the way we commute and think about fuel economy. According to their press release, if you drive less than 40 miles per day, the Chevy Volt will consume zero traditional fuel and create zero emissions. In other worlds, according to Chevy, the future of personal automobile has arrived, and it is rated at 230 mpg.

Click to Insure Your Chevy Volt

How can it be rated 230 mpg?

When considering the Chevy Volt’s rating of 230 miles per gallon, it is worth remembering the Environmental Protection Agency is still working out the kinks on how they will test new electric cars for fuel efficiency . As the procedure currently stands, a car is expected to be charged up once a day. Unlike most electric cars or hybrids, the Chevy Volt will be able to complete up to forty miles of completely gasoline free driving on that charge. This means that around three quarters of commuters would be able to do their daily driving without any gasoline at all. The Chevy Volt only begins using gasoline once its electric charge has run down, which is where the 230 mpg rating comes from.

Where can you find car insurance rates for this new car?

Of course, once you decide to make the plunge, it will be necessary to look into getting insurance rates for your new Chevy Volt. These days, there are a handful of websites that can serve as a one stop shop to get insurance rates. Autocareinsurance .com, for instance, provides you quotes on insurance rates from the top providers without the hassle of contacting each insurance provider and haggling with them on your own.

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The ten-day run of the original cash for clunkers program increased much-needed sales for the auto industry, which has been beleaguered by the current economic recession. Of course, skeptics of the program believe that the fix is temporary, and after the funding peters out in September, Labor Day to be exact, car dealers will find themselves in an even larger hole than they were in to begin with.

The major concern for most Americans is where is the money coming from? Once again, the answer to age-old question of how to stimulate the economy rests with the taxpayers. The funding for both the original program and the extension comes from the taxpayers, who have seen more than their fair share of government excess when it comes to stimulus projects. This has been no more apparent than with the bank bail out program. Yet, since the cash for clunkers program is aimed at assisting the taxpayer, is it a bad thing? Probably not for the hundreds of thousands of Americans who were ready to purchase a new car, but for those of us who are already struggling, the impending tax increases to over the cost of all these programs will make it even tougher.

All in all, the cash for clunkers program extension means that more people will have an opportunity to purchase a new vehicle by providing additional cash to drive down the price. If you are in the market, now is a good time to buy.

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Cash for Clunkers

Do you have an older model vehicle and in the market for a new fuel efficient model? Is your car on its last legs, and you do not want to deal with expensive repairs? Then the recent program instituted by the U.S. Government, Cash for Clunkers, may be the right program for you. The government’s “Car Allowance Rebate System” (CARS) has $1 billion allocated to the Cash for Clunkers program and takes gas guzzlers off the road.

So is Cash for Clunkers right for you? In order to qualify for the program, your trade-in model must meet the following requirements:

• Your trade-in must have been manufactured less than 25 years ago.

• Your trade-in must have a combined fuel efficiency rating of 18 miles per gallon or less.

• Your trade-in must be in drivable condition.

• Your trade-in must be insured and registered to the same owner for the past full year.

In addition to the above requirements for the trade in model, the new car bought must have a combined MPG rating of at least 2 more MPGs than your trade-in. Of course, if the value of the trade-in model is less than the rebate offered by the Cash for Clunkers program, then the Cash for Clunkers program is not right for you.

The rebate offered by the Cash for Clunkers program is either $3500 or $4500 depending on the fuel efficiency of the new model. If the new vehicle being purchased has a fuel efficiency of 5 MPG more than the trade-in vehicle, the larger rebate can be obtained. In addition, by electing to use the Cash for Clunkers program, the buyer is no longer in a position to negotiate a trade-in value for their older vehicle and has to accept the fixed rebate amount of either $3500 or $4500.

Thus, if you are in the market for a new car with great fuel efficiency and have an older model to trade-in with a value under $3500 or $4500, then Cash for Clunkers is the right program for you.

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Tesla Model S Sedan

Recently, CNN.com posted a story about the new funding Tesla received from the federal government to aid in their production of electric vehicles. Tesla has already produced a roadster that has amazing specs for an electric car, and now this new funding will go to assist the production of the Model S Sedan.

Read the CNN.com article here: cnn.com

The Model S has a stunning luxury design and amazing features that make other electric vehicles pale in comparison:

RANGE

• Up to 300 mile range
• 45 minute QuickCharge
• Charges from 120V, 240V or 480V
• 5 minute battery swap

UTILITY

• Seating for 7 people
• Unique hatch for oversized items
• 60/40 flat-folding rear seat
• 2nd trunk under hood

PERFORMANCE & TECHNOLOGY

• 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds
• PURE electric
• 2X as efficient as hybrids
• Proven powertrain from leading EV manufacturer
• 17 inch infotainment touchscreen

Base Price $49,900* Deliveries Begin 2011

* Price shown includes $7,500 Federal Tax credit.  Consult a tax expert for details.

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