Topic: Toyota Prius

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Graduated? Seven job tips for college graduates.

The job data might seem rosier, but finding a job is harder than ever – especially for the nearly 2 million college students who will have graduated this year. Newly minted college graduates are up against experienced mid-career professionals who are also out there searching. Use these seven career tips to change your job search into a job offer.
Earth Day: Are you saving the planet or just showing off? Take our quiz.

Are you a “conspicuous conservationist," someone who goes green not just for the environment, but also to burnish your image as someone who cares? Take our quiz to find out.
Eight ways $100 oil may affect you

Here are eight ways that higher energy prices are starting to affect America.
Oil reaches $100 a barrel: Five winners, five losers

With gasoline now at $3.37 per gallon – 20 cents higher than last week, and rising daily – who is profiting from higher prices and who is not?
Seven hot cars for Valentine’s Day

It’s Valentine’s Day, and those “sexiest cars” lists are rolling in. Silly? A little, but it’s too much fun not to play along. We looked at 2011 cars that were attainable (sorry, Dr. Porsche, Jaguar, Tesla), not overly obvious (Chevy Camaro, Ford Mustang, BMW 3-series), and sporting a noticeably new look. We like the Volvo C30, but it didn’t much improve a reliably pretty fleet. I haven’t driven all these vehicles, but over several years of test-driving I did race through several of these cars’ predecessors. You can still see the skid marks. Here, in random order, are my seven hot cars for Valentine’s Day 2011:

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In Gear
Considering a plug-in, electric car? Consider your lifestyle.

Buying a plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle is more than just buying a car. It's choosing a lifestyle.
In Gear
Do hybrids save money? Website lets you calculate it.

Hybrids cost more upfront but are cheaper to operate than nonhybrids. The federal government has launched FuelEconomy.gov so consumers can calculate the payback period for buying a hybrid.
Bike to Work Day: Ditch the car. Pedal. Save $9,000?

Bike to Work Day is a chance for dedicated cyclists to show commuters that there's a better, cheaper way to get to work. Bike to work could save up to $9,000 a year, if you can ditch a car in the process.
Horizons
Nevada allows Google to test driverless cars on public streets

The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles has granted Google permission to begin testing a fleet of driverless cars. Look for the red license plates.
Indonesia's Aceh struggles to integrate former rebels fairly

As Indonesia's Aceh Province works to rebuild from decades of bloody battle - and a devastating tsunami - many analysts say feelings of injustice could wedge a new community divide.
In Gear
Why I bought a Nissan Leaf

Nissan Leaf will save $1,000 a year in fuel bills. But the real reason I bought one? 9/11.
In Gear
Electric-car sales fall in April

Nissan Leaf sees biggest fall, with only 370 cars sold. Prius plug-in hybrids see biggest sales, with more than 1,600 sold in April. 
The Race for What's Left

It's not just oil and gas, warns Michael T. Klare in this first-rate wake-up call. Planet Earth is now in danger of running out of just about everything.
Electric cars: Big climate aid in L.A., but not Wichita

Electric cars benefit the climate depending on where they're plugged in. In some cities, electric cars do no better than high-mileage gasoline-powered cars.
Are EVs worth it? Study helps calculate savings on emissions, fuel.

How much an EV saves on fuel or cuts greenhouse gas emissions depends on many variables, including gas prices and whether the local electric grid is fed mainly by coal power. The Union of Concerned Scientists helps out with the calculations.
Electric cars, hybrids see record sales

Electric cars like the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt and hybrids like Toyota's Prius C and Camry are selling better than ever. Automakers sold a record 52,000 hybrids, electric cars in March.
Consumer Energy Report
Do energy subsidies actually work?

Governement subsidies are largely social experiments without any guarantee of success. Some pay off royally, while others are a waste of time and money.
The Simple Dollar
For long road trips, is it cheaper to rent?

It depends on many factors, but a rental car may ultimately cheaper than using your own for a long trip.
Japan tsunami brought home hard lessons for automakers

On the first anniversary of the Japan tsunami, the auto industry is returning to normal after some significant disruptions. But the face of the industry has shifted.
From Model T to Prius: 13 big moments in fuel efficiency history

It took a long time for America's average fuel efficiency to surpass the M.P.G. rating of the Model T.
Hybrid cars 101: How long should batteries last?

Owners complain that some hybrid-car batteries conk out early. What is the lifespan of a hybrid battery?
Toyota Europe: Goodbye tsunami woes, hello growth

Toyota has put its post-tsunami production woes behind and now aims to boost its share in Europe, Toyota official says.
The Simple Dollar
Student loans or house downpayment? Where to spend $25,000.

Student loans worth $25,000 will start accruing interest in November, but a young couple wants to buy a house in 2013. Should they pay off the student loans or buy a home? See question No. 4 in this reader mailbag.
The Simple Dollar
How to cope with higher gas prices. Permanently.

With gas prices inching higher and higher, the commute to work can take thousands out of your annual salary. High gas prices can be a  good motivation to start considering more long-term changes in your lifestyle.
Gas prices high? Oil price survey points to more increases.

Gas prices could be headed higher as oil prices are set to rise, a new survey finds. High gas prices could threaten recovery.
Americans' trend line on gasoline: Use less, spend more

US oil consumption is down, and fuel economy for new vehicles is at an all-time high. Despite these leaner ways, Americans are spending 65 percent more on gasoline since 2005. Why?
Is Obama 'dangerous' because he wants you to buy a Chevy Volt? Newt says yes.

Newt Gingrich is railing against President Obama for using federal money to subsidize hybrid plug-ins like the Chevy Volt, likening the vehicle to 'cultural warfare.' Some Republicans agree.
Green Economics
Can a Prius increase global warming?

Some argue that driving fuel-efficient cars will actually encourage people to drive more, boosting carbon emissions and hastening climate  change. Here's why they're wrong.
Electric cars: 'Plug-ins' look for spark in 2012

Automakers in 2012 will launch 13 plug-in vehicles, running on electricity alone all or most of the time. This is the year that will tell whether the electric car market has a roaring liftoff or a slow-rolling start, analysts say.
The Simple Dollar
Why you should skip the extended warranty

Most of the time, that initial offer for a service contract or an extended warranty is way overpriced and does little for you.