Best Eco-Friendly Auto Gadgets for 2008

The race to go green with your car is on. There are many different eco-friendly auto gadgets on the market, each doing its part to become a must have gadget for the consumer. With the high price of gas, the consumer has less money available to purchase every gadget that comes out. At least environmentally friendly auto gadgets do some good to the consumer by helping the environment. This article will explore the top five eco-friendly auto gadgets for 2008.

1. PLX Kiwi. The PLX Kiwi helps you to see how many miles per gallon of gas you are using at any given time in your drive. The PLX Kiwi is plugged directly into your car. The benefit of this eco-friendly car gadget financially is that it will help you to purchase less gas, as you learn how to get better gas mileage. When you realize that driving in rush hour traffic decreases your MPG, you may decide to stay later at work to avoid the rush hour. In turn, your gas bills will go down. As for the environmental benefits, you will use less gas which helps the environment.

2. Scan Gauge II. The Scan Gauge II costs under $200. One feature it has is to track the gas mileage you are using. The Scan Gauge can actually calculate your cost per mile for gas as you drive. You will see what type of gas mileage you are getting, and can learn over time what types of road running use more gas. You'll see directly how driving ten miles over the speed limit can decrease your miles per gallon. The financial benefit to this is that you'll redirect your driving, and spend less money on gas. Using less gas is also good for the environment.

In addition to calculating MPG and cost per mile, the Scan Gauge II can also let you know about potential problems with your car before they get out of control. This will provide you a financial benefit if you can head of some major repair with something minor. Environmentally, if you can keep your car running this will cut down on the materials being used to make a new car or produce a new part.

3. Solar Power Panel. Solar Power Panels are basically car battery rechargers for hybrid cars that recharge the car's battery by using solar energy. This is environmentally sound because you don't use electricity. As for financial benefits, you can often find solar power panels for under $100, that will cost much less than the cost of using electricity each time with a regular car battery charger for your hybrid car. Using the sun's energy can save money, and this is a great eco-friendly car gadget.

4. iPhone web-based application/ service that keeps track of the fuel efficiency of your car. So, you just have to have an iPhone and the web-based service. For this service to work, you simply enter the odometer reading and the fuel you buy each time you refill your gas tank. Over time, you will find out how efficient your car's fuel is. This will help you financially by allowing you to discover if your car is working properly, so you don't continue to drive it around using more gas than you should need to. Environmentally, you will discover problems and have them fixed, so that you have to purchase less overall gas. This will help the environment.

5. Zero-emission electric motors. This is probably the best auto 'gadget' you can purchase for the environment. You are basically replacing your gas powered engine with an electric engine. The benefit to purchasing this gadget is that you don't have to wait for the United States to make available enough electric cars to meet demand. Electric vehicles (EV's) may permeate the market at some point, but until then, this gives you a second option. You will save the environment by not using gas, and you will save your pocketbook by not having to purchase gas. If you compound this with a solar powered battery charger, you'll really be scoring big in the green department.