Toyota's i-Road

Toyota has begun testing a three-wheeled EV that Europe plans on using as part of their public transportation. Basically the two-passenger vehicle will be shared. Commuters can pay and reserve for a vehicle ahead of time and pick it up at designated charging stations. The i-Road is one-fourth the size of the average car. It has the ability to lean, making it take up even less space on the road. The vehicle will help reduce emissions in already crowded cities. It is unclear when the i-Road will become available, as it is still being tested. Come into Yokem Toyota to check out other amazing Toyota vehicles!

Enlighten Me on Going Electric

The push to go green is stronger than ever as we begin to notice the damage left by our footprints. If you recently bought a new vehicle, you probably briefly considered buying an electric vehicle, but brushed that thought aside when you mulled over the cons. Common myths about electric vehicles include: they have a short range, they are expensive, and the time it takes to charge is inconvenient. The truth is, the typical American driver travels less than 40 miles a day, a small portion of the 100 mile range covered by most electric vehicles. When it comes to price, it is no lie that you will pay more upfront for an electric vehicle, but you must factor in the long run costs. A plug-in driver can save between $700-$1600  each year by eliminating fuel consumption. That adds up, and the fact of the matter is you will be saving money with a plug-in. Lastly, with a little bit of planning, charging your vehicle should not be a problem. An EV can easily reach a full charge overnight. And each day, more and more public charge stations are appearing at businesses and public entities. This means you can charge while you’re at work, shopping, or while your kids play at the park. Owning an electric vehicle is something to feel good about. With car brands introducing EVs each year, there is surely a vehicle that will fit your lifestyle and budget!

Reasons to Stop Ignoring Your Check-Engine Light

Not knowing the reason your check-engine light is on can be very irritating. Most people will continue to ignore the warning as long as they feel their car is still running smoothly. But, your vehicle is in need of a diagnosis! Without one, you could be causing additional harm to your vehicle. This could ultimately result in spending more money on repairs than if the problem was fixed from the start. Occasionally, the fix is as easy as tightening your gas cap, which is the first thing you should check when your light goes on. If the check-engine light remains on after a few days then there could be a problem with the vehicles fuel, ignition or emissions system. If the light is flashing, this is serious. It could mean there was a misfire, which needs immediate attention from an auto technician. If your vehicle is telling you something is wrong, you should take care of the problem. Doing so will help you stay safe while keeping money in your pocket!

Save Gas and Save Money

We all dread filling up at the pump and draining our bank account. But we have to get around some how! However, there are several ways to save on gas and keep some money in your pocket.

1. Go easy on your accelerator! If you anticipate the traffic you can avoid slamming on your breaks and accelerating too quickly. If possible, use cruise control, this cuts out the constant braking and accelerating.

2. Carpooling is fun! With just one person in your carpool, you could cut your fuel costs by 50 percent! Make friends and alternate driving with people in your area. The more people in your carpool, the more you save!

3. Let go of your excess baggage. Do you really need all those extra things in your trunk? The less you car weighs, the less work it does, and the less gas it is going to burn.

4. Don’t ignore those check-whatever lights. Regular maintenance will keep your car purring beautifully. The better you take care of your car, the better it will perform.  Make sure under the hood is running smoothly and your tires are properly inflated.

5. Get some fresh air! If it’s a nice day, put your windows down! Turning off your A/C will put less stress on your engine, and help it use less fuel. The more sparing you are with your A/C and heat, the more gas in your tank!

6. This brings me to my next point, aerodynamics! While keeping the windows down helps cut gas consumption, this is not necessarily true for when you’re driving on the highway. Simply put, if your windows are down when you are going high speeds, it causes your vehicle to use more gas because it is less aerodynamic. It is also not beneficial to have bike racks or large objects on your roof rack. Those bug deflectors, window and sunroof deflectors are also causing more harm than good.

7. Don’t just sit there, do something! If you are just going to sit there with your car running, turn it off. Turning your car off and on is more efficient than just letting it run.

Steering Away From Hydroplaning

Driving in the rain can bring a lot of anxiety to some drivers. With the lack of visibility and the fear of losing control, you’re not alone! Hydroplaning, also known as aquaplaning, occurs when a layer of water comes between the tires and road causing a loss of traction. This lack of traction can cause the driver to lose their ability to steer and brake properly. The vehicle may skid or slide and this could unfortunately cause an accident. But have no fear! There are several ways to avoid hydroplaning and build your confidence driving in the rain!

1. (First off, and most importantly) Do NOT slam on the breaks. The best option is to pump your breaks until you begin to regain control. If you have anti-lock brakes (check your owners manual if you are unsure), brake like normal but not too hard. The vehicle will do the brake pumping action for you.

2. This is not the time to have a lead foot! Slow down in the rain, you will have more traction and better control when you are coming to a stop.

3. Take care of your tires. Unfortunately this creates another “to-do” on your busy list. It is important to check and properly adjust your tire pressure. Check the traction on your tires often and rotate or replace them if need be, especially if they are beginning to bald.

4. Avoid standing water. Puddles can cause immediate loss of traction. It is smart to avoid the outer lanes where masses of water are likely to form.

5. Stay in control, don’t use cruise control! Hydroplaning while in cruise control has actually caused vehicles to accelerate. As you can imagine, this creates a problem when it comes to regaining control of your vehicle.

If you do begin to hydroplane, remain calm! Take your foot off the accelerator, grasp the wheel firmly, and attempt to steer the vehicle to where it is aimed straight ahead. Make sure you are not over steering, move the wheel a minimal amount, just enough to keep the vehicle moving forward. Hopefully these tips will help you gain confidence while driving in the rain, and help prevent accidents if hydroplaning does occur!

Toyota Creating Hover Cars

Living life like The Jetsons may be closer around the corner than we think, thanks to Toyota’s recent research. With technology advancing every day, Toyota is investigating the possibility of a vehicle that can hover above the road. As a self-driving vehicle, Toyota hopes that the hovering car will be more efficient.Their research has proved to have setbacks such as the high cost of necessary sensors, and expensive software that makes the vehicle operate. They must also get the government on their side by having them agree that these vehicles can safely function side by side with other cars. Even if this vehicle is not on the road as soon as expected, car models released by Toyota in the next few years could have some futuristic technology. Vehicles could include sensors that keep each other apart, and other features that prevent drifting into other lanes. With Toyota constantly advancing technology in vehicles, we can thank them for giving us anything but the conventional automobile. This is why we are beyond proud to sell you our cars at Yokem Toyota.

6 Tips to Increase Gas Mileage

With spring and summer coming up why spend more money on gas than you have to? Instead you can you put that money saved towards summer activities! Here are 6 simple tips to help increase your gas mileage:

• Tune-Up: Keep your car properly tuned to improve gas mileage by an average of 4 percent.
• Tire Pressure: Keep tires properly inflated and improve gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent.
• Motor Oil: Improve gas mileage by 1 to 2 percent by using the grade of motor oil recommended by the manufacturer.
• Air Filters: Replacing clogged air filters on older vehicles can improve fuel economy and will improve performance and acceleration on all vehicles.

• Gas Cap: Damaged, loose or missing gas caps allow gas to vaporize into the air.
• Fix It: Addressing a serious maintenance problem, like a faulty oxygen sensor, can significantly improve mileage.