Twelve car gadgets you can't live without

Petrol prices may be bopping around all over the place, but fear not: there are numerous ways to beat greedy oil companies without resorting to pedal power. Below are three of our favourites.

Vegetable power
Believe it or not, your car can be converted to run on manky used vegetable oil. Obviously you can't just run a hose from your deep fat fryer to your 4x4, but there are several conversion kits you can use that make it extremely simple. This can save you a tonne of cash -- particularly if you can convince your local takeaway to give you used oil for free. Your car will smell like a chippy, though.
Available from: BioTuning

Hybrid power
The current flavour of the petrol-saving month is to invest in a hybrid car. These vehicles, made famous by the Toyota Prius, use an electric motor and batteries to supplement the performance of their standard petrol engines, which can boost economy and reduce emissions. These vehicles tend to cost much more than those that use a single internal combustion engine, but if you drive a lot, particularly in urban areas, you can save money in the long run -- and do your bit for the environment.
See it in action here: Toyota Prius

Battery power
If you absolutely, positively don't want to rely on petrol power, then an all-electric car is the way to go. These bad boys charge their batteries via the mains, before using their electrical engines to get you from A -- and hopefully -- to B. Their performance can often be rubbish, and their range is limited, but if you live in an urban area, you can drive for around a penny a day. Other bonuses include free parking in selected areas, exemption from London's congestion charge, and the fact hippy chicks will love you.
See it in action here: G-Wiz, Tesla Roadster

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