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Hybrid CarsIntroduction to hybrid cars: benefits, fuel, mpg, efficiency, green, pollution, money, tax benefits, more...Introduction to Hybrid Cars Hybrid cars get the best mpg of any cars and are great if you are looking to not only save money at the gas station but reduce carbon emissions as well. Dealerships have waiting lists for hybrid cars, they are so sought after. The batteries in hybrid cars aren't charged by external sources like battery electric vehicles. Even better than all electric cars, hybrid car batteries recharge as you drive. Electric cars must be plugged in and don't go more than 50-60 mph. Benefits As the price of gas grows, more people opt for hybrid cars because of the financial benefits. Besides the financial benefits, the hybrid offers reduced air and noise pollution. Fuel A hybrid vehicle's fuel economy is 20-25% better than that of a gas car. More and more car manufacturers are making hybrids because they are fuel-efficient and compact. A hybrid car has two engines: one using traditional fuel and the other using a rechargeable batterly. Hybrid engines don't burn gas while idle, so they maximize fuel economy. The electric motor is used under specific driving conditions only. Mpg Hybrid cars are the most economical of cars. They can get from 47-60 mpg driving in the city. A typical SUV gets 15-20 mpg - 3 times as much gas used to drive the same distance. As the engine switches back and forth between the small engine and the battery, the hybrid can get up to 68 mpg with highway driving. Efficiency In order to maximize efficiency, the computer system on a hybrid decides which energy source to use at different times. Green Hybrid cars are better for the environment than traditional cars as they reduce smog by 90% and use much less gas. Most car manufacturers are building green versions of their cars now. If more consumers buy hybrids, car manufacturers will be forced to think green as they manufacture new cars. Pollution Driving a Hybrid means your contribution to environmental pollution is much less, on top of your savings on fuel costs. Money Unfortunately, new eco-friendly green cars are currently very pricey. Even used hybrids are flying off the lots with big price tags. However, when deciding on your new car purchase, keep in mind that the amount of money you save in gas will more than pay back all the extra that went into the initial purchase. You can save $100's-1,000's a year on gas driving a hybrid car as mpg ranges from 47-68. If you compare the amount you spend on fuel for a traditional car against that you spend on a hybrid, you'll see hybrids are much cheaper to drive. Hybrid Tax Benefits You may be eligible for a one-time federal income tax deduction of up to 2K if you buy a new hybrid. The government also offers other benefits to hybrid owners like free entry into car pool lanes and free parking. Toyota Prius and Honda Civic The two leading hybrid manufacturing companies today are Toyota and Honda. Toyota offers the Toyota Prius (4 door sedan) while Honda offers both the Honda Civic Hybrid (4 door sedan) and the Honda Insight (2 door coupe). Toyota and Honda already sell thousands of hybrids and General Motors and Ford have joined them. The difference between Toyota's Prius and Honda's Civic hybrids is: Toyota's hybrid is an electric motor assisted by a gas engine while the Honda Civic hybrid uses a gas engine assisted by an electric motor only when more power is needed. When auto reviews compare the 2 cars, the Toyota Prius generally comes in first. Future The future is here and it's all about the hybrid. Choosing a hybrid as your next vehicle may be one of the best financial and environmental decisions of your future. Industry observers predict future hybrids may be plug-ins with an option to plug in a more powerful battery via a common electric socket. Conclusion The hybrid is a great economical car with high mileage (up to 68 mpg)! When you compare them to traditional cars they come in first in several different areas: less fuel consumption (a non-renewable energy source) and environmentally-friendly (no toxic fumes), lower noise-pollution, etc. Many hybrids easily avoid accidents as they are small, agile and quick. Their safety ratings rank highly in their weight classes. Hybrid technologies are improving and as they do, they will become less expensive. |