Hybrid Cars

We are all concerned about the environment and doing our part to take care of it. Of all the purchases we make, the purchase that will have the greatest impact on the environment will be the car we decide to buy. Hybrid cars are an affordable and innovative way to help protect our environment and benefit from the increased fuel mileage.

Only a few years ago talk of hybrid cars had consumers stepping back unsure; but today hybrids offer a practical choice for consumers, and more and more consumers are jumping on board.

A hybrid car has a small engine that is fuel efficient, which is combined with an electric motor that aids the engine when additional power is needed during acceleration. The electric motor gets its power from battery banks which continuously charge while you are driving.

Energy is conserved when you stop because the engine is shut off automatically. Then, when you apply gas, it automatically restarts.

The hybrid car also uses a more advanced aerodynamic lightweight body, and combines it with low roll resistant tires that are stiffer and narrower to help reduce drag.

There are several hybrids currently available in North America. This isn’t a comprehensive list but some of the more popular hybirds on the road today are the Honda Civic, Honda Accord, Honda Insight, Toyota Prius, the Toyota Camry and the Mercury Mariner. There are also Hybrid SUVs available – the Ford Escape, the Lexas 400H and the Toyota Highlander, and the Saturn Vue.

Toyota currently dominates the hybrid market, having captured more than 75% of the total hybrid market. However, with new entries from American auto makers, it may be difficult for Toyota to so thoroughly dominate the hybrid market.

Now that consumer support for the hybrids has arrived, auto manufacturers are increasing the pace at which they introduce hybrid models. In 2006, the Honda CR V SUV, Saturn Vue, Hyundai Accent, and Kia Rio are being introduced as hybrid models. In 2007 we will saw the release of the Toyota Camry, Honda Fit, Mazda Tribute, Chevrolet Malibu, and Nissan Altima; and this year we should see the Ford Fusion and Mercury Millan available as hybrids.

If we had a crystal ball that could see into the future, there’s a good chance that what we’d see 20 years down the road would be freeways, highways, and streets that were full of hybrid vehicles. In fact, it’s likely that our gas guzzling vehicles of today are about to go the way of the dinosaur as more hybrid cars make it to market.

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One Response to 'Hybrid Cars'

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1. I’ m currently very interested in replacing my 2. 0T gas engine VW Passat with the 2009 Jetta SportWagen TDI , which is coming out in August or September. The estimated highway EPA mileage on that car is rumored to be 60 MPG highway. That means I could double my miles- per- tank from about 400 to about 800. That’ s a huge difference, and one that makes economic sense even with diesel being more expensive than gas. I’ ll take mine in red with the massive panoramic sunroof and a 6- speed manual transmission, please.

   

   HondaBond

   23 Sep 08 at 6:48 am

    

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