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Everybody dreams of having it both ways. A self-cleaning oven. An eat-as-much-as-you-want diet. A job that pays you an obscene amount of money to do what you love to do. You may not always get what you want in some areas, but when it comes to cars there is reason to hope that you can have the best of both worlds. So, how would you like to drive a car that gives excellent fuel economy and produces low levels of harmful emissions while delivering adequate safety and performance? That’s the promise that has made hybrid cars an attractive option among environmentally conscious motorists. Still, there are prospective car owners who may not even consider buying a hybrid vehicle due to lack of awareness about these earth-friendly autos. If you are still in the dark about hybrid vehicles, check out this brief overview of hybrid cars and the pros and cons of hybrid cars as compared to ordinary vehicles.
Hybrid vehicle basics
A hybrid car is a vehicle that uses a combination of gasoline and electric power to achieve maximum mileage while limiting emissions. Basically, a hybrid car combines an internal combustion engine and an electric motor that is powered by a battery. The electric motor helps the engine squeeze the best possible mileage out of each gallon of gasoline, while the engine overcomes the limited driving range of a purely electric vehicle. Hybrid cars switch to electric power at times when the gas engine would be releasing the most emission, thereby reducing the amount of pollution generated.
Also called hybrid electric vehicles, hybrid cars do not need to be plugged in order to recharge the battery. The battery is recharged by recapturing energy that would normally be “wasted” when braking, decelerating, or coasting. The process of recapturing energy from braking is called regenerative braking. Presently, the internal combustion engine in hybrid cars runs only on gasoline, but some automakers have started developing hybrid vehicles with engines that will run on diesel.
Pros and cons of hybrid cars
Because they combine the best features of internal combustion engine and electric motor technologies, hybrid cars are able to give better mileage and produce less emission than regular vehicles. Based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s fuel economy estimates, a Ford Escape Hybrid gives a respectable 33-36 miles per gallon in the city and 29-31 mpg on the highway, while a Ford Escape is rated slightly lower at 18-24 mpg for city driving and 22-29 mpg for highway driving. Moreover, you may be entitled to a one-time federal tax deduction of up to $2,000 when you purchase a new hybrid vehicle in 2005. Under current legislation, the clean-fuel tax deduction will be reduced to $500 in 2006 and will end in 2007. Hybrid vehicles are not so far behind regular cars in the looks department, either. Hybrid vehicle styling is comparable to that of conventional cars, so there is little that would give away that you are driving a hybrid car.
But the environmental rewards of hybrid vehicles do not come cheap. If you want to do your bit towards reducing air pollution from vehicles, be prepared to shell out an additional $1,500 to $4,000 upfront on a new hybrid car. Even when combined with the federal tax deduction, the impressive fuel economy of a hybrid car will only begin to pay off when you drive enough miles to make up for the added cost of purchase. Other major concerns of long-term hybrid vehicle owners are the higher maintenance costs and an uncertain resale value. When the warranty on your hybrid vehicle expires, you become responsible for its maintenance and repair, which could cost a pretty penny. It remains to be seen how hybrid vehicles will fare on the resale market several years down the line, but it’s safe to say that used car buyers would not be rushing to own a hybrid car anytime soon. |
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