I'm interested in purchasing a hybrid but don't know which manufacturer is better, Toyota or Honda? Anybody have any experiences with either or both of them?
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| Saving With Hybrids |
 As gas prices continue to rise consumers have to take a more serious look at hybrid cars as it will soon be impossible to afford commuting to work in a gas guzzler. Only the richest of the rich will be able to drive their gas hungry SUV's and the rest of us will be forced to find alternative means of transportation. That might not be such a terrible thing.
Most automobile manufacturers either already offer some type of hybrid vehicle or are in the process of developing one. A hybrid vehicle doesn’t have to be a box with 4 wheels and a battery that takes 20 seconds to go from 0 to 60 and tops out at 70 km/hr. Today’s hybrid cars use a fraction of the gas that a traditional car does, has similar acceleration performance, and can drive many times further. Mainly, there are two types of hybrids: series hybrids and parallel hybrids. Parallel hybrids have both a gas engine and electric motor. Either one can power the car but mostly the gas engine is used for driving and the electric motor is used for a power boost when accelerating, passing, and merging. Series hybrids have both a gas engine and electric motor. The gas engine usually powers a generator that charges the batteries that the electric motor uses. The gas motor can assist with a power boost if needed. This hybrid gets much better mileage because driving around town mostly uses the electric engine and no gas at all. Further advances in technology have allowed for energy preservation. This means that when you step on the breaks, all that energy isn’t going to waste, its being redirected back into charging the battery for the electric motor. Also, when idling for more than a few seconds, the gas motor turns itself off to save gas. All in all you can double your mileage with a hybrid. This will save you a ton of money in the long run. If you are one of those people who think a hybrid car will break down and cost a lot of money to repair, just look at the Hail A Hybrid pilot program. Hybrids were used as cabs and driven for 5 years and 500,000 Km without the need to replace the batteries or require major repairs. Lastly, hybrid cars have all sorts of government and dealer incentives to help you save even further. If you’re in the market for a new car, take a serious look at today’s hybrids. |
