Why Buy a Hybrid?

In this article we aim to cover just the very basics of what a Hybrid car is, and the advantages to buying and owning one.

Hybrid cars operate on both a gasoline engine and a battery. They were created with the idea of reducing the fuel consumed & to be more environmentally acceptable by reducing pollution levels. Fuel consumption is reduced because hybrid cars get their power from the battery, and the gas engine.

Advantages

The beauty of the hybrid car is that it has the advantages of the traditional car and electric car, and none of the disadvantages associated with both types of cars. Traditional cars have become expensive to run with the ever increasing price of gas, while electric cars cannot go more than 100 miles without having their battery recharged. Hybrid cars use the power from the gas engine to re-charge the battery while the car is being operated. Thus, hybrid cars can be driven for longer distances without the need to stop.

One thing that might come as a surprise to people is that hybrid cars have better city mileage than highway mileage. The reason for this is that the cars use the battery power more often in the city than on the highway.

Choice

Over the past five years, the number of hybrid car owners has greatly increased in the US. Because of this, many manufacturers are preparing to produce more hybrid models for US buyers. Hybrid car buyers are now able to pick and choose from at least 15 hybrid model cars.

Hybrid car buyers now have a plethora of choices when looking for a hybrid car. Manufacturers like Toyota and Honda both currently offer hybrid cars, and other companies are currently working on hybrids of their own.

Some of the most well-known car manufacturers like General Motors, Ford, Daimler Chrysler, BMW, Mazda, Porsche, Toyota, Volkswagen and Mitsubishi are all working on new hybrid car models. Some of these however will not be available until around 2010. With the increase in production of hybrid cars, you can expect to see many hybrids on the road in the future.

Easily Sourced Information

For those wishing to discover more information about hybrid vehicles the Internet enables you to read many reviews, compare & contrast data and using that information, determine which hybrid car best fits your requirements.. Most potential hybrid buyers are looking for a hybrid car to either save money or help the environment or possibly both. While some have said that hybrid cars aren't worth the extra initial cost, statistics have shown that hybrid cars are a better value in the long run than regular gas operated cars.

One thing that might discourage people from buying a hybrid car is that they have to spend more money initially to own a hybrid than they would with the conventional car. To help with this initial cost, and to encourage people to buy hybrids, the U.S. Government offers many incentives and tax breaks. The amount of the tax break depends on the state which you live in. You can find more information on these tax breaks by visiting the web site of your state's tax department.

Toby Russell owns and operates an info site called http://www.hybridcarlatest.com offering news, views and information about Hybrid Cars.

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Buying a Hybrid – Consider the Costs

Even though hybrid cars currently cost more initially than the conventional car, many people are coming round to the idea of owning & driving a hybrid car. This is because hybrid cars are both environmentally-safe and fuel efficient. If more people drove hybrid cars, the environment would be less polluted and safer for everyone.

On the increase

Over the past ten years or so, the number of hybrid cars on the road has increased rapidly. Indicating that people are becoming more concerned about the state of the environment. If you're not sure whether or not it is worth it to purchase a hybrid car, this article will help you make an educated decision. We'll be going over the cost of hybrid cars.

Tax Breaks for US Drivers

One thing that helps make the hybrid car more affordable is that the U.S. government now offers a tax deduction for those who choose to use hybrid cars. The law, passed by the U.S. Congress, took effect on January 1, 2006. Despite the fact that the deduction is only in its first year, as much as $5,000 USD can be deducted from your taxes just for driving a hybrid car.

Reduced Gas Costs & helping the Environment

When you consider the fact that hybrid cars cost about $4,000 USD more than the average conventional car, the tax deduction means you'll only have to pay around $900 extra dollars out of pocket for a much better, safer car. Also, when you factor in how much less gas you'll have to purchase for a hybrid, the idea of purchasing a hybrid car becomes even more appealing.

Higher Repair Bills?

A lot has been written about how hybrid car owners have to live with the higher cost of repairs on their vehicles However, this slight disadvantage is overshadowed in real terms by the huge amount of fuel savings hybrid cars provide over time..

Hybrid cars get approximately 70 miles per gallon on the highway and 50 miles per gallon in the city. Conventional fuel efficient cars only get around 27 miles per gallon in the city and 30 miles per gallon on the highway. This is a big difference and results in hundreds of dollars of saving over time.

Replacement Battery Costs

A perceived disadvantage to hybrid cars is the cost of a replacement battery. Replacement batteries for regular cars are around $50-150 USD, while it costs around $2000-$3000 USD to replace a hybrid car's battery. However, this isn't that much of disadvantage because the hybrid car's battery only needs to be replaced every 8-10 years, so spread that cost over a period, put it against fuel savings & its not really an issue.

Tyre Costs

Tyres on a hybrid car are also a bit more expensive to replace than on a conventional car. This is because hybrids require the use of special high mileage tyres.. On the positive side, hybrid cars only need new tyres every 30,000 miles, which is better than conventional cars which need new tyres more frequently..

The hybrid car's internal combustion engine is smaller and lighter than the conventional car's combustion engine. Thus, a hybrid car's engine is more efficient than a regular car's engine is.

Insurance Savings

Another advantage to hybrid cars is that most insurance companies now offer a discount to hybrid car owners. This is because hybrid cars are much less likely to be involved in accidents, which saves car insurance companies money.

There is a general consensus among many people that the hybrid car essentially pays for itself over the long run. It may seem expensive at first, but it is a worthwhile investment. Why not save some money in the long run by purchasing a hybrid car now?

Toby Russell & his website http://www.hybridcarlatest.com offers, news, views and information about the hybrid vehicle market and the developments in that market sector just around the corner.

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Save the Environment - Buy a Hybrid Car & Save Money as Well

For most of us these days there's so much publicity & news coverage over the Green House Effect that maybe you've been thinking about how much your car contributes to this and wish to help the environment. Or maybe you are sick and tired of paying high gas prices and want to buy a car that is better on gas. Whether you want to help the environment, or want to cut down on how much you spend on gas, the hybrid car is a great solution.

What is hybrid car?

Hybrid cars are autos that run efficiently on both fuel (normally gasoline) and electric energy. The combination of using fuel and electric energy makes hybrid cars both environmentally-friendly and cost-efficient.

The vast majority of hybrid cars are powered by two different engines: a gasoline engine and an electric engine. The gasoline engine is responsible for starting and stopping the car, while the electric engine is responsible for actually making the car move. By using the two engines in this way, the car is not totally dependent on gasoline. This, in turn, cuts down on the environmental pollution & the amount & therefore cost of gas used.

Types of Hybrid cars

If you've done research on hybrid cars on the Internet, you've probably seen that there are two types of hybrid cars currently available. These are the Series hybrid car and the Parallels hybrid car. There are slight differences between the two types of hybrid cars, which we will go over here.

With the Series type of hybrid car, the gasoline engine is used to start and stop the car. Then, when the car reaches a specific speed, the electric engine automatically takes over. Also, in the Series type of hybrid car, the gas engine is used to charge the batteries of the electric engine. With the Series type of hybrid car, both engines never really work together as a team.

The Parallel hybrid, just like the Series hybrid, uses both a gas and electric engine. Even though the Parallel and Series hybrids are similarly configured physically, they are distinctively different in terms of operation. The big difference is that, in the Parallel hybrid, both the gasoline and electric engines can be used to start and stop the car. The other difference is that the electric engine in a Parallel hybrid is only used to boost the power of the vehicle when needed. Parallel hybrid cars are more fuel efficient than are the Series hybrid cars.

How does the hybrid car increase fuel efficiency?

Hybrid cars are made up of lightweight materials. Thus, the load on the hybrid car is greatly reduced. Because of the lightweight materials, the car doesn't require as much fuel to move. Also, the tires of hybrid cars are firmer than are those found on regular cars.

Since the gasoline is burnt at a low level in hybrid cars, it produces lower toxic emissions than those produced by conventional vehicles. Green house emissions, as we previously mentioned, are a real threat to the environment. Hybrid vehicles, because they release less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, cause far less pollution than regular cars do. In fact, some studies have shown that hybrid cars can reduce the greenhouse gas emissions by as much as fifty percent, and tailpipe emissions by as much as ninety percent.

To sum up, hybrid cars are much more economical because they consume fifty to sixty percent less fuel than regular vehicles do. Also, they are very environmentally-friendly. The only drawback to hybrid cars is that currently they tend to be a bit more expensive than traditional cars to initially purchase.. However, this will change over time because more people will purchase hybrid vehicles due to the benefits and the pressures placed upon Governments to reduce pollution.

Toby Russell & his information website http://www.hybridcarlatest.com gives information, news and views for all those interested in the Hybrid Car Market.

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3 Advantages Of Hybrid Cars Over Conventional Cars

Due to the rising cost of fuel and the environmental damage it causes to our planet, many car owners or buyers are looking for an alternative way to save money. Let's face it, fuel supply is finite and the prices of gas is only going to rise higher and higher. That is where a hybrid car has its advantages

Hybrid cars have been gaining in popularity in recent years. With lower cost of production and new hybrid car technology being developed, owning a hybrid car is becoming affordable to everyone.

Hybrid Cars Saves Gas

The obvious advantage of using hybrid cars is that it saves gas. Combining the cleaner energy of an electric motor with the long range capacity of a gasoline engine allows a hybrid car to save as much as 30 miles a gallon. One feature of hybrid cars is that the gasoline engine is shut off automatically when the car stops. This also helps in saving fuel. That is also the reason why hybrid cars are so quiet why it is stationary. The gasoline engine is automatically turned on when you step on the accelerator pedal.

Hybrid Cars Are Environment Friendly

Hybrid cars emit lower toxic emissions compared to conventional gasoline-powered cars due to less gasoline being burned. It is environmentally friendly, causes less pollution and releases less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. If you do not know, carbon dioxide is one of the primary reasons for rising global warming. For example, the Toyota Prius can reduce tailpipe emissions by up to ninety percent and the greenhouse gas emissions by as much as fifty percent.

Tax Incentives For Hybrid Cars

Due to world political pressures around the world to reduce greenhouse emissions, President Bush signed an agreement in 2005 to provide huge tax relief to hybrid car buyers. The tax incentive varies by model and are based on two factors

1. How fuel efficient the hybrid car is compared to a conventional car in 2002 with the same weight class.

2. How much gasoline the hybrid car can save in its lifetime compared with an equivalent conventional car

For example, a Honda Accord hybrid car have reduced tax credits of $600 while a Toyota Prius has a tax credit of $3150. Do note that the tax credits do expire after 2010 for most hybrid cars.

Hybrid car manufacturers are continually researching for more ways to reduce fuel consumption and better fuel efficiency. Also as more hybrid cars are being adopted, the cost of hybrid cars will reduce making it more affordable for everyone.

Ricky Lim is a hybrid car owner who contributes hybrid car technology articles regularly to http://all-hybrid-cars.info.

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5 Things to Know Before You Buy a Hybrid Car

With gas prices rising with every tank of gas, the popularity of hybrid cars is rising almost as quickly. The profile of the buyer of hybrid cars is changing as well, no longer are they seen as fringe environmentalists, they are the average American citizen who is tired of paying outrageous prices for a tank of gas and then not being able to afford to drive anywhere but back and forth to work. So, if you want to purchase a hybrid car, where do you start? What should you look for? The following information will help you navigate your way through the growing market of fuel-efficient automobiles that are on the market today.

1- Before you decide to tackle the hybrid car market, there are some general points of knowledge that you need to be aware of. For example, this type of car is often referred to as a Hybrid Electric Vehicle or HEV. It will have two engines as opposed to a traditional vehicle, which has one. The engines that are found in an HEV are combustion and electric, having the two engines allows the car to switch from one engine to the other when power begins to run low.

2- However, if needed, the engines will run simultaneously as well. This will happen if more power is needed than either the electric or combustion engine alone can produce. An example of this type of situation would be accelerating on an expressway.

3- Hybrid car dealers also have their own language, you should know how to speak "hybrid" before you decide to go shopping for one of these vehicles. You will need to know that these cars are, on average, have a 90 percent lower emission rate than traditional cars and are therefore known as Ultra Low-Emission vehicles.

4- Before you buy a hybrid car, it is imperative that you take into account your current driving patterns. If you do a lot of highway driving, you will not likely see much in the way of fuel savings. However, if you are the type of driver that mostly stays in traffic that requires frequent stopping and starting, you will be able to see significant fuel savings. This is because in these types of driving conditions the vehicle is able to utilize the electrical engine, using lower RPM's than a traditional car does.

5- Research is so important when contemplating the purchase of a hybrid car. Thankfully, most people have access to the internet and therefore have access to information such as manufacturers' websites. These websites may be some of the most valuable information that you will find. They will contain information that will lead you to repair shops, vehicle maintenance requirements and other such information that is specific to hybrid cars.

Visit http://find-hybrid-cars.info or http://ez-hybrid-cars.info to learn more about all hybrid cars and hybrid electric vehicle.

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What Do I Need to Know Before Buying a Hybrid Car?

The days of 50 cent gas prices have vanished along with sock hops and soda shops. Now day's gas is closer to $2.50 a gallon and kids go to raves. What can be done? Are we destined to spend more on gas for a week than we do on groceries? Enter the hybrid car. Every year, more hybrid cars hit the market, and for good reason, consumers today are beginning to demand more fuel efficiency from their cars. If you are interested in purchasing a hybrid car, you are not alone, but you may not know what to look for while car shopping. The following tips will help you plan what you want in a car and how to find it on a lot.

Hybrid car dealers also have their own language, you should know how to speak "hybrid" before you decide to go shopping for one of these vehicles. You will need to know that these cars are, on average, have a 90 percent lower emission rate than traditional cars and are therefore known as Ultra Low-Emission vehicles.

Research is so important when contemplating the purchase of a hybrid car. Thankfully, most people have access to the internet and therefore have access to information such as manufacturers' websites. These websites may be some of the most valuable information that you will find. They will contain information that will lead you to repair shops, vehicle maintenance requirements and other such information that is specific to hybrid cars.

However, if needed, the engines will run simultaneously as well. This will happen if more power is needed than either the electric or combustion engine alone can produce. An example of this type of situation would be accelerating on an expressway.

Before you decide to tackle the hybrid car market, there are some general points of knowledge that you need to be aware of. For example, this type of car is often referred to as a Hybrid Electric Vehicle or HEV. It will have two engines as opposed to a traditional vehicle, which has one. The engines that are found in an HEV are combustion and electric, having the two engines allows the car to switch from one engine to the other when power begins to run low.

Visit http://hybrid-cars-central.info or http://ez-hybrid-cars.info to learn more about ford hybrid car and all hybrid cars.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Wallander

7 Tips to Know Before You Buy a Hybrid Vehicle

With gas prices on the rise, everyone is trying to conserve fuel. This is leading to an increased interest in hybrid cars, which are fast becoming a very popular option for many different types of people. Before you decide to buy a hybrid vehicle, you need to know the basics of their operation, the cost to buy one as well as the costs involved to maintain on of these newer types of cars.

1- It is important to note that on average a hybrid vehicle will cost around $3,000 more than its all gas counterpart will. While most people will weigh this price increase against the price of the gas that they will be saving, it can cause a pretty severe case of sticker shock. Be prepared for this if you are shopping for a hybrid.

2- Just like conventional vehicles, hybrid cars need a battery to run. While a traditional battery will cost approximately $50-$150 to replace, a battery for a hybrid car costs considerably more, about $2,000-$3,000 and those prices are just for starters. With this in mind, it is important to know that hybrid batteries have been known to run between 8 and 10 years before needing to be replaced.

3- If you are sitting on the edge of making a decision of whether to buy a hybrid vehicle or it is more traditional counterpart, you may be interested to know that the government may allow a tax deduction to those people who choose to purchase the more fuel-efficient hybrids. While this deduction is not guaranteed from one year to the next, it has been as high as $2,000 in the past.

4- Another consideration to buying a hybrid vehicle that needs to be addressed is the maintenance that needs to take place after the car has been on the road for a while. The more intricate power train systems that accompany a hybrid equate to higher prices, this is because there are not as many mechanics that are trained to fix them. This price consideration should pretty much go away as more of these vehicles hit the road and the demand for properly trained mechanics goes up.

5- These cars require the use of special high mile tires, they are smaller than the tires you are used to purchasing, but can cost considerably more to replace. This may be acceptable to some drivers since the tires last on average 30,000 miles longer than other types of vehicle tires.

6- Many purchasers of hybrid vehicles do so for one reason, they can live with the increases in aftermarket parts and the high prices of mechanics because they know what their car can offer them, fuel savings. On average, a hybrid car gets between 50 miles per gallon (MPG) in the city and up to 70 MPG on the highway. When these numbers are compared to an average of 30 MPG city and 27 MPG highway on a fuel-efficient gas car, the savings are clear.

7- While it is important to know the costs that are involved when you decided to buy a hybrid vehicle, it is also important to know what you will be saving. For all of the millions of people all over the world, who choose a hybrid over a traditional the bottom line is clear. The savings that they see at the gas pump far outweighs any money that will need to be paid out to keep their vehicle running in the future.

Visit http://hybrid-cars-central.info or http://ez-hybrid-cars.info to learn more about hybrid car toyota and honda hybrid vehicle.

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What Are the Costs Involved When You Buy A Hybrid Vehicle?

You may think that you are seeing more and more hybrid cars on the roads as you make your daily commute. You are right; the number of hybrid vehicles that are purchased every year is on the rise, and for good reason. These new vehicles use advanced technology that allows them to use be more fuel-efficient and to produce less harmful emissions. However, before you decide to buy a hybrid vehicle you need to be aware of the costs that are involved in both buying and owning one of the fuel saving cars.

If you are sitting on the edge of making a decision of whether to buy a hybrid vehicle or it is more traditional counterpart, you may be interested to know that the government may allow a tax deduction to those people who choose to purchase the more fuel-efficient hybrids. While this deduction is not guaranteed from one year to the next, it has been as high as $2,000 in the past.

These cars require the use of special high mile tires, they are smaller than the tires you are used to purchasing, but can cost considerably more to replace. This may be acceptable to some drivers since the tires last on average 30,000 miles longer than other types of vehicle tires.

Just like conventional vehicles, hybrid cars need a battery to run. While a traditional battery will cost approximately $50-$150 to replace, a battery for a hybrid car costs considerably more, about $2,000-$3,000 and those prices are just for starters. With this in mind, it is important to know that hybrid batteries have been known to run between 8 and 10 years before needing to be replaced.

Many purchasers of hybrid vehicles do so for one reason, they can live with the increases in aftermarket parts and the high prices of mechanics because they know what their car can offer them, fuel savings. On average, a hybrid car gets between 50 miles per gallon (MPG) in the city and up to 70 MPG on the highway. When these numbers are compared to an average of 30 MPG city and 27 MPG highway on a fuel-efficient gas car, the savings are clear.

It is important to note that on average a hybrid vehicle will cost around $3,000 more than its all gas counterpart will. While most people will weigh this price increase against the price of the gas that they will be saving, it can cause a pretty severe case of sticker shock. Be prepared for this if you are shopping for a hybrid.

While it is important to know the costs that are involved when you decided to buy a hybrid vehicle, it is also important to know what you will be saving. For all of the millions of people all over the world, who choose a hybrid over a traditional the bottom line is clear. The savings that they see at the gas pump far outweighs any money that will need to be paid out to keep their vehicle running in the future.

Top 3 Picks For Hybrid Cars

Hybrid cars are fast becoming more and more popular due to the rising fuel costs and the prices of hybrid cars are becoming more and more affordable. The performance of hybrid cars are also comparable to diesel/petrol cars so there's no reason not to get it.

There are plenty of new hybrid car models introduced every year but here are my top 3 picks that offers the best performance and features for the price.

#3 Honda Civic Hybrid

The Honda Civic hybrid is not a new model and has been on the market for some time. The price retails around $20,000 and the fuel performance is 47 city miles per gallon and 48 miles per gallon.

Though it isn't terribly fast, what I like about the honda civic hybrid is that it can carry up to 5 people. It is more functional and is suitable as a family car. It also pass the crash test rating with a good score of 5.

If you have a family and do not need to get anywhere fast, then going with a honda civic hybrid is a good buy.

#2 Honda Insight

The honda insight is a two seater hybrid car which have fuel performance of 57 city miles per gallon and 56 highway miles per gallon. The price is about the same as the honda civic hybrid. It is a very reliable car which I have owned for a couple of years. So far, it has not given me such problems.

There are a couple of disadvantages, firstly it is 2 seater which means it's not a family type of car. Secondly, the horsepower isn't that great with only 71 hp.

It is my second top pick because I like its reliability and when you compare price to performance, it is pretty good.

#1 Toyota Prius

The Toyota Prius hybrid car is my top pick because it offers the best performance for the price you get. It cost around $19,000 which is the cheapest out of the three. It has more horsepower at 110 hp and can do 60 city miles per gallon and 51 highway miles per gallon. It is a family sized car which can hold 5 people quite comfortably with some space left in the trunk.

It also get a 4.5 score for it's crash test rating. For price and performance, you can't beat the toyota prius.

Ricky Lim is an automobile editor who owns a toyota hybrid car. Visit his site to learn more on hybrid car technology and hybrid electric cars

5 Buying Tips For Hybrid Cars

With the rising cost of gas, it is getting less and less affordable to own a car these days. As a result of this increase in cost, car manufacturers have lately been very aggressive in promoting their line of hybrid cars designed to save fuel.

While a hybrid car in general does saves you some money on gas, you may want to bear these points in mind when looking to buy a hybrid car.

1) Hybrid cars generally are more expensive than conventional gas powered cars. The price difference can be as much as $10,000. Hybrid cars are still new to consumers and may take a while before prices drop.

2) The batteries used in a hybrid car is different from a conventional car. The prices are much higher. They are about $2000 more expensive. However, hybrid car batteries have a longer life span as well.

3) The government has a tax deduction for hybrid cars owners. The hybrid car tax deduction varies from year to year but in general, you can save at least a couple of thousand dollars.

4) The cost of maintenance for a hybrid car is also higher. Also it has more complex systems and engine, a normal mechanic may not know how to repair it. In most cases, you need to send back to the hybrid car manufacturer for maintenance and repair and the cost is not cheap.

5) Hybrid cars use special tires that are wore out more easily than conventional cars. These hybrid car tires cost more and need to be replaced around 25,000 miles.

While the above points may seem that buying a hybrid car is more expensive, the fuel savings in itself is definitely worth it in the long run.

Ricky Lim operates a hybrid cars site. Visit his site for more information on hybrid car battery and hybrid car tax

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Hybrid Vehicles Rise To The Top Of The Car Market

For many years people have often owned or driven cars that are not only to help for transportation purposes but are also there for improving the overall mobility experience.

In recent past times, people also drove cars to show off or flaunt their status symbol or just for the sake of casual and fun joy rides.

But those good times are turning into rare dreams now. For every motorist, it's really getting harder and harder each day. Almost everybody, may it be a student or a retired senior person, is troubled and concerned about the zooming up gasoline or oil prices.

Given the constantly rising increases in gasoline prices, which come almost on a weekly basis, there is no wonder why people are forced to limit the use of car to a basic necessity.

Hybrid vehicles

During the start of the new millennium, giant car manufacturers had heralded great news about the development of modern cars that would significantly cut oil consumption.

Japanese car makers Toyota and Honda started with their research on alternative fuel efficient transmission systems and soon became the pioneers in this particular endeavor. Their United States and German counterparts followed the trend soon.

That was the emergence of hybrid vehicles in the now sluggish global car industry.

But what exactly are hybrid vehicles? Literally, the word 'hybrid' means a crossover or integration of two systems or components. Applying this term for vehicles, it means a combination of two types of cars, the gasoline powered cars and the electric powered cars.

Before understanding the hybrids further, let's get familiarized with the two mentioned car types.

The gas-powered and electric-powered vehicles

The gas-powered cars are the predecessor of all the other types of cars that came after it. The first invented car and all the other cars and modifications that follow it until the end of the 20th century are all gas-powered cars.

Gas powered cars are, you guessed it right, run by gasoline or oil. These cars have made oil exported fro the Middle East and other nations valued like gold, because of its volatile pricing.

Many years of research and development has enabled the manufacturers to add key improvements in the newer models of the gas-powered cars. Some of them are truly superior over the others. However, their owners and users have always been complaining about their increasing bills for oil consumption.

At the same time, the environmentalists are complaining about such cars' air pollution. They are raising strong concerns over the combustion process that produces bi-products that are harmful to nature.

The first attempt of car makers to address the increasingly rising and agitating concerns about higher oil prices and depleting ozone layer in the atmosphere was that of electric cars.

But alas, on practical grounds, those efforts were proven futile and non-feasible. Electric powered cars were turned down as impractical because their mileage and speed would not match the capacity of the gas-powered vehicles by a great margin.

A powerful combination

So, if the gas-powered vehicles were too expensive and pollution causing to maintain but really fast and reliable, and if the electric cars are not fast and reliable, but significantly cut costs of oil expenses and reduce pollution, why not combine both?

Smart integration and the 'meeting half way' option for the electric and gas powered cars paved the way for the rise of the hybrid vehicles.

Hybrid vehicle system consists of both gas powered engine and battery set powered motor, and a fine balance of the two power sources to manage the transmission. It truly combines the strength of both car types and addresses the concerns arising from each car types too.

However, many experts and car fanatics are still disappointed with the hybrid car's inability to reduce oil bills as massively and tremendously as anticipated by the public before its introduction to the market.

A big concern is about the purchase price for hybrid vehicles. It's still way, way higher. Also, due to their complex designs, many people fear that their maintenance costs will be significantly more than the gas powered cars.

It has been just a few years since the emergence of hybrid vehicles. In the future, very soon, as the production cost would go down, the prices of hybrid cars would certainly be dragged down to an affordable level.

To collect your free book that will provide you with all the information you'll need to know about hybrid vehicles and electric cars visit: what are hybrid cars. To read more articles about hybrids then go now to: facts about electric and hybrid cars.

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The Need for Hybrid Cars

Since the very conception of the automobile, engineers and designers have been searching for was to make them more efficient and save on fuel consumption. Petrol fuels the majority of vehicles and diesel fuel is used in heavier automotive equipment. The internal combustion engine is considered to be a major if not the biggest source of environmental pollution and the cost of fuel is increasing every day.

With a constant rise in fuel costs and the environmental concerns regarding automobiles, vehicle engineers have had to develop more economical and environmentally safer alternatives to the internal combustion engine that powers most cars. This has led to the birth of the hybrid automobile. These hybrid automobiles offer a number of benefits. The hybrid automobile is a car that is powered by both an electric motor and a gasoline engine. Compared to non hybrid vehicles, the hybrid car saves on the cost of fuel by being more fuel efficient and has a lower rate of fuel consumption.

Hybrid cars operate on a dual mode where the electric motor, powered by batteries, takes over once the gasoline engine has gotten the vehicle up to speed. Braking and deceleration generates energy that is used to charge the electric motor's batteries. This system allows the hybrid car to provide better fuel efficiency. This also means that the engine of a hybrid vehicle is shut the moment the car is stopped. Considered the biggest advantage to the hybrid car is the reduction of environmental pollution due to fewer emissions of carbon dioxide and other harmful gases in to our atmosphere. Automobile manufactures such as Honda, Toyota, and Ford have already introduced hybrid car models to the commercial market and several others are in development.

Currently there are two types of hybrid vehicles on the market. The first is the "Series" hybrid. A battery powered electric motor powers the Series hybrid car. It also has a gasoline powered engine but it does not singularly power the vehicle. The gasoline engine powers a generator which is used in turn to charge the batteries of the electric motor. The electric motor is left on during the vehicles entire operation however the gasoline engine can be switched on or off depending on the needs of the vehicle. This type of hybrid automobile provides better mileage in city traffic.

The second type of hybrid vehicle on the market is called the "Parallel" hybrid. The Parallel hybrid car, like the Series type, has a gasoline engine and an electric motor. The electric motor and the electric motor can both be used to turn the transmission and power the vehicle. The major difference between the two types of hybrid cars is that the Parallel hybrid uses its electric motor to boost the vehicles power when required to increase the car's speed. The Parallel hybrid car is considered better suited for the open highway.

Hybrid automobiles provide several benefits due to some very unique features. The construction of the hybrid vehicle uses more lightweight materials than traditional automobile. This saves energy by using less to propel the hybrid car. Hybrid cars also increase energy efficiency because of their more aerodynamic shapes. Tires used by hybrid vehicles run on a higher pressure and are made of a more rigid material than general car tires. The higher pressure helps to increase the vehicles gas mileage per gallon of gasoline used. The overall efficiency of the vehicle is increased by these tires because they reduce friction on road surfaces and provided a grip. The braking system provided an energy transfer from the electric motor to the vehicles batteries when ever the brakes are applied. The overall gas mileage of a hybrid varies from model to model. The EPA test numbers report that the Lexus RX400h receives 31 MPG in the city and 27 MPG the highway while the Honda Insight receives 61 MPG in the city and 68 MPG on the highway.

In conclusion, the future of automobiles is currently the hybrid car and purchasing a hybrid vehicle will not only save you money but will also allow you to take responsibility and do you part in creating a safer, cleaner and greener environment.

Christine Bettridge has loved writing since childhood. She has written Plays, poetry and many articles. Her latest e-book End Time Secrets recently released by Cypress Street Publishing has caused an order craze in the religious world. It can be ordered and downloaded right now through the publishers website at End Time Secrets and she also is the editor of the article directory, Above All Conten

The 2 Types Of Hybrid Cars

Many automobile companies have spend millions of dollars each year in research and development of more efficient fuel consumption for cars. Each year more and more cars are rolled out the production plants and there is an urgent call by consumers and environmental groups to reduce the fuel consumption of automobiles.

With the increasing cost of fuel and the environmental concerns regarding harmful emissions of toxic gases into our atmosphere, automobile companies are forced to developed radically different types of cars. One of which is the hybrid car

A hybrid is powered by conventional fuel as well as uses electric energy. Hybrid cars have lower fuel consumption and are more environmentally friendly.

All hybrid cars are powered by two engines : a gasoline engine and a electric engine. Typically, they work in tandem with each other. The gasoline engine is used during starting and stopping the car. Once the car is travelling at a certain speed, the electric engine will take over automatically.

In the current market, there are 2 types of hybrid car. The first type is the series. Typically, the gasoline engine is used to start and stop the car. Once the hybrid car has attained a certain speed, the electric engine will take over. The gasoline engine is also used to charge the electric engine's batteries. As you can see, both engines are used in tandem with each other but never together.

The second type is called the parallels. It has the same physical configuration of the series hybrid however the operation is quite different. Both the electric engine and the gasoline engine can be used to start and stop the car. The electric engine is used to boost the power of the car when required. Parallel hybrid cars are more suited for long distance travelling.

Usually, hybrid cars are built using very lightweight materials in order to reduce the load on the hybrid car when travelling. This help to save fuel by requiring less energy to move the vehicle. The tires are made more rigid than conventional vehicles with higher tire pressure to increase fuel efficiency.

In on whole, a hybrid car consumes 50 to 60 percent less fuel than a conventional car. The only obstacle is the high cost at the present moment but I am sure as consumers start to recognize the benefits of hybrid car, the prices will start falling and become more affordable.

Ricky Lim is a hybrid car owner who contributes hybrid car technology and hybrid car manufacturers articles regularly.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ricky_Lim