Pros & Cons of Hybrid Vehicles
Hybrid cars are the most viable and the most popular alternative vehicle design on the market today. Like everything else, they have their upside and their downside, but unlike conventional cars, there is also a lot of misinformation about them.
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Pro: Tax Credits
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There is a Federal tax credit for hybrid vehicles, but this credit is now no longer available for the popular Honda and Toyota models.
Pro: Fuel Efficiency
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Hybrids get good gas mileage. The Nissan Altima hybrid gets 35 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, while a conventional car gets 23 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway.
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Pro: Lower Emissions
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Hybrids use less gasoline, and therefore emit less greenhouse gas. They routinely rank as Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (SULEV).
Con: More Exensive
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Hybrids have a bigger price tag than a normal car. The basic Nissan Altima starts at $19,900, while the Hybrid starts at $26,500.
Con: Low Resale Value
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Hybrid batteries are warrantied for 8 to 10 years on average but eventually do need replacement. These batteries cost several thousand dollars, and this will impact on the resale value of an older hybrid car.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Wikimedia Commons
