Gas Powered Cars Vs. Hybrid Cars
Hybrid cars have become a popular alternative to traditional gasoline powered cars. Rather than using only a gasoline (internal combustion) engine, hybrid cars combine gas engines with electric motors, and the batteries that power the motors employ a rechargeable energy source that helps them be more fuel efficient.
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Mileage
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Hybrid cars and SUVs get better gas mileage than their gas powered equivalents. For example, the Toyota Prius, one of the better-known hybrid cars, gets up to 51 MPG (miles per gallon) when driven in the city, while the similarly sized Toyota Camry only gets about 21 MPG in city driving, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Power
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Earlier hybrids offered less power than traditional gas powered cars, which had stronger engines that do not take time to get going. But newer hybrids are offering stronger, more powerful and more responsive engines, though gas mileage may not be as good as the Prius and similar cars.
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Environment
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Hybrid cars, if driven carefully, will generate fewer emissions, which helps reduce the car’s negative environmental impact (called a "carbon footprint"). Since hybrid cars also use less gasoline, they can help conserve fossil fuels.
Size
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"Smaller" doesn't always mean "better," now that hybrid cars are available. The Pruis, for example, is classified as a mid-size car by the EPA, while the Mini Cooper--with EPA-estimated mileage ranging from 28 to 37 MPG--is a subcompact car.
Cost
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New hybrid cars are usually anywhere from $3,000 to $6,000 more expensive than their gasoline powered counterparts. But buyers are eligible for a federal tax credit (credit amounts begin to phase out for a given manufacturer once it has sold over 60,000 eligible vehicles, with some lapsing by April 2010). Hybrid cars also make up for the price difference over time by reducing the eventual cost of refueling.
Repairs
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Since the engine in a hybrid car shuts itself off while the car is idling, there is less wear on the engine. Also, when using the brakes to slow down or stop, the hybrid car's electric motor helps to slow the it down, thus taking some strain off the braking system and increasing the life of the brakes. But the downside of owning a hybrid car may be battery replacement, since it's need to power the electric motor as well as accessories.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Mike Weston
