Pros & Cons Of Owning A Hybrid
With the advent of the new Hyundai hybrid version of the popular 2011 Sonata arriving in the new-car marketplace, it bears repeating that choosing a hybrid motor vehicle over a conventional gasoline-powered motor vehicle is not a simple matter. Hybrids boast advantages over conventional vehicles in a number of respects, but there are also disadvantages to be considered when buying a hybrid. Compact hybrid vehicles have been on American roads since the introduction of the first-generation Honda Insight and Toyota Prius models in the early 2000s.
Over time, these automakers refined hybrid technology and introduced it into more compact and midsized models, such as the Honda Hybrid Civic and the Toyota Hybrid Camry, even as other automakers, such as Nissan, Ford, and General Motors, were introducing a number of hybrid vehicles of their own — in some cases, “greening” large sport-utility vehicles with enough power to haul a trailer or a hybrid camper.
Thus, today one can find hybrid models at almost anywhere on the price and size spectrum, from a compact 2010 Honda Insight at an average price of around $20,000, to a hybrid GM Cadillac Escalade SUV at an average price about $75,000, to a Lexus LS luxury sedan at a suggested retail price of $110,000. What is good about owning a hybrid?
First, depending on the make and model, one can potentially claim a federal income-tax credit after acquiring a hybrid vehicle, although this perk is limited to those who buy models offered by automakers who are relatively new to the American hybrid market, such as General Motors and Nissan; current Toyota and Honda models do not qualify for such tax incentives.
Second, hybrid vehicles are entitled to occupy high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) lanes of major highways in some cities and states regardless of how many passengers are being carried, which can cut minutes off one’s commute. Also, hybrid vehicles, as a rule, produce less noise and emit fewer greenhouse gases and pollutants than similar conventional motor vehicles, and almost inevitably use less gasoline than comparable standard vehicle models. That difference can yield a sense of pride in hybrid owners, who may chuckle when they pass gas-guzzling vehicles parked at service-station pumps, in the throes of being refueled yet again.
Yet buying a hybrid, and owning one thereafter, is not always a bed of roses. There is not much of an external difference between a 2010 Honda Civic hybrid version and a 2010 Honda Civic conventional version apart from labeling, but at an average price of $27,750 for a trim including a navigation system and leather interior, the hybrid version represents at least a $3,000 cost increase before leaving the lot. And after leaving the lot, a hybrid vehicle may require expensive repairs over the course of its lifetime — repairs that conventional automobile mechanics often are reluctant to perform, necessitating often costly dealer service.
For example, a Nissan Altima hybrid owner who transports her vehicle from, say, California to a state with more relaxed emission standards than those in which such vehicles are typically sold (say, Tennessee) may have to travel hundreds of miles just to obtain service. What is more, hybrid automobiles typically require special parts when systems fail, which are often not made in sufficient bulk quantities by multiple suppliers to make their prices competitive, leading to potential sticker shock after one’s new hybrid’s vehicle warranties have expired.
Finally, the same quiet engines that hybrid-car manufacturers tout can be dangerous, even deadly, when children or blind persons who may be unaware of such a vehicle’s approach and who unwittingly cross its path. Hybrid vehicles, once absent from American highways and byways, are increasingly prevalent as more motorists succumb to the attraction of owning one. However, as in many things, the Latin maxim caveat emptor — “let the buyer beware” — certainly applies.
Deciding to buy any motor vehicle, including a hybrid, should never be undertaken lightly, and one would do well to consider the pluses and minuses of hybrid-automobile ownership before making a final decision to purchase one.
Tags: cadillac, cadillac escalade, Escalade, Ford, gasoline, gm, honda insight, honda models, Hybrid, Hybrid Camper, hybrid mode, hybrid model, hybrid models, hybrid motor, hybrid vehicle, hybrid vehicles, hybrid version, hybrids, Hyundai, Hyundai Hybrid, lexus, lexus ls, Prius, Sonata, SUV, Toyota, toyota hybrid camry, toyota prius, utility vehiclesRelated posts
Buying Used Hybrid Vehicles
In today’s economic climate, many families will be looking carefully at their budgets, trying work out the best way to get the most out of every paycheck. For most, a big spending outlay each month will be on gas, and with the BP spill still dominating the headlines, gas prices seem to creep up cent by cent each day. Reducing petrol costs for a family isn’t easy.
Getting a job closer to home often isn’t a viable option due to lack of opportunity, and public transport outside of major cities would put a third world country to shame. It’s no wonder that more and more American families are turning to hybrid cars as a way of reducing their gas expenditure.
However, brand new models such as Toyota’s Prius, which runs off an electric engine at speeds under 30 miles per hour, cost way more than an average car. This is unsurprising, given the high levels of technology going under the hood to switch the car back and forth between the gas and electric engines. There is a way round this, namely looking into used hybrid vehicles. These cost a fraction of the manufacturer’s on the road price, and should always come with a full service history from the previous owners. They represent a great way for the average family to save money, as hybrid cars on average run around 60 miles per gallon, whilst a standard gas engine car will run around 40 miles per gallon.
Obviously, buying a used hybrid car isn’t without its drawbacks. Problems that plague the regular used car industry, such as patched up paintwork, faulty repair work and hidden previous accidents are all prevalent in the used hybrid market. The complex nature of the car’s inner workings add a further level of frustration to those looking for a cheap hybrid, as the electric component of the engine tends to be well sealed away to protect against rust and weather. Most car mechanics are not willing to go near them for fear of breaking the system and being sued by the car’s original owner. This means that while the gas engine service record will be up to date, and fairly comprehensive, the electric part may not have been examined since the day the car was bought. The best remedy for this is to ask an experienced hybrid dealer to look at the car before you commit to buying it.
Tags: car industry, Hybrid, hybrid car, hybrid cars, hybrid vehicle, hybrid vehicles, miles per gallon, miles per hour, Prius, Toyota, Used Hybrid VehiclesRelated posts
Hybrid Truck Battery Packs
Those considering purchasing hybrid trucks may be a little concerned about what’s under the hood. Hybrid cars have battery-powered motors. Since a battery-powered motor is not something that typically comes to mind when people think about what’s under the hood of a car, it’s a good idea to get a good understanding of the hybrid-car battery-pack. Below are a few facts about it.
Battery packs in hybrid cars do not need to be replaced
Made to last over the lifetime of the vehicle, a hybrid car’s warranty covers the battery for a time period that lasts between eight and ten years. In terms of mileage, a battery pack is expected to last between 150, 000 and 200,000 miles, and it probably lasts longer than that.
Battery toxicity is a concern, but not a major concern
Hybrid cars use NiMH batteries, not the rechargeable nickel cadmium. Nickel cadmium batteries are usually detrimental to the environment, but the NiMH batteries that are used in hybrid cars are fully recyclable.
Hybrid batteries contain hundreds of cells
Hundreds of cells means that hybrid cars have a lot of complexity going on underneath their hoods, and complexity does usually mean expensive, but with the generous warranty car manufacturers are giving on these cars, there is little involved in purchasing a hybrid.
The numbers of battery failures in hybrids have been really low
When I say low, I mean really low. If failure happens, it’s probably before the cars even get off the lot. Toyota has even said that some of its original Prius models have packs that have gone over 300,000 miles.
The cost of replacing hybrid batteries isn’t even an issue
It isn’t an issue because the battery packs in hybrid cars are built to last. The Department of Energy looked into hybrid vehicles, but stopped its test when the capacity was “just like new” after 160,000 miles. So no one really seems to know for sure what it costs to replace the battery pack in a hybrid car.
The battery packs in hybrid cars are evolving
If we look further into the future, the next generation of hybrid batteries is in the works. The goal: To discover a technology that gives lots of power, lasts for the hybrid car’s lifetime, and costs less to make.
If the battery pack in your hybrid car does run out, there is a solution
Toyota has put out some advice on what to do if your hybrid battery should run out after the warranty has ended. The advice is to recondition the battery. The solution works well because if something goes wrong, the problem lies within only one of the 28 modules that the battery is made up of. So if you simply replace the problematic module with one that matches the chemistry of the other 27 modules, your hybrid car’s battery should be in good shape. You can find a match by getting a battery pack from another car that has a similar mileage and age.
Tags: Hybrid, hybrid car, hybrid cars, Hybrid Trucks, hybrid vehicles, hybrids, Prius, Toyota, trucks