Hybrid Cars
These days it’s cool to be green. And while the environment is always a concern, high gas prices probably have more to do with America’s new found green movement than anything. No longer do we want those gas guzzlers - we want the fuel sipping hybrid cars to be the ones lining our driveways.
Even a few short years ago consumers were leery of buying and driving a hybrid. Today that’s all changed. Manufacturers like Toyota, Saturn, and Honda can’t make enough of them.
What makes a hybrid a hybrid? Well, basically it’s a vehicle that uses more than one method for power. In the case of nearly all hybrids on the road today that means it has an electric motor supplementing its gasoline powered counterpart which is still the main means of propulsion.
Energy is conserved when you stop because the engine is shut off automatically. Then, when you apply gas, it automatically restarts which is a pretty nifty trick because it all happens so seamlessly
Another fuel saving innovation is the fact that many hybrid vehicles are simply lighter. They tend to be more aerodynamic and use lighter materials in construction.
The sales figures for hybrid vehicles have shown increased demand every year for the vehicles. Right now the demand for fuel efficient hybrids is far eclipsing the actual supply. Just try to buy yourself a Prius at your local dealership and notice how they’re not going to budge on the price. You’ll pay full sticker because if you don’t, someone else will.
There are several hybrids currently available in North America. They include the Honda Civic, Honda Accord, Honda Insight, Toyota Prius, and the Mercury Mariner. There are also Hybrid SUVs available - the Ford Escape, the Lexas 400H and the Toyota Highlander. Pretty much every manufacturer has at least one entry in this market.
The Toyota Prius is the uncontested king of hybrids with over 1,000,000 on the road.
Every year more and more hybrid models are introduced. 2010 is shaping up to be an especially good year with a slew of plug-in electric hybrid vehicles coming out. Gasoline’s days are numbered.
While none of us has a crystal ball to know exactly what we’ll be driving 50 years in the future, the hybrid is certainly going to be a prominent player in the quest to save gas for years to come.
Tags: Cars