Entries from January 2007 ↓

Energy is such a valuable part of our everyday lives but sometimes we are not as aware of it as we should be. Hybrid cars are excellent at conserving energy and not polluting the environment further with nauseous gases. It is estimated that a hybrid car can reduce in the area of ninety percent or more of smog pollution, as compared to the cleanest non-hybrid cars on the road today. Since our country has an increasing independence on energy, we are fast becoming high on the concept of hybrids!

Interesting to note is that the very first hybrid vehicle to burst onto the U.S. market came about in 1999 with the production of the Honda Insight. This first hybrid model was powered electrically and could go 70 mpg on the highway and 61 mpg in the city. Following closely on the heels of that model was the debut of the Toyota Prius in 2000. This hybrid car was capable of reaching speeds of 45 mpg on the highway and 52 mpg within city limits. In 2002 the Honda Civic Hybrid took shape, to much success. This vehicle could go 51 mpg on the open highway and 46 mpg in the city. There were more hybrid vehicles to come. The first full-size pickup hybrids made their appearance in 2004. These were the Dodge Ram and the Chevy Silverado. As well 2004 saw the first SUV hybrid hit the streets in the form of the Ford Escape.

Hybrid cars are powered by two sources- gasoline and electric, and contain smaller, more fuel-efficient engines than their non-hybrid counterparts. They are also equipped with a battery for longer life. Energy efficiency is made possible in hybrids due to the use of lighter materials to build the automobiles. The lighter parts are made possible when less numbers of cylinders are used and engines are operated at a load of maximum capacity. When cars are equipped with large engines this makes them automatically heavier while the opposite is true for smaller engines. When a car has a heavy engine it is burdensome and it requires a great deal more energy to drive up hills and also to accelerate to higher speeds. The harder a car has to work, the more energy is used up, much the same way people are when it comes to work and tasks such as shoveling snow or doing housework. More difficult tasks require more energy than lighter tasks.

Non-hybrid cars with large engines also have heavier internal machinery, such as pistons. More time and energy are needed for them to make the trip both up and down in the cylinder, which expends an extra amount of energy. Speaking of cylinders, in a non-hybrid car there are generally more cylinders therefore more fuel is used to fire the engine. This is also the case even if the car is stationary. Another thing about cylinders is that in cars with heavier engines the displacement of the cylinders is greater making it necessary for more fuel to be required by each individual cylinder. This exerts a lot of energy output, which is not a good thing. Perhaps this explains why hybrid cars are becoming more and more attractive to drivers.

To optimize mileage and energy output in a hybrid car you can observe three special driving tips- slow down, keep your car at a constant speed and try to avoid sudden, abrupt stops. Did you know that the aerodynamic drag on a vehicle increases tremendously the faster speeds you drive? It does. Learn to drive at a slower speed and you will increase your mileage, and save on energy a great deal. Accelerating and then slowing down constantly wastes energy needlessly. Try to get into a habit of maintaining a constant, steady speed and you will use your hybrid’s fuel much more efficiently. Not stopping or braking suddenly is the last important tip. Sometimes this cannot be avoided but try not to make a habit of it. In a hybrid vehicle the electric motor works much like a generator, energy is lost when the car is in the process of slowing down. More energy can be saved if the car is given more of a recovery time when slowing down and stopping. When you stop suddenly and abruptly the onus is on your brakes to do much of the work and in this way, precious energy is lost.

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The modern hybrid vehicle comes in numerous makes and models, various colors and sizes. And as the desire and need for this trendy car grows, so will the options available to consumers. There are a variety of things that need to be considered in choosing a hybrid car. A smart buyer will do his homework and educate himself with the myriad of choices before making a final selection.

Design and size must be considered when deciding the hybrid car that is right for you. Take into consideration the number of passengers that you will normally be carrying in your vehicle. Also think of the types and sizes of objects you will typically be transporting. What about storage space? Currently, hybrid cars come in a wide variety of designs and sizes. If you are looking for a smaller automobile, there is a two-passenger hybrid on the market. Need something for the family? Hybrid makers have also developed a compact sedan that can accompany up to five passengers. Sport utility vehicle (SUV) lovers also have a choice of this popular car. Manufacturers have created a larger hybrid designed for those in need of more passenger and storage space.

When purchasing any automobile, the cost plays a major role. When choosing to buy a hybrid car, you must realize that it will come with a hefty price tag; a higher cost is one of the only drawbacks to this automobile. The average hybrid and sport utility vehicle range from approximately $20,000 to $50,000 for standard models. If you would like extra features, the price will increase. At $20,000, the hybrid costs almost $5,000 more than your average non-hybrid vehicle. However, the hybrid owners save on fuel in the long run. Hybrid owners have also been given government take breaks for the past few years. So, while the initial purchase may be a large one, in the end, buying a hybrid is quite beneficial.

Whether we want to admit it or not, appearance does matter, even when choosing an automobile. While hybrids may be created differently, many have the looks and styles of traditional vehicles. However, it you would like something a bit extraordinary, hybrid manufacturers have developed a range of futuristic models, all available in an assortment of colors. For those who want a standard automobile look, compacts, sedans, and sport utility vehicles are also offered. The hybrid makers offer a wide variety of accessories for an added personal touch to your new hybrid automobile.

The gas mileage of any automobile should be checked for accuracy before purchase. Gas mileage is especially an important factor when deciding on the right hybrid to buy. Hybrids are known for their excellent fuel efficiency. Mileage is an average 8-10 percent higher on a standard hybrid vehicle. The amount of money that is saved in gasoline will usually pay back the extra money that was spent in the initial purchase of the car.

Many car buyers wonder if hybrids have automatic transmissions. The answer is yes. However, the automatic transmission in the hybrid vehicle enables manual gear changes when desired. When in drive, the hybrid operates as a standard automatic, but allows the driver to utilize an included shift lever to manually change the gears. The hybrid automatic has all the advantages of a manual transmission, including better engine speed control, with use of a clutch pedal. Hybrid cars also have traction control systems. In these systems, when your car accelerates from a stop, traction control works to guarantee the greatest possible contact between your tires and the road surface. Traction control systems are especially ideal on icy or wet roads, as they decrease traction.

As you finalize the hybrid purchasing process, here are some other things that should be taken into consideration. If you know of a new hybrid vehicle that will soon debut, it is best to order this car through a local dealership. When dealing with a salesperson, you must always have confidence in his knowledge of the hybrid. You should not commit to a purchase until you have confidence in your salesperson, and feel they are someone you can trust. Such a large purchase should never be taken lightly.

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Those driving hybrids usually have very few complaints when it comes to their vehicle. Most hybrid owners will proudly inform anyone of the massive amounts they save in gasoline each year as well as the great impact their hybrid has on the environment. They love that their car feels like a regular car, but is less expensive at the pump and less harmful to the air. One complaint however that you may hear from time to time is that hybrid owners are experiencing insurance prices that are either the same as they are for a regular car, or prices that are slightly higher than for a regular car of the same model.

Just recently a few insurance companies have decided to give hybrid owners a discount on their premiums. This is likely a marketing plan to get more drivers to switch to these companies, but nevertheless they are saving consumer’s money in the long run. The first company to offer a discount for hybrid owners is Farmer’s Insurance. The media made a huge issue out of this new discount, which comes in at 5% off of the regular premium price. The discount applies to all fuel alternative vehicles, including hybrids.

Farmer’s Insurance states that they are only trying to reward those drivers who are being environmentally responsible. It is not a surprise that this Los Angeles based insurance company is following the West Coast trend on hybrid incentives. The town of Los Angeles offers free parking at meters for all hybrid owners. A clean air law may come into effect in the state of California as they attempt to pass several new vehicle laws. With Farmer’s insurance being in the middle of these issues, it is only acceptable that they offer an insurance incentive as well. With over 25,000 hybrids registered in California, there is no doubt the community will start taking advantage of these insurance incentives.

Although Farmer’s Insurance is one of the only companies offering a hybrid incentive at this time, it is certain that more will follow. When insurance CEOs were questioned they all agreed on why more companies were waiting to offer incentives. Most insurance companies only insure a handful of hybrids at this time, making it difficult for them to predict how they hybrids will fair in the claims department over time. The companies feel it is a bit soon to start giving any opinions about the car, and way too soon to begin offering incentives without proper statistics available.

Another thing insurance companies must look at as well is that the consumers who are buying hybrids are probably a “safer” group as a whole. Considering it is known that most buyers are interested in saving money on gasoline, insurance companies wonder if they can assume that these drivers are just more concerned in general. With a more concerned driver, they can expect that no matter what they drive, there will be fewer claims filed on their policies.

Most insurance companies admit that over time, if there are trends shown with fewer hybrids filing claims, then prices will likely go down. In turn, if there are more claims involving hybrids, the premiums will rise. At this time however, there is just not enough information to make any type of adjustments for hybrids however. Manufacturers feel that hybrids will continue to gain momentum in the market however and expect sales to double. Therefore, there will be more hybrids being insured. With time, insurance statistics will accurately be able to show whether or not it insurance discounts can logically be applied.

Certainly however, drivers who live in the Los Angeles area will be taking advantage of the hybrid incentives offered by Farmer’s Insurance. The insurance incentive offered will likely be seen as an extra perk or reward for driving a vehicle that does not damage the environment in the same way a regular vehicle does. It will not likely be the deciding factor for those in the market for purchasing a new car however. It will just sweeten the deal for someone already shopping for a hybrid. However, it seems that with parking incentives, employer’s incentives, tax incentives, and now insurance incentives, there must be a point of persuasion. If someone logically looks at all of the perks and rewards of owning a hybrid, then they will likely choose to purchase one.

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