Entries from February 2007 ↓

Whether OPEC likes it or not, hybrid owners are changing the landscape for car sales and automobile ownership. The process has been slow. Many people were not and are still not ready to pay the extra money to buy a hybrid. Some fear that technology will bypass the hybrid in the next couple of years, making their purchase a bad investment. Many people do not want to be the first one to buy a strange, new technology, just like when the regular car came into existence. Others have found that tax incentives and saving money on gas are the best reasons to go hybrid. For most hybrid buyers, however, the environmental reasons to buy one have outweighed any other reasons or any negative fallout that is present now or foreseeable in the future.

1. Emissions: With all the news about high gas prices and people across the country feeling the effects in their pockets, having a hybrid sounds like a great idea. Hybrids are super-efficient with their use of gas because they rely on electricity for some of their power. This has made it possible for hybrids to get great mileage. The environmental impact is phenomenal. Hybrids use less gas sending fewer emissions into the air. Chemicals from dioxide, to nitrogen oxide all get into the air with gas cars. Although hybrids still emit some fumes and toxic elements, they are performing so well that the EPA has made special ratings for them because they are putting about 90% fewer emissions into the air.

2. Getting Gas: Acquiring gas has become a major concern for the entire world. Having to build more refineries to produce gas will only put more chemicals into the air. Finding places to get oil are also becoming harder to find. Many have objected to the government’s desire to drill in the protected parks of Alaska. Depending less on oil helps contributes to less destruction of our natural resources.

3. Effects on the Human Environment: When emissions get churned into the air, the environment is not the only place that suffers. The human body does not take well to the excessive amounts of carbon dioxide, lead and other chemicals that gas-guzzling cars use. Sitting in traffic, one experiences the odors alone that carry the cancer causing agents. All of the chemicals produced by emissions have been linked to cancer, birth defects and a number of other preventable conditions.

4. Ride the Environmental Wave: Many people say that buying a hybrid is a great idea, but not everyone buys one. It is hard to blame people, since the cost is thousands of dollars more than for a regular car, but for those who are taking the first steps, they are contributing to environmental awareness. Choosing a hybrid helps the market get the price down, which allows for more people to buy them. Buying a hybrid is one of the best ways to get the environmental domino effect moving.

5. Encourage the Government: Buying a hybrid car is beginning to get some encouragement from the government. Known for being dependant on foreign oil for years, the Federal government is beginning to see the benefits of hybrid cars being on the market and is offering tax credits through the end of 2006. Each person that buys a hybrid can be eligible for up to a $2,000 credit on their tax return. When more and more hybrids are purchased, it is likely that the government will consider the environment in its decisions.

Numerous other reasons to buy hybrids are being offered by the makers of hybrids, those who have already purchased one, and by dealerships. To many, any issues that makers are having with the production of hybrids seem like less of a problem than finding real ways to stay green. Emissions and efficiency have come to the forefront of people’s minds more and more as gas prices rise. People are starting to be more concerned about the effects of high emissions on their health, and their future grandchildren. Choosing a hybrid makes a huge statement to the government and to other consumers. More and more people are beginning to “choose green” when they buy a vehicle, which encourages more people that doing so is the right way to go.

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With gas prices soaring each and every week, more and more people are considering the advantages of buying a hybrid. But what is a hybrid exactly? Before we define a hybrid let’s make it known that hybrid vehicles are more common than most individuals realize. Many commuter trains are electric hybrids and plenty of cities throughout the United States, such as Seattle for example, have buses that are diesel-electric powered. Diesel-electric hybrids can be found in mining trucks and even advanced forms of water transportation, such as submarines. Some submarines are nuclear-electric while others are diesel-electric powered. Many automobiles on the market today are gasoline-electric hybrids.

A hybrid is defined as any vehicle that is run by not one, but two kinds of power. As in the examples given above, a combination of gasoline and electricity forms a hybrid. Another example that many people have experienced is that of a motorized pedal bike. This enjoyable form of transport has two sources of power, even though they are very elementary in design, an engine and the pedaling motion.

Should you buy a hybrid? There are certainly many reasons to consider it as a viable option. Let’s turn our attention to hybrid cars.

Hybrid cars are considered to be energy efficient, affordable and a creative, innovative concept worth buying into! These kinds of cars have small gasoline engines that are very efficient in terms of fuel distribution and work in concert with an electric motor. Together the two aid in the acceleration of the vehicle. Batteries allow the electric motor to work because they automatically recharge when the vehicle is in motion. Hybrid efficiency is attained by periodic engine shut off, regenerative braking, advanced aerodynamics, lightweight materials and low-rolling resistance tires. Let’s take a closer look at what each of these features are all about.

Periodic engine shut off is a simple concept for a hybrid car. Basically what it means is that when the car is stopped at an intersection the engine goes into temporary shutdown mode but quickly kicks back into working order once the gas pedal is applied. Regenerative braking has to do with the electric motor and the ability of the hybrid to slow the action of the car. With this type of braking, the electric motor works as a generator and in this way when the car is slowing down, the batteries are charged up. Advanced aerodynamics takes place in order to cut down on drag. Materials that are lightweight allow for the greater energy efficiency of a hybrid. This important point cannot be stressed enough. Low-rolling resistance tires (also referred to as LLR) are special tires in that they are stiffer and much narrower tires than most and have a great deal less drag to them.

But are there still other reasons to buy a hybrid? Most certainly there are. Read on to find other ways to invest in your future by buying a hybrid.

Hybrid cars are better for the environment as they emit up to approximately ninety-seven percent less emissions and have about the same amount of carbon dioxide as non-hybrid cars. Mileage is definitely better with hybrid cars and is somewhere in the range of 2-3 mpg (or to put it another way, 8-10%). Hybrid cars are no more or no less safe than non-hybrid vehicles. The combination of an engine that runs on electricity and gasoline has no obvious noted effect on the safety of the vehicle.

But the pros of buying a hybrid don’t end there. Hybrid cars are driven the exact same way as non-hybrid cars. Drivers can breathe easy; there is no fancy manual to memorize and no difficult instructions. You can drive in the manner in which you are accustomed to driving any vehicle. From state to state there are incentives put into place to encourage prospective customers to buy a hybrid. This does vary from area to area so if you are out car shopping ask dealers about purchase incentives before you make any final decisions. Those who buy hybrids are allowed a tax deduction at the federal level which is another piece of good news when tax time rolls around. To be more specific, in the year 2004, owners of hybrid vehicles received a federal tax break in the amount of $1,500.

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Hybrid vehicles are hitting the scene in a positive way. They are becoming the choice vehicle for many consumers. Hybrids are trendy in both style and reputation. With more consumers being focused on the ongoing problem of air pollution, it is not a surprise they are drawn to hybrid vehicle models. Hybrids are easy on the environment as well as your pocketbook. The fact that they are designed to be kind to the environment is getting the attention of many consumers, businesses, and governments.

The efficient system under the hood of a hybrid contributes to its environmentally friendly label. Hybrids operate using both a small gasoline engine and an electric engine. The two work independently and together to create one of the most efficient methods of transportation. The smaller gasoline engine uses much less gasoline to operate the hybrid than a conventional gasoline powered vehicles uses. Therefore, owners of hybrids can enjoy lower fees at the gas pump. In addition, since the hybrids use less gas, they emit fewer pollutants. In fact, experts agree that a typical hybrid will emit up to 90% fewer pollutants than a typical conventional vehicle. These statistics are amazing and are the cause of many new developments and incentives being offered to consumers. With so many incentives being offered, the hybrid cannot be refused.

Businesses are beginning to offer incentives to those employees who are planning to buy, or already own hybrids. Some businesses, such as Google, are offering $5000 for each employee toward the purchase of a new hybrid. Hyperion, the software company based in Santa Clara, California is also offering this cash incentive. Most corporations set aside millions in the yearly budget in order to compensate for these incentives. When asked, the corporations state they are giving their employees this opportunity in order to give back to the community. They feel that their locations have given to them through sales and in return they should give back to their community by providing cleaner air. Companies like Google even go so far to offer extensive group transportation schedules as well to further the positive effects on the community’s air.

The fact that hybrids are environmentally friendly is also getting the attention of local governments across the United States. Local governments are beginning to offer free parking to hybrid drivers. Many cities like Los Angeles are allowing hybrid owners to park for free at city lots and parking meters. This incentive is showing consumers that the local government is supporting smart and environmentally wise shopping. With everyone in a community focused on being environmentally responsible, there is a common goal that leads to a better overall community.

In addition to the employers and government incentives, a few insurance companies are also offering incentives to hybrid drivers, in order to reward them for their smart choice. Although it would seem that the insurance companies were offering these discounts because statistics have shown hybrid drivers are less likely to file claims, it is not the case. At this time there is not enough evidence, according to experts, to be able to determine the risks hybrid drivers may or may not pose for an insurance company. The companies offering incentives are simply doing so to promote smart environmental decisions by consumers.

Consumers hear on the news and weather channel daily about the risks of global warming and air pollution. When you live in a large city, there are even days when smog alerts are as serious as a tornado. It is not fiction that air pollution damages humans and the Earth. Therefore, it is our responsibility to make wise choices when it comes to pollutants. Anything consumers can possibly do to cut down on their own personal pollution levels is a great thing. With our schedules being busier than ever, it is not likely everyone can forgo their vehicle for the greater good of the planet. However, hybrids are now offering a nice middle ground that allows everyone to profit. Consumers, corporations, and local governments are realizing the benefits. With long waiting lists in place for the newest hybrid arrivals, it is likely the hybrid will be the vehicle of the future!

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