| The Downside Of Hybrids |
| Written by Kendra Lackey |
| Thursday, 06 May 2010 07:41 |
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Just how much longer do we have to continue to deal with ever increasing gas prices? Just how are we supposed to weather this storm of outrageously rising gas prices? Is it time for a new car? If getting a different car seems to be the best option, how do I know what kind of car to get? Maybe we should all take a look at hybrid cars.
Just how much longer do we have to continue to deal with ever increasing gas prices? Just how are we supposed to weather this storm of outrageously rising gas prices? Is it time for a new car? If getting a different car seems to be the best option, how do I know what kind of car to get? Maybe we should all take a look at hybrid cars. The Price: The biggest disadvantage of hybrid cars is definitely the price! For instance, the 2008 Toyota Camry costs about $19,000, while the hybrid version costs almost $25,000. That is approximately a $6,000 difference, which is a lot of money. Another example is the 2008 Honda Civic with a base price of $15,000, while the Civic Hybrid is costs $7,000 more. On average, the hybrid version of a car costs between $2,000 and $4,000 more than the non- hybrid version. You don't have to plug in a hybrid car to charge its battery. Hybrid cars use something called regernative braking to create kinetic energy and charge the battery while you drive. Regenerative braking is used on hybrid gas/electric automobiles to recoup some of the energy lost during stopping. This energy is saved in a storage battery and used later to power the motor whenever the car is in electric mode. Furthermore, some hybrid cars make use of their own combustion engine to create electricity. This is done by using a spinning electrical generator. The spinning does one of two things. It can either recharge the battery or in a more direct way, it can give power to an electric motor. This motor is what then drives the vehicle. The Battery: As mentioned above, the batteries in hybrid cars can kill theoretically. There are some other issues with the battery. Hybrid car manufacturers include warranties to cover the batteries for 80,000-100,000 miles. The carmakers also say the car's battery will last forever. But what if something unforeseen happens and the car's batteries are not under warranty anymore? Unfortunately batteries cost a fortune! The other problem with the batteries is that it needs to be recharged at least every second week. So, if you go to vacation you might need to find a "car-sitter" to take care of your car. Some hybrid car owners also report problems with the battery in cold weather. The ability of hybrid cars to save lots of money of gas and the innovative way it powers itself have earned the hybrid car the title of car of the future. Most automakers and many consumers seem to agree on this fact. There seems to be an increasing interest in hybrid cars as more and more people purchase them as the years go by. If you like what you've read about the hybrid car, maybe you should consider getting one. It's hard to say how much longer the gas prices will continue to rise. If that's the case, you have another reason to think about purchasing a hybrid car. Head on down to the local hybrid dealer and ease the pain a little bit. It's a good investment and step towards the future. About the Author: Looking to find the best deal on electric car motor, then visit www.gas2electricity.com to find the best advice on car electric for you. |