Gas It Up

With gas prices soaring to a record high, consumers can find comfort in knowing that alternatives are readily available. Many alternatively fueled vehicles are ideal for many consumers and cost just slightly more than the average automobile. The gas mileage can increase greatly depending on the make and model. Hybrid vehicles are gas/electric vehicles that claim to get better gas mileage, therefore, helping consumers spend less on gas. The hybrid vehicle is a good choice when wanting to spend a little less at the pump and feel good about the environment at the same time.

For consumers to be able to make the choice to buy Hybrid, they must know what they are buying. The standard hybrid vehicle features a small, fuel-efficient gas engine combined with an electric motor that assists the engine when accelerating. The electric motor is powered by batteries that recharge automatically when driven. A hybrid’s main focus is a smaller, more efficient engine. To save even more on gas, the hybrid engine automatically shuts off when the vehicle is stopped in traffic. The hybrids are equipped with advanced aerodynamics to reduce the drag and use a low-rolling resistant, narrow, stiffer tire. All this and a lightweight design make it possible to be more efficient on the road. Nearly all hybrids still require gasoline and diesel as the sole fuel source though other fuels such as ethanol or plant based oils have also seen occasional use. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_vehicle.

In 2004, about 80,000 hybrid cars and trucks were sold out of some 17 million total sales in the US, according to David Friedman, research director for the Union of Concerned Scientists’ Clean Vehicle Program. In 2005, over 200,000 hybrids were sold, which represented 1.2 percent of all cars sold in the US. J.D. Power estimates that by 2007, over 400,000 hybrid vehicles will be sold in the US. Many makes and models of hybrids are now available on the market here in North America. Honda offers the Civic, the Accord, and the Insight. Toyota offers the Camry, Prius, and Highlander. Ford offers the Escape, while Lexus offers the 400h SUV. Many hybrids are expected to be released in 2007, including, but not limited to, the Saturn Vue, the Kia Rio, the Hyundai Accent, the Honda CR-V SUV, the Honda Fit, the Mazda Tribute, the Nissan Altima, and the Chevrolet Malibu. Eartheasy.com © 2000-2006. http://eartheasy.com/live_hybrid_cars.htm.

Surprisingly, prices that consumers will pay for hybrids, is not much more than a standard gasoline engine vehicle. For example, the base retail price for the 2005 Honda Civic Hybrid is $19,800, averaging only about $2000 more than the basic model. http://eartheasy.com/live_hybrid_cars.htm. Over time, the savings is undoubtedly in the future of the vehicle. The noticeable savings will be reflected in the cost of gas and the consumer will essentially be making less trips to the pump than usual. With the cost of gasoline averaging just under $3 a gallon, hybrid vehicles give consumers one less thing to worry about.

Gas prices are soaring and no consumer is unaware of that. Hybrids, which can earn upwards of 60 miles per gallon of gas, depending on the model, can provide big savings to the average consumer. To capitalize, carmakers this year are implementing hybrid technology in more new models than ever before. BusinessWeek online, September 20, 2005.

http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/sep2005.htm. Gas mileage depends on the model and what type of hybrid the consumer will purchase. The Honda Civic Hybrid averages 47 mpg in the city and 48 mpg on the highway. On the other hand the Honda Insight averages 60 mpg in the city and 70 mpg on the highway. Why the large difference? The Honda Insight is a smaller vehicle, making it easier to run on the electric power for a longer distance. Fuel economy is not always the main focus. The electric motor helps to boost performance on many larger hybrid vehicles. An electric motor is able to start up much faster than a combustion engine, providing a helpful boost at lower speeds. The electric motor is essentially providing better acceleration and torque.

The reasons to purchase