Potential Advantages to Buying a Hybrid Car

Among the newest categories of vehicle on the automobile market today is the recent Hybrid automobile. Hybrid cars and trucks claim to be better for the environment and have better fuel economy than regular combustion engine cars that rely solely on gasoline engines. Hybrid's are part of the Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) revolution happening in the automobile industry.

What is a Hybrid Vehicle?

Typically these vehicles use a combination of rechargeable electric and gas engines to power the vehicle. The gas engine usually recharges the electric motor and powers the vehicle when the electric motor is low on energy or under certain driving conditions. To be hybrid a vehicle must have both, electric and gas fuel sources driving it. While there are other AFVs on the road, hybrids have the widest selection and have been available to the average consumer the longest.

The Advantages of Hybrids

The biggest advantage of hybrid vehicles over the traditional gas engine vehicle is the increased fuel economy gained by adding the electric motor. The best fuel economy reported by the Environmental Protection Agency and measured in miles per gallon of gasoline expended is 60 miles per gallon on popular economy sized hybrid cars. This is as much as twenty miles to the gallon more than a standard gasoline engine vehicle. Of course better fuel economy leads to less stops at the pump and less money spent on gasoline.

Another advantage is the breaks you might receive on taxes and vehicle licensing fees. In many states some AFVs including Hybrids qualify for special tax benefits and reduced cost in state fees for vehicle registration. Some financing companies even offer special rates for auto loans when you are purchasing an AFV. Check to find out if your state participates in the special programs and if so what vehicles qualify before deciding on your next vehicle, a hybrid may be just what you are looking for.

Why a hybrid over another AFV, such as a completely hydrogen powered car? Well for starters there is the currently limited selection and the high cost of purely electric or hydrogen based vehicles. In addition, with a hybrid, when you do need to refuel you can stop at any gas station and the fuel economy lets you cover a great distance before needing to refuel. Most other AFVs currently have limited resources for refueling and cannot travel nearly as far before they need to be refueled, making them mostly only useful for short commutes.

Hybrid vehicles may also cost more than their comparable standard gasoline engine counterparts, but proponents suggest that the cost is offset by the savings on fuel and the tax and other incentives available to AFV owners. Don't take their word for it, if you are looking into a hybrid or other AFV, do the calculations yourself and discover if a hybrid or other AFV will be an advantage for you.