Today people are queuing up for hybrids for a host of reasons. More mileage, cleaner emissions, less dependence on imported oil and the likes.
So how do conventional cars really match up to hybrids. Well here's a look.
As far as fuel efficiency goes the odds are clearly in favor of hybrids. You could get savings of 20%-25% on your gasoline bills if you are driving a hybrid. But before you get rid of your gas guzzler and rush off to the nearest Toyota/Honda dealer there are some things you must consider.
There is a lot of hype about the fuel efficiency of a hybrid. In fact the mileage that you actually get may be lower than what is advertised. This is because driving conditions in which the battery of a hybrid gets recharged fastest is by deceleration and regenerative braking. This simply may not always happen, resulting in a noticeable difference between the advertised and the actual mileage.
Then there is the premium that you pay for a hybrid: It shouldn't be anything less than $2,000 . If you consider the fuel that you save then at the current gas prices you will need to drive about 150,000 miles before you recover the initial difference in cost. If you don't drive too much it could be at least a ten year wait. What's more hybrid's store energy in large battery packs. These are costly to replace, more than $2,500. Although they last a long time, the cost of replacement is certain to drive down the resale value of used vehicles.
Again mixing of electric power and traditional internal combustion engines requires a lot of fine tuning. Then there are risks associated with handling powerful batteries. Small hiccups may mean a trip to sophisticated garages rather than the mechanic round the corner. The result, more money spent on maintenance.
However inspite of these apparent drawbacks it seems hybrids will win in the long run. As their production increases, prices are bound to come down because of economies of scale. Then the federal government offers a tax credit for buying a hybrid, which is about $2,000 for a 2007 Honda Civic. Additionally some companies also offer cash incentives to employees buying hybrids.
All in all, no matter what your calculator tells you now , hybrids are the cars of the future. Even today the extra dollars spent on one are a small price to pay for preserving the environment.