The Advantages of Hybrid over Traditional Gasoline only Vehicles
Of course, the first and greatest advantage is working toward a cleaner environment for us and our future generations.
The atmosphere isn't going to clean itself up, we each have to take responsibility for what we have done in the past and make changes for the better in the future.
We can take fewer trips in the car and take a walk on shorter journeys, car pool to work, and use less gas. Let's face it, with the ever increasing fuel costs here in the US, it's time for us all to look at alternative fuel. The natural choice is something that is cost efficient, produces a significantly lower emissions, reliability and affordability.
Hybrid vehicles are the natural progression towards a cleaner future and an excellent compromise until an eventual electric or Hydrogen powered future. This maybe years away and right now, there are a handful of companies that produce all electric vehicles and the necessity to travel long distances make all electricity impractical.
The natural progression is Hybrid fuel, combining the Traditional gasoline powered internal combustion engine with electrical motors.
Let's take a look at the following case study. (For arguement's sake, we're going to average the fuel costs at $3.00 per gallon.)
Case Study
Family 1 has two cars, one being a 2005 Ford Mustang GT and the other a 2006 Dodge Caravan. Both cars are travelling a combined milage of 20,000 miles per year.
The Ford Mustang, travelling 10,000 miles per year will use 455 gallons of fuel at a cost of $1,365.00 It will omit 8,902 lbs CO2 per year.
The Dodge Caravan, also travelling 10,000 miles per year will use 435 gallons of fuel at a cost of $1,305.00 It will omit 8,510 lbs CO2 per year.
Combined figures: 17,412 lbs CO2 in a year.
$2,670.00 in Gas per year.
Family 2 next door, have a 2005 Toyota Prius and a 2006 Toyota Highlander which are both Hybrid vehicles. They also travel a combined distance of 20,000 miles per year.
Here are their figures.
The Toyota Prius, travelling 10,000 miles per year will use 180 gallons of fuel per year at a cost of $540.00 It will omit 3,522 lbs CO2 per year.
The Toyota Highlander, also travelling 10,000 miles per year will use 328 gallons of fuel per year at a cost of $984.00 It will omit 6,417 lbs CO2 per year.
Combined figures: 9,939 lbs CO2 in a year.
$1,524.00 in Gas per year.
To take this a little further, you may say, 'but a Hybrid costs more'. Comparably, yes, maybe, however, look at the figures below.
Family 1
2005 Mustang GT - $29,995
2006 Dodge Caravan - $16,900
Total Cost - $46,895
Family 2
2005 Toyota Prius - $21,995
2006 Toyota Highlander - $27,650
Total Cost - $49,645
Difference in cost between Family 1 and Family 2 - $2,650
However, let's take a look at how comparable the figures are over an average 3 years of ownership, taking in to account the fuel costs and savings between the two vehicles.
Family 1 Cost of cars including Fuel over 3 years - $54,905
Family 2 Cost of cars including Fuel over 3 years - $54,221
Now let's look at the impact the two families have on the environment.
Family 1 omits over 3 years - 52,236 lbs CO2.
Family 2 omits over 3 years - 29,817 lbs CO2.
Now, please also take into consideration the maintenance, which I haven't here, but is similar in each case. Also, the biggest factor, again, which I haven't taken into consideration is that Family 2, driving two hybrid vehicles will be eligable for tax breaks and possibly company incentives for owning and driving two hybrid cars.
For a full list of incentives and tax breaks available to owners of Hybrid cars in the US, please see our page entitled Hybrid Incentives, you can view that page by clicking here.
However, please have a look at the second column for another very interesting point concerning Hybrids vs Gasoline. Click here to view
For your information, this study was conducted using figures of CO2 emissions from Terrapass and vehicle prices from Autotrader. This is an independent study conducted by Hybrid Car Company and is by no means a scientific study using exact figures. It is merely to provide a case study of Hybrid vs Gasoline.
You'll be amazed by these facts on Oil
Let's look at this point a little closer, because this is an amazing statistic.
Raising every vehicle's fuel consumption in the US by 7.6 miles per gallon would save enough to eliminate 100% of our gulf oil imports into this country.
Is that not a shocking statistic in this time of war in the Iraq?
If we raise gas mileage 7.6 miles per gallon for every vehicle in the United States, we could stop importing Oil from the Gulf.
How can we do this?
One certain way to move closer to this figure is by throwing away the pre-concieved ideas the a Hybrid car will not make a difference, or they look ugly, or any other objection we might have.
Let's face it, it may not stop wars, it may not stop the fighting in the gulf, it may not stop troops being killed or future attacks like 9/11 happening again, but it WILL contribute.
By buying a Hybrid car, or walking more, car pooling, stopping unneccasary journeys in the car, we can all do something to work toward a brighter future for everyone.
If we all do something and give, we shall all be able to take advantage of that giving.
