All About Hybrid Cars: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Last weekend I was driving my car for the first time in weeks (I usually garage it being in the city it is completely unnecessary to use much fuel), and I came upon a gas station advertising $3.97 a gallon. "NO WAY!" I thought to myself immediately. There was no way I was going to pay three dollars and ninety-seven cents a gallon!

I continued on my journey and crossed over into Jersey City. There I spotted a gas station advertising $4.02. I couldn't believe my eyes. I knew gas was steadily increasing; I see the reports in the paper, I hear the bantering on the news. But when you physically have to turn over $50 dollars to fill your V-6 engine, the reality completely and totally overwhelms you.

I won't get into the details of how most of the members of the United States of America (including myself), are gas-guzzling hogs. We are used to a culture and environment that promotes a bigger, better, best mentality. But, I digress.

The effects of our overconsumption and a heavily weakened economy are plastered everywhere. With gas prices jacked up well above dollar amounts that just a few years ago we would have deemed unimaginable, Americans are starting to turn to alternative methods of consuming fuel.

Enter: the hybrid.

Hybrids are promoted as being the go-to answer for our high fuel prices. "Buy a hybrid and you'll spend much less on gas." But is that entirely so?

To understand the benefits (or lack) of a hybrid, you must first understand how the car functions.

There are two types of hybrids: gasoline assisted vehicles (such as the Ford Escape Hybrid), and electric assisted vehicles (such as the Honda Civic Hybrid). Both cars operate with two types of engines: your typical gas powered engine, and an electric motor that is powered by a rechargeable battery. Depending on the type of hybrid, these can operate differently. Both, however, produce a significantly fewer amount of exhaust emissions, which is a definite plus to any hybrid vehicle - regardless of its financial efficiency.

Just how much do Hybrid cars save you on gas, however?

To determine this, you will need to do your homework. How much more is the hybrid car you are interested in verses its non-hybrid counterparty? This will help you determine the real cost of owning a hybrid. Typically they say the benefits in the long run will outweigh the cost difference, but this is not necessarily so. How useful a hybrid will be to you depends largely on your geographic location and your driving style.

If you are a fast, aggressive driver that commutes to and from work everyday on long expanses of highway, a gasoline assisted hybrid will not do much for you. All the electric motor does in this car is aid in the startup. You can even be burning more fuel at times as when you are driving on the highway, the gas can be used to recharge your battery system. This is a huge trap with hybrid vehicles. If you are a long-distance non-city commuter, you will more than likely not benefit from a hybrid.

If you are a city driver, however, this scenario can all change. Gasoline assisted hybrids are often started by the electric motor, so the stop/go of your commuting will largely depend on electric as opposed to gas. You can even expect to save about 15% in gas this way. However, you must be mindful that typically the electric motor will only run up to about 15-25mph before the gas engine kicks in. If you have a lead foot and bust out of your stopped position rapidly, the gas will kick in regardless.

Electric assisted hybrids, however, function better on the highway and in hilly/mountainous areas. The electric motor does not typically assist in startup, but will kick in areas of high speed or when the engine needs more power to work harder. This type of vehicle would work better for the distant non-city commuter.

Be sure when shopping for a hybrid vehicle that you approach the car-buying experience from a different angle. Will you really take all of the necessary steps to receive the full fuel efficiency of your car? Some of the requirements, such as not braking too hard when it is not necessary to do so, or not accelerating too fast, may not fit into your driving style. Also, driving at slower, constant speeds aids in the fuel economy.

Some Pros and Cons to Keep in mind:

PROS: They are cleaner with lower emissions and their batteries are slightly less hazardous to our environment. They also typically come with long 7-9 year warranties on their hybrid systems, and you can also receive tax deductions for owning them. Modern hybrids also look like "normal cars" - unlike their former predecessors - and in some states you get special driving privileges, like driving in the carpool lanes.

CONS: The price difference of a hybrid might not always benefit the gas deductions. Depending on how you drive, hybrids might not always be a match for your lifestyle. There is always the issue of the toxicity of the battery, even though they are not as harmful as standard car batteries to the environment.

It is also beneficial to keep in mind that today's EPA standards are slightly outdated. They will normally be on the lower end of what the EPA estimates are, due to differing factors such as driver lifestyle, location, and the type of car it is.

Moral of the story: THOROUGHLY do your homework before purchasing your next economy-preferred vehicle. It might not be just the best decision ---- yet.