The biggest question popping these days is that,
what sort of vehicles are we actually going to be driving in the
future? This question has stirred many minds and brains as world oil
reserves are dwindling to such a worrying degree that the tip is we
could actually run out of that black gooey stuff in about 50 years
time. So what is the alternative left with us considering that there
will be no black gold after few years? The answer is Hybrid Cars which
will run on alternative fuel i.e. solar battery without emission of
toxic substances in nature. But are reliable, will they perform well in
future? These kinds of questions are just common these days.
Car
is now part of daily life and culture, so it's difficult to imagine
getting from one place to another without it, irrespective of distance.
The future of the car, as we know, is doomed because of emission of
large chunk of our greenhouse emissions, and fossil fuels set to become
more costly before eventually running out. Thus this has resulted car
manufactures to give a deep thought and are serious about alternative
ways to produce engine power.
In other words we can say that it
is all about developing the car of the future, a vehicle that will be
both greener and more efficient. This is when hybrid car makes its
entry. Hybrid car these days is gaining popularity as it is not only
cheap but also easily affordable. This means owing this car won’t
create any environment hazards and also won’t burn hole in your pocket.
But is hybrid car reliable and bankable option? The answer is somehow
yes, considering current trend of auto industry
A car with Hybrid
technology has two engines, side by side, under the bonnet. This means
an electric engine here and a petrol engine there. Seeing today’s cars
we come to know that majority cars driven by one or the other engine.
This means not that cost effective. Thus, for better mileage and
maximum performance, you get them both chiming in together, so you get
more power. This can only be found in hybrid cars. That’s why people
prefer them over others.
In hybrid car the electric engine also
charges the batteries, and that neatly gets you around the old problem
of electric cars of having to plug it into the mains overnight. This
means no need to worry about recharging too. But one of the biggest
disadvantages attached with hybrid cars is that they needed big, heavy
battery packs which took up all of the back seat. But this is also now
rectified as now you get a full four-seater capacity and enough room in
the luggage space for two or three small dogs or maybe even one really
big one.
Thus, we can now say that hybrid car is the best and
safe option to go for. Visit Author's site to learn more on hybrid car
technology.
The best hybrid cars of 2009 are even better in
2010. The qualities that make a car the best depend on what your
specific area of concern is, mostly centering on fuel economy and
performance on the road.
If you focus on simply getting the best
fuel economy, the Toyota Prius is absolutely the best hybrid car for
you. At 48 mpg, it has the best fuel economy of any car available in
the United States. Some drivers report that, with very careful driving,
a light foot, use of cruise control whenever possible, minimal use of
the AC and heat, and in optimal weather conditions, they can get up to
70 miles per gallon. The amazing fuel efficiency is offset by its
sluggish pick-up, but even so, it's a great commuter car if you can
tolerate staying in the 55-65 mph range and it gets pretty good mileage
in-town too, in the 40s even with stop-start city driving.
If
you're more focused on performance than fuel efficiency, the Toyota
Hybrid Camry feels more like a conventional car, and still manages to
get a respectable 34 miles per gallon. It's expensive at $26,150
compared to $19,395 for the basic conventional Camry which advertises
22-33 mpg. The interior is nice and roomy, and driving it is similar to
driving the conventional Camry.
If you wouldn't mind splitting
the difference between power and fuel economy, the Mercury Milan Hybrid
and the Ford Fusion Hybrid are cool with attractive styling, around 40
mpg in-town, and a great driving experience. The 2010 editions of the
Fusion and its Mercury cousin, the Milan, are updated, more stylish
than their predecessors, with updated instrument panels and the Sync
voice-activated entertainment and communication system. The instrument
panel sports a "green" leaf-sprouting display when you are saving fuel.
The switch-over between the gas engine and the electrical system is
said to the most seamless of any car on the road, making virtually no
noise and no jolt that has become rather typical for these cars. At
around $30K, both cars are somewhat steep buys, but the cool styling
and peppy performance are worth the price.
Other possibilities in
your search for the best hybrid cars might include the Chevy Malibu
Hybrid, advertised as getting 29 mpg and going for $22,800, the Honda
Civic Hybrid, at $22,600, the Honda Insight, selling for $19,800, with
a promised 41mpg, the Nissan Altima Hybrid, advertising 34 mpg at
$26,800, or perhaps the 2010 VW Touareg, for which the specs are not
yet out. Test drive them all, and get a feel for hybrids. Everybody's
getting into the field, and there's no time like the present.
If
qualification for hybrid tax credit is considered as a factor in the
competition for best hybrid cars, then some of the favorite models,
such as the Prius, Camry and Civic, will no longer qualify. This is the
qualifying 2009 hybrid car tax credit chart from the IRS site:
Chrysler Aspen Hybrid-- $2200 tax credit
Dodge Durango Hybrid-- $2200 tax credit
Ford Escape Hybrid, 2 WD-- $ 3000 tax credit
Ford Escape Hybrid, 4 WD-- $1950 tax credit
Mazda Tribute Hybrid, 2 WD-- $3000 tax credit
Mazda Tribute Hybrid, 4 WD-- $1950 tax credit
Mercury Mariner Hybrid, 2 WD-- $3000 tax credit
Mercury Mariner Hybrid, 4 WD-- $1950 tax credit
Nissan Altima Hybrid-- $2350 tax credit
Elizabeth Nichols is Content Manager for the Green Research Council at http://www.greenresearchcouncil.org,
which is a research and advocacy group with a mission to provide
empowering information and to be at the cutting edge of green
technology, environmental sustainability and energy conservation
issues. Most recently published is the Green Research Council's Green Tax Guide.
