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The new hybrids are getting better all the time
(ARA) – Motorists can't control the cost of gas, but they can control the type
of vehicle they drive. Big thirsty SUVs, so comfortable for family trips, don't
seem as ideal when filling the tank. What if families could get the comfort
without paying for all that gas?
Now they can. Hybrids, cars that combine gas and electric power, have come a
long way in the last few years. Those currently available offer all the comfort
and convenience of a traditional vehicle and manufacturers are introducing more
technologically advanced models all the time.
"Next year we are going to be drowning in hybrids," says John Davis, executive
producer of the award-winning PBS automotive magazine show, "MotorWeek." Davis
predicts that within five years, hybrids will make up 15 percent of the total
automobile market -- about 2 million a year.
Yet many consumers are still dubious about giving up their gas-powered vehicles.
Davis has test-driven all of the available hybrids and gives them high marks. He
offers the following guidance for consumers interested in making the leap to the
new technology.
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* Not all hybrids are the same. Although they all combine gas and electric
power, they may use the combination in different ways. Some hybrids only use gas
until they need an extra boost, and then the electric power jumps in. Others use
gas and electric power together at all times. "A full or strong hybrid, like the
Toyota Prius, is a car that can run on gas or electric power or both," explains
Davis. "Don't tell me two engines aren't better than one," he adds.
* Mileage estimates may vary. Davis cautions that the mileage
quoted by hybrid manufacturers is from government tests, and is seldom what the
average driver experiences. The government tests cars under perfect conditions,
so real world driving often doesn't match up. However, Davis says that a hybrid
like the Prius will get 42 to 45 mpg in combined city and highway driving, a
vast improvement over a mid-size gas-only car.
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This summer Ford began selling its new Escape Hybrid, the first hybrid
SUV. Preliminary tests show that the Escape Hybrid is capable of more than
35 miles per gallon in routine driving. Many advocates for hybrids think
they will have the most impact on SUVs and trucks where poor fuel economy
is often seen as a social embarrassment.
* A hybrid battery is often under warranty for at least eight years. "A
lot of people are concerned about replacing a hybrid battery but you
probably won't ever need to buy a new one," says Davis. "Nobody knows yet
how long they will last, but Toyota has been selling hybrids for almost a
decade now and very few have needed their batteries replaced."
* All the benefits of a traditional vehicle. Davis says that driving a
hybrid is just the same as driving a traditional vehicle. Power, comfort
and handling are the same, and the cars require no unusual maintenance.
* These cars will save you money. "A hybrid sticker price is about 10
percent more than a gas vehicle, but if you plan to own the vehicle for at
least 4 years, you could easily save that in gas," says Davis. Because an
electric engine can go from zero to maximum power instantly, hybrids can
shut down the gasoline engine when stopped at a light without affecting
acceleration when you need it. Overall, you will probably burn about one
third less fuel with a hybrid.
* Good for the environment. You not only burn less gas, you will burn it
more cleanly. Hybrid emissions exceed all federal and state requirements.
"They beat any gasoline-powered vehicle. They are amazingly clean, and
they emit less greenhouse gases." says Davis. "You can feel good driving
one."
It will only get better. Over the next 12 months there will be a number of
new hybrid models coming on the market. "We are moving out of the
experimental phase," says Davis. "Hybrids are here to stay."
For more hybrid road test information, visit pbs.org/motorweek. Airing
on PBS and the Speed Channel since 1981, MotorWeek covers all aspects of
the automotive industry and offers consumers unbiased, cutting-edge news
and features covering new vehicle trends, current safety information, and
the results of practical road tests.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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Webmaster Ron Landry
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