Certain places in the United States that have been plagued by heavy pollution, like the state of California; have seen a growing trend in the purchase of hybrid vehicles over regular vehicles.  In fact, millions of Americans are currently living in areas that have poor air quality.  Hybrids could provide the beginning of a solution to this problem.  Without a doubt hybrid vehicles will provide somewhat of a reprieve from dire air quality.  However, the environmental pluses of hybrid vehicles do not stop there.  After the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina at the end of the summer of 2005, many people were left wondering what caused such a horrible hurricane season.  Many scientists and environmentalists have blamed the increase in major hurricanes in the negative affects global warming has had on the environment.  The excessive use of fossil fuels, including gasoline, in our society has caused an extremely detrimental affect on our atmosphere.  Hybrid vehicles that use less gasoline and therefore omit less detrimental fumes into the atmosphere are perhaps the first step to a cleaner, healthier society and more breathable air.

Many engineers and car manufacturers believe that hybrid vehicles will eventually begin to gain significant ground in sales.  In fact, Honda predicts that the sale of their new 2006 model hybrid cars will be over double what their sales figures were on the 2005 hybrid models.  Although the vehicles keep becoming more and more popular amongst American consumers, some insiders believe that it will be short time until the hybrid vehicle becomes the standard.  It is thought that eventually automobiles will be powered solely by hydrogen, using no gasoline at all and only omitting steam into the atmosphere.  Although we are not there yet, today’s hybrid vehicles do provide a safer alternative so we will be able to provide a future where the atmosphere is still healthy and clean.  And there is no doubt that research for safer and healthier vehicles will continue until, perhaps, gasoline power becomes extinct. 

Hybrid vehicles are defined by being able to run by combining sources of power to fuel the vehicle.  Although there are a number of possible power sources to combine to create a hybrid, today’s hybrid vehicles combine gasoline with electric power to run.  By not relying solely on gasoline as fuel power to power the vehicle, hybrid vehicles use less gasoline and omit fewer fumes into the already damaged atmosphere.  With gasoline fumes are attributing to global warming and that becoming more and more of concern, hybrid vehicles are growing in popularity.  Hybrid cars use gasoline combined with an electric motor powered by batteries to fuel the vehicle.  When the vehicle is being used in typical day-to-day driving scenarios where there is a lot of stop-and-go traffic, hybrid vehicles rely heavily upon their battery power.  When use of the gasoline engine takes place, or when the car slows down or brakes, the electric battery pack is able to recharge itself, readying itself for more use powered by the electric engine rather than the gasoline engine.  Hybrid cars can get up to seventy five percent better gas mileage than regular gas powered cars, which, although the positive affect on the atmosphere is paramount, is typically the selling point for many consumers.  With gas prices at an all time high it can only be expected that more and more people will be turning to hybrid vehicles.

Hybrids are showing what regular gas cars really are because they so vastly bypass them in emissions ratings.  One-third of the world’s pollution is directly caused by cars.  The burning of fuel in regular cars actually puts tons of toxic chemicals into the air.  The worst of these chemicals is carbon dioxide.  This is the gas which is being linked to possible global warming.  Driving a Toyota Prius cuts the tons of carbon dioxide being released into the air by half.  Another chemical which some studies show contributes to global warming is nitrogen oxide.  This has also been known to cause lung irritation and acid rain.  Driving a hybrid has been known to cut emissions of nitrogen oxide by more than half.  Hydrocarbons affect the human body to catastrophic results.  Birth defects and cancer have been linked to the release of hydrocarbons into the air.  Honda’s hybrids have cut emissions of hydrocarbons by more than two-thirds.

There is also lead, particulate matter and carbon monoxide being released into the air every time we drive in our car.  Sitting in traffic during rush-hour or at the drive-through lets one sit in a stew of toxic chemicals.  All of these chemicals, gases and particles are being cut in half, or by triple, with the purchase of a hybrid car.  Because more and more people are becoming interested in what the EPA has to say about global warming, harmful effects on the human body, and general pollution by regular cars, makers are coming out with better and better hybrid cars.  Each year, makers like Toyota, Honda, Ford and soon GM, Saturn and Mazda, are improving the gas mileage performance of the hybrid models which directly affect how much emissions will get into the air and produce fatal results. 

The EPA and other environmentally minded groups are supporting the production of hybrids simply by getting the results of their studies to consumers.  Special ratings are being given to hybrid vehicles.  For example, a ULEV rating indicates ultra-low-emissions-vehicle and SLEV is a super-low-emissions-vehicle.  All of the hybrids are receiving these ultra or super-low emissions ratings from the EPA, while their non-hybrid counterparts are still receiving below average ratings for air pollution emissions. 

The EPA breaks down the scoring for vehicles and gives them a separate rating for air pollution, and one for greenhouse gases.  Even though emissions standards released in the 1970s made it mandatory for vehicles to maintain certain standards, which helped reduce some of the pollution and greenhouse gases, makers are usually not able to even get above average ratings in both categories for most models.  Hybrids hold the key to excellent ratings.  Terrain, weather and speed all affect the data which goes into calculating the ratings for hybrids, and all other cars, but all considered; hybrids are still surpassing the EPA’s expectations.  They are all scoring above average, even perfect scores in some cases, because they are able to use electric power.  The hybrid is still using plenty of gas.  It just combines this with electric power when it can.  This keeps the hybrid from having to use as much gas.  This reduced use of gas is what is making the hybrid the bright star of the EPA standards and is pleasing fuel conscience people around the world.

An alternative to both hybrid cars and typical gasoline powered cars comes in the form of diesel powered cars.  Much cheaper than gasoline, diesel has long provided an alternative fuel for motorists around the world.  However, diesel powered cars have not been as successful within the United States.  This has baffled many car manufacturers for a long time, given that diesel cars have been prevalent in other parts of the world including Europe for the last seven decades.  Many consumers assume that diesel is comparable to gasoline, given that on the surface it seems the same – after all, you can pump both diesel and gasoline at your local gas station.  However, diesel powers cars in a somewhat different way than gasoline. 

While gasoline uses spark plugs to ignite the gasoline and produce fuel for the vehicle, diesel powered cars use compressed air.  Diesel powered driving has long been associated with the big rigs.  Eighteen wheelers and other large trucks are fueled by diesel for one main reason – the excellent gas mileage.  Diesel cars are also excellent on gas mileage, something that is seemingly lacking from standard gasoline powered cars in the United States.  Diesel cars typically get between forty and fifty miles per gallon, anywhere from twenty to forty percent better than the average gasoline powered car. 

With regular gasoline prices rising, you have probably noticed that lower diesel price at the gas station while you are filling up your tank.  Diesel prices do rise when regular gasoline prices rise, but diesel prices are always lower than gasoline prices.  This is perhaps one of the most appealing characteristics of diesel for consumers that are tired of paying upwards of three dollars per gallon of gasoline to fill up their car’s gas tank.  However, diesel also has its downfalls.  Environmental studies have shown that diesel fuels omit considerably harmful fumes into the atmosphere.  Given recent environmental concerns, this gives gasoline one up on diesel fueled engines.  However, car consumers will find that these are not the only options.

Many car manufacturers are now marketing hybrid vehicles. Hybrid vehicles are powered by a combination of gasoline and electric power.  By combining gasoline with electric power, hybrid cars omit considerably less harmful fumes into the atmosphere.  In fact, while running on their electric battery power, hybrid cars omit no fumes into the environment at all.  The hybrid presents an alternative that is not only cheaper at the gas pump, but also more environmentally friendly than gasoline fueled cars.  Certain places in the United States that have been plagued by heavy pollution, like the state of California; have seen a growing trend in the purchase of hybrid vehicles over regular vehicles.  In fact, millions of Americans are currently living in areas that have poor air quality.  Hybrids could provide the beginning of a solution to this problem.  Without a doubt hybrid vehicles will provide somewhat of a reprieve from dire air quality.  However, the environmental pluses of hybrid vehicles do not stop there. 

After the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina at the end of the summer of 2005, many people were left wondering what caused such a horrible hurricane season.  Many scientists and environmentalists have blamed the increase in major hurricanes in the negative affects global warming has had on the environment.  The excessive use of fossil fuels, including gasoline, in our society has caused an extremely detrimental affect on our atmosphere.  Hybrid vehicles that use less gasoline and therefore omit less detrimental fumes into the atmosphere are perhaps the first step to a cleaner, healthier society and more breathable air.  By providing low gas cost and little harm to the environment hybrid cars seem to be the newest trend in smart driving.

When dealing with vehicles, the smaller the size of the engine, the more efficient the vehicle turns out to be. One reason this is true is that larger engines are heavier than smaller engines.  As a result, when the car goes faster, or tries to climb a hill, it must use extra power. A small car would use less power in either of these situations. Additionally, in a smaller engine, the internal workings of the machine are lighter. When they move within the engine, they require less energy than those of a large engine do. Another good reason for a small engine is cylinder displacement. In a large vehicle, cylinder displacement is bigger, so the car has to have more power. Finally, the bigger the engine, the more cylinders it requires. Since cylinders use power whether the car is running or not, a smaller engine with fewer cylinders is far more efficient. Because smaller engines are best to power smaller vehicles, hybrid manufactures have tried to stay with smaller cars.

One of the smallest hybrid vehicles is the Honda Insight. The Insight is a two door vehicle that seats two people. In creating this vehicle, Honda believed that owners of this car would be the type who usually only have one or two people in the car anyway. To make the car incredibly efficient, Honda reduced the size as much as possible. That offers the car more power and more fuel efficiency, which is something most hybrid owners are searching for. In addition to the small seating area, they also offer very limited cargo and luggage space. Again, the thinking here is smaller is better in terms of engine efficiency. It pays off in terms of gas mileage, but many people are unhappy with the overall size of the vehicle, which leads them to purchase cars with regular engines based purely on interior and cargo space.

The Toyota Prius is another fairly small hybrid vehicle. This one, though, offers a bit more space than the Insight. The Prius features four doors and can fit up to five people, though that is often seen as a bit of a tight squeeze. It offers a hatchback type access and slightly more trunk space than the Insight. The Prius has received a number of awards and honors, but in terms of the standard family vehicles of today, it still falls short on interior and exterior room.

Similar in size the Prius is Honda’s Civic hybrid. It offers all of the size and cargo space of the traditionally built Civic. They have attempted to add space compartments in every possible area to help people feel that it is a roomier car. Most people, though, still want something larger than the Civic. Most people are looking for something to replace the family sport utility vehicle or minivan.

While hybrid sport utility vehicles and minivans are beginning to make an appearance on the hybrid market, they simply aren’t worth the extra hassle and price, as the gas mileage is unacceptably poor for vehicles that cost as much as two to three thousand dollars more than a traditionally built engine. The bottom line with hybrid vehicles is that if you’re looking for something large, you are simply not going to find it with the hybrids on the market today.

Some of the largest companies in the United States are offering employee incentives regarding the purchase of a hybrid vehicle.  Some are offering cash amounts toward the purchase of cars meeting specific standards.  Google, one of the most successful internet companies is offering this incentive.  Google offers each employee $5,000 toward the purchase of a hybrid vehicle.  The only regulations are that the vehicle must have an EPA fuel economy rating of 45 mpg or higher, and must also be rated a Partial Zero Emission Vehicle.  This leaves only about three car options for employees, but it is making a huge difference. 

Hyperion, the software company based in Santa Clara, California, is also offering their employees $5,000 toward the purchase of a hybrid.  The company actually sets aside over $1 million a year toward these incentives.  The company feels that they are giving back to the community that has often given to them.  In addition however, they do admit that the hybrid incentives help them recruit and keep the best employees in the country. Companies like Timberland agree with Hyperion.  They offer $3,000 toward a hybrid purchase, but only to employees that are with the company for two years or more.  It is a great way to get employees to stay with the company, when turnover rate trends are quite high.

Other companies, like ST Microelectronics, are not offering cash toward hybrid purchases, but are offering allowances for those who drive hybrids.  The allowances of near $84 a month are given to employees that drive hybrids with fuel consumption ratings of 39.2 mpg to 46.9 mpg.  If employees drive a vehicle with a rating of 47 mpg or more, they get an additional $167 a month.

There are several explanations for why companies are choosing to offer these incentives on hybrids.  Some may think they have partnerships with hybrid makers and such.  That may be true in some cases, but overall it seems that these companies just want to do their part in helping the environment.  They want to teach responsible behavior to their employees and realize by offering employee incentives, they will likely be able to do so.  When one employee buys a hybrid, they will likely rave to their family and friends about their purchase.  This will likely fuel a chain reaction of buyers.  With more people driving hybrids, the environment will be harmed less and less with pollution.  In addition to these incentives, many companies, like Google, offer extensive shuttle schedules their employees can use to cut down on pollution.

Corporations are not only offering cash to employees, they are also offering savings to consumers.  The Farmers Insurance Group of Companies offers discounts to those who drive hybrids.  The discount is around 5% and can be seen as an extra perk when considering a hybrid.  Many California hotels are also offering free parking or reduced rates for hybrid drivers.  At the University of Miami, students, professors, and staff driving hybrids save 50% on their permit price, which is around $350 a year.

Corporate and employee incentives for buying hybrids are becoming more and more popular.  With large corporations realizing their influence, they are trying to do their part.  Although skeptics may feel that there are ulterior motives from company’s who offer incentives, the fact is that no matter what the real reason is for the incentives, they are helping the environment.  Even if the company gains in more ways than they will admit, everyone is benefiting from these great incentives.  So, if you work at a corporation that has hybrid incentives, be sure to take advantage of them.  If your company does not provide these incentives, think about making a suggestion that they change their policies.

One of the biggest problems which hybrid owners have is not getting the mileage which they believe they should or would.  Some hybrids claiming that they will get 50 mpg are only getting 30 mpg.  Drivers are frustrated as they attempt to actually relearn how to drive a car.  This includes learning how to “pulse and glide,” which helps balance the car’s use of electric and gas when in speeds ranging from 30 to 40 mph.  A combination of fancy pedal work and watching arrows on the dashboard, make many drivers feel like they are learning how to drive manual or worse.  The other factor that comes into play is how fast one likes to accelerate.  Although many of the new hybrids are getting great acceleration performance, punching the gas on a hybrid also reduces one’s mileage performance.  If one wants to get great gas mileage on a hybrid, then they have to learn how to drive with more overall patience.  There has to be less hard breaking and careful attention to pressure on the gas pedal to get the most out of one’s hybrid.

Complaints of hybrids performing badly in certain weather conditions have also changed some owners’ opinions about their environmentally friendly vehicle.  Apparently, the car battery used in hybrids needs some warming up.  In full hybrids (or hybrids which can operate completely in either electric or gas mode without needing the other), this problem appears to have worked out to near nonexistence.  For mild hybrids, which cannot have the electric or gas components work independently from one another, there have been cases of the hybrid performing poorly or much under expectations in cold weather.  Too much heat has been known to wear down on a hybrid’s battery as well, but this is being counteracted with thermal protection systems. 

Stalling has also made Toyota have to contact Prius owners.  Apparently, stalling or unexpected shutdowns of the engine may affect some drivers due to a software problem.  The stalling sounds like a frightening prospect, but Toyota took precautions by inviting owners of that specific Prius to head to dealerships for a free repair.  The news was also minimal in affecting opinion about the Prius since only a small number of drivers ever had to submit any complaints.

Some people have been known to complain about one of the strange side-effects of driving a hybrid: the silence.  Because of the efficiency of the engine, the engine can drop to near silence when idling.  Many say that although motorcycles and some models of regular cars are too loud, at least you can hear them.  The silence of the hybrid poses a problem for the deaf and for children who are often too wrapped up in playing to pay attention to cars to begin with.  It is no wonder that makers are already considering ways to put the noise pollution back into hybrids to ensure that pedestrians are not the victims of new technology.

For many, it is no surprise that hybrids have been plagued with various glitches.  The fact that many non-hybrid vehicles have had their share of recalls despite years of engineers working on them does not make hybrid owners feel better.  Consumers who are willing to take the chance with a hybrid purchase are already wondering if their car will be obsolete in a couple years like a laptop computer.  There is some comfort, however, that the glitches have not been as numerous as some expected and that the benefits are beginning to outweigh the negatives.

Design and size must be considered when deciding the hybrid car that is right for you. Take into consideration the number of passengers that you will normally be carrying in your vehicle. Also think of the types and sizes of objects you will typically be transporting. What about storage space? Currently, hybrid cars come in a wide variety of designs and sizes. If you are looking for a smaller automobile, there is a two-passenger hybrid on the market. Need something for the family? Hybrid makers have also developed a compact sedan that can accompany up to five passengers. Sport utility vehicle (SUV) lovers also have a choice of this popular car. Manufacturers have created a larger hybrid designed for those in need of more passenger and storage space.

When purchasing any automobile, the cost plays a major role. When choosing to buy a hybrid car, you must realize that it will come with a hefty price tag; a higher cost is one of the only drawbacks to this automobile. The average hybrid and sport utility vehicle range from approximately $20,000 to $50,000 for standard models. If you would like extra features, the price will increase. At $20,000, the hybrid costs almost $5,000 more than your average non-hybrid vehicle. However, the hybrid owners save on fuel in the long run. Hybrid owners have also been given government take breaks for the past few years. So, while the initial purchase may be a large one, in the end, buying a hybrid is quite beneficial.

Whether we want to admit it or not, appearance does matter, even when choosing an automobile. While hybrids may be created differently, many have the looks and styles of traditional vehicles. However, it you would like something a bit extraordinary, hybrid manufacturers have developed a range of futuristic models, all available in an assortment of colors. For those who want a standard automobile look, compacts, sedans, and sport utility vehicles are also offered. The hybrid makers offer a wide variety of accessories for an added personal touch to your new hybrid automobile.

The gas mileage of any automobile should be checked for accuracy before purchase. Gas mileage is especially an important factor when deciding on the right hybrid to buy. Hybrids are known for their excellent fuel efficiency. Mileage is an average 8-10 percent higher on a standard hybrid vehicle. The amount of money that is saved in gasoline will usually pay back the extra money that was spent in the initial purchase of the car.

Many car buyers wonder if hybrids have automatic transmissions. The answer is yes. However, the automatic transmission in the hybrid vehicle enables manual gear changes when desired. When in drive, the hybrid operates as a standard automatic, but allows the driver to utilize an included shift lever to manually change the gears.  The hybrid automatic has all the advantages of a manual transmission, including better engine speed control, with use of a clutch pedal. Hybrid cars also have traction control systems. In these systems, when your car accelerates from a stop, traction control works to guarantee the greatest possible contact between your tires and the road surface. Traction control systems are especially ideal on icy or wet roads, as they decrease traction.

As you finalize the hybrid purchasing process, here are some other things that should be taken into consideration. If you know of a new hybrid vehicle that will soon debut, it is best to order this car through a local dealership. When dealing with a salesperson, you must always have confidence in his knowledge of the hybrid. You should not commit to a purchase until you have confidence in your salesperson, and feel they are someone you can trust. Such a large purchase should never be taken lightly.