Hybrid Cars Have an Upside and a Down
By Teresa Ambord
Are you considering a hybrid car? Some experts say they are the most fuel-economic cars available, though possibly not quite as good as the industry estimates. But then, that's nothing new. Window stickers and slick TV ads always promise more miles per gallon than any car has ever delivered.
How They Work
Hybrids combine a small gas engine with a battery-powered electric motor. So they use less gas and create less pollution.
- When you accelerate or travel uphill, the electric motor kicks on to give the engine a boost.
- The motor never needs to be plugged in, since it has a "regenerative" battery that recharges itself as you drive.
- Instead of relying solely on the brakes, the electric motor helps to slow the car.
- The resistance of slowing the car is used to recharge the battery.
- If you get stopped in traffic, the engine shuts off (this is imperceptible to the driver) and restarts itself when put back in gear.
- Hybrids have reduced drag, attributable to their advanced aerodynamic construction.
Fuel economy is a big incentive for some buyers. But to individual buyers, the government is adding an incentive in the form of a tax break. Certain hybrid vehicles owners qualify for a one-time "Clean Fuels" tax deduction of $1,500, which is the government's way of encouraging hybrid car purchases. Currently the cars that qualify are the Honda Insight and Civic, and the Toyota Prius, models 2001-2004.
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Hybrids have been available for years in Japan. Slowly, they are becoming available in the United States as well, though you might have to be on a waiting list. The models that are finding their way onto our roads are, the Toyota Prius, the Honda Civic, the Honda Insight, and more recently, two SUV models, the Ford Escape and the Lexus 400h. The Chevrolet Silverado hybrid is also available, but only to fleets.
An unusual fact of hybrid vehicles is that in most cases, mileage per gallon is higher during city driving that freeway driving.
Manufacturer's estimates are listed below:
- Honda Civic: 48 city, 47 highway
- Toyota Prius: 60 city, 50 highway
- Honda Insight: 57 city, 56 highway
- Chevrolet Silverado: 18 city, 20 highway
The Downside
Hybrid cars may sound like the solution to fuel cost and environmental problems. But experts advise you to carefully consider what your vehicle needs are before making your purchase. If your family is large, no amount of increased mileage will meet your needs. Obviously your decision has to make economic sense for your family. On the other hand, if the environment is your chief concern, you may not mind spending several thousand dollars more to purchase a hybrid car.
Hybrid manufacturers have been pelted with complaints from hybrid owners that the actual miles per gallon achieved do not compare with the promises. Drivers' concerns are probably exacerbated by the fact that the hybrid dashboard includes a meter that shows running gas mileage, and can serve as a constant irritation if the mileage is lower than the estimates. Manufacturers respond that the estimated mileage depends on perfect conditions and really good driving habits. But whether you're driving a traditional car or a hybrid, it's a fact of life that the manufacturer estimates are generally far more optimistic than realistic. And driving habits vary. In any car, people who drive with jackrabbit starts and stops will get poorer mileage than someone who drives smoothly. One fact that truly does work against hybrids is that batteries are less efficient in cold weather below 32 degrees. If you take a lot of short trips in the winter, your mileage will suffer.
The bottom line is, when you decide whether to buy a traditional car or a hybrid, what makes economic sense for you?
