Hybrid Cars: Myth vs. RealityThere is much misinformation about hybrid cars and hybrid technology in the media and all over the internet. Here are what I consider the Top 5 Hybrid Myths DEBUNKED!
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Where does this idea come from? When you have your car turned on without the engine running, your battery will die quicker. Since hybrid technology does deal with engine shut off when gasoline is not needed, it's understandable that this particular myth is believable.
However, hybrid car batteries are designed much differently than regular car batteries. You could never run a hybrid car on a conventional car battery.
Hybrid batteries are never fully charged or discharged. This extends the life of the battery dramatically. Also, there is a fan to keep the battery cool when it's hot, also extending its life.
In fact, it's been reported that hybrid car batteries will continue to run like new after 160,000 miles! To back up such a claim, Toyota has made it public that, since releasing their very first hybrid vehicle, their hybrids have never had a single warranty claim on a battery in any of their vehicles. Hybrid car battery warranties usually run between 80,000 and 100,000 miles!
Hybrid Car Myth #2: Hybrid Cars Must Be Plugged-In
Just because you have a car that runs on electricity, doesn't mean you have to plug it in. Current hybrids are not equipped with plugs at all. Instead, hybrid technology uses regenerative braking, which allows unused energy used during acceleration to shift to the battery to save and use later.
That means no energy is wasted in a hybrid.
It should be noted, however, that newer hybrids are leaning more toward electric vehicles and are equipped with a plug, thereby using less gasoline in the vehicle than previous hybrids. These newer hybrids are boasting 100 MPG!
Hybrid Car Myth #3: Hybrid Cars Get the Best Gas Mileage and are the ONLY Way to Save Gas
Let's start with the first myth, that hybrids get the best gas mileage. It's true that if you put a hybrid vehicle next to its non-hybrid counterpart, the gas mileage is better in the hybrid. However, does that mean that all hybrids are superior?
Absolutely not. If you compare SUVs with Hybrid SUVs, you'll note that Chrysler, Dodge, Cadillac and GMC all have hybrid counterparts to their popular SUVs. However, these hybrid SUVs only get roughly 19-21/20-22 MPG. Compare that to a non-hybrid Jeep Compass or Patriot (both 4WD!), and you're getting 23/28 MPG, a substantially higher MPG rating to the hybrid SUVs!
Some Hybrid SUVs are much better, though, such as the Ford Escape, Saturn Vue, Mazda Tribute, and Mercury Mariner. These are better than the hybrid and non-hybrid SUVs listed above.
So, sometimes a hybrid is better, and sometimes it isn't. The point I'm trying to make is that, just because it says "Hybrid" on the vehicle, doesn't mean it's the most fuel efficient vehicle on the market. It may not even be the most fuel efficient vehicle in its class!
It should be mentioned as well that any car can become a more fuel efficient car if you employ better driving methods and take care of your vehicle. And don't discount alternative fuel cars, like diesels.
Hybrid Car Myth #4: Hybrid Cars are Too EXPENSIVE!
The first and easiest way to debunk this myth is to check out my article on hybrid incentives, rebates, and tax breaks. Many of these will save you time, money, and hassles, and may, in some people's situations, make the additional cost of the vehicle worth it to you. It's just important to find out what your options are and do some research before purchasing a car.Also, some hybrids aren't much more expensive than their traditional counterparts. For example, the Saturn Vue Hybrid is only $4000 more than the non-hybrid Vue. So for $4000 more, you get the best gas mileage on the highway of any hybrid SUV, and if you live in, say, Colorado, you could receive a state tax credit up to $4,713.00!
So you can get the hybrid for basically the same price as the non-hybrid, get a $713.00 tax break and use that extra money to buy the gas, which you'll spend less money on anyway! Good deal!
Hybrid Car Myth #5: Hybrid Technology will Solve All of Our Nation's Problems
Hippie love can be a beautiful thing, and hippies love anything that has the potential to solve energy, foreign relations, and environmental problems.Many people in our country believe that these vehicles are the answer to ending wars, reducing our dependence on foreign oil, conserving our natural resources, and reducing or eliminating CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. However, hybrids are just a small piece of the puzzle, not the missing piece. It's not the single most important answer, just one of MANY solutions to the problem.
Other solutions? Alternative fuels, wind energy, solar power, and water energy are just a few of the different ways we can help the environment, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and as a result of the last one, improve foreign relations. Even these all put together won't solve the problems completely, but it's a good start. And a little improvement is better than no improvement at all.
The point of this article?
Research before you purchase a new vehicle this year. Don't rely on hearsay or even the media to determine which kind of car you purchase.
Check the EPA mileage ratings, talk to owners of a vehicle you plan to buy, and read, read, read! Your time and effort will pay off in the end. You may start out thinking you'll never purchase one of the many hybrid cars on the market, and then suddenly find yourself driving off the lot in your brand-new Ford Escape Hybrid knowing you made the right choice.
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