|
|
|
|
Hybrid vehicle Pros and Cons
Pros:
1. Gas is expensive and you will need less of it. It is always a plus when you do not have to empty out your wallet while stopping by your nearest yellow, green, or bright red pit stop. This is the main reason why the new Hybrid cars, trucks, and SUV's get a second look despite the high initial sticker price.
2. Hybrids generally have better fuel economy. We all know for a fact that new hybrid vehicles will use a lot less gas than your current $45 fill-me-up family hauler or the ever so hungry daily commuter rice-n-gas burner or if you're lucky the "only I can drive it" sports car in the garage that is only driven on the weekends. Hybrids use and take advantage of advance technology to only consume a small percentage of gasoline when compared to any normal fuel burning vehicle currently on the road.
3. Hybrid vehicles are the earths new found friends. According to figures from the Natural Resources Defense Council, the U.S. is home to only two percent of the world's oil supply, but as a nation we use nearly 25 percent of the global supply. To get our oil fix, more than 50 percent of our demand must be met by outside sources. Freeing up this supply makes it all worth while. We can all breathe better by cutting our greenhouse emissions up to 90 percent. Some hybrids can even run solely on the electric motor in light traffic which does not produce any harmful emissions.
4. Owning a hybrid makes you eligible for certain tax incentives. Starting in 2002, the federal government offered a tax incentive of up to $2,000 for owners of hybrid vehicles. Though that amount will continue to decrease and will be phased out completely by 2007. Some cities and states have their own plan for tax breaks in the near future.
5. Hybrids are very quiet vehicles. Hybrids do not generate much noise when the vehicle is running on the electric motor. Due to less vibrations and the silencing of the internal combustion engine, it provides a smooth quiet enjoyable ride in slow traffic areas.
6. New hybrids offer different and new designs with standard features over similar class gas burning vehicle. The Toyota Prius is an original design as well as the Honda Insight. Toyota offers several standard features only found in high end luxury vehicles. A wise choice for the manufacturers to offer this as it appeals to conservative buyers in getting the most for their dollar.
7. A different feeling may be obtained in owning a hybrid vehicle. Environmentalist used to ride bikes to work doing their part to save the ozone layer. You can also feel as you have done your part in restoring the air we breathe and saving money in your wallet. You will also have a sound mind knowing that you are playing a part in molding our future by use of new technological advances in the automotive industry.
Cons
1. Hybrids do not appeal to everyone. The uncertainty of new technology and relying on this technology to transport you from point A to B is a factor among our common sense thinkers. The automobile has been out for over 100 years as has the internal combustion engine. We all would say it is something that is proven and we all are sure of when we get in our vehicle in the morning and turn the key. We expect results as we paid for them when we purchased this vehicle. As a lot of Kia owners know, an extensive warranty is not everything when you are in the dealership everyday. It is time and money lost. Hybrids are slowly gaining a fairly decent reputation but it still has a way to go.
2. Real world MPG figures. If you really study hard and do your homework, you will realize the fuel economy of a hybrid is not far off from some of today's economy cars offered. If you can get close to 48mpg in a new Honda Civic by driving it conservatively in the city, then why would you pay the extra few grand for the Civic Hybrid model and not improve your fuel efficiency level by much? Driving a new Civic Hybrid "hard" in the city does not turn out to be much of a savings vs. driving a new gas powered economy car conservatively.
3. Hybrids still use the same fluids and products as any fuel burning vehicle. Oils and gas are still consumed. If you buy a hybrid today, gas will still cost around $2.00 a gallon tomorrow. The price of gas has only gone in one direction within the past year, up. Purchasing a new hybrid will not change the price of gas. It may be less, but you will still eventually end up at the good ol faithful pump.
4. Hybrids are dirty. Sure hybrids emit less pollution than fuel burning vehicles, but that's only initially. What about the nickel metal hydride batteries and big electric motors. Sure they warranty these components on the new hybrids, but what happens to them when something goes wrong. The environment then suffers during the disposal and "recycling" of such. Automakers will have the need to develop a means of actually recycling the surplus of old hybrid batteries in the future.
5. Hybrids are expensive. The higher price of a hybrid vehicle has turned several consumers away. Some figure at what point do I start getting my money back for saving gas vs. the extra three or four grand I forked over for the hybrid model. You end up paying an extra amount each month, if financed, which could very easily equal the amount spent on gas on a fuel burning economy car. Not to mention dealer markup when such hybrid vehicles become scarce and manufacturers cannot keep up with production. It has already happened, maybe not legally in some cases, but justly.
6. Hybrids are slow. Most hybrid vehicles do not perform near as well as its class fuel burning competitor. Many improvements are being made in such vehicles as the Lexus RX 400h. It has more horse power than its fuel burning sister, the RX330. Some hybrids suffer from the extra weight gained by heavy electronics, batteries, and not to mention the electric motor(s). Forget towing on some of the hybrid SUV's, it has to tow itself first.
7. Hybrid reliability is an unknown factor. Many dealers will sell you on the 100,000 mile warranty for a number of years on this and that component on a new hybrid vehicle. As mentioned on previous cons, hybrids are still building on their reputation. Until they are "proven" as the current fuel burning vehicles have been, it will always be in the back of your head when you turn that key. Will you get to work safely from the electric motors high number of volts flowing through a "safe area" under the hood or will it decide to beam you to another dimension and bring the term "beam me up Scotty" into reality.
Either way we all have a choice in using our common sense to direct us in the right direction in choosing our transportation.