Hybrids: Why Buy One?

By RON COGAN

Other auto articles from ForbesAutos.com:

Whether a hybrid is right for you depends on your needs and also your perception of value. You'll pay more for a hybrid than its conventionally powered counterpart. You may, or may not, make up for this extra cost in fuel savings over the years. But recapturing the added cost of a hybrid is not necessarily the primary motivation for purchasing one. The ability to thumb one's nose at high gas prices every time you fuel up is a powerful attraction on its own.

Economics aside, gasoline/electric hybrids appeal because they reduce fuel consumption. Conserving fossil fuels such as gasoline made from petroleum is crucial because fossil fuels are non-renewable, meaning that once we've used up the Earth's supply, that's it, no more. In 2004, the U.S. produced 9 percent of the world's total petroleum output, held 2 percent of the world's crude oil reserves, but consumed 25 percent of petroleum produced globally, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. That's a staggering consumption rate of 20.5 million barrels of oil per day.

Meanwhile, the amount of oil the U.S. imports is at a 31-year high, with 57.8 percent of petroleum consumed by the U.S. in 2004 coming from foreign sources, according to the DOE. It's not hard to see why many large companies in the automotive industry and others are increasingly focusing not only on hybrid-electric technology, but also on other alternative-fuel sources such as hydrogen and ethanol, both of which are renewable.

And let's not forget the other crucial hybrid advantage: extremely low emissions. Drivers of hybrid vehicles actively improve air quality on a personal level without doing anything more than driving their cars. Gasoline/electric hybrids make this possible in several ways, one of which is by splitting power between an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, thereby reducing fuel consumption and tailpipe emissions simultaneously.

Another way that hybrid vehicles help reduce pollution -- arguably the one with greatest impact -- is by shutting down their internal combustion engines in idle traffic, which is when exhaust emissions and fuel consumption are at their highest (you get zero miles per gallon in a gridlock). Some, like Toyota's Prius and Ford's Escape Hybrid, even leave the gasoline engine off at low speeds, relying solely on power from efficient electric motors for motivation from a standstill up to around 25 miles per hour. In California and certain Northeast "green" states (Massachusetts, New York, Vermont and Maine) that have adopted California's more stringent emissions regulations, hybrids are also equipped with near-zero evaporative emission fuel systems, which drastically reduce the toxic emissions that evaporate from gasoline in the car's fuel tank and fuel lines.

Not so long ago, the environmental advantages of conserving fuel and reducing exhaust emissions represented the primary reason many buyers would step up to cutting-edge and comparatively pricier hybrid vehicles. That's changed with spiking gas prices and politicking around dependency on "foreign oil," both of are spurring interest in fuel efficiency. Together, the dual advantages of higher fuel economy and lower emissions present a compelling case for considering a hybrid as your next vehicle.

Read More: Getting Greener

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32 comments

Tandkgiov 08:41:26 PM May 07 2008

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I have a 2007 civic hybrid....... approx. 15000 miles now and not one problem, gas mileage is great combined around town and Highway driving gives me a consistant 45 to 47 mpg.

SeaYaTee347 12:34:24 PM May 05 2008

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I'm in the market for a 2007 or 2008 Toyota Camry hybrid--look forward to any comments or criticisms from anyone with a history to report!

Bigone392 03:50:47 AM May 03 2008

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I WOULD LOVE TO GET RID OF MY GAS SUV AND GET A HYBRID HOWEVER , WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO BUY A FORD ESCAPE WHICH IS A HYBRID THE DEALER TOLD ME ITS A 9 MONTH WAITING LIST SINCE THE TAXI INDUSTRY IS GRABBING THEM IN ADDITION IS IT BETTER TO BUY ONE OR LEASE IT WHAT HAPPENS TO REPAIR EXPENSES ON THESE HYBRID AUTOS ONCE THE WARRANTEE IS OVER DO WE HAVE TO SELL OUR FIRST BORN TO AFFORD TO REPAIR THEM

Flathead1948 09:34:17 PM May 01 2008

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According to the T.V. ad, don't leave your Prius parked in the front yard too long or it will rot into your lawn. What a great way to save energy, build another one? Guess the Japanese are better capatialists than we thought.

Cr8tiv1 09:01:02 PM May 01 2008

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I have Honda civic Hy as well Love it ! and the gas milage I get , to bad my husband drives it now more then me ( his jeep takes to much gas ) for his commute....oh well we save money !

Burro haven 08:36:33 AM Apr 29 2008

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The newer Prius's have more efficient batteries than earlier models. When you are running your AC and other devices your gas motor won't kick on unless the battery is getting low. This is an improvment over earlier models. I have driven one for over two years and now own a newer model. I am very happy with my milage....which is regularly between 57 to 60 mpg. I have a 150 mile daily commute.
My only complaint has nothing to do with the engine or the hybrid technology.....it is the cost of replacing the headlamps ....over $400. The tail lights only cost a buck or two, but the headlights??
Not only is the lamp expensive, but you have to remove a whole bunch of stuff to get at them. Guess someone wasn't on the ball at Toyota on that one.

Greg5450 02:05:08 AM Apr 29 2008

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there are a lot of ways to go first stop oil subsidies
that will get the ball rolling

Greg5450 01:59:35 AM Apr 29 2008

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got out of a astro van 17.5 ml gl. got me a vibe 2.4 motor got the power that I need for work in sales I put a lot of mils a day 25 ml a gl. is not bad

butt I want electric

rocshirt 11:51:17 AM Apr 26 2008

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biofuels are killing the mississippi rivers eco system all the run off of the pesticides going into the river from corn is killing everything .not very eco sensitive