Pros and Cons of owning a Hybrid
Pro’s of Owning a Hybrid
Better Fuel Economy:
This is an obvious plus to owning a hybrid vehicle. Hybrids use both an electric motor and a gasoline engine. Neither the electric motor or gas engine are running when a hybrid is at idle. So every time your idling at a stop sign, stop light or in a parking lot the vehicle turns off, saving fuel. Most hybrids do not even engage the gas engine until speeds over 40 Km/h are reached or you command power by pushing the throttle down. Therefore there is an increase in fuel economy especially during inner city driving.
Less Pollution:
Due to the fuel efficiency of a hybrid they produce fewer emissions from the tailpipe. So not only are you saving money at the pump, your helping save the environment by lowering your personal carbon footprint.
New Hybrid Technology:
The longer hybrid cars are around the more advanced they will become. Newer hybrids like the Honda Accord and the Lexus GS450L are considered performance hybrids. They use the electric motor to boost the gasoline engine at lower speeds rather than replace it. This gives the vehicle faster acceleration, better performance while still being more fuel efficient. This should help put to rest the myth that hybrids are slow and underpowered.
Tax Incentives:
When looking into buying a hybrid be sure to check for any federal or local tax breaks or incentives for purchasing a "green" vehicle. While the price tag on a hybrid is more money than the gasoline counterpart, part of that initial cost can be cut down with the available tax breaks.
Maintenance:
Regular service of a hybrid is not much different than any other vehicle. You will still need to change the oil at the manufacturers recommended service intervals. Most Hybrids will required a special oil, however in most cases it is around the same price as the oil in the gasoline engine. Hybrids will use a regenerative brake system, where it will use the electric motor to help slow the vehicle and turn the energy created by that to charge the hybrid battery. This can actually increase the life of your brakes.
Con’s to Owning a Hybrid:
Initial Cost:
While there are tax incentives and fuel savings, you may never recover the initial extra cost of purchasing a hybrid over the gasoline vehicle. In Canada the cost of a hybrid model can be $5000 - $9000 more than the gasoline model. This extra initial cost may never be recovered in fuel savings alone. For example, if you bought a hybrid Honda Civic and a gasoline Honda Civic with the same options, it would take over 200,000 kms of driving before fuel savings will cover the initial cost.
Battery:
Hybrids use 2 batteries, one regular automotive 12 volt battery typically under the hood and a hybrid battery usually found under the back seat. These hybrid batteries are much larger and more powerful than the typical automotive battery. They are a long life NiMH (nickel metal hydride) battery that is expected to last 8 - 10 years or 150,000 - 200,000 kms. While they have a long warranty life, the price of replacing one out of pocket can be very high.
Safety:
The electrical system on a hybrid can be very dangerous. The threshold for voltage that can be fatal is about 60 volts. Hybrid electrical systems can produce anywhere from 144 volts to 276 volts depending the make and model. This can make a hybrid very dangerous to work on without proper training. Not only does this provide automotive service technicians with problems, it can also be an issue for rescue personal. In the event of a collision proper hybrid training is required for the safety of not only the occupants of the vehicle but the firefighters and EMS personal as well.
Maintenance:
While there was pros to the maintenance of a hybrid there are also cons. As mentioned before, hybrids use a regenerative braking system, which has actually increase the life of the brake components. It can also cause the brake calipers to start to seize up due to lack of use. Hybrid owners should get used to regularly servicing the brake components in order to avoid any problems. Another maintenance issue hybrids have is bad fuel. Hybrids are very fuel efficient and gasoline has a shelf life. Some people who do not drive a lot may run into problems when the gasoline go bad before it is used. This can cause all kinds of drivability problems.
So is a hybrid right for you? It depends on why your thinking of buying one. If you are a daily commuter on the highway or thinking you will save a lot of money in fuel savings then a hybrid may be a bit of a disappointment. If you are thinking of buying a new vehicle that is a "greener" vehicle that will reduce your fuel dependence while helping the environment by lowering the pollution you contribute then a hybrid is right for you.
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