Hybrid cars are a popular and fuel efficient alternative to conventional gas or diesel powered motor vehicles. Drivers of hybrid cars spend less of their discretionary income on fuel and have the personal satisfaction of reducing their contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. While these benefits exist, there are other considerations to make before purchasing a hybrid car.
High Purchase Price
Hybrid car parts are more modern and expensive than those used in a comparable gas-powered compact car. This added cost stems from such components as the electric motor, various computer and electrical systems, and the car battery that powers the electric components. Because of these additional manufacturing costs, the purchase price of a new or used hybrid will be notably higher than that of a comparable gas-powered car of the same age, condition and performance capacity.
High Maintenance and Repair Costs
Hybrid power trains require specialized tools and specially-trained mechanics to service them. Often the knowledge and tools needed to work on hybrid cars are only found at their respective dealerships. As a result, hybrid car owners will find it difficult to save on repair costs by hiring a less expensive local mechanic or doing the work themselves. Both the electric and gas power train systems require more expensive parts than those used in conventional gas cars. Some examples of needs specific to hybrids are full synthetic motor oils and other specialized fluids. These fluids not only cost more but have a more limited range of distribution, so owners have to purchase their parts from either a dealership or a specialty parts supplier.
Battery Life
Lightweight lithium ion batteries are the most common type of battery used to power the electric motor and other power train components in a hybrid car. The performance of lithium ion batteries is greatly affected by its brief but crucial break-in period and by the way it is charged and discharged over its lifetime. To achieve the longest lifespan, a lithium ion battery should be fully charged and fully discharged at least twice before regular use. Once in use, the battery should be kept charged to capacity as much as possible. On freeways and at constant cruising speeds, this level of charge is maintained because the car requires only minimal engagement from the electric motor. Excess power from the gas engine provides a slow charge to the battery at these times. However, in city driving or other stop-and-go scenarios, the electric motor is the primary means of acceleration and the battery is quickly drained without an extended opportunity to recharge.
0 comments:
Post a Comment