Hybrid cars are the automobile industrys solution to automobile emissions and dependence on fossil fuels. While hybrid cars do still run on gasoline, they are much more efficient than traditional cars, produce fewer emissions that harm the environment and require the same amount of maintenance and care.
History
The first hybrid car was the Mixte, built by Ferdinand Porsche in 1902. The first commercial hybrid wasnt available for purchase until the Toyota Prius came on the market in 1997, according to the website Cars Direct. Between 2000 and 2007, hybrid car sales increased by 37 times, though they still comprised only 2.5 percent of all cars sold.
How They Work
Hybrid cars run on a rechargeable battery and a gasoline engine. The two fuel sources work in tandem: The battery powers the car until the battery runs down, at which point the gas engine takes over. The battery is recharged by the kinetic power of the breaks via a process called regenerative charging, according to the website Car Junky.
Efficiency
Hybrid cars typically achieve around 50 to 60 miles per gallon. At their best, gas-powered cars of comparable size achieve 20 to 30 mpg, according to Cars Direct.
Emissions and Power
According to the website Hybrid Car, hybrids such as the Toyota Prius emit 90 percent fewer pollutants than non-hybrid cars of comparable size. Despite this significant drop in emissions, hybrid cars are still powerful vehicles. According to Car Junky, the hybrid Lexus GS 450h offers more than 300 horsepower.
Price
The Honda Civic hybrid and the Toyota Prius both start at $22,000 in June of 2010. Many dealerships offer financing and leasing of hybrid cars, making them comparable in price to many other gas-only cars on the market. Additionally, hybrid cars end up costing much less than gas-only cars in the long-term, because they require a third of the amount of fuel on average, according to the website Hybrid Car.
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