HYBRID CARS | THE PROS AND CONS
At the present time, there is a lot of interest in hybrid cars due to the high gas prices of recent years. There are two basic forms of hybrid cars. The first is a parallel hybrid, where there is both a gas engine and an electric engine attached to the transmission of the car and is able to utilize both sources when running. The second is a series hybrid, where the gas engine powers a generator and the generator supplies electricity for the electric motor to drive the car. Both types improve the efficiency of the car and provide great gas mileage. The only drawback for some consumers is the size
Smaller cars help maintain the efficiency of the car. Big cars are obviously heavier and therefore use more gas. Because of its smaller size and lighter weight the hybrid car has a smaller engine that requires less energy to perform its tasks.
The Honda Insight is one of the smallest hybrid cars on the market. It was designed to carry two people. There is hardly any space for cargo or luggage. This design improves the fuel efficiency considerably, but the lack of space is a drawback.
The Toyota Prius has more space than the Insight. It can seat four people and has space in the hatchback trunk for cargo or luggage. This design has won Toyota awards and honors. Today’s consumers are used to having much more room but many are willing to sacrifice comfort for gas mileage.
Not to be overlooked is the Honda Civic Hybrid. This car is the same size as a regular Honda Civic. The compartment spaces are maximized as much as possible in this model. Again, for the consumer who is used to driving an SUV or a minivan, this may still be not enough.
And for those consumers, there are some SUV and minivan hybrids available, however they don’t perform well. The efficiency has been compromised by the size. The price tag of these cars is a couple of thousands of dollars more than the regular models so in the end it may not be worth it in terms of gas mileage. So if you are buying a hybrid, it is best to go for the smaller cars and if you are looking for something larger, a hybrid may not be worth it.
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