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What is a Hybrid Car?Any vehicle is a hybrid when it combines two or more sources of power. Hybrid cars run off a rechargeable battery and gasoline. Hybrid engines are built smaller to accommodate the 99% of time when not going up hill or accelerating quickly. It uses the battery to provide extra acceleration power when needed. When the car is stopped, hybrid gasoline motors can shut off and run off their electric motor and battery. Hybrid cars are often lighter and more aerodynamic; tires are often stiffer and inflated higher to reduce drag. Hybrid cars often recover braking energy and use it to charge the battery. Currently the Toyota Prius claims 60 MPG city and 51 highway. The only other car that claim anything close in terms of gas mileage is the Honda Insight with 61 city and 68 highway. One other feature you'll instantly recognize is that the ignition on hybrid cars is very quiet.
Who Makes Hybrid Cars and which one is the Best Hybrid Car on the Market?:Toyota is the #1 maker of hybrid cars with their Prius leading the charge as the #1 car sold in America today. They plan on making the Camry a hybrid car starting in 2007. Other manufacturers that offer hybrid cars are GM, Lexus, Honda, and Ford. I'm sure all the manufacturers will join the party in the near future as gasoline prices have risen to the point where hybrids are more and more economical to own.
Is a Hybrid Car worth extra $$$?:Hybrid cars do cost more than their conventional counterparts. In most cases we are talking $1000's more. The good news is that if you keep your hybrid car long enough, you can recoup almost all those initial expenses with lower gas prices for you. With new technology, the price of a hybrid car will be reduced in the coming years and if gasoline keeps going up, hybrids will be a no brainer in terms of efficiency. Unfortunately, for now, many people who buy hybrids are more or less making an environmental statement about conservation but not necessarily saving money by doing so.What type of cars are available as Hybrid Cars?Right now your choices are somewhat limited. Honda offers their Accord, Civic, and Insight. Toyota offers their Prius and Highlander SUV. Ford offers their new Escape SUV as a hybrid. GM offers their Silverado & Sierra trucks as hybrids. The most popular hybrid car on the market is the Toyota Prius. It can't be built fast enough these days. It's average time on a car lot is 6 days. Coming in 2006-07 will be many more hybrid cars such as the Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, Chevy Malibu, Chevy Tahoe, Dodge Durango and Ram, GMC Yukon and several others.
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