Buying a Hybrid Car – Part 6 and 7

Part 6: How to Evaluate a Hybrid

In many ways, evaluating a hybrid vehicle is not that much different from the routine you would employ to choose a conventional car. That said, as you research each car, you will find each one has a specific set of characteristics, as well as warranty levels. As may be expected, you will want to weigh all of these factors in comparison to the amount of time that you are planning to keep the vehicle.

Personal Comfort

Chances are, if you look at the exterior of a hybrid, you will notice that it is smaller than conventional vehicles. That said, you will quickly find that the interior is roomy and comfortable. In many cases, you may even find that the hybrids are better designed than full sized sedans. On the other hand, it may take some time to get used to the difference in the way the engine sounds.

Initial Cost, Financing and Rebates

Even though hybrids are more expensive in terms of msrp, there are a number of tax rebates and other incentives you can take advantage of. While these rebates cannot be taken throughout the lifespan of the car, you may still find that the aggregate dollar amount brings the cost of the car back down to what you would spend on a more conventional vehicle. In addition, you will definitely be getting better gas mileage.

Warranties and Extended Warranties

Some analysts feel that purchasing an extended warranty on a hybrid is useless. That said, in my opinion, we simply do not know enough about future manufacturing techniques, nor do we know enough about the long term durability of hybrid vehicles. This is especially important in view of the number of conventional cars produced in the last 4 years that develop drivetrain and costly fuel pump issues in comparison to older vehicles. In addition, if you can manage to obtain warranty that covers the battery after 120,000 miles, it is likely to be worth your while to sign up for it.

Part 7: Evolving Trends

As you may be aware, the combination of gasoline engines and electric motors is just one form of propulsion. Chances are, a number of different methods will emerge to optimize these combinations. This includes vehicles that take advantage of series propulsion, as well as other innovations.

Renewable Fuel Engines

Without a question, ethanol and renewable fuels are going to play a much larger role in filling transport energy needs. As a result, it is likely that hybrid vehicle engines will soon be built for flex fuel capacity. While there is no mention of this type of engine in the current hybrid literature, you might want to ask your auto dealer if you can get an engine for your hybrid that will accommodate renewable fuels.

Hydrogen Fuel

In addition, consider we already have hydrogen fuel converters for conventional engines. Even though these may not be safe to use on current vehicles, one day we might see an engine that runs on hydrogen alone. As may be expected, if one of these results in a breakthrough in the next 5 years, it could mean the newly emerging hybrids will be obsolete within a decade.

Other Technologies

Among other things, we might also see a revival of the steam engine, as well as fully electric cars. While it may seem like a stretch at this time, there is also an enormous amount of research being done with static electricity, as well as solar electricity. Any one of these technologies may soon be converted into some form of propulsion system.

Together with this, there are already a number of manufacturers investigating different shapes for cars. As an example, recently a pyramid shaped car got over 100 mpg. There may also be some promise in round or disc shaped vehicles. That said, if you think a hybrid is ultra modern looking, these newer designs are bound to be far more difficult to adjust to.

Conclusion

Chances are, if you are interested in buying a hybrid car, you are very concerned about the cost and future availability of conventional fuels. In one sense, the hybrid is a quick, and yet somewhat costly answer to much deeper and long term problems. It is also important to consider that at some point in the near future, we will need to have engines that run more on ethanol than gasoline.

As a result, before committing to the purchase of a hybrid, it might be better to see if you can make some changes in your lifestyle that will reduce your need to travel. From there, you can watch and wait to see what types of trends emerge in fuel types, as well as propulsion systems. As may be expected, consumer demand and interests will drive this process.

Without a question, the last thing you will want to do is spend an enormous amount of money on a hybrid, only to find out that you must spend even more 5 years from now in order to obtain fuel for it. At the same time, if flex fuel engines for hybrids, or other technologies emerge, you will be stuck with an obsolete car that will not be worth much when you try to trade it in.

In closing, we hope this ebook has given you a good feel for the types of issues you will need to consider before purchasing a hybrid.