The disadvantages of hybrid cars are often less known compared to the advantages of the hybrid cars.

Hybrid cars are often referred to as the ‘car of the era’. Hybrid cars do not ONLY benefits their owners, they also attribute benefits to the entire society and the mankind. The advantages of the hybrid car are multifaceted since it attributes economical, technical and economical benefits. Countries’ economy benefit from the gasoline savings as the oil prices are steeping very high. Benefits to Consumers are listed here.

What are the disadvantages of Hybrid Cars?

1. Cost

Hybrid Cars are generally more expensive than their gasoline-only counterparts.

However this is easily overcome. The savings on fuel consumption and additional saving on tax credits can immediately offset the high initial cost outlay.

Cost of hybrid cars are also steadily reducing as this technology on which hybrid cars operate matures.

2. High cost of maintenance

Service, parts and maintenance can be one of the disadvantages of hybrid cars. Who will fix your hybrid cars? Do you have to take it back to your dealer or to an expensive specialty shop?

Firstly, the cost of maintaining hybrid cars is no higher than for gasoline-only vehicles. There’s less wear on the engine and brakes, so the cars are predicted to require less repair over the life of the vehicle.

Secondly, most of the components of a hybrid vehicle are the same as a gasoline-only car, so independent mechanics are able to do most of the work on hybrids. As these cars are becoming more popular, many mechanics are also attending classes on hybrid technology.

3. Acceleration

Hybrid cars are generally slower than their gasoline counterparts. However this can be seen as an advantage as it means the driver can have a better control of his steering.

4. Not all hybrid cars are built alike

Not all hybrid cars provide phenomenal gas mileage. Some hybrid models can only provide a 20% to 30% fuel efficiency increase over the non-hybrid models. Some all-gasoline compact cars with manual transmissions are rated for higher fuel transmissions than some hybrid models.

This disadvantage can be easily overcome with careful research and choosing the right hybrid models.

5. It is risky when a hybrid car is involved in an accident

Because hybrid car stores high amount of voltage in its batteries, there is a high chance of getting electrocuted when it is involved in an accident. It is also relatively difficult for rescuers to get the drivers and passengers out of the car because of the dangers of high voltage.

That’s why the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium has developed a curriculum and training program for First Responders to safely identify and deal with hybrid-electric vehicles. The NAFTC course offers hands-on, vehicle-specific training covering how to safely disconnect the high voltage power supply, how to deal with possible ruptured battery packs and how to safely extract drivers and passengers trapped inside these vehicles. The training is offered through a network of 33 National Training Centers located at community colleges, tech schools and Universities nationwide.

If you’re calling 9-1-1 about an accident and think a hybrid is involved, the safe move is to stay back, identify the vehicle as a hybrid and let the first responder know so they can be better prepared when they arrive.

Now that the disadvantages of the hybrid cars have been identified, car manufacturers are looking for ways to get rid of the disadvantages. In the future you will be able to find hybrid cars with all the disadvantages and the safety concerns addressed. Until then, you can neutralize the disadvantages of hybrid cars with careful planning and research.

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What are the advantages of Hybrid Cars that has compelled more and more people to consider selling their conventional car and purchase a hybrid car. Why are more and more people prefer getting a hybrid car instead of a conventional car even when the retail price of hybrid car is more expensive.

The hybrid car was created due to the result of the demand to clean the environment from pollutions and the need to rely less on fuel. A hybrid car runs on two engines: the conventional internal combustion engine that you find in conventional cars and the electric motor and the electric motor and batteries. Read how do hybrid cars work here.

Here is a list of the many advantages hybrid cars offer:

1. Saves on gas, less fuel consumption

Hybrid cars are cars that basically cars that combine electric energy and gasoline energy. The two engines work together in order to cut fuel consumption. This technology can actually cut the fuel consumption by more than half. With maximum fuel efficiency, Hybrid car owners do not have to fear the increasing cost in fuel prices.

Hence buyers of Hybrid Cars are thinking of the long term benefits though the initial outlay to buy such car is higher.

2. Preservation of the environment

I is a fact that carbon dioxide emitted by the conventional cars is causing pollution in the air which is continuously damaging the ozone layer. The hybrid cars uses less fuels and hence emitting less carbon dioxide. Hence hybrids contribute in lessening the advancement of global warming.

3. Tax Rebates

Tax rebates are given by US government to hybrid car buyers. This is an additional saving. There are other benefits such as free parking, free entry to car pool lane, some even offer discounted fees on toll gates.

4. Higher resale value

Currently hybrid cars retain a higher resale value. Trading in or selling your hybrid cars can fetch more of what you paid for it. This is because the cost of a new hybrid car is relatively high, a lot of people who wants to own a hybrid car are searching for the used car market.

5. Great solution to today’s increasing problem in car air pollution

The technology of combining two sources of power in hybrid cars results in non-polluting, quieter and more efficient cars.

6. No need to plugged into an electricity outlet

The hybrids can charge themselves by means of the power usually lost during coasting and braking is an advantage over the electrical car.

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Like any new technology, there are always confusion and misinformation - myths about Hybrid Cars. Five years ago, hybrids are still unknown commodities, today there are hundreds of thousands on American driveways. Most industry analysts predict an estimates ranging from 600,000 to 800,000 hybrid sales in the United States by 2010.

Let’s learn what is ….. and is not …. true about these new vehicles powered by a combination of gasoline and electricity.

Myth #1: Hybrid cars need to be plugged in

This is a myth that has resulted from confusion of hybrod cars with electric cars.

The electric cars indeed rely on an external plug for their power, and their range is therefore limited. Hybrid cars, however, use a mechanism known as ‘regenerative braking’ to charge their batteries — essentially transforming the car’s deceleration into electrical energy that is then stored in the battery.

Myth #2: Hybrid cars lack power

Because the first-generation hybrid cars were designed to get superior gas mileage (60 miles to the gallon), they were a little slow out of the gate. But today’s hybrid cars are both fast and powerful.

Newer hybrids are just as powerful as they are fast. the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid can accelerate with almost the same V-6-like power as its gas-powered sibling, and the 2008 Lexus GS 450h can go from 0-100km/hr in just 5.2 seconds.

Of course, all other things being equal, more power generally translates into poorer fuel economy.

Myth #3: All hybrid cars have great fuel efficiency

It’s true that all hybrid cars are more fuel-efficient than their gasoline-only counterparts.

However, the fuel efficiency of a hybrid car is largely dependent on the type of driving you do. Because hybrids generate electrical power through braking (see above) and save power by switching off the gas engine when they come to a stop, they get better mileage in the city than they do on the highway. If you intend to do a lot of long distance highway driving, a hybrid may in fact provide very lower fuel efficiency.

Myth #4: Hybrid cars cost more to maintain

The cost of maintaining hybrid cars is no higher than for gasoline-only vehicles. There’s less wear on the engine and brakes, so the cars are predicted to require less repair over the life of the vehicle. Hybrid cars still need oil changes and tire rotations, but they don’t need them any more frequently than other cars.

People shopping for hybrids are sometimes concerned that because hybrid technology is new, they will only be able to get their hybrid cars serviced at an expensive dealership. Most of the components of a hybrid vehicle are the same as a gasoline-only car, so independent mechanics are able to do most of the work on hybrids. As these cars are becoming more popular, many mechanics are also attending classes on hybrid technology.

Myth #5: Hybrid cars have a short lifespan and are expensive to replace

It’s true that the nickel-metal batteries in hybrid cars cost a lot ( at least a few thousand dollars)to replace, however, the manufacturers offer warranties of 8-10 years or 160,000 km, so you should not have to worry about replacing the batteries.

Since there aren’t yet many hybrids on the road that have hit those lengthy milestones, it’s difficult to ascertain how long hybrid batteries will actually last. Anecdotally, however, a cab driver in Vancouver drove his Toyota Prius 320,000 km in 25 months, and his car’s batteries remained strong.

Myth #6: Hybrid cars are expensive

It’s true that the initial purchase price of hybrid cars are more costly than similar models powered only by gas. However there are some important savings to consider: “clean fuel” federal tax deduction; the ever rising cost of gasoline etc..

Let us do some quick math comparing the economics of a 2008 Toyota Camry hybrid, its gas-only basic counterpart, and a 2008 Toyota Prius. The Toyota Camry Hybrid costs $32,000 with a fuel efficiency of 5.7 l/100km (50 mpg) and annual fuel cost of $1140. The Toyota Camry LE (gas-only) costs $25,900 with a fuel efficiency of 8.0 l/100km (35 mpg) and annual fuel cost of $1600. A Toyota Prius costs $29,500 with a fuel efficiency of 4.1 /100km (57 mpg) and annual fuel cost of $820. (The fuel costs are based on 20,000 km (12,427.42 miles) per year at $1 per litre/ $2.18 per gallon.)

According to the above numbers, it would take 10 years of driving (200,000 km) to recoup the initial price difference between a Camry Hybrid and Camry LE, but only two years (40,000km) to recoup the price difference between a Toyota Prius and a Camry LE (excluding increased interest charges). If gas prices continue to rise, the payback time decreases. Likewise, the higher gas prices climb, the higher the resale value of a hybrid – already considerably more than that of a gas-only vehicle. The upshot? If you’re in the market for a new car anyway, a hybrid might well make economic sense.

If you are having a tough time separating hybrid truth from reality, you’re not alone. I hope the above help to debunk your Myths about Hybrid Cars.

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