Hybrid Cars vs. Plug-in Hybrid Cars

Hybrid cars are on everyone's minds. Twenty, forty, or fifty dollars for a full tank of gas? Who in their right might mind wants to pay that? Frustrated, the gas customers sigh. But applauded for the small amount of gas they need to operate, hybrid cars are being pulled off the lots of car dealerships each and everyday.

But what about a plug-n hybrid? Most consumers have heard that these cars are great too. Then, a person might ask him or herself, what exactly is a plug-hybrid? How do they work, and what's the difference between a plug-in hybrid and a regular hybrid anyway?

Plug-in hybrids are able to run solely on batteries, but they use fuel also
These types of hybrid cars have some of the same characteristics of hybrid vehicles. They are also are very similar to electric vehicles. Plug-in hybrid cars must be recharged externally by connecting a plug to a power source. The combustion engine in plug-in hybrid vehicles is used only as a back up. These cars can run only on batteries if desired. However, it is expected that these types of hybrid cars be plugged in daily.

Hybrid cars travel just as many miles as a conventional car
Designed to go the extra mile where gas-mileage is concerned, hybrids can be driven on the highway, in cities, or wherever else a person needs to drive. On the other hand, plug-in hybrids are designed to handle commuter-type distances, meaning about twenty to sixty miles between destinations. This way, the plug-in hybrid does not have to use its back up combustion engine, but plug-in hybrids can go further using gas.


Hybrids help to minimize pollution, but they still pollute the air
When compared to plug-in hybrids, hybrid cars have a long ways to go where pollution is concerned. Since plug-in hybrid cars can run solely on their battery power, they don't have to emit fuel. That means that plug-in hybrids don't have to pollute the air.


Plug-in hybrids fight against greenhouse gases
Plug-in hybrids use virtually no imported oil. Board studies have shown that electric hybrids emit at least 67% lower greenhouse gases when compared to gasoline cars. Since the products used to power plug-in hybrids are renewable, the difference in greenhouse gases may be even greater than the study determined.

And there you have it. That's the difference between plug-in hybrids and regular hybrid cars. It makes a big difference, but you would be surprised how little that matters at the current moment. And that's only because plug-hybrids are not being sold to consumers at this time. But this list should get you excited about the wonderful plug-in hybrid car, coming soon to a dealer ship near you.

And it's going to be a great debut. People already really like regular hybrid cars, but they haven't seen anything until they see plug-in hybrid cars. But for now, maybe they should just be satisfied with what they have. Because who knows? Before plug-in hybrid cars come out, something even better might be introduced on the market.

Hybrid Cars And The Energy Crisis

It has been said that not enough people are doing all they can to fight against the energy crisis. Hybrid cars can help, but maybe not enough people are driving them. Here are a few issues related to the energy crisis and how hybrid cars can help.

The U.S. isn't doing enough, really

The United States consumes the most fossil fuels in the world. However, most people believe that all of our energy problems can be solved if we would only look further into the oil deposits in Alaska or if we made full use of the recent oil discovery in the Gulf of Mexico. Hybrid cars make it so that we might not have to use other sources of energy to keep the economy going. Hybrid cars don't make Americans use an excess amount of fossil fuel. Instead, hybrid cars cause Americans to use less fossil fuel.

Energy consumers just swallow increasing gas prices

People used to care that gas prices are much higher than they were years ago. Now, people just accept the high prices. In the meantime, cars are getting bigger and bigger. Car manufacturers are making trucks and SUVs. These cars take in more gas, but you won't believe how many people just won't give up their dear old SUV. Hybrid cars end up costing people less to own than conventional cars do. So there's no need to worry about just settling for being swindled by the oil economy.

Soon there could be a termination of the "cheap oil period"

Soon, we could all be in over our heads because not only will we have an energy crisis, but a peak oil crisis as well. During the peak oil crisis, there will be oil shortages and natural gas shortages. Major countries will be competing against one another for whatever oil is left. So everyone may have some problems, and countries may battle over who gets oil and who doesn't. The peak oil crisis can be put off if more people just purchase hybrid cars. Hybrid cars don't make it so that people always have to look for oil. And there are advances being made to hybrid cars everyday.

The plug-in hybrid car for instance, might one day, not need oil at all at all

So in the event that we have an energy crisis, Americans should really use the time to bond and create a unified fight against conflict over oil in U.S. Hybrids cars are the way to beat the energy crisis, and if the the countries still start to fight each other over oil, at least America will know they tried to stop things by investing in hybrid cars.

So it's decided. The United States' mass use of the hybrid car might make it so that Americans need less oil. But Americans still have yet to gain from the large amount of money being made from hybrid cars. The majority of popular hybrid cars come from Japan. So Americans need to bring that money back into the country as well as do something about the current energy crisis.

Celebrities That Drive Hybrid Cars

Yes, it's true. You could rise to fame and fortune if you would only get up and go get a hybrid. A hybrid car is a car for the rich and famous so it just has to be for you. Many people are driving hybrid cars these days including some of the most envied people on the planet like your favorite movies stars. But the big question is, are you driving a hybrid? Are you driving anything close to hybrid? Well, if you are not, you can't rub noses with some of these hybrid car-drivers.

These people were early drivers of hybrids. You may not see them in a hybrid when they pull up next to you on Rodeo Drive, but trust me, they've owned a hybrid before. Well, trust me just as much as you trust any other celebrity news.

Alicia Silverstone

This girl certainly isn't clueless about the environment. She knows that driving hybrid cars has many benefits. And if the general public doesn't have the braniac knowledge she has, then that's just too bad. Alicia knows that hybrid cars are good for everyone including the people who can finally sniff clean air as hybrid cars pass by. So Alicia Silverstone got herself a hybrid. She's a genius in the book as far as this article is concerned.

Ellen DeGeneres

Hey, this funny lady not only has a cute haircut, but she was driving a cute hybrid car before you probably even knew about it. She was laughing that time at you and your gas-guzzler. Ellen's got a knack for picking out cars that are good for her budget.

Robin Williams

Funny and sweet, Robin knew when he played the role of Mrs. Doubtfire that he should start thinking more like a sensible driver that you would allow to transport your kids to and from school. So Robin got himself a hybrid, and he hasn't looked back since.

Ted Danson

Cheers! Ted knows a great car when he sees one. He didn't sleep at the bar that morning when he decided to go check out the new cars on the lot. He got on up and bought a car that made a whole lot of sense. And yes, it seems like he was very sober while choosing this car.

Brad Pitt

What's cooking good looking? Certainly not Brad's fuel engine. He had a hybrid car, so he knows his car isn't using too much fuel.

Prince Charles

Say this sentence to yourself, "If it's good enough for royalty, it's good enough for me." That's how you should feel when you drive a hybrid. You should feel royal, adorned, and admired because believe it or not, that's exactly what you are. So enjoy it.

So, do you feel like a million bucks yet? Well, you should if you are thinking of all the different models of hybrid cars you would like to own. And don't worry, you won't have just 15 minutes of fame. Hybrid cars last for years and years.

The Environmental Impact Of Owning A Hybrid Car

It's always been a concern that the average gasoline-powered vehicle is a serious detriment to the environment. The big cars make a lot of noise on the roads, and fuel emissions are supposedly horrible for our ozone layer. What can a person to do to make the environment better for all of us? He or she may want to purchase a hybrid car. The hybrid car, the next wave of the future, is known for its more positive impact on the environment. The impact of hybrid cars on the environment is explained below.

Worried about all noise on the roads? The conventional automotive cars generally are responsible for a lot of noise emissions because of the sounds of their motors. However, because a hybrid car uses an electrical motor, its noise emissions are greatly reduced when compared to fuel-powered cars. At low speeds, the noise emissions of hybrid cars are optimal for the public.

However, if the public has a disability, there may be a problem.
Low noise emissions can be a problem because the blind or visually impaired depend on the loud noises vehicles make while running or idle. Without that noise, the visually impaired find it very difficult to cross the street safely. Therefore, this group of people is negatively impacted by the reduced noise emissions of the hybrid car. However, noise emissions are not the only change hybrid cars bring to the environment.

Hybrid cars help reduce the amount of smog that is in the air. Therefore, the general respiratory health of the public benefits from the use of hybrid cars.

So if you are looking for cleaner air, and more peace and quiet when you go outside, you may be hoping that people start purchasing hybrid cars. The only problem is that hybrid cars come at an expensive price. They cost much more than petroleum-fueled cars.

The cost of hybrid cars is higher because of extra batteries, extra electronics, and sometimes, other considerations related to design. However, there can be trade offs.

Some people think hybrid cars may be able to pay for themselves because of the savings in gas. However, that is very debatable. It depends on the number of miles traveled, the cost of fuel, and sometimes subsidies from the government.

In April of 2006, Consumer Magazine said in one of its articles that hybrid cars would not pay for themselves in 5 years. However, there was a mathematical error in that article. When the error was corrected, it was shown that the hybrid car could pay for itself in a little less than five years.

However, how much money a hybrid car will actually save a person is still a controversial issue. Some say, the savings are big. Some say they are small. In any case, the actual savings seem difficult to predict and affected by various factors.
In countries that are trying to lessen pollution and contamination, it may cost more to own any vehicle other than a hybrid car. Therefore, if you are living in another county with a pollution problem, a hybrid car may be the best choice for you.

The History Of The Hybrid Car

Just where did a hybrid car get its start? Well, read on to find out. Hybrid cars are very popular for today's car buyers, and there are many reasons why. But before you even think about choosing to buy a hybrid car, you might want to know a little bit about the history of a hybrid car first.

Surprisingly, hybrid cars were around even before gas-powered cars. Back in about the year 1665, a Jesuit priest by the name of Ferdinand Verbeist began plans for a certain type of vehicle. That vehicle would be very simple, nothing complex, or intricate. Simple was all he wanted. So Ferdinand planned out a car that would have four wheels and would run only on steam. It took about fifteen years of work for Ferdinand to go through with his plan. He labored to perfect his dream car. But no one knows if he ever finished because there is no evidence that his concept existed.


Then in 1769, a man by the name of Nicholas Cugnot developed a carriage that could be powered solely by steam. This carriage did in fact work, and it could go at six miles per hour. This project was great, but it was difficult to get the amount of steam needed that would allow the car to go any distance that was by any means significant.

A break thru in hybrid cars finally came when Robert Anderson developed an electric powered car in 1839. It was the first among its kind. The car was built in Scotland.

This electric car was a highly applauded innovation of its time. However, the only problem was that it was very difficult to recharge the car's battery. Some pioneers came behind Anderson, but they too had a hard time getting the battery to recharge easily.

Finally in the year 1898 Porsche came out with an electric and fuel combustion engine that was the first of its time. The car was called the Lohner Electric Chaise, and it could go up to 40 miles just using batteries.

Soon pioneers combined both a gas and a battery powered engine to power what would become today's hybrid car. And in 1999, Honda made a leap into the US market. It came out with the Insight. This was a lightweight two-door hybrid. Since then, hybrid cars have just been evolving and improving into what you see on the markets today. Hybrid cars aren't just for people who are complex and want to combine battery and fuel power to get them where they need to go. Hybrid cars started out simple, and they are still simple today.
Now hybrid cars are becoming more and more popular as people understand them more. Hybrid cars in the 21st century saw a boom in sales when the Toyota Prius came out on the market. It was the first hybrid with four doors that was marketed in America.

Then, the Ford's Escape hybrid became the very first SUV hybrid ever made. So there, you have it, the history of the hybrid, today's modern car.

The Environmental Impact Of Owning A Hybrid Car

It's always been a concern that the average gasoline-powered vehicle is a serious detriment to the environment. The big cars make a lot of noise on the roads, and fuel emissions are supposedly horrible for our ozone layer. What can a person to do to make the environment better for all of us? He or she may want to purchase a hybrid car. The hybrid car, the next wave of the future, is known for its more positive impact on the environment. The impact of hybrid cars on the environment is explained below.

Worried about all noise on the roads? The conventional automotive cars generally are responsible for a lot of noise emissions because of the sounds of their motors. However, because a hybrid car uses an electrical motor, its noise emissions are greatly reduced when compared to fuel-powered cars. At low speeds, the noise emissions of hybrid cars are optimal for the public.

However, if the public has a disability, there may be a problem.

Low noise emissions can be a problem because the blind or visually impaired depend on the loud noises vehicles make while running or idle. Without that noise, the visually impaired find it very difficult to cross the street safely. Therefore, this group of people is negatively impacted by the reduced noise emissions of the hybrid car. However, noise emissions are not the only change hybrid cars bring to the environment.

Hybrid cars help reduce the amount of smog that is in the air. Therefore, the general respiratory health of the public benefits from the use of hybrid cars.

So if you are looking for cleaner air, and more peace and quiet when you go outside, you may be hoping that people start purchasing hybrid cars. The only problem is that hybrid cars come at an expensive price. They cost much more than petroleum-fueled cars.

The cost of hybrid cars is higher because of extra batteries, extra electronics, and sometimes, other considerations related to design. However, there can be trade offs.

Some people think hybrid cars may be able to pay for themselves because of the savings in gas. However, that is very debatable. It depends on the number of miles traveled, the cost of fuel, and sometimes subsidies from the government.

In April of 2006, Consumer Magazine said in one of its articles that hybrid cars would not pay for themselves in 5 years. However, there was a mathematical error in that article. When the error was corrected, it was shown that the hybrid car could pay for itself in a little less than five years.

However, how much money a hybrid car will actually save a person is still a controversial issue. Some say, the savings are big. Some say they are small. In any case, the actual savings seem difficult to predict and affected by various factors.

In countries that are trying to lessen pollution and contamination, it may cost more to own any vehicle other than a hybrid car. Therefore, if you are living in another county with a pollution problem, a hybrid car may be the best choice for you.

Is The Future Of Hybrid Cars Unpredictable?

Yes would be the answer to that question, but why? It would seem odd that the future of hybrids cars would be unpredictable since everyone is talking about the pain at the pump all of the time. So just how is it that the solution to all of our gas problems has an unpredictable future?

Well, that has a lot to do with price. But no one could predict how much sales have soared in the both the current and past years. Hybrid cars came out in the year 2000. And since then, they have just been selling like hotcakes. But will the soaring sales for hybrid cars continue? That's the question that has many people squinting their eyes and sighing. People just don't know. They aren't sure how hybrid cars will do in the upcoming market.

Right now, car industry bosses believe that hybrid car sales will outrun those of other cars that are great when it comes to fuel efficiency. They think the sales of hybrid cars will just leap over those of pick-ups, luxury models, and sports vehicles.

However, other people believe that car manufacturers do a lot of grandstanding because the auto bosses think that hybrid cars will accomplish all of the above in five years. But opponents say it's impossible to make such predictions for five years down the road because there are just too many variables. For instance, now the price of gas is about $3.00, but who knows what it will be five years from now.

Without stable numbers to go by, it's very difficult to come up with numbers that try to successfully predict how many people will buy hybrid cars in the future. And who's to say that people will so easily give up their luxury cars and SUVs? Hybrid cars are nice, but some people are quite attached to their Mercedes. Maybe the people who can afford a Mercedes aren't even worried about paying $3.00 for gas.

So the opponents may have some good reasons to believe car bosses are exaggerating when it comes to the future of hybrid cars. The biggest reason they may be grandstanding is because they can't predict how the economy will be doing in the next five years. Hybrid cars are very expensive, and if the economy takes a downturn, people may not be able to afford the good jobs they need to buy a hybrid car.

Then, yes, if the economy goes down, car bosses will definitely have put their foot in their mouths when it comes to hybrid cars.

But the question is what are you going to do to affect the future of hybrid cars? Are you going to buy or continue to drive your conventional car? The future of cars will be better if more people would consider buying a hybrid car. You can do it today. All it takes is good credit and a fondness for embracing better automotive technology. So a hybrid car is waiting for you, and it's in just the color you wanted.

Hybrid Car Myths

If you are thinking about a hybrid car, you may be hearing quite a bit of "talk." Some people think the hybrid car is the best thing on the market. Some people say it'll just pass. Other people say they think they can save a lot of money, but you're not sure it's really worth it. What's the truth, and how do you separate myth from fact with all of the stuff that is being thrown at you? Below, you can read and understand the common hybrid car myths.

Hybrid cars are the same as electric cars

This is not true because hybrid cars are fuel-powered for the most part. They have what are called battery assists. The assist is powered by a nickel-metal hydride battery pack that is rechargeable.

You are guaranteed to save money with a hybrid car

If you are doing city driving, you may save gas and you may not. The same goes for highway driving. There are just many different factors. It has been said that if everyone bought hybrid cars, the gas consumption would decrease by only 10%. That's not a very big difference.

A hybrid cars battery can run out

A hybrid car's battery should not run out while you are driving it. The engine in a hybrid car does not idle when stopped (at a red light for instance.) What does it do instead? It recharges its battery. So there's no need to worry about a hybrid car stopping you.

The hybrid cars rechargeable battery only lasts for 2 years

A hybrid car certainly would not be worth purchasing if this was the case. A hybrid car's rechargeable batteries usually come with an eight-year warranty.

If I run out of gas, I can keep driving on the hybrid car battery

Keep in mind, a hybrid car's battery is an assist. That means that hybrid car's still run on fuel. After you run out of gas, the battery may keep the car running for just a little while. However, the car will stop very soon.

Hybrid cars will soon put conventional car sellers out of business

This probably won't happen anytime soon. The reason for the delay has to do with the how much a hybrid cars. Many people simply can't afford one. Also, people just aren't too sure whether they will really save money on hybrid cars. Therefore, they are slow to join the rush of people who want a hybrid car.

Hybrid cars will only save you about 88 dollars a year

I did hear something on the news about this once, but it may not be true. If there's something you really want though, and there's a lot of smoke surrounding it, you simply have to start digging and do some of your own research. There are many different models of hybrid cars, and many different manufacturers make them. This means that there may be many more variables involved than the ones discussed here. A hybrid car may help you, and it may not, but the final decision is up to you.

The Disadvantages Of Owning Hybrid Cars

Yes it's true, there are some negatives of owning of hybrid car, but all of them are not horrible. Still, you might want to know some of the disadvantages of owning a hybrid car. But don't get worried. You won't have to take your car back to the shop unless you want to, that is.

Hybrid cars are not as popular as you may think

Only about 50% of consumers say they will buy a hybrid soon. That's probably because hybrid cars are not cheap. Also, most people are a little concerned about buying a car that depends on a battery pack as much as a hybrid does. Why are they concerned? They wonder what will happen if the battery pack failed. Since battery packs are usually very expensive, people just don't want to take such a big risk.

There is not a consensus of opinion on the value of hybrid cars

Some people think hybrid cars are good for everyone to have, and some people beg to differ. There is tons of research out there on the many opinions that surround hybrid cars, and if you haven't decided yet that the best opinion is your opinion, you may be easily swayed by anything blowing in the wind. A hybrid car purchase is just like any other purchase. There are pros and cons. But if you expect all hybrid cars to have nothing but a good reputation, you have another thing coming. Hybrid cars are useful to most people. But many other people don't think they need hybrid cars.

Hybrid cars may seem trendy now, but they might not be in just two years

Called the "wave of the future," it may seem like hybrid cars are really cool cars to own right now. And it's true. Today, they are on the cutting edge of automotive technology. However, in just two years, hybrid cars may be outdone by something better. Care manufacturers are continuously working on a way to make fuel useless when it comes to cars.

Hybrid car manufacturers say their battery packs last a lifetime, but anything is possible

Ever bought a warrantee and had something happen to your car that wasn't covered? Even though a hybrid's battery is supposed to last a lifetime, chances are, something just might happen that you don't like. How much does a hybrid battery cost? You don't even want to know. There's risk involved when you make any purchase, but with the hybrid car, there are risks you never thought of. So go and buy a hybrid car, if you dare.

You may think you know more than enough about hybrid cars when you really don't

Before buying a hybrid car, you should come to terms with the fact that you are buying a new technological innovation, and it's new to everyone in the world. Therefore, who knows what surprises this new technology might throw us. Do you think people expected spyware to get on their computers? Nope. So remember, don't putt too much trust in technology or you may find yourself out in the cold.

Can A Hybrid Car Really Save You Money?

Tired of what's called pain at the pump? I bet you are. Well, don't worry; the price of gas isn't going back to .25 a gallon. That's for sure. So what do you do? How do you keep yourself from getting a second job so you can make sure you can fill up your tank?

You could carpool. That would require you to do a lot of scheduling and coordination. Hopefully, you are good with adding because you will have to equally divide the price of the gas between all of the riders. You will also have to make sure that either your car or the person's car you're riding in is in good working condition. Otherwise, you could be putting yourself or the other passengers in a lot of danger.

You could buy a smaller car and sacrifice style, size, and reputation, but who wants to drive around in a dumpy little car when they could be driving a gigantic SUV? With all of the options that exist for saving gas, there is one that makes a lot more sense than all of the others: Get a hybrid car. However, does a hybrid car really save you money?

There are reasons why the hybrid car does save you money and reasons why it doesn't. The hybrid car should save you hundreds per week and thousands per year on gas. However, if you are the type of person who is not into keeping track of how much you spend per week driving back and forth from work, you may not be able to truly appreciate the savings that come from a hybrid car.

All of the time, the news is reporting on some fortunate man, who chooses to select a hybrid car as the car he would own next. He wonders if he will actually save money, and to his surprise, he saves a whole lot.

But then there are the stories of people who purchase hybrid cars, but they actually end up saving very little. That is because some of these people may be highway drivers as opposed to local commuters. A hybrid car repowers its battery by stopping. So if you are a highway driver, you may also not be able to appreciate how much money you save with a hybrid car.

Many people say that whether you experience great monetary savings by purchasing a hybrid car has to do with a lot more than most people think. And it really does. Some people who are stay-at-home moms for instance, don't even consider that it might not make a difference whether they own a hybrid car or not. Really, they just don't go too many places.

But does a hybrid car really save you money? Yes, but you have to pay attention to how much money you are spending before you buy a hybrid car and after you buy a hybrid car. Then you will see the savings for what they really are. And I'm not saying you have to be an accountant to save money either. I'm just saying that if you don't see the savings, you might think they are not there when they really are.

Why A Hybrid Car Makes A Great Gift

If you are looking for a great gift for someone, and you have a few dollars to spend, a car makes the perfect gift for anyone. Every person in the world loves to receive cars for gifts. But the question is, what kind of car should you give your special someone? They're many cars out there that include, convertibles, Buicks, Cadillacs, and the list goes one. Some people have a favorite car, and some people have no preference. However, there is a car that will make most just about anyone happy. That car is a hybrid car. Hybrid cars make great gifts.

Hybrid cars make great gifts for a number of reasons. So you shouldn't be reluctant to give somebody one. And you can't wrap a hybrid car in pretty wrapping paper, but it will still look very pretty. Any person would like to have this new, sleek, beautiful car. After you see the car, you'll say to yourself, "Gift? This car is for me." But there are a few good reasons why a hybrid car makes a great gift.

Hybrid cars bring in the bucks
After your loved one has owned a hybrid car for a little while, he or she can resell it, and make a whole lot of money. Hybrid cars are on everyone's wish list so your loved one won't have a problem finding buyers for that car. Also, if your loved one feels like taking the car a part and selling different pieces of the hybrid, he or she will also find a good market for those pieces.

Hybrid cars are good for your special someone's health
Well, because hybrid cars use much less fuel than other cars, they help to keep the air squeaky clean. Therefore, everyone can breathe a little easier when a frequent driver decides to buy a hybrid car. Other cars add to the deterioration of our ozone layer. But with hybrid cars, that's not necessarily the case.

Hybrid cars are hipper than hip
For years, we have been driving cars that are strictly powered by fuel, but now we are doing things a bit differently. Most kids these days find that hard to believe. So getting that special someone a hybrid car should make them feel really great. Not only have you thought of them, but you have made an effort give them a gift that is the hottest thing out.

Hybrid cars are peaceful
No hums, buzzes or loudness. Hybrid cars are peaceful, calm, and quiet. So give your friend the gift of ease and serenity.

Hybrid cars are convenient
Your special someone will just be able to get in their hybrid car and ride. They won't need any of the extra headaches that can come with getting a new car. Your friend won't have to read any complicated manuals or learn any brand new techniques. Hybrid cars are easy to drive operate. Be careful though, you don't want young ones trying to get in and drive this car themselves.

That's the hybrid car, the ideal gift for anyone, even yourself!