5 Reasons to Buy a Hybrid or Diesel Vehicle
"If gas prices climb, just 7% of Americans will consider buying a more fuel-efficient vehicle," says a recent MSN/Zogby Poll.
With the average price of gas here in the US being $3.21/gallon, as of yesterday, what will motivate us to start considering other vehicle and fuel options?
If you are, however, in that 7%, how do you know what vehicle is best for you? Do you go hybrid, electric, diesel, bio-diesel, or hydrogen? How does a person choose from all the options?
MSN Autos has a great section of their site called Green Central. If you head on over there, a plethora of useful information abounds. One such article, written by Ann Job, is called "Don't Be Fueled: Gas vs. Diesel vs. Hybrid Power", and is definitely worth a read!
In the article Job deals with such hot topics as actual vs sticker MPG ratings, pricing, efficiency, and tax breaks...yes, that's right, tax breaks for buying a hybrid automobile!
Let's take a look at some of the key facts when considering a more efficient automobile to save you money at the gas pump:
"Studies show the average driver has been getting only 75 percent or so of the mileage figures that are on the sticker of their new vehicle."
Under the new mileage rating system that will be implemented by the EPA later this year, gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles' miles-per-gallon calculations will be dropping by as much as 20 percent. The best-selling hybrid vehicle in the world, the Toyota 
Prius, for example, will be rated at 48mpg in the city instead of last year's rating of 60mpg.
"Gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles typically are priced higher than non-hybrid counterparts--anywhere from a couple thousand dollars to several thousand dollars...Some of the price difference also may be recouped by a one-time federal taxcredit. In the case of the Civic Hybrid, the maximum credit is $2,100 for a 2007 model...Additionally, some companies offer money to employees who buy hybrids"
"Diesels are known for getting extra mileage out of every gallon of fuel. They offer better torque than many gasoline engines. And their price differential over gasoline models generally is much smaller than that for hybrids."
"Thanks to cleaner diesel fuel with lower sulfur content now available in the U.S. and new vehicle technology that filters or traps troubling engine particulate emissions, diesel engines are cleaner than ever."
Some of you may say, but what if I'm in the market for a new car and don't want to go diesel or electric? What are my options then? Well, as Ann Job notes in the above-mentioned article, the Nissan Sentra with continuously variable transmission as well as the Kia Rio, Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, and Toyota Corolla are all good options and actually have higher combined fuel economy ratings than that of the Mercedes-Benz 2007 E-Class diesel.
The key factor when shopping for gasoline powered vehicles is to go light-weight!
What If I Can't Buy a New Car Right Now?
Can you still save money at the pump in your current vehicle? Sure you can...and we'll talk about that soon here at the Fun Times Guide to Living Green.
Nate, thanks for your comment. You definitely bring up a point that many people are concerned with and wondering about hybrids. I wondered the same thing myself, at the beginning.
In one of the stories I linked above, Ann Job writes:
"The packs are warranted for eight to ten years, depending on the manufacturer, but it's uncertain what the cost will be for replacing old battery packs down the road. Current prices are about $3,000. If this price holds in the future, it could make hybrids less attractive as used cars and thus reduce resale values of these vehicles.
But several auto analysts figure that the popularity of hybrids will prompt greater production of battery packs and thus, lower their prices. Time will tell.
Some emergency workers have been concerned that they could face a danger of electric shock when working on a disabled or crashed gas-electric hybrid vehicle. Auto manufacturers assure them that safeguards are in place and that computers on board the vehicles have a series of safety checks that are designed to avert problems. Still, some first responders are undergoing special training to become comfortable in handling hybrid cars.
Some groups have complained that hybrid battery packs are toxic and likely to become troublesome to dispose of. But automakers say current nickel-metal hydride batteries are recyclable."
I am curious about the dead zone you mentioned. Do you have a url you can send me to an image or story about it?
Here's a great reason NOT to buy a hybrid: That big battery will go dead in 100,000 miles and will cost you about 6 grand to replace. So in other words... we're currently building a bunch of disposable cars.
Take a hard look at how those batteries are made, and what sort of damage is done to the environment before you go recommending them. The canadian manufacturer that provides the batteries to Toyota for the Prius has a deadzone around it similar to what you'll find around chernobyl.
Nothing is free people.