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Before You Rush To Buy A Hybrid Car…

hybrid-car.jpgIf gas prices have you dreaming of a fuel-efficient car, then you may want to look into buying a hybrid car.

Hybrid-electric cars use 2 power sources instead of one. They have a rechargeable energy storage system (battery powered) and a normal fuel powered engine.

Because hybrid cars essentially have 2 engines, they can run partly on electricity instead of solely on gasoline.  This means a hybrid car’s gas miles will be increased 20 to 30 miles per gallon.

 

Everyone is rushing to trade in their gas-guzzlers for more efficient hybrid cars these days.  Khou.com reports “hybrid car sales have jumped along the gulf coast”.  This is because “Owning a hybrid car use to be a considered an environmentally friendly thing to do, but for a growing number of people it’s become more of a practicality as well.”

However, you may want to wait awhile before making your hybrid vehicle purchase.

SmartMoney.com suggests that rushing to get a hybrid car right now may not be worth it financially.  After all, hybrids are in big demand right now.  According to the laws of supply and demand, you may have a hard time getting a hybrid car for a decent price.

Plus, the cost of maintaining a hybrid car can be enormous.  After all, if hybrid cars were truly cost-effective, you would think a lot more people would already be driving them, right?  Government incentives for buyinig hybrid vehicles are another clue that people may need a little extra convincing to purchase a hybrid car.

According to MSN Money, “Hybrids are an expensive way to save gasoline. If you spend more on a hybrid car than you would have spent otherwise, you are unlikely to ever get your money back — even if you got rid of a gigantic, fuel-sucking SUV. Right now, a cheap compact is a better buy than an expensive hybrid.”

That said, another option may be to find the best of both worlds in a great deal on a used hybrid car.

Still, many Americans seem to be in a frenzy to purchase a hybrid car.  The demand is so strong that the government is eliminating the tax credit on the 3 most popular models.  “The tax credit on the No. 3-selling Honda Civic hybrid will be cut in half, from $1,050 to $525. It will disappear altogether at the end of the year. The credit on the top-selling Toyota Prius, once $3,150, and that for the No. 2 Toyota Camry hybrid vanished last fall.”

As for myself, I think I’ll wait awhile until hybrid cars become more commonplace and the price drops.  It is just a matter of time before hybrid cars become more mainstream — and advanced in design at the same time.

With encouragement such as the $300M prize for developing a hybrid car that Senator John McClain has proposed, it is just a matter of time until everyone is driving a hybrid vehicle of some type.

Image Credit: 13 Green Questions Answered