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Pros, advantages and benefits of hybrid cars

Pros, advantages and benefits of hybrid cars

First, the benefits and advantages

Choosing a new car is about weighing your options. When deciding between a hybrid car and a conventional vehicle, a whole new set of factors come into play and that doesn’t make the decision easier. This two-part blog series should help you round out your list of pros and cons of buying a hybrid car.

You will spend less on gas with a hybrid.

It seems like every day six o’clock news anchors have something to say about rising gas prices. This week, gasoline averages about $ 3.62 a gallon, making each fill more painful. For example, filling a 2008 Toyota Prius today would cost you about $ 43.44. With the Prius’ 46 combined MPG and 11.9-gallon capacity, it can drive 547 miles before refueling. That’s only $ .07 per mile.

Compare that to filling a 2008 Toyota Camry’s 18.5-gallon fuel tank for $ 66.97 and driving just 351 miles before stopping to refuel, that’s $ .19 per mile. So if you drive 15,000 miles this year, you’ll save nearly $ 2,000 at the pump if you choose the Prius over the Camry.

You will use fewer natural resources.

It’s a fact that most hybrids use less gas than standard cars (see our previous article on How Hybrids Work to learn how they do it). For every mile you drive and every gallon of gasoline you burn, your vehicle releases CO2 into the air, increasing the amount of greenhouse gases. By using less gas, you put less CO2 into the air and reduce your carbon footprint or the impact your daily activities have on our planet. Using fewer natural resources and generating fewer harmful emissions are two of the main benefits of driving a hybrid vehicle.

I might give you Uncle Sam’s money back.

When you buy a new hybrid car, you could be eligible for up to $ 3,000 in tax rebate. These tax credits help make the label price of hybrid cars (which is often a bit higher than similar cars) much more acceptable. Not all hybrid vehicles qualify for a hybrid tax credit (for example, Toyota hybrids don’t), but many still do. Money back is a nice bonus!

It will help decrease our dependence on foreign oil.

Let’s not get too political here, but much of our oil comes from the Middle East. When you consume more, you are telling our government and foreign governments that you are okay with spending an increasing percentage of your pay on fuel. As a responsible consumer, it is important to consider where the products you buy come from and what it took to get them. Imagine what would happen to our dependence on foreign oil if everyone drove a hybrid.

You send a message to people and companies.

As the saying goes, money talks. By buying green cars, you are letting people and businesses know that you value protecting the environment and using less fuel. As more consumers make eco-conscious purchasing decisions, businesses (and already are) will pick up on the trend and strive to create new products that meet the growing needs of shoppers. Companies create the products that their customers demand.

Obviously, there are many more advantages and benefits to owning a hybrid car. But are there also downsides? We will examine that topic below.

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