Hybrid Vehicles, Should You Buy One?

Owning an auto service facility, one of the most common questions I have always been asked is “what car should I buy?”  Now with more and more hybrid vehicles on the road I am being asked “should I buy a hybrid and is it really worth it?” Then the next question is will you service a hybrid if we buy one. Well the answer to the second question is easy, YES, British American Auto Care Inc has always embraced and stays on top of new technologies. Hybrid’s are not an exception.

Since hybrid vehicles were first introduced, our technicians have attended a number of classes on hybrid cars but, I felt we needed to know more. So, I hired a special teacher, in fact one of the leading experts on hybrid vehicles in the USA, to come to British American and train us in all the aspects of servicing hybrid vehicles.

In October, Craig Van Batenburg drove from Massachusetts to teach the class. He drove a hybrid vehicle loaded with high tech teaching aids and test equipment. Our class lasted from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm with just a half hour break. It was a very detailed and fast moving class. Craig has taught this class around the world, just recently having come back from the German Motor Show. He is an expert on hybrid’s - he knows the vehicles better than the manufactures!  Having used Craig for our training, he automatically becomes our technical hotline for hybrids!

Now, the first question,  “should you buy a hybrid car?” Well, first we should define hybrid. A hybrid is a vehicle that has two or more sources of propulsion. For example an ICE (internal combustion engine) and an electric motor. Here is a list of all the hybrid vehicles currently available in the USA and their years of introduction.

Toyota Prius 2001
Toyota Highlander Hybrid 2006
Toyota Camry Hybrid 2007
Lexus RX 400h 2006
Lexus GS450h 2007
Honda Insight 2000
Honda Civic Hybrid 2003
Honda Accord Hybrid 2005
Ford Escape Hybrid 2005
Mercury Mariner Hybrid 2006

All the above vehicles use an ICE and electrical motor assist.

The following use an electrical motor to start the engine instantly. This allows the engine to be switched off at idle but come on instantly when accelerating.

GM Hybrid PU 2004
Saturn Vue green line Hybrid. 2007

In general all hybrid vehicles save gas and help the environment by emitting less pollution. Toyota and Honda are the leaders in hybrid sales and are committed to hybrid vehicles. Interestingly, hybrid vehicles save the most gas when used around town in stop and go traffic. If you check out their mileage rating you will find that they do MORE miles per gallon around town than they do on the highway - the opposite of an ICE vehicle. So, if you use a vehicle around town and very little on the highway a hybrid could be the ideal vehicle for you. If you do a lot of highway driving, it may not save you as much money.

The more gas costs the more money you will save with a hybrid.

Currently the initial purchase price of a hybrid vehicle is higher than its gasoline counterpart, but once you have purchased your hybrid, you will start to see a saving on running costs. Your saving will depend on the miles driven and your type of driving - highway or in-town.  There can be some other cost saving benefits to purchasing and owning a hybrid vehicle. For example you could save money parking in Baltimore, or perhaps get a credit equal to 50% of the motor vehicle excise tax. Visit http://go.ucsusa.org/hybridcenter/incentives.cfm  and check out Federal, State and local cash benefits!

The other big advantage is you will be helping the environment by reducing green house gasses. The USA is currently the world’s largest contributor to greenhouse gasses and contributing to global warming!

Choosing a hybrid vehicle is like choosing a gas powered engine vehicle. What style do you like? How many passengers do you need to carry? Do you need a compact vehicle or an SUV?

Before making your final decision, make sure you road test the hybrid of your choice. Then check the amount of gas you will save and divide this into the extra cost to the hybrid. For example if you are buying a Highlander compare similar models so you know the extra cost of buying the hybrid vehicle. Of course, the higher the cost of gas the quicker you can reclaim your investment.

In ten years or less all vehicles will be hybrid in someway so if you choose a hybrid today, you will be leading the way towards vehicles having zero emissions.


Back to Notice Board list of articles-->

JAPANESE • Acura • Honda • Infiniti • Isuzu • Lexus • Mazda • Mitsubishi • Nissan • Scion • Subaru • Suzuki • Toyota • EUROPEAN • Audi • BMW • Jaguar • Land Rover • Mercedes • Mini • Saab • Vokswagon • Volvo • AMERICAN • Buick • Cadillac • Chevrolet • Chrysler • Dodge • Ford • Geo • GMC • Hummer • Jeep / Eagle • Lincoln • Mercury • Plymouth • Pontiac • Saturn