Weigh the Pros and Cons

Honda’s Insight

Apr26
2012 Written by HybridCars

Hybrid cars have been around a long time now – so the concerns many people may still have about the vehicles aren’t really founded any more. There are few, if any, drawbacks besides the initial cost which still tends to be higher than conventionally fuelled cars.

And no hybrid has been around longer than the Honda Insight. The Insight is aptly named as it really does (or did…) demonstrates the company’s keen insight into the future of motoring technology a long time ago- and it’s that future vision we’re now living in, in many ways.

The Honda company has always enjoyed a reputation for reliability – and with its Insight hybrid model, devotees of the company can also feel justifiably environmentally friendly.

And judging by the number of eco cars UK customers are now seeking out, the car and its descendants look like they’re going to enjoy an increasingly large market share. Hybrid and electric cars still only account for a small percentage of the overall market, but that percentage is also growing exponentially – so hybrids and electric cars are becoming more mainstream choices.

The first Honda Insight was made between 1999 and 2006 as a three-door hatchback. But the all-new Insight, introduced in 2010, was a change from its predecessor’s two-seater configuration.

The 2010 Insight hybrid is a five door vehicle which includes the fifth generation of Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid powertrain. Its wedged body optimises aerodynamics, reducing drag and maximising fuel efficiency. The official UK efficiency data for the car shows an impressive 61.4 miles per gallon on the urban cycle – and this figure rises to an even more impressive 67.3 mpg in the extra urban cycle. The CO2 emissions rating, meanwhile, is an impressively low 101g/km.

The latest Insight even gives you an ECO score each time you take it out – to let you know how efficiently you’re driving.

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The Civic 2012 – three green cars in one

Mar31
2012 Written by HybridCars

People looking for a hybrid car aren’t limited to a few makes and models any more. There is a plethora of different hybrids to choose, and they can be found as a supermini, saloon car, sports car, and minivan. One of the latest hybrid cars to come onto the market is the ninth generation Honda Civic – available in the US as a hybrid, as well as other models that run on natural gas and gasoline.

All the new Honda Civic range has improved fuel efficiency compared with the outgoing generation. Part of the reason for improved mileage is the inclusion of the ECON button on the dashboard as standard. Pressing this button instructs the car’s computer to run all systems at an eco-friendly maximum. Added to this, the new Civic comes with stop start technology, reducing the burning of fuel and creation of emissions during idling time in queued traffic. The engine cuts out automatically as soon as the brake pedal is applied, and when it’s released the engine starts again automatically. Drivers will barely notice the switching on and off. Not only is this great for fuel economy, it will also improve air quality within cities.

That said, the best fuel economy comes with the Civic hybrid – which can give 44 mpg both in the city and on the highway. Honda has fitted the Civic 2012 with a lithium battery – a first for Honda hybrid cars. Closest to it for fuel economy is the Civic HF, with an average mileage of 41 mpg (the HF stands for high fuel economy). The Civic Natural Gas is produced domestically in the United States and so is the natural gas that fuels it. The Civic NG can get 27 mpg in town and 38 mpg on the highway.

With the various options available, the Civic 2012 seems to offer drivers a green way of driving, whether it’s with the hybrid model or not.

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Do hybrids have eco-car equals now?

Feb12
2012 Written by HybridCars

Hybrid car has been the buzz word around the car industry in recent years and with the increased fuel efficiency and low emissions that they can provide, it’s hardly surprising. And of course, they offer the practicality that all-electric cars are yet to achieve.

However, it seems that more and more of the new cars that are being produced now also qualify as low emission cars and it could be said that any new car that also offers good fuel economy with fewer emissions could be described as an eco car.

Suddenly, hybrids and electric vehicles aren’t as special as they used to be. True, they require less use of fossil fuel to move along, because they have the electric motor to assist the internal combustion engine, but if consumers are making their decisions based on fuel economy and lower emissions, many of the diesels now in production offer hybrids a run for their money.

Take the Ford Fiesta Econetic as an example. This UK car has a 1.6 litre diesel engine and can achieve 78.5 mpg and has carbon dioxide emissions of just 95g/km.

Another example of one of the new eco cars that isn’t a hybrid is the Kia Rio CRDi 1 AIR EcoDynamics which offers similarly low emissions of 94g/km of CO2 and can get 88.3 miles per gallon.

Of course, with the increased number of plug-in hybrids, hybrids may continue to lead the way in terms of offering all-electric ranges for some of their journeys – as when in this mode there are no exhaust pipe emissions.

However, some of the non-hybrids on offer today clearly rival the hybrids that have held that eco car edge since they were first launched in the late 1990s.

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The Evolution of the Hybrid Car

Jan27
2012 Written by HybridCars

Hybrids are no longer the new kids on the block in the automotive world. They have been in production now since the late 1990s, but we still don’t see that many of them on our roads in comparison to conventional cars.

However, gradually, there are more and more of them about, and it’s easy to see why they appeal to today’s environmentally conscious driver. The hybrid car is half electric powered and half powered by an internal combustion engine. So it stands to reason that it will produce fewer emissions as it burns less petrol.

Although the first production hybrids didn’t hit the world’s roads until 1997 when Toyota launched the Prius in Japan and two years later Honda introduced the Insight in Japan and the States, the idea of hybrid technology had been around for a long time.

The first hybrid car was exhibited at the Paris World Fair in 1900. And in 1917 a motor company in Chicago – the Woods Motor Vehicle Company – produced a hybrid for sale. However, it proved too expensive to buy and too complicated for mechanics to service, so sales failed to take off.

Today’s hybrids have shown themselves to be the equal of conventional cars in terms of power and speed, and they’re getting better all the time. More and more car manufacturers offer hybrid vehicles in their range, and increasingly these are plug-in hybrids. Plug-ins can make even greater use of the electric motor and have an increased all-electric range, so require even less petrol to function.

An average commute is less than 20 miles from a person’s home, so there is potential for plug-in hybrids to do the commuter journey using hardly any fuel. This has to result in reduced pollution through tailpipe emissions in urban environments.

And developments continue in the hybrid world – with manufacturers looking at ways to make the electricity for the electric motor to come from renewable sources – such as solar panels on the roof of the car, or at home plug-in systems that produce electricity from solar panels on the garage roof.

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How to try out a hybrid

Jan07
2012 Written by HybridCars

If you’re considering whether to buy a hybrid, but aren’t sure if they’re as good to drive as a conventional car, then here’s a suggestion for you.  Hire one, and give it a really long test drive.  If you’re going on holiday, then pick your rental to do your test driving while you’re away, so you don’t cause yourself unnecessary extra expense.  But even if you don’t have a trip planned, it’s money well spent just to hire a hybrid locally to try it out in different driving conditions than you’d be able to fit into a test drive.

Many rental agencies now have the kind of eco cars UK customers are looking to buy on their books. You’re most likely to find the original hybrid production cars – like the Honda Insight or Toyota Prius, but a little searching around will find other makes and models.

While hybrids are praised for their fuel-efficiency, hiring one for a week or two will allow you to judge how good the mileage is for yourself.  Do you really go to the petrol station less frequently?

And how does it feel when the electric motor kicks in to help the internal combustion engine through acceleration or hill-climbing?  You’ll be able to judge if it feels laboured or sluggish compared to a conventional car. Also consider how you like the CVT – continuous variable transmission.  You may find it ok, or you might miss the gear shift that you get even with a conventional automatic.

Of course, this kind of test drive could work out to be rather expensive if you do it more than once. So, before booking a rental in, do as much research as you can online and ask people you know who already own a hybrid.  Someone might be willing for you to try theirs out – you never know until you ask.

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Hybrid Cars Pros and Cons

Apr29
2011 Written by HybridCars

In order to clearly understand hybrid cars pros and cons, one needs to first examine how they are powered. After all, the reason why hybrid cars get a lot of attention is because of their engine, and not because of other reasons such as leather seats and other amenities. The reason why they are called hybrid cars is because they use both, a gas engine as well as a battery operated electric motor. The car is programmed to use one of these engines according to the type of use. For relatively gentle city driving it will run on electric, where as highway driving will utilize the gas engine. When running on gas engine it will recharge the batteries used for the electric motor.

As far as discussing hybrid cars pros and cons are concerned it has more pros than cons. The pros include better mileage, quiet operation and less emission of pollution. Out of these three benefits, high mileage is easily the biggest reason why people purchase hybrid cars. In other words, efficiency is its trump card. It is not unusual for these types of cars to get 40 to 50 miles per gallon! Interestingly, because the car converts to electric energy for slower city driving, owners will get higher mileage compared to driving on the highways!

The downside of hybrid cars tends to be cost of purchase and maintenance. Hybrid cars will typically cost 10 to 20 percent more compared to a similar sized conventional car. The technology involved is also more complicated, which means maintenance will cost more compared to conventional cars.

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All About Hybrid Cars

Apr29
2011 Written by HybridCars

Hybrid autos are no longer considered the cars of the future as they used to be. The future is now. Many consumers considering whether or not to purchase a hybrid want to know if it is really worth it. Will they come out ahead financially and otherwise if they buy a hybrid? Here is a list of the advantages and disadvantages of owning a hybrid.

The list of pros of owning a hybrid auto is much longer than the list of cons. The first advantage is that owning a hybrid is good for the planet. Hybrid owners stop blaming the government for high oil prices and global warming and take action. It is the socially responsible thing to do and if enough of us do it, we will be free of oil bondage. The second advantage is that a hybrid can save you up to half the money you spend on fuel. The more you drive in the city, the more efficient your hybrid will be. Some owners get 60 miles to the gallon. The third advantage is all the perks of being a hybrid owner that range from free parking to free toll lane usage and tax breaks.

There are disadvantages to being a hybrid owner too. First, drivers who do a lot of highway driving will see little benefit. Second, hybrid vehicles are typically more expensive and it may take years of fuel savings to recoup the increased purchase price. Some owners may not even break even after many years.

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