Gas Sippers Take on the Gas Guzzlers
(ARA) – As millions of Americans hit the road this summer, most will have one common thought in mind: how much is gas going to cost on this trip? Vacation travel increases during warmer months, and already high fuel prices will likely remain so with this seasonal demand. Consumers may find their summer vacation budgets suddenly stretched to the limit.
Motorists can’t control the cost of gas, but they can control the type of vehicle they drive. Big thirsty SUVs, so comfortable for family trips, don’t seem as ideal when filling the tank. What if families could get the comfort without paying for all that gas?
Now they can. Hybrids, cars that combine gas and electric power, have come a long way in the last few years. Those currently available offer all the comfort and convenience of a traditional vehicle and manufacturers are introducing more technologically advanced models all the time.
“Next year we are going to be drowning in hybrids,” says John Davis, executive producer of the award-winning PBS automotive magazine show, “MotorWeek.” Davis predicts that within five years, hybrids will make up 15 percent of the total automobile market -- about 2 million a year.
Yet many consumers are still dubious about giving up their gas-powered vehicles. Davis has test-driven all of the available hybrids and gives them high marks. He offers the following guidance for consumers interested in making the leap to the new technology.
* Not all hybrids are the same. Although they all combine gas and electric power, they may use the combination in different ways. Some hybrids only use gas until they need an extra boost, and then the electric power jumps in. Others use gas and electric power together at all times. “A full or strong hybrid, like the Toyota Prius, is a car that can run on gas or electric power or both,” explains Davis. “Don’t tell me two engines aren’t better than one,” he adds.
* Mileage estimates may vary. Davis cautions that the mileage quoted by hybrid manufacturers is from government tests, and is seldom what the average driver experiences. The government tests cars under perfect conditions, so real world driving often doesn’t match up. However, Davis says that a hybrid like the Prius will get 42 to 45 mpg in combined city and highway driving, a vast improvement over a mid-size gas-only car.
This summer Ford will begin selling its new Escape Hybrid, the first hybrid SUV. Preliminary tests show that the Escape Hybrid is capable of more than 35 miles per gallon in routine driving. Many advocates for hybrids think they will have the most impact on SUVs and trucks where poor fuel economy is often seen as a social embarrassment.
* A hybrid battery is often under warranty for at least eight years. “A lot of people are concerned about replacing a hybrid battery but you probably won’t ever need to buy a new one,” says Davis. “Nobody knows yet how long they will last, but Toyota has been selling hybrids for almost a decade now and very few have needed their batteries replaced.”
* All the benefits of a traditional vehicle. Davis says that driving a hybrid is just the same as driving a traditional vehicle. Power, comfort and handling are the same, and the cars require no unusual maintenance.
* These cars will save you money. “A hybrid sticker price is about 10 percent more than a gas vehicle, but if you plan to own the vehicle for at least 4 years, you could easily save that in gas,” says Davis. Because an electric engine can go from zero to maximum power instantly, hybrids can shut down the gasoline engine when stopped at a light without affecting acceleration when you need it. Overall, you will probably burn about one third less fuel with a hybrid.
* Good for the environment. You not only burn less gas, you will burn it more cleanly. Hybrid emissions exceed all federal and state requirements. “They beat any gasoline-powered vehicle. They are amazingly clean, and they emit less greenhouse gases.” says Davis. “You can feel good driving one.”
It will only get better. Over the next 12 months there will be a number of new hybrid models coming on the market. “We are moving out of the experimental phase,” says Davis. “Hybrids are here to stay.”
For more hybrid road test information, visit www.pbs.org/motorweek. Airing on PBS and the Speed Channel since 1981, MotorWeek covers all aspects of the automotive industry and offers consumers unbiased, cutting-edge news and features covering new vehicle trends, current safety information, and the results of practical road tests.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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