Like all technologies, there are pros and cons of hybrids. We're big believers in the promise of alternative technologies like gas-electric hybrids. But we also recognize there are disadvantages of hybrid cars as well. Get both sides of the story before you visit your dealership.
Read about how hybrid cars work in - Hybrid Cars: How They Work
To research the history of hybrid Cars read - Hybrid Cars: A Brief History
The Advantages of Gas-Electric Hybrids
By now we've all seen plenty of Priuses on the road or done a double-take at the "hybrid" badge emblazoned on the side of everything from a GMC Yukon (view photos) or maybe even the new Porsche Cayenne S hybrid. Hybrid haters love to point out the extra cost of the technology, often for minimal gains in efficiency that can be outdone by European turbo diesels like the Audi A3 TDI (view photos) or the Volkswagen Jetta TDI (view photos). Get an early hybrid owner alone at a cocktail party and they might confess to you their dissatisfaction with their car's handling, highway performance, interior space or even the exterior aesthetic appeal. But hybrids aren't the new kid on the block anymore. A number of model iterations in, the kinks are working themselves out and new hybrids are getting cheaper, sportier and more efficient than ever.
With that in mind, we present our list of the advantages of hybrid cars. Keep in mind we're talking about gas-electric or parallel hybrids that use an electric motor to assist the gas engine that drives the wheels, NOT upcoming series hybrids (many of which will be better known as plug-in hybrids) like the Chevrolet Volt that uses a small gas engine to assist a primarily electric-propelled drivetrain. Check out our "Hybrid Cars: A Brief History” and “Hybrid Cars: How They Work” for more detailed explanations. We’re also looking at the issue objectively and have explored the “Disadvantages of Hybrids” as a counterpoint.
1. Saving the Planet One Mile at a Time
Helping drivers go green and feel good about themselves has been an essential part of the sales pitch and the image associated with hybrids from the start. More miles per gallon means less carbon dioxide and other pollutants messing up the atmosphere, air and water. It also means less demand for oil, which often comes from parts of the world where we have military involvement, and, by the way, less demand can also help lower the price of oil. Other technologies like diesel and electric will be giving hybrids a run for the MPG title, but Toyota and others have managed to keep improving efficiency, and the latest Prius (view photos) still leads the way at around 50 MPG.
