Sales of the Ford Fusion Hybrid accelerated by a whopping 64 percent to 2,486 units. Ford also added nearly 25 percent more sales of the Ford Escape Hybrid. At this point, Ford has decisively leapfrogged Honda to become the number two seller of hybrid cars. Toyota owns 68 percent of the hybrid market; Ford holds 14 percent; and Honda has dropped to nearly 9 percent of hybrid car sales. The upcoming Honda CR-Z hybrid might help the company regain the second place spot—and Honda executives are promising a clean-slate approach for future hybrids.

Sales of the Altima hybrid, which is only available in eight states, soared by 253 percent. It’s unclear if publicity about the company’s all-electric Nissan Leaf helped raise the green perception of the entire Nissan brand.

BMW shipped the first 7 units of its $103,000 ActiveHybrid 7. Those units, combined with 12 reported sales of the BMW X6, reveal the company’s half-hearted efforts with hybrids. General Motors and Mercedes haven’t fared much better.

Clean diesel sales were up by 8.4 percent to 6,961 units in May compared to last month. Volkswagen continues to dominate clean diesel sales with nearly 80 percent of the market, led by the Jetta TDI, which single-handedly is responsible for 62 percent of all clean diesel purchases.

Despite the rebound in May, hybrid gas-electric cars continue to lag behind the overall market in year-to-date sales, with an 8.5 percent increase so far in 2010 over last year—compared to a 17.2 percent increase in the overall market. That’s not a big surprise, considering that average U.S. gas prices are about 20 cents lower than this time last year. Public outrage over the Gulf oil spill has created a latent demand for fuel-efficient or petroleum-free alternatives—but as long as gas is cheap, sales of hybrids, clean diesel and upcoming plug-in cars will be dampened. If and when gas prices start to climb, Toyota and Ford will be well positioned with hybrids, and Volkswagen with clean diesel vehicles.

After you read this article, you may read my other articles such as: Daimler Hybrid, Toyota Highlander Hybrid, 2011 Mini Cooper, Hybrid Car Pros and Cons, 2011 Lexus CT 200h, Audi Q7, Chevy Hybrid Truck, Chevrolet Aveo, BMW X6, Hybrid Gasoline Electric, Hybrid Cars History, Infiniti M35, 2011 Lexus LS 600h, and 2011 BMW 5 Series Hybrid.

Read more at http://www.hybridcars.com/hybrid-clean-diesel-sales-dashboard/may-2010.html

The 2007 Toyota Prius

Toyota Prius are out in the market and starting around $23,000 give or take some dollars. This hybrid can run 76 hp with its 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine and can run 67 hp with an electric motor. A total electric motor assist speed would be about 110 hp. The Toyota Prius is a front-wheel drive, four door hatchback and is said to achieve 45 miles per gallon on the highway and 48 miles per gallon in the city.

The 2007 Toyota Camry

This sedan entry from Toyota is another of their well-liked luxury hybrids that, much like the Toyota Prius, is a four-door and features front-wheel drive. Camry can achieve 147 hp with its larger engines, a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder. Its electric motor is much weaker and achieves 40 hp which means that this hybrid is sacrificed mileage and gas. However, for a hybrid, it performs much better than regular vehicles and can get about 33 miles per gallon in both the city and on the freeway.

2007 Saturn Aura Green Line

The Saturn hybrid can achieve huge 164 hp with its 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine. This motor will automatically shut down the vehicle when it’s on idle and then automatically turn-on it when it moves again.

Even though this feature may keep some gas since nothing spent while it’s idle, this is not as helpful because of the real electric motor assist. This hybrid can get 32 miles per gallon on the highway and 24 miles per gallon in the city; still a little bit better than a regular gas-powered vehicle.

2007 Honda Civic Hybrid

Forthcoming like the Toyota Prius is the Civic hybrid which is also one powerful sedan that not only plays the part but looks the part as well. Luxurious and glossy, this ‘beauty’ Honda hybrid has a small 1.3 liter four-cylinder 8-valve engine and full electric motor support that offers 110 hp when both engines are in operation to make the car move. This hybrid car boasts 51 miles per gallon on the highway and 49 miles per gallon on city streets; now that’s competition for Toyota if they haven’t seen it yet.

Since people has a big concerned about hybrid car, it’s all about the technology. For the best performance, you may want to pick out one that uses a smaller amount of gas and has full electric motor support to give you the best mileage. Make sure to analyze your hybrid cars comparison previous to making your hybrid choice.

To get the best hybrid cars comparison information, look for the newest reviews. From there, you will be able to find the best car that suits your way of life.

After you read this article, you may read my other articles such as: Daimler Hybrid, Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Audi Q7, Chevy Hybrid Truck, Chevrolet Aveo, BMW X6, Hybrid Gasoline Electric, Hybrid Cars History, Infiniti M35, 2011 Mini Cooper. Hybrid Car Comparison, Hybrid Cars Information,  Lexus Hybrid Car, and BMW Hybrid Car.

The newspaper from Japanese – Mid-Japan Economist, reported that Toyota plans to produce hybrid versions of the Yaris subcompact – Toyota Yaris Hybrid, at its plant next April in France. This report at least one year following rumors of a small hybrid car scheduled for production at Toyota’s Valenciennes factory.

The other automaker that have a concrete plan to produce affordable small hybrid cars. The Honda CR-Z coupe went on sale last month, and next month at the Paris Motor Show, the company will reveal the Honda Fit Hybrid, which could come to the United States in the next year or two.

Critics argue that the hybrid system makes no sense for small cars, which is already relatively efficient. But environmental laws more stringent in the world will require lower emissions for vehicles of all sizes.

Hybrid Cars on the Global Scale

As we know, the story of Toyota’s other small hybrid in a work-Scion iQ Hybrid, first appeared in January 2010. A year earlier, at the Detroit Auto Show 2009, Toyota introduced the FT-EV is a pure-electric concept which shares a platform with the iQ. HybridCars.com in their news reported last week that Toyota is working on a hybrid version of Toyota Etios, a compact car for the Indian and Chinese markets. And in the America, Toyota is scheduled to introduce next year The CT200h Lexus, a luxury small sporty hybrid.

According to RL Polk, global sales of hybrids until June this year has reached 766 086 units, already exceeding last year’s total global production of 740 355. In other words, while hybrid sales have been flat in the US, a global hybrid production in 2010 will more than double the volume last year. Further improvements in the production of hybrids in Asia and Europe is likely to occur with the introduction of small cars are equipped with gas-electric hybrid drivetrains.

Increased global hybrid production will help automakers achieve economies of scale, especially with hybrid battery. If costs fall, then the technology can be applied-with little or no premium, for affordable models like the Toyota Yaris. Conventional Yaris is rated at 29 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the road. Hybrid fuel economy for the Toyota Yaris Hybrid depending on its design, could exceed the average of the Prius’s 50 mpg.

If you are enjoy read this article – Toyota Yaris Hybrid, you may be also interested to readi my other articles: Ferrari Hybrid, 2010 Toyota Prius, BMW X6, Audi Q7, Prius Minivan, The Interior of Prius, Honda CR-Z Hybrid, Lithium Ion Battery, The History of Toyota Prius, Hybrid Car Pay Off, Diesel Electric Hybrid, and Hybrid Small Car.

Editor’s note: Alexandra Paul is an actress best known for her four years starring in the television series “Baywatch”. She has been driving electric vehicles since 1990 and is a founding member of Plug in Americaexternal link. Paul can be seen in the documentary “Who Killed the Electric Car?” in theaters this summer.

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) — I drive an electric car. Not a hybrid — a gasoline-powered car that gets some help from an electric motor — but a full electric vehicle. I plug it in at night and can drive 100 miles the next day and go faster than 80 mph on the highway.

So don’t think “golf cart”; these cars have power and pick-up.

While you won’t see many electric cars on the road, they’ve been around longer than you might think.

During 1900, electric cars outsold both gasoline and steam vehicles because electric cars didn’t have the vibration, noise and dirtiness associated with gas vehicles. However soon afterward — with the discovery of Texas crude oil that reduced the cost of gasoline, the invention of the electric starter in 1912 that eliminated the need for a hand crank, and the mass production of internal combustion engine vehicles by Henry Ford — the electric vehicle went the way of the horse and buggy.

The energy crisis in the 1960s and 1970s revived attention briefly. There was another push in 1990, when General Motors Corp. unveiled the (ineptly named) Impact, a sporty, aerodynamic electric car prototype.

In 1998 the California Air Resources Board decided that if a car company could make such a car, it should, and mandated that two percent of vehicles sold in the state in 1998 must be emission-free, with that number rising to ten percent in 2003.

Since California is a huge market, Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Chrysler, Ford and GM started building electric vehicles — about 5,000 were manufactured. But by 2005 the mandate had been eviscerated because of pressure from those same car companies, and 4,000 perfectly good electric vehicles were crushed.

But did car companies really want electric cars to succeed? The success of electric vehicles would have threatened the status quo and core business models of two of the world’s biggest industries — oil and automobile. It is more measure for these companies to give lip service to hydrogen in an attempt to appear “green.” But hydrogen is a technology that experts say is decades away.

Because the small print in California’s mandate allowed for car companies to manufacture only as many cars as there was interest in them, the game became to pretend there was no interest. Almost no advertising money was spent to let you know electric cars existed, and even if you did find out about them salespeople actively dissuaded you from getting one.

As with any new technology, an electric vehicle was more expensive than its gas counterpart. In addition, the limited range scared off customers, although the average American drives only 34 miles a day and every electric car could go at least twice that far on a full charge.

These cars had huge potential, but no media covered their subsequent crushing. It is only with the release this summer of the documentary “Who Killed the Electric Car?” that the full story comes out. This film chronicles the rise and fall of the General Motors EV1, an electric car I leased on the day it was released in 1996. Zero to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds, a top speed of 140 mph and a range of 120 miles. GM discontinued this car just a few years later. No car company nowadays makes a mass-production electric vehicle.

My current electric vehicle, a Toyota RAV4 EV, also was discontinued a few years ago. This car costs me the equivalent of 60 cents a gallon to run. I never need to get a tune-up, change spark plugs or add water to the batteries or oil to the motor. The only maintenance for the first 150,000 miles is to rotate my tires. This car is quiet, fast and emission free. I plug it in every night at home, and it charges on off-peak energy.

Even if it were getting power solely from electricity derived from coal — a common criticism of electric cars — my vehicle uses fifty percent less carbon dioxide than a 24 mpg gas car. When I have to get new batteries, which I expect I’ll will be when my car is ten years old, the old ones will be over 90 percent recyclable.

The concern I hear most often about electric vehicles is their range. Well, at 100 miles per charge, my electric vehicle fulfills 98 percent of my driving needs, and I live in a city where everything seems to be 40 minutes away.

When I want to go further, I borrow my husband Ian’s Toyota Prius. I don’t like driving it. Am I supposed to be amazed when a car gets 43 miles per gallon? The average fuel economy mandate for cars in 1985: 27.5 mpg. For 2006: 27.5 mpg. No wonder our expectations are so low. Progress in fuel efficiency has been glacial compared to improvements in computers and cell phones.

There is a solution: The plug-in hybrid. This vehicle will run on pure electric power for up to 60 miles, and then automatically switch to gas (or a biofuel) if you drive farther. For the reason that around 85 percent of Americans travel less than 50 miles a day, this means that the majority people who charge their cars at home each night would hardly ever dip into their car’s gasoline tank.

The infrastructure to charge is already in place (electric outlets are everywhere), and the technology (batteries) has been tested in the field and greatly improved upon for over 15 years. National security experts, including former CIA Director James Woolsey, are advocates for these vehicles because they say these vehicles can help break our dependence on foreign oil. Environmentalists support them because plugging in means getting an average of more than 100 mpg. Consumers like them because they will be saving thousands of dollars in gasoline costs.

Once you have known the quiet smooth speed and the clean efficiency of an electric vehicle, you will never think “golf cart” again.

–Who Killed Electric Car—

Another pages you may interest in reading: Hybrid Fuel, Mileage Hybrid, Electric SUV, and Hybrid Vehicle Research. ===Undergoing MyBlogLog Verification===

Incoming search terms:

Toyota Prius Model

Toyota automaker with its 2007 hybrid cars remains to be the most fuel efficient and most reliable in the auto industry. This vehicle just consumes about $1 of gas to manage just about 25 miles; that’s make Prius is economy. Not new in the auto market, since Prius appeared in 2001 (the first time), Toyota Prius has been promoting change in its industry. It’s a mid-sized vehicle that can be well mistaken for a compact and Prius has the smallest tank in this category or class and ensure that it does not waste even a smidgen of fuel.

Saturn Aura Hybrid Car

The Saturn Aura hybrid car is really quite the head turner for an ordinary looking mold such as a sedan. But if you look at the hood, you would know that Saturn Aura tells another story. Though it may look good for the 2007 hybrid cars models, the Saturn Aura hybrid car may just as well be listed among the worst performing hybrid cars in this class for the year. With its capacity to drink fuel as much as 16 gallons of gas, this vehicle likely seems more like a thirsty Safari animal rather the beautiful and fuel efficient hybrid car.

Nissan Altima Hybrid

When we talk about fuel economy, Nissan Altima Hybrid with its 2007 hybrid cars are really quite the player in this field. The 2007 hybrid cars from Nissan can manage about 702 miles on full tank – even though that’s mean you would have to cash out about $1,200 each year just for fuel. It likely Nissan beat its competition in Toyota hybrid but the trick is that Nissan using a larger tank that holds about 20 gallons of fuel. May be for the more careful hybrid shopper is not be prudent to go for the Nissan Altima Hybrid. But for those who find gas stops a hassle, the 2007 hybrid cars from Nissan Altima Hybrid may just be the hybrid for them.

Honda Civic Hybrid

Honda Civic Hybrid maybe the ‘real’ competitor for Toyota Prius and it’s probably the closest runner up to the top selling in hybrid field. This hybrid can run for 554 miles on its fuel tank – with a tank slightly larger than Prius’s. That’s mean 2007 hybrid cars from Honda Civic is definitely quite an improvement from its last hybrid car model. So, hybrid mania should not be surprised if someday Honda Civic Hybrid in the top list of 2007 hybrid cars.

Another articles by Johan Young you may be interested in reading: Audi Q7, BMW X6, Green Car Insurance, and Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid.

Hybrid Synergy Drive

Current model Toyota hybrid cars never need to be plugged in. The Hybrid Synergy Drive system mechanically charges its hybrid battery in a process called “Regenerative Braking.” Regenerative Braking is the hybrid system’s efficiency that allows the electric motor to operate as a generator used to recharge the battery when coasting or braking.

The Hybrid Synergy Drive is a set of hybrid car technologies developed by Toyota and used in the company’s Toyota Prius. The Hybrid Synergy Drive technology produces a ‘full hybrid’ vehicle and allows the car to perform on the electric motor only as opposed to other brand hybrids which cannot and are considered ‘mild hybrids’; it also combines an electric drive and an always variable transmission. The Hybrid Synergy Drive is a drive by wire system with no direct automatic connection between the engine and the engine controls: both the gas pedal or accelerator and the gearshift lever in a Hybrid Synergy Drive car merely drive electrical signals to a control computer.

The Hybrid Synergy Drive is a refinement of the original Toyota Hybrid System Drive used in the 1997 until 2003 Toyota Prius hybrid car.  The name was changed to accommodate usage outside the Toyota brand.  Toyota describes Hybrid Synergy Drive equipped vehicles as having E-CVT (Electronically controlled Continuously Variable Transmission).

And the first generation Prius was released to the market in 1997. This was the world’s first mass created hybrid passenger car that provided the basic convenience that automobiles essentially offers and outstanding environmental performance at a low cost, affordable to many people.

The first generation Prius was developed as one solution from Toyota that addressed the issues of improving urban environmental conditions by reducing gas emissions and improves the global environmental conditions by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide emission.

The first generation Prius focused on ecology as the highest priority. Based on the lessons learned from that experience, the next generation was developed featuring Hybrid Synergy Drive, to provide enhancements to “The Joy of Driving” quality, which is what attracts people to automobiles basically.

Toyota will continue our efforts to develop innovative future generation power trains in pursuit of manufacturing cars with world’s leading environmental performance, in which our consumers can enjoy a comfortable driving experience.

General Motors (GM) and DaimlerChrysler’s Global Hybrid Cooperation is similar in that it combines the power from a single engine and two motors. In contrast, Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) uses a more traditional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and transmission where the flywheel is replaced with an electric motor.

Another articles by Johan Young you may interest in reading:

Are YOU Looking for BUY HYBRID CAR? Here’s some reasons WHY BUY A HYBRID information for you!

The leading source for buy electric car. Free buy electric car resources. Includes reasons why buy a hybrid!

Are You Looking for ALGAE BIOFUEL? Here’s ALGAE BIOFUEL information for you!

Ultimate guide to algae biofuel. Search and Reviews about algae fuel tips and guides.

BUY ELECTRIC CAR >> Buy Electric Car Info| BUY ELECTRIC CAR Guide!

If you want the most up to date information on buy electric car, come visit our website.

2008 HYBRID CARS >> 2008 Hybrid Cars Tips | 2008 Hybrid Cars Guide!

Looking for a guide on 2008 hybrid cars?  Here it is!  A complete guide on 2008 hybrid cars absolutley free!

New Hybrid Cars, Johan Young. Vehicles are usually vital, specifically for very active people. Despite gasoline costs obtaining increased and, a lot of people nevertheless decide to purchase a car and also push their particular instead of taking the the bus, because of the comfort and safety automobiles could offer them traveling.

New Hybrid Cars Pictures:

The results of this year Japanese quake has kept products of the Toyota Prius as well as other hybrid cars limited-much because insufficient production capacity had kept all of them restricted during the height of the previous gasoline spike in ’08.

Right now Toyota claims that its recovery is relocating along ahead of timetable, which the Toyota Prius total production will be back  this Sept. Dealers in the USA should begin in order to glance at the inflow of recent automobiles by season’s end, which means that customers can expect to notice an increase in the number or perhaps Prii upon lots-and most likely the reduction in dealer markups-by early on 2012.

On June 22, the Toyota Company given a press release guaranteeing to deliver seventy five thousand new Prii for the USA simply by season’s end, prior to rapidly ‘roll top’ it. The automaker now claims it expects to offer thirty six thousand of the automobiles in the USA in the end of the summer season. United States product sales for 2011 ought to finish greater than 2010’s total of 140, 928 units however much under Toyota’s pre-earthquake goal greater than 181,000 units.

With Toyota Prius total production going back to normal and also the brand new Prius V wagon coming to dealerships this fall, 2012 ought to be the banner ad year for the earth’s top hybrid cars. Next season may also begin to see the release of the Toyota Prius Plug-in and compact Prius C, rounding out your group of vehicles the automaker expectations will soon dominate since the world’s top automobile platform-gas or hybrid cars. Therefore while ’08 and also 2011 symbolize unfortunate overlooked possibilities for Toyota and also the hybrid cars market in general, the long term outlook hasn’t been better.

source:hybridcars.com

The third generation of the Toyota Prius was introduced in 2003. It was the first hybrid cars with all new of Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive technology. Power from the electric motor and gasoline engine to increase enough to cut the 0-60 mph acceleration time by almost 2.5 seconds. The result is a super-mileage sedan with a high-performance car is equivalent to a traditional 4-cylinder mid-size vehicle.

The latest generation features a 1.5-liter DOHC 4-cylinder gasoline engine with VVT-i that produces 76 horsepower and 82 lbs-ft of torque. The gasoline engine is joined by a 67 horsepower permanent magnet AC motor that delivers 295 lbs-ft of torque between 0-1200 rpm. A sealed 201 volt nickel-metal hydride battery provides the power. Estimated fuel economy with EPA ratings system in 2007 is the best in the business, with a 60 mpg in the city and 51 mpg on the freeway. They adjust to 48 mpg city and 45 mpg highway numbers with the 2008 EPA test procedures.

Prius owners make more than a statement with the latest generation of cars as well. The new design, has increased significantly over the original Prius and rather strange-looking, remain distinctive even four years after its debut. Its profile of Jetsons-like futuristic and aerodynamic with high-tech appeal. It’s no secret that a different profile push many buyers to choose the Prius, because other people know that they are testing positive environment in a flash car. The interior is roomy and comfortable car, although some unique design elements to take some acclimation.

Success with the Toyota Prius have been encouraged to apply to its Hybrid Synergy Drive on other popular platforms including the Toyota Highlander SUV, the mainstream Toyota Camry sedan, and a various of models including the Lexus RX, GS, and LS channels. As a result, Toyota’s hybrid 1000000 submitted in June of 2007, with more than half (541 210) was submitted in the US. Toyota is on track to sell more than one million hybrids quarter in 2007 alone.

Ten years after being introduced, the Toyota Prius still leads in many respects. It has dropped the Prius GT concept and established a land speed record at Bonneville with a specially prepared Prius. What’s next? Maybe a plug-in Hybrid Prius that gets more than 100+ mpg combined. Toyota now has started a PHEV or plug-in hybrid vehicles development program and test samples Toyota Prius PHEVs on the agile American highway. And, just maybe … there might be consolidation of the hybrid Toyota Prius to the all brand new? We do not know. Apparently, there’s just no stopping this innovative vehicle.

If you are enjoy read this article, you may be also interested in reading: Ferrari Hybrid, 2010 Toyota Prius, BMW X6, Fuel Economy Standards, Audi Q7, Prius Minivan, The Interior of Prius, Honda CR-Z Hybrid, Pros and Cons of Hybrid Cars, Infinity M35, 2010 FIFA WorldCup, The Most Popular Hybrid Cars, and Lithium Ion Battery.

Incoming search terms:

No. The batteries recharge by reclaiming energy when the car brakes. Many industry observers expect some future hybrids to be “plug-in hybrids,” offering the option to recharge more powerful batteries via a common household electric socket, while still maintaining a small gasoline engine.

How do hybrids work?

Instead of relying solely on a gasoline internal combustion engine, hybrids use both a gas engine and electric motors. The energy used by the electric motors are stores in rechargeable batteries. The ability to partially use electricity as a fuel means that you burn less gasoline. The computer system on a hybrid makes the decisions about which energy source to use at different times, based on maximizing efficiency while providing the same level of safety and comfort as conventional cars. Our technology section provides more details about how hybrids work.

Is maintenance more expensive with a hybrid?

Maintaining a hybrid doesn’t cost any more than a conventional car, and may even cost less due to decreased wear and tear on the engine and braking system. You’ll probably want to take your hybrid to a dealer, especially considering that Toyota offers a 100,000 mile warranty on emission components and battery pack, and that Honda offers an 80,000 mile warranty on the same—on top of the traditional 3-year/36,000 mile warranty on the conventional systems. Dealer service centers do usually charge a little more, but classes are popping up all over the country to teach independent car mechanics about hybrids. After all, there are more than one million of these cars on the road, and mechanics have to meet this demand. This timing works out well for new hybrid buyers. By the time your warranty is finished, there will be many more qualified hybrid mechanics available to you.

Can you drive a hybrid in extremely cold or hot weather?

Hybrid cars are designed to operate in the same range of conditions and temperatures as conventional vehicles. For example, Honda’s specs indicate that its Integrated Motor Assist system will operate as low as 22 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. We have seen reports of a Prius in Barrow, Alaska suffering from a frozen and damaged battery pack—at 56 below zero. Master hybrid technician Craig Van Batenburg reports that nickel metal hydride batteries can take heat up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. He said, “It just doesn’t get that hot. The air cooling works fine.” Gas mileage during cold weather is diminished for all vehicles, hybrid or not.

Can you tow with a hybrid?

Towing a Toyota Prius or Honda requires front wheels off the ground. Honda’s (manual transmission) can be towed with wheels on the ground, but it’s not recommended. Honda’s with CVT can be towed with wheels off the ground. Tow dollies are commonly used.

Toyota and Honda will say not to tow anything behind their hybrids. Except for the Insight, which has an aluminum frame, it’s done everyday. Prius and Civic Hybrid can tow with a tongue weight of less than 100 lbs and total trailer under 1000 lbs. (Just basic guidance; be careful.)

General Motors Two-Mode Hybrids, like the Chevy Tahoe, are specifically designed for full towing capabilities. Other SUV hybrids have adequate towing power. For example, the Ford Escape Hybrid and Lexus RX 400h have towing capacities of 1,000 pounds and 3,500 pounds respectively.

How often do hybrid batteries need replacing? Is replacement expensive and disposal an environmental problem?

The hybrid battery packs are designed to last for the lifetime of the vehicle, somewhere between 150,000 and 200,000 miles, probably a whole lot longer. The warranty covers the batteries for between eight and ten years, depending on the carmaker.

Battery toxicity is a concern, although today’s hybrids use NiMH batteries, not the environmentally problematic rechargeable nickel cadmium. “Nickel metal hydride batteries are benign. They can be fully recycled,” says Ron Cogan, editor of the Green Car Journal. Toyota and Honda say that they will recycle dead batteries and that disposal will pose no toxic hazards. Toyota puts a phone number on each battery, and they pay a $200 “bounty” for each battery to help ensure that it will be properly recycled.

There’s no definitive word on replacement costs because they are almost never replaced. According to Toyota, since the Prius first went on sale in 2000, they have not replaced a single battery for wear and tear.

Does long-term storage of hybrids create a problem?

Hybrid storage for less than three months does not create a problem. If you plan to be storing your hybrid for a longer period, it’s a good idea to have the vehicle started up and run for 30 minutes every three months. If your hybrid is left dormant for even longer periods, you may need to have a professional test the state-of-charge, and potentially give the Nickel-metal-hydride batteries a boost.

Are hybrids safe?

The fact that hybrids run on electricity as well as gas has no bearing on their safety. You can always check out a car’s safety rating, but this is primarily based on crash tests. Many of the current hybrid cars are small, quick, and nimble (good at avoiding accidents), and rank high in safety ratings for their weight class. SUVs make people feel safe, but have an atrocious record in terms of rolling over and being difficult to maneuver. Furthermore, SUVs do not have to meet the same safety standards as passenger cars, because of federal rules classifying SUVs as light trucks. Safety is not a reason to avoid getting a hybrid, especially when evaluating the hybrid version of a vehicle compared to its conventional counterpart.

Where can you drive a hybrid solo in the carpool lane?

The HOV access laws are changing rapidly and are subject to local interpretation. Contact your local transportation authority to get a definitive answer.

What tax breaks do you get with a hybrid?

The current hybrid tax incentive program went into effect on January 1, 2006, as part of the “Energy Policy Act of 2005.” Our incentives and legislation page has a more complete description of tax incentives and other hybrid perks.

Will hydrogen fuel cell technology wipe out hybrids?

Most experts agree that cars powered by hydrogen will not hit the market for another ten to twenty years. It’s likely that the first set of hydrogen-powered cars will use more than one energy source, and thus will be considered hybrids.

Source: HybridCars.com