Hybrid Cars

By Gray Rollins

These days it's cool to be green. And while the environment is always a concern, high gas prices probably have more to do with America's new found green movement than anything. No longer do we want those gas guzzlers - we want the fuel sipping hybrid cars to be the ones lining our driveways.

While people were skeptical of hybrids at first, they've certainly come around. Major hybrid manufacturers like Toyota can't make enough to keep up with demand and neither can anyone else.

A hybrid car has a small engine that is fuel efficient, which is combined with an electric motor that aids the engine when additional power is needed during acceleration. The electric motor gets its power from battery banks which continuously charge while you are driving.

One cool feature that you find on a lot of hybrids is that when you stop at a stoplight for more than a few seconds, the engine shuts off. Other hybrids will turn off unneeded cylinders when driving on the highway to save fuel.

Hybrids also use a more advanced aerodynamic lightweight body, and combine it with low roll resistant tires that are stiffer and narrower to help reduce drag.

The sales figures for hybrid vehicles have shown increased demand every year for the vehicles. Right now the demand for fuel efficient hybrids is far eclipsing the actual supply. Just try to buy yourself a Prius at your local dealership and notice how they're not going to budge on the price. You'll pay full sticker because if you don't, someone else will.

There are several hybrids currently available in North America. They include the Honda Civic, Honda Accord, Honda Insight, Toyota Prius, and the Mercury Mariner. There are also Hybrid SUVs available - the Ford Escape, the Lexas 400H and the Toyota Highlander. Pretty much every manufacturer has at least one entry in this market.

Right now the top hybrid on the planet would be the Toyota Prius. There are currently over 1,000,000 Prius' on the road right now.

Manufacturers are certainly scrambling to offer more hybrids to lineups and if you follow cars you know that 2010 is going to be a good year to be green.

While nobody can say for sure what will be powering our vehicles in 50 years, we can say with certainty that the hybrid is a definite part of our immediate future, and likely will remain a major player for quite some time.

About the Author:

Gray Rolins writes for FuelSavingZone. Stop by to learn about Alternative Fuel Technologies and even how to choose a commuter bike.