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Hybrid-Electric Vehicles

Public transport, walking, and biking are certainly the best "getting around" options for consumers who are concerned about the environment and America's growing oil imports. But most of us do have a need for a car. And with the cost of gasoline continuing to spiral upward, now more than ever is the time to consider the new generation of hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs).

Hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) combine the internal combustion engine of a conventional vehicle with the battery and electric motor of an electric vehicle. The electricity in these vehicles comes not from plugging them in at night, but rather, is generated by the friction of braking, and is stored in on-board batteries. The combination of an internal combustion engine with electric batteries offers consumers the potential for significant energy and environmental benefits, including greater fuel efficiency and significantly reduced tailpipe emissions.

Hybrid-electric vehicles suffer from some common misconceptions. Contrary to popular belief, these cars do not need to be plugged in at night. And while HEVs are also thought to be less powerful than internal combustion vehicles, most manufacturers match the horsepower of the hybrid to its conventional counterpart, so there should be no noticeable performance deficiencies. In addition to the fuel economy and emissions benefits, HEVs are typically able to travel between 300 and 700 miles on a single tank of gas.

While Honda and Toyota were the first HEV makers, many more manufacturers have joined their ranks. Hybrid-electric vehicles are now available from Honda, Toyota, Ford, Lexus, GM, and Mercury. Chevy, Nissan, Saturn, Porsche, Dodge, and GMC also have product offerings that will be hitting showroom floors in the coming years. In addition, there are many after-market products emerging that make hybrid-electric vehicles even more efficient (see sidebar).

Many federal, state, and local tax credits and incentives are available for the purchase of HEVs. Many of these incentives decrease and phase out between now and 2010, so now is the best time to consider the purchase of a hybrid-electric vehicle.

Explore the links below to learn more about hybrid technology, the vehicles available, the tax incentives that are on the books, and tips for saving fuel.

Plug in my car? Huh?

The city of Austin, Texas, through its municipal utility Austin Energy, is promoting an upgrade to the hybrid-electric vehicle technology that involves outfitting the vehicle with a battery pack sufficient to power the vehicle for 35 miles or more on battery power alone. The plug-in is recharged by plugging into a standard electrical outlet, typically overnight, when the demand for electric power is much lower than during daylight hours. Plug-in HEVs have been shown to get up to 100 miles per gallon of gasoline. Visit the Austin Energy website to learn more.