Compare Hybrid Automobiles

If you want to compare hybrid automobiles, first remember to compare apples to apples. Don’t compare hybrid compact cars with full-size sedans or SUVs. Here’s a look at top-selling hybrid car comparisons by type and manufacturer:

2011 Chevy Volt & Advantages of the Electric Car

Here is a comparison on two compact hybrids, the Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius.

For mid-size hybrids we compared the Ford Fusion and the Nissan Altima.

Compared here are the Ford Escape and the Mazda Tribute.

The Lexus RX and the Toyota Highlander are compared here for the mid-size SUV hybrids.

For full-size SUVs are the Chevy Tahoe and the Dodge Durango.

Hybrid full-size pick-up comparisons include the Chevy Silverado and the GMC Sierra.

When hybrid automakers are given a degree of hybridization, what exactly does that mean? According to the Hybrid Center there are certain steps that determine the measurement of hybridization. These steps are:

1. Idle-off capacity
2. Regeneration braking capacity
3. Power assist and engine downsizing
4. Electric only drive or, does it use only electric power even though gas and electric engines and motors are combined?
5. Electric battery range

To compare this further, if the hybrid’s engine is able to shut off at red lights and in stop and go traffic it can be classified as a conventional hybrid all the way to a full or muscle hybrid.

If the hybrid vehicles utilizes regenerative braking above sixty volts and uses a gas engine along with an electric motor, it is considered to be a mild to muscle hybrid.

If the hybrid vehicle can be driven in full electric mode, it is classified as a full or plug-in hybrid. Consequently, if it can be plugged-in, recharged, and driven for at least twenty miles, it is a plug-in hybrid.

Both federal and state governments offer hybrid tax credits on hybrids purchased after 2006, according to Edmunds. See a list of the federal government tax credit on the Edmunds Hybrid Tax Credit site. Depending upon the hybrid you purchase, these credits can range from $500 to $4,000 and even $7,500 if you buy a Tesla Hybrid Roaster. Each state has different tax incentives on hybrid vehicle purchases. The Why Buy Hybrid website offers state by state tax incentives.

As with any vehicle you purchase, the hybrid you choose should match the type of driving that you do. If you drive on bumpy or dirt roads, for instance, a hybrid sedan would most likely not be your best choice. Comparisons of hybrid automobiles and reviews are abundant on the Internet, so read some reviews, compare some hybrids, and make a conscious decision to be greener and buy a hybrid. Owning and driving a hybrid will cut down on emissions and carbon dioxide released into the air we all breathe.

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