ALT-1 Hybrid Cars
Buying a new car is a major purchase, and it seems that today there are many more choices for the American consumer than there has ever been in the past. One of the first decisions that has to be made when determining which car to buy is whether the car should be gasoline powered, electric, or a hybrid. After deciding on a hybrid, though, there are still a lot of questions that a consumer should ask before deciding on which car to purchase.
How long are the batteries projected to last?
Every hybrid car stores power in batteries, and estimates of how expensive these batteries will be to replace have ranged from $500 to $2000 a piece. While some companies say that their batteries are projected to last at least 90,000 miles, there have been no studies showing this to be under real world conditions.
How good is the gas mileage on the highway?
The high numbers that hybrid cars score for gas mileage are for city driving. Unlike conventional gasoline powered vehicles, however, hybrid cars get better gas mileage in stop and go traffic due to the fact that no gas is used while the car is stopped. If your commute involves a lot of highway driving, you may not see a lot of the cost-saving benefits of a hybrid car.
What kind of warranty is offered?
Besides the batteries, there are a lot of other components in a hybrid car that are probably unfamiliar to your local auto mechanic. That means that you will probably be stuck using the dealership for most of your maintenance and repair issues. Car dealerships know this, and several hybrid owners have reported that they suspecthigher than usual repair bills. Even studies conducted by supporters of hybrid vehicles state that repair costs are similar to those of conventional cars at the dealership, but that these costs are higher than those that would be encountered at an independent repair shop.
Will I be safe in an accident?
When these vehicles were first introduced many local fire and rescue teams questioned the safety of the hybrid engine in an accident. While the United States has very strict safety standards, your hybrid will need to be clearly labeled so that rescue teams know what to expect. The electrical systems on hybrids can pose a safety risk to first responders, but this risk can be overcome with some safety precautions.
