As more people are becoming considerate of the environment, the idea of driving a vehicle less dependent on gas is becoming more popular.

With this idea though, people are wondering how to pick a hybrid car, because they are interested in making the right choice for their vehicle needs as far as the environment go, but also for their lifestyles and wallets.

To choose a hybrid vehicle you should first choose the type of vehicle you need. Take into consideration how many people will be in your vehicle regularly as well as any kind of moving of heavy objects you do regularly. This is a first step when choosing any vehicle, but, while taking this into consideration, think about how each class of vehicle will also affect your gas mileage .

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You see, each class of hybrid usually has higher mileage per gallon, but is still something you want to consider, if you are trying to decide between a sedan type and an SUV. The difference in the gas mileage can be as high as 30mpg. For instance if you want Toyota hybrids such as the Toyota Prius , for city driving you can expect up to 60 mpg, and for highway driving up to 50mpg. However if you decide to instead go for the Ford Escape the mileage is 36/31. That is a huge difference for two vehicles that carry the same amount of passengers.

The cost of a hybrid is something else you might want to consider when thinking about how to choose a hybrid vehicle. For instance most gas only vehicles cost up to $5,000 less than a hybrid. You will be able to compare the two vehicles you like with their prices when you check for quotes, and in some cases you might be surprised to find that the difference can be as low as $3000.

If you are paying monthly for your vehicle you might want to sit down with calculator and find out if the extra payment of up to $90 a month (using the average $18/$1000 loan) is worth it. For instance the Prius is going to get you almost double the gas mileage you might have with a regular sedan, so you would spend half as much on gas every month. In the long run with the help each vehicle brings for the environment this could, very well, be worth the cost.

In the end no one can tell you exactly how to pick a hybrid car , but if you take these things into consideration you are going to be much happier with your decision to go hybrid, and the vehicle you choose.

Let’s face it…

If you really want to know how to pick a hybrid car then you have to understand your goals. How much money can you spend? What is the hybrid vehicle going to be used for? Are you worried about hybrid car batteries , hybrid maintenance , and hybrid car risks ? If you are, then you might want to wait another 3-4 years until you feel confident in the technology. That trust in hybrids is critical to your well-being and peace of mind.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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This article discusses Dodge hybrid cars, trucks, and SUVs. If you’re doing research or trying to decide if you want to buy a hybrid vehicle, this is a good place to start.

As fuel prices keep rising, the Dodge hybrids give consumers an option when considering a vehicle purchase based on fuel economy.

Hybrids are a new type of vehicle that combine a battery pack with fuel to create a more efficient vehicle. Other factors to consider when deciding whether to purchase a hybrid are the quality of the vehicle, hybrid car cost, operating costs – not only the fuel costs, but potentially having to replace the battery pack, safety features , and availability.

The Dodge hybrid business started when Chrysler Dodge was challenged in 1993 to come out with a vehicle that would be more efficient. The Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles was formed to get American companies to produce more fuel-efficient vehicles. Chrysler Dodge produced the Dodge Intrepid ESX 1 in 1996, with a goal of achieving 80 MPG . This vehicle proved too expensive to produce for the mass market, with a cost of $90K to the consumer.

Over the years, two more models were created: the ESX II in 1998 and the ESX III in 2003. The ESX II has been dubbed a “mybrid” because it was a mild hybrid, and the primary power came from the diesel engine. The electric motor kept the batteries charged. This vehicle ended up with a final cost of around $37K. In order to cut down on weight and cost of this vehicle, Chrysler Dodge fit the vehicle with a thermoplastic body without paint on an aluminum frame. Dodge continued to try to streamline this design, and the research went a long way to making American hybrid cars marketable.

The third attempt at the ESX in 2003 proved that technology had come a long way. This Dodge hybrid model had achieved 72 MPG and weighed in at 2,250 lbs. The vehicle was more than 80% recyclable. Dodge, however, has retired the Intrepid nameplate and did not produce a marketable hybrid sedan.

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The Dodge hybrids include a new 2009 Dodge Durango hybrid that is currently available on the market. This vehicle has combined hybrid vehicles and sports utility into what was originally thought an impossibility. The starting price is around $42K for one of these vehicles, and the benefits are considerable. This vehicle will have a 300-volt battery pack beneath the seats, charged by regenerative braking. A converter under the hood will turn the battery pack’s AC power to DC power for the lights, climate control, and the radio.

The 2009 Durango hybrid is to be made available as an all-wheel model, with all the equipment and features that go with the top of the line; seating for eight, heated front seats, power -adjustable pedals, rearview camera, and a power lift gate. The Dodge’s MyGIG Multi-Media Infotainment system.

The Dodge hybrid’s Durango Infotainment System includes an eight-inch touch screen, navigation system and voice activation… including real-time traffic. It also has a 20-gigabyte hard drive, which holds music and picture files.

Fuel economy for this model is estimated to 18 MPG city and 19 MPG on the highway. This boosts city fuel economy by about 40%, and 25% for highway compared to the current 13 and 18 MPG for the current AWD Durango. On the inside of the vehicle, the Durango hybrid contains a power gauge that shows a green economy zone so the drive can aim for optimal fuel economy.

This is an exciting feature for those concerned with owning a clean fuel vehicle.

The Dodge Durango also has a safety feature in the event of an accident. If the airbags are deployed, emergency personnel can pull the high voltage service disconnect at the battery pack. Once it has been pulled, the system has to reset, and the vehicle runs a self-diagnostic test before it will restart.

The Dodge hybrid is working to introduce a hybrid Dodge Ram in 2010 . This is a full size truck that will give a 30% boost in fuel economy. The Dodge Ram hybrid will use a battery pack and a Multi-Displacement 5.7 Hemi , which means it will run as a 4 cylinder in the highway and an 8 cylinder in the city. Towing ability should not be affected with this combination, but it is advised that when towing, don’t expect the same savings in gas mileage, but with regular driving, it is estimated to get 19 MPG city, 18 MPG highway.

In order to keep up with the changing world, Dodge seems to be making strides towards creating a hybrid that will be affordable to purchase and operate. Let’s keep our eyes open for the new models that will be coming out soon – hopefully we will be able to cross the technology over for sedans and minivans.

This article will help you understand the fuel economy, pricing, general availability and quality of the Chevrolet hybrid vehicles on the market today.

There are many Chevrolet hybrids available that can provide fuel efficient performance and remain environmentally friendly. This car company has taken to hear the challenge to produce a clean fuel vehicle that also offers performance.

These hybrid electric vehicles include the hybrid Silverado pickup truck , the Tahoe SUV hybrid , and also the Malibu sedan hybrid . All these American hybrid cars and hybrid trucks use two motors. One of these is a standard gasoline motor and the other is an electric motor. The gasoline and electric motors are designed to work together or alone to provide the best fuel economy and lowest hybrid car cost for the owner

At the present time, no other company offers such a wide variety of American hybrid cars and trucks. This enables the Chevrolet group to have an advantage over other car manufacturers like Ford and Dodge . All these Chevy hybrids are new offerings for the 2009 model year. More and more auto companies are attempting to come up with their clean fuel vehicle to sell on the open market, but Chevy may have the edge in development on many of them.

Fuel Economy/Engine

The Chevy hybrid Silverado achieves its superb gas mileage by just using the vehicle’s electric motor at lower speeds under 30 mph . When the truck is traveling at up to 30 mph, this hybrid electric vehicle uses electric power to operate the vehicle. When speeds exceed 30 mph, the truck’s powerful 6.0 liter V8 gasoline engine does the work to provide the customer the power that he needs for demanding situations.

The gasoline engine manages to get an impressive horsepower rating of 332 and a torque rating that comes in at 367. Regardless of the motor that the Chevy hybrid is using, the uniquely designed transmission will try to operate in the gear that will deliver the best mileage.

The fuel economy on the highway is rated to be around 20 mpg and in city traffic these hybrid vehicles can still manage close to 22mpg and up. The in town or city mileage is higher than highway mileage because the electric motor does almost all of the work in the confines of city traffic. With a full tank of gas the truck has a total driving range of over 500 miles. A good estimate for the driving range on a full tank will be between 500 and 550 miles.

The Chevy Tahoe hybrid has the same 6.0 liter V8 gasoline engine capable of producing up to 332 hp and 367 psi torque. The electric motor used in the Chevy Tahoe hybrid is also the same as in the Chevy Silverado Hybrid . The fuel rating on the Chevy Tahoe hybrid SUV is 20 mpg in the highway and 21 mpg in the city.

The Chevy Malibu hybrid car has a 2.4 liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and a smaller electric motor. The horse power rating of the 2.4 liter is around 180. The Malibu hybrid achieves an awesome mpg highway rating of 34 and a city rating of 35, depending on your driving style and situation. These are very impressive mileage ratings.

Price/Availability

The price for the Chevy Hybrid Silverado is going to be somewhere in the mid forty thousand dollar range depending on the exact model chosen and the options included. Availability for this is limited because of the demand for a hybrid truck that provides great fuel mileage and performance .

The Chevy Tahoe hybrid sells for fifty-one thousand , but the price can vary depending on options and model. Again, the availability is very limited on this hybrid vehicle because it is a full and complete SUV but it is offered with a hybrid power train. The Chevy Malibu hybrid is the least expensive in the Chevy hybrid line up with a MSRP of twenty-four thousand. However, based on equipment chosen and options, the price can vary. The availability of this Chevy hybrid car is also very limited because of consumer demand and reserves already placed on the units being produced.

Quality

All three hybrid vehicles that Chevy offers have the same excellent quality in construction and design as seen in their gasoline counterparts. Therefore, consumers are not missing any of the luxuries or standards that Chevy offers in its regular autos. All three hybrids have the option to be equipped with any up grades such as leather seats and dynamic sound systems.

The only aspect of the Chevy hybrids that is different compared to the gasoline models is the unique drive train . The comfort and handling of all of the hybrids equals or surpasses that found in other Chevy models. There is great care and good workmanship shown in the entire construction of all of the Chevy hybrids that are presently being produced for the public.

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Chevy Hybrid Overview

The entire Chevy hybrid line offers comfort, reliability and roomy interiors and this is sure to please many car buyers. These cars are proof that you can have power, performance and a clean fuel vehicle all in one neat little package. Consumers should be pleased with the mileage and handling of any of the newest Chevy family members.

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The world of hybrid vehicles was first limited to only hybrid cars. Hybrid trucks were not considered at all.  But these days, more and more auto makers are looking into the truck market to find new buyers of alternative fuel and electric plug in vehicle, including hybrid trucks .

Instead of the typical part gasoline and part electric setup, hybrid trucks mainly take the form of being alternative fuel vehicles, although there are electric/gasoline setups available in truck form.  The alternative fuel setup is mainly in the form of a “flex-fuel” vehicle, with the hybrid truck being able to use either regular unleaded gasoline or the ethanol based E85 fuel.

The main component of ethanol in the United States is corn, although sugar cane, sorghum, potatoes, and others can be used to create this fuel.

There are advantages and disadvantages with hybrid trucks.

One main advantage is that they can use the E85 blend, which uses less gasoline, and therefore reduces a country’s dependence on oil.  E85 does produce less harmful pollution than its regular gasoline counterpart.

Additionally, the price of a gallon of E85 fuel is less than regular unleaded gasoline .

One of the disadvantages is they still (overall) do not offer great fuel mileage compared to hybrid cars.  However, with the increasing investment into hybrid technology, the mileage of these vehicles should only go up in the future.

Another disadvantage is that the sticker price of hybrid trucks is typically higher than it’s gasoline or diesel engine counterpart.  When purchasing a hybrid truck, the buyer should take into consideration the cost of the technology versus the benefit they offer.

One great bit of news is that Kenworth and Peterbuilt (well known for their lines semi trucks) are working on releasing a version of their hybrid trucks that should be well received in the trucking industry.  These hybrids are reported to help save the owner-operators $10,000 or more each year, which is good news for that industry.

While hybrid trucks are not as popular as hybrid cars, they do have their place in the hybrid world.