Buying a Hybrid Needn't Increase your Motoring Costs

by Toby Russell)

Even though hybrid cars currently cost more initially than the conventional car, many people are coming round to the idea of owning & driving a hybrid car. This is because hybrid cars are both environmentally-safe and fuel efficient. If more people drove hybrid cars, the environment would be less polluted and safer for everyone. On the increase Over the past ten years or so, the number of hybrid cars on the road has increased rapidly. Indicating that people are becoming more concerned about the state of the environment. If you're not sure whether or not it is worth it to purchase a hybrid car, this article will help you make an educated decision. We'll be going over the cost of hybrid cars.

Tax Breaks for US Drivers One thing that helps make the hybrid car more affordable is that the U.S. government now offers a tax deduction for those who choose to use hybrid cars. The law, passed by the U.S. Congress, took effect on January 1, 2006. Despite the fact that the deduction is only in its first year, as much as $5,000 USD can be deducted from your taxes just for driving a hybrid car.

Reduced Gas Costs & helping the Environment When you consider the fact that hybrid cars cost about $4,000 USD more than the average conventional car, the tax deduction means you'll only have to pay around $900 extra dollars out of pocket for a much better, safer car. Also, when you factor in how much less gas you'll have to purchase for a hybrid, the idea of purchasing a hybrid car becomes even more appealing.

Higher Repair Bills ? A lot has been written about how hybrid car owners have to live with the higher cost of repairs on their vehicles However, this slight disadvantage is overshadowed in real terms by the huge amount of fuel savings hybrid cars provide over time..

Hybrid cars get approximately 70 miles per gallon on the highway and 50 miles per gallon in the city. Conventional fuel efficient cars only get around 27 miles per gallon in the city and 30 miles per gallon on the highway. This is a big difference and results in hundreds of dollars of saving over time.

Replacement Battery Costs A perceived disadvantage to hybrid cars is the cost of a replacement battery. Replacement batteries for regular cars are around $50-150 USD, while it costs around $2000-$3000 USD to replace a hybrid car's battery. However, this isn't that much of disadvantage because the hybrid car's battery only needs to be replaced every 8-10 years, so spread that cost over a period, put it against fuel savings & its not really an issue.

Tyre Costs Tyres on a hybrid car are also a bit more expensive to replace than on a conventional car. This is because hybrids require the use of special high mileage tyres.. On the positive side, hybrid cars only need new tyres every 30,000 miles, which is better than conventional cars which need new tyres more frequently..

The hybrid car's internal combustion engine is smaller and lighter than the conventional car's combustion engine. Thus, a hybrid car's engine is more efficient than a regular car's engine is.

Insurance Savings Another advantage to hybrid cars is that most insurance companies now offer a discount to hybrid car owners. This is because hybrid cars are much less likely to be involved in accidents, which saves car insurance companies money.

There is a general consensus among many people that the hybrid car essentially pays for itself over the long run. It may seem expensive at first, but it is a worthwhile investment. Why not save some money in the long run by purchasing a hybrid car now?

About the Author

Toby Russell & his website www.hybridcarlatest.com offers, news, views and information about the hybrid vehicle market and the developments in that market sector just around the corner.