Hybrid cars were the first big innovation in greener car technology to be released, even though most of the population still drive gasoline cars. However, drivers are starting to recognize the importance of driving environmentally friendly vehicles. That is why more people are driving hybrid cars today than ever before.
Are you ready for a hybrid car? Are you still debating with yourself whether to get one? To help you make the right decision, let’s go over the pros and cons of hybrid cards in 2019.
Pros of Hybrid Cars
1) Affordable – Hybrid vehicles are more affordable than you might realize. In fact, you could purchase a new 2019 Toyota Prius C for $21,530. This is one of the most affordable hybrid vehicles on the market, and it runs very well. There are other hybrid vehicles within this price range too. You don’t need to purchase the expensive ones over $50,000.
2) Fuel Efficiency – Hybrid vehicles are fuel efficient because they use an electric motor to generate power for slower driving. Its internal combustion engine only needs to consume fuel when the speed goes above 25 miles per hour, depending on the model. That means if you do a lot of city driving, you won’t be consuming fuel at all. As a result, you’ll save money on gas.
3) Lower Carbon Emissions – The most popular benefit of a hybrid vehicle is lower carbon emissions. Since it doesn’t fully rely on the internal combustion engine for its power, then it is not producing as many harmful carbon emissions for the environment. If you care about protecting the environment, then you’ll feel good about driving a hybrid car.
4) Tax Incentives – In certain locations, the state or local government offers tax incentives to its citizens if they drive hybrid vehicles. The United States previously offered federal tax incentives to anyone in the country who drove hybrid vehicles, but that time has passed. Now there are only a select number of states which offer their own tax incentives. If you own a plug-in hybrid, you could be entitled to a $3,000 rebate in Connecticut or a $2,500 rebate in California.
5) Good Resale Value – Hybrid vehicles are one of the few vehicles which have a good resale value. Since they’re in demand by many car buyers, the market has no trouble selling used hybrid vehicles at decent prices. Just make sure you’re getting a fair deal on the vehicle by researching the fair market value on it before you buy it.
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Cons of Hybrid Cars
1) Expensive Car Battery – Gasoline vehicles have cheaper car batteries that only costs about $100 each. Hybrid vehicles, on the other hand, have car batteries which cost between $1,000 and $6,000 each. That means if the car battery of your hybrid vehicle goes bad, you’ll be paying thousands of dollars instead of hundreds of dollars to replace it.
2) Harder to Find a Mechanic – When you need to get repairs or maintenance work done on your hybrid vehicle, it’ll be difficult to find an auto mechanic who knows how to work on hybrids. You’ll be forced to go to the dealership which sold you the vehicle or one of its other branches.
3) Not Good for Fast Roads – If you’re someone who regularly drives on faster moving roads, such as the interstate or state roads, then you won’t find much value in a hybrid vehicle. Driving at faster speeds in a hybrid will activate the internal combustion engine power. So, it’ll be like driving a traditional gasoline car in this case. Then you won’t experience any of the benefits of hybrid technology.
