Top 5 Reasons to Buy a Hybrid Car

1. - Gas Savings - Hybrid cars can get up to 60 mpg (miles per gallon), due to their advanced aerodynamics, engine efficiency, tire technology (which is so different to the standard cars) just to mention some of its characteristics.

2. - Environmental Issues - Reduced gas emissions equals less air pollution because a hybrid car has an electric motor and batteries to rely on when the gasoline engine is not in use. They can reduce smog up to 90%.

3. - Better engine efficiency - Reducing the overall weight of the hybrid car is a way to increase its efficiency, smaller engines equals better efficiency. Another way is how the hybrid cars recharge they batteries, the hybrids battery pack never needs to be charged from an external source, every time you hit the brake, the brake system stores some of the energy to the batteries (this is known as regenerative braking). Also the batteries get recharged by the gasoline engine when necessary.

4. - Low Maintenance costs - The electrical motor and the batteries dont require any maintenance; they have the same life span as the car itself. The gas engine doesnt require any more maintenance than any other normal car.

5. - Government Incentives - Theres a federal tax deduction for hybrid cars; the new hybrid car tax credit is divided into two parts with tax credits ranging from $400 to $3400. The great news is that a credit is much better than a deduction since the credit does reduce the taxes that are owed. The deduction simply reduces the amount of taxable income.

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The Ins And Outs Of Auto Insurance

Bodily Injury Liability, Collision, Comprehensive, Property Injury Liability. Do you know what these terms mean? If you are currently paying for any type of auto insurance, then these are some terms you should know to maximize the benefits of your plan(s). Bodily Injury Liability. If you were at fault in an accident and others involved needed to go to the hospital and/or lost wages from missing work, those costs would come out of your pocket if you are not insured with Bodily Injury Liability. Anyone will soon realize how quickly those amounts can add up to. Many states require you to carry Bodily Injury Liability. This type of coverage can also help you in the event the other party takes legal action against you. Collision Coverage. In the event you need repairs or replacements if your vehicle collides with another vehicle or property, you’ll need this. The higher the deductible you elect, the lower your premiums will cost you. If you’re at fault for something, well of course it would still be an accident, as I doubt you’d plan to run into that guard rail, but how much would you be able to afford to pay out of pocket for repairs? Don’t forget to check if this coverage is available in your plan! Comprehensive Coverage. This is the coverage that pays for damage caused from falling objects, fire, certain natural disasters, theft and vandalism. Property Injury Liability. Can you imagine how much it might cost should you accidentally drive into someone’s house? You wouldn’t want to be caught without property damage insurance should you need to pay for repairs to another vehicle, building or anything else you might hit. As they say, you can never be too sure what you may run into while driving! With these different types of liability coverage, you’ll quickly discover that unfortunate accidents soon become less dreadful then they seem. For example, imagine if you crashed into the rear-end of another driver. Your liability coverage will kick in and pay for the damages that you caused with your insured vehicle. Imagine having to pay those damage costs yourself out of pocket! It’s important that you understand the basics of what you are paying for and why it is necessary. By knowing these technical terms, you can make sure your auto insurance coverage is as complete and reliable as possible.

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What You Should Know About Gas-Electric Hybrid Vehicles

As gas prices continue to rise to unprecedented heights with future increases on the horizon (projected prices for the summer of 2006 are as much as $1.50 per liter, or $6 per gallon) more and more people are considering purchasing a hybrid vehicle. It is important to understand what a hybrid car is, what types are available, and the benefits of purchasing a hybrid vehicle. A hybrid car is a vehicle that uses a combination of at least two different fuel sources for its propulsion. Although many combinations are possible, generally when people are talking about hybrid cars, they are referring to cars with a combination of a gasoline internal combustion engine, an electric motor, and a battery that powers the electric motor and stores energy for future use. Hybrid cars may also be called gas-electric hybrids. Some examples of current hybrid cars include the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid (HCH), the Ford Escape Hybrid, the Honda Accord Hybrid, and the Honda Insight. Due to their special use of technology, hybrid cars receive much higher gas mileage than the average U.S. vehicle. In fact, hybrid cars hold the top spots for fuel economy in their respective categories: two-seaters, compact cars and mid size cars. The clean burning hybrids also receive a one-time deduction for tax purposes in the year of their purchase, as part of the Federal Government’s clean air initiative. Hybrids will save you money in gas, but this should be set against what they may cost you in other areas. Hybrid cars are as much as $2,000 to $5,000 more than the standard version of the same vehicle. They also contain parts that might be more costly to repair or replace due to specialized mechanics. The more complex powertrain of the hybrid car also means that you will require a more specialized mechanic when it comes time for repairs. Hybrid cars also typically have less power that the non-hybrid version. The emphasis has not been put on speed, and the acceleration capabilities are often not up to par with comparable vehicles. It is important to remember that hybrid cars are a new technology. As with most technologies, they will inevitably improve over time, so it might be best to hold off on purchasing that new hybrid for a little while, until their engineering catches up to their economy.

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