What is a Hybrid Car?

Hybrid cars are vehicles with two power sources. They use smaller than normal gasoline-powered internal combustion engines along with conventional lead acid batteries, making them lighter than other automobiles. Plus, these vehicles use energy from the process of braking, rather than cords and plugs to recharge the electric batteries they require for extra acceleration on hills. Today's hybrid car has nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) electric batteries that are engineered to last up to several hundred thousand miles.

Hybrids, like the Honda Insight and Civic, the Ford Escape or the 2004 Motor Trend Magazine Car of the Year, the Toyota Prius II, are quieter than conventional vehicles. Though there are some specific technical variations from manufacturer to manufacturer, a vehicle computer determines the precise interaction of the battery and the gasoline engine so performance equals that of non-hybrids.

Because hybrid cars are more fuel efficient, produce fewer environmental emissions and are designed with maximum aerodynamics in mind, these vehicles are at the front line of earth-friendly automobile engineering.

Hybrids Have a Long History

The roots of the hybrid vehicle go back to 1839 when Scotland's Robert Anderson built the first electric car. Over the years, numerous attempts were made to improve on Anderson's vehicle, but it wasn't until the development of light, more efficient batteries that hybrid cars with a 50 mile range were possible. However, Henry Ford's success with the mass production of the gasoline-powered Model T effectively killed the electric vehicle industry.

When the American public first recognized the dangers of air pollution in the 1960s and then faced the energy crisis of the 1970s, both government agencies and automobile manufacturers were motivated to refocus on the possibilities of electric battery operated cars. By 1975, the US Post Office was testing electric vans for short-run mail delivery.

Nevertheless, the profit-producing feasibility of the hybrid car was not demonstrated to automobile manufacturers until 1997 when the Japanese public made statistical history by purchasing almost 18,000 hybrid cars from Toyota. Two years later, Honda debuted the Insight to the American market. This reliable, fuel-efficient hybrid car blew away the mileage rating competition by averaging up to 61 mpg in the city and 70 mpg on the highway, according to EPA test figures.

As new hybrid models are introduced and vehicles already on the road demonstrate their ability to hold their resale value, automobile manufacturers are gearing up to meet the expected demand, even as more and more mechanics are training to provide complete service.

Outstanding Warranty Coverage Backs Hybrids

Now is the time to consider a hybrid car to take advantage of manufacturers' car warranties covering up to 100,000 miles on the battery packs and emission components as well as current state and federal tax rebates and deductions. Visit www.CarBuyingEdge.com for information on owning or leasing a hybrid car and Autobytel.com, Autoweb.com, CarSmart.com, InvoiceDealers.com, AutoBargains, Autos.yahoo.com, Cars.com or Edmunds.com for details on the availability of specific hybrid car models.

To protect your hybrid car investment, WarrantyDirect.com offers extended auto warranties.