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Why Hybrids?
With hybrid cars dominating the news, do you ever wonder, "What's in it for me?" Besides being environmentally friendly, hybrid cars actually save you money.
Choosing a car can be a difficult and daunting process, whether you are purchasing a car for the first time or you have done it several times before. There are many considerations to keep in mind when picking out your future car. Although one car may appear cheaper now, you may find it will cost you more money to maintain over the years.
Hybrids are no exception to this rule. Even though they may seem pricey, hybrid cars are actually very practical. As you may already know, they are much more fuel efficient than an average car. This means less pollution, and less money out of your (or your parents’) pockets spent on gasoline… which means you could save money and save the environment, all at once, by driving a hybrid. For this reason, hybrid cars are growing quickly in popularity. Most manufacturers supply hybrids now – a trend which is expected to continue in the future.
Below is a chart of long-term car costs between three different cars: Car A: a hybrid, Car B: a typical four door car, and Car C: a gas guzzler. Compare the short-term and long-term costs of each. Which would be the most expensive after a year of ownership? After 10?
|
|
Price to Buy |
Miles per Gallon |
Price of Gas (Summer 2009) |
Miles Driven per Month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car A |
$23,000 |
46 |
$2.36 |
1,000 |
| Car B |
$23,000 |
19 |
$2.36 |
1,000 |
| Car C |
$28,000 |
12 |
$2.36 |
1,000 |
|
|
Gas Cost per Month |
Gas Cost per Year |
1 Year Total |
10 Year Total |
| Car A |
$51.30 |
$615.60 |
$23,615.60 |
$29,156.00 |
| Car B |
$124.21 |
$1,490.53 |
$24,490.53 |
$37,905.30 |
| Car C |
$196.67 |
$2,360.04 |
$30,360.04 |
$51,600.40 |
Wow! Look at the money you could save after owning a hybrid for 10 years! And what a difference it would make on the environment, too. Take a look at the carbon footprint, measured in CO2 emissions per year, for each car.
|
|
Tons of CO2 Emitted per Year |
Tons of CO2 Emitted in 10 Years |
|---|---|---|
| Car A |
4.0 |
40 |
| Car B |
9.6 |
96 |
| Car C |
12.2 |
122 |
There are approximately 250,000,000 drivers in the United States. Imagine the positive impact we could make on the environment if every one of these drivers switched to a hybrid car. Based on this number and the information presented above, we could emit anywhere from 1,400,000,000 to 2,050,000,000 fewer tons of CO2 per year! How’s that for making a difference?