A native American proverb says: “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” Think about it! At this rate what are we leaving our children? In this modern day and age every one of us needs to think of how we are going to contribute to the environment and what we are going to do to stop polluting the environment, and thinking about getting one of those new hybrid vehicles is a step in the right direction.
Environmentalists believe in these new hybrid vehicles. Even manufacturers realize that consumers are demanding more of these vehicles, and future projections are showing that there will be many more alternative fuel cars on the market worldwide. This comes as a big surprise, seeing how just a few years ago there were only one or two models of this type of vehicle on the market.
Hybrids are vehicles that use both gasoline and electric power to function. They function on both an internal combustion engine and they also use an electric motor. There are both, full hybrid vehicles that can run on either fuel source and mild hybrids that always need to work on internal combustion. Obviously the mild hybrid is not as environmentally safe as the full hybrid.
Those hybrids that are mild use more gas than electricity. The electric motor in these vehicles is only used as a support system for the engine. These are not as efficient on gas as the cars that are full hybrids. They are also not as environmentally friendly.
True hybrids can function on either electric energy or gasoline independently and when the car works off of electricity then those harmful emissions are not going into the air.
Here is a list of current hybrids on the market:
SUVs * The Ford Escape Hybrid comes in both a 2WD and a 4WD version. The 2WD gets 36 miles to the gallon in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. The 4WD version gets 32 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. * Lexus RX 400h is an all wheel drive vehicle and reaches 27 mpg in the city and 25mpg on the highway. * Saturn Vue Hybrid comes in a 2WD vehicle and get 27mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. * Mercury Mariner is a 4WD vehicle and gets 32 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. * Toyota Highlander Hybrid comes in both a 2WD and a 4WD. The 2WD gets 33mpg in the city and 28mpg on the highway. The 4WD gets 31 mpg in the city and 27mpg on the highway.
Cars * Honda Civic Hybrid gets 49 mpg in the city and 51mpg on the highway. * Honda Accord Hybrids get 25 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway * Toyota Prius gets 48 mpg on the highway and 54mpg on the highway * Lexus GS 450h gets 25 mpg in the city and 38mpg on the highway * Nissan Altima HEV gets 42 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway * Nissan Altima gets over 40 miles per gallon and 36MPG on the highway * The Lexus GS 450h gets 38 mpg on the highway
Trucks 1. There are also a few hybrid trucks like the Chevy Silverado Classic 15 - This truck is available in both 2 and 4wd and gets 18 miles to the gallon and 21 on the highway. 2. Try the GMC Sierra Classic 15 for a great environmental vehicle- This model comes in both in 2wd and 4 wd. This truck gets 21 and 18 miles to the gallon.