Hybrids are hot nowadays. The Hybrid car uses 2 engines; one uses the traditional fuel, while the other uses the energy from a rechargeable battery. There are a myriad of hybrid cars, to choose from. What then is or guarantee that we are protected from too much hype, instead of an honest advertising?
One of the simplest ways is through consumer reports on hybrid cars.
There is much information available about hybrid cars, especially about their features, engine specifications, designs, colors and other dizzying information. Information from the manufacturer's websites are also a good source of preliminary knowledge on hybrid cars. But one of the most interesting pieces of information, and one that gives an honest insight into the opinion or feelings about hybrid vehicles may be glimpsed in consumer reports on hybrid cars.
Reliability of hybrid cars according to consumer reports
"These hybrid systems have been very reliable," declares David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports' auto test center. Mr. Champion noted that about 94 percent of Toyota Prius owners, would buy another Prius, and are very happy and satisfied, was asserted by the influential consumer survey. The center, collects individual consumer reports on hybrid cars, and uses the statistics to come up with a talk paper.
Mr. Champion also refers to hybrids as "mainstream technology", particularly with the introduction of the Honda Accord hybrid. The Honda hybrid clinched the title of Consumer Reports Best Family Sedan. The Honda Accord hybrid, bested some 32 other models for the prestigious award.
Critics, however, are not wanting. Some automobile experts and analysts have criticized the hybrid car powertrain, as flamboyant in that two engines are being used for one purpose. Consumer Reports on the other hand, disagreed. Champion explained that the electric motor adds the power, to the engine.
Prior to the award being presented, Consumer Report conducts a testing, by applying
Lotus Targets Tesla With EV of Its Own
The company that helped Tesla Motors and Chrysler build their electric cars is working on a battery-electric that will work just like the Chevrolet Volt but be a whole lot sportier.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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Motorcycles Finally Go Green
Small startups are leading the way with electric motorcycles you can buy today, but the big companies are developing hybrids, e-motorcycles and even hydrogen-fuel-cell bikes.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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Toronto Puts Zambonis on Ice
Electric-powered ice resurfacers are about as common as Jamaican ice skating champs, but they're starting to appear in Toronto and National Hockey League arenas. The iconic Zamboni may soon be a thing of the past.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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How NORAD Tracks Santa
We get the inside scoop on how the guys with their eyes to the skies keep tabs on St. Nick.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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Toyota Goes Electric With a Hush-Hush Concept
Toyota will quietly unveil an electric concept car alongside the next-gen Prius at the Detroit auto show.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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Driving Christmas Home — 10 Outrageous Gifts for Gearheads
<img src='http://www.wired.com/images/slideshow/2008/12/gallery_cargifts/la_autoshow_0422_t.jpg'></img>: <p>Is the household gearhead driving (pun intended) you nuts incessantly blathering about the latest supercar? Try putting one of these sweet auto-related gifts under the tree to shut him up for 10 minutes.</p>
<p><strong>Left: </strong>If you've already got a $1.5 million Reventon in the driveway, a $350 Lamborghini hoodie on your back and the $60 Lamborghini baseball cap on your head, the only thing you need to complete your collection are these $120 signature Christmas ornaments. Buy them and you'll truly be the man who has everything. </p>
<p><em>Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.com</em></p>
<img src='http://www.wired.com/images/slideshow/2008/12/gallery_cargifts/la_autoshow_0500_t.jpg'></img>: <p>It won't make your cigars smell any better or taste any finer, but they'll look smokin' in this carbon-fiber–wrapped humidor from Ferrari. At a cool $1,000, just make sure you put something nicer than Swisher Sweets in it. </p>
<p><em>Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.com</em></p>
<img src='http://www.wired.com/images/slideshow/2008/12/gallery_cargifts/la_autoshow_0595_t.jpg'></img>: <p>Nothing would look more debonair on a hot day than your crisply pressed shirt sleeve hangin' from your XKE with a pair of Leaping Jaguar cufflinks. They'll leap onto your wrist for less than a C-note. </p>
<p><em>Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.com</em></p>
<img src='http://www.wired.com/images/slideshow/2008/12/gallery_cargifts/la_autoshow_0724_t.jpg'></img>: <p>You want to tear up the twisties in your 911 Cabriolet, but your wife says it's too cold to put the top down? No problem. Hand her this $900 Porsche leather jacket. It hugs curves better than your 911. </p>
<p><em>Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.com</em></p>
<img src='http://www.wired.com/images/slideshow/2008/12/gallery_cargifts/_G7I1058_t.jpg'></img>: <p>Make an Audi addict out of your kid with this 1936 Auto Union Type C replica. This pint-sized pedal-powered racer has seven speeds and disc brakes just like your S3. And at 10 grand, it will introduce Junior to the high cost of German engineering. </p>
<p><em>Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.com</em></p>
<img src='http://www.wired.com/images/slideshow/2008/12/gallery_cargifts/la_autoshow_0464_t.jpg'></img>: <p>If you can afford $350,000 for the Bentley Azure T, you've probably already got a pretty nice watch. But if you've got butter-soft leather under your butt and a jeweled gearshift in your hand, you might as well cough up the cost of a used Honda to put the Bentley watch on your wrist. </p>
<p><em>Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.com</em></p>
<img src='http://www.wired.com/images/slideshow/2008/12/gallery_cargifts/piloti_t.jpg'></img>: <p>Michael Jordan wouldn't play ball in loafers, and Tiger Woods wouldn't tee off in Topsiders, so why are you wearing those stupid Crocs? For less than the cost of an oil change at the dealer, you can dance on the pedals in a pair of Piloti's Prototipo driving shoes. If they're good enough for the guys racing at Le Mans, they're good enough for you. </p>
<p><em>Photo courtesy Piloti</em></p>
<img src='http://www.wired.com/images/slideshow/2008/12/gallery_cargifts/ducati_t.jpg'></img>: <p>The last thing you want to do when signing the deal for your Ducati Desmosedici is break out a Bic. Reach for this finely tuned writing instrument from Tibaldi. Yes, $850 is a lot for a pen, but if you're spending $72,000 for a motorcycle, you probably don't care. </p>
<p><em>Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.com</em></p>
<img src='http://www.wired.com/images/slideshow/2008/12/gallery_cargifts/660e_t.jpg'></img>: <p>Now that you've bought your Lamborghini ornaments, Ferrari humidor, Ducati pen and other trinkets, you want something cooler than a shopping bag to carry them in. Check out this $350 Team Lotus leather duffel from Caracalla Bagaglio. It won't make you as fast as Jim Clark, but then he probably carried his driving shoes in a canvas bag.</p>
<p><em>Photo courtesy Lotus</em></p><br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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10 Cool Cars We Want Now
Automakers are notorious for showing off amazing concept cars then hemming and hawing about building them. We're sick of being teased and want these cars now.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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Danish Supercar Sports 1,104 Horsepower
Danish boutique automaker Zenvo's new ST1 redefines "excessive." The turbocharged supercar accelerates superfast (over 60 mph in three seconds) and the company claims it'll go into production next year.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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An Apple-Flavored Car Design From Britain
If Steve Jobs designed a car, it might look something like the autonomous shape-shifting runabout that Anthony Jannarelly dreamed up.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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GM Puts the Volt's Engine Factory on Hold
General Motors says its finances are so bleak it has no choice, but it says the Volt's development continues as planned.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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some actual expectations of consumers to hybrid cars. The Accord hybrid for instance, achieved superior fuel efficiency unsurpassed by its conventional counterparts.
But as in other endeavors, consumer reports on hybrid cars have another side. An alternative consumer view from the same center posited the question: "Considering a hybrid car? Don't rush out to the dealership just yet."
The individuals went on to explain that they are not against the protection of environment. The center also asserts that they are supportive for burning less fossil fuel. Their concerns, accordingly, emanate from Financial experts arguments that hybrid drivers are paying too high a price for an automobile that offers only marginally better fuel efficiency than the other economy cars already on the road.
Gabriel Shenhar, senior auto test engineer for Consumer Reports, said that if someone is "looking at your pocket, you're not gaining anything there anytime soon," Shenhar asserted that it is wiser, to wait until auto makers improve hybrids' powertrains and bring prices more comparable with regular models.
The same Consumer Reports compared the 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid car, which averages 36 miles per gallon and is worth $21,000, with the 2003 Honda Civic EX, which averages 29 miles per gallon and is worth $18,500 a unit on the average. Interested to know the results? The tax break excluded, it would take a consumer 21 years in fuel savings to cover the expense for buying hybrid.
And consumer reports on hybrid cars has more bad news. The people behind Edmunds.com expect that hybrids will depreciate faster than other counterpart traditional vehicles. They are also noting that the attempts of the car manufacturers on improving the hybrid powertrain so fast will fail to convince consumers to buy this relatively new technology.
The consumer reports on hybrid cars, however, particularly that of Edmunds.com, are waiting for the new hybrid SUVs, the Ford Escape and the Lexus RX Hybrid. If these new hybrids will eventually reach the price level, of other lightweight trucks, and will offer far better fuel savings, the more the better. If both are achieved, says Edmunds.com's automotive expert Ed Hellwig, there's no reason why people will not rush to their dealer and buy one.
These are only a few of the pieces of literature that deal with consumer reports on hybrid cars. It does, ultimately, depend on the consumer, to find and research as much information as possible regarding hybrid cars.
