Should You Buy a Hybrid or Electric Car?

Hybrid cars are big sellers in California, and it’s nice to know that they are becoming more and more popular and accessible to the masses. After all, cars are one of the biggest polluters, and anyone who lives in Los Angeles will be able to tell first-hand stories about the smog.

So now that there are so many more hybrids and electric cars on the market to choose from, is it time to bite the bullet and make a more ethical choice, even if it’s a little pricier? Here are some points to help you decide.

Mileage

You’re obviously going to save on fuel with a car like this, but how much you save depends on how much road you cover. The amount of savings that you will see depends on your overall usage—basically, the more you use it, the faster you’ll see that payback from fuel.

Length of Trip

 Hybrids and especially electric vehicles can’t actually be driven that far on a single charge, and stations are showing up more and more, but are still relatively rare. So you will need to make sure that within your daily trip you’re able to recharge regularly. Of course, between technological innovation and the fact that there will be more stations in the future, this is likely to be less of a factor in the coming years.

Highway Driving

The more time you spend on regular roads (not the highway), the more you’ll save on lifetime costs for these types of vehicles. Hybrids especially are designed with stop-start technology, meaning that they’ll get good mileage if this is your regular pattern.

Charging Stations

Are you able to get a charging station at home, or do you know that there’s one nearby that you can use readily? While they are becoming more commonplace, this is still an issue when it comes to electric vehicles.

Driving Performance

If you love driving at high speed a hybrid will use up more gas in these instances. Many models probably aren’t designed for performance driving at this time either.

Bonuses for Going Green

If you’re in california and you drive a zero emission or natural gas vehicle, you’ll be able to qualify for special privileges such as the use of HOV lanes. You should also be eligible for special tax credits if you have a green vehicle.

Today we’re seeing more and more affordable green vehicle options out there that are just as safe, reliable and stylish as other cars. Honda even offers a plug-in hybrid Accord. If you’re in the Los Angeles area and you’re looking to buy a greener vehicle, visit your local Honda dealer today.

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