I found an article which I think is worth sharing around. This article is aimed at those who are planning to change their normal, conventional, petrol car to a hybrid car.
Toyota Prius.
Worth The Fuel Savings?
With today's petrol prices not
appearing to be heading south any time soon, it is little wonder that more and
more hybrid cars are coming onto the market. These cars use a combination of
petrol and electrical power so that you save at the service station. And if you
have a social conscience, they'll also help save the planet through reduced
emissions. While Honda was first to introduce a hybrid into the Australian
market, it was the Toyota Prius that made hybrid motoring a real option for fuel
conscious motorists.
The Toyota Prius has a small
petrol motor and a small electrical motor that work in unison to propel the car
along. To the driver, there probably isn't much difference between driving the
Prius or any other smallish car. The engine switches from the petrol to
electrical motor without any need for the driver to do anything, so in that
respect, it's business as usual for the driver. The electrical motor recharges
its batteries during deceleration. All these actions are performed automatically
thanks to the on board computer under the bonnet of the Prius.
If you enjoy a little power under the bonnet, then the Prius is obviously not
for you. The small motors push the car along respectably but the acceleration is
not what you would describe as being exhilarating.
The Toyota Prius comes with power mirrors and windows, a CD player and remote
central locking as standard equipment. It also comes with dual front air bags
and anti-lock brakes.
So, how much fuel will you save by driving a Toyota Prius? Well, you can
expect to go through five or six litres for every 100 kilometres you drive. This
figure is pretty much the same regardless of whether you are driving about town
or on the freeway. As the Prius is not a particularly cheap car, you'd need to
be spending quite a bit on fuel around town before it really became economical
for you. If your driving is mainly on the freeway or in the bush, then it's
probably not going to be such a viable option.
One important aspect to check if you are in the market for a used Prius is to
check the log books for regular servicing. As these engines are rather
complicated, you'll be best avoiding any car serviced by anyone other than a
Toyota dealer. Also remember that the batteries, when they do need replacing,
will not be cheap. So make sure you check the condition of the batteries first
in earlier models.
If you're worried about the spiraling prices of fuel at the petrol pump, and
if most of your driving is about town, then a Toyota Prius may be right for you.
But remember, if you're only buying one in order to save money on fuel, do some
calculations first. With the higher price of the Prius compared with other
comparable non-hybrid cars, it may take a long time before you start saving any
real money.
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