Hybrid Car Comparsion Guide

The reasons for buying a hybrid car are more environmental than economics. The higher prices of buying a high-tech hybrid or diesel car will be hard to recoup in fuel savings, even with todays high fuel prices.

Most car manufacturers have hybrid versions on their development roadmap. At the very least, most are driving for fuel efficiency and reduced carbon emmissions. For instance, Toyota has plans for hybrid versions of all of its Toyota and Lexus models. You can expect to see more hybrid and green car options emerging over the next few years.

Fuel Economy

There are three main types of vehicles to consider for fuel economy:

• Hybrid Petrol Cars
• Diesel Vehicles
• Direct petrol-injection

Hybrid Petrol Cars

A hybrid vehicle uses wasted energy captured during braking, to charge batteries. This power can then be used to drive the vehicle at low speed, or power demand phases of the journey.

Diesel Vehicles

Diesel fuel is generally a lot cheaper than petrol. Traditionally, the low quality of diesel fuel, has made many car buyers reluctant to drive a diesel powered vehicle. Modernh diesel cars howerver have good performance and great fuel economy. Modern diesels pull 2000r.p.m. to over 4000, and the improved fuel quality and imminent bio-diesel fuels make diesel vehicles a quality option for the future.

Direct Petrol-Injection

The conventional petrol engine is being significantly improved with direct fuel-injection technology. Fuel is injected directly into the engine cylinders, rather than into the inlet air stream. This can improve fuel economy by 15% compared to conventional fuel injection; and result in cleaner emissions.

Direct injection FSI engines can be found in Volkswagen and Audi, with many more likely in the near future.

Comparing Efficiency

How efficient your car is depends a lot on the type of driving you do, and your driving personality. For instance, a comparative study in 2005 of a diesel Mercedes 4x4 and a Lexus hybrid-petrol 4x4 driven 5200 km from New York to San Francisco showed:

• Diesel 4x4 - 9.2 litre/100km
• Hybrid - 10.2litre/100km.

This showed the diesel to have better fuel economy on the open road, however, in the city environs, the hybrid is more fuel-efficient.

Hybrid Economics

To gain an insight at the economics of investing in a hybrid car, let's look at a mid-sized hatchback, the Peugeot 307 [available with both petrol and diesel engines], and the Toyota Prius hybrid.

• The diesel Peugeot costs $2000 more than the 2-litre petrol version. Travelling 12,000 km per year will take 6 years in fuel savings to pay back the extra $2000.
• The Prius at $43,650 will take over 14 years.

The payback period varies depending on the Km you travel each year and the price of fuel.

So whilst Hybrid cars make environmental sense, they don't stack up economically. This will likely slow uptake, and it wouldn't be crazy for the governments of each country to implement incentive schemes to improve the ROI, as they are with sustainable home energy schemes.

Next: Comparing the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid

Back To Top

Hybrid Car Guide | Hybrid Cars 2007 | Comparing Hybrid Cars | Toyota Prius vs. Honda Civic Hybrid | Best Green Cars